Chapter Summaries

Norman defeated Ryoko in the final match of Petalburg Gym’s opening ceremony, with Slaking overpowering Blaziken. After the ceremony, Sato joined the guests in the Inner Hall, where Steven Stone challenged him to a rematch.

• Ryoko sent out Blaziken to face Norman’s Slaking in the final battle.
• Slaking shattered Blaziken’s Protect with Giga Impact and knocked it down, but Blaziken recovered and fought back with High Jump Kick and Blast Burn.
• Slaking’s second Giga Impact defeated Blaziken, and the referee declared Norman the winner of the Gym Challenge Match.
• The opening ceremony ended, and Norman’s invited guests gathered in the Inner Hall while Trainers registered for official Gym challenges starting the next morning.
• Phoebe noticed that Sato’s ghost Pokémon had grown stronger, and Steven Stone invited Sato to battle again.
• Sato accepted Steven Stone’s challenge and said it would be harder for Steven to win this time.

At Norman’s meal, Sato asked Drake to take him on his upcoming trip to Unova and endured Drake’s pressure until Drake agreed. Sato looked forward to finding the last Pokémon partner missing from his team.

• Norman hosted a meal where Sato and the others chatted with Elite Four Genji, whom Sato knew as Drake, the former ruler of Hoenn’s seas.
• When Sato learned Drake would soon travel to Unova, he asked to join the trip, and Pheobe also eagerly requested to go.
• Drake tested Sato with his powerful aura, then agreed to let him join the trip departing from Slateport City in ten days.
• Pheobe asked Drake to take her as well, while the other Trainers held back from making the same request.
• Sato recalled that he had caught his final Pokémon partner in Unova during his previous life and resolved to find it on this trip.

Sato prepared for his journey to the Unova Region and traveled with George and Mark from Petalburg City to Slateport City. They arrived a day early, while Ryoko and Phoebe set out separately to meet Senior Drake.

• Sato bought Dragon Flame Fruits and other rare Berries before leaving Petalburg City with George and Mark.
• Sato chose the main road through Rustboro City so they could reach Slateport City safely and meet Senior Drake on time.
• Ryoko arrived at the Pokémon Center after Sato and the others had left, and she and Phoebe headed toward Slateport City by cutting through the forest.
• After six days of travel, Sato, George, and Mark reached Slateport City a day ahead of schedule.
• Mark went to his room to sleep, and George went to check on him while Sato asked George to prepare him something tasty.

Sato and his companions boarded Elite Four Genji's ship in Slateport City for their voyage to the Unova Region, where Phoebe and Ryoko joined them. As the ship set sail, Sato hinted that he was searching for a fated encounter, prompting teasing from his friends.

• Sato, George, and Mark boarded Drake's ship and settled into shared crew quarters.
• Phoebe and Ryoko arrived just before the ship sailed, and Sato realized they had gotten lost on the way.
• The ship departed for the Unova Region as the group talked about exploring its unfamiliar Pokémon.
• George asked why Sato was drawn to Unova, and Sato said he was searching for a fated encounter.
• Mark teased Sato about finding a girlfriend, and Sato joked that Ryoko was a good kid to bully.

Ron and the village children were caught playing with their Axew on the Back Mountain, but a rampaging Zweilous soon forced Grandma Long to rush to Ron’s home. After Drayden and Haxorus held the Zweilous back, Grandma Long sent Exeggutor to use Powerful Sleep Powder on it.

• Grandma Long caught Ron and the other children playing on the Back Mountain and had Exeggutor hold them with Confusion.
• A villager reported that Ron’s Zweilous had gone mad, injured his parents, and destroyed their home.
• Grandma Long carried Ron to the ruined house, where his parents reassured him that their injuries were not serious.
• Drayden used Haxorus to intercept the powerful Zweilous until Grandma Long arrived.
• Grandma Long sent out Exeggutor and ordered it to use Powerful Sleep Powder on the Zweilous.

After a long voyage from Hoenn, Sato and his companions reached Castelia City in the Unova Region. Drake left them to handle his missions and instructed them to reunite in two months, while Sato planned for the group to travel to Opelucid City the next day.

• Drake and Grandma Long suppressed Zweilous after it injured Ron and his wife, while Sato remained unaware aboard the ship.
• During the voyage, Sato and his companions adapted to life among Drake's veteran trainers and fought off pirates and other threats at sea.
• After more than two months, the group arrived in Castelia City, where Drake gave them a Hoenn League badge and told them to regroup in two months.
• Drake entrusted Sato with keeping Phoebe, Ryoko, George, and Mark together while he carried out missions.
• Sato said the group would leave for Opelucid City the next day, hoping to find Dragon-type Pokémon there.

Sato traveled with his companions from Castelia City to Opelucid City, hoping to reach Dragon Village and find a female Zoroark for his partner. After learning that Gym Leader Drayden had gone home to Dragon Village, the group became curious about the place and its powerful guardian, Grandma Long.

• Sato teased Zoroark about finding it a female companion, and Zoroark angrily left to rest.
• Sato and his companions took the high-speed train from Castelia City to Opelucid City.
• The group spent half a day sightseeing before reaching the Opelucid Gym and learning Drayden was away.
• Ryoko asked the gatekeeper when Drayden would return, and the old man said he would likely be gone for nearly a month in Dragon Village.
• The gatekeeper described Dragon Village as a home for many Dragon-type Pokemon protected by the powerful Grandma Long, increasing the group's interest in visiting.

Sato and his companions learned that Dragon-type Pokémon in Dragon Village could be obtained through costly donations and trials, then set out to seek Axew and Zweilous. The chapter ended with a chained Zweilous calling toward a distant cave entrance.

• The old man at the Gym entrance told Sato's group that Druddigon required Elite Level strength and a five-million-Pokemon-Coin donation, while Axew was harder to obtain and Deino was unavailable to outsiders.
• Sato's group decided to visit Dragon Village, and they postponed their departure until morning so they could research their options.
• The group learned that Axew seekers had to complete a trial set by Grandma Long and pay eight million Pokemon Coin, while obtaining Deino was considered nearly impossible.
• Sato led the group south toward Dragon Village, hoping to obtain Zweilous.
• On Dragon Village's Back Mountain, a Zweilous bound in heavy chains called toward a distant cave entrance.

Sato and his companions reached Dragon Village, where a farmer explained that Trainers had to choose between trying to obtain Axew and buying Druddigon. After the farmer led them to Grandma Long’s house, a Deino that sensed a strange power from Sato watched him leave.

• Phoebe and Ryoko admired Unova Pokemon during the group’s two-day journey, but none of the five caught any.
• A herd of Axew ran past the group near Dragon Village, and a farmer appeared beside his Elite Peak Haxorus.
• The farmer warned the Trainers that choosing Axew meant risking the chance to buy Druddigon if they failed the trial.
• A Deino sensed an alluring, peculiar power from Sato, watched him depart, and then disappeared into the grass.
• The farmer brought the group to Grandma Long’s wooden house, where Exeggutor opened the door, and the five entered.

Grandma Long assessed the group and offered different paths to Pokemon for Phoebe, Ryoko, and Sato. She led Sato through the back door after he agreed to pay ten million Pokemon Coin, leaving the others wondering about his plans for Dragon Village.

• Grandma Long recognized Phoebe's Ghost-type path and offered her a map to a suitable Ghost-type Pokemon for five million Pokemon Coin.
• Grandma Long told Mark that he would find a Dragon-type partner elsewhere in the future and said George had no affinity for Dragon-type Pokemon.
• Grandma Long offered Ryoko either a Druddigon for five million Pokemon Coin or a test to earn an Axew, and Ryoko chose the test of plucking a leaf from Exeggutor's head.
• Grandma Long demanded ten million Pokemon Coin from Sato, then took him through the back door while asking the others to wait outside.
• George told Mark that Sato had been aiming for Dragon Village since Petalburg City, while Sato followed Grandma Long excitedly at the prospect of meeting Zweilous.

Grandma Long explained how Energy Seeds and Dark Power affected Pokémon, and discovered that Sato’s Zoroark still carried an Energy Seed. After the seed’s power raised Zoroark’s potential to Champion Talent, Grandma Long revealed that people with Dark Power eventually gained Hydreigon companions, leaving Sato to reconsider his past encounters with Zweilous.

• Grandma Long led Sato through the forest and revealed that she knew about his special ability and Zoroark’s evolution.
• Grandma Long demonstrated her Dark Power, and Zoroark recognized it and approached her.
• Grandma Long found an Energy Seed inside Zoroark and drew out its power, causing Zoroark to weaken while its potential rose to Champion Talent.
• Grandma Long explained that an Energy Seed could boost a Pokémon when fed Dark Power but could drain it otherwise, and that humans who obtained one might learn Dark Power.
• Grandma Long told Sato that everyone who had obtained Dark Power eventually gained a Hydreigon companion, and that most Hydreigon were born in Dragon Village.

Sato learned why Grandma Long had never told him about Dark Power in his previous life, then followed her to meet the Zweilous he hoped to take with him. After sharing memories through Soul Communication, Sato offered Zweilous a Poké Ball.

• Grandma Long explained that Sato had been too weak to be considered an heir and said Dark Power's next user would come from Dragon Village.
• Sato and Grandma Long reached a cave where Zweilous was restrained by six heavy alloy chains.
• Sato offered Zweilous a Dragon Flame Fruit, but its cautious heads distrusted him.
• Sato used Soul Communication to show Zweilous his memories and witnessed Deino's childhood, its defeat by Haxorus, and its evolution into a rampaging Zweilous.
• Sato stroked Zweilous's heads and held out a Poké Ball, inviting it to come with him.

Sato captured Zweilous and learned that its rampaging minds threatened its potential and evolution. After returning to Dragon Village with Grandma Long, he suspected she had imprisoned Zweilous to manipulate the succession of Dark Power, though she had shifted toward cooperating with him.

• Sato captured Zweilous after Little Left touched the Poké Ball, and he was overwhelmed by memories of his past life.
• Grandma Long explained that Zweilous's two minds caused dangerous berserk episodes that consumed its potential, and that it had to unite them to evolve.
• Sato asked whether his Dark Power could help control Zweilous's energy, and Grandma Long promised to teach him the necessary training methods.
• Sato wondered why Grandma Long had imprisoned Zweilous despite having Dark Power herself, then concealed his anger and followed her back to Dragon Village.
• Sato reasoned that Grandma Long had tried to weaken him and influence the next Dark Power successor, but changed course after mistaking his confidence and group for signs of powerful backing.

Ryoko won an Axew by persuading Exeggutor to give up its leaves and trading Grandma Long her Energy Cube maker and recipes. Sato then explained his special ability to the group and revealed that he had obtained Zweilous, leaving everyone stunned as they settled in for the night at Dragon Village.

• Sato returned to Dragon Village with Grandma Long and asked the group to wait for Ryoko before discussing what had happened.
• Ryoko made three kinds of Energy Cubes for Exeggutor, persuaded it to shed its leaves, and agreed to give Grandma Long her machine and recipes for a talented Axew.
• Grandma Long gave Ryoko a sleeping Axew and invited the group to stay overnight in Dragon Village.
• Sato brought the group to a prepared wooden house, where he admitted he had a special ability and explained that it had led him to Dragon Village.
• Sato revealed Zweilous to George, Phoebe, and Ryoko, then promised to help them with their goals for the rest of their time in the Unova Region.

Sato introduced Zweilous to his other Pokemon before joining Dragon Village’s bonfire party. A boy accused Zweilous of destroying his home and injuring his parents, and Grandma Long defended Sato in a way that left him and his companions alienated from the villagers.

• Phoebe accepted that Sato had not deliberately taken advantage of the group, then returned to her room and asked him to call her for dinner.
• Sato brought Zweilous to his room and introduced Little Left and Little Right to his other Pokemon, who discovered how independently the two minds thought.
• Sato and his companions joined the Dragon Village bonfire party, where Ron challenged him over catching Zweilous.
• Ron accused Zweilous of destroying his home and injuring his parents, and Ron's Dad carried him away as the party fell silent.
• Grandma Long defended Sato by saying Ron's family should have found Zweilous a more suitable Trainer, then ordered the bonfire party to continue, leaving a rift between Sato and the villagers.

Sato thwarted Grandma Long’s attempt to isolate him by insisting on taking responsibility for Zweilous’s past actions, winning the villagers’ goodwill and forcing Grandma Long to reassure him publicly. After the bonfire party, he followed Ron’s Mom to Ron’s house, where Ron’s cries suggested his father was punishing him.

• Sato repeatedly asked Grandma Long and the villagers whether Zweilous had hurt Ron’s parents and offered to make amends.
• George and Ryoko stopped Phoebe and the others from intervening, trusting Sato to handle the situation.
• Grandma Long told Sato that the village would help Ron’s family and that he bore no responsibility for what happened before he met Zweilous.
• The villagers praised Sato, and the bonfire party grew lively as Ron’s Mom apologized and affectionately fussed over him.
• Sato followed Ron’s Mom to Ron’s house, where Axew rushed into her arms and Ron cried inside; Ron’s Mom threatened his father for beating him.

Sato left Dragon Village after explaining his intervention in Ron’s family affairs and receiving a book about training his special ability. Once outside the village, Ralts warned him that a terrifying presence there exceeded Sato’s estimate of the danger, leaving him to reconsider how powerful the village’s hidden threat was.

• Sato told Ron’s parents that Ron needed discipline, then left after hearing the family’s renewed commotion.
• Sato explained to Phoebe, Ryoko, George, and Mark that he had caught the Zweilous and had kept the peace because Dragon Village’s residents were too strong to challenge.
• Sato said his business in Dragon Village was finished, and Phoebe suggested their next destination using a map marked with a white skull.
• The group formally left Dragon Village, and Exeggutor delivered Sato a book that he identified as a training method for his special ability.
• Ralts emerged from Sato’s backpack and warned him not to return to Dragon Village because something there was terrifying.
• Sato concluded that Dragon Village’s threat might exceed Elite Four level and resolved to grow stronger before seeking revenge for the Zweilous.

Sato entered Nimbasa City's Battle Club and faced Fang Na in an Elite Advanced one-on-one match. His Weavile used unexpected moves to confuse Fang Na, then revealed itself to be Zoroark after transforming.

• Sato registered for an Elite Advanced match at the Battle Club and was assigned to face another newcomer, Fang Na.
• Sato and Fang Na sent out Weavile and Serperior, respectively, and Fang Na started by using Coil.
• Weavile used Nasty Plot and Sucker Punch, leaving Fang Na puzzled by its unusual tactics.
• Sato had Weavile use Flamethrower against Serperior, which struggled in the flames.
• When Serperior brushed Weavile with its tail, Weavile transformed into Zoroark.

Sato defeated Fang Na with Zoroark, then activated Defense Mode to defend the C5 Arena against challengers. Zoroark beat Garen’s Beartic and gained control of its next battle against Conkeldurr.

• Zoroark revealed its disguise, defeated Fang Na’s Serperior, and won the battle for Sato.
• Sato activated Defense Mode, and Dong George announced the match at the C5 Battle Area.
• Garen challenged Sato with Beartic, but Zoroark defeated it with Flamethrower.
• A second Trainer sent out Conkeldurr and used Scary Face, while Sato boosted Zoroark with Nasty Plot and restrained Conkeldurr with Extrasensory.

Sato’s Zoroark defeated Conkeldurr with one Extrasensory, then faced Lux and her Skill Link Cinccino in the third Defense Match. Zoroark overcame Cinccino’s relentless Tail Slap and won, leaving Sato’s growing strength to astonish the spectators.

• Zoroark instantly knocked out Conkeldurr with Extrasensory, giving Sato his second Defense Match victory.
• Sato used Dark Power to help Zoroark recover while he waited for another challenger.
• Lux introduced herself as Garen’s sister and sent out her Cinccino to battle Sato.
• Cinccino repeatedly used Skill Link-boosted Tail Slap, interrupting Zoroark’s Agility and forcing Sato to respond carefully.
• Sato ordered Zoroark to use Dark Burst and Dark Pulse until Cinccino fell, earning his third Defense Match victory.