PPaul
A pathetic trainer and his equally pathetic Pokémon.
[getting offended] WHAT WAS THAT?!
PPaul
Alright, so where's your faith? If you really think you could win with faith alone, then you're no better than any low life loser trainer out there because you have no idea how Grotle's changed! [This line will later be referenced as to why Ash lost his full battle later on in the show. Many fans like to claim that "Ash's Turtwig is a strong fast cute unevolved Pokémon, therefore it does not need evolution to prove its worth." However, because Turtwig shares the same backstory as Bulbasaur and if it remained in an unevolved state, Turtwig would have been solidified as a complete Bulbasaur knock-off, thus universally hated by fans.]
[Ash shows off his new Staraptor to Paul]
What do you think? Don't you think it's great the Starly you didn't care for evolved into a Staravia and now into a powerful Staraptor?
PPaul
[clearly unimpressed] It sure took you long enough. [Note: It took 105 episodes for Staravia to evolve into Staraptor. Staraptor is often considered to be the slowest developed region bird Ash has owned. Also, many fans think that Staraptor is the best early route region bird Ash has because it won the Pokéringer contest, but the sad truth is that Staraptor is a Swellow 2.0 and did not have as much memorable battles compared to Swellow.]
PPaul
You said you were serious about wanting to win at Snowpoint City, so why do you still need Torterra to hold your hand? Using a Grass-type in an Ice-type Gym? I guess chuck that blind faith.
Stop right there! Just who do you think you are?!
He has no right talking like that!
I just hope tomorrow at the gym battle, Miss Senior wipes the floor with that jerk!
[mockingly] Alright, what's wrong? And here I thought you wanted to beat the man who defeated your brother.
PPaul
[bitterly recalling his defeated Nidoking] The truth is, it's only because you defeated Reggie that my victory over you will have meaning. The challenge you always present to Trainers to find their own strength was something my brother wasn't able to do. But I'm not like my brother! My will gives me strength! And now, you'll see it firsthand!
NO! All wrapped up in the past. But why then do you walk the Pokemon path in the first place? Tell me, why do you battle?
[Paul gets visibly furious]
PPaul
NOW, LAIRON! STANDBY FOR BATTLE!
And Gible gets today’s gallantry award. Eat all you want.
Now that Gible has mastered Draco Meteor, I’m sure Piplup will be able to rest easier. Am I right?
[overseeing his Pokémon] Thanks a lot, Gible, Noctowl and Donphan. I’ll work hard in round 4. And that’s a promise!
[Paul and his Electivire approach]
Hey, Paul. So, are you fine-tuning your Pokémon?
[overseeing the two trainers] It’s Paul vs. Ash. I’m really looking forward to their battle.
[v.o.] And so, Ash advances to round 4: the quarter-finals, where our battle with Paul promises some red-hot excitement, so stay tuned for two longtime rivals going at it head to head.
[Cut after sunset]
Good. Noctowl and the others are all in good hands. So, waiting for your third Pokémon for tomorrow?
Right. It should be here any minute now.
[Dawn enters the Pokémon Center]
[Dawn and Ash head outside the Pokémon Center, where Brock is waiting for them]
Ash, [points at something off-screen] look!
[Dawn and Ash look up and notice a familiar shadow heading for them, much to Ash's and Pikachu's delight]
I've been waiting. Gliscor!
[eagerly licks her lips] Gli.
PPaul
I purposely let you take out Aggron and Gastrodon so I could be certain of your strategy and exactly which Pokémon you'd use.
PPaul
[as he recalls Drapion] Ever since I brought out Drapion, I've been able to predict every one of your moves.
[Ash gives a rude smirk to Paul, much to Paul's confusion]
[As Ash readies Gliscor] Paul, there's nobody like you. That's why I'm going to win this.
PPaul
[Readies Ninjask] It's the other way around. I'm leaving you way behind.
[After Infernape used Flare Blitz from underground to expel Drapion’s Toxic Spikes]
Well Paul, that takes care of your Toxic Spikes.
PPaul
It was a pretty clever move, Ash.
PPaul
Infernape's gotten a lot stronger.
Yeah, sure has, Paul. Are you going?
PPaul
I lost, Ash, didn't I? So there's no reason to stay. I'm going to go back to Snowpoint City and request another battle with Brandon.
PPaul
Yeah...thanks, you too.
Paul...and Ash. Someday soon, they'll both be entering the Champion League and how I look forward to that day.
[Just then the boat rings signalling that it is about to leave]
PPaul
So...I'll see you. [walks away saddened that karma had finally caught up to him]
One more thing, Paul! Let's battle again real soon!
Pika, Pika! (Take care, Paul!)
[Paul is shocked by the proposal but has a warm friendly smile. He waves goodbye to Ash in a friendly matter without looking back, finally acknowledging Ash as a worthy trainer]
[Gengar bounces around, hitting trees like being in a pachinko machine until he gets zapped by lightning. As Gengar regains consciousness, he sees an Electivire.]
GGengar
Gengar? [Huh, you're the one who zapped me?]
[arrives along with Goh, Grookey and Pikachu] Gengar! No way! Electivire?
[Just then, a shadowy figure appears from behind a tree and stands next to his Electivire. It's Paul, Ash's Sinnoh rival!]
PPaul
Is that your Gengar?
"It's Paul"? Who's that?!
Pikachu! [Long time no see, Electivire!]
Electivire. [Hello again, Pikachu.]
[Gengar gets back up but is stumbling. Luckily Ash catches him.]
Gengar, are you alright? [gets burned] Augh! Hot! [Everyone minus Paul and Electivire are confused]
How can that be? Gengar is usually that cold. [He touches one of Gengar's fingers.] Yep, it is cold.
[Gengar hugs Ash and sure enough Ash does feel the coldness of Gengar's body.]
Well, what do you know? Cold.
PPaul
You're useless. At the very least, you should know your Pokémon's condition.
Hey Ash? You know that guy?
Yeah. We go way back. When I travelled through Sinnoh, he was a rival I battled a bunch of times. He's a Trainer who's named Paul.
Well, well. I was hoping he'd surprise you two here. You see, Paul happened to stop by yesterday, out of the blue.
PPaul
Professor Oak is a preeminent figure in Pokémon research. If someone wants to know about Pokémon, he's the best to ask. Nothing strange about that.
Roar! [Let's go Gengar, you've some work to do.]
GGengar
Gengar! [Right, let's go!]
Let's all train. [Charizard, Gengar and the rest of Ash's Fire-mons comply, minus Infernape?]
Kay, buddy! [Not so fast, Ash]
PPaul
You should leave it to the Pokémon. That's what this place is for.
I'll keep an eye on them! I think you and Paul have things to talk about.
PPaul
Infernape, why don't you go and join them?
Infernape? Infernape! [Really? Heading off, Ash!]
Infernape, you take care of Gengar, okay?
Infernape! [Right!] [runs off and carries Professor Oak over his shoulders!]
So, Infernape does what Paul does it to do too?
Yeah, cause Paul was its trainer before I was. [Those of you who do not know about Infernape and how he played a part in Ash and Paul's vicious rivalry towards each other during Diamond and Pearl series, here's a brief recap]
Ash met Paul in the Sinnoh Region. Paul put his Chimchar through some extreme training, but when it didn't meet his expectations, he abandoned it. So, Ash welcomed Chimchar into his group. A deep friendship developed which led to Chimchar evolve all the way into Infernape.
Yeah and Infernape's gotten really strong.
Grookey-key-key. [Whoa, look at Electivire's tails!] [Electivire's twin tails are swinging back and forth gently]
[Grookey jumps off Goh's shoulders] Grookey, hang on!
[Both Pikachu and Grookey are cheering while looking at Electivire's tails. Grookey throws its stick into the air allowing Electivire to catch it with its twin tails]
Electivire. [Got it!] [Pikachu and Grookey applaud at Electivire's performance]
PPaul
Electivire, go keep them busy.
Electivire. [Sure thing.]
[We see Paul's Electivire play with Pikachu and Grookey by letting the two ride on its tails, Ash's Torterra is napping with Scraggy and Palpitoad and Gible are hanging out with Goh.]
Hey Paul, didn't you want to enter the World Coronation Series?
PPaul
I'm not interested in noisy crowds. [Maybe that's why Paul gave up on region league quests as well? Also, no mention of Paul facing off against Pyramid King Brandon?]
So why don't we face off now? [Paul scoffs as if to say "What are you suggesting?"] Battle with me!
PPaul
Three on three and no switching out. [Nice call back to Ash and Paul's first battle, but this time this battle is less hostile. Remember, Paul had to fix his attitude after his loss against Brandon, as well as be more respectful to Ash following Paul's loss in the Sinnoh League]
PPaul
One thing. You're only allowed to use Pokémon you're taking to the Masters Eight Tournament.
Pokémon · 1,435 quotes
