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.
Hello everyone.
Next month's update will include the updated Pokémon Roster on the Broken Dreams Stat Sheet.
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"Hello." – Normal talking.
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Chapter 69:
Ichigo and Sabrina continued their journey toward Pastoria City, where their next Gym Battle would take place. They crossed Route 214, Lake Valor, which was full of camera crews, and Route 213. During this time, they trained all of their Pokémon. Staravia and Monferno finally evolved into Staraptor and Infernape, respectively. Meanwhile, their newly caught Duskull, Misdreavus, Murkrow, and Bagon evolved into Dusclops, Mismagius, Honchkrow, and Shieldon. Ichigo also began teaching Kubfu basic martial arts katas, and Kubfu eagerly absorbed the lessons. While training, Skorupi evolved into Drapion. Sabrina's Kirlia evolved into Gallade, her Bronzor evolved into Bronzong, and her Inkay evolved into Malamar. They finally arrived at Pastoria City and spent a day in the local Pokémon Center before heading to the Gym.
"We've been expecting you," the receptionist said, accepting Ichigo's Pokédex and Sabrina's Trainer ID. She scanned them on her computer and escorted them to the battlefield. The battlefield was a large pool with a few floating platforms.
"Greetings!" Crasher Wake called out loudly. The referee took his position on the battlefield.
"The match between Gym Leader Crasher Wake and Cardinal Ichigo will begin. This will be a three-on-three match with substitutions. On the count of three, both of you will send out your first Pokémon," the referee announced. "One." Ichigo and Crasher Wake both took out a Poké Ball. "Two… Three!" Ichigo and Crasher Wake sent out their first Pokémon. Ichigo sent out Roserade, while Crasher Wake sent out Gastrodon. "The first match is between Gastrodon and Roserade." The referee glanced at Crasher Wake.
"I will stay with Gastrodon," Crasher Wake said.
"Ichigo has the first move."
"Roserade, use Sunny Day," Ichigo ordered.
"Gastrodon, use Ice Beam!" Crasher Wake commanded. Roserade's eyes began to glow as a white ball formed in front of her bouquet arms. She launched the ball into the air, and soon the sunlight grew brighter. Gastrodon opened its mouth and fired an Ice Beam at Roserade.
"Shadow Sneak!" Ichigo quickly commanded. Roserade disappeared into the shadows.
"What?" Crasher Wake said, shocked. "Keep your guard up, Gastrodon!" Gastrodon kept moving, scanning the surroundings.
"Energy Ball!" Ichigo ordered. Roserade leaped from the shadow behind Gastrodon and launched a green ball of energy.
"Ice Beam behind you!" Crasher Wake shouted. Gastrodon turned its head quickly and fired an Ice Beam. The two attacks collided, creating an explosion.
"Solar Beam!" Ichigo yelled. A beam of energy slammed into Gastrodon's right side. Gastrodon wasn't prepared for the surprise attack and was sent flying, crashing to the ground beside Crasher Wake. The dust cleared, revealing Roserade standing tall, using one of her bouquets to cover her mouth like a noblewoman hiding a chuckle.
"Gastrodon, are you okay?" Crasher Wake asked.
"Gas..." Gastrodon groaned, slowly rising to its feet.
"Good. Ice Beam!" Crasher Wake ordered. Gastrodon opened its mouth, charging up the attack.
"End it with Solar Beam," Ichigo commanded. Energy gathered in Roserade's bouquet before she released the Solar Beam. Gastrodon failed to react in time, receiving the full force of the attack. It crashed beside Crasher Wake's feet.
"The battle is over. The winner is Roserade," the referee declared. Crasher Wake recalled his Gastrodon and sent out his Ludicolo. Ichigo recalled his Roserade and sent out his Gengar. The referee glanced at Crasher Wake, who nodded.
"The battle between Ludicolo and Gengar will begin. Crasher Wake has the first move."
"Ludicolo, use Rain Dance!" Crasher Wake ordered. Ludicolo began to dance, and rain clouds began to form.
"Gengar, use Sludge Wave," Ichigo commanded. A large wave of dark purple sludge formed around Gengar. The rain clouds above them intensified. Gengar hurled the sludge toward Ludicolo, who was still dancing.
"Dodge it!" Crasher Wake ordered. Ludicolo leaped into the air, avoiding the sludge wave. The sludge fell into the pool, contaminating the water.
"That's going to be a pain to clean up," Crasher Wake thought.
"Sludge Bomb!" Ichigo quickly ordered. As Ludicolo was still airborne, Gengar launched balls of sludge from her mouth.
"Ludicolo, use Hydro Pump to dodge!" Crasher Wake commanded. Ludicolo fired a large jet of water from its mouth, soaring away from the Sludge Bombs.
"Don't let up!" Ichigo said. Gengar continued to fire more Sludge Bombs at Ludicolo.
"Keep dodging," Crasher Wake ordered. Ludicolo continued to move side to side, aided by Hydro Pump.
"What is he planning?" Crasher Wake wondered.
"Enough," Ichigo said. Gengar stopped her attack. Crasher Wake's eyes widened as he realized the trap Ichigo had set.
"Ludicolo, get back on the platform!" Crasher Wake ordered. Ludicolo used another Hydro Pump, landing safely on the platform, and avoiding the toxic water around it.
"To think he would turn all the water against me," Crasher Wake thought.
"Shadow Sneak," Ichigo ordered. Gengar quickly disappeared.
"Damn it. This again," Crasher Wake thought, as Ludicolo kept moving around the platform. Suddenly, Gengar shot up from underneath Ludicolo and knocked it into the water.
"End it with Sludge Wave," Ichigo commanded. A large wave of dark purple sludge formed around Gengar and was sent toward Ludicolo, who struggled to swim in the toxic water.
"I forfeit Ludicolo," Crasher Wake suddenly called, recalling his drowning Ludicolo. The Sludge Wave slammed into the water, increasing its toxicity.
"Who should I send out?" Crasher Wake wondered. "Empoleon would resist the poison attacks, but it would be stuck on the platform. On the other hand, Gyarados would be able to fly in the air and use the platform." After a brief pause, Crasher Wake sent out Gyarados and revealed his Mega Stone. Ichigo recalled his Gengar and sent out his Sceptile.
"MEGA SHINKA!" they both shouted. Gyarados and Sceptile were engulfed in spheres of energy. The spheres broke apart, revealing Mega Gyarados and Mega Sceptile.
"The battle between Mega Gyarados and Mega Sceptile will begin. Ichigo has the first move."
"Sunny Day!" Ichigo ordered. Mega Sceptile's eyes glowed as he let out a loud roar. The rain clouds cleared, and the hot sun shone brightly.
"Flamethrower!" Crasher Wake ordered. Mega Gyarados unleashed a large stream of flames toward Mega Sceptile.
"Dodge it with Double Team," Ichigo commanded. Clones of Mega Sceptile appeared. Mega Gyarados's Flamethrower destroyed one of the clones.
"Use Flamethrower to destroy all the clones!" Crasher Wake ordered.
"Extreme Speed and Solar Blade," Ichigo commanded. The side appendages on Mega Sceptile's arms glowed white and elongated as Mega Sceptile and its clones rushed toward Mega Gyarados, who unleashed a large Flamethrower in an attempt to hit Mega Sceptile. Mega Sceptile managed to land one or two hits before leaping away from Mega Gyarados's flames. The battle continued for a minute. Both Mega Gyarados and Mega Sceptile stood on their respective floating platforms, out of breath but still keeping their guard up. The harsh sun beat down upon them.
"Sceptile, end it with Solar Blade!" Ichigo ordered.
"Gyarados, FLAMETHROWER!" Crasher Wake shouted. Mega Sceptile's arm blades shot out again as it leaped toward Mega Gyarados. At the same time, Mega Gyarados opened its mouth, preparing to unleash one final Flamethrower.
"NOW!" Ichigo commanded. Mega Sceptile used Extreme Speed, appearing on Mega Gyarados's right side.
"It's on your right side!" Crasher Wake warned, but it was too late. Mega Sceptile swung his Solar Blade, and the force of the attack knocked Mega Gyarados off the floating platform, sending it crashing into the poisonous pool below. Mega Gyarados screamed in agony as it struggled to get up. Mega Sceptile stood guard on the floating platform, preventing Mega Gyarados from escaping the water. Moments later, Mega Gyarados floated on the poisoned water, unconscious. Crasher Wake quickly recalled his Mega Gyarados.
"The battle is over. The winner is Mega Sceptile. Cardinal Ichigo is the winner of the match," the referee announced.
"We will continue with the other match in a few hours," Crasher Wake said, glaring at Ichigo. Ichigo shrugged in response. Crasher Wake sighed and walked toward the Pokémon Center, with Ichigo following behind. Crasher Wake left his injured Pokémon in Nurse Joy's care while Ichigo stayed to wait for his Pokémon to heal. Once his Pokémon were fully healed, Ichigo returned to the Gym.
Ichigo sat down and watched as Sabrina faced Crasher Wake. Sabrina used her Gallade, Exeggutor, and Mega Medicham against Mega Empoleon, Ludicolo, and Gastrodon. With a slight type advantage, Sabrina emerged victorious. Afterward, Ichigo and Sabrina stood at the edge of the pool as Crasher Wake presented them with the Legacy Fen Badge, shaped like a lake with gray reeds around it, all set on a golden plate. Ichigo and Sabrina accepted their badges.
Suddenly, the entire Gym rumbled as a loud explosion echoed outside. They rushed outside to see a massive cloud of smoke.
"It's coming from Lake Valor," Crasher Wake said. The trio ran out of the city toward Lake Valor. As they neared the lake, they saw uprooted trees and overturned vans.
"Some of these people are still alive," Sabrina said. Crasher Wake turned to her.
"Help me rescue them," he requested. Sabrina nodded and sent out one of her Alakazams to assist. They began searching for survivors while Ichigo moved closer to Lake Valor. He arrived to find a giant crater where the lake had once been. The water had vanished, leaving unconscious Water-type Pokémon scattered around the edge. In the center of the crater was a cave. Someone emerged from the cave, it was a young woman with red hair, wearing a modified Team Galactic uniform. In her hand, she held a statue of Azelf, one of the Lake Guardians.
"Are you the ones who did this?" Ichigo demanded. The woman ignored him, releasing her Bronzong and teleporting away.
"She's likely teleported to Team Galactic's Headquarters in Veilstone City," Ichigo thought as Sabrina and Crasher Wake arrived at the scene.
"It was Team Galactic," Ichigo said. "I arrived just in time to see them disappear."
"I see…" Crasher Wake said, pulling out his phone and calling Byron and Candice to inquire about any Team Galactic activity near their locations. Byron confirmed that Team Galactic had attacked Lake Verity, while Candice couldn't investigate due to a large avalanche heading toward her town. Ichigo and Sabrina helped Crasher Wake collect the injured Water-type Pokémon, placing them in water tanks. After several hours, they finished rescuing all the injured Pokémon.
The trio returned to the Pokémon Center, where they waited for their Pokémon to heal and to receive updates on the wild Pokémon they had rescued.
"Cardinal Ichigo and Ace Trainer Sabrina," Crasher Wake said, using their formal titles, "please head to Lake Acuity and help us investigate the situation there."
"Sure. What's the fastest way to get there?" Ichigo asked.
"You'll have to go on foot," Crasher Wake replied.
"Can't we Fly or Teleport there?" Ichigo asked.
Crasher Wake shook his head. "You can't teleport across Mount Coronet. The mountain is covered in strange energy, which interferes with teleportation. Flying is dangerous due to the harsh icy winds around the mountain. It also doesn't help that most of Mount Coronet is complete wilderness."
"I see…" Ichigo said.
"I recommend you fly to Eterna City and rest there before heading inside," Crasher Wake suggested. Ichigo and Sabrina nodded in understanding before heading to rest for the night. The next day, they flew to Eterna City before beginning their long trek through Mount Coronet to Snowpoint City.
Scene Change: Snowpoint City
It took Ichigo and Sabrina a week to cross through Mount Coronet, Route 216, and Route 217 before they reached Snowpoint City. Along the way, Ichigo caught a male Sneasel and a female Snorunt. Surprisingly, Kubfu enjoyed the snow and practiced breaking the ice with her attacks. Upon arriving in the city, they met with Candice. She explained that Team Galactic's explosion had caused an avalanche, distracting her from their operation at Lake Acuity. When she arrived, the lake was completely devoid of water, and all the nearby Water-type Pokémon were scattered across the area. Many of them had been injured from the explosion and died from their injuries, lack of water, cold, or a combination of the three. Candice and the local residents had buried the Pokémon near the lake. After mourning, Candice accepted Ichigo's and Sabrina's challenge. Sabrina took her place in the audience stands, while Ichigo stood on the frozen battlefield. The referee, dressed in a fur coat, took her position in the middle of the battlefield.
"The match between Gym Leader Candice and Cardinal Ichigo will begin. This will be a three-on-three match," the referee announced. Ichigo and Candice nodded in agreement. "At the count of three, send out your first Pokémon. One." Ichigo and Candice each pulled out their first Poké Ball. "Two… THREE!" Both sent out their first Pokémon. Ichigo sent out Mika, while Candice sent out a large, white, bipedal bear. Ichigo pulled out his Pokédex to scan the Pokémon.
"This Beartic is an Ice-type. This Pokémon is owned by Gym Leader Candice. No other information available," the Pokédex identified. Candice recalled her Beartic and sent out her Walrein. The referee glanced at Ichigo.
"I will remain with Mika," Ichigo said. The referee nodded.
"The first battle between Ninetales and Walrein will begin. Ichigo has the first move."
"Sunny Day!" Ichigo ordered.
"Hydro Pump!" A ball of energy appeared in front of Mika before she launched it upward. The cold morning air suddenly grew warm. Walrein opened its mouth and fired a large blast of water toward Mika.
"Dodge it and use Solar Beam!" Ichigo commanded. Mika leaped to the side, avoiding the Hydro Pump, then opened her mouth and fired her Solar Beam at Walrein.
"Ice Beam!" Candice ordered. Walrein opened its mouth and fired a beam of ice. The two attacks collided, canceling each other out.
"Confuse it with Double Team, then Solar Beam!" Ichigo ordered. Mika created clones of herself while charging Solar Beam.
"Walrein, use Protect!" Candice quickly commanded, not trying to find the real Mika. A barrier appeared around Walrein as Mika unleashed her Solar Beam. Mika's clones vanished as she focused on her attack.
"Keep it up, Walrein," Candice urged.
"Stop it, Mika!" Ichigo called. Mika halted her attack but continued to glare at Walrein. Walrein finally lowered its Protect. "Double Team and scatter!" Ichigo ordered, changing tactics. Once again, Mika created more clones and scattered.
Walrein looked around, trying to find the real Mika.
"Energy Ball!" Ichigo commanded. All the Mika charged up green balls of energy and fired them at Walrein.
"Protect!" Candice ordered. The Energy Balls slammed into the barrier, but Walrein stood its ground, reinforcing the shield.
"Continue with the Energy Balls," Ichigo ordered. Mika kept firing at Walrein's Protect. "Aim at the ground in front of the barrier," Ichigo directed. Mika adjusted her aim, and the Energy Balls hit the ground, kicking up ice and snow. The debris covered portions of Walrein's barrier.
"Damn it," Candice thought. "Walrein has to lower the Protect to remove the debris, but that would leave Walrein open to Mika's attacks."
"Walrein, quickly release and reform your Protect!" Candice ordered.
"SOLAR BEAM!" Ichigo commanded. Mika opened her mouth and began gathering sunlight. Walrein lowered its Protect to let the snow and debris fall to the ground. Mika fired her Solar Beam at Walrein, hitting it before Protect could reform. Walrein was knocked off its feet and landed on its back. Mika aimed her Solar Beam again, and Walrein was sent rolling to Candice's side. Mika stopped her attack and let out a tired breath.
"The battle is over. The winner is Ninetales," the referee announced. Candice recalled her Walrein and sent out her Beartic. Ichigo recalled Mika and sent out his Chandelure.
"The battle between Beartic and Chandelure will begin. Candice has the first move."
"Beartic, use Hail!" Beartic's body glowed light blue as it let out a roar. The clouds darkened, and the sky became overcast with snow.
"Chandelure, use Flamethrower!" Ichigo commanded. Chandelure fired a stream of flames at Beartic.
"Dodge it!" Candice ordered. Beartic leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the flames. Hail began to fall. Beartic quickly disappeared, hiding among the ice and snow.
"Chandelure, find Beartic's Aura," Ichigo instructed. Chandelure closed her eyes and focused on detecting Beartic.
"Beartic, use Shadow Claw!" Candice ordered. Beartic's claws glowed with ghostly energy as it lunged toward Chandelure.
"Flamethrower!" Ichigo ordered. Chandelure spun around, unleashing a jet of flames. The flames struck Beartic, forcing it back a few steps.
"RAH!" Beartic roared in pain.
"Beartic, get out of there!" Candice called. Beartic turned and ran away from Chandelure.
"Don't let up!" Ichigo commanded. Chandelure pursued Beartic, continuing to spray flames at it. Beartic struggled to escape, but it eventually fainted from exhaustion and the damage dealt by Chandelure's Flamethrower.
"The battle is over. The winner is Chandelure," the referee announced. Candice recalled her Beartic and sent out her final Pokémon. Ichigo pulled out his Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon.
"Abomasnow is a Grass/Ice-type. This Pokémon is owned by Gym Leader Candice. No other information available," the Pokédex reported. Candice pulled out a necklace with a Mega Stone and put it on.
Ichigo recalled Chandelure and sent out his Blaziken.
"Mega SHINKA!" Ichigo and Candice shouted. Abomasnow and Blaziken were engulfed in spheres of white energy. The spheres shattered, revealing Mega Abomasnow and Mega Blaziken. The hail intensified.
"The battle between Mega Abomasnow and Mega Blaziken will begin. Ichigo has the first move."
"Get rid of the hail with Sunny Day!" Ichigo ordered. Mega Blaziken began to glow red.
"Abomasnow, use Earthquake!" Candice ordered. Mega Abomasnow stomped on the ground, shaking the entire icy battlefield.
"Jump!" Ichigo commanded. Mega Blaziken leaped into the air, avoiding the Earthquake. While airborne, Mega Blaziken let out a loud roar, weakening the hailstorm. "Blaze Kick!" Ichigo ordered, taking advantage of Mega Blaziken's position. Mega Blaziken's right foot ignited with flames as she flew down toward Mega Abomasnow.
"Hyper Beam!" Candice shouted. Mega Abomasnow opened its mouth and began gathering orange energy.
"Elemental Aura FIRE!" Ichigo ordered. Mega Blaziken's body erupted in bright flames.
"FIRE!" Candice commanded. The orange energy in Abomasnow's mouth transformed into a beam, fired directly at Mega Blaziken. The two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion. The blast shattered most of the ice on the battlefield and ended the hailstorm. As the dust settled, Mega Blaziken was revealed to be only slightly injured, her blue flames no longer surrounding her.
"How?" Candice asked, stunned.
"Flare Blitz," Ichigo quickly ordered. Mega Blaziken's body was engulfed in red flames as she slammed into Mega Abomasnow. The force of the attack sent Mega Abomasnow flying and crashing behind Candice. Mega Abomasnow collapsed, too exhausted to move.
"The battle is over. The winner is Mega Blaziken. The winner of the match is Cardinal Ichigo!" the referee announced. Ichigo and Candice recalled their Pokémon and went to the Pokémon Center. They returned to see a Glaceon, Piloswine, and a Lapras using Ice Beam to repair the battlefield. Ichigo took his place in the audience stand and watched the battle between Sabrina and Candice. Sabrina's team consisted of her Jynx, Gallade, and Mega Medicham, while Candice's team consisted of her Weavile, Froslass, and Mega Glalie. Sabrina's match with Candice was a long one due to her team's overall type advantage, but in the end, Sabrina managed to win.
Ichigo and Sabrina stood on the destroyed battlefield as Candice presented them with the Legacy Icicle Badge, which resembled an iceberg or two icy mountains set on a golden plate. Suddenly, Candice's phone rang. She pulled it out and answered it.
"Hi, Maylene."
"Hi, Candice. Earlier, you sent a text asking us to keep an eye out for anything strange in our areas, right?"
"I did," Candice replied.
"I noticed a sudden large jump in guests in the city. All of them are heading toward a privately owned multi-story building in northern Veilstone City."
"Thanks for the info." Candice hung up and turned to Ichigo and Sabrina. "Can both of you look into this?"
"Why can't Maylene look into it?" Sabrina asked.
"Two reasons," Candice said, raising her first finger. "The first is that it's considered illegal since the building is private property. Our reputation as Gym Leaders and as members of the Sinnoh Pokémon League could suffer." She raised her second finger. "The second is that we're all well-known public figures. They'd immediately suspect something if they saw us gathering there."
"I see…" Sabrina said.
"We'll do it," Ichigo said.
"Great," Candice said.
"Will we have to trek through Mount Coronet again?" Sabrina asked.
Candice nodded. "It would be more suspicious if they spotted you flying toward Veilstone City." Ichigo and Sabrina agreed to the mission and returned to the Pokémon Center for a day of rest. The next morning, they set off.
Scene Change: Veilstone City
It took two weeks before they finally arrived in Veilstone City. They crossed Route 217, Mount Coronet, and Route 210, making a break in Celestic Town before heading through Route 215. During that time, Dusclops, Shelgon, Sneasel, and Snorunt evolved into Dusknoir, Salamence, Weavile, and Froslass. Kubfu's training continued smoothly, as Ichigo began teaching Kubfu various styles: Tiger, Leopard, Crane, and Seven Star Mantis. Ichigo and Sabrina checked into the Pokémon Center. A few minutes later, they heard a knock on their door. Ichigo opened it to find Maylene standing outside.
"May I come in?" she asked.
"Sure," Ichigo said, stepping aside to let her in.
"I had a few of my men observe the suspicious location," she began. "They noticed that some of the guests walk toward the old warehouses in town."
"Were you able to pinpoint which one?" Ichigo asked.
"We were," Maylene replied, pulling out a picture. "It's the one on the far right."
"Here's the plan," Ichigo started, drawing the attention of Maylene and Sabrina. "Sabrina will infiltrate the warehouse, while I'll take care of the main building."
"When?" Sabrina asked.
"Four in the morning," Ichigo replied.
"That early?" Sabrina questioned.
"Yes," Ichigo said. "Most of the people will still be sleeping, and the guards will be tired from their night shifts."
"I see…" Sabrina said, understanding Ichigo's reasoning.
"I'll have my men and the police on standby," Maylene said.
"Very well," Ichigo said. Maylene stood up and left the room. Ichigo and Sabrina went to bed early.
Time Skip: The Next Morning at 4 AM
Ichigo stood in front of Team Galactic Headquarters. He had Gardevoir, Metagross, Gengar, Zoroark, Mismagius, and Honchkrow surveying the perimeter, knocking out anyone who wandered too close. Ichigo released Malware.
"Can you go in and hack their security cameras, causing them to loop?" Ichigo asked.
"Easy," Malware replied, diving into the shadows toward the hideout. It shot out of the shadows and into a nearby security terminal. A few seconds later, Malware popped out and waved its electrical hands at Ichigo.
"I've got good and bad news," Malware said.
"What's the bad news?" Ichigo asked.
"Everyone is already awake," Malware reported.
"Did they discover our plans?" Ichigo asked.
"It doesn't look like it," Malware said. "It seems their leader, Cyrus, is addressing them right now."
"I see…" Ichigo murmured.
"Looks like we arrived right when Cyrus is giving his motivational speech," Kyōka observed.
"Unlock the door and guide me down there," Ichigo said.
"Got it," Malware replied as the doors opened. Ichigo rushed down the hallway, knocking out any grunts in his path before they could react.
"Warning! Intruder Alert!" the intercom blared.
"Dang it," Malware muttered.
"Ignore it," Ichigo said, knocking out another grunt. A few more grunts released their Pokémon: Toxicroak, Weavile, and a Skuntank.
"Want me to take them out?" Malware asked.
"No thanks. I've got it," Ichigo said, easily defeating the Pokémon with powerful punches.
"He's a monster!" one of the grunts shouted in fear. Some of the other grunts recalled their Pokémon and tried to run away, but Ichigo knocked them out too as he reached the packed auditorium. He could see Cyrus, Mars, and Saturn standing on stage.
"You must be Ichigo," Cyrus said, his tone calm. "I know why you're here. I can sense it in you. It's about Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf, isn't it? You want to save them... I no longer have any need for them. I'm done with them. If your heart aches to save them, go right ahead. I couldn't care less. It'll save me the trouble of disposing of them."
Cyrus walked off, followed by Mars and Saturn. None of the grunts tried to stop Ichigo as he ran downstairs. He arrived at the sight of Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf trapped in large test tubes filled with a strange liquid. Standing in front of them was a young man with well-kept blond hair, brushed over one side of his face. He wore a white shirt with long black sleeves, a silver vest, and a golden G on the left side of his chest.
"It seems Alexi was right to be cautious with you," he said.
"You know Alexi? Are you a spy from Team Rocket?" Ichigo asked.
"The name's Arthur and I'm not a spy from Team Rocket," he said, pulling out a Poké Ball. "Something bigger."
"Is he talking about the Dark Knights?" Ichigo wondered, charging toward him.
"Go, Salamence!" Arthur called. Ichigo sent out Drapion.
"Deal with the Salamence," Ichigo ordered. He glanced at Rotom. "Free those legendaries."
"Got it," Malware replied, diving into a nearby computer. Salamence let out a roar as Drapion approached it. Both Pokémon began fighting fiercely while Ichigo charged toward Arthur.
"Shit," Arthur muttered, grabbing another Poké Ball. Before he could release it, Ichigo smacked it out of his hand and punched him square in the face. After a few more punches, Arthur was knocked unconscious. Ichigo glanced over and saw Drapion standing triumphantly on top of an unconscious Salamence.
"Good job," Ichigo complimented, recalling Drapion back to its Poké Ball. "How's it going, Malware?"
"Another minute before I finish," Malware replied. Ichigo walked over to Arthur and lifted his eyelids.
"Legilimens," Ichigo mentally cast, delving into Arthur's memories.
"I can't find any traces of these men," Kyōka reported, scanning the Pokémon anime, movies, and games.
"It seems Alexi joined with this Ryan after the fall of Team Rocket," Ichigo thought, observing Arthur's video conference with them. He delved deeper to uncover more about Ryan.
"From the looks of it, this Ryan is a member of Team Яeverse, based in Kalos. He promised Arthur a high position within Team Яeverse if he assisted their spies, who are tasked with stealing any Legendary Pokémon captured by Team Galactic," Kyōka explained.
"Do you think Team Яeverse is connected to the Dark Knights?" Ichigo asked.
"It's possible," Kyōka admitted.
"Got it!" Malware announced as the liquid in the test tube began to drain. Ichigo pulled himself out of Arthur's mind and walked over to the test tubes. As the liquid drained, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf floated down to the bottom. Ichigo gently picked them up.
"It seems whatever they did to them drained them of their Aura," Ichigo thought, channeling some of his reiatsu into Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. The reiatsu flowed into the red gems on their foreheads, causing them to glow.
"Whatever you're doing is working," Malware commented. A few moments later, the three Pokémon opened their eyes, staring at Ichigo.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo asked.
Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf nodded and floated out of Ichigo's arms. "You three should go hide somewhere else. Your home in the three Lakes has been destroyed," Ichigo warned. They nodded in understanding before teleporting away.
"You know, most trainers never encounter a single Legendary Pokémon in their lifetime," someone said. Ichigo turned to see Sabrina, Maylene, and one other person with them. "But not only did you meet three Legendary Pokémon, you also allowed them to escape."
"It's nice to meet you, Champion Cynthia," Ichigo said, ignoring her words.
"Same here, Cardinal Ichigo," she replied.
"Sabrina called us as soon as she discovered the warehouse was empty," Maylene explained.
"Did your men grab all the unconscious grunts?" Ichigo asked.
"They did," Maylene confirmed.
"Now we need to figure out where they went," Sabrina said.
"There's only one place they would go," Cynthia said, turning and walking away. Ichigo recalled Malware as everyone followed her.
"Where?" Maylene asked.
"Long ago, when Sinnoh was still called Hisui, the locals built a large temple on top of Mount Coronet, dedicated to Arceus, Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina," Cynthia explained.
"That would make sense since Cyrus planned to harness the powers of Dialga and Palkia to create a new world," Ichigo added. They exited the headquarters, where they were surrounded by police officers quarantining the area, but they were allowed to leave. Cynthia released her signature Pokémon, Garchomp, and flew away.
"Both of you should go with her," Maylene said. "I'll stay here to help deal with this."
"Thanks," Ichigo said, glancing at Sabrina. "Can you teleport us to Oreburgh City?"
"Okay," Sabrina replied, sending out her Alakazam and teleporting them to Oreburgh City. They appeared in front of the Pokémon Center.
"Does your Pokémon need to recover?" Ichigo asked.
"No," Sabrina replied.
"Then let's go," Ichigo said as they ran toward Mount Coronet.
Scene Change: Spear Pillar
Cyrus stood in the center of an ancient stone temple. At his feet were two large metallic suitcases with locks on top. Most of the stone around the temple had eroded over time, except for a mural on the wall. The mural depicted Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf in a downward triangle, while Dialga and Palkia were part of an upward triangle, with the top of the upward triangle destroyed. The two triangles overlapped, forming a hexagram with a glowing golden cross-like wheel at the center. A few feet away from Cyrus, Commander Mars, and Commander Jupiter stood guard at the entrance to Spear Pillar, with remaining grunts stationed along the path leading to the temple.
"It's time," Cyrus thought as he grabbed one of the suitcases and opened it, revealing two large orbs, the first appeared metallic silver and formed from hexagons, while the other was ocean blue and perfectly round. Cyrus placed both orbs in front of him. They began to glow and float. Mount Coronet trembled. In the distance, Commander Mars and Commander Jupiter watched.
"It's happening," Commander Jupiter said.
"Indeed," Commander Mars replied. They could hear footsteps approaching. "Our guests have arrived." They turned to see Ichigo and Sabrina arriving in front of Spear Pillar.
"It's too late!" Commander Jupiter shouted. "Master Cyrus has already begun the process to summon the Legendary Dialga and Palkia!" Mount Coronet shook even harder as the orbs released more energy.
"We can still stop him," Ichigo said.
"Not with us here," Commander Jupiter retorted, sending out her Pokémon. Commander Mars followed suit. Sabrina turned to Ichigo.
"I'll take care of them. You go stop that madman," Sabrina said, sending out her Meditite and Gallade.
"Okay," Ichigo replied. Sabrina surrounded him with her psychic energy before tossing him over their heads. Ichigo quickly performed an over-the-shoulder roll, then sprang to his feet and dashed toward Cyrus. Two large portals opened as Dialga and Palkia began to materialize. Cyrus opened his second suitcase, revealing it to be filled with small red gems. The gems began to glow and shot out toward Dialga and Palkia. They united to form two long chains, wrapping around the Legendary Pokémon. Cyrus placed two bracelets, each with a large red gem, onto his wrists.
"Dialga! Palkia!" Cyrus yelled. The red gems glowed brighter. Dialga and Palkia landed in front of him. "Kill these fools!" Dialga and Palkia charged up their attacks. Ichigo smirked as he felt his shadow shift. Suddenly, Yami shot out from Dialga and Palkia's shadows. Everyone paused, stunned by the unexpected guest. Before anyone could react, Yami forced Dialga, Palkia, Cyrus, and Ichigo into the shadows, vanishing from Spear Pillar. The two orbs fell to the ground, powerless once again.
"MASTER CYRUS!" Commander Jupiter yelled. She abandoned the battle and rushed toward where Cyrus had been standing. "MASTER CYRUS!" Sabrina stared, confused, unsure of what had just happened.
"I didn't expect Giratina to show up," Sabrina heard. She turned to see Cynthia, who had just arrived.
"About time you got here," Sabrina commented.
"Sorry. Team Galactic attacked my hometown for the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb. I had to check on them before I came here," Cynthia explained.
"I'm sorry," Sabrina said.
"It's nothing," Cynthia replied as she walked toward the center of Spear Pillar. Commander Mars quickly fled. Sabrina turned to follow, ready to stop her.
"Leave her be. My agents are on their way. They'll intercept her," Cynthia said. "We have much more important things to do." Cynthia pulled out a bag, retrieving the Adamant Orb and Lustrous Orb. She then took out a pair of handcuffs and secured Commander Jupiter, who was still processing Cyrus's disappearance.
"What did you mean? Didn't Cyrus summon Giratina?" Sabrina asked.
"Not necessarily," Cynthia answered. "According to ancient Hisui legends, the Adamant Orb summons Dialga, while the Lustrous Orb summons Palkia. It's unclear why Giratina showed up to rescue its siblings, especially considering Giratina was banished to another dimension due to its aggressive nature toward Dialga and Palkia, at least according to the ancient Hisui legends."
"So, what can we do now?" Sabrina asked.
"There's nothing we can do," Cynthia sighed. "Their fate lies with the Legends (1)." Sabrina took out a sheet of paper and a pen.
"Are you planning to leave a note for Ichigo when he returns?" Cynthia asked.
"I am."
"Then write that you'll be waiting for him at Celestic Town," Cynthia said.
"Celestic Town?" Sabrina asked.
"It's my hometown, and it holds a lot of ancient history regarding Hisui legends," Cynthia explained. Sabrina nodded and wrote the note, then found a large rock to place in front of the stairs. With that, they walked away from Spear Pillar.
Scene Change: Distortion World
Ichigo, Cyrus, Dialga, and Palkia were hurled out of the shadows. Ichigo, Dialga, and Palkia managed to land on the ground, while Cyrus slammed his head into the floor, knocking himself unconscious. Yami fired two Shadow Balls at the Red Chains binding Dialga and Palkia. The attacks destroyed the chains. Both Legendary Pokémon let out a loud roar as they began charging their attacks.
"Enough!" Yami shouted, floating in front of the unconscious Cyrus. The two Pokémon stopped charging.
"Young one," Dialga said, "why are you protecting him?"
"Do you understand what he did?" Palkia added. "That man abused one of the fail-safes Lord Arceus created in an attempt to exploit our power!"
"We must punish him for his crimes and make an example of him so humanity knows we are not to be trifled with," Dialga said.
"How?" Ichigo asked.
"How?" Palkia echoed.
"Do you plan to broadcast Cyrus's execution across the region?" Ichigo asked. Surprisingly, both Dialga and Palkia nodded. "Then both of you are idiots."
"HOW DARE YOU!" Palkia roared. Yami quickly stood in front of Ichigo, shielding him if Palkia decided to attack.
"Calm yourself," Dialga said to Palkia. It turned to Ichigo. "Clarify what you mean."
"Your actions may cause widespread panic, and people will try to capture both of you, claiming it's 'for the safety of Sinnoh,'" Ichigo explained. Dialga's eyes glowed as they peered into alternate timelines.
"Why can I only see alternate timelines where this human is absent?" Dialga thought. It chose to look at other timelines without Ichigo, eventually finding one it was satisfied with. With a sigh, its eyes stopped glowing.
"Well?" Palkia asked.
"He's speaking the truth," Dialga confirmed.
"So, how do we remind humanity that we Legends should not be trifled with?" Palkia asked.
"I've got a plan," Ichigo said, explaining it to Dialga and Palkia. Palkia turned to Dialga, and Dialga's eyes glowed again as they traveled through alternate timelines, assessing the effects of Ichigo's plan.
"Why can't I see the plan in action?" Dialga wondered. Suddenly, Dialga sensed Arceus's presence in its mind.
"Dialga," Arceus's voice rang out.
"Father," Dialga greeted its creator.
"Follow Ichigo's suggestion," Arceus ordered before vanishing from Dialga's mind.
"It will work," Dialga lied.
"Great," Ichigo said, relieved. Dialga turned to Yami.
"We are in your debt for saving us from the Red Chains and preventing us from making a grave mistake," Dialga said.
"No. I was simply following Ichigo's orders," Yami replied.
"Nonetheless, we still owe you a debt," Dialga insisted. Dialga began to glow, and a small ball of energy formed from its chest gem. The ball floated toward Yami and entered her body. Yami let out a roar as her entire body glowed blue, transforming before their eyes. The six black, ghostly tendrils merged into two large black wings with three red tips. The six golden-tipped spikes grew into thick, golden legs with claws. Two golden half-circles, similar to those on her neck, appeared on each side of her legs, while the other golden-tipped spikes disappeared from her tail.
"What is this?" Yami asked.
"I gave you my blessing," Dialga said. "It grants you Steel-Type powers and increases your defensive capabilities at the cost of your speed."
"I see…" Yami replied. "Am I able to shift back to my regular form?"
"You can," Dialga said. "Just imagine your regular form." Yami focused, and her appearance shifted back to her original form.
"Now it's my turn," Palkia said as it began to glow. A small ball of energy formed from one of Palkia's shoulder gems. The ball of energy floated toward Yami and entered her body. Yami let out a roar as her entire body glowed pink and began to transform. The light faded, revealing Yami's new form.
Her head and neck were slightly longer. The golden half-circles that had once been on her neck were now on her chest, where there were now hands and feet. The feet were the same as her previous form. As for her hands, she had five fingers on each, and at her wrists were golden half-circles, similar to those on her neck. Her tail lost all its golden-tipped spikes again and became shorter. She retained her black ghostly tendril.
"With my blessing, you gained the Water-Type and an increase to your physical attacks and speed, at the cost of your defenses," Palkia explained.
"I see…" Yami said, reverting to her regular form. "Thank you."
"No problem," Palkia replied, while Dialga nodded. Soon, they left the Distortion World.
"So, what are you planning to do with him?" Yami asked.
"I'll let the police handle him," Ichigo said, grabbing the unconscious Cyrus. With that, they exited the Distortion World.
Scene Change: Spear Pillar
Ichigo stepped out of the shadow to find no one there.
"Strange… weren't we just in the Distortion World for like ten minutes?" Ichigo thought, pulling out his Pokédex to check the time. "It's been three days?" He walked toward the stairs of Spear Pillar and spotted Sabrina's note. "Celestic Town, here I come," Ichigo thought as he carried Cyrus down. Along the way, he spotted a Shiny Absol and caught her. He exited the tunnel and continued walking. Eventually, he arrived at Celestic Town and headed straight for the Pokémon Center.
"Good morning," Ichigo greeted.
"Good morning," Nurse Joy replied, noticing the unconscious Cyrus.
"Can you call a police officer to take care of him?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure," Nurse Joy said, picking up her phone and dialing the Police Station. A few minutes later, two police officers arrived at the Pokémon Center and took Cyrus away. Just after, Ichigo noticed Sabrina running toward him. She grabbed him and hugged him tightly. Ichigo glanced over at Cynthia.
"She was worried about you when you were devoured by the shadows," Cynthia explained. Ichigo mentally sighed as he gently placed his hands on Sabrina's back and began drawing circles to calm her down.
"It's all right," Ichigo said, trying to soothe her. "I'm back."
"Once Sabrina calms down, come find me. I'll be here for a few more days."
"What for?" Ichigo asked.
"To answer any questions you have about the Hisui Legends."
"Hisui Legends? Shouldn't it be Sinnoh Legends?"
"The region used to be called the Hisui Region before changing its name to Sinnoh after a major civil war broke the region apart," Cynthia explained.
"I see… Thank you for the offer," Ichigo said. Cynthia nodded and left the Pokémon Center. Ichigo turned to Sabrina, who had calmed down.
"Did you book a room yet?" Ichigo asked.
"No. Cynthia allowed me to stay at her place," Sabrina replied. Ichigo glanced at Nurse Joy.
"Can I book a room?" Ichigo asked.
"Certainly," Nurse Joy said. Ichigo handed her his Pokédex. She scanned it and booked a room for him.
"Here you go," she said, handing Ichigo his Pokédex back. "You're in room 3." Ichigo and Sabrina walked into their room.
"Ichigo, we need to talk," Sabrina said.
"Okay," Ichigo replied.
"I spent the last three days thinking," she began.
"Did Sabrina develop feelings for me?" Ichigo mentally wondered.
"Thinking... why did your disappearance hurt so much?" Sabrina continued. Tears began to form in her eyes. "I realized it hurts because I love you."
"Sabrina… I care for you as well," Ichigo began. "But we can't be together."
"Why?" she asked. Her psychic powers began to levitate everything around the room. Ichigo quickly cast privacy spells, forming a dome around them. Sabrina sensed the energy and looked around.
"What did you do?" she asked.
"I cast privacy spells around us," Ichigo answered.
"Privacy spells?" Sabrina echoed, confused.
"Let me explain," Ichigo said, revealing that he was not a native of the Pokémon universe but from another world. He explained that he had been sent to replace the original chosen one, who had died in an unexpected accident. He finally told her that once his mission was complete, he would be allowed to return home.
"I see…" Sabrina said quietly. She remained silent for a moment. "When you leave… can I come with you?" she asked.
"I should have expected this," Ichigo thought. "Should I do the same thing I did with Fleur? No, we're traveling together, and she doesn't have anyone else here."
"You can," Ichigo answered. Sabrina jumped for joy and hugged him tightly.
"But…" Ichigo interrupted. "Your psychic abilities are too weak compared to people from my world."
"If I compare you to my peerage, who could easily destroy an army with a single attack…" Ichigo mentally added.
"I see…" Sabrina said, nodding. "Before we leave, I'll make my psychic powers much stronger." She vowed. Ichigo nodded.
"We'll resume our journey to Sunyshore City tomorrow."
"Okay," Sabrina said as she stood up. "I'll talk with my psychic types and figure out ways to train my powers."
"Okay," Ichigo replied as Sabrina left the room. Ichigo took a quick shower before taking a nap.
Scene Change: Sunyshore City
Ichigo and Sabrina crossed through Route 210, Route 215, Veilstone City, Route 214, and Route 222 before finally reaching Sunyshore City. During this time, Kubfu received enlightenment (2) and evolved into Urshifu. She learned both Wicked Blow, the signature attack of the Darkness Style Single Strike, and Surging Strikes, the signature attack of the Water Style Rapid Strike, thanks to Ichigo's teachings and Kubfu's dedication. When Urshifu uses either Wicked Blow or Surging Strikes, she temporarily gains the Dark or Water-type until the other attack is used. This also slightly alters her move pool depending on the style she's in.
Ichigo and Sabrina checked into the Pokémon Center and rested for the day. The next morning, they headed toward the gym.
"Good morning," the receptionist greeted. "Are both of you here for a gym battle?"
"We are," Ichigo and Sabrina replied, handing the receptionist their identifications. She scanned them into the computer.
"Gym Leader Volkner is ready for both of you," the receptionist said. She escorted them down toward the battlefield. Sabrina took her seat in the stands while Ichigo stood on the battlefield. Ichigo spotted Volkner, who had already taken his position. The referee took his place in the middle of the battlefield.
"The match between Gym Leader Volkner and Cardinal Ichigo will begin," the referee announced. "This will be a three-on-three match with substitutions. On the count of three, both of you will send out your first Pokémon."
"One." Ichigo and Volkner both took out a Poké Ball.
"Two… Three!" Both Ichigo and Volkner released their first Pokémon. Ichigo sent out his Garchomp, while Volkner sent out his Electivire.
"I give up," Volkner immediately said as he recalled his Electivire. Ichigo stared at him, confused.
"Gym Leader Volkner has forfeited the match. The winner is Cardinal Ichigo," the referee declared.
"Hey! Why did you forfeit? We haven't even started yet," Ichigo shouted.
"The battle is already over the moment you send out a Ground-type," Volkner replied. He turned to Sabrina. "Are you planning to use any ground types?"
"I am a Psychic specialist, and none of my psychic types are Ground-type," Sabrina replied.
"An interesting match then," Volkner said, nodding. Ichigo and Sabrina swapped places. "You're okay with a six-on-six battle?"
"I'm fine with that," Sabrina said. Soon, the match began. Volkner used his Mega Luxray, Electivire, Zebstrika, Magnezone, Eelektross, and Lanturn. Sabrina used her Mega Alakazam, Espeon, Bronzong, Exeggutor, Malamar, and Jynx. The six-on-six match lasted for a while before Sabrina emerged victorious.
Ichigo and Sabrina stood in the middle of the battlefield, where Volkner presented the Legacy Beacon Badge. It took the shape of a lighthouse on a golden background. With the final badge acquired, they returned to the Pokémon Center to rest for the day, allowing Sabrina's Pokémon to recover before leaving.
Scene Change: Lily of the Valley
It took Ichigo and Sabrina three days to cross Route 223 and the ocean before arriving at an island called the Lily of the Valley. The island was bustling with tourists, trainers, and shop owners. Ichigo and Sabrina checked into a nearby Pokémon Center and presented their Legacy Badges to register for the Lily of the Valley Conference, only to discover an additional challenge. They had to traverse a rocky mountain full of strong Pokémon called Victory Road. At the top of the mountain was another Pokémon Center, where trainers could officially register for the conference.
Ichigo and Sabrina easily completed the challenge and registered for the tournament. They attended the opening ceremony for the Lily of the Valley Conference. Afterward, they relaxed in their hotel room, watching the early rounds of the tournament. As part of the Legacy Policy, they were automatically placed in the Quarter-Finals. Sabrina used this time to train her team and improve her psychic powers. Ichigo, on the other hand, watched the live streams of the matches, taking notes on the strong trainers who might appear in the Quarter-Finals. Ichigo spotted an interesting trainer.
"So, someone managed to catch Darkrai and used it to demolish all the trainers in his way," Ichigo thought. "Paul also made it… as expected, the protagonist's rival."
Suddenly, his phone began to ring. Ichigo checked the caller ID—it was Maylene. He picked up the phone.
"Hello, Maylene."
"Ichigo, Master Mustard is ready to see you," she said.
"Great. Where is he?" Ichigo asked. Maylene gave him the details, and Ichigo walked over and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal Maylene, who moved aside to let him in. Inside, Master Mustard and an older woman were sitting on a couch, drinking tea.
"It's nice to finally meet you," Master Mustard said, placing his tea on the table. "Show me your Kubfu."
Ichigo silently released his Urshifu. Master Mustard's eyes widened as he took in her appearance.
"How?" he mumbled as he stood up, inspecting her. "Which style did you pick?"
"You'll find out in the conference," Ichigo replied, recalling Urshifu and leaving the room.
"That man should have answered your questions," the woman said.
"Honey, he's rude to me because of my actions before," Master Mustard admitted.
"What did you do?" Honey asked.
"I called him a thief, accused him of stealing a Kubfu from us, and demanded the Kubfu be returned," Master Mustard said. Honey sighed.
"If he's anything like you were back then, he would hold a grudge."
"Not only that, but he's also stronger than me," Master Mustard said.
"Huh?" Honey asked.
"During a Gym Battle in Kanto, his Charizard evolved and went out of control."
"Oh no," Honey said.
"That insane man entered the battlefield and beat his Charizard into submission," Master Mustard said.
"Impossible," Honey gasped.
Master Mustard pulled out his laptop and showed her the battle.
"Even in my youth, I wouldn't have done something that reckless," Master Mustard admitted.
"So, we made a powerful enemy," Honey concluded.
"Possibly," Master Mustard said. "We don't have anything he would want." Honey sighed, agreeing with her husband.
Scene Change: Hotel Room
Ichigo returned to his hotel room and turned the TV back on.
"Looks like the beginning rounds are done," Ichigo thought. He watched as the TV showed two announcers sitting at a desk.
"Well, folks, we're down to our final eight trainers," one of the announcers said.
"But wait, we only have six quarter-finalists," the other announcer replied.
"You're right and wrong," the first announcer resumed. "Two of our quarter-final spots were taken by two trainers who participated under the Legacy Policy."
"Ah yes, the Legacy Policy," the second announcer echoed, recalling the policy.
"For our audience who don't know, the Legacy Policy applies to trainers who are Ace Trainers or above. These trainers still challenge Gym Leaders for badges, but both trainers are allowed to use their strongest teams without any restrictions," the first announcer explained.
"Now that the explanation is done, let's see who our first match in the quarter-finals will be," the second announcer said as the screen beside them turned black for a few moments before populating a bracket.
"It seems one of our Legacy Trainers is in the first match," the first announcer said, pointing at Ichigo's name on the board. "Looks like his opponent is a new trainer named Paul!" Ichigo sat in his room with a smirk, thinking about which Pokémon he would use for the match.
Time Skip: Next Morning
Ichigo and Paul met in the middle of the main battlefield. Neither said a word. The referee walked toward them.
"Winner of the coin toss will get to choose who sends out their Pokémon first and will also get to make the first move," the referee said.
"Heads," Paul immediately called.
"Then I'll take tails," Ichigo replied. The referee nodded and flipped the coin. It landed on the ground.
"Heads," the referee announced.
"He goes first," Paul said.
"Very well. Trainers, please return to your positions," the referee instructed. Ichigo and Paul moved to opposite sides of the battlefield, while the referee stood off to the side in the middle.
"The match between Cardinal Ichigo and Trainer Paul will begin. This will be a six-on-six match, with each trainer allowed five substitutions. Cardinal Ichigo will be the first to send out his Pokémon and make the first move."
"Go, Milotic," Ichigo said. Paul sneered at the Pokémon.
"Torterra, stand for battle," Paul ordered. Ichigo scanned Torterra, noting it was a Grass/Ground type. The referee glanced at Ichigo.
"I'll stick with Milotic," Ichigo decided. The referee nodded.
"The battle between Milotic and Torterra will begin. Ichigo has the first move."
"Milotic, use Ice Beam!" Ichigo ordered. Milotic opened her mouth and fired a beam of ice at Torterra.
"Torterra, use Stone Edge to protect yourself!" Paul commanded. Torterra stomped the ground, and large rocks shot up, forming a stone barrier that shielded it from Milotic's Ice Beam.
"Jump up and trap it in ice!" Ichigo called. Milotic coiled her body and shot herself into the air, continuing to fire Ice Beam.
"Torterra, use Leaf Storm to get rid of Milotic!" Paul shouted.
"Terra!" Torterra cried as its leaves glowed green, and a tornado of leaves shot out toward Milotic. Ichigo smirked as Milotic was engulfed in the attack.
"Good. That'll allow us to fight back," Paul thought. The attack subsided, and Milotic landed back on the ground. Everyone stared in shock.
"That attack didn't do anything?" Ichigo thought, noticing that Milotic was surrounded by green energy.
"Milotic, use Ice Beam!" Ichigo ordered. The Leaf Storm had damaged part of the rocky barrier, giving Milotic a clear shot at Torterra. She fired her Ice Beam at Torterra.
"Stone Edge!" Paul shouted. Torterra stomped the ground again, but to its surprise, no rocks rose up. Torterra stood helpless as it took the full force of Milotic's Ice Beam.
"Terra!" Torterra cried in pain as the ice began to encase its body.
"Hyper Beam!" Paul ordered. Torterra opened its mouth, gathering energy to form a ball of orange light.
"Keep up the Ice Beam," Ichigo ordered. Milotic continued to fire as Torterra's lower body became completely frozen.
"FIRE!" Paul commanded. The ball of energy transformed into an orange beam, and Torterra fired it at Milotic.
"Dodge it!" Ichigo called. Milotic sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the beam. The Hyper Beam tore through the ice and stone in its path. Torterra soon finished the attack, panting from exhaustion, trying to remain standing.
"Milotic, end it with Ice Beam!" Ichigo ordered. Milotic fired one final Ice Beam.
"Dodge it!" Paul shouted. But Torterra was too slow to react and was encased in ice.
"Trainer Paul has ten seconds to get a response from his Torterra. If he fails, Torterra will be unable to battle," the referee announced as a timer began counting down.
"Torterra!" Paul yelled, but to his dismay, Torterra didn't respond. The timer reached zero.
"The battle is over. The winner is Milotic." Paul recalled his frozen Torterra and sent out Electivire. Ichigo recalled Milotic.
"Looks like you have a chance to dish out your revenge," Ichigo said as he sent out his next Pokémon, Infernape. Infernape let out an angry howl as she recognized who stood in front of her.
"Do you remember her, Paul?" Ichigo asked. "It's the 'weak' Chimchar you released," he added. The referee turned to Paul.
"I will not substitute," Paul replied.
"The next battle is between Electivire and Infernape. Trainer Paul has the first move."
"Earthquake!" Paul yelled.
"Counter it with your own Earthquake," Ichigo ordered. Both Electivire and Infernape leaped into the air before slamming their bodies down, causing the entire stadium to rumble. Both Pokémon struggled to resist the force of the attack.
"Flare Blitz!" Ichigo ordered.
"Wild Charge!" Paul commanded. Electivire was engulfed in yellow electricity, while Infernape was surrounded by red flames. They both charged toward each other, the collision creating a massive explosion that sent both Pokémon flying back to their respective sides.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo asked.
Infernape nodded.
"Electivire, crush that reject with Wild Charge, or you're next!" Paul threatened. Electivire was once again enveloped in electricity before charging at Infernape.
"Infernape, wait until Electivire is close, then dodge and use Close Combat!" Ichigo ordered. Infernape nodded and waited. Just as Electivire neared, Infernape stepped aside at the last second, narrowly avoiding the attack, and delivered a powerful punch to Electivire's face. The punch knocked Electivire off balance, causing all the accumulated electricity to dissipate. Infernape quickly climbed onto Electivire and unleashed a series of Close Combat punches to its face. Electivire tried to defend itself, but Infernape continued to land hit after hit.
"GET UP!" Paul yelled. Electivire tried to shift its body to stand, but Infernape kept attacking, forcing it back down each time.
"Attack!" Paul commanded desperately. But Electivire was too exhausted to comply. After several more attacks, Electivire stopped moving, unconscious from the relentless blows.
"Stop!" the referee shouted. Infernape stopped her attacks and backed away from the fallen Electivire.
"The battle is over! The winner is Infernape!" the referee declared. Paul recalled Electivire and sent out Drapion, which let out a loud roar and glared at Infernape.
"Do you want to continue?" Ichigo asked. Infernape shook her head. Ichigo recalled her and sent out Garchomp. Both Pokémon glared at each other.
"I will stay with Drapion," Paul said.
"The next battle is between Drapion and Garchomp. Ichigo has the first move."
"Sandstorm," Ichigo ordered. Garchomp let out a loud roar, and the entire battlefield was engulfed in a swirling Sandstorm.
"Drapion, when you see Garchomp, use Dragon Claw," Paul commanded. Drapion growled as it scanned the battlefield, trying to locate Garchomp. The ground beneath Drapion rumbled as Garchomp burst from the ground, hitting Drapion in the belly. The unexpected attack sent Drapion flying into the air.
"DRAPION!" Paul yelled, furious, trying to regain control of the match.
"Grab its tail and slam it on the ground," Ichigo ordered. Garchomp flew toward Drapion and seized its tail with both hands.
"COMP!" Garchomp shouted as she swung Drapion over her head and slammed it into the ground.
"DRAHHHH!" Drapion howled in pain from the impact. The force of the attack ended the sandstorm.
"End it with Outrage," Ichigo commanded. Garchomp glowed with red energy as she charged at Drapion.
"Dragon Claw!" Paul shouted. Drapion struggled to gather enough draconic energy for its attack, but Garchomp's assault came too quickly and fiercely. Drapion's claws fell to the ground as it faltered.
Garchomp stopped her attack and took a few steps back.
"The battle is over! The winner is Garchomp!" the referee declared. Paul glared at his unconscious Drapion. He recalled it and sent out Ursaring. Ichigo recalled Drapion and sent out his Electivire. Paul remained with Ursaring.
"The next battle is between Electivire and Ursaring. Paul has the first move."
"Earthquake!" Paul ordered. Ursaring leaped into the air.
"Magnet Rise," Ichigo replied. Yellow disks of electricity appeared beneath Electivire's feet, allowing her to float above the ground. Ursaring slammed down on the battlefield, causing a tremor that shook the entire area.
"Plasma Fist," Ichigo said. Electivire's fists crackled with white electricity as she soared toward Ursaring, still using Magnet Rise.
"Slash!" Paul commanded. Ursaring's claws glowed with white energy as they met Electivire's attack head-on. The two Pokémon collided with powerful blows, but neither showed signs of damage.
"Use Close Combat!" Ichigo ordered. Electivire suddenly kicked Ursaring in the chest. The surprise attack left Ursaring unable to react in time. The opening allowed Electivire to continue attacking with Close Combat.
"Fight back!" Paul yelled, his frustration mounting. Ursaring lunged to the left, narrowly avoiding another punch. This gave it a chance to recover.
"Get back in there with Hammer Arm!" Paul commanded. Ursaring's arms glowed with white energy as it charged at Electivire.
"Close Combat," Ichigo countered. The two Pokémon continued exchanging blows, neither giving an inch. It wasn't long before one of Electivire's attacks knocked Ursaring unconscious. Electivire stepped back from the fallen Pokémon.
"The battle is over. The winner is Electivire," the referee declared.
"Damn it!" Paul muttered as he recalled Ursaring and sent out Magmortar. "You better win," he warned. Ichigo recalled his Electivire and sent out his Swampert. Paul scowled as he swapped out Magmortar for Honchkrow. Ichigo followed suit, recalling Swampert and sending out Rhyperior.
"Damn it!" Paul thought. "Both of his Pokémon have a type advantage over me."
"I'll stick with Honchkrow," Paul finally said.
"The battle between Rhyperior and Honchkrow will begin. Ichigo has the first move."
"Rock Slide!" Ichigo commanded. White orbs of energy formed around Rhyperior. The orbs turned into rocks that flew toward Honchkrow.
"Dodge and use Steel Wing," Paul ordered. Honchkrow either dodged the rocks or broke them with its metallic wings.
"Keep it up!" Ichigo called. More rocks flew toward Honchkrow, but the bird struggled to keep up. The rocks quickly outnumbered Honchkrow's defenses.
"End it with Rock Wrecker!" Ichigo ordered. Rhyperior raised its arms, forming a massive boulder. With a powerful push, it hurled the boulder at Honchkrow. The boulder crashed down on Honchkrow, pinning it to the ground.
"Get the boulder off of Honchkrow," Ichigo said. Rhyperior walked over and lifted the massive boulder. Everyone could see that Honchkrow was unconscious underneath.
"The battle is over. The winner is Rhyperior," the referee declared. Paul recalled Honchkrow, glaring at Ichigo.
"Is he going to send out his Magmortar, or forfeit?" Ichigo wondered.
"I forfeit the rest of the match," Paul growled.
The referee nodded. "Trainer Paul has forfeited the match. The winner is Cardinal Ichigo!" he announced. Ichigo recalled his Rhyperior and left the battlefield. As he walked away, people whispered among themselves, moving aside to let him pass. Ichigo ignored them, making his way to the Pokémon Center and handing his Pokémon over to Nurse Joy for treatment. While his Pokémon received care, Ichigo glanced at the TV, where the semi-final matchups were displayed.
"So it's Tobias, Sabrina, someone named Conway, and I. I wonder who's going to be my opponent," Ichigo thought. Soon, the semi-final bracket appeared on the screen. "Well, this is going to be fun," Ichigo mused upon seeing the matchups.
Editor's note: Nice
Author's notes:
(1) It's just like when we say, 'Thank God' or 'Oh my God'. In the Pokémon universe, the Gods are called Legendary Pokémon so in this situation, it would be 'Thank the Legend' or 'Oh my Legends'.
(2) Enlightenment is when a certain character suddenly completely comprehends something. In martial arts novels, enlightenment usually leads to a new technique or a new understanding of something.
(3) Magmortar can't normally learn Heavy Slam, but it can learn Iron Tail despite not having a tail… So, I changed it to Heavy Slam instead of Iron Tail.
(4) Malamar could learn Aerial Ace in gen 6 and 7.