Battle Palace

After leaving Chrysanthemum Island, the gang arrived at Metallica Island. This was where Ash could take on the next battle facility. While they rested in the Pokemon Center they met up with Scott again. Scott explained that the battle facility was called the Battle Palace and the Frontier Brain was a man they called Palace Maven Spenser.

"Even though he is an old man Ash, you better not underestimate him."

"I understand Scott." Ash replied.

Ash had battled old people before and they were no pushovers.

Scott led the gang to what looked like an old jungle ruin temple; this was the Battle Palace. Standing at the facility was an old man that looked like a temple monk; this man was Spenser, the Frontier Brain and the Palace Maven. Ash introduced himself to Spenser and asked him for a battle. Spenser accepted and wished to battle outside in the jungle. The Battle Palace had two battlefields; one in the facility and one outside in the jungle. Spenser was a man who lived with nature. Ash agreed to battle outside because it sounded more fun. While Ash and Spenser took their place on the battlefield, which was on a flat rocky peak, Scott and the others were in a hot air balloon. Spenser had a floating robot named Jamero and it was a camera and the gym battle judge. The balloon had a laptop that Scott and the others could watch the battle on while Jamero recorded it.

The battle soon started and Spenser sent out his first Pokemon, a Shiftry. Ash sent his Rapidash out to battle.

"That's a good decision." Max said. "After all fire beats grass."

Ash started off by telling his Rapidash to use Flamethrower, but Shiftry dodged it and ran into the jungle. Rapidash chased after Shiftry, with Ash and Spenser following them.

"Attack with Megahorn Rapidash." Ash said.

"Use Quick Attack Shiftry." Spenser said.

Shiftry and Rapidash charged at each other with Quick Attack and Megahorn. It was even and the two Pokemon continued to run.

"Your Rapidash has real spirit." Spenser told Ash.

"So does your Shiftry." Ash replied.

They had now come to a clearing. Spenser ordered his Shiftry to use Shadow Ball. Ash ordered Rapidash to dodge it with Bounce. Rapidash dodged the Shadow Ball just in time and kicked Shiftry hard with her front hooves.

"Now Rapidash use Fire Blast." Ash said.

Shiftry didn't have a chance to dodge Fire Blast and was burned by the flames. It then fainted.

"Wow that was some Fire Blast." May said.

Scott was impressed too.

Spenser returned Shiftry and sent out his next Pokemon, a Venusaur. Ash asked Rapidash if she could continue and she said she could.

"Since Venusaur is also a grass type, it will be defeated by Rapidash's fire type attacks like Shiftry was." Max said.

"Normally that would be the case." Scott said. "But don't count Spenser's Venusaur out yet."

Ash ordered Rapidash to use Flamethrower and Spenser ordered his Venusaur to use Solar Beam. Thanks to today's weather being sunny, Venusaur didn't need to store energy. The Solar Beam shot through Rapidash's Flamethrower and hit it.

"You okay Rapidash?" Ash asked.

Rapidash took some damage from Solar Beam, but she was still able to continue.

"Woah that Solar Beam was amazing." Max said.

"Yeah, despite the fact that grass type moves aren't very effective against fire type Pokemon." Brock commented.

"Venusaur is Spenser's main Pokemon and those two have trained together for a very long time." Scott said.

Spenser ordered his Venusaur to use Sludge Bomb and Rapidash was hit by a brown glob of sludge. Sludge Bomb was too much for Rapidash to handle after it was hit by Solar Beam and she fainted.

"Wow Spenser's Venusaur is powerful." Brock said. "To be honest, it's a lot stronger than Ash's Venusaur."

"I wonder what Ash will do now?" May questioned out loud.

Ash returned his Rapidash and sent out his next Pokemon, Nidoking.

"Peck." Ash ordered.

"Use Vine Whip." Nidoking was faster than Venusaur and jabbed it multiple times with his horn.

"Ha even though poison type moves don't do much damage to Venusaur, flying type moves are another story." Tomo said.

"You're right." Brock agreed.

"Tackle." Spenser ordered.

Venusaur and Nidoking tackled each other.

"Fire Blast, Nidoking." Ash said.

Nidoking releases a blast of fire from it's mouth at Venusaur. Fire Blast was powered up thanks to the sun and Venusaur couldn't withstand anymore, fainting.

"That's two wins." Max said. "And only one left."

"Yes but Spenser's last Pokemon makes Venusaur look tame." Scott said.

He seemed to know what Pokemon will use now.

Spenser returned Venusaur and sent out his last Pokemon, a Claydol. As Claydol was a ground/psychic type, Ash's Nidoking is in trouble.

"Let's make this quick Nidoking, Blizzard." He said.

Nidoking fires a blizzard from it's mouth at Claydol, but it teleported to dodge the attack and headed into the jungle. Nidoking chased Claydol, with Ash and Spenser following them.

"I wonder where Claydol is heading?" May asked.

She soon got an answer; Claydol led everyone to the ocean. This meant it would use the sand to it's advantage.

"Nidoking, Hyper Beam." Ash ordered.

Spenser ordered his Claydol to use Hyper Beam as well. Claydol's Hyper Beam turned out to be stronger than Nidoking's and it overpowered it and struck Nidoking head on. Nidoking was hurt.

"Psybeam." Spenser ordered Claydol.

Nidoking had no way to dodge Psybeam and the attack struck it. Psybeam was too much for Nidoking to handle and he fainted.

"Whoa that Claydol is tough." May said.

"That Claydol is Spenser's strongest Pokemon." Scott said.

"I wouldn't worry about it." Tomo said. "Because Ash's final Pokemon will deal with Claydol."

Ash's final Pokemon turned out to be his Celebi. Scott and Spenser were surprised to see Celebi. Tomo explained to the others that Celebi wanted to battle in the Battle Frontier and Ash agreed to let her take on the Battle Palace. Max had the feeling that Claydol wouldn't stand a chance against Celebi, a mythical Pokemon.

"Claydol, Psybeam." Spenser ordered.

Celebi dodged Psybeam and used Silver Wind.

"This is the first time I've seen a Celebi as well as see one in battle." Scott said.

"Celebi may look harmless and cute." Brock noted. "But it knows how to fight when threatened. We've seen it happen before."

"Brock's right." Tomo nodded.

At that moment it began to rain.

"That rain will be helpful." Ash said. "Celebi, Water Pulse."

Celebi fired three rings of water from it's mouth at Claydol. Thanks to the rain, Celebi's attack was powered up.

"It's a good thing that Ash had Celebi learn Water Pulse from the water type Pokemon at Prof. Oak's lab." Tomo said.

He explained that Ash had Celebi learn Water Pulse in case she had to battle a fire type Pokemon or any other Pokemon that's weak to water types. Claydol took a lot of damage from Water Pulse and couldn't take anymore. It fell down in the sand, defeated.

So Ash was the winner of the Battle Palace challenge. Scott landed the balloon on the beach and he and the others congratulated Ash.

"Your Pokemon are really something Ash." Scott said.

He was getting more impressed by every battle Ash participates in at the Battle Frontier. Spenser returned Claydol and spoke to Ash.

"Your fighting spirit really showed me that you never give up Ash, no matter what difficulty you're in." He said. "I will now present you your proof of victory at the Battle Palace."

The symbol Spenser gave to Ash was called the Spirit symbol and it had a square in the middle with little rectangles surrounding it.

"Now I just need two more symbols." Ash said.

"Yes, but don't forget that you must beat the sixth facility to find the seventh one." Scott reminded him.

"I remember Scott." Ash replied.

So with Ash winning the Spirit symbol, he looked forward to his next battle.