Episode 61: Here Comes the Sun!

Ash encourages, "Alright Turtsol, we can do it this time! I can feel it! Use Sunny Day!"

Turtsol declares, "Tuuuuurtsol!" but nothing seems to happen. This disappoints the both of them.

Ash and Turtsol are out training in a grassy meadow. Brenda, Brock, and Pikachu are watching from behind. Brenda comments, "Hey, I think the Sun might have gotten a little brighter on that one."

Ash perks up. "You do?"

Brenda shrugs. "Eh…maybe not."

Turtsol sighs. "Turt…"

Ash encourages, "Come on Turtsol, cheer up. We'll master that move in no time. I promise you."

Today we find Ash and Turtsol hard at work training for the upcoming gym match at Versal City, where the gym leader will hopefully be back by the time our heroes arrive. Unfortunately, it's beginning to look like this day will be anything but sunny.

Ash plops down on the floor next to Turtsol. "Hmm…what is it that we're doing wrong?" Pikachu runs up to him sits next to him. While deep in thought, Ash pets it, and Pikachu smiles.

Brock reminds Ash, "Don't forget the circumstances that you tried to teach Sunny Day to Turtsol under. None of us had any idea how to teach a Pokémon a move like that. In spite of that fact, you went on and figured it out anyways. Normally you have to wait for a Pokémon to learn a move on its own, or have someone who knows specifically how to teach that move. We had neither, so it's no surprise that Turtsol is having trouble with the move still. It has yet to figure out the key concept to make the move work."

Ash nods. "Yeah…it's such a shame though. When Turtsol used Sunny Day it got so much more powerful. If we could just master the technique, then think about how great a battler Turtsol could become." He suddenly gets up with renewed vigor and declares, "We can't let this keep us down! Come on Turtsol, let's try again!"

With vigor to match Ash's, Turtsol gets back up as well and declares, "Turtsol turt!"

"Let's do it! Sunny Day!"

"Tuuuurtsooooooool!"

The moment Turtsol does this the day turns into night. Everyone is stunned. Brenda asks, "Did Turtsol just use Moonlit Night?"

Brock answers, "Somehow I doubt it. It's absolutely impossible for a solar-based Pokémon like Turtsol to use a lunar-based move like Moonlit Night."

Just as fast as it turned to night, the day returns, but is now accompanied by storm cloud that instantly begins a deluge of rain.

Brenda shouts over the rain, "Alright, I know that Turtsol didn't just use Rain Dance!"

Then the rain stops. Instead the Sun becomes intensely bright. The heat from the bright Sun dries everyone off quickly.

Ash looks to Turtsol. "Was that you?"

Turtsol shakes its head. "Turt."

And once more the weather changes, as the clouds return and now it begins to hail. Everyone runs for shelter underneath a tree.

Brock says, "There is no way this weather is natural. A Pokémon of some kind must be influencing it." The hail ceases and the weather returns to normal.

Ash points to the top of a nearby hill. "Look up there! Maybe he knows what's going on." On the top of the hill is a man who seems unfazed by the drastic weather.

They all head towards the top of the hill. The man standing there is an elderly man wearing some sort of strange robe that has various weather-themed prints on it, such as a sun, clouds, wind, rain, and snow. Floating beside him is a Castform. The old man says, "Great job Castform. Your weather abilities are all topnotch."

Ash asks, "Excuse me, was that you who just changed the weather?"

The old man turns to see Ash, Brock, and Brenda approaching. "My apologies youngsters. I didn't realize there was anyone else in the vicinity. I hope I didn't rain on your parade, so to speak." He chuckles at his own joke.

Ash shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. We were actually working on some weather attacks of our own."

The old man nods. "I see. If you don't mind me asking, what where you working on?"

Ash beckons to Turtsol. "My Turtsol and I have been working on mastering the move Sunny Day since it evolved a while back. We've gotten lucky a couple of times, but for the most part it can't seem to be able to pull it off."

The man closely observes Turtsol. "Indeed."

Brock asks, "So why were you changing the weather like that?"

The man smiles. "Why, it's my job. My name is Zephyr, and they call me the Weather Guru. Castform and I are masters of weather manipulation."

Brenda looks to Castform and comments, "It's so cute." She pulls out her Pokédex.

"Castform, the Weather Pokémon and a Normal-Type. Castform's body is highly attuned to currents in the air, giving it a highly accurate sense of the weather. It will transform its cellular structure in order to adapt to any weather. Does not evolve."

Zephyr comments, "But that's not all. My Castform has mastery over the moves Sunny Day, Moonlit Night, Rain Dance, and Hail, meaning it not only responds to the weather, it controls it."

Ash says to himself, "You've mastered Sunny Day…" Suddenly Ash begs, "Please sir, you have to help my Turtsol learn Sunny Day. Please."
Zephyr appears skeptical. "I don't know…"

"Please sir. You're the Weather Guru, surely teaching us to use one weather move will be easy for one as knowledgeable as you."

Zephyr grins, he likes what he's hearing. "Yes…you could even say it would be a breeze. Okay I'll do it."

Ash gets leaps up and cheers. "You hear that Turtsol? He's going to teach us!"

Turtsol cheers, "Turtsol turt!"

Suddenly sounding overly serious, Zephyr warns, "But heed my warning. It will not be an easy task for you. Much work and dedication will be required, and you'll have to keep on working no matter what happens, come rain or shine." At the last few words he can't help but drop his serious tone and chuckles once again at his own joke.

Ash nods. "We can do it."

Zephyr nods. "Good. Then your training begins immediately."

Who's That Pokémon!?

When this Pokémon's eyes gleam gold, it can spot hiding prey-even those taking shelter behind a wall.

Ash and Turtsol have taken positions for training. Zephyr strolls back and forth in front of them, his Castform following. He asks, "Now tell me Ash, what is the most important thing to remember when executing a weather-based move?"

Ash is unsure what to say. "Um…I don't know…"

Zephyr says with sudden outrage, "What!? You mean you've been trying to teach your Pokémon Sunny Day without knowing the very core of weather-based moves!?"

Ash chuckles awkwardly. "Yeah…I guess so…"

"No wonder you have failed!"

Brock whispers to Brenda, "Well…that was a bolt from the blue."

Zephyr suddenly turns to Brock and shouts, "Hey! Only I get to make weather jokes! I better not catch wind of you making another one!" Despite his apparent anger, he can't help but crack up.

Ash, Brock, and Brenda all just stare at him with confusion.

Zephyr shakes it off and returns focus to Ash and Turtsol. "Now, as I was saying, there is one thing more important than anything else you must keep in mind when attempting to master the weather."

Ash asks eagerly, "What is it?"

"It's that you can't master the weather."

This leaves Ash confused. "Wait…what?"

"What I mean is that no one being can truly control the weather. In the end, Mother Nature will always have her way. It is the foolish desire to control Mother Nature that leads to the downfall of so many would be weather manipulators. You must always remember that you are simply making a deal with Mother Nature to temporally change the weather, you are not trying to subvert her will to your own."

Ash nods slowly. "Alright, I get it…I think."

"Good, and you and Turtsol better remember it. The moment you forget it is the moment you fail. Now, we're going do a little exercise. I want you and Turtsol to utilize Sunny Day to the best of your abilities."

Ash nods with determination. "You bet. Let's do it Turtsol!"

"Wait! I wasn't done yet. In order to better measure your abilities, I need to put something else in place first." He turns to Castform. "If you would be so kind Castform."

Castform nods. "Castform!" It begins to glow with dark purple light. Then the day is transformed into night. It used Moonlit Night. Moments after using the attack, there is a flash of light and Castform transforms. Its head is now a dark gray with an even darker gray patch around its eyes. Wrapped around the top of its head is a crescent moon. Below its head is a patch of clouds partially covering the moon.

Brenda exclaims, "Woah! Castform transformed!"

Brock nods. "Yeah, that's Castform's signature Ability, Forecast. It allows Castform to change to match the weather. This is Castform's Moonlit Form."

Zephyr explains, "It should be easier for Turtsol to transform the night into a sunny than it would be when it is already daytime. It will also make any changes in the intensity of the Sun more apparent."

Ash nods. "That makes sense." He looks to Turtsol. "That must be why you were able to use Sunny Day before, because all those night Pokémon were using Moonlit Night." Turtsol nods in agreement. "Alright Turtsol, we did it then, we can do it now! Use Sunny Day!"

"Tuuuuurtsoooool!" Noting happens.

Zephyr nods. "Hmm…I can see we have some ways to go. But not to worry, this cloud has a silver lining!" He gives a chuckle before returning to a sterner attitude.

Ash perks up from his disappointment. "It does?"

Zephyr nods. "Yes, if you have performed the move before successfully, that means that you have the ability to do so again. We'll just have to keep on working until you figure out how you did it last time!"

With vigor, Ash agrees, "You're right. We'll just keep on working. Let's do it!"

Watching from up above in their balloon is Team Rocket. James comments, "So that Castform Pokémon can change the weather."

Meowth nods. "Sounds quite handy. Just imagine what Team Rocket could do if we controlled the weather itself. We could be invincible!"

Jessie agrees, "We need to catch that Castform, no doubt about it."

James states, "Into every life, a little rain must fall."

Meowth continues, "And when it rains, it pours."

Jessie concludes, "So let's take them by storm."

It's Luxray!

Ash and Turtsol continue their training, but seem to have gotten nowhere. Zephyr takes a good look over the two of them and thinks, "Hmm…You two seem to be making little progress. I fear we may be experiencing a dry spell." He stops to chuckle then continues, "We're going to need to take a different approach to this. Tell me, how did Turtsol manage to use Sunny Day the first time?"

Ash explains, "Well, you see, it started back when Turtsol was just a Turcell. We met this group of Helioptile and Helioisk. Because they're also solar-powered Pokémon they and Turcell became friends. The place they lived in was a paradise for solar-powered Pokémon. But then a group of nasty night Pokémon came in and used Moonlit Night to stop the Sun from shining. This was really bad for the Helioptile and Helioisk because they needed the Sun for energy. We decided that the only way to fight back was using Sunny Day, but since Helioptile and Helioisk can't learn Sunny Day, it was up to Turcell. We trained really hard and eventually Turcell had a breakthrough and used Sunny Day, but then when we went to fight the night Pokémon it failed to be able to use it again. It wasn't until it was pushed to its limits that it then evolved and used Sunny Day again. We may have helped those Helioptile and Helioisk, but we haven't been able to use Sunny Day again since."

Zephyr nods. "I see. I think I understand what your problem is."

Ash perks up. "You do?"

"Yes. Do you remember what I told you is the most important thing to remember when using a weather move?"

Ash nods. "That you do not control Mother Nature, you work with her."

Zephyr nods proudly. "Indeed. Those night Pokémon you fought had forgotten that rule. They were attempting to control Mother Nature for their own benefit. Your Turtsol, on the other hand, was attempting to return things to their natural order. It was that mentality combined with the stress and urgency of the situation that allowed it to prematurely use Sunny Day, a move that it may not have normally been ready for."

Ash considers what he says. "Are you saying that Turtsol may not be ready to learn Sunny Day yet?"

"I wouldn't put it in such absolute terms. Catching a second wind is always possible." He simply grins at his last pun. "But it is a possibility that the reason your Turtsol has not yet been able to master Sunny Day is because it is not yet ready to master it."

Ash nods. "Alright…what should we do, then?"

Before Zephyr can answer, some sort of mechanical clamp bursts into the scene out of nowhere and latches on to Castform. Castform struggles to free itself and shouts, "Cast! Castform!" The clamp retracts to its source. Everyone looks in the direction in surprise to see some sort of massive machine marching towards them. It's vaguely humanoid in shape, having two feet and two arms, but is extremely bulky in its design. Heavy metal plating colored blue covers most of the body. A windmill-like fan rests on each of its shoulders, and some sort of giant metal umbrella is attached to the top of its head. Castform is pulled into a clear metal pod situated in the machine's chest area.

Zephyr asks in surprise, "What's this!?"

Jessie appears to answer. She's dressed in a yellow raincoat, holding an umbrella. "Prepare for trouble, it's time for a downpour!"

James appears, and he's wearing a heavy winter parka. "Make it double, this is a weather forecast you won't ignore!"

"To protect the world from inundation!"

"To unite all people with the weather station!"

"To denounce the evils of the clouds above!"

"To extend our reach with this winter glove!"

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket measures temperature by degrees Fahrenheit!"

"Surrender now if your clothes aren't watertight!"

Meowth appears, dressed in clothes fit for tanning at a beach. "Meowth, that's right!"

Wobbuffet appears holding an umbrella to declare, "Wobbuffet!"

And Mime Jr. appears wearing a scarf. "Mime mime!"

They're all standing on the top of the umbrella of the machine. They cast off their costumes and hop into the cockpit beneath the umbrella.

Zephyr demands, "I don't know who you think you are! But I am the Weather Guru, and you are going to give me back my Castform!"

James declares, "No way! "We're throwing caution to the wind with this plan!"

This infuriates Zephyr. "How dare you make a weather pun!? You're stealing my thunder!"

Jessie states, "Why I'll have you know that we've cornered the market on cheesy puns, so why don't you just get your head out of the clouds!"

Zephyr stomps his feet in anger.

Ash shouts, "Give back that Castform, Team Rocket!"

Meowth declares arrogantly, "Make us."

Ash nods. "Fine, I will. Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu leaps off of Ash's shoulder. "Pikaaaaaaachuuuuuuu!"

Just as its attacking, Meowth slams his paw down on a button and declares, "Hail to the chief!" Castform suddenly cries out in pain as it is electrocuted. Suddenly it transforms into its Snowy Form as it begins to hail all around. It's hailing so hard that the falling ice pellets physically block Pikachu's electricity. The hail then stops.

Brenda asks with surprise, "What was that!?"

Meowth explains, "With this here machine and the natural ability of Castform to change the weather, Team Rocket has officially taken control over the weather."

Jessie laughs, "Just imagine how wrong the weather man will be now."

Zephyr sneers, "You fools, you are tampering with forces you cannot possibly understand! No one except Mother Nature can truly control the weather."

James brushes his warnings off, claiming, "You're just making a tempest in a teapot."

Zephyr turns to Ash. "You have to stop these crooks! A storm is brewing, and I don't like it."

Ash nods. "Don't worry, we'll stop them. Pikachu, let's try an Iron Tail!"

Pikachu begins to run at Team Rocket's mech, but Meowth hits the button again, this time declaring, "You won't be seeing the light of day anytime soon!" Day quickly turns to night as Castform is forced to use its powers and turned into its Moonlit Form. In the cover of darkness, the weather robot moves out of the way of Pikachu's Iron Tail, and Pikachu can't see well enough to correct itself. Meowth then manipulates the machine to smack Pikachu back towards Ash. The Sun then returns. Jessie, James, and Meowth all laugh.

Ash clenches his fists angrily. He looks towards Turtsol and suggests, "Try a Flamethrower, they can't stop that with their hail."

Turtsol attacks with Flamethrower, but Meowth once more hits the button. "I'll take a raincheck on that attack!" And it begins to rain, changing Castform into its Rainy Form as it shouts out in pain. The sudden downpour completely extinguishes Turtsol's attack.

James laughs and declares, "With this weather machine we are completely invincible! We have mastered nature itself!"

Jessie adds, "Who needs one measly Pikachu when we can summon up an entire thunderstorm!?"

Meowth declares, "Forget being under it, we're over the weather!"

Brenda shouts in distress, "It's no use! Whatever attack we throw at them, they can just block it with their control over the weather! What are we supposed to do? There are no options!"

Zephyr shakes his head and says seriously, "No, there is one option, one single ray of hope, so to speak."

Brock asks, "What is it?"

Zephyr points to Turtsol. "Turtsol's Sunny Day is our only hope. If it can use it, then we have blue skies ahead."

Turtsol is shocked. "Turt!?"

Ash asks for it, "But Turtsol isn't ready to use Sunny Day yet, you said it yourself."

Zephyr nods. "Indeed I have, but it's time to ride the winds of change. There was one reason alone that allowed Turtsol to perform Sunny Day before."

Ash and Turtsol's eyes both widen at the same time. Ash exclaims, "Because the night Pokémon were attempting to gain mastery over the weather…just like Team Rocket is now!"

"Exactly. And as long as you and Turtsol remember what I have taught, I am certain you can pull it off."

Ash and Turtsol look to each other at first with uncertainty, but then each give each other a nod of determination at the same time. "Let's do this, Turtsol."

"Turtsol!"

All this time Team Rocket seem to have continued their gloating. James laughs, "We're on cloud nine!"

Jessie points forward. "Looks like the Twerp's going to try again."

Meowth grins. "Don't worry, I'm ready to weather any storm they throw at us."

Ash orders, "Turtsol, use Flamethrower!"

"Tuuurtsoooool!" Turtsol attacks with fire.

Meowth presses he button. "We've been through this one before, but I've been saving this one for a rainy day!" He causes rain once more, stopping Turtsol's attack completely.

Ash looks to Turtsol. "Are you ready for this Turtsol?"

Turtsol nods. "Turt!"

"Turtsol, use Sunny Day!"

"Tuuuurtsoooooool!" Turtsol begins to glow a brilliant orange light and then a shockwave of this light ripples out of its body. The weather changes from rain to a harsh and hot sun.

Team Rocket all freeze up in shock. James asks, "Meowth…what happened to our rain…?"

Meowth chuckles awkwardly. "It would appear that we've hit some turbulence."

Jessie demands, "Quickly Meowth, bring back the rain!"

Meowth nods. "Right." He slams his paw the button again, but to no result. Upon realizing that nothing has happened, he begins to rapidly push the button. There's still no change.

James asks, "We have a problem, don't we?"

Meowth nods slowly. "No drought about it…"

Brock cheers, "This is great! Because Team Rocket is attempting to master the weather, Turtsol's Sunny Day is beating out their machine!"

Ash grins confidently. "Okay Turtsol, let's show them what you've got now! Use Flamethrower!"

"Tuuuurtsoooool!" Turtsol unleashes a massive burst of fire due to its power boost from the Sun. The Flamethrower hits the machine right above where Castform's pod is, melting right through with ease. Once the Flamethrower is done, an exit point has been made on the top of the pod. Castform, currently in its Sunny Form, floats right out and back towards Zephyr.

Zephyr rejoices, "Castform, not only are you alright, you're as right as rain!" He chuckles to himself as he hugs Castform.

Team Rocket, meanwhile, are busy frantically pushing away at buttons on their control panels, attempting to fix their machine. Suddenly and without warning, the entire thing blows up, sending them flying into the air.

James says with despair, "I don't have the foggiest idea how that happened…"

Jessie agrees, "I didn't see a single cloud on the horizon…"

Meowth adds, "And now it's going to be raining Meowth and Growlithe, minus the Growlithe…"

Wobbuffet appears from its Pokéball, still holding the umbrella from before. It offers the umbrella to Meowth.

Meowth shouts in rage, "Not that kind of rain!"

They all shout, "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

There's an added, "Wobbuffet!" as they disappear into the sky.

Back on the ground, Ash cheers, "That was great, Turtsol! You executed that Sunny Day perfectly!"

Turtsol happily cheers, "Sol turtsol!"

Zephyr reminds Ash, "Let's not get too ahead of ourselves now. Don't forget why you were able to do that in the first place."

Ash objects, "Come on, Turtsol did it perfectly, and on its first try too. Don't you think that means it actually mastered the move?"

Zephyr responds, "There's only one way to find out. Castform, Moonlit Night please." Castform nods and transforms the day to night once more.

Ash grins. "We can do this Turtsol. Use Sunny Day!"

"Tuuurtsoool!" But nothing happens.

Ash hangs his head in shame. "So much for that…"

Turtsol does likewise. "Turtsol…"

Zephyr asserts, "Do not let that get you down. That Sunny Day attack your Turtsol managed to use was one of the finest ones I have ever seen. I promise you that if you just keep up on your training and remember the first rule about weather-based moves, then you and Turtsol will master the move on your own in no time."

Ash takes this to heart and nods. "You're right, and nothing is going to stop us from doing that either. Does that mean our training is over with you?"

Zephyr nods. "It would seem so. I have taught you all that I can. So this is where I bid you goodbye my fair-weather friends."

Brenda asks, "Where are you off to now?"

"Where ever the wind takes me, that's where I shall be. I'm off to chase some rainbows!" He gives a chuckle and turns to Castform. "Come Castform, let us be off." Castform nods as the night turns back into day, and it back into its normal form. They move off.

Ash waves. "Bye Zephyr. Thanks for all your help. We'll master Sunny Day, I promise!"

This day of training may not have turned out the way that Ash and Turtsol originally hoped, but at least they now have a path set in front of them to follow. Dare I say it; they now know which way the wind blows. Stay tuned.

To Be Continued…