#90 "Stage Fight!"

    Ash, Misty and Tracey are travelling through the Orange Islands when they come across a Pokémon showboat. They venture inside, and find a Pokémon battle happening--with talking Pokémon! After Ash and friends have seen the battle, which was part of a Pokémon performance, they notice that Togepi is missing! They finally find it backstage, and it seems that the Pokémon didn't talk at all, but rather, they have people acting out their voices!
    After the match, all the Pokémon that were part of the show did a dance, except one Raichu that just wouldn't come out. Afterwards, Ash is given a ride back to another island by one of the people involved in the show. Jay, the trainer of the shy Raichu, still doesn't know what's wrong, and why her Raichu won't be part of the show. Ash gives her some advice.

    Team Rocket are in their Mecha-Magikarp, and see the Pokémon showboat. They dream that on that boat, there must be millions of rare Pokémon for the boss, and they'd be famous if they took it over!

    Ash is still giving Jay some advice, but as usual, ends up making a fool of himself. Raichu just won't be part of the show, and shocks both Jay & Ash when Jay asks it to participate. Jay remembers all the bad times she's had with Raichu (it doesn't seem to like her), and Ash seems to come up with just the right advice at the right time.

    Meanwhile, Team Rocket are approaching the showboat, and launch a couple of missiles at it. Raichu is quite scared, and Jay comforts it, even though it's shocking her. She tells Raichu that it's okay and that she's not scared of it anymore, and it finally stops shocking her.
    Team Rocket make their presence known, ambushing the ship and reciting their motto. Ash wants to attack them, but he is told by the owner of the showboat not to, because it is practically his home, and if Ash attacks Team Rocket, that he will probably bring harm to the showboat as well. Because Ash lets the Rockets do what they want, they take possession of all the Pokémon and tie up Ash and friends, as well as the people involved with the show.
    All the people involved manage to slowly make their way over to the microphones, and make the Pokémon speak. Team Rocket are in shock, but Meowth is overjoyed that some other Pokémon can actually talk. He says that he knows what they went through! Jessie slaps Meowth so that he will be quiet, and then, the Rockets try to attack with Victreebel and Weezing. Victreebel, as usual, swallows James, so it's up to Weezing. It does a smokescreen, but Ash has been untied! He uses Pikachu to thundershock Team Rocket, and then Tracey sends out Marill, which uses Water Gun. Jay and Raichu are finally reunited, and after a little uncertainty, seem to be friends now. Raichu finishes the Rockets off. They're blasting off again.
    With Team Rocket gone, Ash tells Professor Oak about the showboat. However, the smoke from the smokescreen created by Weezing earlier has made one of the Pokémon's voice actors come down with a bad cough. Raichu wants Jay to replace him. She does, and Ash offers to help too.
    So, the show goes on, with Raichu included, as well as some of Ash and friends' Pokémon. Jay and Ash are helping out with voice acting. All the Pokémon do a performed version of the Pokémon theme, and the showboat is safe from harm. 

    So, the showboat is saved thanks to Ash, and he, along with Misty and Tracey, continue through the Orange Islands on Lapras.

- Blue Hiker