Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter was originally edited by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot.
Pokémon is owned by Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, and Game Freak.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking.
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
"$:Hello.:$" – Parseltongue
Chapter 65:
It was around noon when Ichigo opened his eyes and got out of bed. After a quick shower, he checked out of the Pokémon Center. The sun was already high in the sky as he left Cerulean City and began walking along Route 7 toward Saffron City.
"I think this will be Kirlia's time to shine," Ichigo thought.
"Really!?" Kirlia replied, her excitement clear in her voice.
"Yes, Kirlia," Ichigo answered.
"Yippie!" she shouted joyfully.
"Yami, Gengar, and Metagross will be back up," Ichigo thought.
"Okay," Metagross chimed in.
They soon reached Saffron City, and Ichigo entered the Pokémon Center.
"Hello! How can I help you?" Nurse Joy asked.
"I need a room for the night," Ichigo said, handing her his Pokédex.
"Okay, give me a moment," she replied, returning the Pokédex to him. "You'll be in room 4."
"Hey, you're planning to challenge the gym?" one of the trainers sitting on a couch asked.
"I am," Ichigo replied.
"Some time ago, the Gym Leader changed."
"Changed?" Ichigo questioned.
"Sabrina took over after her parents, Adam and Lisa, suddenly disappeared," Nurse Joy interjected.
"I see… I'll keep that in mind," Ichigo said, then left the Pokémon Center and headed toward the Gym.
When Ichigo arrived at the Saffron Gym and entered, he was greeted by a young boy.
"Greetings, trainer. Mistress Sabrina is expecting you," the boy said telepathically.
Ichigo nodded and walked down the hall, passing a few others who were practicing their psychic abilities. They soon arrived at the battlefield, where Ichigo saw Sabrina sitting on a throne. She had long black hair with shorter layers around her face, a fringe, and small purple eyes. She wore a red and black dress with yellow cuffs over black tights, white gloves, and red-and-yellow knee-high boots. On her lap sat a little girl in a pink-and-white sundress with a white hat adorned with a large pink bow. The girl was holding a Poké Ball.
"So, it's time for us to play," Sabrina said in an emotionless voice. The doors behind Ichigo slammed shut, sealing him in the room. Sabrina levitated out of her throne and stood on the battlefield. "One-on-one. An all-out match," she said.
"Very well then," Ichigo said. The little girl let go of the Poké Ball, but instead of falling, it floated up.
"Come now, Alakazam," Sabrina said. The Poké Ball shot toward the battlefield, releasing Alakazam.
"Go, Kirlia!" Ichigo called as he threw his Poké Ball. Kirlia appeared, staring at Alakazam.
"Your Kirlia is not normal," Sabrina remarked.
"She was an experiment from Team Rocket that I rescued," Ichigo explained. Sabrina nodded.
"Psychic," she ordered. Alakazam's eyes glowed blue as it released a wave of psychic energy toward Kirlia. Kirlia smacked the attack away.
"Kirlia, use Dark Pulse!" Ichigo ordered. Dark energy gathered in Kirlia's arms, and she fired it at Alakazam.
"Teleport," Sabrina commanded. Alakazam quickly teleported out of the way, and Dark Pulse slammed into the ground, leaving a small crater.
"Kirlia use Calm Mind while we wait for Alakazam to respond," Ichigo instructed.
"Yes Daddy," Kirlia replied, closing her eyes and beginning to glow.
"For Kirlia to be able to ignore Psychic like that, she must either still be a Psychic-type or have gained Steel or Dark typing," Sabrina thought. "In that case…"
"Dazzling Gleam," Sabrina ordered. Alakazam raised its spoons, gathering fairy energy around it.
"Teleport away!" Ichigo mentally shouted. Kirlia opened her eyes just as Alakazam fired the attack. Kirlia teleported away, narrowly avoiding the blast.
"So, his Kirlia is likely Psychic/Dark-type," Sabrina concluded as Kirlia reappeared near Ichigo's side of the field.
"How many times did you use Calm Mind?" Ichigo asked.
"Twice," Kirlia replied.
"Do you think one Dark Pulse will be enough to defeat it?" Ichigo questioned.
"I'm not sure," Kirlia answered. She gathered dark energy around her hands before teleporting away again.
"Keep your guard up and get another Dazzling Gleam ready," Sabrina warned Alakazam.
"Yes my lady," Alakazam replied. Another ball of fairy energy formed in front of Alakazam. Suddenly, Kirlia appeared behind it. Alakazam quickly turned around. Both Pokémon fired their respective attacks, hitting their targets. Both Kirlia and Alakazam collapsed to the ground.
"Kirlia, teleport back to my side of the battlefield," Ichigo ordered. Kirlia groaned but obeyed, teleporting away.
"You okay?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm fine. Using those Calm Minds helped," Kirlia replied.
"Are you ok Alakazam?" Sabrina asked.
"Not doing so well," Alakazam admitted. "I believe she used Calm Mind to boost herself."
"I see… Start teleporting around and use Double Team to distract her. Use that moment to use Recover," Sabrina ordered. Alakazam nodded and began teleporting around, creating copies of itself.
"Damn," Kirlia grumbled as she was surrounded by clones of Alakazam.
"Use a weaker version of Dark Pulse to destroy the clones," Ichigo instructed. Kirlia raised her arms and fired a weaker version of Dark Pulse. The attacks pierced through the clones, dispelling them. The remaining copies of Alakazam glowed golden, activating Recover.
"Oh no you don't!" Kirlia shouted, continuing to fire at the clones. She eventually hit the real Alakazam, dispelling the remaining copies.
"How much did you recover?" Sabrina asked.
"About a quarter," Alakazam answered.
"Teleport and Dazzling Gleam," Sabrina ordered. Alakazam nodded and began teleporting around the field, gathering fairy energy.
"Damn," Ichigo thought, realizing what Alakazam was preparing.
"Oh no you don't," Kirlia replied, teleporting around and gathering dark energy. Both Kirlia and Alakazam continued to teleport around, firing their respective attacks whenever an opportunity arose. Ichigo glanced at Sabrina. At the beginning of the battle, her face had been emotionless, but now it showed determination and concern for her Pokémon. She subconsciously let go of the little girl, who began to smile and fade, becoming more transparent.
Alakazam managed to hit Kirlia with a Dazzling Gleam, causing her to crash into the ground.
"Kirlia!" Ichigo shouted, disregarding telepathy. Alakazam appeared beside Sabrina, looking extremely tired.
"Are you okay?" Sabrina asked, showing genuine concern for her Pokémon.
"I haven't pushed myself this hard for a long time," Alakazam replied, watching as Kirlia struggled to push herself up.
"I'm not done yet!" Kirlia mentally shouted as she forced herself to stand. Suddenly, she was enveloped in white light.
"Looks like this was enough to push her," Ichigo thought.
Kirlia began to grow, almost to Ichigo's height. The light faded, revealing her new form. Her body now resembled a flowing black gown, with her arms and the underside of the gown matching her blue hair. Her hair curled over her face and down the sides of her head. Behind her red eyes were short spikes, resembling a masquerade mask. Long arms with three fingers on each hand and slender white legs completed the transformation. A red, fin-like horn extended from her chest, and a shorter, more rounded horn grew from the back. A band of blue on her chest stretched to the center of the front horn, connecting to her sleeve-like arms.
"Looks like your Kirlia evolved into a Gardevoir," Sabrina observed.
"Indeed," Ichigo said, his gaze fixed on his Pokémon.
"Do you think you can finish this?" Ichigo asked.
"I can," Gardevoir replied, dark energy gathering around her hands.
"Alakazam!" Sabrina shouted. Alakazam quickly gathered fairy energy.
Both Pokémon fired their attacks at the same time. The two energies collided with a massive explosion, scattering dust everywhere. Alakazam scanned the battlefield, trying to locate Gardevoir. Suddenly, something struck him from behind. As the dust settled, Gardevoir was seen standing over the unconscious Alakazam. She teleported back to Ichigo's side.
"Good job. Take a long rest," Sabrina said, raising her Poké Ball to recall her Pokémon.
Sabrina walked to the center of the battlefield.
"Congratulations on defeating me," she said, summoning the Marsh Badge. She smiled faintly as she handed it to Ichigo.
"Thank you," Ichigo replied, pocketing the badge. Just then the door slammed open and two people, a man and a woman entered the battlefield. Sabrina glared at the strangers, her psychic energy becoming palpable as the debris around them began to float.
"Sabrina, honey," the man said.
"Stop it, Adam," Sabrina snapped, her voice filled with anger.
"Sabrina, stop throwing a tantrum," the woman said, trying not to show her fear.
Ichigo turned to Sabrina.
"May I teleport us all out of here?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes," Sabrina replied, regaining control of her psychic energy and allowing the rubble to fall. The impact kicked up dust, obscuring the view of Sabrina's parents. Gardevoir teleported them out of the Gym just as the dust settled.
Scene Change: Saffron City Pokémon Center
Ichigo, Sabrina, and Gardevoir appeared in Ichigo's room.
"Thank you Gardevoir," Ichigo said as he recalled her. He quickly cast a privacy spell around them.
"If I may ask, what was that about?" Ichigo asked. Sabrina sighed and sat down in the chair.
"When I was younger, I developed strong psychic powers. I was called a monster," Sabrina began. "The only people I could trust were my parents. As time passed, I was alone except for them and my Pokémon." She showed a sad smile. "Then, two weeks ago, I overheard a private conversation between them. I discovered that I was adopted from an orphanage. They adopted me because of my psychic abilities. They were planning to kick me out when Lisa finally got pregnant." Tears began to form in Sabrina's eyes. "Hearing that hurt. My powers went out of control, and I forced them to teleport away."
Sabrina began crying again, and Ichigo walked over to hug her.
"It's okay. Let it all out," Ichigo said softly, gently rubbing her back. They stayed like that for a few minutes until Sabrina stopped crying.
"Do you feel better now?" Ichigo asked.
"I do," Sabrina admitted, wiping her eyes as Ichigo released her from the hug.
"So what will you do now?" Ichigo asked.
"I… I don't know," Sabrina confessed. "But I don't want to be here anymore."
"Then come with me," Ichigo offered.
"Huh?" Sabrina questioned, her eyebrows furrowing.
"I'm planning to travel the rest of Kanto. You can join me and use that time to think about what you want to do next," Ichigo suggested.
"Hm… Can I have some time to think about it?" Sabrina asked.
"Sure," Ichigo said as he stood up. "Use my room for the time being," he added as he left.
Ichigo pulled out Gardevoir's Poké Ball and scanned it with his Pokédex.
"This Gardevoir is a Female, Psychic/Dark-type, 5 feet 7 inches tall, with the Regenerator and Dark Aura abilities. Known moves include Teleport, Calm Mind, Double Team, Confuse Ray, Fairy Light, Psychic, Moonblast, Dark Pulse, and Night Daze. Notably, this Pokémon's physical appearance and typing combination are unusual. Please rescan the Poké Ball to attempt fixing anomalies."
Ichigo pocketed his Pokédex and handed Gardevoir's Poké Ball to Nurse Joy. She quickly took it and placed it in the machine.
"Please give me a few moments," she said.
Ichigo nodded, glancing at the clock.
"Looks like it's already nighttime," he thought. Nurse Joy handed back Gardevoir's Poké Ball after a few minutes.
"Thank you," Ichigo said, pocketing the ball as he left the Pokémon Center.
"According to the games, the player had a chance to deal with Team Rocket here," Ichigo thought. "Let's see what's really going on." He activated Schrift E: The Earth, tapping his foot on the ground to send small vibrations through the building. "Looks like the employees are being held hostage inside," Ichigo mused. "Hm… a backdoor." He walked around to find the back entrance. Gently tapping the back door, he forced the locking pins down and opened it.
"Looks like the building's crawling with grunts. It's going to be a pain to avoid them," Ichigo thought as he released Roserade and Gengar.
"We're going in fast. Disable all the grunts before they can respond," Ichigo instructed. Gengar grinned manically, while Roserade nodded in agreement.
"Let's go," Ichigo said, charging inside. Gengar used Hypnosis while Roserade sprayed Sleep Powder, quickly neutralizing the grunts. Ichigo climbed the stairs since the elevators weren't working. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the top floor. They heard two people yelling. Ichigo signaled for Gengar and Roserade to hide in his shadow as he barged into the room. Inside, an elderly man was tied to a chair. Rin, and one other person, were arguing.
"So, the hero finally arrives," the man said, slapping Rin in the face and pushing her aside as he walked toward Ichigo.
"Where's Giovanni?" Ichigo thought.
"It's time to finally get rid of you," the man sneered, releasing his Houndoom. Ichigo responded by sending out his Blastoise.
"Houndoom, use Thunder Fang!" Alexi commanded. Houndoom's mouth glowed yellow as it charged toward Blastoise.
"Blastoise, use Gyro Ball," Ichigo ordered. Blastoise glowed silver, tucking its arms into its shell. With incredible speed, Blastoise spun toward the charging Houndoom.
"Dodge it!" Alexi shouted. Houndoom jumped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack. Blastoise stopped spinning and emerged from its shell. "Bite its limb and use Thunder Fang!" Houndoom lunged at Blastoise, its mouth glowing yellow.
"Wait for it," Ichigo whispered. Blastoise stood firm, and Houndoom bit down on one of Blastoise's arms, releasing a large burst of electricity.
"Blast," Blastoise growled in response.
"HA!" Alexi taunted, smirking.
"Blastoise, use Liquidation!" Ichigo ordered. Water gathered around Blastoise's limb, engulfing Houndoom in a deluge. Houndoom released its grip, struggling to escape the water. Blastoise seized the opportunity, grabbing Houndoom and slamming it into the ground.
"Houndoom, escape!" Alexi commanded. Houndoom let out a pained howl as Blastoise continued to slam it against the ground.
"Grr," Alexi growled in frustration and pulled out two more Poké Balls. "Gengar, Exeggutor, take down that Blastoise!" he ordered, releasing his Pokémon. Gengar and Exeggutor charged at Blastoise.
Ichigo quickly grabbed a Poké Ball.
"Gardevoir intercept Gengar with Psychic. Blastoise, throw Houndoom at Exeggutor, then use Hydro Pump!"
Gardevoir fired a blast of psychic energy at Gengar, slamming the Ghost-type into a nearby wall. Gengar couldn't phase through the psychic grip, making it vulnerable to the attack.
Blastoise grabbed the unconscious Houndoom and threw it at Exeggutor, who used her Psychic to catch it, unaware of the incoming Hydro Pump. Blastoise pointed its cannons at them and unleashed a torrent of high-pressure water. The blast sent them flying back toward Alexi.
Seeing the situation unfold, Gardevoir threw Gengar back toward its trainer. All three of Alexi's Pokémon landed in front of him, exhausted and defeated.
"Damn it all!" Alexi cursed. Suddenly, the office doors burst open as police officers entered the room.
"Fuck!" Alexi shouted as he recalled his Pokémon and released his Exeggutor. He looked at Rin. "You coming?"
"No," she replied.
"Fucking traitor," Alexi muttered, turning to Exeggutor.
"Stop!" one of the officers shouted at Alexi.
"Teleport!" Alexi ordered. Ninetales released a burst of psychic energy and teleported away.
"Ah, young man," an elderly voice called. Ichigo turned to see a police officer and an older man approaching.
"After you finish with him, I need to ask you a few questions," the officer said, escorting Rin out.
"Thank you for saving me," the man said, giving Ichigo a grateful look. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jonathan Silph, owner of Silph Co."
"I'm Ichigo Kurosaki, Pokémon Trainer. What was Team Rocket trying to steal from you?" Ichigo asked.
"Our Poké Ball research," Jonathan answered, and Ichigo's mind raced.
"So, the Master Ball doesn't exist then," Ichigo thought.
"Allow me to explain," Jonathan began. "Have you ever wondered why you need to weaken a Pokémon before you throw a regular Poké Ball at it?"
"Is it because the Pokémon can resist being captured?" Ichigo guessed.
"That's somewhat correct," Jonathan replied. "A regular Poké Ball is intended for use on inexperienced Pokémon, like Oddish or Geodude. It allows trainers to raise those Pokémon gradually, making them more obedient. But if an inexperienced trainer tried to capture a Vileplume or Golem, the risks are higher. Battling the wild Pokémon first lowers that risk, as we assume the trainer can handle it with their own Pokémon."
Jonathan continued, "As time went on, experienced trainers and wealthier customers wanted a ball capable of capturing more powerful Pokémon. So we developed the Great Ball, and eventually the Ultra Ball. We sold them at a higher price to deter inexperienced trainers from purchasing them."
"I wouldn't be surprised if Team Rocket were one of those 'richer customers,'" Ichigo thought, noting the possibility.
"With the success of the Great Ball and Ultra Ball, we were tasked with creating a better Poké Ball, one that could capture any wild Pokémon. We called it the Master Ball. Team Rocket tried to steal our research for the Master Ball and all of our Great and Ultra Balls."
"I see…" Ichigo said, his expression thoughtful.
"Ichigo," Jonathan said, standing up. "For saving my life and Silph Co., I'm offering you a 50% discount on any Silph Co. product, no matter the price."
"But Jonathan…" Ichigo started.
"I insist," Jonathan said firmly, walking to his computer. "Can I see your trainer card?"
Ichigo pulled out his Pokédex.
"Even better." Jonathan smiled, pulling out a wire and connecting his computer to Ichigo's Pokédex.
"How long does this gift last?"
"It will last a lifetime," Jonathan replied.
"I see…" Ichigo said, contemplating the offer.
"Normally, I'd have you sign a nondisclosure agreement since the public shouldn't know about this, but I'll let it slide."
"No. I should sign one. Just to be fair," Ichigo said, wanting to be cautious.
"Very well." Jonathan pulled out a nondisclosure agreement, and Ichigo quickly read it before signing.
"Jonathan, how did Team Rocket know about the project?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm honestly not sure," Jonathan admitted.
"Team Rocket could have interrogated anyone who signed a nondisclosure agreement," Ichigo suggested.
"Since only those who signed would know about it," Jonathan finished, pulling out a sheet of paper and writing down all the names. "I'll let Officer Jenny know about this lead."
They left his office and met with Officer Jenny, who was waiting at the entrance of Silph Co. She escorted them to the Police Station, where she briefed them on the events. Jonathan provided the list of names, and after the report, Ichigo was escorted to the Pokémon Center.
His Pokémon were quickly healed, and as Ichigo returned to his room, he noticed the shower running. An unfamiliar backpack lay on the bed.
"Sabrina, just to let you know, I'm in the room," Ichigo said as he sat down in the chair.
"Hm. Looks like we're heading to Route 6, with a brief stop in Vermilion City before embarking on a long hike through Routes 11-15 to reach Fuchsia City," Ichigo thought, glancing at the map. "It should take us a day or two to get to Vermilion City, and then maybe a week and a half to reach Fuchsia City. That should be long enough to get everyone leveled up."
He released Gardevoir from her Poké Ball.
"Yes, Ichigo?" she asked.
"I've divided our new Pokémon into four groups. The first group is Ponyta, Hatenna, Fairy Eevee, Miyuki, and Rookidee. The second group is Magmar, Torchic, Salandit, Litwick, Tynamo, and Electabuzz. The third group consists of Sandshrew, Larvitar, Honedge, Geodude, Gible, and Mudkip. And the fourth group is Zorua, Dark Eevee, Deino, Treecko, and Pawniard." Ichigo handed the list to Gardevoir. "While we're traveling, I'll have each group train for a few hours each day. The other groups will rest in the Trainer with the older Pokémon, who will also teach them new moves."
"Very well, I'll inform everyone," Gardevoir replied as Ichigo returned her and the rest of his Pokémon to the Trainer.
The sound of the shower cut off, and Sabrina stepped out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel.
"I assume you're joining me on my journey?" Ichigo asked.
"For now," Sabrina replied. Ichigo noticed that Sabrina had a few other Poké Balls with her.
"Besides Alakazam, who else do you have with you?" Ichigo asked.
"Allow me to show you," Sabrina said, releasing her Pokémon. Ichigo saw an Espeon, a Kadabra, a Mr. Mime, and a Hypno before she recalled them.
"Do you have everything you need?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't have a sleeping bag," Sabrina admitted.
"That's fine. We'll pick one up before we leave," Ichigo said, pulling out his own sleeping bag. "You can take the bed," he added.
"Thank you," Sabrina replied.
Scene Change: Unknown Location: Secret Team Rocket Hideout
The door burst open as Alexi entered the hideout.
"Damn it!" he yelled in frustration, slumping into a nearby chair. "Damn it," he muttered again.
"Most of our remaining forces were at Silph Co.," he thought. "To think our great organization was crushed by one single person." Suddenly, a display lit up.
"Incoming call," the screen announced. Alexi grabbed a remote from the coffee table and pressed it, accepting the call.
"Boss," Alexi greeted.
"Alexi. I've heard the raid at Silph Co. was unsuccessful," the Boss's voice replied.
"It was that man's fault," Alexi grumbled.
"Ichigo Kurosaki," the Boss responded. "According to my sources, Rin was also detained by them."
"That bitch betrayed us!" Alexi yelled.
"I see…" the Boss said, pondering the situation in silence. "For now, stay hidden. Do not attract attention to yourself."
"Very well," Alexi replied, trying to control his anger.
"Is there anything else you wish to report?" the Boss asked.
"No," Alexi answered. The Boss nodded, and the call ended.
"DAMN IT!" Alexi shouted, flipping the table and finally releasing his pent-up rage. He stormed into his room and walked to a hidden vault. He unlocked it and opened the door to reveal a small laptop. He grabbed it and powered it on. The screen displayed four quadrants, one showing Alexi's face.
One quadrant lit up to reveal a young man with well-kept blond hair, brushed to one side. He was dressed in a white shirt with long black sleeves and a silver vest with a golden G on the left breast.
"This is an unexpected call, Alexi," the man said.
Another quadrant lit up, showing a young man with shoulder-length black hair. He wore a fully black dress shirt, matching slacks, black gloves, a long trench coat, and black combat boots.
"What's going on, Alexi?" he asked.
"Ryan," Alexi said, glancing at the blond-haired man. "Arthur," he added, nodding to the black-haired one. "We have a major issue with Team Rocket."
"Does this issue include your missing sister?" Ryan asked.
"Don't speak about that traitorous bitch!" Alexi growled, anger flaring at the mention of his sister's betrayal.
"Hm…" Arthur said, clearly evaluating the situation. "So, can you salvage it?"
"Doubt it," Alexi grumbled. "Boss and I are the only high-ranking officials left. Most of the grunts have been arrested."
"Hm… Any idea who caused it?" Ryan asked.
"I'll send you the information later," Alexi replied. "How is everything on your end?"
"Going well," Ryan answered.
"Same here," Arthur replied.
"Do you think either of your organizations could take me in?"
"Not here. You wouldn't survive wearing the uniform," Arthur admitted.
"Hm… I do," Ryan said. "The Commander asked us to recruit more people."
"Thanks," Alexi replied.
"Be warned, though. The training to be an official member is tough."
"Aren't you an official member?" Alexi asked.
"Fuck no. I'm barely the level of a grunt," Ryan complained.
"I see…" Alexi muttered.
"Anything else?" Arthur asked.
"No," Alexi said, cutting the connection. "Fucking Rin," he growled, storming out of his room.
Scene Change: Saffron City
Ichigo and Sabrina stepped out of the Pokémon Center into the morning sun. Sabrina stopped by the PokéMart to get her own sleeping bag and other essentials, while Ichigo restocked on potions and PokéChow. As they walked toward the southern side of Saffron City, Ichigo explained the route they'd be taking to Fuchsia City.
"Thank you for avoiding Lavender Town. That place gives me terrible headaches," Sabrina remarked.
They arrived at the entrance to Route 6 and began their journey toward Fuchsia City.
Scene Change: Fuchsia City
They spent two weeks in the forest. During this time, Ichigo and Sabrina grew closer. Ichigo was able to evolve most of his Pokémon, with a few almost ready to evolve. However, Yami, now over 20 feet tall, asked for Ichigo's permission to disappear. Yami explained that something was calling for her. Ichigo, understanding, gave his blessing. Yami promised to return as soon as possible before vanishing into the shadows.
Ichigo and Sabrina finally arrived in Fuchsia City and made their way to the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy greeted them, checked them in, and took their Pokémon for healing. After a long, hot shower, Ichigo and Sabrina met at Nurse Joy's desk.
"I've finished healing all your Pokémon," Nurse Joy said, returning their Pokémon to them.
"Thank you," they both replied, collecting their Pokémon.
"Are you planning to challenge Koga right now?" Sabrina asked.
"No, not yet," Ichigo replied. "I was thinking of checking out the Safari Zone."
"Sure," Sabrina agreed.
They left the Pokémon Center and walked toward the edge of Fuchsia City. Soon, they reached a large brown building. The entire structure was fenced off to prevent Pokémon from escaping or people from stealing them. Ichigo and Sabrina entered and approached the receptionist.
"Welcome to the Safari Zone. Is this your first time here?" she asked.
"It is," Ichigo replied.
"Great," the receptionist said, pointing to a large sign beside her. "Let me explain the rules to both of you. First, no outside Pokémon or items are allowed in the Safari Zone. Second, the Safari Band must be worn at all times. Third, only Safari Balls may be used to capture Pokémon. And finally, no stealing Pokémon from other trainers within the Safari Zone."
"Do you two understand the rules?" she asked.
"We do," they replied.
"Great. Please use the lockers to store your Poké Balls and any other items," she instructed. Ichigo pretended to use the locker, sending his belongings to the Trainer. "There's a 1,000 PokéDollar entry fee per person." Ichigo and Sabrina paid the fee. The receptionist handed them their bands and a bag of Safari Balls.
"Are there any other questions?" she asked.
"Is there a list of all the Pokémon in the Safari Zone?" Ichigo asked.
"Yes, there is," the receptionist replied, pointing to a board near the entrance to the Safari Zone.
"Thank you," they replied, walking over to the board to check out the available Pokémon.
"Rhyperior and Scizor would be powerful additions to the team," Ichigo commented.
"Slowbro, Exeggutor, and Golduck would bring more diversity to my team," Sabrina said.
"Why not go for a Slowking?" Ichigo suggested.
"There's not much information on how to evolve a Slowpoke into a Slowking," Sabrina replied.
"I see…" Ichigo said. They entered the Safari Zone, and Ichigo activated Schrift E: The Earth to track their targets. They soon spotted two Slowpoke relaxing by a creek. One had a yellow coloration on its forehead and tail. They observed the Slowpoke for a while before they returned to their relaxed state.
"Should I capture both of them?" Sabrina asked.
"Sure. The one with the yellow might be a regional variation of the other one," Ichigo theorized.
Sabrina threw her Safari Balls at the two Slowpoke. Neither of them resisted, and both were captured. Just as they were about to leave, a Psyduck waddled over. Sabrina quickly threw a Poké Ball at it before it could react.
They continued walking and stumbled upon a herd of Rhyhorn. The largest one took notice of them, stomping its foot to try and intimidate them. Ichigo ignored it and continued forward. The Rhyhorn glared at him before releasing a yellowish glow and charging at him.
"Ichigo!" Sabrina yelled, preparing to pull him out of harm's way.
"I got this," Ichigo said, extending his hands. The Rhyhorn crashed into him, kicking up dirt. When the dust settled, Ichigo was holding Rhyhorn's horn, and the Rhyhorn's eyes widened in shock.
"My turn," Ichigo said, gripping the horn tightly, turning his back, and slamming the Rhyhorn into the ground.
"RHY!" the Rhyhorn yelled in pain and humiliation. Sabrina and the other Rhyhorn looked on, astonished by Ichigo's strength.
"A normal Rhyhorn weighs about 253.5 pounds (115.0 kilograms), and Ichigo was able to do that with ease," Sabrina thought, still in disbelief.
The Rhyhorn managed to stand up, clearly shaken. Ichigo pulled out a Safari Ball. "Do you want to continue or submit to me?" Ichigo asked.
The Rhyhorn stared at him for a moment before walking over and tapping the Safari Ball, allowing itself to be captured.
Ichigo and Sabrina turned to walk away, Ichigo continuing to lead.
They came across an Exeggcute hiding among the rocks. Sabrina threw her Safari Ball, easily capturing it.
"Looks like I got all the Pokémon I wanted," Sabrina said. "We should keep going if we want to find that Scyther."
"Don't worry, Scyther is coming," Ichigo said. Suddenly, he pushed Sabrina aside to avoid a blade strike. They turned to see the blade retract as a Scyther emerged from the shadows, glaring at them.
"This Scyther was stalking the Exeggcute," Ichigo said, preparing for the battle.
The Scyther's blade arms glowed light green as it slashed down in an X shape.
"That's X-Scissors," Sabrina recognized.
The attack flew toward Ichigo, who swatted it away, hitting a nearby tree.
"My turn," Ichigo said, cracking his knuckles. Scyther glared at him, preparing for his move. Ichigo tightened his fists and sent quick jabs at Scyther. It blocked every punch with ease, but then Ichigo swept Scyther's legs, causing it to fall to the ground. Before Scyther could react, Ichigo's fist was hovering near its face, ready to strike.
"Do you admit defeat?" Ichigo asked. Scyther glared at him for a few moments before slowly nodding in acknowledgment of its defeat. Ichigo stepped back, allowing Scyther to stand.
Ichigo held out the Safari Ball. Scyther tapped it with its blades, and the ball opened to capture it.
"Looks like we're done," Ichigo said.
"Indeed," Sabrina agreed. They made their way back to the Safari Zone entrance.
"Welcome back," the receptionist greeted. "Please drop off any unused Safari Balls in the bin to your right."
Ichigo and Sabrina did as instructed. "Now then, one at a time, please place your used Safari Balls, your Safari Band, and your Trainer ID on the counter," she requested.
Ichigo removed his Safari Band, took out his Pokédex, and placed his two Safari Balls on the counter. The receptionist scanned each item with her computer. She then returned Ichigo's Pokédex and Safari Balls.
"Thank you," she said, handing them back.
Sabrina then placed her Trainer ID, three Safari Balls, and Safari Band on the counter. The receptionist repeated the scanning process. When she scanned the final Safari Ball, her face suddenly tensed.
"Um... I need to contact my boss," she said hurriedly, running toward the back.
"It's probably because of the other Slowpoke," Ichigo said. The receptionist returned, her face much less tense than before. She finished processing their items and handed Sabrina her Trainer ID and Safari Balls.
"Thank you," they said before leaving the Safari Zone. They walked toward the Pokémon Gym, where they were greeted by a receptionist dressed like a ninja.
"To challenge Ninja Master Koga, you must traverse through our Gym. Be aware that many traps are in store for you," he said. He then threw a smoke pellet on the ground, releasing a cloud of smoke as he disappeared.
Ichigo turned to Sabrina. "Do you want to come with me?"
"Do you know where all the traps are?" she telepathically asked.
Ichigo tapped his foot, using the vibrations to map out the gym and the location of the traps. "I do," he replied.
They made their way through the gym, skillfully avoiding the traps. After ten minutes, they arrived at the battlefield, where Koga was waiting.
"I'm impressed," Koga said. "No one has ever made it through the entire gym without triggering at least one trap." He glanced at Sabrina. "It's nice to see you again, Sabrina."
"Same to you," she replied. Ichigo stepped onto the battlefield.
"This will be a six-on-six. Is that fine with you?" Koga asked.
"Be careful. He's supposed to do a four-on-four," Sabrina warned.
"That's fine," Ichigo said confidently.
The referee took his place in the middle of the battlefield. "The battle between Gym Leader Koga and Challenger Ichigo will begin. Both trainers will be allowed to use six Pokémon. Only the challenger will be allowed to substitute."
"Go, Weezing," Koga said.
"Go, Bisharp," Ichigo replied.
"Weezing vs. Bisharp. Begin!"
"Weezing, use Toxic Spikes!" Koga commanded. Weezing spun in a circle, scattering purple spikes all over the field.
"Bisharp, Psycho Cut!" Ichigo ordered. Bisharp's elbows glowed purple as she swung her arms, sending a crescent-shaped blade of energy toward Weezing.
"Dodge it!" Koga shouted. Weezing stopped spinning and sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the Psycho Cut.
"Jump on that Weezing and use Psycho Cut!" Ichigo commanded. Bisharp charged toward the floating Weezing.
"Weezing, use Fire Blast!" Koga ordered. Weezing took a deep breath, gathering fire in its mouth.
"Get out of there, Bisharp!" Ichigo yelled. Weezing released a fiery blast in a large shape. Bisharp managed to avoid most of the attack, but her right arm was grazed.
"Bisharp!" Ichigo called. Bisharp stood back up, glaring at Weezing. "Use Psycho Cut!"
Bisharp launched more purple crescent-shaped energy blades toward Weezing.
"Weezing, dodge them!" Koga ordered. Weezing tried to evade the Psycho Cuts but was too slow to avoid them all.
"Damn it," Koga thought as he watched Weezing take hit after hit.
"Weezing, get in close and use Self-Destruct!" Koga commanded. Weezing glowed white as it charged toward Bisharp.
"Bisharp, get out of there!" Ichigo yelled. Bisharp leaped to the side, narrowly escaping the blast. Weezing, glowing brighter, continued to chase her. Finally, the explosion rang out, kicking up dust and debris.
As the dust settled, both Weezing and Bisharp lay unconscious.
"The first match is a draw," the referee announced. Ichigo and Koga recalled their Pokémon.
"Go, Muk," Koga said.
"Go, Duoblade," Ichigo replied.
"Looks like another Steel Type." Koga thought.
"The match between Muk and Duoblade will begin," the referee declared.
"Muk, use Moonblast!" Koga ordered. Muk raised its hands, gathering Fairy-type energy.
"Duoblade, use Shadow Sneak!" Ichigo commanded. Muk hurled a ball of Fairy energy at Duoblade. Duoblade dropped to the ground and entered its own shadow, avoiding the attack.
"Muk, while it's hiding, use Double Team!" Koga shouted. Muk began to duplicate itself, creating copies of itself all over the battlefield.
"This is going to be hard to find the real one," Ichigo thought, scanning the battlefield.
"Duoblade, use Psycho Cut to destroy the copies!" Ichigo ordered. Duoblade's blade glowed purple as it sent Psycho Cuts flying across the field.
"Muk, use Moonblast!" Koga commanded. All the copies of Muk gathered Fairy energy and launched Moonblast at Duoblade.
"Keep going, Duoblade!" Ichigo shouted. As Muk continued to gather energy, Duoblade's Psycho Cuts began to destroy the copies one by one. Soon, only the real Muk remained.
"Dodge it, Duoblade!" Ichigo yelled as Muk released Moonblast. Duoblade swiftly avoided the attack.
"Psycho Cut again!"
"Muk, use Double Team to dodge it!" Koga ordered.
"Don't let Muk escape!" Ichigo commanded. Muk continued making copies, but Duoblade relentlessly targeted them with Psycho Cuts, preventing Muk from hiding among the duplicates.
"Damn it," Koga thought as he saw Muk take hit after hit.
Finally, Muk fell unconscious, its form deflating into a puddle of goo. Duoblade began to glow white, its form evolving into Aegislash.
"Good job," Ichigo said as he recalled his Pokémon. Koga did the same.
"Go, Tentacruel," Koga said. Tentacruel appeared on the battlefield.
"Go, Electabuzz," Ichigo replied. Electabuzz appeared on the field. "Be careful, there are toxic spikes scattered around."
"Electa," she responded, ready for battle.
"The battle between Tentacruel and Electabuzz will begin!" the referee announced.
"Tentacruel, use Sludge Bomb!" Koga commanded. Tentacruel fired balls of smelly purple sludge at Electabuzz.
"Electabuzz, dodge it and use Thunder Punch!" Ichigo ordered.
"Electa!" Electabuzz cried as she leaped over the Sludge Bombs and punched Tentacruel in the face with a powerful Thunder Punch.
"Tenta!" Tentacruel cried in pain.
"Don't let up!" Ichigo shouted. Electabuzz continued to deliver powerful Thunder Punches to Tentacruel.
"Tentacruel, grab that Electabuzz and throw her away!" Koga commanded. Tentacruel reached out with its tentacles and grabbed Electabuzz.
"Electa!" Electabuzz yelled as she released a burst of electricity, shocking Tentacruel and forcing it to let go before it could throw her.
"Electabuzz, use Thunder Punch again!" Ichigo ordered.
"Tentacruel, use Sludge Bomb! Don't let it get close!" Koga commanded. Tentacruel quickly hurled purple sludge at Electabuzz. But Electabuzz skillfully dodged the sludge and the few remaining Toxic Spikes on the field. She leaped towards Tentacruel and began to punch its face.
"Tentacruel, smack her into the pile of sludge!" Koga ordered. Tentacruel used its tentacles to swat Electabuzz into a pile of sludge.
"Electabuzz!" Ichigo called out as she stood up, glaring at Tentacruel with righteous fury.
"ELECTA!" she screamed in rage, her body beginning to glow. The light faded, revealing Electivire.
"VIRE!" she yelled as she charged toward Tentacruel, surrounded by electricity. She slammed her shoulder into Tentacruel, sending it crashing into a wall. "VIRE!" she cried in victory.
"Good job," Ichigo said as he recalled her.
"Impressive. Three to zero in your favor," Koga remarked.
"Three? The first one was a tie," Ichigo replied.
"Officially, two to zero, but you were close to winning the first match," Koga said, tossing out another Poké Ball to reveal his Venomoth. Ichigo chuckled.
"Thank you. I don't have to worry about her complaining later," Ichigo said, sending out his Magmar.
"Damn, another type of disadvantage," Koga thought.
"The match between Venomoth and Magmar will begin," the referee announced.
"Magmar, use Flame Burst!" Ichigo ordered. Magmar gathered a large fireball and threw it toward Venomoth. Venomoth flew into the air, narrowly dodging the fireball, which crashed to the ground and set the field aflame.
"That wasn't aimed at Venomoth. That was to destroy all the remaining sludge and Toxic Spikes on the field," Koga realized.
"Magmar, Flamethrower!" Ichigo shouted. Magmar spewed a stream of flames toward Venomoth.
"Dodge it and use Sludge Bomb!" Koga ordered. Venomoth flew higher, avoiding the Flamethrower and dropping a stream of Sludge Bombs toward Magmar.
"Magmar, dodge it and use Flamethrower!" Ichigo shouted. Magmar leaped to the side, avoiding the sludge, and unleashed another stream of fire. The two Pokémon continued to exchange attacks, neither able to land a direct hit.
"Venomoth is getting exhausted," Koga thought. As Magmar released another Flamethrower, Venomoth failed to completely dodge it, resulting in a burn on part of its wing. Venomoth crashed to the ground, its wing singed.
"End this with Flamethrower," Ichigo said, his voice firm. Magmar fired one final stream of fire toward Venomoth.
"Venomoth, try to escape!" Koga called. Venomoth flapped its wings and barely avoided the Flamethrower. Surrounded by flames, Magmar lunged and slammed Venomoth into the ground.
"Magmar, that's enough," Ichigo said. Magmar stepped back, allowing Venomoth to lie unconscious and burnt. Koga recalled his Pokémon.
"MAGMAR!" Magmar cried as she sent a blast of flames into the air, celebrating her victory. She began to glow with white light, evolving. The light faded to reveal Magmortar.
"MAGMORTAR!" she exclaimed, raising her yellow cannon-like arms and sending two blasts of flame into the air. Ichigo recalled her, a proud smile on his face. Koga recalled his defeated Venomoth.
"Go, Crobat!" Koga called.
"Go, Corvisquire!" Ichigo replied.
"Finally, a neutral type matchup," Koga thought as he observed the Corvisquire. "But that in itself is strange," he added, musing about the situation.
"The match between Crobat and Corvisquire will begin!" the referee declared.
"Crobat, use Cross Poison!" Koga ordered. Crobat's wings glowed purple as it flew toward Corvisquire.
"Corvisquire, block it with Metal Claw!" Ichigo commanded. Corvisquire's claws glowed silver as he blocked the attack with them. "Follow up with Wing Attack!" Ichigo shouted. Corvisquire's wings elongated and glowed white as he struck Crobat with powerful wing slashes.
"Crobat, use Quick Attack to escape!" Koga ordered. Crobat glowed white and forced itself away from Corvisquire.
"Corvisquire, follow Crobat with your own Quick Attack!" Ichigo commanded. Corvisquire chased Crobat, but the speedy bat Pokémon was too quick.
"What can I do? Crobat is too fast for Corvisquire," Ichigo thought, frustrated.
"Crobat, use Cross Poison again!" Koga shouted. Crobat's wings glowed purple as it flew back toward Corvisquire, using Quick Attack to gain speed. Crobat collided with Corvisquire in the chest, knocking him from the sky.
"Corvisquire!" Ichigo called as his Pokémon crashed to the ground below. From the rubble, Corvisquire struggled to his feet and began to glow.
"Another evolution?" Koga thought.
The light faded, revealing Corviknight. Corviknight extended his large wings and took to the air. He flew toward Crobat, who swerved to the side to avoid Corviknight's charge. Corviknight glared at Crobat, his beak glowing silver and elongating before shooting forward.
"Crobat, dodge it and use Cross Poison!" Koga ordered.
"I don't know the typing of that Pokémon, but Cross Poison should work, since it worked before," Koga thought as Crobat's wings glowed purple. The attack collided with Corviknight's chest, but it had no effect. Corviknight slammed his beak into Crobat, continuing the attack.
"Crobat, get out of there!" Koga ordered. Before Crobat could react, Corviknight grabbed Crobat's wings with his large claws, trapping him. Corviknight continued his relentless assault on the helpless Crobat. After a few minutes, Corviknight released Crobat, who fell to the ground, unconscious.
"What type is that Pokémon?" Koga asked as he recalled his Crobat.
"Corviknight gained the Steel typing upon evolving," Ichigo explained.
"I see," Koga said, now fully aware. Ichigo recalled his Corviknight and prepared for the next round.
Koga threw his final Poké Ball. "Go, Ariados!"
"Go, Lampent!" Ichigo replied.
"Damn, another Fire-type," Koga thought.
"The final battle between Ariados and Lampent will begin," the referee announced.
"Ariados, use Toxic Thread!" Koga ordered. Ariados shot out purple threads toward Lampent.
"Lampent, dodge, and use Flamethrower!" Ichigo commanded. Lampent swerved to the side, easily avoiding the Toxic Thread, and released a stream of red-orange flames from her mouth.
"Ariados, dodge it!" Koga ordered. Ariados leaped into the air to avoid the Flamethrower. "Now, use Toxic Thread, Spider Web formation!" Ariados shot out a large purple string from its mouth. As it moved toward Lampent, the thread split into a web-like formation.
"Lampent, use Flamethrower!" Ichigo instructed. Lampent fired another Flamethrower, easily burning through the Toxic Thread.
"Ariados, use Poison Fang!" Koga shouted. Suddenly, Ariados appeared behind Lampent and bit her with its poisonous fangs. Ariados quickly jumped back. "Ariados, what happened?"
"Lampent has the Flame Body ability," Ichigo explained. Koga's eyes widened as he saw the burnt fangs and legs of his Ariados. "Finish this with another Flamethrower!" Ichigo ordered. Lampent released another burst of flames toward Ariados.
"Ariados, dodge it!" Koga shouted. Ariados leaped out of the flames, but before it could react, Lampent shifted her body and realigned the Flamethrower. Ariados was hit by the attack.
"Enough," Ichigo said, signaling for Lampent to stop. Ariados lay severely burned from the attack. Lampent began to glow as she evolved into Chandelure. Both Koga and Ichigo recalled their Pokémon.
"The match is over. The winner is Challenger Ichigo!" the referee declared. Koga walked toward Ichigo.
"Here is the Soul Badge, a symbol of your victory," Koga said, handing Ichigo the Gym Badge.
"Thank you," Ichigo replied as he accepted the badge. Ichigo and Sabrina were then shown a secret passageway that led them back to the beginning of the gym. They made their way back to the Pokémon Center to heal their Pokémon and check the local ferry schedules.
"Nurse Joy, when's the next ferry to Cinnabar Island?" Ichigo asked.
"Hm…" Nurse Joy checked the schedule. "The next ferry to Cinnabar Island is in three days."
"How long is the trip?" Sabrina inquired.
"It's a four-day journey. Two days to Seafoam Island, a day at Seafoam, and another day to Cinnabar Island," Nurse Joy explained.
"Could you buy us two tickets?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure. Would you like to share a room?" she asked.
"That's fine," Sabrina replied. Nurse Joy nodded, and Chansey carried a tray with their fully healed Pokémon. Ichigo and Sabrina took their Pokémon and left the Pokémon Center, heading east toward Route 15.
"So, how will you approach Blaine?" Sabrina asked.
"I'll use my Fire-types," Ichigo responded.
"Oh? Not Water-types?" Sabrina was surprised, as Ichigo had used type advantages in his previous battles against Koga and her.
"Blaine got tired of Water-types ruining his fun, so he built his battlefield on top of a volcano. The heat from the volcano and the metal stage make the battlefield only suitable for Fire-types."
"I see," Sabrina replied, understanding.
"Also, if a Fire-type has the Flash Fire ability, Blaine will send out his own Pokémon with Flash Fire."
"So, how many Pokémon will Blaine use?" Sabrina asked.
"It'll be a one-on-one match. It can be dangerous to be standing on a volcano for too long," Ichigo answered. They arrived at Route 15 and began training there.
Time Skip: Six Days Later
It was afternoon when Ichigo and Sabrina arrived at Cinnabar Island. They spent three days on Route 15 and in Fuchsia City, bonding with their new Pokémon. Soon, it was time to board the ferry to Cinnabar Island. The ferry had a few trainers on board, many of whom remembered Sabrina and how easily she had defeated them. She apologized for her behavior and explained that she had been replaced as a Gym Leader. Ichigo and Sabrina took the opportunity to relax, as they couldn't train their Pokémon on the ship.
During a stop at Seafoam Island, Sabrina captured a Jynx. After that, they arrived at Cinnabar Island. They walked toward the Pokémon Center.
"Good afternoon, everyone," Nurse Joy greeted. "I assume you all need rooms for the night?"
"We're traveling together," Ichigo replied. Nurse Joy nodded and checked everyone into their rooms.
"If you plan to challenge Gym Leader Blaine, make sure you stay hydrated for tomorrow," Nurse Joy warned. Everyone nodded in agreement as they went to their rooms.
"So, who wants to shower first?" Sabrina asked.
"You can go first. I need to see some scientists," Ichigo replied.
"Oh, okay," Sabrina said, grabbing her towel and a change of clothes. Ichigo walked out of the Pokémon Center and made his way to a small laboratory. He knocked on the door.
"What do you want?" a voice responded through the intercom.
"I have a fossil, and I'd like to use your restoration machine," Ichigo said.
"H-How did you know about that?" came the reply.
"I have my ways," Ichigo responded with a smirk.
"Wait one moment." The intercom went silent. Soon the door opened, revealing a scientist. "Let me see the fossil." Ichigo took out the Old Amber. "Seems like you aren't an idiot. Follow me." The scientist led Ichigo into the laboratory. He took the Old Amber and placed it in a machine. A beam of light scanned the fossil. "There's some DNA here." A laser shot out of the machine, extracting the fossilized DNA from the Old Amber. "Come back later, and your Pokémon should be ready," the scientist said.
Ichigo left the laboratory and returned to his room.
"So, how did it go?" Sabrina asked.
"It went all right," Ichigo replied as he took a quick shower. They left their room and had dinner before turning in for the night.
Time Skip: The Next Morning
Ichigo and Sabrina woke up early for a quick breakfast. They met with the other Pokémon Trainers and headed to the base of the volcano, where the entrance to Blaine's Gym awaited. Upon entering the gym, they were greeted by a receptionist.
"Morning, everyone," he said. "I assume you're all here for a gym battle?"
"Everyone except me," Sabrina replied. The receptionist nodded.
"Very well, then. Can I have everyone's Trainer Cards to log you in?" he asked. Ichigo handed over his Pokédex, and the others handed over their Trainer Cards.
"Challenger Ichigo will be first since he has more badges than the rest of you," the receptionist said. "The rest of you can watch the battle on the TV." He stood and gestured for Ichigo to follow him. "Follow me."
They walked to an elevator. The receptionist entered a code, and the door opened. They entered the elevator, which shot up toward the top of the volcano.
"Due to the unique rules in this gym, you are allowed to choose which Pokémon Gym Leader Blaine will use," the referee announced, presenting Ichigo with a list of Pokémon. "Please choose which Pokémon you want Gym Leader Blaine to use." Ichigo scanned the list.
"I choose this one," Ichigo replied.
"Very well. I'll let Gym Leader Blaine know your choice," the receptionist said. They arrived at the top of the volcano. "Be careful of the edge. Your spot is over there," he pointed. Ichigo nodded, walking to his position. He could see Blaine already waiting.
"The battle between Gym Leader Blaine and Challenger Ichigo will begin!" the referee declared. "This will be a one-on-one battle. Pokémon with the Flash Fire ability are prohibited from this battle. Trainers, send out your Pokémon."
"Go, Charizard!" Both Ichigo and Blaine shouted. Ichigo's Charizard was a foot taller than Blaine's, and both Pokémon roared loudly, trying to intimidate one another.
"BLAINE!" Ichigo shouted.
"WHAT?!" Blaine shouted back.
"We should let our Charizard fight it out without interference! They're clearly trying to prove who's stronger!" Ichigo pointed out. Blaine chuckled.
"Good idea!" he agreed.
"The battle between Gym Leader Blaine's Charizard and Challenger Ichigo's Charizard will now begin!" the referee called.
Both Charizards opened their mouths and unleashed powerful Flamethrowers. The red flames collided in mid-air, neither able to overpower the other. Ichigo's Charizard stopped her Flamethrower and dodged Blaine's Charizard's attack. She then engulfed herself in draconic energy as she charged toward Blaine's Charizard. Blaine's Charizard, too, cloaked itself in flames and charged forward. The two Charizards collided in mid-air, each trying to establish dominance. Their surrounding energies—draconic and fiery—dissipated.
Ichigo's Charizard, her claws and mouth glowing with draconic energy, began to bite and slash at Blaine's Charizard. Blaine's Charizard roared loudly in retaliation, slashing with its claws, which glowed white. Blaine's Charizard struggled against Ichigo's Charizard's powerful attacks.
Suddenly, Ichigo's Charizard grabbed Blaine's Charizard, restraining its wings and arms. With a mighty flap of her wings, she lifted Blaine's Charizard high into the air. Blaine's Charizard fought desperately against her grip, but Ichigo's Charizard soared to great heights before throwing Blaine's Charizard down, back first, toward the volcano. She surrounded herself with draconic energy once more, diving after the falling Charizard. She slammed into Blaine's Charizard's stomach, sending both crashing into the metal battlefield. The impact shook the entire volcano. Ichigo's Charizard let out a victorious roar, while Blaine's Charizard lay unconscious.
"Winner: Ichigo's Charizard!" the referee announced. Both Ichigo and Blaine recalled their Charizards and met inside the gym.
"I didn't expect to see a Primal Charizard," Blaine said.
"Primal Charizard?" Ichigo asked, confused.
"Primal Charizard is a nickname for Charizards who are Fire/Dragon types. There's evidence suggesting that Primal Charizard might be an ancestor of the regular Charizard," Blaine explained.
"I see…" Ichigo replied.
"Anyway," Blaine said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a fire-shaped badge, "I present to you the Volcano Badge."
"Thank you," Ichigo said, accepting the badge. He and Sabrina left the gym.
"So, what will we do now?" Sabrina asked.
"I need to see a scientist," Ichigo answered. They walked back to the laboratory and knocked on the door. The same scientist from before opened it.
"Right on time. I just finished capturing her," the scientist said, presenting a Poké Ball to Ichigo. "The Pokémon I managed to revive is an Aerodactyl, a powerful Rock/Flying-type."
"Thank you," Ichigo said. After that, they made their way back to the Pokémon Center. Ichigo handed Nurse Joy his Charizard and the newly revived Aerodactyl. She quickly healed them and returned the Pokémon to Ichigo. The pair then went to their room.
"What are you planning to do now?" Sabrina asked.
"I'm planning to head to Viridian City," Ichigo replied, releasing his Gardevoir.
"Hi, Daddy!" Gardevoir greeted, as she hugged Ichigo.
"Hello, Gardevoir. Could you teleport us back to Pallet Town?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure!" she replied. Ichigo and Sabrina gathered their belongings, and Gardevoir took their hands before teleporting them away.
Scene Change: Pallet Town: Oak Ranch
Ichigo and Sabrina appeared outside Professor Oak's home. Ichigo knocked on the door, and moments later, it swung open.
"Good afternoon, Professor."
"Ichigo!" Professor Oak shouted, pulling him into a hug before noticing Sabrina. "Who's your friend?"
"I'm Sabrina," she introduced herself. Professor Oak ushered them inside, and they sat down in the living room.
"So, what can I do for you two?" Oak asked.
"Is it okay if we stay here until the Indigo Plateau Conference?" Ichigo asked.
"Of course!" Professor Oak replied. Ichigo glanced at Sabrina.
"She can stay here if she wants," Professor Oak added.
"Yes, please," Sabrina responded.
"So, have you battled Giovanni yet?" Professor Oak asked.
"I just finished beating Blaine," Ichigo replied.
"Have you sent Giovanni a battle request?" Oak asked.
"A battle request?" Ichigo asked, confused. Professor Oak walked over to his computer and began typing an email.
"Giovanni is rarely in his gym. Whenever a challenger arrives, he's often not there. Sometimes they have to wait for a week or two before he returns to Viridian City for the gym battle," Oak explained.
"I see…" Ichigo said. Just then, a chime came from Professor Oak's computer. He clicked on the notification.
"Looks like Giovanni already replied," Oak said.
"What did he say?" Ichigo asked.
"He said he's available for a match tomorrow," Oak replied.
"Good," Ichigo said. "I'm going to head to the back to plan my team."
"All right," Oak replied. Ichigo walked out to the Ranch to strategize for his upcoming battle with Giovanni.
Time Skip: The Next Morning
Ichigo stood alone in front of the Viridian Gym. He walked inside, where the receptionist greeted him.
"Are you Ichigo Kurosaki?" the receptionist asked.
"I am," Ichigo replied.
"Follow me," he said. The receptionist led Ichigo to the back and then left as the lights on the battlefield flickered on. Giovanni entered the arena, and Ichigo immediately recognized him.
"It's you," Giovanni growled as he took in Ichigo's presence. "It's all your fault," he snarled, recalling the main reason for Team Rocket's failures. Giovanni snapped his fingers, and a metal door began to open. The light from the battlefield illuminated the chamber, revealing an armored figure. Ichigo immediately recognized it.
"Mewtwo," Ichigo thought.
"Is that my name?" Mewtwo's voice echoed in Ichigo's mind.
Ichigo released Gardevoir. Mewtwo's eyes glowed, and it used Psychic to attack Ichigo. Gardevoir quickly countered with Dark Pulse.
"It became your name because you were created using DNA from Mew," Ichigo explained. Mewtwo continued attacking Gardevoir while using the opportunity to speak. "Do you remember your past?"
"My past?" Mewtwo thought, confused.
"Follow my thoughts," Ichigo thought, recalling the time he saw The Birth of Mewtwo on TV. "I'm from an alternate universe, where the Pokémon Universe was a children's show," Ichigo explained briefly as Mewtwo observed the memory.
"I remember," Mewtwo said.
"Gardevoir, aim your attacks at the machines behind Mewtwo," Ichigo ordered.
"On it," Gardevoir replied, continuing her assault on Mewtwo.
Mewtwo swatted the attacks away, sending them crashing into the surrounding machines.
"Stop it!" Giovanni yelled as the machines restraining Mewtwo were destroyed. Mewtwo stood tall and used Psychic to shatter the metal armor. "I ORDER YOU TO STOP!" Giovanni shouted.
Mewtwo glanced at Giovanni before using Psychic to propel itself into the air, punching a large hole through the roof of the gym. Giovanni glared at the destruction.
"Dammit!" he yelled, sending out his Steelix. Ichigo recalled Gardevoir and sent out his Blastoise.
"Earthquake!" Giovanni ordered.
Steelix raised its tail and slammed it into the ground, sending shockwaves through the arena.
"Blastoise, counter it with your own Earthquake!" Ichigo commanded.
Blastoise stomped on the ground, sending shockwaves of her own. The two attacks canceled each other out.
"Hydro Pump!" Ichigo shouted.
Blastoise aimed her water cannons at Steelix and fired two powerful blasts of water.
"Steelix, dodge and use Thunder Fang!" Giovanni ordered.
Steelix swerved to the side and lunged toward Blastoise, its mouth glowing with yellow energy.
"Blastoise, use Iron Defense and endure the attack!" Ichigo commanded.
Blastoise's body glowed silver as she raised her left arm. Steelix bit down on Blastoise's left arm, sending a surge of electricity through her.
"BLAST!" Blastoise cried in pain.
"Blastoise, use Hydro Cannon!" Ichigo ordered.
Blastoise pointed her cannons at Steelix and fired an even stronger stream of water. The force of the blast ripped Steelix off of Blastoise's arm and sent it crashing into the wall. Steelix collapsed, unconscious.
"Dammit," Giovanni grumbled as he recalled Steelix and sent out his Nidoking.
Ichigo glanced at Blastoise, who was visibly fatigued from the battle. He recalled her and sent out Swampert.
"Nidoking, use Poison Jab!" Giovanni commanded.
"Swampert, use Liquidation!" Ichigo ordered.
Nidoking's arms glowed purple as it charged at Swampert. Swampert enveloped itself in water before tackling Nidoking in the chest. The sudden hit startled Nidoking, causing it to lose focus on its Poison Jab.
"Follow it up with Ice Punch!" Ichigo ordered.
Giovanni's eyes widened.
"Nidoking, get away!" he shouted.
Swampert's arms glowed icy blue before landing a punch to Nidoking's chest.
"NIDO!" Nidoking cried out in pain.
"Use Poison Jab to escape!" Giovanni commanded.
Nidoking raised one of its fists, surrounded by purple energy, and slammed it into Swampert's side, forcing the water type back.
"Swampert, are you okay?" Ichigo asked.
"Swamp," Swampert replied reassuringly.
"Use Liquidation and Ice Punch!" Ichigo ordered.
Swampert became engulfed in water and charged at Nidoking.
"Poison Jab!" Giovanni ordered.
Nidoking's arms were surrounded by purple energy. Swampert swerved to the side, narrowly avoiding the Poison Jab. The water surrounding Swampert dissipated, and icy blue energy enveloped its arms as it landed a punch to Nidoking's side.
"Nido!" Nidoking groaned before collapsing, unconscious. Giovanni glared at Ichigo as he recalled his Pokémon.
"Dammit… Should we continue?" Giovanni thought.
Suddenly, the doors behind Ichigo burst open, and officers swarmed in.
"What is going on?" Giovanni thought.
"Gym Leader Giovanni, you are under arrest for operating a criminal organization," Officer Jenny announced. "You have the right to remain silent."
"What proof do you have?" Giovanni sneered, discreetly pulling out another Poké Ball. A Gengar emerged from his shadow, using Hypnosis. Giovanni collapsed into his chair, fast asleep.
"Restrain him and search the gym," Officer Jenny ordered. The officers quickly fanned out, searching the gym. Ichigo recalled Swampert.
"How are you doing?" Officer Jenny asked, approaching Ichigo.
"I'm good," Ichigo replied. He noticed the receptionist being escorted by two guards toward him.
"I'm here to present the Earth Badge," the receptionist said, handing it to Ichigo. Ichigo accepted the badge. Afterward, the receptionist was escorted out of the gym by the police. Officer Jenny interviewed Ichigo briefly before allowing him to leave.
Ichigo made his way to the Pokémon Center and spotted Sabrina waiting for him. He handed over Gardevoir, Blastoise, and Swampert to Nurse Joy, who quickly healed them.
"So, how did you know Giovanni's real occupation?" Sabrina asked.
"I'll explain later," Ichigo replied. He released his Pidgeot, who looked at him with a slightly confused expression before recognizing where it was.
"Go ahead and spend time with your family. I'll be at Professor Oak's lab," Ichigo said.
Pidgeot nodded and flew off. Ichigo and Sabrina walked to Professor Oak's lab. On the way, Ichigo explained his situation to Sabrina.
"I see…" Sabrina said, processing the information.
They arrived at Professor Oak's lab, where they found him sitting at his computer, watching the live broadcast from Viridian City.
"To think someone so close to the League was the leader of the largest terrorist organization in Kanto," Professor Oak mumbled.
"It makes sense from Giovanni's point of view," Ichigo commented.
Professor Oak looked at Ichigo, letting out a tired sigh.
"It does, but it hurts the League's reputation and the public's trust in it," he replied.
Ichigo glanced upstairs, seeing that Sabrina had already gone up. He walked to his room and lay down, planning his team for the upcoming Indigo Plateau Conference.
The list of Pokémon moves will be updated in the next chapter.
Author Notes:
Adam and Lisa are the names of the voice actor/actress of Sabrina's parents since the anime never mentions their actual names.