Ash and co. arrive in Laverre City only to learn that the gym is closed for the day since the gym leader Valerie is hosting a fashion show. Our heroes also meet Sawyer, whom Clemont recognizes as a trainer that challenged him at the Lumiose Gym during his brief time away from the group. While Serena and Bonnie shop and admire all the clothes, Ash and Sawyer decide to pass the time with a double battle, with Clemont as referee. Ash picks Frogadier and Hawlucha while Sawyer picks Treecko and Bagon. Back at the fashion show, Valerie is stuck in a predicament as two of her models had to cancel, but her helpers inform her that they saw Serena and Bonnie and think they would make good replacements. The fashion show gets underway and the commotion causes Ash and Sawyer to pause their battle to check it out. They see the models walking down the catwalk and spot Serena and Bonnie among them. Valerie then says that for the last part of the fashion show, there will be a Pokémon battle and she randomly picks Sawyer out of the audience. He chooses Bagon but Valerie chooses Spritzee, a Fairy-type that is strong against Dragon Pokémon. Spritzee defeats Bagon almost instantly, causing Ash to ponder what kind of strategy to deal with Valerie. After the show ends, the episode concludes with Ash going outside to train for his upcoming match.
Tropes
- Chekhov's Gunman: Sawyer made a cameo as a challenger at the Lumiose Gym during Clemont's brief tenure away from the group and is formally introduced here.
- Continuity Nod: Ash recognizes Spritzee as a Pokémon he saw when he first stepped off the plane in Kalos, but learns its name and type in this episode.
- Curbstomp Battle: Sawyer's Bagon is defeated almost instantly by Valerie's Spritzee.
- No-Sell: As a Fairy-type, Valerie's Spritzee is immune to Bagon's Dragon-type moves.
- Remember the New Guy?: Sawyer is introduced to the group as a whole, but Clemont remembers him from his first Lumiose Gym battle.
