As Ichigo and Absol walked out of the pokemon center, they felt ready to go for their upcoming gym battle. The others followed behind to give them their support.

"It's time. Ready, Absol?" Ichigo said.

"Absol."

"You're going to get your seventh gym badge for sure." Orihime said as his friends knew he could win it.

"Ichigo!" Keigo called as he came running out of the center, but he ran his gut right into Ichigo's elbow.

"You really need to learn to cool it." Ichigo said.

"Ichigo?! Are you really going to take on Shirayuki in a gym battle?!" Keigo said. "You modeled for her show AND get to battle her gym! Can I come and watch?! Please!"

"If it means you'll shut up, fine." Ichigo said with annoyance.

The time has come for Ichigo to face Shirayuki and hopefully win his seventh gym badge. We'll see if he does have what it takes to win that badge.

Pokemon

No time to question my moves

I stick to the path that I choose

Me and my friends are gonna do it right

You'll never see us runaway from a fight

To be a master is my dream

All I have to do is believe

(I believe)

I'm on a master quest

(Master quest)

I'm on my way to victory

I can be a champion if I just believe

I'm on a master quest

(Master quest)

I want the whole world to see

(I believe)

I'm gonna be the very best

Cause all I have to do is believe in me

Pokemon!

(Ichigo's voice) A Winter Battlefield

Ichigo and his friends made their way to the gym. When they got there, Shirayuki was waiting for him. The battlefield was covered in ice with a pool in the middle.

"I'm glad you could make it. I'm looking forward to this battle." Shirayuki said.

"Same here." Ichigo said. Ichigo's friends stayed off to the side to watch. They weren't the only ones there. They all looked around and saw Shirayuki had her own cheering section. It was filled with fans of her and cheered for her to win.

"I wasn't aware Shirayuki had her own cheer squad." Rukia said.

"Goes to show you how popular Shirayuki is." Keigo said.

"Keigo, can I ask you something? Why did you want to come see Ichigo's battle with Shirayuki in the first place?" Orihime asked.

"I wanted to see how strong Ichigo has become. He managed to battle one of the Elite Four." Keigo said. "I want see how he does against Shirayuki. We've been friends for a long time. This is a good chance for me to see how much he's changed." Keigo was excited to see his old friend battle.

"The gym battle between Shirayuki, 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! Only the challenger is allowed to substitute pokemon."

"Let's begin, shall we. Lapras, show your beauty!" Shirayuki said as she released her first pokemon.

"Lap!"

"A Lapras!" Rukia said with joy.

"It's beautiful!" Orihime said.

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

"Scraggy!"

"Starting off with your fighting-type... Let's see what you can really do." Shirayuki said.

"Let the battle begin!" The referee said as they were ready to start.

"Scraggy, Brick Break!" Ichigo said. Scraggy charged right in and tried attacking Lapras.

"Dodge it." Shirayuki said. Lapras slid out of the way and avoided Scraggy's attack and caused Scraggy to slid on the ice. Lapras continued to slide around.

"Smart move. Lapras can't move well out of water, but Shirayuki is having her Lapras slide around on the ice to move more easily." Rukia said.

"Lapras, Body Slam!" Shirayuki said. Lapras jumped in the air. Scraggy tried making a run for it, but it wasn't getting very far because of the ice. Lapras smashed down on Scraggy and had it trapped.

"Blast it off with Focus Blast!" Ichigo said. Scraggy focused its power and was able to smash the attack against Lapras and was able to get itself free. "Good! Now use Zen Headbutt!" Scraggy had its head glow blue and smash it against Lapras.

"Lapras, in the water!" Shirayuki said. Lapras jumped to the pool and dived inside. "Now use Perish Song!" Lapras stuck it's mouth out and started unleashing a black sonic wave with it hurting Scraggy. "I have you now. It's only a matter of time."

"This is bad. As soon as a pokemon hears that song, they'll be taken out any moment." Rukia said.

"But won't Lapras be taken out as well?" Keigo questioned.

"Not exactly." All of them turned around with Keigo getting shocked to see Muramasa was there.

"Muramasa?" Orihime said. "You're here too?"

"Of course. I wanted to see the battle." Muramasa said. "As I was saying, Lapras' ears are blocked by water. That means only scraggy is affected by Perish Song." Scraggy was in a lot of pain from that attack and looked ready to pass out.

"Scraggy, return!" Ichigo said. He was able to get Scraggy back in its pokeball before it was too late.

"That was a wise choice, Ichigo." Shirayuki said. "Which of your pokemon is next?" Ichigo could see he's up against a real challenging gym leader here.

"Absol, you want to give it a try?" Ichigo asked.

"Absol." Absol ran out on the field and was ready for a battle.

"Let's go! Absol, Razor Wind!" Ichigo said. Absol reared his head back and swung the attack at Lapras, but Lapras dived back under the water and avoided the attack.

"Lapras, Aurora Beam!" Shirayuki said. Lapras emerged out of the water and fired a bright beam. Absol got blasted by the attack, but Absol was doing his best to push through the attack.

"Psycho Cut!" Ichigo said. Absol fought through the attack and swung his attack through Lapras'. Psycho Cut pushed through and hit Lapras pretty hard. "Now use Night Slash!" Absol went at Lapras and slashed his horn against Lapras. Lapras couldn't take the damage and was knocked out.

"Lapras is unable to battle! Absol is the winner!" The referee said.

"Not bad." Shirayuki said as she brought Lapras back to its pokeball. "Your pokemon are sure tough ones, but that alone won't win you the badge. Time for my next pokemon. Glaceon, shwo your beauty!"

"Glace!"

"A Glaceon!" Rukia said.

"Is that another one of Eevee's evolve forms like my Sylveon?" Orihime asked.

"It is indeed." Muramasa said.

"I can't wait to see what Ichigo does with this one." Keigo said.

"Absol, let's use Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Absol charged right at Glaceon and was ready to attack.

"Use Icicle Spear!" Shirayuki said. Glaceon formed icicles and launched them like a machine gun at Absol. They smashed against Absol before Absol could land his attack. "Now use Ice Beam!"

"I don't think so! Swords Dance!" Ichigo said. Glaceon fired a cold beam, but Absol generated swords and was able to block the attack.

"He used Swords Dance to block Ice Beam?!" Muramasa said as he wasn't expecting that. "Not only did it protect Absol, but it gave Absol some extra power as well."

"Oh yeah. Ichigo really knows how to make a battle interesting." Keigo said.

"Impressive, but we won't be stopped so easily. Iron Tail!" Shirayuki said. Glaceon hardened its tail and swung it at Absol. Absol got hit hard by the attack, but was able to endure it.

"Stay strong, Absol! Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Absol kept on the attack as he slashed his horn against Glaceon.

"Not bad, but this battle is over. Last Resort!" Shirayuki said. Glaceon jumped in the air and was forming a powerful star.

"What is that?!" Keigo said.

"It's a move that only works when you've used all other attacks." Muramasa said. Glaceon launched the star and it smashed against Absol with a large explosion going off. Absol was blown across the field until he hit an ice boulder and was knocked out of the battle.

"Absol is unable to battle! Glaceon is the winner!" The referee said with Shirayuki's cheerleaders going wild as they cheered for her win.

"Absol!" Ichigo called as he hurried to him and helped Absol get back up. "It's okay, pal. You did your best." He helped Absol across the field and got back to his side.

"Poor Absol." Orihime said.

"That Glaceon is tougher than it looks." Keigo said.

"That's Shirayuki's style. It's a combo of beauty and power." Muramasa said. "Her pokemon are just as powerful as they beautiful, if not more. Knowing that, what is Ichigo going to do?"

"This is sure to make for an interesting battle. Umbreon, let's go!"

"Umbreon!"

"An Umbreon?! A battle between two evolve forms of Eevee, and one of them is a different color?!" Muramasa said. "That is bound to make for a great battle."

"He's such an interesting boy. Let's show him we mean business." Shirayuki said.

"Use Swift!" Ichigo said.

"Icicle Spear!" Shirayuki said. Both pokemon used their attacks. They collided against each other in the air and cancelled each other out.

"Now use Quick Attack!" Ichigo said. Umbreon charged at Glaceon at great speed and smashed against Glaceon.

"Iron Tail!" Shirayuki said. Glaceon attacked the very second after Umbreon's attack. It smashed its tail against Umbreon and did some damage. "Now use Ice Beam!"

"Umbreon, Protect!" Ichigo said. Umbreon formed a barrier around itself and tried blocking the attack.

"So Umbreon knows Protect. Ice Beam at full power!" Shirayuki said. Glaceon kept the attack going, but Umbreon's Protect was still holding strong. Ichigo wondered what was going on until he noticed ice was forming around the barrier.

"Oh no! She's freezing the barrier!" Ichigo said. "If that happens, Umbreon will be trapped, and Umbreon can't escape now!" All they could do was watch until Umbreon was completely trapped in a dome of ice.

"The Protect is frozen!" Rukia said.

"Now Umbreon has nowhere to run!" Chad said.

"That doesn't mean Umbreon can't attack!" Ichigo said with Shirayuki confused on what he might do. "Psychic!" Even though Umbreon is trapped, it could still attack. Umbreon used the power of it's mind and sent Glaceon flying into an ice boulder.

"I see... Umbreon knows some great attacks, but it still won't help you." Shirayuki said. "Now use Icicle Spear!"

"Glace!" Glaceon formed icicles again and shot them at a trapped Umbreon. The attack broke through and did some damage to Umbreon. This battle could really go either way at this rate.

"Night Shade!" Ichigo said. Umbreon fired a dark ray from its eyes and blasted Glaceon with it. Glaceon was doing its best to endure the attack.

"Last Resort!" Shirayuki said. Glaceon formed the star and launched it at Umbreon as it pushed through Night Shade. When it made contact, it caused a large explosion with both pokemon getting blown back from it. Both pokemon slid against the ground and were knocked out of the battle.

"Both pokemon are unable to battle! This match ends in a draw!" The referee said. No one really saw that coming.

"Oh man. Ichigo has gotten stronger, but it looks like he's having a hard time against Shirayuki." Keigo said.

"They're down to one pokemon left, but Scraggy has already taken some damage while Shirayuki's last pokemon hasn't battled yet." Muramasa said. "This is sure to be a tough one for Ichigo." They both brought their pokemon back and were getting ready for the last pokemon.

"Well, Ichigo, you certainly are one tough trainer." Shirayuki said. "We'll just see how well you do against my last pokemon. Froslass, show your beauty!"

"Froslass!" Shirayuki's cheer team cheered loudly for Froslass since it was her signature pokemon.

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

"Scraggy!"

"It's all on you, Scraggy! Let's win this! Brick Break!" Ichigo said.

"No, Ichigo!" Rukia called, but it was too late. Scraggy tried attacking, but it just passed right through Froslass. Not what Ichigo was expecting. "That moron!"

"Ichigo, surely you know that Froslass is part ghost-type. Attacks like that won't do a thing." Shirayuki said with Ichigo feeling like an idiot. "It's going to be even harder for you with this attack. Use Hail!"

"Froslass!" Froslass formed clouds over the battlefield with it starting to hail.

"You think that will stop us?! This attack should work! Zen Headbutt!" Ichigo said. Scraggy tried attacking Froslass with the attack, but Froslass disappeared. Froslass kept disappearing and reappearing around the field. "What's going on?"

"Froslass' ability is Snow Cloak." Muramasa said. "In weather like this, Froslass can easily avoid some attacks. From what I've seen, the only attack Scraggy can use against Froslass is Zen Headbutt. If that doesn't hit, Scraggy can't win."

"Does that mean the battle is already over?" Orihime asked.

"Scraggy is at a huge disadvantage. Ichigo has to think crafty." Rukia said.

"Now use Shadow Ball!" Shirayuki said. Froslass appeared right in front of Scraggy and blasted Scraggy with the dark orb. Scraggy was blown back and some hard damage was dealt. Hail was making it even worse.

"There's got to be something we can do." Ichigo said as he tried to think of a solution.

"I say this battle is just about over." Shirayuki said. "Froslass, Blizzard!" Froslass breathed out a powerful blast of wind and snow with Scraggy getting caught in it. Scraggy was almost frozen solid from the attack. "Too cold? We can warm you up. Will-o-Wisp!" Froslass formed blue flames and threw them at Scraggy.

"Scraggy, get out of there!" Ichigo said. Scraggy tried running for it. Scraggy did managed to avoid the flames, but ended up slipping on the ice.

"This battle is just about over." Shirayuki said as it seemed like it was. It seemed like the end of the battle, but Scraggy had other thoughts. Scraggy was getting back up with Scraggy glowing.

"No way!" Ichigo said as they were all shocked on what was happening.

"Scraggy is evolving!" Shirayuki said. Scraggy was growing taller and became its newest form.

"Scrafty!"

"Scraggy just evolved!" Ichigo said with delight.

"It's a Scrafty now." Muramasa said.

"A fitting pokemon for Ichigo." Rukia said.

"That is impressive. I suppose your newly evolved Scrafty doesn't want to let you down." Shirayuki said. "Sadly, I say this battle has just reached its end. Froslass, Shadow Ball!" Froslass held out her arms and was getting ready to attack.

"Now that Scrafty has evolved, there's no way we're going down! Zen Headbutt!" Ichigo said.

"Scrafty!" Scrafty charged right through with the attack. Froslass used Shadow Ball, but Scrafty pushed through the attack and bashed its head against Froslass.

"It cant' be!" Shirayuki said as she was surprised that attack worked. She looked and saw the effects of Hail was already done. "Froslass, we must end this now! Blizzard!" Froslass was getting ready to attack, but Scrafty moved a little faster. Scrafty's arm glowed a dark color and Scrafty smashed it against Froslass' throat. Froslass was thrown across the field and smashed against the wall. Everyone was shocked, and even more when they saw that Froslass was beaten.

"Froslass is unable to battle! Scrafty is the winner! Victory goes to the challenger!" The referee said.

"We did it! You were great Scrafty!" Ichigo said with Scrafty hugging its trainer.

"Incredible! What was that last attack Scrafty used?" Orihime asked.

"That was Throat Chop. It's a dark-tpye move, incredibly effective against ghost-types." Muramasa said. He truly enjoyed the battle. "He truly is a most incredible trainer."

"You can say that again!" Keigo said as he felt truly inspired by that battle. "I'll admit that I've been going through a rough time, but seeing this battle has got me pumped!" With the battle over, Ichigo was being rewarded his badge.

"That was a most impressive battle, Ichigo." Shirayuki said with her rewarding him his badge. She handed him a badge shaped like a snowflake. "This is proof that you won here. This is the Snow Badge."

"Thank you." Ichigo said as he took his badge. He placed it with the others and he was most glad that he now has seven badges.

"That's your seventh badge, right?" Shirayuki said.

"Yeah. I only need one more." Ichigo said.

"If you havent' decided on your next gym battle, how about you head to Black Moon City?" Shirayuki said. "The gym leader there is pretty strong."

"Really?" Ichigo said as he liked the sounds of that. "Sounds like my kind of gym."

With Scraggy evolving, Ichigo now has seven badges. He's just one more from entering the Kalos League. With only one more to go, we can't wait to see what kind of gym battle that awaits our hero.

To Be Continued...

Pokemon Question: Okay, trainers. The answer to the last question was...Girafarig. Girafarig has a brain in its head and in its tail. Here's the next question. What pokemon sleeps for a thousand years?