In fairness, he had a reason to lose to Lt. Surge.
FOUR ROADS DIVERGED IN A POKEMON PORT!
"Glorp"
Score: 5/10
The heroes have to wait until the next day for a ferry, but at the port, they meet Kenny and Jasmine (from the GSC days)! Jasmine is hoping to learn more about contest battles because she wants to learn enough about different styles of battle to become stronger-- and soon everyone is joined by Flint. Jasmine challenges Flint to a battle, but amazingly, her Steelix's strategy of "headbutt something that can use flare blitz" fails. I mean… why bring back Jasmine if you want someone to fight a fire user? It just… doesn’t make much sense, y’know?
Kenny tells Dawn that he wants to battle Ash, and that if he wins, he wants Dawn to go on a journey with her, and the shipping is obvious.
After the battle, Flint explains his strategy is to let his opponent have the first attack and learn to counter, because defense is his way of doing things... with fire pokemon, one of the worst defensive types out there. Funnily enough, Flint admits the strategy has issues against very powerful opponents like Cynthia, so… against opponents who are actually in his league, his strategy is crap.
Kenny challenges Ash to a battle, and he accepts-- for tomorrow. Everyone goes to the pokemon center, and Jasmine and Dawn talk about Dawn's goal of becoming a top coordinator, but she's not sure what to do after Ash's league quest is over. Oh God we’re already foreshadowing Dawn leaving the show? But the season is only two-thirds over!
Brock tries to tell Kenny that the secret of love is to put your heart on the line and let it get broken again and again and again. Kenny thinks this is good advice. Japan.
Ash asks Flint about what winning the Sinnoh League was like, and Flint tells him about how his then-Monferno got its ass kicked by a Snorlax. Flint only won because "I'm a genius," and it has nothing to do with "theory or strategy," only believing you can win will let you win. Really? Because I’m pretty sure… You know, this isn’t worth it, I’m just going to call Flint a dumbass. I base this statement not on his beliefs but instead on his afro.
At night, both Kenny and Ash go out to train for a bit, and their Empoleon and Buizel strike up a rivalry. They agree to Empoleon versus Buizel the next day. Buizel gets is ass kicked and lands all of zero hits. Kenny goes to Dawn and tells her to come to him at the lighthouse if she's interested. Dawn instead leaves Kenny a note (somehow, it's not really explained how she gives it to him without him seeing her) saying that she's going to cheer on Ash at the Sinnoh League, and makes absolutely no promises about traveling with him in the future. Also, "you look kind of handsome." Really? I mean… Really? Kenny?
After the battle, Flint tells Ash that he's challenging Cynthia soon, because he feels he's ready to go and believes in himself. It’s not said explicitly, but it’s implied seeing Ash battle and having those discussions with him helped him decide to stop training and just go for it.
Good luck, Flint! I’m sure your Infernape is a real challenge for Garchomp and not just lunch.
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Not changing this sig until I decide to change this sig.
Started: July 6, 2005