Chapter Summaries

Fang Yan learned that Lysandre had gone mad and was wreaking havoc in Lumiose City after gaining control of part of Zygarde. He left the Pokémon Day Care for the Kalos Region with several Pokémon to help stop him.

• Fang Yan watched Shauna teach Jubilife Academy students how to care for Pokémon and recognize their cries, then discussed her possible future as a Breeder with the Fujinos.
• Mr. Fujino explained that Fang Yan and Shauna used unconventional Pokémon-care methods that did not suit written assessments, which was why Fang Yan had failed the intermediate Breeder exam.
• Gary called Fang Yan and reported that Lysandre had launched his plan early and was causing destruction in Lumiose City; Gary, Ash, and Mr. Steven were fighting back.
• Fang Yan told the Fujinos he was leaving for Kalos, and Gengar, two Celebi, Meloetta, and Victini joined him.
• Fang Yan opened the Distortion Passage and led the Pokémon into it toward Kalos.

Lysandre spread a red plant through Lumiose City with a rampaging Zygarde, but Ash and his allies stopped it with Squishy's transformation into Complete Forme Zygarde. Fang Yan watched rather than intervene, leaving Ash to grow through the crisis, while Lysandre was captured and the city was saved.

• Lysandre explained his hatred of the world and sent Malva to stop Ash, Alain, and Gary, but Malva let them pass and later turned against him.
• Steven and Professor Sycamore used Mega Metagross and Mega Garchomp to attack the rampaging Zygarde and cover Ash's advance, while Fang Yan watched from Latias's back and refused to take over.
• Ash reached Zygarde and pleaded with it as Gary, Alain, Steven, and Professor Sycamore protected him from its attacks.
• Bonnie's Squishy absorbed the green cells and became Complete Forme Zygarde, which restored the red Zygarde to normal and then returned to Bonnie.
• Lysandre tried to seize Bonnie, but Gengar grabbed and defeated him, and Fang Yan praised Ash and Gary while explaining that Ash needed to learn to handle crises himself.

Fang Yan tracked down Z2 after the crisis and discovered that it had transformed into Zygarde after gathering cells. Once Z2 calmed down and returned to its Core form, Fang Yan learned how it and Squishy could form Zygarde Complete Forme and explained Zygarde’s role in maintaining order.

• Fang Yan found Z2, and his Pokémon stopped its transformations and attacks as it gathered cells and changed forms.
• Squishy and Bonnie arrived with Ash and the others, and Zygarde confronted Fang Yan before breaking apart when he prepared to Mega Evolve Latias.
• Fang Yan picked up Z2 and took it and Squishy to Professor Sycamore’s laboratory to ask about Zygarde’s Complete Forme.
• Squishy explained that either Core could form Complete Forme alone, while Fang Yan realized Lysandre had made Z2 rampage by forcing it to absorb artificial cells.
• Fang Yan explained that Squishy and Z2 represented absolute reason and absolute emotion and that Zygarde restored balance between life and death.

Fang Yan learned that Zygarde would not stop Xerneas and Yveltal’s conflict in advance, then his teasing brought Giratina out of the Distortion World and reignited its feud with Zygarde. Mega Rayquaza arrived before the Legendary Pokémon could fight, leaving Fang Yan facing the possibility of a three-way battle.

• Fang Yan asked Squishy and Z2 to stop the future crisis by attacking the threat early, but they explained that death was necessary to balance nature; he then slapped Z2 for ignoring him and trying to scare him.
• Fang Yan realized Steven’s interest in Diancie could help with the Xerneas and Yveltal crisis, and Steven approached him to ask about the gem-bodied Pokémon.
• Fang Yan opened a Distortion Passage, and Giratina emerged after sensing Zygarde, angrily recalling how Zygarde’s actions had damaged the Distortion World.
• Giratina and Zygarde prepared to fight, but Gengar distracted Giratina with a video of Fang Yan slapping Z2, and Fang Yan threatened to call other Legendary Pokémon to gang up on Giratina.
• Fang Yan tried to stop Giratina and Zygarde from fighting, but Mega Rayquaza descended with Dragon Ascent and challenged them both as Fang Yan’s eyes turned golden.

Fang Yan summoned Rayquaza, which used Dragon Ascent to Mega Evolve and overpower Zygarde and Giratina in a battle that devastated Lumiose City. Giratina withdrew after Fang Yan promised it a vacation with Alcremie and Little Shauna, while Zygarde escaped as scattered cells; the chapter ended with Fang Yan collapsing as Rayquaza seemingly forced Dragon Ascent on its own.

• Rayquaza returned from space after Fang Yan's wooden pendant flashed and Mega Evolved without the Giant Rainbow Rock when Fang Yan called Dragon Ascent.
• Rayquaza fought Zygarde and Giratina, overwhelming Zygarde while Professor Sycamore worried about Lumiose City's destruction.
• Fang Yan stopped Giratina from ambushing Zygarde by threatening to keep Alcremie and Little Shauna from visiting the Distortion World, then promised Giratina a three-day vacation with them.
• Giratina left through a Distortion Passage, and Zygarde dissolved into cells and fled when Rayquaza charged at it.
• Rayquaza apologized to Professor Sycamore for the damage and flew back toward space after telling Fang Yan to call it for future fights.
• Fang Yan's stamina drained as Rayquaza appeared to use Dragon Ascent on its own, leaving him astonished.

After the battle in Lumiose City, Fang Yan recovered, arranged for Steven to seek out Diancie with Ash and Gary, and Gengar secretly punished Lysandre in his cell. The group gathered at Professor Sycamore's laboratory, while Giratina returned to the Distortion World and swore revenge on Zygarde.

• Fang Yan warned Squishy to keep Z2 from frightening people, then claimed the battle had been meant to help Giratina and Zygarde resolve their differences.
• Fang Yan told Steven that Diancie lived among a Carbink colony in Kalos and asked him to take Ash and Gary along when he went to meet her.
• Gengar sneaked into Lysandre's cell, paralyzed and afflicted him with several status conditions, then left after staff opened the cell door.
• Fang Yan learned where Gengar had gone and joined Steven, Gary, Professor Sycamore, and Diantha at the laboratory.
• Giratina returned to the Distortion World, saw the devastation there, and declared Zygarde his sworn enemy.

Fang Yan asked Steven and Diantha about the Masters Eight Tournament, only to discover it had not been organized and to be talked into hosting it. He agreed to discuss the event with Leon in Galar, then sent Ash and the others to train, ending with Latias’s meteor attack damaging Alain’s newly repaired research lab.

• Diantha and Steven said they had never heard of the Masters Eight Tournament, so Fang Yan explained that it would rank the world’s strongest Trainers through battles.
• Steven and Diantha assumed Fang Yan would organize the tournament, offered Devon Corporation’s sponsorship and promotion, and told other Champions about it.
• Cynthia called Fang Yan about the tournament, and he agreed to visit Galar and discuss it with Leon after she reminded him that he had promised to rise above the Champions.
• Fang Yan told Ash he could not enter without winning a championship, then sent Ash and Pikachu to spar with his Pokémon while Gary and Alain stayed behind.
• Fang Yan Mega Evolved Latias and launched a huge meteor attack that wrecked Alain’s recently repaired research lab.

Fang Yan left the Kalos disaster recovery effort and returned to his Pokémon Day Care with Diantha, while Gary and Ash set out with Steven to study fossils and train. After discussing the Distortion World’s rules with Giratina, Fang Yan settled back into the Day Care as Diantha reunited with Little Shauna and planned a hot-spring visit.

• Fang Yan arranged for Gary to learn about fossils and battling from Steven, and Gary invited Ash to join them as they left Lumiose City.
• Diantha followed Fang Yan through a Distortion Passage to visit the Pokémon Day Care, leaving Kalos disaster recovery to Malva and Professor Sycamore and the League Conference preparations to established procedures.
• Professor Sycamore encouraged Alain to train for the League Conference, and Alain left with Mairin after apologizing for being deceived by Lysandre.
• Fang Yan confronted Giratina about the destruction in the Distortion World, learned that repairing it depended on the real world, and heard how the Pillars of the Distortion World could connect the two worlds.
• Fang Yan returned to the Pokémon Day Care, where Diantha reunited with Little Shauna and learned she was teaching the visiting students about raising Pokémon.
• Diantha relaxed at the Day Care, arranged to use the forest hot spring that evening, and the students were astonished when Little Shauna listed the Champions and Elite Four who visited.

Fang Yan rested at the Pokémon Day Care while Diantha filmed an improvised Ever-Changing Gengar episode. Meanwhile, Shauna and Zhishi arrived in Galar with Munchlax and several Mythical Pokémon, revealing that Giratina had escorted them and leaving Raihan stunned by their guardian.

• Fang Yan fell asleep instead of filming with Gengar, so Diantha took over and narrated Gengar’s farm-themed adventure with the other Pokémon.
• Sonia, Leon, Raihan, Mustard, and Honey camped on an island, where Munchlax crashed into their picnic and Honey recognized him from Fang Yan’s Pokémon Day Care.
• Shauna and Zhishi emerged from the forest and reunited with Honey, Sonia, Leon, and Mustard after Shauna accidentally threw Munchlax into the water.
• Shauna explained that she and Zhishi were traveling with many Pokémon, including Meloetta, Victini, and two Celebi, and that Giratina had brought and protected them.
• Giratina emerged from a Distortion Passage and roared at the group until Shauna politely asked him to stop, leaving Raihan to realize how safe the girls were.

Little Shauna and Little Zhishi visited Honey and Mustard in Galar, while Leon asked Fang Yan to help surprise a sick child who loved Pokémon. Fang Yan agreed to visit for the child’s birthday in two days, and he and Leon prepared to test their strength as the Masters Eight Tournament approached.

• Honey welcomed Little Shauna, who said she wanted to sleep and play in the Distortion World, and Mustard reassured Raihan that the children would be safe there.
• Honey, Sonia, and Mustard played with Little Shauna and Little Zhishi while Giratina repaired the Distortion World and watched over the children.
• Mustard called Fang Yan, who discovered the girls were visiting Galar and spoke with Leon about a hospitalized child who admired both Leon and Fang Yan.
• Fang Yan agreed to visit the child on his birthday in two days and bring Little Shauna and the others along.
• Leon trained with Charizard in anticipation of Fang Yan’s arrival, while Fang Yan told Diantha he was ready to demonstrate his strength ahead of the Masters Eight Tournament.

John left the hospital to watch Leon battle Raihan, but Fang Yan gave him a chance to ride Latias and then arranged for him to challenge Leon in the stadium. After John and Gothitelle staged a dramatic battle, Leon encouraged him to become a Trainer and one day return as his rival.

• John left the hospital by Corviknight to watch Leon battle Raihan in Wyndon.
• John asked the driver to help Fang Yan, who was stranded on a mountaintop, and Fang Yan invited him to ride Latias.
• Fang Yan brought John to the stadium, gave him a Poké Ball, and sent Gothitelle to catch him as he descended toward the battlefield.
• John ordered Gothitelle to use psychic power, and Gothitelle's Shattered Psyche defeated Leon's Charizard in their staged battle.
• Leon returned John's hat and told him he believed John would become a Trainer and his future rival.

Fang Yan proposed the Pokémon World Championships, featuring a Masters Eight tournament and elimination bracket, and Leon agreed to organize it in Galar. The event would wait until Alola had its first Champion, while Mustard suggested Fang Yan’s ambitions extended beyond the Champions.

• Fang Yan returned to the Isle of Armor, learned that Giratina had built an amusement park in the Distortion World for Shauna and Zhishi, and was kicked out after asking for a screening room.
• Leon thanked Fang Yan for helping John find a goal, and Fang Yan said he would give John a Pokémon Egg after his health improved.
• Fang Yan proposed a worldwide Pokémon competition that would use a points-based championship to select the Masters Eight, followed by an elimination tournament to determine the strongest Trainer.
• Leon agreed to handle the competition’s planning in Galar, and Fang Yan said it should wait until Alola had its first Champion.
• Leon and Raihan left to arrange Wyndon’s battle venue, while Mustard told Sonia that Fang Yan had set his sights beyond the Champions.
• That night, all the League Champions gathered in Wyndon.

Fang Yan and Leon began their long-awaited six-on-six battle in Wyndon, with Leon allowing every battle system so Fang Yan could use his full strength. Their opening Pokémon, Ninetales and Cinderace, traded attacks as Fang Yan revealed Ninetales’s unusual Blue Flare and Flash Fire combination, and the fight continued with Solar Beam aimed at Cinderace.

• Diantha, Cynthia, Steven, Wallace, Lance, Geeta, Sonia, Mustard, Honey, and the children discussed who would win as they gathered to watch Fang Yan face Leon.
• Fang Yan and Leon exchanged teasing remarks about fighting for the people they loved, embarrassing Cynthia and Sonia.
• The referee announced a six-on-six match with one battle system allowed, but Leon asked for every system to be permitted, and Fang Yan accepted.
• Fang Yan sent out Ninetales while Leon chose Cinderace, and both Pokémon opened with Sunny Day and Scorching Sands.
• Fang Yan had Ninetales use Blue Flare inside the sandstorm to activate Flash Fire, while Leon’s Cinderace attacked with Smack Down and dodged Ninetales’s counterattacks.
• Ninetales shattered Cinderace’s stone ball with Zen Headbutt, and Fang Yan ordered Solar Beam as Ninetales charged toward Cinderace.

Fang Yan’s Ninetales defeated Leon’s Cinderace with Solar Beam, and Leon’s Charizard overwhelmed Staraptor before Gothitelle took the field. Gothitelle endured Leon’s attacks and defeated Dragapult and Inteleon, ending the chapter after unleashing its Z-Move, Shattered Psyche.

• Fang Yan’s Ninetales used Solar Beam under Sunny Day to knock out Leon’s Cinderace.
• Leon withdrew Inteleon, then sent Charizard against Fang Yan’s Lilligant and Staraptor; Charizard defeated Staraptor with a rapid combination of moves.
• Fang Yan sent out Gothitelle, which shattered its Reflect barrier to deflect Dragapult’s Dragon Darts and later dragged Dragapult out of hiding with Psychic.
• Gothitelle endured Dragapult’s attacks and struck back with Dark Pulse, while Leon recalled Dragapult with U-turn and sent Inteleon back into battle.
• Gothitelle dodged Inteleon’s attacks, used Future Sight to knock it into a crater, and then defeated it with the Z-Move Shattered Psyche.

Fang Yan and Leon continued their Champion battle, trading Pokémon as Fang Yan’s unusual tactics and Dali’s overwhelming strength shifted the match. The chapter ended with Leon’s Charizard facing Fang Yan’s Gengar, as both trainers ordered their next attacks.

• Fang Yan’s Gengar tricked Leon’s Mr. Rime with attacks hidden inside Dark Void and knocked it out, but Dragapult later defeated Gothitelle with Dragon Darts.
• Leon’s Charizard countered Fang Yan’s Lilligant and knocked it out with Fire Blast, leaving both trainers with three Pokémon.
• Dali dragged Leon’s Rillaboom across the battlefield, then restrained and crushed it with Crush Grip before Dragapult returned.
• Fang Yan Gigantamaxed Dali, whose G-Max Chi Strike knocked Dragapult into a crater, though the Gigantamax form ended immediately afterward.
• Dali struck Rillaboom with a combination Fang Yan called the farmer’s three punches, knocking it down, and Leon sent out Charizard as his final Pokémon.
• Fang Yan sent out Gengar against Charizard, and the two trainers simultaneously ordered Fire Blast and Dark Void.

Fang Yan and Mega Gengar defeated Leon and Charizard in a destructive battle at Wyndon Stadium, using Rain Dance and Thunder to weaken Charizard before finishing it with Night Daze. The referee declared Fang Yan the winner, and the trainers and their Pokémon congratulated each other.

• Charizard’s attacks clashed with Gengar’s Dark Void, and Leon prepared to Gigantamax Charizard as Fang Yan began Mega Evolution.
• Fang Yan Mega Evolved Gengar, and the two trainers traded powerful attacks that devastated the stadium.
• Gengar used Rain Dance to set up Thunder, which struck Gigantamax Charizard and forced it back to its normal form.
• Gengar endured Charizard’s attacks and defeated it with a final Night Daze after Leon called for their last move.
• The referee announced Fang Yan’s victory, and Fang Yan thanked Gengar and his other Pokémon before shaking Leon’s hand.

After Fang Yan defeated Leon, the regional Champions gathered on the Isle of Armor and agreed to coordinate announcements about Fang Yan’s Unova role and the upcoming Masters Eight Tournament. Geeta accepted Fang Yan’s invitation to compete, leaving open who would qualify for the tournament.

• Fang Yan defeated Leon, then reunited with Shauna and celebrated with Cynthia, Diantha, Mustard, and the other Champions.
• Fang Yan learned that Geeta had come to watch the battle, and the group agreed to travel to the Isle of Armor for a meal and a conversation about the Masters Eight Tournament.
• After sensational news reports misrepresented the Champions’ gathering and Unova’s absence, Fang Yan arranged for Unova and the other regional Leagues to issue coordinated announcements.
• Fang Yan explained the Masters Eight Tournament to Geeta and invited her to participate, and Geeta accepted.

News of the Masters Eight Tournament spread worldwide while Fang Yan continued his quiet life at the Pokémon Day Care. Ash trained with Steven and learned that his Bond Phenomenon with Greninja caused them to share pain, while Diancie escaped her Carbink home and reached a human city, where a Gengar discovered her beneath a park bench.

• The Leagues announced the Masters Eight Tournament, and Trainers around the world discussed the competition and Unova acting Champion Fang Yan.
• Paul read reports about Fang Yan in Kalos, while Gary showed Ash the tournament news during their training with Steven.
• Steven told Ash that Fang Yan would only let him enter the tournament if he won a championship, prompting Ash to train harder for the Kalos League.
• Ash and Greninja fought Steven's Mega Metagross in Bond Phenomenon form, but Steven struck Greninja and Ash felt the same pain; Clemont explained their Pain Sharing.
• Fang Yan explained to Steven that Bond Phenomenon arose when a Trainer's and Pokémon's Auras and emotions aligned, allowing the Pokémon's injuries to affect the Trainer.
• Diancie slipped away from her mineral-vein home, evaded the Carbink guards searching for her, and entered a human city, where Gengar found her hiding beneath a park bench.

Fang Yan traveled to the Kalos Region for a romantic date with Cynthia, where their teasing turned into a kiss before they explored a couples’ festival. Meanwhile, Diancie slipped through the crowds, planning to act after dark, unaware that she was about to encounter Fang Yan.

• Fang Yan woke early for his date with Cynthia, then flew to the Kalos Region on Latias while Shauna and Zhishi went to school.
• Fang Yan greeted Cynthia with a flirtatious joke, and Cynthia accidentally tackled him into the sand before they kissed.
• Fang Yan and Cynthia visited a festival, made a wish beneath a large tree, and continued exploring together.
• Diancie moved through the festival crowd and decided to wait until night to act, not knowing Fang Yan was nearby.

Fang Yan and Cynthia entered a couples' Pokémon battle to win a trip to Romance Island, then withdrew after overpowering their opponents in a Mega Evolution match. They spent the rest of their date together, while Gengar and Garchomp discovered a frightened Diancie hiding in a park.

• Fang Yan and Cynthia signed up for the couples' battle, where they were matched against a Hoenn couple whose boyfriend was this year's Hoenn League Conference Champion.
• Fang Yan and Cynthia Mega Evolved Gengar and Garchomp, who quickly knocked out the opponents' Mega Swampert and Mega Blaziken and left the arena damaged.
• The organizer offered Fang Yan and Cynthia extra Romance Island tickets if they withdrew, and Fang Yan agreed so the other couples could compete.
• Fang Yan and Cynthia decided to stay at the event, explored couples' activities, and watched a movie together while Fang Yan reassured Cynthia that she could act however felt comfortable.
• Gengar and Garchomp spotted Diancie sneaking into a park, and Gengar startled her by appearing before her and introducing himself.