Recaps

After Ash recovered from Darkrai’s attack, Xia You learned that Gengar had tracked Darkrai to a garden tree but chose not to pursue it, focusing instead on two Pokémon he expected to appear. The next morning, Iris resumed their tour of Alamos Town, where the group encountered a seller claiming to offer Cresselia’s Lunar Wings.

• Ash woke after spending two hours unconscious and described escaping a phantom Darkrai in a mirrored dream world.
• The group ate with Iris, thanked her for guiding them, and watched fireworks before returning to the Pokémon Center.
• Xia You warned the group to avoid Dark Void and explained that outside help might wake anyone trapped in Darkrai’s dream world.
• Gengar returned and reported finding Darkrai’s hiding place beneath a tree with a swing; Xia You said he would not try to catch it and revealed that Deoxys and Black Rayquaza were waiting for two other Pokémon.
• Iris met the group the next morning to continue their tour, and they stopped at a stall selling supposed Lunar Wings that Xia You recognized as fake feathers.

Xia You and the others toured the Space-Time Tower in Alamos Town, where they learned that an old photograph of Iris’s grandmother Alicia matched the girl depicted in a relief. The melody written on the back was identified as Oración, a piece said to soothe intense anger, leaving the group with a possible clue to the coming crisis.

• Xia You bought gifts for his friends and mailed them with Iris before the group visited the Space-Time Tower.
• Iris showed the group the lavish Contest Hall, where Dawn and May would compete the next morning, while Xia You worried that Dialga and Palkia would soon turn the town into a battlefield.
• The group viewed a relief of a girl playing a grass whistle, then went to Tonio’s underground laboratory and found him asleep after studying Godey’s diary.
• Tonio gave Iris an old photograph of Alicia and Godey, and Xia You pointed out that Alicia looked like the girl in the relief.
• Xia You asked about the melody on the back of the photograph, and Tonio and Cheryl identified it as Oración, a piece believed to calm intense anger.

Xia You persuaded Iris and Tonio to help him find the Oración music disc, which he intended to keep as a safeguard against the crisis in Alamos Town. After the group found it and began climbing the Space-Time Tower, Ash ran ahead, unaware that a hot-air balloon could carry the others up the rest of the way.

• Xia You claimed that Oración could help calm Darkrai, and Iris and Tonio agreed to search for the music disc.
• Xia You said Cresselia had sent him to help Darkrai, and Iris and Tonio seriously considered his explanation.
• The group found the disc with the matching musical-note symbol, and Xia You took it from Iris.
• Iris led everyone toward the Space-Time Tower's playback room, explaining that they had to climb to the top.
• Ash raced up the spiral stairs while the others struggled to keep pace.
• Iris revealed a hot-air balloon on a landing, and Dawn joked that they would reach the top before Ash.

Xia You prepared the Space-Time Tower for the coming disturbance and waited as a strange light appeared over Alamos Town. Darkrai then clashed with Ash and the others while the town’s sky darkened and white mist began to surround it.

• Xia You learned from Iris how to operate the tower’s music machine and how Electric-type Pokémon could power it during an outage.
• After Ash and the others returned to town, Xia You split from them and arranged for Raikou, Zapdos, Moltres, Articuno, and Celebi to be transferred to him.
• Xia You returned to the tower’s playback room, watched Ash and his companions battle the trainers with Sinnoh Starters, and waited for the disturbance to begin.
• A brilliant light erupted above the Space-Time Tower and briefly engulfed all of Alamos Town.
• Darkrai appeared and used Dark Void on people and Pokémon as Ash and the others confronted him, while Albert arrived and attacked Darkrai with Lickilicky.
• The sky darkened and white mist began enveloping Alamos Town, prompting Gengar to warn Xia You that the town might be swallowed up.

Xia You disguised himself and warned May to stay with the others as the town’s search party attacked Darkrai, who then exposed Palkia’s hiding place. Palkia appeared and transformed the town into a lightless world as it began fighting Darkrai, while Xia You waited for Dialga before joining the battle.

• Xia You put on his Gengar Mask and black cloak, then called May and told her to keep herself and Cheryl with Dawn, Brock, and the others without telling Ash.
• Albert’s search party, including the disguised Team Rocket Trio, surrounded Darkrai, but Darkrai quickly knocked out their Pokémon and escaped.
• Darkrai struck an invisible barrier near the Space-Time Tower, fell to the ground, and revealed the hidden Palkia.
• Darkrai attacked Palkia with Dark Void, enraging it and drawing the attention of everyone in Alamos Town.
• Xia You prepared Deoxys’s and Black Rayquaza’s Poké Balls but waited for Dialga, while Palkia’s roar dispelled the fog and plunged the town into darkness as it and Darkrai began fighting.

Xia You joined the battle in Alamos Town by releasing his Black Rayquaza to challenge Dialga and Palkia. As the Legendary Pokémon clashed, he declared his intent to bring their legends crashing down.

• Dialga arrived and attacked Palkia, ignoring Darkrai, and the two fought across Alamos Town.
• Xia You climbed onto the Space-Time Tower and released his Black Rayquaza into the battle.
• Ash, Brock, Dawn, Iris, and Tonio wondered how Rayquaza had entered the distorted space and concluded that someone had released him.
• Iris spotted the disguised Xia You atop the tower, and Tonio realized he was likely Rayquaza's Trainer.
• Xia You watched Dialga and Palkia and vowed to defeat them.

Xia You sent his Shiny Rayquaza to fight Dialga and Palkia, while Darkrai joined the battle and disrupted the two Legendary Pokémon. Their attacks weakened the dimension surrounding Alamos Town, so Xia You prepared to try an untested plan to save everyone.

• Xia You sent Rayquaza to attack Dialga and Palkia, who were already injured and initially fought together against it.
• Darkrai emerged and attacked all three Pokémon, distracting Dialga and Palkia and giving Rayquaza an advantage.
• Dialga and Palkia focused their attacks on Darkrai, knocking it into Godey's garden before Rayquaza drew them away.
• Ash realized Rayquaza was Shiny as the battle moved closer, and Xia You used his whistle to pull the fighting back into the sky and limit damage to the town.
• Dialga and Palkia's cooperation fell apart, and their attacks caused the strange dimension around Alamos Town to collapse.
• Xia You told Gengar that the town and everyone inside it could disappear, then decided to try an untested idea to stop the danger.

Xia You had Rayquaza use Dragon Ascent, transforming it into Mega Rayquaza and disrupting the collapsing space with Delta Stream. Mega Rayquaza then overwhelmed Dialga and Palkia, driving off Dialga while the battle continued.

• Xia You recalled Rayquaza from its fight with Dialga and Palkia and ordered it to use Dragon Ascent.
• Rayquaza Mega Evolved, struck Dialga and Palkia aside, and its Delta Stream halted the space’s collapse.
• Xia You explained Delta Stream to Gengar and ordered Mega Rayquaza to use Dragon Dance before ending the fight quickly.
• Dialga and Palkia attacked with Roar of Time and Spacial Rend, but Mega Rayquaza dodged and countered with a powered-up Hyper Beam.
• Mega Rayquaza badly injured Dialga, which fled into the dark space, leaving Palkia and the stunned onlookers behind.

Xia You directed Mega Rayquaza as it defeated Darkrai and overwhelmed Palkia, while Ash and the others headed toward the Space-Time Tower hoping to stop the battle with Oración. Palkia was left battered on the ground, and Xia You learned that Ash’s group was approaching by hot-air balloon.

• Darkrai joined Palkia in attacking Mega Rayquaza, but Rayquaza evaded their strikes and knocked Darkrai into the street.
• Iris, Ash, and the others decided to retrieve Xia You’s Oración disc from the Space-Time Tower and flew toward it in a hot-air balloon.
• Xia You refused Gengar’s suggestion to catch Darkrai because it was devoted to the town, then ordered Gengar to retrieve Charizard’s Poké Ball and hide.
• Rayquaza focused its assault on Palkia to prevent it from escaping, then slammed it into the ground.
• Gengar told Xia You that Ash and the others would arrive by hot-air balloon in a minute or two.

Xia You’s Rayquaza defeated Palkia, and Xia You escaped before Ash could identify him. The Oración music restored the Space-Time Tower’s power and calmed Palkia, which returned the town to normal, while Xia You prepared to rejoin the others in disguise.

• Rayquaza defeated Palkia and roared in victory as Ash and his friends arrived at the tower.
• Xia You leapt from the rooftop, escaped on Rayquaza, and left Ash frustrated without learning his identity.
• Iris restarted the Space-Time Tower with electricity from Ash’s Pikachu and Dawn’s Pachirisu, causing it to play Oración and calm Palkia.
• Ash called out to Palkia, which restored the town’s space and brought back the sunlight.
• Xia You landed safely, watched Palkia leave, and headed toward the tower with Gengar to meet the others.

After the battle in Alamos Town, Xia You and Gengar decided to keep Darkrai from being caught by other Trainers by capturing it themselves. Xia You confronted Darkrai in Godey's Garden, but it fled and Charizard defeated it, leaving it at Xia You’s mercy.

• Trainers began searching Alamos Town for Darkrai, and Gengar urged Xia You to prevent them from catching it.
• Xia You agreed to capture Darkrai and keep it safe, while Ash and the others returned to town and discussed the battle and the next day’s Pokémon Contest.
• Photos and videos of the battle spread online, drawing attention to Shiny Mega Rayquaza and its power against Dialga and Palkia.
• Xia You went to Godey's Garden at night and waited until the other Trainers left before following Gengar to Darkrai’s hiding place beneath a swing.
• Darkrai recognized Xia You as Rayquaza’s Trainer, and Xia You offered it the choice of entering a Poké Ball willingly or being beaten and caught.
• Darkrai fled when Xia You began counting down, but Charizard caught up and knocked it out of the sky in one exchange.

Xia You caught Darkrai but hid its Poké Ball inside the Space-Time Tower so no one else could capture it, while insisting Darkrai was still his Pokémon. The Alamos Pokémon Contest then began, where May topped the first-round scores and Dawn narrowly advanced before drawing Brother Tai as her first battle opponent.

• Xia You had Gengar catch Darkrai, released him, and concealed his Poké Ball inside the Space-Time Tower so other Trainers could not catch him.
• Xia You told Darkrai that he still owned him and promised to help if anyone bullied him, and Darkrai accepted that he had been caught.
• Xia You and his companions attended the Alamos Pokémon Contest, where Xia Xin, Sheng Hai, and Brother Tai impressed the audience with their performances.
• Dawn performed with Piplup and earned a middling score, while May performed with Munchlax and took first place overall.
• Dawn narrowly qualified for the Battle Evaluation round in eighth place, and the draw placed her and May in separate brackets.
• Dawn drew Brother Tai as her first opponent, while Xia You noted that Brother Tai had placed fourth and owned an Empoleon.

Dawn defeated Brother Tai to reach the semifinals, but lost to Xia Xin and her Infernape, while May beat Sheng Hai and advanced to the final. May then defeated Xia Xin to win the Alamos Contest.

• Dawn and Brother Tai battled evenly until time ran out, and Dawn advanced with a slight Appeal Points lead.
• May defeated her opponent quickly with Blaziken, and Xia Xin and Sheng Hai joined Dawn and May as the semifinalists.
• May defeated Sheng Hai's Torterra with Blaziken and advanced to the final.
• Xia Xin's Infernape overwhelmed Dawn's Piplup, reducing its Appeal Points to zero and sending Xia Xin to the final.
• May changed tactics midway through her final battle and gained a decisive lead over Xia Xin's Infernape.
• May's Blaziken depleted Infernape's Appeal Points, and May won the Alamos Contest.

After leaving Alamos Town, Xia You and May continued toward Mt. Coronet while Cynthia arrived too late to find the masked man and searched the Space-Time Tower. In Godey Park, Tang Hong and other Trainers attacked the injured Darkrai, but their Poké Balls failed because Darkrai had already been caught, and it flew toward the tower as a figure watched from above.

• Xia You and May said goodbye to their companions after May won the Alamos Contest, then set off toward Mt. Coronet with Cheryl.
• Cynthia recognized the Gengar-Masked man in footage of the Alamos Town battle and hurried to the town, arriving just after Xia You had left.
• Cynthia entered the Space-Time Tower despite its no-entry sign and climbed its stairs while searching for clues about the masked man.
• Tang Hong's three Swinub tracked Darkrai to its hiding place beneath a swing in Godey Park, drawing a crowd of Trainers who attacked it.
• Darkrai, weakened from its earlier injuries, fought back with Dark Void but was eventually struck and knocked to the ground.
• A Trainer's Premier Ball failed to capture Darkrai, revealing that it already had a Trainer; the other Trainers stopped attacking, and Darkrai flew toward the Space-Time Tower as they spotted someone standing atop it.

Cynthia investigated the Gengar-masked Trainer in Alamos Town, while Iris realized he was probably Xia You and withheld that information. Xia You left town with May and Cheryl, then received a video call connecting him with Sonia, Professor Magnolia’s granddaughter and assistant.

• Cynthia searched the Space-Time Tower and spotted Darkrai fleeing into it, while nearby Trainers mistook her black raincoat for the masked man’s outfit and concluded she was the masked Trainer.
• Cynthia met Iris, who suggested the masked man might follow Pokémon Contests; Cynthia left to search likely nearby cities, while Iris privately concluded the man was Xia You.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl traveled east toward Mt. Coronet, and Xia You told them about his battle and catching Darkrai.
• Professor Cerise connected Xia You by video call with Sonia, who introduced herself as Professor Magnolia’s assistant.

Xia You spotted Pokémon Hunter J heading toward Alamos Town to capture Darkrai and sent Deoxys to intercept her without revealing himself. Deoxys overwhelmed J’s Salamence and evaded her Petrification Gun, leaving J facing a foe far beyond her expectations.

• Xia You ended his call with Sonia, then continued traveling with May and Cheryl and made camp as evening approached.
• May spotted J’s armored vehicle on the road, and Xia You recognized her as the Pokémon Hunter targeting Darkrai in Alamos Town.
• Xia You sent Charizard to carry him after J while he released Deoxys to attack her vehicle from the air.
• Deoxys tore J’s armored vehicle apart with psychic power, and the wreckage exploded as J and her subordinates escaped.
• J summoned her Salamence, but Deoxys struck it into a mountainside and left it badly injured.
• J fired her Petrification Gun at Deoxys, which teleported out of the shot and declared that it would defeat her.

Xia You defeated Pokémon Hunter J, claimed her Petrification Gun, and traveled with May and Cheryl across Mt. Coronet to Spear Pillar. He left the group at the ancient summit after marking it as a Teleport destination in preparation for Team Galactic’s plans.

• Deoxys defeated J and Teleported her and her Petrification Gun to the Alamos Town police station.
• Xia You joked online as Cynthia was wrongly credited with the events in Alamos Town, then examined J’s gun and kept it for protection.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl entered Mt. Coronet, where Xia You battled Chunxiong and other Trainers while his Pokémon gained experience.
• The group climbed through Mt. Coronet’s caves and fought wild Pokémon before reaching a peak and spotting Spear Pillar in the distance.
• Xia You flew with May and Cheryl to Spear Pillar, then had Gardevoir and Deoxys mark it as a Teleport destination in case they needed to return when Team Galactic acted.

Xia You, May, and Cheryl descended Mt. Coronet toward Celestic Town, where they met Professor Carolina at the historical research institute. The chapter ended with them examining an ancient stone wall carved with three small Pokémon and a golden sun.

• Xia You, May, and Cheryl camped on Mt. Coronet, and Xia You accidentally pulled Cheryl into his bedding while asleep, leaving her embarrassed the next morning.
• The three travelers reached Celestic Town, where May learned the next Pokémon Contest would not take place for ten days.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl visited the Celestic Town Historical Research Institute and met its director, Professor Carolina, who recognized Xia You from an academic journal.
• Professor Carolina guided the group through the museum and showed them black-and-white pictures of Dialga and Palkia.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl examined an ancient stone wall bearing a triangular design with three small Pokémon carvings and a golden sun at its center.

Xia You warned Professor Carolina that the Lake Guardians’ mural pointed to Mt. Coronet, then left Celestic Town with May and Cheryl. In Hearthome City, Cynthia learned of Xia You and made him her prime suspect in the search for the Gengar-masked trainer, while Xia You’s Riolu evolved after a battle on the road to Veilstone City.

• Professor Carolina explained the Lake Guardians and the orbs, and Xia You pointed out that the mural’s central sun corresponded to Mt. Coronet rather than the Adamant Orb or Lustrous Orb.
• Xia You told May and Cheryl that Professor Carolina was Cynthia’s grandmother, then the group left Celestic Town for Veilstone City.
• Cynthia met Ash, Dawn, and Brock after Dawn was eliminated from the Hearthome Contest, and she asked whether they had seen the Gengar-masked man.
• Ash described Xia You’s achievements and explained that Xia You had been sheltering during the masked man’s Rayquaza battle, but Cynthia still made him her prime suspect.
• Dawn told Cynthia that Xia You was in Celestic Town, prompting Cynthia to decide she had to return there to guard the Lustrous Orb.
• On the way to Veilstone City, Xia You sent Riolu into battle, and Riolu evolved as soon as it won.

After Lucario evolved, Xia You traveled with Cheryl and May through a rainy night that left him and Cheryl tangled together by morning. They reached Veilstone City, where Xia You met Shelly and Courtney at their Secret Base to hear about their investigation of Team Galactic.

• Lucario evolved, and Xia You battled other Trainers with him to test his increased strength.
• Heavy rain forced Xia You, Cheryl, and May to camp in a tent; May accidentally took Cheryl’s blanket, and Cheryl ended up sleeping under Xia You’s.
• In the morning, May and Cheryl discovered Xia You and Cheryl were embracing, leaving all three awkward before they resumed their journey.
• After more than three days of travel, Xia You arrived in Veilstone City, sent May and Cheryl to the Pokémon Center, and went to the docks to meet Shelly and Courtney.
• Shelly and Courtney told Xia You they had recruited a new Team Galactic member to gather information, and Shelly asked whether he had an operation planned.

Xia You told Shelly and Courtney about Team Galactic’s Veilstone Building and assigned them to gather intelligence for a joint operation with the International Police. After Shelly and Courtney argued over their team’s name, Xia You became intimate with both of them, leaving them reconciled and his plans for the operation still underway.

• Xia You informed Shelly and Courtney that Team Galactic had a base in Veilstone City and asked them to scout its personnel and defenses for a coordinated strike with the International Police.
• Xia You assured the women that Looker would lead the operation and that their reconnaissance would help clear their past records; Courtney showed him their proposed disguises, and the group debated a team name.
• Shelly challenged Courtney to compete over who could gather more accurate intelligence, then took Xia You to her room and seduced him.
• Courtney returned after overhearing Xia You and Shelly, confronted him, and persuaded him to come to her room as well.
• Xia You stayed with Shelly and Courtney until afternoon, while May called and received no answer.

Xia You reunited with May and Cheryl after spending the afternoon with Shelly and Courtney, while Cynthia learned that he was heading toward Veilstone City and suspected he was the masked man. The next morning, Xia You began his Veilstone Gym challenge against Maylene, sending Chimchar out first; the chapter ended as Chimchar attacked Meditite with Ember.

• Xia You returned to the Pokémon Center and told May and Cheryl he had handled Team Galactic business, keeping his afternoon with Shelly and Courtney secret.
• Professor Carolina told Cynthia that Xia You had recognized Mt. Coronet’s connection to her research, and Cynthia deduced he was likely traveling to Veilstone City and might be the masked man.
• Shelly returned to the Secret Base and learned that Courtney had also spent the afternoon with Xia You, prompting the two women to argue over their relationships with him.
• Xia You brought May and Cheryl to Veilstone Gym, where Kuroda introduced them to Gym Leader Maylene and arranged a three-Pokémon challenge.
• Maylene sent out Meditite, and Xia You chose his newly caught Chimchar, which began the match by using Ember.

Xia You’s Chimchar defeated Maylene’s Meditite, then his Frogadier gained the upper hand against Machoke through speed and trickery. The battle continued as Frogadier countered Machoke’s attempt to predict its movements with a sudden tongue strike.

• Maylene’s Meditite hesitated between boosting its Attack and dodging, allowing Chimchar to close in and defeat it with relentless attacks.
• Maylene sent out Machoke, while Xia You replaced Chimchar with Frogadier for the second round.
• Machoke pushed through Frogadier’s Water Gun and cornered it, but Frogadier used Double Team, struck Machoke, and blinded it with foam.
• Frogadier evaded Machoke’s attacks and knocked it down with Water Pulse, while Xia You let his Pokémon battle without giving commands.
• Maylene ordered Machoke to use Seismic Toss, but Frogadier read its attempt to predict its movements and shot its tongue toward Machoke’s face.

Xia You defeated Maylene’s three Pokémon and won the Cobble Badge, then returned to the harbor base to review Shelly and Courtney’s investigation of Team Galactic. Their report was accurate but incomplete, and Shelly reminded him that he still had not chosen a name for their team.

• Frogadier defeated Maylene’s Machoke, and Maylene sent out her final Pokémon, Lucario.
• Xia You’s Lucario defeated Maylene’s Lucario by reading his intentions through aura, giving Xia You a decisive three-to-zero victory.
• Maylene awarded Xia You the Cobble Badge, and he told May and Cheryl he planned to stay in the city while awaiting Bea and preparing to assist the International Police.
• Xia You returned to the harbor base, where Shelly and Courtney shared verified information about Team Galactic’s personnel, equipment, entrances, exits, and cameras.
• Shelly asked Xia You what he planned to name their team, then teased him about possibly calling it “Xia You and His Women.”

Shelly caught Courtney and Xia You together and used a video recording to get the upper hand in their rivalry. Xia You then coordinated with Looker on the planned operation against Team Galactic before reuniting with Bea, who came to Veilstone for a friendly match with Maylene.

• Shelly found Courtney and Xia You in bed, filmed Courtney, and taunted her while Xia You continued.
• Afterward, Shelly kept the recording, and Xia You left to meet Looker at a café near the Veilstone Galactic Building.
• Xia You gave Looker the intelligence Shelly and Courtney had gathered, and Looker said the International Police could begin the operation the next morning.
• Xia You told Shelly and Courtney about the operation, then returned to the Veilstone Gym to meet Bea.
• Bea explained that she still wanted to battle Maylene and spar with her, and Kuroda escorted them to the Battle Field.
• Bea introduced herself to Maylene and requested a friendly match, and the two karate trainers sensed each other's strength.