ENGLISH NAME	JAPANESE NAME	POKEMOPOLIS NAME	DODGINESS RATING	ANIMATION	STORY	TEAM ROCKET	MORAL LEARNT
804: Clemont's Got A Secret!	813: Pokémon Torima to Torimian!	Clemont's Daddy Issues (Also Robot Issues)			Ash meets Clemont and Bonnie's daddy and discovers Clemont's secret	Only in a flashback, and only 1/3rd of them!	Never build an artificial intelligence without also constructing a soul, doofus!

Today finds the twerps back in Lumiose City again, with Serena delighted to finally have a chance to take her time and enjoy the fashion capital of the world. But while she and Ash gape about at the city like the slack-jawed yokel tourists that they are, the sophisticated Bonnie - a resident of the city - just replies that the city is okay.... she guesses.

They look up at Prism Tower, and when Serena learns that this is where the Gym is she asks if Ash has already challenged there? Sheepishly he admits he tried only for the Gym Leader to attempt to murder him when he didn't have four Gym Badges. Serena ignores the information about the attempted murder, focusing on the fact that there is a 4 Badge entry requirement, she wasn't aware this type of thing happened. Clemont and Bonnie seem suspiciously eager to accept this though and get the hell out of town since Ash doesn't have four badges. Serena wanted time to explore though, and she and Ash don't appreciate the siblings trying to shove them on down the road. The reason why becomes clear as mud a moment later, when a voice calls out in greeting and they turn to see a large, muscular man on a scooter with an Ampharos riding as a passenger. Who is it? It's Clemont and Bonnie's daddy!


Now that the cat is out of the bag, Bonnie seems happy to introduce Ash and Serena to her daddy, whose name is Meyer - he runs an electronics store! When he learns that Ash and Serena are his kids friends he looks stricken for a moment, then hunches over and struggles to verbalize his words before finally letting out with a roar that.... he's so happy! He hugs his kids tightly to him and tells them he loves them, while Ash only really seems to care that Meyer has an Ampharos, apparently that is pretty cool! Meyer is impressed with Pikachu too, in particular his cheeks (!), and even MORE impressed with Serena! He nudges his son with a smirk and congratulates him on such a pretty girlfriend, embarrassing Clemont enormously. Ignoring his son's protests, he tells him sternly that he needs to come around to the store more often.... is there a reason why he can't, huh? HUH!?! HUHH!?!?!

Bonnie rushes around Clemont and hurriedly tells their imposing father that they have to get going, but before they can get the hell out of there their father reveals the one secret they were even more desperately trying to keep under wraps. He informs Clemont that while he does need to be tough with challengers, he shouldn't be too tough, he needs to be a Gym Leader that Lumiose City can be proud of!

....motherfucker....
Oblivious to the bombshell he has just dropped, Meyer gets onto his scooter and happily asks Ash and Serena to look after his kids, then drives away calling back that they need to come have dinner at the store soon. Apparently they live separately from their daddy, Bonnie under the care of her brother, either because their father is a negligent monster incapable of being in a position of authority, or because he's just really fucking lazy and self-centred and wants freedom from the millstone that all parents secretly know their children to be (yes that includes your parents too, gentle Dodgers!).

But Clemont and Bonnie's terrible home life isn't on Ash and Serena's mind right now, they want to know what the fuck this is about Clemont being the Lumiose City Gym Leader!?! Bonnie (who actually did manage to keep this secret, well done Bonnie!) tells Clemont that he might as well come clean. He agrees, even though he plainly isn't comfortable, and settles down on the edge of a fountain to tell his shameful story.

Yes he is the Lumiose Gym Leader (he's like 10 years old!), something he fully intended to tell Ash but somehow never got around to as their journeys continued. How he became the Gym Leader isn't clear, whether it was a family thing or he took over from Meyer or it was his mother's job before she mysteriously disappeared from reality or what. Whatever the reason, he was so busy dealing with challengers that he didn't have time for his true passion - inventing. So he took the time to invent a Robot Gym Lea.... hang on, where did he get the time to.... fuck it, let's roll with it. He invented a Robot Gym Leader and imbued it with his mental imprint and gave it artificial intell... hang on, just how fucking smart is Clemont that he can build artificially intelligent robots? Fuck it, let's roll with it. He invented the Robot Gym Leader and gave it instructions for how to run the gym - be tough but fair, express a preference for challengers with four Gym Badges, offer advice to challengers whether they win or lose etc. To make sure nobody could hack his magnificent metal man, he made sure it could only be ordered about by recognising Clemont's own voice print, and even then only if he used a specific phrase. He made that phrase relatively simple and unlikely to be used out of context - sandwich. But as he did this, he tripped on the wiring around his workshop and knocked Clembot over, denting its head. Chatting with Bonnie, she was excited to see Clembot in action, so Clemont took it to the Battlefield to have a practise battle against it and see how it fared.

To his great surprise though, after going through the technicalities of challenging, Clembot insisted on knowing how many Gym Badges he had. As a Gym Leader he had none, and against all his programming commands, Clembot informed him that he was REQUIRED to have four Gym Badges, and therefore he was not qualified to be in the Gym. Clemont was confused, but he had no idea just how bad things were going to get. Deciding to reprogram Clembot, he attempted to use his voice recognition, only for Clembot to refuse to accept the specific phrase he had prepared earlier. Clemont and Clembot argued momentarily back and forth that the other was wrong, but when Clembot had established that Clemont the "Challenger" wasn't going to leave as requested, it took decisive action and chased Clemont and Bonnie out of there! Hands crackling with electricity, it "convinced" them to get out of the battlefield and then slammed the doors shut behind them. Locked out of his own Gym, Clemont DID try to get back in multiple times but was blocked each time by Clembot. Finally it seems he gave up, and rather than telling any of the authorities or even his own father, he and Bonnie just lived on the streets till they ran into Ash and hitched their wagon to his star.

Being good friends and not judgmental assholes, Ash and Serena don't point out what a monstrously irresponsible idiot he has been. Instead Ash just kindly offers to help him get his gym back, and Serena offers her support as well. They all head to Prism Tower and find a group of pissed off trainers outside, and Clemont suspects that they've all been prevented from entering due to a lack of badges. One of the trainers at least though had four badges, and tells how he fought Clembot and got his ass kicked, and once the battle was over he and his Pokémon were zapped and dumped through a trapdoor - basically another case of attempted murder! The insulted and injured trainers head away in a huff, while Clemont considers sadly the "mistakes" that Clembot is making. Yes he wanted it to be tough, but fair as well, and to provide feedback and advice. Instead, the brilliant but stupid Clembot is just pounding the shit out of challengers if they can't beat it. Now Bonnie understands her daddy's earlier admonishment to Clemont, word is apparently getting around that the Lumiose Gym Leader is a gigantic asshole beating the shit out of people (and trying to murder them), and yet he hasn't bothered to pick up the phone or walk the two blocks to the home of his flesh and blood to see them in all the time that they've been (unknown to him) travelling with Ash.

Clemont isn't sure what to do now, but Ash is - they'll just stop the robot! That's the great thing about Ash, he's not worried about details, he has a goal in mind and he's just going to run with that! Bonnie points out that they need the voice recognition mechanism to shut it down and Clemont doesn't know what that is (or rather, what Clembot will accept), so Serena offers encouragement too, telling him to relax and just think about it. But even if he can remember it, they'll still have to battle (wait... what?) and he can't beat it. Ash tells him he won't know unless he tries, and Clemont explains that Clembot has all of the Pokémon he used to use as Gym Leader. But again, Ash isn't worried about details, and tells Clemont he won't know unless he tries, and even if he can't win he can at least give it his best shot!

That's the story of every Regional League he's fought in so far!
He does have a point though, perhaps due to the fact that he doesn't actually understand Clembot is a robot - if he and Clembot fight each other, maybe they'll get to understand each other as trainers? That's a ridiculous idea, but Clemont seems intrigued, and Serena asks him to tell them a little more about himself (about time) - why did he become the Gym Leader? A more pertinent question might be HOW, but Bonnie explains for him anyway. Apparently he's well known in Lumiose City as the Boy Genius of Electric Pokémon (also of literally building artificially intelligent robots!), so it seems he was held in high enough regard by the city that they let a literal child be their Gym Leader. This also means that apparently if Ash had just read a single guidebook he might have discovered that Clemont was the Gym Leader! Anyway, Clemont explains that he hoped to hone his own skills as an Electric Trainer by having well prepared trainers challenge him (which is why he preferred trainers with at least four gym badges), and now he is inspired to be one of those challengers.

They return to Prism Tower, Bonnie whispering to Clemont that it is awesome that Ash and Serena are here to support them. Clemont knows all the potential entrances to the tower and leads them in through an area currently under construction. His plan is to get them through to the Battlefield itself and bypass the entrance, which would also allow them to bypass the four badge requirement and have a battle. They move through a ventilation duct and get into a corridor, Bonnie almost breaking her skull in the process, so far so good. But then a Magnemite comes gliding down the corridor, and while it seems delighted to see Clemont at first it quickly attacks them. They rush down the corridor, Clemont explaining that this is one of his Pokémon, but obviously Clembot has ordered it to patrol the corridors and keep intruders out - and it has to follow the orders of any Gym Leader. Ash asks if they can battle back and when Clemont says they seem to have no choice, he calls out Froakie which quickly leaves Magnemite dazed on the floor and covered in a sticky white goo.... that is so gross.

It isn't quite that easy though, the next Pokémon to confront them is a Magneton. It blasts a sonic attack at them that hurts their ears, but Serena is able to call out Fennekin and have it blast Ember at the floating Pokémon. It shocks them by splitting into three parts though to avoid the attack, before reforming.... does that hurt!?! It blasts an electric attack at them, but that it countered by one from Pikachu, and then Froakie blasts it with white goo as well, as apparently Froakie is an teenage boy who gets plenty of protein.

They enter the battlefield at last, where a spotlight reveals the waiting Clembot.... does it spend ALL its time just standing there? The lights come on as it welcomes them to the Lumiose Gym, unaware that its "daddy" (who has daddy issues all his own!) has come home. He immediately tells it to activate Master Recognition Battle mode and it responds with a request for the correct voice code. Taking Serena's advice, he calms himself and thinks back to the day he programmed it, and when he spots the dent on its head he remembers word for word what he said after Bonnie showed up (he IS a genius after all, a stupid, stupid genius). Repeating this, Clembot accepts the code and accepts that he IS Clemont after all.... but now they still have to fight for some reason. Clemont did say he was activating Battle Mode, but why not activate Shut down and stop trying to kill people mode? In any case, he has bypassed the need for four Gym Badges, but now he has to face Clembot and his own Gym Pokémon with nothing but his inexperienced Bunnelby.

Clembot calls out a frilled lizard Pokémon - a Heliolisk, the evolved form of Helioptile. It is delighted to see Clemont and dances from foot to foot, its frill expanding to show its pleasure. But Clembot is still recognized as the Gym Leader, which means it has to do as it is told, and that means fighting Clemont. Clemont accepts that though, and even says his own reputation as Gym Leader is on the line and that therefore he WANTS Heliolisk to give everything it’s got. Heliolisk is relieved and pleased to be given the go-ahead by its REAL trainer, and at Clembot's command it opens with Thunderbolt. This is just what Clemont was expecting, and he has Bunnelby block the attack using its ears to blast up a wall of sand. Ash tells Serena this is how Clemont handled things when they first fought, watching eagerly as the battle kicks off.

Bunnelby attempts a Double Slap and Heliolisk tries for Dragon Tail, the two moves basically negating each other. But Bunnelby recovers faster, getting around Heliolisk (with a rather neat turn of the "camera") and kicking it into the ground. It then uses Dig and gets under the ground, but to Clemont's horror Clembot then proves to have moved beyond the boundaries of its programming, it taught Heliolisk a new move - Bulldoze! The lizard slams the ground with a stomp, sending waves of force through the ground and knocking Bunnelby out of its hole. It then scores a shot with Dragon Tail on the spinning Bunnelby, though the rabbit is able to recover by landing on its ears and flipping back to its feet back over by Clemont.

Clemont thinks to himself that he was caught by surprise by the new move, but he also has moves that Clembot won't be expecting. He orders a Double Team, and it leaps into the air and surrounds Heliolisk with scores of images of Bunnelbys all throughout the air. But Clembot isn't surprised at all, it has been operating as a Gym Leader against any number of challengers while Clemont has been gone. It orders a Parabolic Charge, and the real Bunnelby is blasted while every Double-Team image disappears... and to add insult to injury, Heliolisk recharges some lost energy (their way of saying hitpoints, basically). Clembot orders a Thunderbolt and a frantic Bonnie (joined by a frantic Dedenne which probably doesn't really understand what is going on) screams for Clemont to pull his shit together. Clemont is remarkably assured though, and orders yet another Dig, horrifying Bonnie and Serena who expect this to have the same result. Only Ash remains confident, insisting not to give up till it is done (sorry Serena, he says it to everyone!). Clemont agrees, saying he has learned from Ash to think outside of the box, and orders.... another Double Team?

Heliolisk uses Bulldoze as scores of Bunnelby emerge from the ground, and Clembot follows it up again with Parabolic Charge - why not use the same counters if Clemont is just going to use the same moves? But as the illusory Bunnelbys are blasted out of existence, something strange happens.... no REAL Bunnelby gets hit. The Parabolic Charge ends and Bunnelby isn't there, and hilariously it is only Ash who figures out what has happened - Bunnelby is still underground! It uppercuts Heliolisk as it smashes out of the earth, and then follows up with Mudshot as Clembot suffers a logic error that is literally frying its brain as it tries to figure out what just happened and where Bunnelby came from. Heliolisk crashes to the ground KO'ed, it is all over and Clemont wins the fight.

Clemont rushes to Heliolisk to make sure it is okay, and then Clembot steps up and announces shakily that it recognises him now, and welcomes him back to the Gym. Apparently the Battle Mode was necessary to complete Clembot's initial orientation or something, and now that the battle is over and the voice code has been accepted, it understands that it has been outranked. He says he is glad to be back but apologises for all the trouble HE caused, since it was his fault that Clembot wasn't properly set up. He takes it back into his workshop, where he fixes the damage and rewrites the programming. All challengers are welcome, be kind while being touch, offer constructive feedback and be thoughtful - help challengers grow their skills. With his ridiculously advanced scientific achievement completed, he explains to the other twerps that he has learned so much from all of them and he wants to continue on doing so. Embarrassed by this open admission of his feelings, he bows his head only for Ash to happily stomp on up and throw an arm around his shoulders, declaring that this is exactly what he wants as well. Clemont blushes (haha, it would be hilarious if he had a crush on Ash too, but he's just a socially awkward dork who hasn't had a real friend before) as the others chime in as well, making him feel truly accepted and part of the group.... but also determined now to face up to yet another major problem.

They (and Clembot) head to his Daddy's electronics store, where they reveal what he should have known if he'd just taken an interest in his children's lives - Clemont got kicked out of his own gym by a robot. He's furious but Bonnie insists he calm down and listen to the end of the story, and Clemont explains he has solved the problem, with Clembot frantically bowing out its own apology. Meyer immediately calms down, anger turning to mirth as he happily accepts his young son's belated confession and assurance that everything is okay, and then asks if this means they'll be popping around to visit him more often? Not quite, Clemont comes clean (eventually!) and blurts out that he is going on a Journey. He has decided to continue to travel with Ash and Serena (and yes, Bonnie is along for the ride too), because he has gained more courage and confidence ever since he started to travel with them. He remembers his adventures (this is the ONLY time we see Team Rocket in this episode, or more specifically, Meowth) and explains this is why he has to continue with them, at least through till Ash is in the Kalos League (and fails horribly again?). Bonnie wants to go too, and Serena and Ash both promise to look after them, while Clembot assures Meyer it will look after the Gym... you know, it's Clemont's Gym, he can do whatever the fuck he wants and what is their negligent Dad gonna do about it!?!

Meyer seems set to break out in a rage... till his eyes go all wobbly with joy and he grabs Clemont by the arms, telling him he is so proud. He hugs Clemont and Bonnie to him and tells them that he always said the most important thing is having good friends (even more important than sticking around and raising your kids?), and invites everybody to a meal to celebrate Clemont and Bonnie's new (well, continuing) journey.

That night, Serena and Bonnie sleep in the same bed - it's adorable you perverts! >:( - with Bonnie in her Tyrantrum PJs happily snuggled up in her own bed for the first time in who knows how long. In the lounge, Ash is on the couch with Pikachu sleeping on his stomach, and Clemont is a mattress on the floor. Clemont belatedly remembers that Ash never got his chance to challenge the Gym, and is surprised when Ash reveals that he has decided to take the incorrect Four Badge limitation to heart. He does this not out of ignorance but friendship, as he knows that Clemont "preferred" four badges and therefore he is going to wait till he has three more badges before challenging. But that said, he wants the battle to be against Clemont and not Clembot, and Clemont agrees happily - Ash's friendship means a huge amount to him, and now this gives him something to train towards as well, he'll make sure that Ash gets the best possible test of his skills he can.

As the two young friends bond, up on the roof a lurking figure in a costume listens in on their conversation. It isn't stranger danger though (well maybe it is!), this is the mysterious masked figure who was present back during Ash's first adventure in Lumiose City. Seemingly pleased to hear the closeness between Ash and the boy who couldn't possibly be his own son nosirree no way no how, he and his Blaziken leap to the sky to go do whatever it is people do rather than live with their children and help raise them as responsible adults. To be fair, Clemont's doing the same thing with his "son", so I guess this cycle of parental neglect is....

Previous Episode Next Episode Episode List