Riddle Me This

Plot
Ash and his friends take a boat ride towards Cinnabar Island. However, they meet Gary and his cheerleaders aboard. Gary explains that Cinnabar Island is a tourist resort, and that Trainers have not ventured to Cinnabar Island since the days of his grandfather. He adds that the island no longer has a Gym, much to Ash's frustration. The ship docks and Ash and his friends leave the ship, followed by Jigglypuff.

Once on the island, the group decides to find the Cinnabar Gym, and they eventually do with the help of a local who tells them by using a riddle, which Misty solved. However, they learn that the Gym has been abandoned. The local tells them the story of how Cinnabar Island was once a hot-spot for Trainers, but tourism took off due to the rise of hot springs resorts situated near the local volcano. The Cinnabar Island Gym Leader, Blaine, closed down his Gym due to being forced to battle tourists who had no interest in obtaining Badges. The local leaves, but not before leaving Ash a business card for the Big Riddle Inn.

Ash and his friends then decide to explore the world-famous Pokémon Lab. There, they discover that it too has been turned into a tourist trap. Finding nothing else to do, they decide to look for lodging, but find that all of the rooms at the local Pokémon Center and the hot springs resorts have been booked. As a result, they camp out. Meanwhile, Gary has found himself a room, but his room entertainment is in the form of Jigglypuff, alongside Hitmonlee and Electabuzz dressed up in costumes playing the shamisen. Realizing this, Ash and his friends flee before it could sing, leaving everyone else to fall asleep. When Brock reminds Ash of the business card, they find that it also contains directions there, but in the form of a riddle. Ash and Brock are both stumped, but Misty guesses correctly again and they locate the Big Riddle Inn because of its clock tower. The local from earlier, who runs the inn, reveals that he has a vacancy and allows the group to stay for free.

However, before they can settle in, the local receives a phone call, informing him that the Pokémon Lab, home to various Fighting-type Pokémon, is under attack from a balloon. Figuring that Team Rocket is involved, Ash and his friends arrive at the scene, and quickly dispatch the balloon with Pikachu's Thunderbolt whilst riding on Pidgeotto. As a reward for helping to save the Pokémon, the local that Blaine had built a secret Gym, in a place where firefighters couldn't win.

Later that night, as Ash and his friends mull over the riddle in the hot springs, Togepi wanders off from Misty and jumps on a Gyarados tap fixture. It unwittingly activates a secret switch that moves a boulder, exposing a cave and knocking down the hot springs' gender separation screen. After quickly getting their clothes back on, Ash and his friends explore the secret cave, and find a metal door that is hot to the touch. Beyond the door, they find Blaine's secret Gym, suspended over the Cinnabar Island volcano. The local suddenly appears, revealing himself to be Blaine, who accepts Ash's challenge.

The Gym battle begins as a three-on-three battle. Confident that the Fire-type leader will use his Fire Pokémon, Ash decides to start off with Squirtle, while Blaine counters with a Ninetales. Despite the type advantage, Squirtle's Water Gun is no match for Ninetales's Fire Spin, and Squirtle is knocked out in one shot. Deciding to fight fire with fire, Ash decides to use Charizard despite its obedience issues. In response, Blaine pulls Ninetales out for Rhydon. However, Charizard simply flies off the battlefield and naps as Rhydon is about to unleash Horn Drill. Blaine then disqualifies Charizard for leaving the ring, and Ash decides to rely on Pikachu. Pikachu's Thunderbolt does not faze Rhydon at all, but Ash decides to take advantage of using Rhydon's horn as a lightning rod, and another well-aimed Thunderbolt at the horn knocks it out.

However, Blaine isn't fazed, calling out his signature Pokémon, Magmar. Pikachu's Electric attacks do not seem to faze him, which, as Brock explains, is due to Magmar using its own body heat as a thermal lance, diffusing the electricity. Pikachu is effectively unable to attack, and Magmar's relentless Fire Punches leave it exhausted. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with Pikachu precariously caught between facing Magmar's Fire Blast and backing into the lava below.

Major Events

 * Ash and his friends reach Cinnabar Island, meeting Gary again along the way.
 * Ash and his friends meet Blaine, the Cinnabar Gym Leader.
 * Ash begins his Gym battle with Blaine.