With Rukia joining Ichigo and Orihime on the journey through Unova, we find the three of traveling through a valley so they can reach Suzumu City and where Ichigo wishes to challenge the gym.
"Come on." Ichigo said as he and Absol were ahead of the girls. "Suzumu City is just through this valley. I want to get there."
"Chill out." Rukia said as she was a little annoyed with Ichigo. "It's not like we're in a big hurry or anything."
"It's okay, Rukia. Ichigo is just a little excited. I'm a little excited too." Orihime said. "I want to see what a gym is like."
"You'll find out once we get through this valley." Ichigo said.
"Absol!" Absol seemed to have been alerted about something.
"Absol, what's the matter?" Ichigo said. Absol looked around. Absol looked up and so did Ichigo and saw a bunch of rocks were heading their way.
I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause
Pokemon
Gotta catch'em all, it's you and me
Pokemon
I know it's my destiny
Pokemon
Yeah, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokemon
Gotta catch'em all
Gotta catch'em all
Gotta catch'em all
Pokemon
(Ichigo's voice) Big and Strong
"Rukia! Orihime! Get back!" Ichigo said as he raced back to the girls and pushed them out of the way, but there wasn't any time for him and Absol to get out of the way.
"Ichigo! Absol!" Rukia shouted in concern. Just when it seemed he was about to be crushed, a big guy, came in a green collared shirt and grey pants with a gold coin around his neck, arrived and was able to catch one of the boulders.
"Hawlucha!" A Hawlucha came and saved Absol by kicking one of the other rocks away.
"Whoa!" Ichigo said as he was impressed with how strong the guy was. The big guy was able to the boulder out of the way.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"Yeah. Absol, how are you doing?" Ichigo asked.
"Absol." Absol didn't look hurt at all.
"Thanks for the save." Ichigo said.
"Ichigo!" Both the girls ran up to the two of them. "Thank goodness you're okay." Orihime said.
"That was quite the save." Rukia said as she turned to the big guy. "Are you okay? That boulder had some force behind it when it came down.
"I'm fine."
"Hawlucha."
"What pokemon is that?" Orihime asked.
"That's a Hawlucha. It's a fighting and flying-type." Rukia said.
"My name is Ichigo and this is my Absol."
"Absol."
"Hi. I'm Orihime."
"And my name is Rukia. What's your name?"
"Yasutora Sado Chad."
"That's a bit of a mouthful. You don't mind if I just call you Chad, do you?" Ichigo asked.
"No. A lot of people do." Chad said. "This is my partner, Hawlucha."
"Hawlucha!"
"We should probably move away from here." Chad said. "If those rocks came tumbling down, it's possible more will."
"I think that might be a good idea." Orihime said. All of them agreed and moved away from the area to find safer ground. What they didn't know was that from where the rocks fell were a bunch of Gravler and Golem.
….
Ichigo's Group
Chad led them up to higher ground so they wouldn't have to worry about rocks falling on them again. It's also where Chad has been camping. All of them had a seat as Chad passed around some tea.
"Thank you." Orihime said as she had a glass.
"So what are you doing out here, Chad?" Ichigo said.
"Just been moving around." Chad said. Ichigo found a little awkward with the silence.
"I'm guessing you're a man of few words." Ichigo said.
"I've just been traveling from one place to the next." Chad said.
"Seriously?" Rukia said. "Don't you have sort of purpose or anything? There must be some reason you're going on your journey?" Chad reached for the coin that was around his neck and Ichigo noticed there seemed to be something to it.
"Not really." Chad said.
"Well, we're on our way to the Suzumu Gym." Orihime said. "Ichigo is going to challenge the place so that he can enter the Unova League." Chad looked over at Absol.
"You might have a problem if you use Absol." Chad said. "The Suzumu gym leader is a bug-type user."
"Is it?" Ichigo said as he tried to rethink things. "That is a problem. Dark-types like my Absol are weak against bug-types."
"Let's not worry about that now." Rukia said. "I must admit that I am a little concerned about these rocks." She said as she looked out to the valley. "The ones that nearly crushed us, it seemed a little unnatural that they just fell like that."
"They could have been just loose rocks or some pokemon threw them." Chad said.
"Why would any pokemon want to hurt us?" Orihime said.
"If that is the case, it's possible we wondered into their territory and they don't like it." Rukia said.
"I guess we'll just have to be careful until we get to the city." Ichigo said. As all of them hanged out at the campsite, Chad stood by the cliffs and was doing some thinking. He held out his gold coin and had his thoughts on something important. Ichigo came up to him without trying to scare him and Chad noticed him.
"Ichigo, what is it?" Chad asked.
"So what's the deal with that coin?" Ichigo said. "It seems to mean a lot to you. I like to know why."
"It belonged to my abuelo." Chad said.
"Your what?" Ichigo said.
"It means grandfather." Chad said. "I use to live with him back when I was younger. You see, I use to be a punk kid that picked fights."
"I can see that. You're huge." Ichigo said.
"That was the problem. I took advantage of my side and just picked fights with anyone." Chad said. "My grandfather wanted me to become a gentler person. When I finally learned my lesson, he gave me this coin."
"What made you learn it?" Ichigo asked.
"One day, my habit of picking fights caught up to me." Chad said. "Some people weren't happy with what I've done, but my abuelo took all the frustration and didn't even fight back. When he passed away, I vowed to use my strength for no reason, but to protect people and become the person he wanted me to be. That's really why I travel around."
"I get it. I know a thing or two about that." Ichigo said as he grabbed his Mega Ring and Keystone. "What about your Hawlucha? How does it fit into this?"
"I met Hawlucha while I was out on the road." Chad said. "Hawlucha holds a strong desire to protect others like I do."
"I see. You and I seem to have a lot in common." Ichigo said. Before either of them could say anything more, they heard the girls.
"AWWWW!"
"What's going on?" Ichigo said as they both went to check it out. When they got there, they both saw the girls surrounded by Golem and Gravler. Absol and Hawlucha were trying to avoid them as some of them kept using Rollout.
"Gravler and Golem?"
"What are they doing here?" Ichigo said.
"Ichigo! Looks like I was right earlier." Rukia said. "I think we're in the territory of these Gravler and Golem."
"We've got to get them out of here." Chad said.
"You're right. Absol use Night Slash!" Ichigo said.
"Absol!" Absol slashed against one of the Gravler and was able to push it back.
"Hawlucha, help out with Karate Chop." Chad said.
"Hawlucha!" Hawlucha's arm glowed and slammed it against a Golem.
"Hawlucha, use Flying Press and create an opening for the girls to escape." Chad said. Hawlucha jumped up and slammed it's body against one of the Gravler.
"Thank you, Hawlucha." Orihime said as she and Rukia were able to get through. All of them Golem and Gravler tried going after them.
"No you don't. Dewgong, come out and use Brine!" Rukia said as she let Dewgong out.
"Dewgong!" Dewgong came out and shot out the stream of water and blasted some of them back.
"I think we better get out of here." Ichigo said as all of them got ready to leave.
"Ichigo, look out!" Chad said as he pushed Ichigo out of the way when a Gravler came rolling in and slammed against Chad. The impact caused the gold coin around Chad's neck to fly off. "No!" The coin was about to fall over the edge, but Ichigo was able to catch it before that happened.
"I've got it. Let's just go." Ichigo said. "Absol use Dark Pulse."
"Absol!" Absol fired the dark beam and blasted the ground. They all used it as a cover for all of them to escape with all their stuff. After managing to escape the Golem and Gravler, they all managed to make it out of the valley.
"Look ahead." Chad said. All of them looked and saw Suzumu City was just up ahead.
"Suzumu City!" Rukia said.
"Good luck." Chad said as he was about to part ways with them.
"Chad, hold on a minute." Ichigo said. "I like your style and we sure could use a big guy like you. If you really don't have anywhere else to go, why don't you just stick with us?"
"You sure?" Chad asked.
"Yeah. We can look out for each other and help protect whoever or whatever we can." Ichigo said. That actually sounded like a good plan to Chad and Ichigo did save his beloved coin.
"Sure." Chad agreed.
"This is great!" Orihime said.
"So let's get down there and I can win at a gym." Ichigo said.
Now being accompanied by Chad, Ichigo and his friends can now head straight to Suzumu City. What kind of gym awaits them there? You'll just have to stay tune and see for yourself.
To Be Continued….