Recaps

Xiaoyun’s Zweilous evolved into Hydreigon in the middle of its battle with Xiao Shen’s Mega Scolipede, turning the tide with its newfound strength and aerial attacks. Hydreigon finished the battle with Devastating Drake, leaving Scolipede defeated at the edge of a crater.

• Xiaoyun’s Zweilous battled Xiao Shen’s Scolipede as Speed Boost and repeated Protect let Scolipede build speed before striking with Megahorn.
• Xiao Shen Mega Evolved Scolipede, whose powerful attacks drove Zweilous back and forced Xiaoyun to order Outrage.
• Zweilous evolved into Hydreigon during the clash, gaining unified vision and thought as it caught Mega Scolipede’s blade horns.
• Xiaoyun’s Hydreigon countered Scolipede’s attacks with Dragon Pulse and Dark Pulse, then took to the air and pressured it with triple Dragon Pulse.
• Xiaoyun used Dragonium Z to unleash Devastating Drake, which overwhelmed Mega Scolipede and left it unconscious in a crater.

Xiaoyun, Ash, and their friends entered Sanpei’s hidden Ninja Village and met his brothers Ippei and Nihei. Xiaoyun and Ash began a Double Battle against the brothers, and Xiaoyun’s Shiny Greninja gained the upper hand against Ippei’s Greninja as the fight continued.

• After Xiaoyun and Xiaoyun finished battling, Barry and Sanpei revealed the concealed entrance to their village and led the group inside.
• Sanpei introduced Xiaoyun and the others to his brothers Ippei and Nihei, and Nihei challenged Xiaoyun to a battle.
• Xiaoyun proposed a Double Battle with Ash against Ippei and Nihei, and the four Trainers began fighting at the village’s central field.
• Ash’s Frogadier used Double Team and tried to strike Venusaur, but Nihei’s Venusaur countered with Razor Leaf and Vine Whip.
• Xiaoyun’s Shiny Greninja used Protean and Shadow Sneak to evade Ippei’s Greninja’s tactics, then struck it with Aerial Ace.

Ash and Xiaoyun defeated the Ninja Village’s challengers after Ash’s Frogadier evolved into Bond Greninja and Xiaoyun’s Greninja beat Ippei’s in battle. During the ensuing banquet, Hanzo began to hint at Greninja’s untapped potential before falling asleep, while Jingyou’s ninja band approached the village to take control of its key figures.

• Frogadier evolved into Greninja and awakened Bond Greninja, then defeated Nihei’s Venusaur with a powerful Aerial Ace.
• Xiaoyun’s Greninja outmaneuvered Ippei’s Greninja and defeated it, giving Xiaoyun and Ash the victory.
• Hanzo praised Ash’s Greninja and told Ash that its potential was not fully tapped before passing out at the banquet.
• Barry and Nihei, Ippei, Ash, Hanzo, Dawn, Serena, and Clemont all succumbed to the celebration’s rice wine and fell asleep.
• Jingyou led his ninja band toward the village and ordered Kawaki and the others to infiltrate quietly and seize control of key figures.

Jingyou led his rogue ninja force into the village, hoping to seize leadership from Hanzo, but found everyone drunk and asleep. Xiaoyun, Z2, and Darkrai defeated the invaders, and Hanzo woke the next morning to find Jingyou and his men unconscious outside.

• Jingyou's ninja searched the empty village, found the banquet, and discovered Hanzo and the villagers passed out drunk.
• Jingyou ordered his men to tie everyone up, but Xiaoyun woke when a ninja threatened Dawn and punched him.
• Xiaoyun sent Z2 into battle, and it transformed into its king cobra form and defeated the attackers with Land's Wrath.
• Jingyou attacked Xiaoyun, but Darkrai appeared and knocked him and the remaining ninja unconscious with Dark Void.
• Hanzo woke the next morning, found Jingyou and the rogue ninja outside, and wondered why Jingyou had returned to apologize.

After receiving Greninja’s secret manual, Xiaoyun and the others arrived in Dahara City and investigated the mysterious theft of food. They discovered Hoopa, whose golden rings could transport objects, and Bonnie immediately wondered if its power could help Clemont find a girlfriend.

• Hanzo gave Ash the ancestral secret manual describing Greninja’s powerful Golden Shuriken, and Xiaoyun studied it with him.
• Xiaoyun, Ash, Dawn, Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie arrived in the heat of Dahara City, where vendors reported food vanishing from their stalls.
• After Dawn’s soufflés disappeared through a golden ring, Xiaoyun sensed the Power of Overcoming and led everyone toward the thief.
• The group found Hoopa eating Dawn’s soufflés, and Rotom identified it as the Mischief Pokémon, a Psychic- and Ghost-type that used golden rings to open passages.
• Hoopa produced stolen doughnuts through its ring and offered them to the group, delighting Bonnie with its ability to fetch food.

Hoopa explained how it had been separated from its dangerous Unbound form and offered to grant the group’s wishes. Its attempts to impress them with gold and a surprise summon brought Xiaoyun’s mother Lina and Kenny from other regions to the group in Kalos.

• Dawn fed Hoopa Poffins, and Hoopa told Xiaoyun that its Unbound form had escaped from a bottle before Barza and Meray helped seal it again.
• Hoopa recognized Xiaoyun’s Power of Overcoming and offered to grant wishes, then summoned stolen gold that Xiaoyun made it return.
• Hoopa used its ring again and teleported Lina from Sinnoh to Xiaoyun, who reunited with his mother and was promptly slapped by her.
• Lina greeted Dawn warmly while Xiaoyun asked Hoopa how it had also brought Kenny from a Pokémon Contest in Slateport City.
• Kenny arrived in the desert without his Contest Ribbon and recognized Dawn, Ash, Lina, and Xiaoyun.

Xiaoyun and his friends reunited Hoopa with Baraz and Meray, descendants of the Valley of Creation, who explained the Prison Bottle and the weakening seal on Hoopa Unbound. Baraz asked Xiaoyun to join them in reinforcing the seal, and Xiaoyun considered the request.

• Hoopa summoned Kenny, who chased Xiaoyun before Hoopa sent him back to Hoenn, where he recovered his Ribbon from Harley.
• Hoopa sent Lina back to Qing'an, and Xiaoyun's group went to the Pokémon Center to rest.
• The next morning, Baraz and Meray arrived and reunited with Hoopa, then introduced themselves to Xiaoyun and his friends.
• Baraz recognized Xiaoyun as an heir of the Temple Clan and explained that the Valley of Creation shared the Power of Overcoming.
• Meray showed the group the Prison Bottle, and Baraz and Meray explained Hoopa Unbound's history, the seal's weakening, and the danger of releasing its malicious thoughts.
• Baraz asked Xiaoyun to return with them and use his stronger Power of Overcoming to reinforce the seal, and Xiaoyun considered the request.

Xiaoyun touched the Prison Bottle and sensed the powerful malice sealed inside, prompting the group to travel to the Valley of Creation to reinforce it. Hoopa accidentally teleported Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Pikachu to a snowy mountain, then Xiaoyun and Dawn helped Hoopa overcome its guilt and fear.

• Xiaoyun used the Power of Overcoming to confront the Prison Bottle’s darkness and confirmed that its seal had weakened.
• Xiaoyun, Dawn, Ash, Serena, Clemont, Pikachu, Hoopa, Baraz, and Meray set out for the Valley of Creation, but Hoopa’s fear caused its golden rings to teleport Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Pikachu away.
• Ash and his friends landed on a snowy mountain, where they met Paul and Froslass; Paul pointed out the way down but refused to help, and Hoopa’s rings soon returned them to the group.
• Hoopa withdrew in guilt over losing control of its power, so Dawn comforted it and Xiaoyun encouraged it to use its power to protect others.
• Hoopa resolved not to let its darker self hurt anyone, while three unseen observers watched it from behind bushes.

Xiaoyun and the others traveled to the Valley of Creation to reinforce the Prison Bottle’s seal, but Team Rocket interrupted the ritual and accidentally released Hoopa Unbound. As Hoopa Unbound threatened the valley, Xiaoyun encouraged Hoopa Confined to fight it.

• Baraz and Meray welcomed Xiaoyun and his companions to the Valley of Creation, where residents greeted Hoopa Confined as family.
• Baraz, Meray, and Xiaoyun began sealing the Prison Bottle in the Hall of Origin while Hoopa Confined confronted Hoopa Unbound inside it.
• Team Rocket stole the Prison Bottle and Hoopa, but attacks and a collision caused the bottle to crack and release Hoopa Unbound.
• Hoopa Unbound blasted Team Rocket’s machine with magma, sending Jessie, James, and Meowth flying away.
• Hoopa Unbound threatened to destroy the valley unless Hoopa Confined merged with it, and Hoopa Confined stood up to protect everyone.
• Xiaoyun encouraged Hoopa Confined to fight Hoopa Unbound, leaving Baraz and Meray astonished by his confidence.

Hoopa Confined challenged Hoopa Unbound and summoned Lugia, whose five-hit barrage badly injured it before Hoopa Unbound sent Lugia back to the sea. Hoopa Unbound then unleashed Groudon and Kyogre against Xiaoyun’s group, but Z1 and Z2 transformed into twin Zygarde and counterattacked, leaving Groudon crashed into a rock face.

• Xiaoyun encouraged Hoopa Confined to challenge Hoopa Unbound, and Hoopa Confined summoned Lugia through a gold ring.
• Lugia struck Hoopa Unbound with a series of Dragon Rush attacks, but Hoopa Unbound used its rings to teleport Lugia back to the sea.
• Hoopa Unbound summoned Groudon and Kyogre, and they attacked the group until Mega Diancie, Darkrai, and Pikachu countered their assaults.
• Baraz and Meray prepared to defend the Valley of Creation, but Xiaoyun stopped them and called on Z1 and Z2.
• Z1 and Z2 gathered Zygarde Cells across Kalos and transformed into twin Zygarde 50% Formes.
• The two Zygarde fought Groudon and Kyogre, redirecting Kyogre’s Origin Pulse into Groudon and blasting it into a rock face.

Xiaoyun and Hoopa Unbound faced off as Hoopa Unbound summoned an expanding lineup of Legendary Pokémon, while Xiaoyun brought out Kyurem, Giratina, and Deoxys. Hoopa Confined summoned Rayquaza, leaving the battle poised between the rival forces.

• Kyogre accidentally struck Groudon, and the pair resumed fighting until Hoopa Unbound separated them with its golden rings.
• Hoopa Unbound summoned Dialga and Palkia, then failed to summon Kyurem and Giratina because Xiaoyun already had them; Xiaoyun brought out Kyurem and used Shaymin to provoke Giratina into appearing.
• Hoopa Unbound summoned Regigigas and Ho-Oh, giving its side six Legendary Pokémon against Xiaoyun's group.
• Xiaoyun opened a passage with his Power of Overcoming and brought out Deoxys, then urged Hoopa Confined to summon a Pokémon of its own.
• Hoopa Confined expanded its golden ring and summoned Rayquaza, whose arrival awed and unsettled the Legendary Pokémon on both sides.

Hoopa Confined summoned a black Rayquaza, which transformed into Mega Rayquaza and held off Hoopa Unbound and six controlled Legendary Pokémon with Delta Stream. After the allies joined the fight and disrupted the enemy’s attacks, Mega Rayquaza unleashed Dragon Ascent-Final Storm.

• Hoopa Confined summoned the black Rayquaza, which challenged Hoopa Unbound and its six controlled Legendary Pokémon to attack together.
• Rayquaza ignored Deoxys after recognizing it as an unrelated outsider, then transformed into Mega Rayquaza when the enemy launched a combined attack.
• Mega Rayquaza used Delta Stream to form a massive tornado that blocked most of the seven signature moves.
• Hoopa Unbound launched a stronger second volley, and Mega Rayquaza’s storm began to weaken under the sustained assault.
• Xiaoyun ordered Kyurem, Giratina, Deoxys, Z1, and Z2 to attack, and their moves disrupted Hoopa Unbound’s Hyperspace Fury and the enemy’s combined assault.
• Mega Rayquaza redirected Dragon Ascent into the collapsing storm, turning it into a destructive drill called Dragon Ascent-Final Storm.

Mega Rayquaza shattered Hoopa Unbound’s combined assault, turning the battle’s momentum and giving Xiaoyun’s side a chance to counterattack. As the other Legendary Pokémon engaged their opponents, Squishy and Tuantuan merged into Complete Forme Zygarde and nearly defeated Dialga and Palkia with Core Enforcer.

• Mega Rayquaza destroyed Hoopa Unbound’s formation with Dragon Ascent, leaving Hoopa Unbound and the other attackers badly weakened while Rayquaza exhausted itself.
• Xiaoyun ordered Tuantuan and Squishy to fight Dialga and Palkia, Deoxys to face Regigigas, Giratina to battle Groudon and Kyogre, and Kyurama to confront Ho-Oh.
• Squishy and Tuantuan held off Dialga and Palkia, using Dragon Pulse, Land’s Wrath, and Sandstorm to block their attacks.
• Squishy and Tuantuan merged into Complete Forme Zygarde after their half-body forms failed to suppress the Space-Time Dragon Duo quickly.
• Zygarde’s Core Enforcer nullified Dialga and Palkia’s combined Space-Time Turbulence attack and sent both dragons crashing into a mountainside.

Deoxys exploited Regigigas's Slow Start, Giratina defeated Groudon and Kyogre in the Distortion World, and Kyurem switched formes to overcome Ho-Oh. With Hoopa Unbound's summoned Legendary Pokémon defeated or suppressed, it tried to summon them all at once and triggered a spreading spatial collapse.

• Deoxys discovered that leaving combat disrupted Regigigas's Slow Start recovery, then repeatedly struck and retreated to keep Regigigas weakened and occupied.
• Giratina pulled Groudon and Kyogre into the Distortion World, where it used the realm's laws to overwhelm them before ejecting them battered.
• Kyurem changed from White Kyurem to Black Kyurem, using Freeze Shock and Fusion Bolt to paralyze and heavily injure Ho-Oh.
• After its summoned Legendary Pokémon were defeated or suppressed, Hoopa Unbound split its golden rings and tried to summon every Legendary Pokémon it could sense.
• Hoopa Unbound's unstable power caused spatial passages to collapse, and spreading cracks opened around it as void storms began swallowing the surroundings.

Arceus descended to heal the Legendary Pokémon, repair the collapsing space, and let Hoopa Confined decide how to handle Hoopa Unbound. Three days later, the Valley of Creation had begun recovering, and Xiaoyun’s group said goodbye to Hoopa and the others before continuing their journey.

• Arceus healed Palkia and the other Legendary Pokémon, while Palkia repaired the damaged space and Arceus sealed Hoopa Unbound inside the Prison Bottle.
• Hoopa Confined chose to protect Hoopa Unbound rather than destroy it, asking Arceus to seal away its harmful power until Hoopa could watch over it.
• Arceus instructed the Legendary Pokémon to return to their domains, and its will reminded Xiaoyun to use his power to maintain balance and guide goodwill.
• Three days later, Xiaoyun’s group thanked Baraz, Meray, and Hoopa as the Valley of Creation recovered.
• Hoopa gave Xiaoyun a golden ring so he could call for help, and the group said goodbye before continuing their journey.

Xiaoyun and his friends arrived in Snowbelle City and met Gym Leader Wulfric at the Snowbelle Gym. Serena began her three-on-three Gym battle with Delphox facing Wulfric’s Bergmite.

• Dawn warmed her hand in Xiaoyun’s pocket while Ash used Pikachu’s Thunderbolt to warm himself in the snow.
• The group reached Snowbelle City, where Bonnie got her tongue stuck to an ice sculpture and Dawn freed her with warm water.
• After resting overnight, Xiaoyun and his friends visited the Snowbelle Gym and met Wulfric training his apprentices.
• Wulfric welcomed the challengers, and Serena stepped forward to battle him first.
• Serena sent out Delphox, and Wulfric chose Bergmite for the opening match.

Serena battled Wulfric at the Snowbelle Gym, defeating Bergmite before Avalugg overwhelmed Clawitzer. Pangoro then knocked out Avalugg in a final exchange, but it also collapsed, leaving Serena with no Pokémon able to battle.

• Serena opened with Delphox, whose Fire Blast defeated Wulfric’s Bergmite despite Delphox being badly injured.
• Serena sent out Clawitzer against Avalugg, but Avalugg’s Ice Body, Iron Defense, and Avalanche defeated it.
• Serena’s Pangoro used Taunt to stop Avalugg from using status moves and landed repeated Bullet Punches.
• Avalugg caught Pangoro with Ice Fang, but Pangoro struck Avalugg’s head with a final Hammer Arm and knocked it out before collapsing itself.

Serena forfeited after her draw with Wulfric, and Ash began his three-on-three Gym battle with a fierce exchange that left Talonflame and Beartic unable to battle. Ash then used the icy field to help Hawlucha defeat Weavile, but Abomasnow knocked Hawlucha out; Greninja broke through Aurora Veil with the Swallow Blizzard combination, leaving the final battle unresolved.

• Serena forfeited after Pangoro and Avalugg were both unable to battle, and Wulfric praised her tactics and determination.
• Ash sent out Talonflame against Beartic, and their powerful attacks left both Pokémon unable to battle in a draw.
• Hawlucha used an icicle as a launch platform to accelerate and land a Flying Press that knocked out Weavile.
• Wulfric sent out Abomasnow, whose Blizzard and Wood Hammer defeated Hawlucha; Ash then chose Greninja instead of Pikachu.
• Greninja failed to break Abomasnow's Aurora Veil with Aerial Ace, but Ash combined Water Shuriken with Blizzard to shatter the barrier.

Ash and Greninja achieved the Bond Phenomenon and defeated Wulfric’s Mega Abomasnow, earning the Iceberg Badge. With their Gym battles set for the next day, Xiaoyun and Dawn explored Snowbelle City with their Pokémon and decided to try a couples’ Blizzard Parfait challenge.

• Wulfric Mega Evolved Abomasnow, but Ash and Greninja synchronized their movements and awakened the Bond Phenomenon.
• Ash and Greninja broke through Protect, overwhelmed Mega Abomasnow, and won the battle, earning the Iceberg Badge.
• Wulfric postponed Xiaoyun and Dawn’s Gym battles until the next day so his Pokémon could rest.
• Xiaoyun bundled up Dawn as they explored the snow with Diancie, Shaymin, and Floette.
• Dawn persuaded Xiaoyun to join her in the Blizzard Parfait couples’ challenge, and they entered the dessert shop.

Xiaoyun and Dawn spent a snowy-day date in Snowbelle City, sharing an oversized parfait, carving ice sculptures, and enjoying an intimate soak in a private hot spring. Meanwhile, Serena tried to get Ash’s attention, but Ash remained oblivious and asked whether Dawn might have caught a cold.

• Dawn and Xiaoyun accepted a couples’ challenge to finish a giant Blizzard Parfait, then left the shop exhausted with ginger tea.
• Dawn carved an impressive Piplup sculpture while Xiaoyun’s attempt at Rayquaza went badly, and the workshop gave Dawn a creativity award and Xiaoyun a consolation prize.
• Dawn and Xiaoyun checked into a private bath at the Snow-Viewing Hot Spring and changed into their swimwear.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn shared a kiss and an intimate moment in the hot spring before relaxing together.
• Serena waited at the Pokémon Center in a new outfit, but Ash returned from training focused on explaining his progress and asked if Dawn had caught a cold.

Serena persuaded Ash to spend the day with her in Snowbelle City, where Pikachu’s wingmanship and Ash’s terrible ice sculpture made their date memorable. Over parfait, Ash praised Serena’s cooking above that of his other traveling companions, leaving her hopeful that she might be special to him.

• Serena invited Ash to explore Snowbelle City, and Pikachu pushed him into agreeing in exchange for a year’s supply of ketchup.
• At the ice sculpture workshop, Serena carved a skillful Delphox while Ash made an abstract Pikachu and received a most creative award.
• Serena took Ash and Pikachu to the dessert shop, where she ordered Pikachu a parfait topped with ketchup as its reward.
• While eating, Ash reminisced about Misty, May, Zoey, and Iris, leaving Serena discouraged as their date’s conversation returned to battles and training.
• Ash told Serena that her food tasted better than anything Misty, May, or the others made, renewing Serena’s hope.

Ash and Serena visited a hot spring, where Ash’s clueless comments and actions repeatedly embarrassed Serena. The chapter ended with Ash soaking beside her while she struggled to hide her flustered feelings.

• Ash called Serena just like a mom, leaving her stunned and disappointed.
• Ash and Serena chose the gender-separated communal baths after the innkeeper mistook them for a couple.
• Serena changed into her carefully chosen swimsuit and soaked in the women’s bath while Ash and Pikachu used the men’s side.
• Ash entered the women’s bath to use its working sauna, embarrassing Serena as the other women assumed he was her boyfriend.
• Ash emerged from the sauna and sat beside Serena in her pool, leaving her rigid and blushing.

At a Snowbelle City hot spring, Serena and Ash accidentally kissed, leaving them both flustered and prompting Ash to notice his feelings for her in a new way. As the chapter ended, Serena remained patient while Ash lay awake wondering if she was special to him.

• Ash complimented Serena’s swimsuit, then mentioned Misty, making Serena worry that she was only one of many companions in his life.
• Serena’s leg cramped, and Ash tried to steady her; they fell into the water and accidentally kissed.
• Ash helped ease Serena’s cramp, and they walked back to the Pokémon Center awkwardly while Bonnie and Clemont secretly observed them.
• Ash and Serena thanked each other at the Pokémon Center, while Clemont estimated a fifty-five percent chance of their relationship changing within six months.
• Serena replayed the kiss in her room, while Ash lay awake thinking about Serena and recognizing that she felt special to him.

Dawn challenged Wulfric at Snowbelle Gym, using Dragalge’s poison-based tactics to defeat Glalie before Beartic overcame Dragalge despite being poisoned. Dawn sent out Red Gyarados to face Beartic as the battle continued.

• Ash arrived at the Gym battle tired from thinking about Serena, then perked up when the group headed to Snowbelle Gym.
• Dawn opened her three-on-three challenge with Dragalge, whose Toxic Spikes failed to affect Wulfric’s airborne Glalie.
• Dawn turned Wulfric’s Hail into poisonous mist, used Dragalge’s Acid Armor to survive Avalanche, and poisoned and defeated Glalie with a follow-up Venoshock and Poison Tail.
• Wulfric sent out Beartic, which was poisoned by the Toxic Spikes left on the field but quickly defeated Dragalge with Blizzard, Icicle Crash, and Ice Punch.
• Dawn sent out Red Gyarados to battle the poisoned Beartic.

Dawn defeated Wulfric in a grueling Snowbelle Gym battle, earning the Iceberg Badge with Blue-Gray after her Red Gyarados fell to Avalugg. The chapter ended as Xiaoyun began his three-on-three Gym assessment match against Wulfric.

• Dawn's Red Gyarados knocked out Wulfric's poisoned Beartic with Fire Blast, but Avalugg defeated Gyarados with Gyro Ball and Avalanche.
• Dawn sent out Blue-Gray, whose Sacred Sword wounded Avalugg before Wulfric used Recover and Curse to strengthen it.
• Avalugg's boosted Gyro Ball forced Blue-Gray to defend with King's Shield, while poison continued to drain Avalugg's stamina.
• Dawn's Blue-Gray interrupted Avalugg's Recover with the combination move Hazy Moonlit Night and knocked it out.
• Wulfric awarded Dawn the Iceberg Badge, and Xiaoyun's Gym assessment match against Wulfric began.