Recaps

Qiao Ran won his Gym challenge, helped Lillie and Mei earn Badges, and welcomed Cynthia into the group as she searched for Caitlin. While the group entered a Performance Competition, the Ultra Recon Squad warned Qiao Ran that Necrozma might target Nebby, and he returned to the stage with Vulpix and Dianxi.

• Zacian, Yveltal, and Dianxi battled Nian Hai’s Pokémon, and Qiao Ran won the Gym challenge after the final match ended in a draw.
• Qiao Ran recovered at Sabrina’s house, received his Gym Badge, and launched a video account with Sabrina as his Gym battle gained widespread attention.
• At dinner with Xia Fei, Nian Xiaoxiao, and Nian Hongyu, Qiao Ran saw Xia Fei and Nian Xiaoxiao choose their own goals, while Nian Hongyu challenged him and Sabrina to the Performance Competition.
• Lillie and Mei defeated Nian Hai’s teams and earned Gym Badges, then Cynthia arrived and won her own Gym challenge with Milotic and Garchomp.
• Cynthia explained that she had arrived from the Pokémon World after disappearing with Caitlin in Sinnoh, and she agreed to stay with Sabrina while searching for her missing friend.
• Qiao Ran, Sabrina, Lillie, and Mei entered the Performance Competition, where Qiao Ran performed with Suicune and the others completed their preliminary performances.
• Qiao Ran spent the night in the Wild Area with Vulpix, Dianxi, and Nebby, then learned from the Ultra Recon Squad that Necrozma might pursue Nebby and steal the world’s light.
• After the squad left through an Ultra Wormhole, Qiao Ran returned to the competition and performed with Vulpix and Dianxi amid glowing crystalline paths and flowers.

Qiao Ran, Lillie, and Mei searched Alola for Lusamine and Gladion while contending with Ultra Beasts and seeking help from Team Skull. After reuniting the family on a small island, they faced an expanding spatial rift as Ultra Beasts poured through.

• Qiao Ran, Lillie, and Mei left the Aether Foundation for Alola, found an Aether House on Ula'ula Island, and learned from Acerola that Lusamine had not been there.
• Qiao Ran’s group traveled to Po Town, where Guzma challenged them for information about Lusamine, and Qiao Ran and Mei won their battles against him.
• Guzma told Lillie that Lusamine had borrowed supplies and gone out to sea, then gave her a device that might help locate her.
• Qiao Ran and the others followed the device’s signal across the ocean and found a rift above a small island, where Zacian protected Lillie from Gladion’s Silvally.
• Lillie reunited with Gladion, and Lusamine explained that Gladion had rescued her after Ultra Beasts sank her ship.
• Gladion said the Ultra Recon Squad had left and would not return soon, while Lusamine identified Nebby as the only Pokémon present that could affect the rift.
• Nebby volunteered to help Qiao Ran and Lillie, but the rift expanded and Ultra Beasts poured through.

Qiao Ran helped close the Alolan rift, then returned to the Real World for Sabrina’s Gym Leader Election and a battle with Cynthia. After defeating Guzzlord and persuading Acerola to join their travels, the group learned that Brock had returned to Sabrina’s world after nearly twenty years there.

• Qiao Ran exhausted himself helping Nebby close the rift, then Latias carried him and Nebby to safety while the others fought the remaining Ultra Beasts.
• Qiao Ran woke at Aether House, found Nebby transformed into a cocoon, and confronted Nihilego’s queen in the Wild Area before returning to the Real World.
• Qiao Ran and his companions attended Sabrina’s Gym Leader Election, where Sabrina defeated Nian Hongyu and became the new Magic City Gym Leader.
• Qiao Ran battled Cynthia, whose Mega Garchomp defeated Zacian, then spent time sightseeing with Cynthia and Lillie before Cynthia left.
• Qiao Ran, Lillie, Mei, Acerola, Guzma, and their allies fought Guzzlord in ruined Malie City until Zacian defeated it.
• Qiao Ran revealed his otherworldly travels to Acerola, who decided to join the group, while Modan offered to look after Aether House.
• Sabrina met Brock and learned that he had spent nearly twenty years in the Real World despite only two or three months passing for her.
• Qiao Ran returned to Sabrina’s home and found her note asking him to call, then learned that Brock had visited while the group was away.

Qiao Ran’s group welcomed Acerola, competed on the Battle Train, and met the amnesiac Anabel in Rongcheng. Lillie confessed her feelings to Qiao Ran, forcing him to address the group’s changing relationships as they continued training and traveling together.

• Brock reunited with Qiao Ran’s group and explained how he had spent nearly twenty years in this world, prompting them to investigate the crossings between worlds.
• Altaria performed “Together” as Qiqi at a mall contest, and her song became popular after Qiao Ran uploaded a recording.
• Qiao Ran safely helped Acerola undergo Nihilego’s procedure, showed her the Wild Area, and welcomed her onto the team before she said goodbye to the Aether House children.
• Qiao Ran, Mei, and another Mei entered the Battle Train challenge, where Qiao Ran set the fastest time and defeated Anabel’s Mismagius with Dianxi.
• The group met Anabel in Rongcheng and learned she remembered little about her past, while Qiao Ran and Lillie kissed and began a relationship.
• Mei and the other Mei confronted Qiao Ran about his feelings, and he promised to face future dangers with them and make everyone happy.
• The Battle Train director hired Qiao Ran to promote the show, and Nihilego privately reminded him that he owed her a Tokiwa Power service.