XY069

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XY series

XY070 : Beyond the Rainbow! →

Defending the Homeland!

XY069   EP868 湿地帯の戦い！ヌメルゴン対フラージェス！！ Battle in the Wetlands! Numelgon VS Florges!!

First broadcast Japan April 23, 2015 United States June 27, 2015

English themes Opening Be a Hero Ending

Japanese themes Opening ゲッタバンバン Ending ガオガオ・オールスター

Credits Animation Team Kato Screenplay 藤田伸三 Shinzō Fujita Storyboard うえだしげる Shigeru Ueda Assistant director うえだしげる Shigeru Ueda Animation directors 緒方厚 Atsushi Ogata 酒井裕未 Hiromi Sakai 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

Defending the Homeland! (Japanese: 湿地帯の戦い！ヌメルゴン対フラージェス！！ Battle in the Wetlands! Numelgon VS Florges!!) is the 69th episode of the XY series, and the 868th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on April 23, 2015 and in the United States on June 27, 2015.

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

Blurb

Our heroes are on their way to Laverre City when a passerby recognizes Ash’s Goodra. He introduces himself as Keanan and explains that he’s the caretaker of the nearby wetlands where Goodra used to live when it was a Goomy. Ash and the others are excited to visit Goodra’s old home, but the Pokémon seems reluctant.

When they reach the wetlands, Keanan explains that some time ago, a feud broke out over a healing spring in the area. In the battle, Goomy was launched into the air, where it was carried along by a flock of Swanna until it eventually fell on Ash’s head! The Florges who started the whole thing now controls the wetlands along with its underlings, and Goodra’s old friends have gone into hiding.

With some encouragement from Ash, Goodra confronts Florges in an impressive battle. But just when it looks like Florges has been defeated, an attack from an unknown source knocks Goodra out! Later, the Team Rocket villains (who launched the attack) approach Florges with an offer to join forces. And as Ash keeps watch over a recovering Goodra, the villains grab Pikachu and Dedenne! Will he be able to get them back?

Plot

On their way to Laverre City, Ash and his friends stop for lunch. Chespin, as usual, is trying to steal Pancham's food, and the resulting scuffle results in Dedenne's food being spilled. However, Goodra steps in and shares its food with both Chespin and Dedenne, ending the conflict.

As the group prepares to leave, a man named Keanan and his Bellsprout come up and greet Goodra. Keanan explains that Goodra, when it was a Goomy, lived in the wetlands where he works as a warden. Although Goodra is apprehensive about visiting its homeland, it agrees to go along with everybody else to visit. While looking out over the wetlands, Keanan tells them how there is a special spring in the area that Goodra used to live near with its friends, but a group of other Pokémon came and began to try and take the spring by force. During the battle, a Blue Flower Florges sent Goomy flying, whereupon it landed on a Swanna's back and was subsequently dropped onto Ash's head. As the group sadly contemplates the story of what had happened, Goodra looks at the quiet wetlands and cries out, recalling the happy memories of its other friends.

Elsewhere in the wetlands, Goodra's friend Wooper hears its cry and tries to find Goodra. Wooper quickly follows the sound, and the two Pokémon are delighted to see each other again. Goodra's other friends, who followed Wooper, also come out to greet it. However, several Bug-type Pokémon also heard Goodra's cries and bring it to the attention of Florges, who is in the spring. As Goodra is showing its Dragon Pulse to its friends, a Swanna comes along and says something to the group, and all of the Pokémon follow Swanna. Although Ash wants to follow Goodra and the others, Keanan stops him, saying that matters between wild Pokémon need to stay between wild Pokémon, but eventually lets him and his friends follow Goodra as long as they stay out of any fights that get started. Goodra's other friends are being attacked by Florges and the other Bug-type Pokémon, but Goodra holds them at bay with its Bide attack. Rallying behind Goodra, the other Pokémon begin to put up a better fight against Florges's army.

Eventually, Florges comes down to have a battle with Goodra. Although Goodra is nervous at first, Ash reminds it that it is no longer the weak, frightened Goomy that it once was, and that it will be fine in the battle. After Petal Blizzard and Dragon Pulse cancel each other out, Florges uses Grassy Terrain, thus powering up its Grass-type moves. The powered up Solar Beam from Florges inflicts damage on all of Goodra's friends, putting Goodra on the defensive in order to take a super effective Moonblast for them. Very weak, Goodra almost gives in to Florges, but choice words of encouragement from Ash convince it to keep going. Goodra's newly learned Ice Beam attack then breaks through a second Moonblast and hits Florges, leaving Goodra as the winner of the battle. As everyone is celebrating Florges's defeat, however, a Shadow Ball and Psybeam attack come out of nowhere and hit Goodra. Simultaneously, a smoke-releasing device shrouds the entire area in a thick black fog that lifts to reveal the disappearance of Florges and the other Pokémon.

That evening, Keanan finishes treating Goodra as Pikachu, Dedenne, and Wooper look after it. Florges, meanwhile, is resting in the spring as Team Rocket explain their plan to defeat Goodra. It is also revealed that Florges has done all of this to protect her Floette. Listening to Team Rocket's advice, Florges orders an Ariados to kidnap Pikachu, Dedenne, and Wooper.

Major events

• Ash and his friends arrive at Goodra's homeland.
• Ash and his friends learn the full story behind the invasion of Goodra's homeland.
• Ash's Goodra learns Ice Beam.

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

Pokémon debuts

• Florges (Blue Flower)

TV episode debuts

• Floette (Blue Flower)

Characters

Humans

Pokémon Quiz

• Ash
• Serena
• Clemont
• Bonnie
• James
• Jessie
• Keanan

Pokémon

Who's That Pokémon?

Who's That Pokémon?: Wooper (US and international)
Pokémon Quiz: Florges (Blue Flower) (Japan)

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Wobbuffet (Jessie's)
• Dedenne (Clemont's)
• Fletchinder (Ash's)
• Hawlucha (Ash's)
• Goomy (Ash's; flashback)
• Goodra (Ash's)
• Bunnelby (Clemont's)
• Chespin (Clemont's)
• Luxray (Clemont's; flashback)
• Braixen (Serena's)
• Pancham (Serena's)
• Bellsprout (Keanan's)
• Wooper (multiple)
• Quagsire (multiple)
• Lotad (multiple)
• Gulpin (multiple)
• Swanna (multiple)
• Florges (Blue Flower; debut)
• Floette (Blue Flower)
• Pinsir (multiple)
• Ariados (multiple)
• Yanmega (multiple)
• Beedrill (multiple)
• Seviper (multiple)

Trivia

File:Title Card XY Pikachu V2.png

The title card segment focuses on Pikachu for this episode

• Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster: Mienfoo
• Ash and Florges narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

• Gulpin used Water Gun, a move that it cannot legally learn.
• When Bellsprout peeked its head out of the truck when it saw Goodra, its right eye developed a sclera.
• In the dub, during the flashback of Goomy being attacked by Florges, its Japanese voice can be heard while it is landing on a Swanna.

• 

  Bellsprout's eye error

Dub edits

File:Title Card XY Ash.png

The dub's title card with Serena's old design

• The title card segment focuses on Ash in the dub instead of Pikachu.

In other languages

Language		Title
Dutch		Het land van herkomst verdedigen!
German		Verteidigt die Heimat!
Greek		Όταν Υπερασπίζεσαι τον Τόπο Σου!
Italian		Difenderò la mia casa!
Polish		W obronie domu!
Brazilian Portuguese		Defendendo a Terra Natal!
Russian		Защищая родные места!
Spanish	Latin America	¡Defendiendo el hogar!
	Spain	¡Defendiendo la Tierra Natal!
Thai		การต่อสู้ในหนองน้ำ! นูเมลก้อน ปะทะ ฟลาเจส!!

← XY068 : Garchomp's Mega Bond!

XY series

XY070 : Beyond the Rainbow! →

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