Recaps

Dawn showed Ash and Brock around the Jubilife Breeding Center, where Brock explained how forest energy changed Galarian Ponyta’s fur. At the Little Ranch, Ash’s Pokémon played with the resident Pokémon while Mizuki reassured visitors that the ranch would keep expanding; the group then headed to see Zeraora.

• Dawn stumbled when Brock asked her about the Galarian Ponyta exhibit, so Brock explained how stored forest life energy affected their fur color.
• Brock reflected that traveling with Ash had helped him grow as a Pokémon Breeder, and he planned to keep traveling if Jiro took over the Pewter Gym.
• Shiyin taught Xiaoying to brush a Vulpix, while Yukino and her husband enjoyed their family visit to the Little Ranch.
• Ash befriended an aloof Eevee, and Pikachu, Rockruff, Eevee, and Buneary played chase as Piplup watched.
• Mizuki explained that the Little Ranch would manage visitor numbers and add more Pokémon, including Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Bounsweet, and Sprigatito.
• After the visitors left, the group set off to see Zeraora.

Dawn showed Ash and Brock around the Jubilife Breeding Center, where they met Milotic, flying Pokémon, and the Pokémon training at the exhibition grounds. As Dawn prepared for the Jubilife City Pokémon Contest, Lucario and Diancie considered joining her, while Ash reunited with Zeraora and asked about its injury.

• Dawn took Ash and Brock past Swan Lake, where they saw Squirtle and the Milotic living alongside other Pokémon.
• Dawn introduced Piplup to Corviknight, but Piplup hid in her arms when it saw Corviknight and Aerodactyl.
• Dawn visited Lucario, Diancie, and the other Pokémon training near the closed Pyroar Exhibition Hall, while Ash greeted Zeraora on Pride Rock.
• Dawn said she was entering the Jubilife City Pokémon Contest the next day and invited Lucario and Diancie to come along.
• Ash bumped fists with Zeraora and asked how its injury was; Zeraora grinned.

Li Wei and Lily helped Dawn prepare for her debut in the Jubilife Pokémon Contest, reassuring her about the challenge ahead. After Dawn practiced her entrance in Saiko’s pink dress, Li Wei urged her to focus on passing the first-round screening.

• Li Wei and Lily discussed Dawn’s likely results in her first Pokémon Contest, with Li Wei predicting she might reach the semifinals or finals but probably not win a Ribbon.
• Dawn modeled the pink dress Saiko had sent, and Shiyin brought her the neck accessory she had left in the lounge.
• Li Wei explained to Ash that formal wear was popular but not required at Sinnoh Pokémon Contests, and he told Dawn her debut would be the next day.
• Li Wei reassured Dawn that she did not need to win a Ribbon, but insisted she had to pass the first-round screening.
• Ash and Brock encouraged Dawn, and Li Wei began her crash training by asking her to demonstrate her performance.

Li Wei coached Dawn on her Pokémon Contest routines and demonstrated how he and Diancie could use Diamond Storm to create a dazzling performance. Dawn settled on Piplup as her safer choice for the first round and was left with Li Wei’s example to guide her training.

• Li Wei checked that Dawn had registered for the Contest and asked her to show him her first-round routines.
• Dawn performed Piplup’s Bubble Beam and Peck routine, while Li Wei and Lily noted its colorful effect and slightly unsteady landing.
• Dawn showed Buneary’s unfinished Ice Beam routine, and Li Wei recommended Piplup as the safer first-round choice.
• Li Wei explained that a Contest performance blended a Pokémon’s qualities, its moves, and the Coordinator’s emotions, then demonstrated Diamond Storm with Diancie.
• Diancie shaped pink diamonds into a starry river, a heart, a turning diamond, and an image of itself before gathering them back into its hand.

After Diancie’s performance inspired Dawn to prepare for her first Pokémon Contest, Zoey arrived at the Jubilife Breeding Center and introduced herself as a fellow aspiring Coordinator. Jessie also prepared to enter the contest as Jessilina while James and Meowth planned to sell Seals.

• Diancie performed elegantly, impressing Dawn, Ash, Brock, and the spectators.
• Li Wei advised Dawn to compete with passion, and Dawn resolved to give her best alongside Piplup and Buneary.
• Zoey introduced herself to Li Wei and said she would enter the Jubilife Pokémon Contest; she asked to discuss Contests with him and agreed to look out for Dawn.
• Jessie dressed as Jessilina and announced her intention to become a top Coordinator.
• James proposed selling Seals with Meowth so they could earn money for a machine to catch Pikachu.

After Dawn lost the finals of her first Pokémon Contest to Zoey, she declared her rivalry and continued traveling toward Oreburgh City. Later, Li Wei learned that Pokémon Hunters were planning an operation near Solaceon Ruins, so he flew to Solaceon Town to help Cynthia and Lance investigate.

• Dawn reached the finals of her debut Pokémon Contest but lost to Zoey, whose Glameow used Shadow Claw to turn Dawn's Ice Beam into a counterattack.
• Dawn called Saiko and Li Wei for advice, then declared Zoey her rival before she and her companions continued toward Oreburgh City.
• Sprigatito, Bulbasaur, and Chikorita joined Li Wei's Little Ranch, while Pyroar and Litleo settled into the grassland enclosure alongside Luxray and Shinx.
• Nurse Joy told Li Wei that Zeraora was recovering well and could fully heal within three months without lasting effects.
• Lance's informant reported that Pokémon Hunters were planning an operation in Solaceon Town, so Li Wei flew there to assist Cynthia and investigate the threat.

Li Wei, Lance, and Cynthia coordinated a plan to capture Hunter J and Hunter X, who were expected to come to Solaceon Town. Ash and Dawn agreed to enter the Solaceon Ruins undercover, leaving the group ready to coordinate from inside and outside.

• Li Wei arrived in Solaceon Town with Zeraora and Aerodactyl and met Lance and Cynthia.
• Ash, Brock, and Dawn reached the Investigators' secret base in a temple and learned that Hunter J and Hunter X might soon arrive.
• Lance asked Ash and Dawn to enter the Solaceon Ruins disguised as tourists and coordinate with the investigators.
• Ash and Dawn agreed to help, despite the danger, and Brock joined them.
• Lance warned that Hunter J might target Ash and Dawn because they had previously foiled her attempt to capture a Gardevoir, but they remained determined.

Ash and his friends explored Solaceon Ruins as bait while Lance and Li Wei waited for the Pokémon Hunters to appear. Hunter J and Hunter X set their plan in motion, targeting the Spear Key to restart Cyrus’s scheme.

• Ash and his friends entered Solaceon Ruins, with Lucario protecting Dawn and Dragonite protecting Brock.
• A plainclothes investigator reported that Jessie, James, and Meowth were following Ash, and Li Wei identified them as Team Rocket members who were after Pikachu.
• Li Wei persuaded Lance and Cynthia to leave the Team Rocket trio alone, while Cynthia described the murals, Unown, and recesses found inside the ruins.
• Ash and his friends turned on their searchlights and followed Pikachu and Pachirisu deeper into the dim ruins.
• Hunter J shared intelligence from Team Galactic’s remnants with Hunter X, and they sent two aerial warships toward Solaceon Ruins to obtain the Spear Key.

Hunter J and Hunter X used three Plate fragments to awaken the Unown in Solaceon Ruins and steal the Spear Key. They escaped as the furious Unown fired red beams and the ruins’ entrance began to close.

• Hunter J recalled how Pluto’s notebook led her to plan a new world with Hunter X while the Pokémon League’s Investigators closed in.
• Hunter J and one subordinate entered Solaceon Ruins, while Lance, Cynthia, and Looker monitored the area and discovered their flying battleship was missing.
• Ash’s group struggled through the ruins’ traps as Cynthia explained the chamber’s three Unown-inscribed walls and triangular Plate recess.
• Hunter J and Hunter X placed the Steel, Splash, and Dragon Plate fragments in the recess, awakening more than a hundred Unown and revealing the Spear Key.
• Hunter J and Hunter X fled with the Spear Key and Plate fragments as the Unown fired red beams and the entrance began closing.

The enraged Unown attacked everyone inside the Solaceon Ruins as Hunter J and Hunter X tried to escape with the Spear Key. The fighting cut off Ash’s group from the rescuers outside, and Hunter J lost the key amid the chaos.

• Dawn identified the Unown as Brock’s group explained that the ruins had changed and the Unown were attacking them.
• Hunter X used one of Hunter J’s subordinates as a shield, and Hunter J confronted him over the lost Plates.
• Hunter J and Hunter X ran into Ash’s group and the Team Rocket Trio, then fought their way through the passage with their Pokémon.
• Brock reported that Hunter J carried a yellow cube, while Cynthia and Li Wei considered what it might be.
• Aggron’s Heavy Slam disrupted the radio contact, leaving Lance, Cynthia, and Li Wei unable to reach Ash’s group.
• Lucario knocked the Spear Key from Hunter J’s hand, but Hunter J and Hunter X retreated without stopping to retrieve it.

Lance arrested Hunter X while Hunter J escaped, and Li Wei and Cynthia searched the Solaceon Ruins for Ash and the others. After calming the Unown and returning the Spear Key, Li Wei accepted three Plates entrusted to him and followed the Unown deeper into the ruins.

• After defeating Hunter X's Pokémon, Lance had Hunter X handcuffed and pursued the injured Hunter J with Falkner and Lucian.
• Li Wei and Cynthia entered the Solaceon Ruins, used aura and Arcanine's nose to find Ash and the others, and ignored the Itemfinder's signal at first.
• Li Wei and Cynthia found Ash, Dawn, Brock, and the others as Piplup tried to calm the Unown.
• Li Wei spoke to the Unown in the ancient language, returned the Spear Key, and learned that the key and ruins needed protection.
• The Unown retrieved three Plates from the unconscious Pokémon Hunter and entrusted them to Li Wei.
• Li Wei sent Ash and the others outside, then followed the Unown deeper into the ruins.

Li Wei and Cynthia uncovered the Solaceon Ruins’ connection to the Spear Key and were entrusted with three Plates, while Lance’s pursuit of Hunter J failed. The group planned to protect the ruins and decide what to do with the Plates as Hunter J remained at large.

• Li Wei and Cynthia learned from the Unown that three Plates were the keys to retrieving the Spear Key, and Li Wei insisted the ruins be guarded and the Plates kept safe.
• Li Wei, Cynthia, and their companions emerged with Hunter J’s unconscious accomplice, and Cynthia thanked Ash, Dawn, and Brock for protecting the ruins.
• Dawn and the others left for Solaceon Town so Dawn could register for the Pokémon Contest, and Cynthia reminded her to care for the Egg that was close to hatching.
• Li Wei and Cynthia studied the Dragon Plate and Steel Plate, and Cynthia returned the Dragon Plate to Li Wei because the Unown had given it to him.
• Lance returned alone and revealed Hunter J had escaped using Forretress’s Explosion, though Lucian and Falkner were handling the aftermath.
• Li Wei set aside the hunt for Hunter J and told Lance they had other discoveries to share.

After the Solaceon Ruins incident, Li Wei, Cynthia, and Lance discussed the Spear Key, the Plate fragments, and Hunter J’s escape. They decided to secure the ruins and keep pursuing the Pokémon Hunters, while Lance regained his confidence and named Hunter X and the captured hunters as immediate priorities.

• Looker left to track the Pokémon Hunters and investigate whether an organization had helped Hunter J target the Solaceon Ruins.
• Li Wei explained how the Unown had entrusted him with three Plate fragments, and Lance advised him to keep them rather than risk losing them to the Pokémon League.
• Li Wei urged Cynthia to close and guard the dangerous ruins, and she agreed to raise the plan at the Pokémon League Conference.
• Lance blamed himself for failing to catch Hunter J after she used a Dark Ring-like method to trigger Forretress’s Explosion and escape.
• Cynthia, Li Wei, and Diancie reassured Lance, and he decided to focus on Hunter X and the hunters inside the ruins while continuing to pursue Hunter J.

Li Wei, Lance, and Cynthia planned how to pursue Hunter J and predict her next move after her escape from the Solaceon Ruins. Lance left to interrogate Hunter X and Hunter J’s confidant, while Cynthia prepared to protect Sinnoh’s historic sites and took Li Wei’s Dragon Plate for Garchomp.

• Lance said Hunter J would keep committing crimes and vowed to catch her, while Cynthia and Li Wei agreed to help.
• Li Wei suggested Hunter J might target sites across Sinnoh if she was still seeking a route to Spear Pillar, and Lance said his informant could reveal her next move.
• Lance decided to interrogate Hunter X and Hunter J’s captured confidant, then flew away on Dragonite.
• Cynthia planned surveillance at the sites Li Wei named and considered whether the Lustrous Orb and Adamant Orb should be moved to a safer location.
• Li Wei handed Cynthia the Dragon Plate for Garchomp, and she accepted it before leaving.

Li Wei gave Cynthia the Dragon Plate to help Garchomp grow stronger, then returned home with the other Plates. Meanwhile, Lance interrogated Hunter X, who began revealing that Hunter J had obtained a notebook belonging to Team Galactic scientist Pluto.

• Li Wei gave Cynthia the Dragon Plate, and she handed it to Garchomp before riding away.
• Li Wei planned to use the Iron Plate to strengthen his Steel-type Pokémon and the Splash Plate to enrich Swan Lake.
• Li Wei arrived home safely, gave the Iron Plate to Lucario, and went to bed.
• Lance continued interrogating Hunter X and promised that Scizor and the other Pokémon would be assessed and cared for appropriately.
• Hunter X agreed to talk and revealed that Hunter J had obtained Pluto's notebook, whose first half concerned Rotom.

Li Wei prepared to help Cynthia secretly transfer the Adamant Orb from the Eterna City History Museum to Celestic Town while Hunter J remained a threat. He set out for Eterna City with several Pokémon, leaving the notebook and Hunter J's next move unresolved.

• Lance shared that Hunter J had obtained Pluto's notes about Team Galactic's plan, and Li Wei learned that Hunter X had secretly helped her extract meteorite energy from Veilstone City.
• Li Wei considered Hunter J's likely next targets—the Lustrous Orb and Adamant Orb or the Lake Guardians—while Lance prepared a League Investigators' meeting.
• Vera asked Li Wei to come to Eterna City, where she would secretly hand the real Adamant Orb to Cynthia for transfer to Celestic Town.
• Li Wei noted that the League also needed to recover or destroy Pluto's notebook, which remained in Hunter J's possession.
• Li Wei departed for Eterna City with Cynthia's Pokémon escort and Zeraora, while Aerodactyl stayed behind to work.

Li Wei arrived in Eterna City with his Pokémon and met his cousin Vera and museum researchers, who were waiting for him and Diancie. Cynthia arrived soon afterward, and she and Li Wei began touring the Eterna City History Museum.

• Li Wei entered Eterna City, passed the ancient statue, and flew to the History Museum with Shaymin, Lucario, and Zeraora.
• Vera introduced Li Wei to her colleagues, fossil researchers who admired his Fossil Museum at the Breeding Center.
• The researchers explained that the museum had few visitors and that they had gathered to welcome Li Wei and wait for Cynthia.
• Cynthia arrived on Garchomp, and researchers gossiped about her and Li Wei being a lovely couple.
• Vera returned to work, leaving Cynthia to show Li Wei around the museum, which he had never visited before.

Li Wei discovered the Space-Time Towers and remembered that Darkrai lived in Alamos Town, then joined Cynthia to transport the Adamant Orb to the History Museum in Celestic Town. The pair flew toward Celestic Town, crossing Mt. Coronet.

• Li Wei toured the Eterna Historical Museum with Cynthia and learned about the Space-Time Towers in Alamos Town.
• Li Wei recalled Darkrai and the danger of Dialga and Palkia fighting near Alamos Town, and considered befriending or catching Darkrai.
• Vera delivered the Adamant Orb, and Li Wei checked that it was genuine before Cynthia accepted responsibility for the delivery.
• Li Wei and Cynthia set out for Celestic Town on Corviknight and Garchomp, respectively.

Li Wei and Cynthia brought the Adamant Orb to Celestic Town, where Professor Carolina and Roland secured it beside the Lustrous Orb. The League guarded the museum as investigations exposed powerful Pokémon collectors behind the Hunters’ illegal technology, while Professor Carolina invited Li Wei and Cynthia to stay for dinner.

• Li Wei and Cynthia reached Celestic Town safely and went to the Celestic Town History Museum with the Adamant Orb.
• Professor Carolina inspected the orb, and Roland explained that she had returned from Unova after winning a League tournament championship and declining an Elite Four position.
• Professor Carolina, Li Wei, Cynthia, and Roland placed the Adamant Orb in the secure chamber beside the real Lustrous Orb.
• The chapter revealed that Lance, Cynthia, and others had traced the Hunters’ Petrifying Beam emitters and stealth flying warships to powerful Pokémon collectors who were difficult to prosecute without evidence.
• Professor Carolina invited Li Wei and Cynthia to stay for dinner and leave the next day.

In Celestic Town, the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb resonated, and Li Wei revealed that he had awakened his Aura at the Tree of Creation. After Professor Carolina secured the orbs, Li Wei and Cynthia stayed for dinner, shopping hand in hand for ingredients and treats for their Pokémon.

• Li Wei and Lucario sensed the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb resonate, and the orbs flashed together before settling.
• Li Wei told Professor Carolina and Roland that he had awakened his Aura at the Tree of Creation, and Roland recalled meeting the Aura-using Trainer Riley.
• Professor Carolina decided the orbs’ resonance needed further research and confirmed that the secured chamber would keep them safe.
• Professor Carolina examined Zeraora and praised Li Wei’s luck at encountering and catching rare Pokémon.
• Li Wei and Cynthia went shopping for crabs, oranges, and snacks, then walked home hand in hand while their Pokémon trailed behind.

Li Wei visited Cynthia’s home in Celestic Town, where he and Cynthia prepared dinner together. As he tied Cynthia’s hair back, she focused on chopping ingredients beside Sirfetch'd.

• Li Wei let his Pokémon play in Cynthia’s yard, and Cynthia decided the villa needed a major renovation to make room for large Pokémon.
• Li Wei checked the well-stocked kitchen and began preparing Pokémon Curry, stock, and dinner.
• Li Wei asked Sirfetch'd to chop fruits and vegetables, and Cynthia joined him to help prepare the meal.
• Cynthia rinsed the rice and helped Li Wei prepare crabs and oranges for Crab-Stuffed Orange.
• Li Wei asked Dragapult to fetch a hair tie, then tied Cynthia’s hair into a ponytail as she chopped ingredients.

Roland and Professor Carolina returned to Cynthia’s home, where Cynthia and Li Wei explained that Garchomp was holding a fragment of Arceus’s Dragon Plate. After hearing how Li Wei had given the plate to Cynthia, Professor Carolina approved of their relationship, and the household sat down to feed the Pokémon and enjoy Li Wei’s cooking.

• Roland and Professor Carolina arrived home and found Garchomp licking a strange stone plate in the courtyard.
• Roland found Li Wei tying Cynthia’s hair back as they cooked, while Professor Carolina and Roland joined them in the kitchen.
• Cynthia explained that Garchomp’s stone was a fragment of Arceus’s Dragon Plate, and Li Wei confirmed that it was only part of the complete plate.
• Cynthia recounted how they had found the plates at the Solaceon Ruins and how Li Wei had given her the Dragon Plate, impressing Professor Carolina.
• Li Wei, Cynthia, Roland, and Sirfetch’d prepared food, then served the Pokémon their meals and brought out Li Wei’s Crab-Stuffed Orange.

At dinner in Cynthia's home, Roland described meeting a mysterious man in Unova, whom Cynthia identified as the wanted Team Plasma leader N Harmonia. Roland believed he was kind because Salamence liked him, while Cynthia and Li Wei urged caution, and Professor Carolina said they could learn more if they met him again.

• Roland and the others enjoyed Li Wei's dinner, especially the Crab-Stuffed Orange, and Professor Carolina praised his cooking.
• Roland told Cynthia and Li Wei about a green-haired man she met in Unova whose Pokémon seemed to like her.
• Cynthia recognized the man as N Harmonia, Team Plasma's wanted leader, and warned Roland to keep her distance.
• Roland argued that N did not seem dangerous because Salamence liked him, and Salamence agreed.
• Li Wei considered N an extremist whose beliefs about freeing Pokémon needed to change, while Professor Carolina advised waiting to learn more before judging him.

Li Wei and Cynthia discussed Sinnoh's legends with Professor Carolina and Roland, then agreed to keep the three stone tablets safe to protect the Spear Key. After the Adamant Orb was stored with the Lustrous Orb, they departed, and Professor Carolina and Roland received a report of spatial anomalies in Alamos Town.

• Li Wei told Professor Carolina and Roland how he met the injured Zeraora in Windswept City and earned Lugia's approval, receiving a Silver Wing.
• Li Wei and Cynthia spent a peaceful evening with their Pokémon before discussing the Spear Key and the three stone tablets with Professor Carolina.
• Professor Carolina warned them not to take the Spear Key or tamper with the Legendary power, and Cynthia reflected on her duty as Sinnoh Champion.
• The next day, Cynthia left for a meeting on Lily of the Valley Island, while Li Wei returned to the Breeding Center after the Adamant Orb was stored with the Lustrous Orb.
• Tonio contacted Professor Carolina and Roland about unusual spatial activity in Alamos Town, and they began examining the data he sent.

As the Pokémon Theme Park neared completion, Li Wei and his colleagues trained new employees ahead of its July 27 opening. Li Wei also prepared to investigate the spatial anomaly over Alamos Town with Cynthia after their current work was finished.

• Li Wei learned that the cause of the spatial anomaly over Alamos Town remained unknown, and he and Cynthia agreed to investigate it together once their current work was done.
• The Pokémon Theme Park’s more than forty facilities, showcasing over two hundred Pokémon species, entered their final stage of construction and remained closed until July 27.
• Li Wei and his colleagues trained newly hired staff during their probationary period, preparing them to keep the facilities running and guide visitors.
• At the Little Ranch, Xiao Meng mentored Kyoko, who was assigned to help children interact with Pokémon.
• In the Ghost-type Pokémon hall, Li Wei told Xiao You to care for the Ghost-type Pokémon and help visitors see them positively, and Xiao You eagerly accepted.