DP132: Evolving Strategies!

is the 28th episode of Pokémon: DP Galactic Battles.
==Synopsis==
The Lake Acuity showdown between Ash and Paul continues with a face-off between Pikachu and Magmortar! Pikachu lands the first attack, only to be burned by Magmortar’s Flame Body Ability. The longer the battle lasts, the worse it will be for Pikachu. Ash soon switches Pikachu out for Buizel, but Paul switches in Ursaring before Buizel can use its type advantage against Magmortar. Even after Ursaring powers up with Bulk Up, Ash isn’t worried; he’s confident in Buizel’s fighting ability and countershield technique. Ash changes his mind after seeing Ursaring in action, but Buizel wants to keep battling. Ash agrees, which is a mistake: Ursaring’s next hit knocks Buizel out of the match!
Staraptor is up next for Ash but when it gets into close combat with Ursaring, Ursaring hammers it to the ground. Paul switches to Electabuzz so Ash sends in Chimchar, but it’s another decoy move: Electabuzz sets up Light Screen to protect Paul’s next Pokémon, Torterra. Thanks to Light Screen, Torterra has less to fear from Chimchar’s Fire-type attacks, so Ash figures Gliscor should finish the job. Alas, Torterra simply uses Frenzy Plant to defeat Gliscor. Pikachu volunteers to battle next and this triggers another switch by Paul, who brings back Ursaring. Although Pikachu’s Static Ability paralyzes Ursaring, it uses the Guts Ability to power through the paralysis and smash Pikachu into Lake Acuity. Now Ash only has Chimchar left!
Ash’s Chimchar is eager to show its stuff. After its Flamethrower knocks out Ursaring, Chimchar is so psyched that it evolves into Monferno and picks up a new move: Mach Punch! Paul brings in Electabuzz, who has the defensive moves to keep Monferno’s attacks at bay. Monferno burns with the will to win, but it all comes down to Monferno’s Mach Punch versus Electabuzz’s Thunder Punch. When the smoke clears, Monferno faints, so Paul wins the match. Ash is quietly devastated; what can he do now, after being crushed by his rival...?
==Episode plot==
Ash warns Pikachu not to let his guard down. Reggie knows that Paul knows that Ash would change his Pokémon if he used a Ground-type against Pikachu, so he sticks with Magmortar. Pikachu starts with Quick Attack, pushing Magmortar away. Pikachu is burnt, as Magmortar's Flame Body causes damage, that's the other reason Paul had them out. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, which collides with Flamethrower and causes a giant explosion. Pikachu charges with Volt Tackle, but is stopped by several Rock Tomb moves and gets still burnt. Magmortar uses Smog, but Pikachu spins and uses Thunderbolt, which deflects Smog in a fashion like Ash's battle with Fantina, acting as a counter-shield. Magmortar uses Flamethrower, though Pikachu jumps and hits it with Iron Tail. 
Seeing how he still takes burning damage, Ash calls Pikachu back and sends Buizel. The Sea Weasel Pokémon uses Aqua Jet, hurting Magmortar and continues with Water Pulse. Magmortar uses Rock Tomb seemingly for protection, which gets destroyed easily by Water Pulse. Buizel uses Aqua Jet, but Magmortar had actually jumped in the air. From its position, Magmortar uses Smog, affecting Buizel. Paul calls Magmortar back and sends Ursaring. Buizel uses Water Gun, which Ursaring negates with Hammer Arm. Ursaring uses Bulk Up to strengthen itself. Buizel uses Aqua Jet, wounding the Hibernator Pokémon, though Ursaring still manages to slash Buizel. Ursaring then uses Focus Blast, but Buizel spins and uses Aqua Jet to deflect the attack back causing great damage. Buizel attacks with Sonic Boom and even if Ursaring is hit, it still charges and hits Buizel with Hammer Arm. Ash goes to call Buizel back, but it gives a signal or rather, a thumbs up it is good. Buizel charges with Aqua Jet, but gets defeated by Focus Blast, Reggie notes that Ash not returning Buizel was his mistake. Ash calls it back and sends out Staraptor. Staraptor uses Aerial Ace, dodging Ursaring's Hammer Arm and hitting it. Ursaring manages to hit him with Focus Blast. Ursaring slashes Staraptor, preventing his Close Combat and defeats him with Hammer Arm. Ash calls Staraptor and Paul his Ursaring back.
Paul sends Electabuzz and Ash his Chimchar who uses Flamethrower, which gets blocked by Protect. Electabuzz uses Light Screen for protecting the next Pokémon, then is called back. Paul sends Torterra, so Chimchar uses Flame Wheel. Torterra uses Stone Edge, so Chimchar evades, though Torterra changes the attack direction and hits the Chimp Pokémon. Chimchar uses Flamethrower, which gets countered by Light Screen. Seeing the tough situation, Ash calls Chimchar back, making Team Rocket very tired with all the button pushing. Ash sends Gliscor, who uses X-Scissor, but gets pushed away and defeated with Frenzy Plant. Ash calls Gliscor back and despite the disadvantage he knows, sends Pikachu. However, Paul calls Torterra back and sends Ursaring.
Pikachu starts with Quick Attack, which hits Ursaring, but gets blown away by Hammer Arm. Pikachu uses Iron Tail and Ursaring goes to use Focus Blast, but Pikachu's Static Ability which was activated when Ursaring used Hammer Arm on Pikachu causes it to be paralyzed. Pikachu manages to hit him with Iron Tail, but takes still damage from Flame Body, causing it to struggle. Ursaring becomes very angry, as its own Ability, Guts, is activated. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt, which hits Ursaring, but not enough. Ursaring tosses him into the lake. Pikachu comes out of the lake, but falls as he is defeated, Reggie believing Paul was waiting for the right moment Guts would be triggered.
Ash puts Pikachu near himself to watch the rest of the battle. Ash sees he has Chimchar left, but knows all of Paul's Pokémon took damage. Ash sends Chimchar, who uses Flame Wheel. Ursaring pushes him away by slashing, although Chimchar uses Flamethrower on it. Chimchar digs and attacks Ursaring before it used Hammer Arm on the ground. With a Flamethrower, the mighty giant is defeated and Chimchar wins. Even Team Rocket is proud to see Chimchar won. Paul calls Ursaring and goes to send another Pokémon. Ash thanks Chimchar and wants to win with him against Paul. Heartened by this, Chimchar nods and then begins glowing much to everyone's surprise with Brock realizing it's evolving! Once the light has faded, Monferno stands there, confident with Ash overjoyed at the new evolution. As Dawn looks up Monferno in her Pokédex, Reggie notes that Monferno has responded to Ash's feelings and gained new powers. On the battlefield, Monferno begins rapidly swinging its fists and even sends a gust of wind towards Paul who stands there, unmoving and not even flinching in the slightest. This has Ash also discovering that Monferno has learned Mach Punch.
Paul sends Electabuzz who at first seems surprised that Chimchar has evolved but the two are ready to fight each other. On the sidelines, Reggie tells Brock and Dawn that Chimchar wasn't a perfect fit for Paul's training style but in fact a perfect match for Ash and that Monferno evolving is proof about how important compatibility between Pokémon and its Trainer really is. He also remarks that Ash and Paul's rivalry is not about who's right or wrong: merely their feelings of pride as Pokémon Trainer and this battle will have an effect on them in the long, causing Brock to figure out that was why Reggie even suggested the full battle between Ash and Paul in the first place.
Monferno uses Mach Punch, which hits Electabuzz, sending it to a rock. Electabuzz uses Thunder, pushing Monferno away, getting it paralyzed. Monferno uses Flame Wheel, which gets deflected by Protect. Monferno attacks using Flamethrower, however Electabuzz jumps and uses Thunder Punch, but misses. Monferno digs and manages to hit Electabuzz. Electabuzz uses Thunder against Flame Wheel, but Monferno spins and uses Flamethrower as well to protect itself. Electabuzz gets hit by Flame Wheel. Monferno uses Mach Punch, which gets deflected by Protect. Electabuzz uses Thunder, hitting Monferno in a moment.
Monferno goes to use Flamethrower, but it is paralyzed. Monferno's Ability, Blaze, is seemingly activated which has everyone shocked. However, Reggie reveals that it is actually a manifestation of Monferno's determination to win in its flame, this is what Paul saw back then and why Chimchar didn't go crazy when he battled Roark. They collide using Thunder Punch and Mach Punch, causing an explosion that throws up a lot of smoke with everyone eager to see who's won. When the smoke finally clears, the two Pokémon are still standing but Electabuzz smirks, knowing Monferno has taken a lot more damage than itself which is proven correct when Monferno collapses to the ground seconds later, Ash yelling Monferno's name while Olivier declares that Monferno is unable to battle and that the winner of the battle is Paul, an announcement that leaves everyone including the disguised Team Rocket completely stunned. It also means that Ash, who was only able to defeat two of Paul's Pokémon, has suffered his worst ever loss.
Ash goes to Monferno and thanks it for this battle. Paul is pleased by this victory and tells Reggie that he will send his Pokémon to him and goes away. 
As Paul leaves, Pikachu, Reggie and Olivier watch while Ash stands there, holding his injured Monferno, his face hidden although it's briefly shown that he's on the verge of crying while Brock, Dawn and Piplup look at Ash with Ash's own future and any hopes of participating in the Sinnoh League now being left in serious doubt as a result of Ash's loss to Paul.
==Debuts==
===Pokémon===
*Ash's Monferno
==Trivia==
*This episode uses Hoenn's Victory Road music as background music.
*The preview for the next episode is narrated by Dawn and even has her theme, By Your Side ~Hikari's Theme~ playing as well.
*Team Rocket does not blast off or recite their motto in this episode.
===Mistakes===
* For a split second after Chimchar evolved into Monferno, its eyes were blue then went back to black.
* When Ash sends out Gliscor against Torterra, he comments that Torterra is protected with Light Screen. However, this is irrelevant as Gliscor doesn't know any Special attacks.
* Ash stated that all of Paul's Pokémon had taken damage. While it is true for the others, Honchkrow only got hit with a Light Screen blocked Energy Ball, and it was hard to tell whether or not Rock Climb did anything.
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Episodes focusing on Ash
Category:Episodes focusing on Paul
Category:Episodes featuring a main character's Pokémon evolving
Category:Episodes featuring a main character's Pokémon learning a new move