Chapter Summaries

Gary and Rosa traveled to Oldale Town, registered for the Hoenn League’s Ever Grande Conference, and spent the night at the Pokémon Center. The next morning, they left for Petalburg City after visiting and photographing the ancient murals for Professor Oak.

• Gary told Rosa they would travel through Oldale Town before continuing to Petalburg City, and she agreed.
• On the road, Rosa admired the Hoenn Pokémon and chose not to catch Azurill, Marill, and Azumarill because she wanted to leave the family together.
• Gary and Rosa reached Oldale Town before nightfall and registered for the Ever Grande Conference at the Pokémon Center with Nurse Joy.
• Gary and Rosa booked a room at the Pokémon Center and stayed overnight.
• The next morning, Gary and Rosa visited the ancient murals outside Oldale Town, took photos for Professor Oak, and set off toward Petalburg City.

Gary and Rosa reached Petalburg City, rested, and went shopping together. An ice-cream shop promotion led Rosa to call them a couple, and Gary kissed her cheek before they continued their date hand in hand.

• Gary and Rosa arrived in Petalburg City and chose to rest before considering a Gym challenge.
• After lunch and a nap, Rosa urged Gary to go shopping around the city.
• Rosa spotted a crowded ice-cream shop and persuaded Gary to join the line with her.
• When the server explained the couples’ discount required a kiss, Rosa said she and Gary were a couple.
• Gary kissed Rosa’s cheek to claim the discount, then handed her an ice cream and held her hand as they continued their date.

Gary and Rosa visited Petalburg Gym, where they met Gym Leader Norman and learned that Ash had traveled into Petalburg Woods with Norman’s children, May and Max. After talking with Norman, Gary and Rosa began their Gym Challenge.

• Gary explained to Rosa that Norman was an exceptionally strong Trainer and Petalburg Gym was considered Hoenn’s strongest Gym.
• Gary and Rosa entered Petalburg Gym and introduced themselves to Norman.
• Norman recognized Gary from Ash’s description of him as his best friend and greatest rival.
• Norman told Gary that Ash had left Petalburg City with May and Max two days earlier and was likely in Petalburg Woods.
• Gary and Rosa chatted with Norman before beginning their Gym Challenge.

Gary battled Norman at the Petalburg Gym, defeating Slakoth with Elekid before facing Norman’s stronger Vigoroth with Umbreon. The fight between Umbreon and Vigoroth continued as Vigoroth closed in with Brick Break.

• Norman sent out Level 26 Slakoth, and Gary chose Elekid to face it.
• Gary used Elekid’s Screech to interrupt Slakoth’s Focus Punch, then defeated it with Thunderbolt.
• Norman sent out Vigoroth, and Gary recalled Elekid and chose Umbreon.
• Umbreon’s Dark Pulse broke through Vigoroth’s Flamethrower, and Norman had Vigoroth dodge a rapid barrage of Shadow Balls.
• Vigoroth closed in on Umbreon and attacked with Brick Break, leaving Umbreon in danger.

Gary defeated Norman’s Vigoroth with Umbreon, then faced Norman’s final Pokémon, Slaking, with Arcanine. Slaking trapped Arcanine in its powerful grip, leaving Gary’s next move unresolved.

• Gary used Umbreon’s Protect, Double Kick, Confuse Ray, and Giga Impact to defeat Norman’s Vigoroth.
• Norman sent out his final Pokémon, Slaking, and Gary chose Arcanine to face it.
• Arcanine dodged Slaking’s Hammer Arm with Agility, then attacked with Flame Wheel while Slaking rested because of Truant.
• Slaking blocked Arcanine’s Flame Wheel, grabbed it, and held it despite Gary’s order to break free.
• Norman began to command Slaking to use another move.

Gary defeated Norman's Slaking to win the Petalburg Gym battle and earn the Balance Badge, his first Badge in the Hoenn Region. Rosa then challenged Norman, and their Gym battle began.

• Gary's Arcanine burned Slaking with Will-O-Wisp, then used Flare Blitz to knock him unconscious.
• The referee declared Gary the winner after Norman's third Pokémon was unable to battle.
• Norman gave Gary the Balance Badge, and Gary thanked him before placing it in his Badge Case.
• Rosa challenged Norman to a Gym battle, and Norman accepted.
• Rosa's battle against Norman began.

Gary and Rosa traveled through Petalburg Woods toward Rustboro City, stopping by a stream to train their Pokémon and share lunch. Their peaceful meal was interrupted when a mysterious dark-blue figure appeared in Larvitar’s food bowl.

• After Rosa earned the Balance Badge, she and Gary left Petalburg City and continued toward Rustboro City through Petalburg Woods.
• Gary and Rosa stopped beside a stream, where they released their Pokémon and assigned them training.
• Gary and Rosa prepared lunch and Pokémon food together, then called the Pokémon over to eat.
• A black shadow flashed past the group, and Larvitar roared angrily when a dark-blue figure appeared in its food bowl.

A Taillow stole Larvitar’s lunch and provoked it into attacking, prompting the Taillow flock to seek revenge on Gary and Rosa. After Gary and Rosa defeated the flock, they left Petalburg Woods before it could return with reinforcements.

• A Taillow ate Larvitar’s lunch, and Larvitar struck it with a Shadow Ball after it taunted him.
• The injured Taillow called its companions, and dozens of Taillow gathered to confront Gary, Rosa, and their Pokémon.
• The Taillow flock charged, but Gary’s Blastoise and Rosa’s Serperior defeated them.
• Gary and Rosa packed up and left the area, while the Taillow later returned in greater numbers and found them gone.

Gary and Rosa discovered a Shiny Wurmple with Champion-level potential in Petalburg Woods, and Rosa caught it after defeating it with Unfezant. Rosa celebrated her new Pokémon while Gary reminded her of her promise to him.

• Rosa continued to complain about the Taillow attack, and Gary comforted and teased her as they traveled through Petalburg Woods.
• Gary noticed something in a tree and showed Rosa a purple Wurmple, which he identified as a Shiny with exceptional potential.
• Gary encouraged Rosa to catch the Wurmple, and she agreed after he reminded her to compensate him later.
• The Shiny Wurmple challenged Rosa, but her level 58 Unfezant knocked it unconscious, allowing Rosa to catch it.
• Rosa happily told Gary she had caught the Shiny Wurmple, and he congratulated her while reminding her of her promise.

Gary and Rosa rested in Petalburg Woods after Rosa caught a Shiny Wurmple, then encountered Aron, a poacher. Aron approached the young couple with apparent interest, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• A green-haired man blamed some children for ruining his haul and vowed to make up his losses as he headed deeper into Petalburg Woods.
• Rosa stayed delighted about her Shiny Wurmple as she and Gary walked through the woods and stopped to rest.
• Gary heard a faint rustle in the grass and warned Rosa that someone was approaching.
• Aron emerged from the grass, and Gary recognized him as the poacher Ash and the others had encountered.
• Rosa moved close to Gary nervously, while Aron spotted them and strode over.

Poacher Aron tried to rob Gary and Rosa, but Gary easily knocked him down and faced his Tyranitar with Blastoise. Aron began the battle with Stone Edge and Sandstorm, while Gary remained confident in Blastoise.

• Aron spotted Gary and Rosa and threatened them, demanding their money, Pokémon, and valuables.
• Gary and Rosa mocked Aron, and Gary dodged his punch before kicking him away.
• Aron sent out his level 56 Tyranitar and ordered it to attack Gary and Rosa.
• Gary summoned Blastoise, which destroyed Tyranitar's Stone Edge with Hydro Pump.
• Aron used Sandstorm to obscure the battlefield as Gary remained confident.

Gary and Rosa defeated and captured the Pokémon poacher Aron after Rosa stopped his sneak attack. They handed him over to Officer Jenny, collected the bounty, and continued through Petalburg Woods.

• Gary dispelled Tyranitar's sandstorm with Blastoise's Rain Dance and struck it with Hydro Pump.
• Aron sent out Fearow for a sneak attack, but Rosa had Unfezant intercept it with Quick Attack.
• Gary and Rosa ordered Blastoise and Unfezant to use Hyper Beam, knocking out Tyranitar and Fearow.
• Gary and Rosa bound Aron, recalled his Pokémon, and contacted Officer Jenny.
• Officer Jenny's officers took Aron into custody, and Gary and Rosa gave statements at the police station.
• Gary and Rosa received Aron's bounty and continued their journey through Petalburg Woods.

Gary and Rosa arrived in Rustboro City, where they spent the afternoon resting before Gary took Rosa to the Observation Tower. The chapter ended with them embracing as they admired the city’s night view.

• Rosa complained to Gary that no more Pokémon poachers had appeared for them to catch after their reward for capturing Aron.
• Gary and Rosa arrived in Rustboro City, and Gary hurried Rosa away from the curious stares of the locals.
• Gary told Rosa to rest at the Pokémon Center instead of challenging the Gym that afternoon and kept their evening destination a surprise.
• After dinner, Gary took Rosa to the top of Rustboro City’s Observation Tower to see the night view.
• Gary embraced Rosa and told her she was more beautiful than the city lights, and she leaned happily into him.

Professor Oak asked Gary to teach a class at the Pokémon School in Rustboro City, then met Gary’s girlfriend, Rosa, over a video call. After chatting with Rosa and approving of her, Professor Oak reminded Gary to meet Teacher Roxanne at the school that afternoon.

• Professor Oak asked Gary to fill in for his online class at the Pokémon School in Rustboro City, and Gary reluctantly agreed.
• Professor Oak heard Rosa’s voice, learned she was Gary’s girlfriend, and asked to meet her on camera.
• Rosa nervously introduced herself to Professor Oak, then told him she and Gary had met at Professor Birch’s place.
• Professor Oak chatted with Rosa for nearly an hour before warning Gary not to let her down.
• Professor Oak reminded Gary to find Teacher Roxanne at the school that afternoon, and Gary and Rosa playfully fooled around after the call ended.

Gary and Rosa visited the Pokémon School in Rustboro City, where Roxanne welcomed them and showed them around. They agreed to challenge Roxanne at Rustboro Gym the next day, then went to teach the class.

• Gary and Rosa arrived at the Pokémon School and waited while the security guard confirmed their identities with Roxanne.
• Roxanne met them and confirmed that Gary would fill in for Professor Oak's class.
• Roxanne toured Gary and Rosa around the school and explained that she had graduated there and still taught while serving as Rustboro Gym's Gym Leader.
• Gary and Rosa told Roxanne they planned to challenge her Gym, and they agreed to meet for the challenge the next day.
• Roxanne led Gary and Rosa to the classroom, where they began the lesson.

Gary and Rosa arrived at the Rustboro Gym for their scheduled challenges, and Roxanne prepared to record the battles as study material for the Pokémon School. Gary took the first turn and faced Roxanne’s Geodude, leaving the battle just beginning.

• Gary and Rosa discussed the Gym’s stone architecture before a staff member escorted them inside to meet Roxanne.
• Roxanne explained that she planned to record the Gym battle for the Pokémon School’s Battle Department, and Gary and Rosa agreed.
• Gary volunteered to battle first, and the referee announced that each side could use two Pokémon while Roxanne could not switch.
• Roxanne sent out her level 23 Geodude, and Gary checked its Data Panel.
• Gary sent out his Pokémon to face Geodude.

Gary defeated Roxanne’s Geodude with Elekid by trapping it in a pit and landing consecutive Fighting-type attacks. Roxanne sent out Nosepass for the second round, and Gary chose Larvitar to face it.

• Gary sent out his level 29 Elekid against Roxanne’s Geodude and dodged Geodude’s Rollout with Quick Attack.
• Gary had Elekid use Focus Blast to make a pit, trapping Geodude as it rolled forward.
• Elekid struck the trapped Geodude with Focus Punch and Focus Blast, winning the first round.
• Roxanne sent out Nosepass for the second round, and Gary chose Larvitar as his next Pokémon.

Gary defeated Roxanne in the Rustboro Gym battle, and Larvitar evolved into Pupitar. Roxanne awarded Gary the Stone Badge, while Rosa had to postpone her Gym battle until the damaged field was repaired.

• Roxanne ordered Nosepass to attack Larvitar with Rock Throw, but Gary had Larvitar evade the rocks with Dragon Dance and strengthen its defense with Iron Defense.
• Larvitar withstood Nosepass's Zap Cannon, then dodged Rock Tomb and knocked Nosepass down with Brick Break and Iron Head.
• The referee declared Gary the winner after Nosepass could no longer battle.
• Larvitar evolved into Pupitar after Gary praised it.
• Roxanne congratulated Gary and gave him the Stone Badge.
• Roxanne postponed Rosa's Gym battle until the afternoon because the field needed repairs.

After earning her second Badge, Rosa agreed to stay in Rustboro City with Gary while he waited for Ash and they prepared to watch a Pokémon Contest. At the contest venue, Gary and Rosa spotted several familiar figures and wondered what they were doing.

• Rosa celebrated earning the Stone Badge, and Gary explained that he planned to wait in Rustboro City for Ash, who he suspected was lost in Petalburg Woods.
• Rosa agreed to stay with Gary, and he told her about Pokémon Contests and Coordinators.
• Rosa and Gary decided to watch the upcoming contest, obtained Contest Passes at the Pokémon Center, and rested in Rustboro City for a day.
• Rosa and Gary arrived at the contest venue and noticed several familiar figures ahead, prompting Gary to wonder what they were doing.

Gary and Rosa reunited with Ash, Brock, May, and Max at the Rustboro Contest venue and introduced Rosa as Gary’s girlfriend. Gary and Rosa revealed that they had each earned two Gym Badges, leaving Ash and the others astonished.

• Rosa admired the Rustboro Contest venue while Gary explained its glamorous setting.
• Gary and Rosa met Ash, Brock, May, and Max, and Max recalled Gary’s loss to Ash at the Silver Conference.
• Gary introduced Rosa as his girlfriend from the Unova Region, and the group greeted her.
• Rosa and Gary explained that Norman had told them Ash and the others were traveling together.
• Gary revealed that he had two Gym Badges, and Rosa said they had won the Stone Badge at Rustboro Gym, shocking Ash, May, and Max.