Japanese Title: Windie and the Fire Stone!
Original Airdate: March 22, 2001
US Airdate: February 16, 2002
On their way to Olivine City, our heroes pass through a dangerous looking canyon full of unstable boulders. When the rocks begin to give way in an avalanche-like fury, a few fiery Pokémon rush to the rescue. Once out of harm's way, Ash, Misty and Brock find they've been rescued by Ramona, her brother Kegan and their three Arcanine. Ramona explains she and her brother were passing through the canyon on their way to deliver a bag of Fire Stones to a town holding a Fire-type Pokémon contest. Intrigued by the agile Pokémon, Ash is interested in learning how to ride the Arcanine. Before he gets far, Team Rocket shows up and steals the bag of Fire Stones. Ramona, Kegan and the gang must split up with the Arcanine to find Team Rocket and reclaim the rocks. Ash and Kegan team up, but after falling into one of the nasty trio's traps, Kegan is unable to guide Arcanine. Ash must rapidly learn how to ride if they are to recover the Fire Stones and save the Pokémon competition.
Tropes
- Breaking the Fourth Wall: Jessie can be briefly heard humming to the music during chase scene.
- Continuity Nod: Snowtop Mountain can be seen in the background at the beginning of the episode.
- Crazy-Prepared: Team Rocket Trio show a surprising level of foresight in this episode, setting up multiple traps and deceptions to slow down the chase and get several occasions to steal Pikachu.
- Horse of a Different Color: Arcanine are used as steeds in this episode.
- Idiot Ball: Twice the heroes held it. It’s clear the writers wanted The Stolen Stones to be the major plot point.
- Misty, Brock, and Ramona first got a hold of it when they see what looked like the bag of fire stones left out in the open, only to fall into a Pit Trap twice as deep.
- After Ash defeats Jessie in a Pokémon battle, he should’ve known that Jessie would not be trusted in giving up the stones that easily. This leads to Ash and Keegan to fall into another Pit Trap, allowing Jessie to snatch Pikachu.
- Instant Expert: It takes just a short training for Ash to learn how to ride Arcanine.
- Near-Villain Victory: One of the few times Team Rocket genuinely came close to winning.
