DP026 : Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
DP028 : Drifloon On the Wind!
Settling a Not-So-Old Score!
DP027.png
DP027   EP493
決戦!ポッチャマVSポッタイシ!!
Decisive Battle! Pochama VS Pottaishi!!
First broadcast
Japan April 5, 2007
United States September 8, 2007
English themes
Opening Diamond and Pearl
Ending
Japanese themes
Opening Together
Ending 君のそばで 〜ヒカリのテーマ〜 (PopUp.Version)
Credits
Animation Team Iguchi
Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka
Storyboard 小山賢 Masaru Koyama
Assistant director 小山賢 Masaru Koyama
Animation director 志村泉 Izumi Shimura
Additional credits

Settling a Not-So-Old Score! (Japanese: 決戦!ポッチャマVSポッタイシ!! Decisive Battle! Pochama VS Pottaishi!!) is the 27th episode of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, and the 493rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on April 5, 2007 as part of a one-hour special with DP026, and in the United States on September 8, 2007.

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Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
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Blurb

The Floaroma Town Contest has just started, and Dawn's already in trouble! Pachirisu gets spooked before Dawn can even start their appeal, and only Dawn's quick thinking and a Poffin treat can calm it down so they can complete their performance. Even with that good recovery, it's no help for Dawn's nerves that the first round goes perfectly for Jessie, AKA Jessilina, and Dawn's old friend Kenny. Still, Dawn advances with them to the next round, much to her relief! She's eager to take on Kenny, but her first opponent turns out to be Jessie.

Jessie and Dustox battle Dawn and Piplup, and Jessie's not actually half-bad. She shows off a few good moves and manages to put Dawn on the defensive. But Dawn manages to come back and win the battle, which means she'll face Kenny and his Prinplup in the next round. Piplup's Peck isn't going to win the round this time, because Kenny's Prinplup easily counters that attack with Metal Claw. And with a Water-type battling a Water-type, it's going to take something special to win this one!

Dawn has Piplup use Whirlpool, and Prinplup boldly dives into the vortex to battle Piplup. It's a close battle, but in the end, victory goes to Dawn and Piplup, earning them the Floaroma Ribbon! Of course Kenny is disappointed, but he promises to battle Dawn again at another Contest. And with that, it's time to head for Eterna City and Ash's next Gym battle!

Plot

Dawn's Pachirisu continues to suffer stage fright, running wildly around the stage. Dawn pulls a Poffin out and tosses it into the air, the scent getting Pachirisu's attention. The Pokémon jumps with an electrified Spark and catches it, saving her performance. After eating the Poffin, Pachirisu uses Discharge to create sparks around the stadium before using Sweet Kiss and creating a shower of small hearts. The crowd applauds at her comeback.

Other Coordinators perform before Jessie takes the stage disguised as Jessilina, calling upon her Seviper. Meanwhile, Dawn relaxes nervously backstage as Kenny complements her performance, but she doesn't believe he is sincere as they watch Jessie's performance. Dawn asks Kenny about when he started taking an interest in Contests, but Kenny told her she never noticed. On stage, Seviper literally wraps Jessie for a good appeal.

Kenny performs last with his Alakazam. It uses Light Screen to box itself in before using Shadow Ball to shatter the box and quickly using Teleport to escape. It follows with Hidden Power to envelop it in a ring while levitating up, ending with a fireworks appeal. While the Contest Judges decide, Ash and Brock go backstage to calm a nervous Dawn. The judges announce the final eight, with Kenny, Jessie and Dawn making it in. The computer randomly pairs up the Coordinators for the Contest Battles, pitting Dawn against Jessie in the first round. Ash and Brock leave, wishing both Dawn and Kenny luck, as Dawn and Kenny anticipate that they will face each other in the final round. Kenny mentions that he watched her Jubilife performance and wanted to duel her, being the reason he entered the Floaroma Contest.

The battle between Jessie and Dawn begins as Dustox goes against Piplup. Dustox uses Whirlwind as Piplup jumps into the wind and spins in place, building up power for a Peck attack. The move appeal robs Jessie of some points before Dustox uses Poison Sting to force Piplup to stop attacking, dropping Dawn's points. Dustox unleashes multiple Psybeam attacks, Piplup dodging continually before Dustox uses Poison Sting, the forced defense depleting Dawn's points. Piplup uses Bide to take the Poison Sting bombardment before unleashing the energy, slashing Jessie's points to half, but Dustox survives the attack. Dustox retaliates with Poison Sting, but Piplup dodges and hits with Peck, knocking Dustox out and giving Dawn the win.

The Contest jumps ahead to the final round, where Kenny and Dawn face off after besting their prior opponents, revitalizing a childhood rivalry as Dawn's Piplup faces off against Kenny's Prinplup. Piplup and Prinplup both use Bubble Beam, canceling each other out and creating sparkles. Both Kenny and Dawn lose points, but Dawn takes a bigger hit due to Prinplup's more powerful attack. Piplup charges with Peck as Prinplup uses Metal Claw to catch and toss Piplup, dropping Dawn's points. Prinplup stands in place, executing a Drill Peck as Piplup uses Bide, landing on Prinplup and spinning with Drill Peck, Dawn's points continuing to drop. Prinplup tosses Piplup into the air as Piplup unleashes energy, hitting Prinplup and dropping Kenny's points.

Prinplup recovers and attacks with Metal Claw, but Piplup flip dodges and uses Whirlpool, consuming Prinplup and dropping Kenny's points to half. However, Prinplup uses Bubble Beam to destroy the Whirlpool, creating sparkles and setting Dawn's points even to Kenny's. Prinplup uses Mist to cloak the battlefield, dropping Dawn's points more. Prinplup comes down with Drill Peck, but Piplup uses Whirlpool and jumps into the whirlpool to dodge, dropping Kenny's points. Piplup prepares Peck as Prinplup jumps into the whirlpool as well. Prinplup's Metal Claw and Piplup's Peck connect, tossing both Pokémon out of the pool and dropping both points. Both use Bubble Beam again, resulting in a cancellation. Time runs out, and Dawn wins the Contest by just a small point difference.

Dawn accepts her first Ribbon from Mr. Contesta as she holds it high. Afterwards, Dawn calls her mom and shows her Ribbon, boasting about her first win. Dawn and Ash high-five as Kenny wishes both of them well before walking out, calling Dawn Dee-Dee once again. Ash tries to ask what it means, but Dawn pushes him off the subject.

Major events

 
Dawn holding the Floaroma Ribbon
For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Characters

Humans

Pokémon

Trivia

Errors

  • After Dawn's win against Jessie, Marian says that Dawn and Piplup are off to the final round, but the match between Dawn and Jessie was in the first round. Piplup is later seen defeating a Bagon, and then fighting against Kenny and Prinplup in the final round.

Dub edits

  • In the English dub, Marian says that the Contest is held once a year. This is not mentioned in the original Japanese version.

In other languages



DP026 : Getting the Pre-Contest Titters!
Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
DP028 : Drifloon On the Wind!
  This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime.