DP128: Difference between revisions

As night falls on the [[Pokémon Center]], Zoey learns that Paul was {{AP|Chimchar}}'s [[Original Trainer|original]] {{pkmn|Trainer}} and how Ash and Paul contrast so much. Dawn notices that Ash is missing as outside [[Paul's Magmar]] and {{TP|Paul|Electabuzz}} {{pkmn|training|train}}, Magmar firing {{m|Flamethrower}} at Electabuzz and towards the sky. Ash meets up with Paul and mentions how {{AP|Grotle}} perfected the defense strategy [[Paul's Torterra]] [[DP100|taught it]] and wanting to thank Torterra, but Paul recalls {{cat|Paul's Pokémon|his Pokémon}} and heads inside, criticizing Ash for using a {{type|Grass}} Pokémon against an {{type|Ice}} Gym Leader. Before he can get inside, Zoey confronts him, angrily yelling at him, "Just who do you think you are?!". Dawn holds Zoey back, trying to calm her down, but Zoey angrily says Paul has no right talking to Ash like that. Paul heads inside without another word as Zoey hopes that Candice wipes the floor with him in the battle.  

The next day, [[Reggie]] drives by in a van when he notices Paul outside the Center. He pulls over and greets his brother. Inside, Ash and {{ashfr}} notice Reggie as Dawn fills Zoey in. They head outside and greet Reggie, who mentions that he just dropped off a {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} he was caring for. Ash mentions that he won at the {{ci|Snowpoint}} [[Snowpoint Gym|Gym]]. Reggie congratulates him and asks Paul if he can watch the match, which Paul allows. Zoey notices how Paul contrasts to his brother as much as to Ash. A shock wave gets everyone's attention as a huge shadow passes by, everyone looking up and spotting the {{DL|Battle Frontier (Generation III)|Battle Pyramid}}. Ash identifies it, getting Reggie and Paul's attention. Paul is even more shocked at the fact that Ash [[AG190|conquered it]] and won the [[Symbol|Brave Symbol]]. {{TRT}} spots the Pyramid from the town while Candice watches from outside her Gym.  

Inside the Pyramid control room, [[Samuel]] relays a streaming video feed from Ash at the Pokémon Center, with Brandon acknowledging their presence. As the Pyramid touches down in a clearing, Reggie drives Ash and his friends to the location. Ash and {{an|Brock}} tell Dawn about the {{OBP|Battle Frontier|Generation III}}, how there are several facilities spread throughout Kanto and that each is run by a [[Frontier Brain]], with {{FB|Pyramid King|Brandon}} as the last to defeat and the most powerful of all the Frontier Brains. Brock asks Reggie about the missing Brave Symbol [[DP066|he noticed]] at Reggie's home back in [[Veilstone City]]. Reggie confirms that the Pyramid was the only place he did not win. His usual smile drops into a serious expression, as he remarks that it was also the day he "learned... that I had a lot more to learn." They reach the Pyramid and meet up with Brandon. Brandon greets Reggie warmly, recognizes Brock, and even Paul, which prompts Paul to step forward and challenge Brandon to a battle. Candice arrives on a {{p|Dodrio}} as an SUV pulls up. Candice introduces herself to Brandon and expresses her admiration of the Battle Pyramid. Brandon introduces the woman getting out of the SUV as Temple Maiden [[Maria]]. Brock instantly goes crazy, but {{TP|Brock|Croagunk}} {{m|Poison Jab|calms him}}. Zoey fills everyone in about the [[Snowpoint Temple]] while Team Rocket listens in, Brandon mentioning that the Temple was his reason for coming to Sinnoh. Brandon tells Samuel to go with Maria to the Temple while he battles Paul. Paul reveals his desire to defeat the person his brother couldn't, not caring whether everyone else watches or not.

Inside, Brock offers to be the referee, but Paul declines, declaring the match will be a [[Full Battle]] with substitutions allowed. Paul summons Magmar as Brandon summons {{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regirock}}. Dawn checks her [[Pokédex]] as Reggie recollects that Paul watched his battle, Regirock being the same lead Pokémon. Reggie recalls the match, he had defeated the other six Frontier Brains and defeating Brandon would allow him to become a Frontier Brain candidate. Paul has just started his Pokémon journey with {{p|Turtwig}} and took time out from his first journey through Sinnoh to travel to Kanto in order to watch Reggie's battle. Despite his best efforts, Brandon defeated Reggie without losing a Pokémon. Paul and his Turtwig were both shocked that Reggie lost to Brandon and was unable to defeat any of his Pokémon. Brandon harshly tells Reggie that while it was an enjoyable battle, there was nothing special or unique about Reggie's battle style, and Brandon finishes by asking Reggie where his inner strength is. Paul took these words to heart, vowing to find his inner strength with his Turtwig being just as determined as well. Brock then figures out that Paul's obsession with power is due to Reggie's loss against Brandon. Brandon states to Paul he can take on anything Paul brings because that is his battling style.

Paul immediately recalls Magmar which surprises everyone, including Brandon, since the battle just started. Brock guesses the disadvantage Magmar has against Regirock must have caused Paul to do that. Paul brings out {{p|Hariyama}}, which Dawn checks. The [[type]] matchup is positive for Paul as Regirock fires {{m|Stone Edge}}, but Hariyama blocks it easily. Paul points out that Rock-type moves won't do that much harm to Fighting types like Hariyama and asks if this is a test. Brandon smiles and states he will have to see himself. Hariyama charges forward and hits with multiple {{m|Arm Thrust}}s, but Regirock bear hugs Hariyama to stop the Arm Thrusts and uses {{m|Shock Wave}} at close range, causing it to stumble and surprising Brock in the process. Hariyama launches a {{m|Force Palm}}, but Regirock moves to the side and throws a {{m|Focus Punch}}, [[fainting|knocking Hariyama out]]. As Paul recalls Hariyama, everyone is impressed at the strength of Regirock. Outside, Team Rocket tries to decide whether to climb the pyramid again or go to the temple. [[Jessie]] and {{MTR}} play rock paper scissors to decide, but it results in a tie.  

Meanwhile, Paul calls Electabuzz. Ash [[DP015|predicts Paul's strategy]] as Electabuzz uses {{m|Brick Break}} to hit. Regirock fires Stone Edge, the attack is so powerful that it even manages to smash through {{m|Protect}}, which greatly frustrates Paul, before following up with {{m|Hyper Beam}} to take Electabuzz out. Ash expresses his surprise at the easy defeat of Electabuzz while Paul recalls it. Brandon recalls his Regirock as well, which benefits him on not having to deal with Regirock being immobile after firing Hyper Beam. Brandon sends out {{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Registeel}} as Paul brings Magmar back out. Magmar hits with a Flamethrower, but, to everyone's amazement, Registeel takes the super-effective attack without much falter. Reggie notes that Flamethrower must have had an effect on Registeel, but it is hanging in. Registeel launches into an {{m|Iron Head}} and Magmar blocks it, but it {{status|flinching|flinches}}, negating the {{m|Will-O-Wisp}} order Paul gave. Paul recalls Magmar and deploys {{p|Nidoking}}. Dawn, after checking Nidoking, is a bit confused as to why Nidoking is up, due to Steel-type's immunity to Poison attacks. Zoey replies that Nidoking is also a Ground-type, giving it the advantage. Registeel fires {{m|Flash Cannon}} which hits Nidoking squarely in the face, but Nidoking uses {{m|Earth Power}} (Brandon showing some surprise of how Nidoking recovered), hitting before launching into {{m|Double Kick}}. Registeel stumbles backwards but quickly recovers, withstanding a hit from Nidoking's {{m|Thunderbolt}} before using Iron Head to knock it out.  

Brandon begins to taunt Paul, reminding him that he wanted to defeat the man who defeated Reggie and put an end to his Pokémon journey. Paul, recalling his Nidoking, tells Brandon that the fact that Brandon defeated Reggie is the only reason why he is battling him now; all he wants is the chance to earn victory against Brandon, which his brother couldn't do. Brandon presents the ultimate challenge to all Trainers to find their inner strength and Paul knows what his inner strength is... his will. Brandon chastises Paul for this, telling him he is focusing on the past. He adds that if Paul's this obsessed with what happened to Reggie, he needs to question ''why'' he's on a journey in the first place. This clearly hits a nerve and Paul furiously brings out {{p|Lairon}}.  

Brandon recalls Registeel and brings {{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regice}} out as Lairon uses {{m|Iron Defense}}. Reggie guesses Paul is trying to hang in and wait for a chance to counterstrike. Regice {{status|frozen|freezes}} Lairon with an {{m|Ice Beam}} before launching {{m|Zap Cannon}}, knocking out Lairon without it being able to attack (as stated by Ash). As Paul recalls Lairon, his emotions grow even more intense as he brings out {{TP|Paul|Ursaring}}. Ursaring then launches {{m|Hammer Arm}}, however, Regice counters with {{m|Focus Punch}} and a massive backlash is created, knocking both Pokémon backwards. Ursaring prepares to use {{m|Focus Blast}}, but a Zap Cannon stops that attack and {{status|paralysis|paralyzes}} Ursaring (Brock states that Zap Cannon will always paralyze a target if the attack hits). Paul gets even more frustrated and angry at this and Ash notices Paul is not trying to switch out Ursaring. Brandon then recalls Regice and brings Regirock back out, much to Paul's anger and shock. Regirock then fires Stone Edge, and Ursaring is taken out, forcing Paul to recall Ursaring. Reggie notes that Paul did not give any orders to Ursaring, having just given up on Ursaring's chances of winning. Paul brings out Magmar as his last, however with the type-disadvantage and massive difference in strength, everyone verbally states that Paul has already lost the match. Regirock easily endures Magmar's Flamethrower before knocking out Magmar with Shock Wave, therefore giving Brandon a perfect 6-0 victory over Paul.  

* Paul learns that Ash has completed the {{OBP|Battle Frontier|Generation III|Kanto Battle Frontier}}.  

* {{p|Regirock}} ({{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regirock|Brandon's}})

* {{p|Registeel}} ({{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Registeel|Brandon's}})

* {{p|Regice}} ({{DL|Brandon's legendary golems|Regice|Brandon's}})

{{Epilang|color=FFCCCC|bordercolor=9999FF

|nl={{tt|De Strijd Piramide!|The Battle Pyramid!}}

[[Category:Episodes in which a legendary Pokémon appears|594]]

[[de:Pyramid-aler Zorn! (Episode)]]