Chapter Summaries

Cynthia’s Garchomp defeated Aaron’s Yanmega after both Pokémon unleashed their strongest attacks. Yanmega’s battle ended without breaking its limits, while Yong reflected that Beedrill was the true Bug King because it continually surpassed its shackles.

• Cynthia ordered Garchomp to use Rock Slide, and Yanmega dodged and slashed through the barrage.
• Garchomp appeared beside Yanmega and engulfed it in Fire Blast, burning and slowing it.
• Aaron told Yanmega to endure and use Giga Drain, but Cynthia ordered Garchomp to finish it with Giga Impact.
• Yanmega fought through its burns and charged with Super Death Kiss, colliding head-on with Garchomp.
• Garchomp overpowered Yanmega and slammed it into the battlefield, ending the match.
• Yong mourned Yanmega’s failure to break through its limits and thought of Beedrill as the true Bug King.

Cynthia defeated Aaron in their Elite Four battle, with Garchomp overwhelming his remaining Pokémon after defeating Yanmega. Aaron accepted Yanmega’s loss and resolved to travel with his partners instead of pursuing a life-extending treasure.

• Garchomp defeated Yanmega, and Aaron recalled his longtime partner and promised to travel with it after it recovered.
• The referee declared Garchomp the winner, leaving Aaron with three Pokémon defeated and Cynthia with Togekiss as her only loss.
• Garchomp easily defeated Aaron’s Beautifly with Fire Blast.
• Garchomp overpowered Heracross in a series of close-range and aerial exchanges, then knocked it unconscious with Dragon Claw.
• Aaron sent out Vespiquen, whose status moves failed to stop Cynthia’s Garchomp from trapping her in Twister and striking her with Rock Slide.
• Cynthia defeated Aaron, winning her second battle against an Elite Four member.

After the first day of the competition, Yong spoke with Aaron under the stars and told him that evergreen power might extend Yanmega’s vitality. Yong could not awaken it for Aaron, but he knew someone who had, leaving Aaron hopeful about finding help for his partner.

• After dinner, Yong went for a walk while Cynthia reviewed her battles and Caitlin met with a representative of Marshal’s Family.
• Yong sat alone by the sea and reflected on Cynthia’s strength and his own ambition to improve.
• Aaron joined Yong beneath the stars and admitted he had considered giving up on finding a way to extend Yanmega’s life.
• Yong explained that evergreen power could heal Pokémon and might improve Bug-type Pokémon’s vitality and potential.
• Aaron eagerly asked how to obtain evergreen power, and Yong said he knew someone who had awakened it and might be willing to help.

Yong helped Aaron find a way to seek Lance’s aid in extending Yanmega’s life, then joined the others as Cynthia began her Champion Challenge match against Lucian. After Lucian sent out Girafarig, Caitlin predicted that Cynthia could end the battle whenever she chose.

• Yong told Aaron that Lance had awakened evergreen power as well as dragon power and could potentially help Yanmega.
• Aaron thanked Yong and promised to help him whenever he needed it.
• The next morning, Cynthia discussed her challenges against Lucian and Bertha with Yong and Caitlin, then confidently headed to the battlefield.
• Lucian greeted Cynthia and declared he would fight with everything he had as an Elite Four member.
• Lucian sent out Girafarig, and Caitlin said the battle’s length depended on whether Cynthia wanted to finish it quickly.

Cynthia used Spiritomb to defeat Lucian’s Girafarig and Bronzong, exploiting their moves and tactics against them. Lucian sent out Slowbro for the third round as the match continued.

• Cynthia opened with Spiritomb, whose special power nullified Girafarig’s attacks before Taunt, Sucker Punch, and Dark Pulse knocked it out.
• Lucian sent out Bronzong, which set up Trick Room and charged Spiritomb with Ice Spinner.
• Spiritomb froze Trick Room, then used Spite, Payback, Foul Play, and Confuse Ray to turn Bronzong’s tactics against it and secure Cynthia’s second win.
• Lucian sent out his third Pokémon, an unusually clear-eyed Slowbro.

Cynthia’s Spiritomb defeated Lucian’s Slowbro, then she sent out Togekiss against his Gallade. Togekiss’s Sky Piercer devastated Gallade, but Gallade countered its charge with a force-domain technique and sent Togekiss crashing down.

• Cynthia’s Spiritomb defeated Lucian’s Slowbro with Dark Pulse, then Cynthia recalled Spiritomb after its three consecutive victories.
• Lucian sent out Gallade, and Cynthia answered with Togekiss for the fourth round.
• Gallade restrained Togekiss with Rock Tomb and Psychic, but Togekiss’s Sky Piercer shattered its restraints, overwhelmed Thunderbolt, and badly wounded Gallade.
• Gallade endured the attack with its utility-type force domain, then Lucian ordered Psycho Cut as Togekiss used Yawn and Extreme Speed.
• Gallade’s force-domain power halted Togekiss mid-charge and redirected its Psycho Cut, sending Togekiss plummeting toward the ground.

Cynthia’s Lucario defeated Lucian’s Gallade, giving her a four-to-one advantage despite having used only five Pokémon. Lucian sent out Mr. Mime to challenge Lucario with space-manipulating powers, leaving Cynthia’s response unknown.

• Cynthia sent out Lucario after Gallade’s hidden force domain power knocked out Togekiss.
• Lucian used Trick Room to help Gallade act first, but Lucario’s Fighting Origin let it break free of Gallade’s Psychic mark.
• Lucario weakened Gallade with Shadow Claw, then defeated it with an Aura Sphere-powered knee strike.
• The referee declared Lucario the winner, and Qingcao remarked that Cynthia had kept a Pokémon in reserve.
• Lucian sent out Mr. Mime and challenged Cynthia to counter its space-manipulating powers.
• Yong examined Mr. Mime’s abilities and noted that its level had barely increased since an earlier battle.

Cynthia defeated Mr. Lucian after Garchomp shattered Mr. Mime’s Magic Mirror Space and defeated his final Pokémon, Alakazam. With only Bertha Grandmother left to challenge that afternoon, Cynthia and Yong joined Caitlin for lunch as the major factions considered how to respond to Cynthia’s rise.

• Mr. Mime trapped Lucario in Magic Mirror Space and defeated it, giving Mr. Lucian another win.
• Cynthia sent out Garchomp, which broke through Magic Mirror Space and overwhelmed Mr. Mime with Slash and Giga Impact.
• Yong realized Mr. Mime was likely a Fairy type and decided to report the type to the Pokémon League as research.
• Garchomp defeated Mr. Lucian’s Alakazam with Dragon Claw and Shadow Claw, securing Cynthia’s victory in the third challenge match.
• Cynthia, Yong, Caitlin, and their companions went to the Dining Hall, where Caitlin encouraged Cynthia ahead of her final battle against Bertha Grandmother.
• The major factions recognized that Cynthia’s rise was becoming unstoppable and faced another choice about how to respond.

Yong watched as Cynthia began the final Champion Challenge match against Bertha Grandmother, whose level 72 Hippowdon filled the battlefield with a powerful sandstorm. The battle began when Cynthia sent out Roserade.

• Yong saw that Larvesta had finished storing energy and hoped to take it back to Mt. Chimney to evolve.
• Qingcao woke Yong and told him that Cynthia and Caitlin were waiting in the lobby for the final match.
• Cynthia greeted Bertha Grandmother and accepted her final test in the Champion Challenge.
• Bertha Grandmother sent out her longtime partner, a level 72 female Hippowdon, whose Sand Stream covered the battlefield in a sandstorm.
• Cynthia sent out Roserade to face Hippowdon.

Cynthia’s Roserade defeated Bertha Grandmother’s Hippowdon, Whiscash, and Golem before falling to Gliscor, while Milotic quickly defeated Gliscor with rain-enhanced attacks. Bertha Grandmother’s powerful Nidoking then pushed through Milotic’s Twister with Giga Impact, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Cynthia’s Roserade used Sea of Flowers and Rain Dance to turn the battlefield against Hippowdon, then defeated it with Energy Ball and Power Whip.
• Roserade defeated Whiscash and Golem, but Bertha Grandmother’s Gliscor overcame it with Ice Fang and repeated Wing Attacks.
• Cynthia sent out Milotic, which used Rain Dance, Surf, and Icy Wind to defeat Gliscor.
• Bertha Grandmother sent out an unfamiliar Nidoking, which endured Milotic’s Surf and struck it with Thunder and Thunder Punch in the rain.
• Milotic trapped Nidoking in a Twister, but Nidoking broke free with Giga Impact and charged at Milotic.

Cynthia’s Milotic fell to Bertha Grandmother’s Nidoking after a fierce exchange, and Cynthia sent out Garchomp to face it. Garchomp won their clash of Giga Impact, leaving Nidoking buried beneath the shattered battlefield.

• Nidoking endured Milotic’s Magic Mirror Ice Crystal barrage and charged through it, knocking Milotic unconscious.
• Cynthia praised Bertha Grandmother’s Nidoking, then sent out Garchomp to end the battle.
• Garchomp and Nidoking charged into each other with Giga Impact, shaking the battlefield with their collision.
• Garchomp’s origin power overwhelmed Nidoking, which toppled backward as the ground collapsed and buried it in shattered rocks.

Cynthia defeated Bertha Grandmother’s final two Pokémon to complete the Sinnoh League Champion Challenge. President Charles Goodshow announced Cynthia as the youngest Champion and the Pokémon League’s first female Champion, and she pledged to preserve peace between the Pokémon World and the Human World.

• Garchomp defeated Nidoking after its Sleep Talk produced a Thunderbolt that had no effect.
• Bertha Grandmother sent out her final Pokémon, Rhyperior, to face Garchomp.
• Garchomp overwhelmed Rhyperior with Liquidation and Dragon Rush, winning the final battle.
• Cynthia embraced Bertha Grandmother, and Professor Carolina congratulated her on becoming Champion.
• President Charles Goodshow announced Cynthia as the youngest Champion and the Pokémon League’s first female Champion.
• Cynthia pledged to work for peaceful coexistence between the Pokémon World and the Human World.

After settling into her new role as Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia joined Yong on a trip to Hoenn, where he planned to help Larvesta evolve at Mt. Chimney. The group arrived in Lilycove City and decided to rest before visiting Steven and traveling to the mountain.

• Cynthia explained that the Champion's duties were manageable and said she would have more time to search for traces of history.
• Yong told Cynthia and Caitlin he was returning to Hoenn for Larvesta's evolution before taking it to Unova to fulfill his promise to the Fire Remnants.
• Caitlin returned to Unova for her Elite Four Challenge, while Cynthia accompanied Yong to Hoenn to watch Larvesta evolve and visit Steven.
• Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao arrived in Lilycove City and planned to visit Steven in Rustboro City before heading to Mt. Chimney.
• Cynthia and Qingcao went to sample Hoenn's food at an ice cream shop, and Yong followed them.

Muren Under the Moon offered to shelter a Pokémon-poaching organization in Unova while warning its agent not to act against Cynthia and Shiyan Yong without a sure opportunity. Meanwhile, Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao reached Rustboro City, where Steven awaited them at Devon Corporation Headquarters.

• Muren Under the Moon returned to his Driftveil City estate and met in secret with a woman from a poaching organization.
• Muren told the woman that Cynthia and Shiyan Yong were too powerful to target casually, but agreed to provide cover for the organization in Unova if it produced results.
• Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao flew from Lilycove City to Rustboro City, with Qingcao nervously riding Aerodactyl for the first time.
• The trio arrived at Rustboro City’s Flight Platform and met a Devon Corporation representative, who escorted them to headquarters to see Steven.

Yong visited Devon Corporation’s headquarters with Cynthia and delivered Professor Sycamore’s research on Mega Evolution, prompting Steven and Drake to discuss controlling Mega Stones and supporting Cynthia’s reforms in Sinnoh. Steven urged Yong to return from Kalos after this year’s Gym Ranking Tournament, then hinted that he had been waiting for Yong to come back and challenge him.

• Yong identified an Absol Mega Stone among Drake’s stones but found no Salamence Mega Stone.
• Yong gave Drake Professor Sycamore’s research materials, which Drake and Steven saw as useful for consolidating Mega Stone resources.
• Cynthia explained that the Sinnoh Elite Four supported her effort to strengthen the League and remove entrenched factions, and Steven offered Hoenn’s support.
• Steven and Drake pressed Yong to leave Kalos, but Yong insisted he would stay until after the Gym Ranking Tournament and found a reliable Gym Leader to replace him.
• Steven agreed to Yong’s plan, then reminded him that he had once been hailed as one of the strongest newcomers and said he had been waiting for Yong to come back.

Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao explored Rustboro City and discussed the path toward Champion-level strength. After questioning what Trainers could discover beyond Origin Power, Yong agreed to take Cynthia to nearby ruins, and the group decided to rest first.

• Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao strolled through Rustboro City, and Yong promised to show Qingcao the Kanto Region someday.
• Yong bought ice cream for Cynthia and Qingcao as they discussed their plans to travel through Ever Grande Tunnel, visit Mt. Chimney, and find a Mudkip for Qingcao.
• Yong asked Cynthia whether the Champion path involved drawing closer to nature, and she explained that Nature Power was a realm only gods could touch.
• Yong realized that gods could bestow Nature Power on Pokémon and discussed Steven's Metagross reaching Level 90 with Cynthia.
• Cynthia advised Yong to let his foundation settle instead of rushing ahead, and Yong agreed to rest before choosing where to explore.
• Cynthia asked about nearby ruins, and Yong said he knew a place where Garchomp could unwind.

Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao crossed the newly opened Ever Grande Tunnel, where rumors about Yong and his Pokémon drew Trainers into the caves. They reached Mossdeep Town, and Cynthia praised its peaceful scenery as they continued their journey.

• Yong reminded Qingcao to avoid risky situations while traveling alone and to trust his Pokémon partner in danger.
• Yong and Cynthia discussed the tunnel’s caves, the rumored Hitmontop sighting, and Yong’s past search for an Aggron colony.
• Several boys chased an Onix into a cave after hearing that Yong was a famous rookie Trainer with a powerful Steelix and that an Aron had been spotted nearby.
• Cynthia teased Yong about his fame, and Yong said he wanted to make the Rock Solid Gym the best.
• The trio crossed the tunnel and arrived in Mossdeep Town, where Cynthia praised the town and Yong compared it with Floaroma Town.

Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao entered Mt. Chimney’s Fiery Path to reach the lava cavern where Yong had found Larvesta’s Egg. Larvesta plunged into the magma to begin evolving, and brilliant light filled the cavern.

• Yong explained how Groudon had torn and restored the land near Mt. Chimney, leaving a popular historical landmark.
• Yong led Cynthia and Qingcao into Fiery Path in protective suits to reach the cavern prepared for Larvesta.
• Qingcao used Steelix and Golett to handle the lower-level Pokémon they encountered along the way.
• Larvesta grew more active as it absorbed heat while the group traveled deeper into the volcano.
• Yong brought Larvesta to the lava pool, where it leaped into the magma and began glowing with red-gold and white light.

Yong’s Larvesta absorbed residual inheritance power and the cavern’s fire energy before evolving into a powerful Volcarona. Volcarona’s evolution brought major increases in level, moves, and fire-based abilities, leaving Yong proud of his companion’s growth.

• Larvesta absorbed residual inheritance power and abundant fire energy as it evolved inside a blazing cocoon.
• The cocoon burst open, and Volcarona emerged before Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao.
• Yong congratulated Volcarona, while Cynthia praised the evolution and recognized Yong’s effort in raising him.
• Volcarona danced happily as Yong celebrated witnessing Larvesta’s final stage of growth.
• Yong’s system reported that Volcarona had reached Lv69, learned multiple moves, advanced his Heaven-Incinerating Aura, and gained the source of fire.

After leaving the Fiery Path, Yong took Cynthia and Qingcao to the Great Desert ruins to check on Flygon’s family. He fed the Pokémon and reassured them that their leader would return, then welcomed Cynthia and Qingcao to rest with them.

• Yong, Cynthia, and Qingcao left the Fiery Path and flew toward the Great Desert ruins on Aerodactyl and Togekiss.
• Yong led the group through the sandstorm to the ruins where Flygon’s family lived.
• Yong called out to Flygon, Vibrava, Diglett, Sandshrew, and Trapinch, then shared Pokémon Food with them.
• Flygon and Vibrava became alarmed when Garchomp emerged from the sandstorm, but Yong calmed them and asked Garchomp to fetch Cynthia and Qingcao.
• Cynthia and Qingcao joined Yong, and he explained that the gathered Pokémon were Flygon’s family and his family too.