Recaps

Li Wei accepted Giovanni’s offer to lead Team Rainbow Rocket as chief executive advisor and signed for a five-percent stake, binding himself to the organization’s future. At the Giant Chasm, Keldeo earned the Swords of Justice’s approval, and Cobalion invited Ash and his friends to witness their oath.

• Li Wei accepted the role of chief executive advisor, and Giovanni gave him a terminal and named Sabrina, Lt. Surge, and Lihua as his assistants.
• Giovanni explained that Li Wei would hold the voting rights for his shares and offered him a signed agreement for a five-percent stake in Team Rainbow Rocket.
• Li Wei signed the share transfer agreement and shook hands with Giovanni, who told him to call him Boss.
• At the Giant Chasm, Kyurem acknowledged Keldeo’s courage and returned to the cavern, while Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion praised Keldeo as a true Sword of Justice.
• Ash and his friends prepared to part ways with Keldeo and the Swords of Justice, but Cobalion invited them to witness the Swords’ oath, and they agreed.

Keldeo joined the Swords of Justice and decided to help Ash win the Unova League, while Li Wei became Team Rainbow Rocket’s chief advisor and future leader. Cynthia and the League leaders supported Li Wei’s appointment, and Silver revealed that he had recommended him and reconciled with Giovanni.

• Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion inducted Keldeo into the Swords of Justice after declaring that true courage was born from their united strength.
• Keldeo asked Cobalion for permission to help Ash win the Unova League, and Cobalion agreed that Keldeo could travel with Ash until the Vertress Conference.
• Li Wei told Cynthia that Giovanni had made him Team Rainbow Rocket’s chief advisor and chosen him as the next leader, and Cynthia said the Pokémon League would help keep the organization on the right path.
• Li Wei announced his appointment in the Chat Group, and Silver said he had recommended Li Wei because he was better suited to leading Team Rocket.
• Silver revealed that he and Giovanni had acknowledged each other as father and son, while Steven, Sabrina, and Lt. Surge offered Li Wei their support.

After finishing his matches with Lorelei and Bruno, Li Wei left for Jubilife City as news broke that Giovanni had transferred him a major stake in the Rainbow Group and named him chief executive advisor. Li Wei arrived home to find his family and friends waiting to hear what had happened.

• Li Wei promised a reluctant Mew that he would visit and bring Victini and the others along before leaving for Jubilife City.
• News broadcasts across several regions announced that Giovanni had transferred shares to Li Wei, making him the Rainbow Group's second-largest shareholder and chief executive advisor.
• Steven Stone confirmed that he and Li Wei were discussing business cooperation and a game project.
• Li Wei arrived at Jubilife Airport, where people stared at him because of his newfound wealth and position.
• Li Wei rode Metagross home and found his parents, relatives, Dayou, Xiao Meng, Mizuki, and the others waiting to question him.

Li Wei explained that Giovanni had chosen him as Team Rainbow Rocket’s backup leader, while his main focus remained the Pokémon Theme Park. He checked the hot spring Wellness Center’s progress and planned a plane tree avenue before heading to meet Steven about a business partnership.

• Li Wei told his family that the Pokémon League accepted him as Team Rainbow Rocket’s leader because his relationship with the League would keep the organization in check.
• Li Wei learned that Keldeo had volunteered to help Ash win the Vertress Conference, and he thought Ash might finally take the championship.
• Li Wei reviewed the hot spring Wellness Center’s construction schedule and decided to plant plane trees around it and along its avenue to attract visitors.
• Xiao Rou told Li Wei that Steven had arrived at the Breeding Center to discuss a business partnership, and Li Wei went to meet him.

Li Wei pitched Steven two Pokémon games, FireRed and LeafGreen, which told different Kanto stories through Red’s and Blue’s perspectives. Steven approved the concept, leaving them confident about moving forward with the games.

• Li Wei told Steven the games would share the main journey but differ in content, narrative perspective, and protagonists.
• Li Wei described FireRed as Red’s linear adventure focused on battles, exploration, Team Rocket, and becoming Champion, with Mewtwo and Team Rainbow Rocket as possible postgame content.
• Li Wei explained that LeafGreen would follow Blue through a more complex story about family pressure, rivalry with Red, personal growth, and darker sides of Kanto, with choices affecting parts of the story.
• Steven connected Blue’s pressure to his own experience as Mu Jin Stone’s son and said Blue’s storyline interested him.
• Steven praised the two perspectives as a brilliant way to attract different players and add depth to Kanto, and decided the concept could work.

Li Wei and Steven finalized plans for FireRed and LeafGreen, including version-exclusive Legendary storylines and a cross-version alliance quest, as their first joint project. After lunch, Li Wei left Steven to tell Red and Blue about the game and get their approval before their exhibition match.

• Li Wei proposed hidden Legendary storylines for FireRed and LeafGreen, followed by an online alliance quest where Red and Blue would team up to calm the Legendary Birds.
• Steven praised the game concept, and he and Li Wei agreed to pursue a partnership between Devon Corporation and Rainbow Group using Devon's virtual gaming platform.
• Li Wei and Steven discussed seeking Giovanni's input on possible VR pod and helmet collaboration, then toasted their partnership.
• Li Wei and Steven ate lunch together, and Li Wei promised to make Steven roast duck the next day.
• Li Wei left Steven to explain the project to Red and Blue and obtain their consent before the exhibition match.

Steven shared Li Wei’s plan for a Pokémon game starring Red and Blue, and the Chat Group discussed how to portray Team Rocket and its ties to the Gym Leaders. The idea won support, but Giovanni’s approval was still needed before they could proceed.

• Li Wei made Pokéblocks and Poffins at the Theme Park while Steven stayed there ahead of his Master League match against Li Wei.
• Steven told the Chat Group that Li Wei wanted to create FireRed and LeafGreen, following Red and Blue as they challenged Gyms, fought Team Rocket, and pursued the Pokémon League title.
• Red and Blue agreed to the game, while other members of the Chat Group asked questions and discussed whether Gym Leaders should be portrayed as Team Rocket executives.
• Lance warned that naming Gym Leaders as Team Rocket members could conflict with the Pokémon League’s public account, and Steven relayed Li Wei’s argument that it would heighten the game’s tension.
• Sabrina and Lt. Surge accepted the idea of appearing as Team Rocket executives, and Steven proposed a disclaimer stating that the fictional portrayal did not reflect reality.
• Red and Blue had no objections, leaving Giovanni’s approval as the remaining step.

Li Wei and Steven secured Giovanni’s and Devon Corporation’s support for a Pokémon game based on Red, Blue, and Giovanni’s past. They began developing the story and gameplay for FireRed and LeafGreen, starting with Red’s journey from Pallet Town.

• Matori told Giovanni that Li Wei wanted to base a game character on him, and Giovanni approved the project and pledged Rainbow Group’s support.
• Giovanni reflected on how his past encounters with Team Rocket, Red, Blue, and Li Wei had shaped him and welcomed the chance to have that journey recorded in a game.
• Chat Group members discussed future games and offered suggestions for FireRed and LeafGreen, while Lance offered to handle permission from the Pokémon League.
• Steven called his father, Mu Jin Stone, who agreed to support Li Wei’s game proposal and welcomed the chance for Steven to become involved in Devon Corporation.
• Li Wei and Steven began refining the game, planning Red’s journey from Pallet Town with the classic starter trio, Brock as the first Gym Leader, and Yellow as a girl from Viridian Forest.
• Li Wei and Steven decided that Pokémon would evolve at set levels and that the game would have a level cap of 100.

Li Wei and Steven stayed up all night working on a game before Li Wei agreed to buy his father Leon a costly Devon Precision watch. He also arranged to buy a rose-gold watch for Wen Hui, and Steven planned to send both watches to him.

• Li Wei and Steven worked on their computers through the night while Li Wei chose Lucario, Arcanine, and Victini for his upcoming battle against Steven.
• Leon brought Li Wei and Steven breakfast, then asked Li Wei to buy him a limited-edition Metagross-inspired Devon Precision watch.
• Steven identified the watch as the Thousand Peaks Azure model and explained that it cost 120 million Pokéyen on the secondhand market.
• Li Wei agreed to buy the watch for Leon, who left for work delighted.
• Li Wei asked Steven to recommend a watch for Wen Hui, and Steven offered a rose-gold model alongside Leon's watch for a discounted total price of sixty million.

After finishing the main storyline for FireRed, Li Wei and Steven prepared a music video with Ash before meeting in Jubilife City for their Master League points-stage battle. Arcanine charged at Steven’s Shiny Metagross, which answered with Rock Slide.

• Li Wei and Steven completed the main storyline for FireRed and decided to have Meloetta compose a song for a music video featuring Ash.
• Ash accepted Li Wei’s invitation to record the song after the Unova Pokémon League tournament.
• Li Wei and Steven met at Jubilife City’s Sky Arena for a Master League points-stage match under single-battle rules.
• Li Wei sent out Arcanine while Steven chose his Shiny Metagross.
• Li Wei ordered Arcanine to use Flare Blitz, and Steven had Metagross rise into the sky and launch Rock Slide at Arcanine’s path.

Li Wei defeated Steven in a close battle, proving he could beat a Champion in an official match. The chapter then turned to the Vertress Conference final, where Ash faced Virgil as Li Wei and others watched to see whether Ash could win his first League championship.

• Li Wei defeated Steven's Mega Metagross with Mega Lucario after Arcanine and Victini wore it down.
• Steven congratulated Li Wei, then returned to the Hoenn Region to fulfill his duties as Champion.
• Dawn returned to Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park after finishing second at the Hoenn Grand Festival.
• Ash reached the Vertress Conference final after defeating Trip, Bianca, and Cameron, and faced Virgil and his six Eevee evolutions.
• Li Wei, Cynthia, Dawn, Delia, Professor Oak, Red, and Blue watched as Ash's final began, with Ash and Keldeo showing strong teamwork.

Ash battled Virgil in the Vertress Conference finals and opened with Snivy, which defeated Virgil’s Jolteon. Ash then sent out Meloetta against Flareon, and the match continued as Meloetta transformed into Pirouette Forme and prepared to counter Flareon’s close-range attack.

• Ash opened the finals with Snivy, which used Attract and Leaf Storm to leave Jolteon vulnerable before defeating it with a critical Leaf Blade.
• Virgil sent out Flareon, and Ash recalled Snivy and chose Meloetta instead of Keldeo.
• Meloetta’s Relic Song overpowered Flareon’s Lava Plume and changed Meloetta from Aria Forme into Pirouette Forme.
• Virgil sent Flareon in with Flame Charge, and Ash ordered Meloetta to answer with Close Combat.

At the Vertress Conference finals, Ash built a commanding lead over Virgil by defeating Flareon with Meloetta and drawing with Leafeon using Krookodile. Charizard then battered Espeon, and Ash ordered a Seismic Toss as the chapter ended.

• Meloetta defeated Virgil's Flareon with Close Combat and Psychic, putting Ash ahead two to zero.
• Krookodile and Leafeon knocked each other out after Ash's Fire Fang met Leafeon's boosted Leaf Blade, leaving the score three to one.
• Ash sent out Charizard against Virgil's Espeon, which greeted him with Psychic while Charizard entered the field.
• Charizard struck Espeon with Wing Attack and interrupted its Morning Sun with Thunder Punch.
• Virgil ordered Espeon to use Psychic, and Ash told Charizard to grab it and use Seismic Toss.

Charizard defeated Espeon, and Pikachu overcame Virgil’s ace Eevee, bringing Ash to the brink of winning the Vertress Conference. Virgil sent out Umbreon, while Ash chose Keldeo, which transformed into its Resolute Form as their final battle began.

• Charizard seized Espeon with Psychic and won with a Seismic Toss, extending Ash’s lead to 4-1.
• Virgil sent out his unevolved Eevee, and Ash chose Pikachu for the next battle.
• Pikachu and Eevee traded attacks before their Volt Tackle and Last Resort collided, with Pikachu defeating Eevee.
• Virgil sent out his final Pokémon, Umbreon, and Ash chose Keldeo.
• Keldeo transformed into its Resolute Form as it entered the battlefield.

Ash defeated Virgil to win the Vertress Conference, claiming his first official Pokémon League trophy. He celebrated with Keldeo and Pikachu and said he would keep working toward becoming a Pokémon Master.

• Ash's resolute-form Keldeo overwhelmed Virgil's Umbreon with Sacred Sword and Secret Sword, knocking it out and giving Ash a decisive victory.
• The referee declared Ash the Vertress Conference champion, and Ash hugged Keldeo as Pikachu joined the celebration.
• Cynthia said Ash was qualified to compete in the Master League, while Li Wei and Cynthia doubted Blue would let him enter yet.
• Virgil accepted his defeat and shook Ash's hand before Alder presented Ash with the championship trophy.
• Ash raised the trophy alongside Keldeo, Pikachu, Meloetta, and Charizard, then said he would keep working toward becoming a Pokémon Master.

After Ash won the Vertress Conference, Brock decided to study Pokémon medicine and Iris resolved to train in the Dragon Village after Ash challenged Alder. Ash lost his Champion Challenge to Alder but defeated four of his Pokémon, and the friends parted ways at Castelia Airport.

• Brock reminisced about traveling with Ash and decided to become a Pokémon Doctor, studying in Jubilife City after visiting his family in Kanto.
• Keldeo kept its promise to the Swords of Justice and left Ash to rejoin Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion.
• Iris announced that she would train under Drayden and Alder in the Dragon Village after Ash’s challenge, and she and Ash promised to enter the Master League together.
• Ash challenged Alder with a team of veteran Pokémon, defeated four of Alder’s Pokémon, but lost the battle.
• Iris said goodbye to Ash and Brock at Castelia Airport as they prepared to leave Unova.

Ash visited Jubilife Pokémon Theme Park to record “Aim to Be a Pokémon Master,” while Brock and Dawn settled in to study and train there. After several days of practice with Meloetta and Li Wei, Ash and Pikachu completed a successful recording, leaving Li Wei ready to use it to promote the Pokémon game.

• Ash arrived at the Theme Park with Brock, who planned to study Pokémon medicine there, while Dawn explained that she had chosen to train at the Park after losing to Ruby at the Grand Festival.
• Dawn took Ash and Brock toward the recording studio, but Li Wei postponed the session until that night while he tended to Metagross at the Wellness Center.
• Ash struggled with the song’s melody and rhythm, so Meloetta coached him and Pikachu while Li Wei offered guidance in the studio.
• Over several days, Ash practiced until he and Pikachu delivered a performance that satisfied both Meloetta, and Cynthia, Brock, and Dawn applauded.
• Li Wei called for one more take after the successful recording, intending to use the finished song to promote the game.

Ash departed for the Kalos Region while Steven investigated the Draconids’ Legendary Giant Stone and prepared for a possible meteorite strike on Hoenn. After finding no clues at the Draconid Ruins, Steven called Li Wei for help and planned to bring him ancient stone-tablet rubbings.

• Ash said goodbye to Brock and Dawn, left his Unova Pokémon with Professor Oak, and flew to Kalos with Pikachu and Meloetta.
• Steven investigated the gigantic meteorite that might strike Hoenn and searched for Rayquaza and the Rainbow Meteorite as possible means of stopping it.
• Steven searched the Draconid Ruins for clues to the missing Draconids and Legendary Giant Stone but found nothing.
• Steven decided to visit Sinnoh to learn more about the Draconids and planned to show Li Wei the stone-tablet rubbings.
• Li Wei agreed to meet Steven after Steven called to discuss the rubbings and the approaching danger.

Steven brought Draconid stone tablet rubbings to Li Wei, who learned that an even larger meteorite was prophesied to threaten Hoenn and possibly the whole world. After Steven revealed that space centers had detected a huge meteorite, Li Wei agreed to contact Rayquaza if necessary and suggested where Steven might find the Rainbow Meteorite.

• Steven gave Li Wei the Draconid stone tablet rubbings, and Li Wei inferred that a meteorite larger than the one Rayquaza had shattered was prophesied to fall in Hoenn.
• Li Wei warned Steven and Brock that the meteorite could cause another mass extinction, potentially wiping out humanity, though the prophecy gave no date.
• Steven told Li Wei that the Mossdeep and Hoenn Space Centers had observed an enormous meteorite and were calculating its trajectory, and said he was searching for the Rainbow Meteorite to call Rayquaza.
• Li Wei promised to contact Rayquaza if the meteorite threatened the world, while Steven kept searching for the Rainbow Meteorite as a backup plan.
• Li Wei recalled that the Rainbow Meteorite might rest atop an open-air trapezoidal altar with steps and pillars, and Steven committed the details to memory.

Steven left for the Hoenn Region to investigate whether the prophesied giant meteorite was still hidden in the Draconids’ ruins. Ash began traveling with Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena in Kalos, while Li Wei prepared to join Steven’s investigation with Lucario, Black Rayquaza, Regigigas, and Darkrai.

• Brock questioned whether the thousand-year-old prophecy about a falling meteorite could come true, and Steven headed to Hoenn after Li Wei’s reminder that he might have missed the meteorite in the Draconids’ ruins.
• Ash invited Clemont and Bonnie to the Chat Group, and Clemont said they would travel with Ash while leaving a robot and his Electric-type Pokémon to handle Gym challengers at the Lumiose Gym.
• Ash won his first Kalos Gym battle at the Santalune Gym, met Serena, and invited her to join his group with Clemont and Bonnie.
• Li Wei told Lucario that they might need to travel to Hoenn to investigate the meteorite and planned to bring Black Rayquaza and Regigigas.
• Darkrai agreed to join Li Wei’s trip after hearing that the meteorite might be dangerous, and Li Wei estimated that they would leave within two months.

Steven searched the Draconid Ruins for the Rainbow Meteorite, which he hoped to use to awaken the Sky Pillar’s Rayquaza and stop a Supermassive Meteorite expected to hit Hoenn in about a month. He encountered Alain and Mairin at Meteor Falls, where Alain challenged him to a battle.

• Steven reviewed the Draconids’ history of two meteorite impacts and learned that a third was foretold to arrive a thousand years after the last.
• The Leagues prepared to shatter the incoming Supermassive Meteorite in space, with Black Rayquaza as a backup while Steven planned to summon the Sky Pillar’s Rayquaza using the Rainbow Meteorite.
• Steven searched near Meteor Falls, where his Key Stone Brooch began to resonate, suggesting the Rainbow Meteorite was nearby.
• Alain and Mairin arrived at the Draconid Ruins, and Steven recognized Alain from the Master League.
• Alain challenged Steven to test his growth with Charizard, and Steven accepted.

Steven defeated Alain in a Mega Evolution battle, then invited him to help investigate sealed ruins at Meteor Falls. In Anistar City, Olympia foresaw a future crisis and Ash's Frogadier taking a never-before-seen path, while the Chat Group revealed that preparations to stop the colossal meteorite were already underway.

• Steven's Mega Metagross defeated Alain's Mega Charizard X, and Alain admitted the vast gap between their strength.
• Steven invited Alain and Mairin to the ruins at Meteor Falls, then confirmed with Professor Sycamore that Alain was his assistant.
• Olympia foresaw a calamity threatening Kalos and linked Li Wei, Cynthia, Lance, Steven, Ash, and Professor Sycamore to it.
• Olympia told Ash that Frogadier would gain greater power along a path never seen before, and Ash postponed his Gym challenge until the next day.
• Ash told the Chat Group about the colossal meteorite, and Lance and Cynthia said the League was already preparing to destroy it in space.

Steven, Alain, and Mairin found ancient ruins in Meteor Falls by using their Key Stones to reveal a hidden stairway. They reached a circular altar where Steven believed the legendary giant stone was nearby, and Mairin offered to help search.

• Steven explained the Sun Stone and his search for the legendary giant stone to Mairin and Alain.
• Steven led Alain and Mairin through a tunnel to a misty valley with two pillars bearing markings like Rayquaza's.
• Steven and Alain touched the pillars with their Key Stones, causing a multicolored stairway to appear.
• Steven, Alain, and Mairin climbed the stairway and discovered ancient ruins hidden above the mountain.
• Steven found an inscription at the base of a pillar near the circular altar, while Mairin volunteered to help search for the giant stone.

Steven and Alain activated the two altars with their Key Stones, revealing the Rainbow Meteorite and summoning Rayquaza, which mega evolved. Steven asked Rayquaza for help with a wider crisis, and Rayquaza told him to summon it at the Sky Pillar before taking the meteorite and confronting two Deoxys in space.

• Steven used Li Wei’s translation to have Alain place his Key Stone on the second altar, and their Key Stones activated the Rainbow Meteorite.
• Steven touched the meteorite, unleashing a pillar of rainbow light that drew Rayquaza from the sky.
• Rayquaza mega evolved as Alain prepared to fight, but Steven stepped forward and asked it for help with a crisis threatening more than Hoenn.
• Rayquaza said Steven was not the Successor and told him to summon it at the Sky Pillar when the time came.
• Rayquaza used Dragon Pulse to make the Rainbow Meteorite vanish, then flew into space and roared at two Deoxys trying to enter the Pokémon world.

Li Wei and his companions prepared to travel to Hoenn to stop an approaching meteorite, while Steven investigated signs that the Rainbow Meteorite’s energy might have awakened Groudon and Kyogre. The chapter left Steven considering the danger of their possible Primal Reversion.

• Li Wei, Cynthia, Lorelei, and Dawn set out for Hoenn as the meteorite’s arrival drew nearer, while Red, Green, and their allies also planned to provide backup.
• Steven reported that Rayquaza had taken the Rainbow Meteorite and that its waveform matched the shard Li Wei possessed.
• Li Wei worried that Groudon and Kyogre might awaken, but relaxed after recalling the powerful Pokémon and allies he could summon.
• Steven brought Alain and Mairin to Rustboro City to investigate matching energy readings detected off the coast and beneath the sea near Sootopolis City.
• Steven suspected the readings meant Groudon and Kyogre had awakened, and explained Primal Reversion to Mairin.