Recaps

Xiaoyun and his friends confronted Madame X and Malamar after freeing Barry from hypnosis, while Sceptile revealed it had defeated the base’s Pokémon on its own. Malamar fled but was forced to fight Sceptile, whose growing strength Xiaoyun identified as the effect of Contrary.

• Dawn defeated Golisopod with Doublade’s Sacred Sword, and Shaymin used Aromatherapy to revive Barry.
• Madame X appeared with Malamar and tried to hypnotize the group, but Floette’s Misty Terrain blocked the attack.
• Barry found his injured Pokémon, and Shaymin healed them while Madame X called for her army.
• Inky told Malamar that a green lizard had defeated its troops, and Sceptile emerged after fighting through the base with Frogadier.
• Madame X was revealed to be Officer Jenny when Malamar released its control over her and tried to escape.
• Sceptile intercepted Malamar and clashed with its Superpower, while Xiaoyun realized Malamar’s Contrary Ability was increasing its Attack.

Xiaoyun defeated Malamar, helped Officer Jenny resolve the hypnosis incident, and caught the Shiny Froakie after winning its challenge. He then joined Barry and the others at the Battle Chateau, where they learned about its Trainer ranks and battle system.

• Sceptile defeated Malamar with Light of the Corona, and Officer Jenny explained how the hypnosis crystal had amplified its Hypnosis.
• Officer Jenny detained Malamar and the crystal, while Froakie challenged Xiaoyun to a battle for the chance to join him.
• Eevee defeated Froakie, and Xiaoyun caught the Shiny Pokémon, which had the Protean ability and Elite Stage strength.
• Barry invited Xiaoyun and the others to the nearby Battle Chateau, where a maid welcomed Viscounts Sanpei and Barry.
• Butler Karen explained that the Battle Chateau's noble titles ranked Trainers and determined who could battle one another.

Barry won ten consecutive battles at the Battle Chateau and was promoted to Earl, while Xiaoyun earned the Baron rank with his Shiny Froakie and won nine battles in a row. Sanpei agreed to face Xiaoyun in a promotion match, and their battle began with Frogadier using Double Team.

• Barry defeated Wayne's Avalugg with Hitmonlee and was promoted to Earl after his tenth consecutive Viscount-rank victory.
• Xiaoyun beat Karu's Froakie with his Shiny Froakie and earned a white cloak as a Baron.
• Xiaoyun swept through more Baron-ranked opponents until he had nine consecutive wins, but no one else would challenge him.
• Sanpei offered to face Xiaoyun in a promotion match, which could advance Xiaoyun directly to Viscount if he won.
• Xiaoyun kept his tired Froakie in the battle against Sanpei's Frogadier, which opened with Double Team; Xiaoyun ordered Smokescreen.

Xiaoyun and Dawn rapidly climbed the Battle Chateau ranks, reaching marquis while Barry remained an earl. Ash and his companions arrived at the chateau, where they learned about the ranking system and met Gym Leader Viola.

• Xiaoyun’s Froakie defeated Sanpei’s Frogadier by using Protean to become a Ghost type and avoid Iai Slash.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn battled repeatedly at the Battle Chateau, advancing through the ranks while Barry tried to keep pace.
• After the chateau ran short of earl-ranked opponents, Master Luo used Rotom to spread a challenge that drew more trainers to the venue.
• Dawn defeated a trainer’s Noivern with Samurott’s Blue Aurora Slash and was promoted to marquis; Xiaoyun also reached marquis, while Barry remained an earl.
• Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, and Baron Nico arrived at the Battle Chateau, and Ash decided he wanted to rank up too.
• Viola appeared and asked whether Ash planned to join the Battle Chateau.

At the Battle Chateau, Xiaoyun battled duchess Ayaka after she challenged him in defense of Kalos's reputation. He defeated her Mega Absol with Serperior's special Z-Move, earned promotion to duke, and left Barry determined to obtain Mega Evolution despite lacking a Pokémon capable of it.

• Viola called Grant down from a high window, and Xiaoyun proposed battling him for his Gym evaluation, but Ayaka stepped in as his opponent.
• Ayaka sent out Absol against Xiaoyun's Serperior, whose Contrary ability let it strengthen its Leaf Storm attacks.
• Ayaka Mega Evolved Absol, which interrupted Serperior's attacks and wounded it with Night Slash and Razor Wind.
• Xiaoyun used Serperior's special Z-Move, Jade Shadow Thousand Serpent Strangulation Formation, to trap and exhaust Mega Absol until Ayaka surrendered.
• The Battle Chateau declared Xiaoyun the winner and promoted him from marquis to duke.
• Barry decided he wanted Mega Evolution, then realized he had no Pokémon capable of Mega Evolving.

After reaching duke rank at the Battle Chateau, Xiaoyun left with Dawn and later found ancient ruins, where a stranger named Arnold challenged Dawn to a wager for her Key Stone and Mega Stone. Dawn accepted the battle, unaware that Arnold was targeting Xiaoyun on Lord Lysandre’s orders to study his Mega Evolution energy.

• Bonnie urged Clemont to comfort the defeated Ayaka, but he restrained Bonnie with a mechanical arm, while Serena eagerly answered Ash’s call for a battle.
• Xiaoyun showed off his new duke’s cape to Dawn and Barry, learned that Grant had slipped away, and watched Serena defeat Ash by surprising him with a new Froakie strategy.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn continued through Kalos and wandered into a dilapidated ruin after Rotom claimed it might contain treasure.
• Arnold approached the pair, recognized Dawn’s Key Stone, and proposed a battle wager for her Key Stone and Pokémon’s Mega Stone.
• Dawn accepted Arnold’s challenge so she could test her Mega Evolution, while Arnold privately planned to draw out Xiaoyun’s Mega Evolution energy for Lord Lysandre.

Dawn’s Mega Lopunny defeated Arnold’s Mega Venusaur in their Mega Evolution battle, earning her the agreed-upon Mega Stone. Arnold tried to escape instead of handing it over, so Xiaoyun sent Darkrai after him.

• Arnold and Dawn Mega Evolved Venusaur and Lopunny, then began their battle with Venusaur using Seed Bomb and Lopunny dodging in close to attack.
• Venusaur endured Lopunny’s kicks and Blizzard with Curse’s defensive boost and Thick Fat, then pressured it with Seed Bomb and Power Whip.
• Dawn spotted the pauses between Venusaur’s attacks, had Lopunny evade its vines until it slowed, and combined Blizzard with High Jump Kick to defeat it.
• Arnold panicked over losing the Mega Stone bestowed by Lord Lysandre and tried to bargain with Dawn, but Xiaoyun insisted he honor their agreement.
• Arnold fled with Abra using Teleport, and Xiaoyun asked Darkrai to chase him down.

Xiaoyun and Dawn recovered the stolen Venusaur Mega Stone from Arnold, trading it for Gengar’s Mega Stone, which Dawn used to Mega Evolve Gengar. Louis then challenged them at the ruins, and Xiaoyun prepared to battle his Mega Garchomp with Aerodactyl, hinting he would rely on the Bond Phenomenon instead of Mega Evolution.

• Dawn suggested letting Arnold keep the Venusaur Mega Stone, but Xiaoyun insisted she had won it fairly and promised to trade it for a stone she could use.
• Darkrai found Arnold hiding in the woods, frightened him unconscious, and brought him back to Xiaoyun, who demanded the Mega Stone.
• Arnold offered Gengar’s Mega Stone in exchange, and Rotom confirmed it was genuine before Xiaoyun handed it to Dawn.
• Dawn Mega Evolved Gengar and tested its Shadow Ball, which shattered a boulder, before returning Gengar to its normal form.
• Louis arrived at the ruins and challenged Xiaoyun and Dawn; after they agreed to battle, Xiaoyun won rock, paper, scissors and chose Aerodactyl to face Louis’s Garchomp.
• Louis Mega Evolved Garchomp and asked why Xiaoyun had not Mega Evolved Aerodactyl, but Xiaoyun said they could battle first.

Xiaoyun defeated Louis’s Mega Garchomp after Aerodactyl awakened its Bond Phenomenon, then explored the ruins with Dawn and found a Gyarados Mega Stone. The pair reached Laverre City and entered its Gym.

• Louis ordered Mega Garchomp to attack Aerodactyl, but Aerodactyl dodged its moves and overwhelmed it with stronger Stone Edge attacks.
• Xiaoyun awakened Aerodactyl’s Bond Phenomenon, and Aerodactyl used Dragon Pulse and Thunder Bagua to defeat Mega Garchomp.
• Louis admitted defeat and promised that he and A-Yao would be stronger next time, while Xiaoyun praised Mega Garchomp’s explosive power.
• Xiaoyun, Dawn, and Rotom explored deeper into the ruins, where Floette accidentally collapsed a wall and revealed a Gyarados Mega Stone.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn traveled to Laverre City, admired its sporting activities, and entered the Laverre Gym.

Dawn challenged Grant at Laverre Gym while Xiaoyun watched as an inspector. After Blue-Gray defeated Grant’s Onix but fell to Aggron, Dawn sent out Gengar, and the battle continued.

• Grant nearly fell from the rock wall, but Onix caught him before he hit the ground.
• Dawn began a two-on-two Gym battle against Grant and defeated Onix with Blue-Gray after a fierce exchange of attacks.
• Grant sent out Aggron, which overwhelmed Blue-Gray with Heavy Slam and knocked Doublade out of the battle.
• Dawn sent out Gengar, which evaded Aggron’s Rock Tomb by becoming intangible and struck it with Shadow Ball.
• Dawn ordered Gengar to close in and use Shadow Punch against Aggron.

Dawn defeated Grant’s Aggron with Mega Gengar and won the Cliff Badge, after which Xiaoyun began Grant’s Gym assessment with Deino against Kabutops. Deino turned the battle around with a series of well-timed attacks and landed a finishing Dragon Pulse, leaving Kabutops’s fate unannounced.

• Dawn Mega Evolved Gengar and defeated Grant’s Aggron with Special Beam Cannon, earning the Cliff Badge.
• Grant agreed to continue the assessment, and Xiaoyun sent Deino to face Grant’s Kabutops.
• Deino knocked Kabutops back with Headbutt and countered its attacks with Dragon Pulse and Draco Meteor.
• Deino used Draco Meteor’s smoke as cover to bite Kabutops’s left forelimb, then escaped its Liquidation and struck its torso with Headbutt.
• Xiaoyun had Deino bait Kabutops into a final clash before Deino fired a charged Dragon Pulse into Kabutops’s chest, stopping its charge.

Xiaoyun’s Drapion defeated Grant’s Aurorus in a Gym assessment, earning Grant his Badge and document. Xiaoyun and Dawn then traveled to Ambrette Town for its surfing competition and visited the town’s famous aquarium.

• Deino defeated Grant’s Kabutops with a final Dragon Pulse, then Xiaoyun sent out Drapion to face Aurorus.
• Drapion broke through Aurorus’s Rock Tomb and Blizzard, struck it with Cross Poison, and finished the battle with Inferno Poison Explosion.
• Grant conceded defeat, and Xiaoyun praised his tactics before awarding him an assessment Badge and document.
• Dawn persuaded Xiaoyun to visit Ambrette Town for its surfing competition, and they registered as contestants.
• Rotom recommended the Ambrette Aquarium, so Dawn and Xiaoyun explored its tanks and saw Pokémon including Omastar and Relicanth.

Dawn and Xiaoyun visited an aquarium, where they reunited with Serena and heard the director’s story about a Golden Magikarp he had once encountered. As they fished to help him find it, Team Rocket trapped Ash and Pikachu in a net and revealed themselves.

• Dawn released Piplup to watch a procession of Piplup, and it helped a confused one rejoin the line.
• Dawn and Xiaoyun met Serena at the Golden Magikarp statue, where the aquarium director told them a Golden Magikarp had rescued him at sea decades earlier.
• Ash decided to help the director catch the Golden Magikarp, and the group borrowed rods and began fishing.
• Meowth proposed a fishing contest to lure Pikachu, and James and Jessie agreed to Team Rocket’s plan.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn caught ordinary Magikarp, Pikachu filled a bucket with them, and Clemont and Bonnie made unusual catches.
• Ash and Pikachu pulled on a powerful bite, but Team Rocket’s giant Magikarp machine netted them, and Jessie and James appeared.

Team Rocket’s mistreatment of a Golden Magikarp triggered its evolution into a berserk Red Gyarados, which attacked the group. Dawn defended everyone and tried to calm it, but Gyarados charged at her and Piplup.

• Serena, Clemont, and their Pokémon failed to stop Team Rocket’s insulated Magikarp submarine from taking Ash and Pikachu.
• Meowth pulled a Golden Magikarp from the net, and James repeatedly dunked it in the water before kicking it toward Dawn.
• After James called it useless, the Golden Magikarp evolved into a Red Gyarados and blasted Team Rocket with Fire Blast, sending them flying and freeing Ash and Pikachu.
• The Red Gyarados went berserk, overpowered the old curator’s Clawitzer, and forced Dawn’s Piplup to block its Flamethrower with Whirlpool.
• Dawn tried to reason with Gyarados, but it charged at her and Piplup, so she ordered Piplup to use Blizzard.

Dawn caught the Red Gyarados after Floette defeated it with Light of Ruin, and three days later the group entered Ambrette Town’s surfing competition. Xiaoyun and Ash raced neck and neck, with Xiaoyun targeting Serena’s Clawitzer as their combined moves helped Ash catch up.

• Dawn and Piplup battled the Red Gyarados until Floette emerged from Dawn’s bag and knocked it out with Light of Ruin.
• Dawn caught the Red Gyarados, who recovered and became wary of Floette after she healed him.
• Xiaoyun, Ash, Serena, Clemont, Dawn, and Pikachu took part in Ambrette Town’s surfing competition, with Dawn using Gyarados and Twister to surge ahead.
• Xiaoyun used Froakie’s Smokescreen to slow Ash, but Ash and Serena combined their Pokémon’s moves to catch up.
• Ash and Serena drew level with Xiaoyun, who ordered Froakie to hit Clawitzer with Bubble, prompting Ash to call for Water Gun.

After Dawn won the surfing competition, Xiaoyun and his friends searched Glittering Cave for replacement fossils and met Steven and Paul. Steven offered stones and fossils as a reward for a battle, but Paul stepped in to challenge Ash, leaving Pikachu and Metagross ready to fight.

• Dawn crossed the surfing finish line first after Gyarados swept away the other contestants, while Pikachu took third place.
• At Mr. Petro's request, Ash and the others searched Glittering Cave for replacement fossils, but Xiaoyun and Ash dug up worthless stones.
• Xiaoyun's digging caused a cave-in, and Tyrunt protected him from the falling rocks with Rock Tomb.
• Steven emerged from the newly opened passage with Aron, and Ash, Xiaoyun, and the others recognized him as the former Hoenn Champion.
• Steven offered to give them fossils and stones in exchange for a battle with Xiaoyun, but Paul volunteered to battle Ash instead.
• Paul sent out Metagross to face Ash's Pikachu.

Ash and Pikachu battled Paul’s Metagross to a draw, after which Paul conceded the loss. Xiaoyun then faced Steven’s Metagross with Aerodactyl, and Steven Mega Evolved his Pokémon as the battle continued.

• Paul sent out Metagross, and Ash’s Pikachu fought it with Quick Attack, Thunderbolt, Iron Tail, and Volt Tackle.
• Paul used Metagross’s Psychic barrier and counterattacks to withstand Pikachu, but Pikachu and Metagross knocked each other unconscious in their final clash.
• Steven praised Ash, then challenged Xiaoyun to a battle; Xiaoyun chose Aerodactyl to face Steven’s Metagross.
• Aerodactyl dodged Meteor Mash with Stone Edge, then charged through Flash Cannon with Iron Head and struck Metagross.
• Steven used his Key Stone to Mega Evolve Metagross.

Xiaoyun and Steven fought to a double knockout, and Steven gave Xiaoyun fossils and invited him to Hoenn. In Binnacle Town, Xiaoyun and Dawn watched Diantha defeat an arrogant challenger with Gardevoir.

• Xiaoyun's Bond Aerodactyl clashed with Steven's Mega Metagross, and their final attacks knocked both Pokémon unconscious.
• Steven praised Xiaoyun, gave him fossils, and invited him to visit Hoenn; Xiaoyun accepted.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn found Diantha's exhibition match sold out, but Professor Sycamore brought them into the VIP seating area.
• Diantha's Gardevoir dodged Absol's attacks with repeated Teleports and defeated it with Shadow Ball.

Dawn battled Diantha and pushed her to Mega Evolve Gardevoir, but Mega Gardevoir defeated Dawn’s Mega Gengar. Later, in Geosenge Town, Dawn and Xiaoyun visited a rock shop, where a skater girl rushed in looking for a Mega Stone for Lucario.

• After Diantha’s first battle ended quickly, she selected Dawn from the audience for another match.
• Dawn battled Diantha’s Gardevoir, and both Trainers Mega Evolved their Pokémon after Gengar’s attacks forced Diantha to take the battle seriously.
• Mega Gardevoir trapped Mega Gengar with Psychic and knocked it out with Psyshock, winning the match for Diantha.
• Professor Sycamore recorded data on Gardevoir and Gengar, while Dawn thanked Diantha for the battle.
• Dawn and Xiaoyun later searched a Geosenge Town rock shop for a Dusk Stone, but the clerk said they were rarely in stock.
• A girl in roller skates hurried into the shop with her Lucario and demanded a Mega Stone for it.

Xiaoyun and Dawn helped Korrina find a Lucario Mega Stone near Geosenge Town, where Blaziken guarded it. Korrina’s Lucario began battling Blaziken, and the fight was still underway when it launched an Aura Sphere.

• Korrina tried to hide that she was the Shalour Gym Leader, but Rotom identified her, and Xiaoyun agreed to help her search for a Mega Stone.
• Korrina’s Lucario failed to sense a stone with Aura, but Blue Doggy detected one east of Geosenge Town and led the group to a cave.
• Korrina recognized a Lucario Mega Stone on a pedestal, but Blaziken appeared and attacked her Lucario before it could reach the stone.
• Korrina ordered her Lucario to fight Blaziken, which overpowered it with skilled Fighting-type moves until Blue Doggy advised it to sense attacks with Aura.
• Korrina’s Lucario dodged Blaziken’s Blaze Kick by reading its Aura, then launched an Aura Sphere at Xiaoyun’s cue.

Korrina passed Gurkinn’s test and Mega Evolved Lucario, but Lucario lost control and was defeated by Xiaoyun’s Lucario. Gurkinn let Korrina keep the Mega Stone but confiscated her roller skates and ordered Xiaoyun to accompany her on a journey to master Mega Evolution.

• Lucario and Blaziken’s battle was interrupted when Gurkinn arrived with Alakazam and revealed that the fight had been a test for Korrina.
• Gurkinn declared that Korrina had passed, and Lucario took the Mega Stone before Korrina Mega Evolved it.
• Mega Lucario lost control and attacked Xiaoyun’s Lucario, which defeated it with a powerful strike and restored it to its normal form.
• Gurkinn let Korrina keep the Mega Stone but confiscated her roller skates and protective gear, ordering her to walk and train until she mastered Mega Evolution.
• Gurkinn asked Xiaoyun to keep an eye on Korrina on the way to Shalour City and warned that she would lose her Gym Leader position if she failed to master Mega Evolution.

Xiaoyun accidentally passed through a mirror in Reflection Cave into a parallel world, where he met that world's Dawn and learned that another version of himself had returned to the original world. The parallel-world Xiaoyun battled Korrina's Lucario, and the chapter ended with his Sceptile badly pressured as he ordered it to use Frenzy Plant.

• Rotom explained that Reflection Cave's mirrors could connect parallel worlds, and Xiaoyun accidentally sank through one while Dawn watched.
• Xiaoyun found himself trapped in another space, where Darkrai identified it as resembling the Distortion World and Xiaoyun met the parallel world's Dawn.
• In the original world, Dawn panicked over Xiaoyun's disappearance, then saw a mirror reveal a different-looking Xiaoyun emerging on their side.
• Dawn questioned whether the returned Xiaoyun was really the one she knew, so Rotom suggested testing him in battle; Korrina sent Lucario to fight his Sceptile.
• Lucario overwhelmed Sceptile with Bullet Punch, Power-Up Punch, and Aura Sphere, prompting Xiaoyun to order Sceptile to use Frenzy Plant.

Xiaoyun and Dawn learned about their Reflection Cave counterparts and discovered that a mirror stone connected their worlds. They learned the passage would reopen before sunset and agreed to pass the wait with a friendly battle between the two Dawns’ Piplup.

• Korrina defeated Reflection Cave Xiaoyun’s Sceptile, while Dawn concluded that he was nowhere near as skilled as the Xiaoyun she knew.
• Reflection Cave Dawn told Xiaoyun that her counterpart had traveled alone through Sinnoh and Hoenn before joining her in Kalos, while Xiaoyun encouraged Dawn after hearing about her disappointing Grand Festival results.
• Darkrai revealed Xiaoyun and Dawn in the mirror stone, and Dawn showed Reflection Cave Xiaoyun footage of the other Xiaoyun’s powerful battles and achievements.
• Rotom explained that the mirror stone was a passage between worlds that would reopen just before sunset, and warned that breaking it would trap both Xiaoyuns in the wrong worlds.
• Dawn proposed a friendly battle between the two Dawns, and Reflection Cave Dawn accepted with her Piplup as the two Piplup stared at each other through the mirror.

Xiaoyun and Reflection Cave Dawn battled, and Froakie evolved into Frogadier before the match ended. As the two Xiaoyuns returned to their worlds, Xiaoyun gave his counterpart Sceptile’s Mega Stone, and Reflection Cave Xiaoyun discovered Dawn already had a Key Stone, allowing Sceptile to Mega Evolve.

• Reflection Cave Dawn battled Xiaoyun with Piplup, whose clever, flashy moves could not overcome Froakie’s tactics and strength.
• Froakie defeated Piplup with a diving Iai Slash and evolved into Shiny Frogadier during the battle.
• Xiaoyun encouraged Reflection Cave Dawn to try Gym battles and told Reflection Cave Xiaoyun to pursue his own dream.
• Before the mirror worlds converged, Xiaoyun gave his counterpart Sceptile’s Mega Stone and teased him about winning over Dawn.
• Back in their world, Reflection Cave Dawn revealed she had a Key Stone, and Reflection Cave Xiaoyun used it to Mega Evolve Sceptile.

Korrina and Lucario tested their Mega Evolution against Granny Maple and lost, then Xiaoyun challenged Granny Maple with his Bond Phenomenon Lucario. Their battle continued as Mega Mawile and Lucario traded powerful blows.

• Korrina met Granny Maple at her cottage on Mount Muston and battled her Mega Mawile with Mega Lucario.
• Mega Mawile overwhelmed Lucario, ending his Mega Evolution, and Korrina accepted the defeat while resolving to keep training.
• Granny Maple challenged Xiaoyun, who transformed Lucario through the Bond Phenomenon.
• Xiaoyun's Lucario blocked Mega Mawile's Iron Head with an Aura shield and traded attacks with her before Granny Maple ordered Bone Rush.