Ichigo's awaited gym battle against Rose has arrived. However, Ichigo was told that he and Rose would have their battle out in a forest. This is sure to be an interesting battle.

Ichigo, Absol, and Rose went to a small meadow in the forest to start their battle.

"Are you excited, Ichigo? There's going to be a lot of running involved in this battle." Rose said. "We're allow to roam freely. What better way to show the beauty of grass-types than in their own environment."

"It doesn't matter to where we battle. I'll take you on." Ichigo said. "That badge is about to be mine."

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) Elegance vs. Headstrong

"Before we begin, we need a referee." Rose said. That was when a drone came over to them and had a camera attached to it. "This little guy will be the referee and play all the footage to your friends who will watch on a television." Orihime and the others stayed back at Rose's house and were able to get a clear picture of what the drone saw.

"Wow! I've never heard of a gym like this." Rukia said.

"If Ichigo wants to win, he'll have to deal with multiple changes in the area." Chad said.

"He'll win. I know he will." Rukia said.

"The gym battle between Rose, the gym leader, and Ichigo, the challenger, will begin." The drone said. "Each side can use three pokemon. The battle is over when all three of one side's pokemon can't battle. Only the challenger is allowed to substitute pokemon. Begin!"

"Let's get started. Come, Simisage!" Rose said.

"Simisage!"

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

"Roo!"

"Let's get that badge." Ichigo said. "Tauros, start out with Horn Attack." Tauros charged right at Simisage, but Simisage grabbed Tauros by the horns to stop the attack, but was still being pushed back.

"Simisage use Seed Bomb." Rose said. Simisage jumped away from Tauros and shot out seeds that exploded around Tauros. "Now to the trees." Simisage jumped up to the trees and was going deeper into the forest.

"After it." Ichigo said. Tauros went after Simisage with their trainers following. The drone followed so the others could watch what they were doing.

"You think Ichigo can keep up with that Simisage?" Orihime asked.

"Let's not forget that they're battling on grass-type territory and Rose won that Ultimate Talent Star thing." Rukia said. "Looks like we're in for a real show."

"Simisage use Fury Swipes." Rose said.

"Tauros use Take Down." Ichigo said. Simisage's fingers glowed as he jumped towards Tauros. Tauros glowed yellow and the two were about to collide. Simisage got one scratch in, but Tauros was able to slam himself against Simisage.

"Simisage, swing through the trees with Vine Whip." Rose said.

"Simisage!" Simisage shot out some vines and swing from one tree to the next.

"You're not getting away." Ichigo said as he and Tauros continued to go after Simisage. Because of the plants and trees, Tauros couldn't see where it was going until it ran right into a rock by a river. Simisage landed on top of the rock and laughed. "Tauros, are you okay?"

"That's what happens when you act head strong. Simisage use Seed Bomb." Rose said. Simisage jumped off the rock and shot out more seeds that exploded around Tauros. "Had enough?"

"No way. Tauros, time to use Iron Head." Ichigo said. Tauro charged right through the smoke when Rose thought it was over, but Tauros smashed his head against Simisage and had it hit a tree and was taken out.

"Simisage is unable to battle. Tauros is the winner." The drone said.

"Excellent work, Tauros. Return for now." Ichigo said as he brought Tauros back.

"You certainly have some power behind you." Rose said as he brought Simisage back. "Let's see how you do against my next pokemon." He tossed out his next choice and it was Bayleef.

"Bayleef!"

"So he's going with Bayleef now. Absol, let's take it to them." Ichigo said.

"Absol." Absol agreed and went on the field.

"Absol, let's start out with Razor Wind." Ichigo said. Absol powered up the attack and shot it towards Bayleef.

"Bayleef, jump." Rose said and Bayleef jumped over the attack. "Now let's use Vine Whip!"

"Bayleef!" Bayleef shot some vines and smacked Absol around with them.

"Fight back, Absol. Use your Night Slash attack." Ichigo said. Absol fought through the vines and went on the attack.

"Bayleef use Sweet Scent." Rose said. Bayleef unleashed a pink powder-like substance and Absol got a whiff of it. The sweet smell caused Absol to drop his guard. That also allowed Bayleef to grab a hold of Absol with its vines.

"Absol!" Ichigo shouted as he was concerned for what might come next.

"Now to use the power of the sun. Bayleef use Solar Beam." Rose said. Bayleef was absorbing sunlight and with it being a sunny day, it was fully charged. Bayleef shot the beam on a restricted Absol and he was taken out so easily.

"Absol!" Ichigo said as he couldn't believe it.

"Absol is unable to battle. Bayleef is the winner." The drone said.

"I can't believe Absol was taken out so easily." Orihime said.

"That Sweet Scent must have caused Absol to drop his guard. It does weaken evasion and the restriction of Vine Whip practically had Absol defenseless." Rukia said. Ichigo was about to throw out his next pokemon, but he still had to figure out how to deal with this situation.

'That Bayleef is strong. On top of that, Rose must know every inch of this place and knows how to use the trees and plants to his advantage.' Ichigo thought. 'I've got to lure him somewhere where we have equal grounds.' He noticed the river current and saw it was leading to a lake with a clear surrounding. "That's it! Zubat, I choose you!"

"Zuba!"

"Absol, can you still run?" Ichigo asked.

"Absol." Absol may not be able to battle, but still has some energy in him.

"Follow me." Ichigo said as he and Zubat started running for the lake with Rose and Bayleef following.

"Where's Ichigo going?" Chad wondered. Rukia took a look and saw the lake in the background.

"It looks like he's leading them to the lake." Rukia said.

"Now I see what Ichigo is up to." Rose said as he figured out Ichigo's trying to lead them to a more opened area. "Bayleef, knock Zubat down with Vine Whip."

"Bayleef!" Bayleef shot out its vines, but Zubat saw the attack coming and tried to avoid them.

"They're gaining on us. Get going, Zubat." Ichigo said. They kept running until they reached the lake. "Made it!"

"Perhaps, but a change of location changes nothing." Rose said. "Bayleef use Vine Whip again." Bayleef shot out its vines again, but Zubat was doing its best to avoid the attacks.

"Zubat use Air Cutter." Ichigo said.

"Zuba!" Zubat shot out the attack and Bayleef and Bayleef got hit.

"Bayleef, time to use Solar Beam." Rose said and Bayleef was about to power it up again.

"We can't let that work. Zubat use Supersonic." Ichigo said. Zubat unleashed the sonic attack and Bayleef got caught in it and was acting confused. "Now use Wing Attack." Zubat flew around and banged its wings against Bayleef. "Finish this with one more Air Cutter." Zubat unleashed the attack and blasted Bayleef again and was taken out.

"Bayleef is unable to battle. Zubat is the winner." The drone said.

"Yes. Now he just needs one more win." Orihime said.

"Yeah, but the last battle is never easy." Rukia said.

"Come, Lilligant!" Rose said.

"Lilligant!"

"So he's using that Lilligant. I know it can use Synthesis, but who knows what else it can use." Ichigo said. "Only one way to find out. Zubat use Wing Attack." Zubat went in to attack.

"Dodge with elegance." Rose said. Lilligant made a beautiful spin like in a ballet and was able to avoid the attack.

"Of course. He was one of those showmen where you show off something of your pokemon's best qualities. He must have had practice with Lilligant multiple times." Ichigo said.

"That's correct. Allow me to show you more of Lilligant's beautiful moves. Lilligant use Quiver Dance." Rose said.

"Lilligant!" Lilligant did a beautiful dance and left some after images with her gaining power.

"What's Quiver Dance?" Orihime asked.

"It raises some stats." Rukia said.

"Lilligant use Hidden Power." Rose said.

"Zubat use Air Cutter." Ichigo said. Lilligant formed blue orbs and shot them out, but Zubat use Air Cutter and the two attacks collided. "A draw."

"Not quite." Rose said. Ichigo was surprised when Hidden Power shot through the smoke and blasted Zubat.

"Oh man! Lilligant has got some power." Ichigo said. "We're not going down easily. Zubat use Air Cutter again." Zubat shot out the attack and Lilligant got blasted. "Yeah. Give them another series of Air Cutter."

"I don't think so. Lilligant use Petal Blizzard." Rose said Lilligant had pink petals form around her and blocked the attack. She unleashed them on Zubat and Zubat took a hard hit and hit the ground.

"Zubat is unable to battle. Lilligant is the winner." The drone said. Ichigo brought Zubat back and had only one hope left.

"Tauros, you're back in." Ichigo said.

"Roo!"

"Tauros, it's all up to you." Ichigo said. "Give them a Horn Attack!" Tauros charged right at Lilligant.

"Dodge it." Rose said. Lilligant jumped over Tauros with a spin. "Now use Hidden Power." Lilligant formed three blue orbs and shot them out and Tauros got blasted. "You must be feeling exhausted. Heal yourself with Synthesis." Lilligant started to absorb sunlight and was healing.

"Attack while Lilligant is healing. Tauros use Take Down!" Ichigo said. Tauros charged right at Lilligant and was able to land the attack.

"Smart, but you're going to need more than that." Rose said. "Lilligant use Petal Blizzard." Lilligant unleashed a flurry of petals and blasted Tauros. Tauros was knocked down, but he kept getting back up.

"There's got to be something we can do." Ichigo said as he tried to think of a solution and one came to him. "It's a long shot, but we got to go for it. Tauros use Horn Attack and run at full speed." Tauros did what it was told and charged at Lilligant.

"Dodge it again." Rose said. Rose jumped over Tauros and did a spin.

"Turn around and keep going until you hit." Ichigo said. Tauros turned around and started a cycle. Tauros charges, Lilligant jumps and spins, and Tauros comes back around to start it again. As it happened, they all wondered what Ichigo was thinking for the same thing kept happening. Lilligant dodged again and landed, but she seemed unbalanced.

"Oh no! Lilligant is starting to get dizzy and exhausted from all that jumping." Rose said.

"Now's our chance. Iron Head at maximum power!" Ichigo called out. Tauros charged right in with a metal head and slammed against Lilligant. Lilligant slid against the ground and was taken out.

"Lilligant is unable to battle. Tauros is the winner. Victory goes to Ichigo." The drone said.

"Alright!" Ichigo said. Tauros went over to Ichigo and started licking his face. "Hey! I'm happy too, but stop." Ichigo regrouped with the others and he was being rewarded his badge.

"That was great work, Ichigo. You turned out best trait against us." Rose said and held out the badge that looked like a yellow flower. "This is proof that you won here. This is the Marigold Badge."

"Thanks a lot, Rose." Ichigo said as he took his second badge and with great pride.

Ichigo succeeded in winning his second badge. It makes him one step closer to entering the Unova League. I wonder where his next gym battle will be. You'll just have to stay tune to find out.