"Hey Ash, are you sure this is the place?" Brendan asked.

"Positive, 100%." Ash said, putting away his Pokegear. "Why do you ask?"

"Because we normally see Scott by now." Wally reminded.

"Who's Scott?" Flannery asked.

"Owner of the Battle Frontier." Ash commented. "Which means he's probably busy with something else at the moment."

"But he said he'd see us here." Brendan reminded.

"We also took a detour to take out Team Rocket, summoned the gods of Hoenn, and had to wait while I recovered from summoning one of the aforementioned gods." Ash pointed out. "He wasn't going to wait around forever."

"Are one of you a challenger by any chance?" A man in a blue polo with the Frontier logo on it asked.

"Yeah, is everything alright?" Brendan asked.

"No, you've just been standing at our front gate for five minutes and I came to make sure you weren't lost." The man said. "But if you're a challenger, then please follow me."

At a small shack

"Hello there, you must be Brendan." An older man said walking forward.

"Yeah, I'm him." Brendan said giddily.

"My name is Spenser, I am the Palace Maven and the frontier brain of this facility." Spenser said. "Now if you wish to, you may switch out your Pokémon right now for our battle."

"Any hints on what I'll be fighting?" Brendan asked.

"You can see the arena from here." Spenser said. "That's all I will say. Nothing more, nothing less."

"He can see it from here, but we're in the middle of a jungle. What are we supposed to be seeing?" Wally asked.

"Wait one more question, how many Pokémon will we be using?" Brendan asked.

"This is your fifth symbol battle, so a four on four should be suitable." The man who greeted them said.

"Yeah let me make one quick switch." Brendan said.

A few minutes and a transfer later

"If you all will follow me, I'll bring you to our seats for the match. I'm Justin by the way." The man who greeted them said.

"Lead the way." Wally said.

"Is that a hot air balloon?" Ash asked.

"We actually have a second, as you have a slightly larger crowd, if one of you knows how to pilot one that is." Justin said.

"I do, I raced in one back in Johto." Ash said.

"Okay, you and her will go in one, and the three of us will go in the other." Justin said, leading Wally and Lucario into the balloon.

"I didn't know you knew how to fly one of these." Flannery said, as they stepped into the other.

"You never asked." Ash said, as he unhitched the ballon.

Back on the ground

"So I'm guessing this is where our battle will start." Brendan said.

"Very observant." Spenser said. "Yes I allow my battles to take place as large as they need to be, to allow both of our Pokemon the fullest of their potentials. Now for my first Pokémon. Come out Shiftry!"

"Shiftry Huh? I know how to handle those, Shiftry I choose you!" Brendan exclaimed.

"Why not Swellow or Arcanine?" Wally wondered out loud. "Or Hitmonlee, or Pinsir?"

"Shiftry use Leaf Storm!" Brendan called out.

"Shiftry use Shadow Ball!" Spenser commanded.

Leaves spun around the two Shiftry, before all of them shot towards what was hopefully Spenser's Shiftry.

"Shiftry use Razor Wind!"

"Shiftry use Rock Smash!"

With Spenser's Shiftry distracted, Brendan took the opportunity to get moving, with his Shiftry effortlessly flying into the woods. Spenser's Shiftry leapt after him, swiping at Brendan's Shiftry.

"Shiftry use Shadow Ball!"

"Shiftry use Feint Attack!"

Brendan's Shiftry spun around in mid air, slicing one of its fans at the shadow ball as it blew up in his face.

"Oh, that's going to hurt." Wally said, wincing at the view.

"Shiftry switch out!" Brendan said. "Let's go Swellow!"

"Shiftry use Double Team!"

Swellow flew into battle as she was surrounded by four Shiftry.

"Swellow use Air Slash!"

Swellow flapped her wings, dissipating all the Shiftry clones and blasting the real one into a tree.

"Shiftry use Rock Smash!"

"Swellow use Sky Attack!"

Spenser's Shiftry launched at Swellow, only to be launched back by the flying type, knocking out Shiftry.

"And Shiftry is unable to continue battling." Justin announced.

"Hey, where's Ash and Flannery?" Wally asked.

"They were supposed to be right behind us." Lucario said.

"Shiftry return." Spenser said. "You did great old friend. Now come out Claydol!"

"Swellow use Steel Wing!"

"Claydol use Psybeam!"

A strange energy blast shot out at Swellow as she spun out of control.

"Swellow use Quick Attack!"

"Claydol use Teleport!"

Swellow rushed forward, only for Claydol to disappear in an instant.

"See Flannery, I told you we were going the right way." Ash said, as they finally caught up.

"You two okay?" Wally asked.

"No, but that's an issue for another day." Ash commented.

"Claydol use Hyper Beam!"

"Swellow use Sky Attack!"

Swellow was engulfed in light as she rocketed forward, slamming into Claydol before being engulfed by the attack, knocking her out.

"Swellow is unable to continue!" Justin announced.

"Swellow come back. Let's go Swampert! Use Rollout!"

"Wait, where is Swampert going?" Lucario asked.

"Out of the woods, to somewhere more open if I had to guess." Wally commented.

Swampert and Brendan led Spenser and Claydol through the woods and to a waterfall basin.

"Perfect, finally some open space." Brendan said. "Swampert use Ice Beam!"

Swampert dug his hands into the ground, firing off a freezing cold beam at Claydol, striking the ground type in mid air.

"Swampert finish it with Hydro Cannon!"

"Claydol use Rapid Spin!"

Claydol spun around, seemingly keeping the water off of it, until the ground and psychic type was blasted into the wall of the basin, completely knocked out.

"Claydol is unable to battle, the winner is Swampert." Justin declared.

"Claydol you did wonderfully." Spenser said. "Now come out Venusaur, and use Vine Whip!"

Swampert was still recharging as he was lashed by the vines.

"Swampert come back! Let's go Pinsir!" Brendan said. "Use String Shot!"

"Venusaur use Vine Whip!"

Silk shot between the two vines, covering Venusaur's face in a sticky goo.

"Now Pinsir use Superpower!"

"Venusaur use Razor Leaf!"

Pinsir charged forward as the sharp leaves tinked off of his armor plating.

"Pinsir use Guillotine!"

"Venusaur use Solar Beam!"

Pinsir leapt upwards, clamping his horns around Venusaur's head.

"Doesn't that only work if the user is stronger?" Flannery asked.

"Yep." Ash said. "And Brendan only recently caught Pinsir."

"What are the chances that Pinsir is stronger?" Flannery asked.

"I'd say slim to none." Ash commented.

Pinsir was still trying to clasp his horns around Venusaur's head as he was engulfed in a bright light.

"I don't think Pinsir is as strong as Brendan was hoping he was." Ash sighed as Pinsir collapsed on the ground.

"Pinsir is unable to battle, the winner is Venusaur." Justin said.

"Pinsir come back." Brendan said. "Let's do this Shiftry!"

"Venusaur use Tackle!"

"Shiftry dodge it with Extrasensory!"

Venusaur jumped at Shiftry as the dark type flew out of the way with barely a muscle moved.

"Shiftry use Razor Wind!"

"Venusaur use Razor Leaf!"

Shiftry flapped his fans whipping up strong winds as Venusaur's leaves were caught up in it all.

"Venusaur use Vine Whip to bring him down!" Spenser said.

"Shiftry use Extrasensory!" Brendan called out.

Shiftry landed on a single branch as he stopped the vines coming towards him, tying them in a knot.

"Have we ever talked about how savage Shiftry can be at times?" Ash asked. "Like this is freaky."

"Glad I never had to fight him at my gym." Flannery said.

"Shiftry use Leaf Storm!"

"Venusaur use Razor Leaf!"

Venusaur and Shiftry launched a storm of leaves at each other, Shiftry quickly taking the lead as Venusaur was struck over and over again.

"Shiftry untie his vines at least." Brendan said, realizing Shiftry wasn't planning on undoing them.

"Shift." Shiftry said, his nose flicking as the vines untangled and Venusaur was knocked out.

"I think Shiftry is getting ready to learn some new moves." Spenser said.

"I thought that stone evolution Pokemon couldn't learn many moves?" Brendan said in confusion.

"Normally yes, but there have been reports of some, not many but a few being able to learn moves after that evolution." Spenser said. "And the way your Shiftry fights, with the strength of his moves, I can tell you two have been together for a while, and that he is just on the cusp of a new move."

"Alright Shiftry!" Brendan said. "Take a break, let Swampert go another round."

"Our final match. Slaking come out!" Spenser said. "You should feel honored, most trainers don't get the privilege of meeting this one."

"Well, consider me honored." Brendan said. "Swampert use Mud Shot!"

"Slaking use Yawn!"

Swampert dug an arm into the muddy ground from the basin, launching it up and striking Slaking in his face as the normal type let out a yawn sending out a noxious cloud towards Swampert.

"Swampert use Hydro Cannon!" Brendan called out, knowing he was on a timer.

Swampert pushed his arms into the ground, launching a powerful blast of water at Slaking, before collapsing into an asleep state.

"Slaking use Hyper Beam!"

Slaking sat up, opening his mouth and launching a beam of powerful energy engulfing Swampert in the attack.

"Swampert come on, wake up!" Brendan said.

Swampert was not even stirring as Slaking regained his focus.

"Slaking use Hyper Beam!"

Slaking fired an energy beam, engulfing Swampert once more in the attack.

"I don't think Swampert can take much more of it." Wally said worriedly.

"No, attacks like that cannot be taken too many times in a fight." Lucario commented. "If Brendan wishes to win, he does not have time to wait around for Swampert to wake up."

"Slaking use Hyper Beam!" Spenser called out.

Swampert was fully engulfed as he completely collapsed on the ground.

"Swampert is unable to battle." Justin declared.

"Swampert you did your best." Brendan said. "Sorry I couldn't be better. Shiftry we have two shots, maybe three to do this."

Shiftry landed on the ground, ready to finish the fight.

"Shiftry use Feint Attack!"

Shiftry leapt forward striking Slaking, as the normal type fell back.

"Shiftry you're ready for a new attack, any time would be good for this!" Brendan said.

A smirk came across Shiftry's face as he rubbed his fan's together, the smirk growling ever larger.

"Slaking use Hyper Beam!"

Slaking fired a beam of energy straight at Shiftry, as the dark type took the entire attack.

"Shiftry I know you figured something out, so do it!" Brendan said

Shiftry let out a cry, as a pulse of shadowy energy burst out from his nose, striking Slaking as the normal type finally collapsed.

"Shiftry is unable to battle, the winner is Shiftry and Brendan!" Justin declared. "Let's bring the balloons back in."

A bit later

"Congrats Brendan, as proof of your victory I present you with this, the Spirits Symbol." Spenser said. "And in case you were wondering, Shiftry didn't show just one new move, he showed two."

"Nasty Plot and Dark Pulse." Wally said, looking at his Pokedex.

"Way to go Shiftry." Brendan said, cheering on his first capture.

"Your next challenge is the Battle Tower, just outside of Cremini Town." Justin said. "Best of luck there."

"Ash, any ideas?" Brendan asked.

"Never heard of it, I'll have to look into where it's located, but for now we have to get back to mainland." Ash said.

"Great, because we've always had great luck traveling from islands." Flannery joked.

Brendan's Current Team and their moves

Swampert: Ice Beam - Rollout - Hydro Cannon - Mud Shot

Shiftry: Nasty Plot - Dark Pulse - Leaf Storm - Extrasensory

Swellow: Air Slash - Sky Attack - Quick Attack - Steel Wing

Pinsir: Guillotine - Superpower - String Shot