Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• A familiar legend claims that an elderly couple rescued two injured siblings, who later revealed themselves as Latios and Latias and used the Soul Dew to save an island.
• Leika Napolant dismisses this version as false, arguing that a falsehood repeated long enough can be mistaken for truth. She and Oran prepare to welcome someone’s awakening.
• A second account says a sage ended Alto Mare’s destructive tsunamis with a mysterious jewel and summoned Latios and Latias; the islanders honored them with a cathedral and statues. The chapter hints that this public legend conceals a secret purpose.
• Leika, Belia, and armed followers travel to a deserted ruin, carrying a star-filled Gorgeous Stone and a hooded captive. Leika uses her royal blood to open a hidden passage beneath an altar.
• Inside, they find two blue Stasis-Pod-like machines. The Gorgeous Stone activates them, and Dian—far away at Ranger Academy—suddenly sees the underground hall as if transported there. The blue jewel at his neck flashes in response.
• Leika entrusts the next step to Belia. He enters one pod, while the captive is placed in the other.

Character developments and interactions

• Leika emerges as a calm, commanding Napolant descendant who doubts the accepted history and is willing to spill her own blood to unlock ancient technology. She and Oran share a formal, deferential relationship.
• Belia, a descendant of the High Priest Orlando, works alongside Leika and appears to share her determination. He accepts her charge and enters a pod himself.
• Dian is abruptly drawn into—or shown—a distant scene, suggesting a mysterious connection between his jewel and the ancient machines.
• Leika and Belia coordinate closely, while the black-clad followers obey their orders and handle the captive.

Significant themes

• Truth versus legend: The chapter questions how history becomes accepted truth and suggests that popular stories may conceal deliberate distortions.
• Hidden history and inherited power: Royal blood, ancient relics, and forgotten ruins connect present-day characters to the past.
• Sacrifice and danger: Leika’s blood and the sedated captive’s role imply that uncovering the truth carries a human cost.

Key plot points and events

• Laika’s group inserts Mana Stones into two Stasis Pods. The stones glow, crack, and disappear; one pod opens and a thick arm reaches out. Laika then leaves for Alto Mare with the Egg Incubator.
• The Gorgeous Stone’s power causes Dian to return suddenly to his Ranger Academy dorm. Though he questions whether the vision was real, he suspects it was connected to the mysterious gem around his neck and wonders whether the encounter was coincidence or fate.
• Dian travels to Alto Mare for his graduation assignment: safely guiding Cannon Pool’s wary Remoraid back to the sea. With help from an Octillery he released there previously, he completes the task quickly.
• Free to explore, Dian hopes to investigate the legendary Latios and Latias, the thieves targeting them, and the Dynasty Restoration faction. He also wants to meet Ash.
• Dian heads into the city with Misdreavus, enticing her with rumors of Alto Mare’s famous crepes.
• Elsewhere, Xiao Sheng arrives in Alto Mare to visit the Great Cathedral’s Pokémon fossils. Eriri complains about the heat, scenery, and sightseeing, but follows when her Smeargle eagerly goes with Xiao Sheng.

Character developments

• Dian is increasingly unsettled by the mysterious gem and its possible connection to events involving Laika. His Ranger duties and concern for Latios are also weighing on his Heart Power training. Despite the risks he anticipates, he remains confident.
• Misdreavus is easily won over by the promise of food and eagerly follows Dian.
• Xiao Sheng is enthusiastic and curious, especially about the fossils.
• Eriri is reluctant and self-conscious about the heat, but her attachment to Smeargle keeps her from leaving it behind.
• Laika remains focused and purposeful as she takes the Egg Incubator to Alto Mare.

Significant themes

• Fate and uncertainty: Dian wonders whether the mysterious vision was accidental or part of a larger design.
• Understanding Pokémon: The Remoraid assignment tests emotional insight and cooperation rather than strength alone.
• Responsibility and moral concern: Dian’s Ranger role makes him more troubled by Latios’s apparent mistreatment.
• Contrasting motivations: Dian’s investigative aims, Xiao Sheng’s historical curiosity, and Eriri’s desire for comfort offer different reasons for visiting the same city.

Character interactions

• Laika directs her black-clad companions during the Stasis Pod operation, then departs with the Egg Incubator.
• Dian jokes with Misdreavus about crepes to lift her spirits and motivate her onward.
• Xiao Sheng tries to persuade Eriri to visit the Great Cathedral; Smeargle chooses to follow him, prompting Eriri to reluctantly trail after them.

Key plot points and events

• Allen visits Alto Mare’s Great Cathedral with his Charmander, which is unusually skilled at Dragon-type moves but cannot use Fire-type moves.
• The city’s Summer Carnival begins with its annual water race, in which Trainers steer boats through Alto Mare’s maze-like waterways using Water-type Pokémon.
• Dian uses the race as a distraction to seek an important item in the otherwise guarded Secret Garden.
• His Pokémon have grown stronger over the past six months. Misdreavus can now sustain an illusion, disguising Larvitar as a Sandshrew; Larvitar has also learned Sandstorm and Dig.
• The race brings Ash, Misty, and another contestant, Rossi, into view. Ash’s Totodile surges ahead, while Team Rocket and the Thief Sisters also appear to be in town.
• Misdreavus senses something moving quickly overhead and alerts Dian, hinting at the presence of the elusive Infinity Pokémon.

Character developments and interactions

• Allen is amused and slightly exasperated by Charmander’s unusual talents; Charmander shows pride and disdain toward another Charmander using Ember.
• Dian is focused on his plan but affectionate toward Larvitar, encouraging him to eat freely. Larvitar’s restraint shows growing consideration.
• Misdreavus and Larvitar are comfortable companions, sharing food before Misdreavus detects the movement in the sky.
• Ash, Misty, and Rossi are introduced through the race, setting up their involvement in the events to come.

Significant themes

• Growth through steady training: Dian’s Pokémon have strengthened their foundations even with few new moves.
• Loyalty and care: Dian’s kindness helps Larvitar feel comfortable, while his team works together and responds to danger.
• Festival excitement and hidden purpose: The lively carnival provides cover for Dian’s secret mission and the story’s emerging mystery.

Plot points

• Dian enters Alto Mare’s Secret Garden with Misdreavus, using the clues of the sun, moon, stars, and Celebi’s mark to locate a hidden entrance.
• Misdreavus’s Illusion fails to reveal a passage through the apparent dead-end wall, but Dian discovers that the wall can be passed through after all.
• Inside, they find a lush, secluded garden and hurry toward its great hall, where the Soul Dew rests in a pond.
• Dian recognizes that the Soul Dew both protects Alto Mare from disaster and has a dangerous connection to Latias and Latios: drawing on its power can severely weaken them.
• Elsewhere, Laika arrives by boat with Odo. She refuses to take the Soul Dew yet, claiming events are unfolding according to the fate ordained by their ancestor, Lester. Her goal is tied to rebuilding Napolant, which will require “Blessing and Recognition.”

Character developments and interactions

• Dian is focused and resourceful, relying on his knowledge of Alto Mare and reasoning through the Garden’s hidden entrances. Though pressed for time, he pauses to assess the Soul Dew’s significance and danger.
• Misdreavus assists with Illusion and movement, but playfully demands five crêpes as payment. Dian indulges her, and their easy banter contrasts with the urgency of their mission.
• Laika remains composed and cryptic, speaking contemptuously of human dependence on Pokémon and presenting herself as confident that events are under control.
• Odo cautiously questions Laika about taking the Soul Dew. His brief slip in addressing her formally suggests respect or deference, but he falls silent when she refuses.

Significant themes

• Protection and dependence: Alto Mare relies on Pokémon and the Soul Dew for safety, prompting Laika to question who protects Pokémon in return.
• Power’s cost: The Soul Dew safeguards the city, but using it harms the very Pokémon it is connected to.
• Fate and agency: Laika believes the outcome is predetermined by Lester’s design, setting up tension between prophecy and the characters’ choices.
• Hidden worlds and discovery: The Secret Garden is a refuge concealed within the city, mirroring the deeper truths Dian and Laika are beginning to uncover.

Plot points and events

• Dian secretly removes the Soul Dew from the Secret Garden, photographs the mysterious engravings around its resting place, and escapes with Misdreavus. The Dew’s removal sets off a chime; Latias and Latios appear briefly, then race away through Alto Mare.
• Laika and Odo arrive in the city and head toward the Great Cathedral. A Black-Clothed Figure watches them, uncertain whether they are tourists or a threat, and ultimately follows them.
• Ash, Misty, Brock, and their Pokémon finish the water race. Though an outsider wins, Rossi accepts the result graciously and thanks Ash and his friends for riding with him. The chapter hints that Alto Mare’s Summer Festival will soon become unusual.
• James and Meowth find an ancient treasure map that points to “the most beautiful jewel in the world,” and become eager to pursue it.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian is cautious and methodical: he prioritizes safety, takes the Soul Dew, and records evidence for later study. His thoughts about Alto Mare’s legends suggest he suspects the city’s history is more complicated than it appears.
• Laika is now visibly older, with her blue hair grown to her shoulders. She presents herself as a sightseer, while the watcher doubts her explanation.
• Rossi shows humility and warmth, thanking Ash rather than resenting his loss. Ash and his friends respond with cheerful gratitude and farewell.
• James and Meowth immediately interpret the map as a chance for treasure; Meowth’s enthusiasm draws James into the prospect.

Significant themes

• Power and consequence: The Soul Dew’s power comes at a cost, and disturbing it may provoke danger.
• Hidden histories and mystery: Dian’s questions about Alto Mare, the engravings, Laika’s arrival, and the treasure map hint at secrets beneath the city’s familiar legends.
• Trust, vigilance, and uncertainty: The watcher struggles to judge Laika and Odo, while the city’s residents remain unaware of events unfolding around them.
• Grace in competition: Rossi’s acceptance of the race’s outcome contrasts with the coming intrigue and danger.

Key plot points and events

• Jessie, James, and Meowth celebrate the prospect of treasure, while Ash rescues Latias—disguised as Kanon—from the Thief Sisters. The sisters may be allowing the escape so they can follow Ash to the Soul Dew.
• Dian heads for Alto Mare’s Great Cathedral, carrying the Soul Dew and intending to inspect the ancient ruins and an advanced machine inside. Misdreavus spots a surveillance camera planted by the thieves, and Larvitar destroys it without drawing much attention.
• Dian expects Ash to reunite with Misty and Brock and head toward the cathedral, while the Thief Sisters follow and discover the Secret Garden.
• Dian wonders why no Investigator seems to be monitoring Alto Mare. He also questions why Latias and Latios appear so inexperienced, speculating that they may have run away from home or be isolated from others of their kind.
• Dian runs into Nurse Joy Lisa, now working in Alto Mare. She recognizes Misdreavus and sees through Larvitar’s disguise. The two walk together toward the cathedral, where Lisa explains its history and its connection to the legendary Pokémon.
• Dian plans to turn the thieves over to the League, return the Soul Dew, check on the Napolant royal family, and then resume his duties in Almia. He is already imagining the reward he might earn.

Character developments

• Dian remains observant and strategic, discreetly countering the thieves’ surveillance while investigating the city’s mysteries. He also reveals a more relaxed, self-interested side: he treats the adventure as a vacation and anticipates a large bounty.
• Misdreavus and Larvitar show their attentiveness by detecting and destroying the hidden camera, and share Dian’s bafflement when he becomes absorbed in speculation.
• Lisa is established as a familiar and perceptive presence in Alto Mare; she recognizes Dian’s Pokémon despite Larvitar’s disguise.
• Ash and Latias continue moving toward the cathedral, unknowingly drawing the Thief Sisters after them.

Significant themes

• Appearance and hidden motives: The thieves’ pursuit, the concealed camera, Dian’s cover story, and the cathedral’s deeper history all suggest that what things seem to mean may not be the whole truth.
• Legend versus history: The cathedral is publicly presented as a monument of gratitude to Latias and Latios, but Dian suspects its origins—and the machine within—may have more complicated purposes.
• Power, vulnerability, and isolation: Dian’s doubts about the legendary Pokémon’s apparent inexperience raise questions about their origins and whether they are cut off from the wider world.
• Duty and personal reward: Dian intends to complete his responsibilities, but is equally eager for the promised payoff and the freedom that follows.

Character interactions

• Dian communicates silently with Larvitar to destroy the camera, while Misdreavus guides him to it.
• Misdreavus greets Lisa warmly, and Lisa responds as though she knows both it and Larvitar well.
• Lisa and Dian reconnect, exchange news, and discuss Alto Mare’s history as they walk to the cathedral.
• Dian’s Pokémon react to his sudden theorizing with puzzled, synchronized head tilts.

Plot and events

• Dian reflects that the Thief Sisters’ supposed world-class skill did not prevent them from being trapped in the Machine. He frames rescuing Espeon and Ariados as professional duty, while privately suspecting they may have been quite comfortable.
• At the Great Cathedral, Dian notices Laika, a Napolant royal descendant, and wonders why she and her companions are in Alto Mare. He suspects their visit may be connected to the Machine and the Kingdom’s restoration.
• Dian also questions Lisa’s unusual behavior. He rules out possession or impersonation, but remains uncertain whether she is acting for the Pokémon League or has another agenda. He believes the Machine cannot be activated while he has the Soul Dew, unless another one exists.
• Dian observes that the Cathedral is quiet and that its fossil display is less impressive than advertised, though Xiao Sheng is fascinated by an Aerodactyl Fossil. Eriri is not.
• Allen introduces himself and his Charmander to Xiao Sheng. Dian then recognizes Ash and his companions among the visitors.
• Lisa explains that Alto Mare is nominally part of the Johto League but governs itself independently. A League proposal to establish a Gym was rejected. Her pointed look at Ben Gray leads her to ask Dian whether he is secretly on a Ranger Union mission.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian remains watchful and suspicious, concealing what he knows while trying to interpret Laika’s motives and Lisa’s role. His confident assumptions about the situation begin to falter.
• Lisa appears distracted and weary, yet speaks knowledgeably about Alto Mare’s political independence and directly challenges Dian’s explanation for being there.
• Laika’s presence deepens Dian’s concern that the Napolant family has plans beyond tourism.
• Xiao Sheng and Eriri provide a light contrast: he is absorbed by the fossil, while she finds his enthusiasm baffling.
• Allen makes a friendly approach to Xiao Sheng; Ash and his group are also present, though Dian pretends not to know why.

Significant themes

• Suspicion and uncertainty: Dian’s theories about the Machine, Laika, and Lisa remain unresolved, and even familiar allies seem difficult to read.
• Political autonomy and power: Alto Mare’s independence from direct League control complicates any attempt to intervene or establish authority.
• Appearance versus reality: The Cathedral’s celebrated fossils may be less remarkable than advertised, while seemingly ordinary visits and conversations may conceal larger intentions.

Summary

• Dian’s visit and the Cathedral: Dian assures Nurse Joy Lisa that he is in Alto Mare for personal reasons, not on a Pokémon Ranger Union mission. He promises to help her if she needs it, while cautioning her against taking work outside her duties. Lisa says the Pokémon Center can manage without her for a while.
• Latias draws Ash away: Latias, disguised as Kanon, rushes into the Great Cathedral and seeks out Ben Gray. After noticing Ash, she looks at him in a way that catches his attention. Ben abruptly ends the tour and follows her; Ash leaves Misty and Brock to pursue them.
• Dian notices a clue: A triangular symbol on a Cathedral mural reminds Dian of the same mark in the Ruins of Napolant. He suspects the necklace he wears somehow causes people—including himself—to overlook it, and decides to stay rather than attract attention.
• Dian spends time with Misty and Brock: While Lisa briefly joins them, Dian asks Misty for a photograph. Brock recognizes Dian as the Ghost-type Trainer Gym Leader Morty had mentioned. Misdreavus playfully startles Misty, while Dian explains that she teases people she likes. Togepi eagerly interacts with Misdreavus, and Brock takes the picture.
• Ash enters a hidden courtyard: Pikachu leads Ash through the crowd to Ben and Latias. Latias urges Ben to enter a secluded courtyard, and Ben lets Ash follow. The gate closes behind them, revealing a hidden garden—and an unseen force that knocks Ash and Pikachu down. Pikachu attacks with Thunder Shock, but the mysterious presence is unaffected.
• Latios appears: Ben calls the unseen attacker off, explaining that Latias brought Ash. Latios becomes visible, and Ash and Pikachu marvel at the unfamiliar Pokémon. Kanon then arrives, puzzled by the strange behavior of Latias and Latios.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian shows discretion and curiosity: he conceals his deeper interest in the Cathedral and its symbol, while behaving sociably with Misty and Brock. His concern about the necklace suggests it may obscure important clues from its wearer.
• Lisa trusts Dian’s friendship and offers help, though she seems unconcerned about leaving the Pokémon Center.
• Ash follows Latias on instinct, then remains determined even after being attacked. His encounter with Latios begins a new mystery.
• Latias is unusually eager to bring Ash into the courtyard, while Latios initially treats him as a threat before stopping at Ben’s command.
• Misty, Brock, and Dian share a lighthearted exchange around Misdreavus’s teasing and the photograph; Brock’s recognition of Dian establishes Dian’s reputation.

Significant themes

• Trust and instinct: Ash follows Latias without understanding why, and Latias appears to trust him enough to bring him to the hidden courtyard.
• Hidden truths and perception: The concealed garden, unseen attacker, mysterious mural, and necklace’s apparent effect all suggest that important things in Alto Mare are being overlooked or kept secret.
• Playfulness and companionship: Misdreavus’s teasing, Togepi’s friendliness, and the group’s photo provide a warm contrast to the danger and mystery surrounding Latios.

Plot points and events

• Latias eagerly leads Ash to the Secret Garden, where Kanon and Ben Gray explain that Latias and Latios are Pokémon—and that Kanon’s apparent double is Latias in disguise.
• Ben asks Ash to keep the garden and the siblings’ identities secret. Ash agrees.
• Ben worries after Ash mentions that two women tried to kidnap Latias. He suspects the intruders are after the Soul Dew rather than the young Pokémon, and considers activating the garden’s defenses.
• Later, Jessie, James, and Meowth follow a treasure map to the Secret Garden, having abandoned their plan to follow the Thief Sisters. They find the entrance sealed by a protective barrier and cannot open the gate. James hints that Team Rocket’s signature entrance motto may offer a way forward.

Character developments and interactions

• Ash accepts Kanon’s revelation and promises to protect the secret. Latias’s affection and playfulness suggest she trusts him.
• Ben’s concern for Latias and Latios is balanced by his attachment to his family’s heritage: he chooses not to destroy the old mural and machine, though he remains uncertain about that decision.
• The Team Rocket trio, stung by past failures, vow to be careful and see the treasure as a chance to redeem themselves. Jessie is surprised by James’s sudden seriousness, while Meowth agrees with his caution.

Significant themes

• Trust and secrecy: Ash is entrusted with the garden’s secret and agrees to safeguard it.
• Protection and vulnerability: Ben fears that unknown people may threaten the Soul Dew and the Pokémon.
• Legacy and difficult choices: Ben weighs preserving family relics against preparing for danger.
• Comic ambition: Team Rocket’s grand plans contrast with their immediate obstacle: a sealed, fortified gate.

Key plot points

• James delivers Team Rocket’s motto with unusual conviction, declaring that they must return to their roots. Jessie and Meowth are pleased by the change.
• At the Secret Garden, Latios senses intruders and turns invisible with Latias. Ben Gray activates a mysterious console using a red-and-blue cube, awakening the power stored in the garden’s murals.
• The murals hold power left by Latios and Latias’s parents. Ben asks the siblings to protect the Soul Dew and Alto Mare, though he privately wishes he could free Kanon and the Pokémon from their inherited duty.
• Team Rocket’s trio break into the courtyard. Ben orders Latios and Latias to use their signature moves: Luster Purge and Mist Ball. The siblings overwhelm the intruders and destroy hidden surveillance devices, but using their power drains the murals’ stored energy.
• Ben explains that the siblings’ immense “infinite” power is both a gift and a danger: without the Soul Dew and their parents’ protective legacy, it could harm them.
• The trio are knocked unconscious, but Ben realizes they are not the women Ash warned him about. A second group attacks: Ben is trapped in an electrified net while robots move to capture Latias and Latios. He urges the siblings to take the Soul Dew and flee to Kanon.

Character developments and interactions

• James appears newly focused and eager to reclaim Team Rocket’s original purpose; Jessie and Meowth notice and share his enthusiasm.
• Ben is torn between his responsibility to safeguard Alto Mare and his desire to release Kanon, Latias, and Latios from that burden. Under attack, he prioritizes the siblings’ safety over his own.
• Latios acts protectively, warning Latias to hide. Together, the siblings reveal their true strength while following Ben’s commands.
• Ben’s mistaken belief that he has stopped the danger gives way to urgency when he recognizes that the unconscious trio were not the real threat.

Significant themes

• Power as both gift and burden: Great strength can be dangerous to its wielder and must be controlled.
• Legacy and responsibility: The Soul Dew, murals, and inherited duties bind the family and the Pokémon to Alto Mare.
• Protection and sacrifice: Ben’s final instruction shows him willing to suffer so the siblings can escape.
• Appearances and misjudgment: Defeating one group does not mean the danger has passed.

Key plot points and events

• Ben Gray realizes he and the others were used as bait to draw out the “Obstacle,” Latios and Latias.
• The thieves, Lian and Sanna, threaten Ben and Kanon to force the Pokémon to cooperate. Sanna uses her Espeon to hurt Ben when he protests.
• Latios pushes Latias into a canal and orders her to flee with the Soul Dew, choosing to stay behind so she cannot be captured.
• Latias escapes, while Lian traps and electrocutes Latios. He accepts this calmly, relieved that his sister got away.
• The sisters ignore the unconscious Team Rocket Trio and take the Soul Dew. Sanna admires it; Lian studies an inscription explaining that the jewel protects Alto Mare through the Infinity Pokémon, but evil use will destroy the city. A faint crimson glow flickers inside the Soul Dew unnoticed.

Character developments and interactions

• Latios prioritizes Latias’s safety, making a painful sacrifice despite Ben’s wish to protect the city.
• Latias is torn between helping Latios and obeying him, but ultimately escapes after sensing there may be another way to act.
• Ben Gray is desperate to protect both Alto Mare and his granddaughter Kanon, and is devastated by the danger they face.
• Lian is calculating and enjoys control and taking treasure; Sanna is vain and driven by her love of beautiful jewels. Their contrasting motives show in how they handle the Soul Dew.
• Lian and Sanna manipulate Ben and the twins through threats, while Latios and Ben each struggle with whom they must protect.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and protection: Latios gives himself up to save his sister.
• Love and coercion: The thieves exploit the heroes’ concern for others.
• Greed and danger: The sisters’ pursuit of the Soul Dew risks Alto Mare’s destruction.
• Unnoticed warning signs: The crimson light and the inscription hint that the theft may trigger serious consequences.

Key plot points and events

• Lian dismisses a warning as nonsense, takes the Soul Dew, and leaves the courtyard with the captive Latios. A force prevents her and her companions from investigating the hall, and Ben Gray refuses to answer her questions.
• After Lian departs, Laika and Odo emerge. Odo reports that preparations are complete and that the high priest will remove threats to their plans. Laika intends to go to the Tower of the Sun, revive the king, and fulfill True King Lester’s will. She carries a Pokémon Egg Hatching Device containing the Gorgeous Stone.
• Dian waits in the Great Cathedral rather than risk the Secret Garden. He believes the Thief Sisters are less dangerous than Napolant’s descendants and reasons that, without the Soul Dew, the Eon Duo may learn to protect themselves.
• Rossi arrives with Ash, Misty, and Brock, accuses Dian of stealing the Soul Dew, and presents a holographic recording as evidence. Ash prepares to battle, though Brock and Misty initially urge caution. Convinced by Rossi’s apparent concern and the recording, Ash asks Dian to surrender and return the Soul Dew.
• Dian recognizes Rossi’s performance as suspicious. Instead of fighting, he calls Chinami, the Great Detective and an Officer Jenny, on video. Chinami identifies the location and recognizes Ash, ending the chapter by asking what he has lost this time.

Character developments and interactions

• Laika appears increasingly composed and ruler-like, calmly pursuing the resurrection plan. Her knowing glance back at the hall suggests she understands more than she reveals.
• Dian is cautious about the rival factions and the Eon Duo’s future, but remains composed when accused. He responds to Rossi’s theatrics with disbelief and uses his call to Chinami to challenge the situation indirectly.
• Rossi presents himself as a principled witness who wants Dian helped, using convincing emotion and supposed evidence to sway Ash and the others.
• Ash is quick to defend what he believes is right, but is willing to listen to Rossi and act on the evidence. Brock and Misty temper his first reaction, then begin to doubt Dian when the recording appears.
• Chinami is jealous of Dian’s apparent time off, but her detective’s instincts quickly identify his location and connect the people around him.

Significant themes

• Deception and appearances: Lian dismisses warnings, Rossi’s persuasive performance misleads Ash’s group, and Dian’s call exposes how uncertain the truth is.
• Trust and evidence: Ash and his friends must decide whether to trust their limited acquaintance with Dian or the recording Rossi presents.
• Power and hidden agendas: Laika’s resurrection plan and the high priest’s promise to eliminate instability point to wider political machinations.
• Self-reliance: Dian believes the Eon Duo cannot depend on a caretaker forever and may need to learn to protect themselves.

Key plot points and events

• Dian is stunned to learn that Rossi has contacted Officer Jenny, while Ash, Misty, and Brock react with confusion and disbelief.
• Rossi reveals a recording of Dian taking the Soul Dew. Dian suspects the descendants of Napolant used a link to either Honedge or the blue jewel around his neck to spy on him, and concludes they are likely after what he found in the ruins.
• Dian tries to persuade Rossi to trust him, but Rossi suddenly disappears from sight. Before Ash and the others can intervene, an Ariados traps them in silk.
• Lian and Sanna arrive with Ben Gray, Kanon, and Latios in their custody. Sanna orders Espeon to attack Dian, while Lian holds a Soul Dew taken from the courtyard.
• Dian summons a sandstorm using Larvitar and Skiploom, filling it with Stun Spore and Sleep Powder. He hopes to hinder the sisters and reveal Rossi’s hiding place; Beedrill waits to strike. The chapter ends as Espeon resists the storm’s effects and targets Skiploom with psychic energy.

Character developments

• Dian stays controlled under pressure, quickly assessing the possible source of the surveillance and focusing on buying time and protecting his advantage.
• Rossi appears to know more than he lets on, anticipating Dian’s approach and avoiding the confrontation.
• Ash and his friends are caught off guard and rendered helpless, leaving Dian to face the immediate threat alone.
• Lian and Sanna take an openly hostile stance, using their Pokémon to attack and restrain their opponents.

Significant themes

• Surveillance and mistrust: The recording makes Dian question how closely he has been watched and whom he can trust.
• Deception and control: Rossi’s disappearance and the sisters’ sudden arrival leave Dian navigating layered threats.
• Tactical resourcefulness: Dian adapts quickly, coordinating his Pokémon and using the cathedral itself as a battlefield.

Character interactions

• Dian tries to enlist Rossi’s trust by invoking his friendship with Officer Jenny, but Rossi evades him.
• Ariados restrains Ash, Misty, and Brock while facing Pikachu.
• Lian and Sanna confront Dian through Espeon, while Dian’s Pokémon coordinate a counterattack in the sandstorm.

Plot points and events

• Espeon is already weakened by Stun Spore, Sleep Powder, and Sandstorm. Dian exploits its inability to concentrate and has Larvitar finish it with a prepared Ancient Power.
• Beedrill then attacks Ariados with Venoshock, but uses the distraction to knock out the Thief Sisters, Lian and Sanna, in a single swift strike. Before collapsing, Lian realizes the sisters have been used by the person who hired them to obtain the Infinity Pokémon.
• The Soul Dew appears above the captive Latios and begins glowing red as a ritual starts. The machine behind Dian activates, and Misdreavus restrains Rossi. Ariados wisely gives up rather than fight Pikachu.
• Pikachu frees Ash and the others. Ben Gray demands to know why Rossi would risk destroying Alto Mare by corrupting the Soul Dew.
• Rossi says the ritual is following a predetermined course and announces that the Napolant Kingdom’s mission—and the clan’s service—ends that day.
• Rossi recognizes Dian from the Ruins and hints at a future meeting. Dian realizes Rossi is actually Belia, descendant of Orlando, the Great Sage, whose identity has been concealed through Manaphy’s Heart Swap power.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian’s tactical judgment is reinforced: he identifies Espeon’s reliance on mental control and uses status effects and a decisive strike to defeat it.
• Lian and Sanna’s confidence collapses when their supposed employer betrays them; Lian understands the deception just before she is knocked out.
• Ariados shows good survival instincts, choosing to surrender when Pikachu threatens it.
• Rossi remains eerily composed while captured, provoking confusion and anger from Ben Gray and the others. His revelation as Belia raises further questions about his motives and the Napolant Kingdom’s plans.
• Dian connects clues from the Ruins to uncover Belia’s identity, surprising Belia and shocking Ben Gray.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and manipulation: The Thief Sisters were expendable pawns, while Rossi’s actions suggest a larger hidden agenda.
• Duty versus catastrophe: Rossi declares the clan’s mission complete even though the Soul Dew’s corruption may doom Alto Mare.
• Hidden identity and deceptive appearances: Heart Swap has allowed Belia to pass as Rossi, complicating everyone’s understanding of the events.
• Strategy and survival: Dian wins through exploiting weaknesses, while Ariados survives by recognizing when resistance is futile.

Key plot points and events

• Rossi extracts a trace of Latios’s existence into a red orb, leaving Latios exhausted but alive. Latios uses Dream Projection to show the others the ritual at the Tower of the Sun.
• Laika places the Pokémon Egg Hatching Device on the ancient altar. The red and blue orbs draw on power accumulated in the Great Cathedral and Secret Garden, channeling it into a jewel as lightning destroys the device.
• Ben Gray realizes the ritual’s scale—and that Laika, a descendant of Great Sage Orlando, appears to be carrying out a plan Orlando himself supposedly intended.
• The ritual falters because Dian had secretly ordered Larvitar to damage a machine involved in the setup. Laika responds by appealing to Latias, arguing that the ritual follows Orlando’s and Lester’s wishes and could revive Latios.
• The light returns, and Dian realizes the ritual is being sustained by the blue gemstone around his neck: the Soul Dew. He and the others cannot escape Dream Projection, apparently because the Eon Duo have also been controlled.
• Ben concludes that Alto Mare’s history is ending. Dian’s Soul Dew may protect the island, but, Ben says, the city of Alto Mare itself will cease to exist.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian shifts from confidence in his preparations to alarm when he recognizes that his Soul Dew is powering the ritual and that he cannot break free.
• Laika shows anger when the ritual is disrupted, then regains confidence after Latias responds to her plea. She frames the ritual as repayment for her clan’s and the Blue Sky Country’s sins.
• Ben Gray moves from stunned disbelief at what he never knew about Alto Mare to bitter resignation over the city’s fate.
• Latias is placed under emotional pressure by Laika, who invokes Latios and their bond to persuade her to help.
• Ash focuses on rescuing Latios and is shocked by Ben’s warning. Rossi insists the group will not harm Latios, while Oran stays close to Laika as her guard.

Significant themes

• Inherited duty and guilt: Laika invokes generations of wrongdoing and ancestral plans to justify the ritual.
• Loyalty and emotional bonds: Laika uses Latias’s connection to Latios to influence her choice.
• Hidden history and disrupted plans: Dian’s intervention reveals that even an ancient, carefully prepared scheme can be undermined—and then adapted.
• Sacrifice and loss: The Soul Dew may save the island, but not Alto Mare itself.

Key plot points and events

• Ben Gray explains that Alto Mare’s canals were formed by waterways linked to the Deep-Sea Volcano. The Soul Dew has kept the volcano dormant, but drawing its power away will make the water recede: the island will be safe, though the city of Alto Mare will disappear.
• A rising rumble signals trouble. Iron bars suddenly seal buildings, passages, and exits across the city, trapping residents without phone service. Outside, a school of Remoraid led by Octillery approaches.
• The Team Rocket Trio wake in a cage in the Secret Garden as seawater rises beneath them.
• At the Great Cathedral, Eevee finds Ash and the others trapped in red light beside a machine and the Blue Orb. Eevee’s Synchronoise briefly disrupts the light, allowing Beedrill and Misdreavus to break free and rescue Dian and Larvitar. Beedrill attacks Latios, and Pikachu immediately launches a Thunderbolt.

Character developments

• Ben Gray reveals the city’s hidden history and accepts that its future may be lost to protect the island.
• Dian remains composed, believing he can escape when the time is right.
• Kanon is surprised that her grandfather kept the truth from her; Brock suspects a larger danger, while Ash demands answers from the trapped Latias and Latios.
• Eevee puts aside its food and risks itself to help the prisoners, turning a brief opening into a chance for the others to fight back.

Character interactions

• Ben explains Alto Mare’s past and impending fate to Latias and the group.
• Ash confronts Latias and Latios, while Misty anxiously protects Togepi.
• Eevee’s intervention enables Beedrill and Misdreavus to free themselves and their companions; Pikachu joins the counterattack.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and change: Alto Mare’s survival may require the end of the city as it is known.
• Courage and loyalty: Eevee acts to help others despite being unable to break the bars by force.
• Imprisonment and resistance: The city’s sudden transformation into a prison contrasts with the Pokémon’s determination to find a way out.

Plot points and events

• Dian protects the now more capable Larvitar from a lightning attack; Larvitar blocks it with a Sandstorm, showing that Electric attacks cannot harm it.
• Latios recovers consciousness. Ash and Kanon rush to check on him, and Dian gives Ash Cianwood City’s Secret Medicine for Latios.
• Ash realizes Latias is in danger at the Tower of the Sun and tries to reach her, but an iron gate blocks the way. Pikachu’s Thunderbolt cannot break it.
• Ben Gray warns that the machine in the Great Cathedral is drawing power from the underground volcano. If it fully awakens the volcano, another Great Tsunami may occur—and even the Soul Dew may not stop it. Destroying the machine is the only way to prevent the disaster.
• Larvitar eats through the gate, allowing Ash, Kanon, Misty, and Brock to head for the Tower of the Sun. Dian stays behind to deal with the machine.
• Dian’s Pokémon attack the machine, but the blue orb’s barrier repels them. He then has Beedrill knock Ben Gray unconscious and orders Skiploom to put the others on the ground to sleep and paralyze them, with Misdreavus keeping watch.
• Dian confronts the figure outside, whom he identifies as Latias. He offers the Soul Dew and says he will evacuate himself and the uninvolved if Latias cannot stop the tsunami, leaving Alto Mare and Napolant to resolve their own conflict.

Character developments and interactions

• Larvitar has grown beyond infancy and shows confidence in its abilities; it is also eager to eat the iron bars.
• Latios regains consciousness and affectionately nuzzles Kanon, who embraces him in relief.
• Dian takes charge of the crisis, prioritizing the machine and the safety of his group. He acts decisively—even incapacitating Ben Gray and restraining those left behind—while acknowledging the limits of his responsibility.
• Ash remains focused on rescuing Latias, while Kanon, Misty, and Brock follow him to the tower. Misdreavus, Beedrill, and Skiploom support Dian’s plan.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and limits: Dian is willing to help, but refuses to risk everyone’s lives over a conflict he considers theirs to settle.
• Urgency and sacrifice: The group divides its efforts between reaching Latias and stopping a catastrophe.
• Trust and cooperation: The Pokémon’s distinct abilities—from Larvitar’s strength to Skiploom’s status moves—help the humans act under pressure.

Plot points and events

• Dian realizes that Alto Mare was designed as an altar to revive Latios, and that High Priest Orlando’s larger plan is to rebuild Napolant’s power with support from Infinity Island and its Pokémon.
• Latias warns that the coming Great Tsunami will not harm the island or Dian’s friends. She also explains that reviving Latios would create a new life, not restore the original person.
• Latios pulls Dian into another Dream Projection. At the Tower of the Sun, Dian sees Ash, his companions, and Lisa restrained by Belia, who demands the Silver Sword of Royal Authority.
• Laika tries to summon Honedge—the “Yin” sword—but it ignores her. Belia’s confidence falters as he realizes the sword may not obey him either.
• Though seemingly cornered by the hostages and the machine, Dian reveals that he has already set a “mad plan” in motion.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian pieces together Orlando’s political and historical motives, then shifts from analysis to action when he sees his friends in danger. His confidence suggests he has a hidden countermeasure.
• Latias shows concern for Dian and his friends, but accepts that a revived Latios would not truly be the brother who died.
• Laika appeals sincerely to Honedge, but the sword’s refusal exposes the limits of her authority and the uncertainty between her and Belia.
• Belia tries to use the hostages to force Dian’s compliance, while also seeking control of the Silver Sword. His plan depends on an allegiance he cannot guarantee.
• Dian and Belia face off through calculated pressure: Belia threatens the hostages; Dian refuses to act as though he is powerless.

Significant themes

• Identity and resurrection: A life recreated from the same soul is still a new life, not a return of the person who died.
• Power, legitimacy, and the past: Orlando seeks to restore Napolant’s influence by building a new government around its surviving people and ties to Infinity Island.
• Loyalty and control: The swords and Pokémon do not necessarily obey those who claim authority over them.
• Hope versus manipulation: The promise of reviving Latios drives Orlando’s plan, while Belia uses coercion to advance it.

Key plot points and events

• Dian puts his plan into action: while stalling Belia inside the Great Cathedral with Dream Projection, he sends Misdreavus and Larvitar to undermine the Tower of the Sun. Eevee secretly follows and joins the demolition.
• Dian taunts Belia and hints that he has prepared a “big present.” When Belia orders Rhydon to attack the captive Ash and his companions, Dian abruptly ends the projection and leaves.
• The tower begins to shake and lean, confirming Dian’s threat. Its unstable energy source also becomes dangerous, and those inside realize the building may collapse.
• Misdreavus, Larvitar, and Eevee celebrate below the tilting tower, seemingly unconcerned with the panic above.

Character developments and interactions

• Dian shows his willingness to abandon negotiations and escalate matters when his friends are threatened. His sarcastic banter masks his anger, and he trusts his Pokémon to carry out the demolition.
• Misdreavus takes charge of the operation, directing Larvitar and finding Eevee a place to help. She is proud of the team’s work, though exasperated by her distracted “crew.”
• Larvitar demolishes the tower by eating through it, absorbed in its food and clearly delighted by the evening.
• Eevee follows Larvitar, discovers the plan, and eagerly joins in by digging. Its playful confidence contrasts with the danger of the situation.
• Belia remains composed until the tower starts shaking, then grows furious and alarmed. Laika and Odo, previously impassive, react with disbelief as the danger becomes clear.

Significant themes

• Escalation and retaliation: Dian answers threats against his friends with a direct attack on the tower.
• Loyalty and teamwork: Pokémon with very different personalities cooperate in the demolition, with Misdreavus organizing the effort.
• Comic contrast: The tower’s imminent collapse and the captives’ danger are set against the demolition crew’s snacks, celebration, and casual chatter.

Key plot points and events

• Misdreavus pushes the Tower of the Sun’s cornerstone, bringing the tower down. The Demolition Squad marvels at the destruction, but Misdreavus quickly turns to rescuing people.
• The collapse disrupts the ritual site: Ash, Misty, Brock, Lisa, and others are endangered as the altar breaks apart and the Red and Blue Orbs crack. Ash sends Noctowl to rescue Misty and Brock, while Misdreavus’s shadows catch Lisa and others. Latios saves Kanon.
• Ash gives Latias the Secret Medicine left by Dian, reviving her enough to fly to his aid.
• The Orbs shatter, unleashing unstable energy and threatening the city with a tsunami. A blue beam calms the winds and halts the retreating seawater.
• Laika declares the revival complete despite the disruption and holds a mysterious Pokémon Egg. Its appearance lifts Oran’s sense of guilt: the Sin Mark carried by the surviving Napolant descendants has disappeared.
• Dian intervenes as Laika’s group prepares to leave. A red beam—apparently from a Pokémon—steals the Egg and carries it toward the Great Cathedral. Laika and Oran give chase.
• Belia stays behind to confront Dian, demanding the other Sword of Royal Authority. Believing Dian’s Pokémon are occupied and weakened, he sends out Rhydon.

Character developments and interactions

• Misdreavus shifts immediately from celebrating the tower’s destruction to rescuing the endangered group.
• Ash prioritizes others, ordering Noctowl to save Misty and Brock while insisting he can manage; he also uses Dian’s medicine to help Latias.
• Latias recovers and rushes to Ash, while Latios protects Kanon. Noctowl and Misdreavus’s shadows assist the falling characters.
• Lisa regrets jumping, but is saved by Misdreavus’s shadow. Brock falls after freezing at Lisa’s sudden leap.
• Oran finds relief when the Egg’s revival seems to end the Napolant descendants’ inherited Sin Mark.
• Laika remains focused on her mission and openly distrusts Belia, preferring even an enemy to him. Belia is driven by ambition and believes Dian is vulnerable, setting up their confrontation.
• Dian pursues the stolen Egg’s significance but stays behind to face Belia.

Significant themes

• Rescue and self-sacrifice: Characters risk themselves to save others amid the collapse.
• Consequences and redemption: The Secret Medicine fulfills what Latios could not complete, while the Egg’s revival appears to free the descendants from their inherited mark.
• Power, mistrust, and rivalry: The struggle over the Egg and Sword of Royal Authority exposes the characters’ conflicting loyalties and ambitions.
• Uncertainty: The Egg is stolen, the ritual’s outcome is unclear, and Dian and Belia’s confrontation begins just as the others pursue the new threat.