This episode is dedicated to the release of Sword and Shield.


Episode 109: Mad Dynamax

The Wild Area, Galar Region

A squat man wearing a white coat and oversized glasses observes a Charizard standing in front of him. Next to him stands the light-weight metal dragon Pokémon, Duraludon. In his hands, the man holds an unidentifiable device. He says, "Alright Charizard, it's time for our test to begin. Before long, we'll be making history. As you know, we'll need to prime the invention by performing a Gigantamax. Are you ready?"

The Charizard nods and gives a roar of affirmation.

The man nods. "Then let's do it." He recalls Charizard to its Pokéball, and a wristband he wears begins to glow. It's a Dynamax Band. Charizard's Pokéball begins to glow, and then suddenly grows several times in size. Using both hands, the man lobs the Pokéball as high up as he can. The over-sized Pokéball bursts open and in an intense burst of light, and an absolutely massive Charizard, at least 90 feet tall appears. But it's not just any Charizard. Fire burns around its neck and atop its head, and also replaces its wings. Dark crimson clouds swirl around its tail and head. Diamond-shaped patterns line its legs and belly. Overall, it appears fiercer and more menacing. It's a Gigantimaxed Charizard.

The man says with pride, "Perfect. Now we just need to gather the energy and send it to the receiver in Tenno."

With no visible cause, the man's Dynamax Band begins to spark erratically. The man leaps back in shock and casts aside the bracelet.

Charizard then roars, in what almost sounds like pain. The man looks up to see the pain-ridden face of his Pokémon. The ground begins to shake, and there's an intense flash of light. During this time, Charizard suddenly grows over three times in size, making it at least 300 feet tall. It roars again, this time not in pain, but in pure rage.

The man and his Duraludon step in fear. "Charizard?"

Charizard doesn't respond, but instead marches away, crushing trees and creating earthquakes as it steps.

"Charizard, stop!" It pays him no heed. The man shakes his head in distress and says to Duraludon, "This is not good…"


"Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" Pikachu leaps at a rock and cleaves it in two with its tail. Ash, Brock, and Brenda are on top of a hill on the outskirts of an oceanside city. Brock and Brenda watch as Ash and Pikachu train.

With Brenda's contest in Starnight City behind them, our heroes are now on their way to Penum City, home of Ash's next gym battle. So you can rest assured that Ash is wasting no time in getting ready for the new adventures ahead of him.

Ash next orders, "Alright, follow that up with a Thunderbolt!"

"Pikaaaa-!"

Pikachu is cut off by the sound of an explosion. Ash stares questioningly at Pikachu, seeming to think that it was the cause of the sound. Pikachu shakes its head and points to the source. At the base of the hill they're training on is a building with its roof blown off. A pillar of dark crimson smoke raises from the hole.

Brenda asks, "What just happened?"

Brock advises, "We'd better go see if we can help." Ash and Brenda nod in agreement, and they run down the hill.


Minutes later, they open the door to what looks to be a laboratory. It's full of various pieces of equipment and machinery. A large monitor is hung on the wall. Notably, the room is missing its roof. A man lies on the ground.

Ash and Brenda immediately run over to help him up. Ash says, "We saw the explosion, are you alright?"

The man, who can now be seen clearly, bears an uncanny resemblance to the man from Galar, though instead of short and round, he's overly tall and skinny. He even wears the same clothes and glasses. He groans in response, "It doesn't matter…come a few hours and none of us will be okay."

Brenda questions, "What does that mean?"

The man sulks across the room and stares at the screen on the wall. The display shows a map of Tenno and there's a large, blinking red dot off the coast of Tenno that slowly moves towards the mainland. A projected path shows it heading straight to their current location. "It means that I have doomed this city, and I can't do anything to stop it."

Brock suggests, "How about you back up and explain what's going on? Maybe we can help."

The man shakes his head. "It's hopeless. There's nothing you can do to help. In mere hours a gigantic Pokémon the size of a skyscraper will arrive here, and it will destroy everything in a blind rampage."

Brenda asks in disbelief, "A Pokémon the size of a skyscraper!? How is that possible?"

The man throws something at them. "That's how."

Ash catches it and gasps. "It's a Dynamax Band!"

Brenda questions, "A Dyna-what band?"

Ash explains, "Dynamax Band. In the Galar Region, using one of these allows you to Dynamax your Pokémon."

"And what exactly does Dynamax mean?"

Ash is about to answer, but can't come up with a good explanation. "Well, it's this process that makes your Pokémon grow super huge. Like massive in size. They were always so cool to see."

Brenda seems impressed. She also asks, "Have you been to Galar? You've never told us about that."

Ash nods. "Yeah, I visited the region a while back. Though, to tell the truth, I wasn't there quite much as I would have liked to be."

Brock points, "So it's true that a Dynamaxing can make a Pokémon grow bigger, but not as big as a skyscraper. Dynamaxed Pokémon range between 50 and 100 feet in size. Not to mention, Dynamaxing only works in certain locations in the Galar Region. There's no way a Dynamaxed Pokémon could be here."

The man responds, "That's the problem." He sighs, straightens up, and walks over to take the band. "This isn't just any Dynamax Band, it's a specialized prototype that I created. It remotely gathers the special energy in Galar that allows for Dynamaxing, and sends it to this band, hypothetically allowing one to perform a Dynamax anywhere in the world. But something went wrong on Galar side. The Dynamaxed Pokémon there went berserk and grew several times in size. It then promptly moved in a B-line for here, likely to find this band. Can you imagine what kind of damage a 300-foot Pokémon could cause?"

Ash suggests, "If it's being drawn to your band, then why not destroy it?"

The man is disconcerted by the suggestion. "No, no, no, no! You said you saw that explosion? That was the result of me attempting to discharge the band. Destroying the band would create an explosion a hundred times stronger."

Brenda says, "Then we have to warn everyone. They have to evacuate the city."

"Do you not think I tried already? They wouldn't listen. They called me crazy. 'Crazy Egon the mad scientist.' Nobody would believe me."

Ash steps forward and declares, "Well, we believe you. And we're going to help you."

The man, Egon, asks with disbelief, "You will?"

Brenda questions, "We will?"

Ash nods. "A Pokémon is a Pokémon, no matter the size. We can still beat it in a battle before it makes land, I'm certain of it." He looks to Egon. "Do you have any way we could get to it out in the ocean?"

Egon nods. "Yeah, I have a helicopter."

"Good we'll take that."

Egon seems renewed with energy. He calls, "Aegislash!"

An Aegislash floats into the room. But it's far from the usual Aegislash. Instead of a blade, its body is blade of what looks to be pure golden light. Similarly, the shield it carries looks to be a blue energy shield. The sword's hilt, while still metal, looks less like ornate steel, and more like advanced technology projecting the light blade. In contrast to the rest of its sleek technology, its cloth arms are made from a rough woven and plain brown cloth. Some of this material drapes over its head like a hood.

Ash says, "Woah, that doesn't look like any Aegislash I've ever seen." He quickly pulls out his Pokédex.

"Aegislash, Tennoan Form, the Light Sword Pokémon and a Light and Ghost Combo-Type. The solid light that forms its blade can slice through any conventional material, while the personal forcefield it holds can deflect any projectile. Evolves from Tennoan Doublade with use of Shiny Stone."

Ash exclaims, "No way! I didn't know there where Regional Variants in Tenno! How have I never heard of this before?"

Brock suggests, "I guess we've just happened to never encounter one before. It's not like they didn't exist before now or anything."

Egon says, "Aegislash, prep the helicopter, we're taking it out."

The Pokémon salutes. "Aegis!"


Egon's helicopter flies outwards over the ocean. Egon, flying the helicopter, says over the coms, "The Pokémon should be coming into sight at any moment."

Brenda suddenly points forwards, "There it is!" Ahead of them, the giant mutated Charizard can be seen wading through the ocean. Steam rises from the water around it. Brenda comments, "It doesn't look all that big."

Brock points out, "There's no sense of scale out here in the ocean, but that Pokémon is still far away. To see it from this distance, it must be massive."

Brenda slowly nods as she realizes her mistake and fully appreciates the size of the Charizard.

Ash tells Egon, "Take us in as close as you can. We'll attack from the air. Defeating the Pokémon should return it to its natural form."

Egon nods. "I'll get in as close as possible."

Minutes later, and they've made it near. Its size can now be fully appreciated.

Brenda comments, "Is that a Charizard? It doesn't look like one. I thought you said Dynamaxing only makes Pokémon bigger."

Ash explains, "Yeah, I guess this is actually a Gigantamax, which is pretty much the same thing, but it also transforms the Pokémon."

Egon adds, "A Gigantamax is a specialized variant of the Dynamax."

Ash pulls out a Pokéball. "Alright, if it's a Charizard, then we'd best use Water-Type attacks. Go, Dashilisk!" Dashilisk appears.

Brenda follows suit. "Let's go, Kappaqueous!"

Brock comments, "I don't have any Water-Types, but Rock should work too! Go, Meteorfight!"

Egon says, "Help them too, Aegislash."

The side of the helicopter unfolds open, and the Pokémon line up along the edge.

Egon announces, "Okay, I'm going in!" The helicopter dives in at Charizard.

Ash shouts, "Scald!"

Brenda adds, "Aqua Bomb!"

Brock orders, "Rock Blast!"

Egon shouts, "Photon Beam!"

The four Pokémon all attack. The blast and bomb of water, the barrage of rocks, and the beam of light all impact the massive Pokémon. All are very impressive attacks in their own right, and together they seem like they would stop anything in their tracks. The water hitting the super-heated skin of Charizard throws large amount of steam into the air, obscuring the Charizard.

Ash cheers, "Yeah! Direct hit!"

Brenda shouts, "That had to have done it!"

But then there's a deafening roar that pierces the ears. This roar dissipates the steam, revealing an unscathed Charizard. The attacks seem to have angered the Charizard even more than it already was. With one of its massive hands, it swats at the helicopter. The Pokémon is so big that its hand almost appears to move in slow motion.

Egon shouts, "Taking evasive action!" He swerves the helicopter away, managing to get out of the way.

Brock shouts, "We have to try a different approach!"

Thinking on his feet, Ash shouts, "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt on the water at Charizard's feet!"

"Pikaaaaa chuuuuuuu!" Pikachu electrocutes the water.

Egon exclaims, "Great thinking! The saline solution of the ocean will conduct the electricity!"

Charizard receives a shock, but once again, it seems to cause little, if any, harm. What it does do is further aggravate the goliath Pokémon. It roars even louder, then its mouth begins to glow as it gathers fire. With no more warning, Charizard attacks with a massive beam of intense fire.

Egon is barely able to roll the helicopter enough to the side to have the beam just barely skim it. However, it's not unscathed. Some smoke steams out from the side of the helicopter.

Egon shouts, "We've been hit! I don't know if we can stay in the air for much longer! I have to take us back!"

Ash objects, "But I'm sure we can hurt it! We can't give up!"

Brock points out, "Ash, we don't have any choice! If the helicopter goes down, we have no hope at fighting this thing!"

Ash reluctantly admits, "Fine."

Egon turns the helicopter around and they head for mainland.


Who's that Pokémon!?

When this Pokémon touches water, its body changes its pattern and color, allowing it to blend into its surroundings. It is a bit timid, and so if it gets nervous or embarrassed, it will secrete the water within its body like sweat and disappear into the surroundings.


Back in Egon's lab, Ash complains, "We have to get back out there! We can't let that thing make it to land! There's no doubt it will destroy everything!"

Brock suggests, "I think we need to face the fact that we can't do anything to hurt it. That thing's just too big."

Ash objects, "No, we were hurting it, why else would it have attacked us?"

Brenda suggests, "Maybe because we were becoming a mild nuisance."

Egon shakes his head. "It's all worthless. This city, if not all of Tenno, is doomed. That thing will destroy everything."

Brock asks, "Isn't Dynamax only supposed to last for a certain amount of time? Maybe Charizard will revert naturally."

Egon shakes his head. "We're far past that point already. If it was going to wear off, it would have. Whatever caused the extra growth and the rage seems to have also made the change lasting."

Ash asks, "How long do we have until it hits land?"

Egon glances at the map displaying Charizard's progress. "I'd say about an hour."

"So that means we've got less than an hour to come up with a plan. I refuse to give up."

There's a knock on the door. Brenda, who's closest to the door, goes to open. Upon seeing who's on the other side, she immediately shuts it.

Ash asks, "What was that? Who is it?"

Brenda responds with a hint of annoyance, "Trust me, you don't want to know."

There's another knock. A familiar voice shouts, "Ignore us if you like, but we're just going to keep on knocking until you hear what we have to say!"

Brock asks with surprise, "Is that…?"

Brenda groans and opens the door again. Not to lose their chance, Jessie, James, and Meowth quickly stroll in.

Ash demands, "Team Rocket, what are you doing here!?"

James quips, "Good to see you too, Twerp."

Meowth explains, "We couldn't help but overhear your predicament. And we think we have a solution."

Brenda objects, "Hey, how do you know about our problem?"

As if it were obvious, Jessie responds, "Well duh, we were spying on you. What else do you think we do with our free time?"

Brenda gives her a flabbergasted stare.

Brock asks skeptically, "So what exactly do you have as a solution?"

Meowth explains, "We may be enemies, but we suggest ceasefire so we can work together to stop this goliath Pokémon. As you know, we are experts at using technology to capture Pokémon."

James picks up, "We have the perfect technology to capture this Pokémon with little harm to it. Just give us the chance to set it up, and we'll do all the work for you."

Jessie concludes, "And once we've neutralized it, we'll hand it over to you to do whatever you need to in order turn it back to normal."

Ash asks skeptically, "And what exactly do you want in return?"

Meowth feigns hurt. "You insult us. Who says we want anything in return? Is it that unusual that we would simply want to save a city from utter destruction?"

Ash, Brock, and Brenda all stare skeptically without responding. They then turn to confer.

Egon asks, "Why shouldn't we trust them?"

Ash explains, "Let's just say they're the last people you want to trust and leave it at that."

Brock suggests, "Still, I think we might want to take them up on their offer."

Brenda objects, "Why? We know it's just a trick. They probably want a giant Charizard for themselves."

Brock nods. "Almost certainly, but still, we don't have many options right now. If they think they can capture it, then we have to let them try. We can deal with whatever their ulterior motives are later."

Ash doesn't look entirely convinced. "I guess you're right, but I just know we're asking for trouble."

James suddenly appears and buts in, "Make it double!"

Jessie continues, "To protect the world-"

Ash shouts with annoyance, "Not now! Please!" Team Rocket retreats back and pretends like nothing happened. Ash sighs and says, "Okay, set up your equipment. Let's see what you can do."


It's Sobble!


People run through the streets shouting in terror. An air raid siren sounds. Officer Jenny announces over a megaphone, "Please remain calm and evacuate in an orderly fashion! The giant Pokémon is not here yet, and there's still time!"

Though not much, it would seem. The giant Charizard can be seen wading through the ocean off-shore. Ash, Brock, Brenda, and Egon watch as Team Rocket sets up an array of machines. They look like some sort of projecting dishes.

Meowth explains, "Alright, we're already. Since the monster's been traveling in a straight line, we know that this is where it will come ashore. When it does, our machinery will project an escape-proof energy cage. That behemoth of a Pokémon will be ours." He pauses and corrects, "And by ours, I mean all of ours, not just Team Rocket's…" He chuckles nervously.

Ash skeptically responds, "Right… Just be ready. That thing will be in range any minute now."

And within minutes, it is coming up on the shore. James shouts, "It's in range! Fire up the projector array!"

Meowth shouts, "Here we go!" And slams his paw down on a button on a remote.

With this, the machines all come to life. The projector dishes begin to glow with a blue electricity. Seconds later, each dish sends out a beam of concentrated blue electricity. The beams all converge at a point above the titanic Charizard. From the convergence point, a net of energy cascades down around the Pokémon, completely encasing it within seconds.

Jessie proudly announces, "Capture complete. We have a successful containment."

Wobbuffet appears to cheer, "Wobbuffet!"

The Charizard seems unsure of what to do about the cage. It reaches forward, only to receive a strong shock upon touching the energy. It roars angrily.

Ash, sounding impressed, admits, "Wow, it's actually working. Team Rocket may have actually done it."

There's another deafening roar. The Charizard furiously swipes its claws at the cage. At first nothing happens, but then with a massive release of energy, the cage explodes. All at once, the projector dishes all explode and cease their output. The energy cage falls, and the Charizard continues its march.

Team Rocket collectively gulps. They only get more nervous when Charizard looks to them as if it knows they're the ones who tried to imprison it. It roars again, and then charges for an intense heat beam.

In a panic, Jessie grabs Wobbuffet and pushes it in front of her. "Be of use for once and protect me!"

Wobbuffet nervously panics, "Wobba!?"

Charizard attacks, leaving Wobbuffet no choice but to erect its Mirror Coat. Charizard's attack makes contact, and is partially reflected, but is just too massive for Wobbuffet to completely reflect. A massive explosion occurs as a result, and Team Rocket is flung into the air. They shout together, "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

With them gone, Charizard marches onto land unimpeded. And once it does, destruction immediately commences. Charizard swipes at a building, causing it to collapse.

Ash's eyes widen. "It's too late!"

Brenda shouts, "We need a new plan!"

Egon shake his head in despair. "There is no plan. We're doomed."

Ash refuses to accept this. He runs towards Charizard and stands unflinchingly in its path with arms held out. "Charizard! You have to stop! You'll destroy everything!"

Brock shouts, "Ash, don't! You'll be crushed!"

Ash quickly realizes this himself as Charizard's foot slowly moves to stomp on him. Ash's eyes widen. The foot is so big that there isn't time to escape.

Pikachu shouts, "Pika-pi!"

A voice orders, "Duraludon, use Steel Beam!" A massive silvery beam of intense energy blasts Charizard's foot from the side. This slows it for just long enough for Ash to escape.

Ash sees the source of the attack. The scientist from Galar and his Duraludon stand nearby. Ash shakes his head in disbelief. "Egon?"

Egon steps up next to the man who is identical in every way except height and weight. "Come on, he looks nothing like me."

Brenda asks, "What's going on?"

The man introduces himself. "I'm Randolf, Egon's twin brother. That's my Charizard that's rampaging. I was in Galar gathering Dynamax energy for our prototype when it went crazy."

Brenda eyes the Duraludon and decides to check its description. The Pokédex says, "Duraludon, the Alloy Pokémon, and Steel and Dragon Combo-Type. The metal composing Duraludon is of special interest to the aerospace industry, as it is both incredibly strong and light, perfect for rockets."

Brock interrupts the Pokédex, "We really don't have time for that right now, Brenda."

"Sorry." She pockets the Pokédex.

Egon says to his brother, "Please tell me you have a way to stop that thing."

Randolf contemplates his response. "Well… there is one possibility… but you're not going to like it."

Ash says, "We need any idea we can get! What is it?"

Randolf pulls out a Dynamax Band. "We use our prototype to Dynamax another Pokémon to battle Charizard with. It should be charged enough for one Dynamax."

Egon objects, "That could just cause two rampaging Pokémon! We can't risk that!"

Ash and Pikachu both look at each other, knowing exactly what the other is thinking. They nod in wordless agreement. Ash speaks up, "We'll do it."

Brenda asks in surprise, "What!?"

"We'll Dynamax Pikachu."

Brock objects, "But Ash, Pikachu may lose all control."

Ash nods. "We know. But if we have any chance of keeping control over a Dynamaxed Pokémon, it's going to be my bond with Pikachu."

Brock nods. "You're right. If anyone can do it, it's you."

Egon hands the band to Ash. "Are you absolutely certain?"

Ash nods. "Yes."

Brenda shakes her head in disbelief. "Let me get this straight. In order to stop one giant Pokémon from rampaging and destroying the city, we're going to unleash another? How is that smart!?"

Ash simply responds, "Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. Trust me, Pikachu will be able to keep control."

Brenda appears weary, but she nods, ultimately trusting Ash.

Randolf asks, "Okay, do you know what to do?"

"Yeah, we do." He puts the band on his wrist. "You ready Pikachu?"

"Chu."

"Okay, let's do it!" In an unprecedented move, Ash pulls out Pikachu's Pokéball, complete with lightning bolt mark, and recalls Pikachu to it. He activates the Dynamax Band and Pikachu's Pokéball begins to glow. It then grows several times in size, and Ash hurls it upwards. The Ball explodes as a gigantic Pikachu emerges. But it's not just a giant Pikachu, Pikachu has changed form, becoming chubbier in shape. Its tail grows much longer and glows with electricity. Like Charizard before it, it begins at a more manageable size of around seventy feet, but then suddenly grows several times its size to match Charizard's.

Egon says with surprise an awe, "That's not just a Dynamax! Ash just Gigantimaxed his Pikachu!"

Everyone flinches when Pikachu cries in anger. "Chuuuuuuu!" It then goes on a blind rampage, destroying a nearby building with its tail. There are now two giant Pokémon destroying the city.

Ash shouts, "I need to get up to eye level with Pikachu, now!"

Randolf pulls out a Pokéball. "Use this!" From the Pokéball, he sends out the raven Pokémon, Corviknight.

Ash runs over to it and jumps on its back. "Corviknight, bring me up to Pikachu!"

Corviknight takes flight, up towards Pikachu's face.

Pikachu, seeing the incoming Pokémon, unleashes a massive burst of electricity. Corviknight manages to bank to the side to just barely dodge the attack. It then flies straight at Pikachu.

Ash shouts, "Pikachu! You have to remember!" Pikachu seems to not be listening and moves its arm to swipe Ash away. "Pikachu! We need to save this city! We need to stop Charizard! Please! Remember me! It's Ash! Your best friend!"

Pikachu's eyes suddenly widen. Ash has broken through. It stops its attack, and instead moves to pick up Ash. It pinches the back of his shirt, lifts him up by it, and sets him down on its shoulders. It greets in a booming, "Pika-pi!"

Ash looks at it and grins. "Well, this is a fun reversal. Never thought I would sit on your shoulder. Now come on! Let's stop Charizard!"

"Pikaaaaaaa!"

Before long, Pikachu has positioned itself in the way of Charizard. Charizard notices it for the first time, and roars in challenge.

Pikachu shouts back, "Chuuuuuuu!"

Ash suggests, "Alright Pikachu, let's give it a shock it won't forget!"

"Pikaaaaaa chuuuuuuu!" Pikachu unleashes an intense burst of electricity from its tail sent straight at Charizard.

Charizard raises its arms to block the attack. This pushes the giant Pokémon back several blocks, creating skid marks in streets as it slides back. It roars in anger and retaliates with an intense heat beam.

Pikachu manages to raise its oversized tail in front of it to block the beam. It manages to do so, but once it lowers the tail, it finds the giant Charizard upon it, spinning to club Pikachu with its own tail. Pikachu has no chance to guard and is sent flying backwards.

Ash and Pikachu slam into building behind them, causing it to come collapsing down. As Pikachu gets up, Ash notices a long metal I-beam on one side of Pikachu, and a mostly intact roof on the other side. Pikachu notices them too. Ash asks, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Pikachu nods. "Chu." It then picks up the two objects and electrifies them to wield them as a sword and shield. With its new weapons, Pikachu runs at Charizard and swings its makeshift sword at the Charizard, smashing the electrified I-beam at its side.

Charizard attempts to retaliate with a swipe of its arm, but Pikachu raises its roof-shield to block. From behind its shield, Pikachu jabs its sword at Charizard, forcing it back.

Charizard attacks with another heat beam. Pikachu raises its sword and uses it to slice through the beam, splitting it in half. This works temporarily, but then Charizard raises the heat and melts through the beam. Pikachu quickly raises its shield to block with instead, but the shield is quickly overwhelmed as well. The suddenness of this failure sends the giant Pikachu flying into another building and collapsing it as well.

Atop Corviknight, Brock and Brenda fly towards Ash. Brock shouts, "Ash, this battle is causing too much damage! You have to get Pikachu and Charizard to finish this fight in the ocean!"

Ash nods. "We'll do that!" He looks to Pikachu and suggest, "Do anything it takes!"

Pikachu charges forward and with all its might pushes at Charizard. This catches Charizard off guard, and forces it backwards.

Ash suggests, "How about we give it a power-packed punch?"

Pikachu electrifies its first and delivers a ground-shaking punch. This forces Charizard the rest of the way back into the bay. Pikachu follows it into the water.

Charizard gets back up and readies itself for battle again. It roars with rage and unleashes a heat beam.

Pikachu readies an equally intense beam of electricity to counter. The two beams meet midway between them. It becomes a battle of endurance as both giants fight to overpower the other's beam. After several seconds of this, the collision point reaches a critical mass and explodes in a powerful shockwave. Even from the ocean, this shockwave causes windows across the city to shatter.

From Corviknight, Brenda reprimands, "Ash! Minimize the damage!"

Slightly embarrassed, Ash nods. "Yeah. Pikachu, let's keep it close quarters!"

Pikachu stomps forward to tackle Charizard. Charizard, not to be taken by surprise again, charges at Pikachu likewise. The two collide, hands against each other, in an attempt to topple the other.

They struggle to overpower each other, neither giving an inch, or rather a meter, at first. But then, Pikachu slowly begins to give and slides backwards.

Brock advises, "Ash! Pikachu can't beat Charizard in match of pure strength! You have to try something else!"

Without looking to Brock, Ash shouts back, "Don't worry, we've got it covered! Charizard is in for a shock!"

At these words, Pikachu raises its tail and taps it up against Charizard side. Then, using its tail as a conduit, sends an intense surge of electricity straight into Charizard.

Charizard roars in pain as it stumbles backwards.

Ash grins and declares, "Okay Pikachu, we've got it right where we want it! Let's finish this off! G-Max Volt Crash!"

"Pikaaaaaaaa…" Pikachu begins to gather massive amounts of electricity around its body. It then leaps up into the air and summons lets a titanic burst of electricity explode from its body and crash down on Charizard. "Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" Not only does this electricity hit Charizard directly, but the overflow of electricity pours into the water and is conducted back to Charizard.

Charizard roars an ear-piercing shriek and falls down on its front. Once it's down, it suddenly shrinks. First to the normal size of a Gigantamax Charizard, and then again down to the size of a regular Charizard.

Corviknight swoops down and Brock returns Charizard to Randolf's Pokéball. Brenda cheers, "You did it, Ash! That was amazing!"

Ash puts a hand to the side of Pikachu's head. "Great job, buddy. You pulled that off perfectly."

Pikachu responds with an awkwardly menacing, yet still cute, "Chu!"


Ash, Brock, Brenda, Egon, and Randolf have gathered on the shoreline. Pikachu has returned to its regular size, but its sits slouched against Ash's leg, apparently worn out from the fight.

Egon says, "Ash, we can't thank you enough. It was our mistake that nearly destroyed everything, and you saved it."

Ash chuckles as he looks around at the damaged city. There are collapsed buildings, crushed cars, spewing fire hydrants, and the only in-tact window in sight spontaneously shatters. "I'm afraid I didn't do enough."

Randolf shakes his head. "No, it may look bad on the surface, but this is nothing compared to what it would have been without you. Today you were this city's shield."

Egon points out, "And its sword."

Brock asks, "So what's next? Where does your research go from here?"

Egon answers, "I like to think that Dynamaxing anywhere is possible."

Knowing what he's going to say next, Randolf continues, "But until we know exactly what went wrong with this trial, it's too dangerous to try again."

Egon concludes, "But we will not give up. We will figure out what went wrong, and we will achieve our goal."

Randolf adds, "But for the foreseeable future, I think we'll be helping out with the rebuilding effort. It's the least we can do."

Ash says, "I wish we could stay to help."

Egon shakes his head. "No, you've already helped more than enough. Continue on your journey, and I promise you, if I ever perfect my prototype, you will be the first to know."

Ash grins. "That would be so cool. Bye!"

Egon and Randolf both bid, "Farewell!"

Ash, Brock, and Brenda set off as they wave back.

A great adventure of Dynamax proportions is upon us. Whether it's in the role of a sword or a shield, we will all play a part in it, just as our heroes did today. Let's all take a page from their book and move headlong into this new adventure! Let's all make the best of it, no matter what it might bring!

To Be Continued…