Recaps

Chen Shi and his companions attended the Elite King Exhibition Match, where the League had seated several prominent young talents together. They realized the gathering was likely arranged to help future regional leaders meet, and Pheobe was introduced to the group.

• Chen Shi, Pheobe, Cynthia, and Steven headed to the Lavaridge Gym and discussed the crowd and the purpose of Sidney and Mura's exhibition match.
• Chen Shi spotted a red-haired Silver Academy prodigy who specialized in Ice-types, and she exchanged a brief nod with the group.
• The four found Lorelei and Lance seated beside them, prompting Chen Shi to point out that their gathering of notable young people was unlikely to be a coincidence.
• Steven, Cynthia, Chen Shi, Lorelei, and Lance introduced themselves, and Lance suggested the League had deliberately arranged their seats.
• Chen Shi introduced Pheobe as an heir to the tradition of Mt. Pyre, and Lorelei and Lance committed her name to memory.

Chen Shi watched the scripted exhibition match between Sidney and Mura, correctly predicting its staged results. After it ended in a draw, Lance invited Chen Shi and the others to a meal, and they agreed to go with him and Lorelei.

• Sidney and Mura entered the arena and began a three-on-three exhibition match as Chen Shi told Pheobe it would likely end in a draw.
• Sidney sent out Incineroar, but Mura's Ninetales confused it and won the first round after losing most of its stamina.
• Sidney's Greninja defeated Ninetales and Blaziken before becoming unable to battle, taking down two of Mura's Pokémon.
• Sidney and Mura's final Pokémon fought for three hundred rounds before both became unable to battle, ending the match in a draw.
• Lance invited Chen Shi and the others to a meal, Lorelei joined the invitation, and Steven agreed to go.

Chen Shi and the other young Trainers discussed the Pokémon World Championships and their plans after leaving Lavaridge Town. As everyone departed, Cynthia asked Chen Shi if he had anything to say, and he gave her a stream of practical advice before they parted.

• Lance told the group that the Pokémon World Championships could affect how the League invested in promising Trainers, and Lorelei confirmed her headmaster had said the same.
• Steven planned to return to Meteor Falls, Lorelei to the academy, Cynthia to Sinnoh, and Chen Shi agreed to join Steven at Meteor Falls; Pheobe planned to travel.
• Lance said he would investigate reports of Team Magma at Meteor Falls, while Chen Shi and Steven realized their earlier report had likely led to his assignment.
• The group parted after agreeing to meet again at the Pokémon World Championships.
• Cynthia walked with Chen Shi through Lavaridge Town and asked if he had anything else to tell her, so he reminded her to care for Togepi and gave her advice about her belongings, training, and health.

Chen Shi questioned his habit of hiding his abilities and resolved to stop letting fear and overthinking define him after Steven reminded him he had friends who would support him. Nearly a month after the Elite King Exhibition Match, Chen Shi prepared to leave Meteor Falls while Steven stayed one more night to keep digging for stones.

• Chen Shi reflected on the confidence of Lance, Lorelei, Cynthia, and Steven, and worried that he had lost his own confidence and failed to fulfill his promise to his Pokémon.
• Steven explained that his family responsibilities limited the time he could spend on his interests, and told Chen Shi he did not need to hide his abilities because his family and friends would support him.
• Chen Shi felt reassured, touched his necklace and Poké Balls, and made a decision.
• On their twenty-fourth day in Meteor Falls, Steven showed Chen Shi a Heracross Mega Stone, the fifth Mega Stone he had found there.
• Chen Shi announced that he was leaving Meteor Falls, and Steven decided to leave the next day after checking one more spot he had been digging.

Chen Shi asked his grandparents to use their hidden treasure to help Salamence reach Champion level, promising that he and Drakloak could rely on their own opportunities. He revealed Giratina’s naturally shed reverse scale for Drakloak, then received a Dragon Blood Crystal that could help both Salamence and Garchomp reach Champion level.

• Chen Shi told his grandparents he planned to work with the Devon Corporation to search for Mega Stones, and they supported his decision.
• Chen Shi offered Salamence the reverse scale from a Champion Peak Salamence and urged his grandparents to use their hidden resource to help her reach Champion level.
• Chen Shi revealed Giratina’s naturally shed reverse scale, and Drakloak reacted eagerly to it.
• Grandpa Chen agreed to give Chen Shi the family’s treasure after seeing the Giratina scale, though he still thought it would have been better saved for Drakloak.
• Chen Shi opened the box and discovered a Dragon Blood Crystal made from a Top-grade Dragon Gem transformed by Rayquaza’s blood, a treasure capable of helping Salamence and Garchomp reach Champion level.

Chen Shi gave Salamence his reverse scale and the Dragon Blood Crystal so she could break through to Champion Level and better protect his family and farm. A terrifying aura erupted from the cave, leaving Chen Shi and his Pokémon shaken as Salamence’s breakthrough began.

• Chen Shi told Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen that he was going to Back Mountain to find Salamence, while his grandparents worried but agreed to support him.
• Chen Shi explained to Salamence that he needed her strength and offered her the reverse scale and the Dragon Blood Crystal, which Garchomp could also use.
• Salamence tried to give the Dragon Blood Crystal to Drakloak, but Chen Shi persuaded her to accept it by reminding her that he needed her to protect his family and farm.
• Salamence entered her cave with the treasures, while Chen Shi and Garchomp waited outside and discussed her reaching Champion Level.
• A powerful aura surged from the cave and immobilized Chen Shi, until Garchomp shielded him; Drakloak and the other Pokémon also appeared and struggled against the pressure.

Salamence broke through to early champion level, and Chen Shi brought the Dragon Blood Crystal she gave him to Garchomp. Back at home, he prepared his Pokémon for a major tournament in a little over a month and sent some of them to seek special training.

• Salamence reached level 80 and gave Chen Shi the faded Dragon Blood Crystal, which he passed to Garchomp before leaving the cave.
• Chen Shi reviewed his Pokémon’s progress at the family training grounds and said he planned to have Drakloak train before evolving and Charmeleon adjust to his new body.
• Chen Shi told his Pokémon about the upcoming tournament for talented trainers under twenty and urged them to train hard so they could compete against strong opponents such as Cynthia.
• Swampert went to ask his parents for special training, and Drakloak left to learn from his mentors.
• Leafeon chose to stay and train in the backyard, while Chen Shi promised Togetic two ice creams a day if she trained hard.

Chen Shi published three papers proposing new Pokémon evolutions, then used Professor Oak’s response to open a private discussion about friendship-based evolution. Oak invited him to visit his laboratory in Pallet Town, giving Chen Shi a chance to meet a powerful League figure.

• Chen Shi decided to publish research on Scyther, Poliwhirl, and Slowpoke, and asked Grandpa Chen to find him a Scyther and a Poliwhirl.
• Chen Shi stayed up writing three papers about Scyther evolving into Scizor, Poliwhirl evolving into Politoed, and Slowpoke evolving into Slowking.
• The three papers sparked discussion on the Researcher Forum, and Professor Oak praised Chen Shi’s Slowpoke hypothesis.
• Chen Shi messaged Professor Oak about Pokémon evolving through friendship, citing Riolu and his Togetic as examples.
• Professor Oak found Chen Shi’s idea interesting and invited him to discuss it in person at his laboratory in Pallet Town.

After sleeping through the day, Chen Shi told his grandparents he planned to travel to Professor Oak’s Laboratory in Pallet Town after Drakloak evolved and asked them to prepare resources for a serious Pokémon World Championships run. His grandparents agreed to support him, then teased him about his relationship with Pheobe, though Chen Shi insisted they were just friends.

• Togetic woke Chen Shi in the evening, and Gardevoir brought him dinner after he went downstairs.
• Chen Shi told Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen he planned to visit Professor Oak in Kanto and leave once Drakloak evolved; Grandma Chen insisted he take Salamence or Garchomp for safety.
• Chen Shi said he intended to compete seriously in the Pokémon World Championships, and Grandpa Chen promised to prepare resources for his Pokémon.
• Chen Shi told his grandparents that Pheobe had been scammed out of her money and gone hungry for two days, but he had given her a Dreepy fossil.
• Grandma Chen asked about Chen Shi’s relationship with Pheobe, and Chen Shi insisted they were just friends before heading upstairs to rest.
• Grandma Chen and Grandpa Chen privately agreed that Chen Shi and Pheobe had not admitted their feelings yet and decided not to push them.

Chen Shi brought his Pokémon to Salamence’s nest to witness Drakloak’s evolution, and Drakloak became a shiny Dragapult after absorbing gems and Giratina’s reverse scale. Chen Shi discovered Dragapult had Second-Class Deity potential and knew Shadow Force, while a pair of crimson eyes watched from a puddle and vanished unnoticed.

• Chen Shi gathered his Pokémon and went to Salamence’s nest, where Drakloak, Salamence, Garchomp, and Swampert awaited him.
• Chen Shi gave Drakloak a Recovery Potion, and Drakloak absorbed the Dragon Gems and Ghost Gems.
• Chen Shi tossed Drakloak Giratina’s reverse scale, and Drakloak evolved into a shiny Dragapult.
• Chen Shi checked Dragapult’s stats and discovered his Second-Class Deity potential and Shadow Force move.
• A pair of crimson eyes appeared in a distant puddle, watched Dragapult, and then vanished unnoticed.

Chen Shi tested Dragapult’s newly learned Shadow Force, arranged to travel to Kanto the next day, and received Mega Stones from Steven. After returning one especially rare stone to Steven, Chen Shi prepared to leave for Pallet Town to meet Professor Oak.

• Chen Shi had Dragapult use Shadow Force on Garchomp, then watched Dragapult launch the two Dreepy with Dragon Darts.
• Chen Shi told Swampert to return home the next morning and told Garchomp to come with him to Kanto.
• Steven visited Chen Shi and gave him sixteen of the thirty-two Mega Stones he had collected.
• Chen Shi recognized one stone as a Metagross Mega Stone and gave it back to Steven, then gave him a Scizor Mega Stone.
• Steven said he had found a promising Scyther but had not found a suitable Mawile, and Chen Shi urged him to keep searching for Mawile.
• Chen Shi told Steven he was leaving for Pallet Town the next day to meet Professor Oak, and Steven departed on Skarmory.

Chen Shi visited Professor Oak to discuss how to prove that Riolu and Togepi evolved through Friendship. Professor Oak agreed that the hypothesis was plausible and proposed studying the move Return as a starting point.

• Gary led Chen Shi through Professor Oak's laboratory and backyard to find Professor Oak.
• Professor Oak recognized Chen Shi as Old Chen's grandson and the League's youngest Intermediate Breeder, then realized he was also the researcher Severe Indecisiveness.
• Chen Shi described how a Lucario and his Togepi had evolved as their bonds with their Trainers grew closer.
• Professor Oak argued that Friendship evolution was difficult to prove but praised Chen Shi's willingness to challenge conventional ideas.
• Professor Oak revealed that he planned to begin investigating Friendship evolution through the move Return.

Chen Shi recruited Gary and his Eevee for research into Friendship evolution, and Professor Oak offered him a room and access to the lab. After settling in, Chen Shi met Oak’s Pokémon and asked to use the backyard to train for the Pokémon World Championships.

• Chen Shi realized he needed a Pokémon with high Friendship to test his evolution theory and noticed Gary’s affectionate Eevee.
• Chen Shi persuaded Gary to let Eevee participate in tests, promising it could evolve into an undiscovered Psychic-type Pokémon.
• Professor Oak agreed to let Chen Shi stay at the lab and use its research equipment.
• Professor Oak showed Chen Shi the lab, then led him to the backyard to train with his Pokémon.
• Gary admired Chen Shi’s Shiny Metang, Florges, and Dragapult, while Professor Oak assessed Chen Shi’s Pokémon and grew more certain of his plans.

Chen Shi and Professor Oak studied Eevee’s friendship-based evolution and confirmed that leveling up during the day at high friendship produced Espeon. The discovery was complete, and Professor Oak praised Chen Shi for proving that friendship existed.

• Professor Oak summoned his Level 99 Dragonite to train Chen Shi’s Pokémon, and Chen Shi entrusted his partners to Dragonite before beginning research.
• Chen Shi and Professor Oak taught Eevee Return and used its power to develop a Friendship Tester.
• They set Return’s maximum power at 102 and the friendship scale’s maximum at 255; Eevee’s Return measured 87.2, indicating a friendship score of 218 with Gary.
• Chen Shi urged Gary to spend more time with Eevee, and her friendship reached 220 on the thirteenth day.
• Eevee evolved into Espeon while training, and Chen Shi explained that high friendship and daytime leveling had triggered the evolution.
• Professor Oak congratulated Chen Shi for discovering Espeon and proving friendship-based evolution existed.

After Chen Shi’s papers on Espeon and friendship evolution gained recognition, Professor Oak promoted him to Senior Researcher. Chen Shi accepted Professor Oak’s offer to become his student and agreed to stay so Oak could help train his Pokémon for the Pokémon World Championships.

• Chen Shi published three papers on Espeon and friendship evolution, which Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, and Professor Birch praised.
• Professor Carolina acknowledged Chen Shi’s discoveries, while Cynthia defended her confidence in him.
• Professor Oak promoted Chen Shi to Senior Researcher, granting him eligibility to apply for a laboratory and research funding.
• Chen Shi cooked dinner for Professor Oak and Gary, then admitted he planned to enter the Pokémon World Championships.
• Professor Oak offered to take Chen Shi as his student, and Chen Shi accepted and agreed to remain for training.

Chen Shi revealed his ambition to become Champion and explained to Professor Oak why he had hidden his talents. He then showed Oak Florges’s Fairy-type energy, leaving the professor thrilled by the discovery of a new Pokémon type and the possibility that Azumarill shared it.

• Chen Shi fed and massaged his Pokémon, then told Professor Oak that he had hidden his exceptional breeding and training abilities because the Chen family’s wealth made him a target.
• Chen Shi declared that he intended to become Champion, and Professor Oak promised that no one would dare harm him while Oak was alive.
• Chen Shi asked Florges to display Fairy-type energy, and Professor Oak realized it represented an entirely new Pokémon type.
• Chen Shi said he could try to awaken the Fairy type in a lab Azumarill, and Professor Oak excitedly asked whether Azumarill was also a Fairy-type Pokémon.
• Dragapult pulled the frantic Professor Oak away from Chen Shi while the other Pokémon watched from a safe distance.

Chen Shi demonstrated Mega Evolution to Professor Oak, who recognized the scale of his discoveries and offered him a gift. The chapter ended with Chen Shi entering a hidden room in Professor Oak’s quarters and eagerly looking over its contents.

• Professor Oak apologized for his excitement about Chen Shi’s discovery of Fairy-type energy, then suggested Chen Shi could become a professor.
• Chen Shi said he would make another major discovery if the eighteenth type was not enough, then revealed Mega Evolution by transforming Swampert.
• Professor Oak examined Mega Swampert’s increased strength and attributes, then watched Swampert return to his original form.
• Chen Shi explained Mega Evolution, and Professor Oak praised his discoveries and promised he would receive what he had earned.
• Professor Oak led Chen Shi into a hidden room and invited him to choose a few gifts.

Chen Shi received three rare resources from Professor Oak: a Moltres tail feather for Charmeleon, a Registeel body fragment for Metang, and a Mystery Realm core fragment to strengthen his other Pokémon. He decided to spread the core fragment’s benefits among his team rather than use it on Dragapult or Swampert, preparing for the Pokémon World Championships.

• Chen Shi examined Professor Oak’s collection and accepted a primordial-fire tail feather from Moltres for Charmeleon.
• Professor Oak chose a Registeel body fragment for Metang as Chen Shi’s second item.
• Professor Oak gave Chen Shi a high-grade Mystery Realm core fragment that Pokémon of any type could absorb to grow quickly without side effects.
• Professor Oak explained that the fragment could raise elite-level Pokémon to peak Gym level, but would benefit Dragapult or Swampert less.
• Chen Shi decided not to give the fragment to Dragapult or Swampert so he could strengthen his other Pokémon for the Pokémon World Championships.

Chen Shi watched Metang evolve into a Shiny Metagross and helped Charmeleon evolve into Charizard using a Moltres Tail Feather. With both Pokémon growing stronger, Chen Shi promised to bring them to the Pokémon World Championships.

• Ash and Gary told Chen Shi that Metang was evolving, but he arrived in the backyard after Metang had already become a Shiny Metagross.
• Chen Shi checked Metagross's stats and promised to help them grow stronger and compete in the Pokémon World Championships.
• Charmeleon told Chen Shi he was ready to evolve, and Chen Shi removed his Everstone and gave him a Moltres Tail Feather to merge during evolution.
• Charmeleon evolved into a powerful Charizard, flew into the sky, and released his pent-up feelings before returning to Chen Shi.
• Chen Shi encouraged Charizard to face the past and strive for the world's greatest stage, and Charizard embraced him as his Pokémon friends congratulated him.

Togetic evolved into Togekiss after touching a Shiny Stone, and Chen Shi later revised and published a paper on her evolution with Professor Oak’s help. The chapter left Chen Shi asleep beside Togekiss while his new research drew attention on the Researcher Forum.

• Togetic asked Chen Shi to let her evolve, and he agreed, presenting her with a Shiny Stone as her companions watched.
• Togetic touched the stone and evolved into Togekiss, reaching early Gym level with Champion potential and learning several new moves.
• Togekiss excitedly flew into Chen Shi and knocked him down, then took Leafeon for a flight after he agreed she could still sleep in his bed.
• Chen Shi cooked for Professor Oak and Gary, then asked Professor Oak to review his paper on Togekiss's evolution.
• Professor Oak helped Chen Shi revise and publish the paper, then asked him about other Fairy-type Pokémon, prompting Chen Shi to give him more Fairy-type Pokéblocks.
• Chen Shi went to bed and cuddled Togekiss as his new paper stirred discussion on the Researcher Forum.

Chen Shi discussed Ash and Gary’s futures with Professor Oak and agreed to help supervise the summer camp beginning the next day. He reminded Ash and Gary to arrive on time, while Kyogre sent Metagross flying with a slap.

• Chen Shi asked Ash about his dream, and Ash said he wanted to become a Pokémon Master while Gary mocked his poor knowledge of type matchups.
• Professor Oak asked Chen Shi to help supervise the children at his summer camp, and Chen Shi agreed.
• Chen Shi predicted Ash would achieve more as a Trainer because of his sincere love for Pokémon, while Gary was more suited to becoming a researcher.
• Professor Oak admitted he also believed Ash would achieve more and asked Chen Shi to oversee security at the camp, which would stay on the outskirts of Viridian Forest.
• Chen Shi warned Ash and Gary not to oversleep and told them to arrive on time for the camp; Ash promised he would get up early.
• Kyogre sent Metagross flying with a single slap.

Chen Shi prepared for Professor Oak's summer camp, met Serena and her mother, and let Togekiss befriend Serena while they waited for the other children. Goh arrived excited by Chen Shi's Pokémon, and Chen Shi advised him to help Pokémon grow stronger rather than focus on catching powerful ones.

• Chen Shi took Togekiss, Leafeon, and his other Pokémon to the entrance of Professor Oak's Laboratory for a picnic and a day off while helping secure the summer camp.
• Saki introduced Serena to Professor Oak and Chen Shi, who welcomed them and agreed to keep Serena safe.
• Chen Shi sent Togekiss to play with Serena, and the two quickly became affectionate as the adults watched.
• Goh arrived, admired Chen Shi's Pokémon, and asked how Chen Shi had caught them.
• Chen Shi told Goh to catch Pokémon sincerely and help them grow stronger, while Dragapult's companions teased him about once being unable to beat a Caterpie.

Professor Oak led the children, including Ash, Gary, Serena, and Goh, to Viridian Forest for summer camp while Chen Shi watched over them. Chen Shi discovered that the unusually clever Caterpie following him was actually Mew.

• Ash arrived late to Professor Oak’s summer camp, apologized, and joined the group heading to Viridian Forest.
• A Caterpie transformed into a Pidgey and followed Chen Shi and the others through the forest.
• Professor Oak told the children to set up their tents without help from their parents, while Chen Shi kept watch and his Pokémon settled in.
• Chen Shi offered a curious, unusually clean Caterpie a Pokéblock, and it eagerly ate it and acted cute for more.
• Chen Shi checked the Caterpie’s stats and discovered that it was Mew.

Chen Shi met Mew, who revealed that his unusual psychic ability was a power of the heart and asked for his help protecting the Tree of Beginning. Mew gave him a crystal key to summon him when danger arose, and Chen Shi accepted while asking what he would get in return.

• Mew appeared as a Caterpie, ate Chen Shi's Pokéblocks, and spoke to him through Telepathy.
• Mew told Chen Shi that his psychic ability was a rare power of the heart, unlike ordinary psychic powers.
• Mew explained that it sensed danger threatening the Tree of Beginning and wanted Chen Shi's help.
• Mew gave Chen Shi a white crystal that would take him to the Tree of Beginning when crushed.
• Chen Shi agreed in his heart to help Mew but asked what reward he would receive.

Chen Shi negotiated with Mew for compensation before agreeing to help, and received a shard of Xerneas's horn that he planned to give to Florges. Mew gave him a crystal that would lead to the World Tree Mystery Realm if trouble arose, then stayed with him while Chen Shi wondered whether Xerneas's slumber had caused fairy-type energy to disappear.

• Chen Shi refused to help Mew without compensation, so Mew offered him anything it could give.
• Mew gave Chen Shi a shard of Xerneas's horn, and Chen Shi decided to save it for Florges.
• Mew gave Chen Shi a crystal that would turn red if trouble arose and let him enter the World Tree Mystery Realm if he crushed it.
• Mew transformed into an Eevee and stayed on Chen Shi's shoulder, claiming it wanted to have fun and keep an eye on him.
• Mew said it had found the horn shard while watching Xerneas and Yveltal fight over three thousand years earlier, and Chen Shi questioned whether Xerneas's slumber had caused fairy-type energy to disappear.