XY036

Battles in the Sky! (Japanese: スカイバトル！？ルチャブル対ファイアロー！！ A Sky Battle!? VS !!) is the 36th episode of the, and the 835th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on July 24, 2014 and in the United States on September 20, 2014.

Blurb
Our heroes have arrived at the majestic Kalos Canyon, where they witness their first Sky Battle—a battle in midair between two flying Pokémon and their Trainers, who wear wing suits! After a quick lesson, Ash is ready to try it himself, and accepts a challenge from Moria and her Talonflame. Ash's Fletchling wants to battle, but Talonflame wants a tougher opponent: Hawlucha! So Fletchling is forced to sit out—along with Bonnie, who's told she's too small to participate.

Hawlucha is at a disadvantage, since it can glide but not truly fly. It puts up a good fight, but Talonflame defeats it—and then Talonflame finds itself trapped in a net attached to Team Rocket's balloon! But the villains didn't count on one thing: this time, the Twerps can fly! Fletchling pitches in to send them blasting off again.

Talonflame is impressed with Fletchling's heroism, and agrees to battle the small Pokémon. With Bonnie cheering all the way, Fletchling evolves into Fletchinder in the middle of battle, and Talonflame is defeated!

Plot
As and  are continuing their, they come across the famous Kalos Canyon. The group looks at the canyon in awe, admiring the very appearance of it. They decide to bring out their Pokémon for a break and Ash's new Hawlucha startles Fletchling. Ash introduces Hawlucha to the group, and almost everyone seemed excited to meet their new friend, with the exception of, who didn't seem as excited as everyone else since he already met and battled Hawlucha. Just as they are talking about the canyon, two Trainers in wing suits hover across the canyon, having what is identified as a Sky Battle between a Talonflame and a. One trainer's quickly gains the upper hand and defeats Skarmory. The group, Ash in particular, takes interest in the kind of battle in question. Just then, a man comes and asks if this is their first time in the canyon.

The instructor introduces them to Sky Battles, which are battles hosted in midair and involve flying Pokemon. He brings them to the facility in which wing suits can be obtained, and Ash,, and all obtain wing suits of their own, but  is unfortunately too small to receive a wing suit, much to her dismay. Serena tries to decide on staying with Bonnie to comfort her, but Bonnie thinks she is fine with to give her company. Just then, pops out of its Poké Ball to comfort Bonnie. Ash proceeds to send out his and. Ash, Serena, and Clemont begin to test their wing suits in an air room, while Bonnie jealously watches. All goes well for Ash and Serena, as well as Hawlucha and Fletchling, but Clemont has difficulty flying properly. While they are testing flight, the woman from before shows up and challenges Ash to a Sky Battle.

The woman identifies herself as Moria, who is with her Talonflame. The instructor then elaborates on how Moria is one of the instructors at the canyon Sky Battle facility. Moria explains that her previous opponent was weak, and proceeds to challenge Ash. Fletchling is eager to face Talonflame, but Talonflame rejects Fletchling, seeing it as weak and unworthy, much to Fletchling's dismay. However, Talonflame decides to face Hawlucha, to which Moria concurs, on the condition that if Hawlucha wins, then they will battle Fletchling. Ash accepts the challenge.

Meanwhile, Talonflame and Hawlucha battle, and Fletchling watches the battle carefully and observes Talonflame's movements while being comforted by Bonnie. However, since Hawlucha relied mostly on gliding rather than actual flight, it was at a disadvantage and ultimately lost the battle. Moria decides that she would not battle Fletchling. However, Bonnie asks that Fletchling battle, to which Ash concurs, but Moria is reluctant since Hawlucha had lost. Just then, Talonflame is captured in a net and cries for help. The thieves are ultimately revealed to be, and they proceed to attempt to escape with Talonflame as hostage. However, Ash, Serena, Moria, and the instructor give chase by flying with wing suits, to which Team Rocket thinks is unfair. As Ash, the instructor, and Moria proceed to try and break Talonflame free, Serena sends out and instructs her to use  which is a direct hit that sends the balloon crashing to the ground. As Ash and the others land, Team Rocket sends out and  to battle. Ash sends Fletchling to help out. Inkay starts with, but Fletchling stops it with and breaks Talonflame free with , which earns Talonflame's respect. Fletchling also proceeds in dodging Pumpkaboo's and scores a direct hit with. Inkay uses, but Talonflame dodges and use to finish off Team Rocket's Pokemon and sends them blasting off.

After this, Talonflame finally decides that it will battle Fletchling. Moria and Talonflame then battle Ash and Fletchling, and the two undergo a very tough battle. Meanwhile, Fletchling gets hit by a powerful Fire Blast and is consumed within the flame. Just when all seems lost, Fletchling evolves into and learns. Fletchinder then proceeds to use the move consecutively, and makes use of the speed boosts from the move to outpace Talonflame and score a final hit with Flame Charge, defeating Talonflame. Fletchinder then celebrates its victory with Ash and Bonnie.

Back at the Sky Battle center, the group proceeds to say its goodbyes to Moria and the instructor. The instructor suggests that Bonnie return to the Sky Battle center when she becomes taller, to which she agrees to. He also promises to prepare a wing suit for her. The group leaves, with Bonnie running excitedly.

Major events

 * learns about Sky Battles and has his first battle of this type.
 * Ash's evolves into  and learns.

Pokémon debuts

 * Ash's Fletchinder
 * Ash's Fletchinder

Humans

 * Jessie
 * James
 * Instructor
 * s
 * Moria
 * James
 * Instructor
 * s
 * Moria

Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: (US and international) Pokémon Quiz:  (Japan)
 * (evolves)
 * (newly evolved)
 * (Moria's; debut)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * (newly evolved)
 * (Moria's; debut)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * (Moria's; debut)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)
 * ('s)

Trivia

 * Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster:
 * For the TV Tokyo airing, instead of the Professor Oak's Pokémon Holo Caster segment, a quiz of Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction was shown with the exclusive 3DS viewers can win.
 * This episode marks the first time a Sky Battle is featured in the.
 * Ash uses his Fletchling and Hawlucha in a Sky Battle. However, Fletchling and Hawlucha are ineligible to compete in Sky Battles in the games.
 * This episode was the first to air in Japan after the theatrical release of Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction.
 * V (Volt) is used as an insert song when Ash's Fletchling evolves.
 * Serena being able to glide properly may be a reference to, her Pokémon Adventures counterpart who is a Sky Trainer.
 * In this episode, the whole evolutionary family of appears.
 * Team Rocket's outfits are ripped off when they blast off, which is very unusual.

Errors

 * When Ash calls out all three of his Pokémon, the sound effect for Hawlucha's Poké Ball is heard twice.
 * As Ash falls inside the air column, Clemont's iris' are brown instead of blue.
 * At the end of the episode in his wingsuit, Clemont's lightning-bolt ahoge that previously stuck out from under his helmet is not there.
 * In the dub, the "Who's that Pokémon?" segment errounesly says Hawlucha.

Dub edits

 * In the dub, Ash's Pokédex states the evolved form for Talonflame. In the original, it doesn't state it.

In other languages
Kämpfe am Himmel! EP840 XY036 XY036 XY編第35話 精灵宝可梦 XY 第36集