Recaps

Lance, Steven, and Looker stopped Angie and her companions at the Observatory, while Lance spoke with N about the relationship between humans and Pokémon. N left with a better understanding of Meowth’s friendships, but Colress escaped after destroying the Observatory.

• Lance and Steven arrived at the Observatory as Looker used a device to free the nearby Pokémon from the Colress Machine’s radio waves, and Looker arrested Angie and her companions.
• Lance told N that he would not be arrested if he was not on Ghetsis’s side, while Steven went to destroy the Observatory’s transmitter.
• Steven found that Colress had left a time bomb and escaped the Observatory before it exploded.
• N asked Meowth whether humans and Pokémon were friends or masters and servants, and Meowth described Jessie, James, and the Pokémon as friends.
• N thanked Meowth and shook his hand, then the Observatory exploded.

N told Lance and the others that he had left Team Plasma two years earlier and explained Ghetsis’s plans involving Reshiram. He insisted on going to the White Ruins to find the Light Stone, so Li Wei and the others joined him and set out for Icirrus City as Ghetsis launched the Plasma Frigate.

• N told Lance, Steven, and Looker that he had left Team Plasma two years earlier and described how Reshiram destroyed Ghetsis’s castle.
• N explained that Ghetsis and Dr. Colress were pursuing Kyurem, Zekrom, and Reshiram, and he wanted to learn what Ghetsis intended to do.
• Steven called Li Wei and told him that N had opened up to Lance.
• N refused to wait safely and insisted on going to the White Ruins to find Reshiram and thwart Ghetsis’s scheme.
• Li Wei, Cynthia, Ash, and the others arrived, agreed to travel with N, and set out for the White Ruins in Icirrus City.
• Ghetsis gave the order, and the Plasma Frigate began moving.

Li Wei and his companions traveled to the White Ruins to find the Light Stone while Colress pursued the DNA Splicers needed to fuse Kyurem with Reshiram or Zekrom. Professor Magnolia had discovered a sealed mural linked to Reshiram, and Li Wei began helping her decipher its scrambled inscriptions.

• Li Wei, N, Cynthia, Ash, and the others went to the White Ruins, where Professor Magnolia had found a massive mural that might conceal the Light Stone.
• Professor Magnolia's assistant suggested asking Li Wei for help, but Professor Magnolia insisted on trying to open the sealed door herself before admitting she thought she knew how.
• Colress learned that Drayden held the DNA Splicers and ordered the Plasma Frigate to head for Opelucid City.
• Li Wei arranged for Lance, Steven, Lorelei, Caitlin, and Shauntal to support the operation while he and his group met Professor Magnolia.
• Li Wei said he could read the mural's Ancient Script and began arranging its scrambled stones with Professor Magnolia's research.

Li Wei recovered the Light Stone in the White Ruins, but it did not awaken Reshiram. As Team Plasma brought its warship to Opelucid City with Kyurem under its control, Lance, Steven, Lorelei, and Darkrai prepared to attack.

• Professor Magnolia solved the White Ruins puzzle, opening the passage to the Light Stone.
• Li Wei confirmed the sphere was genuine and stopped N from taking it, then lifted it and triggered a pillar of flame without awakening Reshiram.
• Team Plasma spotted the flames, while Ghetsis learned the Light Stone had appeared and planned to seize Drayden’s DNA Splicers after taking control of Kyurem.
• Lance and Steven gathered in evacuated Opelucid City as the Plasma Frigate appeared overhead, and Darkrai arrived through Giratina’s passage.
• Lance ordered the group to destroy the warship as Dragonite and Metagross Mega Evolved, Articuno appeared, and Darkrai gathered a Dark Void.

Team Plasma attacked Opelucid City with the Plasma Frigate and used a Colress-controlled Kyurem to fire a devastating ice cannon. Lance and the others gained reinforcements from Unova’s Elite Four and the city’s Trainers, while Team Plasma’s forces moved to seize the DNA Splicers and the battle continued.

• Lance and Drayden evacuated Opelucid City’s residents as Lance, Steven, Lorelei, and Drayden attacked the Plasma Frigate with their Pokémon.
• Ghetsis ordered Team Plasma to freeze Opelucid City with Kyurem, which Doctor Colress controlled through the Colress Machine and the Plasma Frigate’s cannon.
• Dragonite, Metagross, Articuno, Darkrai, and Haxorus joined forces to intercept Kyurem’s Ice World, but the attack still coated the city’s high-rises in ice.
• Shauntal, Caitlin, and Alder arrived to help, and Lance, Steven, and Lorelei sent out more Pokémon to attack the frigate and its engines.
• Ghetsis sent the Seven Sages and Team Plasma members out to surround the defenders and seize the DNA Splicers while Doctor Colress broadcast the Colress Machine’s sound waves.
• Led by Team Rainbow Rocket, Trainers from Opelucid City left the underground shelters and joined the fight.

Kyurem broke free aboard the Plasma Frigate, froze Ghetsis and Colress, and sent the warship plummeting toward Opelucid City. Li Wei and the others diverted it into the Distortion World, where they continued trying to stop its fall, while Cynthia stayed behind to confront Kyurem.

• Team Rocket and Opelucid City’s Trainers joined the battle, and their attacks helped shatter Kyurem’s container and destroy the plasma cannon.
• Kyurem awakened and froze Ghetsis and Colress as the damaged Plasma Frigate began falling; Lorelei, Lance, Steven, and their Pokémon tried to restrain the ship and distract Kyurem.
• Li Wei, Cynthia, Ash, and the others returned to the fight, and Li Wei contacted Giratina to open a passage into the Distortion World.
• Li Wei, Darkrai, Regigigas, Lucario, and Zeraora entered the Distortion World, where Giratina pushed the warship toward an area with weaker gravity.
• Cynthia stayed behind to stop Kyurem while Li Wei and the others worked to keep the Plasma Frigate from crashing in the Distortion World.

Cynthia, Ash, and the other Trainers subdued Kyurem in Opelucid City and transported it toward the Giant Chasm aboard a Team Rocket warship. Li Wei returned from the Distortion World with Colress and Ghetsis in custody, then decided to follow the convoy.

• Li Wei and his allies landed the Plasma Frigate in the Distortion World, while the Trainers of Opelucid City arrested Team Plasma members after the ship vanished from the sky.
• Ash and the other Trainers lured Kyurem into Looker's Orange Barrier, where Darkrai put it to sleep and Pikachu shattered the marker on its forehead.
• Lance proposed transporting the sleeping Kyurem to the Giant Chasm aboard Giovanni's warship, and Cynthia approved the plan.
• Matori brought the Team Rocket warship, and the Trainers bound Kyurem with steel cables and set off with Lance and Steven escorting it.
• Li Wei returned with Lucario and the others, bringing Colress and Ghetsis in custody, then chose to follow the warship after Dawn and Brock explained the plan.

After Team Plasma’s defeat, N left to help his sisters save Pokémon, while Li Wei and the others returned Kyurem to the Giant Chasm and negotiated for it to remain there. The crisis ended with the Plasma Frigate left in the Distortion World as Giratina’s sleeping place.

• Looker let N leave peacefully, and N decided to join Bian and Concordia in saving Pokémon.
• Li Wei and the others brought Kyurem back to the Giant Chasm, where Meloetta woke it with the Pokémon Flute.
• Lance apologized to Kyurem while Li Wei showed it the events of the battle using the Power of Overcoming.
• Kyurem returned to the Giant Chasm and sealed its entrance with Ice Beam, agreeing to go back to sleep.
• Lance told Alder that the crisis was resolved, and Li Wei revealed that Giratina had taken the Plasma Frigate to the Distortion World to sleep in.

After returning to Opelucid City, Li Wei read N’s farewell letter and received the reward for completing the hidden quest. He then advised Ash and Meloetta that the Abyssal Ruins no longer needed to protect the Reveal Glass, leaving Meloetta to decide whether to travel with Ash.

• At the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy gave Li Wei N’s letter and explained that N had left with Bian and Concordia to seek the real answer and free Pokémon.
• Li Wei read N’s letter, reflected on respecting Pokémon’s choices, and wished N well; the system then awarded him an Icicle Plate for completing the Frozen Opelucid City quest.
• Ash said he would take Meloetta home, while Larry searched for Meloetta in Opelucid City on a flame-propelled Golurk.
• Meloetta revealed that it had left the Abyssal Ruins out of boredom and had faced no danger, since Giovanni’s Tempest plan no longer involved it.
• Cynthia explained that the Pokémon League could now protect the Reveal Glass and Meloetta, and Li Wei suggested handing the Reveal Glass to the League and letting Meloetta choose whether to go with Ash.
• Ash agreed to deliver Li Wei’s suggestion and give Meloetta time to decide, while Li Wei invited Iris to join the group chat.

After Ghetsis was sentenced and Colress was offered a chance to reform, Li Wei helped Meloetta and Larry agree that the Pokémon League could protect the Reveal Glass so Meloetta could leave the Abyssal Ruins. Li Wei then prepared to travel to Eindoak Town, and Ash later told him that he had the Reveal Glass and would bring it to him.

• Ghetsis received an immediate death sentence, while Colress was given the chance to use his scientific talents for good.
• Meloetta decided to leave the Abyssal Ruins, and Larry agreed to discuss handing the ruins’ protection over to the Pokémon League with his clan chief.
• Li Wei told Larry that the Pokémon League could protect the Reveal Glass, and Ash promised not to let Larry stop Meloetta from leaving.
• Ash, Iris, and Brock set off to take Meloetta home and arrange for Officer Jenny to collect the Reveal Glass.
• Li Wei and Cynthia planned to travel to Eindoak Town to check for Zekrom’s Dark Stone and look for Victini, while Professor Juniper studied Reshiram’s Light Stone for three days.
• Ash told Li Wei that he had the Reveal Glass, and Li Wei agreed to keep it with Regigigas so the Legendary Titans could guard it.

Professor Juniper returned the Light Stone to Li Wei, and Li Wei prepared to travel to Eindoak Town with Cynthia and Ash's group. Drayden warned him that reaching the Dark Stone would mean navigating a dangerous, pitch-black maze beneath the mountain.

• Professor Juniper entrusted the Light Stone to Li Wei after completing three days of research and joked that she would also like to study the Dark Stone.
• Ash returned to Opelucid City with the Reveal Glass and Meloetta, who had chosen to travel with him as her guardian rather than being caught by him.
• Li Wei planned to visit Eindoak Town, and Cynthia agreed that Ash, Iris, and Brock could come along.
• Drayden told Li Wei that Alder had gone to Eindoak Town to inspect the Dark Stone's seal, while Alder struggled up the mountain on his Bouffalant.
• Drayden warned Li Wei that the Dark Stone lay deep beneath Eindoak Town, reachable only through a maze-like, lightless structure, and handed him something before he left.

Li Wei accepted the DNA Splicers from Drayden and traveled with Cynthia, Ash, Iris, and Brock toward Eindoak Town and the Sword of the Vale. After a rare-Pokémon alert revealed that Victini was nearby, the group continued toward the castle.

• Drayden entrusted Li Wei with the DNA Splicers, and Li Wei promised to return them if Iris became Unova Champion.
• Li Wei and the others took a Maglev Train to Icirrus City and discussed the legends surrounding the Sword of the Vale and Unova's ancient war.
• As the group traveled toward Eindoak Town, Li Wei received an alert that an extremely rare Mythical Pokémon was nearby and suspected it was Victini.
• With no train service onward, Li Wei released Arcanine, Metagross, and Corviknight, while Lucario, Zeraora, Dragapult, and Darkrai headed toward the Sword of the Vale.

Li Wei learned that Zekrom’s Dark Stone had disappeared and prepared to investigate while Ash eagerly entered Eindoak Town’s Battle Festival. The chapter ended with Li Wei going to speak with Cynthia about what might happen next.

• At the Pokémon Center in Eindoak Town, Nurse Joy welcomed Li Wei, Cynthia, Ash, and their companions after seeing them on television.
• Earlier that morning, Dread summoned Zekrom and urged the descendants of the People of the Land to reclaim their bond with their former land.
• Alder told Li Wei that the Dark Stone was missing, and Li Wei ruled out Ghetsis and Colress while considering whether Zekrom might have left with N.
• Li Wei told Alder that he had Reshiram’s Light Stone and would handle the situation, though he suspected the Battle Festival could lead to trouble.
• Ash excitedly asked to enter Eindoak Town’s Battle Festival for a chance to visit Sword of the Vale Castle, and Li Wei agreed.
• Li Wei told Brock he was going to speak with Cynthia and knocked on her room door.

Li Wei told Cynthia and Iris that the Dark Stone had disappeared and discussed the possibility that Zekrom had left with N or gone exploring. The group explored Eindoak Town during its Battle Festival, while the invisible Victini followed Li Wei and Ash, drawn by Li Wei’s Power of Overcoming.

• Li Wei informed Cynthia and Iris that the Dark Stone was missing, and Cynthia agreed to watch for Zekrom.
• Li Wei told Ash and Brock about Zekrom, and Ash decided to enter the Battle Festival.
• Cynthia described competing legends about the origins of the Sword of the Vale Castle as the group explored Eindoak Town.
• Li Wei attracted a crowd of fans, while the invisible Victini followed him and Ash.
• Ash and Iris learned about Victini from a stallholder and the Pokédex Rotom, then Ash hurried to register for the festival.

Li Wei and Cynthia attended Eindoak Town’s Harvest Festival and agreed to commentate on its Battle Festival, while Victini secretly watched them. The Battle Festival began as a battle royale, with Ash and Iris among the competitors.

• Li Wei learned about Victini’s history in Eindoak Town as the invisible Victini watched him, Cynthia, and their friends.
• Li Wei and Cynthia agreed to commentate on the Battle Festival in exchange for hotel suites and invitations to the Sword of the Vale Castle banquet.
• Mayor Momondo opened the Harvest Festival and Battle Festival, and Cynthia addressed the crowd on behalf of herself and Li Wei.
• Zeraora spotted Victini in a tree, shared a berry with it, and gently patted its head.
• Mayor Momondo explained that the Battle Festival was a battle royale in which the last Trainer with a token remaining would win.
• Ash entered with Pikachu and Iris entered with Emolga, and battles began around the festival grounds.

Ash won the Battle Festival in Eindoak Town after Victini secretly boosted Tepig and Scraggy, while Li Wei and Zeraora won Victini over with Pokéblocks. The group headed to a banquet at Sword of the Vale Castle, with Victini still invisibly perched on Zeraora’s shoulder.

• Li Wei and Cynthia commentated as Pikachu defeated Serperior, while Iris was disqualified after Emolga used Volt Switch in the one-Pokémon battle royale.
• Victini secretly lent Tepig power, letting Ash’s Tepig defeat Samurott with Ember, and also helped Scraggy beat Carlita’s Hydreigon with Headbutt.
• Carlita told Ash that Victini had appeared when Scraggy fell into the grass, but the competition continued before the group could search for it.
• Zeraora shared Li Wei’s Pokéblocks with Victini, which eagerly ate all twenty while Darkrai watched nearby.
• Ash won the Battle Festival and earned Meloetta’s favor, becoming its guardian; Mayor Momondo invited Li Wei and the others to a banquet at Sword of the Vale Castle.
• Li Wei noticed Zeraora had returned with invisible Victini perched on its shoulder and asked Victini to reveal itself to everyone.

At the Pokémon Center, Li Wei and the others met Victini, who had been lured there by Zeraora’s Pokéblocks. After feeding Victini and inviting it along, they brought it to the banquet at Sword of the Vale Castle, where it eagerly ate beside Li Wei and Cynthia.

• Zeraora brought the invisible Victini to the Pokémon Center after luring it with Li Wei’s Pokéblocks.
• Victini revealed itself, but Ash and Iris startled it, so Pikachu, Meloetta, Shaymin, Sirfetch’d, and Diancie tried to reassure it.
• Li Wei offered Victini a Poffin, and Victini revealed itself again to eat it and Darkrai’s shared Pokéblocks.
• Li Wei invited Victini to the banquet, and Victini eagerly agreed.
• Li Wei and the others took Victini to Sword of the Vale Castle, where it ate invisibly beside Li Wei and Cynthia as Li Wei spoke with Mayor Momondo.

Dread resolved to use Victini’s power to return Sword of the Vale Castle to the People of the Land’s ancestral home, while Li Wei arranged to protect Victini and sought out the castle’s legend. Mayor Momondo began explaining Victini’s close bond with the ancient king, but the story remained unclear as to whether Victini had been the king’s Pokémon.

• Dread recalled how Zekrom had recognized his ideals and reaffirmed his plan to move Sword of the Vale Castle, despite worrying that Li Wei and Cynthia might stop him.
• Li Wei instructed Darkrai and Zeraora to watch over Victini because he remembered Victini falling into danger.
• After the banquet, Li Wei asked Mayor Momondo about the legend of the People of the Land and Victini, and Cynthia and the others joined them.
• Momondo explained that he, Janta, and Carlita were descendants of the People of the Land, and that Janta’s childhood trip with Dread had inspired Dread’s dream of returning to their ancestral home.
• Momondo opened an illustrated book showing the ancient king with Victini and said that Victini and the king had been very close, though their exact relationship was uncertain.

Town Mayor Momondo and Janta told Li Wei, Ash, and the others how the People of the Land fled their homeland with Victini’s help after a civil war disrupted the dragon vein. The story left Li Wei determined to protect Victini, since returning to the Land of the Earth would cost it its life.

• Momondo and Janta explained that the twin princes became the Heroes of Ideals and Truth after Zekrom and Reshiram recognized them, and that Ash had encountered Zekrom twice.
• The princes’ disagreement over their kingdom’s future erupted into civil war, and their dragons battled until both became stones and the dragon vein fell into chaos.
• The king called on Victini to raise the Sword of the Vale Castle and carry the People of the Land to Eindoak Town, then died after entrusting Victini with a request.
• The princes hid the Light Stone and Dark Stone, but the Light Stone’s location in Dragonspiral Tower became known, prompting Professor Juniper to excavate it.
• Li Wei realized the descendants’ wish to return to the Land of the Earth would require Victini’s power and cost Victini its life, so he resolved not to allow it.

Li Wei learned that Victini had been trapped by Eindoak Town’s barrier for over a thousand years and decided to find a way to free it without harming the town. After Momondo explained that destroying the barrier would stop Sword of the Vale Castle from moving, Li Wei returned to the Pokémon Center to plan with the others and seek ideas from the Chat Group.

• Li Wei and the others heard how Eindoak Town came to be and learned that Victini had been confined by the barrier for over a thousand years.
• Li Wei asked Momondo whether destroying the barrier would affect the castle or the town, while Lucario sensed Dread eavesdropping and Li Wei sent Darkrai and Dragapult to investigate.
• Janta and Carlita said they would not accept keeping Victini trapped, and Momondo explained that the castle would no longer move if the barrier were destroyed.
• Li Wei decided to return to the Pokémon Center to make a plan, and Ash offered to help take Victini to the sea.
• Li Wei told Red and the others in the Chat Group about Victini and asked them to pool their ideas.

Li Wei and his allies discussed how to help Victini leave Eindoak Town, while Steven warned that the missing Dark Stone and damaged Guardian Pillars could disrupt the Dragon Vein and threaten all of Unova. Steven headed to Eindoak Town, and Green began researching ways to undo the barrier.

• Darkrai and Dragapult secretly left the Pokémon Center to help Victini, while Victini played with Pikachu and Shaymin.
• Li Wei explained Victini's situation and the missing Dark Stone to the Chat Group, and several members offered support.
• Steven warned that a spreading Dragon Vein disruption could devastate Unova, as it had once left an island barren.
• Steven set out for Eindoak Town, and Cynthia contacted Professor Carolina and Professor Rowan for advice.
• Green began researching the Dragon Vein and the Guardian Pillars for a way to undo Victini's barrier.

Dread secured the support of the People of the Land and announced he would use Victini’s power to move Sword of the Vale Castle and restore their homeland. Li Wei learned of the plan from Darkrai and Dragapult and decided to try persuading Dread and Zekrom.

• Dread told Momondo he would carry out the plan using Victini’s power, despite Momondo urging him to abandon it.
• Dread’s fellow descendants of the People of the Land arrived, revealing that he had persuaded them to support his plan.
• Dread announced that he would begin the next day and left Momondo’s house with the others.
• That night, Darkrai and Dragapult told Li Wei about Dread’s plan and explained that Zekrom’s presence had stopped Darkrai from confronting him.
• Li Wei concluded that Dread had earned Zekrom’s recognition and said they should talk Zekrom around.

After Steven arrived in Eindoak Town, Li Wei shared breakfast and explained his plan to awaken Reshiram by acting on his ideals and truth. The group split up to investigate the dragon vein and inform Town Mayor Momondo, while Li Wei remained determined to free Victini if destroying the Guardian Pillars would not harm the land.

• Steven met Li Wei and Ash, and Victini decided Steven was harmless.
• Li Wei prepared breakfast for the group and told Steven that Zekrom had acknowledged Dread's ideals.
• Li Wei explained that he believed helping Victini was an ideal, while having the courage to act was the truth, and Steven agreed to his plan to awaken Reshiram.
• After breakfast, Steven went to study Eindoak Town's Earth Dragon Vein and determine whether destroying the Guardian Pillars would disrupt it.
• Li Wei and Ash went to inform Town Mayor Momondo, while Cynthia and Iris headed to the Icirrus City Public Library to research dragon veins.
• Li Wei decided he would destroy the Guardian Pillars if it was safe for the dragon vein, so Victini would no longer have to remain bound to Sword of the Vale Castle.

Steven surveyed Eindoak Town’s underground Dragon Vein and found its energy stable, while considering whether it connected to the Guardian Pillars. Meanwhile, Li Wei and Ash told Town Mayor Momondo something that made him leap to his feet in shock.

• Steven used a ley-line energy detector and Metagross’s psychic power to survey the land around Eindoak Town.
• Steven concluded that the Dragon Vein was stable and that Eindoak Town’s fertile land offered the descendants of the People of the Land a peaceful home.
• Steven limited his survey to avoid disturbing the Dragon Vein, then flew with Metagross toward Sword of the Vale Castle to study the Guardian Pillars.
• Li Wei and Ash brought Victini to meet Town Mayor Momondo, who welcomed them despite having secretly met with Dread the night before.
• Momondo reacted in disbelief to what Li Wei and Ash told him and asked them to repeat it.

Li Wei used his Unova League authority to stop Mayor Momondo and the People of the Land from relocating the Sword of the Vale Castle and trapping Victini. After Victini showed Momondo the King's final warning, Momondo agreed to cooperate, but thunder announced Zekrom's arrival.

• Li Wei presented his League credentials and told Momondo that the People of the Land could not move back to the Land of the Earth.
• Li Wei revealed that he knew Momondo had helped Dread eavesdrop, then explained that he intended to free Victini rather than threaten the mayor.
• Li Wei told Momondo that the King had warned Victini that moving the Sword of the Vale Castle would disrupt the dragon vein and bring disaster.
• Victini showed Momondo the King's final words from a thousand years earlier, and Momondo agreed to cooperate and contact Dread.
• Thunder roared across the sky as Zekrom arrived.