Battle Pyramid 2

After leaving the Indigo Plateau, the gang was now in Fennel Valley. Here was where Ash would challenge Brandon again to earn his last frontier symbol. When they reached the Battle Pyramid, they met a Nurse Joy who was a fan of Ash and May because of their successes at the Hoenn League and the Hoenn and Kanto Grand Festivals.

Scott told Ash that Brandon was busy at the ruins, so it was a good time for the gang to relax at the Pokemon Center. Aside from having the usual healing center and dining area, the Pokemon Center also had an exercise center, a hot spa, battle fields and a contest stage. This Pokemon Center had everything.

"Do you want to have a practice battle with me?" Ash asked Tomo.

Tomo wanted to get something to eat.

"I'll battle you." Nurse Joy told him.

Ash was surprised to hear that because he had never battled Nurse Joy before, but she insisted on battling Ash. So they headed over to a battlefield and got ready to battle. Nurse Joy sent out her Chansey and Ash sent out his new Vigoroth. Ash thought this was a good idea as it would give him a chance to see how strong Vigoroth was. To his surprise, Nurse Joy and her Chansey were tough opponents. Vigoroth wasn't able to leave a single scratch on Chansey because of it's speed and Chansey also knew powerful moves like Dynamic Punch and Solar Beam. Vigoroth was quickly defeated after being hit by Solar Beam. Ash couldn't believe it, but he got the battle he asked for.

*That evening...*

Ash went to the ruins to see what Brandon was doing. He was looking at a ancient puzzle in the hopes of trying to solve it. This puzzle contained squares that needed to be moved in order to solve it.

"Making a discovery Brandon?" Ash asked.

He had just walked up to Brandon.

"That's correct Ash." Brandon said. "Now watch me solve this puzzle."

He moved a few squares left and right.

"This will open up the Sealed Chamber containing the Pokemon I'm looking for."

"Is it one of the Legendary Golems?" Ash asked.

Brandon stared at him.

"So you know about the Legendary Golems, don't you?" He questioned.

"Yes I do." Ash replied.

He wasn't going to tell Brandon he met the Legendary Golems before just in case he wouldn't believe him.

"Well Ash I'll tell you this then." Brandon said. "I will be using Registeel in our battle tomorrow."

"Ah the steel type. I look forward to that." Ash said.

Ash went back to the Pokemon Center and told them what Brandon said.

"So instead of using Regirock like before, he's going to use Registeel this time." Max said.

"What Pokemon are you going to use Ash?" May asked.

"Well my best bet would be a fire type Pokemon." Brock said. "Steel types are weak to fire, fighting and ground type Pokemon."

Ash thought about it for a moment.

"I'll use my Ninetales this time." He finally said.

The others agreed with that idea and Ash got his Ninetales from Prof. Oak.

*The next day...*

Everyone went to the Battle Pyramid. Nurse Joy and Chansey wanted to watch the battle along with Scott. Like the first time Ash challenged Brandon, this was a one on one battle and Samuel told Ash and Brandon to release their Pokemon. Ash sent out his Ninetales and Brandon sent out his newly captured Registeel.

May looked it up on the Pokedex.

"Registeel, the Iron Pokemon. Registeel has a body that is harder than any kind of metal. It's body is apparently hollow. No one has any idea what this Pokemon eats."

"If it's body cannot be scratched, then it will be tough to defeat." Max said.

"I wonder how Brandon caught it then." Tomo said.

"Must have used his Regirock to catch it." Brock said.

The battle began and Ash told his Ninetales to use Flamethrower. The Flamethrower was a direct hit and then Ninetales tackled Registeel with Quick Attack. Registeel wasn't fazed by that one bit.

"Registeel's body really is hard." Max pointed out.

"Ash is going to have to try harder than that if he wants to win this time." Brock said.

Registeel attacked next with Metal Claw, but Ninetales used Dig to get away and then it tackled Registeel.

"Not bad Ash." Brandon said. "But you will have to do more than that to win."

Ash knew Brandon was right because he knew how strong Registeel could be having encountered one before.

"Okay then." Ash said. "Ninetales let's go with this; use Will-O-Wisp."

Ninetales fired blue flames from her mouth and they hit Registeel. Registeel received a burn.

"Burning Registeel is a good way to weaken it." Brock pointed out.

Scott thought Ash was doing really well.

"Registeel use Sandstorm." Brandon said.

Registeel created a sandstorm. Ninetales didn't like this.

"Now use Lock-On."

"Oh no." Ash said.

He knew what was coming next.

"Ninetales brace yourself because Registeel's next move won't miss." Ninetales nodded to say she understood.

The next move turned out to be Zap Cannon.

"Ninetales, Protect." Ash said.

Ninetales protected itself from Zap Cannon.

"Quick Attack." Ninetales tackled Registeel.

"Zap Cannon." Brandon ordered.

This time Ninetales was hit before she could do anything. To make matters worse Ninetales was now paralyzed.

"This is bad." Max said. "Ninetales will now have trouble battling."

"Yeah and this sandstorm makes it harder." Brock added.

Ash told Ninetales to use Fire Blast and Brandon told Registeel to use Zap Cannon again. The two attacks collided and caused an explosion. After the bang and sand and smoke cleared, Registeel and Ninetales were seen standing. But Ninetales fainted shortly afterward; that last attack was too much for her to handle.

So this was Ash's second loss to Brandon. He comforted Ninetales and told her that she tried before returning her to the Poke Ball.

"Ash lost again." May said.

"Yes, but he put up a good fight against Registeel." Scott said.

Brandon returned his Registeel and spoke to Ash.

"Again Ash you put up a wonderful fight against my Registeel." He said. "But you and your Pokemon need to fight as one if you are ever going to defeat me."

Ash heard this saying before; it meant that in a Pokemon battle the mind of the trainer and the mind of the Pokemon have to be combined as one if they truly want to win. Ash felt like he had something to think about.

Brandon then said he was going to leave the Battle Pyramid again to search for another special Pokemon.

"This is going to be Regice, isn't it?" Ash asked.

"Correct young man." Brandon replied.

Since he had Regirock and Registeel, Ash knew he only needed to get Regice now. So Brandon left to search for Regice, leaving Ash to think about what to do now.