"Cryogonal, Rapid Spin! Jynx, Ice Beam! Dewgong, Signal Beam!" Rukia said. She had all her pokemon attack Scraggy, Absol, and Umbreon. They avoided the attacks and were keeping Rukia's pokemon on their toes.
"You're doing pretty good, Rukia." Ichigo said.
"I'm going to need to be at the top of my game. I just know Shishigawara is going to be a tough opponent." Rukia said.
After arriving at the Jacklot Gym, our heroes learned that there've been some problems in trying to determine who the gym leader should be. Rukia announced that she wants to battle Shishigawara herself. This is sure to be an interesting development.
You're just a kid on a quest
To be the best of the best
Someday your destined for power and glory
You know you're up to the test
There's only one way to tell this story
Be a hero
Be a hero
All the power is at your command
Face your fears and show you're a hero
The future of the world is in your hands
Pokémon
(Ichigo's voice) To Prove One's Self
While Rukia and Ichigo were doing some training together, Chad and Orihime watched from the sides.
"It looks like Rukia is ready to go." Chad said.
"But all of Rukia's pokemon are ice-types. Aren't fighting-types strong against ice-types?" Orihime asked.
"You're right about that. That must be why Rukia is training as hard as she is." Chad said. "However, I still don't understand why Rukia is doing this in the first place."
"Rukia and I talked about that." Orihime said. "She told me she understands Shishigawara trying to prove himself to Tetsushira. She feels the same way about her older brother. I guess she's hoping this battle might prove that Shishigawara is worthy of being a gym leader." It certainly does seem like a great idea, but will it really work in the end.
...
The Gym
Shishigawara was getting himself ready for this battle as well. He held back a punching bag as Hitmochan kept hitting it.
"Come on, Hitmochan. You can do better than that." Shishigawara said. Hitmochan kept the attacks going and tried to keep them going. "This is our chance to prove ourselves, Hitmochan. We've got to give this battle all that we've got."
"Chan!" Hitmochan wanted to prove itself just as much as his trainer did. No way either of them were backing down from this challenge. As for Tetsushira, he was watching how Shishigawara and Hitmochan were working so hard for this. However, it's how the actual battle will go that will determine if Shishigawara is truly ready to be gym leader.
...
The Next Day
Ichigo and the others arrived at the gym. They were all looking forward to this battle. As for Rukia herself, she was actually a little anxious.
"Rukia, are you okay?" Ichigo asked.
"Of course I am." Rukia said as she was trying to be brave, but her heart was beating like a rabbit's. Rukia tried walking in like she was brave, but she wasn't doing a good job at that.
"Yeah... She's fine..." Ichigo said even though they could all see she was not doing so well. Once they went inside the gym, they headed straight for the battlefield. With Rukia and Shishigawara on the field, the others watched from the sides with Tetsushira and his students watching.
"Wow. I knew this was going to be a big battle, but a lot of people sure have showed up for it." Orihime said.
"Orihime, these are still Shishigawara's students." Chad clarified.
"I allow my students to watch the battles to help them learn and grow." Tetsushira said.
"I sure hope Rukia is up for this. Look at her." Ichigo said. They all looked at Rukia and could see her hands were shaking.
'Wow. This feels different than watching from the sides.' Rukia thought. 'Come on, Rukia. Try to stay calm. It's just like any other battle.'
"I hope you're ready because I'm not going to be holding back." Shishigawara said.
"Hitmochan!"
"The battle between Rukia and Shishigawara is about to begin." The referee said. "We'll follow the gym battle rules. Each side will use three pokemon. The battle will be over when all three of one side's pokemon can no longer battle. Only Rukia will be allowed to switch her pokemon."
"I'm getting fired up. Croagunk, it's battle time!" Shishigawara shouted as he called out his first pokemon.
"Croagunk!"
"Is that really a fighting-type?" Orihime asked.
"Yes, but it's a poison-type too." Tetsushira said. "I'm curious to see how Rukia is going to do in this battle."
"Dewgong, let's go!" Rukia said.
"Dewgong!"
"An ice-type in a fighting-type gym?" Tetsushira questioned.
"Rukia doesn't have a choice. She wants to specialize in ice-types. That's why all of her pokemon are ice-types." Ichigo said.
"I see. That's going to make this more challenging for her." Tetsushira said as he watched this battle carefully.
"Let's get started! Dewgong, Ice Shard!" Rukia said. Dewgong readied itself as it launched the first attack.
"Croagunk, Poison Jab and shatter it!" Shishigawara said. Croagunk had poison flow into it's fingertips. It thrusted its arm forward and caused the shard to shatter. That was quite a surprise to all of them. "Now use Brick Break!" Croagunk went at Dewgong with its next attack.
"Use Brine to stop it!" Rukia said. Dewgong shot water from its mouth. It blasted Croagunk, but Croagunk pushed through the attack. Rukia wasn't expecting that. Croagunk kept going until it jumped into the air and smashed its arm against Dewgong's head.
"Now Poison Jab!" Shishigawa said. Crogunk thrusted its poison fingers against Dewgong and knocked Dewgong out.
"Dewgong is unable to battle! Croagunk is the winner!" The referee said.
"That goes to show you that fighting-types are strong against ice-types." Ichigo said. "However, it was impressive that Croagunk pushed through that Brine."
"I thought it was cool how Croagunk caused Ice Shard to shatter." Orihime said. Tetsushira seemed rather impressed himself, but there's more to being gym leader than being a good battler.
"Dewgong, return. It was a good effort." Rukia said as she brought Dewgong back in its pokeball. "Cryogonal, you're up next!"
"Cry!"
"Another ice-type? Do you really think that will help?" Shishigawara said.
"I think so. Just watch. Cryogonal, Aurora Beam!" Rukia said. Cryogonal unleashed a blast of light and it managed to hit Croagunk.
"Get in there, Croagunk, and use Brick Break!" Shishigawara encouraged as Croagunk tried to get back up.
"Cryogonal, Confuse Ray now!" Rukia said. Cryogonal unleashed a bright light with Croagunk getting enveloped in it. Croagunk soon became confused and was smacking itself across the face.
"Croagunk, stop! You're hurting yourself!" Shishigawara called, but Croagunk just kept going with hurting itself.
"Rapid Spin!" Rukia called. Cryogonal spun around and smashed itself against Croagunk with Croagunk being taken out in that attack.
"Croagunk is unable to battle! Cryogonal is the winner!" The referee said.
"Croagunk, return." Shishigawara said as his pokemon came back. Shishigawara actually smiled from the defeat. "Not bad." Not even Hitmochan expected him to respond like that. It seems like Shishigawara is really acting like a gym leader, not upset over one lost. "Hitmochan, get in there and let's turn the tide of the battle around."
"Hitmochan." Hitmochan went out and was ready for a battle.
"Hitmochan already? I thought he would save him for last." Orihime said.
"It doesn't really matter what order he uses." Tetsushira said. "The battle itself is really the only part that matters."
"Cryogonal, Blizzard!" Rukia said. Cryogonal generated a powerful blizzard with it blasting against Hitmochan, but Hitmochan was able to endure it.
"Hitmochan, Mach Punch!" Shishigawara said. Hitmochan moved at incredible speed that it surprised everyone with how fast Hitmochan was moving. Hitmochan smashed his fist against Cryogonal and sent Cryogonal flying across the room and smashed right into the wall.
"Cryogonal!" Rukia called as she hurried over to it, but Cryogonal was clearly defeated.
"Cryogonal is unable to battle! Hitmochan is the winner!" The referee said.
"Cryogonal, are you okay?" Rukia asked. Cryogonal looked a little upset it was defeated. "Get a good rest. You were great." She brought Cryogonal back in it's pokeball.
"Poor Cryogonal." Orihime said.
"That Hitmochan was so fast. I could barely keep up with it." Ichigo said.
"That's the power of Mach Punch. It's an incredibly fast attack. It's usually the first one attack to strike." Tetsushira said.
"I've trained my Hitmochan's speed well to handle pokemon with attacks that give them the advantage." Shishigawara said. "You did pretty good with that Confuse Ray earlier, but Hitmochan is ready for anything you might throw at us."
"I've never seen Shishigawara like this before."
"He's usually bragging about his win."
"Maybe he does have what it takes to be gym leader. He's giving that girl a challenge." Tetsushira can hear his students talking and even they are impressed with how Shishigawara is acting.
"Jynx, you're up!" Rukia called.
"Jynx!"
"Now use Icy Wind!" Rukia said.
"Jynx!" Jynx unleashed a blast of cold air, but Hitmochan was able to handle that attack.
"Oh please." Shishigawara said as he was disappointed with a hand against his face. "If an attack like Blizzard didn't slow Hitmochan down, what makes you think Icy Wind will? Hitmochan, Mach Punch!" Hitmochan pushed through the attack and charged.
"Teleport!" Rukia called, but Hitmochan was able to land it's attack before Jynx could teleport out of the way. "That Hitmochan is so fast!"
"We're lightning fast. Speaking of lightning, let's use Thunder Punch!" Shishigawara said.
"Dodge it, Jynx!" Rukia called, but Jynx was still so slow and got hit by an electrical punch by Hitmochan.
"Thunder Punch must be what he uses for flying-types." Chad said.
"I can't believe how fast that Hitmochan is moving." Ichigo said.
"What's the point in having so much power if you don't have the speed to back it up?" Shishigawara said. "It doesn't matter how powerful the attack is if it fails to hit the target." That was very true. Tetsushira fully agreed with that.
"If speed is their game, we'll just make it so they can't move around." Rukia said. "Jynx use Ice Beam on the ground!" Jynx fired the beam on the ground and was covering the field in ice. Hitmochan soon found himself surrounded by the ice. "Go ahead and move around now. At Hitmochan's speed, you'll just slip around and crash."
"I see. Trying to stop us from getting too close. Not bad." Shishigawara said. As he tried to figure out a way around it, he thought of something. "Hold on. Doesn't your Jynx know any psychic-type offensive moves?" When he asked that, Rukia got a little nervous. The look on her face was all he really needed. "I'm guessing no. In that case, we'll free to do this! Hitmochan, smash the ice with Thunder Punch!" Hitmochan smashed his electric fist on the ground and caused the ice to shatter with pieces of it flying into the air. "Now return to sender!" Hitmochan rapidly punched the pieces of ice and sent them flying at Jynx with them smashing against her.
"He's using the ice to attack Jynx!" Ichigo said as they were all impressed with what Hitmochan is doing.
"Now use Mach Punch!" Shishigawara said. Hitmochan went at Jynx one more time and smashed its fist against her. It sent Jynx flying and she fell on her back with her being taken out.
"Jynx is unable to battle! Hitmochan is the winner, and Shishigawara is the victor!" The referee claimed as this battle came to an end.
"Jynx, you did great." Rukia said as she brought Jynx back in her pokeball.
"It was a good effort, Rukia." Ichigo said as the others came over.
"Yeah. It was actually a great battle." Shishigawara said.
"Indeed it was." Tetsushira said. "Shishigawara, I'm most impressed. Not only did you battle well, but you behaved very appropriately. That's why I've decided that I will make you the new gym leader." That was the best news that Shishigawara has heard.
"Thank you, Master!" Shishigawara said as he and Hitmochan bowed to his master.
"It seems like you already have your first challenger too." Tetsushira said as he gestured to Ichigo.
"I'm ready to go whenever you are." Ichigo said.
"Oh yeah? I might be a new gym leader, but I'm not going to make it easy." Shishigawara said.
After a good battle against Rukia, Tetsushira was convinced and Shishigawara is now officially the new gym leader with Ichigo as his first challenger. It will be his first official gym battle as a gym leader. Will Ichigo be able to earn his fourth badge? Stay tuned to find out.
To Be Continued...
Pokemon Question: Okay, all pokemon trainers. The answer to the last question was...Drowzee. Drowzee uses it's big nose to smell for dreams and can actually eat them. Here's the next question. What pokemon lives in a certain fruit that also acts as it's food source?
