Chapter Summaries

Aaron defeated Gary in a battle by using Lucario’s Heart of Aura to evade Blastoise’s attacks. Afterward, Aaron revealed he knew Lu Chen and vowed to defeat him and get justice for the Trainers he believed Lu Chen had deceived.

• Aaron sent Lucario against Gary’s Blastoise, and Lucario damaged it with Aura Sphere and a close-range strike.
• Gary switched to Arcanine, which injured Lucario with a feint and a bite, but Lucario blasted Arcanine away with a point-blank Aura Sphere.
• Gary sent Blastoise back into battle, but Lucario entered the Heart of Aura and evaded every Hydro Pump with its eyes closed.
• Lucario defeated Blastoise with a final Aura Sphere, and the referee declared Aaron the winner.
• Aaron told Gary to warn Lu Chen that he would defeat him and seek justice for the Trainers he believed Lu Chen had toyed with.

After losing to Aaron, Gary told Lu Chen that Aaron had vowed to defeat him and claimed to know his secret. Lu Chen realized Aaron had likely witnessed Zorua impersonating him, while Gary quietly struggled with his defeat after Lu Chen left.

• Gary called Professor Oak and asked him to arrange a meeting with Lu Chen so he could relay Aaron's warning.
• Gary told Lu Chen that Aaron accused him of tricking Trainers, said he knew Lu Chen's secret, and promised to defeat him.
• Lu Chen suspected Aaron had seen Zorua take his appearance and compete in his place, and decided to answer Aaron's public challenge.
• Lu Chen encouraged Gary to keep trying for the main tournament, then reassured Professor Oak and accepted pastries from Delia.
• After Lu Chen left, Gary sat in the dark and berated himself for failing to defeat any of Aaron's Pokémon.

After Gary resolved to train harder following his defeat, the Kanto League main tournament began with Aaron swiftly winning his opening match. Aaron then publicly challenged an unnamed competitor, and his gaze made clear that Lu Chen was his target.

• Gary reflected on his loss to Aaron, resolved to grow stronger, and opened the curtains as Professor Oak and Delia listened outside his room.
• Lu Chen told Professor Oak that Gary had finally learned from hardship, then wondered what Aaron was planning as he headed back with Gengar and Aerodactyl.
• The Kanto League main tournament began at Indigo Plateau, where Lu Chen, Aaron, Ash, Gary, and other contenders were introduced among the favorites.
• Aaron defeated Xiao Qin’s Electabuzz, Bellossom, and Fearow with Togekiss and Lucario, becoming the first contestant to advance to the top sixteen.
• Aaron announced that he would defeat a competitor who disrespected the arena and its Trainers, and Ash and Gary looked toward Lu Chen in the competitors’ lounge.

Lu Chen restrained Gengar from attacking Aaron and promised to answer Aaron’s criticism by showing his strength in battle. Facing veteran Trainer Wang Hao in the round of 32, Lu Chen surprised the crowd by sending out Gouging Fire instead of Garchomp, leaving the battle poised to begin.

• Gengar rushed toward Aaron, but Lu Chen called him back and stopped him from attacking.
• Lu Chen told Gengar they would demonstrate their strength in battle, and agreed to let Gengar go first when they faced Aaron.
• Lu Chen entered the tournament arena and met Wang Hao, a veteran Trainer from Saffron City.
• Wang Hao began the match by sending out Bronzong, which he had chosen to counter Garchomp.
• Lu Chen sent out Gouging Fire instead of Garchomp.

Lu Chen sent out the unknown Gouging Fire and defeated Wang Hao’s Bronzong so decisively that Wang Hao forfeited. As the stadium erupted, Professor Oak stepped forward to identify the Pokémon for the audience.

• Lu Chen sent out Gouging Fire, startling the crowd and Wang Hao, who had prepared to battle Garchomp.
• Wang Hao ordered Bronzong to use Flash Cannon, but Gouging Fire blocked it without injury.
• Lu Chen commanded Gouging Fire to use Flamethrower, whose heat scorched Bronzong and cracked the battlefield’s protective barrier.
• Wang Hao forfeited Bronzong’s match, and Lu Chen accepted the victory.
• Bruno, Lance, Agatha, and Lorelei reacted to Gouging Fire, while staff failed to find it in the Pokédex.
• Professor Oak took the microphone and offered to introduce Gouging Fire to the audience.

Professor Oak introduced Lu Chen’s Gouging Fire as a Paradox Pokémon, and Wang Hao sent out his ace Blaziken to continue their battle. As Blaziken attacked with a fused move, Lu Chen ordered Gouging Fire to use Sacred Fire.

• Professor Oak explained that Gouging Fire was a rare Fire- and Dragon-type Pokémon distinct from Entei and named its category Paradox Pokémon.
• Wang Hao realized Lu Chen was the Trainer Aaron had criticized for holding back, but chose to continue battling rather than forfeit.
• Wang Hao sent out his Gym-peak ace Blaziken instead of the Pokémon he had prepared to face Garchomp.
• Wang Hao ordered Blaziken to attack with a flaming combination of High Jump Kick and Blaze Kick.
• Lu Chen recognized Blaziken’s training and ordered Gouging Fire to use Sacred Fire.

Lu Chen’s Gouging Fire used Sacred Fire to help Wang Hao’s Blaziken break through to Elite Four level during their battle. Wang Hao forfeited, and the crowd and Lance praised Lu Chen as a good man, while Aaron grew frightened by Gouging Fire’s strength.

• Gouging Fire’s golden flames appeared, and Entei, Raikou, and Suicune sensed their master’s aura from across Kanto.
• Gouging Fire overwhelmed Blaziken with Sacred Fire, but Lance stopped the referee from intervening and explained that Gouging Fire was helping Blaziken.
• Blaziken endured the flames, broke through to Elite Four level, and gained faint traces of golden fire in his own flames before collapsing.
• Wang Hao cradled Blaziken, forfeited the battle, and thanked Lu Chen, who recalled Gouging Fire and left the arena.
• The audience applauded Lu Chen, Lance agreed that he was an upright, good man, and Aaron felt chilled by Gouging Fire’s power.

After Lu Chen won overwhelmingly, he brushed off Aaron’s criticism and set out with his Pokémon, but Gouging Fire’s Sacred Fire drew Ho-Oh’s three emissaries to him. The chapter ended with Raikou, Suicune, and Entei confronting Lu Chen and Gouging Fire.

• Lu Chen’s victory sent his support above ninety-nine percent, while Ash vowed to keep fighting despite the gap between them.
• Aaron confronted Lu Chen over using Zorua, and Gengar secretly marked Aaron’s forehead with ghostly pigment that would cause nightmares.
• Lu Chen’s Pokémon chose to visit the snack street, but a north wind alerted them to approaching Legendary Pokémon.
• Aerodactyl spotted three unknown Legendary Pokémon closing in from different directions, and Lu Chen realized Gouging Fire’s Sacred Fire had summoned Ho-Oh’s emissaries.
• Raikou, Suicune, and Entei arrived, and Gouging Fire stepped forward to face them.

Lu Chen explained Gouging Fire’s connection to Entei to the Legendary Beasts, who asked him to help find the missing Ho-Oh before disappearing. Lorelei then approached Lu Chen with another request to breed their Lapras, and revealed that she feared Lapras would go extinct in the Kanto Region.

• Entei, Suicune, and Raikou mistook Gouging Fire for a possible relative of Entei before Lu Chen explained its connection to a Ho-Oh from a parallel world.
• The Legendary Beasts asked Lu Chen to help find Ho-Oh, gave him a water droplet as a way to contact them, and departed when footsteps approached.
• Lorelei congratulated Lu Chen on advancing, then offered him fifty million and an aphrodisiac to arrange a Lapras breeding attempt.
• Lapras splashed both Lorelei and Lu Chen with Water Guns, refusing Lorelei’s proposal.
• Lorelei explained that she wanted baby Lapras because she did not want Lapras to go extinct in the Kanto Region, and Gengar placed a towel on her head.

Lorelei told Lu Chen how poachers and changing temperatures had driven the Lapras population near the Seafoam Islands toward extinction. After Lu Chen’s Lapras refused to help breed, he suggested there might be another way to help the Kanto Lapras adapt, and Lorelei eagerly asked him to explain.

• Lorelei recalled growing up alongside the Lapras near the Seafoam Islands and returning to find their numbers greatly reduced.
• Lorelei explained that poachers had hunted the Lapras and that abnormal temperature changes later made their habitat increasingly unlivable.
• Lorelei asked to use Lu Chen’s Lapras’s bloodline to help her Lapras adapt to warmer seas, but Lu Chen’s Lapras firmly refused.
• Lu Chen suggested helping the Kanto Lapras adapt without breeding, and Lorelei asked him to tell her more.

Lorelei asked Lu Chen for help with the Lapras struggling to adapt to the Seafoam Islands’ abnormal climate, and he outlined two risky solutions before agreeing to visit after the Pokémon League Conference. Ash and Gary advanced to the top sixteen and faced each other in a six-on-six match, which was still undecided after each lost five Pokémon.

• Lu Chen told Lorelei he could investigate the climate’s cause or use reformulated ultra-ancient medicines, though both options carried drawbacks, and agreed to visit the Seafoam Islands after the Conference.
• Ash told Lu Chen that he and Gary had made the top sixteen, and Lu Chen learned Ash had defeated Ritchie with Charizard and Pikachu.
• Ash and Gary were paired against each other in the top-sixteen round, a six-on-six battle, and both sent out their first Pokémon.
• Ash’s Pikachu and Gary’s Arcanine traded attacks before Gary’s Blastoise knocked Pikachu out with Hydro Pump.
• The announcer reported that Ash and Gary had each lost five Pokémon, leaving one Pokémon apiece as the match continued.

Ash defeated Gary to advance to the quarterfinals, but later lost to Aaron and refused his invitation to join the Aura Clan. Lu Chen and Aaron advanced to the finals after their opponents conceded or were defeated.

• Ash and Gary sent out Charizard and Blastoise for their final battle, and Ash used their bond to strengthen Charizard’s Flamethrower until it overpowered Blastoise’s Hydro Pump.
• The referee declared Ash the winner, and Gary recalled Blastoise before quietly leaving the battlefield.
• Aaron recognized Ash as an Aura Guardian, while Lu Chen’s young opponent conceded and asked him for an autograph.
• Lu Chen and Aaron defeated their subsequent opponents and advanced to the finals, while Aaron defeated Ash in the quarterfinals with Lucario.
• Aaron invited Ash to train with the Aura Clan, but Ash refused and declared he would remain a trainer from Pallet Town, Gary’s friend, and Lu Chen’s neighbor.

Aaron recognized that Lu Chen’s profile resembled a portrait in the first Aura Guardian’s notebook and feared Lu Chen might be that Guardian’s ancient master. After both Trainers advanced to the tournament final, Aaron sent out Lucario while Lu Chen chose Gengar.

• Ash rejected Aaron’s warning about Lu Chen and left to get Pikachu treated, while Aaron realized he could not expose Lu Chen without looking spiteful.
• Aaron connected Lu Chen’s profile to a chibi portrait in the first Aura Guardian’s notebook and recalled Lu Chen’s unusual questions about the Aura Clan’s ancient history.
• Aaron hurried away from Lu Chen, who watched him leave in confusion as Gengar reacted just as perplexedly.
• Lu Chen and Aaron won their quarterfinal and semifinal matches without meeting and advanced to the final.
• At the final, Aaron sent out Lucario, and Lu Chen called on Gengar to battle.

Aaron’s Lucario underwent an unknown transformation after reacting to the Mega Stone, becoming Mega Lucario Z. Professor Oak admitted he did not recognize the form and suggested Lu Chen might know what it was.

• Lu Chen sent out Gengar, whose appearance and Aura unsettled Aaron and Lucario.
• Aaron used the warm, rainbow-patterned stone given to him by his clan leader, and its light connected him with Lucario.
• Lucario glowed, transformed, and emerged as Mega Lucario Z, a form that strengthened its Aura.
• The audience and Elite Four reacted in shock, while Lu Chen recognized the transformation as Lucario Z.
• Professor Oak told the audience that Lu Chen might be the only person present who recognized Mega Lucario Z.

Lu Chen explained Lucario Z’s form as Aaron prepared to challenge Gengar, believing its new Elite Four-level strength could win the match. Gengar effortlessly avoided and deflected Lucario Z’s Aura Spheres, and Lu Chen told it to end the battle.

• Lu Chen named Lucario’s new form Lucario Z and explained that it came from training Aura and resonating with an Aura Guardian.
• Aaron realized Lucario Z had reached Elite Four-level strength and became hopeful that he could defeat Lu Chen.
• Aaron ordered Lucario Z to use Foresight and Aura Sphere, but Gengar casually stepped aside and let the attack miss.
• Aaron commanded Lucario Z to fire a barrage of Aura Spheres, but Gengar yawned as every attack veered away without touching it.
• Lu Chen told Gengar to stop playing around and finish the match, and Gengar vanished.

Gengar put Lucario Z to sleep with Hypnosis, but lost the first bout after leaving the battlefield to mock Aaron. Lu Chen sent out Garchomp against the still-sleeping Lucario Z and had it use Dragon Dance.

• Gengar appeared behind Lucario Z and put it to sleep with Hypnosis.
• Gengar left the battlefield to taunt Aaron, so the referee disqualified it and awarded Aaron the bout.
• Aaron tried to wake Lucario Z, but it remained asleep despite his Aura.
• Lu Chen sent out Garchomp and ordered it to use Dragon Dance, raising its Attack and Speed.

Lu Chen’s Garchomp repeatedly used Dragon Dance while Aaron’s Lucario Z remained asleep, shocking spectators who knew Garchomp could not normally learn the move. Garchomp finally defeated Lucario Z with two Dragon Claw strikes, leaving Lu Chen’s side victorious.

• Lance and Gary reacted with shock when Garchomp used Dragon Dance, and Gary explained the move was one of Pokémon’s strange absurdities.
• Gary described other bizarre breeding classifications to Ash, who stopped him and turned his attention back to the match.
• Lu Chen ordered Garchomp to use Dragon Dance repeatedly while Lucario Z stayed asleep, and Garchomp raised its power with five boosts.
• Professor Oak recognized Garchomp’s strength and marveled that Lu Chen’s Gabite had reached Elite Four level and learned Dragon Dance in only three months.
• Lu Chen ordered Garchomp to attack, and it struck the newly awakened Lucario Z twice with Dragon Claw, knocking it out.

Lu Chen defeated Aaron to win the Kanto League Conference, and Aaron realized Lu Chen was the first Aura Guardian’s master before conceding. Lu Chen received the championship trophy and commemorated his victory with his Pokémon, while Aaron cautiously approached him afterward.

• Garchomp knocked out Aaron’s Togekiss, Mienshao, and Blastoise in one hit each, leaving Aaron with one Pokémon as Lu Chen dominated the final.
• Lu Chen’s remark reminded Aaron of the first Aura Guardian’s journal, and Aaron concluded Lu Chen was the first Aura Guardian’s master before conceding the match.
• Lu Chen was declared the Kanto League champion as the stadium celebrated, while Lance left the venue and Cynthia heard that a Kanto contestant had used Dragon Dance with Garchomp.
• Lu Chen received the Ho-Oh-shaped championship trophy and left his handprint and his Pokémon’s marks on a cement slab for the Champions’ Corridor.
• Lu Chen posed with his Pokémon for the championship photograph, then Aaron cautiously approached and greeted him.

After the award ceremony, Aaron invited Lu Chen and his friends to the Aura Clan’s holy land in Hoenn, having recognized him from the first Aura Guardian’s diary. The group arrived in Hoenn and headed toward the mountain valley where the hidden holy land was located.

• Aaron nervously invited Lu Chen to the Aura Clan’s holy land, and Ash and Gary questioned his motives.
• Lu Chen stopped Aaron from kneeling, accepted his apology, and agreed to visit the holy land with Ash, Gary, Misty, and Brock.
• Aaron told Lu Chen that the first Aura Guardian’s diary described him as his most respected master.
• Lu Chen and the others traveled by plane and ship to Hoenn, where Ash and Gary eagerly examined the unfamiliar Pokémon.
• Aaron pointed out the mist-covered mountain where the Aura Clan’s hidden holy land lay, and the group continued toward it.

Lu Chen and his companions arrived at the hidden Aura Clan village, where Aaron introduced them to the clan leader. The leader recognized Lu Chen as the honored grandmaster depicted in the first Guardian’s journal and handed him the treasured notebook.

• Aaron led Lu Chen, Ash, Gary, Misty, and Brock through the valley and explained that the Aura Clan had lived there for generations.
• The villagers gathered to greet the visitors, and Ash let a little girl pet Pikachu.
• Aaron brought Lu Chen and the others to meet the clan leader in the largest stone building.
• The clan leader recognized Lu Chen from a portrait in the first Guardian’s journal and called him the honored grandmaster.
• The clan leader retrieved the first Guardian’s notebook from a hidden compartment and handed it to Lu Chen.