Chapter Summaries

On the eve of the Grand Festival, Dawn gathered her Pokémon and friends to prepare for the competition, while Nurse Joy invited Li Wei to judge. Li Wei declined to score contestants and agreed to appear on the judging panel only as a special guest, with the arrangement to be announced clearly.

• At the welcome banquet, Dawn reunited with Zoey, Kenny, Jessilina, Ursula, and other Coordinators, and she and Zoey reaffirmed their promise to meet in the final stage.
• In her hotel suite, Dawn encouraged her Pokémon, showed them her mother's first Ribbon, and thanked Ash, Brock, and her companions for helping her reach the Grand Festival.
• Nurse Joy called Li Wei and invited him to judge the Grand Festival after the Nurse Joys and Fantina supported the proposal.
• Li Wei refused to score contestants because he was Dawn's teacher and could be accused of favoring her or harming her rivals.
• Li Wei offered to sit with the judges as a special guest without scoring, and Nurse Joy accepted the arrangement.
• Nurse Joy asked Li Wei to arrive before nine thirty and dress formally, and he said he would arrive around nine.

Li Wei attended the Sinnoh Grand Festival as a special qualifying official responsible for contestants’ Pokémon health and emergencies, while Dawn prepared to compete. His appearance surprised the contestants and gave Dawn confidence as the first qualifying round approached.

• Bai'an opened the Grand Festival and introduced the double-performance format and its judges.
• Brock identified the three Nurse Joys by tiny differences, embarrassing Ash and Shiyin in their private room.
• Bai'an introduced Fantina and then Li Wei as special qualifying officials, explaining that Li Wei would not score contestants.
• Dawn felt proud and more confident when Li Wei appeared, while Ursula was shocked to learn he was Dawn’s teacher.
• Li Wei addressed the audience and urged contestants to show their bonds with their Pokémon while following the rules.

The Grand Festival's first qualifying judging began on three stages, with Ursula, Nando, Jessie, and other Coordinators showcasing their performances. Zoey then took the Blue Stage with Gastrodon and Lumineon, creating water curtains and rising waterspouts as her act continued.

• Li Wei encouraged Dawn before the first round of judging began, then sat beside Nurse Joy and Mr. Contesta as a guest observer.
• Ursula had her two Eevee perform Iron Tail and Hidden Power before evolving them into Vaporeon and Flareon with Water Stone and Fire Stone.
• Nando performed with Altaria and Kricketot, using Perish Song to create harmless, colorful musical notes that fascinated Meloetta and the audience.
• Jessie performed with Seviper and Yanmega, finishing in a pink evening gown after Yanmega's Silver Wind shredded her outfit.
• Other Coordinators presented varied acts, and Zoey began her water-themed performance with Gastrodon and Lumineon on the Blue Stage.

Dawn performed in the Pokémon Contest preliminary judging, using Cyndaquil and Buneary to create an ice roller coaster and a dramatic finale. Her routine ended with Buneary enclosed in an icy Poké Ball beneath Cyndaquil’s flame-like wings.

• Kenny’s planned finale failed when Empoleon’s Flash Cannon struck Floatzel and shattered the Whirlpool, sending Floatzel flying.
• Dawn took the stage as Li Wei, Ash, and her supporters cheered her on.
• Dawn sent out Cyndaquil and Buneary and began with an icy entrance that showcased their energy.
• Buneary used Ice Beam to form an ice roller coaster, and Cyndaquil rode along it in a Flame Wheel as Buneary followed.
• Dawn had Buneary use Ice Beam and Cyndaquil use Smokescreen, then revealed Buneary inside an icy Poké Ball with Cyndaquil’s flames fluttering above it.

Dawn advanced to the Grand Festival’s second round and faced Ursula in the opening battle. Dawn’s Mamoswine and Galarian Rapidash gained the upper hand, leaving the match poised for its decisive moment.

• Dawn, Zoey, Nando, Jessie, and Ursula advanced from the first judging round, while Kenny failed to qualify.
• The organizers announced that the second round would begin the next day, and Dawn drew Ursula as her first opponent.
• Dawn opened the battle with Mamoswine and Galarian Rapidash against Ursula’s Gabite and Flareon.
• Dawn’s Pokémon countered Ursula’s attacks, repeatedly striking Gabite and reducing Ursula’s score.
• Ursula ordered a final assault, but Mamoswine’s Bulldoze interrupted both Pokémon, allowing Rapidash’s Dazzling Gleam to engulf Gabite and Flareon.

Dawn defeated Ursula, Jessie, and the other contenders to reach the Grand Festival final against Zoey, with Dragonair evolving into Dragonite during her semifinal battle. She chose Piplup and Togekiss for the final, and Li Wei promised to support her.

• Dawn defeated Ursula in under five minutes, advancing to the next round as Ursula vowed to do better next time.
• Jessie, Nando, Dawn, and Zoey reached the semifinals, where Zoey and Dawn advanced to the final.
• Jessie's Seviper poisoned Dawn's Dragonair, but Dragonair evolved into Dragonite and was cured of the poison.
• Dawn and Dragonite teamed up with Togekiss to defeat Jessie and secure Dawn's place in the final against Zoey.
• Dawn told Li Wei she had chosen Piplup and Togekiss for the final, and Li Wei said he would support her.

Dawn and Zoey faced off in the Sinnoh Grand Festival final, trading combinations with their Pokémon as the five-minute contest battle unfolded. Dawn countered Zoey’s last-minute strategy with a spectacular waterspout and pulled ahead before time ran out.

• Dawn and Zoey began the final with Piplup and Togekiss against Glameow and Gallade, and Dawn blocked Zoey’s opening attacks with Whirlpool and Air Slash.
• Zoey used Gallade and Glameow’s coordinated moves to score points and take a temporary lead, while Dawn answered with combinations of her own.
• Saiko arrived to watch as the battle continued, and the two coordinators exchanged attacks until Vivian announced that one minute remained.
• Zoey restrained Togekiss with Psychic and sent Glameow in with Fury Swipes, but Dawn used Piplup’s Whirlpool and Togekiss’s Extreme Speed to create a waterspout and make Glameow miss.
• Piplup dodged Gallade’s Vacuum Wave, leapt onto Gallade, and struck it with Hydro Pump just as time ran out.

Dawn won the Grand Festival by a razor-thin margin over Zoey and became a Top Coordinator. After celebrating with her family, friends, and Pokémon, she returned Saiko’s first Ribbon and prepared to continue her journey.

• Dawn narrowly defeated Zoey as the match timer expired, earning the Top Coordinator title and the crowd’s cheers.
• Dawn and Zoey congratulated each other, and Li Wei presented Dawn with the championship trophy.
• Li Wei and Ash agreed to give their upcoming battle everything they had, while the Chat Group planned a gathering in Jubilife City after the Lily of the Valley Conference.
• Dawn reunited with Saiko, who praised her performance and advised her not to become overconfident.
• Dawn returned Saiko’s first Ribbon and agreed to attend the Lily of the Valley Conference with Ash before coming back for special training.

After Dawn won the Lakeside Battle Arena competition, she thanked Zoey and set her sights on becoming a Coordinator as renowned as Wallace. Back in Jubilife City, Li Wei began treating Dragonite and Red Gyarados for injuries and fatigue from Lance's raid on Pokémon poachers.

• Nando congratulated Dawn before leaving to prepare for the Lily of the Valley Conference, while Zoey said she would return to Snowpoint City and then travel through Johto.
• Dawn thanked Zoey for supporting her and set herself the goal of becoming the next Wallace.
• Li Wei returned to Jubilife City with his Pokémon, and Zeraora, Lucario, and the others headed to Falling Star Valley while Diancie and Meloetta went to rehearse.
• Li Wei examined Dragonite and Red Gyarados, finding scratches from special netting as well as fatigue in Dragonite's wings and back muscles.
• Dayou and Incineroar helped Li Wei polish Gyarados's scales, while Li Wei cleaned Dragonite's scales and began massaging its strained muscles.

The Master League round of sixteen began with Group A’s opening battle between Lorelei and Wallace, as both Trainers traded tactical plays in a close match. Lorelei sent out her hidden ace, Articuno, and the battle continued with neither side having secured a clear advantage.

• The round of sixteen introduced a four-group double round-robin format, with Lorelei and Wallace opening Group A’s matches.
• Lorelei sent out Alolan Ninetales, while Wallace answered with Milotic, and the two Pokémon traded defensive boosts and attacks.
• Lorelei and Wallace cycled through their teams, including Cloyster, Slowbro, Swampert, Ludicolo, Jynx, Whiscash, and Walrein, keeping the match even.
• Lorelei sent out Articuno, intensifying the cold across the battlefield.

Lorelei defeated Wallace in Group A, avenging her previous loss and earning her first points in the round-robin stage. The first Group B match then began, with Steven’s Skarmory setting hazards and forcing Raihan’s Flygon to switch out.

• Lorelei used Articuno and Lapras to defeat Wallace’s Gyarados, Ludicolo, and Milotic, winning their match.
• Lorelei and Wallace exchanged praise as the crowd celebrated her victory, while the observers discussed her chances in Group A.
• After Li Wei and Dayou continued tending to Dragonite and Red Gyarados, Steven and Raihan began their Group B match.
• Raihan sent out Flygon to create a sandstorm, while Steven led with Skarmory, which was protected from the sand by its Steel typing.
• Skarmory set Spikes on Raihan’s side, then used Whirlwind to force Flygon back into its Poké Ball and bring out Gigalith.
• Gigalith took damage from the Spikes, and Steven ordered Skarmory to use Body Press.

Steven defeated Raihan in a hard-fought Group B match by using entry hazards and Gigantamax Corviknight to wear down Gigantamax Duraludon. Cynthia beat Caitlin and Leon defeated Drake, while Red decided to train with Pikachu after watching the battles.

• Steven used Skarmory's Spikes and Whirlwind to pressure Raihan's team, while Torkoal knocked Skarmory out after changing the weather.
• Steven's Metagross defeated Torkoal and battled Turtonator as the match continued.
• Raihan Gigantamaxed Duraludon, and Steven answered with Gigantamax Corviknight, which stalled it for three turns before being knocked out.
• Steven's Metagross finished Duraludon with Hammer Arm, giving Steven the victory over Raihan.
• Cynthia defeated Caitlin, and Leon defeated Drake after Rillaboom and Gigantamax Charizard overcame their opponents.
• Red watched the stadium livestream and decided to train with Pikachu.

The Master League final eight were decided as Ash and Dawn arrived in Michina, where Li Wei prepared to meet Arceus. The chapter left Ash and his friends noticing something drifting down a river.

• Cynthia, Lorelei, Leon, Steven, Lance, Bruno, Diantha, and Norman advanced to the Master League final eight, while Wallace and Raihan were eliminated.
• Ash told the Chat Group that he, Dawn, and Brock had reached Michina, whose prosperity was tied to Arceus lending Damos the Plates that formed the Jewel of Life.
• Li Wei decided to travel to Michina and prepared Regigigas and Darkrai as backup, while considering calling Black Rayquaza or Giratina if needed.
• Li Wei asked the Theme Park staff to call Lucario and the others back before he left.
• Ash and Dawn released their Pokémon by Michina’s clear river, where they spotted something drifting downstream.

Ash and his friends visited the Michina Ruins, where a mysterious black hole threatened to swallow Pikachu and Piplup. A woman summoned Dialga to rescue them, while Li Wei gathered his Pokémon and challenged Arceus.

• Ash and Dawn defeated Kenta and Yoshiko’s Heracross and Beautifly in a battle, then shared watermelon with them.
• Kenta and Yoshiko led Ash and his friends to the Michina Ruins, where Absol sensed an approaching calamity and watched them.
• Waterspouts rose from the lake as a black hole appeared in the sky and began pulling Pikachu and Piplup toward it.
• A woman summoned Dialga, which rescued Pikachu and Piplup and used Roar of Time to make the black hole disappear.
• Li Wei gathered his Pokémon, contacted Darkrai through the Legendary Pact, and asked whether it dared to take on Arceus.

Sheena and Kevin explained how the Power of Overcoming let Sheena communicate with Dialga and Palkia, who had resolved their misunderstanding and returned to their worlds. At the Michina Ruins, Sheena showed Ash and his friends the Time-Space Instrument and revealed that she hoped to return the Life Jewel to Arceus before Michina faced disaster.

• Sheena introduced herself and Kevin as guardians of the Michina Ruins and invited Ash and his friends to come with them.
• Palkia emerged from the Alternate Dimension, but Dialga and Palkia met without fighting because they had cleared up their misunderstanding, with Li Wei credited for helping resolve it.
• Sheena used the Power of Overcoming to communicate her thoughts and feelings directly to Dialga and Palkia.
• Dialga and Palkia opened spatial passages and returned to their respective worlds, and Sheena invited Ash and the others to the temple on Mount Michina.
• Sheena and Kevin showed the group the Time-Space Instrument and explained how they used it to investigate space-time anomalies.
• Sheena hoped Li Wei would join them and resolved to return the Life Jewel to Arceus to prevent Michina's destruction and Arceus's anger.

Sheena explained the legend of Arceus to Ash and his friends, revealing that Arceus planned to judge humanity because Damos had betrayed it. As Arceus awakened and headed for Michina, Li Wei raced toward the ruins, where Sheena's account ended just as she began describing the betrayal.

• Sheena brought Ash and his friends to the ruins and explained the Time-Space Instrument and the recent distortions.
• Arceus awakened in the Alternate Dimension, discovered five Plates were missing, and headed toward Michina.
• Li Wei urged Metagross to fly at full speed toward Michina.
• Sheena told Ash that Arceus hated humanity and showed the group a projection of Michina's legend.
• The projection showed Arceus shatter a meteorite, lose its eighteen Plates, and receive them back from Damos.
• Sheena explained that Arceus had used five Plates to create the Life Jewel and restore Michina before beginning to describe Damos's betrayal.

Sheena tried to return the Life Jewel and stop Arceus from destroying Michina, but Arceus exposed it as a fake and prepared to attack. As its Dragon Pulse was about to strike, Darkrai, Zeraora, Lucario, and Metagross launched attacks.

• Sheena told Ash, Dawn, and Brock that Arceus had awakened after Damos betrayed it and that she planned to return the Life Jewel.
• Team Rocket secretly considered stealing the Life Jewel before the Time-Space Instrument alarmed, signaling Arceus's arrival.
• Arceus appeared over Mount Michina and attacked the town with Draco Meteor, intending to destroy the Michina Kingdom.
• Sheena approached Arceus, apologized for Damos's actions, and placed the Life Jewel before it.
• Arceus shattered the orb and revealed that it was fake, leaving Sheena stunned as its Dragon Pulse prepared to strike.
• Darkrai, Zeraora, Lucario, and Metagross attacked Arceus with Dark Void, Thunderbolt, Aura Sphere, and Flash Cannon.

After Sheena presented a fake Life Jewel, the enraged Arceus attacked Michina Temple, and Li Wei arrived with his Pokémon to protect the others and attempt negotiations. Arceus rejected his plea and unleashed a powerful Draco Meteor, leaving Li Wei and Ash’s Pokémon fighting to stop the barrage.

• Arceus discovered that Sheena’s Life Jewel was fake and prepared to strike her with Hyper Beam.
• Li Wei arrived with Darkrai, Zeraora, Sky Shaymin, Lucario, Dragapult, and Metagross, whose attacks clashed with Arceus’s Hyper Beam.
• Sheena used the power of overcoming to enter Arceus’s inner world, but Arceus’s anger forced her out before she could communicate.
• Li Wei called for negotiations, but Arceus rejected him and summoned a Draco Meteor stronger than the one Li Wei had previously seen.
• Darkrai and Shaymin fought the meteors while Ash ordered Pikachu and Piplup to attack.

Li Wei and his allies confronted an enraged Arceus after Sheena offered the Fake Life Jewel, and tried to negotiate while preparing to find the real one. When Arceus refused to listen, they fought it and launched a coordinated attack, with Zeraora striking from behind as the battle continued.

• Li Wei arrived at Michina Temple after Sheena had already offered Arceus the Fake Life Jewel, and his Pokémon, Dialga, and Palkia helped block Arceus's Draco Meteor.
• Arceus rejected Li Wei's request to calm down while they searched for the real Life Jewel, then attacked Dialga and Palkia with Hyper Beam.
• Li Wei and Palkia explained that Arceus's anger had blinded it, but Arceus refused to listen and declared judgment on the humans.
• Li Wei identified the Dragon, Ground, Water, Grass, and Electric types as useful against Arceus, but its Fairy Plate nullified Dialga and Palkia's Dragon-type attacks.
• Li Wei, Dawn, and the others attacked Arceus while Diancie and Metagross raised protective screens, and Zeraora, Sky Shaymin, and Dragapult moved behind it.
• Zeraora rushed to Arceus's side and struck with Plasma Fists.

Li Wei and his allies fought Arceus above Michina Temple, trying to protect the region and reach the deity beneath its rage. Arceus recovered from their attacks and prepared an enormous sphere of energy as space and time began to collapse.

• Li Wei directed Ash, Dawn, and their Pokémon to attack Arceus while Dialga and Palkia joined the fight, but Arceus blocked most of their moves and used Recover.
• Zeraora, Sky Shaymin, and the two Dragapult struck Arceus from behind, but Arceus recovered and then overwhelmed Dialga, Palkia, and Darkrai.
• Sheena urged Brock and Kevin to find a way to calm Arceus, while Li Wei and Ash used Arcanine, Infernape, and Ho-Oh's Rainbow Wing to counter Arceus's Blizzard.
• Li Wei tried to speak to Arceus, but the deity continued attacking, and Dialga and Palkia warned that its rage was twisting space and time.
• Arceus gathered an enormous sphere of energy capable of destroying everything.