BW045: Meowth's Scrafty Tactics!

is the 45th episode of Pokémon: Black & White.
==Synopsis==
On their way to Nimbasa City, Ash and the gang are surprised to come across Meowth, who has been injured. They learn that Meowth has been fired from Team Rocket, so our heroes decide it would be best for Meowth to join them them...as long as he behaves!
Soon after, Axew is lured away and captured by an angry Scrafty. With Meowth translating, Scrafty warns our heroes that if they don’t help it in battle, they’ll never see Axew again! Ash hatches a plan: Meowth and Scraggy will distract Scrafty with negotiations while he frees Axew with the help of Pikachu and Snivy.
When Scrafty discovers the deceit, it immediately challenges Ash to a battle. Ash and Tepig quickly get the upper hand...and Scrafty bursts into tears! With Meowth’s help, Scrafty explains that its den was stolen by a Mandibuzz. Upon further investigation, the gang discovers that the Mandibuzz was kicked out of its own nest after having a fight with a friend.
Meowth agrees to go with the ousted Mandibuzz and ask its friend for forgiveness so it can move back in, and Meowth’s expert negotiating skills seal the deal! The two Mandibuzz are friends again, Scrafty has its den back, and our heroes continue on their way to Nimbasa City—now with Meowth as part of the gang!
==Episode plot==
As the heroes eat lunch, Axew and Tepig see something unusual. The heroes come and see Meowth, laying unconscious. They recognize him from Team Rocket and know he needs to be healed. As Cilan and Iris tend his wounds, Meowth wakes up, shocked the twerps are here. They tell him they found him unconscious and nursed him back to health. Meowth tells them he got fired, as he messed up the last job. Jessie and James abandoned him and Meowth traveled to here. The heroes believe he should travel with them, for he is the only Meowth in Unova. Meowth agrees to and decides to help out sometimes. Meowth thinks Ash has a lot of Gym Badges, but Ash replies he has won three so far. Meowth tells Ash is a great trainer and will get the badges, though Pikachu senses Meowth is bragging.
As they travel, Axew notices a bottle cap on the ground. He goes after it, but a Pokémon catches Axew and goes away, into a lodge. The heroes try to get inside, but Meowth stops them, as he translates the thief will hurt Axew. Axew comes out of the Pokémon's pouch and uses Dragon Rage and smashes the window. However, the Pokémon is mad, scaring Axew. Cilan recognizes the thief being a Scrafty. Meowth goes to negotiate and the heroes see he might have a chance. Meowth reports Scrafty wants to be battled, as it wants to improve its battling skills. Cilan sees they will have to battle Scrafty to buy some time. Ash sneaks behind, while Meowth asks Scrafty why does it want to battle and whom. Ash and Meowth come back, the latter telling Scrafty did not specify details. Ash thinks he can grab Axew through the window, while Meowth thinks he can distract Scrafty if Scraggy comes with him.
Meowth claims to have a good plan is to have a back-up plan. Iris reminds him his backup plan failed at Team Rocket, getting him fired, making Meowth sad. Cilan reminds him he is the only one that can translate. Ash sends Scraggy and Snivy, who both attack Meowth upon seeing him. Meanwhile, Jessie and James came to Nimbasa Underground and take a photo of the blueprints. Inside a train, they see there is no driver, as it is automized. For a final touch, Jessie puts a spying device near the tracks. Meowth comes with Scraggy to Scrafty. Meowth asks Scrafty to teach Scraggy a new move. Scrafty teaches him how to use High Jump Kick, while Ash sees Axew has been tied inside. While Scrafty teaches Scraggy, Snivy uses Vine Whip and pulls Axew out of the lodge.
Meowth goes away with Scraggy and Scrafty is electrocuted with Pikachu's Thunderbolt. Iris is pleased Axew is safe, while Meowth translates from Scraggy that Scrafty has freaked out. Scrafty reveals his face and goes to battle, so Ash sends Tepig. Scrafty attempts to headbutt Tepig, who dodges and tackles it back. Scrafty uses High Jump Kick, but misses and gets hit by Ember. Scrafty uses Focus Blast, but Tepig avoids the attack and defeats it with Flame Charge. Scrafty cries, as it wanted to retake its home back, but nobody helped it. Scrafty takes them to the site where a Mandibuzz lives. Scrafty goes to talk to her, but Mandibuzz uses Shadow Ball on Scrafty. Scraggy goes to fight Mandibuzz, who uses Shadow Ball, but misses. Mandibuzz tries to peck Scraggy, who dodges, causing Mandibuzz to hit the ground, causing her head to be stuck. Scraggy uses High Jump Kick, defeating Mandibuzz. Ash thanks Scrafty for teaching Scraggy this new move.
Mandibuzz cries as well, as she was kicked out by another Mandibuzz, for this Mandibuzz tricked her family. Meowth decides to help her out as well, surprising the heroes. She takes them to the nest, where the other Mandibuzz uses Shadow Ball. Meowth persuades the other Mandibuzz to allow the first one to come back, as Mandibuzz offered apples as a peace offering. Meowth tells sometimes there will be tough moments, in which one needs to be with its buddies. Mandibuzz forgives the other one, making everyone pleased. The heroes admit Meowth is a hero, for his persuasive tactics saved the day. Iris decides to catch Meowth, throwing a Poké Ball at him. Meowth comes out, clarifying he is not anyone's Pokémon. Still, he decides to travel with them and help them out, but Pikachu remains skeptical. During the night, Jessie and James see the trains come from Anville Town and go to report to Dr. Zager.
==Debuts==
===Pokémon===
Scrafty
==Quotes==
Meowth: Ok! We can see that Axew's unharmed, but we need to know who you want to battle against before we can help you. We also need to know why you want to battle in the first place.
Scrafty: Tee-Tee-Tee. Scraf-Scraf-ty!
While ignoring Meowth's question, Ash and Pikachu appeared on the cliff.
Ash: There's Axew! Through that window.
Pikachu: Pi-ka!
As they quickly hide before Scrafty spotted them.
Ash: I think we can get Axew out of there.
Pikachu: Pi-ka.
Ash: Let's head back for now.
Pikachu: Pi-ka-chu.
As they head back to inform the others.
Meowth: Let's get this straight, I do not want to be anybody's Pokémon. And no twerps ever going to catch me, see?
Iris: Okay, sorry.
Meowth: Alright, but even so, I'm going to help you lugs
Cilan: confession is good for the heart.
-After Iris fails to catch Meowth -
==Trivia==
*Professor Oak's Live Caster: Timburr
*Who's That Pokémon?: Scrafty (US)
*The title is a pun on "crafty tactics".
*Cilan saying "confession is good for the heart" it might be a reference to the popular phrase "confession is good for the soul".
*In the Latin American Dub, Meowth references Digimon when he sees Scrafty by saying "¡¡Que horror, los de Digimon!!". Roughly translating to "The Horror, this one's from Digimon!"
**This is the second time Digimon was referenced in the Latin American dub. The first was DP045: Ill-Will Hunting!.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring a main character's Pokémon learning a new move
Category:Episodes focusing on Meowth
Category:Milestone episodes