Recaps

Xiaoyun and Dawn accepted their prizes after winning the Hearthome City Double Battle tournament, and Xiaoyun sent Chimchar to Professor Rowan for an examination of its mutated Blaze. Paul left to continue his journey after telling Xiaoyun to take over caring for one Pokémon, completing their handover.

• Rhonda presented Xiaoyun and Dawn with the tournament prizes, including collector's edition stickers, a Spell Tag, and two Soothe Bells.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn divided the prizes and celebrated their tournament victory as the event officially ended.
• Xiaoyun called Professor Rowan, sent Chimchar to him for examination, and asked him to investigate the mutated Blaze and possible side effects.
• Xiaoyun asked Paul whether he regretted his choice, and Paul told him he was leaving one Pokémon in Xiaoyun's care before walking away.

In Tajixi Town, Xiaoyun and Dawn ran into a dejected James while strolling among the food stalls. James revealed that his mood was troubled by something involving his Cacnea, and he began to explain as Xiaoyun and Dawn listened.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn explored Tajixi Town’s food stalls, and Xiaoyun reluctantly bought a large amount of durian cake after Dawn eyed it.
• Dawn spotted James sitting alone, and Xiaoyun and Dawn went over to ask what was wrong.
• James nervously greeted Xiaoyun, who teased him about his supposed troubles before James clarified that his current problem involved Cacnea.
• James released Cacnea, pulled it off his face after it jabbed him, and began telling Xiaoyun and Dawn what had happened.

Xiaoyun taught James's Cacnea to use Drain Punch, giving James the confidence to keep raising it himself. Gardenia later came looking for James, who thanked her but chose to leave with Cacnea, while Xiaoyun teased her about wanting the Pokémon.

• James told Xiaoyun he planned to give Cacnea to Gardenia because he could not help it reach its potential, and Xiaoyun offered to teach it Drain Punch.
• James gave Xiaoyun all his saved bottle caps in exchange for the lesson, but Xiaoyun refused them and agreed to teach Cacnea.
• Xiaoyun and Sceptile trained Cacnea until it mastered Drain Punch and shattered a rock.
• James embraced Cacnea and decided to keep raising it instead of giving it to Gardenia.
• James thanked Gardenia and left with Cacnea, while Xiaoyun teased Gardenia about coveting the Pokémon.

After leaving Gardenia, Xiaoyun and Dawn camped in a dilapidated village, where an old woman told them a legend about a ghost sealed in the Spirit Tower. She recognized Xiaoyun as a psychic and pointed out the nearby tower, which turned out to be a tiny, crude hut.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn left Tajixi Town and camped in a run-down village as night fell.
• An old woman approached them, accepted their dinner invitation, and told them about an evil ghost sealed inside the Tower of Imprison by an Aura Guardian and his Pikachu.
• The old woman told Xiaoyun that he was a psychic with a special ability and could carry on the guardian's convictions.
• Xiaoyun asked where the Spirit Tower was, and the old woman pointed to a small hut nearby.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn compared the crude Spirit Tower to a miniature building-block house.

The Spirit Tower collapsed when Team Rocket crashed into it, releasing a powerful Spiritomb that attacked Xiaoyun and Dawn. Xiaoyun sent Mismagius to fight it, while Darkrai waited in the shadows in case Mismagius was overwhelmed.

• An unidentified object struck the Spirit Tower and reduced it to rubble, prompting the old woman to warn that the sealed ghost would emerge.
• The old woman urged Xiaoyun and Dawn to investigate, then vanished and left them to handle the danger.
• Team Rocket climbed out of the crater, but Spiritomb appeared and blasted them away with a phantom attack.
• Xiaoyun recognized Spiritomb as the Pokémon sealed at the tower and learned from Dawn's Pokédex that it was unusually powerful.
• Spiritomb mistook Xiaoyun for an Aura Guardian before attacking him and Dawn with Night Shade.
• Xiaoyun sent out Mismagius to counter Spiritomb's attack and told Dawn he would handle the battle while Darkrai watched for signs that Mismagius was losing.

Xiaoyun and Mismagius battled Spiritomb, whose doubles and shadow movement let it evade attacks and overwhelm Mismagius. When Mismagius learned Destiny Bond and chased Spiritomb, Xiaoyun called on Darkrai to stop them both.

• Xiaoyun stepped in front of Dawn and sent Mismagius to attack Spiritomb with Will-O-Wisp.
• Spiritomb used Double Team and Shadow Sneak together to evade Mismagius’s attacks and knock it back.
• Xiaoyun figured out Spiritomb’s trick and told Mismagius to locate it with psychic power and hit it with Shadow Ball.
• Mismagius’s Shadow Ball struck Spiritomb, but Spiritomb countered with Dark Pulse and nearly defeated Mismagius.
• Mismagius rose and charged Spiritomb with Destiny Bond, prompting Xiaoyun to summon Darkrai.
• Darkrai bound Mismagius with shadow ropes and interrupted Destiny Bond.

Xiaoyun defeated and caught the ancient Spiritomb after Darkrai threatened it into submission. The village elder returned with helpers and the prophecy book, only to discover the battle was already over.

• Darkrai defeated Spiritomb with a powerful Shadow Ball, and Xiaoyun comforted Mismagius before approaching the injured Spiritomb.
• Xiaoyun offered Spiritomb a chance to become his Pokémon, but Darkrai threatened it until it obediently entered the Poké Ball.
• Xiaoyun checked Spiritomb’s Pokédex information and reassured Dawn that Darkrai would keep the unruly Pokémon in line.
• The old woman returned with several villagers and an ancient book, but Xiaoyun told her he had already caught Spiritomb.
• The old woman reassured Xiaoyun that his actions caused no trouble, then made an outrageous move that stunned him and Dawn.

After leaving the village, Xiaoyun and Dawn traveled through the forest toward Solaceon Town and found a castle where they hoped to stay for the night. They were mistaken for the Three Phantom Thief Beauties but were allowed inside after Massif recognized them as Double Battle competitors he admired.

• The old granny added a new ending to the book of prophecy, then watched Xiaoyun and Dawn leave and reflected on his future as a temple guardian.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn walked through the forest at night, and Xiaoyun assured the exhausted Dawn that a castle marked on his map was nearby.
• They reached a brightly lit castle, where Marble and her Luxray confronted them as the Three Phantom Thief Beauties.
• Xiaoyun pointed out that it was only eight in the evening, not midnight, and Marble realized she had mistaken them for the thieves.
• Massif confirmed that Xiaoyun and Dawn were not the thieves, let them into the castle, and told them he was a fan of their Double Battle matches.

Xiaoyun and Dawn agreed to help Massif protect the Ancient Amulet from the Three Phantom Thief Beauties. By midnight, Marble’s simple plan to guard the treasure had left her asleep, while Xiaoyun and Dawn waited uncertainly for the thieves.

• Massif told Xiaoyun and Dawn that the Three Phantom Thief Beauties had sent a calling card announcing they would steal the Ancient Amulet at midnight.
• Dawn volunteered to help protect the treasure, and Massif introduced Marble, an inexperienced detective apprenticed to Mahogany Town’s Officer Jenny.
• After dinner, Marble announced that they would simply wait in the treasure room and guard the amulet.
• Near midnight, Dawn grew sleepy as Xiaoyun doubted the thieves would face much resistance.
• Xiaoyun discovered that Marble had fallen asleep against Luxray, drooling as she dreamed about being a great detective.

The Rocket Trio disguised themselves as castle staff and took the treasure, but Xiaoyun exposed them and battled them alongside Dawn. The trio escaped in a hot-air balloon, and James asked Jessie to return the treasure.

• The Rocket Trio tricked Marble into handing over the combination case by claiming they had orders from Mr. Massif.
• Xiaoyun exposed the trio as the Three Phantom Thief Beauties, and they dropped their disguises.
• Jessie sent Seviper and Dustox to attack, but Chimchar countered their Poison Sting with Flamethrower.
• James joined the fight with Carnivine and Cacnea, while Dawn ordered Piplup and Swablu to stop their attacks.
• Jessie and Meowth used smoke bombs to escape with the treasure in their hot-air balloon.
• Jessie asked James what was wrong, and James urged her to return the treasure.

James urged Jessie and Meowth to return the treasure to repay Xiaoyun for a favor, but Team Rocket tried to steal it back and was blasted away. The next morning, Massif thanked Xiaoyun and Dawn by giving them a valuable Mystic Water, which they accepted.

• James asked Jessie and Meowth to return the treasure because he owed Xiaoyun a favor, and Jessie threw the combination case back to Dawn and the others.
• Jessie, Meowth, and James planned to steal the treasure again, so Xiaoyun sent out Spiritomb to stop them.
• Xiaoyun, Dawn, and their Pokémon attacked Team Rocket, blasting the trio into the sky with Wobbuffet.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn returned to the rooms Massif had arranged, then met again the next morning after sleeping in.
• Massif offered Xiaoyun and Dawn a high-quality Mystic Water as thanks for protecting the ancient amulet, and they accepted it.

Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived in Solaceon Town, where Dawn registered for the Pokémon Contest despite choosing not to train further. At the contest, Kenny performed brilliantly with Prinplup, leaving Xiaoyun worried that Dawn might struggle to beat him.

• Officer Jenny caught Marble traveling without permission, scolded her, and took her away after apologizing to Mr. Massif.
• Dawn registered for the Solaceon Contest and dismissed Xiaoyun's concerns about her lack of extra practice.
• Dawn and Xiaoyun encountered Kenny in the contestants' waiting room, where he resolved to win the contest and impress Dawn.
• Kenny performed with Prinplup, using Water Pledge, Ice Beam, and Metal Claw to create a shower of sparkling ice crystals.
• Xiaoyun watched the audience applaud Kenny and worried that Dawn was in trouble.

Dawn performed below her usual standard at the Solaceon Contest but advanced to the final against Kenny. Kenny countered her tactics with Prinplup and won decisively, leaving Dawn to face the lessons of her defeat.

• Kenny scored 29.3 points for his performance, while Dawn earned 29.0 and qualified for the next stage in fourth place.
• Dawn and Kenny both advanced through the battle rounds to face each other in the final.
• Dawn sent out Pachirisu and attacked Kenny’s Prinplup, but Prinplup’s Metal Claw countered her Discharge and cost her points.
• Kenny’s Prinplup blocked Pachirisu’s Swift with Bubble Beam, then rushed forward with Metal Claw as Dawn struggled to defend.
• The match ended with Prinplup’s claws poised above Pachirisu, and Kenny won with most of his points remaining.
• Xiaoyun hoped the defeat would help Dawn recognize her shortcomings and regain her focus.

After losing to Kenny in the Solaceon Contest, Dawn reflected on her lack of preparation but recovered her confidence with Piplup’s support. Xiaoyun found her backstage, and their playful teasing left Kenny watching them together in dismay.

• Dawn admitted to Piplup that she had not taken the contest seriously and resolved to win next time.
• Piplup cheered Dawn up, and the two sealed her renewed determination with a high five.
• Xiaoyun found Dawn backstage, worried about her after she left the stage, but saw that she had already recovered.
• Xiaoyun teased Dawn with childish comforting words, and she playfully pounced on him and bit his neck.
• Kenny arrived hoping to comfort Dawn, then saw her and Xiaoyun laughing together and felt like a lonely third wheel.

After Dawn lost her contest to Kenny, Xiaoyun reassured her and she called Johanna to discuss the loss. Cynthia then asked Xiaoyun to investigate unusual disturbances in the Solaceon Ruins, which he planned to visit the next day.

• Kenny left without being noticed, and Dawn won her play fight with Xiaoyun, who promised he would marry her if nobody else did.
• At the Pokémon Center, Xiaoyun asked Dawn not to tell Lina about their exchange, and Dawn went to call Johanna about her contest.
• Nurse Joy told Xiaoyun that Cynthia had called, and Cynthia asked him to investigate disturbances at the Solaceon Ruins near Solaceon Town.
• Xiaoyun accepted Cynthia's request and recalled that Saturn had once taken the Spear Key from the ruins, leaving him unsure whether it was still there.
• Dawn admitted her mistake to Johanna, who urged her to take future contests seriously and learn from Xiaoyun.

Xiaoyun and Dawn investigated the Solaceon Ruins and discovered Saturn and Team Galactic stealing the Spear Key from its Unown guardians. Saturn used Bronzor’s Confuse Ray to escape, but the confused Unown turned chaotic as the group fled.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn searched the Solaceon Ruins for hours and found only ancient murals and writing.
• Saturn and Team Galactic entered the ruins, used three stone slabs to reveal an ancient cube, and took the Spear Key.
• The awakened Unown surrounded Saturn and his subordinates, forcing them to retreat with the treasure.
• Saturn ordered Bronzor to use Confuse Ray on the pursuing Unown.
• The Unown became confused and began attacking one another, plunging the room into chaos.

Xiaoyun and Dawn were attacked by a frenzied swarm of Unown in the Solaceon Ruins, but Xiaoyun’s Pokémon subdued them. Before leaving, Xiaoyun found and secretly kept three fragments of Arceus’s Type Plates, and he and Dawn departed to report the incident to Miss Cynthia.

• The Unown blamed Xiaoyun and Dawn for the disturbance and attacked them with a barrage of Hidden Power.
• Xiaoyun had Sceptile and Darkrai use Protect to shield himself and Dawn from the beams.
• Xiaoyun sent out Mismagius and Spiritomb, whose Hypnosis put the Unown to sleep.
• Xiaoyun found aqua-blue, silvery-black, and deep-purple Plate fragments, identified them as the Splash Plate, Iron Plate, and Draco Plate, and kept them in his bag.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn left the Solaceon Ruins, planning to report what had happened to Miss Cynthia.

After reporting Team Galactic’s theft of the Spear Key and warning Cynthia about the Unown in Solaceon Ruins, Xiaoyun gave Buizel the Splash Plate to test its power. Buizel’s Water-type energy surged and triggered Rain Dance, and Xiaoyun left the training grounds before the downpour disrupted anyone else’s plans.

• Xiaoyun called Cynthia and told her Team Galactic had taken the Spear Key from Solaceon Ruins, while keeping the three Type Plates he had found secret.
• Cynthia realized Team Galactic had solved the ruins’ special recesses and thanked Xiaoyun for the report.
• Xiaoyun warned Cynthia that dangerous Unown lived inside the ruins, and she promised to send combat personnel and urged him to prioritize his safety.
• Xiaoyun brought Buizel to the Pokémon Center training grounds and gave it the Splash Plate.
• The Splash Plate activated Buizel’s Water-type energy, and Buizel used Rain Dance to summon clouds and rain.
• A middle-aged man complained about the sudden rain, and Xiaoyun denied causing it before leaving with Buizel.

Xiaoyun and Dawn traveled across Sinnoh’s grasslands toward Veilstone City, but a herd of Miltank charged at them and forced them to stop it with their Pokémon. After the herd calmed down, its maid caretaker Xiaoxia apologized and offered them a meal.

• Xiaoyun reflected on Buizel’s improved water control and considered having it attempt difficult combination moves.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn left Solaceon Town for Veilstone City, and he transferred Buizel to Lina while narrowing his traveling lineup.
• Five days later, Xiaoyun and Dawn admired the grasslands near Mt. Coronet before a herd of Miltank rolled toward them.
• Xiaoyun used Sceptile’s Frenzy Plant to build a thorny barrier, while Chimchar and Dawn’s Piplup used Fire Spin and Whirlpool to stop the Miltank.
• Xiaoxia caught up with the herd, explained that the Miltank had lost control while playing, apologized, and invited Xiaoyun and Dawn to eat at her restaurant.

Xiaoxia brought Xiaoyun and Dawn to her family’s maid café, where they enjoyed its Moomoo Milk and Xiaoyun went to inspect the Miltank. Dawn then asked Autumn about the café’s maid outfits and eagerly agreed to try one on so Xiaoyun could see her wearing it.

• Xiaoxia led Xiaoyun and Dawn to the maid café, and Xiaoyun recognized it as a popular destination in Sinnoh.
• Autumn welcomed Xiaoyun and Dawn, explained the café to them, and served them lunch and its specialty Moomoo Milk.
• Xiaoyun asked to see the café’s Miltank, and Autumn sent Summer to take him outside.
• Dawn asked Autumn why the maids called guests Master, then admitted she wanted to try on a maid outfit.
• Autumn suggested Dawn wear a maid outfit for Xiaoyun, and Dawn eagerly asked her to find one.

Xiaoyun returned to the café with Summer and found Dawn dressed in a maid uniform, where her shy greeting and an accidental fall brought them together in a kiss. Dawn fled to the changing room while Xiaoyun stayed on the floor, stunned and savoring the moment.

• Xiaoyun admired Summer's family's well-raised Miltank and said he might buy one for his mother.
• Autumn and Xiaoxia persuaded Dawn to wear the maid uniform, and she emerged looking adorable.
• Dawn greeted Xiaoyun as her master, leaving him flustered and struggling to keep his composure.
• Xiaoyun dropped his glass, and Dawn slipped while trying to help; he caught her, and they accidentally kissed as they fell.
• Dawn hurried away in embarrassment while Xiaoxia, Autumn, and Summer watched, and Xiaoyun remained on the floor thinking about the kiss.

Dawn struggled to process her first kiss with Xiaoyun, while Xiaoxia persuaded Xiaoyun to dress as a maid to make amends. Elsewhere, Paul caught a Gliscor, and a falling Gligar was about to land on Ash.

• Dawn retreated to her room after kissing Xiaoyun and worried that the kiss had happened too suddenly.
• Xiaoxia convinced Xiaoyun that Dawn was upset and persuaded him to apologize by cross-dressing.
• Xiaoyun came out in a maid outfit, drawing compliments and attention from Dawn and the maid sisters.
• Paul defeated and caught Gliscor with Magmar's Flamethrower, causing the remaining Gligar in town to run wild.
• Ash and his companions helped Officer Jenny manage the Gligar, while one Gligar fell toward Ash's head.

After Xiaoyun and Dawn left the inn, they headed toward Veilstone City and accepted Tang Hong’s invitation to visit her family’s hot spring inn. The chapter ended with the childhood friends reuniting as Tang Hong teased Xiaoyun about always sticking close to Dawn.

• Dawn and the maid sisters helped Xiaoyun remove the wig he had accidentally glued to his hair, and Xiaoyun arranged with Autumn to buy a Miltank.
• The next day, Xiaoyun and Dawn set out for Veilstone City, while Xiaoxia secretly gave Dawn a box of embarrassing cross-dressing photos of Xiaoyun.
• Dawn told Xiaoyun that her childhood friend Tang Hong owned a hot spring inn nearby, and Xiaoyun eagerly pulled Dawn toward it.
• After traveling for two and a half hours, Xiaoyun and Dawn reached the inn and reunited with Tang Hong, who teased Xiaoyun about always staying close to Dawn when they were children.

Tang Hong welcomed Xiaoyun and Dawn to her family’s repaired hot springs and asked them to join her for a Double Battle first. Tang Hong and Dawn teamed up against Xiaoyun, and the chapter ended as their Pokémon launched their opening attacks.

• Tang Hong explained that thieves had diverted her family’s hot spring water, but Ash and his companions helped drive them away.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn realized the thieves were the Rocket Trio and that Ash had helped Tang Hong restore the springs.
• Tang Hong invited Xiaoyun and Dawn to battle in a two-on-one Double Battle, teaming up with Dawn.
• Dawn sent out Piplup, Tang Hong chose Swinub, and Xiaoyun brought out Chimchar and Mismagius.
• Tang Hong and Dawn opened the battle with Swinub’s Ice Shard aimed at Mismagius and Piplup’s Bubble Beam aimed at Chimchar.

Xiaoyun defeated Dawn and Tang Hong in a friendly Pokémon battle after their coordinated Whirlpool-and-Blizzard combination briefly held off his firestorm. Afterward, he soaked in the mixed-bathing hot springs with Dawn.

• Xiaoyun's Mismagius stopped Piplup and Swinub's attacks while Chimchar clashed with Swinub, whose Thick Fat helped it withstand Flame Wheel.
• Xiaoyun combined Chimchar's Fire Spin with Mismagius's Ominous Wind, and Dawn and Tang Hong answered with a Whirlpool-and-Blizzard ice pillar.
• Xiaoyun's Pokémon overcame the ice pillar, then Chimchar burst from underground and helped Mismagius knock out Piplup and Swinub.
• Dawn felt better about losing after Tang Hong reminded her that she had enjoyed battling alongside her.
• Xiaoyun praised Dawn and Tang Hong's teamwork, then soaked in the hot springs with Dawn.