EP180

Houndoom's Special Delivery (Japanese: ヘルガーとトゲピー！  and !) is the 180th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on January 11, 2001 and in the United States on December 1, 2001.

Blurb
''When Team Rocket attacks our heroes as they travel through a mountain pass, Weezing's Smoke Screen attack separates Togepi and Misty. Togepi wanders away as Misty, Ash and Brock try to locate the pint-sized Pokémon. Finding Togepi scared and alone, a passing Houndoom becomes its temporary care-taker and brings Togepi home to its trainer. Will Misty ever be reunited with Togepi?''

Plot
and spot a  delivering something. At the same time, intercepts the group and interrupts them with their. James sends out and tells it to use, making it impossible for Ash and his friends to see. Jessie then tells her to attack, but Pikachu is ready and fends it off with a. With all the action, gets away from  and ends up near Weezing, so to get away, it uses, which ends up ing it far away. Togepi ends up in a big tree and is scared. James commands Weezing to use and Ash tells Pikachu to do the same and Weezing is sent flying back into the balloon. Ash sends out to cut a hole through Team Rocket's balloon with its  and they are sent blasting off.

The same Houndoom from before hears Togepi's crying and rescues it from atop a big tree. Houndoom sees that it is still sad and gets an apple for it. A then tries to attack Togepi, but Houndoom scares it off with its attacks. Houndoom tries to leave Togepi again, but hears its crying and comes back again. This time Houndoom puts Togepi on its back and continues on with its new friend.

Ash and his friends at the same time are searching for Togepi. They all think of the worst, but then Ash has the idea of getting the Pokémon to help them. Ash sends out his and  sends out his  to help look for Togepi.

In another place, Houndoom is trying to jump over some rocks when an angry knocks it into the water. Houndoom struggled with Togepi to get up the shore and this greatly weakens Houndoom as he fell into a short daze. At this time, Togepi tries to climb up a hill, but starts to fall. Houndoom acts fast and saves his little friend. They make their way all the way up to the top of the hill and find a field of flowers with some Grass and. Togepi has some fun, but Houndoom thinks that it is in trouble and tries to save it. However, it aggravates a, which uses on them.

Back with the gang, Noctowl finds the footprints of Togepi, but there are another set of footprints. Meanwhile, Togepi finally wakes up Houndoom and they get on their way again. Ash and company are hot on Togepi's trail though and they run across the same rocks and see the same Gyarados, but Ash noted it as the young Gyarados. They find a hill and climb up it to find the same field of flowers that Togepi and Houndoom were in earlier.

Team Rocket isn't having very good luck as their patched balloon was leaking air and because of the altitude, they almost crash into the river but banged into Gyarados which pushes them to shore instead. The Gyarados is enraged and sends them blasting off again with its.

Togepi and Houndoom continue to travel further and further. They go inside a tree for shelter during a thunderstorm. Houndoom notices that Togepi was bored and tickled it with its tail to cheer it up. After the thunderstorm, as they left the tree, near a bush they spot, which leaps away after letting off electric sparks.

Ash and his friends seem to have lost Togepi because the footprints have been washed away. They don't give up though and Pikachu finds some fresh footprints. Togepi on the other hand is sleeping on Houndoom's back when it comes back to a farm with an old man with his. Ash and friends finally catch up and find Togepi. Misty thanks Houndoom for taking care of her Togepi, but then Team Rocket interrupts this happy moment by catching Houndoom in a net. Ash sends out Chikorita again, and it cuts Houndoom free with its Razor Leaf attack. Jessie and James send out Arbok and to fight back, but Pikachu and Houndoom save the day and send Team Rocket blasting off again, for the third time.

After the, the Mareep farmer leads them back on their way so everyone says goodbye. They start to leave when Togepi starts to cry and runs back to Houndoom. They share a sad goodbye, and the group continues on their journey.

Humans

 * Jessie
 * James
 * Mareep farmer
 * Jessie
 * James
 * Mareep farmer

Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: (US and international),  (Japan)


 * (Mareep farmer's; Doomy; debut)
 * (Mareep farmer's; multiple)
 * (debut)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (×3)
 * (Mareep farmer's; Doomy; debut)
 * (Mareep farmer's; multiple)
 * (debut)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (×3)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (multiple)
 * (×3)
 * (multiple)
 * (×3)

Trivia

 * This episode marks the only time that physically appears in the main series.
 * The book Togepi Springs Into Action! is based on this episode.
 * This episode marks one of the few times that have blasted off three times in one episode.
 * This is the first time is shown to be afraid of heights. It is usually happy to be high up.
 * This is the third time Togepi has used and got.

Errors

 * In one shot of Team Rocket, Jessie's earrings are white instead of green.
 * After sent out, the back of its wings were shown to be the color blue instead of purple like in the front.
 * When Togepi joins the dancing, the Bellossom's Japanese voice is heard.

Dub edits

 * Never Too Far From Home is used as an insert song.
 * The original airing of this episode on Hungama TV in started it directly from the title card, skipping the part of the episode that comes before it.

In other languages
Ausgebüxt! EP182 EP180 無印編第180話 精灵宝可梦 第181集