Chapter Summaries

Gary comforted Torchic after Eevee disciplined it, then met Brendan and offered him a place as his student. Brendan accepted and went to choose his first Pokémon before returning with Gary to Rustboro City.

• Gary found Torchic standing in punishment after Eevee and Sylveon had beaten it for provoking Eevee.
• Gary comforted Torchic, advised it not to rush into fights, and prepared to leave Littleroot Town with his Pokémon.
• Professor Birch told Gary that Ash and May had left together and confirmed Brendan was coming to meet him.
• Brendan recognized Gary as the Double Champion and said Gary had inspired him to become a Trainer.
• Gary offered Brendan the choice between setting out alone and becoming his student for the interschool Exchange Tournament, and Brendan chose to study under him.
• Gary told Brendan to choose his first Pokémon and then return with him to Rustboro City for enrollment.

Gary took Brendan deep into a forest to meet a Treecko colony and teach him how to catch a Pokémon. After passing over a solitary Treecko guarding a dying tree, Gary received the clan chief’s welcome and set Brendan the task of choosing and challenging a Treecko.

• Gary prepared wraps, packed them away, and set out with Brendan, who had chosen Mudkip but still admired Sceptile.
• Gary led Brendan off the usual route and explained Treecko’s potential and wild habitat records as they encountered several Treecko.
• Gary rejected a strong-looking Treecko guarding a withered ancient tree, telling it to keep caring for the tree and grow stronger.
• Gary and Brendan reached a gathering of Treecko, where the chief welcomed Gary after sensing his Viridian Force.
• Gary offered Pokéblocks to the clan and instructed Brendan to find a suitable Treecko, challenge it, weaken it, and catch it.

Young Master Mao helped Brendan settle in with his Pokémon and invited him to stay at the villa while attending Trainer School. After a disastrous card game with Togetic, Young Master Mao messaged Lorelei, who saved his sleepy photo.

• Young Master Mao served dinner while Gengar cared for Treecko and Mudkip, and Torchic battled Treecko in the backyard.
• Torchic and Treecko evolved into Combusken and Grovyle after fighting, and Young Master Mao told them to rest and stabilize their strength.
• Young Master Mao advised Brendan about his Treecko and Mudkip, promised tutoring for Treecko, and invited Brendan to live at the villa during school.
• Young Master Mao, Brendan, and Togetic played cards, but Togetic beat them decisively.
• Young Master Mao messaged Lorelei before bed, and Lorelei saved his photo while working at Pokémon League Headquarters.

Gary Oak accompanied Brendan to Rustboro Academy, where he introduced himself as the founder of Overgrow Communications Group and arranged to teach elective courses. He helped Kimimaro stand up to his mother and pursue his dream of becoming a Coordinator, leaving Kimimaro enrolled as his student with his parents’ support.

• Gary explained to Brendan that he had founded Overgrow Communications Group and that teaching was his hobby.
• Roxanne showed Gary around Rustboro Academy and explained his exchange-teacher duties and the school’s programs.
• Gary intervened when Kimiyo tried to stop her son, Kimimaro, from attending the academy and choosing Coordinator studies.
• Kimimaro declared that he wanted to become a Coordinator, and Gary accepted him as a student.
• Gary used his position as Overgrow’s chairman to pressure Kimiyo, then urged her to support her son’s dream and offered to recommend him to Rainbow University later.
• Kimiyo changed her mind, supported Kimimaro’s choice, and asked Gary to take care of him as Roxanne arranged his enrollment.

Young Master Mao joined Rustboro Academy as a substitute teacher and chose to teach the Pokémon Contest specialization. After showing Brendan and Kimarō around, he prepared to battle Roxanne at Rustboro Gym as a lesson in how battling could strengthen a Coordinator.

• Young Master Mao met Principal Enzo, who gave him autonomy to teach a subject of his choice for the year.
• Young Master Mao chose to teach the Pokémon Contest specialization and officially registered as a substitute teacher.
• Young Master Mao toured the Senior Division with Roxanne and reunited with his apprentices Brendan and Kimarō.
• Young Master Mao explained to Kimarō that Coordinators should learn to battle and announced that both apprentices would challenge Gyms.
• Young Master Mao and Roxanne took their places for a filmed Gym battle, with Brendan and Kimarō there to watch.

Young Master Mao used a Gym match against Roxanne to teach Brendan and Kimarō battle tactics, defeating her Rock-type Pokémon with Duskull and Grovyle. Roxanne awarded him the Badge and promised to give his students a proper challenge when they faced her.

• System Bro updated the series quest, requiring Young Master Mao to collect eight Gym Badges in order and the previously specified Ribbon.
• Roxanne sent out Geodude, but Duskull disabled Rollout and cursed it, then evaded and blocked its attacks until it fainted.
• Young Master Mao switched Duskull out after it cursed Nosepass, and Grovyle used Grass Knot, Quick Attack, and Leaf Blade to defeat Roxanne's ace.
• The referee declared Young Master Mao the winner, and Roxanne presented him with the Badge while praising his command and battle predictions.
• Roxanne vowed to give Brendan and Kimarō a proper welcome when they challenged her, leaving the students uneasy before everyone laughed together.

Young Master Mao received Team Rocket’s distress signal and flew to the Oldale Town Ruins, where Team Magma had captured four Rocket Elite Squad members. He confronted Tabitha with Lugia and Latios poised to attack.

• Young Master Mao shared a late-night meal with A Tao and his students, then sent A Tao back to his Pokémon Center night shift.
• Young Master Mao received Team Rocket’s SOS from Oldale Town and flew there on Latios.
• Tabitha and Team Magma held four Rocket Elite Squad members captive after their clash at the ruins.
• Young Master Mao arrived beside Lugia and Latios, and Tabitha froze as the legendary Pokémon prepared to fire.

Young Master Mao forced Team Magma to retreat from the Oldale ruins, then met Sakaki, the Hoenn branch director, whose cold manner and interest in his power left him wary. After Sakaki departed with Hitoshi and the others, Mao wondered whether he could teach in peace.

• Young Master Mao freed Hitoshi and the other Team Rocket members, learned Hitoshi served under Director Sakaki, and ordered him to contact her.
• Young Master Mao made Tabitha kneel and promise to leave, then let Team Magma withdraw safely from the ruins.
• On the helicopter, Tabitha stopped his subordinates from seeking revenge and warned them that Lugia made a fight too dangerous.
• Young Master Mao showed Hitoshi, A Jian, A Liang, and Harry that Team Magma had not intended to kill them, as their ropes were only half-cut.
• Sakaki arrived, explained that Young Master Mao's influence had brought her back from the Sevii Islands, and offered the Hoenn branch's support.
• Young Master Mao challenged Sakaki's arrogance, then watched her leave with Hitoshi and the others while worrying that teaching in peace would be difficult.

Young Master Mao began his first lesson as a Pokémon Contest Battle theory teacher and challenged his skeptical students to a match. After Togetic defeated Aaron’s Typhlosion with a powerful combination move, the students accepted Mao as their teacher and received written assignments.

• Young Master Mao arrived at the academy tired and collected his timetable before heading to the Senior Division gymnasium.
• Aaron and the other students questioned Mao’s ability, and Aaron challenged him to a Pokémon Contest Battle with Typhlosion.
• Mao sent out Togetic and used Ancient Extrasensory to overwhelm Typhlosion in a bombardment of rocks.
• Mao introduced himself as the new teacher, assigned the class five-thousand-word reflections, and ordered Aaron to take Typhlosion to the infirmary and write ten thousand words.

After skipping class, Gary met Petalburg Gym Leader Norman at the battle department and challenged him to a one-on-one sparring match, wagering that a win would earn him an unconditional Gym Challenge. The battle began with Norman’s Slaking attacking Gary’s Eevee, which reflected its Focus Punch with Full Counter.

• Gary found Principal Enzo at the outdoor training grounds, explained why he had left class, and Enzo introduced him to Norman.
• Enzo said Norman had come to teach a practical battle simulation, and Gary challenged him in exchange for an unconditional Gym Challenge if Gary won.
• Norman agreed, and Gary’s student Brendan watched as Enzo set up a one-on-one sparring match.
• Norman chose Slaking from his main team, while Gary sent out Eevee.
• Norman ordered Slaking to use Focus Punch, but Eevee used Full Counter to bounce the attack back and hurt Slaking.

Gary defeated Norman in a battle at Rustboro Academy, then learned about Wally, a frail child who wanted to become a Pokémon Trainer. Gary offered to meet Wally and provide a Starter Pokémon and Pokédex if the Hoenn League would not, leaving Norman to arrange their meeting.

• Eevee used Umbreon Mode and a powerful Return to throw Slaking, then switched to Espeon Mode and defeated him with a Zen Headbutt.
• Norman conceded defeat, and Principal Enzo praised both trainers before showing Gary and Norman the academy's training facilities.
• Norman explained that he had asked Enzo to secure a Starter Pokémon for Wally, but the League had rejected the request because Wally was frail and sickly.
• Gary asked Norman to arrange a meeting with Wally and offered to provide a Starter Pokémon and Pokédex through Professor Oak's Laboratory.
• Norman thanked Gary and agreed to arrange the meeting at his home.

Gary agreed to carry Devon Stone’s Luxury Fast Ship Core Component to Slateport City and bring Steven back from Dewford Island, where Team Aqua had been targeting the companies. To protect the delivery and investigate possible corruption in Team Rocket’s Hoenn branch, Gary enlisted Giovanni’s help.

• Gary reviewed the Inter-School Exchange Tournament rules with Roxanne and planned combat training for Brendan and Kimarō.
• Eevee, Combusken, and Grovyle overwhelmed the interns training at Rustboro Gym.
• Kahili summoned Gary to the Overgrow Company after its security system caught a Team Aqua spy near the phone chips.
• Dewford Stone explained that Team Aqua had stolen a decoy component from Devon Corporation and asked Gary to deliver the real Core Component to Slateport City after finding Steven on Dewford Island.
• Gary accepted Dewford’s request in exchange for five percentage points of Overgrow’s next-quarter dividends.
• Gary asked Giovanni to send Archer to Hoenn for security work, and Giovanni ordered Fulindo to investigate Team Rocket’s Hoenn branch.

Gary took Brendan and Kimarō on an educational trip toward Dewford Island after they earned Roxanne’s Badges. Aboard Kimiyo’s yacht, Kimarō received a Bagon Egg, while Gary hinted that Brendan could earn a surprise by impressing Hoenn’s number one.

• Brendan and Kimarō returned after mastering Gary’s assigned moves, and they defeated Roxanne’s non-ace Pokémon to earn their Badges.
• Gary arranged a month’s leave from Principal Enzo so he could take the boys to Dewford Island, Slateport City, and Petalburg City.
• Gary, Brendan, and Kimarō boarded Kimiyo’s yacht, with Kimiyo joining them for the voyage to Dewford Island.
• Kimiyo gave Kimarō a Pokémon Egg, and Gary identified it as a Bagon Egg.
• Gary told Brendan that impressing Hoenn’s number one on Dewford Island could earn him an unexpected surprise.

Young Master Mao brought Brendan and Kimarō to Dewford Island for a day off before their special training, then borrowed Dewford Gym’s Berry Blender to teach them to make Pokéblocks. He left them to practice overnight, where Brendan’s first batch was so bad that Marshtomp and Grovyle collapsed after tasting it.

• Young Master Mao arrived on Dewford Island with Brendan and Kimarō, announced a day off, and prepared to enter the Water Surf Race to win its Super Rod prize.
• Young Master Mao transferred Armarouge and Sharpedo to Dewford Island, then visited Brawly and arranged future battles and Gym challenges for his students.
• Young Master Mao borrowed Brawly’s Berry Blender and had Machoke carry it to the inn.
• Young Master Mao taught Brendan and Kimarō about Pokéblocks, assigned each of them to make a set, and left Gengar to judge their results.
• Brendan made black, smoking Oran Berry Pokéblocks, and Marshtomp and Grovyle collapsed after he tried to feed them.

Gary woke Brendan and Kimarō after their disastrous overnight Pokéblock-making session, then entered Dewford Island’s water racing competition with Sharpedo and won. He claimed the Super Rod prize and planned to visit Granite Cave, while Brawly invited him to a Gym battle.

• Gary found Brendan, Kimarō, and their Pokémon collapsed amid the mess from making Pokéblocks, then checked Kimarō’s Oran Berry Pokéblocks and told Brendan to take his poisoned Pokémon to the Pokémon Center.
• Gary went to the shore with Gengar and Eevee-chan, registered for the water race, and borrowed Brawly’s spare surfboard.
• Gary and Sharpedo surged into the lead, knocked two racers out with Roar, and sped through the chaotic race while Brawly escaped the melee with Makuhita’s Surf.
• Gary used Sharpedo’s Rocket Headbutt to accelerate past Brawly and cross the finish line first, winning a complete Super Rod set.
• Brawly congratulated Gary and invited him to battle at the Gym, and Gary agreed to bring his students before setting his sights on Granite Cave.

Young Master Mao put Kimarō and Brendan through intense training in Granite Cave, where Brendan caught an Aron whose potential improved as they bonded. Steven arrived to return to Rustboro City after Team Aqua raided his company, and he gave Brendan a Beldum before leaving.

• Young Master Mao and his Pokémon defeated a group of Aron and Lairon, and he caught the level 40 Lairon while Brendan and Kimarō rested and fed their Pokémon.
• Young Master Mao recalled how he had brought the boys to Granite Cave for a grueling training session, where their Pokémon fought repeated waves of wild Pokémon and Kimarō caught a Shuppet.
• Brendan won over a timid Aron with Pokéblocks, and its potential rose as he bonded with it, so Young Master Mao let him keep it.
• Steven arrived and learned from Young Master Mao that Team Aqua had raided his company, prompting him to return to Rustboro City to handle matters.
• Steven gave Brendan a Beldum and encouraged him to work hard for the Hoenn League before leaving.

Gary trained Brendan and Kimarō intensely in Granite Cave, then took them fishing after declaring hell week over. Brendan and Kimarō caught Feebas and Dratini while Gary's Super Rod only brought up a Magikarp, so he gave up and headed back to the inn.

• Brendan and Kimarō battled wild Pokémon alongside Gary's team and showed how much stronger they had become after a month of training.
• Gary praised their progress, encouraged them to pursue their goals, and declared their hell week training over.
• Gary took Brendan and Kimarō to fish in a cave pool, hoping to catch a rare Water-type Pokémon.
• Gary's first fifteen casts produced a Magikarp, but he caught a Feebas on a later cast and explained that it could evolve into Milotic.
• Kimarō caught a Feebas, while Brendan reeled in a Dratini, prompting Gary to abandon fishing and return to the inn.

Young Master Mao went to Dewford Gym for a late-night battle with Brawly to vent his frustration, while Brendan and Kimarō secretly followed. Gary defeated Brawly’s Machoke with Dusclops, and the battle left off with Brawly complaining that his junior fellow disciple fought dirty.

• Young Master Mao left Brendan and Kimarō at the inn, but the two students followed him to Dewford Gym and watched him meet Brawly’s nominal disciple, Xiao Ren.
• Young Master Mao and Brawly agreed to battle, and Brawly let Brendan and Kimarō watch with Xiao Ren.
• Brawly sent out Machoke while Young Master Mao chose Dusclops, prompting the others to notice the type matchup favored Gary.
• Young Master Mao used Phantom Force to evade Machoke’s Foresight, then had Dusclops use Disable to seal the move.
• Brawly forfeited the first round and accused Young Master Mao of fighting dirty, while Gary said the battle had helped him feel better.

The Team Rocket Trio reported Team Magma and Team Aqua’s search for treasure and two orbs, while Giovanni learned that Sakaki was a mole and ordered the Sinnoh branch opened. At Dewford Gym, Gary defeated Brawly’s Medicham, earned the Knuckle Badge, and arranged for Brendan and Kimarō to train with Brawly the next day.

• The Team Rocket Trio told Sakaki that Team Magma and Team Aqua were searching for treasure and two orbs, and Sakaki decided to wait in Hoenn for news from her lord.
• A blue-haired figure reported Sakaki’s treachery to Giovanni, who ordered Matori to send Domino to lead the new Sinnoh branch and gather information on Blue.
• Gary used Sceptile to defeat Brawly’s Medicham with a series of feints and attacks.
• Gary advised Brawly to have his Pokémon sense their opponents’ energy, and Brawly thanked him and awarded him the Knuckle Badge.
• Brawly agreed to train Brendan and Kimarō the next day, while Gary warned them to fight well or swim to Slateport City.

Gary and his students arrived in Slateport City, where Brendan planned to train and Kimarō prepared for the upcoming Pokémon Contest. Outside their hotel, Kimarō challenged Shū after the boy insulted May's Beautifly, while Gary arranged a battle involving Brendan and Ash.

• On the yacht, Gary explained Brendan's training priorities and told Kimarō to prepare for Slateport City's Pokémon Contest, giving him his father's notes on Dusclops's performances.
• Gary described Slateport City's Battle Beach and Battle Sea House, where Brendan could battle for experience and prizes.
• After reaching Slateport City, Gary booked rooms at a seaside hotel and sent Brendan to train on the beach while he helped Kimarō practice Contest techniques.
• When Shū disparaged May's Beautifly, Gary put Kimarō in his Dusclops mask, and Kimarō challenged Shū to a battle with Brock as referee.
• Ash greeted Gary and declared he would redeem himself in the Hoenn League, and Gary called Brendan over to battle him.