Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Volcanion was bound to Ash by accident when it crashed into the forest near Ash's camp. While trying to intervene in Alva's plot to steal Magearna, Volcanion was caught by an electromagnetic band that Alva had deployed. When Volcanion crashed, the band attached to both Volcanion and Ash, creating an involuntary tether that neither could easily remove. This accidental connection forced them to work together as the band could not be removed without specialized tools or help from Pokémon capable of manipulating电磁 technology.

Foreshadowing: The band was originally part of Alva's equipment for capturing Pokémon, which hints at his unethical methods throughout the film.

• electromagnetic band
• Volcanion
• Ash
• capture device
• Alva

Alva wants Magearna for political power and control. Magearna is an Artificial Pokémon created centuries ago with immense power that could be exploited to dominate the kingdom. As a Mega Evolution Councillor, Alva seeks to leverage Magearna's power to gain political advantage and strengthen his position in the Azoth Kingdom. He orchestrates the entire plot to move Magearna from the Nebel Plateau to the capital, planning to use her abilities as a weapon to assert dominance.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes establish Alva's political ambition and his willingness to use Pokémon as tools, showing his corrupt nature from the start.

• Alva
• Magearna
• Azoth Kingdom
• political power
• control

The Soul-Heart is Magearna's core power source, an ancient mechanism that contains her life force and magical abilities. Created centuries ago by a scientist, it serves as both Magearna's heart and the key to controlling her immense power. When Alva shatters the Soul-Heart, he awakens a dormant mechanism in Azoth Castle that transforms the fortress into a flying weapon, demonstrating how vital the Soul-Heart is to Magearna's function and to the castle's defense system.

Foreshadowing: Magearna's creation as an Artificial Pokémon by a scientist centuries earlier establishes her as a powerful artifact with hidden capabilities.

• Soul-Heart
• Magearna
• Artificial Pokémon
• power source
• Azoth Castle

Volcanion sacrifices itself because the fortress, now a flying weapon controlled by Alva, poses an immediate threat to destroy Nebel Plateau and kill all the Pokémon living there. With Alva's control broken but the fortress still airborne and dangerous, Volcanion enters the fortress's core and uses its own power to destroy it from within. This sacrifice is the only way to prevent the fortress from carrying out Alva's vendetta against the plateau and ensure the survival of its Pokémon inhabitants.

Foreshadowing: Throughout the journey, Volcanion demonstrates a deep protective instinct toward the plateau Pokémon who accepted it, showing its willingness to put their safety above its own.

• Volcanion
• sacrifice
• fortress
• Nebel Plateau
• destroy

Magearna revives Volcanion through the emotional bond they formed during the adventure. After Volcanion seemingly dies destroying the fortress, Magearna uses her remaining power and calls out to Volcanion with a desperate plea. The revival is symbolized by a gentle floral cough that Volcanion had earlier found amusing, this shared moment represents their connection and allows Volcanion to be restored. The flower itself, carried by Magearna, becomes the conduit for bringing Volcanion back from the brink of death.

Foreshadowing: The floral cough that tickled Volcanion's nose earlier in the film was a deliberate setup for this emotional reunion, showing how small moments of joy can become lifelines.

• Magearna
• Volcanion
• revive
• bond
• flower
• cough

Azoth Castle becomes a flying weapon when Alva shatters Magearna's Soul-Heart inside the castle. The Soul-Heart was connected to an ancient mechanism designed centuries ago by Magearna's creator. When the Soul-Heart breaks, it activates this mechanism, causing the castle's foundations to separate and the entire structure to rise into the sky. Alva intends to use the flying fortress as a weapon to threaten and dominate the kingdom, demonstrating how the magic of an Artificial Pokémon was repurposed into a destructive tool.

Foreshadowing: The castle's architecture appears unusually advanced for its time, hinting at the mechanical marvel hidden within its walls.

• Azoth Castle
• flying weapon
• Soul-Heart
• Magearna
• mechanism

After his defeat, Alva is left tangled in the wreckage of his jetpack, which was destroyed during the battle. Princess Kimia and her shiny Gardevoir discover him stuck in a tree, and Gardevoir levitates him onto Kimia's aircraft where magnetic bands finally imprison him. Alva is taken into custody along with his subordinates Levi and Cherie, facing justice for his crimes against both Pokémon and the kingdom. His plans for power and domination are completely foiled.

Foreshadowing: Alva's reliance on technology and control throughout the film ironically leads to his downfall when those tools are turned against him.

• Alva
• defeat
• arrest
• jetpack
• Kimia
• Gardevoir

Princess Kimia is Prince Raleigh's sister and the daughter of the Azoth Kingdom's royal family. She plays a crucial role by helping Ash and his friends during their journey, particularly when Team Rocket attempts to capture Magearna. Kimia coordinates with Clemont to remove the electromagnetic bands binding the travelers and later joins the infiltration of the flying fortress. After the battle, she takes charge of apprehending Alva, showing her commitment to justice and her kingdom's wellbeing.

Foreshadowing: Kimia's initial appearance alongside her shiny Gardevoir establishes her as a capable ally with powerful Pokémon at her disposal.

• Princess Kimia
• Raleigh
• Azoth Kingdom
• royal family
• help

Squishy the Zygarde Core helps because it is the guardian of Nebel Plateau's ecosystem and is dedicated to maintaining the balance between nature and threats. As a Zygarde Core, its purpose is to protect the environment and the Pokémon living within it. When Alva threatens to destroy the plateau with the flying fortress, Squishy rallies the local Pokémon to defend their home, understanding that Alva's actions would devastate the entire region and disrupt the ecological balance it is sworn to protect.

Foreshadowing: Squishy's presence on the plateau from the beginning signals its role as a protector, though its full abilities are revealed only during the climax.

• Squishy
• Zygarde Core
• Nebel Plateau
• help
• protect
• balance

Ash defeats Alva's control by destroying the cane that serves as the source of his command over the Pokémon. Throughout the battle, Alva uses a special cane to channel commands to the Pokémon under his control, forcing them to attack Ash and his friends. Ash recognizes this and manages to strike the cane directly, breaking it and severing Alva's control. Without the cane, the enslaved Pokémon regain their freedom and can act according to their own will, turning the tide of the battle.

Foreshadowing: Alva's reliance on the cane to command Pokémon is established early, showing his preference for artificial control over genuine connection.

• Ash
• Alva
• cane
• control
• defeat
• Pokémon

Volcanion and Magearna share a deep bond as legendary Pokémon who both understand the pain of being used by humans. Throughout the film, they develop a connection rooted in mutual respect and shared experience. Magearna's gentle nature appeals to Volcanion's protective instincts, while Volcanion comes to care for Magearna as a friend worth protecting. This bond is what ultimately allows Magearna to revive Volcanion after his sacrifice, she calls upon their connection to bring him back, demonstrating that their relationship transcends mere acquaintance.

Foreshadowing: Early interactions between Volcanion and Magearna show subtle moments of connection that build toward their final reunion.

• Volcanion
• Magearna
• relationship
• bond
• legendary Pokémon

The mechanical city refers to Azoth Castle and its surrounding kingdom, which features advanced mechanical technology created centuries ago by the same scientist who built Magearna. The entire fortress was designed as a marvel of engineering, capable of transforming into a flying weapon when activated by Magearna's Soul-Heart. This ancient technology represents both the brilliance and the danger of creating artificial Pokémon, the same power that can protect can also be weaponized for destruction.

Foreshadowing: The kingdom's name "Azoth" and the presence of Magearna hint at the advanced technological heritage waiting to be revealed.

• mechanical city
• Azoth Castle
• technology
• Ancient
• fortress