Recaps

Dawn caught Shaymin after it fell out of its Sky Forme during its first clash with Giratina, while Xia You prepared to face Giratina and secretly sent Deoxys away to conceal his true plan. The silver-haired man and Mu Xuan were also present in the Distortion World as the confrontation began.

• Xia You encouraged Dawn to catch Shaymin, explaining that its personality suited her and that it could strengthen her Coordinator lineup.
• A powerful rift pulled the group back into the Distortion World, and the silver-haired man followed with more than a hundred Magnemite.
• Giratina appeared, and Mu Xuan recognized the silver-haired man as Zero.
• Shaymin challenged Giratina with an Energy Ball, but Giratina dodged and struck it, causing it to fall back into its Land Forme in the darkened Distortion World.
• Dawn ran forward and caught Shaymin, while Mu Xuan explained that Shaymin could maintain its Sky Forme only during the day.
• Xia You sent Deoxys away with Gengar and released Gardevoir in front of the others, making it appear that Gardevoir would face Giratina.

Xia You sent Gardevoir to battle Giratina while keeping Deoxys’s ownership secret from Mu Xuan and the silver-haired man. Gardevoir’s fierce opening assault held Giratina off, leaving Mu Xuan astonished as the fight continued.

• Xia You used Gardevoir to intercept Giratina when it charged at Shaymin, and Giratina chose to attack Gardevoir instead.
• Gardevoir met Giratina’s dark-energy blast with a powerful attack, creating an explosion that swept through the battlefield.
• Cheryl stopped Mu Xuan from interrupting Xia You, while Ash, Dawn, and the others watched the battle from a distance.
• Xia You directed Gardevoir to attack relentlessly, using Teleport and psychic powers to evade Giratina and briefly force it back.
• Mu Xuan watched in amazement as Xia You and Gardevoir fought Giratina to a standstill on its home turf.

Xia You and Gardevoir fought Giratina to a temporary stalemate, impressing Ash's group and alarming Zero. When Zero sent his Magnemite and Magneton to attack, an alien Pokémon descended beneath a sudden aurora and declared it had come under orders to defeat them.

• Xia You and Gardevoir exchanged attacks with Giratina, holding it off while the battle damaged the Distortion World and some floating bubbles.
• Xia You struggled to manage the battlefield as Gardevoir and Giratina fought, but he relished the challenge and recognized that Gardevoir could not maintain the pace indefinitely.
• Ash, Dawn, Brock, May, Cheryl, Mu Xuan, and Zero watched in shock as Gardevoir temporarily matched Giratina.
• Zero, fearing that Xia You might capture Giratina, sent Magnemite and Magneton to attack Gardevoir and flew his craft toward Ash's group.
• Xia You turned to defend against the Magnemite, and a brilliant aurora appeared as an alien-like Pokémon descended and announced, “Under orders to defeat!”

Xia You's Deoxys appeared in the Distortion World and overwhelmed the already-weakened Giratina in a fierce battle. Xia You rejoined Ash and the others, while Deoxys remained poised above Giratina and Brock wondered if they should retreat.

• Gengar secretly released Xia You's Deoxys, whose arrival drew everyone's attention and put Giratina on alert.
• Deoxys teleported beside Giratina and struck it with a powerful Energy Ball, sending it crashing into rubble.
• Deoxys fought Giratina head-on while switching between its Attack, Defense, and Speed Formes, gaining the upper hand against the exhausted Legendary Pokémon.
• Gardevoir escorted Xia You past the Magnemite and Magneton and safely brought him back to Ash and the others.
• Deoxys smashed Giratina into the ground again, and Brock recognized its Attack Forme and suggested that the group move farther away.

Zero captured Shaymin and used its power to open a rift from the Distortion World to the Real World. Xia You and the others emerged near a lake and a massive iceberg, while Zero escaped and Giratina and Deoxys remained hostile.

• Zero used the chaos of the battle to snatch the exhausted Shaymin and carry it away.
• Zero’s Magnemite shocked Shaymin, triggering a burst of energy that opened a rift to the Real World and drew everyone toward it.
• Xia You let Gardevoir take him into the rift, and Ash, the others, Giratina, and Deoxys were pulled through as well.
• Giratina changed from its Origin Forme to its Altered Forme upon arriving in the Real World, then faced Deoxys in the sky.
• Zero flew away with Magnezone as Xia You recognized the unfamiliar wilderness, lake, and iceberg as the place marked on the map.

Deoxys destroyed Zero’s spaceship, freeing Giratina, which fled with Deoxys in pursuit. As Xia You and the others followed, Mu Xuan revealed that Zero had once been his assistant and student, but turned against him after Mu Xuan abandoned a machine design that would have sacrificed Giratina.

• Deoxys dodged the spaceship’s barrage, pierced its hull, and sent it crashing toward the valley.
• Giratina broke free after the spaceship’s damage disrupted the beam restraining it, then fled as Deoxys pursued it.
• Xia You ordered Deoxys to destroy the spaceship’s wings before continuing after Giratina, and Ash and the others followed Xia You.
• Cheryl asked Mu Xuan who Zero was, and Mu Xuan explained that Zero had been his assistant and student.
• Mu Xuan told Ash and the others that Zero left after Mu Xuan deleted a machine design that would have copied Giratina’s abilities by sacrificing it.

Xia You’s Deoxys battled Giratina in the Real World and gained the upper hand, while their final clash shattered a distant iceberg. Just as Xia You prepared to have Deoxys finish Giratina, Regigigas appeared on a ridge.

• Xia You let Deoxys pursue Giratina and fight it beside the lake, where Deoxys’s experience helped it suppress the injured Pokémon of myth.
• Giratina used Shadow Force to counter Deoxys, but its attacks failed to turn the battle around, and Deoxys gained the upper hand.
• Deoxys and Giratina unleashed a final clash that sent shock waves across the area and split the distant iceberg, sending ice crashing into the lake.
• Xia You and the others were knocked down by the shock wave, then saw Giratina badly injured and retreating before Deoxys.
• An angry roar drew Ash and the others’ attention to Regigigas, which had appeared on a ridge across the lake.

Ash and the others encountered Regigigas, which had awakened when the battle between Deoxys and Giratina shattered an iceberg nearby. Xia You sent Deoxys to attack the newly emerged Legendary Pokémon, whose Slow Start Ability left it vulnerable at the beginning of the fight.

• Ash asked what the unfamiliar Pokémon was, and Mu Xuan identified it as Regigigas and explained its legend and abilities.
• Mu Xuan guessed that the battle had awakened Regigigas from its ancient hiding place near the battlefield.
• Xia You decided to use Regigigas as additional training for Deoxys and directed Deoxys to attack it.
• Deoxys launched an energy blast at Regigigas, which slowly raised an arm to defend itself.
• The narration explained that Regigigas's Slow Start halved its speed and attack power early in battle, leaving it exposed to Deoxys.

Xia You’s Deoxys battled Regigigas, first evading it while Slow Start wore off and then switching to Attack Forme for a direct fight. As the battle reached its climax, Deoxys launched a massive energy attack at Regigigas, which used Protect to brace for impact.

• Deoxys harried Regigigas while Slow Start made it sluggish, allowing Giratina to escape and Mu Xuan to leave in pursuit of it and Zero.
• Ash, Dawn, Brock, and Xia You stayed to watch as Regigigas gradually recovered from Slow Start and its movements grew faster.
• When Regigigas returned to full strength, Xia You had Deoxys switch to Attack Forme, and the two Pokémon exchanged powerful close-range attacks.
• Xia You decided to end the battle, and Deoxys gathered a huge ball of energy above Regigigas.
• Regigigas used Protect as Deoxys sent the enormous energy attack hurtling toward it.

Deoxys and Regigigas ended their fierce battle when Deoxys withdrew and Regigigas left the damaged ridge. Ash and the others realized the fighting was over and continued toward the fields of Gracidea with Shaymin.

• Deoxys's attack left Regigigas badly wounded, while Deoxys showed signs of exhaustion.
• Xia You stopped the fight and had Deoxys leave before anyone nearby could discover them.
• Regigigas watched Deoxys depart, then left without acknowledging Xia You's group.
• Ash and the others waited until the battle's disturbances ended, and Ash reflected on how weak he felt beside Legendary Pokémon.
• Xia You brushed off Ash's question about the battle, and the group set off for the fields of Gracidea with Shaymin.

Xia You and his companions reached a hidden Gracidea field, where Dawn reunited Shaymin with its kind. As the Shaymin flew away, Zero attacked and captured it, and Xia You urged Dawn to rescue it.

• Xia You and his companions followed Shaymin to a hidden lake surrounded by Gracidea flowers and discovered dozens of Shaymin.
• Dawn released Shaymin to join its companions, and the morning sunlight made the Gracidea bloom as the Shaymin changed into Sky Forme and took flight.
• One Shaymin returned to thank Xia You and the others before flying after its companions.
• Zero attacked Shaymin with an electric net, and Xia You revealed that he had anticipated Zero's return.
• Xia You nudged Dawn forward and told her she was the best person to rescue Shaymin from Zero.

Dawn fought Zero to reach Shaymin while Xia You stopped Ash from interfering, giving Dawn a chance to bond with it. Dawn rescued Shaymin from Zero, then realized Xia You had secretly helped her with psychic power.

• Zero's damaged aircraft crashed in the Flower Field, and he ordered Magnezone to attack Dawn as she ran toward Shaymin.
• Xia You stopped Ash from helping, and Brock explained that Dawn needed to face the battle herself.
• Dawn and Piplup fought Zero and Magnezone, trading attacks as their battle damaged the Gracidea flowers.
• Zero reached Shaymin first, but Dawn threw herself forward and carried it out of his grasp.
• Dawn realized Xia You had used psychic power to help her, and saw him smiling beside Gardevoir.

Dawn and her Pokémon stopped Zero from capturing Shaymin, and Xia You prepared to use the Petrification Gun on him. Mu Xuan arrived to take charge of Zero, while Xia You asked Shaymin if it wanted to travel with Dawn.

• Dawn protected Shaymin as Piplup defeated Zero and his Magnezone.
• Xia You confronted Zero with the Petrification Gun, and Zero insisted he had acted to protect the Distortion World.
• Ash recognized the gun, and Xia You told Zero it would petrify him for ten days or a fortnight.
• Mu Xuan returned and asked Xia You to let him handle Zero, so Xia You put the gun away.
• Dawn showed Xia You the rescued Shaymin, and Xia You asked whether it wanted to travel with her.

Dawn gained Shaymin’s agreement to travel with her, and the group rested after their Flower Field adventure before continuing toward Pastoria City. They entered the Great Marsh, where the difficult terrain slowed their journey.

• Shaymin agreed to become Dawn’s companion after Xia You encouraged it and helped mediate.
• The exhausted group ate by the lakeside and slept through the day, then stayed another night after waking at dusk.
• Ash battled Xia You’s Gardevoir with Pikachu, Buizel, and Staraptor, but all three Pokémon lost.
• Dawn wanted to thank Xia You privately for helping her become Shaymin’s companion, but could not find a chance to speak with him alone.
• After breakfast, the group set out west toward Pastoria City and entered the Great Marsh, where the wet, muddy terrain made travel difficult.

Cynthia landed in the wetland with her Togekiss and confronted Xia You, whom she had already recognized despite his attempts to hide his identity. As Cynthia hinted at his past actions, Dawn stepped in and asked why the Champion had come.

• Ash and his companions found an official road through the wetland and saw a rider on a Togekiss circle back to land before them.
• Cynthia introduced herself and said the Pokémon League had sent her to investigate something happening nearby.
• Cynthia recognized Xia You and asked Ash who he was; Ash identified him as the person he had mentioned before.
• Cynthia approached Xia You and made pointed remarks about being used as a shield, while Xia You acted as though he did not understand her hints.
• Dawn stepped between Cynthia and Xia You and asked what had brought Cynthia there in person.

Cynthia investigated the powerful battle near the Distortion World and heard Ash and Brock recount how Deoxys defeated Giratina and Regigigas. She suspected Xia You had released Deoxys, while Xia You stayed silent, leaving Dawn, May, Cheryl, and Brock to wonder what had happened between him and Cynthia.

• Dawn stepped in to defend Xia You when Cynthia confronted him, and Cynthia held back her anger because others were present.
• Cynthia explained that the Pokémon League had sent her to investigate tremors and unidentified energy nearby.
• Brock and Ash told Cynthia about Shaymin, the Distortion World, Deoxys's battles with Giratina and Regigigas, and Zero being handed over to Mu Xuan.
• Cynthia compared Deoxys to the Black Rayquaza from Alamos Town and suggested Deoxys had a Trainer who had concealed their presence.
• Cynthia pointedly implied that Xia You had released Deoxys, while Xia You avoided answering.
• Dawn, May, Cheryl, and Brock noticed the tension between Cynthia and Xia You, and Brock speculated that Xia You had hurt Cynthia romantically.

Cynthia joined Xia You and the others on their way to Pastoria City, while Xia You worried she was waiting for a chance to settle the score over his deception. At a marsh train station, the group learned about the Croagunk Festival, and Cynthia decided to stay for it despite Xia You's attempt to send her on her way.

• Cynthia trusted Ash's account and abandoned her plan to investigate the flower field, then traveled toward Pastoria City with Xia You and the others.
• Dawn asked May about the trouble between Xia You and Cynthia, and May revealed that Xia You had used Cynthia, leaving Dawn astonished.
• The group reached a small marsh station, where a traveler told them about the Croagunk Festival.
• Cynthia explained that the festival honored Croagunk and offered prizes, and Brock agreed to enter with his Croagunk.
• Xia You urged Cynthia to leave, but Cynthia said she wanted to see the festival and challenged his claim that her presence was inconvenient.

Xia You and his companions traveled through Swamp Wetland to attend the Croagunk Festival, where Brock prepared to compete among many Croagunk Trainers. At the festival grounds, they met Gym Leader Crasher Wake, who announced the valuable prize for this year’s event.

• Xia You, Cynthia, Ash, Brock, and their fellow passenger rode a modified train through the dangerous Swamp Wetland and saw many Croagunk.
• The group walked along a boardwalk to the Festival Grounds, where Xia You encouraged Brock to do well in the competition.
• Crasher Wake greeted Cynthia and explained that he was hosting the festival instead of staying at his Pastoria City Gym.
• Crasher Wake welcomed the group and announced that this year’s prize was a Croagunk Crown set with diamonds and pearls.

Xia You tried to evade Cynthia at the festival after she discovered he had framed her, but she tracked him to a school storage room. The chapter ended with Cynthia confronting him and promising to pay him back for what he had done.

• Xia You slipped away from the festival crowd to avoid Cynthia, but she noticed him and pursued him into an alley.
• Xia You hid on a rooftop with Gengar, and they discussed whether to confront Cynthia or keep evading her.
• Xia You chose to hide in a locked storage room at the village school, entering through a high window with Gengar's help.
• Cynthia found Xia You at the school and climbed into the storage room after him.
• Cynthia approached Xia You and said she would pay him back double for everything he had done to her.

Xia You and Cynthia's argument escalated into a physical struggle in the warehouse, where their close contact left both embarrassed and angry. The chapter ended with them standing apart as Cynthia reached for a Poké Ball.

• Cynthia grabbed Xia You and tried to throw him over her shoulder, but he countered and dragged her down with him.
• Cynthia pinned Xia You, but he broke free, rolled over, and pinned her to the floor while Gengar watched.
• As they struggled, Xia You and Cynthia realized how indecently close they were, and Cynthia demanded that he get off her.
• Cynthia agreed to let Xia You rise, then tried to strike him, but he dodged and accidentally grabbed her breast to stop his fall.
• Xia You scrambled up and accused Cynthia of bringing the mishap on herself as she reached for a Poké Ball.

Cynthia attacked Xia You in a warehouse with Garchomp, Lucario, and Roserade, while he defended himself with Gardevoir and Charizard. Xia You escaped with Gengar’s help and flew toward Ash and his companions, but Cynthia pursued him and confronted them after he left.

• Cynthia sent out Garchomp, Lucario, and Roserade, and Xia You answered with Gardevoir and Charizard as their Pokémon clashed inside the warehouse.
• Xia You summoned Gengar, which used Night Shade to blind Cynthia and her Pokémon while Xia You escaped on Charizard.
• Cynthia recalled her Pokémon, mounted Togekiss, and chased after Xia You.
• Xia You found Ash and his companions near the night market and told them he had to return to Sunyshore City.
• Cynthia caught up with Ash and his companions and asked what Xia You had said to them.

Xia You tricked Cynthia into chasing a false lead toward Sunyshore City, then returned and asked Cheryl to come with him. At the inn, Cheryl realized his intentions and followed him willingly, ending up on the bed as he pinned her down.

• Cynthia heard that Xia You had gone to Sunyshore City and pursued him, while May told Ash that something had likely happened between the two.
• Ash assumed Cynthia and Xia You were romantically involved, but May told him it was not what he thought and left the matter to Xia You.
• Xia You returned, admitted he had misled Cynthia, and told Ash to deny seeing him if she came back.
• Xia You asked May to stay with Ash and the others and took Cheryl with him to a local inn.
• Cheryl realized Xia You had booked a room with a double bed, followed him inside without resisting, and was tossed onto the bed.

After spending the night with Cheryl, Xia You took her to the Croagunk Festival, where he spotted Cynthia returning on Togekiss. Cheryl asked what had happened between them as Xia You realized his attempt to shake Cynthia off had only delayed her.

• Xia You comforted Cheryl and asked her to stay with him, and they bathed together before getting fresh bedding.
• Xia You and Cheryl went to the Croagunk Festival and watched the competition from the crowd.
• Xia You spotted Cynthia flying back on Togekiss and realized she had doubled back after failing to find him near Sunyshore City.
• Cheryl noticed Xia You's reaction and asked what had happened between him and Cynthia.

Xia You and Cynthia clashed again after she tracked him down, and they agreed to settle things in a serious one-on-one Pokémon battle outside the village. The chapter ended as Cynthia took out her Mega Stone-equipped lipstick, signaling she was ready to Mega Evolve Garchomp.

• Xia You led Cheryl away from the festival, but Cynthia intercepted them on a dim street and accused him of fooling her again.
• Cynthia noticed Cheryl linked arms with Xia You and realized they were romantically involved, then challenged him to a battle.
• Xia You sent out Charizard, and Cynthia released Garchomp before following him and Cheryl out of the village to the marsh.
• Cheryl offered to start the battle, but Cynthia ignored her and took out her lipstick with its glowing Mega Stone.

Cynthia Mega Evolved her Garchomp and challenged Xia You, while he chose not to Mega Evolve Charizard, hoping to let Cynthia vent her anger without worsening their relationship. After they exchanged opening attacks, Charizard and Mega Garchomp took to the air as their battle began in earnest.

• Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp as soon as it entered the field and declared she would fight Xia You with everything she had.
• Xia You decided not to Mega Evolve Charizard, and Charizard readied itself to face Mega Garchomp through sheer strength.
• Cynthia noticed Xia You’s calm reaction and asked whether he could Mega Evolve, but he avoided answering and sent Charizard to attack.
• Charizard opened with Flamethrower, and Mega Garchomp countered with Dragon Breath, with both Pokémon dodging the attacks.
• Mega Garchomp leaped into the air to clash with Charizard, beginning the real battle.