Following the anxious Squirtle and Wartortle, Red and Ash's trio were about to approach an unknown island. After Brock consulted the map, he discovered that this island had never been marked on any official League maps. It was a mysterious island with no human inhabitants.
Of course, Red, who was familiar with the plot, naturally knew the true nature of this island. This island was a tribal territory ruled by a Blastoise, which Red called "Turtle Island." The island was inhabited by Blastoise's subjects, the Squirtles and Wartortles.
A moment later, due to its massive size, the Blood-Red Gyarados arrived at the island even earlier than Squirtle and Wartortle. Red petted the affectionate Blood-Red Gyarados, completely ignoring the bewildered looks from Squirtle and Wartortle. After calming Gyarados's emotions, he recalled it into its Poké Ball.
The nearby Squirtle and Wartortle stared in shock at everything before them, unable to believe that such a powerful and fierce Blood-Red Gyarados would show such a childlike smile in Red's embrace.
"Big brother, you guys are way too fast!" Ash complained as he caught up, then followed Red to the wide beach ahead.
At first glance, the beach was covered with countless Squirtles and Wartortles, but these two types of Pokémon had all fallen into a mysterious sleep, each retreating into their shells.
Initially, Misty was worried that the many Pokémon had met with some misfortune, but fortunately Brock pressed his ear to the shells and listened carefully, determining that these Pokémon had simply fallen asleep.
The anxious Wartortle from before pointed toward a large shell on a stone platform in the distance, trying to explain something to everyone.
"What's that?!" Ash said excitedly, quickly taking out his Pokédex to analyze it. The device responded with a mechanical voice: "Blastoise, the Shellfish Pokémon, the evolved form of Wartortle. Though its huge body lacks speed advantages, its strength is tremendous. Its hard shell has exceptional defense, and the water cannons on its back have immense attack power."
"It really is a Blastoise! It's real, it's real!"
The excited Ash immediately rushed to the front of Blastoise, pressing his face close to the shell.
"But are they doing shell-withdrawal practice?" Brock wondered. After careful diagnosis, Brock determined that these sleeping Pokémon showed no signs of injury. They were simply fast asleep.
"Maybe they were forced into sleep for some reason," Red teased, not explaining the cause further.
Under Misty and Brock's shocked gazes, the previously excited Ash's eyes gradually became drowsy, and he unknowingly collapsed to the ground, falling asleep.
The worried Squirtle also approached Blastoise's side, and before long, it too collapsed like Ash.
Later, at Misty's suggestion, Pikachu decisively used Thunderbolt, releasing all its electrical current to wake up the long-sleeping Ash and many Pokémon.
"What's that for, Pikachu!" Ash said angrily, while the nearby Squirtle also angrily accused Pikachu.
"Who told you to sleep soundly in such an emergency situation," Misty retorted.
"Alright, Ash. Why did you fall asleep?" Brock asked puzzledly.
"I think I heard a strange sound coming from inside Blastoise and suddenly felt very comfortable, like a voice from the depths of hell."
Ash vaguely described the eerie sound he heard, and this statement was echoed by the other Squirtles and Wartortles. They had gradually fallen asleep because of this strange sound.
The Wartortle who had come to seek help from Red and the others had luckily escaped the danger while out foraging, which was why it was spared. Seeing that its companions were all safe and sound, it breathed a sigh of relief.
To put everyone at ease, Red simply used his psychic powers to wake up the long-sleeping Blastoise.
Before everyone's eyes, the large shell on the stone platform began to tremble. Short, thick limbs extended from the shell, divided into segments at the joints, each ending in three toes. Then Blastoise's massive head emerged, yawning sleepily as it looked at everyone.
The front of Blastoise's shell opened, extending two cannon barrels. These were Blastoise's proud weapons.
"So Blastoise was just sleeping too?" Ash said disappointedly, realizing they had all been worrying for nothing.
The awakened Blastoise looked confused as it tried to touch the cannons on its back with its short arms, because it discovered that the right cannon seemed to be blocked by something, unable to spray water.
"What's that?" Ash wondered, curious about what creature was stuck in Blastoise's cannon.
"Ash, don't you notice that pink ear looks a lot like the Jigglypuff that's been giving you three so much trouble?" Red teased, looking at Ash's trio with amusement, since the three had been dominated by this "pink demon" throughout their journey.
"No way! That's the one kid we absolutely don't want to meet!" Misty said in horror.
"There's no way it's such a coincidence!" Brock agreed, unwilling to believe what was about to happen.
As if to confirm Red's guess, the cannon on Blastoise's right back began to emit a strange song, making everyone present drowsy and yawning.
Just as everyone was about to fall asleep, Red, who had remained alert, immediately used his psychic powers. His eyes glowed azure blue as he controlled the Jigglypuff stuck in the cannon to close its mouth, then told Pikachu to use Thunderbolt again, releasing electrical current to wake everyone up properly.
After resolving the mysterious sleeping incident on Turtle Island, just as Red and the others were preparing to discuss how to arrange for Jigglypuff to return home, an accident occurred.
"Kame!" A high-voltage electric current instantly struck Blastoise's body, making it cry out in pain.
Just as everyone wondered who was attacking Blastoise, the attacker hiding in the shadows revealed himself. A young man appeared before Red and the others.
This man had short cyan hair and wore a white uniform with a red "R" logo on a black background on the left chest, the symbol of Team Rocket.
Beside the man was an Electrode, clearly the source of the earlier electric attack.
"I never expected that such an unknown island would house such a magnificent Blastoise. If such an excellent Pokémon isn't owned by Team Rocket, then it has no right to exist!"
The man said coldly, his bloodthirsty gaze sweeping over everyone present. When he saw Red's face, he was clearly startled, not expecting Red to be here.
"Could you be Red from Pallet Town?!" the man said in surprise, while the Electrode beside him became visibly tense, ready to release its electric current at any moment.
"Judging by your outfit, you're probably a Team Rocket executive like Ariana, right?" Red said calmly, though his tone suggested he was already certain of the answer.
"It seems I need not hide my identity anymore. Your battle with Ariana on Seafoam Islands has already reached the ears of us other three executives. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Archer, one of Team Rocket's four executives!"