Recaps

After years of Gym losses, Yushu decided to stop pursuing a career as a Trainer and asked his parents about the family’s abandoned ranch in Solaceon Town. His mother supported his plan to try farming and raising Pokémon, while his father remained doubtful.

• Yushu told Qingmu and Anna that he no longer wanted to be a Trainer, and they discussed possible careers for him.
• Yushu recalled his repeated Gym losses, his collapse at the training grounds, and how memories of his previous life had helped him accept changing paths.
• Yushu asked whether the family still owned its ancestral ranch in Solaceon Town, and Qingmu confirmed it had not been sold.
• Yushu said he would try running the ranch, and Qingmu cautioned that Yushu had no farming experience.
• Anna backed Yushu’s plan and offered to send Pokémon, feed, supplies, and money if he needed them.

Yushu discovered he could identify Pokémon’s conditions and treated Kenichi’s Aipom after finding splinters embedded in its skin. He left the Pokémon Center with Kenichi wondering if he was a doctor.

• Yushu told Qingmu he was giving up on becoming a Trainer and planned to try something different at the ranch.
• Nurse Joy returned Yushu’s six recovered Pokémon and learned he intended to stay in town.
• Yushu noticed an agitated Aipom and saw information revealing that splinters were embedded in its back and upper arms.
• Yushu calmed Aipom, removed the splinters, and applied anti-inflammatory medicine.
• Kenichi thanked Yushu for helping Aipom and asked if he was a doctor.

Yushu returned to his family’s ranch in Solaceon Town, where Mayor Zongping showed him the house, barns, storehouse, berry plot, and nearby wilderness. After Zongping left, Yushu wondered how he would manage such a large ranch on his own, then remembered he had Pokémon to help.

• Yushu met Mayor Zongping, who welcomed him back and showed him the clean, furnished ranch house.
• Zongping showed Yushu the storehouse and its working farm tools, recalling how Yushu’s grandfather had once run one of Solaceon Town’s best ranches.
• Zongping pointed out the empty barns and overgrown berry orchard, explaining that the ranch could support Pokémon and berry crops.
• Zongping told Yushu about the eastern valley, where he could gather wild produce, and nearby Lake Acuity, known for its sweet water.
• After Zongping left, Yushu looked over the ranch and wondered how he would manage it alone before remembering that he had Pokémon.

Yushu released his six Pokémon at their new home and used the Eye of Detection to assess their health, finding several injuries and signs of stress. He reassured them and resolved to give them time to recover, then turned to inspect the next Pokémon.

• Yushu released his six Pokémon and used the Eye of Detection to examine Miltank, discovering blocked mammary meridians and calcium loss from frequent milk production and combat training.
• Yushu inspected his Starter Pokémon Torterra, found damaged energy channels in his back shell, and told him to avoid using Rock Climb unless necessary.
• Yushu saw that Staraptor had overloaded wing tendons and told him to rest instead of training.
• Yushu discovered Luxray was suffering from prolonged battle anxiety and told him he was safe at the new home.
• Yushu shifted his attention to the next Pokémon, who looked like a queen.

Yushu assessed his six Pokémon and announced that he was quitting as a Trainer, prompting most of them to consider how they could support themselves. The chapter ended with Yushu inviting them to eat while Staraptor remained panicked about being unemployed.

• Yushu examined Vespiquen and Rotom, noting Vespiquen could command Combee and Rotom could operate household devices.
• Yushu assessed his team’s strength and realized that most of his Pokémon were advanced-level and carried injuries or ailments.
• Yushu told his Pokémon that he would no longer train them because he was no longer a Trainer.
• Staraptor panicked at the prospect of being laid off, while Miltank, Torterra, Luxray, Vespiquen, and Rotom each imagined ways to get by.
• Yushu laughed at Staraptor’s despair and invited the hungry Pokémon to eat.

Yushu ended the team’s travels and announced that they would begin a new life on the ranch. The next morning, he gathered his Pokémon to enlist their help with preparing the ranch’s soil.

• Yushu cooked tomato and egg noodles and fed dinner to his Pokémon, while Staraptor mistakenly feared that his trainer was retiring from battling.
• Yushu thanked his Pokémon for their hard work on their travels and declared that they would start a new life together on the ranch.
• Yushu received messages from Anna, who said his father had selected livestock and brought feed for the ranch.
• Yushu decided to prepare the ranch’s soil before planting and called his Pokémon together to help.

Yushu assigned farm duties to his Pokémon, then took Staraptor to Solaceon Town to buy supplies. At the Flower and Fruit Nursery, he bought beginner-friendly Berry saplings and prepared to continue shopping.

• Yushu assigned Miltank to clear rocks and roots, Luxray to inspect the ranch, Torterra to till the soil, Rotom to mow weeds, and Vespiquen to patrol for pests.
• Yushu gave Staraptor the task of accompanying him to town, disappointing Staraptor, which had expected an important ranch mission.
• Yushu and Staraptor visited the Flower and Fruit Nursery, where Uncle Kaisuke recognized Yushu as Qingmu’s family and offered advice.
• Yushu bought ten saplings each of Pecha, Oran, Wepear, and Sitrus Berries for a total of 4,500 Alliance Currency.

Yushu bought supplies for his ranch and Berries for making Pokéblocks, then considered purchasing an expensive Berry processing machine. Kaixin interrupted Kurokawa’s sales pitch and praised Yushu’s concern for his Pokémon.

• Kaisuke gave Yushu vegetable seeds with his purchases, and Yushu continued shopping with Staraptor.
• Chiyo recommended ranch supplies at her general store, and Yushu bought them despite Staraptor’s growing bewilderment.
• Yushu bought several kinds of Berries at the Field Shop and asked Kurokawa about a Devon Corporation Berry processing machine priced at 22,000 League dollars.
• Kaixin interrupted Kurokawa and asked Yushu whether he was a Breeder planning to make Pokéblocks.
• Yushu said he wanted to improve his Pokémon’s meals, and Kaixin praised his care for them while Staraptor questioned the praise.

Yushu met Pokémon Breeder Kaixin, who helped him bargain for a Berry machine and supplies. Back at the ranch, he began making Pokéblocks with a multi-Berry recipe for Miltank, discovering a new approach to Pokémon care.

• Yushu introduced himself to Kaixin, who offered to help him with raising Pokémon and invited him to visit her Day Care.
• Kaixin bargained with Kurokawa and got Yushu a Berry machine for eighteen thousand, with a jin of Oran Berries included.
• Yushu returned to the ranch with Staraptor carrying his purchases, and Staraptor collapsed from the effort.
• Yushu installed the Berry machine and prepared a Pokéblock recipe combining Pecha, Lum, and Wepear Berries for Miltank.

Yushu made customized Pokéblocks for his Pokémon, and their delighted reactions convinced them the treats were part of a hidden training plan. As Yushu slept, the Pokémon eagerly returned to their assigned ranch tasks, believing they were training for future battles.

• Yushu repeatedly failed to make Pokéblocks before following the Eye of Detection's ingredient ratios and temperature instructions to produce successful batches.
• Yushu made tailored Pokéblocks for Miltank, Torterra, Staraptor, Luxray, Vespiquen, and Rotom, then gave them out to taste.
• The Pokémon were amazed by the Pokéblocks' flavor and how much better their bodies felt after eating them.
• After Yushu went to bed, Staraptor persuaded the others that the ranch chores and Pokéblocks were parts of Yushu's secret training program.
• The Pokémon enthusiastically returned to their assigned tasks, while Yushu dreamed of his ranch thriving.

Yushu planted Berry seedlings after discovering that Torterra had prepared the orchard plot. Qingmu arrived with thirty carefully selected Pokémon and ten tons of feed, then asked Yushu to show him around the ranch.

• Yushu found his Pokémon sprawled around the yard, while Torterra had already tilled the Berry orchard and dug its furrows.
• Yushu planted Pecha Berry, Oran Berry, and Wepear Berry seedlings in all forty tree pits and watered them with water from Lake Acuity.
• Qingmu arrived at the farm with thirty Pokémon, including Miltank and Mareep, and Yushu checked that they were healthy with the Eye of Detection.
• Yushu and Qingmu settled the Pokémon into the sheds, and Qingmu told Yushu that he had brought ten tons of feed.
• Qingmu asked Yushu to show him around the ranch, where he had grown up before leaving for the city.

Yushu showed Qingmu around the ranch, improved the Pokémon’s feed, and impressed his father by making high-quality Pokéblocks. Kaixin arrived at the ranch, where Yushu introduced her to Qingmu as his father.

• Yushu showed Qingmu his plans for the Berry orchard and flower field, then reassured Anna by phone that he was eating well and the Pokémon were settled.
• Yushu mixed Berries and nutritional supplements into the ranch’s standard feed, which the Miltank and Mareep eagerly ate.
• Yushu prepared Pokéblocks for the ranch Pokémon, and Qingmu worried that his son might damage the house with the machine.
• Yushu gave Qingmu a Pokéblock to taste, and Qingmu praised its quality after trying it.
• Kaixin arrived at the ranch, and Qingmu teasingly asked whether she was more than a friend to Yushu.
• Yushu welcomed Kaixin and introduced Qingmu as his good-for-nothing father.

Yushu impressed Kaixin with nearly intermediate-grade Pokéblocks and secured a daily order from her Pokémon Day Care, while Qingmu celebrated his son's talent. Later, Yushu spotted Uxie at Lake Acuity but decided to leave the Legendary Pokémon alone.

• Kaixin tasted Yushu's Pokéblocks, recognized their near-intermediate quality, and estimated they could sell for 400 to 500 each.
• Kaixin ordered twenty Pokéblocks a day from Yushu at market price, and the two discussed Pokémon breeding and nutrition.
• Kaixin invited Yushu to visit her Pokémon Day Care, and Qingmu drove back to Hearthome City in high spirits.
• Yushu went for a walk beside Lake Acuity and briefly saw Uxie, whose detection status showed that it was mildly peckish.
• Yushu considered trying to fight the Champion-level Legendary Pokémon, then decided to pretend he had not seen it.

Yushu discovered that Lake Acuity water had accelerated the Berry seedlings’ growth and began turning improved Miltank milk into cheese. Meanwhile, an unseen Pokémon secretly ate the ranch’s Pokéblocks and later stole half the cheese, leaving Yushu unaware of the culprit.

• Yushu used the Eye of Detection and learned that trace energy in Lake Acuity water had made the Berry seedlings grow about 300% faster than normal.
• Yushu noticed that half the Pokéblocks had disappeared, but he and the ranch Pokémon could not determine who had eaten them.
• Yushu observed the Berry plants flowering and the Miltank producing richer milk, then decided to make cheese instead of selling the milk directly.
• Yushu made a block of cheese, tasted it, and planned to ask Kaixin about finding buyers.
• A transparent figure appeared at night, ate half the cheese, and secretly apologized to Yushu for enjoying his food.

Yushu discovered that Uxie had eaten all his cheese and confronted the Legendary Pokémon in his kitchen. Uxie teleported away before offering compensation, leaving Yushu’s Pokémon alarmed by its immense power while Staraptor insisted it still owed them for the food.

• Yushu found Uxie asleep on the kitchen counter beside the empty cheese plate, and Rotom mistook the Legendary Pokémon for a newcomer.
• Uxie woke, apologized to Yushu through Telepathy, and admitted it had eaten all the cheese after intending to try only a little.
• Rotom joined Yushu in demanding compensation, while Staraptor appeared at the window and challenged Uxie for stealing its cheese.
• Uxie offered to compensate Yushu, then used Teleport to escape before he could find out what it would give him.
• Luxray, Miltank, Torterra, and Vespiquen sensed Uxie’s overwhelming power, while Staraptor continued to insist that even a big shot could not eat for free.

Uxie compensated Yushu for eating his cheese with a fragment of an Arceus Psychic Plate, then admitted to eating his Pokéblocks as well. After Yushu kindly gave Uxie more food, he headed to Kaixin’s Pokémon Day Care to ask about ways to sell his cheese.

• Uxie returned and gave Yushu a Psychic Plate fragment as compensation for eating his cheese.
• Staraptor accused Uxie of eating the missing Pokéblocks, and Uxie admitted it had done so.
• Yushu forgave Uxie and gave it a box of Pokéblocks, leaving Staraptor jealous of the Legendary Pokémon’s treatment.
• Yushu made more cheese, changed clothes, and went to Kaixin’s Pokémon Day Care to ask about sales channels.
• Yushu arrived at the Day Care in eastern Solaceon Town and considered how its size might reflect a local monopoly.

Yushu brought his homemade cheese to Kaixin’s Pokémon Day Care, where it impressed Kaixin and her employees. Kaixin took him to Kurokawa’s Field Shop, and Kurokawa agreed to buy all the cheese at ten percent above market price.

• Yushu introduced himself to Kaixin’s employees Xiaodu and Xiaoya at the Pokémon Day Care.
• Yushu gave Kaixin, Xiaoya, and Xiaodu his Miltank-milk cheese to taste, and they praised its quality.
• Kaixin suggested that Yushu sell the cheese through Kurokawa’s Field Shop and offered to help him negotiate.
• Yushu showed the cheese to Kurokawa, who tasted it and offered to buy all of it.
• Kurokawa quoted a price ten percent above market rate, and Yushu calculated that dairy production could bring in substantial income.

Yushu named his ranch Freewill Ranch and secured a steady cheese buyer, while Kaixin helped him arrange the deal. A month later, the ranch had flourished with ripe Berry trees and a productive Combee colony living in a hive built for Vespiquen.

• Yushu named his ranch Freewill Ranch, and Kurokawa recorded it and arranged daily cheese pickups.
• Kurokawa invited Yushu to sell spare Pokéblocks, and Yushu thanked Kaixin for connecting him with the buyer.
• A month later, Yushu found that the Berry orchard had grown well and its first Pecha, Oran, and Wepear Berries had ripened.
• Yushu kept the Berries for Pokéblock production because the ranch's Pokémon consumed nearly all of them.
• Yushu built a hive for Vespiquen, and the Combee colony collected nectar and made honey while Vespiquen practiced directing them.

After a month of turning their ranch chores into training, Yushu’s six Pokémon each advanced a level, though he had little idea how strong they had become. When Trainer Ritchie arrived and mistook the farmwork for advanced training, he challenged Yushu to a battle, and the eager Pokémon gathered to fight.

• Over the month, Vespiquen recovered and reached the early elite stage while Miltank, Torterra, Luxray, Staraptor, and Rotom developed their abilities through farmwork.
• Yushu gave Rotom a Plate fragment, which made Rotom’s possession faster and its moves stronger.
• Yushu found that all six Pokémon had advanced a level, though he still lacked a clear sense of their strength because they had not battled.
• Ritchie arrived at the ranch, saw the Pokémon performing powerful moves during their chores, and mistook Yushu for a veteran Trainer.
• Ritchie asked Yushu for a battle, and Yushu’s Pokémon eagerly volunteered while Uxie watched with curiosity.

Yushu agreed to battle Ritchie in a three-on-three match, and Staraptor faced Ritchie's Murkrow in the opening fight. Staraptor struck Murkrow with Brave Bird, sending it plummeting from the sky.

• Yushu and Ritchie chose an open field on the ranch's east side and agreed to a three-on-three battle.
• Ritchie sent out his Mid Advanced Stage Murkrow, and Yushu chose the eager Staraptor.
• Staraptor dodged Murkrow's Night Shade and countered with Quick Attack, knocking Murkrow backward.
• Murkrow used Haze to hide a surprise Night Slash, but Staraptor avoided further damage with Double Team.
• Staraptor and Murkrow traded attacks before Staraptor charged with Brave Bird and overpowered Murkrow's Night Slash.
• Murkrow cried out in pain and fell from the sky after the collision.

Yushu and Staraptor defeated Ritchie’s Sudowoodo despite its Rock-type advantage, leaving Ritchie to send out Bibarel as his final Pokémon. Ritchie explained that Bibarel had been his first Pokémon, caught as a Bidoof while he was fishing.

• Ritchie concluded that Yushu was an experienced Trainer because he had competed in a League Conference.
• Ritchie sent out Sudowoodo, and Yushu kept Staraptor in the battle despite its type disadvantage.
• Staraptor dodged Sudowoodo’s Rock attacks, then used Close Combat and Air Slash to defeat it.
• Ritchie sent out Bibarel as his final Pokémon and explained that he had caught it as a Bidoof while fishing.
• Yushu reflected that many Trainers from ordinary families had to find their own way to obtain a first Pokémon.

Yushu and Ritchie continued their battle, where Staraptor and Bibarel knocked each other down with their final attacks, but Staraptor could not get back up and Yushu lost. Ritchie then told Yushu about an upcoming town tournament sponsored by Devon Corporation, and Yushu considered entering for its prizes.

• Ritchie had Bibarel boost its Attack with Swords Dance, then use Headbutt, Aqua Tail, and Rollout against Yushu's increasingly tired Staraptor.
• Yushu had Staraptor dodge and counter Bibarel's attacks, but Bibarel's Water Gun slowed Staraptor and soaked its feathers.
• Yushu ordered Staraptor to feint with Aerial Ace and then strike with Brave Bird, while Ritchie countered with Aqua Tail; both Pokémon fell, but Staraptor could not rise again.
• Ritchie told Yushu about the town's upcoming tournament, its prizes, and Devon Corporation's sponsorship.
• Yushu became interested in the prizes and said he might enter, while Ritchie joked that he would have to aim for second or third place.

Yushu and Kaixin entered Solaceon Town’s sponsored Pokémon battle tournament, where they learned about its prizes and sponsors before drawing their match assignments. Yushu drew the fourth match and Kaixin the sixth as the first battle was about to begin.

• Yushu arrived at the crowded tournament with Kaixin, who explained that Devon Corporation sponsored the event to promote battling and scout rookie Trainers.
• Kaixin told Yushu she had entered too, and joked that she might let him win to make later bargaining easier.
• Kurokawa joined them and revealed that he had sponsored Poké Balls, but he did not know what Pokémon was inside the tournament’s rare egg.
• Mayor Zongping welcomed the crowd and announced that the tournament would begin after contestants drew their match assignments.
• Yushu drew the fourth match and Kaixin drew the sixth, then they went to watch the first battle.

Naoto defeated Matsuri after his Spearow chased her Caterpie around the field, while Ritchie won his match against a middle-aged man’s Mothim. Yushu was called up for his battle against Tiedou, a burly young man with dyed red hair.

• Naoto’s Spearow overwhelmed Matsuri’s Caterpie, and Matsuri recalled it before Spearow could catch it, giving Naoto the win.
• A traveling Trainer’s Beedrill defeated a local middle-aged man’s Raticate with a series of fast attacks.
• Ritchie used Murkrow’s Haze to hide its position, then defeated the opponent’s Mothim with two Night Slashes.
• Zongping was surprised when Yushu took the stage, since he thought Yushu had decided not to become a Trainer.
• Yushu faced Tiedou, a burly young man wearing a black leather jacket with flashy red hair.

Yushu entered a tournament and defeated Tiedou’s Machoke with his powerful Miltank, astonishing the crowd. He then watched the remaining matches and took an interest in Riley, whose Riolu suggested that Riley was the current Aura Guardian.

• Tiedou mocked Yushu and sent out his mid Advanced Stage Machoke, while Yushu chose Miltank despite the spectators’ doubts.
• Miltank used Defense Curl to withstand Machoke’s Cross Chop without moving.
• Miltank’s Rollout overwhelmed Machoke even after it used Bulk Up and tried Submission, forcing Tiedou to recall it and ask how Yushu had raised Miltank.
• Yushu gave Tiedou a casual answer, then watched several more tournament battles.
• Yushu noticed Riley’s mid Advanced Stage Riolu fighting a Tangrowth and concluded that Riley was likely the current Aura Guardian.