The Bonds of Mega Evolution!

XY034   EP833 メガルカリオ対メガクチート！メガシンカの絆！！ Mega Lucario VS Mega Kucheat! The Bonds of Mega Evolution!!

First broadcast Japan July 3, 2014 United States September 6, 2014

English themes Opening Pokémon Theme (Version XY) Ending

Japanese themes Opening メガＶ（メガボルト） Ending ピースマイル！

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 藤田伸三Shinzō Fujita Storyboard 浅田裕二Yūji Asada Assistant director 浅田裕二Yūji Asada Animation director 岩根雅明Masaaki Iwane No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGfClosed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

The Bonds of Mega Evolution! (Japanese:メガルカリオ対メガクチート！メガシンカの絆！！Mega Lucario VS MegaKucheat! The Bonds of Mega Evolution!!) is the 34th episode ofPokémon the Series: XY, and the 833rd episode of thePokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on July 3, 2014 and in the United States on September 6, 2014.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Blurb

Following her grandfather's orders, Korrina has arrived on Pomace Mountain for some special training with Mabel, whose partner Mawile can Mega Evolve, and our heroes are along for the adventure. After a quick battle, Mabel suggests that everyone make flower arrangements with their Pokémon partners, much to their surprise.

This continues for several days, and while Bonnie and Dedenne are having a great time, Korrina and Lucario are getting impatient. But they soon learn that spending so much time together, exploring the beauty of the mountain and working together to make their beautiful arrangements, is exactly what they needed!

During a late-night heart-to-heart talk between Mabel and Korrina, the Team Rocket villains make their move, grabbing Pikachu and Mawile. But all that training pays off! Korrina's voice is finally able to reach Mega Lucario and calm its battle rage, and with the help of Mega Mawile, Team Rocket is sent blasting off again.

Now that Korrina can control Lucario's Mega Evolution, Ash decides he needs more training before challenging her at the Shalour Gym!

Plot

FollowingGurkinn's instructions,Ash,his friends andKorrina arrive at a treehouse onPomace Mountain. The door is opened by aMawile, and soon itsTrainerMabel arrives and introduces herself to the group. She asks Korrina andLucario to show her their strength in a battle.

The battle starts with KorrinaMega Evolving Lucario, and Mabel Mega Evolving her Mawile. Korrina commands Lucario to usePower-Up Punch, but Mawile dodges. Lucario usesBone Rush without Korrina's order, but Mawile dodges all of its attacks. Mawile usesIron Head on Lucario. Lucario then loses its control due to itsaura. Despire Korrina's urging, Lucario uses Power-Up Punch without any order. Mawile counters withFairy Wind and Lucario faints. Korrina tends to Lucario and assures it that they will continue to hone their skills. Meanwhile,Team Rocket have been spying on thetwerps and want to get their hands onPikachu, Mega Mawile and Mega Lucario. They decide to wait and catch them off-guard.

Despite Korrina's urge to train, Mabel asks the group to partner with their Pokémon and make flower arrangements. Clemont reveals his latest invention, theFlower Arranger One, which arranges flowers in the most artistic way possible. However, it becomes overloaded and blows up. After some time, Mabel comes in and inspects the arrangements. She states that these arrangements reflect their personalities. Mabel exclaims that Ash's and Pikachu's arrangement show their hearts are one. However, she states that Korrina and Lucario have made two separate arrangements, which shows that they have similar personalities and a deep understanding of each other. Mabel sets them the task of making a new flower arrangement for tomorrow. Korrina demands some battle training, though Mabel reminds her not to be so hasty.

The next day, Ash and his friends go out in search for flowers. However, Mabel tells Korrina and Lucario to go up and see the mountain views and that they might see something wonderful. The pair follow their mentor's advice, but are left bewildered in spite of the scenic view. Day after day, the group continue to make flower arrangements until Mabel can see that their hearts are one. One day, as Korrina and Lucario go out to gather flowers, Korrina spots some beautiful white flowers on top of a cliff. Lucario climbs the cliff face but then falters, almost falling. Realising that some areas of the cliff were less sturdy than others, Korrina guides Lucario through a safe path to reach the flowers.

That night, Korrina wonders why Mabel has not started any training and why her grandfather recommended them come to Pomace Mountain in the first place. Mabel steps out onto the balcony to inform Korrina that Lucario should be able to controls its aura soon. She tells them the reason why Lucario usesmoves on its own is because of how close and similar Korrina and Lucario are. However, while they may have one heart, they have two viewpoints, and Mabel asks them to bring their one heart and two viewpoints together.

Unexpectedly, the sound of shattering glass breaks the moment, with Team Rocket snatching Pikachu and Mawile for themselves. After theirmotto,James shoots a missile to trap Lucario, but Lucario dodges. Jessie sends outPumpkaboo. Korrina Mega evolves Lucario and orders it to use Power-Up Punch. James sends outInkay and commands it to usePsybeam while Jessie has Pumpkaboo useShadow Ball. These moves cause Mega Lucario to lose control again. However, as Lucario is about to launch an attack, Korrina blocks it, and Lucario bites onto Korrina's arm. Korrina asks Lucario to remember their one heart and two viewpoints. The flowers on Korrina’s wrist ring, causing Lucario to remember its friendship with Korrina. After a while, Lucario returns to its senses and hones its inner strength. As Pumpkaboo launches aDark Pulse, Lucario blocks the attack with a Bone Rush. Inkay uses Psybeam and Pumpkaboo uses Shadow Ball, Lucario follows Korrina's orders and counters with Bone Rush. The impact of the attack frees Mawile and Pikachu. Mabel Mega evolves Mawile and commands it to use Fairy Wind. Ash commands Pikachu to useThunderbolt. Lucario then usesAura Sphere, a move it learned as a result of being able to control its aura, which sends Team Rocket blasting off.

The next day, the group say goodbye to Mabel and leave Pomace Mountain. Ash decides to leave Korrina and train more before he challenges theShalour Gym. With that, Korrina roller skates off into the distance while the group continue on their own way.

Major events

• Ash,his friends, andKorrina arrive atPomace Mountain.
• Korrina's Lucario learns how to fully and permanently control itself whileMega Evolved.
• Korrina leaves the group.

For a list of all major events inPokémon the Series: XY, please see thetimeline page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

Main series debuts

• MegaMawile

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Serena
• Clemont
• Bonnie
• Jessie
• James
• Korrina
• Mabel

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?:Mawile(US and international)
Pokémon Quiz:Mawile(Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Dedenne (Clemont's)
• Fennekin (Serena's)
• Chespin (Clemont's)
• Pumpkaboo (Jessie's;Super Size)
• Inkay (James's)
• Lucario (Korrina's;Mega Lucario)
• Mawile (Mabel's;Mega Mawile)

Trivia

• Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster:MegaLucario
  • For the TV Tokyo airing, instead of theProfessor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster segment, a trailer for the upcomingDiancie and the Cocoon of Destruction, along with the MegaDiancie event forOmega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire andTretta, andDarkrai giveaway was shown.
• This episode concludes the five-partKorrina arc.
• While translated directly from its Japanese equivalent, the English title is very similar and could serve as a reference toThe Bonds of Evolution!, which also showcasesMega Evolution.
• Ash andClemont narrate the preview for thenext episode.

Errors

• WhenMabel is talking in her house, everyone else is shown to be surprised. However, the animation for everyone in the room except Ash is reversed: they are shown bewildered and open-mouthed at first, and when they all gasp, they seem to compose themselves. This happens twice during the episode.
• WhenJames throws Inkay'sPoké Ball, the engines on the sides of the Meowth Balloon disappear. This error was later fixed infuture episodes.

• 
  Meowth Balloon without the engines

Dub edits

• For an unknown reason, the title of the episode copies the title ofXY028 in theRussian dub.

In other languages

This episode article is part ofProject Anime, aBulbapedia project that covers all aspects ofPokémon animation.

• Pokémon the Series: XY episodes
• Episodes written by Shinzō Fujita
• Episodes storyboarded and directed by Yūji Asada
• Episodes storyboarded by Yūji Asada
• Episodes directed by Yūji Asada
• Episodes animated by Masaaki Iwane