Recaps

Fang Yan accompanied Shauna and the Pokémon Day Care group to Twinleaf Town for its Thanksgiving Day festival, where Shauna would perform in a school play. As they visited familiar stalls and shared gifts and blessings, Fang Yan enjoyed the holiday with his friends and Pokémon.

• Shauna woke Fang Yan early and got ready for the festival with her Pokémon.
• Fang Yan, Shauna, and the Fujinos traveled toward Twinleaf Town, greeting vendors along Day Care Road.
• Fang Yan visited Drake's fish stall and saw Teddiursa selling honey with Grandpa Yongchang.
• Grandpa Muzhi and Grandma gave the Pokémon snacks and toys, gave Fang Yan a good-luck knot, and received Gengar charms in return.
• Fang Yan watched the Pokémon tease Grandpa Muzhi and laughed with Lilligant, Gothitelle, and Vespiquen beside him.

Fang Yan joined Twinleaf Town’s Thanksgiving Day festivities, where the townspeople thanked him for helping their community. Shauna’s stage play ended with an unexpected battle against King Gengar, and Fang Yan praised the performers backstage.

• Fang Yan joined the parade troupe’s dance, then played the drum as townspeople and Pokémon joined the celebration.
• Mayor Qiyi opened the festivities, and Fang Yan read messages of gratitude from Twinleaf Town’s residents.
• Fang Yan watched Shauna perform a play in which she rescued Princess Zhishi from a villain.
• Gengar interrupted the play as King Gengar, but Shauna used Gothitelle’s psychic power and her Pokémon’s attacks to defeat him.
• Fang Yan went backstage and praised Shauna, Gengar, and the other performers.

Fang Yan agreed to travel to the Kanto Region to examine A Lan’s friend’s Charizard, which had stopped obeying after losing a battle. After arranging for the Pokémon Day Care to be looked after, he prepared to leave for Celadon City Academy.

• A Lan asked Fang Yan to examine her friend’s Charizard, and Fang Yan agreed to help.
• Fang Yan read that Charizard had stopped obeying commands after a loss and was seriously injuring opponents in battle.
• Fang Yan and Gengar agreed that they needed to see Charizard in person and battle it to understand the problem.
• Fang Yan told Lance about the trip, and Lance offered to pick him up and accompany him to Celadon City Academy.
• Fang Yan informed Gothitelle, Shauna, and Fujino and her husband that he would be away, and they agreed to care for the Pokémon Day Care.

Fang Yan traveled to Kanto to examine Jiaya’s disobedient Charizard at Celadon City Academy. After learning that Charizard blamed Jiaya for its defeat, Fang Yan confronted it about its strength.

• Fang Yan left Fujino and her husband to manage the Pokémon Day Care and traveled to Jubilife City with several Pokémon.
• Jiaya worried about Charizard while Erika reassured her that Fang Yan might be able to help.
• Lance and Xiao Ya met Fang Yan at the airport, where Gengar gave Dragonite a bag of treats.
• Erika welcomed Fang Yan, and he traveled with her and Lance to Celadon City Academy.
• Fang Yan approached Charizard after Jiaya explained the situation, and Charizard froze when he challenged its confidence in its strength.

Fang Yan challenged Jiaya’s arrogant Charizard and had Dali defeat it, forcing Charizard to reconsider why it had stopped listening to Jiaya. The chapter ended with Jiaya comforting Charizard and Fang Yan helping treat its injuries.

• Fang Yan provoked Charizard into a battle, and Dali caught its Wing Attack before overwhelming it with Dynamic Punches.
• Charizard was knocked unconscious, while Xiao Ya’s Dragonite watched in fear and became even more obedient.
• After Charizard woke, Fang Yan asked whether it remembered why it had chosen to evolve.
• Charizard recalled evolving to protect Jiaya and their companions, then realized it had stopped following Jiaya after believing it was stronger than its Trainer.
• Jiaya comforted Charizard as they both cried, and Fang Yan gave her a Potion to treat its injuries.

Fang Yan confronted Charizard about blaming its Trainer and refusing to accept defeat, helping it reconcile with Jiaya. Charizard and Jiaya promised to grow stronger together, and Fang Yan invited Charizard to visit his Pokémon Day Care after it defeated its rival.

• Fang Yan told Charizard that strength came from trusting and working with its Trainer, and challenged it to face its defeats instead of blaming Jiaya.
• Fang Yan urged Charizard to remember how its refusal to lose had made it stronger, then left with the others so Charizard and Jiaya could talk alone.
• Charizard embraced Jiaya and apologized, and they promised to become stronger together and defeat its rival.
• Fang Yan explained to Xiao Ya and Erika that he had left because Charizard was too proud to admit its mistake in front of everyone.
• Jiaya thanked Fang Yan, Erika, and Lance, and Fang Yan invited Charizard to visit the Pokémon Day Care after it beat its rival.

Fang Yan visited the Celadon City Gym with Erika and let Lilligant help her battle a challenger. Lilligant defeated the challenger’s Pokémon, and Erika awarded him a Badge.

• After dinner with Lance, Fang Yan agreed to let Erika host him and accompany him to visit Professor Oak.
• At the Celadon City Gym, Erika asked Fang Yan if Lilligant could help with a Gym Challenge, and Lilligant agreed.
• Lilligant defeated the challenger’s Simisear with Solar Beam, while Erika’s Pokémon won the second round.
• Erika sent Lilligant out again against the challenger’s Excadrill, and Fang Yan explained to Snorunt why Gym Leaders sometimes went easy on challengers.
• Lilligant endured Excadrill’s attacks and finished it with a point-blank Solar Beam, after which Erika awarded the challenger a Badge.

After visiting Celadon City Academy, Fang Yan visited Professor Oak in Pallet Town and learned how the professor cared for Pokémon. He praised Fang Yan’s bond with his Pokémon, and the chapter ended with Professor Oak offering to show him around the laboratory’s backyard.

• Erika brought Fang Yan to Professor Oak’s Laboratory, where they found Professor Oak laughing with Ash’s Muk.
• Professor Oak welcomed Fang Yan, praised his work treating Pokémon, and told him how Gary had changed after battling Ash.
• Fang Yan explained his visit to Celadon City Academy and joked that he was making a home visit as Gary’s teacher.
• Professor Oak examined Fang Yan’s Pokémon and said their happy eyes showed how well Fang Yan cared for them.
• Fang Yan spoke with Delia about Ash, reassured her that Ash had helped him, and decided Ash should call home next time they met.
• Professor Oak invited Fang Yan and Erika to tour the laboratory’s backyard and see how the Pokémon were cared for.

Fang Yan toured Professor Oak’s backyard, met Ash’s Pokémon, and learned about caring for Pokémon from both Oak and Tracey. Oak praised Fang Yan’s play-based approach to training, and Fang Yan ended the day having gained useful knowledge.

• Fang Yan and Professor Oak dodged a charging herd of Tauros as they toured the laboratory’s backyard.
• Fang Yan visited Ash’s Bulbasaur, Bayleef, Swellow, and Sceptile, and encouraged Sceptile to train for the Sinnoh League.
• Fang Yan told Professor Oak that he cared about Ash’s Pokémon because Ash was hard not to like, and Oak praised Ash’s battle instincts.
• Fang Yan watched Tracey care for a Charizard and asked him and Professor Oak for advice about Pokémon care.
• Fang Yan explained how his Pokémon Day Care used play and wrestling to help Pokémon relax and grow stronger, and Professor Oak praised the approach.
• Professor Oak examined Dali and Fang Yan’s other Pokémon, then guided Fang Yan as he studied throughout the day.

Fang Yan shared dinner at Professor Oak's laboratory, then helped Vulpix release the fire energy he had absorbed from Moltres's Feather. With Charizard's help, Vulpix evolved into Ninetales, who promptly crushed Fang Yan in an enthusiastic embrace.

• Gothitelle and Mr. Mime bonded while sharing stories about their mischievous younger brothers and caring for Pokémon.
• Fang Yan cooked dinner for Professor Oak, Delia, Tracey, and the others, who praised his food.
• Fang Yan called Gary, then found Vulpix talking with Charizard, who agreed to help him digest the fire energy from Moltres's Feather.
• Vulpix and Charizard unleashed powerful Heat Waves, while Gothitelle contained the storm with her psychic energy.
• Fang Yan gave Vulpix a Fire Stone, and Vulpix evolved into Ninetales.
• Ninetales leaped into Fang Yan's arms and pinned him to the ground before Gengar piled in.

Fang Yan celebrated Ninetales’s evolution and returned with his friends to the Pokémon Day Care. After Ninetales accidentally broke his bed, everyone settled down together on the floor to sleep.

• Professor Oak praised Ninetales’s strength and appearance, and Fang Yan admired her broad movepool and rode her back to the Pokémon Day Care.
• Fang Yan said goodbye to Professor Oak, Delia, Tracey, Erika, and the others, and asked whether anyone had reported a powerful Pidgeot in the forest.
• Fang Yan returned to the Pokémon Day Care, where Shauna greeted Ninetales before leaving for school.
• Ninetales jumped onto Fang Yan’s bed and broke it, so Fang Yan laid out the bedding on the floor and everyone settled down together.
• Ninetales covered Fang Yan and the others with her tails, and they all fell asleep.

Fang Yan received Ninetales’s mysterious present and watched Paul leave the Pokémon Day Care to continue his journey. He sent Paul off with a hidden gift that could help him in a future battle, while privately anticipating his rematch with Ash.

• Ninetales accidentally hit Fang Yan’s head after waking, and Gothitelle treated his injury while Ninetales apologized.
• Fang Yan received a package containing a dazzling stone, which he recognized and put away.
• The elegant man paid Fang Yan for teaching Sceptile Dragon Dance, then left with Sceptile after challenging Paul to a future battle.
• Paul told Fang Yan he was leaving to continue training on his travels, and Fang Yan gave him a hollow wooden tag containing a secret present.
• Paul departed with Electabuzz, promising himself he would defeat Ash and Mr. Brandon and prove his methods were not wrong.
• Fang Yan’s displayed present included a Key Stone and Aggron’s Mega Stone.

Fang Yan agreed to host Cynthia, Diantha, Shauntal, and Caitlin at the Pokémon Day Care, then went with Grandpa Yongchang to help his grandson’s sick Geodude. After treating Geodude, he got the boy to agree to stay in Twinleaf Town for the full visit.

• A girl chose a Gligar, and Fang Yan handed it over after Gliscor approved.
• Cynthia told Fang Yan she, Diantha, Shauntal, and Caitlin planned to visit the Pokémon Day Care for a break and enjoy its natural hot spring.
• Grandpa Yongchang asked Fang Yan to examine his grandson’s Geodude, which had stopped eating after the family came to Twinleaf Town.
• Fang Yan found Geodude weak from struggling with the change in temperature and asked the boy to bring food while Gengar fetched herbal medicine and appetite tea.
• Geodude drank the remedies, ate its food, and recovered, and Fang Yan persuaded the boy to stay for the rest of the planned visit.

Fang Yan helped Xiao Qi understand why his father wanted to stay with Grandpa Yongchang, and Xiao Qi apologized and reunited with his grandfather. Back at the Pokémon Day Care, Fang Yan found Cynthia, Diantha, and the others waiting in the garden.

• Xiao Qi's father explained how Grandpa Yongchang had cared for him, and Xiao Qi decided to apologize to his grandfather and play with him.
• Xiao Qi apologized to Grandpa Yongchang and asked him to play; the swing rope broke when Xiao Qi and Teddiursa climbed aboard, and the family laughed together.
• Fang Yan and his Pokémon left as Grandpa Yongchang thanked Manager Fang Yan in his thoughts.
• Fang Yan returned to the Pokémon Day Care, where he greeted Lucario and found Cynthia, Diantha, and the others in the garden.
• Fang Yan told Cynthia about helping Xiao Qi's family, and she praised him while Gengar massaged her shoulders.

Cynthia’s friends visited Fang Yan’s Pokémon Day Care, where Caitlin sensed Gothitelle’s powerful psychic energy and Diantha admired Fang Yan’s Pokémon. Diantha asked whether Lilligant and Roserade could act with her, and Fang Yan said he would support them if they wanted to; he then asked Cynthia whether she wanted to eat or relax in the hot springs first.

• Cynthia recognized that Vulpix had evolved into Ninetales, and Fang Yan introduced himself to Diantha and Caitlin.
• Caitlin accidentally broke a cup, then sensed Gothitelle’s powerful psychic energy as it cleaned the table.
• Shauna arrived and greeted Cynthia’s friends, while Caitlin wondered why the girl was unaffected by her psychic aura.
• Lilligant and Roserade joined the garden gathering, and Diantha asked Fang Yan whether they could act alongside her.
• Fang Yan said he would support Lilligant and Roserade if they wanted to act, then asked Cynthia whether she preferred dinner or the hot springs.

Cynthia, Diantha, Caitlin, Shauntal, and Shauna relaxed with their Pokémon in Fang Yan’s hot spring before returning to the Pokémon Day Care for dinner. The evening ended with a lively meal and a group photo displayed behind the counter.

• Fang Yan sent Cynthia and the other women to the hot spring while he and the Pokémon prepared dinner.
• Diantha asked Cynthia how she had met Fang Yan, and Cynthia recounted their first meeting and her visits to the Pokémon Day Care.
• Caitlin worried that she could not control her power, and Cynthia reassured her that she was not useless and that her friends would support her.
• Cynthia admitted to Diantha that she was beginning to feel something, then followed a Pachirisu and the others back to the Pokémon Day Care.
• Fang Yan served dinner, and the group shared a cheerful meal while Caitlin accidentally smashed several bowls.
• A purple hand hung a group photo on the wall behind the counter.

Shauna shared snacks and hair clips with her deskmate Zhishi at school and met a boastful new transfer student, Yi He. After school, Cynthia picked Shauna up on Garchomp, leaving Zhishi smiling at the thought of Shauna’s famous visitors.

• Shauna handed out Fang Yan’s snacks to her classmates, and Zhishi shared pretty hair clips with her during class.
• Yi He introduced himself as a boy from Kanto with a Charizard and bragged about his uncle, the Gym Leader of Oreburgh City.
• Yi He tried to impress Shauna and Zhishi, but they ignored him and talked about Cynthia, Diantha, Shauntal, and Caitlin visiting the Pokémon Day Care.
• After school, Cynthia arrived on Garchomp and carried Shauna off, while Zhishi watched them leave.
• Shauna asked why Cynthia had come to pick her up, and Cynthia said she had been bored and wanted to take her home.

Gothitelle continued running the Time Cottage as a welcoming place for children whose busy parents could not pick them up after school, with Fang Yan supporting its role in their lives. The chapter ended with Gothitelle greeting a customer and embracing the cottage’s purpose: preserving happy childhood memories.

• Gothitelle learned from Fang Yan’s video that Shauna had gone back to the Pokémon Day Care with Cynthia, then welcomed the children who had come to the cottage.
• Gothitelle gave the children pastries to share with passersby, while some parents began coming directly to the cottage to collect their children and buy food.
• After parents worried that the children might interfere with business, they opened the neighboring room as a place for homework and play, and Gothitelle agreed to help watch over them.
• Gothitelle remembered a girl’s essay describing the Time Cottage as a place where she had made friends and felt happy, and understood that it could preserve the children’s cherished memories.
• A child recommended the cottage to a customer, and Gothitelle stepped forward to welcome them.

Fang Yan, Cynthia, and their friends shared a lively hot pot dinner at Lake Verity, where they saw Mesprit appear over the lake. Mesprit vanished after Fang Yan warned everyone to be ready, leaving Cynthia curious about the lake deity.

• Gothitelle and the Pokémon returned to the Pokémon Day Care after ordering meat and seasonings, where Fang Yan and the others watched Garchomp win a rough sparring match.
• Fang Yan asked everyone to choose between dinner in the forest and Lake Verity, and they unanimously chose Lake Verity for hot pot.
• Fang Yan and the Pokémon prepared spicy and clear-broth hot pots, and Cynthia, Diantha, Shauntal, and Caitlin enjoyed the meal with everyone.
• Gengar and Fang Yan teased each other over the food, while Lilligant and Cynthia tricked Fang Yan with a Cheri Berry and mustard.
• Cynthia told Fang Yan that sharing hot pot with friends and Pokémon made the meal especially enjoyable, and Shauna joked that she was full.
• Fang Yan spotted Mesprit over Lake Verity and told Cynthia that the lake deity governed emotions before Mesprit disappeared.

Cynthia and the others enjoyed a morning at Fang Yan’s Pokémon Day Care before Gallade returned home and reunited with its old companions. Gallade reflected on the Day Care’s past and its lost role as guardian, while Fang Yan thanked it.

• Gengar taught Cynthia morning calisthenics, and Fang Yan prepared breakfast after she signaled that she was hungry.
• Diantha, Cynthia, Caitlin, and Shauntal agreed to visit the Pokémon Day Care whenever they wanted to relax.
• Cynthia and the others had afternoon tea in the garden while Fang Yan and Gengar minded the shop.
• Gallade arrived at the Pokémon Day Care, greeted Fang Yan, and met Cynthia and the other guests.
• Gallade reunited with Gengar, Ninetales, and the others, then recalled how it had once been meant to protect the Day Care.

Fang Yan learned more about Gallade’s long history protecting his grandaunt and accepted that Gallade and the other returning Pokémon would eventually leave the Day Care again. After spending the evening with Fang Yan and the visitors, Gallade departed into the forest, while Cynthia reflected on Garchomp as her own knight.

• Fang Yan told Cynthia and the others that his grandaunt’s former Pokémon had returned to visit, and that the Day Care’s Pokémon were free to leave whenever they wished.
• Fang Yan made ice cream with Vespiquen’s blessed Honey, and Gallade told him he would take Gengar and the others into the forest before leaving the next day.
• Gallade carried Fang Yan to the kitchen while Cynthia photographed them, and later that night Gallade and the others returned from the forest with a picture of Fang Yan’s grandaunt.
• Gallade bid farewell to Gengar, Dali, and the others, then leaped into the forest as Cynthia told Garchomp that she had a knight protecting her too.
• Gallade reached a mountaintop, saw the Pokémon gathered there, and thought, “Long time no see.”

Fang Yan took Cynthia, Diantha, Shauntal, and Caitlin fishing by boat, where everyone but him caught fish. After Fang Yan accidentally slapped Cynthia’s thigh and Garchomp threw him into the sea, they watched Tentacool and Tentacruel migrate beneath the sunset.

• Fang Yan reviewed the Pokémon Day Care’s accounts, arranged to buy two Miltank from Lance, and sold two Pokémon Eggs to a visiting couple.
• Diantha and Shauntal asked Fang Yan to make dinner, and the group decided to go fishing after he suggested fish.
• Fang Yan arranged a boat with Drake, entrusted the Pokémon Day Care to the Fujinos, and took Cynthia and the others out to sea.
• Cynthia, Diantha, Shauntal, Caitlin, and Gengar caught fish while Fang Yan caught nothing and put away his rod.
• Fang Yan told Cynthia how he had met Lugia, then accidentally slapped Cynthia’s thigh and was thrown into the sea by Garchomp.
• Fang Yan and the others watched Tentacool and Tentacruel migrate in the evening glow.

Fang Yan arranged a regulated battle between the Zangoose and Seviper groups, then established an annual rematch to channel their rivalry into training. The Zangoose narrowly lost the first match but left determined to return stronger next year, and the contest became a yearly event on Day Care Road.

• Officer Jenny warned Fang Yan that a group of Zangoose was heading to the Pokémon Day Care, but Ninetales scared them away from entering while Fang Yan slept.
• The Zangoose leader explained that its group had come to fight the Seviper, and Fang Yan agreed to let them battle under rules of one-on-one matches, no killing blows, and impartial refereeing.
• Fang Yan created a one-year pact so the losing group could train and challenge its rivals again, while Cynthia and Officer Jenny accepted his plan.
• The Zangoose narrowly lost to the Seviper leader, and the crowd encouraged the defeated group as it vowed to win the rematch.
• Both leaders agreed to meet again in a year, and their rivalry became an annual event that attracted Trainers seeking battles and training.

Fang Yan and Cynthia made Donghuang-style dumplings together, then shared them with their Pokémon, friends, and neighbors. Cynthia left with packed dumplings, and Fang Yan looked forward to seeing her again while resolving to get stronger.

• Fang Yan told Cynthia about the Donghuang Region, and she listened with interest.
• Fang Yan taught Cynthia to make dumplings, and she and the Pokémon made many unusual shapes.
• Fang Yan and the others cooked and ate the dumplings, then packed portions for Cynthia and their friends.
• Cynthia left on Garchomp with the dumplings, while Fang Yan said he looked forward to her next visit.
• Fang Yan murmured that he still needed to get stronger, and Cynthia told Garchomp she was looking forward to coming back.

Fang Yan discovered that Trainers had turned the clearing outside his Pokémon Day Care into a popular battle spot after hearing about Zangoose and Seviper’s promise, so he arranged to prepare more outdoor battlefields. Ash, Brock, and Dawn visited the Day Care, where Ash asked Fang Yan for a battle and met Fang Yan’s Lilligant.

• Fang Yan found Ash battling Trainers in the clearing, with Brock and Dawn watching, and learned the crowd had gathered because of Zangoose and Seviper’s one-year promise.
• Fang Yan decided to turn unused land around the Day Care into outdoor battlefields and called the construction crew’s supervisor to arrange the work.
• Ash, Brock, and Dawn entered the Day Care, and Ash asked Fang Yan to battle after his Pokémon had rested.
• Fang Yan served the visitors milk tea and snacks, while Gengar shared refreshments with Pikachu.
• Ash scanned Lilligant with his Pokédex, and Fang Yan explained that she was a Unova Pokémon who had evolved from Petilil.