09x36 - Thinning the Hoard!

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR The Indigo Plateau Pokémon Contest Grand Festival

rages on, as the Ribbon Cup continues to lure

all semi-finalists toward victory!

Although May has successfully moved on to the firstround

of the competition, there are other Coordinators

sharing her dreams of victory gifted rivals such as Drew

Harley and Solidad!

Just what kind of strategy does May have in mind as she takes

on these fierce competitors?

♪ Pokémon ♪

♪ It's a battle win or lose ♪

♪ It's the friends you make it's the road you choose ♪

♪ You got the right stuff ♪

♪ So make your mind up ♪

♪ Find the courage inside of you ♪

♪ If you're strong you'll survive ♪

♪ And you'll keep your dream alive ♪

♪ It's the Battle Frontier ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪

♪ Be the best you can be ♪

♪ And find your destiny ♪

♪ It's the master plan ♪

♪ The power's in your hands ♪

♪ Pokémon ♪♪

ASH "Thinning The Hoard!"

[HAPPY]

Alright, Absol it's your turn!

Come on out!

[READY]

Absol! Use Flash!

[FL*SH MOVE]

[gasping]

Absol gives us a blinding flash!

'Absol's absorbed all that light'

'and it's sparkling with a beautiful glow!'

'What a fantastic way to demonstrate'

'such a sophisticated and highly polished move!'

Lillian's right!

And that move's even harder than it seems.

Just look at that pure white fur!

'Drew's doing a fantastic job, as always.'

Now, Water Pulse!

[WATER PULSE MOVE]

Absol's raised that Water Pulse into a giant waterfall!

Enjoy while you can because you don't see something

this high level often!

Razor Wind. Go!

[RAZOR WIND MOVE]

LILLIAN 'Amazing, Absol's powerful'

'Razor Wind pulverized the Water Pulse instantly!'

'An excellent finish to an excellent performance!'

[gasping]

Drew's sure something else! Don't you think?

Hm.

Hi! It's me, Jessedia!

I'm here to give you a no holds barred interview

with one of the Coordinators who made it through

'the preliminary round.'

'So hang on to your Poké ba*ls frantic fans!'

'I can't think of anything more exciting than hearing'

'it straight from the Horsea's mouth'

as the old saying goes.

So let's grab the first Coordinator we can!

And here's Drew! How did it go?

Enquiring minds want to know.

- Sorry. No comment. - Huh?

'Gee! Thanks for the sunshine.'

The trials of dealing with stars.

Forgetting who butter's their bread.

[AGREEMENT]

Hey! Lights and no lip!

[ANNOYED]

I hate when you blind me with obedience!

Now, for our next entrant.

Mr. Lean and Green, Harley!

Kiss, kiss, kiss! Mwah!

Alright, Octillery, time to strut your stuff!

[READY]

Now use Fire Blast, hon!

[FIRE BLAST MOVE]

Wow! That is some Water type!

'Even amidst those fierce flames'

'Octillery's dancing!'

♪ You put your right suckers in ♪

♪ You put your right suckers out ♪

♪ Party.. ♪♪

That Octillery's a lot more powerful than the last time

I saw those two performing.

And I'm it sure didn't dance like that the last time either.

[Ash grunts]

[HAPPY]

Come on! This hat stuff is getting really old!

May will be on any time now!

I'm sick of all of this messing around!

[PLAYFUL]

[grunts]

Yeah? Well, I've got a surprise for you!

[NERVOUS]

You heard me! And I've got no other choice!

[FOCUSED]

Pikachu, use Quick Attack!

[QUICK ATTACK MOVE]

Now use Thunderbolt!

[THUNDERBOLT MOVE]

[PAINED]

[FOCUSED]

Alright! Poké Ball let's go!

[EXERTION]

[grunts]

[CONCERN]

[PLAYFUL]

[groans]

That little stink.

Aipom's gonna have to answer to me and it better happen soon!

LILLIAN 'Just look at that smooth spinning action!'

Slowbro's been using Psychic to skate

just as graceful as can be.

It's like the entire stage

has been turned into a skating ring!

That's cool!

It's also a great technique to utilize the entire stage!

Slowbro, Water g*n!

[WATER g*n MOVE]

Brilliant! A great move!

'An amazing water dance that's both'

'beautiful and well balanced!'

She's so good. Every move perfect!

- Fabulous. - Huh!

She just might win the brass ring, honey!

Me thinks round will be a ball.

I can't wait!

And now for our next contestant.

'Hailing from Hoenn the diminutive'

'queen of the battle, May!'

- Hey, May! - Huh?

- I'm here! Good luck! - Made it just in time!

And, hey, you got your hat back too!

Yeah, but I just missed getting Aipom!

- Huh? - Ash, don't tell me.

I tried to catch it!

See, with that Aipom causing so much trouble I had to try!

Munchlax! Take the stage!

[READY]

Solar Beam!

[SOLAR BEAM MOVE]

Watch out! Munchlax is getting super charged!

'We're talking a tremendous amount of stored energy!'

[SOLAR BEAM MOVE]

Focus Punch!

[FOCUS PUNCH MOVE]

What's happening here?

The Focus Punch pulverized that Solar Beam

and now the stadium is filled with beautiful

sights and sounds!

[PROUD]

- Way to go, Munchlax! - She nailed it!

Sure did! Big time!

Oh, yeah! The judge's will love that!

[HAPPY]

Excellent! The use of sound to show its power was great!

Wow, remarkable!

The beautiful sound almost moved me to tears!

Yes, there's no doubt. It was moving!

I never would've thought of a move like that.

I hate to say it but shorty was good.

[shuddering]

Sixteen people is an awfully small amount

to get to the next round you know.

Come on, you were awesome out there!

Yeah! Remember the hours of training you've put in!

You've worked hard for it and you deserve it!

[PROUD]

You're right, Ash. After all, I made it this far!

- Hi, May! - Oh!

Your first round performance was one of the best ever!

You think so? Thanks so much, Solidad!

I wish I had thought of that move.

May, darling, it's awful, awful!

Something's wrong with Drew!

BROCK/MAY/ASH Huh!

[RAZOR WIND MOVE]

Absol, what are you doing?

You know Razor Wind is always a head-on attack!

Do it like you wanna knock me out or forget it!

Razor Wind is an attack move!

Now put some power behind it this time! Do it!

[SAD]

MAY 'Drew?'

- What's wrong with you, Drew? - Nothing.

Absol wasn't doing it right, that's all.

And this is serious stuff.

Things were going great at first.

The audience was completely mesmerized

by your Flash and Water Pulse Attacks.

But you used Razor Wind for your finish

and you felt like you failed.

It's true, isn't it, Drew?

I just didn't have any passion!

Oh, Drew.

Absol, we'll deal with this later. Return!

I'm out of here.

MAY 'Drew?'

Hey, your Absol tried its absolute hardest

and looked really beautiful as well

and all you can say is Absol failed?

Don't you think Absol deserves a bit more than that?

Roselia, Masquerain and Flygon

they've always given me a lot more than what I just saw.

Simply trying your best isn't gonna get praise from me.

- I'm not a wimp like you! - Ah!

How could he say that?

I'm not soft just because I love and support my Pokémon.

'What's wrong with him?'

The poor little loser girl got her teeny feelings all hurt.

[chuckles]

SOLIDAD Bullying is no way to raise a Pokémon.

Training has to be a two way street!

If the two of you can't agree, then you have nothing!

I've never seen that dark and scary side

of Drew before, I guess.

I think seeing your first round performance

really shook him, May.

- Huh? - Huh?

Don't forget you're right up there behind him

in the contest standings, right?

That just hit him, you know?

You think so? What do I do?

- Hey! - Huh?

'Oh, it's you guys.'

Look, I said what was on my mind, okay?

I know that, Drew.

[CONTENT]

Solidad's having a little talk with May right now.

I think it'd be a good time to do the same thing!

You know, watching you out there earlier made me think

about all the rivals I've faced in battle over the years.

I never talk to them about how they train or anything.

We deal with that on the b*ttlefield!

Huh. I hear you.

We're rivals. May and I.

LILLIAN Alright, the results are in for our first round

of performances so let's take a look!

We had Coordinators compete

and out of that impressive field, only the top

will be moving on to the Grand Festival's

'second round battles!'

And here they are!

May got in there!

[EXCITED]

And Drew's in there too!

As well as the lovely Solidad!

And look, Harley sashayed his way in.

LILLIAN 'Now, folks, our next order'

of business is to shuffle the deck

'and take a look at who's facing who'

'in the big round two!'

BROCK/MAX/ASH Huh?

- Not me and Harley? Huh! - It's Kizmet, honey!

When it comes to fate you smile sweetly

and keep your powder dry.

Right! I'm sure you've learned how to do that!

Hm, you seem awfully chipper

after that drag out with Drew.

I'm fine. It's simple!

We'll just agree to disagree that's that!

Such a big girl.

Well if Drew's not gonna be able to make you weep, honey

then I'll have to do the honors!

Fine! We'll just see about that!

Okay, folks! Get ready, because here's round !

Time for our contest battles

and today they're double battles!

'Contestants will have five minutes on the clock'

'to show off their moves'

and reduce their opponent's points!

Of course, a TKO's always a possibility

so keep a sharp eye out!

I'm sure, you remember the gorgeous Ribbon Cup

we talked about, well take another good look!

'One very talented so and so is going to take'

'that baby home!'

'Now it's time for our first battle!'

'And in the A block, it's May'

head to head with Harley!

And also the moment for some of my most favorite words.

So then let's get busy!

Munchlax, Eevee! Take the stage!

[READY]

Come, darlings! Come to poppa!

Cacturne and Wigglytuff!

[READY]

[DETERMINED]

[SHOCKED]

Oh, no!

He's got a Wigglytuff!

Not someone I'd wanna meet in a dark alley.

MAX/ASH Huh!

- Aipom? - Aipom! Not again?

[EXCITED]

A Pokémon Contest is no time

for your goofin' off!

[CURIOUS]

Hold on toots, before you know it

you'll be crying like a baby.

Oh, I'm sure somebody's going to be crying

but it's not gonna be me.

Oh? I'm so not scared.

Munchlax use Focus Punch and Eevee use Tackle, now!

[EXERTION]

Time for rough stuff, Wigglytuff!

[FOCUSED]

Munchlax/Eevee [ATTACK]

Huh!

[SHOCKED]

That Wigglytuff! What a physique!

'Perfect for warding off the strongest attacks!'

What do they do?

Not easy battling a Pokémon with such a flexible form.

'That's how Wigglytuff deals with most types of attacks.'

[DETERMINED]

LILLIAN It seems Wigglytuff is mounting

the perfect defense!

'Is it possible for May and her Pokémon to find an in?'

Being able to expand Wigglytuff's body

like that can mean big points.

'But Harley had better be very careful!'

Jump wonderful, Wigglytuff!

[EXERTION]

Look out!

Don't look now, nerds. Poison Sting, Cacturne!

[EXERTION]

[POISON STING MOVE]

[PAINED]

- Huh! - Surprise!

LILLIAN 'Cacturne attacked while everyone's eyes'

'were on Wigglytuff!'

'An amazing bit of teamwork!'

Cacturne, Needle Arm!

[NEEDLE ARM MOVE]

Eevee! Shadow Ball! Munchlax, use Focus Punch!

[SHADOW BALL MOVE]

[FOCUS PUNCH MOVE]

Wow! What a hit!

'That Shadow Ball and Focus Punch'

'made for some amazing teamwork too!'

[PAINED]

My baby!

Well, that's that!

'Cacturne's out and Harley just lost a lot of points!'

Great work, you two!

[FOCUSED]

That's awesome, May's got the lead!

ASH 'Alright! Keep it up, May!'

Wow, Harley's cutting it close.

- Maybe. - Stay focused, May!

BROCK 'Wigglytuff's coming in fast!'

- Aah! - Body Slam!

[BODY SLAM MOVE]

Dodge it!

[BODY SLAM MOVE]

Reel them in!

[EXERTION]/[SHOCKED]

[PAINED]

Wicked, Wigglytuff! Double Slap, go!

[EXERTION]

[EXERTION]/[PAINED]

What a move!

[EXERTION]/[PAINED]

LILLIAN 'With those long ears'

'Wigglytuff was made'

'for the perfect Double Slap!'

They're both getting socked!

Yeah! And it's in mid-air too!

And that's worth a lot of points!

[PAINED]

No! Are you okay?

So, dollface! Seems like a great time to cry.

No way! Not for you!

Munchlax, use Solar Beam! Eevee, use Shadow Ball!

[SOLAR BEAM MOVE]

[SHADOW BALL MOVE]

Dodge, Wigglytuff!

[EXERTION]

Oh, no! You don't! Hit it!

[SOLAR BEAM MOVE]

[SHADOW BALL MOVE]

[EXERTION]

Those missed attacks are going to cost May

'an airplane load of points!'

'Inhaling and exhaling allows Wigglytuff'

'to control its movements perfectly.'

but what else would you expect from a Balloon Pokémon?

Balloon Pokémon? That's it!

Okay, combine your attacks together in mid-air!

[SOLAR BEAM MOVE]

[SHADOW BALL MOVE]

[SHOCKED]/[PAINED]

- Aah! - Uh-oh!

Wigglytuff's caught in the blast!

'Wigglytuff may be big but that mostly comes from air!'

'May's strategy took good advantage of that!'

Now, both of you! A Focus Punch combination!

[EXERTION]

[FOCUS PUNCH MOVE]

[PAINED]

- Wigglytuff! - Now, there's a combination!

'That double Focus Punch made a doubly clean hit!'

[STUNNED]

And Wigglytuff's out!

May, wins it, so she'll be moving on to the second round

'after a grueling contest battle!'

Alright!

You two were totally amazing! I owe it all to you!

[HAPPY]

She won?

I hate that shorty!

What an awesome win!

[HAPPY]

Huh, it looks like the battle's got Aipom

all wild and crazy!

I believe it after a battle like that!

[PAINED]

LILLIAN 'Medicham and Loudred are out!'

'And with that stunning attack combination'

'Drew moves on to the second round!'

Alright! Slowbro, use Hyper Beam!

[HYPER BEAM MOVE]

[PAINED]

LILLIAN 'Zangoose and Girafarig are out!'

'And finishing her battle with a powerful attack to move on'

'to the second round. It's Solidad!'

'Now it's on round two, where we find'

'the top four Coordinators!'

'First up is Drew, battling May!'

It's time!

- Yeah! - This's gonna be nuts.

[EXCITED]

Alright. Let's get busy!

Combusken! Squirtle! Take the stage!

[READY]

Flygon and Absol, let's go!

[READY]

Squirtle! Rapid Spin!

[RAPID SPIN MOVE]

LILLIAN 'And Squirtle takes off like a tornado!'

Now, Flygon Sandstorm!

[SANDSTORM MOVE]

I knew he was gonna do that.

Do a combination Mega Kick, Combusken!

[MEGA KICK MOVE]

That enormous jump came from bouncing off

of Squirtle's huge spin!

'Look out Flygon!'

Absol, use Flash!

[FL*SH MOVE]

[PAINED]

Absol jumped into the Sandstorm while using Flash!

'Looks like Combusken is stuck tight!'

Absol, use Iron Tail!

[IRON TAIL MOVE]

Combusken!

That Iron Tail makes a direct hit!

'I think this is as much a ballet as it is a battle!'

I'm not down yet! Combusken, Sky Uppercut!

Squirtle, Bubble, go!

[SKY UPPERCUT MOVE]

[BUBBLE MOVE]

NARRATOR It's déjà vu all over again

as May and Drew battle head to head for the second round

Grand Festival victory!

With emotions running high all around

who will best be able to keep their focus and make their way

to the winner's circle?

The answer lies in the not too distant future, so stay tuned!

♪ Yo Pokémon Masters your heart beats faster ♪

♪ Training for the top 'cause you know you can't stop ♪

♪ Your training kicks Pokémon Pow wow ♪

♪ The power of a Master all before you will ♪

♪ But don't let it get to your head young Trainer ♪

♪ The road is long and filled with danger ♪

♪ Everyone says they deserve to be number one ♪

♪ But who can top you? The answer is none ♪

♪ Because they've never seen an expert like you ♪

♪ One who knows the difference between Mewtwo and Mew ♪

♪ Or someone who can tell you the type Pikachu ♪

♪ Or someone who can tell you which Pokémon's new ♪

♪ First you kick it in Kanto ♪

♪ Then you head to Johto ♪♪