by Tracey West
Ash struggled to keep his eyes open. With every ounce of strength he had, he hurled a Poké Ball at Snorlax.
The ball opened and shot a beam of white light at the Pokémon.
Snorlax disappeared. The ball closed.
“I did it,” Ash said. “I … caught … Snor …”
Ash sank to the ground, fast asleep.
He woke up, hours later. Ash rubbed his eyes.
Misty, Tracey, Ruby, and Pikachu were waking up, too. They all had colored marker on their faces.
They looked pretty silly, Ash knew. But he didn’t care.
“I caught Snorlax!” he said, excited.
“Thank you,” Ruby said. “Without you we couldn’t have saved the grapefruit on the other islands.”
Some workers came through the trees.
“Snorlax isn’t on our radar anymore,” one man said.
Ruby explained what had happened.
“That’s great,” said the worker. “And there’s more good news. The trees that Snorlax ate the grapefruit off of are starting to bud already.” He pointed to a tree.
Ash looked. Where Snorlax had broken off a branch, a leafy green bud had formed.
“I can’t believe it!” Ruby said. “Our next harvest will be great. These islands will be covered with grapefruit once again.”
“Snorlax may have the ability to help plants grow,” Tracey guessed.
Ruby smiled and shook her head. “That’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”
Ash thought about it.
So far on the Orange Islands he had seen an Onix that was made of clear crystal instead of hard rock.
He had witnessed Marill and Venonat’s amazing tracking abilities.
He had seen an island filled with pink Pokémon.
He had felt himself teleport mysteriously.
And now he had caught his very own Snorlax.
“I’m sure there are lots more amazing things to see in the Orange Islands,” Ash said. “And I’m going to do my best to see them all!”
“Don’t forget, Ash,” Misty reminded him. “You have to return that GS Ball to Professor Oak sometime.”
“And didn’t you want to earn some badges in the Orange League?” Tracey asked.
Ash grinned. “No problem! We can do it all, can’t we, Pikachu?”
Pikachu smiled and nodded with determination. “Pikachu!”
Tracey West has been writing books for more than twenty years. She enjoys reading comic books, watching cartoons, and taking long walks in the woods (looking for wild Pokémon). She lives in a small town in New York with her family and pets.
The Orange Islands have a Pokémon League of their own. But these gym matches are beyond different. Mountain climbing? Dancing Pokémon? And sometimes Ash can’t even use his Pokémon! What’s up with that?
Is Ash up to the challenge? With help from his friends and a little luck, Ash just might have a chance.
Turn the page for a sneak peek at another Pokémon adventure, The Four-Star Challenge!
“Go, Lapras!” Ash Ketchum shouted to his Water-type Pokémon. The big blue creature sped across the sparkling ocean waters that surrounded the Orange Islands.
Ash and his friends rode atop Lapras’s sturdy, round back. His longtime friend, Misty, held her baby Pokémon, Togepi. His new friend, Tracey, drew in a sketchbook. And Pikachu, Ash’s Electric-type Pokémon, smiled and enjoyed the ride.
“I think Lapras is having fun!” said Misty. Her orange hair blew in the ocean wind. She gave Togepi an affectionate squeeze. “And I should know! It is a Water-type Pokémon, after all.”
Misty loved Water-type Pokémon. Even Ash had to admit, she knew more about them than anyone else he’d met.
“What’s not to like?” Ash replied as he felt the warm tropical breeze on his face. “Being a Pokémon Trainer is a great life!”
Sometimes he couldn’t believe how far he’d come since his tenth birthday. That’s when he left his home in Pallet Town and began his journey as a Pokémon Trainer. He’d met a lot of people and had many adventures. But most important, he’d captured a lot of Pokémon since then.
“Pika-a-a-a!”
Pikachu’s cry snapped Ash out of his daydream. The little yellow Pokémon was flying through the air, thrown off balance by a surprise wave. Ash dove after Pikachu, holding onto Lapras with his legs. He caught Pikachu just before it hit the water.
“That was a close one,” he said.
“Pika,” agreed Pikachu, its eyes still wide with surprise.
“We’re not in a hurry, Lapras. You don’t have to rush,” said Misty.
“That’s true,” said Ash, “although I wouldn’t mind getting something to eat.”
“I’m kind of hungry, too,” Misty agreed.
“Pikachu!” added Pikachu.
“Well, we’re not that far from Mikan Island,” said Tracey, a Pokémon watcher. “I’m sure we can get some food there. And — there’s an Orange League Gym on the island.”
“An Orange League Gym?!” Ash sat up, suddenly forgetting his hunger.
He came to the Orange Islands on an errand for his hometown mentor, Professor Oak, the famous Pokémon expert. The Professor wanted Ash, Misty, and their friend, Brock, to pick up a mysterious Poké Ball called the GS Ball from his old friend, Professor Ivy. Ash picked up the GS Ball, but he lost a friend. Brock decided to stay and help Professor Ivy.
Ash missed Brock but he soon found another friend, Tracey, and a new Pokémon, Lapras. And then he heard about the Orange League.
“I guess this is it, huh, Ash?” Misty said, knocking him with her elbow. “The beginning of a whole new challenge!”
Ash knew she was teasing him but he didn’t care. He’d done pretty well in the Pokémon League back home. He couldn’t wait to win the Orange League’s four badges and then compete for the championship trophy in their league tournament. Misty could tease all she wanted!
“You just wait and see! I’m gonna be the greatest Pokémon Trainer the Orange Islands have ever seen!” Ash said.
“Pika pika!” Pikachu squeaked in agreement.
“See? Pikachu knows I’m right!” Ash said. “We’re going to challenge every Gym Leader on these islands!”
Misty laughed and shook her head. “Too bad you don’t have any confidence, Ash Ketchum.”
Ash smiled at Pikachu. How could he not feel confident? He and Pikachu made a great team.
“Full speed ahead!” Tracey shouted. “Next stop, Mikan Island!”
Journey to the Orange Islands
Secret of the Pink Pokémon
The Four-Star Challenge
Scyther, Heart of a Champion
Race to Danger
Talent Showdown
Psyduck Ducks Out
Thundershock in Pummelo Stadium
©2021 Pokémon. ©1997–1998 Nintendo, Creatures, GAME FREAK, TV Tokyo, ShoPro, JR Kikaku. TM, ® Nintendo.
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First printing 2017
e-ISBN 978-1-338-80075-3
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