Recaps

Xia You battled Aya after navigating the traps in the ninja training ground, using Charmeleon to overcome Venonat despite Disable and paralysis. With Venonat defeated, he stood one step closer to meeting Aya’s older brother, the Gym Leader.

• Xia You exposed a trap that opened onto a cliff and found a hidden battlefield beyond another wall.
• Aya introduced herself and said Xia You had to defeat her before he could meet her older brother; she sent out Venonat, and Xia You chose Charmeleon.
• Venonat used Disable to seal Flamethrower, then used Stun Spore and Leech Life while Charmeleon fought back with Smokescreen and Dragon Rage.
• Paralysis interrupted Charmeleon’s Fire Fang, and Charmeleon countered Venonat’s Confusion with Dragon Rage.
• Xia You exploited Disable’s limited duration and ordered Flamethrower, knocking Venonat out.

Xia You challenged Fuchsia Gym Leader Koga and battled his Muk after defeating Janine and Aya. With Jolteon and Charmeleon worn down by Muk, Wartortle fought back and launched an Aqua Tail as the battle continued.

• Koga appeared at the Gym and reprimanded Aya after her defeat, then agreed to battle Xia You.
• Koga allowed Xia You to use three Pokémon and sent out Muk, which Xia You faced with Jolteon.
• Muk defeated Jolteon and then Charmeleon as Xia You used the battles to train them and wear Muk down.
• Wartortle dodged Muk’s Sludge by retreating into its shell, but Muk pinned it with Body Slam.
• Wartortle used Rapid Spin to fling Muk off, then leaped up and struck it with Aqua Tail.

Xia You defeated Koga in the Fuchsia Gym battle, received the Gym Badge and Antidotes, and turned down Aya’s request for an immediate rematch. At the Pokémon Center, he asked Charmeleon to help Dratini overcome its emotional trauma and fit in with the group.

• Wartortle defeated Koga’s Muk with a Water Gun after resisting its Poison Gas and Sludge, winning Xia You the Gym battle.
• Koga gave Xia You three Antidotes, and Aya presented him with the Fuchsia Gym’s heart-shaped Badge.
• Aya challenged Xia You to a three-on-three rematch, but he refused until another day because his Pokémon needed treatment.
• At the Pokémon Center, Xia You decided Charmeleon should guide Dratini and help it adjust to the group.

Xia You headed for the Seafoam Islands to search for Articuno, while Haunter questioned him about a message from a girl he knew in Kalos and his past as a Trainer. After reaching the islands with Zapdos, Xia You encountered hostile wild Pokémon.

• Xia You explained that Charmeleon’s rough, persistent nature might help Dratini change its personality.
• Xia You asked a fisherman about the Seafoam Islands, learned they lay along the route to Cinnabar Island, and rode Gyarados out to sea.
• Xia You received a message from a girl he knew in Kalos but hesitated to open it, then told Haunter he was afraid to face her because of things that had happened in the past.
• Xia You switched from Gyarados to Zapdos, and they flew west until Zapdos spotted the Seafoam Islands.
• Xia You landed on the larger island, where the wild Pokémon attacked him as soon as he encountered them.

Xia You searched the Seafoam Islands for Articuno and discovered a hidden entrance to the caverns beneath the island. After Haunter found a tunnel leading to a vast icy chamber, Xia You and his Pokémon entered the cave to continue the search.

• Xia You drove off a Graveler and let his Pokémon out together to discourage further wild attacks.
• Xia You explored the rock maze and told Haunter and Zapdos to search for an underground entrance to Articuno's habitat.
• Haunter searched belowground and found several cavern levels, a huge icy space, and a tunnel connecting to the caverns.
• Haunter led Xia You to a hidden cave entrance, and Xia You entered it with his Pokémon.
• Xia You and his Pokémon carefully crossed the slippery ground as the cavern grew colder.

Xia You and Haunter descended through the Seafoam Islands’ caves and found a frozen island that appeared to be Articuno’s lair. After Articuno’s chilling presence swept over them, the Legendary Pokémon emerged from the ice pillars as Xia You prepared to test its strength.

• Xia You followed Haunter through a shortcut burrow, descending several cave levels at once.
• Haunter led Xia You to a waterfall, and Kirlia used Teleport to carry him to the deepest part of the Seafoam Islands.
• Xia You spotted an ice-covered island in an underground lake and had Kirlia teleport him and Charmeleon onto it.
• A freezing wave swept across the island, but Kirlia protected Xia You with Confusion, and he drank an Antidote to warm himself.
• Xia You sent out his Pokémon to test the island’s powerful resident, and Articuno flew out from among the ice pillars.

Xia You challenged Articuno with Zapdos, but the two Legendary Pokémon knocked each other down with Blizzard and Thunder. Articuno recovered first, and Xia You sent out Jolteon to continue the battle with help from his other Pokémon.

• Xia You challenged Articuno and sent Zapdos to fight it.
• Zapdos and Articuno traded attacks, with Articuno striking Zapdos with Triple Axel and Zapdos answering with Thunderbolt.
• Articuno unleashed Blizzard as Zapdos summoned a thunderstorm, and their powerful moves collided.
• Zapdos fell unconscious while Articuno managed to stand and take flight.
• Xia You recalled Zapdos, sent out Jolteon, and ordered his Pokémon to attack Articuno together.

Xia You and his Pokémon battled Articuno in the cavern, where Haunter’s Hypnosis and Dream Eater finally knocked the Legendary Pokémon unconscious. Xia You caught Articuno with a Great Ball, securing his second Legendary Pokémon.

• Xia You sent out Gyarados and Wartortle to guard him while Haunter, Kirlia, Jolteon, and Charmeleon attacked Articuno.
• Haunter repeatedly struck Articuno with Shadow Ball while the others added attacks, wearing it down until it flew upward to prepare a powerful move.
• Articuno used Sheer Cold, knocking Charmeleon unconscious, but Haunter stopped it from using the move again with a barrage of attacks.
• Haunter used Hypnosis to put Articuno to sleep, then hit it with Dream Eater and caused it to crash to the ground unconscious.
• Xia You threw a Great Ball and caught Articuno.

After capturing Articuno, Xia You left the Seafoam Islands and reached Cinnabar Island to challenge its Gym. At the Pokémon Center, he welcomed Articuno to his team and reunited with Misty, Ash, and Brock, whose dinner conversation turned to Ash’s Gym badges.

• Xia You escaped the underground world through the Seafoam Islands, then traveled west by sea to Cinnabar Island to challenge the Cinnabar Gym.
• At the Pokémon Center, Xia You restored his Pokémon, comforted the defeated Zapdos, and released Articuno, which accepted its place on his team.
• Xia You met Misty, Ash, and Brock in the Pokémon Center and learned that Misty’s Togepi had hatched from an egg in Big Fool's Valley.
• Over dinner, Ash challenged Xia You to race for the next badge and boasted about his Pokémon’s strength.
• Misty pointed out that Ash had earned several badges through help or unusual circumstances, leaving him awkwardly smiling.

Unable to sleep, Xia You messaged a girl from his past before setting out with Ash, Misty, and Brock to find the Cinnabar Gym, only to discover it had become a hot spring inn. There, he traded riddles and jokes with an old man who declared him his rival in dry humor.

• Ash loudly promised Misty he would earn the Crimson Badge through his own strength the next day.
• Xia You messaged Pink Dream, told her about his journey and Ralts evolving into Kirlia, and chatted with her before going to sleep.
• Xia You, Ash, Misty, and Brock reached the former Cinnabar Gym and found a hot spring inn in its place.
• An old man in red tested the group with riddles, and Misty and Xia You answered them correctly.
• Xia You told the old man two jokes, which the others found dull, and the old man proclaimed Xia You his greatest rival in dry humor.

Xia You and Ash discovered that Blaine had turned the Cinnabar Gym into a hot spring inn, but he agreed to battle them if they found the Gym’s hidden location. After enjoying the inn’s meal and hot spring, Xia You received another message from the girl, while Brock warned him about spending too much time on his phone.

• Xia You deduced that the old man was Blaine, who admitted his identity and claimed he had shaved his head because Cinnabar Island was hot.
• Blaine explained that he had turned the Gym into an inn because he was tired of tourists challenging him, but he agreed to battle Xia You and Ash if they found the Gym’s true location.
• Blaine gave them the clue, “A great flood above, a great fire below,” and invited them to use the inn’s food and hot spring.
• Xia You, Ash, Brock, and Misty ate lunch, then searched the inn before heading to its divided outdoor hot spring.
• Xia You received another message from the girl and replied, while Brock cautioned him about staring at his phone for too long.

Xia You and his companions discovered the hidden entrance to Cinnabar Gym beneath a hot spring and reached Blaine’s battlefield over magma. Blaine offered a three-on-three battle, and Ash stepped forward to challenge him first.

• Xia You teased Brock about whether a girl liked him while he and the others relaxed in the hot spring.
• Togepi triggered a hidden mechanism by jumping on a Gyarados-shaped spout, opening a passage beside the pool.
• Xia You, Ash, Misty, and Brock changed clothes and followed the passage down through the volcano.
• Ash burned his hand on a heated iron door, and Xia You kicked it open to reveal a battlefield suspended over bubbling magma.
• Blaine greeted the group and proposed a three-on-three battle, and Ash volunteered to go first.
• Misty urged Ash to keep his momentum and win the Crimson Badge.

Ash lost to Blaine after Squirtle and Pikachu were defeated and Charizard refused to battle, though Pikachu managed to overcome Rhydon. Xia You then began his own Gym challenge, sending Gyarados against Blaine’s Rapidash.

• Blaine’s Ninetales defeated Ash’s Squirtle with Fire Spin despite the type disadvantage.
• Ash’s Charizard ignored his commands and left the battlefield, forfeiting the match against Blaine’s Rhydon.
• Pikachu defeated Rhydon with Quick Attack and Agility, but Blaine’s Magmar then knocked Pikachu out with Fire Blast.
• Blaine criticized Ash for being unable to command Charizard, then asked Xia You if he still wanted to challenge him.
• Xia You accepted and sent out Gyarados against Blaine’s Rapidash; Gyarados’s Intimidate made Rapidash lose confidence before Xia You ordered Aqua Tail.

Xia You’s Gyarados defeated Blaine’s Rapidash and then battled his Ninetales, using the suspended battlefield’s chains to evade Confuse Ray and bite Ninetales. Ninetales was trapped in Gyarados’s jaws as the fight continued.

• Gyarados overwhelmed Rapidash with Thrash, knocking it unconscious and winning the first round for Xia You.
• Blaine sent out Ninetales, and Gyarados countered its Fire Spin with Whirlpool, though Confuse Ray left Gyarados confused.
• Ninetales used Quick Attack to clear Gyarados’s confusion, but Gyarados’s Aqua Tail missed when Ninetales dodged.
• Xia You told Gyarados to break the nearby chains, tilting the battlefield so Confuse Ray missed and Ninetales slid toward Gyarados.
• Gyarados lunged down the slope and bit Ninetales, trapping it in its jaws.

After Xia You defeated Blaine’s Ninetales, Gyarados’s Hydro Pump destroyed the underground battlefield, so they moved the final match to Cinnabar Volcano. Xia You sent out Wartortle against Blaine’s Magmar, and the battle continued with Wartortle striking Magmar through its flames.

• Gyarados defeated Ninetales with Hydro Pump, but the attack broke another chain and sent the battlefield crashing into the magma.
• Xia You and Blaine recalled their Pokémon, and Misty pulled Xia You away from the heat as the battlefield was destroyed.
• Blaine led Xia You and the others to Cinnabar Volcano for the final match and sent out Magmar.
• Xia You revealed that Gyarados had only just evolved and sent out Wartortle to gain experience against Magmar.
• Wartortle used Withdraw to block Magmar’s Fire Punch, then used Rapid Spin to knock Magmar away and slam into its face despite Flamethrower.

Xia You defeated Blaine and earned the Crimson Badge after Kirlia quickly beat Magmar, while Ash resolved to train and challenge Blaine again. Later, Xia You took his Pokémon to Blaine’s hot spring, where Misty joined him and an accidental touch left them both awkward.

• Wartortle lost to Blaine’s Magmar after Magmar overwhelmed him with Fire Blast, leaving the match tied.
• Xia You sent out Kirlia, who used Teleport and Confusion to defeat Magmar and secure Blaine’s flame-shaped badge.
• Ash left dinner early to train, and Blaine invited Xia You to take Wartortle to the hot spring to soothe his burns.
• Xia You brought his Pokémon to the hot spring, where they reacted to the water in different ways while he cared for Wartortle.
• Misty joined Xia You in the unrepaired mixed bath, and his hand accidentally brushed her thigh.

After earning his seventh badge, Xia You shared a hot spring with Misty and agreed they could travel together someday. A Jigglypuff’s song knocked everyone out, and the next morning Xia You left Cinnabar Island for the mainland, where an unexpected sound interrupted his rest near Fuchsia City.

• Xia You told Misty he envied her group’s travels, but declined her offer to join him so she could continue keeping Ash and Brock on track.
• Xia You promised Misty they could travel together after her journey with Ash and Brock ended.
• A Jigglypuff appeared in the hot spring courtyard and sang, putting Xia You, Misty, and their Pokémon to sleep.
• Xia You woke under the night sky to find Misty covering herself and Jigglypuff gone; they shared a knowing smile over the doodles on their faces.
• Xia You said goodbye to Ash, Blaine, and the others, then rode Gyarados from Cinnabar Island toward the mainland.
• After arriving near Fuchsia City and stopping in a forest to rest, Xia You heard a sudden sound.

Xia You uncovered a thief using a Farfetch'd to lure people away and steal their belongings. After stopping the thief with Haunter and Kirlia, Xia You faced his challenge to a Pokémon battle.

• Xia You recognized the Farfetch'd’s strange behavior as a trick and pretended to chase it into the grass.
• Xia You returned to find the boy reaching for his backpack and revealed that he had seen through the scheme.
• Haunter used its powers to bring the backpack back to Xia You, while the boy fled and Kirlia blocked his escape with Teleport.
• The boy claimed he had stolen because his Farfetch'd was weak, but Xia You refused to let him go and said he would hand him over to Officer Jenny.
• The boy challenged Xia You to a Pokémon battle, and Xia You asked whether they would use normal rules or his own.

Xia You had Keita arrested, then learned about a bridge from Fuchsia City toward Sunshine Town and changed course for Saffron City. At the bridge, he challenged the Bicycle Gang to a battle to win a bicycle and cross to the other side.

• Xia You overwhelmed Keita with his Pokémon, tied him up, and called the police.
• Officer Jenny arrested Keita and told Xia You about the bridge being built toward Sunshine Town.
• Xia You reached the bridge and learned that pedestrians could not cross without a bicycle.
• Xia You stopped the Bicycle Gang and challenged them to a battle for one of their bicycles.

Xia You’s Kirlia easily defeated Masha’s Golem, then faced Meisha’s heavily armored Cloyster. Kirlia struggled to break through Cloyster’s defenses, and the battle remained unresolved as Xia You considered his next move.

• Masha sent out Golem to battle Xia You’s Kirlia, but Kirlia used Confusion and Magical Leaf to defeat it.
• Meisha challenged Xia You after Golem fell, and Xia You refused to wager Kirlia on the match.
• Meisha sent out Cloyster, which withstood Kirlia’s Confusion and Magical Leaf by closing its shell.
• Cloyster attacked with Aurora Beam, but Kirlia dodged with Teleport and Cloyster retreated into its shell.
• Xia You struggled to find a way through Cloyster’s defense as the gang members taunted him.

Xia You defeated Meisha’s Cloyster by spinning it until it became dizzy, and Kirlia evolved into Gardevoir. After borrowing a bicycle and crossing the sea bridge toward Sunshine Town, Xia You was attacked by the four Team Rocket executives.

• Xia You had Kirlia spin Cloyster with Confusion until it opened its shell, then defeated it with Magical Leaf.
• Kirlia evolved into Gardevoir, and Xia You congratulated it on reaching its third form.
• Meisha and Masha acknowledged their loss and lent Xia You a bicycle, with the bikers following him.
• Xia You entered the unfinished sea bridge and rode toward Sunshine Town while a rooftop observer identified him as Target Seven and reported his location.
• Someone pulled Xia You off his bicycle just before an attack destroyed it and blasted a hole in the bridge.
• Xia You spotted the four Team Rocket executives standing on a bridge pillar above him.

Xia You faced four Team Rocket executives who had come to avenge their destroyed base and carry out Giovanni’s order to eliminate him. He released his Pokémon and Zapdos, and the battle erupted before a familiar voice called out from beneath the bridge.

• Masha and Meisha recognized the attackers as Team Rocket and hid nearby while Xia You confronted the four executives.
• Apollo said they had come to avenge their destroyed base, and Athena revealed that Giovanni had ordered them to eliminate Xia You.
• The executives sent out their Pokémon, and Xia You answered with his team before releasing Zapdos and putting on his mask.
• Masha and Meisha realized Xia You was the masked Pokémon Trainer who had gone viral online.
• The Pokémon clashed in a chaotic battle, and a familiar voice rang out from the sea beneath the bridge.

Xia You turned the battle on the bridge around by releasing Articuno and combining its Blizzard with Zapdos’s Thunder. Team Rocket’s Pokémon were mostly defeated, and Apollo ordered the group to retreat.

• Gozu and the other Matori Matrix members climbed onto the bridge and attacked Xia You with Tyranitar, Aggron, and four Flapple.
• Team Rocket’s Flapple pinned down Zapdos while Haunter confronted Aggron, and Apollo revealed that he had blocked both ends of the bridge.
• Xia You released Articuno, whose Blizzard knocked out all four Flapple and freed Zapdos.
• Xia You commanded Zapdos and Articuno to summon a storm, then recalled his other Pokémon as lightning and snow struck Team Rocket’s forces.
• Team Rocket’s Pokémon fell, with only a badly scorched Tyranitar managing to stand, and Apollo ordered his group to retreat.

After Team Rocket’s attack damaged the bridge, Xia You contacted Looker and learned that other League and International Police figures had also been targeted. The bikers then begged Xia You to take them on as followers, and the chapter ended with Masha asking his name.

• Team Rocket retreated after the battle, leaving the bridge damaged but standing.
• Xia You called Looker, who confirmed that Team Rocket had attacked several International Police facilities and targeted Lance and Agatha, while League Gyms had been spared.
• Looker told Xia You to leave the damaged bridge and said he would send someone to handle the aftermath.
• Masha and the other bikers promised to keep Xia You’s identity secret, then praised him and begged him to take them on as followers.
• Xia You refused, but Masha asked him to tell them his name.

Xia You left Fuchsia City with the Fuchsia Gang, learned they were mostly harmless childhood friends, and continued toward Saffron City. After reaching Stone Town and finding its inn full, he went to an evolution party, where he met the three Eevee Brothers and revealed that he also had a Jolteon.

• Xia You agreed to be friends with Masha and the Fuchsia Gang, then traveled with them toward Sunshine Town.
• Xia You learned that the Fuchsia Gang was a loose group of childhood friends who rode together to relieve stress, and he said goodbye to them after crossing the bridge.
• Xia You rested at a Pokémon Center, called Sabrina and Erika to warn them to stay careful, and traveled through a plain where he saw hundreds of Tauros.
• Xia You arrived in Stone Town, found its inn full, and followed the owner's suggestion to seek lodging at an evolution party.
• The three Eevee Brothers welcomed Xia You and asked which Eevee evolution was strongest, and Xia You revealed his Jolteon while naming Umbreon and Leafeon as other evolved forms.