EP046

## Summary

Alex, his friends and Professor Oak are freed from their cage after the blimp overturns in a crash-landing. As they exit the wreck, they find themselves surrounded by a dense tropical forest. Nikki fears it is a deserted island and they will have nothing to eat. Alex, his friends and Professor Oak stumble upon the Pokemon Park's entrance gate and are greeted by two woman in hula skirts. They confirmed that group is on Tangelo Island, much to their relief.

They stroll along the city's waterfront and stop after Alex notices a Starmie stranded on the beach. Alex checks Starmie's data on his Pokedex. One Trainer is verbally and physically abusing it, hitting it with a stick. Alex, his friends and Professor Oak confront him, though the situation quickly grows hostile as trainer reveal that he want Starmie so he can use it in Orange Islands Championship. The Trainer sends out Spearow. Alex pits Charizard against Spearow, but before any attacks are launched, someone call out for them to stop. She steps forward, telling that it's no time for battle when Starmie is injured and needs help. The Trainer gets irritated and ordered Spearow to attack, but Charizard takes the Pokemon down and sends it scurrying with a Skull Bash. However, the girl quickly shifts her attention to the Starmie. She hands Alex medicine while he runs to get Nurse Joy. Alex offers Starmie the medicine, but its knocks it away, with Charizard catching it before it breaks.

At the Pokemon Center, Nurse Joy concludes that Starmie only needs a rest, but she reveals that it is afraid to have any human contact, probably based on how the Trainer was abusing it. The girl points out that it might have gotten separated from its group after the last big storm. Alex and Nikki introduce themselves, and the girl introduces herself as Kate. She reveals that she is a Pokemon Trainer. As Alex challenges her to a Pokemon battle, she told him that they must first help Starmie return to its group. Meanwhile, Team Rocket watches nearby and decides to steal Starmie.

The group wants to load Starmie aboard a truck to take it back to sea, but Starmie is afraid to move. Alex decides to sing a lullaby, but Jigglypuff comes up and beats him to it, putting everyone to sleep with Sing. After everyone wakes up, Starmie still won't budge from the Center pool. Alex tries to get close to Starmie, but it retreats underwater. Alex takes off his west before jumping in and swimming after Starmie. Starmie evades Alex, forcing him to resurface for air. Just then, Team Rocket fires a smoke pellet into the pool, creating a white smokescreen as they tie Starmie to their own truck. As they escaped, Alex and others cut across the hilly landscape on bicycles. Alex gets close enough for him to jump off his bike and directly onto the truck bed. Alex moves forward and climbs inside the cabin, while others stop pursuing due to fatigue. Alex sends out Charizard and orders him to use Flamethrower, which knocks Butch out, and he accidentally presses a switch that detaches the trailer. Alex and Charizard get back onto the truck bed as they head up a ramp. Butch brakes as the truck heads towards a steep cliff edge, but the momentum of the truck bed with Starmie behind them is enough to push Team Rocket off and they are sent blasting off. While the trailer doesn't follow suit, as Alex loosens the rope binding Starmie, it begins to roll backwards and towards another steep drop. Alex clambers to the side, and his weight helps shift and turn the trailer in time to prevent a descent. However, they quickly approach another cliff and the same technique fails. Alex grab onto Starmie just before they crash into the sea.

Nikki and others follow their senses, which lead them to the beach. In the distance, Alex arrives on Starmie's back. In the Pokemon Center, Nurse Joy notes that Starmie appears to be more comfortable around people, which made Alex and others happy. Alex then reminds Kate of their battle and she now accepts.

On the battlefield, Nikki as the referee declares that the battle will be one-on-one, with the battle being over once one side's Pokemon is unable to battle. Alex sends out Charizard, while Kate sends out her Pikachu. Charizard begins the battle with Flamethrower. However, Pikachu dodges and uses Iron Tail, hitting Charizard. She than has Pikachu use Thunderbolt, causing Charizard a lot of damage. Alex then has Charizard use Brick Break, but Pikachu avoids the attack with Agility. Knowing that dragging the battle on won't do any good, Alex decides to finish the battle immediately. Charizard uses its Seismic Toss on Pikachu and once Charizard and Pikachu land on the ground, everyone begins to wonder who won. When the dust clears, Pikachu is still standing, much to everybody's shock. Kate then orders a Electro Ball from Pikachu, and while Alex tries to counter it with Brick Break, the move still hits, causing Charizard to faint and Alex lose the battle. Kate recalls Pikachu as Alex falls to his knees and apologizes to Charizard, before thanking it for putting up such a great fight.

In the Pokemon Center, after Alex and Kate's Pokemons are healed, three kids run in and ask Nurse Joy to heal their Pokemon in preparation for Orange Islands Championship. Kate tells Alex about the Orange Islands Championship Pokemon Tournament which will be held in four months. Alex wants to compete, but Nikki reminds him that they planned to return to Kanto. Alex turns to Professor Oak, requesting to compete in the Orange Islands Championship. Professor Oak concedes, but tells them that he will return to Kanto, since he has to continue with his research there.

Alex then tells Kate that he will defeat her next time. Kate smiled and tells him that she can't wait for their next battle. Kate waves Alex and his friends as they leave Tangelo Island.

## Major Events

* Alex, his friends and Professor Oak crash-land on Tangelo Island
* Alex, his friends and Professor Oak meet Kate
* Alex battles Kate and loses
* Alex learns of the Orange Islands Championship and decides to participate
* Professor Oak decides to return to Kanto

## Characters

### Humans

* Alex
* Nikki
* Salvadore
* Professor Oak
* Unnamed Trainer
* Kate (debut)
* Nurse Joy
* Butch
* Cassidy

## Pokemon

* Charizard (Alex's)
* Pikachu (Kate's)
* Jigglypuff (anime)
* Spearow (Unnamed Trainer's)
* Starmie (debut)