Japanese Title: Keromatsu VS Yayakoma! Aerial Battle Maneuvers!!
Original Airdate: October 24, 2013
US Airdate: February 1, 2014
While Serena sets off on her journey to Lumiose City to get her starter Pokémon, Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie set off for Santalune City, so Ash can get his first Kalos League badge. While Bonnie befriends a wild Dedenne, a wild Fletchling steals some food from her, attracting it as Ash's first capture target—and the first battle for Froakie as Ash's Pokémon. Meanwhile, Team Rocket seems to be having similar issues with another food thief.
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- Anti-Advice: Serena is having a hard time choosing what hat to wear for her journey. Grace picks one of the two for her, but Serena instantly selects the second one instead.
- Electronic Telepathy: Pikachu and Dedenne initially communicate with each other by arcing electricity between their cheeks.
- Foreshadowing: Clemont, after mentioning how in awe he was of Ash, looks back at the Prism Tower, and remarks to himself that he has some work to do in order to improve himself. Of course, those who have the XY video game already know he's the Lumiose Gym Leader.
- Leeroy Jenkins: Froakie starts attacking Fletchling before Ash can give it a command or come up with a plan.
- The Snack Is More Interesting: Inkay spends half the episode stealing food from Team Rocket. James uses it to his advantage to capture it.
- Fletchling also attracts Ash's attention by stealing a berry Bonnie picked for Dedenne.
- Stalker Shot: When Bonnie tries to convince Dedenne to join them with a berry that it dropped, Fletchling appears and steals the berry, making Dedenne cry and runs away. After Ash catches Fletchling and the gang continues to Santalune City, the camera zooms way out and the same Dedenne appears onscreen, showing it has been following them.
- Weaksauce Weakness: Just like Froakie's frubbles in the first Kalos episode, Inkay's ink is not an attack, so Wobbuffet's awesome defense is utterly useless against it.
