"Welcome back. We are now entering the next round of the Johto League with only eight trainers remaining." Everyone gathered back in the main arena for the next match. Ichigo's friends with some of the people he's competed against all gathered for this battle. "We are now starting the next match with Ulquiorra against Ichigo." Both trainers entered the battlefield and were ready for this.

Ichigo has done well as he made it to the top eight of the Johto League. He now readies himself for the next match against Ulquiorra, a trainer of complete mystery with a powerful Darkrai. This might be Ichigo's toughest challenge yet.

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) The Darkness of Ulquiorra

"Ulquiorra… Do we even know anything about him?" Orihime asked.

"I checked on his data, but most of it is a mystery." Rukia said. "The fact that he even has a Darkrai says a lot about his strength."

"You're right. This might be Ichigo's biggest challenge yet." Chad said.

"We have selected the battle arena. This battle will be taking place on a grass battlefield." The battlefield opened up and a grass field came out. "Now we await the first choice of pokemon our trainers will make."

"Dusclops, I choose you!" Ichigo said.

"Dusclops!"

"Come, Dusknoir." Ulquiorra said.

"Dusknoir…"

"This is an interesting way to start. It's Dusclops vs. Dusknoir."

"Dusknoir?" Orihime questioned.

"It's the evolve form of Dusclops." Rukia said. "Evolving shouldn't make too much of a difference, but I'm getting a bad feeling about this."

"Evolved or not makes no difference to us. Dusclops, start out with Shadow Punch!"

"Counter with your Shadow Punch." Ulquiorra said. Both pokemon used the same attack and they clashed against each other.

"It's even." Ichigo said.

"Not even close." Ulquiora said. Dusknoir's attacks were pushing through and soon made a strong hit and knocked Dusclops back.

"Unreal! What power!" Ichigo said as he couldn't believe how strong that Dusknoir was. Dusclops took a lot of damage, but was starting to get back up. "Dusclops use Night Shade!" Dusclops unleashed the dark every wave and Dusknoir got caught in it.

"Shadow Sneak." Ulquiorra said. Dusknoir's shadow stretched out and slashed against Dusclops when it got close enough. That attack was enough to cause Duskclops to lose the battle as it dropped down.

"Duskclops is unable to battle. Dusknoir is the winner."

"And Ichigo is the first to lose a pokemon."

"Poor Dusclops." Orihime said.

"It couldn't be helped. Being hit by two ghost-type attacks like that did some real damage." Rukia said. "Still, I can tell that Ulquiorra is powerful. This won't be easy."

"Haxorus, I choose you!" Ichigo said.

"Haxorus!"

"Ichigo's second pokemon is Haxorus. Let's see if Haxorus will do any better."

"I'll end this quickly as well. Dusknoir use Focus Blast." Ulquiorra said. Dusknoir started charging energy in between its hands.

"I don't think so! Now use Dragon Tail!" Ichigo said. Haxorus charged right in and slammed its tail against Dusknoir. Dusknoir didn't stop as he unleashed the energy and blasted Haxorus with it. "Hang in there. Now use Dual Chop!" Haxorus slammed its tusk against Dusknoir and knocked it back. "Finish it with one more Dragon Tail!" Haxorus slammed its tail against Dusknoir and knocked it out.

"Dusknoir is unable to battle. Haxorus is the winner." The referee said.

"Ichigo has even the score. Now both sides have five pokemon left."

"Come, Banette." Ulquiorra said.

"Banette!"

"Now Ulquiorra is using Banette, another ghost-type."

"Ghost-types can be tricky." Chad said.

"Especially since Haxorus can only use half of its moves." Rukia said. "Rock Smash and Giga Impact won't have any effect. Ichigo has to handle this carefully." It already isn't looking good for Ichigo out there.

"Haxorus use Dual Chop!" Ichigo said. Haxorus charged right in with its tusks.

"Dodge it and use Disable." Ulquiorra said. Banette was able to avoid each strike. Banette's eyes glowed and unleashed some energy that effected Haxorus.

"Not good for Haxorus. Now Haxorus won't be able to use Dual Chop for a while."

"We'll have to bet all of it on Dragon Tail!" Ichigo said. Haxorus charged right at Banette with energy around its tail.

"Phantom Force." Ulquioraa said. Banette vanished underneath the ground as the attack missed.

"This is strange. Banette seems to have disappeared." Haxorus was trying to find where it went, but there wasn't a sign of it. Suddenly, Banette appeared right behind Haxorus and smacked it. Banette also grabbed onto Haxorus' neck.

"Shake it off!" Ichigo said. Haxkorus tried to shake Banette off, but Banette wasn't letting go.

"Knock Off." Ulquiorra said. Banette smacked Haxorus around. "Now use Charge Beam." Banette jumped right off and fired an electrical blast and hit Haxorus with it. Haxorus can't take it anymore and was knocked right out.

"Haxorus is unable to battle. Banette is the winner."

"Haxorus!" Ichigo called as he and Absol rushed over to it. "Are you okay?" Haxorus appeared to have taken a lot of damage. Cacturne let itself out of the pokeball and was worried himself.

"Cacturne?" Cacturne was concerned, but Haxorus seemed to be okay. Ichigo brought Haxorus back in its pokeball.

"You want to give it a shot?" Ichigo said. Cacturne was ready and went out to battle.

"Ichigo's next pokemon is Cacturne. Let's see if Cacturne does any better."

"Pin Missile!" Ichigo said. Cacturne unleashed a barrage of pins and they blasted against Banette.

"Disable and Knock Off." Ulquiorra said. Banette's eyes glowed and blocked Cacturne from using Pin Missile again. Banette charged in smacked Cacturne.

"Cacturne, Bullet Seed!" Ichigo said. Cacturne launched some seeds and hit Banette with it. "Now use Needle Arm!" Cacturne went in and hit Banette with his arm. "Now use Needle Arm one more time!" Cacturne used the same attack and Banette was taken down.

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

"A double dose of Needle Arm is never a good combination. Now who will Ulquiorra use next?"

"Come, Honchkrow."

"Honchkrow!"

"Honchkrow? That's a flying-type. Cacturne, return." Ichigo said and brought Cacturne back in his pokeball.

"A wise choice." Ulquiorra said.

"Ichigo is switching his pokemon. Who will he use now?"

"Crobat, I choose you!" Ichigo said.

"Crobat!"

"It's now Crobat. We're looking at an aerial battle."

"Let's win this while we can. Crobat use Cross Poison!" Ichigo said.

"Dodge it." Ulquiorra said. Crobat unleashed a cross of poison, but Honchkrow was able to block the attack. "Now use Mean Look." Honchkrow's eyes glowed and an aura surrounded Crobat.

"Honchkrow just used Mean Look. That means Crobat won't be able to leave until this battle is over."

"That isn't going to stop us. Crobat, Wing Attack!" Ichigo said.

"Night Slash." Ulquiorra said. The two of them used their wings to attack and they kept clashing against each other. "I was expecting you to be more of a challenge. So far, I'm not impressed. Now use Secret Power." Honchkrow unleashed a bright light and Crobat got caught in it. When the light faded away, Crobat fell down and ended up falling asleep.

"Crobat, wake up!" Ichigo called, but Crobat wasn't moving.

"I thought he try something like that since he used Mean Look." Rukia said.

"Secret Power?" Orihime questioned.

"Its effect changes depending on the surrounding area." Chad said. "This time, it caused Crobat to fall asleep."

"Now use Night Slash." Ulquiorra said. Honchkrow flew straight down and hit Crobat with Crobat being tossed into the air. "Now use Punishment." Honchkrow got behind Crobat with dark energy flowing through its wing. It spanked Crobat and had Crobat crash into the ground. The dust began to clear away and showed that Crobat was beaten.

"Crobat is unable to battle. Honchkrow is the winner." The referee said.

"Crobat has been beaten. That leaves Ichigo with only three pokemon."

"Man. Ichigo just can't get ahead." Rukia said.

"How is he going to beat this guy? His pokemon are so strong that know a variety of attacks." Chad said.

"He'll find a way. He always finds a way." Orihime said. She really believed that, but it wasn't looking good.

"I've got to beat this guy. I didn't come this far to lose." Ichigo said as he brought Crobat back in its pokeball. "Weavile, I choose you!"

"Weavile!"

"Ichigo is now going with Weavile. He'll have the advantage with that match, but can Weavile even reach that Honchkrow.

"We just need to land a clean hit. Weavile, Ice Shard!" Ichigo said. Weavile formed a shard of ice and launched it at Honchkrow.

"Dodge it and use Night Slash." Ulquiorra said. Honchkrow was able to move out of the way of the attack. Honchkrow flew down at Weavile with its wings glowing and going for the attack.

"Use Agility to dodge!" Ichigo said. Weavile moved incredibly fast and was able to avoid Honchkrow's attack. "Now use Shadow Ball!" Weavile jumped up and got over Honchkrow. Weavile formed a dark orb and tossed it at Honchkrow with Honchkrow getting hit.

"That Weavile has some speed, but will that speed be enough?"

"Now use Icicle Spear!" Ichigo said.

"Dodge it." Ulquiorra said. Weavile formed shards of ice and launched all of them at Honchkrow, but Honchkrow kept flying around and was avoiding the attack.

"You won't escape that easily. Go, Weavile!" Ichigo said. Weavile used the increase in speed from Agility and moved incredibly fast. Weavile jumped up and was right under Honchkrow. "Now use Icicle Spear again!" Weavile launched the shards of ice again and blasted Honchkrow with it this time. "Finish this with Ice Shard!" Weavile formed a shard of ice and blasted Honchkrow. Weavile landed down on the ground, but Honchkrow went crashing down and was taken out of the battle.

"Honchkrow is unable to battle. Weavile is the winner." The referee said.

"It's even once more with both sides having only three pokemon remaining."

"It's great that we're evening the score, but this guy is strong." Ichigo said. "All his pokemon are pretty tough and their attacks are a little tricky. He's bound to mess up somewhere."

"I wouldn't count on that if I were you." Ulquiorra said as he brought Honchkrow back in it's pokeball. "So far, I'm not impressed with what you've done so far. All your attacks and moves have been underwhelming."

"I can tell. You don't show much excitement…or any emotions, do you?" Ichigo questioned.

"I thought that perhaps there was something special about you, but I have not seen it yet." Ulquiorra said as he pulled out his next choice of pokemon. "All that is left is to finish this battle. Come, Cofagrigus."

"Cocococ!"

"Cofagrigus?" Orihime said.

"Another ghost-type and a little scary one. They say it can turn people into mummies." Rukia said.

"We still hold the advantage in this one! Weavile, Shadow Ball!" Ichigo said as Weavile was getting ready to attack.

"Use your Shadow Ball as well." Ulquiorra said. Both pokemon used the same attack with them crashing against each other.

"It's a draw." Ichigo said.

"Not quite." Ulquiorra said. Cofagrigus' Shadow Ball proved to be stronger as it blew through the smoke and blasted Weavile with Weavile being blown back.

"Weavile, no!" Ichigo shouted as this battle just doesn't look good for him.

Ichigo's battle against Ulquiorra is a tough one. Just when it seems like he's gotten the edge over him, Ulquiorra beats him to the punch. Can he really defeat this trainer? Stay tune and find out.

To Be Continued….