Battle Arena

Today the gang was resting inside a Pokemon Center outside Saffron City. Yesterday something excited happened; Brock's Mudkip evolved into Marshtomp. Now it was time for Ash to take on the Battle Arena for his next Frontier symbol.

"I wonder what this frontier battle will be like?" Max commented.

"One thing is for sure it won't be easy like the Battle Factory battle was." Brock said.

"Yes." Ash agreed. "But I will beat the Battle Arena like I beat the Battle Factory."

"Atta a boy Ash." A voice said.

It was Scott.

"Hi Scott." Ash greeted him. "Here to see me take on the Battle Arena?"

"Of course." Scott answered. "And I can't wait to see your battle."

Scott explained that the Frontier Brain for the Battle Arena was a girl named Greta. Greta also runs a karate dojo and she uses fighting type Pokemon.

"Her favorite Pokemon are Medicham and Hariyama and her role models are Chuck of the Cianwood Gym and Brawly of the Dewford Gym."

"No wonder, especially considering those two are brilliant fighting type trainers." Ash said.

He remembered battling them and how brilliantly they handled their fighting type Pokemon. He then started to think about what he should do.

"I think I will use these two." He said.

"What two Ash?" May asked.

"I will show you at the Battle Arena." Ash replied.

He went off to call Prof. Oak, leaving Scott and the others puzzled with what he said.

Soon Scott brought the gang to the Battle Arena. Since Greta was an Arena Tycoon, her battle facility was indeed a karate dojo. Ash shouted out at the entrance of the Battle Arena that he wished to take it on. A voice answered back saying, "I accept your challenge." and then the doors opened.

A blonde-haired woman wearing a blue and black karate outfit, greeted Scott and the gang; she was Greta. Greta had a lot of karate students.

"Greetings." Greta said. "I am Greta, the Frontier Brain of the Battle Arena."

"My name is Ash, Greta and I am here to challenge you." Ash said.

"Well Ash, I accept your challenge." Greta said. "And I hope you're ready."

"You bet I'm ready." Ash replied.

Greta and Ash couldn't wait to battle each other.

"Before we start Ash you have to spin the wheel first." Greta said.

A big roulette wheel came out of the floor. Greta explained to Ash that the wheel would decide which sort of battle they would have. If he rolled a one it would be a one on one battle, a two would be two on two and a three would be a three on three, Ash spun the wheel and the arrow landed on a two. Ash and Greta would have a two on two Pokemon battle.

Ash and Greta took their places on the battling field of the Battle Arena, ready to fight. Scott, the others and all of Greta's students sat on the sidelines to watch. Greta sent out her Hariyama and Medicham.

"She's using exactly what Scott said she would." May said.

"Now for Ash's choice." Scott said.

Ash sent out his Kangaskhan and Dodrio.

"Ah so Ash got Kangaskhan and Dodrio from Prof. Oak." Brock said.

"But why Kangaskhan?" Max asked. "Normal types have a disadvantage against fighting types."

"Don't count Kangaskhan out yet Max." Tomo said. "Kangaskhan won't be defeated easily, you wait and see."

Greta went first with Hariyama and Ash started with Kangaskhan. Her baby was out of her pouch and on Ash's shoulder.

"Okay Kangaskhan start off with Aerial Ace." Ash said.

Kangaskhan charged towards Hariyama.

"Use Arm Thrust Hariyama." Greta said.

"Counter that with Dynamic Punch Kangaskhan." Ash said.

Kangaskhan and Hariyama butted their hand and fist with each other and tried to push each other back.

"Use Water Pulse Kangaskhan." Ash said.

Kangaskhan fired Water Pulse from her mouth at Hariyama and it was pushed back.

"Woah." Max said. "I know Kangaskhan are tough, but Ash's Kangaskhan is really tough especially considering she's facing a fighting type Pokemon."

"That's why I said don't count Kangaskhan out yet." Tomo said. "The truth is, Kangaskhan has been a fighter long before Ash captured it. I know because I saw Kangaskhan fight lots of times when I lived with Ranger Jenny back at the Pokemon reserve."

Scott was impressed.

"I can see that you and your Pokemon have very strong spirit Ash." Greta said. "But you won't be beating me that easily. Hariyama move in with Focus Punch."

"Move in with Thunder Punch." Ash said.

Kangaskhan and Hariyama punched each other. Kangaskhan took most of the damage from Focus Punch.

"Kangaskhan, are you all right?" Ash asked.

Kangaskhan was all right.

"This is true battling spirit." Greta said. "But I'm going to end it. Use Focus Punch again Hariyama."

Hariyama charged forward, but then it stopped and yellow sparks surrounded it.

"Kangaskhan's Thunder Punch paralyzed Hariyama." Max said.

"Now Hariyama will have trouble moving because of the paralysis." May said.

"Okay Kangaskhan, show Hariyama your Focus Punch." Ash said.

Kangaskhan charged towards Hariyama and punched it. Hariyama took a lot of damage from the punch.

"Now finish it off with Mega Kick." Ash said.

Kangaskhan kicked Hariyama really hard and then it fainted. So Ash was the winner of the first round.

"Goodness me." May said. "I know normal type Pokemon can be tough, but seriously Ash's Kangaskhan is as strong as dad's Slaking. Actually I think she will defeat Slaking without breaking a sweat."

"I hate to say this, but I think you're right May." Max agreed with her.

Max was loyal to Norman's Slaking but after seeing Ash's Kangaskhan battle, it was clear that she would defeat Slaking.

Greta's Medicham was up next.

"Kangaskhan, you up for another battle?" Ash asked.

Kangaskhan growled, saying she was.

"Okay Medicham, start off with Ice Punch." Greta said.

"Counter that with Fire Punch Kangaskhan." Ash said.

Kangaskhan and Medicham bumped fists with each other with their punches. Since fire is strong against ice, Kangaskhan's Fire Punch beat Medicham's Ice Punch and Medicham was thrown back.

"I love the moves Thunder Punch, Ice Punch and Fire Punch." Max said, excitedly. "I'm definitely going to teach my Whismur and Loudred those moves."

"Okay let's get serious now." Greta said. "Medicham use Confusion."

Medicham's eyes turned blue and Kangaskhan was surrounded by a blue light then lifted into the air.

"Whoa, Medicham must be strong if it can lift Kangaskhan into the air like that." Max said.

"Yes because the stronger the Pokemon that can use Confusion, the heavier the things or Pokemon it can lift with Confusion." Scott said.

"I remember going through something like this with Grace." May recalled. "Ash better do something otherwise Kangaskhan will lose."

Ash was about to give Kangaskhan an order, but Greta beat him to it.

"Use Hi Jump Kick." She said.

Medicham jumped and kicked Kangaskhan hard. Kangaskhan fell to the ground.

"Kangaskhan are you okay?" Ash asked.

Kangaskhan wasn't defeated yet, but she was getting tired.

"I don't think Kangaskhan will be able to take anymore after another attack." Tomo said.

"I agree." Brock added. "Kangaskhan looks worn out now."

Kangaskhan panted for a minute, but then she fell over in defeat; she was too tired to continue. So Greta was the winner and it was down to one and one now.

Ash returned Kangaskhan and her baby to the Poke Ball for some rest.

"Dodrio it's up to you now." He said.

The three Dodrio heads chirped, showing they were ready to fight.

"I hope Dodrio can win this." Tomo said. "I mean Medicham knows Ice Punch and Dodrio is weak to ice type moves."

"That's true." Scott said. "But I'm pretty sure Ash will come up with something."

Greta ordered her Medicham to start things off with Ice Punch.

"Don't let that Ice Punch hit you Dodrio." Ash said. "Use Air Cutter."

Dodrio fired Air Cutter and the energy disks hit Medicham.

"Bullseye!" Max cheered.

"Yeah and Air Cutter is a flying type move so Medicham will take a lot of damage." Tomo said.

But Medicham was still standing strong.

"Greta's Medicham won't be beaten that easily." Scott said. "Greta had trained her Medicham and Hariyama really well."

"Okay Medicham use Confusion." Greta said.

Again Medicham's eyes glowed blue and Dodrio was lifted into the air.

"Quick use Tri Attack Dodrio." Ash said.

Dodrio managed to fire Tri Attack at Medicham, and after Medicham was hit by Tri Attack Dodrio was released from Confusion. Just then a flame surrounded Medicham and then disappeared.

"Medicham has been burned." Brock said. "Tri Attack had the added effect of burning, paralyzing or freezing the opponent."

"Medicham is in trouble now." Tomo said.

Greta decided to end the battle quickly before her Medicham took any damage.

"Medicham use Ice Punch." She said.

Medicham got ready to use Ice Punch on Dodrio.

"Hyper Beam Dodrio." Ash said.

The middle head of Dodrio opened it's beak and fired Hyper Beam at Medicham.

"Ah ha." Max said. "Hyper Beam is one of my favorite normal type moves."

"That was a direct hit too." Brock said.

Medicham took major damage from Hyper Beam and then it's burn kicked in. Medicham couldn't take anymore and fainted, so Dodrio was the winner.

So Ash was the winner of the battle.

"Well done Ash." Greta said. "You kept a cool head during the battle and thought on your feet."

"I'm no fighting warrior." Ash said. "But I do know how to battle when it comes to Pokemon."

"I saw that during the battle." Greta said. "And this battle was the best battle I've had for a while."

"And it was the best battle I've watched in a while." Scott said.

Greta held out her Frontier symbol to Ash.

"It is my greatest honor to give you the Guts Symbol Ash." She said.

The Guts Symbol had two L's joining together, looking like a rectangle. Ash was happy to have earned his second Frontier symbol.

"Ash the next battle facility is just south of Lavender Town." Scott said.

"That's good." Ash said. "There's a Pokemon contest on the way to Lavender Town. And there is one in Lavender Town too."

So the gang would be making quite a few stops now and then.

The gang said goodbye to Scott and Greta before heading to their next destination.