Our heroes have made it to Lahusa City. This is where Ichigo plans to win his sixth gym badge and be another step closer to the Johto League.

"Here we are!" Ichigo said as all of them had a look around Lahusa City. "Time for that sixth badge. Absol, are you excited for this?"

"Absol!"

"So where's the gym?" Orihime asked.

"Not that far from the research facility that this city is known for." Rukia said. "I'm interested to see what kind of gym this would be. They say this gym isn't like most gyms. I'm not sure what that means, but I'm curious enough to find out."

"So what are we waiting for? Let's go have a look." Ichigo said as he was excited for his next gym battle.

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) History Relives

All of them made their way to the gym. This was where Ichigo plans to win his next badge and be one step closer to the Johto League.

"This is it." Ichigo said.

"Good luck, Ichigo." Chad said.

"He doesn't need it. We know Ichigo is going to win this one." Orihime said.

"You've got to be kidding me. You guys are here too?" All of them turned around and they were all surprised to see Grimmjow was there as well. "How many times am I going to be running into you guys?"

"Grimmjow… So you're here for a gym battle as well." Ichigo said. "Sorry, but you'll have to wait a little longer. I got here first and I'm the one who is going to challenge the gym."

"I don't remember taking orders from you." Grimmjow said. Things were already getting tense between Ichigo and Grimmjow, but things were stopped when they heard a door open up and saw a female scientist step out.

"Hello there. Are you challengers for this gym?" The lady asked.

"Yeah. I'm Ichigo and I came here to challenge the Lahusa gym leader. So did the blue haired one over there, but I got here first." Ichigo said.

"I see. I'm sorry, but you can't have a gym battle right now." The lady said. "I'm afraid Szayelaporro isn't here."

"Who?" Ichigo asked.

"Szayelaporro. He's the gym leader of this gym." Ichigo said. "If you want to go see him, you can. Szayelaporro is the head researcher at the facility and they are in the process of digging out some new fossils."

"That's right. The research facility studies extinct pokemon and uncovers fossils up in the mountains." Rukia said.

"So let's go have a look." Ichigo said. "I want to meet this Szayelaporro and see if I can get a gym battle." All of them agreed since they wanted to have a look at the facility as well. Grimmjow hanged back for a second, but he decided to tag along since he really had nothing better to do.

…..

The Research Facility

A van just pulled up to the research facility. Ichigo and the others didn't have to move very far to get to the facility. They saw people getting to work at once and unloaded some fossils they discovered.

"Look at those fossils!" Rukia said. "It's a little hard to imagine that those are all that's left of pokemon that existed millions of years ago."

"That does seem interesting." Orihime said.

"Who cares? They look like a bunch of rocks to me." Grimmjow said.

"Who invited you?" Ichigo said.

"I go wherever I want." Grimmjow said.

"Here's the last of it."

"Good work." A man said as he stepped out. He wore a white top with a long jacket that reached all the way to his ankles with white pants and had a grey cloth hanging around his waist. He also wore glasses and had pink hair. "Get to work on those fossils."

"You got it, Szayelaporro."

"Szayelaporro?! That's him?!" Ichigo said. Now that Ichigo knows who he is, he went over to speak with him.

"It looks like we found some good ones." Szayelaporro said as he had look at his findings.

"Excuse me." Ichigo said and got his attention. "Are you really Szayelaporro? The gym leader back at the Lahusa Gym."

"I am. Who are you?" Szayelaporro asked.

"My name is Ichigo. I came here to challenge your gym." Ichigo said. "When I heard you weren't at the gym, I came here so I could see if we could have that battle."

"I see." Szayelaporro said. "I'm sorry, but I'm very busy today. I have a lot of work to do on these fossils we uncovered. However, I am free tomorrow. Our battle will have to wait until then."

"Fine." Ichigo said. He was hoping to have a gym battle, but since Szayelaporro is busy, there isn't much he can really do.

"Cradily!" A Cradily came out and handed a few supplies to Szayelaporro. Rukia was pretty surprised to see one.

"Thank you, Cradily." Szayelaporro said.

"I don't believe it! A real Cradily!" Rukia said. "How is that even possible?! They're suppose to be extinct! How can there be one?!"

"No need to cause a scene." Szayelaporro said. "If you would like, I be glad to give you a tour of the facility. You can see it for yourself and any questions you have can be answered there."

"I would love one!" Orihime said.

"Same here." Chad said.

"I like to see how an extinct pokemon is here today." Rukia said.

"I guess since we can't have a gym battle, there's no harm in it." Ichigo said and Absol was in agreement.

"What about you? You're free to join us as well." Szayelaporro said to Grimmjow.

"Sure." Grimmjow said since he really didn't have anything better to do. When all of them agreed to take the tour, Szayelaporro showed them around.

"This facility is designed to research fossils since fossils are the remains of pokemon that have existed years ago." Szayelaporro said. "We can learn a lot from the past. As they say, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." They had a look around and Rukia spotted a room where they were working on the fossils.

"What are they doing in there?" Rukia asked.

"They're cleaning the fossils." Szayelaporro said. "When we have visitors, we have some of the fossils on display. Have a look." He showed a few display cases that showed some of the fossils that have been uncovered. "We want the fossils to look their best when they are displayed. So we clean out any dirt and other such unnecessities that shouldn't be in there. It's also useful for getting a proper analysis on them"

"So what do you learn from fossils?" Orihime asked.

"Much like what habitat they lived in and what kind of pokemon there once was." Szayelaporro said. "In fact, some say that there were some that can mega evolve."

"Mega evolve….?" Grimmjow said.

"How could they mega evolve without a human being around to aid in it?" Ichigo asked.

"That's a mystery even I haven't been able to unlock yet." Szayelaporro said. He took a look at them and spotted Ichigo's keystone with Absol's pendent. "So you dabble in mega evolution as well?"

"Yeah, but I only use it when my opponent can mega evolve as well. Otherwise, it feels like I have an unfair advantage." Ichigo said. "At least, that's how I see it."

"A very noble quality. Perhaps that like a knight who would never attack an unarmed opponent. Most wouldn't have let that stopped them." Szayelaporro said.

"Pointless if you ask me." Grimmjow whispered.

"I still like to know how that Cradily of yours is here today." Rukia said.

"I'll show you." Szayelaporro said. He led the way and showed them a lab with a giant machine in it. "Pay close attention to this machine and you're about to see what it can do." A few scientist took a fossil that they discovered and placed it in the machine. The doors closed around it and a humming sound was going on.

"What's happening" Chad asked.

"I think we're about to find out." Ichigo said. They waited for a while until they heard a ding sound and the doors opened up and they were all surprised to see what was in it.

"Omanyte!" A living breathing Omanyte was standing right where the fossil was.

"I don't believe it!" Rukia said as they were all amazed by what they have seen. "That fossil turned into an Omanyte! You somehow brought a pokemon back to life."

"Yes." Szayelaporro said as he petted Cradily. "That's how I was able to obtain this Cradily and had it become my partner. Put this Omanyte with the others."

"Others?" Ichigo said.

"Yes. Would you like to see?" Szayelaporro said. They would be fools if they did not. Szayelaporro led through the facility with one of the scientist carrying Omanyte until they came across a large door. Szayelaporro input a code and the doors opened up. When they did, Ichigo and the others were all amazed. There was a forest actually inside the facility and it held prehistoric pokemon.

"Unbelievable!" Rukia said. "Pokemon that actually lived millions of years ago! You actually brought them back to life!"

"Yes." Szayelaporro said. His fellow scientist placed the Omanyte down and let it go off into the forest with all the other extinct pokemon. "We built this to help them adjust to this time. By observing and studying them in the habitats like this, we learn much from the pokemon from prehistoric times. We also help them adjust to the new world here and trainers can help."

"How so?" Orihime asked.

"We've had a few trainers come here with fossils they have uncovered themselves." Szayelaporro said. "In doing so, we allow them to keep the prehistoric pokemon. Since they are pokemon, they have as much right to be trained and raised like any other pokemon around in these modern times."

"Incredible!" Ichigo said.

"You can say that again." Rukia said. "Pokemon that have lived once before are back and can be trained and raised by trainers. This place is amazing."

"You're helping them be brought back to this world!" Orihime said.

"Thank you." Szayelaporro said. All of them were amazed with what they have seen, but Grimmjow has other thoughts.

'So if we find a fossil, they will bring it back to life as pokemon and we get to keep it.' Grimmjow thought as he was forming some sort of idea.

"This is all beyond belief!" Ichigo said as he had a look around the forest.

"Ty!"

"What was that?" Ichigo said.

"Sounds like a pokemon in pain." Szayealporro said and ran into the forest with all of them following. They followed the cries through the forest and they soon discovered the source was a Tyrunt and it appeared to be in pain.

"A Tyrunt, but what's wrong with it?" Rukia said.

"I'll see." Szayelaporro said. He tried to take a step closer to see, but Tyrunt flailed around and it seemed risky to get close.

"Be careful." Orihime said.

"I'll be fine." Szayelaporro said and reached out for Tyrunt. "Now let's see what the problem is. I'm only here to help you." Tyrunt kept its guard up, but Tyrunt ended up trusting Szayelaporro as it open its mouth. "I see the problem." He reached inside and was able to pull out a fruit cord. "There we go. This was stuck in its teeth."

"Wow! He was able to get the problem so easily." Rukia said. "He has prehistoric pokemon and can connect with them. He might be a real challenge." That didn't matter to Ichigo. He was looking forward to this one.

"Now, about that gym battle tomorrow, I understand both of you want to challenge me." Szayelaporro said to both Ichigo and Grimmjow. "I can only challenge one of you tomorrow. So who will be first?"

"Ichigo can go first." Grimmjow said. Ichigo was shocked that Grimmjow would allow that. "I've got other things in mind."

"More important than a gym battle?" Ichigo said. "Oh well. You can come and see my gym battle and watch me win it."

"Watch you lose? That would be enjoyable." Grimmjow said. Ichigo was offended, but he has no intention of losing this battle.

What an unforgettable experience our heroes have. They've learned a lot about the ancient world of pokemon. It is sure to be an interesting gym battle between Ichigo and Szayelaporro. Stay tune to find out how this gym battle is going to unfold.

To Be Continued….