Ichigo is finally able to challenge Szayelaporro, the gym leader at the Lahusa Gym. Amazed by the fact that ancient pokemon have been brought back to life by his research. Now we're about to see what kind of gym battle this is going to be.

"Ichigo, are you ready?" Rukia said.

"You better believe that I am." Ichigo said. All of them waited just outside the gym and were ready for this.

"You think you can actually win. It will be laughable when you lose." Ichigo and the others turned around and spotted Grimmjow was there.

"I didn't think you were going to show up." Ichigo said.

"Use your head. I'm planning on challenging this gym too. It's just smart to see Szayelaporro's battle style so I know how to counter it." Grimmjow said.

"Come up with any excuse that you want, but I'm winning this and you're free to watch." Ichigo said. Brushing Grimmjow aside, they all went on in and Szayelaporro was waiting for them.

"Hello, Ichigo. I hope you're ready for a challenging gym battle." Szayealporro said.

Rise if you're prepared for the challenge
(Rise to the challenge)
Rise if you're a champion at heart
(Rise to the challenge)
Take my hand, we'll train as one
And triumph together
(Rise to the challenge)
Nothing's gonna stand in our way
Stronger and stronger we'll
Rise to the challenge of
Life
Pokémon

(Ichigo's voice) From Past to Clash

"The gym battle between Szayelaporro, the gym leader, and Ichigo, the challenger, will now begin." The referee said. "Each side will use three pokemon. The battle will be over when all three of one side's pokemon can no longer battle. Furthermore, only the challenger is allowed to substitute pokemon. If you are both ready, you may begin."

"Brace yourself for you've never faced a gym like mine. Go, Omastar!" Szayelaporro said.

"Omastar!"

"An Omastar?!" Rukia said. "That's a pokemon that is also considered extinct."

"It makes sense." Chad said. "He's probably found dozens of fossils he brought back to life. Of course he would have some of the pokemon for himself."

"So that's why this gym isn't like most." Orihime said.

"Most extinct pokemon are considered rock-types." Rukia said. "However, they usually have another type to go with it. Ichigo better be smart on how he uses this one."

"Gyarados, let's go!" Ichigo said.

"RRRAAARRRGGH!"

"Ooh! That is a fierce Gyarados you have there." Szayelaporro said. "Let's see how it measures up in battle."

"I'll gladly show you. Gyarados, Ice Fang!" Ichigo said. Gyarados had cold energy form around his teeth and was going in for a bite.

"Iron Defense." Szayelaporro said. Omastar ducked inside its shell and it became as hard as iron with it blocking Gyarados attack. "Now use Spike Cannon!" Omastar fired spikes from its shell and blasted Gyarados with Gyarados being pushed back. "That's good. Now use Shell Smash."

"Omastar!" Omastar looked like its shell smashed to pieces, but started glowing as well.

"What's Shell Smash?" Orihime said.

"It raises attack power and speed, but at the same time, it lowers defensive power." Rukia said. "Ichigo better be careful, but if he can get a good attack in, he can still win this round."

"Give me a break." Grimmjow said as he didn't see that.

"Gyarados, Twister!" Ichigo said. Gyarados formed the twister and it hit Omastar, but Omastar was trying to handle it.

"Omastar, Spike Cannon!" Szayelaporro said. Omastar started shooting the spikes again and blasted Gyarados with it with Gyarados getting hit pretty hard. "Now let's confuse it a little." Omastar did just that. With its increase in speed, Omastar was moving around from one area to the next and Gyarados couldn't really tell where the next attack was going to come from. "Now let's use Bubble Beam." Omastar kept moving around as it shot bubbles around and Gyarados was getting blasted. "Even if Bubble Beam doesn't do that much damage, it will add up."

"That doesn't scare us." Ichigo said and Szayelaporro believed he had something planned. "Use Whirlpool and spread it all around!" Gyarados created the whirlpool and released it all around him and Omastar got caught in it with Omastar trapped. "There it is! Hydro Pump!" Gyarados blasted a large volume of water at Omastar and Omastar was blown against the wall and was knocked out.

"Omastar is unable to battle. Gyarados is the winner!" The referee said.

"Yes! He got the first win!" Orihime said.

"It's a little early to celebrate." Grimmjow said. "He's still got two battles to win and I doubt they'll all be easy."

"Not bad." Szayelaporro said as he returned Omastar. "Of course, this battle is far from over. I still got two other pokemon who can win. So Ichigo, let's see how you handle this one. Go, Kabutops!"

"Kabutops!"

"So it's a Kabutops this time. It's a water-type as well as a rock-type just like Omastar." Rukia said.

"Gyarados has already taken some damage. Let's see how this one goes." Chad said.

"We'll win this one too. Gyarados, Twister!" Ichigo said. Gyarados released the twister and it hit Kabutops, but Kabutops was able to hold against it.

"Kabutops, Aqua Jet!" Szayelaporro said. Kabutops surrounded itself in water and was flying. Kabutops slammed right into Gyarados, but it doesn't seem like much damage was dealt.

"You'll need more than that." Ichigo said.

"How's this? Slash." Szayelaporro said. Kabutops slashed against Gyarados and that did some real damage against Gyarados.

"I see. He only used Aqua Jet to get close enough to use Slash. Clever." Rukia said.

"Now use Sandstorm." Szayelaporro said. Kabutops created a sandstorm and it was powerful as it spread through the whole field and it was difficult to see anything.

"Where is it?" Ichigo said as he was struggling to see anything. "Kabutops is like camouflaged in this. I can't see where it is."

"Now use a combination of Slash and Aqua Jet!" Szayelaporro said. Kabutops formed water around itself and attacked using both moves. Kabutops bashing and slashing against Gyarados and was causing some real damage.

"I can't see anything." Orihime said. "Gyarados can't see where Kabutops is. So shouldn't Kabutops have a hard time too seeing Gyarados?"

"No because Kabutops isn't bothered by the sandstorm." Rukia said. "On top of that, Gyarados is getting damaged from all those attacks and the sandstorm itself."

"No fair." Orihime complained. The battle kept going and Gyarados kept taking damage.

'If we don't do something, Gyarados is going to get taken out. How can we fight if we can't see?' Ichigo thought as he tried to think of a way out of this and it soon came to him. "Gyarados use Hydro Pump on the ground!" He said. Gyarados followed those orders and blasted the ground. When he did, it cleared the storm away and they were all surprised by that. "Now use Ice Fang!" With Gyarados able to see Kabutops, Gyarados had cold energy come through his teeth and bit down on Kabutops with Kabutops being smashed against the ground and was taken out.

"Kabutops is unable to battle. Gyarados is the winner!"

"That's two in a row!" Orihime said as things were looking good for Ichigo.

"Yeah, but Gyarados has to be near its limit." Grimmjow said. "He hasn't won yet." Szayelaporro returned Kabutops and was impressed.

"Not bad, Ichigo. You're giving me a run for my money, but you still have one more battle to win." Szayelaporro said. "Go, Cradily!"

"Cradily!"

"I thought his last choice would be that Cradily. We better take it out fast." Ichigo said. "Gyarados probably doesn't have that much left. Gyarados, Ice Fang!" Gyarados went in for the attack, but Szayelaporro didn't seem concerned.

"Ancient Power." Szayelaporro said. Cradily formed a glimmering white orb and it blasted Gyarados right in the face.

"Gyarados!" Ichigo shouted as he didn't like the looks of this. Gyarados was knocked right out of the battle.

"Gyarados is unable to battle. Cradily is the winner." The referee said.

"Told you so." Grimmjow said as they felt sorry for Ichigo. Ichigo returned Gyarados, but the battle wasn't over yet.

"We're not beaten yet. Cacturne, I choose you!" Ichigo said.

"Cacturne!"

"So now you're coming at me with a grass-type. I'm afraid that won't be enough." Szayelaporro said.

"Let's find out. Pin Missile!" Ichigo said. Cacturne launched pins at Cradily and they blasted against it.

"Sludge Wave." Szayelaporro said. Cradily fought through the pins and unleashed a wave of poison. It washed the pins away and Cacturne was washed against it with a lot of damage being dealt.

"Oh man. Cacturne, are you okay?" Ichigo said. Cacturne tried to stand back. Despite all the poison that soaked him, Cacturne could keep going. "That's it. Let's get some strength back. Cacturne, Drain Punch!" Cacturne had energy spiral around his arm and went on the attack.

"Cradily, Flash." Szayelaporro said. Cradily emitted a bright light and Cacturne couldn't see anymore. That allowed Cradily to get in close to Cacturne. "Now use Constrict." The petal-like structures around Cradily's head wrapped around and closed around the top of Cacturne and had him trapped. It was like a flower closed around Cacturne and Cacturne couldn't get out.

"What's happening?!" Ichigo said.

"Ancient Power." Szayelaporro said. Cradily used the attack and it caused an explosion right where Cradily was standing.

"Cacturne!" Ichigo shouted as he was worried what happened. Cradily released Cacturne and showed that Cacturne was beaten.

"Cacturne is unable to battle. Cradily is the winner!" The referee said.

"Clever. He used Flash as cover and used Constrict so that Cacturne couldn't get away." Rukia said. "Cacturne already took a lot of damage from that Sludge Wave. Poor Cacturne didn't stand a chance with an attack that close."

"Now Ichigo only has one pokemon left." Chad said.

"Who does he have left that can go against that Cradily?" Orihime said.

"Swoobat would be at a big disadvantage, but the rest of his pokemon would have an even match against it." Rukia said. All of them watched to see who Ichigo would choose next.

"Axew, let's go!" Ichigo said.

"Axew!"

"He's got an Axew? Not bad, I guess." Grimmjow said.

"So we've reached the final battle and you pull out a dragon-type." Szayelaporro said. "Let's see what this little one can do."

"Axew, be sure you don't get caught by Cradily." Ichigo said. "Let's start out with Dragon Rage!" Axew fired a blue blast from its mouth and blasted Cradily with it. "That's good. Now get in there and use Rock Smash!" Axew charged right at Cradily to attack.

"I don't think so. Cradily, Constrict!" Szayelaporro said. Cradily let Axew get close, but wrapped Axew up before it could land the attack.

"Not this time. Dragon Tail and get out of there!" Ichigo said. Axew's tail gathered energy and Axew was able to slam it against Cradily with Axew able to slip out. "That's great! Now use Dragon Rage!" Axew released that energy attack again.

"I don't think so. Sludge Wave!" Szayelaporro said. Cradily created the poisonous wave again and sent it towards Axew. It completely stopped Axew's Dragon Rage and Axew got washed up by it again.

"Axew!" Ichigo shouted. Axew was knocked around, but wasn't beaten yet.

"Now use Flash." Szayelaporro said. Cradily emitted the bright light and Axew was blinded just like Cacturne and can't see.

"Axew, be careful. Cradily is going to get close to you and grab you." Ichigo said.

"Too late." Szayelaporro said as Cradily was already in position. "Now use Constrict." Cradily closed its petals around Axew and had Axew trapped. "One more attack should finish this." It looked bad and it looked like it could be the end for Axew, but Ichigo formed an idea at the last minute.

"Axew, Dragon Rage right now!" Ichigo said. Axew used the attack while Cradily was holding Axew and it caused an explosion with Cradily forcing to let Axew go.

"Oh my!" Szayelaporro said as all of them were surprised by what Ichigo just did.

"Now use Rock Smash!" Ichigo said. Axew's paw glowed a bright orange and beat around Cradily's head. "Great work! Now use Dragon Tail!" Axew twirled around and slammed it against Cradily.

"Fight back, Cradily! Try and use Ancient Power!" Szayelaporro said. Cradily tried to gather the strength to battle back.

"Dragon Rage!" Ichigo said.

"Axew!" Axew released the energy blast and it blasted against Cradily with a great explosion going off. Cradily was knocked out from that attack and the battle was now over.

"Cradily is unable to battle. Axew is the winner and victory goes to Ichigo!" The referee said.

"Oh yeah!" Ichigo said as he and Absol were real happy. Axew ran over to Ichigo and Ichigo lifted Axew in the air. "You did great, Axew! Amazing!"

"Axew!"

"He's amazing!" Orihime said.

"Now he has six badges!" Rukia said. His friends were amazed by all this, but Grimmjow acted casual about this whole thing. With the battle, Ichigo was being rewarded his badge.

"A very impressive battle that was, Ichigo." Szayelaporro said and handed the badge with it looking like a fossil. "Here is proof of your victory here. This is the Ancient Badge."

"Thanks a lot." Ichigo said as he proudly took his badge and now that makes six badges.

…..

Outside

When the battle was over, Grimmjow was on his way out. Ichigo and the others thought he was going to challenge Szayelaporro, but he decided to leave instead.

"Grimmjow!" Ichigo called and got his attention. "Where are you going? Aren't you going to challenge Szayelaporro?"

"Not yet. I've got things to do first." Grimmjow said. "You may have six badges, but that doesn't mean much to me. You still can't beat me."

"We'll see about that. I suppose we'll settle this in the Johto League." Ichigo said.

"That's assuming you even make it that far." Grimmjow said and started moving again.

"I wonder where he's going." Orihime said as they all saw him off.

"I bet when we see him again, he'll be stronger." Chad said.

"Maybe, but so will I." Ichigo said. "The next time I battle him, I'm not going to lose to him."

Ichigo has succeeded in winning his sixth gym badge. As for Grimmjow, he's heading elsewhere rather than challenge the gym himself. Where will our heroes go from here? You'll just have to wait and see. So stay tune for more to come.

To Be Continued….