SM044

(Japanese: サトシとほしぐも！不思議な出会い！！  and ! Mysterious Encounter!!) is the 44th episode of the, and the 983rd episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on October 5, 2017.

Plot
After returning to Melemele Island, Ash has a strange dream. Then he and his friends find an unknown Pokémon in the forest, and Lillie's mom visits!

Major events

 * finds and befriends a, which nicknames Nebby.
 * Lillie reunites with her mother, Lusamine.
 * Ash meets Lusamine, Professor Burnet, Faba, and Wicke for the first time.
 * Ash learns about the Aether Foundation and Ultra Beasts.

Humans

 * Professor Burnet
 * Aether Foundation
 * Lusamine (in person)
 * Wicke
 * Faba

Pokémon debuts

 * (Nebby)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)

Humans

 * Professor Kukui
 * Samson Oak
 * Lusamine
 * Gladion
 * Professor Burnet
 * Wicke
 * Faba
 * Samson Oak
 * Lusamine
 * Gladion
 * Professor Burnet
 * Wicke
 * Faba

Pokémon
Who's That Pokémon?: (Japan)
 * (Alola Form)
 * ('s; Alola Form; Snowy)
 * (Samson Oak's)
 * (Gladion's)
 * (Gladion's; )
 * (Gladion's; Silvally)
 * (Lusamine's; evolves; fantasy)
 * (Lusamine's; newly evolved; fantasy)
 * (Professor Burnet's; video)
 * (×2; ; one as a painting)
 * (×2; ; one as a painting)
 * (Nebby; debut)
 * (×2; debut; one as a painting)
 * (×2; debut; one as a painting)
 * (×2)
 * (video)
 * (×2; video)
 * (video)
 * (video)
 * (video)
 * (video)
 * (video; debut)
 * (video)
 * (dream; debut)
 * (dream; debut)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (dream; debut)
 * (dream; debut)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)
 * (painting)

Trivia

 * Poké Problem "What is the name of my mother who will appear in today's episode?"
 * Host:
 * Choices: Lusamine, Wicke, Professor Burnet, Olivia
 * Answer: Lusamine
 * Alola!! returns as the opening theme, replacing the 20th anniversary edition of Aim to Be a Pokémon Master.
 * The shot of running up the hill on his way to the Pokémon School is similar to the first shot of Alola!!.
 * The title card is modified to display the Z-Power Ring from Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
 * When trying to feed Nebby some Moomoo Milk, makes a face resembling that of the art style of.
 * , Jessie, and James narrate the preview for the next episode.

Errors

 * When slaps Ash awake, its tail becomes disconnected from its body for a split-second.