AoR1

***The Day an Angel Fell to Earth*** is the first chapter of *The Angel of Reckoning*. It serves as an introduction to the main characters and begins setting up several major plot points as Matt Chiaki and Olivia Mistbloom begin their quests toward their goals.

## Plot summary

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

On October 9, 1987, Dr. Zager and Barbara arrive in the laboratory in the sublevels of their clinic in Vermilion City. They are greeted by the pained screams of their patient, who asks Zager what will happen when she is gone. Zager encourages her to try and survive, but Chimere recognizes the impossibility of this, and begs him to assure her that "Penelope" will be okay. Resigning himself to Chimere's fate, he gives her this promise. Later, Zager files a video report from his personal laboratory, stating that although Chimere died, Penelope is healthy, which he must ensure continues for the Azrael Project's goal of helping humanity.

In the present day, Pierce visits Jessie, James and Meowth at their flower shop located on the Kanto/Johto border of Route 26. He ushers them into his car, where he shows them a transmission from Giovanni. Giovanni states that they are being brought back to duty due to the activation of "Code Black Seven," a Team Rocket contingency plan for when Polaris begins making overt moves. As he is still under house arrest by the International Police, Giovanni has sent Pierce to bring them to the Executives who will oversee their immediate operations.

Olivia Mistbloom, Nekou Langley and Bunny Spruce are eating at a grill in their New Bark Town hotel as they prepare to set out the next day. The news covers the approach of the meteor Persephone-2213, and the impact of an object from its debris field at the Ruins of Alph. Bunny expresses interest in seeing the impact site at the ruins, and Olivia points out that they will be in the area relatively soon since the first Gym she will be challenging is in nearby Violet City. Olivia reflects upon her past, and her desire to have her father Rich Mistbloom come back to her, believing that by achieving notoriety as a Pokémon trainer, he will return. Nekou encourages Olivia to remember to live, which cheers her up slightly, although Bunny expresses that Nekou should tell this to Matt too.

Meanwhile, Matt is alone in his room at the hotel, watching the same news broadcast on his S-Gear. The news covers the latest developments in the case of a serial killer known as "Kiss of Death", who is targeting men who work for the Angel Corporation in Viridian City. Agent Looker of the International Police appears to give a statement, after which the broadcast shifts to discuss the theft of the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs from the Pewter Museum of Science. This initially intrigues Matt, but when there are no leads on the culprit, he becomes frustrated. Reflecting upon his feelings of failure toward not only the Mistbloom family - Olivia, Rich and Olivia's mother Anabel - but also Eleanor Laplace, an engineer who sacrificed herself to prevent a disaster during their adventure six years earlier, he resolves that he must find Reshiram, a Pokémon whose flames are said to burn to reveal the truth. He wishes to find Reshiram so he can learn the truth behind who tipped off Team Galactic to the whereabouts of the Griseous Orb, the counterpart of the Adamant and Lustrous Orbs; he believes this to be the inciting event behind the tragedies that followed. Matt plans to challenge the newly-opened Battle Frontier in Johto, as the Frontier Brains that lead the facilities are well-traveled trainers who may be able to give him leads on how to find Reshiram.

The next day, the quartet go to Professor Elm's laboratory so Olivia can get a starter Pokémon to formally begin her journey. However, when they go in, they discover he is nowhere to be found and Professor Juniper is there instead.

## Characters

* Matt Chiaki
* Nekou Langley
* Olivia Mistbloom
* Bunny Spruce
* Looker
* Giovanni
* Dr. Zager
* Pierce
* Jessie
* James
* Meowth
* Professor Juniper
* Rich Mistbloom
* Anabel Mistbloom
* Barbara
* Chimere
* Eleanor Laplace

## Differences in Revision

* In the original version of this chapter, the Pewter Museum robbery was actively depicted. In the revised version, it takes place off-screen.
* In the original version of this chapter, Olivia, Nekou and Bunny were at a spa instead of a restaurant, and they were the ones who saw the news broadcast about Kiss of Death.
* In the original version of this chapter, a scene at the Polaris Temple with Ghetsis Harmonia, Anthea and Concordia and other members of the Sacred Helix was featured. This scene is moved to the next chapter in its own revision.
* A scene featuring the creation of Geminus was cut entirely from this chapter in its revision.

## Trivia

* The Remeyo herbs on the Veluza fillet dish Olivia is seen eating originally appeared in *Pokémon the Series: Black & White'*s 32nd episode, *Facing Fear With Eyes Wide Open!*.