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This episode is essential viewing because: Ash decides to compete in the Orange League. Tracey Sketchit joins the group. Ash catches a Lapras.

The blimp Ash and Misty are in crashes into an island covered with jungle. They get out and start walking. Misty asks if they can take a break, and Ash says okay. Theyve been walking for miles, and theres no sign of any people. Misty says they must be on a deserted island, and theyll have to eat bugs and berries for the rest of their lives! =) Suddenly, a group of old people come out of the jungle. Tourists! They take pics of themselves with Pikachu and Togepi. Ash and Misty are in Pokemon Park, on Tangelo Island.

They leave and walk down along the beach. Pikachu points over towards the water. On the beach is a Lapras, and three guys who are yelling at it and hitting it with sticks. Ash tells them to leave it alone, and they get angry. One of them says theyre getting ready to battle the Orange Crew. The three guys send out their Pokémon: a Spearow, a Beedrill, and a Hitmonchan. Pikachu is about to shock them, but a voice says to hold it! Everyone freezes.

A guy with black hair starts taking notes on all the guys Pokémon, saying that the Spearow isnt getting the right vitamins, the Beedrills color is poor, and the Hitmonchan needs exercise. He says all their Pokémon are underdeveloped. But Ashs Pikachu is perfect, and has a good shiny coat. He picks up Pikachu and sets it on the ground, and says hell just sketch it. Then he decides to measure its electric power, and tells it to use a Thundershock. But the three guys are angry at being ignored, and tell their Pokémon to attack! But Pikachu shocks them, including the new guy.

The three guys run away, and the other guy goes over to the Lapras. He says its hurt, and gives Ash some medicine for it. He says to get the Lapras to take it while he goes and gets Nurse Joy. Ash tries to get the Lapras to take the medicine, but it refuses. They get it to the Pokémon Center. (How?!) They put it in a pool in the back. Joy says it has no serious injuries, but now its afraid of people. Misty says its because of how those guys were treating it. The other guy says the Lapras is just an infant. Large schools of Lapras pass by the island each year, and it must have gotten seperated from one during the last big storm.

Ash says he sure knows a lot about Pokémon. The guy says hes a Pokémon Watcher! Nurse Joy says a Pokémon Watcher goes all over the world and studies Pokémon, and even looks for new ones. Misty says that must be why he was taking notes. The guys name is Tracey. (Tracey?! Or is it Tracy?) Ash says they have to try to get the Lapras back with its friends.

Team Rocket is standing outside the door to the Pokémon Center. Meowth says their losing streak is coming to an end. James says theyre close to getting a very rare Pokémon. Suddenly, James is trampled as three kids run into the Pokémon Center. They tell Nurse Joy whats wrong with their various Pokémon. Theyre going to battle to Orange Crew. Misty says one of the three guys mentioned that. Tracey says the Orange Crew is a group of Gym Leaders, and you need to beat them all to get into the Orange League. Misty says youd have to be a great trainer. And of course Ash wants to compete. Misty reminds him that they have to get the G/S Ball to Prof. Oak. Tracy is surprised to hear the name.

Ash calls Prof. Oak. Oak says he was worried about them. Ash says the G/S ball is okay, and theyre on Tangelo Island. He asks Prof. Oak if hed mind if he competed in the Orange League. Oak figures that even if he did mind, he wouldnt be able to stop him! He wants to study the G/S Ball, but its also important for Ash to get some training done. Tracy is amazed they know Prof. Oak! He says hes his hero, and is the best Pokémon expert on the planet. He says hes their new traveling buddy, so he can someday meet Prof. Oak in person! Joy comes then, and says the Lapras is awake, and doing fine.

They go outside and try to get the Lapras to come over, but its still too scared. Tracey says they need to get it to relax. Ash says maybe singing it a lullaby would work, because it works on little kids. Just before Ash is about to sing, Jigglypuff hops in front of him, yay! Tracey tries to sketch it, but it sings and they all fall asleep. And Jigglypuff gets mad, and draws on everyone, including Traceys drawing.

They wake up a while later, and Lapras still wont budge. Ash tells the Lapras it has to get out to the ocean! The Lparas swims under the water, and Ash dives in after it! He swims after, but runs out of air, and they both come to the surface. And suddenly, a smoke bomb explodes on the surface of the water! Team Rocket says their motto, and ties up the baby Lapras. Meowth says wait until the boss gets a load of it! Tracey is very surprised to see a talking Meowth, and gets out a recorder. He asks if Meowth will say anything for the Pokemon Watcher Archives. James tells him theyre busy! Jessie asks who he is. Tracey introduces himself, and says how hes a Watcher. Jessie says then he wont mind watching them steal the Lapras! They put it on the back of a truck and drive away under the cover of a Smog attack by Weezing.

To help track them, Tracey sends out his Venonat, and it uses its radar. They go after the truck. At the truck, Meowth says the boss wont be expecting this! And suddenly, Ash and the others, on bikes, comes onto the road. Ash gtes close enough too jump on. He goes to the front, and jumps in the cab. Pikachu shocks them, and Meowth hits a button that releases the back of the truck with the Lapras on it. But now theyre heading for a cliff! Ash and Pikachu go to the back as the front part, and Team Rocket, are sent flying. The back part is now rolling towards another cliff! But Ash manages to tilt it, and turn it away. But the next turn is too sharp, and they go flying, too. Ash tells the Lapras theyll be okay, and they hit the water.

Much later, Misty and Tracey are looking for them. The Venonat finds something on its radar, and then, Ash and Pikachu apear, riding the Lapras in the water. He says it put up quite a fight, but he caught it! Tracey is confused, and Misty says he likes to dream. =) So, the Lapras joins them as they travel around the Orange Islands.

This episode guide has been written by flik.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Tracey

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth