A Unova League Evolution! (Japanese:決着イッシュリーグ！ピカチュウ対ルカリオ！！Isshu League Conclusion! Pikachu VS Lucario!!) is the 108th episode ofPokémon the Series: Black & White, and the 765th episode of thePokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on January 10, 2013 and in the United States on April 13, 2013.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Now that Cameron’s Riolu has evolved into Lucario in the midst of his Unova League battle with Ash and Snivy, the heat is really turning up! After evolving, Lucario’s powerful moves are even stronger than Riolu’s were, and Snivy is defeated.
Ash then calls upon Pikachu, who hasn’t fully recovered from its earlier battles. Pikachu’s power and tenacity are amazing as always, the result of the strong bond between Trainer and Pokémon, and it battles Lucario almost to a standstill. But Lucario manages one final Aura Sphere to seal Pikachu’s defeat. Ash is out of the Unova League, and Cameron moves on to the semi-finals...
...where he’s up against Virgil and Team Eevee, and Flareon’s type advantage finally overcomes the powerful Lucario! Virgil’s Eevee proves to be a fierce competitor as well, knocking out his final opponent’s Druddigon to win the Unova League!
After our heroes bid a fond farewell to their friends and rivals, we leave Ash contemplating all the wonderful adventures yet to come—and feeling more determined than ever to make his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master come true!
Plot
Ash andCameron'sFull Battleresumes, with Ash left with hisSnivy andPikachu. Although Cameron only has his newlyevolvedLucario, things are just getting started. Ash has Snivy score a quick hit with a slash of herLeaf Blade. Recovering quickly, Lucario counters with aForce Palm strike that flings Snivy across the field.Bianca remarks that Lucario's Force Palm is much stronger than it was when it was just aRiolu, to whichStephan states it is because Lucario had just evolved. Ash has Snivy useVine Whip, but Lucario blocks the attack. Not willing to give up, Ash has Snivy keep attacking Lucario with a barrage of Vine Whips, but Lucario keeps blocking them. Seeing an opening, Cameron has Lucario grab onto Snivy's vines and useCircle Throw, slamming Snivy into the ground. As the dust clears, Snivy appears to have been knocked out. With some encouragement from Ash, she manages to get up and continue the battle. Wanting to end the battle quickly, Cameron has Lucario demonstrate his new moveAura Sphere. Snivy attempts to dodge, but the attack follows her and lands a direct hit. The attack generates an explosion that knocks Snivy to the ground, causing her tofaint. With theGrass Snake Pokémon eliminated from thebattle, Ash is left with just Pikachu.
Cilan comments that although bothTrainers are left with one Pokémon each, Pikachu hasn't yet recovered from his earlier battles with Cameron'sSwanna andSamurott. Starting the battle, Pikachustrikes first with aQuick Attack. Wanting to wrap the battle up as fast as possible, Ash has Pikachu use two additional Quick Attacks. Lucario looks like it is almost beaten, so Ash orders Pikachu to go in close withIron Tail, but Lucario manages to slide away. Jumping up, Lucario comes in from above with Force Palm, sending Pikachu flying across the field. Cameron has Lucario follow up with an Aura Sphere. At the same time, Pikachu fires off anElectro Ball. The attacks collide in midair and explode, knocking both Trainers' Pokémon back. Both Pokémon are able to get up, but Pikachu looks like he is struggling more.
Pausing the battle, Cameron talks with Ash, saying he feels great competing in theVertress Conference. Ash says he feels likewise and they continue the battle. Both Pokémon run toward each other. Lucario attempts to land a Force Palm, but Pikachu jumps over Lucario and dodges the attack. Refusing to give up, Lucario follows and grabs Pikachu, tossing him high into the air with a Circle Throw. In an almost cat-like fashion, Pikachu somersaults in the air and lands lightly on his feet. He follows this up by hitting Lucario with a powerfulThunderbolt and goes in close to hit with a Quick Attack. Pikachu is visibly exhausted but comes back around swinging his Iron Tail. Cameron and Lucario are determined not to give in though and Lucario also uses Iron Tail viaCopycat. The two attacks collide, which causes an explosion. Falling from the cloud, the two Pokémon hit the ground hard. Both Trainers encourage their Pokémon to be the first to get up, and they soon do so. Ash tells Pikachu to use Electro Ball with everything he has while Cameron orders Lucario to charge up an Aura Sphere. The two attacks collide, but Lucario's Aura Sphere manages to push away Pikachu's Electro Ball and it hits Pikachu, ending the battle. The referee makes the call, awarding Cameron the victory as he moves on to the Top 4. Both Trainers congratulate each other and their Pokémon.
The next day, Cameron andVirgil are battling in the semifinals. Cameron is left once again with only Lucario while Virgil still has three Pokémon left.Recalling hisEspeon, Virgil calls on hisFlareon. Cameron, not worried about typing, has Lucario go in with a Force Palm, but Flareon usesDouble Team to evade the attack. It follows this up with asupereffectiveFlamethrower, but Lucario is still able to battle. Hoping to get an idea, Cameron tries snapping his headband, but nothing comes to mind, so he just has Lucario use Aura Sphere. Flareon counters with aFire Blast, tearing through the Aura Sphere and taking Lucario out for the count. With his last Pokémon down, Cameron loses the semifinals.
Later, Virgil and Team Eevee take onDino in the Vertress Conference finals. Both sides are down to their last Pokémon, Virgil'sEevee versus Dino’sDruddigon. Druddigon usesDragon Rage, but Eevee evades the attack withDig. Coming out of the ground, Eevee hits Druddigon with Iron Tail, knocking Druddigon to the ground. Finally, Eevee knocks out Druddigon withTrump Card, making Virgil the winner of the Vertress Conference. Meeting up by a fountain, Ash, his friends and manyUnovarivals congratulate each other on their efforts. Virgil's older brotherDavy soon arrives to pick Virgil up, the group says farewell to him as he flies away. Just then, Bianca runs up trying to catch Virgil, but is late and knocks Ash into the fountain. She instead gives everyone theCasteliacones to enjoy. Cameron and Lucario devour theirs and run off to train. Bianca decides to head backhome and leaves immediately.
Ash and Stephan return to the sauna to discuss their plans for the future. While Ash has no plans of returning toPallet Town, both Trainers vow to get stronger for a rematch. At the hotel, Cilan and Iris are packing but Ash has slipped away to go back to the stadium to reflect on his performance and what it took him to get here. After the flashback ends, Ash declares that hisjourney is not over yet. Soon Cilan and Iris find him staring at the sunset, and call him over so they can get going.
Major events
Virgil holding the championship trophy
Ash loses hisFull Battle againstCameron in the quarterfinals, placing him in the Top 8.
Virgil defeatsRusset in the quarterfinals, advancing to the semifinals.
The full version ofBe an Arrow! is played during the flashback scenes close to the end of the episode.
The ending of the episode is a direct callback to the ending ofFriends to the End, as Ash stands in the middle of the stadium and has flashbacks of hisjourney while the sun rises over the league torch and the fullthemesong plays, and the episode then concludes with Ash running towardshis friends.
The scene where Ash is staring at the sun rising is similar to the final scenes ofAim to Be a Pokémon Master.
Before showing Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster, this episode was followed by a trailer for the upcomingEpisode N saga.
This is the first time a different animation forSnivy'sLeaf Blade has been used.
