Japanese Title: Popocco! Grass Pokémon Battle!!
Original Airdate: December 21st, 2000
US Airdate: November 3rd, 2001
En route to Ecruteak, Ash and company are caught by the sight of a Skiploom racing by. Following after it, they encounter its trainer, Ephram. He and his Skiploom are training for the upcoming annual Grass-Type tournament, a contest for Grass Pokémon only. Confident he can win any local tournament, Ash decides he and Bulbasaur will enter as well. Ephram and his Skiploom train hard as the tournament quickly approaches. However, Ash doesn't think it is necessary for someone of his Pokémon prowess to prepare. Find out who triumphs as young Ephram and Ash face off in the final round of the tournament!Tropes
- Aesop Amnesia: Ash made the same mistake he did in the Indigo League of not training, leading to his eventual defeat by Ephram (who won via stroke of luck).
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Ephram's parents gush about him to the crowd after he wins against James and Victreebel.Ephram's Father: That's our Ephram! Isn't he the greatest little trainer you ever saw?
Ephram's Mother: I always knew my son had talent even when he was a baby! He used to change his own diapers!
Both: We're the proudest Pokemon parents in the whole world!
Ephram: Sometimes I wish they weren't. - Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: Ash doesn't train or prepare at all for his battles in the tournament. Brock knows how this is going to end (albeit via Ephram getting lucky during what was a one-sided battle in Bulbasaur's favor).
- Call-Back: Jessie has Meowth wear the same Sunflora disguise from Grin to Win.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Ash's Bulbasaur crushes Gloom in the first battle.
- Et Tu, Brute?: Invoked by James when not only does Jessie and Meowth steal his lunch, but Wobbuffet too.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Bulbasaur delivers one of these to Skippy for most of the battle.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: Jessie enlists Meowth into the tournament, disguising him as a Sunflora to get past the Grass-type restrictions. Due to Ash's overconfidence, and no one anticipating a Sunflora with Meowth's attacks, Meowth actually dominates Bulbasaur for most of the match, only losing when his disguise is blown.
- Sdrawkcab Alias: James and Jessie are disguised as Semaj and Eissej.
