Ash and co. ride Lapras in the ocean. Lapras is having a fun time. Tracey comments on Lapras's speed. This almost knocks Pikachu overboard. However, Ash saves Pikachu just in time. Ash tells Lapras to take its time, except the group is hungry. Maiken Island is the closest island, plus there's a gym too. Ash is happy, and the group travels to Maiken Island. Team Rocket is spying on Ash and co. in their Magikarp sub. James and Meowth are exhausted from the amount of pedaling. The sub starts to sink as James and Meowth stop pedaling. Jessie gets James and Meowth back in shape. Suddenly, the pedals stop working. The propeller of the sub has gotten stuck in some weeds, and the sub sinks.

Ash and co. has arrived at Maiken Island. Ash returns Lapras into its Pokéball. Their first stop is the Pokémon Center. Ash calls up Professor Oak to talk. Tracey introduces himself as a Pokémon Watcher to Professor Oak. Muk appears next to Professor Oak. Ash tells the Professor that he caught a Lapras. Muk tramples Professor Oak to the ground, and their conversation ends.

They continue their way towards the gym. Tracey is excited that he has friends who knows Professor Oak. He mentions that Professor Oak is very famous, and that every Pokémon Watcher would want to meet him. Ash changes the subject by asking Tracey the details of the gym leader. Tracey tells Ash that the gym leader on Maiken Island is one of the toughest ones in the Orange Crew. After a few more steps, Ash sees the Maiken Gym. A coconut distracts Ash. He decides to drink the milk from it. Before Ash can crack the coconut open, a bunch of water gets sprayed on him. A boy comes out, saying that he "got" Ash. Ash looks above and notices that the whole thing was a trap. The boy doesn't think that Ash is a very good trainer. Ash mentions that he was in the Top 16 in the Indigo League. The boy wants to have a battle with Ash first. Before they can battle, a woman comes out. The woman's name is Sissy and she introduces herself as the Maiken Gym Leader. Tracey sketches Sissy in his sketchbook.

Sissy tells Ash that they will battle with water Pokémon. There will be two challenges total. The boy presses a button and a row of cans appears. Another button is pressed, and the battlefield is changed to a pool of water. Sissy chooses Seadra as her first Pokémon. Ash looks up Seadra in his Pokédex. Ash notices Seadra's lack of beauty. Seadra hears this remark, and it squirts Ash with water. Sissy tells Ash that they will start off with a Water Gun challenge. This is where the trainers get to see who has the best Water Gun attacks. The boy blows out some bubbles, and Seadra pops them all with its Water Gun. Ash sends out Squirtle. Sissy comments on how good looking Squirtle is doing. Seadra starts to knock the cans over with Water Gun, and Squirtle does the same. Psyduck is fooling around with the GS Ball. Misty takes the GS Ball away from the Psyduck. The challenge is over, and the results end up being a tie.

Sissy tells Ash that they have to now hit the moving targets. The scenery changes to a beach view. The boy presses a button and a disk flies out. Seadra destroys the disk with a Water Gun. Three more disks appear, and Seadra hits them all with great accuracy. It's Squirtle's turn now. Squirtle manages to hit all the disks with great accuracy too. Next, another disk will appear. Whoever can hit it first will win the match. The disk flies out, and Squirtle and Seadra both hit the disk the same time. This challenge is a tie too.

The final challenge is the Pokémon Wave Ride. This challenge is created to decide who the winner is. All the Pokémon have to do is swim to a flag at the far end of the ocean, and come back. Whoever gets back first wins. Sissy chooses Blastoise for her Pokémon, and Ash chooses Lapras. The Pokémon gets into their starting positions. Suddenly, a Magikarp sub comes out of the water. Team Rocket comes out and they recite their motto. Ash asks Team Rocket to move out of the way. James tells his sad story about how they had to untangle the propeller. Meowth snaps James out of his sadness, and points to the Pokémon. James sends out his Weezing. Weezing uses Smokescreen, clouding up the area. A net is fired which captures Blastoise. Sissy is confident that Blastoise can take care of itself. Unfortunately, the pedals get stuck. Team Rocket tries to push as hard as they can on the pedals. The pedals just break apart. Meowth gets an idea. The team decides to just push the sub. Team Rocket swims into the ocean. Blastoise sees Team Rocket, and he pulls the Magikarp sub onto the surface. Then Blastoise breaks out of the net. Pikachu uses Thundershock on Team Rocket. Blastoise blasts Team Rocket off with a Hydro Pump.

The Wave Ride race is about to start. Sissy tells Ash that he has to stand on his Pokémon. Ash tries to keep his balance when standing on Lapras. The boy fires his gun and off they go. Ash is having a hard time maintaining his balance, but Sissy is doing great. Ash wants to go for the inside, but Blastoise collides into Lapras. The two Pokémon begin to collide into each other. Ash almost falls off Lapras, but Lapras catches him. Both Pokémon cross the flag, and now they have to head back. A tidal wave starts to form behind Ash and Sissy. Lapras uses Ice Beam on half of the wave. Half of the wave turns into ice. The other half crashes down onto Sissy and Blastoise, but Ash remains safe. Blastoise jumps up and hurls into the water to save Sissy. Sissy starts to beat Ash. Lapras uses Ice Beam near the shore, and then it slides on the ice. Lapras catches up with Blastoise. It's a close race, but Ash wins. Lapras suddenly stops at the finish line, throwing Ash into a tree. Sissy congratulates Ash for his victory. She presents him with a Coral Eye badge.

Ash and co. leaves Maiken Island. Tracey is finishing his sketch of Sissy and her Blastoise. Ash stares at his badge, ready for their next adventure.

English Official Summary

Ash, Misty and their new friend, Tracey, are on a new adventure exploring the Orange Islands as Ash sets out to qualify for the Orange League Tournament. After hearing that the Mikan Gym Leader is known as one of the toughest trainers in the Orange Crew, Ash can't wait for the challenge. He learns that Pokémon battles are run a little differently on the Orange Islands, but he can always rely on his Squirtle to pull them through!

Italian Official Summary

Ash, Misty e il loro nuovo amico, Tracey, cominciano a esplorare le Isole Orange e Ash è determinato a qualificarsi per la Lega! Presto viene a sapere che le regole di questo torneo sono un po' diverse dal solito...

Portuguese Official Summary

Ash, Misty e Tracey partem para explorar as Ilhas Laranja, e Ash quer qualificar-se para a Liga Laranja! Ele não tarda a saber que os desafios da Equipa Laranja são um pouco diferentes dos habituais combates de Ginásio.

Spanish Latin America Official Summary

Ash, Misty y Tracey salen a explorar las Islas Naranja, ¡y Ash está decidido a calificar en la Liga Naranja! Pronto descubre que los desafíos del Equipo Naranja son un poco diferentes a las batallas de otros gimnasios.

Spanish Official Summary

Ash, Misty y su nuevo amigo, Tracey, están embarcados en una nueva aventura explorando las Islas Naranja, mientras Ash decide clasificarse para el Torneo de la Liga Naranja.

English Great Britian Official Summary

Ash, Misty and their new friend, Tracey, are on a new adventure exploring the Orange Islands as Ash sets out to qualify for the Orange League Tournament. After hearing that the Mikan Gym Leader is known as one of the toughest trainers in the Orange Crew, Ash can't wait for the challenge. He learns that Pokémon battles are run a little differently on the Orange Islands, but he can always rely on his Squirtle to pull them through!

Dutch Official Summary

Ash, Misty, en Tracey gaan de Orange Islands verkennen en Ash is vastbesloten om mee te doen aan de Orange League! Hij ontdekt echter al snel dat de Orange Crew andere uitdagingen biedt dan de gewone Gym gevechten.

French Official Summary

Sacha, Ondine et leur nouvel ami Jacky se lancent dans une nouvelle aventure pour explorer les Îles Oranges tandis que Sacha essaye de se qualifier pour le Tournoi de la Ligue Orange.

German Official Summary

Ash, Misty und ihr neuer Freund Tracey erkunden das Orange-Archipel. Ash will sich natürlich für die Orange-Liga qualifizieren.

Danish Official Summary

Ash, Misty og Tracey tager ud for at udforske Orangeøerne, mens Ash er opsat på at kvalificere sig til Orange Ligaen! Han opdager snart, at udfordringer fra Orange Holdet er lidt anderledes end andre Salkampe.