Chapter 36: Valencia Island and the Lost Lapras
After Ash had captured his old Pikachu, the four of them tried to find a way to get to Valencia Island and through a very lucky break Ash had won them a ride to the island by blimp. Sadly for them, the blimp happened to be run down and somewhat haunted. When in reality, it was just Team Rocket tricking them once more. When things began to turn south, the blimp was beginning to fall out of turbulence. Seeing they didn't want to go down with the ship, Team Rocket parachuted out leaving the four of them to try and get the blimp under control. Using their Pokémon as counterbalances, they are able to steer the blimp and crash-land it on Valencia Island.
"Welcome to Valenica Island we hope you enjoyed your flight," A recorded message said when Ash, Tomo, Misty and Brock practically sprinted out of the crash site and sat down exhausted.
"It's over, it's finally over," Brock pants.
"I'm never getting on another blimp ever again," Misty said.
"When I see Team Rocket again, I am gonna kill them.." Ash grumbled trying to hold onto his stomach.
"If we didn't need a vacation before we do now," Tomo said before laying down exhausted.
The sun beams down on them. "Come on Tomo, we can't rest now until we get to Prof. Ivy's lab," Brock said.
"Yeah the sooner we get away from this place the sooner we can relax," Ash said helping him up.
"I don't know about you guys but I could go for something to eat," Misty said.
"Toge.." Togepi's little tummy also grumbled. Picking themselves up the four of them left that blimp nightmare behind.
And arrived in the town.
"Hey guys I just realized something, we don't even know where the lab is," Misty said.
"I guess we better hope this town has a Pokémonon Center," Ash sighs.
"Hey is that it?" Tomo points to a hut with a Pokéball on the front.
"Never seen a Pokémon Center like that before," Ash said.
So they went inside. "I wonder if there are any Nurse Joy's here in the Orange Islands." Brock said.
"Hello? Anyone here?" Misty calls out.
"Yes, how can I help you?" A Nurse Joy with a small tan asks stepping out.
"Well I guess that answers your question Br-" Ash was cut off by Brock's exclamation.
"It's a pleasure to make your aquantince!" Brock held her hands. "Are you related to any of the other Nurse Joy's?"
"I'm the second cousin of the sister-in-law of the Joy in Saffron City. Have you ever been to Saffron City?" She asks.
"Oh yes it's beautiful like you are," Brock said when Misty pulls his ear.
"You need to cool down," Misty said yanking him away.
"Could you tell us how to get to Prof. Ivy's laboratory?" Ash asks her kindly.
"Yes if you go just down this road you'll find it at the top of the hill," She points.
Following her directions, the group found a giant white building on near a cliff.
"Prof. Ivy? Are you here?" Ash asks walking inside to see no one was there.
"The place looks so empty," Was there no one there? Then all of a sudden, Tomo felt something under his feet rumble. Quickly reacting, he jumps backwards as a compartment opened up, shocking them.
Revealing to be 3 girls wearing glasses and Hawaiian clothes, who look like they're triplets.
"Oh hi."
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Who are you?"
"Uh we're here to see Prof. Ivy," Brock said.
"Prof. Oak told us to come pick up something," Ash said.
"If you want the Professor."
"She's at the bay."
"Working with the Pokémon."
"We'll take you to her right away!" All of them said.
Walking down the cliff they made thier way to the back where it led to the ocean.
All of them enjoyed the peace and calmness when suddenly a Gyarados burst out of the water and roared.
"Gyarados!" Misty exclaimed.
"I knew it, we are Gyarados magnets.." Ash groaned, but Brock suddenly recovered from his shock when he sees a purple haired woman near Gyarados in the water.
"Very good Gyarados." She pets it happily when a Poliwhirl and Cloyster popped up next to her. "I think you're all looking better and stronger every single day."
The others were just astonished. "Wow, she can tame a Gyarados like with ease." Ash said impressed by this woman.
"She can tame me any day..." Brock said. Looking at him Tomo took a big step away.
"Professor!"
"4 friends from Prof. Oak!"
"Are here to see ya!" The triplets yelled out to get her attention.
Hearng this Prof. Ivy looks over and smiles.
Soon she was riding in on Gyarados before she leaped off him.
As one assistant threw her labcoat she caught it and put it on before landing in front of them.
"Why hello there, I'm Prof. Ivy." She said.
All them were stunned by her action, and didn't say anything. Leading them all inside her lab, Prof. Ivy shows them an object on her desk.
"Well, there's the Pokéball." She said pointing to a Pokéball that was colored golden on the top part while the bottom half is silver. There was also the letters "GS" engraved onto it.
"Wow, sure is different than the ones I've seen." Ash commented.
"I've never seen one like that before." Misty said.
"Why's it all Gold and Silver?" Brock asked her.
"Sadly we haven't figured that out or really anything else about that Pokeball. If you look closely it has the letters GS so we decided to call it the GS Ball." Prof. Ivy said
"GS Ball.." Ash said silently gazing at it with interest.
"We heard you had a some trouble transporting it?" Brock said.
"I'm afarid so." Prof. Ivy said as one of her assistants activated the transporter but the GS Ball remained where it was.
"That is one weird Pokeball." Tomo said.
"Naturally we tried opening it but nothing we used worked. This Pokeball has us stumped." Prof. Ivy admits.
She opened up the case. "I wish I could uncover the secrets of this Pokéball myself, but if anyone could solve its mysteries your friend Prof. Oak can." Taking the ball, she hands it to Ash. "Please, bring to him as fast as you can for me?"
"You can count on us." Ash nods.
At Prof. Oak's lab, Prof. Oak was examining Ash's latest catch.
"Never did I think I would see you back here again. I must say you took pretty good care of yourself." Prof. Oak said checking Pikachu.
"Pika.." Pikachu he held his head down.
"Still maybe this will good for you both. I hope you learned your lesson at least." Prof. Oak said when his phone rang.
"Hello, Prof. Oak speaking." He answered as Ash appeared on screen.
"Hey there Professor." He said, making Oak surprised.
"Ash, you're there already?"
"Yeah we managed to find a ride there...ride back might take a little longer though." Ash shivers.
"I see, well are you at Prof. Ivy's laboratory?"
"We sure are, and the GS Ball is right here." Ash said holding it up.
"GS Ball?" Prof. Oak wondered about the name.
"I chose the name Professor." Prof. Ivy appeared on screen.
"Ah Philena, it's been quite awhile." Prof. Oak smiled.
"It certainly has Professor. I read your latest article and I must say I was impressed." Prof. Ivy said.
"Why thank you. Your latest Pokemon report was quite remarkable as well." Prof. Oak said.
"Oh thank you, and I think your article on challenges facing after a Pokémon global habitation was absolutely fascinating." She said, making Ash sweatdrop at their talking.
"Uh sorry, but is this gonna take much longer.." He said nervously.
"Sorry I got a little carried away. I hope you can figure out this Pokéball Professor." Prof. Ivy said.
"Well I'll see what I can do." Prof. Oak said. "Oh and Ash." He gets his attention. "I got your old friend here..and I'm surprised."
"Everyone is, he wanted to come with me for redemption." Ash shrugs.
"Well Ash I must say this is a big step for you." Prof. Oak said impressed.
"Thanks Professor. I'll just see where it'll go from here on out." Ash said hanging up.
Prof. Oak hummed. "Hmm, redemption huh? I wish to see where this will go as well." He said looking to Pikachu.
Back on Valenica Island, Prof. Ivy was giving the group a tour of her backyard.
"This is your backyard?" Tomo said in awe.
"Yes we need all this space for all the different Pokemon." Prof. Ivy nods.
"Oh look at of these gigantic flowers." Misty adored the wild flowers and sniffed them. Only for one to move and reveal to be the top part of a Vileplume.
"Vileplume." It said walking past her.
"A Vileplume?" Brock said.
"Wait a minute." Ash took out his Pokedex and looked it up. "The flowers on this one are different."
"Is it a shiny?" Tomo asks.
"Not a bad guess Tomo but no." Prof. Ivy shook her head.
The other assistants bring over a tray of Pokémon food. "It's time for dinner!" And just like that tons of other different colored Pokémon emerged.
"Whoa what's with all these different colored Pokemon?" Ash asks interested.
"Well Ash you see this island is mostly tropical climate and as such the Pokemon have to change in order to adapt to their different environment." Prof. Ivy explains.
"You don't mean you've bred and raised all of the Pokémon on this island do you?" Brock asks.
"Yes, I've dedicated my life to these Pokemon and I couldn't be happier." She smiles.
"It's amazing, she's like a Pokémon Breeder." Ash commented to his friends.
"Wonder if she could tell us more about the water Pokemon here." Misty said.
"Me too, I wanna see what other Pokémon are different too." Tomo nods.
"Prof. Ivy we have a problem." One assistant said.
Walking to a tree they a Butterfree in a tree with a hungry look on its face.
"Oh not again." She frowns. "We have to think of something."
"What's wrong?" Brock asks.
"This Butterfree hasn't eaten a thing in days. The different nutrients haven't worked?" Prof. Ivy asks.
"No and we've tried 5 combinations." Faith tells her giving her a clipboard.
I guess, doesn't really say who is who so I guess we'll just go with that
"The ingredients include all the essential nutrients." Prof. Ivy said.
Brock peaked over to see the problem. Sniffing the food, Brock takes a bite of it, surprising Prof. Ivy and the girls.
"I got it." Brock said running off.
"Huh?" Everyone watched as Brock started mixing things in a big bowl.
"What are you doing?" Charity asks.
"I figured out when a Pokémon likes to eat something, the most important thing isn't how nutritious the food is, it's the taste." Brock explained.
"Huh?" Faith asks.
"Now let's see what happens." Brock said sprinkling a powder on the food and almost instantly Butterfree flew in and started eating.
"That's amazing." Prof. Ivy said.
"I've noticed that Butterfree like sweet things. So if you just added some mashed berries they'll eat all everytime." Brock said.
"I'm embarrassed to call myself a Professor when you know this and I don't." Prof. Ivy said.
"Brock's trying to become the world's best Pokemon Breeder." Ash smiles.
"Ah a breeder?" She asked interested.
Charity and Faith were excited. "Will you teach us about the different flavors of Pokémon liking their food?!"
"Please Brock, will you?!" Making Brock flustered by their questions.
"Hey save the excitement for later you guys." Hope walked over. "We gotta see who gets stuck cooking dinner tonight."
"Cooking?" Brock asks.
When they returned to the house, they looked in horror to see garbage, dishes, clothes and tons of take-out boxes everywhere.
"Nice place." Misty said.
Ash nudged her to not say that out loud, making her cover her mouth. "We've gotten so wrapped up in our Pokémon research, we've forgotten to clean the house and started calling it-." Prof. Ivy said.
"Our little dump!" The triplets said together.
"Even dumps are cleaner than this." Tomo said when Ash nudged him to not say that out loud.
However Brock's whole body was beginning to shake. "Brock are you okay?" Ash asks.
"Floors to be swept! Clothes to be washed! Cooking, mopping, cleaning, polishing! It's just like home! Just leave it to Super Brock!" Brock said putting on an apron and getting to work.
"Wow Brock is an amazing cleaner!" Ivy said surprised.
"Vacuumer, Polisher!" The sisters said.
"He's a good cook..." Misty sweatdrops.
"He even does windows..." Tomo sweatdrops.
"And he works for free..." Ash finishes.
In the end the whole place was cleaned and a huge dinner was on the table.
"Let's thank Brock!" Prof. Ivy said.
"Later let's eat!" The sister said as they dug in.
"The Pokemon eat quieter than they do." Ash whispers.
"You can say that again." Tomo agreed with him.
"Just like my family." Brock sighs.
That night, Professor Ivy and her assistants were studying it by filming. As Brock walks out to give them a midnight snack a Raticate jumps out and becomes effected by the pollen.
Professor Juniper quickly gets out to bushes to help it. But then she gets affected by the pollen too but carried Ratticate out the way and then she fell to her knees. At the Pokemon Center Ash, Misty and Tomo were still half asleep.
"So glad they decided to wake us up for this." Misty yawns.
"Yeah, that would've been a disaster.." Ash yawns as Tomo was still sleeping on his back.
Professor Ivy and the Raticate were in beds while Nurse Joy was nursing them both. "Professor Ivy, you should know how dangerous it is to jump out in front of Vileplume when they're spreading their pollen." Nurse Joy scolded her.
"How's the Raticate?" Prof. Ivy asks not that concerned with her.
"It's fine, luckily you got it out in time." Nurse Joy said
Ivy sighs. "Thank goodness."
"We were so worried too." Hope said.
"I didn't mean to scare you girls." Prof. Ivy said.
"Please don't do something like that ever again." Charity said.
"That's what you said last time." Faith sighed.
"I'll try to mean it this time." Prof. Ivy giggles. The others, especially Brock smiled at their relationship.
The next morning, Ash, Misty and Tomo were all dressed and ready to go.
"Well it was fun Prof. Ivy but we better get going." Ash said.
"Gotta get this GS Ball back to Prof. Oak." Misty smiles.
"Well I hope you all come back soon." Prof. Ivy smiles.
Misty looked around. "Hey where's Brock?" Suddenly Steelix came in carrying tons of wood.
"Steelix?" Ash said confused.
"Come on Pinsir!" Brock said as he and Pinsir moved in carrying more tools.
"Uh Brock?" Tomo asked. "Where's he going?" Following him to the back they saw Brock up on the roof fixing a hole.
"Well it seems Brock has decided to stay with us." Prof. Ivy said surprising them.
"Wait what?" They gasp.
"OK, the roof shouldn't anymore now!" Brock said finishing it up.
"That's wonderful Brock." Prof. Ivy said.
"He's great." Faith said.
"It's like we were adrift at sea until Brock came along." Hope said.
"Brock!" Ash called out. "Are you really staying here?!"
Brock climbs down the ladder. "If I stay here I can, learn more about Pokémon every day and I have a feeling these guys need me alot more than you guys do." He said as Butterfree appears on his arm.
Ash was shocked. His brother like friend was about to leave the group. Brock was there since the beginning, and now it's coming to an end.
He then sadly smiled. "If that's what you want..then I can't stop ya." Ash said. He held his hand out. "Guess this is goodbye."
Brock grabs it and shakes it. "Friends to till end pal." Soon the three of them were waving goodbye to their good friend and Prof. Ivy.
"Goodbye guys! Don't forget me!" Brock calls out. All of the Pokémon on Brock's side were crying out, saying their goodbyes as well.
"We won't!"
"So long!"
"We'll miss you Brocko!"
Prof. Ivy and her assistants waved goodbye as well.
"I'm gonna miss traveling with Brock." Tomo sighs.
"Yeah it's gonna be weird traveling without him." Misty said.
"I know, I wish he was coming back with us." Ash said.
"Now that you mention it, how are we gonna get back?" Misty wonders.
"We'll figure something out. Maybe there's a harbor nearby." Ash said.
"I just hope they managed to clear away most of the blimp wreck from yesterday." Tomo said.
But when they arrived they looked in shock to see the blimp was as good as new.
"Wha..." All of them said in shock.
"Ah you must be the people who flew in yesterday." A pilot with long hair said.
"We've been waiting for you." A second pilot said.
"Uh sorry, but we don't have tickets for this." Ash said.
"Yeah and after yesterday I don't think I wanna fly anytime soon." Tomo said.
"Nonsense! This is the only flight and way which will take you all back to Kanto." The pilot said. Before they could object the pilots led them inside. And found themselves in seats.
"Big bro I'm a little scared." Tomo admits.
Ash held his head. "Same, but maybe it won't be bad as last time."
As the blimp took off they all held their breath until they started to safely fly through the air. But little did they know, there happened to be a stow-away on board somewhere that snuck itself in..
"I gotta admit this is going pretty well." Misty said.
"Maybe the food won't be so bad either." Ash said.
"Oh you kids are hungry?" One pilot asks
"Well I hope you like candy." The other pilot said.
"Yeah as in bars!" The 3rd said pushing a button as cages appeared and landed on them.
"On no not again!" Ash said as they ripped off their disguises revealing them to be Team Rocket.
"I knew this ride would be bad!" Tomo complained.
"Why can't you clowns just leave us alone?!" Misty yelled.
"We'll leave you alone when...hey, where's the other twerp that hangs around with you 3?" Jessie noticed Brock was gone.
"You mean Brock?" Ash asks.
"Hm, so we have two twerps and a baby." James said insulting Tomo.
"Baby?!" He snapped.
"Uh oh is the little boy throwing a tantrum?" Jessie mocks.
"I think someone needs a nap." Meowth teased.
Tomo was growing red in face. "Why you! I'll show you who's the baby!" He yelled grabbing onto the bars like a caged animal with his boomerang. But instead this just made them laugh harder.
"Want to get your babysitters on us?!"
However before anyone could respond Jigglypuff lands in between them. "Jiggly."
Making them all jump and fright. "Not Jigglypuff!"
"Was is that doing here?!" Misty panics.
"No! Don't sing!" Ash begs.
Unfortunately it did. "JigglypuffJiggly~puffJigglypuffJiggly"
"We...have to...get out of here." Jessie yawns as Ash, Misty and Tomo fell asleep.
Slowly James opened the emergency exit and Team Rocket and Jigglypuff flew out of the blimp. With no pilot driving the ship, and the kids were sleeping, danger was in the air for them!
As the blimp dived down towards an unknown island the trio inside had no idea what was in store. Sure wish Brock was here to help.
"Ugh my head. What happened?" Ash groans when he remembered what happened. "Wait a second." Opening his eyes he saw Misty, Tomo and Togepi laying nearby.
"H-hey, you guys wake up!" Ash said shaking them both.
"What's wrong Ash?" Misty groans.
"The blimp went down! We're stranded on an island!" Ash said snapping them out of it.
"What?!" Looking up from the, he was definitely right. They were in a big forest with no civilization anywhere.
"Ugh not again! It's official I hate blimps!" Tomo groans.
"Those guys, they abandoned us in the middle of nowhere, what are we gonna do?!" Misty exclaimed as Ash tried looking on his Pokégear for answers.
"Ugh, I'm not getting a signal for the map out here.."
"Oh no what we're stranded here for the rest of our lives?!" Misty panics.
"Woah, chill out Misty." Ash said trying to calm her down. "Maybe there are some people here, and we just need to get out of this forest."
"Oh my is that a Togepi?"
Turning around they saw an elderly couple holding Togepi.
"Young man can you take our picture?" The old woman asks holding out a camera.
"Where did you come from?" Ash asks.
"Our tour right over there." They point.
"Tour?!" All 3 exclaimed.
As it turned out they were just in an area with bad service. The island they were on was in fact a very popular tourist attraction.
"We at Tangelo Island, welcome all visitors to the home of Pokémon Park. The World's first Pokémon Theme Park." A man said on an intercom, saying where their location is.
"Well good news we can probably find a ride back easily here." Ash said.
"Guys don't you think after what we've just been through we can take it easy for a bit? Like actually enjoy ourselves?" Misty suggests.
"Yeah can we Ash?" Tomo begged. "I'm tired."
"I guess we can take a little break. How about we hit the beach and relax for a few hours?" Ash offers.
"Now you're talking my language." Misty said smiling.
"You're the best bro." Tomo smiles.
"Yes I am." Ash smiles.
As they were walking towards the beach, Ash saw there were other boys already there along with a giant blue lump.
"Hey what's that over there?" Tomo asks.
"That looks like a Lapras." Ash said before hearing what the boys were shouting down at the beach.
"Come on get up and move!" One said.
"Didn't you hear me? I said get moving!" One said pulling out a large stick to whack it.
Seeing that, Ash's eyes widened in horror, looking what he was about to do.
"Tomo boomerang!" Ash said.
Acting quickly Tomo threw his boomerang knocking the stick out of the thug's hands.
"Ow! The hell was that?!" The guy held his arm.
"Hey!" They all turned to see the trio coming towards them. "Leave that Lapras alone!" Misty said.
"What did that thing ever do to you?!" Tomo asks.
"None of your business." One said.
"Like we need some little brats like you telling us how to handle our Pokémon." Another scoffed.
"Yeah, we're trying to get this Lapras to have us go all the way to the Orange Crew so get lost!"
'Orange Crew?' Ash thought before shaking his head. "I don't give a damn what you're doing, so if you know what's good for you, get away from the Lapras or else!" He threatened giving them a mean look in his eye, making the group of thugs flinch seeing Ash's face and Ash notices this. "Oh what's wrong, scared to take on someone like me?" He mocked.
"Hardly. You wanna get on our bad side ugly and we'll mess you up." One said.
"Even more than your face is." Another said causing Ash to twitch.
"Care to say that again Mr. Johnny Bravo wannabe?"
"Uh oh." Misty said.
"They're dead." Tomo said as they took a big step back.
"What?! Why you runt!" The guy said angrily bringing out a Pokéball. "Let's get'im boys! Spearow!"
"Hitmonchan!"
"Beedrill!" The thugs thrown out their Pokémon.
Ash brings out onr Pokéball and smirk. "Knock'im out! Torch!" Throwing his ball, Ash releases his Charizard.
"What the f-"
"Hold it!" A male voice said stopping them mid sentence.
Looking along the beach they saw a boy with black hair, a green shirt and a headband nearby.
"This should only take a second." He said before quickly examining all 3 of the thugs Pokémon. "This feathers on your Spearow shows it's not getting enough vitamins and could lose a few pounds. The colors on this Beedrill is pretty poor and it's obvious this Hitmonchan is not getting enough exercise." He said making Ash, Misty and Tomo confused on what he's doing.
"It's pretty easy to see that these Pokemon are pitifully underdeveloped." He said to them.
"Hey who the heck are you to say that about our Pokemon!" They snap as he moved to Ash.
"But this Charizard is remarkable. You can tell by the strength and color of the flame on its tail that it's very strong and well taken care of." He smiles.
"Really?" Ash asks turning to him. "You can tell by that?"
"Yes, I've spent a lot of time studying about all kinds of Pokemon from Kanto." He nods.
He pulls out a notepad and started drawing. "Now this'll only take a second."
Looking over, Tomo and Misty saw he was drawing an exact sketch of how Torch looks. "Wow, you got all of the details." Misty said.
"You think so, I like to do a quick sketch on all of the Pokémon I meet, so I can see what makes them each of them great in their own way. Call it my own hand made PokéDex." The boy said finishing up his drawing.
They were completely ignoring the thugs. "We can't let them ignore us like this! Get them guys!" The thugs yelled as their Pokémon charged.
Ash notices them. "Uh, sorry but gotta stop you for a second. Torch, use Blast Burn!"
The flame at the end of Torch's tail grows to a massive size and it releases a powerful and massive stream of fire from its mouth that swallowed up all of the Pokémon, including the thugs. Creating a massive explosion. In the air, the thugs and their Pokémon were all covered in smoke as they all scream before disappearing into the sky like Team Rocket.
"Blast Burn? Incredible that's one of the strongest Fire attacks of all time." He said blown away.
With them out of the way, Ash ran to check on the wild Lapras.
"Are you okay?" Ash asks but Lapras moves back in fear thinking he was gonna attack him too.
"Woah woah easy there big guy, I'm not gonna hurt you." Ash tried to calm it down.
"That Lapras is really hurt." Misty said.
"You guys keep an eye on it, I'm gonna go get Nurse Joy." The boy said before running off.
The Lapras was whimpering, looking away from them.
"Oh man those guys must've really messed it up." Ash cringed.
Soon they were at the Pokemon Center and Lapras was in a small pool out back.
"How is Lapras Nurse Joy?" Misty asks.
"Lapras will be just fine after a good rest." Nurse Joy said as they sigh in relief. "But there is a problem that Lapras is afraid to have any contact with any people at all."
"I don't blame it after the way it was treated on the beach." Misty said.
"That's too bad, especially after all it's just an infant." The stranger said, surprising them.
"That's a baby?" Ash said surprised.
"It must have gotten separated from its family during the last storm." Nurse Joy said.
"Oh the poor thing.." Misty frowns holding onto Togepi tighter.
"Thanks for your help uh...sorry I just realized we never got your name." Ash said.
"My name's Tracey Sketchit. Nice to meet you." He said.
"My name's Ash."
"I'm Tomo."
"And my name's Misty."
"So Tracey how do you know so much about Pokemon?" Tomo asks.
"Well I'm actually a Junior Pokemon Professor. I'm hoping I can be a real one someday." Tracey smiles.
"A Pokémon Professor? Already, but you look like you're like a teenager." Misty said shocked.
"Well I kinda started early. When I started off as an assistant to Prof. Elm in New Bark Town. After a few years of learning at his side I decided to go out into the world and see what Pokémon were like in other regions." Tracey said.
"New Bark Town?" Tomo asked.
"That's a place in the Johto Region, which is on the west side of Kanto." Tracey said bringing out a map, showing them what the region looks like. "Right..here." He points to it. "And see, both Kanto and Johto are connected to each other."
"Whoa that's pretty cool." Tomo said.
"Hey Ash don't you have a few Pokemon that originate there?" Misty recalls.
"Oh yeah, Diamond and Spirit." Ash realized she was right.
"Diamond and Spirit?" Tracey asked.
"Their nicknames. Diamond is my Steelix and Spirit is my Kingdra." Ash explained.
"A Steelix and a Kingdra? Very impressive. Both are very powerful Pokemon." Tracey said impressed.
"They sure are." Ash smiled thinking about them. "But I think we should worry about Lapras, we can't just leave it here."
"Nurse Joy said Lapras needs some rest so that's one problem solved, but the big problem is how we're gonna get it back to its family?" Misty asks.
"If they were in one place it could be easy but aren't Lapras always on the move?" Tomo asks.
"Yeah, Lapras are strong swimmers." Tracey said.
"Poor thing." Ash frowns when suddenly three kids came running in.
"Nurse Joy can you please look at my Starmie."
"Yeah and my Pokémon too."
"Please Nurse Joy, I want my Pokémon to be in tip-top shape for the Orange Crew."
"Of course, I'll get to work on them immediately." Nurse Joy said as Ash looked over.
"The Orange Crew? Those thugs down at the beach mentioned that too. Who are they?" Ash asks.
"The Orange Crew is a what everyone calls a group of Gym Leaders around the Orange Archipelago." Tracey said showing them a poster about it. "Trainers can't compete in the Orange League until they've battled every member of the Orange Crew."
"Woah, I didn't know there was a Pokémon League in the Orange Islands." Ash said getting intrigued.
"Tangelo Island is where everbody starts out training, then the trainers have to go around to every Gym Leader in the Orange Crew before they get to battle in the Orange League."
"Well you have to be a pretty great trainer to get into the Orange League." Misty said.
"I bet you could win those Gym battles." Tomo said looking to Ash.
"Well now that the Indigo League is over and done with, I was actually thinking on what to do next." Ash said before getting a smile on his face. "And this Orange League sounds fun, how could I pass this up?"
"As fun as this is we better call Prof. Oak first see if he's fine with waiting a little bit for the GS Ball." Misty said.
"Good call." Ash said.
"Prof. Oak." Tracey said interested.
Ash decides to ring Prof. Oak up on his Pokégear. "Hello? This is Prof. Oak." Prof. Oak said answering.
"Hey Prof. Oak." Ash said.
"Ash, are you okay? I thought you said you were on your way back." Prof. Oak said.
"We were...then hit a little obstacle." Ash said.
"And by that we mean Team Rocket." Tomo clarifies.
"Oh dear, now what did they do?" Ash explained to him what happened earlier.
Behind them, Tracey was listening and as he heard Prof. Oak talk a big smile appeared on his face. "Hmm, what a string of disasters. I'm glad you kids made it out safe and sound." He said.
"Anyway Prof. Oak I was wondering, while I'm here do you mind if I compete in the Orange League?" Ash asks.
"The Orange League eh?" Prof. Oak said.
"That is unless you need the GS Ball right away." Ash said.
"It's alright Ash, you can compete just be sure you keep it safe until you bring the GS Ball back to me." Prof. Oak said.
"You have my word Professor, and thank you." Ash smiles before hanging up.
"Wow you actually know THE Prof. Oak?" Tracey asks excited.
"What's the big deal knowing about Prof. Oak?" Ash asks.
"Yeah he's just a nice old man." Tomo said.
"Nice old man?! Nice old man?!" Tracey started shaking him. "Everyone and I mean EVERYONE in the Johto Region knows that Prof. Oak is a star Pokémon Researcher!"
"He is?" Tomo said in between shakes.
"Wow I knew Prof. Oak was good but I didn't know he was a celebrity." Ash said
"Just think, if Prof. Elm knows about it, he'll be blown away." Tracey said in thought. "Prof. Elm was one of his top students at a Celadon University."
"Wow. So you must really look up to Prof. Oak if your teacher was taught by him." Misty said.
"I sure do. Prof. Elm is one of my favorite researchers, but imagine how even further a Jr. Researcher like me would go if I got to be under Prof. Oak's wing." Ash was about to say something when Tracey wrapped his arm around Ash. "And now that I know someone close to him I can get. So I'm sticking with you guys." Tracey smiles.
"Wait what now?" He said surprised.
"You can't just include yourself in our group." Misty said.
"Yeah that's our job." Tomo said.
After calming Tracey down they decided the most important issue was helping Lapras get home.
A pick-up truck came by to get Lapras, however it was all the way at the end of the pool.
"Come on Lapras!" Tomo calls out.
"This truck will take you right to the ocean!" Tracey said.
"Then you can find your friends!" Ash said, but Lapras didn't budge.
"This isn't working, Lapras is still scared of people." Misty frowned.
"We gotta find some way to show it we wanna help." Tracey said.
"Let's see.." Ash pondered on what to do. "It's a baby Pokémon.." He thought about all of the times he took care of infant Pokémon back in Kanto and was thinking on how to make it all come back to him. Slowly Ash walked towards Lapras causing him to flinch. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you." Ash said acting calm and caring.
"Looks like Ash is entering parent mode." Misty giggles.
"Parent mode?" Tracey asked.
"Just watch." She shushed him and pointed.
"See I'm just gonna sit right here." Ash said sitting down near Lapras. "I'm not gonna do anything to hurt you." Ash said holding up his hands as proof.
Tilting its head Lapras looks at Ash curiously.
"You don't have to be scared of me Lapras. I'm not like those jerks on the beach. I just wanna be your friend."
Reaching into his pocket, Ash pulls out a few pieces of Pokemon food. "Here have some."
Slowly Lapras moves towards Ash and looks closely to see if anything was about to happen.
"Come on, it's made by my friend Brock. All of the Pokémon love it, and I know you will too." Ash gave a kind smile.
Moving in Lapras took a bite of one and a smile appears on his face.
"See? It's good." Ash smiles.
"Wow he's good." Tracey said impressed.
"The best." Tomo smiles.
"Ash has a thing for taking care of baby Pokémon, he's abit of a breeder in training." Misty smiles.
As Lapras ate a big smile appeared on his face.
"Feel better now?" Ash asks.
"La." He nodded, saying thank you to Ash.
"Now what do you say we get you back to the ocean?" Ash offers.
However before Lapras could respond a smoke bomb was thrown covering the area around them in a cloud of smoke.
"Agh!" Ash covered his eyes.
"Ash!" Misty gasped.
"What's going on?!" Tracey exclaimed before they heard laughter.
"Prepare for Trouble!"
"Make it Double!" Ash growled, annoying hearing the voices.
(Cue Motto)
"Meowth, that's right!" Team Rocket had Lapras all tied up in the pickup truck. "Just wait until the boss get a load of this little baby!"
"Who are these guys?" Tracey asks surprised.
"A bunch of losers." Tomo said annoyed.
"Can't you guys go find other trainers to annoy?" Misty asks.
"We would, but you twerps get the exciting and interesting types." James said.
"And the interesting ones are the most valuable." Meowth said.
"Like say, a rare Lapras." Jessie grins looking to the Lapras they've abducted.
"Listen you three I'm only going to say this once. Untie Lapras and get lost or else." Ash threatens.
"Uh what happened to kind parent mode?" Tracey gulps.
"Whenever them in particular or someone else steals his baby Pokémon, then he goes into Angry Parent mode." Misty said.
"Just like a real parent, he can be kind and terrifying." Tomo said. That made Tracey wonder more on what person Ash is.
"Oh no are you gonna cry?" Jessie mocks.
"Such a shame...oh well gotta run!" They said before driving off.
"Hey!" Ash gotten out of the water and saw them driving away down the road.
"We'll never catch up to them on foot!" Misty said.
"Venonat come on out!" Tracey said calling out the bug Pokemon.
"Venonat!" "Use your radar eye to track down that truck!" Tracey tells it.
"Veno." Venonat said as his eyes blinked like a radar.
"Alright if we follow Venonat we cut them off before they get too far away." Tracey said.
"Perfect, let's go!"
Down the hill, Team Rocket was celebrating their steal.
"Oh man did you see the look on their faces as we drove off?" Meowth asks.
"Agreed, this Lapras would totally pay off all of our debts to the boss." James said happily.
"And maybe even a little extra spending money." Jessie smiles. Lapras behind them was struggling to get free.
"Lapras!" Ash yells getting their attention.
Rushing in on bikes Team Rocket saw them gaining on them.
"How did they find us so fast?!" Meowth said.
"James floor it!" Jessie orders.
"Hang on!" James floored it, making the truck go faster.
"Almost there!" Ash said pedaling to catch up before leaping off and landing on the back.
"Don't worry Lapras, I'm not gonna let those guys take you away!" Ash said holding onto Lapras's neck. "We're gonna get you back to your herd and that's a promise!"
"La." Lapras said amazed by how much he wanted to help.
Ash then climbed all the way to the driver area and pounded his fist on the window. "Knock! Knock!"
"Hey no hitchhikers!" Jessie yells.
"I'm not hitchhiking, I'm carjacking!" He said jumping in the car. "Gimme that wheel!" He yelled trying to squeeze in between them all.
"No backseat driving!" James said
"I'm passenger seat driving and I want the wheel!" Ash said as they swerved trying to lose him. As they were tussling, Ash kicked James in the head accidently making him hit his elbow on a button. Detaching Lapras from the truck he fell back as the trunk races ahead.
Ash was suddenly pushed outwards of the door, Jessie tried to catch him, only to see he was gone. She then saw Ash was now on the back part of the truck with Lapras. "We're unhooked to the cable Lapras."
"Ash the road!" Misty yells as they saw a sharp turn up ahead. Team Rocket however couldn't avoid it and drives off of a ramp and into the air.
"Looks like Team Rocket's racing away!" Team Rocket yells off in the distance.
"Crap!" Ash cried out seeing they were about to go over, but Ash quickly gotten to the side of the thier part and had to make it do a U-Turn by force.
Looking ahead Ash saw another turn and ran to the other side to try and make the turn.
But no budge. "Must..make..turn!" Ash growled. Ash tried again and again but it was too late, they flew off the cliffs towards the ocean.
"ASH!" They all screamed.
While falling, Ash quickly held onto Larpas. "Don't worry Lapras! I'm not letting you go!" Ash yells as they crashed into the water.
An hour later...
It was around sunset at the beach, and Misty, Tomo abd Tracey were looking for Ash and Lapras.
"Do see them?" Misty asks.
"No." Tomo said.
"Are you sure this is where they are Venonat?" Tracey asks.
"VenonatVenonat." The bug nodded its head.
All of them looked around when they suddenly saw something in the distance.
"Hey guys!" Ash waves riding on Lapras waving at them.
"Ash! He's OK!"
"And so is Lapras!"
Soon Nurse Joy had come down the hill to meet with them.
"Ash since Lapras seems to have taken quite a liking to you do you think I can leave you in charge of helping him get back home?" Nurse Joy asks.
"You can count on me Nurse Joy." Ash nodded.
"Even as a baby Lapras still has enough room to carry all of us through the Orange Islands." Misty said as she and Tomo get on.
"With plenty of room to spare." Tomo said.
"Enough for one more. Specifically one who knows a lot about Pokemon." Ash said looking at Tracey.
"Really?" Tracey said. "You guys mean it?"
"It might help to have a Pokemon Expert in our group plus you said you wanted to get out and see tons of Pokemon. If you help us I'll even introduce you to Prof. Oak." Ash offers.
That gotten Tracey a big smile on his face. "No way! It's a deal!" He said shaking Ash's hand.
"Toge Toge." Togepi said sitting atop Larpas' head.
"La." Lapras smiles.
"Although since you're gonna be with us you're gonna need a nickname while you're with me." Ash points out.
Lapras looks at him, with wonder. "Hmm..you travel people on your back. Of the distant...voyage. That's it, how about Voyage?"
Smiling Larpas calls out liking that name.
"Well Voyage we better get moving. We got a lot of water to search." Ash smiles climbing on.
And they sailed off of Tangelo Island. "Goodbye. Take care now!" Nurse Joy waves to them.
With a new Lapras and a new friend Tracey. Ash and his friends sail through the Orange Islands eager to find Voyage's family and the Orange League Gyms so Ash could compete.
To Be Continued...
Hope you all enjoyed the next chapter. For the last time I uploaded, it was not a chapter, it was an update about something bad, but nevermind, I deleted it because the problem was handled.
I've decided to change up Tracey's character because of how unlikable he is in the fanbase. So I'm trying to make him into a good character so he'll fit in with the plot.
Last time, I made Lapras a girl, but decided on making him a boy this time around. I'm also planning on making the Orange League more different than in the anime. Also I'm also making the Orange Islands known as the Ash and Pikachu arc and make them no longer have ill between the other. Hope you all stay tune. Amd stay healthy and safe.