Chapter Summaries

Xin Mu and Meownei returned home, where Meownei had Squirtle summon rain to help their newly acquired Sliggoo evolve. Sliggoo became Goodra, and Squirtle found himself caught in its affectionate, sticky embrace.

• Lü Ming apologized to the professor, who arranged leave for Xin Mu and the others to travel to Sinnoh for the Regional Conference.
• Meownei brought Squirtle into the Backyard and asked him to use Rain Dance on Sliggoo.
• Squirtle summoned a heavy downpour, and Sliggoo evolved into Goodra.
• Goodra lifted Squirtle with its feelers and hugged him, despite his protests.

Xin Mu and Meownei welcomed Goodra, tested its abilities, and made Squirtle pass a final exam before setting out for the Lily of the Valley Conference. After arriving in Sinnoh and registering, they spotted familiar Trainers and a formidable competitor with Darkrai and Latios.

• Meownei tested Goodra and learned that it excelled at Poison-type moves and had the Gooey Ability.
• Meownei challenged Squirtle to a final exam, and Squirtle proved his endurance and evasion before passing.
• Xin Mu prepared the backyard, brought Regirock along for added protection, and flew with Meownei to Sunyshore City.
• At the crowded registration hall, Xin Mu spotted Brock with Croagunk and recognized Ash’s long-haired rival as a powerful competitor with Darkrai and Latios.

Xin Mu competed in the Lily of the Valley Conference and advanced to the six-on-six quarterfinals, where his unusual Goodra overwhelmed Apei’s Granbull. As Ash watched, Apei sent out Empoleon and started Rain Dance, giving Goodra a battlefield it seemed to enjoy.

• Ash met Xin Mu at the tournament, and Xin Mu said they might face each other as opponents.
• Xin Mu advanced through the preliminary and three-on-three rounds; Torracat evolved into Incineroar, while Squirtle and Lucario each swept three opponents.
• Ash defeated Paul with his old lineup in the first quarterfinal, while Xin Mu prepared for his own match.
• Xin Mu’s Hisuian Form Goodra defeated Apei’s Granbull with its tail and Acid Spray, leaving Apei with only Empoleon.
• Apei sent out Empoleon and ordered Rain Dance, but the rain appeared to suit Goodra.

Xin Mu and Ash advanced to the Lily of the Valley Conference final four, where Tobias defeated Ash before Xin Mu earned a place in the championship match against him. The final began with Tobias’s Darkrai facing Xin Mu’s Regirock, whose first real battle opened with Lock-On and Focus Blast.

• Goodra overwhelmed Empoleon with Thunder Punches, and the Lily of the Valley Conference semifinalists were decided.
• Xin Mu warned Ash that Tobias’s second Pokémon was Latios, but Tobias defeated Ash’s full team with Darkrai and Latios.
• Xin Mu won his semifinal and advanced to the final against Tobias, while Ash stayed to support him.
• Tobias sent out Darkrai for the final, and Xin Mu chose Regirock after it shook its Poké Ball to volunteer.
• Regirock used Lock-On on Darkrai and launched Focus Blast in the opening exchange.

Xin Mu's Regirock defeated Tobias's Darkrai, giving Xin Mu the lead in the Sinnoh League final. Tobias sent out Latios, but Xin Mu's Meownei knocked it out with one Play Rough, leaving Tobias further behind.

• Regirock used Lock-On to land a powerful Focus Blast on Tobias's Darkrai.
• Darkrai hit Regirock with Dark Void and tried to use Dream Eater, but Regirock woke in a rage and knocked Darkrai out with Hammer Arm.
• The referee declared Regirock the winner, putting Xin Mu ahead.
• Tobias sent out Latios while Xin Mu recalled Regirock and sent out Meownei.
• Meownei charged through Latios's Dragon Pulse and knocked it out with Play Rough.

After Meowscarada defeated Latios, Tobias sent out Articuno, but Xin Mu used switching moves to bring Regirock back against it. Articuno forced Regirock out with Whirlwind, only for Squirtle to use U-turn and bring Regirock back again.

• Meowscarada knocked out Latios with Play Rough, giving Tobias his second defeat of the battle.
• Tobias sent out Articuno, while Meowscarada considered letting the other Pokémon battle and prepared to switch.
• Meowscarada used U-turn to bring Regirock onto the field against Articuno.
• Tobias ordered Articuno to use Whirlwind, which sent Regirock back into his Poké Ball and brought Squirtle onto the field.
• Squirtle ignored Articuno and used U-turn to return Regirock to the battlefield.

Regirock defeated Articuno with a combination of Rock Slide and Thunder, tying the number of defeated Pokémon on both sides at three. After the intermission and a change to a Rock Field, Tobias sent out Torterra, and Xin Mu chose Lucario to face it.

• Regirock used Stone Edge and Rock Slide to pressure Articuno and cut off its escape routes.
• Articuno tried to break through the rocks with Reflect, but Regirock struck it with Thunder and knocked it out.
• The commentator announced that Articuno was unable to battle and noted that Tobias and Xin Mu had each lost three Pokémon.
• During the intermission, Meownei discussed choosing among Bug, Fire, Psychic, and Ground types with Regirock.
• Tobias sent out Torterra on the Rock Field, and Xin Mu recalled Regirock and sent out Lucario.
• A distant Meowscarada watched the broadcast and angrily tore at a handkerchief when the director cut away from Meownei.

At the Cat House, Meowscarada watched the Lily of the Valley Conference to support Meownei while Liko and Roy looked on. In the tournament, Lucario dodged Torterra’s attacks, Mega Evolved, and boosted her strength as Torterra became immobilized, leaving her poised to strike.

• Meowscarada watched the Lily of the Valley Conference at the Cat House, hoping to see Meownei win, while Roy asked Liko why she was so focused on the matches.
• Tobias sent out Torterra, which used Earthquake, but Lucario flew above the attack with her spinning Aura Staff and struck with Aerial Ace.
• Torterra healed with Synthesis while Lucario used Swords Dance, then Tobias ordered Frenzy Plant to trap her with vines across the arena.
• Lucario dodged and blocked Frenzy Plant with Barrier as Xin Mu guided her through their aura connection, and she completed her Mega Evolution.
• With Torterra immobilized by the vines, Lucario used Swords Dance again while standing directly in front of it.

Xin Mu won the Lily of the Valley Conference after Mega Lucario defeated Tobias's remaining Pokémon. With the victory came an opportunity to challenge the Elite Four, and Xin Mu began considering which member to face first.

• Lucario tricked Torterra into using Protect, completed a third Swords Dance, then defeated it with Aerial Ace.
• Tobias sent out Dragonite, but Lucario knocked it out with Extreme Speed and a quadruple-effective Ice Punch before it could use Haze.
• Lucario defeated Tobias's final Pokémon, Lickilicky, and Xin Mu was declared the Lily of the Valley Conference winner.
• Cynthia and Charles Goodshow presented Xin Mu with the conference trophy at the closing ceremony.
• Xin Mu moved into the Pokémon Center and studied information about Aaron, Bertha, Flint, and Lucian as he considered which Elite Four member to challenge.

Xin Mu chose Lucian as his Elite Four opponent, and Lucian prepared for the battle by reviewing Xin Mu’s team. Incineroar opened against Lucian’s Mr. Mime, then withdrew after exchanging attacks and left Meownei to take her place.

• Xin Mu’s team and type matchups led the staff to select Lucian rather than Aaron as his opponent.
• Lucian learned of the challenge while reading in the Library and used Girafarig’s psychic powers to review Xin Mu’s performance and Pokémon.
• The battle began before a packed crowd, with Lucian sending out Mr. Mime and Xin Mu choosing Incineroar.
• Mr. Mime set up Light Screen and Reflect while Incineroar attacked with Darkest Lariat, then endured Mr. Mime’s Thunderbolt.
• Xin Mu ordered Incineroar to use Parting Shot, and she returned to her Poké Ball after roaring that her big sis would come beat Mr. Mime up.
• Meownei entered the field as Incineroar’s replacement.

Xin Mu defeated Lucian and earned the right to challenge the Champion after several days of rest. Lucian compared Xin Mu’s team to Cynthia’s, while Cynthia remained downstairs choosing ice cream until Squirtle picked for her and left with a cooler.

• Meownei shattered Mr. Mime’s Light Screen and Reflect with Brick Break, then defeated Bronzong by filling his bell opening with bomb flowers.
• Xin Mu defeated Lucian, earning the chance to challenge the Champion after a few days to recover.
• Lucian told Flint that Meownei reminded him of Cynthia’s Garchomp in battle, while Flint wished he had been chosen as Xin Mu’s opponent.
• Lucian said Cynthia was downstairs struggling to choose an ice cream flavor.
• Squirtle gave the vendor a note with his ice cream order, received two extra scoops, and chose flavors for Cynthia before walking away with a cooler.

Xin Mu prepared his Pokémon for the upcoming Champion battle, then faced Cynthia in a six-on-six match before a packed Sinnoh stadium. The chapter left the battle beginning with Xin Mu’s Goodra facing Cynthia’s Spiritomb.

• Squirtle returned with ice cream and told Xin Mu that he had met Cynthia downstairs and thought she seemed easy to beat.
• Meownei discussed Cynthia’s likely team and suggested exploring Terastallization for Regirock.
• A delivery arrived with special Treasure Eatery dishes made into crystals for Regirock, while Squirtle asked for some and was refused.
• The Sinnoh Elite Four held annual Ranking Battles to warm up the crowd before the Champion battle.
• The announcer introduced Cynthia and Xin Mu for their full six-on-six battle, and Cynthia led with Spiritomb against Xin Mu’s Goodra.
• Lü Ming and the others came to support Xin Mu from the stands, while Meownei spotted familiar faces and waved to them.

Xin Mu’s Goodra and Lucario battled Cynthia’s Spiritomb and Lucario in the tournament match. Cynthia switched to her Lucario after Spiritomb was hurt, and the chapter ended with the two Lucario exchanging attacks.

• Goodra used Rain Dance, and she and Spiritomb traded attacks before Spiritomb used Psychic to send her Toxic back at her.
• Spiritomb put Goodra to sleep with Hypnosis, but Goodra slid into Spiritomb and struck it hard; Cynthia recalled Spiritomb and sent out Lucario.
• Xin Mu sent out his Lucario and Mega Evolved her, then she dodged Cynthia’s Lucario’s Earthquake with Bone Rush.
• Xin Mu’s Lucario descended from the rain clouds to attack, but Cynthia’s Lucario caught her with Psychic and slammed her into the ground.
• Xin Mu’s Lucario burst her Aura to escape Psychic’s hold and attacked Cynthia’s Lucario with Bone Rush.

Xin Mu's Lucario and Cynthia's Lucario knocked each other out with an aura explosion, after which both Trainers cycled through Pokémon to contest the field. Regirock Terastallized into a Fairy type to resist Togekiss's Aura Sphere, and Xin Mu ordered it to use Thunder before the rain cleared.

• Xin Mu's Lucario abandoned her Aura Staff, trapped Cynthia's Lucario, and detonated an Aura Sphere, leaving both Lucario unable to battle.
• Cynthia sent out Roserade while Xin Mu chose Corviknight, which used Tailwind as Roserade laid Spikes across the field.
• Corviknight used Hurricane to sweep away Roserade's Spikes, then Cynthia switched to Togekiss and Xin Mu replaced Corviknight with Regirock.
• Regirock Terastallized into a Fairy type and withstood Togekiss's Aura Sphere.
• Xin Mu ordered Regirock to use Thunder while the rain from Goodra was still falling.

Xin Mu and Cynthia traded Pokémon as Regirock defeated Togekiss but was worn down by Gastrodon. Meownei entered to exploit Gastrodon's Grass weakness, and Cynthia brought out Garchomp, setting up an early clash between their aces.

• Regirock Terastallized into a Fairy type and used Thunder and Lock-On to paralyze Togekiss before Zap Cannon knocked it out.
• Cynthia sent out Gastrodon, which clung to Regirock and struck it with Sludge Bomb until Xin Mu recalled Regirock.
• Meownei stopped Xin Mu from sending out Squirtle and volunteered to face Gastrodon because it was four times weak to Grass.
• Cynthia switched in Garchomp as Meownei took the field, bringing the two trainers' aces together ahead of schedule.

Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp to face Xin Mu and Meownei, then used coordinated Dragon- and Steel-type attacks to pressure Meownei’s Protean. Meownei charged into close combat and prepared to test Garchomp’s weakness to Ice-type attacks.

• Cynthia Mega Evolved Garchomp at the start of the battle.
• Meownei changed into a Fairy type with Protean and blocked Garchomp’s Dragon Claw before breaking their clash with Play Rough.
• Cynthia ordered Garchomp to use Draco Meteor followed by Iron Head to counter Meownei’s changing types.
• Meownei and Xin Mu chose to rush Garchomp at close range, and Meownei prepared to use Triple Axel against her quadruple Ice-type weakness.

Meownei and Mega Garchomp traded blows amid Draco Meteor before Garchomp created a sandstorm to obscure the battlefield. Meownei used the cover to prepare an Ice-type Z-Move, leaving its finishing blow poised to strike Garchomp.

• Meownei and Mega Garchomp clashed with Triple Axel and Iron Head as Draco Meteor fell around them.
• Garchomp interrupted Meownei’s final Triple Axel strike by charging into the Draco Meteor and taking the hit alongside her.
• Garchomp summoned a sandstorm and concealed itself, while Meownei endured the storm and prepared her finishing move.
• Garchomp attacked Meownei with Stone Edge and Dragon Rush, but Dragon Rush destroyed a Substitute instead of Meownei.
• Meownei and Xin Mu completed the Z-Move preparation, and Meownei unleashed Subzero Slammer.

Xin Mu defeated Cynthia’s Garchomp with Meownei’s Z-Move and went on to win the Champion challenge. He declined to take over as Sinnoh’s Champion, but Damaranch said he still had to register at League headquarters to complete the procedure.

• Meownei defeated Cynthia’s Mega Garchomp with Subzero Slammer, then left the battlefield to recover.
• Squirtle and Spiritomb knocked each other out through Destiny Bond, while Gastrodon and Goodra both became unable to battle.
• Meownei defeated Roserade, ending the Champion challenge in Xin Mu’s favor.
• Cynthia told Xin Mu that defeating her entitled him to become Sinnoh’s Champion, but he declined the position and its duties.
• Damaranch said Xin Mu still had to register at Sinnoh League headquarters before the Lily of the Valley Conference was formally concluded.

After winning the Lily of the Valley Conference, Xin Mu declined the Sinnoh Champion position and helped pose his Pokémon for the Hall of Fame. He visited Professor Lü Ming, who had traveled to watch the finals, and learned how frightening the flight had been without Corviknight to keep him safe.

• Xin Mu completed the League paperwork, accepted an honorary title and cash prize, and declined to become Champion.
• Xin Mu and his Pokémon chose a group pose for their new Hall of Fame display.
• Meownei told Xin Mu that Professor Lü Ming had attended the finals, so Xin Mu contacted Lü Ming and visited his hotel.
• Xin Mu told Lü Ming he did not think being Champion suited him, and Lü Ming reassured him that he could challenge again if he changed his mind.
• Lü Ming explained that he had panicked on the flight because Xin Mu and Corviknight were not there to protect him, then jokingly threatened to delay Xin Mu's graduation.

Xin Mu and Meownei visited an address in Sinnoh, where they discovered that the apparent receptionist was a Ditto and met a Mismagius connected to Xin Mu’s family. Mismagius congratulated Xin Mu on winning the championship and revealed that she and Ditto had been managing the place since his Second Grandpa passed away.

• Lü Ming told Xin Mu he had no energy to raise new Pokémon and mentioned that the university would likely hold an awards ceremony after Xin Mu returned.
• Xin Mu took Meownei to the address on his note, a tall office building near the Sinnoh League headquarters.
• Meownei sniffed out that the receptionist was a Pokémon, and the apparent human revealed herself to be a Ditto while arguing with Squirtle using a cue board.
• A second apparent human emerged and revealed herself as Mismagius, whom Meownei recognized as the shadow she had encountered at Shandu Gym.
• Mismagius congratulated Xin Mu on his championship and said she and Ditto were his Second Grandpa’s Pokémon, temporarily managing things there after his death.