A Grand Fight for Winning! (Japanese: 決着ライバル対決！ヒカリＶＳノゾミ！！Decisive Rival Showdown! Hikari VS Nozomi!!) is the 177th episode of Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, and the 643rd episode of the Pokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on May 20, 2010 and in the United States on October 9, 2010.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
The grand finale is under way at the Pokémon Contest Grand Festival, and it's sure to be an unforgettable battle! Just as they hoped, longtime friends and rivals Dawn and Zoey are facing off against each other for the title of Top Coordinator. And since each of them is using a Pokémon that the other has never battled against, the round promises to be full of surprises!
Zoey's Gallade and Glameow start off strongly, displaying Zoey's brilliant strategic mind. But the team of Dawn, Piplup, and Togekiss is formidable indeed, and as we near the end of the battle, both sides appear to be evenly matched.
Time is called while the battle is still in full swing, and the two are still neck-and-neck. When points are tabulated, Zoey's total barely edges out Dawn's, and so Zoey is declared Top Coordinator!
Dawn has learned a lot on her journey already and she takes losing in her stride, bidding farewell to Zoey. Then Ash learns that Volkner, Leader of the Sunyshore Gym, has invited Ash back for their Gym Battle. So our heroes set off for their next adventure, with a cheerful Dawn as part of the gang!
Plot
As Dawn and Zoey's impending Contest Battle in the finals of the Sinnoh Grand Festival is about to begin, Marian makes her announcement, and Dawn sends out Piplup and Togekiss, while Zoey sends out Glameow and Gallade, the evolved form of her Kirlia. Dawn tells Piplup and Togekiss to do their best, as they are going against Zoey, their strongest opponent yet. Dawn reflects on what Zoey said to her at the JubilifeContest about meeting in the final stage and how those words manifested into them facing each other now. Meanwhile, Zoey thinks about how Dawn has made it to the finals with her, with the title of Top Coordinator on the line, and hopes that both she and Dawn put their all into this battle. As Ash scans the recently evolved Gallade on his Pokédex, Brock notes that while this will be Dawn's first time battling the Blade Pokémon, it will also be Zoey's first time battling against Togekiss. Johanna, having arrived to cheer her daughter on, states that this makes the two even. Ash and Brock are surprised by her sudden appearance, but quickly make room for her. Ash is confused as to how Zoey and Dawn are even and Johanna explains that this is because neither of them know what Contest combinations the other's new Pokémon can pull off, therefore making them even.
Dawn starts by having Piplup jump on Togekiss's back before ordering Togekiss to fly up and use Aura Sphere, with Piplup firing a Bubble Beam that orbits around the sphere. Zoey has Glameow use Shadow Claw to cut the Aura Sphere in half and Gallade uses Psycho Cut to pop the bubbles created by Bubble Beam, creating a circular sparkling display. This causes Dawn, who is staring at the sparkles in a daze, to lose points while Fantina expresses her strong admiration of Zoey's performance. Togekiss flies towards Gallade and Glameow before flying up. While Zoey's Pokémon are distracted, Piplup prepares to use Hydro Pump, but Zoey has Glameow use Fake Out. Glameow leaps at Piplup, causing him to flinch, and then slams its paws together, sending Piplup flying. Dawn loses more points, now having three fourths of her full score. Brock remarks that Fake Out is a priority move that always causes its target to flinch, as seen when Glameow prevented Piplup from executing Hydro Pump. Piplup recovers and Zoey has Gallade use Vacuum Wave on Togekiss, who dodges it and counters with Air Slash. Gallade back-flips and dodges the attack as he and his Trainer look up at Togekiss, stunned by the Jubilee Pokémon's agility. With both Dawn and Zoey's sides having dodged each other's attacks, the two of them lose points.
Gallade fires a Signal Beam at Glameow's Iron Tail before the Catty Pokémon spins its steel-hard tail, causing the Signal Beam to become a vibrantly-colored spiral. Piplup responds with a Whirlpool, and Glameow flings the spiral Signal Beam at it. Togekiss shoots an Aura Sphere at the Whirlpool, causing it to glow like Aura Sphere. The two attacks collide and creates a beautiful fireworks display. Dawn and Zoey lose the same amount of points; Dawn is now at one half of her original score, and Zoey is at three fourths of hers. Gallade uses Swords Dance, increasing his attack power while Togekiss uses Safeguard while spinning, causing Zoey to lose points. Glameow charges at Togekiss with Shadow Claw, and Dawn wonders why Zoey would use an ineffectiveGhost-type move against a Normal type like Togekiss. Togekiss charges at Glameow with Sky Attack, and Gallade begins using Psycho Cut. Piplup retaliates by using Peck to clash with Gallade's Psycho Cut, creating a bright flash of light. In the ensuing flash, Glameow jumps past Togekiss and bounces on its tail to get onto her back. Once the light fades, Dawn wonders where Togekiss is, only to find her in the air, flying around in a panic trying to get Glameow off her back, causing Dawn to lose more points.
Johanna comments on Zoey's strategy: she says that Zoey intended to display Glameow's Shadow Claw and Gallade's Psycho Cut in a showy manner, which caught Dawn's attention while taking said attention away from Togekiss. Brock adds to this by saying that, in a Double Battle, it can be difficult for a Coordinator to be constantly managing both of their Pokémon as well as their opponent's, so the tactic of distracting the opposing Coordinator by focusing the latter's attention on just one of their Pokémon can be extremely effective. Ash tells Togekiss and Dawn to hang in there, but Togekiss has completely forgotten about the performance and is panicking, her lack of battle experience showing. Glameow fires a point-blank Thunderbolt, but Togekiss's Safeguard blocks it, surprising both Zoey and Glameow. Fantina comments how wonderful the Thunderbolt was, but praises the Safeguard even more. Dawn and Zoey both lose points, but Zoey loses a bit more, leaving her slightly under half and Dawn at a fourth of her original.
Dawn tells Piplup to help Togekiss and Zoey tells Gallade to block him. Gallade fires off a Vacuum Wave, but Piplup dodges it with his spin technique, forward flipping onto Gallade's head and into the air, much to Zoey's shock. Piplup uses Hydro Pump to knock Glameow off Togekiss's back and the Jubilee Pokémon zooms underneath Piplup and soars away with him. This causes Zoey to lose a significant amount of points, making her score almost equal to Dawn's. Gallade uses Psycho Cut, but Togekiss easily dodges it. Zoey has Gallade use Psycho Cut again to separate Dawn's Pokémon, and Togekiss flies straight up to dodge. However, the circular blades of psychic energy follow them, and Piplup can see them gaining speed. Before the attack can hit, Piplup shoves himself off Togekiss's back with his feet, pushing both of them clear as the attack flies past between them, but also separates them, just as Zoey wanted. Dawn gets anxious and has Piplup initiate Whirlpool as he falls, while Togekiss charges towards Gallade and Glameow before flying upward in an attempt to distract Zoey. Piplup fires the Whirlpool, but Glameow catches it with Iron Tail. Johanna attributes this stunning defense to Zoey having trained hard to know how to best utilize Glameow's tail. As Togekiss flies away with Piplup, Gallade disperses the Whirlpool with a Vacuum Wave, creating a beautiful sparkling effect, dropping Dawn to a fifth of her original score.
Determined not to lose, Dawn tells Piplup to use Peck and Togekiss to use Sky Attack. Togekiss glows and charges as Piplup hops on Togekiss's head and his beak glows and grows. Piplup's beak shines a gold light, causing the aura surrounding Togekiss to turn red and envelop the both of them, giving the two an appearance similar to that of a rocket flying through the air with fire trailing behind it. Fantina is amazed by the combination, and Zoey loses points, now being a mere few less than Dawn's. Zoey tells Gallade to use Psycho Cut and Glameow to use Thunderbolt. Gallade jumps and prepares to use Psycho Cut while Glameow lifts its tail up. As Gallade lands on Glameow's tail, Glameow uses Thunderbolt, which injures Gallade but gives his Psycho Cut an electric charge. The Blade Pokémon jumps up while Dawn becomes excited and cheers Togekiss and Piplup on. Gallade fires the electrified Psycho Cut attack, which collides with Togekiss and Piplup's Flying-type combination attack, causing a major explosion to erupt, along with a brilliant flash of light. Togekiss and Piplup are sent stumbling backwards and Gallade falls down. Zoey and Dawn try to stand on their feet as the sheer force of the explosion pushes them back. Togekiss and Piplup land on their feet while Gallade lands on the ground. As Dawn and Zoey both lose points, the smoke clears, and time runs out. Dawn and Zoey quickly look at the board, and it is revealed that while both only have very few points left, Zoey has very slightly more than Dawn, and as such, the former is declared the winner of the Sinnoh Grand Festival. Dawn looks disappointed as everyone cheers for Zoey. Ash, Brock, Johanna, and Pikachu are sad that Dawn lost. Gallade and Glameow hug Zoey while Dawn picks up Piplup. She congratulates Zoey for her win and tells Piplup and Togekiss they both did a great job. Dawn thinks to herself that even though she lost despite giving it her all, she is still okay.
In the stands, Jessie is furious that Dawn lost and decides to quit Contests, throwing away her Jessilina costume and stomping away as she decides to rededicate herself fully to Team Rocket and their mission of capturing Pikachu. Zoey is awarded the Ribbon Cup and the title of Top Coordinator as the Sinnoh Grand Festival comes to an end. Dawn finishes changing and comes out of the dressing room to find her proud mother waiting in the hallway with her friends. She hugs her, happy that she was there, as Ash and Brock applaud Dawn's performance. Thanking her friends for the kind words, Dawn gives Johanna back the Ribbon she gave her before her journey, saying she doesn't need it anymore, as she now has Ribbons of her own. Nurse Joy appears and informs Ash that she took a call from Volkner, informing him that the Sunyshore CityGym is fully repaired and he will be waiting for him. Ash becomes excited upon hearing this, knowing he will soon be battling for his final Badge, and vows to make that battle as amazing as the one that Dawn and Zoey had.
Dawn and Zoey meet outside, talking together as Nando comes out and congratulates the two on a fine battle before leaving. Zoey says she is going back to Snowpoint City, as Candice is going to be throwing a party in her honor, and tells Dawn that she is welcome to accompany her, but Dawn says she is going to stay with Ash and support him during the Sinnoh League. Zoey tells Dawn goodbye and leaves. Dawn sends out her team members and thanks them for all their hard work in the Grand Festival and for the performances that got her to the finals, before telling them that they'll do even better next time.
Both Zoey and Dawn used their first and their most recently obtained Pokémon; Zoey used her Glameow and her Gallade, while Dawn used her Piplup and her Togekiss.
The dub title is named after the song "It's a Grand Night for Singing" from the musical State Fair.
Errors
At the end of the last episode, when Marian is announcing Dawn and Zoey competing in the finals, there is a table with the Ribbon Cup right in front of her. In this episode, it is missing.
When Zoey's victory is shown on the scoreboard, Gallade's upper body is colored white on the screen. This was corrected on another scene, but wrong again when he appears a third time.
In the scene where Johanna talks to Ash and Brock near the beginning of the episode (after the opening theme), when Brock turns his head, an afterimage of his hair and shoulders can be seen.
Fake Out is used even though it is not the first move Glameow performed.
When Marian announces that only twenty seconds are left on the clock, there is a gap at the bottom where the background can be seen instead of her torso and arms.
When he turns to leave at the end of the episode, Nando can briefly be seen to have no eye underneath his hair.
Gallade's miscolored upper body
Gap at the bottom of the screen
Nando's missing eye
