XY037: The Cave of Mirrors!

is the 36th episode of of , and of .
==Synopsis==
While our heroes are exploring Reflection Cave, named for its mirrorlike crystal walls, Ash’s own reflection pulls Pikachu through one of the mirrors! Ash leaps after it and finds himself in another world, with a Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena very different from the ones he knows.
After our Ash helps Mirror Ash drive off Team Rocket and reclaim his own Pikachu, Mirror Clemont tells him of a frightening legend—people who pass through one of the mirrors in Reflection Cave must return to their own world before sunset or risk being stuck on the wrong side of the mirror forever! Ash hurries back to the mirror he first stepped through, where his friends are waiting on the other side, and all of them focus on reuniting with each other.
Thanks to the strong bonds of friendship, Ash and Pikachu are pulled back to their own world just in time!
==Episode plot==
The heroes came to a cave, where Bonnie and Serena are excited to visit. They enter the cave and see many crystals. Bonnie and Serena tell this is the Mirror Cave, where the crystals can reflect appearances. Clemont tells that these aren't ordinary rock crystals. Ash finds a tunnel, so runs through it. On his way, he passes a crystal, and for a moment, a picture of him appears looking the other way. The heroes get lost in this cave, which is actually a maze. Ash tries to go back, with Clemont, Serena and Bonnie following him. Ash goes to a dead end and goes for a bit. He yells to his friends, who tell him to stay where he is. Ash visits a mirror crystal and sees his reflection. Suddenly, the reflection takes Pikachu, so Ash struggles to get Pikachu back and goes inside the crystal. Serena, Clemont and Bonnie arrive, only to see Ash went into the crystal.
Ash goes out of the cave and sees the place slightly stranger. Mirror Serena in an angry mood comes out and scolds Ash, calling him a crybaby. Mirror Bonnie appears and yells to his brother (in a polite way) Ash came. Mirror Clemont runs, but he passed Ash and runs back to him. Ash is surprised to see how fast Mirror Clemont is, but Mirror Clemont tells him he has always been a fastest runner. Mirror Serena asks where Pikachu went. Ash reports that his reflection came and took Pikachu, but his mirror friends claim he is speaking nonsense. Ash claims it is true, but Mirror Serena suspects that Ash is not himself. Mirror Clemont tells that the cave has many mirrors, which lead to alternate worlds. Mirror Serena tells Mirror Clemont is speaking gibberish, but Mirror Clemont knows this is not crybaby Ash they see now in front of him. Ash knows for certain that Mirror Serena, Mirror Clemont and Mirror Bonnie are not the ones he knows. Mirror Serena is annoyed by him, so challenges him to a battle to back up those words, which Ash accepts.
Mirror Serena sends Fennekin against Ash's Froakie. Fennekin uses Flamethrower, which gets countered by Froakie's Water Pulse. Fennekin goes to scratch, but it attacks an illusion made via Double Team. Froakie uses Bubble, defeating Fennekin. Ash calls Froakie back, so Mirror Serena believes Ash, as she wouldn't lose to him. Mirror Clemont wonders where is the Mirror Ash. The Mirror Ash appears with original Ash's Pikachu. The Mirror Ash tells when he lost his battle against Mirror Serena, she taunted him a lot. So he ran away into the cave. The Mirror Ash got lost, as well as his Pikachu. He looked at a crystal and saw original Ash and Pikachu, so he took Pikachu away, but soon realized it was not his own. This Mirror Ash apologizes to the real one and says his Mirror Pikachu always causes trouble.
The Mirror Pikachu battles the original Team Rocket, using Thunderbolt and Iron Tail. Even mischief laughing like it's a game. However, Jessie manages to capture it and right after, Meowth questions that is this the same Pikachu they know and love but Jessie exclaimed that they saw it and could be one of him. But unlike the real Pikachu, the mirror Pikachu constantly thunderbolts in its trap. Ash decides to look for Mirror Ash's Pikachu, but Mirror Bonnie and Mirror Serena wonder how they should search. Meanwhile, the true Serena, Bonnie and Clemont see that Ash is not coming back. Clemont decides to use a new machine to open a portal to different dimension, warping time and space. However, the machine blows up instantly. Meanwhile, Mirror Clemont makes a circle and drops his stick, which reveals where Mirror Pikachu is using magic instead of science. While Mirror Bonnie praises Mirror Clemont, her real world counterpart chides Clemont. However, she, Clemont and Serena are worried they may not see Ash again.
Team Rocket sees Mirror Pikachu is persistent, but hide as they hear someone. Ash and the mirror heroes came to a dead end, while Team Rocket sees the Mirror Ash has a twin, as well as a Pikachu. Mirror Ash cries, as he may never see his partner again. Ash tells him they will find Mirror Pikachu, but, suddenly, his Pikachu is captured. Ash sees Team Rocket, Mirror Serena was confused because their Team Rocket call themselves the heroes of justice. Mirror Ash sees his Pikachu and Mirror Bonnie calls them the bad Team Rocket, while Jessie and James send their Pokémon. Mirror Ash and Ash send Mirror Hawlucha and Hawlucha, who use Karate Chop. Inkay is hit, while Mirror Hawlucha passes by Pumpkaboo, who tackles it quite timidly. Inkay uses Psybeam, but Ash's Hawlucha comes, protecting the Mirror one. Ash's Hawlucha is confused, so he calls it back.
Pumpkaboo uses Shadow Ball, knocking out Mirror Hawlucha. Mirror Ash calls it back and cries, giving up hope. Ash tells him that it is not over yet, as crying will not do him any good. Mirror Clemont sneaks up and takes both Pikachu. Meowth objects, but Mirror Clemont steps on him and goes away, while Mirror Serena sends Mirror Fennekin, who uses Hidden Power, unlocking the cages. Pikachu and Mirror Pikachu are rescued and use Thunderbolt on Team Rocket, blasting them off. Mirror Ash's friends compliment Mirror Ash for such determination, who thanks Ash for the support. As the sun sets, Mirror Clemont suddenly remembers according to legend, people who stay in the different world will not come back.
They come back to the crystal, but do not see how to activate it. Mirror Ash remembers that he wished for Pikachu and the portal opened. Mirror Clemont sees feelings open the portal, so Ash wishes to travel with his friends back in his world. Suddenly, the portals open, so Clemont, Serena and Bonnie see Ash and their counterparts. The mirror heroes tell that the sunset is near, so the portals will close soon. In fact, Mirror Serena tells the real Serena to believe in Ash and trust him allowing the portal to come closer. The same with Clemont and Bonnie mirror counterparts. The portals begin to separate, so Ash jumps. He trips over, but his friends catch him and pull him back just in time. Ash thanks to his friends and they all bid farewell to their mirror counterparts farewell.
Later, they go to the Pokémon Center. Serena asks Ash if they will be together forever, but Ash replies that it is obvious they will. Meanwhile, Team Rocket, still in the mirror world is exhausted from being blasted by a double Thunderbolt. Suddenly, on a peak, they see their Mirror counterparts, who are the real Heroes of Justice, leaving the real Team Rocket shocked at what they had just seen.
==Debuts==
===Character===
*Mirror Ash Ketchum
*Mirror Serena
*Mirror Clemont
*Mirror Bonnie
*Mirror Jessie
*Mirror James
==Trivia==
*"Pokémon Quiz": Wobbuffet (JP)
*"Who's that Pokémon": Wobbuffet (US)
*This is a pun on the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin.
*The episode title is similar to XY031:_The_Cave_of_Trials!.
===Mistakes===
In the English dub, Mirror Serena complains at one point of there being too many Ash Ketchums; however, her mouth could be seen not moving whatsoever while the line was spoken.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash
Category:Episodes focusing on Serena