Chapter Summaries

Kimarō and Brendan won battles on Slateport Beach, impressing May and Max. Gary then agreed to take Max to watch a Master Class match while Brendan began training with May.

• Kimarō defeated Shū’s Roselia with Dusclops, forcing Shū to withdraw from the Slateport Contest.
• Brendan defeated Ash’s Treecko, and Ash vowed to train hard for a rematch.
• May asked Brendan to practice Pokémon Contest Battles with her, and he agreed to battle seriously.
• Gary agreed to take Max to a Master Class match at Lighthouse Seaside Park.
• Ash demanded that Brock battle him for a hundred rounds while Gary and Max departed.

Gary and Archer’s Rocket Security forces intervened in a clash between Team Magma and Team Aqua near Slateport City, while Gary learned Lorelei planned to leave the Elite Four after her Master Class match. The chapter left him surprised and wondering why Lorelei had not told him.

• Gary and Max found the Slateport City Shipyard eerily quiet before Archer arrived with Rocket Security personnel.
• Archer’s forces drove off Team Magma guards and learned that Team Magma and Team Aqua were operating near the Sea Museum of Science.
• At the museum, Tabitha and Izumi fought over a safe containing a meteorite before Rocket Security surrounded them and both leaders escaped with part of the rock.
• Archer told Gary that Lorelei had announced she would resign from the Elite Four after the Master Class, leaving Gary surprised that she had not mentioned it.

After the Shipyard recovered the Submarine's Core Component, Team Magma planned to steal the submersible. Gary and Max met Poni and Lorelei before Lorelei's Master Class match, where Agatha revealed that she was retiring too.

• Director Kusunosuki received the Submarine's Core Component from Gary and Max, while a Team Magma girl watched the Shipyard and planned to take the submersible.
• Gary and Max waited outside Seaside Park, where Poni approached Gary and asked him to buy her a drink.
• Lorelei arrived, kissed Gary's cheek, and faced off with Poni, who invited Gary to visit her Castle before leaving for the match.
• Agatha joined Gary, Lorelei, and Max and said she was retiring, with Bruno the only Kanto Elite Four member staying on.
• Lorelei led the group into Seaside Park and asked Gary to call her by her name.

Lorelei used a ruthless hazard-setting strategy to dominate Poni in their Masters Tournament match. With Poni’s team badly weakened and Lorelei’s untouched, Lorelei sent out Articuno to finish the battle.

• Lorelei and Poni began their three-on-three Masters Challenge match as the crowd watched.
• Lorelei’s Cloyster endured Glalie’s Iron Head, poisoned it, and covered the field with Spikes and Toxic Spikes.
• Poni sent out Froslass, but it was poisoned by the hazards as Lorelei switched Cloyster for Alolan Ninetales.
• Lorelei’s Ninetales used Roar to force Poni’s Froslass back into its Poké Ball and bring out Walrein, which was badly hit by the hazards.
• Lorelei recalled Ninetales, sent out Articuno, and left Poni’s three Pokémon worn down while her own team remained unharmed.

Lorelei defeated Poni’s Walrein to finish her Master Class journey with a perfect 3-0 record, then announced she was stepping back to live more freely and happily. She ran to Gary and embraced him as the crowd cheered, while Professor Oak watched the broadcast and reflected on Gary’s courage.

• Lorelei’s Articuno dodged Walrein’s Hyper Beam and knocked Walrein out with Sky Attack.
• The commentator declared Lorelei the winner of her final Master Class performance with a 3-0 record.
• Lorelei thanked the crowd and said meeting Gary had helped her find new things to look forward to, and that she wanted to live more freely and happily.
• Lorelei ran to Gary, who opened his arms, and the two embraced as the audience and media watched.
• Professor Oak saw the broadcast, worried about Gary’s romantic history, then chuckled and praised his courage.

Gary and Lorelei began traveling together openly, and Gary chose Mauville City as their next stop. Kimarō returned from the Slateport Contest with his first Ribbon after defeating May, and Gary's group left Slateport while May and Ash stayed behind.

• Gary and Lorelei shared breakfast, then revealed their relationship in the group chat as friends congratulated them and teased Bruno.
• Gary decided to take Brendan and Lorelei to Mauville City, where Brendan could battle on the way and Lorelei could shop.
• Archer told Gary that Team Magma had raided the Slateport City Shipyard and stolen its submersible.
• Kimarō returned from the Slateport Contest with his first Ribbon and admitted that he had beaten May in the second round, making her cry.
• Gary's group packed and left for their next destination without checking on May and Ash, while Max wondered where Gary had gone.

Gary, Lorelei, Brendan, and Kimarō rode onto Cycling Road, where Brendan and Kimarō quickly defeated two bikers before Young Master Mao battled the gang’s leaders. Eevee-chan overwhelmed Luke and Sally’s powerful Pokémon, while Brendan and Kimarō dealt with the rest of the gang, leaving the bikers defeated and frightened.

• The group rented bicycles in Slateport City, and Young Master Mao encouraged Brendan and Kimarō to confront any challengers on Cycling Road.
• Brendan defeated a biker’s Rhyhorn with Swampert, and Kimarō knocked out another biker’s Wingull with Shuppet before the two bikers fled to get backup.
• Luke and Sally challenged Young Master Mao to a Double Battle, but he accepted alone and sent out Blaziken while Eevee-chan joined the fight.
• Eevee-chan countered Luke and Sally’s attacks, then struck down Aggron and Typhlosion with powerful moves.
• Brendan and Kimarō provoked the remaining bikers into fighting, and the gang ended up defeated and clutching their wallets.

Gary, Lorelei, Brendan, and Kimarō visited Mauville Gym, where Wattson’s dangerous roller-coaster entrance and mechanical Raikou traps led Gary to destroy one robot and Young Master Mao to threaten a formal complaint. The chapter left Wattson preparing for the Gym battles after discovering he did not have enough Pokémon for the challengers.

• Gary explained Mauville City’s high-tech design to Brendan and Kimarō before they entered Mauville Gym.
• Wattson sent the group hurtling through his roller-coaster system and confronted them with mechanical Raikou robots.
• Gary ordered Blaziken to destroy one robot, and Young Master Mao warned Wattson that he would report the Gym’s unsafe setup to Mr. Steven.
• Wattson agreed to dismantle the tracks after Young Master Mao revealed that Lorelei had recorded the ride.
• Huate warned Wattson that Lorelei was a retired Kanto Elite Four member, while Young Master Mao offered to challenge Wattson’s supposed second team.
• Wattson released his Pokémon and realized he lacked enough for a second team, so he asked Huate to lend him an Ampharos.

Gary defeated Wattson in a two-on-two Gym match, but Gengar's Explosion blasted holes through the Mauville Gym. Wattson mourned the damage as Gary offered to pay for repairs.

• Wattson began a two-on-two Gym match against Gary after Gary and the two youngsters thanked him for their earlier battles.
• Gary discovered that Gengar had covered Dusclops with curse talismans and put it into an evolution standby state.
• Gary sent out Aggron, whose Head Smash tore through Magneton's Tri Attack and sent Magneton flying through a wall.
• Wattson sent out Ampharos, but Gengar blocked its Thunderbolt with Protect and used Psychic-powered flight to confuse it.
• Gengar used Explosion at close range, knocking out Ampharos and blasting holes through the front, back, and roof of the Mauville Gym.
• Walter announced Gary's victory, and Gary offered to pay for the Gym's repairs.

After parting from Lorelei in Mauville City, Gary met Brendan and Kimarō after their training at the Abandoned Power Plant and planned their route through several towns to Pokémon Contests before returning to Rustboro City. The group prepared to visit Kimarō’s home in Verdanturf Town.

• Lorelei left for the Sevii Islands to manage her businesses, and Gary agreed to travel on without her.
• Gary received notices about Pokémon Contests in Akihabara and Verdanturf Town and decided to let Kimarō gain experience before returning to school.
• Gary defeated six challengers on the road to the Pokémon Center, including a Bug Catcher with a Wurmple.
• Brendan and Kimarō reported that Kimarō’s Shuppet had evolved into Banette, Brendan’s Beldum had evolved, and they had caught a Rhyhorn and a Flaaffy.
• Gary mapped out a route through Cheng Petalburg City, Akihabara, and Verdanturf Town, where Brendan and Kimarō hoped to visit Kimarō’s home.

Gary brought Brendan and Kimarō to Petalburg Gym, where Norman arranged sparring matches with his students. Wally arrived asking Norman for a Pokémon, but Gary offered to take him as a student instead.

• Norman warmly welcomed Gary, Brendan, and Kimarō at the station and brought them to Petalburg Gym.
• Gary asked Norman to let Brendan and Kimarō spar with the Gym’s students, and Norman assigned Kaneki to lead them.
• Norman watched Brendan spar and revealed his interest in the boy after hearing that Brendan had caught May’s attention.
• Wally rushed into the Gym and asked Norman for a Pokémon so he could become a Trainer.
• Gary offered to make Wally his student.

Gary offered Wally the chance to become his student, and Wally chose to catch a Pokémon rather than wait six months for a starter. Wally befriended and caught a Ralts, becoming a Pokémon Trainer, while Gary and Norman planned to persuade his guardians to let him begin his journey.

• Gary gave Wally the choice of waiting six months for a starter Pokémon or catching a wild Pokémon with his help, and Wally chose to go immediately.
• Gary, Norman, and Wally traveled to the outskirts of Petalburg City, where Wally found a frightened Ralts hiding in the grass.
• Wally gently reassured Ralts, and the Pokémon sensed his kind intentions and allowed him to hold it.
• Ralts accepted Wally's Commemorative Ball, and Gary congratulated Wally on becoming a Pokémon Trainer.
• Norman offered to register Wally at the Pokémon Center, and Gary agreed to convince Wally's guardians to let him train.

Gary brought Wally to live and train with him after promising Wally’s sister Aman that he would improve the boy’s health, then joined Norman’s family for dinner and agreed to a battle the next day. That night, Togetic disappeared from the windowsill while Gary slept.

• Gary promised Aman he would help Wally overcome his frailty, and Aman agreed to let Wally travel with him.
• Gary introduced Wally to Brendan and Kimarō at the Petalburg Gym, where they welcomed him as their junior.
• Norman and Mitsuko hosted Gary and the three boys for dinner, and Norman proposed a friendly match with Gary for the next day.
• Gary agreed to battle Norman, while Brendan and Kimarō shared how their practice matches had gone.
• Gary played a game with Togetic before bed, but two shadows passed the open window and Togetic was gone by morning.

After discovering Togetic had been abducted, Gary identified Hunter J’s organization as responsible and ordered Team Rocket to assemble for an attack on the Mirazu Kingdom. Hunter J left her Hoenn base with Togetic, unaware that Team Rocket agents had planted Pokémon to destroy it.

• Gary found Togetic missing and called Archer, who connected him with Furins to arrange a special operations team.
• Norman and Kaneki reviewed surveillance footage showing two poachers using a Noctowl to hypnotize Togetic before sealing it in a glass enclosure.
• Gary learned from Kahili that Han Zuo had ordered Togetic for a coup and received the location of the Hunter Organization’s Hoenn base.
• Gary ordered Furins to gather at the harbor for an operation against the Mirazu Kingdom and to destroy the Hunter base.
• Hunter J departed the Mt. Chimney base with Togetic, while disguised Team Rocket agents planted Graveler, Forretress, and Weezing and set the base to explode.

Gary led Team Rocket into the Mirazu Kingdom, ostensibly to help restore peace but aiming to punish Hunter J for stealing his Togetic. After Team Rocket captured the harbor and exposed Han Zuo’s treachery, Gary prepared to wait for Hunter J to arrive.

• Matori questioned Gary’s plan to enter the Mirazu Kingdom, and Gary explained that he intended to stop the rebellion and target Hunter J.
• Gary sent Steven a message requesting Hoenn League support, and Steven authorized the operation and sent Pheobe to ambush Hunter J.
• Gary and Team Rocket landed at the royal airport, disabled the alarms, and took control of the harbor.
• The king confronted Gary, who accused Han Zuo of ordering a Togetic from Hunter J, prompting Han Zuo to seize Princess Sarah as a hostage.
• Gary refused to yield to Han Zuo’s threat, and Scizor defeated Han Zuo and his Ninjask; Gary ordered Han Zuo taken away for punishment and waited for Hunter J.

Gary, posing as Team Rocket Executive Blue, rescued Togetic and led an assault that captured Hunter J’s crew and destroyed her airship. Hunter J escaped on Aerodactyl, but Gary said someone was waiting for her as he left to continue his hunt.

• Hunter J delivered the petrified Togetic to Young Master Mao, who was secretly Gary, and Gary freed Togetic after forcing her to explain how to undo the petrification.
• Hunter J attacked and tried to escape, but Gary’s Golduck and Scizor stopped her Pokémon while Magneton disabled her airship.
• Gary revealed himself as Team Rocket Executive Blue and ordered Furins and the surrounding Team Rocket members to attack Hunter J’s crew.
• Nidoking defeated Drapion and Rhyperior overwhelmed Salamence as the damaged airship crashed into the water and Team Rocket captured most of the hunters.
• Hunter J petrified O, then abandoned her Pokémon and crew to flee on Aerodactyl after Gary’s Kanto Big Three cornered the remaining hunters.
• Gary said someone was waiting for Hunter J, left Furins to handle the aftermath, and rode Charizard away to continue his hunt.

Pheobe and Flannery tried to stop Hunter J from escaping through Mt. Chimney, but she got past them and reached her ruined base, where Gary confronted her. Hunter J revealed that W was her older sister and used her as leverage, but Gary sensed that Hunter J would not harm her and let Hunter J leave Hoenn.

• Pheobe and Flannery confronted Hunter J on Fiery Path and battled her Pokémon, but Hunter J escaped after an Electrode exploded.
• Hunter J reached her concealed base and found it destroyed, her people gone, and Gary waiting with his Pokémon.
• Hunter J revealed that W was her biological older sister and claimed she had detained her at the Sinnoh Headquarters.
• Gary sensed Hunter J's emotions with the Viridian Force and decided she would not hurt W.
• Gary let Hunter J go, warned her to stay out of Hoenn, and said he would keep W's position open; Hunter J departed on Aerodactyl.

Gary returned to Petalburg City and began a formal Gym Challenge against Norman, with Brendan, Kimarō, and Wally watching. Norman’s Vigoroth opened the battle, and Gary recalled Sceptile after it narrowly avoided a blade attack, leaving the match underway.

• Archer received another commendation as Team Rocket gained public praise for destroying the Hunter Organization’s Hoenn branch and stopping a coup in the Mirazu Kingdom.
• Gary reunited with Brendan, Kimarō, and Wally, whose teams had grown as they trained and caught Pokémon around Petalburg.
• Norman invited Gary to a serious battle, and Gary agreed to challenge him at the Petalburg Gym while his students observed.
• Norman sent out Vigoroth, and Gary chose Sceptile, which blocked Vigoroth’s claw attack and narrowly missed it with a Leaf Blade.
• Norman ordered Vigoroth to use Blizzard, but Gary recalled Sceptile and explained to the students how Trainers could use recalls to avoid attacks.

Gary defeated Norman at the Petalburg Gym and secured the Badge after using Blaziken’s accumulated boosts and Sceptile’s FEAR strategy to overcome Slaking. Norman looked forward to a rematch, while Gary privately planned to challenge him with Urshifu.

• Gary used Blaziken’s speed and strength boosts to defeat Norman’s Vigoroth and win the first round.
• Norman sent out Slaking, which pressured Blaziken with Thunder Punch and Thunder before recovering with Slack Off.
• Gary used Baton Pass to transfer Blaziken’s boosts to Sceptile, then set Sunny Day as Slaking prepared Flamethrower.
• Sceptile survived Flamethrower with its Focus Sash and used Endeavor followed by Quick Attack to knock out Slaking.
• Gary defeated Norman’s Slakoth in the final round, and Norman awarded him the Petalburg Badge while asking for a rematch.

Kimarō, Gary, and the others visited Kimarō’s family in Verdanturf Town, where the youngsters prepared to train as the masked Pokémon Messenger. The three boys ambushed Shū, Jessie, and Harley in the park, starting three battles at once.

• Young Master Mao visited the Junwei Group mansion with the youngsters, and Kimiyo welcomed them home.
• Kimiyo thanked Young Master Mao for helping Kimarō find friends and pursue coordinating, while Tanaka urged her not to buy him more Pokémon yet.
• Tanaka revealed that Kimarō had trained Duskull by disguising himself as the Masked Messenger and ambushing Trainers in the park.
• Brendan, Wally, and Kimarō dressed in matching outfits and headed to the park while Young Master Mao planned lessons and tunnel training.
• The masked youngsters confronted Shū, Jessie, and Harley in the park, and all three battles began at once.