"Alright Brendan, where do we go from here?" Ash asked. He had led the group to the north of Cerulean City, but didn't know what the Battle Factory looked like, or where it actually was.

"I was actually hoping that you would know where it was." Brendan said.

"Not a clue, I was never invited to compete." Ash said.

"What about that card Scott gave you, maybe it has some information on where to find it." Wally reminded.

"Good idea." Brendan said, pulling out the card. "And I can't make heads or tails of this thing." Brendan said. "There's supposed to be a spot for each symbol, but I don't even see that."

"Here let me see." Ash said, holding out his hand.

"Good luck, the things the size of my trainer card." Brendan scoffed.

Ash turned the strange card in his hands, looking at it from every side possible.

"Let me see your trainer card real quick." Ash said, noticing a slot.

"Why not use yours?" Brendan asked.

"In case I'm right." Ash said, now with a bit more confidence.

"Couldn't hurt, we're already lost." Wally said.

"I guess so." Brendan said, handing over his trainer card.

"And viola!" Ash exclaimed, as he slid Brendan's trainer card in, and the map came to life.

"Woah, that's a lot of information, but I still can't see where the Battle Factory is." Brendan said.

"Just give me a second." Ash said, looking at the map. "Now I'm not positive, but I think I know that crossroad." Ash said, pointing at the spot on the map. "From there it looks like we just have to follow the river until we reach the facility."

"Well then what are we doing waiting around here?!" Brendan said, marching off in a direction.

"Other way." Ash said.

"I knew that." Brendan said, doing a quick 180.

"I see this going well." Wally chuckled.

A bit later

"This place, it's." Ash paused, trying to think of the right words.

"The Battle Factory." A man said. "The name's Scott, and I don't think we were introduced earlier."

"I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town." Ash said. "Nice to meet you."

"So we actually made it?" Brendan asked. "Well where's the Frontier Leader?"

"We call them Frontier Brains, and the one for the Battle Factory is Noland." Scott said. "And at about this time, he's usually out flying."

"Like on a Pokemon? Every day?" Wally asked.

"I don't think anyone's ever thought it to be a Pokemon." Scott said, just keep your eyes in the sky, he should be coming in any time now."

As if on cue, an orange plane began it's decent nearby.

"Come on, we can meet him at the hangar." Scott said, leading the group a ways off.

At the nearby hangar

"Scott, great to see you, what brings you out here." A man with short brown hair said, hopping out of the small plane.

"I'm here with a new challenger, the one Greta recommended." Scott said. "He's hoping to have a battle with you."

"Is that right." The man said, walking up to Brendan. "Just so you know, my challenge will be a bit different than anything you've ever faced."

"There's nothing you could shock me with. I did win the Hoenn League after all." Brendan said proudly.

"The minor league of it." Wally reminded.

"Still, I won the competition." Brendan said. "That has to count for something."

"Oh, it counts for a lot, but each of the seven frontier brains were picked because of their unique battle styles." Scott said.

"Now come on follow me to pick your opponent." The man said. "I'm Noland by the way."

"Nice to meet you." Brendan said with a smile.

Back at the Battle Factory

"Why did we walk all the way there, if we just had to come all the way back?" Wally whispered to Ash.

"Don't worry about it." Ash said. "Just be glad it's nice out today."

"So Noland, you said I'd be picking my opponent, but I thought I was fighting you." Brendan said in confusion.

"I am the trainer you'll be facing, but you'll be able to pick the Pokemon I use." Noland said.

"I get to pick my opponent, how is that a challenge?" Brendan asked.

"Just because you know what they are on the outside, doesn't mean you know what they can accomplish." Noland said. "Take me for example, for years I was a cargo pilot, I delivered supplies to all over Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and even Ore. I never even considered being a Pokemon trainer. Now here I am as a entirely new type of trainer, but I still enjoy taking my plane out every day and being in the open sky."

"So what kind of Pokemon do you specialize in?" Wally asked.

"Oh, I don't have a preferred type of Pokemon." Noland said. "Size, type, or region never bothered me much."

"So, I'll have to think hard about who I'll fight a lot." Brendan said, as they reached an open area in the field.

"Alright, everyone stay behind me." Noland said, grabbing a whistle. "Come on out everyone!"

'TWEEEEE'

A high pitched sound came through the air, as Pokemon were heard coming close.

"Wow this is crazy, so many options." Brendan said, as the Pokemon approached. "Manectric,Lairon, Rhydon, Pinsir."

"I see Machamp, Rhyhorn, Camerupt and Trapinch." Wally said.

"Golduck,Venusaur, Sandslash, and and Breloom too." Ash said. "With so many options, Brendan has a lot of Pokemon he can pick from. If he's smart, he'll pick someone all of his Pokemon can fight with ease."

"How big of a battle are we having?" Brendan asked, walking up and down the lineup of Pokemon.

"Our match will be a one on one." Noland said calmly.

"Then I pick Rhydon." Brendan said.

"Very well then, follow me to our arena for today's match." Noland said.

"Rhydon's a great choice, any of Brendan's Pokemon would be a good match except for his own Rhydon." Wally commented.

"Which is what worries me." Ash said. "I doubt this will be as straightforward as we believe it to be."

"That's Noland for you." Scott said, walking up behind Ash. "His strategy is anything but normal."

At the arena

"Alright trainers, this will be a one on one match. The winner will be decided when either sides Pokemon is unable to battle." Scott said. "Brendan, you chose your opponent to be Rhydon, who will you be sending out."

"My only Pokemon that can truly go toe to toe with a Rhydon." Brendan said, grabbing a Safari Ball. "Rhydon come on out!"

"Now this will be an interesting battle." Scott said. "Now let the battle begin!"

"Rhydon use Hammer Arm!" Noland called out.

"Rhydon block it with Crush Claw!" Brendan commanded.

Brendan's Rhydon stopped the attack with his extended claws, as Noland's stronger attack began to push him down.

"Rhydon use Stone Edge!" Noland called out.

"Rhydon counter with Rock Blast!" Brendan commanded.

Larger stones shot out at Brendan's Rhydon, only for them to get shattered into many smaller stones from the Rock Blast.

"Rhydon use Mega Horn!" Both trainers called out.

The two Rhydon locked horns, pushing against one another.

"Rhydon use Flamethrower!" Brendan commanded.

"Rhydon use Fire Blast!" Noland called out.

It seemed at every turn of the battle, Noland's Rhydon had a stronger attack up his sleeve, and the damage was beginning to wear down on Brendan's Rhydon.

"Rhydon use Hammer Arm!"

"Block it with Crush Claw!"

Brendan's Rhydon gathered his strength, gripping Noland's Rhydon's arm tightly, attempting to flip it over him, only for the damage to finally catch up.

"Brendan's Rhydon is unable to battle, the winner is Noland and his Rhydon." Scott called out.

"Wow, that was a lot of damage, this is no joke." Wally commented.

"You're a great trainer Brendan." Noland said, walking up to him. "Feel free to challenge me at any time, and as many times as you need to win."

"Thank you Noland." Brendan said. "Next time we fight though, Rhydon will win."

"I look forward to it, as does my Rhydon." Noland said. "We'll be waiting for you."