Chapter Summaries

After Cacturne lost a sparring match with Cynthia’s Roserade, Sato accepted Drake’s advice that his partners needed to face unfamiliar challenges and reflect on their growth. The group continued toward Celestic Town and found lodging with a family in a village, where the younger son immediately caused a commotion.

• Cynthia’s Roserade defeated Cacturne, and George stopped the spar before Meganium treated Cacturne for poison.
• Sato recalled Drake’s advice that his partners had grown too smoothly and decided to help Cacturne adjust its state and face what it could not handle.
• George checked the map and led Sato, Cynthia, and Mark toward a nearby village, which they reached around dinner time.
• George asked a young girl for directions, and she invited the group to her home, where her father welcomed them.
• The family’s younger son interrupted the adults to ask about the group’s Pokemon, and his mother sent Xiaoxiang to catch and discipline him.

Sato and the others shared dinner with Xiaoxiang’s family, then Sato trained Skorupi while Ahe secretly watched. After Xiaoxiang warned that the village was dangerous at night, Sato and Mark decided to investigate, leaving her frightened and unwilling to let them go.

• Xiaoxiang and her mother playfully beat Ahe before the family and their guests sat down to dinner.
• Sato trained Skorupi to improve the accuracy and strength of Venoshock while Ahe watched and judged the Pokémon.
• Xiaoxiang interrupted Sato at dusk and urged him to return indoors because the village was unsafe at night.
• Sato returned to the house, where Mark proposed investigating the danger while Cynthia and George declined to join them.
• Xiaoxiang warned Sato and Mark not to go outside, but Mark proudly insisted they were strong Trainers.

Sato took Ahe and the others into the village at night to investigate the ghostly danger, using Gengar to light the way and drive off the Pokémon they encountered. The group continued deeper into the dark, with Xiaoxiang and Ahe repeatedly frightened by ghosts.

• Sato said Gengar had gone ahead to investigate, while Mark tried to back out of the nighttime search.
• Ahe agreed to guide Sato, and Xiaoxiang argued with him before chasing after the group.
• Gengar returned, and Ahe pulled Sato outside; Mark and Xiaoxiang followed them into the village.
• Sato introduced Gengar, who startled the siblings and made golden Will-O-Wisps to light the way.
• Sato ordered Gengar to lead the group, and Gengar drove away several Duskull with Shadow Balls.
• The group encountered Shuppet, and Sato wondered why he and Mark kept getting startled along with the children.

Sato and Mark led Xiaoxiang and Ahe through the village’s Ghost-type Pokemon to discover a rare Pokemon Treasure Land whose dark-purple wind strengthened Ghost-types. They left uncertain how to protect the village without harming the wild Pokemon or drawing unwanted attention to the treasure land.

• Mark sent out Arbok to use Glare while Gengar led the group through the Ghost-type Pokemon, and Gengar drove a crowd of Shuppet away with Shadow Ball.
• Sato reassured Xiaoxiang and Ahe as they followed, while Mark protested when Sato called him their uncle.
• Gengar released its Pseudo-Elite Four Level aura to keep the gathered Ghost-type Pokemon at a distance and led everyone to the source of their gathering.
• Sato identified a pile of rocks emitting pure Ghost-type energy, which made Gengar blissful and attracted nearby wild Ghost-type Pokemon.
• Gengar explained that the Pokemon Treasure Land could not be moved, and Sato worried that growing Ghost-type numbers could endanger the village or bring outsiders who might harm the Pokemon.
• Sato realized there was no simple solution and blamed Mark’s unusually good luck for the predicament.

Sato discovered that an Odd Keystone in the rubble was unsealing a Spiritomb, and he stopped Gengar from attacking the seal. As the Ghost-type Pokémon swarmed around the energy, Sato and his Pokémon began clearing the area while Gengar tried to protect its kind.

• The rubble collapsed, releasing pure Ghost-type energy and revealing a blood-red rune stone that Sato recognized as an Odd Keystone.
• Gengar tried Shadow Ball and Thunderbolt to stop the unsealing, but Thunderbolt made the strange wind surge stronger.
• Sato told Gengar to calm the Wild Ghost-type Pokémon and assigned Mark to help clear the area, then sent out Houndoom.
• Gengar warned the nearby Pokémon about Spiritomb, causing some to flee while others stayed to absorb the energy.
• Gengar and Houndoom repelled the remaining Pokémon, while Ahe watched Sato with newfound admiration.

Sato and Mark confronted the Spiritomb emerging from the Odd Keystone, and the newly revealed Pokémon ambushed them before fighting off Gengar, Lucario, and Arbok. The chapter ended with Spiritomb unleashing a 360-degree Psychic attack that struck the three Pokémon.

• Sato's group cleared the nearby wild Ghost-type Pokémon while the Odd Keystone's rune glowed and released pure Ghost-type energy.
• The Odd Keystone burst with purplish-red light, and Sato dodged a sudden attack by knocking Mark, Ahe, and Xiaoxiang down.
• Houndoom used Odor Sleuth and Gengar's irregular Shadow Balls exposed Spiritomb beneath the Odd Keystone.
• Spiritomb destroyed Gengar's Shadow Balls with an all-directional Dark Pulse, prompting Mark to send out Lucario.
• Lucario, Arbok, and Gengar attacked Spiritomb, which countered with an all-directional Psychic that struck all three Pokémon.

Sato and Mark’s Pokémon struggled against Spiritomb’s misfortune-inducing powers until Mark’s Togekiss unexpectedly overwhelmed it with Air Slash. Spiritomb fled while devouring wild Ghost-type Pokémon, and Sato’s group resumed the attack, with Sato recommending Togekiss use Dazzling Gleam.

• Spiritomb’s powers disrupted Sato and Mark’s attacks, making their Pokémon miss or interfere with one another.
• Mark’s Togekiss broke free of its Poké Ball and repeatedly struck Spiritomb with Air Slash, inflicting Fear Status and leaving it unable to fight back.
• After enduring several more Air Slashes, Spiritomb used Surprise Attack to knock Togekiss back, then fled while invisible.
• Spiritomb reappeared among wild Ghost-type Pokémon and devoured them as Togekiss’s Air Slash struck its Psychic barrier.
• Sato sent out Tyranitar and coordinated the attack, then explained that Spiritomb was Dark- and Ghost-type and told Mark to have Togekiss use Dazzling Gleam.

Togekiss joined the fight against Spiritomb and defeated it with repeated Dazzling Gleams, aided by a streak of improbable bad luck. After Spiritomb was reduced to its Odd Keystone, Togekiss advanced to the Pseudo-Elite Four Level.

• Mark commanded Togekiss to use Dazzling Gleam while Houndoom used Odor Sleuth to reveal Spiritomb.
• Spiritomb appeared behind the Pokémon and ran into Togekiss’s Dazzling Gleam, taking a direct hit as it tried to ambush Togekiss.
• Mark urged Togekiss to press its advantage, and Togekiss struck Spiritomb again before it could recover.
• Togekiss’s next Dazzling Gleam hit Spiritomb after it tripped over a shrub, leaving only its Odd Keystone behind.
• Togekiss’s aura rose to the Pseudo-Elite Four Level, and Mark ran to embrace it as the others celebrated.

Togekiss had Mark capture the defeated Spiritomb, and George explained that Togekiss believed Mark’s ability to bring good luck might also let him control bad luck through Spiritomb. Mark and Sato agreed to speak with Spiritomb at dawn, but a strange energy from Mark flowed into its Poké Ball while he watched it that night.

• Togekiss used an empty Poké Ball to capture the defeated Spiritomb, and Mark accepted the capture despite Sato’s concerns.
• Sato brought Mark and George back to Xiaoxiang’s home, where George translated Togekiss’s explanation.
• George said Togekiss believed Spiritomb was destined for Mark and could help him control bad luck.
• Sato proposed that they communicate with Spiritomb at dawn, and Mark and George agreed.
• Mark stayed awake staring at Spiritomb’s Poké Ball as Arbok comforted him, then strange energy flowed from Mark into the ball.

After the villagers gathered to discuss the previous night’s disturbance, Mark revealed that Spiritomb had become unusually obedient after absorbing his special ability. Sato punished Mark and Spiritomb with a training session, then told the group to pack up and leave.

• Xiaoxiang’s parents left to join the villagers’ meeting while Sato and the others stayed behind.
• Mark released Spiritomb and explained that he had channeled his special ability into its Poké Ball, after which Spiritomb had become affectionate and obedient.
• Sato and George doubted Mark’s claim that Spiritomb had submitted because it sensed his power, and George encouraged Sato to discipline him.
• Sato had Tyranitar train Spiritomb until it returned to its Odd Keystone, and Mark joked that being a mascot was not so bad.
• The other Pokémon mocked and abandoned Mark, while George and Cynthia discussed how to train Spiritomb and Sato told everyone to pack for departure.

Sato had Skorupi finish its tail-pincer training before challenging Cynthia’s Roserade with Zweilous, whose two heads had recently learned to fight independently. Zweilous and Roserade traded attacks, and the sparring remained underway after Roserade evaded Dragon Breath.

• Sato had Skorupi complete three hundred weighted tail-pincer swings while Mark and George directed Phione and Clauncher in a water attack contest.
• Sato chose Zweilous for a sparring match with Cynthia’s Roserade after Cynthia noted that it was Elite Level but had not completed its Stage 3 evolution.
• Little Left attacked Roserade with Dragon Breath while Little Right blocked Magical Leaf with Hidden Power, prompting Cynthia to praise their coordination.
• Roserade concealed its movements with Magical Leaf and Double Team before attacking Zweilous with Sludge Bomb, but the two heads countered with a combined Hyper Voice that destroyed the attacks and clones.
• Little Right used Fire Fang to burn through Giga Drain’s vines while Little Left’s Dragon Breath missed after Roserade dodged it.

Sato’s Zweilous lost to Cynthia’s Roserade, but Sato remained confident that Little Left and Little Right could develop a third consciousness rather than evolve by devouring each other. The group reached Celestic Town, where Cynthia was warmly welcomed by the townspeople.

• Cynthia’s Roserade defeated Zweilous with Leaf Storm after an even battle, and George’s Meganium healed both Pokémon.
• Sato praised Zweilous for using its trained moves, then pointed out its stamina and adaptability still needed work.
• Cynthia and Sato discussed visiting Celestic Town and trying the local Autumn Tea, while George and Mark’s battle ended in a draw.
• Cynthia led the group to Celestic Town, where several residents greeted her and a boy proudly showed her his Chimchar.
• After more than an hour of greetings, Cynthia arrived at her grandmother’s house and relaxed.

Cynthia brought Sato, George, and Mark to meet her stern grandmother, who later tested Cynthia and offered her a chance to delay joining the Sinnoh Alliance as an investigator. Cynthia chose to travel to the three great lakes with her friends first, while her grandmother reserved the position for only one month.

• Cynthia introduced Sato, George, and Mark to her intimidating grandmother, who made them sit quietly and eat at her home.
• Mark choked on vegetables and was given more greens, while the three friends decided to stay at Celestic Town's inn instead of spending the night at Cynthia's house.
• Cynthia's grandmother praised her improved strength control and tactics after her Garchomp lost a battle to her grandmother's Garchomp.
• Cynthia asked to postpone reporting as a Sinnoh Alliance investigator so she could visit the three great lakes with Sato and the others.
• Cynthia's grandmother agreed to reserve the investigator position for one month and teased Cynthia about becoming someone's girlfriend.

Sato reviewed four invitations while traveling with Mark and George, deciding which events to attend and who would represent him. After sharing the news over a late-night snack, he left the others wondering whether their trip was nearing its end.

• Sato cleared important work emails and received invitations to the Pokémon League Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament, the Johto Region Gym Ranking Match, the Dark Night Town Breeder Association ceremony, and the Oak Research Institute ceremony.
• Sato decided to enter the Pseudo-Elite Four Tournament, let Sinan compete in the Gym Ranking Match, and have George attend the Breeder Association ceremony for him.
• Sato considered Professor Oak's departure from the Kanto Champion position and planned his schedule around the events, leaving time to tour Sinnoh's three great lakes.
• George brought fermented rice balls while Mark ate fried chicken, easing the tension after Sato caught Mark offering him a bitten piece.
• Sato told Mark and George about the invitations, and Mark asked whether their trip was coming to an end.

Cynthia took Sato, George, and Mark on a tour of Celestic Town’s ancient ruins, where they met her formidable grandmother and learned about the town’s legends. After leaving the ruins, they were challenged by a group of young local trainers.

• Cynthia brought the three travelers breakfast and explained Celestic Town’s history before leading them to its ancient ruins.
• At the ruins’ entrance, Cynthia’s grandmother warned the visitors not to damage anything and made Sato recall Gengar from beneath his shadow.
• Cynthia told Sato, George, and Mark that even her strongest lineup might not defeat one of her grandmother’s Pokémon, then guided them through the ruins.
• The group found a different elder guarding the entrance when they left, and Cynthia explained that her grandmother inspected the ruins only in the morning.
• A group of local children approached the travelers, and one boy tactfully challenged them to a battle.

Mark challenged the proud children of Celestic Town, and Spiritomb easily defeated Vilanch’s Bronzong and Machoke before winning a longer battle against Bode’s Empoleon. With the children still eager to fight, Cynthia asked Sato and George to teach them that stronger trainers existed, and they began their own battles.

• Mark sent out Spiritomb to battle Vilanch’s Bronzong, which Spiritomb knocked out with one Dark Pulse.
• Vilanch sent out Machoke, but its Karate Chop passed through Spiritomb and Spiritomb hurled it into a distant rock wall.
• Bode challenged Mark with Empoleon, which resisted Spiritomb’s attacks for several rounds before losing.
• The children grew eager to challenge Mark, so some of them turned to Sato and George instead.
• Cynthia agreed to let Sato and George teach the children a lesson, and they sent out Cacturne and Gallade for consecutive battles.

Sato, Cynthia, Mark, and George left Celestic Town and traveled toward Lake Acuity, where the snowy weather made reaching their destination seem difficult. After setting up camp and sharing a meal, Sato wished their peaceful journey could last forever.

• Sato's Cacturne defeated a string of Elite-Level challengers, while Mark and George chose not to join the battles.
• Cynthia led the group around Celestic Town, and Sato learned that Lake Acuity was also her final stop before they agreed to leave the next day.
• Cynthia's grandmother met the group at the edge of town, gave them parting instructions, and watched them set off for Lake Acuity.
• Three days later, Cynthia sent Glaceon to find a sheltered campsite in the snow, while Sato's Weavile explored the nearby pines.
• George prepared a meal at camp, and Sato wished the leisurely moment could last forever.

Sato and his companions discovered that a Delibird carrying a letter was delivering a message for Team Rocket, revealing that Miyamoto had come to Sinnoh in search of Mew. They continued toward the mountain despite the possibility of encountering her, leaving the captured Delibird in their hands.

• Mark grabbed the gift bag Delibird dropped, and it tore while he struggled with the bird over it.
• Sato found the letter in the bag, and Weavile knocked Delibird into a snowbank when it tried to retrieve it.
• George read that the letter concerned Miyamoto, a high-ranking Team Rocket member searching for Mew in Sinnoh.
• Sato explained that Miyamoto was one of Team Rocket's Twin Empresses and likely at least an Elite Four-level Trainer.
• George argued that finding the letter did not mean Miyamoto was nearby, and the group decided not to change their route.
• Sato suggested dealing with the exhausted Delibird, and Mark proposed roasting it.

George caught a Delibird that had served as one of Team Rocket’s messenger Pokémon, and the group continued toward Lake Acuity. They discovered a newly dug underground Ice Room on the road and suspected Miyamoto was inside, but no one answered their calls.

• George understood Delibird’s words, learned that it feared returning because its most important envelope was missing, and caught it after it knocked away his first Poké Ball.
• Sato joked that Delibird’s Present move might help George’s Pokémon recover, and George said he would raise Delibird as a Pokémon Breeder.
• The group resumed its journey through the snow, with Glaceon and Weavile scouting and guarding them while George kept Delibird inside its Poké Ball.
• Mark tried to approach a newly dug Ice Room, but George stopped him, and Sato suspected Miyamoto was nearby.
• Cynthia called into the Ice Room as snow shifted at its entrance, and an unseen person asked whether they were looking for them.

Sato and his companions met Miyamoto, a powerful wilderness adventurer who was also Team Rocket’s second-in-command, while crossing the ice field. After Ninetales devoured George’s homemade beef strips and Miyamoto departed, the group continued cautiously and took shelter in a rock cave.

• Miyamoto appeared behind Sato and his companions with her Elite Four-level Ninetales, and she introduced herself as a wilderness adventurer.
• Miyamoto recognized Sato as the person who discovered Mega Evolution and asked him whether Ninetales could Mega Evolve, but he said he did not know.
• Sato told Miyamoto that the group was crossing the ice field toward Lake Acuity, and Miyamoto prepared to leave.
• Ninetales ate George’s homemade beef strips, and George gave it the rest as a snack before Ninetales carried Miyamoto away.
• Sato led the group onward, and they relaxed only after finding a rock cave and securing its entrance.