Template:Japanese version
Ash and Paul are still in the middle of their full battle, both sides down one Pokémon. Ash's Pikachu faces off against Paul's powerful Magmortar. Dawn, who is on the sidelines with Brock, Reggie and her Piplup (as well as Jessie, James and Meowth in disguise manning the scoreboard), looks up Magmortar in her Pokédex. Dawn wonders why Paul did not counter with a Template:Type2 Pokémon, but Brock and Reggie suggest that Paul thought that Ash might have countered with Buizel.
Ash orders Pikachu to use Quick Attack, which successfully connects and knocks Magmortar sideways. However, once Pikachu lands, it is immediately surrounded by fire. Dawn wonders how Pikachu was hurt when Magmortar did not attack, and Brock explains that Magmortar used its Flame Body ability, which can burn an opponent if it makes physical contact, as a result of Pikachu's Quick Attack. Ash asks Pikachu if it wants to continue, and Pikachu, desperate to help defeat Paul, agrees. Ash thanks Pikachu and commands a Thunderbolt, and Paul responds by ordering a Flamethrower. Magmortar fires the Flamethrower from its massive bazooka-like arms and it connects with Thunderbolt, causing a massive explosion. Ash then has Pikachu use Volt Tackle, and Pikachu heads straight towards Magmortar. Paul commands Magmortar to use Rock Tomb, and Magmortar starts to fire purple energy which turns into rocks when they hit the ground. Pikachu, forced to run straight due to the Volt Tackle, smashes head-first into the rocks which causes Volt Tackle to fail and throws Pikachu back, where it continues to suffer from its burn. Paul then commands Magmortar to use Smog, Magmortar releasing a poisonous cloud towards Pikachu. Ash commands Pikachu to use the Counter Shield technique which they developed for the Gym battle against Fantina, and Pikachu rolls on its back while releasing electricity, successfully countering the Smog. Reggie is impressed by the move and Brock explained that Ash developed it as a means to both attack and defend at the same time. Pikachu is then hurt by its burn again, and Paul orders Magmortar to use Flamethrower. Ash tells Pikachu to jump and use Iron Tail. Pikachu jumps out of the Flamethrower's path and successfully hits Magmortar across the head with Iron Tail, but Pikachu once again takes damage from the burn. Ash then recalls Pikachu for some rest.
Ash decides to use type-advantage against Magmortar, sending out Buizel and ordering an Aqua Jet. The attack hits dead-on, sending Magmortar reeling back. Ash then follows the successful move up with Water Pulse, however Paul orders another Rock Tomb, and Magmortar creates a wall of rocks which stops the Water Pulse in its tracks. However, Ash anticipated this and orders Aqua Jet. Buizel smashes through the rocks, only to find Magmortar gone. Ash informs Buizel that Magmortar is above, and Buizel looks up to see Magmortar release another Smog, which hits Buizel and poisons the Pokémon, causing Buizel to reel in pain. Magmortar lands and Paul recalls it, sending out Ursaring. Ash orders Water Gun, but Paul orders a Hammer Arm, which successfully counters the attack. Paul then orders Bulk Up which increases Ursaring's strength. Ash tells Buizel to use Aqua Jet while Paul orders Ursaring to use Slash. Ursaring, after resisting Aqua Jet, hits Buizel with its sharp claws. Ursaring uses Focus Blast, and Ash responds by having Buizel use Counter Shield which causes the Focus Blast to backfire onto Ursaring. Ash then orders a SonicBoom, and Paul told Ursaring to use Hammer Arm. Ursaring runs through the SonicBoom and lands a direct hit on Buizel, smashing him to the ground. Ash prepares to recall Buizel, but Buizel wants to stay in the battle, so Ash allows it to. Buizel launches another Aqua Jet, but Ursaring hits Buizel head-on with another Focus Blast, knocking Buizel out of the battle. Dawn felt very sorry for Buizel, while Brock and Reggie discussed Ash's mistake in keeping Buizel in the battle too long.
Ash then sends out Staraptor, launching Aerial Ace. Paul orders another Hammer Arm, but Staraptor dodges it and scored a clean hit with Aerial Ace. Paul orders Focus Blast, which hits Staraptor in mid-air, but not critically damaging it. Ash orders Staraptor to use Close Combat, but Ursaring's Slash attack stops Staraptor before it can get close enough to attack. Ursaring finishes Staraptor off with Hammer Arm, taking it out of the match. Ash thanked it for a good battle.
Paul swaps Ursaring out for his Electabuzz, and Ash sends out Chimchar. Chimchar uses Flamethrower, but Electabuzz uses Protect to block. Paul has Electabuzz put up a Light Screen before immediately returning it to its Poké Ball. While Jessie, James and Meowth complain about the constant switching of Pokémon, meaning more work for them, Brock and Reggie note that the Light Screen will help protect any Pokémon Paul will use. Paul sends out Torterra, which confuses Ash as Torterra, a partial Template:Type2, has a disadvantage to Chimchar. Ash orders Chimchar to use Flame Wheel, but Torterra counters with Stone Edge. Chimchar immediately dodges the Stone Edge by changing the direction of the Flame Wheel, but Torterra has the pointed stones follow. Chimchar is unable to outrun the stones and suffers a hit. Ash has Chimchar use Flamethrower, which hits successfully, but the Light Screen protected Torterra and made the Flamethrower ineffective. Realizing that Chimchar would not be able to defeat Torterra like this, he recalls it, making Jessie complain loudly about the extra work that Ash was giving them by switching Pokémon. Ash sends out Gliscor against Torterra again and orders X-Scissor. Torterra uses Frenzy Plant, scoring a hard hit this time and instantly knocking out Gliscor. Ash returns Gliscor to its Poké Ball, realizing that he is down to two Pokémon while Paul still has five. Pikachu requests to go up against Torterra, and after making sure it was okay to battle, sends it in, only for Paul to immediately return Torterra.
Paul sends out Ursaring again, leaving Ash unsure of what to do, as he knows that Ursaring is very powerful, having taken out two of his Pokémon. Pikachu reminds Ash that he had the first move, and Ash orders Quick Attack, while Paul orders yet another Hammer Arm. Pikachu hits with Quick Attack, but Ursaring's Hammer Arm knocks the wind out of Pikachu and sends it flying back. Pikachu recovers and Ash orders Pikachu to use Iron Tail. Paul orders Ursaring to counter, but Ursaring suffers from paralysis from Pikachu's Static, and Iron Tail scores a clean hit, although Pikachu still suffers damage from the burn it received from Magmortar earlier. Just then, Ursaring's eyes begin to glow red, pleasing Paul. Reggie notes that Ursaring's Guts ability has been activated by its paralysis. Pikachu looks up to see Ursaring glowing red and screaming with rage, having suddenly just gained a lot of power. Paul commands Hammer Arm, while Ash orders Pikachu to counter, and Pikachu responds with a massive Thunderbolt, but it does not stop Ursaring. The Hibernator Pokémon grabs Pikachu with Hammer Arm and sends it flying into Lake Acuity, where after disappearing under the water, it lets out a final burst of electricity. Ash runs into the lake looking for his partner, while Reggie explains that Guts works by using the fact that Ursaring was suffering from a status condition to give it more power. Dawn and Piplup are very worried about Pikachu, and even Paul casts a glance towards the lake where Ash is looking. Pikachu emerges from the water, seemingly okay, but it quickly faints, not only exhausted but injured from Ursaring's attacks. Ash carries Pikachu to the sidelines and promises to get it to a Pokémon Center after the battle. Ash knows that Paul still has five Pokémon while Ash is down to only Chimchar, but he is still determined to continue, which concerns Pikachu. Ash sends out Chimchar while Paul leaves Ursaring in. Chimchar uses Flame Wheel, but Ursaring knocks it back with Slash. Ash then tells Chimchar to use Flamethrower, which scores a direct hit, and Ash then has Chimchar use Dig. Paul commands Ursaring to use Hammer Arm, but Chimchar emerged from Dig before Ursaring could pull off the attack and causes even more damage to Ursaring. Chimchar hits Ursaring with another Flamethrower, finally bringing the Pokémon down. Ash congratulates Chimchar on doing a great job which makes the Chimp Pokémon dance with joy. Jessie, James and Meowth cry with joy at seeing Chimchar do so well.
Ash approaches Chimchar and praises his Pokémon before asking if it is ok to continue. Chimchar nods its head in agreement and then starts to glow... as Chimchar has started to evolve! Everyone watches in amazement as Chimchar undergoes the transformation and evolves into Monferno. Ash is overjoyed over having a new Pokémon, and Dawn looks up Monferno in the Pokédex. Reggie notes how well Ash has raised Chimchar, a Pokémon that Paul once considered to be worthless, and then, as an evolved Monferno, has a lot more techniques at its disposal. Monferno demonstrates this by swinging its fists quickly and effortlessly which causes them to glow. Monferno then swung at the ground which sends a gust of wind at Paul, who stood in his spot and still did not recognize Monferno as the powerful fighter it is. Ash realizes that, as well as evolving, Monferno has also learned Mach Punch, which Monferno confirmed by somersaulting on the spot.
Paul sends out Electabuzz, which was initially surprised to see Chimchar has evolved but was still ready to battle its former teammate, a sentiment Monferno agrees with. Reggie notes the two are now on equal terms, and Ash commands Monferno to use Mach Punch. Monferno speeds towards Electabuzz and hits it square on the chest, sending an astounded Electabuzz flying back and smashing into a rock. Paul orders Electabuzz to use Thunder, which hits Monferno and paralyzes it. Ash responds to this by having Monferno use Flame Wheel, however Paul has Electabuzz use Protect, sending Monferno flying back. Monferno tries Flamethrower, but Electabuzz dodges and executes ThunderPunch. Monferno dodges it in mid-air, and Ash tells it to use Dig. Monferno tunnels underground, and when Electabuzz lands, it suffered a punch in the face. Ash commands another Flame Wheel, and Electabuzz responds with Thunder which heads straight towards Monferno. Ash has Monferno use Counter Shield, and as a result, the Thunder was deflected and Flame Wheel scored a direct hit. Reggie is impressed by how Ash is using the momentum to turn the battle around. Ash ordered another Mach Punch, but this time Monferno was hit by Electabuzz's Thunder, sending it back towards Ash, forcing it to its knees from both the damage and paralysis. Ash tells Monferno to use Flamethrower, but the paralysis prevents it from moving. Ash is furious that Monferno can't launch the attack, and everyone notices that Ash is acting a lot more like Paul. Just then, Monferno's tail flame starts to burn more fiercely. Dawn asks if Monferno has activated Blaze, however Brock and Reggie explained that the increase in Monferno's flame wasn't Blaze, but was actually due to its determination to defeat Electabuzz. Ash is delighted that Monferno is so focused on winning and tells it to use Mach Punch while Paul commands his Electabuzz to use ThunderPunch. The two Pokémon head towards each other, full of fury and both attacks connect at the same time, which causes a massive explosion in the middle of the battlefield. When the smoke clears, Monferno and Electabuzz continue to stare each other down. While Electabuzz is very weak, Monferno took far more damage and collapses to the ground, badly injured, to Ash's horror. Osabaki rules Monferno as being unable to battle, which means Paul has won the match and Ash has suffered his worst defeat ever.
The sun starts to set on Lake Acuity, as Paul returns Electabuzz to its Poké Ball and Ash cradles Monferno in his arms, telling it that it did a great job. Reggie congratulates Paul on his win, and Paul bids farewell to Reggie and Osabaki and leaves without even acknowledging Ash and his friends. Ash was left holding his badly injured Monferno, with his future in the Sinnoh League and as a Pokémon Trainer left in serious doubt...
