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| Season | Pokémon: Advanced Battle (Season 8) · The Ever Grande Conference arc (AG124–AG131) |
| Episode | Season 8, episode 38 · English episode 403 · Japanese episode 407 · Bulbapedia code AG131 |
| English title | At the End of the Fray |
| Japanese title | 最後の激闘！優勝への道！！ Saigo no Gekitō! Yūshō e no Michi!! — “Conclusion of the Fierce Fighting! The Road to Championship!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 16 June 2005 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 25 March 2006 · Kids’ WB |
| Screenplay | Atsuhiro Tomioka |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Pokémon Symphonic Medley – Pokémon Symphonic Orchestra · GLORY DAY ~Kagayaku Sono Hi~ (That Shining Day) – GARDEN |
| English opening | Unbeatable – David Rolfe |
| Pokémon Trainer’s Choice | Which one does not evolve? (Baltoy / Mawile / Aron) → Mawile |
| Previous episode | Choose It or Lose It! (AG130) |
| Next episode | The Scheme Team (AG132) |
Plot episodeAsh loses to Tyson – Top 8Tyson wins the Conference
At the End of the Fray is the 38th episode of Pokémon: Advanced Battle, the eighth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 403rd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 407, Bulbapedia code AG131). It first aired in Japan on 16 June 2005 and in the United States on 25 March 2006. It falls within the season’s The Ever Grande Conference stretch (EP124–EP131).
Synopsis
The collision of Ice Beam and Solar Beam explodes in a pillar of light, knocking out both Glalie and Sceptile at the very start of the quarter-final. Tyson’s Shiftry takes on Ash’s Torkoal and falls to a Flamethrower aimed into the air, but his Hariyama, whose Thick Fat Ability blunts Fire attacks, knocks Torkoal out with Brick Break and then defeats Corphish when Crabhammer and Focus Punch collide. At half-time Ash is down to three Pokémon to Tyson’s four. Morrison gives him a pep talk, and Pikachu insists that he is ready to help in the second half. Meanwhile Team Rocket’s boss hands them a ramshackle shack to remodel, and as it collapses around them the trio discover the room where the tournament’s Poké Balls are stored.
On the rocky field of the second half, Swellow makes Hariyama punch an afterimage and knocks it out with Aerial Ace, then clears Donphan’s Sandstorm, catches its Rollout by the ears and slams it down for a second knockout. Tyson’s Metagross, however, freezes Swellow in mid-air with Psychic, turns Swellow’s own Quick Attack back on it and finishes it with Hyper Beam. Metagross’s Meteor Mash then flattens Grovyle despite Bullet Seed and Leaf Blade, leaving Ash with only Pikachu. Pikachu answers with Iron Tail, cracking Metagross’s forehead, and a point-blank Thunder that knocks Metagross out, bringing the battle down to one Pokémon each. Only Pikachu now stands between Tyson and the semi-finals as Tyson reaches for his final Poké Ball.
Tyson’s last Pokémon is his booted Meowth. It and Pikachu trade Thunderbolt, Thunder, Quick Attack, Double Team, Slash and Iron Tail until both collapse, and only Meowth can stand up again. Ash is out in the quarter-finals, finishing in the top eight, and Tyson goes on to win the semi-final and then the final to become the champion of the Ever Grande Conference. The Pokémon Symphonic Medley plays through the end of the battle and into the closing ceremony, with GLORY DAY taking over for the final scenes. Team Rocket’s attempt on the Poké Ball store ends when their furious employer smashes in and punches them away, and the Conference, and Ash’s Hoenn League challenge, are over. It is the last on-screen battle of Ash’s Glalie.
Major Events
- Ash loses to Tyson in the quarter-finals (Top 8)
- Tyson wins the Ever Grande Conference
- Glalie’s last on-screen battle
- Pokémon Symphonic Medley and GLORY DAY play through the climax in Japan
Trivia
- The English title plays on "at the end of the day".
- The screenplay is by Atsuhiro Tomioka.
- This is a plot episode: it advances the Hoenn storyline.
Changes in the English Dub
- Brock calls Hyper Beam “Solar Beam”
- Pokémon Symphonic Medley plays through the end of the battle and GLORY DAY over the closing ceremony; both removed from the dub
Part of our Pokémon: Advanced Battle guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.