In an e-mail, Mallow reveals to Ash that she wound up on the Train as a child, back when her mother was succumbing to her illness. Despite her reassurances that Chloe's situation is not his fault and continued encouragement, he still finds himself wondering about the Train's true nature. Even if it's meant to help people through hard times, are the trials they're forced through really that much better...?
He and Serena then have a heart-to-heart about his relationship with Trip. She reaffirms that Ash is still her end goal; however, rather than fighting to take him away from Trip, she'd rather get to know him better, so that they can all become friends... and possibly something more.
Meanwhile, Parker contacts his sister behind their parents' back, updating her on how things have been back home. Chloe has mixed feelings over learning that her classmates are finally being punished for what they've done; where was all this support back when she was still around? If she'd never left Vermillion, would anything have ever changed?
She doesn't have much time to ruminate upon such things, as she and her friends arrive at the Temple which gives their current car its name. After gushing over some of the astounding artifacts on display, they ascend to meet its Guardian, the massive statue known as Olmec. Olmec explains that every visitor is tasked with retrieving a treasure from deep within the Hidden Temple: the Red Lotus Trio is assigned to find the Brass Vessel of Solomon. After proving their knowledge, the trio ventures inside...
...While back in Vermillion, Class 5-E continues suffering the fallout of their Engineered Public Confession, as the online backlash against them and their school intensifies. About the only one involved in the situation who isn't being attacked is Ash, who instead gets praised for his restraint in not unleashing his Pokémon on the lot.
Instead, he 'just' has to deal with Leon Hyacin calling him, hoping for some insight on his brother's recent disappearance. Despite not knowing anything about the Train, Leon has a hunch that the cases are connected, and unintentionally implies that Ash might have contributed to Hop vanishing. Trip convinces Leon to try contacting his brother, and give him twenty-four hours to respond before calling back; he has a lot to explain, but wants some reassurance that Leon will believe him first. Leon agrees, but drops another bombshell before he goes: Alain, one of his opponents from the Kalos League, has also gone missing.
Despite Trip's best efforts, Ash blames himself for more victims ending up on the Train. Goh's return from Azalea Town does little to help matters, as he immediately regards Trip suspiciously... and jealously, not liking the idea of Ash having other friends around. The animosity is mutual, and not helped at all by Professor Cerise sending Goh and Ash off to a trading event at the local Pokémon Center.
As Parker and Serena are getting to know each other better, they witness one of his classmates getting bullied for defending her father's Feebas. Parker drives the bullies off by threatening to attack them, and encourages Jinny to embrace her differences rather than letting others tell her how to feel.
Back in the Hidden Temple, the trio's quest goes increasingly off the rails as they struggle to get the silver monkey statue together, then deal with an angry winged jaguar and a Temple Guard. But their eventual success is well-rewarded, as Olmec reveals more of the Train's secrets to them. Such as the fact that Tuba is with Simon and Grace, the two leaders of the Apex, and that One-One has been working to impede the Apex. He then grants each of them a blessing:
- Lexi is given a map of the Cars ahead, which also reveals the locations of Grace, Simon, Hazel and Tuba.
- Atticus is granted a Pendant of Life, and informed that it will save somebody from death once, whether that's him, a fellow denizen or passenger. In order to use it, he must remove it from around his neck and speak the name of the one he wishes to protect.
- Chloe is granted The Cloak of Marchosias and Wepwawet, a wolf-headed, winged red cloak that gives her the ability to look into the soals of those who have fallen into despair and help guide them... along with fire breath.
He also reveals that any Passengers that die on the Train are reincarnated as Denizens, much to the Red Lotus Trio's horror. Even Lexi is against the notion of killing the Apex, though Olmec warns that the cult leaders will need to be dealt with in some way soon.
Hop responds to his brother's efforts to contact him... but strangely. While his message is filled with plenty of reassurances, even inviting him to come visit, he doesn't quite sound like himself... and refers to himself by his old nickname Hoppy. As they watch him out on the water with Alex, Henry and Walter idly question whatever happened to that other visitor from his world: Alain.
Alarmed, Leon immediately calls Ash again, frantically demanding to know "Where the hell is my brother?!"
Tropes found in this car are:
- Buffy Speak: Chloe shouts that the silhouette about to attack them in the King's Storage Room is a "chupa-thingy".
- Cub Cues Protective Parent: During the final leg of their temple run, the Trio find an adorable jaguar cub that wants a hug. Lexi begins cooing over them just as the mother appears. Lexi quickly lampshades that the parent arrives to which Chloe and Atticus nod.
- Everyone Has Standards: Lexi hates the Apex but he considers the idea of denizens wanting to murder the Apex as going to far.
- Failed a Spot Check: The Red Lotus Trio were stuck in the Shrine of the Silver Monkey for an hour because the head was on backwards.
- Not Actually the Ultimate Question: Chloe asks Atticus and Lexi why they're here and Atticus questions the nature of the Train and its denizens...before Chloe explains why they are stuck in a single room for a single hour unable to put a statue together.
- The Reveal: Olmec reveals the truth on what happens if a passenger dies while on the train: their body is dropped off where the train picked them up and their soul is repurposed into a denizen's body.
- Shout-Out: The entire chapter is a reference to Legends of the Hidden Temple.
- Small Role, Big Impact: This is Olmec's only chapter but he heavily changes the story with his exposition and gifts.
- Wham Shot: When Henry and Walter question what happened to the previous passenger that passed through their car, they look at Alex wearing an Honor of Kalos medal.
