Chapter Summaries

After learning that Litten’s pale coat came from malnutrition rather than a shiny coloration, Xin Mu took her home, where Squirtle reported that Cyclizar had occupied the backyard hot spring. Lü Ming discovered the Cyclizar were part of the school’s new shared-riding program.

• The Pokémon Center treated Litten’s injuries and malnutrition, and Xin Mu learned that her fur looked white because it lacked pigment.
• Xin Mu checked on Corviknight’s delayed saddle, then headed toward the subway with Meownei carrying Litten in a blanket.
• Squirtle sent Meownei a photo of seven or eight Cyclizar in Xin Mu’s hot spring, and Xin Mu told Squirtle to keep watch.
• Xin Mu sent the photo to Lü Ming, who learned that the new principal had brought the Cyclizar to launch the school’s Shared Cyclizar Plan.

Xin Mu found a group of escaped Cyclizar warming themselves beside his backyard hot spring and helped Li Han return them to campus. Afterward, Lucario came back from an outing with Corviknight, carrying feathers from a fight and showing a few wounds.

• Xin Mu arrived home and found several Cyclizar warming themselves around the hot spring while Eevee and Bellossom played nearby.
• Li Han arrived on Machamp, explained the Cyclizar had escaped from the Breeding Studies Department, and confirmed they had not damaged anything.
• Li Han checked the Cyclizar's license plates, confirmed all the missing Pokémon were present, and took them back to campus.
• Xin Mu and Squirtle realized the Cyclizar had entered the backyard through the front gate after turning away from the deep snow at the back.
• Corviknight returned with Lucario, who jumped down before it landed and showed feathers and wounds from their brawl.

Xin Mu prepared Max Soup for Squirtle and Corviknight while caring for his Pokémon and planning to take the Flying License test after New Year. The chapter ended with Meownei searching for a training guide to help explain Squirtle’s unusual speed.

• Lucario demonstrated how Corviknight had used Aura Sphere to defeat the Fearow group, and Xin Mu sent everyone to wash up and eat.
• Xin Mu brought Corviknight a giant whetstone and promised to take the Flying License test after New Year so Corviknight could fly him to places.
• Xin Mu cooked Max Soup with Max Mushrooms and Max Honey, planning portions for Corviknight and Squirtle to try Gigantamaxing.
• Squirtle dashed into the kitchen when Xin Mu called him for seconds, startling Litten with his speed.
• Meownei started searching online for a Squirtle training guide about whether Rest and Rapid Spin could help Squirtle master Agility.

Meownei watched Squirtle drink a whole pot of Max Soup and discovered he had taught himself Ice Punch. Squirtle explained that he learned it to cool hot bowls, then Meownei tested his claims about Agility by posing a dangerous escape scenario.

• Meownei wondered whether Xin Mu could become a professor by proving Squirtle could learn Agility, while online commenters insisted it was impossible.
• Squirtle drank the entire pot of Max Soup, cooling each bowl with Ice Punch and surprising Meownei with the previously unknown move.
• Squirtle said he had learned Ice Punch after watching Meownei and Regirock use other elemental punches, mainly because hot bowls were inconvenient.
• Squirtle said he wanted a comfortable life of good food, drink, and sleep, then joked that his laziness helped drive progress.
• Meownei formed a Flower Trick and asked Squirtle whether he could escape flower bombs with Extreme Speed or Agility if he could not use defensive moves.

Meownei planned to pressure Squirtle into learning new moves while Xin Mu prepared Max Soup for Corviknight and discussed Gigantamaxing. During training, Lucario learned Heal Pulse and showed unusual determination, which Meownei suspected was connected to Litten.

• Meownei stopped trying to make Squirtle fly and warned that he could lose a meal if he failed to return in time.
• Xin Mu brought Corviknight Max Soup, showed him what Gigantamaxing looked like, and said they would go to Galar after Corviknight passed his Flying License test.
• Squirtle took cookies and fruit tea to Eevee's home and played house with Eevee and Bellossom to avoid training.
• Lucario continued sparring with Meownei after finishing her daily goals and used Heal Pulse to restore her stamina.
• Meownei noticed Lucario kept looking toward Litten and wondered whether the younger Pokémon had made her jealous.

Meownei watched Lucario and Litten meet, then Officer Jenny investigated a report accusing Xin Mu of abusing Pokémon after someone photographed Meownei hanging outside a window. The misunderstanding was cleared up, but Meownei questioned whether the drone that took the photo had been allowed to photograph their home.

• Lucario lost focus while sparring with Meownei, who reminded her that she was Litten’s big sister and told her to look after the newcomer.
• After Meownei left, Litten praised Lucario, and Lucario offered to teach her before they bumped fists.
• Meownei secretly watched the two get along and discussed installing a camera with Xin Mu.
• Officer Jenny arrived to investigate a report of Pokémon abuse and showed Xin Mu a photo of Meownei hanging upside down outside the window.
• Xin Mu explained that Meownei was a recent rescue still recovering, and Officer Jenny concluded the report was a misunderstanding.
• Meownei asked whether drones were allowed to fly over residential areas and take photos.

On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Xin Mu took Meownei and Litten through the crowded streets before returning home to prepare dumplings with the Pokémon. The group divided up the cooking and decorating, while Squirtle kept sneaking tastes of the filling ingredients.

• Officer Jenny told Xin Mu that she and her colleagues would handle the false-alarm report’s follow-up without revealing the informant’s identity.
• Xin Mu took Meownei and Litten out to see the busy streets, and Litten hid in his hood when the crowd frightened her.
• Xin Mu brought Regirock and Corviknight inside so the Pokémon could join the New Year’s Eve gathering.
• Regirock pounded pork into mince, while Meownei shucked corn and scolded Squirtle for eating the kernels.
• Meownei sent Squirtle outside to put up couplets with Corviknight, as Xin Mu and Lucario prepared the dumpling dough.

Xin Mu and the Pokémon prepared and froze dumplings in a kitchen assembly line, then found Squirtle, Corviknight, and Litten struggling to match couplet scrolls. Meownei could not sort out the couplets either, so she went inside to use her Smartwatch to look them up.

• Xin Mu, Lucario, and Meownei prepared dumpling dough and fillings while Litten went outside to guide Squirtle and the others.
• Lucario quickly mastered rolling wrappers as Meownei added filling and Xin Mu wrapped, marked, and froze the dumplings.
• Meownei playfully smeared flour on Xin Mu, and the two horsed around while Lucario washed her hands.
• Xin Mu and Meownei noticed Squirtle, Corviknight, and Litten still outside and found them debating which couplet scrolls belonged together.
• Meownei could not identify the matching couplets, so she went inside to use her Smartwatch to search for an answer.

Meownei and Squirtle worked on decorating the gates for the new year, and Squirtle made ice lanterns instead of trying to freeze the couplets onto the wall. After Xin Mu came out to check on them, Lucario asked Squirtle to make her an ice lantern, and he eagerly began crafting one.

• Meownei used the internet to pair the couplets, rejected Squirtle's idea to stick them up with frozen water, and fetched more glue.
• While Meownei was away, Squirtle went to the Backyard and made an ice lantern.
• Meownei put up the couplets, and Squirtle made more ice lanterns with patterns and rechargeable candle lights.
• Xin Mu went outside to check on the slow progress and found the Pokémon displaying their finished decorations.
• Squirtle struggled to name other things he could do, then Lucario asked him to make her an ice lantern.
• Squirtle gathered a chopstick and leftover yarn and began crafting Lucario's lantern.

As Xin Mu prepared New Year's food, Squirtle made ice lanterns for Lucario and Litten and later secretly ate the crispy pork and meatballs straight from the serving plate. Meownei realized Squirtle had volunteered to help in the kitchen so he could sneak food, while Xin Mu called for someone to replace him.

• Squirtle made ice lanterns for Lucario and a smaller one for Litten, who watched him work.
• Firecrackers startled Litten, and Meownei and Squirtle explained the celebration while Xin Mu woke and went to cook.
• Xin Mu boiled and steamed dumplings, fried dumplings and snacks, and baked fruit dumplings into pies.
• Squirtle offered to fetch plates so Meownei would not have to wash his fur-covered hands again.
• Squirtle used the leaf-shaped plate to carry away and eat Xin Mu's crispy pork and meatballs before they could be fried a second time.
• Xin Mu noticed the food had vanished and called Meownei for help, and Meownei realized why Squirtle had been so eager to assist.

Xin Mu and the Pokémon celebrated New Year's Eve with a lavish dinner, then gathered in the living room to watch the countdown. As midnight approached, Rayquaza appeared on television and familiar music began to play.

• Xin Mu had Meownei help taste and serve the food after banishing Squirtle from the kitchen for sneaking bites.
• Lucario called Squirtle out for eating an entire plate during taste testing, but he later ate almost everything at dinner alongside the others.
• Meownei wondered how Squirtle could eat so much without gaining weight, while Litten hesitated to take food because she wanted to leave enough for him.
• Lucario reassured Litten that there was plenty of food and told her to ask for what she wanted.
• After the Pokémon finished the New Year's Eve meal, Xin Mu prepared Berry pies for the Backyard and gathered everyone in the living room to watch television.
• Squirtle chilled cola with Ice Punch as Rayquaza appeared on television and familiar background music reached Xin Mu.

The Spring Festival Gala featured Dragon-type Pokémon and prize draws, and Meownei won a car while Squirtle regretted betting against her. At the Hoenn venue, the car was stolen during the live broadcast, and a Meowth-shaped hot-air balloon appeared on-screen as staff scrambled to respond.

• The Gala showed Rayquaza, Magikarp, Gyarados, Dragonair, and Kingdra in performances celebrating the Year of the Dragon.
• Meownei entered the Hoenn venue’s prize draw and won the car, while Squirtle had wagered five years of his life that she would lose.
• The host learned through an earpiece that the prize car had been stolen just before its scheduled demonstration.
• Squirtle spotted a Meowth-shaped hot-air balloon carrying a large R on the television, and Meownei noticed a crate hanging beneath it.

After Team Rocket’s failed theft was turned into a staged Dragonite rescue, Xin Mu and the Pokémon celebrated the New Year with fireworks and holiday treats. The night ended with Litten asleep and Eevee carrying Berry pies back to share with its family.

• Team Rocket stole a prize in their balloon, but Dragonite captured them and delivered the car to Xin Mu’s home without disrupting the broadcast.
• Meownei teased Squirtle about staking more years of his life after winning the car, and Squirtle denied that he had helped cause the win.
• Xin Mu set off fireworks with Litten’s precise Ember, and one shell formed a green paw print in the sky.
• Regirock watched the fireworks while Litten fell asleep indoors after staying up late.
• Xin Mu brought Berry pies to the Backyard Pokémon, and Eevee carried its portion back to share with its parents.

Meownei took Xin Mu for an early New Year’s drive, and they stopped on a hill to enjoy some rare time alone. They spotted their Corviknight flying nearby with Lucario aboard, who came down to ask why they had left so early.

• Meownei woke Xin Mu and invited him to ride in their new SUV.
• Meownei drove through the quiet city and countryside with Xin Mu, following the road to a hill overlooking the city.
• Meownei and Xin Mu sat on the car roof and enjoyed the peaceful view together.
• Meownei noticed their Corviknight in the sky and Xin Mu spotted a flock of Fearow nearby.
• Corviknight descended with Lucario, who asked why Meownei and Xin Mu had gone out so early.

Meownei took Lucario on a harsh sparring session while Xin Mu and Corviknight watched, then arranged for Corviknight to fly Lucario home. Meownei returned late after taking a scenic drive, and Squirtle’s suspicions ended with him being dragged into more training.

• Meownei sparred with Lucario on a hillside, pushing her through an intense training session.
• Xin Mu reassured Corviknight that Meownei knew her limits, and Corviknight refused to join the sparring.
• Meownei massaged Lucario after the fight, then sent her home by air with Corviknight while she drove back alone.
• Squirtle waited at home, worried that Xin Mu and Meownei had been gone all day and annoyed that he had eaten only instant food.
• Meownei explained that she had taken a scenic drive and stopped by a stream, but Squirtle remained suspicious.
• Meownei carried Squirtle into the Backyard to check his Zen Headbutt training, while Corviknight watched and felt glad he had avoided her training.

Meownei trained Squirtle in Zen Headbutt but redirected him toward a zoning-out contest, which he claimed he could win even against Slaking. Xin Mu exchanged Pokéblock recipes with Brock, and the chapter ended with the contest registration confirmed and Meownei considering how Squirtle’s ability to hibernate could give him an advantage.

• Meownei taught Squirtle about Shell Smash and considered how he could combine it with Exploding Turtle Shell, while Squirtle complained that he did not know the move.
• Meownei noticed an ad for a zoning-out contest and signed Squirtle up after he boasted that he could outlast even Slaking without sleeping.
• Xin Mu shared Pokéblock recipes with Brock, and Brock sent Xin Mu homemade food intended for Rock-type Pokémon.
• Meownei received confirmation of Squirtle’s registration, and she and Xin Mu discussed the contest and Slaking’s Truant.
• Meownei considered that Squirtle’s months-long hibernation might give him an advantage if the contest rules allowed sleeping.

Squirtle entered a mall staring contest after sleeping for several days to prepare, and he remained unfazed as the organizers tried to distract the contestants. Slowpoke forgot it was competing after using Amnesia and evolved into Slowbro when Shellder bit its tail, while Squirtle noticed Meownei and Xin Mu had disappeared.

• Squirtle woke when his alarm rang and went with Meownei to the mall's staring contest.
• Squirtle chose a cushion and remained motionless after the contest began, while Psyduck was eliminated after a breeze tickled its head.
• Mall staff brought fragrant food past the contestants, but Squirtle ignored it.
• Slowpoke's Trainer ordered it to use Amnesia, causing Slowpoke to forget the contest and walk off the stage.
• Shellder bit Slowpoke's tail, triggering its evolution into Slowbro and a dispute with Shellder's owner.
• Squirtle noticed that Meownei and Xin Mu had disappeared, leaving Lucario meditating beside the contest.

Squirtle won the zoning-out contest after outlasting Hippowdon, and Xin Mu went to finish his flying license test. The test ended unexpectedly when a flock of Spearow recognized Corviknight and fled, leaving the examiner to decide whether Xin Mu had passed.

• Squirtle outlasted Hippowdon, who grew restless without sand to hide under, and claimed first prize in the contest.
• Squirtle asked Xin Mu to cook a celebratory feast at home, and Xin Mu agreed after finishing his flying license test.
• Xin Mu rode Corviknight through the low-altitude flying test while an instructor escorted them.
• When the examiner released a flock of Spearow as part of the unexpected-situation test, they recognized Corviknight and fled.
• Xin Mu landed and asked whether the Spearow's retreat counted as a pass or a fail.

Xin Mu earned his Flying License after completing the flight assessment and set out with Meownei to challenge the Fifth Gym, located on an archipelago protected by the Donghuang League. They reached the gym, which doubled as an arcade, where Meownei recognized an advertisement featuring Diwu Wangquan.

• Xin Mu passed the remaining flight tests and received his Flying License after the instructor approved his handling of the Spearow incident.
• Xin Mu took Meownei for a ride on Corviknight, and they returned soon afterward to cook the feast they had promised Squirtle.
• After society resumed its usual operations, Xin Mu prepared to challenge his fifth Gym and chose the Fifth Gym, a common destination for challengers in Donghuang.
• Xin Mu and Corviknight flew to the archipelago, followed the navigation device around the protected area's no-fly zone, and landed outside the gym.
• Meownei saw a short-haired girl in an arcade advertisement and recognized her as Diwu Wangquan, the Identity V endorser from the gaming section.

Xin Mu visited the Fifth Gym, played its arcade with Lucario, and then began a Double Battle challenge against Gym Leader Diwu Wangquan. Before the battle could start, Diwu Wangquan introduced her relative Diwu Fugui as the referee and told Xin Mu he could complain to the League about him.

• Xin Mu learned the Fifth Gym Leader was away until evening and spent the wait playing arcade games with Lucario.
• Lucario won a Snorlax plushie, while Xin Mu collected snacks and other prizes from the arcade machines.
• A staff member told Xin Mu that Diwu Wangquan had returned, and he went to the battlefield to challenge her.
• The referee announced the rules for the Gym’s Double Battle, allowing each side two Pokémon and one special battle mechanic.
• Diwu Wangquan paused the match to reveal that the referee, Diwu Fugui, was her relative and invited Xin Mu to file a complaint if he objected.