Episode Number: 520 (JP) , 515 (US)
US Episode Name: Smells Like Team Spirit!
Jap Episode Name: Tag Battle! Final!!
タッグバトル！ファイナル!!
Events: Ash and Paul win the tag battle contest; Ash gets Paul's Chimchar; Paul's Elekid evolves into Electabuzz
Credit: --------------------
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Ash holds out his hand to Chimchar and urges Chimchar to stay with him. Ash wants to work as a team with Chimchar. Paul thinks it's a great idea since Ash and Chimchar are both pathetic in his opinion. Paul walks away, and Chimchar finally agrees to stay with Ash. Suddenly, a Bullet Seed appears from nowhere. When the dust clears, Team Rocket is seen in their balloon, and they have Chimchar locked in a robot arm. Team Rocket then says their motto. Ash demands for Chimchar back, but Team Rocket refuses because they want to use Chimchar to get the Soothe Bell. Chimchar begins to squirm, and it uses its Flamethrower on Team Rocket. Their balloon blows up, and Team Rocket blasts off again. Chimchar falls from the sky, and Ash manages to catch it just in time. Ash congratulates Chimchar for defeating Team Rocket. Then Ash takes out an empty Pokéball and shows it to Chimchar. Chimchar is happy that it will be Ash's Pokémon, so Ash places Chimchar inside the Pokéball. Then Ash and co. head to the Pokémon Center to speak with Professor Oak. Professor Oak is pleased to hear that Ash got a new Pokémon.
The third round of the tag battle tournament is about to begin. The first battle is between Ash and Paul and Brock and Holly. Holly reminds Brock not to hold back just because he's friends with Ash. Brock plans on giving it everything he's got. Ash sends out Staravia, Paul sends out Torterra, Brock sends out Croagunk, and Holly sends out Farfetch'd. Dawn looks up Farfetch'd in her Pokédex. Ash starts off by having his Staravia use Aerial Ace. Croagunk counters with Poison Jab. Farfetch'd then fires an Air Slash attack at Torterra, and Torterra counters with Hyper Beam. The Hyper Beam hits Farfetch'd, but it also hits Staravia. Farfetch'd gets knocked out by a single hit. Holly apologizes, but Brock thinks there is still hope. He orders Croagunk to use Brick Break on Torterra. Because Torterra has to recharge from the Hyper Beam, it can't attack, making it a perfect target for Croagunk. Ash orders Staravia to use Aerial Ace. Staravia flies behind Croagunk and then charges towards it with its Aerial Ace. Croagunk quickly slides under Torterra's body to avoid Staravia's attack. Then Croagunk directly hits Torterra with the Brick Break. Brock orders for a Poison Jab, but before Croagunk can attack, Torterra uses Leaf Storm. Torterra's attack is too much for Croagunk, and it ends up knocking Croagunk out. Ash and Paul are the winners.
Dawn and Conway have also won their third round match, so they will be competing in the finals, too. Meanwhile, at the Pokémon Center, Brock has just found out from Nurse Joy that Holly left. Holly said that she decided to train harder so that she can become a better tag battle partner next time. Brock is disappointed because a girl who liked him left. Nurse Joy tells Paul that Torterra has been healed. Paul thanks Nurse Joy, glares at Ash, and then leaves.
The tag battle finals between Ash and Paul and Dawn and Conway are about to begin. Ash sends out Chimchar, and Paul sends out Elekid. Dawn then sends out Buizel, and Conway sends out Heracross. Dawn looks up Heracross in her Pokédex. Chimchar starts the battle off with Flamethrower. Buizel counters with Aqua Jet, an attack that directly hits Chimchar. Elekid fires a Thunder at Buizel. Heracross manages to take the hit instead and delivers twice the power at Elekid with its Revenge attack. Ash tells Paul that they have to work together or else they will lose. Paul denies Ash's offer. So, Ash orders Chimchar to use Dig. Dawn is worried that Chimchar may pop out at any time. Conway tells Dawn that they have to battle Elekid first. Dawn agrees, so she orders Buizel to use Aqua Jet. Elekid uses Protect to protect itself from the Aqua Jet. Before Buizel hits Elekid, it jumps up, allowing Heracross to use Feint. Elekid's barrier is smashed, leaving it vulnerable to attacks. Heracross then attacks Elekid directly.
Buizel uses its Water Gun on Elekid, but suddenly Chimchar emerges from underground and attacks Buizel. Buizel gets hurt, but it counters with Aqua Jet. Chimchar recovers and uses Flamethrower. Buizel again counters with Water Gun. The two attacks collide into each other, resulting in an explosion. Elekid then uses Thunderpunch, but Heracross counters with Mega Horn. Elekid is weakened by the Mega Horn, making it mad. Suddenly, Elekid glows with a bright light, and it evolves into Electabuzz. Dawn looks up Electabuzz in her Pokédex. Paul orders Electabuzz to use Thunder. Electabuzz begins to store in electricity for the attack. Conway tells Dawn that they should attack first so that their opponents to get the upperhand. Heracross uses Mega Horn, and Buizel uses Water Gun. Chimchar dodges the Water Gun and hits Heracross with Flamethrower. When Electabuzz is ready, it unleashes a tremendous amount of power at Buizel. When the smoke clears, Buizel and Heracross are seen standing. However, they faint seconds later, unable to battle. Ash and Paul are the winners.
Ash congratulates Chimchar for winning the battle. Ash also tells Paul that his Electabuzz really helped a lot. Paul tells Ash that Chimchar should have been able to defeat Heracross in one hit. Ash doesn't care what Paul thinks because he knows that Chimchar did its best. The mayor of Hearthome City then presents Ash and Paul each with a Soothe Bell. Conway finds it interesting that the team that wasn't very fit was able to win the tournament. Ash and co. then head to the Pokémon Center to talk. Dawn is glad that Ash won. Suddenly, Paul approaches Ash, and he throws his Soothe Bell at him. Paul states that he has no need to keep the Soothe Bell. Then Paul walks away. Conway suggests that Ash and co. head off to Veilstone City for Ash's next gym. Ash agrees, and so that's where he plans on getting his third Sinnoh badge.
