After battling in the Pokémon League Tournament, Ash and his friends return to Pallet Town for a hero's welcome.

Ash, Brock, and Misty prepare for their long journey to Valencia Island to bring back a mysterious Poké Ball for Professor Oak. After discovering that the trip will take a month to get there, Ash manages to win a free blimp ride so it will take only a day! Once on board, they realize the blimp is being powered by Team Rocket! And things only get worse from there!

After making a crash landing onto Valencia Island, our heroes get directions to Professor Ivy's laboratory where the mysterious Pokéball is being held. Once at the laboratory, Brock realizes that Professor Ivy and her group of scientists are Pokémon breeders just like him! Suddenly Brock begins to feel at home and thinks about staying for awhile to continue his studies on Pokémon breeding.

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 Jigglypuff puts the whole crew to sleep. After another crash landing in the middle of nowhere they meet a new friend named Tracey while trying to help a Lapras that washed up on the beach.

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!

Just as Ash, Misty, and Tracey set foot on Mandarin Island, Pikachu and Togepi turn against them and join a group of other angry Pokémon. When the misbehaving Pokémon disappear, Officer Jenny arrives and informs them that dozens of Pokémon have been reported missing, including Meowth! Everyone fears a Psychic attack is behind this mystery. Will Jessie and James actually join forces with our heroes? Could they possibly win a battle for the first time?

While riding around the Orange Islands on his Lapras, Ash finds a mysterious message in a bottle, which leads the gang on a new adventure. Ash, Misty and Tracey travel to Sunburst Island, which is famous for its artists and glassblowers. They meet a struggling young shopkeeper who's seeking inspiration from a legendary crystal Onix. Having been unable to find this special Pokémon, the shopkeeper turns to our heroes. With Tracey and his observational Pokémon on board, they set out to fire up a new friend's creative drive!

Ash and friends are caught in a whirlpool and swept to an unexplored island where all the Pokémon are pink. It's Pinkan Island, a Pokémon refuge where the Pokémon's diet of Pinkan Berries causes their unique coloration. But the Pokémon aren't all as sweet as they look. Our heroes cross paths with an enraged Nidoking, and end up cornered under a cliff.

Aboard Lapras, the group follows a news crew to an uninhabited island, where a scientific expedition is underway after the discovery of a fossilized Kabuto. A series of natural disasters place our heroes in mortal danger, with only the power of their Pokémon to help them. What is the secret of the Kabuto, and who wants that secret to remain hidden?

Misty meets another female trainer who also is an expert on water Pokémon. The new trainer notices some signs that Misty's Psyduck may be ready to evolve. As the two prepare for a Pokémon battle, a Golduck springs from the water and battles for Misty. With her powerful new Pokémon, can Misty defeat both her newfound friend and Team Rocket?

After stopping on another island to rest, Misty notices her Psyduck's tail is glowing, a nearby trainer says it may mean it is time for it to evolve. So Misty challenges her to battle and when she finds she has a Golduck, she easily beats the trainer. However, Team Rocket has other plans. Later, Golduck turns out to be a wild Pokémon as Misty's Psyduck makes an appearance.

While riding Ash's Lapras to the next island, Ash and the gang come across a tanned Nurse Joy who insists on healing Wild Water Pokémon on the island. Ash and Tracey decide to help out, but when Team Rocket arrives to stop them, a giant Magikarp arrives.

The group arrive on Navel Island where Ash finds himself up against the Gym Leader, Danny as Ash competes for his second Orange League badge. Misty tries to tempt Ash by showing more caring attitude to Danny. Ash once again gets jealous and sad.

Arriving on the Grapefruit Islands, Ash discovers that there is a Snorlax going from island to island eating all the grapefruits. Ash is employed to help stop the Snorlax, but the Snorlax proves to be slippery. Later on, Ash captures the Snorlax.

Arriving on Moro Island, Ash and his friends hear about a long lost Orange League Trophy being found on a sunken ship, but when Team Rocket steals it, Ash and the gang follow them to a ghost ship inhabited by a Gastly and Haunter.

Meowth finds himself on an island where the inhabitants believe him to be a "Meowth God".

Arriving on Murcott Island, Ash and his friends discover a wounded Scyther. After capturing it, Tracey must take it to a Pokémon Center. While there, he discovers the Scyther got dethroned from being in charge of his group.

Deciding to take a break on a nearby island, Ash, his friends, and all their Pokémon just use the time to relax and get better acquainted. However, Team Rocket has other plans for the Pokémon and intend to steal them.

The group descend on Mandarin Island where Ash's arrogance emerges due to the fact that he's won every single battle he's had since arriving on the island but upon meeting Prima, a member of the Elite Four and challenging her to a battle, Ash starts to realize that he may have made a grave mistake.

Still on Mandarin Island, Ash and his friends go through Victorian Town where they find two Nidoran who are in love with each other but any possible hint of a relationship is being derailed by the trainers who happen to be childhood rivals.

Ash and his friends discover a man who has troops of Magnemite and has to take them to a town on the island in order to give it power. However, he gets injured, so it is up to Ash to herd up the Magnemite and get to the town.

Heading to the other end of Mandarin Island, Ash and his friends discover there's a monster in the sewer that is causing lots of problems in the town. When the Mayor wants to blow it up, Joy protests and asks Ash and company to help.

Ash arrives on Trovita Island prepared to battle for his third Orange League Gym Badge. However, much to Ash's dismay, the Gym Leader, Rudy has more than just battling on his mind, Rudy develops a crush on Misty, and Ash gets jealous once again. Rudy moves in to court Misty after she helps rescue his younger sister, Mahri. While Ash battles for the Spike Shell Badge, Misty considers the tempting offer to stay on the island with Rudy and Mahri forever.

After getting his 3rd Orange League Badge, Ash and his friends arrive on an island, where Pikachu is soon captured by Team Rocket and is chained to Meowth. But soon after Pikachu and Meowth are taken away by a giant Pidgeot, the trapped rivals eventually learn how to get along.

After hearing about Ash from the Trovita Island gym leader, another trainer seeks him out for a battle. When Pikachu is knocked out during the battle, Ash turns to his Charizard, but he struggles to make the unruly Pokémon listen to him.