It had been about two days since the gang have left the kingdom of Rota. Ashlyn was still saddened by Lucario's death. But at least he was finally reunited with Sir Aaron and Celestia.
"So Ashlyn, Alain, do you two know where the first battle facility is?" May asked.
"I don't," Ashlyn replied, "this will be our first time going to the facilities. And Scott said that only the strongest trainers can go there, and I was nowhere near strong enough for the Battle Frontier when I first traveled in Kanto."
"You're right, Ashlyn; a rookie would never be accepted to battle the Battle Frontier." Alain agreed.
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By now it was getting dark, and the gang needed to find shelter for the night. Suddenly there was a cold breeze in the air, and then there was a sound of a screech in the air.
Ashlyn looked up to the sky. "Hey it's an Articuno." She said.
The gang was surprised to see Articuno. Just then they saw a biplane flying beside it.
"Is someone trying to catch Articuno?" May asked.
"I don't think they are," Brock replied, "because Articuno is flying beside that biplane at ease, and normally Articuno always attack planes and other things if someone was trying to catch it."
"So that Articuno must belong to the owner of that plane." Max said.
The gang watched Articuno and the biplane until they were out of sight.
"Can we please continue looking for shelter?" May asked, who was tired now.
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It wasn't long before the gang found a Pokémon center.
"That's good," Ashlyn said, "we can ask Nurse Joy for directions for the battle facility in the morning."
Brock tried to flirt with Nurse Joy, but luckily Max was able to drag him away before he could even finish the flirt.
So the gang had a good night's sleep at the Pokémon center.
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The next day came Ashlyn asked Nurse Joy for directions for the battle facility.
"Ah a challenger for the Battle Frontier." Nurse Joy beamed. She was about tell them when right at that moment, Scott appeared next to the gang.
"I will take them there." Scott assured.
"Scott!" The gang gasped in shock.
"How did you know we were here?" May asked.
"Oh, I've been staying here while I waited for you guys to arrive." Scott replied.
"I see." Ashlyn said.
"I'll take you all to the battle facility myself." Scott decided.
"Thanks, Scott." Ashlyn thanked him.
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Scott had a red sports car, and he gave the gang a lift, but he was a reckless driver and drove very fast. The gang didn't like his driving one bit, and when Scott finally came to a stop the gang felt like throwing up. Scott brought the gang to what appeared to look like a metal factory.
"This is the first battle facility called the Battle Factory." Scott announced.
Ashlyn and Alain were excited to battle their first facility challenge. But then a machine on wheels was driving out of control and the driver couldn't stop it.
"Quick kids use your Pokémon!" Scott shouted.
Ashlyn called out Tesla, Alain called out Sceptile, May called out Combusken and Brock called out his Marshtomp and together their attacks stopped the machine.
A man dressed like a mechanic came out of the machine. "Thanks for that, kids," he said, "this thing doesn't listen to a thing I say."
"Still working on your machines, Noland?" Scott asked.
"Yep and this one is the best." Noland replied.
A young man named Sergio, who was Noland's apprentice, ran up, "Still playing with this thing again?" he asked Noland.
"It's my work, Sergio." Noland replied.
Noland introduced himself to the gang and also called himself the Factory Head. That meant he was the frontier brain of the Battle Factory, and he was the one that Ashlyn and Alain had to challenge. Ashlyn and Alain introduced themselves to Noland and asked for a battle.
"Ah challengers," Noland said, "I accept your challenge Ashlyn, Alain."
Noland had an unusual rule for the Battle Factory; the challenger got to choose which one of Noland's Pokémon to battle. Noland had many Pokémon; he had a Venusaur, Machamp, Pinsir, Rhyhorn, Breloom, Rhydon, Lairon, Camerupt, Sandslash, Golduck, Manectric and a Trapinch. But he also had one more Pokémon that was a real surprise to the gang; he also had an Articuno.
"Wow you have an Articuno?" Max gasped.
"Well I didn't catch it, so it's wild." Noland replied.
Noland explained that one night he was test flying his biplane; he loved to fly in biplanes. But then he came across an Articuno flying beside him and one of its wings was injured. "I had Articuno land on my biplane, and then after bringing it to land, I helped Articuno heal. After Articuno was all healed up, it comes to visit me regularly."
"It is true," Ashlyn confirmed, "Even legendary Pokémon accept a human's kindness, even if they do feel anxious around humans. I know because I've helped legendary Pokémon before."
Since Ashlyn and Alain had to choose one Pokémon to battle deciding which one would not be easy for him. Max asked Noland if he could fly in his biplane because he had never flown on a biplane before. Noland saw nothing wrong with that and soon he and Max were flying in the sky in the biplane, and Articuno flew with them.
"Wow Articuno looks so magnificent." May awed.
Ashlyn and Alain couldn't take their eyes off Articuno either.
'I've made up my mind.' Ember thought.
After the riding in the biplane was over, Noland asked Ashlyn and Alain if they had made up their minds with which Pokémon to battle.
"I wish to have a one-on-one battle with Articuno," Ashlyn responded, "I have never battled with an Articuno before, so I wish to take this chance."
"I wish the same as well." Alain added.
Noland and Articuno agreed with Ashlyn and Alain's decision.
"What Pokémon will you two use?" Scott asked.
Ashlyn and Alain glanced at each other, "We'll surprise you." They said in unison.
"Well then, I can't wait for our battle then." Noland stated.
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Soon it was time for the frontier challenge. The inside of the Battle Factory was just like a factory and with a normal battlefield. Ashlyn was going to go first, and Alain will do his tomorrow.
Scott, Brock, Max and May sat at the sidelines to have a better view of the battle.
"Hope you're ready for our battle Ashlyn because I won't be holding back." Noland warned.
"Neither will I, Noland." Ashlyn declared.
Ashlyn and Noland got into their battle positions and called out their Pokémon Articuno and Poseidon (Lugia).
Noland, Sergio, and Scotland were surprised to see Poseidon.
Just then the roof of the Battle Factory opened up; this was for flying Pokémon to have more space while battling in the air.
"Let the Battle Top begin!" Sergio announced.
Articuno and Poseidon took into the air at once.
"Poseidon, Aeroblast!" Poseidon launched his attack at Articuno.
But Articuno dodged the Aeroblast attack.
"Use Swift this time!" Poseidon let out a lot of stars from his wings and most of the stars hit Articuno.
"Articuno, use Ice Beam!" Noland commanded.
"Counter that with Aeroblast, quick!" Ashlyn countered.
The Aeroblast and Ice Beam collided with each other and neither Poseidon nor Articuno got hurt.
Ashlyn knew that she had to be careful with Ice Beam; one of Poseidon's weaknesses was ice.
"Move in with Steel Wing." Articuno's wings glowed a metallic color and slammed into Poseidon.
"Are you okay Poseidon?" Ashlyn called out.
Poseidon nodded.
"Let's use Sunny Day." Poseidon used Sunny Day and the sun shone brighter.
"Articuno, use Ice Beam!" Articuno used Ice Beam and this time Poseidon got hit and hurt by it.
"Use Recover, Poseidon!" Poseidon glowed yellow and he healed himself.
Articuno was now flying all over the place.
'Articuno may be fast,' Ashlyn thought, 'but there's a move of Poseidon's that Articuno won't be able to dodge.'
"Poseidon, use Psychic." Poseidon's eyes turned blue, and it made Articuno stop flying, "Time to use Thunder!"
Articuno got a direct hit by Poseidon's Thunder attack and was seriously hurt. So hurt it flew down to the ground and started to pant. Then it fainted.
"Articuno is unable to battle! The challenge goes to Poseidon and the winner is Ashlyn!" Sergio announced.
"We did it, Poseidon!" Ashlyn cheered.
Poseidon flew over to Ashlyn and Ashlyn rubbed Poseidon's cheek.
Ashlyn smiled, "You did great, Poseidon." She said.
Poseidon cooed at the compliment.
==============================
"Ashlyn, of all the challenges I've had, you gave me a blast of a challenge. I like your battling style." Noland stated.
"I found it fun battling with Articuno." Ashlyn admitted, "Just wait until you battle Alain. He'll give you a great challenge."
Noland chuckled, "I can't wait."
Sergio presented, what looked like a gold coin, to Ashlyn. "This, Ashlyn, is a Frontier symbol that you only earn at the Battle Frontier. This one is called the Knowledge Symbol," Noland explained, "and its proof that you have beaten me."
The Knowledge Symbol had three small diamonds on it. Ashlyn was happy to have earned her first frontier symbol.
"Thanks, Noland." Ashlyn slightly bowed to Noland and gently took the symbol.
"Alright, we got the Knowledge symbol!" Ashlyn posed with her Pokémon.
"Raichu! (Symbol number one!)" Tesla cheered.
Poseidon roared.
Noland also gave Ashlyn something called the Frontier folio, which was a case where Ashlyn could put her frontier symbols in. Noland was going to start healing Articuno so that it could battle Alain tomorrow. Ashlyn returned Poseidon to his Pokéball and sent him back to Prof Oak's lab.
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Alain battle Noland the next day. He chose his Charizard to battle against Articuno. He did Mega Evolve Charizard mid-way during the battle. In the end, Charizard had beaten Articuno, making Alain the winner of the battle. Noland gave Alain the Knowledge Symbol and a Frontier folio. Then Articuno flew away and then came back again to the Battle Factory.
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The gang was outside the Battle Factory. They were heading out to the next Battle Facility.
"Well now this is over," Brock said, "we better head to Cerulean City."
"That's right! I nearly forgot that a Pokémon contest is being held there." May remembered.
"Well I wish you luck, May," Scott said. Then he turned to Ashlyn and Alain, "Ashlyn, Alain, the next Battle Facility is called the Battle Arena and it's near Saffron City."
Ashlyn and Alain nodded, "Got it. Thanks, Scott."
"We better get going then." Max suggested.
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The gang said goodbye to Scott, Noland and Sergio to head off for Cerulean City for the first Kanto Pokémon contest.