Chapter Summaries

Xia You and his companions toured Director Nanmu’s marine museum, where Nanmu showed them a heat-radiating stone he believed had been created by Groudon. Xia You suspected Team Magma might learn about the stone and try to steal it.

• Director Nanmu explained that the museum’s ocean Pokémon exhibits used models and showed the group his custom-built submarine.
• Misty told Max not to judge Brock and his sister for missing the museum tour, and Max fell quiet.
• Director Nanmu opened a case in his office and revealed a black stone that radiated intense heat despite being found deep underwater.
• Nanmu showed the stone’s scan and said he believed Groudon’s power had created it.
• Max described Groudon as an ancient Pokémon that embodied and expanded the land, while Xia You worried Team Magma might come after the stone.

After discovering the museum had been broken into during a power outage, Xia You and his friends found Team Rocket confronting Team Magma outside over the stolen box. Xia You sent Ash and Misty to cut off Team Magma’s escape while he approached with Max, and he saw Team Rocket’s new Cacnea and Seviper.

• Xia You suspected the museum’s power outage was caused by a break-in and led the others to Director Kusunoki’s office.
• The group found the office ransacked, Director Kusunoki and the box missing, and a hole smashed through the window.
• Xia You and his friends went outside and found Team Rocket facing Team Magma, who appeared to have taken the box.
• Xia You told Ash and Misty to circle around and block the groups’ retreat while he and Max approached from the front.
• Xia You saw that Jessie and James now had Cacnea and Seviper with them.

Team Magma’s Mightyena defeated the Team Rocket Trio, but the delay let Ash, Misty, Xia You, and Max confront the thieves. Director Kusunoki reclaimed the fight with his Sealeo, and Max caught the case before the Team Magma members launched another attack.

• Team Magma’s Mightyena knocked Seviper and Cacnea into the sea, taking the Team Rocket Trio with them.
• Ash and Misty confronted the Team Magma members and demanded the case and an explanation for what they had done to Director Kusunoki.
• Xia You arrived with Max, and the disheveled Director Kusunoki ran up with a Poké Ball and insisted on fighting the thieves himself.
• Kusunoki sent out Sealeo, whose Aurora Beam struck a Mightyena and knocked the case into the air; Max caught it.
• Team Magma demanded the case back, but Max refused, and Xia You, Ash, and Misty sent out their Pokémon.
• The Team Magma members ordered their Pokémon to charge at the group.

Xia You and his allies fought off Team Magma’s squad and helicopter, but Director Kusunoki stopped them from pursuing the fleeing members to avoid retaliation. They discovered Team Magma had stolen the stone, though Kusunoki kept a small fragment for his research, leaving Xia You to consider tracking the group to find Groudon.

• Ash, Misty, Director Kusunoki, and Xia You joined forces against Team Magma’s Pokémon, but a Team Magma helicopter arrived as reinforcements.
• Xia You sent out Dragonite and Scizor; Dragonite attacked the helicopter while Scizor overwhelmed the Pokémon on the ground.
• Team Magma used smoke bombs to escape, and Director Kusunoki stopped Xia You from chasing them because his business could face retaliation.
• Director Kusunoki opened the case and found the stone missing, then revealed he had kept a small piece for his research.
• Xia You realized Team Magma had taken the stone and considered using their lead to track Groudon.

Xia You showed Ash, Brock, Misty, and Max the Jigglypuff he had caught, reassuring them that its microphone was missing. While Jigglypuff searched his backpack for it, it accidentally swallowed Xia You’s Everstone, and his attempts to dislodge it failed.

• Ash worried that May had not returned to the Pokémon Center, but Xia You said she would come back when she was ready.
• Xia You released Jigglypuff, and Ash, Brock, and Pikachu recognized the Pokémon that had repeatedly lulled them to sleep with its singing.
• Xia You explained that Jigglypuff’s microphone was hidden away, and the group relaxed while it rummaged through his backpack.
• Jigglypuff threw a stone at the dormitory wall, and it bounced into its mouth and was swallowed.
• Xia You realized Jigglypuff had swallowed his Everstone and tried patting and shaking it, but could not get the stone out.

Jigglypuff swallowed Xia You’s Everstone and Nurse Joy could not remove it, leaving the group to wait for a chance to seek surgery or for Jigglypuff to pass it naturally. The next morning, May and Misty nearly missed the Pokémon Contest’s registration deadline and rushed to the contest hall.

• Xia You and the others rushed Jigglypuff to Nurse Joy, who took it into the emergency room for treatment.
• Nurse Joy said Jigglypuff’s life was not in immediate danger but she could not remove the Everstone, and Xia You chose to wait until they could reach a specialized hospital.
• May returned from practice confident that she was ready for the Pokémon Contest the next day.
• The following morning, Xia You learned that May had stayed up late with Misty after suffering from insomnia, and both girls had overslept.
• May and Misty hurried out to confirm May’s eligibility before the ten o’clock deadline, while Xia You was left behind.

May checked in just before the deadline for the Slateport City Pokémon Contest, where she met her idol Ayako and received advice before competing. Ayako turned out to be a fan of Xia You, and the chapter ended as the contest began and May waited nervously with her companions.

• Xia You used Dragonite to reach the contest venue ahead of May and gave cold drinks to her and the others as they arrived.
• May checked in just before the deadline, then recognized Ayako at a nearby restaurant and introduced her to the group.
• Brock made an awkward romantic advance toward Ayako before a girl and a boy dragged him away.
• Ayako examined Jigglypuff and said she could not remove its swallowed Everstone without proper equipment, so Xia You planned to visit her clinic in Twinleaf Town after challenging the Dewford Gym.
• Ayako recognized Xia You as the winner of the Johto and Kanto championships, asked for his autograph, and gave May advice about Pokémon Contests.
• May joined the other contestants in the waiting room, grew nervous, and heard the announcement as the Slateport City Pokémon Contest began.

The Slateport City Pokémon Contest began as Xia You and the others watched from the contestants’ lounge. May struggled with nerves while Drew took the stage with his Roselia.

• Vivian introduced judges Sukizo, Contesta, and Nurse Joy, then explained that contestants needed five Ribbons to qualify for the Grand Festival.
• Contestants began performing, and a Trainer with a Wingull received a score of 27.6 as later performances earned scores mostly between 25 and 28.
• May trembled as the contest began, and Xia You helped her calm down by reminding her to breathe slowly and avoid passing her nerves to her Pokémon.
• Drew appeared as contestant number 24, made a dramatic entrance, and began his performance with Roselia.

Drew earned the highest score so far with Roselia’s polished performance, then taunted May in the contestants’ lounge. May vowed to pass the first round as the broadcast introduced Robert and his Milotic, whose performance received the same score as Drew’s.

• Drew performed with Roselia, combining its moves into a glittering display that earned thunderous applause.
• The judges awarded Drew 29.4 points, and Contesta explained that his performance required careful training and precise timing.
• Drew entered May’s lounge and mocked her, but May stood up to him and vowed to pass the first round.
• Ash saw Robert’s Milotic on television and learned from Misty that it had evolved from Feebas.
• Robert finished his performance and received the same score as Drew.

May performed well in her first Pokémon Contest, earned a place in the second round, and was matched against Drew. Their battle began with Drew ordering Roselia to attack Beautifly with Magical Leaf.

• Drew left the lounge after Robert's performance made him recognize Robert as a serious rival.
• May performed with Beautifly, earning scores of 8.7, 8.9, and 9.1 for a total of 26.7.
• May was among the eight contestants selected to advance to the second round.
• The random bracket matched May against Drew, and Xia You joked about lending her a Pokémon before May said she would face Drew herself.
• May and Drew began their five-minute contest battle, and Drew opened by ordering Roselia to use Magical Leaf.

May lost to Drew in the Pokémon Contest, but Xia You urged her to learn from the setback. Robert then defeated Drew and won the contest, and the group prepared to leave the next morning after saying goodbye to Ayako.

• Drew's Roselia defeated May's Beautifly with Solar Beam, eliminating May from the contest.
• Xia You bluntly reminded May that she had lost to a stronger Coordinator and encouraged her to improve; May promised to do better next time.
• Robert's Milotic overwhelmed Drew's Roselia and advanced to the finals after time ran out.
• Robert defeated his final opponent and won the Pokémon Contest.
• Ayako praised May's first contest performance and said goodbye to the group before returning to Twinleaf Town.
• Xia You spotted the Team Rocket Trio taking notes with an old man, then left with the others as they headed toward the Pokémon Center.

After saying goodbye to Ash and May, Xia You and Misty traveled to Dewford Island so Xia You could challenge its Gym. There, they encountered Bea battling the acting Gym Leader Shinobu’s Meditite, and Xia You prepared to challenge Shinobu while Brawly was away.

• Misty and May tearfully said goodbye, while Ash urged them to meet again soon and Max suggested they travel together.
• Xia You and Misty boarded a ship from Slateport City and reached Dewford Town, where they headed for the Dewford Gym.
• At the Gym, Xia You and Misty watched Bea’s Pangoro defeat Shinobu’s Meditite, earning Bea the right to challenge Brawly the next morning.
• Bea recognized Xia You and Misty, nodded to them, and left the Gym after learning Brawly was out surfing.
• Shinobu introduced herself as Brawly’s number-one student, girlfriend, and acting Gym Leader, then told Xia You he had to defeat her before challenging Brawly.

Xia You defeated Shinobu’s Machop with Combusken, earning the right to challenge Brawly the next morning. As Xia You and Misty reached the Pokémon Center, they learned a typhoon was approaching Dewford Town and might delay their plans.

• Shinobu challenged Xia You to defeat her in a one-on-one battle before he could face Brawly, and Xia You sent out Combusken against her Machop.
• Combusken used Bulk Up and anticipated Machop’s attacks, then traded blows with it until Double Kick knocked it unconscious.
• Shinobu conceded defeat and told Xia You he could return the next morning to challenge Brawly, while Misty celebrated the win.
• Xia You and Misty left Dewford Gym and saw dark clouds gathering over the sea as they hurried to the Pokémon Center.
• At the Pokémon Center, Trainers identified the approaching storm as a typhoon, and Xia You warned that it could disrupt the Gym battle and their departure.

As the typhoon approached Dewford Island, Xia You, Misty, and Bea went to challenge the Dewford Gym, only to find it locked and Brawly absent. They abandoned the wait as the storm reached land and took shelter in a nearby cave when the rain became torrential.

• Xia You and Misty left the Pokémon Center early to challenge the Dewford Gym before the typhoon arrived.
• Xia You and Misty met Bea outside the locked Gym, where she had already waited for half an hour.
• Misty suggested Brawly might have stayed home because of the typhoon, and Xia You decided they should leave if the Gym remained closed.
• Xia You, Misty, and Bea started down the hill as the typhoon approached Dewford Island.
• A sudden downpour soaked the three, so Xia You led them off the path toward a nearby cave for shelter.

Xia You, Misty, and Bea took shelter from a typhoon in a small cave, where they dried off, shared warmth, and grew closer while waiting for the storm to pass. The rain continued, and Dragonite gathered all three around its warm body as the cave cooled.

• Xia You, Misty, and Bea escaped the torrential rain by sheltering in a rocky cave and lit a fire with Combusken’s Ember.
• Xia You used Dragonite to give them privacy while they removed their wet clothes and warmed themselves by the fire.
• Misty learned that Bea came from Stow-on-Side in Galar and had traveled to challenge the Fighting Gym.
• After the firewood ran out, Bea shared her sweets with Xia You and Misty, and the three chatted more comfortably.
• As the cave cooled, Xia You had Dragonite embrace all three of them to keep them warm while the typhoon continued outside.

After the typhoon passed, Xia You, Misty, and Bea returned to Dewford Gym, where they discovered Shinobu had deceived them about a qualifying match. Bea began her official Gym challenge against Brawly, who struggled to get her to speak.

• Xia You, Misty, and Bea left their cave shelter, returned to Dewford Town, and rested overnight at the Pokémon Center.
• The next morning, the three went back to Dewford Gym and found its sign blown away and its doors open.
• Misty confronted Brawly about the promised challenge, but Brawly revealed that Shinobu was not an acting Gym Leader and had secretly arranged the earlier match.
• Brawly prepared an official Gym battle, and Xia You let Bea challenge first.
• Brawly introduced himself and asked Bea her name, but she stayed silent while Misty quietly laughed at his awkward attempts to talk to her.

Bea’s Pangoro defeated Brawly’s Makuhita in the first round of their Gym battle, prompting Brawly to send out his ace Hariyama. Pangoro continued fighting and overpowered Hariyama in a direct contest of strength, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Brawly sent out Makuhita, while Bea chose Pangoro and prepared to battle.
• Bea and Pangoro synchronized their fighting stance, and Pangoro struck Makuhita before Brawly could react.
• Pangoro defeated Makuhita with Vital Throw after dominating their exchanges.
• Brawly sent out his ace Hariyama, and Bea kept Pangoro in the battle.
• Hariyama and Pangoro locked hands in a strength contest, but Pangoro pushed Hariyama backward.

Bea defeated Brawly’s Hariyama and declined his Gym Badge, explaining through Xia You that she had come only to train. Xia You then challenged Brawly, and as their first Pokémon battled, Brawly began questioning whether he had abandoned the martial path he once upheld.

• Pangoro knocked out Hariyama, giving Bea the victory over Brawly.
• Bea refused Brawly’s Badge and sat with Misty, while Xia You explained that she had challenged the Gym only to train her Pokémon.
• Xia You challenged Brawly and pretended that his Pokémon were weak, prompting Brawly to accept eagerly in hopes of restoring his pride.
• Brawly sent out Hitmontop, and Xia You answered with Combusken; the two Pokémon traded kicks in a closely matched battle.
• As Hitmontop weakened and Combusken held its ground, Brawly remembered the perseverance and fighting spirit he had abandoned and wondered if he had strayed from his old path.

Xia You sent Tyranitar against Brawly’s Machamp despite its type disadvantage and used Sandstorm to let Tyranitar overpower it in close combat. The sand cleared to reveal Machamp badly injured and trapped by rocks, while Tyranitar had suffered much less damage.

• After Combusken defeated Hitmontop but could no longer fight, Xia You asked to use a Pokémon of another type, and Brawly agreed.
• Brawly sent out Machamp, his former strongest Pokémon, while Xia You chose Tyranitar despite its quadruple weakness to Fighting moves.
• Tyranitar and Machamp exchanged Stone Edge attacks, and Machamp hurled a blocked rock back at Tyranitar before dodging another strike.
• Xia You ordered Tyranitar to summon Sandstorm as Machamp charged, and the two Pokémon fought unseen at close range inside the swirling sand.
• As the Sandstorm thinned, the spectators saw Machamp severely injured and trapped within rocks, while Tyranitar had taken far less damage.

Xia You defeated Brawly, earned the Knuckle Badge, and continued his Hoenn journey with Misty toward Petalburg City. There, he received an unexpected call from Kuroda, who asked him to come to Rustboro City because President Stone had an important request.

• Tyranitar defeated Machamp with a point-blank Hyper Beam, giving Xia You the victory over Brawly and the Knuckle Badge.
• The Gym girls discovered Xia You was a two-time Pokémon tournament champion, leaving Brawly embarrassed about his excuse for losing.
• Xia You and Misty parted ways with Bea, treated their Pokémon, and sailed from Dewford Town toward the mainland.
• Xia You and Misty headed for Petalburg City, where Xia You won seventeen battles against novice Trainers on the way.
• Kuroda called Xia You near Petalburg City and asked him to visit Rustboro because President Stone wanted to make an important request.