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Chapter Text

805.   Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!

Arriving in the Kalosian capital of Lumiose City, Ash is barely off the plane when he glimpses a strange Pokémon resembling a Blaziken that is significantly taller. Wondering what it was, he meets up with Alexa, only to discover that her sister’s gym is actually in Santalune City... and that she is not currently in. Though the news dampens his excitement, Ash nevertheless decides to challenge the local gym instead and separates from Alexa to explore Lumiose independently.

Quickly getting lost in the sprawling metropolis, Ash receives help from a young girl who directs him to Prism Tower, the tallest manmade structure in the city, which also houses the Lumiose Gym. Heading inside, he requests a battle, only to be informed by a robotic voice that he needs four more Gym badges before he is violently ejected from the building. Fortunately, he is saved from a painful impact by a large cushion thrown by a bespectacled boy, who introduces himself as aspiring inventor Clemont Liscio, whose younger sister Bonnie recognises Ash from his recent adventure in Unova. Forming fast friends with them, Ash decides to have his first Pokémon battle in Kalos against Clemont, who accepts by using a Bunnelby, but while Pikachu’s Volt Tackle and Electro Ball give him an edge, he and Ash soon learn about the Digging Pokémon’s powerful ears, which stop an Iron Tail in mid-air… just before the match is interrupted by none other than Team Rocket.

Annoyed that they have followed him from Kanto again, Ash fights them, but Pikachu is unable to get a single hit on Wobbuffet, who has drastically improved since the last time they met, and is forced to turn to Bunnelby for help. However, as Ash channels his Aura into Pikachu, he is abruptly saved by a strange frog-like Pokémon that Clemont identifies as a Froakie, which incapacitates Team Rocket with its sticky frubbles and allows Pikachu to blast them off... right before it collapses from its injuries. On Bonnie’s recommendation, Ash decides to take the Froakie to a local professor for some medical treatment, and as they run off, the girl from earlier is seen approaching a strange man with golden eyes at a café, who immediately asks who she is.

806.   Lumiose City Pursuit!

Arriving at the regional Pokémon lab, Ash is introduced to Professor Augustine Sycamore, who explains that this particular Froakie is a notoriously picky starter Pokémon who either abandoned several trainers because he didn’t like them or was returned because he refused to listen to them. Contemplating this, Ash thanks the temperamental Water-type for helping him, but points out that he can’t work alone forever before his attention is diverted when Clemont brings up the topic of something called Mega Evolution.

Elsewhere, the young girl introduces herself as Dina Fyodorova and asks the man if he can help her with something, explaining that she has been having dreams of herself going on adventures with someone who looks like him. Suspicious, the man asks her if she knows his past, and when she responds in the affirmative, he asks her why she would want to help him in the first place, which leads to Dina pointing out that enough time has passed since “that time” as she expresses a desire to help him put “the past to rest” so that he can assume his “destiny”. Scoffing, the man bitterly states that people who tried to help him ended up hating him, but Dina expresses her faith in him before passing him a handwritten message that surprises him.

Back at the lab, Sycamore tells Ash about the recently discovered phenomenon of Mega Evolution and explains how several Pokémon are capable of temporarily assuming a superpowered form while in the presence of certain types of gemstones that he has since dubbed “Mega Stones”. Realising that he has seen something like this with Newtwo, Ash tells the professor about what he has seen, confirming the role of the Mega Stones in the transformation while also revealing that an additional stone and a strong bond with a trainer are required to trigger the transformation properly. Before he can explain more, Team Rocket infiltrates the lab to steal Sycamore’s Garchomp with a shock collar, but while they are quickly blasted off, the device malfunctions and causes Garchomp to go berserk from the electrical discharges as it breaks out and flies away.

Assisted by Froakie, Ash and Professor Sycamore chase Garchomp as she rampages through the streets, and Dina takes her leave upon witnessing this, telling the man that if he has truly lost all hope, he won’t help solve this problem. Indignant, the man remains silent as he watches her leave, but as he regards the message again, he realises that she is right before getting up and following the commotion as Garchomp lands on the Prism Tower.

Upon arriving at the tower’s base, Ash gains access to an emergency stairwell with help from Clemont, but is separated from the others when a Hyper Beam collapses the entryway. Continuing alone, he finds Garchomp on the observation deck and tries calming her down with his Aura as Pikachu and Froakie defend him, but while a news helicopter captures the whole thing on live television, the floodlights on the tower prevent his Aura from being seen clearly. Eventually determining that he cannot calm Garchomp down, Ash has Froakie immobilise her with his frubbles, allowing Pikachu to destroy the collar with an Iron Tail... right before a section of the damaged walkway collapses and causes the Electric-type to fall off.

Without thinking, Ash immediately leaps off the tower to catch his starter before realising his mistake, but as they fall, an Aura field forms around them, which slows them down enough for a Pokémon to save them. Recognising the Pokémon as the same one from the airport, Ash deduces that it is a Mega Blaziken and silently thanks his rescuer before he reunites with Professor Sycamore, Clemont and Bonnie. Elsewhere in the gathered crowd, the golden-eyed man is revealed to be the one who generated the Aura field as he spots the Mega Blaziken reuniting with a masked individual on a rooftop.

The next day, as Ash prepares to leave with Clemont, Bonnie and a new Pokédex from Professor Sycamore, an impressed Froakie chooses him as his trainer after seeing his capabilities the night before. Accepting the Pokémon’s choice, Ash takes Froakie’s Pokéball as the strange man watches them from afar. Inspired by Ash’s actions, he decides that he is done with running as he rereads the message, which is revealed to be a phrase in a strange language telling him that “as long as there is life, there is hope”.

807.   A Battle of Aerial Mobility!

As Ash registers for the Kalos League and receives his badge case, he is surprised to find the strange man waiting outside the Pokémon Center. Initially suspicious of him, Ash is taken aback when the man asks if he can travel with them for reasons he is unwilling to disclose, but he accepts him without further question. Though similarly surprised, the man thanks Ash before introducing himself as “Philippe”. Meanwhile, Team Rocket receives permission from Giovanni to keep following Ash while scouting Kalos for any other rival organisations, and immediately following the call, James catches an Inkay that keeps stealing his croissant.

On the road to Santalune City, Ash, Clemont, Bonnie and Philippe come across a Dedenne that Bonnie instantly takes a liking to; however, a wild Fletchling interrupts the moment before she can convince it to come with them. Setting his sights on this Flying-type, Ash decides to catch it, but runs into trouble when Froakie refuses to listen to him in the subsequent battle. Observing this, Clemont tries to help with an invention designed to attract Pokémon, only to attract a swarm of Beedrill that they are forced to run away from when the machine explodes. Eventually emerging into a canyon, Philippe secretly tracks the Fletchling with his Aura (passing it off as instinct when Clemont asks him), allowing Ash to catch the Pokémon by carefully planning a strategy by utilising the valley walls and Froakie’s jumping skills. However, while thrilled by his success, Ash suspects their newest companion is hiding something from them and asks him if he can use Aura in private.

Back in Lumiose City, as Professor Sycamore and his assistants clean the lab, they are visited by Serena Gabena, a new trainer from Vaniville Town who is there to receive her first Pokémon. As Sycamore brings out three starter Pokémon, Serena asks about Ash, apparently knowing him from before, and is delighted when the professor confirms his appearance and reveals where he is going.

808.   A Shockingly Cheeky Friendship!

Over in Aquacorde Town, Dina heads to a renowned photo spot and retrieves something hidden behind the bricks of the bridge spanning the river. As she heads out, two thugs try to mug her, but she defeats them with her Eevee and Mawile before fleeing into the Santalune Forest. Meanwhile, back in Lumiose City, Serena selects Fennekin as her starter Pokémon.

Elsewhere, as Clemont tutors Bonnie on how to take care of Pokémon, Ash’s vain attempts to pry information out of Philippe are interrupted when Dedenne from before shows up, having been following the party ever since they first met it a few hours ago. Chasing the Antenna Pokémon, Pikachu eventually corners it after getting separated from the others, only to run into Jessie, James and Meowth, who send out Wobbuffet and Growlie. Unable to protect Dedenne and handle both Pokémon at once due to their training at the Team Rocket HQ, Pikachu gets the smaller Electric-type to escape into a river before blasting them off with an Electro Ball, but despite making it to safety as Ash and the others find them, Dedenne is left exhausted from the encounter.

With no medical supplies, the group are at a loss for what to do... until Philippe steps up and heals Dedenne with his Aura just as Team Rocket returns. Now back to full strength, Clemont takes control of Dedenne and defeats Inkay in a 1v1 battle before catching the Antenna Pokémon, but as he gives him to Bonnie to take care of, he also asks Philippe about his abilities. Seeing no way out of this, the group’s newest companion explains his skills in Aura to him and Ash.

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809.   A Blustery Santalune Gym Battle!

Upon arriving in Santalune City, the group meets Gym Leader Viola Paquet, a renowned photographer and Bug-type expert, who brings them to the Gym to reunite with Alexa. Accepting Ash’s request for a gym battle (after being momentarily confused by Bonnie begging her to marry her brother), Viola tells her sister that a girl who came earlier had asked about Philippe before leading Ash to the battlefield to commence their 2v2 match. Going up against a Surskit with Pikachu, the Pallet Town trainer is momentarily stumped when the Pond Skater Pokémon freezes the field before circumventing this by using Volt Tackle to bounce off the walls, keeping pace with Surskit and eventually knocking it out.

Meanwhile, Alexa brings Philippe to meet Dina, who is recovering at the Pokémon Center after arriving yesterday completely out of the blue. Speaking to the younger girl, Philippe learns of her recent escapade in Aquacorde Town as she gives him a sight he has not seen in years: two rusted Pokéballs containing a Gyarados and a Charizard, which instantly recognise their master. Thanking her for getting his Pokémon back, Philippe admits that she was right about him—he does want to resolve his past (and, to a lesser extent, embrace his “destiny”) but doesn’t know how to do so without help. Assuring him of her loyalty, Dina makes a deal with Philippe to resolve each other’s “unfinished business”, which he accepts with a handshake.

Back in the Gym, Ash does not fare well against Viola’s unfamiliar Vivillon and loses the match when Pikachu and Fletchling are successively defeated. In the middle of all this, Serena arrives and watches the battle with Clemont, Bonnie and a returned Alexa, but in his haste to heal his team in the match’s aftermath, Ash doesn’t notice her. Reuniting with Philippe at the Pokémon Center, the group is introduced to Dina, who, upon learning of Ash’s loss, offers to help come up with a strategy to beat Viola. Elsewhere, Viola privately admits to her sister that she found the battle lacking, but Alexa, knowing what Ash is capable of, warns her not to underestimate him before heading to the Pokémon Center to speak with Philippe. 

As Dina brainstorms potential tactics with Ash, Serena returns the latter’s bag, which he had left at the Gym by accident, to him. At the same time, Alexa asks Philippe why he has joined Ash’s team and why her sister is so interested in him and his “past life”. Both questions are put on hold when Ash asks Alexa if she can help him with her Noivern, but following that practice battle, Serena asks Ash if he remembers her.

810.   Battling on Thin Ice!

Thinking back, Ash remembers meeting Serena from Professor Oak’s Summer Camp nine years ago—namely, that she had gotten lost in the forest after being scared by a wild Poliwag, and that he had helped her to safety, offering the advice to “never give up until it’s over”. Learning that she is from the rural Vaniville Town, he asks her if she wants to join them... right before he is interrupted by Alexa for another practice battle. Later that evening, Clemont offers some assistance with another of his inventions, only for it to blow up again, causing an exasperated Ash to use Froakie as a suitable battling partner instead. As this practice session gets underway, Serena recognises Dina as a famous child prodigy from Aquacorde, but when she asks her what she is doing here, the girl merely states that she is here to “help an old friend” like her, which causes Serena to blush profusely.

Following a night’s rest, Ash has his rematch against Viola and gets Pikachu to lodge his tail in the ground to bypass Surskit’s freezing strategy before defeating it with a Thunderbolt. However, as Ash reveals that his strategy was to conserve energy so he could focus on Vivillon, Alexa finds Philippe talking to Dina about her dreams and repeats her questions from yesterday. Cryptically, Philippe answers the first question by explaining that he is travelling with Ash because he reminds him of someone he used to be, and claims that he wants to guide and prevent the younger boy from making any mistakes he did, but when Alexa presses for answers to the second question, he avoids answering it directly, only saying that he has some “unfinished business” to take care of.

Back in the Gym, Ash uses Fletchling to fight Vivillon, but despite landing several hits with Steel Wing and Razor Wind, the Flying-type is stunned by Sleep Powder and knocked out by a lucky Solar Beam. Grimacing, Ash sends out Pikachu and counters Sleep Powder by shocking himself before forcing Vivillon against the frozen field. With its wings numbed by the cold, Vivillon is defeated by Pikachu, earning Ash the Bug Badge. Watching this, Philippe is pleased with the outcome, but as he notices Serena staring at the Pallet Town trainer, he (and Dina) immediately deduces that she has a crush on Ash, which he deems “interesting”.

Following the battle, Ash chooses to head for Cyllage City and invites Serena to join them, which she accepts. However, before leaving with the group, Philippe tells Alexa to look into the past if she wants to know who he is, but cautions her that she might not like what she finds.

811.   Giving Chase at the Rhyhorn Race!

Deciding to cut through Lumiose City on the way to the next Gym, the group stumbles onto a course for Rhyhorn racing near Odyssey City. Having trained for the sport due to the efforts of her mother, Grace, a renowned Kalosian racer, Serena explains the rules to Ash after he signs up for a one-time trial run at Officer Jenny’s recommendation and teaches him how to ride the Rhyhorn without falling off. However, while Ash slowly learns how to control the Spikes Pokémon, Serena realises that, although she is good at Rhyhorn racing, she wants to pick a path of her choosing instead of just taking the one her mother laid out for her. The following day, the race begins, but when Team Rocket disrupts the event, Ash and Serena quickly blast them off in retaliation with help from their Pokémon. In between these events, Philippe and Dina spend time at the Pokémon Center deciphering her dreams, but while they do not make much progress, the former remembers something back in Lumiose City that could potentially aid their efforts. 

812.   Growing Furfrou!

Passing through a small town, the group encounters a Furfrou belonging to an apprentice Pokémon groomer named Jessica, who is having trouble controlling it. As an excited Serena and Bonnie drag Ash and Clemont on a day’s worth of grooming adventures (and thwart a Team Rocket scheme along the way), Dina has a practice battle against Philippe’s Charizard, discovering that he is very capable in battle despite his claims to the contrary. However, when she is pushed into a corner by the Flame Pokémon, Dina retaliates with a barrage of small yet cutting and slicing attacks from Mawile that almost knocks out her opponent, surprising and forcing him to switch to a more defensive strategy.

Though he ultimately wins the battle, Philippe is impressed by Dina’s coordination with her Pokémon and thanks her for making him feel alive again. Telling him to think nothing of it as they head back to their friends, she asks what they will find in Lumiose that could help them, but he does not elaborate, only saying that it was given to him by a wise person long ago.

813.   Clemont’s Got a Secret!

Upon returning to Lumiose City, the gang runs into Clemont and Bonnie’s father, Meyer, who inadvertently reveals that his son is the local Gym Leader. With this information in hand, Ash confronts Clemont, who reluctantly explains that he was kicked out by a robotic duplicate of himself (which he refers to as Clembot) that he created to battle challengers so that he could have time to further his inventing career… only for it to turn on him and Bonnie due to faulty programming. Sympathetic to his plight, Ash and Serena volunteer to help retake the gym, and with Clemont’s help, they re-enter Prism Tower through the ventilation system to make it to the battlefield, avoiding Clemont’s Gym Pokémon that have been told to keep intruders out.

Meanwhile, Philippe brings Dina to his apartment, where he retrieves a strange cylindrical device called a cryptex, explaining that he was told to open this only when a vision given to him by a mystic came true. Asking him what the vision entailed, Dina is surprised to learn that it involved their first meeting in Lumiose a week ago... only to be annoyed by his admission that he has also forgotten the five-letter password. Looking at the device, she realises forcing it open would destroy the papyrus scroll inside with a vial of vinegar, and asks Philippe if he remembers anything about the combination, to which he says that it had a relation to “where one’s strength lies”. However, before she can think about it, Dina receives an emergency call from Serena, forcing the duo to rush back to the Prism Tower.

As it turns out, while Clembot accepted Clemont’s battle, it also sent guard duplicates of itself to chase Ash, Serena and Bonnie. Breaking in with Charizard and Gyarados, Philippe and Dina deal with Clemont’s Gym Pokémon by locking them in an insulated storeroom. Back on the battlefield, Clemont uses Bunnelby against his Heliolisk and defeats it despite the type disadvantage, allowing him to regain control over his creation when it submits to him. Modifying Clembot to make it more accepting of challengers, Clemont also informs his father of what happened and voices his decision to keep travelling, which Meyer supports. However, Ash tells Clemont that he intends to battle him, not Clembot, and Clemont accepts this as Philippe and Dina ask him for help deciphering the cryptex.

814.   Mega-Mega Meowth Madness!

Unfortunately, Clemont is unable to figure out the password, causing Philippe and Dina to put the cryptex aside for the time being as they visit Professor Sycamore’s lab. As they share a batch of macarons that Serena baked, Team Rocket attacks the lab in an attempt to gain spurious information to potentially Mega-Evolve Meowth. Abducting Sycamore, Serena, Bonnie and Dina, the TRio attempts to pry the information out of the Professor, but he only relents and hands over a hard drive containing a copy of the information he has compiled after they threaten Bonnie.

Working together with a gluttonous Chespin and its much fitter twin – both of which have a penchant for macarons – Ash, Clemont and Philippe track down Team Rocket to a warehouse on the outskirts of Lumiose, only to arrive moments before Meowth activates their latest mecha, the “Mega-Mega Mecha-Meowth”. While Charizard and Gyarados battle it alongside Froakie and Bunnelby, Philippe and Clemont work together to unplug the machine with help from the two Chespin, and when the robot is revealed to have an auxiliary power source, they hold it off enough for help to arrive in the form of the masked figure with the Mega Blaziken, who superheat the machine and blasts Meowth off. Defeated, Jessie and James bail, and in the aftermath, Philippe finds and thanks the masked hero, whom he deduces to be Meyer after recognising his Pokémon. Alarmed that someone has found him out, the disguised Meyer departs as a curious Philippe vows to find out the reasons for his vigilantism after wondering why he would be doing this.

Before the group resumes the journey to Cyllage City, the two Chespin decide to go with Clemont and Philippe, who bring them into their teams. However, upon deciding that he might need someone to trust again in light of the recent developments, Philippe decides to tell Sycamore about his Aura powers after Dina assures him that the professor can be trusted. Though surprised and daunted by what he has been entrusted with, Sycamore promises to guard the secret with his life.

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815.  The Bamboozling Forest!

While having lunch, the gang encounters two Pancham who consume all their food before Team Rocket steals Pikachu, Froakie, Fennekin, Eevee and both Chespin. Having gotten into this situation many times before, Pikachu begins to cut open the net with an Iron Tail, but Froakie inadvertently causes an explosion with Water Pulse, sending everyone falling back into the forest. Upon recovering, the group’s Pokémon quickly find each other but are also forced to contend with a lost Meowth, who tags along with them to meet up with Jessie and James despite Froakie’s distrust.

Meanwhile, while searching the forest, Ash privately confesses to Philippe that he has Aura too, only for the older man to reveal that he is already aware, having suspected this when they met at the Prism Tower. Intrigued, Ash asks about Philippe's goal, affirming that he still wishes to be a Pokémon Master (despite his lingering uncertainty about whether it is still possible), but Philippe sidesteps the question and declines to provide a direct answer, although he admits to having another goal aside from the “destiny” he intends to fulfil. Meanwhile, Jessie and James observe a Pancham working for a Pangoro right before the aggressive Daunting Pokémon attacks them; however, they are fortuitously rescued by a wild Super-Size Pumpkaboo that Jessie captures.

Arriving on the scene moments later, Meowth and the other Pokémon are caught up in the battle and accidentally break the bamboo sprig in Pangoro’s mouth, causing it to lose its motivation to fight. Reuniting with Philippe and Ash soon after, the Pokémon learn from the Pancham that they need a replacement sprig from a specific clearing and head over to the clearing to retrieve it, only to discover that the sprig is located high in the air. While Team Rocket tries to get the bamboo down with Pumpkaboo so they can recruit Pangoro and the Pancham, the Chespin twins end up doing the job for them in a much shorter time, and this results in an argument that devolves into a Pokémon battle. In the end, the TRio are forced to beat a hasty retreat, though Jessie expresses her satisfaction that she got one Pokémon out of the encounter.

As the group gives the leaf to the Pangoro, Ash assures Philippe that he won’t pry into what is clearly a private matter as he nonetheless encourages him to reach his goal. Thanking him, Philippe asks Ash if he is going to tell the others about his Aura, leaving Ash to think about this as they reunite with their friends.

816.  To Catch a Pokémon Smuggler!

While walking along the road, the group nearly gets run down by a man named Dolan, whom Officer Jenny is pursuing. Noticing that a cage has fallen from the criminal’s truck, Ash discovers an injured Scatterbug inside and brings it to the Pokémon Center, where he discovers that it was smuggled from another part of Kalos… right before an arriving Officer Jenny tries to arrest him after assuming that he is in league with Dolan, who turns out to be a Pokémon Smuggler. Fortunately, Serena clears up the misunderstanding, and the group learns that there has been an increase in the number of smugglers who are catching Scatterbug and Spewpa and evolving them into Vivillon before selling them off at high prices. 

As Scatterbug evolves into Spewpa, Ash decides to help Officer Jenny take down this smuggling operation, and the others join him... except for Philippe, who declines to assist. This nearly causes an argument between him and Ash until Dina defuses the situation by pulling the older man aside and speaking to him in private, allowing her to learn that his past attempts to stop people like Dolan caused an uproar from poverty-stricken trainers who depended on smugglers to get Pokémon for them. However, while she understands where he is coming from, Dina points out to Philippe that most smugglers do not care for the well-being of the Pokémon, and, when he still does not budge on the issue, pointedly asks him if he would choose to stick with his morals or lose that respect as a person of integrity.

In the meantime, Clemont discovers a tracking chip on Spewpa, leading Serena to hit on the idea of using it to find the smuggler’s hideout. Disguising Clemont’s Chespin as the bait, they leave him by the side of the road and follow Dolan back to his hideout after he returns for his precious cargo, only for the smuggler to discover the ruse and capture Serena, Clemont and Bonnie with a booby trap. With Froakie, Ash battles Dolan’s Diggersby and struggles against the more powerful opponent, but midway through the battle, the Spewpa evolves into an Elegant Pattern Vivillon, turning the tide with Safeguard and Stun Spore... right before the smuggler’s hideout abruptly explodes from within, releasing all the Pokémon within. Though he is surprised by this, Ash takes advantage of the situation to defeat Dolan and free his friends as Officer Jenny formally arrests the smuggler.

While all this is happening, Philippe and Dina walk out of the smoking ruins, revealing that they were the ones who freed the Spewpa and Scatterbug with Gyarados and Mawile. However, as all the Spewpa evolve into various types of Vivillon, one Scatterbug remains with Philippe, though it refuses to be captured by a Pokéball. Deciding to let him tag along regardless, Philippe lets the Scatterdust Pokémon hop onto his shoulder, but as they hit the road again, Ash asks Philippe why he decided to help them after all. Regarding Dina, the older man tells Ash that something she told him reminded him of something his parents told him long ago.

817.  Kindergarten Chaos

After losing a battle to a Sylveon, Ash is told by its trainer, a girl named Penelope, that he has to come with her, which makes Serena nervous. Fortunately, her fears are dissuaded when they arrive at a daycare, and Penelope explains that she is a teacher who brings back Pokémon and their trainers for the students to interact with. Taking the opportunity to have a break, Philippe spends most of the day trying to decipher the cryptex’s combination and consequently avoids interacting with most of the children, but Dina, by comparison, has a far better time and eventually comes across a shy student named Randall, who is scared of Pokémon due to an incident in his youth where a Hoppip accidentally blasted him to protect itself from a Beedrill.

Unfortunately, while trying to get this child to open up after recalling a time in her youth when she was scared of Pokémon, Dina is accidentally kidnapped by Team Rocket along with Randall, Froakie, Pikachu and Penelope’s Sylveon. As Ash sneaks onboard the TRio’s truck, Dina reveals to Randall that while she never really got over her fear, she still works with Pokémon because she trusts them not to hurt her, which inspires him to help free the Pokémon before they reunite with Ash. Taking charge of the subsequent battle, Dina blasts Team Rocket off with Sylveon and her Mawile and Eevee, which removes Randall’s doubts about Pokémon, and as they reunite with the others, she tells Philippe about the day he missed, which makes him reminisce about a time long forgotten…

818.  Seeking Shelter from the Storm!

Getting caught in a storm as night falls, the group takes shelter inside an abandoned mansion but is almost immediately beset by paranormal occurrences upon entering. However, while most of them are spooked, Philippe deduces that this to be the work of a Ghost or a Psychic-type Pokémon due to the numerous instances of items moving with no one touching them and is proven right when his exploration of the massive residence (which results in him and Bonnie getting separated from the others) leads to the discovery of an Espurr. As Bonnie plays with the Restraint Pokémon, Philippe discovers that its owner and the mansion’s custodian, an old lady, had left it behind with an emerald pendant, and as he and Bonnie try to find out what happened to her, the others encounter and evict Team Rocket from the premises after assuming that they are responsible for what has been happening.

Eventually reuniting with their friends as the sun rises, Philippe and Bonnie explain what happened as a young woman named Elise arrives and reveals that the old lady, her grandmother, had recently passed away and that she intends to refurbish the mansion so that Espurr has a home to live in. With this revelation, a saddened yet accepting Espurr takes the pendant and accompanies Elise to the cemetery to pay its final respects to its owner as Philippe reflects on the encounter, having been reminded of how fleeting life is for loved ones as he and the others continue on their journey to Cyllage City.

819.  An Appetite for Battle!

Upon gorging himself on Serena’s latest batch of macarons, Clemont’s gluttonous Chespin gains so much weight that he cannot fight effectively in a practice battle against Philippe. Seeking to do something about this, Clemont’s attempts to put him on a diet and have him exercise cause him to get into an argument with the Grass-type, which leads Chespin to wander off and eventually wind up at a house run by an elderly baking couple who allow him to eat as many macarons as he wants.

Once he has calmed down, Clemont searches for Chespin, but after finding him, he contemplates leaving him with the bakers after seeing how happy he is, only to be drawn back, along with the others, after an explosion is heard. Arriving on the scene, the Lumiose City Gym Leader finds the husband’s Delphox battling Chespin to settle a quarrel with his wife and takes some advice from Ash to trust in the Spiny Nut Pokémon before he intervenes and explains the situation. Stepping up to take ownership of his Pokémon, Clemont takes control of the subsequent battle and helps his Chespin unlock his Overgrow ability before the match is abruptly resolved when the old man throws his back out. Nevertheless, with his bond with Chespin reaffirmed, Clemont accepts him as his Pokémon, flaws and all.

820.  A Jolting Switcheroo!

While stopping at a Pokémon Center, Bonnie accidentally switches her bag with an identical one belonging to another girl named Lyn, which contains a Pichu instead of Dedenne. Discovering the mix-up in the middle of a practice battle between Ash and Clemont, the group scours the town to find Dedenne, running into many red herrings in the process as Philippe and Dina, having separated from the group to cover more ground, find Lyn and Dedenne… only for the latter to wander off again, resulting in a second chase across town before they are finally able to secure the Antenna Pokémon.

With Dedenne in their possession, Philippe and Dina try to find their friends, with the latter giving the young girl some advice about taking care of Pokémon before they eventually stumble upon a Beedrill nest in a vineyard. Using Scatterbug, Chespin and his Aura, Philippe manages to fight off the Poison Bee Pokémon until the others, who have had their own adventures with Lyn’s older sister, Lena, arrive and chase the Beedrill off. Reunited, the group decides to have dinner with the sisters, but as she reflects on the day’s events while trying to decipher the cryptex’s password, Dina realises that Philippe’s interactions with Lyn were like a father teaching his daughter and grows curious as to why he would act like that.

821.  A Rush of Ninja Wisdom!

In the middle of training, Ash, Dina and Philippe meet a young ninja named Sanpei and his Frogadier, and upon learning that it is what Froakie will evolve into, Ash challenges him to a battle that he loses due to Frogadier’s superior speed and stealth. Lamenting his lack of luck in improving his coordination with Froakie after already using his Aura, Ash consults Philippe, who suggests talking to Sanpei after noticing that he has trained both his Pokémon and himself. Seeing this, Ash agrees and asks Sanpei for help after Dina challenges him to test her agility and stealth.

For the next few hours, Ash slowly trains himself and Froakie, who, in addition to learning Double Team, eventually becomes quick enough to “run” on water and leap between the trees. During this time, the Pallet Town trainer also learns about Sanpei’s two older brothers, Ippei and Nihei, his hometown – a hidden ninja village located in Eastern Kalos – and his aspiration to surpass both of his siblings one day. At the same time, Philippe continues his Aura meditation and finally manages to open up his Aura sight again... only to notice that Dina’s ambience is startlingly bright. Remembering her dreams and how proficient she is with her Pokémon, he pieces together that, just like him, she is proficient in Aura as she notices and deduces his thoughts.

Eventually, following a Team Rocket attack (which they deal with in record time), Sanpei separates from the group with a promise to see Ash again. At the same time, Dina admits to Philippe that she is proficient in Aura, but when he asks why she hid it from him, she reveals that someone is hunting people like them for unknown reasons, leading to him realising that they have to stick together to survive whatever is after them.

822.  Awakening the Sleeping Giant!

As Philippe presses Dina for details on this threat, the group arrives in Camphrier Town and finds a Snorlax whose snoring is not only causing a disturbance in the settlement but could potentially disrupt a festival set to commence that evening. Learning from the townsfolk that it is usually the job of a local lord, Shabboneau, to play the Poké Flute that can awaken the Snorlax, Ash confronts him and his assistant, Benoit Rousseau, only to find out that a Princess Allie of the nearby Parfum Palace stole the musical instrument. Deciding to visit her and retrieve the flute, the group is joined by Benoit, who uses his noble bloodline to help them enter the palace grounds and meet with the princess.

Unfortunately, “Princess” Allie refuses to return the flute and demands that Ash hand over Pikachu as a “family heirloom”, which he obviously refuses. Seeking to get what she wants, the princess challenges Ash to a battle that wagers the Poké Flute and his Pokémon, and with no other choice, he faces her Furfrou on the battlefield… only for the whole thing to be a farce as she ends up forfeiting the battle the moment Furfrou’s hairstyle is messed up and still refuses to give the Poké Flute on a technicality. Incensed by her pompous behaviour, Clemont and Philippe lecture her on her behaviour, but this backfires when she decides to give their friends Poké Flute—in exchange for the two of them staying behind. Both protest this, but Serena and Bonnie, on a recommendation from Dina and Benoit, agree to the exchange and retrieve the flute, secretly promising to rescue them when they are done.

With their mission accomplished, Ash, Serena and Bonnie race back to Camphrier Town, but Team Rocket steals the flute before Lord Shabboneau can play it. However, Bonnie tricks them into playing it in such a way that angers the Snorlax, resulting in them getting blasted off, and once she retrieves the flute, the festival’s opening ceremonies commence. Back at Parfum Palace, Dina is forced to reveal her proficiency in Aura to Benoit as she enhances their stealth, enabling them to sneak past the guards and successfully rescue Clemont and Philippe, who leave behind robotic duplicates as they slip away to rejoin their friends in town. Thankful for the rescue, Philippe tells Dina that he owes her as Benoit, intrigued by their abilities and desiring adventure, asks if he can join them, which leads Ash to accept him into the fold despite apprehension from the other two Aura users. Fortunately, Philippe’s Aura senses do not detect anything shifty about their new companion, but both he and Dina remain on guard as they proceed westward to Cyllage City.

Chapter Text

823.   A Conspiracy to Conquer!

As the group passes through a particularly dense forest, they stumble across a battered Meowth, who reveals that a hooded figure named “Madame X” and three Malamar brainwashed Jessie and James so that she could capture Pikachu… and as soon as he reveals this, the person in question shows up and attacks them, kidnapping not only Pikachu but Philippe too. Tracking them to an abandoned radio station with one of Clemont’s inventions, the group splits up as they enter the facility, only for Clemont and Bonnie to be brainwashed when they encounter the Malamar, with Dina barely escaping in time.

Meanwhile, Ash guides Serena and Benoit to the main hall with his Aura, where they run into their brainwashed friends and the Malamar, and the latter unleashes his Houndoom to fight the Overturning Pokémon, though they ultimately capture him and brainwash Serena. Avoiding the same fate thanks to Dina’s intervention, Ash and Meowth make it to the central control room, where they find Madame X alongside a brainwashed Team Rocket and Pikachu and a restrained Philippe, whose arms and legs have been tied apart from each other with strange glowing cords that suppress his Aura. However, as Dina sneaks around Madame X’s throne, she is surprised when she runs into Benoit, who, for some reason, is not brainwashed!

Demanding an explanation as Benoit explains that the Malamar somehow could not take control of his mind, Dina realises that he must be proficient in Aura and quickly gives him the rundown on what it means as they are forced to fight several other Pokémon that Madame X has brainwashed. At the same time, Ash and Meowth team up to fight Pikachu after ascertaining that they cannot defeat him alone, and the hits they land weaken Madame X’s hold over him and divert her attention to them. This allows Philippe to escape his bonds after he releases his Chespin, but as he prepares to fight the Malamar, he seemingly recognises the three Overturning Pokémon.

However, before any side can gain an advantage, Clemont’s invention (which he left outside to recharge) malfunctions, zooms in and explodes, causing the Malamar to release their mental hold on everyone. Surprisingly, the cacophony of light and sound also causes Madame X to scream and fall off her throne, and as Philippe catches her, he unmasks her as Officer Jenny as Benoit proclaims that the Malamar are the masterminds of the whole plot, having brainwashed her to act as their puppet. Exposed, the Malamar flee into a secret chamber, and as the group follows them, they discover them extracting a strange orb from a mass of otherworldly vines and spikes. Proclaiming that they have gotten exactly what they want, the Malamar activate a self-destruct system and disappear through a portal, forcing everyone else to escape before the building implodes.

In the aftermath, Philippe thanks Dina and Benoit for rescuing him as he learns of the latter’s proficiency in Aura. However, when he is asked about what happened during his capture, he tells them that he recognised the three Malamar as Pokémon belonging to someone from his past who might be the one hunting people like them.

824.   Breaking Titles at the Chateau!

While recovering from their ordeal at a Pokémon Center, Serena suggests to her friends that they visit the nearby Battle Chateau, a famous Kalosian location renowned for its unique ranking system, which Ash compares to other niche battle locations around the world. Accompanied by brothers Nico and Chester, who explain the ranking system in detail, the group arrive on the premises and learns about its history and foundational concepts from its current owner, Lord Turner, who compares the Chateau to a living organism and highlights its battlefield as the beating heart. Intrigued at the thought of a ranking system based around a knight’s code of chivalry and honour, Ash asks to battle the younger Chester while Nico has his final match to advance to the Viscount rank. However, despite being identified as a Grand Duke, Philippe declines challenges from multiple trainers as he tells Dina that he remembers this location having something to do with the clue to the cryptex’s password.

As Ash wins his battle against Chester and gains the Baron title, Philippe and Dina investigate the other rooms for clues while Benoit (a Duke himself) waits in the recreation hall and sees a rock climber named Grant Willis scaling the walls in the room. Wondering why he would be doing that in such a prestigious place, he bumps into Viola, who is visiting to increase her rank, and as he talks to her, he learns that Grant is both the Cyllage City Gym Leader and her boyfriend. However, as he joins her in trying to get him to come down, Philippe and Dina discover a secret passageway hidden behind the bar.

Entering it, the duo heads down a spiral staircase and through a narrow corridor before emerging in a chamber with thirteen stone boxes, ten of which have been opened. Realising that they are right under the battlefield, Dina finds an inscription on the ground that reads “Vires et Honestas” and sees one of the closed boxes glowing… but when she points this out to Philippe, he claims that another is shining instead, leading them to conclude that the boxes must be uniquely coded to their Aura. Wasting no time, Dina opens her box to find a treasure trove of items, including a suit of leather armour and a silvery cloak, a pair of boots, a strange ring, a glove with an empty compartment in its palm, and most importantly, a short sword, a dagger, a short bow and an assortment of throwing knives. Impressed (and somewhat jealous), Philippe looks inside his box, but while he is initially disappointed to find only a plain silver sword and a rather generic set of lightweight chainmail armour alongside a similar ring and glove, a closer inspection of the chainmail leads him to discover that it is laced with diamonds and obsidian, making it nigh indestructible. However, despite scouring the chamber, the duo cannot discern the password that unlocks the cryptex and are forced to head back upstairs.

Rejoining his companions as Dina tells Benoit about what they found, Philippe witnesses Grant challenging Viola to a battle for the title of Grand Duke and watches as the match between his Onix and her Surskit ends in the former’s victory when he traps his opponent with Rock Tomb and flattens it with Flash Cannon. Congratulating both gym leaders in the aftermath, Philippe introduces Grant to Ash and shares his familiarity with the Cyllage City Gym Leader, but Viola pulls him aside after noticing his new sword and warns him that while she and her sister know who he is and trust him, some of the other gym leaders (like Grant) might not be so open. Grateful for her trust, Philippe tells the Santalune City Gym Leader that he will have to work hard to gain her colleagues’ support before a now-helmeted and blue-armoured Benoit, having entered the chamber and retrieved his items from the last box, challenges him to a Pokémon battle and a sword duel, brandishing a newly-acquired two-handed sword to accentuate this.

Accepting this challenge, Philippe dons his purple cloak and heads down to the battlefield before drawing his blade as a crowd gathers to watch the duel and the battle. As it begins, Dina ponders the cryptex’s clue again and realises, after remembering Lord Turner’s analogy, that the password is “heart”. However, as she opens the device, Grant expresses his suspicions regarding Philippe – whom he refers to as “Frederick” – and asks Viola if she thinks he can achieve his “destiny” considering his past. Watching “Philippe” summon his Charizard to face Benoit’s Houndoom as they begin their duel, Viola tells her boyfriend to give him a chance to prove himself as Ash, Serena, Bonnie and Clemont overhear the conversation.

825.   A Pokévision of Things to Come!

Inspired by an old Pokévision video of famed Kalosian singer Aria Sheppard, Serena decides to make a video of her own to showcase Fennekin and enlists help from Clemont and Bonnie. However, due to her inexperience, she runs into several technical issues that are compounded by Bonnie’s desire to make another video about her brother... until Ash comes into the production after finishing his latest training session. Explaining that he has worked on films before in Unova, he takes over from the Liscio siblings and quickly solves several of Serena’s problems with his Pikachu, Fletchling and Froakie assisting and providing security when Team Rocket interfere. By the end of the day, Serena edits and submits the video, which turns out to be a moderately successful hit, but while Bonnie’s video ends in disaster, she ends up having some fun with her brother and is not too bothered about the failure.

Meanwhile, Philippe, Benoit and Dina examine the equipment they obtained from the Battle Chateau and reflect on the Pokémon battle and duel, which, as shown in flashbacks, were respectively won by Philippe and Benoit. However, the unlocked cryptex presents another unexpected problem when Dina reveals that she found a second cryptex inside with another clue… that was written entirely in an indecipherable language. Though frustrated by this curveball, Philippe decides to focus on the current task as he uses his Aura to scan their new gear, identifying numerous enchantments, enhancements and upgrades that can be applied to them (if they acquire the right items). Most importantly, he reveals that the rings are signet rings that act as a form of ID, while the weapons are uniquely tailored to the person whose Aura they correspond to, meaning they will only properly benefit the user unless a willing swap between two individuals is performed. Thanking Philippe, Benoit asks him how he knows all this stuff, but Dina, sensing that this is part of a personal matter for their friend, dissuades him from pushing the matter until their golden-eyed ally is ready to tell them the truth.

Chapter Text

The Mega-Evolution Trainer

The episode begins with a female voice discussing legends and how mankind and Pokémon were born into a cruel, harsh world, where they spend their existence fighting the everlasting metaphorical and actual darkness that surrounds them. From time to time, she does point out that there have been brave individuals, heroes who rise against the darkness, drive it back and guide everyone else through the toughest of times… before ominously stating that, over time, even the most brilliant lights – and heroes – flicker and die, causing the same thing to repeat again and again. Therefore, she promises that there will be no “cycle of destiny”, nor will there be any victory in strength this time.

In the present day, the episode begins with a young man named Alain Moreau and his Charizard facing fellow Pokémon trainer Astrid Bristol and her Absol. Throughout the match, both Pokémon are evenly matched, even when they Mega Evolve (though Alain seems more invested in the fight than Astrid is), but the shockwaves from the battle soon attract attention in the form of rookie trainer Mairin Lay, who watches it unfold from the sidelines as Alain’s perseverance allows his Mega Charizard X to win with a Dragon Claw and Blast Burn. However, as both Pokémon revert to their regular forms, Astrid’s queries about her opponent’s strength are met with cold and stoic answers as Alain states that he hopes to face other powerful Trainers like her in the future as part of his mission to defeat all Mega-Evolved Pokémon with Charizard for reasons known only to him.

Later, as he takes a break by a river, Alain senses that Mairin is watching him and orders her to show herself. Exposed, the young girl and her Chespin, Chespie, nervously emerge and introduce themselves before gushing over the battle they witnessed, momentarily confusing Alain due to his assumption that she is here to battle him. Declining due to her inexperience, Mairin instead brings up gossip from Lumiose City about a rampaging Garchomp from Professor Sycamore’s lab, including the rumour that it was solved by a single trainer who risked his own life for a Pokémon that wasn’t even his. This long-winded spiel quickly irritates Alain, but he keeps calm as he interrupts her by introducing himself and his goal—to master Mega Evolution. 

Intrigued, Mairin enthusiastically asks for an explanation regarding the phenomenon, but Alain can only tell her what he knows, which mainly consists of incomplete information passed down from Professor Sycamore when he was one of his aides. Anticipating more questions, he explains that he left the lab to find out more and to search for his own Mega Stone alongside a Charmander given to him by his mentor... but is shaken out of his reverie when he receives a call containing instructions about where to go next. However, as Alain packs up and leaves, Mairin continues to follow him from afar, persistently tagging along even when he tells her that it is none of her business and insisting that she accompany him even after she narrowly avoids falling off a cliff due to her clumsiness.

Eventually arriving at some old ruins, Alain finds and retrieves a Mega Stone embedded in the limestone foundations, but as he tries to shoo Mairin away, he is challenged by a man named Remo, who demands that he hand over the Mega Stone by sending out his Garchomp, Garchoo. Keen for a challenge, Alain brings out his Charizard and immediately Mega Evolves him before proceeding to thrash his opponent due to the bond he shares with his Pokémon, which enhances their connection (though he admits that the changing of Charizard’s type when he Mega Evolved helped).

Still being followed by Mairin as he exits the ruins, Alain orders her to stop following him, but she remains defiant, declaring that she will catch lots of Pokémon and eventually defeat him with her own Mega-Evolved Pokémon. As she proclaims that Alain must be a good person due to how he treats his Charizard, he sarcastically encourages her, which she picks up on before she is distracted by a Yellow Flower Flabébé. Intending to catch this Pokémon, Mairin has Chespie battle her, but it is only with Alain’s advice that she poisons and catches the Single Bloom Pokémon with a Toxic. Nicknaming her new capture “Bébé”, Mairin brings her to the Pokémon Center while Alain leaves for a nearby restaurant owned by Siebold Blanc of the Kalos Elite Four in an attempt to ditch her.

Arriving at the restaurant, Siebold is informed of Alain’s presence and accepts his challenge upon noticing his keystone... right before Mairin, who has deduced his ploy, barges in and demands to spectate the match. Not wanting to look like a jerk in front of an Elite Four member, Alain agrees as he prepares to face Siebold’s Mega Blastoise with Mega Charizard X, but is questioned by his opponent over the usage of a Pokémon with a type disadvantage, leading him to voice his beliefs that his bond with his Charizard is enough to overcome any disadvantage and that their friendship goes beyond any logic of his. Within two minutes, both Pokémon Mega Evolve and go on the offensive, but Mega Blastoise uses its Mega Launcher Ability to defeat Mega Charizard X with a surprise Dragon Pulse. Nevertheless, Siebold is impressed by his opponent’s performance and commends his battling skills even as Alain remains silent, seething over his defeat.

Back on the road again, Mairin repeats her intention to follow Alain so she can get a Mega Stone and eventually beat him, and upon seeing how she cannot be persuaded otherwise, he lets her tag along as he remembers Professor Sycamore’s belief that the world is entering “a time of great change”. However, as they walk off, a red-headed man is seen standing in a laboratory and expressing an interest in the secrets of Mega Evolution as he calls someone.

As a counter to the previous narration, the episode concludes with a male voice saying that sometimes, victory comes from the most unlikely places, as more often than not, the stories about those “brave heroes” are often exaggerated and romanticised over time. Thus, he suggests that it may come from a place that neither of them will see coming... and ominously states that when that happens, the world will irreversibly be changed.

Chapter Text

826.   Going for the Gold!

Arriving in Ambrette Town, the group pays a visit to its world-famous aquarium, where they find, among the numerous Water-type Pokémon, a golden statue of a Magikarp. Learning from the aquarium’s director, Rodman, about the legend surrounding this Pokémon, Ash decides to help him catch the larger-than-average Shiny Pokémon and enlists the help of Philippe, Benoit and Dina, all of whom take up the challenge to relax and unwind. As Clemont tries to use scientific methods to catch the Pokémon, Serena receives some advice on fishing from Ash (though she fails to capture the Corsola that she catches due to Fennekin’s reluctance to get dirty), and Bonnie tries to become friends with Rodman’s partner, an unfriendly Clauncher. Meanwhile, as Team Rocket tries to catch the Golden Magikarp by using their old Magikarp Submarine, Philippe teaches Dina how to use Aura in fishing, allowing her to reach a peaceful state of mind that greatly increases her patience.

827.   Coming Back into the Cold!

Still in Ambrette Town, the group meets up with Alexa, who is on an assignment to cover a discovery at the town’s Fossil Laboratory, which turns out to be a small herd of resurrected Amaura and Aurorus, which are being kept in an air-conditioned and snowy environment to ensure their safety. As they learn that these peaceful Pokémon originally lived in northern Kalos before they went extinct, Ash recounts the last few times he saw resurrected Fossil Pokémon right before everyone ends up having a snowball fight due to Amaura’s playful demeanour. Meanwhile, Benoit practices his Aura on the Aurorus and discovers its ability to communicate with its species through auroras.

Unfortunately, the peace is shattered when Team Rocket breaks in and steals the Amaura, not knowing it will slowly die outside the special environment. Taking charge of the situation with his Houndoom, Benoit tracks them down with the lead Aurorus and fights them, allowing Bonnie, Serena and Alexa to free the Amaura before he blasts the TRio off (though not before they take note of the numerous Aura users in the group). Returning to the enclosure, the group ensures that the Pokémon are safe as Philippe commends Benoit’s skill, even saying that he reminds him of someone with a similar personality and skillset in his past. Before he can elaborate, however, he is interrupted by Alexa, who asks what his real name is, only for Philippe to state that he has had many names throughout his life and that he can be whatever she addresses him by as he works to achieve his “destiny”. Curious about what that might be, Alexa presses him for more details, but the golden-eyed man cryptically tells her that a change is coming soon for all of them, and they will have to pray that what happened “before” does not happen again.

828.   An Undersea Place to Call Home!

While fishing along the Muraille Coast, Ash snags a Skrelp that poisons Pikachu but receives medical aid from a nearby pair of marine archaeologists named Lindsey and Eddy, who are searching for the S.S. Cussler, an ocean liner which sunk decades ago after hitting an iceberg in winter. Volunteering to help, Philippe explains to the group that the ship was rumoured to be carrying some precious cargo on its final voyage that he is interested in retrieving as they navigate through the numerous whirlpools surrounding the wreck, but he does not explain what it is out of a concern that the cargo might not be there.

Upon arriving at the site, Ash, Serena and Philippe accompany Lindsey as she dives inside a small submersible and locates the sunken liner alongside numerous other shipwrecks after travelling through a vicious current. By observing the numerous Water-type Pokémon, they realise that they are fusing the ships to create a unified home... right before discovering Team Rocket trying to break into the Cussler to retrieve the supposed treasure. Pursuing them, Ash and Serena confront the TRio at the main storeroom, but Philippe stops them from fighting by pointing out that the unstable structure could collapse if it is disturbed, only for Jessie to not listen and blast open the room in an attempt to subdue them, triggering a flood that causes the wreck to collapse.

As James and Meowth drag their teammate back to the sub and run for it, Ash takes command of the local Skrep and Dragalge – including the one he caught earlier – and convinces them to save their home by repairing the damage. However, his actions result in the storeroom getting sealed off, denying Philippe a chance to see if what he wanted was onboard… but as a gesture of gratitude, the Skrelp brings them to the captain’s cabin and gives them a small box, which the golden-eyed man identifies as the treasure he has been seeking. Thanking the Mock Kelp Pokémon, the group begins to make their way out as the ship shifts sideways, but Philippe and Froakie are separated from the others by falling debris, forcing Ash and Serena to return to the surface without them.

Explaining what happened as they reunite with Clemont, Bonnie, Dina, Lindsey and Eddy, Ash soon spots Froakie, Skrelp, Chespin and Scatterbug being brought to the surface by the whirlpools. With no time to spare as the current prepares to drag them down, the Bubble Frog Pokémon grabs the other three Pokémon and leaps across the whirlpools, using the floating debris as launching points. Grabbing Froakie and the others as they make it back to the ship, Ash worries about Philippe—only for him to surface moments later, having used his Aura to hold his breath and swim to the surface after he blasted his way out of the sinking Cussler. Nevertheless, while she is relieved to see her friend safe, Dina berates Philippe for putting himself at risk as Lindsey and Eddy decide to designate the location as a marine preserve for Water-type Pokémon.

In the aftermath, Ash begins to devise a strategy to defeat Grant by using Froakie’s jumping skills as Benoit opens the box to find the captain’s logbook, which details how the Cussler sank—and thirteen keystones stolen from various tombs around Kalos. Upon seeing these, Philippe explains that he has been looking for these for a long time as Dina gives the logbook to the archaeologists and hands one each to her and Benoit, telling them that all they need now is a Mega Stone. However, as Ash watches this, he is interrupted by Serena, who asks him how he was able to command all those Pokémon, and with no other option, he confesses and explains his proficiency in Aura to her.

829.   Climbing the Walls!

Upon arriving in Cyllage City, the group locates the gym at the top of a steep hill overlooking the settlement, but while Benoit agrees to accompany Ash as he climbs to the top, Philippe and Dina separate from the others to explore the town on their own. Wandering around and taking in the picturesque views, the duo eventually sit down at a seaside café located at an old submarine base and discuss Dina’s dreams, which she has been able to see more clearly ever since he taught her that fishing technique. Asking her if she remembers anything, Philippe learns that her most recent vision was of a couple fighting something “hellish”, though she cannot identify exactly what it is. Though disturbed, he hides his worry and assures her they will be on guard as they relax.

Meanwhile, after an arduous climb, Ash and Benoit eventually reach the hilltop and discover their friends waiting for them alongside Grant, having taken an elevator they missed. Despite feeling foolish, Ash challenges Grant, who accepts and sends out his Onix against Pikachu before dissuading Ash from using his usual battling style by revealing that he knows his tactics. Unable to use Pikachu’s speed, Ash takes a sizeable amount of damage before he switches to Froakie and uses his new leapfrogging tactic to outmanoeuvre and knock out the Rock Snake Pokémon with a Water Pulse to the head. Watching all this, Serena expresses worry for Ash, especially in light of him telling her about his Aura powers, but Benoit reassures her that he will probably be fine as Grant brings out an unfamiliar Tyrunt.

Staying cautious as the second match begins, Ash’s wariness is validated when the Royal Heir Pokémon is revealed to know Draco Meteor, forcing him to swap the exhausted Froakie for Pikachu. Having had enough rest, the Electric-type goes toe-to-toe with the Tyrunt in a fight that ends when he uses an Iron Tail to lodge a stray Draco Meteor in his opponent’s mouth before prematurely detonating it with a Thunderbolt, knocking out his opponent and granting Ash the Cliff Badge. As Ash celebrates his victory, Serena suggests they head for Shalour City next as she wishes to see the famed Tower of Mastery, and since this is where the next Gym is, Ash concurs with her decision as Grant tells him to expect something different from that battle.

Later that night, Grant meets Benoit in the Pokémon Center and voices his continued distrust of “Frederick” due to the secrets he is keeping. Defending his ally, Benoit points out that “Philippe” has done nothing to them that warrants explicit distrust by pointing out that everyone keeps secrets nowadays, but while Grant concedes this point, he warns the former assistant that they do not know everything about him yet… and that some secrets are best left forgotten. At the same time, in the bathroom, Philippe regards one of the keystones from the Cussler as he slots it into his glove perfectly, but notices an inscription on each of the gems, with his reading “Dum Spiro Spero”.

Chapter Text

830.   A Battle by Any Other Name!

As the group resumes their travels, Serena makes some Poké Puffs for her team and shares them with her friends, while Philippe equips his fellow Aura users with their keystones. However, while Ash (who declines the keystone for the time being) and Dina enjoy their friend's pastries, a nearby trainer named Miette McDowell and her Slurpuff think otherwise and offhandedly insult Serena’s baking skills. Immediately forming a rivalry with the haughty trainer, Serena is persuaded by Bonnie to participate in an upcoming Poké Puff Contest hosted by famed chef Gena Passard and signs up so she can beat Miette, with Dina also joining with her Mawile and Eevee while Benoit and Philippe decide to watch anyway so they can buy the treats for their Pokémon. Working with their Pokémon, Serena and Miette pass the first round with Dina – who pulls off a narrow victory at the last second when her workplace is sabotaged by the undercover Team Rocket – and a pair of siblings called the Berrybaker Kids.

As the competitors take a break, Ash is asked by Miette, completely out of the blue, if he has “a future bride in mind”, but while he uneasily evades the question, he finds himself thinking about how some of his former companions (like Hiroshi and Leaf, May and Drew, Dice and Katie, and Iris and Cilan) have ended up together… and consequently does not notice Serena blushing. Remaining flustered as she prepares for the second round, Serena tries to stay calm, but before the competition can resume, Team Rocket steals all the baking ingredients as revenge for their elimination, forcing the trainers to look in the forest for anything they can find.

Suspecting something amiss, Serena and Dina investigate with their friends, and after dealing with an angry horde of Swirlix, they find the TRio about to loot the last berry grove in the forest with a massive vacuum. Defending it, Dina targets the machine’s joints with her throwing knives and cuts the airflow with her Mawile, allowing Serena and Miette to destroy it. With Team Rocket dealt with, the girls return to the competition, but despite losing to the Berrybaker kids, Serena and Miette merely affirm their rivalry, which is intensified when Miette brings Ash into the equation, having deduced that Serena has a crush on him. At the same time, Dina gives Benoit and Philippe some Poké Puffs as thanks for supporting her up to this point. 

831.   To Find a Fairy Flower!

Troubled by a bad hair day, Bonnie enlists Serena’s help to fix it, only for her new flower hairpin to attract a Red Flower Flabébé, which remains attached to the accessory no matter how hard everyone tries to remove it. Heading into the nearby Calanthe Town to find her owner, the group crosses paths with an old man named Grey, who recognises the Flabébé as the one belonging to his hospitalised wife and explains that the Single Bloom Pokémon lost her original fairy flower trying to get to her. Sympathising with his plight, Philippe decides to help Grey, only to discover from Nurse Joy that this Flabébé’s particular flower is currently out of season and can only be found in the high plains outside of town.

Escorted to the location by a disguised Team Rocket (whose disguises Ash, Dina, Benoit and Philippe immediately see through), the team scours the field and eventually finds the flower on the side of a cliff. Putting her own life at risk as the others come under attack from Team Rocket, Bonnie climbs up as Philippe holds off the TRio with Charizard, Chespin and Scatterbug, nearly getting overrun by the combination of Inkay, Pumpkaboo, Wobbuffet and Growlie. Fortunately, Bonnie manages to retrieve the flower, and the restored Flabébé regains enough strength to intoxicate Team Rocket with her pollen, saving Philippe and the others as they rush back to town and reunite the Single Bloom Pokémon with her owners, who allow Bonnie to say goodbye to her new friend. Though saddened at the thought of leaving, she is cheered up by Dedenne as Philippe wistfully regards his keystone again.

832.   The Bonds of Evolution!

Upon arriving in the Brackish Town, the group learns of an exhibition battle featuring Kalos Champion Diantha Carnet... but learns that the tickets have already been sold out. Lamenting their bad luck, they bump into Professor Sycamore, who is visiting to interview Diantha regarding her Mega Evolution-capable Gardevoir, and tag along with him to meet the champion… only for her to turn down Sycamore’s offer to examine her keystone now, though she agrees to meet him when she returns to Lumiose City. However, as she is guided away by her assistant, Kathi Lee, Diantha sees Philippe and recognises him.

Despite lacking tickets, the group is allowed to watch the match between Diantha and her opponent, Magnus, after Sycamore vouches for them, and get to witness the bond between a Mega-capable Pokémon and its trainer and what it is capable of when Diantha and her Gardevoir effortlessly defeat Magnus’ Absol without Mega Evolving in five minutes. Awestruck by her power, Ash gushes over the battle as the group sits down at a café for a break (though Philippe stays quiet) and expresses a desire to face her one day. Chuckling at his enthusiasm, Dina reminds him that he has to collect all the Gym Badges as Serena orders a slice of Brackish Town’s famous chocolate cake, which starts an argument over who should have the slice. Fortunately, Clemont manages to resolve it with one of his inventions, but as the group relaxes, they bump into a disguised Diantha, who reveals that Philippe invited her to spend time with them!

Shocked that his ally knows the Kalos Champion, Benoit questions him, which leads to Philippe dropping the bombshell that he was her former teacher who taught her how to perform Mega Evolution. Before he can explain more, however, Ash interrupts by asking Diantha for a battle, and despite her lack of free time, she agrees to have one match after Philippe makes a passing comment about her performance against Magnus. Watched by Sycamore, the battle begins between Gardevoir and Pikachu, but it quickly ends in the latter’s defeat when Ash’s strategy backfires due to Diantha’s experience. Furthermore, an attempt from Team Rocket to kidnap her Pokémon leads to her displaying the power of Mega Evolution when she tracks Gardevoir down through their emotional bond, and once the TRio have been located, she and Philippe give them a chance to surrender before they free Gardevoir with Charizard and Gyarados, blasting the “annoyances” off in the process.

Though she cannot resume the battle with Ash when Kathi Lee comes to pick her up, Diantha promises to face him when he reaches the Kalos League. But before she boards the helicopter, she pulls Philippe aside and speaks to him privately, expressing knowledge of his past as she tells him to be careful. In response, he tells her that he is aware of what he might face as he turns the warning back on her, but she turns it back by reminding him of a promise she made to help him no matter what. Knowing that they have each other’s backs, the two hug before going their separate ways, with Dina and Benoit speculating on what other allies their golden-eyed ally could have as the Champion flies off into the sunset.

833.   Heroes – Friends and Faux Alike!

Having been blasted off for the umpteenth time by Ash and Co., Jessie, James and Meowth disguise themselves as Serena, Ash and Bonnie and cause trouble in a nearby town as a form of revenge. With their friends being framed for things they did not do, Dina and Benoit are forced to figure out what happened as two suspicious scientists approach Clemont to work on a Heliolisk mecha. Tagging along out of curiosity, Philippe teaches the Lumiose Gym Leader some important life lessons that prove useful when the mastermind behind the day’s events is revealed.

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834.   Mega Revelations!

While walking through the woods, the group encounters a trio of Pokémon trainers named Korrina Burgess, Sabine Hellwich and Milos Onassis, the former of whom challenges Ash as part of a personal goal to achieve 100 consecutive victories in Pokémon battles. Accepting her offer, Ash faces her Lucario with Pikachu, but despite having practised against this Pokémon in the past, he loses to a barrage of Swords Dance and Bone Rush when he notices that she has a keystone. Jubilant over her 99^th victory, Korrina reveals that she is the Shalour City Gym Leader and voices her intention to find a Mega Stone for her Lucario so she can honour her ancestor, who was the first trainer to practice Mega Evolution in Kalos. At the same time, Philippe deduces that Milos and the blindfolded Sabine are fellow Aura users after noticing the gear they have and the signet rings they are wearing, which the latter confirms before she challenges him to a tag team battle upon sensing the ten remaining keystones in his possession. With Chespin and Houndoom, Philippe and Benoit face a Scizor and an Absol, during which they learn that their trainers have been having strange dreams too after Sabine accidentally lets it slip.

Before the battle can be concluded, Team Rocket interferes and kidnaps Lucario, Pikachu, Chespin and Houndoom, but while Korrina figures out where they are through her bond with Lucario, she cannot track them effectively. Stepping up, Benoit successfully tracks the TRio and receives some unexpected help from Milos, whose Aura is refined enough to dispel traps and illusions left in the thieves’ wake. Eventually, the combined efforts of the two Aura users lead the group to a cliff, where they discover that their Pokémon have broken free by themselves, and after another tag battle between Jessie, James, Korrina and Sabine, the TRio is sent blasting off again.

Having achieved her 100^th victory, Korrina heads for Geosenge Town to continue her mission, and the group decides to accompany her there. However, while Philippe is impressed by the strength of their new companions, he refrains from giving Sabine and Milos two of the keystones, wanting to see what they are capable of in a physical fight before he makes a decision.

835.   The Cave of Trials!

Upon arriving at Geosenge Town, the group fruitlessly searches for the Mega Stone Lucarionite before learning from a local photographer named McGinty of a nearby cave that supposedly holds a special evolution stone inside. Intentionally not heeding a warning that horrible things will happen to “unqualified” individuals who set foot inside, Dina leads the others there as an understanding Philippe regards the cryptex’s clue... only for Milos, looking over his shoulder, to reveal that he understands the language that it is written in. Surprised, Philippe asks him for help and discovers that the “clue” is merely a statement saying that the answer will be found at the “birthplace of Mega Evolution”, which he deduces to be the Tower of Mastery.

Discovering that the entrance to the cave has collapsed, the group clears the blockage just in time for Team Rocket to come flying out, but as they head inside, they find the Lucarionite (alongside other assorted Mega Stones) sitting on a pedestal with no obvious guards or dangers in sight. However, as Korrina approaches the Mega Stone, she and Lucario are attacked by a Blaziken, which challenges her and the five Aura users to a Pokémon battle. Accepting this, Philippe, Benoit, Dina, Milos and Sabine unleash their Pokémon and charge into battle alongside Korrina, but they discover that the Blaze Pokémon is more than capable of fighting all of them at once, using its enhanced agility, strength and speed to constantly get the upper hand on its opponents and forcing them to keep adjusting their strategies to avoid being hit by its blows.

Eventually, after numerous failed attempts to get the upper hand on such a powerful opponent, Dina remembers that Mega Evolution relies on the bond they share with their Pokémon and relays this to Sabine, Milos and Benoit. Putting their faith in their Scizor, Absol and Houndoom, the trio of Aura users batter their opponent before stepping back to allow Korrina to finish it off... only for Philippe to stop her at the last moment before calling for a man named Gurkinn – her grandfather – to come out. Emerging from behind a rock, the Mega Evolution Guru commends their victory and allows the party to take their desired Mega Stones before exiting the cave, revealing that the whole thing was a test for his granddaughter and her friends. Outside, Philippe identifies the Scizorite and Absolite before handing them to Sabine and Milos alongside two keystones, but as they join Korrina to Mega Evolve their Pokémon, McGinty reveals that Gurkinn enlisted him to help with the trial, causing Dina to regard him in a disapproving manner as she wonders what other secrets are being hidden from them.

836.   The Aura Storm!

Despite some trouble, Sabine and Milos pull off successful Mega Evolutions with Scizor and Absol, but Korrina’s attempt ends in disaster when she cannot control her Mega Lucario during a battle with Pikachu. Intervening with his own Mega Lucario, Gurkinn knocks out Korrina’s Pokémon and sends him to the Pokémon Center while Korrina apologises to Ash. Forgiving her, Ash tells Korrina that he had trouble controlling his Pokémon too, though not on this scale, and volunteers to help her refine Lucario’s skill in Aura. Watching them, Gurkinn remarks to McGinty that Korrina doesn’t understand what Mega Evolution means, much to an eavesdropping Dina’s immense dissatisfaction.

Meanwhile, as Philippe examines and identifies Milos’ gear and weapon (a set of plate mail, a belt, a pair of brown boots and a twin-handed sword with an ornate hilt), Sabine approaches him for a duel to see if he is as good as her dreams have been telling her. Agreeing, Philippe faces the young warrior and is impressed by her speed, agility and proficiency with her two specialised longswords, but midway through the fight, he accidentally tears off the blindfold she is wearing and sees a massive scar across her milky-white eyes. Shocked by the revelation that she is blind, Philippe apologises, but Sabine insists on continuing the match and switches to a scythe as she fights (and eventually draws against) her opponent with a far more aggressive style. Intimidated and impressed as the fight ends, Philippe carefully asks her how she sustained her injury as he examines her gear, but in response, she snaps at him and refuses to elaborate further.

Apologising for his friend’s attitude, Milos pulls Philippe aside and tells him that she is sensitive about her injury before explaining that she gained it in a fight against something “hellish”, which piques the golden-eyed man’s interest. For the time being, however, he puts that aside as Milos gets him and Sabine to apologise to each other, which they do after he argues how doing so would benefit their coordination and teamwork. This reminds Philippe of two people from his past – one of whom would act as a peacekeeper while the other instigated arguments with their aggressiveness – and he contemplates telling the group the truth about himself as they return to the others, but decides not to out of fear that it would compromise their relationships.

Arriving just in time to see Korrina being defeated in a battle against Gurkinn’s Lucario, the trio of Aura users witness the older trainer admonishing his granddaughter for her overconfidence before he directs her to the nearby Pomace Mountain for special training with a reclusive trainer who lives there. As a show of good faith, everyone decides to accompany her, with Ash being particularly eager to learn more about using Mega Evolution as he encourages her not to give up, but before they leave, Dina lets Gurkinn know that she disapproves of his method of teaching with vague statements and lessons that were given without any direct answers. In response, Gurkinn hints that he knows about “Charles” and what he is working towards, causing Dina to issue a subtle threat to leave her friends alone.

837.   Calling from Beyond the Aura!

On the way to Pomace Mountain, Korrina reflects on how her relationships with Lucario, Milos and Sabine have evolved since their youth before she is interrupted by Philippe, with whom she speaks about the relationships between them and their Pokémon. Learning from the young gym leader that she is unsure whether she can follow in her ancestor’s footsteps, Philippe advises Korrina to use the rules as guidelines and recounts a time, long ago, when someone close to him encouraged him to “evolve” alongside society by adapting to their needs. Grateful for his advice, Korrina thanks the older man before asking what he intends to do when he sees “her” again, having been vaguely informed by Gurkinn as to his true identity… only for Philippe to avoid her question and correct her to say that it is “if” he sees “her” again.

As the conversation comes to an end, the group’s attempt to take a shortcut through a cave causes them to be attacked by a swarm of Noibat (that was startled by Team Rocket), and this causes them to be split into two groups – one with Ash, Serena, Bonnie, Benoit, Dina and Lucario, and the other with Philippe, Clemont, Korrina, Pikachu, Sabine and Milos. With night falling, both groups decide to rest and wait for morning... only for Lucario to worry about his trainer as a similarly restless Korrina confides in her friends by admitting her feelings of failure after numerous futile attempts to understand her grandfather’s teachings. Sympathising with his fellow Gym Leader, Clemont takes her aside and encourages her to try forming a connection with Lucario through his Aura, but due to her lack of ability and formal training in Aura, Korrina approaches Philippe for help and receives a crash course that lasts throughout the night.

The following morning, Team Rocket attacks Korrina’s group with a bunch of gadgets that boost their strength, and without her signature Pokémon, she is forced to rely on Pikachu as the others battle Wobbuffet, Growlie, Inkay and Pumpkaboo. Not wanting someone else to bear the weight of her battles, Korrina reaches out to Lucario, who senses her cry for help miles away and comes running to help as he spontaneously Mega Evolves and sends the TRio running. However, while Korrina is relieved to reunite with her Pokémon, she has him revert to normal until they are sure they can control his Mega Evolution.

838.   The Bonds of Mega Evolution!

Arriving at Pomace Mountain, the group finds a treehouse belonging to the trainer that Gurkinn told them about, Mabel, and her Mega-capable Mawile, which greatly interests Dina as Korrina steps up to have a practice battle that she unsurprisingly loses. Having evaluated her fighting style, Mabel tells the young gym leader that she lacks focus and informs her that they will begin training tomorrow before inviting Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Philippe, Dina, Benoit, Sabine and Milos to the same lesson, adding that they might find new things about themselves.

Over the next few days, everyone makes flower arrangements with their Pokémon (which, according to Mabel, reflect their personalities), with Korrina’s and Lucario’s constantly displaying similar attributes and a deep understanding of each other. During this period, Benoit tries to Mega Evolve his Houndoom and eventually stabilises and strengthens the connection by thinking about the good times he shared with his Pokémon, a discovery that he shares with his fellow Aura adepts as they promptly test and determine its effectiveness in practise battles against each other.

However, as Philippe reflects on his own Mega Stones for Charizard and Gyarados, he finds Dina grumbling about the vagueness of the lessons (which she has deduced to be the actual training). But while he admits that he doesn’t appreciate the lack of clarity either, he nevertheless reveals that he had to do all this practice when he started using Mega Evolution – no matter how much he complained about it – because while the actual transformation was easy, maintaining control over it was problematic, and it remained a problem for years despite all the training. He then finishes with a saying from his mentor that “nature does nothing in vain”, but as she reflects on this, Dina realises that one person commonly associated with those words is Korrina’s ancestor.

Similarly growing tired after their progress seemingly stagnates, Korrina ponders if it is even all worth it on their final night, but is assured by Philippe and Clemont that it is... right before Mabel shows up and affirms this. Going on, she explains that Korrina and Lucario have a strong bond (as evidenced by Lucario pre-emptively using moves without his trainer telling him to), but they are looking at it from different perspectives that she encourages to bring together. With that done, Mabel turns to Philippe and asks him what he thinks, to which he replies by saying that Korrina has the potential to do great things with Mega Evolution, only to be interrupted by Team Rocket, who burst in and steal Pikachu and both Mawile before he can elaborate.

Rushing outside, Benoit and Milos Mega Evolve Houndoom and Absol and send them after the TRio, quickly freeing the captive Pokémon before they come under fire from Growlie and are forced to bail from the balloon as it makes a crash-landing. Arriving on the scene, Dina, Philippe and Korrina Mega Evolve Mawile, Gyarados and Lucario, but the latter continues to struggle with her Pokémon until some encouragement from Clemont helps her break through the haze surrounding his mind with her Aura. Once her Pokémon calms down, Korrina subsequently blasts off Team Rocket before she is congratulated by Mabel, who deems that they have surpassed what she can teach them.

The next day, as Ash decides to separate from Korrina so he can train more before their match, Philippe and Benoit challenge Sabine and Milos to a rematch. As Dina agrees to referee the fight, the episode ends as the four Aura users face each other with Gyarados, Houndoom, Scizor and Absol by their sides and with their weapons in hand, ready for a fight.

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839.   The Forest Champion!

As the party continues their trek to Shalour City by cutting through a forest, they come across a Hawlucha protecting a group of smaller Pokémon from an Ursaring. Learning that it acts as a peacekeeper from a ranger named Keaton, Ash sets his eyes on this Pokémon as his next team member and bonds with him through his Aura by helping him perfect his signature move, Flying Press. However, while Hawlucha is willing to join Ash’s team, he is reluctant to leave the forest without a replacement guardian, forcing the group to search for one before he joins them. At the same time, Philippe and Dina try Benoit’s new Mega Evolution technique with Charizard, Gyarados and Mawile, during which they find out that the former’s Mega Stone for his Charizard is a Charizardite Y.

840.   Battle in the Sky!

While cutting through the Kalos Canyon, the group encounters several Sky Trainers in a mid-air fight format called Sky Battles. Brought to a facility where wing suits for said Sky Battles can be obtained, Ash, Serena, Clemont, and Dina decide to try them out, while Bonnie is forced to sit out the experience due to being too short, much to her disappointment. Fortunately, she cheers up when Philippe and Benoit invite her to watch their latest Mega Evolution practice session on the ridgeline between Mega Charizard Y and Mega Houndoom, and she joins them as they head to the battlefield, which gives them a spectacular view of the whole canyon.

Leaving them on the ground as he attempts to glide with Fletchling, Ash is challenged by a Sky Trainer named Moria to a battle with her Talonflame. Though the Tiny Robin Pokémon is eager to battle, Ash is forced to replace him with Hawlucha when his opponent refuses to accept the initial opponent and consequently loses due to the Wrestling Pokémon’s lack of experience. However, as Dina and Bonnie plead with Moria to accept Fletchling’s challenge, Team Rocket intervenes and captures Talonflame, leading to a chase through the canyon that ends with Serena bringing them down with her Fennekin. Forced to land, the TRio fights Ash and Dina, and upon seeing Fletchling blasting them off, an impressed Talonflame accepts him as his opponent. Subsequently, the smaller Pokémon pushes himself and evolves into Fletchinder before using his knowledge of Flame Charge to narrowly defeat his opponent, which earns Moria’s respect as the group lands. Watching this, Dina wonders what her Eevee wants to evolve into, though she decides to let her Pokémon make the final choice as they reunite with Philippe and Benoit before resuming their journey to Shalour City.

The Awakening

Arriving in Shalour City after the events of The Bonds of Mega Evolution!, Korrina Burgess, Sabine Hellwich and Milos Onassis stop by the Pokémon Center. While waiting for the Pokémon to be healed, Milos, nostalgic for the past after spending time with Philippe, begins reminiscing about his past…

Years ago, an orphaned Milos had been raised by the assistants in the Tower of Mastery alongside Sabine and Korrina, though the latter was often away with her grandfather, Gurkinn, on special training to succeed him as the next Shalour City Gym Leader. Growing up to be fairly independent, he opted not to rely on any particular person other than the two girls whom he considered his best friends, and Sabine repaid this loyalty by constantly supporting his endeavours over the years, growing closer to him as they sparred against each other while training their Absol and Scizor.

Eventually, when they discovered their proficiency in Aura at 14, the two were initially scared of this new power, but grew more comfortable and confident the more they used their abilities. However, while Milos set boundaries for himself to prevent overexertion or unwanted attention by spending hours reading in the Tower’s library, the more altruistic Sabine decided to be more open about her powers to help people, which slowly drove a wedge between them over how they should use their abilities.

In the present, Milos is snapped out of his reverie by Sabine asking him if he is all right, and he answers in the affirmative as he retrieves his Pokémon and accompanies the girls back to the Tower. As they wait for the tide to recede so they can cross the bay, Milos asks Korrina what she thinks of Ash and Philippe and learns that she considers both worthy opponents but greatly respects the latter due to knowing something about him that she decides not to reveal. Hearing this, Sabine also recalls her past as she reaches out her hands to “sense” the wind…

Following a particularly vicious argument with Milos, Sabine had left the Tower of Mastery that night to wander around Shalour City and was consequently attacked by an unknown cloaked being with a black halberd. Finding herself outmatched, she retreated to the Tower, only to discover the tide had risen, stranding her on the wrong side of the bay. As Sabine called out for help, Gurkinn’s Lucario heard her and sprinted across the water to save her, but while it drove off the intruder, it arrived too late to save Sabine from getting slashed across the face by a blade that cut through her Aura, resulting in her permanent blindness.

Touching her blindfold as they walk across the bay, Sabine remembers her duel with Philippe and confides in Korrina about how she feels as a member of their trifecta, admitting that she has felt a need to prove herself ever since she lost her eyesight. Comforting her friend, Korrina reassures Sabine that she does not need to push herself or operate on the same level as her or Milos... but as they continue to talk, both girls bump into Milos, who has noticed that the doors of the Tower of Mastery have been blown open. Rushing in, the trio find an injured Gurkinn propped on the floor beside his Lucario, who tells them that someone broke into the Tower and stole something. While Korrina tends to her grandfather, Milos and Sabine rush to the roof, where they find, illuminated by the moonlight, the same cloaked figure that attacked Sabine three years ago!

Upon learning what had happened to his friend, Milos blamed himself for what had happened and contemplated leaving the Tower as a form of penance, but he was talked out of it by Korrina, who assured him that Sabine needed both of them to help her regain her full strength. They then spent the next few months assisting Sabine with her recovery, but despite all her struggles, attempts and adjustments, she could not reuse her old fighting style, which led to many arguments that strained their once close relationship as she was forced to use her Aura more often to “see” her surroundings. Yet, in an ironic twist of fate, the combination of these factors led his friend to channel her anger and frustrations into developing a more aggressive fighting style that traded a strong defence for a fast, overwhelming attack that would take out her adversaries as quickly as possible.

Seizing the opportunity for retribution, Sabine attacks the figure with her scythe, leaving Milos to keep up as he Mega Evolves his Absol and brings out his two-handed sword. Unfortunately, while they are both formidable fighters, the figure exploits their lack of teamwork and coordination by unleashing a form of blackened, corrupted Aura that erodes their defences, and while Milos holds out, Sabine cannot withstand the onslaught and is brought to her knees, forcing her Scizor to defend her. Left alone in the fight, Milos hears the voices of the Tower’s assistants echoing all around him, but while he uses his Aura to dispel the illusions and gets back in the fight alongside Absol, his more defensive style leaves him unable to press an advantage against his opponent.

Meanwhile, as Sabine struggles to rise, she cynically wonders if she will be useful in a fight... until her Scizor breaks off from the battle to support her. Surprised, she reaches out with her Aura and discovers that although it is exhausted from the fight, it is willing to endure the pain so that its trainer can be safe, which causes her to remember the rest of her life up to this moment…

Despite her differences with Milos, Sabine spent the next three years working with him to perfect her new fighting style, with Korrina mediating between them whenever things got too heated. Eventually, she mastered this new technique and another one where her Scizor would fight alongside her to compensate for her lack of eyesight, and a few weeks ago, she and Milos had received a series of dreams that directed them to the Battle Chateau. With Korrina accompanying them while on a quest of her own, Sabine and Milos retrieved their gear from the secret chamber, and after spending the intervening time practising with their new weapons and armour, they met Philippe and received their Key Stones and Mega Stones while travelling with him.

Realising that she was never a liability to her friends, Sabine clears her mind and replenishes her Aura with a meditative technique that she picked up from Milos, and as she does, she Mega Evolves Scizor. Alerted by this new development, the being lunges for her only for the rejuvenated Sabine to match it evenly in strength and agility before slashing it across the face with her longsword, causing its cloak to fall off and reveal an attractive yet scarred woman with black eyes. Incensed that it has been forced into the light, the woman lets out a piercing shriek that disorients Sabine, and as she knocks her to the ground, she states in an unknown (yet understandable) language that she will finish what she should have started years ago… only for Milos to take advantage of this distraction by stabbing her in the back. As the woman shrieks in pain, Sabine likewise acts quickly and decapitates her with her scythe, but as she rushes over to Milos, the woman’s body turns to face them!

However, after a quick and silent evaluation, the woman decides it is not worth continuing the fight. Retrieving her head, she warns them that this is only the beginning, that more trials await them, and that when the dust clears, both they and their “master” will submit to their true overlord. With that, she falls off the tower and disappears before Milos can apprehend her. Seconds later, Korrina arrives on the roof and, upon seeing the aftermath, asks Sabine what happened as Absol and Scizor notice a strange case that the figure dropped during the duel.

The following morning, a recovering Gurkinn brings his granddaughter and her friends to a secret chamber beneath the Tower of Mastery and shows them a massive mural covering the walls and ceiling of the room, which contains, among other things, likenesses of Milos, Sabine, Dina, Benoit, and all their Pokémon along with a few other unfamiliar faces. As Sabine asks what this is, the old man reveals that it was painted centuries ago by an oracle as Milos realises that it tells the story of the lost royal bloodline of Kalos, who were scattered and supposedly killed off following a war that occurred near the end of their reign. However, as he explains the basic gist of the tale to his friend, Korrina deduces whose story this is by piecing together what she knows about Kalos’ history.

Reaching the same conclusion, Sabine asks about the case they retrieved but is taken aback when Gurkinn refuses to reveal what it contains, only telling her and Milos that it is for “the lost prince, the prodigal child of Kalos”. Though she wants to push the issue, Milos – who has likewise deduced the person’s identity – convinces her not to, but as the group heads back up, he notices a small pyramid in the middle of the room that is concealed by visual trickery, though he pays little attention to it.

As they return to their rooms, Sabine thanks Milos and Korrina for supporting her ever since she lost her eyesight and challenges them to a three-way duel. Deciding to use this to prepare for her impending Gym Battle against Ash, Korrina runs ahead of her friends to grab her Pokémon while Milos and Sabine grab their Pokéballs. However, as they walk to the battlefield, the case they retrieved is shown in a vault under the Tower... and is revealed to be open, showing a wooden and metallic staff with a sapphire blue crystal embedded in its top.

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841.   The Cave of Mirrors!

As the group stumbles into the famed Reflection Cave, Pikachu is pulled through the mirror-like crystal walls into a parallel universe, causing Ash to head in after him. Disoriented by the sudden changes as he emerges from the cave, he quickly bumps into this world’s version of his party and aggravates the much more confident Mirror Serena, who challenges him to a tough battle that he barely scrapes through. Fortunately, she believes his claims that he is not their Ash due to his experience, and with some help from Mirror Clemont and Bonnie, they find Mirror Ash, who, after returning Pikachu, reveals that he lost Mirror Pikachu… which is later found tussling with the Prime Team Rocket, who followed him through the portal, and a battle subsequently breaks out between them and Ash, Hawlucha and Fletchinder.

Over in the real world, as Clemont, Serena, and Bonnie try to find a way to bring Ash back, Philippe’s examination of the wall leads him to realise that the entire cavern is flowing with Aura, which causes Dina to formulate an idea of manipulating it to create a gateway of their own so they can rescue Ash. Back in the Mirror Universe, Ash successfully defeats Team Rocket but learns from Mirror Benoit and Dina that, according to legend, anyone left in the Mirror World after sunset will be stranded there forever. Unwilling to leave the TRio behind, he goes back and rescues them before dragging them to the cave, but before he leaves, Mirror Philippe (whom Ash notices is wearing another ring besides his signet ring) hands him a letter to pass to his counterpart, saying that he will know what to do with it. Accepting the letter, Ash makes it back to the cave and crosses back to his dimension in the nick of time, thanks to a portal that Philippe and Benoit manage to open. Now safely back in their world, Team Rocket leaves the group in peace, and as Ash hands the letter to Philippe, the group exits the Reflection Cave for the nearest Pokémon Centre.

842.   Forging Forest Friendships!

While trying out a variety of combined attacks during a training session, Ash is kidnapped and dragged into the forest by a Trevenant, forcing Froakie, Fletchinder and Hawlucha to work together as Benoit and Houndoom set out to rescue their friend. As they cut through the woods, the three Pokémon nearly get trapped in an illusion caused by a Trick Room but manage to defeat the Elder Tree Pokémon after a lengthy battle, only to find out that all it wanted was some help to free a Bonsly and a Sudowoodo from an electric net. However, as Philippe gives a long and stern lecture to the Trevenant about asking nicely for help, Benoit reveals that in light of what happened, he intends to return to the Battle Chateau to practice his skills, and after some discussion with his friends, he departs the group with the promise to meet the group at Shalour City.

843.   Summer of Discovery!

Having been invited to a five-day Pokémon Summer Camp, the group takes a detour to the coastline north of Geosenge Town and arrives at the camp, where they reunite with Professor Sycamore and his assistants, Sophie and Cosette. Once they have settled into their cabin, they mingle with the other trainers and meet a boisterous trainer named Tierno Gutiérrez, who introduces them to his best friends, Pokévision enthusiast Shauna Armeniox and photographer Trevor Lockwood, and their starters, an agile Squirtle, a haughty Bulbasaur and a hyperactive Charmander. Excited to meet familiar Pokémon, Ash shares his dreams and end goals, but as she listens to him, Serena starts to wonder what she wants at the end of her journey. Noticing this as they head to orientation, Dina alerts Philippe and encourages him to give her advice as Sycamore introduces the staff, the rules and the itinerary for the week before revealing that all teams will be competing for a spot in the Summer Camp Hall of Fame.

To encourage cooperation and teamwork, a round of introductory battles is commenced so that the trainers can get to know one another, but while Ash, Serena and Clemont choose their new friends as their opponents and bring out Froakie, Fennekin and Chespin, they get flattened pretty badly. Fortunately, no argument breaks out, but it leaves the group wondering if their teamwork is as good as their new friends as they head for dinner, with Ash asking for and receiving pointers from Tierno about how they stayed in sync. While all this is going on, Philippe leaves Charizard and Gyarados in Sycamore’s care before sneaking over to the Hall of Fame, where he finds a photo of himself and Diantha from nearly 15 years ago, taken when she was a fellow camper, and reminisces about simpler times as the sun goes down.

Later that night, Philippe emerges from the hall to find Serena sitting by the pier and encourages her to take as much time as she needs to make a decision, as this will be one of the most important steps in her life. As they sit down to talk, Dina is seen watching from the group’s cabin as she silently wishes Serena good luck.

844.   Day Three Blockbuster!

On the third day of the Pokémon Summer Camp, Professor Sycamore tasks the campers with making a Pokévision video, which cheers Serena up after a mildly disastrous attempt at a competitive battle the previous day. Having made such a video before, she takes charge of the group and divides the tasks among her teammates as she learns from Shauna about the concept of Pokémon Performers, who take part in Showcases that display the skills of the Pokémon and the trainers to attain the title of “Kalos Queen”. In particular, what catches Serena’s interest is the news that Aria and her Braixen are the current holders of the title, and she keeps thinking about it even as she tries to focus on making her video, which leads to her slipping and falling off a cliff with Ash at a remote filming location.

Fortunately for Serena, quick thinking from Ash breaks her fall, but he forgets to extend the Aura to himself and sprains his ankle, forcing Clemont and Bonnie to turn back and get help. Staying with him, Serena ends up talking to her friend as he reflects on his journey thus far and acknowledges that he still has a long way to go until he accomplishes his dream, though he affirms that he will get there one day. Upon discovering her interest in Pokémon Showcases, Ash encourages her to try it out if she truly has the passion for it, and with this motivation, Serena decides (once they have been rescued, finished the Pokévision video and screened it) to see a Showcase before making her final choice.

Coinciding with all these events, Philippe talks to Sycamore as he studies and witnesses Mega Evolution while taking note of the type changes and new abilities gained by the Pokémon. However, when he recounts his encounter with Korrina, Sycamore is astonished to learn that Mega Evolution existed hundreds of years ago and wonders why they are resurfacing, causing Philippe to speculate that they might indicate an impending calamity or crisis.

845.   Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!

With the next activity of the Pokémon Summer Camp being an Orienteering Competition, all the campers set out into the woods (except for Philippe and Dina, who team up with Sycamore’s assistants to monitor the three checkpoints and level the playing field). Remembering the last time he participated in such a contest back in Kanto, Ash guides Serena and Clemont to victory at various checkpoints and even gets into a fierce yet friendly competition with Shauna, Tierno and Trevor. However, before they can finish, a strange fog rolls in, separating Bonnie and Pikachu from the others, and as a trail of strange flowers lures them deeper into the woods, Clemont raises the alarm upon noticing his sister’s disappearance and alerts the others, who initiate a search. At the same time, the fog somehow disables the security feeds, forcing Philippe and Dina to head into the forest to get the campers out as the former admits to the latter that this feels familiar.

In the woods, Trevor uses his eye for detail to deduce where Bonnie and Pikachu have gone, and the group follows his Charmander as they navigate through the mists. Meanwhile, Bonnie and Pikachu end up being knocked out by an Amoonguss’ Spore, and the former ends up being carried away by a Drifblim after nearly falling into a ravine, but by sheer luck, Philippe stumbles upon the scene and makes it to Bonnie after leaping across… right before he is attacked by a mysterious figure wearing what appears to be an all-black, specialised suit. As he duels this person with his sword and disappears into the thickening fog, Dina reunites with Ash and the others, who have found them thanks to Fletchinder, and explains the situation as Shauna sees a cluster of Drifloon and Drifblim at the bottom of the chasm. Thinking quickly, she startles them with help from Serena and Tierno, allowing Ash, Clemont and Dina to use the Ghost-types as bounce pads to make it across and retrieve Bonnie.

With his sister safe, Clemont gets back across the ravine while Dina sends Eevee, Mawile, Chespin and Scatterbug to find Philippe, and while Ash is torn over what to do, he ultimately decides to head back on account of his sprained ankle. As he jumps across the gorge, he almost falls when he lands awkwardly but is saved at the last second by everyone pulling on Clemont’s Aipom Arm. Elsewhere, Philippe is nearly overwhelmed by his opponent as they surgically target his nerve points, but before it can kill him, the being is suddenly scared off by a strange presence that it senses nearby, and as he gets to his feet, the fog clears to reveal his saviour – a towering black and blue deer with multicoloured antlers. Recognising the Pokémon, Philippe’s shock gives way to suspicious anger as he asks why it is here, but it merely sends a message to him through his Aura before the fog returns. When it clears, he reunites with everyone else, having somehow returned to the other side of the ravine as Bonnie wakes up.

Back at the camp, as everyone recovers from their encounter, Dina asks Philippe what the Pokémon said to him after learning what happened. Initially hesitating, he decides to tell her after a discussion with Chespin and Scatterbug, realising that he doesn’t want to hide things anymore and that it is only a matter of time before he has to tell the truth.

846.   Battling Into the Hall of Fame!

On the final day of the Pokémon Summer Camp, Professor Sycamore hosts a Team Battle Competition to close out the event, with Ash and Clemont motivating the others to push through and win despite their points being lacklustre when compared to the higher-ranked teams. Nevertheless, Serena, Bonnie and their Pokémon receive enough of a morale boost to push through and face Tierno, Trevor and Shauna in the final match, with the battle coming down to the wire in a 3v3 featuring Pikachu, Fennekin and Chespin against the three Kanto starters.

However, while all this is happening, Philippe retrieves Charizard and Gyarados from Professor Sycamore before he shows Dina the photo of himself and Diantha. Noticing that he looks the same as he did nearly 15 years ago, Dina realises that Philippe must not age, but as she asks him how old he is, he ponders whether or not he should answer this question. Thinking back to when he told her about the Pokémon in the forest, he remembers what it said to him – that it would meet him again, very soon, and that he would be judged for his past actions. Having thought about this, and knowing the risk, he tells Dina the truth about his age, leaving her shocked, but despite this, she decides to stick with him until she knows the full story and admits that she already suspected this from numerous instances through their journey when he acted wiser than he looked. As they leave the Hall of Fame, they bump into Team Rocket, who have been working as the camp chefs this whole time, but allow them to escape with their well-earned cash.

Outside, Ash’s team wins the final match, and Sycamore decides to include them in the Hall of Fame despite their lower ranking to recognise their many accomplishments during the event. Intrigued by Squirtle’s constantly moving battling style, Ash asks Tierno for advice in the hopes of preparing for his match against Korrina, and as the Summer Camp ends, Sycamore thanks Philippe for his assistance and promises to be there if he needs help.

Pokémon: Diancie—Princess of the Diamond Domain

The short begins with the Mythical Pokémon Diancie sitting quietly inside an abandoned house as she practices her powers. Hearing a cry for help from the forest outside, she realises that a Pokémon must be in danger and leaves to investigate, but as she leaves, her Carbink servants, Merrick, Bort, and Allotrope, return to the cottage with the food they obtained. As they notice her absence and attempt to follow their mistress, they accidentally disturb a horde of Ariados and are forced to run.

Meanwhile, Diancie quickly locates the source of the trouble upon reaching a nearby river – a Pangoro that is stuck in a log – but her valiant attempts to pull it out prove fruitless until a Heracross helps her out by shattering the log with a Megahorn. Thanking it, the Mythical Pokémon discovers that the Single Horn Pokémon belongs to a hooded trainer standing on the opposite bank, who nods at her before leaving. However, before she can follow the figure, Merrick, Bort, and Allotrope burst in with the Ariados in pursuit, though the angry Bug-type Pokémon are mostly dealt with by the Pangoro, who defeats most of them with the broken pieces of the log. Left alone, the lead Ariados attempts to strike Diancie, but it is interrupted by twin bursts of fire and electricity that rain from the sky, which scare it and the horde into retreating. Looking up, all the Pokémon see a masked trainer and an Ampharos on the back of an unidentified creature, the former of which gives a salute before flying away.

Retrieving a dizzy Pancham from inside the log’s remains, the Pangoro thanks Diancie and the Carbink before leaving, and once the Mythical Pokémon has explained herself to her servants, she likewise departs alongside them. However, they remain unaware that the whole thing was staged by a mysterious girl watching through a security camera mounted on a Honedge hiding in a nearby tree.

Chapter Text

Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction

Now back on the road to Shalour City, the group stops by Avignon Town, where Ash battles an Ace Trainer. Though he defeats her Pyroar and Meowstic with Pikachu and Froakie, both of them and Hawlucha are flattened by her Mega Absol, leading Ash to seriously contemplate getting a Mega Evolution for himself to stand a chance against Korrina. However, as Bonnie tries to introduce the trainer to Clemont, she approaches Philippe and introduces herself as Astrid Bristol before passing on a message from Diantha, which turns out to be a report about several G-Men agents disappearing around where they are. Reading it, Philippe asks Dina what she thinks, but the group hears a ruckus at the main square before she can answer.

Heading over to investigate, they find a strange Pokémon being harassed by a woman with a Delphox and a man with a Greninja, and Dina identifies these individuals as professional thieves Merilyn Flame and Ninja Riot as she brings out her Mawile to fight them alongside Philippe and his Chespin, allowing Ash and the others to escape with the Pokémon before they use a smoke bomb to cover their exit. Reconvening with the others in an alleyway close to the town’s famous hotel, the duo discover that the Pokémon is a Diancie, a Mythical Pokémon capable of human speech that hails from the underground Diamond Domain, and the group’s consultation of Serena’s Pokédex leads them to find out about the myth that it can make diamonds. However, Dina’s keen interest in this skill is curbed by Philippe’s caution, and as he restrains her from doing anything rash, he asks Diancie if she can create a human disguise, as it would protect her from outside strangers, and she conjures up an illusion of such, allowing her to travel freely.

Now safe from imminent danger, Diancie joins the group as they stop at a café for lunch, and as she tries some of the scones at Bonnie’s behest, her dignified replies lead Serena to conclude that she must be a kind of princess. Desiring to learn more about her, Dina asks the Mythical Pokémon several questions regarding her past, but Diancie expertly deflects all of them before the more skilled Philippe takes over and discerns that she must have been raised in a high-class environment or monarchy before guessing that she must be on a quest of her own… or is escaping from something. But before he can ask her where she comes from, a black-suited figure crashes through the café’s roof and attacks them.

Instinctively moving to protect Diancie, Ash’s intuition is proven right when the figure (whom Philippe recognises as the same person who attacked him during the Pokémon Summer Camp) goes after the Mythical Pokémon, but as Dina’s Eevee faces their new adversary, Diancie creates an avalanche of diamonds which clear a path through the café and allow the others to escape. Moving to pursue them, the figure nearly maims Dina’s Pokémon before it is stopped by a girl with a Chesnaught, who tells Dina to follow her friends. Finding her familiar yet desiring to rejoin her friends, Dina thanks her before recalling Eevee and running out.

Once she has caught up with the others, Dina asks Diancie about her powers and learns that although she can create the gems, they are only temporary (which is confirmed back in the café when the avalanche dissipates during the fight between the girl and the figure). As a gesture of thanks for saving her, Diancie reveals her true goal – to find the Legendary Pokémon Xerneas so that she can boost her abilities with her Fairy-type Aura. As Clemont explains the stories behind the Pokémon, including the myth that it can grant eternal life, Dina notices that Philippe is deep in thought, but he brushes her off when she approaches him. However, Ash, desiring to meet Xerneas too, asks Diancie if they can accompany her, and she agrees to (jokingly) consider them her royal escorts.

Suspecting that they are being watched, Philippe and Dina purchase bus tickets under a false name, thus allowing the group to sneak out of Avignon Town undetected, but as a disguised Diancie commends the former on the precautions he is taking (and is complimented for her good manners), she also asks why he and Dina carry weapons after sensing a foreboding aura around his sword. Momentarily taken aback, Philippe composes himself before admitting that they do so to remain vigilant and ready for a fight that might happen at any moment, which impresses Diancie. Turning to Ash, she asks him what his relationship with other humans is (as she can already see that his bond with Pikachu is strong) but as he tells her that he considers all of his former travelling companions to be his friends, he realises that since returning from Unova, he has never really kept in touch with any of them.

Later that night, as the group camps by a river after alighting from the bus, Ash and Philippe witness Diancie trying in vain to use her powers to make something and learn that she is trying to create a special type of gem called a Heart Diamond. Gently telling the Mythical Pokémon that such a skill only comes after extensive practice and time, the older man also agrees that it is a frustratingly unfair reality, though she cheers up when Ash suggests making a wish on a passing shooting star. Nearby, Dina sees Serena admiring Ash from her tent while Clemont calls Korrina to tell her they will be delayed getting to Shalour City.

The next day, as they board a boat to throw off any pursuers, Diancie spends some time with Bonnie and remarks on how happy she has been as they witness a group of Floatzel and Buizel swimming in the river. As she reflects on these happy times, she suddenly produces a single diamond, which she gifts to Bonnie at the girl’s behest, even as she points out that it will eventually disappear. Close by, Philippe regards the letter his Mirror counterpart gave Ash as he practices his Mega Evolution, which he successfully pulls off with Mega Charizard Y again. Seeing this, Diancie is awestruck, and Dina gives her a rundown on how the phenomenon works as they arrive at their destination, the small yet expansive Orsay City.

However, as they leave the boat, Philippe senses something strange nearby and separates from his friends to wander the streets. Following him through the streets, Dina is guided to a large Gothic cathedral, and as she enters, she finds her friend arguing with its custodian, an elderly priest who forbids him from entering the crypt due to his “cursed” nature. Defusing the argument by telling Philippe to wait outside, Dina heads into the lower chamber and finds an odd stone in an old reliquary that she recognises as a Mega Stone. Taking it, she hears voices whispering to take care of the world’s “next child”, while upstairs, the priest answers Philippe’s question as to whether he should judge his judges that while it is all right to question and request explanations, he should remain respectful throughout.

Elsewhere in the city, Serena and Bonnie take Diancie to a nearby mall and embark on a small shopping spree, but their enjoyment is abruptly ended when the Mythical Pokémon catches sight of three Carbink and attempts to hide from them, which leads to a panicked chase through the shopping mall. Assuming that the Jewel Pokémon are in league with the thieves, Clemont uses a stretchable ladder that enables Serena to reach her while Ash uses his Aura to create obstacles for the three Jewel Pokémon, slowing them down and allowing them to escape.

Reuniting with Philippe and Dina at a nearby park, the group discovers that Diancie knows the Carbink, but before they can question her, Merilyn appears and attacks them with her Delphox, which Dina interrupts with a throwing knife. Bringing out Froakie and Pikachu, Ash stalls her to buy time for Serena to lead the others away, which she does by commandeering some Rhyhorn being prepped for a race. Heading into the nearby forest, the group slows down once they are a fair distance away, only to be ambushed by Riot and the black-suited figure from the café attack. Acting quickly, Dedenne saves them from the former’s Greninja with Nuzzle as a brawl ensues, and as they fight Riot and his ally while Mawile, Chespin and Scatterbug face Greninja, Dina and Philippe question them as to why they want Diancie. However, neither responds, and the black-suited figure even manages to slash Philippe in the side with a knife, with only his armour protecting him from a fatal injury.

Elsewhere, Merilyn manipulates Ash into moving closer to the group, and he consequently reunites with his friends as their opponents surround them. With their prey cornered, the thieves fire attacks to capture their target but are thwarted by the sudden appearance of the three Carbink, who shield Diancie with their bodies. Seeing this, Dina seizes the opportunity to Mega Evolve her Mawile, which drives the thieves back, but this leaves the group open to Riot, who attempts to lasso Diancie. However, he is stopped by the girl with the Chesnaught, this time accompanied by an Aegislash, and the distraction allows the group to escape, though not before Dina overhears the girl’s name – Millis Steel – which she finds familiar.

Making their way through the forest while Dina provides cover with her Aura, the group are formally introduced to the Carbink, who reveal that they are Diancie’s bodyguards, Merrick, Bort and Allotrope. Stepping forward, a suspicious Merrick asks who they are, but Diancie defends the group by explaining that they – including Philippe, whom the Carbink refer to as “the forsaken one” – are all her friends. Learning that they have been fruitlessly searching for Xerneas for many months, Ash questions Diancie about why she left her bodyguards and discovers that she left them simply because she saw Avignon Town from a distance and thought it was fun to go there. Overhearing this, Philippe empathises with her feelings of being stifled by her lifestyle (and overprotective but necessary bodyguards) but stays silent as Diancie apologises to Merrick for leaving and making them worry. Fortunately, Merrick reveals that her sudden departure caused him to reach the same conclusion as Philippe and likewise apologises to the princess.

Eventually, the group reaches the entrance to the Diamond Domain and enters it (despite trepidation at letting Philippe enter due to his “cursed” nature before Diancie and Dina vouch for him) to find the cavern’s luminous gemstones on the verge of disintegrating due to the death of the Heart Diamond that powered the realm. Upon arriving at the now-dead gemstone, they are introduced to the eldest Carbink, Dace, who informs Diancie of what has transpired since she left her home, and she begins to crack under the pressure of her responsibilities, saying that she hasn’t found Xerneas and thus doesn’t have the power that will allow her to make a new Heart Diamond. Empathizing with how she feels, Ash tells her about his most recent loss in the Unova League and how he thought that he had let his Pokémon down before telling her that, in the end, they have to keep moving on as a team.

Agreeing, Dina produces the Mega Stone she got from the Orsay City cathedral and hands it to Diancie, using Mega Evolution as a metaphor for teamwork… right before a shocked Dace recognises it as Diancite. Questioning the group where they got it from, he tells Diancie to keep the valuable gemstone as Merrick brings them back to the present by pointing out that they still don’t know how to find Xerneas. Thinking over what they could do, Diancie realises that there is one location they haven’t checked yet and suggests looking for Xerneas in her home, but while her peers agree, they express hesitation at the thought of bringing in outsiders like “the last few times”. However, they are forced to concede when Diancie insists on bringing along her friends, who prove useful when Philippe and Dina use their Aura to help the group find their way around the darkened tunnels. Watching them, Diancie reveals in passing conversation with Clemont that she has met other Aura users, including a “kind wild girl” with a Heracross and a “cold-hearted hunter” with an Ampharos.

Eventually emerging at the base of a large tree, the group is greeted by a vast cataract waterfall surrounded by a lush forest, and Dace reveals that they are in the Allearth Forest – a natural sanctuary for Pokémon hidden by the high cliffs surrounding them. Walking down into the woods, he also explains that this is the home of both Xerneas and her counterpart Yveltal, the embodiment of death, who is rumoured to sleep within the forest in a “cocoon of destruction”, and as they head through the trees, Serena and Clemont notice that the climate and atmosphere fluctuate rapidly, cycling through the different seasons at an accelerated pace. Similarly, Ash and Dina remark on feeling the sheer amount of Aura emanating all around them as they notice hundreds of curious Pokémon peeking out from the shadows as well as several stone statues, but before they can point this out, Diancie senses something and goes on ahead, only to trip over a log and faceplant in the ground.

Fortunately, she finds Xerneas nearby, who, while surprised, patiently listens to the young Mythical Pokémon as she pleads for help to save her kingdom. As she reveals that she knows of her quest and what she seeks from her, the ancient Legendary Pokémon beckons the others to come closer after sensing them nearby, then asks Diancie some cryptic questions regarding her journey. Though confused, Diancie answers them truthfully, leading Xerneas to reveal that she has had the power all along, and as she points out that she already made a “perfect diamond” long before this moment, Bonnie discovers that the diamond that Diancie gave her on the boat to Orsay City is still there.

With her point made, Xerneas turns to Philippe and begins to address him in a more serious tone, only to be cut off by the arrival of an airship. Recognising it as the one belonging to master thief Argus Steel, Dina realises that Millis must be his daughter and warns everyone as the father-daughter team descends from the craft with their Doublade and Aegislash. Confirming Dina’s deduction with the revelation that she was merely helping them so that Diancie could develop her power all on her own (thus allowing them to grab a Pokémon capable of generating an endless supply of diamonds), Millis uses her Chesnaught to try and catch the Mythical Pokémon but is interrupted by Riot, Merilyn and the black-suited figure, who followed the group after planting trackers on Dina and Ash.

Not wanting to be captured, Xerneas leaves as the thieves begin fighting over Diancie, but as Serena, Clemont and Bonnie defend her, the black-suited figure makes a beeline for Philippe instead. Acting quickly, Dina and Ash defend their friend as the fight slowly takes them towards a mysterious crater with an underground lake, and as they approach it, the Aura users sense something powerful inside. But before Dina and Ash can guide the battle away from the hole, the black-suited figure tackles Philippe into the crater, and as they hit the ground, his eyes turn black.

With no choice, Dina and Ash jump into the crater as Serena’s team deals with the thieves with help from the local Pokémon, but as they fight the black-suited figure, they fail to notice Philippe wading into the lake and drawing his sword… until Xerneas arrives and warns them to get out of the crater as it is Yveltal’s resting place! Hearing this, Ash breaks off from the fight and lunges for the older man, but while he yanks his friend out of the water, he fails to stop him from channelling his Aura through his sword and summoning the fabled Cocoon of Destruction, which emerges from the depths of the now-bubbling lake. Noticing their friend’s sword developing black and red highlights, along with a ruby set in its pommel, Dina asks Xerneas for help, and the Legendary Pokémon allows them to climb on as she jumps out, leaving the black-suited figure behind.

Setting them down by their friends (who have lured the thieves into traps set by the local Pokémon), Xerneas tells Philippe – who appears confused as to what just happened – that he should never have come back here of his own accord as his subconscious feelings about his unresolved past caused Yveltal to take advantage of them to ensure his awakening ahead of schedule. Intervening before Philippe can argue with the Legendary Pokémon, Dina reminds them of bigger problems as the cocoon bursts open to reveal Yveltal, who roars in anger and flies out of the cavern, immediately targeting the escaping Riot and Merilyn with an Oblivion Wing and causing them to crash into the forest.

Watching in horror as Yveltal’s indiscriminate attacks petrify anything and everything they hit, Diancie tells the group that they have to do something before the Steels snatch her in their airship. Giving chase, Ash realises that the stone statues in the forest must have been victims of the furious Legendary Pokémon as it pursues the airship and comes up with a plan to get Yveltal’s attention so that they can subdue him and prevent the Allearth Forest’s eventual destruction. Agreeing with this plan, Philippe volunteers to act as bait while Dina partners with him to ensure he doesn’t get killed.

Upon arriving at the Steels’ position after their Pokémon get petrified, Dina gets Yveltal’s attention by shooting him with an arrow, and Philippe draws his attention with his sword before running back into the trees with Ash while Serena and Clemont rescue Diancie. Dodging the blasts of Oblivion Wing (which inadvertently kill Riot and Merilyn as large swathes of the forest are destroyed), the duo manage to trap him beneath a boulder after luring him into a narrow valley, but Yveltal easily breaks free… only to face Xerneas, who pleads with her counterpart not to do this. Momentarily calmed, Yveltal regards her, but his anger takes over, and he fires off an Oblivion Wing, which she reluctantly counters with an Aurora Beam as she begins to fight her old friend.

As Clemont’s group reunites with Ash’s team on opposite sides of the valley – one in summer and one in winter – Diancie prepares to make a Heart Diamond to assist Xerneas as Ash, Philippe and Dina use their Aura to help her, but Yveltal notices this and fires two Oblivion Wings at their respective positions. Unfortunately, while the Aura users dodge the blast aimed at them, Diancie cannot move fast enough, causing Merrick, Bort and Allotrope to sacrifice themselves so that she can complete the Heart Diamond. Meanwhile, Xerneas is slammed into the cliffside by a Hyper Beam, allowing Yveltal to target the Aura users and Ash and Pikachu are blown over the side of the cliff in the ensuing chaos, forcing Dina to buy time for Serena and Clemont to pull them up by attacking Yveltal with her Mega Mawile.

Distraught by the deaths of her bodyguards, Diancie breaks down crying, but as Philippe defends her position, he also encourages her not to let the sacrifices of her subjects be in vain. Reminded of all those relying on her back in the Diamond Domain, Diancie calms herself, but as she does, she realises how they can stop Yveltal and tells Philippe her plan – to use her Mega Evolution to distract him so Xerneas can step in and do the rest. Despite the riskiness of the plan, Philippe decides to trust her as he raises his sword and activates his Mega Stone, successfully evolving her into Mega Diancie along with his Gyarados and Charizard.

Reuniting with Dina and her Mega Mawile, Philippe and Diancie attack Yveltal, successfully creating a new Heart Diamond in the heat of the moment. Boosted by the energy provided by the brilliant gem, the four Mega Evolutions push back the Destruction Pokémon, allowing Ash to reach out to the dazed Xerneas and heal her with his Aura… right before everyone hears Argus’ airship arriving overhead as it launches several missiles, inadvertently stunning the four Mega Evolutions and allowing Yveltal to get a second wind. Retaliating in seconds with an Oblivion Wing, the enraged Legendary Pokémon sends the airship plunging into the waterfall before turning to Diancie and preparing to kill her and the rest of the group, but before he can, the still-injured Xerneas heals him with Geomancy.

Seeing this act of kindness come at the expense of his counterpart’s well-being is enough to clear Yveltal’s mind, and as the Legendary calms down, Philippe approaches the Legendary Pokémon with the acknowledgement of his judgment. However, before they can answer, Pikachu suddenly collapses and begins to turn to stone, and a horrified Ash realises that he was struck on the tip of his tail by an Oblivion Wing. Trying in vain to slow the process with his Aura, he pleads with Xerneas to heal Pikachu, and the Life Pokémon obliges with a Geomancy despite knowing that this could kill her. But as the weakened Legendary is forced to her knees, Philippe channels his Aura into her, saying that despite his faults and impending judgment, he does not want her to die as well. With Dina doing the same, Xerneas doubles her efforts and resurrects Pikachu and everyone else killed in Yveltal’s rampage, including the thieves and all the statues in the forest, while restoring the ravaged land. Exhausted from the effort, she and the Aura users collapse, but they are all supported by their friends and allies as Ash hugs Pikachu, with Xerneas telling Diancie and the Carbink that this is the promise of life and the ultimate beginning of hope.

Deciding to try her powers again, Diancie Mega Evolves herself with Philippe’s help and creates a new Heart Diamond to replace the old one, which all the Carbink rejoice over. Knowing that the Diamond Domain is saved, Dace thanks the group for helping them as Bonnie, on Dedenne’s suggestion, returns the diamond Diancie made to her in remembrance of their friendship, while Dina promises to provide help to her kingdom whenever she asks for it. But as Philippe watches the procession, he turns back to Xerneas and Yveltal, who begins his judgment by asking him who he is.

Raising his sword, Philippe responds that he is the lost son of Kalos’ first king as he kneels before the two Legendary Pokémon and humbly requests forgiveness for the “terrible” mistakes he made during his “first life”… only to be shocked when he discovers that Xerneas and Yveltal have no intention of making their final decision now due to the recent events. However, Xerneas assures him that his heartfelt admission (made in the aftermath of a great calamity) will be taken into account as she tells him they will meet again at the “birthplace of Mega Evolution”. Agreeing with his counterpart’s decision, Yveltal takes one look at the others, including Diancie, and swears them all to secrecy before flying off into the night sky with the declaration that they will meet again… and as he does, the black-suited figure, who has escaped the crater, watches in silence before leaving.

Musing that her counterpart has always had a theatrical flair, Xerneas turns to the group and agrees to lead them out of the Allearh Forest via one of the few safe routes for humans to use, but she cautions Diancie, Ash and Philippe with the phrase “Memento Mori”, reminding them that nothing lasts forever, not even immortal beings. However, the trio remain undeterred, and as he holds his keystone aloft, Philippe declares that until then, they will make their own destiny.

In the credits, Xerneas guides the group out of the Allearth Forest before leaving them. As the party resumes their journey to Shalour City, a series of flashforwards reveal that Argus and Millis are now running a chocolate shop while Riot and Merilyn are engaged, with both duos subsequently meeting the Aura users that Diancie encountered. Back in the Diamond Domain, Dace replaces the old Heart Diamond with the new one, replenishing the kingdom’s power, and Diancie sits on her throne, awaiting emissaries with her Mega Stone. Elsewhere, Xerneas arrives at a Pokémon Centre in a small town and assumes a human form as she walks inside to see a similarly disguised Yveltal speaking to Benoit Rosseau. Sitting next to him, she takes his hand to reassure him that he is not alone before they embrace, content in the knowledge that they have each other.

Chapter Text

847.   Origins of Mega Evolution!

Finally arriving in Shalour City, the group reunites with Korrina, Sabine and Milos, who bring them to the Tower of Mastery in the city’s bay. However, they are prevented from entering due to the high tide, which forces them to wait outside, and Ash uses this time to incorporate what he learned from Tierno into his battling style (with limited success). While he does, Philippe, Serena and Clemont reflect on the recent events, which Sabine and Milos learn about from Dina.

Eventually, as the tide recedes, the group walks across the causeway and reunites with Gurkinn in the Tower’s foyer, which houses a massive statue of a Mega Lucario. Noticing the murals on the walls, Dina asks about them, prompting Gurkinn to tell the story of how his ancestor found a keystone and a Mega Stone on the island that the Tower is built on with the help of a young man who possessed the ability to control Aura. As he speaks, Sabine and Milos take Philippe and Dina away from the group to speak in private, but while Gurkinn notices this, he continues to talk by telling Korrina that although she has come far, she is still not ready to possess a family heirloom called the Scroll of Secrets, which supposedly contains some secret knowledge regarding Mega Evolution.

Upon arriving on the rooftop, Sabine and Milos reveal to Philippe and Dina that when they returned to the Tower two weeks ago, they were attacked by a cloaked being – the same one that had blinded Sabine when she was younger – that had tried to steal something. Alarmed, Philippe asks them if the “staff” is safe, but this immediately raises Sabine’s suspicions as neither she nor Milos were told what the being had tried to steal, and she bluntly asks him who he is. Realising his mistake yet knowing that this day was inevitable, Philippe hands his allies the letter from his parallel counterpart, and Milos reads it aloud to discover that their golden-eyed acquaintance is the lost son of Kalos’ first king… who is more than three thousand years old! Shocked, Sabine demands to know more and gets increasingly upset when Philippe refuses to do so until he unlocks the cryptex, which he promises will tell them everything in detail. Fortunately, Milos defuses the situation by using his Aura to confirm Philippe’s intentions, but as a failsafe, he makes him swear on Arceus that he will abide by his promise, and this particular assurance mollifies Sabine.

Later that night, the group is awoken by an alarm and rushes out to find Team Rocket stealing the Scroll of Secrets from the statue in the foyer. Acting fast, they give chase, but Ash, Korrina and Philippe are separated from the others when James’ Inkay destroys the stairway to the top floor, though they arrive just in time to shoot down the TRio’s getaway balloon with Chespin’s Pin Missile. Together, the three trainers face Pumpkaboo, Inkay and Meowth, the latter of which manages to fight Korrina’s Lucario to a draw until he Mega Evolves and sends him, Jessie, James and their Pokémon flying with a single Bone Rush.

In the aftermath, Gurkinn reveals the contents of the Scroll of Secrets, which ultimately turn out to be nothing but general ground rules about being a Gym Leader. Despite seeing this coming, Dina expresses her disappointment to Philippe over the lack of clarity and is surprised when he agrees with her sentiment, having expected Korrina’s ancestor to be more forthcoming with that “secret”. However, he admits that he knows exactly where the real secrets are being held and agrees to show them to her and the others during Ash’s Gym Battle.

Hours later, as the sun rises, Ash prepares to face Korrina for his third Gym Badge while Philippe gathers Dina, Milos and Sabine in the foyer just as Benoit arrives with two hooded figures. Surprised to see him again, the quartet learn that he was sidetracked by his guests, who reveal themselves as the human avatars of Xerneas and Yveltal! Greeting an understanding Philippe and his shocked acquaintances, they tell him that his judgment will be decided by both them and the other Aura users as Ash’s Gym Battle begins.

848.   Showdown at the Shalour Gym!

Bringing out Hawlucha first, Ash goes up against Korrina’s Mienfoo, but initially struggles to land any hits due to not mastering the dancing techniques he tried to teach his Pokémon. However, as his opponent takes advantage of this with a Swift that scores a glancing blow, Ash has an epiphany when he recalls advice from Serena and Philippe the day before – namely that since he doesn’t have the sense of rhythm as Tierno, he should focus on his strengths to create a new one to his liking. Taking this to heart, he has Mienfoo inflict damage on itself with a missed High Jump Kick, allowing Hawlucha to finish it off with Flying Press.

As this is happening, Xerneas and Yveltal bring the Aura users to a secret chamber under the Tower of Mastery, and here, against the backdrop of a massive mural (and with flashbacks), Philippe tells them his story, starting with his true identity as the lost prince of Kalos. Explaining that he was “cursed” with immortality following a mistake he made in the past, he also reveals that he is one of the pioneers of Mega Evolution alongside Korrina’s ancestor, who refined the technique into what is being used now, and that they and their companions created the Aura-infused armour and weapons to fight alongside their Pokémon. Together, they had subsequently formed an order called “The Knights of Kalos”, which had enforced his parents’ rule across the region and, with some assistance from foreign powers, reshaped Kalos into its present state.

Back upstairs, Ash and Hawlucha prepare to face Korrina’s own Hawlucha. Unfortunately, the strain of defeating two opponents proves to be too much for the Wrestling Pokémon, but while he is quickly defeated, Ash brings out Fletchinder in retaliation and uses his greater speed to beat the other Wrestling Pokémon. However, as he warns the Ember Pokémon to be careful, Korrina brings out her Lucario and Mega Evolves him before defeating Fletchinder with a Metal Sound and Power-Up Punch. With only two Pokémon left, Ash selects Froakie next to do some damage before he brings out Pikachu.

Meanwhile, Philippe continues his story by revealing that the “help” came from three minor kingdoms within Kalos that provided critical help in unifying the region with Mythical Pokémon, one of which was the Diamond Domain. With help from these kingdoms and some additional relief from Hoenn, he and his friends solidified his parents’ rule over the region, allowing them to form alliances with other Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, including Arceus itself. As a display of gratitude, the Alpha Pokémon subsequently sent down a powerful being called “Raven Solstice” to help them, and Milos not only recognises this as the person who wrote the letter but deduces from the epistolary that Philippe was close to her. Confirming this, Philippe explains that, for a while, the kingdom prospered, and they even were set to marry each other… until he met his unfortunate death due to a plague, which set off a series of events that led to the downfall of the kingdom and the deaths of almost everyone he cared about.

Upstairs, as Froakie gets a few strikes on Mega Lucario, Dedenne hears a commotion and heads off with Bonnie, Clemont and Serena to find Team Rocket sneaking around the Tower for more secrets on Mega Evolution. Subsequently, a running battle ensues throughout the Tower between both sets of trios, which ends in Jessie, James and Meowth getting blasted off when Dedenne, Fennekin and Chespin corner them on the top floor. Victorious, Serena and the Liscio siblings head back down, and as they do, they bump into and recognise Yveltal, who had sensed the disturbance and came to investigate, but who lets them go upon seeing that it has been resolved. Returning to the battlefield, Ash’s friends arrive just in time to see Froakie being defeated by a powerful Bone Rush that slams him into a wall.

With only Pikachu left, Ash brings him out and engages Mega Lucario in a standoff before the battle begins in earnest. Commending each other as the fight destroys large sections of the battlefield, Ash and Korrina have their Pokémon go all out with everything they have learned, culminating in Pikachu unleashing a triple combo of Volt Tackle, Iron Tail and Electro Ball that successfully blows through Lucario’s defences. Below, as all this is happening, Sabine questions how Philippe is still alive, and he reveals that it was partially due to the efforts of “Raven Solstice”, though he maintains that it is more of a curse than a benefit since he had to witness everyone he cared about passing on through the centuries, with only the memories of his friends and family giving him the strength to do the bare minimum of living until the present. However, he confesses that he lost the will to “do the right thing” until Dina tracked him down in Lumiose City and expresses his understanding if they don’t want to help him due to his “complicated” past.

Hearing all this, Dina processes her companion’s words and pieces together his eccentricities throughout their journey as the others discuss the revelations. With a more comprehensive view of Philippe, she tells him that she understands his motives and reasons for acting the way he did, reminding him of her promise to help resolve his “unfinished business” and reaffirming her decision to continue travelling with him. Similarly, Benoit and Milos express their understanding and pledge their loyalty to help him, and while Sabine is more hesitant, she agrees to join so that she can “keep [him] in check”, leading Philippe to shake her hand as Xerneas christens them as the reformed “Knights of Kalos”.

At the same time, Ash, thrilled at having bested a Mega Evolved Pokémon, is congratulated by Korrina, who holds no ill will towards him as she grants him the Rumble Badge. Addressing his granddaughter as the newly christened Knights return to the wrecked arena, Gurkinn tells her that he is proud of her as she hugs and thanks him in response. With his third badge acquired, Ash decides to head for Coumarine City next, and the Knights decide to continue travelling with him for as long as it takes to help their ally.

Early the next morning, Philippe enters the secret chamber again and approaches a small pyramid in the centre of the room that was hidden due to visual trickery. As he wonders if he can accomplish his goal, Dina arrives and hands him the cryptex, assuring him that he can as she reminds him that he still has to unlock it. Thanking her, Philippe takes the device and, after some thought, unlocks it by using symbols on the mural to decipher the password, “aeternum”, before removing a small papyrus scroll from within. However, as he reads it, Sabine also arrives with the news that Xerneas and Yveltal have left before handing him a wooden and metallic staff with a blue crystal.

Recognising the “Staff of Life”, Philippe learns that Xerneas left a parting message in its crystal and plays it to discover that she and Yveltal have judged him repentant for his past actions. As the recording of the Legendary Pokémon promises to help him on his quest to reunite his friends and family, Sabine asks Philippe how many Knights there were in the past and discovers that there were twelve from all walks of life. Expressing his confidence and belief that the remaining eight souls would have reincarnated in the present day (with their memories usually manifesting as dreams), he tells her and Dina that they must find them to prevent their adversaries from hunting other Aura adepts… just as the illustrations of the keystones on the walls begin glowing. However, while the girls are surprised, Philippe merely kneels before the pyramid and gestures for them to do the same before reciting a prayer for the dead that begins to echo around the room. The episode ends with the revelation that there is another chamber under the pyramid, which houses a long-neglected altar and a single stone sarcophagus: the burial site of the lost Queen of Kalos.

Chapter Text

849.   Splitting Heirs!

Upon departing from Shalour City, Bonnie and Clemont get into an argument over uneaten vegetables, which escalates over the day to the point where they refuse to speak to each other. As Ash mediates between the siblings, the group meets a pair of bickering brothers, Blake and Heath, who bring them to their family mansion nearby after accidentally inconveniencing them. To resolve the feud between their sons, Blake and Heath’s parents send them out to find a treasure that will decide who will inherit the mansion, but as the group splits into two to scour the mansion grounds with the brothers’ Meowstic, the hunt proves to be harder than expected when they disturb an angry Exploud.

Meanwhile, now armed with Xerneas’ Staff of Life and Yveltal’s Sword of Death, Philippe considers reestablishing contact with the kingdom’s former allies as he discusses plans with Benoit and Milos. Overhearing their conversation over whom they should approach first, Sabine suggests asking the Diamond Domain for help by citing Dina’s promise to Diancie. Recognising that it would be ideal to secure the aid of one of the three minor autonomous kingdoms before they made any more moves, Milos agrees with his friend’s suggestion and persuades Philippe to hand over four of the remaining eight keystones so that he and Sabine can give them to any fellow Knights they might find along the way. Deciding to trust their hunch, Philippe acquiesces and directs the duo to the Allearth Forest, but tells them to head for Hoenn once they finish the negotiations. Before they leave, Sabine is stopped by Scatterbug, who expresses a desire to join them, and she allows the Bug-type to tag along after Philippe gives his blessing.

The Wandering Nomad

Following the events of Splitting Heirs!, Sabine and Milos use the directions given by Philippe to find the entrance to the Allearth Forest, which is hidden within a cave in a foggy valley. Accompanied by the Scatterbug, they use their Aura to navigate through the darkness, and as they do, Sabine thinks back to what they learned from Philippe, Xerneas and Yveltal. Mulling over these revelations, she asks Milos what he thinks of all this and voices her suspicions that their golden-eyed acquaintance is still hiding something from them. However, Milos merely responds by saying that while he shares her suspicions, he is more focused on preparing for the coming storm and suggests they expand their teams with some Kalosian Pokémon.

Eventually emerging by a river lined with trees filled with springtime blooms, the duo admires the tranquil beauty of the Allearth Forest and notes the immense amount of naturally occurring Aura around them… only for Milos to sense someone approaching them. While Sabine takes up a vantage point in the trees, Milos stands his ground and tells whoever is out there that they mean no harm and are just passing through to find someone, but when he receives no answer, he ventures forward to spring what he suspects is a trap. This proves to be the right call as a Heracross promptly ambushes him, and as he fights it, Sabine spots a hooded girl with a spear observing the battle in a nearby bush. Moving fast, she disarms the girl with her scythe and slices off her green cloak to reveal that she is wearing a special outfit of studded leather with a similar design to their armour and a signet ring on her left hand and a Mega Evolution glove on her right. Realising her mistake as the girl notices their rings too, Sabine releases her hostage, who likewise tells her Pokémon to stand down before apologising for the misunderstanding.

Sitting down, Sabine and Milos learn that their new acquaintance is Emilie Andersen, a wandering trainer who has lived alone in the wilderness for four years. Given how she is quite clearly one of them, Sabine invites her to come along, but Emilie is hesitant to do so and admits that she prefers the company of wild Pokémon to people until Milos mentions that they are going to see Diancie and name-drops Xerneas and Yveltal. Hearing this, Emilie’s guarded demeanour changes to a more friendly one, and she agrees to guide them to the entrance of the Diamond Domain, though she still dodges the offer to join them.

As they walk through the now-summertime forest, a curious Milos carefully asks Emilie about her past but receives no answer, no matter how nicely he phrases his questions. However, when Scatterbug approaches Emilie after sensing something about her, he and Sabine are shocked when she allows it to sit on her shoulder and stroke it while understanding its speech. Deducing that her Aura must make her immune to the poisonous powder coating the Scatterdust Pokémon, Sabine commends her fellow Aura user for doing something that neither of them was able to do, leading Emilie to admit that she has had this ability ever since she was young, though she states her preference for Bug-types over other, more capable Pokémon. But before she can continue, Milos senses something on the path ahead and has Absol fire a Shadow Ball down the trail… only to immediately regret this decision when an irate Pancham and Helioptile attack him.

Unfortunately, while Sabine comes to his aid, she has trouble facing the smaller, more agile Pokémon, forcing her to turn to Emilie for help. But as she does so, she sees their new ally lost in thought as she watches the battle…

Years ago, Emilie had been growing up in a small town in southern Kalos when her Aura manifested at an early age, granting her the ability to communicate with Pokémon of all types. Unfortunately, while she initially viewed this as a gift, she ended up being ostracised by most of her jealous peers, save for a few who manipulated her into working for them so they could catch Pokémon for their journey, which they then proceeded to treat a whole lot better than the actual person helping them. To make matters worse, the constant use of her powers eventually led to her suffering a mental breakdown, but she received no help from the authorities due to a threat to her life that her oppressors made.

In the present, Emilie is snapped out of her ruminations by the Scatterbug, which tugs at her boots before attempting to use String Shot to subdue the attacking Pokémon, and as she senses the Bug-type’s desire to help Sabine and Milos, she realises that she cannot ignore someone in need and draws her spear. Concentrating, she channels her Aura through her weapon to generate a field that calms the Pokémon, allowing Milos and Sabine to defeat and capture them in Pokéballs. With this ordeal over, Emilie apologises for her inaction and explains her dislike of fights, which Milos acknowledges and accepts, even saying that although he knows there is far more she is not telling about her past, she still has a place with them. However, while Sabine acknowledges and accepts Emilie’s pacifistic mindset, she points out that the “tendency” of mankind to pick sides in arguments will invariably lead to conflict, which the other girl accepts as an eventuality even as she maintains her neutral stance.

Looking around, Milos notices that the sun is about to set and decides to wait until morning before they resume their trek… but is surprised when a trio of Carbink emerges from the bushes and greets them. Introducing themselves as Merrick, Bort and Allotrope, the Jewel Pokémon offer to bring them to the Diamond Domain and explain that Diancie received a vision from Xerneas that foretold of their arrival (and that they would be vital in reforging the future of Kalos) when Sabine asks them how they knew they were coming. With this easy way available for them, the duo accepts the offer, and so does Emilie after Scatterbug prompts her.

Later, as Milos speaks with Diancie and Dace at the Heart Diamond, Sabine tells Philippe’s story to Emilie, who is stunned by what they are a part of. As she seriously considers joining them, Milos returns with Diancie, who agrees to help them right before she recognises Emilie as someone who helped her on her quest to find Xerneas. In turn, Emilie recognises the Mythical Pokémon and greets her with Scatterbug, but when she is asked if she is travelling with Milos and Sabine, she remembers her past again…

Eventually, after being tormented one too many times, Emilie used her Heracross to stand up to her bullies and thrashed all of them before turning them in. However, the experience didn’t give her any meaningful peace, and after a while, she left her home to live as a wandering nomad, helping Pokémon in need across Kalos for the next few years until she had the same dreams that Sabine and Milos experienced. Guided by these visions, they travelled to the Battle Chateau and retrieved her gear, but as she had left, she encountered Xerneas, who told her that she would, one day, find her true companions in the Allearth Forest. With no other place to go, Emilie slowly made her way to the hidden sanctuary, crossing paths with Diancie along the way before she arrived at her destination.

Reflecting on this final memory, Emilie concludes that her future lies on this path and agrees to join Sabine and Milos on their journey to give “human interaction” a second chance. Declaring her to be a “cryptic” one, Milos nevertheless accepts her choice and shakes her hand to welcome her to the team, but as she claims Scatterbug as her own Pokémon by catching him in a Pokéball, Emilie is surprised when he evolves into a Spewpa. Guessing that the Scatterdust Pokémon must have been waiting for the right trainer, Sabine hands Emilie a keystone as both a sign of trust and a congratulatory gift, causing her new ally to burst into happy tears and hug her new friends as a happy Diancie looks on.

Chapter Text

850.   The Clumsy Crier Quiets the Chaos!

While stopping at a Pokémon Center, the group discovers that Nurse Joy’s assistant, an earnest yet clumsy Wigglytuff, is having trouble adjusting to life under her tutelage. Sympathising with it, Dina convinces the rest of the group to help as the Pokémon Center is soon besieged by numerous trainers whose Pokémon were attacked by a wild, out-of-control Salamence (that Team Rocket accidentally angered). During all the various failed attempts to lift Wigglytuff’s spirits, Bonnie discovers a fairy tale about the Fairy-type’s immunity to all Dragon-type attacks, and this reminds Philippe of Dina’s past counterpart as he recounts her escapades to her present self and Bonnie, even revealing that she had an Eevee whose relationship mirrors the one Dina has with her Pokémon before it evolved into a Sylveon.

However, as Dina checks her Pokémon to see if such an evolution is guaranteed, Team Rocket’s attempt to kidnap Wigglytuff is stopped by the Salamence, forcing them to escape empty-handed. With Mawile having been injured in the encounter, only Wigglytuff is capable of approaching Salamence due to its Fairy-typing, and it, fortunately, calms the larger Dragon-type with a Heal Pulse once Eevee stuns it with a surprise Fairy Wind. Witnessing this as the now-emboldened Wigglytuff decides to stay with Nurse Joy, Philippe tells Dina that the first sign of a Sylveon’s evolution is the presence of a Fairy-type move.

851.   Dreaming a Performer’s Dream!

During a reunion with Shauna, the group watches a Pokémon Showcase hosted by Monsieur Gilles Pierre, with Serena witnessing Aria’s performance with her Braixen first-hand. However, a wild Pancham crashes the subsequent performance by breakdancing on the stage before escaping despite Dina and Philippe’s attempts to apprehend it. Things eventually get back on track, but once the show is over and Shauna has left, the group reencounters the Pancham, which steals Ash’s hat, Clemont’s glasses and Philippe’s keystone before running off into the forest. Giving chase, Serena and Benoit find the Playful Pokémon practising a Showcase routine and deduce that he must want to perform onstage.

To gain his trust, Serena gives Pancham her favourite pair of sunglasses before deciding to catch him to fulfil her dream – which she has finally chosen – of becoming a Pokémon Performer. Following some advice from Benoit, who is surprisingly well-versed in the field, and unexpected assistance from Team Rocket, she eventually battles the Playful Pokémon and adds him to her team.

852.   A Campus Reunion!

As the group passes through a small town that contains his old school, Clemont reunites with his old teacher, Miss Éclairisse, who recounts the times he spent with a Shinx he had befriended while creating a system to help Electric-types restore their electrical reserves. With that system currently being installed all over the campus, it doesn’t take long for Team Rocket to try and exploit the machinery to attract Electric-types so they can steal them, but when Clemont heads over with Benoit, Dina and Philippe to investigate the disruption, he is distracted by an aggressive Luxio, whom he recognises as his old friend.

Taking the opportunity to flee, James modifies the plan to work from an electric tower, only for this to drain the town’s power supply. Fortunately, the blackout is quickly noticed by Luxio, who confronts them, and a battle soon ensues as Clemont arrives on the scene, discovering that the Spark Pokémon has been waiting for him to return ever since he mistakenly left it behind during his graduation ceremony. Apologising to his old friend as he blasts the TRio off with a massive Discharge, the Lumiose Gym Leader is forgiven by Luxio, who decides to join him as his new Pokémon once the town’s power has been restored.

The Man with the Dragon

With Emilie joining their group, Sabine and Milos send Philippe a message from Orsay City that details the successful negotiations with the Diamond Domain and their plans to travel to Hoenn from Lumiose City. Receiving a congratulatory reply, the duo are given information on a “Megalith”, which Philippe describes as a massive, monolithic artefact tied to Mega Evolution that could be used as a weapon of mass destruction. This disturbs all three Aura users, but they nevertheless decide to proceed with this mission by trekking across an uncharted stretch of forest to make it to a monorail that will bring them to the capital in time to catch their flight.

Wasting no time, Sabine, Milos and Emilie immediately leave the Pokémon Centre, and as they walk, they take the opportunity to bond with their new Pokémon, though only the latter manages to bond with Spewpa. Seeing her peers having trouble with their Pancham and Helioptile, she offers to help them and makes some leeway after using her Aura to break down the language barrier. However, as they continue to walk through the forest, they remain unaware that a strange, black-suited figure is watching them.

By the end of the day, the exhausted party pauses to take a break and share their backstories with their new Pokémon to ease the tension. As she does this, Emilie tells Milos that Spewpa’s aura is distinctly different from other members of its species she has encountered, but before he can respond, a series of narcotic-coated darts suddenly knock him and Sabine out. Though caught off guard, Emilie uses her spear to hold her ground against their unseen adversaries until another dart strikes her after she instructs the Kalosian Pokémon to remain hidden. Paralysed, she then watches as the figure in black enters the campsite and knocks her out with a blow to the head after noticing that she is still conscious.

Emerging from their hiding spots when the sun rises the following morning, Spewpa, Pancham and Helioptile discover that their trainers are gone. Surmising that they were taken after the ambush the previous night, the former decides to rescue them and guilt-trips the others into accompanying him when he implies that they will be indirectly responsible for the possible deaths of their trainers if they do nothing. With that, Helioptile picks up the trail that their attackers left behind, but as the trio sets off, they are watched by another figure hiding in the trees with a familiar Ampharos.

Over the next two days, the three Pokémon trek through the forest, slowly learning to trust and help one another by encountering various obstacles, such as rough terrain and other wild Pokémon. During this time, Pancham discovers her agility and develops a fighting style based on her physical moves, Helioptile refines his Parabolic Charge, and Spewpa practices String Shot until he is on the verge of evolving. As all this happens, the unknown figure watches them from a distance, but when a female voice tells him to go to them, he refuses, wanting to wait and see if the situation develops according to his dreams.

Eventually, the three Pokémon discover their drugged and imprisoned trainers in a clearing. Spewpa deduces that this is a trade upon noticing numerous people lingering about as though they are waiting for someone. However, as he debates their next course of action with the more aggressive Pancham, Helioptile senses a strangely familiar presence in the bushes and calls for whoever it is to show themselves, leading the unknown figure to step out of the shadows with his hands raised. Assuring the Pokémon that he poses no threat, he displays his signet ring, identifying himself as one of the Knights, even as he claims that he is “not one of the good guys", and offers to create a distraction with his Ampharos and his other “friend” to allow them to unlock the cages and free their trainers. Though hesitant, the Pokémon sense that he is telling the truth and agree to work with him, but are taken aback when the man’s “friend” emerges from the bushes.

Moments later, an unmarked van pulls up, and two women – one with blue hair and one with purple hair – step out alongside a familiar figure dressed in a black cloak. As they approach the cages, the black-suited person steps forward to greet them, but is interrupted by a massive explosion from a huge, winged beast that the Aura Knight is riding. With his Ampharos by his side, he has his Pokémon rain down bolts of lightning from the sky while the creature begins spewing fire, quickly sending the grunts into a panicked frenzy. However, the black-suited person remains steadfast as they draw knives and leap into the air to battle him.

As the Aura Knight counters her every move with a scimitar and a katana, Spewpa, Pancham and Heliolisk sneak into the clearing and take the keys to the cages from an unconscious grunt, allowing them to reunite with their trainers. Unfortunately, they are discovered by the cloaked figure, who immediately attacks them and forces Spewpa to throw up a Protect to buy time for the others to get away as his opponent somehow begins to drain his life force. But before he can be killed, the cloaked figure is batted aside by Ampharos, who picks up the weakened Spewpa and escapes into the forest. With the distraction having worked, the Aura Knight commands the creature to incinerate the van, triggering a massive explosion that covers their tracks as they escape into the forest.

Once the situation is under control, the black-suited figure meets up with a cloaked figure and states, in a modulated voice, that “they” got away. However, both are interrupted by the two women, Mable and Celosia, who berate them for their failure, only for the cloaked person to lash out and grab the latter by the throat. As she does this, her hood falls away, revealing her as the same woman who fought Sabine and Milos at the Tower of Mastery – whose head is now attached – and she regards her choking victim with contempt before releasing her. As she departs, the woman reminds the startled Mable that while they might be in charge of the operation, she answers to someone else.

Hours later, Emilie wakes up after being administered an antidote and learns what happened from Spewpa as she hugs her Pokémon. Thanking their saviour as he compliments the now-friendly beast, she extends an offer to join them upon noticing his signet ring, but he declines and turns to leave even as the similarly revived Sabine and Milos point out that, as a Knight of Kalos, he is duty-bound to help them (and Philippe) accomplish their goals. In response, the man says that he is just a simple bounty hunter and that he already got his “payment” by revealing that he has pickpocketed one of the keystones, but stops when Emilie tells him about their Aura dreams and states that they are going to Hoenn.

Stiffening upon hearing these details, the man stays silent for a few moments before agreeing to join them… for a price. Unamused at this proposition, Milos voices a strong objection, but Sabine and Emilie convince him to tolerate his presence for the sake of the mission, with the former even reminding her friend of how much of an attitude she used to display as the latter assures the bounty hunter that he will be handsomely compensated beyond his wildest dreams. However, Emilie also reveals that since they are taking a commercial flight to Hoenn, the man’s creature, which he calls “Nightshade”, cannot go with them.

Scoffing at this detail, the group’s newest member turns to Nightshade to ask if “she” can make it there on her own, and to the group’s surprise, she vocally confirms that she can before flying off by herself. With that, the bounty hunter introduces himself as Joaquim Rodríguez and shakes Milos’ hand, but while the Aura Knight remains suspicious of his true intentions, he decides to give him a chance upon discovering that his Helioptile (and Sabine’s Pancham) is a lot more agreeable now… right before Sabine realises that they have missed the train, meaning that they will have to walk to Lumiose City.

Eighteen hours later, the utterly exhausted quartet arrives in Lumiose City, and as they make their way to the airport, Sabine updates Philippe on their progress by sending him a message that informs him of their new allies. Seconds later, she receives a reply of congratulations along with some information on a mysterious wooden tablet that they have to find, and a watching Milos explains that this is an artefact that will allow them to access an ancient Kalosian weapon. Curious, Sabine asks her friend if he knows more about this, but as she walks through the terminal doors, she bumps into a young girl with a Chespin.

Apologising for the inconvenience, the girl introduces herself as Mairin just as her companion, an older man whom she calls Alain, catches up and coldly admonishes her for running off again. Similarly apologetic, Milos greets Alain, but Joaquim notices from his tickets that he is taking the same flight as them and grows suspicious when Alain abruptly demands a battle with all of them upon seeing their keystones. However, with no time to waste and with Alain not backing down, he is forced to stay silent as Sabine and Milos face him in a 2v1 so they can all make their flight.

As Sabine and Milos battle Alain, the episode ends with the male narrator saying that sometimes, fate can bring the most unlikely of people together. However, he also states that while those people can sometimes be worlds apart, they usually end up working well together… unless they don’t want to, in which case, as he ominously puts it, they will always end up dying “alone and forgotten”.

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853.   Bonnie for the Defence!

While the others take a break from travelling by training, Bonnie ventures into the forest and comes across three children, Heidi, Jay and Kye, who call themselves the “Lapras Defence Force”. Discovering that they are hiding an injured Lapras whose condition is worsening, Bonnie tells them that they have to take it to the Pokémon Center, but they refuse until Clemont and Ash bluntly tell them that it will die if they don’t do something. Once Nurse Joy has treated the sick Pokémon, the group’s attempt to get it back to the ocean leads to them falling into a Team Rocket trap at an estuary, and in the ensuing battle, Bonnie uses Dedenne in battle for the first time, leading to her blasting Jessie, James and Meowth off with a Thunder Shock and Nuzzle. With that done, the kids reunite the Lapras with its pod, and Bonnie says goodbye to the Transport Pokémon as it leaves.

In a post-credit scene, Philippe regards the inscription on his keystone as he trains his Chespin with his Charizard and Gyarados. Having tanked an Ice Beam meant for Lapras earlier, the Spiny Nut Pokémon promptly evolves into a Quilladin and learns Wood Hammer, but as Philippe congratulates his starter, he receives a message from Milos and Sabine that they are boarding their flight to Hoenn. Sending them some information on what they should try to find there, he subsequently examines the Staff of Life and the Sword of Death as he notices similar inscriptions, which read “Vita viam invenit” and “Mors vincit omnia”.

The Heroes of Hoenn

Learning of the discovery of an ancient wooden tablet in Hoenn that reportedly holds both secrets of Mega Evolution and information on an artefact called the “Megalith”, Alain, Mairin, Sabine, Milos, Emilie and Joaquim travel the other side of the world to investigate. On the long flight to their destination, the four Aura users take a moment to reflect on and discuss the recent battle Sabine and Milos had against Alain’s Mega Charizard X, which was able to take out both Mega Scizor and Mega Absol with little effort, with Joaquim admitting that he is immensely powerful. However, while Emilie agrees with this sentiment, she also mentions that she senses a deep anger and turmoil within their new companion and suggests hiding their true nature from him, which they all agree to.

Upon landing in Hoenn, the group travels to the coordinates given to them by their contacts, and Milos discovers the Kalos Royal Family’s crest on some of the ruins dotting the foggy landscape. Recalling Philippe’s words about an ancient alliance between Hoenn and Kalos, he speculates that this must have been an outpost of some kind just as Mairin trips and falls down a hill. Fortunately, she is saved by Steven Stone, who asks the party what they are doing here, but before the Knights can respond, Alain demands a battle upon noticing a keystone in the newcomer’s collar pin.

Despite claims of a busy schedule (and Joaquim pointing out that they don’t have the time), Steven agrees to face Alain upon seeing his resolve and unleashes his Mega (and Shiny) Metagross to face Mega Charizard X, which proves to be an even match on every level. Sitting down with Mairin as they watch the fight, Milos learns from the young girl that Steven recently took back the Hoenn Champion title from Contest Master Wallace Reyes and is rumoured to be in a relationship with Sinnoh Champion Cynthia Jenness (which Sabine wholeheartedly believes). However, Emilie is impartial to all this, and as she tends to Spewpa and Chespie, she asks Mairin what she thinks of Alain, subtly challenging her belief that her travelling companion is a good person because he has a good relationship with Pokémon.

Much to Emilie’s surprise, Mairin’s faith in the Mega Evolution trainer is steadfast, even as Joaquim points out the simplicity of that mindset and how it tends to leave the deepest wounds when a betrayal inevitably strikes. Hearing this, Emilie realises that something must have happened to the bounty hunter to make him distrust people like her, but as she delicately asks him about it, the battle between Mega Charizard X and Mega Metagross is interrupted by a surprise Flamethrower from a Pyroar.

As the smoke clears, the Royal Pokémon is revealed to belong to a man named Lysandre, whom Milos recognises as a prominent Kalosian businessman who owns the multimillion-dollar corporation Lysandre Labs. Apologising to the Hoenn Champion for his subordinate’s “weakness”, Lysandre introduces himself and Steven before revealing that he was the one who sent Alain on his current mission. However, as the Mega Evolution trainer repeatedly tries to exclude the inquisitive Mairin from his affairs, Lysandre notices the four Knights and greets them.

Sensing something foreboding about the man, the quartet agree to keep their Aura between themselves for the time being as Milos returns the greeting on their behalf, expressing surprise that the CEO of such a secretive company would be in a foreign region searching for “relics of a forgotten past”. In response, Lysandre tells Steven and the Knights that he is interested in harnessing the power generated by Mega Evolution for humanitarian purposes as Alain saves Mairin from another fall down a hill after he warns her not to meddle in his affairs.

Changing tactics as they return to the higher ground, Mairin deduces that Alain and Lysandre must have met before, and with Steven watching, the Mega Evolution trainer confirms this, explaining that he first met the businessman while searching for a Charizardite. Back then, he and his Charmeleon had been defeated by Pyroar, and in the aftermath, Lysandre had told him that he had to be the strongest to accomplish his goals and dreams before recruiting him to help with his research on Mega Evolution. However, despite being given a keystone and a Mega Stone, Alain reveals that Lysandre had discouraged him from getting Professor Sycamore’s help by claiming that “certain people” would use his research for “evil” if word about it got out and had cited humanity’s long and turbulent history to prove his point.

Back in the present, Steven accompanies the group as Lysandre leads them along the foggy road, and as Alain and Mairin go on ahead, Milos and Sabine take the opportunity to privately ask the Hoenn Champion if he knows who they are. Replying in the affirmative, Steven asks what they are doing in Hoenn, and Milos explains after a silent but intense debate that they are searching for the Megalith so they (and Philippe) can decide what to do with it. Sensing that they have their own secrets, Steven respectfully changes the subject and instead asks about their weapons and gear, which he remarks might interest some friends of his as Sabine and Joaquim explain what each of them is capable of.

Intrigued as they catch up to the others at a ruined temple complex, Steven expresses an interest in visiting Kalos sometime soon before admitting that he was travelling to learn more about the roots of Mega Evolution after the discovery of a wooden tablet. Revealing that he found one too, Lysandre speculates that there might be multiple tablets with various secrets, but Milos, remembering Philippe’s words about the tablets being mere artefacts that contained trivial information on how to open the passageway that would lead them to the Megalith, deems that unlikely.

Nevertheless, the group decides to enter the ruins and unlock the gateway with their keystones, which activates a staircase leading to the top of a nearby plateau. As they ascend, Emilie informs Joaquim that she can sense the vast amounts of Aura flowing around them, but while he admits that he senses it too, he also confides in her that something feels amiss due to the lack of security surrounding what is purportedly a destructive weapon. Warned, Emilie keeps her senses peeled as they arrive at an abandoned complex whose ruins bear the crest of the Kalos Royal Family.

With the site’s authenticity confirmed, Milos accompanies Steven and Alain as they make their way to the central vault and begin to move two daises that will unlock the chamber, but the Hoenn Champion stops when Joaquim suddenly warns him that they are being watched. Scanning their surroundings, Milos cannot detect anyone but trusts the bounty hunter’s instincts by sending Sabine and Emilie to investigate before returning to the others as they raise a massive crystal out of the ground. Confirming that this is the Megalith, Milos reaches out with his Aura and is taken aback by its sheer power, which Lysandre notices as he sends his findings to his scientists, who arrive on an airship to start their analysis of the artefact.

However, as Joaquim wonders what is taking Sabine and Emilie so long, he finds them in a battered state and discovers that they were attacked by a strange-looking girl with a Salamence, whom they are certain was the guardian of the complex. They also reveal that she fled mere seconds before he arrived as she had sensed something foreboding approaching their position, and within moments of this statement, the sky darkens, and a storm begins to brew. Helping the girls back to the others, Joaquim returns just as Steven declares that he has seen this storm before and warns everyone to back away just as Rayquaza exits the clouds and begins circling the structure. Strangely, his presence causes the Megalith to react adversely, but as Lysandre tries to figure out what is happening, Milos and Steven spot a lone figure riding the Sky-High Pokémon, who feeds him a meteor and triggers the Legendary Pokémon’s own Mega Evolution.

Realising what is happening, Milos rallies the Knights to him as they Mega Evolve Scizor, Absol, Heracross and Ampharos. With their Pokémon by their side, the quartet charges into battle and distracts the Sky-High Pokémon and his rider, allowing Alain and Steven to evacuate the scientists from the site. As Lysandre remarks that they have somehow angered Rayquaza, Steven shoots him a suspicious look before Mega Evolving his Metagross alongside Alain’s Mega Charizard X, but despite trying their best, none of the six Mega Evolved Pokémon can even scratch the Legendary, who unleashes a superpowered Draco Meteor that destroys the complex.

In the aftermath, as everyone digs themselves out of the rubble, Alain attempts to shrug off a dislocated shoulder that he gained when saving Mairin from an explosion, but Emilie forces him to get medical treatment after pointing out that he can barely support himself. Assuming that the Megalith was destroyed, Lysandre vows to find another one as Milos and Sabine use their Aura on the crater and discover that an unknown force teleported the artefact out after seeing trace amounts of psychic energy. However, they conceal this from Lysandre and instead tell Steven and the other Knights while sharing their suspicions of the CEO.

Acknowledging and sharing their concerns as he receives an alert about a similar disturbance off the coast of Rustboro City, the Hoenn Champion also reveals to the Knights that he knows who was controlling Rayquaza and shares his suspicions that he is waiting outside the ruins to speak to them. At the same time, Lysandre tells Alain to go to Rustboro after receiving a similar report from his own contacts, but as Mairin decides to tag along, the CEO pulls his subordinate aside and tells him to stay close to the Champion, as his knowledge of Mega Evolution may be useful to their mission.

Minutes later, as the group makes their way down to the shrine, they are stopped by a strange, hooded man who tells the Knights to come with him as “he” has been expecting them. Remembering Steven’s words, Sabine promises to catch up with Mairin sometime later and accompanies the rest of the Knights as they follow the man to a hidden airship. As they board it, the man removes his mask and hood to reveal himself as Samuel Faraday, and as he introduces himself as one of the leading scientists of Hoenn Labs, he assures them that all their questions will be answered in due time. As the airship rises into the sky, the episode ends with the strange-looking girl and her Salamence watching it before following them.

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854.   Pathways to Performance Partnering!

Following an argument between Pancham and Clemont’s Chespin, Serena meets Nini Turowska, a young Performer preparing for her debut Showcase, and forms a friendly rivalry with her while enlisting Benoit to critique and evaluate their dance choreography. To her surprise, Ash offers advice from his experience from watching (and participating in) Pokémon Contests in Hoenn and Sinnoh, and she takes these to heart as she perfects her performance. Meanwhile, Philippe thinks about the last call he had with Sabine and Milos as he reflects on the inscriptions on his staff and sword, Dina practices fighting with her Pokémon, and Team Rocket reminisces about the times they helped Jessie back when she was a Coordinator. Realising that she has been neglecting this aspect of herself since the Sinnoh Grand Festival ended, Jessie decides to become a temporary Performer to gain some new ideas and is supported by James and Meowth as she begins brainstorming.

855.   When Light and Dark Collide!

While passing by the rehearsal for a Super Pokémon Battle Show, Ash mistakes the situation for an actual kidnapping and accidentally injures the main star, a Gallade. To help the director, Carl, he and Bonnie volunteer Hawlucha to act as an understudy for Gallade, but the Wrestling Pokémon’s refusal to back down from or tone down fights ends up causing problems with Carl’s Shiny Hawlucha, a former wrestler who has since semi-retired due to a career-ending injury. Fortunately, after learning about this from Carl, Hawlucha agrees to take a few hits during the actual performance, causing the rest of the rehearsal to proceed without a hitch.

On the opening night, Team Rocket crashes the play, but Philippe, Benoit and Dina chase them out with Quilladin, Houndoom and Mawile, allowing the show to go on. Ultimately, both Hawlucha go off-script to have an actual battle, but while the younger Hawlucha wins, he respectfully acknowledges the older challenger, who tells him that he will go far in his journey.

856.   A Stealthy Challenge!

Stumbling across an unconscious Sanpei and his newly-evolved Greninja in the woods, the group discovers that he is on a mission to deliver a scroll to a safe house before sunset as they are set upon by a strange ninja with a Barbaracle. Fleeing deeper into the forest, they split up, with Clemont, Bonnie and Benoit creating a series of decoys to fool their pursuer while Ash takes Serena, Philippe, Dina and Sanpei on a risky shortcut through a nearby mountain. This leads to them running into various lethal hazards that separate them, and while all of them make it out safely, Ash, Sanpei and Dina are cornered by the ninja at the edge of a cliff.

Refusing to throw in the towel, Dina and her Mega Mawile face the ninja in a knife fight and buy enough time for Ash and Sanpei to defeat his Barbaracle. During this, Froakie takes a hit for the weakened Greninja and evolves into Frogadier before using Aerial Ace to defeat the Collective Pokémon, allowing the trio to slip away after they use a smoke bomb. Quickly heading down, they make it to the safe house and reunite with their friends, only to discover that the whole thing was a final, secret test from Sanpei’s master, Saizo, who wanted to see how far his apprentice had come. Though displeased with the “lack of communication”, Dina congratulates Sanpei on passing as he and Ash have their rematch.

857.   A Race for Home!

Stopping by the Baa de Mer Ranch to try its renowned cheese and ice cream, Serena is surprised to run into Grace, who is there as a coach to train new Rhyhorn Racers. As a result, she abstains from riding the ranch’s Skiddo while her friends all try their hand at it (with varying degrees of success) and even avoids her mother out of a desire to avoid revealing her career change. Noticing her dilemma, Ash and Philippe advise her to tell Grace about what career she intends to follow, with the latter recounting personal anecdotes from his life involving Pokémon that found their calling in roles they were not designated.

Eventually, after foiling a Team Rocket heist alongside Philippe and Benoit, Serena reveals her aspiration to become a Pokémon Performer to her mother, but Grace is sceptical as she points out that Serena tends to give up when faced with challenges. Before a disagreement can erupt, Benoit suggests they compete in a Skiddo race for three rounds, and Serena agrees to pursue a career as a Rhyhorn racer if she loses even a single lap. Seeing this, Philippe is reminded of someone else from his past who specialised in aggressive tactics with several Skiddo and never stopped fighting for her beliefs and her friends.

Despite the intense competition, Serena’s determination and belief in herself galvanise her Skiddo as she grips its horns, enabling her to push forward and win all three laps. Convinced, Grace gives her daughter her blessing to pursue her goal and reveals that there will be a Showcase in Coumarine City, which is also where Philippe realises the reincarnation of the next Knight might be.

858.   Facing the Grand Design!

As the group passes by a misshapen mountain called Grace Tower, they are alarmed to stumble across a group of Malamar and Inkay until Ash uses his Aura to ascertain that these are not the same Pokémon they faced before. Despite this, everyone contemplates leaving the area so as not to disturb the wild Pokémon, only to be dissuaded by Philippe, who expresses a desire to investigate due to a peculiar dream he had. With Benoit’s reassurance, the group decides to climb the mountain, but as Dina confides in Clemont about her suspicions that something is amiss with her friend, they bump into Team Rocket, who are revealed to be aiding Officer Jenny from the earlier Malamar encounter!

Recognising them, Officer Jenny reveals her investigation of the scheming Overturning Pokémon, which led to the discovery that they have been hypnotising scientists to create machines that appear to be terraforming generators. With these being capable of remaking the world into a primordial hellscape that will kill everyone on the planet (apart from the Malamar), Ash declares that they have to stop these Pokémon as Dina realises that Philippe’s “dream” was a premonition of this encounter. Pulling him aside, she questions him about how it ends, but before he can reply, a sudden quake and landslide forces everyone to move. This allows them to see the machines (which were hidden at the top of the mountain) activate, but before they can do anything, the Malamar arrive and restrain them, with only James, Meowth, Clemont, Philippe and Benoit escaping when the ground below them gives way.

Regrouping with Clemont and the Knights after surviving the fall, James’s Inkay voices a desire to go back and face the Malamar, feeling partially responsible for what happened the last time as Philippine translates his agitated ramblings. As Meowth apologises to Inkay for his previous doubts, James agrees to team up with the Knights as he reveals that he knows that they have Aura (which they deduced after following Ash around for so long) but assures them that they have no intention of exposing it to Giovanni for reasons of their own. Grateful for the discretion, Philippe explains his premonition (which showed them getting defeated by the Malamar) and formulates a plan with the highest chance of thwarting the schemes of their adversaries.

Enlisting the help of the forest Malamar, the team storms Grace Mountain and engages in a massive fight with the Malamar, who attempt to hypnotise Inkay. However, this fails due to his strong bond with James, who saves his friend with Growlie before freeing the others. Meanwhile, Clemont finds the machines embedded in the rocks after Dina uses her Aura to mask his presence and damages them, allowing Philippe and Benoit to face the Malamar with their Mega Evolutions. The resulting battle is fierce, and in the middle of Philippe’s duel, his opponent taunts him by saying that if he does not “submit” to “her”, he will fail the memories of “what you [they] both hold dear”. Enraged, Philippe slices one of the Malamar’s appendages clean off with the Sword of Death, and as he is restrained by Benoit, the injured Malamar retreats through a portal with its compatriots and one salvageable terraforming machine before detonating charges around the summit in an attempt to kill everyone.

Escaping the explosions, the group reflects on their encounter as one of the forest Malamar offers Inkay to join them, which he contemplates but ultimately turns down. At the same time, given the escalation of the day’s events, Philippe decides to tell Ash and his friends about his past out of a desire to keep them out of as much unwarranted danger as possible, and the episode ends with him, Dina and Benoit explaining who and what they are to a stunned Ash, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie.

In a post-credit scene, the three Malamar report to a cloaked figure sitting on a throne who muses that with his current path, Philippe will eventually return to her, and all they will have to do is wait.

The Guardians Among Us

Upon arriving at the floating base of Paradiso Island, Sabine, Milos, Emilie and Joaquim are escorted into the facility’s briefing room by Nicholas Koenig, where they are surprised to reunite with Nightshade. Relieved, Joaquim pets the winged beast as he learns from Head Scientist Junichi Takeda that he had to save her after the island’s automatic defences accidentally targeted her.

Once everyone has gotten comfortable, a lengthy discussion begins, with the rest of the Knights discovering that Junichi was previously one of Joaquim’s clients and is working alongside Samuel and Steven Stone to find out why they are here. Having already the basic details of their mission by studying Hoenn’s history, Junichi becomes shifty when the Megalith is mentioned, and by probing him, Milos deduces that he has the massive artefact with him, locked in a vault deep within the island. However, while the Knights cannot convince the scientists to hand it over to them (though they are convinced to increase security around the artefact), negotiations regarding a renewed alliance between their regions go much better as Junichi reveals that they have been interested in experimenting with and helping Aura individuals ever since an old friend of theirs developed such powers. Providing the Knights with an address in Sootopolis City, Samuel and Nicholas tell them that they will find someone there who might be interested in helping their cause but request that at least two of them stay behind so they can get down to “other business”.

With two places to be in, the group splits up, with Milos and Emilie heading out with Nicholas aboard the airship while Joaquim and Sabine stay behind. Following Samuel to the main lab, the latter meets the Haellmigk sisters, Elsa and Courtney, who examine her weapons at the molecular level and are impressed enough by their craftsmanship to present her with the option of upgrading them. Unsure of how they will do that, Sabine cautiously accepts but is won over when they apply liquid mercury to her blades, purifying and sharpening them. Meanwhile, as Joaquim guides Nightshade outside, he senses someone familiar in the base’s hatchery, where he is shocked to find an equally surprised young woman with flowing black hair and green eyes tending to a Pokémon egg with a silver and wooden quarterstaff.

Elsewhere, Nicholas lands the airship at Sootopolis in the middle of an intense thunderstorm and drops Milos and Emilie off at the Contest Hall to find their contact while he flies back. Entering the building, the duo finds themselves watching the Contest Appeal of a young Coordinator named Lisia Mizutani and discovers from audience members that she is both Wallace’s niece and a prominent idol in Hoenn who has been rising through the ranks for the past year. Taking an interest in her after learning that she has recently entered a friendly rivalry with renowned Coordinator May Maple, Milos takes Emilie backstage once the round is over and finds Lisia venting to a blonde-haired girl about how several of her rivals have been requesting battles with her. As she expresses a viewpoint that Contests should not be about rivalry, Milos introduces himself to Lisia, but as Emilie approaches them, she notices a signet ring on the finger of Lisia’s companion and realises just who their real contact is.

Back on Paradiso, Joaquim’s initial shock at seeing the girl disappears as he coldly asks her how she has been doing. As he notices her signet ring, the girl likewise hides her surprise under a façade of cold indifference as she replies that she is doing just fine before asking him why he is here, to which he coldly responds that it’s not her right to know. However, she retorts by revealing that she knows that he is hiding something and demands to know what it is and whether it has something to do with a secret shared between them, which causes Joaquim to snap back with a response that she has no right to ask anything of him after “what happened before”. Angered, both draw their weapons and engage in a brief brawl that ends up trashing the room before the base’s security drones forcefully separate them… but this is revealed to have been witnessed by Junichi and Samuel, who express interest in this newfound drama that the girl, whom they address as Isabella Galilei, has caused. At the same time, both scientists notice that Isabella’s Pokémon egg was glowing during the confrontation with Joaquim, and a quick check leads to the discovery that it will hatch into a Noibat, a rare and powerful Dragon-type Pokémon native to Kalos.

Over the next two weeks, Sabine learns how to handle her upgraded weapons and evolves Pancham into a Pangoro after sparring with the Playful Pokémon in Paradiso’s arena. Simultaneously, Milos gets to know Lisia and her companion, Heidi Wyttenbach, as they travel to and arrive in Slateport City for the former’s next Contest, during which his Helioptile evolves into Heliolisk after saving them from a lightning strike in a freak storm. However, the duo notices the increasing intensity and frequency of the storms and voices their concerns to Nicholas, who speculates Kyogre must be involved in some way as he conveys the messages to a troubled Junichi while handling hundreds of complaints regarding the freakish weather from the mainland.

Eventually, after a tidal wave nearly swamps Pacifidlog Town and a sudden eruption of Mount Chimney prompts an evacuation of Lavaridge Town, the scientists are forced to discuss the worsening weather, with Junichi asking Courtney what could be behind this. Drawing on her past as a former member of Team Magma, the elder Haellmigk recalls her organisation increasing the amount of naturally occurring geothermal and volcanic activity before Groudon showed up four years ago, but she also points out that there are hundreds of ways which could awaken him or Kyogre. As she hypothesises that one of these might be responsible for their current predicament, a thought occurs to Junichi, but an explosion shakes the base before he can speak.

Shaken awake by the blast while he meditates in his room, Joaquim flies Nightshade to the epicentre of the explosion, located at the main lab. However, upon arriving there, he is ambushed by a masked figure with a Mega Salamence, whom he realises is the same person who attacked Sabine and Emilie at the temple complex as he engages her in an aerial battle with his Ampharos. Witnessing this from the ground, Junichi prevents Samuel from sending out Rayquaza and suggests that Isabella should help instead, only for Nicholas to inform them that she has vanished from her quarters. Meanwhile, an awakened Sabine reaches the scene to find Courtney dragging an unconscious Elsa out of the ruined lab and decides to assist them rather than checking on the Megalith in the vault. However, as she navigates through the debris, she senses Isabella nearby and asks for assistance.

On the other side of Hoenn, Milos and Emilie are ambushed by a hooded figure on their way to the Contest Hall, and upon seeing its cloak and red halberd, the former realises that this individual resembles the one he and Sabine fought at the Tower of Mastery. However, this assailant reveals a completely new fighting style when it brings out a black sword and attacks them with it, leaving both Knights unable to properly defend themselves as they alternate between fleeing and protecting themselves. Eventually reaching the Slateport Contest Hall in a battered state, Emilie tells the exhausted Milos to find Lisia and Heidi while she and Spewpa fend off the attacker, prompting him to stumble backstage and warn them of the situation before collapsing on the ground.

Back on Paradiso, Joaquim manages to bring down the Mega Salamence, but its trainer continues the fight with a specialised short bow, a katana with a red and blue hilt, and a wide assortment of darts. Startled by her aggression, he counters her with his swords and gauntlets, and as he drives her into a corner, he breaks her mask to reveal the face of a black-haired, red-eyed girl with an intense gaze that momentarily freezes him. Seizing the opportunity, she slices him in the side, but Joaquim retaliates by punching her in the face, stunning her as he prepares to deliver the finishing blow… just as Isabella steps in and commands the girl to stop in an unfamiliar language. Seemingly recognising this intruder, the girl warns them that they will only find death on the path they are on before escaping on her battered Salamence with a smoke bomb.

At the same time, Heidi rushes out of the Contest Hall to find the exhausted Emilie barely holding on and takes control of her Spewpa to continue the fight in her stead while bringing out a three-headed, multi-coloured flail and a red and grey steel shield. With these weapons, she defends her companion, revealing that her weapon contains multiple properties of Pokémon attacks as she drives back the hooded being with fire and ice, but as it retreats, it launches a poison dart at Emilie. Acting fast, Spewpa intercepts the dart and, through sheer willpower, overcomes the toxin and defiantly drives away the being with a surprise Bug Buzz before spontaneously evolving. As the Bug-type lands on the fatigued Emilie, she notices its wing patterns are far different from any other Vivillon she has seen as Heidi takes her to Lisia and Milos.

With the threat seemingly neutralised, Joaquim finds the scientists and demands to know what happened, but before they can reply, Sabine and Courtney arrive with the alarming news that the vault was broken into and the Megalith stolen. Realising that Joaqium’s opponent was a distraction, Junichi puts forth his hypothesis that Samuel Mega Evolving Rayquaza was the catalyst for the worsening storms (though he absolves his friend of any blame by expressing his belief that this was going to happen someday regardless of whatever they did). Bringing them back to a more concerning matter, Joaquim questions the scientists about the intruder, and Nicholas tells him (with the help of flashbacks) that she was most likely a descendant of the Draconids, an ancient tribe that acted as middlemen between Kalos and Hoenn millennia ago and who worshipped the Weather Trio (especially Rayquaza) as gods. However, before they can continue the conversation, Samuel receives an urgent message from Steven Stone that tells them to go to the Devon Corporation immediately.

With Paradiso damaged in the attack, Junichi decides to stay behind and repair the place with his Pokémon while Samuel, Nicholas and the Haellmigk sisters go in his stead. Grabbing their gear, Sabine and Joaquim join the scientists as they board an airship with Nightshade, but as they do, Isabella joins them with the Noibat egg and insists that she accompany them. Weighing their options, Sabine decides to play safe and allows her to join them, pointing out to Joaquim that they will need all the help that he can get as Isabella boards the craft and sets the egg down near Nightshade, who notices that it is glowing faintly.

Five minutes later, as the airship departs from Paradiso, Sabine receives a call from Milos and learns that he and Emilie are on their way to the Devon Corporation with Lisia and Heidi after receiving the same message from Steven. The episode ends with both groups heading for Rustboro City as Groudon and Kyogre are seen emerging from their resting places… and are revealed to have undergone Primal Reversion.

Chapter Text

859.   A Slippery Encounter!

While cutting through a rocky valley, the group is surprised when two slimy creatures fall from a passing Swanna and land on Ash and Dina. Identifying them as Goomy – a particularly weak Dragon-type that must be constantly hydrated to survive – the duo take it upon themselves to care for the Pokémon, which have immense trouble adjusting to the group for various reasons.

Eventually turning to Philippe and Clemont for help as their water supplies run low, the group learns through a brief mind-share that numerous Bug-types invaded the Goomy’s home, and the Swanna spirited them away before they could be captured. But before they can find out more, Team Rocket attacks the group and steals Pikachu, Eevee, Quilladin and both Goomy, though the Pokémon break out by using Goomy’s slime to slip through the bars. In the ensuing battle, the five buy enough time for the others to arrive with Mega Mawile and Mega Gyarados, who blast them off after the Goomy use Bide to defeat Inkay, Pumpkaboo and Growlie in one fell swoop. Following this, the Goomy allow themselves to be caught by Ash and Dina to get stronger.

860.   One for the Goomy!

Getting separated from each other after a confrontation with Team Rocket accidentally disturbs some Lotad and Lombre, the group and the TRio have to work together to make it out of the forest. As they search for their friends, Meowth reveals to Dina that Jessie will be participating in the Coumarine City Showcase, Serena gets a taste of Pokémon Battles when she faces James, Inkay and Growlie, and Ash’s Goomy befriends Dedenne after the latter defends him while facing Pumpkaboo and Wobbuffet. Ultimately, Dina’s Eevee evolves into Sylveon, but her Goomy remains friends with both her and Mawile.

861.   Thawing an Icy Panic!

Upon arriving in Coumarine, the group learns of a lost Vanillite that is under Nurse Joy’s care and treks to the Pokémon Center on the other side of the city to see it (except for Philippe, Benoit and Dina, who wisely take the city’s monorail instead). However, as both groups travel to their destination, they meet someone new, with Ash being introduced to Coumarine City Gym Leader Ramos Salerno at his Grass-type ranch as the Knights bump into Ramos’ assistant, an athletic and fun-loving girl named Aoife O’Connor whom they recognise as one of them when they see her signet ring.

Quickly bonding with all three of them thanks to her shared interests, virtues and values, Aoife is introduced to the others at the Pokémon Center, where she shows her softer side by using her Abomasnow to comfort the scared Vanillite. However, the moment is interrupted by Team Rocket, who steals the Ice-type and causes a freak blizzard to strike the city as they escape. Giving chase with her two Skiddo, Aoife leads the charge as Benoit and Philippe burn a path with Houndoom and Charizard, and they eventually find the TRio being harassed by a Vanillish and a Vanilluxe. Deducing that Vanillite must belong to them, Dina frees the captive Pokémon with her throwing knives, but this does not calm the angry Ice-types, whose rampage threatens to freeze the city.

With the situation worsening, Ash prepares to intervene, but an arriving Ramos cautions him from doing so with his Gogoat and advises him to strategise from a different perspective. Realising what he is saying and recognising the Gym Leader (who acknowledges him in turn), Philippe tells the others to stand down as Ramos commands hundreds of Sunflora to melt the snow with Solar Beam, which calms the Ice-types and gets them to leave. With the imminent threat having passed, Team Rocket retaliates in a mecha utilising the powers of Ice-type Pokémon, but Ash, Serena and Clemont provide enough of a distraction for Ramos to immobilise them with a Grass Knot and Leach Seed, allowing Philippe, Benoit and Aoife to Mega Evolve Charizard, Houndoom and Abomasnow and blast them off. In the aftermath, Ramos tells Ash and Philippe that he will see them at the Coumarine Gym before riding off into the sunset.

862.   The Green, Green Grass Types of Home!

Early the next morning, Serena wakes up to see Ash jogging and watches him from afar. Having seen this sort of thing for a while now, a nearby Philippe offers her some advice about relationships and tells her that if she is sure about her feelings, she should tell Ash as soon as possible or before it becomes too late.

Once everyone is awake, the group heads for the Gym – which is inside an enormous tree on the city outskirts – and climbs it to find Ramos sitting outside his house. Ash immediately asks him for a battle, only to be surprised when the elderly Gym Leader invites them in for tea. Deducing this to be a test, Dina and Benoit sit down (the former reluctantly) and convince the others to join them for a round of refreshing herbal beverages, but the impatient Ash downs his cup in seconds, leading Ramos to direct him to prune the trees and cut the weeds. However, Philippe is suddenly overcome by a bout of dizziness after drinking his tea, and as the others proceed to the garden, he is forced to lie down before losing consciousness.

Outside, Dina figures out the task is to carefully tend to the plants so that they don’t destroy the small shoots hidden underneath and communicates this to Ash, who thanks her for the heads-up before completing the task at a much slower pace. Having passed the test, Ash accesses the grassy battlefield and starts with Fletchinder, who dominates and defeats his first opponent, a Jumpluff, with Flame Charge and Razor Wind. While all this is happening, the unconscious Philippe dreams of the past and his first death from the plague that ravaged Kalos millennia ago, along with the futile attempts from “Raven Solstice” to treat him. This led to her staying together until he died, but the dream continues by showing his unexpected revival and resurrection alongside his exploration of a now-devastated Kalos before he found “Raven” again.

Meanwhile, Ash defeats Ramos’ next Pokémon, a Weepinbell, with Fletchinder, but the Ember Pokémon is poisoned and falls to the third and final opponent, Gogoat. Bringing out Hawlucha, Ash manages to drive the stubborn Mount Pokémon into a corner and weakens him with repeated blows, but Gogoat takes advantage of an opening and drives Hawlucha into the ground with Bulldoze and Take Down before healing itself with Synthesis. Though he is frustrated by this fresh start, Ash stays calm as he brings out Frogadier and has the agile Water-type use his enhanced senses – which have been boosted from his recent evolution and fight against Sanpei – to sense where Gogoat is hiding in the vegetation before pre-emptively sniping the Mount Pokémon with a Water Pulse, which ends the match in his favour.

Admitting that he is impressed by Ash’s interpretation of his advice, Ramos awards him the Plant Badge before revealing that Philippe should be waking up any moment now. Relieved, Ash and his friends rush to check on their friend, and true to Ramos’ word, they find him stirring from his stupor and insisting that he is fine despite his wooziness from his ordeal. However, while Ash realises that Ramos must have drugged his friend’s tea, he decides not to bring it up as he explains that they will be staying for Serena’s showcase. As they head down, the still woozy Philippe sees a carving on the steps leading to the battlefield and recalls the remainder of his dream, including his second chance at life… and his wife and children.

863.   Under the Pledging Tree!

Learning of an annual festival being held in Coumarine as Serena registers for the Pokémon Showcase, the group decides to participate in the event, which is based on a legend about the trainer who planted the enormous Pledging Tree that the Gym is based in. Since this involves trainers giving gifts to their Pokémon, everyone splits up to accomplish this in different ways, with Bonnie assuming the role of looking after everyone’s Pokémon as Clemont chooses to create a gift for his team. By comparison, the Knights head into the city’s shopping district via the monorail to see what they can buy, and Serena, realising that she has the opportunity to spend time with Ash, takes full advantage of this by helping him with his selection of gifts to get for his Pokémon. However, while Ash is initially oblivious to what she is doing, he slowly catches on to the fact that Serena is spending more time with him, which causes him to think back to the “future bride” conversation he had with Miette.

Meanwhile, Philippe, Dina, Benoit and Aoife quickly select several practical and sentimental gifts for their Pokémon, but as they head back on foot to admire the cliffside views of the northern ocean, they run into Ramos. Wasting no time, Philippe pulls him aside and demands to know why he drugged his tea the day before, but the old man merely inquires whether he had trouble remembering his second life. Snarling at him not to dodge the question, Philippe nearly throttles Ramos before Benoit separates them, whereupon the Gym Leader reveals that the drugged tea was to give him a clearer vision of his aspirations for the future. Thinking about these words, Dina realises that Philippe wants things to return to the way they were before, and Ramos pointedly asks if he is willing to sacrifice all of his loved ones in the present to recreate the past as he leaves.

Hours later, Ash and Serena return to the monorail and are thrilled to receive a commemorative blue ribbon for being the millionth visitors on the train. However, while they admire the views of the setting sun on the way back, Ash is inspired by a comment from Serena that compares him to a Pokémon, and he tells her to wait for him at the Pledging Tree before rushing off to get something. Confused, Serena nevertheless makes her way back to Clemont and Bonnie and reunites with them and the Knights at the base of the tree, but as she waits for Ash to return, she spots the disguised Team Rocket and approaches them on impulse to talk about Ash. Fortunately, while Jessie and Meowth refuse to give straight answers, James tells Serena that Ash repeatedly brought out the best in everyone he met, including them, and reveals much about the Pallet Town trainer’s past achievements. Thanking him for this, an awestruck Serena returns to her friends as Ash finally arrives with hundreds of handpicked Berries, all for his team’s varied tastes.

With the festival commencing, everyone hands out their gifts to their Pokémon, and Serena receives a dress from her mother for the Showcase, which she supplements with the blue ribbon when Ash gives it to her. Watching the proceedings, Aoife privately speaks to Ramos, who tells her that he still trusts Philippe despite the earlier encounter and expresses his belief that he will do the right thing as long as “she” is “still alive”. Sensing that she wants to travel with them, the Gym Leader allows her to, telling his former assistant that it is time for her to find her destiny.

Dear Friend

Remembering all of his previous travelling companions in light of the events of Under the Pledging Tree!, Ash decides to send them well wishes by writing letters, only to run into problems trying to write suitable and poetic sentences. With no choice, he turns to his friends for help, but a busy Philippe can only advise him to be honest before he is called away to oversee a sparring match between Benoit and Aoife. Likewise, Clemont tells him to write rough drafts before writing the final message as he irons out the kinks in his latest invention (which promptly explodes), and Bonnie is too preoccupied with Dedenne after the latter accidentally ingests a caffeinated drink.

At his wits’ end, Ash asks Serena for help and has a fortunate breakthrough when she tells him to write from his heart and express his feelings for the recipient of the letter he is sending. Inspired, Ash begins writing, and as he asks Nurse Joy if she can help him post the letters, a series of flashforwards set over the following days show several of the recipients as they receive their letters.

• In Pallet Town, Gary Oak finds three letters: one addressed to him, another to Tracey Sketchit and the third to Professor Oak. Scanning his letter, he smirks before wishing Ash good luck.
• Across the settlement, Leaf Greene is revealed to be reading another letter addressed to her and Hiroshi Suzuki. Nostalgic upon reading the words, Leaf’s boyfriend reminisces about the good times they shared six years ago and wonders if it is possible to relive those moments again. As he heads out, he passes by the Ketchum household, where Delia Ketchum is seen reading another letter from her son.
• Northwards, in Twinleaf Town, Dawn Berlitz receives her letter from a Wingull as she is about to head down for lunch with Piplup. Smiling as she reads it, she immediately calls Daisuke “Dice” Platinum and learns that he and Katherine “Katie” Norton likewise received letters from their former travelling companion…
• Exhausted after a long day of approving the reconstruction of Opelucid City and the renovation of its Gym, Iris Ajagara gets her letter from Fraxure, who gives it to her as the sun begins to set. Reading through it, she coyly remarks to her Pokémon that they have such good friends.
• To the south, in Nimbasa City, Chase Hawkins reads a similar letter to Eliza Goodwin and Adrienne Martinez, the latter of whom expresses a desire to face Ash one day. Hugging Eliza, Chase proceeds to frame the letter on a wall of the faculty office to remind everyone of their goals.
• In Petalburg City, Max Maple receives the letter on the night before he is set to start his Pokémon Journey. Watched by his parents, he enthusiastically proclaims that “he still remembers his promise”.
• Having been awakened by his brother in Veilstone City, Paul Rebolledo receives his letter at dawn and silently browses it. Intrigued, Reggie asks Paul who it is from, but although the stoic trainer refuses to tell him, his brother can discern that it is from someone important.
• At the same time, in Striaton City, Nurse Joy passes Cilan Griffith his letter as she finishes treating his Pokémon in the aftermath of his latest Gym Battle. Taking it back to the Gym and perusing it in the comfort of his room, he is moved by the message’s sincerity and is overcome by emotion as he begins to tear up.
• On Paradiso Island in Hoenn, Junichi Takeda receives his letter in the middle of a thunderstorm after saving the delivering Wingull from being struck by lightning. Skimming it after flash-drying the dampened piece of paper, he heartily chuckles at the optimism of his old ally…
• Over in Ecruteak City in Johto, an emotional May Maple is reading her letter when she is surprised by Drew Hayden. Initially concerned over why she is crying, he learns about what happened from Solidad Natochenny, as he comforts his friend and advises her to save that letter. Regarding the green-haired Coordinator, May agrees before reaffirming her rivalry with him.
• As the sun sets on Nuvema Town, Trip McGonnigal receives his letter from his family’s Herdier. Watched by his Serprior, he reads the letter before setting it down in his room next to his commemorative honour for his part in ending the Unovan Civil War.
• Back in Kanto, Brock Harrison receives his letter following a massive makeover of the Pewter City Gym, courtesy of his parents. Sitting on the sofa, he is joined by his brother, Forrest, who asks him if he got what he wanted from the remodelling, and answers that he did—along with something else.
• And finally, Misty Waterflower sentimentally regards her letter from Ash beside the pools of the Cerulean City Gym… until her elder sister, Daisy, calls her from the kitchen for some help. 

Back in Kalos, as the day of the Pokémon Showcase draws ever closer, Serena chances upon the drafts of letters, which number forty in total. Skimming through them, she sees the effort that Ash put into writing each one, containing individualised, heartfelt messages like a memory, a reaffirmation of a promise and words of encouragement, all of which he remembered in great detail. Moved by what she has discovered, Serena is interrupted by Ash and leaves with him to continue her practice for the Showcase.

As the episode ends, a final message is shown onscreen thanking “those who have never forgotten any of us”.

Chapter Text

864.   A Showcase Debut!

On the day of the Coumarine Showcase, Serena reunites with Shauna and learns that the event’s prize is a Princess Key, of which three will be needed to gain entry into the Master Class Showcase, where they can get the chance to become the Kalos Queen. Meanwhile, as Jessie receives the final preparations from James and Meowth, renowned Pokémon theatre producer and former Kalos Queen Eileen Palermo arrives out of obligation to watch the Showcase and makes it clear to her assistant that she will leave as soon as possible as “there will never be another Kalos Queen like Aria”. Unaware of this, Philippe learns from Aoife about her intention to accompany him on his journey as she joins the Knights in the audience and gifts her a keystone before warmly welcoming her into the party.

Watched by all of her friends as Monsieur Pierre opens the event with his Klefki, Serena observes the other Performers as Shauna and Jessie compete in the first round, which involves styling their Pokémon within a given time limit. Both come up with unique designs, but ultimately, Shauna is declared the winner and advances to the next round, though Jessie does not take the loss personally and admits to James that she is a little out of shape and needs to adjust and practice more to match Kalosian standards. Following a few more rounds, Serena takes the stage with Fennekin, but makes a critical error in measuring the length of a ribbon on her Pokémon’s neck, which causes her to ruin her outfit when she trips and falls on the runway. As a result, she is ranked the lowest among the Performers and does not proceed to the next round.

Devastated, Serena sits out the rest of the Showcase and leaves early before any of her friends can find her (including Shauna, who wins her first Princess Key yet leaves the victory ceremony to search for her missing friend). Fortunately, after a few hours of scouring the city, Ash finds Serena in the Pokémon Centre and comforts her over her loss as she cries, promising to be there if she needs it. Moved by his kind words, Serena dries her tears and thanks Ash before gratefully hugging him.

Early next morning, Serena heads down to a pier overlooking the Coumarine Harbour to reflect on her loss, only to run into Philippe, who mentions that the others were concerned about her. Sitting down by the waterfront, the two have a heart-to-heart that Palermo witnesses, with the Lost Prince encouraging his younger companion to try again by pointing out that her friends will always be there when she falls before admitting that he knows what it feels like to be defeated by one’s hubris. Knowing about his past, Serena asks Philippe who he failed and learns about his family – some of whom have survived to the present but who remain estranged from him after he broke off contact with them – as he motivates her not to give up on her loved ones as he did with a saying from his wife.

Emboldened by his words, Serena decides that the time has come for a change and cuts her hair as a sign of her growth. Returning to the Pokémon Centre, she surprises her friends with a new outfit – complete with the ribbon that Ash gave her – and vows to continue travelling with them on their journey as they welcome her back.

865.   An Oasis of Hope!

Having decided to return to Lumiose City to battle Clemont for his fifth badge, Ash takes a shortcut through the Lumiose Badlands but is forced to stop when his Goomy starts coughing due to the hot and dry climate. With Dina’s Goomy being similarly affected and with no source of water in sight, the group contemplates taking a different route just as they run into an injured Spoink who begs them to help liberate its home – an oasis filled with hundreds of fruit trees – from a brutish Grumpig. Given its proximity to their location, the group promises to help the Spoink as they make their way there, but when Ash and Dina challenge the Manipulate Pokémon, it hypnotises all the Spoink in the area and chases them into a cave, where they are trapped behind bars by none other than Team Rocket!

As it turns out, this has all been part of the TRio’s plan to steal the oasis’ resources in a massive heist with Grumpig’s help, and Jessie sweetens the pot by demanding that the group hand over Pikachu, Chespin and Quilladin, all of whom are forced to go when Grumpig threatens the hypnotised Spoink. With no other way out of the trap, Dedenne and the Goomy slip through the bars and try to get the key, but are caught by Grumpig and are sorely beaten… right before Aoife draws a silver and grey war hammer and smashes the bars open. Freed, Ash and Dina catch up to the escaping Team Rocket and send them packing with Frogadier, Mawile and Sylveon, leaving Aoife to help Dedenne and the Goomy defeat the brutish Grumpig with her two Skiddo.

Fortunately, the latter battle goes well due to Aoife’s tendency to power through Grumpig’s many attacks, and in a stroke of good luck, both Soft Tissue Pokémon evolve into Sliggoo. With their new power, they collectively blast the Grumpig off with twin streams of Dragon Breath and reunite with Pikachu, Chespin and Quilladin, who freed themselves earlier before the TRio got on their balloon. Now safe, the group ensures that the Spoink are doing fine before resuming their journey, and as they do, an impressed yet curious Philippe asks Aoife what she got from the Battle Chateau… only to be shocked when she reveals a startling number of items, including four weapons (including two war hammers, an axe and a mace), a complete set of plate mail armour alongside an intimidating-looking helmet, a pair of gauntlets and a belt, and a pair of heavy leather boots.

866.   The Future is Now, Thanks to Determination!

As the group continues their trek through the Badlands, a distracted Clemont convinces his friends to take a detour to the Kalos Power Plant to check on his modifications to the place. Upon arriving, however, the group’s Electric-types go berserk and leave their trainers as they are drawn to something inside the building, and an attempt to sneak in through the ventilation system leads to Dina nearly getting sliced to pieces by the fans. Still, after taking a longer but safer route through the vents, the group learns that Team Rocket has taken over the facility and is holding all of Lumiose City hostage for their unspecified plans.

Taking charge, Clemont devises a plan to trigger a temporary overload to free the controlled Pokémon, but he and Benoit are separated from the others and end up getting trapped in the main generator’s chamber with all the brainwashed Electric-type Pokémon. With no choice, the duo confront Luxio, Dedenne and Pikachu and breaks the former free by transferring some of Benoit’s Aura over to him, granting him some resistance to the controlling radio waves. Noticing this, Meowth, Inkay, Pumpkaboo and Growlie attack them, forcing Benoit and Luxio to hold them off as Clemont puts his own life at risk by using himself as a conduit when he tricks the brainwashed Pokémon into electrocuting him. This plan works, and the resulting surge of power causes an overload that breaks the mind control, but upon seeing his trainer in danger, Luxio siphons the electricity away from Clemont and into himself, triggering his evolution into a Luxray. Weakened yet grateful, Clemont subsequently breaks into the control room and blasts Team Rocket off with an Electric Terrain from his new Pokémon.

Reuniting with his friends in the aftermath, Clemont realises that he will only slow them down and elects to return to Lumiose City on the Power Plant’s helicopter to recover from his injuries and prepare for his Gym Battle against Ash. Unsure of how her brother will do without her, Bonnie voices her concerns but is mollified when Benoit volunteers to accompany Clemont back after realising that he too has to “set some things straight”. Wishing them good luck and a swift recovery, Ash and Philippe bid their companions farewell as they board the helicopter and fly back to Lumiose.

867.   A Fork in the Road! A Parting of the Ways!

After being sent flying by Pikachu again, Jessie and Wobbuffet are separated from James and Meowth and nursed back to health by local medical practitioner Dr. White. Taken aback by his kindness, she helps him around his clinic and considers giving up her Team Rocket career when she learns more about caring for Pokémon, including details she had not known when she had studied to become a Nurse. In the middle of this, she runs into the group, but while they figure out her identity fairly quickly, they decide to keep quiet about it as White’s childhood friend, Beatrice, informs him of a Pokémon hunter who was spotted in the vicinity.

However, before Jessie can decide, a battered James arrives with news that the Pokémon hunter has captured Meowth and the others and pleads with the group to help him. Torn between starting anew and returning to a life of crime, Jessie speaks to Philippe, who points out he cannot decide for her before using a motto that his friends always lived by to ask what she truly wants. Reflecting on his words, Jessie chooses to remain loyal to her friends and rushes to save them with Philippe and the Knights as she has Wobbuffet combine Counter and Mirror Coat to create a new universal counterattack that ultimately defeats his opponent’s Rhyperior all by himself. Impressed, Philippe expresses his approval of Jessie’s choice and character, and as she reunites with James and Meowth, she promises to use what she learned from Dr. White to help them in their exploits.

Meanwhile, as Clemont recovers from his injuries, he continues practising against Clembot with some help from Benoit, whose Houndoom provides more of a challenge when compared to the young gym leader’s Pokémon. Eventually, the duo get the idea to implement Ash’s training into his sessions, but this burns out Clembot’s CPU instead, much to their chagrin.

868.   Battling with Elegance and a Big Smile!

After losing her temper when Pancham and Fennekin begin fighting during a training session, Serena yells at them before storming off to cool down, but the guilt begins to gnaw at her as she spends time with Dina and Aoife in a small store. Wondering if she is choosing the right approach to Showcases, she bumps into a cheerful girl named Ariana, who encourages her to smile as it is the most important thing for those performing with their Pokémon, and becomes fast friends with her as she reveals the mistake she made during her first Showcase. However, Ariana tells her that everyone makes mistakes and assures Serena that she shouldn’t give up because of one tiny error before praising her smile and encouraging her to make the first step by apologising to her Pokémon. With this encouragement, Serena drags her new friend over to have tea at a nearby café with Aoife and Dina, who realise who “Ariana” is when they get a closer look at her.

Later that evening, the girls return to the Pokémon Centre, where the exhausted Ash and Bonnie reveal that they spent the whole day getting Pancham and Fennekin to bury the hatchet, and as Serena apologises for her earlier outburst and reconciles with her Pokémon, Philippe recognises “Ariana” as well. Seeing how strong her bond is with her Pokémon, “Ariana” challenges Serena to a Double Battle with her Delphox and Aromatisse, but the gap in experience immediately becomes apparent when she easily routs Serena’s Pokémon. Nevertheless, by remembering advice from Ash that Pokémon need to be in sync with each other as well as their trainer in this kind of fight, Serena manages to turn the battle around with her own positivity, allowing Fennekin to best the Delphox and evolve into Braixen. However, the match is interrupted by a sudden call that forces Serena’s opponent to leave early, and once she is gone, Philippe, Dina and Aoife bluntly tell their friend that “Ariana” is actually Kalos Queen Aria, whom they assume was likely keeping tabs on her as a potential successor. Though surprised, Serena thanks her newfound rival for her advice as Aria muses over a phone call that “she” is interesting while watching a video of Serena’s first performance.

While all this is happening, Clemont battles a young trainer named Sawyer Duncan and gives him and his Treecko critical advice about the timing of the attacks. Outside the Gym, Benoit meets with Alexa and Viola for an off-the-books interview, but while he answers some of their questions about Philippe’s true origins, he evades several others. In the end, the interview is interrupted by a disruption at a nearby store caused by two Honedge, and as Benoit heads out to deal with the situation, he tells the sisters that the Lost Prince is an enigma that no one can genuinely decipher.

Chapter Text

Where the Land and Sea Clash

Upon arriving in Rustboro City, both groups meet on the front steps of the Devon Corporation and quickly introduce themselves before entering the building to reunite with Steven, Alain, Mairin, and Lysandre—who is communicating via livestream—in the main conference room. With everyone gathered, President Joseph Stone updates the team, informing them that Groudon and Kyogre have been sighted approximately 100 miles off the Rustboro coastline and are set to cross paths within the hour. Noting that they have undergone Primal Reversion, Steven speculates that either the presence of the Megalith or the appearance of Mega Rayquaza might have catalysed this phenomenon but points out that, regardless of the reason, they will be far more powerful than the last time they fought and will be capable of causing natural disasters on a global scale rather than just locally.

Knowing that the Megalith was last tracked to the coastline, Nicholas shares this with Steven, who realises that the two Legendary Pokémon might be drawn to it. Fearing what might happen if they fight this time, the Hoenn Champion decides to try and extract the artefact, with Sabine, Joaquim, Milos and Emilie agreeing to accompany him (even though the latter two are recovering from their previous fight). However, as Samuel likewise volunteers to assist, so does Alain, and Mairin does not react well to his decision, refusing to come along due to her fears of running into another Legendary Pokémon and begging him not to go by pointing out that his shoulder has not fully healed from the last skirmish at the ruins. Despite this, Alain coldly reminds Mairin of his goal to become the strongest, snapping at her when she questions how far he is willing to go before telling her to go home if she is so worried about him.

Having overheard the argument from outside the conference room, Steven asks Alain why he doesn’t want Mairin to come along as they walk to the building’s helipad, but frowns when he receives the answer that she is just “a nuisance”. Similarly disapproving of this response, Sabine tells Alain that Mairin is right to a certain extent, only for her concerns to be brusquely dismissed, forcing Milos to calm her down before she can get into a shouting match. Still new to the situation, Lisia muses that perhaps Alain does care about Mairin deep down, but Joaquim expresses his sincere doubts that simply being friends with Pokémon automatically makes one a good person.

Arriving at the helipad, the group splits up into two teams, with the former heading out on a specialised airship while the latter goes to the control room to monitor the situation. But before the former team leaves, Courtney hands them back their weapons, which she had upgraded during the meeting. These include Joaquim’s scimitar and katana, which have been infused with crushed skull and skin fragments from an unidentified being, Emilie’s spear, whose blade has been enhanced with layers of sharpened diamond and obsidian, and Milos’ longsword, which now has a yellow diamond set in its hilt, but she dodges their queries as to how she got the materials to upgrade them in the first place before they depart.

Following a short flight, the team arrives at Primal Groudon’s location in the middle of the ocean, but as the Knights feel the wave of heat being emitted by the Continent Pokémon, they also see several news helicopters surrounding the Legendary, which ignore a warning from Steven to leave for their safety. Back in Rustboro, Heidi and Nicholas notice that a crowd is lining the waterfront to watch the impending clash and wonder why they would put themselves in such danger, with the former speculating that perhaps it’s “just our nature” to live as dangerously as possible. Agreeing with that sentiment, Nicholas is interrupted by Elsa, who informs him that while Junichi will be sending his Deoxys over as soon as possible to help, he will be leaving the execution of the operation up to them.

Outside, Primal Groudon suddenly stops, and as it does, Milos senses the Megalith’s presence just above the water’s surface. But before he can tell Steven, Primal Kyogre suddenly leaps from the water and attacks her counterpart by freezing him and the surrounding ocean with a Sheer Cold. Enraged, Primal Groudon breaks free by superheating his body, but this sends chunks of ice everywhere, which strikes one of the news helicopters and causes it to crash on the ice. Seeing this, Samuel convinces Steven to get closer so they can rescue the survivors and secure the Megalith while Lysandre orders Alain over a private feed to protect the Megalith “for the good of humanity”.

Once they are close enough, Alain sends out Mega Charizard X while the Knights parachute (or fly on Nightshade, in Joaquim’s case) onto the ice, narrowly dodging water columns from Primal Kyogre. Fortunately, they all land safely, and as Emilie finds and tends to the survivors of the crashed helicopter, the other Knights approach the Megalith as Alain separates from them to face Groudon. Reaching out with her Aura, Sabine tries to make a connection with the monolithic structure… but suddenly senses danger and barely saves Milos from a surprise Crunch from a familiar Mega Salamence, whose trainer reappears with a Whismur, an Altaria and a Tyrantrum that attack them!

Unaware of the skirmish unfolding on the ice, Alain and Steven have Mega Charizard X and Mega Metagross face Groudon and Kyogre, but both are outmatched by the Primal Legendary Pokémon and are brought down by Groudon’s Precipice Blades. Witnessing all this from the Devon Corporation’s headquarters, Elsa contacts Samuel and urges him to bring out Mega Rayquaza to stop the fight… only to be shocked when he reveals that he doesn’t have a meteor to initiate the process. Overhearing all this as she becomes aware of the escalating situation, Heidi throws up her hands in frustration and volunteers to head out and provide support with a declaration that “balance must be restored”. Uncomfortable with all the fighting, the pacifistic Lisia objects to her friend’s plan, but Isabella counters this viewpoint by telling her that she used to think that way until recent events forced her to change her mind…

Hours earlier, as she had helped drag Elsa out of the destroyed lab on Paradiso, Sabine had asked Isabella why she had come to Hoenn after the Aura Knight deduced that she was the reason Joaquim agreed to help them. Initially unsure how to respond, she eventually replied that she wanted a fresh start with no one else to hold her back or remind her of her past in Kalos. However, while Sabine had been respectful enough not to pry into her private affairs, she had explained the circumstances of Joaquim’s alliance with them and pointed out that he must have cared to a certain extent if he had accompanied them of his own free will before telling her to at least try giving him a second chance.  

With that, Isabella agrees to go with Heidi, and as the Haellmigk siblings decide to head out too, Lisia reluctantly concedes that she might be right – though she is having a hard time believing it – before agreeing to join them with her trump card: a Mega Stone that she uses with her Altaria, Ali. With Nicholas piloting the Hoenn Labs airship, the six head towards the battle zone while preparing for a fight.

Back at the clash, Alain disregards Steven’s warnings and has the airship head to where Charizard has crashed before rappelling down onto the ice. However, while he manages to recall his Pokémon, he is caught in the shockwave of Groudon blasting Kyogre with an Eruption and is knocked unconscious. Nearby, as Joaquim battles the Tyrantrum with his Mega Ampharos and Nightshade, he notices that it is wearing some meteorite fragments around its neck and quickly incapacitates the Despot Pokémon before grabbing the rocks. On the other side of the battlefield, Sabine and Milos face the girl and her Mega Salamence, letting Mega Absol and Mega Scizor deal with her Pokémon even when it batters them with a ferocious barrage of Dragon Claw and Outrage. Deeming its trainer as the real threat, the duo faces her in a duel but struggles to keep up with her agility and smaller stature, which prevents them from landing hits as she taunts them about their inadequate strength to face their “true enemy”.

With the situation having escalated to this point, Steven orders his airship to recover Alain after deciding that the Knights are capable of handling themselves, but before they can land, an alarm blares to indicate the opening of the cargo hatch. Realising who is responsible, the Hoenn Champion looks out the viewport to see Mairin running across the ice with Chespie and deduces that she stowed away aboard the airship when they departed. At the same time, Samuel decides that he has waited long enough and unleashes Rayquaza to try and delay Groudon and Kyogre despite the massive power disparity, and while the Sky-High Pokémon is predictably no match for the two Primal Legendary Pokémon, he defiantly remains flying as his trainer rides and fires projectiles from his back with his Pokéball launcher.

Unfortunately, the heat emitted by Groudon causes the ice to break, and with nowhere to land, Steven aborts the attempt before sending Mega Metagross to protect Alain and Mairin. Weighing his options, he contemplates attacking either Legendary Pokémon directly… only to suddenly receive a message from Nicholas, who tells him they are on the way.

Back on the ice, as the increasingly exhausted Joaquim struggles to hold back the girl’s Altaria, he is suddenly surprised by Emilie, who has arrived with Elsa, Courtney, Heidi, Lisia and Isabella. With these reinforcements, the Knights hold back the opposition as they make their way to Sabine and Milos, with Heidi saving them from their opponent by smacking the girl in the face with her shield. Acting fast, Milos hands her one of the two remaining keystones, allowing her to Mega Evolve her own Altaria alongside Lisia and Ali to join Mega Scizor and Absol as they face the Mega Salamence. At the same time, Sabine passes the last keystone to Isabella, who promptly Mega Evolves her Gengar to face the girl’s surprisingly agile Whismur as she uses her quarterstaff to channel the elements themselves into offensive attacks.

Suddenly, the Megalith begins to glow brighter, causing the two Primal Legendary Pokémon to react aggressively. As they do, Joaquim jumps on Nightshade, but before he can take off, Isabella tells him to hand over the meteorite fragments for a second, and despite his suspicions, he complies, allowing her to superheat them with an enchantment that fuses the stones into a larger mass before she hands it back to him. With no time to waste, he flies up to Rayquaza and manages to toss the completed meteor to Samuel—only to be shot down by a random Origin Pulse from Primal Kyogre and crash into the ocean with Nightshade. Horrified, Isabella jumps into the raging sea to rescue him as Emilie and Vivillon lasso her with a rope before anchoring themselves to the ice with Mega Heracross.

Unable to help directly despite seeing this from above, Samuel quickly feeds the meteor shards to his Pokémon, successfully revitalising and Mega Evolving him. Now rejuvenated, Mega Rayquaza unleashes a massive barrage of Draco Meteor, peppering everything in the surrounding vicinity with explosions before knocking out both Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre with a single Dragon Ascent. Defeated, both Legendary Pokémon return to their normal states as Mega Rayquaza regards the Megalith with Samuel, who tells Steven what he sees through a commlink just as a Deoxys arrives on the scene. Knowing that this is Junichi’s Pokémon, Mega Rayquaza lets it touch and scan the Megalith as everyone else watches from below, with Emilie and Isabella having successfully rescued Joaquim and Nightshade while Lisia, Heidi and the Haellmigks are revealed to have captured the red-eyed girl and her Whismur.

However, at that moment, a submarine suddenly surfaces and blinds everyone in the vicinity with flares before taking the Megalith as it departs. Unable to pursue or locate the cloaked vessel, Deoxys returns to Mega Rayquaza as Steven and Samuel receive a transmission from Lysandre, who reveals that the sub belongs to him and adds that he supposedly found a way to contain the Megalith’s energy. Declaring that it is best if he keeps the Megalith for the time being, Lysandre ends the transmission as Steven lands the airship on the ice to pick everybody else up, just in time for Alain to awaken and learn of everything that has transpired. Though angry at Mairin for putting herself in danger, he awkwardly thanks her for helping save him and returns her hug as they fly back to the mainland.

Over in Kalos, Professor Sycamore watches the news broadcast of the clash between Kyogre, Groudon and Rayquaza and is stunned to see Alain at the scene. Hiding this last fact as he contacts Philippe, the professor delivers the rest of the disturbing news to the Lost Prince of Kalos, who expresses great concern over the events.

One week following the newly dubbed “Clash of the Primals”, Steven informs a recovered Mairin that Alain has already left for Kalos. Intending to investigate Lysandre himself after growing suspicious of his extreme secrecy, he offers an equally determined Mairin a lift to get back home, which she gratefully accepts, but wonders where the Knights have gone, as since the battle’s conclusion, they have practically vanished off the face of the earth.

On the other side of the world, Lysandre personally thanks Alain for helping secure the Megalith and helping him with his plans for world peace before advising him to take a break. However, Alain, haunted by his Charizard’s defeat at the hands of the Primal Legendary Pokémon, refuses and remarks that he still has a long way to go to become the strongest. Seeing how his subordinate cannot be dissuaded, Lysandre proceeds to stage Mega Evolution battles for Alain while musing that what they did in Hoenn will lead to a significant change in Kalos for humanity and Pokémon.

While all this is happening, a disguised Milos contacts Philippe at Lumiose North Station and is told to stay hidden while learning that this might be the last time they contact each other. Once the call finishes, he returns to the others while remembering the events following the battle.

Mere hours after the Clash of the Primals, the Knights discreetly discharged themselves from the Devon Corporation’s medical bay due to the healing properties of their Aura (which allowed them to heal much faster than ordinary people) and met with Junichi, who confirmed the Megalith’s Kalosian origins. However, he also revealed that it was not a weapon, but rather, a critical component of one, which had prompted the Knights to accompany and investigate it directly at Lysandre Labs, and Junichi had helped them by creating false identities so Lysandre’s staff would not recognise them before sending them all off on a private flight back home. But before their departure, Isabella and Heidi had voiced their decision to join them on their mission (the latter after a hushed conversation with Lisia), and despite Joaquim’s hesitation, Emilie and Sabine had vouched for them, leading to their acceptance into the group.

Returning to a cargo train, Milos passes by the disguised Elsa and Courtney (whom Junichi had insisted accompany them “for research purposes”) and the prison car, where the captured Draconid girl is being held. Ignoring everyone else as they go about their business, he finds Sabine observing the Megalith through a window in its sealed compartment and questions her as to what Lysandre’s – and Philippe’s – motivations could be, remarking that neither has been particularly clear with them. As they ponder this, the episode ends with the train pulling out of the station, bound for Lysandre Labs in the eastern reaches of Kalos.

Chapter Text

869.   Good Friends, Great Training!

On the outskirts of Lumiose City, Ash reunites with Tierno, whom he challenges to a Double Battle after learning that he got the Voltage Badge from Clembot. Now armed with several more Pokémon, Tierno and his newly evolved Wartortle prove to be more of a challenge, but the battle is interrupted by one of Team Rocket’s mechas, which captures Ash’s Sliggoo, Wartortle and Tierno’s Raichu. However, Dina manages to wedge one of her throwing knives in the mechanism, allowing them to track it, and she splits off from the rest with Tierno, Bonnie and Aoife to find the missing Pokémon.

Fortunately, due to Jessie’s carelessness, it doesn’t take long before the quartet finds and frees the three Pokémon, but they remain wary of the machine as they return to the others. This soon escalates into a prolonged chase, and as they reunite with their companions, the united group destroys the mecha… only to accidentally set the surrounding forest on fire. Seeing this, Ash’s Sliggoo uses Rain Dance to put the flames out and triggers his evolution into a Goodra before blasting the TRio off with a Dragon Pulse. Following this, Ash resumes his Double Battle against Raichu and Wartortle and wins with Goodra and Pikachu before Tierno separates from the group.

In the aftermath, the party arrives at Lumiose City as night falls, with Ash determined to battle Clemont for his next badge. Looking out over the shining city, Philippe regards his staff and sword before channelling his Aura through them, deciding that, once again, the time has come to talk to Xerneas and Yveltal.

870.   Confronting the Darkness!

Having returned to Lumiose City, the party reunites with Clemont and Benoit just in time for the former to be arrested for several crimes that Clembot had supposedly committed. Protesting his creation’s innocence, Clemont enlists Philippe to help him, and the investigation receives some additional support in the form of Alexa and Meyer, the former of whom reveals that Blaziken Mask has seemingly been involved in the case too (much to the latter’s nervousness). As Philippe silently confirms the vigilante’s identity to the Knights, the group investigates Clemont’s computer and discovers that it was hacked by an outside source named “Belmondo”, who had copied Clembot’s blueprints and who plans to target the Lumiose Museum next. However, as they head out to share the information with Alexa, Benoit is sidetracked by the two Honedge and separates from the group with Aoife to catch them.

Exasperated, Clemont explains to Philippe that the Aura Knight has been trying to add the Pokémon to his team for the last five days as they meet Alexa and hand her the information, but the group is forced to put this on the back burner when they discover that “Belmondo” is the name of a student from Lumiose University who was recently expelled from a robotics course that Clemont was taking in his spare time. Suspecting that there is more to this than meets the eye, the Lumiose Gym Leader and his friends lay a trap at the Lumiose Museum later that night and successfully ambush the false Clembot and his creator, who reveals that he did this out of jealousy towards Clemont and his successful creation before he calls for backup and runs for it. Said backup soon arrives in the form of robotic duplicates of the Knights, and as Philippe chases after Belmondo, Clemont stays behind to guide Clembot as it faces its counterpart in a Pokémon battle. Fortunately, Clembot’s new empathic programming allows it to triumph over its doppelgänger and Belmondo’s Magnezone with his creator’s Heliolisk, but the Dark Clembot refuses to accept defeat and threatens Clemont, who is subsequently forced to destroy it with his Luxray.

At the same time, Ash, Dina and Serena are saved when Benoit and Aoife return and destroy the other robots with the two Honedge that the former caught after a gruelling battle over the rooftops, and Philippe tackles and pins Belmondo before he can make it out of the museum grounds. However, the disgraced student reveals one last trick up his sleeve when he summons a duplicate of the Lost Prince, which matches the real deal in strength and agility as it mocks him with petty lies and counters his Mega Evolved Pokémon with robotic facsimiles. All this soon takes its toll on Philippe, and he snaps, swapping out Xerneas’ staff for Yveltal’s sword before brutally slashing and dismembering his robotic doppelgänger to reduce it to a pile of scraps on the ground. With a nearly murderous intent, he turns to Belmondo, but Blaziken Mask intervenes and restrains him, reminding the Lost Prince of who he is to his friends and what he represents to all of Kalos as Belmondo is knocked out by a couple in red and blue robes. Turning to Philippe, the couple proceed to calm him by pulling the Sword of Death out of his hands, and as he regains control, the Lost Prince realises what he nearly did and is overcome with guilt as he thanks Blaziken Mask for stopping him from doing something rash. Humbly deflecting the claims that he is stronger and wiser, the vigilante assures Philippe that they have all made mistakes and lost people they care about before escaping into the night just before Alexa arrives.

With the situation resolved, Ash and Clemont prepare for their forthcoming gym battle as the following day breaks, while Alexa meets the Knights at a local hotel for a follow-up interview. At the same time, Philippe, returning to his apartment alone, discovers the human forms of Xerneas and Yveltal waiting for him.

871.   The Moment of Lumiose Truth!

With the day of Ash’s gym battle finally arriving, he faces Clemont for the Voltage Badge in a 3v3 match watched by Serena, Bonnie, Meyer and Clembot. Beginning with Pikachu and Bunnelby, the two immediately start with the same moves as their first battle in Kalos, but this time, Pikachu is ready when his opponent grabs him by the ears and hits him with an Iron Tail. In response, Bunnelby retaliates with a combination of Wild Charge and Dig, only for these to miss and exhaust him enough for Pikachu to knock him out with an Electro Ball. However, Ash’s starter is so wounded that he chooses to be swapped out for Hawlucha, who faces the unfamiliar Heliolisk with a Flying Press.

Elsewhere, Philippe tells Xerneas and Yveltal that he needs advice on dealing with his family, starting with his surviving daughter, whom he last saw in Snowbelle City more than 15 years ago. Asking if they know what happened to her following “that argument”, he learns from Xerneas that she was rescued by a tribe native to Hoenn that recognised her as one of their own and should still be living there. Realising that she will likely run into his allies, Philippe laments the “poor” first impression he will likely make on her and accepts the unlikelihood of her forgiving him or “Raven”. At the same time, Alexa interviews the Knights as they walk around Lumiose City and learns about their journey thus far and the allies and Legendary Pokémon they have encountered. Intrigued about the other two kingdoms with Mythical Pokémon, she reveals rumours of one such Pokémon being sighted in the middle of a desert valley, which catches the Knights’ interest.

Back at the gym, Ash defeats Heliolisk by exploiting a vulnerability when it uses Flash and Parabolic Charge, but an unconcerned Clemont shrugs it off before unleashing Luxray. Instantly defeating Hawlucha with an Electric Terrain and Wild Charge, the Gleam Eyes Pokémon also takes out Pikachu, leaving Ash with only Goodra, who uses Rain Dance to remove the Electric Terrain. Realising what his opponent is trying to do, Clemont attempts to paralyse him upon deducing that he has the Hydration Ability, but the rain prevents him from doing so, and Ash consequently uses Bide to return the favour and defeat Luxray with his own power, thus winning the Voltage Badge. Having been beaten, an impressed Clemont concedes defeat and thanks Ash for pushing him to become a better Gym Leader, even as his opponent humbly claims that it was nothing while selecting Laverre City as his next destination on Serena’s suggestion. Simultaneously, with his injuries healed thanks to some rigorous physical therapy from Benoit, Clemont decides to rejoin the group and gives control of the Gym back to Clembot and Meyer, who promise to take care of it in his absence.

Meanwhile, Philippe acknowledges that it will be a tall order asking the two of them for help but expresses his belief that he has no other choice if he wants to face “her”. However, while Xerneas is hesitant about intervening directly, Yveltal is more willing to help train the Lost Prince if he defeats them in a Pokémon battle and teleports all of them to the front of a nearby cathedral to have their match. As the 2v1 battle begins, Alexa and the Knights are shown inside the same cathedral when the latter party notices an unfamiliar Legendary Pokémon in the stained glass. Identifying it as a “Zygarde” as the battle rages outside, Alexa tells the Knights that it is a reclusive and secretive Pokémon that has not been seen for at least 3000 years, and not much is known about it besides the fact that it keeps Xerneas and Yveltal in check. However, as the Knights examine the ominous images of hundreds of humans and Pokémon bowing to Zygarde, they realise that they have all seen it before in their dreams and decide to ask Philippe about it. The episode ends as Mega Charizard Y, Quilladin, and Mega Gyarados land the final blows on Xerneas and Yveltal, who submit to Philippe and agree to help him.

Chapter Text

872.   Garchomp’s Mega Bond!

Stopping by Professor Sycamore’s lab before they leave, the group discovers that he has obtained a Garchompite and a keystone, thus allowing him to Mega Evolve Garchomp, and Philippe and the Knights take the opportunity to update him on their latest experiences with Mega Evolution. As this happens, the disguised Xerneas and Yveltal explore the lab and encounter two new assistants, Sina and Dexio, who tell them about how one of Sycamore’s other assistants brought the Mach Pokémon in from the street, but the Legendary Pokémon quickly grow suspicious of the duo after they drop hints that they know who they are.

Before Sycamore can perform the test, Team Rocket crashes the lab and steals Garchomp, the keystone and the Mega Stone for a test of their own, and while Clemont manages to place a tracker on their mecha with help from one of Benoit’s Honedge, James unknowingly destroys it with Inkay. Heading out to find them, the group splits up to cover more ground in the forest, and the Knights take this opportunity to ask Philippe about Zygarde, but he proves to be cagey about the topic and refuses to speak about it openly. Despite this lack of transparency, the Knights keep their faith in him as Benoit locates Team Rocket in a nearby clearing.

Once the team has assembled, Clemont advocates a careful plan of action after Dina’s suggestion to call in Xerneas or Yveltal leads Philippe to reveal that they will only assist if the enemy is too powerful. As a result, the group adheres to Clemont’s plan, which has Ash and Aoife charging right in and drawing the TRio’s attention, allowing Sycamore to get close to Garchomop and free her, though not without suffering injuries of his own. However, as Benoit and Aoife try to get him out with Honedge and Skiddo, they receive some unexpected aid from two individuals: Blaziken Mask and a masked archer wielding a crossbow and a longbow. Seeing the signet ring the latter is wearing, the duo join forces with the newcomer and his Fletchinder in holding off the TRio’s mecha as Sycamore borrows Blaziken Mask’s keystone to Mega Evolve Garchomp, which quickly turns the tide of the fight. Calling it quits, Jessie, James and Meowth escape with the data they managed to obtain as Sycamore deduces who Blaziken Mask is from smelling motor oil on the keystone (which he had smelled earlier when Meyer fixed the lights in his lab).

Reuniting with Xerneas and Yveltal back at the lab, the Knights are formally introduced to the masked archer, Geoffrey “Geoff” Henderson, who reveals that Meyer had called him in for help and that the Legendary Pokémon had redirected him to help them when he arrived at the lab. However, as he is accepted into the team with open arms as he reveals his Mega Pidgeot for Sycamore’s research (with one of Philippe’s keystones), Geoff also recognises Dina’s Sliggoo and Ash’s Goodra.

873.   Defending the Homeland!

Guided by Geoff, the group reaches a series of wetlands on the outskirts of Lumiose City that were previously hidden by thick fog and meets his boss, a ranger named Keanan Andersen. Explaining to Ash and Dina that their Goodra and Sliggoo hail from this place, the older man reveals that the wetlands were attacked by a swarm of Bug and Poison-types several months ago, but the invaders have since settled down and segregated off a special healing spring at the behest of their leader, a Blue Flower Florges for unknown reasons. This has resulted in the water in the surrounding streams going down to dangerously low levels, and with the entire reserve in danger of drying out, the group agrees to help when Geoff asks for it, but Philippe and Dina confide in each other that they sense something strange nearby.

Upon reuniting with and hearing news of an attack from their old friend, a Wooper, Goodra and Sliggoo head further into the wetlands, and the group relies on both of their Fletchinder and Geoff’s Mega Pidgeot to get a bird’s-eye view of what turns out to be a siege on the last haven of the reserve’s local inhabitants. Fortunately, Goodra and Sliggoo manage to hold the line, and the latter even fights and wins in a one-on-one battle against the Florges. However, before they can exploit this victory, the defenders are suddenly blindsided by a Shadow Ball and Psybeam, distracting them long enough for an unexpected cloud of smoke to cover the battlefield and allow the invaders to retreat. Surprised to hear this when the group reports back to him, Keanan reveals that no Pokémon in the wetlands can use those attacks, causing Benoit to suspect that Team Rocket may be behind this (since Inkay and Pumpkaboo could have used the attacks).

Meanwhile, as Geoff and Aoife bond over their shared past as former soldiers, Philippe sees a photo of Keanan and a young girl with a Heracross and asks Keanan who she is as Clemont reviews the security footage. Upon discovering that she is his daughter, Emilie – who left home several years ago on a journey of her own and has not been heard from since – Philippe recognises her as one of the Knights and tries to tell him of her whereabouts, but a swarm of Ariados attacks the lodge before he can do so. In the ensuing chaos, Pikachu, Dedenne and Wooper are captured, and Dina is electrocuted into unconsciousness by the black-suited figure from the Allearth Forest when she tries to cut them free. Hearing her cries, Philippe and Benoit try to save her but are promptly captured by the figure, who evades Xerneas and Yveltal with a cloaking device before escaping into the night.

874.   Beyond the Rainbow!

Unable to rescue their friends, Ash, Serena, Bonnie, Clemont, Geoff and Aoife stage a rescue plan with Keanan, Xerneas and Yveltal after confirming Team Rocket’s presence in the reserve on the security cameras. Meanwhile, Philippe, Dina and Benoit awaken in a dark cave and meet the dark-suited figure, who verbally introduces herself – through a modulated feminine voice – as Essentia and withholds their Pokéballs, indicating that she will only return them once they have “faced themselves”. As she melts away into the darkness, Dina frees herself, but as she realises that this is no ordinary cave, she and her friends are suddenly separated from each other by an all-encompassing darkness. Subsequently, all three of them experience a series of visions – Philippe sees an apparition of “Raven” who asks him why he “abandoned” her, Dina receives a vision of her future self that warns her to remove herself from Philippe before she ends up suffering the consequences of his “sins” and Benoit encounters a spirit of a deceased Aura user who tells him of the cave’s strange properties while advising him to help the Lost Prince find balance.

Outside, Geoff and Xerneas track Essentia to the cave and sneak in to find her, but instead discover that Florges is working with Team Rocket to help her daughter, a Blue Flower Floette, with the healing spring. Suspecting that there must be more to this alliance, he shares the information with Aoife and Yveltal, whose investigation leads them to discover an automated turret protecting a pump draining the spring. Deducing that the TRio must be double-crossing Florges, the duo fight it while Geoff alerts Ash’s group of what they have found just as they arrive at the entrance to the spring.

With this new information, Serena and Clemont attack the guards, allowing the others to get inside and find the spring as Ash convinces the Florges that they mean no harm by revealing his Aura. At the same time, Aoife destroys the turret and the pump with her war hammers, but contact with her is lost moments later when Essentia ambushes her and Yveltal, and Xerneas leaves Geoff to save them. Using an Aurora Beam to drive off the assassin, she retrieves the stolen Pokéballs while Geoff intercepts and damages Team Rocket’s airship with a barrage of arrows and a Flame Charge as they try to escape, but this latter attack punctures the water tanks, which drain entirely.

Back in the cave, Aoife finds Philippe, Benoit and Dina, revives and updates them on the situation as Ash, Goodra and the Florges arrive from another entrance. Furious at Team Rocket’s endangerment of a child, the group pursues them, and Dina unleashes Sliggoo to fight Inkay, Pumpkaboo and Wobbuffet alongside Ash’s Goodra and Florges while Philippe faces Meowth with Quilladin. Remembering his vision, Benoit tells Philippe that this place is rich in Aura, and the Lost Prince subsequently draws on its power by using the memories of his family to motivate himself before forcefully subduing the TRio (who are sent blasting off with their Pokémon when their ship explodes) while Aoife frees the captive Pokémon. With the water gone, however, it seems there is no way to restore the drained spring… until Goodra uses Rain Dance in conjunction with Florges’ Grassy Terrain. To expedite the process, Dina uses her Sliggoo to help, and with a push from Xerneas and Yveltal, he evolves into Goodra too.

As the sun rises, Geoff checks up on the revived Floette and tells Florges she will be fine. However, large portions of the wetlands remain uninhabitable, and upon seeing how much he wants to help his friends restore his home, Ash decides to leave Goodra behind so he can help them. Seeing this, Dina asks her Goodra if he wants to stay behind too but is surprised when he declines, intending to get stronger before he returns home. At the same time, Philippe leaves Keanan a letter about his daughter, telling him that she is doing well and promising that she will return home someday. Promising to return, Ash says goodbye to Goodra as he, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Philippe, Dina, Benoit, Aoife, Geoff, Xerneas and Yveltal resume their journey to Laverre City.

Chapter Text

875.   So You’re Having a Bad Day!

With Ash in a depressed state over leaving Goodra behind, Serena tries to cheer him up despite suffering from an unbelievable streak of lousy luck alongside Bonnie, but her efforts are confounded by the usual Team Rocket shenanigans when they ambush the group. To make matters worse, this trap provokes three angry Pangoro, and the resulting chaos leads to everyone getting scattered all over the forest in smaller groups. Among these groups, Bonnie, Dedenne and Meowth end up getting tied together with thick vines that prevent them from separating and are forced to put aside their lingering differences from the last time they were forced to work together as they try to navigate through the dense forest.

Meanwhile, lingering questions from the battle in the wetlands lead Dina and Benoit to ask Philippe, Xerneas and Yveltal about what happened, and the Legendary Pokémon reveal that the caves they entered are like the Allearth Forest – a location full of naturally occurring Aura that acts as a natural sanctuary for the location Pokémon and a replenishing conduit for Aura users. However, they also reveal that the second function of the locations was only made possible through the work of beings like Raven Solstice, who had terraformed them by infusing the surroundings with her own Aura. Disturbed, Benoit asks Philippe if Zygarde had been there during the terraforming process, and after some hesitation, Philippe confirms this while revealing that they had been controlling him with a third relic created by Arceus itself.

876.   Scary Hospitality!

Lost in the forest during a thunderstorm, Ash, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie chance upon a mansion after getting separated from the Knights in a thunderstorm. Invited in by the owner, an elderly gentleman named Lon, they are initially grateful for the shelter, but Clemont soon notices several peculiarities in their surroundings, especially after Lon confirms that this is the infamous “Scary House” supposedly haunted by malevolent spirits. Feeling a sense of déjà vu as he grows increasingly paranoid, the Lumiose Gym Leader tries to use his inventions to prove that there is an explanation behind all this and discovers that a Gengar, a Haunter and a Gastly are responsible for the paranormal activity.

However, before the group can relax, Bonnie goes missing, followed by Ash, Pikachu and Serena, the last of whom Clemont sees falling down a trap door. On the verge of freaking out as he is left with Lon and the Ghost-types, he learns of a cellar in the basement, but when he investigates, he is horrified to see religious symbols plastered over the doorway. Nevertheless, after mustering his courage, he has Luxray, Bunnelby and Chespin break down the rusted door and find his friends and an old journal inside the chamber. Reading this, Clemont discovers that it belonged to a young boy who befriended the Ghost-type Pokémon while living in the mansion, as well as a photo of said boy that resembles a younger Lon—that was taken over 200 years ago. Remembering the account, Lon confirms that the photo is his before revealing that he is actually dead, causing everyone to scream in horror.

The next morning, the quartet are awakened in the middle of the forest by Philippe and the Knights, who claim that they found them where they are and have been watching them for the past few hours. Shaken, the group wonders if it was all a dream, but unbeknownst to the others, Bonnie and Dedenne discover a photo of them, Lon and the three Ghost-type Pokémon in her bag.

877.   A Fashionable Battle!

Upon arriving in Laverre City, Ash learns that Gym Leader and famed fashion designer Valerie de Caro is currently occupied with her seasonal fashion show, necessitating a postponement of their battle until the following day. At the same time, Clemont reunites with Sawyer and introduces him to the others, with the younger boy showing interest in and admiration of Ash due to his previous travels as he challenges him to a Double Battle. However, while most of their friends follow them to the battlefield to see this, Serena, Bonnie, Philippe, Dina, and Benoit decide to explore the massive gym upon realising that it also serves as a fashion store, with the latter three planning to buy specific items and upgrades for their gear. As human companions separate, Xerneas wonders what she and Yveltal should do, only to see the latter being drawn away by a strange, recognisable melody.

During their shopping spree, Serena, Bonnie, Benoit, and Philippe are interrupted by two assistants who escort them to a private room. Observing this, a suspicious Dina follows them into the restricted back corridors with a new amulet that enables her to pick locks and disarm the security system, only to run into Valerie herself, who explains that she had taken the girls to ask for a favour. Instantly forming a connection with Mawile and Sylveon, the quirky gym leader apologises for excluding Dina before bringing her to Philippe and Benoit – with whom she had been having tea – and encouraging them all not to miss the show before she departs. Commenting that Valerie seems “weird”, the baffled Dina discovers from Philippe that they were merely catching up on each other’s lives and is astonished to learn that he has known her since childhood due to her proficiency in Aura, which allowed her to communicate with Pokémon.

Later that evening, Ash, Sawyer, Clemont, Geoff and Aoife reunite with Philippe, Dina and Benoit, who explain what happened to them as they assure the former that they have secured him a spot for his match with Valerie. As Xerneas and Yveltal likewise return, the show begins, and as Serena and Bonnie are shown among the models (as the originals could not show up due to prior obligations), Dina quickly realises why Valerie wanted them to see the fashion show when she appears onstage with a couple dressed in the style of and accompanied by a Gardevoir and a Gallade, both of whom are wearing signet rings. Recognising them as two more members of the Knights of Kalos, she alerts Philippe as Valerie eyes Sawyer in the crowd and invites him to have a 1v1 gym battle right there and then – before proceeding to defeat his new Bagon with her Spritzee.

In the aftermath of the show, the group reconvenes at the Pokémon Center, where Ash decides to do some last-minute training with Sawyer so he can prepare for his match (though he finds it hard to concentrate after seeing Serena in the dress she had modelled in). At the same time, Philippe and the Knights visit the gym, where Valerie introduces them to the final two Knights of Kalos – musician Wolfgang Brahms and singer Renata “Ren” Svobodová.

878.   Fairy-Type Trickery!

As the sun rises the following morning, Ash begins his 3v3 match against Valerie, who starts with a Mr. Mime. Cautious of the type disadvantage his team has against hers, he uses Hawlucha, who lands a few quick blows with Karate Chop, but his more agile opponent retaliates with a Psychic, which forces Ash to recall the Wrestling Pokémon and use Fletchinder instead. With his superior speed, the Ember Pokémon exploits the type advantage and knocks out Mr. Mime with a Flame Charge, leading Valerie to comment that Ash can understand his Pokémon very well, a remark that Serena, Clemont and Sawyer agree with.

Elsewhere, Philippe and Dina speak to Renata and Wolfgang as they prepare for a concert and learn how they obtained their gear from the Battle Chateau and their Gardevoir and Gallade. Getting straight to the point, Philippe reveals his identity and asks them to join him by offering the last two keystones as a gesture of goodwill, but both are hesitant and reply that they need time to consider the offer. With nothing else to do (since Benoit, Geoff and Aoife are busy practising their battling skills against their Pokémon), Philippe and Dina decide to attend the concert, where they discuss the next step before deciding to head to the location of the second minor kingdom that Alexa mentioned. As this happens, Renata and Wolfgang incorporate Mega Evolution into their performance, which turns out to be a rendition of an old song and dance that Philippe remembers from his youth, and he stays until the end of the performance, feeling nostalgic for the past as he remembers his first life.

Back at the gym, Ash faces Valerie’s Sylveon and eventually takes it out with a well-timed Steel Wing and Brave Bird. However, the combination leaves Fletchinder winded, and he soon falls to Valerie’s final Pokémon, the Spritzee from the day before, which forces Ash to bring out Hawlucha again as his opponent uses the Trick Room tactic that she used to defeat Sawyer. Thinking fast, he hits on the idea of something that he learned from Aoife and has Hawlucha tank a Gyro Ball with an X-Scissor, resulting in him gaining enough collateral force to break the Trick Room and defeat the exhausted Spritzee with a High Jump Kick. Though disappointed at not being able to use a third Pokémon, he still accepts the Fairy Badge as Valerie commends his skill while an inspired Sawyer asks Ash for another battle, which he accepts as they leave the gym.

At the same time, Philippe and Dina arrive to talk with Valeria in private, and she brings them into a room where Xerneas and Yveltal have been resting while talking to other curious and awestruck Pokémon. Speaking to the Lost Prince, the Fairy-type Gym Leader tells him that he does not need to ask her anything as she can already sense the inner turmoil in his soul and assures him that she will always be on his side as she believes he is a good person. Thanking her, Philippe receives a hug “for good luck”, but as he leaves, Valerie stops Dina and tells her that although she meant what she said, it will be up to her to keep him on the right path, as she is the only Knight he will truly listen to when things go south.

The Train to Freedom

As the train barrels through the Kalosian countryside towards Lysandre Labs, Sabine and Milos continue to debate what could happen once they arrive at their destination and eventually rope Elsa into the discussion when they cannot come up with a satisfactory answer. While this is going on, Isabella decides that the time has come to settle the demons of her past and approaches Joaquim in the train’s dining car, where he is revealed to be nurturing the Noibat egg. Sensing her presence, he initially remains silent but eventually turns to ask her why she saved his life when he and Nightshade fell into the sea, and in response, she replies that she doesn’t want him to die. However, Joaquim scoffs at this and reminds her that although she didn’t let him die “the last time”, she had hurt him in a far worse way than she could ever imagine…

Several years ago, Isabella and Joaquim grew up in a small coastal town in southern Kalos and were close friends throughout their childhood. As it turned out, both of them were adept in Aura, but Joaquim’s powers and skills were dwarfed by Isabella’s more potent abilities, which granted her immense mastery over Pokémon and humans. Desiring to find out more about her limits, she delved deeper into the study of Aura, and her practice sessions eventually bore fruit when she manifested actual magical powers, but this came at a cost as Joaquim began to distance himself from her out of jealousy and spite towards her natural prowess. This eventually culminated in a massive argument at their school, during which he bitterly revealed that her sheer mastery over her Aura was why she had no other friends besides him, as none of them thought themselves worthy of matching up to her. Driven to tears by the revelation, Isabella subsequently cut ties with Joaquim and refused to speak to or acknowledge him.

In the present, Isabella asks Joaquim if he thinks they have a second chance, but a loud explosion shakes the train before he can reply. Grabbing the egg to prevent it from falling off the table, the bounty hunter contacts Emilie, who was stationed at the back of the train, but only receives silence and decides to head for the cargo car where Nightshade is hiding as he tells Isabella to check on the Megalith. Though she is not happy, she obliges and runs back through the train, passing by Heidi and Courtney before she runs into Sabine, who tells her that they are being attacked… right before a long arm breaks through the window, grabs and yanks her out. Shocked, Isabella is forced to leave due to the train’s speed, but as she rushes back through the train, she (and Joaquim, who reaches Nightshade and begins prepping her for the fight) remembers her past again.

Upset by the reason behind her alienation, Isabella made plans to leave her home and rejected all of Joaquim’s guilt-ridden attempts to reconcile with her. However, during a trip into the woods, she stumbled upon a small, winged creature and bonded with it through her Aura as it grew, eventually naming it Nightshade after taming it. As it turned out, this creature was empathic and sentient, and it suggested that she bury the hatchet with Joaquim, prompting her to make one final attempt before her departure. Unfortunately, this coincided with the abduction of Joaquim’s baby sister, which drove the entire town into hysterics as search parties were organised to find her, but this caused Isabella to alter her approach instead as she decided to help find the missing child on her own to make it up to him. To this end, she acted on her Aura-related dreams and retrieved her gear from the Battle Chateau before returning and brutalising several local thugs in her search for the culprits.

Back in the present, Sabine faces her assailant as she regains her bearings on the roof of the train car… or assailants, as it is revealed that they are both hooded figures the Knights previously encountered! Unleashing her Pangoro and Scizor, she brandishes her scythe as she fights alongside her Pokémon, blocking blows from their halberds and swords until they send her running with a pair of high-powered, dart-launching gauntlets. Taking cover behind a ventilator, Sabine reaches out with her Aura to contact Milos, only to learn that he is defending the Megalith from several other masked goons with Elsa. Below, as Isabella rushes to the Megalith, she finds the unconscious Emilie locked in a compartment and revives her, learning that she got jumped by the hooded figures before she could raise the alarm. Helping her to her feet, Isabella tells Emilie she has a plan but warns her that she might disapprove of it.

Forty-five seconds later, the duo arrives at the prison car and frees the red-eyed girl, returning her Pokéballs and weapons as she informs her what is happening before presenting her with a choice – fight alongside them or die in her chains. Scoffing, the girl points out that she could join forces with those attacking them, but Isabella insists that she won’t before revealing that she can sense a great deal of inner turmoil within her. However, while she expresses her understanding that joining the Knights may conflict with her beliefs, she also points out that she must make peace with her past to move forward, which impresses Emilie. Commending her comrade as they move back through the train to find Joaquim, Emilie asks Isabella where she heard that, which triggers another flashback to her past…

Following many sleepless nights and acts of brutal violence, Isabella tracked down the kidnappers in a hidden cave. Unfortunately, while she effortlessly defeated them with Nightshade and her Gengar, she discovered that she was too late to save Joaquim’s sister, and in her grief and rage, she lobotomised the last surviving kidnapper—just as several townsfolk chanced upon the scene. Disturbed by her brutality and fearing her power, they blamed her for the kidnapping before swarming and attempting to lynch her, but she fled, leaving behind Nightshade when it volunteered to hold them off. Having lost the last links to her life in Kalos, she then travelled to Coumarine City and stowed away on a cargo ship bound for Hoenn to start a new life.

In the present, the red-eyed girl regards one of her Pokéballs before opening it to reveal a Whismur. Addressing it as “Aster” as it nuzzles her, she wonders if she has a choice in dictating her future if she is running away from her past and realises after some self-reflection that she has been running for too long. With that, she resolves to face her demons and fix her tumultuous relationship with her loved ones but also realises that there is only one option that will allow her to do this…

Still on the roof, Sabine is saved by Joaquim, who flies in with Nightshade and blasts her attackers with fire, but they are surprised when their opponents are revealed to be immune to the flames when they recover and retaliate with blasts of dark Aura. As the duo adjusts their strategy, Emilie and Isabella emerge from a hatch and join the fray with the former’s Vivillon… just as the train enters a tunnel. With barely any time to react as the beings escape in a cloud of black smoke, Sabine and Emilie abandon the fight and dive back inside the train as Joaquim attempts to grab Isabella, only to fail and be forced to pull up on Nightshade to avoid a collision.

Fortunately, Isabella is revealed to have saved herself by allowing her Mega Gengar to possess her body, thereby giving her a degree of durability as she pins herself to the side of the train. Shimmying her way along its side, she finds a doorway to a passenger compartment in one of the last carriages and enters it, only to find three Inkay hiding inside, which she tries to comfort. But as she calms them down, she suddenly senses something wrong and dives to the floor, grabbing and covering the Inkay just as the seats of the compartment (and every other one in the car) are shredded by a machine gun mounted at the end of the carriage that the masked goons are manning.

Unable to get up without getting shot, Isabella crawls out of the compartment and bumps into Elsa, Heidi, Milos and Courtney, the latter of whom was shot and wounded while charging the gun. With there being no other way to get to the operator, Isabella turns to the Inkay and convinces them to work with her to save the others on the train before sending two of the Revolving Pokémon to get as close to the operator as possible so they can jam the gun with a Psybeam. Crawling back into the compartment, she waits for the gun to stop, and when it does, she quickly gets up and fires a magic missile through the hole to the back, nailing the man in the head. Catching onto this plan, the other goons drive off the Inkay before resuming firing as the train exits the tunnel, pinning Isabella down, but this lasts for five seconds before the Draconid and her Mega Salamence immolate them. This causes the rest of the gun’s ammunition to detonate in an explosion that nearly engulfs them, but they are saved by Joaquim and Nightshade, the former of whom realises that Isabella must have let her out of her cell.

Thirty minutes later, as the others recover from the attack, Joaquim finds Isabella in the wrecked dining car and accuses her of letting their prisoner out, which she does not deny. However, when he asks why, she reveals that while the easy answer would be to say that they needed help, she doesn’t know if it is an answer she wants to say and admits that she is still unsure of how to speak to him after all this time. Admitting that she hasn’t “liked” people since that day, Isabella is cut off by Joaquim, who asks her if she killed his sister, and as she definitively whispers that she did not, he remembers his past…

Following Isabella’s escape, the townsfolk captured Nightshade, but it formed an empathic link with Joaquim, who convinced them to spare it under the pretence that it was just a wild animal. Once they were alone, Joaquim spoke with Nightshade, who revealed to him the circumstances behind Isabella’s departure and what she had gone through to search for his sister, making him immensely guilty. Blaming himself for her disappearance, he spent the next few years searching for her while furthering his career as a bounty hunter, but he had always come up short, even after visiting the Battle Chateau and retrieving his gear to help him. Eventually, he got a lead on her location from Junichi and had been contemplating how to get to Hoenn when he came across Sabine, Milos and Emilie.

In the present, Joaquim repeats his question to Isabella, who realises his intent and, having realised that she doesn’t want to run anymore, opens her Aura to him for the first time since their argument. Now able to read her emotions, Joaquim learns everything she has been through since they last saw each other, including every questionable act she has committed and every secret she has hidden, and through this, he finds closure. Having likewise found her solace, Isabella apologises as she embraces him, and as they bury the hatchet and comfort each other, the Pokémon egg hatches into a Noibat. But as Nightshade nuzzles the newborn Sound Wave Pokémon, the still-unshackled Draconid is seen back in her cell, wondering where this path will take her as the train continues towards Lysandre Labs.

The credits are shown as a series of still images, displaying Isabella’s journey through Hoenn, how she met Junichi, and her life on Paradiso for the next few years before she reunited with Joaquim.

Chapter Text

879.   Rivals: Today and Tomorrow!

After accidentally misplacing his notebook outside the Laverre Gym, Sawyer’s frantic attempts to search for it come up empty-handed, even after combing the entire town. Unbeknownst to him, Team Rocket finds the notebook and mistakes it for Steven Stone’s due to a photo of him being affixed to the inside of the front cover, while a despondent Sawyer explains to Ash and Clemont that the notebook was a gift from Steven and contains not only all the notes and observations from his journey but also vital information on various Mega Evolutions. Understanding his predicament, Clemont advises him to use his Slurpuff’s keen sense of smell, and it does track down Team Rocket, who return it upon realising their error. However, upon discovering the notebook’s contents, the TRio attempt to steal it back leads to them getting blasted off by Benoit, Aoife and Geoff’s Mega Houndoom, Mega Abomasnow and Mega Pidgeot. Watching all this, Valerie persuades Renata and Wolfgang to accompany Philippe on his journey so they can know who they are, and with her encouragement, they approach him in the Pokémon Center.

Later that night, the group decides to travel to Anistar City via Dendemille Town, where Serena can participate in her next Showcase. However, as Philippe prepares for negotiations with the second minor kingdom, Xerneas and Yveltal decide to separate from the group for a while to investigate something, though they assure the Knights that they will meet up at Anistar to see “where it all began”. At the same time, Ash and Sawyer have a 3v3 battle to make up for their unfinished one the previous day and with prior knowledge of how his opponent works, the former quickly takes down Bagon and Slurpuff, allowing him to face Treecko with Frogadier. Both Pokémon turn out to be evenly matched, but while the younger trainer enables his Pokémon’s evolution into Grovyle, he is ultimately defeated. Nevertheless, Sawyer is inspired to get stronger as Philippe and Serena note the newfound rivalry and Ash’s innate ability to bring out the best in others due to how he views the world.

880.   A Not-So-Flying Start!

Back on the road, the group finds an abandoned Pokémon egg near a tree that hatches into a Noibat. Stuck with a baby Pokémon, everyone tries to help it acclimate to its new surroundings, but after many attempts, they discover that only Ash can calm it as it imprinted on him when it hatched. Meanwhile, Philippe introduces Renata and Wolfgang to the rest of the Knights, who are a bit sceptical of their placement in the group. However, a chance encounter with Team Rocket that traps the couple in a dark cave with Noibat and Hawlucha allows them to show off what they can, including the ability to use their Aura to boost the morale of their allies, a veritable arsenal of hidden weapons built within Wolfgang’s musical instruments and Renata’s hypnotic singing, which incapacitates the TRio and allows them to blast them off with a pair of Meowstic. As the day ends with Noibat getting some training from Wolfgang on handling his echolocation, Ash adds the young Sound Wave Pokémon to his team.

881.   A Relay in the Sky!

Stumbling upon a Pokémon Sky Relay, Ash enters with Fletchinder, Hawlucha and Noibat so he can teach the latter how to fly, and goes up against the previous winner, a boy named Orson, as well as Geoff’s Pidgeot and Fletchinder. Going side by side, both teams stay neck and neck as they clear the various obstacles and clash with the other competitors, including Team Rocket, whom Aoife ultimately handles with a mace and Mega Abomasnow. Eventually, it comes down to Noibat against Geoff’s Fletchinder and Orson’s Starly, but when the Sound Wave Pokémon cannot get past a disorienting updraft wind current no matter how hard he tries, the Ember Pokémon sacrifices her winning chance to help him spread his wings. As a result, Noibat gains the ability to fly while Fletchinder evolves into a Talonflame, causing a proud Ash and Geoff to celebrate their greater success as Orson wins the Sky Relay.

882.   Lights! Camera! Pika!*

While walking through the forest, the group chances upon a movie shoot featuring multiple Pikachu, and the director, Frank, eyes Ash’s partner as the newest star for his latest movie starring five other Pikachu in various costumes (which are nicknamed “The Cosplay Pikachu”). With some persuasion from his granddaughter and assistant, Jean, the group decide to help him make the movie, but while the Knights settle into their departments, Philippe has trouble finding his area of expertise and calls Diantha for advice… only to interrupt a battle she is having with Trevor, though she manages to give him some words of encouragement by telling him to follow his heart as he did for his Pokémon. Hanging up, Diantha defeats Trevor’s Florges within minutes and commends his tactical approach to the battle, only to be interrupted by Kathi Lee, who informs her of a recent attack on a cargo train.

Unaware of this while refining the script, Clemont, Wolfgang and Renata submit it to Frank as filming begins and continues for the rest of the afternoon, with Philippe and Benoit manning a second unit to quicken the pace of the shoot with additional sequences. Once the post-production is done later that night, the group is treated to an early preview of the final cut, which brings Frank to tears as he profusely thanks the group for helping him achieve his dream. Having enjoyed the experience, Philippe receives a copy of the completed film from Jean for distribution and once again reaches out to Diantha to help bring an old man’s dream to life. The episode ends with a behind-the-scenes shoot created by the girls and several bloopers throughout the production.

883.   A Frenzied Factory Fiasco!

While exploring the world-famous Pokéball Factory, Ash, Serena, Bonnie and Clemont are tricked by a disguised Team Rocket into handing over their Pokémon before getting locked in a storage room. Having split off beforehand due to seeing right through the TRio’s disguises, Philippe and the Knights attempt to intervene, but are lured into a gas chamber and are knocked out, save for Dina, who escapes through the ventilation system with several of their smaller Pokémon (including Sylveon, Mawile and both Honedge and Meowstic). With the factory being mostly automated, she reunites with Pikachu, who managed to escape the case he was trapped in, and they work together to stop the TRio heist, leading to a battle on the factory floor against Meowth, Growlie and Wobbuffet. At the same time, Jessie and James attempt to thwart their progress by hijacking the controls of the assembly machines but run into issues of their own when they are forced to fight Dina’s Pokémon.

As Clemont blasts the doors open with one of his inventions, he and Bonnie stumble across the knocked-out Knights and revive them while Serena and Ash split up to find Team Rocket and free the captive factory workers. Meanwhile, the scuffle on the assembly line soon spills into the Pokéball storage facility, resulting in Pikachu nearly capturing Meowth in a Luxury Ball as Dina uses all the equipment and Pokémon she has to gain the upper hand on Growlie and Wobbuffet. Having noticed the escape, James tells Meowth that they have to go, but they are confronted at the parking lot by Dina, who makes a deal with Meowth to give back all the Pokéballs if Pikachu beats him in a 1v1. Agreeing, Meowth squares off against his oldest enemy, but despite putting up an impressive fight with Pay Day and an inventive usage of Fury Swipes, he ends up losing when he is hit by a Volt Tackle, forcing Jessie and James to collect him and blast themselves off with a small number of Pokéballs, though they leave the group’s Pokémon in their haste. With that, Dina and Pikachu reunite with the others and are congratulated on their handling of the situation after seeing them in action on the factory’s security cameras.

884.   Performing with Fiery Charm!

Upon arriving in Dendemille Town, Serena decides to wear a dress she received from Valerie to the Showcase as she reunites with Miette, who comments on her new look before telling her that she is still intent on “having a chat” with Ash, which flusters her as the event begins. Assisted by her “backstage crew” of Dina, Benoit and Renata (who is revealed to be a former Performer who transitioned into singing), Serena learns that the first round is a Poké Puff bake-off but becomes worried when Miette and a disguised Jessie pass their rounds with ease. Fortunately, she manages to develop a Poké Puff inspired by her journey that ultimately wins the judges over, allowing her to proceed to the next round.

Learning that this is the freestyle round, Jessie does a circus-inspired performance that garners the crowd’s approval, but as she leaves the stage, she knocks into and “accidentally” rips Serena’s skirt. Horrified and at a loss as Miette takes the stage, Serena gets a second wind upon remembering something Ash said and makes a last-minute modification to her dress by trimming the hem. With this new outfit, she performs an elaborate dance that she had practised and choreographed with her Pokémon for weeks, and this ends up being the deciding factor in the voting as the audience, won over by the mesmerising spectacle, overwhelmingly votes in Serena’s favour and grants her the Princess Key.

Reuniting with her friends after the Showcase, Serena reveals what happened, but as Ash comments that she looked nice in her dress, Miette appears and congratulates her rival before declaring that she will win both the next competition and “the other one”. Though flustered, Serena keeps her cool and thanks everyone for getting her this far, particularly focusing on Ash for his words of comfort and advice. Meanwhile, Jessie, though irritated by Serena’s victory, tells James and Meowth that she has to step her game up even more to achieve a single triumph over the younger girl.

Concurrently with all these events, Philippe walks through the scenic town as he reminisces about his honeymoon with Raven Solstice following his resurrection and marriage. During this time, he also remembers her real name—Mystra—and the promise that he made to her to do what was best for not only their loved ones but also their home, country, and people.

Pokémon: Hoopa—The Mischief Pokémon

The short begins with Baraz departing from Meray and Hoopa aboard his Braviary, brusquely telling them to meet him in Dahara City. As she watches her brother leave, Meray remembers how they grew up together…

Years ago, the siblings had spent their childhood in Arche Valley, learning to control their innate ability to communicate with Legendary Pokémon. As the eldest one and the leader of their circle of friends, Baraz had taken his roles and responsibilities seriously, but Meray preferred to spend time with Hoopa and play pranks on the locals all day… until the day when the siblings and their friends, Kevie, Pitt, Lucianne and Tarık, got into trouble when Hoopa misinterpreted an order from Baraz and made it rain candy on a farmer by teleporting the treats from a local store.

Forced to return the stolen treats, the siblings (and Hoopa) were inadvertently reminded by the store’s owner, Mira, that they had the legacy of their great-grandfather, Ghris, to live up to, which caused Meray to remember that he was the one who sealed Hoopa’s Unbound form away approximately three thousand years ago. However, while the other children were captivated by the tale, Tarık displayed more interest in Ghris’ travelling companion – a young man wielding a staff and a sword while wearing a gold crown inlaid with three emeralds – and got into an argument with Meray over who was more important in the story until Mira intervened.

Subsequently, the children had been tasked with helping Mira make the latest batch of pastries, both as punishment and to teach them a lesson, and while they were kneading the dough, Tarık apologised to Baraz for his outburst at Meray. Due to his strong friendship with the other boy, Baraz accepted his apology, which led to him discussing Ghris’ many accomplishments throughout his life. However, while Baraz spoke highly of his late great-grandfather’s deeds, he doubted being a capable successor even as Tarık expressed confidence in his skills.

Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse when Meray, impatient with their slow progress after misplacing the heavy load required to flatten the dough, told Hoopa to find something of a suitable heaviness to speed up the process… only for the whole thing to blow up in her face when the Graveler summoned by the Mythical Pokémon inadvertently broke a religious symbol modelled on Arceus. Fearing Mira’s anger, the children temporarily substituted a larger version of the symbol from the village fountain while hastily attempting to repair the smaller one with whatever supplies Hoopa brought them, but even this attempt to cover their mistakes ended in disaster when Baraz’s impatience with Hoopa led to him accidentally reattaching the final piece the wrong way.

Pushed to his breaking point, Baraz lashed out at Hoopa and blamed him for the mess, which caused Meray to admonish him as she defended the immature Mythical Pokémon. This caused Baraz to snap back at his sister over how she always took Hoopa’s side, and the argument soon escalated into a physical fight, forcing their friends to separate them just as Mira returned to break up the commotion. However, when Tarık admitted the damage to the statue in an attempt to take the fall for his friends, the elderly baker revealed that she already knew that the symbol was broken… and that it was a decorative fake, with the real one being in an altar in her home. With that, she let the kids off with a warning and gave them some of the doughnuts they were making earlier as a treat, though not before she had remarked that taking the fall for his allies was something Ghris’ companion would have done.

Hours later, as Tarık reflected on the day’s events while the other scarfed down the pastries, he decided to find out more about Ghris’ travels and whom he could seek out to learn more about Hoopa’s past to fulfil his purpose. However, as he shared his plans with the siblings, he soon realised that their fight had left a rift in their relationship, and they stormed off when he tried to get them to reconcile.

In the present, as Meray and Hoopa begin the trek to Dahara City, the former expresses her regrets over the fight she had with her brother all those years ago while morosely acknowledging the unlikeliness of him ever forgiving her even as Hoopa tries to cheer her up. Elsewhere, Baraz heads for the Tomb of the Ancients to retrieve Hoopa’s Prison Bottle, and Tarık – who is already in Dahara – ties a letter to a Pidove and gives it instructions to fly to a specific location in the southern reaches of their desert home, deciding that since they are going to restore Hoopa’s power, they should get help from the man who helped Ghris to begin with—the Lost Prince of Kalos!

Chapter Text

885.   Rotom’s Wish!

With no Pokémon Center in the immediate vicinity, the exhausted group checks into a run-down hotel where Ash catches wind of a training field in the building. However, he is appalled when he learns that guests have to wager their Pokémon as part of the terms and conditions, with them surrendering their Pokémon if they lose. As an argument breaks out between him and the hotel’s owner, a thuggish man named Mantle, a Rotom appears and provides a distraction, allowing the group to seek shelter in a storage room. Here, they discover that during the hotel’s opening a decade ago, its former owner and Rotom’s trainer, Weston, was challenged by Mantle for its ownership, with the threat of harassing the guests if his demands were rejected. Out of duty to his customers, Weston had agreed to the battle but lost when Rotom fled the battle after being intimidated by the Krookodile’s roar, which caused the hotel to be reduced to its current pitiful state.

Though they empathise with Rotom’s plight, the group points out that they cannot do anything to change the past unless they have a time machine… at which point Philippe senses something and follows Rotom to a lone elevator. Entering it, the group is surprised when Rotom possesses the lift, causing a series of strange runes to become visible on the walls, and Philippe, recognising them as instructions for a time manipulation spell, has the Knights channel their Aura into them, allowing the Plasma Pokémon to supercharge the elevator. Following a flash of bright light, the group is transported back to that fateful moment, and Ash and Benoit intervene before Mantle can declare his victory, exploiting a loophole in the rules to buy time for Weston to get his Rotom, whom they find in the storage room. Learning that the hotel’s custodians have no battling experience, Clemont devises a plan upon seeing several electrical appliances and gets Weston to utilise Rotom’s ability to change forms and types by possessing said appliances, allowing him to defeat the Krookodile when he returns to the battlefield.

Incensed, Mantle and his goons attempt to take the hotel by force, but this incurs the wrath of Benoit, Geoff and Aoife, who proceed to thrash all of them with their Honedge, Talonflame and Skiddo. Once this skirmish has finished, Weston thanks the group for their help and takes their photo to commemorate the hotel’s opening, which they see when they return to the present alongside a statue of a cavalier in the now pristine hotel. With that, the group finally relaxes with a good night’s sleep as Weston celebrates the tenth anniversary of the hotel’s opening (along with the more subdued Mantle and his goons, who are now clerks).

However, as the following morning dawns, Philippe receives a letter from an unknown person addressing him as the Lost Prince of Kalos and inviting him to visit a nearby city that is part of the second minor kingdom. Learning that this person has been in contact with both Alexa and Diantha and needs some help with the local Mythical Pokémon, he shares this with the Knights, who all agree to head to this location after discussing the impending detour with their friends.

Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages

Following the letter’s instructions, the group heads to rendezvous point – a Pokémon Center in the middle of a desert – and relax by a pool as Benoit plots their next move to Dahara City, the location mentioned in the letter and the home of the Dahara Tower, a religious monument from which the city takes its name. Speculating that this site must be of great importance to their quest, Dina asks Philippe what he remembers of the place, and he tells her that it was where a friend of his named Ghris had captured the local Mythical Pokémon, though he has no idea where he could be now after they lost contact roughly 1500 years ago.

As the Knights continue to plan and speculate, Serena arrives with a plate of doughnuts she has made for everyone, but before Ash can try one, he notices a strange hand stealing the pastries through a strange portal-like ring. Alerting Philippe and Dina, he grabs it as they and Pikachu come to his aid, only for all four of them to be dragged through the ring to the other side, a pavilion on the outskirts of Dahara City. There, they meet the culprit: a small purple Pokémon with three golden rings resembling an impish djinn, and Philippe recognises him as a Hoopa before explaining to his friends that he is a trickster and kleptomaniac who insists on calling people nicknames that he creates for them. This is soon made clear when Hoopa, eager to show off his power, summons a large horde of Pikachu (including the five Cosplay Pikachu) for the sole purpose of making Ash find his own, and when Ash quickly solves this problem by using his Aura and his connection with his partner, the immature Pokémon throws a tantrum, inadvertently causing all the Pikachu to discharge their electricity into Philippe before he can shield himself with his Aura.

Fortunately, the situation is calmed down by a young man and woman who lecture Hoopa on his behaviour (though not before getting electrocuted too) before persuading him to send all the Pikachu back where they came from. With the situation under control, the girl introduces herself as Meray, a resident of Arche Valley and Ghris’ great-granddaughter, while her companion reveals himself to be the man who sent Philippe the letter, a merchant named Tarık Yılmaz. Introducing himself, Philippe asks her how Ghris has been doing—only to be saddened when he learns that his friend died a few years ago and grieves his passing as Ash and Dina ask the duo if there is any way they can bring the others to them.

Once everyone else has been brought through one of Hoopa’s rings and the proper introductions have been made, Meray and Tarık explain that they are trying to restore the Mythical Pokémon power at Dahara Tower, causing a cautious Philippe to ask them if they are sure he can control his emotions. However, while Meray expresses her faith in her friend’s abilities, Tarık admits that he isn’t sure and explains that based on Ghris’ final accounts, Hoopa still has a child’s mental capacity and maturity. Regardless, the group agrees to accompany them to the monument under the assumption that it will be a short trip, only to be disappointed when they learn that while Hoopa can transport them directly to their destination, he can’t travel through his portals, meaning that they will have to make their way there on foot.

Sensing that there is something else they are not telling him, Philippe presses them for more information just as another man approaches them. Recognising him as her older brother, Baraz, she coldly greets him as he approaches them, but is held back by Benoit, who senses something wrong with him… and his suspicions are proven correct when the man unveils a strange bottle and releases a shadowy force that possesses Hoopa. This causes the Mythical Pokémon to transform into a massive, six-armed being, and as an alarmed Philippe identifies this new creature as a “Hoopa, Unbound”, it immediately begins causing havoc, forcing Geoff and Aoife to act quickly as it begins throwing occupied buildings at the group. However, they are all effortlessly batted aside by the angry Pokémon, who tries to destroy the bottle before a timely intervention from Wolfgang and Renata allows Dina to kick it away.

Rushing over to Baraz, Tarık questions him about what happened, but the other man can only respond with confusion as he tells him that the last thing he remembers is something coming over him when he touched the bottle. Hearing this, Philippe grabs the bottle and infuses it with his Aura, encouraging Baraz and Meray to do the same despite noticing some friction between them. Fortunately, his words are successful, and the siblings complete the process, drawing out the dark spirit from Hoopa (who returns to normal) and resealing the bottle. Visibly exhausted from the effort as he grips the bottle, Philippe is supported by Dina as he comments that this was harder than the last time before explaining to everyone present that he and Ghris had enchanted the bottle to allow only themselves to handle it without getting possessed by Hoopa’s dark side. Turning to Baraz, the Lost Prince asks if he took it from the Tomb of the Ancients, and upon receiving confirmation that he did, he sternly tells him that he should have waited for them.

Taking charge of the situation, the Knights stay behind and tend to the injured while the others head to the Pokémon Center in Dahara City via a riverboat service. On the way, Tarık, Baraz and Meray (the latter two of whom are still giving each other the cold shoulder) tell Hoopa’s story to the group with help from Philippe’s first-hand accounts of what he witnessed…

Approximately 3000 years ago, Hoopa Unbound first appeared above the then-fledgling Dahara Town, consuming the inhabitants’ food before repaying them with a shower of gold. Taking a liking to this arrangement, the immature and lazy Mythical Pokémon returned to the city multiple times over the next few years, and the gold it paid the villagers allowed the town to expand into a city. Over time, however, the bored villagers began challenging Hoopa to Pokémon battles, which eventually resulted in the immature Mythical Pokémon summoning increasingly strong Pokémon to battle in his stead, and this culminated in a massive clash between other summoned Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, which threatened the city and its inhabitants. To prevent further loss of life, Ghris fashioned a magic bottle infused with Philippe’s Aura, and by using his powers to communicate with Legendary and Mythical Pokémon, he tricked Hoopa into sealing himself inside. As a result, Hoopa was reduced to his smaller, Confined form, and Ghris took advantage of his much more palatable state to bring the Mythical Pokémon into his family while he sealed the bottle away in the desert and assisted Philippe in the unification of the Kingdom of Kalos. However, as part of the enchantment, Hoopa was not allowed to pass through his rings until he had understood why he was imprisoned, which had caused Ghris, in the last years of his life, to permit him to form bonds with Baraz and Meray so that they would be able to help him regain his power.

Continuing their story as the boat docks at the Pokémon Center, Baraz reveals that the Dahara Tower was built on the hill where the bottle was forged, making it a holy location for the inhabitants of their home village in the Arche Valley. However, before he can finish, Meray cuts in by saying that they and their fellow villagers possess the innate ability to communicate with Legendary Pokémon and worship Arceus (from whom they supposedly received their powers) as a god. Irked, Baraz snaps at her, but a similarly irritated Tarık defuses the impending argument and forcibly separates them with a Spritzee before apologising to the group, revealing – over the siblings’ objections – that they have held grudges against each other for years ever since an incident in their childhoods and have only ever worked together out of necessity since then.

Upon hearing this, Philippe expresses his understanding of the situation before shifting the conversation back to Hoopa, towards whom he expresses his doubts over whether he has matured or changed from his childish ways. Insulted, Hoopa mocks Philippe and his wife, forcing Dina to calm him down before he can slap the Mythical Pokémon, though she advises him to give the Mischief Pokémon a chance by pointing out how he has changed from meeting new people ever since she first met him in Lumiose City.

Realising that she is right as Meray reprimands Hoopa, Philippe apologises for his outburst and admits that while he is still reluctant to accept Hoopa’s claims, he should give him a chance to prove that he has matured. However, before he can continue, Dina and Ash sense danger and tackle their friends to the floor as the front entrance of the building explodes.

Fortunately, everyone escapes serious injury, but as the smoke clears, Philippe is shocked to see Essentia standing at the destroyed entrance with two cloaked figures, both of whom quickly shed their robes to reveal a man and a woman with black eyes. Recognising them from his past, Philippe warns Dina not to engage, but she is forced to when Essentia instructs them to capture Hoopa and brings out Sylveon and Mawile, with Tarık and Ash joining her alongside Spritzee and Pikachu. Observing Baraz and Meray shielding Hoopa nearby, Philippe contacts the Knights while protecting Serena, Clemont, and Bonnie with Quilladin and Charizard, only to be attacked by Essentia, who demands he hand over the bottle just as he receives a reply from Benoit that they will arrive in two minutes. Refusing, Philippe duels her, but Essentia dodges his sword and manages to open the bottle on his belt.

Freed, the dark spirit emerges once more, but, having learned from its mistake, it forms its own body instead of possessing Hoopa. Quickly reacting, Baraz dives for the bottle, but the spirit shatters it and takes the form of Hoopa Unbound just as the Knights show up, forcing Essentia and her two companions to retreat. With the angry Hoopa Unbound threatening the safety of hundreds of lives in the Pokémon Center, Hoopa Confined summons a Lugia to battle his counterpart, allowing the group to escape across the rooftops of the adjacent buildings as everyone else heads out the door.

Bringing the other Knights up to speed on what they missed as they eventually stop in a deserted alley, Philippe and Dina wonder if Essentia has been following them. However, with more pressing matters at hand, they put the disturbing thought aside as Hoopa Confined refuses to face his alternate self out of fear, leading Baraz to propose the creation of another prison bottle to trap the entity. Remembering that they will need Fire, Water and Ground types to make such a container, Philippe tells the siblings that they will have to forge it at the Tower due to the high concentration of Aura present and warns them about what to expect as Hoopa Confined opens a portal to their destination. Alongside Philippe’s Charizard and Gyarados, Ash and Serena volunteer Frogadier and Braixen to help create the new bottle, but as they are short a Ground-type, the group settles on a Hippopotas that Bonnie saw earlier to act as a substitute. Furthermore, with Hoopa Confined still unable to pass through his rings, Ash, Philippe and Tarık decide to stay behind and escort him through the city while the Knights defend the rest from any potential attacks at the Tower.

With that, the group splits up, and as the Tower team arrives at their destination, they make their way into the depths of the structure via a secret entrance. Eventually arriving at a massive chamber with an enormous stone in its centre, Benoit comments that it resembles a primitive altar as he divides the Knights into pairs and has them take up positions around the room as Dina gathers the remains of the shattered bottle in a casting mould that Serena finds under the stone. However, with Baraz and Meray barely on speaking terms with each other, Clemont and Bonnie take it upon themselves to mediate between the siblings and convince them to work together by pointing out that, while they don’t have the same responsibilities, they still rely on each other when times were tough, encouraging Baraz to be more tolerant of Hoopa while prompting Meray to accept the burden they share.

Outside the Tower, Ash’s group runs into Hoopa Unbound while sneaking through the streets of Dahara City. Having disposed of the Lugia with a portal, he attacks them, but while Philippe slices its arm and allows them to escape into a storeroom, Tarık voices the realisation that the city may not be a good location to hide as Hoopa Unbound might tear apart the place to find them. Given how this would put innocent lives at risk, Philippe changes the plan to start an evacuation of the city, and Tarık informs both him and Ash of a citywide communications system that can be accessed from the top of the tallest skyscraper. With this revised plan, the trio make a break for it as Hoopa Unbound finds them, and as they do, Ash deduces that Hoopa is scared of the power he once wielded and tries to cheer him up by highlighting all the good things he could do with some guidance from Baraz and Meray (even when Hoopa points out Baraz doesn’t like him).

In an attempt to buy time, Philippe and Tarık split off from Ash, Pikachu and Hoopa Confined to lure Hoopa Unbound into the sewers, where the former brings out Mega Charizard Y and Gyarados for a battle, only for his opponent to summon a Kyurem. While the duo try to control the Boundary Pokémon as it erupts from the ground and begins rampaging through the city, Hoopa Unbound gets by them and intercepts Ash’s team as they arrive at the skyscraper. Thinking quickly, Ash tells Hoopa to summon a Pokémon that will allow them to reach the top as fast as possible and is rewarded with Latios and Latias, which allow him to ride them.

At the Tower, Benoit and Dina receive an update on the battle from Geoff, who observes Hoopa Unbound’s rampage from the safe side of the causeway leading to the Tower and wonders if they should help the others. However, Aoife expresses confidence in Philippe’s ability to hold off the danger… only to be cut off when the Tower’s lobby explodes. Heading over immediately, Wolfgang and Renata find her under a collapsed column but are attacked by the man and woman from before as Essentia sneaks into the altar chamber. Sensing her presence, Benoit faces her in a duel alongside his two Honedge while Dina assists him from afar with her short bow, allowing Serena to protect Baraz, Meray and the Liscio siblings as they try to complete the new bottle.

Elsewhere, Ash makes it to the top of the skyscraper with Hoopa Confined and leaves Pikachu behind with the Eon Duo to delay the Hoopa Unbound while he breaks in. Finding the automated comms system, he follows Tarık’s instructions to activate it and successfully directs everyone to the relative safety of Dahara Tower, but just as he finishes, the injured Pikachu is thrown into the room after being hit by a Dark Pulse. Grabbing him, Ash barely escapes the skyscraper on Latias and Latios before the Djinn Pokémon blows out the top floor with a Shiny Rayquaza that it summons, but as he descends to the street level, he finds Philippe and Tarık being chased by Kyurem, a Primal Groundon and a Primal Kyogre. Commenting on the impossibility of there being a second Weather Trio as his companions hop on the Eon Duo in an attempt to divert the battle away from the crowds, Ash learns from Philippe that Hoopa’s rings can not only transport people across great distances but between dimensions as well, meaning that these Pokémon are from alternate universes.

Back at the Tower, the lobby fight takes a bad turn when Renata is struck in the throat, rendering her unable to sing as Wolfgang’s opponent shatters his flute with his halberd. As they fight, Aoife wakes up, but despite realising that a stone has crushed her foot, she ignores the pain as she brings out Abomasnow and Mega Evolves him before ordering him to smash the debris she is pinned under. Once his trainer is freed, the Frost Tree Pokémon makes his way out and reunites with Geoff and his Mega Pidgeot, who saves Wolfgang and Renata with a barrage of arrows from his crossbow, allowing them to Mega Evolve their Gallade and Gardevoir.

Below, Benoit begins to tire against Essentia, but he is reinforced by Serena, Clemont and Bonnie, who join the fight with Braixen, Luxray and Dedenne. Working together, they lure Essentia into a trap by using Luxray’s Electric Terrain, which shatters her helmet’s visor to reveal a pair of blue eyes and forces her to retreat. However, as the others pursue Essentia, Dina overhears Baraz telling Meray that they need to enchant the nearly complete bottle with a prayer as an Aura user infuses it with their life energy, which would leave them weakened for a while. Since Philippe is not present, she volunteers for the process, pointing out that she is the only Aura user present and expressing her willingness to make the sacrifice, which strikes a chord in Meray.

Meanwhile, the situation in the city worsens with the arrival of a Dialga, a Palkia and a Giratina, even as Ash manages to purge the now Mega-Evolved Shiny Rayquaza of Hoopa Unbound’s influence. Jumping on, he takes control of the Sky High Pokémon to draw the attention of the other rampaging Legendary Pokémon, allowing Philippe and Latios to attack Hoopa Unbound directly. However, while this allows Tarık, Latias and Hoopa Confined to continue the evacuation to Dahara Tower, it still leaves their compatriots outmatched until the former is inspired by the appearance of Philippe’s Mega Charizard Y to have Hoopa Confined find Mega Stones for Rayquaza and the Eon Duo. Catching on, the group uses these to level the playing field when Philippe uses his keystone to simultaneously Mega Evolve all three of their Legendary Pokémon, and Hoopa Confined even helps by re-summoning the Lugia, granting them enough firepower to knock the Kyurem out of the fight.

Unable to comprehend that the tide is turning against him, Hoopa Unbound begins to feel the presence of the reforged bottle and shifts his target to Dahara Tower. Fortunately, the group makes it to the Tower with the Legendary Pokémon they have and finds the wounded Aoife, who updates them on what happened as she laments their lack of firepower. Understanding her concerns, Philippe suddenly remembers something and brings her to a section of Dahara Tower that is closed for an archaeological dig before uncovering and activating a hidden entrance leading to a seemingly empty room. Explaining that he and Ghris agreed to use this as a last line of defence if the location was threatened, he shows Aoife runes inscribed on the ground – a making out a rudimentary control interface – and despite not knowing what this could do, she sits down on the platform and channels her Aura into them.

Aboveground, Ash and Hoopa Confined try to have their Legendary Pokémon form a defensive perimeter around the Tower, but the Creation Trio get through… only to be stopped by a massive fist that is revealed to be part of an enormous stone and metal statue. As it begins pounding on the Giratina, Palkia and Dialga, Tarık recognises it and explains to Ash that the colossus was rumoured to have been built by the inhabitants of Arche Valley on Philippe’s orders and was meant to have been controlled by an Aura Guardian or Knight. Regardless, as the giant statue keeps the Legendary Pokémon at bay, Ash, Hoopa Confined and Tarık land at the causeway as Philippe finds and sends Geoff to support Aoife before helping the injured yet still fighting Wolfgang and Renata. As he duels the man and woman, he demands to know if they were sent by “her” and takes their silence as a confirmation as Benoit’s group emerges from the entrance to the altar chamber, still fighting Essentia.

Outside, Hoopa Unbound arrives and fires multiple Shadow Balls at the Eon Duo, the Mega Rayquaza and the statue, hitting the latter two due to their greater size. Seizing this opening, the Creation Trio target the statue alongside the Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre, and despite its durability, the sentinel is overwhelmed and demolished by the continuous attacks from five Legendary Pokémon, triggering a mental backlash that extends to Aoife when the connection is severed. As she collapses, Geoff supports her as they hobble back upstairs and grips her hand upon noticing that she is shaking to assure her that they will be all right.

Driven mad with fury at the thought of being imprisoned again, Hoopa Unbound assaults Dahara Tower, disrupting the multiple battles within and gouging out large chunks of stone which threaten the evacuees congregating at the side of the tower facing away from the city. Fortunately, Wolfgang and Renata save them from the falling rubble, but as Philippe and Benoit’s group continue their battles, Serena breaks off and heads to the entrance of the monument, only to be horrified when she finds a large mountain of rubble blocking the way out. Calling out for Ash, she tries to climb over the debris but stops when she hears a familiar voice.

On the other side of the rubble, Ash, Tarık and Hoopa Confined are found by Hoopa Unbound, and despite putting up a valiant fight with Frogadier, Fletchinder and Hawlucha, they are defeated. Roaring that he will not be imprisoned again, Hoope Unbound grabs Hoopa Confined and begins to squeeze him… but is suddenly distracted by a shout from Baraz, who is revealed to be standing atop the rubble with Meray while holding the reforged Prison Bottle. Instantly, the relic’s enchantment takes effect, and Hoopa Unbound can only watch as his power and dominion over his Legendary Pokémon army disappear, futilely demanding that they obey him.

However, as Baraz prepares to open the bottle to seal Hoopa Unbound within with the declaration that he is too dangerous for this world, Hoopa Confined – who is still being held in his larger self’s hand – interrupts him with a plea not to do this before turning to his counterpart. Having witnessed the destruction he is capable of and how people are willing to lay down their lives for him, he acknowledges their anger towards their imprisonment but tells him that if he does this, he is no better than those who locked him away. With that, he pleads with Hoopa Unbound to spare the inhabitants of Dahara, as while they have wronged and exploited them for their gain, they have also suffered enough from his rampage and do not deserve to die. Listening to the words of his smaller counterpart as he calms down, Hoopa Unbound expresses his scepticism that anyone would be willing to put up with him, but Hoopa Confined tells him that one family did, and shares a memory of when he, Baraz, Meray and Tarık got lost in the mountains and had to rely on each other to survive until Ghris rescued them.

Fortunately, this memory is enough to calm Hoopa Unbound fully, and he allows the bottle’s enchantment to take effect as it draws the worst of his anger inside, sealing it off and allowing both Mythical Pokémon to merge into a single being. Witnessing this as the group climbs over the rubble, Philippe berates a severely weakened Dina for putting her life at risk to enchant the bottle as he carries her on his back, though he acknowledges that he would have done the same thing had he been in her shoes. However, as a nearby Benoit guides Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Wolfgang and Renata out, he sees Geoff carrying Aoife and goes over to help… just as Essentia (who managed to slip away in the earlier chaos) ambushes them and slashes Geoff over his left eye, blinding and causing him to drop Aoife as he screams in agony.

Hearing the commotion, Philippe, Ash, Baraz, Meray, Tarık and Dina rush over as Essentia’s allies appear. However, with Aoife in no condition to fight and Geoff out of commission, they are forced to rely on their Pokémon to protect their friends and assist Benoit. Furthermore, with the tower in a weakened state, the floor soon gives way, causing them to fall into the altar room, and as they continue to fight, Dina is fatally stabbed in the gut by the black-eyed woman after gaining the upper hand over Essentia. Enraged, Benoit pushes all three combatants back with renewed vigour and is joined by Tarık while Philippe stabilises Dina at the altar, only to discover that their fall into the room damaged it. Thinking fast, he turns to Ash and tells him to get Hoopa before revealing to Baraz and Meray that, following the original battle against Hoopa Unbound, Ghris helped replenish both of their depleted Auras by calling upon Arceus when they were close to death, a feat no one has accomplished since that day.

Despite the slim chance of this working, the siblings agree with Philippe to repeat the process to save Dina’s life and put aside their differences to implore Arceus for help as Philippe and Ash transfer their Aura to their dying friend. Joining them in prayer, Hoopa pleads for help… and is shocked when a bright light appears out of nowhere. From the other side of the chamber, Essentia’s allies recognise this and react in fear, abandoning the fight, grabbing her, and fleeing into the shadows as it engulfs the entire chamber.

Outside, the rest of the group finds Geoff and Aoife being carried by the latter’s Abomasnow and discovers what happened. But before Serena and Clemont can ask for an elaboration, Dahara Tower seemingly implodes from within, sucking in all the rubble and debris and forcing everyone to back away before it abruptly stops. Fearing the worst, everyone rushes over and finds a stunned Benoit and Tarık in the middle of a giant crater with a strange ball of white light hovering above the ground.

Elsewhere, as Ash’s eyes adjust to the sudden brightness, he finds himself standing in a white void alongside Pikachu, Philippe, Dina, Baraz, Meray, Hoopa… and Arceus, who inquires why it has been summoned. Upon learning the reason, the unamused Mythical Pokémon remarks that coming down to fulfil simple favours is becoming repetitive, but it nevertheless replenishes Philippe’s and Ash’s Aura as they finish healing Dina, acknowledging that “the Chosen One” is here “again” before turning to Baraz and Meray. Telling the siblings that it has always observed their growth from afar, Arceus explains that it was not their lineage that enabled them to summon him but rather their faith in their loved ones (Hoopa for Meray and the citizens of Arche Valley for Baraz). It then explains that anyone with sufficient faith in their beliefs can do the same – though it also states that it reserves the right to make the final judgment regarding endorsement. Returning to Ash and Philippe, the Mythical Pokémon recognises the latter, expressing knowledge of his current mission before turning to an awestruck Hoopa and welcoming him into the pantheon by telling him that he has passed his test of character. Having made peace with his past, Hoopa accepts his new family and bows his head as Arceus touches its hoof to his head, causing a bright light to emanate once more.

Outside, as Serena, Clemont and Bonnie begin to worry about their friends, Hoopa’s ring suddenly appears, and the healed Dina steps through, followed by Ash, Philippe, Benoit, Tarık, Baraz, Meray and Hoopa. Ecstatic at finally being able to pass through his rings again, the Mythical Pokémon decides to celebrate by bringing everyone back to Dahara City and transports everyone back to the other side of the causeway as he returns the rest of the Legendary Pokémon to their home dimensions. However, as the sun rises, Arceus mentally addresses the Knights as the group assembles on the causeway, telling them their journey has only just begun before its physical form rises into the sky from the ball of light. Its departure is witnessed by Ash and Pikachu, who remember the last time they saw the creator of the Pokémon World in Sinnoh, and as they reveal this to their stunned friends, Baraz and Meray finally bury the hatchet between them with a hug, promising to be there for each other as they lead their people into a new era. Finally, as Hoopa and Meray thank the group for their help, Philippe shakes Baraz’s and Tarık’s hands as he did with Ghris millennia before, thus paving the way for a new alliance between them with the declaration that they must stand together in these trying times or die alone.

In a series of mid-credits scenes, the Knights help oversee the initial reconstruction of Dahara City as Philippe appoints Baraz and Meray as the co-regents of Dahara and its surrounding territories, including Arche Valley. With Tarık agreeing to help their cause after a discussion with Dina and Benoit, the group departs with a promise to keep in touch and an assurance that they will meet again. However, in a post-credit scene, the black-eyed man and woman meet with a shadowy figure who listens to their report with great interest before speaking to someone else and informing them that “your paths will soon cross once more”.

Chapter Text

886.   A Festival Trade! A Festival Farewell?

Fresh from their adventure in Dahara City, the party arrives at a town hosting the Gourgeist Festival, an event where trainers dress up as their Pokémon. However, as the group decides to participate to take their mind off the recent events, Team Rocket are unexpectedly invited to Count Pumpka’s castle, situated on the outskirts of the small town, where they discover that the Count’s Pumpkaboo has fallen in love with Jessie’s Pumpkaboo due to her Super-Size type. Upon learning that he is willing to trade a Mega-capable Mawile for Pumpkaboo, Jessie seizes the opportunity by tricking Count Pumpka into catching Pikachu for them… only for his bodyguards to screw up and capture Chespin (who had been wearing a Pikachu costume) instead.

While all this happens, Philippe helps Dina recover from her near-death experience and discovers that she feels much more “aware” of the world around her, while Ash receives an unexpected call from an old friend – Max! Greeting the younger boy as he thanks him for the letter he sent months ago, Ash catches up with him on the recent events, discovering that he is now on a Pokémon journey of his own with an Electrike and recently went back and caught the Ralts he helped before. Feeling nostalgic, the older trainer imparts some words of wisdom for Max, advising him to form a strong bond with his Pokémon and, if he is aiming for the Pokémon League, to try his best until he manages to get to the top. Unfortunately, any further discussion is stopped when Ash receives news of Chespin’s abduction and is forced to end the call, saying goodbye to Max as he, Philippe and Dina head out.

Storming the castle, the group demands Chespin back, only to be trapped in an electrified cage. However, Jessie has second thoughts about the trade, and although she reluctantly goes through with it, she realises that she has made a mistake almost immediately when Mawile does not return her affection like Pumpkaboo did. But in a stroke of good fortune for her, Pumpkaboo evolves into Gourgeist due to the trade, causing the count’s Pumpkaboo to lose his infatuation for her and necessitating a reversal. With no real reason to keep Chespin either, Team Rocket gives him back to the confused group before departing via a self-inflicted blast-off, leaving the group to put the whole thing behind them as they are treated to a fireworks display over dinner in the castle.

Note: The re-dub of this episode is dedicated to former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, who died due to complications from a bile duct tumour on July 11, 2015.

887.   Over the Mountain of Snow!

As the group rides on several Mamoswine to cut through a snowy mountain pass, they are forced to rely on Serena to negotiate and traverse the obstacles when the more experienced Aoife uncharacteristically declines to help them. Concerned for his friend, Philippe takes her aside and discovers that she is suffering from trauma caused when her mental connection with the sentinel in Dahara City was abruptly severed. With Geoff’s assistance, he tries to help her as the group encounters an Abomasnow caring for a sick Snover and decides to help by cobbling together a healing remedy from the local ingredients as instructed by Benoit. Persuaded to participate by Wolfgang and Renata, Aoife enlists the help of her Skiddo and Abomasnow to find said ingredients, allowing her friends to treat the Frost Tree Pokémon, and later defends them from a Team Rocket attack. In the aftermath, Aoife’s two Skiddo evolve into Gogoat, and after remembering Ramos’ words about finding her destiny, she decides to continue helping others in small ways while on her road to a full recovery.

888.   Adventures in Running Errands!

While resting at a Pokémon Center in a small town after their mountain escapade, Philippe learns from Wolfgang that Renata is having trouble recovering from the debilitating throat injury she sustained in Dahara City and speculates that it might permanently impair her singing abilities. Overhearing this, a distressed Renata isolates herself from her peers as a sudden thunderstorm hits the town and refuses to speak to them even as the building loses power due to a generator short-circuiting from a leaky roof. As the storm has similarly disrupted the communications, everyone splits into smaller groups to help Nurse Joy operate the Pokémon Center, with Ash, Aoife, Geoff and Benoit fixing the roof and Clemont and Wolfgang repairing the generator as everyone else treats the Pokémon with the medical supplies they have.

Once the rain abates, Clemont and Wolfgang send Chespin, Bunnelby and Meowstic on an errand to pick up replacement fuses for the generator. Seeking to spend time with her boyfriend, Renata’s Meowstic joins them as they set out, but the quartet are sidetracked when a Fearow steals the money that they have, forcing them to fight it to get the money back before both Constraint Pokémon deal with the angry Flying-type by blasting it with twin Psybeams. Meanwhile, Ash’s and Clemont’s groups reunite after finishing their tasks and find the rest of the group speaking with the local trainers and getting to know them and their Pokémon. Among them, Renata interacts with several musically inclined children who recognise her from her concerts, and as she is asked when her next performance will be, she reflects on how far her three careers (a Performer, a singer and a Knight) have come. Concluding that she will either recover from this injury or adapt in her own way, she confides her worries to Wolfgang, who promises his fiancée that he will always be there for her.

However, as Philippe is relieved to see this, he wonders what is taking their Pokémon so long. Heading out to investigate with Ash, Wolfgang and Renata, he eventually finds the four Pokémon being hounded by Team Rocket a short distance from the Pokémon Center and deduces from the dropped fuses nearby that they were jumped on the way back. But instead of helping them directly, he chooses to watch with the others as the Pokémon collectively blast the TRio off, proving that they can stand alone. With this annoyance resolved, the quartet retrieves the fuses and returns to the Pokémon Center just in time for Clemont to restart the generator and restore the building’s power, allowing operations to resume before the group hits the road again.

889.   Mending a Broken Spirit!

During a training session, Pancham accidentally breaks Braixen’s branch, causing her to sink into a deep depression. Feeling guilty, he tries to find a replacement, but she refuses to accept any replacement branch that the group finds, causing them to realise that she is associating her old branch with important memories that she shares with Serena. Empathising with the Fox Pokémon, Wolfgang and a poorly disguised James join forces to help her and direct Serena to a local tree surgeon named Woodward, who supposedly reattached the broken horn of a Sawsbuck. However, while he confirms this rumour, Woodward challenges Serena to a battle instead of fixing the branch, believing that this is the best way to determine what Braixen wants.

As the match commences, James and Wolfgang talk about their prized possessions, with the former going on about his bottle cap collection as the latter shows off his arsenal of musical instruments, all of which either possess built-in weapons or can enchant those around him. Explaining that each one has a purpose and associated memory, the musical maestro plays a melody on his violin as the battle continues, but laments the loss of his flute, which was an anniversary present from Renata. Unfortunately, before James can respond, Jessie and Meowth interrupt the battle to capture Pikachu, and while Serena, Philippe and Wolfgang send them packing in seconds, this action ends up incinerating what’s left of Braixen’s branch.

However, as Braixen despairs, Woodward admits that the branch was already beyond repair and explains that the battle was to teach her the value of letting go of the past to become stronger. Reflecting on this, Braixen sees the value of his words and forgives Pancham by accepting a new branch that he offers before fighting Woodward’s Gallade to a standstill. Thanking Woodward as the group prepares to return to the Pokémon Center, Serena gives him the fragments of the old branch, which he grafts onto a new sapling in the hopes that it will be useful to someone else as James returns to Jessie and Meowth with a new understanding of when to let go of old things. At the same time, Wolfgang returns to Renata with the decision to get a new flute to replace his old one, and the episode ends with them starting a practice battle as they Mega Evolve their Gallade and Gardevoir.

890.   A Legendary Photo Op!

Passing by the foot of an active volcano named Mount Molteau, the group reunites with Trevor and his now-adversarial Charmeleon, who immediately challenges Ash to a battle over his trainer’s objections. Thinking quickly, Ash calms the Flame Pokémon by allowing it to vent against Fletchinder before learning that its trainer is here to photograph a Moltres living in the volcano’s summit crater. Intrigued, he and the rest of the group agree to accompany Trevor, but as they hike up the slopes, Geoff has trouble with his depth perception due to the loss of his eye and confesses to Philippe and Aoife that this injury is also causing problems with his aiming, which is threatening his ability to use his ranged weapons. Worried, Philippe suggests using one of his Pokémon as a spotter to land his shots, but Geoff refuses, given his preference for working alone and his fear that his concentration will be interrupted by the need to coordinate with others.

Reaching the peak, the group runs into Team Rocket, who are likewise interested in the local Legendary Pokémon, and the resulting scuffle wakes up the Moltres when a boulder falls directly onto its resting spot in the lava. Furious at being disturbed, it blasts the TRio off when they try to escape before turning to the group and engaging Fletchinder and Frogadier without breaking a sweat, forcing Geoff to provide cover fire with his crossbow. Predictably, he misses several shots and nearly hits the two Pokémon due to his impaired vision, but as he sends out Pidgeot, he remembers Philippe’s advice from earlier and, given the dire situation, sends out Talonflame to try the new tactic.

Fortunately, with this new method, Geoff manages to shoot the Moltres before it can incinerate the two Pokémon, but it quickly recovers and launches a Flamethrower at the group as they retrieve Frogadier. Acting fast, Ash’s Fletchinder blocks the blast and evolves into Talonflame before retaliating with a Brave Bird that drives Moltres into a corner, only to fall into the crater out of exhaustion. Without thinking, Ash jumps into the crater to save the Scorching Pokémon and catches him as Geoff saves them both with Pidgeot. Seizing the opportunity, Philippe reaches out with his Aura and calms the Moltres by forcing it back into the lava before turning to Ash and reproaching him (along with Serena) for his recklessness. Nevertheless, the placated Legendary allows them to leave in peace upon realising that they are not a threat, and with their latest encounter behind them, Trevor decides to join the group as they continue on their way to Anistar City.

The Gilded Cage

As the wrecked train arrives at Lysandre Labs, the Knights disembark and are immediately met by armed security, who demand that they come with them. Given how their recent battle has left them exhausted and unable to resist, Milos reluctantly tells the others to stand down as the guards escort them to the compound’s entrance to meet Lysandre. However, while the six greet the organisation’s CEO with suspicion, they are surprised when he thanks them for helping protect the Megalith and invites them to stay for a while. With little choice given their battered state, the group agrees as the Draconid is restrained and escorted into the facility by the guards, who ignore Isabella’s attempts to vouch for her.

Later that night, as the group recovers from their wounds, a restless Sabine gets out of bed and exits the building to view the stars, only to find Milos speaking to Heidi in a nearby field. Watching them from afar, she listens in on their conversation with her Aura sense and learns of the latter’s reluctance to fully join them due to her desire for “balance” and dislike of committing to a side. However, as she sees Heidi catch a White Flower Flabébé that has strayed from a nearby meadow in the darkness to prove her point with colour theory, Sabine senses a dark and foreboding presence nearby that she cannot pinpoint with her Aura sense.

Disturbed, Sabine searches the compound for the Haellmigk sisters when she wakes up the following morning and is directed by Joaquim and Isabella (who are busy caring for the former’s new Noibat) to one of the labs, where she finds them speaking to Emilie. Revealing what happened, Sabine asks her fellow Knight if she can sense anything with her heightened senses, but while Emilie confirms that she cannot after trying, she tells Sabine that she believes her and agrees to help. Meanwhile, the imprisoned Draconid is brought before Lysandre, who calls her by her name – Zinnia – and asks her to help them with their tests on Mega Evolution. Wary of the older man, she considers turning him down but eventually accepts upon sensing a familiar presence nearby and is brought to a new room to rest. Along the way, she runs into Alain, who does not acknowledge her, but once she is alone, Zinnia brings out Aster and ponders whether she has made the right choice as she hugs the Whismur.

Weeks later, as the Knights and Zinnia slowly grow stronger as they train and recover from their injuries, a still-nervous Sabine confesses to Milos about her worries over what she sensed on their first night as Emilie helps search the grounds and is surprised when he reveals that he had sensed something wrong too. However, he admits that while the uncertainty of what that might be keeps him up at night, he is currently focused on convincing Heidi to join them fully and confesses that she is a tough person to decipher. Deciding that she needs a distraction too, Sabine decides to help with Heidi’s recruitment and agrees to meet with her on the Lysandre Labs training field, where they proceed to have a three-way Double Pokémon battle.

During this fight, Sabine observes Heidi’s extremely methodical battling style, and upon finding no visible flaws in her Mega-capable Altaria, her newly evolved White Flower Floette or her weapon of choice, she directly asks the quieter girl what is keeping her from joining them after correctly assuming that she is having visions about Philippe and the future of Kalos. Sighing, Heidi acknowledges that Sabine is right and shows her past through several Aura visions…

Born and raised in Hoenn, Heidi had been childhood friends with Lisia after they had bonded over their first Pokémon, a pair of Swablu whom they had rescued from a poacher. However, despite growing up alongside and being overshadowed by the niece of the famous Coordinator Wallace Reyes, she was never jealous of Lisia’s successes, instead being more philosophical and contemplative about what she intended to do. As a result, while Lisia had followed in her uncle’s footsteps, the more unsure Heidi decided to take a trip to Kalos, and it was during this time that she found and retrieved her stuff from the Battle Chateau.

However, a few days before she was due to head back, Heidi encountered a strange, hooded figure who seemed to know a lot about her, and who told her about her Aura and what it could entail, also adding that in the future, it was likely that she would be approached to join a group of individuals like her. Suspicious, Heidi questioned the being over her identity and motives, but the being declined to reveal her identity even after being challenged to a Pokémon Battle that she accepted and subsequently won with her three Malamar. Tending to her Altaria in the fight’s aftermath, Heidi was warned that while she had the power to make a difference in the world, joining a side would always result in someone getting hurt, and she mulled over this advice for the next few years as she travelled with Lisia. As a result, she slowly grew more introspective and philosophical until she met Milos and Emilie in the Sootopolis Contest Hall, where she immediately identified them as the ones whom the being had spoken of.

Back in the present, a sympathetic Sabine and Milos comfort Heidi and express their understanding of her dilemma by bringing up the arguments they used to have over how they should use their Aura. Curious, Heidi asks how they resolved their differences, and while she is surprised to learn that they never really did, she also discovers that they learned to put it aside when considering the bigger picture. Concluding by letting their newest ally know that it is ultimately her choice whether she wants to join them, Sabine continues the match against Milos as Heidi ponders the new perspective of a bigger picture where sides are irrelevant.

While this is happening, Emilie’s investigation leads her to discover that they are all being monitored by hidden security cameras and scanners. Quickly covering her tracks to hide her discovery, she runs into Zinnia, who is exhausted from the near-constant testing and speaks to the younger girl about the bonds they share with their Pokémon, during which she is asked why she chose to stay with Milos and Sabine. Contemplating this question, Emilie responds that they gave her what regular people could not—a family—and speculates that her choice strengthened her relationships with Vivillon and Heracross, as she would have never gained the ability to use Mega Evolution if she had not met them.

Pondering this, Zinnia asks about any biological relatives that might have cared for her, and Emilie, despite some hesitation, recalls her father, Keanan, who had taught her many life lessons in her youth before she left her hometown. At the same time, however, she deduces the younger girl’s ulterior motive and tells her that if she wants to put her past behind her, she should do it as soon as possible to save herself from the emotional pain that comes with unresolved issues. Scoffing, Zinnia expresses her doubts that she would have an easier time and tells Emilie that her family is considerably more dysfunctional, which leads the Aura Knight to advise her to try breaking the problem down to its core components as she separates to continue her investigation.

Eventually, after much careful searching, Emilie discovers a hidden door in the facility’s library and enters it to find what appears to be an underground prison. Stunned by what she has stumbled upon, she comes across numerous containment cells – of which only two are occupied – and a locked door, which she enters after using her Vivillon’s Powder to decipher the combination on the adjacent electric keypad. However, upon entering the room, Emilie is horrified to find a lab filled with the desiccated corpses of both Pokémon and Aura Knights that have been experimented upon and attempts to leave… right before she is knocked unconscious by a blast of Dark Aura, having been discovered by a pair of familiar hooded figures ever since she entered the secret lab’s entryway.

Meanwhile, Elsa and Courtney are summoned to meet with Lysandre, who assigns them to the scientific team studying the Megalith after cryptically indicating his plans for a “great purpose” revolving around the relic. Suspicious of his intentions, the sisters tap out a Morse code message to Junichi that updates him on their progress as they head to the lab, with Courtney theorising what weapon the Megalith could have been used for as Elsa receives a reply from her boss to keep investigating and to “hand out the gifts”. However, as they arrive at the lab, the sisters are introduced to Xerosic, the red-goggles-wearing leader of the red-jumpsuit-wearing scientific team, whom they shake hands with as they meet the team: Aliana, Bryony, Mable and Celosia.

Elsewhere, Milos, Sabine and Heidi return from their practice session and reunite with Joaquim and Isabella, who indicate an urgent need to keep quiet. Noticing their troubled expressions, Milos gets the girls to comply as a non-verbal conversation ensues via a series of memories Isabella projects into their minds of her multiple attempts to leave the facility to explore the nearby mountains with Nightshade, only to be denied every time by a series of guards making increasingly outlandish claims as to why she cannot leave. Furthering the group’s suspicions, Joaquim reveals that when he asked Lysandre about this, the organisation’s leader had told him that there was “no need to worry about anything at all”, which leads Sabine and Milos to head to Emilie’s room to find her as the others try to contact someone. However, they find it empty save for a note warning them that they are being watched and subsequently realise that they are trapped in Lysandre Labs.

As Zinnia releases a Pidgey with a letter attached to its leg from the roof of Lysandre Labs, the black-suited figure, Essentia, watches her from a distance before reporting to Lysandre and the hooded figure who had spoken to Heidi. Telling them that the Knights have been contained, she is ordered to watch and analyse them while he facilitates his plans.

Chapter Text

891.   The Tiny Caretaker!

Late one night, Bonnie stumbles across an injured Tyrunt stolen by Team Rocket from a nearby research lab and takes it back to the others. With help from Benoit, who shares the experience he gained from caring for the Amaura and Aurorus back in Ambrette Town as he trains with his two Honedge, she treats the Royal Heir Pokémon and bonds with it before the TRio returns for their precious cargo. Getting captured alongside Dedenne, Bunnelby and Quilladin, Bonnie has the Tyrunt use its strength to escape once more, but they are constantly stalked by Meowth, who leads Jessie and James right to the party as they try to make it back to the others. Eventually, this culminates in a battle that results in Tyrunt evolving into a Tyrantrum and single-handedly blasting the TRio off, but upon learning where it is from, the group is forced to return the Despot Pokémon to the scientists at the research lab, which saddens Bonnie. Promising to return and visit it when she becomes a trainer, she says goodbye to the intimidating yet docile Pokémon as the group resumes their journey to Anistar City.

892.   A Trip Down Memory Train!

After another scuffle against Team Rocket, Ash, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie are separated from Trevor, Philippe and the Knights when they fall into an abandoned mineshaft. Finding the place nostalgic, the Liscio siblings recount how they first met Bunnelby after getting evicted from the Lumiose Gym and how they earned his trust by teaching him how to protect some abandoned Pokémon in an old subway car. Meanwhile, as Trevor learns more about the Knights and the personal trials they have been experiencing, an uncertain Philippe seeks counsel from Dina and Benoit regarding their next step, leading them to challenge him to both a duel and a Pokémon battle to test his skills and get him to open up about what has been bothering him. Accepting this, Philippe puts up a valiant fight, but only wins the duel when both of Benoit’s Honedge evolve into Doublade, and subsequently confesses to them that he is not keen on visiting Anistar City due to a prophecy that was given to him by the same person who gave him the cryptex. However, Dina and Benoit remain undeterred and promise to stand by his side with the understanding that everything will be explained in due time.

893.   A Frolicking Find in the Flowers!

While setting up camp in a meadow, the group discovers an Eevee dancing on a rock, and Serena sets her eyes on it as her next Pokémon for an upcoming Showcase in Anistar City. However, this Pokémon turns out to be extremely shy, and although everyone scours their surroundings to find it after unintentionally scaring it off, they are unsuccessful. Fortunately, through her own efforts and with some guidance from Philippe, Dina, Benoit, Renata and Wolfgang, Serena eventually gains the Eevee’s trust with a circlet of flowers and a practice session with Braixen and Pancham before catching it after a battle against Team Rocket. Observing how Eevee remains timid when greeted by all the new faces (save for Bunnelby, who had let her take a Poké Puff that was set as a lure earlier), Philippe quips to Serena that this Eevee is a lot like her when she first started on her journey as Trevor snaps a photo of the group’s newest member.

The Ketchum Conference

Having been summoned to the Lily of the Valley Island in Sinnoh for an urgent meeting, Diantha greets Cynthia upon arriving before she is escorted into the conference room. Noticing the numerous Elite Four members, Champions, and various other individuals assembled, she asks who called a meeting of this scale and learns that it was Lance, who explains that he did so to bring attention to a serious issue that has been cropping up over the past seven years. Wondering what this could be as she sits beside Alder, Diantha coolly rebuffs his attempts to ask her out for dinner as the meeting begins with Lance detailing an incident on New Island that he learned from G-Men agents Amanda Greene and Muneo Fujimoto.

Recognising this, the room falls silent as the Kanto/Johto Champion recounts the events that led Mewtwo to enact his world-threatening scheme out of a desire to understand his place in the world and identifies several individuals involved, including Ash Ketchum, which prompts a round of murmurs from those present who recognise the young Pokémon trainer. Silencing everyone with a hand gesture, Lance cedes the floor to several past and present members of his Elite Four, and one by one, Lorelei, Agatha, Karen, Bruno, and Will elaborate on various incidents at Shamouti Island, Greenfield, Mount Quena, the Lake of Life, and Alto Mare, all of which Ash was involved in. As part of the proceedings, an interview with Professor Samuel Oak regarding his involvement in the fourth of these occurrences is played, in which he explains that he did not realise it was Ash who had helped him and Celebi until the events of the adventure unfolded in the present.

Pondering something as they take a break for recess, Lance asks Hiroshi Suzuki and Leaf Greene if he can speak with Celebi, but is informed that she is currently monitoring the passage of time with Dialga and cannot be disturbed. Meanwhile, a very worried Diantha expresses her fears to Cynthia and Wallace that Ash’s presence in Kalos may signal an impending calamity, but is reassured that he should be able to counter any threats that arise and that she can consult Steven if she doesn’t believe them. Acknowledging their perspectives, Diantha questions the absence of the Hoenn Champion and learns from Cynthia that he could not physically attend the meeting due to a “business trip" but promised to drop in later via a livestream.

With the meeting reconvening five minutes later, Wallace takes the stand in Steven’s absence to recount the events in Forina, LaRousse City and Monsu Island with help from Hoenn Elite Four members Sidney, Phoebe, Glacia and Drake. Corroborating the last report with his account (as he had infiltrated Team Magma at that time), Lance highlights to everyone that regardless of how much they know, there is a clear and highly consistent pattern: with every single world-threatening incident caused by a Legendary Pokémon or an organisation, Ash Ketchum and his friends have always been the ones to help solve it.

Noting that Ash subsequently returned to Kanto following his escapades in Hoenn, Hiroshi and Leaf take over and explain that they had decided to travel with their old friend as they had four years previously. Recalling that they had been involved in just as much “adventure” as the last time, the couple shares their experiences at the Tree of Beginning, the Mirage Incident, and their road trip to the Sea Temple of Samiya. Additionally, they mention the increase in Team Rocket activity that Task Force 137 dealt with in their absence, which culminated in the capture of Professor Sebastian and several other high-ranking members of Team Rocket.

Seizing the opportunity to find out more about this special trainer, Diantha, Drayden and Alder ask about Ash’s progress in the regional League tournaments, leading Hiroshi to remember that, up to that point, Ash had placed Top 16 in the Indigo Conference and Top 8 in both the Silver and Ever Grande Conferences. Bringing in Hoenn Labs Head Scientist Junichi Takeda and Salon Maiden Anabel Thomas in a livestream with Lance’s approval, Leaf also reveals Ash’s victory in the Orange Islands League and the Kanto Battle Frontier, with her associates pointing out that Pyramid King Brandon Blair and the organisation’s owner, Scott, had deemed him worthy of a Frontier Brain slot. This revelation impresses the regional Elite Four members, especially when they learn that Ash had defeated all of Brandon’s Regi Golems as well as Factory Head Noland Wills’ Articuno, with Junichi also highlighting Ash’s consistent placing in the competitions he participated in as a testament to his skill as a trainer while attributing his losses to “absolutely ridiculous opponents and circumstances”.

Moving onto Ash’s Sinnoh adventure, Cynthia distributes her notes to Aaron, Bertha, Flint and Lucian, allowing them to cover the events of the incidents at Alamos Town, the Gracidea Flower Fields, Michina Town and Crown City. However, she tackles the most difficult one with help from G-Men agent Mitsumi Platinum, expanding on the appearance and ultimate goals of Team Galactic before ending with a brief description of the Battle of Spear Pillar three years prior. Explaining the role that Ash had played during the crisis (as recounted by her son and his girlfriend), Mitsumi speaks highly of him and reveals that he embodied the willpower of Azelf, one of the Lake Guardians of Sinnoh, alongside his friends, Dawn Berlitz and Brock Harrison.

Recognising the names, the various Elite Four members note that wherever Ash goes, he always has a cluster of friends by his side who all seem to come from families with notable positions. Agreeing with this observation, the Champions identify Cerulean City Gym Leader Misty Waterflower, famous Coordinator May Maple, renowned researcher Gary Oak, and even Professor Oak’s assistant, Tracey Sketchit, as some of these travelling companions, and note that these people seemed to grow into who they are now because they had met Ash, thus characterising him as a catalyst for an individual’s change. But as they debate over taking action against what they have learnt, they are interrupted by Drayden’s protégé, Iris Ajagara, who reminds them that Ash had also been to Unova before heading off on his current adventure.

Apologising as she acknowledges the youngest person there, Cynthia allows Iris to take the stand as she recaps her adventures with Ash across Unova, including the ones at the Kingdom of the Vale, Roshan City and New Tork City. However, she also draws particular attention to a few other incidents involving Team Rocket and the now-disbanded Team Plasma, highlighting the involvement of the metahuman group Zeta Squad (who are revealed to be still operating out of Nimbasa City), as well as how she and her friends ended the age-old ideological civil war by merging the members of the Tao Trio to recreate the original Aboriginal Dragon. Pausing momentarily as she remembers N, Hilbert and Hilda, Iris concludes by expressing her opinion of Ash, whom she sees as a very passionate and mature person at his core, if a little unfocused and impulsive.

Reflecting on all she has heard, Diantha realises that Ash has popped up in several legends, including the Shamouti Prophecy and the Legend of Michina Town, and asks Hiroshi and Leaf about this. In response, they return to their visit to the Kingdom of Rota during their second journey through Kanto and reveal that Ash has the power to control Aura, which led to speculation among their friends that this allowed him to survive so many life-threatening encounters with Legendary Pokémon and nefarious organisations. Guessing that this is probably what passes as a regular day in Ash’s life, Junichi questions why no one has ever looked into this before, causing all of the Champions to admit that while they have borne witness to Ash’s many accomplishments, it never struck them as “odd” until it began to happen consistently.

Sighing in mild frustration as he mutters that there needs to be a change in priorities, Junichi also brings up the issue of Team Rocket members Jessie, James and Meowth, who have been sighted in almost every region and have been following Ash for the last few years for unspecified reasons (with the ostensible and stated reason being that they want to capture Ash’s surprisingly hardy Pikachu). Confirming this sentiment, Hiroshi and Leaf turn to Lance, but while the Kanto/Johto Champion acknowledges this and identifies former Viridian City Gym Leader Giovanni Paul as the organisation’s leader, he also reveals that he vanished from the gym when G-Men agents raided the building, leaving his current whereabouts unknown.

Now incredibly worried about what might happen as she processes what she has learned, Diantha asks Hiroshi and Leaf what she can expect and is distressed to discover that there are no concrete answers. However, when they advise her to start by identifying any organisation that could be seeking Legendary or Mythical Pokémon for any reason, she realises that there is an organisation that fits that description and calls her own Elite Four members to start investigating the secretive Lysandre Labs, only to find out that someone else is currently doing the same. Surprised, Diantha asks who this is and is startled when she learns that it is Steven, who joins the meeting via a livestream at that moment.

Greeting his colleagues (while lingering a bit longer on Cynthia), Steven states that he is currently in Kalos to investigate Lysandre Labs, whose role in the recent Clash of the Primals is common knowledge amongst the general public. However, as he also discloses the involvement of Hoenn Labs and several other individuals in the incident (which leads Junichi to mute his end of the call), the Hoenn Champion is interrupted by Mairin, who peeks into the call to see the Champions, all of whom greet her with varying expressions of surprise, amusement and disbelief. Explaining why the younger girl is with him after Amanda and Mitsumi deduce that she has a personal stake in all this, Steven asks Diantha for her approval regarding an investigation of Lysandre Labs in the hopes of finding something that would allow them to learn what they are doing.

Though conflicted over the potential overlap of their jurisdictions, Diantha gives Steven the green light to commence the investigation in her absence, granting him her official support and trust as the meeting concludes. With that, she prepares to head back to Kalos immediately to launch a separate investigation on Ash, which she starts by asking Hiroshi, Leaf and Junichi about what to expect from the Pallet Town trainer. Exchanging glances, the trio describe their mutual friend as the special ends, beginning by saying that while he may seem normal, he is one of the most complex people they have ever met…

The end credits are a recap of still images depicting Ash’s adventures throughout the different regions, ending with him and Pikachu currently in Kalos as they arrive in Anistar City.

Chapter Text

894.   Tag Team Battle Inspiration!

Upon arriving in Anistar City, the group reunites with Tierno and Shauna, who are here for the Showcase and whose respective starters have evolved into Blastoise and Ivysaur. However, Ash is more interested to hear that Tierno unsuccessfully challenged the Anistar Gym, and as he plans his strategy, Serena speaks with Shauna about Eevee and gains many ideas for new performances, though she opts to leave it up to her Pokémon when she evolves. However, a much bigger problem presents itself in the form of Eevee’s crippling shyness, which prevents her from socialising with any of the other Pokémon despite Serena’s best efforts.

While all this is happening, Philippe tries calling Milos and Sabine from the Pokémon Center, only to find their numbers blocked. Though worried about this, he focuses on a much more pressing matter – his return to the Anistar Gym – and reveals to Dina, Wolfgang and Renata that the gym leader is a powerful oracle who foretold the prophecy in the cryptex. Realising that they never saw the prophecy, the three ask to see it, and despite his hesitation, Philippe shows it to them. At the same time, Serena decides to take a page out of Ash’s book and challenges Tierno and Shauna to a tag battle with Ash, who advises her throughout the process.

Elsewhere, Benoit, Aoife and Geoff come across a break-in at a small riverside warehouse close to the Anistar Sundial and are attacked by a group of red-suited goons as they investigate. Fortunately, they manage to chase them off after a prolonged fight, but as they report the incident to Officer Jenny, the trio discover that these people have been frequently observed lurking by an anchored yacht on the opposite side of the river and are recognised and asked for assistance in investigating whatever might be there. Knowing that this will concern Philippe, Benoit speaks to the Lost Prince, who is initially uninterested but accepts the offer upon hearing of the involvement of the sundial. Meanwhile, Serena calls off the tag battle when she gains a new idea from Tierno’s battling style and decides to leave with the slightly more comfortable Eevee to practice while Ash continues the now 2v1 battle.

Later that night, Philippe regards his keystone, musing to himself that “it’s time to face [his] destiny” again, and as he looks out into the starry sky, he promises Mystra that they will meet again.

895.   A Performance Pop Quiz!

As Serena and Shauna register for the Showcase, the Knights (save for Wolfgang and Renata) prepare to raid the boat as they gather at the Anistar Sundial, which Philippe regards warily. However, as the memories that have come with his return to the city threaten to resurface, he controls himself and joins the others as they row to the anchored ship. Back with the others, Serena leaves Eevee with Ash as she discovers that Nini and Jessie are participating as well and goes up against the former in the first round’s Pokémon Quiz, which she aces thanks to a last-minute study from Philippe the previous night. Though she does not pass, Nini wishes her rival good luck and shares stories on how she has been doing as Shauna and Jessie proceed to the next round.

Meanwhile, the Knights storm the boat and quickly clear it of all hostiles, but as Benoit voices his suspicions that something is amiss after observing that there seem to be fewer enemies than there were at the warehouse yesterday, Dina and Philippe find a laptop on the bridge that is rigged to a bomb. Working fast, the former cuts the wires linking the device to the explosives, but this triggers a failsafe countdown instead, and to make things worse, the rowboat is destroyed by an explosive barrel thrown by one of the goons. Forced to jump overboard to escape the imminent explosion, the Knights are weighed down by all their gear but are saved from drowning by the disguised Xerneas and Yveltal, who pull them from the water and revive them.

At the same time, Shauna and Jessie begin their performances, but Eevee is scared by a Seed Bomb during the latter’s performance and runs off. Hearing this from Ash when he runs into her, Serena pleads with the security attendant to let her search for her Pokémon with her friends, risking her disqualification if she fails to show up in five minutes. Fortunately, Eevee is found by Renata, who points out that Serena must be worried for her and encourages the timid Pokémon to take that leap of faith forward and trust her new trainer as she contacts the others. Receiving this news as Serena reunites with her Pokémon, Wolfgang barters with the security to allow Serena back in, this time with Eevee watching in the wings with Renata holding her, and as her newest Pokémon watches, Serena deviates from her pre-planned performance by creating a new one inspired by Eevee’s dance moves, which allows her to net her second Princess Key. Impressed by her ingenuity and spontaneity, Ash and Shauna congratulate Serena as a flummoxed Jessie concedes to James and Meowth that she will be happy if she manages to beat Serena at least once.

Later, as Tierno, Trevor and Shauna depart Anistar City to travel together, Philippe thanks Xerneas and Yveltal for the rescue. However, as he checks the waterlogged laptop, he is disturbed to discover profiles of people proficient in Aura, most of whom are marked as deceased, and files on something called “Project Illuminate”, which indicates Zygarde’s involvement.

896.   Cloudy Fate, Bright Future!

With the Showcase a success, the group sets their sights on the Anistar Gym for Ash’s seventh badge, but as his friend gets ready for the match, Philippe notices a news broadcast from reporter and Elite Four member Malva Cantarero regarding the Sundial. Learning that Professor Sycamore will be arriving to investigate its properties, the group is intrigued by the possibility that it may be connected to Mega Evolution and heads to the waterfront to reunite with him and his assistants, including Sina and Dexio. However, before the suspicious Xerneas and Yveltal can confront them, a woman with a Sigilyph attacks them and accuses Sycamore of being the one who “will indicate the path”. Defending the professor, the group engages the attacker in a short brawl that ends with the timely intervention of the Anistar Gym Leader, Olympia, who is also revealed to be a powerful psychic seer.

Reprimanding the woman – who is revealed to be her apprentice, Carrie – Olympia reveals that the whole thing was a misunderstanding from one of her prophecies, which had depicted everyone present being involved in a crisis that will affect all of Kalos in the future. Muttering that this makes more sense, Philippe greets Olympia and explains to his surprised friends that he has worked with “her kind” before, but his elaboration is cut off when Olympia has another vision upon seeing Ash’s Frogadier and the disguised Legendary Pokémon. Inviting them to the gym (whose interior resembles a planar sphere), another of Olympia’s apprentices, Charlene, tells the Knights that Olympia is guided by the “voice of the stars”, thus drawing a link to Mystra and her kind, the Celestials. In addition, it is also revealed that Olympia had predicted a recent clash between Groudon and Kyogre in Hoenn, which Philippe and the Knights state that they are aware of (to everyone else’s surprise).

Returning to the Pokémon in question, Olympia deems them (alongside Ash and Philippe) as critical players in the fight for Kalos’ survival who will play vital roles in the coming crisis. Explaining that this is part of an older prophecy that she foretold decades ago, the seer starts by detailing Frogadier’s past through a series of visions, which reveal that he was an outcast among other Froakie due to his insistence on constantly training while everyone else socialised and played, which caused friction between himself and others of his kind. Upon learning that he had to team up with humans to reach his full potential, he travelled to Sycamore’s lab, but his high standards caused him to reject all who chose him as a starter… until he met Ash. As the visions end, Olympia reveals that Frogadier will soon gain a unique power when he evolves that will further strengthen the bond between him and Ash, but as she accepts their anticipated request for a battle, she receives an alert of something happening at the Sundial.

Returning to the monolith, the group finds Team Rocket chipping away with tools to get a sample, but before anyone can do anything, a Future Sight that Olympia’s two Meowstic had fired earlier comes back and blasts the TRio off, though they manage to get a shard of the Sundial in the process. In awe of the accuracy of Olympia’s foresight, Ash nevertheless vows to beat her as Philippe regards the Sundial once more.

897.   All Eyes on the Future!

As Ash warily begins his Anistar Gym Double Battle by selecting Frogadier and Talonflame, he remembers his previous trials up to this point as Olympia brings out her two Meowstic. Telling himself that he can’t lose now, he has a pep talk with his team before sending them onto the field.

Back at the waterfront, Professor Sycamore and his assistants examine the Sundial under the watchful eye of the Knights, who learn that the energy emanating from the monolith is similar to that of Mega Evolution. Moving closer to it, Benoit is surprised when he also feels a large amount of Aura radiating from the Sundial, which is revealed to have a healing effect on specific injuries when it repairs Renata’s throat and voice. Taking advantage of this, Aoife and Geoff use the Sundial to fully heal their physical wounds sustained in Dahara City, though the latter is mildly disappointed when it fails to restore his eye. Back at the Gym, Ash initially struggles against Olympia’s ability to predict his attacks but eventually devises a cunning strategy by having his Pokémon count down before Future Sight hits, allowing him to gauge his attacks much more accurately.

While this is happening, Sina and Dexio are pulled aside by Xerneas, Yveltal, Philippe and Dina, the latter two of whom have discovered, through a background check, that they are not researchers but spies from the Pokémon League. Having been informed by the Legendary Pokémon about their first encounter with the pair, the Lost Prince questions their intentions, causing the duo to drop their façade and disclose that they work for Diantha, who tasked them with monitoring the Legendary Pokémon that the Knights have allied with and investigating reports of green cells appearing throughout Kalos. Turning to Xerneas, Dina learns that both Legendary Pokémon have been similarly looking into these cells since they departed the group in Laverre City and consider them a clear sign of Zygarde’s return. Moreover, as he brushes off the suspicious growls from Sina’s Glaceon and Dexio’s Espeon, Yveltal notes that should Zygarde return, the only means of controlling it would be through the third and final relic, the Crown of Dominion, which is currently in “her” possession.

Back in the Gym, Ash’s plan is momentarily impeded by Frogadier getting paralysed by a Thunder Wave, but this is circumvented by having him ride Talonflame, and with their combined speed and strength, both Pokémon deal massive amounts of damage to their opponents before finishing them off with a Water Pulse/Flame Charge combo. Conceding the match, Olympia tells Ash that she was right in her predictions of his Pokémon being special and grants him the Psychic Badge as Sycamore, Xerneas, Yveltal, Philippe and the Knights return to the Gym, having been called by Olympia to meet there following the battle’s conclusion.

With her desired audience present, Olympia tells them about the prophecy regarding the fate of Kalos and mentions seeing green fire threatening the lives of everyone in the region. However, she also mentions that several brave heroes will rise to fight the incoming threat, which will arise from both the human realm and the stars above, and that everyone is meant to play a part, big and small, in what will happen. Hearing this, the others are either confused or apprehensive, but while Ash is somewhat understanding, a disconcerted Philippe questions whether or not he will meet Mystra again, to which Olympia tells him that it will be entirely up to him as she leaves him with the saying that “in the absence of light, darkness will prevail”.

As the group reflects on this new development and revelation back at the Pokémon Center, Ash and Serena gain new Pokédexes from Sycamore with updated information on Mega Evolution while Xerneas and Yveltal gift the Knights with several upgrades to their gear, including Dina’s dagger and shortbow, Geoff’s crossbow and longbow, Benoit’s helmet and bracers, one of Aoife’s hammers and Renata’s gloves. In addition, the Legendary Pokémon also bless their signet rings, granting them new abilities and gifting Philippe with a new cloak before agreeing to stay with the group for the time being as a gesture of goodwill. Accepting their presence, Philippe informs Ash as he heads for the final Gym in Snowbell City, and the group sets out once more as the sun rises the following day. But as they do, Olympia has another vision of deep green eyes shrouded in the flames and recoils in shock.

In a post-credit scene, Mystra speaks to the three Malamar, telling them their time to return has come and that she is anticipating a chance to see Philippe again. At the same time, on the outskirts of Anistar, Philippe draws the Sword of Death and looks up to the stars, anticipating the battle that will decide the ultimate fate of Kalos.

Chapter Text

Life and Death

Returning to Kalos following the “Clash of the Primals”, Steven and Mairin had contacted Professor Sycamore for an update on Alain’s situation. However, not even Alain’s former mentor knew where he had gone upon returning, and he revealed that he had not spoken to him since he abruptly departed the Sycamore Lab the year before, which raised Steven’s suspicions. Shooing Mairin away (though she ends up eavesdropping), the Hoenn Champion also discussed Philippe and the Knights with Sycamore, along with potential League and G-Men agents who are investigating Lysandre for them and whether they can be trusted.

Weeks later, Alain requests a battle scenario from Lysandre, who accepts and puts him up against a murderers' row of ten other Mega Evolution trainers, with a caveat that if he loses even once, his keystone and Mega Stone will be taken from him. Despite the risk, Alain accepts the challenge, but as he leaves, Essentia returns to Lysandre and tells him about the containment of the Knights and Zinnia’s message being sent out. Musing that everything is going according to plan, an otherwise unconcerned Lysandre reminds her to analyse them before turning to a familiar hooded figure in his office (who has been hiding her presence through some form of dark, corrupted Aura) and asking her how “Project Illuminate” is coming along.

Minutes later, as Alain enters the arena, the hooded figure regards him from a window overlooking the battlefield before she is interrupted by Elite Four member Malva Cantarero, who asks her if she thinks Alain can win. Pondering this, the figure responds in a calm yet otherworldly tone that Alain has the talent, abilities and tools to achieve what he wants, but also notes that something is holding him back from becoming either “a knight or a tyrant” and adds that he is a mere “slave” as of now. Questioning her choice of words, Malva receives clarification from the departing figure that Alain is “a slave of his dreams” and is so focused on what he wants that he neglects what he already has.

Elsewhere, Milos and Sabine return to their friends and inform them of Emilie’s disappearance and the note they found. Determining that they must get out of the facility as soon as possible, Joaquim asks for Zinnia’s whereabouts, sensing that she might have a part to play in this, and heads out to find her when no answers are forthcoming, only to be stopped by a guard who asks that he and Sabine come with him. Advising them not to raise a fuss since “the walls have ears”, Milos tells them to go while he and Heidi help Isabella search for the young Draconid.

Separating from their comrades, Heidi is impressed by Milos's level of trust in his friends and doubts that she will ever be able to match that level, though her fellow Aura Knight reassures her that she might one day be able to do so. Commenting that it will just take “a while” as they arrive on the roof, Isabella pinpoints Zinnia’s location, and the trio heads off, unaware they are being watched by a camera linked directly to the basement lab.

On the battlefield, Alain silently vows to protect those he cares about before facing the first trainer, who haughtily sends out a Mega Venusaur. Responding with Mega Charizard X, Alain finds his initial efforts hindered by Mega Venusaur’s Thick Fat Ability, allowing his opponent to poison his Pokémon with a Venoshock. Witnessing this as she and Lysandre watch the battle, Malva asks him why he pushes Alain so hard, and he tells her to battle him so she can see why. Deciding that she will, the Elite Four member leaves to prepare, but not before asking another question – why are they still working with “her”? In response, Lysandre reminds her that “she” came to them for help and that they agreed to provide her with what she wanted if she helped them fulfil her goals.

Elsewhere, a groggy Emilie awakens to find herself chained and hung up on a wall of the basement lab. Struggling against her restraints, she is greeted by the sight of the female hooded figure from the train attack examining her gear – except without her hood, and as she toys with Heracross’ Pokéball, the woman muses that her Pokémon must really care for her if she achieved Mega Evolution. Turning round to face Emilie, she reveals her attractive yet scarred face… but before she can continue, she is interrupted by the other attacker - a similarly scarred man - who addresses her as “Zannah” as he reminds her that they have work to do. Countering by addressing him as “Azazel”, Zannah shoos him out of the room by reminding him that he has to find “her” and turns back to Emilie, who denounces her as a monster after seeing the multiple corpses in containment vats. However, while Zannah admits that she views herself as such, she claims that both her mistress and Lysandre have a vision for Kalos that will be worth what they have done before growing a set of claws and menacingly approaching the fearful yet defiant Aura Knight.

Upstairs, Elsa’s observation of the Megalith leads her to comment to Courtney that it seems “alive”, leading the elder Haellmigk to speculate that it may be a unique form of Aura as she shares her findings with her younger sibling in the form of several grooves on the side of the Megalith. Remarking that these seem like they were cut into the rock, Courtney speculates that it must have been the core of the weapon that it powered, but further analysis of the size of the Megalith leads her to deduce that the device must have been massive – and impossible to hide unless it was meant to be forgotten. Wondering how no one has found this “Ultimate Weapon”, Elsa sees Xerosic approaching and alerts her sister, who deactivates the terminal to maintain their cover.

Meanwhile, as Alain continues his match, Steven and Mairin arrive at the facility’s front entrance after tracking his whereabouts by running his trainer ID through the Pokémon League database. Having anticipated their arrival, Lysandre greets the duo and directs Mairin to the battlefield with Essentia as an escort before he turns to Steven and confirms that he is here for the Megalith. Caught, the Hoenn Champion does not deny his intention and accompanies Lysandre to the lab. At the same time, the ever-inquisitive Mairin asks Essentia who she is and what Pokémon she has, but while the latter question makes her hesitate, Essentia does not respond.

Upon arriving at the battlefield, Mairin finds Mega Charizard X being restrained by a Vine Whip, and as Alain notices her, he orders his starter to stay focused before countering with a Dragon Claw that eliminates the Mega Venusaur. However, as he gives his Pokémon a Pecha Berry to neutralise the poison, he barely has a moment to rest before the second challenger appears with a Mega Alakazam, forcing him to get back into action.

Over at the central lab, Lysandre reveals the Megalith – which he has sealed in a high-security tank to ensure that the energy is contained – to Steven, who spots Elsa and Courtney working at one of the consoles. Deducing why they are there, he avoids making eye contact with them as the CEO claims that the precaution is to prevent another crisis like the one in Hoenn, prompting a series of clandestine eye rolls from the Haellmigk sisters as they continue their analysis of the Megalith. Unfortunately, they soon realise that an unknown online presence is observing them, causing Elsa to suggest ceasing the feed. However, she is persuaded not to do so by Courtney, who tells her to continue so they don’t raise suspicions from Xerosic, who has been watching them for the past hour.

Elsewhere, Sabine and Joaquim are brought into a room with several other trainers and told to prepare for a Mega Evolution battle. Asking the bounty hunter where Nightshade is as she brings out Scizor, Sabine finds out that she is currently in a special holding area specifically built for a creature like her (which, he realises, was convenient to start with). In addition, Joaquim also reveals the presence of armed guards to deter anyone from escaping or entering without permission, meaning that there is only one other way they can escape. But before he can tell her what it is, one of the trainers is summoned through a door that opens to reveal Alain’s battlefield over the threshold, and as Joaquim witnesses this, he realises that they will be facing him as his opponents.

Below, an exhausted and bleeding Emilie defiantly stares at Zannah as blood drips down her face, leading her torturer to comment that she is more resilient than she initially thought as she throws her into one of the cells before dragging another prisoner – a much taller and older man – out for another round of interrogation. Weakened from her ordeal, Emilie uses her Aura to stabilise her injuries and patches up her wounds as the other remaining prisoner, a girl around her age, recognises her as one of the Knights of Kalos, which raises her suspicions and leads her to accuse her of being an ally of their enemies. However, the other girl insists that she can be trusted and introduces herself as Krystyna Czajkowski, an amateur journalist and librarian who has been following their exploits through a series of articles published by Alexa and Viola, who have been covering their journey throughout the past few months. To prove her innocence, she shows Emilie a copy of the most recent article, which details the events leading up to the Siege of Dahara City, and this convinces Emilie to trust her for now.

On the rooftops, Isabella, Milos and Heidi arrive at the holding pens and break in to find the Draconid and her Mega Salamence engaged in a fight with Azazel. Instantly Mega Evolving Gengar, Absol and Altaria, the three Aura Knights join the battle with their Pokémon but find Nightshade being sedated as they reduce their surroundings to a wreck, and Heidi quickly splits off from the fight to try and revive her. Joining her, Zinnia uses her knowledge of Dragon-type Pokémon (despite Heidi pointing out that Nightshade isn’t a Pokémon) to help as Isabella uses her three Inkay to create a smokescreen to hide them while giving Milos, his Helioptile and all their Mega Evolutions a better chance to defeat their opponent.

Downstairs, Alain makes swift work of numerous opponents and eventually faces Joaquim and Sabine in a 2v1 after they make a deal with the guard for this special arrangement. Working in tandem, they utilise Mega Scizor and Mega Ampharos’ strengths to cover for their weaknesses, but their combined effort is no match for Alain, who uses his bond with Mega Charizard X to power through and defeat both Pokémon in a single stroke. Impressed (though not awed) by his power, Joaquim walks across the field to shake Alain’s hand but is taken aback when his opponent refuses to acknowledge him, which angers Sabine to such an extent that she nearly reaches for her scythe. However, she restrains herself (which is noticed by Malva, Essentia and the hooded figure) and heads back downstairs with a similarly infuriated Joaquim, who agrees with Emilie’s previous mentioning of “a deep anger and turmoil” within Alain before speculating that he is doing all this of his own free will to become “the strongest”. Nodding in agreement as she deems him to be irredeemable, Sabine sees an injured Heracross being tended to by one of Alain’s previous opponents, and upon recognising it as Emilie’s, she pulls her longsword on the trainer and demands to know where he got it from.

As Alain gives Charizard a Super Potion while planning for his next battle, Mairin approaches him to ask why he is putting himself through such a risky challenge. Sternly, Alain tells her to stay out of his business, but unlike back in Hoenn, this fails to deter Mairin, who claims that she got stronger when she was around him and expresses a firm desire to keep travelling with Alain despite the potential danger. Pushed to his breaking point by someone whom he never intended to travel with, Alain snaps and yells at Mairin, telling her that she is holding him back and that he can’t achieve his goals if she is around, before coldly telling her, like the last time, to go home. Shocked, Mairin silently leaves, prompting a furious Chespie to angrily yell at Alain before following his trainer moments later, but even being rebuked by Charizard for his harsh words does nothing to deter the stoic trainer, who tells himself that “it’s for the best”. Having witnessed the entire scene from a surveillance camera, Malva smirks in amusement as Essentia silently exits the room after filling a syringe with cyanide.

Elsewhere, Emilie asks Krystyna what their captors are doing as she tries to find a way to escape and learns of her suspicions that they are trying to research the properties of Aura. Elaborating on this by revealing that there used to be multiple people proficient in it who had been imprisoned in the other cells, Krystyna also tells her that when they were taken into the lab with their Pokémon, they never came out again. Unnerved by the implications, Emilie also asks about Krystyna’s past as she hastens her search and discovers that she is well-versed in and knowledgeable about Kalosian myths, including those surrounding the Lost Prince and a strange figure who appeared to have been expunged from all verifiable records. Hearing this, Emilie realises that Zannah and Azazel must be working for “her” and pieces together that “she” must have been that strange presence that Sabine had sensed on their first night at Lysandre Labs. As she says this, Azazel breaks through the smokescreen in the holding pens and disables Milos and Isabella’s weapons, leaving their fatigued Pokémon to handle the fight while Sabine and Joaquim begin tracking Emilie after retrieving Heracross’ Pokéball from the apologetic trainer it had been given to.

Oblivious to all these events occurring near her, a confused and saddened Mairin sits by a stairwell and morosely tells Chespie that she wishes to be alone for now when he tries to comfort her. As he reluctantly leaves, Essentia arrives with the syringe… but instead of using it, she comforts the crying girl, who wonders how someone whom she considers her friend could be so cruel and spiteful. In response, Essentia tells her that “some people are just like that” and that there is no reasoning with them as she philosophically recalls a saying that someone taught her – namely that sometimes, reasoning doesn’t work, leaving force as the only option. Taking this in, Mairin asks what she should do, and Essentia advises her to leave Alain alone for a while, pointing out that if he is indeed the “good” person she thinks he is, he should come back and apologise to her.

Meanwhile, Joaquim and Sabine track Emilie to the hidden door in the library but are prevented from entering by the last hooded figure. Recognising the being’s foreboding presence, Sabine orders her to show herself, and she complies by drawing back her robes to reveal an attractive yet haunting lady with white hair and red eyes, who tells them that they will not need their Pokémon for this fight as she telekinetically prevents them from opening their Pokéballs. Forced to defer to her weapons instead, Sabine addresses her as Raven Solstice, Philippe’s former wife, and as Joaquim joins her, the being proclaims that he has informed them well before producing two blades from her arms as she expresses a desire to see if he taught them how to fight as well.

In the holding pens, Azazel knocks out Milos’ Absol and prepares to kill him, but is battered aside by the revived Nightshade, who roars in fury as Zinnia joins the fight with her Mega Salamance, Aster and her katana. As Heidi boosts Isabella’s Aura levels and heals their Pokémon, Milos senses Raven Solstice’s presence and the fight she is having with Sabine and Joaquim, which he shares with his fellow Knights. With her boyfriend in danger, a concerned Isabella breaks off the fight and races to his location with Nightshade after being reassured by her comrades that they can handle the fight on their own.

Elsewhere, Chespie suddenly hears a faint cry while wandering through the facility and proceeds to follow it into a seemingly nondescript laboratory, which the Haellmigks notice. However, with Xerosic still watching them, they are forced to pull up a security feed while pretending to continue working… only to discover that there are no cameras within that lab. Suspicious and not wanting to be left out, Courtney causes a commotion by sabotaging her workstation, allowing Elsa to sneak out of the lab and into the ventilation system.

Inside the lab, Chespie finds several enclosures containing trees and discovers one containing a strange, green, cell-like creature. As it notices his presence, the scientists in the lab commence an experiment by irradiating the creature with various forms of radiation, which creates feedback that makes the vegetation in the room go haywire. Despite the dangerous signs, the scientists continue the test, fearing “his” response should they fail to produce any result, and this results in the containment field exploding and blasting everything in the room with high amounts of radiation, including Chespie and the cell creature. Compelled to help as the creature silently pleads for succour, Chespie evades the scientists, picks the creature up with Vine Whip and makes his way to a ventilation shaft, where he deposits it before losing consciousness. However, as it hops through the shaft, the creature comes across Elsa, who regards it with surprise and suspicion.

Back on the battlefield, Mega Charizard defeats a Mega Pinsir as his penultimate opponent, leaving Malva and her Mega Houndoom as the final obstacle for Alain. However, as she commends him for making it this far, she also confirms Alain’s identification of her as a member of the Kalos Elite Four while recalling his loss to Siebold in a needling manner. Swearing that he won’t lose this time as he has “a lot more at stake”, Alain has Mega Charizard start with a Flamethrower, only to learn that Houndoom’s Flash Fire Ability negates the damage from Fire-type attacks. Retaliating with a Flamethrower of its own, Mega Houndoom proves to be more than capable of holding its own against Mega Charizard X, who is pinned by a Crunch as Malva comments on Alain’s desire to be the strongest Mega Evolution trainer and questions him as to what that means, suggesting that he doesn’t know the answer when he doesn’t immediately respond.

Infuriated by this suggestion, Alain has Mega Charizard break free of Mega Houndoom’s grip as he proclaims that he and his Pokémon share a strong bond and the same dreams and desires to protect their loved ones. Intrigued by Alain’s sincerity, Malva remarks that this must be part of why Lysandre was interested in him before returning to the offensive. Close by, Lysandre arrives with Steven to observe the match, but the latter soon leaves when he notices Mairin’s absence, passing by Essentia as she enters the spectator’s box. Guessing that she did not use the syringe, Lysandre nevertheless keeps calm as he asks her what she thinks of Alain, and she replies by saying that he has deluded himself into believing that he isn’t strong enough before adding that there will be nothing left for him if he continues like this.

Elsewhere, Zinnia temporarily stuns Azazel by using her smaller size to evade his blows before striking him in the abdomen with Aster’s Supersonic. With their opponent disoriented, she turns to the Knights and urges them to get to safety, promising she will be right behind them. Though Milos and Heidi are both concerned, they comply with her request and retreat, with the Draconid following shortly after bombarding the holding pens with a Draco Meteor, which causes the already weakened building to collapse on top of Azazel as its impact is felt by Sabine and Joaquim back in the library.

Ignoring this distraction, the duo keep focused on their battle against Raven Solstice but are brutally thrashed and defeated despite their best efforts, leaving their victorious opponent mildly disappointed. Nevertheless, as she sheathes her blades, Raven expresses her respect for their skills even as she wonders aloud if Philippe told them the truth… but as she reminds Sabine that “it’s often what we make of it”, she is abruptly scorched by a burst of fire from Nightshade, who has arrived with Isabella. Jumping off the creature as she continues to burn Raven, Isabella rushes over to Joaquim, who updates her on the situation and sends her through the hidden door to rescue Emilie after explaining what happened.

Meanwhile, a wandering Mairin is shocked to find the comatose Chespie being wheeled away on a stretcher by a pair of scientists from the secret lab and demands to know what happened to him. However, while the scientists explain how they found him and claim that they are seeking medical attention for the unconscious starter, she refuses to believe them until Steven and Courtney arrive. Seeing Chespie’s condition, Courtney immediately identifies him as suffering from radiation poisoning, having witnessed such effects during field experiments back in Hoenn, but subsequently realises that she has not seen Elsa in a while…

Back on the battlefield, the exhausted Mega Charizard X and Mega Houndoom stubbornly refuse to give in, but when the latter stumbles, Alain sends it flying into the wall with a powerful Blast Burn, winning the match in the process. Grumbling over Alain’s power as she recalls her unconscious Pokémon, Malva deems him “irritating” but congratulates him on his ten-win streak, which he acknowledges as Lysandre and Essentia arrive. Similarly commending his subordinate, Lysandre allows Alain to keep his keystone and Mega Stone, all while reminding him that Mega Evolution is not something that Pokémon can do on their own, and Alain agrees by reaffirming his resolve to protect those he cares about. Snorting dismissively at this, Essentia is silenced by an equally amused Lysandre, who asks Alain whom he is referring to… only to be interrupted by a call from one of the scientists, who nervously states that he has an important message for him.

Back at the library, Raven Solstice gets a second wind and temporarily incapacitates Nightshade just as a battered Isabella exits the dungeon with Emilie, Krystyna and their gear. Yelling to Sabine that they need to go as he gets up, Joaquim triggers a smoke bomb, allowing them to escape through the windows while evading their opponent, and despite dissipating the cloud in seconds, Raven misses them. Displeased with herself for not seeing that coming, she heads through the secret doorway to find the lab in ruins and is informed by a wounded Zannah about what happened, but she merely requests that she leave before picking up a broken keystone she finds on the floor.

Over in the lab’s medical facility, Mairin and Steven are joined by Professor Sycamore, who came as soon as he heard the news, and are informed by Nurse Joy that although Courtney was able to identify the problem, she has yet to pinpoint the radiation that Chespie is afflicted with, meaning that it could be weeks or months before he regains consciousness. Despite Sycamore’s assurance that Chespie is fine, Mairin blames herself for letting her starter go off on his own as Lysandre offers to keep him at Lysandre Labs. However, as Essentia leads the sobbing Mairin away, Alain is revealed to be hiding around a corner, furious at himself for pushing her away and effectively causing the accident. Resolving to fix this, he silently leaves with an intense glare in his eyes, but as he does, he passes a disguised Raven Solstice, who momentarily stops him with words that he ultimately dismisses:

“What you need, you already have. Unfortunately, you seem to be letting it all go.”

Outside, Courtney finally finds a severely weakened Elsa next to an open ventilation shaft and calls for Steven after determining that she is also suffering from radiation poisoning. But before the younger Haellmigk loses consciousness, she tells her sister what she saw in the vents and how she was forced to help that “thing” escape, hinting that she did not do so of her own volition. Disturbed, Courtney tells Steven about this when he arrives, leading him to wonder what manner of creature she encountered.

Three days later, after leaving Lysandre Labs, Alain comes across a trainer with a Mega Banette who challenges him to a battle. Recalling what Lysandre said to him – that they needed to finish work on the Mega Evolution system as soon as possible – he also remembers his promise to do this so that he can “see Mairin smile again”, and with this choice on his mind, he accepts the offer to battle with renewed zeal and ferocity.

Meanwhile, back at Lysandre Labs, Malva sarcastically chides Lysandre for manipulating Alain’s actions to suit his own goals, but her boss merely smiles before responding that he technically hasn’t lied to Alain. However, as Malva leaves, commenting that she can see what he likes about him, Raven Solstice chides Zannah and Azazel for their failure to contain their prisoners before giving them a chance to redeem themselves by providing them with new gear for when they next face the Knights. As she sends them out, the old man asks her what it will take to satisfy her, addressing her by her real name, Mystra. Grabbing him by the throat, Mystra snarls that only one person is allowed to call her that and swears that this time, nothing will stop her from getting what she wants.

The episode concludes with narration from Mystra, and as scenes featuring Alain, Mairin, Steven, Professor Sycamore and Lysandre are shown, she continues her conversation with Philippe, agreeing that change is imminent – and that she will be the catalyst for that change as it affects and alters the very course of the “destiny” set for them. As a challenge, she invites him to come and face her with his “guardians” and their “hopes and dreams”, concluding with the declaration that, in the end, they will fail, and they will always find each other because “at the end of time, we’re all that we have”.

In the final scene, the mysterious cell-like creature is revealed to have escaped onto the open road. As it crawls, the setting sun casts a dark shadow behind it, forming a towering, humanoid silhouette.

In a post-credit scene, Sabine, Milos, Emilie, Joaquim, Isabella, Heidi, Krystyna, Zinnia and Nightshade are revealed to be hiding in an abandoned section of the facility as they receive news from Courtney that the facility is still in chaos from the recent events. Not knowing how long they will have this window of opportunity, Milos declares that “it’s now or never” to make their escape.

Chapter Text

898.   From A to Z!

Pondering Olympia’s advice as they leave Anistar City, the group stumbles across a strange green creature resembling a cell, which they cannot identify with their Pokédexes. Taking a liking to the creature, which she nicknames “Squishy”, Bonnie convinces her brother to let her keep it as the group unexpectedly runs into Sawyer, but while catching up with him on the recent events, Ash and a strangely subdued Philippe soon realise that Squishy has run off into the forest. Upon giving chase, the group runs into a group of red-suited goons led by a purple-haired lady, whom they briefly fight before they retreat.

Hiding in a clearing, the group decides to camp as it gets dark, and as Ash introduces Sawyer to the group’s newest Pokémon, Philippe secretly takes a DNA sample from Squishy. Witnessing this, Benoit is shocked to learn from Xerneas and Yveltal that “Squishy” is actually Zygarde, but his initial panic is calmed when they explain that it is not precisely the one from their past. Requesting an elaboration, the cavalier learns that Zygarde can split itself into its base components when threatened, though at the cost of its memories, and realises that it would thus not remember the Legendary Pokémon or Philippe from their past encounters. Confirming this with the Lost Prince, Benoit and an eavesdropping Dina are warned to be very careful around Squishy as they watch it photosynthesising in the setting sun.

In the meantime, Sawyer reveals to Ash that he has acquired four more badges since their last encounter and suggests that the group visit a place known as Terminus Cave, which is allegedly home to some unique Pokémon that cannot be found anywhere else in Kalos. However, while Ash’s interest is piqued, he affirms his intention to stop there on the way to Snowbelle City after noticing Squishy’s energetic reaction to the mention of the location, having grown somewhat suspicious of the odd creature since, for some reason, he cannot sense its Aura.

Later that night, as everyone falls asleep, Philippe and Dina notice Squishy heading into the forest. Not wanting to wake the others, they follow it… only to run right into the purple-haired woman and her troops, whom they demand to know the identities of as the rest of the Knights (who were informed by Benoit) show up in time for the inevitable skirmish. As her friends fight the newcomers, Dina grabs Squishy, but as she runs for it, she slips and hits her head on the banks of a nearby river just as a green-haired woman arrives with more henchmen. This gives her a severe concussion that impedes her ability to Mega Evolve her Mawile, but she nevertheless tries to defend Squishy with her Sylveon even as she collapses, with the woman mocking her before ordering her subordinates to retrieve both her and “Z1”. However, upon hearing of its imminent capture, Squishy glows green before drawing the energy from its surroundings and transforming into a green and black dog that blasts all its opponents away before reverting to normal as the rest of the victorious Knights arrive. Wondering what that was all about, Philippe stabilises and heals Dina as they return to the others and inform them of what happened.

As the sun rises, the women report to a man named Xerosic, who clarifies his displeasure with their failure. However, when they mention the Knights, his demeanour changes, and he encourages them to learn more about them as he tracks a second Zygarde Core. Meanwhile, as Sawyer leaves the group with a promise to meet again in the future, Ash and Philippe pass by a boy on the road who seems to radiate anger, but they both shrug it off and rejoin their friends as the episode ends.

899.   Love Strikes! Eevee, Yikes!

Calling Professor Sycamore, the group allows him to analyse Squishy, with Philippe also revealing its true nature in a private conversation and warning him to be careful. Somewhat sceptical of the claims that the Crown of Dominion can control a Legendary Pokémon, Sycamore is assured by Philippe that it is an entirely necessary precaution and is reminded not to let his guard down, as a Zygarde can be extremely dangerous even in its cell form. Acknowledging the Lost Prince’s concerns as he ends the call, Sycamore is asked by Sina and Dexio what that was about, and he decides to tell them after some thought.

Back with the group, Serena enlarges Bonnie’s bag so that Dedenne and Squishy can fit inside it before starting a practice session to improve Eevee’s dance moves, only for the session to be interrupted by a wild Quilladin who has fallen in love with Eevee. Defending her from this stalker when she repeatedly turns him down, Chespin, Pancham, Sylveon, Philippe’s Quilladin and both Meowstic are unwittingly dragged into a battle royale demanded by the wild Spiny Armour Pokémon despite it being very obvious that Eevee has no interest in this potential suitor. Fortunately, an observing Team Rocket chooses to ambush the group at this time, capturing Squishy, Bunnelby, Eevee and Dedenne and forcing all seven Pokémon to put aside their differences to rescue their friends, who manage to bite through the net that the TRio imprisons them in.

Upon realising that their captives have escaped, Team Rocket doubles back to confront the reunited Pokémon, and a brawl ensues, during which Philippe’s Quilladin, having gained enough experience from all of his battles, evolves into a Chesnaught and sends the TRio flying with a Needle Arm. At the same time, the wild Quilladin saves Eevee from Gourgeist’s Shadow Ball, but she still rejects him, causing him to throw a tantrum over the rejection… that he gets over when he sees a wild Flareon. As the Spiny Armour Pokémon heads off (to be rejected again), the trainers reflect on the events, with Ash, in particular, gaining a new perspective on unrequited feelings as Serena continues her practice session. However, while Philippe is thrilled to have a new Chesnaught, he remains focused on getting the Crown of Dominion back from Mystra, who is seen toying with the relic as the episode ends.

900.   A Giga Battle with Mega Results!

While travelling through the woods to meet up with Professor Sycamore, the group rescues the local Nurse Joy from a crevice after discovering that she possesses a Mega Stone identified by Philippe as an Audinite. Accompanying her back to the Pokémon Center, where they reunite with Sycamore, Sina and Dexio, they also learn that she has an Audino, but are disheartened to find out that she and her Pokémon are currently at odds due to her tendency to leave the Pokémon Center unguarded while searching for Mega Stones. Deciding not to let this opportunity go to waste, Benoit, Aoife and Geoff attempt to address the trust issues between Nurse Joy and her Audino while strengthening their bond, and after several practice battles, the nurses are finally able to work together sufficiently to achieve a Mega Evolution.

Between these events, Sycamore, Sina and Dexio study Squishy and learn more about Zygarde from Philippe, Xerneas and Yveltal, with the latter two assuring the Lost Prince that precautions will be implemented as soon as possible as they report their findings to the League. At the same time, Renata confides in Wolfgang about her desire to add a new weapon to her skillset so that she doesn’t have to strain her still-recovering voice, leading him to enlist Dina’s help to figure out what she could use, which they narrow down to a kind of longsword as the group leaves the Pokémon Center.

901.   A Fiery Rite of Passage!

Stumbling across a pride of Pyroar, the group witnesses them kicking out a young Litleo to fend for itself, which Philippe recognises as a rite of passage that the Lion Cub Pokémon has to take to gain its independence. Telling Ash this so that he does not intervene, he persuades the rest of the group to follow and observe the Litleo as he remembers a similar ritual from his past occurring among the lower-class citizens so that their children would have a chance of gaining a better standing in society. Throughout the day, the Litleo slowly grows in confidence as it traverses the grasslands (with the group helping it out only when its life is in danger), and following a fight with a Mightyena over an Oran Berry, it re-joins the pride when Pyroar gives his approval.

At the same time, Philippe tasks Benoit, Aoife and Geoff with reaching the next town to learn more about Terminus Cave, but the trio are forced to deal with attacks from a shadowing Team Rocket while facing their inner demons, which culminates in an evenly-matched 3v3 battle with Gogoat, Talonflame and Doublade against Growlie, Wobbuffet and Meowth that ends in the Knights’ favour. Reflecting on this as they reunite with their friends at the Pokémon Center, the trio realise after speaking to Xerneas and Yveltal that they have grown as a result of the trek, and Mega Evolve their Pokémon for a practice round as the Lost Prince watches on.

Chapter Text

902.   Dream a Little Dream From Me!

After hearing about the famed Litleonid meteor shower, the group (and Team Rocket) set up camp to watch the phenomenon and fall asleep under the stars, wishing for their deepest desires. However, unbeknownst to them, two passing shadows soon engulf both campsites and take a special interest in Squishy…

Sometime later, Pikachu and Meowth wake up for a drink of water but are shocked to discover all the Pokémon and humans talking in each other’s respective languages. Running into each other while trying to escape the madness, they encounter a talking Squishy being chased by a flaming monster and rescue him by crossing a river. Grateful, Squishy tells them that he needs help from Xerneas and Yveltal to return home to Terminus Cave, but when Pikachu and Meowth ask why, he reacts aggressively and transforms into a towering humanoid that begins blasting the forest apart.

Waking up, Pikachu discovers that Squishy is missing from Bonnie’s bag and alerts the group to this fact as Meowth infiltrates the campsite and convinces Xerneas and Yveltal to help him. Following him to where he found Pikachu in the dream, the Legendary Pokémon are transported back into said dream upon reuniting with the Mouse Pokémon and find Squishy being chased by the flaming monster again. On Squishy’s orders, Xerneas and Yveltal attempt to destroy the creature, but only succeed in trapping it under a tree before they are forced to flee. Later, as they come across a destroyed meadow, Squishy restores it with his power when Pikachu begs him to do so, inadvertently irking Xerneas and forcing Yveltal to calm her.

Eventually, the quintet reaches Terminus Cave, but they are prevented from entering it by the flame monster and are forced to take a stand. Learning their attacks have little to no effect on the creature, they try to hold out even as Squishy begins complaining about their progress, and this causes an angered Yveltal to snap and yell at him, denouncing “Zygarde” as a “scourge” upon their home and blaming him for hundreds of deaths in the battle to bring him under control. However, Squishy maintains that he did what had to be done back then and stonily tells them to focus on the fight as he summons the group’s Pokémon to help them. Despite the palpable animosity between the Legendary Pokémon, they manage to split the flame monster into several smaller components—but at that moment, Clemont’s alarm clock explodes and wakes everyone up.

Pondering what they have just gone through as they return to their campsites, Meowth and Pikachu decide to keep what they have learned from Ash, Jessie and James. At the same time, Xerneas soothes Yveltal, expressing an understanding of his anger even as she reminds him that they have to stomach working with Zygarde for now so Philippe can stop Mystra. Calmed, Yveltal admits that he doesn’t want to see her hurt again, which Xerneas promises won’t happen, but as the two Legendary Pokémon embrace, they see a Darkrai and a Cresselia flying off. Deducing that they were behind the dreams, they wonder what they could have been trying to warn them about as they return to Philippe.

903.   The Legend of the Ninja Hero!

While having lunch, the group reunites with Sanpei, who invites them to a festival at his home. Accepting his invitation, the party is led into the secret Ninja Village, hidden within a hollow mountain, where they are greeted by his elder brothers, Ippei and Nihei, as well as the village chieftain, Hanzo, and his assistant, the seemingly youthful Shinobu. As Ash and Philippe learn from Hanzo that Saizo had informed him of their exploits, Sanpei battles Nihei and his Venusaur in a practice round while Ippei challenges Dina to a stealth duel. Both rounds end with the older brothers winning, though not before Sanpei and Dina put up immensely tough battles that push them to their limits.

Exploring the village in the aftermath of both battles, Ash learns from Sanpei that the elderly Hanzo is planning for Ippei to replace him during the festival, while Philippe and the Knights discover from Shinobu that she and her superior know about their quest. However, she also admits that she knows she cannot dissuade them from their path and instead warns them of an upcoming trial that will push them to their limits as they head through a series of secret passageways and trap doors. Eventually reconvening in a hidden chamber, the group is also shown an underground shrine dedicated to the Pokémon that had saved the village and united the scattered ninja tribes, save for one that refused to recognise the newfound unity between old enemies and voluntarily exiled themselves. Looking closer at the lead Pokémon, a Greninja, Bonnie notices that it seems a bit different from a normal Greninja… but before Xerneas and Yveltal can identify it, alarm bells ring, signalling an attack on the village.

Sending Benoit, Aoife and Geoff out with Ippei and Nihei to defend the inhabitants, Philippe joins the others as they head to the chief’s quarters, where they are ambushed by a man named Kagetomo, who is accompanied not only by several ninjas but also by the cloaked figures from Dahara City. Moving to face them, Dina, Wolfgang and Renata battle their old adversary but are routed and disabled by a series of Aura-suppressing spells as Kagetomo escapes after taking Hanzo hostage. Pursuing them, Sanpei, Ash, Serena and Philippe are unfortunately halted by one of Kagetomo’s subordinates, Heidayu, and as Clemont and Bonnie try to convince Xerneas and Yveltal to join the battle on the front lines, Wolfgang and Renata are taken out of the fight when the figures immobilise them with a device, leaving Dina as the only one left to face her adversaries.

904.   A Festival of Decisions!

Using Gardevoir and Gallade, Wolfgang and Renata destroy the device and free themselves, but fail to stop the cloaked figures – Zannah and Azazel – from knocking out and capturing Dina. Meanwhile, Heidayu utterly decimates Sanpei’s team with his Bisharp, forcing a recently returned Saizo to step in and save them with his Barbaracle, but with their main objective accomplished, Heidayu orders the enemy ninjas to retreat into the shadows and promptly vanishes into the night.

Recovering from their encounter, the group learns from Saizo that Kagetomo was a powerful ninja from the village who had originally been next in line of succession for the role of the village chieftain, but Hanzo decided not to give it to him due to his thirst for power, which caused him to defect to the renegade ninja tribe. Having already pinpointed his hideout in the nearby Otori Mountains, Saizo forms a rescue mission to save Hanzo and is joined by the group so they can rescue Dina. However, before they leave, Benoit asks Philippe how they can defeat Mystra’s subordinates and is informed of a plan he has devised since their last encounter in Dahara City…

Hours later, the team arrives at the enemy’s hideout and divides into two groups, with Philippe and the Knights following Saizo and Ippei as they infiltrate the fortress and Ash, Sanpei, Nihei and the others facing Heidayu and the majority of the ninjas in a full-frontal assault. While the latter battle decimates the surrounding landscape as the group faces stiff resistance, Ash and Sanpei take out Heidayu’s guard and face him after Clemont weeds out multiple opponents with Bunnelby. At the same time, Ippei and his Greninja face Kagetomo and his Weavile, leaving the others to find the captive Hanzo and Dina on a cliff, and Philippe also separates from the group to face Zannah and Azazel head-on in the shadows of a dark cave. With the Lost Prince preoccupied, Benoit takes charge of the Knights as Dina manoeuvres and throws herself off the cliff, saving herself by cutting her binds with her dagger and using the ropes to swing to safety.

Elsewhere, Heidayu’s Bisharp defeats Ash, Serena and Sanpei yet again, but before it can land the final blow with a Guillotine, Frogadier intercepts the attack and evolves into Greninja. Quickly picking up on his Pokémon’s new moves, Ash commands Greninja to use Water Shuriken… and in doing so, the Ninja Pokémon seems to change his form for the briefest of moments as he effortlessly defeats Bisharp. However, the moment is over as quickly as it happens, leaving Ash wondering what that was as the others defeat the remaining ninjas. Above them, Philippe lures Zannah and Azazel into a section of the cave that the Knights blast with light, thereby removing their ability to hide in the shadows as Dina uses the Staff of Life’s gemstone to immobilise them before demanding to know who and what they are. Defeated, the beings retort that “death is only the beginning” before crumbling into dust and blowing away in the breeze, which Philippe recognises as a trick Mystra used to escape dangerous situations.

At the same time, Ippei defeats Weavile despite being outclassed in terms of strength, leading to a freed Hanzo revealing to Kagetomo that his lack of compassion for his Pokémon was another major factor as to why he can never become the village chieftain. Angered by his defeat yet respectful of his master’s wishes, Kagetomo refuses to return to the village out of shame and a desire to rethink his worldview, but before he leaves with Heidayu and his disciples, he questions if “they” were right all along and reveals that Zannah and Azazel showed him a vision of ninjas in the future operating under the reformed Kingdom of Kalos. Nevertheless, with the mission a success, the team returns to the village as the festival begins, allowing Hanzo to officially pass on his mantle to Ippei as the group reflects on the recent events.

In a mid-credit scene, Ippei revisits the shrine with his brothers, Hanzo, Saizo and Shinobu and remarks that he saw something in Ash’s Greninja that reminded him of the village’s ancient hero. In a post-credit scene, Zannah and Azazel report back to Mystra, who decides that the time has come for her to face Philippe.

The Great Escape

With Lysandre Labs still in chaos following the recent incidents, Courtney logs into the system and informs the Knights that the best possible escape route is via the train they came in on. However, as everyone splits up to put their escape plan into action, she tells Milos that she is staying behind to learn more about the Megalith and watch over the comatose Elsa. Understanding her reasons, Milos wishes her good luck, and as a sign of good faith, the former Team Magma Admin gifts him a pair of steel-grey gauntlets with gold lining that channels his Aura into his sword while boosting it to allow for more powerful attacks.

Reflecting on this last conversation in the present as he returns from a scouting run, Milos joins Heidi as they wait in line for a recently implemented security scanner. As they pass through, Heidi uses her Aura to mask their weapons while Courtney fools the metal detector by remotely hacking into the system from a bathroom stall, allowing them to pass through. With that, they make it to their hideout, where they reunite with Isabella and a still-recovering Emilie, the former of whom informs her fellow Aura Knight that she has done the best she can to treat their wounded ally while making it clear that they need special medical attention. In return, Milos asks her how Joaquim is doing with his part of the plan.

Outside, Joaquim and Krystyna spy on the arriving train from the safety of a makeshift camouflage blanket, and the former comes up with a plan to reboot the system and lock Team Flare out after remembering that the train is automated. However, Krystyna questions how they are going to sneak Nightshade on board with all the guards, causing Joaquim to reveal that he has a plan for that complication, though he confesses that he isn’t entirely sure it will work. At the same time, Isabella replies to Milos’ question that Joaquim knows what to do before asking Heidi if she thinks they are ready. Thinking hard, Heidi points out that they will probably have to fight their way to the train if they are spotted– which will almost certainly attract the attention of Mystra and the Fallen Celestials – but since they have no other choice, she is willing to “live dangerously” for once.

With the green light informally given, Milos contacts Sabine through their Aura and updates her on the commencement of the plan before telling her that they need a distraction. Acknowledging him from her position in the motor pool on the other side of the complex, Sabine begins attaching bombs to several vehicles alongside Zinnia and Aster before sneaking out as several guards arrive. As they escape, Sabine asks the younger girl why she is helping them, and Zinnia repeats what Isabella and Emilie had said to her before revealing her realisation that she was wrong to turn her back on her past and that she does want to make amends with those she has hurt or wronged. Commenting that she reminds her of Philippe, Sabine does not notice the younger girl momentarily hesitating as she updates Milos.

Acknowledging his friend’s message as he guides Heidi, Isabella and Emilie through the hallways, Milos cuts through the second floor of the main atrium and sees Xerosic discussing something with Lysandre. Unable to hear the conversation, he and the group continue, but their presence is noticed by Essentia, who begins stalking them from a distance. At the same time, Joaquim decides to utilise Krystyna’s persistence and willingness to get her hands dirty as they make their way down from the roof they are stationed on, and tells her to help him retrieve Nightshade, who is currently hiding on another rooftop thanks to an invisibility spell generated by Isabella. However, while trying to rendezvous with their allies, Sabine and Zinnia sense something wrong and split up to assist their friends after a short, silent conversation.

To ensure they can get to the train, Milos contacts Courtney to trick the security scanners again. Despite the risk, Courtney covers her tracks before Xerosic can find out… only for Essentia to find out about this and alert Lysandre and Mystra, who send their subordinates after the Knights. However, Lysandre’s grunts get to the Knights first and engage them in a Pokémon battle at one of the labs, forcing them to escape into the vents as Isabella stays behind and triggers her three Inkay to evolve into Malamar. With her newly evolved Overturning Pokémon, she uses Hypnosis to confuse the grunts, but is captured by Essentia, who bypasses the Pokémon to attack and subdue her directly.

Elsewhere, Joaquim and Krystyna are confronted by Azazel as they reach Nightshade’s position and are cut off from their escape route when he sets the ground on fire. Forced into a fight against the otherworldly being, they face him with their Mega Ampharos and Furfrou, but unbeknownst to Azazel, the duo’s Noibat and Klefki, released before their arrival, begin to set up traps around the battlefield that he begins to trigger when he stumbles into them. Meanwhile, Milos, Heidi and Emilie reach the train platform but are intercepted by Essentia and Zannah, who unveil a bound and gagged Isabella to force them to surrender. Not wanting to risk her life, Milos agrees to surrender, secretly hoping that it will allow Heidi to use her Floette to cause a distraction… but that hope becomes unnecessary when Sabine drops in from above with her Mega Scizor and Pangoro. As everyone scatters, the blind Aura Knight frees her captive comrade with a throw of her scythe and rejoins Milos to face Zannah in a rematch, leaving Heidi (after setting Emilie down in a safe area) to do the same with Isabella as Essentia moves over to fight them.

Sensing all this through his Aura bond with Isabella, Joaquim is soon assisted by Zinnia, who uses several darts to incapacitate Azazel before drawing her sword and telling the bounty hunter and Krystyna to get Nightshade. But while both disagree and voice their intentions to stand with her, Mystra shows up and locks eyes with Zinnia… who addresses the Celestial as her mother!

Shocked, Joaquim asks for clarification, but the red-eyed Draconid tells him through gritted teeth that she will handle this as Mystra admits it has been a while since they last saw each other. Responding that she had hoped this day would never come, Zinnia turns down the invitation to join her before rhetorically asking how anything she does helps anyone. Sighing in resignation, Mystra mutters that she should have expected this and says that Philippe raised her too well (which Zinnia concurs with) before drawing her blades and joining the fight. Back at the platform, Sabine and Milos beat Zannah with their Heliolisk and Pangoro… but also see the train leaving on Lysandre’s orders as Isabella and Heidi likewise defeat Essentia with their Pokémon. Unable to get aboard, the Knights are mocked by Zannah, whom Emilie knocks out before asking Milos if they have a backup plan. Responding that they do, Milos turns to Sabine and gives her a nod to trigger the bombs that she planted earlier.

Back with Joaquim, Mystra is revealed to have defeated Zinnia, Joaquim, Nightshade and Krystyna, but before she can make good on her threats, a series of explosions from the motor pool distracts her. Seizing the opportunity, Zinnia kicks Mystra’s legs out from under her and flees on her Salamence, with Nightshade following close behind after grabbing Joaquim and Krystyna, the former of whom uses Noibat’s newly learned Boomburst to stun any potential pursuers. However, as alarms start blaring across the compound and numerous Team Flare grunts race to cut the Knights off, Courtney keeps a low profile in the main lab while examining the Megalith.

Reuniting on an open field for weapons testing, the Knights take stock of their injuries but are forced to run for it when the Flare grunts arrive, armed to the teeth with Pokémon and experimental weaponry. Fleeing across the field, they escape into a nearby forest as Milos and Sabine reveal their new plan: to intercept the train before it can exit the compound through an electric fence. Arriving on the scene as more grunts rush out, Essentia, Azazel and Zannah join the pursuit, the latter two disregarding Mystra’s orders to stop as she contacts them over a secure commlink after sensing their intentions.

By some miracle, and despite being shot at from all angles, the team manages to stay ahead of Team Flare… until Lysandre orders Xerosic to go for a “field test”. Gleefully, the scientist cuts off a shard of the Megalith and – as Courtney watches – siphons its raw energy into a capsule, which he proceeds to fire from a rocket launcher in the direction of the forest, where it explodes, sending out a shockwave that knocks the Knights to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, the Flare grunts catch up, but the team’s Pokémon quickly deal with them as Zinnia, Joaquim and Nightshade provide cover from the skies. Knowing that Essentia, Zannah and Azazel are right behind them, Milos grabs one of the experimental rifles and blasts the former when she comes into view as a Psybeam from Emilie’s Vivillon and a Petal Dance from Heidi’s Floette incapacitates the latter two.

With enough time bought, Nightshade gets to the train first, allowing Joaquim to break into the lead car and lock Team Flare out of the system by hacking the controls. Disabling the tracking beacon with help from Ampharos, Krystyna heads back and opens the doors for the others as they climb aboard. However, Azazel, having shrugged off his injuries, arrives on a nearby hill and shoots Emilie with a poisoned dart as she boards the train, though she manages to pull herself into the car seconds before the train passes through the electric fence, much to Azazel’s rage.

Meeting up with the others once he has ensured that they are not being followed, Joaquim learns from Isabella that although they have removed the dart, Emilie has slipped into an Aura trance to heal herself. Pointing out that this will not be enough to heal their comrade, she insists on getting immediate medical attention… only to learn from her boyfriend that they are miles away from the nearest medical facilities. Unsure of what to do as they consult a map, the couple are interrupted by Milos, who, after determining the route that the train will take, realises that they can stop at a place where they can find help from some potential allies of theirs…

In a post-credit scene, Lysandre berates Xerosic for failing to contain the Knights, causing the embittered scientist to take out his anger on the rest of the staff. However, while avoiding her boss’ wrath, the still-undercover Courtney uncovers a report on an excavation at Geosenge Town, during which energy readings and markings matching the ones on the Megalith were discovered.

Chapter Text

905.   A Dancing Debut!

Arriving in Couriway Town to compete in the next Pokémon Showcase, Serena reveals her plan to use Eevee in her debut performance, but is forced to calm her newest Pokémon when she shows signs of stage fright. Nevertheless, she participates in the first round alongside Jessie and Nini (who has earned two more Princess Keys and added a Gothita to her team), which turns out to be a Poké Puff baking competition that integrates a dance routine in the performance. However, she remains unaware that Palermo is watching her, having kept track of Serena ever since the Coumarine City Showcase.

Determined to win on her talents and terms, Jessie enlists Meowth to make the perfect show, and with his ninja skills, she gains the highest amount of points among all the competitors. Not to be left behind, Serena uses Pancham and one-ups this show with a musical performance inspired by Wolfgang and Renata’s concerts. Inspired by this, Wolfgang leaves partway through the performance to purchase a flute from a nearby store that had caught his eye earlier, then returns to modify it between rounds, incorporating all the upgrades he had installed on the last one with help from Clemont and Dina.

Later that night, the second round begins with a gothic dance from Nini, causing a determined Jessie to follow suit with a complicated flamenco dance she had spent weeks perfecting with Wobbuffet and Gourgeist and which almost sets her dress on fire in the process (though she manages to recover quickly by integrating it into the show and ends her performance with thunderous applause). With only Serena left, she tasks Braixen and Eevee to perform their tap dance routine and enhances it with the former’s fire rings, but Eevee loses her balance at the end when the stage fright gets to her. Unfortunately, while the audience (and Palermo) approves of the performance, the slip-up ends up costing Serena her third Princess Key, which goes to an ecstatic yet strangely humbled Jessie, who decides to take the lessons she has learned from the Showcases to heart as she tries to obtain her remaining two Princess Keys. As Serena promises Eevee that she will do better next time, Wolfgang shows his new flute to Renate and tests it by playing a slow, reflective tune as the sun sets.

906.   Meeting at Terminus Cave!

With Serena’s showcase finished, the group makes their way to Terminus Cave and learns from Clemont and Bonnie that it used to be an abandoned mine that is now a protected preserve for wild Pokémon. Upon entering the tunnels, Squishy runs off, and the group is forced to follow him, but one by one, Philippe and the Knights are separated from the others as they sense a strong Aura presence in the caves. Alone in the dark, the Knights are beset by individual visions that question what they know about Philippe, while the Lost Prince receives one that takes the form of spirits from his past, whom he follows deeper into the caves.

Elsewhere within the labyrinth, Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Xerneas and Yveltal reach a cavern with a glowing, subterranean lake and find Squishy in the middle of the water. Realising it is communicating with something else, the Legendary Pokémon tell Ash as Bonnie wades out to collect the Pokémon… only for it to vanish. However, unbeknownst to them, the red-suited goons detect Squishy’s distress call and zero in on their location after receiving the greenlight from Xerosic, who addresses them as “Team Flare”. At the same time, Philippe is guided by the spirits to a cavern where he senses a familiar presence and sighs as he addresses Mystra, who steps out of the shadows with the Crown on her head. Telling him that she knew their paths would cross again, she brings out three familiar Malamar (whom Philippe correctly guesses were a test for him and his companions) and lunges at him as he brings out Charizard, Gyarados and Chesnaught.

Unaware of the skirmish as they continue to search the pool, Ash’s team is suddenly attacked by a Drapion belonging to the purple-haired lady, Celosia, who incapacitates Xerneas and Yveltal with electric darts. Quickly locating the camouflaged Squishy with a scanner, her green-haired companion, Bryony, decimates his hiding spot with a laser, and as she proceeds to hunt him down, Bonnie tries to intervene by putting herself in the line of fire. Fortunately, Benoit, who had broken out of his vision with the other Knights, saves her as Geoff, perched on a high ledge, takes out several grunts with his Talonflame and allows the group to reunite with Aoife… just as Team Rocket shows up. With that, an all-out, three-way brawl commences, and in the chaos, Greninja manages to get Squishy to Bonnie, who promises to protect him as Celosia and Bryony corner her. Revealing that Squishy is far more valuable than she thinks, the women press their attack as Geoff resuscitates Xerneas and Yveltal, who intervene in time for Squishy to gather the local Zygarde cells and assume his dog form.

As the three Legendary Pokémon decimate the Team Flare grunts and the surrounding area, Philippe and Mystra continue their battle and comment on how they have grown stronger since they last met. Finding each other evenly matched, the couple also questions each other’s ultimate goals, with Mystra telling Philippe that they should work together to unify Kalos, even as he counters with the accusation that her idea is fundamentally flawed. Firing back with a claim that she wants the same thing as he, Mystra accuses Philippe of squandering her “gift” by helping individuals instead of “those who matter”, but he rebukes her with a reminder that he never wanted her “gift” to begin with and that everyone deserves their help to some degree. Deciding that this conversation, like their last one, has gone nowhere, Mystra pushes the offensive and critically injures Philippe by stabbing him in the chest before she tells him that the version of her who used to think that way died long ago. But before she can deal the finishing blow, she is interrupted by Dina, Wolfgang and Renata, who unleash their Pokémon and force her to retreat into the shadows, where she fades away with an ominous warning about truth and lies.

Back at the subterranean lake, as everyone recovers from the devastation, Bonnie sees Squishy running off after a silent discussion with Xerneas and Yveltal. Unwilling to let their target escape, Celosia and Bryony send out their Liepard and Manectric to stop him, only to be intercepted by Pikachu and Greninja, which leads them to target Serena in revenge. Attempting to save her on Ash’s command, Greninja seemingly changes form again and defeats the Team Flare members, but his trainer somehow feels an injury he sustains in the battle. However, before they can make sense of this, Bryony detonates a series of explosive charges that cause a massive cave-in, forcing everyone to flee.

Making it out of the collapsed mine 30 minutes later, a shaken Serena wonders what happened as Clemont, remembering how a similar incident occurred at the Ninja Village, learns from Ash that it was as though he had been Greninja during those moments… right before he collapses, with the injury that Greninja sustained having somehow transferred over to his body. Elsewhere, Celosia and Bryony report back to Xerosic, who instructs them to gather more information about these “meddlers” as well as Squishy and the Knights of Kalos, but as they hang up, they remain unaware that they are being spied on by Team Rocket. Realising the seriousness of their situation, Jessie, James and Meowth decide to learn more about Team Flare as they retreat and contact Giovanni to tell him about this new development. However, as Serena and Clemont treat Ash’s injuries, Bonnie realises that Squishy is missing and insists on finding him, along with Philippe, Xerneas, Yveltal, and the Knights, as the episode concludes.

In a post-credit scene, Xerosic reports to his boss, Lysandre, who remarks that “Z1’s” new form is what they need to change the world. However, when he asks about “Z2”, he is told by Xerosic that they will have it in their grasp soon enough.

907.   A Cellular Connection!

Unsure of where their friends are, Ash, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie are forced to camp as the sun goes down after spending the whole day searching for them. Getting Bonnie to rest, the other three discuss the day’s events and what they have learnt, with a disconcerted Clemont wanting to evaluate the situation further over his sister’s insistence on continuing the search. Unaware that Squishy is watching them from a Zygarde cell in a tree, Serena asks Ash what they can do when he compares the newest threat to Team Galactic and Plasma… only for Ash to admit that their options are limited without much information.

Elsewhere, Benoit and Dina stumble into a Pokémon Center and tell Nurse Joy that they need a room immediately after dragging in the injured and unconscious Philippe. Once the Lost Prince has been secured, Renata and Wolfgang tend to him as the other Knights talk about what happened back in Terminus Cave and discover that while his Aura is taking care of his minor injuries, whatever Mystra stabbed him with seems to have affected his mind and heart, which have been closed off. Unable to tell if he is recovering properly, Dina realises that the only thing they can do is to perform a mind share – an invasive Aura technique that involves them going inside Philippe’s mind to find the problem – to revive him, but given the lack of options, everyone else agrees to do it. However, as they prepare for the operation, the Knights remain unaware that they (and Ash’s team) are being watched by Celosia and Bryony, the former of whom expresses interest in swaying them to their side even as the latter quashes the possibility by pointing out their loyalty to their cause.

Once everyone is ready, the Knights are mentally transported into Philippe’s mind as they meditate while focusing on his Aura and witness several of his memories, including the first time he met Mystra. Initially resisting the temptation to look, their curiosity eventually wins out, and they end up peaking at the Lost Prince’s childhood, his first adventures, his relationship with Mystra and his first death, all of which line up with what he told them. Finding a memory of Philippe and Mystra embracing after his resurrection, Renata raises the possibility that she might still care for him in her way, which Wolfgang admits is a possibility as they continue searching for the problem. Back in the real world, Clemont builds a machine to help find Squishy… but thanks to an unintended encounter and misunderstanding with Team Rocket, the group accidentally angers several Toxicroak, who chase them off a cliff. Unfortunately, while everyone manages to save each other, Bunnelby sustains critical injuries from saving Bonnie when Clemont cannot catch her, forcing them to call the search off as they head for the nearest Pokémon Center. Still watching them, Squishy contacts Z2, who tells him to cease all contact with humans, but he disagrees after seeing how much Bonnie cares for him and points out that some can be trusted, in stark contrast to Z2, who insists that all humans—including Philippe and the Knights—are disrupting the “delicate” balance of Kalos.

Arriving at the same Pokémon Center as the Knights, the group learn from Nurse Joy that although Bunnelby is still alive, she cannot treat him properly without Nicera Herbs – a rare medicinal plant she currently does not have. As a guilt-ridden Bonnie sneaks out to find the plant on her own, the Knights continue to view Philippe’s memories and see Mystra telling him what happened to his parents and friends in the aftermath of the kingdom’s fall before they married and settled down in a snowy forest in eastern Kalos, even having two children of their own. However, over time, Philippe soon began questioning exactly how he had been resurrected after noticing several inconsistencies in his wife’s story and soon launched an investigation that eventually led him to his original grave in Geosenge Town.

Back in the present, Bonnie scales a cliff to get to the forest where the Nicera Herbs are, but disturbs a nest of sleeping Scolipede and has to be saved by Clemont, Ash and Serena. Once the Megapede Pokémon have been dealt with, she is comforted by a relieved Clemont as she admits her guilt over Bunnelby’s predicament, leading to Ash proposing that they search for the required medicine together. Agreeing, the group begins their hunt, and after an extensive scouring of the mountainside, they find it… in a just-out-of-reach, hollowed-out stump of a tree, but Bonnie refuses to give up and tries to reach into the stump to grab the plant. Seeing this, an inspired Squishy helps by using his powers to accelerate the growth of the Nicera Herb, thus allowing her to pluck several flowers before they return to the Pokémon Center.

Inside Philippe’s mind, the Knights find out that, following his analysis of the soil at his grave, he learned that Mystra had irradiated his corpse with dead Zygarde cells that she had harvested from his father’s “Ultimate Weapon” and the collected Aura of countless humans and Pokémon she had experimented upon… including his surviving friends. Enraged and horrified by this knowledge, he confronted her, and the resulting argument escalated into a brutal fight that accidentally killed their children and destroyed their home before he discovered that her actions had made him immortal. Realising that neither of them could kill the other, yet unwilling to forgive her, he impaled her on a tree before he left to seek counsel from one of Olympia’s ancestors, who told him of the prophecy regarding the fate of Kalos and that he and Mystra’s destinies were forever intertwined. Driven to despair by the eternal battle he would fight, he consequently secluded himself from the world as the centuries passed by, emerging now and then to face Mystra in a series of spectacular yet isolated skirmishes while only imparting his skills to those he deemed worthy (which is why only the Gym Leaders and the highest echelons of the League knew him). Stunned and conflicted by what they have seen as they find the mental injury, the Knights transfer their Aura directly into their leader’s mind, healing him as the mind share ends.

Returning to the Pokémon Center with the medicine, Bonnie is surprised to find Squishy back in her bag and gratefully hugs him when he accepts her offer to travel with them. Overhearing the commotion as they wake up, the Knights reunite with their friends, and as Philippe similarly regains consciousness, Dina contemplates discussing what she has learned with the Lost Prince as he exits the room to check on his friends.

908.   A Windswept Encounter!

As the group decides to rest in a picturesque meadow, Noibat is poisoned by a Breloom and healed by a wild Orange Flower Floette after Ash learns they are out of antidotes. Befriending the Single Bloom Pokémon, he plays with her for a while, but his actions end up attracting the ire of the Breloom, who has also fallen for the Floette, and this leads to him asking Hawlucha for battling advice so he can beat his rival. With this new knowledge, Noibat challenges the Breloom to a battle… only to be interrupted by Team Rocket capturing both Breloom and Floette, forcing him to fly after and engage them in an intense air battle. In the process, he learns Acrobatics, frees the captive Pokémon and single-handedly blasts Team Rocket off, but soon discovers that Floette has to leave when the winds start carrying numerous members of her species off on a migratory journey. Along with the Breloom, whose respect he has gained, Noibat bids his new friend farewell and uses his newly learned move to fly higher and faster to give her a proper sendoff.

Meanwhile, with Xerneas and Yveltal still missing, the Knights ponder their next move as Dina pulls Philippe aside and tells him what they did to save his life. Deducing that they looked into his memories, Philippe asks her what they intend to do with that knowledge… only for Dina to ask him if he still loves Mystra. After a moment’s silence, the Lost Prince admits, as he watches the Floette depart from the fields, that although she has done many horrible things that most (including himself) would consider unforgivable, he can’t bring himself to hate her anymore due to the loneliness brought upon by his immortality, as it taught him that “no one should be forgotten or left alone”. With that, Philippe turns back to his friend and acknowledges that it will be nearly impossible to give her a second chance, but admits that he still wants to try so he can move on. Finally understanding what drives him, Dina comforts her friend and promises to help him accomplish his goal before accompanying him, as, in the name of transparency, he informs the Knights of his intentions.

The Lost Daughter

Recovering in Arche Valley after ditching the train, Milos and Sabine are assured by several medics that Emilie will be taken care of, though there is a high chance that she will suffer some side effects from the poison for the rest of her life. Accepting this consequence, the duo are interrupted by Krystyna, who reveals Zinnia’s parentage and directs them towards her as she speaks to Aster on an outcropping of rock overlooking the settlement. Asking the Draconid who she is, Milos patiently waits for a response, and after a moment of silence, she tells her story…

Beginning with what she can remember, Zinnia recalls her time in an orphanage roughly forty years ago and how, since she was young, she always had a particular affinity with Dragon-type Pokémon to such an extent that she was able to hear and understand them. However, this caused her to be ostracised by the other children and adults, who would stay away from her, fearing what they didn’t understand (or, in Zinnia’s words, didn’t want to understand). Ultimately, salvation only came in the form of Philippe, who adopted her after seeing her abilities in action when she was five.

Unfortunately, Zinnia’s experiences hardened her heart, making her a temperamental child who initially resisted any attempt to bond with her new father. Over time, however, his effort bore fruit as he revealed his powers and origins to her while teaching her how to control her abilities and when to use them, all of which allowed her to grow close to her adoptive father as she grew into a skilled warrior (despite not being able to wield Aura on the same level as him). Even learning about his identity and past did nothing to diminish her trust in him as they remained together as a family for the next fifteen years, and she managed to cultivate a strong Pokémon team that she used to help defend trainers from Pokémon Hunters and criminals who passed by their mountainside home in the eastern reaches of Kalos.

However, this peace came crashing down one day when Zinnia came home to find her father fighting Mystra, who had tracked him down alongside her acolytes, Azazel and Zannah. Attempting to intervene, she was knocked unconscious in an explosion that she inadvertently caused and awoke hours later to find her home and a nearby town in ruins, with the survivors blaming her (as the only remaining person from “that weird family” left) for what happened. Without her father to help her, Zinnia was driven out and wandered across Kalos to find out what happened to them, eventually piecing together that all this had been one of Mystra’s many attempts to get her immortal husband to return to her side.

As a part of her investigation, Zinnia also learned about the Zygarde cells that had caused Philippe’s immortality and had travelled to Geosenge Town to check his grave. However, in doing so, she crossed paths with Azazel and Zannah, whom she discovered were lesser celestial beings whom Mystra swayed to her side, and who were now tasked with apprehending her. Engaging them in a fight, Zinnia ended up unearthing not only Philippe’s old grave but the burial point of the fabled “Ultimate Weapon”, and unwittingly breached one of its power cells, irradiating herself and her Pokémon with the combined essences of Aura and Zygarde cells and unknowingly making herself immortal too. With her newfound ability, she defeated Mystra’s acolytes, but soon fell unconscious from radiation poisoning.

Proving this last bit by inflicting a small cut on herself that instantly heals, Zinnia tells Milos and Sabine that she understands why Philippe regarded immortality as a curse despite acknowledging all the good they could do. When Krystyna asks if she ever found out where she came from, Zinnia strokes a sleeping Aster as she continues her story…

Upon waking up in a Pokémon Centre, Zinnia was greeted by her saviour – a hooded woman named Aster who introduced herself as a descendant of the Draconid people from Hoenn. Explaining that she had been searching for wayward members of their tribe in Kalos to bring home, Aster had been surprised by her innate abilities and, upon recognising them as intrinsic to Draconids, realised that she was a descendant like her. Likewise feeling a strange connection to the older girl, Zinnia learned what she could potentially do with her abilities and ended up sympathising with Aster when she revealed her status as a fellow orphan with similar powers (though with a Noivern instead of a Salamence and with no Aura skills), which led to her accepting the offer to accompany her to Hoenn after believing that there was nothing left for her in Kalos.

However, before she left Kalos, Zinnia revealed that Philippe, who had survived his fight with Mystra, had contacted her through a Pidgey to reach out to her. Replying to his letter, she had met him at a café in Lumiose City, only for their once close relationship to become strained when she found out the true extent of her father’s mistakes and the deaths of his previous children, with her even going so far as to reveal her newfound immortality and telling him not to look for her. Looking back on this, Zinnia admits to Krystyna, Milos and Sabine that of all the mistakes she made, this is one of her biggest, as her life in Hoenn gave her a taste of the hardships her parents must have endured in their immortal lives.

Continuing her story, Zinnia recalls how she was brought into the last remnants of the now-nomadic Draconid tribe in Hoenn, who immediately recognised her immense talent in communicating with Dragon-types. As the years went by, she grew closer to Aster, considering her an older sister, and was even nominated and trained at her behest as her successor to the position of Lorekeeper, the tribe’s title to their greatest protector. For her part, Aster had mentored Zinnia like a younger sister, caring for and standing up for her whenever she got into trouble, and even gifted her with a Whismur, which Zinnia nicknamed after her.

However, the peace was shattered when, one day, Zinnia returned to the tribe after a trip to Mount Pyre to find it under attack. Reuniting with Aster amidst the flames, she learned that Mystra and her acolytes were responsible for this and were searching for her to “bring her home”, which had caused her to confront her adoptive mother. Unfortunately, she and her Salamence had been defeated, but instead of killing her, Mystra had, like back at Lysandre Labs, offered her the chance to reunite their family and the Kingdom of Kalos. Enticed by the claims that she could even bring her father back and resurrect her deceased siblings, Zinnia seriously considered the offer… but was interrupted by Aster, who was subsequently overpowered and mortally wounded in battle. Devastated, Zinnia attacked her mother and drove her off with her Salamence before tending to the dying Aster, who passed her a letter and apologised for never telling her the truth before she expired.

Reading the letter, Zinnia was shocked to discover that Aster was her biological sister and that they had been separated on the night of her birth years ago during an attack from an eco-terrorist organisation. With their mother having been killed in the same attack and their father having drunk himself to death, Aster had consequently spent years searching for her sister before she finally found her in Kalos, but had feared that things might have changed between them and was thus never brave enough to tell her the truth. Verifying this final fact by talking to Aster’s Noivern, Zinnia took her sister’s burned cloak before searching for survivors, only to find none, which led her to take up the role of Lorekeeper and guard the tribe’s relics while familiarising herself with the histories of Kalos and the Draconids so that she would be ready for anything that came her way.

Concluding her story by recounting the first time she fought the Knights at the abandoned ruins where they found the Megalith, Zinnia admits that she was many things throughout her life, but ultimately wants to resolve her past and make peace with her family despite knowing that things cannot truly go back to the way they were. Contemplating this as they head back to the others, Milos declares that the time has come for them to take a more active role in stopping Mystra and Team Flare and decides that, once Emilie has recovered, they will strike back to find out what they are planning.

However, as Krystyna is sent to speak to Baraz and Tarık, Sabine doubles back to find Zinnia about to leave through a portal created by Hoopa. Learning that she intends to find her father to repair the damaged bond between them, she decides to let her go after concluding that, for all his faults, Philippe would be the kind of person who would miss and forgive her after all these years, and that talking to him would help them both more than they realise. Watching the young Draconid reflect on these words before walking through the portal, Sabine wishes her and her father luck before rejoining her friends.

Elsewhere, Mystra reflects on her encounters with her daughter but quickly shuts out her feelings of regret as she prepares for an imminent fight against a Zygarde that Team Flare has located. As she exits the secret underground lab, she contacts Zannah and tells her that she has a job for her most loyal servant…

Chapter Text

909.   Party Dancecapades!

Upon receiving an invitation to a dance party hosted by Monsieur Pierre and learning that Aria will be present as a special guest, Serena decides to attend the event… only to discover that she will need a date. Unfortunately, due to Eevee’s selection of Bunnelby as her dance partner, she is forced to go with Clemont, and to make matters worse, she also bumps into Miette, who intentionally chooses the available Ash as her date to irk her rival. Seeing Serena’s displeasure at this, Dina reminds her that this isn’t for real, but also points out that she might not have another opportunity that is this ideal, inadvertently reminding Serena of Philippe’s advice back in Coumarine City to act on her feelings before it is too late. At the same time, the Knights don formal eveningwear and coach the inexperienced Bonnie on how to wear this attire before mingling in the ballroom, where Wolfgang and Renata are soon approached by a staff member who takes them backstage and ropes them into selecting the music for the upcoming ballroom dance due to the previous composer having gotten sick at the last minute.

Eventually entering the ballroom as the last rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon, Monsieur Pierre and Aria start the event, and save for Philippe, Benoit and Dina – all of whom mingle with the guests hanging out at the buffet table – the remaining duos in the group take to the dance floor with mixed results. As time passes, the dancers exchange partners, but as Geoff, Aoife and Clemont slowly get the hang of it, Ash is partnered with Aria (whom he has a brief conversation with) while Serena ends up with James. Despite recognising him, she swallows her pride and dances with him before swapping partners with Ash… and upon seeing this, Wolfgang and Renata intentionally extend the music to give their friends a few precious moments before the dance ends. Grateful for the opportunity, Serena silently thanks her friends as Ash comments on her dancing skills.

However, in a surprise twist, the dance is followed by a tag battle, and Serena and Ash choose Eevee and Pikachu as they go up against Miette’s Slurpuff and James’ Inkay. To their surprise, they turn out to be quite the battle couple, which is helped by Eevee’s growing confidence before Miette and James concoct a plan with Psybeam and Cotton Spore that nearly eliminates Pikachu and reduces Eevee back to being a nervous wreck when she gets knocked back. To solve this problem, Serena has Ash take the offensive as she comforts Eevee, telling her that she was a lot like her at the beginning of her journey, always unsure of everything before she slowly learned to grow with the help of others. As she remembers Aria’s comments about using her smile and positivity to encourage others, Serena repeats these words to Eevee… who promptly evolves into Sylveon! With her new Pokémon, Serena returns to the fight, showcasing Sylveon’s new Fairy Wind and defeating Slurpuff and Inkay in less than a minute.

Congratulating their friends as they are proclaimed as the victors, Philippe and Clemont tell Serena that Eevee must have loved her very much to evolve into Sylveon, prompting her to hug the Intertwining Pokémon as Monsieur Pierre reveals that the next Showcase is in Fleurrh City. Hearing this, Miette tells Serena that she will see her at the Master Class as Aria contacts Palermo and tells her about what happened, speculating that she might be the one they are looking for. However, Palermo replies that she has also found someone else, though she comments that Serena is quite similar to her former apprentice before ending the call.

The next day, as the group walks down a street, Serena stops to consider a poster of Aria with Sylveon, while Ash remembers what Aria said to him the night before about Serena – namely, that she is the kind of person who can influence others by forming personal connections with them, and that she is lucky to have companions like him who care about her, something which she never had on her rise to become the Kalos Queen. Mulling over this and the many other times that Serena had acted close to him throughout his journey, he decides to wait for Serena and tells the others to go on first before standing next to her. As the episode ends, the two consider holding hands.

910.   A Meeting of Two Journeys!

Reuniting with Sawyer at a Pokémon Center, Ash challenges him and his recently-evolved Sceptile to a battle, during which the phenomenon with Greninja happens again, allowing him to easily beat his opponent by slamming his Pokémon into a wall. Taking a closer look before Greninja changes back, Benoit discovers that, while in that form, the Ninja Pokémon’s Aura is almost identical to Ash’s, but also notes that it puts a strain on both users when Ash kneels in exhaustion following the match. Speculating that the trainer and Pokémon become one being when this happens, he shares his findings with Philippe, who admits that he has never seen this happen before as a familiar boy is seen watching them in shock.

As they recuperate in the Pokémon Center, an intrigued Sawyer asks Ash about how it feels whenever Greninja assumes the form, and upon hearing his theory that this may happen only to trainers and Pokémon who share a deep bond, Dina compares it to Mega Evolution (though Benoit points out that this bond must be much stronger if the trainer were to become the Pokémon in question). Nearby, the boy – Alain – updates Lysandre on his progress of collecting more Mega Evolution energy and asks about Mairin and Chespie, only for Lysandre to reveal that there has been no progress on the latter, leading Alain to reaffirm his vow to see her “smile” again. Back at the Pokémon Center, Sawyer leaves for his next gym battle, but as he says goodbye, Philippe senses a familiar presence nearby and follows it to the back of the building… only to find nothing. Wondering if he was imagining things, he returns to his friends, only to find a letter that was dropped off by a Pidgey, which he reads and is surprised by.

Early in the morning, Team Rocket attacks the Pokémon Center and successfully abducts Pikachu after locking the Knights in their rooms. With Chesnaught, Philippe manages to force his door open but is promptly ambushed by a pair of robotic duplicates of himself that Meowth left behind, which prevents him from joining the others as they chase the TRio outside. But as he duels his facsimile, he is unexpectedly aided by a Salamence that he recognises… and a young woman with red eyes, whom he acknowledges. Outside, Ash receives some equally unexpected help from Alain, who blasts the TRio’s balloon with his Mega Charizard X and sends them flying before asking a grateful Ash if he can battle Greninja’s new form. Unaware of the newcomer’s true loyalties, Ash accepts the offer, though he requests a few minutes’ grace to prepare himself.

However, as the battle begins between Mega Charizard X and Greninja, Philippe is revealed to be watching from within the Pokémon Center while having breakfast with the young, red-eyed woman. Addressing her as “Zinnia”, he asks her what she is doing here, having thought that she wanted nothing to do with him after the last time they saw each other, and learns that though she didn’t want to, recent events in her life forced her to come back to him. Uncharacteristically hesitant, Zinnia asks if she can join him and his friends on their journey… only for Philippe to respond that she will always have a home with him, regardless of reason or purpose. With that, he gives her a hug, which she emotionally accepts, promising to tell him everything.

Meanwhile, the Knights observe the battle between Mega Charizard X and Greninja – the former effortlessly countering the latter’s moves – while noting how alike yet different they are, with Renata and Wolfgang clarifying to their comrades that while both have strong bonds with their Pokémon, Ash has human companions who love and care for him while Alain does not. Eventually, as they are pushed into a corner, Ash and Greninja consciously attempt to execute the form change and gain an energy boost from their efforts, but are unable to sustain it for long and are defeated, with Ash visibly exhausted after Greninja reverts to his normal form. Nevertheless, Alain is sufficiently impressed with what he has learned that he introduces himself to Ash, who does the same as the older trainer and notices that Charizard liked the battle too. In the aftermath of the match, Ash approaches Clemont and Benoit to help find out what is happening with him and Greninja as Alain continues his solo journey and is introduced to Zinnia, whom Philippe reveals, with her consent, is his adopted daughter.

In a mid-credit scene, Team Flare experiments on an island by infusing the surrounding area with energy derived from Zygarde Cells, which causes a large red tree to grow as it drains the energy from the land to grow bigger…

911.   An Explosive Operation!

While shadowing the group, the TRio calls Giovanni and Matori to update them. However, while they are directed to find out more about Team Flare and Zygarde, they are cautioned against catching the Pokémon due to concerns that it might be too much for them to handle, with Giovanni instead ordering them to try hindering Team Flare’s plans to drum up good publicity for the main Rocket organisation before hanging up, telling them he trusts their judgment. Elsewhere, Z2 is chased by two more scientists from Team Flare – Mable and Aliana – and has its invisibility disabled thanks to a special laser from Xerosic, but manages to escape by assuming its dog form and unleashing Land’s Wrath. Angered, Xerosic orders Mable and Aliana to capture Z2 before the laser wears off.

Escaping into the forest, Z2 stumbles into Team Rocket, who initially mistake it for Squishy before realising their mistake. However, as Meowth tries to coax it to come with them, he is attacked by Mable and Aliana, who recognise them from a report that Bryony and Celosia had filed after the failed operation at Terminus Cave. Choosing to defend Z2, James has Inkay destroy the laser while Jessie and Gourgeist create a distraction with a Seed Bomb, only for the grunts accompanying the scientists to clear the smokescreen and give chase… right before they are taken out by Sabine and Milos, who tell Team Rocket to come with them if they want to keep Z2 safe. Upon hearing of this new interference from Aliana, Lysandre ignores a livid Xerosic and calmly asks someone for assistance in capturing Z2 instead, informing them that they will be granted permission to execute the operation as they see fit.

Eventually making it to a nearby canyon, Team Rocket is introduced to the rest of the Knights: Emilie, Joaquim, Heidi and Isabella, their companion Krystyna and a winged beast called Nightshade. Thanking them for their help, James discovers that they have been performing small attacks on Team Flare’s operations to hinder their plans and explains what they know about Z2 as Meowth helps it recharge in the sun. Not entirely trusting the TRio, Joaquim questions the decision to bring known criminals into their fold, but Heidi defends them with a reminder that they will need all the help they can get to take down their enemies. Deciding to help them after talking with her friends, Jessie tells Krystyna about Squishy and Z2… but is interrupted by an explosion caused by Mable and Aliana, who have followed them with a tracker they placed on Meowth.

Joining forces to defend Z2, Team Rocket and the Knights attack Team Flare en masse and defeat many grunts through a combination of Pokémon attacks and their weapons, only for Z2 to end up with Krystyna, who holds her ground with her Klefki and Furfrou as Aliana and Mable corner them. Trying to fight his way to her with Nightshade and his Noibat, Joaquim is suddenly attacked by the Fallen Celestial Zannah, who drains their Aura with a spiked chain and her black halberd. Seeing all the violence and destruction, Z2 blames everyone for what has transpired before transforming into a new form – a massive serpentine creature – and devastating the surrounding landscape with a Dragon Pulse, vaporising several grunts in the blast before a disoriented Krystyna pleads with it to spare the Knights, asserting that they are good people fighting for the ones they love.

However, before Z2 can respond, it is suddenly knocked back by a Flamethrower from a Charizard as two very familiar figures - Alain and Essentia – arrive on the scene and take stock of the situation from Zannah and a disgruntled Mable and Aliana. Recognising the newcomers, the Knights inform Team Rocket about who they are facing as Alain continues attacking with his Charizard, causing the already furious Z2 to begin tearing the canyon apart. As everyone is forced to dodge the attacks or run for cover, Krystyna tries to get Alain to stop, but receives a severe burn on her leg from a stray Flamethrower, which Alain sees but ignores as he presses the offensive. Seeing this, Emilie, Heidi and Isabella attempt to fight their way through the remaining grunts as Sabine, Milos and Joaquim battle Zannah in a 3v1 duel, but are stopped by Essentia, who quickly immobilises them with a variety of gadgets. With their allies preoccupied or incapacitated, the TRio cannot stop Mable and Aliana from firing the laser at Z2 and are inadvertently blasted off as the device weakens the Legendary Pokémon enough to force it to revert to its core form.

Capturing the subdued Z2 in a containment cube, Mable and Aliana report their success to Xerosic and Lysandre (who nods at a nearby Mystra) before thanking the similarly victorious Essentia and Zannah. Joining them with an unconscious Krystyna, whom he defeated after she tried to stop him directly, Alain hands her over to Team Flare before leaving, ignoring the captive Knights as they deem him a traitor and a “murderer”. Receiving orders from Mystra, Zannah is told to bring the Knights back to Lysandre Labs for “experimentation”, but before she can do so, a sudden fog envelops the area before it clears to reveal that they are gone. Having an idea of what just happened, Zannah and Essentia are nevertheless ordered not to pursue “them” as they still have Krystyna, and return to their transport with their cargo and prisoner.

Elsewhere, as a battered and recovering Team Rocket informs Giovanni about what happened, they are ordered to keep a low profile while updating him on the situation. Meanwhile, a worried Squishy (who had spent the entire episode trying to contact Z2) is cuddled by an oblivious Bonnie as the rest of the group remains unaware of the events that have transpired.

In a post-credit scene, Xerneas and Yveltal are revealed to have rescued the Knights. Speaking to a recovering Sabine, the two Legendary Pokémon tell her to lead the group to Gloire City, where they can meet up with their comrades.

Chapter Text

912.   A Watershed Moment!

Trekking through a desolate wasteland, the group comes across a Chesnaught guarding an old-fashioned robot planting seeds in the ground. Unable to negotiate safe passage through the land, they are forced to flee into an abandoned horticulture lab nearby, where they encounter a young boy named Henry who shows them a video of the robot, Robon, and its creator, Chapman, whom Henry says is his late grandfather. Discovering his intent to restore the area to the lush forest it had once been, Clemont recalls and repairs Robon after learning that the robot is breaking down due to its age, encouraging a despondent Henry not to lose faith in his beliefs and trust in his aspirations and hopes for the future.

Once the Chesnaught has been convinced to stand down, the group attempts to find a water source to germinate the seeds and eventually uncover one beneath a large rock too heavy to lift. With little choice, Benoit, Aoife and Geoff propose blowing it to pieces… just as Team Rocket appears to capture the group’s Pokémon yet again. However, the TRio’s presence provides the perfect method to destroy the rock as the Aura Knights steal and detonate an explosive that blasts off their adversaries while creating a path for the water to flow. Unfortunately, Robon is destroyed in the battle, but Clemont and Benoit repair it with a few new upgrades before the group departs, after which it discovers that the seeds have sprouted.

Between these events, Philippe and Zinnia attempt to repair their damaged relationship, only to discover that they no longer have the same dynamic as before. Not wanting to lose her again, Philippe shares his worries with Dina and asks her for help, leading her to advise him to start small and get to know her as she is now. Mulling over this, Philippe decides to give it a shot by asking her about her Pokémon and is reintroduced to her team alongside a Whismur she has nicknamed “Aster”. However, when he asks her about the name’s significance, Zinnia clarifies to her father that she is not ready to disclose its origins as the episode ends.

913.   Master Class Choices!

Arriving in Fleurrh City for Serena’s next showcase, the group is introduced to Amelia, a local performer who rattles Serena due to her status as a crowd favourite. To support their friend, Benoit, Wolfgang, Renata and Dina head backstage to assist with her outfit as Palermo arrives in town. As she does, she is asked by an associate to consider training Amelia as an apprentice, but staunchly tells him that she will judge what happens with her own eyes.

Fortunately, the Showcase begins with a Rhyhorn herding competition, which Serena quickly passes thanks to her experience with the Spikes Pokémon, all while reflecting on how far she has come on her journey (even as her mind keeps wandering to Ash). However, Amelia proves to be quite the challenger when she uses Attract to lure every Rhyhorn on the field to her, shaking Serena’s confidence and causing Philippe to sneak Ash into the dressing room to offer her some words of encouragement. However, as Ash speaks to Serena, he picks up on several intimate details that he struggles to comprehend, culminating in her hugging him before he is forced to leave. Confused, he speaks to Philippe afterwards, and, having had enough of this back-and-forth, the older trainer tells his friend that Serena is in love with him.

Outside, as Amelia finishes her performance with her Espeon and a shiny Dragonair, Serena takes the stage with all of her Pokémon and bedazzles the crowd with a stunning performance that combines moves from various types of dances. Watching this, an awestruck Zinnia is told by her father that, regardless of whether she needs him, he will always be there for her as her father and as a friend. Contemplating these words, Zinnia turns to her father and responds that she knows he will, but prefers to speak to him when she is ready, which he acknowledges. With that, they watch as Serena finishes her performance and successfully wins her third and final Princess Key, leading her to hug her Pokémon as Monsieur Pierre announces that the Master Class will be in Gloire City (which Philippe and Zinnia seem interested in visiting).

Once she has finished calling and telling Shauna (who has also won her last Princess Key) about her victory, Serena heads off to find her friends, only to come across Amelia begging Palermo to train her. Refusing, Palermo bluntly reminds her of her loss and that she should re-evaluate herself before calling out to an eavesdropping Serena. Caught, Serena is asked if she was satisfied with her performance and responds that she had fun, but Palermo is unimpressed by her answer and discloses that she has been watching her for quite some time. Noting that she often relies on the efforts of others to succeed, the older woman informs Serena that she is lacking something crucial for her to become the Kalos Queen, and that without it, she will never be able to surpass Aria.

Pondering these words as she leaves the concert hall, Serena bumps into Ash, who has been looking for her, and as they head back to their friends, he tells her that he is willing to postpone his Gym Battle so that she can perform in the Master Class. Touched, Serena stops, and after remembering what Philippe told her, she tells Ash that she loves him.

914.   An Electrifying Rage!

While cutting through a forest on their way to Gloire City, the group struggles to keep up with an unusually excited Clemont, who reveals that he is eager to attend the Zapdos Festival in a nearby town and explains its origins and its association with the Legendary Pokémon of the same name—before it shows up and blocks the path to their destination with a lightning storm. Seeking shelter in a cave to wait out said storm, the group comes across an injured rescue worker named Stan who asks them to deliver some medicine to the town, and while the Knights carry him, Ash brings out Hawlucha and Noibat to navigate through the caves.

With assistance from Philippe’s Charizard and Chesnaught, and Zinnia’s Salamence, the group slowly progresses through the subterranean system until a cave-in caused by the lightning striking the ground above separates Ash, Clemont, Philippe and Zinnia from the others. Eventually locating an exit, the four discover, to their dismay, that they have stumbled right into Zapdos’ territory, and are forced to fight the Legendary Bird to pass through, with Ash getting his Pokémon to take to the skies as Zinnia unleashes her Noivern and Mega Evolves Salamence to help him. However, without Geoff’s help, Talonflame is quickly downed due to the type difference, and Hawlucha is similarly downed when he is singled out as an easy target compared to Zinnia’s Pokémon. Attempting to save his teammate, Noibat evolves into Noivern, and with his new power, he lures Zapdos into a trap where it is bombarded and defeated by a Dragon Pulse.

Dismounting her Pokémon, Zinnia unsheathes her sword as she approaches the downed Pokémon… but Philippe stops her from killing it. Telling his daughter that it is usually best to negotiate rather than fight, he uses his Aura to calm the raging Zapdos, who lets them pass through in peace, and they subsequently make it to the town and successfully deliver the medicine. Reuniting with the others (who have dropped Stan off at the hospital), the group enjoys the Zapdos Festival as Clemont begins gushing to Bonnie about Zapdos’ power. At the same time, Zinnia reflects on the day’s events and concludes that she has to relearn a lot of what Kalos has to offer if she intends to resolve her issues with her past.

915.   Unlocking Some Respect!

At Lysandre Labs, Xerosic experiments on Z2 with various kinds of radiation, causing it to scream in pain. However, unbeknownst to the Legendary Pokémon, its screams are intermingled with those of Krystyna, who is tortured in the lab below the main facility…

Arriving in Gloire City, Squishy senses what is happening as the group splits to relax before the Master Class, with Serena dragging Ash, Bonnie, and Clemont to see a nearby gem exhibition. However, while admiring the precious jewels, a thief named “Master Thief Keyes” crashes the exhibition, but only picks the lock before fleeing the scene. Investigating, Officer Jenny and the local locksmith, Ed, explain to the quartet that this is part of a recent spree of break-ins, all of which featured locks made by Ed being picked, though no items were stolen. Spotting a Binacle “arm” watching them, Bonnie grabs it, causing Ed to realise that the true culprit is Locke, an embittered former apprentice of his who left his tutelage due to his harsh teaching methods.

While all this is happening, Philippe brings Zinnia, Dina, Benoit, Aoife, Geoff, Wolfgang and Renata to a small mansion on a cliff overlooking the city, where they plan to rest and recuperate for a few days before moving out. Upon arriving, however, they notice that the gate is unlocked and proceed into the house, where they find everything cleaned and set up. Unable to use their Aura to check the area due to a local enchantment, Benoit accidentally triggers several automatic defences that force the Knights into several rooms where several armed figures attack them. However, following a brief scuffle, Philippe turns on the lights and discovers that the assailants are none other than the rest of the Knights, led by Sabine and Milos. Relieved to see some familiar faces, Zinnia stops the fighting, allowing the two sides to meet properly.

Back in town, as the police continue their investigation into the following morning, Locke attempts to break into the Pokémon Center’s vault but gets into a fight with an Arcanine, which is on station as part of the increased security for the Master Class. In the process, he accidentally sets the building on fire and is trapped inside the vault while trying to save the Pokéballs inside after the door lock melts from the heat. With only Ash, Serena and Clemont on the scene, they do their best to control the blaze but are nearly overwhelmed until the Knights appear and beat back the flames, stalling long enough for the fire department to arrive. At the same time, Bonnie also alerts Ed, who brings with him the “other half” of the Binacle that he shared with Locke, and together, they manage to unlock the door from both sides.

In the aftermath, Locke is still arrested by Officer Jenny but manages to negotiate a reduced sentence by serving his time under Ed, who welcomes him back after speaking with Philippe about apprentices. However, due to the damage suffered to the Pokémon Center, the surrounding hotels are soon booked by the competitors and spectators who have arrived to watch the Master Class, leading Philippe to bring Ash and the others to the villa as the remaining Knights introduce themselves.

Later that night, as the moon rises, Zinnia reflects on her life and what she has recently seen as Wolfgang plays a melody on his flute for their Knights before surprising Renata with a gift he has been hiding in secret ever since the dance party—a custom-made rapier. Delighted, Renata kisses her fiancée as the other Knights share stories about their travels, anticipating what may come next as Serena makes the final preparations for her participation in the Master Class.

Home

Having recovered from the events of An Explosive Operation!, Sabine and Milos try to convince Xerneas and Yveltal to come with them, but are disappointed when the Legendary Pokémon decline, explaining that they intend to take further measures on how to prevent Zygarde from gaining too much power. However, they placate the duo by promising that they will be present at Lumiose City in time for the annual League Conference. At the same time, Isabella deduces that Joaquim blames himself for Krystyna’s capture through a series of carefully placed questions and comforts him (though she does wonder why Team Flare wanted her out of everyone else they could have captured), while Heidi patches up a still-recovering Emilie – whose wounds from the escape have reopened – and reminds her not to get into so much trouble or push herself so hard.

With Emilie resting on Nightshade, the group heads out to Gloire City by cutting through a series of caves that, according to Xerneas, act as a natural shortcut for Pokémon “who know where to look”. Using their Aura to navigate the dark caverns, the Knights discuss how Philippe will react when he learns about what they have found out, but while Sabine and Milos are sure that he will take it well, the others aren’t so sure. Additionally, the issue of Krystyna’s capture is raised, only for Milos to reluctantly shut down a push from Joaquim to rescue her by highlighting how badly they fared against their enemies and pointing out that trying to save her in their current state while going up against Team Flare and the Fallen Celestials would be suicidal.

Back at Lysandre Labs, Krystyna is tortured by Zannah but refuses to give her anything that might be useful. Impressed with her tenacity, the Fallen Celestial reports to Mystra, who decides to take over the interrogation as she finishes a meeting with Lysandre and tells her acolyte to take a break for now. Heading upstairs from the lab, Zannah bumps into Azazel upon arriving in the library, who expresses his unhappiness at the tighter leash Mystra has put on them ever since the Aura Knights escaped, but Zannah points out that they did disobey her orders to begin with. Nevertheless, she expresses confidence that he will be assigned to hunt down the Aura Knights again as they sit down to observe a Mega Evolution test occurring in a nearby field.

However, in the middle of watching this test, Azazel asks Zannah if she thinks they have harvested enough souls for “Project Luminous”, and the younger Fallen Celestial admits that she isn’t too sure, as Aura users are both extremely hard to find and aren’t nearly as well versed in using their powers to serve as suitable test subjects nowadays. But in response, Azazel reveals that there is a solution – Ash Ketchum, whose profile he produces after copying it from the Pokémon League database.

Examining his achievements and accomplishments as well as eyewitness accounts of this trainer’s involvement in multiple world and region-threatening events over the last seven years, Zannah is astonished and deduces that he must be an Aura adept of the highest order if he saw and survived so much. But while she wants to show this to Lysandre and Mystra as soon as possible, she is persuaded not to do so by her compatriot, who convinces her to have a closer look at the dossier – and analyse what Ash (whom he deems “intriguing”) is capable of on every level – before they alert their superiors.

Overhearing all of this through a bugged camera, Courtney tends to a still-unconscious Elsa and expresses hope that they will be able to find a cure for her soon… or else she will find the Pokémon that did this and force it to heal her. Exiting the hospital ward and returning to her terminal at the Megalith lab, she continues her investigation into the Ultimate Weapon, only to be interrupted by Xerosic, who tells her they are moving out. However, he refuses to disclose their destination and only reminds her to bring all her equipment to the new location before leaving. Regardless, a relieved Courtney packs her station… just as she notices the other Flare scientists siphoning energy from the Megalith into canisters and combining it with residue from Zygarde cells.

Several days later, following a near-miss with a swarm of Zubat and a horde of Ariados, the six Knights finally arrive at Gloire City and use their Aura senses to guide them to their destination – a large villa on the outskirts of the city. However, as the others express relief at the thought of relaxing, Joaquim spots smoke billowing from the chimney, causing Heidi to send in her Floette as a scout and leading her to discover that numerous Team Flare grunts have occupied the premises. Wondering why they would be here, the priestess soon realises why when she sees Philippe’s name on the mantle and deduces that this place must belong to him.

Guessing that Mystra must have wanted to secure this place before Philippe came back to it, the Knights decide to take back the house and split into two groups, with Joaquim and Allegra drawing most of the grunts to the front with Nightshade’s firepower, and Sabine, Milos and Heidi sneaking in through the back to eliminate those left behind. Once everyone agrees on this, they put the plan into action when Team 1 unleashes Noibat and Mega Ampharos to fight alongside Nightshade at the assault on the front entrance, goading the Team Flare grunts into pouring out by the dozens. However, as Isabella defeats them all in an impressive display of magic along with her Mega Gengar, Team 2 scales the rearmost balcony and incapacitates the sentries with gas grenades containing pollen from Floette before sneaking into the house… only to be ambushed by Essentia, who drags Sabine away from her friends. Unable to help as they are swarmed by grunts hiding in the villa’s numerous bedrooms, Milos and Heidi are shocked to learn that they cannot use their Aura, forcing them to rely on their weapons and Pokémon instead.

Meanwhile, Joaquim and Nightshade slowly grow fatigued and are pushed back towards the treeline as they fight the seemingly never-ending stream of grunts. Attempting to give them some respite, Isabella casts an offensive Dragon-type spell but ends up exposing herself to a Hyper Beam that knocks her out, which causes her comrade to run out and drag her to safety. Seizing the opportunity, the grunts swarm and nearly kill them before they are distracted by Emilie, who is hiding in the trees, and her Vivillon and Mega Heracross, which allows Joaquim’s Noibat to unleash a Boomburst and disorient the grunts. To make things better, the effort causes the Sound Wave Pokémon to evolve into a Noivern, and with Nightshade’s help, he manages to clear the remaining grunts with a well-placed Hurricane.

Now safe, Joaquim revives Isabella and berates her for doing something so reckless, though he concedes when she points out that he would have done the same if their positions were reversed. Landing next to them as she finishes chasing off the rest of the grunts, Nightshade tells the couple that they should head on in… right before an explosion is heard coming from the rear of the villa. Fearing the worst, the trio retrieves Emilie and heads in to find Sabine fighting Essentia, who has gained numerous upgrades to her suit since their last encounter to make her faster and stronger.

Acting fast, Joaquim and Nightshade engage the Team Flare member but meet the same level of resistance as Isabella patches up Sabine’s wounds. Heading upstairs, Emilie finds Heidi inside a wrecked bathroom and learns from her that Milos had used an enhanced Night Slash from Mega Absol to blow the remaining grunts out of the top floor, which had caused the earlier explosion. Finding the unconscious inquisitor in a demolished bedroom, the girls revive and bring him downstairs just as Essentia defeats Nightshade and pins Joaquim to the wall. Acting fast, Sabine attempts to defend the bounty hunter by throwing her sword… but her action slices Essentia’s arm and the wiring inside her suit, causing her to freeze and grab her head. Seeing this, Heidi knocks Essentia across the room with her flail before saving Joaquim, who rejoins Isabella, Milos and Sabine as they push the advantage, forcing Essentia to fall back and make her escape aboard an automated Team Flare helicopter with the remaining conscious grunts.

With their enemies in full retreat, the group relaxes and treats their wounds while wondering what happened to Essentia at that moment, leading Milos to realise that her suit must be controlling her every move and enhancing her physical strength and reflexes. Disturbed at the idea of the person inside the suit being controlled by Lysandre as an unwilling puppet, Isabella questions who it might be, but as Sabine points out that it could be anyone, Joaquim and Heidi highlight a far more pressing matter – the fact that their battle has left the villa in ruins. Not wanting to attract any more attention from the townsfolk, Isabella tells everyone to get close to her before performing a time reversal spell, which restores the villa to a (mostly) normal state. However, this fails to eliminate the large amount of dust and general wear and tear on the structure, forcing the Knights and their Pokémon to clean the house by themselves.

Hours later, the exhausted Knights each choose a bedroom for themselves before meeting in the living room for a discussion, where Joaquim finds a trap built into the armrest of his chair. Guessing that this was meant to catch intruders as she uncovers a similar trap under a rug, Emilie and Isabella also learn that the entire villa is surrounded by an enchantment that neutralises Aura, hence explaining why their Aura powers didn’t work. Impressed by the strength and longevity of the enchantment as they are unable to dispel it, the duo wonders why Philippe would do this as Sabine speculates that he might have been trying to calm his soul by detaching it from his Aura for a time, admitting that, while unnerving, the feeling of not having Aura is also quite relaxing. Agreeing with her, Milos nevertheless questions how they can defend themselves from ambushes, causing Heidi to reveal a modern surveillance system… whose effectiveness is immediately proven as they are alerted to a group of figures approaching the villa.

Unable to tell if these are friends or foes, and still jittery from the last attack, Milos has everyone hide in different sections of the villa while he and Joaquim modify the traps for their guests. As Heidi and Isabella help them by casting several enchantments of their own, Sabine brings Emilie to another room to lay an ambush… and in the process, she accidentally uncovers a strange journal. However, given the urgency of the current situation, she ignores it, consequently not seeing the memories of the villa’s owner playing out on the pages as she and Emilie leave the room.

As the credits play out, Philippe’s memories are shown alongside the skirmish between the Knights and the intruders before the latter party is revealed to consist of the other Knights. With everyone reunited, Philippe steps forward and asks Joaquim, Isabella, Emilie and Heidi to introduce themselves while Sabine and Milos hug a returned Zinnia.

Chapter Text

916.   Master Class Is In Session!

On the day of the Master Class Showcase, a nervous Serena reunites with Shauna, Miette and Nini. However, while it is revealed that Jessie failed to obtain her final Princess Key due to the wounds she sustained during her encounter with Team Flare, the Team Rocket member slyly reveals to Meowth and James that she has a plan to ensure that she still wins in an unofficial capacity. Meanwhile, as the Knights spread out around the massive castle where the event will be hosted, Philippe finds Zinnia playing with Aster and learns of her namesake. Impressed yet regretful that he could not meet her, he expresses his gratitude that she cared for Zinnia and asks to know more about her as he tickles Aster with his Aura. 

As Serena reflects on her journey thus far, she unexpectedly reunites with Grace, who has arrived to cheer her on, and thanks her mother for supporting her dream thus far, promising to do her best. With that, the Master Class commences as Monsieur Pierre introduces the 27 Performers, with Palermo acting as a special judge and Aria as a special guest, while the Knights bond by making bets on who will win the event.

Learning that the competition consists of only Freestyle Performances (which Monsieur Pierre explains are the “Kalosian” way to display the bond between Performer and Pokémon), Serena decides to use Braixen in the first round against Miette only to suddenly receive a note from an unknown sender giving her advice on what to do. Unsure about heeding this, she soon learns that Nini received the same note as she watches her rival follow the instructions against her better judgment… and is surprised when she wins with her Smoochum! However, Shauna, who has received the same note, decides not to apply the advice to her performance and manages to pass by using her recently evolved Floette and an unconventional usage of Misty Terrain.

Pondering what to do as the time comes for her and Miette to take the stage, Serena watches as her rival goes first with an inventive usage of her Slurpuff’s Cotton Spore and contemplates following the note she was given. However, she ultimately decides to stick to her original plan of using Braixen’s Flamethrower to initiate a slow burn on her branch, allowing them to use it as a makeshift sparkler before topping it off with a Fire Blast to end the round. This simple yet novel and creative performance, which Philippe realises, was derived from Renata’s dress earlier that morning, charms the crowd, and Serena passes by a landslide, beating Miette and proceeding to the second round. Though crushed by her loss, Miette congratulates Serena and wishes her good luck, who returns the favour in front of the crowd. Witnessing the spectacle, the Knights collectively agree that she has the makings of a Kalos Queen, but as Philippe applauds the performers, he is interrupted by Ash, who wants to talk to him in private.

Heading out to the castle foyer for the private conversation, Philippe learns about Serena’s confession following the Fleurrh City Showcase from the unusually fidgety Ash, who also reveals that, in response, he stammered that he had to think about it and walked away. Admitting that he didn’t know how to respond and is afraid that he has pushed away someone he really does care about, Ash asks for advice as Philippe realises that this is why they haven’t been speaking to each other since then. Having known that Ash was developing feelings for Serena ever since the Poké Puff Contest, the Lost Prince repeats what Ramos said to them about losing sight of the bigger picture by focusing too hard on one thing and encourages Ash to speak to Serena. Similarly remembering what Aria had told him about her, Ash also receives unexpected advice from Milos, Joaquim and Wolfgang, all of whom recount the tribulations they faced with their loved ones (respectively, Sabine, Isabella and Renata), and as he reflects on the moments throughout his Kalos journey that he shared with Serena and what they accomplished together, Ash comes to a conclusion about what he has to do as the second round ends with Serena, Shauna and Nini proceeding to the semi-finals.

917.   Performing a Pathway to the Future!

Picking up immediately after the previous episode’s ending, the boys return to their seats to hear that the remaining three participants will perform their act with two Pokémon. Going first, Nini has her Farfetch’d and Gothita put on a lively performance inspired by Polka dances, which is followed by Shauna using her Ivysaur and Floette to execute a fireworks display with Moonblast and Solar Beam. Finally, Serena steps up with Pancham and Sylveon to perform a complicated dance that wows the crowd… but accidentally sprains her wrist when she incorrectly executes a full one-arm handstand, though Sylveon manages to save her before she falls. Unaware of what just happened, the crowd roars its approval and votes for Serena as the semi-final winner, allowing her to face Aria in the last round of the Master Class. As Serena promises an emotional Shauna that she will do her best in the finals, Jessie gives her a respectful nod, silently conceding that the younger girl is the better Performer while telling James that she needs to step up her game for when she gets back into Contests.

Attempting to nurse her wrist as she heads backstage, Serena is greeted by Palermo, who applies ice to her injury and tells her to forfeit the finals since she won’t be able to perform at her best. Knowing that she can’t just give up now, Serena insists that she will perform to accomplish her dream and echoes Ash’s words about never giving up, reminding Palermo of when a younger Aria had told her the same thing. Accepting her choice, the older woman applies a bandage to Serena’s injury before leaving, telling her to seek a doctor after the show as she narrowly misses an eavesdropping Ash, Philippe, Dina and Zinnia.

With that, the final round begins with Serena using all her Pokémon for the first time. Drawing inspiration from her own experiences throughout her journey, she acts as a pseudo-conductor for her Pokémon as she dances around their moves, creating a massive flower that combines aspects of Fire (a zinnia), Fairy (an aster) and Dark-types (a poppy). Recognising the meaning behind the performance, Philippe explains to an awestruck Bonnie that this is a symbol of endurance, friendship, love, wisdom, faith and remembrance, and gives Serena a standing ovation alongside the rest of the crowd as she completes her performance in an awe-inspiring display of sparkles generated by the flower as it disintegrates.

Next, Aria takes the stage with her Delphox, Aromatisse and Vivillon, and uses all of them to pull off a complex mid-air ballet dance that Serena recognises as being inspired by one of her previous performances. Impressed by this display, the crowd also gives her a standing ovation, and with that, the time comes for the next Kalos Queen to be crowned. Knowing that she did the best, Serena holds her breath as the votes are cast… only for it to be revealed that Aria has successfully defended her title. Despite this, as she looks at the crowd, Serena sees that her mother, her friends, and even her rivals could not be prouder of her for making it this far and graciously concedes the victory to Aria, who expresses her wish to perform alongside her in the future.

Later, while recuperating in the dressing room as Philippe heals her wrist, Serena receives a message from Ash, who wants to talk to her later. Entering the room as the Lost Prince leaves (though he sticks around outside as Grace arrives), Palermo admonishes Serena for her recklessness and tells her that she will never be able to beat Aria if she keeps acting this way. Acknowledging this as she thinks back to when Palermo spoke to her at the Fleurrh City Showcase, Serena reveals that she does know what she was lacking—the ability to give to others as the Kalos Queen, whether it be words of advice, encouragement or comfort. Believing that she was always on the receiving end of such a relationship, Serena declares her intention to start giving back to others too, which earns Palermo’s respect and leads to her extending an offer to become her apprentice. Surprised by this, Serena is told that she doesn’t have to decide now, but is also warned that the offer will not stand forever.

With that, Palermo visits Aria next and walks in on her talking to Zinnia, though she allows the other girl to stay as she speaks to the current Kalos Queen. However, in the middle of their conversation, Aria brings up Ash (and Serena’s obvious crush on him), leading an intrigued Palermo to ask for more information as the girls give her a concise summary of his character, highlighting how he encourages people to keep moving forward, no matter what. Impressed, Palermo remarks on how reckless yet inspiring he sounds as a contemplative Aria expresses her belief that Serena will ultimately be able to surpass her without Palermo’s help, pointing out that Serena already has been giving freely (as evidenced by how Braixen and Sylveon evolved out of love), and how, like Ash, she has been taking small steps, to encourage growth not only in herself but in everyone that she meets.

Accepting this, Palermo informs Aria of her offer to Serena and reminds her that it is now up to the younger girl as Zinnia leaves the room. Musing that she now understands the purpose of Showcases, she reunites with her father and the Knights outside the castle, where they witness Serena saying goodbye to her rivals, who all promise to meet on the stage again. With that done, everyone returns to the villa for a celebration, where Grace tells her daughter how proud she is before she departs for Vaniville Town.

Hours later, as the sun rises, Serena finds Ash on the balcony and talks to him about his boundless optimism, hopes for a better, brighter tomorrow and his never-give-up attitude regarding his Pokémon battles. Acknowledging all this, Ash reveals that he values his failures too, as they have helped him learn from his mistakes… before Serena asks him why he wants to talk to her. Remembering Philippe’s advice and what Aria had told him about Serena before at the dance party, Ash decides to bite the bullet and apologises for not giving her an answer back at the Fleurrh City Showcase before admitting that she has been giving him hope and unconditional support ever since they met in Santalune City. Forgiving him, Serena tells Ash that it’s okay if he doesn’t want to take things to the next level, but while he confesses that the concept of romantic love confuses him, he nevertheless tells her that he is willing to try and make things work. Moved by his words, an overjoyed Serena hugs Ash and promises to stay by his side as a friend even if things don’t work out between them, and he returns the gesture as Philippe watches them from the living room. Regarding his keystone and signet ring, the Lost Prince remarks that there is no greater treasure than the love two people share for one another before returning to his room to give the couple some privacy.

Once the sun has fully risen, Serena finds Palermo and, having thought long and hard about this, declines her offer for the time being, expressing a desire to continue travelling with her friends and loved ones. Nevertheless, Palermo commends her choice before handing her a business card, saying that the offer still stands before she departs in her limousine. Hearing her friends calling for her, Serena rejoins them and holds Ash’s hand as Philippe, Zinnia and the Knights seal the villa and lock its doors.

918.   A Keeper for Keeps!

Quickly deducing that Serena and Ash have finally gotten together despite their attempts to keep it under wraps, Bonnie sets her sights on finding her exasperated brother the perfect match. But that all changes when Clemont crosses paths with a young heir to an electronics company named Lilia, whose Buneary becomes infatuated with Bunnelby as their trainers likewise bond over their shared love of electronics and inventions. However, instead of being happy that her brother finally has someone, Bonnie grows annoyed and irritated that Clemont is spending more time with this new girl instead of her and expresses her fears to Serena that he will marry Lilia, inherit her father’s company, move away and leave her in charge of the Lumiose City Gym. Though sympathetic to her worries, Serena tries to advise her to be happy for her brother, but the younger girl does not listen and attempts to break them up with hilarious results that allow them to grow closer.

However, as Lilia agrees to accompany them to the next Pokémon Center, a Team Rocket attack captures Buneary and Bunnelby. Tracking them down with one of his inventions, Clemont fights them, but the ensuing battle results in Bonnie being blown off the side of a cliff, causing him to break it off and rescue her, damaging his Aipom Arm as Ash and Serena rescue the captive Pokémon before fighting and blasting the TRio off together. In the aftermath, Lilia leaves the group to strike out on her own and improve herself, causing a guilty Bonnie to apologise to Clemont for acting the way she does as she admits her fear that he will one day no longer give her the attention that she craves. Forgiving his sister, Clemont tasks her with helping him repair the Aipom Arm, and she gladly accepts… though not before she learns that he has been speaking to Korrina in private.

While all this is happening, Philippe finds out from Sabine and Milos what they have been up to since he last contacted them as he evaluates the second group’s Pokémon. Impressed with how well they have raised them, he commends their Mega-Capable Heracross, Ampharos, Gengar and Altaria, giving each one a concise yet glowing review of their abilities and capabilities. However, he is particularly drawn to Nightshade, asking Joaquim and Isabella where they found her, and upon learning that the latter had stumbled upon the winged beast in a forest when she was just an egg, he identifies her as a “dragon”; an ancient creature that is explicitly not a Pokémon but which used to live alongside them in his youth. Turning his attention to their weapons next, Philippe identifies the upgrades they can receive (while noting that several of them have already been given said upgrades) before facing the four newcomers in a series of tests, including questions about their pasts and what they intend to do with their newfound power. Once Emilie, Heidi, Joaquim and Isabella have passed their tests, they are formally welcomed into the group.

With all 12 Knights of Kalos present, Philippe informs them of the dangers and enemies they will be facing, and Zinnia advises them to go on several side quests to gain experience with their gear and abilities, tie up any loose ends and upgrade everything they have before the final battle. Agreeing, the Knights (save for Dina, who wishes to stay with the group for the time being) split off from the group in pairs to accomplish their quests, with Philippe wishing them good luck before he and Zinnia return to the group.

919.   Battling at Full Volume!

Thanks to a late-night practice battle in a cold river, Ash gains a fever that confines him to his tent, forcing Serena to take care of him while Clemont and Bonnie head out to get medical supplies. With most of the Knights having left on their side-quests, and with Philippe having taken Zinnia on a training mission, she talks to Dina about her new boyfriend after the assassin figures out the relationship upgrade on her own… only to be interrupted by a loud trainer with a guitar named Jimmy and his equally boisterous Pikachu, Spike. Hearing that they intend to battle Ash, and knowing immediately that they are not the kind of people to back down from a challenge, Serena chooses to disguise herself as Ash and battle in his stead!

Having seen her boyfriend in action multiple times, Serena performs very well against Jimmy and Spike while maintaining her disguise, even when Clemont and Bonnie return and threaten to expose her. Quickly pulling them aside and updating them on the situation, Dina gets to work on the medicine as Serena resumes the battle, only for Team Rocket to swipe both Pikachu after revealing that they were using Jimmy to test the strength of Ash’s Pikachu. Shedding her disguise, Serena uses Braixen, Pancham and Sylveon to stop the TRio’s getaway, allowing Dina to catch up and Mega Evolve Mawile as her Goodra executes a Dragon Breath, saving both Pikachu and sending Team Rocket flying off.

Having been awoken by all the noise, Ash stumbles out of his tent, and only then does Jimmy realise that he has been fighting the wrong person. Explaining her actions, Serena introduces Ash to Jimmy, who repeats his battle request, and Ash accepts the challenge… right after he finishes his lunch!

Chapter Text

920.   The Synchronicity Test!

During a training session between Ash and the recently returned Benoit, Aoife and Geoff, Clemont unveils his “Mini Clembot”, which has been collecting information on the changes happening to Greninja and Ash. Presenting his observations alongside Wolfgang and Renata, he reveals to the others that since the transformations have been occurring only in battles, they must be tied to the shared psyche of the trainer and Pokémon, similarly to Mega Evolution, but on a far greater scale. As Serena recalls that Olympia had predicted something regarding their bond, Clemont attaches two devices to Ash and Greninja to record any physical changes before joining the practice session with Luxray and Bunnelby, but is disappointed when the subsequent 4v1 battle ultimately fails to produce any meaningful results.

Confused, Clemont wonders what went wrong, but during the lull, the group unexpectedly reunites with Alain, who saw the test from afar and came to investigate. Learning about what they are trying to do, Alain challenges Ash to a battle but agrees to let Greninja rest first when it becomes clear that he is too tired to fight. As compensation, Ash selects Noivern to have a normal Pokémon battle against Alain’s Metang, but this fight does not last nearly as long before the Sound Wave Pokémon is defeated, which leads Benoit to step up to battle Alain to see how strong he is on his own. However, while a nearby Philippe wishes his friend good luck, he is interrupted by Dina, who reveals he has a call from Emilie.

Heading into the Pokémon Center, Philippe learns from the ranger that she and Heidi are almost done with their side quest, but encourages her to talk after sensing that she has more to say. With this encouragement, Emilie reveals her time at Lysandre Labs and Mystra’s lab and shows the Lost Prince the scars she gained from her torture and the subsequent escape before admitting that her Aura senses have been stunted ever since. Horrified and sickened by the news, Philippe vows to put an end to this, even as he finds out that they have allies from Hoenn in the form of scientists Elsa and Courtney Haellmigk, as well as a friend of theirs who escaped from Lysandre Labs with them but was recaptured a few weeks ago. Promising that they will rescue her, Philippe also shares what is happening outside the Pokémon Center… only for Emilie to react in shock when she hears Alain’s name.

Outside, Ash collects Greninja as Alain defeats Benoit, and the rematch begins with him Mega Evolving Charizard after a few moves. Going on the offensive, Alain pushes Ash into a corner as the Knights notice his increasing aggression—almost as though he is fighting with nothing to lose—while Clemont, Dina and Zinnia observe the Mini Clembot picking up an unusual amount of energy emanating from Ash and Greninja. As they alert the others, Greninja transforms, and this time, his changed form is clearly shown to all, with Serena realising that he looks exactly like his trainer as an impressed Alain has his Mega Charizard X try in vain to maintain the fight’s momentum. In awe of the pure strength that Greninja now wields, Ash calls for a Water Shuriken… only to suddenly freeze in place and collapse as the energy readings rapidly decrease. Rushing over with Serena while Zinnia races off to get help, Aoife applies CPR after Clemont tells her and Geoff that Ash’s heart rate had increased to dangerous levels during the battle before dropping off in less than a second when he collapsed.

Regaining consciousness an hour later in the Pokémon Center after receiving a vision of Greninja leaving him, Ash learns from Serena what happened as Philippe recounts what Geoff and Aoife said. Stabilising what turns out to be an internal injury with his Aura, the Lost Prince advises his friend to use his new form sparingly – lest it cost him his life – and is supported by Clemont and Serena. Telling his friends that he will, Ash turns to a nearby Alain and apologises for the interrupted match before telling him that he will be participating in the Kalos League, but upon learning that the event will involve some of the strongest trainers from around the world, Alain’s interest is piqued…

Later that night, after leaving the Pokémon Center, Alain receives a message from Mairin, who tells him Chespie is slowly recovering before wishing him good luck on his journey. As the older trainer reaffirms his desire to protect the ones he loves, Philippe is seen back in the Pokémon Center processing what Emilie told him about Alain, and how he assisted in Z2’s capture while knowingly injuring Krystyna. In addition, he also remembers how she told him about an old man who had also been held prisoner back at Mystra’s lab, whom he had identified as AZ, the former King of Kalos… and his father.

921.   Making Friends and Influencing Villains!

While walking through a supposedly haunted forest, the group is surprised when a Shiny Phantump lands on Philippe’s head. Learning that it was separated from others of its kind when Team Rocket mistakenly destroyed the shrine where it was eating, Zinnia and Bonnie convince the others to help the Stump Pokémon get back home and rope Benoit into acting as its interpreter with his two Doublade. Wondering why his daughter would do this, Philippe spies on her as the day goes by, and is impressed when she ends up teaching the Phantump about the wider world and all that it entails, which reminds him of how he would teach her years ago. Expressing pride in her achievement in bonding with a non-Dragon-type, he congratulates Zinnia, which causes her to remember when she first met her Salamence as a Bagon and raised him into the formidable fighter he is now.

As the group slowly makes their way through the forest to the shrine, they fend off numerous attempts from Team Rocket to try and capture the Phantump. However, the final obstacle turns out to be a Trevenant whom Phantump recognises as a local whom he is afraid of, and Benoit is forced to step up on the smaller Pokémon’s behalf with his two Doublade before evolving them into Aegislash mid-battle with a Dusk Stone that he bought during the Master Class. With this advantage, he takes down his opponent, and the defeated Elder Tree Pokémon lets the group pass and find the other Phantump… who all disregard the Shiny Phantump due to its Shiny colouration. Seeing this, Zinnia extends an offer to her hurt friend to join her team, and he accepts, not knowing that they are being watched by a thin, wiry man who is revealed to be the Trevenant’s trainer.

Coinciding with these events, Geoff, Aoife, Wolfgang and Renata split off from the main group to rendezvous with Milos, Sabine, Emilie, Heidi, Joaquim and Allegra at a café, where they consider the next stage of Philippe’s plan. At the same time, they also briefly share stories of what they did on their respective side quests and how they were challenged by what they faced, ultimately agreeing that their experiences strengthened them as they show off the upgrades they gained for their weapons and equipment. With that done, they share the meaning behind their signet rings as the main group walks in, leading Philippe, Dina and Benoit to join the conversation with their explanations as the episode concludes.

922.   Championing a Research Battle!

Upon hearing of Olympia’s prophecy, Diantha visits Anistar City and learns of Zygarde’s involvement, as well as confirmation that its presence and actions will decide the ultimate fate of Kalos. Elsewhere, Ash and Greninja practice their agility by running through the forest while dodging attacks from Sabine, Milos, Emilie and Heidi, and successfully make it back to the campsite in time for lunch. However, he is confronted by Philippe, who advises him once again not to push himself too hard on a technique that they have not yet perfected, and a worried Serena, who is concerned for her boyfriend’s safety, though he placates the latter by promising to keep his new trump card under control.

However, as the group debates what to do next, a League helicopter arrives and drops off Diantha, who takes special notice of the assembled Knights as Philippe tells a wary Zinnia about the student-teacher relationship he shares with the Kalos Champion. Greeting the group, Diantha reveals that she spoke to Olympia and shows them a photo of the island where Team Flare tested the energy derived from the Zygarde cells, revealing that the red tree has completely overrun the original landmass. Explaining that no Pokémon can live on the island as it appears to feed off the energy of living beings, she speculates that this might be why Zygarde has returned and shows the group another photo of its serpentine “50% form”, which Joaquim immediately identifies from their encounter with Z2 and reveals that Team Flare captured it.

Now very concerned, Diantha recalls the legends speaking about Zygarde as a Pokémon who restores order to an unbalanced Kalos, but this is refuted by Philippe, who claims that the reclusive Legendary Pokémon is a vicious monster that can only be controlled with the Crown of Dominion and refuses to budge on the matter. Acting fast, Dina and Benoit defuse the impending argument before it can escalate by revealing the finer details of Olympia’s prophecy and how it concerns all of them, causing Diantha to realise that the scale of the situation is far greater than she had previously thought. Asking if there have been any recent changes, the Kalos Champion learns about Greninja’s new form from Bonnie and decides to battle Ash so that she can see it for herself… though not before Clemont tells them to wait while he installs an upgrade for his “Mini Clembot”.

Once everyone is ready, the battle begins with Diantha refraining from Mega Evolving Gardevoir yet dominating the match thanks to their bond as she predicts and counters her opponent’s attacks. Aware that she is testing them, Ash holds back until a critical moment in the fight where he orders Greninja to create a smokescreen with an intentionally missed Water Shruiken, allowing them to land one hit. This triggers the transformation into the newly dubbed “Ash-Greninja” form (courtesy of Bonnie), which turns the tide of the battle and forces Diantha to Mega Evolve Gardevoir as she begins struggling to keep up with Ash, who is now so in sync with his Pokémon that he begins to mimic Greninja’s every move. Eventually, this culminates in the duo creating gigantic Water Shuriken by drawing out water from other sources in the area… and the resulting strike is so powerful that not only is Gardevoir overwhelmed and defeated, but her Mega Stone and Diantha’s keystone crack from the sheer force of the blow, unable to maintain the Mega Evolution process against something like this.

Shocked yet ecstatic over the fact that he is about to defeat a Champion, Ash has Greninja prepare for one last attack… but come to a sudden stop and collapse on the field after they fail to sustain their form’s power. Quickly rushing over, Geoff and Aoife apply medical aid to the duo just as Team Rocket shows up… to be defeated and blasted off before finishing their motto by Zinnia, Joaquim, Isabella, Nightshade, Wolfgang and Renata. Once that has been taken care of, Ash and Greninja regain consciousness but are barely able to stand and have to be supported by Clemont and Philippe, who points out to his friend that he went into cardiac arrest and tries once more to dissuade him from using the form extensively. However, only when Serena implores her boyfriend to listen to them does he reluctantly give in and promise to use the form only in extreme circumstances when he has mastered it.

Reflecting on what she has witnessed, Diantha decides to expand her investigation as she confides in her worries about what might happen next to Philippe, Dina, Zinnia and Benoit. Assuring his former student that he has a plan, Philippe advises her to step up security for the Kalos League, which she promises to do while reaffirming her vow to continue supporting him and his allies in their endeavours. As she boards the helicopter, Diantha contacts and delegates her orders to Astrid, Sina and Dexio before deciding to rendezvous with Steven Stone and Professor Sycamore to discuss their next step. Back on the ground, as Ash reflects on the battle, Zinnia expresses a desire to face Diantha one day, an offer which Philippe promises to grant his daughter when he gets the opportunity to ask her.

In a post-credit scene, Lysandre tells Xerosic to begin the “final stage” while Mystra decides to leave Lysandre Labs for a short time, telling her subordinates to “continue as planned”. Heeding these words, Zannah and Azazel bow to her, unaware that Krystyna is already planning to escape…

923.   A Full-Strength Battle Surprise!

As the group rests at a Pokémon Center on the outskirts of Snowbelle City, they run into Sawyer, who reveals that he has already earned his eighth Gym badge from Ice-type Gym Leader Wulfric Kutsenko. Shocked and feeling as though he has fallen behind, Ash challenges his rival to a 3v3 battle, and Sawyer accepts upon learning what they have discovered about Ash-Greninja. Mutually agreeing to use the same Pokémon that they used in their last match, the two head out to the battlefield with the others, but before Philippe can follow, he is called away by Dina, who has been speaking with Isabella and Joaquim as they investigate a disturbance in a nearby forest with Emilie and Heidi. Telling her, Sabine, Milos, Aoife and Geoff to go and have fun observing the battle, Philippe takes over from Dina and tells Isabella to proceed with their investigation.

Replying in the affirmative, Isabella and Joaquim arrive at the forest’s edge on Nightshade and are greeted and accompanied by Officer Jenny as they venture into the woods. Scanning the area with their aura, the couple are unable to find any problems, but as they meet up with Heidi and a meditating Emilie, they hear a rumbling noise coming their way, which turns out to be a horde of wild Pokémon fleeing from a large number of red vines. Forced to run, the group barely escapes their reach as they stop at the forest’s edge, and as they catch their breath, Isabella attempts to heal a cut Officer Jenny’s Manectric received… only to be shocked when her Aura is diverted to and swallowed up by the roots. Realising that these match the ones Diantha mentioned, Joaquim tells everyone to back off as he contacts Philippe, unaware that Team Flare is nearby, reporting back to Xerosic and Lysandre on the success of their latest experiment. Satisfied, Lysandre remarks on the boost that Aura-infused cells grant as he tells Xerosic to proceed to the next phase of their plan.

Unaware of what just happened, Ash and Sawyer begin their battle with Noivern and the latter’s recently evolved Doublade as Milos notices Squishy sensing Z2’s distress and his futile attempts to contact it. Wondering what Zygarde could be thinking about as Bonnie comforts the Legendary Pokémon with a song, his attention returns to the battle just as Noivern defeats Doublade with his superior hearing after generating a dust cloud. Impressed, Sawyer brings out his new Clawitzer and defeats Noivern with a Mega Launcher-boosted Dragon Pulse and Hawlucha with a surprise Ice Beam.

Now extremely concerned, Ash brings out Greninja, only for it to become even more apparent that his opponent had prepared for this rematch when he counters everything thrown at him. Forced to pull off a risky manoeuvre, Ash is relieved when he defeats Clawitzer in one move… only for Sawyer to bring out Sceptile as Clemont notices that Ash and Greninja are not in sync. Reflecting on how, if he wins here, he would have proved himself stronger than Ash, Sawyer remarks on how everyone looks up to the Pallet Town trainer as a role model before going on the offensive and trapping Greninja in a Leaf Storm cyclone. Desperate, Ash tries to trigger the Ash-Greninja form, but it doesn’t work, leaving his Pokémon to be defeated by a single, decisive Leaf Blade.

In the aftermath, Ash congratulates a thrilled Sawyer, but the loss continues to bother him. However, while he wonders why the transformation didn’t trigger, he pushes this and his friends’ concerns aside to focus on the upcoming Gym Battle, with Sawyer deciding to tag along to see what happens. Similarly, Dina and the Knights report back to Philippe, who tells them about what Joaquim’s team encountered and expresses concern over both situations. The episode ends with the group arriving in Snowbelle City, with Philippe and Zinnia exchanging nervous looks about returning to the place “where it all began”.

Chapter Text

924.   All Hail the Ice Battlefield!

Following a night of resting at the Pokémon Center in Snowbelle, the group travels to the Gym at Ash’s behest and discovers it to be built into the side of a mountain overlooking the settlement. Worried for her boyfriend in light of his loss to Sawyer, Serena asks about his well-being and receives an affirmative response that she recognises as a lie, though she doesn’t push the matter. At the same time, Philippe senses something in the icy wasteland but chalks it up to being jittery from the last time he was in Snowbelle when Zinnia notices his concerns.

Escorted into the gym by five Bergmite, the group is greeted by Wulfric in a freezing room with a perpetual hailstorm. Accepting Ash’s request for a Gym Battle, the burly gym leader also questions the company his challenger keeps upon noticing Philippe and Zinnia, but relents when Ash declares that he would trust Philippe with his life (which the Lost Prince acknowledges with a grateful nod). Leaving his coat with Serena, Ash heads down to the battlefield and chooses Hawlucha to face one of the Bergmite… only to be surprised when the Ice Chunk Pokémon turns out to be a lot faster than he thought, freezing his Pokémon’s feet before he can react and pummelling him with several successive strikes. Fortunately, Hawlucha manages to break free and defeats his opponent with a single High Jump Kick before Ash switches him out for Talonflame to combat an unfamiliar Avalugg.

However, while watching all this, Philippe senses the strange presence again and decides to leave the Gym to find it after promising Zinnia, Dina and Benoit that he will return later that night. Though worried, the two Knights decide to let him go with his Pokémon, but while Benoit trusts that he will be able to solve whatever this is, Dina asks Zinnia if Snowbelle has any significance to her father. In response, the Draconid reveals that this was where he raised her and his first family, and that whatever he is sensing now is likely tied to his past with Mystra.

Meanwhile, Ash faces severe resistance when he goes up against Avalugg’s Icy Body ability, which restores its health due to the constant hail. Unable to use his hit-and-run tactics due to the cold, he has Talonflame weaken his opponent with Flame Body and Flamethrower, but this drains the Flying-type’s energy and causes him to be taken out by an Avalanche. Fortunately, his sacrifice proves not to be in vain as a few solid blows from Hawlucha manage to knock out Avalugg… only for things to start going south when Wulfric’s final Pokémon is revealed to be an Abomasnow… with a Mega Stone.

With no choice, Ash keeps Hawlucha out, but he is quickly flattened by the much stronger Pokémon, forcing him to bring out Greninja. However, while this choice grants him a slight advantage thanks to the Ninja Pokémon’s greater speed (which allows him to freeze Abomasnow in place due to an intentionally botched Water Shuriken), Wulfric quickly realises what kind of enemy he is facing and Mega Evolves his Pokémon. In response, Ash tries to trigger Ash-Greninja once again… but while he succeeds and lands several critical hits on his opponent, an Ice Beam hitting his Pokémon causes bruises to appear on his arms, causing Clemont to explain what is going on to a shocked Sawyer. Wanting more than anything to win the match, Ash tries to push the offensive, but a second Ice Beam proves too much as it slams Greninja into a wall, defeating him and causing his trainer to collapse and vomit blood before falling unconscious. Alarmed, Sabine and Milos run over and hold up their friend as Aoife, determining that he has internal injuries, yells at Wulfric to call an ambulance…

Hours later, Ash wakes up in the Pokémon Center and is hugged by Serena as he finds out about his loss from Clemont, Bonnie and Wulfric, who informs him that he will not receive the Iceberg Badge as he had failed to show an adequate level of trust in his Pokémon. Offended by this explanation, Dina defends her friend by pointing out that his confidence and belief in others have inspired countless people like her and Philippe, but Wulfric responds that he does not trust Philippe because of an incident that occurred several years ago, telling the Knights to look around the town to see the consequences of his mistakes. With that, he departs, leaving the Knights to wonder what he is talking about as Ash blocks out everyone while reflecting on his loss.

Elsewhere, Philippe wakes up lying on the snowy ground with his hands tied. Initially confused, he remembers going into the Winding Woods to search for the presence and realises that he was attacked… just as Mystra emerges from behind a tree. Greeting her husband, she tells him she wants to talk and drags him into the dark woods, leaving his Pokéballs in the snow.

Back at the Pokémon Center, a disappointed Ash apologises to Greninja, blaming himself for the loss and admitting that he wanted to win after his constant losses in his previous League runs. Taking his jacket, he tells Pikachu and his friends that he wants to be alone as he leaves the Pokémon Center and heads into the Winding Woods…

925.   Seeing the Forest for the Trees!

With twelve hours passing since Ash’s defeat and nearly twenty hours since Philippe’s departure, their concerned friends split into smaller groups to search for them after discovering that Greninja had also disappeared from the Pokémon Center while they were sleeping. Heading into town to see if anyone has seen their lost friends, Dina, Benoit, Wolfgang and Renata stumble across an old statue of Philippe and discover from the locals that he had lived in the area before, once with a strange woman and another time with an equally odd girl. Upon learning that these two sightings are several centuries apart – and that the latter sightings ended around the time an avalanche had destroyed the original incarnation of Snowbelle, Dina realises that this latter reason must have been why he and Zinnia were so uncomfortable with coming here as Benoit notes the potential locations of Philippe’s old home, which is rumoured to be supposedly hidden with ancient enchantments.

Elsewhere, as the others divide further into pairs to cover more ground, Serena finds Ash sulking on a log by a cliff and tries to comfort her boyfriend by comparing his loss to the first time she lost a Showcase… only for Ash to yell at her with a claim that she doesn’t know how he feels at all. This soon escalates into a fierce argument between the two about whether they truly understand each other and whether their relationship is even going to work, which culminates in Serena hitting her boyfriend in the face with a snowball while delivering an impassioned declaration that the Ash she knew would never give up. Equally frustrated, Ash yells that he has given up before and takes a swing at Serena, but in doing so, he accidentally falls and pulls her off the cliff before rendering himself unconscious when he hits his head on a branch.

Returning to the Pokémon Center, Benoit’s team reunites with Clemont and Bonnie and learns that they and the other Knights have similarly returned empty-handed. However, as Dina tells the others of the town’s association with Philippe (and Mystra), Zinnia realises that Serena is missing after doing a headcount, causing everyone to head out again to resume the search, ignoring Nurse Joy's warning of an incoming blizzard. 

Meanwhile, Philippe is revealed to be inside the ruins of his old house, and as he sees Mystra regarding the carvings their children made on the walls, he asks what she wants. Turning to her husband, she admits that she wants to be with him again but acknowledges that it is too late for her after all she has done, which he agrees with, even as he tells her that a part of him wants the same thing after centuries of loneliness. Shifting the conversation to more pressing matters, Philippe inquires about her alliance with Lysandre, prompting her to reveal that he had approached her years ago with a supposedly grand vision for a new world, which she sought to exploit in order to continue her experiments. However, when her husband lambasts her for trying to prolong life, Mystra furiously defends herself by explaining that she is trying to end life and, more specifically, end his life.

Shocked, Philippe regains his composure and asks for clarification, but Mystra ignores him as she brings him outside to where they fought centuries ago. Explaining that she was trying to give him “a way out” after he rejected her “gift”, she also reveals that she only resorted to this method after exhausting all other options that didn’t involve murder on a mass scale, and counters his arguments by pointedly telling him that there is always a cost in life to every choice they make. With that, she loosens his binds and hands him his weapons before drawing her own, challenging him to another duel that he accepts before he charges at her.

Elsewhere, as the blizzard hits the arena, Ash wakes up in a cave and realises that Serena had dragged him to safety when he sees her warming her hands by a fire. Grateful, he thanks her, but she only gives a non-committal nod as she refuses to talk to him, though she still allows him to sit beside her so they don’t freeze to death. At the same time, the search group is forced to take shelter in another cave, causing Geoff to lament the poor weather as Aoife assures him that they will find their friends soon enough… only for Benoit to realise that Pikachu, Zinnia, Milos and Sabine are missing after doing a headcount.

Within the now-freezing woods, Pikachu runs into Team Rocket, whom he fails to blast off due to his shocks lacking the same punch as they did before. Taking pity on him (and given the dire situation), Meowth convinces Jessie and James to allow their frenemy to camp with them until the storm dies down, and in doing so, he deduces that Pikachu has become weaker due to being jealous of the bond Greninja shares with Ash (though he vehemently denies it when it is brought up). However, the Scratch Cat Pokémon, suspecting that there is more to the situation than simple jealousy, uses his knowledge of Pikachu’s psyche to trick him into venting about everything, learning that he is no longer fine with Ash’s tendency to throw himself into danger after years of near-death experiences, that he is worried that he will die one day because can’t and won’t stop helping others, and, above all, that he is scared that he won’t be strong enough to protect him when that day comes.

Close by, Zinnia, Sabine and Milos struggle to stay warm, but as they wander around, they find three Pokéballs buried in the snow, which the former recognises as her father’s. Opening Charizard’s Pokéball to provide warmth, the trio subsequently rely on Milos’ Aura sense as he tracks Philippe to the ruined house, where they take shelter despite realising what this place is. Feeling nostalgic, Zinnia heads to her old room to reminisce about her childhood, leaving the two Knights to explore the rest of the structure and reflect on Philippe’s life following his resurrection… right before they glimpse the battle occurring outside. However, as they contemplate intervening, Sabine suddenly senses an unfamiliar presence approaching them and warns Milos and Zinnia, allowing them to set up an ambush for this new party.

While all this is happening, Ash apologises to Serena for what happened and admits that he shouldn’t have unloaded his frustrations onto her for something arguably beyond her control. Forgiving him as she realises the pointlessness of keeping a grudge, Serena asks her boyfriend about the times when he gave up and learns about several points in his journey when he threw in the towel… right before he notices several smaller Pokémon outside the cave and invites them in to stay warm. However, as Ash does this, he remembers doing the same thing many years ago during a thunderstorm in Pallet Town and shares this with Serena, who points out that his ability to care enough to help people in need is one of his greatest strengths.

Reflecting on this as he recalls instances throughout the different regions where his desire to help others was either praised or scolded by his past companions, Ash tells Serena that he isn’t a perfect role model and explains that his desire to help others sometimes ended up causing more problems or complications. But while she acknowledges her boyfriend’s “imperfection” and likewise apologises for holding him up to that standard, Serena admits that she still admires him because of what he has done and affirms that, while he isn’t perfect, he doesn’t need to be. With that, the couple embrace, forgiving each other for their hurtful actions and words… just before they hear a desperate cry on the wind.

Rushing out of the cave, Ash and Serena spot a nest of Spewpa hanging on a cliffside tree, and without a moment to lose, Ash climbs up to save them. However, while he manages to retrieve the nest, the branch he is standing on abruptly gives way and sends him falling towards the forest floor… right before he and the Pokémon are saved by Greninja, who not only catches them milliseconds before they hit the forest floor but also shifts into Ash-Greninja to do so. Thanking his Pokémon as a relieved Serena hugs him, Ash brings them back to the cave and shares his past experiences again, admitting that he wants to help as many people as possible before concluding that this is one of the reasons why he became a Pokémon Trainer. Apologising to Greninja, Ash asks if he is willing to give him a second chance, and after a moment, the Ninja Pokémon gives him a fist bump… just as an amazed Serena points out that he is still in his Ash-Greninja form. Realising that he no longer feels fatigued either, Ash guesses that he and Greninja must have mastered their form by syncing their desires, and celebrates their achievement by promising that, from now on, they will achieve their victories together.

Outside, as the storm dies down, Milos, Sabine and Zinnia spring their trap, capturing a thin, wiry man with a Trevenant. Having been a part of the trap, Zinnia’s Phantump recognises the Pokémon and alerts the trio, who question its trainer as to why he has been following them. Apologising for the subterfuge, the man explains that he is a Pokémon League agent assigned by Diantha to keep an eye on them and introduces himself as Vukašin “Vuk” Petrović as he delivers a message from several individuals from across Kalos who want to join forces with them. Confirming that he is telling the truth as he verifies the letter, Milos stands down, and Zinnia, finally noticing the outside battle, heads out to back up her father. As she does this, Philippe disorients Mystra by luring her into a trap and slices her in the chest, but hesitates to impale her on a tree like the last time and is ultimately dissuaded from doing so when his daughter arrives and convinces him to stop. Seeing Zinnia, the wounded Mystra concedes defeat and sheaths her weapons before departing, though not before she swears on Arceus’ name that all she wanted was for them to be happy together. Pondering these words as he prevents her from pursuing her mother with a hug, Philippe tells Zinnia that there will be another time to stop her… right before he sees Vukašin and asks who he is.

Elsewhere, Ash and Serena reunite with the search party, while Greninja thanks Squishy (who was using the Zygarde cells to scan the forest) for guiding him back to his partner. As it is revealed that the Legendary Pokémon was the one who alerted Greninja to the danger Ash was in, he tries to tell Z2 about what he witnessed, while Ash wonders where Pikachu is… right as Team Rocket arrives with Pikachu. But instead of fighting, Jessie, James and Meowth surprise everyone by letting Pikachu return to his friends before departing, though not before the latter assures the Mouse Pokémon that no one can replace the friendship he and Ash share.

Reflecting on his experience, Ash tells his friends all about it as they return to the Pokémon Center, where they find Philippe, Zinnia, Milos, Sabine and Vukašin in the middle of a discussion. Introducing this ally to the other Knights, Philippe also sits them down to disclose what happened in the Winding Woods… but is interrupted by Benoit, who wants to know what this new guy is made of. Agreeing, Vukašin brings out his Trevenant and challenges Zinnia to a battle, which she accepts with her Salamence as Ash learns that the Kalos League will be at Lumiose City.

926.   A Real Icebreaker!

With his mind clear and his spirits reinvigorated, Ash returns to the Snowbelle Gym to face Wulfric and starts the rematch by selecting Pikachu, who uses his speed and power to score several critical hits on Bergmite with Thunderbolt. In response, Bergmite triggers Sharpen and encases itself in a crystalline layer of ice, only for the Mouse Pokémon to use his Volt Tackle-Quick Attack combo to simultaneously warm his body and defeat his opponent in a single hit. Relieved yet cautious, Ash keeps Pikachu on the field as Avalugg is revealed as their second opponent and scores a glancing blow with an Electro Ball-Iron Tail combo, only to be knocked out by a Gyro Ball.

Back at the Pokémon Center, the Knights hold a practice session in the form of a simulated war game scenario by attempting to either take the building or defend it, all while Philippe observes a separate match between Vukašin’s Clawitzer and Zinnia’s Noivern. However, while this latter match ends in Zinnia’s favour, she remains adamant that she can do better and reveals her fear that she isn’t strong enough to defeat her mother, which she shares with her father at the League agent’s urging. Comforting his daughter as he resumes watching Benoit’s and Dina’s teams' attempts to take various objectives, the Lost Prince assures her to have faith in their allies… only to be interrupted by Joaquim, Isabella, Heidi and Emilie, who have arrived in an exhausted and battered state.

Meanwhile, Ash brings out Talonflame and scores a direct hit with a Flame Charge, but not before his Pokémon receives some damage from a Stone Edge. Retaliating with a Steel Wing and then Flame Charge, the Scorching Pokémon overpowers and defeats his opponent with his heat, and in response, Wulfric brings out Abomasnow and immediately makes it hail due to its Snow Warning Ability. This begins sapping at Talonflame’s stamina, and he is eventually brought down by a Wood Hammer, forcing Ash to bring out Greninja. With only one option left, Ash has the Ninja Pokémon land a series of successive blows on Abomasnow before going full Ash-Greninja, and Wulfric responds by Mega Evolving Abomasnow, all while noting the difference in Pokémon and trainer since the last time they faced this form.

At the same time, Philippe and Zinnia learn from a recovering Joaquim that they encountered more of the red vines, which seemed to target areas with high amounts of naturally occurring Aura. Realising what is happening, the Lost Prince sighs before stating that Mystra must have told Team Flare how to strengthen Zygarde cells by infusing them with Aura. Gathering the Knights, he elaborates on this by explaining how he and his father had used this method to create an “Ultimate Weapon” to unify Kalos through force… which he had then refused to use after learning that it would take several hundred sacrificed souls to power the machine. However, he also reveals that he had shown Mystra how to operate it and guesses that she must have passed that knowledge down to Lysandre, as Zinnia volunteers to warn Diantha about all this. But while Vukašin is similarly ordered to gather their allies and rendezvous with Tarık (whom the prince has stayed in contact with) so they can rescue Krystyna, the Knights are denied permission to accompany them as Philippe explains that he needs them to help negotiate with the third minor kingdom to join their ranks. Reluctantly, they are persuaded to stand down, though Zinnia assures them that she will be fine before she departs.

Back in the gym, Ash-Greninja goes on the offensive by manifesting his Cut into a pair of water knives, but Mega Abomasnow responds by freezing a subsequent Water Shuriken with an Ice Punch. In retaliation, Ash-Greninja uses several ninja-esque moves that he learned from Sanpei to increase his mobility and agility, allowing him to fire a second Water Shuriken before landing numerous Aerial Aces on his opponent. With his friends cheering him on the sidelines and the powerful attacks taking their toll on Mega Abomasnow, Ash and Greninja finish Wulfric off with the same force that they dealt with Diantha, causing his keystone and the Mega Stone to crack… but time, neither of them faints, though they remain shaky as an overjoyed Serena runs down to hug her boyfriend. As Clemont joins them to support Ash, a very impressed Wulfric awards his challenger the Iceberg Badge, leading an emotional Ash to speak to his entire team, encouraging them to do their best in the upcoming League as he decides to head for Lumiose City first thing in the morning.

Chapter Text

Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel

Departing from Snowbelle City, the group sets up camp near a river, where Ash decides to have a practice session between himself, Clemont and Philippe. As this happens, Serena talks to the Knights, who share their adventures with her and Bonnie as they practise their skills alongside their Pokémon and plan for the future. However, in the middle of all this, something falls out of the sky and lands directly on top of the campsite, causing an explosion.

Quickly recovering from the blast, Ash discovers that a strange, metallic band is now attached to his waist as he bumps into a massive red Pokémon expelling bursts of hot steam. Attempting to move away from it, he soon finds out that the band he is wearing is magnetically linked to a similar device on the Pokémon’s leg and is dragged back before he can climb out of the crater, though he manages to alert his friends with a shout. However, this also awakens the Pokémon, which reacts aggressively to Ash’s presence and immediately blasts him with hot water, sending him flying before the bands drag him back.

Examining the band as the other Knights assess the situation, Isabella discovers that the metal is extremely resilient to all forms of damage when she unsuccessfully attempts to melt it with her Aura. But before anyone can propose any alternate ideas, the Pokémon refuses aid and runs off, dragging the unwilling Ash behind him and forcing everyone else to pack up and give chase. Turning to Philippe, Dina asks him if he recognises this Pokémon, and he identifies it as a “Volcanion”, the third and final Mythical Pokémon from the alliance with the minor kingdoms of Kalos. As he says this, the Pokémon arrives at a massive wall, and as it blasts its way through, Ash is greeted with the stunning sight of an automated, mechanised city, which Philippe calls the Azoth Kingdom as the group follows them through.

Leading them through the streets, the Lost Prince begins to tell them about the kingdom’s history, but is surprised when an awestruck Clemont interrupts him to gush over the ancient (and still functioning) technology. As Emilie and Heidi remind their friend to focus, Geoff takes the initiative by sending out his Talonflame to see where Ash has gone and soon finds him heading towards a large castle’s landing pad that an airship is also approaching. Suspicious, he flies up there on his Pidgeot, and Joaquim accompanies him on Nightshade while the others split up, with Benoit telling Serena to rendezvous elsewhere in the city.

Having spotted the airship too, Ash senses something strange on the platform that it lands on, and soon discovers what it is when Volcanion drags him up there: a strange Pokémon resembling a small humanoid robot in a faded maid’s dress. Seeing several other individuals on the platform such as a well-dressed boy, a purple-haired man with a staff, and a thuggish man and woman in steampunk outfits, he also hears the name of the new Pokémon – Magearna – as Volcanion demands they return her to him, only for the older figures to attack him with a Glalie, Alakazam and a Shiny Gengar. To Ash’s surprise, the man, Alva, and his goons, Levi and Cherie, all Mega Evolve their Pokémon… but he senses something off about the phenomenon as Volcanion is quickly overpowered and frozen. Objecting to this treatment, Magearna is calmed by Alva, who assures her that he will be treated fairly while Ash is forced to hang from a mooring cable.

However, inside the castle, a young lady is revealed to be watching the situation on the landing pad before contacting her assistant, Flamel, who tells her about the recent breach of the city’s walls while revealing that her analysis of Volcanion has pinpointed his home at a nearby location called the Nebel Plateau. Acknowledging the information, Flamel’s superior, Princess Kimia, decides to investigate on her own and leaves the castle via jetpack, but in doing so, she misses Philippe, Dina, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata, who, having snuck into the castle through a secret passage, meet Flamel and reveal that they have an interesting proposition…

Outside, the boy, Crown Prince Raleigh, addresses the frozen Volcanion by explaining that Magearna belongs to his lineage, traced back to Nikola, the ancient founder and first king of the Azoth Kingdom. From his vantage point, a distrustful Ash expresses his suspicions, only for Raleigh to shut him down by producing blueprints of Magearna drawn by Nikola as proof of his claims while expressing a desire to use her power to restore his home’s prestige. But before he can approach Magearna, he is cut off from the others by a blast of fire from Nightshade, who swoops in and lets Joaquim off. Recognising the bounty hunter, Alva and his thugs attack him, convincing Raleigh that he is here to steal Magearna as Geoff swoops in and frees Volcanion with his Talonflame.

Dodging the blasts, Joaquim has his Ampharos blast the Mega Glalie with electricity as he duels Levi and Cherie, allowing Benoit and the rest of the Knights, who have made it to their position, to launch a surprise attack from under the platform and deal with the remaining Mega Evolved Pokémon. In the chaos (which is observed from afar by Kimia), Ash unwittingly grabs Magearna as he is jerked around, and Volcanion manages to escape in a cloud of steam, unintentionally yanking his passengers off the platform as he lands on the city rooftops below. Taking this as a cue to leave, the rest of the Knights follow suit… but when Levi and Cherie give chase, all they find is Team Rocket clinging onto another mooring cable, having been following Ash and Volcanion after seeing their initial entry into the city from a nearby café.

Eventually letting go of Magearna when Volcanion stops under a bridge, Ash reunites with Serena, Clemont and Bonnie as the automaton thanks Volcanion for his intervention. As the Knights arrive, Ash greets Magearna, but Volcanion violently threatens him, leading Pikachu, Sabine and Aoife to rebuke him and his claims that all humans are bad. Scoffing, Emilie deems this viewpoint “simplistic” for something so old and is backed up by Benoit, who steps up to defend his allies and even draws his sword when Volcanion refuses to back down. Fortunately, the whole thing is defused by the returning Dina and Philippe, the latter of whom orders Volcanion to stop by brandishing his signet ring and invoking the name of Arceus. Recognising Philippe, Volcanion hesitates, allowing Magearna to calm him down before turning to the Knights and getting them to introduce themselves.

Back in the castle, Team Rocket introduces themselves to Alva, who recruits them to his cause after realising they know Ash, though he remains unaware that Heidi is spying on them. Reporting back to her friends (who are bringing Flamel up to speed on their mission after convincing her to grant them access to the kingdom’s armoury), she also sends a message to the others, thus informing them of their progress. As this happens, Wolfgang and Renata inform Flamel about Philippe’s recent troubles in Snowbelle but assure her that he is stronger than ever as they are formally introduced to Princess Kimia.

Meanwhile, as all further attempts to remove the band on Ash fail, Clemont addresses Magearna by stating that he grew up hearing about Nikola’s contributions to science and technology. Saying that it is an honour to meet her, he reaches out to take a bouquet she produces for him, but Volcanion reacts violently to the pollen and a human touching his friend, and blasts him with scalding water. Acting quickly, Ash takes the hit instead to protect his friend, getting his clothes soaked and forcing Serena to come to the rescue by giving him a new outfit that she cobbles together from various nearby stores. Grateful, Ash thanks his girlfriend as Magearna expresses a desire to know more about humans… which Volcanion instantly shoots down, forbidding her from having any more contact with humans and stubbornly insisting on this even when she protests the notion.

However, with Ash stuck to him, Volcanion reluctantly allows the group to tag along as they return to the Nebel Plateau. As Isabella generates a smokescreen to sneak out of the city, Dina asks Philippe about Magearna, only to discover that he knows little about her, as she was created after his resurrection. Seizing the opportunity, Clement explains that, according to history, Magearna was created by the long-lived Nikola to restore the Azoth Kingdom to its once-prosperous state, but had disappeared several hundred years ago during a civil war. Recalling that Nikola died around the same time, Philippe shares what he knows about Volcanion and his former role as the inventor’s steward and assistant who helped him in his daily tasks, even remembering the time he saw him repair a steam-powered flying contraption with the Pokémon’s help.

Back at the castle, Raleigh is confronted by Kimia, accompanied by a disguised Wolfgang and Renata, and is asked about what he and Alva did on the landing pad. Growing frustrated when he refuses to give her a straight answer, she warns her brother to stay away from their minister by advising him to look to the future as well as the past… only for him to snap back with the declaration that he is doing the latter with Alva, whom he admits he trusts more than her. Not backing down, Kimia brings up the Knights of Kalos and the rumours of how they have been making their way through the region to restore the monarchy, which Raleigh dismisses by claiming that they must be imposters, offending Wolfgang to the point where he nearly hits the departing prince. Fortunately, he is held back by Renata, who silently reminds him that they cannot strike the heir to the throne of a potential ally, and a fuming Kimia similarly apologises for her brother’s words before assuring the maestro and his fiancée that she is on their side. However, she insists on removing Alva, who has been suspected of treason, before helping them with their quest, and the duo agrees to help her once they know everything about who they are up against.

Outside the walls of the Azoth Kingdom, Serena and Bonnie ignore Volcanion’s objections and clean Magearna, uncovering the metallic sheen underneath the grime and dirt as they do so. Infuriated by this, Volcanion grumbles that nothing good comes from humans or from working with humans, which prompts an equally irate Dina to highlight all the friendly relations they have formed with no less than five Legendary and Mythical Pokémon within the last few months. Hypocritically, Volcanion states that when his fellow Pokémon are concerned, an ally of humans is no ally of his, and even denounces Diancie and Hoopa as traitors for allying with humanity. Enraged, Dina brings out her Mawile to fight him, and when Ash tries to defend her, he is blasted once again by a spray of water before being dragged back by the band. Having had enough of this, Philippe snaps and orders Benoit to get everyone back in line before warning Volcanion to do the same before he calls down Arceus.

Meanwhile, Alva deduces the group’s destination and sends out Team Rocket to stop them after supplying them with devices called “Mega Wave” bracelets. Overhearing this, Levi and Cherie question if it is a good idea to use “bumbling morons”, but are rebuked by Raleigh, who has absolute faith in Alva’s plan. Elsewhere in the castle, Flamel and Heidi analyse one of the bracelets after stealing it from the armoury and are disturbed to learn that the bracelet forces Mega Evolution out of the Pokémon.

That night, Clemont presents Ash with a special suit to protect him from Volcanion’s water blasts as Sabine and Milos pull Philippe aside to question if it is even worth it to gain the Mythical Pokémon as an ally, given his incredibly negative views of mankind. However, while he acknowledges their predicament, the Lost Prince insists on sticking with their “misanthropic burden” as he feels he has seen him before, promising that he will get to the bottom of this before they can free Ash. Deciding to trust him, Sabine then asks about what Mystra told him back in Snowbelle… but before Philippe can reply, Team Rocket suddenly attack them with a Mega-Evolved Heracross and a Pinsir that Alva loaned them.

Moving fast, Ash, Pikachu and Volcanion stay behind to fight the TRio, and Sabine, Milos and Emilie join them by Mega Evolving their Scizor, Absol and Heracross… but are surprised when they defeat the three Mega-Evolved Pokémon (and blast off Jessie and James) in a surprisingly easy battle. Meanwhile, as the others escort Magearna to safety, they fall into a series of pitfall traps set by Meowth before being saved moments later by Kimia and a Shiny Mega Gardevoir, who subsequently blast off the Scratch Cat Pokémon with help from Philippe. Wondering why their battle went so well as they reunite with their friends, Milos learns from an annoyed Philippe that forceful Mega Evolution (which a lot more people did in his time due to its ease when compared to rigorous training) actually weakens the Pokémon in question.

Turning to Kimia, Sabine thanks her but is surprised when she reveals that she knows who they all are, having heard of their exploits from Tarık, Baraz and Meray. Nevertheless, she politely acknowledges their greetings and addresses all of them by name before turning to Magearna and introducing herself as the Princess of the Azoth Kingdom. Upon hearing that she is a member of the royal family, the Mythical Pokémon remembers when she was presented to Nikola’s daughter and curtseys before Kimia, who also thanks a disgruntled Volcanion for protecting her all this time. Realising that she is Raleigh’s sister, Ash informs Kimia about what he heard back on the landing platform, prompting her to request that she join their group to help ensure Magearna’s safety. Despite Volcanion’s objections, everyone else agrees, and he eventually complies with them when the Knights pull out their keystones.

With that, Philippe asks Kimia about her brother as the group resumes their journey, and she tells him and the Knights that he was always fascinated with the kingdom’s past in contrast to her forward-thinking ways and concerns about their future. However, she also reveals that Alva, who had been a researcher on the kind of arcane science Nikola had pioneered, took an interest in Raleigh from a young age and gave him exclusive lessons on the subject, which resulted in him growing distant from her as he desperately sought out Magearna in the hopes of restoring the Azoth Kingdom’s former glory. Looking back, Kimia expresses her belief that he was trying to divide them as Wolfgang and Renata hear the same story from Flamel back at the castle, which triggers a heated debate over whether it is worth convincing Raleigh that he is on the wrong side. As the latter points out that he is still a misguided child being manipulated by an older figure, the former vehemently advocates that he is still a party to kidnapping and potentially treasonous actions, causing Heidi to block out the argument as she tests the stolen Mega Wave bracelet on her willing Altaria. To her surprise, it still works, but upon learning that her Pokémon found the process very uncomfortable – and is also far weaker – she concludes that they will have to take more drastic steps to stop their enemies.

Hours later, as the sun rises over the horizon, the group enter a field of flowers that Magearna identifies as a landmark close to the Nebel Plateau… just as the arrival of an injured Amaura shatters the peaceful atmosphere. Treating it, Ash and Emilie discover that a Pokémon hunter has infiltrated the sanctuary, and Philippe sends Aoife and Geoff to deal with the intruder with their Mega Abomasnow and Mega Pidgeot. Once the hunter has been battered into unconsciousness and teleported to the nearest prison by Isabella and her three Malamar, Volcanion reluctantly brings the others to the Nebel Plateau, which turns out to be a scenic vista featuring a vast lake and two conjoined trees upon a hill from which the Azoth Kingdom’s castle is visible. Commenting on how they aren’t that far away from civilisation, Dina notices that the local Pokémon all seem scared of them, which prompts Volcanion and Magearna to reveal that all of them were harmed or wronged by humans in the past.

To earn their trust, Serena enlists Bonnie to help cook lunch for everyone present while Emilie bridges the gap between the Pokémon and humans by acting as a translator. Slowly but surely, and with additional help from Benoit, Geoff, and Aoife, a crowd soon gathers, prompting Magearna to pitch in by playing a melody on her built-in music box to calm the rowdier inhabitants. Observing this sense of camaraderie and community as they listen to the music, Isabella and Joaquim share a moment with Nightshade while feeling a large amount of naturally occurring Aura all around them, leading them to realise that this place must be like the Allearth Forest and Dahara City. However, while Ash likewise relaxes with Pikachu, he notices that Volcanion is injured and offers to heal him… only to have his concerns dismissed and rebuffed as the Mythical Pokémon walks to a cave and enters a hot spring to recharge his water reserves. Forced to enter the pool before he gets yanked in, Ash soon discovers the limits of Clemont’s suit when it malfunctions and explodes, eliciting a muttered comment from Volcanion about how annoying humans are. Overhearing this, Sabine and Milos exchange disapproving glances before reporting to Philippe, who promises to confront Volcanion later that night.

Hours later, as night falls, Clemont talks to Kimia as he performs a maintenance check on her airship, recalling how Nikola had been one of the first scientists to use Pokémon as assistants in his experiments and that he views Magearna as the physical embodiment of that relationship. Agreeing with him, Kimia is approached by Philippe, whose inquiries about why she isn’t the heir apparent prompt her to explain that she was passed over for Raleigh due to his adeptness with Nikola’s technology. However, she agrees to ally with him regardless of what her brother thinks, though he expresses his hopes that it won’t be necessary and that they can talk him down from participating in Alva’s plans.

Continuing the conversation by recounting his own experiences in the Azoth Kingdom before his death (though he omits certain details regarding his wife), Philippe tells Kimia that she is lucky to have a home here, and she thanks him for the compliment before adding that his place must be nicer than hers. This strikes a chord with Philippe, but he controls himself as he shifts the conversation back to Volcanion and asks Kimia about him before expressing his suspicions that this might be the same Pokémon as the one Nikola had, having observed similar habits and physical traits in both Pokémon despite their different personalities. Nodding in agreement, Kimia then turns her attention to the Knights, who are practising their skills or caring for their Pokémon, and asks the Lost Prince what he thinks of his Pokémon, which prompts Philippe to respond that, in contrast to most people he has seen, he feels lucky and grateful to have them by his side.

Once their conversation has ended, Philippe heads to the Volcanion’s cave and finds Ash and Pikachu asleep, giving him a chance to talk to the Mythical Pokémon. Commencing his “interrogation” by reciting several specific statements and observing the Mythical Pokémon’s reactions, he eventually confirms that this Volcanion is the same one as Nikola’s, and questions what caused him to adopt his misanthropic mindset. Initially extremely resistant to telling a human what happened, Volcanion relents when Philippe’s Pokémon persuade him to do so, and reveals that when the Azoth Kingdom fell into civil war all those years ago, he witnessed first-hand the horrors of conflict when he was charged with protecting Magearna. This culminated in an angry mob trying to steal her from him so she could be melted down for spare parts (which is how her original paint job had been scratched off), which led him to adopt his current mindset both as a way to rationalise the traumatic experience he had been through and to protect the last piece of his master’s legacy. However, while Philippe expresses his understanding of Volcanion’s experiences, he nevertheless points out that even though humanity can be everything he thinks, Pokémon are just as capable of doing all those terrible things since they are capable of independent thought. Naturally, Volcanion reacts negatively to this, but the Lost Prince stops him by reminding him of Zygarde and what it did to restore “balance” to Kalos before advising him to evaluate each person and Pokémon individually.

Back at the castle, Flamel digs around in Alva’s computer after Heidi lures him out of his office and finds several files on Magearna that include details on a device called the Soul-Heart, which the Mythical Pokémon possesses. Sharing this information with the Knights, she explains that the device combines magical and scientific methods to generate Aura, which Wolfgang questions even as Renata reminds him that not all of Nikola’s secrets have been recorded or revealed. Regardless, Heidi realises (once she has reunited with the others after evading Levi and Cherie) that if Alva extracts Soul Heart from Magearna or replicates it, he could theoretically do whatever he wants with it, which she claims is “too much for one person to have”. Agreeing with this, Flamel sends Kimia a message to warn her while the Knights make preparations to leave and reunite with their allies.

As dawn approaches, Dina wakes up to find Philippe staring at the rising sun and deduces that he is worried about Zinnia, whom she assures will be fine. However, while the Lost Prince acknowledges that his worry is just part of being a father, he nevertheless expresses regret over his “relationship issues”, wishing that he could have done better for his wife and children and regretting his role in letting it fall apart. Sitting down next to him, Dina tells him that judging from what she and the other Knights saw in his mind, he did his best, and that, to most of them, is good enough, which comforts Philippe and encourages him to share more information about his kids. Supporting his intention to move their remains to the family crypt at the Tower of Mastery when all this is done, Dina hesitates when the conversation moves to Mystra, but admits that while she and their comrades have varying degrees of doubt about whether she can be redeemed, most of them are willing to wait until the proper authorities have passed judgment.

At the same time, Serena wakes up Ash and returns his repaired clothes. However, while he gratefully accepts them, he expresses fatigue at the thought of constantly helping Legendary and Mythical Pokémon with perpetual consequences and problems. Admitting that he needs a break after all this, Ash asks Serena whether he is selfish for thinking that, but she comforts him by pointing out that everyone needs a break now and then and that if he stumbles, she will be there for him. Relieved, Ash thanks Serena, but doesn’t notice that Volcanion is awake and has heard everything.

A short while later, as the wild Pokémon are treated to a feast Serena, Bonnie and Emilie have whipped up, Magearna and the group’s Pokémon continue to interact with the more taciturn locals as Clemont, Allegra and Joaquim try to figure out how they can separate Ash and Volcanion. Eventually, after much trial and error, the trio devises a solution by mixing Gulpin acid with a synthetic solvent to create a powerful corrosive, which they apply to the band before Aoife, Geoff and Nightshade use extreme heat and break the inner layers. Now freed, Volcanion tells the humans to leave, but Ash refuses, which causes the Mythical Pokémon to staunchly refuse the refusal by highlighting what Ash himself said to Serena before adding that if the “Chosen One” is tired of helping, then he doesn’t need to. Frustrated yet insistent, Ash responds that while he is exhausted from all the times he has been dragged into similar situations, no one else will help them if they leave, which means that Alva will just come back and recapture Magearna, thereby causing everything to repeat.

Before an argument can erupt, any further discussion is ended when Philippe and Kimia rush into the cave and inform everyone of Flamel’s message… just as the familiar hum of airship engines reaches their ears. Rushing out, everyone sees Alva’s airship encroaching on the sanctuary in a cloud of black smoke, and Philippe tells Benoit to get ready for an assault and hold their position before a bolt of lightning prevents him from disseminating further orders. Nevertheless, the Knights put up a valiant resistance before being routed and trapped by an army of Mega Wave Pokémon, leaving them unable to help the Nebel Plateau Pokémon when they are trapped in similar force fields. Descending from the airship in a smaller shuttle, Levi and Cherie threaten to kill all of them unless Magearna surrenders… to which she fires a burst of energy that nearly incinerates their Mega Steelix.

In response, Alva’s subordinates attack the Pokémon and the captive Knights by bombarding them with various types of weaponry, injuring many and forcing Magearna to reluctantly surrender on the condition that none of them will be harmed. With that, she is taken to the airship where Raleigh excitedly greets her… but when he suggests to Alva that they tell everyone their plans, the minister has his Mega Gengar paralyse the Mythical Pokémon with a Mean Look. Shocked at the turn of events, Raleigh attempts to intervene, but Levi grabs and forces him to watch as Alva rips out the Soul-Heart from Magearna’s body, causing her to shut down. But as Alva gloats, Philippe appears and slashes Levi with a dagger, causing him to drop Raleigh.

Revealing that he snuck aboard the airship on Charizard while they were all busy with their attack, the Lost Prince condemns the treacherous minister for his actions and blasts Cherie with the Staff of Life before she can sneak up on him. However, this opening is all Alva needs to order Mega Genger to hold him in place, and he reveals that he knows all along what the Knights intended to do after he secretly intercepted Flamel’s message and deduced where they were. Declaring that he will use the resources of the Azoth Kingdom to take Kalos as his own, Alva disarms Philippe before slowly stabbing him in the gut and throwing him and Magearna’s body off the airship. Holstering the Staff of Life and the Sword of Death, he orders Levi to raze the Nebel Plateau to the ground with an aerial bombardment, and as the horrified Raleigh watches, Alva thanks him for making all this possible before commanding Gengar to put him to sleep.

One hour later, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata arrive on the scene and are horrified to find the Nebel Plateau devastated by the bombardment… right before they discover that their friends and allies are still alive. Having survived through a combination of Safeguard, Dig and Aura Shields, the reunited Knights also find Magearna’s body and a barely alive Philippe, who reveals what happened as the absence of the Soul-Heart is noted. As Isabella heals him, Dina scolds the Lost Prince for rushing in without them and reminds him that they are a team, while a guilty Philippe explains that he thought he could take Alva on after fighting Mystra to a standstill in Snowbelle. Apologising to the Knights, he is forgiven as they promise to stick with him until the end and expresses his gratitude as they affirm their loyalty.

Resolving to get the Soul-Heart back after learning about it from Flamel, Ash rallies everyone to battle as Kimia discovers that her airship only sustained light damage in the bombardment thanks to Clemont’s modifications. However, as everyone climbs aboard, Volcanion hesitates and recalls, while looking at the flower field, when he and Magearna arrived at the Nebel Plateau in a tattered state centuries ago. Remembering how they were nursed back to health by the scores of mistreated Pokémon and how Magearna had subsequently taken on a motherly role despite the power she wielded, he concludes that he must do the same for them and accompanies the group as they fly off, expressing his desire to fulfil the final task Nikola entrusted to him and the new task of protecting the innocents who cared for them.

Upon returning to the Azoth Kingdom, Alva blasts Jessie and James off after determining that they have served their purpose, but keeps and binds Meowth upon realising that he can hear Magearna’s soul within the Soul-Heart. Bringing both the Scratch Cat Pokémon and the similarly bound Raleigh to a section of the kingdom’s wall, he has Levi and Cherie kill the guards as he reveals to his captives that Nikola built a floating fortress into the wall which could be reactivated and transformed via a complex series of inner workings… and whose control room they are in now. Laughing maniacally, Alva uses the Soul-Heart to reactivate the ancient mechanisms, stating that Nikola was a fool to deactivate the bastion instead of using it to defeat his enemies and that he will now use it to conquer all of Kalos.

Having learned the same thing from Flamel (while being unaware that Jessie and James are hitching a ride with a grappling hook), the group arrives at the fortress just in time to see it rise into the sky and assume its attack mode. But while Levi and Cherie see their approach, their attempts to blow them out of the sky with the fortress’ weapons are thwarted by Magearna’s soul resisting the commands. At the same time, Meowth sees a centuries-old memory of Magearna and Volcanion fleeing the castle moments before a mob broke in and tore Nikola apart, which greatly shakes him as he realises just how many atrocities were committed in the search for the kingdom’s secrets.

With the fortress not firing on them, the Knights gear up and Mega Evolve their Pokémon, with Benoit giving Philippe his swords to replace the relics he lost. As they land, they are greeted by an army of Mega Wave Pokémon, as well as numerous automatons acting as guards for the fortress, and a massive brawl breaks out as the team’s Mega Evolved and Kalosian Pokémon cut through scores of enemies with fury and vengeance. Triggering Ash-Greninja as they head further in, Ash senses the Soul-Heart several stories below and alerts Volcanion, who proceeds to blast his way through several floors as Pikachu assists Squishy in his 10% dog form. Knowing that Ash will need backup as he sees him, Greninja and Kimia following Volcanion into the hole, Philippe tasks Benoit with taking down Levi and Cherie before going after his friends with Dina, Sabine, Milos, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata.

This turns out to be a wise move, as Philippe’s team arrives in the control room to find Ash’s team having been caught in a series of traps while Alva attempts to force Magearna to obey his commands with his Mega Gengar. Angered, he decides to break her by testing the weapons on the Nebel Plateau, causing Heidi to alert Joaquim, Isabella and Emilie and warn them about what is happening. Quickly splitting off from the others, the trio races back to the sanctuary with Nightshade and the latter’s Vivillon, and Geoff also sends his Mega Pidgeot to attack the main canon after Emilie relays the message to him. Fortunately, his quick thinking damages the targeting system with an Air Slash… but while the resulting blast misses the main sanctuary, it hits and destroys the flower field, the sight of which breaks Magearna’s spirit and sends her into a catatonic state as she shuts down.

Expressing no remorse as Ash and Kimia condemn him for his actions, Alva declares that all of Kalos will bow before him as he fires the laser again. But this time, having made it to their destination, Isabella and Emilie rally the local Pokémon to put up a massive shield that they enhance with their Aura and magic, which enrages Alva when he sees the display of resistance. Sensing the impending loss of life as the cannon’s firepower is increased, Squishy separates from Pikachu, leaps from the fortress and absorbs all the Zygarde cells in the area before transitioning – for the first time in millennia – into his Complete Form to block the blast. Witnessing and recognising the towering humanoid figure with the girls, Joaquim shakes off his shock and joins the defence as the attack is successfully repelled with a massive Dragon Pulse. Exhausted from the effort and with his energy expended, Squishy reverts to normal and collapses on the forest floor as a stunned Alva tries to comprehend what just happened.

Back in the fortress, Benoit, Aoife, and Geoff manage to defeat Levi and Cherie with their Doublade, Gogoat and Talonflame and force them to surrender by holding them at sword point as Volcanion breaks free of the trap holding him with a Steam Eruption. Taking advantage of the distraction, Dina frees Ash, allowing him to fight Alva alongside the Mythical Pokémon, Wolfgang and Renata. With Pikachu fighting the Mega Gengar with Heidi, Milos and Sabine, Alva proves to be no match for the maestro and his fiancée and drops his staff, which Ash grabs and throws into the fortress’ gears, breaking the Mega Wave device within and reverting all the Mega Wave Pokémon across the stronghold to normal (and also causing his Gengar to abandon him).

Racing to her brother as Philippe frees her, Kimia finds him being untied by Jessie and James (who have also freed Meowth) and hugs him as he apologises for all he has done. However, as Ash retrieves the Soul-Heart, Sabine and Milos see Alva manipulating the controls and attack him, but fail to stop him from setting the fortress on a collision course with the Nebel Plateau in a last-ditch attempt to kill everyone. Declaring that he will find someone else to further his plans as he flees to an emergency exit, Alva attempts to use a jetpack, but Greninja slices it off with a Water Shuriken before Philippe retrieves his relics and impales the treacherous minister with the Sword of Death. Whispering that the Throne of Kalos “sends its regards”, the Lost Prince pulls back his sword and kicks Alva’s dying body out the door before watching him fall into the forest below.

Retrieving Magearna’s body, Volcanion has Heidi reinstall the Soul-Heart and jump-start it with her Aura, but even though Magearna returns to life, she remains unresponsive. However, a greater concern arises when Raleigh fails to override the controls of the plummeting fortress or alter the targeting vector, leaving a premature explosion as the only viable solution to ensure the survival of the Nebel Plateau. Checking the schematics as Benoit’s team is updated on what has happened, Milos finds several water tanks powering the steam-driven engine (which would allow Volcanion to produce an explosion of a suitable size) and sends Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Clemont and Philippe to turn the valves as the others evacuate the doomed fortress aboard Kimia’s craft or via escape pods installed in the walls. As they do so, a remorseful Raleigh asks Ash how he can atone for his actions, and Ash recommends that he go on a Pokémon journey so that he can discover his true self.

With the fortress beginning to crumble moments after the final tank has been emptied, Volcanion guides those left to the final escape pods, only for Ash to realise his intention to stay behind. Protesting the suicidal plan by refusing to leave, he is knocked out by Philippe and handed over to Serena, who reluctantly bundles her boyfriend and Pikachu into a pod before getting into her own. Nodding to the Mythical Pokémon, the Lost Prince acknowledges that there is no other choice as he guides Clemont and Raleigh to their pods, and with a final salute to evoke the memory of meeting him for the first time, he joins them. Triggering the latches to release the pods, Volcanion returns to the engine room and apologises to Magearna for failing to keep his promise before performing a massive Steam Eruption, blowing up the fortress in mid-air and scattering debris all over the area.

Reuniting with Joaquim, Isabella and Emilie on the shores of the lake, Ash, Serena, Clemont, Raleigh and Philippe mourn Volcanion’s sacrifice as the others land nearby. To make matters worse, Benoit and Kimia’s attempt to jog Magearna’s memory by showing her that the Nebel Plateau Pokémon are safe fails, but as Dina morosely wishes for Magearna to be able to say goodbye to her friend, a thick fog suddenly envelops the area. Through it, Philippe sees a barely alive Volcanion wading through the water with cracks on its metallic surface and wades out to meet it… only for the Mythical Pokémon to collapse as it reaches the shore.

Recognising her old friend, Magearna snaps out of her catatonic state and desperately produces a bouquet for her friend, but unlike before, the pollen only produces a weak sneeze, and a check from Philippe reveals fatal injuries that were sustained in the explosion. Realising that there is nothing they can do, he tells Magearna as the others arrive, with the dying Volcanion making her promise to keep protecting the ones they love and giving her his blessing to return to the Azoth Kingdom as part of the royal family. Accepting his final request, Magearna hugs her friend as he breathes his last and dies peacefully, surrounded by his friends and allies.

Sometime later, the Knights bury Volcanion in the cave where he once resided, musing that in the end, he died doing what he wanted—protecting the ones he loved. One by one, Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Team Rocket, their Pokémon, Kimia and Raleigh pay their respects with a few short words until only Philippe and Magearna are left, whereupon Philippe approaches the grave. Giving a final eulogy, he promises to see Volcanion again, “but not yet”, and plants a poppy seed on the grave as a gesture of remembrance to the fallen Mythical Pokémon.

In the credits, as the Nebel Plateau Pokémon bury and seal the wreckage of the fortress in a large hole, the group returns to the Azoth Kingdom with the royal siblings, where they are allowed some time to relax. During this time, Philippe finalises the alliance between himself, Raleigh and Kimia, designating the Nebel Plateau to be under Magearna’s protection as she takes Volcanion’s place as the third Mythical Pokémon of Kalos. As Levi and Cherie are both seen in prison, the Knights also explore the city before the time comes to leave, with Raleigh also taking Ash’s advice to heart as he departs on a separate journey of his own to see the world with his Slurpuff, leaving Kimia to rule in his stead. And finally, as Magearna continues to live at Nebel Plateau, the poppy on Volcanion’s grave is seen sprouting from the soil.

Chapter Text

927.   A Diamond in the Rough!

With the group being morose from their recent adventure, Ash decides to cheer everyone up by visiting an old friend: Goodra, whom he needs to pick up in time for the Lumiose Conference. Agreeing to the detour in the hopes that it will motivate them, the group returns to the wetlands and shares a happy reunion with their old friend, who has grown more powerful alongside Wooper and the Blue Flower Florges. At the same time, Philippe tells Emilie that her father is there and brings her to Keanan’s house for an emotional reunion as she hugs and apologises for running away all those years ago. However, while the older man forgives her and thanks the Lost Prince for bringing his daughter back, he also reveals to the Knights that there has been a strange increase in the sightings of Carbink in the area, which leads to the entire group volunteering to investigate (sans Emilie, who stays behind with Geoff and Aoife to spend some time with her father).

Quickly locating the new Jewel Pokémon, the group witnesses them stirring up trouble among the locals, which forces them to split into two teams to deal with the infestation. In a strange twist, Philippe and the Knights end up back at the Aura cave, and despite an explanation by Benoit and Dina as to what happened the last time they were inside, they are forced to enter it when the Carbink they are pursuing end up going inside. Predictably, everyone is separated from each other and beset by visions that either help or oppose them, but the spirit of the deceased Aura Knight wards off the more aggressive ones. Recognising her, Benoit asks why she is helping them, and she responds that her actions are an atonement for what happened three millennia ago.

Outside the cave, Ash’s group manages to capture the Carbink they are tracking by setting a trap near a pond with Goodra and Florges… only to discover that Team Rocket is behind this operation after they pull up in a Carbink-shaped mecha (with which they have captured the other Carbink). Putting aside their differences, everyone works together to take down the TRio, and the sounds of the explosions soon reach Emilie, who leads Aoife and Geoff in a sneak attack that her father sees. With her Mega Heracross and Vivillon, the Aura Knight succeeds in freeing both the Carbink and blasting off the TRio, though she sustains minor injuries thanks to her impaired Aura senses. Noticing this, Ash decides to take a detour to the healing spring and contacts Philippe to arrange a meeting there.

On the other side of the region, Zannah and Azazel discover that Krystyna has escaped from her cell through a ventilation shaft after picking the locks of her restraints. As Lysandre Labs is put on high alert, the bedraggled librarian arrives in the sewer system and uses Furfrou and Klekfi to navigate her way out… but while she makes it to an exit, she is alarmed to find it blocked by a metal grate and guarded by Essentia, who anticipated her escape. With no choice, Krystyna fights her and is overpowered before a Dragalge appears and blows the grate clean open, allowing her to dive into the ocean outside. Swimming to safety, she is rescued by Tarık, who carries her away on a speedboat, and upon learning who he is, she tells him that they must go to Lumiose City immediately.

Back in the wetlands, the two groups meet up at the healing spring, but as Emilie enters the water, Ash is surprised when the rescued Carbink all bow to Philippe. Recognising them as emissaries from the Diamond Domain, the Lost Prince deduces that Diancie sent them as support for the coming battle and accepts their aid as Ash’s Goodra re-joins his trainer after catching up on recent events with Dina’s Goodra. At the same time, Emilie reveals what she is a part of to her father, but while he is worried, he recognises that he cannot hold her back and makes Philippe, Benoit and Dina promise to bring her back safely instead. Swearing that they will guarantee her safety, the trio turn to the Carbink and begin disseminating orders to gather their allies as the episode ends.

Elsewhere, Alain earns the Rumble Badge after defeating Korrina, who deduces that he is going to participate in the League upon discovering that he has eight badges. Having gone on a badge-collecting spree, Alain affirms this and mentions that he wants to face someone strong, though he declines to tell her who that is as he leaves. Moments later, however, Korrina receives a message from a disguised Vukašin that is emblazoned with the crest of the Kalos royal family, and upon bringing it to Gurkinn, she discovers that it is a call to arms from Philippe.

928.   A Gaggle of Gadget Greatness!

Nearing Lumiose City, Clemont makes the group stop by a small fair hosting the Gadget Festival, which turns out to be an event showcasing the largest exhibition of mechanical devices in Kalos. With the Knights having gone ahead, he successfully drags Ash, Serena, Philippe and Bonnie along to see the various inventions before ending up at a mechanical funhouse filled to the brim with gadgets that allow them to use their Pokémon to solve puzzles. However, as the group splits up to solve the puzzles, it soon becomes clear that Team Rocket is following them when Pikachu gets separated one too many times from Ash, leading to both groups trying to clear the funhouse as fast as they can to cut each other off.

Over in Lumiose City, Diantha finds Zinnia sitting on the sidewalk outside the Pokémon League HQ, having been kicked out due to her attempts to sneak in without proper identification. Allowing her to enter as her guest, the Kalos Champion also brings the Draconid to a meeting with several Kalosian businessmen who are financing this year’s League… only for this discussion to initially turn out poorly, with arguments over whether it is a good idea to hold the League due to the rising costs of the event. Furthermore, none of the Elite Four – save for Malva – are available this year to provide normal security for the public, and a good chunk of the investors express distrust towards Philippe and his allies because, as Zinnia discovers, “they are afraid of what they don’t know and are unwilling to understand”. However, as a frustrated Diantha bemoans the situation, the young warrior suggests getting trainers participating in the League to guard it with some supervision from the G-Men agents and League operatives, pointing out that it would be both cheaper and practical considering the number of trainers with Mega Evolution on their side. Impressed with this idea, Diantha greenlights it after most of the investors express their approval and contacts Sina and Dexio to start compiling a list of potential candidates to recruit.

Back at the funhouse, the TRio resorts to stealing their Pokémon through an ingenious system after repeatedly missing the gang, but are quickly found out and ejected from the funhouse when Bonnie lures them into a trap. Having gotten to the exit first, Clemont subsequently faces Jessie, James and Meowth in a 3v1 battle with Chespin, Luxray and Bunnelby, and successfully blasts them off single-handedly despite their utilisation of a giant mecha Meowth. With the disturbance taken care of, the group resumes their day of fun, with Clemont remarking to Philippe that the reason he likes gadgets is because they represent not only the height of human intelligence and skill but also his hopes and dreams for the future.

Elsewhere, as the meeting concludes, Diantha thanks Zinnia for her help and, upon learning about her desire for a battle, agrees to face her in a private match after the League. Ecstatic, Zinnia profusely thanks the Kalos Champion as she heads to the Pokémon Center to rest for the night, only to be intercepted by a couple of familiar faces before she reaches the building, whom she recognises as Xerneas and Yveltal. Confirming their identities, the two Legendary Pokémon explain their alliance with her father before accompanying her to make the final preparations for the coming battle.

929.   A League of His Own!

Upon arriving in Lumiose City, the group is met by several armed guards, who escort them to the venue of the regional League—a massive stadium on the outskirts of the city. Reuniting with his daughter, Philippe congratulates her on her successful mission as he also reunites with Xerneas and Yveltal, with whom he shakes hands. Likewise glad to see him, the Legendary Pokémon bring the group to their friends, but along the way, Ash is pulled aside by Malva (and a disguised Team Rocket) for a short interview. Having recognised him from his previous League runs, the Elite Four member asks him how he plans to do this time around, and he tells her that he hopes to win the whole thing… only to attract the ire of a trainer named Everett, who confronts him with a battle request before he can enter the stadium.

Ignoring him with help from Serena, Philippe and Clemont, Ash proceeds into the facility and reunites with Sawyer, Tierno and Trevor at the opening buffet. Greeting them, he learns that they are all participating in the League as he spots Astrid and Shauna (the latter being there to cheer on her friends), but is also surprised to see Alain, who coldly ignores Professor Sycamore when he tries to greet him. At the same time, Philippe, Zinnia, Xerneas, and Yveltal meet up with the Knights and discuss the next step in their mobilisation as the matchups for the first round are announced, with Trevor and Ash facing Alain and a trainer named Titus, respectively. However, upon noticing the smaller-than-expected number of participating trainers, the Lost Prince learns from Benoit and Dina that the stadium was only recently constructed by an unknown investor whom they suspect was Team Flare, which leads him to express his worries to his daughter. Comforting her father, Zinnia encourages him to enjoy the night and their “last moments of peace” before they begin their investigation the following morning, and he obliges her by taking her for a dance.

Hours later, as the sun rises, Diantha and Professor Sycamore commence the Lumiose Conference and encourage everyone to do their best with the words “Qui audet adipiscitur” as a high-tech battlefield activates for the first 3v3 match. Watching as Trevor and Alain start their battle with both kinds of Mega Charizard, a nostalgic Philippe can’t help but reminisce about happier times as the Knights begin their security checks… but while Trevor’s starter puts up a decent fight, the more powerful Mega Charizard X quickly defeats him, putting him at a severe disadvantage. At the same time, Krystyna and Tarık arrive at Sycamore’s lab to find it empty save for Sina and Dexio, who are initially suspicious. However, a quick identity check clears up the misunderstanding, and they are brought to the League along with Vukašin, who grants them entry when he calls Diantha.

Back at the stadium, Ash leaves his friends to attend his match, but is intercepted by Everett, who demands to battle him and refuses to let him pass. Seeing the standoff on the security monitors, Benoit intervenes and steps up to fight on his behalf, allowing the younger trainer to make it to his destination just as Trevor is defeated without eliminating any of Alain’s Pokémon. Despite being upset at his early loss, he congratulates his opponent… only to see that Alain has already left the field, much to his confusion. Elsewhere, Ash’s match with Titus begins, with the former responding to a Mega Altaria by sending out Greninja, though he restrains himself from using Ash-Greninja as part of a promise he made with Philippe to keep it hidden for as long as possible. However, as this match goes on, Benoit reunites with Aoife and Geoff and reveals that while he defeated Everett in minutes with his Houndoom, he also learned that the younger boy was one of many trainers who failed to acquire his badges in time for the League and had sought out “the legendary Ash Ketchum” so he could prove himself as a strong trainer.

Eventually realising that he cannot do this alone upon learning that Titus has trained his Altaria in a completely different way from Heidi’s, Ash triggers the Ash-Greninja form and pulls off a swift victory in front of the crowd, who are awed by his power. By contrast, the Knights and their friends are more unsure of the consequences, but Philippe soon notices that the broadcast feed is cutting out and learns from Diantha that she is doing this so Team Flare does not discover the one advantage they have. Relieved, the Lost Prince commends her for her quick thinking as they watch the remainder of Ash’s match together… only to be interrupted by a message from Zinnia, who tells her father that Krystyna, Vukašin and Tarık want to speak to him.

Later, as the remaining participating trainers await their next matchups, Philippe, Zinnia, Xerneas, Yveltal, and the Knights speak to a recovering Krystyna in the stadium’s infirmary. Recounting her ordeal with corroborating information from Sabine and Milos, the librarian also confirms that Lysandre is not only the leader of Team Flare and the CEO of Lysandre Labs, but is also the League’s mysterious financier, meaning that he is in control of the stadium. Alarmed, Philippe informs Diantha, but she reveals that it is too late, as spies from Team Flare have been sighted in Lumiose City, and they are unable to arrest them for fear of causing a panic. With no other choice, the Lost Prince mobilises the Knights to make several pre-emptive moves against their enemies before turning to Vukašin and Tarık and asking them what they learned on their travels.

Road to Perdition

Taking place several weeks after the last special, the story picks up at the Lumiose Conference after the events of A League of His Own!, by which point the two groups of Knights and their allies have reunited. Heading out of the infirmary upon hearing the accounts from Krystyna, Tarık and Vukašin, Philippe speaks to the assembled Knights in the lounge and draws up a new plan after deciding that they must act now. With that, the Knights divide into four groups of three and split up to perform their assorted tasks over the next two days, with the story breaking into four segments.

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Storge

def. love of parents for children

Heading into Lumiose City on a scouting run as the second round begins, Dina, Sabine and Milos identify numerous Team Flare grunts near major landmarks across the city and deduce that there must be a central base that they are operating out of. Realising that the only possible location is under the Prism Tower and the Lumiose City Gym, the trio break into the building after discovering that Clembot locked the doors… but ascertain that the place seems secure enough upon encountering several traps which Clemont had installed to keep out intruders.

With nothing to do, the team relaxes on the battlefield alongside their Pokémon and wonders what might happen after they defeat Team Flare and Mystra. Admitting that he is not sure, Milos eventually remembers the side quest he and Sabine had gone on (which had involved them returning to the Tower of Mastery to face Korrina in a 2v1 Mega Evolution Battle) and decides to head back there to continue his studies. However, Sabine, by contrast, chooses to travel around Kalos to help other trainers in need and successfully argues her case to Milos, who accepts her choice and makes her promise to keep in touch as they shake hands to reaffirm their childhood friendship.

Overhearing the duo as she sneaks into Clemont’s workshop, Dina discovers a photo of him, Meyer, Bonnie and his mother, Laura. Remembering several instances where the Liscio siblings had refused to speak about their absent parent, the assassin also recalls some digging that she did the last time they were in Lumiose, which had unearthed a police report that detailed how the matriarch of the family was killed in a home invasion. With that in mind, as she reflects on how lucky the siblings are to still have one good parental figure figure “in a world that is sorely lacking in them” (and how several of her friends have themselves grown up to be capable individuals despite being orphans), Dina prays that Philippe will do the same for Zinnia as she rejoins Milos and Sabine.

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Philia

def. love of friends and equals

Elsewhere in the city, Aoife is momentarily distracted by a livestream of Ash’s match against his latest opponent by Geoff and Emilie, who remind her that they need to head to the cathedral to examine some relics and the interior to ensure that nothing has been damaged. Unfortunately, they discover upon arriving that the building is filled with Flare grunts, which leads the trio to formulate a plan that allows Emilie and her Vivillon to sneak inside as Aoife and Geoff create a distraction with some street vendors, which draws the grunts away from their posts.

Whispering a prayer of thanks to her friends as she arrives inside the cathedral, Emilie reflects on the last conversation she had with her father while examining the beautiful stained-glass windows and takes comfort in the fact that she has someone to return to when this is all over. However, by reviewing the images, she manages to glean an interesting insight into the past that the Legendary Pokémon shared with the royal couple and speculates that perhaps they had a closer relationship while ensuring that all the relics are secured in the crypt. As she narrowly escapes the returning grunts by making it up to the roof and flying off with her Vivillon, Emilie remembers her side quest – visiting the Diamond Domain and getting an upgrade for her circlet from Diancie – before she arrives at the rendezvous point at Philippe’s apartment and takes a rest to recharge her Aura.

Hours later, once they have managed to lose the grunts chasing them, Aoife and Geoff arrive at the apartment to find Emilie sleeping to recharge her Aura with her Pokémon keeping watch. Sending out their Pokémon to join her Heracross and Vivillon, the duo discusses their plans for when this operation is over, with Geoff planning to return to the wetlands for a while and Aoife mentioning a possible sabbatical in Hoenn to possibly re-establish Kalosian relations with foreign regions. Respecting the other’s choice, the duo recalls their side quest – returning to Terminus Cave and obtaining upgrades for Aoife’s axe and mace from a strange chamber while fighting a colony of Noivern – and shakes hands as the sun sets.

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Eros

def. erotic, passionate love

As the following day begins, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata remain at the stadium and watch over their recovering allies as the third round commences. However, as the latter tries to sing to comfort a pained Krystyna, she discovers that her voice is weaker than it used to be and realises that the constant skirmishes have not given her enough time to practise. Confiding in Wolfgang, Renata expresses a worry that she will not be much help in the coming battle, but is reminded of what they achieved during their side quest – in which they performed a musical number at a Pokémon Center and freed their awestruck audience from a Hex Maniac with a Mega Alakazam – and is assured that everything will be fine. However, Wolfgang later admits to Heidi that he is similarly concerned about what might happen if they go up against Team Flare.

Understanding his worries, Heidi brings the maestro to watch the latest match to clear his mind while asking him several questions about his relationship with Renata and his role as a musician. Although confused, Wolfgang answers them truthfully and is reminded of his first concert, which turns out to be the one he attended when he first met Renata, as Heidi compares the group to an orchestra. Pointing out what they achieved when they worked together to defeat Alva, Heidi encourages her comrade to remain faithful to their cause, and he thanks her for her kind words while promising to stay with them.

At the same time, however, Wolfgang deduces that Heidi plans to return to Hoenn after this and learns that she intends to spend time with Lisia, whom she considers to be a sister in all but blood. Realising that Lisia’s status as a famous Pokémon Coordinator might help them stabilise Kalos in the aftermath of their battle, he inquires if they can meet her, and Heidi, though hesitant, replies that she will consider asking her friend for help in reaching out to other regions. With that, the maestro returns to Renata, while Heidi continues to watch the battle alone, taking comfort in the silence as she brings out her Altaria, closes her eyes, and listens to the roar of the crowd.

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Agape

def. love of all mankind

Hours later, as the day draws to a close, Benoit, Isabella and Joaquim return from their scouting run into the city and are debriefed by Philippe before they are sent to get some rest. However, while the bounty hunter splits off to tend to Nightshade (who has gotten antsy about being cooped up in his room due to the need to keep a low profile), his compatriots discuss the situation, with Isabella admitting that she is unsure of the scale of the potential attack. On the other hand, Benoit highlights their recent escapade in the Azoth Kingdom and the tendency of Legendary Pokémon to dislike or outright hate humans, leading the sorceress to remark that it is a common trend as they bring up Pokémon League files obtained from Diantha about similar incidents in other regions. Finding out that Ash Ketchum was involved in nearly all of them, Isabella comments that he seems to be a constant factor in the world’s progress, but questions why he would be this as opposed to other seemingly more capable trainers, and Benoit, unable to answer, decides to ask Philippe to get his perspective on the matter.

With nothing left to do, Isabella heads to the room she shares with Joaquim and (after cleaning up the mess left by Nightshade) shares what she has learned before asking him what he thinks of Ash. Pondering his words as he lies on the bed, the bounty hunter tells his girlfriend that he thinks Ash is a fool who can be slightly immature and is otherwise not very bright about worldly issues… but also admits that he is far wiser and more experienced than anyone thinks and even states that his outer persona hides his true nature as a selfless, optimistic, supportive and justice-driven yet humble person who loves the world and everyone in it, regardless of what they have done. Impressed by the high praise, Isabella realises that Joaquim is envious of Ash, and he confirms this, explaining that he envies how his natural ability to connect to people has allowed him to make an enormous number of friends, rivals and allies from around the world before concluding that, even though he might not think of himself as such, Ash is the single most important and special person on the planet, and the only person worthy of the title of Pokémon Master.

Nodding in agreement, Isabella sits next to Joaquim and asks him if he remembers their side quest, which involved infiltrating a castle in southern Kalos to gain upgrades for his cloak and armour. Musing that it was a tough experience as he recalls fighting a series of automated sentinels to escape, Joaquim nevertheless wonders what its purpose was, unaware that, elsewhere, Benoit has asked Philippe the same question after remembering his side quest – returning to Camphrier Town and accessing a secret compartment in his ancestral house to retrieve an upgrade for his sword. Understanding his query, the Lost Prince reveals that the side quests’ main purpose was to upgrade their gear and weapons and that the “tests of character” were derived from how they approached their missions, pointing out that they are now fully prepared for the impending battle. However, when Benoit asks him about Ash, Philippe admits that he is still not sure about how the younger trainer will fare against what is to come, especially after all he has faced over the past few years… but adamantly states that he will try to guide and ensure that he does not make the same mistakes he did.

The special concludes with a final scene in which Philippe returns to his room to find Zinnia already asleep. Sitting down beside her, he expresses his hopes that the battle will heal the rifts in his family and fulfil his dreams of a united Kalos. However, as he gets ready for bed, he also reflects on how the line between love and hatred has blurred and prays that his actions will be able to persuade Mystra to see reason so they can have each other “at the end of the day”.

Chapter Text

930.   Valuable Experience for All!

Two days later, the battles intensify as the quarterfinals commence. With Alain having made it into the semi-finals, Ash quickly defeats Astrid and makes it in while Remo does the same with his opponent, leaving Tierno and Sawyer competing for the final spot. However, the latter reveals to his idol that he has a secret weapon – a Mega Stone that he acquired from Steven Stone, though he refuses to tell Ash what Pokémon it is for. Unbeknownst to both of them, the Hoenn Champion is revealed to be in the stadium too, having snuck in under the cover of night to speak to Diantha about potential scenarios to combat Team Flare. In response, she tells him that Philippe and the Knights are formulating a plan that she has faith in, but Steven expresses his doubts about whether they can effectively pull it off when she reveals its details.

As the last quarterfinal match begins, Shauna arrives late after being held up by security and congratulates Serena upon discovering that she and Ash are now an official couple. Similarly impressed, Trevor likewise commends Ash as Sawyer reveals his newly evolved Aegislash in response to Tierno’s Ludicolo, which results in the battlefield being turned into a muddy wasteland as they try to outwit one another. In the end, however, the Royal Sword Pokémon defeats its opponent with a Swords Dance-boosted Sacred Sword, and while Tierno’s Raichu takes it out, Sawyer responds with his Slurpuff, putting his opponent on the edge.

Watching the battle from a secure spectator box, Philippe reviews the latest information on the scouting runs into Lumiose City as conducted by Benoit, Milos, Sabine, Geoff and Aoife. Learning that the Team Flare grunts have been sighted at major landmarks and infrastructure, he recalls what Krystyna, Tarık and Vukašin said about the Ultimate Weapon and the numerous murders committed to fuel the plans of their enemies, but especially remembers vital information on Mystra’s subordinates, including the five Flare scientists, Malva (who was confirmed to be a Flare operative by the Knights) and Essentia, whom they suspect to be a hostage being held under Lysandre’s control. However, he is snapped out of his thoughts by Dina and Zinnia, who are about to embark on a recon mission to the disused subway tunnels below Prism Tower, and warns them to be careful before they leave.

Back on the battlefield, Slurpuff’s Attract forces Raichu to be recalled and replaced with Blastoise, which defeats it with a Hydro Cannon that Sawyer underestimates. With only one Pokémon left, Sawyer brings out Sceptile and easily eliminates the slower starter with Frenzy Plant, but has a harder time later with a Rain Dance that Blastoise had activated before its defeat. However, as Tierno brings back Raichu, whose electrical attacks are assisted by the rain, Sawyer reveals that his Mega Stone was for Sceptile, who unveils his new form and his Lightning Rod ability (which grants immunity to all Electric-type moves) before utterly destroying the Mouse Pokémon with a Dragon Claw. Impressed by this display as he learns that he will face Sawyer in the semifinals, Ash speaks to his team and tells them that this time, he aims to win.

Elsewhere, Dina and Zinnia venture into the subway tunnels and discover a mobile Team Flare base right where the Knights suspected it would be. However, as they sneak into the mobile transport via its ventilation system, they chance upon King AZ, whom Zinnia recognises as her paternal grandfather, and reveal themselves to him upon gaining access to the room. Having heard of his son’s journey from Krystyna, the ancient king of Kalos tells the girls that they deserve the truth and begins to share with them how he factors into all this…

931.   Analysis Versus Passion!

As the semifinals commence, Alain’s match against Remo quickly comes down to Mega Charizard X against the latter’s Mega Garchomp, Garchoo, which he defeats with a stronger Dragon Claw. Exiting the field without bothering to acknowledge his opponent, Alain vows that he will defeat Ash and make Mairin “smile” again… but as he arrives at the lounge, he stumbles in on Ash speaking to his Pokémon and hides from him. Not realising that he is being watched, Ash affirms his bonds with his team before his friends and rivals arrive to wish him good luck, including Serena, who reminds her boyfriend to be safe out there and gives his Pokémon several Poké Puffs as a sign of encouragement. Seeing this, Alain exits the room without a word, troubled, conflicted and somewhat jealous of the bonds Ash has forged with those around him.

Several minutes later, Ash and Sawyer meet on the battlefield as Clemont tells Shauna, Trevor and Astrid about the last time they fought, adding that Sawyer has been analysing Ash’s every move for months now. However, before the match starts, Diantha is led away by Sina and Dexio to meet with Philippe, leaving Sycamore as the sole VIP to spectate the battle. Unaware of this change, Ash sends out Hawlucha, who is decked out in colours resembling his old Forest Protector garb, against Sawyer’s new Slaking and takes the initiative against his stationary opponent, warning his Pokémon to be careful as he lands his attacks. This caution proves to be well-founded, as Slaking uses Slack Off to restore its health before defeating Ash’s first Pokémon with a single Counter in response to a Flying Press, causing Ash to retaliate with Talonflame and exploit the injuries that Hawlucha inflicted to defeat his opponent with a Brave Bird-Flame Charge combo.

Elsewhere, Zinnia and Dina remain hidden in the vents of the mobile Team Flare base as they reflect on what they learned from AZ. Through a series of flashbacks, the former king of Kalos revealed much of his family life with his wife and Philippe, as well as the prosperity of their brief reign following their conquest and union of the various feudal lands. However, things quickly went south when Philippe died, as Mystra had thrown herself into finding ways to resurrect her lover, and the queen had died of a broken heart. Blaming Arceus and the world for the destruction of his family, AZ had constructed the Ultimate Weapon to spite the Alpha Pokémon and had gone so far as to assist Mystra in her murders to gain access to numerous corpses of Aura adepts to fuel his weapon. Once he had secured Zygarde cells to power the machine, he fired it on Kalos, killing millions, but being exposed to the machine’s radiation had caused him to become immortal along with his Pokémon, a strange Floette with a unique flower, who had abandoned him upon seeing the destruction caused by the Ultimate Weapon.

Guessing that this is how her mother discovered the combination to resurrect Philippe as they crawl through the vents, Zinnia is comforted by Dina, who expresses her understanding of AZ’s mistakes by comparing them to an incident in her past when she massacred an entire order of Mystra’s followers after they killed her master. However, as both girls agree that great mistakes made in moments of grief should never be forgotten, they are found out by Courtney, who has been hiding them from the cameras. Recognising Zinnia, the Hoenn Scientist tells them about Elsa, and a sympathetic Zinnia decides to help them escape, which they accomplish by using several smoke bombs and Aster. Springing the still-unconscious Elsa from the infirmary, the trio sneak her out by crawling under the base and escaping through a maze of tunnels running parallel to the subway, where they find Milos and Sabine and make their way back to the surface via an abandoned subway station.

Back on the field, Talonflame faces Clawitzer, whom Sawyer uses to force Ash to fight at his speed, triggering his most damaging attacks too early before intercepting and defeating the Scorching Pokémon in the middle of an attack run. Pausing for a moment as he recalls his second Pokémon, Ash sends out Pikachu, who quickly makes short work of his opponent before facing his rival’s Aegislash. With two Pokémon down, each competitor anticipates the other’s move as the episode ends.

932.   A Riveting Rivalry!

Continuing the match as Aegislash begins chopping through the battlefield’s trees, Pikachu has his attack power decreased with a King’s Shield. Thinking fast, Ash formulates a risky plan and has Pikachu grab one of the fallen trees that Sawyer was using to slow them down, before wedging it between Aegislash’s shield and sword. Recognising it as something Ash learned from Benoit, Sawyer can do nothing as his Pokémon is defeated with a charged Iron Tail and commends his opponent on how much he has improved before the battlefield changes to a desert setting. However, as Ash does the same, Philippe speaks with Diantha about how they can potentially drive off Team Flare as quietly as possible… right before he receives a message from Zinnia about the recent events.

Within the new arena, Ash sends out Noivern to face Sawyer’s new Salamence, who unleashes a strategy that leads his opponent right into a series of traps and a defence that comes up every time a blast produces large amounts of smoke. Initially stuck, Ash utilises Noivern’s agility with Acrobatics and knocks out Salamence with a Boomburst, only to be downed by an Incinerate in turn after using too much stamina to dodge the blasts. With a draw having been reached, Slurpuff and Goodra are sent out, and Ash takes advantage of the fact that Sawyer has never battled this Pokémon before to land an Ice Beam and trigger Bide before activating Rain Dance. However, Slurpuff counters with Cotton Guard to raise its defence before attacking with a surprise Flamethrower that drives Goodra into a corner and does critical damage… only for the slimy Dragon-type to remain standing long enough to defeat the exhausted Slurpuff with a Dragon Pulse before falling to the ground.

While all this is happening, Philippe and Diantha head out of the stadium to find Zinnia and Dina’s team carrying the unconscious Elsa. Bringing them to the infirmary, the Lost Prince is briefed by Courtney on how her younger sister came to be like this and traces the radiation poisoning back to Zygarde, but reveals that he has no idea how to cure her fully and can only try to drain the excess radiation from her by siphoning it into his body, which has already internalised and adapted to the radiation. Given the high risk of the procedure, the others express their concerns, but Courtney agrees, forcing a reluctant Dina to prep her friend for the operation as Diantha and Zinnia clear the room. Before leaving, the assassin comments on how far they have come since meeting each other at that café all those months ago, and Philippe responds that he is glad she helped him become the person he is now, promising that he will survive this as he will always hope for light in the darkness. With that, he begins draining the excess Aura from Courtney with the Sword of Destruction and the Staff of Life, forcing Dina to leave as huge amounts of radiation are drained from Elsa’s body.

Down to his last Pokémon, Sawyer sends out Sceptile to face Pikachu and quickly evens the playing field by using Leaf Storm and Leaf Blade to throw his rival’s starter off-guard before defeating him with a Frenzy Plant. Knowing what he has to do, Ash brings in Greninja as Sawyer declares that he has been waiting for this moment, and the two proceed to trade blows as they are revealed to be evenly matched in strength, agility and speed. In his mind, Sawyer expresses his hopes of defeating Greninja and reaching greater heights as he openly remarks on how his opponent can make anyone better than they were before when in a Pokémon battle. At the same time, Ash mentally reflects on how Sawyer had surpassed and beaten him once, and how he can now go beyond what he was capable of with his friends and loved ones by his side.

Triggering Mega Sceptile and Ash-Greninja, both trainers subsequently unleash every trick they have, and the battle slowly increases in intensity until every structure on the battlefield has been reduced to rubble. Eventually, after determining that he has pushed Sawyer to his absolute limit, Ash flips his hat backwards and commands Greninja to create the massive Water Shuriken as the cameras catch both trainer and Pokémon performing the same actions, perfectly in sync. Realising what is about to happen, Sawyer frantically commands Sceptile to counter with Leaf Storm… but although his starter performs the move, Greninja smashes through it and utterly pulverises his opponent in a massive explosion.

As the crowd roars its approval, Greninja reverts to normal as the exhausted Ash sits down, knowing that he will be facing Alain in the finals and silently thanking his Pokémon as it occurs to him that this is the first time he has made it this far. Turning around as Serena, Clemont and Bonnie arrive, he receives a big hug from his girlfriend in front of the crowd and is soon greeted by Sawyer, who has crossed the field so that his exhausted opponent doesn’t have to. Thanking Ash for the battle, the younger trainer expresses his admiration for the older trainer, who returns the favour and grants him a handshake as a sign of gratitude. Seeing this, the crowd applauds the display of good sportsmanship, but unbeknownst to the group, Alain is watching all this and leaves with a troubled look on his face as he grips his keystone.

While resting in the lounge afterwards, Ash is congratulated by a recovering Philippe, but is interrupted by Courtney, who wheels out an awakened yet still weak Elsa. As Ash recognises the younger Haellmigk, she greets him before thanking Philippe for saving her, even as he points out that Zygarde’s radiation will continue to chip away at her body until she slips into a coma again. However, as Elsa dismisses this with a declaration that she is thankful for being able to see her sister again, she describes the creature that she had freed from Lysandre Labs… which both prince and trainer recognise as Squishy!

933.   Kalos League Passion with a Certain Flare!

With the Lumiose Conference taking one day off before the final match between Ash and Alain, Serena, Clemont and Bonnie decide to organise a small party to relax and commemorate Ash’s advancement, and rope in the Knights to assist their efforts. Elsewhere, as Ash retrieves his team from the Pokémon Center, he runs into Meyer and Clembot, the former of whom has brought a fresh batch of Lumiose Galettes for the group, and brings them over to the others as they are talking to Sawyer in the trainers’ lounge. Surprised to see their father, the Liscio siblings tell him about their travels as Meyer wishes Ash good luck, but at that moment, a Murkrow steals Chespin’s Galette, causing him to chase after it.

Following the gluttonous Spiny Nut Pokémon, Dina runs into Mairin, who is looking for a souvenir for Chespie, and brings her to the group after Tierno, Shauna and Trevor point her in the right direction. Recognising the younger girl, Sabine and Milos inform Philippe about her, and the prince introduces himself to her as she recognises the six Knights who travelled with her and Alain. Unaware of what they know about her former travelling companion, she tells them about Chespie’s current condition and how he has been under observation at Lysandre Labs, which leads to Philippe and Ash exchanging looks before she starts crying. Comforting the younger girl, Ash assures her that her Pokémon will be fine while the Lost Prince muses that he could heal her Pokémon if he were here (and if she allowed it)… only for the conversation to be interrupted by the arrival of Professor Sycamore, who also recognises Mairin and asks her if she is here to cheer on Alain.

Elsewhere, as Alain trains with Charizard, he meets Malva, who mockingly congratulates him before asking if he entered the Kalos League to fulfil his dream of becoming the strongest. Rebuking her, Alain responds that he intends to fight “him”, and Malva deduces that he is talking about Ash, leading her to cryptically remark that the attention will make the Pallet Town trainer extremely happy. With that, she leaves, but not before informing Alain that the gathering of Mega Evolution energy is nearly complete and asking him what he intends to do once he saves Chespie. Unable to answer, Alain tells her that it is none of her business and subtly threatens her before she reunites with Jessie, James and Meowth, who are disguised as her camera crew.

At the same time, Diantha looks over the records of both finalists in the infirmary and remarks to a nearby Steven that either one of them could win the League. Agreeing with her, the Hoenn Champion shifts his attention from the recovering Elsa and Krystyna to Tarık and Vukašin, the latter of whom he asks for a status update on Philippe’s allies. In response, the League agent reveals that they are currently on standby and were told to hold their positions when Flare’s presence was detected in the city… but as he explains that they will need to give the go-ahead for them to continue advancing, Sina and Dexio call the Champions and inform them that someone wants to speak with them. This turns out to be Sawyer, who, while trying to put on a brave face, is distraught at having lost his battle, and Steven comforts the young trainer after recognising him from their last encounter by telling him that he did his best before reminding him of an offer to become his research assistant. Drying his tears, Sawyer tells Steven that he is still thinking about it… only to notice the recovering patients and ask what is going on.

Back in the lounge, Sycamore learns from Mairin that she intends to catch up with Alain after the League, having recognised that he wants to be alone for now, and frowns at this before turning to the others and telling them that he discovered something interesting about Greninja’s unique form (which Diantha told him about). Gathering around the professor once they have secured the room, the group learns that he deciphered an old manuscript taken from the tomb of a long-dead Kalosian lord and discovered that what Ash and Greninja have is a “Bond Phenomenon” – a rare occurrence between trainers and Pokémon that only happens when they have complete trust in one another. However, when Clemont points out its similarities to Mega Evolution, Sycamore explains that there are key differences – namely, the Pokémon’s powers and the trainers themselves, which seem to play a role in the transformation and make each one different depending on the factors involved. Recalling that Ash was chosen by Greninja back when he was a Froakie, Philippe and the Knights guess that they must have been destined to meet… but for now, they decide to put aside the mystery and commence the celebration with lively music and bottles of champagne, wine and soft drinks.

Hours later, as the party winds down, Mairin thanks Serena, Dina and Bonnie for a good time before leaving. Promising to help her as she returns to the others, Serena learns from Clemont that Ash is doing some last-minute planning and training for his upcoming match. However, she decides to let him be for now as Sycamore asks her how she has been doing on her journey. Close by, as Philippe looks out into Lumiose City, he tells Zinnia that tomorrow will likely be the day the final battle for Kalos begins and asks her if she is ready. Hugging her adopted father, the Draconid swears that whatever happens, she will do whatever it takes to reunite her family, as she will always choose them over everything else.

Over on the practice fields, Lysandre approaches Ash and introduces himself, forcing the suspicious trainer to hide his true emotions as he tells him that Mairin has already left. However, the leader of Team Flare reveals that he is here to discuss what happened during his battle with Sawyer and questions Ash about the Bond Phenomenon, remarking that it is all people are talking about and telling him that it can potentially guide Pokémon and mankind to a greater future. Feigning ignorance, Ash tells Lysandre that he is still trying to figure out how it works and “promises” to tell him about it after the League… but as Lysandre leaves, he muses that Mystra and the Fallen Celestials were right about him before finding Mairin and informing her that, thanks to the energy gathered by Alain, everything will be all good tomorrow.

At the same time, Alain bumps into Professor Sycamore, who greets his old lab assistant and Charizard. However, while the latter warmly returns the gesture, the former remains guarded, clearly expecting a confrontation as he asks his former mentor if he is angry at him for leaving so abruptly. Denying this, a concerned Sycamore reveals that he has been following his progress ever since he learned who he was working for and gently asks what exactly he is involved in, which causes Alain to reply with Lysandre’s rationale that their research on Mega Evolution could have put him in harm’s way of people who would have wanted to use it for their gain and that he didn’t want those that he cared about getting hurt. Confused, the professor presses his former assistant for a better explanation, only for Alain to ignore and refuse to make eye contact with his mentor, revealing that he has lost far too much on his journey and that he will not return until he gets strong enough to get it all back.

Realising that he cannot change Alain’s mind, Sycamore reluctantly supports his decision and encourages him to do what he needs to do while assuring him that the doors of his lab will always be open if he wants to return. But despite being moved by the gesture, Alain only stoically thanks him before leaving for his room, passing by Philippe and Ash as they talk to their friends and family. Noticing their strong bonds as he returns to his empty room, he reflects on the time he spent with Mairin… but shoves down the memories and reminds himself that he needs to win this next battle.

However, as all this is happening, a squad of Team Flare grunts led by Xerosic, Zannah and Azazel enter the Lumiose Gym and set up machinery on the battlefield as a battered Z2 takes notice of their plans. Back at the stadium, Squishy senses what is happening and gazes out into the night as the Knights and their allies prepare for battle.

Chapter Text

934.   Finals Not for the Faint-Hearted!

As the sun rises on a new day, Ash and Alain arrive in the arena for the final match of the Lumiose Conference, though not before the former tells Serena, Clemont, Bonnie and Philippe that he has been feeling “off” ever since speaking to Lysandre. Informing his girlfriend about Squishy’s true nature, he also receives some final words of encouragement from her and their friends, who promise to be ready for whatever is about to happen. With that, Ash heads out, watched by those in the stadium and his friends and family from around the world, and sends out Pikachu to face Alain’s Tyranitar, which creates a sandstorm and fires Dark Pulse through it.

Dodging the blast, Pikachu uses a pool of water to clear the sand before retaliating with a Thunderbolt, and when Tyranitar grabs him by the tail, he hits and defeats him with a point-blank Electro Ball. However, while Ash expresses jubilation at the early victory, he remains wary as Alain sends out a Weavile. At the same time, Sycamore continues to think about what Alain told him the night before as he watches the match from the stands with Philippe, Diantha and Steven, wondering what burden his former protégé is hiding while the Knights and their allies take up defensive positions outside the arena.

Sending out Noivern, Ash meets resistance when Weavile uses Protect to counter a Supersonic and responds with a Boomburst to disorient his opponent before countering with Dragon Claw. Unfortunately, the Sharp Claw Pokémon recovers quickly and uses Double Team before firing an Ice Beam that badly injures Noivern, though not before the Sound Wave Pokémon gets in one last Boomburst that deals a glancing blow to his opponent before he is defeated. In retribution, Ash chooses Hawlucha, and the Wrestling Pokémon returns the favour with a flurry of Karate Chops, even using the ice generated by Weavile’s Ice Beam to act as a makeshift shield. Through this willpower, Hawlucha manages to defeat Weavile with a Flying Press that throws him into the rocks and poses in triumph upon seeing that he has avenged his student, which causes Sawyer and Diantha to separately remark on how Ash’s greatest strength is the trust he puts in his team. However, while Serena expresses a similar sentiment, Philippe questions how far that trust will carry him as Lysandre is shown taking note of Ash’s strength while Mairin cheers for Alain. 

Staying cautious as Alain sends out a Bisharp, Ash is caught off-guard when a Thunder Wave paralyses Hawlucha, forcing him to take a Guillotine to the face that defeats him. Surprised by the brief but fierce fight, he uses his Aura to focus as his opponent remarks on how much fun the battle is, admitting that he didn’t expect it to be this intense as he switches his Pokémon to an Unfezant. However, this turns out to be a boon for Ash, who sends out Talonflame and takes the battle to the skies as he states his familiarity with this Pokémon. Following multiple draws with multiple Steel Wings, the Scorching Pokémon uses Flame Charge to get a leg up on his opponent, only for Unfezant to use Sky Attack in response, and the aerial dogfight eventually ends when both Pokémon end up knocking themselves out with Sky Attack and Brave Bird, leaving both competitors with only three Pokémon each.

As the battlefield is transformed into a grassy plain, Clemont notes that Ash has yet to win against Alain, and as he wonders if he can pull it off, Serena confidently states that he can, while Bonnie echoes her statement. Emboldened by the cheers of his friends, Ash chooses Pikachu and calls out to Alain, encouraging him to be the best he can be, and upon hearing this, Alain remarks to himself that this fighting spirit and sportsmanship are why he wants to beat Ash. But as Mairin notices that Alain is smiling for the first time in months, she does not see Lysandre sending a message to Xerosic and Mystra to commence the final steps of “Project Luminous”.

Upon learning that he will be facing Alain’s Metagross, Pikachu goes all out, using every attack he has and dodging every Metal Claw that comes his way… until a Rock Slide buries him. Quickly digging himself out, the Mouse Pokémon responds by grabbing onto his opponent and delivering constant streams of Thunderbolt and Electro Ball, which causes Metagross to throw him upwards reflexively and allows Pikachu to pound it into the ground with a mid-air Volt Tackle-Iron Tail combo. Impressed by the power of Ash’s starter, Philippe admits to Diantha and Steven that their bond is among the strongest he has ever seen, and expresses his belief that they will never truly fail as long as they are together. Conversely, Mairin expresses displeasure at the loss, clearly wanting Alain to win even as she remains silent, and only perks up when he brings out Charizard.

Aware of how powerful this Pokémon is, Ash keeps his starter out, and with a declaration that the final stage has started now, he has Pikachu unleash everything on his opponent as the crowd watches. But elsewhere, as Zinnia guides Xerneas and Yveltal to where Philippe needs them to be, the Legendary Pokémon sense something foreboding and warn her that the Crown of Dominion is here.

935.   Down to the Fiery Finish!

As the smoke clears, Ash is shocked to see Chariard still standing. With Pikachu weakened from his previous battle against Metagross, he is no match for Alain’s starter and is quickly defeated with a Dragon Claw that overpowers his Iron Tail. Worried, Serena hopes that Ash will somehow pull off a victory as Team Rocket begins cheering him on, with Mairin wishing the same for Alain so he can be happy. Elsewhere, an alarmed Zinnia runs into and informs Sina and Dexio of what she has learned as the Legendary Pokémon split up, with Yveltal moving to his position and Xerneas heading to the infirmary to expedite Krystyna’s recovery so she can be ready for the impending battle.

Back on the field, Ash brings out Goodra, but Alain recalls Charizard in favour of his Bisharp. Aware of its capabilities, Ash has Goodra use Rain Dance to turn the tables before blasting his opponent with an Ice Beam and triggering Bide to withstand the attacks. Through this method, he defeats Bisharp with a Dragon Pulse, but his luck runs out when Alain, now down to his last Pokémon, brings out Charizard again. Quickly dehydrating and defeating Goodra by blasting him with a Flamethrower, Alain forces Ash to unleash Greninja, who sizes up Charizard as everyone in the crowd debates on which trainer is the more powerful. Observing this, Philippe expresses his belief to Sycamore that Ash is stronger and explains that it is because he has people whose support he relies upon and vice versa. However, while the professor agrees with the Lost Prince’s words, he still expresses his support for Alain.

Breathing in, Ash has Greninja make the first move with Cut (which is strengthened by the Rain Dance), and Alain reminds himself that he must win as he responds with a Flamethrower. With that, the two sides fight to a standstill, evenly matched in every aspect, but when the rain clears, Ash, confident that he can finally win his first League, triggers Ash-Greninja. In response, Alain Mega Evolves Charizard, and both superpowered Pokémon immediately begin fighting, engaging in a variety of combative duels that reduce everything on the field to rubble until Greninja manages to hit his opponent in the head with an Aerial Ace.

Vowing that he won’t lose as he remembers Mairin, Alain thanks Ash for giving him the fight of a lifetime before smacking Greninja with a Dragon Claw. Feeling this, Ash nevertheless remains standing and returns the favour by promising that it all ends here, but as he gets Greninja back into the battle, he begins thinking back to the promises he made to his friends and family about winning this league and wonders if it really meant or mattered that much to him in the first place after all these years. Asking himself why he needs this as Greninja continues fighting, Ash eventually realises that while he has everyone cheering for him, Alain only really has Mairin, and concludes that he needs this victory far more than he does. However, unwilling to throw in the towel, Ash has Greninja bring out the massive Water Shuriken as he closes his eyes and tells himself that there will be another time, tuning out Alain’s desperate command to have Mega Charizard X use Blast Burn.

As both attacks hit their intended targets, the resulting explosion shakes the very foundations of the arena, throwing people from their chairs and generating a shockwave felt from miles away… and as the smoke clears, both Greninja and Charizard X are revealed to be standing. Exhausted, Charizard X stumbles… but to the crowd’s shock, Greninja is the one that faints, reverting to normal as Ash collapses on his back, though he finds the strength to stand, hobble over to his Pokémon and lift him to his feet as Alain reverts Charizard X to normal. Downcast by Ash’s defeat, many of his rivals and allies express their dissatisfaction with the outcome, even as Serena, Clemont, Sawyer and Philippe realise that there is more to this ending than meets the eye as they observe the forced smile on their friend’s face while he shakes Alain’s hand. At the same time, Sycamore wonders if the battle gave Alain the answers and peace he was searching for, and Mairin expresses happiness at her friend’s victory.

Reuniting with his friends and rivals in the Pokémon Center as he quickly heals his team, Ash expresses his opinion that Alain needed to win the match more than he did. Predictably, none of them are satisfied with this, but they accept the answer as Sawyer wonders why he is healing his Pokémon so fast. At the same time, Alain reflects on his victory… but when he decides to inform Lysandre of his decision to continue researching Mega Evolution to protect his loved ones, he discovers that he is unable to.

Over at Prism Tower, Xerosic uses a mind-controlling beam on the weakened Z2, which declares that all humans must be destroyed as it gives in to the suggestions of Team Flare and its deepest desires. Breaking free of its containment, the now-blood-red Zygarde Core heads to the top of Prism Tower and activates its 50% form, allowing it to spread its power over Lumiose City and trigger the growth of numerous crimson roots and vines. Watching the widespread chaos unfolding via a tablet, Lysandre smiles as he proclaims this to be the birth of a new world.

However, as Diantha hands the victor’s trophy to Alain, Philippe senses something and leaves the spectator’s box, but is attacked by a Team Flare grunt. Defending Steven and Sycamore, who are unable to retrieve their keystones due to the room’s confined spaces, the Lost Prince tackles his opponent through the glass and into the stadium below, where Mega Charizard Y saves him as the grunt impacts the stage. Landing in front of the shocked crowd as he reunites with his allies, Philippe questions his mortally wounded assailant, only for the man to commit suicide with a cyanide capsule… just as screams are heard from outside the arena. Moments later, the roots break into the stadium, and upon seeing this, Squishy leaves Bonnie, who follows him with Clemont as Z2 is shown roaring from atop Prism Tower as Zinnia realises that “this is the way the world ends”.

Chapter Text

936.   A Towering Takeover!

Regaining his bearings in the wake of the sudden disaster, Ash takes stock of the situation as Alain asks him about Mairin’s whereabouts and informs his rival that she had recognised that he wanted to be left alone. Deducing her importance to the older trainer as he and Serena reunite with Dina, Bonnie and Clemont outside the stadium, he shares what happened with his friends just as the assassin sees Z2 standing atop Prism Tower and alerts the rest of the Knights. Guessing that Squishy must be heading there, Bonnie runs off to find him, forcing Clemont to accompany her as he hands communicators to Ash and Dina to stay in touch. As Serena also leaves to help them, she tells her boyfriend to be careful, as, elsewhere in the city, Squishy activates his 10% form and speeds off to find his counterpart.

Back in the stadium, as Sina, Dexio and Sawyer lead the other trainers in holding the growing vines at bay, Philippe reunites with Dinatha and Steven, who tells him to proceed with the plan. With this confirmation, the Lost Prince takes command of the remaining 11 Knights and heads into Lumiose City while the Champions stay behind to help the civilians evacuate to public shelters. Along the way, Zinnia rejoins her father as Xerneas and Yveltal blast away large chunks of the corrupted vegetation that are quickly replenished, and upon seeing this, Sycamore realises that Olympia’s prophecy is coming true. Acting fast, he informs the Champions, who acknowledge that they need more people and turn to Courtney, Vukašin and Tarık for words on possible reinforcements… only to discover that all external communications are being jammed from Prism Tower. Torn between investigating this new complication and assisting with the evacuation, Diantha is persuaded to go by Elsa and the recently healed Krystyna, who stay behind as Steven volunteers to accompany his colleague.

Finding Mairin in the chaos, Alain and Ash are unable to get to her when a vine blocks their path, and Dina’s attempt to cut through it with her knives causes her Aura to be drained. However, she manages to squeeze through the blockage thanks to her smaller size and reunites with the younger girl just as Philippe and the Knights meet up with Ash and Alain. Regarding the older boy with hostility, Sabine and Milos are persuaded by Ash to work with him for the time being, but the entire contingent keeps their hands on their weapons as they head into the city. Elsewhere, Team Rocket is suddenly abandoned by Malva, causing Jessie to take over the broadcast as she attempts to explain what is going on… only to be interrupted when the signal abruptly terminates.

Cutting through the vines as they attempt to reach their destination, Ash’s group runs into Celosia and Azazel, whom they assume to be after Squishy… right before they learn that Team Flare is after Ash instead! Shocked, Ash turns to Alain, and the lack of answers from the older trainer confirms his allegiance with the organisation as Benoit denounces him as a traitor and orders his seizure. Unfortunately, before the Knights can make their move, they are surrounded by numerous Team Flare grunts and are eventually captured after a short but brutal fight due to the suppression of their Aura. As Celosia restrains Ash and Pikachu with her Drapion, Zinnia tries to free her friend, but has her ribs broken by Azazel, who holds a knife to her throat to get Philippe to surrender and release Alain (whom he has taken hostage). Swearing that he will die for this, the Lost Prince nevertheless surrenders and throws down his weapons and Pokéballs as the Knights regard the silent Alain with varying displays of anger, disgust and betrayal.

Trying to reconnect the signal, the TRio are surprised by a message from Lysandre, who reveals his true nature as the leader of Team Flare and broadcasts their manifesto to all Kalos: to destroy the current world and rebuild it into a more “beautiful” and “perfect” one with Z2 by their side… and without humanity and the Pokémon that oppose them. To underline his point, he unveils the Ultimate Weapon – now fully operational in another location and with the Megalith installed – and fires it at Shalour City, killing everything and everyone there in a wave of utter destruction. Witnessing this, a horrified Clemont collapses but is pulled to his feet by an equally devastated Serena as Bonnie runs on ahead, reminding him that they must keep going. Elsewhere, a similarly aghast Mairin and Dina are confronted by a Team Flare grunt, but are rescued by Sycamore, Tarık, Krystyna and Vukašin, the former two of whom fight the grunt’s Skorupi with their Garchomp and Spritzee.

With this distraction, Dina and Mairin escape into the rubble alongside Sycamore and Krystyna, voicing their intention to make it to Prism Tower. However, as the grunt tries to follow despite his Pokémon being defeated and takes a shot at Tarık, Vukašin quickly intervenes and impales the Team Flare member with his Trevenant. At the same time, Ash, Philippe, Zinnia and the Knights are brought to Prism Tower on an airship, where a furious Alain confronts Lysandre, but is merely asked what he thinks of the plan and is thanked for completing the research on Mega Evolution energy for him. Wondering what he is babbling about, Alain can only watch in disbelief as the Team Flare leader revels in the “peace” and “beauty” that he has created through the destruction that Z2 has caused, while proclaiming that they will save their “chosen ones”.

At the same time, Squishy arrives at and scales Prism Tower to confront his maddened counterpart, only to be nearly hit off the side by a Dragon Pulse. Sensing this, Xerneas and Yveltal dispel their disguises and race over to their fellow Legendary Pokémon, with the former catching him as the latter soars overhead and blasts Z2 with Oblivion Wing. However, the Zygarde shrugs it off and attacks the Destruction Pokémon with another Dragon’s Pulse that knocks him out of the sky before blasting Xerneas and Squishy with a Land’s Wrath. As a nearby Xerosic orders his grunts to secure the Legendary Pokémon and take them inside Prism Tower, Serena’s group bumps into Clembot, Alexa and Blaziken Mask after being stalled by the vines, and as the trio joins them at Bonnie’s urging, Alain questions Lysandre if he truly wishes to protect the world as it is. In response, Lysandre throws his queries back at him by asking if he would defend a tomorrow that is worse than today before unveiling Ash and his Pokémon, bound by torture devices in crucifixion poses. At the same time, Philippe and Zinnia are brought before Mystra, who greets her husband and daughter before inviting them to witness what her acolytes are capable of.

Below, Serena’s group arrives at Prism Tower, but their attempt to break in is discovered by Aliana and Bryony, who immediately fight Serena and Clemont. As this happens, Ash regains consciousness and realises his predicament as Lysandre addresses him as one of the “chosen ones” whom he will not relinquish. However, as Ash demands an explanation from Alain, Squishy gains a second wind and assumes his 50% form to match Z2’s power, warning him to leave his friends alone as an amazed Aliana expresses delight at the fact that Lysandre was able to draw out “Z1’s” power. As the two Pokémon stare each other down, Philippe and Zinnia are forced to watch as, via a livestream, Zannah and Azazel slaughter the Knights with their new gear, prompting the Lost Prince to hang his head in grief as his daughter denounces her mother as a monster.

937.   Coming Apart at the Dreams!

As Squishy and Z2 resume their fight, Lysandre explains to Ash and Alain that Zygarde keep order and balance, and claims that their rage, when combined with Team Flare’s, will end this current world and bring about a new era. Trying to break free of his bonds, Ash refutes this idea and demands an explanation from Alain, who cannot bring himself to answer. At the same time, Bonnie worries about Squishy as Clemont and Serena fight Aliana and Bryony, whose advanced weaponry gives them a big advantage over the duo.

Fortunately, the trio are soon reinforced by the arrival of Sycamore, Dina, Mairin, Tarık, Krystyna and Vukašin, all of whom unleash their Pokémon on the Flare scientists. Taking advantage of the distraction, Serena promises Mairin that they will get through this, but upon learning that she is worried about Chespie, she decides to head over to Lysandre Labs and free him by force. Hearing this, Clemont tells them to go while they still have the chance, and the girls are joined by Sycamore, Dina, and Krystyna, who volunteers to help them despite the terrible memories she will face in the facility. As the splinter group heads off, the remaining participants continue the battle, but as they fight, Bonnie slips away to get closer to Squishy.

Back at the top of Prism Tower, Lysandre reveals that everything Alain did – the research on Mega Evolution, the capture of Z2, the trip to Hoenn and the Mega Evolution battles – has allowed Team Flare to achieve its goals of world destruction, and that he only has himself to thank for making it happen. Shattered, Alain falls to his knees and suffers a mental breakdown as he repeatedly punches the ground, realising that everything he worked for led to all this devastation and suffering. Witnessing this, Ash falls silent as he deduces that his rival had been misled and manipulated by Lysandre, who remarks that those with pure, true or noble intentions can be very easily manipulated… which, he continues, is something he wishes were the case with “her”.

As Serena’s group is picked up by a disguised Team Rocket, who offers them a lift in a news helicopter, Philippe and Zinnia are brought before Lysandre by Mystra, who tells them that they are close to achieving a better future for Kalos… only for Zinnia to fire back that they won’t be happy if no one else is. However, while Mystra ignores her daughter’s words, she does a double-take when Philippe mentions AZ and wonders what exactly she did for a “genocidal maniac” like him. Turning to face her lover, she reminds him that his father had been pushed over the edge by the destruction of everything he loved, maintaining that their partnership was to return the favour that life and fate (and Arceus) had dealt them before telling him that no one can have everything they want and that they must always choose one or the other. Hearing Mystra telling Philippe that she accepted the cost of her actions long ago and is ready to face the consequences, Alain realises the truth in her words as Lysandre greets the prince and his daughter.

In the streets, Diantha and Steven come across a group of Team Flare grunts, and upon defeating them, they are surprised to find the unconscious Benoit, Heidi and Emilie. Reviving them, the Champions discover that the “executions” that Philippe had seen were nothing more than a series of illusions generated to try and break him, and that Mystra was saving them for what they presume was another wave of experiments. However, upon learning about what happened and who they are up against, Steven laments that they will need far more people to help them… right before Benoit sees a crashed news van. Inspired, he breaks in and broadcasts a citywide message to rally not just the Pokémon trainers, but the citizens of Lumiose City themselves to rise and take back their home, highlighting Prism Tower as the beacon to get a message out to even more allies.

Galvanised by his fiery words and zeal, the survivors of the devastated city begin arming themselves to the teeth with their Pokémon and whatever else they can carry, with Tierno, Shauna and Trevor leading the first attacks on Team Flare grunts patrolling the streets. Commending the cavalier for his passion, Diantha receives a call from Sawyer telling her that he, Sina, Dexio and the Haellmigks are heading for Prism Tower, and encourages them to go by promising to handle the situation in the city. However, as the team moves out, Heidi and Emilie disclose that they have no idea where the other Knights are, while Squishy is enveloped in roots and vines after being smashed through several buildings by the enraged Z2.

Watching this final development from a safe distance, Xerosic gleefully reports to Lysandre that their plans are working, and as the leader of Team Flare receives this information, he proclaims that Ash and Greninja will help him utilise the Bond Phenomenon for his new world before torturing them in front of a horrified Philippe and Zinnia. However, as Lysandre declares that they will serve as guides for humanity when it rises from the ashes, he is cut off by a burst of fire and a furious yet familiar roar that precedes the arrival of Nightshade, Joaquim and Isabella. Explaining to their surprised lord that they were rescued by the dragon (and that the rest of the Knights are still alive) as his partner engages in a duel with Mystra, the bounty hunter quickly frees Philippe and Zinnia with a dart from his gauntlets before getting swamped by numerous grunts.

Seeing all this, Ash refuses to listen to Lysandre and triggers the Bond Phenomenon by remembering all the good times he shared with his friends and Pokémon, before freeing himself, Greninja and Pikachu. Weakened from the effort, he is unable to free any of his other Pokémon, but as he struggles to stand, he is supported by a repentant Alain, who brings out his Charizard to help them as Lysandre dons a battle rig while remarking how even Mega Evolution energy could not restrain “the chosen one”. Joining them, Philippe and Zinnia bring out their Pokémon and their weapons, with the Lost Prince angrily declaring that Lysandre will die for what he has done to Kalos and his friends.

Below them, Clemont’s group finally defeats Bryony and Aliana, who are promptly restrained by Clembot and punched out by an irritated Tarık when they keep arguing over who is to blame for their loss. Arriving shortly after, Sawyer’s team is updated on the events that have transpired by Vukašin and Alexa, and the group proceeds into Prism Tower together, dragging along the Flare scientists to ensure that they do not escape. Elsewhere, Bonnie finds Squishy as Xerosic activates his mind-controlling machine, which successfully brainwashes the weakened Legendary, and upon seeing her, the Team Flare scientist cruelly orders Squishy to attack her. Fortunately, Bonnie is saved by Blaziken Mask, but as he tells her that she shouldn’t be here, she refuses to leave and pleads with him to let her help Squishy as she senses the Legendary Pokémon’s pain. Unwilling to reveal his identity, the vigilante is forced to accompany his daughter as she continues her pursuit, and grumbles to himself as he follows her into the rubble.

Meanwhile, as Ash stares down the maddened Lysandre, he is rebuked for his belief in an idealistic world as the Team Flare leader reveals his past as a humanitarian who became disillusioned with humanity after those that he helped became greedier due to becoming accustomed to his aid. Believing the world needs a fresh start before they destroy themselves, he brings out his Pyroar and Shiny Gyarados and prepares to fight, claiming that none who oppose him will live to see the new dawn. Responding by Mega Evolving his own Gyarados and Charizard Y alongside Zinnia’s Mega Salamence, Philippe retorts that he is wrong and shares his view of humanity as a flawed but still worthy species capable of great things if they are given proper direction, love and care. Laughing as Joaquim reinforces Isabella in her fight against Mystra, Lysandre mocks the Lost Prince by asking him how he can still care for a being like Mystra after all she has done, with Philippe responding that it is because they are both immortals who only have each other, and that no one deserves to be alone forever. Seeing that he cannot convert either Ash or Philippe, Lysandre prepares to fight them as Alain, with some hesitation, Mega Evolves Charizard X.

Over on the other side of Kalos, Celosia and Mable notice Team Rocket’s helicopter approaching from the safety of Lysandre Labs, but as they prepare for battle, they fail to notice a second blip coming up behind the first. Back in the city, Benoit’s group reunites with Wolfgang and Renata after hijacking a Team Flare APC, but soon encounter Azazel, who, after slaughtering several trainers, prepares to face the Knights as a furious Heidi swears that he will pay for their deaths. Elsewhere, upon arriving at the locked entrance to the Lumiose Gym, Clemont’s group is forced to hold off reinforcements from Team Flare while Clembot hacks the control panel to open the doors. And as the combined efforts of Ash, Alain, Philippe and Zinnia defeat Lysandre’s Pyroar, Sabine and Milos are revealed to be taking cover in a destroyed café after defeating their guards when they see Zannah making her way through the streets. Noticing that she is speaking to someone over a comm channel, the duo opts to follow her from a distance so they can find out what they are up against.

Chapter Text

938.   The Right Hero for the Right Job!

Despite having taken out one of Lysandre’s Pokémon, the group struggles against his Shiny Mega Gyarados, which effortlessly counters each of their Pokémon without tiring as its trainer claims that Mega Evolution is a battle instinct that was forgotten when Pokémon were “domesticated” by humans. Incredulous, Alain and Zinnia denounce the leader of Team Flare for his obvious lies, but he retorts with a claim that only the victor can prove whether he is right or wrong. Close by, Joaquim and Isabella take their fight against Mystra into the tower’s main control centre and receive help from Nightshade, who shoots bursts of flame in the darkened room to scorch her adversary. At the same time, elsewhere in the city, Bonnie continues following Squishy while ignoring Blaziken Mask’s orders to stop lest she get hurt.

While all this is happening, Clembot successfully opens the door to the Lumiose Gym, allowing Clemont, Tarık, Vukašin, Sawyer, Sina, Dexio, Alexa, Courtney and Elsa to enter and eliminate the guards before they find three machines on the battlefield: a jammer preventing signals from leaving the tower, the mind-control machine, and a third device that appears to be draining energy from a nearby AZ, Xerneas and Yveltal. As they take everything in, the group is confronted by Xerosic, who confirms that the machines are his as Tarık tries to make a bargain by brandishing the captive Bryony and Aliana. However, the amused scientist declines the offer and mocks human life as a weakness compared to scientific knowledge, prompting a disgusted and infuriated Clemont to fight him as the others try to sabotage the machines. However, this backfires when they encounter numerous Team Flare grunts that Xerosic had called for and are forced to face them in a skirmish.

Back on the streets of Lumiose City, Benoit, Emilie, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata fight Azazel, who defends himself while indiscriminately slaughtering everyone who gets in his way. Disgusted by his lack of regard for innocent lives, Heidi manages to stun him with her flail, allowing Benoit to slash him in the face and distract him long enough for Steven and Diantha to slip by him and make their way to Prism Tower. As this happens, Tierno, Trevor and Shauna continue to liberate sections of Lumiose City by breaking into buildings to defeat any Flare grunts inside, with several other trainers (including Astrid and Remo) doing the same.

On the other side of Kalos, Team Rocket’s helicopter is attacked by Mable as it approaches Lysandre Labs, prompting Serena and Dina to return fire with Braixen and Mawile as they hang out of the side doors. As they exchange fire, the engine is damaged by an Icy Wind, but as the group braces for a crash landing, a Hurricane from Geoff’s Mega Pidgeot saves them. Landing nearby with Aoife, the two Knights decimate the remaining grunts guarding the facility before reuniting with the others, revealing that they had seen their helicopter from where they had broken free of Mystra’s entourage before following them here. Seeing this development, Mable seals the front entrance of the facility, only for Sycamore to Mega Evolve his Garchomp and blast the door open with help from Aoife’s Mega Abomasnow. Proceeding through the corridors, the group runs into Celosia and Essentia, and to buy the others some time, Team Rocket volunteers to fight them with the Knights, shedding their disguises as they do so.

Back at Prism Tower, Lysandre manages to take out Mega Salamence, Chesnaught and Pikachu, the last of whom Ash is forced to grab before he is shot off the tower. Deciding that he has had enough, he promptly draws upon his Aura reserves to enhance Ash-Greninja even further as Philippe slices off several of Mega Gyarados’ scales. At the same time, Joaquim and Isabella manage to defeat Mystra by stabbing and electrocuting her multiple times… only to be shocked when she disintegrates on the spot, revealing that she was an artificial facsimile all along. Remembering Philippe’s saying something about how Mystra would use tricks like these to evade detection several times over the centuries (and with no time to figure out where the real Mystra is), the duo rejoins their comrades and turn the tide with Mega Ampharos and Mega Gengar as Nightshade savages Mega Gyarados by clawing its face.

But before the group can push the attack, a Flamethrower from a Mega Houndoom stops them, and Malva steps out of the shadows, revealing her allegiance to Team Flare and expressing her loyalty to Lysandre. Realising that this is how Team Flare was able to learn so much about the League’s operations, Philippe prepares for another round of combat as they are reinforced by Diantha and Steven flying in on the latter’s Shiny Mega Metagross. Having finally made it to their location, the two Champions reveal that they have freed the rest of Ash’s team and return the patched-up Talonflame, Goodra, Hawlucha and Noivern to Ash as they take over from the drained Philippe and Zinnia.

Addressing Ash directly, Lysandre rebukes him for his optimistic and “naïve” viewpoint of the world by bringing up the times that Ash himself had seen the worst of humanity first-hand, with the Team Flare leader even pointing out that certain Pokémon share the same views on mankind as he. However, as Diantha realises that Malva must have given Lysander his trainer profile, Ash admits that Lysandre is correct… but expresses his sincere belief that both people and Pokémon are also capable of so much more. As everyone else is shown fighting their own battles across the region, Ash elaborates on his stance, pointing out that one’s choices allow them to learn, grow and connect, and removing that element to live under a tyrant is tantamount to a death sentence, as it strips away not only free will, but the very essence of what makes life meaningful – the ability to evolve.

With that, Ash firmly rejects Lysandre’s argument by saying that he and the friends he has made choose to believe that love can overcome all evils, and commands Greninja to trigger Water Shuriken while Diantha, Steven, Alain, Joaquim and Isabella cover him. Hearing this as he rests a short distance away, Philippe confides in Zinnia that those wise words were not something he ever expected to hear from Ash and expresses his pride at the younger trainer becoming the best person he could be. Nodding in agreement, the Draconid expresses her understanding of her father’s support of the Kantonian trainer as the real Mystra somehow overhears this through the shattered remains of her doppelgänger.

Back at Lysandre Labs, Krystyna finds Chespie’s room and smashes the door open with her Furfrou after her Klefki is unable to unlock it. Retrieving the unconscious starter, Sycamore decides to bring him back to his lab in the hopes of healing him there, only to be cut off by Serena as several grunts approach them. Contacting Geoff as they prepare for a fight, she tells him that they have Chespie… but as the archer tells them where to meet up, Essentia drops a flashbang, disorienting Team Rocket and the Knights as Mable activates the lockdown system. Blinded by the sudden light, Aoife is pinned by a hydraulic door, forcing Dina to break off and help her trapped, agonised teammate while Geoff, temporarily deprived of sight in his one good eye, reunites with the others.

Meanwhile, Bonnie and Blaziken Mask find the rampaging Squishy, but the former’s attempts to get his attention cause the Zygarde to attack her with a vine. Diving in front of his daughter, Blaziken Mask is smacked into a building that collapses on top of him, and as his Mega Blaziken digs him out of the rubble, a terrified but resolute Bonnie stands alone, tremulously singing to Squishy and begging him not to forget as she breaks down crying. Hearing these words triggers something in Squishy, and as he begins fighting against Xerosic’s mind-control, the injured – and unmasked – Meyer stumbles over to shield his daughter right before the Legendary Pokémon breaks free with a roar and collapses, reverting to his Core Form in the process. As Bonnie retrieves her friend, she hears Squishy thank her and hugs the tired Legendary Pokémon in relief.

In the Lumiose Gym, Clemont’s gruelling battle finally ends in a victory for him, with Vukašin and Tarık instantly capturing the Flare scientist before he can escape. However, as Clembot shuts down the energy-draining machine and allows Sina, Dexio and the Haellmigks to free Xerneas, Yveltal and AZ, Sawyer and Alexa are prevented from destroying the jammer by an electric force field that Bryony and Aliana (who have regained consciousness and freed themselves in the chaos) have activated. With Flare reinforcements heading their way, the group realises that the only way to destroy the jammer would be to send someone through the forcefield, and Clembot volunteers upon realising that he is the most disposable. Protesting the notion, Clemont argues that there must be another way… but any argument is cut off when Clembot is suddenly shot in the back by a sniper rifle, sending everyone scrambling for cover as more Flare grunts begin pouring into the room.

Looking around, Vukašin sees Bryony perched high in the ceiling’s rafters and alerts Tarık before he is wounded, allowing the Arche Valley native to have his Spritzee blast the Flare scientist out of her vantage point and send her falling to the ground headfirst. However, with everyone else preoccupied by the firefight, the damaged Clembot stumbles to his feet and pushes into the force field before Clemont can stop him, all while remembering the first time he was activated. Thanking his creator for giving him a second chance, he says a final goodbye before self-destructing his mechanisms, fatally damaging the jammer and causing it to collapse as Xerneas and Yveltal quickly evacuate the group, leaving the grunts inside to meet their demise. Unbeknownst to anyone, Xerosic dodges the debris and escapes through the trap door with several other grunts, leaving Aliana to be crushed by the falling rubble.

Outside, the rampaging Z2 stops, freed from Team Flare’s control, and reverts to its Core Form, but Clemont does not notice this as he and the others mourn Clembot’s sacrifice. Deciding not to let this be in vain, he quickly sets his mind on a new task: repurposing the Tower into a communications beacon to call for help in stopping Team Flare, and enlists help from Alexia, Sina, Dexio, Sawyer, Tarık and Vukašin to make this a reality. As he does so, Elsa and Courtney patch up Xerneas and Yveltal, who recognise AZ and reveal his identity to the group, who react in shock at the sight of the Lost King of Kalos.

At the same time, the combatants at the top of Prism Tower notice the loss of both the jammer and the energy-draining machine, and Ash correctly deduces that his friends have emerged victorious. However, while he seethes in rage, Lysandre ominously muses that he has other plans as Sabine and Milos are shown to have discovered the location of the Ultimate Weapon.

Amor Vincit Omnia

Following the events of Coming Apart at the Dreams!, the battered Sabine and Milos continue trailing Zannah from a distance, though their progress is slowed by an injury that the former gained when they broke free of their bonds and defeated their guards. Eventually, this becomes too much to bear, and she is forced to stop and tend to herself, telling Milos to go on without her so they don’t lose their quarry. However, he refuses and stays with her, which leads them to discuss the recent skirmish between them and Mystra’s acolytes, who brutalised them with their upgraded weaponry and gear before capturing them for more experiments that their mistress was planning. Remarking that it could have gone better, Sabine wonders if she is losing her touch and expresses her doubts over whether Philippe’s lover can be redeemed, which Milos seriously considers even as he takes a more neutral stance.

Carrying on a short while later with help from their Pangoro and Heliolisk, the duo eventually tracks Zannah to a plateau on the outskirts of Lumiose City, which they note to be a fair distance away from the wetlands, and as they climb to the top, they are shocked to see a massive crystalline structure resembling a gigantic flower standing in the middle of the landscape. Recognising it from their dreams as the Ultimate Weapon, both Knights remember the televised devastation of Shalour City and decide to fall back to alert everyone else, but are ambushed by Mystra, who quickly defeats and knocks them out.

Waking up minutes later, Sabine senses that she and an unconscious Milos are now bound and chained to the wall of a room, and as she tries to free herself, she is interrupted by Mystra. Revealing that they have taken away all their equipment, including their weapons and Pokéballs, the Fallen Celestial claims to have done this so she can have a face-to-face conversation without the threat of being hurt by them. Laughing at the thought that they can be injured, Sabine asserts that with what she has seen and heard, nothing could hurt “things like you”, which causes Mystra to pause before suddenly striking her in the face. Hissing that they can be wounded like anything else, the fallen Celestial points out that while physical actions can cause serious damage, those wounds are only physical and can be recovered from, while emotional wounds caused by hurtful words can have a far greater impact. With that, Mystra cuts Sabine’s chains before hauling her to her feet, telling her that someone is seeking a rematch with her and that she doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

Brought outside, Sabine is dumped before Zannah, who cuts her bonds and challenges her to a duel by tossing her a crude sword. With little choice, Sabine picks up the weapon but demands a fair fight with her Pokémon by her side, which the Fallen Celestial refuses by stating that she does not wish to involve them in a grudge match. With that, both girls clash, and while the Aura Knight puts up a valiant fight, Zannah soon gains the upper hand over her opponent, dealing glancing blows with her weapons and enhancements and exploiting her barely-healed injuries by jabbing at them.

Awakened by Sabine’s cries of pain, Milos sees Mystra conducting some work on a tablet and guesses that she intends to use them in another round of her experiments, which the Fallen Celestial confirms. Explaining that she knows that Lysandre’s plan will most likely fail, Mystra reveals that she has prepared an alternative solution that still utilises the work he has accomplished (thereby ensuring that nothing they did was in vain), but while she is talking, her captive spots his Pokéballs on a nearby table and continues talking to distract her as he tries to depress the activation buttons with his Aura. Unaware of what Milos is doing due to her focus on her work, Fallen Celestial acknowledges that since neither Philippe nor Zinnia would willingly return to her after what she has done, the only thing left to comfort her in the harsh reality of an immortal life without a constant to look forward to is her experiments, which she resolves to keep doing and never looking back.

Outside, Sabine is defeated by Zannah, but before the Fallen Celestial can deliver the finishing blow, she questions her loyalty to Mystra, pointing out that she and Team Flare want to destroy Kalos and everyone in it for a future that includes only the ones they want to save. Pausing, Zannah reveals that she owes Mystra her life after she found her adrift in a world that never understood nor offered her comfort in her darkest times and claims that she is only returning a favour as she momentarily turns away… but realises that Sabine is trying to delay her and stop her from retrieving her sword. Pinning her to the ground, the Fallen Celestial growls, claiming that she and Milos will be slowly drained of their Aura, drip by drip, for the experiments, and that when they are done with them, they will move on to their comrades, repeating the process for the next few decades until there is nothing left.

However, before Zannah can harm Sabine, she is distracted by an explosion from grunts testing the Ultimate Weapon's firing capabilities again, and the Aura Knight takes advantage of the momentary distraction to kick her legs out from under her. Moving fast, she makes a break for the doorway but is lassoed and yanked back by a cable thrown by the Fallen Celestial, who admits that it was a smart move, albeit not one that will save her. In response, Sabine smirks, telling her that it will… before stabbing her in the face with a crystalline shard that she picked up from the ground. Screaming in agony, Zannah involuntarily lets her go and is tackled by the Aura Knight, who repeatedly slams her into a wall and knocks her unconscious.

Having been alerted by the scuffle, Mystra sends two grunts to see what has happened, and Milos seizes his chance to escape by releasing Helioptile and electrocuting his captor with Parabolic Charge. Surprised by this sudden attack, Mystra is unable to stop the Inquisitor from breaking free and lunging across the room to fight her hand-to-hand, but she manages to withstand the brutal beatdown even as she is throttled and manages to blast him out of the room with a burst of Dark Aura. However, as she lies still to recover, she hears an exhausted yet relieved Sabine rushing over to Milos and grabbing him in a hug before telling him that they must warn their allies about the Ultimate Weapon.

Refusing to allow this, Mystra rises and confronts them as they retrieve their Pokéballs and gear, unsheathing her swords and blocking their only means of escape as she dons the Crown of Dominion. Wordlessly, Milos draws his sword to protect the still-bleeding Sabine as Pangoro, Scizor, Heliolisk and Absol take battle stances, anticipating a fight against the wife of their ultimate master despite knowing that it is a futile endeavour. Having arrived at the same conclusion, the duo scans the barren landscape for anything that could help them, but finds absolutely nothing, as Mystra confirms that they have stripped the area clean for resources and to deprive any possible opponents of potential weapons. Realising that they will not stand a chance here (and with little chance of winning a fair fight against a Fallen Celestial), Milos tells Sabine to leave without him, but she refuses to abandon him, believing that they can still win and survive this if they play their cards right.

Unable to persuade her to leave, Milos commands their Pokémon to attack while asking Mystra why she thinks anyone save for her family will accept her after all that she has done, pointing out that the numerous atrocities she has committed have made it all but impossible for anyone to do so. Having heard this argument before, Mystra easily defends herself from all four Pokémon and even uses the Crown to make them hit each other as she snarls that no one has lived the life she’s been through, revealing that being forced to fight the only person who’s ever been there for her through the centuries has hardened her heart. However, while Sabine agrees that loneliness is “a terrible thing”, she points out to the Fallen Celestial that she was never truly alone until she left Philippe after the argument that killed their children and reveals that he always regretted the fact that it escalated to that point without hearing her side of the story. Hearing this, Mystra initially takes this as a validation of her actions, but Milos follows on from this by opining that they should have comforted each other in their shared grief over losing their children instead of turning against each other, pointing out that Philippe still loves her and is willing to forgive her despite all she has done before repeating a recurring set of three words that he and the other Knights had heard in their dreams: Amor Vincit Omnia.

Hearing these words, Mystra suddenly freezes, and Sabine seizes the opportunity to dash in and recall their Pokémon, fully expecting to be shot or stabbed in the back… only to be surprised when the expected blows never come. Taking advantage of this, she orders Pangoro to deal as much damage to Mystra as possible to ensure that she does not follow them, and her Pokémon responds by using Hammer Arm on the Fallen Celestial, which sends her flying into the Ultimate Weapon despite clearly seeing the blow coming. With that, Sabine and Milos flee, but while Mystra recovers in seconds, she hesitates and does not pursue them, conflicted about the side of the argument they have presented as she remembers the last time she heard those words: from Philippe before he died the first time. Eventually, as Zannah stumbles over and delivers the news that Azazel is on the way back, Mystra prevents her from giving chase before returning to the control room and wondering if Milos is right as she regards her wedding ring.

Elsewhere, Milos stabilises Sabine’s condition as they make it to a safe distance and learns that she managed to snag a radio from a Flare grunt. However, at that moment, a helicopter bearing the Flare insignia flies overhead, and the duo are shocked to see Lysandre aboard after taking a closer look, which causes them to start using the radio to contact their friends back in Lumiose City. The special ends with the call being answered by a worried Emilie, and as she asks them where they have been, both Milos and Sabine realise that Mystra’s redemption can only come with an extremely high cost that they pray they will not have to pay.

Chapter Text

939.   Rocking Kalos Defences!

With Team Flare forces being defeated across Lumiose City, Benoit pushes the attack on the slowly tiring Azazel by using the hijacked APC to rotate the group’s Pokémon, allowing Wolfgang, Renata, Heidi and Emilie to lure their opponent into a trap and electrocute him with an exposed underground power line. Seizing the opportunity, the cavalier slashes Mystra’s acolyte in the abdomen, but this fails to kill Azazel, who snarls that this isn’t over yet before sprouting wings and flying off. Dissuading the others from pursuing him out of suspicion that it may be a trap, Benoit instead diverts their attention to the liberation of Lumiose City, and the five re-join the battle with renewed vigour as they reunite with Tierno, Trevor and Shauna.

Over at Prism Tower, Ash, Diantha, Alain, Steven, Joaquim, Isabella and Nightshade finally defeat Mega Houndoom and Mega Gyarados in one go when Greninja fires his giant Water Shuriken, which, for once, shatters the keystones that the Flare members have. With all their aces down, Diantha warns Lysandre to come quietly, but the Team Flare leader cryptically declares that he will still be able to recreate his world… before jumping off the tower. Taken aback, Joaquim races to the edge just in time to see Lysandre being carried away by Azazel and contemplates giving chase, but before he can pursue, the top of Prism Tower begins to crumble, having been weakened by all the fighting. Quickly, the group evacuates the collapsing structure, but Malva refuses Diantha’s offer of clemency and falls to her death.

As Ash catches his breath on Zinnia’s Mega Salemence, he is contacted by Serena, whose voice he is relieved to hear, and catches up on the recent events with her. However, their moment is interrupted by a shaky Clemont, who joins the call and confirms that they have control of Prism Tower before asking for their help in sending a message. Knowing that they must act now if they want to stop Lysandre, Ash and Serena ask Clemont what he needs as Philippe decides to rendezvous with the others at Sycamore’s lab.

On the other side of the region, the still-blinded Geoff focuses his Aura as the others continue fighting Team Flare and uses his hearing to ricochet an arrow off the walls and strike Essentia in the face, disorienting her and forcing her companion to retreat to the control room. As Dina and Meowth pursue them, Geoff finds Aoife and learns that she can’t feel her left arm, leading him to call Krystyna for help in lifting the lockdown. Upon receiving this message, the librarian is joined by Sycamore as she runs to the control room and arrives just in time to find Mable fighting Meowth and Dina after having intercepted them. Intervening, Krystyna defeats the Flare scientist after a short scuffle by slamming her into a control panel, but Mable refuses to surrender and lunges at Sycamore, forcing Dina to kill her with a throwing knife. Witnessing this on the security monitors as Krystyna lifts the lockdown, Celosia also hears pounding on the control room door and convinces Essentia to escape without her before committing suicide via self-impalement with a combat knife.

Shaken by this gruesome spectacle, the girls reunite with Jessie and James as they finish off the last of the Team Flare grunts, and Geoff soon joins them with an unconscious Aoife… who is missing her left arm. Explaining to the shocked group that he had to amputate her mangled arm once the lockdown lifted, the archer guides them back to the helicopter, where they reunite with Sycamore, Krystyna, Dina and Meowth. While repairing the aircraft, Serena coordinates with Ash and Clemont and broadcasts a message to all Kalos, with the signal being amplified by the converted Prism Tower; however, they do not know if it was successful and opt to regroup at Sycamore’s lab in the meantime.

Back in Lumiose City, Benoit defeats the last of the grunts by punching him in the face, officially ending the battle, only for Emilie to alert him of a transmission they are receiving from their APC. Answering it, Benoit is greeted by a battered Sabine and Milos, who reveals that the Ultimate Weapon is on a plateau on the outskirts of the city, and that the remaining Team Flare forces have gathered there, including Mystra, Lysandre, Azazel and Zannah. At the same time, Ash’s team reunites with Clemont’s team at the base of the tower, and Philippe recognises his father.

Elsewhere, Bonnie, Squishy and Meyer find Z2, but are disheartened to discover that it is just as suspicious of humans as ever. Unable to tolerate this any longer after what he has seen and been through, Squishy vehemently defends mankind before telling the others to go on without him, and Bonnie, despite her hesitation, agrees and leaves him to discuss things with his counterpart. Telling her that her friend will be fine, her father brings her to everyone else at Sycamore Labs, where they reunite with Clemont, Ash, Serena, Philippe, Zinnia and the Knights. Now together again, the group hugs and shares what happened to them as they recover from their injuries, while Aoife is comforted by Benoit and Geoff as she is fitted with an artificial, Aura-enhanced prosthetic arm. At the same time, Sycamore places Chespie inside a stasis pod in the medical bay before Sina and Dexio (who have been assigned by Diantha to safeguard the citizens in their absence) volunteer to watch over him, and Alain finally reunites with Mairin. Kneeling before her, he acknowledges his culpability in Team Flare’s actions, but Mairin disregards this fact and hugs him, relieved that he is safe.

Observing everything happening around him, AZ approaches his son as he is speaking to the Haellmigks and has an awkward conversation with him, during which both sides acknowledge that they are relieved to see each other alive after all these centuries. However, as Philippe admits his wish to see the “light in the dark” [of this battle], he is interrupted by Alexa and Astrid, who have received a message from Viola informing them that “they” are waiting on their command. Included with this message are a set of coordinates highlighting their location, and Philippe shares these with Diantha, who decides to teleport all of them there with help from Xerneas and Yveltal. Despite their injuries, the Legendary Pokémon agree to help them once their strength has been restored, which prompts Ash, Isabella, Heidi and Philippe to share their Aura with them to heal their wounds.

Once that is done, the group is teleported to the coordinates, where they are stunned to find an army of Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, rivals, notable trainers and even random Pokémon who have all arrived to defend their homeland. Realising that their message worked, Serena grips Ash’s hand as Clemont spots Korrina and Gurkinn in the crowd and has an emotional reunion with them, learning that they were alerted by Olympia to get out of Shalour City before the Ultimate Weapon destroyed it. Turning to the psychic seer, Clemont thanks her as she addresses Ash and Philippe, congratulating the former for mastering Ash-Greninja, but cautioning them that the final day of Kalos has come.

Overwhelmed and wishing for some privacy, Ash excuses himself to speak with his Pokémon about the coming battle, but is comforted by Serena, and has a heart-to-heart talk with his girlfriend about potentially losing each other in the fight. Assuring her boyfriend that she believes in him, Serena hugs Ash… right before Clemont and Bonnie walk in on them to share some of their ideas for the impending battle. Elsewhere, Philippe finds the recovering Sabine and Milos in a triage tent and confirms that Mystra was at the Ultimate Weapon with the Crown of Dominion. Remembering its power, he cautions the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon against accompanying them until they can remove it from her, but while Xerneas and Yveltal agree with this decision, the recently arrived Diancie, Hoopa and Magearna are upset by this. Taking charge of the situation, Zinnia and Aster pacify the three Mythical Pokémon by convincing them to act as support before they get involved in the action, after which they reunite with Philippe, the Knights, AZ, Diantha and Steven to plot out a plan of attack on the Ultimate Weapon.

At the same time, Ash, Serena and Clemont give a speech to the assembled crowd, telling them that they have been through many things with their Pokémon and the people they care about. Being honest, Ash admits that this battle will be the toughest one any of them will ever fight—as it is about the fate of their world—but remains resolute that they must stand together and win this fight, united, to survive the coming danger, and so that their loved ones can see a new tomorrow. Emboldened, the army cheers, and the trio take the opportunity to step aside so Philippe can discuss the strategy they will be taking to stop Team Flare, and Team Rocket decides to broadcast the battle to let the world see what is happening.

One hour later, at the Ultimate Weapon, Lysandre has Essentia’s suit hastily patched up as Team Flare grunts maintain the Ultimate Weapon’s integrity. Learning that his scientists have perished (and that Xerosic is still missing), he turns to Mystra for advice, but she does not acknowledge him as she watches the horizon, only muttering that they are coming. Drawing her blades and releasing her Malamar, she whispers that the final battle has begun as, on the horizon, the newly christened Last Alliance of Kalos is seen surging onto the plateau for the showdown.

940.   Forming a More Perfect Union!

As the Alliance charges towards the Ultimate Weapon, they face immediate resistance from numerous Team Flare grunts who have had time to set up defences in the form of trenches and mounted turrets. Still, the army tackles them head-on, with the Gym Leaders and Elite Four members buying time for others to take up offensive positions as even more grunts stream out to face them. Thanking them for the distraction, Ash, Serena, Philippe, Zinnia, Dina, Benoit, Sabine, Milos, Emilie, Joaquim, Isabella, Nightshade, Heidi, Aoife, Geoff, Wolfgang, Renata and Alain all head for the Weapon from separate positions, but are quickly confronted by Essentia, Zannah and Azazel, who trigger a trap in the form of the Aura-draining vines.

However, the trio are shocked when this does not affect the Knights, and a smug Dina reveals (via flashbacks) that Xerneas and Yveltal were able to work out how to shield them from the effects of the Ultimate Weapon by irradiating them with low, manageable amounts of Zygarde cell radiation based on the data recovered from Lysandre Labs. Quickly cutting themselves out, the Knights engage Azazel and Zannah, leaving Zinnia to take on Essentia while Ash, Serena, Alain and Philippe head on to face Lysandre and Mystra. But as Lysandre activates his rig once again, Mystra puts on the Crown of Dominion, and her eyes glow green as its effects sweep over the battlefield, brainwashing hundreds of Pokémon and causing them to go berserk.

Despite Diantha and Steven’s leadership, the scene quickly devolves into a chaotic firefight as numerous Pokémon turn on their trainers, causing widespread destruction. Attempting to hold the line, the Gym Leaders are soon taken out by various injuries—Viola sprains her ankle in an explosion caused by her Vivillon, requiring her to be carried to safety by Alexa and Grant, Ramos suffers severe injuries when he is smacked into the ground by a wild Trevenant, and Valerie’s Spritzee temporarily blinds her. Amidst the chaos, Clemont and Korrina cover each other’s backs with Luxray and Lucario, and Team Rocket assists them when a grunt slips through the defensive line and incapacitates Bunnelby. With Gourgeist, Wobbuffet, Inkay and Growlie covering them, the two Gym Leaders find Sawyer and Astrid crouched in a makeshift foxhole, but Clemont soon grows worried when Bonnie fails to show up. Fortunately, he is calmed by the recently arrived Sanpei, who reveals that he saw his sister near the back row, helping the Legendary Pokémon heal the injured as fast as possible so they can get back in the fight.

Close by, as Wulfric drags the unconscious Ramos back to safety, Sycamore and Meyer defend them with their Mega Evolutions while noting that only Mega Evolved Pokémon, a few others, and those belonging to Flare grunts are unaffected. Guessing that the Crown’s effects must be dependent on the strength of the bond between the Pokémon and their trainers, Sycamore expresses hopes that Ash and Philippe can stop Team Flare before the situation turns into a bloodbath. However, as Gurkinn joins them with his own Mega Blaziken and Mega Lucario, the professor receives alarming news from Sina and Dexio: Chespie has disappeared from the lab, and there is only a pile of dust inside the stasis pod where they placed him!

Initially unaware of this, Philippe commences his duel against his wife by bringing out Mega Charizard Y, Mega Gyarados and Chesnaught to fight her and her three Malamar, leaving Ash, Serena and Alain to fight Lysandre. But soon enough, all four of them are shocked when the leader of Team Flare unveils the missing Spiny Nut Pokémon, who is strapped to the exposed Megalith within the Ultimate Weapon! Revealing that he had removed him from Lysandre Labs before all this started and replaced him with a facsimile created by Mystra, Lysandre explains that the Megalith needs the radiation absorbed by Chespie to attain its full power and declares that he will destroy the world even if it costs him his own life, prompting Serena to denounce him as a monster as Ash unleashes his whole team and vows to stop him at all costs.

Outside, Dina, Sabine, Milos, Emilie, Joaquim and Isabella battle Zannah, using their Mega-Capable Pokémon to land as many blows as possible while utilising their agility and arsenal of weapons to stay one step ahead of her. Nearby, Benoit leads Geoff, Aoife, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata against Azazel, who roars that their day of reckoning has come and that they will unite Kalos by force. Responding that there is no true unity if this much blood must be spilt to make it happen, Heidi retaliates by electrocuting and incinerating him at the same time with her flail, allowing Geoff’s Mega Pidgeot and Aoife’s Mega Abomasnow to pound him into the ground while Wolfgang’s Mega Gallade and Renata’s Mega Gardevoir deal cutting blows to disrupt his concentration. At the same time, Isabella allows her Mega Gengar to possess her, granting her Ghost-type powers that she inflicts on Zannah while Joaquim’s Mega Ampharos constantly electrocutes the acolyte.

At the back row, Bonnie uneasily watches as numerous battered trainers are brought in by Miette, Nini and Aria, the latter of whom does her best to comfort the wounded as Xerneas and Yveltal heal their injuries and ease their suffering, respectively. With the two Legendary Pokémon being kept busy (and with Hoopa maintaining the portals to transport them back out), she helps Diancie coordinate with her Carbink in assisting all their forces, leaving Mageanra to interface with an abandoned artillery cannon to scatter the Team Flare forces. However, in the middle of this, Bonnie notices a nearby Mairin looking even more anxious and separates from Diancie to comfort her peer, all while she privately wonders where Squishy is, as it is revealed that he had left her bag moments before the assault began. Unbeknownst to everyone, the missing Legendary Pokémon is shown watching the spectacle unfold from a nearby cliff, all while debating the nature of mankind in the face of utter destruction with AZ and Z2. Noticing the latter’s surprise at seeing how humanity continues to fight despite facing imminent death, Squishy uses the opportunity to correct his counterpart by saying that, if there is one thing he has seen over the past few months, humanity and Pokémon will fight for those they care about and for whatever they believe in.

Not realising that they are being judged as he fights his wife, Philippe expresses his understanding of the choices she has taken and even states that he would have done the same thing if he were in her shoes, but maintains that she must stop, as the world doesn’t deserve to die for what happened to her. Responding that she has gone too far to stop now, Mystra tells her husband that she doesn’t deserve a second chance after all she has done, pointing out that, in her attempts to recreate the past, she destroyed a possible future for everyone and started a war by giving AZ (and Lysandre) the means to do so. However, while he agrees with the magnitude of her crimes, Philippe points out that the world has changed since their youth, and that it and Kalos (and by extension, he) are more forgiving than they used to be.

At the same time, Ash and Serena create an opening for Alain to reach Squishy, but upon realising what they are trying to do, Lysandre adjusts his battle rig and commands the vines to go after Mairin. Obeying his command, roots emerge behind the warzone and decimate the army’s back row, with only the quick response of the Legendary Pokémon allowing everyone to evacuate safely. To stop this, Ash-Greninja tackles Lysandre, breaking his rig and allowing Alain to yank Chespie from the console… but this fails to slow the vines’ advancement, and Ash realises that the Megalith has absorbed enough energy from Chespie to continue its work. Acting fast, uses Braixen, Pancham and Sylveon to immobilise Lysandre, but the Team Flare leader remains unconcerned, confident in his plan’s success even as he is restrained.

Elsewhere, Krystyna, Vukašin and Tarık drive the captured APC onto the battlefield and drop off reinforcements near Clemont’s group, including Tierno, Trevor and Shauna. With Korrina countering an attack from a few Flare grunts, Tierno is updated by Sawyer on the general situation and expresses worry for Ash and Serena upon learning about where they are, though Shauna gets him to focus on the battle as Trevor’s Mega Charizard Y scorches the ground in front of them. This creates a wall of fire that prevents the Team Flare forces from approaching them, and Elsa (whose condition is deteriorating again) and Courtney soon launch an offensive with a hundred Carbink of the Diamond Domain, allowing the group to cut a path through the enemy forces.

Meanwhile, closer to the Ultimate Weapon, Benoit’s Mega Houndoom overpowers the weakened Azazel when Aoife tricks him into removing her artificial arm, allowing Geoff to nail him to the wall with a volley of arrows. As Heidi’s Mega Altaria heals his allies with a song, the cavalier magnanimously offers Mystra’s acolyte a chance to surrender, but is soon forced to decapitate him when he tears himself free and lunges at Heidi. Nearby, Zannah is distracted when she senses her compatriot’s death, and Sabine’s Mega Scizor seizes the opportunity by grabbing and breaking her arm, allowing Milos’ Mega Absol and Dina’s Mega Mawile to deal glancing blows to her head before Emilie’s Mega Heracross shoots and buries her alive.

Unfortunately, while trying to push his contingent forward, Meyer is shot in the leg by a grunt before his Mega Blaziken can react fast enough, forcing Gurkinn to take the wounded vigilante to safety (after sending the grunt flying) while Sycamore covers their retreat. To make matters worse, as they reunite with Clemont’s group, they learn that the vines have destroyed their fallback position, and the wounded Meyer fears the worst for Bonnie before Korrina snaps him and Clemont out of it to focus on the fight.

Close by, Bonnie and Mairin are found by Diantha and Steven, who are exhausted from the seemingly never-ending stream of grunts, and join the fray with Dedenne to support them. Though grateful, the Champions openly wonder when this will end as, elsewhere, Zinnia continues to fight Essentia with all four of her Pokémon and begins to exploit the suit’s hasty repairs by slowly chipping off sections with her sword and a combat knife. With so many critical systems failing, the suit begins to malfunction… but thanks to her sheer willpower and the strength of Lysandre’s brainwashing, Essentia continues to fight and even manages to grab and hold Aster as a hostage. Having anticipated this, Zinnia pretends to surrender before calling for a Hyper Voice, and the proximity of the attack shatters Essentia’s already-damaged helmet, causing her to scream in agony before she is knocked out by a Dragon Pulse and a Boomburst from her opponent’s Salamence and Noivern.

Noticing a device on Lysandre’s arm as he struggles against Serena’s Pokémon, Alain realises that it is a remote connected to the console and alerts Ash, who sends out Pikachu, but this fails to stop Lysandre from activating the Ultimate Weapon. Nearby, Mystra hears the low hum of the weapon as it begins its charging sequence and tells Philippe that once it fires, it will “wipe the board clean” and allow them to start anew. However, Philippe counters her statement with a question, asking her what Mathilda and Mathias would think if they saw their parents fighting, which causes her to momentarily pause before she avoids the query by calling it a “low, underhanded blow”. Responding that it is, the Lost Prince nevertheless asks her to consider what they have been doing for all these centuries, as while their eternal war against each other has spiralled into a situation that threatens the world they live in, it is, at its core, just a simple domestic disagreement exacerbated by their lack of willingness to admit that they were both at fault for the deaths of their children. Considering his words, Mystra recalls the moments she spent with their children in their home back in Snowbelle and begins to struggle against her husband, who continues to guilt-trip her with all the horrible things she did to bring her family back when a simple conversation could have sufficed.

Elsewhere on the plateau, as the grunts and vines begin encircling the army, Bonnie and Mairin are brought to Clemont’s group and reveal that the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon had left earlier as part of a secret plan. This causes uncertainty to spread through the army, but the younger Liscio sibling encourages them to keep resisting in the face of overwhelming odds for a little while longer so they can buy their friends some time. Believing in his sister, Clemont supports her, and is joined by Mairin, Korrina, Diantha and Steven, who motivate the army for one last offensive as the Flare grunts prepare for the clash. From their vantage point, Z2, still considering humanity to be “incompetent,” expresses disbelief at the fact that they are still willing to fight, but Squishy disagrees, deeming this to be the finest hour in the history of Kalos before he and AZ encourage his counterpart to see this as an event which showcased both the worst and the best of what humanity and Pokémon were capable of when they worked together towards a common goal, as, by when they are united in trust, love and freedom, they can achieve anything. Hearing this as they arrive on the cliff, Xerneas and Yveltal ask them if they are ready, and with a nod, Squishy replies that he is.

Unaware of all this, Philippe finally scores a glancing blow on Mystra by slicing off her fingers… only to realise that she has done the same to him. With both effectively disarmed, they resort to using their Pokémon to beat each other, all while continuing their back-and-forth debate over who is to blame as their injuries quickly heal, and Philippe eventually gains the upper hand when he pins Mystra to the ground with his Chesnaught. Pleading for her to give in, he states that he is tired of killing her and does not want to do so again as he blocks one final attempt to stab him in the side before she breaks down in tears upon remembering the moment when she had held their daughter after giving birth to her. As battles on all sides rage around them, both admit to the realisation that their endless cycle of bloodshed, perpetuated by their mistakes, has gotten out of hand, and they have lost too much to pride and vengeance… just as a loud cry is heard across the battlefield that they both recognise.

Absorbing all the Zygarde cells in the area, Squishy and Z2 merge into a towering, humanoid Pokémon with flaming green eyes, and Olympia warns everyone to get down before the newly reborn Zygarde Complete Form decimates the battlefield with Land’s Wrath and Dragon Pulse, carving a path for Xerneas and Yveltal as it heads to the Ultimate Weapon with Diancie, Hoopa and Magearna as backup. Hearing the roar, a shocked Lysandre breaks free of Serena’s Pokémon and calls out to it, yelling that it is too late, that there is nothing to defend at this point and that it has no right to do so, but is harshly rebuked by the Legendary Pokémon, who states that while it has no right, everyone else who has defended and supported it does… and they all have deemed him unfit to live. Calling the massive Legendary foolish, Lysandre boasts that the Ultimate Weapon is ready to fire and threatens to kill them all… only to be interrupted by AZ, who emerges from behind him through one of Hoopa’s rings along with the other Mythical Pokémon.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Ash reflexively commands Pikachu to damage Lysandre’s remote with a charged Iron Tail, which overloads the device and causes it to explode. This takes the Team Flare leader’s arm with it, and as he shrieks in agony, Magearna speeds past him to interface with the console for a few seconds, which allows her to increase the Megalith’s power before she scuttles back to safety. With that done, AZ tells everyone to leave, but a shell-shocked Ash refuses and has to be restrained by Serena and Alain, the latter of whom realises what must be done as Philippe stumbles into the control room with a defeated Mystra. Seeing his son and realising his victory, AZ nods at him, and as the Lost Prince returns the gesture, he bluntly tells Ash that they must go now or they will all die, which persuades his friend to (reluctantly) head through Hoopa’s ring with his girlfriend. Left with her husband as Alain enters the portal too, Mystra shoots one last look at AZ, silently apologising for all that she has done before Philippe takes her through to find Yveltal, Diancie and half of the Knights on the other side.

Turning to Lysandre as the portal closes, AZ declares that it all ends here and tackles the Flare leader before he can stand up, preventing him from reaching the controls as it dawns on the latter as to what their plan is. Elsewhere, while dragging the unconscious Essentia, Zinnia runs into Xerneas and the other half of the Knights, who offer her a lift… but as they speed away, she sees Yveltal flying by while carrying almost everyone else who was at the Ultimate Weapon just as Zygarde reaches said Ultimate Weapon and performs their signature move—Core Enforcer—on the crystalline structure, fatally damaging the Megalith within. Unable to fire due to Magearna’s commands, Ultimate Weapon trembles under the sheer amount of energy… before detonating from the inside in a massive explosion that begins to spread outward. Seeing the blast catching up to them, Philippe commands Diancie to create crystalline shields that the Knights enhance with their Aura, all while two things are heard in the distance: Lysandre’s scream and AZ’s calm declaration that this is the end for them…

In a flashback set just before the battle, Philippe meets with AZ in private and, while reviewing the plan of attack, reveals that he knows that his father intends to sacrifice himself by locking the Weapon onto a singular target—either himself or Lysandre. Having given Magearna commands to alter the weapon’s blast to remove his immortality, the king confirms that he spent centuries figuring out how to achieve this and explains that he is simply tired of living and wants to die. Not ready for this, Philippe attempts to dissuade him, but his pleas fall on deaf ears as AZ grips him by the shoulders and states that while it is time for him to rest, “not all of [him] will die” as there will be someone to carry on their legacy and make it a “good” one. Moved by his father’s trust, Philippe reluctantly accepts his wishes and hugs AZ, who tells his son about how proud he is while expressing his belief that he will be a leader who will guide Kalos into the future alongside those he loves.

As everyone recovers from the blast, Team Rocket is the first to realise, to their jubilation, that the Ultimate Weapon has been destroyed, and broadcast their victory to the rest of the world as the survivors celebrate their victory. However, as Diantha falls to her knees in relief, she soon realises, upon reuniting with Clemont and Bonnie, that Ash and the others have not yet returned and fears the worst… before she is interrupted by a commotion caused by the arrival of Xerneas and Yveltal, who reveal that their passengers are still alive! Relieved, Clemont and Bonnie hug Ash and Serena while Alain reunites the real (and now conscious) Chespie with Mairin before regarding his keystone. Musing that everything is now done, he smashes the gem, severing his last ties with Lysandre as Philippe watches the numerous Flare operatives, including Mystra, that they have taken prisoner. Aware that his father is dead, he is consoled by Diantha as he accepts his father’s death, remarking that it is time to move on after all these years.

Close by, Zygarde appears before the army and thanks them for their help, with Bonnie being singled out for keeping it safe when it was lost and vulnerable, while Chespie and Elsa are also commended for freeing it all those months ago. Healing the latter by reabsorbing the radiation affecting her, the Legendary Pokémon then turns to Philippe and apologises for what it did in the past, to which the new king forgives it with a nod before asking for help in repairing the damage caused to his new domain. Acquiescing, Zygarde dissolves the surrounding roots and vines with help from Xerneas and Yveltal before spreading its healing effects to all Kalos, with Sycamore receiving a message from Sina and Dexio that the vines in Lumiose City have likewise disintegrated. However, the Legendary Pokémon also reveals that, because of the Ultimate Weapon, it will never be able to restore Shalour City, though it assures Korrina and Gurkinn that it has faith in the humans and Pokémon that inhabit the world to make things right and rise from the ashes to create a better future. With that, Zygarde entrusts the future of Kalos to everyone present with a final thanks and goodbye before splitting into its cells and disappearing.

Looking back at the remains of the Ultimate Weapon, Philippe reflects on everything that has happened before he is interrupted by Dina, who sits next to him and asks about what happens next. Admitting that, for the first time in a long while, he doesn’t know, the new King of Kalos nevertheless states that he is not afraid of what might happen now that he has his friends, family and allies by his side and expresses hope for the future. Nodding in agreement, Dina falls silent as they watch the sunrise and witness, in the distance, what appear to be the souls of the Aura adepts and Pokémon arising from the Ultimate Weapon, free and ready to ascend to the heavens at last.

Chapter Text

941.   Battling with a Clean Slate!

Two weeks after the Battle of Kalos, the survivors continue to help one another as they recover from the traumatic events, and Team Rocket takes advantage of the lull to contact Giovanni while resting in a hotel room that Philippe has booked for them (as they wait for the airport to reopen). Informing their boss of their accomplishments, the TRio are genuinely congratulated for their efforts before being given one final mission to execute: retrieving the schematics of Team Flare's technologies. Learning that the blueprints were divided between Clemont and Professor Sycamore, the TRio scheme to recover those plans as they examine the layout of Sycamore Labs and the Lumiose Gym.

At the same time, in the latter location, Clemont contemplates rebuilding Clembot after recovering his robotic remains, but is interrupted by a challenger named Alvin, who specifically asks to battle his robotic counterpart. However, while the Lumiose Gym Leader sadly informs him of his creation’s destruction, he agrees to repair him for one final battle tomorrow and asks for some time for the repairs, which Alvin allows. Once the boy leaves, Ash and Serena show up with Zinnia, having been helping around the city with the Knights, and they catch up on the recent events before they are interrupted by a call from Sycamore. Learning from the professor that Alain will be staying at his lab for the time being with Mairin, the four decide to visit with Bonnie, whom Clemont reveals is still feeling down in the wake of Squishy’s departure, but as Aster and Serena comfort her, Zinnia lets it slip that her father and Diantha are planning a surprise for tomorrow (though she admits that she has no idea what it is).

Upon arriving at the lab, the quintet finds Mairin, Sina and Dexio trying to set up decorations to welcome Alain back and decides to help them when it becomes apparent that they have far too much on their hands. With Serena taking charge of the situation, the group proceeds at a much faster pace as Sycamore drives a distant Alain back to the lab with an escort from Philippe, Dina, Benoit, Sabine and Milos. Through several conversations, it is revealed that Alain is currently under close surveillance from the Knights due to his actions in (unwittingly) helping Team Flare, with a courtroom hearing and sentencing being scheduled in a few days to determine his fate. Furthermore, the Knights remain divided over this matter, with Dina expressing her belief that he deserves a second chance as she debates with Milos and Benoit over who is right. In the middle of all this, Sabine asks Philippe how he is doing in the wake of Mystra’s surrender and capture, and he responds with a claim that he is fine, acknowledging that his lover is facing a far more severe sentencing than Alain but also accepting that it is out of his hands.

As Team Rocket sneaks into Prism Tower and deals with the numerous booby traps as they try to recover Clemont’s half of the schematics, Bonnie continues to mope about Squishy’s departure as she is comforted by Ash, who assures her that they will probably meet again. Agreeing, Zinnia offers to help her look for Zygarde, but inadvertently reveals that Diancie, Magearna and Hoopa will be returning to their lands the day after tomorrow, which prompts a curious Mairin to ask why… right before Alain arrives. Seizing the opportunity to slip away, Zinnia reunites with and hugs her father as Benoit comments on the festivities while Dina encourages Mairin to talk to Alain when she can.

Minutes later, as the group sits down to have lunch, they share their plans for the future: Philippe and the Knights plan to extend alliances to other regions now that he has succeeded his father as the King of Kalos, Zinnia expresses a desire to return to Hoenn alongside her father, and Ash voices his intentions to return to Pallet Town while he thinks about what to do next, which surprises Serena since she had intended to spend more time with him. However, as Clemont also reveals that he aims to transition back to being a Gym Leader while still carrying on as an inventor, Ash advises a quiet Alain (whose career as a trainer is in doubt after his actions in the Kalos Crisis) to start from square one with his Charizard and Mairin by his side. Hearing this, Alain (who is revealed to be still thinking about their battle) realises that his opponent never really broke like he did following his defeat because of the people he had to rely on and accepts the fact that he will never truly be able to defeat Ash.

Having succeeded in copying Clemont’s half of the blueprints, Team Rocket infiltrates the lab and manages to download Sycamore’s half from his computer, only to be caught as they try to sneak out. In the ensuing scuffle, the TRio make their escape, but the data is corrupted, and without the element of surprise, they cut their losses and retreat. Fortunately, Sycamore and Clemont reveal copies of the schematics that they stored on a secure hard drive and admit that they have been thinking about repurposing the technology to help mankind and Pokémon grow closer together, which Philippe approves of and gives his endorsement to as they head back to Prism Tower. However, as Dexio laments the fact that the labs require repairs for the fourth time in a year, Sina consoles him with a reminder that there are more pressing matters, such as an upcoming commemoration ceremony happening the following day.

Hours later, as the sun rises on the following day, Clemont manages to get Clembot working with an old backup memory drive just in time for his match against Alvin and his Vivillon. With Meyer acting as the referee, the battle commences, though it initially goes poorly due to Clembot’s lack of battling memories and his damaged body, which costs him his Magnemite. Listening to his creator’s advice to predict his opponent by staying calm, he then sends out Magneton and defeats a Pyroar, but is quickly thrashed by a Cubone, leaving him with just Heliolisk. However, Clembot resolves to give it his all if this is his final battle and pushes Alvin to his limit to draw out his Pokémon’s potential… before losing to a Bonemerang. Still, Clemont’s robotic duplicate thanks his creator for giving him a final send-off as he hands the Voltage Badge to a jubilant Alvin, and the gesture is returned as he is carried to the side, where Clemont promises that he will always remember him as he pulls the plug.

Turning to his father after taking a moment to collect himself, the Lumiose Gym Leader expresses regret that he couldn’t save Clembot, but Meyer comforts him, pointing out that his creation saved all of them as his sacrifice enabled them to take down the jammer and unite to stop Team Flare. Accepting this, Clemont asks his father how long he has been Blaziken Mask… only for the explanation to be interrupted by a phone call from Korrina, who tells him to come to the Lumiose Cathedral immediately.

Fifteen minutes later, Clemont and Meyer arrive at the square to find a large crowd, and upon seeing Philippe standing on a nearby stage, the former realises that this is what Zinnia was talking about. As his father takes a seat next to the other Gym Leaders, Clemont joins his friends as Diantha ascends to the stage and opens the ceremony by honouring those who fell in battle against Team Flare before proceeding to the main event: the awarding of the Honour of Kalos. For the next few minutes, bronze Pokéball-shaped medallions are presented to Aria, Miette, Tierno, Trevor, Shauna, Nini and Astrid, which are followed by silver ones (that are designated as “Heart of Kalos”) for Sawyer, Elsa, Courtney, Krystyna, Vukašin and Tarık, and finally, gold ones (that are designated as “Soul of Kalos”) for Meyer, Sycamore, Zinnia, Alain and the Knights. However, as Magearna, Hoopa and Diancie spot Inkay sneaking off with three gold medallions, Diantha silences the applause and brings out four green and white medallions, shaped like five-pointed stars and decorated with ribbons of red, blue and white.

Invited up on stage by the new Kalosian monarch (who is now wearing a fleur-de-lis pin), the quartet are individually addressed by Diantha as she commends them in reverse order. One by one, Bonnie is extolled for her bravery in befriending Zygarde, Clemont is honoured for his ingenuity in turning Prism Tower into a beacon of hope, and Serena is praised for her kindness and compassion that united people and Pokémon from all walks of life under one shared goal. But as Diantha hands the medallion to Ash, she admits that no words or awards are enough to convey her gratitude for his leadership, his valour or his skills as a trainer… and thus extends an offer to bypass the Pokémon League entirely to battle in the Champion’s League as a gesture of thanks for not only his actions in Kalos, but for everything that he has done on his journey. Stunned by the revelation that he is considered a trainer of Champion calibre, Ash is informed that he does not have to accept the offer, but the option will stand forever in honour of what he has done. Accepting the medallion and acknowledging the offer, Ash thanks Diantha as the crowd erupts in cheers, with several cameras nearby broadcasting the moment to millions of people worldwide, including Professor Oak and Delia.

Later, as the celebrations for their great victory are in full swing, Ash contemplates his new choice as Sycamore approaches Alain, offering him a place at his research lab after his sentencing. Though still stricken with guilt, Alain accepts when Mairin encourages him to do so and takes Sycamore’s hand just like before, as Philippe sits down on a bench and reflects on how far he has come since Dina first found him in that café. Musing that he never dreamed of succeeding his father as the king of a united Kalos, he pats down the pockets of his suit… only to find two letters, which he takes out and reads. The first turns out to be a letter from Zinnia encouraging her father to enjoy the celebrations and savour their victory as a family, while the second is from AZ, expressing how proud he is of his son and his confidence that he will be the greatest ruler in Kalosian history. Emboldened by these letters, Philippe decides to join the party as Ash and Serena share a moment, embracing the peace as Meyer and Clemont trigger a fireworks display to commemorate their great victory.

942.   The First Day of the Rest of Your Life!

Not wanting to hold each other back from achieving their dreams, Ash and Serena decide to make the most of their remaining time together before their inevitable separation and receive advice from Philippe to go on a date. However, matters are complicated by Serena’s commitments, which include organising numerous performances around the city to raise the spirits of the citizens with her Showcase rivals (including Jessie in a new disguise), and Ash’s nervousness at going on a date at all. Additionally, during one such performance, Serena bumps into Palermo, who is here to speak to Aria about her involvement in the Kalos Crisis and is reminded of her offer. Realising that she still has not decided on what to do next, Serena consults with Clemont, who is currently maintaining the Prism Tower’s new communications array with Elsa and Courtney, but does not receive a satisfactory answer.

Nevertheless, when Ash and Serena do find the time to go out together (courtesy of Bonnie and the Knights covering the latter’s duties), they promise each other to make the day special and embark on a sightseeing tour of Lumiose City, wherein they visit famous landmarks, have lunch at a fancy restaurant and even (humorously) run into several other people going on dates. At the same time, however, they are forced to keep a low profile due to the hundreds of fans they have accumulated through their actions and eventually hide from the crowds in a battlefield that Ash recognises as the one he battled Clemont on when he first arrived in Kalos. Given the occasion, he decides to have a friendly match against Serena, thus allowing her to show him her performance ideas, and she accepts by sending out Braixen to face Pikachu. Throughout the battle, both trainers point out the other’s strengths, with Ash particularly commenting on how well they work together as a team and how they lift each other to greater heights to achieve the impossible. Thanking him for the encouragement, Serena reveals her predicament, and Ash promises to support her choice, no matter what it is, and wherever he may be.

While the couple are out on their date, Philippe, Diantha and Zinnia visit a hospital and check up on the recovering Essentia, who is identified as a street orphan named Emma. Seeing how she is mostly unresponsive to outside stimuli (and feeling somewhat guilty over brutally defeating her during the Battle of Kalos), Zinnia speaks to her with help from Aster as Philippe learns that she had found work as Lysandre’s assistant through a café that he and Xerosic had been using as a front for their recruitment operations… and that she currently has nowhere to go. Mulling over this, he ultimately decides to take care of Emma upon seeing his daughter’s attempts to make her laugh pay off and arranges for her to be released into his care with Diantha’s help. At the same time, the Knights struggle with the elaborate performance they have planned for the crowds, but eventually pull off a well-received act with guidance from Benoit, Wolfgang, Renata and Heidi that invigorates the crowd and boosts their popularity as well as Philippe’s.

Hours later, as night falls, Ash and Serena are surprised when they return to Meyer’s house and find Grace, who quickly figures out their relationship upon seeing them holding hands. Despite the awkward situation, Ash heads inside when Serena tells him to go ahead, leaving her to speak with her mother as she affirms her relationship with her boyfriend and tells her about what they have been through. Upon seeing that her daughter has become far stronger than the last time they met, Grace accepts Serena’s choice and comments that she needs to hear more about this side of the story as they head inside… only to find a flustered Ash talking with his mother (who has also learned of his girlfriend from Bonnie) over the phone. Noticing Serena, he introduces her to Delia, and as her daughter leaves her side to join her boyfriend, Grace learns from a nearby Meyer that her daughter helped keep his children in check with Ash, for which he is extremely grateful.

Following her conversation with Delia, Serena admits to her mother that while she enjoys making people happy with her performances, she also recognises that her newfound relationship status will make it difficult for her to achieve that goal. Hearing her daughter’s predicament, Grace tells her that the choice between career and family is an everlasting challenge, but also tells her that if she truly loves Ash, the distance between them will mean absolutely nothing.

The following morning, Serena rejoins the others as they say goodbye to Sawyer, who has accepted Steven’s offer to become his assistant and reveals that they are going to launch an investigation to determine the extent of Team Flare’s activities. At the same time, Tierno, Trevor and Shauna also take their leave, having been assigned by Diantha to round up the numerous displaced wild Pokémon in Lumiose City, and bid the group farewell. With not much left to do since the airport has not yet been reopened, the remaining members of the group return to the Lumiose Gym, but run into Isabella, Emilie and Heidi along the way, all of whom proceed to tell Serena about the performance the day before. Learning of Serena’s dilemma, Heidi compares her to Lisia by telling her about the issues her childhood friend used to have before she became a Pokémon Coordinator, which causes Serena to have a stroke of inspiration as she tells Ash that she knows what she wants to do next.

Calling Palermo from the nearest Pokémon Center, Serena tells her that she has decided to go to Hoenn, not as a Coordinator, but as an ambassador, and will apprentice under Lisia until she is ready to come back to Kalos. Accepting her choice, Palermo notes that she is the first performer to refuse her offer of apprenticeship, but encourages her to go, remarking that choosing to help people through love is the truest sign of a Kalos Queen.

At the same time, Philippe receives a phone call upon returning from a meeting with the Pokémon League and, upon answering it, is greeted by Junichi Takeda, who reveals that Joaquim, Elsa and Courtney have told him a great deal about the new king. Initially suspicious of the head scientist of Hoenn Labs, the new king is surprised when he is offered an alliance “just like your old times,” and expresses his gratitude for the relief aid as he accepts both it and a visit to Hoenn after mentioning that Zinnia is heading there too. Laughing upon learning of this last fact, Junichi also asks about Ash, and Philippe, upon learning that the scientist has travelled with Ash before, asks for more about the Pallet Town trainer’s previous adventures.

Chapter Text

943.   Facing the Needs of the Many!

Visiting the wetlands outside of Lumiose City, Ash, Serena, Clemont, Bonnie, Philippe, Zinnia and the Knights say goodbye to Ash’s Goodra as they return him to his home for good this time. As a saddened Dedenne is comforted by Bonnie, Joaquim comments on how soon they will be going their separate ways, though Isabella points out that they can still meet up sometime in the future. At the same time, Emilie tells her father that she wants to stay with her friends for a while longer, and allows her to do so, thanking Philippe, Benoit and Dina for fulfilling their promise to keep her safe.

On the way back, the group stops by a cliffside on the outskirts of Lumiose City to rest, where Ash takes the opportunity to tell his girlfriend about his previous adventures in Hoenn so that she knows who can help her. However, Serena stops her boyfriend upon noticing that he seems depressed and gently coaxes him into admitting that, despite allowing Alain to win the Lumiose Conference so that he could be happy, he is disappointed at being unable to keep his promise to win yet another Pokémon League. Overhearing this, Philippe and Clemont suggest that he take a break from travelling to pull himself together, with the former saying that he used to do the same thing between his battles with Mystra over the centuries. Remembering that her mother’s hearing is on the following day, Zinnia asks her father if he will be there, but before he can respond, red roots and vines suddenly attack the campsite.

Despite being surprised, the Knights take care of the corrupted vegetation with relative ease by utilising their Pokémon, but express their worry at the number of vines and wonder who could be behind this incursion, especially considering that Lysandre was killed when the Ultimate Weapon blew up. Triggering Ash-Greninja to help them, Ash uses his Aura to scan the roots and realises that they contain some variation of flowing energy, which he dubs “dark Aura” as he joins his friends. But as the group clears away the unnatural growth, a truck suddenly appears and captures a Zygarde cell from a nearby tree, which leads Clemont to deduce (after going through the list of Team Flare members in his mind) that Xerosic is behind this. Revealing himself by stepping out from behind a tree, the Team Flare scientist voices his intention to continue Lysandre’s work before kidnapping Clemont and Zinnia with his Malamar and speeding off before anyone else can stop him.

Acting fast, Ash-Greninja trails behind the mobile command centre as Benoit, Aoife and Geoff follow close behind as a vanguard force. Inside the truck, Clemont and Zinnia are offered the chance to become members of Team Flare, but refuse, causing Xerosic to try to mind-control them with his machines to exploit their knowledge. At the same time, the tracking team loses the truck as it enters Lumiose City, and Philippe is forced to call Diantha for help as he and the others catch up. Upon receiving the call at the League HQ, Diantha drops everything to help her friend, but as she does so, Mystra, having been imprisoned below the building, senses what is going on and escapes from her cell.

Upon reuniting with the Kalos Champion, Ash thanks her for helping them as she reveals a list of places in Lumiose where Xerosic could be hiding. However, while the team examines the numerous hideouts, Dina is forced to calm down a mildly distressed Philippe, who admits that while he was worried that this would happen due to their new status as high-ranking targets, he never expected it to happen so soon. Reminding her friend that his daughter can take care of herself, the assassin changes the topic to distract him by asking about his father’s letter, and Philippe reveals that there was a secret message inside that detailed a final request from AZ—to search for his Pokémon, the Eternal Flower Floette. Revealing that this Pokémon was the only one of her kind, the new king explains that she had left AZ upon seeing the destruction wrought by using the Ultimate Weapon, which then caused him to spend the rest of his life trying to find her before Team Flare captured him. Intrigued, Dina wonders why he hasn't started searching for her, and Philippe sheepishly admits that he was going to ask her and Zinnia for help before numerous administrative meetings caused him to forget, leading his friend to chide him before agreeing to help with the search.

In the meantime, the group narrows down the list of potential hideouts to one and heads over to an abandoned building to storm it. Breaking in and disabling numerous traps, Ash-Greninja and the Knights clear a path for the team to make it to a secret lab, where they find Clemont and Zinnia being brainwashed by Xerosic. Claiming that they are under his control, the Flare scientist orders them to attack their friends… only for the duo to turn on him by revealing that they neutralised his mind-control effects thanks to a jammer embedded in the former’s glasses and Aster sending out a low-frequency soundwave while hiding in the latter’s clothes. Quickly destroying the mind-controlling machines, Clemont and Zinnia also defeat Xerosic’s Crobat before they and Philippe corner him on the building’s rooftop. Refusing to accept defeat, the Flare Scientist jumps off the building, but is caught by Mystra, whom he initially assumes is here to help him. However, instead, the Fallen Celestial grabs him and looks him in the eye…

Minutes later, as the group reaches the ground floor, they find Xerosic in a catatonic state with Mystra standing over him and initially react with suspicion and hostility. However, upon realising that she was responsible for stopping Xerosic, Philippe and Diantha convince the others to stand down as they take her back into custody, and Zinnia awkwardly thanks her mother as she is put in shackles once again. As the catatonic Xerosic is hauled away, Philippe embraces his daughter… but as they release the Zygarde cells into the wild, another vine attacks them, only to be destroyed by Squishy. Thrilled to see her friend again, Bonnie hugs him as she turns to the group and tells them to follow him, as he has something important to discuss with all of them (including Mystra).

Venturing into the forest, the group comes across a clearing with a Moss Rock and finds Z2, Xerneas and Yveltal. Having not seen the latter two since the Kalos Crisis ended, Philippe greets them as Z2 directly addresses Ash and Greninja, revealing that the vines they have been seeing are remnants of Team Flare’s experiments on the Megalith, whose energy has now tainted large sections of Kalos’ spiritual sites that were enhanced and terraformed by the Celestials millennia ago. Luckily, all four Legendary Pokémon can see the vines, but due to the frequency of their appearances, they need help from Greninja, as due to his connection with Ash, he is the only other Pokémon that can sense them. Realising what this means, a heavily conflicted Ash seeks counsel from the others about what to do, not entirely willing to part ways with one of his closest Pokémon but also recognising that Kalos needs his help far more than he does. However, as he agonises over his choice, Mystra offers a suggestion that might benefit them all…

Minutes later, Ash hands Greninja’s Pokéball to Philippe, who promises that Greninja will be taken care of under his watch as they prepare for his imminent departure. Observing this, a suspicious Diantha and Zinnia question Mystra over her suggestion, and she admits that, after her defeat, she needs allies if she wants to start anew. Pointing out that few would be willing to trust her after all she has done, Dina is informed by the Fallen Celestial that she is aware of this and that her true punishment has yet to begin, which is echoed by Xerneas and Yveltal as they approach the quartet. Telling Mystra that Arceus spoke to them about her judgment, they present her with an innocuous-looking pendant that she recognises as a power dampener, leading Zinnia to deduce that her mother’s penance is to walk the earth as a normal human until she is deemed worthy enough to regain her powers and immortality.

Upon hearing this, the Knights are divided, with some agreeing that it is a harsh yet justified sentence and others clamouring for a more severe verdict. However, before an argument can erupt, Dina quietens her comrades as Mystra accepts the pendant and puts it on… before stumbling as its effects take over, causing Zinnia to head over and support her mother on instinct as the Fallen Celestial remarks on the irony of having once looked down upon mortals, only to now share their fragility. Hearing this, the Draconid pauses and considers those words before slipping her arm under her mother to steady her, saying that while she can’t simply forget all the pain she caused, she is willing—just barely—to forgive her, if only so they can both move forward. Nodding in acceptance, Mystra apologises for what she did to Aster and expresses regret for causing her death as Zinnia nods in acknowledgement.

At the same time, Diantha steps in to quell the Knights’ murmurs, reminding them that Mystra is not only their king’s wife, but has also been assigned a punishment which almost none would survive. Reflecting on this, Benoit reluctantly agrees to give her a second chance and is followed by Dina, Milos, Heidi, Wolfgang, Renata and even Emilie (much to everyone’s surprise). Outnumbered by one, the others acquiesce to the majority, but make it clear to Mystra that their trust will not come easily, and the Fallen Celestial accepts this by stating that she welcomes their vigilance and will prove herself worthy of the watchful eyes that now follow her. Nearby, Ash reflects on all the moments throughout his Kalos journey that he had shared with Greninja as he talks to him, speculating that perhaps the two of them were destined to meet. Telling the stoic Water-type that the door will always be open for him when he chooses to come back, he hugs his Pokémon, giving him his blessing to leave and keep Kalos safe until he is ready to return.

Watching this goodbye, Squishy also turns to Bonnie and promises her that when she becomes a trainer, he will seek her out so they can travel together. Driven to tears by this promise, an emotional Bonnie thanks and hugs him before he rejoins the other Legendary Pokémon, leaving Philippe and Zinnia to bid Xerneas and Yveltal farewell until the day they meet again, which the duo claim will be “soon enough”. With that, the five Pokémon depart, and as they do, Benoit leads the Knights in a salute, honouring Greninja’s departure as Philippe quietly declares him to be one of the finest Pokémon he has ever seen, and that centuries later, legends of him will be retold and recounted “ad infinitum”. Casting one last look back at the Ninja Pokémon as he disappears into the trees, Ash rejoins his friends, knowing that their time together is coming to an end.

944.   Till We Compete Again!

The episode opens with flashes of the trials for Alain and Mystra, along with snippets of testimonials given by the other trainers and participants in the Battle of Lumiose City. Following accounts given by Diantha, Philippe and Mairin, the sentence is given out…

With his time in Kalos reaching an imminent end upon hearing an announcement of the airport’s reopening, Ash calls his mother, Professor Oak, Hiroshi and Leaf, and tells them that he will be returning home to stay for a while so that he can sort things out. However, as he ends the call and begins packing his things, he runs into Serena, who is doing the same for her flight to Hoenn, and shares a moment with her as they realise that they will not be seeing each other, face-to-face, for quite some time. Nevertheless, the couple promises to stay in touch as they affirm their belief in each other and their dreams before stopping by Professor Sycamore’s lab with Clemont and Bonnie, where they find a farewell lunch prepared by Philippe, Zinnia, the Knights and Sycamore’s assistants.

Moved by the gesture, the group enjoys the feast, during which Ash learns that the Knights are temporarily splitting up to visit their loved ones or provide aid to the affected parts of the region. Turning to Alain, he also discovers the outcome of his rival’s trial and sentencing, which entails a probationary period as Sycamore’s assistant for the next few years, which the former Mega Evolution Trainer accepts as he voices his intentions to find a keystone that he can truly call his own. Telling him that he has faith in him, Sycamore reveals to the group that they will be investigating the Frost Cavern, which contains a Mega Stone that the Anistar Sundial unexpectedly pinpointed, and promises to meet them again as they bid each other goodbye. With that done, Ash wonders how they will all get to the airport, which leads Philippe to propose a solution so they can all be there for each other one last time.

Over at the airport, Team Rocket informs Giovanni that they managed to secure and combine both halves of the Flare schematics from Clemont and Sycamore Labs as they board their flight back to Kanto. Commenting that he is going to miss this place, James is interrupted by Jessie, who wants a vacation after years of following Ash, and Meowth suggests asking Giovanni when they get back to Kanto. At the same time, the group arrives in a series of limousines provided by the Pokémon League, with Clemont commenting on how useful it is to travel with someone who is now in charge. Laughing as they walk into the departure terminal, Dina muses on how she is going to miss these conversations as Ash learns that Serena’s flight will be leaving first, which prompts him to propose letting their Pokémon say goodbye to each other. Agreeing with this idea, everyone brings out their teams to do so… only for Dedenne to throw a tantrum and hide under a bench.

Eventually finding the Antenna Pokémon with Pikachu’s help, Bonnie reveals that she is sad that they are separating too, but also tells him that everyone has dreams and aspirations that she has no right to deny them to, pleading with him to come out so that their goodbye isn’t in vain and so they can pursue their dream together. Successfully coaxed out of hiding, Dedenne returns to Bonnie, but as Zinnia admits that she will miss them all too, Philippe pulls Ash aside as Emilie suggests a group hug as a farewell gesture, and privately tells him that while he didn’t think much of him when they first met, he now considers him one of the most important people in the world after being repeatedly impressed by his qualities throughout their journey. Remaining humble, Ash attempts to downplay his achievements, but the king doesn’t fall for it and assures him that he will be welcome back in Kalos at any time before he gives him a parting gift – a keystone and his Charzardite Y, telling him that he deserves them.

Stunned, Ash initially refuses to accept this gift, but Philippe’s persistence wins out when he discloses that there are more precious things than a simple Mega Stone, which is something he is sure they can agree on. Realising that he is talking about Serena, Ash accepts the two gems as he hears the final boarding call for Serena’s flight and is told to cherish the relationship he has with her, as while he will have many friends and allies around the world, this bond will last the longest if given proper care. Promising that he will, Ash heads back to his friends just as Serena thanks everyone for getting her this far before singling out her boyfriend and expressing gratitude for allowing her to join him when she started her journey, as she wouldn’t be the person she is today without him. Moved by this admission, Ash confesses that he is really going to miss her but still wishes Serena good luck and promises to keep in touch as she heads down the escalator… only for her to quickly turn around, run up and give him a goodbye kiss, much to everyone’s surprise and happiness. Likewise astonished, Ash returns the gesture with a hug and waves goodbye to his girlfriend as she disappears into the departure hall.

Later, as the group watches Serena’s plane take off, Ash expresses confidence that she will become much stronger in Hoenn. Agreeing with him, Clemont soon acknowledges his impending departure but asks for one last favour before he goes: a 1v1 battle with Pikachu and Bunnelby, like on the day they first met. Accepting this as he notices an open-air battlefield in the airport lounge, Ash heads over as the Knights quickly reserve the location on Philippe’s behalf. But before their king can join them, he receives a call from Diantha to come to a runway elsewhere in the airport, telling him that “it’s time”.

Arriving at the location minutes later, Philippe, Zinnia and Dina find Diantha standing with a bound Mystra and realise that their handover is today. Nodding in agreement, the Kalos Champion reminds them that, per the sentencing rules and terms, the royal family and the Knights of Kalos are supposed to take the Fallen Celestial into custody for an eternal house arrest (which is the most realistic sentence they can give out considering her special status and the region’s lack of a death penalty), and officially hands Mystra over to her family as she expresses her trust in Philippe to “make things right”. Acknowledging his student’s words with a nod, the king solemnly hugs his wife as Zinnia tells him that some people were commenting on the perceived leniency of the sentences given to her mother and Alain, and her father responds with the reveal that he argued on their behalf with the belief that they deserved another chance. Admitting that, for once, he has had enough of death, Philippe turns to Mystra and considers the cuff she is now wearing to suppress her abilities before asking if she meant what she said about them starting all over again, to which she responds with an affirmation that she did. With that, the couple shares a hug and a kiss as Dina watches on, grateful that her friend has finally found closure while commenting that it is how one lives that matters, not how long.

At the same time, a curious Zinnia asks Diantha as to what Ash’s decision was on the offer to bypass the Pokémon League and is surprised to learn that he turned it down, considering the numerous times he tried (and failed) to win one. As Ash and Clemont are shown getting ready for their battle while Bonnie and the Knights cheer them on, Diantha admits that she is not surprised, as to her, Ash is the kind of person everyone aspires to be—a pure-hearted soul, full of generosity, kindness and love, but also filled with passion, determination and a good sense of right and wrong. Reflecting on this as Pikachu and Bunnelby face each other on the field, Zinnia hopes that he will succeed wherever he goes until they meet again.

Two hours later, as he watches Kalos fading away into the distance aboard his flight home, Ash sits back and relaxes, remembering his entire journey through the region as snippets of the other characters are shown.

• Back in the Lumiose Gym, Clemont is seen working on an invention, recalling his evolution from an uncertain Gym Leader and inventor to the official keeper and guardian of the Prism Tower. Nearby, Bonnie also recalls the fun adventures she had with the various Pokémon she has befriended up to this point while having a mock battle with Dedenne.
• Meeting Sina and Dexio outside the Frost Cavern, Alain and Mairin keep in touch with Professor Sycamore as they commence their investigation, with the former, grateful for his second chance, looking forward to a fresh start.
• Elsewhere, Steven and Sawyer continue their investigation at the ruined Lysandre Labs and discover research notes on Mega Evolution, the Bond Phenomenon and the energy of the Ultimate Weapon written by Xerosic.
• On the outskirts of Lumiose City, Tierno, Trevor and Shauna continue to relocate various wild Pokémon that Kalos Crisis displaced.
• Within the Lumiose Wetlands, Ash’s Goodra is seen defending several smaller Pokémon as Emilie reunites with her father. Close by, Geoff is shown setting up a communications link to Aoife, who is seen building a relay tower close by.
• Having returned to the Tower of Mastery, Milos and Sabine have a three-way Mega Evolution battle with Korrina as Gurkinn looks on.
• Further south, Joaquim, Isabella, and Nightshade are seen delivering supplies to Kiloude City with the help of Diancie, Hoopa, and Magearna.
• As Benoit, Heidi, Wolfgang and Renata debate over the steps to take in unifying the remaining Kalosian towns inside Philippe’s apartment, Dina breaks up the argument with her Mega Mawile before taking charge to plan out a trip to Hoenn so they can receive some extra aid from Junichi and the Haellmigks (who have returned to Paradiso Island).
• Watching Zinnia face Diantha at the Pokémon League HQ with Aster and her Mega Salamence, Philippe holds Mystra in his arms as he watches the sunset.
• In an unknown location, Greninja destroys more roots under the watchful eyes of Squishy and Z2, while Xerneas and Yveltal join the Ninja Pokémon as a couple, ready for action.
• And lastly, many miles away, Serena arrives in Hoenn, ready to begin the next leg of her journey.

In the final scene, Ash arrives back in Pallet Town at nightfall. Reflecting on his adventure thus far and the recent changes that have occurred throughout his life, he takes one last look at the open road before stepping inside and closing the door.

Chapter Text

The Legend of X, Y, and Z!

Millennia ago, a woman named Aila pleads with her lover, Jan, not to leave her, but he tells her that he must. Promising that he will return safely no matter what, the young man heads out into a wasteland accompanied by Gogoat and Talonflame, eager to stop the rampaging Legendary Pokémon Yveltal.

In the present day, Professor Sycamore reunites with Alexa and Helioptile at some ruins to investigate a recently found artefact called the “Maiden’s Statue”, which he deems to be the biggest discovery of the century. Agreeing, Alexia asks why the ruins weren’t discovered up until now and learns that they had overlooked the location until the Knights of Kalos chanced upon it during a supply run to Kiloude City and alerted the royal family, who are already inside the main structure.

Surprised to learn they are already here, Sycamore is brought into a central grotto, where he reunites with Philippe and greets the young king, who directs his attention to the numerous mosaic frescoes on the walls that depict an ancient Kalosian civilisation that once lived in the area, and a stone statue of a woman in the middle of the grotto. Confirming that this is the Maiden by bringing up numerous historical records, Philippe corrects Sycamore’s and Alexa’s assumptions that it is a very well-crafted statue and decides to tell them what really happened to her… with a little help from Mystra, who is brought into the room by Zinnia and Krystyna, the former of who, armed with her father’s sword, warns her mother not to do anything stupid as she releases her from her chains. With that, Philippe and Mystra begin their story…

Approximately three thousand years ago, Jan, a poor farmer, had fallen in love with Aila, a priestess and the daughter of his hometown’s magistrate, and had his feelings reciprocated despite their different social classes. However, at the same time, the local Oracle, Olympica (an ancestor of the Anistar Gym Leader) had foreseen that events in the main kingdom would make their way to their town and leave utter devastation in their wake, which ultimately came true when Philippe’s first death and the passing of his mother set off a chain of events that led to Yveltal and Zygarde rampaging through the kingdom as it descended into a civil war. Worried as the destruction drew closer to their village, Aila’s father had promised Jan his daughter’s hand in marriage if he could bring down either one of the Legendary Pokémon and Jan, overcome with pride and the thoughts of achieving a life with the one he loved, accepted. However, he was intercepted by Aila before he could leave, and though she begged him not to go, he departed regardless.

Unfortunately for Jan, he didn’t get far before Yveltal bypassed his position and attacked the settlement, having been driven into an enraged state by a recent tussle with Zygarde that caused him to attack indiscriminately. Racing to Aila’s location, Jan found her trying to draw Yveltal away from the fleeing townsfolk and had sent out his Talonflame to distract the Legendary Pokémon, which lasted all of ten seconds before an Oblivion Wing sent it plummeting to the ground, where it shattered upon impact. Arguing with his lover over whose duty was greater in that moment, Jan managed to hit Yveltal in the wings with several arrows, but this only enraged the Legendary Pokémon, who fired another Oblivion Wing at their position. Without a second’s hesitation, Aila had shoved her lover out of the way and was turned to stone as Jan himself sustained a twisted ankle from the blast. Unable to do anything, he could only watch as Yveltal continued his rampage, killing hundreds yet leaving him alive for some unfathomable reason.

Back in the present, Philippe reveals that Yveltal left not long after, his actions having devastated the land and rendered it uninhabitable for the few remaining survivors. As Krystyna details their futile attempts to resettle the area before they abandoned it, she produces an ancient tome and tells Alexa that Jan, driven to despair by his failure to protect his loved ones, had stayed by the petrified Aila for many days and nights, refusing to eat or drink in the hopes that he would die and be reunited with her in the afterlife. Recalling how broken Jan had been when she had first met him, Mystra remarks to Zinnia that seeing that look of regret – the realisation that you could never go back to the way things were before – was something she never wanted to see again as the archivist continues the story…

On the brink of absolute despair, Jan was approached by Olympica and her two Meowstic, who offered a potential solution in the form of Xerneas, who had disappeared when the main kingdom fell. With her life-giving powers providing the slimmest of chances for him to revive Aila, and with no other choice, Jan decided to look for her, and Olympica had told him all that she knew about the Legendary before departing for parts unknown. Following this encounter, the farmer spent several years searching numerous natural and man-made locations, but failed to find Xerneas as she was constantly on the move, healing what she could and providing aid to the suffering Pokémon left in the wake of the civil war. Furthermore, while this was happening, the kingdom slowly tore itself apart as the various states, vying for power, deposed King AZ and fought over the throne, which made his travels exceedingly difficult.

One day, Jan and his Gogoat had chanced upon a cloud of purple fog in the middle of a dying forest, and upon venturing into it, they were attacked by Mystra, who nearly killed them before Jan asserted his innocence. Sheathing her blades following this misunderstanding, the Fallen Celestial asked what he was doing, and upon learning of Jan’s goals and intentions, she revealed that they had the same objective and offered him her services if he helped her and her disciples in her endeavours. Despite his suspicions after years of being taken advantage of, Jan accepted and was subsequently introduced to Zannah, Azazel, and a third Fallen Celestial named Malak, who were caring for wild Pokémon in the area that had been affected by the purple fog.

However, while the three figures seemed polite enough, Gogoat quickly realised that they were not human and alerted his trainer, whose attempt to stay at a safe distance from them nearly resulted in a standoff with Malak. Calming them with her three Inkay, Zannah reminded Malak that they had to work together, but at that moment, she was interrupted by an old man stumbling out of the woods with an arrow wound, whom Mystra recognised as one of her spies. Dying as she eased his suffering with her Aura, the old man revealed to both Jan and Mystra that he had found Xerneas in the company of a man named Veofum, the lord of a small Kalosian state whose main castle was nearby. Upon learning of this, Jan decided to go there immediately, and Mystra chose to follow him after seeing the desperation on his face and the hope that this would help him revive Aila.

Opening another set of old records, Sycamore is perplexed when he is unable to find Veofum’s state, but is informed by Mystra that it doesn’t exist anymore because it was wiped off the map shortly after they learned of it, which leads Alexia and Zinnia to deduce that she had been part of those events. However, they also realise that the timing of these events coincides with AZ’s construction of the Ultimate Weapon in Geosenge Town, and the Fallen Celestial bitterly confirms this as she recalls assisting in the assembly of said weapon. Comforting his wife, Philippe reminds her that they cannot change the past and gently encourages her to accept what happened while never forgetting it, as he will help her deal with what comes next. With that problem solved, Sycamore turns back to Krystyna and asks her to continue…

Upon ascertaining the location of Veofum’s fortress, the quintet headed there immediately, with Zannah guessing that he must have stolen Xerneas to give himself an advantage over the other states. This theory was proven right when, upon infiltrating the fortress, they found the Legendary Pokémon in the stronghold’s courtyard, having assumed her tree form and refusing to blossom in Veofum’s presence. Losing his patience as they watched, Veofum ordered his soldiers to burn her alive, only for Jan to run into the courtyard and shout at them to stop before he was quickly overwhelmed and subdued by the numerous guards. Hissing from the shadows about how foolish they were to bring along someone so easily “manipulated” by their emotions, Azazel was interrupted by Malak, who chided him for his “narrow” mindset and highlighted to Mystra about how they could take advantage of the situation, which she approved of.

To Jan’s dismay, his pleas were disregarded by many and even mocked by Veofum, who ignored his claims that they would bring a calamity upon themselves if they harmed a Legendary Pokémon and immediately ordered his execution. Before he could be decapitated, Mystra and her disciples attacked the guards, the former wielding the Staff of Life and the Sword of Destruction as she cut through scores of soldiers to reach Jan while Malak slaughtered hundreds of men, women and children with his bare hands. Having survived the massacre by sheer luck, Veofum cornered the group before they could escape the courtyard with the castle’s garrison… but at that moment, the skies darkened, and an inhuman shriek was heard as hundreds of glowing green cells appeared. Realising that someone had set Xerneas on fire in the chaos, Mystra grabbed her companions and fled for cover as the cells merged into a 50% Zygarde, which glowered down at the spectacle before unleashing Land’s Wrath.

Identifying this Zygarde as Z2, Mystra recalls that as she fled deeper into the fortress, it took all her strength and Aura to perform a spell to protect her companions as the entire fortress was razed to the ground and everyone in it was killed – including Jan’s loyal Gogoat, which she had not been able to shield in time. However, when Alexa compares Zygarde to something which protects the human body from danger, Philippe scoffs and reveals that Zygarde back then were a lot more violent than Squishy, with Mystra agreeing by recounting how the Legendary Pokémon chased the survivors through the ruins of the fortress to kill them. Disturbed by the claims, Sycamore wonders how they managed to escape the Legendary Pokémon’s wrath and learns that they were only saved by events “far beyond our control”, leading the professor to realise that the timeline of these events occurs at almost the exact moment when AZ fired the Ultimate Weapon. However, he questions how Jan was able to survive the blast, which prompts Krystyna and Mystra to continue their story.

As the blast wave of the Ultimate Weapon had washed over them, Jan realised that Mystra had cast an enchantment on his body by combining the Staff of Life’s power with her own Aura, which led him to ask her why she didn’t save everyone else in this same way. But as she revealed that she didn’t have the energy to pull this off on a wide scale, they were attacked by the immune Zygarde, which she and her acolytes fought, only to be defeated. However, before they could be killed, the chimes of a bell were heard coming from the burned tree, causing Zygarde to freeze, and Mystra seized the opportunity by unveiling the Crown of Dominion and taking control of the Order Pokémon. With Azazel, Zannah and Malak assisting her in holding down the Legendary, she ordered it to kill itself, ignoring Jan’s shock and protests as the Pokémon shot a Dragon Pulse at itself and blew its body apart.

Now alone amidst the destruction, Mystra and her acolytes moved quickly to catalogue the events and collect the remnants of Zygarde cells for their future experiments. However, as they did this, they were interrupted when the tree transformed into Xerneas, whom Jan approached, begging her to help him as he fell to his knees… only for the Legendary Pokémon to ignore him, turn, and walk away without saying a word. Seeing this (and reminded of when she lost Philippe), Mystra stepped up and demanded help from Xerneas after all her companion had been through… but when she was met with the same silence and indifference from the Legendary Pokémon, the Fallen Celestial snapped and used the Crown of Dominion on Xerneas before asking a stunned Jan where he was from.

Despite his protests towards their methods, Jan brought Mystra and her acolyte to the ruins of his hometown, where they commanded Xerneas (whom they had forced to walk the whole way) to restore the barren wasteland. Once that was done, they released the Legendary Pokémon with just enough energy for her to depart of her own accord, and an exhausted Mystra collapsed on the ground as she considered her actions “payback” for her lack of answers to her prayers. Angered, the weakened Legendary Pokémon had almost attacked Mystra, but her disciples and Jan had defended her, with Zannah and Azazel pointing out that she should not prioritise either Pokémon or humans over the other, as they are all equals sharing the same home.

Remaining silent as she pondered their words, Xerneas conceded that they were right to an extent, but as she turned to leave, Jan noticed that Aila was not restored and pleaded with the Legendary Pokémon to revive her. However, Xerneas responded that she could not and would not, as it would disrupt the balance of life and death – something which, she had added, Mystra needed to learn. With that, the Legendary Pokémon had left, but Mystra was told to ignore those words by Malak, who reminded her of how unfair it was that Philippe was taken away from her. Looking back on this in the present, the Fallen Celestial admits to her husband that she should have heeded Xerneas’ advice more carefully.

From there, the group spent several weeks attempting various methods and spells to revive Aila, but were ultimately unable to resurrect her. Nevertheless, with several settlers returning to the restored land to start the village anew, a grateful Jan thanked Mystra before she moved on with her disciples, knowing that she had done her best to help him and vice versa and offering them a place to stay if they ever decided to return. Moved by his gratitude, Mystra suggested that he write about his experiences so that everyone would know more about what Legendary and Mythical Pokémon can do, which Jan promised to do before she departed.

However, with his only possible solution to revive Aila having failed, Jan settled down, building a temple around her petrified form and growing an entire garden around her with the help of wild Pokémon that sympathised with his plight. In his spare time, he also followed Mystra’s advice, recording his travels and encounters in a series of writings that would form the basis of Kalosian mythology many centuries later, and even adding different sources from other regions to create a clearer picture of these powerful, god-like beings and how they functioned in the world. As time went by, however, he never left the temple and stayed by Aila’s side for the rest of his life before dying of old age many years later.

Ending the story, Krystyna asks her audience what they think of it, and a contemplative Sycamore muses that it was quite a profound tale as he concludes that while Xerneas and Yveltal are incarnations of life and death that take care of the land and its people, Zygarde restores balance and the natural order when something disrupts the cycle through whatever methods it deems fit. Speculating that perhaps Zygarde is watching them as they speak, Alexa asks Mystra about what happened to Malak… only for the Fallen Celestial to decline to respond in detail and only reveal that he left her cause a few years following that. Surprised by this information, Philippe realises that he could still be out there while remembering how a recent investigation on the plateau where the Battle of Kalos took place revealed that Zannah and Azazel’s bodies had disappeared.

However, as the others continue their conversation, Zinnia approaches the statue after Aster senses something strange and discovers, upon reaching out with her nascent Aura powers, a faint spark of life within the petrified girl. Realising that she is still alive, she brings out Phantump and Salamence to figure out what to do and eventually concludes that not only does Aila have no place in the modern world, but to face all of life’s challenges without any loved ones would be tantamount to a death sentence. Reluctantly unsheathing the Sword of Death, Zinnia taps it on Aila’s shoulder, and by focusing her Aura with Phantump’s help, she euthanises the maiden by draining her life force, praying that she will be reunited with her loved ones in the afterlife before rejoining her parents.

Many years ago, a young girl had chanced upon the now-elderly Jan, lying at the base of Aila’s statue. Wistful, Jan tells the girl that he had been having a conversation with Aila and tells her about his encounter with the Legendary Pokémon all those years ago, while explaining how they keep the cycle of life and death turning so long as they are left to their own devices. Excited, the girl invites him back to her home so she can hear more stories, but the old man declines, expressing a desire to stay by the statue’s side and sensing that he does not have much longer to live. Closing his eyes, he thanks the girl for the chat and listens as her voice fades away to be replaced by that of Aila’s, and as she tells him that she is waiting for him, Jan responds that he is coming as his younger spirit gets up from his body and rises into the sky.

The main end credits are played over a montage showcasing notable events of Philippe’s journey up to the present day and end with a mid-credit scene of him and Zinnia visiting the hospital early in the morning to check on Emma. Now more responsive, the orphan formerly known as Essentia speaks with the Draconid, who reveals her father’s intentions to adopt her. Responding to this with great enthusiasm, Emma hugs her soon-to-be sister, and Philippe heads outside to give them some time to talk… only to be surprised when he finds the Eternal Flower Floette sitting on the balcony railing.

Initially shocked, the king composes himself and greets the ageless Fairy-type before asking her how she is alive and why she left his father. Looking at the young lord, the Single Bloom Pokémon reveals that she was angry at AZ for killing so many living beings in the name of peace, but had eventually realised that her departure only sealed his fate to wander the world alone for the rest of eternity, especially since they were both made immortal by the blast of the Ultimate Weapon. However, as she explains, her pride and fury meant that she never forgave AZ, and Philippe finishes her account with the realisation that it meant that she was never able to say goodbye before his father’s death. Regretting not speaking up before, Floette asks Philippe what she should do, and after some contemplation, the king invites her to stay with his family while she thinks about it. Accepting his offer, she allows him to bring her back inside as a Fletchling flies across the rising sun with a final chirp.

The Strongest Duo! Clemont and Cilan!!

Having had a busy time at the Lumiose Gym ever since parting ways with their friends, the Liscio siblings take a day off for a fishing competition at Meyer’s suggestion. Quickly growing bored with the slow pace, Bonnie asks her brother if he has any inventions to make things go faster, which leads Clemont to unveil an electronic fishing rod that he claims will help him catch the best Pokémon. However, his explanation of the automated device is interrupted by a nearby Cilan, who calmly retorts that such a rod would be the worst kind, and an insulted Clemont demands an explanation.

Seizing the opportunity, Cilan explains the thrill of fishing and chance in his usual “fishing connoisseur” ways, but Clemont staunchly maintains that his device will be able to do all that and more. Seeing how he cannot change the inventor’s mind, Cilan introduces himself and what he does… but is interrupted when the former’s line begins to shake, prompting Bonnie to grab and try pulling it in. Upon seeing this, Cilan advises her to stay still and let the catch come to her, which Bonnie decides to follow as she successfully reels in a large (and angry) Clawitzer that immediately attacks her. Acting fast, Cilan drives off the Water-Type with his Stunfisk as Tarık and Vukašin, having overheard the commotion from nearby, arrive to provide belated aid and apologetically reveal that large numbers of wild Pokémon that have returned to Lumiose have had trouble finding their original homes due to the Kalos Crisis.

With the fishing competition ending, the quintet heads back into the city, and Cilan takes the opportunity to inquire about how things are going after explaining that he heard of the recent battles through his girlfriend, who works in the Pokémon League. Sensing that they can trust him, Clemont tells him that Philippe is currently trying to establish a formal alliance with Hoenn, having recently left the region earlier that morning with an entourage consisting of Zinnia, Mystra and a few of the Knights, and Cilan muses that his girlfriend could do with some help like that. Curious as to where the Connoisseur is going, Bonnie asks him, and upon learning of his plan to visit the Prism Tower, she reveals that her brother is the Gym Leader. Thrilled, Cilan tells them that he is a Gym Leader too and recounts his experiences at the Striaton Gym (though he also discloses that since his role as an S-Rank Connoisseur requires him to travel constantly, it is really Chili and Cress who are doing the heavy lifting). Similarly excited, Bonnie tries to drag him to their home, only to be surprised when Cilan asks whether they can take the subway there instead.

Obliging his request, the Liscio siblings bring Cilan down into the city’s underbelly via a nearby subway entrance, where he marvels over the system and deems it to be far more advanced than the one in Nimbasa City due to Clemont’s modifications. As her brother gains a big head and begins bragging about his accomplishments in revolutionising the transportation system, an exasperated Bonnie realises that this is going to take a while as a curious Tarık notices a new train that he has not seen before. Learning from Clemont and Cilan that it is a new prototype that is currently being field-tested for Tag Battles at high speeds, he boards it with Bonnie (who is eager to explore the transport) in the hopes of trying it out… only for the doors to suddenly close before the train speeds down the tracks. Alarmed, Clemont, Cilan and Vukašin head to the control room, where they discover that this is not a singular occurrence, and that trains all over Lumiose are currently out of control due to a sudden power surge.

Taking control of the situation, Clemont quickly uncovers the problem – a malfunctioning microprocessor – and fixes it, bringing all the trains under control except for the one that Bonnie and Tarık are on, which does not respond to the signal at all. Remaining calm in his role as a “subway connoisseur”, Cilan advises Clemont to use the intercom to contact Bonnie, through which the Lumiose Gym Leader learns that Tarık has been trying (and failing) to force the doors of the operator room open. Going over his options as Vukašin calls for help, Clemont tells Bonnie to have Dedenne short out the electronic lock with Nuzzle, which grants her access to the controls and allows her to stop the transport by manually applying the emergency brakes. Relieved, Bonnie tells her brother to come and get them, but before Tarık can relax, he is abruptly yanked out of the train by a large creature and drops his Pokéballs.

Unaware of this new development, Clemont, Cilan and Vukašin head out on a rail inspection cart, and the former uses the Aipom Arm to switch the tracks so that they can approach Bonnie’s position from the front. However, upon seeing the younger Liscio’s attempts to warn them to stay away, Cilan stops his companions before directing their attention to a recently-made hole in the tunnel wall, which leads him to conclude that something must be on the train with her… right before it starts up on its own. Narrowly avoiding the train before it runs them down, Clemont and Cilan initially panic when they realise that the track it is barrelling down is a dead-end, but calm down upon remembering instances of Ash saving others throughout their respective journeys and formulate a plan as they try to catch up to the runaway train.

Eventually, once they catch up, Clemont passes the controls of the cart to Cilan and grabs the Connoisseur’s fishing rod as Vukašin uses his Trevenant to force the emergency door of the train open. With Cilan keeping at the same speed as their target, Clemont yells at Bonnie to jump out and catches her with the rod and the Aipom Arm as the train crashes into a wall. However, as the Liscio siblings hug in relief, Cilan puts on his “detective connoisseur” hat and identifies the culprit as an Eelektross, guessing that it must have entered the subway tunnels via a sewage pipe and mistakenly caused the malfunction with an Ion Deluge after getting on top of the train. This is proven seconds later as said Pokémon appears on top of the train alongside a captive Tarık, who commends Cilan on his deduction before demanding that they save him.

Springing into action, Clemont, Cilan and Vukašin bring out Chespin, Pansage and Clawitzer, all of whom batter the EleFish Pokémon into submission until Bonnie notices that it is not fighting back and alerts her brother. Deducing that the Pokémon must be affected by an overcharge of electricity after touching the electrified rails, Clemont gets his younger sister to have Dedenne use Nuzzle to drain the excess electricity from Eelektross, and Vukašin catches on by using Tarık’s Spritzee to soothe it with Calm Mind. Though risky, the plan works, and the no-longer hostile Eelektross is guided back to the canals, where it leaves peacefully.

With the situation resolved, the group arrives at Prism Tower as dusk falls, and Clemont offers Cilan a place to stay for the night upon learning that he is planning to leave for Shalour City in the morning. Thanking the Lumiose Gym Leader, the Connoisseur adds that their adventure today made him feel like he was travelling with Ash again… and is surprised when the Liscio siblings reveal that they know Ash too. This leads Cilan to challenge Clemont to a double battle out of a desire to practice his skills against another of Ash’s companions, and Clemont accepts by bringing out Luxray and Heliolisk while Bonnie cheers for her brother.

Watching the battle for a while, Tarık and Vukašin eventually take their leave, with the latter musing on the impact that Ash has (unknowingly) had on two “random” people passing by each other on the street. Agreeing as they leave, the former takes one last look at the Prism Tower shining in the night sky before rejoining his ally, confident that Kalos will always endure whatever comes their way, with or without outside assistance.