SM139: Difference between revisions

The episode picks up where the previous one left off, with {{AP|Pikachu}} about to battle {{p|Zoroark}} [[Manalo Conference]] grand finals. {{p|Zoroark}} charges ahead as {{an|Gladion}} commands a {{m|Night Daze}}, though {{AP{{Ash}} has {{AP|Pikachu}} counter with a {{m|Thunderbolt}}. Gladion follows up with {{m|Shadow Claw}} and Pikachu uses {{m|Iron Tail}} to block it. Zoroark then goes on a fury of Shadow Claws eventually striking its foe. Pikachu dusts himself off in time to leap upwards to evade another Night Daze, but Zoroark lashes him with a Shadow Claw as he descends towards the field. Gladion sees an opening, so he activates his [[Z-Ring]] to have Zoroark unleash the {{m|Never-Ending Nightmare}}. The [[Z-Move]] plunges the arena into darkness and a multitude of eerie hands appear. Pikachu tries jumping on one for momentum, only to take damage on contact and so therefore tries to outrun them. Ash orders a {{m|Quick Attack}} to build up speed, but the dark hands are seemingly inescapable. Instead, Ash orders Pikachu to stop running and counters with a Z-Move of his own. Using {{m|Breakneck Blitz}}, Pikachu rushes through the wall of hands and strikes Zoroark. Gladion’s Z-Move still connects resulting in a large explosion. The smoke soon clears, and {{an|Professor Kukui}} declares both sides unable to battle, leaving Ash and Gladion with one Pokémon each remaining.

After [[recall]]ing their respective Pokémon, they return to their places. The two sides glare at each other. Ash compliments Gladion for being in perfect sync Zoroark, while Gladion admits only Ash would be able to break through his Z-Move like that. The tense battle atmosphere breaks as the two boys burst into laughter, taking the audience by surprise. Ash soon catches his breath and tells Gladion that this was their best battle yet, with Gladion agreeing on that. With that, the two sides get ready to settle an old score, both sending out their {{p|Lycanroc}} as their final Pokémon. The two reminisce about the rivalry between their two Lycanroc, how Gladion's didn't go easy on Ash's during their first battle despite it still being a {{p|Rockruff}}, seemingly sensing its strength and how it was later present when Rockruff evolved as well as remembering their most recent battle. After a tense several seconds, Ash and Gladion both open with {{m|Stone Edge}}, cancelling each other’s efforts out. Ash orders his {{AP|Lycanroc}} to use {{m|Accelerock}} which [[Gladion's Lycanroc]] intercepts with {{m|Counter}} before punching Ash's Lycanroc away. Gladion then goes for another Stone Edge, which Ash's Lycanroc evades by running alongside the attack, then goes to use {{m|Bite}}. Ash orders his Lycanroc to stop as his sees Lycanroc readying another Counter. Gladion switches tactics and orders a fresh Stone Edge, though Ash’s Lycanroc flips to the attack with its remarkable reflexes. Ash orders his Lycanroc to charge ahead and go on the attack. It dodges an oncoming Stone Edge and prepares to lash its opponent with an Accelrock. Gladion orders another Stone Edge, though Ash's Lycanroc jumps on top of the boulders and manages to hit Gladion's Lycanroc. Gladion is determined to stop Ash’s Lycanroc using the Stone Edge as a useful footing again, though Ash’s dodges two sets of Stone Edges and runs down the middle getting within range to attack, only for Gladion's to begin powering up another Counter. Ash's Lycanroc is now travelling with too much momentum and can't slow down in time, allowing Gladion's Lycanroc to use Counter to deliver an uppercut to Ash's Lycanroc which hits the ground hard and soon returns to its feet in an act of defiance. Gladion admits that this match is particularly exciting, and Ash agrees.