Original subtitles

NARRATOR After an eventful stay

in Iris' hometown the Village of Dragons

our heroes are now headed to Opelucid City

where Iris will battle Drayden

the Opelucid Gym Leader.

I never expected that Drayden would acknowledge me

the way he did

but he wants to battle me and I'll do my best!

I've got to.

Do your best. That's the spirit!

CILAN 'Take a look!'

- Huh? - Huh?

Opelucid City!

There it is!

I'm here once again.

♪ It's the next chapter

♪ The ultimate goal

♪ Ready for battle brave and bold ♪

♪ I know we're gonna make it ♪ I know we're gonna make it

♪ We will find a way ♪ We will find a way

♪ Oh-oh we've come so far

♪ We fought so hard to get where we are ♪

♪ Oh-oh we belong together

♪ It's always you and me ♪ It's always you and me

♪ Pokémon ♪ Pokémon ♪

ASH "Drayden versus Iris:

Past, Present and Future!"

Huh? Looks like they're wearing some kind of uniform.

They are! They're students.

Students? From where?

[CURIOUS]

Opelucid Academy

where students learn all about Pokémon types.

The curriculum here is super-intense.

I've heard that talented Trainers

from all over the Unova region attend here.

A great reputation.

They're number one. Of course, they should be.

Drayden's the academy president

and personally invites every Trainer to come here.

Wait, you're saying Drayden's the academy president

and Gym Leader, too?

Amazing, right?

And he challenged you! [AGREEMENT]

- Huh. - Huh?

Come on, Iris, stay calm.

Find your happy place.

[AGREEMENT]

- Something wrong? - There sure is!

- I can't battle him! - Huh?

- Iris, wait! - Iris?

[CONCERNED]

You'd better hang on tight, Axew!

[PANIC]

[grunting]

[WORRIED]

[panting]

Man, is Iris fast! Where'd she go?

[WORRIED]

- Huh? - Hm.

- Huh? - Hm?

I heard someone's doing something really dangerous!

Yeah, and I hear it's a girl! [gasping]

[exhales sharply]

You see? The air's much fresher up here.

[AGREEMENT]

[wind howling]

I'm fine! Okay.

OFFICER JENNY 'You are not allowed

to be up there' without proper authorization!

- Come down here at once! - Uh..

- Huh? - You could get hurt, Iris!

[WORRIED] Iris? Not her again!

Yeah. Looks like I'm toast.

Okay! Be down in a jiff!

[AGREEMENT]

How many times do I have to tell you

climbing that tower is dangerous? Listen!

What would've happened if you'd fallen off?

'Are you listening to me?'

Sure! Of course I'm listening!

[AGREEMENT]

Alright, don't ever do that again.

Understand?

CILAN/ASH/IRIS Yes.

- Iris? - Huh?

- I knew it had to be you! - Ah!

It's Martha!

'Did you go to school here, Iris?'

Yup, and Martha was my dorm advisor.

She took really good care of all the girls in the dorm.

Martha's the best!

Iris was the most troublesome student

this academy has ever seen. Oh, the memories!

Have any of you had lunch yet?

You should eat before you go over to the Gym.

How did you know I'm going to the Gym?

Simple.

Somebody told me you'd probably be arriving today.

- Huh? - 'It's Drayden.'

I heard what happened. Did you calm down?

- I'm fine. Thank you. - I suggest you have lunch.

Then I'll come get you after my meeting.

I always feel like he sees right through me.

I'll never feel comfortable around him.

MARTHA 'Here you go. Eat hearty.'

Oh, boy! You remembered my favorite dish!

- Of course, dear. - This really takes me back.

Eating this used to cheer me up when I was down.

Thank you so much!

[chomping]

Wow! It's as good as before!

[AGREEMENT]

So what were you studying when you went here, anyway?

Huh?

Bet you were studying about Dragon-type Pokémon, right?

[CURIOUS]

Huh.

To tell the truth

I don't like to think about those days and the bad memories.

Remember I told you how I battled Drayden before and lost?

That was the battle with Excadrill, right?

CILAN Then Excadrill

became unresponsive.

IRIS Yeah.

After our battle, the Village Elder came to me.

She had a suggestion.

- Go to Drayden's school? - That's right.

At Opelucid Academy, you'll learn practical skills

and gain specialized knowledge about Dragon-type Pokémon.

That sounds really cool, Elder.

Yay! I wanna go!

So I left the Village of Dragons

and enrolled in all the Dragon-type courses

offered at the academy, but there was a problem.

I'd never even seen a textbook before

and I had no idea how to study or anything.

Fitting in was really tough.

[chuckling] Huh?

Come on, guys, why don't you come in and play?

Huh?

No one here had fun

or played like the kids in the Village of Dragons.

- Here, for you! - Ah!

- Sorry, but we have to study. - Sorry, but we have to study.

[laughing] Huh?

Everybody was so busy all the time

I couldn't make any friends.

They were only trying to fit in the way they knew how.

All students live together here in this dormitory.

The students don't use their own Pokémon in class.

They use the academy's.

That's why they seemed standoffish.

They were trying to adjust to that.

Yeah, but students need to have fun.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

Right. Learning, competing and playing together.

They're the spices of life, and without spice

the school experience would be tasteless and bland.

So that's basically what happened.

I got so lonely, I stopped eating!

I thought if I made this, it would cheer her up.

Yeah, and that's exactly what this yummy dish did!

[chomping] It's so good!

[chomping]

Uh, uh, uh..

Right here! This used to be my dorm room!

It happens to be empty right now.

Ah..

Mm..

Iris was the only student here

who ever drew on the walls.

- I'm sorry, Martha. - I see.

They're from the Village of Dragons!

And out there, that's the tower!

PIKACHU [EXCITED]

Right. It's a great view from here.

Thanks to Martha, I started eating again

but I was still really lonely.

There!

[sniffs]

Smells like the Village of Dragons.

Wonder how everyone is doing.

I thought to myself

maybe if I climbed up to the top of the tower

I'd be able to see home.

Mm, the air's so fresh

just like the air in the Village of Dragons. Ah..

But no matter how hard I tried

I couldn't see home.

The climbing incident was a first for the academy.

Everyone, including President Drayden himself was stunned!

Officer Jenny gave me a real good scolding.

Although, I kept climbing up there

without anyone knowing about it.

The fresh air reminded you of home

and that calmed you down!

That's why you climbed the tower before.

[AGREEMENT]

I never fit in here.

I knew that all along

but I did the best I could.

I tried really, really hard.

And then one day..

Alright! Battle begin!

Ready, Fraxure?

[AGREEMENT]

Something happened during that Pokémon battle class

that changed everything.

GROUP Who's that Pokémon?

GROUP It's Haxorus!

[EXERTION]

Now, Fraxure, use Dual Chop!

[DUAL CHOP MOVE]

Dodge it, Altaria! [DODGING]

No, you don't! Use Dragon Claw!

[DRAGON CLAW MOVE]

Dodge it!

Now keep attacking till you land something!

[ATTACK]

Great job, Altaria!

[TIRED]

You can't stop! Keep attacking!

[STRUGGLING]

Use Mist! [MIST MOVE]

[SHOCKED]

[CONFUSED]

Charge and attack, quick!

[DETERMINED] Use Dragon Breath!

[DRAGON BREATH MOVE]

[screaming]

Huh? Huh?

[PAINED]

TEACHER 'Fraxure is unable to battle.

Altaria wins!'

Are you okay? Tell me you're alright.

[TIRED]

Huh?

You failed to see Fraxure's exhaustion

and you kept commanding it to attack.

That's why you were defeated.

Ah..

Pokémon aren't always able to do whatever you want them to do.

'Until you learn this, you have a long way to go.'

IRIS I wasn't trying

to communicate with Fraxure.

I just kept giving it command after command.

I wanted to be as good as everyone else.

I was falling behind

so I needed to catch up as fast as I could.

I felt so anxious.

I can't do this anymore.

[sobbing] Huh?

Huh?

Shannon!

Now, of course, they weren't there

but it was like everyone back home was with me.

So that's when you went back? Home, I mean?

[CURIOUS]

Mm-hmm.

The Elder understood why I came home.

I lived in the Village of Dragons for a while

and then left on my journey with Axew.

[EXCITED]

IRIS 'Fraxure!'

So good to see you!

[HAPPY]

Listen, do you remember when we battled together in class?

[AGREEMENT]

I'm sorry I didn't understand how you were feeling.

I was wrong.

[HAPPY]

[RELIEVED]

- Ah.. - Isn't that touching?

Iris and Fraxure's hearts have blended.

Yeah. [AGREEMENT]

Fraxure, I'm going to battle Drayden very soon

and I'm going to use everything I learned from our battle.

[HAPPY]

Really? You're going to cheer me on?

- Thanks, Fraxure! - Sorry for the delay.

- Huh? - Shall we get started?

Sure.

REFEREE 'The battle between Iris'

and Drayden, the Opelucid Gym Leader will now begin!

Trainers are allowed to use two Pokémon each

'and the battle will be over'

'when both Pokémon on either side'

'are unable to continue!'

Alright. Go!

[APPEARING]

[PROUD]

[CONCERNED]

Haxorus. Then I know who I'm gonna use!

Excadrill!

[APPEARING]

[EXERTION]

I remember Excadrill.

Now, what kind of battle will you present to me this time?

Alright, begin!

Excadrill, Metal Claw!

[METAL CLAW MOVE]

Haxorus, block it!

[DETERMINED]

- Hmph! - Hm.

It appears Excadrill has gotten much stronger.

- 'What is your next move?' - Hm.

The same move as last time, but now we're gonna win!

Okay, Excadrill, use Dig!

[AGREEMENT]/[DIG MOVE]

HAXORUS/EXCADRILL [CURIOUS]/[EXERTION]

Dodge and use Rock Smash!

[EXERTION]

[ROCK SMASH MOVE]

Use Focus Blast!

[FOCUS BLAST MOVE]

[PAINED]

Huh?

That's showing them how much stronger we are!

[PROUD] Use Drill Run!

[DRILL RUN MOVE] Giga Impact!

[GIGA IMPACT MOVE]

[PAINED]

[PAINED]

Excadrill!

[CONCERNED] [gasping]

REFEREE 'Haxorus and Excadrill'

'are both unable to battle.'

You were great, Excadrill.

Get a good rest.

Your battle strategy has made me reaffirm

that I indeed judged you correctly.

The wait is over! Druddigon!

[APPEARING]

[EXERTION]

Druddigon? Who's Iris gonna use?

Dragonite, let's go!

[APPEARING]

[EXERTION]

Excellent choice!

Those two heavyweight Pokémon

should cook up a spicy-hot battle.

[EXCITED]

[EXERTION]

[thinking] I see. Fascinating. Hm.

Dragonite's led quite an interesting life.

[thinking] Druddigon can't fly

so attacking it from above would be more effective, but..

[STARTLED]

Huh?

Of course. Dragonite wouldn't wanna do that.

- Hm? - Here we go!

Dragonite, Thunder Punch!

[THUNDER PUNCH MOVE]

Druddigon, block it!

[EXERTION]

Use Dragon Claw!

[DRAGON CLAW MOVE] [PAINED]

Why didn't it fly? It could've dodged that!

[CONCERNED] Since Druddigon can't fly

Dragonite wants to keep it even.

'Iris is going along with Dragonite's wishes.'

Druddigon, use Flash Cannon!

[FLASH CANNON MOVE]

Flamethrower!

[FLAMETHROWER MOVE]

[EXERTION]

Yeah! Now Thunder Punch!

[THUNDER PUNCH MOVE] Use Double Team!

[DOUBLE TEAM MOVE]

[EXERTION]

Just relax! Only one is real!

[CONFUSED]/[FOCUSED]

[ANNOYED]

[thinking] Concentrate.

There's only one Druddigon.

That one!

[ATTACK]

Alright!

Keep up the pressure! Ice Beam!

[ICE BEAM MOVE] Ice Beam is super effective!

And even Drayden's Druddigon

won't be able to withstand those back-to-back attacks!

She could beat him, the Dragon Master!

[ICE BEAM MOVE]

Block it!

[EXERTION]

[EXERTION] Oh, no!

It just shook off that Ice Beam!

Ah..

Mm. Dragonite, Dragon Rush!

[DRAGON RUSH MOVE]

[thinking] I don't care

how strong Druddigon is.

It can't take this Dragon-type move.

[DRAGON RUSH MOVE]

Druddigon, counter it now!

[DETERMINED]

[PAINED]

- No! - Ah!

[CONCERNED] Now use Dragon Tail.

[DRAGON TAIL MOVE] [PAINED]

[ATTACK]

[PAINED]

[PAINED]

Dragonite's unable to battle! Druddigon wins!

'So the victor is Drayden, the Opelucid Gym Leader!'

Dragonite, are you okay?

[CONCERNED] [TIRED]

You were awesome. Thanks, Dragonite.

Iris, that was some battle.

Drayden's a powerful Gym Leader, isn't he?

[IMPRESSED]

We thought you had Drayden cornered

but I guess that we were all wrong.

I'll bet he wanted to see your potential

by bringing out the strength in both of you.

[footsteps approaching]

- Huh? - Huh?

You've obviously made good friends.

Your journey was the right choice.

Huh?

There's no doubt that you've grown a lot

but you mustn't stop there.

Continue training, become even more powerful.

And as you do, I hope you'll come back and visit.

Drayden.

[AMAZED]

MARTHA 'The one who recommended'

'you go on a journey in the first place'

'was President Drayden.'

Are you serious?

Hm, he visited the Village of Dragons

and met with the Elder.

I regret

my academy isn't able to help cultivate her talent.

Perhaps she should learn at her own pace

with the world as her school.

You mean, let real life be her guide?

Yes. I see.

There is much wisdom in your words.

A journey will allow Iris

to experience what truly awaits her

a future as a Dragon Master.

I understand.

Grooming her to be worthy

worthy of one day inheriting the position

of Opelucid Gym Leader.

- 'Correct?' - Hm.

You're kidding me!

Me, the Opelucid Gym Leader?

Iris, that is so cool!

Delightfully delicious!

An amazingly sweet opportunity!

[EXCITED]

Wait just a sec.

I feel like I've just been hit in the head

with a ton of bricks!

How do I deal with this? It's weird.

"Let her think it over and decide for herself

if she wants to become Gym Leader."

That's exactly what President Drayden said.

- Huh? - Yes.

The Village Elder, Drayden and I

we all have high hopes for you.

I see.

Then I'll do my best to live up to your expectations

but I think I'm gonna need some more time

before I make a decision that big!

Of course, dear.

You come back and visit us whenever you like.

- We'll be here. - Thank you.

[PLEASED]

[birds chirping]

- Can't let you get ahead. - Hm?

We'll just have to win the Unova League.

[AGREEMENT]

NARRATOR Drayden may have defeated

Iris once again

but her future looks brighter than ever.

Along with Iris' dreams of becoming a Dragon Master

Ash's dreams of winning the Unova League

lie waiting to come true in Vertress City

as the journey continues.

[theme music]