GC132

==Synopsis==
Connor returns home.
==Summary==
On Drake's ship, Justin comes to Rachel with breakfast for them and their Pokemon. Justin reports that they will arrive in Slateport City in two days. Rachel is excited for the Grand Festival. She wonders if Justin's parents will come, considering his mother is a Top Coordinator. Justin notes that he's not sure what his parents are up to. 
In Petalburg City, Connor is shown walking past the sign that welcomes all people into the city. Connor is happy to be back, and he visits his parents, who are thrilled to see him. 
Soon after, Connor comes to Justin's home where Carrie is cleaning with Mr. Mime and Marill. She soon stops a catfight between Furret and Persian to answer the door where Connor is there. She knows Connor is here for a gym battle and directs Connor to the gym. 
Duane is at the gym where he is mentoring trainers about Normal-Type Pokemon. He highlights their uniqueness of being able to do anything and a trainer's duty is to discover what their Normal-Type is most capable of doing.
When Connor enters, Duane introduces his students to the young trainer, and Duane correctly notes that Connor is here for gym battle. Connor says he has seven badges, and he wants the Balance Badge to be his eighth. Duane accepts the challenge, and his students will watch the battle. 
Considering that this would be Connor's eight badge, Duane explains that the gym is expected to be conducted in two parts: a double battle portion followed by a single battle portion. However, Duane wants to cut to the three-on-three single battles, which Connor accepts. 
When the battle begins, both Pokemon call on a Slaking as their first Pokemon. Usually Truant would trigger and causes a lulled battle, but the sight of another Slaking invigorates both Pokemon and they beat their chest for an intense battle. Duane commands Slaking to use a power-healing strategy while Connor commands a Counter strategy. Connor soon commands Encore to force Duane's Slaking to use Hammer Arm and therefore prevent any healing via Slack Off. Duane's Slaking delivers a massive Hammer Arm and Connor's Slaking retaliates with Counter that knocks out Duane's Slaking. However, the battle is a draw once Connor's Slaking collapses after celebaring his win. 
Duane's second Pokemon is Spinda, and Connor chooses Machoke for the type advantage. Duane intends for Spinda's abnormal movements to bewilder Machoke, but Machoke has the No Guard ability. All of its attacks will land, no matter Spinda's off movements and battle style. However, Connor did not know Spinda has the Own Tempo ability. Machoke's Dynamic Punch cannot confuse it. Spinda puts Machoke to sleep with Hypnosis and recovers its health with Dream Eater. A blast of Psyeam awakens Machoke.The two dies collide with Dynamic Punch and Dizzy Punch, which renders them both unable to battle. 
Duane's final Pokemon is a Kangaskhan, Justin's Kangaskhan, while Connor's is his Sceptile. At the start of the battle Kangaskhan uses her newly learned Fake Out to flinch Sceptile's Agility then deliver a heavy Power-Up Punch to boost her power. Sceptile returns to using Agility and deliver a Leaf Blade that Kangaskhan cannot dodge. Kangaskhan summons a Rock Slide, which Sceptile burrows through the attack with Leaf Storm that explodes on Kangaskhan. 
Duane is impressed and addresses the Sceptilite dangling from Sceptile's tail. Duane reveals the Kangaskhanite that the baby Kangaskhan holds. Duane reveals the Mega Ring on index finger and Mega Evolves Kangaskhan. Connor reveals his Mega Pendant and Mega Evolves Sceptile as well. 
The intense battle continues, and Mega Kangakshan shows off her Parental Bond ability that works perfectly with Power-Up Punch and a newly learned Sucker Punch to steadily overwhelm and whittle Sceptile. Connor realizes he cannot command attack after attack. He has to command Agility in between attacks to throw off Duane and Kangaskhan's timing while Acrobatics assists with contructing illusions. Once Connor finds this balance and blend between attack, speed, evasion, and defense, Sceptile is able to land a critical Leaf Blade and defeat Kangaskhan with Leaf Storm. 
Duane is proud of Connor for understanding balance and awards him the Balance Badge, which qualifies Connor for the Ever Grande Conference. 
==Major Events==
*Connor returns home to Petalburg City and challenges Duane for a gym battle
*Connor is revealed to have earned his seventh badge
*Duane is revealed to have been training Justin's Kangaskhan
*Duane is revealed to have obtained a Key Stone and a Kangaskkhanite, allowing him to Mega Evolve Kangaskhan
*Kangaskhan is revealed to have learned Fake Out and Sucker Punch and to have the Parental Bond ability when Mega Evolved
*Connor's Grovyle and Vigoroth are revealed to have evolved into Sceptile and Slaking, respectively
*Connor has obtained a Key Stone and a Sceptilite, allowing him to Mega Evolve Sceptile
*Connor defeats Duane to win the Balance Badge and qualify for the Ever Grande Conference
For a list of all major events in this anime, please see Major Events (Grand Conquest). 
==Characters==
===Humans===
*Justin (cameo)
*Rachel (cameo)
*Connor
*Carrie
*Duane
*Joshua
*Connor's parents
*Gym Trainers
===Pokemon===
*Eevee (Justin's; cameo)
*Skitty (Rachel's; cameo)
*Furret (Justin's)
*Marill (Justin's)
*Kangaskhan (Justin's; Mega Evolves)
*Mr. Mime (Justin's)
*Sceptile (Connor's)
*Slaking (Connor's; Duane's)
*Machoke (Connor's)
*Persian (Carrie's)
*Spinda (Duane's)
Category:Grand Conquest
Category:Episodes with Gym Battles