pokemon adventure

chapter eighty eight

Chapter 88

The start of the Battle Frontier,

The Battle Factory and

Cerulean Contest

Ash, Tomo, Brock, May and Max were on their way now to Ash first Battle Frontier battle. Misty left the group just after Mt Moon to get back to her gym in Cerulean City. But the gang said they would come to Cerulean City after the first frontier challenge, because they found out that Cerulean City was holding a pokemon contest in a couple of days. "So Ash do you know where the first battle facility is?" asked May. "I don't," said Ash "this will be my 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". "Your right Ash; a rookie would never be accepted to battle the Battle Frontier" agreed Brock. 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. Ash looked up to the sky. "Hey it's an Articuno" he said. The gang was surprised to see Articuno. Just then they saw a biplane flying beside it. "Is someone trying to catch Articuno?" asked Tomo. "I don't think they are," said Brock "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" said Max. The gang watched Articuno and the biplane until they were out of sight. "Can we please continue looking for shelter?" asked May, who was tired now.

It wasn't long before the gang found a pokemon center. "That's good," said Ash "we can ask Nurse Joy for directions for the battle facility in the morning". So the gang had a good night's sleep at the pokemon center and when the next day came Ash asked Nurse Joy for directions for the battle facility. "Ah a challenger for the Battle Frontier" said Nurse Joy. She was about to give the gang directions, but then she was stopped. Scott was at the pokemon center. "I will take them there" he said. Ash couldn't believe he was seeing Scott again and he introduced the others to him. "Pleased to meet you all," said Scott "and I will take you to the battle facility myself". Truth is Scott wanted to watch Ash challenge the Battle Frontier.

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" said Scott. Ash was excited to battle his 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 pokemon" said Scott. Ash called out Grovyle, May called out Combusken and Brock called out his Mudkip 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?" asked Scott. "Yep and this one is the best" said Noland. Noland loved to create machines and drive them. 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" said Noland. 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 Ash had to challenge. Ash introduced himself to Noland and asked for a battle. "Ah a challenger," said Noland "I accept your challenge Ash".

Noland had an unusual rule for the Battle Factory; the challenger got to choose which one of Noland's pokemon to battle. Noland had many pokemon; he had a Venusaur, a Machamp, a Pinsir, a Rhyhorn, a Breloom, a Rhydon, a Lairon, a Camerupt, a Sandslash, a Golduck, a Manectric and a Trapinch. But he also had one more pokemon that was a real surprise to the gang; he also had an Articuno. "Wow you have an Articuno?" gasped Max. "Well I didn't catch it so it's wild" said Noland. 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," said Ash "even legendary pokemon accept a human's kindness, even if they do feel anxious around humans. I know because I've helped legendary pokemon before". Since Ash had to choose one pokemon to battle deciding which one would not be easy for him.