Updating certain fic plans because I have nothing better to do.
Don't mind this, I'm just posting it so I'll have a reference to go by. Officially have Trifecta planned out to Chapter 37. A handy reference to see how exactly the anime coincides with the story. No need to say how spoileriffic it is, right? Also, this list is officially only for chapters 16 - 30; overall list broke the character limit on LJ. The timeline for the previous chapters can be found here now. The timeline for chapters after this are found here.
TRAVELS OF THE TRIFECTA! TIMELINE
CHAPTER 16 (VIVA LA REGI-LUTION!)
DP129 (Pillars of Friendship!)
- Brandon, Ash, Brock, Dawn, Maria, & Samuel board the Battle Pyramid in pursuit of J's troops at the Snowpoint Temple. The pyramid is shot down, requiring Brandon and the others to continue the chase on a smaller flying vehicle while Samuel stays behind to repair the pyramid.
They arrive too late, as J awakens Regigigas by destroying the three pillars protecting the orb in which Regigigas sleeps. Regigigas awakens in a rage, nearly destroying Snowpoint Temple. Brandon attempts to calm the beast by capturing it (which is what he planned to do all along) and nearly succeeds, only to be interrupted by J. Regigigas uses Confuse Ray, causing Brandon's other Regis to become unstable and destructive; Brandon is unable to recall any of them.
- Brandon's 3 Regis become petrified statues to protect Regigigas from J. Brandon realizes what they are doing and ultimately sacrifices himself to protect Regigigas, also becoming a statue like his Pokemon. J's client cancels the order, prompting her to retreat, leaving Brandon and the Regis in their petrified state. Maria begs the now-calmed Regigigas into restoring them all, and a grateful Brandon takes it up himself to keep Regigigas safe in the future as it goes back to sleep inside its orb. In place of the broken pillars of Rock, Ice, and Steel, Brandon makes Regirock, Regice, & Registeel the new pillars. He agrees to stay for a while to help Maria repair the massively-damaged temple.
- After Ash & Co. depart for Lake Acuity, Brandon wonders what to do from here now that he has officially failed to capture Regigigas and sacrificed the Regis that were in his possession to ensure Regigigas' safety.
- During the car ride back to Snowpoint City, Paul finally tells Reggie the truth about why Conway is no longer with him, but cannot bring himself to tell Reggie about his recently-diagnosed disease. They both notice trails of smoke in the distance not far from where they were before leaving, making them both wonder if Brandon has run into trouble somehow. Concerned, Reggie turns the car around and drives to the Snowpoint Temple to find out what's going on.
CHAPTER 17 (WE'RE GONNA NEED A MONTAGE!)
DP130 (Frozen on Their Tracks!)
- Reggie, Paul, & Brandon reunite as the brothers learn about what happened. Paul finally learns about the controversial move Brandon has made in regards to Regigigas and Brandon admittedly does not yet know how he will approach the committee about his failure to capture what he promised to get for them. The three catch up on each other's progress and reflect on the full battle between Paul & Brandon. Despite this, Paul still can't bring himself to tell either of them about his condition.
- Since Brandon will be staying in the Snowpoint area for a while to reconstruct the temple, Paul & Reggie help to a degree while Reggie agrees to train Paul for the next 10 days to prepare for the full battle with Ash. Paul learns exactly how Ash defeated Brandon at the Battle Frontier and takes this into consideration while he attempts to build a strategy that will not only decimate Ash, but impress both Reggie and Brandon. Now that Brandon can be contacted more reliably, he encourages his sons to contact him any time they need his advice. Brandon requests that Paul battle Ash with six Pokemon of his (Brandon's) choice and swaps half of Paul's team, replacing Hariyama, Lairon, and Nidoking with Torterra, Honchkrow, and Weavile.
- Reggie and Paul undergo an intense 3-on-3 battle (Swalot/Staraptor/Infernape vs Weavile/Honchkrow/Torterra) which Reggie's own progress is shown as he easily defeats Paul several times, showing that Reggie has finally become more like his old self before he retired, which has rapidly increased his strength and consequently makes him a very fierce opponent that Paul is unable to defeat. In spite of this, he does manage to evolve his Magmar to Magmortar (this will be confirmed next chapter).
- Paul finally has a nervous breakdown after his Torterra is critically injured by Reggie's Infernape, while Reggie suspects the family reuniting a second time was meant to help Paul in his time of need, just like the first reunion was meant for aiding Reggie himself. He strongly feels the three will cross paths once more in an unlikely area and situation, and the third meeting will help Brandon recover from a yet-to-be-ascertained issue. Paul decides while he is directionless as a battler now, he will push Reggie into being Brandon's true heir and carrier of Brandon's legacy due to his superior strength, resolve, and longevity.
- Conway has captured a Lickitung off-screen and trains it until it evolves to Lickilicky before defeating Fantina using it, Aggron, and Slowking. Barry also battles Fantina, but loses once again. Learning that this is Barry's third loss to Fantina, Conway offers to work with Barry to find out what he's doing wrong so Barry can score a win against her, but only on the condition that they do a little traveling to "get away from it all" - though this is really Conway's method of progressing in his own badge collection journey. At this point, Barry interrogates Conway about his "Colin" pseudonym and assumes him to be a spy for the forces of good. He also learns of Conway's flair for Contests, Conway's crush on Dawn, and dashes his hopes by informing him of his friend Kenny (who also crushes on Dawn). Though he's depressed with this news, he vows not to give up even though it is detrimental to his mission, effectively making Conway feel conflicted.
- Charon finds evidence of a gateway to the new world Team Galactic seeks in Mt. Coronet. Cyrus assigns him on the task of confirming this, also mandating that Saturn come along to work with him. At the same time, Jupiter is assigned to stake out at Lake Acuity alone to attempt to bond with Uxie (Mars and Saturn already failed to bond with Mesprit at Lake Verity and Azelf at Lake Valor, respectively) and Mars is assigned to assume the absent commanders' office duties.
- Off-screen: Ash, Brock, & Dawn take a train to Lake Acuity; 9 days have passed by this point. The group meets Detective Looker for the first time, who appears to be tracking down Team Galactic himself.
- During a brief montage, Barry and Conway are shown to be headed for Eterna City so Barry can train Conway for a battle against Gardenia. Along the way, Barry captures a Skarmory to add more variety to his team while Conway captures a Shuckle to train and use against Gardenia (as his present team largely possesses a Grass-type weakness).
CHAPTER 18 (THE WORST OF MESSES BECOME SUCCESSES!)
DP131 (Pedal to the Mettle!) - DP132 (Evolving Strategies!)
- Paul & Reggie reach Lake Acuity. While Paul has made excellent progress, he was still unable to defeat his brother, which gives him a cause for concern. He wonders why Reggie asked for this full battle now; Reggie explains that he noticed a change in Paul after his fight with Brandon and decided this was a perfect time to see how this change will affect Paul's battling style against someone whom Paul has defeated many times even though Ash was able to accomplish what neither Paul nor Reggie could. With Paul's massive losing streak, there are concerns, but he remains calm as Ash & Co. meet up with them at Lake Acuity and begin the full battle.
- The battle plays out exactly the way it did in the anime; Paul shows an obvious change in his tactics as he decimates Ash 6-2 by lulling Ash into a false sense of security rather than overwhelming Ash with power straightforward. Near the end of the battle, Ash's Chimchar evolves to Monferno, but fails to make a difference in the end.
- While Ash is taking his loss rather hard, Paul feels immensely relieved that he hasn't lost his touch after all and feels much more confident about challenging Candice now. He has also come to fully accept his situation in regards to his illness, but decides not to burden Reggie at this point with it, knowing that it would only hinder his brother's progress in becoming stronger. Seeing Reggie come so far in his training inspires Paul to keep on going in spite of the humiliating losses he suffered before this battle; he knows now thanks to Brandon that he needs to take a different approach to his methods if he ever wants to defeat his father. He also reflects on how Conway has had an influence on him, much as Paul had tried to deny it in the past and wonders what has become of him at this point.
- Paul goes back to Snowpoint City by himself, promising Reggie he will send him his Pokemon once he finds the nearest Pokemon Center. While the others head to the Pokemon Center near the lake, Brock briefly talks with Reggie privately to discuss his suspicions regarding the brothers and their connection to Brandon.
CHAPTER 19 (BLACK ICE BATTLE!)
DP133 (Uncrushing Defeat!) - DP134 (Promoting Healthy Tangrowth!)
- Off-screen: While Ash reflects on his loss to Paul, Brock stumbles upon the shadow of Uxie, the legendary pixie Pokemon of Lake Acuity. Before leaving, Dawn learns the next Pokemon Contest will be held in Lilypad Town.
- Paul challenges Candice to his rematch and finally defeats her, salvaging the old strategy Conway made for him and defeats Candice's Sneasel, Medicham, Snover, & Abomasnow with Torterra, Gliscor, Honchkrow, & Ursaring. Shortly after, he once again exchanges Gliscor for Magmortar once the battle is over with. Knowing his limitations now, Paul decides to take a safer route down the mountain range, now aiming for Sunyshore City to earn his final badge. He also has an interest in finding Conway to see what has become of him, feeling guilty for the way he had treated his former companion. He refuses to admit this to anyone else, however.
- Reggie returns to Veilstone City where he reunites with Maylene and learns about the situation Conway is faced with. There is nothing Reggie can do for him, as Conway left the area ages ago with no indication of where he went. He continues his own training.
- Brandon is actively researching other legends native to the Sinnoh region that might lead him to another legendary Pokemon he could possibly capture in place of Regigigas. He calls Professor Oak to give him an update on the situation in order to buy himself more time. As he continues to traverse his home region, Brandon is slowly overcome with nostalgia.
- Conway & Barry continue to be horrible influences on each other as they debate over what gym to conquer next. The two have made very little progress on that front, though Conway has learned much more about Team Galactic through Barry and some dumb luck. Barry attempts to coach Conway on how to approach Gyms by suggesting the Eterna Gym, but his influence is flimsy at best. However, in preparation to fight a Grass-type expert, Conway captures a Shuckle before challenging the Gym Leader. Conway eventually earns the Forest Badge, using Shuckle, Heracross, and Smoochum/Jynx against Gardenia's Roserade, Cacnea, and Turtwig.
CHAPTER 20 (THE BREAKS OF MAKING UP!)
DP135 (Beating the Hustle and Bustle!) - DP137 (Three Sides to Every Story!)
- As Brandon continues his search for a legendary Pokemon in Sinnoh, he meets up with childhood friend Palmer, who is on his way to Twinleaf Town for the festival. Brandon is too busy to partake in the festivities, but the two manage to catch up on what has been going on in their lives since Brandon left Sinnoh seven years ago. The two manage to contact Byron by video phone and discuss the progress their sons have made after all these years. Byron ultimately suggests to Palmer that Barry should challenge his son Roark to a Gym Battle eventually. All three men can't help but wonder what will become of their sons in the future.
- Byron manages to contact Barry and is surprised to see Conway with him. He strongly suggests both of them to go challenge Roark at the Oreburgh Gym for their next badge (Conway promises Byron he will return to Canalave City eventually to battle him for a badge as well), which they both agree to. The duo are becoming increasingly dysfunctional, but both manage to win the Coal Badge. After that, Barry and Conway split up. Barry is dead set on attending the Twinleaf Festival, which Conway decides to not join in favor of progressing in his own journey (as he is far behind in collecting badges). Conway realizes he needs a more varied, powerful team in order to progress, and knowing there are more powerful Pokemon on the eastern side of Sinnoh, Conway journeys towards Sunyshore City by himself to become strong enough to face Byron in the future.
- Saturn & Charon believe to have discovered the Spear Pillar within Mt. Coronet and begin to drill into the mountain, which causes adverse effects on the environment near the vicinity. What they find ends up being a fake and are ultimately chased away by Ash's group and Looker.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. decide to take a break from their Gym and Contest journeys in order to participate in the upcoming festival at Twinleaf Town.
- Veilstone Gym's renovations are almost complete, meaning Maylene must return to her Gym soon, greatly limiting her availability in regards to minding Reggie's breeding center while he trains. Reggie needs to step up his training in order to progress, but is both torn with the issue of leaving behind his breeding center and having to train alone again, remembering how disastrous the results were last time and how much better he fared while training with Maylene. It's shown here that Reggie's biggest fear is being alone.
- Paul is making steady progress towards Sunyshore City and consequently runs into Conway, who is reflecting on his progress and beginning to doubt himself. The two make amends for what happened in the past as Conway explains what he has been doing since Paul abandoned him, causing the latter to develop a bit of respect for him. They reunite as a duo to take on the Sunyshore Gym together. Paul also promises to help Conway in any way he can in regards to Team Galactic. In spite of this, Paul can't bring himself to tell Conway about his terminal disease.
CHAPTER 21 (PUTTING THE RITZ TO REST!)
DP138 (Strategy Begins at Home!) - DP141 (Challenging a Towering Figure!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. arrive at Twinleaf Town, Dawn's hometown, in preparation for the upcoming festival.
- Barry meets Ash & Co. again along with Palmer and enjoy the Twinleaf Festival together. There is a tournament held in which the winner will be given the opportunity to battle Palmer himself. Ash is the one who wins the tournament, but his Grotle ultimately loses against Palmer's Rhyperior. Palmer suggests that Ash challenge the Sunyshore Gym for his last badge, but Barry resolves to get there first.
- Maylene must return to Veilstone Gym now, but resolves to find a way for Reggie to conveniently continue his training while making sure the breeding center is well taken care of. He receives a call from an elderly couple from Floaroma Town inquiring about the status of a Pokemon Egg they left in Reggie's care some time ago. Reggie realizes it's time to return it to its owner and decides to deliver it personally, prepping the house so that the Pokemon will be taken care of without him needing to be there.
- Conway has carelessly been using his parents' credit cards to spend ridiculous amounts of money for food, hotel suites, and other privileges that most people cannot afford. He has been sharing this with Paul, who is a tad bit uncomfortable with all of this pampering. However, in true Home Alone 2 fashion, Conway has used the card so much that his parents have finally noticed that their credit cards have been stolen and report this. Eventually, the managers of the hotel Conway and Paul are staying at on the way to Sunyshore City catch on to this and attempt to apprehend Conway. He and Paul manage to slow down the managers enough to escape, but Conway now realizes how foolish he had been by letting this happen. The two continue on to Sunyshore City.
CHAPTER 22 (A FREE BADGE WITH EVERY MEAL!)
DP142 (Where No Togepi Has Gone Before!) - DP147 (Bagged Then Tagged!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. meet Lyra and Khoury from the Johto region, who are helping run the Johto Festival. Dawn defeats Lyra in battle and wins an egg, which later hatches into a Cyndaquil.
- After some tourism in Sunyshore City, Paul and Conway decide to approach Volkner and challenge him to a battle. They are surprised when upon reaching Sunyshore Gym, they find it armed with advanced technological security that Paul inadvertently suffers. Conway manages to hack his way past the security and enter the Gym, finding an irritated Volkner. He refuses to battle either of them until he issues the two a challenge: order him a meal from a fast-food restaurant and the one who offers the best value meal will earn a battle from him. Conway and (a very reluctant) Paul obey, only to find that Volkner was using them to fetch lunch for him and had no intention of battling either of them, having grown tired of weak challengers and finds no joy in doing his job any longer despite Paul and Conway's pleas. The second meal that was ordered goes to Flint, who takes the boys outside and offers a double battle to make up for it. Even though Paul and Conway lose, Volkner (who witnessed the match) forces Conway and Paul to accept his Beacon Badges and sets up a stand where Beacon Badges can be taken for free by other trainers so that he won't have to deal with any future challengers now that his Gym's security has been tampered with and therefore vulnerable.
- The Badge count is now: Paul with 8 (Coal/Cobble/Fen/Relic/Forest/Mine/Icicle/Beacon) and Conway with 6 (Cobble/Fen/Relic/Forest/Coal/Beacon); in chronological order.
- While dissatisfied with this result, Paul decides to finally do something for Conway and accompany him back to where their adventures started: Canalave City, so that Conway can battle Byron and earn his own Mine Badge. It will be a long journey, however, as they are now at the easternmost point of the Sinnoh region while Canalave City is the westernmost point. Paul is willing to endure it, however, as he has nothing better to do now since he has 8 badges and the Sinnoh League Conference will still be a while.
- Off-screen: The Lilypad Town Contest commences with Lyra & Khoury still in Ash's group as they watch Dawn compete. Ultimately, Dawn's Mamoswine is defeated by a Carnivine owned by Jessilina (James in disguise), who goes on to win the Lilypad Ribbon.
- Reggie meets the elderly couple in Floaroma Town where he delivers their Pokemon Egg. He learns that the two are old-school farming folk who have been struggling since their age has hindered their ability to maintain it. They had a son they were counting on to care for the farm once they became too old to do so themselves, but they had apparently lost their son long ago in a tragic accident. Remembering how helping the snowy neighborhood in Snowpoint City gave his Pokemon some form of training that paid off, Reggie decides to revive the farm for the couple despite the overwhelming amount of work involved for just one person and his Pokemon. He happily does so, and the couple insists he houses with them while he's working so hard. Over time, Reggie can't help but feel a sense of familiarity with these people...
- Since Reggie will be gone longer than he planned to, Maylene is able to recruit her parents' help in taking care of Reggie's daycare in his absence.
- Off-screen: Following a tag battle (which Ash and Dawn win), Lyra and Khoury split up from Ash & Co. and return to the Johto region.
CHAPTER 23 (GHOST BUSTED!)
DP148 (Try for the Family Stone!) - DP152 (The Battle Finale of Legend!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. are in the Floaroma Town vicinity (just having left Twinleaf Town) where Dawn learns that the next Pokemon Contest will be held in Daybreak Town. Coincidentally, Reggie is too consumed with the farm work to even notice their presence.
- Since Jupiter has been given the book on Uxie which Mars stole from Conway, she has been the last hope of Team Galactic bonding with at least one of the three legendary pixies of Sinnoh's major lakes (both Mars and Saturn already tried to bond with Mesprit and Azelf too late - i.e. after Dawn and Ash had already witnessed their silhouettes). She also realizes that she has arrived too late, as Brock had already bonded with Uxie quite a while ago. Angered that she was no more successful than her coworkers, she goes to the Fuego Ironworks to report to Charon and monitor his progress on the Red Chain. Saturn, meanwhile, is hard at work on Mt. Coronet, posthumously thanking his cousin Conway for the abundance of information that has helped Team Galactic get this far in reaching their goal. Jupiter and Charon are ambushed by Team Rocket, Detective Looker, and Ash & Co. but manage to retreat with the Red Chain, but not before Jupiter identifies Ash, Dawn, and Brock as the ones chosen by Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie.
- Pokemon Hunter J is hired to capture Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie, which she succeeds in doing as a helpless Gary Oak looks on in the Lake Valor vicinity. As Team Galactic apprehends the captured pixies, their Future Sight attack causes J's ship to crash into a giant whirlpool within Lake Valor, completely submerging it. This causes an implosion, which presumably takes out J and all of her crew. Saturn is present here to keep Gary from interfering and is delighted to see how well things have gone for their ultimate plan so far. There may or may not be some scenes with Conway's sister as a grunt witnessing all of this and having doubts that doing these horrible things will lead them to a new world where everything wrong will be right.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. are met up with Cynthia, but all three are suffering as a result of their bond with the captured pixies. Eventually, Ash, Brock, and Dawn all disappear into thin air and are instantly teleported to Team Galactic's headquarters, where they learn that Cyrus is the leader of Team Galactic. Cyrus briefly succeeds in summoning Dialga & Palkia, though Ash & Co.'s efforts combined with the legendary pixies manages to suppress it and calm the legendary dragons.
- Saturn and Mars witness in utter horror of Cyrus' true intentions. Saturn holds Mars back from following Cyrus as he disappers into the portal for the new world, never to be seen again. Once all is said and done, Team Galatic is disbanded; Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter are all taken into custody by Officer Jenny, and it is presumed most grunts suffer the same fate, though Charon is conspicuously absent. However, Saturn reflects on all the years he dedicated his life for this moment, all for it to go to waste, and to lament that in the end, his presumed dead cousin came out on top, having at least lived his life for his own genuine pursuits rather than someone else's ideals. Franny is most likely taken into custody as well.
- With Conway's funds long since limited, he and Paul take to camping out most nights during the very long journey back to Canalave City. Due to this, they miss the news of Team Galactic's demise that becomes widespread in the media. However, during this night of bonding, Paul can no longer hold in his secret about his disease and talks to a mortified Conway about it. Paul justifies this action in testing Conway's resilience; Paul himself had to deal with this devastating, life-changing news while having to gain his last two badges and sees it fit that Conway earns his last two badges in a similar mindset. However, Paul makes Conway swear to keep this confidential from everybody, especially Reggie. Paul puts Conway through another test when it turns out that they have been camping out close to where the Pokemon Summer Academy was held, and therefore close to where a certain Dusknoir dwells. Paul, determined to get Conway to conquer his fear of ghosts, demands Conway to battle and capture it when they encounter it. However, Paul is tested as well as a certain Pokemon from his past that he released long ago, Froslass, comes back to haunt him. Eventually, Dusknoir is captured by Conway while Froslass is forcibly recaptured by Paul.
CHAPTER 24 (SECOND RIVALS ONCE REMOVED!)
DP153 (The Treasure is All Mine!) - DP154 (Mastering Current Events!)
- On their way to Canalave City, Paul and Conway pass by Brussel Town where Zoey is training for her upcoming Contest, hopeful to earn her fifth ribbon and qualify for the Grand Festival. Candice has come down all the way from Snowpoint City to give Zoey her support (reasoning that Snowpoint Gym rarely gets challengers by virtue of Snowpoint City's remote location in the region) and both girls are surprised to run into Paul again, also meeting Conway for the first time. Paul and Zoey still don't get along, but Conway fondly reminisces of the time where he had the luxury of competing in a Contest and is impressed by Zoey and Candice's special effects and is even more enthused when he learns that Zoey is Dawn's rival.
- Paul realizes this is an opportunity for Conway to earn his seventh badge and urges Conway to challenge Candice to a battle even though they are far away from her gym. Since Candice doesn't often get challengers, she is more than happy to comply with this request and offers an informal Gym Battle on the spot. Though caught by surprise and unprepared to take on an Ice-type specialist, Conway agrees to it and the group finds a suitable place to host a Gym Battle. Paul and Zoey are the argumentative commentators for this battle while Candice decides to use a different team than she usually does against her challengers; she still uses Abomasnow, but her other three teammates are Glaceon, Froslass, and Weavile. Conway challenges her with Aggron, Dusknoir, Heracross, and Lickilicky, using Candice's Weavile as the deciding factor, given that Conway is highly familiar with Paul's Weavile and therefore knows how to get around one. Through this, Conway earns the Icicle Badge and is only one more away from qualifying for the League. Paul is visibly impressed with how much Conway has improved since his first challenge against Maylene a long time ago and gains even more respect for Conway, but as usual, keeps it to himself.
- Conway wishes Zoey and Candice the best as he and Paul continue on to Canalave City. He wants to send Dawn some kind of message through Zoey, but still trying to keep himself as low on the radar as possible (still not aware of what became of Team Galactic) and restrains himself, which Paul sees as Conway significantly maturing and understanding the meaning of sacrifice. Candice is glad to see Paul is in relatively high spirits, remembering how devastated he once was when he was diagnosed with his disease and how low he felt after being defeated by Brandon, but cannot bring herself to tell Zoey about any of this, respecting Paul's wishes to keep it confidential.
- Off-screen: While still en route to Daybreak Town, Dawn learns of the upcoming Brussel Town Contest, and while it's too late for her to register, she wants to go to the Contest anyway after finding out that Zoey will be there competing. Shortly after taking that detour, Ash parts ways with his Gliscor, who stays behind with Air Battle Master McCann for training.
CHAPTER 25 (GOING EIGHT!)
DP155 (Double-Time Battle Training!) - DP157 (Gotta Get a Gible!)
- Reggie is still hard at work in Floaroma Town to revive the farm of his elderly customers, but the exercise is paying off handsomely as Reggie's Pokemon are showing to be stronger than ever before, leading Reggie to believe he is close to being ready to face off against Brandon, especially now that he no longer has the Regis to worry about. He wonders how Brandon is doing with his dilemma since it has been a while since the two parted ways. Though the elderly couple live in a house that seems to be half a century behind other residences as far as appliances are concerned (no TV, computer, very outdated kitchen equipment, and the earliest model of the video phone), Reggie is able to contact Brandon through this residence since Brandon gave his sons the ability to contact him whenever they felt the need. The elderly couple are nearby when Reggie makes the call; when Brandon answers and sees the elderly couple, realizing where Reggie is calling from, Brandon very abruptly ends the call before Reggie can get anywhere beyond a greeting, leaving him confused. The elderly couple is in shock upon seeing Brandon - even if only briefly - as they proclaim in awe of how much his appearance is similar to that of the son they lost over three decades ago. Reggie has been sensing a bit of familiarity with this couple ever since he arrived and even saw old pictures of the family prior to the loss of their son, but did not make the connection as he did not want to dredge up terrible memories for the elderly couple. But he finally asks the elderly couple what their son's name was, and much to his horror, they tell Reggie that their son's name was Brandon. Reggie has discovered that his paternal grandparents are alive and that Brandon purposely kept them away from his family all these years, even after Reggie and Paul were left to fend for themselves after their mother passed on and Brandon moved to Kanto. This invokes a unique rage within Reggie as he furiously tries to call Brandon back, only to get no response. Not wanting his grandparents to fear his nearly-uncontrollable rage at this point, Reggie isolates himself for a while as his grandparents let this disturbing revelation sink in.
- Paul and Conway have returned to Canalave City: where their adventure together began. Paul has used his free time to train Conway into becoming quite a competent battler despite the differences in their levels of experience. Paul's even beginning to think that Conway might become a potential threat if he participates in the League after all, though Conway's primary motivation is still focused on Saturn, whom Conway has no idea is incarcerated at this point. The boys reunite with Byron, and after the group catches up on what has happened since their last visit (primarily talking about Brandon), Byron accepts Conway's challenge while Paul focuses on this battle to see how Conway fares against Byron compared to his own performance in the past. Conway's team choices are Slowking, Dusknoir, and Castform; Byron will treat his opponent, since he is a returning guest, to the Platinum side of his team, meaning Conway will go against Bastiodon, Skarmory, and Magnezone. Regardless, Conway will eventually defeat Byron and earn the Mine Badge; his eigth total, which qualifies Conway for the Sinnoh League alongside Paul. Byron praises them both and wishes them the best, promising to watch the Conference on TV to keep an eye on them and keep them updated if he ever hears from Brandon again.
- On their way out of the Canalave Gym, Rhonda, who has been researching Paul after being impressed with his battling prowess way back in Chapter 11 (during Squallville's Pokeringer competition which she announced) and was awestruck by his physical similarities to another legendary trainer, finally discovers him and approaches him promptly for an interview, even calling him the "Pyramid Prince" after confirming her suspicions that Paul is Brandon's son. Conway mistakenly believes the press is after him and is not in disguise, feeling his cover will be blown if he's shown on TV alive. He begs Paul to take the fall for him, to which Paul reluctantly agrees as he deals with Rhonda and the Sinnoh Now crew surrounding him while Conway hides in a bush a short distance away.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. are in Brussel Town and are relaxing fresh off of Zoey's victory in that town's Contest, which earned her the number of ribbons necessary to qualify for the Grand Festival. While Dawn reflects on how her rival is now ahead of her and experiments new techniques for her upcoming Contest in Daybreak Town, Ash happens upon a TV where Rhonda's interview with Paul in Canalave City. Paul tries to keep the interview brief and professional, but confirms that he has earned eight badges and is prepared to win the Sinnoh League (as Rhonda obviously mistook him for being the victor of the battle that just took place at the Canalave Gym rather than Conway, the actual victor; to save Conway, however, Paul goes along with the rouse even though he had won the Mine Badge a long time ago). Ash realizes his own rival has gotten ahead of him as well, as he still only has seven badges presently.
CHAPTER 26 (A FAMILIAR RAGE RETURNS!)
DP158 (Regaining the Home Advantage!) - DP162 (Playing the Performance Encore!)
- Paul and Conway pass through Floaroma Town on their way back from Canalave City. They run into Reggie and both are filled in on the recent happenings in regards to Team Galactic's fate and the discovery of Paul and Reggie's paternal grandparents, still alive and well. While Paul is shocked initially, he does not take the news as hard as Reggie had. Reggie has clearly become unstable, which worries Paul, but the grandparents are more than willing to take care of Reggie and keep him under control until this situation can be sorted out. Paul agrees to bait Brandon into coming to Floaroma Town so they can finally get some answers in regards to his alleged "death" and why he never told his sons about his parents to begin with. Since Paul has qualified for the Sinnoh League at this point, he finds that he really has nothing better to do now.
- Though Brandon is difficult to persuade, Paul is able to act convincingly enough to lure his father to Floaroma Town with promises of finding evidence of legendary Pokemon residing in the area, which Brandon is still desperate for (having no luck on his own so far).
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. meet Black Belt master Clayton, who helps Ash's Buizel to master Ice Punch. Ash goes on to compete (and lose) in a Pokeathlon competition. Afterwards, the group reaches Daybreak Town where Dawn competes in the Contest and defeats her rival, Ursula, for the second time and wins the Daybreak Ribbon. This being her fifth ribbon, Dawn now qualifies for the Grand Festival.
- Brandon is trapped upon his arrival as a furious Reggie demands an explanation. Completely at his mercy, Brandon confesses that he faked his death back when he was a young ten year-old boy. He wanted to become a Pokemon Trainer, but his parents condemned him to work and manage their struggling farm for the rest of his life. Brandon despised his parents (similar to how Paul despises Brandon himself) and was willing to stage his own death in order to join his friends and embark on a journey, getting to travel and explore like he always wanted to. He never looked back ever since, managing to fool his parents for three decades that he was killed. Apparently Brandon relocated to Veilstone City, as he was fascinated by the meteors and enjoyed the atmosphere, meaning Brandon's hometown is in fact Floaroma Town.
- Paul actually understands Brandon's point of view, imagining that he would have done the same thing in the young Brandon's position. However, Reggie is enraged even further and almost attacks his father, needing to be held back by everyone else in order to do so. Reggie declares that he is ready to challenge Brandon to their promised battle now, but Brandon sees that Reggie is in no condition to battle without risking the safety of others. Reggie and Brandon are separated for a while so Reggie can cool down, though that is no easy task.
- Feeling like a fifth wheel in this scenario, Conway quietly excuses himself to look further into the news regarding what happened to Team Galactic, trying to find information that could lead him to his cousin and sister.
- Brandon, despite hating his place of origin, reminisces as he looks back at the farm where he used to spend many long and hard days laboring for healthy crops of food. He had very little freedom as a child, which he expresses to Paul, who is willing to listen to the rest of Brandon's backstory as the two spend some alone-time together. Their conversation is surprisingly civil. Paul eventually confesses to Brandon about his illness when Brandon brings up the recent issue of mysterious hospital bills. He is willing to do this to test his father's resolve, seeing if he can battle at his best with the knowledge that one of his sons will one day suffer the same fate as his wife from an early age. This affects Brandon rather badly, but he is able to hide his apprehension. Paul makes Brandon swear to never share this information with Reggie, as that will only prove to be detrimental to his performance in battle, and seeing Reggie finally fired up similar to Paul makes both wish to let Reggie progress in devleoping his battling style naturally and getting the battle over and done with before dropping the bomb on him about Paul's condition.
- Off-screen: Barry reaches Sunyshore City in hopes of defeating Volkner and earning his eigth and final badge. Unlike Paul (and later Ash), Barry is completely fine with simply taking the Beacon Badge freely given to him without having to battle at all.
- The following day, Brandon departs from Floaroma Town with very little resolution to this unexpected family reunion, as he remembers his primary objective for returning to Sinnoh and realizing there is nothing in Floaroma Town for him to make any use of. Reggie remains with his grandparents for a while longer, but Paul has no desire to stick around. Conway returns and tells Paul that he's discovered where his relatives are being held and wishes to go over and visit them. Paul agrees to accompany him and awkwardly bids farewell to his grandparents and Reggie, the latter of whom Paul has become a bit intimidated of. Before they can leave, Reggie expresses his desire to see Paul and Ash again, but this time in the Sinnoh League.
CHAPTER 27 (FLAMES OF CHANGE!)
DP163 (Fighting Fire with Ire!)
- After Paul and Conway reach the town where Saturn and Franny are jailed, the two split temporarily as Conway wishes to confront his relatives on his own. Paul gives Conway his privacy and waits at the Pokemon Center, where he and Ash inadvertently reunite for the first time since their battle at Lake Acuity. This is where Paul also meets Barry for the first time, but he couldn't care less for Barry's status as his adoring fan. He declines Barry's request to battle, saying he currently isn't accepting random challenges in favor of prepping his Pokemon for the Sinnoh League, focusing on that alone. Barry pleads with him, so Paul suggests that Barry should battle Ash if he is so desperate. As Barry tells Paul that Ash is not on "their level" as he still has only seven badges, Paul feels a bit more a peace to see even more evidence that he is still ahead of his rival. However, he becomes enraged when he learns where Ash is headed: Sunyshore City. He angrily tells the group that the city's Gym is not legit, and while Barry claims that it is the best Gym in Sinnoh, Paul refers to it as the worst, remembering the embarrassing things he and Conway had to do to earn the Beacon Badge in Chapter 22. This leaves Ash & Co. curious as to how Paul and Barry can have such contrasting views of the Sunyshore Gym. Paul exits the Pokemon Center to avoid any further questioning.
- Dawn learns that the Grand Festival is to be held at Lake Valor in the same dome where the Wallace Cup was held.
- Meanwhile, Conway arrives at the prison Saturn and Franny are being held in during visiting hours so he can get a full story from both of them on the Team Galactic ordeal. Now that they've spent time at such a place, Conway wants to believe there is hope for redemption so that they may eventually earn their freedom and make up for their terrible treatment of him. Naturally, Saturn and Franny are shocked upon seeing Conway alive. Conway explains how he evaded his death and why he never revealed the truth until now. He asks for details from both Saturn and Franny about Team Galactic, their motives, and what happened that ultimately landed them in prison. Franny expresses remorse for her actions, though Saturn is less willing to admit to his fallacies.
- While Paul is taking a stroll through town and waiting for Conway to finish up, he happens upon Ash and Barry's battle in the park, where Ash's Monferno is pitted against Barry's Empoleon. He silently watches the action transpire, going completely unnoticed by everyone else in the vicinity. After Monferno is knocked out of sight, Team Rocket attacks in a new way: trapping the trainers before capturing their Pokemon. Paul watches most of this without stepping in to help, silently testing his rival and potential rival-to-be and their ability to prevail from a crisis like Paul himself had to several times so far. He witnesses Monferno return, overcome by Blaze again and is shocked when he sees Ash engulfed in the flames as he attempts to calm Monferno. Seeing Ash's resilience and determination leaves Paul speechless, as this scene reminds him of how Reggie had to go through a similar trial when he was young just before his starter became Infernape. Similarly, Ash reaching out to Paul's former Pokemon invokes an evolution, resulting in Monferno evolving to Infernape. Paul finally steps in to help by sending in Electabuzz suddenly when Pikachu, Piplup, and Emploeon's lives are endangered, only to fail in rescuing them alone. Through Electabuzz's and Infernapes' combined efforts, they save the day. While the issue of Ash mirroring his brother is still bothersome, Paul finally brings himself to respect Ash as a trainer and a person after seeing what he endured. He is certain that he never would have been able to endure the burden and bring out Infernape's full power as Ash had. Reluctantly, he admits that Infernape has become very powerful after all, and before departing from the group, he tells Ash about Reggie's wish to see the two battle again at the League. Ash looks forward to it and watches on as Paul walks away.
- Finally enlightened on Saturn's intentions, Conway sees his cousin for who he truly is at last, without having to base it on assumption. While it is hard to swallow, he sees that Saturn only regrets how the mission went about and nothing more. On the other hand, Franny is miserable for what she inadvertently supported and is also shocked to see Saturn's true colors. While she always disliked her brother, she expresses genuine gratitude that Conway survived after all (Saturn, on the other hand, is just annoyed). Since Franny was just a misled minion, Conway is delighted to learn his sister's sentencing is not for long and is up for parole. Saturn is not so fortunate, but Conway has finally rid himself of his attachment to his cousin and finds the punishment just. He promises Franny that he will set things straight with the rest of the family soon and looks forward to the day they reunite and hopefully begin anew, for the better.
- By the end of the day, Paul and Conway regroup and resume their travels. Conway tells Paul what came of his visit and tells him that his source of inspiration has shifted now that Team Galactic has disbanded and Saturn has been dealt with. He no longer has to hide his identity, and having earned eight badges now, Conway tells Paul that he will participate in the Sinnoh League Conference after all. Paul is genuinely happy to hear this, though looks doubtful when Conway says he hopes the two of them will battle there. Additionally, Paul wonders about Barry, having a strange, almost familiar feeling about him even though his attitude screamed "amateur trainer". Conway, pretending that he had never met Barry before once Paul tells him about it, says he will look up his background details for Paul's benefit.
CHAPTER 28 (TRIVIAL PURSUITS!)
DP164 (Piplup, Up, and Away!) - DP173 (Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!)
- There is nothing left for Paul and Conway now but to train for the Sinnoh League, which they do on a daily basis. Conway is keeping up well thanks to his accumulated experiences in battle since he reunited with Paul at Canalave City. He does "extensive research" on Barry to satiate Paul's curiosity; when Paul learns that Barry too is the son of a Frontier Brain, he becomes much more determined to take him down in battle one day, regardless if it's informal or at the Sinnoh League itself. He feels a natural rivalry with Barry in this regard, which makes Conway a little jealous as he feels his rivalry with Paul has become "secondary" to Paul's rivlary with Barry that barely has any basis whatsoever.
- Off-screen: Dawn's Piplup learns Hydro Pump. Ash & Co. finally reach Sunyshore City and suffer the defensive mechanisms of the Gym, but end up being saved by Flint, who gives them a tour of the city and properly introduces the group to Volkner while detailing his long list of accomplishments. Flint tries to appeal to Flint by asking him to battle Ash, but Volkner asks them all to leave. While having a meal elsewhere in the city, Flint provides exposition on volkner's backstory, including the pair's long, on-going rivalry. Volkner eventually reconsiders battling Ash when he sees shades of his younger self during a match with Volkner. However, once their Gym Battle finally commences, Team Rocket tries to steal the Sunyshore Tower. While it is recovered and Ash's Grotle evolves to Torterra in the process, the tower and Gym sustains severe damage that will require some downtime to repair before Ash and Volkner can battle proper. During that time, Dawn prepares for the Grand Festival.
- Conway learns about the Grand Festival and begs Paul to come along and watch, but Paul has no interest in such a thing when he could be using that time to train. He does, however, allow Conway to at least watch the competition on TV from where they currently are. Paul keeps in mind that even though he wants Cownay to become a strong trainer, that he doesn't want to overdo it and make Conway too strong for him to handle should they cross paths in the League.
- Reggie is back home, though he has maintained contact with his grandparents almost daily since he finally left them. As Reggie learns more and more about them, the angrier he gets when he thinks about how Brandon never told him about them, as it seems they are good people after all who could have looked after him and Paul when they were young after their mother died and Brandon left for Kanto. The hard work he has done on the farm combined with his rage has made Reggie ridiculously powerful both as a person and in regards to his Pokemon. However, the uncontrolled wanton destruction that occurs during every training session now has Maylene concerned that this power boost at the cost of his level-headedness will prevent him from ever defeating Brandon, even if their power becomes equally matched.
- Off-screen: Jessie (as Jessilina) wins her fourth ribbon at the Neighborly Town Contest, meanwhile Dawn perfects her Ice Chandelier combination with Buneary and Pachirisu. Afterwards, Ash & Co. meet Marley and assist a Shaymin. Then they meet the final member of the Elite Four, Bertha, who battles Ash and wins easily while teaching him a valuable lesson in concentration. Following that, Ash & Co. pass through Arrowroot Town and find that a Contest is taking place there. Since Dawn already has five ribbons, she doesn't plan to participate, but she then meets Princess Salvia: a girl who looks practically idenitcal to her in every way. Dawn grants Salvia's wish to trade places with her and participate in a Contest as a commoner with her talented Togekiss, while Dawn gets to be princess for a day. Salvia wins the Arrowroot Contest, but gives her ribbon to Jessilina, the Runner-up, out of kindness for putting up a good fight. Now Jessilina has five ribbons and qualifies for the Grand Festival. Before Ash & Co. part with Princess Salvia, she gives Dawn her Togekiss, beliving Togekiss to be better off getting to perform in the Grand Festival and future events as it always wanted to. Dawn accepts and thusly gains her sixth Pokemon.
- Roark contacts Reggie, only to get Maylene to pick up as Reggie is too consumed with his training. Roark informs her that he's on vacation now and was thinking of coming over for a much-overdue visit, knowing that Reggie is planning to face his father soon and wants to support his childhood friend. With Reggie's unstable condition, Maylene is unsure of whether or not this is a good idea as she explains the revelation Reggie experienced, which shocks Roark, especially after he learns that his father, Byron, also knew of this the whole time since he was one of two people who knew of Brandon's dirty secret and swore to never let it spread out. Enraged that his father would do such a thing, Roark declares that he will arrive at Veilstone City within a few days with Byron in tow... whether he wants to or not. Maylene is hesitant about letting this happen, but is soon quick to allow it as another old friend of Reggie's stops by for a so-called "long-overdue reunion"... Whitney, the Johto Gym Leader of Goldenrod City.
CHAPTER 29 (TBA)
DP174 (Last Call, First Round!) - DP177 (A Grand Fight for Winning!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. arrive at the Valor Lakefront as the Grand Festival begins. Dawn, Jessilina, Zoey, Ursula, Nando, and Kenny all qualified. It is also revealed that Nando has seven Gym Badges. Dawn passes the Appeal round with Cyndaquil and Buneary. All of her rivals but Kenny also pass through the Appeal rounds. Dawn goes on to defeat Ursula and Jessilina in the battle rounds while Zoey defeats Nando. The two main rivals face each other in the finals as they promised long ago the day they met in Jubilife City. However, despite the powerful combination of Piplup and Togekiss, Dawn loses against Zoey's Glameow and Gallade in a very close battle. Zoey wins the Ribbon Cup and becomes a Top Coordinator. Meanwhile, Ash learns that the Sunyshore Gym has been repaired and Volkner is awaiting his battle, hence their next destination is Sunyshore City.
- While Conway is saddened to see Dawn lose, he is happy that she made it so far in her first-ever Grand Festival and admanantly believes she will win next time. Paul is genuinely surprised that Zoey won. After watching the intense battles with Conway (despite some stubborn resistance at first), Paul sees Zoey as a very competent trainer and this only further drives his desire to win the Sinnoh League. Conway can't help but be amused how immersed Paul was in the Grand Festival broadcast, but is quickly dragged out so the two can do more training.
- Back in Veilstone City, Reggie's rage is sufficiently buffered by Whitney's presence - mostly due to the surprise of her just being there (apparently she has been inspired to try out Contests in this region like Jasmine will later in the anime and has left her Gym in the care of a friend), but Whitney goes out of her way to soothe Reggie's woes and flirts with him shamelessly, all of which goes right over Reggie's head. It does not get by Maylene, however, and the younger Gym Leader becomes enraged herself with jealousy. She also feels self-conscious in that she was unable to calm down Reggie the way Whitney did. Regardless, Maylene eventually gets fed up with Whitney hitting on her love interest (Whitney seems to be fully aware that she's "stealing" Reggie from her) and challenges her to a Gym Leader vs Gym Leader battle on the spot.
- The battle is one-sided as Maylene's specialty type has the advantage over Whitney's, giving Maylene an easy victory. It is bittersweet, however, as Whitney resorts to crying and overreacting like a child, prompting Reggie to tend to her "needs", though she makes it obvious to Maylene that it's all an act just to prove that she is the kind of girl Reggie needs, but again Reggie is oblivious to the love rivalry going on between him. He's very kind and attentive to Whitney, grateful that her visit distracted him from his family drama that he had been dwelling on for too long. At the same time, Reggie is becoming concerned for Maylene, seeing her behavior and rage not too different from his own and wonders what is prompting it; he is fearful for the path Maylene is taking.
- Not long after the battle, Roark and Byron show up, reminding Reggie exactly what made him so upset in the first place. He's happy to see Roark after such a long time, but Byron's presence makes him tense. As politely as he can, he requests that Byron share his side of the story about the scandal with Brandon's parents, as only he and Palmer were entrusted with the truth. Roark is much less polite about interrogating his father, still highly upset at him for what happened, but Reggie agrees to hear Byron out as he provides more details to Brandon's past, in which Reggie eventually discovers two important details: Brandon was apparently destined for great things from the beginning, and there is much more in common between Reggie and Brandon than what was initially believed.
- Byron suggests that Reggie battle him; both for old times' sake and to see how much Reggie has progressed in his training to see whether or not he's ready to face Brandon. Byron is one of the most reliable sources to pass judgment, seeing as he and Brandon were rivals for several years, and to a degree still are. Because of that, Reggie agrees to it, and everyone present is eager to see the battle.
CHAPTER 30 (TBA)
DP178 (For the Love of Meowth!) - DP182 (An Old Family Blend!)
- Note: This chapter will function primarily as a "clip show" with several topics in the chapter involving characters reminiscing the events of the past 29 chapters and the series itself.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. revisit Sunyshore City and Ash finally has his battle with Volkner. Ash narrowly defeats the Gym Leader's Volteon, Luxray, and Electivire with Torterra, Pikachu, and Infernape. With this victory, Ash earns the Beacon Badge and his eighth total for Sinnoh, which qualifies him for the Sinnoh League Conference.
- Reggie and Byron's battle results in Reggie decimating Byron with relative ease. It both amazes and horrifies the group watching this match (Maylene, Roark, and Whitney). This is a full battle involving Reggie's main six and Byron's Bastiodon, Skarmory, Steelix, Magnezone, Aggron, and Bronzong. Byron is especially taken aback by Reggie's fierceness. He doesn't doubt that in terms of strength, Reggie is ready to contend with Brandon, but like everyone else he is believing Reggie's lack of mental stability is going to ultimately cost him the match. No one will actually tell Reggie about this upfront, either being too afraid to express the concern or feeling that Reggie needs to figure it out for himself - that at this stage, no one but Reggie himself can regain the level-headedness he once had.
- Off-screen: On the way to Lily of the Valley Island, Ash & Co. encounter Kenny undergoing special training with Jasmine, a Gym Leader from Johto who, like Whitney, was interested in trying out Contests in Sinnoh. Kenny is training for the next Grand Festival, which makes Dawn realize that she hasn't made any plans for her future even though this year's Grand Festival has come and gone. The group also meet up with Flint, who announces he is training in preparation for challenging Cynthia in the near future. Flint and Jasmine battle while Kenny issues a challenge to Ash, saying that if he wins, Dawn has to travel with him. While Kenny wins the battle, Dawn announces that she will decide for herself what her future entails, saying that for now her first priority is to cheer Ash on in the Sinnoh League Conference.
- Paul is contacted to be informed about the situation with Reggie, though Paul already knows how and why Reggie is like this. Much as he'd like to help his brother, he's too far away from Veilstone City to help in person as the Sinnoh League is right around the corner and taking place on an island. Knowing that Reggie is only getting worse worries Paul, who has enough to worry about already as far as the League is concerned. Conway cheers him up while they travel to the island, reminding him of all the hardships they've endured since they re-met in Canalave City. He points out that what they've lived through (or currently are, in regards to Paul's illness) were much greater burdens and as such, they should not be dwelling over issues they can't do anything about. Conway's certain that Reggie will come back to his senses once he realizes the Sinnoh League Conference is commencing.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. meet a trainer named Buck while on a ferry set for Lily of the Valley Island. As a treasure hunter, Buck was aiming for a completely different island in pursuit of something valuable. With the help of Ash & Co., Buck ends up with a powerful Claydol in his possession.
- Once Paul and Conway arrive on Lily of the Valley Island, they temporarily split ways. Conway happens upon Ash & Co., who have also just come to the island for the same purpose. Conway remembers the fond times he had with this group in the past and offers a brief hello to Dawn whilst informing them all that he will be a competitor in the League. It takes a lot of courage for Conway to actually do this, given his emotional scarring via Mars back in Chapter 10, but he manages to leave the past where it is, especially with Team Galactic (and consequently Mars) no longer a threat. He feels relieved and refreshed to be able to creep Dawn out again as he used to in the past and decides he will do everything he can to impress her in this competition. While taking a stroll, Conway happens upon a strange device laying stranded on the ground: an Electrizer. Since it's been abandoned, Conway seizes it and knows exactly what to do with it.
- Paul, meanwhile, decides to contact Brandon and bring him up to speed on the Reggie situation (as well as the fact that he will be competing in the Sinnoh League Conference soon). Brandon assures Paul he will be watching the League on TV, but is apprehensive when Paul requests that he instead tries to directly get involved with the Reggie situation, as Paul has doubts about Reggie being able to overcome his problems on his own. Since the problems are directly Brandon's fault, Paul feels that if his father was serious about trying harder about being a father that he would understand when to bite the bullet and help his children. Brandon finds that he can't argue this and begrudgingly agrees to visit Reggie again immediately.
- Off-screen: Ash decides to let his older Pokemon have a role in this League conquest as he exchanges his current team for Corphish, Totodile, Cyndaquil, Bayleef, Glalie, Torkoal, Noctowl, Muk, and Snorlax (by mistake; meant to be Heracross). Ash & Co. eventually lose track of them and regain them, fighting off Team Rocket meanwhile and Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava in the process.
- As night falls, the opening ceremonies for the Lily of the Valley Conference are underway. Paul and Conway watch on as the preliminary match-ups for the next day are determined. Paul spots Ash and Barry amongst the group of trainers lined up in the stadium. Ash finds that his first opponent will be Nando. Conway and Paul agree that their past mishaps are irrelevant at this time: now, they needed to focus on not only their opponents, but potential future competitors and ones who pose as the biggest threats to their success. Then Conway offers Paul one last bit of help, since Paul's been deliberating over the issue of his Electabuzz not evolving yet. He convinces Paul to lend Electabuzz to him for the time being, as Conway says he knows how to rectify the problem. It surprises Paul how much he feels he's able to trust Conway at this point now, but he agrees to it.
Any comments and suggestions are welcome, though I assume you all wouldn't dare try to actually go through all this.
TRAVELS OF THE TRIFECTA! TIMELINE
CHAPTER 16 (VIVA LA REGI-LUTION!)
DP129 (Pillars of Friendship!)
- Brandon, Ash, Brock, Dawn, Maria, & Samuel board the Battle Pyramid in pursuit of J's troops at the Snowpoint Temple. The pyramid is shot down, requiring Brandon and the others to continue the chase on a smaller flying vehicle while Samuel stays behind to repair the pyramid.
They arrive too late, as J awakens Regigigas by destroying the three pillars protecting the orb in which Regigigas sleeps. Regigigas awakens in a rage, nearly destroying Snowpoint Temple. Brandon attempts to calm the beast by capturing it (which is what he planned to do all along) and nearly succeeds, only to be interrupted by J. Regigigas uses Confuse Ray, causing Brandon's other Regis to become unstable and destructive; Brandon is unable to recall any of them.
- Brandon's 3 Regis become petrified statues to protect Regigigas from J. Brandon realizes what they are doing and ultimately sacrifices himself to protect Regigigas, also becoming a statue like his Pokemon. J's client cancels the order, prompting her to retreat, leaving Brandon and the Regis in their petrified state. Maria begs the now-calmed Regigigas into restoring them all, and a grateful Brandon takes it up himself to keep Regigigas safe in the future as it goes back to sleep inside its orb. In place of the broken pillars of Rock, Ice, and Steel, Brandon makes Regirock, Regice, & Registeel the new pillars. He agrees to stay for a while to help Maria repair the massively-damaged temple.
- After Ash & Co. depart for Lake Acuity, Brandon wonders what to do from here now that he has officially failed to capture Regigigas and sacrificed the Regis that were in his possession to ensure Regigigas' safety.
- During the car ride back to Snowpoint City, Paul finally tells Reggie the truth about why Conway is no longer with him, but cannot bring himself to tell Reggie about his recently-diagnosed disease. They both notice trails of smoke in the distance not far from where they were before leaving, making them both wonder if Brandon has run into trouble somehow. Concerned, Reggie turns the car around and drives to the Snowpoint Temple to find out what's going on.
CHAPTER 17 (WE'RE GONNA NEED A MONTAGE!)
DP130 (Frozen on Their Tracks!)
- Reggie, Paul, & Brandon reunite as the brothers learn about what happened. Paul finally learns about the controversial move Brandon has made in regards to Regigigas and Brandon admittedly does not yet know how he will approach the committee about his failure to capture what he promised to get for them. The three catch up on each other's progress and reflect on the full battle between Paul & Brandon. Despite this, Paul still can't bring himself to tell either of them about his condition.
- Since Brandon will be staying in the Snowpoint area for a while to reconstruct the temple, Paul & Reggie help to a degree while Reggie agrees to train Paul for the next 10 days to prepare for the full battle with Ash. Paul learns exactly how Ash defeated Brandon at the Battle Frontier and takes this into consideration while he attempts to build a strategy that will not only decimate Ash, but impress both Reggie and Brandon. Now that Brandon can be contacted more reliably, he encourages his sons to contact him any time they need his advice. Brandon requests that Paul battle Ash with six Pokemon of his (Brandon's) choice and swaps half of Paul's team, replacing Hariyama, Lairon, and Nidoking with Torterra, Honchkrow, and Weavile.
- Reggie and Paul undergo an intense 3-on-3 battle (Swalot/Staraptor/Infernape vs Weavile/Honchkrow/Torterra) which Reggie's own progress is shown as he easily defeats Paul several times, showing that Reggie has finally become more like his old self before he retired, which has rapidly increased his strength and consequently makes him a very fierce opponent that Paul is unable to defeat. In spite of this, he does manage to evolve his Magmar to Magmortar (this will be confirmed next chapter).
- Paul finally has a nervous breakdown after his Torterra is critically injured by Reggie's Infernape, while Reggie suspects the family reuniting a second time was meant to help Paul in his time of need, just like the first reunion was meant for aiding Reggie himself. He strongly feels the three will cross paths once more in an unlikely area and situation, and the third meeting will help Brandon recover from a yet-to-be-ascertained issue. Paul decides while he is directionless as a battler now, he will push Reggie into being Brandon's true heir and carrier of Brandon's legacy due to his superior strength, resolve, and longevity.
- Conway has captured a Lickitung off-screen and trains it until it evolves to Lickilicky before defeating Fantina using it, Aggron, and Slowking. Barry also battles Fantina, but loses once again. Learning that this is Barry's third loss to Fantina, Conway offers to work with Barry to find out what he's doing wrong so Barry can score a win against her, but only on the condition that they do a little traveling to "get away from it all" - though this is really Conway's method of progressing in his own badge collection journey. At this point, Barry interrogates Conway about his "Colin" pseudonym and assumes him to be a spy for the forces of good. He also learns of Conway's flair for Contests, Conway's crush on Dawn, and dashes his hopes by informing him of his friend Kenny (who also crushes on Dawn). Though he's depressed with this news, he vows not to give up even though it is detrimental to his mission, effectively making Conway feel conflicted.
- Charon finds evidence of a gateway to the new world Team Galactic seeks in Mt. Coronet. Cyrus assigns him on the task of confirming this, also mandating that Saturn come along to work with him. At the same time, Jupiter is assigned to stake out at Lake Acuity alone to attempt to bond with Uxie (Mars and Saturn already failed to bond with Mesprit at Lake Verity and Azelf at Lake Valor, respectively) and Mars is assigned to assume the absent commanders' office duties.
- Off-screen: Ash, Brock, & Dawn take a train to Lake Acuity; 9 days have passed by this point. The group meets Detective Looker for the first time, who appears to be tracking down Team Galactic himself.
- During a brief montage, Barry and Conway are shown to be headed for Eterna City so Barry can train Conway for a battle against Gardenia. Along the way, Barry captures a Skarmory to add more variety to his team while Conway captures a Shuckle to train and use against Gardenia (as his present team largely possesses a Grass-type weakness).
CHAPTER 18 (THE WORST OF MESSES BECOME SUCCESSES!)
DP131 (Pedal to the Mettle!) - DP132 (Evolving Strategies!)
- Paul & Reggie reach Lake Acuity. While Paul has made excellent progress, he was still unable to defeat his brother, which gives him a cause for concern. He wonders why Reggie asked for this full battle now; Reggie explains that he noticed a change in Paul after his fight with Brandon and decided this was a perfect time to see how this change will affect Paul's battling style against someone whom Paul has defeated many times even though Ash was able to accomplish what neither Paul nor Reggie could. With Paul's massive losing streak, there are concerns, but he remains calm as Ash & Co. meet up with them at Lake Acuity and begin the full battle.
- The battle plays out exactly the way it did in the anime; Paul shows an obvious change in his tactics as he decimates Ash 6-2 by lulling Ash into a false sense of security rather than overwhelming Ash with power straightforward. Near the end of the battle, Ash's Chimchar evolves to Monferno, but fails to make a difference in the end.
- While Ash is taking his loss rather hard, Paul feels immensely relieved that he hasn't lost his touch after all and feels much more confident about challenging Candice now. He has also come to fully accept his situation in regards to his illness, but decides not to burden Reggie at this point with it, knowing that it would only hinder his brother's progress in becoming stronger. Seeing Reggie come so far in his training inspires Paul to keep on going in spite of the humiliating losses he suffered before this battle; he knows now thanks to Brandon that he needs to take a different approach to his methods if he ever wants to defeat his father. He also reflects on how Conway has had an influence on him, much as Paul had tried to deny it in the past and wonders what has become of him at this point.
- Paul goes back to Snowpoint City by himself, promising Reggie he will send him his Pokemon once he finds the nearest Pokemon Center. While the others head to the Pokemon Center near the lake, Brock briefly talks with Reggie privately to discuss his suspicions regarding the brothers and their connection to Brandon.
CHAPTER 19 (BLACK ICE BATTLE!)
DP133 (Uncrushing Defeat!) - DP134 (Promoting Healthy Tangrowth!)
- Off-screen: While Ash reflects on his loss to Paul, Brock stumbles upon the shadow of Uxie, the legendary pixie Pokemon of Lake Acuity. Before leaving, Dawn learns the next Pokemon Contest will be held in Lilypad Town.
- Paul challenges Candice to his rematch and finally defeats her, salvaging the old strategy Conway made for him and defeats Candice's Sneasel, Medicham, Snover, & Abomasnow with Torterra, Gliscor, Honchkrow, & Ursaring. Shortly after, he once again exchanges Gliscor for Magmortar once the battle is over with. Knowing his limitations now, Paul decides to take a safer route down the mountain range, now aiming for Sunyshore City to earn his final badge. He also has an interest in finding Conway to see what has become of him, feeling guilty for the way he had treated his former companion. He refuses to admit this to anyone else, however.
- Reggie returns to Veilstone City where he reunites with Maylene and learns about the situation Conway is faced with. There is nothing Reggie can do for him, as Conway left the area ages ago with no indication of where he went. He continues his own training.
- Brandon is actively researching other legends native to the Sinnoh region that might lead him to another legendary Pokemon he could possibly capture in place of Regigigas. He calls Professor Oak to give him an update on the situation in order to buy himself more time. As he continues to traverse his home region, Brandon is slowly overcome with nostalgia.
- Conway & Barry continue to be horrible influences on each other as they debate over what gym to conquer next. The two have made very little progress on that front, though Conway has learned much more about Team Galactic through Barry and some dumb luck. Barry attempts to coach Conway on how to approach Gyms by suggesting the Eterna Gym, but his influence is flimsy at best. However, in preparation to fight a Grass-type expert, Conway captures a Shuckle before challenging the Gym Leader. Conway eventually earns the Forest Badge, using Shuckle, Heracross, and Smoochum/Jynx against Gardenia's Roserade, Cacnea, and Turtwig.
CHAPTER 20 (THE BREAKS OF MAKING UP!)
DP135 (Beating the Hustle and Bustle!) - DP137 (Three Sides to Every Story!)
- As Brandon continues his search for a legendary Pokemon in Sinnoh, he meets up with childhood friend Palmer, who is on his way to Twinleaf Town for the festival. Brandon is too busy to partake in the festivities, but the two manage to catch up on what has been going on in their lives since Brandon left Sinnoh seven years ago. The two manage to contact Byron by video phone and discuss the progress their sons have made after all these years. Byron ultimately suggests to Palmer that Barry should challenge his son Roark to a Gym Battle eventually. All three men can't help but wonder what will become of their sons in the future.
- Byron manages to contact Barry and is surprised to see Conway with him. He strongly suggests both of them to go challenge Roark at the Oreburgh Gym for their next badge (Conway promises Byron he will return to Canalave City eventually to battle him for a badge as well), which they both agree to. The duo are becoming increasingly dysfunctional, but both manage to win the Coal Badge. After that, Barry and Conway split up. Barry is dead set on attending the Twinleaf Festival, which Conway decides to not join in favor of progressing in his own journey (as he is far behind in collecting badges). Conway realizes he needs a more varied, powerful team in order to progress, and knowing there are more powerful Pokemon on the eastern side of Sinnoh, Conway journeys towards Sunyshore City by himself to become strong enough to face Byron in the future.
- Saturn & Charon believe to have discovered the Spear Pillar within Mt. Coronet and begin to drill into the mountain, which causes adverse effects on the environment near the vicinity. What they find ends up being a fake and are ultimately chased away by Ash's group and Looker.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. decide to take a break from their Gym and Contest journeys in order to participate in the upcoming festival at Twinleaf Town.
- Veilstone Gym's renovations are almost complete, meaning Maylene must return to her Gym soon, greatly limiting her availability in regards to minding Reggie's breeding center while he trains. Reggie needs to step up his training in order to progress, but is both torn with the issue of leaving behind his breeding center and having to train alone again, remembering how disastrous the results were last time and how much better he fared while training with Maylene. It's shown here that Reggie's biggest fear is being alone.
- Paul is making steady progress towards Sunyshore City and consequently runs into Conway, who is reflecting on his progress and beginning to doubt himself. The two make amends for what happened in the past as Conway explains what he has been doing since Paul abandoned him, causing the latter to develop a bit of respect for him. They reunite as a duo to take on the Sunyshore Gym together. Paul also promises to help Conway in any way he can in regards to Team Galactic. In spite of this, Paul can't bring himself to tell Conway about his terminal disease.
CHAPTER 21 (PUTTING THE RITZ TO REST!)
DP138 (Strategy Begins at Home!) - DP141 (Challenging a Towering Figure!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. arrive at Twinleaf Town, Dawn's hometown, in preparation for the upcoming festival.
- Barry meets Ash & Co. again along with Palmer and enjoy the Twinleaf Festival together. There is a tournament held in which the winner will be given the opportunity to battle Palmer himself. Ash is the one who wins the tournament, but his Grotle ultimately loses against Palmer's Rhyperior. Palmer suggests that Ash challenge the Sunyshore Gym for his last badge, but Barry resolves to get there first.
- Maylene must return to Veilstone Gym now, but resolves to find a way for Reggie to conveniently continue his training while making sure the breeding center is well taken care of. He receives a call from an elderly couple from Floaroma Town inquiring about the status of a Pokemon Egg they left in Reggie's care some time ago. Reggie realizes it's time to return it to its owner and decides to deliver it personally, prepping the house so that the Pokemon will be taken care of without him needing to be there.
- Conway has carelessly been using his parents' credit cards to spend ridiculous amounts of money for food, hotel suites, and other privileges that most people cannot afford. He has been sharing this with Paul, who is a tad bit uncomfortable with all of this pampering. However, in true Home Alone 2 fashion, Conway has used the card so much that his parents have finally noticed that their credit cards have been stolen and report this. Eventually, the managers of the hotel Conway and Paul are staying at on the way to Sunyshore City catch on to this and attempt to apprehend Conway. He and Paul manage to slow down the managers enough to escape, but Conway now realizes how foolish he had been by letting this happen. The two continue on to Sunyshore City.
CHAPTER 22 (A FREE BADGE WITH EVERY MEAL!)
DP142 (Where No Togepi Has Gone Before!) - DP147 (Bagged Then Tagged!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. meet Lyra and Khoury from the Johto region, who are helping run the Johto Festival. Dawn defeats Lyra in battle and wins an egg, which later hatches into a Cyndaquil.
- After some tourism in Sunyshore City, Paul and Conway decide to approach Volkner and challenge him to a battle. They are surprised when upon reaching Sunyshore Gym, they find it armed with advanced technological security that Paul inadvertently suffers. Conway manages to hack his way past the security and enter the Gym, finding an irritated Volkner. He refuses to battle either of them until he issues the two a challenge: order him a meal from a fast-food restaurant and the one who offers the best value meal will earn a battle from him. Conway and (a very reluctant) Paul obey, only to find that Volkner was using them to fetch lunch for him and had no intention of battling either of them, having grown tired of weak challengers and finds no joy in doing his job any longer despite Paul and Conway's pleas. The second meal that was ordered goes to Flint, who takes the boys outside and offers a double battle to make up for it. Even though Paul and Conway lose, Volkner (who witnessed the match) forces Conway and Paul to accept his Beacon Badges and sets up a stand where Beacon Badges can be taken for free by other trainers so that he won't have to deal with any future challengers now that his Gym's security has been tampered with and therefore vulnerable.
- The Badge count is now: Paul with 8 (Coal/Cobble/Fen/Relic/Forest/Mine/Icicle/Beacon) and Conway with 6 (Cobble/Fen/Relic/Forest/Coal/Beacon); in chronological order.
- While dissatisfied with this result, Paul decides to finally do something for Conway and accompany him back to where their adventures started: Canalave City, so that Conway can battle Byron and earn his own Mine Badge. It will be a long journey, however, as they are now at the easternmost point of the Sinnoh region while Canalave City is the westernmost point. Paul is willing to endure it, however, as he has nothing better to do now since he has 8 badges and the Sinnoh League Conference will still be a while.
- Off-screen: The Lilypad Town Contest commences with Lyra & Khoury still in Ash's group as they watch Dawn compete. Ultimately, Dawn's Mamoswine is defeated by a Carnivine owned by Jessilina (James in disguise), who goes on to win the Lilypad Ribbon.
- Reggie meets the elderly couple in Floaroma Town where he delivers their Pokemon Egg. He learns that the two are old-school farming folk who have been struggling since their age has hindered their ability to maintain it. They had a son they were counting on to care for the farm once they became too old to do so themselves, but they had apparently lost their son long ago in a tragic accident. Remembering how helping the snowy neighborhood in Snowpoint City gave his Pokemon some form of training that paid off, Reggie decides to revive the farm for the couple despite the overwhelming amount of work involved for just one person and his Pokemon. He happily does so, and the couple insists he houses with them while he's working so hard. Over time, Reggie can't help but feel a sense of familiarity with these people...
- Since Reggie will be gone longer than he planned to, Maylene is able to recruit her parents' help in taking care of Reggie's daycare in his absence.
- Off-screen: Following a tag battle (which Ash and Dawn win), Lyra and Khoury split up from Ash & Co. and return to the Johto region.
CHAPTER 23 (GHOST BUSTED!)
DP148 (Try for the Family Stone!) - DP152 (The Battle Finale of Legend!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. are in the Floaroma Town vicinity (just having left Twinleaf Town) where Dawn learns that the next Pokemon Contest will be held in Daybreak Town. Coincidentally, Reggie is too consumed with the farm work to even notice their presence.
- Since Jupiter has been given the book on Uxie which Mars stole from Conway, she has been the last hope of Team Galactic bonding with at least one of the three legendary pixies of Sinnoh's major lakes (both Mars and Saturn already tried to bond with Mesprit and Azelf too late - i.e. after Dawn and Ash had already witnessed their silhouettes). She also realizes that she has arrived too late, as Brock had already bonded with Uxie quite a while ago. Angered that she was no more successful than her coworkers, she goes to the Fuego Ironworks to report to Charon and monitor his progress on the Red Chain. Saturn, meanwhile, is hard at work on Mt. Coronet, posthumously thanking his cousin Conway for the abundance of information that has helped Team Galactic get this far in reaching their goal. Jupiter and Charon are ambushed by Team Rocket, Detective Looker, and Ash & Co. but manage to retreat with the Red Chain, but not before Jupiter identifies Ash, Dawn, and Brock as the ones chosen by Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie.
- Pokemon Hunter J is hired to capture Mesprit, Azelf, and Uxie, which she succeeds in doing as a helpless Gary Oak looks on in the Lake Valor vicinity. As Team Galactic apprehends the captured pixies, their Future Sight attack causes J's ship to crash into a giant whirlpool within Lake Valor, completely submerging it. This causes an implosion, which presumably takes out J and all of her crew. Saturn is present here to keep Gary from interfering and is delighted to see how well things have gone for their ultimate plan so far. There may or may not be some scenes with Conway's sister as a grunt witnessing all of this and having doubts that doing these horrible things will lead them to a new world where everything wrong will be right.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. are met up with Cynthia, but all three are suffering as a result of their bond with the captured pixies. Eventually, Ash, Brock, and Dawn all disappear into thin air and are instantly teleported to Team Galactic's headquarters, where they learn that Cyrus is the leader of Team Galactic. Cyrus briefly succeeds in summoning Dialga & Palkia, though Ash & Co.'s efforts combined with the legendary pixies manages to suppress it and calm the legendary dragons.
- Saturn and Mars witness in utter horror of Cyrus' true intentions. Saturn holds Mars back from following Cyrus as he disappers into the portal for the new world, never to be seen again. Once all is said and done, Team Galatic is disbanded; Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter are all taken into custody by Officer Jenny, and it is presumed most grunts suffer the same fate, though Charon is conspicuously absent. However, Saturn reflects on all the years he dedicated his life for this moment, all for it to go to waste, and to lament that in the end, his presumed dead cousin came out on top, having at least lived his life for his own genuine pursuits rather than someone else's ideals. Franny is most likely taken into custody as well.
- With Conway's funds long since limited, he and Paul take to camping out most nights during the very long journey back to Canalave City. Due to this, they miss the news of Team Galactic's demise that becomes widespread in the media. However, during this night of bonding, Paul can no longer hold in his secret about his disease and talks to a mortified Conway about it. Paul justifies this action in testing Conway's resilience; Paul himself had to deal with this devastating, life-changing news while having to gain his last two badges and sees it fit that Conway earns his last two badges in a similar mindset. However, Paul makes Conway swear to keep this confidential from everybody, especially Reggie. Paul puts Conway through another test when it turns out that they have been camping out close to where the Pokemon Summer Academy was held, and therefore close to where a certain Dusknoir dwells. Paul, determined to get Conway to conquer his fear of ghosts, demands Conway to battle and capture it when they encounter it. However, Paul is tested as well as a certain Pokemon from his past that he released long ago, Froslass, comes back to haunt him. Eventually, Dusknoir is captured by Conway while Froslass is forcibly recaptured by Paul.
CHAPTER 24 (SECOND RIVALS ONCE REMOVED!)
DP153 (The Treasure is All Mine!) - DP154 (Mastering Current Events!)
- On their way to Canalave City, Paul and Conway pass by Brussel Town where Zoey is training for her upcoming Contest, hopeful to earn her fifth ribbon and qualify for the Grand Festival. Candice has come down all the way from Snowpoint City to give Zoey her support (reasoning that Snowpoint Gym rarely gets challengers by virtue of Snowpoint City's remote location in the region) and both girls are surprised to run into Paul again, also meeting Conway for the first time. Paul and Zoey still don't get along, but Conway fondly reminisces of the time where he had the luxury of competing in a Contest and is impressed by Zoey and Candice's special effects and is even more enthused when he learns that Zoey is Dawn's rival.
- Paul realizes this is an opportunity for Conway to earn his seventh badge and urges Conway to challenge Candice to a battle even though they are far away from her gym. Since Candice doesn't often get challengers, she is more than happy to comply with this request and offers an informal Gym Battle on the spot. Though caught by surprise and unprepared to take on an Ice-type specialist, Conway agrees to it and the group finds a suitable place to host a Gym Battle. Paul and Zoey are the argumentative commentators for this battle while Candice decides to use a different team than she usually does against her challengers; she still uses Abomasnow, but her other three teammates are Glaceon, Froslass, and Weavile. Conway challenges her with Aggron, Dusknoir, Heracross, and Lickilicky, using Candice's Weavile as the deciding factor, given that Conway is highly familiar with Paul's Weavile and therefore knows how to get around one. Through this, Conway earns the Icicle Badge and is only one more away from qualifying for the League. Paul is visibly impressed with how much Conway has improved since his first challenge against Maylene a long time ago and gains even more respect for Conway, but as usual, keeps it to himself.
- Conway wishes Zoey and Candice the best as he and Paul continue on to Canalave City. He wants to send Dawn some kind of message through Zoey, but still trying to keep himself as low on the radar as possible (still not aware of what became of Team Galactic) and restrains himself, which Paul sees as Conway significantly maturing and understanding the meaning of sacrifice. Candice is glad to see Paul is in relatively high spirits, remembering how devastated he once was when he was diagnosed with his disease and how low he felt after being defeated by Brandon, but cannot bring herself to tell Zoey about any of this, respecting Paul's wishes to keep it confidential.
- Off-screen: While still en route to Daybreak Town, Dawn learns of the upcoming Brussel Town Contest, and while it's too late for her to register, she wants to go to the Contest anyway after finding out that Zoey will be there competing. Shortly after taking that detour, Ash parts ways with his Gliscor, who stays behind with Air Battle Master McCann for training.
CHAPTER 25 (GOING EIGHT!)
DP155 (Double-Time Battle Training!) - DP157 (Gotta Get a Gible!)
- Reggie is still hard at work in Floaroma Town to revive the farm of his elderly customers, but the exercise is paying off handsomely as Reggie's Pokemon are showing to be stronger than ever before, leading Reggie to believe he is close to being ready to face off against Brandon, especially now that he no longer has the Regis to worry about. He wonders how Brandon is doing with his dilemma since it has been a while since the two parted ways. Though the elderly couple live in a house that seems to be half a century behind other residences as far as appliances are concerned (no TV, computer, very outdated kitchen equipment, and the earliest model of the video phone), Reggie is able to contact Brandon through this residence since Brandon gave his sons the ability to contact him whenever they felt the need. The elderly couple are nearby when Reggie makes the call; when Brandon answers and sees the elderly couple, realizing where Reggie is calling from, Brandon very abruptly ends the call before Reggie can get anywhere beyond a greeting, leaving him confused. The elderly couple is in shock upon seeing Brandon - even if only briefly - as they proclaim in awe of how much his appearance is similar to that of the son they lost over three decades ago. Reggie has been sensing a bit of familiarity with this couple ever since he arrived and even saw old pictures of the family prior to the loss of their son, but did not make the connection as he did not want to dredge up terrible memories for the elderly couple. But he finally asks the elderly couple what their son's name was, and much to his horror, they tell Reggie that their son's name was Brandon. Reggie has discovered that his paternal grandparents are alive and that Brandon purposely kept them away from his family all these years, even after Reggie and Paul were left to fend for themselves after their mother passed on and Brandon moved to Kanto. This invokes a unique rage within Reggie as he furiously tries to call Brandon back, only to get no response. Not wanting his grandparents to fear his nearly-uncontrollable rage at this point, Reggie isolates himself for a while as his grandparents let this disturbing revelation sink in.
- Paul and Conway have returned to Canalave City: where their adventure together began. Paul has used his free time to train Conway into becoming quite a competent battler despite the differences in their levels of experience. Paul's even beginning to think that Conway might become a potential threat if he participates in the League after all, though Conway's primary motivation is still focused on Saturn, whom Conway has no idea is incarcerated at this point. The boys reunite with Byron, and after the group catches up on what has happened since their last visit (primarily talking about Brandon), Byron accepts Conway's challenge while Paul focuses on this battle to see how Conway fares against Byron compared to his own performance in the past. Conway's team choices are Slowking, Dusknoir, and Castform; Byron will treat his opponent, since he is a returning guest, to the Platinum side of his team, meaning Conway will go against Bastiodon, Skarmory, and Magnezone. Regardless, Conway will eventually defeat Byron and earn the Mine Badge; his eigth total, which qualifies Conway for the Sinnoh League alongside Paul. Byron praises them both and wishes them the best, promising to watch the Conference on TV to keep an eye on them and keep them updated if he ever hears from Brandon again.
- On their way out of the Canalave Gym, Rhonda, who has been researching Paul after being impressed with his battling prowess way back in Chapter 11 (during Squallville's Pokeringer competition which she announced) and was awestruck by his physical similarities to another legendary trainer, finally discovers him and approaches him promptly for an interview, even calling him the "Pyramid Prince" after confirming her suspicions that Paul is Brandon's son. Conway mistakenly believes the press is after him and is not in disguise, feeling his cover will be blown if he's shown on TV alive. He begs Paul to take the fall for him, to which Paul reluctantly agrees as he deals with Rhonda and the Sinnoh Now crew surrounding him while Conway hides in a bush a short distance away.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. are in Brussel Town and are relaxing fresh off of Zoey's victory in that town's Contest, which earned her the number of ribbons necessary to qualify for the Grand Festival. While Dawn reflects on how her rival is now ahead of her and experiments new techniques for her upcoming Contest in Daybreak Town, Ash happens upon a TV where Rhonda's interview with Paul in Canalave City. Paul tries to keep the interview brief and professional, but confirms that he has earned eight badges and is prepared to win the Sinnoh League (as Rhonda obviously mistook him for being the victor of the battle that just took place at the Canalave Gym rather than Conway, the actual victor; to save Conway, however, Paul goes along with the rouse even though he had won the Mine Badge a long time ago). Ash realizes his own rival has gotten ahead of him as well, as he still only has seven badges presently.
CHAPTER 26 (A FAMILIAR RAGE RETURNS!)
DP158 (Regaining the Home Advantage!) - DP162 (Playing the Performance Encore!)
- Paul and Conway pass through Floaroma Town on their way back from Canalave City. They run into Reggie and both are filled in on the recent happenings in regards to Team Galactic's fate and the discovery of Paul and Reggie's paternal grandparents, still alive and well. While Paul is shocked initially, he does not take the news as hard as Reggie had. Reggie has clearly become unstable, which worries Paul, but the grandparents are more than willing to take care of Reggie and keep him under control until this situation can be sorted out. Paul agrees to bait Brandon into coming to Floaroma Town so they can finally get some answers in regards to his alleged "death" and why he never told his sons about his parents to begin with. Since Paul has qualified for the Sinnoh League at this point, he finds that he really has nothing better to do now.
- Though Brandon is difficult to persuade, Paul is able to act convincingly enough to lure his father to Floaroma Town with promises of finding evidence of legendary Pokemon residing in the area, which Brandon is still desperate for (having no luck on his own so far).
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. meet Black Belt master Clayton, who helps Ash's Buizel to master Ice Punch. Ash goes on to compete (and lose) in a Pokeathlon competition. Afterwards, the group reaches Daybreak Town where Dawn competes in the Contest and defeats her rival, Ursula, for the second time and wins the Daybreak Ribbon. This being her fifth ribbon, Dawn now qualifies for the Grand Festival.
- Brandon is trapped upon his arrival as a furious Reggie demands an explanation. Completely at his mercy, Brandon confesses that he faked his death back when he was a young ten year-old boy. He wanted to become a Pokemon Trainer, but his parents condemned him to work and manage their struggling farm for the rest of his life. Brandon despised his parents (similar to how Paul despises Brandon himself) and was willing to stage his own death in order to join his friends and embark on a journey, getting to travel and explore like he always wanted to. He never looked back ever since, managing to fool his parents for three decades that he was killed. Apparently Brandon relocated to Veilstone City, as he was fascinated by the meteors and enjoyed the atmosphere, meaning Brandon's hometown is in fact Floaroma Town.
- Paul actually understands Brandon's point of view, imagining that he would have done the same thing in the young Brandon's position. However, Reggie is enraged even further and almost attacks his father, needing to be held back by everyone else in order to do so. Reggie declares that he is ready to challenge Brandon to their promised battle now, but Brandon sees that Reggie is in no condition to battle without risking the safety of others. Reggie and Brandon are separated for a while so Reggie can cool down, though that is no easy task.
- Feeling like a fifth wheel in this scenario, Conway quietly excuses himself to look further into the news regarding what happened to Team Galactic, trying to find information that could lead him to his cousin and sister.
- Brandon, despite hating his place of origin, reminisces as he looks back at the farm where he used to spend many long and hard days laboring for healthy crops of food. He had very little freedom as a child, which he expresses to Paul, who is willing to listen to the rest of Brandon's backstory as the two spend some alone-time together. Their conversation is surprisingly civil. Paul eventually confesses to Brandon about his illness when Brandon brings up the recent issue of mysterious hospital bills. He is willing to do this to test his father's resolve, seeing if he can battle at his best with the knowledge that one of his sons will one day suffer the same fate as his wife from an early age. This affects Brandon rather badly, but he is able to hide his apprehension. Paul makes Brandon swear to never share this information with Reggie, as that will only prove to be detrimental to his performance in battle, and seeing Reggie finally fired up similar to Paul makes both wish to let Reggie progress in devleoping his battling style naturally and getting the battle over and done with before dropping the bomb on him about Paul's condition.
- Off-screen: Barry reaches Sunyshore City in hopes of defeating Volkner and earning his eigth and final badge. Unlike Paul (and later Ash), Barry is completely fine with simply taking the Beacon Badge freely given to him without having to battle at all.
- The following day, Brandon departs from Floaroma Town with very little resolution to this unexpected family reunion, as he remembers his primary objective for returning to Sinnoh and realizing there is nothing in Floaroma Town for him to make any use of. Reggie remains with his grandparents for a while longer, but Paul has no desire to stick around. Conway returns and tells Paul that he's discovered where his relatives are being held and wishes to go over and visit them. Paul agrees to accompany him and awkwardly bids farewell to his grandparents and Reggie, the latter of whom Paul has become a bit intimidated of. Before they can leave, Reggie expresses his desire to see Paul and Ash again, but this time in the Sinnoh League.
CHAPTER 27 (FLAMES OF CHANGE!)
DP163 (Fighting Fire with Ire!)
- After Paul and Conway reach the town where Saturn and Franny are jailed, the two split temporarily as Conway wishes to confront his relatives on his own. Paul gives Conway his privacy and waits at the Pokemon Center, where he and Ash inadvertently reunite for the first time since their battle at Lake Acuity. This is where Paul also meets Barry for the first time, but he couldn't care less for Barry's status as his adoring fan. He declines Barry's request to battle, saying he currently isn't accepting random challenges in favor of prepping his Pokemon for the Sinnoh League, focusing on that alone. Barry pleads with him, so Paul suggests that Barry should battle Ash if he is so desperate. As Barry tells Paul that Ash is not on "their level" as he still has only seven badges, Paul feels a bit more a peace to see even more evidence that he is still ahead of his rival. However, he becomes enraged when he learns where Ash is headed: Sunyshore City. He angrily tells the group that the city's Gym is not legit, and while Barry claims that it is the best Gym in Sinnoh, Paul refers to it as the worst, remembering the embarrassing things he and Conway had to do to earn the Beacon Badge in Chapter 22. This leaves Ash & Co. curious as to how Paul and Barry can have such contrasting views of the Sunyshore Gym. Paul exits the Pokemon Center to avoid any further questioning.
- Dawn learns that the Grand Festival is to be held at Lake Valor in the same dome where the Wallace Cup was held.
- Meanwhile, Conway arrives at the prison Saturn and Franny are being held in during visiting hours so he can get a full story from both of them on the Team Galactic ordeal. Now that they've spent time at such a place, Conway wants to believe there is hope for redemption so that they may eventually earn their freedom and make up for their terrible treatment of him. Naturally, Saturn and Franny are shocked upon seeing Conway alive. Conway explains how he evaded his death and why he never revealed the truth until now. He asks for details from both Saturn and Franny about Team Galactic, their motives, and what happened that ultimately landed them in prison. Franny expresses remorse for her actions, though Saturn is less willing to admit to his fallacies.
- While Paul is taking a stroll through town and waiting for Conway to finish up, he happens upon Ash and Barry's battle in the park, where Ash's Monferno is pitted against Barry's Empoleon. He silently watches the action transpire, going completely unnoticed by everyone else in the vicinity. After Monferno is knocked out of sight, Team Rocket attacks in a new way: trapping the trainers before capturing their Pokemon. Paul watches most of this without stepping in to help, silently testing his rival and potential rival-to-be and their ability to prevail from a crisis like Paul himself had to several times so far. He witnesses Monferno return, overcome by Blaze again and is shocked when he sees Ash engulfed in the flames as he attempts to calm Monferno. Seeing Ash's resilience and determination leaves Paul speechless, as this scene reminds him of how Reggie had to go through a similar trial when he was young just before his starter became Infernape. Similarly, Ash reaching out to Paul's former Pokemon invokes an evolution, resulting in Monferno evolving to Infernape. Paul finally steps in to help by sending in Electabuzz suddenly when Pikachu, Piplup, and Emploeon's lives are endangered, only to fail in rescuing them alone. Through Electabuzz's and Infernapes' combined efforts, they save the day. While the issue of Ash mirroring his brother is still bothersome, Paul finally brings himself to respect Ash as a trainer and a person after seeing what he endured. He is certain that he never would have been able to endure the burden and bring out Infernape's full power as Ash had. Reluctantly, he admits that Infernape has become very powerful after all, and before departing from the group, he tells Ash about Reggie's wish to see the two battle again at the League. Ash looks forward to it and watches on as Paul walks away.
- Finally enlightened on Saturn's intentions, Conway sees his cousin for who he truly is at last, without having to base it on assumption. While it is hard to swallow, he sees that Saturn only regrets how the mission went about and nothing more. On the other hand, Franny is miserable for what she inadvertently supported and is also shocked to see Saturn's true colors. While she always disliked her brother, she expresses genuine gratitude that Conway survived after all (Saturn, on the other hand, is just annoyed). Since Franny was just a misled minion, Conway is delighted to learn his sister's sentencing is not for long and is up for parole. Saturn is not so fortunate, but Conway has finally rid himself of his attachment to his cousin and finds the punishment just. He promises Franny that he will set things straight with the rest of the family soon and looks forward to the day they reunite and hopefully begin anew, for the better.
- By the end of the day, Paul and Conway regroup and resume their travels. Conway tells Paul what came of his visit and tells him that his source of inspiration has shifted now that Team Galactic has disbanded and Saturn has been dealt with. He no longer has to hide his identity, and having earned eight badges now, Conway tells Paul that he will participate in the Sinnoh League Conference after all. Paul is genuinely happy to hear this, though looks doubtful when Conway says he hopes the two of them will battle there. Additionally, Paul wonders about Barry, having a strange, almost familiar feeling about him even though his attitude screamed "amateur trainer". Conway, pretending that he had never met Barry before once Paul tells him about it, says he will look up his background details for Paul's benefit.
CHAPTER 28 (TRIVIAL PURSUITS!)
DP164 (Piplup, Up, and Away!) - DP173 (Dealing With a Fierce Double Ditto Drama!)
- There is nothing left for Paul and Conway now but to train for the Sinnoh League, which they do on a daily basis. Conway is keeping up well thanks to his accumulated experiences in battle since he reunited with Paul at Canalave City. He does "extensive research" on Barry to satiate Paul's curiosity; when Paul learns that Barry too is the son of a Frontier Brain, he becomes much more determined to take him down in battle one day, regardless if it's informal or at the Sinnoh League itself. He feels a natural rivalry with Barry in this regard, which makes Conway a little jealous as he feels his rivalry with Paul has become "secondary" to Paul's rivlary with Barry that barely has any basis whatsoever.
- Off-screen: Dawn's Piplup learns Hydro Pump. Ash & Co. finally reach Sunyshore City and suffer the defensive mechanisms of the Gym, but end up being saved by Flint, who gives them a tour of the city and properly introduces the group to Volkner while detailing his long list of accomplishments. Flint tries to appeal to Flint by asking him to battle Ash, but Volkner asks them all to leave. While having a meal elsewhere in the city, Flint provides exposition on volkner's backstory, including the pair's long, on-going rivalry. Volkner eventually reconsiders battling Ash when he sees shades of his younger self during a match with Volkner. However, once their Gym Battle finally commences, Team Rocket tries to steal the Sunyshore Tower. While it is recovered and Ash's Grotle evolves to Torterra in the process, the tower and Gym sustains severe damage that will require some downtime to repair before Ash and Volkner can battle proper. During that time, Dawn prepares for the Grand Festival.
- Conway learns about the Grand Festival and begs Paul to come along and watch, but Paul has no interest in such a thing when he could be using that time to train. He does, however, allow Conway to at least watch the competition on TV from where they currently are. Paul keeps in mind that even though he wants Cownay to become a strong trainer, that he doesn't want to overdo it and make Conway too strong for him to handle should they cross paths in the League.
- Reggie is back home, though he has maintained contact with his grandparents almost daily since he finally left them. As Reggie learns more and more about them, the angrier he gets when he thinks about how Brandon never told him about them, as it seems they are good people after all who could have looked after him and Paul when they were young after their mother died and Brandon left for Kanto. The hard work he has done on the farm combined with his rage has made Reggie ridiculously powerful both as a person and in regards to his Pokemon. However, the uncontrolled wanton destruction that occurs during every training session now has Maylene concerned that this power boost at the cost of his level-headedness will prevent him from ever defeating Brandon, even if their power becomes equally matched.
- Off-screen: Jessie (as Jessilina) wins her fourth ribbon at the Neighborly Town Contest, meanwhile Dawn perfects her Ice Chandelier combination with Buneary and Pachirisu. Afterwards, Ash & Co. meet Marley and assist a Shaymin. Then they meet the final member of the Elite Four, Bertha, who battles Ash and wins easily while teaching him a valuable lesson in concentration. Following that, Ash & Co. pass through Arrowroot Town and find that a Contest is taking place there. Since Dawn already has five ribbons, she doesn't plan to participate, but she then meets Princess Salvia: a girl who looks practically idenitcal to her in every way. Dawn grants Salvia's wish to trade places with her and participate in a Contest as a commoner with her talented Togekiss, while Dawn gets to be princess for a day. Salvia wins the Arrowroot Contest, but gives her ribbon to Jessilina, the Runner-up, out of kindness for putting up a good fight. Now Jessilina has five ribbons and qualifies for the Grand Festival. Before Ash & Co. part with Princess Salvia, she gives Dawn her Togekiss, beliving Togekiss to be better off getting to perform in the Grand Festival and future events as it always wanted to. Dawn accepts and thusly gains her sixth Pokemon.
- Roark contacts Reggie, only to get Maylene to pick up as Reggie is too consumed with his training. Roark informs her that he's on vacation now and was thinking of coming over for a much-overdue visit, knowing that Reggie is planning to face his father soon and wants to support his childhood friend. With Reggie's unstable condition, Maylene is unsure of whether or not this is a good idea as she explains the revelation Reggie experienced, which shocks Roark, especially after he learns that his father, Byron, also knew of this the whole time since he was one of two people who knew of Brandon's dirty secret and swore to never let it spread out. Enraged that his father would do such a thing, Roark declares that he will arrive at Veilstone City within a few days with Byron in tow... whether he wants to or not. Maylene is hesitant about letting this happen, but is soon quick to allow it as another old friend of Reggie's stops by for a so-called "long-overdue reunion"... Whitney, the Johto Gym Leader of Goldenrod City.
CHAPTER 29 (TBA)
DP174 (Last Call, First Round!) - DP177 (A Grand Fight for Winning!)
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. arrive at the Valor Lakefront as the Grand Festival begins. Dawn, Jessilina, Zoey, Ursula, Nando, and Kenny all qualified. It is also revealed that Nando has seven Gym Badges. Dawn passes the Appeal round with Cyndaquil and Buneary. All of her rivals but Kenny also pass through the Appeal rounds. Dawn goes on to defeat Ursula and Jessilina in the battle rounds while Zoey defeats Nando. The two main rivals face each other in the finals as they promised long ago the day they met in Jubilife City. However, despite the powerful combination of Piplup and Togekiss, Dawn loses against Zoey's Glameow and Gallade in a very close battle. Zoey wins the Ribbon Cup and becomes a Top Coordinator. Meanwhile, Ash learns that the Sunyshore Gym has been repaired and Volkner is awaiting his battle, hence their next destination is Sunyshore City.
- While Conway is saddened to see Dawn lose, he is happy that she made it so far in her first-ever Grand Festival and admanantly believes she will win next time. Paul is genuinely surprised that Zoey won. After watching the intense battles with Conway (despite some stubborn resistance at first), Paul sees Zoey as a very competent trainer and this only further drives his desire to win the Sinnoh League. Conway can't help but be amused how immersed Paul was in the Grand Festival broadcast, but is quickly dragged out so the two can do more training.
- Back in Veilstone City, Reggie's rage is sufficiently buffered by Whitney's presence - mostly due to the surprise of her just being there (apparently she has been inspired to try out Contests in this region like Jasmine will later in the anime and has left her Gym in the care of a friend), but Whitney goes out of her way to soothe Reggie's woes and flirts with him shamelessly, all of which goes right over Reggie's head. It does not get by Maylene, however, and the younger Gym Leader becomes enraged herself with jealousy. She also feels self-conscious in that she was unable to calm down Reggie the way Whitney did. Regardless, Maylene eventually gets fed up with Whitney hitting on her love interest (Whitney seems to be fully aware that she's "stealing" Reggie from her) and challenges her to a Gym Leader vs Gym Leader battle on the spot.
- The battle is one-sided as Maylene's specialty type has the advantage over Whitney's, giving Maylene an easy victory. It is bittersweet, however, as Whitney resorts to crying and overreacting like a child, prompting Reggie to tend to her "needs", though she makes it obvious to Maylene that it's all an act just to prove that she is the kind of girl Reggie needs, but again Reggie is oblivious to the love rivalry going on between him. He's very kind and attentive to Whitney, grateful that her visit distracted him from his family drama that he had been dwelling on for too long. At the same time, Reggie is becoming concerned for Maylene, seeing her behavior and rage not too different from his own and wonders what is prompting it; he is fearful for the path Maylene is taking.
- Not long after the battle, Roark and Byron show up, reminding Reggie exactly what made him so upset in the first place. He's happy to see Roark after such a long time, but Byron's presence makes him tense. As politely as he can, he requests that Byron share his side of the story about the scandal with Brandon's parents, as only he and Palmer were entrusted with the truth. Roark is much less polite about interrogating his father, still highly upset at him for what happened, but Reggie agrees to hear Byron out as he provides more details to Brandon's past, in which Reggie eventually discovers two important details: Brandon was apparently destined for great things from the beginning, and there is much more in common between Reggie and Brandon than what was initially believed.
- Byron suggests that Reggie battle him; both for old times' sake and to see how much Reggie has progressed in his training to see whether or not he's ready to face Brandon. Byron is one of the most reliable sources to pass judgment, seeing as he and Brandon were rivals for several years, and to a degree still are. Because of that, Reggie agrees to it, and everyone present is eager to see the battle.
CHAPTER 30 (TBA)
DP178 (For the Love of Meowth!) - DP182 (An Old Family Blend!)
- Note: This chapter will function primarily as a "clip show" with several topics in the chapter involving characters reminiscing the events of the past 29 chapters and the series itself.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. revisit Sunyshore City and Ash finally has his battle with Volkner. Ash narrowly defeats the Gym Leader's Volteon, Luxray, and Electivire with Torterra, Pikachu, and Infernape. With this victory, Ash earns the Beacon Badge and his eighth total for Sinnoh, which qualifies him for the Sinnoh League Conference.
- Reggie and Byron's battle results in Reggie decimating Byron with relative ease. It both amazes and horrifies the group watching this match (Maylene, Roark, and Whitney). This is a full battle involving Reggie's main six and Byron's Bastiodon, Skarmory, Steelix, Magnezone, Aggron, and Bronzong. Byron is especially taken aback by Reggie's fierceness. He doesn't doubt that in terms of strength, Reggie is ready to contend with Brandon, but like everyone else he is believing Reggie's lack of mental stability is going to ultimately cost him the match. No one will actually tell Reggie about this upfront, either being too afraid to express the concern or feeling that Reggie needs to figure it out for himself - that at this stage, no one but Reggie himself can regain the level-headedness he once had.
- Off-screen: On the way to Lily of the Valley Island, Ash & Co. encounter Kenny undergoing special training with Jasmine, a Gym Leader from Johto who, like Whitney, was interested in trying out Contests in Sinnoh. Kenny is training for the next Grand Festival, which makes Dawn realize that she hasn't made any plans for her future even though this year's Grand Festival has come and gone. The group also meet up with Flint, who announces he is training in preparation for challenging Cynthia in the near future. Flint and Jasmine battle while Kenny issues a challenge to Ash, saying that if he wins, Dawn has to travel with him. While Kenny wins the battle, Dawn announces that she will decide for herself what her future entails, saying that for now her first priority is to cheer Ash on in the Sinnoh League Conference.
- Paul is contacted to be informed about the situation with Reggie, though Paul already knows how and why Reggie is like this. Much as he'd like to help his brother, he's too far away from Veilstone City to help in person as the Sinnoh League is right around the corner and taking place on an island. Knowing that Reggie is only getting worse worries Paul, who has enough to worry about already as far as the League is concerned. Conway cheers him up while they travel to the island, reminding him of all the hardships they've endured since they re-met in Canalave City. He points out that what they've lived through (or currently are, in regards to Paul's illness) were much greater burdens and as such, they should not be dwelling over issues they can't do anything about. Conway's certain that Reggie will come back to his senses once he realizes the Sinnoh League Conference is commencing.
- Off-screen: Ash & Co. meet a trainer named Buck while on a ferry set for Lily of the Valley Island. As a treasure hunter, Buck was aiming for a completely different island in pursuit of something valuable. With the help of Ash & Co., Buck ends up with a powerful Claydol in his possession.
- Once Paul and Conway arrive on Lily of the Valley Island, they temporarily split ways. Conway happens upon Ash & Co., who have also just come to the island for the same purpose. Conway remembers the fond times he had with this group in the past and offers a brief hello to Dawn whilst informing them all that he will be a competitor in the League. It takes a lot of courage for Conway to actually do this, given his emotional scarring via Mars back in Chapter 10, but he manages to leave the past where it is, especially with Team Galactic (and consequently Mars) no longer a threat. He feels relieved and refreshed to be able to creep Dawn out again as he used to in the past and decides he will do everything he can to impress her in this competition. While taking a stroll, Conway happens upon a strange device laying stranded on the ground: an Electrizer. Since it's been abandoned, Conway seizes it and knows exactly what to do with it.
- Paul, meanwhile, decides to contact Brandon and bring him up to speed on the Reggie situation (as well as the fact that he will be competing in the Sinnoh League Conference soon). Brandon assures Paul he will be watching the League on TV, but is apprehensive when Paul requests that he instead tries to directly get involved with the Reggie situation, as Paul has doubts about Reggie being able to overcome his problems on his own. Since the problems are directly Brandon's fault, Paul feels that if his father was serious about trying harder about being a father that he would understand when to bite the bullet and help his children. Brandon finds that he can't argue this and begrudgingly agrees to visit Reggie again immediately.
- Off-screen: Ash decides to let his older Pokemon have a role in this League conquest as he exchanges his current team for Corphish, Totodile, Cyndaquil, Bayleef, Glalie, Torkoal, Noctowl, Muk, and Snorlax (by mistake; meant to be Heracross). Ash & Co. eventually lose track of them and regain them, fighting off Team Rocket meanwhile and Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava in the process.
- As night falls, the opening ceremonies for the Lily of the Valley Conference are underway. Paul and Conway watch on as the preliminary match-ups for the next day are determined. Paul spots Ash and Barry amongst the group of trainers lined up in the stadium. Ash finds that his first opponent will be Nando. Conway and Paul agree that their past mishaps are irrelevant at this time: now, they needed to focus on not only their opponents, but potential future competitors and ones who pose as the biggest threats to their success. Then Conway offers Paul one last bit of help, since Paul's been deliberating over the issue of his Electabuzz not evolving yet. He convinces Paul to lend Electabuzz to him for the time being, as Conway says he knows how to rectify the problem. It surprises Paul how much he feels he's able to trust Conway at this point now, but he agrees to it.
Any comments and suggestions are welcome, though I assume you all wouldn't dare try to actually go through all this.