[5] The Daughter of Nurse Joy: Battle Frontier

The Battle Pyramid

The time for Cora to face Brandon was now here. After witnessing Regirock battling James's Cacnea yesterday, Cora had a good think about what Pokémon she should use against Regirock. Alain had a good idea as well. However, Ash seemed a little too excited and a little bit overconfident. 

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Now everyone was in the Battle Pyramid. Cora and Brandon had taken their places on the battlefield. Scott and the others were in the audience seats.

Samuel explained that the challenge was one-on-one Pokémon and declared it to begin.

After Brandon tossed out his Regirock, Cora tossed out Rory (Shiny Gyarados).

"Rory, use Dragon Breath!" Rory used Dragon Breath.

"Regirock, dodge!" Regirock dodged it, "Now Stone Edge!"

"Use Iron Tail to break the stones and then move in with Aqua Tail!" Rory broke the stones like a sword and then he moved towards Regirock and hit it with Aqua Tail.

"Regirock, Sandstorm." Regirock summoned a sandstorm, which spread sand everywhere.

Cora had an idea, "Rory, use Rain Dance!" Rory summoned rain clouds. When it started to rain, the sandstorm vanished.

"Now Hydro Pump!" Rory shot a powerful stream of water from his mouth and Regirock got hit by it.

Regirock did get weakened a lot from that attack, but it was still not beaten yet.

"Regirock, use Lock On." Brandon ordered.

"Rory, be careful. Regirock's next attack will be a direct hit." Cora warned.

Rory grunted at his trainer's warning.

"Regirock, Zap Cannon." Brandon ordered.

Regirock launched its attack and Rory got hit by the zap cannon.

"Rory, are you okay?!" Cora called out.

Rory grunted to confirm that he was.

"Okay then, use Hydro Pump one more time." Cora ordered.

"Regirock, dodge and use Stone Edge." Regirock dodged the Hydro Pump and tossed Stone Edge at Rory.

Rory didn't have the chance to dodge the stones and got hit by them. He couldn't take anymore after that attack and fainted. Cora was shocked, she couldn't believe it. She had lost the challenge. Then she heard Rory groan which broke her out of her thoughts.

Cora went over to Rory, "Rory! Rory, are you alright?" She placed her hand on his snout.

Rory grunted and nudged Cora, "Growl. Growl growl. (I'm fine. Sorry that we lost the battle, Cora.)" He apologized.

"Don't worry, Rory. Regirock was just stronger than us, that's all." Cora assured him, kindly.

Cora figured that Regirock would be very tough to beat despite the advantage type. Anabel was right, Brandon was a struggle to beat.

Brandon returned his Regirock and went over to Cora.

"That was a fine battle you gave me young lady, despite the loss," Brandon complimented, "and I could see the trust between you and Gyarados."

"I've had Rory ever since I started becoming a Pokémon trainer; I caught him as a Magikarp on the first day." Cora stated.

"That explains it and it proves you are connected with your Pokémon." Brandon said.

"Is it alright for me to ask you for a rematch?" Cora asked.

"Yes, but after Alain and Ash's match you'll have to wait a while, because I have ruins to visit." Brandon replied.

"I understand and I can wait," Cora understood, "and I'll train myself and my Pokémon more for the rematch."

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Alain went against Brandon the next day. Alain used his Sceptile against Regirock. To everyone's surprise, Sceptile lost against Regirock in Sceptile's Mega Evolved form. That meant that Alain had also lost to Brandon.

Ash had also lost against Brandon which was no surprise to Cora. His Sceptile had also lost against Regirock. However, Ash was still frustrated that he was unable to beat Brandon.

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When Scott and the gang exited the Battle Pyramid, the pyramid's corners slid outward and then the pyramid started to take off into the air. The pyramid had rotors, which could make the Battle Pyramid fly. The gang was amazed by that.

"That's how Brandon travels to ruins all over the world," Scott explained, "He takes his Battle Pyramid wherever he goes."

"Now that's brilliant." Brock commented.

"I wonder where he'll be going next?" Max pondered.

"Well, we'll have to wait to find out," Cora stated, "In the meantime, we can use the wait to get to the Kanto Grand Festival."

The others agreed to that idea.

"I'll let you know when the Battle Pyramid is free to be challenged again, Cora, Alain, Ash." Scott informed the two.

"Thanks, Scott." Cora, Alain and Ash thanked him.

With Cora, Alain and Ash's first loss against the Battle Frontier, it was time for the gang to head out for the Indigo Plateau.

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Cora: Lucario (Aaron)(M), Kindleon (Wildfire)(F), Magmar (Maggie)(F), Empatheon (Ruthine)(F), Sidheon (Malaika)(F), Mysteon (Nerina)(F), Spectreon (Conleth)(M)

Alain: Sporeon (M), Kindleon (M), Arbok (M), Scaldeon (M), Petreon (M), Sulfreon (F), Acideon (M)

Mairin: Bircheon (Zelen)(M), Wilteon (Willy)(F), Nidorina (Queenie)(F), Mysteon (Ara)(F)