DP081: Difference between revisions

{{Ash}} faces off against {{an|Dawn}} in a training match, while {{an|Brock}} and his Pokémon watch on. Ash commands {{AP|Pikachu}}, {{AP|Buizel}}, and {{AP|Turtwig}}, while Dawn commands {{TP|Dawn|Piplup}}, {{AP|Staravia}}, and {{AP|Chimchar}}. After the training session, {{AP|Gligar}} gets excited and hugs Ash, but ends up knocking him down. Brock offers a training match of his {{TP|Brock|Sudowoodo}} against Ash's Gligar, to calm its excitement. Before they can start, a strong wind blows Gligar onto {{TRT}}'s [[Team Rocket's mechas|air balloon]], sending them flying. Meanwhile, [[Paul]] and his {{TP|Paul|Electabuzz}} shock a {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Drapion}} in an attempt to {{pkmn2|caught|catch}} it. This fails, however, as Ash's Gligar falls from the sky, right in front of Paul, and the Drapion escapes. Paul scolds Gligar for interrupting the training and at that moment, Ash's Staravia leads Ash and his friends to Gligar and Paul.

When Ash asks Paul if he's challenged the [[Pastoria Gym]] yet, Paul brings up [[DP077|Ash's]] [[DP078|performance]] in the [[Wallace Cup]], and Ash defends himself by saying he entered under [[Wallace]]'s recommendation, and that he saw it as a chance to help his Buizel become stronger. Paul retorts that's exactly why Ash criticized him for entering the [[Hearthome City Tag Battle Competition]], which just angers Ash, who responds that Paul only entered {{ci|Hearthome}}'s [[Multi Battle|Tag Battle]] tournament so that he could force his Pokémon to become stronger while Ash entered to win. He criticizes Paul, saying that while they both share the dream of winning the [[Sinnoh League]] and challenging the {{pkmn|Champion}}, {{an|Cynthia}}, their training methods couldn't be more different and Ash raises his Pokémon with love and trust. Brock reflects on Cynthia's helpful advice back at [[Amity Square]], but Paul says that is not his way of being a Pokémon Trainer. Ash is determined to show Paul he's a good Trainer and asks for a battle, but Paul begins to walk away from Ash and his friends. Chimchar suddenly runs after Paul and yells at him. This seems to amuse Paul, who reconsiders Ash's offer for a battle.

The battle begins and Ash tells Gligar to use {{m|X-Scissor}}, however Gliscor pounds back with {{m|Knock Off}}. Gligar begins to cry on the ground before Ash tells it to try {{m|Sand-Attack}}. Gligar gets up and starts to throw sand in Gliscor's face, but the {{pkmn|category|Fang Scorpion Pokémon}} is unaffected by the attack. Paul commands Gliscor to use {{m|Guillotine}}, and Ash tells Gligar to counter with {{m|Steel Wing}} but it's no good as Gliscor scores a direct hit and slams Gligar into the ground, knocking it out. Ash takes Gligar out and kindly tells the Fly Scorpion Pokémon that it's okay and to cheer for him with the rest of the team. Paul tells Ash that it's a good time for Gligar to learn that being defeated in battle is all the Trainer's fault, which Ash's Pokémon don't take kindly to.

Paul sends out his {{TP|Paul|Ursaring}} next. Ash's Chimchar volunteers to fight next. Pikachu isn't sure Chimchar is confident enough to battle Paul, but Chimchar turns around and tells Pikachu he can do it. Pikachu wishes him good luck. The battle begins with Chimchar's {{m|Flamethrower}}. Ursaring uses {{m|Focus Blast}}. Chimchar uses Dig. Ursaring uses {{m|Hammer Arm}} on the ground, unearthing Chimchar and knocking him into the air. Chimchar dives down with a Flame Wheel, but Ursaring catches him. Ursaring uses {{m|Secret Power}} at close range. Due to the mysterious power of Ursaring's Secret Power attack, Chimchar [[flinch]]es and can't attack. Despite encouragement from Ash and friends, Ursaring uses Hammer Arm on Chimchar, burying him in a pile of rubble. Chimchar emerges in a flaming fury, having accessed {{a|Blaze}}, although it's not like any Blaze anyone's seen before. Remembering how Chimchar activated Blaze during his battle with the Zangoose, Paul knows that Chimchar is finally awake, as this is the power he was trying to unlock all along. Brock suggests that Chimchar is trying his best to defeat Paul, and has accessed Blaze due to encouragement from Ash and the other Pokémon. Ursaring is ordered to use another Focus Blast, but Chimchar smashes through it with Flame Wheel and collides with the Hibernator Pokémon, knocking it out.

Even though he won the battle, Chimchar's fury appears to be rising. Ash tells Chimchar it's time to stop, however, Chimchar instead powers up another Flame Wheel and charges at Ash, who is just barely able to get out of the way. Chimchar goes for Paul who is able to narrowly avoid being hit. Now Chimchar is bouncing all around, setting fire to the forest, as well as sending Team Rocket blasting off. Dawn's Piplup uses {{m|Whirlpool}} to put out the fires, while Ash's Buizel backs it up with {{m|Water Gun}}. Chimchar is now completely uncontrollable and attempts to get away, however, he is blocked by Ash who begs Chimchar to stop. Chimchar's escape is blocked by Pikachu, Piplup, Buizel, Turtwig, and Staravia, causing Chimchar's fury to grow. Ash, knowing he needs to stop Chimchar here and now, grabs the Chimp Pokémon and holds him close, and screams at him to stop, but Chimchar shows no sign of calming and bites him in the shoulder causing Ash intense pain. Dawn and the other Pokémon move to help Ash, but Brock and Pikachu stop them knowing Ash is able to handle this alone. The intense heat caused by Chimchar begins to hurt Ash, but he refuses to let go and keeps begging Chimchar to stop. Eventually, under Ash's encouraging words, Chimchar finally calms down and regains control.

Chimchar is once again terrified, this time of Ash's yelling; seeing it as a possible sign of anger. However, Ash's yelling was due more to desperation for Chimchar to get a hold of himself, but Ash compliments Chimchar on his power and says that he believes in Chimchar's power. Paul asks what Ash will do the next time Chimchar ends up accessing Blaze, and if he will ever be able to control it. Ash believes Chimchar has the ability to handle the power it possesses. The rest of Ash and Paul's battle is called off, and Paul tells Ash he's a fool to believe that Chimchar can handle Blaze. However, he goes on to say that after Ash and Chimchar have learned to control Blaze, the two trainers will battle again. Brock mentions that Trainers need to trust their feelings, and that Chimchar's ability to control itself will have a massive effect on Ash's future in the Sinnoh League.