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This episode is essential viewing because: Ash releases his Lapras.

The episode begins, as always, with the trio riding on Lapras, towards the next island. They are heading back to Pallet Town because Ash won in the Orange League. Ash is admiring the trophy he got. Suddenly Lapras turns and goes in a different direction. In the distance, Ash spots a school of Lapras. Tracy sketches them and realises they could be the group that Ash's own Lapras was seperated from. Ash remembers that he promised Lapras he would help it find it's family again.

As they approach the group they hurriedly begin to swim away. One Lapras looks back but is moved along by the rest. A large Lapras sprays them with water gun. Tracy observes that Lapras are usually peacful creatures. One of the Lapras uses Mist and they swim quickly away. Ash's Lapras calls out again but they don't reappear. Ash and co. land on an island to decide what to do next. They call Prof. Oak. He says it unusual, but the Lapras could be afraid of people. Officer Jenny appears and she says it could be pirates who have upset the Lapras.

Jenny explains the area around the island is a No Capture Zone but there is a group of pirates have been poaching here, the main pirate is named Captain Crook(!) Ash thinks it might be Team Rocket's doings. Suddenly the doors open and the very trio enter, they are wrapped in bandages. They recite the motto and collapse. It turns out it wasn't the Rockets poaching, but they explain Captain Crook fired a cannonball at the sub, blowing it out of the water, and it exploded against a cliff. Officers Jenny wants them to accompany her to the station to fill in a statement, but they run off, saying that they've been miraculously cured!

We cut to the group of Lapras swimming out in the bay. One of them is looking sad and shaking it's heaad. A large one, maybe the leader, goes up to the other one and also shakes it's head. As they swim away, the pirates spot them. Crook tells one of his gang to prepare the weapons. Meanwhile, Ash and friends who have no idea of what's going on out at sea, have set out again to let the Lapras know they are friends. Ash says to the others they must appear friendly.

Back with the pirates, Crook gives the order to fire the cannons. Pokeballs come out. When the land in the water Tentacruel come out and face the Lapras. The Tentecruel use Poison Sting but the attack is not effective because of the head Lapras' water gun. Crook fires the cannons again and more Tentacruel are sent out. Ash and friends approach and spot the ship attacking the Lapras. Team Rocket's sub is underneath, they plan for the pirates to parylize our heroes, then they will steal Pikachu.

The Lapras are now completely surround. Crook orders a Poison Sting from the Tentacruel, but before they can Pikachu shocks everything in sight. Crook fires the cannons and out come real cannonballs this time. The Lapras manage to dodge them all. Ash and Misty send out all their water Pokemon to use Water Gun. It does quite a lot of damage to the ship. One of the pirates informs Crook that they are out of cannonballs. He shoves him in the cannon and fires him instead.

Ash is trying to divert the Tentacruel into attacking them instead of the Lapras group. They do so and begin to chase them, he calls to the Lapras to get away. The Lapras hesitate. Inside TR's sub Jessie laughs and says their plan is working. James worries that if they are chasing the twerps and the Tentacruel are behind the twerps, the Tentacruel will get to their sub first. On cue, the Tentecruel slam into the sub and it blasts off into the distance.

Misty, onboard the ship, orders Crook to stop his Tentacruel and he refuses. The Tentacruel use a Supersonic attack on Ash, Pikachu and Lapras. Suddenly the Tentacruel are frozen into blocks of ice by the Lapras group. They swim up to our Ash and Lapras, now knowing they are friends. Ash's Lapras and presumably it's mum greet each other by rubbing heads. Later, Jenny arrives and arrests Crook's crew and Team Rocket. Ash tells Lapras it's time to join it's group. They think of some of the good times they've had together in the Orange Islands. Lapras lifts Ash onto the boat and they gang wave goodbye. Lapras sails off with it's mother and the group.

This episode guide has been written by AR.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Tracey

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth