After getting a good night's rest, Ichigo is ready to face Shinji, the leader of the Sakanda Gym, and his powerful psychic-types.

Ichigo and the others stood in front of the gym so that Ichigo can take the challenge.

"Are you all set to get your fourth badge?" Orihime asked.

"You know I am." Ichigo said.

"Have you figured out what you're going to do about Claydol? It's a tough one and I heard Shinji always has some form of counter strategy." Rukia said.

"It will all work out. Absol, let's do this." Ichigo said.

"Absol!"

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) Counter Reverse

Ichigo and the others walked inside the tower, but there was no one to greet them. All there was, was a set of stairs.

"I guess we go up. Here I come, Shinji." Ichigo said as all of them started walking up. As they walked through a tunnel of stairs, they came out of one end and it looked like they were upside down. "What the heck? How did this happen?"

"Wow! We're defying gravity!" Orihime said.

"Relax." Rukia said as she felt a wall in the air. "It's just an optical illusion. We're fine. Just keep going straight." All of them kept going, but the place was confusing.

"I can't even tell which way is up anymore." Ichigo said. Eventually, they made it to the last step and came across a door. When the door opened up, they found themselves on the battlefield and Shinji was waiting for them.

"Welcome. I've been waiting for you." Shinji said. "You like my little trick. It's like a carnival ride."

"Not really, but I'm glad to be here for a battle." Ichigo said.

"So let's get started." Shinji said as they both took their positions.

"The gym battle between Ichigo, the challenger, and Shinji, the gym leader will now begin." The referee said. "Each side will use three pokemon and the battle is over when all three of one side's pokemon are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger may substitute pokemon."

"Here we go." Shinji said. "You're up first, Sigilyph!"

"Sigilyph!"

"Whoa! That's one freaky looking pokemon, but a battle is a battle. Solrock, you're up first!" Ichigo said. Solrock came out and did a little spin with it.

"Solrock!"

"Does Solrock realize this isn't a talent star?" Orihime questioned.

"Ichigo should have the advantage with Solrock as a rock-type and Sigilyph being a flying-type." Rukia said.

"So you're coming at me with your own psychic-type, but that doesn't mean a win." Shinji said. "Let's get this started and battle." Ichigo was in full agreement and made his move.

"Solrock, start out with Fire Spin." Ichigo said and Solrock generated the vortex of fire.

"Sigilyph use Light Screen." Shinji said. Sigilyph created a screen of light and was able to block the attack. "Now use Air Cutter." Sigilyph flapped its wings and shot out the attack.

"Solrock, dodge it." Ichigo said and Solrock was able to move out of the way.

"Not done yet. Sigilyph use Gust." Shinji said.

"Sigilyph!" Sigilyph flapped its wings and created a strong wind, but it was going for the Air Cutter. When it hit the last attack, Air Cutter was put in reverse and hit Solrock. No one expected that.

"How did that happen?" Chad questioned.

"That must be his famous counter strategy. He always has things go in reverse." Rukia said. "This is going to be tough. Light Screen will last for a while and that strategy could be a real problem."

"Light Screen can't stop this. Solrock use Gyro Ball!" Ichigo said.

"Solrock!" Solrock spun around with rings of light around it and slammed against Sigilyph and pushed it back.

"Gust!" Shinji said.

"Fire Spin!" Ichigo said. Both of them used their attacks and they slammed against each other and cancelled each other out. "Now use Gyro Ball!" Solrock spun around again and slammed against Sigilyph and into the wall. Sigilyph fell down and was beaten.

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

"One down!" Ichigo said.

"Not bad, but that doesn't mean this is over." Shinji said. "Let's go, Beeheyem!"

"Beeheyem!"

"Another freaky looker." Ichigo said. "That doesn't matter. We'll win this one too. Solrock use Fire Spin." Solrock spun around and shot out the flames.

"Beeheyem use Hidden Power." Shinji said. Beeheyem created some mystic orbs and shot them out and blasted Solrock's attack. "Now use Signal Beam." Beeheyem shot out the pink beam and blasted Solrock.

"You can still win. Solrock use Gyro Ball." Ichigo said. Solrock spun around and slammed against Beeheyem. "Now let's use Solar Beam." Solrock started to charge up the attack, but Shinji and Beeheyem were just standing there.

"Why aren't they doing anything?" Rukia said. The attack was fully charged and Solrock fired.

"Beeheyem use Psychic." Shinji said. Beeheyem used the power of its mind and reflected the attack at Solrock. The attack knocked it out.

"Solrock is unable to battle. Beeheyem is the winner." The referee said.

"I see. He uses Psychic to reflect their attacks around." Rukia said. "Since Solar Beam is a grass-type move, it was really effective against Solrock."

"So who's next, Ichigo?" Shinji said.

"Palpitoad, your turn!" Ichigo said.

"Palpitoad!"

"I guess he's saving Absol for last. We'll just have to get Palpitoad out of the way." Shinji said.

"Not happening. Palpitoad use Mud Shot." Ichigo said. Palpitoad jumped up and shot out the mud.

"Reflect it with Psychic." Shinji said. Beeheyem used its psychic powers again and sent the mud back at Palpitoad and it got hit by its own attack again. "Keep it up. We can reflect it all day."

"How about an attack that won't be reflected?" Ichigo said. "Palpitoad use Hyper Voice." Palpitoad took a deep breath and shot out the sonic attack and had Beeheyem trapped. "Now use Rock Smash." Palpitoad jumped up and slammed its tail against Beeheyem.

"Beeheyem use Recover." Shinji said. Beeheyem glowed a green color and its injuries were healing.

"This isn't good. Beeheyem is regaining some of its power." Rukia said.

'I've got to do something, but if we attack, he'll reflect it back with Psychic. I need to counter his counter.' Ichigo thought and that phrase gave him and idea. "Palpitoad use Mud Shot." He said and Palpitoad shot out the mud again.

"You never learn, do you? Reflect it back with Psychic." Shinji said and that's just what Beeheyem did.

"Not this time. Palpitoad use Hydro Pump." Ichigo said.

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad unleashed the water and it blasted through the mud and slammed against Beeheyem. All his friends were impressed that it worked.

"Since Mud Shot is a ground-type move, Hydro Pump pushed through easily, right?" Orihime asked.

"Right. He just might pull this off." Rukia said.

"Finish this with Hyper Voice." Ichigo said. Palpitoad shot out the blast of sound and Beeheyem got hit hard as it slid against the ground and was taken down.

"Beeheyem is unable to battle. Palpitoad is the winner." The referee said.

"Nice going." Ichigo said as Palpitoad was proud of itself. "One more win and that badge is ours."

"I'm not going to hand it over that easily. Claydol, let's go!" Shinji said.

"Claydol!"

"I've been waiting for this. It's time to win." Ichigo said. "Claydol is part ground-type. Palpitoad use Hydro Pump!"

"Palpitoad!" Palpitoad shot out all the water, but Shinji wasn't afraid of it.

"Use Rapid Spin to dodge and then attack with it." Shinji said. Claydol spun around very fast and avoided the attack. Claydol kept spinning and slammed into Palpitoad. "Now use Ancient Power." Claydol formed a white orb and it blasted Palpitoad.

"Stay strong. Palpitoad use Rock Smash." Ichigo said. Palpitoad jumped up to attack again.

"Psybeam." Shinji said. Claydol held up its arms and blasted two blue beams with rings in it. Palpitoad got blasted hard and couldn't land its attack. Palpitoad dropped to the ground and was beaten.

"Palpitoad is unable to battle. Claydol is the winner." The referee said.

"Palpitoad, return." Ichigo said as he got Palpitoad back in its pokeball. "Absol, it looks like it's all up to you."

"Absol." Absol was ready for this battle as he walked on the field.

"Ichigo's going to win with a match like this." Orihime said with full confidence.

"Maybe, but Shinji is a gym leader." Rukia said as she knew he had a trick or two.

"Absol use Razor Wind." Ichigo said. Absol charged up the attack and shot it out with Claydol getting blasted.

"That's fast, but it doesn't matter." Shinji said. "Trick Room, let's go." He snapped his fingers and a checkered pattern room was formed and trapped them inside.

"I was afraid of this." Rukia said.

"We won't let it stop us. Absol use Night Slash." Ichigo said. Absol charged at Claydol, but Absol was moving much slower. Claydol's speed was much faster as it got behind Absol quickly.

"Rapid Spin." Shinji said.

"Claydol!" Claydol spun around and slammed against Absol. It was like getting hit by a bowling ball shot out by a bazooka.

"Absol, are you hurt?" Ichigo said and Absol was able to get back up.

"Not good. As long as Trick Room stays active, Claydol will always be faster than Absol." Rukia said.

"But if Absol is much slower, how is Ichigo going to win?" Orihime said.

"We'll just have to hope for the best." Chad said.

"Absol, try using your Dark Pulse." Ichigo said. Absol was charging up the attack.

"Ancient Power." Shinji said. Claydol formed the white orb and shot it towards Absol and Absol got hit. "Now use Rapid Spin." Claydol spun around and slammed against Absol with Absol hitting the wall. Ichigo didn't know what to do because of Trick Room.

"No matter what we do, Trick Room will have Claydol attack first." Ichigo said. "Wait! That's only if Trick Room is out. Absol use Dark Pulse. You can do it."

"Absol!" Absol used the attack, but Claydol went up and avoided the attack.

"Missed." Shinji taunted.

"Did I?" Ichigo said as the Dark Pulse slammed against the Trick Room. Cracks started forming around the wall and the entire Trick Room shattered. "Without Trick Room, you're no threat. Since it's a psychic-type move, it was vulnerable to dark-types attacks."

"No way!" Shinji said.

"Absol use Night Slash!" Ichigo said. Absol charged right at Claydol. He jumped up and gave Claydol a powerful slash. Claydol was knocked down and hit the ground.

"Claydol is unable to battle. Absol is the winner. Victory goes to Ichigo, the challenger!" The referee said.

"Yeah!" Ichigo cheered as Absol ran to him. "Nice going, Absol. I knew you could do it!"

"Absol!" With his victory, Ichigo was being rewarded his badge.

"That was some quick thinking. You countered all my reverse counters well." Shinji said as he handed over the badge. "Here's proof that you won at the Sakanda Gym. This is the Reverse Badge." The badge were two arrows going in opposite directions.

"Thanks, Shinji. This makes my fourth badge. I'm halfway to the Unova League." Ichigo said. "Do you know where the nearest gym is?"

"That would be the Tenken Gym in Tenken City." Shinji said.

"Tenken City! That's where we're heading." Ichigo said.

"We know you're going to win that gym too." Orihime said and the others agreed.

Ichigo has won his fourth badge. He's just four more away from entering the Unova League. With his fifth badge decided, our heroes will be heading to Tenken City so Ichigo can win badge number five.

…

The Group

"Tenken City, here we come!" Ichigo said as they all hit the road again.

"Excuse me, young lady." Orihime heard someone talking to her. She looked and saw a fortuneteller lady. "I can see your future. I can see your future is going to be a bright one with countless stars."

"Really? It must be all the Pokemon Talent Stars I won." Orihime said as she was glad to hear she was going to do well.

"I also see something in your love life. I see…..orange?"

"Orange?" Orihime questioned as to what that means.

"Orihime!" Ichigo called out and got her attention. "What are you doing over there? Let's get going."

"Sorry. I'm coming!" Orihime said as she ran to catch up with the others and followed what her future told her.

To Be Continued…..