Chapter Summaries

Mark told Sato and George about the string of disasters that had made him afraid to catch Pokémon, then joined them at Seabreeze Town’s Sea Festival Day. At Central Plaza, Mark entered the Pokémon battles with Arbok and won several matches in a row.

• Mark recounted how a red-eyed Rhyhorn nearly killed Ekans, how a flood swept away the Hoothoot he was trying to catch, and how Golbat drove him from Teddiursa’s nest.
• Mark insisted he had stopped worrying about his bad luck and joked with Arbok while Sato and George remained concerned.
• Sato, George, and Mark arrived in Seabreeze Town and learned that its annual Sea Festival Day was underway.
• The three went to Central Plaza after hearing that a Pokémon battle was taking place.
• Mark took the stage with Arbok, whose strength and coordination helped him win several battles in a row.

Mark lost to Archie’s Crawdaunt, and Sato recognized Archie and Maxie as future leaders of Hoenn’s rival underground organizations. Sato then challenged Archie’s floating Shiny Sharpedo with his own, and their battle began.

• Mark’s Arbok lost to Archie’s Crawdaunt after Archie capitalized on a pause with Crabhammer.
• Maxie challenged Archie, and their Camerupt-versus-Crawdaunt battle ended with Crawdaunt winning by type advantage.
• Sato recognized Archie and Maxie as future leaders of Hoenn’s underground organizations and wondered how the friends would become rivals.
• Archie brought out a floating Shiny Sharpedo, prompting Sato to enter the ring with his own floating Sharpedo.
• Sato introduced himself and ordered Aqua Jet, while Archie told Sharpedo to block with revenge; Sato then called for a dodge and a chase.

Sato defeated Archie’s Shiny Sharpedo and won the Seabreeze Town Sea Festival Day tournament. He received an unidentified Pokemon Egg as the grand prize, and Archie approached him as he was leaving.

• Sato’s Sharpedo dodged Purple Fang’s Revenge, then used Rock Tomb and Hidden Power to counter Archie’s attacks and the slowing effects of Blizzard.
• Sato’s Sharpedo charged up Skull Bash while circling in the air and knocked Purple Fang into the Battle Platform, winning the battle.
• Sato defeated several more trainers and claimed first place in the Sea Festival Day tournament.
• The host awarded Sato an unidentified Pokemon Egg, which Mark declined to take or try hatching.
• As Sato, Mark, and their companion prepared to leave, Archie called out and introduced himself.

Sato met Archie and Maxie, then showed Archie how his Sharpedo’s unusual skin made it different from most of its kind. After Archie’s Shiny Sharpedo became infatuated with Sato’s Sharpedo and was repeatedly rebuffed, Archie offered to take Sato’s group to Mt. Pyre by ship.

• Sato agreed to have lunch with Archie, Maxie, George, and Mark, then let Archie ask him about Sharpedo.
• Sato explained that his Sharpedo’s smooth skin differed from the rough, hardened scales common among Sharpedo.
• Archie released his Shiny Sharpedo, which eagerly approached Sato’s Sharpedo, but was hurt when it rubbed against the shark and was headbutted away.
• Sato joked that the Pokémon were too young for romance, while his Sharpedo repeatedly rejected Shiny Sharpedo and returned to its Poké Ball.
• Archie offered to take Sato and his companions to Mt. Pyre on his ship, revealing that Mt. Pyre was an island.

Sato agreed to travel by ship with George and Mark to Mt. Pyre after Mark insisted they would miss something important if they stayed behind. Back in Seabreeze Town, Sato arranged for Lapras to be sent to him and trained his team, while Ariados neared a breakthrough and grew more toxic by absorbing Tentacruel venom.

• Mark urged Sato and George to take the ship to Mt. Pyre, and they agreed after Archie invited them to meet at the dock in three days.
• Sato called Joy Lily, who promised to send two Lapras and said Aunt Qing was handling the paperwork for Gengar's Evolution Stone.
• Sato trained his Pokemon and had Cacturne and Ariados successfully combine Cotton Spore with Electroweb to trap a target dummy.
• Sato gave Ariados Tentacruel venom to absorb, strengthening the Energy Crystal in its abdomen as it approached a breakthrough.

Sato and his companions boarded Archie’s sailboat for the journey to Mt. Pyre, but a Tentacruel swarm attacked soon after they set sail. The crew fought back as Sato rescued an injured sailor, and the battle continued with Sato calling out Ariados and Cacturne.

• Archie welcomed Sato, Mark, and George aboard his sailboat, and Maxie assigned them cabins.
• Sato and Archie released their Sharpedo into the sea as the group learned the voyage to Mt. Pyre would take more than half a month.
• After Mark wished to see a Tentacruel attack, the sailboat shook violently and a swarm of Tentacruel struck its hull with Water moves and Acid.
• Archie ordered the crew to repel the swarm, while Maxie directed Flying-type Pokemon to use Tailwind and the sailors sent out their Pokemon to fight.
• Sato’s Sharpedo cut a sailor free from Tentacruel tentacles, and Sato handed the poisoned, injured sailor to George for treatment.
• Sato gave Sharpedo an Antidote, then roused Mark and sent out Ariados and Cacturne to battle with Cotton Spore and Electroweb.

Sato used Ariados and Cacturne’s Spore Electrowebs to restrain the Tentacruel attacking Archie’s sailboat, allowing the crew to escape with no deaths. Afterward, George and Sato comforted Mark, who blamed himself for causing the attack with a careless remark, and urged him to learn to control his ability.

• Sato directed Ariados and Cacturne to trap the Tentacruel with Spore Electrowebs while the sailboat’s Tailwind carried the ship forward.
• Archie changed the crew’s strategy to slowing the Tentacruel, and the ship escaped the swarm after more than ten minutes.
• Maxie reported no deaths and seven people accidentally poisoned, while Archie inspected the injured and discovered the ship doctor had been sleeping off a party.
• Archie thanked Sato and George for their help, and George reassured Mark that the attack was not his fault.
• George and Sato encouraged Mark to accept and control his ability, and Mark began to feel a little better.

Sato and his companions ended their dull voyage with a stop at Rosen Island, where the residents revered Kyogre and warmly welcomed Archie. Sato suspected the island’s devotion to Kyogre was connected to Archie’s ambitions, so the group decided to follow him.

• Sato trained his Pokémon to swim in the ocean while Sharpedo guarded them, and Sharpedo later rescued Mark’s exhausted Arbok.
• Archie told Sato, Mark, and George that the ship would stop for a day at Rosen Island.
• The group explored the harbor, where a local woman rebuked Sato for describing Kyogre as a source of disasters.
• George noticed that Kyogre’s image appeared throughout the island, and Sato realized that the residents worshipped the Pokémon.
• The islanders enthusiastically greeted Archie and offered him gifts, prompting Sato, Mark, and George to follow him.

Archie celebrated his return to Rosen Island by distributing supplies to its residents, who revered him as their king. Sato and his companions followed Archie into the forest, where he invited them to visit a Kyogre Temple despite an old native’s obvious attempts to keep them away.

• Archie addressed the residents of Rosen Island and exaggerated his dangerous voyages before distributing clothes, medicine, tools, and seeds in exchange for goods.
• Sato, Mark, and George left the plaza to catch up with Archie, and Mark praised him for helping the islanders.
• Archie explained that he had grown up on Rosen Island and had eaten meals from every household, while an old native rebuked Mark for asking about it.
• Sato and George noticed that the old native was awkwardly pretending not to know they had arrived with Archie.
• Archie invited Sato and his companions to visit the Kyogre Temple in the mountains and insisted that Sato was not an outsider.

Sato and his companions entered Sea Emperor Hall, where Archie’s Kyogre ritual attempted to make them believers and plant Mental Seeds. The Dark Power destroyed Sato’s seed, but he pretended to have no idea what had happened as Archie’s changed attitude revealed the danger around them.

• Archie led Sato, George, and Mark into Sea Emperor Hall, where he began a ritual before a floating Kyogre sculpture.
• The ritual triggered Sato’s Dark Power, and he struggled to control it as George and Mark collapsed.
• Sato heard Archie’s companions discuss the Mental Seeds planted in the three visitors and learned that the Dark Power had destroyed his seed.
• Sato regained consciousness and pretended not to know why he had fainted while noticing Archie now treated him like a subordinate.

Sato pretended to be controlled by Archie while secretly planning to free George and Mark from their Mental Seeds and disrupt Archie's plans. After Gengar recorded Archie and Maxie's conversations, Sato learned that four Trainers would be taken to Tar Town, where Maxie planned to control them.

• Sato returned to the sailboat with George and Mark, who remained obedient to Archie but acted normally around Maxie.
• Sato sent Gengar to spy on Maxie and record any conversations with Archie.
• Gengar returned with a recording, and Sato learned that Archie had ordered all three newcomers hypnotized and that Maxie planned to take four new targets to Tar Town.
• Sato secretly transcribed the information, then burned his notes and continued gathering intelligence during the voyage.
• The sailboat reached Mossdeep Town, where a crewman named bonfire invited four Local Trainers aboard.

In Mossdeep Town, Sato received a Gengar Mega Evolution Stone and shared Mega Evolution research with Lance before the ship continued to Tar Town. Once there, Sato began his nighttime operation by hypnotizing Archie and taking his Battle Belt.

• Sato and Mark defeated four newly recruited Trainers in a two-on-four battle, then learned about their humble origins and lack of backing in Hoenn.
• At the Pokemon Center, Sato received his Gengar Mega Evolution Stone from Joy Lily and learned that the Joys had discovered Mega Evolutions for Tyranitar and Ampharos.
• Sato sent Lance his Mega Evolution research and asked for his help with Archie.
• Three days later, the ship reached Tar Town, where Maxie and bonfire led the four Trainers ashore while Archie ordered Sato, George, and Mark to stay aboard.
• After night fell, Sato had Gengar hypnotize Archie and took the six Poké Balls from Archie's Battle Belt.

Sato raided Archie and Maxie's homes, captured both leaders, and found a Dark-type Mega Evolution Stone and a strange blue substance. After easily defeating Maxie’s Pokémon and capturing his crew, Sato prepared to question the two leaders.

• Sato had Ariados restrain Archie, then found a hidden compartment containing a Dark-type Mega Evolution Stone and a blue gelatinous substance.
• Sato left Archie unconscious and found nothing valuable in Maxie’s room before Gengar led him to Maxie’s house in Tar Town.
• Gengar was discovered by Maxie’s Pokémon, so Sato joined the fight with Zoroark, Sharpedo, Ariados, and Cacturne.
• Ariados cocooned Maxie while Sato’s Pokémon subdued Maxie’s team and captured the Mightyena downstairs.
• Sato ordered Gengar and Zoroark to deal with the arriving crew, then had Cacturne wake Archie and Maxie so he could question them.

Sato destroyed the Groudon statue in the Earth Emperor Hall, then contacted Lance about trouble with Archie’s influence over the island natives. Back at Maxie’s villa, he found three boxes containing valuable items, with the last box revealing an iron-gray bracelet.

• Sato had Zoroark use Dark Burst to destroy the Groudon statue, and Maxie fainted as the hall’s strange aura faded.
• A sleeping beast deep in a Hoenn volcano briefly opened its eyes, while residents near Tar Island felt a faint tremor.
• Sato called Lance, who reported that Archie’s control over the island natives had caused a public backlash, and Lance hurried to destroy the statue on his end.
• Sato learned that Gengar had put the people aboard the Three-masted Sailboat into Deep Hypnosis and had moved George and Mark somewhere safe.
• Sato found three boxes in Maxie’s safe: the first held a Mega Evolution Stone, the second held a Dark-type Energy Crystal, and the third contained an iron-gray bracelet.

After the League arrived to handle the aftermath on Rosen Island, Sato brought Mark and George to Lilycove City and explained that they had been controlled. He then held a drawing to decide which of his Pokemon would receive the Dark-type Energy Crystal, and Zoroark won.

• Lance told Sato that destroying the sculpture in Sea Emperor Hall had caused Rosen Island's natives to stop resisting.
• Investigator Phoebe arrived with the Pokémon League, and Sato completed the handover before taking Mark and George to Lilycove City.
• Sato explained to Mark and George that they had been controlled, then showed them two Mega Evolution Stones; George declined one, while Mark showed interest.
• Sato gathered Zoroark, Houndoom, Umbreon, Cacturne, and Weavile to draw lots for the Dark-type Energy Crystal, but each tried to yield it to another Pokemon or refuse it.
• Sato ordered the five Pokemon to draw, and Zoroark won the Energy Crystal.

Sato tested Energy Crystals and Mega Evolution Stones on his Pokémon, and Sharpedo Mega Evolved after responding to a matching stone. After resting in Lilycove City, Sato, George, and Mark continued toward Mt. Pyre, where Sato challenged Elite Trainer Xiang Taiduo.

• The Energy Crystal went to Zoroark, which swallowed it without showing an immediate change, while Sato gave Sharpedo a Water-type Energy Crystal.
• Sharpedo sensed a connection to the blue-and-yellow Mega Evolution Stone, and Sato helped it Mega Evolve into a form with serrated teeth and the Strong Jaw Ability.
• Sato recalled how the timid Carvanha had chosen to trust him when he caught it at the Goldenrod City Game Corner.
• After two days of rest in Lilycove City, Sato, George, and Mark confirmed George and Mark had recovered and set out for Mt. Pyre.
• On the way, George healed Mark's exhausted Arbok after several battles, and Sato challenged the green-haired Elite Trainer Xiang Taiduo.
• Xiang Taiduo accepted the challenge and sent out Glalie after Sato revealed his Elite Beginner Ariados.

Sato's Ariados defeated Red and Green's Glalie, then overcame a type-disadvantaged battle against Blaziken after learning Psychic. Ariados broke through from Elite Beginner to the intermediate ranks, while Sato continued his journey with his Pokémon stronger than before.

• Sato's Ariados used Swords Dance, Agility, and Sticky Web to trap and defeat Red and Green's Glalie with Megahorn.
• Red and Green challenged Sato to another battle and sent out Blaziken, but Sato refused to switch Ariados.
• Ariados used Protect to withstand Blaziken's Blaze Kick and suddenly learned Psychic, throwing Blaziken aside.
• Sato's Ariados climbed a tree and used repeated Electrowebs to pin Blaziken before finishing it with Psychic.
• Ariados defeated Blaziken and broke through from Elite Beginner to the intermediate ranks.

Sato, George, and Mark reached Mt. Pyre and crossed the misty bay on Sharpedo and Lapras. They found a cave entrance and prepared to enter the resting place of departed Pokemon, with Gengar emerging from Sato's shadow.

• Ariados's breakthrough pushed Sato's other Pokemon to train and battle more seriously as the group traveled toward Mt. Pyre.
• Cacturne encountered a Haunter, and the group followed the thinning forest to a mist-covered bay where they spotted Mt. Pyre.
• Sato brought out a Sharpedo and two Lapras borrowed from Joy, and the three crossed the bay while encountering Chimecho and Duskull.
• The group circled Mt. Pyre until they found a cave entrance, then Sato gave George and Mark the Lapras Poké Balls to hold temporarily.
• Sato told the others to put on night vision goggles and stay close, and Gengar emerged quietly from his shadow.

Sato and his Pokemon fought their way through Mt. Pyre, where the emotions of the dead revealed the stories behind several gravestones. The chapter left Sato continuing deeper into the mountain after sensing the grief, loss, and hatred of the departed Pokemon.

• Sato sent Gengar and Mark sent Arbok to clear away most of the mischievous Ghost-type Pokemon on Mt. Pyre while George's Florges stayed with them.
• Sato's Gengar drove off a Mismagius, and Mark's Arbok defeated an Elite Level Dusclops before the pair wiped out a swarm of Ghost-type Pokemon.
• Sato's group reached the second floor of Mt. Pyre and passed gravestones commemorating departed Pokemon, while Sato sensed their emotions and memories.
• Sato sensed how a deceased Gardevoir returned as a Sableye, fled from its Trainer, and gradually lost its memories.
• Sato sensed how an elderly Swampert died after its Trainer passed away, hoping to be that Trainer's Starter Pokemon again in its next life.
• Sato sensed how a Dunsparce was beaten to death while protecting its young Trainer, whose grief turned to hatred toward the boys who had attacked it.

Sato and his companions encountered a ghost Hypno on Mt. Pyre that hypnotized and controlled their Pokémon. After awakening George and rescuing Mark, Sato destroyed the ghost, leaving the group to recover from the attack.

• Sato woke from a strange dream, used Weavile to break a tombstone, and revealed a ghost Hypno with Foresight.
• The ghost Hypno attacked Weavile, while controlled Gengar, Arbok, and Florges turned on Sato, Mark, and George.
• Sato sent Ariados, Cacturne, and Zoroark into battle, and Weavile freed Mark from Arbok's constriction.
• Sato used Cacturne's Worry Seed to protect Zoroark from hypnosis, then had Zoroark repeatedly strike the ghost with Dark Pulse.
• George woke and began treating Mark, while Sato's Zoroark annihilated the ghost Hypno with Dark Burst.