Excited about getting closer to Saffron City, and Niko's chance of getting his sixth badge, our heroes continue their journey with surprises around every turn! But first, they stop by a nearby lake.
Niko: Cool! Check out this giant lake!
Duplica: It's so beautiful.
Kota: Hmm. If memory serves, this lake is known as Lake Slowpoke. It's also called the Lake of Enlightenment.
Niko: Lake of Enlightenment? What's that?
Duplica: Beats me.
Kota: Enlightenment. It means to gain higher knowledge.
Niko: I think I get it. He said but was still having trouble understanding.
Eevee: Vee. (I don't)
Jessie & James: HAHAHAHA!!!
Jessie: They don't know what enlightenment means.
James: Then maybe it's time we enlighten them!
Kota: Huh?! Who's there!?
Jessie: Prepare for trouble from under the ground!
James: And make it double with a deafening sound! They burst through the ground.
Jessie: To protect the world from devastation!
James: To unite all peoples within our nation!
Jessie: To denounce the evils of truth and love!
James: To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie: Enlightened Jessie.
James: Enlightened James.
Jessie: All-knowing Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!
James: Surrender now and face the truth, or prepare to fight, fight, fight!
Meowth: Meowth! Dat's right!
Niko: You guys again!?
Duplica: You three are as enlightened as a dim lightbulb!
Kota: But this is odd. You three don't show up so early.
Niko: Yeah.
Jessie: True, we used to spend our mornings digging holes and waiting around for that twerp and his Pikachu to fall into them.
James: We've tried that whole dig a hole and wait plan a hundred times and it rarely works.
Meowth: But we've got a special one for you twerps!
Jessie: So now, first we dig the hole...
James: Then we wait for you to come along...
Meowth: And den we pop out!
Niko, Duplica & Kota: 💧
Niko: Oh yeah?
Kota: That's impressive.
Duplica: You've....really put a lot of thought into this. They all said with blank sarcasm.
Jessie: Yes, glad you think so. Hey! Was that sarcasm!? She said furious. Now you made it personal so let's just settle it right here!
James: Yeah!
Meowth: Let's rumble!
Niko: Bring it on!
Eevee: Vee! (Yeah)
But before they could commence their battle, a yellow flag was raised. Everyone looks to see a Slowpoke holding it.
Everyone: Slowpoke?
Eevee: Vee? (Slowpoke)
The Slowpoke moves between them and jumps onto a rock. It then turns around and sticks its tail into the water.
Duplica: Um. Something tells me it's not gonna move anytime soon.
Niko: Slowpoke's are kinda weird like that. Wave's Slowbro was totally different. Niko remembered Wave's powerful partner.
Pokédex: Slowpoke, the Dopey Pokémon. Incredibly slow and dopey. It takes 5 seconds for it to feel pain when under attack.
Jessie: Get lost, pea-brain!
James: You're trespassing on our battlefield, bucko!
Meowth: Amscray!
???: Stop right there! They all look to see who said that.
???: You're the ones who are trespassing! That happens to be Slowpoke's very favorite spot.
Duplica: That maybe so...
Niko: But, I don't see anything special about that spot.
James: Yes, he's right!
Jessie: Besides, who might you be?
???: My name is Madeleine. And I'm a student training at the Slowpoke Temple right up the road.
Niko: Slowpoke Temple? Niko imagined a bunch of Slowpoke's praying at a temple.
Kota: I can assure you it's nothing like that.💧
Madeleine: Yes. Our lives are dedicated to pondering the meaning of existence, the same as this Slowpoke.
Niko: But, what's it pondering about?
Duplica: Its impossible to tell what a Slowpoke's thinking.
Madeleine: Yes, that's right. But this Slowpoke is actually thinking about why it's a Slowpoke.
Jessie: I know why.
James: Me, too.
Meowth: Sos it can lay dere lookin' dopey, right?
Madeleine: No, you're missing my point. For example, who are you young man? She asked Niko.
Niko: Uh, me?
Madeleine: Who are you really? What is your true essence?
Niko: My essence? Niko was confused by the question. My name is Niko, but I'm not sure what my essence is.
Madeleine: Let me try again. This creature's name is Slowpoke, but remember that Slowpoke is just a name it was given from birth, so what is its true inner self?
Niko: Oh. Well, I'm Niko from Pallet Town.
Duplica: When I think of myself, all I think is me, Duplica.
Kota: Kota. Plain and simple.
Madeleine: And what about you three?
Jessie: Well, prepare for trouble!
James: But, we just did that, Jess.
Jessie: Oh. So, who am I? My name is Jessie the wise and gorgeous.
James: And I'm James, the less inflated Team Rocket member.
Meowth: And I'm, just Meowth.
Madeleine: I, like you, have a name, and that's Madeleine. But I still have yet to understand my presence here on our planet. I have spent the last ten years of my life hoping to reach enlightenment.
Niko: Ten years!?
Eevee: Eevee! (That's a lot)
Madeleine: I'm not concerned at all about the length of time. What's important is the step by step progress that I've made. Since it appears none of us have reached enlightenment yet, why don't you all come with me? Maybe you could come to my beloved temple and live and study right alongside me. Or, at least, come for lunch.
Team Rocket: You said lunch? As if one cue, their stomachs rumble all at once.
Jessie: Let's go.
James: We'll go with you and find our true nature.
Meowth: Or at least a really good grilled cheese sandwich and some potato chips.
Duplica: What do you think?
Niko: Sounds like it could be fun.
Kota: A little meditation couldn't hurt.
Madeleine: Alright then! Let's head on over there, okay? Our heroes and Team Rocket soon arrive at the temple.
Madeleine: This is the Slowpoke Temple. It's a very old temple, but thousands of people still come here for training.
Niko: Wow! So many Slowpoke's!
Duplica: But why is it called the Slowpoke Temple?
Madeleine: Well, this area has been home to many Slowpoke for generations. And hundreds of years ago, a priest achieved enlightenment while meditating with the Slowpoke right on this spot. The temple was built in his honor and named the Slowpoke Temple.
Kota: So, I suppose all those years ago, that priest found the truth?
Niko: The Truth?
Madeleine: Take a look over there. She gestured to her right.
Madeleine: That statue stands at the very heart of this temple.
Jessie: What?!
James: Is that...?!
Meowth: Made outta, uh, gold?! The three grew greedy grins on their faces. Eventually, the group sits down for lunch.
Madeleine: Please, dig in.
Everyone: Thank you. As they began to eat, they noticed some people pass by.
Duplica: So, did those people come here to learn about the training?
Madeleine: That's right. By the way, there was someone else studying here from Pallet Town.
Niko: Really? Who was it? He asked, curious.
Madeleine: A young man named Trace.
Niko: Trace was here?
Madeleine: He was only interested in studying the most rigorous training possible, challenge training. There's certainly no doubt Trace will become an elite Pokémon trainer one day.
Niko: Challenge training?
Duplica: Oh, boy. I know that look.
Niko: Alright! I'll do the challenge training too! He proclaimed.
Madeleine: Great. Good for you. And what would you three like to do? She asked Team Rocket.
Jessie: Training, you mean?
James: What now?
Jessie: Let's go through the motions until we can grab that gold.
Meowth: Dat shiny Slowpoke will shoot us straight to da top of da boss' A-list!
Jessie: We're in!
James: I suppose I could attain something.
Meowth: Enlighten me!
Niko: Hey, what are you three up to? Niko asked skeptical.
Duplica: Bet they're up to no good again.
Jessie: What? How dare you!
James: You're not the only one who wants to learn truth!
Meowth: We do, too!
Duplica: Uh-huh. She said not believing a word.
Jessie: Please. We admit that we may have occasionally gone astray.
James: And perhaps made a touch of trouble for you folks.
Jessie: It's simply not fair that you as the judge and jury should sentence us so harshly.
James: And keep your fellow man from the truth!
Meowth: I object!
Everyone: Wow.
Madeleine: You're right. Attaining enlightenment has nothing to do with being good or bad. You can stay here and train as long as your minds allow you.
Team Rocket: Thank you! Hooray!
Later, Madeleine shows the others the training grounds.
Madeleine: This group is doing a kneeling meditation.
Ditto: Ditto. (Neat)
Duplica: Look at that. People and Pokémon meditating. One of the meditators starts to move, only to get smacked by a wooden board. So, you can't even scratch an itch?
Madeleine: The purpose is to master one's mind and eliminate idle thoughts. Try it.
Jessie: You mean, I'm supposed to try and think of nothing at all?
James: But I've got enough idle thoughts at least to fill the whole room.
Meowth: Dat's for sure.
Niko: I'll give it a try. They all sat down and meditated as they began to clear their minds of distractions. Hmm. Niko sat in silence, but his mind began to wander.
He imagined himself riding an Articuno flying off into the horizons with the other legendary Pokémon. Niko giggled a bit at the thought.
SMACK
Niko: Ow! He winced. I think I'm off to a bad start.
At the same time, Duplica was imagining herself as a world famous performer with a circus full of Ditto's. Kota saw himself and a fully evolved Machop conquering the Fighting Pokémon tournament.
SMACK SMACK
Duplica: This is harder than it looks.
Kota: It's just like my training from back home. He chuckled.
SMACK SMACK SMACK
Team Rocket: Ow!
Jessie: Enough of you and that stick!
James: I had just fallen into a deep sleep!
Meowth: Nobody likes a bully, you know!
Niko: This sure is hard to pull off.
Madeleine: Niko, why don't we move on to the next step? Madeleine takes them to where their training will continue. Here is the sight of your next stage of training. You'll be required to scrub and wax every inch of every hallway throughout the temple. Everyone was let down by that thought.
Duplica: But, eont that take us all day to clean?
Madeleine: But, my dears, you have all the time in the world to get them perfectly clean. So relax and enjoy. She said walking away.
James: Well, my world has just run out of time.
Duplica: This is supposed to be relaxing?
Niko: Let's get to it. Niko grabs the mop and starts cleaning the floor. This is easy! What, you guys can do it?
Jessie: Why, you...
James: Perhaps you've heard the commonly used phrase "eat my dust"!
Jessie: Out of our way!
James: Yeah! The two grab their mops and charge straight ahead.
Meowth: I wanna help clean, too!
Kota: Feel like joining in?
Duplica: Uh-huh. The two of them join in.
Jessie: We've had part time jobs!
James: No way you'll be able to beat us at manual labor!
Niko: We'll see!
Kota: No need to rush.
Duplica: Yeah. Take your time. Niko runs alongside Jessie and James. But he soon picks up speed shocking them and passes the finish line marked by Ditto and Eevee.
Niko: Score one for me! He cheered.
Eevee: Vee Vee! (Total victory)
Jessie: No! We lost!
Kota: Cleaning sure works up a sweat.
Duplica: Well at least we're done.
Meowth: Yippee.
CLAP CLAP CLAP
Everyone looks to see Madeleine clapping.
Madeleine: Excellent run, everyone. It was a great race, but...
Everyone: But?
Madeleine: Take a look. They looks back and see trails of mop water everywhere. Very entertaining, but with all those missed spots, I hardly call it clean. So you'll have to do it all over again.
Jessie: Again?
Niko: I guess we did get carried away.
Madeleine: There's no time to rest. You have plenty of training yet to go once you're finished with this.
Everyone: More training!? Later, the group finally finish cleaning.
Jessie: Finished.
Meowth: What do we do next?
James: Hello?! Have you forgotten the real reason why we're breaking our battered backs?!
Meowth: Tell me again.
James: We're biding our time until the time is right to rob them of that golden Slowpoke.
Jessie: Yes, of course! James and I will make a plan. Meowth, you keep everybody thinking we're legit by training that tail of yours off.
Meowht: Yeah! You got it!
Niko: Hey! The others show up.
Duplica: You three done here?
James: The whole hall?
Jessie: Are those, fishing poles?
Kota: Yeah. It looks like fishing is the next part in training.
Niko: We should all get going.
James: Oh! My back!
Duplica: You alright?
Jessie: All of that cleaning really wore me out.
James: My aching everything.
Meowth; Dere's no way dese two are in any condition to go fishin'.
Duplica: I'm sorry to hear that. Guess when you get older you're bound to go through this. She said innocently.
Jessie: (quietly) That little.
James: (quietly) Calm down, Jess. I think we'll just stay here for a little quiet meditation.
Niko: Right. See you there.
Kota: Get some rest. The three depart to the lake.
Jessie and James: Happy enlightening! The two take this chance to set their plan into motion.
Jessie: So, let's carry this baby out.
James: Carry it how?!
Jessie: Oh, these things are always hollow, anyway, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Oh! I know how! Our heroes arrive at the lake where Slowpoke was still sitting.
Everyone: Wow!
Duplica: Slowpoke hasn't moved one bit since earlier. Suddenly, Slowpoke's tail caught a Goldeen.
Niko: Wow! It's huge! However, Slowpoke let the Goldeen go.
Duplica: It let it go?
Madeleine: My dear, the goal is not to catch. The goal is simply to fish. Slowpoke catches a Magikarp and a Seel.
Meowth: But aren't fishin' and catchin' da same?!
Niko: I know it's not the goal, but can I try to catch one?
Madeleine: Do your best. Niko walks over to the lake and launches its reel. Niko waits for a bite, but so far nothing.
Niko: Weird. Nothing.
Meowth: My pole's as empty as I am.
Duplica: If we're supposed to be training...
Kota: Then I don't think we're very good at it.
Niko: Hey! Maybe I can send out Poliwhirl and it can ask them why they're not biting. Niko goes to grab his Pokéball in his bag, but he accidentally knocks Meowth into the water.
Meowth: WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Splash
Niko: Oops. My bad. 💧
Meowth: 'He's an even bigger klutz than James!' He looks around. Check it out! Dis place is crawlin' with gobs of water Pokemon! But we can't catch a single one! Guess I might as well ask em why. After a while, Meowth resurfaces. Okay, twoips, here's da lowdown. Dose water Pokemon down dere can tell when someone's wantin' to capture em. So dey won't bite down on dose fisherman's hooks.
Niko: But what about Slowpoke?
Meowth: Dat's because Slowpoke has no interest in capturin' any of does water Pokemon. Slowpoke's just here to gain knowledge and da Pokemon know dat dere's no catch!
Kota: I think I understand. This must be about that idle mind thing.
Duplica: Oh. So that's what all this training is all about.
Madeleine: Yes, that's right. You see, this Slowpoke has been working at this for many years. That right? Slowpoke catches a Shellder.
Kota: Slowpoke caught a Shellder!
Duplica: Oh wow!
Madeleine: So, now, do you see? This is what enlightenment is.
Duplica: Really? Why?
Madeleine: In this case, Shellder represents the hopes and dreams we don't fulfill by trying too hard. By training its mind properly, Slowpoke was able to catch Shellder.
Kota: Now I'm getting it.
Niko: Cool. I guess we owe Slowpoke a big thanks.
Meanwhile, Team Rocket was getting away with the gold statue.
Jessie: We've swiped your statue, now let us through!
James: Which we've cleverly propped on our bike built for two! Look, Jess! I'm enlightened!
Jessie: See? What can come to those who have no idle thoughts? She laughs. Oh, please. Our heroes hear what's going on.
Niko: Huh? Do you hear that? They look to see the statue heading towards them.
Kota: Oh no!
Duplica: That statue!
Madeleine: Who did this?! Meowth runs over to the statue.
Niko: I think I know who's behind this.
Duplica: Jessie and James. The statue quickly comes over.
Kota: Madeleine! Slowpoke!
Jessie and James: We're coming through!
Everyone: Watch out!
Madeleine: It's alright. Slowpoke's enlightened now. Slowpoke stands up as it and Shellder begin to glow. Slowpoke had know evolved into Slowbro.
Meowth: It's a Slowbro!
Jessie: So, ask me if I care!
James: Better move or it'll be a Slow-pancake!
Madeleine: Slowbro, Confusion! Slowbro uses its power to levitate the statue.
James: What's going on?! Slowbro moves the statue around with the flag it was holding, shaking Jessie and James out of it until they land on Meowth.
Madeleine: Now, Slowbro, send our statue back to where it came from! Slowbro did just that.
Duplica: Oh wow!
Niko: Slowbro really is amazing!
Kota: Bit that still pretty dangerous. What would have happened if Slowbro didn't evolve just now?
Madeleine: Well, since Slowpoke has been seeking enlightenment its whole life, I knew exactly what it meant when Slowpoke finally caught that Shellder. Slowpoke had finally gotten control of its thoughts, evolving into the wonderous Slowbro you see before you. My trust allowed me to stay. Whether or not you've achieved enlightenment, I know that you still trust your Pokemon and friends in very much the same way, don't you?
Niko: Hmm. Niko looks down at Eevee. Yeah. I do.
Eevee: Eevee! (That's right)
Kota: Me too.
Duplica: Same for me.
Madeleine: True enlightenment is nothing more than knowing you can be a little bit better today than you were yesterday. And with your dear friends giving you the opportunity to learn to trust in them and then in yourself, you will always move forward no matter what gets in your way. Slowbro has given me a wonderful opportunity to see what I can attain in my life, and you have the same opportunity with each other, so take it, please.
Everyone: We will. They all turn their attention to Team Rocket who lay on the ground defeated.
Niko: What are we gonna do with them?
Duplica: These crooks! They were faking it just to steal the statue.
Madeleine: Perhaps a little more training will do them some good. She chuckled. Our heroes bid Madeleine farewell.
After their enlightening experiences at the Slowpoke Temple, our heroes have a new respect and trust for one another. And now our their journey to Saffron City and the PokémonLeague continues.
Team Rocket sighs before getting smacked by three wooden planks. Madeleine and the other students stand over them with planks ready in hand.
Madeleine: Now, then, are we all ready to try just a little bit harder to empty our minds?
Jessie: My mind is empty, but my legs are numb.
Meowth: My tummy's empty and my mind is numb.
James: Could this be considered food for thought?
As the journey continues
Pokémon!
It's that time again!
A hundred and fifty Pokémon, 5 days of the week.
That's about 30 or so each week.
It's not too hard, just listen real good!
Alakazam, Doduo, Venonat, Machoke
Kangaskhan, Hypno, Electabuzz, Flareon
Blastoise, Poliwhirl, Oddish, Drowzee
Raichu, Nidoqueen, Bellsprout, Starmie
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, yeah!
Gotta catch 'em all, gotta catch 'em all, ow!
Metapod, Marowak, Kakuna, Clefairy
Dodrio, Seadra, Vileplume, Krabby
Lickitung, Tauros, Weedle, Nidoran
Machop, Shellder, Porygon, Hitmonchan
At least 150 or more to see.
To be a Pokémon Master is my destiny.
Okay, so today was pretty easy,
But you gotta put all 5 days together.
That's the only way to name all 150.
Catch you here next week!
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (oowww)
Gotta catch 'em all, Pokémon
Catch 'em, catch 'em, gotta catch 'em all (yeeaahh)
Pokémon!