Japanese Title: Inomoo and Yanagi of the Winter!
Original Airdate: February 21, 2002
US Airdate: March 1, 2003
Ash arrives at Mahogany Town and seeks out Pryce, who has a very cold and jaded view toward Pokémon training. After a run-in with Team Rocket, Ash learns the tragic story behind Pryce's attitude.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Canon Discontinuity: Though it can be taught by TM, Pryce's Piloswine in the games does not know Rest. Rest is used by his Dewgong.
- Defrosting Ice King: Pryce's ice-cold heart thaws out when he's reunited with Piloswine.
- The Faceless: The Magmar trainer that Pryce and his Piloswine went up against was framed in shadow the entire time, leaving his identity unknown.
- Freudian Excuse: The reason Pryce believed humans and Pokémon could not be friends is because he believed his beloved Piloswine had run away.
- Harmless Freezing: Piloswine had been frozen for 40 years, yet Ash is able to revive it by thawing it with Cyndaquil, then shocking it with Pikachu. Then Pryce steps in and tells it to use Rest to fully recover.
- Magical Defibrillator: Pikachu, again, on Piloswine.
- Suicidal Overconfidence: In the past, Pryce and his Piloswine had gotten a bit too cocky when they went up the trainer who owned the Magmar. It ended up resulting in a nasty defeat.
- Tropey, Come Home: Pryce believed Piloswine ran away after a bad battle that left both of them injured. It turns out, it actually went to get an herb to help Pryce's burns after that battle, but fell into an ice cave where it was frozen.
- Undying Loyalty: Pryce's Piloswine. It was this loyalty that actual caused it to be lost as it had gone looking for herbs to treat Pryce's burn wounds, only to end up trapped in ice for years. Even after being separated for years, it immediately recognized its master upon being revived.
