Recaps

Xia You returned to Cerulean Cave and challenged Mewtwo to a battle with his newly acquired Pokémon. He sent Black Rayquaza out first, and its fierce fight with Mewtwo continued at the forest lake as Xia You watched from a safe distance.

• Xia You reached Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave with Gardevoir and Gengar and told it that two new companions wanted to spar.
• Xia You had Gardevoir teleport him outside, then rode Dragonite to a secluded forest lake to keep the battle away from Mewtwo's hideout.
• Xia You released Black Rayquaza, whose arrival darkened the sky, and Mewtwo recognized it as a Legendary Pokémon.
• Black Rayquaza attacked Mewtwo with a powerful beam, but Mewtwo blocked it with a Confusion shield.
• Black Rayquaza and Mewtwo fought at full speed, stirring up storms and damaging the surrounding area, while Xia You retreated with Dragonite to watch.
• Xia You judged that both Pokémon fought largely on instinct and would need training to use their strength more effectively.

Xia You tested Rayquaza and Deoxys against Mewtwo, then ended the battle before trying to catch it so he could earn its genuine recognition. He asked Mewtwo to help with a future matter and returned to the Pokémon Center, where he learned the battle’s extreme weather had made the news and his match with Shinan had become widely known.

• Xia You sent Deoxys to join Rayquaza against Mewtwo, and Deoxys shifted into its Attack Forme as Mewtwo came under greater pressure.
• Xia You recalled Rayquaza and Deoxys, explaining that he had only come to spar and intended to gain Mewtwo’s sincere acceptance before catching it.
• Xia You asked Mewtwo for help with a future problem and left after telling it to wait for his message.
• Xia You returned to the Pokémon Center, where Misty said extreme weather near Cerulean City had appeared on the news.
• Misty told Xia You that his match with Shinan the next day had become a major topic throughout Kanto.

Xia You realized Steven Stone had publicized their Battle Dome match to boost his own reputation, and he decided to make Steven regret using him. At the televised event, Xia You refused to play along with Steven Stone’s showmanship, leaving Steven and his staff struggling to present them as evenly matched rivals.

• Misty told Xia You that news and social media across Kanto were already promoting his match with Steven Stone.
• Xia You concluded Steven Stone had arranged the publicity to benefit himself and resolved to defeat him decisively.
• Xia You, Misty, and May arrived at the Battle Dome, where huge crowds and television crews had gathered for the match.
• In the competitor Rest Room, Xia You chose a Poké Ball and told Misty and May he would teach Steven Stone what despair meant.
• The host introduced both competitors and their highlight reels played before Xia You entered calmly and Steven Stone made an extravagant entrance; Xia You ignored Steven’s greeting.

Xia You faced Steven Stone in a televised Battle Dome match and quickly defeated his Salamence and Charizard with Gardevoir and Gengar. He left Steven to deal with the humiliating broadcast fallout, then returned to Misty and May before heading toward Cerulean City.

• Steven Stone introduced his Battle Dome rules and announced a twin-dragon theme with Salamence and Charizard, while Xia You cut short his opening showmanship.
• Xia You sent out Gardevoir and Gengar, and Misty told May that the battle would end quickly.
• Gardevoir and Gengar struck down Salamence and Charizard twice before Steven Stone's Pokémon could land an attack.
• The televised defeat stunned the spectators and damaged Steven Stone's public image as Xia You recalled his Pokémon and left without saying goodbye.
• Xia You returned to the Rest Room, where Misty called the defeat a fitting punishment, and the group prepared to go to Cerulean City.

After defeating Steven Stone and claiming the Tactics Symbol, Xia You, Misty, and May returned to the Cerulean Gym, where Misty reunited with her sisters. May asked to travel with Xia You in the next region, and he welcomed her onto the team.

• A staff member gave Xia You the Battle Dome's Tactics Symbol after Steven Stone failed to appear, and Misty mocked Steven for the delay.
• Xia You, Misty, and May reached Cerulean City and went to the Cerulean Gym, where Misty reunited with Sakura, Ayame, and Penny.
• Misty introduced May to her sisters, then shared stories from their journey during dinner as Sakura thanked Xia You for looking after Misty.
• Misty and May visited Xia You that night, and Misty revealed that May wanted to travel with him in the next region.
• Xia You agreed to May's request and welcomed her to the team.

Xia You and May said goodbye to Misty and traveled through Saffron City to Celadon City, where Xia You went to see Erika. The chapter ended with Erika greeting him at the Celadon Gym, their affection restrained by the staff around them.

• May promised Misty she would become a top Coordinator, and Misty gave Xia You a fishing lure shaped like herself before they parted.
• Misty decided to make the Cerulean Gym the strongest Gym in Kanto after Xia You and May left.
• Xia You told May they were heading to Celadon City, briefly visited Sabrina in Saffron City, and continued west with May.
• Xia You and May reached Celadon City and found the rebuilt Celadon Gym transformed into a large, high-tech venue.
• Erika welcomed Xia You in the Gym, and they exchanged a simple greeting while keeping their relationship discreet in front of others.

May spent an uneasy night at Erika’s Gym while Xia You stayed with Erika, then learned from the Gym’s young women that Celebi lived there as a token of love between Xia You and Erika. She was left astonished that Xia You had caught and given away a Mythical Pokémon.

• Erika welcomed May to dinner, where May watched Erika attentively care for Xia You and later saw Erika lead him toward her room.
• May lay awake worrying about Xia You’s relationships with Erika and Sabrina, while Xia You spent the night with Erika.
• The next morning, Xia You and May both appeared exhausted, and Erika served them breakfast looking radiant.
• May practiced in the Gym greenhouse as the young women questioned her about Xia You and her Hoenn Grand Festival results.
• After May spotted something green among the trees, the young women revealed it was Celebi, which Xia You had caught and left with Erika as their token of love.

May searched the Celadon Gym greenhouse for Celebi and learned from Xia You that he had left the Mythical Pokémon with Erika. The next morning, Xia You and May set out for Professor Oak's Laboratory, where Max surprised May by calling to say he was already visiting with Professor Birch.

• May explored the greenhouse and found Celebi, then Xia You explained that Celebi lived with Erika and that he planned to travel with it after his journey.
• Xia You said goodbye to Erika and left the Celadon Gym with May, heading toward Pallet Town so May could receive a Squirtle.
• Xia You and May crossed the sea bridge on Dragonite, then continued on foot while Xia You teased May for overthinking his reason for walking.
• Max called May and revealed that he was visiting Professor Oak's Laboratory with Professor Birch.

Xia You and May arrived at Professor Oak's Laboratory, where May chose a timid Squirtle that had latched onto her. At lunch, Xia You prepared to leave, and Ash, Max, and Brock decided to join him on a new adventure.

• Xia You and May arrived at Professor Oak's Laboratory and reunited with Max, Tracey, Ash, and Professor Oak.
• May learned that Max had come to Kanto with Professor Birch after persuading his parents to let him travel.
• Xia You showed Ash his two Battle Frontier Badges and asked Professor Oak to give May a starter Pokémon.
• A frightened Squirtle ran into May, clung to her, and was chosen as her Pokémon after Xia You encouraged her.
• At lunch, Xia You announced his departure, and Ash and Max agreed to set off with him.
• Brock arrived at the laboratory and said he would join Ash on another adventure.

Xia You and Ash’s group traveled toward the Battle Factory, befriended a Cleffa, and spent the night in Mt. Moon before continuing through a forest. They spotted a wild Articuno near the forest’s edge, leaving May and Max wondering why it was there.

• Xia You led the group out of Pallet Town toward the Battle Factory, and Brock cooked dinner during their rest near Mt. Moon.
• A wild Cleffa approached the group, joined their Pokémon, and later reunited with a Clefairy and Clefable at Mt. Moon.
• Cleffa invited Xia You and the others into Mt. Moon, where they watched Clefairy and Clefable dance around a meteorite before spending the night in the cave.
• Xia You used a map and Dragonite to guide the group through a vast forest without getting lost.
• Max spotted a snowflake falling from a flying Articuno, and Xia You confirmed the Legendary Pokémon was not his own.
• May wondered why an Articuno was flying near the forest despite there being no snowy mountains or ice fields nearby.

Xia You and Ash arrived at the Battle Factory, where Frontier Brain Dara welcomed them and prepared to battle both challengers. After helping stop Dara’s runaway steam vehicle, Xia You surprised Dara and his apprentice Sugio by revealing that the Factory’s secret Pokémon was Articuno.

• Scott greeted Xia You and Ash, and Ash told the others that Agatha had defeated him in a battle.
• A runaway armored vehicle burst out of the Battle Factory, and Ash, May, and Brock used their Pokémon to stop it, damaging its wheels.
• The vehicle’s owner, Dara, introduced himself as the Battle Factory’s Frontier Brain and said he had been eager to battle Xia You.
• Dara agreed to battle Ash as well and led the group inside, where his apprentice Sugio welcomed them.
• Dara hinted that he had prepared special Pokémon for Xia You and Ash, but Xia You guessed that one of them was Articuno, startling Dara and Sugio.

Xia You and his companions learned that Dara was friends with a wild Articuno, which he kept secret at the Battle Factory. For their Frontier Challenge, Xia You revealed that he had an Articuno too, and the battle began with the two Legendary Pokémon facing off.

• Dara explained that he had befriended an injured Articuno and that he and Sugio had kept its presence secret; Xia You promised the group would do the same.
• Dara and Xia You prepared for a one-on-one battle using Articuno, and Xia You let Dara choose one of three Great Balls.
• Dara selected a Great Ball, and Xia You released his own Articuno, shocking May, Max, and Scott.
• Xia You confirmed that his other two Pokémon were also on Articuno's level, and Brock identified them as Moltres and Zapdos.
• Sugio started the battle between the two Articuno as the Battle Factory's roof opened to provide space for an aerial fight.

Xia You’s Articuno gained the advantage over Dara’s in their battle, but Dara’s Pokémon unleashed a powerful Blizzard that hid both fighters from view. May joined Xia You in the protected Trainer area as the battle continued beyond the Trainers’ sight.

• Xia You and Dara began the battle, with Xia You’s Articuno using Blizzard and Dara’s Articuno charging in with Steel Wing.
• After the first Blizzard cleared, Dara’s Articuno showed signs of injury, confirming that Xia You’s Articuno had won the opening exchange.
• Xia You’s Articuno abruptly increased its attack and heavily damaged Dara’s Pokémon, forcing Dara to order a retreat.
• Dara’s Articuno created a larger Blizzard that swept through the Battle Factory, driving Ash and the others to shelter from the cold.
• May returned to Xia You, where Gengar’s barrier had kept him safe, and Xia You invited her to observe the battle beside him.
• The Blizzard obscured the two Articuno, leaving Xia You unable to see which Pokémon was his or give commands as the battle continued on its own.

Xia You's Articuno defeated Dara's Articuno in a brutal battle during the Blizzard, with Never-Melt Ice helping it win their Ice Beam clash. After the match, Xia You tried to teach May by asking what she had learned, then accidentally patted her head out of old habit and left her blushing.

• Xia You and Dara ordered their Articuno to fight all out as the Blizzard continued to batter the battlefield.
• Dara's Articuno lost an Ice Beam clash, and Brock explained that Xia You's Articuno's Never-Melt Ice strengthened its Ice-type moves.
• Xia You's Articuno pinned Dara's Articuno and overpowered its Sheer Cold, freezing the battlefield before breaking free and soaring into the air.
• Sugio declared Dara's Articuno unable to battle and named Xia You the winner; Dara accepted the defeat and took May's towel to warm himself.
• Xia You asked May what she had learned, then patted her head out of habit and left her blushing.

Ash battled Dara’s Articuno with Charizard after Xia You defeated it and it recovered, while Max enjoyed a flight on Xia You’s Articuno. Ash’s Charizard struck first, but Articuno countered with Mist and Agility before Charizard landed a direct Dragon Breath, leaving the battle ongoing.

• Dara postponed Ash’s battle while the battlefield was cleared and his Articuno recovered, and Ash restlessly waited for the match.
• Xia You let Max ride his Articuno through the clouds with Pikachu, and they returned delighted after a short flight.
• After the battlefield was restored and Dara’s Articuno recovered, Ash released Charizard, whom he had summoned from Charizard Canyon.
• Charizard’s Flamethrower overwhelmed Articuno’s Ice Beam and drove it to the ground, but Articuno later dodged another Flamethrower and used Mist to knock Charizard down.
• Charizard used Dragon Breath to pressure Articuno’s approach and then struck it in the lower abdomen with a stronger blast.

Ash and Charizard overcame Dara’s Articuno in a hard-fought battle, despite Articuno’s hidden Water Pulse and repeated combination attacks. Charizard’s Seismic Toss secured the victory, and Dara acknowledged both Ash’s and Xia You’s strength.

• Dara’s Articuno countered Charizard’s attacks with Steel Wing, then surprised Ash by using Water Pulse to exploit Charizard’s Fire typing.
• Articuno pressured Charizard with repeated Ice Beam and Water Pulse combinations, leaving it badly injured and its wings frostbitten.
• Ash revealed Charizard’s Overheat, but Articuno struck it with Steel Wing after their attacks collided, leaving Charizard close to defeat.
• Charizard caught Articuno’s next Steel Wing attack and used Seismic Toss to slam it into the ground.
• Articuno collapsed after briefly standing, and Charizard rose to claim the victory; Dara accepted the loss and praised Ash and Xia You.

Xia You and Ash earned Knowledge Badges from Dara, then traveled with May toward Saffron City, where May planned to enter a Pokémon Contest. After reaching the Saffron Contest Hall, May spotted Drew.

• Dara gave Xia You and Ash Knowledge Badges after their battles, and Articuno flew away from the Battle Factory.
• Xia You told Scott that the group was going to Saffron City for May’s Pokémon Contest, while the Team Rocket Trio decided to wait until Xia You was separated from Ash before acting.
• Ash sent Charizard back to Charizard Canyon after its injuries healed, then led the group along a mountain route toward Saffron City.
• During a mountain rest, May admitted that her Pokéblocks tasted bad, and Xia You encouraged her to keep improving them.
• The group crossed the mountains and reached Saffron City, then went straight to the Saffron Contest Hall, where May recognized Drew.

Xia You and his friends visited the Saffron Contest Hall, where May met Vivian’s twin sister Lilian and her Squirtle interrupted a rehearsal. After leaving May at the Pokémon Center, Xia You spent the night with Sabrina and arrived at the Contestant Dormitory the next morning looking happy and exhausted.

• Drew spotted Xia You’s group at the park but left without greeting them, while May felt the pressure of facing a strong rival.
• May entered the contest hall to inspect the stage, and Brock recognized that the host resembled Vivian but was likely her twin sister.
• May’s Squirtle ran onto the stage during Lilian’s rehearsal, and Lilian gently returned it to May and explained that she was Vivian’s younger sister.
• May and the others left for the Pokémon Center, while Xia You went to meet Sabrina and took her on a date before spending the night with her.
• Xia You arrived at the Contestant Dormitory the next morning looking happy and exhausted.

Xia You helped May register for the Saffron Contest after Harley gave her false information about the deadline and her Contest Pass. Harley then encountered the disguised Team Rocket Trio, and Jessie Bian decided to use him in a scheme against May.

• Xia You warned Ash and the others not to trust Harley, then realized Harley had lied about the registration deadline and rushed May to the registration office.
• The staff told May registration closed at ten and that she needed a Kanto Region Contest Pass, so the group returned to the Pokémon Center to exchange her pass before registering successfully.
• Harley arrived hoping to see May fail, but Xia You and the others confronted him; Harley claimed he had simply remembered the details incorrectly and left after they departed.
• Harley collided with Jessie, James, and Meowth at the registration office, then flattered Jessie after she introduced herself as Jessie Bian.
• Jessie decided to use Harley, while Harley formed a plan to enlist her in a scheme against May.

Harley tricked Jessie into agreeing to target May during the Saffron Contest, while Xia You carefully helped May prepare and watched the contest begin. Harley opened the first judging round with Cacturne and earned an extremely high score.

• Harley flattered Jessie, convinced her to sign his travel permit, and persuaded her to teach May a lesson if they met in the contest.
• Xia You accompanied May to the Saffron Contest Hall, checked her preparations, and helped her settle her nerves while Harley and Drew remained absent.
• May suggested Xia You would be suited to Pokémon Contests, but he said he intended to continue on the Trainer's path.
• Lilian opened the Saffron Contest, introduced its gold Ribbon Medal and familiar judges, and announced the first judging round.
• Harley performed with Cacturne, finished with Needle Arm piercing Cotton Spore, and earned an extremely high score.

Harley and Jessie earned the top scores in the Saffron Contest’s first round, while May’s Combusken performance placed her seventh among the eight contestants advancing. The chapter ended as Lilian revealed that the second round would begin with Contest Battles and prepared to show the opening matchups.

• Harley’s polished performance set a high bar, but Jessie later scored even higher after her dramatic performance with James’s Cacnea.
• Jessie’s Pin Missile display impressed the audience, and medical staff carried her off after she became stuck on Cacnea’s spikes.
• May performed with Combusken, combining Fire Spin and Sky Uppercut in a fast, cool routine that earned her a place in the next round.
• The Giant Screen showed Jessie and Harley in the top two spots and May in seventh among the eight qualifiers.
• Lilian announced the start of the second-round Contest Battles and moved to reveal the opening matchups.

May defeated Harley in the second round of the Saffron Contest after Squirtle overcame Ariados’s web trap with Ice Beam and follow-up attacks. Jessie then won two matches in succession, joining May in the final round.

• May faced Harley in the first match of the second round and chose her recently caught Squirtle, while Harley sent out Ariados.
• Ariados startled Squirtle with Scary Face, trapped it in Spider Web, and caused May’s appeal points to fall as Harley toyed with it.
• May urged Squirtle to use Ice Beam while the web steadied it, freezing Ariados and the web; Squirtle then broke free and followed up with Bubble and Tackle to knock Ariados out.
• Lilian declared May the winner, and May celebrated with Squirtle while Xia You praised her performance.
• Harley persuaded Jessie to avenge his loss, and Jessie promised to beat May before heading to her match.
• Jessie defeated two opponents in succession and advanced to the final round alongside May.

May and Fairy Jessie Bian fought for the Saffron City Ribbon while James and Meowth tricked Harley into lending them his Pokémon. The lights failed during the final battle, and Team Rocket interrupted the contest with their motto, leaving Jessie demanding to know why they had come onstage.

• May and Jessie began the final match, with May using Squirtle against Jessie's Wobbuffet.
• Meowth decided to steal Harley's Pokémon, and James and Meowth convinced Harley to hand over his Cacturne and Ariados by claiming Jessie needed them for a special battle move.
• May kept Squirtle moving and attacking around Wobbuffet, steadily reducing Jessie's appeal points while losing very few of her own.
• The lights went out in the Contest Hall, and a spotlight revealed James and Meowth jumping onto the stage beside Jessie.
• Jessie instinctively joined James and Meowth in reciting Team Rocket's motto, then demanded to know what they had come up there for.

Team Rocket interrupted the Saffron Contest to steal Pokémon, but Jessie Bian’s departure left May the winner of her first Kanto Ribbon Medal. Xia You and May set out toward the Battle Palace, where a farm visit led to a sudden encounter with two Voltorb and an excited fan of May.

• James revealed that Team Rocket had used the contest as cover for a Pokémon-stealing operation, and Jessie Bian lost the battle when time ran out.
• Team Rocket escaped through a hole in the contest hall ceiling with stolen Pokémon, while Harley blamed May and stormed out.
• Lilian declared May the winner, and Contesta presented her with her first Kanto Ribbon Medal.
• Ash left Saffron City with Max and Brock to travel to the Battle Arena, while Xia You and May planned a route to the Battle Palace and said goodbye to Sabrina.
• On the road, May admired a farm, and Xia You agreed to visit; Gardevoir stopped two Voltorb from striking her with Thunder Shock.
• A girl named Daimi explained that the Voltorb were defending the farm, then recognized May from the Saffron Contest and praised her performance.

Xia You and May visited Daimi’s family Pokémon Egg farm, where Daimi challenged May to prove she could become a Coordinator without traveling. May accepted and Daimi chose Munchlax to face her Vileplume, leaving the battle’s outcome uncertain as Munchlax used Metronome while confused.

• Xia You and May met Daimi and her parents, Karasa and Nozomi, and learned their farm cared for Pokémon Eggs.
• Daimi showed them the eggs, including some abandoned ones raised by her family, and invited them to watch an egg hatch soon.
• Daimi challenged May to convince her parents that she could become an outstanding Coordinator without traveling, and Xia You urged May to accept.
• May released Combusken, Squirtle, and Munchlax for Daimi to choose from, and Daimi selected Munchlax for the battle.
• Daimi sent out Vileplume and ordered Petal Dance, which struck Munchlax and left it confused; Munchlax then used Metronome.