The boat the group is taking turns out to be on a "special voyage", making a surprise stop before continuing to Manehattan. The ship stops at Reptidal Island, where once every five years, Reptidal both trained and wild gather for a tournament to determine who will become the Ocean Champion. Flash and Riptide decide to compete and meet old and new friends at the tournament, as well as a new rival that won't stop taunting them over their loss to Lightning Blitz and Gorillamp. Can the two of them beat the odds and become Ocean Champions together?
- Age Lift: It is said that Terramar is Silverstream's older brother, though in canon Silverstream was actually the older one.
- Contrived Coincidence: It turns out that Riptide evolved into a Reptidal two days before a tournament that only Reptidal can compete in takes place, which happens once every five years. Additionally, nobody in the group realized that the boat they were taking to Manehattan was on this "special voyage" to the island first.
- Friendly Rivalry: Though Terramar is technically Flash's opponent since they are both competing in the tournament, Terramar recognizes the disadvantage Riptide is at due to only recently evolving and offers to help them train to make Riptide a Master Swordsman. Despite this making Flash and Riptide tougher opponents if they face each other, Terramar says taking advantage of a weaker opponent isn't his style, and the stronger Flash is the less likely it will be someone unworthy like Wingill will win.
- The Glomp: When Sonata reunites with Flash, she tackles him to the ground in a hug.
- Hypocrite: Wingill and his Reptidal Fin fight very dirty through the entire tournament, using a cheap but effective tactic of freezing their opponents underwater to win. When Flash and Riptide manage to beat this strategy by Flash signaling for Riptide to break the frozen water with Rock Smash, Wingill immediately accuses them of cheating. Flash is quick to call Wingill out on this, pointing out how he is the one not fighting fairly.
- Identical Twin ID Tag: The Dazzlings now have a trio of Popplio with them, each one belonging to one of the Dazzlings. They are identified by each one having a different colored ribbon on their left ear. Adagio's has a a yellow ribbon, Aria's has a purple ribbon, and Sonata's has a blue ribbon.
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Though Sonata previously fell in love with Flash after all he did for her, she decides to back off when she realizes how close Twilight is with him and how she knows more about him than Sonata does. Sonata still happily hugs them both while saying goodbye to them at the end, and whispers to Twilight "He's all yours", showing her support for the two of them.
- Knighting: This is how Riptide is officially declared the Ocean Champion. After winning the final round against Fin, the elder Reptidal approaches Riptide and tells him to kneel, before creating a water sword and tapping Riptide's shoulders with it.
- Laser-Guided Karma: Wingill acts like a huge jerkass to Flash and Riptide, constantly calling them weaklings and reminding them of their loss against Lightning Blitz and Gorillamp. When Wingill and Flash face off in the finals, Wingill acts like he has already won, only to end up losing to Flash. Wingill is so gobsmacked by this he slinks off without a word.
- Red Baron: The whole tournament is to determine who will gain the title of "Ocean Champion" for five years. Riptide wins the tournament and the title, and is constantly referred to as the "Ocean Champion" for the remainder of the story.
- Shipper on Deck: Despite having fallen in love with Flash herself, Sonata fully supports Twilight getting together with him after realizing how much better Twilight is for Flash than her, whispering to Twilight "He's all yours" when saying goodbye.
- Tournament Arc: The Ocean Champion Tournament, where Reptidal gather once every five years to compete for the title of Ocean Champion. Flash and Riptide ultimately win and receive the title.
- Underdogs Never Lose: Riptide has only been a Reptidal for two days upon arriving at the island for the tournament, and has very little experience fighting with his new body compared to his opponets. Flash outright admits they may be out of their league after Riptide just barely wins his first battle against a wild Reptidal. They end up winning the whole tournament despite their disadvantage, though they did receive some help with Terramar helping them train.
- Written-In Absence: Flash notes how Sirentiy is absent from Sonata, and Sonata explains how she needs to stay in Vocanctus.
