Charmander - The Stray Pokémon

**Charmander - The Stray Pokémon** (Japanese: **はぐれポケモン・ヒトカゲ** *Stray Pokémon - Hitokage*) is the eighteenth episode of season 1 of Pokemon Legends.

## Summary/Synopsis

*Our friends, lost, discover an injured Charmander. Evolite talks to it and learns that it's been waiting a long time for its trainer to return.*

*Later, at a Pokémon Center, we overhear a Trainer bragging about abandoning his Charmander. Nanette confronts the trainer, named Damian, who challenges her to a battle. Nurse Joy breaks things up and reminds everyone that Pokémon are not to be used for settle personal disputes.*

*Nanette and Hilda rush to retrieve the Charmander. It's not only threatened by a driving rain that could extinguish its flame, it's also under attack by a flock of Spearow! Fortunately, Hilda is able to make the Spearow scatter with a new move just so the Charmander could be saved.*

*They return to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy says the Charmander requires an overnight stay.*

*When our friends wake up the next morning, however, the Charmander is gone...and Jim is missing!*

*Is the Charmander still loyal to the neglectful Damian? Will Damian ever learn that a Trainer must be responsible for his Pokémon? Will Team Rocket's latest trap finally succeed? And can Karen and Lucas find their brother before they reach him?!*

## Plot

Everyone apparently loses their way en route to Vermilion City, frustrating Misty. The group stops to consult Brock's map, and Nanette determines that the trail they are following intersects Route 24, which in turn leads straight to Vermilion City. Brock is satisfied and puts the map away. But, as they move, a large shadow suddenly falls across their path. Soon, the sunlight's intensity dims, revealing a Charmander sitting upon a rock. After checking her Rotom Phone, Yvonne is happy that she has a chance to catch a Charmander since she loves Fire-types. Brock points out how weak its tail flame is, and that it probably needs help. However, Charmander resists Yvonne's attempt to catch it and tells her to leave it alone, but does not say why. Nanette suggests that Yvonne stop, but she refuses and her second attempt also fails. Evolite then climbs up onto the rock and talks to the Charmander. She then comes back down and tells Elaine that Charmander is waiting for someone to come by and pick it up due to the main characters' ability to hear Pokémon talk. Brock decides that if it belongs to someone else, it is best to leave it, and they leave.

Farther down the trail, the heroes discover the Pokémon Center that is on their map, and they enter just as it begins to rain. Despite Brock's concerns, Elizabeth reassures him and points out that there is no way the Charmander would have waited around that long. However, they overhear laughter nearby, and look over to see a Trainer named Damian surrounded by a group of friends. They listen in on his conversation, Damian reveals that he had a Charmander, but since it was so weak, he left it on a rock out in the middle of the woods promising to return for it, though he admits he has no intention of doing so. Everybody concludes that the Charmander they saw and that based on Damian's description are one and the same. This pushes the normally calm Brock and personable Cheren over the edge, and they and an out-of-control Nanette confront Damian, demanding he retrieve his Charmander. Elizabeth tells Dragonet to burn him with Ember (telling her to stab him in the original), making fun of him in her head that he just hears her saying her name, and Fiona tells Muddy and Anna to "kick-smash his skull." Damian pushes them off, but Misty and an enraged Bianca soon arrive to back up Brock and Cheren. However, Nurse Joy stops them and tells them to never use their Pokémon as weapons in arguments. After Damian and his crew leave, Nanette and Hilda hurry back to find Charmander.

The duo races back through the pouring rain towards the rock where the Charmander is, and find it under attack from a gang of Spearow. Nanette tries to drive them off by throwing a rock at them, but the Spearow turn their attention to the two friends. Hilda really loses it and uses Ember by kicking the rocks to scare the Spearow off. After that, she and Nanette quickly wrap Charmander up in their raincoats and race back to the Pokémon Center, begging Nurse Joy to help. Initially, Nurse Joy is angry at the girls, but Elizabeth explains that it was Damian that left the Charmander there, taking advantage of Charmander's loyalty. Brock pleads with Nurse Joy to save the Charmander, and she promises to do whatever she can. After an intense and distressing wait, Nurse Joy finally comes out of the operating room and reports that Charmander has pulled through, and it will be fine by morning.

Morning arrives, and the shout of the Porters cause Nanette to fall off the couch. It turns out that not only has Charmander disappeared from the emergency room, but Jim also went missing. Elizabeth is certain that the Charmander has simply gone back to the rock. Brock wants to go after it again, but Misty points out that it is no use. Even though Damian does not care about it, the Charmander is still stubbornly loyal to him. Although Brock is still disappointed, everyone leaves the Pokémon Center. Meanwhile, up ahead, Team Rocket has just finished digging another pitfall trap for the twerps. However, most of the Pokemon's light weight does not activate the trap. Jessie and James argue over who is responsible for this failure, until Meowth silences them with scratches to the face. The humans, being a lot heavier, end up triggering the trap and everyone (minus Nanette, Karen and Lucas, who jump) falls into the hole. Team Rocket then appears, laughing at the fact that their trap worked. Nanette tries to shock them using the Électrique Élémen, but Team Rocket's rubber uniforms insulate them against electricity. She then tries to run, but they release a special hoop that traps Nanette and leaves her unable to be freed.

Team Rocket prepare to leave with Nanette in tow, though Charmander, Karen, Lucas and, surprisingly, Jim, confront them. Charmander orders them to free Nanette and not steal all the Pokemon the humans have. Team Rocket refuses, and warn Charmander to beat it or else. Charmander responds by closing its eyes, focusing hard, and unleashing a massive Flamethrower combined with the siblings' combo attack, which roasts Team Rocket. They free Nanette and flee, all the while ranting about how Charmander roasted them. They pass Damian in the process, causing him to express shock that Charmander had managed to beat them. Everyone else, having gotten out of the pit, thank Charmander for its help, and Nanette asks Charmander if it wants to come along with them. However, Damian arrives and claims that he has come back for Charmander, just as he promised. Damian goes on to say that abandoning Charmander had made it stronger. Despite retorts from the heroes, Damian brags about his methods of treating and training Pokémon. When he tries to recall Charmander by throwing his Poké Ball, it rejects him as its trainer by throwing the ball back at him with its tail. Enraged, Damian attempts to attack Charmander with all his Poké Balls. Charmander responds with a Flamethrower, followed by everyone else's attacks, which are aimed at Damian and prompt him to flee. After some negotiation, Yvonne admits that Nanette should have Charmander, and the Fire-type Pokémon happily jumps into Nanette's Poke Ball with the Trainer giving her new friend the name Sunny.

## Major Events

* It is revealed that all of the all-time main characters (at the time; minus Brock and Misty) always hear the voices of Pokemon from the start, and so does the audience.
* Fiona is revealed to have a Buneary.
* Hilda learns Ember.
* Jim is revealed to have lost the signs of corruption, much to the Porters and the Daisy Sisters' delight.
* Nanette catches a Charmander.

## Characters

#### **Humans**

* Nanette Daisy
* Marina Daisy
* Glorysia Melody
* Karyll Aguilar
* Red Fire
* Green Leaf
* Chase Ketchum
* Elaine Gabena
* Ethan Gold
* Lyra Silver
* Brendan Birch
* May Maple
* Lucas Diamond
* Dawn Berliz
* Barry Pearl
* Verity Platinum
* Sorrel Virile
* Hilbert Miller
* Hilda Mari
* Bianca Tulip
* Cheren Harkabune
* Nate Miller
* Rosa Mari
* Calem Xavier
* Serena Yvonne
* Elio Sunne
* Selene Moonne
* Mallow Flores
* Lillie Aether
* Lana Davis
* Pollen Yellow
* Victor Woods
* Gloria Tate
* Jim Porter
* Leah Rosie
* Parker Robertson
* Karen Porter
* Lucas Porter
* Asumi Breeze
* Elizabeth Storybook
* Bloom Peters
* Flora Gabena
* Stella Star
* Musa
* Tecna
* Aisha
* Roxy Page
* Chloe Porter
* Mirta Springriver
* Amelia Porter
* Lily Porter
* Ellie Porter
* Jane Springriver
* Brianna Porter
* Fiona Woods
* Marie Fragans
* Yvonne Burns
* Jessie
* James
* Brock Harrison
* Charlie Garcia
* Charlene Garcia
* Misty Waterflower
* Nurse Joy
* Damian
* Trainers (multiple)

#### **Pokemon**

* Tepig (Nanette's, Gigi)
* Popplio (Nanette's, Jessica)
* Fennekin (Glorysia's, Skylinda)
* Riolu (Glorysia's, Kestin)
* Charmander (Red's, Char)
* Bulbasaur (Green's, Saur)
* Clefairy (Green's, Limey)
* Pikachu (Chase's, Ashton)
* Eevee (Elaine's, Evolite)
* Oddish (Elaine's, Olive)
* Star Lucario (Jim's, formerly Ryu)
* Charizard (Jim's, Flaris)
* Chespin (Jim's, Chester)
* Rotom (Elizabeth's)
* Ninja Dragonet (Elizabeth's, Bubbles/Dragonet)
* Castform (Elizabeth's, Casty)
* Cherrim (Elizabeth's, Bluey)
* Scorbunny (Bloom's, Kiko)
* Chikorita (Flora's, Plante)
* Eevee (Stella's, Whiteley)
* Bounsweet (Musa's, Stena)
* Rotom (Tecna's, Tony)
* Piplup (Aisha's, Pippy)
* Scorbunny (Chloe's, Wilbur)
* Ralts (Ellie's, Venus)
* Pikachu (Amelia's, Pika)
* Spiky-Eared Eevee (Amelia's, Emily)
* Carbink (Jane's, Carl)
* Sobble (Jane's, Sobby)
* Diancie (Mirta's, Dia)
* Torchic (Mirta's, Fire)
* Squirtle (Mirta's, Squirt)
* Pachirisu (Lily's, Risa)
* Riolu (Lily's, Lu)
* Buneary (Lily's, Bunny)
* Eevee (Lily's, Hearty)
* Cyndaqil (Parker's, Enrico)
* Honedge (Parker's, Shielder)
* Kubfu (Leah's, Jay)
* Rotom (Leah's, Joule)
* Swablu (Leah's, Cloudy)
* Spritzee (Marie's; Citronelle)
* Bounsweet (Marie's; Reena)
* Cherrim (Marie's; Pinkie)
* Clefairy (Marie's, Clefy)
* Vulpix (Yvonne's; Pixie)
* Eevee (Yvonne's; Flare)
* Cherrim (Yvonne's; Reddie)
* Ninja Dragonet (Fiona's; Pumpkin Bread)
* Mudbray (Fiona's; Muddy)
* Cherrim (Fiona's; Brownie)
* Buneary (Fiona's; Anna, debut)
* Meowth (Team Rocket)
* Ninja Dragonet (Carrot Cake)
* Ninja Dragonet (Pudding)

## Scripts

* Japanese Version
* Italian Nick Version
* Italian Clieume Version
* Italian DuArt Version
* English Nick Version
* English Clieume Version
* English DuArt Version
* 4Kids Version
* Viz Version

## Trivia

* This is the second episode of the 4-part Kanto starter arc. Nanette catches the Fire-type starter Pokémon in this part.
* This is the first episode mentioning that Pokémon could die. The first time this actually happens will concern Catie in a future episode.
* It is revealed in this episode that using a battle to settle a personal argument is frowned upon, and that Pokémon battles are not supposed to occur in Pokémon Centers. Ironically, the Cable Club, where players can link up to battle exists exclusively in Pokémon Centers, and in fact neighbors the healing counter in the Generation I games.
* This is one of the episodes where Jim uses a weapon, as he pulls out the FGM-899 from his black extraspatial backpack to attempt to blast the Team Rocket Trio away.

#### **Errors**

* Charmander's eye shape changes to resemble that of a Charizard whenever zoomed in upon.
* In one scene, Nanette is missing her hair bow.
* After Nurse Joy stops running, two extra footsteps are heard.
* When Nanette is running from Team Rocket's hoop, her hair is dark purple while her eyes are pink.
* When Jim, his siblings and the Charmander confront the Team Rocket trio, Karen wears clothes similar to Jim's, Lucas's t-shirt is ultramarine blue and Jim wears his casual from TGVA.
* When Elizabeth and Fiona hear Dragonet and Anna talking, Damian just hears them saying their names. However, when he mocks them saying their names when he thinks they're just pretending (asking what drugs they've been snorting in the original), he accidentally mocks Dragonet saying "Shita! Shita-sakan!" to his ears instead of "Net!" The same mistake was made with Anna, where he mocks "Mimi!" instead of "Buneary!" He mocks Rotom correctly, however, since its name is not changed.

#### **Dub Edits**

* In the original Japanese version, Damian mentions to his friends that Charmander was so weak that it couldn't defeat a Poliwag. The English version changes it into the weakest opponents, which created a dialog error when Brock immediately remarks Charmander is naturally weak against Water-type Pokémon.
* Touko's swearing to the Spearow is bleeped out in the dub.
* In the original, Nijiko tells Shitasakan-chan to "teach this idiot a lesson" while pointing her kunai at Daisuke. In the dub, it is changed to her charging up an Ember on her fin due to it looking too much like blackmailing somebody at knifepoint, despite Ninja Dragonets' blades being considered exempt from 4Kids' no-knife-except-when-eating rule.
	+ Daisuke also calls Shitasakan-chan a "Miltank" due to being heavily pregnant, which is supposed to be a substitute for the sexist term. In the dub, he simply mockingly tells Elizabeth she looks silly using a pregnant Pokémon as a weapon.
		- Bel calls Daisuke a "nig\*\*\*ren" after overhearing it, which is bleeped out in the dub.
* A counter with a sign saying "20+" is visible in the background of the Pokémon Center where a bunch of adults are sitting with bottles of sake. The 4Kids dub makes the sign blank and changes the drinks to soda.
* In the original, Daisuke asks Nijiko and Fubuki what drugs they've been snorting when they (appear to from his perspective) have a conversation with Anna, Rotom, and Shitasakan-chan. The 4Kids dub changes it to him thinking they're just pretending to avoid drug references.

#### **Easter Eggs**

* When the heroes are facing off against Damian and his friends, Nanette's eyes are glowing completely white.
* Karyll sings "Jump Up, Super Star!" from *Super Mario Odyssey*.