Recaps

Bea defeated Maylene in both a Pokémon battle and a karate spar at the Veilstone Gym, demonstrating her superiority as a fighter. Maylene accepted the losses and asked how Bea had become so skilled, and Bea credited training outside the Gym.

• Maylene sent out Machoke, but Bea's Grapploct defeated it by overwhelming it with its tentacles.
• Maylene's Meditite defeated Grapploct after a close fight, but Bea's Pangoro then beat Meditite and Lucario, securing the Pokémon battle.
• Xia You suggested that Bea and Maylene spar in karate, and Maylene eagerly accepted.
• Bea and Maylene traded attacks in their spar before Bea adapted to Maylene's Veilstone Style and forced her to stop the match.
• Maylene praised Bea's skills and asked how she had become so strong, and Bea said she trained outdoors with her Pokémon.

After Bea challenged the Veilstone Gym and returned to Galar, Xia You watched Shelly and Courtney help the International Police raid Team Galactic’s Veilstone base. Back at their Secret Base, he secretly visited Shelly, but Courtney caught them and Shelly turned the tables on her.

• Xia You walked Bea to the Pokémon Center, where she reunited with May and met Cheryl before leaving for Galar the next morning.
• Looker led the International Police assault on Team Galactic’s Veilstone Building, and Shelly and Courtney joined the fight against Mars and her elite members.
• Mars escaped from the rooftop as the International Police captured the base, and Shelly and Courtney returned to their Secret Base.
• Xia You used Teleport to enter Shelly’s room and secretly spend time with her while Courtney showered.
• Courtney entered Shelly’s room and recorded them, but Shelly seized Courtney, took her camera, and called Xia You over.

After leaving Veilstone City, Xia You traveled with May and Cheryl, while Cynthia wondered why the masked man had not appeared during the raid on Team Galactic. May won her fourth Ribbon Medal, and Xia You rescued a struggling street magician’s act with Gengar.

• Xia You left Veilstone City after warning Shelly and Courtney to monitor Team Galactic and Mt. Coronet, then reunited with May and Cheryl and passed the city’s meteorites.
• Cynthia read about the International Police raid on Team Galactic and wondered why the masked man had not appeared.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl camped outside Veilstone City, then continued traveling; May entered a local Pokémon Contest and won her fourth Ribbon Medal.
• After the Contest, the group watched a street magician perform with Chingling, but one Pokémon wandered off and the magician struggled to recruit a volunteer.
• The magician selected Xia You to assist, but her trick failed, so Xia You summoned Gengar to appear from beneath him and complete the performance to the crowd’s applause.

Xia You, May, and Cheryl met Pokémon Magician Jinghui, then discovered that the Wallace Cup would soon be held at Lake Valor and set out for Sunyshore City before it began. Their journey brought them face-to-face with Hinata and Chief Pokémon Ranger Chuangyi, who eagerly wanted to battle Xia You.

• Xia You helped Jinghui salvage her faulty magic show, and she considered visiting Solaceon Town’s Lost Tower to find a Ghost-type Pokémon.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl reached Lake Valor, where they learned that Wallace’s prestigious Wallace Cup would begin in five days.
• The group registered May for the Contest and headed toward Sunyshore City, planning to return in time for the competition.
• Xia You defeated a novice Trainer with Chimchar, and he joked with May and Cheryl about the boy’s crushing loss.
• Xia You and May reunited with Hinata, who introduced them to Chief Pokémon Ranger Chuangyi, and Chuangyi asked to battle Xia You.

Xia You accepted Chief Pokémon Ranger Chuangyi’s challenge and defeated his Pachirisu with Umbreon, while learning that Chuangyi and Hinata were searching for a Pokémon targeted by the escaped Hunter J. After the Rangers left to continue their mission, May suggested Hinata still felt guilty about an earlier incident in Kanto, which Xia You had forgotten.

• Chuangyi explained that he and Hinata were tracking a Pokémon Hunter J had targeted, and May told them Xia You had already captured J once before she escaped.
• Hinata encouraged Chuangyi to battle Xia You before he and Xia You went their separate ways, and Chuangyi accepted Xia You’s offer of a quick one-on-one match.
• Chuangyi sent out his partner Pachirisu, and Xia You chose Umbreon to battle it.
• Umbreon overcame Pachirisu’s electric attacks and defeated him with Quick Attack and Assurance, while Xia You praised Chuangyi and his partner for their performance.
• Hinata and Chuangyi departed to resume their mission, and May told Xia You that Hinata seemed guilty about not following his instructions in Kanto; Xia You said he had forgotten about the incident.

Xia You arrived in Sunyshore City and sought a Gym battle with Volkner, refusing to accept a free Beacon Badge. After Jasmine led him to Sunyshore Tower, Volkner refused to battle, so Xia You provoked him and challenged him to defeat one of three Pokémon.

• Xia You, May, and Cheryl reached Sunyshore City and went straight to the Sunyshore Gym to challenge Volkner.
• The Gym's electronic attendant offered challengers free Beacon Badges, but Xia You refused to take one without battling Volkner.
• Jasmine recognized Xia You and led him and his companions to Sunyshore Tower, where Volkner was staying.
• Volkner declined Xia You's challenge and told him to take a badge from the Gym instead.
• Xia You criticized Volkner's conduct, then released Gardevoir, Charizard, and Gengar and challenged Volkner to defeat any one of them.

Xia You confronted Volkner over his neglect of his Gym duties and challenged him to prove his strength in battle. Volkner sent out Jolteon against Gengar, and Jasmine prepared to signal the start of their match.

• Xia You accused Volkner of treating Gym battles and Badges irresponsibly, and Volkner accepted his challenge.
• Xia You appeared outside Sunyshore Tower with Gardevoir, Charizard, and Gengar, while Volkner and the others took the elevator down to meet him.
• Volkner felt an unfamiliar pressure from Xia You but insisted on facing him as Sinnoh's strongest Gym Leader.
• Xia You told Volkner to choose one of his three Pokémon or battle all of them, and Volkner chose Gengar as Jolteon's opponent.
• Gengar and Jolteon took their places in the clearing, and Jasmine stepped forward to signal the start of the battle.

Xia You’s Gengar knocked out Volkner’s Jolteon with one Shadow Ball, and his Charizard then defeated Volkner’s Electivire in close combat. Volkner was left stunned after losing both of his Pokémon without landing a meaningful hit.

• Jasmine started the battle after asking Xia You and Volkner to know when to stop.
• Gengar dodged Jolteon’s Shadow Ball, appeared behind it, and knocked it out with a powerful Shadow Ball of its own.
• Volkner recalled Jolteon and sent out Electivire against Xia You’s Charizard.
• Charizard charged through Electivire’s Electric attacks, tripped it at close range, and struck it with Slash.
• Electivire fainted, leaving Volkner shocked by Charizard’s strength.

Xia You’s Gardevoir overwhelmed Volkner’s final Pokémon, Luxray, but Xia You stopped short of defeating it and left without settling the Gym’s fate. Jasmine told Volkner that the man’s name was Xia You, a three-time regional Conference winner.

• Volkner sent out Luxray as his last Pokémon, and Gardevoir immediately restrained it with Confusion.
• Luxray resisted and unleashed Thunder, but Gardevoir dodged the strike and kept it trapped.
• Gardevoir hurled Luxray toward the ground, then Xia You stopped it just above the surface and ended the battle.
• Xia You left with Gardevoir, followed by May and Cheryl, while Volkner realized he had been spared the loss that would cost him his Gym.
• Volkner asked Jasmine who the man was, and she identified him as Xia You, winner of the Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn regional Conferences.

After defeating Volkner at Sunyshore City, Xia You earned the Beacon Badge and returned with May and Cheryl to Lake Valor, where they reunited with Ash and his friends. As Ash urged him to enter the upcoming Wallace Cup, Xia You declined and left the contest for another time.

• Xia You accepted the Beacon Badge after explaining to May and Cheryl that he had challenged Volkner to prove that stronger Trainers existed, then spent the rest of the day exploring Sunyshore City with them.
• Volkner drank at a bar until Flint arrived, and he told Flint that Xia You had defeated Jolteon, Electivire, and Luxray in one hit each before sparing Luxray.
• Xia You, May, and Cheryl returned to Lake Valor and reunited with Ash, Dawn, and Brock at the Pokémon Center.
• Dawn described her recent first-round Contest losses, while Ash recounted earning a Cobble Badge and strengthening his team; the group shared news of their travels.
• After seeing Wallace promote the Wallace Cup on television, Ash invited Xia You to compete, but Xia You declined.

Xia You skipped the Seven Star Restaurant, took a lonely walk by Lake Valor, and later reunited with Lisia, who was performing at the Wallace Cup and eagerly sought his company. The next morning, he found Dawn training in a gloomy mood and asked whether she had run into trouble.

• Xia You left May and the others to dine at the Seven Star Restaurant and stood by Lake Valor, missing Sabrina and Erika.
• May brought Xia You packed food after she and the others finished dining, and Lisia recognized him on the way to the Pokémon Center.
• Lisia revealed she had come to perform the Wallace Cup’s opening and stayed with Xia You, while May worried about her interest in him.
• The next morning, May went to train, Dawn practiced separately, and Xia You set out to find Pokémon battles.
• Lisia caught up with Xia You and asked to have a Double Battle with him, but he noticed Dawn training with a gloomy air and went to check on her.
• Dawn greeted Xia You and Lisia, and Xia You asked whether she had run into trouble.

Xia You encouraged Dawn after her consecutive Contest losses and advised her to trust her Pokémon. He then teamed up with Lisia for a Double Battle at the Resort, where they defeated a coordinated opposing pair with Frogadier and Chimchar.

• Xia You reassured Dawn that her losses were part of learning and told her to keep believing in her Pokémon.
• Dawn and Lisia argued over whether travel or talent mattered more for becoming a successful Coordinator, and Xia You said both were essential.
• Xia You and Lisia went to the center of the Resort and chose Frogadier and Chimchar for a Double Battle.
• A man and woman challenged Xia You and Lisia with Dodrio and Beedrill.
• Xia You and Lisia defeated the opponents' fast, coordinated offense, surprising the pair.

Xia You and Lisia won eight consecutive double battles at the resort, then visited May and Cheryl as their Pokémon rested. Lisia admitted to May that she loved Xia You and warned her to keep a close eye on him, leaving May flustered and newly aware of Lisia as a serious rival.

• Xia You and Lisia defeated a pair of twin Trainers by seeing through their two Ursaring’s position-swapping trick.
• They won eight battles in a row before Xia You ended the challenges because Chimchar and Frogadier were exhausted.
• Xia You and Lisia strolled around the resort, bought desserts, and visited May and Cheryl as they practiced with their Pokémon.
• Lisia and May praised each other, and Lisia told May she envied her for traveling with Xia You.
• Lisia confessed that she liked Xia You and warned May to keep a close eye on him, while May realized why Misty considered Lisia a threat.

Xia You, Cheryl, and Brock attended the Wallace Cup at Lakeside Contest Hall, where Lisia and Wallace thrilled their huge fan crowds before the competition began. May was chosen as the first contestant, and Xia You watched as she prepared to perform.

• Xia You encouraged May, Dawn, and Ash before they entered the contest hall, and Dawn reacted shyly when he rested a hand on her shoulder.
• Xia You, Cheryl, and Brock took their seats among Wallace's and Lisia's devoted fans, whose cheering overwhelmed them.
• Lisia opened the event with a performance, then Yas introduced Wallace, who performed with his Milotic and announced he would also judge the contest.
• The hostess introduced the Wallace Cup Medal, judges, and rules, and the competition officially began with May as the first contestant.
• May took the stage wearing a desert-style dancer's outfit, and Xia You focused on her performance.

May, Jessie, Zoey, Ash, and Dawn performed in the Wallace Cup’s first round, with May and Ash earning especially high scores. Dawn gave a confident performance with Ambipom, and the chapter ended as the contestants advancing to the Battle Evaluation were announced.

• May performed with Wartortle, creating a water pinwheel and rainbow that earned loud applause and praise from the judges.
• Jessie performed with Wobbuffet, drawing cheers from the audience but disapproval from the judges for making herself the focus.
• Zoey earned a high score, and Ash surprised everyone by performing with Buizel well enough to rank alongside May.
• Remembering Xia You’s encouragement, Dawn calmed herself and took the stage in a pink dress with Ambipom.
• Dawn directed Ambipom through a graceful routine that ended with Swift and Focus Punch, earning a strong response.
• The first-round results appeared on the Giant Screen, showing May and the others who advanced to the Battle Evaluation.

May placed first in the Wallace Cup’s Performance Evaluation, with Ash close behind and Dawn advancing to the second round. That night, Xia You, Cheryl, and Ash saw a mysterious Pokémon emerge from Lake Valor, and Xia You identified it as one of the Lake Guardians.

• May took first place in the Performance Evaluation, Ash came second, and Dawn secured fourth place and advanced to the next round.
• Xia You congratulated May and Dawn, then the group celebrated at a nearby restaurant before the girls went to the Pokémon Center and the others split up.
• While walking along Lake Valor with Cheryl, Xia You spotted a nearly transparent Pokémon rise from the water, and Ash saw it too.
• Xia You carried Ash back to the room to keep him from drawing attention to the sighting, where May, Dawn, and Brock were waiting with pizza.
• Xia You told everyone they had seen one of the Lake Guardians, surprising Ash and the others.

Xia You learned that Azelf’s appearance might signal Team Galactic’s plans and prepared to monitor their activity. At the Wallace Cup, Ash was eliminated in the first battle, while Dawn and May advanced through the bracket and met in the final.

• After Ash and the others discussed Azelf, Xia You warned Shelly and Courtney to watch for Team Galactic’s movements.
• Xia You declined Wallace’s invitation to attend the Wallace Cup as a special guest.
• Ash lost his Round of 16 battle to Kaito despite rallying with Buizel and using Ice Aqua Jet.
• Dawn defeated her opponent’s Wailmer with Buneary, while May and Zoey also won their matches and advanced.
• May defeated Zoey in the semifinals, setting up the Wallace Cup final between May and Dawn.

May defeated Dawn in the Wallace Cup final and won the Medal after taking control of the battle in its final minutes. After the group celebrated, May warned Dawn that the path she was pursuing was difficult and uncertain, leaving Dawn confused about what she meant.

• Dawn sent out Piplup against May's Wartortle, and the two traded moves while May held a slight lead in Appeal Points.
• After three minutes, May launched a fierce offensive that overwhelmed Dawn and depleted Piplup's Appeal Points.
• The referee declared May the winner, and May received the Wallace Cup Medal before she and Dawn congratulated each other.
• The group celebrated May's victory, while Dawn and Lisia traded barbs over Lisia's closeness to Xia You.
• Alone with Dawn, May warned her about a difficult, uncertain path and said she should be sure of her feelings before continuing.

Ash and the others failed to find Azelf at Lake Valor, then chose to travel west with Xia You toward Pastoria City. On the road, Lisia left for her next event with plans to meet Xia You again in Unova, and the chapter ended with Xia You teasing Ash during a Chimchar battle.

• Ash, May, Dawn, and Brock went to Lake Valor at night to search for Azelf but found nothing.
• At breakfast, May revealed that Xia You had defeated Volkner's Pokémon in single hits, surprising Ash, Dawn, Brock, and Lisia.
• Lisia said she might soon go to Unova, and she left in high spirits after learning Xia You planned to visit that region too.
• Ash and Xia You agreed to travel together to Pastoria City, and Dawn felt glad they would remain together for a while.
• The group camped in a park near a small town, where Ash challenged Xia You to a battle between their Chimchar.
• Xia You gave no commands during the battle, teasing Ash with his supposed new style of letting things take their course.

Ash and his friends encountered a sick, filthy Shaymin at lunch, cleaned it up, and took it to a Pokémon Center. After Shaymin recovered, Xia You suspected its appearance might be tied to a movie plot and sent Deoxys to watch it, while considering whether May might catch it.

• Xia You and Ash stopped their Chimchar battle for lunch, and their friends laughed as Ash complained that Xia You valued food over friendship.
• A dirty Pokémon stole the Pokémon's food, caused a commotion, and Dawn calmed it down and washed it, revealing a Shaymin.
• Ash's Pokédex identified Shaymin as a Mythical Pokémon, and Shaymin spoke through Telepathy before collapsing with a fever.
• Dawn and the others carried Shaymin to a Pokémon Center, while Xia You considered whether May might catch it.
• Xia You summoned Deoxys in the restroom and ordered it to watch the area and keep track of Shaymin.
• Nurse Joy brought Shaymin out after treatment, and Shaymin insisted it had only been hungry, prompting Ash to question its lack of gratitude.

Ash and his companions set out to take Shaymin to a flower field for its Flower Migration, but a rift pulled them into the Distortion World. There, a huge Pokémon attacked them, and Piplup’s bubbles failed to stop its charge.

• Shaymin demanded that Ash take it to the flower field, and Nurse Joy explained the Shaymin’s Flower Migration.
• Purple shadows appeared on reflective surfaces before a rift opened and pulled Ash, Dawn, May, Xia You, and Shaymin inside; Cheryl and Brock remained behind.
• Xia You recognized the strange place as the Distortion World, and Deoxys followed him through the rift before he recalled it.
• A huge black-and-yellow Pokémon charged at the group, and Shaymin cried out that it was going to eat it.
• Pikachu attacked with electricity, but the Pokémon vanished and reappeared behind them; Piplup’s bubbles could not stop its next charge.

Xia You, Ash, Dawn, and Shaymin encountered Giratina in the Distortion World and escaped with the help of Mugen Graceland, a scholar researching the realm. Mugen explained the world and hurried them onward as they sought a way back to the Flower Field.

• Gengar struck Giratina with a Dark Ball, but Xia You stopped him from attacking again after Mugen warned them not to fight the legendary Pokémon.
• Mugen led the group through a pipe to escape Giratina, and Xia You caught Dawn when the return of normal gravity made her fall.
• The group reached a quiet building, where Mugen introduced himself as a scholar researching the Distortion World.
• Mugen explained that the Distortion World mirrored the real world, had unstable gravity, and was ruled by Giratina, which had brought them there.
• Shaymin said Giratina wanted to eat it and insisted on returning to the Flower Field, so Mugen checked his device and hurried the group onward.

Xia You and his companions escaped the Distortion World after Mu Xuan guided them to an exit, but Giratina followed them back through a mirror. As they headed for the Flower Field, Xia You hinted that he planned to face Giratina with Deoxys once the other pieces were in place.

• Mu Xuan explained how Dialga and Palkia’s battle had disturbed the Distortion World and how Shaymin had helped Dialga escape Giratina.
• Ash accidentally shattered a bubble showing Brock in the real world, learning that damaging the bubbles affected what they depicted.
• Giratina caught up with the group and snatched a Substitute Shaymin before they fled through a small black hole Mu Xuan identified as an exit.
• The group returned to the real world, where they saw Giratina’s purple glow in a mirror and hurried away after Mu Xuan’s warning.
• Xia You told Gengar that Deoxys would eventually face Giratina after the remaining players arrived.

Xia You and his companions fought off a man who tried to seize Shaymin, then followed Shaymin onto a train bound for its chosen destination. On the train, they learned about Gracidea flowers, whose pollen began drifting toward Shaymin.

• A silver-haired man surrounded Xia You and his companions with Magnemite and Magneton and demanded they hand over Shaymin.
• Gengar attacked the man, and Xia You released Umbreon and Lucario to help the group defeat the attackers.
• The man withdrew with his Pokémon, and Shaymin led the group toward a flower field before boarding a train without them.
• Ash and the others caught up with Shaymin on the train, where passengers recognized and admired it.
• Cheryl noticed a basket of Gracidea flowers, and a passenger explained that they were also called gratitude flowers.
• Shaymin sniffed the Gracidea, and pollen began drifting from the flowers toward it.

Shaymin changed into Sky Forme and led the group toward the Gracidea Flower Field, while Magnemite attacked their train before disappearing when it passed through a tunnel. On the riverboat journey, Xia You encouraged Dawn to consider catching Shaymin, but she worried that doing so would separate it from its companions.

• Shaymin sniffed a Gracidea flower, transformed into Sky Forme, and flew around the carriage.
• A large swarm of Magnemite attacked the train, but the group escaped them when the train passed through a tunnel.
• Ash and the others left the train, boarded a riverboat, and followed Shaymin toward the Flower Field.
• Dawn nervously approached Xia You, agreed to call him by his name, and blushed at the exchange.
• Xia You asked Dawn whether she wanted to catch Shaymin, and she hesitated because it might soon return to its companions.