Recaps

Xia You and Fantina sent out Chimchar and Dusknoir for their battle, with Xia You recognizing that Fantina had brought out her ace. Chimchar kept Dusknoir at bay through Xia You’s precise commands before Fantina used Dusknoir’s hidden moves to win, leaving her exhausted and with no tricks saved for the final battle.

• Xia You pointed out that Fantina’s Dusknoir was unusually powerful, and Fantina admitted she had brought it out because his Pokémon were so strong.
• Xia You sent Chimchar into battle against Fantina’s Dusknoir.
• Chimchar used its smaller size and nimble movements to hold Dusknoir at a stalemate under Xia You’s commands.
• Fantina used Dusknoir’s previously hidden abilities and moves to find an opening and defeat Chimchar with a combo.
• Fantina felt mentally exhausted after the battle and realized Dusknoir had revealed all its trump cards before the final match.

After Chimchar lost to Fantina’s Dusknoir, Xia You sent out Frogadier for the next round of their Gym battle. Fantina and the spectators wondered what Frogadier could do, while Xia You remained confident that the advantage was his.

• Chimchar was knocked out, and Paris and Chloe praised its performance despite the loss.
• Xia You recalled Chimchar and told Fantina he accepted the strength gap, while Fantina argued that his tactics had nearly beaten her.
• Xia You sent out Frogadier as his next Pokémon, confident that his remaining team was stronger than Chimchar.
• Fantina asked where Xia You had gotten Frogadier, and he implied that he had caught it in another region.
• May identified Frogadier for Paris and Chloe as a Water-type Pokémon from the Kalos Region.
• Frogadier and Dusknoir took their positions as the next battle began.

Xia You’s Frogadier used its speed, doubles, and body foam to outmaneuver Fantina’s Dusknoir and land a heavy Water-type strike. Dusknoir remained standing, but Frogadier’s tricks had left Fantina without a clear way to turn the battle around.

• Fantina ordered Dusknoir to attack Frogadier immediately, while Xia You sent Frogadier to meet it head-on.
• Frogadier created doubles and darted around Dusknoir, striking from multiple directions with Water-type attacks.
• Fantina ordered Dusknoir to use an area attack, and Frogadier charged in as Dusknoir unleashed Night Shade.
• Frogadier blocked Dusknoir’s eye with its foam, then used Substitute to evade Night Shade.
• Dusknoir swung a Thunder Punch at Frogadier’s position, but Frogadier leaped over the attack and struck its head with a Water-powered fist.

Xia You defeated Fantina in a Gym battle and received the Relic Badge, bringing his collection to six. He left Hearthome with May, while Paris realized she had watched his Pokémon so intently that she had forgotten why she came.

• Frogadier wore down Fantina's Dusknoir and won the battle.
• Fantina congratulated Xia You, and Chloe tried to introduce herself before Xia You politely cut her off.
• Fantina awarded Xia You the Relic Badge, his sixth Badge, and asked which Gyms he planned to challenge next.
• Xia You said he would head to Canalave Gym and Snowpoint Gym, then left with May.
• Fantina and Chloe departed, while Paris realized she could only remember Xia You, Umbreon, and Frogadier from the battles.

After Xia You and May stayed overnight at a Pokémon Center, Cheryl tried to improve Cynthia’s opinion of Xia You while they waited for him in Celestic Town. Jie Zilan warned Cynthia not to become too entangled with him, though Cynthia insisted she knew where to draw the line.

• Xia You and May stayed overnight at a Pokémon Center after their battle, while Paris and Chloe independently designed outfits inspired by Xia You’s Umbreon.
• Cheryl toured the museum with Cynthia and shared stories about Xia You, hoping to soften Cynthia’s prejudice against him.
• Cynthia questioned how long Xia You would take to arrive, and Cheryl replied that he would come soon and offered to help with work.
• Jie Zilan appeared and sent Cheryl to organize the second-floor archive, then asked Cynthia what had happened between her and Xia You.
• Cynthia said she and Xia You had prejudices to settle through battle, and Jie Zilan warned her to stop getting entangled before she regretted it.

After Jie Zilan warned Cynthia about her growing involvement with Xia You, Cynthia dismissed her concern. While crossing Mt. Coronet on their way to Canalave City, Xia You and May found an ancient curse carved into a rock, which Gengar erased, though Xia You was left uneasy by its reference to “X.”

• Jie Zilan warned Cynthia that her involvement with Xia You could lead to danger, but Cynthia dismissed the warning and went after Cheryl.
• Xia You and May left Hearthome City for Canalave City, postponing their trip to Snowpoint because Cheryl had asked Xia You to avoid Celestic Town for now.
• A landslide blocked their route across Mt. Coronet, so Xia You and May detoured through a little-traveled forest.
• May found an ancient inscription cursing someone called X, and Xia You estimated that it was at least two thousand years old.
• Xia You ordered Gengar to erase the inscription, then continued on with May while wondering why its curse made him uneasy.

Xia You and May discovered Dialga resting beside a small lake on Mt. Coronet, and Xia You decided to catch it. After May encouraged him, he released Gardevoir, Charizard, and Gengar and challenged Dialga to a battle, leaving Dialga wary and facing them.

• Xia You and May spotted Dialga flying over the forest and followed it to a small lake on Mt. Coronet.
• They found Dialga resting by the water, and May asked whether Xia You was considering catching it.
• Xia You reasoned that catching Dialga could prevent further trouble involving the Mythical Pokémon and thwart Team Galactic's plans.
• May urged Xia You to catch Dialga, and he released Gardevoir, Charizard, and Gengar.
• Gengar and Charizard moved to block the lake's opposite sides as Xia You approached Dialga with May and challenged it to battle.

Xia You confronted Dialga and pursued it after declaring that he intended to catch it. Charizard Mega Evolved into Mega Charizard Y, and the two Pokémon began a high-altitude battle under its Drought Ability.

• Dialga recognized Xia You and tried to flee when he said he had come to catch it.
• Charizard chased Dialga into the sky and kept it from escaping.
• Xia You used his Key Stone bracelet and Charizard's Evolution Stone to Mega Evolve it into Mega Charizard Y.
• Mega Charizard Y and Dialga began exchanging long-range attacks as its Drought Ability intensified the sunlight and strengthened its Fire-type moves.

Xia You directed Mega Charizard Y in a fierce battle against Dialga, studying its strengths and weaknesses before ordering Charizard to press its advantage. As Dialga began gathering the power of time, Xia You anticipated its move and sent Charizard to attack before it could act.

• Mega Charizard Y and Dialga clashed with powerful attacks, forcing Xia You and May to retreat while Gardevoir and Gengar protected them.
• Xia You observed that Charizard's attacks were stronger, while Dialga's limited battle experience left it struggling to keep pace.
• After assessing Dialga and considering the risks of attracting attention or facing its time powers, Xia You ordered Charizard to intensify its assault.
• Dialga tried to withdraw and gathered the power of time, but Xia You recognized the danger and had Mega Charizard attack immediately.

Xia You and Mega Charizard fought Dialga, interrupting its first attempt to use Roar of Time before narrowly dodging the attack when Dialga completed it anyway. After Dialga was left unable to move, Charizard struck it down, and Xia You threw a Great Ball at it.

• Mega Charizard engulfed Dialga in flames as it gathered power, interrupting its first attempt to use Roar of Time.
• Dialga completed Roar of Time from within the flames and fired at Charizard, but Charizard folded its wings and narrowly evaded the beam.
• Xia You explained to May that Dialga needed a large Orb to change into its Origin Forme, unlike Giratina.
• With Dialga unable to move after using Roar of Time, Charizard hit it with Flare Blitz and sent it crashing into the forest.
• Xia You ran to the fallen Dialga and threw a Great Ball at it.

Xia You and Mega Charizard Y wore Dialga down through a long battle, and Xia You finally caught the God of Time with his fourth Great Ball. He picked up the ball and prepared to leave with May and their Pokémon.

• Dialga broke free from Xia You’s first Great Ball, so Xia You ordered Mega Charizard Y to keep attacking.
• Dialga tried to escape through the lake, but Charizard intercepted it and drove it back toward the forest.
• Xia You’s second capture attempt failed, but he noticed Dialga took longer to break free as its strength faded.
• Xia You threw a fourth Great Ball, and Dialga remained inside as the ball clicked shut.
• May celebrated Xia You’s capture, and Xia You picked up Dialga’s ball while Charizard ended its Mega Evolution.

After catching Dialga, Xia You and May returned to Mt. Coronet’s main path and tricked an eager Trainer into searching the forest for a Pokémon that was no longer there. They reached a small mountain settlement by nightfall and learned that a Pokémon Summer Lecture would soon take place nearby, though they had no plans to attend.

• Xia You and May left the battle site and returned to the path halfway up Mt. Coronet.
• A Trainer stopped Xia You and May to ask about the battle and the Pokémon he had seen in the sky.
• May and Xia You pretended they knew nothing, and the Trainer hurried into the forest to investigate.
• Xia You and May continued deeper into Mt. Coronet and reached a small settlement by nightfall.
• The guesthouse proprietress told Xia You and May that a Pokémon Summer Lecture would soon be held nearby, but they said they were only passing through.

Xia You crossed Mt. Coronet with May and met Shelly and Courtney, who were investigating Team Galactic. He revealed that he had captured Dialga, telling them Team Galactic’s plans had become harder to achieve.

• Xia You and May crossed the ridge of Mt. Coronet and found Shelly and Courtney’s disguised campsite.
• Shelly and Courtney greeted Xia You warmly while May felt wary and was largely overlooked.
• Xia You sent May to play nearby and discussed Team Galactic’s investigation with Shelly and Courtney.
• Shelly and Courtney reported that they had found a platform among the summit ruins but had uncovered little else.
• Xia You showed Shelly and Courtney the Great Ball containing Dialga and said he held one corner of the triangle.

Xia You kept Dialga’s capture secret and released the God of Time in a secluded clearing to begin building a bond with it. Shelly and Courtney saw Dialga for the first time as Xia You greeted it.

• Shelly warned Xia You to keep Dialga’s capture secret because public attention could bring trouble, and Xia You said he would conceal his identity when using it.
• Xia You said Dialga would remain in Sinnoh unless he needed its power for a major battle or a problem involving time.
• Shelly cooked lunch while Courtney clung to Xia You and May quietly trained with her Pokémon nearby.
• After lunch, Xia You released Dialga from its Great Ball in a nearby clearing while Shelly and Courtney watched.
• Dialga did not attack or flee, having accepted that Xia You had caught it, and Xia You invited it to get to know him properly.

Xia You briefly released Dialga on Mt. Coronet, but recalled it when a nearby Trainer spotted it. Back at camp, Xia You, Shelly, and Courtney went into their tent together while May stayed outside to guard the camp and train her Pokémon.

• A Trainer saw Dialga floating over Mt. Coronet, then lost sight of it after falling in the snow.
• Xia You recalled Dialga to avoid discovery, though their brief interaction convinced Dialga that it had been captured and would not escape.
• After returning to camp, Xia You noticed Courtney and Shelly's desire for him, while May focused on training her Pokémon and pretended not to notice.
• Shelly and Courtney both followed Xia You into their luxurious tent, where Courtney embraced him and Shelly kissed him.
• May remained outside to guard the camp and blushed as she heard the three inside the tent.

Xia You and May spent the night at the campsite before leaving Shelly and Courtney to recover and descending Mt. Coronet. On the way, May’s Eevee unexpectedly evolved into Glaceon, and Xia You and May continued toward Canalave City via Oreburgh City and Jubilife City.

• Xia You apologized to May for neglecting her, and Shelly emerged from the tent to make dinner while Courtney remained inside resting.
• The next morning, Xia You and May said goodbye to Shelly and Courtney and set off down the mountain.
• May revealed that her Eevee had evolved into Glaceon after stepping on a natural Ice Stone beneath the snow.
• Xia You saw May’s new Glaceon and reflected that its evolution matched what had happened in the anime.
• Xia You and May traveled for more than a day, left Mt. Coronet, and continued toward Canalave City through Oreburgh City and Jubilife City.

Xia You and May arrived in Canalave City, explored its enormous library and lively night market, and planned to challenge the Steel-type Gym the next morning. May was frustrated that everyone mistook her for Xia You’s little sister, while the chapter introduced Gym Leader Byron, Roark’s father.

• Xia You and May crossed the bridge to Canalave City and checked into the Pokémon Center before postponing their Gym challenge until morning.
• Xia You and May visited the vast Canalave library, looked around briefly, and left to explore other parts of the city.
• Xia You and May enjoyed the night market and other attractions, but May grew annoyed when passersby called her Xia You’s little sister.
• The chapter established that Canalave Gym was a Steel-type Gym on the city’s outskirts, led by Byron, Roark’s father.

Xia You and May reached the Canalave Gym and found Byron there, ready to accept Xia You’s challenge. Byron sent out Bronzor first, leaving Xia You to consider which Pokémon to use against the unfamiliar Steel- and Psychic-type opponent.

• Xia You and May entered the Canalave Gym and asked its staff member whether Byron was there.
• The staff member led them to the Battle Field and returned with Byron, who had recently come back to the Gym.
• Byron sensed Xia You’s unusual presence, and Xia You introduced himself and challenged him.
• The referee announced the standard Gym battle rules, and Byron sent out Bronzor.
• Xia You studied Bronzor and considered how to battle the mysterious Pokémon.

Xia You faced Byron in a Canalave Gym battle, sending Chimchar against Bronzor and discovering that its Heatproof Ability reduced the danger of Fire-type attacks. Chimchar dodged Bronzor’s Hypnosis and slipped into Byron’s side of the rocky field, where Byron tried to intercept it from above.

• Xia You chose Chimchar to test Byron’s strength, and the referee began the Gym challenge with Bronzor facing Chimchar.
• Chimchar opened with Ember, but Bronzor charged through the flames, revealing its Heatproof Ability after Xia You identified it.
• Bronzor attacked with Hypnosis, and Xia You ordered Chimchar to hide behind a large rock.
• Bronzor repeatedly tried to corner Chimchar among the rocks, but Chimchar slipped through a gap and reached Byron’s side of the field.
• Byron sent Bronzor higher to intercept Chimchar, but Chimchar fired another Ember that engulfed it.

Xia You saw through Byron’s attempt to discourage Fire-type attacks, and Chimchar defeated Bronzor after a hard-fought battle. Byron then sent out Steelix, and Xia You chose Lucario to face it.

• Xia You explained that he had recognized Byron’s attempt to use Bronzor’s Heatproof Ability to make him avoid Fire-type moves.
• Byron switched Bronzor from Hypnosis to Confusion, but Chimchar landed an Ember from behind and won the battle.
• The referee declared Bronzor unable to battle, and Byron recalled it and sent out Steelix.
• Xia You considered his options and sent out Lucario, hoping its Fighting-type advantage would offset Steelix’s enormous size.

Xia You and Lucario battled Byron’s Steelix, using Lucario’s agility and Aura to exploit Steelix’s slow turning and lower his Defense. Byron sent Steelix underground, and Xia You directed Lucario toward the tallest rock as he judged where Steelix would emerge.

• Steelix charged at Lucario, but Lucario dodged and struck him with Rock Smash, lowering his Defense.
• Lucario dodged Steelix’s tail and landed another Rock Smash while Byron struggled to hit him.
• Byron realized Lucario was anticipating attacks with Aura and ordered Steelix to burrow underground.
• Xia You assessed Steelix’s likely emergence point and told Lucario to climb onto the tallest rock.

Lucario used the trembling rubble to predict Steelix’s underground movements, dodged its attacks, and defeated it to give Xia You a 2–0 lead over Byron. Byron sent out Bastiodon for the final battle, and the chapter ended as Lucario launched an Aura Sphere at Bastiodon’s Protect barrier.

• Lucario watched vibrations in the scattered stones to locate Steelix underground, dodged its charges, and counterattacked.
• Byron brought Steelix aboveground for a final attempt, but Lucario defeated it and secured match point for Xia You.
• Byron sent out Bastiodon, while Xia You kept Lucario in the battle despite its injuries.
• At the start of the final round, Xia You ordered Lucario to use Aura Sphere, and Byron ordered Bastiodon to use Protect.
• Lucario launched Aura Sphere as Bastiodon formed a spherical barrier.

Xia You’s Lucario defeated Byron’s Bastiodon in the Gym Challenge by countering its Metal Burst with Counter. Byron awarded Xia You the Mine Badge, and the chapter ended with Xia You examining it.

• Lucario used Force Palm to derail Bastiodon’s Take Down, then pursued it and struck it with Rock Smash.
• Byron had Bastiodon use Metal Burst, sending Lucario flying, but Lucario recovered and stood back up.
• Xia You ordered Lucario to use Counter, which smashed through Bastiodon’s Protect and knocked it out of bounds.
• The referee declared Lucario the winner, and Byron checked Bastiodon before recalling it.
• Byron gave Xia You the Mine Badge, and Xia You inspected its ore-like design and silver pickaxes.

After earning his seventh Badge, Xia You learned that Darkrai and Cresselia would soon appear near Canalave City and set off with May for Fullmoon Island to seek out Cresselia. Meanwhile, Courtney and Shelly encountered Cynthia in Celestic Town, where Courtney confronted her after hearing her insult Xia You.

• Xia You received the Mine Badge from Byron and returned with May to the Pokémon Center, where they heard locals discuss Darkrai's annual appearance and Cresselia's arrival.
• Xia You marked Cresselia's altar on a map and decided to travel with May to Fullmoon Island in hopes of seeing Cresselia.
• Shelly and Courtney reached Celestic Town while traveling to meet Looker, and they spotted Cynthia walking with Cheryl.
• Cynthia called Xia You a coward for failing to show up, angering Courtney and Shelly.
• Courtney blocked Cynthia's path and demanded to know what she had said, while Shelly hurried over behind her.
• Cynthia asked Cheryl who Courtney was, but Cheryl did not know.

Cynthia confronted Courtney and Shelly after Courtney defended Xia You, and the argument escalated into a Pokémon battle. The chapter ended with their Pokémon facing off as onlookers gathered around them.

• Cynthia realized Cheryl did not know Courtney or Shelly and turned her attention to Courtney.
• Courtney warned Cynthia not to bad-mouth Xia You, and Cynthia’s presence erupted as the two women faced off.
• Shelly joined Courtney, traded insults with Cynthia, and challenged her to show what she could do.
• Courtney sent out Ninetales, Shelly sent out Walrein, and Cynthia summoned Garchomp and Lucario.
• Pedestrians cleared space around the four Pokémon as they sized one another up for battle.