The Johto League continues on. Matches have been set where the remaining forty-eight would drop down to a mere sixteen. Ichigo was set against Hiyori and another trainer named Desirae. His first opponent will be against Desirae. If Ichigo wins, he'll have three points, but a lost would mean that he isn't disqualified. However, it would increase his chances of being thrown out of the Johto League. Will he be able to pull off a win? Let's find out.

Pokemon

Every trainer has a choice

To listen to that voice inside

I know the battles maybe long

Winners may have come and gone

I will carry on

Yeah, this dream will last forever

This dream will never die

We will rise to meet the challenge every time

(Advance challenge)

Yeah, this dream keeps us together

This shows that you and I

Will be the best that the world's ever seen

Cause we will always follow this dream

Pokemon

(Ichigo's voice) Love is a Battlefield

"Let's get this battle started!" Desirae said as she and her Mandibuzz were all set against Ichigo and his Palpitoad. "Mandibuzz, start out with Swift!" Mandibuzz flapped her wings and unleashed a barrage of stars with Palpitoad getting hit. "I'm not losing this. I got a date if I win. Mandibuzz, Pluck!"

"Mandibuzz!" Mandibuzz flew right at Palpitoad with her beak glowing.

"Palpitoad, Hyper Voice!" Ichigo said.

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad unleashed the sonic attack and it blew Mandibuzz back.

"This battle is off to a strong start with both sides hitting hard and fast."

"Nice to see all that time with my sisters hasn't made you soft." Ichigo said. "Now show me that Hydro Pump!" Palpitoad unleashed the blast of water with Mandibuzz getting hit and was blown back.

"Good looking and strong. I know how to pick them." Desirae said. "Mandibuz, Brave Bird!" Mandibuzz flew down in a flame that turned into a blue aura and smashed against Palpitoad. Palpitoad was knocked back and took a lot of damage with Mandibuzz appearing injured as well.

"What's wrong with Mandibuzz?" Orihime asked.

"That's the drawback of using Brave Bird. It can cause recoil damage." Rukia said. "However, it is powerful. Poor Palpitoad took a lot of damage."

"Let's finish this. Mandibuzz, Brave Bird!" Desirae said. Mandibuzz flew right at Palpitoad with the same attack.

"Not this time. Palpitoad, I heard you learned a new move. So let's see it. Muddy Water!" Ichigo said. Palpitoad created a wave out of muddy water and it smashed against Mandibuzz before Mandibuzz could land her own attack. With that Mandibuzz hit the ground and was knocked out.

"Mandibuzz is unable to battle. Palpitoad is the winner." The referee said.

"And Ichigo takes the first win."

"Yes." Orihime said.

"Is that for Ichigo winning or the hopes that he doesn't get a date?" Rukia taunted with Orihime getting embarrassed.

"Mandibuzz, are you okay?" Desirae said. She was glad to see her get back up. "You did your best. Mandibuzz, return." She brought Mandibuzz back and pulled out her next choice. "Starmie, you're up next!"

"Hyuh!"

"Desirae's next choice is a Starmie. A battle between water-types. Let's see how this one turns out."

"We'll win this one too. Palpitoad, Mud Shot!" Ichigo said. Palpitoad stuck out its tongue and launched a barrage of mud.

"Starmie, Rapid Spin!" Desirae said. Starmie started spinning around and avoid all of Palpitoad's attacks. Starmie also flew in and smashed against Palpitoad. "Now use Dazzling Gleam!" Starmie was surrounded by a rainbow light and tackled Palpitoad again. Palpitoad was blown against the wall and was knocked out.

"Palpitoad is unable to battle. Starmie is the winner." The referee said.

"It's tied one-to-one now. Palpitoad is out and both sides have two pokemon remaining." Ichigo brought Palpitoad back to its pokeball and was getting ready for the second round.

"Yay. Two more wins and I get a date." Desirae said as she was getting all giddy.

"It's too early for you to be celebrating. I'm far from beaten." Ichigo said as he took out his next pokemon. "Cacturne, I choose you!"

"Cacturne!"

"Ichigo's next pokemon is Cacturne. That gives him the advantage over Starmie."

"Not good. This could be a problem." Desirae said.

"We'll win this here and now. Bullet Seed!" Ichigo said. Cacturne started this battle by shooting seeds at Starmie.

"Rapid Spin!" Desirae said. Starmie started spinning around and was avoiding all the seeds. It kept going and slammed against Cacturne.

"Impressive. Starmie is using Rapid Spin to avoid attacks and attack."

"Now use Water Gun!" Desirae said. Starmie shot some water and blasted Cacturne, but Cacturne was able to resist it.

"Cacturne, Pin Missile!" Ichigo said.

"Cacturne!" Cacturne unleashed a barrage of pins and blasted against Starmie.

"Hang in there, Starmie. Try using Recover and get some energy back." Desirae said. Starmie started glowing and the injuries it took was starting to heal. "Now use Rapid Spin!" Starmie started spinning around and was heading for Cacturne.

"Not this time. Cacturne, Needle Arm!" Ichigo said. Cacturne used the attack and slashed Starmie with it. "Needle Arm one last time!" Cacturne used the attack and knocked Starmie back. Starmie bounced against the ground and the gem on it started blinking.

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

"Another win for Ichigo. One more and Ichigo will gain three points."

"He's almost done and Desirae's next pokemon has to be that Floatzel. The info we got on her says she uses Floatzel in almost every one of her battles." Chad said.

"Cacturne is a grass-type. Ichigo would have the advantage." Orihime said.

"You think, but I'm pretty sure Desirae would have a way to deal with the type disadvantage." Rukia said.

"Go ahead and rest, Starmie. You deserved it." Desirae said as she returned Starmie to its pokeball. "You really are something special, Ichigo. Still, I'm not going to lose this one. Floatzel, let's end this!"

"Floatzel!"

"Desirae's last pokemon is her Floatzel, but will Floatzel be enough to win this battle?"

"Let's see how tough that Floatzel of yours is. Cacturne, Bullet Seed!" Ichigo said and Cacturne started shooting the seeds.

"Nice try. Floatzel, inflate your sac!" Desirae said. Floatzel inflated the sac around it and used it like a shielded itself from the attack. Ichigo and the others were surprised to see that.

"Who could have seen that coming? She had Floatzel use its floatation sac like a shield."

"Floatzel, Iron Tail!" Desirae said. Floatzel went at Cacturne and slammed its tail against Cacturne and pushed him back.

"Cacturne use Needle Arm!" Ichigo said. Cacturne leaped at Floatzel and was about to use the attack against it.

"Agility!" Desirare said. Floatzel moved incredibly fast and was able to avoid the attack. "Now use Iron Tail again!"

"Floatzel!" Floatzel appeared near Cacturne and slammed its tail against Cactune again.

"Get back in there, Cacturne! You've got this! Drain Punch!" Ichigo said.

"Let's finish this. Now use Ice Punch!" Desirae said. Both of their pokemon used their attacks. They collided and tried to push the other back, but Floatzel proved to be stronger and its attack connected. Cacturne was knocked back and slid against the ground with it being knocked out.

"Cactune is unable to battle. Floatzel is the winner."

"Floatzel has beaten Cacturne! Now both sides have been brought down to only one pokemon left."

"Yes. One more win and I'm going to get a date with such a handsome man." Desirae said as she was getting excited about it. Ichigo brought back Cacturne and could see what he's up against.

"That Floatzel is pretty fast." Ichigo said. "Good thing the pokemon that wants to settle a score with it is pretty fast as well. Gallade, I choose you!"

"Gallade!"

"Ichigo's last pokemon is Gallade. Now we'll see this battle reach its climax." Floatzel appeared to be getting excited about this.

"You want to win this too, don't you? So let's do it. Let's start out with Aqua Jet!" Desirae said. Floatzel surrounded itself with water and flew right at Gallade.

"You'll have to do better than that. Gallade, Vacuum Wave!" Ichigo said. Gallade had wind gathered around himself and released a shockwave with it blasting Floatzel and knocked it back.

"Are you okay?" Desirae said. Floatzel was able to get back up and keep battling.

"Now use Close Combat!" Ichigo said. Gallade charged at Floatzel with some great speed. Gallade beat around Floatzel and knocked it back.

"I think we need to go a little faster. Agility!" Desirae said. Floatzel was moving a lot faster and was running circles around Gallade. Gallade couldn't tell which direction Floatzel was going to attack from. "Now use Ice Punch!" Floatzel appeared right in front of Gallade with cold energy flowing through its fist. It hit Gallade right in the gut and the punch caused Gallade to freeze.

"Gallade, no!" Ichigo called out.

"Oh no. Poor Gallade." Orihime said.

"That could cause a problem." Chad said.

"Iron Tail!" Desirae said. Floatzel hardened its tail and smashed it against Gallade with Gallade getting knocked off his feet. Floatzel seems to be enjoying this. Gallade was able to get back up and keep the battle going. "That Gallade is tough, but we can handle it."

"You haven't seen what Gallade can do. Psycho Cut, let's go!" Ichigo said. Gallade shot straight up and shot an energy blade. Floatzel got hit and was pushed back. "Now use Leaf Blade!"

"Quick, dodge it!" Desirae said. Gallade had its arm glow green and tried to slash at Floatzel, but Floatzel was able to move out of the way.

"You're not getting away. Close Combat!" Ichigo said. Gallade went at Floatzel again and tried to land blow after blow, but Floatzel was trying its best to block each attack. "Finish this with Leaf Blade!"

"Ice Punch, let's go!" Desirae said. Both pokemon used their attacks. They flew past each other and landed their attacks directly across the face. Both of them stayed still like that and had some respect for each other from this battle. In the end, Floatzel was the one that dropped down.

"Floatzel is unable to battle. Gallade is the winner. Victory goes to Ichigo!" The referee said with the audience cheering. Gallade and Ichigo were pretty proud of their win as well.

"I knew he would win." Orihime said.

"That win gets him three points." Chad said. "Another win and he's guaranteed to go to the victory tournament."

"I'm sure you're glad he isn't going on a date, Orihime." Rukia said.

"No… I mean…. I… Uh…." Orihime wasn't sure what to say as her face was turning red.

Later

"Another win." Ichigo said. Once he got his pokemon fixed up, he met up with his friends and was looking forward to his next battle.

"Yeah. Your next opponent is Hiyori, but I doubt beating her will be easy." Rukia said.

"You can win that one." Chad said with Orihime agreeing.

"Thanks guys." Ichigo said.

"Ichigo!" All of them looked down the street and saw Desirae running towards him.

"Hey, Desirae. What's up?" Ichigo asked.

"I just want to remind you that I'm not done yet. If I can beat that Hiyori, I'll still be in the Johto League." Desirae said. "You haven't gotten rid of me yet, hot stuff. I'm still aiming for that date."

"Uh…. Okay…." Ichigo said as he wasn't sure what to think of that.

"You've got to beat Hiyori as well if you want to advance." Rukia said.

"I know, but that won't be a problem. Hiyori better watch her back." Ichigo said.

Ichigo succeeded in winning his first battle, but Hiyori will be another story. What kind of battle can we expect out of those two? Stay tune to find out.

To Be Continued….