Trying to find the Pokemon Center on Tangelo Island Ash came across an odd sight, or rather Pikachu spotted it and made a mad dash for It with Ash tailing the Electric Mouse Pokemon. It was a strange Pokemon that Ash found on the beach, being abused by three people. Ash immediately called for Pikachu to scare them off with Thunderbolt.
The Thunderbolt stopped the abuse, but the three people stubbornly stuck back and looked very displeased.
"How dare you attack us! Do you know who we are?" one of them sneered.
"I don't care who you are! Why are you hurting the poor thing?!" Ash snapped.
"This thing?" one of them went to hit it with a stick, only for Pikachu to hit his hand with a Thunderbolt and make him drop it.
"This is our Pokemon and we'll use it against the Orange Crew. If it'll just listen to what we say" the boy likely to be the leader said, going on to kick the Pokemon.
Ash glared at them darkly.
"I'll give you one warning, step away from the Pokemon or else."
"Or else what?" All three took out their Pokeballs, "you'll fight all three of us?" they sent out Spearow, Hitmonchan and Beedrill respectively.
Ash summoned his other two Pokemon, and the mere sight of Charizard made them all step back in shock.
"Maybe I will" Ash hissed.
"Stop!" came the shout from somewhere. Suddenly a man jumps into the fray and begins to… make sketches out of the Pokemon? Ash stared at him in confusion.
"Your Spearow has vitamin deficiencies… Beedrill's colouring is poor… Hitmonchan is utterly inexperienced" the man rattled on.
That seemed to irk the three trainers, who told their Pokemon to attack. Wartortle and Pikachu attacked back with Hydro Pump and Thunder respectively, while Charizard chose not to attack the lesser Pokemon.
The three promptly rushed away with their Pokemon.
The sketcher's attention went to the injured Pokemon and his brows furrowed. He quickly brought out a bottle from his bag and handed it to Ash.
"Feed this to Lapras. I'll get Nurse Joy!" he exclaimed and ran.
Ash wasted no time to rush to the Pokemon called Lapras, only for the Pokemon to knock it away. Pikachu caught it luckily and brought it back to Ash.
Wartortle stepped forward and began to say something to Lapras. The Pokemon was talking back, gently and slowly. Wartortle turned to Ash and held out his hand. Ash knew what Wartortle meant, so he gave the Pokemon the medicine and Wartortle began to administer it.
Ash watched in silence, before bringing his Pokedex out.
"Lapras, the Transport Pokemon. People have driven Lapras almost to the point of extinction. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain."
Ash frowned at the Pokedex entry. Coupling that information with how those three were treating Lapras, Ash wasn't surprised the Pokemon was so distrustful of him.
The sketcher came back with Nurse Joy not long after.
"There was a Storm not too long ago, it may have gotten separated from its herd. It's only a child" the sketcher, Tracey, explained with a frown.
"I see" Ash frowned. Nurse Joy had given the good news that Lapras only needed some rest and the bad news was that it seemed to be afraid of humans. Unsurprising to Ash, considering how the Pokemon was being abused.
Ash stared out the back windows to see Lapras sleeping, Wartortle staying close to it. The two had formed a bond and Ash was glad for it.
"You wanted to register for the Orange League right?" Tracey questioned and Ash turned back to nod. "Mikan Island should be your next stop then. You'll find one of the Orange Crew there."
"Orange Crew?" Ash asked. Those three idiots had said something about that before.
"Yeah? You don't know about the Orange Crew?" Tracey tilted his head, "There are four members of the Orange Crew, all of whom have a challenge of their own that you need to surpass to earn the right to challenge them. Once you beat all four and earn their badges as proof, you get to challenge the Orange Archipelago Champion."
"Wait, there's no tournament-style battle to decide who is the winner?" Asj asked.
"No, just win the challenges and beat the Champion" Tracey said.
"That is so different from the Indigo League" Ash mumbled.
"Oh? Did you take part in the Indigo League?" Tracey questioned, having heard Ash's mumbled.
"Top Eight" Ash answered after a nod, much to Tracey's shock. He'd thought Ash was a novice trainer. Which was strange because he had a Charizard and no novice trainer could control that powerhouse.
Something bounced behind Tracey, something blue and round. Curiously Ash watched a small blue Pokemon walk up to Tracey and sit on his lap. Ash pulled his Pokedex out.
"No data found…"
"That's strange" Ash frowned.
Tracey asked what that thing was in Ash's hand, but Ash left Tracey's side and rushed to the videophones. He quickly dialled Professor Oak's number and waited until the Pokemon Professor picked up.
"Ash! I heard you reached Professor Ivy's safely and already left for your challenge. Is there something wrong?" the Professor asked.
"My Pokedex can't scan this Pokemon."
Ash stepped aside to reveal a rigid Tracey and the Pokemon on his shoulder.
Professor Oak smiled.
"I see. Insert your Pokedex into that slot right under the screen" Professor Oak said and Ash did so after locating it. The screen changed to a blue one with the words "Updating Software… Please wait" on it.
The screen then turned back to Professor Oak's face and the Pokedex made a 'ding' noise.
"Now try scanning that Pokemon" Professor Oak advised.
"Marill, the Aqua Mouse Pokemon. Marill's oil-filled tail acts much like a life preserver. If you see just its tail bobbing on the water's surface, it's a sure indication that this Pokémon is diving beneath the water to feed on aquatic plants."
"That Marill is from the Johto region. Without an update to your Pokedex, you could never get its data" Professor Oak explained.
"Johto region?" Ash asked, "There are more regions?!"
"Quite a few actually. Perhaps one day you can travel them all" Professor Oak smiled, before dropping the call.
Ash turned, lost in his thoughts of all the other regions, all the new Pokemon, all the new challenges. If he was to become a Pokemon Master, he'd need to conquer them all.
His eyes fell on Tracey, who was still stiff.
"Are you okay?" Ash asked, a little worried.
"You know Professor Oak…" Tracey muttered and Ash nodded.
"He's the sponsor for my journey as a Pokemon Trainer" Ash explained.
Tracey looked positively star-struck, much to Ash's confusion.
The sun had set hours ago and most if not all of the island had gone to sleep.
But not Ash.
Sleep evaded him, not because of the excitement that he'd be challenging the Orange Crew, but from worry for Lapras. Which was why he was by the pool, watching Lapras sleep peacefully while Wartortle floated close by it. Wartortle had become its protector, staying close to make it feel comfortable.
Wartortle, spying Ash nearby, swam over to him.
"How is it?" Ash asked and Wartortle went into details about exactly how it was doing. The gist was that it was doing fine now.
That was until it suddenly began to scream.
Ash and Wartortle looked up to see Lapras trapped under a net, and behind it stood those three troublemakers from before.
"You said they'd all be asleep" One of them hissed out loud.
"They should be!" the other hissed.
"Wartortle, Hydro Pump!"
Wartortle's Hydro Pump sent them all crashing into the boundary wall and knocking them out.
Ash jumped into the water and rushed over to Lapras, who was thrashing around.
"You're going to be okay!" Ash exclaimed.
Lapras's eyes turned to Ash and it seemed to calm a little. It was enough for Ash to help it out of the net.
"What is going on out here?!" Nurse Joy exclaimed rushing out.
The Police had come to arrest the three trainers for trespassing with the intent to steal. After Ash decided that it was time for him to go. Tracey insisted that he stuck along so that one day he could end up meeting Professor Oak.
Ash went out back to collect Wartortle, who was having a conversation with Lapras. Seeing Ash, both Pokemon swam to him.
Lapras made a gentle sound before leaning in and licking Ash. The trainer chuckled, rubbing his hands over Lapras' head. Lapras then leaned lower and nudged his belt.
"What is it?" he asked. Lapras in reply grabbed his shirt and tried to lift it. Curious, Ash did it for the Pokemon, and Lapras nudged a Pokeball. Charizard popped out and the Pokemon seemed a little embarrassed. It nudged another Pokeball and this time was sucked into the ball. Three shakes later it was caught, to Ash's surprise but Wartortle's glee.
"If you intend to take Lpras" Nurse Joy came out with a smile, "I suggest travelling on its back. The Pokemon is still young and could use the exercise."
Ash nodded and before long, Ash and Tracey were off to Mikan Island on Lapras' back.