BW049

← BW048 : Battle For The Underground!

Best Wishes series

BW050 : Battle-Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym! →

Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader!

BW049   EP706 ジムリーダーはカリスマモデル！ カミツレ登場！！ The Gym Leader is a Charisma Model! Kamiture Appears!!

First broadcast Japan September 22, 2011 United States February 18, 2012

English themes Opening Rival Destinies Ending

Japanese themes Opening ベストウイッシュ！ Ending ポケモン言えるかな？ＢＷ

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 大橋志吉 Yukiyoshi Ōhashi Storyboard 金崎貴臣 Takaomi Kanasaki Assistant director 吉村文宏 Fumihiro Yoshimura Animation director 篠原隆 Takashi Shinohara No additional credits are available at this time.

Screenshots on Filb.de

Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader! (Japanese: ジムリーダーはカリスマモデル！ カミツレ登場！！ The Gym Leader is a Charisma Model! Kamiture Appears!!) is the 1st episode of the new series Pokémon Black & White: Rival Destinies, and the 706th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on September 22, 2011 and in the United States on February 18, 2012.

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

Synopsis

As Ash, Cilan and Iris depart from the Battle Subway, Ash is eager to finally challenge the gym leader of Nimbasa. As they arrive at the gym, Bianca runs in from out of nowhere and bumps into Ash sending him into a nearby fountain. Bianca has arrived to challenge the Gym Leader, a well-known model in Unova, Elesa. Unfortunately as they approach the doors to the gym, the doors don't open. A notice nearby says that Elesa is in a Fashion Show at the moment. Rather than just stand outside Ash, Cilan, Iris, and Bianca decide to go see her show. At the show Elesa struts down the runway in the latest Unova fashion. While everyone is amazed by her beauty, Elesa notices Pikachu and jumps down to see him. She gleefully looks at Pikachu stating it's the first time she's seen a real one in person. Ash and friends introduce themselves to her, and Bianca and Ash announce that they wish to battle her for the Bolt Badge, which Elesa accepts.

Ash and friends return to the Gym, now open. After riding a roller coaster to enter the gym battle field Elesa welcomes everyone. She decides to battle Bianca first since she reserved her battle beforehand. Elesa tells Bianca that someone has been waiting for her. As a pair of doors open, Bianca's father walks in, who came to Nimbasa to bring Bianca back home but Bianca doesn't want to go back yet. Her father tries to persuade her that her journey is way too dangerous but Bianca refuses to end her adventure now. Elesa suggests that Bianca should battle her to show how much she's grown since she started. However her father tells her that if she loses to Elesa, she must return home, which she accepts, much to Ash's surprise. Without any further delay, Elesa guides Bianca to the field while her father, Ash, Cilan, and Iris head to the sidelines to watch the battle. The Referee announces that the battle will be a three-on-three match.

Elesa sends out a Zebstrika. Bianca sends out her newest Pokémon, a Shelmet, which Ash promptly checks with his Pokédex. Bianca starts off the battle by having Shelmet use Acid, but Zebstrika dodges. Shelmet then fires multiple Energy Balls but Zebstrika's speed allows it to dodge all of them. Elesa commands Zebstrika to use Flame Charge which hits Shelmet. Zebstrika finishes Shelmet with a Double Kick. Bianca decides to send out Minccino. Minccino starts off with a DoubleSlap followed by Swift but Zebstrika evades. Zebstrika, once again, unleashes a Flame Charge which knocks Miniccino down. Miniccino stands back and uses Hyper Voice which manages to hit Zebstrika. However Zebstrika uses Flame Charge to escape and lands a Double Kick, knocking out Miniccino.

Down to her last Pokémon, Bianca sends out her Pignite. Pignite starts off with a Flamethrower but Zebstrika dodges then tries to attack Pignite with a Double Kick but Pignite dodges. Pignite uses a Flame Charge of his own which manages to knock Zebstrika down to the ground. Pignite follows up with a Flamethrower but Zebstrika uses its Flame Charge, cutting through the flames and knocking Pignite to the floor. Zebstrika tries to Double Kick, but Pignite dodges. Pignite jumps up and uses Heat Stamp, which manages to hit Zebstrika. Pignite uses Flamethrower again and Zebstrika counters it again with Flame Charge. Elesa decides to wrap up the match and has Zebstrika use Wild Charge which, after an explosive hit, knocks out Pignite. Bianca has lost the match.

Ash, Cilan, and Iris are saddened by the result, knowing that Bianca would have to return home now. Outside of the Gym, Bianca's father praises his daughter for doing her best, but still plans on taking her home. Bianca still doesn't want to go home despite the promise. Bianca calls out her Shelmet to make sure it's okay. Iris gives it some medicine. Elesa exits the gym and invites all of them to go to the Pokémon Center first to heal their Pokémon. After lunch, Bianca's father decides it's time to return home, but Ash tries to stand up for Bianca. Bianca's Father reminds him about the recent Pokémon thefts. Worried that such misfortunes may fall upon Bianca, he wants her to wait until she is a little older and a little calmer. Bianca's father begins to leave but Iris and Cilan tell Ash to challenge Bianca's Father to a Pokémon Battle. If he wins Bianca can continue to travel. However if Ash loses, he must return to Pallet Town. Despite the extreme wager, Ash accepts.

Elesa referees the match, making it a one-on-one battle. Bianca's Father admits that Ash has guts, then changes into his battle suit, revealing that in the past he was referred as the "Red Meteor" when he traveled as a trainer. He calls out his "Red Flash", a Zen Mode Darmanitan. Suddenly Oshawott pops out of his Poké Ball to battle which Ash happily agrees. Darmanitan disengages its Zen Mode and starts off the battle by using Flamethrower which hits Oshawott. Oshawott uses Water Gun but Darmanitan dodges. Oshawott tries to Tackle Darmanitan, but it counters with Fire Punch. Oshawott uses Razor Shell but Darmanitan dodges. Oshawott uses Aqua Jet and Darmanitan tries to counter with Fire Punch but Oshawott dodges and manages to hit Darmanitan. Darmanitan uses multiple Fire Punches which, after a few misses, manage to hit Oshawott. Oshawott is tired; Bianca doesn't want to see anymore. She tells Ash that he doesn't have to risk going back home to fight for her to continue traveling. Bianca's Father ask why Ash is fighting for her despite the huge risk. Ash tells him that Bianca is his friend. Ash, Iris, and Cilan tell him about all of the times they've crossed paths during their journeys. and how important she is to them now as their friend.

Bianca's father smiles and decides to wrap up the battle. He orders Darmanitan to use Flare Blitz while Ash has Oshawott use Aqua Jet. After the two attacks collide and the steam disperses, Darmanitan is standing just fine but Oshawott is knocked out. Ash loses the battle, which means he will return to Pallet Town. However during the battle Bianca's father seems to have had a change of heart and tells Ash that he doesn't need to return to Kanto. By battling Ash, Bianca's father remembers when he used to travel around. He encourages Ash to continue to grow stronger. Most importantly he approaches his daughter and tells her it's okay for her to continue on her journey through Unova as long as she has friends like Ash, Iris, and Cilan. Bianca promptly thanks her father and hugs him.

Bianca decides that she'll get stronger so she runs off to go to Desert Resort to train. She gives her last goodbyes before leaving the center. Iris notices that Bianca left her bag there, and Bianca's father grabs her bag and leaves to give it to her. Ash, Iris, and Cilan are all relieved that Bianca is able to travel. Elesa approaches Ash and promises to battle him tomorrow for her Gym Badge, which Ash looks forward to doing.

Major events

• Ash and his friends encounter Bianca and meet Elesa, Nimbasa Gym's Gym Leader.
• Bianca's father appears to take his daughter home with him.
• Bianca is revealed to have obtained a Shelmet.
• Bianca has a Gym battle with Elesa but loses.
• Ash has a battle with Bianca's father and loses.
• Bianca's father decides to allow her to keep traveling.

For a list of all major events in Pokémon the Series, please see the timeline page.

Debuts

• Elesa
• Bianca's father

Pokémon debuts

• Shelmet

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Iris
• Cilan
• Nurse Joy
• Elesa
• Bianca
• Bianca's father
• Female referee
• Elesa's fans

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?: Shelmet

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Axew (Iris's)
• Oshawott (Ash's)
• Zebstrika (Elesa's)
• Pignite (Bianca's)
• Minccino (Bianca's)
• Shelmet (Bianca's; debut)
• Darmanitan (Bianca's father's)

Trivia

• Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster: Archen
• It is revealed in this episode that Bianca's Pokémon were included in the ones that were stolen from the Pokémon Center by Team Rocket in the previous two episodes.

Errors

• During the final shot of Ash and Elesa, Elesa's black leggings are missing.
• In the dub, Ash uses Razor Shell's Japanese name, Shell Blade, during his battle with Bianca's father.

Dub edits

• In the scene where Elesa was modeling, a remixed version of Cheren's Theme was used, instead of the real version, which Burgh used.

In other languages

Language		Title
Mandarin Chinese		道館訓練家是超級模特兒！小菊兒登場！！

← BW048 : Battle For The Underground!

Best Wishes series

BW050 : Battle-Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym! →

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