Chapter Summaries

Ash and Applin battled Shen Xunge and Sneasel, using a held Sitrus Berry to survive Triple Axel and then dodging Ice Beam while building up Rollout. The chapter ended as Applin used Sucker Punch on the ground to leap into the air, surprising Shen Xunge.

• Ash’s Astonish test revealed that Sneasel could flinch, and Applin’s opening Rollout knocked Sneasel down.
• Shen Xunge had Sneasel freeze the battlefield with Icy Wind, then land a three-hit Triple Axel that shattered Applin’s Rock-type armor.
• Ash had Applin use Defense Curl, and Applin recovered by eating a dried Sitrus Berry he carried.
• Ash sent Applin rolling toward Sneasel, and Applin dodged Sneasel’s pursuing Ice Beam under Ash’s directions.
• Ash ordered Applin to use Sucker Punch on the ground and jump, breaking his accumulated Rock-type energy and catching Shen Xunge off guard.

Ash’s Applin defeated Shen Xunge’s Sneasel in a close battle by revealing it could use Dragon Pulse and rebuilding its apple host with Recycle. Xiao Ke declared Applin the winner, though it was left exhausted and exposed.

• Ash ordered Applin to escape its apple host, letting Sneasel’s Brick Break destroy the apple while Applin landed safely on the ice.
• Ash commanded Dragon Pulse, and Applin struck the airborne Sneasel, leaving it badly injured but still able to fight.
• Shen Xunge ordered Ice Shard as Ash had Applin use Recycle to piece its broken apple host back together.
• Ash ordered one last Rollout, and Applin smashed through Sneasel’s Ice Shard before sending Sneasel flying into a wall, unconscious.
• Xiao Ke declared Sneasel unable to battle and named Applin the winner.

Ash defeated Shen Xunge in a class battle, and his Applin evolved into Flapple. After choosing ingredients to celebrate, Ash spotted two extremely rare humanoid Pokémon outside the supermarket.

• Ash collapsed after defeating Shen Xunge, and his classmates congratulated and challenged him.
• Shen Xunge praised Ash’s tactics and asked to study Applin after noticing it had used Dragon Pulse.
• Applin ate the shattered apple pieces and evolved into Flapple, learning Wing Attack, Twister, and Acid Spray.
• Shen Xunge gave Ash a list of moves he could teach Flapple, and Ash took it home to decide which one to choose.
• Ash bought ingredients to cook chicken dishes for Flapple and Inteleon, then spotted two rare humanoid Pokémon outside the supermarket.

Ash returned home with Flapple, where a rare shiny Ralts appeared and wrecked his apartment in a fight with Flapple. After the Landlady arranged repairs, Ralts joined them for dinner only to demand A5-grade steak or other expensive delicacies.

• Ash went home with Flapple and Inteleon after briefly spotting two Gallade searching the area.
• Ralts appeared in Ash's living room, fought Flapple with Psychic and Fairy moves, and shattered the windows and furniture.
• Inteleon stopped Ralts with Water Gun and Snipe Shot, while Ash mourned the destroyed television and other damage.
• The Landlady and Granbull arrived, and Machoke workers repaired the apartment as Ash apologized and paid for the damage.
• Ash comforted Flapple and invited Ralts to dinner, but she used telepathy to demand A5-grade steak, black truffles, or foie gras.

Ash hosted the spoiled Shiny Ralts for dinner, and his cooking turned her from a disdainful critic into an eager glutton. After learning she had run away from home, he tried to send her back, but Ralts insisted that he take responsibility for her.

• Ralts criticized Ash’s modest dinner and scolded Flapple for lunging at the food, prompting Ash to insist that Flapple learn table manners.
• Ralts tasted Ash’s Lemon Cola Chicken, praised its flavor, and competed with Flapple to eat the meal.
• Ash asked how Ralts had entered his apartment and where her parents were, and she admitted she had no home before demanding that he become her personal chef.
• Ralts accused Ash of having a Pokémon fetish after sensing his fleeting thoughts about her evolution, and Ash denied the charge.
• Ash told Ralts to go home, but she refused to leave and insisted he had to take responsibility for her.

Ash and Ralts clashed over his plan to catch her, while Xin Yan began a journey through Kanto with Ash and Leng Ciyang. After Xin Yan used Teleport to escape a Pokémon hunter and collapsed from exhaustion, the trio stayed together at an inn, where she fell ill with a fever.

• Ash offered Ralts his bed for the night after she accused him of having improper intentions, and Inteleon settled in beside him.
• Xin Yan, Ash, and Leng Ciyang collected their starter supplies from Professor Oak and set out together for Viridian Forest.
• When Ash heard a Pokémon hunter threaten to capture and sell Eevee, Xin Yan used Teleport to take the group to a Pokémon Center, then fainted from exhaustion and fear.
• After Xin Yan recovered, the trio booked the inn’s last room and shared the bed during a storm; Leng Ciyang and Ash comforted her as she fell asleep.
• Xin Yan woke with a fever the next morning, and Leng Ciyang put her back to bed while Ash went to buy light food.
• Feverish and confused, Xin Yan asked Leng Ciyang for a hug, then wondered where Ash had gone.

Shirai Hui chose Cyndaquil as his first Pokémon and set out from New Bark Town for the Battle Academy in Goldenrod City. On the road, he accepted A-Xin’s challenge to his first Pokémon battle.

• Shirai Hui recalled his past-life memories and his Aura ability as he awaited the chance to receive a starter Pokémon.
• At Professor Elm’s laboratory, Shirai Hui chose timid Cyndaquil, and their bond changed the feel of his Aura.
• Shirai Hui learned that he needed three Pokémon to enter the Battle Academy and planned to hatch his family’s Mareep Egg and catch another Pokémon on the way.
• Shirai Hui found his parents’ farewell letter, backpack, and Mareep Egg, then left home with Cyndaquil for Goldenrod City.
• A-Xin challenged Shirai Hui to a battle, and the two agreed to fight despite Shirai Hui having only Cyndaquil.

Ash lost his first battle to A-Xin and began training Cyndaquil before setting out toward Dark Town. On the road, Ash found an injured Rattata that trembled when he approached and decided to take it to a Pokémon Center.

• Ash's Cyndaquil lost to A-Xin's Ledyba, and A-Xin invited Ash to seek a rematch at the Battle Academy in Goldenrod City.
• Ash had Cyndaquil treated at the Cherrygrove City Pokémon Center, learned Cyndaquil knew Flame Burst, and began training with him.
• Ash checked that his Pokémon Egg was healthy, called his parents, and heard they planned to send Mareep's milk to the Pokémon Center in Dark Town.
• Ash trained Cyndaquil for several days, during which Cyndaquil learned Quick Attack and raised the temperature of his flames.
• Ash found a wounded Rattata by the road, saw it tremble at his approach, and decided to take it to a Pokémon Center.

Ash learned why Pokémon Bonding had been established after discovering that a Rattata had been abandoned, then continued training with Cyndaquil in Dark Town. His Pokémon Egg hatched into a Mareep, leaving Ash with a new Pokémon to care for.

• Nurse Joy told Ash that the Rattata had been abandoned by its Trainer and that severing their Pokémon Bonding connection had left it listless; Officer Jenny recorded Ash’s account.
• Nurse Joy explained that a war led by Legendary Pokémon had ended with Arceus establishing Pokémon Bonding and limiting each Trainer to six Pokémon over a lifetime.
• Ash set aside his worries with Cyndaquil’s help, gave a statement to Officer Jenny, and resumed training.
• Ash defeated a Kalos girl named Yagami Hong in a battle and declined her invitation to travel with her, saying he needed to wait for his Pokémon Egg to hatch.
• Nurse Joy told Ash that his egg was hatching, and a blue Mareep emerged from its shell.

Ash agreed to help Yuta and Delibird find a missing Poké Ball made by the Steel Master after registering Mareep as his second Pokémon. He set out with Yuta and Cyndaquil to investigate the delivery route, and learned that Yuta’s shiny Dunsparce had a gift for Ground- and Rock-type moves.

• Ash learned from Delibird that a parcel was missing, and Yuta revealed that the missing item was a Poké Ball commissioned from the Steel Master in Azalea Town.
• Nurse Joy hired Ash to help search for the parcel, and Yuta explained that it had likely gone missing on the way back from Delibird’s Nest.
• Ash registered Mareep with his Pokédex and asked Nurse Joy to care for him while he went to investigate.
• Ash, Yuta, and Cyndaquil headed toward Delibird’s Nest as Yuta released his Wooper and shiny Dunsparce.
• Yuta told Ash that his Dunsparce had unusually strong control over the ground and was close to mastering Earthquake.

Ash and Yuta investigated why the forest Pokémon had become hostile and discovered that a lost package of unusually powerful Poké Balls had caused the trouble. After Ash freed Long-Tailed Excavator, the Pokémon chose to become Yuta’s Pokémon.

• Ash and Yuta entered the forest to search for Long-Tailed Excavator, but wild Pokémon attacked them and forced them to retreat.
• Ash suspected the attacks were connected to Yuta’s lost package, and Yuta sent Wooper to ask the forest Pokémon what had happened.
• While Wooper was away, Dunsparce tried to teach Cyndaquil to use Ground-type energy.
• Wooper returned and led Ash and Yuta to the forest’s group leaders, where Ash learned Long-Tailed Excavator had accidentally caught himself in a powerful Poké Ball from the package.
• Ash released Long-Tailed Excavator, and the Pokémon refused Yuta’s offer to free him because he wanted to become Yuta’s Pokémon.

After completing his work in Dark Town, Ash set out toward Ecruteak City with Cyndaquil and Mareep, training them along the way. He got lost in Dark Cave No. 2, accidentally triggered a Pokémon battle, and escaped into the forest as the furious Pokémon chased him.

• Long-Tailed Excavator joined Yuta as his helper, and Ash and Yuta returned to the Pokémon Center, where Nurse Joy welcomed them back.
• The next morning, Ash received Luxury Balls as the reward for recovering the package and left Dark Town for Ecruteak City.
• Ash trained Cyndaquil and Mareep in the forest, then entered Dark Cave No. 2 to travel toward the mountains near Ecruteak City.
• Cyndaquil learned Sand Rush, Dig, and Rollout, but his Rollout accidentally struck Sandshrew and sparked a fight with Geodude and Sandslash.
• Ash fled when Sandshrew woke and the cave Pokémon turned on him; his Aura guided him to the exit, and he escaped into the forest while Trainers from Ecruteak City searched the area.

Ash arrived in Ecruteak City, battled Songbin’s Phantump with Mareep, and explored the city’s history and landmarks with the Gym apprentice. His Aura evolved at the Exquisite Tower, and he ended the chapter at an Abandoned Mansion, where he saw through a powerful illusion and became more interested in Ghost-type Pokémon.

• Ash met Songbin at the Pokémon Center after Songbin’s lackeys, Dashan and Xiaohe, tried to intimidate him, and agreed to a one-on-one battle.
• Ash sent Mareep against Songbin’s Phantump, and Mareep won by using Charge to power up Thunderbolt.
• Songbin told Ash he would be his senior at the Battle Academy and offered to show him Ecruteak City’s twin towers.
• Songbin explained how the legend of Ho-Oh had changed after the great Pokémon war, and Ash’s Aura expanded at the top of the Exquisite Tower, gaining the ability to see through objects and strengthening his Telepathy.
• Songbin gave Ash the address of a nearby Abandoned Mansion where Ghost-type Pokémon lived, and Ash saw through the mansion’s illusion with his Aura.

Ash and Qing Shao chose to challenge the Battle Academy’s Elite Four Class, and Qing Shao battled teacher Mu De with Shroomish and Squirtle. After defeating Timburr and Slugma, Qing Shao faced Mu De’s final Pokémon, Nidoran♂, with Squirtle in danger from Poison Sting.

• A Zi explained the academy’s class rankings and battle formats, and Ash and Qing Shao both chose the Elite Four Class assessment.
• Elder Mu began Qing Shao’s three-on-three assessment, and Shroomish defeated Timburr with a series of status moves and attacks.
• Qing Shao recalled Shroomish and sent out Squirtle, which defeated Slugma despite Slugma’s determined charge.
• Elder Mu sent out Nidoran♂ against Squirtle, and Nidoran♂ tossed Squirtle into the air before firing Poison Sting at it.

Zhong Chuqing won the Elite Four class entrance assessment after his final battle with Nidoran♂ ended in a draw, and Elder Mu assessed his performance. Ash then began his own assessment, where Cyndaquil evolved into Quilava and gained the advantage over Elder Mu's Lotad.

• Zhong Chuqing's Squirtle and Nidoran♂ knocked each other out, but Zhong Chuqing won the assessment because he had two Pokémon remaining.
• Elder Mu praised Zhong Chuqing's battle skills but said other students seemed stronger because their battle philosophies were clearer.
• Ash entered the Battle Field, revealed his aura, and chose Cyndaquil over Gastly after Cyndaquil asked to battle.
• Cyndaquil overwhelmed Elder Mu's Long-Tailed Excavator with Flamethrower and evolved into Quilava.
• Quilava matched Lotad's Water Gun, then used Dig and Flame Wheel to evade Lotad's trap and strike him hard.

Akishiro Hikage began his journey as a Trainer in Kalos with Mimikyu, whom he had rescued in Alola after its disguise head tore off near a cliff. He planned to earn eight badges, enter the Lumiose Conference, and ultimately defeat Champion Diantha.

• Ash and the other five Elite Four Class students introduced themselves and took their seats amid the crowd's gossip.
• A lonely Mimikyu wondered whether to find a human partner while relaxing in a meadow on Ula'ula Island.
• Mimikyu's disguise head tore off as it spun, and Akishiro Hikage risked falling over a cliff to retrieve it.
• Mimikyu chose Hikage as its partner, and Hikage caught it in a Moon Ball.
• Hikage visited Professor Sycamore before setting out, then received a graduation present from him.

After setting out from Professor Sycamore’s lab with Mimikyu and a Protean Froakie, the narrator discovered that a thief had stolen his bicycle and travel supplies. He tracked the tablet in his luggage and chased the thief across Lumiose City, realizing the gap was closing.

• Professor Sycamore gave the narrator a Protean Froakie and wished him luck on his journey to become Champion.
• The narrator discovered his bicycle and luggage had been stolen just as he was leaving the professor’s house.
• He used his phone’s Find My Tablet feature to locate the stolen belongings and borrowed Professor Sycamore’s bicycle to pursue them.
• Following the signal along Lumiose City’s outer ring road, the narrator reasoned that the thief was heading toward the eastern outskirts.
• The narrator noticed that the distance between him and the thief was shrinking rapidly.

The narrator chased a bicycle thief to Lumiose City Train Station and used Froakie to knock him off the bike. When the scarred thief sent out Rattata and Shinx, the narrator recognized Rattata as an Alolan variant and began a battle, ending with Froakie seemingly unaffected by Shinx’s Thunder Fang.

• The narrator noticed the thief was heading toward Lumiose City Train Station and hurried to catch up before he could board a train.
• The thief turned toward Fountain Plaza, and the narrator ordered Froakie to hit him with Water Pulse, knocking him and the bicycle to the ground.
• The narrator called the scarred man a thief as a station guard approached, but the man fled and then released Rattata and Shinx to fight.
• The narrator recognized the dark-gray Rattata as an Alolan Rattata and anticipated that the thief would target Froakie with both Pokémon.
• Mimikyu used Will-O-Wisp on Shinx while Froakie tripped Rattata with Grass Knot, then Froakie took Shinx’s Thunder Fang and appeared unharmed.

The narrator and Froakie and Mimikyu defeated the scarred thief’s Rattata and Shinx in a close Pokémon battle. As guards arrived to arrest the thief, he pulled out a knife and charged at the narrator, who realized the thief had broken the bicycle lock himself.

• The narrator used Mimikyu’s Thunder Wave to paralyze Rattata, allowing Froakie to damage it with Water Pulse while Mimikyu attacked Shinx.
• Rattata survived a second Water Pulse and used Endeavor to reduce Froakie’s stamina to match its own.
• Froakie and Rattata used Quick Attack at the same time, and Rattata fell while Froakie remained standing.
• Mimikyu finished Shinx, and the narrator recalled his Pokémon as guards approached to arrest the scarred man.
• The scarred man pulled a knife and charged at the narrator, who realized he had broken the bicycle lock.

After a scarred man attacked Akishiro Hikage, Haruna Hiyori saved him with her Pincurchin, and the two shared a meal. When Hikage harshly urged Hiyori to stop doubting herself and try her best, she asked him to take her as his disciple, and he agreed to consider it if she could offer him a benefit.

• Haruna Hiyori's Pincurchin used Thunder Shock to stop the scarred man from stabbing Akishiro Hikage, and security guards handed the attacker over to Officer Jenny.
• Hikage thanked Hiyori and invited her to eat with him, then learned her name and introduced himself.
• Hiyori praised Hikage's battle but said she was too weak to become a good Trainer, prompting him to scold her for giving up before trying.
• Hiyori asked Hikage to train her as his disciple, saying she felt he was the one after watching his battle.
• Hikage hesitated to accept Hiyori and asked her to give him a reason or benefit for taking her on.