Eager to earn his second badge, Flash prepares to battle Fillydelphia's Gym Leader, Thorax.
- Bittersweet Ending: Flash ends up losing his first battle against Thorax, but thanks to the encouragement of his friends, he realizes that he just needs to train harder and steels himself for a future rematch.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Flash suffers one against Thorax. He goes in cocky and with no plan besides "keep attacking until I win", causing Skyler and Prongs to both get beaten easily by Movine. Viper only beats it due to it being exhausted, and then goes down quickly against Kingsect.
- Goal in Life: Flash's friends discuss this with him after his defeat, noting that he has no complex or strong reason to become the best Pokémon trainer, which explains why he hasn't been training hard enough and thus lost to Thorax. When Flash realizes this, he becomes more committed to training his Pokémon and follows Doc's comment that he'll eventually find a greater purpose behind his journey.
- Jerkass Has a Point: When Flash loses and tries rematching Thorax immediately after, Pharynx comments that it would be pointless because Thorax would just beat him and injure his Pokémon again. While delivered tactlessly, he is 100% right.
- Wake-Up Call Boss: Thorax is the toughest opponent Flash meets yet in his journey and gives him his first loss in a gym battle.
