Chapter Summaries

Gary defeated Hilda’s Gabite to win the Pokémon Championship Junior Cup, then declined Alder’s invitation to become Champion of the Unova League. Gary and Alder took their places for the promised battle as Rosa, Trip, and other spectators gathered to watch.

• Hilda’s Gabite and Gary’s Lucario clashed evenly until Gary’s Lucario used Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash to badly injure Gabite.
• Gabite stood back up, but Lucario defeated it with Dynamic Punch, giving Gary the Junior Cup championship.
• Gary accepted his trophy from Alder but declined Alder’s invitation to become Champion of the Unova League.
• Gary asked Alder for a proper battle, and Alder agreed.
• Gary and Alder faced each other on the battlefield as Rosa, Trip, Cynthia, Caitlin, and other spectators prepared to watch.

Gary battled Alder in a high-level match, and Blastoise gained the early advantage over Druddigon before Alder’s Pokémon landed a close-range counterattack. The battle continued with both Pokémon still fighting.

• Alder sent out Druddigon, and Gary chose Blastoise to face it.
• Blastoise broke through Druddigon’s Dragon Breath with Iron Defense and Rapid Spin, knocking Druddigon backward.
• Blastoise followed up with Dragon Pulse, but Druddigon endured the attack and pushed forward with Dragon Claw.
• Gary’s strong opening attacks excited the spectators, while Trip watched resentfully and Rosa and Hilda cheered.
• Druddigon dodged Blastoise’s Hydro Pump and rapid Water Guns, then struck Blastoise with Dragon Claw, with Rough Skin adding to the damage.

Gary defeated Alder in the Junior Cup final, then declined Alder’s renewed invitation to become Unova’s Champion and suggested Iris as a future Champion. After the tournament ended, Alder tried to invite Cynthia and Caitlin to dinner, but Caitlin refused and pulled Cynthia away.

• Gary had Blastoise use Aqua Jet to push Druddigon back, then defeated it with Hyper Beam, winning the battle against Alder.
• The referee declared Gary the winner, and the shocked crowd applauded as Gary and Alder shook hands.
• Trip silently watched Gary before leaving, while the participants gathered with Alder, Cynthia, Caitlin, and Takemitsu to close the Junior Cup.
• After leaving the stadium, Gary refused Alder’s offer to become Unova’s Champion again and suggested Iris had the potential to take the position.
• Alder invited Cynthia to dinner, but Caitlin claimed her evening and refused Alder’s follow-up invitation to dine with them.
• Caitlin pulled Cynthia away from Alder, who followed them and suggested having tea instead, while Gary, Rosa, and Hilda laughed together.

After Gary defeated Ash in another battle at Cynthia's villa, Alder called to recruit Gary and his companions for an operation against Team Rocket near Opelucid City. Gary agreed to help protect the Swords of Justice, and Rosa eagerly prepared to confront Team Rocket.

• Gary's Charizard defeated Ash's Pignite, and Iris teased Ash about his repeated losses to Gary.
• Ash challenged Gary to battle again, but Gary's phone rang before he could answer.
• Alder told Gary that two Team Rocket Senior Rank officers had joined forces with Team Plasma holdouts and were targeting the Swords of Justice near Giant Chasm.
• Alder asked Gary to help, with an Elite Four member and police officers joining the operation, and Gary agreed.
• Gary told Rosa, Hilda, and the others about the mission, refused Ash's offer to join, and said he had prepared a big gift for Team Rocket.

Gary, Rosa, and Hilda joined Officer Jenny and Elite Four Shauntal to prepare for Team Rocket’s arrival in Opelucid City. When Team Rocket began moving, the group readied themselves to act.

• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda arrived at the police camp and showed Officer Jenny their Pokédexes for identification.
• Officer Jenny told them that Shauntal was leading the operation because Marshal was occupied with other matters.
• Gary and the others met Shauntal, who said Officer Jenny had prepared the plan and that she would handle Team Rocket’s executives and Team Plasma’s diehards.
• Rosa and Hilda offered to help, and Officer Jenny explained that they would wait for Team Rocket and Team Plasma to arrive.
• A police officer reported that Team Rocket had begun moving, and Gary and the others prepared to make their entrance.

Team Rocket and the Dark Iron Trio secretly planned to capture Terrakion while helping Team Rocket’s Boss delay Gary and the Pokémon League. When Gary’s group confronted their forces, Lance and the Dark Iron Trio argued over the breach in secrecy before joining forces to face them.

• Lance and Athena told the Dark Iron Trio that Terrakion often appeared nearby and secured their help capturing it in exchange for a promise.
• After leaving, the Dark Iron Trio planned to use Team Rocket to capture Terrakion for themselves and take revenge on the Unova League, Gary, N, and the other traitors.
• Officer Jenny asked Gary and Shauntal how to approach the enemy, and Gary proposed a direct attack because their force and top-tier strength were greater.
• Gary led the Pokémon League force toward Team Rocket and Team Plasma, and guards spotted them and raised the alarm.
• The Dark Iron Trio accused Lance of failing to keep the operation secret, but Athena urged them to deal with the approaching League force first.
• Lance, Athena, and the Dark Iron Trio set aside their argument and went out together to confront the Pokémon League.

Gary confronted Lance and Athena, exposing Team Rocket’s plan to use the distraction to target Meloetta near Ash. After the police and Gary’s allies engaged the other criminals, Gary revealed his Champion-level strength and began battling Lance and Athena.

• Gary revealed that he had noticed Team Rocket’s plan to distract him while they targeted Meloetta, and Athena and Lance admitted they had used the Dark Iron Trio to draw him away.
• The Dark Iron Trio’s Boss confronted Lance and Athena after learning Team Rocket had deceived them, but agreed to cooperate until the surrounding police were dealt with.
• Officer Jenny led the police against the ordinary Team Rocket and Team Plasma members, while Rosa, Hilda, and Shauntal fought the Dark Iron Trio.
• Lance and Athena sent out Crobat and Arbok to hold Gary back, but Gary summoned Darkrai and Cresselia, whose Champion-level power shocked them.
• Gary ordered Darkrai to attack Arbok with Shadow Ball, and Lance and Athena had Crobat and Arbok combine their moves to stop it.

Gary defeated and captured Team Rocket executives Lance and Athena with Darkrai and Cresselia, then learned from Cynthia that Giovanni was targeting Meloetta and the Forces of Nature in Unova. After Officer Jenny confirmed the arrests, Gary prepared to leave and help stop Giovanni.

• Lance and Athena joined forces against Gary, but Cresselia turned Athena's Acid Spray back on Crobat.
• Gary provoked Lance and Athena into sending out all their Pokémon, which Darkrai and Cresselia quickly defeated.
• Lance asked Gary for humane treatment as a prisoner, and Gary knocked him and Athena unconscious with Hypnosis.
• Officer Jenny arrested the Dark Iron Trio and the Team Rocket and Team Plasma members, completing the operation.
• Cynthia told Gary that Giovanni was targeting Meloetta and the Forces of Nature, and Gary agreed to head back after the arrests.
• Gary told Shauntal and Officer Jenny that he was leaving to stop someone's ambition.

Giovanni used Meloetta and the Reveal Glass to unleash the Forces of Nature and freeze the sea around the ancient altar. Gary arrived with Rosa and Hilda on Zekrom, stopped Giovanni's attack on Ash, and turned the battle against Team Rocket.

• Giovanni commanded the Forces of Nature to unleash their full power, defeating the Pokémon opposing them and freezing the sea for hundreds of kilometers.
• Officer Jenny evacuated Undella Town as the spreading ice reached the town, while Rosa and Hilda saw the frozen ocean on their way to the altar.
• The Forces of Nature launched a combined Hyper Beam at Ash, but Zekrom intercepted it with Dragon Pulse as Gary, Rosa, and Hilda arrived.
• Gary told Giovanni that Lance and Athena were already in prison, then had Zekrom block the Forces of Nature's attacks.
• Gary and Zekrom held off Giovanni while Rosa, Cynthia, and the others attacked Team Rocket and tried to rescue Meloetta.

Gary and Zekrom defeated Giovanni’s Forces of Nature while Ash and the others overcame Team Rocket and freed Meloetta. Giovanni then rose with crimson eyes and a strange mark on his forehead, declaring that he sought destruction.

• Gary ordered Zekrom to defeat Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus, knocking all three onto the Ice Surface.
• Giovanni commanded the Forces of Nature to combine Hyper Beam, but Zekrom’s Fusion Bolt broke through and struck them down.
• Rosa, Hilda, Cynthia, Ash, and the others defeated Team Rocket’s members, while Ash ordered Pikachu to attack Giovanni.
• Pikachu’s Electro Ball destroyed the altar formation and Reveal Glass, freeing Meloetta from the Stone Box so Ash’s Unfezant could rescue it.
• Giovanni rejected the need to capture Meloetta, stood with crimson eyes and a scarlet mark on his forehead, and declared that he sought destruction.

Giovanni lost control while using the Forces of Nature and ordered them to destroy Unova, but Team Rocket pulled him away from the magic circle and he escaped. Larry and Meloetta calmed the Forces of Nature, while Giovanni abandoned his plans and ordered Team Rocket to return to Kanto after rescuing Lance and Athena.

• Giovanni's loss of control drove the Forces of Nature to attack Zekrom, and Gary ordered Zekrom to strike them with Draco Meteor.
• Larry explained that Meloetta had balanced the Forces of Nature's power with the summoner's mind, and Jessie, James, and Meowth pulled Giovanni out of the magic circle.
• Giovanni recovered, ordered Team Rocket to retreat, and left by helicopter while Gary's group focused on the Forces of Nature.
• Larry placed the Reveal Glass on the altar and asked Meloetta to help; her song and the Glass's seven-colored light calmed the Forces of Nature and restored their original forms.
• Giovanni abandoned his plans for the Forces of Nature and ordered his subordinates to rescue Lance and Athena before returning to Team Rocket Headquarters in Kanto.

Ash left Undella Town with Iris and Cilan for Dragon Village, while Gary, Rosa, and Hilda stayed behind to train for the Aspertia Tournament with Cynthia and Caitlin. After their intensive training, Gary and the others said goodbye to Cynthia and headed to Aspertia City.

• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda declined Ash’s invitation to Dragon Village and chose to train for the Aspertia Tournament in Undella Town.
• Cynthia offered to train Gary, Rosa, and Hilda, leaving Lucian and the other Sinnoh Elite Four members to handle her work.
• Caitlin sometimes joined Cynthia’s training battles, helping Gary and the others improve their Pokémon.
• Gary’s Lucario and Charizard reached level 59, while his Naganadel and Garchomp reached level 58.
• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda thanked Cynthia, said goodbye, and set off for Aspertia City.

Gary, Rosa, and Hilda reached Aspertia City, where Gary registered for the tournament before reuniting with N. N explained that he would accept punishment for his past actions, then explore the unfamiliar world ahead of him.

• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda arrived in Aspertia City and headed to the Pokémon Center to register for the tournament.
• Nurse Joy verified Gary’s identity and eight Gym Badges, completed his registration, and gave him the key to his room and a participant guide.
• N called out to Gary outside the Pokémon Center and took him and his friends to a nearby café to talk.
• N thanked Gary, Rosa, and Hilda for helping him escape his former beliefs and said he had earned Mr. Alder’s approval.
• N said he would go to prison to reform himself before exploring the world, and Gary, Rosa, and Hilda raised their coffee cups to congratulate him.

Gary, Rosa, and Hilda reflected on N’s changed outlook, then rested in Aspertia City before the Aspertia Tournament began. At the opening ceremony, the preliminary matchups were announced, pairing Ash against Trip and leaving Gary intrigued by his own opponent.

• Gary said N could have a bright future after serving his sentence, and he explained that Alder would likely support him.
• Gary, Rosa, and Hilda settled into the Athlete’s Village and spent the days before the tournament exploring Aspertia City.
• Gary and his friends met Ash’s group and learned that Trip had become gentler after receiving Alder’s guidance.
• Takemitsu hosted the opening ceremony, Officer Jenny lit the Sacred Flame, and flocks of Pidove flew over the arena.
• Takemitsu announced that the preliminary round would consist of one-Pokémon battles, then the tournament drew sixty-four pairings from 128 contestants.
• Ash was matched against Trip, while Gary found his own opponent and smiled at the pairing.

Gary faced Kotetsu in the Aspertia Tournament Preliminary Round after watching Ash defeat Trip and qualify for the Main Tournament. Gary’s Lucario overwhelmed Kotetsu’s Samurott, leaving the match’s outcome unresolved as Lucario continued attacking.

• Kotetsu introduced himself to Gary and expressed confidence about their upcoming battle.
• Ash defeated Trip’s Serperior with Pikachu and secured a place in the Main Tournament.
• Gary and Kotetsu began their one-Pokémon match, sending out Lucario and Samurott.
• Lucario dodged Samurott’s Hydro Pump and forced it back with an Aura Sphere.
• Gary ordered Lucario to unleash Bullet Punch on Samurott while Kotetsu urged his Pokémon not to give up.

Gary defeated Kotetsu in the Aspertia Tournament Preliminary Round, then advanced to the Main Tournament, where his first opponent was Bianca. Their battle began with Gary sending out Charizard and Bianca answering with Emboar.

• Gary's Lucario defeated Kotetsu's Samurott with Thunder Punch, eliminating Kotetsu from the tournament.
• The Preliminary Round ended, and Gary, Ash, Stephan, and Bianca were among the sixty-four contestants who advanced.
• At the Main Tournament opening, host Takemitsu announced the first-round pairings, matching Gary against Bianca.
• Bianca eagerly welcomed the chance to battle Gary, while Ash and Stephan watched from the stands.
• Gary sent out Charizard for the opening battle, and Bianca sent out her Emboar before launching an attack.

Gary's Charizard defeated Bianca's Emboar in the first battle, and Bianca sent out Minccino for the second. Charizard outmaneuvered Minccino and trapped it with Flamethrower, then prepared a finishing attack as Minccino recovered.

• Bianca ordered Emboar to attack with Flamethrower and Hammer Arm, but Charizard absorbed the flames and evaded its strikes.
• Gary's Charizard hit Emboar with Dragon Tail, Dragon Pulse, and Dragon Breath, knocking it out and winning the first battle.
• Bianca recalled Emboar, admired Charizard, and sent out her Minccino.
• Minccino dodged Flamethrower and used Swift, while Charizard flew clear and answered with Fire Spin.
• Minccino escaped underground with Dig, but Gary had Charizard send Flamethrower through the tunnel, burning Minccino as it emerged.
• Minccino extinguished the flames and stood back up as Gary told Charizard to end the match.

Gary defeated Bianca and advanced through the Aspertia Tournament to the quarterfinals, where he was paired against Ash. Ash eagerly looked forward to facing his childhood friend as their battle began.

• Gary defeated Bianca's Minccino with Charizard's Dragon Pulse, and Bianca wished him luck before leaving to heal her Pokémon.
• Gary defeated a Liepard with Naganadel and advanced to the quarterfinals, while Ash defeated Stephan to advance as well.
• Ash learned that Gary was his quarterfinal opponent and excitedly told Pikachu they would defeat him.
• Takemitsu introduced Gary and Ash as childhood friends from Pallet Town, and the referee started their quarterfinal match.

Ash battled Gary, whose Lucario defeated Ash’s Gigalith and Pignite before overpowering Oshawott. The chapter ended with Lucario continuing its attack on Oshawott as Gary ordered it to deliver the finishing blow.

• Ash sent out Gigalith, but Gary’s Lucario defeated it with Meteor Mash and Aura Sphere.
• Ash sent out Pignite, whose attacks failed against Lucario’s Dragon Pulse, leaving Pignite unable to battle.
• Ash chose Oshawott as his third Pokémon, and its Water Gun and Water Pulse were stopped by Lucario.
• Gary ordered Lucario to use Bullet Punch, and Lucario struck Oshawott repeatedly while Ash called out in worry.
• Gary ordered Lucario to deliver the finishing blow to Oshawott.

Gary continued to dominate Ash's team, defeating Oshawott and Unfezant with Lucario and Garchomp. Pikachu landed an Iron Tail on Garchomp but was caught, leaving its battle with Garchomp unresolved.

• Gary ordered Lucario to finish Oshawott with Thunder Punch, knocking it out and putting Ash down three Pokémon to none.
• Ash sent out Unfezant, and Gary switched Lucario for Garchomp.
• Garchomp blocked Unfezant's Air Cutter, caught it after its Steel Wing charge, and knocked it out with Dragon Pulse.
• Ash sent out Pikachu, whose Thunderbolt had no effect on Ground-type Garchomp.
• Pikachu dodged Garchomp's Dragon Breath and struck it with Iron Tail, but Garchomp caught Pikachu as Gary prepared to counterattack.