Recaps

Xia You’s Charizard battled Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp in the night sky, where limited visibility made the fight difficult for both trainers to direct. Xia You identified Mega Garchomp’s reduced speed and had Charizard exploit it, leaving Garchomp unable to keep up with its attacks.

• Charizard and Mega Garchomp collided in the air, trading blows as Xia You and Cynthia struggled to see and guide them from the ground.
• Cynthia regained a chance to command Garchomp when the Pokémon descended, and ordered it to use Dragon Claw against Charizard’s Slash.
• Cynthia’s attacks failed to gain the advantage, while Xia You observed that Mega Garchomp had become slower after Mega Evolution.
• Xia You ordered Charizard to use Heat Wave, then circle around and press its attack as Mega Garchomp dodged.
• Mega Garchomp tried to turn and counterattack, but Charizard stayed just ahead of it, keeping its responses half a step behind.

Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp and Xia You’s Charizard remained evenly matched, but Xia You’s commands gradually put pressure on Cynthia. Cynthia used Draco Meteor in a move that also threatened Xia You, and he chose to stay put rather than reveal whether he had seen through her scheme, leaving their contest of wits unresolved.

• Cynthia’s competitive spirit surged, and Mega Garchomp’s power rose as it clashed with Charizard in the air.
• Xia You began directing Charizard, and its counters made the battle increasingly difficult for Cynthia and Garchomp.
• Cynthia ordered Garchomp to use Draco Meteor, whose landing zone included Xia You but not Cynthia.
• Cynthia smiled when she realized Xia You was considering whether she had deliberately put him in danger.
• Xia You decided to turn the apparent trap back on Cynthia, checked that Cheryl was outside the attack’s range, and calmly ordered Charizard to dodge.
• Cynthia watched Xia You with a smile, waiting to see how he would respond to Draco Meteor.

Cynthia used Draco Meteor to force Xia You to dodge, but he stayed put and made her choose whether to save him. She rushed in and pulled him clear of the impact, leaving them tangled together on the grass as Cheryl arrived.

• Cynthia watched Xia You ignore the falling meteors while Charizard kept attacking Mega Garchomp.
• Cynthia realized Xia You was forcing her to decide whether to let Draco Meteor hit him, and she ran to save him.
• Cynthia pulled Xia You away moments before the meteors struck, and Xia You shielded himself from the blast with her.
• Cheryl approached after seeing Xia You escape and found him and Cynthia entwined on the grass.
• Cynthia climbed off Xia You, who insisted he had not done anything this time.

Cynthia demanded a proper six-on-six battle with Xia You and decided to take Cheryl with her to Celestic Town to ensure he would come find her. Cheryl volunteered to go, and Xia You agreed after she reassured him, leaving Cynthia to take her away safely.

• Cynthia stopped Cheryl from approaching Xia You and challenged him to a serious six-on-six battle, saying their fight was not over.
• Cynthia revealed that she was returning to Celestic Town and said she would take Cheryl with her so Xia You would come find her.
• Cheryl volunteered to accompany Cynthia, explaining that she wanted to help ease the misunderstanding between Cynthia and Xia You.
• Xia You agreed to let Cheryl go with Cynthia after Cheryl reassured him, and he warned Cynthia to keep her safe.
• Cynthia promised to protect Cheryl and told Xia You not to blame her if he failed to come for her.

After Cynthia took Cheryl to Celestic Town, Xia You rejoined Ash and the others and traveled with them to Pastoria City. There, he met Gym Leader Crasher Wake as he and Ash prepared to challenge the Pastoria Gym.

• Cynthia left with Cheryl, and Xia You returned to the village as Trainers hurried to investigate his battle.
• Xia You watched the Croagunk Festival celebration and told Ash and the others that Cheryl had left with Cynthia for Celestic Town.
• The group spent the night in the village and took a train to Pastoria City the next morning.
• Ash and the others went to the Pastoria Gym, where Crasher Wake greeted Xia You and praised his presence before calling Ash an interesting kid.

Ash began his Pastoria Gym battle against Crasher Wake, winning the first round with Pikachu before Crasher Wake’s Quagsire put Turtwig on the back foot. The match continued with Ash forced to recall Turtwig, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Crasher Wake led Ash and the others to the Battle Field, where the referee explained the three-Pokémon rules.
• Crasher Wake opened with Gyarados, and Ash sent out Pikachu.
• Pikachu withstood Gyarados’s attacks and defeated it with Volt Tackle after Gyarados’s Crunch attempt.
• Crasher Wake sent out Quagsire, and Ash recalled Pikachu and chose Turtwig.
• Turtwig used its speed to evade Quagsire, but Quagsire tracked it underwater and struck it with Ice Beam and Sludge Bomb.
• Ash recalled Turtwig before Sludge Bomb hit, leaving the second round unresolved.

Ash defeated Crasher Wake in a Gym battle, overcoming Wake’s final Floatzel with Buizel and Pikachu. Xia You then entered the battle area to challenge Crasher Wake next.

• Ash sent out Buizel, which defeated Crasher Wake’s Quagsire with an Aqua Jet that froze on impact and struck it down.
• Crasher Wake sent out Floatzel, Buizel’s evolved form, and Buizel charged into battle but was driven back and confused.
• Ash withdrew Buizel, used Pikachu to wear Floatzel down, then sent Buizel back in to defeat it.
• Xia You left the stands, high-fived Ash, and entered the battle area to challenge Crasher Wake.
• Crasher Wake said he had other Pokémon ready, and the referee started the next match.

Xia You’s Frogadier battled Crasher Wake’s Sharpedo in the Gym’s pool, forcing the hidden Pokémon to surface and knocking it onto a floating platform. Sharpedo tried to return to the water, while Xia You prepared to press its advantage.

• Crasher Wake sent out Sharpedo, and Xia You chose Frogadier to face it.
• Sharpedo submerged and hid beneath the pool’s surface, so Xia You ordered Frogadier to use Water Pulse to churn the water.
• Sharpedo burst out of the pool with Bite, but Frogadier leaped over its attack.
• Xia You commanded Frogadier to use Knock Off, striking Sharpedo onto a floating platform.
• Crasher Wake called for Sharpedo to get back into the water, while Ash admired Frogadier and decided to catch one in Kalos.

Xia You's Frogadier battled Crasher Wake's Sharpedo, dodging its attacks and wearing it down before the two fought underwater. Frogadier surfaced victorious, leaving Sharpedo floating belly-up and motionless.

• Frogadier attacked Sharpedo on the floating platform, but Crasher Wake ordered Aqua Jet, letting Sharpedo escape into the water.
• Crasher Wake had Sharpedo use Agility and charge Frogadier with Crunch, while Xia You anticipated the strategy and let Frogadier appear to flee.
• Frogadier used Quick Attack to dodge Crunch, then struck Sharpedo with Smack Down and sent it into the pool.
• Xia You sent Frogadier underwater after Sharpedo, and the two battled out of sight.
• Frogadier emerged onto a floating platform, while Sharpedo floated belly-up and motionless, confirming Frogadier's victory.

Xia You’s Frogadier defeated Crasher Wake’s Sharpedo and Toxicroak, though it was poisoned and badly wounded in the second fight. Xia You and Crasher Wake sent out Snowman Snorlax and Empoleon for the final battle.

• Frogadier defeated Sharpedo with quick reflexes, and Xia You and Crasher Wake praised each other’s Pokémon.
• Crasher Wake sent out Toxicroak, and Xia You kept Frogadier in the battle for a frog-versus-frog match.
• Frogadier used its speed, Double Team, Substitute, and the arena walls to attack Toxicroak from multiple directions.
• Frogadier defeated Toxicroak but was poisoned and left nearly unable to continue fighting.
• Xia You recalled Frogadier and prepared for the final battle as he and Crasher Wake sent out Snowman Snorlax and Empoleon.

Xia You’s Snowman Snorlax faced Crasher Wake’s Empoleon in a Gym battle, revealing an unusual ability as it raced across the water. The chapter ended with Brock speculating that the Pokémon’s snowman form naturally radiated cold air, letting it create ice beneath its feet.

• Crasher Wake admired Snowman Snorlax and asked Xia You what type it was, but Xia You kept its abilities secret.
• Crasher Wake started the battle by ordering Empoleon to use Hydro Pump.
• Xia You had Snowman Snorlax dodge the attack and sprint across the water toward Empoleon.
• The spectators noticed that Snowman Snorlax formed tiny ice footholds beneath its feet as it ran.
• Ash marveled at Snowman Snorlax’s precision, and Brock guessed that its body naturally radiated cold air.

Xia You’s Snowman Snorlax overwhelmed Crasher Wake’s Empoleon with its speed and Ice Punches, forcing Empoleon underwater. When Empoleon used Whirlpool to pull Snowman Snorlax into the pool, it froze the platform and vortex into a vast ice flower, leaving both Pokémon’s next moves uncertain.

• Snowman Snorlax rushed Empoleon and drove it back with rapid Ice Punches.
• Crasher Wake ordered Empoleon to dive underwater to escape the assault.
• Crasher Wake had Empoleon use Whirlpool to destabilize Snowman Snorlax’s platform and draw it into the water.
• Xia You ordered Snowman Snorlax to use Sheer Cold, freezing the platform, whirlpool, and surrounding water into an enormous ice flower.
• May and the others admired the ice formation while Ash shivered from the cold.

Xia You defeated Crasher Wake in the Pastoria Gym battle and earned his fifth Badge. After lunch, Xia You and May said goodbye to Ash and Dawn, despite sharing Hearthome City as their next destination.

• Xia You had Snowman Snorlax freeze the pool, forcing Empoleon out of the water and onto the ice.
• Snowman Snorlax rushed across the ice and knocked Empoleon into the pool wall, then defeated it with another punch.
• The referee declared Xia You the winner, and Crasher Wake gave Xia You and Ash their Fen Badges.
• Xia You, Ash, Brock, May, and Dawn ate lunch at the Gym after the battle.
• Xia You told Ash and Dawn that he and May would leave ahead of them, then said goodbye.

Xia You and May left Dawn behind and flew toward the next Gym, while Cynthia brought Cheryl to her grandmother’s institute in Celestic Town. Cheryl secretly delayed Xia You’s arrival so she could try to improve his relationship with Cynthia before he came to rescue her.

• Dawn said goodbye to Xia You, who flew away with May on Charizard.
• Cynthia returned to Celestic Town with Cheryl and took her to stay at Professor Carolina’s institute.
• Cheryl told Cynthia that Xia You had finished challenging the Pastoria Gym and would take a few days to arrive.
• After Cynthia left, Cheryl checked her conversation with Xia You and revealed that she had asked him not to come yet.
• Cheryl planned to use the extra time to guide Xia You and Cynthia toward a better relationship.

After Cheryl asked Xia You to wait a few days before visiting her, Xia You and May set off toward Hearthome City to challenge a Gym. While they stopped for lunch in a forest, they unexpectedly encountered Gary, who was surprised to find Xia You eating instant noodles.

• Xia You told May that Cheryl wanted him to wait a few days, so he changed course and decided to focus on his next Gym battle.
• Xia You and May chose not to wait for Ash and his group and walked together toward Hearthome City.
• Xia You and May cooked a simple lunch beside a stream after entering a forest.
• Gary unexpectedly appeared and teased Xia You about eating instant noodles despite winning Conferences in three regions.
• Xia You introduced May to Gary and explained that she had traveled with Ash before becoming his traveling companion.

Xia You and May encountered Gary, who had left Pokémon battles to pursue research, before continuing toward Hearthome City. Meanwhile, Cynthia questioned Cheryl about her relationship with Xia You, and Cheryl warned that she had little influence over him.

• Xia You and May met Gary, who said he was researching archaeology in Sinnoh and had already seen his friend in Pastoria City.
• Gary praised Xia You's tournament record and said he would watch him compete, then declined Xia You's offer to share lunch and left.
• Xia You told May that Gary's talent made his choice to pursue research feel like a shame, and they resumed their journey toward Hearthome City.
• Cynthia questioned Cheryl about how she had met Xia You while they ate lunch in the Celestic Town history museum.
• Cheryl told Cynthia that she had only recently become Xia You's woman and carried little weight compared with his other women.

Cynthia learned that Cheryl was involved with Xia You despite his other relationships, and decided to hear Cheryl's story before trying to change her mind. Meanwhile, Xia You and May reached Hearthome City, but found Fantina away from her Gym, so Xia You set out to bring her back for his sixth badge battle.

• Cynthia confronted Cheryl after learning Xia You had other women, and Cheryl admitted she could not refuse him.
• Cynthia decided to listen to Cheryl recount her moments with Xia You before trying to dissuade her.
• After spending a rainy night camping, Xia You and May traveled north and arrived in Hearthome City.
• Xia You and May visited the Hearthome Gym, where a staff member told them Fantina was away and could not battle.
• Xia You told May they would find Fantina and bring her back so he could challenge her for the Relic Badge.

Xia You and May learned that Hearthome City was preparing for a fashion show and visited its venue, where they found Fantina helping organize the event. Xia You challenged Fantina to a Gym battle, and she agreed after finishing a few tasks.

• Xia You and May learned about the upcoming Hearthome Fashion Show and went to see its venue.
• Xia You spotted Fantina at the venue speaking with a red-haired woman and brought May over to meet her.
• Xia You told Fantina that he had come to challenge her at Hearthome Gym.
• Fantina agreed to the challenge but asked Xia You to wait while she finished taking care of things.

Xia You and May waited for Fantina and learned that Paris was a respected fashion-show judge. Chloe arrived, announced she would enter as a fashion model, and tried to embarrass Paris by implying she was dating Xia You; Fantina returned and asked what had happened.

• Xia You told May that Fantina was one of Sinnoh's stronger Gym Leaders and that he looked forward to their battle.
• Paris introduced herself as a Pokémon stylist, fashion model, and judge for the Hearthome Fashion Show, and explained that Fantina was checking the Contest Hall's security before leaving that night.
• Chloe arrived and told Paris she planned to make her debut as a fashion model and surpass Paris's achievements.
• Chloe insinuated that Xia You was Paris's boyfriend, while her companions laughed at them.
• Fantina returned from the Contest Hall, noticed the tension, and asked whether something had happened.

Chloe confronted Paris at the fashion show venue, but left after Fantina appeared. Fantina then took Xia You to a park battlefield for their Gym battle, where they agreed to the rules before the match began.

• Chloe announced to Paris that she would enter the competition, then left when Fantina arrived.
• Paris explained that she and Chloe were childhood friends and rivals, then asked to watch Xia You battle Fantina.
• Fantina led Xia You and the others to an outdoor battlefield in a nearby park instead of returning to the Gym.
• Fantina explained the Gym battle rules, and Xia You and Fantina took their places as visitors gathered nearby.

Xia You challenged Fantina to a Gym battle, sending out Umbreon against her Gengar and repeatedly countering its attacks. As Fantina’s competitive spirit rose, she prepared to reveal Gengar’s true strength.

• Fantina sent out her Gengar, while Xia You stopped his own Gengar from joining the battle and chose Umbreon instead.
• Fantina started the match as May and Paris watched, with Paris hoping the battle might inspire her clothing designs.
• Xia You’s Umbreon gained the advantage by dodging Gengar’s attacks, which he anticipated because he knew Gengar’s fighting style so well.
• Fantina struggled to land a meaningful hit and wondered whether Xia You had trained with his own Gengar as a sparring partner.
• Fantina’s competitive spirit awakened, and she resolved to show Xia You her Gengar’s true strength.

Xia You defeated Fantina’s Gengar with Umbreon while Chloe and her companions arrived to watch the ongoing Gym battle. Fantina prepared to send out her next Pokémon as the onlookers gathered, and Chloe watched Xia You with curiosity.

• Fantina’s Gengar pressured Umbreon with Hypnosis, Night Shade, and Shadow Ball, but Xia You directed Umbreon to defeat it.
• Fantina praised Xia You’s battle skill and wondered about his experience, but he gave her little explanation.
• Chloe arrived with her companions, recognized Paris, and teased her by implying Xia You was her boyfriend and Fantina might be going easy on him.
• Paris warned Chloe not to say anything that might upset Fantina, while Chloe challenged Xia You’s ability and turned to watch the battle.
• Xia You glanced at Chloe and returned his attention to the battle, accustomed to spectators watching him compete.

Xia You kept Umbreon in the battle against Fantina’s Mismagius, which attacked from the air with Magical Leaf. After Umbreon endured several volleys, Xia You used the damaged ground and a cloud of dust to help Umbreon launch a surprise aerial counterattack.

• Fantina sent out Mismagius as her second Pokémon, and Xia You chose to keep Umbreon in the battle.
• Mismagius took to the air and attacked Umbreon with Magical Leaf, while May explained to Paris why Fantina avoided Ghost- and Psychic-type moves.
• Chloe rebuked Paris for calling Xia You’s Dark-type choice unfair, and May reflected on their differing attitudes toward battles.
• Xia You had Umbreon lure Mismagius into attacking one spot until the hard-packed earth cracked.
• Umbreon used Sand Attack to conceal itself, then leapt off flying clods of earth with Quick Attack and charged at Mismagius.

Xia You’s Umbreon used its speed and Bite to get Mismagius into close combat, but Fantina countered with Pain Split to equalize their stamina. Umbreon ultimately knocked Mismagius out just after Pain Split ended, though it was too exhausted to continue battling.

• Umbreon used Quick Attack to rush through the dust and bite Mismagius, exploiting its Dark-type advantage.
• Fantina ordered Mismagius to use Pain Split at point-blank range, equalizing its stamina with Umbreon’s.
• Xia You had Umbreon seize Mismagius and strike it with a close-range Dark Pulse despite the stamina drain.
• Umbreon dragged Mismagius to the ground and kept attacking until Pain Split expired.
• Umbreon knocked Mismagius out, but it was left panting and unable to battle further.

Xia You's Umbreon defeated Fantina's second Pokémon before Chimchar faced her ace, Dusknoir. Fantina sent out Dusknoir, raising the stakes as the battle continued.

• Xia You recalled Umbreon after it narrowly avoided a mutual knockout with Mismagius, and Paris and Chloe realized how skilled he was.
• Chloe teased Paris about Xia You and declared she would pursue him, while May dismissed her claim.
• Fantina acknowledged that Xia You had outplayed her and chose to send out her ace Pokémon.
• Xia You sent out Chimchar, surprising Fantina with its unevolved form.
• Fantina released Dusknoir, whose powerful aura made Xia You anticipate a more challenging battle.