Brock figures that if Lt. Surge forced his Pokémon to evolve into Raichu too early, then it never learned the speed and agility moves of a normal Pikachu, and that's where its weakness lies.
Raichu unleashes its strongest Thunderbolt Attack yet, which is so powerful that it destroys the combat stage. When the dust clears, Pikachu is unharmed after it uses its tail to ground itself.
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Pikachu is rushed back to the Pokémon Center for treatment, but its injuries are more emotional than physical, after the terrible defeat. Nurse Joy presents Ash with a possible solution: a Thunder Stone! It can evolve Pikachu into Raichu, and put it in a level field.
Ash considers using the Thunder Stone, but Brock warns him that Pikachu will change forever. Spying through the window, Team Rocket hears how Pikachu passionately refuses to use the stone, choosing instead to fight again as it is, for its honor.
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Lt. Surge sends a Raichu to the combat stage. Just like his trainer, Raichu has a tough attitude, and the power to back it up. Surge gloats that he forced his Pikachu to evolve into Raichu as soon as he got it.
In reality, Pikachu is not prepared for this combat, and receives a brutal beating by Raichu, which is superior in strength and electrical power. Hidden in the bushes behind the Gym, Team Rocket surprisingly laments this outcome.
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After Pikachu is healed, Ash heads to the Vermilion Gym against everyone's advise. There, he meets Lt. Surge, the Gym leader. A giant of a man with a menacing attitude, Surge can't help but laugh at Ash and Pikachu for daring to challenge him.
At first, Pikachu refuses to battle, because it saw how badly hurt the other Pokémon ended up, but after being taunted by Lt. Surge, it has decided to fight.
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After two weeks wandering in the forest, the team finally makes it to Vermilion City. Misty and Brock want to rest and clean up. Ash? He wants to challenge the local gym leader, but his friends make him realize that Pikachu is tired and hungry.
Pikachu is taken to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy and Chansey are overwhelmed. Lately, several Pokémon have been brought for medical attention after losing matches against gym leader, Lt. Surge.
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It turns out that Professor Oak is friends with the lighthouse owner. Bill is a Pokémon researcher, and he believes there are well over 150 different species around the planet.
Bill is particularly interested in a wandering Pokémon that he believes is the largest in existence. He's never seen it, but is sure that one night it will come from across the ocean to visit him. As luck would have it, tonight is that night.
It takes our heroes the rest of the afternoon and most of the night to finally make it to the distant lighthouse. They ring the bell to ask for shelter and a phone, and in exchange Brock will cook for the host. The immense doors open in response.
Inside, the lighthouse is like a medieval throne room, but as promised, there is a phone, and Ash can contact Professor Oak in Pallet Town. Krabby arrived okay and has not been cooked for dinner.
Proving only that he still has much to learn, Misty and Brock explain to Ash that trainers can only carry six Pokémon at a time, and any additional catches are teleported to the place where the trainer got their Pokédex.
Not too confident that his Krabby will be safe with the always-hungry Professor Oak, Ash wants to find a phone to call and ensure his Pokémon is okay. Almost as an answer, Pikachu sees a Lighthouse on a clifftop in a distant cape.
Still lost, and trying to find their way to Vermilion City, the group seems to have made it to Route 25, which leads them to a beautiful beach at sunset. Not hat Ash is too excited about it, because he does not see any Pokémon to catch...
...except for a tiny Krabby that is roaming around in the sand. Figuring that a Pokémon is a Pokémon after all, Ash battles the crustacean by himself, and is able to catch it. Right after, much to his surprise, his Poké Ball de-materializes.
Officer Jenny and the neighbors grant the Squirtle Squad a certificate for saving the town from the flames; and for their courage, they are appointed local firefighters.
As Ash and team leave town, the leader Squirtle follows them, and when offered to join the group, it is more than happy to do so. Now Ash has all three of Kanto's First Partner Pokémon!
Team Rocket is about to get away, when the leader Squirtle uses its Water Gun Attack to puncture their hot air balloon. James drops Pikachu, but Ash leaps to catch it in the air. Team Rocket blasts off!
Now there is a new problem: the flash bombs are burning the forest, and the fire could reach the town. Ash tells the Squirtle Squad to use their Water Guns, and they quickly put the flames out.
Time is running out for Ash to make it back as he promised. Officer Jenny takes him to a secret entrance to the cave behind the mountain, and he barely arrives on time with the Super Potion for Pikachu.
Jessie and James abruptly appear dropping flash bombs from their hot air balloon, while Meowth grabs Pikachu. Ash throws himself on top of the Squirtle Squad leader to protect it from one of the bombs, despite its mischievous behavior.
Ash does not recover his consciousness until the next morning, when a ruckus coming from inside the town shop wakes him up. Jessie and James are robbing the store and force the clerk to give them all the flash powder in stock.
Team Rocket's plan is to grab Pikachu from the cave, and betray the Squirtle Squad. Upon overhearing their plot, Ash gets the Super Potion and asks Officer Jenny to give him a ride back to the cave.
The Squirtle agree to let Ash go to town and get a Super Potion for Pikachu, but if he does not return to this cave by noon the next day, they will do horrible things to Misty... like dying her hair purple!
Ash rushes back to town, but faces many obstacles and trials before he finally gets to the nearest shop. When he is coming in, however, is hit in the face as Gary Oak opens the door to get out, and drops unconscious on the floor.
Ash, Misty, and Brock split from Officer Jenny, but soon are pranked again by one of the Squirtle as they take a break by the river. That same Squirtle tackles Pikachu into the water, where it's horned-attacked by a Goldeen.
The rest of the Squad ties up the trainers before they can react, and are ordered by Meowth to take them to a remote cave. Pikachu gets very sick due to the Goldeen Horn Attack, and Ash begs the Squirtle to let him get medicine.
Across the street from Officer Jenny's substation, and hidden from sight, Team Rocket plans their next mission. Before attacking, they decide to take a lunch break. Little they know they are about to be the Squirtle Squad's next victims.
Jessie, James, and Meowth fall into yet another trap hole, and the Squirtle steal their lunch. Meowth tells them it is Jessie and James' master, and offers them a job: Join Team Rocket and capture Pikachu!
Officer Jenny wants to ensure the young trainers are okay. She has received multiple reports of people being subject to the pranks and practical jokes of the Squirtle Squad.
These are Pokémon that were abandoned or neglected by their owners, and losing confidence in humans, banded together to cause mischief everywhere they go.
Still searching for Route 24, Ash and friends start their new adventure the same way they ended the last one: In a hole! This time, however, they did not fall into a trap set by Team Rocket, but by a group of misfits called The Squirtle Squad.
The trainers climb out of the pit and rebuke the fiendish Pokémon, who won't stop laughing at their practical joke. When the leader of the gang and Pikachu are about to duel, Officer Jenny appears, and all the Squirtle flee.
Seeing how strong Charmander got, Damian decides that now he wants it back. Ash, Misty, and Brock plead with Charmander not to believe Damian, who admits that abandoning it was the best idea, because he didn't have to bother raising it.
Charmander finally realizes that Damian never cared, and rejects him. Teaming up with Pikachu, the two Pokémon get rid of the obnoxious trainer in a fiery and electric blaze. With a new member and friend, the group leaves and keeps looking for Route 24.
Realizing that Charmander will not come with them, Ash and friends leave the Pokémon Center, and continue their search for Route 24. Not long after, they fall into a trap set on the road by Team Rocket, and Pikachu is captured.
When all hope seems lost, Charmander appears and saves Pikachu with its Flamethrower Move. As the charred Team Rocket runs away, Damian shows up having witnessed the impressive attack.
