ENGLISH NAME	JAPANESE NAME	POKEMOPOLIS NAME	DODGINESS RATING	ANIMATION	STORY	TEAM ROCKET	MORAL LEARNT
746: Goodbye, Junior Cup - Hello Adventure!	752: Wakare to Deai no Junia Kappu!	No more Piplup/Oshawott? Boo!			The Junior Cup is over, the twerps make a new friend	Today's the day!	You need more than one battle strategy, no matter how effective it is

The Junior Cup is coming to an end, with the actual competition over and only the exhibition match between the winner and the Unova Champion to go. Trip defeated Ash in the final battle, and now he has finally gotten his chance to realise his dreams - to defeat Alder whom he once idealised and now finds a pathetic shell of the man he once was. Trip seems - after only a couple of months of starting his Pokémon Journey - on the verge of his final adventure. So I guess it is...



So it is Trip's Serperior against Alder's Bouffalant, and Alder runs it directly into Serperior's Solar Beam without even attempting to dodge it. Trip seems oddly pleased by this, moreso when Solar Beam appears to do no damage at all. Bouffalant's Special Ability is Sap-Sipper, meaning that Solar Beam has raised its attack powers instead of damaging it. Alder tells Trip that his Bouffalant is unstoppable but Trip disagrees, telling him that his "power-trumps-all" philosophy will defeat Bouffalant. Alder tells him to bring it on, throwing his arms wide and welcoming the attack, and Trip orders a Dragon Tail from Serperior. Its tail glows blue and it leaps high into the air, smashing its tail down directly into Bouffalant's skull... and Bouffalant doesn't give a fuck!

"Alright, now show me what else you've got!" grins Alder, while Serperior's eyes grow wide to see how little of a fuck Bouffalant gives for its attack. Trip orders a Leer to drop Bouffalant's defence, but it just snorts steam grumpily and glares back. Trip is pleased though, thinking to himself that Alder has fallen for his strategy - he knew that Bouffalant had Sap-Sipper and that if he hit Bouffalant with a Solar Beam and then attempted a Dragon Tail, then Alder would grow overconfident. Having now used Leer to drop Bouffalant's defence, he orders another Dragon Tail but with a twist. Before he attacked from above, now he does the same but has Serperior dart aside at the last moment, sweep the tail and strike Bouffalant from below in the soft underbelly. Bouffalant is sent flying through the air as Trip smugly watches... until it lands easily on its feet and roars out its defiance, leaving a shocked Trip gaping that his power-driven attacks have had no effect!



Alder gives Trip credit, this strategy WOULD have worked against any other Pokémon, but he's facing the Champion, son! He orders a Head Charge from Bouffalant which smashes into Serperior and.... ONE HIT KOs IT! Serperior is out, Trip loses to a single move!

It's not exactly the humiliation that Paul suffered at Brandon's hands, but it's still pretty vicious. The goofy and foolish Alder has been replaced at game-time for the guy who has made it to the level of Champion and held that position for years. It's also not exactly a counter to Trip's "Power Trumps All" philosophy since Alder basically powered through Serperior, but it does show how Trip's one-dimensional strategy cost him. If it had been Ash against Alder, would he have found a way to counter Bouffalant? Perhaps not, but you can be sure that once he was defeated he would have gone away and developed a new strategy like he once did against Brandon. Will Trip do the same or just try to increase his power again? It remains to be seen, but for now, he's just a defeated little boy who tried to step up to the big leagues and got knocked on his ass.



The twerps are amazed at how well Alder handled things, with Iris saying it is a little scary while Dawn notes that he battles in a completely different way to Cynthia, and Cilan waxes lyrical about his skills.

Meanwhile, Trip approaches Alder and with uncharacteristic humility asks Alder to tell him what he did wrong. Alder, who has been roughhousing happily with Bouffalant, seems surprised and gives him a surprising answer - he did nothing wrong! Trip doesn't understand, he lost, therefore he did something wrong. Alder insists though, approaching Serperior and petting it, and asks Trip if he cares for it. Trip seems surprised, but after Alder points out how clear it is that Serperior cares for Trip, he agrees that yes he does. Alder tells him that this is what matters, and that strength, weakness, power, speed etc are all unimportant in the grand scheme of things. What matters is the relationship between trainer and Pokémon - the mutual trust and friendship. Trip seems to take it all to heart, which does put him a step above Paul who resisted change for months before Ash delivered him a beating that proved the straw to break the camel's back. Despite not being able to remember Trip's name, Alder remembers their previous meeting and Trip's questions to him, and this as well seems to cement Trip's rediscovered respect for the man. He asks Alder for the chance to battle him again the next time they meet and Alder agrees happily, getting Trip's name wrong again, though this time Trip finds it amusing.

So the Junior Cup is officially over, and the competitors are lined up before a podium holding Freddy the Scoop, Cynthia, Alder, the referee and Caitlin. Freddy thanks the trainers and the fans, and then everybody heads out with the twerps left to say their goodbyes to their various rivals. Georgia offers Iris backhanded well wishes for her future as a Dragon Master and heads away, while Burgundy tells Cilan she is satisfied since she lost but so did he. She tells him she'll be sure to be there to see him the next time he loses, and he laughs uneasily that there is no need for her to go out of her way. Dawn spots Trip heading away and Pikachu rushes after him, followed by Ash who has no idea how to start the conversation so just lamely points out that Alder is really great. Surprisingly, Trip smiles and agrees with Ash, and tells him that he will see him at the Unova League before turning and heading away. He... he actually spoke to Ash in a friendly fashion!

Meloetta returns happily to the visible spectrum in front of Ash, but quickly disappears again, sensing something coming. What is it? It's a young trainer called Cameron and his Riolu, and he's delighted that he's not the first trainer there, and also that Ash has a Pikachu. He grabs out his Pokédex but it doesn't seem to be working.... because he's holding a television remote in his hand! He insists he was joking and pops it away, grabbing out his Pokédex and scanning Pikachu to learn about it. Iris wants to know about Riolu, which Dawn recognises, and grabs at its ears to squeeze and cuddle it only for Cameron to pull it away angrily, causing a giggling Iris to back away.

"Okay, whatever!" says Cameron happily before eagerly shaking the twerps' hands and asking them which one got here first? He wanted to be first in line and begins seating up a camping spot, satisfied that he'll at least be close to the front of the queue. Ash, surprisingly, figures things out pretty quickly and asks Cameron if he is here for the Junior Cup? Indeed he is, and the twerps have to break the news to him that the Junior Cup has come and gone... and they have the keyrings to prove it!



Cameron can't believe it, he thought it was starting tomorrow! A shocked Riolu gets the 411 from Pikachu, Axew and Piplup while Cameron drops to all fours and buries his head in his hands in despair, moaning,"NOT AGAIN!"

Again? Apparently this happens to him alot!

Riolu pats him on the head then rushes away as Cameron leaps to his feet and snaps his headband to his forehead. He declares that Alder is probably still around and maybe he can still get his autograph, and rushes off with a quick goodbye to the twerps as he enters the stadium. As they watch him go, Meloetta reappears on the visible spectrum, seen from a distance by a floating camera. It is transmitting right back to Dr. Zager, who is in contact with Team Rocket deep beneath the ocean as they find entry into the underground complex they located several episodes earlier. After another long absence they've returned, their plans all coming to a head.

An unspecified amount of time later the twerps arrive at Cynthia's beach house, with the sun just setting. Meloetta appears and flies up into the air to sing, her voice recorded by Dr. Zager who appears to be putting together a compilation of her singing in order to get the data he needs. As Meloetta sings, the twerps ponder if Meloetta comes from the sea, but since Meloetta doesn't speak English it can only remain a theory.

Dawn notes that she will need to make a move soon herself, surprising the others. She needs to get to Johto, explaining that there is a major contest happening soon, and Ash surprises once again by making the connection first - she is heading over for the Wallace Cup. Yes, despite Ash still being 10 years old it has apparently been a year since the last Wallace Cup. Dawn explains to Iris that it is held in a different region each time, but that the ribbon is recognised by every Grand Festival. They wish her luck but... really? That's it? Dawn's return seems kind of, pointless, really. She didn't really do anything at all, other than bring along Piplup and allow him to meet Oshawott.

So it was well fucking worth it then.

Iris says she is sad that Dawn will be going and Ash finally speaks up to declare that before she goes he has to get what he has wanted from her all this time - he can't resist any longer, he must have it, he's watched her with others and he can't take the tease any longer! He must... he has to... he will... battle her!

Oh Ash.

They face off in Cynthia's backyard battlefield for a one-on-one battle. Ash tells Meloetta to watch them then sends out Pikachu, and Piplup instantly wants to throw down with his old buddy too. He leaps down as Dawn declares she will use.... Quilava!



Poor Piplup.

She sadly tells the depressed little penguin that Pikachu's moves are too effective against him. The battle begins, with Jervis acting as the referee. Ash opens with a Quick Attack and Quilava counters with Swift, hitting Pikachu a glancing blow on the face before dodging the Quick Attack and using Flame Wheel. Pikachu blasts an Electro-Ball at Quilava after dodging but Quilava blasts it out of the sky with Flamethrower, leaving the two at a stand-off.

Meloetta is enthralled, as are Iris and Cilan. The latter points out how well Ash and Dawn know each other, and that neither can let down the guard for a second because the other will be able to jump right in and exploit it. Dawn attempts just that by ordering a Smoke Screen that leaves Pikachu shrouded in smoke. Ash orders a Thunderbolt immediately which clears the smoke (wait, what?) and sends in Pikachu with an Iron Tail, but Quilava breaks it off using Flamethrower, shocking Cilan who didn't think he would ever see that as a counter.

Cynthia is very impressed, and that's saying something because this is a lady who frequently beats up the Elite Four. She comments (seemingly to herself) that Ash and Dawn are demonstrating how far they have come as trainers, and that the battle is an example of them taking everything they have learned and working it into their strategies and techniques.

Ash orders a Quick Attack and Dawn calls for a Flame Wheel, the two attacks clashing against each other before exploding and sending them both falling backwards. Cynthia suddenly throws her arm up and declares that this is enough, and Jervis follows his employer's command and declares the battle a draw. Cynthia tells them how impressed she is and that there was no way she could pick a winner.

Uhhh... maybe if you'd let them keep battling?

The twerps take the compliment to heart though, Ash telling Pikachu happily that Cynthia thought they were great while Dawn hugs Quilava and Piplup waddles up to try to get in on the action.

The next day (it's daylight when the sun was setting before, so I guess it's the next day!) sees Dawn at the seaplane saying her goodbye. She wishes them all luck in their futures and promises to let them know how the Wallace Cup goes for her, then looks around for Meloetta. Ash says she was around earlier, and then suddenly she appears floating in the sky between them. Piplup reaches longingly for her with his chubby little flippers, and Oshawott leaps out to growl angrily at Piplup to keep away from his girl. Piplup leaps down out of Dawn's arms and faces off with the chubby little otter and they snarl at each other... then go all wobbly-eyed and rush up and hug each other!

Piplup appears to pass on an important message to Oshawott who agrees with seriousness (he was probably telling him to look after Meloetta) then rushes onto the plane to join Dawn. Meloetta sings a goodbye as the plane takes off, Piplup pressing his face against the glass of the window, and they watch as it sails off into the distance, taking Dawn with it.

But not Cameron! The hyper little boy comes hauling ass down the dock screaming for the plane, skidding to a stop before he can crash into the twerps. He is surprised to see them again, then punctures their ego by asking who exactly they are. Collapsing, they get back up and Ash snaps his own name. They ask if Cameron was trying to get to Johto and indeed he was - why? Because the Unova League is being held in Ecruteak City in Johto, that's why!

Wait... what the Christ?

Iris doesn't understand why they would hold the Unova League there and Cameron replies that he doesn't know, he just follows the rules. The twerps rather gently explain to him that the Unova League's location hasn't been revealed yet, but it is certainly NOT being held in Johto. He gapes in astonishment, he ALMOST got on a plane to Johto for no reason whatsoever! Still, at least he has all his badges!



Oh my God, this kid is stupider than Ash.

Ash shows him his own badge case and the 8 badges inside, confusing Cameron who eventually decides that Ash got an 8th badge just to be on the safe side. They ask him what he thinks the empty space in his case is for and he confidently declares it is where the winner's badge goes!

Cilan carefully tells him there is no such thing as a winner's badge and Cameron collapses in horror alongside Riolu, unable to believe he's made yet another mistake. He looks around frantically as he ponders getting his 8th badge, hoping there might be a Gym within 3 feet of his current location. Jervis steps up and reveals the location of the nearest Gym - Humilau City. Cameron is up immediately and ready to blast off but Ash stops him, surprising Iris and Cilan by asking if he can accompany him and watch his gym battle. What is this? Ash is taking on the Brock/Cilan role and following somebody else on THEIR journey? I guess you have to fill the time between now and the Unova League somehow!

Speaking of which, what disappointing filler the Junior Cup turned out to be. With this episode over it's all done now, and the whole thing has proven to be surprisingly lame. Only 16 entrants, relatively short battles, a fractured narrative as Iris went from the main focus of the story to Ash taking over only to lose to Trip. Then Trip gets immediately thrashed by Alder which worked for Trip needing a reality-check but proves a pretty anti-climactic ending to the Junior Cup for the people in attendance. Dawn might as well not have been there, Burgundy and Georgia could have just bought tickets and done the same thing they did in the tournament from the cheap seats, and Cilan was only one step above the other trainers making up the numbers and pretending to have names.

But it's over now, the twerps have a new companion for at least one more episode, and Team Rocket are back. Will the next storyline have a better payoff before the Unova League finally starts? Here's hoping, because one thing is for sure - it'll struggle to be worse than the Junior Cup was.

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