Recaps

Cynthia and Caitlin accepted an invitation to battle in the Unova Junior Cup exhibition match, then Xia You and his companions reached Driftveil City and found its Gym closed. They went to Driftveil Market instead, where Makomo hoped to learn more about Team Plasma.

• Director Ishihara invited Cynthia and Caitlin to fight in a public exhibition match for the Junior Cup in Lacunosa Town, and they accepted.
• Xia You and his companions arrived in Driftveil City and went to challenge Clay, but found the Gym locked with no notice explaining his absence.
• Dawn suggested visiting Driftveil Market, and Makomo agreed, hoping they might find information about Team Plasma.
• Xia You and the others explored the busy Driftveil Market, browsing its stalls and shops filled with local goods, collectibles, and Pokémon items.

Xia You and his companions browsed Driftveil City's market, where they witnessed the clumsy local hero Agile☆Warrior stop a robbery. At lunch, they recognized the hero out of costume as a biker traveling with a woman and his Accelgor.

• Xia You kept the group together as they explored the market, while Cheryl, Makomo, and Dawn browsed different stalls.
• Two masked robbers fled through the market with boxes, and Dawn tried to stop them before Agile☆Warrior made a dramatic but clumsy entrance.
• Agile☆Warrior recovered from crashing into a flower basket, then pursued the fleeing robbers in separate directions with his Pokémon.
• A flower shop owner and other locals showed their affection for Agile☆Warrior, and Xia You's group continued shopping and ate lunch on Food Street.
• Xia You and his companions spotted the same Accelgor from the robbery with a biker, who recognized them and awkwardly greeted them as a woman walked ahead.

Xia You failed to find Driftveil Gym’s elusive Gym Leader, then searched the harbor for Team Plasma’s frigate and confirmed its location. After Gengar discovered the ship held more than twenty Team Plasma members, Xia You decided to wait for Shelly and Courtney before trying to take it.

• Xia You and his companions found Driftveil Gym still closed and postponed their challenge.
• Xia You sent Cheryl and Makomo to train Dawn and some of his Pokémon while he went to investigate the harbor.
• Xia You questioned fishermen, who directed him to a secluded pier where a strange sailing ship had been docked for several days.
• Xia You sent Gengar to scout the ship, and Gengar confirmed it belonged to Team Plasma and carried many crew members, instruments, and weapons.
• Xia You chose not to attack yet and planned to act with Shelly and Courtney, who could operate the frigate and its flight equipment.

Xia You sent Shelly and Courtney to steal Team Plasma’s destroyer in Driftveil City while keeping himself clear of the operation. On their way to the harbor, the women were repeatedly intercepted by Accel☆Warrior, and they prepared to fight him in earnest.

• Xia You gave Shelly and Courtney the destroyer’s layout and instructed them to seize it late at night after learning how to operate it.
• Xia You stayed behind at the Pokémon Center and sent Gengar with the women as a precaution.
• Shelly and Courtney crossed Driftveil City’s rooftops toward the harbor in disguise.
• Accel☆Warrior confronted them, but Courtney’s Weezing knocked Accelgor from the roof and Shelly’s attack sent the man tumbling onto an awning.
• Accel☆Warrior caught up with them again near the harbor warehouses, and Shelly and Courtney turned to face him with their Pokémon ready.

Linda intervened when Shelly and Courtney attacked Charles, but the two women defeated them and hurried toward Driftveil City’s harbor. After Charles pleaded with her to protect the city, Linda set off after them.

• Linda arrived to defend Charles and challenged Shelly and Courtney, who suspected the pair might be connected to Team Plasma.
• Linda sent Timburr to ambush the women, but Gengar emerged from the shadows and stopped its attack.
• Shelly and Courtney sent out Mightyena and Weezing, defeating Charles, Accelgor, Linda, and Timburr.
• Shelly and Courtney recalled their Pokémon and fled toward the harbor after Shelly reminded Courtney of the time.
• Charles urged Linda to pursue them despite his injuries, and Linda agreed and followed their path toward the harbor.

Shelly and Courtney infiltrated the Team Plasma Destroyer and reached its engine room, where they found the propulsion system stable but learned that starting it required access to the wheelhouse. Linda followed them aboard, discovered Team Plasma, and triggered an alarm that put everyone on the ship on alert.

• Shelly and Courtney sneaked aboard the disguised ship with Gengar's help and avoided its patrols.
• Courtney used Weezing's gas to knock out two technicians while Shelly investigated the engine controls and found that helm authorization required a physical key and password.
• Shelly and Courtney answered a radio check with a voice changer, then planned to split up and wait before heading to the control room.
• Linda reached the ship using Timburr's timber, spotted Team Plasma members in the wheelhouse, and decided to leave and contact the police.
• A patrolman spotted Linda and raised the alarm, so she ran across the deck to find Shelly and Courtney while Team Plasma searched the ship.
• Shelly and Courtney heard the alarm and simultaneously took out their Poké Balls.

Shelly and Courtney fought their way to the bridge and seized control of Team Plasma’s ship, while Linda hid from the fighting. The ship activated its flight systems and rose from the sea as Shelly ordered the defeated crew to leave.

• Shelly ordered Gengar to guard the engine room while she and Courtney charged toward the control room.
• Shelly and Courtney defeated Team Plasma members on their way to the bridge, while Linda hid beneath a canvas in a storage room and narrowly avoided discovery.
• Shelly broke into the locked bridge as Courtney held off the reinforcements, and the pair fought the officers and operators inside.
• Shelly took over the ship’s systems and ordered Gengar to activate the backup power and release the power restrictions.
• The ship rose into the air, and Shelly told the defeated Team Plasma crew that it belonged to her and Courtney now.

Courtney and Shelly captured Team Plasma’s frigate and took it out over the sea, where Xia You ordered them to secure and inspect it. While Courtney searched the ship with Gengar, she found Linda and captured her, threatening to kill her so she could not reveal what she had seen.

• Courtney and Shelly took control of Team Plasma’s frigate and flew it away from Driftveil City as Gengar cleared out the defeated Plasma members.
• Courtney called Xia You to report their success and ask for a reward, but he told them to move the ship to remote waters and remove its tracking systems, markings, and other security risks.
• Shelly set an autopilot course toward remote waters with reefs and magnetic interference, while Courtney began searching the frigate with Gengar.
• Courtney recognized Linda as the woman who had helped the city hero and suspected she had triggered the alarm.
• Gengar restrained Linda and frightened her Timburr, while Courtney threatened Linda with death to keep her from revealing what she had learned.

Shelly and Courtney kept Linda captive after their operation and decided to leave her fate to Xia You. The next morning, Xia You went with Dawn, Cheryl, and Makomo toward Driftveil Gym, where they encountered the injured Charles searching for Linda, while Xia You concealed what he knew.

• Courtney brought Linda before Shelly, and Shelly decided to keep her captive until Xia You could decide what to do with her.
• Xia You woke at the Pokémon Center, saw no messages from Shelly or Courtney, and assumed their operation remained under control.
• Xia You and the others set out for Driftveil Gym after breakfast, hoping the Gym Leader would be there.
• They saw the injured Charles searching the city for Linda, who had not returned home overnight.
• Charles asked Xia You and the others whether they had seen Linda, but Xia You denied knowing anything and continued toward the Gym.

After repeated failed visits, Xia You finally began his Driftveil Gym challenge against Clay in the Gym’s underground battlefield. The match opened with Clay’s Krokorok facing Xia You’s Snivy, leaving the long-awaited battle just underway.

• Xia You and his companions arrived at the Driftveil Gym and found Clay preparing to leave for a newly discovered mineral vein.
• Xia You reminded Clay that he had already come twice the previous day, and Clay agreed to hold the Gym battle before departing.
• Clay led Xia You, Dawn, Cheryl, and Makomo underground to the Driftveil Gym’s battlefield, where a miner announced a three-on-three match.
• Clay sent out Krokorok, and Xia You chose Snivy, reflecting that he would support it if it wanted to remain unevolved.
• The referee started the Gym battle with Krokorok and Snivy facing each other.

Xia You’s Snivy defeated Clay’s Krokorok and Palpitoad in succession, using its type advantage and precise tactics. Clay sent out Excadrill for the final battle, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Snivy countered Krokorok’s sand with Leaf Storm, then knocked it out with Leaf Blade.
• Clay sent out Palpitoad, which Snivy defeated with Grass Knot and Leaf Storm after evading its attacks.
• Clay praised Snivy’s strength and chose Excadrill for the third battle.
• Xia You recognized that Excadrill could burrow underground at great speed, making the final fight more dangerous.

Xia You’s Snivy defeated Clay’s Excadrill with Attract and a final attack, winning Xia You the Quake Badge. After leaving Driftveil Gym with Cheryl, Dawn, and Makomo, Xia You repeatedly checked his phone, leaving their next destination uncertain.

• Xia You kept Snivy in the battle, and Clay sent Excadrill underground to attack it with Dig and Drill Run.
• Excadrill repeatedly ambushed Snivy, wearing it down until Snivy finally dodged a Metal Claw.
• Snivy used Attract to stop Excadrill, then struck it with a storm of leaves and a practiced combination that left both Pokémon unable to battle.
• The referee declared Xia You the Gym Challenge winner, and Clay awarded him the Quake Badge.
• Xia You left Driftveil Gym with Cheryl, Dawn, and Makomo before eleven, and Makomo asked where they would go next as Xia You checked his phone.

Xia You and his companions left Driftveil City and traveled toward Mistralton City, where Dawn planned to earn her final Ribbon Medal. In the forest, Xia You tracked a fleeting green shadow and discovered Meloetta, which fled but paused to look back at him.

• Shelly and Courtney told Xia You that they would land at sea and clear the Plasma Frigate before meeting him, while his message asking about Linda failed to send.
• Xia You and his companions set out southwest toward Mistralton City and entered the Skyarrow Mountains.
• During a lunch stop, Xia You spotted a green shadow and summoned Mewtwo to search the nearby forest.
• Mewtwo sensed a powerful Pokémon, and Xia You followed the sound of singing to a hollow where Meloetta was humming.
• Meloetta noticed Xia You and fled, then looked back when he did not pursue it.

Xia You watched Mewtwo pursue Meloetta after her song briefly disrupted its mind, then learned at lunch that Mewtwo had caught her. He released Meloetta from the Poké Ball Mewtwo brought back, leaving her at the campsite with Xia You and the others.

• Mewtwo cornered Meloetta in the forest, but her ancient-sounding song briefly weakened its psychic restraint and let her escape.
• Xia You teased Mewtwo for being affected by Meloetta’s song, and Mewtwo flew after her with an empty Poké Ball.
• Xia You returned to the campsite and told Makomo and Cheryl about the encounter while they ate lunch.
• Mewtwo returned with a Poké Ball containing Meloetta and gave it to Xia You.
• Xia You released Meloetta from the Poké Ball in front of Makomo and Cheryl.

Xia You welcomed Meloetta into his group after Mewtwo caught it, and the party continued toward Mistralton City. A torrential downpour forced them into a cave, where a landslide blocked the entrance, but Xia You trusted Mewtwo to get them out safely.

• Xia You introduced himself to Meloetta, and Dawn helped the frightened Mythical Pokémon relax while Cheryl and Makomo prepared its welcome meal.
• After playing with Meloetta at camp, Xia You and the others packed up and continued along the forest trail toward Mistralton City.
• A sudden downpour forced the group to seek shelter, and Mewtwo sensed a dry cave hidden behind vines and shrubs.
• The group entered the cave, but a landslide buried the entrance and trapped them inside.
• Xia You reassured Dawn, Cheryl, and Makomo that Mewtwo could safely get them out.

After a landslide trapped Xia You and his companions in a cave, they explored its glowing, branching passages and were suddenly surrounded by thousands of hostile Boldore. Xia You and the others fought back, but the Boldore’s overwhelming numbers kept advancing.

• Xia You reassured Dawn and the others after the landslide and learned that Ash had met two new companions, likely Iris and Cilan.
• Xia You decided to explore farther into the cave, and Makomo studied and collected samples from its glowing moss and crystal formations.
• Xia You and his companions lost track of the branching passages before a tremendous vibration and rustling revealed a vast swarm of Boldore.
• The Boldore attacked with Rock Blast, and Xia You pulled Makomo to safety as their cover was shattered.
• Xia You released Hisuian Zoroark, black Greninja, Infernape, Metagross, Milotic, and Blaziken, while Dawn and Cheryl sent out their Pokémon to fight the swarm.
• Xia You’s group knocked down several dozen Boldore, but more immediately filled the gaps in the advancing horde.

Xia You and the others escaped a torrent of Boldore by realizing the Pokémon were fleeing deeper into the cave, then continued exploring after the danger passed. During a rest, Piplup found a hidden Mega Stone for Steelix, which Xia You took for his Crystal Steelix.

• Xia You and Makomo realized the Boldore were moving en masse rather than targeting the group, so Mewtwo teleported everyone onto a raised platform as the torrent passed beneath them.
• The group escaped the Boldore by following a stone path, and Makomo admitted that she had enjoyed the excitement of exploring with them.
• As Cheryl and Dawn grew tired of the cave, Xia You asked Mewtwo to check whether the rain had stopped and had the group rest while they waited.
• Piplup found a cracked stone in the rubble, and Xia You broke it open to reveal a Mega Stone for Steelix.
• Xia You pocketed the Mega Stone for his Crystal Steelix, while Makomo wondered how it had ended up in the cave.

After escaping the mountain through an underground passage, Xia You and his companions reached Mistralton City and planned their next activities. Xia You went alone to challenge the Mistralton Gym and met its red-haired Gym Leader, Skyla.

• Xia You stored the Steelix Mega Stone, and Mewtwo found a passage that led toward an exit while the rain continued outside.
• Xia You and the others followed the passage, emerged after the rain stopped, and reached Mistralton City that night.
• The next morning, Xia You decided to challenge the Gym alone while Dawn trained with Cheryl and Makomo worked on her research.
• Xia You reached the Mistralton Gym, explored its aircraft and weapons displays, and met Skyla as she came down from the second floor.
• Xia You told Skyla he had come to challenge the Gym.

Xia You met Skyla at the Mistralton Gym, toured its aviation exhibits, and discovered that challengers needed tickets while Skyla went flying. When he finally got his turn, he learned that Skyla used Imagination Battles, deciding outcomes by mentally simulating battles without anyone fighting.

• Skyla welcomed Xia You and showed him the Mistralton Gym’s planes and aviation history.
• Skyla explained that Xia You had to join a numbered line to challenge her, then flew off and performed stunts for the gathered spectators.
• After returning, Skyla called the first fifteen challengers forward and announced that each would use three Pokémon.
• Skyla examined the first challenger’s Pokémon, imagined the battle, and declared that she had won without a fight.
• Xia You recognized the Imagination Battle format and judged that it offered little training, though the young challengers seemed to enjoy it.

Xia You challenged Skyla’s Imagination Battle format and demanded a proper three-on-three Gym battle, arguing that trainers deserved a real test. Skyla agreed to consider a real battle after a simulation, then declared that her imagined Swoobat and Unfezant defeated his Greninja.

• Xia You refused to participate in Skyla’s Imagination Battle and criticized the format in front of the challengers.
• Skyla defended the Gym’s simulation procedure, but Xia You argued that he had the right to request a real battle under the League’s basic rules.
• Skyla agreed to hold an actual battle after first assessing Xia You’s team in an imagination round.
• Xia You sent out his Shiny Greninja and said it was enough to face Skyla’s simulation.
• Skyla imagined Greninja defeating her Swoobat before Unfezant wore it down and defeated it, then announced that Xia You had lost.

Xia You rejected Skyla’s Imagination Battle and insisted his Greninja could defeat all three of her Pokémon, prompting Skyla to accept a real three-on-three Gym battle. The match began on the Gym’s official field with Greninja facing Skyla’s Swoobat.

• Xia You told Skyla that her imagined battle relied on flawed assumptions and declared his Greninja certain to win.
• Skyla accepted Xia You’s challenge and ordered staff to prepare the official battlefield and referee.
• Xia You followed Skyla to the indoor field and refused her offer to choose more Pokémon, sending out only Greninja.
• An elderly man took the referee’s position, and Skyla sent out Swoobat as her first Pokémon.
• The referee announced the rules and started the battle.

Skyla’s Swoobat was swiftly knocked out by Xia You’s Greninja, which used Double Team to close in and land a super-effective Night Slash. Skyla sent out Unfezant for the next battle, determined to defeat Greninja despite her shaken confidence.

• Skyla ordered Swoobat to gain altitude and use its speed to control the battle, but Greninja kept pace beneath it.
• Greninja leaped up and surrounded Swoobat with Double Team copies, leaving it unable to identify the real Pokémon.
• Skyla told Swoobat to clear the copies with Air Slash, but Greninja slipped behind it and struck with Night Slash.
• Greninja’s super-effective attack knocked Swoobat out in one hit, leaving Skyla astonished.
• Skyla recalled Swoobat, sent out Unfezant, and resolved to give the next battle everything she had.

Greninja overpowered Skyla’s Swoobat and faced her Unfezant in the second battle, where its precise dodges and surprise attacks kept Skyla under pressure. The chapter ended as Greninja detonated its Hydro Pump to reveal Water Shuriken hidden inside, catching Skyla off guard.

• Skyla sent out Unfezant after Greninja defeated her first Pokémon, and the referee started the second battle.
• Skyla ordered Unfezant to charge with an enhanced Brave Bird, but Greninja dodged it with a slight shift of its body.
• Greninja threw Water Shuriken at Unfezant, which swerved aside despite the recoil from Brave Bird.
• Greninja immediately fired Hydro Pump as Unfezant recovered and maneuvered to evade it.
• Greninja formed a hand seal, causing the Hydro Pump to explode and launch hidden Water Shuriken in several directions.

Xia You’s Greninja defeated Skyla’s Unfezant with its secret art, Three Shadows Instant Kill, and then swept aside her final Pokémon, Swanna. Skyla accepted that her Imagination Battle had failed and was left questioning how reliable its results were.

• Greninja used Water Shuriken to disrupt Unfezant’s flight, then finished it with Three Shadows Instant Kill, a combination of Double Team and water blades.
• Skyla’s Imagination Battle failed as Unfezant was knocked unconscious, leaving the spectators stunned by Greninja’s skill and power.
• Though she admitted her Imagination Battle had failed, Skyla refused to quit and sent out Swanna for the final battle.
• Greninja overwhelmed Swanna with a barrage of Water-type attacks, completing a three-Pokémon sweep for Xia You.
• Skyla realized that the results of Imagination Battle were not always completely accurate.

Xia You defeated Skyla in a Gym battle, prompting her to abandon Imagination Battle as a substitute for battling challengers. After accepting the Jet Badge and leaving the Gym, Xia You learned from Skyla’s grandfather why she had adopted the method and that the battle had renewed her resolve.

• Xia You recalled Greninja after Swanna was defeated, and the referee declared Xia You the winner of the Gym Challenge.
• Skyla accepted her defeat and admitted that her Imagination Battle had made her overlook the unique potential of Pokémon and the different styles of Trainers.
• Skyla promised to take every challenger seriously and gave Xia You the Jet Badge.
• Skyla watched Xia You leave, wanting to ask his name but feeling too embarrassed after losing.
• Skyla’s grandfather thanked Xia You and explained that Skyla had developed Imagination Battle to balance Gym duties with her love of flying, while his declining health had limited his ability to guide her.
• Xia You said he believed Skyla would return the Gym’s work to normal after the battle renewed her resolve.