Ichigo and his friends have arrived in Suzumu City. They're here because Ichigo wishes to challenge the city's gym.
"Wow!" Orihime said as she looked around the place. "This looks amazing. I've never been in a city as big as this one before."
"We can do sightseeing later." Ichigo said. "We're here because I want to challenge the gym and get me a badge."
"Ichigo, have you even thought of a plan?" Rukia said. "Chad warned us this gym was made for bug-type pokemon. All you got is Absol and Zubat."
"It will all work out. Chad, do you know where the gym is?" Ichigo said. Chad nodded his head and lead the way. Ichigo's first gym battle was close.
I wanna be the very best
Like no one ever was
To catch them is my real test
To train them is my cause
Pokemon
Gotta catch'em all, it's you and me
Pokemon
I know it's my destiny
Pokemon
Yeah, you're my best friend
In a world we must defend
Pokemon
Gotta catch'em all
Gotta catch'em all
Gotta catch'em all
Pokemon
(Ichigo's voice) Buggy Speed
Chad led them to the gym and it looked like a large glass dome. Ichigo was getting a little excited for this battle.
"So this is the place?" Ichigo asked.
"Yeah." Chad said.
"Great. Absol, are you ready to go?" Ichigo asked.
"Absol." Absol was all set. All of them went inside the gym and when they did, it looked like a small forest.
"Wow! This place looks amazing." Orihime said. "I feel like we're back in the forest."
"Each gym specializes in a certain type." Rukia said. "So they would have their gym designed to best feature that type. The person we're looking for is called a gym leader. That's the person Ichigo needs to challenge."
"Hello!" Ichigo called out.
"Who goes there?" All of them heard some sort of voice and had a look around to see where that voice came from. "I'm up here." All of them looked up and saw a women dressed in black with black hair and two white braids with rings on the end was standing on one leg on a tree in a meditative stance.
"Are you the gym leader here?" Ichigo asked.
"I am. My name is Sui-Feng."
"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. I came here to challenge your gym." Sui-Feng stared at Ichigo as if she was trying to find something special. She didn't look impressed, but she had her responsibilities as a gym leader to think of.
"Very well." Sui-Feng said as she jumped down from the tree and landed on the ground. All of them were amazed by the jump she just made.
"That was some jump!" Rukia said.
"If you truly wish to face me in a challenge, follow me." Sui-Feng said. Sui-Feng led them to a battlefield and Ichigo and Sui-Feng took their positions. Orihime and the others hanged back by the sides.
"Wow! I've never seen an actual gym battle before." Orihime said.
"I hope Ichigo knows what he's doing." Chad said.
"The gym battle between Ichigo, the challenger, and Sui-Feng the gym leader will now begin." The referee said. "This battle will be two-on-two. The first to lose both pokemon will be the winner. During the battle, only the challenger is allowed to switch pokemon. If both sides are ready, the battle may begin!"
"Yanma, battle position!" Sui-Feng said.
"Yanma!"
"So she does use bug-types." Ichigo acknowledge. "This match is as good as mine. Zubat, let's go!"
"Zuba!"
"So you decided to come at me with the type advantage." Sui-Feng said. "Even if that is a smart choice, the win will not be yours."
"Let's find out. Zubat use Air Cutter!" Ichigo said.
"Zuba!" Subat used the attack and the blades were heading for Yanma.
"Use Detect." Sui-Feng said. Yanma's eyes glowed and was able to avoid the attack with incredible speed.
"Whoa! That Yanma is fast!" Orihime said.
"And it's only going to get faster." Sui-Feng said. "My Yanma's ability is Speed Boost. Its speed will just continue to increase. Now use Bug Buzz."
"Yanma!" Yanma unleashed a red sound wave that Zubat got caught in and it was being dealt some damage.
"Don't let a little noise stop you. Zubat use Supersonic." Ichigo said.
"Yanma, dodge it." Sui-Feng said. Zubat unleashed the sonic attack, but Yanma used its incredible speed and was able to avoid the attack.
"It could even avoid that?!" Ichigo said.
"It told you that Yanma is only going to get faster." Sui-Feng said. "Now use Sonic Boom!" Yanma unleashed another sound attack and Zubat got hit hard.
"You can still get it. Zubat use Wing Attack." Ichigo said. Zubat charged right at Yanma to land its attack.
"Just which one do you plan on using that against? Yanma use Double Team!" Sui-Feng said. Yanma made copies of itself and Yanma didn't know who to attack. "Now use Sonic Boom."
"Yanma!" All the copies used the same attack and Zubat didn't know how to dodge it. All of them flew by Yanma until the real one hit it and sent Zubat flying with a lot of damage behind it.
"Zubat!" Ichigo called out. Zubat hit the ground and was knocked out.
"Zubat is unable to battle. Yanma is the winner." The referee said.
"That looked like a critical hit." Rukia said.
"Poor Zubat." Orihime said as she felt sorry for it.
"Zubat, return." Ichigo said as he brought Zubat back in its pokeball.
"Is that it? Is that all you got?" Sui-Feng said. "I refuse to hand my badge over to some weakling."
"This battle isn't over yet." Ichigo said. "Absol, are you ready to take her down?"
"Absol!" Absol ran out on the field and was ready for a battle.
"You're really going to use an Absol against my Yanma?" Sui-Feng said. "I knew there was nothing special about you."
"That's what you think." Ichigo said. "Absol, start out by using Dark Pulse." Absol generated his attack and shot out the dark beam of circles, but Yanma used that great speed of its and was able to avoid the attack.
"Yanma use your Bug Buzz!" Sui-Feng said.
"Yanma!" Yanma created the red soundwave again.
"No you don't. Absol use Dark Pulse again." Ichigo said.
"Absol!" Absol used the attack again and the two of them collided and caused an explosion.
"Absol use Swords Dance and then use Razor Wind." Ichigo said. Absol created swords that circled around and raised his power. Then, Absol focused its power and shot Razor Wind.
"Yanma use Detect!" Sui-Feng said. Yanma's eyes glowed and was able to avoid that attack.
"As long as Yanma has that speed and Detect, it will be difficult for Ichigo to land an attack." Rukia said.
"Oh yeah? Absol use Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Absol charged at Yanma and jumped up. He swung his glowing horn and slammed it against Yanma and Yanma was hit back.
"He did it!" Orihime said.
"It's not over yet." Chad said.
"Yanma use Double Team and surround Absol." Sui-Feng said. Yanma created copies of itself and they all flew around Absol. "Now use Bug Buzz." All of the Yanma unleashed their sonic attack and Absol was getting hit by all angles and it was really painful. "Finish it with Sonic Boom."
"No you don't. Absol use Razor Wind." Ichigo said. Absol tried to fight through the sound and saw the real Yanma powering its attack.
"Yanma!"
"Absol!" Both of them used their attacks, but Razor Wind was stronger and pushed through and blasted Yanma. Yanma hit the ceiling and fell to the ground and was taken out.
"Yanma is unable to battle. Absol is the winner." The referee said.
"Awesome! He tied it up." Orihime said.
"It's not over yet." Chad said.
"Chad's right. I have a feeling this one is going to be tougher than Yanma." Rukia said.
"Ninjask, battle position!" Sui-Feng said as she called her next pokemon.
"Ninjask!"
"This could be a problem. Ninjask has the same ability as Yanma." Rukia said.
"You won't scare us away that easily." Ichigo said. "Absol use Night Slash." Absol's horn glowed and he went to attack.
"Ninjask, counter that with Slash!" Sui-Feng said. Ninjask flew down to Absol and met the attack. Both of them tried to push against the other, but they both ended up getting moved. "Is that it? You're a failure as a trainer."
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked.
"You simply haven't brought out the best of your pokemon and extend their capabilities. You just attack recklessly." Sui-Feng said.
"I don't understand what you're trying to tell me." Ichigo said.
"If you can't move past that, you can't beat my gym or any gym." Sui-Feng said. "Ninjask use Agility and Double Team."
"Both attacks together?" Ichigo questioned as to why she would do that.
"Ninjask!" Ninjask did what it was told and made twice as many copies of itself as Yanma.
"Whoa! It's like a swarm!" Ichigo said.
"Now use Fury Cutter!" Sui-Feng said. All of them flew around and it looked like an infestation around Absol as he was getting sliced around.
"Absol!" Ichigo called out as the copies vanished.
"Finish with Slash." Sui-Feng said. Ninjask flew straight at Absol and slashed right at it. It didn't look like it connected, but it did as Absol collapsed.
"Absol is unable to battle. Ninjask is the winner. The victory goes to Sui-Feng, the gym leader." The referee said.
"Absol!" Ichigo shouted as he ran to Absol's aid.
"You still have a lot to learn. Don't challenge me again until you understand how to really use your pokemon." Sui-Feng said. Ichigo didn't understand and now that he lost, he didn't know what to do.
…
The Pokemon Center
"Hello! I need my pokemon looked at." Ichigo said. Since Absol and Zubat got badly damaged, Ichigo hurried to the pokemon center to get them help.
"I'm coming." Nurse Joy said.
"Nurse Joy? What are you doing here?" Orihime said. "What about the pokemon center from back in the woods on Route 2?"
"Oh! I'm not that Nurse Joy. You're thinking of my cousin." Nurse Joy said, but Orihime didn't understand since they looked the same. "See?" She brought out a family pictured. "These are my sisters and cousins."
"What?! How are there so many?" Orihime said.
"Good question and another is why?" Rukia said.
"Anyway, I'll take these two." Nurse Joy said as she took Absol and Zubat's pokeball. While Nurse Joy was taking care of them, Ichigo sat down and was upset about his loss.
"Don't get so bent out of shape over a lost. You'll just try again or we'll challenge another gym." Rukia said.
"I know, but the problem is that I don't understand what Sui-Feng was telling me." Ichigo said.
"You better figure that out or else she said that you won't win any gym." Chad said. Ichigo had a lot to think about it.
With his first gym ending in a defeat, Ichigo now wonders what lesson Sui-Feng was trying to teach him. Will he figure it out or will he never win a gym? Stay tune to find out.
To Be Continued….