Chapter Summaries

Dawn defeated Ursula to advance to the top 16, then won her next match and reached the quarterfinals, where she faced Kenny. As Marian started their battle, Kenny sent out Empoleon and Floatzel.

• Ursula combined Gabite’s Sandstorm with Flareon’s Fire Spin, but Dawn countered with Vibrava’s Sandstorm and Mamoswine’s Blizzard.
• Ursula’s Scary Face and Gabite’s Dragon Claw injured Vibrava, while Dawn used Vibrava’s Supersonic and Sonic Boom to disrupt Ursula’s attacks.
• Mamoswine defeated Gabite with Ice Fang, and Vibrava and Mamoswine knocked out Flareon with a double Earthquake, sending Dawn through to the top 16.
• Dawn praised Ursula after the match, and Ursula urged her to keep trying for the championship.
• Dawn defeated a young woman with Togekiss and Swablu, while Kenny, Jessie, Nando, and Zoey also advanced; Dawn was later matched against Kenny in the quarterfinals.
• Marian began Dawn and Kenny’s quarterfinal battle, and Kenny sent out Empoleon and Floatzel.

Dawn defeated Kenny in a fast-paced two-on-two Contest battle, using Pachirisu’s paralysis and Lopunny’s powerful kicks to overcome his Empoleon and Floatzel. The judges praised their timing and control, though Wallace wondered whether they had neglected visual appeal.

• Kenny opened with Rain Dance to boost Floatzel’s speed and strengthen his Water-type attacks, while Dawn countered with Lopunny and Pachirisu.
• Dawn targeted Empoleon as Lopunny’s Jump Kick struck Floatzel and Pachirisu dodged Empoleon’s Flash Cannon.
• Empoleon and Floatzel combined their Hydro Pumps into a powerful waterspout, but Lopunny froze and shattered it with Blizzard.
• Pachirisu slipped behind Kenny’s Pokémon and used Nuzzle to paralyze both of them, then knocked Floatzel out with Discharge.
• Lopunny used High Jump Kick to send Empoleon crashing into the boundary wall, giving Dawn the victory.
• Fantina, Johanna, and Wallace praised the battle, while Wallace questioned whether the Coordinators had focused enough on visual appeal.

Kenny accepted his loss to Dawn as she celebrated advancing to the Grand Festival semifinals. After the matchups were announced, Dawn overcame her nerves with Xiaoyun’s encouragement and began her semifinal against Jessie, bringing out Gengar alongside Swablu as the battle started.

• Kenny recalled his Pokémon, accepted his loss to Dawn, and left the arena determined to keep working hard.
• Marian announced Nando, Zoey, Jessie, and Dawn as the semifinalists, and the draw paired Zoey with Nando and Dawn with Jessie.
• Dawn confessed to Xiaoyun that reaching the championship felt unreal, and he reassured her that their journey was real and urged her to perform as usual.
• At the semifinal venue, Jessie and Dawn took their positions, and Marian announced their match as the audience eagerly called for it to begin.
• Jessie sent out Yanmega and Wobbuffet, while Dawn first called out Swablu and then summoned a nervous Gengar from her shadow.
• Dawn and Swablu encouraged Gengar, who gathered his courage and prepared to battle Jessie’s Pokémon.

Dawn’s attacks were repeatedly reflected by Jessie’s Wobbuffet, allowing Jessie and Yanmega to take the lead in their Contest battle. With time running short and her Pokémon struggling against Bug Buzz, Dawn faced a desperate situation when Swablu suddenly cried out.

• Dawn’s Swablu and Gengar quickly injured Yanmega, but Wobbuffet reflected their combined attacks with Mirror Coat.
• Dawn sent Gengar and Swablu to attack Wobbuffet physically, but it used Counter to knock them both back.
• Jessie ordered Yanmega to attack with Air Slash, then had it shelter behind Wobbuffet, which reflected Dawn’s combined pulses and put Jessie ahead on points.
• Jessie had Yanmega use Bug Buzz, causing Gengar and Swablu pain while Dawn struggled to find a way through Wobbuffet’s defenses.
• As Dawn faced the prospect of losing, Swablu gave a clear, resounding cry.

Dawn defeated Jessie in the first semifinal after Swablu evolved into Altaria and used Sing, while Zoey overcame Nando to reach the final. After a break, Dawn and Zoey began the Grand Festival final, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Swablu evolved into Altaria, whose Sing put Wobbuffet to sleep and left Yanmega vulnerable; Gengar knocked Yanmega out, and Dawn won the semifinal.
• Jessie congratulated Dawn and insisted she win the championship before leaving the arena.
• Zoey used Mismagius and Leafeon to counter Nando’s Kricketune and Lopunny, then won the second semifinal with a Psychic-powered Aerial Ace from Leafeon.
• After a two-and-a-half-hour break, Dawn and Zoey took their places for the Grand Festival final as Marian introduced the match.
• The crowd began the final, while Xiaoyun, Ash, and Brock discussed the lively atmosphere and the scale of the Pokémon League Conference.

Dawn and Zoey began their long-awaited Grand Festival finals battle, with Dawn gaining the advantage through coordinated attacks from Piplup and Lopunny. Zoey then gambled on a combined assault, charging Gallade’s Sacred Sword with Glameow’s Thunder as the battle continued.

• Ash insisted he would reach the Lily of the Valley Conference finals and win, while Lina reassured Xiaoyun and Shaymin theatrically sought her sympathy.
• Dawn and Zoey exchanged determined promises to give everything in their long-awaited battle, then sent out Piplup and Lopunny against Glameow and Gallade.
• Dawn opened with Piplup’s Whirlpool and Lopunny’s Blizzard, but Gallade shattered the resulting Ice Storm with Sacred Sword.
• Piplup’s Aqua Jet combined with Drill Peck knocked Glameow down, while Lopunny forced Gallade back with Jump Kick and then struck him hard with Return.
• With Dawn ahead on points and both her Pokémon injured, Zoey ordered Gallade to charge Sacred Sword at full power and Glameow to use Thunder.
• Glameow’s lightning wrapped around Gallade’s enormous energy blade, creating a golden, more threatening Sacred Sword.

Dawn defeated Zoey in the Sinnoh Grand Festival final after Lopunny used Healing Wish to protect Piplup, whose Endure counterattack knocked out Glameow and Gallade. After Dawn received the Ribbon Cup, Xiaoyun stayed at Lake Valor with her to train his Pokémon and develop his Power of Overcoming for the Lily of the Valley Conference.

• Zoey’s Gallade shattered Dawn and Lopunny’s Double Ice Beam with its Lightning Sacred Sword, but Lopunny used Healing Wish to protect Piplup.
• Dawn ordered Piplup to unleash Endure, using the energy it had absorbed to knock out Zoey’s Glameow and Gallade before time expired.
• Marian announced Dawn as the Sinnoh Grand Festival champion, and Wallace presented her with the Ribbon Cup.
• Xiaoyun stayed at Lake Valor with Dawn after the festival and planned special training for his Pokémon and his Power of Overcoming.
• Xiaoyun rallied his Pokémon to begin training for the Lily of the Valley Conference.

Xiaoyun and Dawn arrived on Lily of the Valley Island for the Sinnoh League Conference, where Xiaoyun encountered Tobias, the trainer rumored to command Legendary Pokémon. At the opening ceremony, the conference began with Flint set to challenge Cynthia, and Xiaoyun and the other competitors watched in anticipation.

• Xiaoyun and Dawn pushed through the crowds to reach the competitors' village, where Xiaoyun noticed a strange long-haired man and Darkrai warned him to watch out.
• Xiaoyun recognized the silent stranger as Tobias, the so-called Legendary Pokémon Man, then met Barry, Ash, Dawn, and the others at the hotel.
• Paul confirmed that Ash had battled him and proved strong, while Xiaoyun noticed a Key Stone on Ash's glove.
• Barry reported rumors that Tobias had swept through Sinnoh's Gyms using Darkrai, and Ash said he wanted to battle the Legendary Pokémon trainer.
• Xiaoyun and the others attended the opening ceremony, where Charles Goodshow officially began the conference and Moltres's Sacred Fire lit the arena.
• Rhonda announced Flint's challenge to Cynthia, and Xiaoyun and the competitors looked forward to seeing the Champion battle.

Flint challenged Cynthia in a six-on-six opening ceremony battle, but her Milotic defeated three of his Pokémon before Gastrodon took down Rapidash. Flint's Infernape defeated Gastrodon, and Cynthia sent out her ace, Garchomp, to face it.

• Flint and Cynthia began their full battle with Flareon and Milotic, and Milotic defeated Flareon despite taking damage from Flare Blitz.
• Cynthia used Recover to restore Milotic, which then defeated Flint's Camerupt and Magmortar, leaving three of Flint's Pokémon unable to battle.
• Flint sent out Rapidash for the second half, but Cynthia's Gastrodon slowed it with Muddy Water and defeated it with Water Pulse.
• Flint's Infernape defeated Gastrodon with its speed and close-range attacks.
• Cynthia sent out Garchomp, and Flint ordered Infernape to attack with Mach Punch as Garchomp countered with Slash.

Flint sent out his last Pokémon, Houndoom, and revealed Mega Evolution as his trump card against Cynthia’s Garchomp. Mega Houndoom launched a fierce assault, and the battle continued with Garchomp still standing.

• Infernape’s close-range attacks hurt him through Garchomp’s Rough Skin, and Cynthia’s Dragon Rush defeated him after he countered with Flare Blitz.
• Flint sent out Houndoom as his final Pokémon and Mega Evolved him, revealing the trump card he had prepared for Cynthia.
• Mega Houndoom used Sunny Day to strengthen his Fire-type moves, while Cynthia declined to Mega Evolve Garchomp.
• Mega Houndoom struck Garchomp with Flamethrower, Sucker Punch, and Fire Fang, but Garchomp countered with Slash and Dragon Claw.
• Flint ordered Mega Houndoom to use Nasty Plot followed by Inferno.

Cynthia defeated Flint in the Champion challenge match by unveiling a Z-Move, Devastating Drake, after Garchomp endured Mega Houndoom’s Inferno. The Alola Region’s Z-Crystals were introduced as tournament prizes, and the Lily of the Valley Conference began after lunch.

• Mega Houndoom used Inferno while Garchomp answered with Earthquake, leaving both Pokémon battered as the crowd watched their fierce exchange.
• Cynthia revealed her Z-Crystal bracelet and explained the power of Z-Moves, then commanded Garchomp to unleash Devastating Drake.
• Garchomp’s Z-Move overwhelmed Houndoom, which fainted after reverting from Mega Evolution, and Rhonda announced Cynthia as the winner.
• Paul and Xiaoyun reflected on the gulf between themselves and Cynthia, while Tobias wondered whether Cynthia could defeat his Pokémon.
• Rhonda announced that the tournament winner would receive five Z-Crystals from the Aether Foundation, exciting the contestants and prompting Barry to plan a trip to Alola.
• After a two-hour lunch break, the Lily of the Valley Conference officially began.

Xiaoyun faced Xiaoyu from Snowpoint City in the Lily of the Valley Conference preliminaries and used Bloodmoon Bear to knock out her Glaceon and Froslass. Xiaoyu sent out Infernape, and the battle continued as it attacked with Close Combat.

• Xiaoyun and Xiaoyu began their preliminary match, and Xiaoyun sent out Bloodmoon Bear, a newly revealed evolution of Ursaring.
• Bloodmoon Bear defeated Glaceon with Moonblast and Earth Power, knocking it out in one hit.
• Xiaoyu sent out Froslass, which used Hail and Snow Cloak to hide and strike Bloodmoon Bear with Ice Shard.
• Bloodmoon Bear used Mind's Eye to locate Froslass in the snow and knocked it out with Moonblast.
• Xiaoyu revealed Infernape as her final Pokémon, and it struck Bloodmoon Bear with Mach Punch before she ordered Close Combat.

Xiaoyun swept Xiaoyu’s team in the morning preliminary match, then returned to the lounge and learned that Ash and Paul had also won their matches. In the afternoon, Xiaoyun began his second match against Saffron City contestant Xiaoling, whose Alakazam was knocked out by Mismagius; Xiaoling sent out Espeon as the battle continued.

• Xiaoyun ordered Bloodmoon Bear to use Blood Moon, which pierced Infernape’s Fire Blast and knocked it out, giving him a one-against-three victory over Xiaoyu.
• Xiaoyun met the blond boy, Ash, Nando, and Barry in the lounge, where he learned Ash had beaten Nando and Paul had won with Rhyperior.
• Xiaoyun faced Xiaoling, an eighteen-year-old Psychic-type specialist and former apprentice at Sabrina’s Saffron Gym, in the afternoon preliminary match.
• Xiaoling’s Alakazam used Hypnosis on Mismagius, but Mismagius answered with Psybeam and created a Lugia illusion that Xiaoling recognized.
• Mismagius dodged Alakazam’s attacks with Teleport and Phantom Force, then knocked Alakazam unconscious with a close-range strike.
• Xiaoling sent out Espeon after the referee declared Alakazam unable to battle.

Xiaoling’s Espeon used Calm Mind before Baton Passing its boosts to Metagross, but Xiaoyun countered with his own Shiny Metagross. As Xiaoyun Mega Evolved it, Xiaoling launched a massive stone sphere at the stronger opponent.

• Xiaoling’s Espeon used Psychic Terrain and attacked Mismagius, but Mismagius defeated it with Shadow Shotgun.
• Xiaoling had Espeon use Calm Mind three times, then Baton Passed its boosts to Metagross as Dark Pulse struck.
• Xiaoyun recalled Mismagius and sent out his Shiny Metagross, which overpowered Xiaoling’s boosted Metagross with Psychic: Earth Surge Spear.
• Xiaoling’s Metagross dodged the stone spears with Agility and attacked with Psychic Screech, but Xiaoyun’s Metagross blocked it with stone walls.
• Xiaoyun Mega Evolved his Metagross, and Xiaoling’s Metagross gathered rubble into a huge stone sphere and hurled it at Mega Metagross.

Xiaoyun defeated Xiaoling in the second preliminary round with Mega Metagross, then watched Barry, Ash, and Paul advance. In his third-round match, Gible surprised Buck’s Staraptor with Draco Meteor and trapped it in Sand Tomb, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Xiaoyun’s Mega Metagross defeated Xiaoling’s Metagross with Hyper Beam, winning their second-round match.
• Xiaoyun watched Barry sweep his opponent with Empoleon, Ash win with Corphish, Bayleef, and Ambipom, and Paul sweep with Magmortar.
• The following afternoon, Xiaoyun began his third preliminary match against Buck from Nuvema Town, sending out Gible against Staraptor.
• Gible used Dig to evade Staraptor’s Aerial Ace, but Staraptor forced it above ground with Air Slash and then knocked it back with another Aerial Ace.
• Gible struck Staraptor with Draco Meteor and Dragon Pulse, while the resulting damage left Staraptor off balance and grounded.
• Xiaoyun revealed that Gible had used Sand Tomb to trap Staraptor in quicksand as Buck prepared to order Close Combat.

Xiaoyun’s Gible, Skorupi, and Lucario faced Buck’s team in a fierce battle. After Serperior and Skorupi were knocked out, Lucario clashed with Bisharp, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Gible defeated Staraptor by luring it into Sand Tomb, then Serperior replaced Staraptor for Buck.
• Serperior knocked out Gible, but Skorupi poisoned it with Fire Poison and brought it down with Venoshock.
• Buck sent out Bisharp, which swiftly knocked out Skorupi with Sucker Punch and Metal Claw.
• Xiaoyun sent out Lucario, which met Bisharp’s Metal Claw with Bullet Punch.
• Bisharp attacked Lucario from behind with Night Slash, but Lucario blocked it with Bone Rush.

Xiaoyun defeated Buck to advance to the top 32, then began his main-stadium match against Muren from Kalos. Their first Pokémon, Luxio and Sylveon, both took heavy damage in a collision, leaving the opening round unresolved.

• Lucario overwhelmed Buck's Bisharp with the Cloud Staff and a powerful Aura Sphere, securing Xiaoyun's victory and his place in the top 32.
• The preliminaries ended, and Xiaoyun drew the water battlefield and Kalos contestant Muren as his next opponent.
• Muren sent out Sylveon, while Xiaoyun chose Luxio and used Electric Terrain to electrify the water battlefield.
• Luxio's Rising Voltage and Thunder struck Sylveon's Light Screen, but the barrier blocked both attacks.
• Luxio and Sylveon met head-on with Wild Charge and Double-Edge, then both crashed onto separate platforms, badly hurt.

Xiaoyun’s newly evolved Luxray defeated Muren’s Gardevoir after breaking free of its illusions, leaving Muren to send out Florges as his final Pokémon. The battle resumed on a grassy battlefield, where Florges answered Luxray’s Wild Charge with Grass Knot.

• Luxio evolved into Luxray as Xiaoyun prepared to continue fighting Muren’s Gardevoir.
• Luxray and Gardevoir traded attacks, while Xiaoyun realized Gardevoir could use Telepathy to evade and control attacks.
• Muren used Disarming Voice and Misty Terrain to disorient Luxray, but Xiaoyun told it to locate Gardevoir and strike with Wild Charge, knocking Gardevoir out.
• Muren sent out Florges, drawing excited reactions from the audience, and ordered it to create Grassy Terrain.
• Xiaoyun sent Luxray charging at Florges with Wild Charge, and Muren countered with Grass Knot.

Xiaoyun defeated Muren after Spiritomb took down Florges, earning another tournament victory. The next day, Paul defeated Barry in the round of sixteen, while Tobias and Conway considered Xiaoyun and his Spiritomb.

• Xiaoyun sent out Spiritomb after Luxray was knocked out, and Spiritomb faced Muren's Florges.
• Spiritomb used Foul Play, Phantom Force, Will-O-Wisp, and Night Shade to overcome Florges's attacks and defeat Muren's final Pokémon.
• The referee declared Xiaoyun the winner, while Paul judged Spiritomb a top-tier threat and Tobias wondered whether Xiaoyun had other Pokémon.
• Conway noted that his next opponent was Ash as the round of sixteen began the following day.
• Paul's Electivire overpowered Barry's Empoleon, breaking through its Torrent-powered Hydro Cannon with Thunder.
• The referee declared Paul the winner after Empoleon lost consciousness, leaving Barry to call out to his fallen Pokémon.

Xiaoyun faced A Ning in the final Round of 16 match and used Torterra and Floatzel to counter Cacturne and Snorlax. As Torterra's Earthquake slowed Snorlax's Rollout, A Ning ordered Snorlax to charge through the attack.

• Ash defeated Conway after Gible swallowed Dusknoir's Shadow Punch and struck it with a point-blank Draco Meteor, while Tobias's Darkrai swept its opponent's team.
• Xiaoyun and A Ning began their match, and Xiaoyun's Torterra withstood Cacturne's Sucker Punch and Needle Arm.
• Xiaoyun recalled Torterra and sent out Floatzel, whose Rain Dance exposed Cacturne and whose Ice Beam froze it.
• A Ning sent out Snorlax, which used Defense Curl and Rollout to overpower Floatzel despite its Ice Punch.
• Xiaoyun brought Torterra back and used Earthquake to slow Snorlax's Rollout, but A Ning ordered Snorlax to charge forward through the attack.