XY002

← XY001 : Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!

XY series

XY003 : A Battle of Aerial Mobility! →

Lumiose City Pursuit!

XY002   EP801 メガシンカとプリズムタワー！ Mega Evolution and the Prism Tower!

First broadcast Japan October 17, 2013 United States October 19, 2013* January 25, 2014*

English themes Opening Pokémon Theme (Version XY) Ending

Japanese themes Opening Ｖ（ボルト） Ending Ｘ海峡Ｙ景色

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 冨岡淳広 Atsuhiro Tomioka Storyboard 末田宜史 Yoshifumi Sueda Assistant director 飯島正勝 Masakatsu Iijima Animation directors 堤舞 Mai Tsutsumi 志村泉 Izumi Shimura 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

Lumiose City Pursuit! (Japanese: メガシンカとプリズムタワー！ Mega Evolution and the Prism Tower!) is the second episode of the XY series, and the 801st episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on October 17, 2013 and aired in the United States as a sneak peek preview of the full series on October 19, 2013. It later debuted in sequence in the United States on January 25, 2014.

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

Blurb

As Serena trains with her mother to become a Rhyhorn racer—with little success or enthusiasm—Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie are in Lumiose City, racing to Professor Sycamore’s Pokémon Lab to get help for Froakie, who took a lot of damage during the battle with Team Rocket. The professor welcomes them and puts Froakie under the care of his assistant, Sophie, where he’s sure it will recover in no time. He explains to Ash and the others that Froakie is an unusual case—though it’s a Pokémon meant for new Trainers, it doesn’t always listen to them, and it’s been returned to the lab more than once. This shocks Ash, who admires the fearless Froakie for the way it saved Pikachu.

Sycamore also talks about his research on Pokémon Evolution, including a newly discovered phenomenon known as Mega Evolution, where even fully evolved Pokémon (like the friendly Garchomp that lives at the lab) can evolve again—and then return to their previous form. The science-minded Clemont is very intrigued…and so are Jessie, James, and Meowth, eavesdropping as usual. They decide to catch Garchomp and figure out how to make it Mega Evolve—but when they spring out of hiding and clamp a collar around Garchomp’s neck, it goes into a rampage, blasting them off immediately and crashing through the city until it ends up at the very top of Prism Tower.

Ash goes after it, determined to get the collar off. With the help of one of Clemont’s brilliant inventions, he gets into the tower through a back entrance and starts climbing, with Pikachu and Froakie on his shoulders. There’s a huge crowd at the base of the tower watching Ash’s courageous rescue—and a news crew broadcasting the whole thing on TV, where Serena and her mother are watching.

Struggling with its collar, Garchomp nearly steps off the edge of the tower, but Froakie acts fast and glues its feet to the building with some sticky Frubbles so it won’t fall. With Garchomp secured in place, Ash finally manages to get close to it, and a handy Iron Tail from Pikachu slices through the collar. The weary Garchomp is finally free!

Professor Sycamore thanks Ash for his bravery and gives him a new Pokédex for his journey. And it seems Ash will have a new friend to travel with, because as he turns to leave, Froakie blocks the way and presents Ash with its own Poké Ball. So, with Froakie on hand as his first Pokémon from the new region, Ash sets off on his journey in Kalos!

Plot

The scene opens to Serena riding a Rhyhorn with much difficulty. Her mother tells her that she's competed in Rhyhorn races everywhere and that she can do it as well. She also tells her to keep it up and to "be one with Rhyhorn." Serena is chucked off of Rhyhorn afterwards, and exclaims out loud that she hates the training.

The scene continues off from before when Froakie is rushed to Professor Sycamore's lab after a battle with Team Rocket. Ash is telling Froakie to hang in there, while Clemont is falling behind on the way. He assures them that he'll catch up to them momentarily. Bonnie remarks on how he is slow. Meanwhile, Team Rocket are in a tree regarding how humiliating it was losing. They see Ash and Bonnie running toward the Pokémon lab. They discuss stealing the Pokémon in the lab when Wobbuffet pops out and cause them to fall out of the tree. Ash and Bonnie enter the lab looking for Professor Sycamore. They call out to him, and he comes out yawning. He sees that the Froakie is injured and goes to help. He calls Sophie, his assistant, to help Froakie. Ash asks if Froakie's Trainer is on the way, but the Trainer said he is giving him up. Clemont walks in exhausted, and Bonnie criticizes him for being slow. Froakie is being healed in a pod while Ash and friends watch. Sycamore assures there is nothing to worry about as Sophie is best at her job. Sycamore introduces himself, as do Ash, Clemont, and Bonnie. Ash says he just got in the Kalos region from Pallet Town and is on a journey to become a Pokémon Master. Sycamore thanks Ash for saving Froakie, but Ash says that he saved them. Ash asks why Froakie's trainer gave him up. Sycamore explains that he refuses to listen to commands given in battle and that trainers from before returned him for doing so; Froakie has also been known to run away and return himself to the lab. Suddenly, a Garchomp appears to which she catches Ash's attention. Garchomp has a good personality as she cares about Froakie's health. Sycamore says she can thank the people who saved Froakie. Ash walks up to Garchomp to pet her and assures her that Froakie will be fine. Bonnie wants to pet Garchomp too, to which she does. Clemont brings up the subject on Pokémon evolution and that there are more Pokémon living in the lab. They go to see them, while Ash stays with Froakie. Ash walks up to Froakie and thanks him for saving them and that he's a great Pokémon.

The scene cuts to the garden where all of the Pokémon that live in Sycamore's lab are playing. Ash runs out to the garden. Clemont asks how Froakie is feeling and Ash replies that he's doing great. Bonnie remarks how amazing it is seeing all the Pokémon she hasn't seen before. Ash asks what type of Pokémon evolution Sycamore is talking about. He says that they have an additional stage, and that he is researching it. He's had many reports that different kinds of Pokémon that can evolve in a way called Mega Evolution. He says that it's still a mystery to how it works, but he believes that a strong bond and a special stone plays the role in Mega Evolution and that it returns to its previous form shortly after evolving. Meanwhile, Team Rocket are eavesdropping and are ready to snatch more Pokémon. They come in disguised as researchers to research Mega Evolution, to which surprises Sophie. Froakie wakes up from his rest and notices Team Rocket. Garchomp and another assistant walk in as well, as she will check with Sycamore. Team Rocket start whispering their plan, when Garchomp suspects something bad about them, as does Froakie. Meowth remembers that it is the same Froakie that blasted them off from before, so James says he shall feel the wrath of research. Jessie pushes Sophie back while James tosses it to Froakie, but Garchomp steps in, only to be latched to the collar. Garchomp's eyes start turning blue. Team Rocket aren't concerned; although she was not their target, she can mega-evolve. James begins to take the plan into action and tells Garchomp to come along. Garchomp starts struggling from the effects of the collar, when Froakie tries to jump in and get it off, but to no avail. Garchomp starts screaming in agony loud enough to alert Ash, Clemont, Bonnie, and Sycamore to check out what's happening. Garchomp starts unleashing a Hyper Beam and starts to wreck everything around the lobby. Team Rocket's plan is starting to backfire but they try anything they can. Ash and co. reach the lobby to find Garchomp struggling. Sycamore asks who they are, and Team Rocket introduce themselves. They are surprised that it's them again. Garchomp unleashes another Hyper Beam that sends Team Rocket blasting off. She unleashes another Hyper Beam at everyone in the lobby. Clemont notices the collar on her neck that is causing her strange behavior. Garchomp jumps out of the building and takes off in the city. Ash decides to go help Garchomp out, so does Froakie, Clemont, and Bonnie.

Garchomp is still firing random Hyper Beams, showing no signs that she's going to calm down. Officer Jenny is evacuating the area, and a news crew is filming Garchomp in a helicopter as she flies towards Prism Tower. After landing, she fires a Hyper Beam at the news helicopter, barely missing. Serena's mother, watching TV, tells Serena to watch TV as something unbelievable is happening, which only results in a retort from the angry Serena, who has plasters on her face from being thrown off Rhyhorn. She soon realises what exactly is happening when she sees the TV and is informed that it's real, not a movie as she previously believed.

Back in Lumiose City, Ash decides to go up on Prism Tower to get the collar off Garchomp's neck, knowing that she's in severe danger if she makes a misstep and falls off the tower. Although knowing that Ash will put himself in danger if he tries to approach Garchomp, Clemont agrees to help him get into the building by using the "Aipom arm" on his backpack. Ash is impressed by this invention. Ash, Pikachu and Froakie get in, but a stray Hyper Beam blocks the entrance, meaning Clemont and Bonnie are unable to help. Clemont tells Ash not to worry about him and Bonnie. Professor Sycamore arrives on the scene, apologising to Officer Jenny about the trouble Garchomp is causing, and asks where she is. Just then, someone notices a kid on the building, which Professor Sycamore immediately recognises as Ash, realising the serious danger he's in. Ash approaches Garchomp and tries to talk to her, but she fires a Hyper Beam at them. Clemont and Bonnie see the resulting explosion and start to worry about Ash's safety.

Ash continues to try to calm Garchomp down, as the news crew notices him on Prism Tower. Serena's mother wonders if the boy she's seeing on the screen is Garchomp's trainer, whilst Serena watches silently in amazement. Garchomp flies off towards the top of the tower, with Ash, Pikachu and Froakie following her on a ladder. Seeing this and impressed at Ash's bravery, Clemont and Bonnie decide to go up themselves, getting enough of the rubble out of the way to be able to get into the tower. Although Bonnie struggles to get over the rubble, Clemont helps her up. As Garchomp continues to fire Hyper Beams, Ash arrives, telling her that he's here to help. The news crew's reporter is amazed that he has climbed up to the top. As Garchomp continues to fire Hyper Beams, Pikachu prepares to use Thunderbolt, but Ash stops him, saying he doesn't want Pikachu to attack Garchomp, knowing that she can't help her behaviour. An exhausted Clemont emerges from inside the tower, with Bonnie telling him to pull himself together then informing him that Ash is on top of the tower. As Garchomp continues to fire Hyper Beams, Ash talks to her trying to calm her down, saying he knows it hurts and she's in a lot of pain. Garchomp, starting to come to her senses, screams in pain then walks backwards as she tries to get the collar off, getting dangerously close to the edge. Froakie throws Frubbles at her feet, preventing her from falling off the tower, and after one last Hyper Beam, Pikachu is able to destroy the collar with Iron Tail.

As Ash comforts Garchomp, the floor collapses under Pikachu's feet due to the reduced structural integrity, sending him hurtling down from the top of the tower. In a desperate attempt to save his best friend, Ash leaps off the tower after him, to the horror of everyone watching. Just as Ash has caught Pikachu, a fireball intercepts the two and breaks their fall. Ash immediately realizes that it's the Pokémon they saw at the airport. After a safe landing, it leaps away. Professor Sycamore, Clemont and Bonnie are relieved that Ash and Pikachu landed safely. After telling Sycamore that Garchomp is back to normal and being informed that Officer Jenny was about to get her and Froakie down, Ash asks about the Pokémon, after which point it reverts to its normal form; it's a Blaziken, or more specifically a Mega Blaziken. Ash and Pikachu thank Mega Blaziken for everything. Back home, Serena is relieved as well, after which point she recognizes Ash.

The next day, Professor Sycamore asks Ash, Clemont and Bonnie if they had a good sleep despite the mess Garchomp caused. Ash and Bonnie respond that they had a great sleep, whilst Clemont thanks him for everything. Ash's real journey is about to start, as Professor Sycamore gives Ash a Kalos Pokédex. As Ash prepares to go on his journey, Froakie throws Frubbles into his face to get his attention. He shoves a Poké Ball towards Ash, expressing his desire to go with him. As Ash holds the Poké Ball in his hand, Froakie presses the button and is caught. Ash does his normal pose for having caught a Pokémon, and shows the Poké Ball containing Froakie off to everyone around in celebration.

Meanwhile, Serena is giving Rhyhorn its breakfast. She tells it that she thinks something interesting is about to happen, and that it involves Ash.

Major events

• Ash meets Professor Sycamore.
• Ash, Clemont, Bonnie, and Team Rocket learn about Mega Evolution.
• Ash meets the Pokémon he saw at the airport and learns that it is a Mega Blaziken.
• Serena sees Ash on TV and recognizes him from when they were younger.
• Ash receives a new Pokédex from Professor Sycamore.
• Ash catches the Froakie he befriended.

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

Debuts

Humans

• Professor Sycamore
• Sophie
• Blaziken Mask

Characters

Humans

Pokémon Quiz

• Ash
• Serena
• Clemont
• Bonnie
• Jessie
• James
• Officer Jenny
• Professor Sycamore
• Grace
• Sophie
• Cosette
• Blaziken Mask
• Police officer
• Citizens
• Reporters

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Froakie (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Froakie (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Froakie (Ash's; new)
• Bunnelby (Clemont's, flashback)
• Garchomp (Professor Sycamore's)
• Rhyhorn (Grace's)
• Fletchling (Grace's)
• Blaziken (Blaziken Mask's, Mega Blaziken)
• Mawile
• Poochyena
• Wigglytuff
• Pidgey
• Combee
• Marill
• Helioptile
• Weedle
• Psyduck
• Azurill
• Linoone
• Caterpie
• Zigzagoon
• Fletchling
• Skitty
• Ampharos
• Roselia
• Kirlia
• Sandshrew
• Azumarill
• Furfrou
• Politoed
• Emolga
• Furret
• Slakoth
• Meowstic

Trivia

File:Title Card XY Ash.png

The title card segment focuses on Ash for this episode

• Professor Oak's Holo Caster: Pikachu*/Froakie*
• In addition to the United States, this episode aired as a sneak peek on October 19, 2013 in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.
  • Due to this fact, this episode is tied with the previous episode as the shortest gap between the airdates of the Japanese version and the English dub. However, both were aired as a sneak preview, not regular episodes, as the BW series hadn't completed its run outside Japan yet.
• This episode marks the first appearance of Officer Jenny in her design for the Kalos region.
• As of this episode, music from Meloetta's Moonlight Serenade is used in the anime.

Errors

• During one scene, Weedle's needle on its tail is completely light-brown.
• When Ash looks impressed after entering Sycamore's yard, the shadow on his hair is briefly colored black instead of dark cyan.
• During one scene when Bonnie was holding a Zigzagoon, Zigzagoon's hind legs are colored beige like its paws.

• 

  Weedle's needle error

• 

  Ash's hair error

• 

  Zigzagoon's hind legs error

Dub edits

• In the official debut of this episode's dub, a large portion of the original music is replaced with dub music. However, this was not the case in the preview airing, in which the episode used all of the original music.

In other languages

Language		Title
Dutch		Lumiose City in rep en roer!
European French		Poursuite à Illumis !
German		Verfolgungsjagd in Illumina City!
Italian		Un Inseguimento a Luminopoli!
European Spanish		¡Persecución en Ciudad Luminalia!

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← XY001 : Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!

XY series

XY003 : A Battle of Aerial Mobility! →

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