Rukia went through with her battle against Shishigawara. She fought hard, but Shishigawara was able to win the battle. After the battle, Shishigawara was named the official gym leader. Now that he has been named gym leader, he'll have his first gym leader battle against Ichigo. We'll see if Ichigo will still be able to win his fourth badge.

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) Speed Pummeling

The time has finally come for Ichigo to battle for his fourth gym badge. With it being against a new gym leader, who also happens to be a great battler, there's really no way of knowing how this battle is going to go.

"The gym battle between Shishigawara, 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 is unable to battle. Only the challenger will be allowed to substitute pokemon."

"I hope your ready. I'm going to beat you and your pokemon." Shishigawara said. "I might be a gym leader, but there's no way I'm going to make it easy on you."

"Wouldn't want you to." Ichigo said.

"Let's get this started. Croagunk, battle time!" Shishigawara said as he chose his first pokemon.

"Croagunk!"

"There's that Croagunk again." Orihime said.

"If I hadn't hit it with Confuse Ray, the battle against it would have gone differently." Rukia said. "I sure hope Ichigo is ready for it. Shishigawara's pokemon are pretty tough."

"Scraggy, you're up!" Ichigo said.

"Scraggy!"

"Scraggy... It's a fellow fighting-type, but it's a dark-type too." Shishigawara said.

"Shishigawara, remember not to underestimate your opponents." Tetsushira said. "A gym leader must be ready for the type advantage and disadvantage."

"I got it. Ready, Ichigo?" Shishigawara said.

"I am. Let's do this." Ichigo said as the battle was starting.

"Croagunk, let's start this with Brick Break!" Shishigawara said. Croagunk went at Scraggy with it jumping in the air and came down to chop at him.

"Dodge it and use your Brick Break!" Ichigo said. Scraggy jumped out of the way when Croagunk came down. Scraggy came down and smashed its arm right on Croagunk's head.

"Croagunk, Sludge Bomb!" Shishigawara said. Croagunk jumped away and fired sludge at Scraggy. The sludge exploded around Scraggy, but Scraggy was doing his best to resist the attack.

"Go, Scraggy! Zen Headbutt!" Ichigo said. Scraggy's head glowed blue and charged right Croagunk. Scraggy smashed its head right against Croagunk with massive damage being dealt. Croagunk slid against the ground and was taken out in that one attack.

"Croagunk is unable to battle! Scraggy is the winner!" The referee claimed.

"Amazing. He took Croagunk out already." Orihime said.

"Croagunk is a poison-type and a fighting-type." Rukia said. "Zen Headbutt is a psychic-type move. Since psychic-types are strong against both types, it did massive damage."

"That's true, but I'm sure Shishigawara has something planned for that." Chad said. Shishigawara brought Croagunk back in it's pokeball.

"Pretty good, but this battle isn't over just yet." Shishigawara said as he reached for his next pokemon. "Clobbopus, battle time!"

"Clobbopus!"

"What a cutie! Is that really a fighting-type?" Orihime said.

"It is." Tetsushira said. "In fact, my Grapploct evolves from that little pokemon. I'm guessing Shishigawara caught it in my honor."

"That little guy isn't going to get much mercy." Ichigo said. "Scraggy, Zen Headbutt!"

"Scraggy!" Scraggy went at Clobbopus, but Clobbopus jumped right over Scraggy and avoided the attack.

"Use Bulk Up!" Shishigawara said. Clobbopus flexed it's tiny muscles and made itself stronger.

"Scraggy, Zen Headbutt again!" Ichigo said. Scraggy came back around and tried to get Clobbopus, but Clobbopus jumped over Scraggy again. Clobbopus came down and wrapped its tentacles around Scraggy's head and held a tight grip.

"Bad news for you." Shishigawara said. "Once Clobbopus latches on to something, it won't let go so easily." Scraggy tried to pull and shake Clobbopus off, but Clobbopus was holding on tight and wouldn't let go like Shishigawara said. "Now use Rock Smash!" Clobbopus constantly pounded Scraggy with its arms and was dealing damage.

"If we don't do something fast, Scraggy is going to get clobbered." Ichigo said as he was trying to think of some way to get Clobbopus off of Scraggy. Clobbopus kept pounding Scraggy until he thought of something. "Scraggy, Headbutt right on the ground!" Scraggy pulled its head back and smashed it against the ground with Clobbopus taking the impact of that move. It caused Clobbopus to let go and allowed Scraggy to slip out of it's hold. "Nice move, Scraggy."

"That was gutsy move you did, and Scraggy did it without hesitation." Shishigawara said. "I guess that shows how much faith and trust your pokemon have in you. Of course, you won't get the badge without winning this battle. Clobbopus, Mega Punch!"

"Scraggy, Zen Headbutt!" Ichigo said. The two pokemon charged right at each other with their attacks crashing into each other. Both pokemon tried to push through, but they both ended up being pushed back. "Focus Blast!" Scraggy focused its energy and tossed it in an orb. Clobbopus got blasted by the attack and was blown right out of the field with it being knocked out.

"Clobbopus is unable to battle! Scraggy is the winner!" The referee claimed

"Oh man. This isn't exactly how I imagined my first battle going." Shishigawara said as he brought Clobbopus back in its pokeball.

"He's incredible. He only needs one more win and that badge is his." Orihime said.

"Maybe, but we know who Shishigawara's last pokemon is." Rukia said as she remembered who that pokemon is and how it battles. It's not going to be an easy win with this one.

"You really know how to battle, Ichigo. However, I'm afraid the battle is about to turn in my favor." Shishigawara said as he grabbed his last pokemon. "Hitmochan, battle time!"

"Hitmochan!"

"Get ready, Scraggy. That Hitmochan is fast." Ichigo warned.

"Scraggy." Scraggy readied itself for anything.

"You want fast? Watch this. Bullet Punch!" Shishigawara said. Hitmochan went right at Scraggy with the attack as his fists glowed red. However, something unbelievable happened. When Hitmochan got close enough to Scraggy, Hitmochan hit Scraggy with a barrage of punches. His fists were moving incredible fast that it was difficult to keep up with any of them. All that could be seen were faint traces of the boxing gloves.

"That's so fast!" Orihime said.

"I can't even count how many punches are being thrown!" Rukia said. All Scraggy can do was stand there and get pummeled.

"Shishigawara has trained Hitmochan's speed well. This battle is over." Tetsushira said. Hitmochan gave Scraggy a powerful uppercut that sent Scraggy flying. Scraggy hit the ground and was taken out of the battle.

"Scraggy is unable to battle! Hitmochan is the winner!" The referee claimed.

"Scraggy, return." Ichigo said as he brought Scraggy back in its pokeball. "That Hitmochan is incredibly fast, but I've got a pokemon that can take the hits. Frillish, you're up!"

"Frillish!"

"Coming at us with a ghost-type now. It won't do much against us." Shishigawara said.

"We'll see about that. Frillish, Poison Sting!" Ichigo said. Frillish started the battle as it shot poisonous needles, but Hitmochan was abel to take them.

"Thunder Punch!" Shishigawara ordered. Hitmochan went at Frillish with electricity coursing through his fist and gave Frillish a strong punch that knocked Frillish to the ground.

"Frillish, are you okay?!" Ichigo asked. Frillish had a little trouble getting back up, but everyone did notice a dark aura around Hitmochan.

"It looks like Frillish's Cursed Body has disabled Thunder Punch." Rukia said.

"That's good. Fighting-type attacks have no effect on Frillish." Chad said.

"This is our chance! Frillish, Water Pulse!" Ichigo said. Frillish formed the water orb and gave it a good toss. It blasted against Hitmochan and did some damage.

"You think you're safe? Think again." Shishigawara said. "I knew we would face ghost pokemon eventually. That's why we learned this dark-type attack. Throat Chop!" Hitmochan went at Frillish with a dark power flowing through one of his gloves. Hitmochan smashed right where Frillish's voice would be and sent Frillish flying into the wall and was knocked out.

"Frillish is unable to battle! Hitmochan is the winner!" The referee said.

"Fast and powerful. That Hitmochan is one balanced pokemon." Chad said.

"What's Ichigo going to do now?" Rukia questioned. "All he's got left is Absol and Umbreon, but both of them are at a disadvantage against fighting-types." Ichigo brought Frillish back in his pokeball with Absol concerned on what Ichigo's going to do.

"Don't worry, Absol. We're not beaten yet." Ichigo said as he grabbed another pokeball. "Umbreon, you're up!"

"Umbreon!"

"You're going with an Umbreon against my Hitmochan? Love the odd color, but not a smart choice. Well, I'm curious to see what you have planned." Shishigawara said.

"Come and find out." Ichigo said.

"Hitmochan, Bullet Punch!" Shishigawara said with Hitmochan going at Umbreon.

"Protect!" Ichigo called. Umbreon formed a barrier around itself just as Hitmochan was about to attack. All Hitmochan was hitting was the barrier. "Now push it back with Psychic!" Umbreon used the power of it's mind and sent Hitmochan back.

"I see now. You're relying on Protect to defend my attacks while using a psychic-type move for offense." Shishigawara said.

"Keep the attacks going! Now use Shadow Ball!" Ichigo said. Umbreon kept the attacks coming as it used Shadow Ball and blasted Hitmochan with it.

"Mach Punch!" Shishigawara said.

"Protect!" Ichigo said. Hitmochan went with the attack, but Umbreon was able to get the barrier up and was able to block it just in time.

"I've got you now! Bullet Punch!" Shishigawara said. Hitmochan attacked the moment the barrier dropped and attacked Umbreon consecutively. "Mach Punch!" Hitmochan finished it with Mach Punch and sent Umbreon flying into the wall.

"Umbreon!" Ichigo called. All of them were afraid the battle was over, but Umbreon managed to stand back up.

"That's one tough pokemon you've got there." Shishigawara said.

"Can you keep going?" Ichigo asked with Umbreon still willing to battle. "Hitmochan is fast with fierce punches. If only there was a way to stop the attacks." Hitmochan's speed was a problem, but he wasn't going to quit. "We can't use Protect twice in a row, but we can do this. Use Swift!"

"Umbreon!" Umbreon shot stars and they blasted against Hitmochan with trying his best to resist them.

"Use Bullet Punch, and if they use Protect, don't stop until you break through it!" Shishigawara said.

"You've got to use Protect!" Ichigo said. Hitmochan went on the attack and kept the fast moving punches going with Umbreon blocking out the attacks with Protect. Umbreon is holding it on, but there's not telling how long Umbreon can last. Ichigo was worried about what Hitmochan was about to do, but he soon realized something. "Hitmochan is still now! This could be our chance! Umbreon, Psychic!" Umbreon used the power of it's mind and dropped the barrier to push Hitmochan back. "Shadow Ball!" Umbreon put all of its power in one last attack. The attack flew right at Hitmochan and blasted it hard. The attack knocked Hitmochan down and knocked him right out of the match.

"Hitmochan is unable to battle! Umbreon wins and the victory goes to Ichigo!" The referee claimed.

"Yes! We won!" Ichigo cheered.

"Absol!" Ichigo hurried over to Umbreon and lifted it in his arms since Umbreon could barely stand.

"Umbreon, you were great out there." Ichigo said as he petted Umbreon.

"Nice job, Ichigo." Chad said.

"I was worried there for a moment." Orihime said.

"You know how to turn things around." Rukia said. Shishigawara hurried over to Hitmochan and helped it stand. Tetsushira walked over with him pleased with the battle.

"You did a splendid job for your first gym battle." Tetsushira said.

"Thank you, Master Tetsushira. He is a strong trainer." Shishigawara said.

"Yes, but you battled well yourself. Now that you've been defeated, you know what you must do." Tetsushira said. Shishigawara knew fully well what was. He walked right over to Ichigo to give it.

"Ichigo, it was a great battle, especially since it was my first one as the new gym leader." Shishigawara said as he held out the badge that looked like a boxing glove. "That's why it's with great pleasure that I give you the Fist Badge."

"Thanks a lot, Shishigawara." Ichigo said as he took the badge. "That's four now. We're halfway there now." He took his fourth badge with pride and dignity. Four down and only four to go now.

Ichigo has managed to win his fourth badge. With only four more to go, he's halfway to entering the Kalos League. We're sure to expect future gym battles to be a tough one. Wait and see what adventures await them all...as the journey continues.

To Be Continued.

Pokemon Question: Here we go, all you trainers. The answer to the last question was...Applin. Applin is a pokemon that lives in an apple and uses that very apple as a food source. No question this time, but we'll be back.