Chapter Summaries

Xiao Zhen visited Professor Oak's Laboratory and chose an above-average Charmander as his starter Pokémon. After collecting a Pokédex, he headed back toward town and prepared to test Charmander in a battle against a Rattata.

• Xiao Zhen reached Professor Oak's Laboratory, met Professor Oak and his assistant, and ate their instant noodles.
• Professor Oak showed Xiao Zhen the starter Pokémon, and Xiao Zhen used the system to choose an above-average Charmander.
• Professor Oak gave Xiao Zhen a Pokédex, and Xiao Zhen said he planned to restock supplies before setting off.
• Xiao Zhen encountered a Rattata on the path, sent out Charmander, and prepared to battle.

Xiao Zhen found that Charmander refused to obey him, so he subdued it with force and enticed it with Unicorn King Serpent jerky until it accepted him as its Trainer. He returned to Hanako’s home with Charmander and his Trainer qualification certificate.

• Xiao Zhen ordered Charmander to fight a Rattata, but Charmander ignored him and let the Rattata escape with its fruit.
• When Xiao Zhen tried to return Charmander, it knocked away the Poké Ball and breathed fire at him, scorching his clothes.
• Xiao Zhen fought Charmander, overpowered it with his own flames, and gave it a Healing Pill to help it recover.
• Xiao Zhen offered Charmander Unicorn King Serpent jerky, and Charmander accepted him as its Trainer by entering the Poké Ball.
• Xiao Zhen returned to Hanako’s home, showed her his Poké Ball, and told her he had received his starter Pokémon and Trainer qualification certificate.

Xiao Zhen prepared to leave Pallet Town and invited Hanako to travel with him, but Yumi initially refused because she feared being left alone. Hanako eventually caught up with Xiao Zhen and declared she would join him, and he ended the chapter by forcing a kiss on her.

• At dinner, Xiao Zhen invited Hanako to travel with him, but Yumi refused because Hanako's Trainer father was often away and she feared losing her daughter too.
• The next day, Hanako dragged Xiao Zhen out to shop for supplies, and Yumi secretly took out a Trainer's License bearing Hanako's name.
• Xiao Zhen and Hanako bought food, clothes, equipment, Poké Balls, and a bicycle during a full day of shopping.
• The next morning, Xiao Zhen left Pallet Town alone, believing Hanako was avoiding him, but Hanako rushed after him and said she had decided to travel with him.
• Hanako threatened to accuse Xiao Zhen of harassment if he left her behind, and Xiao Zhen grabbed her shoulders and forced a kiss on her.

Hanako joined Xiao Zhen on his travels, and her mother accepted her decision to become a Pokémon Trainer. After receiving the supplies her father had prepared, Hanako set out with Xiao Zhen and entered Viridian Forest.

• Xiao Zhen chased after Hanako, and the two teased each other as they rode toward the main road.
• Aunt Yumi stopped Hanako and heard her insist that she wanted to travel and become a Pokémon Trainer rather than stay in Pallet Town to become a chef.
• Aunt Yumi accepted Hanako's decision and warned Xiao Zhen to protect her during their journey.
• Aunt Yumi gave Hanako a Poké Ball and Pokémon Trainer certificate that her father had prepared, then drove away.
• Hanako cried as she promised to become a great Trainer and find her father, and Xiao Zhen comforted her.
• Xiao Zhen persuaded the nervous Hanako to enter Viridian Forest, and they pushed their bicycles into the woods.

Xiao Zhen and Hanako encountered a wild Pikachu in the forest, but Hanako’s unusually fat Growlithe knocked itself out before the battle began. Xiao Zhen sent Charmander to fight Pikachu, whose Quick Attack left Charmander struggling to land a hit.

• Xiao Zhen and Hanako traveled through the forest and spotted a Pikachu hiding in the grass.
• Hanako summoned the Growlithe her father had left her and ordered it to attack Pikachu, but it tripped over a rock and crashed into a tree.
• Xiao Zhen sent Charmander to battle Pikachu after Growlithe was knocked out.
• Pikachu used Quick Attack to evade Charmander’s Fury Swipes, while Xiao Zhen used his Soul Power to track Pikachu’s movements.

Xiao Zhen captured Pikachu and continued through Viridian Forest with Hanako, stopping to camp when she grew tired. While searching the forest alone, he came across a group led by Giovanni, whose members were looking for a Dragonite.

• Pikachu attacked Xiao Zhen, but he swatted it away and captured it in a Poké Ball.
• Hanako picked up Pikachu's Poké Ball and comforted her jealous Growlithe before she and Xiao Zhen resumed their journey.
• When Hanako became exhausted, Xiao Zhen led her to a stream and set up camp while she prepared food with Charmander's help.
• Xiao Zhen left camp to search for promising Pokémon and spotted several people hurrying through the forest.
• The group discussed their search for Dragonite and threatened the man who had sent them, revealing that Giovanni led Team Rocket.

Xiao Zhen planned to shatter Giovanni’s worldview by using an extraordinarily powerful Caterpie to challenge Team Rocket. The Caterpie defeated Giovanni’s underlings’ Ekans and Meowth, then forced his Nidoqueen backward, leaving Giovanni eager to capture it.

• Xiao Zhen received a temporary quest to prank Giovanni and came up with a plan after seeing a Caterpie.
• Xiao Zhen secretly arranged for the Caterpie to block Giovanni and Team Rocket’s path.
• A Team Rocket member sent Ekans against the Caterpie, but its Tackle broke Ekans’s fangs and sent it flying.
• Giovanni sent out Meowth, but the Caterpie bounced around and defeated it after a few exchanges.
• Giovanni called out Nidoqueen, whose powerful strike was met head-on by the Caterpie, forcing Nidoqueen back several steps.
• Giovanni recognized the Caterpie’s strength and became greedy to capture it.

Xiao Zhen transformed from Caterpie into Rayquaza to scare Team Rocket and defeat Giovanni’s Pokémon. After completing his mission and claiming 800 Points, he left, unaware that a Caterpie had witnessed everything.

• Xiao Zhen used the Art of a Thousand Transformations to become Rayquaza, shocking Giovanni and his subordinates.
• Giovanni identified Rayquaza and rallied Team Rocket to fight rather than flee.
• Xiao Zhen overwhelmed Team Rocket’s Pokémon with powerful flames and defeated them within minutes.
• Xiao Zhen used soul pressure to knock out the Team Rocket members, including Giovanni, and received 800 Points for completing his mission.
• Xiao Zhen left without trying to destroy Team Rocket, while a Caterpie in a tree watched him go.

Xiao Zhen used the Mental Communication Method to understand a Caterpie that begged to join him, then agreed to take it in if it survived five minutes against Charmander. Their battle began beside the stream, where Charmander's opening attacks failed before it engulfed Caterpie in Flamethrower.

• Xiao Zhen met an unusually intelligent Caterpie by the stream and gave it a fruit.
• Caterpie clung to Xiao Zhen's leg and asked him to take it along, so he spent 2000 Points on the Mental Communication Method.
• Xiao Zhen offered to accept Caterpie if it lasted five minutes against one of his Pokémon, and Caterpie eagerly agreed.
• Xiao Zhen summoned Charmander and explained the terms of the match to it and Caterpie.
• Charmander's Scratch and Fury Swipes missed Caterpie, so it attacked with Flamethrower.

Xiao Zhen discovered that the Rayquaza threatening him was actually Mew playing a prank. After showing off their transformations, he told Mew to leave so he could wake his companions and continue their journey.

• Charmander's flames left Caterpie unharmed, and Caterpie transformed into a giant Rayquaza.
• Rayquaza's roar frightened Charmander unconscious and caused Hanako to faint.
• Xiao Zhen used his scouting function and learned that the Rayquaza was Mew in disguise.
• Mew revealed its true form and asked how Xiao Zhen had seen through the prank.
• Xiao Zhen transformed into Mew, impressed the curious Pokémon, and then told it to leave while he woke his companions.

Xiao Zhen convinced Little Mew to travel with him in disguise, and they bonded over plans to defeat powerful Pokémon with weak-looking forms. After Hanako woke, Xiao Zhen explained away the earlier monster as an Alakazam’s illusion, and the group headed toward Viridian City.

• Little Mew asked to travel with Xiao Zhen, who agreed on the condition that it disguise itself; it transformed into a Dragonite and admitted Giovanni’s group had seen it in the forest.
• Xiao Zhen and Little Mew decided it could disguise itself as weak Pokémon and defeat stronger opponents, sharing stories and ideas for battles.
• Hanako woke on Xiao Zhen’s back and asked about the monster, so Xiao Zhen claimed an Alakazam had created illusions and shown her that Caterpie was real.
• Xiao Zhen, Hanako, and Caterpie continued toward Viridian City, expecting to leave the forest in about ten minutes.

Xiao Zhen treated Hanako and their Pokémon to an extravagant meal in Viridian City, then tried to pay the enormous bill with gold bars. The waitress struggled to accept his unusual form of cash, leaving the payment unresolved.

• Xiao Zhen took Hanako to an upscale restaurant and ordered a private room and the restaurant’s best dishes.
• Xiao Zhen, Hanako, Growlithe, Charmander, and Caterpie devoured the lavish meal, with Growlithe displaying a particularly enormous appetite.
• Hanako offered to help pay, but Xiao Zhen insisted he had enough money and recalled his father’s advice to spend it.
• The waitress brought a bill for over five hundred thousand Alliance Coins, and Xiao Zhen realized his card balance was insufficient.
• Xiao Zhen produced several gold bars from his backpack and offered them as cash, leaving the waitress unsure how to accept them.

Xiao Zhen earned his first Gym Badge in Viridian City and trained Charmander on the road to Pewter City, where Charmander evolved into Charmeleon during a battle with Marill. That night, Hanako tried to discipline an overweight Growlithe, while Xiao Zhen scolded him for howling at nearby campers.

• Xiao Zhen and Hanako found Viridian City Gym, where Xiao Zhen's Charmander defeated the Gym Leader's Butterfree and earned a Badge.
• After spending several days enjoying Viridian City, Xiao Zhen and Hanako set out toward Pewter City, and Xiao Zhen battled several young Trainers along the way.
• A young boy's Marill knocked the exhausted Charmander down with Aqua Jet, but Charmander evolved into Charmeleon as the attack ended.
• Xiao Zhen ordered Charmeleon to use Fury Swipes, and Charmeleon defeated Marill before the boy burst into tears.
• Hanako scolded Growlithe over his poor battle performance and ordered him to exercise, while Xiao Zhen hit him with a stick for howling and disturbing nearby campers.

Xiao Zhen and Hanako arrived in Pewter City and challenged Gym Leader Brock, whose odd behavior with his son Brock Jr. made the visit uncomfortable. The battle began with Charmeleon facing Brock’s Geodude, and Xiao Zhen found himself at a type disadvantage.

• Xiao Zhen and Hanako reached Pewter City, got iced drinks, and went to challenge the local Gym.
• Brock introduced his son Brock Jr., who tried to flirt with Hanako before Brock hit him; Brock and his son secretly exchanged thoughts as they led the guests to the arena.
• Brock explained the Gym’s rocky arena and its rule requiring challengers to bring at least two Pokémon, then Brock Jr. acted as referee.
• Xiao Zhen sent out Charmeleon while Brock chose Geodude, and Brock praised Charmeleon’s training.
• Brock ordered Geodude to use Tackle, while Xiao Zhen commanded Charmeleon to use Flamethrower; Geodude emerged nearly unharmed, and Brock pointed out its type advantage.

Xiao Zhen defeated Brock's Geodude with Charmeleon's Dragon Rage, but Onix then knocked Charmeleon out of the battle. Xiao Zhen sent out Caterpie, whose unexpected speed and powerful poison let it launch a counterattack that sent Onix flying.

• Xiao Zhen ordered Charmeleon to use Dragon Rage, knocking Brock's Geodude out of the arena.
• Brock sent out Onix, who defeated the exhausted Charmeleon with a sweep of his tail.
• Xiao Zhen sent out Caterpie and insisted that the match continue despite Brock offering him the Badge.
• Caterpie dodged Onix's Slam by jumping onto his head, and Onix accidentally struck himself with his tail.
• Caterpie's Poison Sting badly poisoned Onix, and its Tackle sent the huge Pokémon flying.

After defeating Brock with Mew disguised as Caterpie, Xiao Zhen earned the Boulder Badge and promised to keep the embarrassing match quiet. He and Hanako traveled toward Mt. Moon to look for Clefairy, where Xiao Zhen carried her over the difficult trail with a startling leap.

• Xiao Zhen defeated Brock’s Onix with Caterpie, received the Boulder Badge, and agreed not to tell anyone about the challenge.
• Xiao Zhen and Hanako spent several days in Pewter City before hearing that people were collecting Caterpie in large numbers.
• Giovanni gathered Caterpie in Viridian Forest, convinced that he could make one evolve into Rayquaza.
• Hanako asked Xiao Zhen to accompany her to Mt. Moon to catch a Clefairy, and he agreed.
• Xiao Zhen and Hanako reached the mountain trail, and he picked her up and leaped high into the air, frightening her.

Xiao Zhen and Hanako came across a Nidoking attacking a group of Cleffa and Clefairy, and Xiao Zhen sent Mew, disguised as Rattata, to fight it. After Rattata wounded Nidoking, the enraged Pokémon charged straight at Xiao Zhen and Hanako.

• Xiao Zhen carried Hanako quickly along the mountain road and spotted Nidoking attacking a group of Cleffa and Clefairy.
• Hanako asked Xiao Zhen to help the little Pokémon, so he recalled Charmeleon and sent out what appeared to be Rattata.
• Mew, disguised as Rattata, dodged Nidoking's Earthquake and Hyper Beam, then struck it repeatedly with its claws.
• Nidoking noticed Xiao Zhen and charged at him and Hanako, while Hanako hid behind Xiao Zhen and Mew watched from a distance.

Xiao Zhen stopped Nidoking with a single punch, then discovered that the Clefairy had mistaken Nidoking for their enemy and beaten him for his cloak. He pulled Hanako away from the quarrel, but Nidoking got back to his feet behind them.

• Nidoking charged Xiao Zhen, who caught his fist and punched him in the abdomen, leaving him writhing in pain.
• Clefairy reinforcements arrived, and Clefable beat Nidoking down and took his cloak while the Clefairy cheered.
• Xiao Zhen used the Mental Communication Method and realized the Clefairy had mistaken Nidoking for the victim of their earlier conflict.
• Hanako asked Clefable to return Nidoking's cloak, but Clefable drove her away, so Xiao Zhen led her off and recalled Mew.
• After Xiao Zhen and Hanako had walked a hundred meters, Nidoking got back to his feet and roared behind them.

Xiao Zhen helped Nidoking recover from the Clefairy’s suppression, reclaimed its red cape from the fleeing Clefable leader, and invited it to travel with him. Nidoking accepted, and Xiao Zhen caught it in a Poké Ball as Hanako arrived.

• Hanako asked Xiao Zhen to help Nidoking recover its cape, so he dispelled the battle aura suppressing Nidoking and left Charmeleon and Pikachu with her.
• Nidoking fought off the Clefairy as their leader fled, and Xiao Zhen tripped Clefable, took the cape, and sent it flying with an uppercut and a kick.
• Xiao Zhen returned the cape to Nidoking and apologized for the earlier misunderstanding.
• Xiao Zhen invited Nidoking to travel with him, and Nidoking agreed after weighing its pride against its respect for him.
• Xiao Zhen caught Nidoking in a Poké Ball and declared, “Nidoking, I choose you!” while Charmeleon felt unhappy about being the team’s weakest member.

Xiao Zhen searched Cerulean City's outskirts for a strong Pokémon and found a scholarly Psyduck whose powerful mental abilities made it the strongest wild Pokémon nearby. Psyduck agreed to join him only if he could defeat it, and the chapter ended as it stopped Charmeleon's Flamethrower with an invisible barrier.

• Xiao Zhen went to Cerulean City's outskirts to look for a Pokémon that could help round out his team before his Gym challenge.
• Xiao Zhen found Psyduck solving complex problems and learned from it about a nearby Gyarados and Starmie, which Nidoking defeated easily.
• Starmie told Xiao Zhen that Psyduck was the area's strongest wild Pokémon, with powerful Mental Telekinesis that could repel attackers.
• Xiao Zhen returned to challenge Psyduck, but waited beneath a tree until Psyduck finished thinking at sunset.
• Psyduck told Xiao Zhen he had to defeat it before it would become his Pokémon, and Charmeleon's Flamethrower stopped short of Psyduck behind an invisible barrier.