Ichigo's third battle has begun. His opponent is Muramasa, but Muramasa has taken control of the battle. Having Ichigo rethink his strategies while not giving him to act at the same time, he's placed Ichigo in a tough situation. Ichigo already lost one pokemon. It looks like he might end up loosing a second pokemon as well. Is there a way for him to get out of this.

Each and next chapter, the ultimate goal

Ready for battle, brave and bold

I know we're gonna make it

We will find a way

Oh-oh

We've come so far

We fought so hard to get where we are

Oh-oh

We belong together

It's always you and me

Pokemon

(Ichigo's voice): Rethink the Rethink

Sigilyph's Ice Beam headed straight for Cacturne. Cacturne already took a lot of damage. If this attacks connects, it could be the end of the battle right here.

"Cacturne!" Ichigo called out. Cacturne heard Ichigo's voice and was able to move away at the last second.

"Looks like Cacturne still has some fight in it."

"That's the way! I knew you wouldn't go down so easily, Cacturne." Ichigo said. There was still a chance, but Ichigo has to end this fast. 'I have to take Sigilyph out now. It's already taken some major damage. A few good hits should finish it.' He thought as he still believes he can win. "Cacturne, Bullet Seed!" Cacturne still had the will to battle. Cacturne shot multiple seeds and blasted Sigilyph with it.

"Hang in there, Sigilyph!" Muramasa cheered.

"Now use Needle Arm!" Ichigo said. Cacturne had spikes sprout from its arms. Cacturne charged right at Sigilyph and jumped. The attack landed and was the finishing touch. Cacturne was able to knock Sigilyph out and take it out of the battle.

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

"He did it! Ichigo and his Cacturne was able to even the score! Cacturne might have taken a lot of damage, but was still able to pull out a win!"

"Ha! No more switching my pokemon around!" Ichigo said.

"Oh please." Muramasa said as he had Sigilyph return. "I have a few other plans. You didn't honestly think I was betting it all on Sigilyph, did you?" He got his next pokemon ready. "Arise, Beheeyem!"

"Beheeyem!"

"Cacturne looks like it's not doing so well. One good hit might be all it takes to end this." Muramasa said.

"We'll just do what we can before that happens. Cacturne, Drain Punch!" Ichigo said. Cacturne charged right at Beheeyem with spiraling energy around his arm.

"Beheeyem, Thunderbolt! End this now!" Muramasa said. Beheeyem fired away electricity, but Cacturne jumped to the side and avoided the attack. "What?!" Muramasa didn't expect Cacturne could still move around like that. When Cacturne got close enough, Cacturne smashed its arm against Beheeyem and drained some energy in the process.

"I know Drain Punch doesn't do much, but better than nothing. Now use Bullet Seed!" Ichigo said. Cacturne started shooting out seeds and each one hit Beheeyem.

"Beheeyem, Rock Tomb!" Muramasa said.

"Dodge it!" Ichigo said. Beheeyem formed rocks and tried to trap Cacturne in them, but Cacturne was able to avoid the attack. "You might think you're ready for me and my pokemon, Muramasa, but what about an attack you haven't seen my pokemon use before. Cacturne, Dark Pulse!" Cacturne unleashed a powerful dark beam and blasted Beheeyem with it. Beheeyem was blown back from the attack and ended up loosing the battle.

"Beheeyem is unable to battle! Cacturne is the winner!" The referee claimed.

"He's done it! Cacturne was injured, but still managed to pull off a win with Ichigo taking the lead!"

'I must admit, Dark Pulse caught me by surprise.' Muramasa thought as he brought back Beheeyem. "Even so, I've got a few plans left, and Cacturne looks like it's on its last leg. Arise, Malamar!"

"Malamar!"

"Muramasa's third pokemon is Malamar. Let's see how this one turns out."

"Can you keep going, Cacturne?" Ichigo asked. Cacturne might have taken a lot of damage, but was still willing to battle. "Okay, but be careful. Let's do this with Bullet Seed!" Cacturne shot out the seeds, but Malamar used its tentacles and was able to block the attack rather easily.

"I'm afraid this battle might already be over." Muramasa said. "Now use Pluck!" Malamar's beak expanded. When that happened, Malamar went right at Cacturne and just pecked away at Cacturne. One good peck on the head and Cacturne was knocked out.

"Cacturne is unable to battle! Malamar is the winner!" The referee claimed.

"Down goes Cacturne! It made a valiant effort, but Cacturne has been defeated!"

"Cacturne, return." Ichigo said as he brought Cacturne back. "You did great." He got his next pokemon ready, but he's still in a tough spot. "Dusclops, one more time!"

"Dusclops!"

"Dusclops comes back for a third time! Can Dusclops finish a battle or will it be taken out?"

"Do you really think Dusclops still has what it takes to keep battling?" Muramasa said.

"Don't underestimate me or my pokemon. I believe in them and they've never let me down before." Ichigo said. "Now use Night Shade, Dusclops!" Dusclops started the battle by unleashing a dark energy wave, but Malamar was able to endure the attack.

"Fight back with Psybeam!" Muramasa said. Malamar fired a psychic beam and it blasted Dusclops.

"Shadow Punch!" Ichigo said. Dusclops fought through the Psybeam and launched a pair of shadowy fists. They hit Malamar and knocked Malamar down, but Malamar was still standing.

"It certainly has a lot of power." Muramasa said.

"What's wrong, Muramasa? Where's all that talk you mentioned earlier about having me rethink my strategy?" Ichigo said.

"You want that? How's this? Malamar, Trick Room!" Muramasa said. Malamar created walls made out of energy and trapped them inside.

"Trick Room?" Ichigo said as he didn't get it.

"Why would Muramasa use that attack?" Orihime questioned. "It causes the slowest pokemon to attack first like it's the fastest pokemon, right? That's how it worked with Solrock."

"You're right. Malamar are generally faster than Dusclops." Rukia said. "Why would Muramasa use a move that gives his opponent the advantage?"

'What's he up to? Why would he use this when Dusclops is slower?' Ichigo thought as he wasn't sure what was going on. This could be another one of Muramasa's tricks. "We better do something now. Shadow Punch and finish this!"

"Here it comes." Muramasa said as Malamar got ready. Dusclops used the attack, but Malamar didn't even protect itself. It let the attack came and took a strong hit. "Destiny Bond!" Malamar collapsed and appeared to have been defeated.

"Malamar is unable to battle! Dusclops is the winner!" The ref said, but a strange energy came from Malamar's eyes. Ichigo thought it was strange, but he was glad Dusclops won. However, the energy hit Dusclops and Dusclops appeared to be in pain.

"Dusclops, what's wrong?" Ichigo asked before Dusclops passed out and collapsed.

"Dusclops is unable to battle!" The referee said.

"How about that?! Both pokemon are taken out! This match actually ends in a draw!"

"Wait. What just happened?!" Ichigo said.

"That's the power of Destiny Bond. When the user is defeated, it brings the opponent down with them." Muramasa said.

"You planned that! You wanted Malamar to be defeated to take Dusclops down too!" Ichigo said.

"That's right. Now you're down to your last pokemon." Muramasa said. "Not to mention the effects of Trick Room will still be in effect for a while." Muramasa has set the stage where it seems like the last battle will be his to win.

"He's really putting the pressure on Ichigo." Rukia said. "He's trying to make Ichigo's moves backfire and rethink his situation. Now that they're both down to their last pokemon, Ichigo has got to be really careful."

"Ichigo and Muramasa are now down to their last pokemon. What can we expect from here?"

"It's all or nothing." Ichigo said. "Umbreon, I choose you!"

"Umbreon!"

"Arise, Reuniclus!" Muramasa said.

"Re!"

"It's Umbreon vs. Reuniclus! It's all down to one last battle."

"Umbreon, Shadow Ball!" Ichigo said as they needed to attack now.

"Gyro Ball!" Muramasa said. Reuniclus was able to move much faster than Umbreon because Trick Room was still in effect. Reuniclus was able to land the attack before Umbreon could even get its ready.

"Trick Room is still going and it seems that it's allowing Reuniclus to move faster than Umbreon!"

"Stay strong, Umbreon! You've got to hold on until Trick Room is over!" Ichigo encouraged.

"I'll end this battle before that happens! Reuniclus, Thunder!" Muramasa said.

"I don't think so! Umbreon, Protect!" Ichigo said. Reuniclus attacked with electricity, but Umbreon formed a barrier and was able to block the attack. "That's the way! Now attack with Psychic! Hold Reuniclus in place!" Umbreon used its own psychic power to try and hold Reuniclus. "All that speed does nothing if you can't move! Now use Swift!"

"We don't need to move! Reuniclus, Energy Ball!" Muramasa said. Reuniclus was able to attack before Umbreon could. It unleashed a green orb of energy and blasted Umbreon with it. Umbreon wasn't looking too good out there.

"Come on, Umbreon! I know you can do it! Blast them with Shadow Ball!" Ichigo cheered.

"Reuniclus, Energy Ball once more!" Muramasa said. "Our attack should land first." Both pokemon attacked, but Umbreon was the one that landed the attack first. Muramasa was surprised until he saw Trick Room was fading away.

"Trick Room has lost its effect now."

"Yes!" Ichigo said.

"What are you so happy about? I still have one last trick of my own." Muramasa said. "Wonder Room!" Reuniclus formed another room around the place.

"Now what?" Ichigo said as he didn't like this. "Umbreon, blast Reuniclus with Shadow Ball again and end this!" Umbreon attacked again and the attack connected, but Reuniclus was still standing. "How?!"

"Welcome to Wonder Room, Ichigo." Muramasa said. "Trick Room practically switches our pokemon's speed. Wonder Room switches our pokemon's defensive power."

"Their defensive power?!" Ichigo said. "Are you saying Reuniclus now has a strong defense like Umbreon's?!"

"That's right. Reuniclus' defense has grown stronger while Umbreon's grew weaker." Muramasa said as he had another trap set. "I say one good hit is all it's going to take to finish this. Now use Thunder!"

"Umbreon, Protect!" Ichigo said. Reuniclus attacked again, but Umbreon formed a barrier to blocked the attack.

"Neither side is backing down! Just how is this battle going to end?!" Umbreon is doing its best, but Umbreon was breathing hard. Ichigo has to be careful about this, but he's got to rethink things. One hit could be enough to end this.

"What do I do? Umbreon's not going to last much longer at this rate." Ichigo said as he tried to think about what he's going to do. He's rethinking his strategy again. He thought it over until he thought of something. 'Wait a minute! It's defense is stronger, but it's still vulnerable to other attacks!'

"This battle is over! Reuniclus, Gyro Ball!" Muramasa said. Reuniclus went for the finishing tough as it went straight for Umbreon.

"Shadow Ball!" Ichigo said. Umbreon formed the attack and blasted Reuniclus before the attack could hit. Reuniclus was blown back and was knocked out of the battle.

"Reuniclus is unable to battle! Umbreon is the winner! Victory goes to Ichigo!" The referee claimed.

"He's done it again! Ichigo has defeated three members of the Elite Four!" Everyone was going wild. It was a close battle, but he was able to pull it off and win it.

"Unreal!" Muramasa said as he almost couldn't believe it.

"You almost had me, Muramasa. Reuniclus' defense mighth ave grown stronger, but supereffective attacks are still supereffective." Ichigo said. Muramasa was rather impressed with Ichigo and how he was able to make snap judgements. He's truly earned his victory here.

"Ichigo has defeated three of the Elite Four. He is just one battle away from challenging Kisuke."

'One more battle... One more battle to go. Then, I can take on Kisuke.' Ichigo thought as he just couldn't wait for it to happen.

Ichigo has done the best he's ever done in his journey. He just needs to win one more battle to challenge Kisuke. If he wins that too, he will become the new champion of Kalos. You don't want to miss any of the exciting battles to come. Stay tune.

To Be Continued...

Pokemon Question: Here we go, trainers. The answer the last question was...Delibird. Delibird has such a generous spirit that it delivers food and presents to others, even if the presents have some traps to them. Here's the next question. What pokemon is the natural enemy to Dwebble and Rolycoly?