Chapter Summaries

Xia You and Sabrina watched Ryūji perform a Water Ballet at his private Dragon Palace Gym, then accepted his invitation to battle. They followed him into the Gym’s lavish underwater section, where the challenge was about to begin.

• Xia You and Sabrina learned that Ryūji ran the unrecognized Dragon Palace Gym and invited them to watch his Water Ballet performance.
• Ryūji performed an underwater ballet with Qwilfish, Mantine, and Lanturn while Xia You and Sabrina watched.
• Xia You praised Ryūji’s performance, and Ryūji invited him to challenge the Gym.
• Xia You accepted, and he and Sabrina followed Ryūji to the Gym’s decorated underwater battle area.

Xia You toured the Dragon Palace Gym with Ryūji and learned that its battles took place underwater. After preparing for a three-on-three match, Xia You sent Dragonair out against Ryūji’s Qwilfish, and the battle began.

• Xia You recognized photos of Ryūji with Sakura, Ayame, and Penny, and Ryūji explained that they had inspired him to become a Water Ballet dancer.
• Xia You and Ryūji reached the Gym’s underwater battlefield, where Ryūji explained the battle rules and gave Xia You an underwater breathing device.
• Xia You changed into swimming trunks, entered the sea, and joined Ryūji, whose Qwilfish, Mantine, and Lanturn were ready to battle.
• Ryūji sent Qwilfish onto the battlefield, and Xia You chose Dragonair, whose Dragon typing reduced the damage it would take from Water-type moves.

Xia You and Dragonair faced Ryūji in an underwater Gym battle, where Dragonair defeated Qwilfish, Mantine, and Lanturn in succession. Ryūji was left questioning whether he was strong enough to be a Gym Leader.

• Xia You signaled Dragonair to begin the match, and Dragonair defeated Qwilfish with Dragon Rage, a powerful charge, and an underwater Twister vortex.
• Ryūji sent out Mantine, but Dragonair wore it down with Dragon Rush and Bind before knocking it unconscious with Dragon Tail.
• Ryūji sent out Lanturn as his final Pokémon, and Dragonair overcame its Electric-type attacks to complete a three-opponent sweep.
• Ryūji recalled his defeated Pokémon and wondered whether he lacked the strength to be a Gym Leader.

Xia You and Sabrina reached Saffron City, where Sabrina returned to the Saffron Gym and parted from him. Xia You then visited Cerise Laboratory in Vermilion City, where Chloe and Professor Cerise were surprised to see him.

• Xia You told Ryūji that Dragonair was still growing and advised him to focus more on battling, then left the Dragon Palace Gym with Sabrina.
• Xia You and Sabrina flew to Saffron City on Charizard after a long journey from Johto.
• Sabrina embraced Xia You, said her heart would always belong to him, and entered the Saffron Gym while he watched her go.
• Xia You decided to visit Cerise Laboratory before leaving Kanto and bought gifts and fruit on the way.
• Chloe opened the laboratory door and was surprised to see Xia You, who explained that he would leave the next day and learned that it was Saturday.

Xia You visited his Pokémon at Cerise Park, thanked Chloe for caring for them, and rested in his old dorm room. While Chloe fed his Pokémon, Goh arrived and was frightened into the pond by Gyarados again.

• Xia You visited Blastoise and Venusaur at Cerise Park, thanked Chloe for looking after them, and let his other Pokémon play there.
• Xia You returned to his spotless old dorm room and fell asleep after days of travel.
• Chloe served Berries to Xia You's Pokémon while Goh arrived and criticized Xia You for having only a few Pokémon.
• Goh approached the pond, where Gyarados suddenly emerged and scared him into falling into the water.
• Goh climbed out and hurried away from Gyarados, remembering that it had frightened him into the pond before.

After recovering at Cerise Laboratory, Xia You left Gyarados there and traveled to Golden Ball Bridge to search for Mewtwo. Five young Trainers blocked his way and challenged him, but he defeated all of their Pokémon with three of his own.

• Chloe visited Xia You at Cerise Laboratory, and he left Gyarados there before setting off again.
• Xia You went to Golden Ball Bridge to look for Mewtwo, whose whereabouts he could not remember.
• Jichun and four other young Trainers blocked Xia You and demanded a battle.
• After one of them recognized him as the Indigo Conference champion, Xia You sent out Dragonair, Larvitar, and Scyther to fight all five at once.
• Xia You's Pokémon defeated Sandslash, Persian, Arcanine, Golduck, and Venomoth, and he continued across the bridge while the young Trainers marveled at his strength.

Xia You explored Cerulean Cave and found Mewtwo meditating on an island beneath an underground lake. After telling Mewtwo he had only come to say hello, Xia You released Gardevoir.

• Xia You followed the river into Cerulean Cave and continued past a swarm of Golbat to an underground lake.
• A giant Graveler attacked Xia You, but Dragonair, Larvitar, and Scyther defeated it.
• Xia You reached a deep cliff and had Gengar carry him down to a lower underground lake.
• Xia You found Mewtwo meditating above an island and greeted it.
• Mewtwo asked whether Xia You had come to catch it, and Xia You released Gardevoir despite claiming he had only stopped by.

Xia You brought Gardevoir to challenge Mewtwo to a sparring match, hoping to test the gap between them without trying to capture Mewtwo. Gardevoir lost badly, and Xia You ended the battle, leaving Mewtwo wary but undefeated.

• Xia You told Mewtwo that he had found friends and a sense of belonging in this world, then explained that Gardevoir wanted to spar with it.
• Mewtwo accepted Gardevoir's challenge and faced it as the two Pokémon unleashed their psychic powers.
• Gardevoir attacked with a series of moves, but Mewtwo defended and countered as their battle damaged the lake and surrounding rocks.
• Gengar offered to help Xia You catch Mewtwo, but Xia You refused and said the battle was Gardevoir's trial, not a capture attempt.
• Mewtwo struck Gardevoir down, and Xia You recalled it and stopped the fight while Mewtwo remained alert to the powerful Pokémon with him.

After failing to catch Mewtwo, Xia You left Cerulean Cave and explained to Gengar why he had refused to force a capture. He then received a call from Erika, arranged to meet her at the Celadon Gym, and reassured Gardevoir after its defeat.

• Xia You left Mewtwo in Cerulean Cave without trying to catch it, leaving Mewtwo puzzled by his decision.
• Xia You told Gengar that capturing Mewtwo without first building a bond would be dangerous, and said he hoped to catch it without another battle someday.
• Xia You took Gardevoir to the Cerulean City Pokémon Center for treatment and ate lunch while missing Sabrina.
• Erika called Xia You to ask where to find Grass-type Pokémon in Johto, and they arranged to meet at the Celadon Gym that afternoon.
• Xia You collected Gardevoir after Nurse Joy treated it and encouraged it not to dwell on losing to Mewtwo.

Xia You reunited with Erika at the Celadon Gym, which was being repaired after Team Rocket had set it on fire during Ash’s visit. After they discussed the repairs and her plans to travel to Johto, Xia You asked which Grass-type Pokémon she hoped to catch.

• Xia You returned to Celadon City and found workers repairing the fire-damaged Celadon Gym.
• Erika explained that Team Rocket had started the fire when Ash visited and that delayed League funding had postponed the repairs.
• Erika told Xia You that the fire had spared the greenhouse and thanked him for sending her oranges, whose seeds had grown into saplings.
• Xia You explained that he had returned to take Sabrina back to the Saffron Gym after the Pokémon League summoned her.
• Erika invited Xia You into the Gym’s temporary cabin, where they shared tea.
• Xia You asked Erika which Grass-type Pokémon she planned to catch in Johto so he could recommend some.

Xia You described Johto’s Grass-type Pokémon and travel routes to Erika, who decided to join him on his return trip the next day. After arranging to meet at the Gym, Xia You worried that Sabrina might misunderstand and chose not to tell her.

• Xia You used his Pokédex and phone to explain where he had encountered Grass-type Pokémon in Johto, while Erika listened over tea and cakes.
• Erika said she planned to leave for Johto within a few days, and Xia You suggested she take extra time to explore the region’s sights.
• Xia You invited Erika to travel to Johto with him, and Erika agreed to leave with him the following morning.
• Xia You declined Erika’s offer of a guest room and arranged to meet her at the Gym entrance after spending the night at the Pokémon Center.
• Xia You worried that Sabrina might misunderstand his trip with Erika, but decided not to tell her.

Xia You and Erika left Celadon City and flew to Johto on Charizard. After a long day of travel, they stopped in an unidentified part of Johto to rest for the night.

• Xia You waited for Erika outside the Celadon Gym, and she said goodbye to the girls who worked there.
• Xia You asked Erika how she wanted to travel to Johto, and she chose to ride Charizard with him.
• Xia You helped Erika secure her luggage and board Charizard, then they set off from Celadon City.
• Xia You and Erika flew for a day, stopping once for lunch before reaching Johto near nightfall.
• Xia You suggested they stop and rest for the night since they had arrived in Johto.

Xia You and Erika reached the outskirts of Green Meadow, where a mysterious blue-violet energy erupted from a manor and began turning the landscape into crystal. They left the townspeople at the edge of the expanding crystal field as the police arrived.

• Xia You and Erika rested near the hills, then learned from Erika's travel guide that Green Meadow was a popular destination in Johto.
• Xia You and Erika walked across the hills toward Green Meadow after deciding not to continue riding Charizard.
• Xia You and Erika saw a blue-violet pillar of light erupt from a manor and transform it and the surrounding area into crystal.
• Xia You and Erika hurried to the town and joined the townspeople watching the strange waves of light spread from the manor.
• Xia You tested the energy with a branch, which rapidly turned to crystal, then police cars arrived at the outskirts of the crowd.

Xia You and Erika retreated from the spreading crystal phenomenon and rested at the Pokémon Center, where they learned that the manor belonged to Dr. Xiuli and his family. By morning, the crystal field had expanded considerably, and Officer Jenny arrived in Greenfield Town as the investigation escalated.

• Xia You and Erika left the police cordon and went to the Pokémon Center to rest and recover.
• Nurse Joy arranged rooms and dinner for Xia You and Erika but said she did not know what had caused the crystal phenomenon.
• Xia You woke the next morning and saw that the crystal field had spread about two hundred meters overnight, forming a strange landscape around the vanished manor.
• Nurse Joy told Xia You and Erika that the manor was Dr. Xiuli’s home, that he had gone away to conduct research, and that his assistant had returned alone.
• Nurse Joy explained that Dr. Xiuli’s daughter, Xiaomei, was left in the care of the manor’s butler while her researcher mother had been missing for a long time.
• Xia You and Erika went outside after hearing a commotion and saw Officer Jenny speaking with town police and several unfamiliar men.

Xia You reunited with Ash, Misty, and Brock at the Pokémon Center, where he learned Ash had earned two Johto badges and told the group about the strange crystal-covered area. Brock eagerly asked Xia You for advice on attracting women, but Xia You insisted he and Erika were only friends.

• Xia You and Erika met Ash, Misty, Brock, and Xiao Ling outside the Pokémon Center.
• Ash showed Xia You his Zephyr Badge and Bug Badge, and Xia You said he had earned three badges.
• Ash asked where Sabrina was, and Xia You said she had returned to the Saffron Gym.
• Xia You told Ash and his friends what he knew about the crystals and realized the incident might be from a Pokémon movie.
• Brock grabbed Xia You's hand and asked how he had gotten Sabrina and Erika to travel with him, and Xia You said he and Erika were just friends.

Xia You teased Brock by telling him that girls liked handsome men, leaving Brock devastated. John then explained how Professor Hale vanished amid Unown research and how the Unown appeared around Xiaomei as the estate began crystallizing; Officer Jenny asked the Trainers to help stop the crisis and rescue her.

• Xia You told Brock that the secret to winning girls over was being handsome, and Brock crumpled in despair while Pikachu laughed.
• Erika and the others returned to find Brock sulking, and Xia You said Brock had suffered a major blow to his inner world.
• John arrived and explained that Professor Hale had vanished in a desert ruin, leaving behind a box of Unown writing.
• John said he had given the box to Hale's daughter, Xiaomei, after which the estate began crystallizing and Unown surrounded her.
• Officer Jenny asked the Trainers to stay and help stop the Unown and rescue Xiaomei, and Ash immediately agreed.

While waiting for experts to arrive in Green Meadow, Xia You proposed a six-on-six free-for-all battle to pass the time. The teams took the field and released their Pokémon, leaving the match ready to begin.

• Xiao Ling and Ash challenged Xia You to a battle, and he suggested a three-on-three team free-for-all with all six Trainers participating.
• Misty and Erika joined Xia You's team, while Ash teamed up with Brock and Xiao Ling.
• Xia You set the rules: each team would field six Pokémon, and the team with Pokémon still standing at the end would win.
• Xia You sent out Larvitar and Dragonair, Erika sent out Leafeon and Tangela, and Misty's Psyduck came out on its own alongside Starmie.
• Brock sent out Onix and Golbat, Xiao Ling sent out Aipom and Quagsire, and Ash sent out Pikachu and his golden Shiny Noctowl.
• Erika thanked Xia You for the Leaf Stone that had helped her Eevee evolve into Leafeon, and Xia You said he was glad it had been useful.

Ash and Brock opened the free-for-all by targeting Xia You’s Pokémon, while Erika and Misty defeated Xiao Ling’s Pokémon. After a huge clash left nearly everyone unable to battle, Misty’s Psyduck used Confusion to defeat Noctowl and Golbat, securing the win for Erika and Misty.

• Ash and Brock coordinated attacks against Xia You’s Dragonair and Larvitar, injuring both while Xia You let his Pokémon fight without commands.
• Ash and Brock’s Pokémon overwhelmed Larvitar and pushed Dragonair to the brink, but Erika and Misty defeated Xiao Ling’s Pokémon while the boys focused on Xia You.
• Erika and Misty’s Pokémon joined Dragonair in a pincer attack against Ash and Brock, and the ensuing explosion left most Pokémon unable to battle.
• Ash and Brock sent Noctowl and Golbat after the unharmed Psyduck, who suddenly used Confusion to slam both Pokémon into the ground and win the battle for Erika and Misty.
• Ash felt discouraged by the loss, though he and Brock were happy that they had defeated Xia You’s Pokémon.

After the battle, Professor Oak arrived at the Pokémon Center with Delia to investigate the crystals and check on Dr. Xiuli’s daughter. As everyone learned why Delia had come, Pikachu and Gengar sensed a powerful presence, and Entei descended before them.

• Misty, Erika, and Xiao Ling praised Psyduck after the battle, and Misty revealed that her Water-type Pokémon could not swim.
• Xia You and the others returned to the Pokémon Center, where Professor Oak arrived with Officer Jenny’s escort and surprised Ash and his friends.
• Delia reunited with Ash and explained that she had come with Professor Oak because she was worried about Dr. Xiuli’s daughter.
• Delia showed Ash and the others a photograph of their family with Professor Oak and Dr. Xiuli’s family, taken years earlier in Pallet Town.
• Pikachu and Gengar sensed an approaching threat, and Entei descended in front of Xia You, Erika, and the others.

Entei abducted Delia and carried her into the crystal forest, leaving Ash desperate to pursue her. Xia You, Erika, and Professor Oak urged caution, and Oak reported that the crystals were weakening and a road to the estate would be cleared that night.

• Ash scanned Entei with his Pokédex, and Xia You realized it was a manifestation connected to the Unown and the estate's crystals.
• Delia stepped toward Entei, which called her Mama, hypnotized her, and carried her away.
• Ash tried to chase Entei into the crystal forest, but Brock restrained him while Xia You and Erika urged him not to rush in.
• Xia You told Professor Oak about Delia's abduction, and the group met Oak at the Pokémon Center.
• Professor Oak reported that the crystals did not affect humans or Pokémon, were spreading more slowly, and that Officer Jenny's bulldozers would clear a road to the estate that night.