Recaps

Gary and Reggie began their preliminary Pokémon battle, and Gary won both Single Battles with Eevee and Arcanine. Reggie remained determined to continue into the Double Battle.

• Gary explained that they would have two Single Battles followed by a Double Battle, and Reggie agreed to the rules.
• Gary's Eevee defeated Reggie's Staraptor after blocking Aerial Ace with Protect and striking it with Smack Down, Thunderbolt, and Rock Slide.
• Reggie sent out Drapion, but Gary switched Eevee for Arcanine, whose Intimidate lowered Drapion's attack.
• Arcanine dodged Toxic, countered Drapion's attacks, and defeated it with Dragon Rage.
• Reggie accepted the loss without conceding the match, and Gary agreed to continue with the Double Battle.

Gary decisively defeated Reggie in a Double Battle, then challenged him to a final match that ended in a draw after the Pokémon pushed the fight too far. Gary reminded Reggie of the effort he and his Pokémon had shared, and Reggie resolved not to give up on their journey.

• Gary and Reggie began a Double Battle, and Gary's Squirtle and Nidoking badly injured Reggie's Swalot and Bibarel with Rocket Headbutt and Earthquake.
• Reggie sent out Torterra and Typhlosion while Gary chose Venusaur and Charizard; their battle escalated after Sunny Day and Typhlosion's Smokescreen led to Charizard igniting the smoke.
• Gary's Venusaur and Charizard gained the advantage by restraining Reggie's Pokémon, and Gary stopped the fight before Charizard could seriously hurt Typhlosion.
• Reggie admitted that he doubted his talent, but Gary reminded him of the training and effort he and his Pokémon had invested together.
• Reggie recalled his journey and thirty-two Badges, declared that he would not give up, and thanked Gary for the lesson.

Gary agreed to challenge the Battle Factory after Reggie abandoned his challenge and returned to Sinnoh. He arrived with Scott and Ponyta, then challenged Noland to battle twenty of his Pokémon at once.

• Reggie left the Battle Frontier to return to Sinnoh and train alongside his younger brother.
• Scott invited Gary to challenge the Battle Factory, and Gary agreed after arranging deliveries for several Rotom Phones.
• Gary rode Ponyta to the Battle Factory while Scott drove and Noland joined them by plane.
• Sergio introduced Gary to Noland, who offered him a choice of Pokémon to battle.
• Gary challenged Noland to battle twenty Pokémon, and Noland accepted after Gary taunted him.

Gary left the Battle Factory after gaining experience battling Noland and went to Indigo Plateau to compose a new theme song for the Indigo League. He began recording “I Got Pokémon!” with his Pokémon band, leaving the song’s first energetic performance underway.

• Gary defeated Noland in more than a hundred battles, then accepted Lorelei’s invitation to come early to Indigo Plateau.
• Gary arrived at Pokémon League Headquarters, where President Damaranch asked him to compose a modern theme song for the Indigo League.
• Gary agreed to write and perform the song with his Pokémon, while Agatha told Lorelei to help him over the next two days.
• Gary settled into the recording studio and finished the lyrics and sheet music for “I Got Pokémon!”
• Gary assembled Golduck, Gengar, and Togepi as his band and began rehearsing the song.

Gary accepted Mewtwo’s invitation to New Island, while Giovanni gave him a Braviary and ordered Team Rocket to place Mewtwo under Gary’s authority. Gary flew through the storm toward New Island, leaving Lance resentful of his growing influence.

• Gary dismissed the Team Rocket Trio from his trip and told them to set up a stall for the Indigo League.
• Matori delivered Giovanni’s Luxury Ball and told Gary he could deal with the Mewtwo traitor however he wished.
• Giovanni ordered Team Rocket to suspend its plans concerning Mewtwo and report intelligence directly to Executive Blue, provoking Lance’s resentment.
• Giovanni assigned Lambda to watch Team Plasma while Team Rocket focused on its other projects.
• Gary released the Elite Four-level Braviary from the Luxury Ball and rode it through the storm toward New Island.

Mewtwo gathered trainers on New Island to prove that cloned Pokémon could surpass their genetic donors, while Gary watched as a friend. Mew arrived and challenged Mewtwo, leaving the two Pokémon battling as Gary realized the situation was becoming dangerous.

• Mewtwo welcomed Gary to the castle and explained that he still rejected Mew as his father and wanted to prove cloned Pokémon were superior to their genetic donors.
• Gary told Mewtwo that he would stay by his side as a friend, then watched the battles from the control room as Mewtwo's clones easily defeated three trainers.
• Mew appeared in the control room and teleported Gary away, then blasted Mewtwo through the castle wall with an Energy Ball.
• Mewtwo recovered and tried to confront Mew, but Mew kept dodging his attacks and treating their fight as a game.

Gary intervened in the battle between Mew and Mewtwo, whose Pokémon armies were fighting to prove their existence. After Gary’s necklace helped shield him and his Pokémon, he persuaded the two to stop fighting and protect the lives around them.

• Mew and Mewtwo clashed their divine domains and sent their armies of original and cloned Pokémon into battle.
• Gary flew between the two Legendary Pokémon with Golduck’s help, and his Pokémon stood beside him as their powers struck at him.
• Gary’s necklace absorbed energy and created a pink barrier that stopped Mew’s attack; Mew recognized the necklace as connected to Celebi.
• Gary urged Mew and Mewtwo to cherish and protect all Pokémon, and Mew sent the original Pokémon and Trainers back to the harbor.
• Mewtwo chose to find a safe home for the clones, gave Gary psychic power, and flew away with them as Mew departed too.

Gary prepared to perform the Indigo League theme song as Ash carried the Sacred Fire into Indigo Stadium. The opening ceremony ended with Gary's performance, and the Indigo Plateau Conference officially began.

• Gary completed his tournament registration while Lorelei accompanied him and Nurse Joy returned his Pokédex.
• Jessie, James, and Meowth opened a stall in Festival Square to sell drinks, ice cream, and commemorative badges.
• Ash entered the stadium carrying the Sacred Fire with Pikachu and registered for the competition.
• Damaranch welcomed the Sacred Fire, and Gary performed the tournament theme song with Golduck, Gengar, and Togepi.
• The Trainers joined the procession, and Damaranch's address concluded the opening ceremony as the Indigo Plateau Conference began.

While waiting for the Indigo League draw, Gary was targeted by contestant Mandi, whose provocation escalated into a public scuffle. Lorelei intervened to protect Gary, and Lance had Mandi taken away as Gary left for his Ice Field match.

• Gary learned that the tournament draw had assigned him to the Ice Field for his first match that afternoon.
• Archer visited Gary with contestant information and offered to do menial tasks for him.
• Mandi of Janguru insulted Gary, so Gary ordered Archer to slap him and had Scizor restrain him when the crowd and police arrived.
• Lance arrived, believed Gary's explanation, and ordered Mandi taken away after Mandi tried to stir up complaints against Gary and the League.
• Lorelei stepped in to protect Gary, and Lance warned Mandi to stop causing trouble or face disqualification.
• Lorelei took Gary toward the Ice Field as his matches were about to start.

Gary swept his first Indigo League preliminary match with Nidoking, then watched Ash win his own match and evolve Krabby into Kingler. Gary joined Ash, Misty, and Brock for lunch after they set off to heal their Pokémon.

• Gary defeated the little girl's Cloyster, Eevee, and Tentacruel with Nidoking in a ten-minute sweep at the Ice Field.
• The Team Rocket Trio briefly sold drinks and boxed lunches to spectators while Gary's match continued.
• Gary gave reporters a modest interview, then went to the Water Field and watched Ash face Mandi.
• Ash's Krabby defeated Exeggutor, evolved into Kingler, and swept Mandi's three Pokémon.
• Gary invited Ash to eat with him, Misty, and Brock, and Brock shouted after Ash when he ran the wrong way to the Pokémon Center.

After his first-round victory, Gary spent the evening enjoying the Indigo League festivities and preparing warm treats for Lorelei. The chapter ended with Lorelei hinting that she might accept Gary’s offer to help her bathe another time.

• Ash mistook the free contestant buffet for a fan’s treat, while Gary’s fans gathered outside to greet him.
• Damaranch and the Elite Four discussed promising first-round contestants, and Lorelei named Gary as a favorite after his one-against-three victory.
• Gary and Eevee bought milk tea and ingredients, then returned to Lorelei’s villa to make ginger milk pudding and brown sugar milk tea.
• Gary shared the treats with Lorelei and the Pokémon as they relaxed at home.
• When Gary offered to help Lorelei bathe, she reminded him that she was his big sister, then hinted that maybe she would let him help next time.

Gary visited the Indigo Plateau training grounds and forced Nidoking to drink a poisonous Sludge Bomb mixture as training. Erika and Janine arrived with two disciples, who were overcome by the stench, while Nidoking collapsed from the mixture.

• Gary met a green-haired Trainer at the practice grounds and brought Nidoking out to train.
• Eevee knocked Nidoking down after he roared, and Gary announced that he would teach him Sludge Bomb.
• Gary opened a tank of fermented poison, driving nearby Trainers away and causing several to collapse.
• Janine and Erika arrived and explained that exposure to toxins could strengthen Poison-type Pokémon.
• Nidoking drank the mixture, glowed purple, and collapsed, so Gary recalled him to his Poké Ball.
• Erika pointed out her two disciples, who were lying on the ground foaming at the mouth after smelling the poison.

Gary met Erika and her disciples, received three exclusive starter Pokémon move scrolls, and agreed to battle Jeanette’s Bellsprout with Squirtle. Squirtle unexpectedly unleashed a powerful Hadoken and defeated Bellsprout, while Gary said he had not yet brought his main team into the competition.

• Gary met Janine, Sento, and Jeanette at a café and declined Jeanette’s request to observe his training before the League tournament.
• Erika revealed herself as Kanto’s move tutor and gave Gary scrolls for Blast Burn, Hydro Cannon, and Frenzy Plant.
• Erika asked Gary to humble her overconfident disciple Jeanette, and Gary accepted a friendly match using Squirtle.
• Jeanette sent out Bellsprout and ordered it to use Mega Kick, while Gary told Squirtle to use Drain Punch.
• Squirtle formed a Hadoken and blasted Bellsprout unconscious, leaving Jeanette stunned.
• Gary told Erika that his main team was still training and that he would get serious for the second round starting the next day.

Gary prepared for his second preliminary match while Sento, Jeanette, and Ash advanced to the top 64. On the Water Field, Gary sent Nidoking against A Liang’s Gyarados and quickly struck it down with Thunderbolt.

• Sento defeated a Poliwhirl with Marowak’s Bonemerang and credited her progress to her teachers in media interviews.
• Gary told Janine he planned to use Nidoking in his Water Field match, and the system gave him a Solo Sweep side quest.
• Gary left Janine to check in for his match, and Lorelei arranged to meet him afterward for hot pot.
• Gary faced A Liang of Cerulean City on the Water Field and sent out Nidoking against A Liang’s Gyarados.
• Nidoking’s Thunderbolt overwhelmed Gyarados, which crashed into the pool.

Gary won his second Little Cup preliminary match with Nidoking, then spent a quiet evening making sukiyaki with Lorelei before preparing for the third round. Nidoking swept Sanlin’s team on the Grass Field, sending Gary through another preliminary round.

• Nidoking defeated Gary’s second-round opponent’s Pokémon in under ten minutes, and Gary left the arena after speaking with reporters.
• Gary and Lorelei went grocery shopping and made sukiyaki together, while their Pokémon lounged and played at home.
• Professor Oak read that Gary had swept opponents in consecutive rounds and planned to cheer him on during the finals tournament.
• On January 23, Gary faced Sanlin on the Grass Field, where Nidoking defeated Sawsbuck, Simipour, and Tranquill with Fire Blast and Thunderbolt.
• Gary cleared the third preliminary round as the stadium cheered.

Gary prepared to face Yoshiki, the Rock- and Ground-type specialist who had beaten him at the Indigo League before. Their Rock Field match began with Yoshiki sending out Donphan and Gary answering with Nidoking.

• Gary studied Yoshiki's record and vowed to defeat him, while Ash, Brock, and Misty watched and teased him.
• Ash, Brock, and Misty planned to attend Gary's morning match, and Ash admitted he wanted to beat his longtime rival.
• The next day, spectators and friends gathered to watch Gary and Yoshiki compete in the final morning match on the Rock Field.
• Chloe defended the tournament and Gary on television while arguing with Goh, who left in anger.
• Gary and Yoshiki exchanged taunts before the referee started the battle; Yoshiki sent out Donphan, and Gary chose Nidoking.

Gary and Nidoking overwhelmed Yoshiki’s team at the Rock Field, winning the battle without giving him a chance to recover. Gary left determined to reclaim his lost dignity by climbing higher.

• Gary’s Nidoking knocked out Yoshiki’s Donphan with Earth Power, Earthquake, and Rock Smash.
• Yoshiki sent out Golem, but Nidoking dodged its Double-Edge and struck it down with Double Kick.
• Nidoking absorbed Golem’s Earthquake, then brought it to its knees with its own Earthquake.
• Yoshiki ordered Golem to use Explosion, but Gary’s Nidoking protected itself and defeated Golem.
• Gary’s Nidoking defeated Magneton with Fire Blast and Rock Smash, and the referee declared Gary the winner.
• Gary recalled Nidoking and left, resolved to reclaim his lost dignity by rising higher.

Gary welcomed Professor Oak and Aunt Delia to Indigo Plateau, then met Hoenn Champion Steven, who gave him a Key Stone and Type Gems. After their meeting, Gary prepared to collect his family and watch Ash’s final preliminary match.

• Gary drove Professor Oak and Aunt Delia to the Weepinbell Hotel and told them he would return to take them to Ash’s match.
• Gary met Steven at the athletes’ village entrance, where Lance invited Steven to the evening banquet with Chairman Damaranch.
• Steven gave Gary a Key Stone bracelet and a case of Type Gems, and they discussed their business partnership and the Hoenn Region.
• Gary saw Steven off, then prepared to pick up Professor Oak and Aunt Delia for Ash’s match.

Ash defeated Jeanette in his final preliminary match and advanced to the championship rounds, while Gary watched with Professor Oak, Delia, Brock, and Misty. After the match, Gary invited them to lunch, and the Team Rocket Trio prepared to keep selling snacks and souvenirs.

• Gary brought Professor Oak and Delia to front-row seats, where Brock and Misty later joined them to watch Ash's match against Jeanette.
• Ash sent out Bulbasaur, which defeated Jeanette's Beedrill with Leech Seed and Tackle.
• Ash's Bulbasaur knocked out Jeanette's Scyther with Vine Whip, and Ash went on to finish the match with Muk and advance to the championship rounds.
• Delia celebrated Ash's success, and Gary invited the group to lunch at a restaurant.
• Jessie, James, and Meowth counted their ticket profits and prepared to move their snack stall inside, looking forward to dinner after work.

Ash, Gary, and their friends shared a meal prepared by Delia at the Indigo Plateau, where Gary explained his goal was to win the Indigo League championship. The chapter ended with Gary recognizing fellow competitor Ritchie and quietly wishing him well.

• Delia took over the restaurant kitchen, while Lorelei paid for the disruption and Professor Oak persuaded the other Trainers to wait.
• Gary teased Ash about his appetite and poor tactics before Delia served the group a home-cooked feast.
• Gary explained the path from regional tournament champion to Pokémon Master, and said his immediate goal was to win the Indigo League.
• Ash choked on a meatball, and fellow competitor Ritchie saved him with an abdominal thrust.
• Gary recognized Ritchie as a capable but under-resourced Trainer, considered offering help, then chose to leave his path unchanged.

On the eve of the finals tournament, Gary rested with his Pokémon and received reports from Team Rocket operatives about their schemes and a possible Lugia sighting. Meanwhile, Mihara prepared to win the Indigo League for Lucian, who learned that Gary was competing and reflected on Cynthia’s importance to Sinnoh.

• Gary reviewed his Pokémon’s training while they practiced and played at the villa.
• The Team Rocket Trio told Gary they had built Absorber No. 1 to capture the contestants’ Pokémon, and he let them proceed with a warning to stay safe.
• Butch reported that Dr. Namba had found traces of Lugia in the Whirl Islands, and Gary ordered him to monitor the operation and report back.
• Mihara told Lucian he had reached the top sixteen and vowed to win the Indigo League, while Lucian warned him against overconfidence.
• Cynthia visited Lucian’s office, discussed Lance’s expected appointment as Champion, and mentioned that Gary Oak was a strong Kanto trainer.
• Lucian saw Cynthia off and reaffirmed that Sinnoh needed her, despite his pride and his repeated challenges against her.

On a day off, Gary cared for his Pokémon, made breakfast for Lorelei, and spent the afternoon gaming with her. Their first match ended in a loss, and Gary insisted on playing again as the story left them ready for another round.

• Gary woke when Eevee licked him, caught Togepi as it fell from above, and put a bell around Togepi's neck.
• Gary made two kinds of congee and soup dumplings, then shared breakfast with Lorelei after she woke late.
• Gary and Lorelei lounged at home and started playing the new Glory Pokémon League game on their phones.
• Gary lost badly as Scyther while Lorelei played Froslass, and Grimsley won the match with Bisharp.
• Gary refused to accept the loss and announced that he would carry the next round.

Gary chose Rhydon, Squirtle, and Gengar for his opening team as the Indigo League tournament’s round of sixteen began. After seeing Ash and Ritchie drawn against each other, he encouraged them to give their all, then checked on Team Rocket and told them to focus on their badge stall until the closing ceremony.

• Gary selected Rhydon, Squirtle, and Gengar as his starters and registered Charizard as his substitute.
• Gary met Ash and Ritchie at the venue, where Ash explained that Ritchie had helped him drive off Team Rocket.
• The tournament draw matched Gary against a trainer from Doll Town and paired Ash against Ritchie.
• Gary teased Ash, then encouraged him and Ritchie to battle wholeheartedly and remain friends afterward.
• Gary found Jessie, James, and Meowth working at the badge stall, forgave their earlier failure, and gave them dinner money while ordering them to avoid further stunts.

At the Indigo Plateau tournament, Sento and Ash both lost, while Gary promised the students he would keep winning. After Ash’s Charizard disobeyed him in a crushing defeat, Gary summoned an evolved Weavile for training and prepared to face A Tao of Doll Town.

• Tyson defeated Yuto Sayo’s Marowak with Sceptile’s Leaf Blade and advanced to the quarterfinals, while Gary watched with Janine.
• Sento apologized for her loss, and Principal Monet, Professor Oak, and the students comforted her before she urged Gary to carry their hopes forward.
• Ritchie defeated Ash after Charizard refused to battle, and Gary left to prepare for his own match, telling Professor Oak to send Ash and Charizard to see him.
• Gary learned from Lorelei that Sneasel had evolved into Weavile and arranged for it to be transferred to him the next morning.
• Gary checked the forum’s information on his opponents and identified A Tao of Doll Town as his next match.

Gary faced A Tao in the round of sixteen and overwhelmed his first two Pokémon with Rhydon, while Ash stayed in bed after his loss to Ritchie. A Tao finally stood his ground and declared the match was not over.

• Gary arrived at the arena with takoyaki and milk tea, greeted his fans, and noticed Ash was absent.
• Ash refused Misty and Brock's encouragement to watch Gary's match because he felt ashamed after losing to Ritchie.
• A Tao sent out Umbreon, but Gary's Rhydon trapped it and knocked it out with Horn Drill.
• A Tao's Chansey used Minimize, but Rhydon's Earthquake and Heavy Hammer Arm defeated it.
• Gary berated A Tao for failing to fight back, and A Tao wiped away his tears, stood up, and declared the match was not over.