Recaps

Xia You and the International Police failed to stop Gyarados after Team Rocket’s signal drove it into a rampage, and the institute collapsed as it unleashed its power. Will and Karen arrived, but Will’s Exeggutor was knocked out in one Hydro Pump, leaving everyone helpless before Gyarados.

• Gengar told Xia You that a radio signal was controlling Gyarados, and Sabrina destroyed the Signal Transmitter, but Gyarados continued rampaging.
• Xia You failed to recall Gyarados, which fired a devastating Hyper Beam through the institute and ignored the move’s usual side effects.
• Shirano escaped through a secret door as the institute collapsed, and Xia You, Sabrina, and Looker fled outside.
• Looker ordered the International Police to search for Team Rocket’s escape route, while Will and Karen arrived with reinforcements.
• Will sent Exeggutor to attack Gyarados, but Gyarados knocked it out with a single Hydro Pump, leaving Will stunned.

Xia You and the others tried to subdue his rampaging Gyarados, whose overwhelming strength quickly knocked out several of their Pokémon. Jolteon's Thunder struck Gyarados head-on, ending its rampage.

• Will, Karen, Looker, and Xia You sent out Pokémon to surround and attack Gyarados.
• Gyarados counterattacked with Hydro Pump and knocked out Looker's Arcanine, then defeated Croagunk with a charge.
• The remaining Pokémon kept Gyarados occupied and attacked, but it endured their blows and knocked out Jynx and Murkrow.
• Xia You sent Gengar into the fight, and it drew Gyarados's attention while dodging its attacks.
• At Xia You's command, Jolteon summoned Thunder, and Gyarados took the lightning strike without dodging, ending the rampage.

After Xia You and the others stopped Gyarados’s rampage and dismantled Team Rocket’s facilities, he and Sabrina headed toward Mahogany Town. Sabrina spotted a Natu in the forest and showed interest in catching it.

• Xia You confirmed that Gyarados had calmed down, returned it to its Poké Ball, and thanked Will, Karen, and Looker for their help.
• Looker learned that Shirano and Tatsumi had escaped, while Karen reported that Lance had also gotten away despite the base being cleared.
• Looker escorted the captured Team Rocket members away, and Xia You exchanged contact details with Will and Karen before saying goodbye.
• Xia You and Sabrina left the Lake of Rage and walked through the forest toward Mahogany Town.
• Sabrina stopped to watch a Natu, and Xia You used his Pokédex to identify it as a Psychic- and Flying-type Pokémon.

Xia You and Sabrina reached Mahogany Town, where they stayed overnight before visiting the Mahogany Gym the next morning. Xia You met the stern Gym Leader Pryce and asked to challenge him.

• Sabrina used Kadabra to weaken and catch a Natu that she found cute.
• Xia You and Sabrina arrived in Mahogany Town before dark, where Xia You found an abandoned sign calling it the home of the ninja.
• They passed International Police officers guarding the suspected entrance to Team Rocket's base, then found a guesthouse and had dinner.
• The next morning, Xia You and Sabrina entered the Mahogany Gym courtyard and saw Ice-type Pokémon playing in a frozen area beside a pool.
• Pryce approached Xia You, who greeted him and asked if he was the Gym Leader so he could challenge the Gym.

Xia You entered the Mahogany Gym and challenged Pryce, who agreed to use his strongest lineup after recognizing Xia You from televised battles and Blaine’s praise. The first battle began with Pryce’s Dewgong facing Xia You’s Jolteon.

• Pryce introduced himself as the Mahogany Gym Leader and led Xia You and Sabrina inside.
• Pryce explained that the Gym challenge required defeating three Pokémon and offered to referee the match himself.
• Xia You asked to face Pryce’s ace Pokémon, and Pryce agreed to use his strongest lineup.
• Pryce sent out Dewgong, and Xia You chose Jolteon to start the battle.

Xia You’s Jolteon overcame Pryce’s tactical defense and defeated Dewgong in the first match. Jolteon insisted on staying out for another round, while Pryce silently reflected on how an incident had changed his trust in Pokémon.

• Pryce had Dewgong raise an ice wall to block Jolteon’s Thunder Shock, then countered Jolteon’s approach with Ice Shard.
• Xia You told Jolteon to unleash his full power, and Jolteon adapted to the slippery battlefield as he charged Dewgong.
• Jolteon used Pin Missile to distract Dewgong, closed the distance, and powered through Icy Wind to land Thunder Fang.
• Jolteon followed with Double Kick and Discharge, knocking Dewgong unconscious and winning the first match.
• Jolteon refused to return to his Poké Ball and asked to battle again, while Pryce watched and recalled an incident that had made him see Pokémon as mere animals.

Xia You’s Jolteon defeated Pryce’s Lapras after interrupting its Sheer Cold with Thunder Wave, giving Xia You a second win. Xia You recalled Jolteon, and Pryce sent out his final Pokémon, Abomasnow.

• Pryce sent out Lapras, which attacked Jolteon with Ice Beam, Confuse Ray, and Water Gun.
• Xia You had Jolteon evade Lapras’s attacks with Agility and strike it with Quick Attack.
• Pryce ordered Lapras to use Sheer Cold, but Xia You had Jolteon interrupt it with Thunder Wave.
• Jolteon followed up with Thunder Fang, Double Kick, and Discharge, defeating Lapras.
• Xia You recalled his tired Jolteon, and Pryce sent out Abomasnow for the final battle.
• Xia You scanned Abomasnow with his Pokédex and learned about its Grass- and Ice-type nature.

Xia You sent Gardevoir to battle Pryce’s Abomasnow, which used its speed and strength to pressure Gardevoir before Psychic attacks turned the fight around. Pryce’s Mist obscured the battlefield, but Xia You guided Gardevoir through Telepathy, leaving Abomasnow on the receiving end of repeated attacks.

• Xia You chose Gardevoir to face Pryce’s Abomasnow instead of using Charizard’s type advantage.
• Abomasnow rushed Gardevoir across the ice, interrupted its Confusion with a snowball, and attacked with Ice Punch.
• Gardevoir used Double Team and Teleport to evade Abomasnow, then struck it with Psybeam and Psychic.
• Pryce ordered Abomasnow to spread Mist across the battlefield, blocking Gardevoir’s vision.
• Xia You guided Gardevoir through Telepathy as it teleported around Abomasnow and attacked, leaving Pryce unable to see the battle clearly.

Xia You defeated Pryce to win Mahogany Gym’s Freeze Badge, then flew with Sabrina toward Violet City and discovered the Ruins of Alph. They landed beside the archaeological site to investigate.

• Gardevoir defeated Pryce’s Abomasnow in the Mist, and Pryce awarded Xia You the Freeze Badge.
• Pryce warned Xia You not to get too close to Pokémon, but Xia You silently dismissed his view.
• Xia You and Sabrina rode Charizard toward Violet City, and Xia You reviewed his recent gains during the flight.
• Xia You discovered that Charizard had flown off course, then spotted a valley filled with ancient buildings and an archaeological team.
• Xia You had Charizard land near the site and read a sign identifying it as the Ruins of Alph.

Xia You and Sabrina visited the Ruins of Alph research center, where chief researcher Satake recognized Xia You and explained the ruins’ ancient history. After learning about the site, Xia You was invited to search for fossils outside.

• Xia You recalled that the Ruins of Alph held mysteries, including Unown and a hidden entrance to the Sinjoh Ruins.
• Xia You and Sabrina explored the research center’s fossil exhibition and found a sculpture resembling Hoopa.
• Satake introduced himself to Xia You and explained his research into ancient Pokémon history and the theory that Pokémon originated in the ocean.
• Satake explained that early settlers migrated from Sinnoh to Johto, influencing the sculpture, and described the Ruins of Alph as the birthplace of Johto’s earliest recorded civilization.
• Satake offered Xia You free tools so he could search outside for rare fossils.

Xia You tried excavating at the Ruins of Alph with Sabrina, but gave up after Gengar found no fossils nearby. After Satake let them into the ruins, he asked Xia You to investigate mysterious Pokémon that researchers had been unable to find.

• Xia You collected excavation tools with Satake, then returned to the canyon with Sabrina and chose a quiet spot to dig.
• Xia You called Gengar to search underground, and Gengar reported that there were no nearby fossils, prompting Xia You to abandon the excavation.
• Xia You and Sabrina went to the ancient stone chambers, where Satake let them past the cordon and explained that the buildings were the true Ruins of Alph.
• Satake asked Xia You to look for mysterious Pokémon that had appeared in the ruins, and Xia You agreed to help.

Xia You used a radio signal to locate a hidden room behind one of the Ruins’ stone chambers. After Satake’s staff carefully opened a passage, Xia You and Sabrina returned to the site to see what lay beyond.

• Xia You and Sabrina searched several stone chambers, but Sabrina sensed nothing unusual and the rooms appeared empty.
• Xia You asked Satake for a radio and tuned it until a faint melody and bird Pokémon cries came through clearly near one particular chamber.
• Xia You had Gengar pass through the chamber wall, and Gengar confirmed there was a hidden room behind it.
• Satake agreed to have workers carefully break through the wall with hammers and chisels rather than risk damaging the Ruins with machinery.
• Xia You and Sabrina ate lunch at the research center while the workers opened a passage, which was ready by the time they returned.

At the Ruins of Alph, Xia You and Satake uncovered hidden chambers containing puzzles that revealed ancient writing and images of Pokémon, including Ho-Oh. After the radio signals vanished, Xia You connected the chambers’ locations and found a newly appeared stone slab hiding another room.

• Satake and Xia You entered a hidden chamber and solved a scrambled puzzle depicting Kabuto, which revealed the message, “Our clan's words are inscribed here!”
• Xia You used his radio to locate more hidden chambers, and the group found puzzles depicting Aerodactyl, Omanyte, and Ho-Oh.
• Satake and the researchers suspected the mysterious bird calls on the radio had come from Ho-Oh, but all signals then disappeared.
• Xia You connected the locations of the four chambers and discovered a hollow-sounding stone slab at their intersection.
• Satake ordered the staff to lift the slab, revealing a pitch-black room below.

Xia You and the researchers discovered a mural of Arceus that concealed an unopened stone door, but they could not find a way through it. After leaving the ruins, Xia You encouraged Sabrina to return to her duties as Saffron Gym Leader, and they prepared to part temporarily.

• Xia You and Satake's team found a mural depicting Arceus, which Xia You recognized as a possible stone door.
• Satake and the researchers failed to open the door, while Gengar found only rock and soil beyond it.
• Xia You thanked Satake and left the ruins, telling him he needed to focus on the Silver Conference.
• Sabrina received a call from the Pokémon League ordering her to return to the Saffron Gym.
• Xia You persuaded Sabrina to resume her Gym Leader duties, promising their separation would only be temporary.

Xia You agreed to escort Sabrina back to Saffron City, unaware that Team Rocket had manipulated the Pokémon League to separate them. During their journey, they stopped at a remote coastal water sports arena, where a Water Ballet poster raised Xia You’s suspicions.

• Sabrina agreed to return to the Saffron Gym, and Xia You promised to accompany her back to Saffron City.
• Xia You and Sabrina flew to Violet City on Charizard, stayed overnight, and left early the next morning.
• Xia You released the Legendary Birds during the flight, and they playfully attacked one another in the sky.
• Xia You and Sabrina landed by the sea for lunch, then followed Jolteon toward a distant water sports arena.
• Xia You and Sabrina found a Water Ballet poster at the deserted arena, and Xia You wondered whether the remote venue was suspicious.

Xia You and Sabrina watched Ryūji perform a Water Ballet at his private Dragon Palace Gym, then accepted his invitation to battle. They followed him into the Gym’s lavish underwater section, where the challenge was about to begin.

• Xia You and Sabrina learned that Ryūji ran the unrecognized Dragon Palace Gym and invited them to watch his Water Ballet performance.
• Ryūji performed an underwater ballet with Qwilfish, Mantine, and Lanturn while Xia You and Sabrina watched.
• Xia You praised Ryūji’s performance, and Ryūji invited him to challenge the Gym.
• Xia You accepted, and he and Sabrina followed Ryūji to the Gym’s decorated underwater battle area.

Xia You toured the Dragon Palace Gym with Ryūji and learned that its battles took place underwater. After preparing for a three-on-three match, Xia You sent Dragonair out against Ryūji’s Qwilfish, and the battle began.

• Xia You recognized photos of Ryūji with Sakura, Ayame, and Penny, and Ryūji explained that they had inspired him to become a Water Ballet dancer.
• Xia You and Ryūji reached the Gym’s underwater battlefield, where Ryūji explained the battle rules and gave Xia You an underwater breathing device.
• Xia You changed into swimming trunks, entered the sea, and joined Ryūji, whose Qwilfish, Mantine, and Lanturn were ready to battle.
• Ryūji sent Qwilfish onto the battlefield, and Xia You chose Dragonair, whose Dragon typing reduced the damage it would take from Water-type moves.

Xia You and Dragonair faced Ryūji in an underwater Gym battle, where Dragonair defeated Qwilfish, Mantine, and Lanturn in succession. Ryūji was left questioning whether he was strong enough to be a Gym Leader.

• Xia You signaled Dragonair to begin the match, and Dragonair defeated Qwilfish with Dragon Rage, a powerful charge, and an underwater Twister vortex.
• Ryūji sent out Mantine, but Dragonair wore it down with Dragon Rush and Bind before knocking it unconscious with Dragon Tail.
• Ryūji sent out Lanturn as his final Pokémon, and Dragonair overcame its Electric-type attacks to complete a three-opponent sweep.
• Ryūji recalled his defeated Pokémon and wondered whether he lacked the strength to be a Gym Leader.

Xia You and Sabrina reached Saffron City, where Sabrina returned to the Saffron Gym and parted from him. Xia You then visited Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City, where Chloe and Professor Cerise were surprised to see him.

• Xia You told Ryūji that Dragonair was still growing and advised him to focus more on battling, then left the Dragon Palace Gym with Sabrina.
• Xia You and Sabrina flew to Saffron City on Charizard after a long journey from Johto.
• Sabrina embraced Xia You, said her heart would always belong to him, and entered the Saffron Gym while he watched her go.
• Xia You decided to visit Cerise Laboratory before leaving Kanto and bought gifts and fruit on the way.
• Chloe opened the laboratory door and was surprised to see Xia You, who explained that he would leave the next day and learned that it was Saturday.

Xia You visited his Pokémon at Cerise Park, thanked Chloe for caring for them, and rested in his old dorm room. While Chloe fed his Pokémon, Goh arrived and was frightened into the pond by Gyarados again.

• Xia You visited Blastoise and Venusaur at Cerise Park, thanked Chloe for looking after them, and let his other Pokémon play there.
• Xia You returned to his spotless old dorm room and fell asleep after days of travel.
• Chloe served Berries to Xia You's Pokémon while Goh arrived and criticized Xia You for having only a few Pokémon.
• Goh approached the pond, where Gyarados suddenly emerged and scared him into falling into the water.
• Goh climbed out and hurried away from Gyarados, remembering that it had frightened him into the pond before.

After recovering at Cerise Laboratory, Xia You left Gyarados there and traveled to Golden Ball Bridge to search for Mewtwo. Five young Trainers blocked his way and challenged him, but he defeated all of their Pokémon with three of his own.

• Chloe visited Xia You at Cerise Laboratory, and he left Gyarados there before setting off again.
• Xia You went to Golden Ball Bridge to look for Mewtwo, whose whereabouts he could not remember.
• Jichun and four other young Trainers blocked Xia You and demanded a battle.
• After one of them recognized him as the Indigo Conference champion, Xia You sent out Dragonair, Larvitar, and Scyther to fight all five at once.
• Xia You's Pokémon defeated Sandslash, Persian, Arcanine, Golduck, and Venomoth, and he continued across the bridge while the young Trainers marveled at his strength.

Xia You explored Cerulean Cave and found Mewtwo meditating on an island beneath an underground lake. After telling Mewtwo he had only come to say hello, Xia You released Gardevoir.

• Xia You followed the river into Cerulean Cave and continued past a swarm of Golbat to an underground lake.
• A giant Graveler attacked Xia You, but Dragonair, Larvitar, and Scyther defeated it.
• Xia You reached a deep cliff and had Gengar carry him down to a lower underground lake.
• Xia You found Mewtwo meditating above an island and greeted it.
• Mewtwo asked whether Xia You had come to catch it, and Xia You released Gardevoir despite claiming he had only stopped by.

Xia You brought Gardevoir to challenge Mewtwo to a sparring match, hoping to test the gap between them without trying to capture Mewtwo. Gardevoir lost badly, and Xia You ended the battle, leaving Mewtwo wary but undefeated.

• Xia You told Mewtwo that he had found friends and a sense of belonging in this world, then explained that Gardevoir wanted to spar with it.
• Mewtwo accepted Gardevoir's challenge and faced it as the two Pokémon unleashed their psychic powers.
• Gardevoir attacked with a series of moves, but Mewtwo defended and countered as their battle damaged the lake and surrounding rocks.
• Gengar offered to help Xia You catch Mewtwo, but Xia You refused and said the battle was Gardevoir's trial, not a capture attempt.
• Mewtwo struck Gardevoir down, and Xia You recalled it and stopped the fight while Mewtwo remained alert to the powerful Pokémon with him.

After failing to catch Mewtwo, Xia You left Cerulean Cave and explained to Gengar why he had refused to force a capture. He then received a call from Erika, arranged to meet her at the Celadon Gym, and reassured Gardevoir after its defeat.

• Xia You left Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave without trying to catch it, leaving Mewtwo puzzled by his decision.
• Xia You told Gengar that capturing Mewtwo without first building a bond would be dangerous, and said he hoped to catch it without another battle someday.
• Xia You took Gardevoir to the Cerulean City Pokémon Center for treatment and ate lunch while missing Sabrina.
• Erika called Xia You to ask where to find Grass-type Pokémon in Johto, and they arranged to meet at the Celadon Gym that afternoon.
• Xia You collected Gardevoir after Nurse Joy treated it and encouraged it not to dwell on losing to Mewtwo.

Xia You reunited with Erika at the Celadon Gym, which was being repaired after Team Rocket had set it on fire during Ash’s visit. After they discussed the repairs and her plans to travel to Johto, Xia You asked which Grass-type Pokémon she hoped to catch.

• Xia You returned to Celadon City and found workers repairing the fire-damaged Celadon Gym.
• Erika explained that Team Rocket had started the fire when Ash visited and that delayed League funding had postponed the repairs.
• Erika told Xia You that the fire had spared the greenhouse and thanked him for sending her oranges, whose seeds had grown into saplings.
• Xia You explained that he had returned to take Sabrina back to the Saffron Gym after the Pokémon League summoned her.
• Erika invited Xia You into the Gym’s temporary cabin, where they shared tea.
• Xia You asked Erika which Grass-type Pokémon she planned to catch in Johto so he could recommend some.