In the end, Ash and Annie both successfully collected all four of the Orange League's Southern Cross Badges: the Sakura Badge from the Souji Gym, the White Wave Badge from the Navel Gym, the Round Badge from the Yuzu Gym, and finally the Crystal Badge given to them by Lu Li, the Gym Leader of the Trovita Gym.
And so, with their badges finally collected, Annie and Ash had earned the right to compete in the Orange League's Winner's Cup.
Thanks to an introduction from Lu Li, the Gym Leader of Trovita Island, Annie, Ash, Misty, and Tracey also learned one final important detail: the Orange League tournament would be held at the Citrus Stadium on Citrus Island, which lay directly west of Trovita Island. The ferry ride would take about half a day.
But taking a ferry was out of the question. Misty, Ash, and Tracey had already run out of money. How could they afford a sightseeing ferry for three?
Annie had plenty of money, of course, but she had a faster, more convenient way to travel and had no need for a ferry. So Misty and the others naturally declined Lu Li's suggestion.
What puzzled Misty and Tracey, though, was why Ash had left so suddenly. Was he sulking at Annie, eager to register for the Orange League tournament, or was it something else?
Whatever the reason!
Ash hadn't listened to Misty's suggestion that they wait on Trovita Island until Annie had finished enjoying herself, then set off together. As soon as he'd received the Crystal Badge, he'd insisted on leaving, with no intention of waiting a day for Annie so they could fly or teleport to Citrus Island together.
But...
Although he'd decided to head straight from Trovita Island to Citrus Island and register for the