SM034

← SM033 : Big Sky, Small Fry!

Sun & Moon series

SM035 : Currying Favor and Flavor! →

A Crowning Moment of Truth!

SM034   EP973 炎のバトル！ガラガラあらわる！！ Battle of Fire! Garagara Appears!!

First broadcast Japan July 20, 2017 United States October 7, 2017

English themes Opening Under The Alolan Sun Ending

Japanese themes Opening めざせポケモンマスター -20th Anniversary- Ending ポーズ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 面出明美 Akemi Omode Storyboard 樋口香里 Kaori Higuchi Assistant director サトウ光敏 Mitsutoshi Satō Animation director 石川てつや Tetsuya Ishikawa No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de Preview thread on BMGf Closed Original review thread on BMGf Dub review thread on BMGf

A Crowning Moment of Truth! (Japanese: 炎のバトル！ガラガラあらわる！！ Battle of Fire! Garagara Appears!!) is the 34th episode of the Sun & Moon series, and the 973rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on July 20, 2017 and in the United States on October 7, 2017.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Blurb

Our heroes attend the Wela Fire Festival, where Fire-type Pokémon line up to receive the Wela Crown—said to convey the power of Wela Volcano itself! Just as Ash’s Litten steps up, a feisty Alolan Marowak steals the crown from Kahuna Olivia and runs off. Kiawe pursues it, but Turtonator is no match for Alolan Marowak’s speed!

Ash offers to help Kiawe train against this quicker foe, and they come up with a strategy: use Shell Smash, a risky move that drops Turtonator’s defenses but makes it stronger and faster. In the rematch, Kiawe wins, and Marowak returns the crown—and then decides to join Kiawe’s team!

Plot

This plot summary is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this plot summary to add missing sections and complete it.

As part of their Akala Island field trip, Ash, his classmates and Professor Kukui are visiting the Wela Volcano Park. A large crowd has gathered along with their Fire-types Pokémon. Professor Kukui explains that this is the Wela Fire Festival which has been held for over 100 years. Professor Kukui explains that the history will be the subject of today's class. Kiawe leads the way and whilst walking, Kiawe mentions to Ash the festival will allow Litten get stronger. As they join a queue of trainers, Olivia announces that the festival is about to start and as the crowd cheers, an Alolan Marowak watches.

Olivia starts the festivities by taking the Wela Crown and places it on the head of a Growlithe as Ash and the others look on. Rotom Pokédex and Kiawe explain to Ash about the Wela Crown that it helps make Pokémon stand strong and is effective on Fire types. Lillie realizes this explains why so many people have gathered which leaves Ash excited as they all join the group. Kiawe reveals that Turtonator was crowned last year and that his grandfather used to do the crowning. Kiawe also explains that when he was young, he dreamed to have his grandfather crown his Pokémon. Soon everyone reaches the end of the queue and watch as Olivia crowns a Flareon. Once that is done, Ash rushes forward with Litten, asking that she crowns Litten. As Olivia goes to crown Litten, Marowak rushes forward and steals the crown as Rotom identifies it as an Alolan Marowak.

Kiawe isn't happy that the crown has been stolen and goes to grab it off Marowak but it does Kiawe and Ash. Marowak runs off, past the crowd of queuing trainers and attacks those who try to stop it. Professor Kukui stops Olivia from going after Marowak as they need to calm everyone down as Kiawe recalls Turtonator, saying he'll get it back as Ash goes with him. Marowak evades capture and jumps off the cliff as Kiawe and Ash follow in pursuit. They soon reach a fork in the road as Kiawe comes across a Hiker and his injured Magmar as another Hiker asks if he is chasing after the Marowak. Another Hiker appears and asks the same question but try to put Kiawe off chasing after Marowak. Eventually they point him in the right direction and he soon confronts Marowak.

As Marowak challenges Kiawe to a battle, Kiawe sends out Turtonator and they start the battle. Marowak breaks through Flamethrower and manages to dodge Dragon Tail and manages to hit Turtonator with Shadow Bone. Kiawe decides to finish it with one shot and they use Inferno Overdrive which Marowak dodges. Marowak knocks Turtonator out with Iron Head before leaving as Ash arrives. At the Pokémon Center, everyone waits as Turtonator receives treatment as they discuss Kiawe and Turtonator being defeated as Kiawe is left annoyed at not getting the crown back. That night, Ash goes outside and finds Kiawe on the steps with Turtonator now healed up. Kiawe apologizes to Turtonator for being focused on the crown and not paying attention and thinks back to what his grandfather said about battling. He had a goal about being as strong as Wela Volcano but is now unsure if he can obtain that goal but Ash manages to convince him to continue with his dream. They agree to have a training match on the battlefield so that they can devise a way to beat Marowak.

They start a battle with Pikachu managing to avoid Turtonator's spikes and Ash has Pikachu run around Turtonator before landing an Iron Tail on Turtonator before an Electro Ball is blocked. The battle makes Kiawe realize they're having trouble competing against Pikachu's speed which is what caused them trouble with Marowak and they can't rely on defense alone. Turtonator remains determined and starts to glow, which surprises the others. The next morning, the Hikers bring their Magmar to Nurse Joy for treatment as Professor Kukui and Olivia discuss why Marowak stole the crown. Being one of the precious treasures on Akala Island, Olivia knows that they have to get it back and she plans to go after Marowak only for Kiawe to arrive to stop her. Kiawe promises to get back the Wela Crown as his classmates notice a difference in him.

Soon Kiawe confronts Marowak for a rematch which Marowak agrees to as everyone watches on. Marowak throws his bone at Turtonator but Turtonator sends it back with Dragon Tail before Marowak attacks with Iron Head. As their classmates discuss the battle, Turtonator counters Flare Blitz with Flamethrower but as Marowak gets behind Turtonator to attack. Marowak manages to avoid Shell Trap to land a hit only for the spikes to make contact, causing damage. Kiawe has Turtonator power up using Shell Smash, allowing Turtonator to become stronger and faster but Marowak still hits Turtonator with Iron Head. Turtonator manages to land a Dragon Tail on Marowak before launching an Inferno Overdrive which hits Marowak, winning Kiawe the match.

Defeated, Marowak hands Kiawe the Wela Crown and confirms Kiawe's theory that it wanted to wear the crown so it could become stronger. Kiawe explains he guessed because he feels the same way as Marowak shows that it wishes to join Kiawe's team. Realizing what Marowak wants, Kiawe agrees and throws a Pokéball as it, catching Marowak before calling Marowak out and welcoming it to his team only for it to attack Turtonator, showing that it doesn't like losing. Later the Wela Crown has been returned to Oliva which means they can now celebrate. After placing the crown on Pikachu, Olivia then places the crown on Litten before inviting Marowak to put on the crown. As Olivia puts the crown on Marowak, Kiawe tells Turtonator that they'll work harder with Marowak as Rotom takes pictures only for the Hikers to photobomb each attempt.

Major events

• Kiawe's Turtonator is revealed to know Dragon Tail and learns Shell Smash.
• Kiawe catches an Alolan Marowak.

For a list of all major events in the animated series, please see the history page.

Debuts

Pokémon debuts

• Marowak (Kiawe's; Alola Form)

Characters

Humans

Dare da?

• Ash
• Lana
• Kiawe
• Lillie
• Sophocles
• Mallow
• Nurse Joy
• Professor Kukui
• Olivia
• Sima (flashback)
• Rango (flashback)
• Kiawe's grandfather (flashback)
• Hikers (×3)
• Trainers

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Marowak (Alola Form)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Rotom (Rotom Pokédex)
• Litten (Ash's)
• Popplio (Lana's)
• Turtonator (Kiawe's)
• Marowak (Kiawe's; Alola Form; new; debut)
• Vulpix (Lillie's; Alola Form; Snowy)
• Togedemaru (Sophocles's)
• Steenee (Mallow's)
• Blissey (Nurse Joy's)
• Magmar (Hiker's)
• Tepig (Trainer's; ×5)
• Cyndaquil (Trainer's; ×4)
• Numel (Trainer's; ×4)
• Fennekin (Trainer's; ×4)
• Houndour (Trainer's; ×3)
• Torchic (Trainer's; ×6; one in flashback)
• Darmanitan (Trainer's; ×2; one in flashback)
• Lampent (Trainer's; ×5; one in flashback)
• Magcargo (Trainer's)
• Litwick (Trainer's; ×6; one in flashback)
• Ponyta (Trainer's; ×2)
• Darumaka (Trainer's; ×3)
• Growlithe (Trainer's; ×4; one in flashback)
• Pansear (Trainer's; multiple; one in flashback)
• Litleo (Trainer's; ×2)
• Torkoal (Trainer's; ×3)
• Combusken (Trainer's; ×2)
• Braixen (Trainer's; ×2)
• Quilava (Trainer's; ×2)
• Pignite (Trainer's; ×2; one in flashback)
• Charmander (Trainer's)
• Slugma (Trainer's)
• Houndoom (Trainer's; ×2)
• Chimchar (Trainer's; ×2)
• Rapidash (Trainer's)
• Flareon (Trainer's)
• Fletchinder (Trainer's)
• Heatmor (Trainer's; ×2)

Trivia

A Hiker photobombing Ash, his classmates, Professor Kukui, and Olivia, a reference to Hiker David

• Poké Problem: What Pokemon does Turtonator fight in this episode?
  • Host: Kiawe
  • Choices: Salandit, Alolan Marowak, Growlithe, Magmar
  • Answer: Alolan Marowak
• All seven Fire-type starter Pokémon from the first seven generations appear in this episode.
• The three Hikers, their Magmar, and their habit of photobombing the pictures that the Rotom Pokédex was trying to take of the group are a reference to Hiker David, who has a similar habit, also uses a Magmar, and is battled during the trial at Wela Volcano Park, the setting of this episode, in Pokémon Sun and Moon.
• Mallow, Ash, and Pikachu narrate the preview for the next episode.
• The English dub title is similar to that of a previous episode.

Errors

• In one scene, the purple portion of Mallow's Steenee's body is colored white.
• During Kiawe's first flashback, a Lampent had a flame floating above it similar to a Litwick's flame.
• When the Alolan Marowak runs away with the Crown of Wela, a Numel, Quilava, and Fletchinder are shown to be much smaller than they should be, especially the Numel.
• When Lana turns towards to Lillie at the end of Kiawe's battle, her headband changes shape.
• During the Poké Problem, Kiawe was in front of his Turtonator as they went towards the stone oven at his house, but after his Alolan Marowak appeared and attacked Turtonator, Kiawe came running from behind Turtonator to catch the food that was thrown up in the air.

• 

  Small Quilava and Fletchinder

• 

  Lampent with Litwick's flame

Dub edits

• The Japanese text depicting Inferno Overdrive's names are edited out in the dub.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		火焰對戰！嘎啦嘎啦現身！！
Danish		Kronen på værket!
Dutch		Een kroon op het moment van de waarheid!
Finnish		Kaiken kruunaava totuuden hetki!
European French		Une précieuse couronne en balade !
German		Der krönende Moment der Wahrheit!
Italian		Il coronamento di un sogno!
Norwegian		Kronen på verket!
Brazilian Portuguese		A hora principal da verdade!
Latin American Spanish		¡La hora de la verdad suprema!
Swedish		En Kröning På Akala-Ön
Thai		การต่อสู้แห่งไฟ! การะการะปรากฏตัว!!

← SM033 : Big Sky, Small Fry!

Sun & Moon series

SM035 : Currying Favor and Flavor! →

This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.