Ep 45. Hour of the Houndour

Ash, Misty, and Brock find themselves in a new town surrounded by hot springs and relaxing resorts. The town is known as Hanami City, and it's a popular tourist destination for travelers looking to take a break from their Pokemon journeys. The trio is excited to explore everything the town has to offer but soon find themselves in the middle of a mystery involving a pack of Houndours.

As Ash, Misty, and Brock wander the town, they notice that the Houndours are causing trouble for the residents. They are stealing food and causing damage to buildings, but no one knows why. One of the locals tells Ash and his friends that the Houndours have never behaved like this before, making their actions even more mysterious. The trio is determined to get to the bottom of this and sets out to find the source of the Houndour's bad behavior.

As they investigate, they meet a young boy named Hiroshi, who tells them that the Houndours are part of a pack that lives in the surrounding mountains. Hiroshi has been observing the pack and believes that something has changed in their behavior. He tells Ash and his friends that the leader of the pack, a large black Houndour, has been acting strangely and has been aggressively leading the pack in their recent attacks.

As they continue their investigation, they come across a young girl named Kiko who tells them that her grandfather, an expert in Houndours and their behavior, may be able to help them. They travel to his laboratory and meet an old man who explains that the Houndours may have been affected by a rare Pokémon disease causing them to behave erratically. He tells them the only cure is a special berry found high up in the mountain range where the Houndours live.

Ash, Misty, Brock, Hiroshi, and Kiko set out on a journey to find the rare berry and cure the Houndours. Along the way, they encounter a group of Team Rocket members who, as usual, try to steal Pikachu. The group quickly discovers that the black Houndour leading the pack is actually working with Team Rocket to cause chaos in the town. They learn that the Houndour has been promised control of the town if they are successful in their mission.

The group finally reaches the top of the mountain range and finds the rare berry. They bring it back to the town and use it to cure the Houndours of their behavior. The town is saved, and the Houndours are back to their friendly and playful selves. Ash and his friends say their goodbyes to Hiroshi and Kiko and continue on their journey.

The episode ends with a glimpse of the black Houndour and one of the Team Rocket members who have been ousted from the pack. The Houndour seems to be thinking about his actions and potentially regretting his decision to work with Team Rocket. The episode leaves viewers wondering if the Houndour will have a change of heart or continue down a path of destructive behavior.

Overall, "Hour of the Houndour" is an exciting adventure that involves exploring a new town, investigating a mystery, and ultimately saving the day. The episode also touches on themes of redemption and the consequences of one's actions. Fans of the Pokemon series will enjoy this action-packed episode and the introduction of the Houndour pack.