GC138

==Synopsis==
Rachel and Evyr battle for the chance to face Chazz for the Ribbon Cup.
==Summary==
The afternoon after Rachel's talk with Andre, Josephine plans Rachel, Justin, and Andrew out for dinner as Josephine is thrilled Rachel is on a Grand Festival semifinal. First, Justin and Rachel receive a call from Professor Birch who reveals he is in Slateport City and wants to meet the two.
Professor Birch joins everyone at dinner where it is revealed that Andrew met Professor Birch months ago to update his Pokedex. Birch shares he has come to enjoy the Grand Festival since Rachel made it to the final day of competition. In addition, he has gifts for the two of them: a Blazikenite and a Swampertite as well as a pair of Key Stones. 
When Birch reveals the Key Stones, he reveals that he had gifted Connor a Sceptilite and Key Stone when he visited home. Rachel and Justin accept the Mega Stones and both reveal they already have Key Stones through their Mega Bracelets. However, they suggest Andrew take the remaining Key Stone. Andrew says he would appreciate it a lot because he now has an Absolite, recalling the ruckus Absol caused when she sensed it.
After dinner, Rachel and Josephine return to their hotel room and Rachel looks to the stars. She thinks she could be a Top Coordinator by tomorrow's end, but Evyr, Chazz, and the fourth semifinalist are incredibly talented. Rachel takes a deep breath and thinks about the five ribbons she has won and the final opponents she defeated to win them. Rachel intends to win the competition.
The episode then spans to where the previous left off where Rachel and Evyr stand on stage for the second semifinal. Lisia reveals that Chazz has already advanced to the finals, this third in a row, and Rachel and Evyr will battle each other to face him in the final. Lisia excites the audience one more time and starts the clock. Determined, Evyr calls on Claydol and Solrock. Rachel chooses Marshtomp and Shuppet. Watching in the stands, Justin realizes that as why Baltoy is no longer by Evyr's side. Its too big now. Justin is notably concerned about Rachel's choice in Shuppet who has never been in a Contest Battle. 
On stage, Rachel can tell Evyr was saving Claydol, her Starter Pokemon, for the semifinals and potentially the final. On the other end, Evyr observes Shuppet and notes she has never seen it battle. 
As in the start of her winning quarterfinal, Rachel makes the first move by having Marshtomp and Shuppet combine Mud Shot and Will-o-Wisp. Solrock readily destroys the appeal with Flare Blitz, and Claydol uses the residual flares for an appeal. Rachel's direct offense continues to backfire and she can only take away a small portion of Evyr's points while Evyr significantly dents hers. 
Rachel has Marhstomp cover the field in mud and skates across it. Solrock cannot stop Marshtomp with Stone Edge, and Shuppet blind-sides Claydol with Phantom Force when it tries to intercept with Rapid Spin. Marshtomp seems prepared to deliver a direct attack, which Solrock intends to meet with Flare Blitz, but Marshtomp dulls Solrock with Mud Shot to send it crashing. 
Rachel's battle tactic allows her to assert a lead in the battle. Evyr has Claydol and Solrock retaliate with Psybeam and Fire Spin. Marshtomp endures both attacks to send them right back with Mirror Coat and take away more of Evyr's points. 
Josephine recognizes her daughter as absolutely brilliant. Andre looks down and admits the battle is incredible. Evyr acknowledges that Rachel does not emphasize traditional contest combinations, but because she has been traveling with and watching Justin for so long, she's far more adapt at battle combinations instead. Therefore, Evyr decides to win the battle based on appeal. 
Evyr has Solrock and Claydol make a double appeal out of Cosmic Power. Shuppet tries to dull them with Will-o-Wisp but it proves a minor setback for Rachel. 
Rachel has Marshtomp use Water Pledge, which blends with the mud field to cause pillars of muddy water to burst up. Claydol and Solrock dodge the water pillars, but they fail to see the small Shuppet execute Embargo to manifest ghostly black chains from the mud and bind them. Marshtomp then continues his Water Pledge that explodes on Evyr's Pokemon in another fantastic battle combination. 
Undeniably impressed with Rachel, Evyr has Solrock and Claydol fuse Flare Blitz and Psychock to transform Solrock into a purple, flaming meteor that rockets toward Rachel's Pokemon. Rachel orders Shuppet to intercept with Night Shade, but Cladyol meets the attack with Psybeam causing a small explosion that briefly consumes both Pokemon. Solrock propels toward Marshtomp who stands his ground. Both of his hands glow with Rock Smash to counter Solrock's fusion. The two collide and red flares fly off. Solrock's psychic coating fades while neither Pokemon budge. The power level reaches its max and a small fire explosion occurs and fiery sparkles fall to the ground. 
Time is up! By two points Evyr is the winner of the battle and will advance to the finals. Justin and Josephine are very disappointed. Evyr sighs in relief that she has won. Rachel is calm in defeat but her Pokemon are devastated. Rachel thanks Marshtomp for battling hard and taking on Evyr's final attack bravely. She thanks Shuppet for performing brilliantly in his first ever performance battle. As the crowd continues to cheer, Evyr and Rachel smile confidently and nod to each other. 
The episode spans to the final between Chazz and Evyr. Chazz commands Machamp and Hitmontop while Evyr commands Claydol and Flygon. Evyr has battled well, clearly taking chunks out of Chazz's points, but she is still very far behind. Evyr has Flygon consume Claydol in a Sandstorm that it enhances with Rapid Spin and fires onto Chazz's Pokemon. Chazz has Hitmontop use Helping Hand, and Machamp performs Cross Chop. Machamp glows and easily destroys the sand fusion. Hitmontop proceeds to use a combination of Agility and Rapid Spin to hammer Claydol and Flygon. Claydol retaliates with a last Psyshock, but Machamp performs Superpower to grab and rip up the purple streaks. 
When time is called, Evyr has five points to Chazz's thirty, making Chazz the winner and Evyr quietly accepts defeat. In the closing ceremony, Evyr receives the runner-up plate with Claydol. After two finals losses, Chazz finally wins the final stage to claim the title of Hoenn Top Coordinator and the Hoenn Ribbon Cup, presented by Juan. Chazz cries tears of joy stands beside his Machamp, Lucario, and Hitmontop as the crowd cheers. 
An after-party is held. During the party, Chazz and Evyr take a lot of pictures. Lisia approaches Rachel, happy she scouted her. Afterwards Rachel sits outside staring into the sea at a distance. She has called out her Pokemon who are resting or playing with Plusle and Eevee when Eyvr soon arrives.
Rachel shares her disappointment that Evyr lost on the final stage. Evyr says she is both devastated and "not devastated" at the same time. Evyr says she's happy made it to the finals, but she confesses she did not deserve to be in the finals. She says Summer should have, at the very least, been in the semifinals against Rachel. Evyr says she defeated Rachel because her appeals were just slightly better in the end, but Rachel asserted full command of the entire battlefield and the pace of the battle itself. Evyr compares her performance battles to Summer and Chazz, saying she's not capable of battling the way any of them do, which is why she's not remotely ready to be a Top Coordinator. Evyr says she doesn't want to "escape" to win matches. She wants to be the clear, better Coordinator.
Evyr then turns the question to Rachel, who shares that she's not upset because it was never her dream to become a Top Coordinator. She came to Hoenn learn about performance, and she did. Evyr laments that they may not get their rematch. Rachel says maybe not but that doesn't mean they won't see the other make their dreams come true. The rivals share a hug, and Evyr leaves. She passes by Justin and says it could have been him on the final stage. Justin insists that they all perform at a level he can't touch. 
Justin then comes to Rachel who is ready for their last night in Slateport City. She asks about Andrew, whom Justin reports has left to prepare for the Ever Grande Conference. Andrew has come to like Contests a lot but he has priorities. Rachel notes Andre left as well. He had to catch the boat to return home to Sinnoh. Rachel asks what Justin thought about her semifinal performance. Justin gives a slightly uneasy look. He admits there was a lot of good and some bad but decides not to loom on that for now. He asks Rachel if she thinks she can become Kalos Queen after her run in Hoenn. Rachel says no since her best performances have to do with mud, but she does believe she's ready to compete in showcases when she returns home. 
==Major Events==
*Professor Birch arrives at Slateport City and gifts Justin, Rachel, and Andrew a Blazikenite, Swampertite, and Key Stone, respectively
*Chazz has advanced to the finals of the Hoenn Grand Festival
*Evyr's Baltoy is revealed to have evolved into Claydol
*Rachel uses Shuppet in a contest for the first time
*Evyr defeats Rachel to advance to the finals against Chazz
*Chazz defeats Evyr to win the Hoenn Grand Festival and the title of Top Coordinator
*Evyr, Andre, and Andrew leave Slateport City
*Rachel decides to stay in Hoenn to support Justin during the Ever Grande Conference
For a list of all major events in this anime, please see Major Events (Grand Conquest). 
==Characters==
===Humans===
*Justin
*Rachel
*Andrew
*Evyr
*Andre
*Josephine
*Lisia
*Chazz
*Juan
*Courtney (disguise)
*Mr. Suziko
*Mr. Contesta
*Nurse Joy
*Coordinators
*Audience
===Pokemon===
*Eevee (Justin's)
*Plusle (Justin's)
*Marshtomp (Rachel's)
*Minun (Rachel's)
*Jigglypuff (Rachel's)
*Skitty (Rachel's)
*Shuppet (Rachel's)
*Aipom (Andrew's)
*Claydol (Evyr's)
*Flygon (Evyr's)
*Solrock (Evyr's)
*Manectric (Andre's)
*Machamp (Chazz's)
*Hitmontop (Chazz's)
*Lucario (Chazz's)
Category:Grand Conquest
Category:Grand Festival Episodes
Category:Episodes with Contests