Chapter Summaries

After defeating the ghost that hypnotized them, Sato, Mark, and George recovered and discovered a Hypnosis Pendulum among the belongings of people who had died in Mt. Pyre. They left the mountain to rest, with Sato planning to help Mark try catching Lapras once they were out.

• Florges made a safe patch of ground with Grassy Terrain, while Gengar apologized to Sato for being hypnotized and agreed to train harder.
• Mark recovered from his injuries and comforted Arbok, then agreed with Arbok to consider catching Lapras with Sato's help.
• Sato explained how the gravestones had drawn them into different memories, and George realized he had seen more memories than Sato and Mark.
• Sato and Gengar found six Spatial Backpacks and a Hypnosis Pendulum, which Sato kept after deciding it could strengthen their hypnosis.
• Sato led Mark and George out of Mt. Pyre, where the fog had cleared and nearby buildings came into view.

Sato, Mark, and George arrived at a small settlement near Mt. Pyre and stayed at Madam Kaori’s lodging. Sato discovered that Gengar’s Hypnosis had become powerful with the Hypnosis Pendulum, while George learned that Madam Kaori was a missing Top Breeder and eagerly sought her guidance.

• Sato, Mark, and George reached the settlement west of Mt. Pyre and met the blind Madam Kaori, who offered them rooms in her house.
• Sato accepted Madam Kaori’s invitation, and the three found the upstairs rooms clean and comfortable.
• Sato tested Gengar’s improved Hypnosis on Weavile, which fell asleep within three seconds.
• At dinner, George recognized Madam Kaori as a Top Breeder who had disappeared and said she had quickly answered his questions about breeding.
• George packed food for Madam Kaori and took it to her room, leaving Mark upset that his favorite chicken wings were gone.

Sato traveled alone to Mt. Pyre’s Outer Mountain, where Cacturne defeated a Shiftry before a horde of Nuzleaf attacked. Gengar used the Hypnosis Pendulum to put the Nuzleaf to sleep, and Sato continued on unharmed.

• George stayed behind to seek Madam Kaori’s guidance, while Mark remained to bond with Lapras, so Sato set out alone.
• Sato followed Madam Kaori’s map through Mt. Pyre’s Outer Mountain, passing graves and encountering Murkrow and Duskull.
• A Shiftry attacked Sato, but Cacturne trapped it with Cotton Spore and defeated it with Drain Punch.
• Over a hundred Nuzleaf surrounded Sato and attacked, but Cacturne and Gengar used Protect to shield themselves and Sato.
• Gengar used Hypnosis with the Hypnosis Pendulum to put the Nuzleaf to sleep.

Sato trained Gengar on Mt. Pyre, where it battled Ghost-type Pokémon for hours and appeared close to a breakthrough. After Madam Kaori warned that the mountain was a graveyard filled with resentment and recounted how Groudon had buried it, she began to explain the danger to Gengar’s breakthrough but left the warning unfinished.

• Gengar defeated Banette and three Dusclops, then rested while Sato treated its injuries.
• Sato and Gengar continued battling on Mt. Pyre until mist began to rise, then hurried down and returned to the inn safely.
• George and the others welcomed Sato back, and Madam Kaori noted that Gengar was nearing a breakthrough.
• Madam Kaori told Sato, George, and Mark that Mt. Pyre was a burial ground where Groudon had once awakened in anger and buried the dead.
• Madam Kaori warned that the mountain’s resentment could affect the energy Gengar absorbed during its breakthrough, but she forgot what she had meant to add and left.
• Sato asked George to handle the matter and went upstairs, reminding him to call when dinner was ready.

Sato watched Gengar face an exceptionally powerful Sableye on Mt. Pyre, where Gengar’s ability to ward off evil allowed it to train despite the Negative Energy. Gengar poisoned Sableye and found a way to land Venoshock, but Sableye countered with Shadow Claw, leaving the battle’s outcome uncertain.

• Madam Kaori explained that a special energy within Gengar protected it from Mt. Pyre’s Negative Energy, so Sato continued Gengar’s daily training there.
• On the fifth day, Gengar faced an Elite Advanced Sableye whose strength and speed surpassed expectations, and its Knock Off severely injured Gengar while removing its Spell Tag.
• Gengar poisoned Sableye with Toxic and used a Substitute to avoid its Sucker Punch, then landed a powerful Venoshock that left Sableye badly injured.
• Gengar used Venoshock to force Sableye toward a dead end, but Sableye charged through the attack and slashed Gengar with Shadow Claw.

Sato's Gengar Mega Evolved during its battle with Sableye, turning the fight around and reaching Pseudo-Elite Four Intermediate strength. After treating the defeated Sableye, Sato invited it to join him, leaving its answer uncertain.

• Gengar struggled with its pride as Sableye's Shadow Claw threatened to finish it, but Sato ordered it to use Venoshock and Mega Evolve.
• Gengar's Mega Evolution succeeded, shielding it from Shadow Claw and raising its aura to Pseudo-Elite Four Intermediate.
• Mega Gengar defeated Sableye, then showed gratitude to Sato and indicated that it wanted Sableye as a companion.
• Sato explained that Sableye's dual Elite Level talents made its strength surprising, then healed and detoxified it after Gengar guarded him.
• Sableye woke and cautiously backed away from Sato, who asked it to join him, shocking Gengar.

After Gengar Mega Evolved and advanced to Elite Advanced, Sato continued training on Mt. Pyre and agreed to bring Mark along the next day. As Sato and Mark approached the mountain’s upper reaches, they heard a battle nearby.

• Sableye fled after Sato considered catching it, and Sato let it go despite being impressed by its abilities.
• Gengar ended its Mega Evolution and advanced from Elite Intermediate to Elite Advanced, after which Sato recalled it and trained Sharpedo on Mt. Pyre.
• Mark declared that he would accompany Sato to Mt. Pyre, then hurriedly got ready the next morning.
• Sato and Mark rode Sharpedo and Lapras to Mt. Pyre, where Mark sent out Arbok and Sato sent out Cacturne, while Gengar guarded from Sato’s shadow.
• As they neared Sableye’s territory, Sato decided to keep Mark with him, and they heard the sounds of a battle nearby.

Sato and Mark watched Sableye lose a battle against Dusknoir, then discovered the two were acquainted and that Dusknoir was courting Sableye. After Sato’s group was attacked for eavesdropping, Sableye rejected Sato again and left with Dusknoir.

• Sato and Mark hid in the bushes to watch Sableye battle Dusknoir, and Sato noticed Sableye was weakened from its injuries.
• Dusknoir helped Sableye up and summoned Chimecho to heal it, revealing that the two knew each other.
• Mark snapped a branch, exposing the group, and Dusknoir and Sableye attacked them with Shadow Punch and Shadow Ball.
• Gengar drove Dusknoir back with Shadow Balls, but Sableye stopped Dusknoir from attacking and questioned Sato about returning.
• Sato explained that he had come to help, but Sableye shook its head, took Dusknoir’s hand, and left with it.

Sato said goodbye to Sableye before leaving Mt. Pyre and offered it one last chance to become his Pokemon. When Sableye chose to stay with Dusknoir, Sato gave it a Dark-type Potential Stimulation Stock Solution, which triggered its advancement to Elite Peak.

• After nearly half a month at Mt. Pyre, Sato prepared to leave, having helped his Pokemon make major progress while Mark gained a Lapras and George received Madam Kaori's handwritten notebook.
• Sato visited Sableye's territory on his final day and asked Sableye one last time to come with him.
• Dusknoir attacked Sato when it realized he was asking Sableye to leave, but Gengar blocked the Shadow Punch and drove Dusknoir back.
• Sableye firmly refused Sato's offer, choosing to remain with Dusknoir.
• Sato gave Sableye his Dark-type Potential Stimulation Stock Solution and injected it, causing Sableye's level to rise to Elite Peak.

Sato accepted an Ancient Stone Statue and Ancient Coins from Sableye before leaving Mt. Pyre with Mark and George. As they traveled north toward Sand Arc Forest, Sato’s Pokemon Egg began showing signs of hatching, and the group waited by a river while sharing stories about their Pokemon.

• Sableye gave Sato an Ancient Stone Statue and a collection of Ancient Coins, then left with Dusknoir after watching him go.
• Sato returned to Madam Kaori’s inn, where he, Mark, and George said farewell and set out together.
• George suggested traveling to Sand Arc Forest, and the three headed north from Mt. Pyre.
• Sato’s Pokemon Egg began to near hatching, so the group camped beside a river and waited as its flashes of light grew more frequent.
• While they waited by the bonfire, Mark asked about their Pokemon partners, and Sato’s story about obtaining Zorua surprised George and Mark.

Sato, George, and Mark shared stories around the bonfire and learned about Mark’s dream of opening a Pokémon café. The golden Pokémon Egg hatched into a Pichu, which bonded with Sato as he fed it and watched it fall asleep.

• George told Sato and Mark how Kirlia had rescued him during a Pokémon riot in Hoenn, and Sato shared how he met Houndoom.
• Mark revealed that he wanted to open a Pokémon café and explained that he was traveling to earn money and become strong enough to protect its Pokémon.
• When the Pokémon Egg began flashing rapidly, George took Mark away so Sato could be present for the hatching.
• The golden egg hatched into a Pichu, which saw Sato first and welcomed his touch.
• Sato fed Pichu Moomoo Milk, and Pichu fell asleep in his arms.

Sato cared for newborn Pichu at a Pokémon Center, delaying the journey while it recovered and learned to manage its electricity. Before leaving, he arranged for Pupitar to be teleported to him as it prepared for its first molt.

• Pichu offered Sato a flower and happily watched him tuck it behind his ear.
• Sato, Mark, and George stayed at a Pokémon Center for three days while Nurse Joy examined Pichu and George prepared its meals.
• Sato agreed to leave the next day after Mark asked when their journey would resume.
• Sato called Joy Lily and asked her to teleport Pupitar, which had awakened and was preparing to molt.
• Joy Lily teleported Pupitar, and Sato ended the call without discussing the Mega Evolution Stone.

Sato set out for Sand Arc Forest with George and Mark, reunited with a stronger Pupitar, and watched Pupitar befriend Pichu. As the group traveled, Pupitar demonstrated fine control over molded soil and learned to float using Earth Power, while Sato asked Mark what powerful Pokemon might be nearby.

• Sato released Pupitar and saw that he had grown stronger, though his Silver Armor was cracked and worn.
• Pupitar greeted Sato, met George and Mark, and used molded soil to make a moving Pichu that helped him befriend the shy Pichu.
• Sato kept Pupitar outside to handle any attackers, and Pupitar surprised him by floating after learning to reverse the ground's pull with Earth Power.
• Pichu climbed onto Pupitar's head, and the group continued toward Sand Arc Forest as Pupitar floated in little hops.
• Sato asked Mark what powerful Pokemon might appear nearby, and Mark wondered whether they could encounter a pseudo-Legendary.

Mark, Sato, and Steven Stone met near Sand Arc Forest, where Sato challenged Steven to a battle between Pupitar and Metang. The fight left Metang descending toward the ground as Pupitar struck it with Earth Power.

• Mark and his companions encountered Steven Stone, whose Metang had been drawn to them by Mark's ability.
• Sato challenged Steven to a one-on-one battle, and Mark acted as referee.
• Pupitar used Dragon Dance to evade Metang's Metal Claw, but Steven switched to Bullet Punch and knocked it away.
• Pupitar used Rock Smash and Jet Impact to ram Metang, then landed a super-effective Crunch on its arm joint.
• Metang struck Pupitar's tail with Ice Punch, freezing its propulsion, but Pupitar broke the ice with Earth Power and hit Metang as Magnet Rise ended.

Sato’s Pupitar defeated Steven Stone’s Metang and underwent its first molt, reaching Elite Intermediate. Sato and Steven agreed to battle again, and Sato set off with his companions after checking on the newly transformed Pupitar.

• Sato’s Pupitar redirected Earth Power to knock Metang down, then began its first molt while Steven ordered Metang to stop attacking.
• Pupitar shed its old armor, emerged with silver-white armor, and advanced to Elite Intermediate.
• Steven congratulated Sato, accepted the loss, and agreed to battle him again when they met.
• Sato reflected on the narrow victory and Steven’s powerful Aggron and future Shiny Metagross before saying goodbye.
• Sato admired Pupitar’s new appearance as it carried Pichu on its back, then urged George and Mark to continue traveling and look for water for lunch.

Sato and his companions traveled toward Sand Arc Forest as Pupitar won a series of challenges and Pichu showed little interest in battling. Watching Trainers encounter Pokémon from other regions led Sato to reflect on how Pokémon would spread between regions and reshape their world; the group continued toward the forest as Pupitar dominated its opponents.

• Sato continued training Pupitar in Rock-type moves as the group headed north toward Sand Arc Forest.
• Trainers repeatedly challenged Sato, and Pupitar defeated them with powerful attacks and head-on collisions.
• Pichu won its first battle against Rattata but showed no desire to fight again, so Sato let it play with Pupitar.
• Mark spotted Drifloon, and George explained that the rare Pokémon came from the Sinnoh Region.
• Sato reflected on how Trainers would travel between regions and how Pokémon trading and release would drive Regional Pokemon Fusion.
• Sato watched Pupitar battle without needing his commands while the group approached Sand Arc Forest.

Sato learned that his unidentified Dark-type Mega Evolution Stone was likely Gyarados’s and asked the Nurse Joy Family about buying Tyranitar’s Mega Evolution Stone. After confirming that his other stone belonged to Camerupt, he called Captain Lance to ask for help finding a Tyranitar stone for Pupitar.

• Mark, George, and Sato settled into the crowded Sand Arc Forest Pokémon Center suite, with Mark taking the large bed and Sato choosing the study.
• Sato called Joy Lily, who told him the unidentified stone was not Absol’s, leading him to conclude it was Gyarados’s Mega Evolution Stone.
• Sato thanked Joy Lily for the Advanced Mimicry Space’s effect on Pupitar and asked her to find out what it would cost to obtain Tyranitar’s Mega Evolution Stone.
• Joy Lily ended the call awkwardly, and Sato decided to seek other help rather than rely solely on the Nurse Joy Family.
• Sato called Captain Lance, who confirmed that Sato’s other unidentified stone belonged to Camerupt.
• Sato told Lance he wanted to find a Tyranitar Mega Evolution Stone for Pupitar in advance.

Sato was called to the Pokémon Center’s backyard, where Mark had lost Arbok and Lapras in a rigged gambling match against bounty hunters Hanasaki Sen and Hanasaki Aoi. Sato challenged the siblings to win Mark’s Pokémon back, and the battle began with their Pokémon facing Pupitar.

• Lance promised to prioritize trading Sato a Banitar’s Evolution Stone if he found one, and Sato returned to adjusting his Pokémon’s training methods.
• George and a male nurse alerted Sato that Mark was in danger, and George used Kirlia’s Teleport to take Sato to the backyard battle field.
• Mark explained that Hanasaki Sen and Hanasaki Aoi had taken Arbok and Lapras after fighting him two against one in a gambling match.
• Sato challenged the siblings to another match, offering his victory to reclaim Mark’s Pokémon and take theirs, while Hanasaki Sen and Hanasaki Aoi switched to Nidoqueen and Nidoking.
• Sato opened the battle by ordering Pupitar to use Scary Face on the siblings’ Pokémon.

Sato defeated the Hanasaki siblings in a battle, then confronted them for reneging on their wager and taking travelers’ Pokémon. The crowd helped recover the stolen Pokémon, while the siblings fled and glared at Sato with resentment.

• Sato’s Pupitar defeated Hanasaki Aoi’s Nidoqueen and Hanasaki Sen’s Nidoking by exploiting their lowered Speed and a mistake with Protect.
• The onlookers surrounded the Hanasaki siblings after their defeat, preventing them from escaping immediately.
• Sato returned Mark’s Arbok and Lapras, then insisted the siblings hand over all their Pokémon as agreed in the wager.
• When the siblings refused, Sato had Gengar search them and retrieve more than ten Poké Balls.
• Sato said he would give the Poké Balls to Nurse Joy so their owners could claim them, while the Hanasaki siblings fled in disgrace.

After resolving the trouble caused by the Hanasaki Siblings, Sato reviewed his Pokémon’s progress and decided to focus on Weavile, who was trying to grow stronger without his help. The group entered Sand Arc Forest, where Weavile easily defeated a Forretress, leaving Sato unsure how to help it break through.

• Sato returned the seventeen confiscated Poké Balls to Nurse Joy, and their owners thanked him before Nurse Joy warned him about the Hanasaki Family.
• Sato assured Nurse Joy he would watch out for himself, then ignored Mark’s plea for rescue while George scolded him.
• Sato reviewed his Pokémon’s strength and realized Weavile was preparing to break through on its own, so he decided to focus on its training.
• Sato, Mark, and George entered Sand Arc Forest and pushed directly toward its depths with Weavile, Kirlia, and Arbok leading the way.
• Weavile defeated an Elite Beginner Forretress with Icy Wind and Brick Break, and Sato wondered how he could help it break through.