Rescuing the Unwilling! (Japanese:急げ！ルザミーネ救出大作戦！！Hurry! The Great Lusamine Rescue Operation!!) is the 53rd episode ofPokémon the Series: Sun & Moon, and the 992nd episode of thePokémon animated series. It first aired in Japan on December 7, 2017, in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2018, in New Zealand on April 12, 2018, and in the United States on April 14, 2018.
Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.
Our heroes have made it through the Ultra Wormhole, but when they find the captured Lusamine, they’re shocked to find she wants nothing to do with them! With an Ultra Beast controlling her mind, it’s up to Lillie, Ash, and friends to rescue her. Their Pokémon spring into action—but so do Lusamine’s Pokémon, who are also under the Ultra Beast’s control. Lillie gathers her courage and reaches out to Clefable, recounting the fun they had together in years past. Her reassuring persistence pays off, and Clefable breaks free of the Ultra Beast’s control. Meanwhile, riding on Solgaleo’s back, Ash presses on to find Lusamine—and the Ultra Beast.
Plot
AsLillie narrates the events ofthe previous episode,the group exits theUltra Wormhole and entersUltra Deep Sea, a darkdimension filled with floating islands of jagged rocks. Just as the group lands, they find themselves surrounded by severalNihilego.Gladion explains theUltra Beasts are UB01: Symbiont, the same ones responsible for his mother's kidnapping. Meanwhile,Professors Kukui andBurnet, still at theAltar of the Sunne, set up a temporary Ultra Wormhole monitoring station. One of the machines fires a location marker to aid Ash and his friends upon their return.Team Rocket watches the professors from their cliff-side view. They try to retreat, withAsh now missing, butBewear hugs them tightly to immobilize them.
Back at Ultra Deep Sea, Gladion demands the group split up, though the idea concernsLillie.Sophocles states an investigation is in order, before one of Nihilego's tentacles brushes against him. Ash's confidence only irritates Sophocles, though Ash explains that the group have their Pokémon. This spurs the group into calling out all of their Pokémon.Nebby roars, just asLusamine appears and her eyes open, though she is trapped andbonded with a Nihilego. Lillie calls out and Rotom confirms Lusamine's identity with a facial recognition feature.
Solgaleo roars once more; this time, Lusamine demands the group stay away from her. Lillie runs towards her mother, and Ash and Gladion attempt to stop her. As a defense, Lusamine blocks the path with jagged rocks, but Ash manages to save Lillie from injury.Gladion's Umbreon usesDark Pulse, which shatters the stones. Gladion theorizes that Nihilego may be draining his mother's energy, though he clarifies little is known of Ultra Beasts in general. Ash moves forward, thoughKiawe notes that the group may be provoking Lusamine. She continues to retreat, exclaiming that she finally got to meet an Ultra Beast and will not give it up, leaving a rocky staircase for the group to follow.Mallow calls Lusamine's behavior childish; Gladion adds that Lusamine may consider the Ultra Beast a toy that she won't part with, and consequently considers the group as a threat.
The group finally catches up to Lusamine, and Lillie commandsSnowy to usePowder Snow. Lusamine defends herself with her rock shield and then shouts out that she hates everyone. Lillie is initially taken aback by this, but Mallow offers support and Lillie concludes Lusamine must be illogical.Pikachu'sThunderbolt,Turtonator'sFlamethrower,Marowak'sBonemerang, andGladion's Lycanroc'sStone Edge all prove to be useless as well. Nebby steps forward, glows, and jumps through the barrier, much to everyone's amazement. Lusamine summons herSalazzle, which is surrounded in an aura. Turtonator counters Salazzle's poison attack with a Flamethrower, which allows Lusamine to flee again. Salazzle uses another attack and evades Turtonator'sDragon Tail, though it is hit by Marowak'sFlare Blitz. Kiawe volunteers to stay behind to take care of Salazzle while the rest of the group continue on.
The group catches up to Lusamine once again, and she calls upon herMilotic,Mismagius, andLilligant. A Thunderbolt andHydro Pump are launched, though the group evades the attacks.Lana hasPopplio useBubble Beam, while Mallow calls forMagical Leaf, though Lilligant'sPetal Dance blocks the attack. Mismagius uses another Thunderbolt, though it is absorbed byTogedemaru. Ash, Lillie, and Gladion continue following Lusamine, leaving the others and Rotom to confront Lusamine's diversions. Popplio's Bubble Beam hits Lilligant, andSteenee'sDouble Slap combats Milotic'sAqua Tail. Just as Mismagius laughs at the group's induced confusion because of Lilligant'sTeeter Dance, Ash'sLitten andRowlet join the match. Lilligant'sSweet Scent instantly attracts Rowlet, much to everyone's frustration. Meanwhile, Kiawe's match against Salazzle ends after a combination between Turtonator'sInferno Overdrive alongside Marowak's Bonemerang.
Meanwhile, Gladion, Lillie, and Ash re-encounter Lusamine, and she sends out herAbsol. Gladion remarks that it was a sparring partner to his Umbreon. Absol makes the first move, which collidesUmbreon's Dark Pulse. Gladion sends Nebby, Ash, and Lillie on their way. With the battle still raging, Absol fires anIce Beam, which freezesSilvally on the spot, followed byMean Look, which is used on Umbreon and Lycanroc.
Lusamine is again confronted by Ash and Lillie; she continues to express her frustration towards them, and calls uponClefable. Lillie tells Ash that she will battle against Clefable, and refers to it as her best friend. AfterLycanroc intercepts Clefable'sMoonblast, Ash leaves it with Lillie and rides on Nebby towards Lusamine. Clefable attacks withDazzling Gleam, though Lycanroc again blocks the attack. Both Snowy's Powder Snow and Lycanroc'sRock Throw hit their target, pushing Clefable back. Lillie grabs aPoké Doll from her bag, calmly and defiantly approaching Clefable while holding it out. She expresses her hope that Clefable will stop fighting when it reminisces about their past together. However, Clefable begins to launch another Dazzling Gleam. Lillie gestures to Lycanroc and Snowy to stay back as she embraces Clefable and is engulfed in the attack's light. Her persistence pays off, and Clefable returns to its usual state and smiles. Meanwhile, Ash and Pikachu continue to pursue Lusamine aboard Nebby.
