Recaps

Eichi settled into Sinnoh Academy, strengthened his Pokémon, and joined his class’s Extracurricular Practice in the Storm Desert. A massive tornado swept Eichi and the students away as an ancient underground structure opened and released a fleeing research group.

• Eichi defeated A Yao’s Sceptile with Scizor, then broke Sinnoh Academy’s running record with Asen and began training his Pokémon at the academy.
• Eichi gave Beedrill a Life Orb and Golisopod a Blue Shard, while Teacher Lan Lan announced that the class would travel to the Storm Desert for Extracurricular Practice.
• Eichi prepared for the trip, traveled with his classmates to Sandstorm Town, and entered the desert, where Teacher Lan Lan assigned lessons on desert plants and Pokémon.
• Eichi cooked stew for his classmates during the desert camp, and after half a month Teacher Lan Lan brought the group back to the hotel while researchers discovered ancient ruins.
• A research group uncovered an underground ruin, while a red-clad team set out to find the Red Orb and Eichi’s group returned to the desert amid worsening winds.
• Lan Lan decided to end the practice and lead the students back to Sandstorm Town, but a huge tornado formed near the ruins and swept Eichi and more than a hundred students into the air.
• The tornado exposed a metal door that opened and released Old Professor’s group, while the researchers’ earlier exploration revealed a monster in the underground structure and three Lava Team members remained anchored beneath the sand.

Eichi and Asen explored the Illusory Tower, escaped its collapse, and helped defend the camp from Regirock before returning to Sinnoh Academy. As Eichi trained his Pokémon and the fossils went to Devon Corporation, Team Rocket expanded in Hoenn, and Eichi went with Xiao Na and Fatty to a Pokémon Contest.

• Eichi and Asen explored the Illusory Tower, battled its powerful Pokémon, and captured Flygon and Baltoy before escaping as the tower sank with two fossils.
• The leader tried to seize Eichi and Asen’s belongings, but Teacher Lan Lan arrived and drove him off.
• Regirock attacked the camp, and Mina, the teachers, and three Lava Team members fought it until Shindai captured it and took it away.
• Eichi helped find missing students and returned with the group to the hotel, where he learned Mina’s brother Steven had once knocked Flygon unconscious in the tower.
• Eichi returned to Sinnoh Academy, trained his Pokémon, and sent the Claw Fossil and Root Fossil to Mina’s family for examination and incubation.
• Steven examined the fossils and decided to return to Storm Desert, while Team Rocket expanded its influence in Hoenn and drew the attention of Lava Team and Team Aqua.
• Eichi met Xiao Na and Fatty to attend the Pokémon Contest, where Vivian introduced the judges and the first contestant earned 26 points with Beautifly.

Eichi helped a young Contestant succeed, raised his newly hatched Armaldo, and explored Sinnoh Academy’s breeding facilities. After rescuing Asen from Fox’s attack, Eichi and Asen began planning to eliminate Fox while preparing for the danger ahead.

• Eichi helped the black-haired boy recover Butterfree with a custom Pokéblock, and Butterfree performed well enough to reach the Contest final before losing to the Kirlia contestant.
• Eichi received the hatched Armaldo and gave Asen the Lileep, then began training Armaldo with Steven’s detailed cultivation plans.
• Eichi and Asen battled with their level-10 Armaldo and Lileep, and Armaldo stayed conscious after Lileep collapsed.
• Eichi visited the Breeding Major with Teacher Ami, explored its facilities, and helped Andy solve a difficult question.
• Eichi followed Asen to the black market and saw Executive Fox order him to undertake a mission, which Asen refused.
• Fox attacked Asen, but Eichi intervened with Beedrill and Flygon, rescued him, and brought him to Sinnoh Academy for treatment.
• Eichi and Asen discussed Fox’s attack and agreed to use Fox’s assumptions to set up an ambush, while Asen contacted an ally for support.
• Eichi and Asen trained their Pokémon and pretended nothing was wrong as Fox’s people monitored them, then Asen invited Eichi to his dorm to show him something.

Eichi and Asen helped bring down Fox during Team Aqua’s assault on Team Rocket in Slateport City, then returned to academy life. When Eichi refused to give way to Takiyama, he defeated Takiyama and his group, leaving their conflict unresolved as Takiyama’s father arrived.

• Eichi and Asen used Ditto as a decoy to draw Fox out, but Chao ambushed Fox while Xia Hong intervened against Team Aqua.
• Eichi and Asen caught up with Fox and attacked his team, and Fox died after Beedrill poisoned him while Alakazam’s escape was disrupted.
• Alakazam buried Fox, and Eichi and Asen buried Froslass and Crobat before Team Aqua withdrew and the fighting ended.
• Asen told Eichi that Team Aqua and Lava Team had nearly wiped out Team Rocket in Slateport City, and Archie refused Lava Team half of the seized resources.
• After Eichi refused to let Takiyama cut in line at the training hall, Takiyama sent a lackey to summon him to the Small Woods.
• Takiyama’s men attacked Eichi, but Eichi broke free and his Pokémon defeated their Pokémon before he beat Takiyama and left.
• Eichi’s classmates agreed to keep the fight secret, but stories of Takiyama’s defeat spread through the academy and Takiyama blamed Eichi.
• Takiyama vowed that he and Eichi were irreconcilable, and his father arrived at his hospital room.