The Hoof Cup has now reached the semi-finals, with Doc facing off against Lightning, while Flash battles Twilight.
- Bait-and-Switch: With how much their rivalry has been set up throughout the story, the audience is geared to expect Lightning to win the Hoof Cup semi-finals so that he can battle Flash in the finals. Instead, it's Doc who wins and is allowed to advance. Lightning, for his part, does not take this well.
- Cliffhanger: Lightning and Twilight are knocked out of the Hoof Cup in this round, leaving only Flash and Doc in the finals to fight over who will become the tournament's champion.
- Dark Horse Victory: The audience in-universe and out is left expecting Lightning to win, given that he plays a stronger Pokémon against Doc and seems to be set to battle Flash next. The match is a very tight one, but Doc ends up victorious, to much applause from the audience.
- Graceful Loser: After being defeated by Flash, Twilight comforts Owlicious and wishes Flash the best of luck in the finals, remarking that she still needs more practice to become a better trainer.
- Humble Hero: When all his friends congratulate him on beating Lightning, Doc deflects the praise on to his Higear, whom he credits for the victory.
- Sore Loser: Unsurprisingly, Lightning reacts poorly to his defeat and storms off, pushing Flash out of his way as he disappears out of the stadium.
- This Cannot Be!: When Doc's victory is confirmed, Lightning stutters disbelief that he lost.
- Took a Level in Badass: Lightning's Higear is revealed to have evolved into a Guardroid, but it isn't enough to defeat Doc's Higear.
- Unskilled, but Strong: Lightning's strategy against Doc's Higear is to pick his Guardroid, the evolved form of Higear and thus the stronger version of it, expecting raw power will triumph over intricate tactics.
