Recaps

The girls discussed Lillie’s decision to preserve their friendship and the team while staying by Qiao Ran’s side, and Mei decided to speak with him about her feelings. Qiao Ran, waiting anxiously in his room, welcomed Mei, who asked how he saw her.

• Mei and the others told Qiao Ran that training had gone well, while privately dealing with their feelings after the previous night.
• Lillie explained to Mei and Mei that she would rather stay close to Qiao Ran and keep the group together than pursue him at the cost of their friendships.
• Lillie urged Mei and Mei to speak honestly with Qiao Ran, and Mei resolved to visit him while the other Mei remained uncertain.
• Qiao Ran worked on Altaria’s debut plans and waited for someone to come talk to him.
• Mei arrived at Qiao Ran’s room and asked how he saw her.

Qiao Ran and Mei confessed their love and spent the night together, while Lillie and Mei kept the others from interrupting them. The next morning, the group discussed their sponsored video and planned to visit Anabel before training for the Gym match.

• Qiao Ran recalled meeting Mei in Jinling and admitted that he had falsely claimed to be an emissary of Arceus.
• Qiao Ran kissed Mei, told her he wanted to be with her forever, and said he loved her; Mei returned his feelings.
• Mei revealed that Lillie and Mei had arranged for the night to belong to her, while they took Acerola away.
• Qiao Ran and Mei joined Lillie and the others at breakfast, where Acerola tried to make sense of their behavior and Qiao Ran discussed the sponsored video.
• Mei said the group planned to visit Anabel, who was returning to Magic City, before training for the next day's Gym match.

Qiao Ran and his friends reunited with Anabel, discussed her battle ambitions, and took her to the mall to try on dresses. Anabel’s memories remained confused, while Qiao Ran arranged an afternoon battle with Mei and discovered Anabel’s new look.

• Qiao Ran told the group they would train for the upcoming Gym Challenges, and Anabel met them before returning to Magic City after lunch.
• Anabel explained that she wanted to battle strong Trainers and try more special battle formats, while Qiao Ran learned he had charged too little for the show’s advertisement.
• Lillie, Mei, and Acerola persuaded Anabel to visit the mall and try on a dress, prompting Anabel to wonder about her incomplete memories.
• Qiao Ran invited Mei to battle that afternoon and said he would use Altaria, who could Mega Evolve.
• Acerola brought Qiao Ran into the clothing store, where he saw Anabel wearing a blue-and-white dress with her long purple hair down.

Anabel received Qiao Ran’s reassurance about wearing a dress, recovered fragments of memories about being mocked for her strength and tomboyish appearance, and left with the dress she had bought. Qiao Ran and Mei then began a training battle, where Altaria Mega Evolved and the fight remained poised for the next exchange.

• Qiao Ran told Anabel that she looked good in a dress, and she briefly recalled how people had mocked her interest in cute things and pushed her toward a tomboyish image.
• After everyone reassured her, Anabel changed back into her usual clothes but kept the dress and left after lunch with Qiao Ran and the others.
• Qiao Ran and Mei went to the Training Ground for a one-on-one battle, sending out Altaria and Decidueye.
• Mei opened with Decidueye’s Spirit Shackle, but Qiao Ran had Altaria use Dazzling Gleam to erase her shadow and counter the attack.
• Mei followed with Solar Blade, and Altaria withstood it because Grass-type attacks were heavily resisted; the two Pokémon returned to a stalemate.
• Qiao Ran Mega Evolved Altaria, and Mei pointed out that the transformation reduced Altaria’s fourfold Grass resistance to a twofold resistance.

Mei and Decidueye defeated Qiao Ran’s Mega-Evolved Altaria after Decidueye broke through to Elite Four-level strength during their battle. After the match, Qiao Ran suggested Acerola seek guidance from Phoebe, then called Cynthia to tell her about Mei’s breakthrough.

• Mei’s Decidueye used its shadow-traveling ability and Shadow Claw to defeat Qiao Ran’s Altaria, earning Mei the victory and breaking through the Elite Four bottleneck.
• The spectators struggled to understand Decidueye’s final move until experienced Trainers explained that it showed Elite Four-level abilities.
• Qiao Ran and Mei congratulated their Pokémon, then moved to another court while the group continued training.
• Qiao Ran suggested Acerola talk with Phoebe, a veteran Ghost-type Trainer, and Acerola eagerly agreed.
• After returning to his room that night, Qiao Ran called Cynthia and told her Mei had reached Elite Four level during their battle.

Qiao Ran, Cynthia, Phoebe, and Mei investigated why Mei’s Decidueye had developed an ability like one belonging to Phoebe’s old friend. Phoebe and Mei found their Pokémon-raising methods remarkably alike but no clear explanation, and Mei then confronted Qiao Ran about what he had done over the past two days.

• Cynthia and Qiao Ran discussed Mei’s recent breakthrough and their interrupted plans to climb in Alola.
• Qiao Ran asked Phoebe whether Mei’s Decidueye could develop the same special ability as her old friend’s Decidueye.
• Phoebe explained that she had taught the old friend how to raise Decidueye, and Cynthia suggested their nearly identical methods might explain the similar abilities.
• Qiao Ran brought Phoebe’s request to Mei, who agreed to speak with her despite being wary of him.
• Phoebe and Mei compared their Decidueye-raising methods, found them strikingly similar, and ended the call without discovering a connection.
• Mei turned her attention back to Qiao Ran and accused him of thinking she did not know what he had done over the previous two days.

Qiao Ran tried to help Mei confront her feelings and encouraged her to think about her own happiness, but she was not ready to answer him. After an awkward breakfast conversation, the group arrived at Rongcheng Gym for Qiao Ran’s match.

• Mei questioned Qiao Ran’s promise to make everyone happy, and he asked her to consider what she wanted for herself.
• Qiao Ran reminded Mei that he had wanted to travel with her and told her he was watching out for her; Mei blushed but pushed him away, saying she was not ready.
• Qiao Ran left Mei’s room and later talked with Lillie about helping Mei; Acerola searched for him but could not find him.
• At breakfast, Acerola asked why Qiao Ran had not been in his room, and he explained that he had visited Mei after discussing her with Cynthia; Acerola complained that he had not brought her along.
• Qiao Ran and the others traveled to Rongcheng Gym, where they arrived and were welcomed at the entrance.

Qiao Ran and his friends arrived at the Rongcheng Gym, where Mei won a coin toss to challenge Gym Leader Hua Wanshuang first. Mei opened with Delibird against Hua Wanshuang’s Roserade, but Roserade used Sunny Day and Synthesis to recover from Delibird’s Blizzard.

• Qiao Ran and his friends entered the Gym’s botanical garden, checked in at reception, and met Gym Leader Hua Wanshuang at the battle court.
• Qiao Ran and Mei used a coin toss to decide who would battle first, and Mei won.
• Hua Wanshuang sent out her level 48 Roserade, and Mei chose Delibird as her first Pokémon.
• Mei ordered Delibird to use Blizzard, but Hua Wanshuang countered with Sunny Day and healed Roserade with Synthesis.

Mei defeated Hua Wanshuang in a drawn-out Gym battle and earned her Badge, leaving Qiao Ran’s match postponed until the afternoon. Hua invited Qiao Ran and the others to her home for lunch, where they learned more about her family.

• Mei’s Delibird countered Roserade’s Solar Beam with Brave Bird as their battle became a clash of strength.
• After more than an hour, Mei won all three matches and received a Badge from Hua Wanshuang.
• Hua postponed Qiao Ran’s match until the afternoon and invited the group to her home for lunch and a conversation about Pokémon.
• Trainers approached Qiao Ran’s group for advice and autographs, and Qiao Ran, Mei, and the others credited their Pokémon’s strength to their bonds.
• Hua arranged a driver and told the group that her husband and two children would be home to meet them.
• On the ride, Lillie and Mei asked Hua about her marriage and children, then glanced at Qiao Ran and made him uneasy.

Qiao Ran and the others visited Hua Wanshuang’s home, where Mei’s questions about love led the group to suspect she had romantic troubles. After lunch, they headed to Hua Wanshuang’s Gym for Qiao Ran’s afternoon battle, which had drawn a much larger crowd than the morning match.

• Hua Wanshuang welcomed Qiao Ran and the others to her home, where her husband and children greeted them and the children excitedly talked about watching Qiao Ran’s videos.
• After lunch, Qiao Ran entertained the children with Dianxi while Hua Wanshuang discussed married life with Lillie, Mei, and Acerola.
• Mei asked Hua Wanshuang whether a man who wanted to make others happy meant it, then insisted the question was about a friend from Galar when the others teased her.
• Qiao Ran refused the children’s request to show them Yveltal and offered to teach them how to talk like Pokémon instead.
• Hua Wanshuang’s children said they would cheer for their mother in her Gym Battle, explaining that she liked seeing Trainers beat her, and Hua Wanshuang clarified that her role was to help challengers improve.
• Hua Wanshuang showed the group a photo of the Gym’s crowded Battlefield and led them there for Qiao Ran’s afternoon battle.

Qiao Ran faced Hua Wanshuang in an afternoon Gym Battle, sending out Mimikyu against her Ludicolo. Ludicolo used Rain Dance to boost its speed and removed Mimikyu’s Disguise with Muddy Water, but Mimikyu struck back with Shadow Sneak.

• Mei encouraged Qiao Ran before the battle and whispered that she would do something for him that night if he won.
• Hua Wanshuang sent out Ludicolo, and Qiao Ran chose Mimikyu for the match.
• Hua Wanshuang had Ludicolo use Rain Dance, activating its Swift Swim Ability and letting it evade Mimikyu’s Shadow Ball.
• Ludicolo covered the court with Muddy Water, and Mimikyu used Swords Dance while her Disguise Ability absorbed the attack.
• Hua Wanshuang ordered Ludicolo to dodge and counter with Icy Wind, but Mimikyu’s Shadow Sneak hit it from behind before it could attack.

Qiao Ran’s Mimikyu defeated Hua Wanshuang’s Ludicolo in the first round, but Hua Wanshuang sent out her level 52 Torterra for the next battle. Qiao Ran answered with Yveltal, whose type advantage was challenged by Torterra’s rapid Rock-type attacks, leaving the outcome uncertain.

• Mimikyu used her boosted Wood Hammer and Shadow Sneak to overcome Ludicolo’s Muddy Water, and the referee declared Ludicolo unable to battle.
• Qiao Ran praised Mimikyu and let her remain on his shoulder instead of returning to the Wild Area to rest.
• Hua Wanshuang sent out her enormous level 52 Torterra for the second round.
• Qiao Ran chose Yveltal, and the referee began the battle between Yveltal and Torterra.
• Yveltal used Oblivion Wing, but Torterra guarded against the attack and countered with Rock Slide and Stone Edge.
• Qiao Ran ordered Yveltal to charge straight out as Torterra’s fast attacks threatened her from above and below.

Qiao Ran and Yveltal struggled against Hua Wanshuang’s defensive Torterra, which used its shell, Rock-type attacks, and Synthesis to prolong the battle. Yveltal finally won by grabbing Torterra at close range and blasting its face with Oblivion Wing, then demanded that Qiao Ran heal her wounds.

• Yveltal charged through Torterra’s Rock-type attacks and struck its face with Oblivion Wing, restoring some of her stamina.
• Hua Wanshuang used Stone Edge to drive Yveltal into the air, where Torterra’s shell protected it from her attacks.
• Torterra used Synthesis to heal itself, while Qiao Ran and Yveltal faced an exhausting stalemate.
• Qiao Ran told Yveltal to trust him, and they risked a close-range attack with Sucker Punch.
• Yveltal grabbed Torterra’s front shell and endured Frenzy Plant while striking its face with Oblivion Wing.
• Torterra collapsed, and Yveltal won before demanding that Qiao Ran heal her wounds.

Qiao Ran defeated Hua Wanshuang’s final Pokémon, earned the Rongcheng Gym Badge, and discussed their next plans with his companions. After dinner, he secretly tended to Yveltal, then joined the others in preparing for their battles the following day.

• Qiao Ran sent out Fire-type Silvally to face Hua Wanshuang’s level 54 Sceptile, and Silvally outlasted it despite reaching her limit.
• Hua Wanshuang awarded Qiao Ran the Badge, offered him advice, and invited him to battle her again after he became Champion.
• Qiao Ran’s Gym Battle video became a trending hit, while he and the girls discussed recording Altaria’s song and the many comments demanding new music.
• Qiao Ran left dinner to treat Yveltal and returned exhausted, while Lillie and Mei assumed he had spent himself healing her injuries.
• Qiao Ran and the others spent the rest of the evening discussing Hua Wanshuang’s battling techniques and preparing for the next day’s matches.

Mei, Acerola, and Lillie prepared for their battles at Rongcheng Gym after Qiao Ran’s video drew a huge crowd, prompting Hua Wanshuang to arrange an Open Tournament. The morning and afternoon tickets sold out quickly as the group waited in the lounge for the matches to begin.

• Mei told Acerola that Mallow and Lana were likely safe in Alola, and the group agreed to continue their climb after the Gym challenges.
• Mei visited Qiao Ran’s room at night to give him the reward she had promised, then returned to her own room before morning.
• Acerola, Mei, and Lillie encouraged one another before heading to Rongcheng Gym for the day’s matches.
• Hua Wanshuang explained that Qiao Ran’s video had drawn hundreds of Trainers, so she planned to hold an Open Tournament at a larger venue.
• Acerola, Mei, and Lillie agreed to battle before the large audience and waited in the Gym lounge while preparing with their Pokémon.
• A Gym staff member told the group that both morning and afternoon tickets had nearly sold out.

Acerola won the first Rongcheng Gym match and earned a Rongcheng Badge, while Qiao Ran and Mei watched and discussed Altaria’s song. Mei then began her challenge, and Qiao Ran planned to arrange a recording session and livestream for Altaria after the matches.

• Acerola entered the tournament as the first challenger and defeated Hua Wanshuang to earn a Rongcheng Badge.
• Altaria sent Qiao Ran a message saying her accompaniment was usable, though she still wanted to revise it later.
• The announcer revealed that the challengers were from Longjiang City, surprising Qiao Ran and drawing attention to the city’s rising Trainers.
• Mei told Qiao Ran she hoped to visit Longjiang someday to meet his family, but Acerola interrupted before they could discuss it further.
• Qiao Ran explained that he would take Altaria to record and livestream her song, with Suicune and Latias accompanying her for safety.

Mei defeated Hua Wanshuang’s final Pokémon with Decidueye and earned a Badge, while Hua helped Qiao Ran arrange a recording session for Qiqi. Lillie then began her own Gym Battle, facing Hua’s Roserade as the chapter ended.

• Mei and Decidueye defeated Hua Wanshuang’s final Pokémon, and Hua awarded Mei a Badge while offering to discuss her personal concerns in the future.
• During the midday break, Qiao Ran asked Hua to help find a recording studio for Qiqi, and Hua arranged a session for them.
• Qiao Ran left Qiqi at the studio with Suicune and Latias, then returned with the others to watch Lillie’s match.
• Hua Wanshuang warned Lillie that she would not receive a Badge without proving her strength and determination.
• Hua sent out Roserade, and Lillie prepared to face it in front of the crowd.

Lillie faced Hua Wanshuang in the final battle of their match with her injured Type: Null, while Altaria completed a song recording with exceptional ease. As Breloom spread Spore across the battlefield, Lillie ordered Type: Null to use Air Slash.

• Lillie sent out Type: Null against Hua Wanshuang, who had chosen not to lead with Nihilego against Roserade.
• Altaria impressed the recording staff with her voice and finished her singing with few retakes, after explaining that she had learned by watching videos.
• Hua Wanshuang's Breloom defeated both of Lillie's Nihilego, leaving Lillie with a badly injured Type: Null for the final battle.
• Lillie and her friends faced the final battle with worry, while Qiao Ran said he still believed she could win.
• Lillie ordered Type: Null to use Agility, but Hua Wanshuang answered with Breloom's Spore; Lillie then commanded Type: Null to use Air Slash.

Lillie defeated Hua Wanshuang’s Breloom with Type: Null and earned her Badge, joining the others in completing their Gym challenges. After celebrating with dinner and karaoke, Qiao Ran surprised the girls with Altaria, Suicune, and Latias, and Altaria sang songs from their home world.

• Lillie directed Type: Null to endure Breloom’s Mach Punch and countered with a final Air Slash that knocked Breloom unconscious.
• The referee declared Type: Null the winner, and Hua Wanshuang awarded Lillie her Badge as the spectators cheered.
• Qiao Ran and the others congratulated Lillie, then sent their exhausted Pokémon to recover in the Wild Area.
• Hua Wanshuang declined the group’s dinner invitation so she could spend her day off with her family.
• Qiao Ran took the girls to karaoke and revealed that Altaria, Suicune, and Latias had come to join them.
• Altaria sang Pokémon World songs, the girls joined in, and Lillie urged Qiao Ran to sing “Together.”

After a night out celebrating their victories, Qiao Ran returned to the Pokémon Center and went to bed, but Mei summoned him to her room with a mysterious invitation. There, he discovered Lillie and Mei had arranged a surprise involving a bound, unwilling Mei, and the chapter ended as he began to untie her.

• Qiao Ran gave in to the girls' request and sang for them after they stopped him from escaping.
• Qiao Ran and the others returned late to the Pokémon Center, where the night nurse recognized them from their match videos and encouraged them.
• Qiao Ran waited anxiously for someone to visit his room, then decided to sleep when nobody appeared.
• Mei called Qiao Ran and asked him to come look at her room, so he quietly went to her door.
• Mei and Lillie pulled Qiao Ran inside and revealed another girl tied up on the bed; after they left, Qiao Ran recognized her as Mei and began freeing her.

Qiao Ran and Mei awkwardly discussed the night they had been left alone together, while Mei and Lillie worried that something more had happened. At breakfast, the group planned their busy day and decided who would visit the Wild Area before their mountain climb.

• Mei told Qiao Ran that Lillie and the others had tricked him into entering her room, then stopped him from leaving so they could talk.
• Qiao Ran told Mei and Lillie that he and Mei had talked and watched videos, and both girls admitted they would have felt too humiliated to do anything more while tied up.
• Acerola shared videos about Ghost Pokémon, and the group discussed visiting Galar to introduce her to Marnie and the others.
• Qiao Ran listed the day's errands, including buying supplies, arranging Altaria's livestream, finding an inn, and preparing for the mountain climb.
• Mei, Lillie, and Acerola chose to visit the Wild Area with Qiao Ran, and Mei joined them rather than staying behind with him.

Qiao Ran prepared supplies for a prolonged expedition in Alola’s Wild Area while trying to manage rising tensions among his Pokémon. After finding a hotel for the group, he planned Altaria’s livestream and song release, which was about to draw attention from the “Trainer Diary” account.

• Qiao Ran shopped for climbing gear, food, medicine, and other supplies with Suicune, Nihilego, Yveltal, and Vulpix, while Nihilego provoked Yveltal and Suicune tried to keep the peace.
• Qiao Ran returned to the Pokémon Center exhausted and heard that Dianxi had visited Mei, Lillie, and Acerola and given them gem sculptures of their Pokémon.
• Qiao Ran checked out of the Pokémon Center and booked three hotel rooms for the group, choosing a single room for himself.
• Qiao Ran told the others that Altaria would livestream that night and that Rotom had edited footage to accompany her song.
• Someone mentioned that the “Trainer Diary” account was apparently going live that day.

Qiao Ran and Altaria launched a livestream that drew hundreds of thousands of viewers, culminating in Altaria’s performance of “Together.” The song stirred powerful memories among people from the Pokémon World, and the stream ended with viewers cheering for an encore.

• News of Altaria’s planned livestream spread online, and Qiao Ran and Altaria grew nervous as more than a hundred thousand viewers gathered before it began.
• At eight o’clock, Altaria introduced herself as Qiqi, answered questions with Qiao Ran, and performed several songs while the audience continued to grow.
• Altaria announced that she would sing “Together,” and Cynthia watched with Phoebe as the familiar song reminded her of home.
• Sabrina and a dark-skinned man watching from the mountains were moved by the song, while Qiao Ran and the girls watched Altaria perform with tears in their eyes.
• Altaria finished “Together” to applause and a flood of comments, as viewers praised her performance and called for her to sing it again.

After Altaria’s successful livestream, Qiao Ran comforted her about her insecurities and learned her song video had quickly reached the site-wide trending list. The next day, he and his companions began climbing Alola’s mountain cautiously, fighting Ultra Beasts along the way.

• Altaria finished her livestream, and Qiao Ran praised her performance before taking her to the Wild Area to talk.
• Altaria admitted she feared being left behind and lacked confidence, so Qiao Ran promised to support her singing and spend more time with her.
• Mei showed Qiao Ran that Altaria’s newly uploaded song video was trending, with more than a hundred thousand viewers.
• The next morning, Qiao Ran and the others prepared to climb the Alola mountain and agreed to turn back if anyone or their Pokémon became exhausted or endangered.
• The group entered Alola and began ascending on foot, where Silvally knocked away an attacking Kartana and they encountered several other Ultra Beasts.

Qiao Ran and his companions climbed Mount Hokulani, fighting Ultra Beasts and catching Pokémon along the way. After Qiao Ran completed his Fairy-type collection mission and Lillie befriended a Clefairy, they reached the abandoned Hokulani Observatory, where a hidden electric trap activated and Qiao Ran sensed someone approaching.

• Qiao Ran’s group rested each day in the Real World while continuing their climb and battling Ultra Beasts on Mount Hokulani.
• After six or seven days, Qiao Ran caught Minior and enough Clefairy, Cleffa, and Clefable to complete his Fairy-type mission, while Lillie added a Clefairy to her team.
• Qiao Ran, Lillie, Mei, and Acerola fought off Blacephalon and Buzzwole near the summit and approached the seemingly abandoned Hokulani Observatory.
• Qiao Ran found that the observatory’s enormous doors were already open, and the group entered cautiously after sensing no signs of life inside.
• Qiao Ran triggered a concealed electric trap by throwing a Poké Ball down a passage, then sensed movement deeper in the building and said someone would arrive soon.