Trifecta Timeline Part 1
Here's a detailed timeline of Travels of the Trifecta! in accordance to the anime's progress for the first fifteen chapters of the story. The timeline for chapters 16 - 30 can be found here. Chapters 31 onward can be found here.
TRAVELS OF THE TRIFECTA! TIMELINE
CHAPTER 1 (BROTHERLY SNUBS!)
Post-DP100 (Aiding the Enemy!) - DP101 (Barry's Busting Out All Over!)
- Off-screen: Paul travels from DP100's location to Eterna City, challenges Gardenia and earns the Forest Badge. Afterwards, he continues backtracking en route to Floaroma Town. A week has passed since DP100.
- Paul contacts Reggie at the Floaroma Town Pokemon Center to exchange Magmar for Electabuzz. Reggie gives Paul the letter from Brandon that officially issues both boys a challenge to earn his symbol after completing certain tasks.
Paul's current team: Torterra, Honchkrow, Weavile, Ursaring, Electabuzz, Gliscor.
- Paul leaves Floaroma Town and settles in at Jubilife City with intent to leave for Canalave City the next day through Jubilife's port.
- Off-screen: Barry meets Ash, Brock, and Dawn after losing to Fantina. He learns of their connection to Paul and loses to Ash in battle.
CHAPTER 2 (COME HELP OR HIGH WATER!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Paul leaves Jubilife City and is en route to Canalave City. After some mishaps, Paul meets Conway after the latter saves his life.
- Reggie reveals to have started his journey with a Chimchar (now an Infernape); he also has Marowak and Ampharos in addition to Staraptor, Swalot, and Bibarel. All six will be used against Brandon.
- Reggie leaves his daycare center in Maylene's hands and leaves to start his own training near Mt. Coronet.
CHAPTER 3 (MY WAY OR THE CONWAY!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Paul reaches Canalave City; Conway unofficially becomes Paul's traveling partner after offering to watch Paul's match with Byron.
- Reggie struggles to find a new battling style and has a drastic mental breakdown at Mt. Coronet.
- Conway is revealed to have captured a Castform since his last anime appearance (DP091 / One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!).
CHAPTER 4 (OVER THE BORDERLINE!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Brandon arrives in Cerulean City to search for clues on the whereabouts of Regigigas. He meets Misty and Tracey; the three travel to Pallet Town to meet Professor Oak.
- Paul gets the idea to find information on Regigigas at the Canalave Library and withhold it from Brandon.
- Reggie is struck by lightning and hallucinates images of his mother; he becomes emotionally unstable and must be sedated. It is suspected he has Borderline Personality Disorder.
CHAPTER 5 (IT'S ON LIKE BASTIODON!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Paul challenges Byron to a Gym Battle and wins the Mine Badge (Honchkrow, Ursaring, & Weavile are used). He falls ill shortly afterwards.
- Off-screen: Ash defeats Fantina and earns the Relic Badge. Buizel, Pikachu, & Chimchar are used.
- Conway and Maylene informally meet; Maylene informs Conway of Reggie's accident.
CHAPTER 6 (THE CHECKING ORDER!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Note: This chapter takes place solely at night.
- Brandon reaches Pallet Town, meets Professor Oak, and the two search the major libraries of each region to find information on Regigigas. One result is found in Canalave City, but the book is already in someone else's possession.
- Conway checks out the Regigigas book per Paul's request. He also checks out a book on Uxie for himself at this time.
- Paul and Conway have officially set their sights on Veilstone City the following day; meanwhile, Brandon travels to Vermilion City to hitch a ride across the sea to Canalave City in Sinnoh. He leaves the Battle Pyramid behind in Cerulean City.
CHAPTER 7 (LUCKY THERE'S A FAMILY GUY!)
DP103 (Jumping Rocket Ship!) - DP106 (A Breed Stampede!)
- Paul and Conway board a boat en route to Lake Valor early in the morning. The trip takes 3 days.
- Brandon arrives at the Canalave City port a few hours later and reunites with Byron. He learns of his family situation and rents a boat, going to Veilstone City through another route. He will also reach his destination within 3 days.
- The Frontier Brains of Kanto have a meeting to discuss the nature of Brandon's sudden disappearance. Samuel is sent to follow Brandon to Sinnoh with the Battle Pyramid. Brandon is now expected to return eventually with Regigigas.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company (plus Barry) arrive at Canalave City. Barry leaves the group to train at Iron Island. Days later, Dawn's Swinub evolves to Piloswine, then Mamoswine shortly after that.
- Off-screen: Feeling the need to train after losing to Paul (or possibly to slack off), Byron leaves for Iron Island for a few days, making him unavailable to Ash for a battle.
- Paul, Reggie, and Brandon reunite at Veilstone City. Brandon obtains the Regigigas book and leaves for Mt. Coronet. To inspire Reggie, Conway challenges Maylene to a Gym Battle the next day.
- Paul and Brandon promise to meet each other in northern Sinnoh in the near future for an informal Father vs Son battle.
- Paul reveals his Weavile was caught in Johto as a Sneasel and evolved via a Razor Claw given by Brandon. Brandon's Ninjask was originally caught by Paul the same day he captured Chimchar.
CHAPTER 8 (SUPER SMASH-BRAWLIN' MAYLENE!)
DP106 (A Breed Stampede!) - DP109 (Leading a Stray!)
- Paul and Conway assist each other on their Gym Battle strategies for Candice and Maylene, respectively. Paul meets Conway's family.
- The next day, Conway is informed that due to a technicality, the Uxie book he checked out now belongs to him.
- Off-screen: Byron returns to Canalave City, only to encounter an angry Roark. Ash & Company help to resolve the family feud.
- Roark calls Reggie to inform him that his family situation has been resolved.
- Conway defeats Maylene and earns the Cobble Badge. Due to a prophetic vision Reggie had, he mandates that Conway accompany Paul for his journey to Snowpoint City. The two leave Veilstone City and journey up to Route 216.
- Off-screen: Ash defeats Byron and earns the Mine Badge (Gliscor, Buizel, & Chimchar are used). The group sets their sights for Chocovine Town.
- Paul and Conway reach Butterbridge Town, just before Route 216. The duo temporarily breaks apart and Paul travels up the route alone. It has now been over 2 weeks since DP100.
CHAPTER 9 (DISCO MONFERNO!)
DP110 (Steeling Piece of Mind!) - DP115 (Stealing the Conversation!)
- Paul has an accident on Route 216 that injures him severely enough to keep him stuck at Butterbridge Town for a week and a half. Conway has saved his life for the second time. Now 3 (nearly 4) weeks have passed since DP100.
- Off-screen: Barry, still on Iron Island, enlists the help of Ash & Company (plus Riley) to rectify the situation on the island, which Team Galactic (led by Commander Mars) nearly destroys.
- The incident creates beams of energy throughout the skies of Sinnoh, which Reggie and Maylene notice when the meteors in Veilstone City react oddly. Samuel reaches Veilstone City in the Battle Pyramid, only to find that Brandon had long since left the area. Reggie and Maylene learn that Brandon had left on a mission of his own accord and did not take the Battle Pyramid with him. The Iron Island incident is resolved by Ash & Company off-screen, thus Reggie and Maylene do not take action.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company arrive in Chocovine Town, where Dawn competes in a Contest. She wins the Chocovine Ribbon. Elsewhere, Zoey wins her fourth ribbon in Cirribus Town.
- After Paul has healed, he and Conway continue their way to Snowpoint City. They settle in Plumeria Town for the night. Conway secretly signs himself and Paul up for the upcoming Plumeria Contest.
- Saturn (Conway's cousin) learns that Conway is in possession of a rare Uxie book, which Jupiter has been searching for. He plans to obtain the book and his cousin to become a future Galactic Grunt.
CHAPTER 10 (MARS ATTACKS!)
DP115 (Stealing the Conversation!)
- Conway wins the Plumeria Town Contest; Paul is the runner-up. Saturn, Franny, Reggie, and Maylene all witness this contest.
- Saturn sends Mars out to both obtain the Uxie book and recruit Conway.
- Paul and Conway leave Plumeria Town and travel to Squallville. They encounter Mars, who successfully steals the Uxie book and almost kidnaps Conway before Paul saves him.
- Due to the nature of the incident, Mars believes Conway fell to his death.
- Paul and Conway go their separate ways after a spat; Paul continues on to Squallville while Conway goes back the way he came. The life debt has been repaid.
CHAPTER 11 (FLYING-TYPE SOLO!)
DP116 (The Drifting Snorunt!) - DP118 (Pursuing a Lofty Goal!)
- Mars obtained the Uxie book but presumably lost Conway. Due to the previous events, she is forced to walk back to Galactic Headquarters.
- Paul arrives in Squallville late at night. He has sustained injuries and has become ill for the third time. He is forced to recover at the medical facility.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company start traveling up Route 216.
- Paul meets his doctor, Dalton, who seems to be an estranged relative of Conway's, though the connection is never made. Dalton makes some discoveries about Paul's physical health in general, but cannot come to any conclusions. Dalton is revealed to have been Paul's family doctor in the past.
- It is heavily insinuated that Paul has the same terminal disease his late mother had.
- At the doctor's suggestion, Paul decides to enter Squallville's PokeRinger competition as he has to stay in town to fully recover anyway.
- Paul unexpectedly meets up with Ash & Company, the latter of which is also in the PokeRinger competition. While Paul defeats Provo, the former reigning champion, he only achieves 2nd place with his Honchkrow, losing to Ash's newly-evolved Staraptor.
- It is revealed that Brandon has watched this competition broadcast, currently in Shelter Town.
- The test results come in, given to Paul to decide to do as he likes with them. He stores them away without looking for the time being, leaving Squallville for Snowpoint City.
CHAPTER 12 (YIPPEE KIAI-YAY!)
DP119 (Trials and Adulations!) - DP123 (Old Rivals, New Tricks!)
- Reggie's 18th birthday occurs, thus it has been officially a month (or more) since Chapter 7 (DP106). Maylene challenges Reggie to a full battle for his birthday present; Reggie accepts. Maylene's second half of her team is revealed to be Hitmontop, Breloom, & Primeape.
- Saturn confronts Mars for failing to file a full report on her mission and failing to bring back Conway. Mars informs Saturn that Conway is deceased.
- In order to take away any potential connection to Team Galactic, Saturn hires an outside source to find Conway's body and relocate it.
- Conway has spent the past few days moping at a hot spring on Route 216, lacking direction and still traumatized. He realizes that there are men looking for his (presumed) dead body and escapes them successfully with assistance from a wild Smoochum, which Conway later captures.
- Conway has officially chosen the path of battling in order to gain strength to properly defeat his cousin (and Team Galactic); he goes off back to Veilstone City in order to restock supplies and plan for what Gym to conquer first.
- Off-screen: The Sandalstraw Contest commences, resulting in Dawn losing to childhood rival Kenny.
- Paul reaches Snowpoint City after a few days, worn down and beaten. He runs into Candice immediately and challenges her to a battle.
- Due to Paul's exhaustion and deteriorating health, Candice sweeps him easily in the battle, taking out all of Paul's Pokemon (Torterra, Honchkrow, Ursaring, & Gliscor) with just Abomasnow.
- After vomiting blood in the Gym, Paul is admitted to the hospital where he nearly loses his life. He is confronted by Nurse Joy after waking up, who tells him up-front that he is terminally ill with the very same disease that killed his mother.
CHAPTER 13 (CONWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE!)
DP124 (To Thine Own Pokémon Be True!) - DP125 (Battling a Cute Drama!)
- Candice offers Paul her sympathy, but he has no desire to see visitors. He frets over how to handle the fact that he is terminally ill and whether or not to tell his family. He also realizes he must train more in order to defeat Candice and resolves to do that once he is well enough to leave.
- Reggie & Maylene's battle has spawned into a series of them, with Reggie rapidly gaining strength with each passing match. It is broken up when Reggie is required to return a Pokemon back to its trainer in Snowpoint City. He makes preparations to leave and Maylene is entrusted to take care of the breeding center.
- Off-screen: Ash, Dawn & Barry enter a Pokemon Ping-Pong tournament which results in Dawn releasing her Ambipom for further training in Kanto. Barry departs from the group afterwards, directly heading south.
- A week has passed since Saturn sent outside resource henchmen to recover Conway's body and clear the area of the helicopter debris. While there is no remaining trace of the helicopter now, Conway's body still has not been found. At this point, being in the clear, Saturn (as Sloan) informs his extended family of Conway's demise. This eventually spreads across the community and even the media.
- Conway returns to Veilstone City, deciding first to apologize to Reggie before going home, only to find that he has already left for Snowpoint City. Maylene remains, but she has heard the news of Conway's demise and is horrified to see him at first, but then relieved that he is alive. Conway realizes that he has been declared dead to the world. Maylene informs Conway that a funeral for him is being arranged.
- At first, Conway intends to stop the funeral and inform everyone he is alive, but changes his mind after reflecting on how he detests his family enough to spite them by letting them think he's dead. He witnesses his own funeral from a secret location, seeing it led by Saturn. During the ceremony, he convinces Conway's parents to legally sign all of Conway's belongings to him and also recruits Franny into Team Galactic.
- Conway sneaks into his own home to take whatever he can with him, including some of his parents' credit cards. He does not plan on ever returning home. He informs Maylene of his plans and to send Reggie his apology for him whenever possible. Conway determines what Gym he will face next and realizes that, since he is thought to be "dead" everywhere, he must create a new identity/alter-ego for himself. He borrows the name "Colin" and leaves Veilstone City, intent on reaching Pastoria City to face Crasher Wake.
- Paul is released from the hospital, and while in hiding, gives a message to Candice that their rematch will be in 3 days. Until then, and should Ash reach Candice before he does, Candice is to pretend to not be familiar with Paul and vice-versa.
CHAPTER 14 (BUT IT FEELS SO LONELY WITHOUT BARRY!)
DP126 (Classroom Training!) - DP127 (Sliding into Seventh!)
- Off-screen: 2 days have passed since Paul's ultimatum (at some point during his training, he contacts Maylene to swap one of his Pokemon for Magmar in order to better endure the wintery weather as he trains almost nonstop; most likely Weavile). Reggie arrives at Snowpoint City and insists on helping his customer clear out the snow blocking the roads of the residential blocks by using his Pokemon before completing his delivery. Reggie's clients insist on having him over as a guest during the nights before he finishes.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company reach Snowpoint City and join up with Zoey to meet Candice. Candice accepts Ash's challenge to a Gym Battle, but asks him to wait until tomorrow as she has a class to teach this day.
- Brandon and Samuel finally reunite. Brandon is back in his Battle Pyramid and informed of the deal made with the Battle Frontier association. Brandon flies for Snowpoint City after contacting Snowpoint Temple's caretaker, Maria, to set up an appointment to research the Temple in which Regigigas sleeps. By this point, the Battle Pyramid has been upgraded to implement advanced communication devices and navigation systems. They will reach Snowpoint City within a day's time.
- Conway runs into Barry after earning his second Gym Badge (against Crasher Wake; presumably Slowking, Heracross, & Smoochum are used) somewhere near Pastoria City's outskirts. The two immediately squabble, which escalates to a 3-on-3 battle. Barry's Staraptor defeats Conway's Smoochum, Conway's Slowking defeats Staraptor but is taken out with a kamikaze attack from Barry's Roserade. Both boys release their last Pokemon simultaneously, both of which are male Heracross.
- Unable to tell the two apart, the boys are confused as to how to handle the battle. The Heracross are offended and fly away into the next town, forcing Conway and Barry to chase after them and gradually bond as they aid each other in the search. Conway and Barry eventually decide to travel together; they both aim for Hearthome City to face Fantina for the Relic Badge. This will be the second time Barry challenges Fantina. Conway realizes he will need new additions to his Pokemon team to have the strength to overcome his phobia of ghosts.
- Off-screen: Ash defeats Candice (using Grotle, Staraptor, Gliscor, & Chimchar) and earns the Icicle Badge. It has now been 3 days since Paul's ultimatum.
- By evening, Paul completes his training and approaches Candice for a rematch, only to find that she has just finished battling with Ash, who has yet to leave the premises, and thus the two cross paths for the first time since their encounter in Squallville/Chapter 11.
CHAPTER 15 (THE PYRAMID PRINCE'S PERISHED PRIDE!)
DP128 (A Pyramiding Rage!)
- Candice does not immediately recognize Paul (who seems to have forgotten the 3-day ultimatum issued to her until she has some time to think it over) who pretends not to know her due to Ash's presence. He requests a Gym Battle, but Candice postpones it until the next day. Paul consents to it and learns that Ash has now earned 7 badges while he still only has 6. The rest of the day and night plays out the same way as the episode, with extra scenes of Paul struggling with the idea that Ash is catching up to him.
- Early the next day, Reggie has finished clearing the roads for his client's neighborhood and delivered his Pokemon. On his way out of Snowpoint City, he coincidentally runs into Paul, who is on his way to the Snowpoint Gym. He realizes Conway is no longer with Paul, but cannot interrogate him as Ash & Co. soon meet up with the two. They see the Battle Pyramid fly over them, prompting Ash to contact Brandon via video phone. Paul and Reggie finally learn of Ash's accomplishments at Kanto's Battle Frontier, including his victory over Brandon himself.
- Ash & Co. load up in Reggie's car to meet up with Brandon. Paul decides to delay the ride by contacting Brandon personally, dragging Reggie with him as Paul requests that they both do not give away their relation as a family and remain strictly professional so as not to arouse suspicion. Paul has no desire to let Ash and the others stick their noses into his private affairs. He also contacts Maylene at the breeding center, making some exchanges in his team for a certain purpose. He swaps Torterra, Honchkrow, and Gliscor for Nidoking, Hariyama, & Lairon.
- Everyone meets up with Brandon. Samuel, Maria, and Candice also join in. Brandon, Reggie & Paul continue covering up their secret, but Paul still takes this opportunity to request a full battle from Brandon at last. Determined to one-up Ash and prove to the world that his disease does not render him inept as a trainer, Paul goes through the battle with no referee and substitutions allowed for both himself and Brandon.
- Battle plays out as it does in canon: Electabuzz, Magmar, Nidoking, Hariyama, Larion, & Ursaring are all knocked out with ease by Brandon's Regirock, Registeel, & Regice. Reggie tells the others the details of his own battle with Brandon 4 years ago, revealing to them why Paul is so obsessed with becoming strong. Brock quietly suspects there is more to the Paul-Reggie-Brandon connection than they're letting on. Brandon also exposes Paul's biggest weakness as a trainer: being so stuck in the past and driven almost solely by revenge, Paul realizes he has no idea why he decided to become a trainer at all. He becomes enraged when this weakness is exposed, fighting Brandon to the bitter end even though he never stood a chance.
- Still forcing himself to hide his true connection to Brandon, Paul takes his loss with dignity and silence. He delays his Gym Battle with Candice until a later date. Reggie decides to help Paul recover from this devastating loss by arranging a full battle between Paul and Ash at Lake Acuity within 10 days. Desperate for any opportunity to recover from the loss, Paul agrees to it. Candice & Zoey leave to have their own battle while Reggie & Paul drive off to the Pokemon Center. Shortly after they leave, Samuel and Maria arrive on the scene in a hurry to inform Brandon that Snowpoint Temple is being invaded by Pokemon Hunter J's troops.
TRAVELS OF THE TRIFECTA! TIMELINE
CHAPTER 1 (BROTHERLY SNUBS!)
Post-DP100 (Aiding the Enemy!) - DP101 (Barry's Busting Out All Over!)
- Off-screen: Paul travels from DP100's location to Eterna City, challenges Gardenia and earns the Forest Badge. Afterwards, he continues backtracking en route to Floaroma Town. A week has passed since DP100.
- Paul contacts Reggie at the Floaroma Town Pokemon Center to exchange Magmar for Electabuzz. Reggie gives Paul the letter from Brandon that officially issues both boys a challenge to earn his symbol after completing certain tasks.
Paul's current team: Torterra, Honchkrow, Weavile, Ursaring, Electabuzz, Gliscor.
- Paul leaves Floaroma Town and settles in at Jubilife City with intent to leave for Canalave City the next day through Jubilife's port.
- Off-screen: Barry meets Ash, Brock, and Dawn after losing to Fantina. He learns of their connection to Paul and loses to Ash in battle.
CHAPTER 2 (COME HELP OR HIGH WATER!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Paul leaves Jubilife City and is en route to Canalave City. After some mishaps, Paul meets Conway after the latter saves his life.
- Reggie reveals to have started his journey with a Chimchar (now an Infernape); he also has Marowak and Ampharos in addition to Staraptor, Swalot, and Bibarel. All six will be used against Brandon.
- Reggie leaves his daycare center in Maylene's hands and leaves to start his own training near Mt. Coronet.
CHAPTER 3 (MY WAY OR THE CONWAY!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Paul reaches Canalave City; Conway unofficially becomes Paul's traveling partner after offering to watch Paul's match with Byron.
- Reggie struggles to find a new battling style and has a drastic mental breakdown at Mt. Coronet.
- Conway is revealed to have captured a Castform since his last anime appearance (DP091 / One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!).
CHAPTER 4 (OVER THE BORDERLINE!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Brandon arrives in Cerulean City to search for clues on the whereabouts of Regigigas. He meets Misty and Tracey; the three travel to Pallet Town to meet Professor Oak.
- Paul gets the idea to find information on Regigigas at the Canalave Library and withhold it from Brandon.
- Reggie is struck by lightning and hallucinates images of his mother; he becomes emotionally unstable and must be sedated. It is suspected he has Borderline Personality Disorder.
CHAPTER 5 (IT'S ON LIKE BASTIODON!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Paul challenges Byron to a Gym Battle and wins the Mine Badge (Honchkrow, Ursaring, & Weavile are used). He falls ill shortly afterwards.
- Off-screen: Ash defeats Fantina and earns the Relic Badge. Buizel, Pikachu, & Chimchar are used.
- Conway and Maylene informally meet; Maylene informs Conway of Reggie's accident.
CHAPTER 6 (THE CHECKING ORDER!)
DP102 (Shield with a Twist!)
- Note: This chapter takes place solely at night.
- Brandon reaches Pallet Town, meets Professor Oak, and the two search the major libraries of each region to find information on Regigigas. One result is found in Canalave City, but the book is already in someone else's possession.
- Conway checks out the Regigigas book per Paul's request. He also checks out a book on Uxie for himself at this time.
- Paul and Conway have officially set their sights on Veilstone City the following day; meanwhile, Brandon travels to Vermilion City to hitch a ride across the sea to Canalave City in Sinnoh. He leaves the Battle Pyramid behind in Cerulean City.
CHAPTER 7 (LUCKY THERE'S A FAMILY GUY!)
DP103 (Jumping Rocket Ship!) - DP106 (A Breed Stampede!)
- Paul and Conway board a boat en route to Lake Valor early in the morning. The trip takes 3 days.
- Brandon arrives at the Canalave City port a few hours later and reunites with Byron. He learns of his family situation and rents a boat, going to Veilstone City through another route. He will also reach his destination within 3 days.
- The Frontier Brains of Kanto have a meeting to discuss the nature of Brandon's sudden disappearance. Samuel is sent to follow Brandon to Sinnoh with the Battle Pyramid. Brandon is now expected to return eventually with Regigigas.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company (plus Barry) arrive at Canalave City. Barry leaves the group to train at Iron Island. Days later, Dawn's Swinub evolves to Piloswine, then Mamoswine shortly after that.
- Off-screen: Feeling the need to train after losing to Paul (or possibly to slack off), Byron leaves for Iron Island for a few days, making him unavailable to Ash for a battle.
- Paul, Reggie, and Brandon reunite at Veilstone City. Brandon obtains the Regigigas book and leaves for Mt. Coronet. To inspire Reggie, Conway challenges Maylene to a Gym Battle the next day.
- Paul and Brandon promise to meet each other in northern Sinnoh in the near future for an informal Father vs Son battle.
- Paul reveals his Weavile was caught in Johto as a Sneasel and evolved via a Razor Claw given by Brandon. Brandon's Ninjask was originally caught by Paul the same day he captured Chimchar.
CHAPTER 8 (SUPER SMASH-BRAWLIN' MAYLENE!)
DP106 (A Breed Stampede!) - DP109 (Leading a Stray!)
- Paul and Conway assist each other on their Gym Battle strategies for Candice and Maylene, respectively. Paul meets Conway's family.
- The next day, Conway is informed that due to a technicality, the Uxie book he checked out now belongs to him.
- Off-screen: Byron returns to Canalave City, only to encounter an angry Roark. Ash & Company help to resolve the family feud.
- Roark calls Reggie to inform him that his family situation has been resolved.
- Conway defeats Maylene and earns the Cobble Badge. Due to a prophetic vision Reggie had, he mandates that Conway accompany Paul for his journey to Snowpoint City. The two leave Veilstone City and journey up to Route 216.
- Off-screen: Ash defeats Byron and earns the Mine Badge (Gliscor, Buizel, & Chimchar are used). The group sets their sights for Chocovine Town.
- Paul and Conway reach Butterbridge Town, just before Route 216. The duo temporarily breaks apart and Paul travels up the route alone. It has now been over 2 weeks since DP100.
CHAPTER 9 (DISCO MONFERNO!)
DP110 (Steeling Piece of Mind!) - DP115 (Stealing the Conversation!)
- Paul has an accident on Route 216 that injures him severely enough to keep him stuck at Butterbridge Town for a week and a half. Conway has saved his life for the second time. Now 3 (nearly 4) weeks have passed since DP100.
- Off-screen: Barry, still on Iron Island, enlists the help of Ash & Company (plus Riley) to rectify the situation on the island, which Team Galactic (led by Commander Mars) nearly destroys.
- The incident creates beams of energy throughout the skies of Sinnoh, which Reggie and Maylene notice when the meteors in Veilstone City react oddly. Samuel reaches Veilstone City in the Battle Pyramid, only to find that Brandon had long since left the area. Reggie and Maylene learn that Brandon had left on a mission of his own accord and did not take the Battle Pyramid with him. The Iron Island incident is resolved by Ash & Company off-screen, thus Reggie and Maylene do not take action.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company arrive in Chocovine Town, where Dawn competes in a Contest. She wins the Chocovine Ribbon. Elsewhere, Zoey wins her fourth ribbon in Cirribus Town.
- After Paul has healed, he and Conway continue their way to Snowpoint City. They settle in Plumeria Town for the night. Conway secretly signs himself and Paul up for the upcoming Plumeria Contest.
- Saturn (Conway's cousin) learns that Conway is in possession of a rare Uxie book, which Jupiter has been searching for. He plans to obtain the book and his cousin to become a future Galactic Grunt.
CHAPTER 10 (MARS ATTACKS!)
DP115 (Stealing the Conversation!)
- Conway wins the Plumeria Town Contest; Paul is the runner-up. Saturn, Franny, Reggie, and Maylene all witness this contest.
- Saturn sends Mars out to both obtain the Uxie book and recruit Conway.
- Paul and Conway leave Plumeria Town and travel to Squallville. They encounter Mars, who successfully steals the Uxie book and almost kidnaps Conway before Paul saves him.
- Due to the nature of the incident, Mars believes Conway fell to his death.
- Paul and Conway go their separate ways after a spat; Paul continues on to Squallville while Conway goes back the way he came. The life debt has been repaid.
CHAPTER 11 (FLYING-TYPE SOLO!)
DP116 (The Drifting Snorunt!) - DP118 (Pursuing a Lofty Goal!)
- Mars obtained the Uxie book but presumably lost Conway. Due to the previous events, she is forced to walk back to Galactic Headquarters.
- Paul arrives in Squallville late at night. He has sustained injuries and has become ill for the third time. He is forced to recover at the medical facility.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company start traveling up Route 216.
- Paul meets his doctor, Dalton, who seems to be an estranged relative of Conway's, though the connection is never made. Dalton makes some discoveries about Paul's physical health in general, but cannot come to any conclusions. Dalton is revealed to have been Paul's family doctor in the past.
- It is heavily insinuated that Paul has the same terminal disease his late mother had.
- At the doctor's suggestion, Paul decides to enter Squallville's PokeRinger competition as he has to stay in town to fully recover anyway.
- Paul unexpectedly meets up with Ash & Company, the latter of which is also in the PokeRinger competition. While Paul defeats Provo, the former reigning champion, he only achieves 2nd place with his Honchkrow, losing to Ash's newly-evolved Staraptor.
- It is revealed that Brandon has watched this competition broadcast, currently in Shelter Town.
- The test results come in, given to Paul to decide to do as he likes with them. He stores them away without looking for the time being, leaving Squallville for Snowpoint City.
CHAPTER 12 (YIPPEE KIAI-YAY!)
DP119 (Trials and Adulations!) - DP123 (Old Rivals, New Tricks!)
- Reggie's 18th birthday occurs, thus it has been officially a month (or more) since Chapter 7 (DP106). Maylene challenges Reggie to a full battle for his birthday present; Reggie accepts. Maylene's second half of her team is revealed to be Hitmontop, Breloom, & Primeape.
- Saturn confronts Mars for failing to file a full report on her mission and failing to bring back Conway. Mars informs Saturn that Conway is deceased.
- In order to take away any potential connection to Team Galactic, Saturn hires an outside source to find Conway's body and relocate it.
- Conway has spent the past few days moping at a hot spring on Route 216, lacking direction and still traumatized. He realizes that there are men looking for his (presumed) dead body and escapes them successfully with assistance from a wild Smoochum, which Conway later captures.
- Conway has officially chosen the path of battling in order to gain strength to properly defeat his cousin (and Team Galactic); he goes off back to Veilstone City in order to restock supplies and plan for what Gym to conquer first.
- Off-screen: The Sandalstraw Contest commences, resulting in Dawn losing to childhood rival Kenny.
- Paul reaches Snowpoint City after a few days, worn down and beaten. He runs into Candice immediately and challenges her to a battle.
- Due to Paul's exhaustion and deteriorating health, Candice sweeps him easily in the battle, taking out all of Paul's Pokemon (Torterra, Honchkrow, Ursaring, & Gliscor) with just Abomasnow.
- After vomiting blood in the Gym, Paul is admitted to the hospital where he nearly loses his life. He is confronted by Nurse Joy after waking up, who tells him up-front that he is terminally ill with the very same disease that killed his mother.
CHAPTER 13 (CONWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE!)
DP124 (To Thine Own Pokémon Be True!) - DP125 (Battling a Cute Drama!)
- Candice offers Paul her sympathy, but he has no desire to see visitors. He frets over how to handle the fact that he is terminally ill and whether or not to tell his family. He also realizes he must train more in order to defeat Candice and resolves to do that once he is well enough to leave.
- Reggie & Maylene's battle has spawned into a series of them, with Reggie rapidly gaining strength with each passing match. It is broken up when Reggie is required to return a Pokemon back to its trainer in Snowpoint City. He makes preparations to leave and Maylene is entrusted to take care of the breeding center.
- Off-screen: Ash, Dawn & Barry enter a Pokemon Ping-Pong tournament which results in Dawn releasing her Ambipom for further training in Kanto. Barry departs from the group afterwards, directly heading south.
- A week has passed since Saturn sent outside resource henchmen to recover Conway's body and clear the area of the helicopter debris. While there is no remaining trace of the helicopter now, Conway's body still has not been found. At this point, being in the clear, Saturn (as Sloan) informs his extended family of Conway's demise. This eventually spreads across the community and even the media.
- Conway returns to Veilstone City, deciding first to apologize to Reggie before going home, only to find that he has already left for Snowpoint City. Maylene remains, but she has heard the news of Conway's demise and is horrified to see him at first, but then relieved that he is alive. Conway realizes that he has been declared dead to the world. Maylene informs Conway that a funeral for him is being arranged.
- At first, Conway intends to stop the funeral and inform everyone he is alive, but changes his mind after reflecting on how he detests his family enough to spite them by letting them think he's dead. He witnesses his own funeral from a secret location, seeing it led by Saturn. During the ceremony, he convinces Conway's parents to legally sign all of Conway's belongings to him and also recruits Franny into Team Galactic.
- Conway sneaks into his own home to take whatever he can with him, including some of his parents' credit cards. He does not plan on ever returning home. He informs Maylene of his plans and to send Reggie his apology for him whenever possible. Conway determines what Gym he will face next and realizes that, since he is thought to be "dead" everywhere, he must create a new identity/alter-ego for himself. He borrows the name "Colin" and leaves Veilstone City, intent on reaching Pastoria City to face Crasher Wake.
- Paul is released from the hospital, and while in hiding, gives a message to Candice that their rematch will be in 3 days. Until then, and should Ash reach Candice before he does, Candice is to pretend to not be familiar with Paul and vice-versa.
CHAPTER 14 (BUT IT FEELS SO LONELY WITHOUT BARRY!)
DP126 (Classroom Training!) - DP127 (Sliding into Seventh!)
- Off-screen: 2 days have passed since Paul's ultimatum (at some point during his training, he contacts Maylene to swap one of his Pokemon for Magmar in order to better endure the wintery weather as he trains almost nonstop; most likely Weavile). Reggie arrives at Snowpoint City and insists on helping his customer clear out the snow blocking the roads of the residential blocks by using his Pokemon before completing his delivery. Reggie's clients insist on having him over as a guest during the nights before he finishes.
- Off-screen: Ash & Company reach Snowpoint City and join up with Zoey to meet Candice. Candice accepts Ash's challenge to a Gym Battle, but asks him to wait until tomorrow as she has a class to teach this day.
- Brandon and Samuel finally reunite. Brandon is back in his Battle Pyramid and informed of the deal made with the Battle Frontier association. Brandon flies for Snowpoint City after contacting Snowpoint Temple's caretaker, Maria, to set up an appointment to research the Temple in which Regigigas sleeps. By this point, the Battle Pyramid has been upgraded to implement advanced communication devices and navigation systems. They will reach Snowpoint City within a day's time.
- Conway runs into Barry after earning his second Gym Badge (against Crasher Wake; presumably Slowking, Heracross, & Smoochum are used) somewhere near Pastoria City's outskirts. The two immediately squabble, which escalates to a 3-on-3 battle. Barry's Staraptor defeats Conway's Smoochum, Conway's Slowking defeats Staraptor but is taken out with a kamikaze attack from Barry's Roserade. Both boys release their last Pokemon simultaneously, both of which are male Heracross.
- Unable to tell the two apart, the boys are confused as to how to handle the battle. The Heracross are offended and fly away into the next town, forcing Conway and Barry to chase after them and gradually bond as they aid each other in the search. Conway and Barry eventually decide to travel together; they both aim for Hearthome City to face Fantina for the Relic Badge. This will be the second time Barry challenges Fantina. Conway realizes he will need new additions to his Pokemon team to have the strength to overcome his phobia of ghosts.
- Off-screen: Ash defeats Candice (using Grotle, Staraptor, Gliscor, & Chimchar) and earns the Icicle Badge. It has now been 3 days since Paul's ultimatum.
- By evening, Paul completes his training and approaches Candice for a rematch, only to find that she has just finished battling with Ash, who has yet to leave the premises, and thus the two cross paths for the first time since their encounter in Squallville/Chapter 11.
CHAPTER 15 (THE PYRAMID PRINCE'S PERISHED PRIDE!)
DP128 (A Pyramiding Rage!)
- Candice does not immediately recognize Paul (who seems to have forgotten the 3-day ultimatum issued to her until she has some time to think it over) who pretends not to know her due to Ash's presence. He requests a Gym Battle, but Candice postpones it until the next day. Paul consents to it and learns that Ash has now earned 7 badges while he still only has 6. The rest of the day and night plays out the same way as the episode, with extra scenes of Paul struggling with the idea that Ash is catching up to him.
- Early the next day, Reggie has finished clearing the roads for his client's neighborhood and delivered his Pokemon. On his way out of Snowpoint City, he coincidentally runs into Paul, who is on his way to the Snowpoint Gym. He realizes Conway is no longer with Paul, but cannot interrogate him as Ash & Co. soon meet up with the two. They see the Battle Pyramid fly over them, prompting Ash to contact Brandon via video phone. Paul and Reggie finally learn of Ash's accomplishments at Kanto's Battle Frontier, including his victory over Brandon himself.
- Ash & Co. load up in Reggie's car to meet up with Brandon. Paul decides to delay the ride by contacting Brandon personally, dragging Reggie with him as Paul requests that they both do not give away their relation as a family and remain strictly professional so as not to arouse suspicion. Paul has no desire to let Ash and the others stick their noses into his private affairs. He also contacts Maylene at the breeding center, making some exchanges in his team for a certain purpose. He swaps Torterra, Honchkrow, and Gliscor for Nidoking, Hariyama, & Lairon.
- Everyone meets up with Brandon. Samuel, Maria, and Candice also join in. Brandon, Reggie & Paul continue covering up their secret, but Paul still takes this opportunity to request a full battle from Brandon at last. Determined to one-up Ash and prove to the world that his disease does not render him inept as a trainer, Paul goes through the battle with no referee and substitutions allowed for both himself and Brandon.
- Battle plays out as it does in canon: Electabuzz, Magmar, Nidoking, Hariyama, Larion, & Ursaring are all knocked out with ease by Brandon's Regirock, Registeel, & Regice. Reggie tells the others the details of his own battle with Brandon 4 years ago, revealing to them why Paul is so obsessed with becoming strong. Brock quietly suspects there is more to the Paul-Reggie-Brandon connection than they're letting on. Brandon also exposes Paul's biggest weakness as a trainer: being so stuck in the past and driven almost solely by revenge, Paul realizes he has no idea why he decided to become a trainer at all. He becomes enraged when this weakness is exposed, fighting Brandon to the bitter end even though he never stood a chance.
- Still forcing himself to hide his true connection to Brandon, Paul takes his loss with dignity and silence. He delays his Gym Battle with Candice until a later date. Reggie decides to help Paul recover from this devastating loss by arranging a full battle between Paul and Ash at Lake Acuity within 10 days. Desperate for any opportunity to recover from the loss, Paul agrees to it. Candice & Zoey leave to have their own battle while Reggie & Paul drive off to the Pokemon Center. Shortly after they leave, Samuel and Maria arrive on the scene in a hurry to inform Brandon that Snowpoint Temple is being invaded by Pokemon Hunter J's troops.