It had only been a few days since the gang had helped Pokémon Ranger Jackie bring Manaphy back to the Sea Temple and defeated Phantom. The gang would never forget that experience.
======================
At the moment, the gang were on their way to Fennel Valley where the Battle Pyramid is.
"There it is." Ashlyn said.
"The Battle Pyramid." Alain added.
"Where your last Frontier Symbol awaits." Brock finished.
=======================
The gang soon reached the Battle Pyramid, they met with Scott and a Nurse Joy with her Chansey. As it turns out, this Nurse Joy was a fan of both Ashlyn and May, much to Brock's dismay, because of their successes at the Hoenn league, and the Hoenn and Kanto Grand Festivals. Truth is Nurse Joy was a fan of both Pokémon battles and contests and she liked to battle too, despite being a Pokémon nurse.
"Hey is Brandon here, Scott?" Alain asked.
"I'm afraid he's very busy down at the ruins today. He can't really battle you two at the moment." Scott informed.
"My Pokémon center is nearby. Why don't you all come with me and wait there for Brandon?" Nurse Joy suggested, "We got a beautiful hot spring too."
"At the center?" May asked, excitedly.
"Yes." Nurse Joy nodded.
"With a view?" May prayed.
Nurse Joy winked, "It's the best."
"That sounds awesome!" May beamed, already sold on the idea.
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Nurse Joy led the gang to the Pokémon center. Apart from having the usual healing center and dining area, this Pokémon center had an exercising area, a hot spot, battlefields and a contest stage. This center basically had everything.
So the gang decided to relax for the day.
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Later that night, Ashlyn and Alain decided to visit the ruins to see what Brandon was doing. They spotted Brandon in a chamber who seemed to be trying to solve a puzzle.
"Making a discovery, Brandon?" Ashlyn asked.
"Correct Ashlyn," Brandon confirmed, "now watch me solve this puzzle." He moved a few squares left and right. "This will open up the sealed chamber, where the Pokémon I'm looking for is."
"You're looking for another one of the Legendary Golems?" Alain asked.
Brandon stared at Ashlyn and Alain, "So you two know about the three Legendary Golems?" he asked.
"Yes, we do." Ashlyn replied.
"Well I'll tell you two this then," Brandon decided, "I'll be using Registeel for our battle tomorrow."
"Actually Brandon, I have a request." Ashlyn said.
"A request?" Brandon asked.
"I would like to face Regirock again." Ashlyn requested.
"Sure, that would be great." Brandon accepted, "I presume you want the same, Alain?"
Alain nodded, "Yeah. I'm ready."
"Alright, I accept." Brandon confirmed.
===========================
The next day had arrived, Ashlyn was going against Brandon first. She was excited about this match.
Samuel explained that the challenge was a one-on-one Pokémon and declared it to begin.
"Regirock, let's go!" Brandon released his Rock Peak Pokémon.
"Rock!" Regirock appeared on the field.
"Cobalt, come on out!" Ashlyn released her Aura Pokémon.
Cobalt the Lucario got into a fighting stance when he appeared on the field.
"Regirock, Zap Cannon!" Regirock puts its hands together and creates a blue-green ball of electricity between them. It then fires the ball at Cobalt.
"Cobalt, dodge and use Rock Mash!" Cobalt dodges the Zap Cannon and then he smashes his hand into the ground. An invisible blast travels underground to Regirock and explodes underneath the Regirock, making pieces of rocks fly at it.
"Regirock, Hammer Arm!" Regirock raises one of its arms and slams it down at Cobalt.
"Cobalt, dodge and then Force Palm!" Cobalt dodges Regirock's attack and then he runs up to Regirock and puts his palm on it. He then fires a huge light green blast from his paw at Regirock.
"Regirock, Superpower!" Regirock points its hands at the opponent and releases a powerful wave of energy from its hand at Cobalt.
"Cobalt, Protect!" Cobalt projected a green barrier in front of himself, protecting himself from Regirock's attack, "Now Metal Sound!"
Cobalt puts the spikes on its paws together, causing white sound waves accompanied by a sound like scraping metal to emit from the tips and spread towards Regirock, making it cover the corner of its head in pain. Cobalt also growls in unison with the ringing.
"Flash Cannon!" Cobalt forms a ball of silver energy between his paws. He then fires a silver beam of energy from the ball at Regirock who grunts at the attack.
"Regirock, use Lock-On!" The Braille pattern on Regirock's face glows red, and it releases a red ring at Cobalt from its body. The red ring shoots at Cobalt and grows smaller when it hits Cobalt, turning into a red target that sticks to Cobalt, "Now Hyper Beam!" Regirock fires a Hyper Beam attack at Cobalt.
"Cobalt, Hyper Beam as well!" Cobalt fires a Hyper Beam attack as well.
The Hyper Beam attacks clashed against each other. The two were pushing hard against each other. When Ashlyn noticed that Regirock's Hyper Beam was starting to overpower Cobalt's, she quickly made her next move.
"Quick, dodge!" Cobalt dodged at the last second when the Hyper Beam went past him.
'(Ashlyn, we should try Mega Evolve.)' Cobalt suggested.
'Are you sure, Cobalt?' Ashlyn asked.
Cobalt glanced over his shoulder and nodded, '(I'm sure.)'
Ashlyn smiled and nodded. Then she placed two fingers on her Keystone glove causing it to light up as Cobalt's Mega Stone shined brightly.
"Key Stone, let our hearts become one! Go beyond evolution! Mega Evolve!" Ashlyn called out.
Cobalt changed into his Mega Evolve form.
"Cobalt, Agility and then Double Sphere!" Cobalt ran towards Regirock and he disappeared. Then he appeared in front of Regirock and he created copies of himself who all formed Aura Spheres. Then they launched them at Regirock which created a dust cloud.
When Cobalt appeared back in front of Ashlyn, the dust cloud had disappeared. Ember and Cobalt were surprised that Regirock was still standing!
But before Brandon could call out an attack, Regirock fell on its back which meant that...Regirock had fainted.
"Regirock is unable to battle! The victory goes to Cobalt. The winner of this challenge is Ashlyn Ketchum from Pallet Town!" Samuel announced.
Ashlyn was shocked, she had finally beaten Brandon. Then she smiled brightly. She and Cobalt had beaten Brandon!
"Cobalt, we did it!" Ashlyn cheered as she ran towards Cobalt who ran towards her.
The two embraced into a hug.
"You did great, Cobalt. I'm so proud of you." Ashlyn whispered in Cobalt's ear as he went back to his original form.
"(Thank you, Ashlyn.)" Cobalt smiled and nuzzled against her neck.
Brandon returned Regirock and went over to Ashlyn, "I have to admit, Ashlyn. That was one heck of a battle." He admitted.
"Thanks, Brandon. You were one tough opponent." Ashlyn admitted.
"I somewhat expected you to use Mega Evolution, but I really didn't know when though." Brandon stated.
"Well let's just say that I'm full of surprises." Ashlyn smiled.
Brandon smiled back at her, "Ashlyn, you and your Pokémon really fought as one in this battle," he said, "therefore, I present to you the Brave Symbol." He held out his hand with a symbol in it.
The Brave Symbol had a square in the middle with an X shape.
"Thank you, Brandon," Ashlyn gave a slight bow and gently took the symbol from Brandon's hand.
"Alright, we got the Brave Symbol!" Ashlyn posed with her Pokémon.
"Raichu! (Symbol number seven!)" Tesla cheered.
Cobalt cheered as well.
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Alain went against Brandon the next day. Alain decided to use his Garchomp this time. It was quite a tough match against the two of them. During it, Alain never used Mega Evolution. At the end of the match, Alain had won.
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After that, Scott gave Ashlyn and Alain a plaque which held all of their seven symbols. The plaque was proof that Ashlyn and Alain held a position in the Battle Frontier Hall of Fame for their victory and this also meant that Ashlyn and Alain were qualified to become a Frontier Brain themselves. Ashlyn and Alain turned to Scott.
"Hey Scott, could you keep my position as a Frontier Brain on hold until further notice please?" Ashlyn asked, "I don't wish to become one yet because there is still so much of the Pokémon world that I haven't visited yet like the Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Galar, Alola and Paldea regions. I want to continue going on more journeys, seeing and capturing new Pokémon and compete in more Pokémon leagues and contests before I settle down to become a Frontier Brain."
"I have to ask the same as well. There's still more Pokémon I wish to study who are capable of Mega Evolution." Alain requested.
Scott smiled at Ashlyn and Alain. "I understand completely Ashlyn, Alain," he said, "so you two can just let me know when you want to become a Frontier Brain and we will sort it all out together."
"Thank you, Scott." Ashlyn and Alain thanked him in unison.
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Ashlyn and Alain were happy at this moment. They finally defeated all seven of the Frontier Brains. They don't wish to become a Frontier Brain right now, but they'll become the greatest and strongest ones in the near future.
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Pokémon Caught: Shiny Arcanine (Sonia)(F), Magmar (Fuji)(M), Hisuian Zorua (Yuki)(F), Sprigatito (Fleur)(F), Aipom (Shantae)(F), Aipom (Luffy)(M)