Recaps

Barry defeated Hill to win the Gym battle and receive the Forest Badge, then Ramos served tea before Dawn’s Gym battle began. Dawn’s Skrelp defeated Jumpluff but was knocked out by Victreebel, and Braviary had begun its counterattack when the chapter ended.

• Barry’s Roserade defeated Hill’s Shiftry, earning Barry the Forest Badge.
• Ramos served tea to Ash, Dawn, Clemont, Xiaoyun, and Barry before resuming the Gym battles.
• Dawn’s Skrelp poisoned Jumpluff and evaded it until Jumpluff fell from exhaustion.
• Victreebel bound Skrelp with Vine Whip and knocked it out with Power Whip.
• Dawn sent out her Shiny Braviary, which blew Victreebel’s Poison Powder away with Hurricane before Dawn commanded Esper Wing.

Dawn defeated Ramos’s Victreebel and Gogoat with Braviary and Doublade, earning the Forest Badge. Afterward, Ramos postponed Xiaoyun’s assessment until the afternoon, and everyone shared a meal at the Gym.

• Braviary defeated Victreebel, but Ramos’s Gogoat exploited poison left by Victreebel to knock Braviary out.
• Dawn sent out Doublade, which overcame Gogoat’s defenses and deflected its final charge with Swords Dance.
• Doublade defeated Gogoat with Sacred Sword, securing Dawn’s victory over Ramos.
• Ramos praised Dawn’s battle and awarded her the Forest Badge.
• Ramos and Xiaoyun agreed to hold Xiaoyun’s assessment in the afternoon, and the group ate together in the Gym courtyard.

Xiaoyun and Dawn shared a sweet moment before Xiaoyun began his assessment battle against Coumarine Gym Leader Ramos. Ramos’s Sunflora defeated Dratini, but Zweilous disrupted its Solar Beam and landed a hit, leaving the battle underway.

• Dawn offered Xiaoyun a sip of her Pecha Berry juice, and they flirted while Serena’s attempt to share juice with Ash ended in a misunderstanding.
• The afternoon assessment began with Ramos and Xiaoyun each sending out a Pokémon: Sunflora and Dratini.
• Ramos’s Sunflora used Sunny Day, Ingrain, and a nearly instant Solar Beam to defeat Dratini despite Xiaoyun’s counterattacks.
• Xiaoyun sent out Zweilous, whose paired Dragon Pulse and Dark Pulse interrupted Sunflora’s Solar Beam and damaged it.

Xiaoyun defeated Ramos's Sunflora with Zweilous, then faced Ramos's Alolan Form Exeggutor in a fierce battle of Dragon-types. The chapter ended as Exeggutor's Draco Meteor rained down on Zweilous's charging Head Smash.

• Xiaoyun had Zweilous break through Sunflora's Protect with Head Smash, knocking it out and winning the first clash.
• Ramos sent out his unusual Alolan Form Exeggutor, and Rotom explained that it was a Grass- and Dragon-type Pokémon from Alola.
• Exeggutor matched Zweilous's Dragon Pulse, then drove it back with Leaf Storm combined with Extrasensory.
• Zweilous broke free with Crunch and countered Exeggutor's Dragon Hammer and Uproar with Hyper Voice and Dragon Pulse.
• Xiaoyun ordered a final Head Smash as Ramos answered with Draco Meteor, whose falling meteors closed in on Zweilous.

Inspector Xiaoyun defeated Ramos in the final round of his Coumarine Gym assessment after their battle ended in a draw between Zweilous and Exeggutor. Ramos accepted Xiaoyun’s favorable evaluation, and they parted with mutual respect.

• Zweilous and Exeggutor knocked each other out with Head Smash and Draco Meteor, leaving Xiaoyun and Ramos tied at one win each.
• Ramos sent out Chesnaught, then Mega Evolved it, while Xiaoyun chose Volcarona for the final battle.
• Volcarona and Mega Chesnaught traded attacks, and both were badly hurt before Xiaoyun unleashed the Fire-type Z-Move Inferno Overdrive.
• Volcarona’s Inferno Overdrive overwhelmed Chesnaught’s Protect, leaving Chesnaught unconscious and giving Xiaoyun the victory.
• Xiaoyun praised Ramos and the Coumarine Gym’s standards on his assessment form, and Ramos thanked him for the battle.

At Coumarine City’s Oath Festival, the group prepared gifts for their Pokémon and celebrated beneath the Pledging Tree. Serena gathered her courage to hold Ash’s hand, while the chapter ended with Dawn giving Piplup a brooch.

• Ramos invited the group to stay for Coumarine’s festival and told them the legend of the Pledging Tree and its gift-giving tradition.
• Dawn and Xiaoyun planned gifts for their Pokémon and each other, while Serena prepared a scarf for Braixen and hoped to give Ash a present.
• Xiaoyun secretly bought Dawn the blue ribbon she admired, and the group spent the afternoon playing festival shooting games.
• Ash and Pikachu won the shooting game with a perfect score, and Xiaoyun encouraged Serena to follow her feelings toward Ash.
• Serena took Ash’s hand as they walked to the Pledging Tree, and Ash held it more tightly, believing she was worried about getting separated.
• Ramos opened the Oath Festival, and Dawn fastened a Dive Badge-shaped brooch to Piplup’s bow tie, making Piplup leap happily into her arms.

At the Coumarine Festival, Xiaoyun and Dawn shared a kiss while Serena struggled to get closer to Ash. Before the warmth of the festival faded, Dawn prepared Floette and Shaymin for the Coumarine Showcase, where Miette formally challenged her, leaving Serena nervous about competing.

• Xiaoyun gave Dawn a blue ribbon and tied it in her hair before they kissed, while Bonnie, Clemont, Barry, and Kenny watched from behind a tree.
• Serena tried to lean against Ash as they watched Volcarona battle Talonflame, but Ash rushed off to find a nighttime battle, and Serena followed him.
• Dawn prepared Floette for its first Showcase performance and persuaded Shaymin to join it onstage.
• Miette introduced herself to Dawn, praised her past performances, and declared that she intended to challenge her at the Coumarine Showcase.
• Serena admitted she felt pressured by the experienced performers, and Dawn encouraged her to take the competition slowly and enjoy performing.

At the Coumarine Showcase, Serena, Dawn, Miette, and Jessie competed in a soufflé-making Theme Performance, using their Pokémon’s abilities to prepare and present their desserts. The first round ended with Serena, Jessilee, Miette, and the other contestants advancing, and the Freestyle Performance began.

• Pierre introduced the Showcase’s two rounds, the soufflé-making Theme Performance and the audience-voted Freestyle Performance, and presented Pokémon League inspector Xiaoyun and Kalos Queen Aria as special guests.
• Miette used Slurpuff’s Dazzling Gleam and Psychic type Meowth’s Confusion to prepare a precise, glowing soufflé.
• Jessie used Pumpkaboo’s Shadow Ball and Jellicent’s Water Pulse to make soufflés with a starry purple interior.
• Serena used Braixen’s flames and Frogadier’s Water Pulse and Iai Slash to make plain but well-prepared soufflés.
• Dawn used Floette’s Fairy Wind and Shaymin’s Sweet Scent to create fragrant soufflés, impressing Aria with her performance.
• Serena, Jessilee, Miette, and the other contestants advanced from the first round, and the Freestyle Performance began.

Dawn won the Coumarine Pokémon Showcase with a breathtaking performance that shocked Aria, then continued traveling with Xiaoyun and Ash's group to Greenfield Ranch. There, Serena reunited with her mother Saki, who urged her to resume riding training, but Serena chose to keep traveling.

• Dawn performed with Floette and Shaymin, transforming the stage into a radiant forest and earning the stunned admiration of Aria and the audience.
• Mr. Pierre announced Dawn as the winner, and Aria presented her with her second Princess Key while praising her performance.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn said goodbye to Little Blondie and Sanpei, then traveled with Ash's group to Greenfield Ranch, where they learned the riding competition provided unfamiliar Pokémon.
• Serena explained the ranch's riding traditions before her mother, Saki, corrected her account and invited the group to her cottage.
• Saki urged Serena to pause her journey and return to riding training, but Serena told her mother she did not want to give up traveling.

Serena challenged her mother Saki to a Rhyhorn race to prove she wanted to choose her own future, then won with the support of Ash and her bond with Rhyhorn. After the ranch competition, the group said goodbye to Saki and set off together, with Serena more certain of her chosen path.

• Serena told Saki she wanted to travel and challenged her to settle their disagreement in a Rhyhorn race.
• Saki took an early lead, but Ash cheered Serena on, and Serena's connection with Rhyhorn helped her catch up and win by a narrow margin.
• Saki praised Serena's resolve and asked Ash and the others to look after her; Serena hugged Ash, who returned the embrace as a friend.
• At the ranch's public riding competition, Ash won on Rhyhorn while Dawn and Xiaoyun chose Gogoat for a comfortable ride.
• The next day, Serena said goodbye to Saki and joined her friends as they departed for their next destination.

Xiaoyun and Dawn explored Lumiose City before finding the wandering Sirfetch'd, a powerful unowned Pokémon that battled for the Restaurant Le Nah. After feeding it a Pokéblock, Xiaoyun challenged it, and the chapter ended as their battle was about to begin.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn visited Summer Avenue, lost at the lottery, shared ice cream, and relaxed at Café Rouleau.
• At Restaurant Le Nah on Autumnal Avenue, Xiaoyun and Dawn watched Sirfetch'd defeat a Furfrou with a precise Brick Break.
• A passerby explained that Sirfetch'd was a wandering knight that challenged Trainers and helped the restaurant in exchange for food.
• Xiaoyun gave Sirfetch'd a Pokéblock to restore its strength before asking for a battle, and Sirfetch'd accepted.
• Xiaoyun sent out his Shiny Frogadier as the restaurant owner announced that the challenger would make the first move.

Xiaoyun and Frogadier battled Sirfetch'd, overcoming its formidable skill and defenses with a Substitute feint and Water Blade Slash. After accepting Xiaoyun’s Pokéblock and respect, Sirfetch'd offered its leek lance as a pledge and agreed to join him as a partner.

• Xiaoyun sent Frogadier to attack Sirfetch'd, which evaded Water Pulse and countered with its leek lance.
• Frogadier used Double Team and Aerial Ace, but Sirfetch'd defended with Swords Dance and struck back with Night Slash.
• Frogadier countered Sirfetch'd’s Fighting-type moves by changing types, while Sirfetch'd’s Scrappy Ability let it hit Frogadier’s Ghost-type tongue with Brick Break.
• Xiaoyun used Smokescreen and directed Frogadier to counter Sirfetch'd’s charge with Hydro Pump, but Sirfetch'd endured the blast behind its leek shield.
• Frogadier tricked Sirfetch'd with Substitute, then defeated it with Water Blade Slash while Sirfetch'd was recovering from its attack.
• Xiaoyun offered Sirfetch'd a Pokéblock and welcomed it as a partner after it presented its leek lance as a pledge of loyalty.

Xiaoyun caught Sirfetch'd and shared a meal with Dawn before Wikstrom arrived and challenged him to a battle. Under Wikstrom's pressure, Xiaoyun's Tyrunt evolved into Tyrantrum, leaving the three-on-three match underway.

• The restaurant owner celebrated Sirfetch'd choosing Xiaoyun by treating Xiaoyun and Dawn to a meal and offering them a permanent discount.
• Wikstrom joined Xiaoyun and Dawn, then challenged Xiaoyun after reflecting on his championship victory and the Kalos Elite Four's defeats.
• Xiaoyun and Wikstrom agreed to a three-on-three battle at the restaurant's battlefield, with the owner serving as referee.
• Wikstrom sent out Skarmory, and Xiaoyun chose Tyrunt, which endured Skarmory's attacks and fought back with Crunch.
• Tyrunt evolved into Tyrantrum as it resisted Wikstrom's full-power Steel Wing.

Xiaoyun defeated Elite Four Wikstrom in a Pokémon battle, overcoming Mega Skarmory with Bond Aerodactyl. Afterward, Xiaoyun and Dawn visited Professor Sycamore, who revealed that newly discovered Mega Stones appeared through a phenomenon originating in wild Pokémon.

• Tyrantrum evolved during its battle with Wikstrom's Skarmory, but Skarmory defeated it with Steel Wing and Brave Bird.
• Xiaoyun's Shiny Volcarona knocked out Probopass, then traded blows with Aegislash until both Pokémon were unable to battle.
• Wikstrom Mega Evolved Skarmory and challenged Xiaoyun's Aerodactyl, which used Bond Phenomenon and Thunder Bagua to shatter Mega Skarmory's attack and defeat it.
• Wikstrom conceded the battle and praised Xiaoyun, who accepted his congratulations before leaving with Dawn for the Sycamore Pokémon Lab.
• Professor Sycamore showed Xiaoyun and Dawn footage of new Mega Evolutions and explained that wild Pokémon were the source of the Mega Stones through the Spontaneous Mega Evolution Phenomenon.

Professor Sycamore showed Xiaoyun and Dawn newly discovered Mega Evolution forms while explaining that unstable Mega Evolution might be connected to Zygarde. Elsewhere, Z2 escaped Team Flare’s base, gathered Zygarde Cells to reach its 50% Forme, defeated the pursuing admins, and then set off to find Z1.

• Professor Sycamore explained that defeated wild Pokémon undergoing uncontrolled Mega Evolution could yield Mega Stones and that the phenomenon might involve Zygarde.
• Professor Sycamore showed Xiaoyun and Dawn Mega Evolution forms including Delphox, Chesnaught, Greninja, Meganium, Feraligatr, Hawlucha, Dragalge, Dragonite, and Starmie.
• Z2 escaped its containment at a Team Flare base and fought through Aliana, Mable, and their Pokémon as they pursued it.
• Xerosic stopped Z2 with Malamar and Crobat, but Z1 sensed its danger and summoned Zygarde Cells from across Lumiose City.
• Z2 absorbed the cells, transformed into its 50% Forme, and defeated Team Flare’s Pokémon and three admins with Thousand Arrows and Land’s Wrath.
• Exhausted, Z2 returned to its 10% Forme and headed toward the place where it sensed Z1, though it began to veer off course.

After Team Flare’s base was destroyed and Z2 escaped, Lysandre ordered his executives to find it with help from Hunter K. In the wilderness, Z2 stumbled into Xiaoyun’s camp, where Shaymin’s Aromatherapy revived it, and Xiaoyun recognized the weakened Pokémon and offered help.

• Lysandre berated Aliana, Mable, and Xerosic for losing Z2 and destroying Team Flare’s base, then ordered them to enlist Hunter K and recapture it.
• Xiaoyun’s Pokémon relaxed and trained in the wilderness while Sirfetch'd found an unfamiliar green blob on the grass.
• Shaymin used Aromatherapy on the blob, which sprang to life and clung to Shaymin for its restorative scent.
• Xiaoyun recognized the blob as Z2, and Z2 tried to transform but was too weak to do so.
• Z2 sought more of Shaymin’s energy, but Piplup drove it back with Bubble Beam.
• Xiaoyun calmly identified Z2 as Zygarde and offered it healing and Pokéblocks.

Xiaoyun and his Pokémon fought off Z2 after it transformed into Zygarde’s 10% Forme and launched Land’s Wrath. After Sceptile defeated it and Shaymin healed it, Z2 agreed to stay temporarily with Xiaoyun’s group and observe the humans around it.

• Z2 transformed into Zygarde’s 10% Forme and attacked Xiaoyun’s group with Land’s Wrath.
• Sceptile used Divine Departure to interrupt the attack, defeat Z2, and force it back into its weakened core form.
• Xiaoyun asked Shaymin to heal Z2 despite Shaymin’s reluctance, and Z2 gradually regained awareness.
• Xiaoyun explained that his group meant no harm, told Z2 about its other half, and offered it a safe place to recover without restricting its freedom.
• Z2 agreed to stay temporarily as an ally, while remaining wary of Xiaoyun and curious about humans.

Diancie left the Diamond Domain with three Carbink guards to seek Xerneas before the Sacred Diamond failed, but thieves and a rival captor pursued her. Meanwhile, Xiaoyun and Dawn joined Steven and Paul on a journey to investigate strange energy in Hoenn, and the two groups collided when Diancie was captured in a forest.

• Dius warned Diancie that the Sacred Diamond could last only three more days, and she resolved to find Xerneas with Majima, Ninja, and Dace accompanying her.
• Marilyn and her Delphox spotted Diancie after she emerged from the Diamond Domain and began pursuing her.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn met Steven and Paul, and Steven asked Xiaoyun to help investigate an energy-rich rock near Rustboro City.
• Diancie and her guards fled through the woods as Marilyn and the ninja Riot tried to capture her.
• Greninja cut through flames aimed at Diancie, but Riot trapped her in an energy net and claimed he had captured the Diamond Princess.
• Marilyn confronted Riot over the capture and ordered Delphox to attack him with Flamethrower.

Riot and Marilyn attacked Diancie, but Xiaoyun, Dawn, Paul, and Steven intervened and rescued her. Steven’s intense fascination with Diancie unnerved everyone, and the group took the princess somewhere safe before Xiaoyun suggested they eat together.

• Riot and Marilyn tried to capture Diancie, but Sirfetch'd, Metagross, and Electivire defeated their Pokémon and stopped them.
• Majima identified Diancie as the Diamond Domain’s princess, and Steven rushed over to praise her and hold her hands.
• Steven Mega Evolved Metagross and knocked out Marilyn’s Delphox after learning she intended to sell Diancie; Marilyn fled, and Riot had already run away.
• Dawn and Xiaoyun reassured Diancie and introduced her to the group, while Steven struggled to hide his fascination with her.
• Xiaoyun suggested that the group go to a restaurant in the nearby town and eat together.

Xiaoyun, Dawn, Steven, and Paul agreed to help Diancie find Xerneas within three days and save the Diamond Domain. While a hidden observer tracked them, the group explored Avignon Town, where Dawn and Diancie bonded over shopping and enjoyed a peaceful afternoon together.

• Diancie told Xiaoyun and his companions that the Diamond Domain faced destruction unless they found Xerneas within three days, and Dace explained that Marilyn was pursuing Diancie to exploit her diamond-creating ability.
• Steven, Dawn, Xiaoyun, and Paul agreed to help Diancie, then set out with her three Carbink guards toward the forbidden Forest of Eternity; an unseen observer watched them from an invisible aircraft.
• Dawn led Diancie through Avignon Town and encouraged her to shop, while Xiaoyun, Steven, Paul, and the guards followed.
• Diancie tried on several outfits with Dawn's help, and the two formed a close friendship as Steven praised their choices and Paul kept watch.
• The group rested at an outdoor dessert shop, where Diancie thanked them for their kindness and everyone enjoyed a relaxed afternoon together.

After Steven and Xiaoyun thwarted their attempt to take Diancie, Riot and Marilyn met Argus and Millie in an abandoned warehouse. The four thieves agreed to cooperate, planning to lure Diancie to a designated location so Argus and Millie could use Yveltal, though each secretly intended to claim Diancie for themselves.

• Riot and Marilyn lamented their defeat by Steven and Xiaoyun and struggled to find a way to steal Diancie.
• Argus and Millie arrived, revealed that they also wanted Diancie, and proposed that the four thieves work together.
• Millie claimed Diancie was headed to the Forest of Eternity to seek help from Xerneas, while Yveltal was also there.
• Millie and Argus proposed using Yveltal against Diancie's powerful protectors and asked Riot and Marilyn to lure Diancie to a designated location.
• Riot, Marilyn, Argus, and Millie formed a temporary alliance, each secretly planning to take Diancie for themselves.

Riot and Marilyn tried to abduct Diancie, but Steven stopped them as Argus awakened Yveltal with explosives. While Yveltal attacked everyone with Oblivion Wing, Argus and Millie seized Diancie, leaving Steven to react to her second attempted capture.

• Riot and Marilyn ambushed the group and fled with Diancie, prompting Steven, Xiaoyun, Dawn, and Paul to give chase.
• Steven rescued Diancie, Mega Evolved Metagross, and overwhelmed Riot and Marilyn with Meteor Mash.
• Argus bombarded the Cocoon of Destruction, awakening Yveltal, whose arrival filled the mountain with destructive energy.
• Yveltal attacked everyone with Oblivion Wing, forcing Steven and the others to defend themselves and evade its beams.
• Argus and Millie used the chaos to have their Aegislash seize Diancie, and Steven ordered Metagross to stop them.

Steven, Dawn, Paul, and Xiaoyun fought Argus and Millie’s team while Giratina arrived to battle Yveltal. Blue-Gray evolved into a Shiny Aegislash and defeated Millie’s Aegislash, while Steven brought down the aircraft and subdued the Chesnaught.

• Dawn rescued Diancie from Argus and Millie’s Aegislash, while Steven and Paul joined the battle against the thieves and their Pokémon.
• Yveltal unleashed a petrifying Hyper Beam, and Xiaoyun threw Shaymin into its path, prompting Shaymin to counter with Seed Flare.
• Giratina appeared with Shaymin on its head and fought Yveltal, while Argus tried to seize Diancie and Paul used Gigavolt Havoc to defeat Riot and Marilyn’s Pokémon.
• Steven gave Dawn a top-grade Dusk Stone, and Blue-Gray evolved into a Shiny Aegislash after seeing its former wielder in a vision.
• Blue-Gray defeated Millie’s two Aegislash, while Steven destroyed Argus’s aircraft with Meteor Mash and buried the two Chesnaught with Psychic.

Xerneas appeared and awakened Diancie’s Mega Evolution, but Xiaoyun summoned Kyurem to help Giratina fight Yveltal. Black Kyurem defeated Yveltal in three moves, leaving Argus, Millie, and the thieves stunned by Xiaoyun’s power.

• Xerneas arrived, healed the barren battlefield, and used its Fairy type Aura to Mega Evolve Diancie.
• Xiaoyun stopped Mega Diancie from joining the fight and summoned Kyurem instead of asking Xerneas for help.
• Kyurem attacked Yveltal with Glaciate and Fusion Bolt, then transformed into Black Kyurem.
• Xiaoyun goaded Kyurem into finishing the fight as Yveltal prepared Oblivion Wing.
• Black Kyurem’s Freeze Shock overwhelmed Yveltal’s Oblivion Wing and froze its lower body, leaving it defeated in midair.

After Yveltal was defeated, Diancie restored the Diamond Domain’s Sacred Diamond, evolved into Mega Diancie, and joined Xiaoyun’s group. Their trip to Hoenn was interrupted by the appearance of Primal Groudon, and at Devon Corporation they learned that Primal Kyogre had awakened as well.

• Kyurem defeated Yveltal, Xerneas agreed to guard the Cocoon of Destruction, and Xiaoyun’s group delivered Argus and the other thieves to the police.
• Diancie created a new Sacred Diamond that ended the Diamond Domain’s energy crisis, then left the kingdom with Xiaoyun’s group.
• Xiaoyun, Dawn, Paul, Diancie, and Steven spotted Primal Groudon making a path of lava across the sea while traveling over Hoenn.
• At Devon Corporation, Steven and the group met Alain and spoke with Lysandre, who said the Mega Evolution Giant Rock’s energy had awakened an ancient power in Hoenn.
• Lysandre showed them footage of Primal Kyogre racing through the sea, revealing that both Legendary Pokémon had awakened.