Although Orihime's first Pokemon Talent Star ended in defeat, our heroes continue on with their journey. They're now heading to Sakanda City so that Ichigo can win his fourth badge.

All of them were walking down a path, but Absol stopped as he heard something moving around in the plants.

"Absol, what's wrong?" Ichigo asked as all of them came to a stop. All of them kept their eyes open for anything until they saw a Palpitoad jumped out in front of them.

"Palp?"

"Who's that pokemon?" Orihime asked.

"That's a Palpitoad." Rukia said.

"I wonder what one is doing out here?" Ichigo said, but he got his answer when Palpitoad jumped up and shot a Mud Shot at them and caught them all by surprise with this random attack.

Pokémon!
It's a battle, win or lose
It's the friends you make, it's the road you choose
You've got the right stuff
So make your mind up
Find the courage inside of you
If you're strong you'll survive
And you'll keep your dream alive
Let the battle begin
Pokémon!
Be the best you can be
And find your destiny
It's the master plan
The power's in your hand
Pokémon!

(Ichigo's voice) Palp Me Some Toad

All of them moved out of the way of the Mud Shot and were wondering why Palpitoad was attacking them. Palpitoad jumped up and its tail glowed red/orange color as it was coming down at them. Chad stepped in and was able to block the attack and pushed Palpitoad back.

"Nice Rock Smash." Chad said.

"Thanks, Chad, but what's with that Palpitoad?" Rukia said.

"If it wants a battle, it's got one. Are you ready, Absol?" Ichigo asked. Absol stepped forward and was ready to take action, but Palpitoad acted first. Palpitoad used a Hydro Pump attack and blasted Absol. Ichigo got blasted by the attack as well and both of them were blown away from it.

"Ichigo! Absol!" Orihime shouted. Palpitoad seemed satisfied with what it did and left the group.

"What was that about?" Chad questioned.

"No clue." Rukia said.

"You guys! Ichigo and Absol are gone!" Orihime said.

…

Ichigo

Ichigo and Absol were blasted hard by the Hydro Pump attack that it they went over a hill and started rolling downhill. Ichigo and Absol kept rolling down hill and were at it for a while until they hit the bottom.

"Ow! Dang it!" Ichigo said as they both got up and Ichigo held his head. "That was one nasty ride. Absol, are you okay?"

"Absol." Absol didn't seemed hurt at all.

"That's good." Ichigo said. He had a look around and took a look at the lake. Not much of a sight to behold for the lake was polluted with trash all over the water. "Oh man! Absol, look at this lake. It's all polluted."

"Absol!" None of them could believe their eyes. They all heard something move through the bushes and saw the same Palpitoad from before.

"It's that Palpitoad again. What's it doing here?" Ichigo questioned.

"Toad!" Palpitoad shot out its long tongue and pulled out some of the trash out of the water and into a pile that's on land.

"Is Palpitoad trying to clean up this whole place by itself?" Ichigo questioned. Ichigo and Absol walked over to Palpitoad for they wanted to help it. Palpitoad noticed them, but it didn't look happy. "Palpitoad, calm down. We just want to help you."

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad unleashed a powerful sonic attack that was Hyper Voice. Absol and Ichigo tried to block out the sound, but it was so loud. Ichigo and Absol had no choice, but to move away from Palpitoad.

"What was that about?" Ichigo questioned as they didn't know why Palpitoad would just attack them like that. They watched as Palpitoad continued to clean the lake all alone. Ichigo looked out to the lake and saw how huge it was and how much there was to clean up. "Palpitoad can't clean all of this by itself, but we're going to need some help. Golbat, come on out!"

"Kwia!"

"Golbat, go and find the others and bring them here. We're going to need their help." Ichigo said.

"Golbat!" Golbat understood and flew off to find all the others.

"I wonder what happened here. Why is Palpitoad the only one trying to clean this place?" Ichigo wondered.

"Absol." Absol got Ichigo's attention and saw there were other water-types hanging back.

"What are all of them doing?" Ichigo said. He stepped closer to them to try and talk to them. "Excuse me, but how come none of you are helping Palpitoad." He walked over to them, but they all just left. "What's going on?"

"Absol." Absol got Ichigo's attention and he took a look at Palpitoad. Palpitoad looked really upset as it kept cleaning.

"Why is Palpitoad doing this all alone?" Ichigo questioned.

"Golduck." Ichigo looked and was faced with a Golduck walking towards him. Golduck placed his hand on Ichigo's head.

"What are you doing? Get those flippers off me!" Ichigo said as he tried to pull it off, but he felt something pound against his head. Golduck used the psychic abilities it possessed to show images in Ichigo's head. The lake was once a clean place, but that all started to change. He saw people just dump their trash and it greatly affected the lake and out of all the pokemon, Palpitoad took it the worst. "Now I get it."

"Absol?" Absol didn't understand. Ichigo went over to the lake and pulled out a bottle from the water.

"I can't believe people would just dump all this trash here." Ichigo said. "Now I see why Palpitoad seems to be on edge around humans. This place is Palpitoad's home and it wants to save it, but no one else seems to be helping. They all gave up." Plapitoad continued to try and clean the lake, but it was challenge. "Palpitoad."

"Palpitoad?" Palpitoad looked to see Ichigo and Absol coming over again and looked ready to fight.

"Take it easy. Absol and I just want to help." Ichigo said. "I know this lake is important to you. I really admire how much you want to protect it, but you won't be able to clean this whole place by yourself. So please let us help."

"Absol." Palpitoad didn't really want to, but Palpitoad took a look around and saw it wasn't making much progress on it's own.

"Palp!" Palpitoad agreed to let them help and they were glad to hear that. All three of them got to work on trying to get the lake back. Absol grabbed some trash with his teeth and pulled it on land. Ichigo was careful as he went in the water and pulled some out. Even with some sludge in the water, Palpitoad used Hydro Pump to clean some of it out.

"Oh man. Was someone trying to build a home for Grimer or something?" Ichigo complained, but he pushed through and kept cleaning. All the other pokemon just hanged back for they gave up hope that this lake could be saved, but Golduck was thinking differently. Golduck admired how much perseverance Palpitoad had and there must be something said about Ichigo and Absol willing to help out given the circumstances. Ichigo went over to an old chair and tried to pull it out, but it was stuck. "Come on you sucker."

"Golduck!" Golduck used psychic power and was able to lift Ichigo and the chair out.

"Golduck?" Ichigo questioned if that was its doing. Golduck continued to use psychic abilities to clear out some of the trash and joined in the help. All four of them continued to clear out the trash. It was an inspiration to all the other pokemon as they all stepped forward and started to help out as well. This is what I like to see. All the pokemon came together and got to work on cleaning the entire lake. With everyone working together, the lake became livable again. "That's it!"

"Absol!"

"Palpitoad!" They cleaned out all the trash and sludge that was in the lake and it was sparkling again.

"It's the way you like it and I'm sure you can all keep it this way." Ichigo said. Palpitoad looked at Ichigo and was amazed that a human did this when humans caused the problem.

"Golduck." Golduck was telling Palpitoad to do something that will be a great benefit. Palpitoad understood and tackled Ichigo.

"What was that for?" Ichigo said and Palpitoad looked ready to battle. "I see. You want to battle. I do greatly admire what you've done here so when I win, you're coming with me."

"Kwia!" Golbat succeeded on finding the others and they were all heading to the lake.

"There he is!" Chad said.

"It looks like he's about to battle that Palpitoad." Rukia said.

"Absol use Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Absol charged with his horn glowing purple and slashed against Palpitoad. Palpitoad wasn't giving up as it unleashed a Hyper Voice and had Absol trapped. Then, Palpitoad came down with a Rock Smash. "Absol, get out of the way." Absol was able to dodge the attack before Palpitoad landed it. "Absol use Razor Wind."

"Absol!" Absol unleashed the attack and sent Palpitoad flying in the air.

"Finish this with a Dark Pulse!" Ichigo said. Absol unleashed the beam of dark rings and blasted Palpitoad. Palpitoad hit the ground and was knocked down. "Go, pokeball!" Ichigo tossed the pokeball and it hit Palpitoad as it went inside. The pokeball shook around and everyone waited to see if Palpitoad would be captured. When it dinged, Palpitoad officially belonged to Ichigo. Ichigo went over and lifted the pokeball. "Palpitoad, welcome to the group."

"Absol!" Golduck was happy for Palpitoad as well for Golduck could see those two were going to do great things together. When everything that needed to be done happened, Ichigo and his friends got on the road again.

"By! Take care of that lake!" Ichigo said as they all waved goodbye to all the pokemon living at the lake as they knew it was left in good hands.

"I can't believe you helped an entire lake come back to life." Rukia said after Ichigo told them everything that happened.

"It was tough, but with everyone working together, it could be done." Ichigo said.

"And now you have a new Palpitoad." Orihime said. "You're really something special, Ichigo."

By working together, Ichigo and other pokemon were able to save an entire lake from being polluted. With Palpitoad joining them on this journey, our heroes continue on their journey for Ichigo's next gym battle.

To Be Continued….

AN: For those who don't know, I have a poll on my profile and I would like it if you vote.