Recaps

Xia You and his companions fought their way through Team Rocket’s underwater base while Dr. Namba secretly prepared to escape with its research data. As the base suddenly rose toward the surface, Cassidy and Butch revealed they had not known the escape mechanism was being activated.

• Dr. Namba ordered Butch and Cassidy to stall Xia You’s group while he prepared to evacuate with the research data in his head.
• Dr. Namba told a Team Rocket member to ready the submarine and revealed that he had sent Butch and Cassidy out to punish them and buy time for his escape.
• Xia You and his companions battled through Team Rocket forces to the base’s second floor, where Cassidy and Butch blocked their path with more members.
• Erika recognized that Cassidy and Butch were stalling, and Xia You prepared to attack them.
• The base began rising rapidly toward the surface, surprising Xia You’s group and Cassidy and Butch alike.
• Cassidy and Butch privately wondered why the base’s escape mechanism had activated, then decided to finish their assignment and get out.

Xia You and the others fought their way through Team Rocket’s rising underwater base, only to learn that it was set to self-destruct in five minutes. As everyone fled, Xia You grew suspicious of Team Rocket’s evacuation and chose to stay behind to investigate.

• Xia You, Ash, and their companions attacked Cassidy, Butch, and the Team Rocket members as the base rose toward the surface.
• Shuichi watched Team Rocket’s steel fortress emerge from the sea and recognized it as their secret base.
• A self-destruct warning revealed that the base would explode in five minutes, and Cassidy realized Team Rocket’s leader had sent them to be trapped there.
• Cassidy and Butch fled with the other Team Rocket members, while Xia You and his companions ran toward the exit.
• Xia You noticed that no researchers were present and questioned Team Rocket’s actions, then stopped at the exit and told the others to leave without him.

Xia You decided to stay inside the base despite the evacuation countdown, convinced that Team Rocket’s rushed retreat and the promised destruction did not add up. Erika stayed with him, and after the countdown ended, distant explosions stopped abruptly along with the alarm, leaving them unsure what had happened.

• Xia You rejected Misty’s pleas to evacuate and said he would stay to investigate the suspicious warning, relying on Gardevoir’s Teleport if necessary.
• Erika chose to stay with Xia You, while Ash and Brock led Misty out of the base to wait outside.
• Xia You and Erika moved deeper into the base as the countdown continued, and Gardevoir prepared to teleport them away.
• When the countdown reached zero, distant explosions shook the base, but Xia You stopped Gardevoir and listened instead of leaving.
• The explosions and alarm suddenly stopped, leaving Xia You and Erika wondering why the base had not been destroyed.

Xia You and Erika discovered that Dr. Namba was researching a Pokémon virus at Team Rocket’s underwater base. After Dr. Namba triggered explosions and escaped by elevator, seawater flooded the lab, leaving Xia You and Erika in danger.

• Xia You and Erika searched the sinking base and found researchers working behind a blast-resistant door.
• Xia You had Gardevoir blast open the door and confronted Dr. Namba, who revealed his research into a Pokémon virus.
• Dr. Namba admitted the captured Pokémon were intended for experiments, while the other researchers escaped by elevator.
• Erika condemned Dr. Namba’s attempt to alter Pokémon genes, but he defended his research and activated a red button.
• Dr. Namba escaped as explosions tore through the lab, and Gardevoir protected Xia You and Erika while seawater flooded in.

As the flooded Team Rocket base sank, Xia You and Erika struggled through its corridors to escape, and Xia You discovered he could absorb oxygen underwater. They reached the surface with help from Ash and Misty's Pokémon, while Dr. Namba and the researchers escaped aboard a submarine.

• Xia You recalled Gardevoir, sent out Dragonair, and held onto Erika as seawater flooded the base and debris swept through the room.
• Xia You and Erika swam back through the flooded corridors, with Dragonair shielding them from debris.
• A bursting pipe knocked Erika toward a wall and tore away her breathing apparatus, so Xia You gave her his own.
• Xia You realized he could absorb oxygen through his skin and continued swimming without the breathing apparatus.
• Xia You and Erika met Ash's Totodile and Misty's Corsola outside the base, then used the Pokémon to swim toward the surface.
• Xia You spotted Team Rocket's submarine below them and realized Dr. Namba and the researchers had escaped.

After Xia You and Erika escaped Team Rocket’s exploding underwater base, they reunited with Anabel and the others, who had arrested most of the escaping operatives. The group left the next morning for the Temple of the Sea on Red Flame Island to report to Maya, while Cassidy and Butch remained at large.

• Xia You and Erika surfaced and were rescued by two Police Boats, where they reunited with Ash, Misty, Brock, Ritchie, Shuichi, and Anabel.
• Xia You explained Team Rocket’s plot and the virus, and Anabel reported that her officers had arrested dozens of operatives escaping from the base.
• Anabel said Cassidy and Butch had escaped aboard a Magikarp-shaped submarine, but she considered the operation a major success.
• After spending the night aboard the coast guard boat, Xia You and the others set out for the Temple of the Sea on Red Flame Island to report to Maya.
• Shuichi joined the trip after getting his mother’s permission, and Ritchie went along to visit the Whirlpool Archipelago’s famous temple.

After returning to Red Flame Island, Xia You and his companions were welcomed by High Priestess Maya and celebrated at a banquet in the Temple of the Sea. Maya asked Xia You to help her complete the Inheritance Ceremony, and he agreed before she led him away from the meal.

• Maya greeted Xia You and his companions at the docks, thanking them for defeating Team Rocket and protecting the Sea God.
• Maya escorted the group to the Temple of the Sea, where Shuichi and Ritchie marveled at the Sea God statue.
• The group rested in the temple before joining Maya for a celebratory banquet.
• Maya approached Xia You during the meal and asked him to help complete the Inheritance Ceremony.
• Xia You agreed, and Maya apologized to the others before preparing to leave with him.

Xia You learned that Maya's succession ceremony meant conceiving a child with the Hero of the Sea so her family could preserve its bloodline and the High Priest position. He refused because of his relationships with Erika and Sabrina, but Maya confessed her love and asked him to reconsider, leaving him conflicted.

• Xia You followed Maya to her bedroom and asked what the succession ceremony involved.
• Maya explained that her ancestors had made the High Priest position hereditary and that she was expected to have a child to continue her family's bloodline and office.
• Maya revealed that the ceremony meant a union between the High Priest and the Hero of the Sea, and Xia You refused because he had a girlfriend and was not ready to have children.
• Maya said she would raise the child alone, keep the matter from Erika, and support Xia You through the Temple of the Sea.
• Maya confessed that she liked Xia You and took his hand, asking him not to turn down her final request.

After the inheritance ritual, Xia You left the Temple of the Sea with Erika and his friends, carrying guilt over spending the night with Maya. He promised Maya he would return and help her again before setting off for Cianwood City.

• Maya undressed in front of Xia You, and he gave in to the temptation after drinking fruit wine.
• The next morning, Maya told Ash that the inheritance ritual had gone smoothly, while Xia You concealed what had happened and worried about facing Erika.
• Xia You, Erika, Ash, Misty, Brock, Shuichi, and Ritchie said their farewells at Red Flame Island's docks.
• Ritchie departed by ship, and Shuichi took Ash, Misty, and Brock away on his speedboat.
• Maya told Xia You she would need his help again, and Xia You promised to visit and asked her to contact him if anything came up.
• Xia You and Erika prepared to leave for Cianwood City while Erika quietly sensed something unusual between Xia You and Maya.

Xia You and Erika arrived in Cianwood City and found Gym Leader Chuck training with Machoke on the beach. Chuck made Xia You run to the Gym as a test of his spirit, leaving Xia You exhausted but more alert when he arrived.

• Xia You and Erika reached Cianwood City and spotted Chuck sparring with Machoke on the beach.
• Xia You identified Chuck as the Cianwood Gym Leader and introduced himself as a challenger.
• Chuck criticized Xia You for lacking spirit and insisted that Trainers should train their bodies alongside their Pokémon.
• Chuck ran toward the Gym with Machoke and ordered Xia You to follow, while Erika stayed behind with his backpack.
• Xia You refused Gengar’s offer of a ride, jogged after Chuck, and reached the Gym drenched in sweat but feeling more awake.

Xia You arrived at Cianwood Gym and began his three-on-three battle against Chuck, who sent out Primeape while Xia You chose Dragonair. Erika arrived to watch as Primeape charged at Dragonair, leaving the battle just underway.

• Chuck praised Xia You for conserving his energy, though Chuck had only just reached the Gym himself after running from the beach.
• Chuck led Xia You into the Gym, where his apprentices greeted their teacher and gathered to watch the battle.
• The referee explained that each Trainer could use three Pokémon and that Xia You had to defeat all of Chuck’s Pokémon to win.
• Erika arrived and quietly took a seat behind Xia You.
• Chuck introduced himself as the king of Fighting-type Pokémon and sent out Primeape, while Xia You answered with Dragonair.
• Chuck questioned Xia You’s choice of a non-Fighting Pokémon, then ordered Primeape to charge at Dragonair.

Xia You’s Dragonair defeated Chuck’s Primeape and Machoke in a Gym battle. After the second victory, Dragonair evolved into Dragonite, which began adjusting to its new body.

• Dragonair quickly knocked out Chuck’s Primeape, surprising Chuck and his disciples.
• Chuck sent out Machoke, and Xia You kept Dragonair in the battle.
• Dragonair and Machoke traded attacks until Dragonair paralyzed Machoke with Thunder Wave and defeated it with Hyper Beam.
• Dragonair began evolving after Machoke fell, and the light revealed a newly evolved Dragonite.
• Xia You congratulated Dragonite as it examined its new limbs and tried to get used to its body.

Chuck brought out his ace, Conkeldurr, to battle Xia You’s Dragonite after losing two matches in a row. Dragonite struggled against Conkeldurr’s concrete pillars, and Xia You ordered it to throw one of them away as the battle continued.

• Chuck returned with a Great Ball and sent out his ace Pokémon, Conkeldurr.
• Xia You kept Dragonite in the battle, and Dragonite rushed Conkeldurr with Extreme Speed.
• Conkeldurr used its concrete pillars to withstand Dragonite’s attack and strike it back.
• Dragonite’s Thunder Wave failed when Conkeldurr grounded the electricity through a pillar.
• Conkeldurr hit Dragonite before it could finish forming Twister, and Xia You ordered Dragonite to throw a pillar away.

Xia You’s Dragonite fought Chuck’s Conkeldurr to a double knockout, securing Xia You the Cianwood Gym battle and its Storm Badge. Chuck congratulated him and invited Xia You and Erika to stay for lunch.

• Dragonite kicked Conkeldurr’s concrete pillar out of bounds, then used Dragon Rage as Conkeldurr charged without throwing its remaining pillar.
• Conkeldurr’s Dynamic Punch confused Dragonite, while Dragonite’s Thunder Punch paralyzed Conkeldurr, leaving both unable to move.
• After recovering at the same time, Conkeldurr and Dragonite struck each other with Hammer Arm and Aqua Tail, then both fell unconscious.
• The referee declared Xia You the overall winner, and Xia You praised Dragonite as it regained consciousness.
• Chuck congratulated Xia You and gave him Cianwood Gym’s Storm Badge.
• As Xia You and Erika prepared to leave, Chuck invited them to have lunch with him.

After defeating Chuck and receiving his hospitality, Xia You and Erika traveled to Azalea Town to continue collecting Badges. There, they unexpectedly ran into Professor Elm.

• Chuck invited Xia You and Erika to lunch at the Cianwood Gym, where his students learned Xia You was the latest Indigo Conference champion.
• Xia You and Erika left Cianwood City and sailed overnight toward the Johto mainland.
• On the walk to Azalea Town, Erika caught another Sunkern for the Celadon Gym greenhouse, while Xia You trained Pupitar and Eevee in Ilex Forest.
• Xia You spotted a Farfetch'd in the forest, but it disappeared before he could catch it.
• After reaching Azalea Town, Xia You and Erika encountered Professor Elm, who greeted Xia You.

Xia You and Erika accompanied Professor Elm to Mr. Steel’s home to investigate a mysterious Poké Ball that Xia You suspected was the GS Ball. They arrived and were greeted by Mr. Steel’s granddaughter, who identified Elm by his monkey-like appearance.

• Professor Elm told Xia You he had come to Azalea Town to research a mysterious Poké Ball, and Xia You said he had earned six Badges and planned to challenge Bugsy.
• Elm invited Xia You and Erika to join him in examining the Poké Ball, and Xia You suspected it was the GS Ball from the Orange Islands.
• The group crossed Azalea Town, where Elm explained the townspeople’s reverence for Slowpoke and the town’s history of drought.
• Elm brought Xia You and Erika to Mr. Steel’s home, where his granddaughter let them in after describing Elm as a professor who looked like a monkey.

Xia You joined Professor Elm and Erika at Mr. Steel’s home to examine the mysterious GS Ball. After Elm and Steel admitted they could not identify its maker or purpose, Xia You shared a rumor that it was designed to catch a rare Legendary Pokémon.

• Chie greeted Professor Elm as “Professor Monkey,” prompting Mr. Steel to scold her and apologize.
• Professor Elm introduced Xia You and Erika to Mr. Steel, a retired handmade Poké Ball craftsman who recognized Xia You from his son’s account of the Team Rocket attack on Silph Co.
• Mr. Steel brought out the GS Ball, and Professor Elm examined it but could not explain why it resisted machine transport or identify its maker.
• Xia You told the others a rumor that the GS Ball was made from a catching net woven from a Rainbow Wing and a Silver Wing to capture an extremely rare Legendary Pokémon.

Xia You explained that the GS Ball was made to catch Celebi, a Pokémon with the power to travel through time. After realizing the ball could attract dangerous attention, Professor Elm and Steel considered entrusting it to Xia You for safekeeping.

• Steel recognized that the GS Ball contained feathers from Ho-Oh and Lugia, whose powers were difficult to combine.
• Xia You explained that the ball was intended to catch a Pokémon that controlled time, and Erika identified that Pokémon as Celebi.
• Steel warned that the GS Ball's origins could put its owners in danger if word spread.
• Professor Elm suggested entrusting the ball to someone suitable, and he and Steel looked to Xia You.

Mr. Steel gave Xia You the GS Ball after Professor Elm and Erika encouraged him to accept it. Xia You and Erika stayed overnight at Mr. Steel’s home and ended up sharing a room, leaving Xia You awake and conflicted about his feelings for her and his commitments to Sabrina and Maya.

• Mr. Steel entrusted the GS Ball to Xia You, and Professor Elm and Erika urged Xia You to accept it.
• Mr. Steel hosted Xia You, Professor Elm, Erika, and Chie for dinner, then arranged for them to stay overnight.
• Mr. Steel’s daughter-in-law assigned Xia You and Erika the same room, and Erika agreed they should stay there rather than trouble the household for another room.
• Xia You and Erika went to bed on futons set apart by half a meter, but Xia You could not fall asleep beside her.
• Xia You considered making his relationship with Erika official, then remembered Sabrina was his girlfriend and that he had already spent a night as Maya’s husband.

After Bugsy’s absence forced Xia You to postpone his Azalea Gym challenge, he chose to travel with Erika to Charizard Valley instead. They reached the mountains at night and camped at their foot, planning to continue in the morning.

• Xia You and Erika said goodbye to Mr. Steel and left Azalea Town after Professor Elm slept through breakfast.
• Xia You found the Azalea Gym closed because Bugsy had left to catch Pokémon and would not return for several days.
• Xia You chose Charizard Valley as their next destination, hoping to see how its powerful Charizard compared with his own.
• Xia You and Erika traveled north from Azalea Town and reached the foot of the mountains after dark.
• Xia You and Erika pitched a tent and decided to enter the mountains the next morning.

Xia You and Erika continued through the mountains toward Charizard Canyon, where they met Kiko, a Charizard Trainer who knew Clair. Kiko invited them to the canyon and told them another Trainer had recently left a Charizard there.

• Xia You and Erika climbed the dangerous mountain trail with their Pokémon, and Xia You helped Erika cross a natural stone bridge.
• Kiko called down to them from a boulder, then leaped down and recognized the scent of Xia You’s Charizard.
• Kiko introduced herself as a Charizard Trainer and said Clair had told her about Xia You’s powerful Charizard.
• Xia You told Kiko and Erika that he had come to Charizard Canyon to train his Charizard.
• Kiko invited them to the canyon and said a Pokémon Trainer had recently left his Charizard there.

Kiko introduced Xia You and Erika to her Charizard, Lisa, and led them toward Charizard Canyon. Xia You and Kiko raced their Charizard through the mountains, and they arrived at the canyon.

• Kiko summoned Lisa and invited Xia You and Erika to follow her to Charizard Canyon.
• Xia You released his Charizard and flew with Erika, while Kiko rode Lisa.
• Kiko challenged Xia You to a race, and Lisa sped ahead through the mountain terrain.
• Xia You’s Charizard kept pace with Lisa until they reached Charizard Canyon.
• Xia You and Erika saw a broad river between cliffs, lined with enormous Charizard statues.

Xia You and Erika arrived at Charizard Canyon, where Kiko showed them the powerful Charizard that trained there. Xia You let his Charizard choose an opponent, but stopped him from challenging the strongest one first and warned him to fight carefully on his own.

• Kiko opened the gate to Charizard Canyon and explained that its Charizard grew stronger through constant battles and training.
• Xia You spotted Ash's Charizard training alone after being isolated by the other Charizard.
• The wild Charizard gathered around Xia You's group and looked down on Xia You's Charizard.
• Xia You let his Charizard choose an opponent, but stopped him when he headed toward the strongest Charizard.
• Xia You told his Charizard to pick a weaker opponent first and warned that he would not intervene in any of the battles.

Xia You’s Charizard challenged a wild Charizard in Charizard Canyon but could only draw, showing Xia You how much stronger the canyon’s Charizard were. Xia You arranged for Charizard to stay and train there, and Charizard agreed to work toward becoming the strongest.

• Xia You’s Charizard challenged an unremarkable wild Charizard, and the two fought to a draw.
• Kiko told Xia You that his opponent ranked in the lower middle among the canyon’s roughly hundred Charizard, and compared the result with Ash’s Charizard’s progress against Lisa.
• Erika treated Charizard’s wounds while Kiko invited Xia You and Erika to lunch at her cabin.
• Xia You asked Kiko if Charizard could stay in the canyon to train, and Kiko agreed.
• Xia You told Charizard he would stay until he became the strongest Charizard in the canyon, and Charizard reluctantly accepted the challenge.

Xia You and Erika returned to Azalea Gym, where they met Bugsy and began a three-on-three Gym battle. Bugsy sent out Spinarak first, leaving Xia You to choose his opening Pokémon.

• Xia You and Erika traveled back to Azalea Town after leaving Charizard at Charizard Canyon.
• Xia You and Erika entered the open Azalea Gym and found Bugsy tending to a Metapod.
• Bugsy explained that he had been away catching new Pokémon and led Xia You to the forest battlefield.
• The referee announced a three-on-three Gym battle between Bugsy and Xia You.
• Bugsy sent out Spinarak as his first Pokémon.