Chapter Summaries

Young Master Mao prepared a Christmas barbecue at his villa with his students, Pokémon, and visiting friends. After guests arrived and the party got underway, Steven showed up with Christmas trees and fireworks.

• Young Master Mao sent Brendan, Kimarō, and Wally to clear the yard and prepare skewers, while Brendan failed to build a recognizable snow Pokémon.
• Sceptile, Blaziken, Jirachi, Gengar, and Weavile made a detailed snow sculpture of Young Master Mao, and the group set up the barbecue and party equipment.
• Wallace and Winona arrived with chicken wings and ostrich wings, and Winona went inside to prepare them.
• A Tao startled Young Master Mao and landed in the snow with a Chansey egg, then Brendan nearly attacked him before Wally intervened.
• Roxanne and Pheobe arrived with corn and a holiday cake as Young Master Mao wondered where Steven was.
• Steven arrived with Machoke carrying Christmas trees and fireworks for the celebration.

Young Master Mao hosted a Christmas gathering where Hoenn’s Champions, Gym Leaders, and young Trainers shared food, music, and Pokémon battles. Brendan lost to Steven but vowed to meet him again on Victory Road, while Wally surprised everyone by defeating Winona, and the celebration ended with fireworks.

• Young Master Mao, Steven, Wallace, and their friends celebrated Christmas with food, songs, and Pokémon festivities.
• Brendan challenged Steven to a six-on-six battle and lost, but Steven praised his talent and promised to face him again on Victory Road.
• Wally battled Winona and won by using techniques he had learned in Meteor Village against her Flying-types.
• Young Master Mao served dessert, and the group watched fireworks together as they wished each other Merry Christmas.

Gary returned to Kanto for the holidays, where work commitments and a visit to Giovanni awaited him. After arriving at his new Saffron City villa, he found Sabrina and Erika waiting, and they both arranged to stay with him.

• Gary said goodbye to Wally, Kimarō, and Brendan before leaving Rustboro City with Eevee-chan and Gengar.
• A Tao drove Gary to the airport, and he flew from Rustboro City to Saffron City.
• Kahili welcomed Gary at the airport and outlined his upcoming Golden Melody Awards, company party, and joint project with Team Rocket.
• Sabrina and Erika greeted Gary at his new villa and bickered over who would host him.
• Gary invited Sabrina and Erika to dinner, and both agreed to stay at his villa.

Gary attended the Golden Melody Awards ceremony in Saffron City, where Sabrina revealed she had been nominated for an award and challenged him to an exhibition battle. The match began with Sabrina’s Mr. Mime facing Gary’s Absol.

• Gary arrived at the Chikorita Chain Hotel and reunited with Marnie, who introduced him to Roxie and bragged about eating a kilo of kelp to get her money’s worth at the buffet.
• At the Silph Era Red Hall, a songwriter warned young starlets that Gary was the Pokémon League’s official musician and chairman of the Overgrow Group.
• Sabrina sat beside Gary and revealed she had been nominated for Best Music Video Actress after appearing in music videos and films.
• The host announced an exhibition battle before the grand finale award, and Sabrina selected Gary as her opponent.
• Sabrina sent out Mr. Mime, and Gary answered with Absol, surprising her as the friendly match began.

Young Master Mao defeated Sabrina’s Mr. Mime and Alakazam in a friendly battle at the Red Hall venue. He then accepted his Golden Melody Awards trophy and used his speech to promote Pokémon Emerald and the next performance.

• Young Master Mao’s Absol used a series of tactical moves to defeat Sabrina’s Mr. Mime.
• Sabrina sent out her powerful Alakazam, so Young Master Mao recalled Absol and had Eevee-chan transform into Umbreon.
• Umbreon overwhelmed Alakazam with Dark Pulse, and Sabrina conceded the match.
• Young Master Mao accepted Sabrina’s invitation to bring his Gengar over for a meal after the event.
• Young Master Mao accepted his Golden Melody Awards trophy and read promotional copy for Pokémon Emerald during his speech.

After the Golden Melody Awards, Young Master Mao invited Sabrina to his home for a late-night meal and gathered ingredients to make dumplings. With the cooking underway and plenty of food prepared, he invited Marnie-chan to join them.

• Young Master Mao left the awards ceremony and enjoyed the publicity from Sabrina and Gary's performance, while the Overgrow Group's game promotion also gained attention.
• Sabrina appeared with Teleport and asked Young Master Mao to treat her to a late-night snack, so he brought her along to his private kitchen.
• Young Master Mao bought all the chives from an elderly street vendor and paid her generously, then explained to Sabrina that he wanted to help without making her feel pitied.
• Young Master Mao called Erika to buy dumpling ingredients, while Sabrina used Alakazam to fetch flour from her home.
• At Young Master Mao's home, the Pokémon settled into their usual activities as he and Weavile began preparing Three-Fresh Dumplings.
• Young Master Mao realized the ingredients would make more dumplings than three people could eat and invited Marnie-chan over by message.

Roxie challenged Gary to a battle at Young Master Mao’s home, but Sabrina defeated her quickly and damaged the backyard wall. After everyone enjoyed dumplings, Roxie and Marnie went home, while Sabrina stayed the night.

• Roxie barged into Young Master Mao’s house and challenged Gary to a Gym battle, so Gary sent Sabrina to face her instead.
• Sabrina defeated Roxie’s Scolipede with Alakazam’s Psychic and smashed a wheel-shaped dent into the backyard wall.
• Gary and the others returned inside and shared dumplings, which Roxie devoured despite her defeat.
• Roxie and Marnie left after dinner, and Gary carried the sleeping Eevee and Jirachi to bed before going to bathe.
• Gary found Sabrina in the bathtub, but she vanished without addressing the cost of repairing his wall.

Gary returned to Rainbow University, where Principal Monet praised his teaching and approved an award while asking about his Hoenn plans. After learning his grandparents would spend New Year’s in Sinnoh, Gary wondered where to spend the holiday until Cynthia arrived with Shauntal and invited herself to stay with him.

• Gary hired a crew to build a sturdier perimeter wall after Eevee-chan demolished the old one, then flew with Erika to Rainbow University.
• Students recognized Gary on campus and chased after him, so he and Erika ran to the faculty office building.
• Gary met with Principal Monet, who said Principal Enzo wanted him to transfer to Rustboro Academy and approved an outstanding performance award for him.
• Gary told Monet he was one Badge short of qualifying for the Hoenn League and planned to compete in the intercollegiate league before challenging the Pokémon League Tournament.
• Gary received a message that his grandparents would be away in Sinnoh for New Year’s, then Cynthia appeared with Shauntal and invited herself to spend the holidays with him.

Gary spent New Year's Day with Caitlin, Shauntal, and his Pokémon, shopping for ingredients and making tangyuan together. They ended the day sharing the food and celebrating the holiday at Gary's home.

• Professor Oak called Gary to show off Bertha's tangyuan, and Gary introduced Caitlin and Shauntal to his grandparents.
• Gary asked his group chat who had eaten tangyuan, and friends shared their holiday meals and greetings.
• Gary took Caitlin, Shauntal, Eevee, and several Pokémon to the supermarket to buy ingredients and festive food.
• Gary and his Pokémon made assorted yuanxiao, including persimmon-shaped ones, with the help of Gardevoir, Alakazam, and Gothitelle.
• Gary served tangyuan and juice to everyone, and they wished one another a happy New Year.

Gary planned a New Year trip after choosing Pokémon to bring along, then agreed to take Togetic to meet its online friend Mew at Cameran Palace. He left Pallet Town with Caitlin and Shauntal, bound for the thousand-year-old city, where Mew and the Tree of Beginning awaited.

• Gary chose a travel lineup that included Charizard, Scizor, Golduck, Togetic, and Lugia.
• Togetic excitedly showed Gary a phone and explained that it wanted to meet its online friend Mew in person.
• Steven invited Gary to Cameran Palace for a Devon Corporation event, and Gary realized the trip could involve saving the world at the Tree of Beginning.
• Gary agreed to take Togetic to meet Mew, while Ash, May, and Brock also planned to attend.
• Gary left Gengar and Venusaur in charge of the institute and boarded a plane to Cameran Palace with Caitlin and Shauntal.

Gary and his companions arrived in Cameran Palace for the festival, where they met Ash’s group and chose costumes for the festivities. Young Master Mao finished his transformation into a white-armored Hero, while Team Rocket decided to attend the palace ball in disguise.

• Young Master Mao’s glowing pendant detected Mew disguised as a Treecko as Gary and his companions entered Cameran Palace.
• Gary and his companions met Ash’s group and agreed to visit a costume rental shop together.
• Jessie, James, and Meowth abandoned their plan to catch Pikachu and decided to attend the palace ball without revealing their identities.
• Young Master Mao gave Brock a Berserker Outfit, while the others chose costumes for the festival.
• Young Master Mao used Jirachi to summon white-and-gold armor and declared, “O Light Blade, shelter this city once more.”

Ash won the Royal Arena tournament and received the title of Aura Guardian, while Gary had the Team Rocket Trio watch Miss Kido because he suspected she was after Mew and the Tree of Beginning. Gary and his companions prepared for Queen Irene’s evening banquet, where Mew was expected to appear again.

• Ash and Pikachu swept through the Royal Arena tournament, and Gary asked the Team Rocket Trio to keep watch on armored Trainer Miss Kido.
• Ash defeated Kido in the final, won the tournament, and was crowned Aura Guardian by Queen Irene.
• Kido revealed that she already had a banquet invitation, while the Team Rocket Trio secretly followed her from the arena.
• Gary, Caitlin, and Shauntal returned to the rental shop to prepare formal clothes for the palace banquet.
• Mew briefly appeared at the shop, then vanished, and Gary dressed Togetic in a tiny formal outfit.
• Gary left for the palace banquet with Caitlin and Shauntal at his sides.

At the palace banquet, Young Master Mao watched Ash play the role of a hero while keeping Caitlin and Shauntal company. When Kido slipped away to hunt Mew, he followed her, and the chapter ended with him stopping and slapping her as Weavile attacked Mew in the palace attic.

• Young Master Mao stayed at Ash’s banquet, protected Caitlin and Shauntal from unwanted advances, and declined Kido’s invitation to dance.
• Caitlin lifted Kido into the air with psychic power after she ignored Young Master Mao’s refusal, then set her down when he intervened.
• Young Master Mao noticed Kido leaving the hall and followed her while Decidueye pursued her from the shadows.
• In the attic, Mew revealed itself after disguising itself as Togetic, and Decidueye drove off the Weavile that attacked it.
• Golduck immobilized Kido on the rooftop, and Young Master Mao slapped her, damaging the earpiece she wore.

Ash awakened the ancient Lucario, while Young Master Mao confronted Kido over her dangerous attempt to investigate Mew and the Tree of Beginning. The group learned that Meowth and Togetic had gone with Mew, so Young Master Mao prepared to travel to the Tree of Beginning.

• Lucario mistook Ash for Sir Aaron before realizing he had awakened in a peaceful era and returning to the palace.
• Young Master Mao explained that Kido's tracker and sampler could provoke a dangerous immune response from the Tree of Beginning, and Kido admitted defeat.
• Queen Irene ordered Officer Jenny to deport Kido and ban her from Cameran Palace.
• Jessie and James reported that Meowth had left with Mew and Togetic had gone with them.
• Young Master Mao told Ash and Caitlin they would have to visit the Tree of Beginning.

Gary assembled a convoy to find Mew, Togetic, and Meowth at the Tree of Beginning, bringing Lucario along to navigate and investigate the truth about Sir Aaron. The group reached the Tree’s territory and stopped at a hot spring to rest and eat before continuing.

• Gary arranged for Steven to lend the group a large off-road vehicle, and persuaded Lucario to join Ash and help uncover what happened with Sir Aaron.
• Gary’s group set out through dense fog, with Lucario using Aura and Gary’s Viridian Force to guide the vehicle safely.
• After nearly two hours, the group emerged from the fog and spotted the Tree of Beginning and geysers ahead.
• Gary stopped the vehicle near a hot spring to wait for the geysers to settle, while Brock and Gary prepared a meal and the others went to soak.

On the way to the Tree of Beginning, Young Master Mao confronted Lucario about his fear that Sir Aaron had abandoned him and found a Time Flower that could reveal the past. The group camped near the Tree of Beginning for the night, unaware that a masked woman was following them and a transmitter was hidden in Brock’s coat.

• Brock and Young Master Mao made sandwiches for the group, who rested and soaked near the geysers.
• Young Master Mao challenged Lucario to face his fear of being unworthy of Sir Aaron’s trust and promised to show him the truth through Time Flowers.
• Young Master Mao found a Time Flower, and Lucario explained that people with Aura could use it to see events replayed.
• Gary and his companions crossed the geyser field, camped beside a stream, and were warned not to disturb the Tree of Beginning’s ecosystem.
• A masked woman stopped her vehicle two kilometers behind the group and vowed to uncover the World Tree’s secrets, while a transmitter hidden in Brock’s coat flashed red.

Gary and his group entered the Tree of Beginning, where Lucario recovered a memory showing Sir Aaron sealing him away, leaving the circumstances uncertain. After Lugia subdued the Tree’s Regirock guardian, Mew welcomed the group inside, while Kido secretly followed them.

• Lucario activated a Time Flower and saw a memory of Sir Aaron sealing him away before riding toward Cameran Palace, prompting Gary and the others to seek more clues.
• Regirock emerged to defend the Tree of Beginning, and Caitlin used her psychic power to stop its Hyper Beam and knock it down.
• Young Master Mao summoned Lugia, whose Hydro Pump pinned Regirock until Mew authorized the guardian to retreat.
• Mew welcomed Gary and the group, lifted the Tree’s alarm, and led everyone inside for a tour.
• Kido followed a strange Mechanical Snake into the Tree of Beginning.

Gary and his group explored the Tree of Beginning, where Lucario learned that Sir Aaron had sacrificed himself to stop the war. When Kido’s harvesting machines endangered the World Tree, Young Master Mao and several Pokémon restored it with Aura, and the group prepared to hand Kido over to the police.

• Mew led Gary and his group through the Tree of Beginning, where Jessie nearly touched a dangerous crystal and Young Master Mao warned everyone about the living World Tree.
• At the World Tree’s core, Lucario saw Sir Aaron’s gloves and used a Time Flower to witness Sir Aaron sacrificing his Aura to save the city and Lucario.
• Kido’s harvesting machines triggered the World Tree’s immune response, making Mew weak and threatening the lives of everyone in the tree.
• Lucario tried to heal the World Tree with his Aura, but his power was insufficient, so Young Master Mao joined him with Blastoise, Armarouge, and Urshifu.
• The combined Aura restored Mew and the World Tree, and Shauntal restrained Kido so she could be handed over to the police.

After Lucario joined Gary’s team, Gary spent New Year’s Eve at Lorelei’s villa on Four Island in the Sevii Islands. He sent his company employees home with bonuses and began preparing for a holiday feast with Lorelei, Caitlin, and Shauntal.

• Lucario declined Queen Irene’s offer of knighthood and asked to follow Gary, who welcomed him onto the team.
• Gary settled Lucario into the group at Lorelei’s villa, where the Pokémon trained, explored, and helped keep the sprawling house clean.
• Lorelei left for work and promised Gary she would begin her New Year holiday with him the following day.
• Gary canceled the company’s New Year’s Eve celebration, telling Kahili to give everyone their bonuses and send them home to their families.
• Gary assigned the Pokémon to decorate the villa and took Caitlin and Shauntal shopping for New Year supplies.

Gary and his household prepared for New Year’s Eve with shopping, cooking, cleaning, and festive group-chat celebrations. Lorelei returned from work and went upstairs with Caitlin and Shauntal to enjoy a bath before dinner.

• Gary took the two women shopping and brought home four carts of New Year supplies from Lorelei’s supermarket.
• Scizor prepared ingredients while Gary cooked desserts and seafood preparations for the New Year’s Eve feast.
• Gary and the group exchanged New Year wishes and red packets, and Gary received only 0.9 from Lance’s packet.
• Gary’s Pokémon cleaned the house and played cards while he finished preparing seafood and other dishes for dinner.
• Lorelei returned home, greeted everyone, and went upstairs with Caitlin and Shauntal to take a bath before dinner.