GC144

==Synopsis==
Justin and Andrew prepare for the league quarterfinal.
==Summary==
To Rachel, Justin seems eerily calm before his quarterfinal battle against Andrew in the coming days. Justin is shown simply grooming his Pokemon instead of training. Justin assures her that he is very nervous and very stressed, remembering that he was defeated in the quarterfinals of the Silver Conference the previous year, and he wants to do better. However, he's no intention of stressing his Pokemon. They will do light training in between grooming to keep them loose, but no matter what they will be ready. Rachel asks if Andrew is taking the same approach. Justin knows he is. Meanwhile, Andrew is shown watching his Aipom play with Breloom while Absol naps. He is confidence his Pokemon will do well. 
On the first day of quarterfinals, Justin and Rachel sit together in the audience. Monica is first and she scores a victory to become the first semifinalist of tournament. In a victory speech, Monica mentions this as her first time into the league semifinal after losing in the double battles two years prior. She is happy to be improving. 
After Monica, Connor claims victory with Mega Sceptile to advance to a league semifinal on his first try, which is a commendable feat. With this victory, Connor and Monica will face each other in the first semifinal in the coming days.
On the night after the first quarterfinals, Justin holds onto his five Poke Balls and Eevee. Justin reflects on his Full Battle against Andrew after Ecruteak City, which he lost. He remembers wanting them to compete in the finals of the Silver Conference since they were on opposite sides of the draw, but it never worked out for either. Now, they still don't get to meet in the final but they still get to compete in a league battle. Justin addresses the stark difference between then and now, specifically that both of them only have six Pokemon instead of a rotation, meaning their Pokemon have received much more training and focus. The battle for both of them will be harder. 
Justin and Andrew are set to battle on a rock field. Their battle begins. Justin opens with Swellow and Andrew chooses Breloom. At the start of battle, Swellow charges with Aerial Ace, but Breloom uses Mach Punch as an uppercut to stop the attack then a second to smash Swellow into the ground. Breloom goes for a Dynamic Punch next, but Swellow escapes. Attacking from a distance, Swellow attacks with Hidden Power, which Breloom stops with Seed Bomb, resulting in a dazzle of sparkles. Swellow dives again and performs Wing Attack. Breloom uses Mach Punch, but Swellow uses his wing to block the attack and strike with the other. Breloom is knocked down and Swellow attacks with Aerial Ace. Unable to stand in time, Breloom sprays a blanket of Spore as Swellow lands a direct hit. Breloom survives the attack, but Swellow's body is covered in green powder. He succumbs to the effect of Spore and crashes, falling asleep. With Breloom asleep, Breloom hammers it with Seed Bomb and Dynamic Punch to knock him out. 
Justin recalls Swellow and surprisingly sends in Blaziken. Andrew figured Justin would save Blaziken for much later but decides to keep Breloom in battle. Blaziken releases Fire Spin, which Breloom negates with Mach Punch, resulting in a sparkle. Justin groans that Andrew is battling like it's a contest. Breloom uses Seed Bomb to create explosive cover. Breloom then bursts from the smoke and uses Mach Punch. Blaziken catches Breloom's fist while enduring the attack. Andrew commands Spore, but Blaziken acts first and incinerates Breloom with Fire Spin. After too many super-effective attacks between Swellow and Blaziken, Breloom is declared unable to battle. 
Andrew finds it odd that he will keep Blaziken on the field and figures he is expecting Crawdaunt to defeat it with Fighting-Type attacks. Instead, Andrew chooses a newer addition, Electrode. At the start of the battle, Blaziken charges Electrode with Flame Charge, but Electrode immediately rolls out of the way, much naturally faster than Blaziken. However, Blaziken, after weeks of practice, immediately pivots and kicks Electrode away with Blaze Kick. After Electrode endures the heavy attack, Andrew has it use Magnet Rise, which not only raises it off the ground, but chunks of the battlefield as well. Electrode starts bouncing around the floating floor pieces. It uses Rollout to rapidly strike Blaziken from all directions. Blaziken uses Flame Charge to build speed and begin dodging Electrode's attacks, but Electrode only halts to electrify Blaziken with Charge Beam.
Since speed is a failing strategy, Justin recalls Blaziken and sends Walrein into battle despite the type disadvantage. Electrode lands a Charge Beam, and Walrein summons a Hail, triggering his Ice Body ability. Electrode returns to using Rollout, and Walrein reveals his new Blizzard to slow down and slightly freeze Electrode. Electrode uses Light Screen to halve the impact of future special attacks. Justin has Walrein shift into Ice Ball. Electrode resumes using Charge Beam until Ice Ball becomes so large that it can block electrical attacks. When Electrode attacks with another onslaught of Rollout, Walrein smothers Electrode with a massive Ice Ball that sends it crashing into the wall and unable to battle. 
Armaldo is Andrew's third Pokemon. Walrein is exhausted from his battle against Electrode but recovers a little with Ice Body. He opens with Blizzard, but Armaldo uses Rock Blast. The rocks swirl around Armaldo and grow thicker, bigger, and heavier once struck by the Blizzard. Armaldo unleashes the enhanced Rock Blast onto Walrein. Armaldo then knocks out Walrein with Brick Break.
Justin's fourth Pokemon is his strongest, Gardevoir. Gardevoir's Trace activates and his skin seems to thicken and armor, copying Armaldo's Battle Armor ability. Without needing verbal commands, Gardevoir uses psychic power to move on the ice and dodge all of Armaldo's Rock Blast attacks. He then launches a powerful Moonblast, but Armaldo blocks it with Protect. Gardevoir follows up with Psyshock, and Armaldo must endure with its naturally thick hide. Armaldo attacks with Metal Claw, but the attack is fruitless. Gardevoir reads Armaldo's emotions and attacks perfectly. He then puts Armaldo to sleep with Hypnosis and defeats it with two strikes of Moonblast despite being protected by Light Screen.
Andrew is the first trainer without three Pokemon, so a fifteen-minute intermission is held. Justin recalls his Gardevoir. Justin meets with Andrew and comments on Andrew battling like it's a contest. Justin criticizes Andrew for his impromptu strategy, which is not like their very first Full Battle, where Andrew had a complete battle strategy involving his entire team instead of just one Pokemon. While Justin finds merit in contest battles, Andrew has not immersed himself in the art well enough to properly execute contest tactics in league battles. Justin notes there is a reason he's never incorporated his mother's contest lessons in battle.Andrew privately admits he discarded a completely battle plan to focus on the individualism of his Pokemon, and it has backfired, which would have never been the case in Johto.
The battle resumes, this time on an ice battlefield. Justin returns Gardevoir to into battle as the ice is his domain. Crawdaunt is Andrew's third Pokemon. Crawdaunt builds power with Swords Dance, and summons a Rock Slide that would crash down on Gardevoir, but Gardevoir destroys the rocks with Psyshock. Crawdaunt swipes at Gardevoir with Night Slash. Gardevoir would easily dodge but he cannot move as perfectly on the ice, causing him to be struck. Gardevoir retaliates with Moonblast, which Crawdaunt weakens with Sludge Bomb. Crawdaunt summons more rocks with Rock Slide. Crawdaunt then uses Night Slash on the ice to send ice chunks toward Gardevoir, who cannot defend against all the attack. Therefore, Justin tells Gardevoir not to evade. He has Gardevoir charge into the ice chunks, taking damage along the way but at least avoiding Rock Slide. Crawdaunt attacks with Night Slash, but Gardevoir dodges and puts Crawdaunt to sleep with Hypnosis. He then knocks out Crawdaunt with Moonblast.
Andrew's fifth Pokemon is his Absol. Without wasting a moment, Andrew Mega Evolves Absol.
==Major Events==
*Connor and Monica advance to the Top 4
*Justin and Andrew begin their quarterfinal battle
*Andrew is revealed to have captured an Electrode
*Andrew's Anorith is revealed to have evolved into Armaldo
For a list of all major events in this anime, please see Major Events (Grand Conquest). 
==Characters==
===Humans===
*Justin
*Rachel
*Andrew
*Connor
*Monica
*Audience
===Pokemon===
*Eevee (Justin's)
*Blaziken
*Gardevoir
*Swellow
*Walrein
*Skitty (Rachel's)
*Aipom (Andrew's)
*Crawdaunt
*Absol
*Armaldo
*Breloom
*Electrode
Category:Grand Conquest
Category:Pokémon League Episodes