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This episode is essential viewing because: Ash defeats Danny and earns a Sea Ruby Badge.

Ash and Co are nearly at Navel Island � home to the next Orange League Gym and the Sea Ruby Badge. Navel Island is just over the horizon, and is dominated by a big mountain.

Ash runs onto the island and notices that it is deserted. A man suddenly appears on a boat behind them, and introduces himself as Danny. Danny compliments Misty on how nice she looks, leaving Ash and Tracey open-mouthed. Meanwhile, Team Rocket are slowly making their way towards the island...

Danny starts to lead the gang up a path leading towards the mountain. Misty points out that Danny has a rather big backpack on his back. Danny laughs, and says that he likes to plan ahead. Misty teases Ash about this, and an argument ensues. Danny points out that you always hurt the ones you love. Misty then instantly appears by his side, yelling how silly and untrue that is. Ash mumbles to himself how unfair Misty is, and then asks Tracey who Danny is. Tracey says he must be another trainer after a badge, just like Ash.

They soon reach the gates to the Navel Gym... right at the foot of the mountain! They walk through, and Tracey goes up to a small building. A sign next to it says that any trainer wishing to earn a badge must climb to the top of the mountain, without using the help of their Pokemon. It also says that any trainer travelling with challengers may take the cable car to the top. Ash and Danny agree to meet Tracey and Misty at the top of the mountain, and start their ascent.

Ash and Danny have made considerable progress, when Misty and Tracey go by in the cable car. Misty tells Danny to be careful, which results in a probably jealous Ash, slipping on a stone. He goes to send Bulbasaur out to help him, but Danny warns him that if he does that he�ll be disqualified, since the sign said no Pokemon allowed. Ash heaves himself up again and continues onward.

Soon, Ash, Pikachu and Danny stop to have a rest. Ash thanks Danny for warning him, when suddenly, a suction cup shoots down from the sky and grabs Pikachu! As usual, Team Rocket�s balloon appears and they start their motto. Before they can finish, Danny calmly walks up to Pikachu, removes the suction cup from its head, and throws it back at Team Rocket. Team Rocket are annoyed, and throw it back. But they miss, and hit a large rock. The large rock gets pulled backward towards Team Rocket, and punctures the balloon, and sends them off into the clouds!

As the three continue their climb, it starts to get a lot colder, as the top of the mountain is covered with snow. Ash removes his jacket and wraps Pikachu in it. Danny is very impressed with Ash's love for Pikachu. Moments later, they all reach the top of the mountain. Misty immediately runs over to Danny with a blanket. Danny tells Ash that he's passed the first test. Ash is confused, and asks where the Gym Leader is. Misty can�t believe his stupidity... Danny is the Gym Leader! Danny explains that the mountain climb was a test to see which trainers were worthy of competing with him. He explains that in order to win a Sea Ruby Badge, Ash must win two out of three challenges. The first is to see which person�s Pokemon can freeze hot water the first. Danny points to two geysers quite close to them. Danny sends out Nidoqueen and Ash sends out Lapras. Both use Ice Beam, but Nidoqueen finishes just before Lapras, meaning Danny has won the first round. Danny heaves the two blocks of ice onto the ground, and shows Ash a picture of a sledge. He informs Ash that the next challenge is to build a Sledge exactly like that using three Pokemon. Ash uses Pikachu, Bulbasaur and Charizard. Bulbasaur and Pikachu get to work, but Charizard does nothing. Ash begs Charizard to use Flamethrower, so it does... right at Ash. Ash jumps out the way and the Flamethrower hits the sledge, carving it perfectly into the needed sledge (yeah, like that�s gonna happen).

Danny explains that the third and final challenge is a race back down to the bottom of the mountain... in the sledges they both just made. He also says that Ash must choose three Pokemon to ride down with him. Ash chooses Pikachu, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. They all climb in, get ready and the race begins! Danny has a Scyther who manages to hold the sledge steady and gain speed. Bulbasaur however, cannot do that. The sledge starts to spin out of control. Danny starts to speed ahead, but suddenly flips over a hole, sending him out of control. Ash stops to help him, and informs him it must have been a trap. Sure enough, three nearby snowmen reveal themselves to be Team Rocket (yes, again). Meowth pushes a button on a remote control, making Danny and Ash fall into a huge hole. One of those silly mechanical hands appears, and pulls Pikachu out of the hole. Team Rocket quickly imprison it in a glass tube. They start to fly away, but suddenly start getting pelted with snowballs! They look down, and see that Ash and Danny have climbed out of the hole, and using their Pokemon to help are throwing snowballs at them! Danny has an Electrode who, using Scyther�s help, is catapulted up to the balloon. It lands in the balloon, smashing the glass tube which sets Pikachu free, before using Explosion, which sends Team Rocket "Blasting Off Again!"

The race once again continues. The once snowy slope starts to turn rocky again, and Ash manages to hit a large rock. They are thrown into a small forest, whilst Danny speeds ahead towards the finish line. Ash keeps going through the forest, and eventually leaps out it off a ledge, letting him land right next to Danny! Ash then manages to hit another rock, which this time catapults him forward, and over the finish line! Ash fails to stop, and ends up riding right into the sea. Oops. Danny gets off his sledge and congratulates Ash, presenting him with a Sea Ruby Badge!

This episode guide has been written by Typhlosion.

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Misty

Tracey

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth

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