Recaps

Kirishō and his team gathered material at the Jubilife Breeding Center and interviewed visitors and staff before meeting Li Wei for his interview. Li Wei agreed to begin the interview during his break, and Aoli asked the first question.

• Kirishō learned from Xiao Rou that Li Wei would be available around noon after working at the Pokémon Restaurant.
• Kirishō, Aoli, and Yuji filmed the Bamboo Grove Exhibition Area and interviewed a Trainer who said watching Bidoof had broadened his view of Pokémon life.
• Dayou explained that Bidoof raised their arms to appear bigger and stronger, then put up an information board with Incineroar as Aoli photographed them.
• Kirishō and his team finished their other interviews and met Li Wei after lunch at the Pokémon Restaurant.
• Li Wei and Aoli sat for the camera, and Aoli began the interview after Li Wei introduced himself.

Li Wei gave Sinnoh NOW an interview about the Jubilife Breeding Center’s growth, values, and upcoming Fossil Museum-like project, and shared how Milotic overcame its traumatic past. Afterward, he joined his family and friends for lunch, welcomed Dawn, and reminded the staff to help new Pokémon settle in.

• Li Wei told Aoli and Kirishō that his family had opened a Pokémon Day Care instead of a restaurant, and that the Center’s growth came from staff, customers, local support, friends, and media coverage.
• Li Wei explained that the Center aimed to let Pokémon live comfortably and revealed that its construction project was something like a Fossil Museum, inviting the reporters to return in late July.
• Li Wei recounted how Milotic had overcome emotional scars with help from Blue, Xiao Rou, Cynthia, and others before evolving through Magikarp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate.
• Kirishō sent Li Wei to eat after the interview, and Li Wei joined Dawn, Saiko, Miki, Xiao Xia, and the others for lunch.
• Li Wei invited Dawn to make Pokéblocks and play with Corviknight, then asked the staff to pay close attention as more Pokémon arrived and settled in.

Li Wei prepared to give Cynthia a ruby ring as they looked forward to their first meeting since making their relationship public. Cynthia arrived at the Breeding Center and met Dawn, who warmly introduced herself as Li Wei’s apprentice.

• Li Wei received the ruby ring from a Team Rocket courier, who wished him and Cynthia happiness and revealed that Matori had made Jubilife City a priority because Li Wei was there.
• Dawn learned the ring was for Cynthia and praised Li Wei as romantic, then went flying with Corviknight and Aerodactyl under safety checks.
• Li Wei sent Dawn with two Arcanine to play in the hills as Cynthia arrived at the Breeding Center.
• Cynthia mistook Dawn for Platinum before Dawn ran up and introduced herself as her teacher’s wife’s apprentice.
• Cynthia complimented Dawn, learned she was from Twinleaf Town, and invited her to look around the Breeding Center together.

Cynthia accompanied Dawn while she took Arcanine out and learned more about her upcoming Pokémon journey. To give Dawn a gift like the ones she had given Li Wei’s other students, Cynthia offered her a Pokémon Egg and arranged to have it delivered.

• Cynthia joined Dawn and the two Arcanine for a walk, then concluded that Dawn had no connection to Platinum or the Berlitz Family.
• Dawn told Cynthia she planned to collect her starter Pokémon from the Rowan Research Institute on June 7.
• Cynthia recalled giving Korrina a Jangmo-o and Shiyin a Sprigatito, and decided Dawn should receive a gift too.
• Cynthia offered Dawn one of three Pokémon Eggs confiscated from a Pokémon Hunter hideout and invited her to hatch it as a test of her breeding knowledge.
• Dawn chose the sky-blue Egg with white markings, and Cynthia asked her to send her home address so it could be delivered.

On May 26, Li Wei and Cynthia shared dinner at the revolving restaurant, exchanged gifts, and enjoyed a quiet night together beneath the stars. Cynthia asked about Li Wei's planned trip to Windswept City in the Johto Region, leaving their conversation poised to continue.

• The restaurant owner apologized for the leaked photos and offered to treat Li Wei and Cynthia to dinner, and Li Wei gave the chef advice about the sea cucumber and eggplant dishes.
• Li Wei gave Cynthia a ruby ring, and she gave him an enameled black rose brooch; they discovered they had chosen gifts from the same brand.
• After dinner, Li Wei and Cynthia watched the stars together, and Cynthia thanked him for supporting her despite her busy work schedule.
• Li Wei reassured Cynthia that they were an 'us' who did not need to keep score of what they did for each other.
• Cynthia asked Li Wei about his planned trip to Windswept City in the Johto Region.

The Jubilife Breeding Center column became a major success, attracting readers and helping promote both the center and Jubilife City. As Li Wei prepared to visit Windswept City for its Wind Festival, Crystal began explaining the city’s history, leaving the story with Lugia’s arrival.

• The column about the Jubilife Breeding Center reached 100,000 views, and readers praised its Pokémon, scenery, and plans for late July.
• Mizuki revealed that she had posted a comment drawing attention to the late-July date mentioned in Li Wei’s interview.
• Kirishō planned weekly cultural columns and received the television station’s support for his program Pokémon You Don’t Know About.
• Li Wei prepared for the Wind Festival in Windswept City while Cynthia considered joining him for a vacation.
• Crystal began explaining that Windswept City had once been a barren island where people and Pokémon lived in harmony, until Lugia arrived.

After learning about Windswept City’s Wind Festival and the legend of Zeraora, Li Wei decided to visit the abandoned power plant with his pass. Several group members planned to attend the festival, while others stayed busy with their duties.

• Crystal explained that Lugia brought annual winds to Windswept City, inspiring the Wind Festival and powering the city for a year.
• Crystal told the group that a wildfire at the mountain power plant fifty years earlier had led to a legend about Zeraora’s curse, and Li Wei suspected Zeraora had survived.
• Li Wei invited the group to visit the festival, but Green, Lance, and Crystal said they were too busy, while Cynthia could not yet confirm she could go.
• Lance invited Silver to help fight Pokémon Hunters and poachers, and Silver agreed to assist without joining the Investigators.
• Blue and Yellow decided to attend, and Ash and Brock planned to visit the festival’s final day before flying to Sinnoh.
• Lorelei said she would see the others on June fifth.

Li Wei arranged for Dawn to delay her departure so they could attend the Wind Festival in Windswept City together, while Cynthia had to stay behind to investigate newly unearthed plates. Dawn received a pale blue Pokémon Egg and prepared to travel with Li Wei, planning to bring the egg on her journey later.

• Li Wei moved Dawn’s departure to June 8 so she could attend the Wind Festival with him, and Professor Rowan agreed to prepare her starter Pokémon.
• Korrina asked Li Wei to attend her July 1 Gym Trainer assessment, and he agreed, while Shiyin stayed at the busy breeding center to study and gain experience.
• Ash, Brock, Blue, and Yellow boarded the Maglev Train to Windswept City, while Cynthia told Li Wei she had to investigate plates unearthed on Iron Island and in Eterna City.
• Cynthia’s Pokémon Egg arrived at Dawn’s home, and Dawn promised to care for it regardless of what hatched.
• Nurse Joy confirmed the egg was healthy and would likely hatch in a little over a month, so Dawn decided not to take it to Windswept City.
• Saiko told Dawn that Li Wei had booked her a plane ticket and that Corviknight would pick her up that afternoon.

Li Wei and Dawn traveled from Cianwood City to Windswept City for the Wind Festival, where they reunited with Ash, Brock, and the others. They arrived after the Capture Competition had ended, with Yellow in first place, Ash second, and Brock third.

• Li Wei and Dawn landed in Cianwood City, called their families, and arranged to meet Brock at the Windswept City Pokémon Center.
• Li Wei and Dawn took a train toward Windswept City, and Li Wei escaped a crowd of fans with help from Lucario and Sirfetch'd.
• Dawn spotted the Lugia model above Windswept City's gates as they crossed the sea by train.
• Li Wei saw Blue's photo showing Yellow, Ash, and Brock placing first, second, and third in the Capture Competition.
• Ash received a Mayor's Award for helping stop a rampaging Tyranitar, and Brock told Li Wei they were nearing the Pokémon Center.

Li Wei and Dawn explored Windswept City during the Wind Festival, where Li Wei offered Officer Jenny help as a Special Investigator and learned that Ash had stopped a rampaging Tyranitar. At the Pokémon Center, Li Wei reunited with Ash, Brock, Yellow, Blue, and Lorelei, and Blue said they had been waiting for Li Wei to treat them to food.

• Li Wei and Dawn walked through crowded Windswept City, where Dawn admired the windmills and explained Sirfetch'd to some children.
• Officer Jenny told Li Wei that Ash had handled a Tyranitar rampaging through the city that morning, and Li Wei offered to help if further incidents occurred.
• Li Wei and Dawn passed Old Lady Jade as she chased a Sunflora away, and Li Wei guessed that Lugia visited the city to check on the bond between people and Pokémon.
• Li Wei bought ice cream for Dawn and the Pokémon, shared a photo with Cynthia, and planned to recreate the recipe for her.
• Li Wei met Ash, Brock, Yellow, Blue, and Lorelei at the Pokémon Center, where Ash introduced himself and Blue said they were waiting for Li Wei to treat them.

Li Wei met up with Ash, Brock, and the others in Windswept City, where he suspected a Mythical Pokémon was hiding on Back Mountain. Over dinner, he discussed his pass to the abandoned wind power plant and left plans to visit it for the next day or two.

• Li Wei used Advanced Scan and his Legendary Pact skill to conclude that Zeraora was probably on Back Mountain.
• Li Wei met Ash and Brock with Lorelei, Dawn, and the others, and Lorelei explained that she had come from the nearby Sevii Islands.
• Li Wei treated the group to dinner at a high-end restaurant, where Blue eagerly ordered several dishes.
• Lorelei asked about Li Wei's pass to the abandoned power plant, and Li Wei said he might visit the site the next day or the day after.
• Dawn told Ash and the others she would get her Starter Pokémon on June 8, and Brock said their group would be heading to Sinnoh that day.

Ash, Brock, and Dawn agreed to travel together through the Sinnoh Region, while Li Wei and his companions discussed the curse of Zeraora on Back Mountain and the restaurant's ratings. After dinner and an evening walk through Windswept City, Ash challenged Lorelei to a battle.

• Ash and Brock told Dawn they planned to travel through Sinnoh, and Dawn asked to join them so she could pursue her goal of becoming a top Coordinator.
• Li Wei approved Dawn traveling with Ash and Brock, and they agreed to look after one another on the journey.
• Li Wei, Blue, Yellow, and Lorelei discussed the curse of Zeraora, but Blue said she had found no useful local information.
• The group ate at the Snorlax Restaurant and discussed why Li Wei had no plans to apply for Rainbow Restaurant certification.
• After dinner, the group explored Windswept City's food streets, and Ash challenged Lorelei to a Pokémon battle.

Ash challenged Lorelei to a one-on-one battle, hoping to avenge Charizard’s earlier defeat by her Cloyster. As the battle began, Lorelei revealed an imposing Poké Ball, and Yellow sensed that both Lorelei and her Pokémon were ready for a fierce fight.

• At the hotel, Li Wei told the receptionist that Ash would challenge Lorelei and mentioned that Ash had defeated Brandon of the Battle Pyramid.
• Ash chose Charizard for the rematch because they had promised to grow stronger together and defeat Lorelei after their previous loss.
• Brock, Dawn, Li Wei, Blue, and Yellow joined Ash and Lorelei in the hotel’s private battle arena, where Pokédex Rotom volunteered to referee.
• Lorelei warned Ash that defeating Brandon did not mean he could defeat her, then agreed to an unrestricted one-on-one battle.
• Ash sent out Charizard, who roared in response to Lorelei and recalled being frozen and defeated by her Cloyster.
• Blue predicted that Ash and Charizard would struggle, while Yellow sensed that Charizard, Lorelei, and Articuno were all fired up.

Ash challenged Lorelei to a one-on-one battle between Charizard and her Champion-level Articuno. Charizard struggled against Articuno’s superior power, but Ash rallied it to unleash Blast Burn as Lorelei answered with Sheer Cold.

• Lorelei sent out Articuno, and Rotom announced the battle rules as Ash chose Charizard.
• Ash opened with Flamethrower, but Articuno blocked it with an ice wall and then trapped Charizard in Blizzard.
• Ash had Charizard counter with Heat Wave and Overheat, but Articuno’s Blizzard and Light Screen blunted both attacks.
• Articuno struck Charizard with Freeze-Dry, and Ash urged it to keep fighting with Blast Burn.
• Lorelei ordered Articuno to use Sheer Cold against Charizard’s Blast Burn.

Ash and Charizard challenged Lorelei’s Articuno but lost when Sheer Cold overwhelmed Blast Burn and froze Charizard. After Charizard recovered, Ash took heart from Lorelei and his friends’ praise, while Green began considering a new training plan for him.

• Ash and Charizard’s Blast Burn clashed with Articuno’s Sheer Cold, but the freezing attack won and left Charizard unable to battle.
• Lorelei praised Ash and Charizard’s progress, and Ash thanked her before rushing to comfort Charizard.
• Li Wei gave Ash a Full Restore and an Oran Berry Cube, while Yellow used her Viridian Force with Shaymin to heal Charizard.
• Li Wei, Dawn, Brock, and Yellow encouraged Ash, and Charizard recovered after Arcanine melted the ice covering the field.
• Ash and his friends discussed the battle in the Chat Group, and Green decided Ash needed a new training plan.

Li Wei went to Back Mountain to find Zeraora and rescued Ranguo after she slipped on a steep path. Zeraora watched from hiding, then left, revealing that its hatred of humans came from the wildfire fifty years earlier, though it still would not let someone die.

• Li Wei left Ash and the others at the Fishing Contest and went to Back Mountain with Lucario to search for Zeraora.
• Li Wei spread his Pokémon across the mountain and headed toward the abandoned power plant, hoping to draw Zeraora out without fighting it.
• Ranguo slipped on a steep slope, and Lucario and Metagross caught her before she fell; Li Wei then brought down her friends, Teddiursa and Ditto.
• Ranguo thanked Li Wei and explained that she had visited the mountain before, while Zeraora watched them from a hidden crevice and disappeared.
• Zeraora recalled rescuing Pokémon during the wildfire fifty years earlier and remained angry at humans over the suffering and helplessness it had witnessed.

Li Wei learned that Ranguo, the seven-year-old daughter of Mayor Oriba, had come to Back Mountain seeking Zeraora, which she believed was still alive. He refused to let her accompany him to the Abandoned Power Plant, but Ranguo insisted, and Li Wei asked Pokédex Rotom to help him get answers.

• At the Wind Festival, Jessie, James, and Meowth sold Lum Berry treats while plotting to build a robot and capture Pokémon, and Jessie dismissed Matori’s warning not to target Li Wei.
• Lucario told Li Wei that Zeraora might have appeared on Back Mountain but had already left.
• Li Wei treated Ranguo’s injuries and learned she was Mayor Oriba’s daughter, had come alone, and had visited Back Mountain before to look for Zeraora.
• Ranguo explained that she believed Zeraora was alive because she had seen it, despite Oriba telling her it was dead.
• Li Wei said he was heading to the Abandoned Power Plant to look for Pokémon and refused Ranguo’s request to come along.
• Ranguo insisted on joining him, so Li Wei gave Pokédex Rotom a meaningful look and asked it to find out why she had come to Back Mountain.

Li Wei left Ranguo at the abandoned house with Sirfetch'd and Dragapult while he continued to the Abandoned Power Plant. Inside, he encountered Shuppet and a lonely Dusclops, whose sorrow and longing to go home left him wondering what it was waiting for.

• Li Wei brought Ranguo to her moss-covered secret base and left Sirfetch'd and Dragapult to watch over her while help came.
• Li Wei continued uphill with Lucario and Diancie and reached the Abandoned Power Plant, finding its entrance lock broken and the building dark and overgrown.
• Li Wei entered the plant and recalled the wildfire that had killed workers and Pokémon there fifty years earlier, along with the local rumors of Zeraora's curse and restless ghosts.
• Li Wei passed rows of Shuppet in a corridor without disturbing them.
• Li Wei opened a staff lounge and found a Dusclops, which watched him before sitting down again; Li Wei sensed its confusion, sorrow, and longing to go home.

Li Wei discovered blueprints in the Abandoned Power Plant before explosions drew him toward Ranguo and his Pokémon. He arrived to find Sirfetch'd, Dragapult, and the injured Zeraora fighting poachers as their attacks started a wildfire.

• Li Wei found wind power plant blueprints while exploring the Abandoned Power Plant.
• Two hunters sneaked onto Back Mountain and tried to capture Sirfetch'd and Dragapult while Ranguo was alone.
• Zeraora intercepted the hunters' attacks, but its old injuries left it struggling against their Pokémon.
• Sirfetch'd joined Zeraora in the fight while Dragapult protected Ranguo and provided support.
• The hunters' fire attacks spread through the wind-fanned forest, and Li Wei arrived and called for everyone to stop.

Li Wei and his Pokémon subdued two hunters as a wildfire engulfed Back Mountain, endangering the wounded Zeraora and the forest. Lorelei, Blue, Ash, Brock, and the citizens arrived to help, while Lorelei organized a response to save the Pokémon and stop the fire.

• Li Wei's Lucario knocked out two hunters, and his Pokémon defeated their Houndoom and other Pokémon.
• Lorelei and the others hurried toward the spreading wildfire as flames swept through the forest and worsened Zeraora's condition.
• Li Wei summoned rain with Milotic's Rain Dance and sent his Pokémon to fight the blaze.
• A child spotted the fire from Windswept City, and Mayor Oriba and the others recalled how the wildfire fifty years ago had turned Zeraora against humans.
• Lorelei asked Oriba to gather Trainers with Water-type Pokémon, while Blue arrived with reinforcements.

When a wildfire broke out on the Back Mountain, Li Wei and his Pokémon fought to contain it while Ranguo and the injured Zeraora faced the smoke and flames. Ditto learned to transform into Milotic and help with Rain Dance, and Lorelei, Blue, Ash, and Brock arrived with reinforcements as the firefighting effort grew.

• Mayor Oriba called Water-type and Ice-type Trainers to assemble and help put out the wildfire.
• Li Wei ordered Milotic to use Rain Dance and his other Pokémon to clear a firebreak, while Corviknight and Zeraora joined the effort despite his concerns.
• As smoke overwhelmed Ranguo and Teddiursa, Li Wei gave them his wet shirt to cover their mouths and noses.
• Li Wei asked Ditto to transform into Milotic, and Ditto successfully used Rain Dance to help fight the fire.
• More wild Pokémon volunteered to help, and Lorelei and Blue arrived on Articuno with news that Mayor Oriba was gathering Water-type Pokémon.
• Ash and Brock arrived on Charizard with more Flying Pokémon, and Ash jumped down to join Li Wei.

Li Wei, Lorelei, Ash, and the people of Windswept City coordinated their Pokémon to contain the wildfire on Back Mountain. With the flames under control in some areas, Li Wei and Zeraora pushed farther through the firebreak to confront the spreading blaze.

• Mayor Oriba found Ranguo safe, and Lorelei urged everyone to focus on extinguishing the fire before investigating its cause.
• Lorelei, Blue, Yellow, and other Trainers used Water- and Ice-type Pokémon to attack the flames while Li Wei, Ash, Brock, and their Pokémon cleared paths and guided rescuers.
• Li Wei organized the townspeople into a bucket chain, and Mayor Oriba directed the growing effort as Trainers and Pokémon joined in.
• Pikachu blasted open a firebreak with Thunderbolt, allowing Li Wei, Milotic, Blastoise, and the injured Zeraora to move through the flames.
• Lorelei's Pokémon combined Hydro Pump and Blizzard to extinguish a large stretch of fire, while Brock, Blue, Yellow, and the townspeople continued fighting the blaze.

Li Wei and the people and Pokémon of Windswept City brought the Back Mountain wildfire under control, and Lugia arrived to summon rain and end the blaze. Zeraora and Lugia joined Li Wei’s Legendary Pact, while Lugia promised she looked forward to meeting him again.

• Ranguo reunited with her father Oriba as Li Wei continued directing the firefighting effort.
• Zeraora saved Li Wei from a falling tree, let go of some of its old hatred toward humans, and joined Li Wei’s Legendary Pact.
• Lorelei’s Pokémon and the combined efforts of humans and Pokémon contained the wildfire, and Lugia arrived to bring heavy rain.
• The exhausted Li Wei met Lugia’s gaze, and she spoke to him through telepathy and said she would remember him.
• Lugia flew away after promising to look forward to their next meeting, and she joined Li Wei’s Legendary Pact.

After humans and Pokémon worked together to stop the wildfire in Windswept City, Zeraora saw that people had changed and chosen to protect the forest and its Pokémon. With the poachers arrested and Shaymin exhausted, Li Wei looked toward Zeraora as the citizens withdrew.

• Lugia brought rain to extinguish the wildfire, and Shaymin began restoring the scorched forest while Windswept City's citizens celebrated their survival.
• Mayor Oriba reflected on how humans and Pokémon had worked together this time, unlike during the wildfire fifty years earlier.
• Zeraora watched Li Wei, Ash, Lorelei, Brock, Yellow, Oriba, and the others protect the forest, and began to see humans differently.
• Li Wei explained that the poachers' Houndoom had started the fire and that the poachers had attacked Ranguo; Oriba promised they would be severely punished.
• Shaymin returned to Li Wei's arms exhausted and fell asleep, and the citizens withdrew under Oriba's direction as Li Wei looked toward Zeraora.

Li Wei asked Zeraora to leave Back Mountain with him, and after others promised to protect the mountain and its Pokémon, Zeraora accepted. Li Wei caught Zeraora in a Luxury Ball and released them again beside him.

• Li Wei offered Zeraora a place with him, but Zeraora hesitated because they were reluctant to leave their longtime home and the Pokémon there.
• Mayor Oriba warned Zeraora that poachers would keep coming and promised Back Mountain would remain protected, while Lorelei pledged to arrange a Pokémon Ranger.
• Yellow translated that Zeraora was worried about the local Pokémon, and Li Wei promised they could return whenever they wished.
• The wild Pokémon encouraged Zeraora to see the world, and Zeraora touched Li Wei's Luxury Ball and was caught.
• Ash and the others celebrated when the Luxury Ball stopped shaking, and Li Wei released Zeraora beside him.