Pummelo Island

he gang was now heading to Pummelo Island on Lapras.

"I can't believe I'm on my way to the Orange League." Ash said.

"How do you feel Ash?" Misty asked.

"Well Misty, I'm both nervous and excited." Ash admitted.

"Since you told me that you entered the Indigo League a while back Ash, I take it this league will be your second one." Tracey said.

"That's right Tracey, it will be." Ash said.

Suddenly the gang saw a large shadowy figure flying across the ocean.

"I wonder what that is." Ash said.

Tracey took a look through his binoculars, but wasn't able to make out what the shadow was. The shadowy figure flew higher up into the sky and then flew away.

"I wonder where it's going?" Misty asked.

"I don't know." Tracey said. "I hope we see it again though."

The gang then moved onto Pummelo Island.

When the gang finally got to Pummelo Island, the first thing they did was head to the building where Ash had to register to enter the Orange League. The receptionist scanned Ash's Pokedex and four gym badges then Ash was registered.

"Okay Ash Ketchum, your match is scheduled for ten o'clock in the morning at Pummelo Stadium." The receptionist said.

"Where is Pummelo Stadium?" Ash asked the receptionist.

The receptionist showed the gang the way to Pummelo Stadium. The stadium stood on top of a big hill and it looked like a Roman Colosseum. There was a dome shaped building next to the stadium.

"This is the Orange League Hall of Fame." The receptionist explained.

Inside there were stone statues of some Pokemon, pictures of trainers with their six Pokemon and stone slates of prints from Pokemon.

"If a trainer wins the Orange League." The receptionist said. "Not only would you get a trophy but a photo of you and your six Pokemon would be placed in the Orange League Hall of Fame."

Ash was real excited to be placed in the Hall of Fame.

"To win the Orange League, you have to defeat our head leader Drake in a six on six Pokemon battle."

"Oh my goodness." Ash said. He had never fought a six on six Pokemon battle before. Just then Tracey noticed a lot of dragon statues in the building.

"Those are Dragonite statues." Ash said.

"That's right." The receptionist said. "And I must warn you, Drake owns a Dragonite."

The gang was surprised.

"And thanks to Dragonite, Drake hasn't been defeated in quite a while. So Ash I wish you good luck."

In Pummelo Stadium, the head leader Drake was looking at the sky with a bored expression on his face.

"I wonder if there will ever be a trainer strong enough to triumph over us." He sighed.

The truth is a lot of Pokemon have challenged him in the past, but he had easily defeated them. So his wish was to have a challenger to not only give him a good fight, but also triumph over him. Little did Drake know he was being watched; Team Rocket had arrived at Pummelo Stadium and were currently spying on him. They heard that he was the owner of a Dragonite and wanted it for their boss.

"Okay, so how should we go through with this?" James asked. "I mean, we can't just nab Dragonite because it's extremely strong."

"You're right James." Jessie said. "The only way to catch it is for it to be defeated first."

Suddenly they heard that someone was going to challenge Drake tomorrow.

"That's it." Meowth said. "The challenger can weaken the Dragonite for us and make it easy to steal."

Jessie and James agreed to the idea.

That evening, Ash was thinking about what six Pokemon he would use in the battle against Drake.

"Ash better think carefully about this." Tracey said to Misty.

"I agree." Misty nodded. "Especially considering we don't know what Pokemon Drake uses aside from Dragonite."

Tomo was with Ash and watched him think. Then Ash started to smile.

"I've got it." He said. "My team will be Raichu, Corviknight, Floatzel, Rapidash, Espeon and Nidoking."

"I like that idea big brother." Tomo said.

Tracey and Misty liked the idea too.

"I hope you do well." Tracey said.

"I can't wait to use them in the battle tomorrow." Ash said. He trained with his six chosen Pokemon until it was time for bed.

The next day, it was finally time for Ash to face off against Drake. Lots of people had turned up to watch the battle and all the seats in Pummelo Stadium were full. Team Rocket was in the stadium too and waited until the time was right for them to strike. Ash and Drake entered Pummelo Stadium and started things off with a traditional handshake.

"Welcome to Pummelo Stadium Ash." Drake said. "You must be a very strong trainer to have gotten this far. Are you ready for our battle?"

"Yes I am." Ash replied.

The referee explained the rules.

"This will be a six-on-six Pokemon battle." He said. "And after one opponent's three Pokemon are defeated, there will be a field change, which is when the battle arena is transformed into another battle arena. The challenger is allowed to switch Pokemon during the battle, but the opponent isn't. Choose your Pokemon well and good luck to you both."

"The challenge is about to begin." The announcer said. "Who will win Drake or the challenger, Ash Ketchum?"

The battle arena suddenly changed from a normal battle arena to a battle arena with lots of rocks and a small pool.

"The battle will first take place on a rock and water field, and we will see how our challenger's Pokemon deal with it."

Tomo, Misty and Tracey sat on the bench behind Ash and wished him luck.

Soon a bell was rung, which meant it was time for the Orange League battle to begin. Drake sent out his first Pokemon, a Ditto. Ash knew about Ditto and it's ability to transform into any Pokemon while copying their attacks.

"This may be tricky." Ash said. "But even this won't bring me down. Raichu I'll start with you."

Raichu ran onto the battlefield, ready to fight.

"Ditto transform." Drake commanded. Ditto transformed into a Raichu.

"Raichu, Quick Attack." Ash commanded.

Raichu ran as fast as he could to charge at Ditto. Drake commanded Ditto to use Quick Attack too. Then both Ash and Drake commanded Raichu and Ditto to use Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolts collided with each other, like how electric wires collide with each other.

"This may not turn out well for Ash Ketchum." The announcer said. "In the past a lot of trainers have lost in the first round due to Ditto. Seeing their own Pokemon's attacks bounce back at them made the trainers lose their cool."

"That Ditto may be a copy." Ash said. "But there's nothing that beats the real deal. Raichu Iron Tail." Raichu's tail turned metallic silver and got ready to hit Ditto. Drake told Ditto to use Iron Tail as well. Raichu and Ditto were fighting each other with their tails like in a sword fight.

"All right Raichu time for a combination attack." Ash said. "Thunder-Tail."

Thunder-Tail was a combination of Thunderbolt and Iron Tail. Raichu's tail turned metallic silver and then he charged up his electricity for Thunderbolt. Raichu charged up to Ditto and then with his tail metallic silver and yellow, whacked Ditto really hard. Ditto transformed back into it's original form and fainted. Ash won the first round.

"That was amazing." Tracey said. "I've never seen a combo move like that before."

"Neither have I." Misty replied. "Ash is full of surprises."

"Way to go big brother!" Tomo cheered.

"It was a real clever way to defeat Ditto." Tracey noted. "I bet Drake didn't see that coming."

Tracey was right; Drake didn't see that coming nor had he seen combo moves before. He returned Ditto.

"Both you and Ditto did a great job Ash." He said. "But this next one will rock you."

Drake's second Pokemon was a Onix. Ash returned Raichu and sent Floatzel out.

"Swaping Raichu for Floatzel is a smart move." Tracey said.

"Floatzel, Aqua Jet." Ash commanded.

Floatzel covered himself in water and propelled himself towards Onix.

"Onix, Dig." Drake commanded.

Onix tunneled underground to avoid the attack.

"We have no way of knowing when it will come up again, so use Aqua Jet to move around the battlefield." Ash said.

Floatzel zipped across the arena. It was like a rocket traveling through space. The crowd went wild after seeing that move.

"I like the move Aqua Jet." Misty said. "My Dewgong knows it too and it makes a water type Pokemon look cool in a battle."

"Return to the surface and use Bind." Drake commanded.

Onix emerged from the ground, nearly hitting Floatzel and as quick as a flash it wrapped it's tail tightly about Floatzel. Floatzel was getting crushed by Onix's strong grip.

"This battle's only just begun." Ash said. "Floatzel Icy Wind."

Floatzel blew a cold wind containing pieces of ice that lightly coated Onix. Onix couldn't stand the cold and released Floatzel.

"Now Floatzel Hydro Pump." Ash said.

Floatzel fired a powerful burst of water from it's mouth at Onix.

"Now finish it off with Ice Fang." Floatzel's teeth were coated in ice and it bit down on Onix, causing it to faint.

"Ash is good." Drake said returning Onix.

Drake was getting impressed with Ash's battling skill; even the audience was impressed with Ash.

"Well Ash, you have defeated two of my Pokemon." Drake said. "But here's a ghost of a challenge."

Drake's third Pokemon was a Gengar.

"It's a good thing I came prepared for something like this." He returned Floatzel and sent out Espeon.

"Interesting." The announcer said. "Ash Ketchum has sent out Espeon, a Pokemon you can find in the Johto Region."

"Gengar, Shadow Ball." Drake commanded.

"Psychic, Espeon." Ash said. Espeon's eyes turned blue and then fired a light blue ball of energy at the Shadow Ball, making it fall apart.

"Okay Gengar go for Hypnosis." Drake said. Ash knew Hypnosis would cause Espeon to fall asleep.

"Quick Espeon, dive into the pool to escape." He said.

Espeon dived into the pool and swam underwater to escape Hypnosis. Espeon may not be a water type Pokemon, but she knew how to swim.

"Now use Psybeam." Espeon fired a multicolored beam at Gengar, doing a lot of damage to it.

"Gengar, Night Shade." Drake said.

Gengar fired two dark purple rays from it's eyes at Espeon.

"Counter it with Psychic." Ash said.

When Night Shade and Psychic collided with each other, the two attacks produced a big explosion. After the explosion faded, everyone saw that Gengar and Espeon had fainted resulting in the third round being a draw. Drake and Ash returned their Pokemon.

"Since Drake has three defeated Pokemon first, the field change will now take place." The announcer said. The rock and water field disappeared into the ground and then a sandy field took it's place. While the field change was underway, Ash took a breather on the bench with Tomo, Misty and Tracey.

"You're doing great big brother." Tomo said, handing Ash a water bottle.

"I agree with Tomo." Tracey remarked. "Only three more Pokemon to beat."

"How are you feeling?" Misty asked.

"In all honesty." Ash panted. "A six on six Pokemon battle is more difficult than I thought."

After the field change ended, it was now time for the second half of the battle. Drake released a Venusaur and Ash sent out Rapidash.

"Rapidash, are you okay on a sandy field?" Ash asked.

He was worried the sandy terrain would cause problems for Rapidash, but she reassured him she was okay.

"Venusaur, Vine Whip." Drake said.

Several vines came out of Venusaur's back and headed straight for Rapidash.

"Rapidash, dodge them with Agility." Ash said.

Rapidash galloped to dodge Venusaur's vines.

"Now use Megahorn." Rapidash's horn glowed white and then she charged straight towards Venusaur with her horn lowered. Megahorn did significant damage to Venusaur.

"Follow it up with Flamethrower." Rapidash sent a stream of fire at Venusaur. Venusaur really felt the attack and fainted.

Drake returned Venusaur and sent out his fifth Pokemon, Electabuzz. Ash returned Rapidash and brought out Nidoking.

"Good decision." Tracey said. "Nidoking is part ground type, so electric type attacks have no effect on it."

Drake looked at the two Pokemon carefully.

"As electric type attacks have no effect on Nidoking." He said. "I will need to attack another way. Electabuzz, Ice Punch."

"Oh no ice is super effective on ground type Pokemon."

"Nidoking, Fire Punch."

Electabuzz's hand turned light blue and it went to punch Nidoking and Nidoking's paws were surrounded in a reddish-orange fire as he went to punch Electabuzz. The Ice Punch and Fire Punch collided with each other and sent the two Pokemon flying away from each other.

"Sludge Bomb Nidoking." Ash said.

Nidoking released big globs of brown sludge from his mouth and fired them at Electabuzz.

"Electabuzz, Thunderbolt." Drake told it.

The thunderbolt was successful at breaking the bigger globs of sludge, but it missed one which hit it.

"Now Nidoking, Horn Drill." Ash said.

Nidoking's horn spun like a drill and then Nidoking hit Electabuzz with Horn Drill. Electabuzz was instantly knocked out by the attack.

Drake returned Electabuzz and clung to the Poke Ball clipped on the necklace around his neck.

"Folks here comes Drake's final Pokemon which he always saves for last." The announcer said. "This Pokemon is the reason why Drake hasn't been defeated in a long time."

Drake took the Poke Ball off the necklace and tossed it.

"My last hope, I choose you." He said. Out came Dragonite.

"I was afraid of this." Ash said. "Nidoking, can you still fight?"

Nidoking nodded.

"Okay, use Sludge Bomb." Nidoking fired big globs of sludge at Dragonite.

"Dragonite, Ice Beam." Drake said.

Dragonite fired a beam of ice from it's mouth at the sludge bomb. The ice beam froze the big globs of sludge and then it hit Nidoking, freezing him in the process.

"Oh no!" Ash exclaimed, looking at Nidoking in the block of ice.

"Now Dragonite use Body Slam." Drake said.

Dragonite flew into the air and slammed into the block of ice holding Nidoking. Dragonite's body slam not only broke the block of ice, it caused Nidoking to faint.

"Wow, Dragonite is very strong." Ash said, returning Nidoking.

"I choose Corviknight." Corviknight screeched when it came out of the Poke Ball.

"Ash Ketchum has a Corviknight, a steel/flying type from the Galar Region."

Drake and the audience were surprised to see a steel type Pokemon.

"Corviknight, Flash Cannon." Ash said.

Corviknight fired a silver beam of energy at Dragonite.

"Use Dragon Rage Dragonite." Drake said. Dragonite sent a ball of fire towards the silver beam of energy and collided with it.

"Use Ice Beam Dragonite."

Before the beam of ice could hit Corviknight, however...

"Fly up to escape." Ash commanded.

Corviknight flew up to the sky. Dragonite took off into the sky too. Soon Dragonite and Corviknight were throwing attacks at each other in the sky.

"I've never seen a battle like this before." Tracey said.

"Neither have I." Misty added. "We're looking at two mighty creatures battling."

The audience went wild after seeing the battle.

At the moment, Team Rocket was watching the battle.

"That Dragonite is stronger than we thought it was." Jessie said.

"Should we nab it now?" Meowth asked.

"No, no, no." James said. "It hasn't been weakened enough."

Meowth and Jessie nodded.

Dragonite and Corviknight were still going at each other in the sky.

"Corviknight, Iron Head." Corviknight's body was surrounded in a white aura and then it slammed into Dragonite.

"Use Hyper Beam, Dragonite." Drake said.

Corviknight tried to get away from the Hyper Beam but was hit by it and took a lot of damage.

"Air Slash!" Corviknight fired multiple light blue air blades at Dragonite.

"Use Body Slam." Drake said.

Dragonite slammed into Corviknight, causing it pain and then Corviknight fainted.

"Oh man." Ash said. "Defeating Dragonite is going to be harder than I thought. But I'm not done yet."

He returned Corviknight and sent Floatzel out.

"Ice Fang, Floatzel." Floatzel's teeth were covered in ice and he bit down on one of Dragonite's wings, freezing it.

"Thunder, Dragonite." Drake said.

Dragonite fired a big thunderbolt at Floatzel which hit it. Since Floatzel was a water type Pokemon, Thunder did a lot of damage to it and then Floatzel fainted.

Meanwhile Jessie and James stood up from their seats in the stadium.

"Now?" Meowth asked.

"Now." Jessie and James answered at the same time.

It was time for them to put their plan into action. At that time, Ash returned Floatzel. Dragonite was starting to pant from exhaustion.

"Since I've got two Pokemon left." Ash said. "I may be able to finish this, now that Dragonite is starting to get exhausted."

Ash was about to take another Poke Ball off his belt, when suddenly an air balloon appeared over the stadium. It was Team Rocket and they flung a net over Dragonite. Team Rocket started laughing after capturing Dragonite.

"With this Dragonite, we will be unstoppable." Jessie said.

Drake wasn't concerned one bit.

"You know what to do Dragonite." Drake said calmly.

Dragonite cut the net with it's wing and then made Team Rocket blast off by slamming into the balloon and bursting it.

With Team Rocket gone, Ash and Drake's battle resumed. Ash sent out Rapidash.

"Dragonite, use Water Gun." Drake said.

"Agility, Rapidash." Ash said.

Rapidash galloped as fast as she could to get away from Dragonite's Water Gun attack.

"Now charge Rapidash." Rapidash charged up to Dragonite and hit it hard with her horn. Drake was surprised by this.

"Of all the trainers I've ever faced." He said. "Ash is the greatest."

"Now Rapidash use Flamethrower." Ash said.

"Water Gun, Dragonite." Drake said.

Flamethrower and Water Gun collided with each other and then the Water Gun overpowered Flamethrower before striking Rapidash.

"Now Thunder Dragonite." Dragonite's Thunder attack struck Rapidash really hard and then Rapidash fainted.

"Now Ash and Drake are down to one Pokemon each." The announcer said.

Ash brought Raichu out.

"You're my last hope." He said.

Raichu ran onto the battlefield, ready to fight.

"It's all up to Raichu now." Tracey said.

"This is making me nervous." Tomo said.

"All right Raichu, Agility." Ash said.

"Dragonite, stop Raichu." Drake said.

Even though Raichu ran as fast as he could, Dragonite managed to hit Raichu hard with it's tail.

"You can do it Raichu." Ash encouraged.

"Hyper Beam." Drake commanded Dragonite.

This was bad news for Ash; one hit from Hyper Beam would cost Ash the match.

He then came up with an idea.

"Jump into the air Raichu." He said.

After Dragonite released Hyper Beam, Raichu turned his tail into a springboard to avoid the attack. Dragonite was becoming more and more exhausted. Raichu then jumped onto Dragonite's head and grabbed it's two long antennae. Dragonite was tired, but it tried to shake Raichu off.

"Raichu, Thunder." Ash said.

Raichu shocked Dragonite hard with his Thunder attack and then fell off Dragonite's head. Dragonite and Raichu were exhausted, and then after a minute of panting and staring at each other Dragonite fainted.

"Dragonite is unable to battle." The referee said. "The winner of this competition is Ash Ketchum."

"Amazing folks." The announcer said. "The challenger has won the match."

"Wow Ash did it." Misty said.

"They all did it." Tracey said.

"Hooray for my big brother!" Tomo cheered with Growlithe joining him.

Ash walked over to Raichu and picked him up to give him a hug.

"We did it Raichu." He said.

Drake returned Dragonite and praised it for a job well done.

Ash and his Pokemon; Raichu, Corviknight, Floatzel, Espeon, Rapidash and Nidoking stood on the winner's platform. Drake presented the first place trophy to Ash.

"Ash." He said. "That was the best battle I've had in quite some time. And you deserve this trophy. You're a great Pokemon trainer."

"It's all thanks to my great Pokemon." Ash smiled.

The audience clapped and cheered for Ash and his Pokemon one more time.

And so Ash won the Orange League and earned a trophy and a place in the Orange League Hall of Fame. Ash's hand print and his six Pokemon's prints were placed on a stone slab with a picture of all of them in front of it. Ash couldn't wait to get home and tell his mom and Prof. Oak about his adventures in the Orange Islands.