Recaps

Xiaoyun arrived at the Sinnoh Grand Festival in a helicopter and watched Dawn and Zoey advance to the top sixteen. After lunch with them, Zoey left the couple alone, and Xiaoyun took Dawn’s hand to invite her for a walk by Lake Valor.

• Xiaoyun left the Pokémon League office for Lake Valor and warned Aaron that Paul might want to spar at noon.
• Xiaoyun made a grand entrance at the Grand Festival, greeted the judges, and took his seat to watch the preliminaries.
• Dawn performed with Piplup and Lopunny, while Zoey performed with Absol and Glameow; both earned high scores and advanced, with Dawn first and Zoey second.
• Xiaoyun visited Dawn and Zoey during the break and invited them to a lakeside restaurant for a meal.
• Zoey left after teasing Xiaoyun and Dawn, and Xiaoyun took Dawn’s hand and suggested they walk around Lake Valor.

After Dawn’s Grand Festival performance, Xiaoyun and Dawn shared a romantic walk by Lake Valor, but Uxie and Mew interrupted them. Xiaoyun escaped with Dawn to a private villa, where they kissed and promised to stay together.

• Dawn thanked Xiaoyun for supporting her at the Grand Festival, and the two exchanged affectionate words during their lakeside walk.
• Uxie emerged from Lake Valor and recognized the Power of Overcoming in Xiaoyun’s hand.
• Xiaoyun opened a passage to the Tree of Beginning, and Mew flew out and enthusiastically questioned Uxie.
• Mewtwo invited Xiaoyun to fight, but Xiaoyun refused because he was on a date with Dawn.
• Xiaoyun left Mew and Uxie to enter the passage together, then led Dawn to a private villa near Lake Valor.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn kissed, embraced, and promised to stay together.

Dawn defeated Zoey in the Sinnoh Grand Festival final and claimed the Top Coordinator title, then celebrated with Xiaoyun and her Pokémon. At the Tree of Beginning, Mew sleep-talked another question to Uxie, who tried to go back to sleep.

• Dawn and Zoey faced off in the Sinnoh Grand Festival final, with Dawn using Piplup and Lopunny against Zoey's Absol and Glameow.
• Dawn's coordinated attacks put Zoey far behind on appeal points, but Zoey's Pokémon stayed in the match until the final minute.
• Zoey combined Absol's Night Slash with Glameow's Thunder to create Thunder-Severing Scythe, and Dawn responded by Mega Evolving Lopunny and defeating both opponents with a boosted High Jump Kick.
• Dawn won the final and received the Top Coordinator trophy from Xiaoyun, while Zoey congratulated her.
• At the Tree of Beginning, Mew sleep-talked a question to Uxie, who woke up and closed its eyes again.

After returning to Pokémon League headquarters with Dawn, Xiaoyun was assigned to help Alola deal with Ultra Beasts and eagerly accepted when he learned the trip had no time limit. The mission involved rescuing Aether Foundation president Lusamine, who had been abducted by Nihilego, and Xiaoyun prepared to leave with Dawn for Alola.

• Xiaoyun brought Dawn back to Lily of the Valley Island after she won the Sinnoh Grand Festival, and Paul congratulated her before asking Xiaoyun to sign League documents.
• Paul told Xiaoyun that Professor Kukui had requested help in Alola because Ultra Beasts had appeared there, and Xiaoyun tried to assign the mission to Lucian instead.
• Paul explained that the mission had no time limit and that Xiaoyun could use the rest of his time as he pleased, so Xiaoyun enthusiastically agreed to go.
• Xiaoyun read that Lusamine had been abducted by Nihilego and that Kukui was organizing a rescue team with Ash and Serena.
• Xiaoyun told Dawn to get ready because they were heading to Alola.

Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived at the Altar of the Sunne and learned that Solgaleo had already taken a rescue team into the Ultra Wormhole to find President Lusamine. Xiaoyun summoned Mewtwo, which forcibly opened the wormhole and carried them inside, leaving Kukui and Burnet to wait.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived on Poni Island, and Kukui explained that Solgaleo had taken the rescue team into the Ultra Wormhole.
• Xiaoyun opened a passage to the Tree of Beginning and sent Mew back to fetch Mewtwo.
• Mewtwo transformed into Mega Mewtwo Y and used Confusion to tear open the Ultra Wormhole.
• Mewtwo carried Xiaoyun and Dawn through the opening into the Ultra Wormhole.
• Kukui and Burnet stayed at the altar to wait, while Team Rocket watched from behind a stone pillar.

Ash and the Alola Rescue Team struggled against Nihilego controlling Lusamine and her Pokémon until Xiaoyun arrived with Mewtwo. Mewtwo overwhelmed the Nihilego swarm, leaving the battle raging as Gladion watched in awe.

• Ash, Serena, Lillie, Gladion, and their allies fought dozens of Nihilego while Solgaleo battled the giant Nihilego controlling Lusamine.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived with Mewtwo, and Xiaoyun told the rescue team to leave the most dangerous fight to him.
• The team retreated and left Xiaoyun facing the Nihilego swarm, while Gladion remained uneasy about abandoning him.
• Mewtwo defeated one Nihilego with Psychic in a single strike, stunning Gladion and the Alola team.
• Dozens of Nihilego attacked Mewtwo, who countered with Psystrike, shifted into Mega Mewtwo X form, and charged into the swarm.

Xiaoyun and the rescue squad defeated Lusamine’s Pokémon and freed her from the Nihilego leader, then escaped Ultra Space. They returned to Alola to rest and eat malasadas while Mewtwo and Mew went their separate ways.

• Xiaoyun’s Bond Sceptile attacked the Nihilego fused with Lusamine, and the rescue squad joined the battle against Lusamine’s Pokémon to protect her.
• Dawn’s Mega Diancie defeated Milotic, while Kiawe, Gladion, Serena, Mallow, and Ash defeated the other controlled Pokémon.
• Sceptile weakened the Nihilego leader, and Mewtwo used Psychic to tear it away from Lusamine; Diancie caught Lusamine as she fell.
• Lillie and Gladion confirmed Lusamine was alive, and Solgaleo carried the group out of the Ultra Wormhole to the Altar of the Sunne.
• Kukui invited the rescued group to the school, where Xiaoyun eagerly accepted the offer of malasadas; Paul read Xiaoyun’s brief mission report in Sinnoh.
• Mewtwo returned to the Tree of Beginning, where Mew complained that he had been forced to stay behind and Uxie silently judged him.

After establishing the Ultra Guardians, Lusamine let Xiaoyun enjoy a vacation with Dawn on Melemele Island. Hala gave Xiaoyun a Fighting-type Z-Crystal, then accepted his challenge to a friendly battle and sent out Hariyama.

• Lusamine formed the Ultra Guardians to capture and return Ultra Beasts while protecting Alola, but Xiaoyun declined a role and continued his vacation with Dawn.
• Hau repeatedly challenged Xiaoyun’s Sirfetch’d for training, and Sirfetch’d defeated his Dartrix again.
• Hala thanked Xiaoyun for helping Hau and exchanged pleasantries with him on the beach.
• Xiaoyun asked about obtaining a Fighting-type Z-Crystal, and Hala gave him one as a token of thanks.
• Hau suggested a friendly battle between Hala and Xiaoyun, and Xiaoyun agreed.
• Hala chose Hariyama as his partner for their one-on-one battle.

Buzzwole crashed onto the beach and overwhelmed Hala’s Hariyama, then defeated the Ultra Guardians’ first challengers. Shaymin healed the injured Pokémon, while Buzzwole remained a threat on the beach.

• Buzzwole burst from the coconut grove, and Xiaoyun’s Rotom Pokédex identified it as the Ultra Beast UB-02 Absorption.
• Hala sent Hariyama to fight Buzzwole, but Buzzwole matched its strength, threw it with Seismic Toss, and drained it until it became skeletal.
• Ash and his companions arrived as the Ultra Guardians, but Kiawe was knocked unconscious by his own rebounding Beast Ball and Rowlet fled back into its Poké Ball.
• Mallow led the girls’ Pokémon against Buzzwole, but Primarina, Tsareena, Vikavolt, and Pangoro were defeated, with Pangoro drained of its strength.
• Xiaoyun called out Shaymin, which used Aromatherapy to restore Hariyama and the other injured Pokémon.

Xiaoyun sent Infernape to battle Buzzwole, which had challenged him and Dawn after defeating the other Pokémon on the beach. Infernape overwhelmed and captured Buzzwole, while Hau still agreed to challenge Xiaoyun afterward.

• Buzzwole challenged Xiaoyun and Dawn to a two-on-one fight, and Xiaoyun chose Infernape to battle it.
• Shaymin healed Buzzwole, restoring it to full strength before the fight began.
• Infernape activated Blaze and traded powerful attacks with Buzzwole, while Bewear appeared and watched from nearby.
• Xiaoyun ordered Infernape to combine Flare Blitz and Blaze Kick into a devastating attack that knocked Buzzwole unconscious.
• Xiaoyun caught Buzzwole with a Great Ball, and Hau still agreed to challenge him despite seeing Infernape's strength.
• Bewear yawned and wandered away after the battle ended.

Xiaoyun recruited Buzzwole by promising it a stronger sparring partner, while the Ultra Guardians and Ash failed to stop the newly arrived Pheromosa. The germophobic Ultra Beast ignored the battles until it spotted Dawn’s sparkling Diancie and became transfixed by its beauty.

• Buzzwole accepted Xiaoyun as its big bro after he promised to find it a stronger muscle-bound partner.
• Pheromosa arrived, drawn by the glimmering glass on the beach, and clashed with Buzzwole over their opposing views of beauty and muscles.
• Kiawe sent Alolan Marowak against Pheromosa, but it dodged its attacks and knocked Marowak out with Triple Axel.
• Ash battled Pheromosa with Pikachu, but Pheromosa dodged Thunderbolt and overwhelmed Pikachu with rapid kicks.
• Pheromosa lost interest in the glass, then noticed Dawn’s glittering Diancie and stared at it in fascination.

Dawn defeated and caught Pheromosa after luring it with the promise of seeing Diancie, while Xiaoyun had already caught Buzzwole. After Lusamine learned the crisis was resolved, Xiaoyun brought both Ultra Beasts to the Tree of Beginning, where Mewtwo judged Pheromosa fast but weak and knocked it back when it attacked.

• Pheromosa charged at Diancie, but Buzzwole blocked its path and traded blows with it.
• Dawn sent out Mega Diancie, whose attacks and diamond shields held off Pheromosa's fast kicks until Dawn ordered a point-blank Super Diamond Storm that knocked it unconscious.
• Shaymin healed Pheromosa, and Dawn persuaded it to enter a Poké Ball by promising it could see Diancie often.
• Lusamine received Wicke's report that Xiaoyun and Dawn had caught Buzzwole and Pheromosa after the Ultra Guardians failed to capture them, and she told the guardians to cooperate with Xiaoyun if more Ultra Beasts appeared.
• At the Tree of Beginning, Mewtwo called Pheromosa weak, blocked its kick, and acknowledged that it had good speed and potential with training.

Xiaoyun and Dawn began a luxurious vacation at the Hano Grand Resort on Akala Island, where Barry and Ayaka joined them. Their relaxing afternoon at the pool was interrupted when a Blacephalon appeared and exploded its head to frighten Barry.

• Hala vowed to train his Pokémon harshly after their battle, while Xiaoyun and Dawn headed to Akala Island for their vacation.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn checked into the Hano Grand Resort using Pokémon League funds and discovered its lavish amenities.
• Barry and Ayaka surprised Xiaoyun and Dawn at the resort after Barry tracked them down through his connections with Olivia.
• Dawn and Ayaka planned a spa visit while Xiaoyun and Barry went to the pool, where Barry relaxed after swimming.
• A Blacephalon appeared beside Barry, exploded its head, and regrew it, prompting Xiaoyun to identify it with his Rotom Pokédex.

Blacephalon terrorized the hotel pool while Barry battled it, and Xurkitree drained power from the hotel generators before fighting Ayaka and Absol. The battles continued as Barry struggled to land a hit and Ayaka faced Xurkitree’s electrical attacks.

• Blacephalon repeatedly exploded its head at the pool, sending guests fleeing in panic.
• Barry sent out Empoleon to battle Blacephalon while Xiaoyun watched.
• Xurkitree drained electricity from the hotel’s generating equipment as Dawn and Ayaka arrived.
• Ayaka sent out Absol, which attacked Xurkitree with Dark Pulse, and Xurkitree countered with electricity.
• Xurkitree unleashed Discharge, and Ayaka ordered Absol to dodge and use Razor Wind.
• Empoleon’s Whirlpool failed against Blacephalon’s Mind Blown, and Barry struggled as Blacephalon’s explosions drove Empoleon back.

Blacephalon and Xurkitree disrupted the Hano Grand Resort, but Buzzwole and Pheromosa defeated them after Xiaoyun intervened. The Ultra Guardians captured the two unconscious Ultra Beasts, while a special story showed Mewtwo continuing Buzzwole’s training and Pheromosa persistently following Diancie.

• Mega Evolved Absol and Xurkitree fought near the pool until Blacephalon joined in and provoked Xurkitree into a clash.
• Blacephalon’s powerful Mind Blown explosion injured Absol and damaged the resort, prompting Xiaoyun to send out Buzzwole.
• Buzzwole knocked Blacephalon into the hotel wall, while Dawn’s Pheromosa repeatedly attacked Xurkitree and drove it into a crater.
• Buzzwole and Pheromosa overpowered the furious Ultra Beasts, and Xiaoyun told the Ultra Guardians to capture them.
• Ash directed Lillie and Lana to use Beast Balls, and they successfully caught Blacephalon and Xurkitree.
• In the special story, Mewtwo pushed Buzzwole through more training, while Pheromosa followed Diancie despite her attempts to get away.

Necrozma awakened in Ultra Space and began draining light from Alola, leaving adults and Pokémon weak while children remained unaffected. Kukui gathered the Ultra Guardians, who identified the legendary Blinding One as the likely cause and planned to find it, seek Solgaleo and Lunala, and contact Xiaoyun for help.

• Necrozma shattered its black crystal prison and awakened with an instinct to find and devour light.
• Xiaoyun, Dawn, Barry, Ayaka, and many adults and Pokémon at Hano Grand Resort felt inexplicably weak beneath the darkened sky, while children seemed unaffected.
• Xiaoyun recognized the symptoms as the effects of Necrozma absorbing light energy from living beings.
• Kukui summoned the Ultra Guardians and explained that ancient records linked the spreading darkness and exhaustion to Necrozma's awakening.
• Gladion suggested Solgaleo and Lunala might help Necrozma regain its light, and Kukui proposed finding the legendary Pokémon and the Tapu Family.
• Kiawe suggested contacting Xiaoyun, and Ash agreed to reach out to him.

Necrozma hunted Lunala through Ultra Space, draining its energy and nearly forcing a fusion until Solgaleo intervened. The two escaped Necrozma’s pursuit and plunged through the Ultra Wormhole into the real world.

• Necrozma bombarded Lunala with Prismatic Laser, and Lunala countered with Moongeist Beam as their attacks shook Ultra Space.
• Necrozma absorbed the surrounding light and energy, weakened Lunala, and began attaching its separated components to fuse with it.
• Solgaleo burst through the spatial barrier with Sunsteel Strike, interrupting Necrozma’s fusion and freeing Lunala.
• Solgaleo struck Necrozma again, then urged Lunala to flee because Necrozma remained too powerful to defeat.
• Solgaleo and Lunala raced through Ultra Space with Necrozma in pursuit, and all three plunged out of the Ultra Wormhole into the real world.

After Necrozma fused with Solgaleo and defeated Lunala, Xiaoyun and his Pokémon intervened to rescue the fallen Legendary Pokémon. Dusk Mane Necrozma overwhelmed Diancie and Buzzwole, but Sceptile held it off as Ash and the Ultra Guardians arrived, leaving Xiaoyun’s next move uncertain.

• Xiaoyun learned from Ash that the Blinding One had awakened, then spotted Necrozma attacking Lunala and Solgaleo in the sky.
• Necrozma fused with Solgaleo to become Dusk Mane, defeated Lunala, and pursued it after it fled.
• Sceptile struck Dusk Mane while Buzzwole carried Lunala away, and Dawn sent Mega Diancie to defend against Necrozma’s Prismatic Laser.
• Dusk Mane broke through Diancie’s defense and knocked Buzzwole out with Sunsteel Strike, but Sceptile countered its next attack with Divine Departure.
• Ash and the Ultra Guardians arrived at the battlefield, and Kiawe stopped Gladion from joining the fight because Xiaoyun’s Sceptile was still standing.

Xiaoyun summoned Mewtwo to fight Dusk Necrozma, which fused first with Solgaleo and then Lunala to change forms and regain strength. Ash, Solgaleo, Pikachu, and Mewtwo overwhelmed Necrozma, freeing Lunala and leaving Necrozma reassembled but unable to fight.

• Xiaoyun opened a passage to the Tree of Beginning and brought Mewtwo into the battle, where it challenged Dusk Necrozma.
• Mewtwo fought Necrozma in its X Form, but Necrozma fused with Lunala and transformed into Dawn Wings Necrozma after being thrown into a crater.
• Mewtwo changed into its Y Form and continued fighting Dawn Wings Necrozma while Mew and Uxie watched.
• Ash and Solgaleo launched Searing Sunraze Smash, Pikachu used Thunder, and Mewtwo held Necrozma in place so the attacks could land.
• The attacks broke Necrozma's armor off Lunala, freeing the weakened Lunala and leaving Necrozma reassembled but unable to fight.

After the battle, the Ultra Guardians debated what to do with Necrozma, but the Island Guardians arrived and explained that Alola needed to restore its light rather than seal it. People and Pokémon across the islands answered the call to send their Z-Power and wishes to Necrozma, whose recovery had begun to draw the whole region together.

• The Ultra Guardians considered how to handle the defeated Necrozma, and Lusamine proposed sealing it with an Aether Foundation device.
• The four Island Guardians arrived and Tapu Koko explained that Necrozma needed Alola's Z-Power and the wishes of its people to heal.
• Xiaoyun interpreted the Island Guardians' message, and Lusamine agreed to mobilize Alola to restore Necrozma.
• Kukui broadcast a plea for everyone in Alola to offer their strength, kindness, and hopes to the Blinding One.
• Hala, Hau, Olivia, Nanu, Hapu, and countless people and Pokémon sent lights toward Necrozma.

Necrozma regained its primordial light and transformed into its complete Ultra form after Alola’s people, the Tapu guardians, and the others joined their power. After blessing Solgaleo, Lunala, and Sceptile, Necrozma departed, followed by Lunala and the Tapu guardians, leaving Alola’s people to carry on.

• The Tapu guardians, Ash, Xiaoyun, and Alola’s people combined their power and Z-Moves to restore Necrozma.
• Necrozma emerged in its complete Ultra form and restored light across Alola, while the people celebrated its return.
• Necrozma blessed Solgaleo and Lunala with primordial radiance and gave Sceptile a Totem Aura.
• Necrozma opened a spatial rift and returned to its own realm after blessing Alola.
• Lunala departed through a moonlit passage, Solgaleo bid farewell to Ash, and the Tapu guardians returned to their islands.

Xiaoyun arranged an elaborate birthday date for Dawn on Melemele Island, taking her to a wind-chime grove and Stardrop Lake. As the two watched the sunset together, their friends and Pokémon worked behind the scenes to create the romantic scenery.

• Xiaoyun prepared for Dawn’s eighteenth birthday with Barry’s help and took her to Wind Chime Coconut Grove, where they listened to the chimes and shared a quiet stroll.
• Ayaka, Serena, Lana, and Barry secretly watched from the grove, and Barry revealed he had hung many of the wind chimes himself.
• Xiaoyun took Dawn to Stardrop Lake, where Metagross delivered a meal arranged by Lillie, including a cake modeled after the lake.
• Dawn enjoyed the meal and thanked Xiaoyun before they settled by the lake to watch the sunset and photograph a Wingull’s reflection.
• Ash and his Pokémon secretly created extra sunset effects while their friends watched, and Serena worried about Ash as he worked.

Xiaoyun arranged a moonlit spectacle for Dawn and proposed to her beside a glowing bay. Dawn accepted, and the two became engaged, while Kenny learned of the proposal through Barry’s video.

• Xiaoyun led Dawn through a moonflower path Shaymin had kept in bloom and showed her a bay lit by Lunala, Tapu Koko’s electric fireflies, and Mewtwo’s psychic power.
• Xiaoyun knelt and offered Dawn a pink diamond ring made by Diancie, then asked her to marry him.
• Dawn accepted Xiaoyun’s proposal, and he placed the ring on her finger as their friends and family celebrated.
• Dawn kissed and embraced Xiaoyun, and they shared their happiness as their engagement became official.
• Barry sent Kenny a video of Dawn accepting Xiaoyun’s proposal, and Kenny cried out in dismay.

After returning from Alola, Xiaoyun and Dawn joined Sinnoh’s Elite Four to watch Ash’s Champion verification match against Kukui, the Masked Royal. Ash’s team gained momentum against Kukui’s Pokémon, and the broadcast ended with Melmetal having scored two knockouts.

• Xiaoyun returned to Sinnoh with Dawn, where Paul congratulated them on their engagement before they later gathered with the Elite Four on Lily of the Valley Island to watch Ash battle Kukui.
• Kukui’s Incineroar pushed Torracat to its limits, but Torracat defeated it with a final clash and evolved into Incineroar before collapsing.
• Ash’s Lycanroc used Counter to defeat Braviary, then lost to Kukui’s Venusaur.
• Rowlet escaped Venusaur’s flower bud by shedding its outer feathers, but it eventually lost from exhaustion and weak attacks.
• Ash sent out Melmetal, which defeated Venusaur and then Empoleon with its strength and Double Iron Bash.

Ash defeated Kukui’s Tapu Koko with Pikachu’s 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt, becoming Alola’s first Champion, and confessed his feelings to Serena. The chapter ended with Serena accepting as their friends celebrated.

• Ash used Naganadel to defeat Kukui’s Lucario, but Tapu Koko joined the battle and defeated Naganadel.
• Ash sent out Pikachu, which fought Tapu Koko through Electric Terrain and endured its attacks.
• Kukui and Tapu Koko unleashed Guardian of Alola, and Ash and Pikachu countered with 10,000,000 Volt Thunderbolt to defeat Tapu Koko.
• The crowd celebrated Ash as Alola’s first Champion, and Kukui revealed himself as the Masked Royal and praised Ash as the answer to Alola’s future.
• Ash nervously confessed that he wanted to be with Serena forever, and Serena accepted his proposal.