Bidding farewell to the amusing mix-up on Mandarin Island South, Ash's group continued their journey toward the next stop in the Southern CrossNavel Island.
As they sailed, the air grew increasingly cold. Soon, a towering volcanic island capped with white snow appeared on the horizon. That was their destination.
Approaching Navel Island, a wave of cold hit them head-on. On the shore stood a steady-looking young man in a blue climbing suit, gazing at the snowy mountain as if waiting for someone.
Seeing Ash and the others land, the man gave a friendly greeting. "Hello there. Are you trainers here to challenge the Navel Gym?"
"Yes! I'm Ash from Pallet Town!" Ash replied. At the same time, his Aura stirred. He felt a calm, inward strength from the man named Danny, which seemed to resonate with the surrounding environment. Combining this with his memories of the original story, he immediately confirmed that this was the Navel Gym Leader himself.
However, he remained calm and didn't reveal his knowledge.
"I'm Danny, and I'm also a trainer preparing to challenge the Gym," Danny introduced himself with a smile. His gaze lingered for a moment on Ash and the Pikachu on his shoulder, a flash of hidden appreciation crossing his eyes. "It seems we can go together."
"That's great! Strength in numbers!" Misty said happily. Tracey nodded in agreement.
The group followed the mountain path upward and soon arrived at the Gym entrance. However, the Gym doors were tightly shut. Beside them stood a prominent wooden sign that read: Challengers must rely on their own strength and the power of their Pokémon to climb to the peak of the snowy mountain without any external tools. Only then will they be qualified for a Gym match.
"We have to climb it ourselves...?" Misty looked at the high, snowy peak with trepidation.
"This is likely the first part of the Gym's test," Tracey analyzed.
"Interesting!" Battle spirit burned in Ash's eyes. He stretched his limbs. Having been subtly strengthened by his Aura over time and through the trials of their journey, his physical stats far exceeded those of an ordinary teenager. "Danny, how about we race to the top?"
Surprise flashed in Danny's eyes, quickly turning into a smile. "You're on! Let's see who can adapt to this mountain better!"
The climb began! The rugged paths, slippery ice, and biting winds were massive challenges. Ash took a deep breath. His Aura not only strengthened his body but also heightened his sense of balance and environmental perception.
His steps were steady as he moved quickly up the treacherous slopes, even finding the focus to look after Pikachu whenever the little mouse slipped. Danny was clearly a skilled climber as well, his movements practiced and efficient as he kept close behind.
Watching Ash's agility and endurance, which far surpassed his age, Danny's admiration for the boy grew.
Ultimately, Ash reached the summit of the snowy mountain with a clear lead. The peak featured a relatively flat area with a frozen lake in the center, looking much like a natural arena.
He waited a short moment before Danny also successfully reached the top.
Standing on the summit and looking down at the mist-veiled island and the vast ocean beyond, Ash turned and smiled at the slightly panting Danny. "Mr. Danny, can you tell us now that you're the Navel Gym Leader? This climb was part of the test, wasn't it?"
Danny was taken aback, then gave a relaxed laugh. He straightened his posture, and his aura instantly became steady and authoritative. "You have very sharp observation skills, Ash. That's right. I am Danny, the Navel Gym Leader. The mountain climb tests not just physical strength, but willpower and determination. You didn't just pass with ease; you saw right through me. Very impressive."
Misty and Tracey finally realized the truth.
"Well then, the official Gym match can begin." Danny walked to one side of the frozen lake. "The rules at Navel Gym are a bit special. It's a three-round match. Winning two out of the three rounds grants victory."
"No matter the rules, I'm going to win!" Ash walked confidently to the other side.
"Round one: Ice Pillar Making!" Danny pointed toward several specific fountain vents near the lake. "Use your Pokémon's Ice Beam to freeze the erupting water into an ice pillar! Whoever finishes first wins! My partner is this oneNidoqueen!"
The massive, steady Nidoqueen took the field.
"I choose you, Lapras!" Ash sent out his partner who was also an expert with Ice-type moves.
"Match start!"
Two fountains simultaneously erupted with thick pillars of water.
"Nidoqueen, Ice Beam!"
"Lapras, use Ice Beam too!"
A cold light gathered at the tip of Nidoqueen's horn, while Lapras fired a freezing ray from its mouth. The beams struck the water columns. The moment the cold energy touched the water, it began to solidify, with white frost spreading upward!
Nidoqueen's Ice Beam was clearly more concentrated and stable; the freezing speed was visibly a step ahead of Lapras'. The ice layer was thick and even, quickly covering the entire water column. While Lapras' Ice Beam was strong, it was slightly behind in terms of control and efficiency.
In the end, Nidoqueen was the first to completely freeze the fountain into a crystal-clear ice pillar!
"Round one goes to me!" Danny announced.
"You worked hard, Lapras." Ash recalled Lapras, not feeling discouraged in the slightest.
"Round two: Ice Boat Making!" Danny pointed to the two freshly made ice pillars. "Use your Pokémon's power to carve these into small boats that can be ridden! Again, first one done wins! This time, I'll use three Pokémon! Go, Scyther, Geodude, and Electrode!"
Scyther brandished its sharp scythes, Geodude's fists were hard as rock, and Electrode... well, it looked very round.
Ash looked at the Poké Balls in his hand, a slight smirk playing on his lips as a bold and interesting plan formed. "Then, on my side... Togepi, Wartortle, and Bulbasaur!"
"Eh?!" Misty and Tracey were stunned. None of those three looked like they would be good at carving ice. Even Danny looked confused.
"Match start!"
Danny's three Pokémon moved immediately. Scyther used its sharp blades to slice the ice, Geodude used its fists to polish the edges, and Electrode used rolling impacts for rough processing. They had clear roles and moved with high efficiency.
On Ash's side, Wartortle and Bulbasaur looked at the massive block of ice, seemingly unsure of where to start. Just then, Ash spoke to the Togepi in his arms. "Togepi, it's up to you! Use Metronome!"
"Toge-toge-pi!" Togepi happily wagged its tiny fingers. White light began to flicker at its fingertips as a move was randomly selected from countless possibilities...
Danny, Misty, and the others held their breath, wondering what would come out. Would it be Water Gun? Tackle? Or some completely useless status move?
The light solidified! Togepi opened its little mouth, and a searing blast of Flamethrower shot out, burning precisely into the ice pillar!
"What?! Flamethrower?!" Danny was shocked.
"Perfect!" Ash shouted excitedly. "Wartortle, use Water Gun on the spots being scorched by the flames for detail adjustment and cooling! Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip to help stabilize the ice and clear away the shards!"
With Togepi acting as an unexpected "flame carving knife," the hard ice melted and shaped rapidly. Wartortle's Water Gun provided clever assistance, performing fine-tuning and rapid cooling to set the shape. Bulbasaur's Vine Whip stabilized the boat's frame and swept away the melted slush.
Ash's three Pokémon worked with perfect synergy and incredible efficiency!
In contrast, while Danny's Pokémon were "professionals," carving ice by hand was delicate work. Their speed was actually surpassed by Ash's team.
In the end, with Togepi's stroke of luck, Ash's team was the first to complete an ice boat. It wasn't the most beautiful thing, but it was structurally sound and more than large enough to ride!
"Round two goes to Ash!" Tracey announced excitedly.
"That was a truly unexpected tactic..." Danny said with a wry smile as he recalled his Pokémon, sincerely admiring Ash's adaptability and... luck.
"Now for the tiebreaker! Round three: Ice Boat Racing!" Danny pointed toward a track marked out on the frozen lake's slope. "The trainer and one Pokémon will ride the boat they made from the start to the finish line! First one there wins the whole match!"
"No problem!" Ash was full of fighting spirit.
His passengers were the same three Pokémon that built the boat. Ash held Togepi while Wartortle and Bulbasaur sat behind, with Bulbasaur's Vine Whip being used to steer. Danny, meanwhile, relied on Scyther to control his direction.
The two ice boats waited at the top of the slope.
"Go!"
With the signal, both boats shot forward! Scyther used its scythes to expertly maintain their heading. Ash, unlike his panicky portrayal in the original story, remained perfectly calm. He directed Bulbasaur to keep its Vine Whip in a rhythmic swing to stabilize the hull.
"There's a submerged pillar ahead on the leftwe can use it! Bulbasaur, shift your Vine Whip fifteen degrees to the left!"
Bulbasaur followed the order. The ice boat caught the pillar, and the counter-force from the Vine Whip sent their speed soaring!
"Small bump on the ice to the rightavoid it early!"
Ash acted as a world-class navigator. Relying on his extraordinary perception, he chose the optimal path, avoiding resistance and utilizing every boost. Under his command, Bulbasaur's coordination grew smoother by the second.
Though Danny's Scyther was powerful, Danny had to rely on experience and his eyesight alone to choose a path. Ash gradually caught up until they were neck and neck!
The finish line was right before them!
"Final sprint! Bulbasaur, full power!"
"Scyther, don't lose!"
The two boats were practically identical in speed, kicking up a spray of ice crystals and water. At the very moment they crossed the line, Ash's boat touched it first by less than half a hull's length!
"They won! Ash won!" Misty and Tracey cheered.
Ash high-fived Bulbasaur and the others, and Pikachu happily hopped onto his shoulder.
Danny stopped his boat and looked at Ash with eyes full of praise. "That was brilliant, Ash. It wasn't just the strength of your Pokémonyour insight, your adaptability, and especially that sense of direction that seems to blend with the environment were the keys to your victory. I concede this Gym match completely."
He pulled out a badge. It was shaped like a white wave curling over an icy crystal, exquisite and unique. "This is the proof of defeating the Navel Gymthe Sea Ruby Badge! Congratulations, Ash!"
Ash solemnly accepted the badge that represented both wisdom and strength, feeling its cold texture. "Thank you, Mr. Danny! This was a very fun and challenging battle!"
Stowing away the Sea Ruby Badge, Ash now had two Orange League badges in his collection. The journey ahead was still full of unknowns, but Ash's resolve was firmer than ever. He and his companions continued their trek toward the next island.
I ended up writing these two parts together; it took quite some time. The Lugia arc will probably have to wait until around the time we get the Winner's Trophy!
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