Recaps

Roy used Litwick and Duskull to defeat a string of challengers and set an unbeaten record in the beginner class battles. After dinner, Fujimoto Shu told Roy another version of the back mountain legend and confirmed that a powerful Dark-type Pokémon Trainer had vanished there.

• Roy's Litwick defeated Wu Ming's Charmeleon, then beat Bulbasaur and six more challengers while pretending to be exhausted.
• Wu Ming realized Litwick's flame had grown stronger after absorbing Charmeleon's Flamethrower, but encouraged others to challenge Roy instead of warning them.
• Roy sent out Duskull, whose Pain Split, Will-O-Wisp, and high defenses overwhelmed the challengers who had gathered to battle.
• Roy finished the afternoon undefeated, set a new beginner class record, and reached 1,700 Popularity Points.
• Fujimoto Shu followed Roy to dinner, introduced himself as the dean of students' eldest nephew and the campus know-it-all, and discussed the back mountain legends.
• Fujimoto Shu said one version claimed a girl had been frightened into dropping out, and confirmed that a Pseudo-Elite Four-level Dark-type Pokémon Trainer had entered the back mountain and never returned.

Roy considered how to earn more Popularity Points and found a Pokémon Contest Rookie Cup flyer, which offered a chance to showcase his Ghost-type Pokémon. That night, a mysterious shadow with three Red Orbs watched Roy through the window before leaving.

• Roy saw that Duskull and Litwick had both reached level 29 after their battles and used Ghost Power to massage Duskull.
• A flyer announced the Pokémon Contest Rookie Cup, and Roy decided to attend and considered entering Litwick.
• Roy heard a cry from the back mountain and sensed unusually dense Ghost-type energy, but chose not to investigate.
• Duskull sensed the energy too, then saw a black shadow with three Red Orbs appear outside the window and watch Roy.
• After half an hour, the shadow left, and Duskull opened its eye again.

Roxanne went to Roy’s home to challenge him again, but found he had already left for the Pokémon Contest venue. There, Roy helped May after she fell and met her father, Norman, before joining the contestants’ registration line.

• Roxanne tracked down Roy’s warehouse home and waited outside after learning he had left early that morning.
• Roy arrived at the Pokémon Contest venue and joined the registration queue.
• May ran into Roy’s leg and scraped herself, so he treated her wound and cheered her up with a bun and Litwick’s antics.
• Norman hurried over, recognized that May was safe, and thanked Roy for helping her.
• Roy left to register for the contest, while May told Norman that Roy was more handsome than her father.

Professor Oak and Elite Four Agatha arrived in Hoenn to attend a Pokémon Contest, while Roy registered Litwick for the Rookie Cup and encountered prejudice against Ghost-type Pokémon. As staff sought permission to let him compete, Wallace approached Roy and warmly greeted Litwick.

• Professor Oak and Agatha arrived backstage, where the organizer arranged for them to take the judges' seats.
• Agatha reflected on Oak's past as a powerful Trainer and hoped this trip would persuade him to return to battling.
• A contestant wearing a black headband rudely hurried the registration staff before entering the venue.
• Roy registered Litwick, but the staff member paused the process after learning Litwick was a Ghost type and went to consult her supervisor.
• Wallace noticed Roy waiting, introduced himself after Roy recognized his contestant tag, and greeted Litwick.

Roy nearly lost his chance to compete in the Rustboro City Pokémon Contest because he brought a Ghost-type Pokémon, but Agatha pressured the organizers to let him enter. He joined the other contestants backstage, still wondering who had secured his place.

• A staff member told Supervisor Hai that Roy had registered with Litwick, prompting him to worry that the Ghost-type Pokémon would disrupt the contest.
• Agatha challenged Supervisor Hai for excluding Ghost-type Pokémon Trainers and threatened to leave the judges' seats if Roy could not compete.
• Roy waited outside with Litwick while Wallace and Adam entered the venue, and he began to give up on competing.
• The staff member returned with contestant badge 256 and escorted Roy into the preparation room.
• Wallace welcomed Roy backstage, but denied having arranged his entry, leaving Roy unsure who had intervened.

Roy watched the Pokémon Contest Rookie Cup preliminaries begin and saw the judges include Professor Oak, Agatha, and Mu Jin Hibiscus. After Headband Guy lost his opening match, Roy was announced as the first contestant using a Ghost-type Pokémon, prompting anxious murmurs from the crowd.

• Mary opened the Rookie Cup preliminary round, explaining that contestants would compete for judges' hearts over thirty minutes.
• Roy watched the broadcast from the contestants' waiting room and recognized Professor Oak, Agatha, and Mu Jin Hibiscus among the judges.
• Headband Guy ordered his Primeape to abandon its opening against Machoke and use Cross Chop, letting Machoke seize the advantage and win.
• The judges gave Headband Guy's opponent only forty-five points and Headband Guy thirty, while Headband Guy insulted his fallen Pokémon and left the field.
• After two more routine matches, Mary announced Contestant No. 256, Roy, as the competition's first Ghost-type Pokémon Trainer, and spectators voiced fears about Ghost types.

Roy entered the tournament and introduced Litwick with a heart-shaped flame and a blue rose, captivating the crowd and driving up his Popularity Points. Elite Four Agatha recognized Litwick and judged that Roy had raised it well, while she waited to see what he would do next.

• Mary grew excited when she learned a Ghost-type Pokémon Trainer would compete, and Agatha perked up at the announcement.
• Wallace told Roy not to lose in the first round, and Roy left the waiting room without turning around.
• Roy appeared before the crowd, surprising them with his sunny demeanor, while Hibiscus recognized him from Rustboro Academy and Oak asked about their connection.
• Roy summoned Litwick, which shaped its blue flame into a heart and then a rose, delighting the audience and raising Roy's Popularity Points.
• May asked Norman if Litwick was a ghost and said she wanted one as her first Pokémon, while Norman explained Ghost-type Pokémon and tried to steer her toward Slakoth.
• Agatha recognized Roy's rare Litwick, noted how well he had raised it, and hoped he would not disappoint her.

Roy encouraged Erika through her first Pokémon Contest match, defeating her Chikorita while helping her regain her confidence. His performance earned him a perfect score and drew Agatha’s interest in taking him as a student, while May demanded that Norman get her a Litwick.

• Erika froze after accidentally calling the wrong move, and Roy reassured her while rebuking the spectators who mocked her.
• Roy coached Erika as Litwick dodged Chikorita’s attacks, and Erika gradually became more confident.
• Roy’s Litwick defeated Chikorita with Fire Spin, and Erika forfeited without her Pokémon being injured.
• The judges awarded Roy a perfect score, advancing him to the next round, and Agatha decided to visit the two old people on Mt. Pyre about him.
• May praised Roy and demanded a Litwick from Norman, who spat out another mouthful of blood.

Roy advanced to the semifinals and gained over 10,000 Popularity Points after drawing attention at the Pokémon Contest. Erika also advanced, and she asked Uncle Xuan to find her a Litwick before Roy went to a night-market barbecue stall.

• Wallace asked Roy to teach him how to command the crowd, then won his own match in three minutes.
• Roy defeated an opponent's Raticate, tied Wallace for first place with 188 points, and advanced to the semifinals.
• Erika's Chikorita tugged Roy over to encourage Erika after she defeated a Goldeen, and Erika told Roy to keep doing his best.
• Erika noticed blood on Uncle Xuan's gloves, then asked him to get her a Litwick as he drove her home.
• Roy saw his Popularity Points rise to 11,500 and visited a barbecue stall, where he ordered skewers and smoked Magikarp.

Roy returned to the academy after curfew and found Roxanne waiting outside his house to challenge him. Duskull frightened her, and after they reconciled over grilled skewers, Roy discovered Roxanne had broken his door; she promised to fix it the next day.

• Roy paid Machoke's Pokémon Trainer for the meal, hurried back to Rustboro Academy, and sneaked over the wall after finding the gates closed.
• Roy spotted someone crouching outside his house and sent Duskull to investigate, prompting Roxanne to scream when she saw the Pokémon.
• Roy revealed himself to Roxanne, who demanded to know why he had scared her and returned so late; she explained she had waited all day to challenge him.
• Roy gave the hungry Roxanne his leftover grilled skewers and invited her inside, but they found that the door was missing.
• Roxanne admitted she had punched the door off its hinges that morning, and she promised Roy she would repair it the next day.

Roxanne visited Roy to eat grilled skewers and discuss a challenge, but she fled after seeing him change and became flustered whenever she thought of him. Back in her dorm, she watched a video of Roy at the Pokémon Contest and denied to Guimi that anything unusual had happened.

• Roxanne entered Roy's room, where Litwick lit the nearly empty space, and ate skewers while Roy prepared for the Pokémon Contest.
• Roy changed into pajamas in front of Roxanne, who blushed, announced she would challenge him next week, and hurried out after knocking over his door.
• Roxanne returned to her dorm and found Guimi watching a video of Roy at the Rustboro City Pokémon Contest, where online viewers debated Litwick's Ghost typing.
• Roxanne defended Roy when Guimi questioned her, then claimed she had studied at the library and hid under her blanket.
• Guimi and Buneary tried to figure out why Roxanne was acting strangely but could not work it out.

Roy received an Eviolite and a Technical Machine from the system, then equipped the Eviolite on Duskull. A strange pillar of Ghost-type energy drew Roy toward the back mountain, where Giratina’s Scale led him to an unfamiliar Flutter Mane.

• Roy noticed his Popularity Points had risen to 16,000 and exchanged points for an Eviolite and a Technical Machine for Rest.
• Roy fused the Eviolite into Duskull, changing its held item and making it feel tougher.
• A scream and a purple pillar of Ghost-type energy appeared on the back mountain, attracting Roy, Litwick, and Duskull.
• Giratina’s Scale escaped Roy’s Spatial Bracelet and guided him over the fence and up the mountain.
• Roy caught the scale near the pillar and saw a level 59 Flutter Mane with an Unstable Form label and unknown Individual Values.

Roy and his Pokémon encountered a Misdreavus that transformed into a powerful Flutter Mane and nearly killed him. The Misdreavus returned to her smaller form, befriended Roy, and Duskull recognized her as the shadow from the previous night.

• Duskull told Roy that the shadow he had seen outside the house wore red orbs, but he did not think it was the Flutter Mane before them.
• Flutter Mane noticed Roy and chased him down the mountain despite Litwick using Haze to cover their escape.
• Flutter Mane immobilized Roy and defeated Litwick and Duskull, but changed into a level 31 Misdreavus before it could attack him.
• Roy discovered that Misdreavus could understand him, learned that she considered the back mountain her home, and let her eat his Ghost Power.
• Litwick and Duskull awoke and found Roy safe with Misdreavus, whom Duskull recognized as the shadow he had seen the night before.

After surviving the night with Misdreavus, Roy promised to visit her again while worrying about the danger of her becoming Flutter Mane. He headed to the Pokémon Contest semifinals, where he drew attention and casually took a selfie with Litwick.

• Misdreavus confirmed she had visited Roy’s window because she was drawn to his scent, then greeted Duskull and Litwick.
• Roy realized dawn had arrived and promised the reluctant Misdreavus that he would visit her that night if she had not become Flutter Mane.
• Misdreavus headed back toward the mountain, while Roy worried about the risk and imagined catching a Pokémon capable of becoming Flutter Mane.
• Roy rode to the contest venue after changing his torn clothes, ready for the semifinals that would determine the top sixteen contestants.
• A girl apologized for photographing Roy, but he used her Communicator to take a selfie with Litwick and entered the venue.

Roy learned that his coaching of Erika had made him and Litwick the Rookie Cup’s biggest topic online, and Wallace gave him an old Communicator. Roy assessed the remaining competition as Wallace won his match and advanced to the round of thirty-two.

• Wallace showed Roy the online attention Roy and Litwick had received, and Roy realized it explained his recent Popularity Points.
• Erika told Roy she had defended him online, and Wallace gave him his old Communicator after discovering Roy had none.
• Wallace left to compete while Roy identified Wallace, an Umbreon trainer, and a Mightyena trainer as his toughest remaining opponents.
• Wallace’s Starmie defeated an opposing Combusken with Hydro Pump, advancing Wallace to the round of thirty-two.

Roy won his matches against Vileplume and Linoone, securing a place in the Rookie Cup finals. After the other finalists left, Mary arranged an extended photo shoot of Roy and Litwick, and Roy asked whether she would photograph other Ghost-type Pokémon too.

• Roy used Litwick to defeat Vileplume, and Litwick reached level 30.
• Roy’s Litwick defeated Linoone after the judges explained that Ghost-type Pokémon were immune to Normal-type moves, earning Roy a place in the finals.
• Mary entered the contestants’ room with Dai to photograph the finalists for promotional posters, and Wallace stayed behind to support Roy.
• Wallace received only a few quick photos, while Mary directed Roy and Litwick through an elaborate half-hour photo shoot in different outfits and poses.
• Roy asked Mary whether she would photograph other Ghost-type Pokémon, and she told him to call her Big Sis Mary.

Roy explored IQ after Mary introduced him to the app, gained Popularity Points from posts about himself, and returned to Rustboro Academy, where Lina approved his leave for the Rookie Cup finals. He found Misdreavus waiting outside his dorm and learned she had frightened off a sneaky fat man, possibly Fujino.

• Mary admired Roy's Duskull, dressed it with a pink bow, and posted a group photo with Roy and his Pokémon on IQ.
• Roy registered for IQ, saw Diantha's movie advertisement, and found posts about the Rustboro City Rookie Cup that had raised his Popularity Points to ten thousand.
• Roy rode back to Rustboro Academy, where students recognized him and one girl asked him for an autographed photo.
• Roy told Lina he had qualified for the Rookie Cup finals, and she approved his leave and asked him to get Mary's autograph.
• Roy found Misdreavus waiting outside his dorm, and she told him she had scared away a sneaky fat man who may have been Fujino.

The sixteen finalists gathered for the Pokémon Contest Rookie Cup, and Roy drew the Mightyena Trainer as his first opponent. The Trainer provoked Roy before their match, while Wallace stepped in to defend him.

• Mary hosted the finals as Norman cheered for her, prompting May to plan to tell Mitsuko about it.
• Erika visited Roy in the contestants' waiting room to cheer him on and promised to reveal a surprise when his battle began.
• Agatha told Professor Oak she had decided to teach at Rustboro Academy and might quit the Indigo League.
• Roy drew the Mightyena Trainer as his first opponent, while the Trainer felt relieved to avoid Wallace and the Umbreon Trainer.
• The Mightyena Trainer taunted Roy and urged him to surrender, and Wallace stood between them in Roy's defense.

Roy recognized that the Mightyena’s Trainer had provoked him to prepare for fighting Litwick through Haze, and Roy secretly learned about Mightyena before the final. Roy and his opponent entered the arena as Erika’s Litwick supporters’ display rose in the stands, where May noticed Erika.

• Roy noticed Mightyena sniffing toward Litwick and used System Scan to learn its abilities and moves.
• Roy acted angry and challenged Mightyena’s Trainer to settle things in the arena, while the Trainer left after Mightyena confirmed it had memorized Litwick’s scent.
• Mightyena’s Trainer explained that he had studied Litwick’s Haze and planned to use Mightyena’s ability to track it by scent.
• Roy left the preparation room, and Wallace mistook his frequent bathroom trips for a sign of kidney deficiency.
• Roy and Mightyena’s Trainer stepped onto their command platforms as a giant Litwick standee and a victory sign rose in the audience.
• May noticed Erika, who handed the sign to her butler Xuanbo and turned to meet May’s gaze.

Roy’s Litwick used Haze and Smog to poison Mightyena, then endured its attack and helped wear it down with Will-O-Wisp and Fire Spin. Mightyena fainted, leaving Roy victorious in the battle.

• Mary started the battle, and Roy ordered Litwick to spread Haze across his side of the field.
• Mightyena charged into the mist, was poisoned by Litwick’s hidden Smog, and returned to its Trainer.
• Mightyena charged back through the poisonous mist and caught Litwick in its jaws, but Litwick burned it with Will-O-Wisp.
• Mightyena used Crunch, while Litwick countered with Fire Spin; its Eviolite-enhanced defense helped it withstand the attack.
• Poison, burn damage, and Fire Spin wore Mightyena down until it collapsed, unable to continue.

Roy advanced to the semifinals by default after his scheduled opponent withdrew, then lost to Umbreon while showcasing Litwick’s moves and a dazzling new combination. His performance earned unanimous praise and secured him third place in the Rookie Cup.

• The judges gave Roy a low score after he defeated Mightyena, while Agatha dismissed criticism of winning through poison and resolved to take him as her disciple.
• Noctowl’s Trainer withdrew from the competition after Noctowl’s injuries threatened its future, allowing Roy to advance to the semifinals by default.
• Roy faced Umbreon and realized Litwick could not overcome its opponent’s Special Defense or its Rest move.
• Roy had Litwick display its moves and combine Fire Spin with Ember, then used Minimize and Litwick’s enlarged flame to create a dazzling display he called Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers.
• Litwick lost to Umbreon, but the judges unanimously awarded Roy seven points before the loss deduction, securing him the Rookie Cup bronze medal.

After winning the Pokémon Contest Rookie Show, Wallace reconsidered whether contests should center on battles or performances. Roy inspired him to pursue his own vision of Pokémon Contests and create the Wallace Cup, leaving Wallace excitedly planning the event.

• Wallace's Starmie defeated Umbreon with Tri Attack, earning Wallace the Pokémon Contest Rookie Show championship by 25 points.
• Roy challenged Wallace to consider whether Pokémon Contests had become too focused on battling and urged him to champion performances shared by Pokémon and their Trainers.
• Wallace admitted he lacked the influence to change the official contests, but Roy suggested he could organize his own competition and named it the Wallace Cup.
• Wallace embraced the idea and said the first- and second-place trophies would be the Wallace Gold Cup and Roy Silver Cup.
• Wallace and Roy began discussing possible locations for the future event before a voice interrupted them.

Roy received third place in the Rookie Cup, along with a Leaf Stone and prize money, and celebrated the end of the competition with Wallace and his supporters. Agatha hinted that she and Roy would meet again, while Erika and May formed a Litwick fan club.

• A staff member escorted Roy and Wallace to the awards stage, where the crowd cheered for them and Umbreon's Pokémon Trainer.
• Mu Jin and Professor Oak presented Wallace and Umbreon's Pokémon Trainer with their awards, while Agatha gave Roy his bronze trophy and said they would meet again.
• Wallace chose a Water Stone, Umbreon's Pokémon Trainer chose a Fire Stone, and Roy received a medium-quality Leaf Stone and 15,000 Poké Dollars.
• Dai photographed the three winners and took extra pictures of Roy with Litwick before the Rookie Cup concluded.
• Roy and Wallace exchanged spirited promises to battle again, then Roy met Erika, May, and Norman outside the venue.
• Erika and May congratulated Roy, posed with him and Litwick for a photo, and revealed that May had joined Erika's newly created Litwick Fan Club.

Roy lured a man who was following him for his Leaf Stone into the woods and had Litwick immobilize him. The man tried to pass himself off as Roy’s fan, but Roy approached with a violet-energy-wrapped hand, leaving his next move unclear.

• May invited Roy to visit Petalburg Gym, while Norman thought Erika’s butler looked familiar.
• Litwick warned Roy that someone was following him, and Roy spotted a man in a baseball cap.
• Roy rode into the woods, and the man followed, intending to steal his Leaf Stone.
• A purple figure slipped through the shadows after the man as Roy’s bicycle tracks disappeared.
• Litwick used Night Shade to paralyze the man, and Roy confronted him about the attempted theft.
• The man claimed he was Roy’s fan, but Roy approached with his hand wrapped in dark violet energy.

Roy killed a man who had followed him to rob him, then disposed of the body and considered what to do with the man’s Stunky. After Roy left, a Gengar revealed that it had been watching him on its master’s orders.

• Roy used Ghost Power on the immobilized man, who died after enduring terrifying visions.
• Roy took the man’s level 37 Stunky and searched his belongings, finding money, Acid, a communicator, and a bloodstained ID card belonging to a girl.
• Roy burned the girl’s ID card and poured Acid over the man’s body, which dissolved and crumbled into ash.
• Roy kept the Stunky’s Poké Ball while wondering where he could sell it, then rode away after sensing something watching him.
• A Gengar emerged from a tree’s shadow and revealed that its master had sent it to help Roy, but Roy had already defeated the man.