Chapter Summaries

Chen Shi, Cynthia, Steven, and Leon headed to Stow-on-Side to search for Max Mushrooms, while Chen Shi warned Leon that Chairman Rose planned to use Eternatus. Leon remained skeptical and demanded evidence, so Chen Shi advised him to investigate Rose through Mustard.

• Chen Shi chose to search for Max Mushrooms in Stow-on-Side with Cynthia and Steven, and Leon offered to guide them.
• On the train, Leon asked Chen Shi how he had used Dynamax in Hoenn, and Chen Shi refused to share the information if it would reach Rose.
• Chen Shi warned Leon that Rose was a schemer like Maxie and Archie and would eventually try to bring out Eternatus.
• Steven trusted Chen Shi, while Leon rejected the accusation and demanded evidence.
• Chen Shi told Leon to ask Mustard to secretly investigate Rose.

Chen Shi, Cynthia, Steven, and Leon traveled into a forest to look for Max Mushrooms and stopped by a waterfall for a picnic. As Florges and Lucario prepared the barbecue, Chen Shi reminisced with Cynthia about their travels and learned that Mew had urged her to have a baby soon.

• Chen Shi used Teleport to take Steven, Cynthia, and Leon to a waterfall in the forest, where they set up a picnic.
• Chen Shi brought out a barbecue grill from his modified backpack, and Florges began cooking with help from Lucario.
• Chen Shi recalled his travels with Cynthia and joked that Swampert had burst their tent, prompting Swampert to silently brood over being blamed.
• Cynthia told Chen Shi that Mew had tried to persuade her to have a baby soon, and she asked how he had known Mew would bring it up.

Steven advised Leon to follow Chen Shi’s hint and ask Mustard to investigate Chairman Rose, while Chen Shi explained to Cynthia why Mew wanted their future child to inherit his Psychic power. Their quiet picnic turned into a crisis when Chen Shi’s psychic power began rampaging, and Mew evacuated everyone as Arceus appeared before him.

• Steven told Leon that Chen Shi was usually right about secrets and reminded him to follow Chen Shi’s hint about Mustard investigating Chairman Rose.
• Chen Shi told Cynthia that Mew wanted their child to inherit his special Psychic power, which could counter dark matter, but he would not let their daughter face that danger.
• Chen Shi said he planned to stay in his world, grow stronger, and help Dreepy and the others while researchers studied dark matter.
• As Florges offered Chen Shi grilled meat, he was struck by unbearable pain and began bleeding as his psychic power surged out of control.
• Chen Shi urged Mew to take Cynthia, Steven, Leon, and the Pokémon away, and Mew teleported them to safety.
• As Chen Shi’s consciousness faded, Arceus appeared before him with a grave expression.

Chen Shi suddenly collapsed in a burst of psychic power, and Arceus’s Plates sealed the destruction while Mew and the others searched for a cause. Dialga and Palkia took Mew, Cynthia, Steven, and Chen Shi’s Pokémon away on Arceus’s orders, leaving Leon behind as Chen Shi’s fate remained unknown.

• Chen Shi’s psychic power erupted after he was suddenly struck down, and Arceus’s Plates formed a seal to contain it.
• Mew reassured Cynthia, Steven, and Leon that Arceus had intervened, while Cynthia recalled that Chen Shi had been reaching for food when he collapsed.
• Mew suspected Chen Shi had been hit by a curse that awakened his psychic power and made it attack everything nearby.
• Space at the blast site vanished into a black hole before Dialga and Palkia repaired it, and Mew believed Arceus had taken Chen Shi away.
• Dialga told Mew, Cynthia, Steven, and Chen Shi’s Pokémon that Arceus had ordered them to leave with the Time-Space Duo, while Leon stayed behind.

Arceus and Necrozma struggled to explain why Kyurem’s Soul Freeze had left Chen Shi near death, suspecting an attack from a parallel world. While Chen Shi’s soul remained asleep, another being took control of his body and identified a possible cause.

• Arceus and Necrozma concluded that parallel-world forces had attacked Chen Shi’s soul with Kyurem’s Soul Freeze, though they could not explain how it reached the unique Chen Shi.
• Necrozma and Arceus argued over their failure to protect Chen Shi before Dialga and Palkia arrived with Mew, Cynthia, and the others.
• Arceus told Cynthia and the others that Chen Shi’s soul was asleep and that their bond with him might be needed to wake him.
• Chen Shi suddenly sat up, revealing that another being was controlling his body, while Cynthia and Steven realized he was acting differently.
• The being told Arceus that Chen Shi had likely left a mark on history during his previous trip to a parallel world, allowing enemies there to target him with Soul Freeze.

After Chen Shi was struck by Soul Freeze in a parallel world, Mind Chen Shi outlined several ways to awaken him and the group made plans to try them. Cynthia prepared to enter Chen Shi’s deepest dream with his Pokémon, while Mind Chen Shi began repairing his damaged soul.

• Mew explained that the Dark Side had traveled into the past of a parallel world and used Kyurem’s Soul Freeze on Chen Shi, leaving him asleep until his lifespan ran out.
• Mind Chen Shi described calling Chen Shi’s name and finding Kyurem as possible ways to wake him, and Arceus sent Cogita to seek help from the parallel world’s Legendary Pokémon.
• Mind Chen Shi proposed using Cresselia and Darkrai’s combined dream powers to send Cynthia into Chen Shi’s mind, and Cynthia agreed despite the dangers.
• Arceus set out to bring Darkrai, Cresselia, and a Dreepy from the Distortion World, while Swampert, Florges, Togekiss, and the other Pokémon volunteered to accompany Cynthia.
• Steven took responsibility for repeatedly calling Chen Shi’s name, and Mind Chen Shi prepared to merge with Chen Shi to repair his damaged soul.

As Chen Shi remained incapacitated, Shadow Pokémon attacked the World Tree, and Ogerpon fought to protect it. After Rayquaza grievously wounded Ogerpon and shattered its Teal Mask, Ogerpon prepared to make one last stand with its Hearthflame Mask.

• Mew sensed that someone was attacking the World Tree, and Arceus and Necrozma recognized the timing as suspicious.
• Shadow Pokémon pressed toward the World Tree as the four guardians fought them across the Mystery Realm.
• Ogerpon Terastallized with its Teal Mask and used Ivy Cudgel to knock down eight Shadow Pokémon and overpower five others.
• Rayquaza struck Ogerpon, shattered its Teal Mask, and left it with a severe wound filled with dark Dragon-type energy.
• Ogerpon accepted that it could not defeat Rayquaza and took out its Hearthflame Mask for one final fight.

Chen Shi played hide-and-seek with his daughter Xiao Xi at the Chen Family Farm, where Florges helped her hide in a flower-filled secret base. After Chen Shi found her, he lifted her onto his neck and pretended to fly her around.

• Xiao Xi asked Florges to hide her from Chen Shi, and Florges made a secret base among the flowers for her.
• Xiao Xi told Florges to keep quiet but then called out to Chen Shi that she was ready to be found.
• Chen Shi followed Xiao Xi's voice to the garden and found her in Florges's secret base.
• Chen Shi lifted Xiao Xi from the flowers and comforted her when she complained that he always found her.
• Xiao Xi asked Chen Shi to fly her, and he carried her on his neck while pretending to take off.

Cynthia and Dragapult entered Chen Shi’s dream and discovered he was living an ordinary, happy life with Cynthia and their daughter, Xiao Xi. Cynthia hesitated to wake him, but eventually asked to speak with him, and the dream ended with Chen Shi inviting her to dinner.

• Cynthia watched Chen Shi play with Xiao Xi in the dream and realized he had chosen a simple family life over his powers and accomplishments.
• Dragapult urged Cynthia to wake Chen Shi so he could help defend the real world and the World Tree from the Dark Side.
• Cynthia decided she wanted to talk to Chen Shi before waking him.
• Dream Cynthia called Chen Shi and Xiao Xi inside for dinner, and the family prepared to enter the Villa.
• Teenage Cynthia arrived with a Shiny Dragapult and asked to join them for a meal, and Chen Shi welcomed her inside.

Cynthia confronted Dream Cynthia with the truth that her family life was Chen Shi’s dream and urged her to let him return to the real world. Dream Cynthia accepted the truth but defended their life together, while Chen Shi remained in the kitchen, leaving Cynthia to realize he had chosen his dream.

• Grandma Chen noticed Cynthia, but Chen Shi signaled her not to ask, and the family shared a meal together.
• After the others left, Cynthia asked Dream Cynthia about giving up her position as Sinnoh Champion, and Dream Cynthia said her husband and daughter mattered more than trophies.
• Cynthia told Dream Cynthia that her life was only a dream of Chen Shi’s and accused her of trapping him and obstructing his greatness.
• Dream Cynthia challenged Cynthia to explain why Chen Shi had not come out of the kitchen, then argued that he had chosen the happiness of their ordinary life.
• Dream Cynthia put Xiao Xi to bed and went to help Chen Shi wash dishes, while Cynthia silently accepted her defeat.

Chen Shi said goodbye to the dream Cynthia and Xiao Xi as their world collapsed, and he began to awaken with his memories of the real world returning. The two urged him to find real happiness and to cherish his daughter in reality.

• Chen Shi and Cynthia spoke about Xiao Xi and shared a quiet moment together in the kitchen.
• Cynthia told Chen Shi he needed to leave the dream and return to the real world, while the dream began to collapse around them.
• Xiao Xi became frightened, and Cynthia comforted her before telling her that Chen Shi was going to become a hero in another world.
• Chen Shi embraced Cynthia and Xiao Xi as they grew transparent, and Cynthia asked him to hold their daughter the same way in reality.
• Chen Shi began to grow younger, regained his outside-world memories, and heard Cynthia and Xiao Xi say they loved him and hoped he would find happiness.

Dark Rayquaza attacked the World Tree while Ogerpon lay gravely wounded, but Xerneas and Mewtwo arrived in time to intervene. As Ogerpon prepared to die after believing she had kept her promise, the World Tree revived her and preserved her consciousness.

• Dark Rayquaza overwhelmed Ogerpon and fired a Dragon Pulse at the World Tree as the Dark Side launched its planned invasion.
• Ogerpon could not stop the attack and remembered her past failure to protect her Trainer, believing she had failed to protect the World Tree too.
• Xerneas and Mewtwo arrived, and Xerneas engaged Dark Rayquaza while Mewtwo promised Ogerpon that other Legendary Pokémon were coming.
• Ogerpon felt proud that she had protected the World Tree and began to accept her death as darkness consumed her.
• The World Tree poured life force into Ogerpon, healed her injuries, and gave her an aura that preserved her consciousness.

Legendary Pokémon from across the world rushed toward the World Tree as Ogerpon retained its consciousness despite becoming partly assimilated by dark matter. A rift released powerful Shadow Pokémon into the World Tree Mystery Realm just as Mew brought the arriving Legendary Pokémon inside, leaving both sides poised to battle.

• Diantha and the professors learned that Legendary Pokémon were heading toward the World Tree, while Jirachi, Hoopa Confined, and the Victini set off to find Shi there.
• Ogerpon remained conscious after dark matter blackened its body, thanks to psychic power the World Tree had received from Chen Shi.
• Ogerpon powered up with Swords Dance and Focus Energy, then wielded its enlarged Ivy Cudgel to sweep aside Shadow Pokémon.
• Mewtwo intercepted and injured Psychic-type Pokémon attempting to ambush the World Tree.
• A rift opened in the sky and released powerful Shadow Pokémon as Mew opened the mystery realm to the arriving Legendary Pokémon.
• The Legendary Pokémon and Shadow Pokémon faced one another, and their roars signaled that battle was about to begin.

Mew protected the World Tree with Chen Shi’s Psychic Orbs while the Legendary Pokémon fought an endless Shadow Pokémon assault. The battle worsened as Shiny Rayquaza failed to destroy the enemy passage, and Mew revealed that Chen Shi was near death at the World Tree.

• Mew placed Chen Shi’s three Psychic Orbs into the World Tree and stayed to guard it with Mewtwo.
• Mega Rayquaza, Shiny Rayquaza, and another Rayquaza fought the Shadow Pokémon while Eternatus transformed into Eternamax and cleared a swath of enemies with Eternabeams.
• Shiny Rayquaza charged the spatial passage but failed to destroy it, revealing that its creator was stronger than a Supreme God.
• Xerneas and Shiny Rayquaza sent their Plates away, and Rayquaza suspected the attack was meant to exploit Chen Shi’s absence.
• Mew explained that Black Kyurem from a parallel world had hit Chen Shi with Soul Freeze and another unknown power, leaving the World Tree as the only thing keeping him alive.
• Eternatus told the Legendary Pokémon to stop talking and resume fighting.

The mystery realm shattered, forcing the battle against the Shadow Pokémon into the real world, but Necrozma’s allies sealed off the battlefield and reinforcements arrived. Cynthia returned without waking Chen Shi, yet a purifying light suddenly appeared, signaling that he was there.

• Jirachi, Hoopa, and the two Victini searched for the World Tree until the mystery realm shattered and revealed it above Kanto.
• Rayquaza and the other Legendary Pokémon fought to keep the Shadow Pokémon from spreading dark matter into the real world.
• Hoopa Confined brought Giratina, Latios, and Latias to the battlefield, while Jirachi and the Victini supported the fighters.
• Necrozma opened a passage for Chen Shi’s parallel-world allies and enclosed the battlefield behind a golden curtain of light.
• Cynthia arrived with Darkrai, Cresselia, and Dragapult, then admitted to Mew that she had left Chen Shi in the dream world.
• White light appeared around the battling Legendary Pokémon and instantly purified the dark matter in their wounds.

Chen Shi reunited with Cynthia and used his power to purify the Shadow Pokémon, but the spatial passage remained open. With more enemies likely to emerge, Giratina rallied the Legendary Pokémon and their newly restored allies to keep fighting.

• Chen Shi appeared beside Cynthia, apologized for wanting to escape his responsibilities, and comforted her as she cried.
• Jirachi joined Chen Shi and Cynthia, and Chen Shi reassured Cynthia that the Legendary Pokémon could win.
• Chen Shi sent psychic power through his bonds with the Shadow Pokémon and rapidly purified them.
• The restored Legendary Pokémon stopped fighting, and the parallel-world Rayquaza apologized before Rayquaza forgave it.
• Chen Shi warned that the spatial passage remained open and that he could not purify an unlimited number of Shadow Pokémon.
• Giratina urged the Legendary Pokémon and their new allies to enter the passage and fight.

Chen Shi joined Arceus and Ultra Necrozma in space to fight a vast horde of Shadow Pokémon and tried to purify the Dark Arceus and Necrozma. The Dark Side escaped, and Chen Shi looked back at the planet and made a decision.

• Chen Shi left Cynthia with Jirachi and Little V, then used Teleport to reach the seal around the planet.
• Arceus opened a gap in the barrier, allowing Chen Shi to join Arceus and Ultra Necrozma against the Shadow Pokémon horde.
• Chen Shi lent Arceus and Necrozma his psychic power as Ultra Necrozma trapped the Shadow Pokémon and Arceus unleashed its signature move.
• Chen Shi seized psychic threads linking him to the Dark Arceus and Necrozma and poured his remaining power into trying to purify them.
• The Dark Arceus broke the threads and escaped with the other Shadow Pokémon, threatening to return stronger.
• Chen Shi looked back at the planet and made his decision.

After the Dark Arceus escaped, Chen Shi revealed his plan to merge with the World Tree and sacrifice himself to protect billions of people. He embraced the tree as its consciousness awakened, leaving the world silent and his grandmother overcome with grief.

• Arceus sealed the remaining Shadow Pokémon and admitted that the Dark Side would grow stronger while they prepared to seek allies.
• Chen Shi returned to the World Tree, asked Cynthia to take Jirachi and the others home, and said goodbye to her.
• Chen Shi told the Legendary Pokémon that he would trade his life for billions of others, then walked toward the World Tree despite Ogerpon's distress.
• Mew asked Chen Shi if he had truly decided, and the World Tree's consciousness warned him that there would be no turning back.
• Chen Shi embraced the World Tree, releasing a pillar of life energy and purifying power as people around the world fell silent.
• Grandma Chen felt an inexplicable sorrow at the family villa and tearfully called out for Little Shi.

Chen Shi merged with the World Tree to spread psychic power across the worlds and dispel the darkness, while Rayquaza struggled to stop him. As Chen Shi faded into light, he promised he would come back.

• Rayquaza tried to pull Chen Shi away from the World Tree, but Ho-Oh, Lugia, and Zygarde stopped him.
• Ho-Oh and Arceus explained that Chen Shi was merging with the World Tree so it could spread psychic power and send life rain across the worlds.
• Arceus revealed that Chen Shi had chosen the risky plan because the Dark Army's attacks had forced Mind Chen Shi to merge with him to save his life.
• Rayquaza attempted to rescue Chen Shi with Dragon Ascent, but Eternatus restrained him and urged him to respect Chen Shi's choice.
• Mewtwo told Xerneas that Chen Shi was a devoted grandson, a good Trainer and partner, and a great man willing to sacrifice himself for the world.
• Chen Shi laughed and wept as his body dissolved into the World Tree, then said he would come back again.

Three years after Chen Shi vanished, Yuko and his friends mourned him while Cynthia waited beneath the World Tree. Chen Shi finally returned, and Cynthia reunited with him in tears.

• Yuko visited Chen Shi’s memorial and told him she had become Hoenn’s new Fire-type Elite King, then confessed that she missed him.
• Steven, Diantha, Lance, Lorelei, Leon, and Wallace visited the memorial and learned Cynthia was still staying beneath the World Tree.
• Cynthia shared a Pokéblock moment with Ogerpon and lamented that Chen Shi had lied about returning safely.
• Chen Shi appeared before Cynthia, and she ran into his arms and struck his chest for leaving her waiting three years.
• Cynthia admitted she still loved Chen Shi after he asked whether she loved him.