"Hurry! This way, guys!" Rukia said. All of them were running as fast as they could and could see a train station ahead. "We're just going to make it." All of them were able to make it to the station and were able to get their tickets to get on. They were able to make it just as the train was going.

"Just made it." Ichigo said.

"This was a great idea, Rukia." Orihime said. "We'll be able to make it to Ichigo's gym battle a lot faster this way."

After Orihime won her third star medal, our heroes are now heading Lahusa City so that Ichigo and earn his sixth gym badge. They've decided to take a train that leads directly to Lahusa City. It should be smooth riding from here.

Rise if you're prepared for the challenge
(Rise to the challenge)
Rise if you're a champion at heart
(Rise to the challenge)
Take my hand, we'll train as one
And triumph together
(Rise to the challenge)
Nothing's gonna stand in our way
Stronger and stronger we'll
Rise to the challenge of
Life
Pokémon

(Ichigo's voice) Derail a Mystery

"This train will lead us straight to Lahusa City and save us a lot of time." Rukia said.

"Good call." Chad said.

"Yeah. It's a nice change of style from how we're usually riding." Ichigo said as he petted Absol. "So how long until we reach Lahusa City."

"It will take a little time." Rukia said. "Once we cross a lake, we'll be halfway there."

Wow! Look at everything go!" Orihime said as she stared out the window and saw everything go by. "I can't wait to see what it's like to cross the water."

'Man, sometimes Orihime can act like a kid.' Ichigo thought and he actually liked it. Absol became alerted about something. All of them looked down and saw it was Officer Jenny heading their way. "Officer Jenny is here?"

"Officer Jenny, is there some sort of problem on the train?" Rukia asked.

"No, not really." Officer Jenny said. "I was just assigned here for security purposes. I'm here to make sure everything is running okay. You never really know when something might happen."

"I suppose." Ichigo said and it seems like they got what they wanted. Suddenly, the train was coming to a stop. "What's going on?"

"We've stopped? Why?" Orihime said.

"I'll go see." Officer Jenny said as she was heading to the conductor's cart. Ichigo and his friends decided to go with her.

….

The Train Conductor

"This is very strange." The conductor said. He doesn't really see any problems as to why he had to stop the train, but something is very strange. He heard a knock on the door. "Come on in." Officer Jenny let herself in with Ichigo and the others joining in.

"Sir, is there some sort of problem?" Officer Jenny said.

"Yeah. How come the train isn't moving?" Orihime asked.

"There's nothing wrong with the train and I don't see a problem with the tracks." The conductor said. "The thing is that this red light is on." He pointed to a post out on the tracks and saw a red light was on. "When that light is on, it means that we have to stop and there might be a problem with the tracks."

"How long until it changes?" Rukia said.

"I don't know. I already radioed in, but they say there is no problem with the tracks." The train conductor said.

"Maybe the light itself is broken?" Orihime said.

"No. At least I don't think so." The train conductor said. "Either way, until that light goes off, I'm not allowed to have the train move any further. I'm afraid we're stuck here until we're all clear."

"This is very strange." Officer Jenny said. "I think I'm going to head out to investigate to see if there's a problem with the tracks, I'll find out what it is."

"Officer Jenny, is it okay if we go as well?" Ichigo asked.

"I'm not sure." Officer Jenny said.

"We'll be okay. We've dealt with problems that seem far worse than this." Ichigo said. "Besides, if it ends up really being nothing, how can we really be in any danger?"

"Very well, but do be careful." Officer Jenny said.

"Ichigo and I will go." Rukia said. "People are going to get annoyed and frustrated if this train doesn't get going soon. Orihime and Chad, how about you two stay back and try to keep calm."

"Sure." Chad said.

"Be careful out there." Orihime said.

"We'll be fine." Ichigo said. When it was settled Ichigo, Absol, Rukia, and Officer Jenny jumped off the train and went to investigate.

"Our first stop is figuring this light out." Officer Jenny said as she went to take a look. "It's powered by the central station. The people that worked there keep an eye on all the tracks, but if they say nothing is wrong, why is it on?"

"There must be some reason for that." Rukia said. Officer Jenny had a look around and she soon spotted something unusual.

"What's this?" Officer Jenny said. She noticed a small box on the post and it didn't looked like it belonged there. "This looks like some sort of jamming device. It's interfering with the way the light works and leaving it constantly on."

"Someone had to have put there." Ichigo said.

"Obviously, someone doesn't want us to pass through." Rukia said. "I think whatever it is we're looking for, we'll find it somewhere along the tracks."

"You're right. Let's get going." Officer Jenny said. All of them agreed and got moving to find what was happening ahead on the tracks.

…

Further Down

Ichigo and the others continued to search for anything that was out of the ordinary, but they haven't come across anything so far.

"Nothing? I don't get it. If someone jammed that light, why isn't anyone here?" Ichigo said.

"That is the only light for a few miles." Officer Jenny said. "So whoever did this would have to be somewhere between that light and the next one."

"Is there anything in between the two lights?" Rukia asked. Officer Jenny tried to think about that.

"Nothing really, but the lake that the train crosses over on a land bridge is right where that second light is." Officer Jenny said.

"Wait!" Rukia said. "What if that's it?" Rukia said. "There could be something going on at the lake. Whoever is behind this could be there and wanted to be sure that no one interferes with whatever is going on."

"That would make sense." Officer Jenny said. "If people are working at the lake, I doubt they would want a train to come through. So the lake is our first place to investigate. Let's get going." When they all agreed as to where they should.

…..

The Lake

Something strange actually was going on at the lake. People were diving under the water and it looked like there was an investigation going on. No one can tell who because the diving suits they're all wearing kept their whole bodies covered.

"Keep searching." They are all searching for something in the water and was holding up the train line to do that. Ichigo and the others were able to arrive, but they didn't have a clue as to what is going on.

"What is all this?" Ichigo said.

"No clue, but these people shouldn't be here." Officer Jenny said.

"Take a look at some of the equipment they're using." Rukia said. They looked around and saw some diving equipment and some computers they were using. "Either they're studying the water or there's something down there that they are looking for."

"No matter what the reason is, they're holding up a train and they can't do that." Officer Jenny said and stepped out. "Excuse me!" She called and got their attention. "You are creating gridlock and I'm afraid you can't uphold this area. I insist that you clear out at once." It was hard to tell what they were thinking, but it didn't seem like they were going quietly. The ones on land released a pokeball and they all called out for a Magnemite.

"Magnemite, Sonic Boom!"

"Magnmite!" All of them attacked, but Officer Jenny moved out of the way and tried to avoid the attacks.

"I guess they don't want to come quietly. Absol, help out with Dark Pulse!" Ichigo said.

"Absol!" Absol used his attack and blasted some of the Magnemite out of the way.

"Go, Growlithe! Flamethrower!" Officer Jenny said as she called out her partner.

"Growlithe!" Her Growlithe breathed out flames and pushed some of the Magnemite away.

"Absol, Razor Wind!" Ichigo said. Absol used the attack again and hit some of the Magnemite. Just when it seemed like things were going well for them, something emerged out of the water and it was a bunch of Tentacruel.

"A group of Tentacruel?! Where did they come from?!" Rukia said. All the Tentacruel attacked with Water Gun and hit Growlithe and Absol. "That's enough! Dewgong, Signal Beam!"

"Dewgong!" Dewgong came out and fired a beam that blasted the Tentacruel.

"Ichigo, there's probably more of them under the water. See if you can get them to come out." Rukia said.

"I'm on it." Ichigo said as he ran for some diving equipment. Ichigo shoved one of them out of the way and grabbed some diving equipment and ran for it once he got it on. "Gyarados, help me out!"

"RRRRAAARRGH!" Ichigo jumped right on Gyarados and dived under the water. Gyarados and Ichigo moved around the water and saw more of the mysterious people searching around the bottom of the lake.

"Who are these guys?" Ichigo questioned. "This can't be good if they have to hold a whole a train like this. Gyarados, get their attention with Hydro Pump!" Gyarados used the attack and blasted around them and was able to get their attention. The mysterious people called out more Tentacruel and had them go and attack. "Now use Twister!" Gyarados fought back against all the Tentacruel. Ichigo and the others don't understand what's going on, but they can't let this go on. They need answers.

"Dewgong use Ice Beam!" Rukia said. Dewgong released the cold beam and blasted some of the pokemon with them freezing. Absol joined in the fight with Night Slash and slashed against some of them.

"Growlithe, Flamethrower again!" Officer Jenny said. Growlithe released more flames and that brought down the last of the pokemon. "Now for the rest of you." The mysterious people didn't know what to do as they appeared to be surrounded. As for Ichigo, he and Gyarados continued to fight them all underwater.

"Gyarados, let's flush these guys out with Whirlpool!" Ichigo said. Gyarados generated the whirlpool and their enemies got caught in it as they were all taken for a spin. "Great work. Now let's go get some answers." Ichigo and Gyarados was going to apprehend them, but something strange was happening. The current in the water was too strong even for Gyarados and they were being pulled back. "What?! What's going on?!" It wasn't just under the water. The whole lake water was being shot in the air and it was so strange.

"What is this?!" Officer Jenny said.

"Can't be good!" Rukia said. The water bend around and came at them with all of them being washed away. Ichigo and the others were washed up on shore and it was not an enjoyable ride.

"Is everyone okay?" Officer Jenny said.

"I think so." Ichigo said.

"But those guys are gone." Rukia said. They looked around and all trace of those mysterious people were gone. "What was going on? Who were they?"

"I'm not sure, but if they're not here, we can get the train going again." Officer Jenny said. It was a strange encounter, but at least they got what they originally came to do.

….

The Train

The train was going again and was passing over the lake. As the train passed over, Rukia and Ichigo finished telling Orihime and Chad about what happened.

"That sounds a little scary." Orihime said.

"It certainly was strange and we have no idea who they were." Rukia said. "They really covered their tracks. There weren't any clues as to who they were or what they were after."

"Ichigo, you went under the water. Did you see anything?" Chad said.

"Not really." Ichigo said. "I don't know who those guys were, but I know nothing about that was good." All of them thought about it, but was coming up with nothing. The train passed by and they missed a real clue at the lake: Aizen, leader of Team Transcendent with his Alakazam.

"So that boy with his friends will continue to get in the way." Aizen said. "So be it. It should make things more interesting. They failed to stop us anyway." He held out what he came searching for. "The water gem is now mine like the fire gem. They have no idea what is to come in the future."

They may have gotten stalled, but it would seem our heroes are on the road once more. They're on their way to Lahusa City for Ichigo's next gym battle. What's to come out of all this? You'll find out eventually….as the journey continues.

To Be Continued….