Recaps

Shen Qi worked with Florges to search Shanhai Group’s Evolution stone warehouse for potential Mega Stone ore, then planned to have her crystals analyzed at the Cozmo Research Institute. After easing Oricorio’s suspicions, he took his Pokémon to Slateport City’s beach, but Oricorio chose to stay home.

• Shen Qi reassured Oricorio that she could move freely, and her trust in him increased as she decided to stay at home while he went out.
• Shen Qi visited Shanhai Group’s specimen warehouse with Florges, where they began examining Evolution stone specimens for Mega Stone ore.
• After a day of searching, Shen Qi suggested analyzing the pale green crystals on Florges’s ruff to screen suitable stones, and Du He proposed taking them to the Cozmo Research Institute.
• Shen Qi reduced Florges’s workload the following day and took his Pokémon to Slateport City’s beach for some leisure time.
• Oricorio declined to join Shen Qi and Pelipper, choosing to remain at home.

After a relaxing beach outing in Slateport City, Shen Qi bought Pokémon grooming tools and tried them on Golurk and Dodo. The new brush left both Pokémon feeling soothed, and Dodo eagerly waited for his turn.

• Shen Qi took his Pokémon to the beach, where Golurk practiced emerging from the water with Fly and Blissey and Lopunny trained by dragging a tire.
• Dodo asked Shen Qi to take him to the cold drinks shop, where he chose a drink while the group enjoyed the peaceful seaside.
• Back home, Shen Qi bought two Pokémon Refresh tool sets, including specialized combs, brushes, and hair dryers.
• Shen Qi bathed Golurk with a high-pressure water gun and used Ghost-type energy through the new brush to clean and soothe him.
• Shen Qi gave Dodo a shower and brushed him too, and Dodo happily made electronic music sounds.

After Florges's examination, Shen Qi searched for suitable stone specimens with the Shanhai Group while training his Pokémon in Slateport City. On a shopping trip with Lilligant, he saw advertisements announcing that Lisia had come to Hoenn.

• Shen Qi took Florges to the Cozmo Research Institute, where tests found that the crystals on her neck wrap transmitted Type Energy efficiently, narrowing the search to suitable stone specimens.
• Shen Qi searched the Shanhai Group's Evolution Stone specimen warehouse with Florges but found no matching ore, while continuing to train his Pokémon in Slateport City.
• Lopunny reduced the time needed to enter Mega Evolution to under one minute, and Shen Qi noted how difficult it was to practice special forms without the necessary energy in the Normal World Line.
• Florges rested as her daily ore sensing strained her Mental Power, and Shen Qi took Lilligant shopping for Pokémon Rations.
• Lilligant pointed out a mall advertisement featuring Lisia, and Shen Qi realized that Lisia had come to Hoenn.

Shen Qi traveled from Slateport City to Lilycove City to watch the festival and support Lisia, while catching up with Azumi and learning about Li Yizi's crash. He reached Li Yizi's lodgings after discovering that her wrecked car might still contain a useful range-extending system.

• Shen Qi decided to attend Lilycove City's final festival day with his Pokémon, but sold-out travel tickets forced him to sail to Sootopolis City before flying onward.
• Shen Qi reviewed the festival program and learned that Lisia led Li Yizi by seven points after Li Yizi crashed during the racing event.
• Shen Qi contacted Azumi for staff credentials, then met her at the Lilycove festival venue and confirmed that her fractures had healed.
• Azumi told Shen Qi that Li Yizi was unharmed but dejected after her car was wrecked, and that it had contained a newly developed Range-Extending Stabilization Device.
• Shen Qi followed Azumi to Li Yizi's temporary lodgings, hoping to see whether the car's range-extending system had survived.

Shen Qi bought the damaged stabilizing range extender from Li Yizi and learned about the Lilycove Festival’s final fan-partner battles. After the Coordinators’ performances, Lisia led the scores, and Shen Qi waited to see whether she would select his introduction card.

• Shen Qi visited Li Yizi after her Gray Star crashed during a race and offered to buy its stabilizing range extender.
• Li Yizi sold Shen Qi the damaged range extender for 20,000 b, and he arranged to have it shipped to his cottage on Island 6.
• Li Yizi gave Shen Qi a festival gift box, and he explained that he planned to support Lisia rather than vote for her.
• Lisia led the festival scores after the racing, cooking, and Pokémon Contest events, with Li Yizi two points behind and Vivian one point behind her.
• Shen Qi submitted an introduction card for Lisia’s final fan-partner battle and hoped she would choose him.

At Lisia’s urging, Shen Qi was selected as her fan for the final cooperative battle event, while Geman challenged the idols’ fans with his Machamp and Li Yizi’s devoted young fan volunteered to fight. The chapter ended as the crowd recognized Shen Qi and cheered for him, though his battle had not yet begun.

• Arisa read Lisia the profile-card keywords “Little Sheep,” “Winter Race,” and “I’m a Pigeon Fancier,” and Lisia chose Shen Qi despite pretending she would not forgive him.
• Vivian selected Geman, who recalled his Sootopolis City Contest dispute and declared he would defeat both Lisia’s and Li Yizi’s fans with his well-trained Machamp.
• Lisia worried that Shen Qi’s lack of formal battling experience might make a loss damaging, while Li Yizi’s sweet young fan insisted on taking part in both battles for her.
• Lisia’s profile card brought Shen Qi onto the stage, and the audience recognized his Little Sheep racing achievements and cheered for him.

Shen Qi and Lisia watched the exhibition tournament draw reveal that Li Yizi’s fan was the racing driver Feiyue, who would face Geman first. The chapter ended as the contestants’ Pokémon lineups were revealed, with Shen Qi assessing Geman’s scattered roster and recognizing Feiyue’s powerful Desert-themed team.

• Lisia welcomed Shen Qi to the stage, and Shen Qi questioned whether Li Yizi’s fan had falsely listed racing-related profile keywords.
• The draw paired Feiyue against Geman first, followed by Shen Qi against Geman and then Feiyue.
• Li Yizi recognized Feiyue from Kanto races and invited her to consider joining her Racing Team, but Feiyue deferred until after the battle.
• Geman hid Machamp and revealed five other Pokémon, including Ninetales, Gorebyss, Frosmoth, Golem, and Hariyama.
• Feiyue revealed Weezing, Krookodile, Scrafty, and Sigilyph, prompting Shen Qi to recognize the Desert Four Greats among her roster.

Feiyue and Geman began their arena match, where Geman’s burned, Guts-boosted Hariyama overwhelmed Weezing before Feiyue sent out Sigilyph. Feiyue’s Sigilyph used Whirlwind to send Hariyama flying and Geman out of bounds, then set up Reflect as Hariyama advanced under Detect.

• Feiyue banned Gorebyss, and Geman banned Krookodile before the match began.
• Feiyue sent out Weezing, while Geman opened with Hariyama using Detect to block Toxic.
• Hariyama burned itself with a Flame Orb, activated Guts, and used Close Combat to drain Weezing’s barrier points.
• Geman tried to throw Feiyue out of bounds, but Feiyue stopped his grab and sent out Sigilyph as Hariyama kept attacking.
• Sigilyph used Whirlwind to fling Hariyama and knock Geman out of bounds, costing him barrier points.
• Sigilyph activated Reflect, and Hariyama ran toward it under Detect as its burn continued draining its barrier points.

Feiyue and Geman fought through the final stages of their Pokémon battle, and Feiyue won without sending out Darmanitan. Geman was left wondering how his Machamp had lost after it turned out not to have No Guard.

• Hariyama used Fake Out to interrupt Sigilyph, then knocked it out with Knock Off while Sigilyph emptied Hariyama's barrier points with Psybeam.
• Geman sent out Frosmoth instead of Machamp, while Feiyue sent out Scrafty; Frosmoth set up Snowscape and Aurora Veil before Geman recalled it for the 2v2 phase.
• Feiyue's Bruxish used Aqua Jet to badly damage Ninetales, then Scrafty returned to the field and triggered Intimidate again before using Bulk Up.
• Geman sent out Golem, but Scrafty and Hitmonchan knocked it out and defeated Machamp, while Feiyue kept Darmanitan off the field.
• Geman lamented his loss, and Shen Qi and Feiyue realized that his Machamp lacked No Guard, the ability that would have made its Dynamic Punch reliably hit.

Shen Qi used his knowledge of Geman’s strategy to defeat him 5-0, then prepared to face Feiyue in the festival’s next battle. The chapter ended as their match began, with both trainers weighing their possible opening strategies.

• Shen Qi recognized that Geman’s Machamp relied on Ninetales’s Will-O-Wisp to activate Guts and used his information advantage during the ban-and-pick phase.
• Shen Qi’s Florges dealt heavy damage to Golem with Grass Knot, and Pelipper stopped Frosmoth’s Aurora Veil attempt before defeating it.
• Shen Qi beat Geman 5-0, then befriended him and invited him to visit the Fighting Dojo in Kanto.
• Feiyue hid Hitmonchan, while Shen Qi banned Darmanitan and chose Pelipper for his match against her.
• Lisia lent Shen Qi Leftovers for Pelipper, and the match began as Shen Qi considered Feiyue’s possible leads.

Shen Qi defeated Feiyue in the Battle Competition after Pelipper overcame her team, securing Lisia first place in the Lilycove Festival standings. Lisia thanked him and went backstage to prepare for her performance.

• Feiyue led with Krookodile, but Shen Qi sent out Pelipper, who used Stockpile to build up his defenses as Krookodile tried to threaten Shen Qi from underground.
• Pelipper drove Krookodile back and pressured Sigilyph, though his newly learned Surf failed to hit Feiyue’s Pokémon.
• Pelipper swept through three of Feiyue’s Pokémon before Weezing’s Thunderbolt knocked him out, and Shen Qi won the battle.
• Lisia thanked Shen Qi for helping her win two battles and take first place in the Lilycove Festival standings.
• Lisia went backstage to prepare for the Coordinators’ song and dance performances.

Shen Qi discovered that Lisia’s tiara contained the Mega Stone ore he needed to break the Imprison on Melemele Island’s Flabébé evolution. He held off asking to borrow it while Lisia celebrated her Lilycove Festival performance, and the two went out for late-night snacks.

• Shen Qi watched Vivian, Li Yizi, and Lisia perform, and judged Li Yizi’s rendition of “Not All Alone” to be on Elesa’s level.
• Shen Qi and Florges sensed that Lisia’s hair ornament was a Mega Stone, which could provide the key to breaking the Imprison on Melemele Island’s Flabébé evolution.
• Lisia invited Shen Qi to get a late-night snack, and he decided not to ask about her tiara while she was still celebrating.
• Lisia stopped Shen Qi from inviting her manager Arisa along, then went with him and her Pokémon to Night Alley Street in Lilycove City.
• Lisia ate her way along the street and told Shen Qi she was making up for eating lightly before her performance.

Shen Qi and Lisia shared a farewell evening before she left for Unova to study Coordinator techniques, and she lent him the rare stone needed to help Florges. Shen Qi then flew to Alola, where Oricorio refused to reveal her whereabouts even after they arrived.

• Lisia told Shen Qi she was leaving for Unova the next day to study under Elesa at Nimbasa Gym.
• Shen Qi recognized the rare stone on Lisia's hair ornament as the mineral Florges needed, and Lisia lent it to him.
• Lisia returned to her lodgings after saying goodbye to Shen Qi, while Arisa noticed Lisia's lingering feelings.
• Shen Qi received an Evasion Sticker for advancing Oricorio's Emotional Script and used the Game Item Silence to sleep through much of the flight to Alola.
• After landing in Hau'oli City, Shen Qi released Oricorio, but she immediately returned to her Poké Ball and said she could not reveal her whereabouts in Alola.

Shen Qi brought Florges to Melemele Meadow so she could use Life Infinity Energy to break the evolution seal holding back the local Flabébé. After an uncertain first attempt, Florges recognized that the seal had finally been broken for the Flabébé gathered around her.

• Shen Qi agreed to take Oricorio to Melemele Meadow first so Florges could fulfill her long-held wish.
• Shen Qi flew with his Pokémon to Melemele Meadow, where Florges called the local Flabébé to gather around her.
• Florges spoke with the Flabébé while Shen Qi and his Pokémon waited among the flowers.
• Shen Qi helped Florges transmit the fluctuations of Eternal Flower Form through Lisia's headdress to break the Flabébé's evolution seal.
• After the Flabébé stood silently, Florges declared that the attempt had succeeded, and one Flabébé asked if she was sure.

Shen Qi and Florges worked to break the evolution seals preventing Melemele Meadow’s Flabébé from evolving, while struggling with the cost and limits of using life infinity energy. After learning how to make their energy use more efficient, Shen Qi decided they would continue the work privately rather than announce it as research.

• Shen Qi and Florges helped a Flabébé evolve into Floette after several failed attempts, then Shen Qi went to Iki Town to rest while Florges stayed in the meadow.
• Shen Qi learned that Florges’s life infinity energy was depleted and that each replenishment would consume stored energy from [Love Savings Bank].
• The newly evolved Floette thanked Shen Qi with honey water, and he returned to helping the Flabébé.
• Shen Qi and Florges found that improving their energy efficiency could let them use Eternal Flower Form multiple times per charge and help more Flabébé evolve.
• Shen Qi considered approaching the Pewter Science Museum about his method but decided he and Florges would keep working privately.

Shen Qi rested from Florges's Life Infinity Energy training while checking in with Taichi and reconnecting with Xiao Ming in Alola. Xiao Ming arrived in Iki Town with his Pokémon, and the two caught up on their work and partners.

• Florges and the Flabébé agreed to keep any newly evolved Floette hidden while Florges continued testing her Eternal Flower transformations.
• Shen Qi rested with his Pokémon near Iki Town and messaged Xiao Ming, but Taichi called first to say he had chosen to attend Pokémon High School.
• Xiao Ming called Shen Qi back, learned he was in Iki Town, and flew over from Akala Island on Dartrix.
• Shen Qi was startled by Xiao Ming's deep tan and curly hair, and Xiao Ming explained the harsh conditions of Ranger work in Alola.
• Xiao Ming introduced Dartrix and his Blaze Breed Tauros, then discussed the challenges of choosing Pokémon partners with Shen Qi.

Shen Qi reassured Xiao Ming that Pokémon High School had promising students and staff to withstand competition from Yangbeila Branch School, then learned Xiao Ming had entered Alola’s Island Challenge and lost to Mallow. The chapter left Shen Qi nursing a bump after an ill-judged remark about Mallow prompted her to chase and hit him.

• Xiao Ming told Shen Qi he planned to return to Pokémon High School as a teacher, and Shen Qi explained why Principal Gui had made Xiao Chun student council president.
• Xiao Ming worried that Yangbeila Branch School would threaten Pokémon High School, so Shen Qi described the promise of Koji, Taichi, Little Reporter, and Xiao Chun.
• Mallow joined their conversation, and Xiao Ming revealed that he had passed Kiawe’s trial before losing to her during the Island Challenge.
• Shen Qi questioned whether Mallow was too young to know better, and Mallow chased him with her serving spoon until he was left with a bump on his head.

Shen Qi discussed Alola’s age rules and Mallow’s ambitions with Xiao Ming, then decided to enter the Island Challenge while continuing his work in Melemele Meadow. Over the following days, he and Florges freed more Flabébé from Evolution Imprison, and Shen Qi’s specialized training improved his stats.

• Shen Qi learned that Mallow was sixteen and heard from Xiao Ming about the age limits for Alolan captains and Mallow’s goal of becoming an Island Kahuna.
• Xiao Ming suggested that Shen Qi enter the Winter Race or Island Challenge, and Shen Qi chose the Island Challenge because it was unique to Alola.
• Mallow challenged Shen Qi not to fail Melemele Island’s first trial, but Shen Qi said he would take the assessments seriously without worrying if he failed.
• Shen Qi registered for the Island Challenge in Hau'oli City, then returned to Melemele Meadow to work on undoing the Flabébé’s Evolution Imprison.
• After several days of training, Shen Qi and Florges could free about 130 to 140 Flabébé daily, while his Life Energy Coordination and Eternal Flower Form proficiencies reached 35% and 37%.
• Repeated use of Life Infinity Energy raised Shen Qi’s Special Attack and Special Defense ratings from Metapod-tier and Sandshrew-tier to Pidgey-tier.

Shen Qi questioned Oricorio about her savings and the Trainers tracking her, then decided to take her to her home on Poni Island. As they traveled, Oricorio remained wary of being seen, while Shen Qi’s Emotional Script progress rose to 56%.

• Shen Qi pressured Oricorio to explain her finances, and she showed him her 100,000 b savings and insisted the money was honestly earned.
• Oricorio told Shen Qi that her home was on Poni Old Road and that she did not want to be spotted before reaching it, so he agreed to take her there.
• Oricorio was touched by Shen Qi’s reassurance, raising the “I'm a Pigeon Fancier” Emotional Script progress to 55%.
• Shen Qi recalled Oricorio into her Luxury Ball, and the script progress reached 56%.
• Shen Qi flew toward Poni Island on Pelipper, grooming him and warning him to keep his eyes open for other Pokémon in the sky.

Shen Qi visited Oricorio’s home on Poni Old Road and learned that she earned her living as an artist, while Pokémon Trainers who had followed her began gathering nearby. He used [Memory Image] to investigate her past and saw how she had discovered her love of drawing by watching Lacey and other students at Seafolk School, before the memory moved on to Oricorio’s early work as an artist.

• Shen Qi saw that Oricorio’s sparsely furnished home contained a pen display, and she explained that she made money by drawing.
• Shen Qi asked whether Oricorio would leave Alola with him when he eventually returned to Kanto, and she appeared uncertain; he told her he would remain in Melemele Meadow for another two or three months.
• Shen Qi and his Pokémon explored Poni Old Road, where he bought Big Malasada and learned that nonlocal Pokémon Trainers had come looking for Oricorio.
• Pelipper warned Shen Qi that Pokémon Trainers were nearby, and Shen Qi saw that they had gathered around Oricorio’s home without causing trouble.
• Shen Qi used [Memory Image] on the “I'm a Pigeon Fancier” Emotional Script and saw young Oricorio watching students draw at Seafolk School, including Lacey.
• The memory showed Oricorio selling early Pokémon drawings, later traveling to take commissions, and eventually buying a computer and drawing tablet.

Shen Qi learned that Oricorio was the manga artist Qingying Niao, whose irregular updates had driven Lilligant and other fans to track her down. Oricorio’s memories then led Shen Qi to a mysterious amusement park and the elaborate manga images its director dreamed about.

• Shen Qi asked Lilligant about Qingying Niao, and Lilligant revealed that the artist had released only ten installments in nearly a year.
• Lilligant admitted that she had donated money to a fan group that tracked Qingying Niao to pressure her into drawing.
• Shen Qi continued viewing Oricorio’s memories and saw that she traveled for inspiration but often rested and played games instead of drawing.
• Oricorio showed her manga to Musharna, Banette, and Cofagrigus at an amusement park, but they criticized its subject matter and dramatic impact.
• Musharna displayed manga from the Park Director’s dreams, and Shen Qi was astonished by the detailed image of a girl running through the rain.

Shen Qi discovered that Oricorio had spent the night playing racing games instead of drawing, then helped her face the readers demanding updates. Oricorio apologized and Shen Qi promised to support her, but the readers revealed a long list of unfinished manga.

• Oricorio’s Memory Image showed that she had delayed her manga to study fanservice art, and she later became a fanservice artist.
• Shen Qi found Oricorio asleep at her computer and realized she had been playing racing games all night instead of working.
• Readers gathered outside Oricorio’s home with signs demanding updates, and Shen Qi urged her to face them and answer.
• Shen Qi accompanied Oricorio to the readers and promised that she would see her work through.
• A reader handed Shen Qi a list of Oricorio’s unfinished manga, leaving him shocked by how much work she owed.

Shen Qi helped Oricorio face the readers upset by her abandoned comics and pushed her to avoid rushing their endings. After Oricorio completed her walkthrough, she moved out of Poni Old Road to work somewhere less exposed, and Shen Qi checked her Pokémon details on their return to Melemele Meadow.

• Oricorio promised to resume her abandoned comics after readers confronted her, while Shen Qi agreed to keep her accountable for her fanservice account.
• Lilligant and Lopunny caught Oricorio and demanded that she give Roserade and Gallade's story a proper romantic conclusion instead of a rushed ending.
• Shen Qi was paralyzed by Lilligant's Stun Spore and later called Blissey to use Refresh, but he woke at sunset.
• Oricorio decided to leave Poni Old Road because readers knew where she lived and their visits would disrupt her work.
• Pelipper carried Oricorio away after she packed her computer and drawing tablet, and Shen Qi checked her details after her walkthrough reached 100%, finding her at Level 19.

Shen Qi collected his Island Challenge approval and Professional Pokémon Trainer certificate, then visited Florges in Melemele Meadow and urged her to rest after her exhausting work breaking Flabébé’s evolution seals. He used the Slacking-Off Sleeping Bag to recover overnight, and woke to find the Flabébé sharing honey candy with him and his Pokémon.

• Shen Qi collected rewards that included a Slacking-Off Sleeping Bag and a Fanservice Pen, then flew to Hau'oli City to collect his Professional Pokémon Trainer certificate.
• Shen Qi met Florges in Melemele Meadow, where he saw that her mental state had worsened from repeatedly breaking Flabébé’s evolution seals.
• Shen Qi persuaded Florges to rest and placed her in a Heal Ball before settling down to sleep in the Slacking-Off Sleeping Bag among the waiting Flabébé.
• Shen Qi woke after an unusually restorative sleep to find Flabébé offering him honey candies, then let out Lilligant and Lopunny to join them.
• Two Flabébé perched on Lopunny’s shoulders and nuzzled her, leaving Lopunny horrified.

Shen Qi left Melemele Meadow, checked on his Pokémon, and used two [Skill Cards] to learn Dark Rush and Confused State. He called Blissey over to test the new skills in a head-on practice battle.

• Flabébé covered Blissey and Golurk while Pelipper laughed, and Dodo collected their honey until Shen Qi took away his bag.
• Shen Qi fled to Iki Town to avoid eating more honey, then checked that Florges was resting well and summoned Lilligant and Lopunny to make Oricorio keep drawing.
• Shen Qi used a [Skill Card] and learned Dark Rush, a powerful contact move that left him dangerously overexcited.
• Shen Qi used his second [Skill Card] and learned Confused State, which could briefly make opponents see living things as dinosaur dolls.
• Shen Qi called Blissey over to practice his new skills, and Blissey took a stance for a head-on clash.