The Battle Palace

May had won her fourth ribbon at the Chrysanthemum Contest. Everyone was glad that she got her fourth ribbon. May herself felt extremely happy to get it. She was more determined to get her last ribbon. Ashlyn could also tell that May might have a small crush on Drew but May was trying to deny it by saying that he's just a rival.

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After leaving Chrysanthemum Island, the gang arrived at another island called Metallica Island. This was where Ashlyn and Alain could battle the next battle facility. While they rested at the Pokémon center, they met up with Scott again. Scott explained that the battle facility was called the Battle Palace and the frontier brain was a man they called Palace Maven, Spenser.

"Even though he is an old man, you better not underestimate him." Scott warned.

"We understand, Scott." Alain assured him.

"Besides, we've battled a lot of old people before and they were no pushovers." Ashlyn added.

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Scott led the gang to what looked like an old jungle ruin temple; this was the Battle Palace. Standing at the facility was an old man that looked like a temple monk; this man was Spenser, the frontier brain and the Palace Maven. Ashlyn and Alain introduced themselves to Spenser and asked him for a battle. Spenser accepted the battle and wished to battle outside in the jungle.

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The Battle Palace had two battle fields; one in the facility and one outside in the jungle. Spenser was a man who lived with nature. Ashlyn agreed with having to battle outside because it sounded more fun. While Ashlyn and Spenser took their place on the battlefield, which was on a flat rocky peak, Scott and the others were in a hot air balloon. Spenser had a floating robot named Jamero and it was a camera and the gym battle judge. The balloon had a laptop that Scott and the others could watch the battle while Jamero recorded it.

"Let the battle begin!" Jamero announced.

"Shiftry, let's go!" Spenser released his first Pokémon.

"Shift!" Shiftry appeared on the field.

"Come on out, Comet!" Ashlyn released her first Pokémon.

Comet the Shiny Rapidash neighed as he appeared on the field.

"Comet, use Flamethrower!" Comet shot a stream of flames from his mouth, but Shiftry dodged it and ran into the jungle. Comet chased after Shiftry, with Ashlyn and Spenser following them.

"Attack with Mega Horn, Comet!" Ashlyn ordered.

"Use Quick Attack, Shiftry!" Spenser countered.

Shiftry and Comet charged at each other with Quick Attack and Mega Horn. It was even, and then the two Pokémon continued to run.

"Your Rapidash has a real spirit within." Spenser complimented Ashlyn.

"So does your Shiftry." Ashlyn complimented Spenser.

They had now come to a clearing.

"Shiftry, use Shadow Ball!" Spenser commanded.

"Comet, dodge it with Bounce!" Ashlyn countered.

Comet dodged the Shadow Ball just in time and then kicked Shiftry hard with his front hooves.

"Now use Fire Blast!" Comet breathes in deeply, gathering fire in his mouth. Then, he releases a blast of fire from his mouth at Shiftry in a 大 shape. Shiftry didn't have the chance to dodge the attack and got burned by the flames and fainted in defeat.

"Shiftry is unable to battle. The victory belongs to Comet." Jamero announced.

"Well done, Comet." Ashlyn complimented.

Comet neighed happily at his trainer.

Spenser returned Shiftry and sent his next Pokémon, a Venusaur. Ashlyn returned Comet and let out Natsu (Shiny Charizard).

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"A shiny Charizard huh?" Scott asked.

"Natsu is a powerful fire/flying type. So he does have an advantage." Alain stated.

"But he won't underestimate Spenser's Venusaur." Brock added.

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"Natsu, use Scary Face!" Natsu makes a face that frightens Venusaur.

"Now Flamethrower!" Natsu shot a stream of flames at Venusaur who cried out in pain from the attack.

"Venusaur, are you alright?" Spenser called out.

Venusaur grunted that he was.

"Okay then, use Solar Beam!" The inside of the flower on Venusaur's back glows white as sunlight is gathered in it. Venusaur then fires a white beam of energy from it at Natsu.

"Dodge!" Natsu flies out of the way of the attack, "Now Air Slash!" Natsu flaps his wings, firing multiple light-blue, glowing blades of energy from them at Venusaur who flinched at the attack.

"Venusaur, Seed Bomb!" The center of Venusaur's flower starts to glow white. It then fires multiple glowing green seeds from its flower.

"Protect!" Natsu projected a green barrier in front of himself which the seeds exploded upon hitting the barrier.

"Venusaur, Vine Whip!" Venusaur wrapped its vines around Natsu, trapping him.

"Fire Blast!" Natsu releases a 大-shaped blast of yellow-orange fire from his mouth at Venusaur who got hit by the attack.

Venusaur couldn't take any more attacks and fainted.

"Venusaur is unable to battle! The victory belongs to Natsu!" Jamero announced.

"Excellent fire attacks, Natsu." Ashlyn complimented her shiny Charizard.

Natsu smiled as he gave a thumbs up to his trainer.

Spenser returned Venusaur and sent out his last Pokémon, a Claydol. As Claydol was part psychic as well as ground, Ashlyn knew this would be trouble for Natsu. So she returned her fire/flying type.

"Moriko, let's go!" Ashlyn released her Time Traveling Pokémon.

Spenser and Scott were surprised to see Moriko.

Then Claydol went further into the jungle with Moriko going after it. Ashlyn and Spenser chased Claydol and Moriko.

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Claydol lead everyone to the ocean. This meant that Claydol would be using the sand to its advantage.

"Claydol, use Psybeam!" Claydol points its arms at the opponent and fires two multicolored beams from the tips of its arms at Moriko.

"Dodge and use Silver Wind!" Moriko dodged the attack and used Silver Wind.

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"This is my first time of ever seeing a Celebi as well as seeing one battle." Scott admitted.

"Moriko may look harmless and cute, but a Celebi knows how to fight back when it's threatened. We know because we saw it before." Brock explained, watching the battle between Moriko and Claydol.

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At that moment it started to rain.

'Haa, that rain will be useful to us,' Ember thought, "Moriko, use Water Pulse!"

Moriko fired a Water Pulse attack and Claydol was hit by the water attack. Thanks to the rain, Moriko's Water Pulse was powered up.

Claydol received a lot of damage from the Water Pulse attack and couldn't take anymore. It fell on to the sand in defeat.

"Claydol is unable to battle! Moriko is the winner! And the victor is Ashlyn Ketchum from Pallet Town!" Jamero announced.

"Great battling, Moriko." Ashlyn smiled.

Moriko flew over to Ashlyn and gave her a hug as Ashlyn returned the hug.

Scott landed the balloon onto the beach, and he and the others congratulated Ashlyn.

"Your Pokémon really are something, Ashlyn." Scott complimented.

Spenser returned Claydol and spoke to Ashlyn, "Your fighting spirit really showed me that you never give up Ashlyn, no matter what difficulty you're in," he said and held out his hand with a symbol in it, "I will now present to you your proof of your victory at the Battle Palace, the Spirit Symbol."

The Spirit Symbol had a square in the middle, with little rectangles surrounding it.

"Thank you, Spenser," Ashlyn gave a slight bow and gently took the symbol from Spenser's hand.

"Alright, we got the Spirit Symbol!" Ashlyn posed with her Pokémon.

"Raichu! (Symbol number five!)" Tesla cheered.

Comet, Natsu, and Moriko also cheered.

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The next day, Alain was next to battle Spenser. He had Blaziken fight against Shiftry, Arcanine against Venusaur and Meowstic against Claydol. At the end, Alain had beaten Spenser and received the Spirit Symbol.

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"The next facility you two will be facing is the Battle Tower." Scott informed.

"Thanks, Scott." Ashlyn and Alain thanked him.

"But let me warn you, the next Frontier Brain is one tough cookie." Scott warned.

"I look forward to it." Ashlyn declared.

Alain nodded.

"Don't forget, you two must beat the sixth facility in order to find the seventh one." Scott reminded Ashlyn and Alain.

"I remember, Scott." Ashlyn and Alain said in unison.

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With Ashlyn and Alain winning the Spirit Symbol, the gang heads towards to their next battle, the Battle Tower.

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Pokémon Caught: Shiny Arcanine (Sonia)(F), Magby (Fuji)(M), Hisuian Zorua (Yuki)(F), Sprigatito (Fleur)(F)