XY088: Mending a Broken Spirit!

is the 37th episode of Pokémon the Series: XY Kalos Quest.
==Synopsis==
Serena is reworking her Pokémon Showcase routine when a powerful attack from Pancham hits Braixen and breaks its beloved branch! Everyone tries to find Braixen a new branch, but it isn’t interested in a replacement. Team Rocket has been spying as usual, and James dons a disguise and joins our heroes to see if he can help.
Nurse Joy suggests they take the branch to a tree surgeon, Mr. Woodward, for repairs. He first wants Serena and Braixen to demonstrate their bond, and the best way to do that is with a battle. Braixen eventually uses its broken branch to unleash a powerful new move: Fire Blast! This shatters the branch beyond repair but restores Braixen’s confidence, and it finally accepts the new branch Pancham offers. Our heroes are off once more to Anistar City, and the bond between Serena and Braixen is stronger than ever!
==Episode plot==
While Ash, Clemont and Bonnie had a tasty meal, Serena looks at her key, remembering the last performance at Dendemille Town. She cheers Braixen and Pancham up to think of new combinations for the next Showcase, since she needs two more Princess Keys. Team Rocket watches her, as Jessie thinks she'll win the next Showcase. Serena draws a picture of how the performance would look like, intending on improving their combination attacks. Braixen uses Flamethrower, between Pancham, who jumps about. Pancham uses Stone Edge, but accidentally hits Braixen, who falls down. Braixen is not hurt, but seeing her branch broken, she screams. Braixen is upset about her branch and angry at Pancham, but Serena calms her down. Ash, Clemont and Bonnie arrive and see Braixen's broken branch.
Seeing the broken branch, Pancham runs into the forest and returns with a new branch. Braixen does not want the branch, so everyone runs off to find a new one that fits Braixen well. After searching through the forest, everyone returns with the branches for Braixen. However, Braixen doesn't like any of them and runs off. Serena and Pancham go after her, while Serena's friends go to search for new branches for Braixen. Team Rocket saw this situation and James feels the same way for Braixen and understands what Braixen is going through. As a collector, James admits he had a situation back in the past when he collected bottle caps. He found a rare bottle cap and went to stash it into his box, but all of his previous bottle caps were disposed of by his mother. James is still sad about it and decides to support Braixen in this.
Serena and Pancham find Braixen and ask her why won't she accept a different branch. Braixen is furious and runs off and finds James, disguised, introducing himself as Jeeves. Serena introduces herself and tells him what happened. James replies sometimes beings have reasons why they won't accept some things. Serena reminds herself Braixen always favored this branch and Serena complimented her, James is glad she now understands how Braixen feels. Serena sees Braixen finds the branch too valuable to be replaced, so thinks of going to the Pokémon Center, hoping to fix the branch. Unfortunately, Nurse Joy cannot fix the branch, but has an idea. Jessie and Meowth wonder what is James doing but they know that James tends to stick his nose into other people's business if it concerns him but knows that he'll be caught. Jessie is hoping he is finding a way to catch Braixen and Pancham, allowing her easy victories at the Showcases. Nurse Joy returns, showing an article about Woodward, a man who managed to attach Sawsbuck's horn back. She thinks he may do the same for the branch, by sharpening and binding it together.
James, Serena and Braixen visit Woodward, who studies the broken stick pieces. Woodward replies it will be hard to attach the pieces. James reminds him he managed to attach Sawsbuck's horn, but Woodward replies Sawsbuck has strong feelings about that. Serena tells she and Braixen also have strong feelings to attach the stick pieces together. Woodward asks to prove that, he could battle Serena, having his Gallade battle Braixen. Ash, Clemont and Bonnie are told by Nurse Joy Serena went off to repair Braixen's branch. They come to the battle field, where Serena faces Woodward. Serena tells her friends she has to battle to have Braixen's branch repaired, to prove how their feelings are strong, with Ash encouraging her. Braixen starts with Scratch, but misses Gallade. Bonnie wonders why didn't Braixen use Flamethrower, so Ash reminds her Braixen's fire attacks will be harder to use, since the stick is broken.
Braixen repeats her attack, but misses again and got hit by Gallade's Slash. Meowth and Jessie observe the battle, seeing this is their chance to capture Pikachu. Gallade uses Psycho Cut, but Braixen swiftly dodges the attacks. Suddenly, a net is thrown to capture Pikachu, who dodges the net. Jessie and Meowth appear and James, seeing they have to catch Pikachu, ditches his disguise. Jessie takes James' device to catch Pikachu, but Serena stands in their way. Pancham uses Stone Edge, allowing Braixen to leap onto the stones. She puts the pieces together and launches a new move, Fire Blast. Followed by a Thunderbolt, Pikachu makes Team Rocket blast off again, while James encourages Woodward to repair the stick when flying in mid-air, much to Jessie and Meowth's annoyance. Serena wants to continue the battle, but Woodward points out even before they came, the stick was beyond repair.
Woodward tells Braixen while it is nice to be fond of an object, like the branch, she shouldn't be close-minded. Woodward points out Braixen put its feelings into the broken branch, allowing her to launch Fire Blast. He clarifies if they show feelings like these, they can use any kind of a tool properly. Pancham pulls out a new stick and Serena places her hand on it, telling Braixen they have to take the next step. Braixen places her hand and accepts the stick, though Serena puts a ribbon on it first. Braixen is glad and continues the battle with Gallade. Gallade uses Psycho Cut, but Braixen dodges and uses Fire Blast, hitting Gallade. Woodward cancels, as he saw enough. Serena and Pancham hug Braixen, who won.
Woodward collects the pieces of the branch and binds them onto a tree. He explains this allows the new tree to thrive anew. Serena promises with the new branch, Braixen can help her become the Kalos Queen. Later, Serena bids farewell to Woodward, since they learned so much. Before going, the heroes wonder where Jeeves went to.
==Quotes==
:"Great new move, Braixen!" - James
:"Braixen's quite eager. So would you please fix Braixen's branch, Woodward?!" - James
:"Why do you care about a dumb branch?!" - Jessie
:"Why not?! I'm feeling great today!" - James
:"I guess being a chump can do that to ya." - Meowth
:"We're blasing off again." - Jessie
:"We've learned so much from you, Woodward. I can't thank you enough for your generosity!" - Serena
:"Now, Now. I haven't done much of anything at all. It's something you and your Pokemon learned together, my dear child!" - Woodward
:"I want to thank you anyway!" - Ash
:"I also want to!" - Clemont
:"Anyone have an idea where Jeeves went?" - Serena
==Trivia==
*"Pokémon Quiz": Gallade (JP)
*"Who's that Pokémon?:" Gallade (US)
*This episode aired in Canada earlier than the US.
*This marks one of the rare times James is willing to help the heroes.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes featuring a main character's Pokémon learning a new move
Category:Episodes focusing on Serena
Category:Episodes focusing on James