Recaps

The Aether Foundation visited Professor Kukui’s house to learn about Cosmog, and Professor Burnet explained that it was likely an Ultra Beast. After Ash described his dream of Solgaleo and Lunala, Lusamine agreed to leave Cosmog in his care, with Li Wei offering to keep an eye on things.

• Professor Burnet showed Ash and the others images of the Altar of the Sunne and explained that Cosmog was likely an Ultra Beast.
• Ash recognized the Altar from his dream and said Solgaleo and Lunala had appeared there before Cosmog.
• Li Wei arrived at Professor Kukui’s invitation and backed Ash when Faba questioned whether a child could care for Cosmog.
• Lillie and Professor Kukui described Ash’s achievements and his connection to Tapu Koko, while Wicke looked up his record.
• Lusamine entrusted Cosmog to Ash and asked him to contact the Aether Foundation if he ran into trouble.

Lusamine entrusted Cosmog to Ash after learning about his League victories and history of surviving major incidents alongside Li Wei. Back at Professor Kukui’s house, Li Wei suggested that Aether Foundation could not have taken Cosmog away anyway.

• Li Wei reminded Lusamine that Ash’s experience with Legendary Pokémon and extraordinary incidents could make him a safer caretaker for Cosmog than a laboratory.
• Lusamine agreed to let Ash care for Cosmog, and Lillie offered to help.
• Lusamine, Professor Burnet, Wicke, and Faba left for Aether Foundation while Lillie stayed for dinner with Ash and James.
• On the helicopter, Wicke showed Lusamine and Professor Burnet records of Ash’s League wins and major incidents involving Legendary Pokémon, convincing them that Solgaleo and Lunala had chosen him for a reason.
• At Professor Kukui’s house, Li Wei made dinner and said that the others could not have taken Cosmog away.

Ash and his friends visited Aether Paradise, where Lusamine and Wicke showed them the foundation’s Pokémon conservation facilities. Meanwhile, Li Wei and Professor Kukui learned about the foundation’s Ultra Wormhole research, which had identified several Ultra Beasts and was developing warning systems to protect Alola.

• Lusamine invited Ash and his friends to Aether Paradise so they could learn about the organization and examine Cosmog.
• Wicke welcomed the visitors and explained that Aether Paradise treated injured Pokémon and housed research facilities.
• Lusamine hosted a welcome banquet, then Wicke guided Ash, Mallow, Lana, and Lillie through the conservation area.
• Ash compared Aether Paradise’s high-tech facilities with Li Wei’s Pokémon Theme Park, and the girls said they wanted to visit the park.
• Li Wei, Professor Kukui, Professor Burnet, and Faba discussed the foundation’s research into Ultra Wormholes and the Ultra Beasts shown in the Altar of the Sunne murals.
• Professor Burnet presented energy data for several Ultra Beasts, while Faba said the team was developing early-warning systems and response plans for Alola.

Li Wei, Ash, Kukui, and Aether Foundation researchers discussed Ultra Wormholes and how to prepare for Ultra Beasts. Li Wei recommended Lance to help, and the researchers concluded that Cosmog was similar to Pokémon despite coming from another world.

• Lusamine and Professor Burnet presented their Ultra Beast research and discussed Ash's dream and the possibility that some Ultra Beasts did not need to be repelled.
• Professor Burnet theorized that powerful energy could attract or open Ultra Wormholes, while Li Wei recognized that Cosmog's energy might draw other visitors from Ultra Space.
• Kukui stressed the need to prepare Alola's residents, and Li Wei recommended Lance to help with the response.
• Burnet, Faba, and Wicke examined Cosmog and found its Ultra Aura energy normal, concluding that creatures from other worlds were much like Pokémon but could still pose a danger.
• Li Wei, Ash, and the others left Aether Paradise and returned toward Melemele Island.

Ash met Gladion at Ten Carat Hill and learned why Lillie had become afraid of Pokémon, while Gladion discovered that Ash and Li Wei viewed Ultra Beasts differently. Gladion was left shaken after Ash revealed that Tapu Koko had brought Cosmog to him.

• Cosmog teleported Ash, Pikachu, and Lycanroc (Dusk Form) to Ten Carat Hill, where Ash reunited with Gladion and showed him Lycanroc’s new form.
• Gladion introduced Ash to Silvally, which recognized Cosmog as an Ultra Beast and took a battle stance before Gladion calmed it.
• Ash encouraged Gladion to visit Lillie and told him she could now touch Snowy and Pikachu and ride a Stoutland.
• Gladion explained that Nihilego had attacked Lillie, leaving her traumatized, and that Silvally had protected them; Lillie remembered none of the incident.
• Gladion warned Ash that Ultra Beasts brought disaster, but Ash cited Li Wei’s view that each Ultra Beast was an individual and said Solgaleo, Lunala, and Tapu Koko had entrusted Cosmog to him.
• Gladion was stunned to learn that Tapu Koko had brought an Ultra Beast to Ash.

At Ten Carat Hill, Ash and Gladion discussed Cosmog before battling with Lycanroc and Silvally. The battle ended when Lycanroc lost control over its dirty mane, and Gladion left after agreeing to meet Ash again at the Alola League.

• Gladion said he would defeat Cosmog if it revealed itself to be a dangerous Ultra Beast, while Ash insisted Cosmog was different.
• Gladion asked why Legendary Pokémon and Tapu Koko had chosen Ash, and Ash challenged him to a battle instead of answering.
• Ash's Lycanroc battled Gladion's Silvally, but it went berserk after being knocked into a pond and getting its mane dirty.
• Cosmog's ultrasonic cries cleaned Lycanroc, ending the battle, and Gladion asked Ash to keep his encounter with Silvally a secret.
• Gladion said he wanted to battle Ash's Charizard and Greninja, and Ash invited him to compete in the Alola League.

Faba took Type: Null from Gladion and tried to keep Lillie from recovering her memories of the past. As Lillie and Ash explored the underground laboratory, Gladion revealed Faba’s actions to Lusamine, who learned that Faba had opened an Ultra Wormhole without permission.

• Faba used Hypnosis to overpower Gladion and took Type: Null back to the Aether Foundation.
• Li Wei left Alola to help Goomy adapt to the Theme Park’s wetland habitat.
• Encouraged by Ash, Professor Kukui, Professor Burnet, and others, Lillie set out with Cosmog to recover her memories and was teleported with Ash to a beach from her childhood.
• Cosmog led Lillie and Ash to an underground laboratory, where Faba saw them and decided he might have to erase Lillie’s memories again.
• Gladion confronted Lusamine about Type: Null, then told her that it had saved him and Lillie and that Faba had opened an Ultra Wormhole without permission.
• Lusamine learned what had happened four years earlier, and Gladion told her he believed she had pursued the Ultra Wormhole because she wanted to find his father.

Li Wei and Lance anticipated Faba’s attempt to abduct Cosmog and set a trap near the Pokémon School. Faba was caught and arrested, while Cosmog was rescued unharmed.

• Gladion confronted Lusamine over her neglect of Lillie, while Faba escaped after Silvally freed Lillie and defeated his Pokémon.
• Li Wei returned to Alola, heard what had happened, and told Ash to protect Cosmog and Professor Kukui to keep Lusamine safe.
• Li Wei secretly brought Chief Investigator Lance to Melemele Island, where Lance disguised himself as a janitor near the Pokémon School.
• Two days later, Faba lured Cosmog to a secluded clearing with Konpeitō while the school was on an outdoor lesson.
• Lance and Li Wei revealed their identities and surrounded Faba with their Pokémon as Dragapult carried Cosmog to safety.
• Lance and Li Wei arrested Faba for attempting to abduct Cosmog and charged him over opening an Ultra Wormhole without authorization.

Li Wei and Lance arrested Faba before he could abduct Cosmog and brought him to Aether Paradise for a discussion with Lusamine and the Aether Foundation. Lance established that new League rules would regulate Ultra Wormhole research, while Faba still faced responsibility for releasing Nihilego and trying to erase Lillie’s memories.

• Li Wei and Lance revealed that they had trapped Faba at Pokémon School and took him into custody.
• Faba apologized to Lillie, who told him she hoped he had truly understood his wrongdoing.
• Li Wei, Lance, Ash, Lillie, and Professor Kukui used Cosmog’s Teleport to reach Aether Paradise and meet Lusamine, Gladion, and Wicke.
• Lance explained that new Pokémon League regulations required oversight of Ultra Wormhole research and prohibited unauthorized openings.
• Lance said the rules would not apply retroactively, but Faba remained responsible for releasing Nihilego and trying to erase Lillie’s memories.

Li Wei and Lance established Pokémon League oversight for Aether Foundation research into Ultra Wormholes and proposed a team to respond to Ultra Beast incidents. Li Wei recommended Ash, Kiawe, Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana as the Ultra Guardians’ founding members.

• Lance explained that Faba could avoid prison if he secured forgiveness from Lusamine, Lillie, and Gladion, while facing corrective labor for his misconduct.
• Lusamine agreed to League oversight and said the Aether Foundation would temporarily halt its Ultra Wormhole research, but Lance told her research could continue under strict supervision.
• Li Wei and Lance outlined how dangerous Ultra Beasts would be captured and supervised, while lost ones would be returned to their home dimensions.
• Li Wei proposed forming the Ultra Guardians to safely handle Ultra Beast incidents and protect Alola.
• Li Wei nominated Ash, Kiawe, Lillie, Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana as the team’s founding members.

Li Wei, Lance, Lusamine, and Professor Kukui agreed to form the Ultra Guardians, with Ash and the other students among its members. Faba revealed preparations he had made to combat Ultra Beasts, and Lusamine forgave his past mistakes while insisting he accept punishment and oversight.

• Li Wei proposed Ash, Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, and the other students for the Ultra Guardians, and reassured Lusamine that they could face the danger with proper training and support.
• Lance and Professor Kukui supported Li Wei's plan, and Lusamine agreed to provide the Ultra Guardians with Aether Foundation resources.
• Faba drew the group's attention and claimed he had prepared Ultra Aura-resistant suits and powerful Pokémon for responding to Ultra Beasts.
• Faba explained that he had avoided using the Pokémon during the underground laboratory incident because Lillie might have been caught in the crossfire, and Li Wei judged his account truthful.
• Lusamine required Faba to accept punishment and oversight for his unauthorized research and the harm caused to Lillie, but forgave his past mistakes in light of his preparations and remorse.

Lusamine formed the Ultra Guardians to protect Alola from Ultra Beasts, and Ash, Lillie, Kiawe, Mallow, Lana, and Sophocles agreed to become its first members. The team was officially established, while Gladion remained away to train for the Alola Pokémon League tournament.

• Wicke verified Faba's twenty Ride Pokémon, and Lusamine placed his research under supervision while assigning him community service and custody to Lance.
• Ash and the others entered Lusamine's office after Gladion left with Silvally to continue training and promised to meet Ash at the Alola Pokémon League tournament.
• Lusamine explained that the Ultra Guardians would capture and assess Ultra Beasts that entered their world, then return them safely to Ultra Space.
• Ash, Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, and Lillie agreed to join the Ultra Guardians, with Lillie saying she wanted to face danger bravely like her mother.
• Lusamine officially established Alola's Ultra Guardians.

Li Wei and Lance prepared the newly formed Ultra Guardians with rigorous training to protect Alola from Ultra Beasts. A week later, the team had completed its initial training and gained a headquarters and secret route to respond to future incidents.

• Li Wei and Lance outlined combat, aerial, and emergency-response training for Ash, Lillie, Kiawe, and the others, and the group agreed to begin.
• Faba received one year of community service, lost his independent laboratory, and became Wicke's subordinate after Lusamine and Lillie forgave him.
• The Ultra Guardians trained against Li Wei's and Lance's Pokémon and chose ride Pokémon, with Lillie becoming an especially skilled rider.
• The Aether Foundation funded an Ultra Guardians headquarters connected to the Pokémon School, where Clefable would alert the team when an Ultra Beast appeared.
• Ash and the others rehearsed using the classroom's secret passage, changing into their uniforms, and riding out to respond to missions.

Ash and the others went sledding on Mount Lanakila, where Alolan Ninetales and Snowy enjoyed the snow and the group encountered Ice-type Pokémon. During a rest stop, Hoopa astonished Professor Kukui by fetching food from Li Wei’s home through a golden ring.

• Professor Kukui announced that he and Li Wei would take the students sledding on Mount Lanakila, and Lillie told Snowy that the mountain was its home.
• Li Wei, Professor Kukui, Hala, Kiawe, Ash, and the others arrived at Mount Lanakila, where Alolan Ninetales and Snowy played in the snow while the group started a snowball fight and built a snowman.
• Professor Kukui explained that Pokémon could evolve on Mount Lanakila, and Hala planned to evolve his Crabrawler into Crabominable.
• The group encountered Ice-type Pokémon as they walked toward the sledding area, then stopped for a thirty-minute rest because the snowy path had tired some of the students.
• Li Wei asked Hoopa to bring over food, and Hoopa used a golden ring to fetch the food from Li Wei’s dining table at home, leaving Professor Kukui amazed.

Li Wei, Ash, and their friends visited Mount Lanakila to watch Hala’s Crabrawler evolve and enjoy the snow, where they met sled racer Sarah. After Crabrawler evolved into Crabominable, the group headed to the competition grounds and reunited with Sarah.

• Li Wei shared sandwiches with the group, and Lillie noticed Snowy was missing, so Ash and the others went to search for her.
• Ash and Sophocles found Snowy with Sarah and her Alolan Ninetales, and Sarah invited them to enter the next day’s Pokémon sled jumping competition.
• Hala’s Crabrawler defeated Sneasel with Power-Up Punch and evolved into Crabominable, whose fistprint matched tracks the group had found in the snow.
• Hala said he planned to enter Crabominable in the competition, while Li Wei’s Alolan Ninetales showed little interest in sled jumping.
• At the competition grounds, Sarah greeted Li Wei and told him she was a devoted fan.

Li Wei, Ash, Lillie, Kiawe, and Hala visited Mount Lanakila to enter the Poké Sled Jumping Competition and practiced with Sarah. Lillie overcame her fear enough to jump with Snowy, who began learning Aurora Veil before the competition started the next day.

• Li Wei and the others met Sarah at the ski jump venue, where she invited them to enter and practice for the competition.
• Ash, Kiawe, Lillie, Li Wei, and Hoopa decided to compete, and Sarah explained the event and led them to a practice ground.
• Li Wei and Hoopa landed safely using Trick Room, while Kiawe and Turtonator crash-landed and Ash forgot to have Pikachu use a move.
• Lillie fell on her first jump but tried again after encouragement, and Snowy used Powder Snow during their second attempt.
• Sarah and her Alolan Ninetales began teaching Snowy Aurora Veil, and the competition was set to begin the next day.

The competitors took part in the Mount Lanakila Pokémon Sled Jump competition, where Li Wei and Hoopa’s Trick Room performance won them the championship. Lillie and Snowy placed third after successfully using Aurora Veil, while Kiawe and Ash crashed and received no scores.

• Hala and Crabominable opened the competition with a powerful jump and earned high scores.
• Kiawe and Turtonator failed to get airborne because Turtonator’s weight pulled the sled down, leaving them with no score.
• Lillie and Snowy used Aurora Veil in midair, landed successfully, and earned third place.
• Ash and Pikachu used Gigavolt Havoc during their jump, but its recoil sent them into a distant snowdrift, and they received no score.
• Li Wei and Hoopa used Trick Room to create a colorful aerial display and landed steadily, winning the competition ahead of Hala and Crabominable.

Li Wei explained to his class how environmental and cultural pressures shaped regional Pokémon forms, using Galarian Farfetch'd as an example. He suggested their enormous leeks accounted for much of their extra weight.

• Ash remained fourth in the Alola Master League rankings, putting his place in the Top 32 at risk, while Li Wei led the standings.
• Li Wei taught his class about regional forms using Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix as examples.
• Lillie asked why Galarian Farfetch'd differed so greatly from other Farfetch'd and could evolve into Sirfetch'd.
• Li Wei explained that intense competition across generations, along with social and cultural pressures, could shape a Pokémon's form.
• Li Wei described Galarian Farfetch'd's darker feathers and stronger legs, then proposed that their huge leeks accounted for much of their extra weight.

Li Wei explained how Galarian Farfetch'd's fighting habits and leek could lead to its evolution into Sirfetch'd. Principal Oak summoned the Ultra Guardians, and Lusamine introduced Buzzwole as an Ultra Beast that research had confirmed was a Pokémon from another world.

• Li Wei told Lillie and the class that Galarian Farfetch'd's fighting lifestyle strengthened its body and might allow it to evolve into Sirfetch'd after reaching a peak of skill and spirit.
• Principal Oak called the Ultra Guardians to move out, and Li Wei led Ash, Lillie, and the others down to their Aether Foundation-funded base.
• Lusamine showed the group footage of Buzzwole emerging from an Ultra Wormhole and said the researchers had named it.
• Professor Burnet reported that research with Professor Kukui, Professor Rowan, and Professor Oak had confirmed Ultra Beasts were Pokémon with virtually no difference from other Pokémon.
• Lusamine played surveillance footage of Buzzwole defeating Incineroar and Pangoro, then sent its data to Pokédex Rotom, which identified it as Bug and Fighting type.

Ash and the others launched their first Ultra Guardians mission to catch Buzzwole and return it through an Ultra Wormhole. As they approached, Buzzwole had already begun a contest of strength with Bewear.

• Li Wei suggested Buzzwole might be naturally combative, and Lusamine assigned the Ultra Guardians to catch it and return it to its original world.
• The team received Beast Balls and a first aid kit, then flew out from the Pokémon School while Li Wei tracked Buzzwole and sent Latias and Latios to help.
• Li Wei spotted Bewear behind Buzzwole and reflected that he would only consider taking Bewear and its child along if they wanted to leave Alola.
• Bewear and Buzzwole faced off in a stalemate of strength as Meowth watched nearby and wondered what the muscle-bound Pokémon was.

Buzzwole fought Bewear, drained Snorlax for food, and battled Ash and Pikachu before getting distracted by a bodybuilding pose contest. Li Wei chose to leave the harmless Poipole alone as it watched Ash’s group.

• Buzzwole wrestled Bewear at the lake until Bewear retreated to keep Jessie, James, and the others safe.
• Li Wei directed Ash and his friends to the grassland near Mahalo Trail, where Buzzwole was draining Snorlax; they restored Snorlax while Ash challenged Buzzwole.
• Buzzwole outmaneuvered Pikachu and struck it into a tree, but Pikachu hit Buzzwole with Thunderbolt.
• Poipole appeared near the lightning, and Li Wei told Latias and Latios to leave it alone because it would likely approach Ash by itself.
• Buzzwole admired Kiawe’s muscles and started posing with him, then Ash and Pikachu joined their bodybuilding contest.

After Cosmoem’s evolution dream, Ash and his friends gathered at the Altar of the Sunne to say goodbye as it became Solgaleo and returned to Ultra Space. Li Wei reassured Ash that Solgaleo would return, leaving Ash hopeful despite their separation.

• Sophocles caught Buzzwole, and Li Wei sent it back to Ultra Space through the portable Ultra Wormhole device.
• Ash dreamed that Cosmoem evolved into Solgaleo and vanished into an Ultra Wormhole, then told Li Wei, Professor Kukui, and his friends.
• Li Wei told Ash that Solgaleo needed to return to Ultra Space, and Ash agreed to say goodbye after school.
• At the Altar of the Sunne, Cosmoem evolved into Solgaleo, which accepted Konpeitō from Ash and affectionately licked him and Pikachu.
• Solgaleo opened an Ultra Wormhole and departed for Ultra Space, and Li Wei comforted Ash by promising that their bond would endure and Solgaleo would return.

Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet married, while Li Wei and Cynthia discussed their own plans to wed the following year. Three days later, Ash and his classmates became excited about a Battle Royal exhibition featuring the Masked Royal, whose secret identity Li Wei already knew.

• Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet held their wedding at Kala'e Bay, with Principal Oak officiating and their friends and the Pokémon School students attending.
• Hoopa steered the wedding bouquet into Cynthia's hands, and Li Wei and Cynthia told Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet they planned to marry by the following year.
• Lusamine asked Ash about Gladion, and Ash reassured her that he expected to meet Gladion at the Alola League Conference; Lusamine then invited Lillie to dinner.
• Ash watched a Battle Royal rerun and became interested in the competition after seeing Incineroar fight, while his classmates discussed the Masked Royal's winning streak.
• Sophocles told Ash and the others about an upcoming Masked Royal exhibition match, and the group agreed to attend; Li Wei entered class knowing Professor Kukui was the Masked Royal.

Ash and his friends attended the Masked Royal’s fan event at the Battle Royal Dome, where Ash’s Litten rushed onto the stage and challenged Professor Kukui’s Incineroar. The three-on-one match left Litten battered but still defiant, and the Masked Royal told Incineroar to answer its resolve as they faced off for a final clash.

• The Masked Royal appeared at the Battle Royal Dome with Incineroar while Jessie, James, and Meowth hosted the event.
• Litten recognized Professor Kukui beneath his mask, rushed onto the Battle Stage, and prompted him to invite Ash, Kiawe, and Sophocles to battle.
• Ash sent out Litten, Kiawe chose Marowak, and Sophocles chose Charjabug for a three-on-one Battle Royal against Incineroar.
• Incineroar’s Darkest Lariat quickly knocked out Charjabug and Marowak, while Litten narrowly avoided the attack but was badly hurt.
• Litten got back up and defiantly challenged Incineroar, prompting the Masked Royal to tell Incineroar to answer its resolve.
• Ash ordered Litten to use Fire Fang as the Masked Royal called for Incineroar’s full-power Inferno Overdrive.

After losing to the Masked Royal’s Incineroar, Ash and his friends trained with Litten until it evolved into Torracat during a rematch. Torracat mastered Flame Charge and broke through Incineroar’s defenses, but their battle continued.

• Litten lost to the Masked Royal’s Incineroar, and Ash carried it from the battlefield.
• Ash and his friends trained Litten to learn Flame Charge, while Li Wei helped by feeding it spicy, Fire-energy-rich Pokéblocks.
• Two days later, the Masked Royal challenged Ash to a rematch, and Incineroar quickly overpowered Litten again.
• As Incineroar held it, Litten’s determination triggered its evolution into Torracat.
• Torracat used Flame Charge to break through Darkest Lariat and burn Incineroar’s arm, then prepared to attack again.