Ash challenges Valerie and her Fairy-type Pokémon to a Laverre Gym battle and she accepts, with Sawyer sticking around to watch. The battle is two-on-two and Ash's Fletchinder wins the first round against Valerie's Sylveon with relatively little trouble. But when Valerie sends in her second Pokémon, Spritzee, and it uses Trick Room, the battle becomes much harder.
Tropes:
- Broken Streak: Counting Pikachu, this is the first episode where Ash does not use a starter Pokémon in a gym battle.
- Elemental Rock-Paper-Scissors: Fletchinder eliminates Sylveon with a super-effective Steel Wing.
- Outside-the-Box Tactic: Ash has Hawlucha destroy Trick Room with a spinning X-Scissor.
- Pint Sized Power House: Valarie's Spritzee defeats Fletchinder and gives Hawlucha a hard time.
