Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “The Yellow Gorilla Wanted One Too”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo investigates Cliff Cave, the future Team Rocket base, but finds it empty because Team Rocket has not yet started developing it.
• He searches the Safari Zone for one of Arceus’s Plates, knowing from his memories that a Plate should be hidden there even though he does not know how the Plates were scattered.
• After a thorough search, Charizard discovers a Plate hidden inside a tree hollow.
• The Plate is identified as the Earth Plate, which strengthens Ground-type moves.
• Heiduo tests the Plate by tying it to Garchomp’s forehead after removing Garchomp’s Mega Stone. Garchomp looks ridiculous, prompting Electivire to laugh at it.
• Garchomp chases Electivire, who escapes using its highly refined Magnet Rise and impressive speed.
• Their playful chase escalates into a massive explosion when Garchomp uses Earth Power, now dramatically enhanced by the Earth Plate.
• Heiduo rushes to the scene and confirms through Aura that neither Pokémon—or nearby wild Pokémon—has suffered serious injuries.
• Heiduo scolds and lightly hits Garchomp for causing such destruction. Electivire, realizing the Plate caused the increase in power, immediately asks for one of its own.

Character Developments

• Heiduo continues preparing well in advance, using his knowledge of future events to locate the Plates before Team Rocket and other collectors. His Aura abilities also give him confidence that Lambda’s disguises will not deceive him.
• Garchomp gains a major boost to its Ground-type attacks from the Earth Plate, but its playful temper leads it into a reckless confrontation with Electivire.
• Electivire demonstrates remarkable growth in speed and mobility. After absorbing Raikou’s electricity and learning from Helioptile’s muscle stimulation, it has become extremely difficult to catch and may develop into a fast offensive fighter.
• Charizard proves useful in the search by locating the hidden Plate and later carrying Heiduo to the explosion site.
• Electivire’s reaction shows its cleverness and competitive personality: rather than resenting Garchomp’s advantage, it immediately wants an equivalent enhancement.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and foreknowledge: Heiduo’s knowledge of future events allows him to act before major developments occur.
• The unpredictability of the past: Although Heiduo remembers important details, the timing and origins of the Plates remain uncertain.
• Power and responsibility: The Earth Plate greatly increases Garchomp’s destructive strength, but the resulting accident shows the dangers of using newfound power carelessly.
• Companionship through rivalry: Garchomp and Electivire’s quarrel is aggressive but fundamentally playful, reflecting their close relationship.
• Humor amid danger: The absurd image of Garchomp wearing the Plate like a bow and Electivire mocking it contrasts with the potentially dangerous consequences of their fight.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo attaches the Earth Plate to Garchomp’s head, leading Electivire to laugh at Garchomp’s appearance.
• Garchomp becomes offended and chases Electivire, while Electivire taunts it and escapes through Magnet Rise.
• Their rivalry culminates in Garchomp’s enhanced Earth Power creating a huge crater.
• Heiduo reprimands Garchomp but is relieved that no one is seriously hurt.
• Electivire recognizes the Plate’s effect and enthusiastically demands one for itself, reinforcing the comedic and competitive dynamic between the two Pokémon.

Chapter Summary: How Tall Is the Eldest Disciple, Exactly?

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo dismisses Electivire’s demand to keep the Earth Plate, joking that borrowing it for a few years would be acceptable.
• Garchomp’s Earth Power is tested with the Earth Plate, creating a crater more than three times larger and deeper than a normal Level Ten Earth Power. Heiduo compares the destructive force to a modern heavy weapon.
• Heiduo and Electivire search the area and confirm that no wild Pokémon were injured, though the blast devastates the surrounding terrain.
• Safari Zone staff arrive. Heiduo apologizes and offers compensation, but because of his status, the staff member chooses not to pursue the matter and leaves after confirming everyone is safe.
• Heiduo removes the Earth Plate and decides to return it, recognizing that its power boost is tempting but ultimately unnecessary for someone already overwhelmingly strong.
• He explains that there are sixteen Plates in total, representing every Pokémon type except Normal, which symbolizes Arceus itself. The existence of the Fairy Plate is treated as a retcon.
• Using Gardevoir’s increasingly precise Teleport, Heiduo travels to Ecruteak City and takes a taxi to the Gym because flying and riding large Pokémon are prohibited in the city.
• Morty is conducting a Gym battle when Heiduo arrives. Morty easily defeats a challenger while still providing an encouraging and educational experience.
• After the battle, Heiduo greets Morty and throws him the Earth Plate, indicating that he wants Morty’s assistance with an important matter.

Character Developments

• Heiduo demonstrates restraint by giving up the Earth Plate despite its enormous power. He views himself as essentially invincible and therefore sees no need to hoard every source of strength.
• Heiduo’s confidence borders on arrogance, as he believes no ordinary Trainer can defeat him and that only exceptional Legendary Pokémon could pose a threat.
• His sense of responsibility is still evident: he checks for injured wild Pokémon and attempts to compensate the Safari Zone for the damage.
• Electivire becomes more assertive and impatient, shocking Heiduo when he ignores its request. Its use of Magnet Rise to emphasize its point creates a comedic exchange.
• Gardevoir continues to improve her Teleportation ability, now able to travel throughout Johto with remarkable accuracy.
• Morty has matured as a Gym Leader. His roster is more varied than in the past, and his battle style reflects considerable experience and skill.

Significant Themes

• Power and responsibility: The Earth Plate transforms Garchomp’s attack into a devastating weapon, raising questions about whether such power should be controlled or restricted.
• Restraint versus greed: Heiduo acknowledges the Plate’s value but chooses not to keep it, believing that excessive power is unnecessary when he is already dominant.
• Justice and morality: The chapter contrasts the destructive potential of powerful Pokémon with the Pokémon world’s recurring theme of justice ultimately defeating evil.
• Privilege and status: The Safari Zone staff overlook the damage largely because of Heiduo’s influence, highlighting how social standing affects accountability.
• Growth and mastery: Gardevoir’s teleportation and Morty’s Gym leadership both show gradual improvement through experience.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Electivire exchange playful hostility when Electivire shocks him over the Earth Plate.
• Heiduo interacts politely but somewhat awkwardly with the Safari Zone staff, offering compensation after Garchomp’s destructive test.
• Heiduo observes Morty’s battle with a young challenger and appreciates Morty’s ability to teach while winning effortlessly.
• Heiduo and Morty reunite casually, with Morty joking about Heiduo’s rare inspections as Gym Leader Chief.
• The chapter ends with Heiduo handing Morty the Earth Plate and asking for his help, setting up the next development.

Chapter Summary: “From Today On, You’re the Bow-Tie Brothers”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo gives Morty the Earth Plate and explains that he wants him to locate the remaining Plates. Morty agrees, but insists on being paid for each search.
• Morty performs his elaborate divination ritual with his two unevolved Pokémon. The effort reveals the locations of thirteen Plates across Johto, though the process leaves him mentally exhausted.
• Heiduo pays Morty and immediately begins collecting the Plates using Gardevoir’s Teleport.
• The Plates prove to be scattered randomly across difficult and sometimes absurd locations:
  • Fist Plate: Found in the forest near Bell Tower.
  • Rock Plate: Located underwater in a ditch at the Lake of Rage, requiring Heiduo to manipulate the lake’s Gyarados population to search safely.
  • Splash Plate: Recovered from a remote forest territory occupied by Beautifly and Dustox.
  • Meadow Plate: Easily found in the mountains near Route 45.
  • Zap Plate: Discovered in a stream on Mt. Silver after Heiduo mobilizes the local wild Pokémon to search for it.
• After finding the Zap Plate, Heiduo puts a bow tie on Electivire’s head, imitating Garchomp’s appearance. Electivire and Garchomp immediately begin fighting, becoming the chapter’s “Bow-Tie Brothers.”

Character Developments

• Heiduo shows his pragmatic and opportunistic nature, but also insists that he does not intend to keep the Plates for himself. He presents himself as morally responsible, though he enjoys teasing Morty and manipulating Pokémon when necessary.
• Heiduo’s confidence and familiarity with Johto’s wild Pokémon are highlighted, especially at Mt. Silver, where he can call upon the local Pokémon to assist him.
• Morty is established as a powerful but limited psychic or spiritual investigator. He understands that the Plate-related mission is dangerous and recognizes the unknown owner as a “hot potato.” Despite his reluctance, he pushes himself to locate the Plates and becomes exhausted afterward.
• Garchomp and Electivire display a competitive, combative relationship. Their rivalry escalates when Electivire is forced to wear the same bow as Garchomp.

Significant Themes

• Power and danger: The Plates are valuable but potentially dangerous artifacts connected to a mysterious owner, making their recovery risky.
• Moral ambiguity: Heiduo claims he will return the Plates rather than keep them, yet he freely manipulates Pokémon and treats the search as a convenient task to finish quickly.
• Absurdity and humor: The random Plate locations, Morty’s ritualistic searching, and Heiduo’s bow-tie prank contrast with the supposedly legendary importance of the Plates.
• Luck versus preparation: Even Heiduo’s extensive knowledge of Johto cannot guarantee success; several Plates are hidden in unexpected places, including underwater and within Mt. Silver.
• Human–Pokémon cooperation and conflict: Pokémon assist Heiduo in searching, while others—particularly the Gyarados—create obstacles or become involved in disputes.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Morty develop a transactional but cooperative partnership. Heiduo pays Morty fairly while joking about his abilities and possible connection to the Plates’ owner.
• Morty reacts skeptically to Heiduo’s claim of possessing a Miniature Creation Ring, briefly wondering whether the ring ordered him to gather the Plates.
• Heiduo manipulates the Gyarados at Lake of Rage by creating an internal conflict among them so he can search the water.
• The wild Pokémon of Mt. Silver willingly aid Heiduo, emphasizing his strong relationship with them.
• Garchomp mocks Electivire after Heiduo decorates it with a bow tie, prompting a physical fight between the two Pokémon and ending the chapter on a comedic note.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After a lengthy struggle, two “flower girls” stop fighting over a Plate. Heiduo rewards the wild Pokémon that helped him search Mt. Silver with Pokéblocks, earning their loyalty and strengthening his influence among the mountain’s Pokémon.
• Heiduo continues traveling across Johto to collect the Plates marked on his map:
  • He finds the Sky Plate near Sprout Tower in Violet City.
  • He retrieves the Insect Plate from the Ruins of Alph after unsuccessfully checking whether it has any connection to the ruins’ mysteries.
  • A wild Aipom gives him the Flame Plate in exchange for five Berries.
  • In Ilex Forest, he discovers the Mind Plate being used as a support under a table in a charcoal shop.
• The charcoal shop belongs to Matsumoto, an old classmate from Heiduo’s days studying Pokémon massage under Tuo Nan. Matsumoto recognizes Heiduo, willingly gives him the Plate, and asks him to support his business in the future. Heiduo leaves while considering whether charcoal might have useful industrial or agricultural applications.
• Heiduo then travels to the Whirl Islands, entering a hidden cave behind a waterfall that had once served as Lance’s base.
• Inside, he unexpectedly encounters Lance, who is naked after bathing. Both men are shocked and embarrassed, producing an awkward misunderstanding as the chapter ends.

Character Developments

• Heiduo is shown to be generous, practical, and principled. He rewards helpful Pokémon, avoids disturbing private or sacred places, and insists on obtaining Matsumoto’s Plate honestly rather than simply taking it.
• His growing reputation among wild Pokémon on Mt. Silver demonstrates that his kindness has earned him considerable trust and influence.
• Heiduo also displays curiosity and resourcefulness, thinking about the possible uses of charcoal after visiting the shop.
• Matsumoto is revealed to be kindhearted and successful in his charcoal business. His warm reaction shows that he values his old connection with Heiduo.
• Scizor demonstrates independence and restraint by refusing the Insect Plate, understanding that it is temporary and not worth relying on.
• Lance is depicted in a rare vulnerable and comedic situation, caught off guard in his secluded hideout.

Significant Themes

• Kindness creates influence: Heiduo’s generosity toward wild Pokémon earns cooperation and loyalty, making his search easier.
• Respect for ownership and boundaries: Heiduo refuses to steal the Mind Plate and remains mindful of temples, archaeological sites, and private property.
• The contrast between legend and ordinary life: Sacred ruins, legendary Pokémon lore, and Lance’s hidden base are juxtaposed with mundane details such as bargaining with an Aipom, using a Plate to prop up a table, and bathing.
• Humor and anticlimax: The Plates seem mysterious and potentially connected to major lore, but several are found in ordinary or absurd circumstances. The dramatic discovery of Lance’s hideout ends in an embarrassing misunderstanding rather than an epic confrontation.
• Past connections resurfacing: Heiduo’s reunion with Matsumoto shows how his earlier life and relationships continue to intersect with his current journey.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo rewards the wild Pokémon assisting his search, strengthening his relationship with them.
• He negotiates with a shrewd Aipom, paying five Berries for the Flame Plate.
• He reunites warmly with Matsumoto, who gives him the Mind Plate freely and asks him to support the charcoal business.
• Heiduo and Scizor briefly discuss whether Scizor wants to use the Insect Plate, with Scizor declining.
• The chapter closes with an awkward first encounter between Heiduo and Lance, each confused by the other’s unexpected presence in the hidden cave.

Summary: First Otherworldly Singing King Competition

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lance, once consumed by a violent desire to kill, has become much calmer and more forgiving, possibly influenced by Yellow and her Viridian Force.
• Heiduo unexpectedly encounters Lance inside his secluded cave. He establishes rapport by addressing Lance as “Brother Lance,” which pleases the older Dragon-type specialist.
• Heiduo reveals an Arceus Plate, prompting Lance to recognize it immediately. He explains that he is collecting all sixteen Plates.
• Lance examines the Plates with admiration but admits that their deeper mysteries remain beyond human understanding. He also offers to help Heiduo search for the Plate hidden in his cave, but Heiduo politely refuses because he can manage on his own.
• After leaving Lance, Heiduo uses Aura Power to locate the remaining Plates:
  • Draco Plate on an island
  • Iron Plate near the beach
  • Icicle Plate at Relic Castle
  • Spooky Plate at Moomoo Farm
  • Dread Plate in a Stantler nest at National Park
  • Toxic Plate in the ocean below Jihua City
• After two days, Heiduo successfully collects all sixteen Plates and stores them in a specially purchased box.
• Unsure how to return the Plates to Arceus or summon it, Heiduo decides to sing the Creation Song, an ancient Sinnoh hymn describing Arceus’s creation of the world.
• Heiduo and Umbreon jokingly agree to sing together, despite Umbreon being unable to speak and both fearing that a terrible performance might anger Arceus.

Character Development

• Lance is portrayed as a reformed and more mature figure. Although still theatrical and eccentric, he is no longer aggressively radical or eager to harm others.
• Heiduo demonstrates diplomacy by building a friendly relationship with Lance and refusing his assistance without insulting or distrusting him. He is also resourceful, relying on Aura Power to complete the Plate collection.
• Umbreon continues to serve as Heiduo’s skeptical and sarcastic companion, questioning his plan and reacting nervously to the idea of singing before Arceus.
• Heiduo shows increasing willingness to take responsibility for the Arceus crisis, choosing to attempt communication rather than relying entirely on force or another person’s solution.

Significant Themes

• Redemption and personal change: Lance’s transformation from a violent extremist into a calmer man highlights the possibility of abandoning destructive beliefs.
• Trust between humans and Pokémon: The Plates are tied to Arceus’s judgment of humanity, and Heiduo recognizes that peaceful communication and mutual trust are necessary to change Arceus’s view.
• Human limitations before divine power: Even Lance, who possesses vast knowledge, cannot understand the true mysteries of the Plates.
• Humor amid danger: The potentially world-threatening situation is undercut by Heiduo’s deadpan attitude and the absurd plan to perform a song with an Umbreon that cannot speak.
• Collection and completion: Heiduo’s hunt for all sixteen Plates resembles collecting cards, giving a lighthearted tone to an otherwise mythic quest.

Character Interactions

• Lance warmly accepts Heiduo’s respectful address and discusses the Plates with genuine curiosity.
• Heiduo and Lance interact as members of an older and younger generation of powerful trainers, with Lance adopting a senior-like attitude.
• Lance offers practical help, but Heiduo declines to avoid creating an unnecessary debt.
• Heiduo and Umbreon exchange sarcastic banter over the Creation Song. Umbreon doubts Heiduo’s singing ability, while Heiduo insists they will perform together—even if Arceus reacts violently.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Key Events

• Heiduo travels to the False Spear Pillar atop Anomalous Magnet Mountain with Umbreon, hoping to summon Arceus by singing the Creation Song and returning the Plates.
• He places the Plates on the altar and has Umbreon provide organ accompaniment while he sings. Mewtwo, Lugia, and two Deoxys wait nearby as protection in case Arceus appears and becomes hostile.
• The song recounts Sinnoh’s creation myth: chaos gives birth to the first being, which creates the time and space avatars, then three additional lives representing other aspects of existence. Giratina is notably absent.
• Despite singing the song five times, nothing happens. The Creation Ring remains inactive, suggesting that Arceus neither heard nor chose to answer.
• Heiduo concludes that Arceus may have deliberately summoned itself during Apollo’s scheme because the Plates were necessary for its “insurance scam,” and that collecting them disrupted its preparations. He decides to return weekly and continue singing in hopes of eventually receiving a response.
• After abandoning the immediate attempt to contact Arceus, Heiduo shifts his attention to the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire storyline. He believes the meteorite crisis may have been prevented by his past actions, leaving only the conflict between the Draconids and Devon Corporation.
• The main unresolved issue is Higan, whose survival is known only to a few people. Since Aster’s grief and hostility are rooted in believing Higan died, Heiduo decides that finding Higan may be necessary to prevent further tragedy.
• He contacts Yujian through the Pokémon Gear and asks where Higan—the girl involved in the Rayquaza Capture Plan—can be found.

Character Development

• Heiduo: Remains cautious and pragmatic, preparing powerful Legendary Pokémon as backup while attempting to contact Arceus. He also reveals a strong personal aversion to tragedy and needless conflict. Although he has no formal responsibility to intervene, he chooses to help because he dislikes seeing people destroyed by avoidable misunderstandings.
• Umbreon: Continues to act timid and reluctant around divine or supernatural events, but still assists Heiduo by operating the laptop, providing background music, and singing along.
• Aster: Though absent from the chapter, her emotional state is explored. Her grief over Higan’s supposed death has left her psychologically damaged and unable to speak, making Higan’s survival central to resolving the wider conflict.
• Higan: Revealed to have survived the Rayquaza Capture Plan, though her current location is unknown.
• Arceus: Is portrayed humorously as a possibly manipulative deity whose earlier appearance may have been part of a larger scheme involving the Plates.

Themes

• Faith versus uncertainty: Heiduo performs a sacred song and prepares an altar, yet receives no divine response, emphasizing that ritual does not guarantee an answer from higher powers.
• Caution and self-preservation: Even when dealing with a benevolent deity, Heiduo refuses to act recklessly and surrounds himself with Legendary Pokémon for protection.
• Intervention against tragedy: Heiduo’s motivation is not duty or obligation but a personal hatred of preventable suffering. He believes that people united by a common goal should not destroy one another through grief and misunderstanding.
• Fate and altered storylines: His previous interventions have changed the expected events of the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire arc, potentially eliminating the meteorite crisis and saving Higan’s life.
• Myth and omission: The Creation Song presents a simplified account of the world’s origin while excluding Giratina, highlighting how legends can erase or distort uncomfortable parts of history.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo reassures Umbreon that they are merely returning the Plates, while Umbreon remains visibly afraid of provoking Arceus.
• Heiduo and Umbreon cooperate during the repeated summoning attempts, with Heiduo singing and Umbreon managing the music and contributing a quiet Growl.
• Heiduo relies on Mewtwo, Lugia, and the Deoxys as a protective force, demonstrating his tendency to prepare for the worst.
• Heiduo seeks information from Yujian, asking him to reveal Higan’s location so that Aster’s grief and the conflict with Devon Corporation can potentially be resolved.

Chapter Summary: “A Teacher?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo is surprised to learn that Higan survived and is now working as an elementary school teacher in Hearthome City, Sinnoh.
• Teng Jun explains that Higan was originally spared as a potential connection to Meteor Village. He had hoped to use the village’s strength against the corrupt or useless officials on the Indigo Plateau after exposing those involved in the Rayquaza Capture Plan.
• Meteor Village refuses to act, instead recalling its members and hiding from the conflict. As a result, Higan becomes an abandoned “chess piece,” forgotten by Teng Jun and Yujian.
• Heiduo decides to retrieve Higan and return her to Meteor Village, despite having no practical reason beyond simply wanting to help her. Teng Jun agrees and gives him her address.
• Heiduo travels alone from Olivine City to Hearthome City, leaving Umbreon behind because the trip is merely a pickup mission.
• He finds Higan’s house empty and uses Aura to confirm that no one is inside. He then goes to the school where she works.
• Higan is shown reviewing students’ exam papers with fellow teachers. She is interrupted by the dean of students, who tells her someone is waiting for her.
• Upon leaving the office, Higan sees Heiduo and immediately recognizes him, ending the chapter with her startled reaction: “It’s you!”

Character Developments

• Heiduo: Demonstrates compassion and personal loyalty by choosing to rescue Higan even though she is no longer politically useful. His decision is instinctive rather than strategic, showing that he is motivated increasingly by personal morality and relationships.
• Higan: Has adapted to an ordinary, stable life as a teacher despite her physical disability. She appears respected by her coworkers and involved in school life, suggesting that she has built an independent existence after being abandoned by Meteor Village.
• Teng Jun: Is revealed to have treated Higan as a political asset, though he ultimately recognizes that continuing to use her would be distasteful and allows Heiduo to take her away.
• Umbreon: Shows familiarity with Heiduo’s frequent departures and chooses not to accompany him, recognizing that the mission is safe and straightforward.
• Higan’s coworkers: Present her as a competent and possibly popular teacher. One colleague even tries to arrange a romantic introduction for her, indicating that others view her as a normal young woman rather than merely a former political tool.

Significant Themes

• People treated as tools: Higan was spared for strategic purposes but was later forgotten when the plan failed. The chapter criticizes the dehumanizing way political actors treat individuals as expendable pieces.
• Personal choice versus political strategy: Unlike Teng Jun, Heiduo helps Higan without an ulterior motive. His simple desire to return her home contrasts with the calculations that originally governed her fate.
• Rebuilding an ordinary life: Higan’s teaching job, home, and relationships with coworkers show her attempt to establish stability and dignity outside the conflicts surrounding Rayquaza and Meteor Village.
• Compassion and responsibility: Heiduo’s decision suggests that moral obligations can remain even after someone ceases to be politically useful.
• Unexpected identities: The revelation that a supposedly dangerous or important figure has become an elementary school teacher creates irony and challenges Heiduo’s assumptions about Higan’s current role.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Teng Jun/Yujian: They discuss Higan’s past and agree that Heiduo may take her away. Teng Jun’s explanation exposes the political manipulation behind her survival.
• Heiduo and Umbreon: Umbreon questions another sudden trip, but accepts Heiduo’s explanation and stays behind.
• Higan and her fellow teachers: Higan participates in friendly workplace banter, discusses exam results, and is teased about a possible romantic introduction. These exchanges highlight her integration into civilian life.
• Heiduo and Higan: Their reunion is brief but emotionally significant. Higan is shocked to see him, setting up the next chapter’s explanation and likely confrontation about why he has come.

Chapter Summary: “Waited Three Years, Then Another Three!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo finds Higan working as a teacher in Hearthome City and attempts to take her away from the school.
• The dean of studies becomes suspicious after hearing Higan’s startled reaction, but Higan confirms that she knows Heiduo. He allows them to speak privately while keeping a cautious eye on them.
• Heiduo and Higan move to a garden pavilion, where they discuss the six years she has spent in Sinnoh.
• Higan is still disabled after surviving the Ultimate Weapon’s attack during the Rayquaza Capture Plan. She lost her left arm and leg, though advanced medicine has healed her face and eliminated her phantom-limb pain.
• Heiduo tells her that the original nine-year agreement keeping her in Sinnoh has been canceled. He has come to take her back to Meteor Village in Hoenn.
• He reveals that Higan’s grandmother, the Great Elder, became seriously ill after hearing about Higan’s accident, though she may have recovered by now.
• Overwhelmed by the unexpected news, Higan asks for half a month to settle her affairs, say goodbye, and prepare to leave. Heiduo agrees to return for her.

Character Developments

• Higan appears outwardly calm and well-adjusted to her life as a teacher, but her clenched fist and emotional reaction show that she remains deeply homesick and burdened by her duty to protect the world.
• She has adapted to living with her disabilities and no longer suffers physically from phantom-limb pain, demonstrating resilience and acceptance.
• The news that she can finally return home catches her completely off guard, revealing how strongly she still longs for Meteor Village and worries about her family.
• Heiduo acts as both a messenger and protector. He is observant, direct, and willing to provoke Higan emotionally to make her confront important information, but he also catches her when she nearly falls and gives her time to prepare.
• The dean of studies is shown to be protective of Higan and suspicious of Heiduo, while Higan’s coworkers appear supportive and considerate.

Significant Themes

• Home and belonging: Despite adapting to Hearthome City, Higan still considers Meteor Village her true home.
• Duty versus personal desire: Higan has spent six years away because of her larger mission to stop the millennium prophecy, sacrificing her own wishes and family connections.
• Resilience and adaptation: Higan has rebuilt her life after catastrophic injuries and found purpose as a teacher.
• The cost of sacrifice: Her disability, separation from home, and her grandmother’s illness all reflect the personal consequences of the struggle to protect the world.
• Change and delayed reunion: The planned separation was supposed to last nine years, but circumstances have changed, allowing Higan to return earlier than expected.

Character Interactions

• The dean questions Higan about Heiduo indirectly, revealing his concern for her safety.
• Higan reassures the dean and her coworkers that Heiduo is known to her.
• Heiduo and Higan discuss her condition candidly, with Heiduo noticing her injuries and Higan insisting that she has accepted them.
• Heiduo deliberately mentions the Great Elder’s illness, prompting Higan’s suppressed anxiety and homesickness to surface.
• Their conversation ends with an agreement: Heiduo will return in half a month to escort Higan home, while warning that there are additional developments she may find difficult to accept.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo and Gardevoir face an unexpected delay: their planned one-week stay has stretched to two weeks. Since Heiduo cannot remain idle, they consider repeating a long-distance Teleport.
• Gardevoir explains—or confirms through her response—that Teleport has strict limits. The farther the destination, the more attribute energy it consumes. A continent-crossing teleport to Sinnoh is barely possible with Mega Evolution, but reaching Hoenn is considered impractical. Teleporting in stages risks exhausting Gardevoir’s energy and leaving them stranded.
• Gardevoir agrees to teleport Heiduo from Hearthome City to Millennium Town, having previously managed a similar journey from the Sevii Islands. Heiduo praises and affectionately pets her, prompting Gardevoir to hug and nuzzle him.
• At the school, a female teacher teases Higan about Heiduo possibly being her boyfriend. Higan denies it, calling him “just a child,” but realizes that six years have passed and Heiduo is now an adult.
• Seeing Heiduo reminds Higan of the traumatic week six years earlier, when her ideals, responsibilities, reputation, health, family, and other aspects of her life were destroyed. Although she insists that Heiduo was not responsible, his appearance and the memory of his deadly machine remain deeply connected to her nightmare.
• Distracted by Heiduo’s presence, Higan accidentally collides with Chingling, then comforts him as he cries.
• Higan tells her colleague that Heiduo is more or less a distant relative and reveals that she may resign from the school. Her colleague is shocked, while Higan struggles with her attachment to the place.
• Higan acknowledges that she has a greater duty: as Lord Rayquaza’s bondkeeper, she must fulfill her destiny and help save the planet.
• The chapter ends with Higan remembering how she met Chingling nearly five years earlier. After losing a hand and a leg, she rejected dependence on a caretaker and painstakingly relearned how to care for herself. Chingling once saved her from falling off a balcony, and she later learned that he had been abandoned by a young Trainer because he was weak in battle. Higan acquired him, and the two began relying on each other.

Character Developments

• Heiduo remains practical and considerate, recognizing the dangers and limits of Teleport rather than treating it as limitless travel. His affectionate interaction with Gardevoir shows his close bond with his Pokémon.
• Gardevoir demonstrates both loyalty and affection toward Heiduo. Her willingness to attempt the teleport despite its enormous energy cost highlights her strength and dedication.
• Higan is shown as emotionally conflicted. She has built an independent life as a teacher despite severe physical disabilities and past trauma, but now feels compelled to abandon that life to fulfill her obligation to Rayquaza and the planet.
• Chingling is portrayed as Higan’s emotional support and longtime companion. Though physically and mentally fragile, he has helped Higan survive and regain independence.
• Higan’s memories reveal that her relationship with Chingling grew from mutual vulnerability: both had been discarded or damaged, and they found strength in one another.

Significant Themes

• Limits and sacrifice: Teleportation is governed by energy and distance, emphasizing that miracles require a price. Higan’s destiny similarly demands that she sacrifice the stable life she has built.
• Destiny versus personal attachment: Higan must choose between remaining at the school, where she has formed meaningful relationships, and fulfilling her role as Rayquaza’s bondkeeper.
• Trauma and memory: Heiduo’s presence reawakens Higan’s memories of a devastating past, showing that trauma can remain connected to people and objects even when they were not directly responsible.
• Independence and resilience: Higan’s decision to reject constant assistance and endure repeated falls reflects her determination to remain self-sufficient.
• Abandonment and loyalty: Chingling was discarded for being weak, but Higan accepted him. Their relationship contrasts the young Trainer’s shallow, performance-based attachment with genuine companionship.
• Mutual healing: Higan and Chingling survive by supporting one another, suggesting that damaged individuals can find purpose and recovery through shared dependence.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Gardevoir: Their affectionate exchange—petting, hugging, and nuzzling—demonstrates their intimate trust and companionship.
• Higan and the female teacher: The teacher’s teasing exposes Higan’s complicated connection to Heiduo and her concealed plans to resign. Their conversation also highlights the teacher’s surprise and emotional concern.
• Higan and Chingling: Higan comforts Chingling after accidentally hurting him, while Chingling later soothes her with his calming chimes. Their bond is reciprocal rather than one-sided.
• Higan and Heiduo: They do not directly converse in the chapter, but their presence strongly affects one another indirectly. Heiduo’s arrival triggers Higan’s painful memories and forces her to confront the life and destiny she has been postponing.

Chapter Summary: “A Secluded Paradise: Michina”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo returns to Michina, the town where he spent most of his childhood, before traveling onward to Celestic Town, where his parents are buried.
• He reflects on his family history. His parents originally lived in Celestic Town but later moved to Michina for work, though Heiduo no longer remembers the exact reason.
• Michina is introduced as a quiet, beautiful settlement built around ancient ruins and surrounded by mountains, fields, forests, and a lake. Its peaceful isolation makes Heiduo understand why his parents chose to live there.
• Heiduo and Garchomp enter the town on foot, since riding Pokémon is forbidden within its limits. The town’s old-fashioned stone architecture and lush greenery remain largely unchanged.
• Heiduo finds his former home, a three-story stone house that had been destroyed and later rebuilt after an earlier conflict. Although familiar, it feels strange and emotionally difficult for him to approach.
• He retrieves the house key from Gengar and finally enters the long-abandoned building. The dusty interior brings home the reality of his past and his long avoidance of it.
• Heiduo decides to stay for at least one night and begins cleaning the house with the help of his Pokémon.
• Electivire proves exceptionally capable at household chores, prompting Heiduo to joke that it might be better suited to being a gym janitor than a battler.

Character Development

• Heiduo: He confronts his childhood and the complicated emotions surrounding his former home. He admits that his memories of Michina are mostly painful, shaped by neglect and isolation, but he gradually accepts the house as part of his identity. His decision to remain overnight marks a small but meaningful step toward reconciliation with his past.
• Garchomp: It provides emotional support through its Resonance with Heiduo, sensing his conflicted feelings and comforting him physically. Its attitude reinforces the idea that home is defined by companionship rather than location.
• Heiduo’s Pokémon: They participate in restoring the house, showing their loyalty and usefulness outside battle. Electivire receives particular attention for its unexpected skill in cleaning and cooking.

Significant Themes

• Returning to one’s roots: Heiduo’s visit represents an attempt to face memories and places he has long avoided.
• Home and belonging: The chapter questions whether home is a physical place or the people and Pokémon one shares it with. Garchomp’s presence suggests that home can be created wherever loved ones are.
• Healing from the past: Cleaning the abandoned house becomes symbolic of Heiduo sorting through old guilt, shame, and painful memories.
• Change and continuity: Although the house has been rebuilt, Michina itself appears almost unchanged. This contrast emphasizes how much Heiduo has changed internally while the setting of his childhood remains familiar.
• Peace and seclusion: Michina’s natural beauty and isolation present it as a potential refuge and retirement destination, contrasting with the conflicts and pressures of Heiduo’s current life.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Garchomp share a quiet, emotionally intimate exchange, with Garchomp sensing his unease and comforting him.
• Heiduo speaks openly to Garchomp about the house being his former home and possibly a future home.
• Heiduo directs his Pokémon in the cleaning effort, demonstrating a cooperative relationship based on trust.
• Heiduo jokes with Electivire about becoming a janitor after observing its impressive ability to clean, adding humor to an otherwise reflective chapter.

Chapter Summary: “Temple of Michina”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After an exhausting day of cleaning the abandoned house, Heiduo rewards his Pokémon with a lavish feast. Their celebration attracts curious neighbors, who remember the family tragedy previously associated with the house.
• Five local children sneak into Heiduo’s yard and house out of curiosity. Beedrill catches them with String Shot and hangs them from a tree.
• Heiduo allows his Pokémon to frighten the children—Arbok menaces them, while Sceptile and Beedrill jokingly shoot at the restraining threads—but stops the prank before it goes too far.
• The children’s parents arrive, apologize, and take them home. Heiduo lectures them about trespassing before releasing them.
• The following morning, Heiduo leaves the house and climbs Michina Mountain toward the Temple of Michina, intending to return the Plates to Arceus and use the temple’s altar.
• On the way, the same five children attempt to stop him. The leading boy and girl claim to be the next guardians of the ruins and challenge Heiduo to a Pokémon battle.
• Heiduo ignores them and quickly reaches the mountaintop, where he encounters one of the children’s parents, a man connected to the temple. Heiduo reveals the Creation Ring and requests access to the temple and its altar.

Character Developments

• Heiduo is shown to be practical, domineering, and mischievous. Although he protects the children from serious harm, he clearly enjoys intimidating them and recognizes his own petty influence over his Pokémon.
• The Pokémon reflect Heiduo’s personality. Even ordinarily well-behaved members such as Sceptile participate in teasing the children, while Beedrill demonstrates both obedience and a playful cruelty.
• The five children are established as curious, reckless, and unusually bold. The two leaders are confrontational and assert their connection to the temple, while the other three are more timid and easily frightened.
• The local adults are curious about Heiduo’s return but ultimately responsible enough to apologize and retrieve their children.
• The temple guardian’s family is introduced as having a hereditary role connected to the ruins.

Significant Themes

• Curiosity and gossip: The townspeople’s interest in Heiduo’s return shows how closely knit—and intrusive—the small community is.
• The past returning: Heiduo’s occupation of the old house revives memories of the family and conflict once associated with it.
• Human–Pokémon relationships: The feast and the Pokémon’s coordinated behavior emphasize Heiduo’s authority and the close, informal bond between him and his team.
• Guardianship and inheritance: The children’s claim to be future guardians introduces the temple’s long-standing human connection to Arceus.
• Power and responsibility: Heiduo possesses the means to approach Arceus and access the temple, while the chapter contrasts his serious mission with his childish treatment of the trespassing children.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo rewards his Pokémon with food but also directs their household labor.
• Beedrill captures the children; Arbok, Sceptile, and Beedrill collectively frighten them under Heiduo’s influence.
• The children’s parents apologize to Heiduo and reclaim them.
• The children later confront Heiduo on the mountain, demanding a Pokémon battle and attempting to block his path.
• Heiduo refuses to engage and reaches the temple, where he meets one child’s father and asks to use the altar while displaying the Creation Ring.

Chapter Summary: “The Constants of Spacetime, Spacetime Power Here”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo arrives at the Temple of Michina on Michina Mountain, carrying the Creation Ring. The temple guardian recognizes the ring and allows him to enter because the temple is open to visitors.
• Heiduo explores the temple, which is modeled after ancient Greek architecture and extends deep into the mountain. His goal is to find the Spacetime Instrument and investigate whether the temple preserves evidence of the historical events involving Damos, Arceus, and the Jewel of Life.
• In the basement, Heiduo examines the Spacetime Instrument, an elaborate model representing the structure of the Pokémon world:
  • The material world at the bottom
  • Arceus Space above it
  • Palkia Space and Dialga Space orbiting Arceus Space
  • The Distortion World positioned beside the other realms
• Heiduo tests the Creation Ring against the artificial instrument, hoping it will react, but nothing happens. He concludes that the ring does not respond to artificial representations.
• Before leaving, Heiduo is confronted by five children, including Jiantai, who accuse him of trespassing and attempt to force him into battling them.
• Heiduo easily intimidates and outmaneuvers the children. When they attack him together, he uses Aura Wind to blow them away without seriously harming them.
• Heiduo discovers that Jiantai is supposedly the temple’s heir and may possess “Spacetime Power,” an ability similar to unrestricted Resonance that allows a person to communicate or interact with Pokémon without the usual limitations.
• Heiduo deliberately provokes Jiantai into proving that he has this power. He releases Beedrill and threatens to bring Jiantai to his father if he cannot demonstrate it.

Character Developments

• Heiduo: He remains curious and investigative, using the temple visit to search for information about the Creation Ring and the ancient history connected to Arceus. He is also shown to be mischievous and willing to bully or manipulate children in order to obtain information. His interest shifts from the Spacetime Instrument to Jiantai’s possible Spacetime Power.
• Jiantai: Initially tries to act intimidating and authoritative, using his status as the temple heir to challenge Heiduo. His confidence collapses when Heiduo confronts him, but he shows loyalty and courage by refusing to abandon his friends or brother despite crying. His pride is especially provoked by Heiduo questioning whether he truly possesses Spacetime Power.
• The other children: They imitate Jiantai’s bravado but quickly reveal their immaturity. Despite being frightened, they defend Jiantai when Heiduo captures him, demonstrating their loyalty to their leader and friend.
• The temple guardian/father: Though he appears only briefly, his willingness to let Heiduo explore freely suggests either trust in the Creation Ring or confidence that the temple contains no danger.

Significant Themes

• History versus preserved artifacts: The Spacetime Instrument represents the world’s cosmic structure, but it cannot confirm whether historical events actually occurred. Heiduo is forced to distinguish between symbolic or artificial records and genuine evidence.
• The nature of power: The chapter introduces Spacetime Power as an ability beyond ordinary Pokémon training or Resonance. It suggests that the temple’s heirs possess a special connection to the world’s temporal and spatial forces.
• Curiosity and manipulation: Heiduo’s investigation depends not only on searching ancient ruins but also on provoking people into revealing what they know.
• Childhood bravado and genuine courage: Jiantai and the children act tough, but their fear is obvious. Nevertheless, they show real loyalty and courage when they stand up for one another.
• The limitations of human knowledge: Even with the Creation Ring and the Spacetime Instrument, Heiduo cannot yet determine the truth about the past or the ring’s origin.

Character Interactions

• The temple guardian permits Heiduo entry after recognizing the Creation Ring, establishing a cautious but respectful relationship.
• Heiduo investigates the Spacetime Instrument alone, then is interrupted by Jiantai and the other children.
• Jiantai attempts to use authority and intimidation against Heiduo, but Heiduo turns the situation around by invoking Jiantai’s father and mocking his status as the temple heir.
• When the children attack, Heiduo uses Aura Wind to repel them, impressing and frightening Jiantai.
• Heiduo exploits Jiantai’s pride by questioning whether he truly possesses Spacetime Power, ultimately forcing him toward a demonstration with Beedrill.

Chapter Summary: “Another Journey to Summon a God”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo learns that Jiantai’s use of Spacetime Power is limited. Rather than creating a separate dimension, it gives his voice a soothing quality that allows spiritual communication with Pokémon.
• Heiduo negotiates with Jiantai and the other children, promising to answer their request for a battle in exchange for information about the temple and its history.
• The children initially demand excessive terms: a battle, permission to play with Heiduo’s Pokémon, and ownership of their “Secret Base,” which is actually a room in Heiduo’s house. Heiduo rejects their demands and physically removes Jiantai from the room.
• After Jiazi intervenes and the children revise their conditions, Heiduo agrees to let them battle him and spend an afternoon playing with his Pokémon.
• The children reveal important historical information:
  • The Jewel of Life was returned to Arceus by Damos.
  • Damos was never betrayed or imprisoned in this version of history.
  • The Jewel’s former container is now a symbol of the ruin guardians and contains only a replica.
  • Damos founded the Kingdom of Michina, though its capital was elsewhere, since Michina Temple was dedicated to Arceus.
  • Marcus became Damos’s chancellor rather than betraying him.
  • Damos expanded the kingdom and created an army in which every soldier possessed a Pokémon.
• Heiduo leaves the children to summon Arceus at the temple’s summit. The children go to a friend’s house for lunch instead of following him.
• At the top of the temple, Heiduo places the Plates at the entrance, holds the Creation Ring, and sings the Creation Song toward the sun without musical accompaniment.
• His song feels more powerful and sacred than before. As he sings and offers the Creation Ring back to Arceus, the Spacetime Instrument far below begins to tremble, suggesting that his summoning attempt is succeeding.

Character Developments

• Heiduo demonstrates patience and tactical flexibility when dealing with the children, using negotiation to gain their cooperation while refusing to surrender control. He remains wary of emotional manipulation and does not easily fall for Jiazi’s pleading.
• Heiduo also gains a clearer understanding of Michina’s alternate history and the role of Damos, Marcus, and the Jewel of Life.
• Jiantai is shown to be knowledgeable, competitive, impulsive, and eager for recognition. His excitement at the prospect of battling Heiduo reveals his admiration and desire to prove himself.
• Jiazi emerges as calmer and more practical than her brother. She helps restrain Jiantai and successfully negotiates with Heiduo when force fails.
• The five children become increasingly attached to Heiduo because of his unusual Pokémon and interesting knowledge, treating him as a new source of excitement and companionship.

Significant Themes

• Communication across species and boundaries: Spacetime Power is portrayed not as a dramatic spatial ability but as a means of spiritual connection between humans and Pokémon.
• History and alternate possibility: The chapter contrasts this world’s peaceful fate for Damos with the tragic events of the original story, showing how small differences can reshape an entire kingdom’s history.
• Negotiation and authority: Heiduo balances kindness with firmness, rewarding cooperation without allowing the children to exploit him.
• Faith and devotion: Heiduo’s song, offering of the Creation Ring, and prayer for humanity’s hope emphasize sincere worship rather than mere ritual.
• The power of music and symbolism: The Creation Song and the Plates function as tools of summoning, while the trembling Spacetime Instrument signals the possible response of a divine being.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Jiantai develop a tense but increasingly friendly relationship centered on bargaining and the promised battle.
• Jiazi acts as a mediator between Heiduo and Jiantai, using restraint and negotiation to prevent the conflict from escalating.
• The children collectively bargain with Heiduo, revealing their shared enthusiasm for his Pokémon and their desire to spend time with him.
• Heiduo’s interaction with the absent temple guardian is indirect; his absence makes Heiduo more comfortable performing the summoning.
• Heiduo’s final interaction is with Arceus through song and prayer, as he returns the Creation Ring and awaits the god’s response.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After performing the Creation Song, Heiduo expects Arceus to appear or reclaim the Plates, but nothing obvious happens. The Plates remain on the ground, and no divine manifestation occurs.
• The Creation Ring suddenly glows and strikes Heiduo twice across the face. Heiduo investigates with Aura but finds no Pokémon nearby that could have caused it.
• As the ring’s glow fades, golden energy appears around Heiduo’s hand. He realizes Arceus may have granted him a new ability connected to the power once associated with Origin Valley.
• Heiduo names this ability Nature Power. Unlike Aura, which comes from the soul and is linked to his Mental attribute, Nature Power is connected to nature, Arceus, and his Perception attribute.
• His Perception rises from its former limit of 100 to 101, proving that Arceus’s gift has expanded his potential. Heiduo speculates that the power may be “hush money” intended to keep him from interfering with the larger plan, though Arceus would never admit it.
• Heiduo accepts the gift despite his suspicions and decides to test it using seeds. He buys seeds and plants them on Michina Mountain.
• Later that afternoon, Jiantai and the other children arrive for their promised Pokémon battle. They are energetic and confident after recovering from their earlier defeat.
• Jiantai notices the newly sprouted wheat but does not understand why it is there. Heiduo refuses to explain and immediately begins the battle, preparing to send out a Pokémon he has already chosen.

Character Developments

• Heiduo becomes the recipient of Arceus’s mysterious blessing. His Perception exceeds its natural limit, giving him renewed motivation after he had begun to prioritize an easygoing life with Blue.
• Heiduo remains suspicious and sarcastic toward Arceus, interpreting the gift as indirect compensation or “hush money,” but he is practical enough to accept and exploit it.
• His ambitions expand again: rather than merely relaxing, he now wonders whether Nature Power could eventually let him perform feats comparable to Ghris, such as borrowing Arceus’s power to affect nature or seal Legendary Pokémon.
• Jiantai and the other children recover their confidence after lunch and return ready to fight. Jiantai is especially eager to challenge Heiduo again, unaware that Heiduo may have prepared something new.

Significant Themes

• Divine ambiguity and indirect communication: Arceus never explains its intentions, forcing Heiduo to interpret its actions.
• Power and responsibility: Nature Power represents a higher, externally granted form of strength, contrasting with Heiduo’s innate Aura.
• Humor and reluctant acceptance: Heiduo mocks Arceus’s apparent pettiness while happily accepting the powerful gift.
• Growth through nature: The sprouting wheat symbolizes Heiduo’s first attempt to understand and test his new connection to natural forces.
• Renewed purpose: A character who had been content with an easy life finds himself motivated again by the possibility of reaching a new level of power.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo has no direct conversation with Arceus, but their relationship is expressed through the Creation Ring’s slap, the golden energy, and Heiduo’s internal speculation.
• Heiduo silently contrasts his own expectations with Arceus’s refusal to take back the Plates, treating the deity as evasive and emotionally petty.
• Jiantai approaches Heiduo after arriving with the others and asks what is wrong. Heiduo ignores the question, then cuts off further discussion by announcing that the Pokémon battle will begin.
• Jiantai’s excitement and the other children’s cheering contrast with Heiduo’s quiet confidence, setting up the next confrontation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo leaves Michina after spending two days there, traveling toward Celestic Town with five reluctant children.
• The chapter recounts how he caught Pachirisu. The Pokémon had attacked a Staraptor and Staravia after they repeatedly stole its berries, only to be carried into the air and tormented by them.
• When one bird accidentally loses control and falls with Pachirisu near Heiduo, he intervenes. He brutally defeats both Flying-types by slamming them into the ground, then forces them to apologize to Pachirisu before releasing them.
• Pachirisu becomes attached to Heiduo because it admires how impressive he looked while rescuing it. He eventually persuades it to enter a Poké Ball and brings it back to Johto.
• Pachirisu’s first battle is against Jiantai’s level-fifteen Heracross. Despite being newly caught, Pachirisu wins almost instantly by combining Sweet Kiss, Nuzzle, and Discharge, stacking confusion and paralysis.
• In the present, Pachirisu enthusiastically climbs over Heiduo and repeatedly nuzzles him, while Garchomp becomes jealous of the newcomer.

Character Developments

• Heiduo continues to display overwhelming physical strength, a blunt personality, and a strong sense of justice. Although he is violent in resolving conflicts, he ensures the aggressors acknowledge their wrongdoing.
• Heiduo shows unexpected fondness toward Pachirisu, studying its age and behavior with interest. He discovers that it is still a juvenile, likely under four years old.
• Pachirisu is established as hot-tempered, defiant, brave, and somewhat reckless. Despite being prey to the larger birds, it fought back stubbornly and later formed a strong attachment to Heiduo.
• Garchomp reveals a childish, possessive side by becoming jealous of Pachirisu’s closeness to Heiduo.
• Scizor is portrayed humorously as emotionally underdeveloped but willing to compromise when pressured, especially when Heiduo uses it as a cool metal recliner.
• The chapter briefly reflects on Charmander’s past reluctance to evolve, suggesting that Heiduo’s Pokémon value physical closeness and affection from him.

Significant Themes

• Defiance against the natural order: Pachirisu’s suicidal challenge to the Staraptor and Staravia is framed as a tiny creature resisting predators and refusing to submit.
• Justice and accountability: Heiduo distinguishes between the guilty and the victim, punishing the attacking birds and requiring them to apologize before allowing them to leave.
• Unexpected bonds: Pachirisu’s admiration for Heiduo’s rescue quickly develops into loyalty and affection, showing how emotional connections can arise from a single dramatic encounter.
• The contrast between power and vulnerability: Pachirisu is physically small and inexperienced but courageous, while the stronger birds are cowardly once confronted by someone more powerful.
• Affection within the Pokémon group: Jealousy, cuddling, playfulness, and competition for Heiduo’s attention reveal the Pokémon as emotionally complex companions rather than mere battle partners.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo physically intervenes in the conflict between Pachirisu, Staraptor, and Staravia, then mediates their apology.
• Pachirisu openly idolizes Heiduo, clinging to his clothes, rubbing against him, and affectionately striking his face with its electrically charged tail.
• Heiduo encourages Garchomp to accept Pachirisu, though Garchomp’s jealousy shows that it resents sharing Heiduo’s attention.
• Heiduo’s thoughts about Scizor, Charmander, and the other Pokémon highlight his obliviousness to how much they value being physically close to him.

Chapter Summary: Return After Many Years

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo returns to Celestic Town, a historically preserved Sinnoh settlement and home to the world’s largest archaeological research institute.
• Garchomp becomes anxious and tries to avoid the town because its wife lives there, but Heiduo insists that they first visit his parents’ graves.
• The playful tension between Heiduo, Garchomp, and Pachirisu is highlighted. Pachirisu shocks Heiduo to defend Garchomp, then betrays Garchomp by revealing that the escape attempt was its idea.
• Heiduo revisits his abandoned childhood home, a large three-story estate surrounded by an overgrown courtyard and a private mountain.
• He hires a professional housekeeping company rather than cleaning the property himself. Pokémon workers rapidly restore the house and grounds using their strength and abilities.
• Heiduo prepares incense and climbs the mountain behind the house, where his parents and other ancestors are buried. The chapter ends as he locates the graves deeper along the mountainside.

Character Developments

• Heiduo appears sarcastic and teasing with his Pokémon but is also responsible and practical. His decision to restore the home suggests he is reconnecting with his past and family roots.
• Garchomp is portrayed as an adult Pokémon with strong memories and emotions. Despite being powerful and mature, it becomes nervous and childish when faced with the possibility of confronting its wife.
• Pachirisu is mischievous, clever, and socially perceptive. She protects Garchomp but quickly shifts blame to save herself.
• Heiduo’s vague memories of the house and mountain reveal his emotional distance from his childhood and the long gap since he last returned.

Significant Themes

• Returning to one’s roots: Heiduo’s visit marks a literal and emotional return to his birthplace and family history.
• Memory and loss: His inability to clearly remember the old home contrasts with the physical remnants of his family’s past.
• Family and ancestry: The private graves and inherited house emphasize the importance of lineage and tradition in Celestic Town.
• Pokémon-human cooperation: Pokémon contribute directly to restoring the property, showing how integrated they are into everyday work and society.
• Comedy amid grief: The playful interactions between Heiduo and his Pokémon provide a light counterbalance to the solemn visit to his parents’ graves.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo teases Garchomp for trying to escape, while Garchomp silently appeals to Pachirisu for help.
• Pachirisu shocks Heiduo, then exposes Garchomp, creating a humorous betrayal between the two Pokémon.
• Heiduo reprimands both Pokémon but remains affectionate and familiar with them.
• His interactions with the housekeeping workers are polite and appreciative, while his behavior at the graves becomes more serious and reflective.

Chapter Summary: “Having a Wife Means Forgetting Your Father”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo visits his neglected family graves for the first time in many years. He cleans the area, offers incense and food, and silently mourns his parents, unable to express the apologies and gratitude he feels toward them.
• He remains at the graves until nightfall, then promises to return during the New Year before leaving with Garchomp.
• Concerned that wild Pokémon might disturb the graves or eat the offerings, Heiduo catches and defeats the Pokémon living on the mountain, then persuades them with food to guard the cemetery.
• He spends the night at his old family home. Expecting ghosts or a Rotom, he instead discovers three Taillow nesting in the attic. After initially frightening and beating them with Aura, he allows them to stay and leaves them Berries as compensation.
• He reflects on his desire to obtain a Rotom, noting that the available ones are tied to specific regions and locations. He chooses not to capture one from a younger trainer, since Rotom is not essential to him.
• The following day, urged onward by Garchomp, Heiduo visits the Celestic Historical Research Institute, run by Professor Carolina, Cynthia’s grandmother and a former colleague of Heiduo’s parents.
• Garchomp excitedly enters the institute and reunites with Cynthia’s Garchomp. Heiduo then meets Cynthia, who greets him warmly.

Character Development

• Heiduo: His visit to the graves reveals unresolved grief and emotional restraint. He understands that speaking to gravestones cannot truly reach his parents, yet still performs the rituals as a form of remembrance and self-comfort. His treatment of the Taillow also shows a softer, more tolerant side beneath his intimidating behavior.
• Garchomp: It displays unusual sensitivity, remaining quiet and respectful while Heiduo mourns. Later, its impatience and excitement return when it leads Heiduo to the research institute and eagerly reunites with Cynthia’s Garchomp.
• Cynthia: She is introduced as warm, composed, and intellectually engaged, waiting at the institute with a book and tea. Her familiarity with Heiduo suggests an established relationship.
• Wild Pokémon: Initially frightened and defeated by Heiduo, they ultimately cooperate after he offers them food, demonstrating that he solves problems through a mixture of force and negotiation.

Significant Themes

• Grief and remembrance: Heiduo’s actions at the graves emphasize that memorial rituals are primarily for the living, even when the dead cannot hear or respond.
• Family and emotional distance: Though Heiduo wants to address his parents, he cannot overcome the emotional barrier created by their absence and his long separation from home.
• Respect for history: His concern over protecting artifacts at the research institute reflects his appreciation for human civilization and the past.
• Coexistence and negotiation: His arrangement with the mountain Pokémon and his decision to let the Taillow remain show a practical form of coexistence.
• The contrast between strength and tenderness: Heiduo can intimidate and defeat Pokémon, yet he also cares for them, compensates the Taillow, and protects his family’s graves.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Garchomp share a close partnership marked by mutual understanding: Garchomp respects his grief but later pushes him toward social contact.
• Heiduo interacts with the wild Pokémon through intimidation followed by bribery, turning them into guardians of the cemetery.
• Heiduo’s brief encounter with the Taillow combines comedy and compassion, as he punishes them for attacking him but ultimately permits them to remain.
• The chapter ends with Heiduo reuniting with Cynthia and Garchomp’s joyful reunion with Cynthia’s Garchomp, setting up renewed connections involving Cynthia, her grandmother, and Heiduo’s deceased parents.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo returns to Celestic Town after Cynthia repeatedly hinted that he should come back. He visits and pays respects at his family’s neglected graves.
• Cynthia explains that her grandmother and great-grandmother had been waiting for Heiduo to return before allowing anyone to tend the graves, respecting the family’s traditions.
• At the History Research Institute, Heiduo and Cynthia discuss recent events while a new intern serves them tea.
• Outside, Garchomp meets a female Garchomp and immediately begins courting her. His behavior becomes increasingly affectionate and suggestive, embarrassing Heiduo.
• Heiduo drives the two Garchomp away from the institute, though he is clearly more amused and resigned than genuinely angry. Cynthia jokes that their child may arrive soon.
• Professor Carolina arrives and warmly welcomes Heiduo, asking him to call her “Grandma.” She checks on his wellbeing and treats him like family before returning to her demanding work.
• Later, Heiduo and Cynthia leave the institute. He explains that he plans to stay for about a week but must occasionally return to his Gym, leaving Garchomp in Celestic Town temporarily.
• Heiduo admits that he can tolerate being separated from Garchomp, but Garchomp cannot tolerate being separated from him.

Character Developments

• Heiduo: His visit reveals his respect for family traditions and his continued connection to his deceased parents. Although emotionally restrained, he responds warmly to Carolina’s familial concern and shows fond, patient affection toward Garchomp.
• Cynthia: She acts as a bridge between Heiduo and Celestic Town, having encouraged his return and helped preserve his family’s graves. Her frequent smiles and amusement show her comfort around him, while her reflections reveal how deeply she cares about his emotional wellbeing.
• Garchomp: He displays a strong desire to form a family of his own and aggressively courts the female Garchomp. His shamelessness contrasts with his otherwise powerful image, while his inability to remain apart from Heiduo emphasizes his dependent, childlike side.
• Professor Carolina: She treats Heiduo as a member of the family rather than merely as a visitor or researcher, demonstrating warmth beneath her professional responsibilities.
• Female Garchomp: Initially bashful despite her age and intimidating reputation, she gradually reciprocates Garchomp’s affection.

Significant Themes

• Family and inheritance: Heiduo’s return to his ancestral home and Garchomp’s desire to have offspring both reflect the importance of lineage and continuity.
• Tradition and respect: The neglected graves are not cleaned by outsiders because the responsibility belongs to the family’s descendants, highlighting cultural customs surrounding ancestors.
• Human–Pokémon bonds: The chapter emphasizes that Pokémon are not simply pets or tools. They can be companions, family members, and emotional equals.
• Healing and belonging: Cynthia is relieved that Heiduo’s past suffering did not turn him bitter or destructive. His acceptance by Carolina and his bond with Garchomp suggest that he has found a supportive sense of family.
• Comedy within intimacy: Garchomp’s shameless courtship provides humor while also revealing his emotional maturity, instincts, and close relationship with Heiduo.

Character Interactions

• Cynthia and Heiduo share a relaxed, familiar conversation shaped by mutual trust.
• Heiduo scolds Garchomp for behaving indecently, but his irritation is softened by affection and amusement.
• Garchomp openly courts the female Garchomp, offering her half of a Berry and reversing their earlier power dynamic.
• Professor Carolina fusses over Heiduo like a grandmother, physically straightening his clothing and questioning him about his life.
• Cynthia observes Heiduo’s bond with Garchomp and concludes that his hardships have not destroyed his capacity for love, companionship, or family.

Chapter Summary: “Heiduo: Turn into One for Me!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Heiduo recounts his recent encounter with Arceus to Umbreon. He suspects the wheat sprouts Arceus gave him may have been “hush money,” though Umbreon prefers to interpret them as a divine reward.
• They discuss Garchomp’s absence. Garchomp has stayed away to pursue a mate and potentially start a family, prompting Heiduo to worry humorously that Garchomp might be won over by Cynthia instead.
• Umbreon becomes depressed while reflecting on how many Pokémon around Heiduo—including Garchomp and possibly Heiduo himself—are forming families. It feels lonely because, despite retaining a human mind, it is trapped in a Pokémon body.
• Heiduo realizes that Umbreon may be able to use Transform to take human form. This offers a possible solution to Umbreon’s deepest regret: not having transmigrated as a human.
• Because Umbreon’s special ability allows it to learn any move, Heiduo raises Transform to Level 6 using Attribute Points. He also confirms that Umbreon can use moves without normal prerequisites, making it exceptionally powerful.
• Umbreon begins testing human transformation. It refuses to let Heiduo record the process, citing privacy concerns.
• Before transforming, Umbreon spends a long time browsing pictures of attractive women and trying to combine their best features into its ideal appearance. Heiduo patiently helps it choose among the images.

Character Developments

• Heiduo continues to show deep familiarity with and concern for Umbreon’s emotional state. Although he teases Umbreon, he recognizes its loneliness and actively searches for a way to help.
• Umbreon reveals that its greatest unresolved issue is being reincarnated as a Pokémon rather than a human. It has adapted to its body but still misses aspects of its former life and feels envious of others’ romantic and family relationships.
• Umbreon’s powerful “Golden Finger” ability is emphasized: it can learn any move and ignore many move requirements, though its move proficiency must still improve through practice.
• Umbreon’s personality remains lazy, sarcastic, and eccentric, but its sudden excitement over Transform shows how seriously it values the possibility of becoming human.

Significant Themes

• Identity and alienation: Umbreon’s human consciousness conflicts with its Pokémon body, creating a persistent sense of displacement.
• Loneliness and belonging: The chapter explores Umbreon’s envy of Pokémon forming romantic bonds and families, as well as its fear of remaining alone.
• Friendship and care: Heiduo’s teasing relationship with Umbreon is underpinned by loyalty and emotional understanding.
• Power and adaptation: Umbreon possesses extraordinary abilities, but its overwhelming potential does not erase its personal dissatisfaction.
• Self-image and transformation: The planned human form raises questions about appearance, identity, and whether becoming physically human will resolve Umbreon’s emotional problems.

Character Interactions

• Heiduo and Umbreon debate Arceus’s motives, with Umbreon defending Arceus’s dignity while Heiduo remains skeptical.
• Their conversation about Garchomp’s love life highlights Heiduo’s supportive but mocking attitude toward his Pokémon.
• Heiduo notices Umbreon’s sadness but allows it to process its feelings without directly confronting it.
• When Heiduo suggests Transform, Umbreon shifts instantly from melancholy to ecstatic excitement.
• Heiduo helps Umbreon select a human appearance, creating a playful, domestic interaction resembling someone accompanying a partner while shopping.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Umbreon prepares to use Transform to take human form. She cannot recreate her original appearance because she has forgotten what she looked like, so she bases her new appearance on two photographs.
• Heiduo leaves her alone while she transforms and visits the Ecological Park, where he reunites with his Pokémon, including Greninja, Frogadier, Skitty, Glameow, Sylveon, and others.
• While waiting, Heiduo considers expanding the increasingly crowded Ecological Park and reflects on his Pokémon’s naturally growing strength and his relatively hands-off training style.
• After nearly an hour, Umbreon finally appears as a beautiful, white-haired, cat-eared girl wearing a white dress. Her appearance closely resembles Xia Ling from a manga Heiduo read in childhood.
• Umbreon experiments with speaking through her new vocal system but struggles because she has not used a human voice in many years. She decides to learn gradually.
• She reveals that her transformed body includes human anatomy and that she can maintain the form for approximately four hours.
• Umbreon teasingly flirts with Heiduo, creating an awkwardly intimate atmosphere. He breaks the tension by mocking her with “Iron FIVE,” then grabs and squeezes her tail, causing her pain. She apologizes theatrically and he lets her go.
• Heiduo analyzes the duration of Transform, noting that it depends on the move’s level and the Pokémon’s available energy.
• Mewtwo arrives, recognizes that Umbreon has become human, and sincerely praises how realistic the transformation looks.
• Heiduo warns Umbreon that if she encounters others in the Gym, she must explain herself or risk being mistaken for a thief. She confidently dismisses his concern.

2. Character Developments

• Umbreon gains a human form but remains fundamentally playful, shameless, lazy, and mischievous. Her transformation gives her a new appearance but does not change her personality.
• She shows embarrassment about appearing unclothed in human form, revealing that despite her long life as a Pokémon, she retains some human modesty.
• Umbreon begins adapting to human movement and speech, though she has difficulty using vocal cords and must relearn pronunciation.
• Her flirtatious behavior toward Heiduo demonstrates growing confidence and familiarity, but she quickly becomes nervous when he responds seriously.
• Heiduo remains emotionally restrained and practical. Although he acknowledges Umbreon’s beauty, he is not romantically overwhelmed and instead teases and physically disciplines her in their usual playful dynamic.
• Heiduo also displays his affection for his Pokémon through his reunion with them and his consideration of improving their living environment.
• Mewtwo is shown as observant but innocent and straightforward, responding to Umbreon’s transformation without teasing or suspicion.

3. Significant Themes

• Identity and transformation: Umbreon’s new body changes her appearance and abilities but not her core personality, suggesting that identity is rooted more in memory and behavior than physical form.
• Human and Pokémon boundaries: The chapter humorously explores the awkwardness of a Pokémon becoming human, including clothing, anatomy, speech, movement, and social expectations.
• Familiarity versus romantic attraction: Umbreon attempts to create an alluring atmosphere, but Heiduo’s longstanding familiarity with her prevents him from seeing her purely as a beautiful woman.
• Comedy through contrast: Umbreon looks like an elegant, otherworldly beauty, yet behaves like a mischievous, food-loving cat. Her majestic appearance clashes with her childish and shameless personality.
• Growth and responsibility: The expanding Ecological Park and the Pokémon’s natural development reflect the gradual growth of Heiduo’s household and responsibilities, even as he continues to avoid excessive supervision.

4. Character Interactions

• Umbreon and Heiduo: Their relationship is intimate and teasing, resembling that of longtime companions or family members. Umbreon flirts with him, while Heiduo responds with sarcasm and playful punishment rather than romantic interest.
• Heiduo and his Pokémon: His Pokémon eagerly greet him after his month-long absence, reinforcing his popularity and affectionate bond with them.
• Heiduo and Sylveon: He jokingly tells Sylveon that its mother is becoming human, though Sylveon cannot understand the concept.
• Umbreon and Mewtwo: Umbreon proudly shows off her transformation, and Mewtwo gives her an earnest, analytical compliment.
• Heiduo and Umbreon at the end: Heiduo warns her about being mistaken for a thief, while Umbreon responds with confidence and playful defiance.