Recaps

Yushu gave up on becoming a Trainer and began rebuilding his family’s ranch with his Pokémon, making Pokéblocks and cheese for sale while their health and abilities improved. After a battle with Ritchie drew him toward competition again, Yushu entered Solaceon Town’s tournament and advanced past Tiedou’s Machoke with Miltank.

• Yushu returned to Solaceon Town, chose to run the family ranch, and used the Eye of Detection to discover injuries and ailments in his six Pokémon.
• Yushu organized his Pokémon to clear and till the land, bought berry saplings and ranch supplies, and began making tailored Pokéblocks for the team.
• Qingmu brought thirty Pokémon and ten tons of feed to the ranch, while Kaixin arranged to buy Yushu’s Pokéblocks and later helped him find a buyer for his cheese.
• Yushu named the ranch Freewill Ranch, sold cheese through Kurokawa, and watched the orchard and Vespiquen’s Combee colony flourish as his Pokémon grew stronger.
• Uxie repeatedly sneaked into the ranch to eat cheese and Pokéblocks, then gave Yushu a Psychic Plate fragment as compensation.
• Ritchie challenged Yushu to a three-on-three battle, where Staraptor defeated Murkrow and Sudowoodo before losing to Bibarel, and Yushu considered entering the town tournament.
• Yushu entered the tournament with Kaixin and watched several matches before Miltank defeated Tiedou’s Machoke with Rollout.
• Yushu noticed Riley’s Riolu battling Tangrowth and concluded that Riley was likely the current Aura Guardian.

Yushu won the tournament’s Ralts Egg, expanded his ranch, and set out with Riley to explore Iron Island, where they found Team Galactic. As Riley escaped to summon help, Yushu held off commander Mars with Vespiquen and the Combee, but their formation was nearing its limit.

• Riley defeated Tangrowth to win his match, while Kaixin’s Chatot mocked Daisuke’s Dodrio until it lost coordination and was left dazed.
• Yushu’s Miltank defeated Sayuri’s Flaaffy and Kaixin’s Chatot, then Riley won his semifinal against Ritchie before Yushu beat Riley in the final and claimed a Ralts Egg.
• Uxie blessed the Ralts Egg, and Yushu hired Aili and Shuren to help run the ranch while Riley invited him to explore Iron Island.
• The Ralts hatched, chose Yushu, and quickly charmed the ranch Pokémon as Yushu developed specialized training and food plans for his team.
• Yushu and Riley entered Iron Island, battled its ore-eating Pokémon, defeated a Steelix leader, and found a natural Metal Coat and two Mega Stones.
• Yushu and Riley discovered Team Galactic’s camp in the mines, escaped their pursuers, and encountered commander Mars at the island’s exit.
• Mars’s Purugly defeated Riley’s Lucario, so Yushu stalled her while Riley fled to seek help and report Team Galactic to Officer Jenny.
• Yushu and Vespiquen used the Combee’s Cloud Bee Formation to challenge Purugly, but Mars recognized that the formation could not last much longer.

Yushu strengthened his Pokémon, defeated Gardenia, and built his Pokéblock business before heading to Jubilife City to study for the Breeder exam. There he met Cynthia and watched her defeat Flint, after which audience member Yui was selected for a battle.

• Yushu and Uxie helped defeat Team Galactic on Iron Island, where Lucian arranged for Medicham to guide Ralts as it evolved into Kirlia.
• After training on Iron Island, Yushu returned to his ranch, battled Gardenia, and won against Cherubi, Turtwig, and Roserade with Kirlia and Torterra.
• Gardenia introduced Yushu to Maylene, whose battle with Staraptor led her to order Pokéblocks and tell him he needed breeder certification to sell them through official channels.
• Yushu finished Pokéblock orders, left Aili and Shuren in charge of the ranch, and traveled to Jubilife City to study for the Breeder exam.
• Yushu met Cynthia at the Trainer School, discussed Pokémon care and Sinnoh’s legends with her, and accepted a VIP ticket to her exhibition match.
• Cynthia and Flint battled at the stadium, where Gastrodon, Spiritomb, and Garchomp helped Cynthia defeat Flint’s team.
• After Cynthia won, the host selected Yui from the audience and asked her whether she wanted to battle Cynthia or Flint.

Yushu won Flint’s exhibition battle, passed the breeder assessments, and returned to Freewill Ranch with a gifted Shiny Torchic. He helped Eevee evolve into Sylveon and wrote a paper about it, which led Professor Rowan to request a meeting.

• Yushu defeated Flint’s Charizard with Luxray, winning Cynthia’s bet and earning Flint’s Shiny Torchic as the prize.
• Yushu passed the written and practical breeder assessments with high marks, then collected his beginner breeder certificate with Reggie.
• Yushu battled Reggie and won with Rotom, renewing Reggie’s confidence before returning to his ranch with Torchic and Cynthia’s contact information.
• Yushu assigned Luxray to train Torchic, whose Speed Boost and Flame Charge sent it careening around the ranch until Kirlia stopped it.
• Yushu chose Eevee’s undiscovered evolution as his research topic, taught Eevee Charm with Kirlia, and arranged a staged crisis to prompt its evolution.
• Eevee evolved into Sylveon while protecting Aili from Ursaring, and Yushu wrote a paper documenting Sylveon’s discovery and abilities.
• Cynthia sent Yushu’s paper to Professor Rowan, who requested a meeting, and Yushu agreed to travel to Sandgem Town while Aili and Shuren watched the ranch.