The gang encounters Twilight's and Spike's big brother, Shining Armor, who just so happens to also be the Champion of the Equestria Region.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Flash suffers one at the hands of Shining Armor in a Pokémon battle. Shining's Galladin wipes out all five of Flash's Pokémon while receiving minimum damage itself, and most of its victories are in just one hit.
- Curb Stomp Cushion: That being said however, Flash knew he didn't stand a chance against Shining Armor as he currently was and just wanted to test himself. He is actually pleased with the final results since Springer actually managed to briefly overpower Galladin and push it back, esentially forcing Galladin to use its Armor Drop ability to win.
- Elite Four: This is briefly discussed when talking about the Equestria League. Surprisingly, unlike most of regions in the franchise, the Equestria Region averts this, having no official Elite Four of its own that must be beaten before you can challenge the champion. The Equestria League however plays with the concept, being a four round tournament consisting of the sixteen best trainers of the year and the winner of the League is allowed to challenge the current champion for the title. So essentially winning all four rounds of the Equestria League is the equivalent of defeating the Elite Four and earning the right to face the champion.
- Forgotten First Meeting: Played with between Flash and Shining. Flash never learned the name of the trainer that gave him Springer, so he never realized that it was actually Shining Armor. Shining however remembers Flash and Springer perfectly, and reminds them of their original encounter.
- The Ghost: One of Shining's fans says that he is married, referring to Cadance. But Cadance makes no physical apperances.
- Insane Troll Logic: When some young fans of Shining Armor are gushing over how cool he is and how they want to battle him when they grow up, one young girl says she doesn't care about batteling him, she wants to marry him. One of the kids points out he is already married, and the young girl replies "He wouldn't do that to me."
- The Reveal: Shining Armor reveals that he was the blue-haired trainer that originally caught Springer and left him with Flash.
