Recaps

Qiao Ran’s Zacian defeated Nian Hai’s Rapidash in the opening match, stunning the spectators and earning their admiration. Nian Hai sent out a Shiny Reuniclus next, and Qiao Ran recalled Zacian and chose Yveltal to face it.

• Zacian unleashed Behemoth Blade and overwhelmed Nian Hai’s Rapidash, who fell unable to battle.
• The referee declared Qiao Ran the winner of the first match, while Nian Hai accepted the loss and praised Zacian’s skill.
• Nian Hai sent out a Shiny Reuniclus, believing it could counter Zacian.
• Qiao Ran recalled Zacian despite her victory and sent out Yveltal for the next match.

Qiao Ran sent out Yveltal against Nian Hai’s Reuniclus, and their battle turned into a clash of Yveltal’s Dark-type attacks against Reuniclus’s unusual body and Thunder. Nian Hai identified Yveltal as a Flying- and Dark-type Pokémon and ordered another Thunder as Reuniclus struggled to withstand Dark Pulse.

• Nian Hai and the spectators felt the chill of Yveltal’s presence, while Sabrina recognized her as a legendary god of death and resolved to question Qiao Ran later.
• Qiao Ran ordered Yveltal to use Sucker Punch and grab Reuniclus, but Reuniclus split its body apart and slipped past her claws before clinging to them.
• Nian Hai explained that Reuniclus could separate its body and cling with Confusion, then ordered it to use Thunder against the flying Yveltal.
• Yveltal countered with Oblivion Wing, but Thunder still struck her for double damage and confirmed Nian Hai’s suspicion that she was a Flying- and Dark-type Pokémon.
• Yveltal used Dark Pulse to attack across the field, forcing Reuniclus to break away and defend itself with Light Screen.
• As Dark Pulse cracked Reuniclus’s Light Screen, Nian Hai ordered another Thunder.

Qiao Ran’s Yveltal defeated Nian Hai’s Reuniclus, giving Qiao Ran a second consecutive victory. Nian Hai sent out his Metagross for the final match, and Qiao Ran chose Dianxi to face it.

• Yveltal and Qiao Ran endured Reuniclus’s Thunder before Yveltal struck it with Sucker Punch.
• Yveltal and Reuniclus exchanged Thunder and Oblivion Wing, and Reuniclus collapsed.
• The referee declared Qiao Ran the winner, while the spectators cheered and recordings of the battle spread online.
• Nian Hai laughed at his loss, then sent out his longtime partner, Metagross, for the third match.
• Qiao Ran considered his options and sent out Dianxi to battle Metagross.

Qiao Ran and Mega Dianxi battled Old Man Nian Hai’s Metagross, whose Steel-type attacks and close-range pressure gave Dianxi a severe disadvantage. As Metagross battered Dianxi’s diamond shield, she unleashed Mystical Fire, a move she had recently learned, and the chapter ended as the flames rushed toward Metagross.

• Spectators cheered for Dianxi as Qiao Ran faced Old Man Nian Hai in the Magic City Gym battlefield.
• Qiao Ran Mega Evolved Dianxi, but Metagross’s Meteor Mash and Heavy Slam overwhelmed her in a direct clash.
• Qiao Ran tried Dianxi’s Earth Power to exploit Metagross’s Ground-type weakness, but Metagross dodged it with Confusion and magnetic force.
• Old Man Nian Hai used Metagross’s acceleration and multiple attacking arms to trap Dianxi behind her diamond shield and batter it.
• Qiao Ran called for Mystical Fire, and Dianxi released a ring of flames that surged toward Metagross.

Dianxi used Mystical Fire to weaken Metagross, then clashed with it in a devastating final exchange. As the dust cleared, Nian Hai was still hovering above the ruined field and looked toward Qiao Ran, whose condition remained unclear.

• Dianxi surprised Metagross with Mystical Fire, dealt heavy damage, and repaired her diamond shield while creating distance.
• Lillie asked Sabrina and Mei who would win; Sabrina chose Metagross, while Mei and Lillie supported Dianxi.
• Metagross fired Flash Cannon, but Dianxi countered with Mystical Fire, and their attacks exploded across the battlefield.
• Nian Hai ordered Metagross to combine Meteor Mash and Flash Cannon, and Dianxi blocked the beams before firing Mystical Fire at the charging Pokémon.
• Qiao Ran strengthened his link with Dianxi as she intensified her flames, but Metagross struck her and crashed into the ground, shaking the arena.
• The crowd was reassured after the field stopped shaking, and Nian Hai floated above the rubble as he looked toward Qiao Ran's side.

Qiao Ran’s Gym challenge ended in a draw in the final battle, but he won overall after Nian Hai’s first three Pokémon were defeated. After waking at Sabrina’s house, Qiao Ran learned that the match had become popular online and that Sabrina’s attempt to help him had sparked rumors about them.

• Metagross and Dianxi both became unable to battle, and Qiao Ran collapsed from the damage as the referee declared the final match a draw and Qiao Ran the overall winner.
• Latias supported the unconscious Qiao Ran while Sabrina arrived too late to help, and Nian Hai’s granddaughter Nian Hongyu watched the aftermath.
• Qiao Ran woke up at Sabrina’s house, where Lillie explained the result and gave him the Gym Badge she had kept for him.
• Sabrina showed Qiao Ran that the official battle video had reached fifth place on the site’s front-page rankings within hours.
• Lillie explained that Sabrina’s Teleport to help Qiao Ran had been captured on video and prompted rumors about the two of them.

After the viral battles, Qiao Ran rested with Dianxi, Vulpix, and Mimikyu, then fielded calls about his rising reputation and Pokémon. Sabrina advised him to get used to the attention and start an account as the story turned toward the upcoming Performance Competition.

• Mei and Lillie left Qiao Ran’s room unsettled after Sabrina said rumors about her and Qiao Ran were acceptable.
• Qiao Ran praised Dianxi after her match, and he rested with Dianxi, Vulpix, and Mimikyu in their Pokémon forms.
• Yi Ruoyun offered to recommend Qiao Ran for the Elite Four qualification test, and Qiao Ran said he would consider it later.
• Yi Ruoyun asked where Qiao Ran had found Yveltal, and he claimed she came from the forest on Juju Mountain.
• At the training ground, Sabrina told Qiao Ran to adjust to fame and suggested he start an account while his battle videos were popular.

After his victory, Qiao Ran attended a celebratory dinner with Xia Fei, Nian Xiaoxiao, and Nian Hongyu, whose ambitions were changed by watching him battle. On the way home, Nian Hongyu admitted she could not match his strength as a Trainer and challenged him to the upcoming Performance Competition.

• Qiao Ran told Sabrina that he was taking Lillie and Mei to his aunt’s home for dinner, and Sabrina declined his invitation to join them.
• Qiao Ran arrived at his aunt’s home and found Nian Xiaoxiao and Nian Hongyu there, having been invited by Xia Fei.
• At dinner, Xia Fei vowed to become a great Trainer, Nian Xiaoxiao resolved to seek her own goal, and Nian Hongyu chose Qiao Ran as the person she would strive to surpass.
• Qiao Ran reflected on how his experiences had changed his outlook and considered finding a home wherever his companions were.
• Nian Hongyu acknowledged Qiao Ran’s greater Trainer strength and challenged him and Sabrina to a contest in the upcoming Performance Competition.

Cynthia arrived in Magic City and planned to approach Sabrina, believing she could help locate others from the Pokémon World. Meanwhile, Qiao Ran decided to launch an account featuring travel videos and interviews, and persuaded Phoebe to appear on the show by suggesting it could help them find more people from her world.

• Cynthia arrived in Magic City, recognized Sabrina from her acting and battles, and decided to seek her help locating someone from the Pokémon World.
• Cynthia checked into a hotel under her researcher identity after reflecting on the unusual discoveries she had made in local ruins.
• Qiao Ran decided to launch an account with travel vlogs and interview programs, proposing that Rotom handle filming and editing.
• Qiao Ran called Phoebe and asked her to appear in regular interview programs, but she initially refused because she disliked public appearances.
• Qiao Ran argued that the show might help them find more people from the Pokémon World, and Phoebe agreed to participate.

Qiao Ran and Sabrina launched the Trainer Diary account with a video explaining their relationship rumors and sharing details about Mega Evolution. Their first post went viral, and they teased an impressive guest for their next conversation.

• Qiao Ran decided to start making videos and asked Sabrina to help with the first one.
• The Pokémon League's footage of Qiao Ran's Gym battle with Old Man Nian Hai went viral, drawing attention to Qiao Ran, Mega Evolution, and Dianxi.
• Researchers incorrectly claimed that Carbink evolved into Dianxi, while Trainers and scholars speculated about the new Pokémon and Mega Evolution.
• Qiao Ran and Sabrina posted the first Trainer Diary video, denied the relationship rumors, and explained that the account would document their travels and feature guests.
• Qiao Ran and Sabrina showed their Key Stones, described the bond required for Mega Evolution, and shared advice while Dianxi appeared on camera.
• Sabrina said she planned to become the Magic City Gym's next Gym Trainer and enter the upcoming Performance Competition, and Qiao Ran teased a very impressive guest for their next video.

Qiao Ran’s talk show video became a hit, boosting his account and Sabrina’s Gym ranking as the group prepared for Gym challenges. A blonde Trainer with a powerful Garchomp arrived at the Magic City Gym, while Lillie and Mei got ready for their first challenges.

• A blonde woman watched the talk show and suspected Sabrina’s smile concealed something, recalling that powerful psychics were lunatics.
• Lillie and Mei told Qiao Ran his video had passed a hundred thousand followers, and he found that viewers were mostly praising Dianxi.
• Qiao Ran planned to feature more of his Pokémon, while Sabrina celebrated her improved Gym ranking and asked about the day’s challenges.
• A blonde Trainer with a Garchomp asked to choose her Gym Trainer, revealing strength that startled the receptionist.
• Qiao Ran, Lillie, Mei, and Sabrina arrived at the Gym, where Mei reassured the nervous Lillie about their first challenges.

Mei and Lillie challenged Gym Leader Nian Hai, while Qiao Ran and Sabrina watched. Nian Hai mistook Lillie for a novice and sent out a weak Abra, only for Nihilego’s Power Gem to reveal that her Pokémon was far stronger than he expected.

• Mei asked for a battle against a Pokémon weaker than the one Qiao Ran had faced, and Sabrina remarked on Qiao Ran’s exceptional strength.
• Qiao Ran, Lillie, Mei, and Sabrina arrived at Nian Hai’s Gym, where Lillie and Mei presented their challenge tickets.
• Nian Hai reviewed the challengers’ records and assumed their battles would be easy because most had no badges.
• Sabrina praised Lillie’s bond with her powerful Pokémon, but Nian Hai sent out Abra because Qiao Ran had forgotten to tell him about the challengers’ strength.
• Lillie chose Nihilego and ordered it to use Power Gem, leaving Nian Hai stunned by the barrage of energy beams.

Lillie defeated Old Man Nian Hai at the Magic City Gym and earned her first Badge after improving through the battle. As Nian Hai prepared to face the next challenger, he saw another girl arrive with a powerful Serperior and realized the day’s challengers were far from ordinary.

• Lillie defeated Old Man Nian Hai’s Abra with Nihilego, startling him with her Pokémon’s strength and her efficient commands.
• Old Man Nian Hai sent out Jynx and guided Lillie through the remaining battles as she worked through her inexperience.
• Lillie won the three-match challenge despite losing one Nihilego, and Nian Hai awarded her the Gym Badge.
• Lillie rushed to Qiao Ran and celebrated her victory while he praised her performance.
• Old Man Nian Hai turned to the next challenger and saw a girl accompanied by a powerful Serperior, leaving him bewildered.

Lillie reflected on how becoming a Trainer had given her confidence, while Mei defeated Gym Leader Nian Hai and earned a Badge after a hard-fought battle. The group fell silent when a blond woman in black entered the Gym and removed her sunglasses.

• Lillie told Qiao Ran that being a Trainer felt wonderful, and he encouraged her to keep traveling and challenging Gyms with him.
• Mei used Serperior's unexpected Aerial Ace to defeat Nian Hai's Exeggutor in the first round.
• Mei defeated all three of Nian Hai's Pokémon, including his powerful Alolan Raichu, and received a Gym Badge and advice from him.
• Sabrina and Qiao Ran praised Mei's growth, while Lillie watched the battle with Nebby in her arms.
• A blond woman in black entered the Gym, silencing Mei, Qiao Ran, Sabrina, and the others before she removed her sunglasses and remarked that she might have arrived at a bad time.

Qiao Ran and Sabrina recognized the final challenger as likely being Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, who defeated Old Man Nian Hai’s team with her Milotic and Garchomp. The battle ended with Nian Hai stunned by the loss, while Qiao Ran had Rotom record the rare match.

• Cynthia arrived as the third challenger, and Qiao Ran and Sabrina suspected her identity.
• Cynthia revealed her powerful Milotic after Nian Hai asked whether she was hiding her strength.
• Sabrina confirmed that the challenger was Cynthia, and Qiao Ran sent Rotom to record the battle.
• Cynthia defeated Nian Hai’s team, with Garchomp’s Earthquake knocking out his Metagross.
• Cynthia praised Nian Hai’s battle and offered to shake his hand, while he remained bewildered by the result.

Cynthia defeated Old Man Nian Hai at the Magic City Gym, earned a Badge, and met Qiao Ran, Sabrina, Mei, and Lillie. The group left for Sabrina’s home to talk, where Cynthia learned Sabrina had settled into a house while she had been wandering and exploring ruins.

• Cynthia defeated Old Man Nian Hai, who awarded her a Badge and remarked on her Champion-level strength.
• Cynthia approached Qiao Ran and the others, and Sabrina confirmed her identity as Cynthia.
• Cynthia introduced herself to Qiao Ran and learned about Mei and Lillie, recognizing Lillie as the daughter of researchers she had known in Sinnoh.
• Sabrina invited Cynthia and the others to her home, and they left the Magic City Gym together.
• At Sabrina’s house, Cynthia commented on Sabrina’s home and compared her settled life with her own wandering and ruin exploration.

Sabrina questioned Cynthia about how she arrived in their world, learning that she and Caitlin vanished after exploring ruins linked to Dialga. After hearing Sabrina’s account, Cynthia asked Qiao Ran and the others what had happened to them, prompting them to prepare to address the Pokémon World’s crisis.

• Sabrina asked Qiao Ran to use Aura Power to check whether anyone nearby was eavesdropping, and Cynthia sensed his power through her experience with Lucario.
• Cynthia explained that she had disappeared from Dialga-linked ruins in Sinnoh, where she had been exploring with Caitlin, and had arrived in another world.
• Cynthia said she had searched for Caitlin since their disappearance but did not know whether Caitlin was in this world or somewhere else.
• Sabrina recounted how she had arrived after performing divination on an object Lance brought her, which might have been a stone or an orb.
• Cynthia asked Qiao Ran and the others what had happened to them, and they prepared to discuss the Pokémon World.

Mei and Lillie told Cynthia that disasters had struck several Pokémon regions, and Qiao Ran explained that he could travel between worlds but bringing someone with him carried a lifelong cost. Cynthia chose to stay with Sabrina and later connected with Phoebe to discuss ruins research.

• Mei and Lillie described the catastrophes they had witnessed in Unova, Alola, and Galar, and Cynthia realized the Pokémon world was in serious trouble.
• Qiao Ran told Cynthia he could travel to the Pokémon World and explained that bringing someone along required a lifelong bond; Cynthia took the warning seriously.
• Cynthia decided to stay with Sabrina for a while and asked her to help search for Caitlin.
• Cynthia studied the unfamiliar world's ruins while Qiao Ran and the others continued their usual training and routines.
• Qiao Ran introduced Cynthia to Phoebe by phone, and the two quickly bonded over archaeological research and arranged to meet.

Cynthia joined Phoebe’s plans to help her deal with the Pokémon League, then accompanied Qiao Ran and the others to the Performance Competition. The contestants reached the venue, and the competition began with Qiao Ran scheduled to perform first.

• Phoebe offered Cynthia a place to stay and help securing positions in the Pokémon League after learning that Cynthia had obtained her identity through unusual means.
• Qiao Ran asked Rotom to film and upload the competition, while Cynthia asked to enter but Sabrina and Qiao Ran refused because she was a Champion.
• Su Yiliu recognized the group at the venue and let Cynthia enter the contestants’ lounge as their companion.
• Sabrina explained the competition schedule, and Qiao Ran discovered that he was the first among their group to perform.
• The host opened the competition, Cynthia and Sabrina discussed regional contest styles and Diantha, and Sabrina urged Qiao Ran to go onstage.

Qiao Ran performed with Suicune in the first round of the Performance Competition, captivating the audience with her misty entrance and graceful Water-type moves. His high scores left the other contestants under pressure, while Lillie and Mei felt inspired; afterward, Qiao Ran relaxed as Nian Hongyu briefly visited to call them rivals.

• Qiao Ran asked Rotom to film his performance and the others’ performances before taking the stage with Suicune.
• Qiao Ran and Suicune emerged through the mist, performed with the north wind and Water-type moves, and received a thunderous response from the audience.
• The judges gave Qiao Ran near-perfect scores, while Su Yiliu awarded him an eight and explained that she left contestants room to improve.
• Qiao Ran returned to the waiting room, where Sabrina praised him and Lillie and Mei said they felt encouraged by his performance.
• Nian Hongyu visited Qiao Ran, called them rivals, and left soon afterward.

Qiao Ran and Cynthia discussed their love of Pokémon, and he agreed to battle her after the competition. Meanwhile, Lillie, Mei, and Sabrina performed in the Performance Competition, and Rotom’s footage of Qiao Ran’s Suicune performance drew widespread attention online.

• Cynthia told Qiao Ran that her love for Pokémon drove her to keep growing stronger, then invited him to battle after the competition and persuaded him with the offer of dessert.
• Lillie, Mei, and Sabrina each performed in the second half of the preliminary round, and Sabrina’s Alakazam surprised Qiao Ran by winning over the audience.
• Lillie told Qiao Ran she had overcome her stage fright by remembering her practice and trusting that Nihilego was beside her.
• Qiao Ran asked Rotom to prepare close-up footage, and Rotom captured the performances for a video he posted that evening.
• Viewers and prominent figures praised Qiao Ran’s Suicune performance online, while some also called for Dianxi to appear again.

After their performance video attracted attention, Qiao Ran discussed how Sabrina could guide future Trainers in Magic City before taking Nebby to the Wild Area. There, Nebby seemed to speak to him in a new voice, and he later joined Dianxi and Vulpix as they made decorations, ending when Vulpix clung to his arm as he prepared to leave.

• Qiao Ran explained to Cynthia and Sabrina that Sabrina could guide Trainers drawn in by the video once she became a Gym Leader.
• Nebby joined Qiao Ran for a nighttime visit to the Wild Area and asked to see Dianxi and Vulpix.
• Qiao Ran realized he could understand Nebby, then heard a distant, childlike voice that might have belonged to it.
• Qiao Ran found Dianxi and Vulpix shaping a gem lamp and making decorations, and Nebby joined their work.
• When Qiao Ran prepared to return to the Real World, Vulpix grabbed his arm and showed that she did not want him to go.

Qiao Ran agreed to stay the night with Vulpix, Dianxi, and Nebby, then returned to the competition the next morning. When Sabrina received an urgent message before her performance, she sent him to handle it and left him with her car keys, only for him to realize he could not drive.

• Vulpix, Dianxi, and Nebby each asked Qiao Ran to stay, and he agreed to spend the night with them.
• The next morning, Sabrina questioned Qiao Ran about where he had gone, and he claimed he had visited Galar.
• Cynthia reviewed Qiao Ran's popular video and reflected on the world's mistaken ideas about Suicune and Pokémon legends.
• At the second day of the Performance Competition, Sabrina was called to perform first, but a Gym staff member urgently contacted her.
• Sabrina telepathically explained the situation to Qiao Ran, gave him her car keys, and teleported away to perform.
• Qiao Ran realized that he did not know how to drive.

Qiao Ran and Cynthia met the Ultra Recon Squad, who warned that Nebby could attract Necrozma and plunge the world into darkness. As the squad prepared to leave through an Ultra Wormhole, Neosila suggested that Alola was an ancient civilization in this world, leaving Qiao Ran stunned and eager for answers.

• Qiao Ran asked Cynthia to drive him to the Magic City Gym after Sabrina reported gray-skinned visitors searching for them.
• Neosila introduced himself as captain of the Ultra Recon Squad and explained that his team had come from another world to find the Blinding One.
• Neosila showed Qiao Ran a video that revealed Nebby and warned that Necrozma might hunt it and steal the world's light.
• Qiao Ran said he would handle Necrozma, and Neosila accepted his resolve before preparing to return to Megalopolis with his squad.
• Neosila summoned Solgaleo to open an Ultra Wormhole, then remarked that Alola had been the name of a civilization thousands of years ago in this world.

After the Ultra Recon Squad departed, Cynthia and Qiao Ran considered whether their comments about Alola referred to its ancient civilization and a disaster that erased its history. Qiao Ran returned just in time for his performance, where Vulpix and Dianxi’s dazzling crystalline entrance captivated the audience and judges.

• The Ultra Recon Squad left through an Ultra Wormhole with Solgaleo, after Neosila said goodbye to Qiao Ran as the partner of the Child of the Stars.
• Cynthia told Qiao Ran that ancient Alola was considered a separate civilization and may have hidden a catastrophic disaster by burning historical records.
• Qiao Ran and Cynthia returned to the competition venue, where Sabrina organized a rushed touch-up of Qiao Ran’s makeup and outfit.
• Qiao Ran took the stage as a highly anticipated contestant and created glowing pink and pale blue crystalline paths and flowers.
• Vulpix and Dianxi appeared together at the center of the stage, earning enthusiastic cheers from the audience and praise from the judges.