The Four-Star Challenge: Difference between revisions

{{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}} and {{Tracey}} are riding on {{p|Lapras}}, Ash being very eager to face his next [[Orange League]] battle. Tracey spots [[Navel Island]], a volcanic island. Upon landing on the beach a young man introduces himself as [[Danny|Dan]], and leads the trio towards the Gym. Ash believes that Dan is also there to challenge the Gym. After walking along a long path they reach the mountain with a cable car adjacent. A sign says that challengers of the Gym must first climb to the top of the mountain alone, without any assistance from their Pokémon. Dan remarks that he will also be making the ascent. Tracey and Misty use the cable car to climb to the top.

While climbing the mountain, Ash finds it very difficult, loses his footing and falls down the mountain. He almost calls out his {{p|Bulbasaur}} to use {{m|Vine Whip}} to steady himself, but Dan manages to dissuade him from doing so, as it would have disqualified him. Ash and Dan keep climbing the mountain, and the slopes started to become covered in snow. {{OP|Ash|Pikachu}} was starting the feel the effects of the cold, urging Ash to climb the mountain faster, ahead of Dan. At the summit Ash comes upon the realization that Dan is the Navel Island [[Gym Leader]], and that climbing the mountain was a test. Dan introduces the Gym rules as a contest of three rounds, with the victor having to win two out of three. The first round is announced to be the quickest to freeze a geyser. Dan is confident and sends out his {{p|Nidoqueen}} to use Ice Beam. Ash hesitates, and then calls out Lapras. However, Nidoqueen proves to be faster and Dan wins the round.

The second round is to turn the frozen geyser into an ice sled, with each participant using three Pokémon. Ash calls out Pikachu, Bulbasaur and {{OP|Ash|Charizard}}, despite Charizard not listening to Ash. Dan uses {{p|Machoke}}, Nidoqueen and {{p|Scyther}}. Dan's Pokémon make early headway building their sled, while Bulbasaur and Pikachu are too ineffective. Ash tried to coax Charizard to help, but Charizard feigns interest. Charizard then sends a fiery blast in the direction of the ice column, turning it into an ice sled, much to everyone's disbelief. This gives Ash victory in the second round. The third round consists of a race in the ice sleds down the mountain and onto the beach.

The race begins, with Ash using his Pikachu, Bulbasaur and {{OP|Ash|Squirtle}} to assist him. Dan pulls ahead, but crashes into a ditch. The ditch is revealed to have been dug by {{TRT}}, who appears from behind a snowbank. They capture Ash, Dan and their Pokémon in a giant pit and steal Pikachu, before heading off into the distance. Dan calls out his {{p|Geodude}} and orders it to use {{m|Rock Throw}}. Ash tells Bulbasaur to start making snowballs for Geodude to throw at [[Team Rocket]]'s balloon, which eventually sinks due to the excess weight. The balloon's basket is turned upside-down, and Pikachu is freed. The race is continued, and the sleds head towards the rock slopes. In order to avoid a large boulder, Ash diverts his sled using a tree trunk, which sends it careening off into the forest. Ash's sled hits a large bump, sending it into the sky, landing just ahead of Dan's on the beach. Ash wins the race, and receives the Sea Ruby Badge.