After picking up the "GS Ball" from Professor Ivy, Brock decided to stay on the island so Ash and Misty head back home by blimp. Unfortunately, our duo gets double-crossed by Team Rocket once again, and then Jigglypuff puts the whole crew to sleep. The blimp crashes on sunny Tangelo Island. Ash and Misty then wonder along the beach and find some kids picking on a beached baby Lapras. They chase them away and get a hold of Nurse Joy to come save it. At the center they meet Tracey, and Ash learns of the Orange League, and wants to compete. Professor Oak agrees to wait for the GS Ball so that Ash can compete. Meanwhile, Team Rocket want to steal the Lapras while it is defenseless.