Recaps

Xiaoyun and Dawn rescued a starving Trapinch and learned that two people had driven it from its home while capturing local Pokémon. They followed Trapinch to a Hippowdon in danger and discovered that the poachers were Cassidy and Butch, leaving the confrontation about to begin.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn left Tang Hong's family's hot spring inn and crossed into a vast sandy region, where Trapinch collapsed from hunger.
• Xiaoyun fed Trapinch Pokéblock, and Trapinch explained that two bad people had driven it from its home and were capturing Pokémon.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn agreed to help Trapinch and followed it through the sand toward its home.
• Trapinch led them to a robot holding Hippowdon, and Dawn sent out Piplup to attack its mechanical arm.
• Xiaoyun recognized Team Rocket's R logo and realized the two people emerging from the robot were Cassidy and Butch.

Xiaoyun and Dawn encountered Cassidy and Kosaburo, who were trying to capture Hippowdon for Dr. Namba’s research. After mocking the pair and learning their mission, Xiaoyun freed Hippowdon, prompting Cassidy and Kosaburo to attack.

• Cassidy and Kosaburo introduced themselves with dramatic Team Rocket lines, and Xiaoyun called them knockoffs of Jessie and James.
• Cassidy explained that Dr. Namba had sent them to Sinnoh to capture Hippowdon for sand research.
• Xiaoyun insulted Dr. Namba over the phone, then refused to move aside when Cassidy and Kosaburo ordered him to.
• Xiaoyun sent out Aerodactyl, which used Stone Edge to smash the mechanical arms holding Hippowdon and let it escape underground.
• Cassidy and Kosaburo threatened Xiaoyun, who declared that he was a Trainer, and they prepared to attack him and Dawn.

Xiaoyun and Dawn faced Cassidy and Butch in their Rhyhorn mech, which could not fly despite its toughness. Trapinch volunteered to defend them, but Dawn hesitated over its moves, so Xiaoyun sent Aerodactyl into a Brave Bird attack as the mech closed in.

• Xiaoyun ordered Aerodactyl to attack the Rhyhorn mech with Stone Edge, but its armor endured the rocks.
• Xiaoyun mocked Cassidy and Butch because their mech could not fly, then Cassidy decided they should capture him and Dawn instead.
• Trapinch stepped forward to defend them, and Xiaoyun asked Dawn to command it.
• Dawn realized she did not know Trapinch's moves and checked the Pokédex as the mech approached.
• Xiaoyun ordered Aerodactyl to use Brave Bird, and Aerodactyl plunged toward the mech wrapped in blue-green flames.

Dawn used Trapinch and Piplup to defeat Cassidy and Butch, then caught Trapinch after he chose to travel with her. Xiaoyun and Dawn continued toward Veilstone City, arriving two and a half days later.

• Aerodactyl battered Team Rocket’s mech, but Cassidy and Butch emerged and sent out Granbull and Shuckle to fight Xiaoyun.
• Dawn had Trapinch use Sandstorm and Mud Shot to overwhelm Cassidy and Butch’s Pokémon.
• Dawn ordered Piplup and Trapinch to attack together, blasting Cassidy and Butch away and winning the battle.
• Trapinch refused to stay behind and nudged Dawn’s Poké Ball, choosing to join her.
• Dawn caught Trapinch, and she and Xiaoyun continued toward Veilstone City, arriving two and a half days later.

Xiaoyun and Dawn reached Veilstone City and found Gym Trainer Maylene fighting with her Lucario because she wanted to quit as Gym Leader. After her uncle urged her to recover from a lost battle, Maylene walked away and casually deflected Lucario’s Aura Sphere.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived in Veilstone City and watched Maylene spar with Lucario.
• Lucario attacked Maylene with a Bone Rush, so Xiaoyun sent out Sceptile to stop it while Dawn helped Maylene up.
• Maylene explained that she wanted to give up being Gym Leader after a disagreement with her partner Lucario.
• Maylene’s uncle told her that losing one battle was no reason to abandon her role, but she said she could not return to the Gym Leader’s position.
• Maylene walked away and knocked aside Lucario’s Aura Sphere without looking back.

Reggie told Xiaoyun and Dawn how his defeat by Brandon led him to become a Breeder and indirectly shaped Paul’s cold attitude toward Pokémon. He also explained that Paul’s harsh remarks after beating Maylene had left the new Gym Leader in despair, and Dawn wondered whether that meant Xiaoyun could not challenge the Gym.

• Reggie introduced himself to Xiaoyun and Dawn as Paul’s older brother and the owner of the Pokémon Day Care.
• Reggie invited Xiaoyun and Dawn inside and told them that Brandon had defeated him so decisively that he chose to become a Breeder.
• Reggie explained that Paul had witnessed his defeat and believed Reggie had abandoned his dream because he lacked faith in his Pokémon, which contributed to Paul becoming cold and overly rational.
• Reggie said Paul had recently beaten Maylene’s Honchkrow, Magmar, and Lucario, then insulted her Gym and called the victory boring.
• Reggie apologized for Paul’s behavior and said his efforts to restore Maylene’s confidence had made little difference.
• Dawn asked Xiaoyun whether Maylene’s despair meant he could not challenge the Gym.

Xiaoyun tried to persuade Maylene to return to her role as Gym Leader by challenging her doubts about losing to Paul and reminding her of her duties. Maylene regained her confidence and agreed to battle alongside Lucario, leaving Xiaoyun’s companions astonished.

• Xiaoyun, Reggie, and Dawn found Maylene sitting by a lake with Lucario, and Xiaoyun went to speak with her alone.
• Xiaoyun asked Maylene what a Gym Leader’s duties were and why she believed she had failed at them.
• Xiaoyun challenged Maylene to consider whether pride and an inability to accept defeat were behind her decision to step down.
• Xiaoyun reassured Maylene that losing to a strong Trainer did not make her an unqualified Gym Leader and asked whether she believed she could improve.
• Maylene declared that she would improve and told Lucario she wanted to battle alongside it, and Lucario agreed.
• Reggie and Dawn were amazed that Xiaoyun’s persuasion had worked.

Xiaoyun helped Maylene regain her confidence, and they scheduled a Gym battle for the next morning. At Veilstone Gym, Ash arrived hoping to battle Maylene, so Xiaoyun let him take his place first, and the three-on-three match began.

• Xiaoyun provoked Maylene into recommitting to her role as Gym Leader, and she agreed to battle him the following morning.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn stayed at Reggie's Pokémon Day Care and enjoyed dinner with him.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived at Veilstone Gym with Reggie and found Ash, Zoey, and Brock there.
• Maylene let Xiaoyun and Ash decide who would battle first, and Xiaoyun gave Ash his place.
• The referee began Ash and Maylene's three-on-three Gym battle, with Maylene sending out Meditite and Ash choosing Gligar.

Ash battled Maylene in a Gym match, defeating her Meditite with Hippopotas before losing Hippopotas to Machoke. With the score still undecided, Ash sent Gligar back into battle against Machoke.

• Ash sent Gligar against Maylene's Meditite, but Meditite dodged Gligar's attacks with Meditate and struck it with Force Palm.
• Ash recalled Gligar and sent out Hippopotas, which trapped Meditite in a Sandstorm and defeated it with Dig and Take Down.
• Maylene sent out Machoke, which countered Hippopotas's Dig with Rock Smash and defeated it with Vital Throw.
• Ash sent Gligar back into battle, and Maylene ordered Machoke to charge in with Cross Chop.

Ash defeated Maylene in their Gym battle after Gligar overcame Machoke and Ambipom outmaneuvered Lucario. Ambipom’s Fire Punch knocked out Lucario, earning Ash the victory.

• Gligar blinded Machoke with Sand Attack, then knocked him out with successive X-Scissor attacks.
• Maylene sent out Lucario, who defeated Gligar with Bullet Punch.
• Ash chose Ambipom, whose agile tail technique blocked Lucario’s Bullet Punches before Bone Rush and Aura Sphere struck him.
• Ambipom blocked Lucario’s Metal Claw with one Fire Punch and hit him with another, burning and knocking him out.
• The referee declared Ash from Pallet Town the winner of the match.

After Ash defeated Maylene and earned the Cobble Badge, Xiaoyun battled her at the Veilstone Gym. Chimchar defeated Machoke, but its clash with Maylene’s newly evolved Medicham was still underway.

• Maylene gave Ash the Cobble Badge after his victory, and Xiaoyun praised Ash’s tactical win.
• Xiaoyun and Maylene began a three-on-three Gym battle, sending out Chimchar and Machoke.
• Chimchar dodged Machoke’s attacks with Dig, then used Flame Wheel and Flamethrower to knock Machoke out.
• Maylene sent out Medicham, which had evolved after battling Ash, and ordered it to attack Chimchar with Fire Punch.
• Chimchar met Medicham’s Fire Punch with Flame Wheel, and the two attacks collided.

Xiaoyun’s Chimchar defeated Maylene’s Medicham and evolved into Monferno during the Veilstone Gym battle. Monferno then faced Maylene’s final Pokémon, Lucario, and the chapter ended with both sides trading punches as Monferno’s stamina ran low.

• Chimchar avoided Medicham’s High Jump Kick with Dig and knocked it out with Flame Wheel.
• Chimchar evolved into Monferno after its second consecutive victory, and Xiaoyun congratulated it.
• Maylene sent out her final Pokémon, Lucario, and opened with Bullet Punch against Monferno.
• Monferno met Lucario’s Bullet Punch with Mach Punch, and both Pokémon began exchanging blows.
• Lucario struck Monferno in the face, and Maylene ordered it to use Bone Rush.

Xiaoyun’s Monferno defeated Maylene’s Lucario in a grueling final exchange, earning Xiaoyun the Gym battle victory. The chapter ended with both Pokémon unable to battle and the spectators reflecting on Xiaoyun’s strength.

• Monferno and Lucario traded powerful attacks, including Drain Punch, Fire Punch, Aura Sphere, and Flamethrower.
• Maylene and Xiaoyun agreed to decide the match with one final move, and Lucario used Steel Beam while Monferno used Fire Pledge.
• Both Pokémon were left badly wounded, but Lucario fell first, followed moments later by Monferno.
• The referee declared Xiaoyun the winner because all three of Maylene’s Pokémon were unable to battle.
• Dawn celebrated Xiaoyun’s win, Zoey warned Ash that Xiaoyun was growing stronger, and Ash looked forward to battling him.
• Reggie praised Chimchar’s talent, while Maylene thanked Lucario for defending the Gym’s dignity.

After Xiaoyun earned the Cobble Badge, Team Galactic disabled Veilstone City's communications and began extracting the meteorites with the Spear Key. Maylene and Lucario confronted Saturn as Team Galactic prepared to leave with their prize.

• Xiaoyun earned the Cobble Badge after defeating Maylene and rested at the Veilstone City Pokémon Center.
• Saturn led Team Galactic in jamming Veilstone City's signals, while Officer Jenny put the police station on alert and ordered officers to find the source.
• Saturn used the Spear Key at Meteorite Park, revealing its true form and causing the meteorites to shine.
• Saturn ordered Team Galactic to erase its records and withdraw, and his members used helicopters to lift the meteorites from the ground.
• The Rocket Trio watched Team Galactic take the meteorites and considered sneaking aboard a helicopter to steal them.
• Maylene and Lucario struck a helicopter with Aura Sphere, dropping its meteorite, and Maylene challenged Saturn over the theft.

Xiaoyun and his companions intervened when Saturn and Team Galactic attacked Maylene and Lucario. After recognizing Saturn, Xiaoyun Mega Evolved Sceptile and defeated Toxicroak, leaving Saturn facing his next move.

• Saturn ordered Toxicroak and Team Galactic's Golbat to attack Lucario, overwhelming Maylene's Pokémon.
• Xiaoyun and his companions arrived, and Sceptile's Leaf Storm and Pikachu's Thunderbolt protected Lucario and brought down the Golbat.
• Team Rocket appeared to introduce themselves, but Xiaoyun blasted them away with Sceptile's Energy Ball before they could finish.
• Xiaoyun recognized Saturn and challenged him, then Mega Evolved Sceptile.
• Mega Sceptile struck Toxicroak with Leaf Blade and Dragon Pulse, leaving it unable to battle.

Xiaoyun confronted Saturn and Team Galactic over their attack in the Solaceon Ruins, then fought back as Saturn deployed Rhyperior, Gallade, and a swarm of Golbat. Xiaoyun’s Mega Sceptile stopped Saturn’s Pokémon, while Spiritomb began knocking the Golbat from the sky, leaving Team Galactic’s assault in disarray.

• Xiaoyun accused Saturn of trying to bury him alive and refused to let him leave without a fight.
• Saturn sent out Rhyperior and Gallade and ordered them to attack Mega Sceptile, but Mega Sceptile blocked both attacks and hurled Rhyperior into Gallade.
• Saturn ordered Team Galactic’s Golbat to attack Xiaoyun, and Dawn, Ash, and the others’ Pokémon stopped their first wave.
• Xiaoyun reassured Dawn, sent out Spiritomb, and ordered it to use Looming Phantom Shadows against the Golbat.
• Spiritomb’s phantoms evaded the Golbat’s attacks and knocked the Pokémon out of the sky, astonishing Maylene, Reggie, Ash, and the others.

Xiaoyun defeated Saturn’s forces and nearly had them arrested, but Jupiter rescued Saturn with Skuntank’s foul gas. Saturn escaped with the Spear Key unsealed and enough meteorites for Team Galactic’s plan.

• Mega Sceptile defeated Rhyperior and Gallade, then cut the mechanical claws holding the meteorites and sent them crashing to the ground.
• Saturn tried to negotiate with Xiaoyun, but Xiaoyun refused and Officer Jenny arrived to arrest Team Galactic.
• Jupiter’s Skuntank filled the park with choking fumes, allowing her to lead Saturn away as Spiritomb dispersed the stench with Ominous Wind.
• Aboard the helicopter, Jupiter explained that the boss had sent her to support Saturn’s withdrawal.
• Saturn told Jupiter that the Spear Key had been unsealed and that Team Galactic had taken enough meteorites to keep the boss’s plan on schedule.

After the group helped the police arrest Team Galactic members in Veilstone City, Xiaoyun and Dawn continued their journey toward Lake Valor, where the Wallace Cup would be held. In a forest five days later, they heard a weak cry from the bushes as they ate lunch.

• Jupiter left Saturn after teasing him, while Saturn blamed the operation’s failure on Xiaoyun.
• Officer Jenny thanked Xiaoyun, Dawn, Ash, and their companions for helping capture Team Galactic members and gave them items.
• Reggie told Paul that Xiaoyun had defeated Maylene with Chimchar, now Monferno, and Paul quietly reflected on Chimchar’s evolution.
• Dawn and Zoey discussed entering the Wallace Cup, and Ash said May planned to compete there too.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn parted from Ash and Zoey, then traveled for five days before stopping to eat in a forest.
• A weak cry came from the bushes while Xiaoyun and Dawn ate with their Pokémon.

Xiaoyun and Dawn found an injured, wary Riolu in the woods, and Xiaoyun treated him after Riolu sensed he meant no harm. When Riolu woke and began eating, a vehicle marked with a J appeared, apparently bringing the poachers who had hurt him, and Xiaoyun shielded Riolu.

• Dawn identified the unfamiliar Pokémon as Riolu, and Xiaoyun approached to examine his injuries.
• Riolu fired an Aura Sphere at the ground to warn Xiaoyun away, then used aura to sense his intentions and collapsed from exhaustion.
• Xiaoyun carried Riolu back, treated his wounds, and stayed nearby while Dawn helped.
• Riolu woke, accepted food from Xiaoyun and Dawn, and began to feel protected by Xiaoyun.
• A J-marked armored vehicle arrived, and Xiaoyun suspected Hunter J and the poachers who had injured Riolu.

Kuroda and Lao Liu tried to capture Riolu from Xiaoyun, first attacking with a rocket launcher and then deploying their mecha, Calem. Aerodactyl destroyed their weapons and mecha, sending the two men flying.

• Kuroda demanded that Xiaoyun hand over Riolu, while Lao Liu pointed out that Riolu was already behind him.
• Kuroda ordered Lao Liu to fire a rocket launcher at Xiaoyun, but Aerodactyl destroyed the shells and wrecked their armored vehicle with Stone Edge.
• Kuroda deployed Saturn No. 1, a mecha called Calem, and ordered Lao Liu to attack Aerodactyl with its Aura Wheel.
• Aerodactyl dodged Calem's Aura Wheel, and Kuroda berated Lao Liu as the pair began fighting each other.
• Xiaoyun told Aerodactyl to use Giga Impact, and Aerodactyl smashed Calem into fragments, sending Kuroda and Lao Liu flying.

Hunter J failed to capture Riolu after Xiaoyun defeated her men, but Terashima persuaded her to try again with his help and extra payment. Meanwhile, Hajime thanked Xiaoyun and Dawn for protecting Riolu and began explaining its connection to the kingdom of Cameran.

• Hunter J recognized Xiaoyun as the person who had defeated her subordinates and dismissed them before admitting her capture attempt had failed.
• Terashima demanded that Hunter J capture the same Riolu, and she initially refused because Xiaoyun had beaten her men.
• Terashima offered to bring his own people and pay extra, so Hunter J agreed to make a new plan.
• Xiaoyun and Dawn met Hajime, a Pokémon Ranger assigned to rescue Riolu, and learned that his partner Kate had not arrived yet.
• Hajime thanked Xiaoyun and Dawn for protecting Riolu, then began describing how a war had devastated Cameran hundreds of years earlier.

Hajime told Xiaoyun and Dawn about Riolu's role as the kingdom's guardian, and Xiaoyun comforted Riolu's doubts about bringing trouble to its country. Hunter J then set the forest ablaze, prompting Hajime to use his Capture Styler to enlist Blastoise to help fight the fire.

• Hajime explained that Riolu was the kingdom's guardian and that poachers had targeted it for its powerful Aura.
• Xiaoyun gave Riolu its wooden pendant and reassured it that human greed was not its fault, inspiring it to grow stronger and protect its kingdom.
• Hunter J arrived on Salamence and ordered it to burn the forest with Flamethrower.
• Hajime ran to help fight the spreading forest fire, with Xiaoyun and Dawn following him.
• Hajime captured several Blastoise with his Capture Styler and asked them to use Rain Dance.

Hunter J captured Riolu during the forest fire and lured Xiaoyun into a canyon, where she and Terashima prepared an ambush. Surrounded by their Pokémon, Xiaoyun refused Darkrai’s help and began Mega Evolution with Sceptile and Aerodactyl.

• Hunter J used the forest fire to distract the group, captured Riolu, and escaped on Salamence as Xiaoyun pursued on Aerodactyl.
• Hunter J led Xiaoyun to a canyon, where Terashima and his subordinates were waiting; Riolu had been petrified and bound in silk.
• Hunter J and Terashima sent out Drapion, Ariados, Aggron, Tyranitar, and several Rock-type Pokémon to surround Xiaoyun.
• Darkrai offered to fight, but Xiaoyun declined and released his Pokémon to face the ambush himself.
• Xiaoyun activated his Key Stone and called on Sceptile and Aerodactyl to Mega Evolve.

Xiaoyun and his Mega-Evolved Pokémon countered Hunter J and Terashima’s forces, overpowering several Pokémon with Dragon Pulse, High Horsepower, Head Smash, and a fusion of Water Pledge and Fire Pledge. Terashima ordered his subordinates to keep attacking, and the battle continued.

• Hunter J ordered Salamence, Ariados, and Drapion to attack Xiaoyun, but Mega Sceptile’s Dragon Pulse destroyed their combined assault.
• Xiaoyun sent Ursaring after Drapion, and Ursaring smashed it into a rock wall with High Horsepower.
• Terashima ordered Tyranitar and Aggron to fire Hyper Beams at Mega Aerodactyl, which dodged and struck them with Head Smash.
• Terashima’s subordinates sent a barrage of rocks at Xiaoyun, but Buizel and Monferno combined Water Pledge and Fire Pledge to defeat Rhyhorn and Rhydon.
• Terashima told his subordinates to keep attacking, insisting Xiaoyun could not repeat such a powerful move.

Xiaoyun’s Pokémon gained the upper hand across several battlefields, while Buizel struggled against the rolling Golem and Graveler. Xiaoyun directed Buizel to unleash its newly formed Flying Raijin, leaving the attack’s outcome unresolved.

• Aerodactyl knocked Terashima’s Tyranitar unconscious with Iron Head and Iron Tail, while Monferno continued to overwhelm Aggron.
• Mega Sceptile destroyed Hunter J’s petrification device, freeing Riolu, and Ursaring knocked out Ariados and Drapion.
• Buizel defeated one Golem but was trapped by the remaining Golem and Graveler’s escalating Rollout attacks.
• Xiaoyun told Buizel to escape into the air with Aqua Jet and use Flying Raijin.
• Buizel compressed water into a powerful waterspout, and Xiaoyun ordered it to throw the attack at the approaching Golem and Graveler.