Walking along the beaches of Valencia Island, Ash and friends are searching for Professor Ivy, who luckily ends up appearing on her own. After finding out why they are there, she takes them to the lab where she shows them the GS Ball and explains why it is so mysterious. Ash then calls Professor Oak about it and Oak is excited to look at it, and then he and Ivy get into a discussion about their various works. Following that, Brock helps clean their living quarters and even makes dinner. That night a little scare happens when Professor Ivy jumps into a cloud of Vileplume's Stun Spore to save a Raticate, and she is taken to the Pokemon Center.After spending the night on the island and seeing how Ivy ans her assistants live and work, Brock decide to make a bold decision as Ash and Misty are ready to leave.

Ash, Misty, and their new friend Tracey begin their journey through the Orange Islands so Ash cam compete in the Orange League. Their first stop is Mikan Island where the first Orange League Gym is located. Ash meets the gym leader Cissy and challenges her to a battle. However, Ash soon learns that in the Orange League, Gym Battles are not what he is used to, such as accuracy tests and water races. Will Ash conquer this type of gym and win his first badge?