Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, if I did Ash would actually age and win a league (Orange Island doesn't count)

A/N: Okay people here is the first Battle Frontier challenge, now I know in the anime Noland used Articuno, however I decided to go in the direction of the game version where each trainer chooses three random Pokemon. I think this would make a the challenge much more interesting, hope you liked the change and please enjoy.

Battle Factory

Up in the distance a large building came into focus. The building had the appearance of a warehouse and factory all combined into one. Ash and the girls had left Brock's a while ago. They had considered going to the Battle Factory tomorrow, but Ash was so excited that he wanted to take his First challenge today. Ash had been thinking about what Pokemon he would use. He wanted to show these Brains that he was a capable trainer and so decided to start off strong. Pikachu, Knuckles and Dragonite would be his three Pokemon, if it was four on four then he would add Charizard. As the teens got closer to the factory they began to realise just how big the facility was. Ash spotted Scott's red convertible parked outside, he had contacted Scott after they had left Bock's and informed him that he was heading to the factory now.

"So Ash nervous?"

Ash turned his head towards Cynthia and grinned. "A little, I am not sure how strong these Brains are, but I will give it my all you can count on that." Ash noticed Sabrina head was buried in a book it was the called 'Contests for beginners' It was the book that Daisy had given her in Pallet, it seems Sabrina was quite serious about trying out at being a coordinator. "You okay Sabrina? You've had your head in that book since we left Brock's."

Sabrina closed the book and put in her bag. "Oh sorry, I was reading up on something, so were here already, didn't take long, you ready?"

Ash nodded. "Ready as I will ever be, I have already decided on the three Pokemon I will be using." As the three teens reached a large set of double doors one of them opened and Scott appeared in the doorway.

"Ash you're finally here, good come in, I will introduce you to Noland the Brain of the Battle Factory." Scott as usual was dressed in a bright pattern shirt and white shorts, he gestured for Ash and the girls to follow him. Once inside he closed the door behind him. A tall man with a flat red cap appeared. Nolan was dressed in a black short sleeve polo-shirt, black trousers, and over the Polo-shirt he wear a long white jacket

"You must be Ash, it's nice to meet you, my names Noland and I am the Brain for the Battle Factory, Scott has spoken quite highly of you young man, I am looking forward to our battle."

Ash shook the offered hand. "Thanks Noland, this is Cynthia and Sabrina my travelling companions and this little guy on my shoulder is my starter Pikachu"

Noland inclined his head towards the two girls. "It's a pleasure to meet you, and welcome to the Battle Factory, so Ash I take it Scott hasn't told you about the challenges that await you?"

Ash shook his head. "No all I have been told is there are seven facilities, each one guarded by a Brain which I must defeat to obtain a symbol."

Noland nodded. "Yep that's about right, well let me explain to you what we do here at the Battle factory, you see I guard the symbol of knowledge, this means I test trainers on how well they know Pokemon, their moves and types. So in this challenge you don't use your own Pokemon but three random Pokemon that I have trained and raised."

Ash blinked in surprise he hadn't been expecting that, however this new stipulation would just make the challenge a lot more interesting. "Okay that sounds fun, so where do I choose my three Pokemon?"

Noland moved to the side behind was large crate on a conveyor belt with over a dozen poke balls placed inside it. "We select three from this crate, that right Ash to make the challenge fair, I too will use three random Pokemon, they have all been trained to listen to who ever is using them, so you don't need to worry about them refusing to listen to you. As the challenger, you get to pick first."

Ash stepped up to the crate all the poke balls looked the same, so it really was just luck of the draw. Ash selected one from the top row, one from the middle, and one from the bottom. He stepped back and allowed Noland to select his three.

"Okay then if were ready I will lead you to the battle field." Noland grabbed hold of a small terminal that was hanging down from the ceiling, he then pressed a blue button on the terminal, as he did huge large gears began to spin and the door behind him swung open to reveal a large battle field surrounded by a gallery where people could watch.

"If your companions want to take a seat in the Gallery, and Ash if you would like to make your way over to the left trainer box, then we can get this challenge underway. Scott will you referee for us, Johnson is ill today."

Scott smiled. "Sure Noland, happy to oblige." Scott made his way across the field and stood on the outside of the battle field, ready to judge the challenge.

Ash handed Pikachu to Sabrina who along with Cynthia took a seat in the gallery above the field. Ash stepped into his trainers box and then turned to see Noland was standing in his box. He clipped the three balls onto his belt and stood ready.

Scott raised both arms. "This is an official Battle Frontier Challenge between the challenger Ash Ketchum from Pallet town, and the Battle Frontier Brain of the Battle Factory Noland. This is a three on three contest, there are no substitutes allowed. Once all of the Pokemon from one trainer his knocked out, I will declare the winner. Ready and begin!"

Ash threw his ball onto the field it opened up to reveal a powerful looking Marowak

Noland threw his own ball onto the field and out of it appeared a Pincer. "Pinsir use Sword Dance!" The large stag beetle Pokemon raised its attack power.

Ash looked to his Marowak and wondered what moves it might know. "Marowak use Focus Energy!" Marowak growled and was surrounded by energy this would let it land critical hits more easy."

Noland grinned. "Pinsir use Double Team!" Pinsir began to flicker and then soon the field filled with Pinsirs.

Ash looked around wondering where the real one was. "Marowak hit them all with Sandstorm!" Ash hoped Marowak knew that move, as a ground type it would get a defence boost as well as reducing the accuracy of Pinsir. Ash watched as Marowak created a sandstorm that caused all the copies to vanish revealing the real Pinsir, who winced as it was battered by the storm.

Noland was impressed. "Wow not to Shabby Ash, not many trainers know that Marowak can use Sandstorm, I am impressed. Pinsir use Earthquake!" Pinsir lifted its leg and slammed it hard into the ground, the earthquake hit Marowak for some damage. Ash decided to counter.

"Marowak use Double-edge!" Marowak charged into Pinsir hitting the bug type for some damage, however due to its ability rock head it suffered no recoil-damage. The Double-edge had been critical thanks to focus energy.

Noland watched as his Pinsir was hit hard by the powerful double-edge, he was surprised to see his Pinsir go to one knee. That double-edge must have landed a critical hit. "Hang in there Pinsir use Revenge!"

Pinsir whole body glowed red, it then charged across the field and slammed into Marowak who was forced back several feet, it suddenly fell to one knee.

Ash was surprised by the counter, however he decided to use one of his own, Marowak use Bone rush!" Marowak raised its bone club, and charged across the field it then hit Pinser several times the last hit was around the head. Pinsir stumbled back and began to sway, it then fell with swirl for eyes.

Scott raised his arm on Ash side of the field. "Pinsir is unable to battle Marowak wins, Trainer send out your next Pokemon."

Noland recalled Pinsir. "Excellent work my friend take a good rest." Noland then threw another ball onto the field "Lets go!"

The ball snapped open to reveal a Powerful Flygon who hovered over the field by flapping it bug like wings.

Ash looked on nervously that was one powerful Pokemon, "Marowak use Double team!" Marowak flickered and created several copies of itself

Noland Laughed. "Won't do you any good Ash, Flygon use Earthquake!" Flygon roared and caused the whole field to shake, one by one the copies vanished until Marowak was sent flying skywards, it crashed landed on the field laid out flat with swirl for eyes.

Scott raised his arm on Noland side of the field. "Marowak is unable to battle, Flygon wins, challenger send out your next Pokemon."

Ash recalled Marowak, he then threw another ball onto the field, it snapped open and Ash had a huge grin on his face, it was Snorlax, a Pokemon he knew how to use efficiently.

Noland knew Snorlax could be a tricky customer to deal with so decided to attack head on. "Flygon use Rock slide!" Flygon roared and spectral rocks appeared above Snorlax, they then began to rain down on the normal type, however Ash had a counter.

"Snorlax use Curse! Unfortunately Snorlax just stood there looking confused, Ash couldn't believe it this Snorlax didn't know curse. "Snorlax use Ice beam!" This time Snorlax reacted and opened its huge mouth before firing the ice beam towards Flygon.

Noland quickly ordered a counter. "Flygon fly up high and dodge then use Dragon Claw!" Flygon avoided the ice beam, its claw then grew as it charged head first from above towards Snorlax.

Ash saw the incoming attack, if it knew ice beam, then maybe. "Snorlax counter with Ice Punch!" Snorlax fist glowed it then swung its huge fist which collided with the incoming dragon claw, use the type advantage the ice punch broke the deadlock and hit Flygon who cried out as it flew back towards Noland.

Noland smiled. "Not bad Ash, Flygon use Earthquake!" Flygon again caused the field to shake. Snorlax was hit hard, but it could still battle.

Ash could see his Snorlax didn't have much left, Noland might have trained these Pokemon, but from Ash point of view not very well. "Snorlax use Rest" Snorlax fell backwards and began to sleep recovering all its lost health points.

Noland looked on. "Risky move Ash, Flygon use Dragon Claw!" Flygon's claws grew it then charged across the field and was about to hit Snorlax before Ash countered.

"Snorlax use Sleep Talk!" Ash watched as Snorlax opened its mouth and several large bubbles appeared and hit Flygon, making the dragon/ground type feel drowsy. It had been hit with Snorlax's Yawn attack., however the dragon claw had also landed doing some damage to the sleeping Pokemon.

Ash had been surprised, he had been hoping for a Ice beam, or Ice Punch, but yawn was even better now Flygon would fall asleep next turn, and due to no substitutes being allowed then Noland wouldn't be able to do anything. Just as Ash predicted Flygon fell asleep.

Noland groaned there was little he could do until his Pokemon woke up. His Flygon didn't know Sleep talk like Snorlax did.

Ash seeing the ground/dragon type asleep decided to try sleep talk once more. "Snorlax use Sleep Talk." This time Snorlax got up and and jumped it then landed belly first on flygon for a powerful body slam attack.

Noland winced that would have done some damage, he hoped Flygon would wake up soon, or this battle was over. Noland watched as Ash ordered another Sleep Talk attack this times it was Hyper beam, the blast hit Flygon who was sent rolling backwards, it opened its eyes and then flew up ready to battle.

Ash groaned, that was Unfortunate, as Flygon woke up so did Snorlax, however due to Hyper beam it couldn't attack till next turn meaning Noland had a chance to deal major damage.

Noland was glad his Pokemon was awake. "Flygon use Outrage!" Flygon whole body glowed, it then charged across the field lashing out at Snorlax sending the normal type rolling backwards.

Ash smiled. "Outrage was powerful but it had one major drawback, it was the only move Flygon could use until the confusion kicked in. this meant Ash now had the advantage.

Noland wasn't happy he was hoping that Outrage would have been enough to put Snorlax away, however he was now stuck, he knew it was all over when he heard the next attack.

"Snorlax use Ice Beam!" Snorlax opened its mouth and the unleashed the powerful ice beam that hit Flygon, causing the dragon/ground type to cry out and fall to the field with swirl for eyes.

Scott raised the flag on Ash's side of the field. "Flygon is unable to battle, the winner is Snorlax, trainer send out your final Pokemon."

Noland recalled Flygon. "Excellent work my friend take a good rest. "Well Ash I am impressed, not many challengers have forced me to use all three Pokemon. I choose you!"

The ball snapped open and a powerful looking Electabuzz appeared. "Electabuzz use Thunder Punch!" The electric type charged its fist with electricity and then smashed it into the Normal type who again rolled backwards, it still got up though.

Ash knew he had another Pokemon but Ash didn't want to be forced to use all three. He wanted to make a statement to the Frontier, as he knew this battle would reach their ears soon enough. "Snorlax use Rest"

Snorlax again fell asleep, recovering all of its lost health points.

Noland groaned all that hard work and now he was back to square one. "Electabuzz use Focus Punch!" The electric type fist glowed as it built up enough energy.

Ash seeing the attack charge knew he had to act fast, focus punch was powerful however if the Pokemon using it was hit before the punch could land then it would fail. "Snorlax use Sleep Talk"

Snorlax opened its mouth and and out of it little bubbles appeared. Great it was using Yawn, that wouldn't stop the focus punch, but it would cause the Electric type to fall asleep on the next turn or so Ash though. Ash noticed the bubbles were having no effect on the electric type.

Noland laughed. "Nice try Ash, but the same trick won't work twice, you see this Electabuzz as the ability vital spirit, this prevents this Pokemon falling asleep. Now Electabuzz use Focus Punch!"

The electric type had stored enough energy in its fist, it punched Snorlax hard, doing some major damage.

Ash gritted his teeth. "Snorlax use Sleep talk!" This time Snorlax used Ice beam that hit the electric type for moderate damage, also the ice beam had caused its leg to become frozen and stuck to the field preventing it from moving.

Noland growled. "Electabuzz use Brick break on that ice and then use Thunder Punch on Snorlax"

Electabuzz hand glowed, it then chopped at the ice breaking free. It then charged its fist ready to hit the powerful thunder punch.

Ash knew he had to act fast, but Snorlax was still sleeping. "Snorlax use Sleep talk" This time Snorlax stood up and towered over the electric type, who eyes widened as the huge Pokemon slammed on top of him. There were sparks of electricity as Electabuzz tried to get free, however soon the electricity vanished. Snorlax rolled off Electabuzz showing the electric type flat as a pancake and with swirl for eyes.

Scott raised the flag on Ash's side of the field. "Electabuzz is unable to battle, the winner is Snorlax, as all of the brains Pokemon are knocked out, I declare Ash Ketchum the challenger the winner of this contest."

Ash couldn't believe it, he had done it. His first battle Frontier victory was in the bag. Ash recalled Snorlax and walked onto the field where Noland was waiting with his hand extended.

"Well done young man, I can see just why you are a three time champion, you didn't even know those Pokemon and yet you were able to use them to their full ability. Whats more you onlu needed two of them to beat me, I am very impressed. As prove of your victory I am pleased to present you with the Knowledge Symbol, congratulation."

Ash took the small coin from Noland and then posed. "Alright I won a Knowledge symbol." Ash heard Sabrina and Cynthia cheering for him in the gallery, he was then approached by Scott.

"Well Ash you've beaten your first Brain, any idea where your heading next? The closes Facility from here would be the Battle Palace which is located just outside of Cerulean City."

Ash stomach dropped it seems he would have no choice but to travel to Cerulean it was just hoping that he didn't bump into Misty, or there could be real problems.