The ferry from Valencia Island docked smoothly at Tangelo Island's sunny harbor just after midday.
The moment the group stepped onto the wooden pier, a warm, tropical breeze greeted them, carrying the scent of salt water, fresh fruit, and distant barbecue.
Palm trees swayed lazily overhead, and the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore mixed with cheerful laughter from tourists and locals alike.
Ash stretched his arms above his head, a bright smile on his face. "Finally! Tangelo Island. Professor Oak said the Pokémon Theme Park here is supposed to be amazing. We can relax, let the Pokémon have some fun, and enjoy a proper vacation day before we continue."
Misty grinned, already bouncing on her toes. "I want to ride everything! The water slides, the Ferris wheel, the Pokémon battle arena all of it!"
Sabrina nodded calmly, though her violet eyes sparkled with quiet excitement. "A day without battles sounds refreshing. I could use some time to just… breathe."
Daisy stood beside them with a confident, warm smile the gentle big-sister energy she now carried naturally. She placed a hand on Ash's shoulder and spoke in a caring, slightly teasing tone.
"Make sure you don't run off and get into trouble the moment we arrive, okay? I'll keep an eye on all of you. Especially you, Ash. No sudden hero moments without us around."
Ash chuckled, leaning into her touch. "Yes, Onee-san dear...."
Giselle trailed a few steps behind, still in her maid outfit. She looked slightly airsick and very out of place, but she tried to keep her voice steady as she muttered, "I never imagined my punishment would involve following the Champion to a theme park… This is going to be a long six months."
Ash glanced back at her with a kind smile. "Relax, Giselle. Today you're off maid duty. Just enjoy yourself."
Giselle blinked, surprised, then gave a small, hesitant nod. "If… if Master says so."
The group began walking toward the famous Tangelo Island Pokémon Theme Park, which was visible in the distance colorful banners, spinning rides, and the excited cries of both people and Pokémon filling the air.
They had only walked a short distance along the scenic coastal path when they heard distressed cries coming from a small cove just off the main trail.
Ash stopped immediately, his expression sharpening. "Wait… do you hear that?"
The group fell silent. From behind a cluster of rocks near the water's edge came the weak, pained calls of a young Lapras mixed with cruel laughter and taunting voices.
Without a word, Ash broke into a run, the others following close behind.
They rounded the rocks and came face to face with a heartbreaking scene.
A young female Lapras still small, barely adolescent was trapped in shallow water near the shore. Three local goons, older teenagers with smug grins, were harassing her.
One was throwing rocks at her shell, another was poking her with a stick, and the third was laughing while splashing dirty water into her eyes.
The poor Lapras looked exhausted and terrified, her eyes weak and glassy, body trembling as she tried to retreat deeper into the water but couldn't escape the shallow cove.
Ash's blood boiled instantly. His eyes flashed with cold fury.
Misty's face turned red with anger. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Sabrina's expression darkened, psychic energy flickering dangerously around her.
Daisy's eyes narrowed with protective anger. She stepped forward with the steady confidence of an older sister. "You three should be ashamed of yourselves. Bullying a defenseless baby like that? Pathetic."
Giselle's eyes widened in genuine shock. "This… this is disgusting. How can anyone treat a Pokémon like that?"
Ash didn't hesitate.
He raised his hand, and a powerful wave of psychic energy erupted from him invisible but overwhelming. The three goons suddenly froze mid-action, bodies locked in place, unable to move. Their faces twisted in panic as they realized they were completely paralyzed.
Ash stepped forward, his voice low, cold, and filled with barely contained rage.
"Why are you torturing that poor Pokémon?"
The goons' eyes widened in terror. They tried to speak, but only choked, frightened sounds came out.
Ash's eyes narrowed, his voice dropping even lower, icy and commanding. "Answer me. Now."
One of the goons managed to stammer through the paralysis, tears already streaming down his face. "W-We were just… having fun! It's just a Lapras! We didn't mean anything bad!"
Another one started crying openly. "Please! Let us go! We're sorry! We won't do it again!"
The third was shaking so hard his teeth chattered. "We were bored! Please, Man! Don't hurt us!"
Ash's expression remained cold. "Fun? You call tormenting a defenseless young Pokémon 'fun'?"
At that moment, Daisy moved forward with steady, protective steps. She knelt beside the trembling Lapras, gently placing her hands on the Pokémon's head and speaking in a calm, soothing big-sister voice.
"It's okay, little one… you're safe now. No one is going to hurt you anymore. We're here."
The young Lapras looked up at Daisy with weak, grateful eyes, letting out a soft, pained cry.
Ash's fury only grew. He took another step closer to the paralyzed goons, his voice dripping with disgust.
"You three are pathetic. Bullying a baby Pokémon because you're bored? I should teleport you straight into the middle of the ocean."
The goons started sobbing uncontrollably, begging incoherently. "Please! We're sorry! We'll never do it again! Have mercy!"
While this was happening, a young man with messy brown hair and a sketchbook in hand had been watching from a nearby rock. It was Tracey Sketchit a skilled Pokémon watcher and artist who had been quietly sketching the island's wild Pokémon all morning.
He had seen the entire scene unfold how Ash had waved his hand and instantly paralyzed the three thugs with pure psychic power.
Tracey's eyes were wide with awe and shock. He quickly flipped to a new page in his sketchbook and began drawing furiously, capturing the intense moment.
"Amazing…" Tracey whispered to himself. "That power… that control… who is this guy?"
Ash ignored the crying goons for a moment and turned his attention to the injured Lapras. He walked over and knelt beside Daisy, placing a gentle hand on the Pokémon's shell.
Using his Viridian Power the special ability to communicate with and calm Pokémon Ash sent warm, soothing waves of energy toward the frightened Lapras.
"It's okay now, little one," he said softly, his voice gentle and reassuring. "No one is going to hurt you anymore. You're safe with us."
The young Lapras's trembling slowly eased. Her eyes, which had been filled with fear, began to soften. She let out a weak but grateful cry and nuzzled weakly against Ash's hand.
Tracey, still sketching rapidly, captured the moment perfectly Ash healing the Lapras with his Viridian Power, the gentle expression on his face, the relieved look in the Lapras's eyes.
Ash then turned back to the three paralyzed goons, his expression hardening again.
"You three are lucky I don't feel like dealing with you right now. But if I ever see you harassing any Pokémon again…"
He didn't finish the sentence. Instead, he used his psychic power once more. With a casual wave of his hand, the three goons vanished in a flash of blue light teleported straight to a certain gay gym resort in Kanto… the same place Sabrina had once tossed Brock for his perverted antics.
The goons' screams of terror faded into nothingness.
Ash dusted his hands off and turned back to the Lapras, his expression softening immediately.
Daisy smiled at him with warm, big-sister pride. "You handled that perfectly, Ash. I'm proud of you."
Misty crossed her arms, still fuming. "Those idiots deserved worse."
Sabrina nodded calmly. "Well handled."
Giselle let out a shaky breath. "I… I can't believe people like that exist. That poor Lapras looked so scared…"
Ash gently helped the young Lapras back into deeper water, making sure she was comfortable.
"Stay safe, okay?" he said softly. "If you ever need help, just call."
The Lapras gave a grateful cry and swam away slowly, looking much happier.
Tracey finally stepped out from behind the rock, sketchbook in hand, eyes wide with admiration.
"Excuse me… that was incredible! The way you used psychic power… and then healed that Lapras… I've never seen anything like it!"
Ash turned to him with a friendly smile. "Thanks. We just couldn't stand by and watch."
Tracey grinned, flipping his sketchbook around to show the detailed drawing he had made of Ash healing the Lapras.
"I'm Tracey Sketchit a Pokémon watcher and artist. I was sketching the island's Pokémon when I saw what happened. Mind if I travel with you guys for a bit? I'd love to document more of this!"
Ash glanced at the girls. Misty shrugged with a grin, Sabrina gave a small nod, and Daisy smiled warmly like a big sister welcoming someone new.
"Sure," Ash said. "The more the merrier. Welcome to the group, Tracey."
With the incident resolved and a new friend added, the group continued toward the Pokémon Theme Park, the mood lighter once again.
But Ash's mind was already thinking ahead.
The Orange Islands were full of surprises.
And he was ready for all of them.