Chapter Summaries

Looker introduced Will and Karen as allies for the International Police operation against Team Rocket. With Team Rocket already withdrawing, the group prepared to raid two sites in Mahogany Town and at the Lake of Rage.

• Looker introduced Will and Karen to Xia You and Sabrina as specialists invited to help fight Team Rocket.
• Will greeted Sabrina enthusiastically, but she ignored him, leaving him awkwardly embarrassed.
• Xia You introduced himself as Player, and Karen accepted his explanation of the name while Will made a theatrical introduction of his own.
• Zero announced that Team Rocket had begun withdrawing, so the operation had to start immediately.
• Looker assigned Will and Karen to raid a shop in Mahogany Town, while he, Player, and Sabrina would lead officers against a research base on the shore of the Lake of Rage.

Xia You, Sabrina, and Looker’s squad prepared to raid Team Rocket’s research institute at Lake of Rage while Vicious left the base. After Karen reported that the Mahogany Town assault was going well, the International Police launched their attack, but a rugged Team Rocket leader ordered his people to fight back.

• Xia You and Looker spotted Vicious preparing to leave, so Looker sent someone to follow him while Xia You informed Clair of his whereabouts.
• The group waited until the other International Police squads had surrounded the base, and Karen told Looker that she and Will were advancing through the Mahogany Town base and battling Lance.
• Team Rocket members noticed the approaching officers and rushed to move supplies after learning that the Mahogany Town base was under attack.
• Looker ordered the raid, and International Police officers and speedboats advanced on the research institute from several directions.
• A rugged Team Rocket man emerged from the institute, stopped his panicking members, and ordered them to wipe out the International Police.

Looker’s assault on Team Rocket’s base faltered when a radio-wave attack incapacitated the International Police’s Pokémon. Xia You identified the nearby signal tower as the likely source, and Sabrina prepared to destroy it.

• Looker confronted Tatsumi, captain of Project R’s execution unit, and ordered Team Rocket to surrender.
• Tatsumi’s Golbat and Weezing fought back, but a sudden radio-wave attack left the International Police’s Arcanine in pain and unable to fight.
• Gengar told Xia You that the radio waves were draining his strength, then retreated into his Poké Ball.
• Xia You deduced that the signal tower was broadcasting the attack and suggested destroying it to restore the Pokémon.
• Xia You looked to Sabrina, who nodded and prepared to step in despite the danger.

Sabrina destroyed Team Rocket’s Signal Tower, freeing the International Police’s Pokémon and allowing Xia You and the officers to drive Team Rocket back into the research facility. Inside, Dr. Sebastian ordered Tatsumi to destroy the records and admired Xia You’s Gyarados as the battle outside ended.

• Looker’s officers used smoke grenades to cover Sabrina as she advanced toward the Signal Tower.
• Sabrina lifted a Team Rocket truck with her psychic powers and hurled it into the Signal Tower, destroying its transmitter and ending the radio-wave interference.
• Xia You released Charizard, Gyarados, Jolteon, and Scyther to help the International Police defeat Team Rocket’s forces outside the research facility.
• Tatsumi ordered the surviving Team Rocket members to retreat into the research facility as the International Police captured the surrounding facilities.
• Tatsumi told Dr. Sebastian that the base was lost and that the records had not been destroyed; Dr. Sebastian ordered him to destroy them physically.
• Dr. Sebastian watched Xia You’s Gyarados defeat the last Golbat and declared that it was the Gyarados he wanted.

Xia You, Looker, and the International Police reached Dr. Sebastian’s laboratory and learned that Project R used radio waves to force Pokémon evolution. Dr. Sebastian struck Xia You’s Gyarados with the signal, transforming it into a gigantic scarlet Pokémon that lost control.

• Gyarados smashed through the institute’s gate, and Looker, Xia You, and the International Police pushed through the building to the central laboratory.
• Dr. Sebastian introduced himself and explained that Project R stimulated Pokémon DNA to force evolution and increase their strength and destructiveness.
• Dr. Sebastian admitted the Red Gyarados at the Lake of Rage had been an escaped failed specimen, then revealed he wanted to use Xia You’s powerful Gyarados for his research.
• Looker moved to arrest Dr. Sebastian, but the doctor activated the signal transmitter and struck Xia You’s Gyarados with a radio wave.
• Gyarados grew larger, turned scarlet, and roared as it lost all reason and became uncontrollably furious.

Xia You and the International Police failed to stop Gyarados after Team Rocket’s signal drove it into a rampage, and the institute collapsed as it unleashed its power. Will and Karen arrived, but Will’s Exeggutor was knocked out in one Hydro Pump, leaving everyone helpless before Gyarados.

• Gengar told Xia You that a radio signal was controlling Gyarados, and Sabrina destroyed the Signal Transmitter, but Gyarados continued rampaging.
• Xia You failed to recall Gyarados, which fired a devastating Hyper Beam through the institute and ignored the move’s usual side effects.
• Shirano escaped through a secret door as the institute collapsed, and Xia You, Sabrina, and Looker fled outside.
• Looker ordered the International Police to search for Team Rocket’s escape route, while Will and Karen arrived with reinforcements.
• Will sent Exeggutor to attack Gyarados, but Gyarados knocked it out with a single Hydro Pump, leaving Will stunned.

Xia You and the others tried to subdue his rampaging Gyarados, whose overwhelming strength quickly knocked out several of their Pokémon. Jolteon's Thunder struck Gyarados head-on, ending its rampage.

• Will, Karen, Looker, and Xia You sent out Pokémon to surround and attack Gyarados.
• Gyarados counterattacked with Hydro Pump and knocked out Looker's Arcanine, then defeated Croagunk with a charge.
• The remaining Pokémon kept Gyarados occupied and attacked, but it endured their blows and knocked out Jynx and Murkrow.
• Xia You sent Gengar into the fight, and it drew Gyarados's attention while dodging its attacks.
• At Xia You's command, Jolteon summoned Thunder, and Gyarados took the lightning strike without dodging, ending the rampage.

After Xia You and the others stopped Gyarados’s rampage and dismantled Team Rocket’s facilities, he and Sabrina headed toward Mahogany Town. Sabrina spotted a Natu in the forest and showed interest in catching it.

• Xia You confirmed that Gyarados had calmed down, returned it to its Poké Ball, and thanked Will, Karen, and Looker for their help.
• Looker learned that Shirano and Tatsumi had escaped, while Karen reported that Lance had also gotten away despite the base being cleared.
• Looker escorted the captured Team Rocket members away, and Xia You exchanged contact details with Will and Karen before saying goodbye.
• Xia You and Sabrina left the Lake of Rage and walked through the forest toward Mahogany Town.
• Sabrina stopped to watch a Natu, and Xia You used his Pokédex to identify it as a Psychic- and Flying-type Pokémon.

Xia You and Sabrina reached Mahogany Town, where they stayed overnight before visiting the Mahogany Gym the next morning. Xia You met the stern Gym Leader Pryce and asked to challenge him.

• Sabrina used Kadabra to weaken and catch a Natu that she found cute.
• Xia You and Sabrina arrived in Mahogany Town before dark, where Xia You found an abandoned sign calling it the home of the ninja.
• They passed International Police officers guarding the suspected entrance to Team Rocket's base, then found a guesthouse and had dinner.
• The next morning, Xia You and Sabrina entered the Mahogany Gym courtyard and saw Ice-type Pokémon playing in a frozen area beside a pool.
• Pryce approached Xia You, who greeted him and asked if he was the Gym Leader so he could challenge the Gym.

Xia You entered the Mahogany Gym and challenged Pryce, who agreed to use his strongest lineup after recognizing Xia You from televised battles and Blaine’s praise. The first battle began with Pryce’s Dewgong facing Xia You’s Jolteon.

• Pryce introduced himself as the Mahogany Gym Leader and led Xia You and Sabrina inside.
• Pryce explained that the Gym challenge required defeating three Pokémon and offered to referee the match himself.
• Xia You asked to face Pryce’s ace Pokémon, and Pryce agreed to use his strongest lineup.
• Pryce sent out Dewgong, and Xia You chose Jolteon to start the battle.

Xia You’s Jolteon overcame Pryce’s tactical defense and defeated Dewgong in the first match. Jolteon insisted on staying out for another round, while Pryce silently reflected on how an incident had changed his trust in Pokémon.

• Pryce had Dewgong raise an ice wall to block Jolteon’s Thunder Shock, then countered Jolteon’s approach with Ice Shard.
• Xia You told Jolteon to unleash his full power, and Jolteon adapted to the slippery battlefield as he charged Dewgong.
• Jolteon used Pin Missile to distract Dewgong, closed the distance, and powered through Icy Wind to land Thunder Fang.
• Jolteon followed with Double Kick and Discharge, knocking Dewgong unconscious and winning the first match.
• Jolteon refused to return to his Poké Ball and asked to battle again, while Pryce watched and recalled an incident that had made him see Pokémon as mere animals.

Xia You’s Jolteon defeated Pryce’s Lapras after interrupting its Sheer Cold with Thunder Wave, giving Xia You a second win. Xia You recalled Jolteon, and Pryce sent out his final Pokémon, Abomasnow.

• Pryce sent out Lapras, which attacked Jolteon with Ice Beam, Confuse Ray, and Water Gun.
• Xia You had Jolteon evade Lapras’s attacks with Agility and strike it with Quick Attack.
• Pryce ordered Lapras to use Sheer Cold, but Xia You had Jolteon interrupt it with Thunder Wave.
• Jolteon followed up with Thunder Fang, Double Kick, and Discharge, defeating Lapras.
• Xia You recalled his tired Jolteon, and Pryce sent out Abomasnow for the final battle.
• Xia You scanned Abomasnow with his Pokédex and learned about its Grass- and Ice-type nature.

Xia You sent Gardevoir to battle Pryce’s Abomasnow, which used its speed and strength to pressure Gardevoir before Psychic attacks turned the fight around. Pryce’s Mist obscured the battlefield, but Xia You guided Gardevoir through Telepathy, leaving Abomasnow on the receiving end of repeated attacks.

• Xia You chose Gardevoir to face Pryce’s Abomasnow instead of using Charizard’s type advantage.
• Abomasnow rushed Gardevoir across the ice, interrupted its Confusion with a snowball, and attacked with Ice Punch.
• Gardevoir used Double Team and Teleport to evade Abomasnow, then struck it with Psybeam and Psychic.
• Pryce ordered Abomasnow to spread Mist across the battlefield, blocking Gardevoir’s vision.
• Xia You guided Gardevoir through Telepathy as it teleported around Abomasnow and attacked, leaving Pryce unable to see the battle clearly.

Xia You defeated Pryce to win Mahogany Gym’s Freeze Badge, then flew with Sabrina toward Violet City and discovered the Ruins of Alph. They landed beside the archaeological site to investigate.

• Gardevoir defeated Pryce’s Abomasnow in the Mist, and Pryce awarded Xia You the Freeze Badge.
• Pryce warned Xia You not to get too close to Pokémon, but Xia You silently dismissed his view.
• Xia You and Sabrina rode Charizard toward Violet City, and Xia You reviewed his recent gains during the flight.
• Xia You discovered that Charizard had flown off course, then spotted a valley filled with ancient buildings and an archaeological team.
• Xia You had Charizard land near the site and read a sign identifying it as the Ruins of Alph.

Xia You and Sabrina visited the Ruins of Alph research center, where chief researcher Satake recognized Xia You and explained the ruins’ ancient history. After learning about the site, Xia You was invited to search for fossils outside.

• Xia You recalled that the Ruins of Alph held mysteries, including Unown and a hidden entrance to the Sinjoh Ruins.
• Xia You and Sabrina explored the research center’s fossil exhibition and found a sculpture resembling Hoopa.
• Satake introduced himself to Xia You and explained his research into ancient Pokémon history and the theory that Pokémon originated in the ocean.
• Satake explained that early settlers migrated from Sinnoh to Johto, influencing the sculpture, and described the Ruins of Alph as the birthplace of Johto’s earliest recorded civilization.
• Satake offered Xia You free tools so he could search outside for rare fossils.

Xia You tried excavating at the Ruins of Alph with Sabrina, but gave up after Gengar found no fossils nearby. After Satake let them into the ruins, he asked Xia You to investigate mysterious Pokémon that researchers had been unable to find.

• Xia You collected excavation tools with Satake, then returned to the canyon with Sabrina and chose a quiet spot to dig.
• Xia You called Gengar to search underground, and Gengar reported that there were no nearby fossils, prompting Xia You to abandon the excavation.
• Xia You and Sabrina went to the ancient stone chambers, where Satake let them past the cordon and explained that the buildings were the true Ruins of Alph.
• Satake asked Xia You to look for mysterious Pokémon that had appeared in the ruins, and Xia You agreed to help.

Xia You used a radio signal to locate a hidden room behind one of the Ruins’ stone chambers. After Satake’s staff carefully opened a passage, Xia You and Sabrina returned to the site to see what lay beyond.

• Xia You and Sabrina searched several stone chambers, but Sabrina sensed nothing unusual and the rooms appeared empty.
• Xia You asked Satake for a radio and tuned it until a faint melody and bird Pokémon cries came through clearly near one particular chamber.
• Xia You had Gengar pass through the chamber wall, and Gengar confirmed there was a hidden room behind it.
• Satake agreed to have workers carefully break through the wall with hammers and chisels rather than risk damaging the Ruins with machinery.
• Xia You and Sabrina ate lunch at the research center while the workers opened a passage, which was ready by the time they returned.

At the Ruins of Alph, Xia You and Satake uncovered hidden chambers containing puzzles that revealed ancient writing and images of Pokémon, including Ho-Oh. After the radio signals vanished, Xia You connected the chambers’ locations and found a newly appeared stone slab hiding another room.

• Satake and Xia You entered a hidden chamber and solved a scrambled puzzle depicting Kabuto, which revealed the message, “Our clan's words are inscribed here!”
• Xia You used his radio to locate more hidden chambers, and the group found puzzles depicting Aerodactyl, Omanyte, and Ho-Oh.
• Satake and the researchers suspected the mysterious bird calls on the radio had come from Ho-Oh, but all signals then disappeared.
• Xia You connected the locations of the four chambers and discovered a hollow-sounding stone slab at their intersection.
• Satake ordered the staff to lift the slab, revealing a pitch-black room below.

Xia You and the researchers discovered a mural of Arceus that concealed an unopened stone door, but they could not find a way through it. After leaving the ruins, Xia You encouraged Sabrina to return to her duties as Saffron Gym Leader, and they prepared to part temporarily.

• Xia You and Satake's team found a mural depicting Arceus, which Xia You recognized as a possible stone door.
• Satake and the researchers failed to open the door, while Gengar found only rock and soil beyond it.
• Xia You thanked Satake and left the ruins, telling him he needed to focus on the Silver Conference.
• Sabrina received a call from the Pokémon League ordering her to return to the Saffron Gym.
• Xia You persuaded Sabrina to resume her Gym Leader duties, promising their separation would only be temporary.

Xia You agreed to escort Sabrina back to Saffron City, unaware that Team Rocket had manipulated the Pokémon League to separate them. During their journey, they stopped at a remote coastal water sports arena, where a Water Ballet poster raised Xia You’s suspicions.

• Sabrina agreed to return to the Saffron Gym, and Xia You promised to accompany her back to Saffron City.
• Xia You and Sabrina flew to Violet City on Charizard, stayed overnight, and left early the next morning.
• Xia You released the Legendary Birds during the flight, and they playfully attacked one another in the sky.
• Xia You and Sabrina landed by the sea for lunch, then followed Jolteon toward a distant water sports arena.
• Xia You and Sabrina found a Water Ballet poster at the deserted arena, and Xia You wondered whether the remote venue was suspicious.