EP252

Fangs for Nothin' (Japanese: フスベジムのりゅうのきば！ Gym's Dragon's Fang!) is the 252nd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It was first broadcast in Japan on June 13, 2002, and in the United States on June 7, 2003. 
==Blurb==
No sooner has Ash begun what he hopes will be his final gym battle in the Johto League than Team Rocket once again throws a wrench into his plans, making off with the Dragon Fang, an invaluable heirloom long held by the Blackthorn Gym. Ash and friends, along with the gym leader, give chase, but in their flight, Team Rocket leads them deep into a secretive area rarely visited by anyone but the Dragon Pokémon that dwell there. Perhaps angered by these uninvited guests, a large beast flies directly at Ash and friends as soon as they enter this area. Uncertain whether this shape be friend or foe, our heroes raise their guard and wait as it grows closer... and looms larger still.
==Plot==
Kaburagi takes his position as the battle judge, and announces that will face Gym Leader Clair in a three-on-three . Clair leads with , which Ash responds with . Pikachu tries to Kingdra, and despite a direct hit, Kingdra easily shakes the attack off. This puzzles and . Kingdra responds with , which catches Pikachu. However, Pikachu manages to recover, and launches a attack, only for Kingdra to shake it off as well. Ash is also confused by why Kingdra is easily repelling Pikachu's attacks, to which Clair replies that, though Kingdra is evolved from a , a type, upon evolution it gains the type as well. Kingdra continues the battle with , which Pikachu returns fire with Thunderbolt.
Meanwhile, Jessie is lamenting the loss of , but is cheered up by the prospect of food. As Jessie is planning her revenge against Clair, the food meant to cheer her up is stolen from right under them. Though notices this, and the others instantly blame him for eating the food after hearing a similar voice, which is actually a hidden . However, they do manage to formulate a plan to steal the Dragon Fang.
Back at the Gym, Ash decides to switch out Pikachu after a also fails to faze Kingdra. Sending in instead, Ash tries to use its abilities to try and land a blow against Kingdra. Elsewhere, manages to sneak in and steal the Dragon Fang from the Gym's treasure room without setting off its infrared alarms thanks to James’s Handy-Andy mechanical hand. However, an overzealous Wobbuffet manages to knock the group over, which subsequently breaks one of the sensor beams. As Ash’s match wages on, Noctowl temporarily immobilizes Kingdra with a attack. However, Kingdra aims a Hydro Pump at the wall to break the attack. Noctowl's also misses its mark thanks to Kingdra's , and Kingdra lands a Hydro Pump on Noctowl, about to knock it out just as the burglar alarm sounded.
Everyone abandons the battle and rushes outside to see Team Rocket fleeing the crime scene with the Dragon Fang in hand. The Rocket trio commandeers a nearby boat and speeds off into the Dragon's Den, a cave filled with a confusing network of tunnels in the middle of the water. Clair and the others call out a flotilla of Pokémon and swim after the thieves. Her 's light and ability to sense changes in water currents help them to track Team Rocket, who find themselves in the Dragon Holy Land. The trio is saved from falling down from the waterfall into the Holy Land by a , who Team Rocket convinces that they are trying to protect the Dragon Fang from Clair and the others. As Ash and his friends also manage to reach the Holy Land, they split up to look for Team Rocket. Upon arrival, the Dragonite fires a as a warning shot at the group. Ash and his friends are surprised by the odd partnership. Dragonite goes onto pick the Rocket trio up and flies off with them. Kaburagi explains that the Dragonite had once belonged to the first of Blackthorn City, and had never felt the same since her Trainer had passed away. However, their thoughts are disturbed by a roar coming from a Pokémon flying towards them.
==Major events==
* begins his Gym against Clair, but it is interrupted due to stealing the Dragon Fang.
* A begins to follow Team Rocket.
===Debuts===
====Pokémon debuts====
* ()
=====English dub debuts=====
* 
==Characters==
===Humans===
* 
* 
* 
* Jessie
* James
* Clair
* Kaburagi
===Pokémon===
Who's That Pokémon?: (US and international), (Japan)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* ()
* (; shadowed)
* ()
* (; )
* ()
* ()
* (Clair's)
* ()
* ()
* ()
* 
* (multiple)
* (multiple)
* (multiple)
* (multiple)
* (multiple)
* 
* 
* (multiple)
* 
* (multiple)
* 
* 
* 
* 
==Trivia==
* This episode marks the English dub debut of in the , as the episode it already debuted in never got dubbed in English and was banned almost internationally, including in , due to the controversial appearance of .
* The episode's English dub title is a pun on the phrase "thanks for nothing".
* Music from Mewtwo Strikes Back and The Power of One can be heard.
* This episode is featured on the Volume 8: Dragon copy of Pokémon Elements.
* After Brock grabs onto Staryu, he remarks sarcastically, "This is a whole new experience." He may be referring to the time he clung to Staryu in the sea in Mewtwo Strikes Back.
===Errors===
* The narrator says that Clair agreed to begin the Gym battle after the ritual. However, in the previous episode, she said that she will battle after Dratini has shed its skin.
===Dub edits===
* James, as well as the rest of Team Rocket, refers to as being doughnuts.
==In other languages==
252
Category:Episodes written by Atsuhiro Tomioka
Category:Episodes storyboarded by Yoshitaka Fujimoto
Category:Episodes directed by Toshiaki Suzuki
Category:Episodes animated by Izumi Shimura
Category:Episodes with Gym battles
Category:Episodes in which an alternately colored Pokémon appears
de:Der Drachenzahn von Ebenholz
es:EP254
fr:EP252
it:OA136
ja:無印編第252話
zh:宝可梦 第253集