Battle on a Roller Coaster (Japanese: VS ゼブライカVS Zebraika), titled VS Zebstrika in the Shogakukan Asia translation, is the 484th chapter of the Pokémon Adventures manga, and the 24th chapter of the Black & White arc.
It is subtitled Zebstrika (Japanese: 回転Rotation) in the VIZ Media translation and Battle on a Roller Coaster in the Shogakukan Asia translation.
Plot
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Black arrives at the Nimbasa Gym, where he soon meets Elesa riding on the roller coaster. She explains to him how to use the floor buttons to change the ride's route, then takes off to meet him at the end. Black navigates the ride with Musha's help, eventually finding Elesa. He attempts to step onto her platform, but soon finds that the ride's safety harness has jammed, trapping him inside. Elesa suggests returning to battle on a different day, but Black refuses.
Elesa begins the fight by sending out her Zebstrika. Black sends Tula to face it, but before he can call out a move, he is whisked away by the ride. He attempts to have Tula hit Zebstrika with Electro Ball from afar, but the attack only increases the latter's Speed due to its Motor DriveAbility. Zebstrika then uses Flame Charge against Tula, rendering it unable to continue battling.
Black's next Pokémon is Nite, who chases Zebstrika with its impressive speed. Zebstrika uses Volt Switch to swap places with the Emolga in Elesa's party, catching Nite off guard. Nite attempts to strike Emolga, but its repeated use of Volt Switch renders this difficult. A well-timed Bulldoze from Nite manages to knock out Zebstrika, but Emolga remains an elusive opponent. Emolga attacks Nite, knocking it onto Black's roller coaster car.
Seeing Nite almost to the point of fainting, Elesa asks why Black has refrained from having Musha clear his thoughts. Black explains that he sees himself as a coach to his team of Pokémon, and that it would be irresponsible for a coach to beg his players for a strategy in the middle of a match. He tells Elesa that the battle is his own responsibility, impressing her.
Black pays close attention to his surroundings as he travels along the track of the roller coaster. Spotting Emolga, Black has Nite use the momentum of the ride to launch itself toward it. Nite slams Emolga to the ground, knocking it out and giving the victory to Black.
Elesa attempts to award Black with the Bolt Badge, but he is whisked away by the ride once more. He is taken outdoors, where he is immediately met with a heavy thunderstorm. Shielding himself from the rain, Black glances upward to see a one-horned being above him. It swings its tail at him, electrocuting him. When the ride takes Black back inside the Gym, he tells Elesa about the creature he had seen, leading her to realize it was Thundurus, a Legendary Pokémon of Unova.
Finally having received his fourth Gym badge, Black heads off to reunite with White.
