Chapter Summaries

Ash, Gary, and their friends welcomed May back at the Valor Lakefront dock after she traveled from Snowpoint City. May revealed that her Eevee had evolved into Glaceon and shared news of her Johto journey as the group caught up.

• Dawn and Zoey declared that they would compete for the Pokémon Contest championship, while Rosa considered entering and Hilda teased her.
• Ash and the others waited at the dock for May, and Ash told Dawn about May’s accomplishments as a Coordinator.
• May arrived by ship with her Beautifly, and she happily reunited with Gary, Ash, Brock, Rosa, and Hilda before meeting Dawn.
• May gave her friends gifts and explained that she had gone to Snowpoint City so her Eevee could evolve into Glaceon.
• May showed the group her three Johto Ribbons and encouraged Dawn after hearing that Dawn had lost twice in a row.
• A strange noise interrupted the group as they talked.

May led Gary, Ash, and the others to the Seven Star Restaurant near Valor Lakefront for lunch. Gary caught Team Rocket following them, had Gardevoir blast them away, and the group prepared to go inside as Ash complained of hunger.

• Ash's stomach growled, and May suggested they have lunch at the restaurant she had reserved.
• May brought the group to the Seven Star Restaurant and explained that it was Valor Lakefront's most popular restaurant.
• Gary stopped the group before they entered, spotted Team Rocket hiding nearby, and had Gardevoir restrain them with Confusion.
• Jessie, James, and Meowth protested that Gary had interrupted their motto, but he had Gardevoir blast them away with Psybeam.
• Ash's stomach growled again, and everyone laughed as they headed toward lunch.

Gary and his friends challenged the battle-loving owners of the Seven Star Restaurant for the right to eat there. Everyone except Gary won their battles, and the chapter ended as Gary faced Chiaki and Chinatsu alone.

• May led Gary, Ash, and the others to the Seven Star Restaurant, where they learned that guests had to defeat the owners in Pokémon battles to taste the food.
• Gary volunteered to battle Chiaki and Chinatsu two against one, while the others paired up for their own matches.
• Ash and Brock defeated Chiaki and Chinatsu with Pikachu and Sudowoodo against Munchlax and Snorlax.
• May and Dawn won with Blaziken and Piplup, then Rosa and Hilda won with Beautifly and Grovyle.
• After everyone else earned the right to eat, Gary accepted Chiaki and Chinatsu's challenge, and they released their Pokémon.

Gary battled restaurant owners Chiaki and Chinatsu, defeating both of their Pokémon with his Red Gyarados. After the owners praised him, Gary and his group entered the restaurant to enjoy its food.

• Chiaki and Chinatsu sent out their Level 38 Nidorino and Nidorina, while Gary chose his Level 56 Red Gyarados.
• Red Gyarados blocked Nidorino’s Horn Attack and Nidorina’s Thunderbolt with Protect, then knocked out Nidorino with Aqua Tail.
• Nidorina used Double Team and Poison Sting, but Red Gyarados’s Surf washed away its images and knocked it unconscious.
• Chiaki and Chinatsu praised Gary’s strength, and Rosa asked if the group could try the restaurant’s food.
• Chiaki let Gary and his friends into the restaurant, and they went inside to eat.

At the Wallace Cup in Sinnoh, Wallace summoned Gary backstage and asked him to battle in an Exhibition Match during the Opening Ceremony. Gary agreed, leaving Rosa and the others waiting to see what he and Wallace had planned.

• Rosa, Hilda, Gary, and Brock watched the packed arena and discussed Ash entering the Pokémon Contest.
• A staff member told Gary that Wallace wanted to see him about a surprise, and Gary followed him backstage.
• Wallace revealed that he wanted Gary to take part in an Exhibition Match during the Opening Ceremony.
• Wallace persuaded Gary by pointing out the chance to battle a strong trainer before a huge audience, and Gary agreed.
• Rosa wondered why Gary had not returned as the contest neared its start, while Hilda hinted that the surprise would soon be revealed.

The Wallace Cup opening ceremony introduced Wallace, the judges, and the Aqua Ribbon, which could qualify its winner for the Grand Festival. Before the contest began, Gary took the stage to face Wallace in an Exhibition Match.

• Ms. Ann opened the Wallace Cup and introduced Wallace, who made a dramatic entrance with Milotic and addressed the cheering crowd.
• Wallace joined Nurse Joy, Mr. Contesta, and Mr. Sukizo as a special judge, while Ms. Ann presented the Aqua Ribbon prize.
• Ms. Ann announced that Wallace would give an Exhibition Match before the contest, and Rosa, Hilda, and Brock guessed that Gary would be his opponent.
• Gary went backstage to prepare, then rose onto the stage as Ms. Ann introduced him as a former Hoenn League Champion challenging the Sinnoh League.
• Ms. Ann announced that the Exhibition Match between Wallace and Gary had officially begun.

Gary and Wallace faced off in an exhibition match at the Wallace Cup, showcasing their Pokémon’s strength before the cheering crowd. They ended the battle in a draw and returned to watch the next match.

• Wallace sent out Milotic, and Gary sent out Kartana as Ms. Ann announced the exhibition match’s start.
• Milotic attacked with Water Pulse and Water Gun, while Kartana split the Water Pulse with Psycho Cut and dodged the Water Gun using Double Team.
• Kartana closed in and struck with Leaf Blade, but Milotic countered with Dragon Tail, and the clash sent both Pokémon back across the pool.
• Wallace and Gary each ordered a final attack, Hydro Pump and Flash Cannon, then both Pokémon eased their power until the moves exploded and dispersed together.
• Gary and Wallace bowed as the crowd cheered, and Ash resolved to catch up to and surpass Gary.
• Gary returned to Rosa and Hilda, traded remarks with them, and sat down to watch the next match.

At the Wallace Cup, Ash, May, Dawn, and Zoey all advanced after their first-round performances. That night, Gary joined Ash at Valor Lakefront, where they saw Uxie appear briefly above the water.

• May performed with Wartortle, followed by Zoey with Finneon, Ash with Floatzel, and Dawn with Aipom.
• Ash, May, Dawn, and Zoey received strong evaluations and advanced to the second round.
• After hearing Ash in the hallway, Gary left his room and found him by the shore of Valor Lakefront.
• The lake rippled, and Gary and Ash saw a transparent figure appear briefly above the water before vanishing.
• Gary told Ash that the Pokémon was Uxie, a Lake Guardian said to represent Willpower.

Gary explained Sinnoh’s Lake Guardians and creation legends to Ash after they encountered Uxie, then the Wallace Cup concluded with Dawn defeating May in the final. Gary’s group continued their journey after bidding farewell to their acquaintances, and Gary began to reveal their next destination.

• Gary explained Uxie, the Lake Guardians, and Arceus to Ash after the disturbance at Valor Lakefront.
• Ash lost in the quarterfinals, Zoey lost to May in the semifinals, and Dawn defeated May to win the Wallace Cup and its Aqua Ribbon.
• Gary’s group watched the contest end, then bid farewell to Wallace, Ash, Zoey, and the others and declined Ash’s invitation to travel together.
• Rosa asked Gary to watch another Pokémon Contest with her someday, while Hilda reminded them to choose their next destination.
• Gary began to tell Rosa and Hilda where they were going next.

Gary, Rosa, and Hilda hurried to Pastoria City so they could challenge Nohara Gym before the annual Toxicroak Festival. After meeting Gym Leader Clay, all three said they planned to challenge the Gym.

• Gary explained that Pastoria City held its annual Toxicroak Festival, and Rosa became eager to attend.
• Hilda suggested asking Nohara Gym Leader Clay whether Trainers without Toxicroak could join the festival.
• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda reached Pastoria City, rested overnight, and went to Nohara Gym the next morning.
• Gary recognized the burly man training in the Gym as Clay and introduced the group as challengers.
• Clay asked which of them would challenge the Gym, and Rosa answered that all three would.

Gary began his Gym Battle against Clay at the Nohara Gym and defeated Clay’s Quagsire with his Red Gyarados. Clay sent out his own Gyarados next, and Gary checked its stats as the two Pokémon faced off.

• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda accepted Clay’s Gym Challenges, and Gary volunteered to battle first.
• Clay sent out Quagsire, while Gary chose his Red Gyarados for the water-field battle.
• Gary used Twister to pull Quagsire from the water, then finished it with Dragon Pulse.
• Clay recalled his defeated Quagsire and sent out his Gyarados to face Gary’s Red Gyarados.
• Rosa and Hilda compared the two Pokémon, and Gary checked Clay’s Gyarados’s stats.

Gary defeated Clay’s Gyarados and Floatzel to win the Gym Challenge, then returned to the stands as Rosa prepared to battle Clay. Cosmog Teleported from Rosa into Gary’s arms before Rosa entered the battlefield.

• Gary’s Red Gyarados overcame Clay’s Dragon Pulse and defeated his Gyarados with Dragon Pulse.
• Clay sent out Floatzel for a final battle, and Gary’s Red Gyarados knocked it out with Dark Pulse after blocking its Ice Punch with Protect.
• The referee declared Gary the winner of the Gym Challenge, and Gary returned to the spectator seats.
• Rosa stood up to begin her Gym Challenge, and Cosmog Teleported into Gary’s arms.

After earning Fen Badges from Clay, Gary, Rosa, and Hilda learned they could attend Pastoria City's upcoming Toxicroak Festival and explored the Great Marsh the next morning. Their exploration ended when Rosa spotted a Pokémon that looked different from its companions.

• Clay awarded Gary, Rosa, and Hilda Fen Badges after they defeated him in Gym Battles.
• Rosa asked Clay about the Toxicroak Festival, and he confirmed it would take place at the Great Marsh three evenings later and welcomed them to attend.
• Gary explained that the Great Marsh was Sinnoh's Safari Zone, and the group decided to explore it the next day.
• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda visited the Great Marsh and saw Pokémon including Wooper, Quagsire, Magikarp, Barboach, and Toxicroak.
• Rosa noticed a small Pokémon that seemed different from the others nearby.

Rosa decided to catch a diligent, Elite Four-potential Toxicroak in the Great Marsh and defeated it with Beautifly to earn its trust. After Gary healed Toxicroak, it willingly joined Rosa, who planned to enter the Toxicroak Festival.

• Gary noticed that one Toxicroak was unusually large and diligently training, and checked its stats to find it had Elite Four potential.
• Rosa decided to catch Toxicroak, and Gary agreed to let her try.
• Toxicroak demanded a battle before joining Rosa, so she sent out Beautifly.
• Beautifly defeated Toxicroak with Psychic and Energy Ball, and Gary healed it with Viridian Power.
• Rosa promised to train Toxicroak and help it grow strong enough to challenge Beautifly, and Toxicroak willingly entered her Poké Ball.
• Rosa confirmed that she would participate in the Toxicroak Festival and promised to work with her new Pokémon.

Ash and his friends arrived in Pastoria City during its annual Toxicroak Festival, where Brock and Rosa entered their Toxicroak in the competition. After Takuya announced he would propose to Nurse Joy’s Toxicroak by winning the festival, Brock and Rosa vowed to compete for the championship.

• Ash and his friends found Gary, Rosa, and Hilda among crowds gathering for Pastoria City’s annual Toxicroak Festival.
• Gary explained the festival and its prize, and Brock decided to enter alongside Rosa.
• Gary led Ash and the others to the festival grounds, where they met Clay and registered Brock and Rosa for the competition.
• Brock mistook Takuya’s proposal to Nurse Joy’s Toxicroak for a marriage proposal to Nurse Joy, then learned Takuya planned to return after winning the championship.
• Brock and Rosa each declared that their Toxicroak would win the festival and agreed to settle the rivalry in the competition.

The Toxicroak Festival in Pastoria City tested contestants’ Pokémon in beauty and strength evaluations before the finalists challenged reigning champion Takuya. Rosa’s Toxicroak won the final battle, and Rosa returned the crown to Clay after letting it wear it briefly.

• Clay opened the Toxicroak Festival and announced that contestants would compete for the crown by challenging last year’s champion, Takuya.
• Rosa and Brock’s Toxicroak passed the beauty evaluation, while Gary recognized Meowth disguised as a Toxicroak and warned Jessie and James not to disrupt the festival.
• In the strength evaluation, Rosa’s Toxicroak smashed fifteen bricks to earn a place in the final, while Meowth’s disguise failed to break even one brick and Team Rocket fled.
• Rosa’s Toxicroak defeated Takuya’s Toxicroak in a few rounds and claimed the championship.
• Rosa let her Toxicroak wear the crown briefly before returning it to Clay.

Gary and his friends left Pastoria City and hurried back to Hearthome City to challenge its Gym, but found Fantina still absent. Gary began considering what to do next.

• Gary refused Ash and Dawn’s invitation to stay in Pastoria City and gave Ash a Razor Fang for Gligar before leaving with Rosa and Hilda.
• Gary explained that he wanted to help Ash because they came from Pallet Town and Hanako had looked after him.
• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda traveled to Hearthome City and found Hearthome Gym still closed with its old notice posted.
• Gary explained that Fantina often traveled to pursue her goal of becoming a Contest Master, frustrating Rosa and Hilda.
• Rosa asked whether they should skip Hearthome City or wait for Fantina, and Gary began proposing a plan.

Gary, Rosa, and Hilda met Sinnoh Elite Four member Bertha in Hearthome City after failing twice to find Gym Leader Fantina. Bertha invited them to chat, then surprised Gary by saying he was nothing like his grandfather.

• An elderly woman called Gary’s name, and he recognized her as Bertha, the Sinnoh Elite Four’s Ground-type specialist.
• Bertha greeted Gary, Rosa, and Hilda warmly, and Rosa told her they had come to challenge the Hearthome Gym but had not found Fantina there on either of their visits.
• Bertha said Fantina had not changed, and Gary and the others agreed to skip the Gym for now and return later.
• Bertha invited the three trainers to keep her company, and they walked with her while chatting.
• Bertha told Gary that he was nothing like his grandfather, leaving Gary, Rosa, and Hilda confused.

Bertha compared Gary’s personality with Professor Oak’s when they were young, then invited Gary, Rosa, and Hilda to stay at her Hearthome City villa. After hosting them, she asked Gary to battle her.

• Bertha said young Professor Oak had been arrogant and proud, while Gary was better in that regard.
• Rosa and Hilda revealed that Gary had also been hot-blooded and arrogant when he was younger, and Bertha laughed with them about it.
• Gary asked why Bertha was in Hearthome City, and she explained that she was on a break from the Pokémon League.
• Bertha invited Gary, Rosa, and Hilda to rest at her villa, and they accepted and followed her there.
• After welcoming them and chatting, Bertha asked Gary to battle her because Cynthia and the others had told her about his strength.

Gary accepted Bertha’s offer to battle and faced her level 79 Nidoking with his level 79 Blastoise in a one-on-one match. Blastoise weathered Nidoking’s opening attacks, and Gary began to plan a counterattack.

• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda accepted Bertha’s challenge and followed her through her flower garden to her home battlefield.
• Gary volunteered to battle first, and Bertha chose a one-on-one match because of her age and stamina.
• Bertha sent out her level 79 Nidoking, and Gary answered with his level 79 Blastoise.
• Blastoise’s Hydro Pump was frozen by Nidoking’s Ice Beam, but Blastoise cut off the attack and dodged the ice.
• Nidoking struck Blastoise with Stone Edge, launching it into the air, but Iron Defense and Withdraw limited the damage.
• Gary spotted an opportunity and began to give Blastoise a new command.