GS028: Gettin' the Bugs Out

is the 28th episode of of , Season 3 of , and of .
==Synopsis==
When Ash reaches the Hive Gym, he has just the Pokémon to challenge the Gym Leader's Bug Pokémon. But what's this? The Fire-type Pokémon Cyndaquil can't get its burners going!
==Episode plot==
As the heroes go to the Gym, Misty asks Ash as Mr. Ketchum, asking what does he predict at his next match. Ash predicts a victory. Misty warns him he does not have Charizard to back him up, but Ash knows he can count on Cyndaquil. The heroes come, but see it is more of a garden than a Gym. Misty feels that something scary and slimy will appear and suddenly, she runs off a Caterpie, then away from Metapod, claiming it is a torture chamber. A boy appears, remarking Misty's ignorance of Bug-type Pokémon, though they are the best. Misty gets annoyed and knocks a Caterpie away, asking who is ignorant. Ash tells the boy he is here for the Gym match, so the boy introduces himself as Bugsy, the Gym Leader, though asks of them to get the ladder, since he is stuck on the tree. They get the ladder, though Bugsy thinks they surprised him, so he got stuck on the tree.
Team Rocket observe the events and plan to capture Pikachu. They disguise as a flower, a tree and grass, but the bug-type Pokémon recognize them and use String Shot to bind them. Ash and Bugsy are about to have a match, but Bugsy asks him if he heard the phrase "if the trainer learned the rules of Bug Pokémon rules them". Ash says no, but Bugsy tells he just told him. Bugsy sends Spinarak and Ash his Cyndaquil. Cyndaquil is sleepy, so Ash sees it will have to be heated up. Spinarak uses String Shot, so Cyndaquil dodges that. However, it gets engulfed after Spinarak covers the field with it. Ash orders Cyndaquil to use Flamethrower, but Cyndaquil's flames are not lit and gets hit by Poison Sting. Spinarak uses Poison Sting again, but Ash calls Cyndaquil back. Ash sends Chikorita to battle, who hugs him. Bugsy does not know what kind of a decision is that, so Brock and Misty tell him it is a stinky one. Ash tells he has faith in her, though Brock and Misty admit they heard that before.
Chikorita dodges Spinarak's String Shot and retaliates with Vine Whip. Spinarak dodges the Vine Whip, using String Shot to transport itself between the trees. Spinarak uses Poison Sting, but gets countered by Razor Leaf. Chikorita uses Sweet Smell, dropping Spinarak's guard and defeats it by tackling it. Team Rocket plan to dig underneath the Gym to get Pikachu. Bugsy sends Metapod, though Misty and Brock warn Ash to be careful with it. Chikorita uses Vine Whip and Metapod hardens itself. Chikorita uses Razor Leaf, but Metapod continues to harden itself. Metapod jumps and tackles Chikorita, defeating her. Ash sees that he'll have to use Pikachu, telling him to prepare for battle. Metapod starts with Tackle, so Pikachu dodges. However, the attack caused dust to cover the field, so Metapod hits Pikachu, then disappears. Metapod strikes, but misses. It does so once more, but Pikachu dodges via Agility, then goes on it and defeats it with Thunderbolt.
Bugsy admits it is a while since he was defeated in the second round, so sends his ace, Scyther. Pikachu uses Agility, but Scyther stands still. Team Rocket hear Pikachu does not move, but know they are not far from stealing him. They dig up, but when Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, it banishes Scyther's illusion via Double Team, but also electrocutes Team Rocket through the hole. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt to banish all illusions, but the real Scyther uses Fury Cutter on him. Pikachu is defeated, so Ash calls him back and sends Cyndaquil. Ash tells Cyndaquil to use the flames and they lit after dodging Scyther's Fury Cutter. Scyther uses Double Team, followed by Fury Cutter, but misses. Cyndaquil fires a Flamethrower, banishing all illusions. It attacks the real Scyther, but Scyther spins using Swords Dance, negating that attack and striking Cyndaquil, but gets up. Ash sees if Flamethrower is used again, Scyther will repel it. Bugsy says that he knows well that fire is a big weakness to bug Pokemon, so, he made a plan to counter the Fire attacks, which are vulnerable for Bug Pokémon, and says that there is no way for any fire attack to overpower Swords Dance. Ash refuses to believe as He thinks there has to be some way to defeat Scyther, making Ash think up a plan.
Scyther goes to use Fury Cutter, but switches to Swords Dance when Ash has Cyndaquil prepare to use Flamethrower. Cyndaquil jumps up and spins in the same direction as Scyther, then uses Flamethrower, engulfing Scyther in the flames, which Scyther could not counter, then defeats it with a tackle attack. With that, Ash wins the match, praising Cyndaquil. Bugsy admits he wouldn't suspect Scyther's tactics would be beaten, so gives Ash the Hive Badge. Bugsy hopes for a rematch when Ash comes back in Azalea Town, so Ash accepts it, then shake hands. Later, the heroes find themselves on the outskirts, knowing it was hard to get here. Misty feels they forgot something and they remember they were supposed to get the Balls from Kurt. Maizie comes and congratulates Ash on his victory, then gives Ash and Misty Lure Balls and Brock a Heavy Ball. Maizie also thanks them for giving the GS Ball, as her grandpa is still researching it. She tells they can come back on the way to Pallet Town for more info, so the heroes accept it. The gang goes to next town, saying goodbye to Maizie.
Team Rocket, in the night, dug a hole up and encounter Bug Pokémon, then scream.
==Debuts==
===Character===
Bugsy
===Pokémon===
*Bugsy's Metapod
*Bugsy's Scyther
*Bugsy's Spinarak
*Bugsy's Caterpie
*Bugsy's Kakuna
*Bugsy's Weedle
===Move===
Fury Cutter
===Item===
Hive Badge
==Quotes==
*Misty: "Mr. Ketchum, do you have a prediction about your upcoming Pokémon Match?"
Ash: "I predict victory! How about you Pikachu?"
Pikachu: "Pikachu."
Misty: "Well, I don't know Ash, I think this'll be a tough one."
Ash: "How come?"
Misty: "You don't have your star battler anymore. In your other Gym Matches, you could count on Charizard to use its fire power to win when you made dumb mistakes."
Pikachu: "Pika."
Ash: "No problem. Charizard may be gone, but Cyndaquil's got plenty of fire power."
*"This isn't a Pokémon Gym, it's a torture chamber!"
Misty about the Azalea Gym.
==Trivia==
*Despite receiving the Heavy Ball, Brock never used it. Meaning he might save it for a special occasion in the future.
*The "Who's that Pokémon?" in this episode is Elekid.
*This was the last EP episode when Wind Up serves as a Negative Editing, and this was the last EP episode to feature the Japanese credit term ネガ text to appear during the ending credits, due to the Japanese credit term ネガ text will be folded into text starting with GS029.
*This episode has some elements similar to "Battling for the Love of Bug-Types!".
** The Gyms are shaped as greenhouses.
** Burgh encountered the heroes in his Gym on a tree, similar to Bugsy.
** Ash used Pikachu, a -type Starter Pokémon (Tepig) and a -type Pokémon (Sewaddle).
** Bugsy's Spinarak, like Ash's Swadloon, used String Shot to move and dodge attacks.
===Mistakes===
*Ash's Chikorita uses Sweet Smell instead of the actual move Sweet Scent.
*Before Ash sends out Pikachu to battle Metapod, he said that he'll "save Chikorita for later" even though Chikorita was already defeated in the battle against Metapod.
*When Bugsy brings out his Scyther, Misty says, "The real battle is starting right now", Togepi's lips are moving and says it along with her, even though Pokémon (with the exception of Team Rocket's Meowth) are not able to talk.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring Gym Battles
Category:Episodes in which a main character obtains a badge
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash