Battle Castle

Today the gang walked through a grassy field in the middle of nowhere. Ash was looking at a map Matt gave him. This map was to direct him to where the first Sinnoh battle facility was. 
"So Ash, are you excited about this first battle facility?" Dawn asked.
"Oh yes, it will be great to challenge another Battle Frontier." Ash said.
"You'll have to prepare yourself Ash." Brock said. "No doubt these Frontier Brains will be as tough as the ones back in Kanto." 
Ash agreed, but he still couldn't wait to start challenging the Sinnoh Battle Frontier.
Suddenly a navy blue sports car drove up to the gang. It was Matt.
"Hi there, kids." Matt said.
"Hey Matt." Ash said. "Are you here to watch me challenge the first battle facility?"
He had a feeling that Matt would want him to challenge the battle facilities, like Scott did and he was right as Matt did want to watch him. Matt offered to give the gang a lift and the gang accepted the offer. Ash, Tomo and Brock feared that Matt would be a speeder like Scott was in his sports car. But the good news was Matt drove normally. Matt drove the gang to a magnificent stone castle with a big flower garden. 
"Ash, this is the first battle facility. The Battle Castle." He said.
"Wow it's gorgeous." Dawn said.
"Well, here we go." Ash said.
He felt ready for this.
Matt and the gang walked up to the castle and Ash called out.
"I'm here to challenge you to a battle." 
It was then the castle doors opened and a smart-looking butler came out.
"Greetings." The butler said, bowing to everyone. "Please come on in."
The gang followed the butler into the castle; the inside of the castle was as beautiful as it was outside.
"Wow this is lovely." Dawn said in amazement.
"I see you've kept the castle as clean as always Darach." Matt said.
"It is how lady Caitlin likes it, Matt." Darach replied.
"This facility is run by a woman named Caitlin and Darach is her butler." Matt explained.
"So will I be battling lady Caitlin?" Ash asked.
"No, you will not be battling me." A voice said.
The voice belonged to a woman who came out to greet Matt and the gang.
She was a beautiful woman with very long blonde hair and she wore a white and pink dress with a very light pink see through veil and a big white hat.
"It's nice to see you lady Caitlin." Matt said.
"It has been a while Matt." Lady Caitlin said.
"This is Ash." Matt introduced Ash to Lady Caitlin.
"I have come here to challenge the Battle Castle, Lady Caitlin." Ash said.
Darach stepped forward.
"You will battle me." He told Ash.
Darach made tea and cakes for Lady Caitlin, Matt and the gang. 
"Darach is the Frontier Brain of the Battle Castle, the Castle Valet." Caitlin explained, before adding. "I'm a member of Unova's Elite Four."
The gang was surprised to hear that.
"That's surprising." Ash said. "Meeting a member of Unova's Elite Four before we even went to Unova."
Lady Caitlin smiled.
"Ash, I heard about you from Lucian." She said. "He told me that you met the members of the Elite Four from Kanto, Johto and Hoenn."
"I have." He nodded. "And I hope to meet the other members of Sinnoh's Elite Four. Hopefully the other members of Unova's Elite Four too."
Lady Caitlin smiled.
"So tell me who I'm challenging."
"Like Caitlin just said, even though she owns it Darach is the Frontier Brain of the Battle Castle." Matt replied.
"Oh so since you're a member of Unova's Elite Four." Brock said. "I take it Darach took over as Frontier Brain for you?"
"No." Lady Caitlin countered. "Darach was always a Frontier Brain even when I was a kid."
"Lady Caitlin has psychic powers, but she always loses control of them when angry or upset." Matt explained.
This reminded Ash of Sabrina. This also meant Lady Caitlin used psychic type Pokemon as well.
"In the past, I always became upset after losing a Pokemon battle." She admitted. "That's the reason Darach became the Frontier Brain and took challengers on in the Battle Castle."
The gang nodded.
"So Ash, are you ready to challenge me?" Darach asked.
"Yes I am." Ash answered.
Everyone went to a room in the castle where the battles took place. The battle room was big and beautiful with yellow-gold and green carpets; it was really like a grand ballroom. The battlefield was also a big yellow-gold carpet. There was even a balcony with big throne chairs; where Lady Caitlin sat to watch the battles. Matt and the gang sat in the chairs too to watch the battle. Growlithe, Piplup and Pikachu sat in the balcony as well. Dawn liked this; she was like a princess. Darach and Ash took their places on the battlefield to begin the battle.
This was the start of Ash's Battle Frontier challenge.
The rule for this challenge was a three on three Pokemon battle. Darach sent out his first Pokemon Staraptor.
Tomo thought Staraptor was cool and looked it up on his Pokedex. 
"Starpator, the Predator Pokemon and the evolved form of Staravia. It has a savage nature. It will courageously challenge foes that are much larger."
Ash thought it was awesome and couldn't wait for his Staravia to evolve into that. He sent his Swellow out to battle first. Dawn looked Swellow up on her Pokedex.
"Since Swellow is also a flying type, won't it be difficult for Ash?" She asked.
"It might be." Brock said. "But Swellow likes fighting tough opponents like Staraptor. That's why Ash chose to use him first."
Lady Caitlin was excited to see how Ash battles and so was Matt.
"Use Peck." Ash told Swellow.
Staraptor avoided being pecked.
"Wow that Staraptor is fast." Dawn said. 
"Yes, but don't count Swellow's speed out." Brock added.
"Swellow, Aerial Ace." Ash ordered.
This time Swellow managed to hit Staraptor.
Dawn was impressed with Swellow's speed and so were Lady Caitlin and Matt.
"Staraptor, Close Combat." Darach ordered.
Staraptor started kicking, pecking and striking Swellow.
"What move is that?" Dawn asked.
"Close Combat. It's a fighting type move." Brock answered. "It wouldn't do a lot of damage to Swellow due to it being a flying type, but Staraptor is strong. The drawback to attacking with Close Combat is the user's defense is lowered."
"Swellow, break away from Staraptor with Agility." Ash said.
Swellow quickly flew away from Staraptor.
"Now use Heat Wave." Swellow released a hot wind from his wings. 
"Wow." Dawn said.
She was impressed every time she saw Ash's older Pokemon in battle.
"You are certainly impressive Ash." Darach said. "Staraptor, Brave Bird."
"Swellow, use Brave Bird too." Ash ordered.
"Brave Bird is the most powerful flying type move, but using it causes recoil damage." Brock explained.
Staraptor and Swellow charged at each other. Swellow took more damage than Staraptor.
"I don't think Swellow will be able to take any more after this." Tomo noted.
He was right; Swellow and Staraptor charged at each other with Aerial Ace, and then Swellow fainted. Darach was the winner.
Dawn was surprised with what just happened.
"That's the strength of the Battle Frontier Dawn." Brock said. "Frontier Brains are said to be stronger than gym leaders."
"Wow." Dawn sighed.
Ash returned Swellow and sent Glalie out.
"Ah Glalie is a ice type." Matt said. "It will have a advantage against Staraptor."
"Staraptor, Brave Bird." Darach ordered.
"Counter that with Blizzard." Ash said.
Glalie released a really cold wind from it's mouth while Staraptor charged with Brave Bird. Staraptor rammed into Glalie, but it took a lot of damage from Blizzard and recoil damage from using Brave Bird.
"Alright Glalie, time to use Rollout." Ash said.
Glalie started rolling towards Staraptor really fast and tackled it really hard. Glalie then tackled it again and this time Staraptor fainted. 
"Using Brave Bird more than once weakened Staraptor enough for Glalie to knock it out." Brock pointed out.
Darach returned Staraptor and sent his next Pokemon, a Empoleon, out.
Dawn looked it up on her Pokedex.
"Empoleon, the Emperor Pokemon and the evolved form of Prinplup. The three horns that extend from it's beak attest to it's power. The leader has the biggest horns."
Ash returned Glalie.
"Why did Ash do that?" Dawn asked.
"Empoleon's also a steel type, so Glalie would've been at a disadvantage." Brock explained.
Ash sent his Manectric out to battle.
"Using a electric type Pokemon against Empoleon is a good idea." Dawn said.
First Manectric used Charge and Empoleon used Bubble Beam. Manectric dodged the bubbles before they hit him. Manectric then used Thunderbolt, but Empoleon responded with Iron Defense which prevented it from taking a lot of damage.
'I should've known Empoleon would do something like that.' Ash thought.
He had done that before with the Pokemon in his party that knew Iron Defense.
"Empoleon, Hydro Pump." Darach ordered.
Manectric effortlessly avoided the attack and rammed into Empoleon with Quick Attack.
"Try to use Thunderbolt again, Manectric." Ash said.
Manectric fired another thunderbolt that zapped Empoleon.
"Nice." Tomo said. "But Empoleon can still fight."
"Darach trained Empoleon ever since it was a Piplup." Caitlin explained. "They don't let electric type Pokemon get them down so easily."
"Empoleon, Ice Beam." Darach ordered.
Manectric melted the ice with Flamethrower. Darach, Lady Caitlin and Matt were getting more impressed with his battle style by the minute. 
"Empoleon, Aqua Jet." Darach ordered.
"Manectric, Thunder." Ash ordered.
Empoleon rammed into Manectric and was shocked in return. Empoleon ended up fainting, but Manectric fainted as well not able to take anymore. This battle ended in a draw.
Dawn was starting to understand battle facilities being tough to beat.
"Now they're down to one Pokemon and Ash still has Glalie left." Brock said.
"But what Pokemon will Darach use?" Tomo asked.
He soon received a answer; Darach's final Pokemon was a Honchkrow. Ash sent Glalie out again. Dawn was hoping Glalie would be able to defeat it.
"Dark Pulse." Darach told Honchkrow.
"Counter with your own Dark Pulse Glalie." Ash said.
The two attacks collided.
"Use Ice Beam Glalie." Ash said.
Glalie fired a beam of ice at Honchkrow, but it dodged the attack. Glalie fired Ice Beam again but Honchkrow dodged it.
"That Honchkrow is fast." Dawn said.
Ash decided to switch from Ice Beam to Avalanche. This time, Honchkrow had a hard time dodging the chunks of ice.
"Okay Glalie, let's use Blizzard." Glalie blew a really cold wind that proceeded to freeze Honchkrow solid.
"Honchkrow's a block of ice!" Dawn gasped.
"Moves like Ice Beam and Blizzard can freeze the opponent solid." Brock said.
"Gyro Ball." Ash told Glalie who tackled Honchkrow really hard.
Honchkrow then fainted, giving Ash the win. Ash defeated the Battle Castle.
Tomo and Dawn cheered for him.
"His Pokemon did really well." Brock remarked.
Lady Caitlin and Matt were impressed with his battle against Darach. Darach returned his Honchkrow.
"Well master Ash Ketchum." He said. "I must say with all the battles I've fought that was the best one I ever had. And you are indeed a impressive Pokemon trainer."
"I agree." Lady Caitlin said, walking over to them. "I hope we will battle in the future, Ash."
"I look forward to that Lady Caitlin." Ash said.
Darach presented him with a small gold plaque that had a picture of the Battle Castle on it.
"This is the Battle Castle plaque. It's proof of your victory here." Darach said.
Ash was happy to have won his first Sinnoh Battle Frontier plaque. Matt presented Ash with a small case he could place his five frontier plaques in.
With the Battle Castle challenge over, it was time for the gang to head to Hearthome City. 
"The next battle facility is located just past Hearthome City." Matt told Ash.
He then drove away in his sports car.
"See you later." They said goodbye to Lady Caitlin and Darach.
"I hope to see you in Unova Ash." Lady Caitlin said.
"I hope so too." Ash replied.
Then the gang left.