Chapter 24

The next morning, I'm preparing my backpack with my Mom helping me out. After we are outside, we hear a voice and both Charla and Charizard are coming.

"Hey! Charizard! Charla! Over here!" I yell as both Charizards arrive. Serena and I give them a hug and I say, "It sure has been a long time. How's everyone in Charisific Valley?"

And much to our surprise, they give us each a Flamethrower. I say, "Your Flamethrower is still great..."

Then I decide to also send out the Pokemon, namely Pidgeot, Butterfree, Venusaur, and Blastoise. "I appreciate that all of you are here to help me out."

"So you're really going into the mountains, Ash?" Ariel asks, and I say, "Of course."

"But how come?" Max asks.

"He wants to re-experience the feelings he had back when he became a Pokemon trainer, kinda going back to its roots." Minami says.

"I think going up the mountains will help me do that, and at the same time, it will help me find my own style of battling as well." I say. "Although I was asking Charla to battle with this time, Charizard decides to come as well."

Charizard nods before giving me another Flamethrower. Then we decide to hit the road, with the 7 of us, and while we find a perfect camping spot, we decide to make our own bed with the wood and leaves. We are also happy that Charla manages to learn Steel Wing and pick the berries.

That night, I see a figure coming towards us with a Reshiram and a Zekrom. I know for sure that it is N, my other self. He stands in front of me and says, "So we finally meet."

"I guess everything is fine in Unova now?" I say, "You did a great job. Now it is time for you to rest."

After I absorb N, I turn to Reshiram. "Reshiram, Zekrom. I also want to thank you for everything. Even though Ghetsis is now hiding, two years later, they'll come back. Please wait for me until we arrive two years later."

The two Pokemon roar before leaving, the other six Pokemon are confused, and I say, "I'm sure you're confused. But that was my other self N. The King of Team Plasma, whose goal is to liberate Pokemon from humans."

"But that's the opposite of you..." Pikachu says.

"I know. But everything turns out to be Ghetsis, my Dad's Dark self's evil plan to control the world." I say. "I became the villain to guide two of my friends so that they would help me stop Ghetsis, and they did it."

The 6 Pokemon nod after hearing my story. Just then, we notice a truck coming and we're confused. It turns out that Team Rocket has come to steal our Pokemon, this time they have a metallic balloon that our attacks can't get it scratch, but with the combination attack of Blastoise and Charla, it starts to crack and I have the other 3 attack the crack to make them fall. Pikachu also falls out of the balloon and we decide to give them a flying with the combination of 6 attacks.

"Well, what do we have here?" Just after I complimented my Pokemon, we turn to see Brandon approaching.

"Brandon!" I gasp in delight.

"That was a fine combination you did back there, young man." Brandon says. "There is a real connection between you and your Pokemon."

"These are my first Pokemon, we've been through over two years together." I say.

"I understand." Brandon says.

"I heard the news that you got the Pokemon that you wanted." I say.

"It's true. That's why I come back here to accept your challenge right away. And I have a suggestion for our battle. I say a full battle. Other than my three Regis, I'll be choosing 3 more Pokemon. I want to see what you can go with these 6 old friends you have there."

"Great! You got a deal!" I say.

After we return, we find everyone waiting for us, my Dad asks, "So I guess your match has finally come?"

"Yeah." I say.

"And if you beat Brandon, you'll be a candidate for a Frontier Brain." Scott says, much to our surprise since we don't know about that. "I guess I never told you that? Trainers who win the Battle Frontier enter the Hall of Fame, and that puts them into becoming a Frontier Brain."

"Wow... what an honor." May says.

"The whole reason for the Battle Frontier is to attract trainers." Scott says. And he explains to us about the whole Battle Frontier deal.

Then we finally get to the battlefield, I'm now facing Brandon in the battle.

"Dusclops! I need your assistance!" Brandon sends out his first Pokemon, and I'm surprised that he will be sending out a Ghost Type.

"Venusaur, I choose you!" I say while sending out my Grass Type Pokemon.

Dusclops fires Shadow Punch, and Venusaur takes it since he can't dodge the attack. Venusaur's Razor Leaf hits Dusclops, but it returns with a Mean Look.

"Now Venusaur has to stay in the battle no matter what..." Dia says.

"As long as we beat Dusclops, it won't matter." I say. Venusaur's Vine Whip misses and it takes another Shadow Punch, sending Venusaur flying. Venusaur uses Leech Seed, which wraps Dusclops and saps energy.

"No problem if the battle is over soon! Will-o-Wisp!" Brandon commands, but a Razor Leaf from Venusaur negates it.

"They're evenly matched..." Nurse Joy says.

"Venusaur! Solar Beam!" I command, but Dusclops fires a Confuse Ray, disorienting Venusaur and causing Solar Beam to fire towards the roof.

Venusaur takes another Will-O-Wisp and tries to use Vine Whip, but the vines are out of their control and begin whipping Venusaur itself. Another Will-O-Wisp sends Venusaur backward.

"This will be all for nothing..." I mutter as I continue to have it use Vine Whip.

"Venusaur, calm down and listen to my voice, okay?" I say, and Venusaur finally calms down and snaps out of its confusion. With Venusaur no longer confused, I order Venusaur to try Solar Beam again. While Venusaur is charging the attack, Dusclops tries to defeat it by firing Will-O-Wisp, but this time Venusaur dodges and fires Solar Beam, knocking out Dusclops.

"Well done, Dusclops! Ninjask, I need your assistance!" The second Pokemon is a Ninjask... interesting. I decide to return Venusaur and go for Butterfree.

Ninjask uses Aerial Ace, but Butterfree's Sleep Powder makes him sleep, and then with the Psychic attack and the Gust, Ninjask is beaten.

Brandon sends out Solrock next. I recall Butterfree and sending out Pidgeot. Pidgeot uses Ariel Ace while it is cut down by Psywave. Solrock tries to use Stone Edge, and Pidgeot dodges and uses Steel Wing, which is super effective. After another exchange of Solar Beam and Ice Beam, Solrock is defeated by Steel Wing.

"Now the real battle has begun…" Serena says in a worried tone.

"Indeed. Brandon has the three Legendary Regis, which can't be underestimated." My Mom says in a worried tone.

"Regirock! I need your assistance!" The first Regi has finally appear, and I say, "Pidgeot! Let's try to get it over fast! Use Steel Wing!"

I try to go with the Steel Type attack, but after it hits Regirock, Brandon has it go for Lock-On, targeting Pidgeot and using Zap Cannon, knocking it out.

"When he used Lock-On, the next attack is a guarantee..." Scott says. "No matter how low the accuracy is..."

"I still have hope. Venusaur! I choose you!" I decide to go for Venusaur. But with the Will-o-wisp, Venusaur is also in a lower health.

"Use Vine Whip!" The vines hit Regirock, but it looks like Regirock is not taking any damage.

"Use Fire Punch!" I didn't know Regirock can use a Fire move, and after a punch, Venusaur is also out.

"Now Ash loses two Pokemon..." Reisa says.

"He still has 4 of them. Ash can win this." Serena says.

"Charla! Let's go!" I say while sending out Charla. Everyone is surprised to see Charla appear on the field, but Charizard is also excited to see his girlfriend in a battle.

Regirock tries to go with another Lock-on and Stone Edge. But Charla quickly goes for Seismic Toss, and then he throws Regirock onto his own stones, which causes him to faint in the end.

"He did it... he beat Regirock with a Charizard!" Mark says.

"Registeel! I need your assistance!" Brandon sends out his second Regi.

"Finally, I get to see how Registeel will go." Dia says, getting hit by Minami as she asks, "Whose side are you on?"

I decide to continue with Charizard. I say, "Charla! Use Flamethrower!"

Charla manages to land a direct hit. Registeel goes for a Metal Claw, but Charla dodges it by flying into the air and goes for a Thunder Punch, knocking it to the ground.

"Another good hit, Ash is doing good!" May says.

"Zap Cannon!" Brandon has it use the attack, but the Flamethrower manages to destroy it. Just then, he is going to use Lock-On and Zap Cannon with Registeel as well, but I have Charla shield herself using Smokescreen, but it is still hit as she gets paralyzed.

"Hang in there, use Thunder Punch again!"

I try to make Registeel paralyzed by having Charla slam the Thunder Punch on Registeel, and it is a perfect hit.

"Very good, but your confidence is still too much! Throw Charizard!" When Charla is thrown, I have Charla go for a Steel Wing, hitting Registeel. Then I have Charla use Heat Wave, but Registeel deflects it and I have it use Flamethrower again.

"That's our signal. Registeel! Sandstorm!" Much to my surprise, the Sandstorm causes Charla to be trapped, and then I try to push it back with Heat Wave, but it goes for Zap Cannon again and when Charla dodges it, she jumps into the whirl of fire and spin itself inside when using Thunder Punch, hitting Registeel.

But much to our surprise, Charla is still defeated by a Lock-On Zap Cannon, so I decide to go with Butterfree once again, and Butterfree is also defeated by the Lock-on Zap Cannon combo.

"Ash only has two Pokemon now..." Max says.

"Registeel sure is really tough." Dia adds.

I go for Blastoise, and I manage to use Iron Defense to block the Zap Cannon, and then I go for Hydro Cannon combined with Water Pledge to finish Registeel off.

"It is getting intense here..." Scott says.

"But now Ash is taking the lead." Ariel says.

"Yeah. He can win this." Max says.

"Well, Brandon only has Regice left, I wonder how will it turn out." Serena says.

Brandon sends out Regice, who surprisingly defeats Blastoise since he is tired from battling Registeel. And my final Pokemon is obviously Pikachu.

"I want this over with fast, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Regice doesn't seem to take damage, and it uses Blizzard and causes the coldness on the field. I decide to go with Iron Tail, but Regice uses Ice Beam, and the field is now frozen in ice.

"The stage is now set. Use Focus Punch!" Pikachu tries to dodge, but it is too slippery. Pikachu goes for Thunderbolt, and then Iron Tail slams it back.

"Regice! Ice Beam!" More Ice pillars appear and Pikachu is trapped. And much to my horror, Regice uses Rest to heal itself.

"This will be a problem for Ash if Regice uses Rest to heal like nothing happened at all." Professor Oak says.

"That's awful." Reisa says.

Pikachu uses Iron Tail to get out of the pillars, but when it is chasing after Regice, it wakes up and uses Ice Beam to trap Pikachu in the ice.

"Oh no! Pikachu!" We gasp in shock. I yell, "Come on, Pikachu! You can't just give up! You have to hear my voice! Use Thunderbolt!"

The referee begins to declare Pikachu unable to battle, but Pikachu uses Thunderbolt to shatter the ice and paralyze Regice again.

"Regice, let's show them what you made of! Focus Punch now!" Regice fires another Focus Punch to send Pikachu bouncing across the ice field.

"That's it! Let's keep going! Two Iron Tails in a row!" I command.

Regice uses Ice Beam to trap Pikachu in another icy tomb before using Rest again. Pikachu frees himself with Iron Tail and starts charging forward with Volt Tackle. Regice wakes up and uses Ice Beam to try to freeze him again, but Pikachu dodges and hits Regice before it can launch another attack, knocking it out.

"Yeah! We did it!" I cheer.

"I don't believe it! Ash won!" Serena says.

"He beat three Legendary Regis!" Reisa says.

"That is a brave fight. Excellent Ash. You battled with an original style that is truly yours and yours alone." Brandon says.

"You're the reason I have won, thank you so much, Brandon." I bow to him.

"I'm pleased to present the Brave Symbol." I take the final symbol and I'm happy to earn it.

Now that I have all seven symbols, Scott congratulates us and gives me the certificate with the symbols on it.

"It's an honor, Scott." I say.

"It will be an honor if you consider becoming our Frontier Brain." Scott says.

"The thing is... There are still awesome people and places that I've never seen yet. And that means there are still many awesome battles out there for me to win." I say.

"Say just like a Ketchum would." My Dad says while putting his hand on my shoulder.

"I see... if that's your choice. But the offer is still open if you change your mind." Scott says.

"Good luck, Ash. I hope we will engage in battle once more." Brandon says. Then he leaves with the Battle Pyramid.

And since everyone is going as well, and once that's over, the only people left are me, Serena, Reisa, May, Max, and Emerald.


Now Ash has his seventh and final Battle Symbol, but that doesn't mean the arc is finished yet. The next chapter will conclude N's chapters.