Chapter Summaries

Xin Mu’s Meownei unexpectedly entered the Gym battle after Dratini used Dragon Tail, then defeated both Dratini and Dragonair with ease. Long Mingming awarded Xin Mu the Jade Dragon Badge but paused the battle to retrieve another Pokémon so she could face Meownei at full strength.

• Dratini’s Dragon Tail forced Litten off the field and brought Meownei into the battle.
• Long Mingming sent Dratini after Meownei, but Meownei dodged its attack and knocked it out with a Fighting-type kick.
• Long Mingming sent out Dragonair, which summoned rain and attacked Meownei with Draco Meteor.
• Meownei used the falling meteors as footholds, changed to Fairy type with Protean, and defeated Dragonair with Play Rough.
• Long Mingming gave Xin Mu the Jade Dragon Badge and said she needed to retrieve a Pokémon before continuing the battle.

Xin Mu’s Meownei battled Long Mingming’s Dragonite in the Jade Dragon Gym, using Trick Room and Protean to counter Dragonite’s boosted speed and attacks. Long Mingming changed the weather and prepared Dragonite to use moves Meownei could not evade by changing types.

• Long Mingming sent out her longtime partner Dragonite as her final Pokémon.
• Long Mingming ordered Dragonite to use Dragon Dance and dive at Meownei, but Meownei struck her with Play Rough.
• Dragonite used Dragon Dance again, flew into the rain clouds, and plunged at Meownei with Extreme Speed.
• Meownei activated Trick Room, changed into a Ghost type, and avoided Dragonite’s attack with Shadow Claw.
• Long Mingming recognized Meownei’s Protean and broad move pool, then used Sunny Day to clear the rain and readied Dragonite’s flaming hands.

Xin Mu defeated a Gym Leader’s Dragonite with Meownei and earned the Jade Dragon Badge. While exploring a food street with his Pokémon, Squirtle tried douzhi, hated it, and discovered that even ice cream could be made with the drink.

• Meownei defeated Dragonite with Triple Axel, and the Gym Leader praised the match and invited Xin Mu to the Donghuang Conference.
• Xin Mu examined his new Jade Dragon Badge as Squirtle complained that he had not been allowed to battle.
• The group passed a roast duck restaurant, but none of the Pokémon wanted to go inside.
• Squirtle saw people spitting out douzhi and tried it himself, only to spit it out beside the trash can.
• Xin Mu explained douzhi’s history, and Squirtle bought ice cream to soothe his tongue before discovering it was douzhi ice cream.

After Squirtle tried to wash the taste of douzhi ice cream from his tongue, he went into hibernation while Xin Mu chose to travel independently with his Pokémon. Xin Mu flew to a riverside picnic spot on the outskirts, where Squirtle woke expecting to be home and Meownei dragged him away.

• Squirtle jumped into a moat to rinse his tongue after tasting douzhi ice cream, then Xin Mu recalled him into his Poké Ball.
• Squirtle decided to sleep until they got home, while Xin Mu ate lunch and planned an independent trip.
• Xin Mu rode Corviknight out of the city with Meownei and Litten, who experienced the flight from high above the ground.
• Xin Mu rented a tent and grill at a managed picnic spot beside a stream and released Lucario, Squirtle, and the others.
• Squirtle realized they had not gone home and tried to return to his Poké Ball, but Meownei grabbed his shell and dragged him away.

Squirtle, Meownei, Litten, and Lucario prepared dinner at a campsite where Pokémon were allowed to catch fish without using moves. Litten evolved into Torracat after repeatedly failing to catch a fish, and Squirtle later smelled scallops despite being far from the sea.

• Meownei sent Squirtle to catch dinner in the stream and warned him about signs banning area attacks, especially Electric-type moves.
• Litten repeatedly missed her attempts to catch fish, grew frustrated, and evolved into Torracat.
• Torracat used her stronger senses and a forceful strike to stun a fish, which Lucario prepared over the campfire.
• Squirtle caught the most fish, then smelled scallops and wondered how they could be there hundreds of kilometers from the sea.
• At a nearby campsite, a family found seafood mixed into their freshwater catch, leaving one member questioning why there were scallops in the river.

Torracat admired her evolved strength by the river and accidentally struck Squirtle while mistaking him for a fish. Meownei encouraged Torracat to find a fighting style suited to her own strengths.

• Squirtle searched underwater for scallops but found an Oshawott sharpening its shell instead.
• Torracat studied her reflection and tested her new strength by swatting what she thought was a large fish, hitting Squirtle as he surfaced.
• Squirtle suspected Torracat had hit him in revenge, while a passing softshell turtle made the mix-up seem even more absurd.
• Corviknight bathed in the current as Lucario practiced Calm Mind and carefully controlled her Meteor Mash training.
• Meownei showed Torracat how she could slip her hand through a small stone ring, then told Torracat to use her power-type strengths rather than imitate others.

Xin Mu attended Professor Rowan’s lecture about Hisui, where the professor presented ancient records and discussed how Pokémon changed over time. The lecture was interrupted by a Pidgeotto delivering a scroll, and Rowan began explaining that Pokémon evolution also occurred across vast stretches of history.

• Meownei cautioned Litten against blindly copying other Pokémon and explained how teammates could compensate for weaknesses.
• Xin Mu returned to school with stones for Regirock and attended Professor Rowan’s public lecture with Meownei.
• Professor Rowan introduced Hisui’s ancient ecology and culture, including the Diamond and Pearl Clans and their practical uses of Pokémon materials.
• Rowan revealed that real footage of ancient Sinnoh had been brought back by someone who encountered a space-time rift above Mt. Coronet.
• A Pidgeotto delivered a scroll to Rowan, who began discussing how Pokémon changed over time, citing the differences between ancient and modern Arcanine.

Xin Mu and Lucario practiced Mega Evolution in the Backyard, while Meownei and Squirtle discussed the older Pokémon’s own possible evolution. Meownei ended by taking Xin Mu’s Key Stone, showing that a human did not have to hold it for Mega Evolution.

• Xin Mu saw Officer Jenny stop a student riding a school Cyclizar without a helmet, then rode home with Meownei.
• Meownei added a Hisui map from Xin Mu’s lecture to their souvenir collection at home.
• Xin Mu and Lucario practiced Mega Evolution in the cold-water pool, and Lucario transformed into Mega Lucario.
• Squirtle watched from the window and praised Mega Lucario, while Meownei suggested Squirtle could evolve if he removed his Everstone.
• Meownei took the Key Stone from Xin Mu’s hand, as Squirtle said he might evolve someday.

Meownei learned how to use a Key Stone and prepared to practice Mega Evolution with Lucario, while Xin Mu and his classmates learned they would soon travel to Galar. Squirtle eagerly helped pack after Lucario revealed that a replay of a Gigantamax Alcremie battle had caught his interest.

• Meownei used aura to understand Xin Mu's explanation of the Key Stone, then asked him to end his Mega Evolution practice for the day.
• Xin Mu received an email from Lü Ming announcing a trip to Galar, and Wei Heng said Lü Ming's efforts to overcome his fear of heights had made more travel possible.
• Tang Zi shared that Lü Ming had enrolled in a skydiving course but had not attended any lessons.
• Xin Mu and his classmates discussed the trip's likely connection to Dynamax and packed for Galar.
• Squirtle enthusiastically helped Xin Mu pack, and Lucario showed him a replay of a Gigantamax Alcremie battle at Wyndon Stadium.

Xin Mu arrived in Wyndon with his companions to study Dynamax Pokémon in the Wild Area, and Iono invited him to partner with her in Leon’s Galar Star Match. He accepted, ready to experience Dynamax battles, and followed Iono to register for the tournament.

• Lü Ming outlined the group’s plans to stay at the Lundoros before taking a train to the Wild Area the next day.
• Xin Mu went to Wyndon Stadium, where Iono recognized him and invited him to partner with her in the Star Match.
• Squirtle eagerly urged Xin Mu to accept because he wanted to battle Gigantamax Alcremie, but Meownei recalled him into his Poké Ball.
• Xin Mu told Iono he had come for academic research and accepted her invitation after she said she could choose her own partner.
• Xin Mu assured Iono that Meownei could Dynamax and Corviknight could Gigantamax, then went with her to the registration desk.

Iono and Xin Mu faced Galar veterans Mustard and Opal in a four-on-four Double Battle at Wyndon Stadium. The match began with Squirtle eating Alcremie's cream, leaving the veterans' opening strategy in disarray.

• Iono chose Kilowattrel and Mismagius, while Xin Mu picked Meownei and Squirtle for their team.
• Mustard and Opal sent Mienshao and Alcremie into battle against Kilowattrel and Squirtle.
• Iono ordered Kilowattrel to use Tailwind, boosting the team's speed and charging its Wind Power Ability.
• Opal used Alcremie's cream to obstruct the opponents while Mustard sent Mienshao in with Close Combat, and Squirtle attacked Alcremie with Gyro Ball.
• Opal tried to hold Squirtle down with more cream, but Squirtle ate all of it.

Squirtle and Kilowattrel pressured Pop and Mustard’s team with coordinated attacks, while Squirtle’s appetite helped him shrug off Alcremie’s confusion. Pop Gigantamaxed Alcremie, which used G-Max Finale to heal itself and Mienshao, leaving the battle ongoing.

• Squirtle ate Alcremie’s cream attack, and Mustard praised the unexpected display of strength.
• Kilowattrel and Squirtle combined Discharge and Hydro Pump to hit Alcremie and Mienshao, paralyzing Mienshao until Alcremie used Misty Terrain to cure it.
• Mienshao restrained Squirtle while Alcremie used Sweet Kiss, but Squirtle’s appetite kept him focused as he attacked Mienshao with Zen Headbutt.
• Pop recalled Alcremie to avoid Kilowattrel’s attack, then used her Dynamax Band to Gigantamax it.
• Gigantamax Alcremie resisted Kilowattrel’s physical attack and used G-Max Finale to heal itself and Mienshao.

Xin Mu and Iono battled through a Star Match, with Squirtle's Dynamax antics defeating Alcremie and Mienshao before his team faced Weezing and Kommo-o. Iono Terastallized Mismagius as Meownei took over for an overstuffed Squirtle.

• Xin Mu Dynamaxed Squirtle, who scraped cream off Gigantamax Alcremie by licking it until Alcremie fainted.
• Iono revealed she was livestreaming the battle, and Xin Mu realized Lucario and Meownei were streaming too.
• Dynamax Squirtle and Mismagius defeated Mienshao, then Squirtle pressured Pop's Weezing and Mustard's Kommo-o until Dynamax ended.
• Iono Terastallized Mismagius and used Tera Blast while Squirtle collapsed from eating too much.
• Meownei replaced Squirtle, who lay down to digest and said Dynamax felt pretty nice.

After Squirtle’s unusual Galar Star Match victory drew embarrassing attention to his species, Xin Mu and his Pokémon explored Wyndon and bought treats and supplies. The next day, they headed to the Wild Area to study Dynamax in the wild.

• Meownei teased Squirtle about his viral battle, while Squirtle insisted that winning mattered more than how he had done it.
• At a Kanto fire station, the reformed Squirtle gang watched their species’ performance and felt embarrassed by the attention it brought.
• Xin Mu and his companions wandered through Wyndon, where Squirtle smelled scones and explained that he was hungry again.
• Xin Mu bought scones for the group and ordered feather, claw, and beak-care supplies for Corviknight to be delivered to the Backyard.
• The following day, Xin Mu and his companions took a train to the Wild Area to observe Dynamax in the wild.

Xin Mu and his companions found a Gigantamax Snorlax sleeping on the railway tracks and used Gigantamax Corviknight to move it before a train arrived. They flew toward another red light to investigate a new Dynamax event, leaving Lü Ming behind on the ground.

• Xin Mu and his companions arrived in the Wild Area and followed a path across the wilderness after the red lights disappeared.
• Squirtle sensed a large Pokémon snoring, and an oversized Snorlax Gigantamaxed in the bushes.
• Xin Mu spotted an approaching train and ordered Corviknight to Gigantamax and pull Snorlax off the tracks.
• Corviknight moved Snorlax aside, allowing the train to pass, then carried Xin Mu and the others through the air on his back.
• Corviknight flew toward another red light to investigate, while Lü Ming realized the group had left him behind.

Xin Mu and the others investigated Dynamax activity in Galar, where they observed a battle between Gigantamax Drednaw and Gigantamax Coalossal and collected fragments for research. Back home, Regirock sampled the stones they brought back, and Squirtle tried to make one taste better with seasonings and snacks.

• Corviknight avoided carrying Lü Ming because it remembered his fear of heights, so Lü Ming followed on foot while the group surveyed Dynamax sites.
• Xin Mu and the others watched Gigantamax Drednaw and Gigantamax Coalossal fight, then collected shell fragments and coal debris containing traces of Dynamax Energy.
• After returning home, Regirock fitted the Galar stones into its body and enjoyed them as souvenirs.
• Squirtle tried licking a stone, washed it, and asked Meownei for vinegar and other seasonings to improve its taste.
• Squirtle dipped the stone in juice and ate Pokémon biscuits while licking it, and Meownei walked away in disbelief.

Xin Mu found the packages Sylveon had protected in its burrow and shared Paldean snacks with the backyard Pokémon. He then learned a company wanted to license Squirtle’s pose for figurines, and Squirtle showed interest once he realized the deal could buy him extra meals.

• Regirock directed Xin Mu to Sylveon’s burrow, where Sylveon had stored the packages to keep them dry.
• Xin Mu thanked Sylveon and offered snacks to it, Regirock, and the Oddish.
• Xin Mu found Meownei laughing at an ad for a Squirtle figurine based on Squirtle’s pose at the Galar Star Match.
• Xin Mu asked Squirtle whether he wanted to license the pose, and Squirtle critiqued the figurine’s inaccurate shell markings.
• Squirtle became interested after Xin Mu and Meownei explained the deal, and Xin Mu told Meownei to accept while negotiating for a higher price.
• Squirtle objected that he had not agreed yet and insisted on getting extra meals.

Xin Mu returned home in the summer heat after collecting his transcript, while his Pokémon trained and cooled off around the house. After Corviknight greeted migrating Taillow, Xin Mu was called back to school for an impromptu meeting.

• Xin Mu collected his transcript and returned to his stuffy home, where Squirtle had been training in the heat instead of turning on the air conditioner.
• Meownei exposed Squirtle's excuse for not using the air conditioner, and Squirtle fled to the kitchen to spray the backyard Pokémon with water.
• Sylveon spotted migrating Taillow, and Corviknight greeted them and shared Pokémon biscuits.
• Xin Mu received a call about an impromptu school meeting and prepared to leave, but Squirtle called out to stop him.

Squirtle warned Xin Mu that rain was coming, and the group drove to a school meeting where Old Liu discussed travel arrangements. The sudden downpour eased as Xin Mu reached the office building, and he agreed to take a noon flight with the group.

• Squirtle predicted rain and told Xin Mu to bring a rain poncho, so Meownei drove the group to school instead of taking the motorcycle.
• Torracat and Lucario joined Xin Mu and Meownei in the car, while Squirtle stayed home and tried to cool off on Regirock, who had become scorching hot in the sun.
• Thunder and heavy rain arrived suddenly, confirming Squirtle's prediction as the group drove through the campus to the office building.
• Xin Mu met Old Liu, who said the group's travel plans were mostly settled and asked whether Xin Mu preferred a noon or nighttime flight.
• Xin Mu chose a noon flight, and Old Liu led him and the others into the meeting room to discuss the remaining arrangements.

Xin Mu and Old Liu escaped a tedious school meeting before learning the White Cloud Snorlax Cup details. As the team prepared to depart, Sylveon joined Xin Mu’s trip to see the world beyond the Backyard.

• Meownei triggered Xin Mu’s car alarm so he could leave the meeting, and Old Liu followed using the excuse that he would help repair the car.
• Old Liu explained why the meeting’s speaker was rambling and advised Xin Mu not to worry about him.
• Xin Mu and Old Liu returned after the pointless topics ended, and the team quickly reviewed the White Cloud Snorlax Cup plans.
• Regirock declined to travel to the competition and chose to guard the house.
• Sylveon asked Xin Mu to take her along, and she entered a Poké Ball so she could travel with him.