Recaps

May lost to Drew in the Pokémon Contest, but Xia You urged her to learn from the setback. Robert then defeated Drew and won the contest, and the group prepared to leave the next morning after saying goodbye to Ayako.

• Drew's Roselia defeated May's Beautifly with Solar Beam, eliminating May from the contest.
• Xia You bluntly reminded May that she had lost to a stronger Coordinator and encouraged her to improve; May promised to do better next time.
• Robert's Milotic overwhelmed Drew's Roselia and advanced to the finals after time ran out.
• Robert defeated his final opponent and won the Pokémon Contest.
• Ayako praised May's first contest performance and said goodbye to the group before returning to Twinleaf Town.
• Xia You spotted the Team Rocket Trio taking notes with an old man, then left with the others as they headed toward the Pokémon Center.

After saying goodbye to Ash and May, Xia You and Misty traveled to Dewford Island so Xia You could challenge its Gym. There, they encountered Bea battling the acting Gym Leader Shinobu’s Meditite, and Xia You prepared to challenge Shinobu while Brawly was away.

• Misty and May tearfully said goodbye, while Ash urged them to meet again soon and Max suggested they travel together.
• Xia You and Misty boarded a ship from Slateport City and reached Dewford Town, where they headed for the Dewford Gym.
• At the Gym, Xia You and Misty watched Bea’s Pangoro defeat Shinobu’s Meditite, earning Bea the right to challenge Brawly the next morning.
• Bea recognized Xia You and Misty, nodded to them, and left the Gym after learning Brawly was out surfing.
• Shinobu introduced herself as Brawly’s number-one student, girlfriend, and acting Gym Leader, then told Xia You he had to defeat her before challenging Brawly.

Xia You defeated Shinobu’s Machop with Combusken, earning the right to challenge Brawly the next morning. As Xia You and Misty reached the Pokémon Center, they learned a typhoon was approaching Dewford Town and might delay their plans.

• Shinobu challenged Xia You to defeat her in a one-on-one battle before he could face Brawly, and Xia You sent out Combusken against her Machop.
• Combusken used Bulk Up and anticipated Machop’s attacks, then traded blows with it until Double Kick knocked it unconscious.
• Shinobu conceded defeat and told Xia You he could return the next morning to challenge Brawly, while Misty celebrated the win.
• Xia You and Misty left Dewford Gym and saw dark clouds gathering over the sea as they hurried to the Pokémon Center.
• At the Pokémon Center, Trainers identified the approaching storm as a typhoon, and Xia You warned that it could disrupt the Gym battle and their departure.

As the typhoon approached Dewford Island, Xia You, Misty, and Bea went to challenge the Dewford Gym, only to find it locked and Brawly absent. They abandoned the wait as the storm reached land and took shelter in a nearby cave when the rain became torrential.

• Xia You and Misty left the Pokémon Center early to challenge the Dewford Gym before the typhoon arrived.
• Xia You and Misty met Bea outside the locked Gym, where she had already waited for half an hour.
• Misty suggested Brawly might have stayed home because of the typhoon, and Xia You decided they should leave if the Gym remained closed.
• Xia You, Misty, and Bea started down the hill as the typhoon approached Dewford Island.
• A sudden downpour soaked the three, so Xia You led them off the path toward a nearby cave for shelter.

Xia You, Misty, and Bea took shelter from a typhoon in a small cave, where they dried off, shared warmth, and grew closer while waiting for the storm to pass. The rain continued, and Dragonite gathered all three around its warm body as the cave cooled.

• Xia You, Misty, and Bea escaped the torrential rain by sheltering in a rocky cave and lit a fire with Combusken’s Ember.
• Xia You used Dragonite to give them privacy while they removed their wet clothes and warmed themselves by the fire.
• Misty learned that Bea came from Stow-on-Side in Galar and had traveled to challenge the Fighting Gym.
• After the firewood ran out, Bea shared her sweets with Xia You and Misty, and the three chatted more comfortably.
• As the cave cooled, Xia You had Dragonite embrace all three of them to keep them warm while the typhoon continued outside.

After the typhoon passed, Xia You, Misty, and Bea returned to Dewford Gym, where they discovered Shinobu had deceived them about a qualifying match. Bea began her official Gym challenge against Brawly, who struggled to get her to speak.

• Xia You, Misty, and Bea left their cave shelter, returned to Dewford Town, and rested overnight at the Pokémon Center.
• The next morning, the three went back to Dewford Gym and found its sign blown away and its doors open.
• Misty confronted Brawly about the promised challenge, but Brawly revealed that Shinobu was not an acting Gym Leader and had secretly arranged the earlier match.
• Brawly prepared an official Gym battle, and Xia You let Bea challenge first.
• Brawly introduced himself and asked Bea her name, but she stayed silent while Misty quietly laughed at his awkward attempts to talk to her.

Bea’s Pangoro defeated Brawly’s Makuhita in the first round of their Gym battle, prompting Brawly to send out his ace Hariyama. Pangoro continued fighting and overpowered Hariyama in a direct contest of strength, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Brawly sent out Makuhita, while Bea chose Pangoro and prepared to battle.
• Bea and Pangoro synchronized their fighting stance, and Pangoro struck Makuhita before Brawly could react.
• Pangoro defeated Makuhita with Vital Throw after dominating their exchanges.
• Brawly sent out his ace Hariyama, and Bea kept Pangoro in the battle.
• Hariyama and Pangoro locked hands in a strength contest, but Pangoro pushed Hariyama backward.

Bea defeated Brawly’s Hariyama and declined his Gym Badge, explaining through Xia You that she had come only to train. Xia You then challenged Brawly, and as their first Pokémon battled, Brawly began questioning whether he had abandoned the martial path he once upheld.

• Pangoro knocked out Hariyama, giving Bea the victory over Brawly.
• Bea refused Brawly’s Badge and sat with Misty, while Xia You explained that she had challenged the Gym only to train her Pokémon.
• Xia You challenged Brawly and pretended that his Pokémon were weak, prompting Brawly to accept eagerly in hopes of restoring his pride.
• Brawly sent out Hitmontop, and Xia You answered with Combusken; the two Pokémon traded kicks in a closely matched battle.
• As Hitmontop weakened and Combusken held its ground, Brawly remembered the perseverance and fighting spirit he had abandoned and wondered if he had strayed from his old path.

Xia You sent Tyranitar against Brawly’s Machamp despite its type disadvantage and used Sandstorm to let Tyranitar overpower it in close combat. The sand cleared to reveal Machamp badly injured and trapped by rocks, while Tyranitar had suffered much less damage.

• After Combusken defeated Hitmontop but could no longer fight, Xia You asked to use a Pokémon of another type, and Brawly agreed.
• Brawly sent out Machamp, his former strongest Pokémon, while Xia You chose Tyranitar despite its quadruple weakness to Fighting moves.
• Tyranitar and Machamp exchanged Stone Edge attacks, and Machamp hurled a blocked rock back at Tyranitar before dodging another strike.
• Xia You ordered Tyranitar to summon Sandstorm as Machamp charged, and the two Pokémon fought unseen at close range inside the swirling sand.
• As the Sandstorm thinned, the spectators saw Machamp severely injured and trapped within rocks, while Tyranitar had taken far less damage.

Xia You defeated Brawly, earned the Knuckle Badge, and continued his Hoenn journey with Misty toward Petalburg City. There, he received an unexpected call from Kuroda, who asked him to come to Rustboro City because President Stone had an important request.

• Tyranitar defeated Machamp with a point-blank Hyper Beam, giving Xia You the victory over Brawly and the Knuckle Badge.
• The Gym girls discovered Xia You was a two-time Pokémon tournament champion, leaving Brawly embarrassed about his excuse for losing.
• Xia You and Misty parted ways with Bea, treated their Pokémon, and sailed from Dewford Town toward the mainland.
• Xia You and Misty headed for Petalburg City, where Xia You won seventeen battles against novice Trainers on the way.
• Kuroda called Xia You near Petalburg City and asked him to visit Rustboro because President Stone wanted to make an important request.

Xia You and Misty met with President Stone, who asked them to retrieve a meteorite containing the powerful Mythical Pokémon Deoxys after Devon Corporation’s attempts had failed. Xia You agreed and set off with Misty, equipped to deal with Deoxys’s effects on magnetic fields and technology.

• Xia You and Misty flew by helicopter to Devon Corporation headquarters, where Kuroda brought them to President Stone.
• Stone showed Xia You and Misty footage of a meteorite striking Hoenn and explained that Deoxys had defeated Devon’s teams sent to recover it.
• Xia You agreed to help Stone retrieve the meteorite, and Kuroda explained that Steven could not be reached.
• Xia You transferred Poké Balls to bring members of his old lineup, then boarded a helicopter with Misty and specialized equipment to head for the meteorite site.

Xia You and Misty reached the lake where Deoxys was hiding, and Xia You forced it out with Red Gyarados. He sent Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos to fight Deoxys, then ordered them to use their combined move as dark clouds gathered overhead.

• Xia You and Misty left the Devon Corporation observation post and approached the lake, where Gengar sensed a powerful presence.
• Xia You sent out Red Gyarados to churn the lake and force Deoxys to emerge.
• Misty identified Deoxys with her Pokédex, and Xia You summoned Moltres, Articuno, and Zapdos from their Poké Balls.
• The Legendary Birds attacked together, but Deoxys blocked their moves, changed into Attack Forme, and injured Moltres.
• Xia You relayed an order through Gardevoir's Telepathy for the birds to use Three-Bird Combo, and dark clouds gathered as they circled upward.

Xia You and the Legendary Birds unleashed the Three-Bird Combo on Deoxys, but its rapid regeneration let it recover completely. As Xia You prepared to continue the fight, Team Magma and Team Aqua arrived, and Deoxys launched an indiscriminate attack against everyone on the battlefield.

• Xia You escaped the Three-Bird Combo’s blast with Misty while the Devon Corporation team watched the attack from their observation post.
• The Three-Bird Combo engulfed Deoxys, but it survived in Defense Forme and rapidly regenerated its damaged body.
• Xia You prepared to release Suicune and Raikou, but Courtney led Team Magma onto one mountainside and Shelly led Team Aqua onto the other.
• Shelly and Courtney argued over who would capture Xia You and claim Deoxys, while Xia You asked them to leave.
• Deoxys created a vast blue aurora, changed into Attack Forme, and fired Energy Balls at Xia You, the Legendary Birds, Team Magma, and Team Aqua.

Team Magma and Team Aqua attacked Xia You and Deoxys, triggering a sprawling battle across the flooded crater. As Courtney and Shelly led their elites toward different targets, Xia You shifted his Pokémon to counter their plans, and Misty released Psyduck to help protect them.

• Team Magma and Team Aqua briefly joined forces to attack Xia You and Deoxys after the opening Energy Ball explosions.
• Xia You sent Raikou and Suicune against the two teams and deployed Charizard, Venusaur, Blastoise, and Jolteon to support them.
• Misty released Starmie, Politoed, Corsola, and Psyduck, then recalled Psyduck before her other Pokémon joined the fight.
• Courtney led Team Magma's elites toward Xia You while Shelly took Team Aqua's elites to attack Deoxys, dividing their forces.
• Xia You ordered his Pokémon to retreat toward him, redirected the Legendary Birds against Team Aqua, and sent Gengar and Misty's Pokémon to reinforce the front line.
• Misty released Psyduck again to help guard her and Xia You as the battle turned against them.

Xia You and Misty were cornered by Team Magma until Zinnia arrived with her Salamence and helped drive back their attackers. Zinnia explained that she had witnessed Rayquaza battle Deoxys and revealed that Team Magma had only recently come to the area, leaving Xia You’s question about a mole at Devon Corporation unresolved.

• Courtney led two elite Team Magma members through Xia You’s defensive line and confronted him and Misty at the peak.
• Misty ordered Psyduck to protect them, but Psyduck panicked under fire and failed to stop Team Magma’s attack.
• Zinnia arrived with Salamence and knocked away a Mightyena attacking Xia You.
• Zinnia told Xia You and Misty that she had found the Meteorite three days earlier and witnessed Rayquaza fight the powerful Pokémon later identified as Deoxys.
• Zinnia said Rayquaza had left after being injured and would likely return, while Team Magma and Team Aqua had recently come to the area hoping to find the Pokémon.

Rayquaza appeared above the battlefield and immediately attacked Deoxys, turning the fight into a devastating clash that forced Xia You and Courtney to pull back. Zinnia rushed toward Rayquaza to try to capture it, while both Legendary Pokémon grew exhausted and injured, leaving everyone watching for a chance to act.

• Xia You learned from Zinnia that Team Aqua and Team Magma had coincidentally arrived together, and the battle remained at a stalemate.
• Dark clouds gathered, and Rayquaza descended from the sky before charging straight at Deoxys.
• Zinnia raced toward Rayquaza, while Xia You recalled his Legendary Birds to protect his group and wait out the clash.
• Rayquaza and Deoxys fought across the valley, damaging the terrain and catching Team Aqua in the crossfire; Courtney withdrew Team Magma's forces.
• Zinnia tried to approach and attract Rayquaza's attention, but it ignored her, and Deoxys and Rayquaza knocked down Salamence and Altaria.
• After fighting fiercely, Deoxys and Rayquaza became badly injured and exhausted, prompting the onlookers to recognize an opening.

Shelly and Courtney redirected Team Aqua and Team Magma against Deoxys, while Xia You sent his Pokémon into the chaotic battle. He then revealed his hidden Mega Red Gyarados, which charged Rayquaza and Deoxys and sent huge waves crashing through both teams.

• Shelly ordered Team Aqua to abandon its attack on Xia You and launch a final assault on Deoxys.
• Courtney decided Team Magma would also target Deoxys, and her forces charged into battle against Team Aqua and Zinnia.
• Xia You sent his Pokémon into the melee while he and Misty watched from the mountaintop.
• Xia You used his Key Stone to Mega Evolve his hidden Gyarados into Mega Gyarados.
• Mega Gyarados leaped from the lake and attacked Rayquaza and Deoxys, while its huge waves swept nearby Pokémon and fighters into the water.

Xia You used Mega Red Gyarados’s Twister to scatter the battlefield, drive Rayquaza away, and force Team Aqua and Team Magma to retreat. With Deoxys isolated and exhausted, Xia You helped Mega Red Gyarados defeat it and captured it in a Great Ball.

• Xia You commanded Mega Red Gyarados to unleash a massive Twister that disrupted the battle and separated Rayquaza from Deoxys.
• Rayquaza abandoned the fight and flew away, while Xia You ordered his Pokémon to pin down Deoxys and drive Team Aqua and Team Magma from the battlefield.
• Zinnia left the battlefield after Rayquaza departed, and Xia You rode Charizard toward the ongoing fight between Mega Red Gyarados and Deoxys.
• Mega Red Gyarados and Deoxys clashed with Hyper Beams, and Deoxys fell injured and unable to get back up.
• Xia You threw a Great Ball at Deoxys, which stopped shaking and successfully captured it.

After catching Deoxys, Xia You thanked Misty for helping him through the battle and contacted Devon Corporation to handle the aftermath. Devon’s security team arrived and agreed to keep his Pokémon and battle tactics secret.

• Misty congratulated Xia You on catching Deoxys and celebrated her part in the battle.
• Xia You praised Misty and her Pokémon, then promised to buy her a present in the city.
• Mega Red Gyarados returned to its normal form, and Xia You contacted Devon Corporation to arrange the cleanup and recovery of the Meteorite.
• Xia You and Misty waited together until Devon Corporation helicopters and security personnel arrived.
• Devon’s security team praised Xia You for defeating Team Magma and Team Aqua, driving off Rayquaza, and catching Deoxys.
• Xia You asked the security team to keep his powerful Pokémon secret, and they agreed.

After defeating and capturing Deoxys, Xia You and Misty returned to Petalburg City so he could prepare to challenge the Gym. They met Gym Leader Norman and his wife Mitsuko before the battle began.

• Xia You told Kuroda that he had captured Deoxys, then flew with Misty to Petalburg City instead of returning to Rustboro City.
• Xia You and Misty checked into the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy arranged private treatment for his Pokémon, and Misty chose cosmetics as her gift.
• The next morning, Xia You exchanged his Pokémon and set his Hoenn training lineup before taking Misty to the Petalburg Gym.
• Norman welcomed Xia You and Misty, recognized them as May and Max's friends, and invited them for tea before their Gym challenge.
• Mitsuko came out to greet the visitors, surprising Xia You and Misty before the battle began.

Xia You and Misty visited Norman and Mitsuko at the Petalburg Gym, where they shared stories about May before Xia You finally began his Gym challenge. Norman sent out Slakoth for the first battle, and Misty’s Pokédex described its sluggish habits.

• Xia You told Norman and Mitsuko how Misty had stood up for May after Drew mistreated her, and Misty shared more details about May’s Contest experience.
• Norman and Mitsuko kept Xia You and Misty talking for much of the day, and Norman explained that Mitsuko had been lonely since May and Max left on their journey.
• Mitsuko served Xia You and Misty a lavish seafood lunch, after which Xia You and Norman headed to the battlefield for their Gym battle.
• Xia You asked Norman to treat him like an ordinary challenger and confirmed he knew the Gym battle was three-on-three.
• Norman sent out Slakoth, and Misty used her Pokédex to learn about the Pokémon’s exceptionally lazy nature.

Xia You’s Metang faced Norman’s Slakoth in a Gym battle, only to discover that Slakoth’s nimble evasions and unusual moves made it far more formidable than expected. As Metang charged in with Zen Headbutt, Slakoth chose to meet it head-on, and the clash left the battle unresolved.

• Xia You sent Metang to battle Norman’s Slakoth, and their opening Confusion and Shadow Ball attacks collided.
• Metang tried to attack with Metal Claw, but Slakoth repeatedly dodged with nimble footwork.
• Norman ordered Slakoth to use Feint Attack as Metang retreated, but Metang avoided the strike by floating upward.
• Slakoth used Blizzard to reveal Metang’s Confusion attack and coat Metang in frost, hindering its movement.
• Xia You ordered Metang to charge with Zen Headbutt, and Slakoth prepared to meet it head-on.

Xia You and Norman’s first battle ended in a draw when Metang and Slakoth knocked each other out. Their second battle began with Combusken and Vigoroth, whose unexpected shared moves and escalating attacks left Xia You searching for Vigoroth’s weakness.

• The referee declared Metang and Slakoth unable to battle, ending the first match in a draw, and Norman praised Xia You’s performance.
• Norman sent out Vigoroth, Slakoth’s restless evolved form, while Xia You chose Combusken for the second battle.
• Combusken and Vigoroth traded close-range attacks, then both used Flamethrower, surprising Xia You because Vigoroth knew a move outside its type.
• Norman explained that he taught his Pokémon unexpected moves to catch challengers off guard, and Vigoroth provoked Combusken into an angry assault.
• Combusken’s fast, fierce barrage put Vigoroth under pressure, while Norman waited for its stamina to fall and Xia You searched for a weakness in Vigoroth’s movements.

Xia You exploited Vigoroth’s subconscious restless movements to defeat it, then faced Norman’s final Pokémon, Slaking. The chapter ended with Xia You weighing which of his strongest Pokémon to send out against it.

• Xia You noticed Vigoroth’s habitual movements and ordered Combusken to strike the spot it exposed when dodging.
• Xia You repeated the tactic, and Combusken’s attacks wore Vigoroth down until it fainted.
• Norman praised Xia You’s observation, and Xia You reflected that he should have spotted the weakness sooner.
• Norman sent out Slaking as his final Pokémon, and Misty’s Pokédex described its power and habits.
• Xia You considered Dragonite, Tyranitar, and Scizor as possible choices to battle Slaking.

Xia You chose Scizor to face Norman’s Slaking, and the two Pokémon traded powerful attacks without either gaining an advantage. Norman then caught Scizor midway through Swords Dance with Hyper Beam, leaving its condition uncertain.

• Xia You sent Scizor to battle Norman’s Slaking, choosing it over Tyranitar and Dragonite.
• Scizor struck Slaking with X-Scissor, forcing the lazy Pokémon to rise and take the battle seriously.
• Slaking charged with Hammer Arm, but Scizor blocked the blow and endured it with little damage.
• Scizor evaded Slaking’s Earthquake by jumping and attacked from above, then used its duplicates to attempt a strike from behind.
• Xia You called Scizor back to his side and ordered it to use Swords Dance, but Norman had Slaking fire Hyper Beam before Scizor could finish.