AoR2

***A New Rival and a New Mission*** is the second chapter of *The Angel of Reckoning*. It depicts the beginning of Olivia Mistbloom's story, particularly her first encounter with Renzo Milos, and the first moves by Team Rocket and Polaris.

## Plot summary

*The following summary is based on the 2023 revision of this chapter.*

Continuing from where *The Day an Angel Fell to Earth* left off, Matt Chiaki, Nekou Langley, Olivia Mistbloom and Bunny Spruce find Professor Juniper at Professor Elm's laboratory. Though the two sides are surprised to see each other, Juniper expresses familiarity with them as Elm's expected guests and mentions that she thinks she recognizes Nekou but cannot remember why. While Juniper claims that Elm went to investigate the meteor impact site at the Ruins of Alph, Olivia becomes upset, as Elm was supposed to give her a Pokémon. Juniper attempts to soothe her by offering her a Tepig or Oshawott, both of whom she brought from Unova, but Olivia is unable to immediately decide, as she had a clear picture in her mind of her story starting with her getting a Totodile. In order to buy some time, Matt suggests that they all get something to eat first.

At his laboratory, Dr. Zager and Ariana Lalume meet with Pierce, Jessie, James and Meowth. They contact Stacia, who briefs them on Persephone-2213, the discovery that the object which landed at the Ruins of Alph is made of Meteonite, and that Meteonite energy signatures were detected on Route 29 despite no impact event taking place there. Stacia orders Jessie, James, Meowth and Pierce to investigate this and obtain any Meteonite pieces they can, under the supervision of Zager and Ariana.

Matt, Nekou, Olivia, Bunny and Juniper eat at a roadside diner near Elm's laboratory. When Juniper asks her what her goals are, Olivia explains that she just wants her father to come back, as she believes he left her because she wasn't living up to her expectations. To cope with this and fulfill her dream, she created a detailed plan in her head in which she would follow the traditional path Pokémon trainers are meant to follow, challenging Gyms and possibly Pokémon Contests so her successes redeem her. She decides to follow what she imagines as Rich's expectation and chooses Oshawott, as it is Water-type like Totodile. In exchange, Juniper gives Olivia an upgraded Unova model Pokédex and asks that she help study the Pokémon being imported into Johto and Kanto from other regions.

Juniper then recognizes Matt as the grandson of Sutter Chiaki and asks him about his pursuit of the legendary Pokémon Reshiram. Matt explains that he believes Reshiram's flames, which are said to burn to reveal the truth, can give him peace via answering certain questions he has. While he and Juniper compare what they each respectively know about Reshiram, Nekou quietly grows angry, but plays it off when Juniper notices.

A short time later, the group leaves the diner. As they intend to go to Violet City first, and Bunny is interested in visiting the Ruins of Alph as well, Juniper asks Bunny to investigate rumors of foreign Pokémon at the ruins that were there before the migration project began. The group is suddenly accosted by a mysterious young man who introduces himself as Renzo Milos and expresses a desire to destroy Olivia and her mother out of a hatred of Rich, who Renzo claims "took everything" from him. At the encouragement of Nekou, who sees Renzo as the rival character in a typical trainer's story, Olivia agrees to his challenge. He stipulates the rules: two one-on-one battles, with no substitutions.

The first match pits Olivia's Roselia against Renzo's Timburr. Timburr initially takes the lead by striking Roselia with multiple powerful moves, but by separating him from his wooden beam, Roselia overcomes and defeats him. Renzo then sends out Drowzee, and Olivia meets him with Minccino. Again, Renzo's Pokémon takes an early lead, but Minccino manages to win despite being stricken by Drowzee's Poison Gas. While Olivia celebrates with her friends, Renzo threatens her, promising that his own story is only just beginning and that he will be there to destroy Rich's legacy. After he leaves, Olivia asks Oshawott if he is up for the kind of battles that lie ahead, and Oshawott expresses enthusiasm for them.

Far away, in the Polaris Temple, the members of Polaris's leadership board, the Sacred Helix, meet. Ghetsis Harmonia, the Third Chromosome, presents Anthea and Concordia to his colleagues. The two Tenganist women present a legend from their culture, detailing how the Forbidden Beast will take the universe into itself on the "Day of Reckoning." This presentation annoys Jeunes, the Eighth Chromosome, who reminds Ghetsis that these facts are already core parts of Polaris's teachings. Finansielle, the Fourth Chromosome, reproaches Jeunes for this, as she believes Ghetsis made the presentation in order to secure further funding from her for his plans. Jeunes apologizes, but Ghetsis provokes him anyway, earning the ire of the Second Chromosome, Praeses. Their dispute is interrupted by the arrival of Archer, the envoy of Polaris's leader Father.

Séduire, the Fifth Chromosome, expresses annoyance at the idea that the Sacred Helix was summoned to listen to Ghetsis, but Archer corrects her, revealing that they are there to appoint a new member to the position of Tenth Chromosome. The nominee is brought forward by Jeunes, who explains to the rest of the panel that his section undertook Project J, an effort to create a vessel for Polaris's teachings using the research of Doctor Dante Fantomos on the nature of DNA, and the candidate before the Sacred Helix is the result. The shadowy individual is revealed to have been the culprit behind the theft of the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs from the Pewter Museum, which he accomplished with the use of an electricity-conducting suit produced by the ninth section of Polaris under its leader, Getriebe. When questioned by Mercury of the sixth section, the individual states that he will fight for Polaris no matter what because it was Polaris that gave him the freedom to exist as himself.

At the end of the questioning, Jeunes calls for a vote on the appointment. Archer, Praeses, Ghetsis, Finansielle, Séduire, Athleta, Jeunes and Getriebe all vote yes, while Mercury votes no, unconvinced by the answers she heard. With this result, Archer officially inducts the new Tenth Chromosome, who adopts the name Geminus. Archer then gives a speech to the Sacred Helix about Polaris's goals, and raises a toast to the Sacred Helix, to the Forbidden Beast, and to Polaris itself.

## Characters

* Matt Chiaki
* Nekou Langley
* Olivia Mistbloom
* Bunny Spruce
* Renzo Milos
* Dr. Zager
* Ariana Lalume
* Stacia
* Pierce
* Jessie
* James
* Meowth
* Archer
* Praeses
* Ghetsis Harmonia
* Finansielle
* Séduire
* Mercury
* Athleta
* Jeunes
* Getriebe
* Geminus
* Professor Juniper
* Anthea and Concordia
* Forbidden Beast

## Differences in Revision

* In the original version of this chapter, Olivia and Renzo's battle was slightly longer.
* The Sacred Helix scene in the revision is a combination of scenes from the original version of this chapter and the original version of *The Day an Angel Fell to Earth*.
* In the original version of this chapter, Séduire was not present for the vote to approve Geminus and only arrived after it was cast.
* In the original version of this chapter, the legend told to the Sacred Helix by Anthea and Concordia was based on Kyurem, Reshiram and Zekrom, not the Forbidden Beast.
* In the original version of this chapter, Professor Juniper referenced Fennel and the events of *The Victory Star of Fate*, and knew Matt's group from them.

## Trivia

* Professor Juniper recalling a trainer from Unova who started his journey with a Snivy, pursued the title of Champion and ultimately matured to become a Gym Leader is a reference to Cheren, one of the rival characters in *Pokémon Black and White* and the leader of Aspertia Gym in *Pokémon Black 2 and White 2*.