LAVENDER MAROWAK GHOST

**LAVENDER MAROWAK GHOST** is the twenty seventh episode of Pokémon Red (Animation Series). It aired on December 17, 2021.

## Synopsis

Leaf begins her Gym Battle against Erika, using Vaporeon against the latter's Bellsprout. After Bellsprout lands a super effective Vine Whip, Erika explains that Grass types are strong against Water types. So, Leaf recalls Vaporeon and sends out Ivysaur, only for Erika to explain that the two's Grass typing's will cancel each other out. Still, Ivysaur defeats Bellsprout with a Tackle and Erika calls out Gloom. In turn, Leaf brings out Ninetales, who uses Ember to easily defeat Gloom and win the Rainbow Badge. Along with the Rainbow Badge, Erika gives Leaf the TM Disc containing Mega Drain, so she can teach Ivysaur how to use it.

Meanwhile, Red walks upwards into the Pokémon Tower and puts on the Silph Scope to see what's in front of him. Red sees a Gastly and calls out Golem to help him, but discovers that the Ghost Type Pokémon is unaffected by Tackle. Still, Golem weakens Gastly with Rock Throw, only for Red to see he has no more Great Balls after using all of them to capture Mew. As Red continues going upstairs, a couple of Channler's challenge him to a Pokémon battle. He discovers that none of the Ghost Type Pokémon can attack Doduo properly, prompting him to use the latter in the battles as Gust can hit them.

Later, Mr. Fuji's Granddaughter comes up and meets with Red, explaining that she is looking for her grandfather. It is revealed that Mr. Fuji is held prisoner by Team Rocket, but is using a spiritual ritual to have a spirit defend him from the criminals. Red and Mr. Fuji's Granddaughter get to the top level, and the latter's Cubone notices something familiar with the spirit. The spirit calms down and Red, through the Silph Scope, sees that it is Cubone's mother, Marowak.

After Mr. Fuji joins Red and his granddaughter, the trio use Golem, Haunter, and Cubone to defeat Team Rocket's Pokémon, with Cubone using Bone Club to defeat a Golbat. Team Rocket retreats as Mr. Fuji senses that the spirits of the deceased Pokémon are at peace once again. Suddenly, Red feels the presence again and turns around to see Blue's Raticate behind him. Red apologizes to Raticate for accidentally killing it on the SS Anne, but the latter forgives him as he saw how the former paid respects to it along with Blue when he first entered Lavender Town. With their spirits at peace, Raticate and Marowak move on to the other world, all while Red and the Fuji's watch on. Later that day, Red and the Fuji's rest at the latter's house, and Mr. Fuji gives the former a Poké Flute. Red heads out afterwards, thanking the Fuji's for their help as Lavender Town is at peace.

Red bikes over to Route 16 and plays the Poké Flute to awaken the Snorlax blocking the checkpoint. Snorlax proves to be a tough Pokémon and even knocks out Doduo, Vileplume, and Pikachu when they try attacking it. But once Snorlax uses Rest to heal its wounds, Red uses this opportunity to try and catch the Sleeping Pokémon. Before Red can throw a Poké Ball at it, a Great Ball suddenly appears and captures Snorlax, revealing that Leaf caught it. Red is annoyed that Leaf stole his capture, but the latter instead shows the former what she was up to after they split up. As Leaf brags about winning the Rainbow Badge and being on the cover of Bulbapedia magazine, Red remembers that there was another Snorlax at Route 12. Red flies to Vermilion City, gets an Item Finder from Professor Oak's Aide, and awakens the Snorlax blocking Route 12's crosswalk. With the help of Charizard, Red captures Snorlax and decides to box Golem for the time being so he can train his new Pokémon.

As Red sniffs the air of Lavender Town, the scene flashes forward to his birthday party, where he gets a bottle of Lavender from Mr. Fuji's granddaughter and her Marowak, who evolved from Cubone sometime after the Pokémon Tower battle. Also, Erika hands Red her gift to him before heading back to Leaf's table, as Red feeds his Snorlax a piece of cake.

Meanwhile, a member of Team Rocket, who was present when he saw Marowak's spirit, anonymously donates his Pokémon to Mr. Fuji and quits the organization. Back at Route 16, Blue bikes with Eevee towards the Cycling Path, but is confused over the disappearance of Snorlax. Elsewhere, Oak contacts Daisy, who is at Cherrygrove City making a map of Johto, and tells her about Leaf and the Sevii Islands. As Daisy marks down her map, Red, Blue, and Leaf all continue their Pokémon journey at different locations.

## Cultural References

* **Spider-Man**: The scene where the Team Rocket Grunt throws away his uniform as a sign he is quitting references the iconic panel from Issue 50 of The Amazing Spider-Man comic, titled *Spider-Man No More!*.

## Music Used

* Pokémon Battle Orchestra! Vs Kanto Gym Leader - by Pipevanes
* Lavender Town | Orchestral Version | Dirk J. Neefs - by Dirk J. Neefs
* Lavender Town (Pokémon) - Happy Remix - by MrJgreenwell
* Pokemon Pokeflute Song: Wake Up Snorlax! - by George Sun

## Trivia

* This was the final episode to air in 2021.
* This marks the first appearance of the Johto region and the first appearance of a Generation 2 Pokémon.