Road Work in Progress

Just like it happened with Jessie, the stoic and somber Sabrina cannot resist Haunter's playful nature, and breaks into an uncontrollable laughter that also infects her Kadabra. Unable to battle, she has to forfeit, making Ash the earner of the Marsh Badge.

Misty, Brock, and Sabrina's mom are restored back to their human form. The jogging man finally gets his family back. Haunter stays with its new friend Sabrina. And Team Rocket? They are cementing their bond with Saffron City.

Team Rocket is grounded for the time being.

Season 1 - Episode 24

"Haunter vs. Kadabra"

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The Decisive Match

Ash finds Team Rocket at the bottom of the pot hole they created upon hitting the street, and realizes that Haunter was trying to stop them from stealing Pikachu. He begs the Ghost Pokémon to help him against Sabrina, and it agrees to come with him.

Back again at the Gym, it looks like Haunter has run away once more, which means that Pikachu will have to battle Kadabra for the second time. Unexpectedly, Haunter appears in front of Sabrina, and starts pulling faces again and playing pranks on her.

The final match at Sabrina's Gym.

Season 1 - Episode 24

"Haunter vs. Kadabra"

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Downtown Saffron City

In order to defeat Sabrina, Ash walks the streets of Saffron searching for the missing Haunter. Unbeknownst to him, Team Rocket is surveilling the city from a high-rise window-cleaning cradle, looking for Pikachu.

Haunter startles the trio, making James and Meowth tumble over, while Jessie holds them and hangs from the cradle. The Ghost Pokémon starts pulling faces until Jessie breaks in laughter, and Team Rocket falls to the street below.

It's a long way to the street below.

Season 1 - Episode 24

"Haunter vs. Kadabra"

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Sabrina's Childhood Home

Re-materializing in a safe place, Ash is in disbelief at how evil Sabrina is. The jogging man, who is her father, tells him she was not always this way. As a toddler, Sabrina lived in a loving home with mom and dad, but when her psychic powers manifested, she changed.

She spent her entire time developing her abilities, and when her parents tried to make her stop, she destroyed the house, turned mom into a rag doll, and drove dad away. Refusing all human contact, Sabrina's powers became her obsession.

Sabrina's Childhood Home.

Season 1 - Episode 24

"Haunter vs. Kadabra"

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Sabrina's Gym

Haunter has disappeared, leaving Ash high and dry. None of his Pokémon want to battle Sabrina either, and she is ready to make everyone honor their promise to play with her. Terrified of what will happen next, Ash forfeits the match and runs away.

Misty and Brock try to escape as well, but they fall behind, and Sabrina uses her psychic powers to turn them into rag dolls. Just when she is about to do the same to Ash and his Pokémon, the jogging man appears and teleports them away.

Everyone looks for the exit door to escape from Sabrina.

Season 1 - Episode 24

"Haunter vs. Kadabra"

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Sabrina's Gym

Misty and Brock are not too optimistic that Ash will be able to defeat Sabrina, even with Haunter's help; after all, she is very powerful, and so is her Kadabra. Ash, however, is confident that he will succeed, and so, they go into the gym together.

Sabrina, levitating away from her throne, accepts the rematch, warning everyone that if she wins, they will become her playthings again; then, she sends Kadabra to the combat stage. Ash calls on Haunter to fight, but it is nowhere to be found.

Sabrina's self-appointed throne.

Season 1 - Episode 24

"Haunter vs. Kadabra"

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Kanto Route 8

Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu leave Lavender Town, accompanied by Haunter; their destination is Saffron City. Ash hopes that Haunter, a Ghost Pokémon, can help him with Sabrina's Psychic Pokémon, Kadabra.

While initially spooked by it, Misty has grown fond of Haunter, who only wants to play and have fun; Brock, however, maintains his distance, because he is still frightened after the experience they all had at Lavender Town.

Kanto Route 8 connects Saffron City and Lavender Town.

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

Lavender Town in a Kanto Region Map

 "The Noble Purple Town."

Lavender Town is located in eastern Kanto. Although much smaller than the other main cities in the region, it is renown for being the location of the haunted Pokémon Tower, where "Becalm the Spirits of Pokémon." Lavender connects to Saffron City via Route 8 to the west, to the Rock Tunnel via Route 10 to the north, and to the Silence Bridge via Route 12 to the south.

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Pokémon Tower

After their out-of-body experience, Ash and Pikachu return to their physical forms, and wake up to find Misty and Brock desperately trying to revive them. The next morning, the gang leaves the Pokémon Tower, but someone else is coming along. 

Haunter had so much fun with Ash and Pikachu, that it decided to come with them to Saffron City. Meanwhile Gastly and Gengar have fun with Jessie, James, and Meowth, who are forced to stay at the indoors playground entertaining the ghosts.

The Pokémon Tower is not so scary anymore.

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

Haunter joins the gang on their journey to Saffron City.

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The Indoors Playground

After being confined in the Pokémon Tower for so long, Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar only want to have friends around with whom to share all the fun their home has to offer, like this indoor playground.

Ash tells them he's enjoyed playing tonight, but he has to leave, because he wants to fulfill his dream of becoming the world's greatest Pokémon master. Despite being saddened by this, the ghosts do not intend to retain him of Pikachu.

Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar only want to have fun.

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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Lavender Town

Haunter pulls the astral forms of the unconscious Ash and Pikachu out of their bodies. Although initially spooked out by the experience, trainer and Pokémon join the three ghosts in a late-night flight around Lavender Town.

After playing a ghostly prank on Misty and Brock, and having fun with Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar, Ash realizes they are not evil and never meant to scare anyone. They just want friends to play with.

Flying around Lavender Town.

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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Back in the Pokémon Tower

Ash enters the tower again, but this time, Misty and Brock are not coming with him. Haunter and Gengar start re-enacting the comedic sketches they saw on TV, but neither Ash nor Pikachu find them funny.

With their feelings hurt, the ghosts phase through the floor, and when Ash jumps to catch them, a chandelier that is barely hanging from the ceiling falls on top of him and Pikachu, making them both pass out.

Back inside the Pokémon Tower.

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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The Dining Room

Ash is happy to oblige, and pulls the string. Instantly, the furniture, silverware, dishes, and even the food start floating in the air and flying in all directions. Spooked by the terrifying phenomenon, trainers and Pokémon alike evacuate the tower.

As soon as everyone leaves, the flying objects return to their proper place in the dining room, and everything is as if nothing had ever happened. Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar giggle at their practical joke.

What in the Poltergeist?

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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Pokémon Tower

Guided by Charmander's flame, Ash and Pikachu enter the Pokémon Tower, begrudgingly followed by Misty and Brock. Exploring the creepy place, the gang opens the doors at the end of a long and eerie hall.

Bracing for the worst, everyone is surprised to find an elegant dining room with a huge spread, fine silverware, and a delicious banquet waiting for them. There is also a pull-string piñata with a note attached to it: "Pull This."

What is at the end of the haunted hall?

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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Pokémon Tower

While Ash tries to convince Misty and Brock to come with him and Pikachu into the tower, Jessie, James, and Meowth, who are already inside, spy the heroes from a window, and plot a strategy to steal Pikachu.

A Gastly suddenly appears, scaring Team Rocket, and their horror screams can be heard even outside. In another part of the tower, a Haunter and a Gengar watch sitcoms on TV, and their innocent laughter echoes through the old building like a supernatural shriek.

"Becalm the Spirits of Pokémon."

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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Kanto Route 8

After having to forfeit the match to Sabrina, Ash was told by the jogging man that a Ghost Pokémon might be able to defeat the powerful gym leader. So, he and his friends travel to Lavender City, where they arrive just before dark.

From Kanto Route 8, they can see Pokémon Tower off in the distance; a place where it is said that Ghost Pokémon like to wander. But they are not the only ones there tonight... Team Rocket has already entered the tower!

The Pokémon Tower in Lavender Town.

Season 1 - Episode 23

"The Tower of Terror"

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Saffron City in a Kanto Region Map

"Shining Golden Land of Commerce"

Saffron City is located in central Kanto. It's the largest city in the entire region. It connects to Cerulean City via Route 5 to the north, to Celadon City via Route 7 to the west, to Vermilion City via Route 6 to the south, and to Lavender Town via Route 8 to the east.

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Kanto Route 8

Only a ghost-type Pokémon may have a chance against Sabrina's Kadabra, explains the jogging man. The closest place where Ash can find one is Lavender Town, so that's where he and his friends are headed if they hope to defeat the powerful gym leader.

The heroes take Kanto Route 8 to the East to reach their next destination. Meowth follows closely, while hauling the still paralyzed bodies of Jessie and James with a rope. It will be a long walk.

Kanto Route 8.

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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Out of the Toybox

Trapped in a miniature town, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Pikachu are subject to Sabrina's cruel games. When they are about to be trampled by her doll's playball, the jogging man appears, and materializes everyone back to the city.

Their savior urges them to leave Saffron City and to never return, because Sabrina is simply too dangerous. Ash refuses to listen and asks the man to show him how to defeat her. Convinced by his relentless determination, the jogging man has a suggestion for Ash.

The gang is teleported back to the city.

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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Sabrina's Dollhouse Toybox

The battle begins, and Pikachu's powers prove useless against the teleportation abilities of Sabrina's Abra. Then, she makes Abra evolve into Kadabra, and use Confusion Attack to turn Pikachu's own Thunder Shock against it.

Kadabra uses Psychic Attack to badly beat Pikachu, and left with no other option, Ash forfeits the match. Sabrina forces him to honor his promise, and with her telekinesis miniaturizes the heroes, and teleports them to her dollhouse toybox.

Sabrina's dollhouse toybox.

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

 

Sabrina's Abra evolves into Kadabra.

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Sabrina's Gym

Disregarding the jogging man's warning, the heroes enter Sabrina's gym. Inside, they see several individuals conducting experiments in telepathy and telekinesis. One of them takes Ash and his friends to the combat stage, which looks more like a temple.

The little girl from before is in the back of the stage. Ash demands a match, and she makes him promise that if he loses, they have to let her play with them. It turns out the little girl is really a doll sitting on the lap of gym leader Sabrina!

The combat stage at Sabrina's Gym.

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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Sabrina's Gym

The little girl from the forest appears in Team Rocket's control room, and emanating a bright aura around her, she freezes Jessie and James in place. Then, she takes Pikachu, and materializes in the sealed room where Ash, Misty, and Brock are being held.

Without saying a word, the little girl uses her abilities again to teleport the gang in front of a large and eerie venue. A bearded man passes by, and advises Ash to stay away from Sabrina's Gym if he wants to enter the Pokémon League; then, he jogs away.

Sabrina's Gym.

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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Saffron City

The gang enters the city, where they are welcomed by a pair of hula girls who throw a huge celebration upon their arrival: they are the one millionth visitors, and as such, Saffron is awarding them a prize.

The hula girls take the trainers to a building, and promptly trap them in a sealed room. Revealing their  true identities, Jessie and James steal Pikachu, and run to their control room, from where they taunt Ash and his friends.

The gate to Saffron City welcomes all visitors.

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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Saffron City

Ash chases after the mysterious girl, but he cannot see anything. Not realizing where he is going, he goes off a tall cliff, but is saved right on time by Bulbasaur, who uses its vines to catch him in mid-air.

The little girl is nowhere to be found, but the good news is that she led them to Saffron, the largest city in the Kanto Region. Now Ash can challenge Sabrina, the gym leader, and earn a Marsh Badge.

Saffron City, shining golden land of commerce

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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A Spooky Forest

On their way to Saffron City the gang gets lost once again; only this time, it's getting dark and the forest is turning spooky. Ash and Misty are fighting over who is at fault, while Brock and Pikachu try to calm things down.

An eerie laughter stops everyone in their tracks. The fog is thick, and barely anything can be seen, but it looks like a little girl is coming out of the woods playing with her ball. Ash tries to talk to her, but she runs back into the darkness.

Spooky much?

Season 1 - Episode 22

"Abra and the Psychic Showdown"

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