25x27 - The Fiery Road to Mastership!

[bunniefuu]

[gentle music]

[narrator] Wyndon Stadium,

where the strongest Trainer is determined.

It's the Pokémon World Coronation Series Masters Eight Tournament,

where eight people, striving to reach the top,

have already begun to battle.

The second three-on-three match was Lance versus Diantha.

Facing Lance's dragon brigade,

Diantha made excellent use of several super effective attacks,

and combined with her skilled defensive moves,

paved the way for a stunning victory.

Her win decided the first matchup of the semifinals.

Now, for the third three-on-three,

Cynthia, the Sinnoh Champion, versus Iris, the Unova Champion.

Each side gets three Pokémon!

Now, both of you, send your first Pokémon to the field!

And three and two and one…

Go!

Go, Excadrill!

Come forth from the seas, Gastrodon!

-Gastrodon. -Drill.

♪ I'll go anywhere if I'm with you ♪

♪ Lightning strikes or any shade of blue ♪

♪ The journey's the best part ♪

♪ Even when the road gets hard ♪

♪ I'll go anywhere if I'm with you ♪

♪ With you ♪

[theme music]

-[Ash] "The Fiery Road…" -[Goh] "To Mastership!"

[chimes] [Rotom Phone] Gastrodon.

The Sea Slug Pokémon.

A Water and Ground type.

Although Gastrodon has a flexible body, it is tough,

allowing it to absorb sharp blows.

[chimes] Excadrill.

The Subterrene Pokémon.

A Ground and Steel type. It is also called the Drill King.

Excadrill can dig through the ground at over miles per hour.

You know, Iris raised that Excadrill from way back

when it was still a Drilbur!

-Man, time can sure fly. -Pika, pika!

Huh? You know her, too?

Ash knows Iris, because they traveled through Unova together.

He also knows Cynthia really well.

What's with you knowing everybody, Ash?

-It's excitement turned up to ten! -It's softie versus hard as nails!

-The fun never fails! -[trills]

[Wobbuffet] Wob…

-[snoring] -This is not nap time!

Over there!

Over where?

On the field! I recognize that frilly girl.

[James] Me, too! It's the Unova Twerpette!

And dressed to the nines.

Wobbu!

[slurping]

[Diantha] If Iris is a Dragon type Trainer,

-then why-- -Did she bring out Excadrill?

Mm-hm.

I've heard a rumor that she actually trained with Cynthia at one point.

Which means they each know the cards the other is holding.

It could very well be a changing of the guard.

This should be interesting.

[intense music]

[announcer] Gastrodon versus Excadrill! What kind of strategies are in store?

Let the battle begin!

Gastrodon, Rain Dance!

Gastro…

[thunder rumbling]

[announcer] It's starting to rain, so Water type moves will get stronger!

Excadrill, use Metal Claw!

[grunts]

[announcer] Ripping through the rain, it's using Metal Claw!

-Gastrodon, handle it. -[grunts]

[whooshes]

[announcer] A direct… No, it bounced backward!

Exca…

[Cynthia] Your moves are even sharper than before.

And that's because of everything you've shown me, Cynthia.

I simply did what you taught me to do.

And now it's become part of our strength.

[Iris] That's the connection that made us Champions.

And so I, as the Unova region Champion…

On this day, I'll defeat you!

Excadrill!

Gastrodon, use Muddy Water!

Use Focus Blast!

Exca… [grunts]

-[Excadrill groans] -[Iris gasps]

-Excadrill! -Drill.

Standing here, you and I are nothing more

than individual Pokémon Trainers,

as well as challengers, aiming for the top.

We will not pull any punches. And I want to test my own limits, you see.

So I will defeat you and move on! Gastrodon, Acid Armor!

[growls]

[gasps] Use Drill Run!

Excadrill!

-[snickers] -[Pokémon grunting]

[announcer] And Gastrodon seems completely unaffected

by that Drill Run!

Right. Because Acid Armor makes its defense increase.

And as a Water type,

it's getting stronger, because of Rain Dance.

Cynthia doesn't pull any punches!

What's she gonna do? Come on, Iris.

-No problem, Excadrill! -Excadrill!

Now, it's our turn, Gastrodon! Muddy Water!

[yelling]

Drill?

-Excadrill, dodge it! -[yells]

-[thuds] -[gasps]

[announcer] Excadrill has been swallowed up

by Gastrodon's Muddy Water once again!

[intense music]

[Excadrill grunting]

I'm trusting Excadrill.

It's all on this move.

[Iris] Use Horn Drill!

[Excadrill grunting]

[all gasp]

[Excadrill grunts]

Take it down! With just one hit!

[crashing]

Excadrill!

[tense music]

[Dan] Gastrodon is unable to battle!

[announcer] Excadrill wins with an ultimate, one-hit attack!

So Cynthia is the first contestant to lose a Pokémon in this match,

and the Rain Dance effect ends!

[both cheering]

-Wow, way to go, Iris and Excadrill! -[Pikachu cheering]

But she can't let her guard down here.

She's facing Cynthia, after all.

Frilly girl's not bad.

She's not that bad at all.

The only reason she got here is because we trained her up.

A bouquet of thank you roses would be kinda nice.

Wobbuffet!

[zapping]

Thanks for your hard work, Gastrodon.

You're up next, Milotic, spirit of water!

[whooping]

[announcer] Cynthia has brought out Milotic,

while the momentum is with Iris!

What will be the result?

Charge in, Excadrill!

Drill Run, now!

Excadrill!

-Use Hydro Pump! -[yelps]

-Excadrill? -[shrieks]

-[Excadrill] Drill! -[announcer] Hydro Pump was a direct hit!

Huh?

Excadrill…

[Dan] Excadrill is unable to battle!

[zapping]

Thanks, Excadrill. You did so well for me.

Ah…

[Iris] That was so fast, I couldn't predict what Milotic would do.

[announcer] This time, one of Iris's Pokémon was eliminated!

Dragonite, this one is yours!

[grunts]

[growls]

Oh, my. It's been a while.

Well, I'd take a good look, Cynthia, at Dragonite's power!

Thunder Punch, let's go!

[snarling]

[shrieking]

[announcer] It's an Electric type attack,

super effective against Water type Pokémon!

That's sure to cause trouble!

Disarming Voice!

[Milotic mutters]

[shrilling]

-[groaning] -Huh?

[announcer] That's a Fairy type move,

making a lot of trouble for a Dragon type Pokémon!

-[grunts] -You have to hang in, Dragonite!

-[Cynthia] Milotic… -[squeals]

[Milotic shrieking]

-[Milotic grunting] -Oh, no!

-[Dragonite groaning] -Now, use Iron Head!

[groans]

No, Dragonite!

[Dragonite thuds]

[Dan] Dragonite is unable to battle!

[announcer] Dragonite had no good response to Milotic's rapid-fire attacks.

Iris has another Pokémon down.

Oh, man.

That Milotic sure is pretty scary.

Oh, Dragonite, you're frustrated.

I know it, because the pain of my Pokémon is something that I feel, too.

But just you wait. I'll win this!

Haxorus, please help me!

Haxorus!

-There it is! It's Haxorus! -Pika, pika!

It's super strong.

I was pretty sure it would be next.

Yeah, but it's a Dragon type.

[Hop] How are they gonna deal with Milotic's Fairy type attacks?

-[Iris] Cynthia! -Huh?

The day I became a Champion, this one was good enough

to cast the final blow.

Haxorus always manages to fill me with extra energy.

[action music]

Milotic!

Use Disarming Voice!

[humming]

[scoffs] Now, use Psycho Cut!

[grunting]

[gasps]

Very good.

Yeah! [laughs]

Is this what they mean by "offense is the best defense"?

Iris, nice one!

Pika…

Use Breaking Swipe!

[grunting]

Hydro Pump, go!

[shrieks]

[yells]

-[banging] -[Milotic yelps]

-[screaming] -[announcer] It ripped up Hydro Pump

and exploded onto Milotic with Breaking Swipe!

[thuds]

Milotic is unable to battle!

You're just so cool, Haxorus! [giggling]

You battled very well for me. Thanks, Milotic.

[Milotic whimpers]

[announcer] Cynthia is now down to one Pokémon as well!

-Cynthia's backed into a corner! -Pika…

Oh, man…

It's time for Cynthia to bring out her ace.

Fly up and battle dance!

Garchomp!

[zaps]

[epic music]

Garchomp.

So, Garchomp, there you are.

-Okay, Iris, keep it cool. -Pikachu.

-Dueling Dragon types. -Guess this will decide it.

[announcer] Cynthia's final Pokémon

has battled many times and carved them all into legend!

It's her greatest partner, Garchomp!

The remaining question becomes how will Iris's Haxorus measure up?

[Cynthia] Fall like the rain, stars in the sky…

Use Draco Meteor!

Garchomp!

Ugh. Use Outrage!

[grunting] Haxorus!

[announcer] Haxorus charges in,

thinking nothing of Draco Meteor.

So sick!

They're battling each other like neither one of them

is afraid of a single thing!

[both shouting]

[both grunting]

[announcer] Talk about rough and tumble combat!

[grumbles]

[announcer] But neither one is going down!

[panting]

-[yelling] -[announcer] Uh-oh!

This is one of the side effects of Outrage.

Haxorus has become confused!

-Haxorus… -[announcer] Look at that!

Haxorus hit its own head on the ground,

clearing away the confusion!

[chuckles]

That was incredible!

I've never seen that happen before.

-That's one of Iris's unusual tactics. -Yeah! I know you can do this, Iris!

We're not done.

Not by a long shot.

[Iris] We've still got lots of battling in us.

You're doing wonderfully, it's true.

[chuckles]

Now, Haxorus, let's do this!

[growls]

[Cynthia] I see.

If so…

I'll use all of my strength and I'll defeat you!

Isn't that…

A Key Stone!

Garchomp!

Time for Mega Evolution!

Gar!

[Garchomp screaming]

[grumbles]

[all cheer]

It's Mega Garchomp!

That's so cool!

So Garchomp Mega Evolved!

That's interesting. She must be serious.

True, but Haxorus still has a lot of power right now.

This bout is anything but decided.

Wow, here comes her ace!

Frilly's getting fiery!

Red hot!

I really want a powerhouse like that!

Wobbuffet!

[munching]

[rasping]

[roaring]

[growling]

Use Dragon Claw!

[yelling]

Haxorus! Keep using Psycho Cut!

[grumbles]

[both grunting]

[announcer] What a frightening clash of incredible dueling powers!

[both growl]

[both] Let's go!

[both grunting]

Haxorus doesn't seem to be losing this one bit.

[roars]

Use Dragon Pulse!

-Ah! -[whimpers]

[yells]

[Garchomp grunting]

Gar…

Ugh! We're almost there.

I'll hone my mind and become one with Pokémon.

[calm music]

[soft grunt]

Here we go.

Time to end it all with one final attack.

This is where we give it our all.

The two of us.

-Mm. -[snarls]

[gasps]

Garchomp!

Next move is it!

Draco Meteor, go!

Garchomp!

Haxorus, time to use Dragon Pulse!

[growling]

[explosions]

[Garchomp shouting]

Pika…

[thuds]

[tense music]

[Dan] Haxorus is unable to battle!

Garchomp is the winner, which means the victory goes to Cynthia!

[announcer] It's finally decided!

In the third match of the first round, Cynthia is the winner!

[crowd cheering]

[zaps]

Thanks, Garchomp. That was an outstanding battle.

You were great.

Haxorus? You really went all out.

You're the very best.

And Dragonite, too. And Excadrill, too.

I love you all!

[Cynthia] Iris?

Uh… Huh?

[Iris] Cynthia.

Thank you so much for the match.

I guess I still need to become much stronger.

This has been a battle I'll never forget.

Thank you, sincerely.

[crowd cheering]

That frilly Unova girl was as close to winning it as she could get!

Just wait!

This loss will give her even more power!

-No doubt! Most definitely! -I agree.

And we must all learn from her example.

[Wobbuffet wailing]

[chomping]

That was the most amazing match between Dragon types ever!

Yeah. Iris is great.

[Goh] Hey, Ash?

[announcer] With this, Cynthia is guaranteed

to advance to the semifinals!

And the fourth battle of round one will decide her opponent!

[Ash] Iris, I'm sorry.

Uh… Ash.

-Looks like I lost. -I know.

Cynthia's really amazing, isn't she?

[somber music]

[sobs]

Incredible… She's amazing.

[Iris crying]

[sighs] I'm better now.

Thanks! I know!

For Ash's next match, how about we cheer for him together?

Yeah! For sure!

I'll be counting on the two of you!

Pikachu!

[narrator] The third match of the first round ended

with a win for Cynthia

in the Pokémon World Coronation Series Masters Eight Tournament.

And now, Ash's battle finally begins.

He will be facing the Hoenn region Champion, Steven Stone.

More powerful battling to come, as the journey continues!

[closing theme music]