DP075: Difference between revisions

{{si|Rhonda}} reports from the ''[[Sinnoh Now]]'' newsroom that Contest Master and [[Hoenn League]] [[Pokémon Champion]] [[Wallace]] will be hosting the [[Wallace Cup]] at [[Lake Valor]]. Watching from a [[Pokémon Center]], {{an|Dawn}} is particularly excited by the news.

Dawn turns her attention to {{Ash}} and {{cat|Ash's Pokémon|his Pokémon}} {{pkmn|training}} outside for their upcoming challenge at the [[Pastoria Gym]]. Inspired by Ash's drive, Dawn starts to do some training of her own. She tells {{cat|Dawn's Pokémon|her team}} that she knows they've been worried about her lately since [[DP061|her loss]] in the {{to|Solaceon}} Contest but assures them things are changing. She calls for a warm up round: {{TP|Dawn|Piplup}} whips up a {{m|Whirlpool}}, {{TP|Dawn|Buneary}} {{m|Bounce}}s around, {{TP|Dawn|Ambipom}} uses {{m|Swift}}, and {{TP|Dawn|Pachirisu}} unleashes a {{m|Discharge}}. She presses them to make it bigger and more powerful, and the joint effort creates a spectacular [[Contest combination|combination]]. Dawn is happy with the progress but suddenly remembers [[Zoey]]'s advice that the Pokémon are the main attraction in Contests. Panicking, Dawn runs out and tells them to stop, but she ends up getting struck down by Pokémon’s attacks. Ash and Brock run over to check on Dawn, but she tells them not to worry about her. Her hair becomes frizzed. She admits that she was focusing too much on making the [[move]]s big and powerful rather than on the Pokémon. Ash and Brock comfort her.

[[Nurse Joy]] approaches the group, flanked by Rhonda and her crew. Brock flirts with Joy, only for {{TP|Brock|Croagunk}} to use {{m|Poison Jab}} and drag him off. Ash greets Rhonda, but she is more concerned about finding Wallace. Dawn quickly fixes her hair and asks for more information. Ash and Brock don't know who Wallace is so Rhonda shows them a magazine with Wallace and his signature Pokémon {{p|Milotic}} on the cover. Dawn says that every Coordinator, including herself, wants to meet superstar Wallace. Rhonda informs everybody that Wallace regularly travels across the Kanto and Hoenn [[region]]s holding and promoting Pokémon Contests bearing his name, the Wallace Cup, that the Wallace Cup {{DL|Ribbon|Aqua Ribbon}} counts as an official Ribbon at any region’s Contest competitions, and that this year's Wallace Cup is taking place at Lake Valor. Brock says that Lake Valor is right on the way to Pastoria City. Dawn announces that she's planning on participating in the Wallace Cup. Dawn asks Rhonda more about Wallace and she says that it's Wallace's day off so his whole staff won't tell her where he is but her sources tell her he's somewhere nearby and that a piece on Wallace relaxing would be priceless. She asks Ash and {{ashfr}} to tip her off if they see Wallace and leaves to continue her star search. {{TRT}} overhears the entire conversation from their spying post on top of the Pokémon Center. [[Jessie]] is equally excited to compete in the Wallace Cup, and hopes to dedicate the victory to her released {{TP|Jessie|Dustox}}. [[James]] and {{MTR}} have their doubts in Jessie’s charm offensive strategy, but endorse her enthusiasm for their own safety nonetheless.

Drifting fog and a melodic voice leads Ash and {{ashfr}} directly to Wallace's location. Wallace greets them, admitting that he is simply glad to have the time away from his hectic schedule. As Milotic plays with Pikachu and Piplup, Dawn admires the {{pkmn|category|Tender Pokémon}} and Wallace tells her that kinship is the most important thing when caring for Pokémon. Dawn promises not to tell anyone Wallace is here so as to not disturb his day off. Ash tells Wallace that Dawn's entering the Wallace Cup, so Wallace asks her to show him some Contest moves. Dawn is hesitant at first, and to help motivate her, Ash challenges her to a [[Contest Battle]].

Ash sends out {{AP|Buizel}} and Dawn chooses Piplup. Dawn is nervous to battle in front of Wallace and Brock tells him how Dawn and Ash [[trade]]d Buizel and {{p|Aipom}} because of Aipom's love for Contests, while Buizel was more interested in regular battles. Wallace watches the short match carefully and claps and praises them after. Wallace thinks that since Buizel is fond of battles it would be interesting to see its moves in a Contest Battle and reminds Dawn that Buizel's unique battle style comes from her training with it. Wallace suggests that Ash should participate in the Wallace Cup. Ash knows Contests and regular battles are different, but he sets aside his doubts and agrees to compete after listening to Dawn’s encouragement.  Wallace also praises Piplup's moves and says that Dawn has clearly spent time polishing them. However, he tells her that she may be focusing too much on well-rehearsed moves, and suggests to keep it more natural. He recommends she play with her Pokémon more often, and Dawn realizes that this is the missing aspect from her training.

Jessie comes up in her [[Jessilina]] [[List of Team Rocket's disguises|disguise]]. She introduces herself and then invades Wallace's and Milotic's personal space while praising them. She calls out her {{TP|Jessie|Seviper}} and it's {{pkmn|cosplay|dressed up}} like a Milotic, however the costume only perplexes Wallace. James and Meowth in their own disguises drag her away, infuriating her.

Wallace and Milotic puts on a performance to show what a day of relaxing and playing can do for Pokémon. Milotic uses {{m|Safeguard}} to surround itself in a green light and. It follows up with {{m|Aqua Ring}} and water bubbles circle it. It then uses {{m|Dragon Pulse}}, the water bubbles disperse and it flies around Ash and friends. Milotic finishes with {{m|Twister}}, whipping up wind and water around itself for a powerfully dramatic end. Jessie asks Wallace to teach Seviper Aqua Ring but Wallace tells her it's impossible. Wallace bids everyone farewell and looks forward to seeing them at the Wallace Cup. He and Milotic then depart in a wave. Jessilina soon leaves, not without letting Dawn know she plans to win. Meanwhile, Rhonda and her crew are in the bushes. She confirms whether her cameraman filmed everything. However he reveals the battery was dead, and in her fury Rhonda accidentally hits herself on the {{wp|Boom operator (media)|boom mic}}.

Overnight, Ash and his friends watch [[Marian]] interview Wallace on TV back in the Pokémon Center. Dawn thinks she still has a long way to go before being able to appreciate what's truly special about her Pokémon. Ash and Brock remind her to relax, and repeat Wallace’s advice to play with her Pokémon. Nurse Joy comes by and informs Ash that he has a message to call the Pokémon Center in [[Snowpoint City]]. Elsewhere, in Snowpoint, girl is sitting on a couch watching TV in the local Pokémon Center and Nurse Joy tells her she has a phone call from Ash. She stands up and reveals herself to be Ash’s former travel companion, {{an|May}}.