Recaps

Xinhai traveled from Azure Wave Island to Sootopolis City and prepared for a Gym battle against Wallace. After Eevee and Gardevoir won the opening round and Blaziken defeated Milotic, Gardevoir fought on against Wallace’s remaining Pokémon, with Xinhai boosting her through their spiritual bond.

• Xinhai explored Azure Wave Island, then sailed with his Pokémon to Sootopolis City and settled in at the Pokémon Center.
• Xinhai studied Wallace’s battles, booked his Gym challenge, and spent the day before the match helping his Pokémon rest and relax.
• Xinhai opened the five-Pokémon challenge with Eevee and Gardevoir in a Double Battle against Wallace’s Whiscash and Walrein.
• Eevee and Gardevoir overcame Wallace’s water and ice attacks, defeated both Pokémon, and won the first round.
• Xinhai sent out Blaziken against Wallace’s Milotic, and Blaziken defeated Milotic after a fierce exchange of attacks.
• Blaziken fought Wallace’s Blastoise and met its powerful Surf head-on, then fell unable to battle as Xinhai sent out Gardevoir.
• Gardevoir defeated Blastoise with Psychic, but continued the battle against Wallace’s final Pokémon, Slowbro, despite her injuries and exhaustion.
• As Slowpoke’s Psychic pressed against Gardevoir’s Barrier, Xinhai sent his accumulated energy to her through their spiritual bond, strengthening her power.

Xinhai won his eighth Badge, then traveled through Dewford and Petalburg on his way to Rustboro, where he reunited with Scott and watched the first episodes of Super Beast Force. The arc left him in Rustboro as the series neared its planned spring release and his League preparations continued.

• Xinhai’s Mightyena defeated Wallace’s Slowpoke, earning him the Rain Badge and completing his collection of eight Badges.
• Xinhai rested in Sootopolis, celebrated with his Pokémon, and arranged to meet Scott in Rustboro after learning that The Adventures of Lolo had finished production.
• Xinhai traveled through Slateport to Dewford, where Brawly invited him to dinner and arranged support for special training at other major Gyms.
• Xinhai and Brawly battled at Dewford Gym, then sparred and visited local dojos, where Xinhai tested his Pokémon and received advice from senior disciples.
• Brawly warned Xinhai that Charmander, Axew, and Weedle were nearing the limits of their current forms, and Xinhai planned to prepare for their evolution in Rustboro.
• Xinhai visited A-Cheng’s family in Orange East Village, learned A-Cheng had gone toward Rustboro to grow stronger, and then traveled through Petalburg Woods with his Pokémon.
• Xinhai arrived in Rustboro, greeted Joy Ya at the Pokémon Center, and arranged visits with Scott and Roxanne.
• Xinhai watched the first three episodes of Super Beast Force with Scott and Roxanne, praised the production, and learned the remaining episodes were expected to meet the spring release window.

Xinhai trained at Rustboro Gym, evolved several Pokémon, and returned home to celebrate the New Year before resuming his preparations for the Ever Grande Conference. He began cross-Gym special training in Rustboro and prepared to battle fellow Trainer Ishii Kyosuke.

• Xinhai arranged to train at Rustboro Gym, where Roxanne gave him access to its facilities and Independent Training Room Six.
• Xinhai trained his Pokémon and evolved Charmander into Charmeleon, Axew into Fraxure, and Weedle into Metapod, then treated Metapod’s shell as it hardened.
• Xinhai continued training through the New Year and evolved Grovyle into Sceptile and Metapod into Beedrill, helping both adjust to their new bodies.
• Xinhai left Rustboro and returned to Verdanturf Town, where Yantai Bai Mu, Nami, and Big Bear welcomed him home.
• Xinhai celebrated the New Year with his family, visited relatives, and left home after the fifth day to resume training for the Ever Grande Conference.
• On the way back to Rustboro, Xinhai fed a young Sandshrew and its wary mother during a rest in Rusturf Tunnel.
• Xinhai returned to Rustboro, and Roxanne invited him to begin special training the next day.
• At Rustboro Gym, Morisaki introduced Xinhai to Ishii Kyosuke and explained their two-week training schedule, which included six-on-six matches against an instructor’s Pokémon.

Xinhai trained his team through battles at Rustboro Gym, then traveled to Petalburg and helped A-Cheng improve his Pokémon before beginning special training at Petalburg Gym. After testing his team against Gym instructors, Xinhai identified energy transitions as a weakness and began training all twelve Pokémon to improve them.

• Xinhai’s team lost its morning and afternoon six-on-six battles at Rustboro Gym, and Instructor Tanigawa advised him to review their mistakes.
• Xinhai reviewed his Pokémon’s battles, trained them, and challenged Roxanne, who won six to five and said Blaziken, Gardevoir, and Eevee met the standards for Gym level.
• Xinhai developed specialized training for his partners, then left Rustboro after two weeks and traveled through Petalburg Woods toward Petalburg City.
• Xinhai visited A-Cheng in Orange East Village, sparred Eevee and Beedrill against A-Cheng’s Raticate and Beedrill, and advised him on training and choosing a Flying-type Pokémon.
• Xinhai arrived at Petalburg Gym for two weeks of special training, met May, and began six-on-six battles against the Gym instructors.
• Xinhai defeated Instructor Sasaki’s team with Blaziken, Gardevoir, and his other partners, then realized Sasaki’s Pokémon transitioned between offense and defense more smoothly than his own.
• Xinhai’s team lost four to six against Mentor Kawasaki, but Blaziken adapted to Ursaring’s rhythm, and Xinhai devised a three-stage plan to train energy transitions.
• Xinhai noticed his partners’ transitions had improved in the next morning’s sparring match and gathered all twelve Pokémon to continue training the technique.