After bidding farewell to Kinnow Island, where that amusing misunderstanding had taken place, Ash and his group rode on Lapras toward their next destination in the Orange League, Navel Island.
As they sailed onward, the air gradually grew colder. In the distance, a towering volcanic island came into view, its peak covered in thick, white snow. That was their destination.
As they approached Navel Island, a chilling wind greeted them.
On the shore stood a young man dressed in blue mountaineering gear. His demeanor was calm and steady as he gazed at the snow-covered mountain, as if waiting for something.
Seeing Ash and the others land, the young man greeted them kindly. "Hello. Are you trainers here to challenge the Navel Gym?"
"Yes! I'm Ash from Pallet Town!" Ash replied. At the same time, his Aura subtly stirred, allowing him to sense a calm, restrained presence from the young man named Danny, one that seemed to resonate faintly with the surrounding environment. Combined with his memory of the original story, he immediately confirmed that this man was the Gym Leader of Navel Island.
However, he kept it to himself.
"My name is Danny. I'm also a trainer heading to challenge the Gym," Danny introduced himself with a smile, his gaze lingering briefly on Ash and the Pikachu on his shoulder, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Looks like we can travel together."
"Great! The more, the merrier!" Misty said happily.
Tracey nodded in agreement.
The group made their way up the mountain path and soon arrived at the Gym entrance. However, the doors were tightly shut. Beside them stood a prominent wooden sign that read:
"Challengers must rely on their own strength and that of their Pokémon, without using any external tools, to climb to the summit of the snowy mountain. Only then will they qualify for a Gym battle."
"So we have to climb it ourselves…" Misty said, looking up at the towering mountain with some hesitation.
"This is probably the first test of the Gym," Tracey analyzed.
"Interesting!" Ash's eyes lit up with determination. He stretched his body. After long-term enhancement from Aura and constant training along the journey, his physical condition had already far surpassed that of an ordinary teenager. "Danny, how about a race to the summit?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Danny's eyes before turning into a smile. "Sounds good to me. Let's see who can adapt to this mountain better!"
The climb began.
The rugged terrain, slippery ice, and biting cold winds all posed significant challenges.
Ash took a deep breath. His Aura not only strengthened his body but also enhanced his balance and environmental awareness. His steps were steady, like a nimble climber, moving swiftly across the dangerous terrain. He even had the spare attention to occasionally help Pikachu when it slipped.
Danny was clearly an experienced climber as well, his movements efficient and practiced, closely following behind.
Watching Ash's agility and endurance, far beyond what his age suggested, Danny's admiration grew stronger.
In the end, Ash reached the summit first with a clear lead.
At the top was a relatively flat area, with a frozen lake at its center, resembling a natural battlefield.
After waiting for a short while, Danny also successfully reached the summit.
Standing atop the mountain and overlooking the mist-covered island below and the vast sea beyond, Ash turned to Danny, who was slightly out of breath, and smiled.
"Mr. Danny, can you tell us now? You're the Gym Leader of Navel Island, right? This climb was part of the test, wasn't it?"
Danny froze for a moment before smiling in relief. Straightening his posture, his presence instantly became more composed and authoritative.
"Sharp observation, Ash. That's right, I am the Gym Leader of Navel Island, Danny. The climbing test isn't just about physical strength, but also perseverance and determination. Not only did you pass it with ease, but you also saw through my identity. Impressive."
Misty and Tracey finally realized the truth.
"Now then, the official Gym battle can begin." Danny stepped to one side of the frozen lake. "The rules of the Navel Gym are a bit special. There are three rounds, and whoever wins two rounds takes the match."
"No matter the rules, I'll win!" Ash confidently stepped to the opposite side.
"First round: Ice pillar creation!" Danny pointed toward several designated water spouts beside the lake. "Use your Pokémon's Ice Beam to freeze the water columns into ice pillars. Whoever completes it first wins! My choice is Nidoqueen!"
The large and steady Nidoqueen entered the field.
"I choose you, Lapras!" Ash sent out his partner, equally skilled in Ice-type moves.
"Battle start!"
Two powerful streams of water shot up from the spouts simultaneously.
"Nidoqueen, use Ice Beam!"
"Lapras, Ice Beam as well!"
Nidoqueen's horn gathered icy energy, while Lapras fired a freezing beam from its mouth. Both beams struck their respective water columns, instantly beginning to freeze them. Frost rapidly spread upward along the streams.
Nidoqueen's Ice Beam was clearly more refined and stable. Its freezing speed was visibly faster, forming a thick and even layer of ice that quickly covered the entire column.
Although Lapras's Ice Beam was strong, it was slightly inferior in control and efficiency.
In the end, Nidoqueen was the first to completely freeze its water column into a crystal-clear ice pillar.
"I take the first round!" Danny announced.
"Good work, Lapras," Ash said, recalling it without discouragement.
"Second round: Ice boat creation!" Danny pointed at the two ice pillars just created. "Use your Pokémon's power to carve the ice pillars into boats that can be ridden. Again, whoever finishes first wins! This time, I can use three Pokémon! Go, Scyther, Geodude, and Electrode!"
Scyther brandished its sharp scythes, Geodude's fists looked solid and sturdy, and Electrode… well, it just looked round and energetic.
Ash looked at the Poké Balls in his hand, a slight smile forming at the corner of his lips as a bold and interesting plan took shape in his mind. "Then on my side… Togepi, Wartortle, and Bulbasaur!"
"?!" Misty and Tracey were both stunned. No matter how they looked at it, those three didn't seem suited for carving at all. Even Danny showed a puzzled expression.
"Battle start!"
Danny's three Pokémon immediately got to work. Scyther used its sharp scythes to slice the ice pillar, Geodude used its fists to polish the edges, and Electrode rolled around, smashing into it for rough shaping. Their roles were clearly defined, and their efficiency was quite high.
On Ash's side, Wartortle and Bulbasaur stared at the massive ice pillar, unsure where to begin. At that moment, Ash turned to Togepi in his arms and said, "Togepi, it's up to you! Use Metronome!"
"Toge, toge!" Togepi happily waved its tiny finger, its fingertip glowing with white light as countless possible moves were randomly selected…
Would it be an attack, or some completely useless move?
The light locked in place. Togepi opened its small mouth, and a blazing Flamethrower burst out, precisely scorching the ice pillar!
"What?! Flamethrower?!" Danny was shocked.
"That's perfect!" Ash shouted excitedly. "Wartortle, use Water Gun on the scorched areas for fine adjustments and cooling! Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip to stabilize and clear away the melted ice!"
With Togepi's unexpected "flame carving tool," the solid ice rapidly melted and took shape. Wartortle's Water Gun worked in perfect coordination, refining details and quickly cooling the structure where needed. Bulbasaur's Vine Whip kept the forming ice boat steady and swept away the melting water.
Ash's team worked in perfect harmony, achieving incredible efficiency!
In contrast, although Danny's Pokémon were more suited for the task, carving ice was a delicate process, and their speed was actually surpassed.
In the end, thanks to Togepi's stroke of luck, Ash's team completed an ice boat first. It wasn't particularly refined, but it was structurally sound and fully rideable.
"Second round goes to Ash!" Tracey announced excitedly.
"An unexpected strategy indeed…" Danny said with a wry smile as he recalled his Pokémon, sincerely impressed by Ash's adaptability and… luck.
"Now for the final round! Third round: Ice boat race!" Danny pointed to the marked course on the frozen lake. "The trainer and one Pokémon will ride the ice boat they created, racing from start to finish! Whoever reaches the finish line first wins the entire match!"
"No problem!" Ash said, full of fighting spirit.
The Pokémon accompanying them were the same three that had just built the ice boat. Ash held Togepi in his arms, with Wartortle and Bulbasaur seated behind him. Bulbasaur used its Vine Whip to control direction, while on Danny's side, Scyther was responsible for steering.
The two ice boats waited at the starting slope.
"Go!"
At the signal, both boats shot forward simultaneously! Scyther skillfully used its scythes to control direction, while Ash remained calm, unlike in the original story. He kept his composure, directing Bulbasaur to maintain a steady rhythm with its Vine Whip, stabilizing the boat.
"There's a hidden ridge to the front left, we can use it! Bulbasaur, adjust the Vine Whip fifteen degrees to the left!"
Bulbasaur followed the command, guiding the ice boat to cut into the ridge. With the reactive force from the Vine Whip, their speed surged dramatically!
"There's a slight bump on the ice ahead to the right, avoid it early!"
Like an expert navigator, Ash relied on his extraordinary perception to always choose the optimal route, avoiding resistance and utilizing boosts.
Under his command, Bulbasaur's coordination became smoother and smoother.
Although Danny's Scyther was powerful, it relied on experience and visual judgment for navigation. Gradually, Ash caught up and pulled alongside him!
The finish line was right ahead!
"Final sprint! Bulbasaur, full power!"
"Scyther, don't lose!"
The two ice boats raced neck and neck, sending sprays of ice shards and water into the air.
At the very moment they crossed the finish line, Ash's ice boat edged ahead by less than half a boat's length!
"We won! Ash won!" Misty and Tracey cheered.
Ash and his Pokémon celebrated with high-fives, while Pikachu happily jumped onto his shoulder.
Danny brought his ice boat to a stop and looked at Ash, his eyes filled with admiration. "That was incredible, Ash. It wasn't just your Pokémon's strength. Your insight, adaptability, and especially your sense of direction, as if you were one with the environment, were the true keys to your victory. I accept this loss wholeheartedly."
He took out a badge. It resembled a white wave curling into ice crystals, delicate and unique.
Ash solemnly accepted the badge, feeling its cool touch in his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Danny! That was a truly fun and challenging battle!"
With the Sea Ruby Badge secured, Ash had now collected two Orange League badges.
The journey ahead was still full of the unknown, but Ash's resolve had only grown stronger.
With his companions by his side, he continued onward toward the next island.
...
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