This episode is essential viewing because: Ash defeats Noland and earns the Knowledge Symbol.

Dawn, and Ash is getting Charizard ready for its battle against Articuno. He can see that Charizard has grown stronger since they last saw each other and asks it to show him some of its attacks. Charizard does so and unleashes a huge Flamethrower into the sky.

At the Battle Factory, Brock, Max and May are watching Ash train. May doesn't understand why Ash left Charizard in the Charific Valley so Brock explains that he wanted Charizard to be the strongest Charizard in the world, so he let Liza look after it.

Back with Ash and Charizard, Ash asks it to use a Dragonbreath, which it does, and then comments that its really is a lot stronger that before. They decide to fly higher.

On the ground, and Team Rocket are also watching Ash train. Meowth decides its time to get some food and pulls out a picnic basket. Jessie says that Meowth and James are dedicated more to eating than being evil. She then tells them to start thinking about how to catch Articuno instead of eating. Her plan is to let Charizard tire Articuno out and then steal it. James doesn't think it will work and Meowth asks what will happen if Articuno wins. They wont be able to catch it at full power. Jessie says that if Articuno wins then they will just have to catch Charizard. James and Meowth think its a great plan.

Back at the Battle Factory, Surgie is showing everyone the main arena. Ash runs up to the platform that he will be using and says that he cant wait to battle. Scott remarks that the arena was specifically designed for air battles. Suddenly Noland arrives and asks Ash if the arena was everything he was expecting and Ash says that it is. Noland then says that its been a while since he's had a top notch opponent and that he wont be holding back. He then calls Articuno who gracefully lands on the arena floor. Max and May comment that Articuno looks great. Ash then calls Charizard out from its Pokéball. Charizard looks ready to battle. Noland says that Charizard looks good but hopes that Ash didn't think that because he has a type advantage he will win. Ash says that the battle will be decided by their abilities as trainers. Scott then says that they will get a better view of the battle from the stands so he takes Brock, Max and May up there.

Up on the roof, Jessie and James are wondering why they are there. Meowth explains that his plan is to cut a hole on the roof and when Articuno flies near it they can grab it and make their getaway and the 'Twerps' wont be able to do a thing about it. Jessie and James comment that its a good plan. They start to cut a hole in the roof.

In the stands Brock and Max are saying that it should be an interesting battle. May starts to cheer Ash on. Surgie, the battle referee, announces that the battle is about to begin. Suddenly the roof starts to open up. Max wonders what's happening and Scott says that it was his idea because with the roof open, flying Pokémon can use their full potential. Team Rocket, having trouble staying on the roof, then fall and land in the middle of the arena. Everyone wonders why they are there. Team Rocket say their motto. They then decide that they will have to catch Articuno by force but Noland orders an Ice Beam which freezes them solid. Ash then tells Charizard to use Flamethrower which thaws them out. Pikachu then uses Thunderbolt to send them "Blasting off again". Noland then says its time to start the match.

The battle begins.

Both Ash and Noland tell their respective Pokémon to start flying. Scott says that he can finally see Ash in battle. Ash orders a Flamethrower but Noland counters it with Ice Beam. Not good enough, the Flamethrower overpowers Ice Beam and knocks Articuno to the ground. Noland says that Ash shouldn't think he's won yet and tells Articuno to get back into the air. Ash orders another Flamethrower but Articuno dodges it and flies past Charizard.

In the stands everyone it discussing how fast Articuno is and Scott wonders how Ash will cope with an opponent that fast.

Noland tells Articuno to spin into a deep dive and Ash tells Charizard to charge straight for it. Noland then orders Articuno to use a Mist attack. Charizard flies into the mist and stops, confused. Articuno then knocks it to the ground.

Brock says that Mist is usually used to defend or escape and that he's never seen it uses the way Articuno used it before.

In the arena Charizard has got up and Ash tells it to use Dragonbreath and Noland tells Articuno to dodge it. It does so but the third Dragonbreath hits it and stuns it. Ash orders Charizard to hurry and grab hold of Articuno but Noland orders Articuno to dodge it. Articuno gets away.

In the stands Max and May are in awe at how Articuno recovered so quickly after a direct hit from Dragonbreath.

Noland orders an Ice Beam and hits Charizard but it has no effect. Ash tells Charizard to use Flamethrower and Noland tells Articuno to dodge and use Steel Wing. Articuno dodges and Charizard is knocked to the ground again. After the dust has cleared, Ash asks Charizard if it can get up but Noland orders a Water Pulse. Charizard is unable to dodge it and gets knocked against the wall.

In the stands, Scott explains that for Water Pulse to be that effective it has to be a direct hit and that Noland had been waiting for his chance to use it, letting Articuno dodge every attack thrown at it. When he got his chance, he took it.

Ash tells Charizard to get up. It struggles and Ash thinks that his only chance of winning is to use an attack Charizard taught itself. Noland then orders an Ice Beam which only catches Charizard's wing but leaves a trail of ice on the ground. He then orders another Water Pulse which hits the ice on the ground and sends it flying. Charizard holds up a wing to stop the ice hitting it. Ash then tells Charizard to fly up and Noland sends Articuno after it.

May notices that Charizard seems to be flying slower that usual and Brock sees that the tip of its wing is frozen.

Noland tells Articuno to use another Ice Beam and Water Pulse combo. Ash orders a Flamethrower but still Charizard gets hit by bits of ice. Noland tells Articuno to fly above Charizard and Ash finally decides to use the attack Charizard learnt. He tells Charizard to fly above Articuno and use Overheat. Charizard's body begins to warm up and the ice on its wing-tip melts.

In the stands Max and May say that they never knew Charizard could use Overheat and Brock says that it must have learnt it in the Charific Valley. Scott then explains that Overheat looses its effectiveness everytime its used and he hopes that Ash has something up his sleeve if he's to win this battle.

When their Pokémon are high enough, Ash and Noland both tell their Pokémon to use their attacks. Charizard with Overheat and Articuno with Water Pulse. As the attacks meet it causes a huge explosion and lots of smoke. Noland then tells Articuno to use Steel Wing which hits Charizard. Ash can think of only one thing to do and Noland says that he has battled bravely but its time to end the battle. He orders Articuno to use Steel Wing. As Articuno heads towards Charizard, Ash tells it to grab Articuno's wings, which it does. He then orders Charizard to use Seismic Toss and both Articuno and Charizard head towards the ground and hit it with devastating force. Everyone waits for the dust to clear to see the outcome. Once its clear they see Charizard laying on the ground and Articuno stood up. Surgie is about to announce Articuno the winner but Noland wants to wait so there is no doubt who won. Articuno, struggling to stay upright, falls over and Charizard slowly stands up and roars. Articuno cant move. Surgie then announces that Articuno is unable to battle and the winner is Ash and Charizard. Charizard then flies up and sends off a victory Flamethrower.

In the stands, Brock, Max and May are shouting congratulations to Ash for winning and Scott is stood, watching, and thinking that Ash may just have what it takes to beat the Battle Frontier.

Down in the arena, Ash is thanking Charizard for giving it all it had. Noland is also telling Articuno that it did great and there is no shame in loosing the battle. Articuno seems to agree. Noland then turns to Ash and says that he likes his battling style. Surgie then comes over with a box and Noland presents Ash with his first Frontier Symbol, The Knowledge Symbol. He also gives him a Frontier-Folio, a Portfolio to keep his Frontier Symbols in.

That evening, Articuno decides its time to go out flying again so everyone says goodbye. Then its time to say goodbye to Charizard as its got to go back to the Charific Valley and as a goodbye, it uses Flamethrower on Ash. Scott then tells Ash that the best place to go would be the Battle Arena. Max looks on his Pokénav and says that its not too far away. Ash then says that the next destination will be the Battle Arena so he can earn another Frontier Symbol. Noland then says that if he keeps battling the way he did in their battle then he cant loose. Charizard then flies off back to the Charific Valley with Ash shouting goodbye. The episode ends with Ash and co walking along a path that will hopefully lead to the Battle Arena.

This episode guide has been written by .

Characters appearing in this episode

Ash

Brock

Max

May

Jessie

James

Meowth

Ash's Pikachu

Pokémon appearing in this episode

• Pikachu belonging to Ash
• Meowth