Chapter Summaries

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.

Fang Yan battled Ash and used the match to help him recognize that his Pokémon needed fighting styles suited to their changing bodies and abilities. Ash resolved to learn his partners better and reconsider bringing his older Pokémon back, then agreed to stay at the Day Care for training.

• Fang Yan invited Brock to cook dinner together and discussed Pokémon breeding with him, while advising Dawn that caring for Pokémon and finding their strengths could help in Contests.
• Fang Yan challenged Ash and defeated Buizel, Monferno, Gliscor, Staraptor, and Grotle; during the match, Grotle evolved into Torterra, and Luxray defeated Pikachu.
• Fang Yan asked Ash whether he understood his Pokémon and explained that Ash favored fast battles even when some of his Pokémon had become heavier and less suited to that approach.
• Ash thanked Fang Yan and considered using his Sinnoh partners against Paul while letting his older Pokémon battle in other League matches.
• Fang Yan invited Ash and his friends to stay at the Pokémon Day Care for a few days of training, and they accepted.

Ash’s attempts to help around the Day Care caused a string of disasters, so Fang Yan sent him to train in a nearby forest. Meanwhile, Fang Yan and Brock welcomed a Scrafty to learn Dragon Dance, and Brock recorded Fang Yan’s Pokémon-raising methods.

• Ash and Dali sparred, then Ash and Pikachu caused trouble while helping around the Day Care.
• Ash tore a flour sack, covering Fang Yan and Mime Jr. in flour, so Fang Yan ordered him to go train in the forest and wash up.
• After Ash left, Fang Yan and Brock accepted a Trainer’s Scrafty and brought it to the Lapras siblings to learn Dragon Dance.
• Brock wrote down Fang Yan’s approach of helping Pokémon feel genuine joy and considered trying it himself.

Fang Yan advised Dawn on how to help her Pokémon shine in Contests, explaining that a Pokémon’s charm came from its individual personality and bond with its Trainer, not just its appearance. Dawn left determined to become a top Coordinator and promised to send Fang Yan pictures of her future trophies and ribbons.

• Shauna played hide-and-seek with the Day Care Pokémon, and Fang Yan accidentally found the Piplup that was supposed to be hiding.
• Fang Yan comforted the tearful Piplup by promising to make it something delicious, then spent the afternoon cooking and relaxing in the garden.
• Dawn asked Fang Yan how to make her Pokémon more beautiful, and he recalled how his advice had helped Anzi win her first Pokémon Contest championship.
• Fang Yan explained that a Pokémon’s charm could come from traits such as cuteness, cleverness, elegance, or strength, and urged Dawn to find what suited each of her Pokémon.
• Dawn thanked Fang Yan, resolved to become a top Coordinator, and promised to send him pictures of her trophies and ribbons.

After several days of training and rest at Fang Yan’s Pokémon Day Care, Ash, Brock, and Dawn left to pursue their goals, while Fang Yan plotted to make the League Conference more exciting. That night, after talking with Cynthia about snow, Fang Yan fell asleep, and the first snow began to fall around the Day Care.

• Fang Yan served dinner to Ash, Brock, Dawn, and their Pokémon, then asked how their training had gone.
• Ash and Dawn declared their goals, and Ash decided they would leave soon to challenge the Gym and pursue their ambitions.
• Fang Yan gave Ash, Brock, and Dawn wooden plaques, reminded Ash to call Delia, and saw them off from the Day Care.
• Fang Yan spoke with Gary about Shieldon, then messaged Cynthia about a plan for the League Conference and learned that it was snowing where she was.
• Fang Yan wondered whether snow would reach the Day Care, talked about building a snowman, and fell asleep with Mime Jr. in Ninetales’s embrace.
• Snow began falling by the lake and around the Day Care, and Fang Yan excitedly woke Gengar the next morning to tell him.

Fang Yan and Gengar celebrated the first snowfall by playing in the snow, provoking several Pokémon Day Care residents and getting buried and planted in the snow. After warming up indoors, Fang Yan planned a hot pot feast and a grocery trip with Gengar.

• Fang Yan and Gengar played in the snow, rolling around and burying their heads in it until Dali pulled them out and accidentally planted Fang Yan back in the snow.
• Dali spun Fang Yan and Gengar by their legs, and Roserade used aromatherapy to clear Fang Yan’s dizzy thoughts.
• Gothitelle floated Fang Yan indoors, but after he teased her, she sent him back outside and left him buried under falling snow.
• Gengar and Misdreavus joined Fang Yan in the snow, and Lilligant dug them out after secretly taking pictures with Shauna’s camera.
• Mime Jr. brought Fang Yan and Gengar ginger water, and Ninetales brushed snow off Fang Yan and warmed him with her tails.
• Fang Yan asked Gengar about dinner and decided they would go shopping after breakfast to make hot pot for a snowy-day feast.

Heavy snow covered Twinleaf Town, but Fang Yan delivered fresh milk and ginger drinks to customers before checking that the day care’s Pokémon had safe places and enough food for winter. With business nearly halted by the weather, he planned to patrol the forest soon and see how its Pokémon were faring.

• Fang Yan sent Shauna to school on Rapidash, then rode Ninetales with Gengar to Twinleaf Town to deliver fresh milk and complimentary ginger drinks to customers.
• Fang Yan visited the shop, found children studying and playing there, and told Gothitelle to come home early for hot pot before buying groceries.
• Fang Yan checked the boarding Pokémon and confirmed Scrafty, Bellossom, Beedrill, Empoleon, Miltank, and the others had suitable winter shelters and food.
• Fang Yan inspected the snowy backyard, planned to patrol the forest in a few days, and wondered whether the hot spring was still usable.
• Fang Yan saw that the day care had no customers through the afternoon and comforted Mime Jr. after few customers visited the cafeteria.

Fang Yan and the others built snowmen, then turned the backyard into a chaotic snowball-free brawl after Fang Yan wrecked their creations. As Gothitelle and Lilligant prepared to help him build a snowman, the Lake Guardians awoke after hearing that Cynthia had gone to the ancient ruins and their operation could begin.

• Fang Yan suggested building snowmen, and Shauna, Mime Jr., Gothitelle, Lilligant, and the Pokémon joined him outside.
• Shauna and the Pokémon built detailed snowmen while Fang Yan made a crooked one whose head fell off.
• After Gengar laughed at Fang Yan, Fang Yan destroyed Gengar's snowman and then wrecked the others, prompting the group to chase and pin him down.
• Fang Yan offered Dali extra food to destroy the snowmen, escaped during the ensuing commotion, and Gengar paralyzed him with a lick before stealing the camera.
• Gothitelle and Lilligant offered to help Fang Yan build a snowman, while Gengar and the others started another bout of chaos.
• After learning Cynthia had gone to the ancient ruins, Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf awoke and prepared to begin their operation.

Mime Jr. spent a happy day playing with Gengar and the others, then experienced a frightening dream in which its friends were attacked and it fought back with Metronome. It woke beside Fang Yan after its moves smashed his bed, and Fang Yan comforted it as they went to sleep with Ninetales.

• Mime Jr. left the bed to play with Gengar and the others, enjoying the seesaw, swings, snow castles, and lunch at the lake.
• As evening approached, a masked person riding Salamence attacked the group, and Mime Jr. fled with Snorunt before the scene shifted to another lake.
• Mime Jr. watched its friends melt away under attack, then used Metronome to send the enemies flying while protecting Snorunt and the other Pokémon.
• Mime Jr. woke from the dream beside Fang Yan, and its Metronome moves had destroyed his bed.
• Fang Yan comforted Mime Jr. and fell asleep with it in Ninetales's embrace while Gengar returned to the ceiling.

After Mime Jr. recovered from its nightmare and reopened the dining hall, Fang Yan learned that the heavy snowfall was unusual and joined Officer Jenny to survey the roads. He then organized the Pokémon Day Care’s Pokémon to begin clearing Day Care Road, leaving Gengar eager for the fish-shaped dinner Fang Yan had promised.

• Gothitelle cleared away the broken bed, and Fang Yan explained that Mime Jr. had likely broken it with Metronome during a nightmare.
• Mime Jr. insisted on opening the dining hall, then greeted the snowmen before gathering vegetables for the day’s meals.
• Officer Jenny visited Fang Yan to inspect the unusual snowfall and survey the roads for hazards.
• Fang Yan accompanied Officer Jenny around Day Care Road and suggested clearing snow into nearby groves while warning traveling Pokémon.
• Fang Yan assigned the Day Care Pokémon to help clear the road, promised Gengar squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and led the group outside with a shovel.

After Mime Jr. told Fang Yan about a dream in which three Pokémon were captured at Lake Verity, Fang Yan suspected Team Galactic was behind it and set out to investigate. He left the Pokémon Day Care in the Fujinos’ care and promised Mime Jr. he would rescue the Pokémon if they were in danger.

• Gothitelle returned from the little house after the children’s parents picked them up and used her psychic powers to help Fang Yan and the others clear snow from Day Care Road.
• The Fujinos joined the snow-clearing, and Fang Yan led everyone back for lunch before they continued working.
• After making lunch, Mime Jr. remembered a dream about a dragon-riding villain, people with different-colored hair, and three Pokémon being captured at Lake Verity.
• Mime Jr. told Fang Yan about the dream and his bad feeling, prompting Fang Yan to suspect Hunter J and Team Galactic might be targeting the Lake Guardians.
• Fang Yan asked the Fujinos and Shauna to watch the Pokémon Day Care, then left with Gengar and the others to investigate Lake Verity, promising Mime Jr. he would rescue the Pokémon if needed.

Ash, Dawn, and Brock dreamed that the lake guardians were in danger, while Team Galactic and Pokémon Hunters attacked Lake Verity to capture Azelf. Gary and his allies fought to stop them, but Azelf was petrified and Gary was badly outmatched as Cynthia rushed toward the unfolding crisis.

• Ash, Dawn, and Brock woke from matching dreams in which the lake guardians were captured, then set out with Cynthia for Mt. Coronet.
• Professor Rowan monitored rising energy readings and coordinated with the professors, Cynthia, and Fang Yan, who had arrived at Lake Verity.
• Team Galactic ambushed Gary at the lake as a bomb from their airship exploded in the water; A Feng and A Lan arrived to help him fight.
• Hunter J rode Salamence toward a sphere of light, where Azelf appeared and was petrified by her beam.
• Ash sensed that Azelf had been captured, and Cynthia sped toward the lake while Gary tried to reclaim Azelf and was blasted away with Arcanine.

Fang Yan arrived at Lake Valor after Team Galactic captured the Lake Guardians, defeated Pokémon Hunter J, and pursued the commanders after they escaped to Mt. Coronet. Gengar secretly followed them to Cyrus, who prepared to begin making his ideals a reality.

• Hunter J petrified Mesprit and Uxie, and Team Galactic took all three Lake Guardians’ statues while Gary and the others were under attack.
• Fang Yan arrived with the Legendary Birds and ordered Gary, A Feng, and A Lan to help recover the statues as the battle turned against Team Galactic.
• Fang Yan defeated Hunter J and destroyed her airship, sending it crashing into the lake.
• Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn escaped with the statues through a mysterious opening, but Fang Yan traced their location to Mt. Coronet using his wooden tag.
• Fang Yan left Gary to handle the aftermath and flew toward Mt. Coronet, while Gengar followed the escaped commanders in the shadows.
• Cyrus learned that the Lake Guardians had been captured and ordered Team Galactic to begin making his ideals a reality.

Fang Yan, Cynthia, and Ash stopped Cyrus from controlling Dialga and Palki, freed the Lake Guardians, and sent the legendary Pokémon back. After the crisis, Fang Yan worried that his actions might have caused the conflict between Dialga and Palki, while Gengar secretly took the Spear Key, Spear Pillar, and Adamant Orb.

• A scientist used the Crimson Chain to control Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie, while Gengar watched from the shadows; Ash and his friends were captured by Team Galactic.
• Gengar freed Ash and the others, and Cynthia arrived outside the base; Fang Yan then joined them and fought the Team Galactic members while Cynthia led Ash into the Distortion World.
• Cyrus used the Lake Guardians and the Spear Key to summon Dialga and Palki, then entered the Distortion World while the two legendary Pokémon remained bound by red chains.
• Ash and his friends freed the Lake Guardians from the red gems, and Fang Yan and Cynthia destroyed the chains with help from their Pokémon; the Lake Guardians sent Dialga and Palki away.
• The Lake Guardians thanked Fang Yan and agreed to visit Mime Jr.; afterward, Gengar revealed that it had stolen the Spear Key, Spear Pillar, and Adamant Orb, while Fang Yan wondered whether he had set the legendary conflict in motion.

Fang Yan and his Pokémon subdued Zapdos after it refused to honor their agreement, only to discover he had misunderstood what the Legendary Birds had promised. Zapdos flew off after Fang Yan treated its injuries, while Moltres and Articuno agreed to stop causing needless destruction and went their separate ways.

• Fang Yan found no sign of Mars, the other Team Galactic members, or the Team Rocket Trio after Officer Jenny took the captured members away.
• Zapdos tried to leave without honoring its agreement, so Garchomp and Cynthia prepared to fight before Fang Yan stepped in with Gengar and Gothitelle.
• Fang Yan's Pokémon battered Zapdos with Gravity, Phantom Force, Ninetales's charge, Leaf Storm, and Gothitelle's Barrier attacks until Zapdos lost consciousness.
• After Zapdos woke, Fang Yan learned it had thought he wanted the Legendary Birds to fight for him, when he had only meant for them to stop causing destruction.
• Fang Yan treated Zapdos's injuries, and Zapdos flew away; Moltres and Articuno agreed to honor the clarified request and departed.

After Fang Yan and Ash helped settle the trouble with the Legendary Pokémon, Cynthia invited everyone to eat. Fang Yan and Cynthia teased each other on the way, then Cynthia rode ahead to reserve a table while Fang Yan followed on Ninetales.

• Fang Yan told Cynthia that the Legendary Pokémon would stop destroying things across Sinnoh, and Ash said he had helped because Azelf and the others were his friends.
• Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie promised to visit Fang Yan and Mime Jr. at the Pokémon Day Care before flying away.
• Fang Yan announced that Cynthia would treat everyone to a meal, and Cynthia agreed despite teasing him for acting generous.
• Fang Yan coaxed Gengar out of its pretend sulk by promising new snacks, then told Cynthia about his agreement with Moltres and the others.
• Cynthia asked what had happened with Zapdos, but Fang Yan kept the story secret to preserve its dignity.
• Cynthia rode ahead on Garchomp to reserve a table while Fang Yan followed on Ninetales.