Orihime's talent star competition may have ended in her defeat, but our heroes are continuing on their adventure.
"It looks like there's a local pokemon center just up ahead. We can rest there and make our way to Boota City from there." Rukia said as she looked over the map.
"Sounds great. Your second gym battle will be coming soon." Orihime said.
"Great. We'll be ready for it." Ichigo said. They all could see the pokemon center was just ahead, but that was when they heard an explosion going off. "What was that?" They heard it coming from the side of the center. When they went to check it out, they saw it was the ending of a battle.
"Sorry, but you lose again."
"Oh man." Ichigo took a good look at the two of them.
"Keigo? Mizuiro?" Ichigo said.
You're just a kid on a quest
To be the best of the best
Someday your destined for power and glory
You know you're up to the test
There's only one way to tell this story
Be a hero
Be a hero
All the power is at your command
Face your fears and show you're a hero
The future of the world is in your hands
Pokémon
(Ichigo's voice) From Old Beginnings
The two were battling each other got a look at Ichigo and his friends. One had medium brown hair and wore a grey short-sleeved jacket with a white shirt and grey pants. The other had black hair that fanned out. He wore a white short-sleeved dress shirt with a blue tie and grey khakis with a watch on his left wrist.
"Ichigo?" Keigo questioned. "Ichigo!" Keigo ran right at Ichigo with excitement and joy, but that was short lived when he ran right into Ichigo's fist.
"You're as annoying as ever." Ichigo said as Keigo dropped to the ground.
"Ichigo!" Orihime shouted as the three of them were shocked that Ichigo did that.
"It's nice to see you haven't changed." Mizuiro said as he came over. He dropped down and petted Absol on his head. "Hey, Absol. It's good to see you again. It's been a long time."
"It is good to see the two of you again." Ichigo said. "Let me introduce the two of you. These are the friends I've been traveling with. This is Orihime, Rukia, and Chad. Guys, these two are my old friends from back home. This is Mizuiro and Keigo and Mizuiro."
"Hello. It's nice to meet all of you." Mizuiro said.
"How's it going?" Keigo said as he stood back up. When he could see again, his eyes landed right on Orihime and Rukia.
"Hello." Orihime said.
"It's nice to meet the two of you." Rukia said.
"It sure is!" Keigo said as he dropped down to one knee and held out his hand to both of them. "I've never met a couple ladies as lovely as the two of you! What would you say to a nice dinner with me?!" Neither of them knew what to think of this until Ichigo grabbed him by the head and painfully pull them back.
"You haven't really changed much yourself." Ichigo said with annoyance.
"Ichigo, you are so lucky. You're traveling around with two beautiful girls? I'm jealous!" Keigo said.
"So, how do you all know each other?" Rukia asked.
"Keigo and Mizuiro are from Karakura just like me. We all grew up together." Ichigo said. It all made sense how the three of them knew each other now.
"I heard you started going on your journeys a while back. About time." Keigo said as he escaped from Ichigo's grip. "In fact, I think it's finally time." Keigo ran out to the battlefield and held out a pokeball. "Come on, Ichigo! Let's battle!"
"Are you sure you want to do that?" Mizuiro said. "I heard that Ichigo made it pretty far in the Johto and Unova Leagues."
"Come on! What's so bad about having a battle?!" Keigo said.
"Fine, but just one pokemon each." Ichigo said as he walked on the field. "Absol, let's do this."
"Absol." Absol ran out on the field and was ready for a battle.
"And here's my battling buddy. Let's go, Buizel!" Keigo said as he called out his pokemon.
"Buizel!"
"Buizel, is it. Okay, Keigo, you can have the first attack." Ichigo said.
"Big mistake. It just might be the final move." Keigo said. "Buizel, Water Gun!" Buizel shot water from it's mouth and splashed it against Absol, but Absol was able to endure the attack. "Now let's use Quick Attack!" Buizel went at Absol with incredible speed. It smashed itself against Absol, but Absol was able to handle the attack.
"Absol, Night Slash!" Absol charged right at Buizel. He slashed his horn against Buizel and knocked Buizel right off his feet. "Now let's use..." "Hold on!" Mizuiro said as he stopped the battle. A closer look shows that Buizel was out in just one hit.
"It's already over. Buizel is no longer able to battle." Mizuiro said. A little embarrassing with all the talk Keigo was giving.
"In just one hit? I was thinking there was going to be a little more." Rukia said as that battle was a little disappointing.
"Maybe Buizel knew it was going to end like that, but still battled it's hardest because Buizel is still a fierce battler. Maybe the sweet thing let Absol win." Orihime said. being a little silly.
"That makes no sense, Orihime." Chad said. "If Buizel is a fierce battler, why would it go down so easily? Why would it let Absol win?"
"Let's just get Keigo's pokemon to Nurse Joy." Mizuiro said. That was an idea they all agreed on. Once they got inside, Keigo gave Nurse Joy his Buizel and with a couple other pokemon.
"Take good care of them." Keigo said.
"Of course. That's my job." Nurse Joy said as she took his pokemon to the back. While Keigo was waiting, the rest of them gathered at a table and had some lunch.
"Absol certainly seems stronger than the last time we saw you two." Mizuiro said. "You've been doing well, Ichigo. Are you going to enter the Kalos League?"
"Sure am. I'm on my way to get my second badge." Ichigo said. "I'm not the only one competing in big events. Orihime is entering in Pokemon Talent Star."
"That sounds like it could be a lot of fun." Mizuiro said. "What about the rest of you? What are you all traveling for?"
"Well, my older brother back home is a powerful trainer. I want to be as powerful as him one day." Rukia said.
"I guess...I'm traveling to find what it is I really want to do." Chad said.
"I see. Still a little indecisive about your life. That's okay. Some people are like that and that's why you travel." Mizuiro said. "Keigo and I are actually working on getting in the Kalos League ourselves."
"Wow. That's pretty nice that you three are old friends and you're trying to get in the Kalos League." Orihime said.
"How has your journeys been going lately?" Ichigo asked.
"Keigo and I just recently met up." Mizuiro said. "I'm doing fine, but Keigo is another matter." He looked at Keigo and felt a little sorry for him. "He's trying his best, but he's been having some bad luck as a trainer. He tried entering a couple other leagues, but he never made it. He's also had trouble battling and catching some stronger pokemon."
"Probably because he gets in way over his head and bites off more than he can chew." Ichigo said. "How has Keigo been doing lately?"
"It seems to be the same more or less." Mizuiro said.
"You're different?" Rukia questioned.
"Mizuiro has always been the smart one of the three of us." Ichigo said. "He knows what he's doing. I'm sure Keigo would too if he gets his act together. He's full of energy, but he just lets it all go to waste." They didn't think Keigo heard that, but he did and it made him feel like a failure as a trainer.
"Keigo..." Nurse Joy said as she came over. "I'm please to let you know all your pokemon are perfectly fine."
"Thanks." Keigo said as he took them back. Keigo wasn't going to let his pokemon down. He wants to the the type of trainer that can do it. "I'm off!" Keigo ran straight for the door with the others spotting him.
"Keigo? Where are you going?" Ichigo asked.
"I'll show you guys that I'm just as good as any trainer." Keigo said. "I'm going to catch a strong pokemon. Just wait and see." Keigo ran out of there and ran straight into the woods.
"He's going to catch a strong pokemon to prove himself?" Rukia questioned.
"I guess he wants to show he can be a tough trainer too." Mizuiro said. Ichigo had a bad feeling about this.
...
Keigo
"I'll show those guys. I can be just as tough, just as good as any other trainer." Keigo said as he encouraged himself. "I'm going to make it to the Kalos League. I'll catch plenty of strong pokemon and show them." Keigo had a look around the woods for a strong pokemon, but he wasn't pleased with anything he found, or if there was anything. "Man, why is it you can never find what you need when you really do need it? I might need a little help. Buizel, come out and give me a hand."
"Bui!" He called out his partner and had an extra set of eyes to help.
"Buizel, you keep an eye open for any pokemon you think are tough. We're catching some new ones." Keigo said. "Our loosing days will soon be done."
"Bui!" Both of them had a look around to try and find something. He was alerted about something moving in the bushes and thought he might have found it.
"There! I want you to use Water Gun right there!" Keigo said as he pointed the way. Buizel used the attack and blasted the bushes with water.
"Weedle!" What really came out was a Weedle that got scared from the attack and ran off.
"A Weedle? That's all it was. Give me a break!" Keigo said as he got so mad that he kicked a rock into the bushes. When he did that, he heard some sort of buzzing sound. Now it was his turn to be afraid as he saw a swarm of Beedrill come out. "Beedrill?! That's not what I had in mind!" Buizel and Keigo ran for their lives as the Beedrill chased after him. It's never a good idea to make a swam of Beedrill mad. Meanwhile, Ichigo and Mizuiro got a little worried about Keigo and looked for him.
"Where could he have gone?" Ichigo questioned.
"He's got to be around here somewhere." Mizuiro said.
"Help!" Keigo called as they spotted him and Buizel running for their lives with the Beedrill chasing them.
"Oh man! What did he do?!" Ichigo said.
"We've got to help him out." Mizuiro said as he reached for a pokeball. "Metang, come out and use Meteor Mash!"
"Meta!" Metang came out and charged right at the Beedrill swarm with its claws out. He bashed right into the swarm and broke them apart with some taking damage.
"Absol, help out with Psycho Cut!" Ichigo commanded.
"Absol!" Absol used the attack and blasted other Beedrill. Some of the Beedrill flew off or were knocked out, but there was still one flying. It flew over and got in the way of Keigo and Buizel.
"Come on. I didn't mean what I did back there." Keigo said as he was a little nervous. Beedrill wouldn't listen as it used Fury Attack and tried stinging Buizel, but Buizel kept avoiding the stingers. Keigo wasn't quite sure what to do.
"Keigo, battle back!" Ichigo said.
"What? Are you serious?" Keigo said.
"You wanted to catch a tough pokemon. That Beedrill looks tough to me." Ichigo said.
"Seriously?" Keigo said.
"Come on, Keigo!" Ichigo shouted. "You always get way too ahead of yourself and look where that gets you! Focus on the here and now! You want a tough pokemon? Go for the Beedrill! Just do something!" Keigo could see that Ichigo was right. He always gets ahead of himself and it usually backfires. Not this time.
"Buizel, Water Gun on Beedrill!" Keigo called. Buizel went through and blasted that Beedrill with water. "Now use Quick Attack!" Buizel charged at Beedrill with some speed and smashed against it. "Quick Attack again!" Beedrill tried fighting back with Poison Sting, but Buizel avoided the attack and smashed against Beedrill again. Beedrill hit a tree and collapsed. "Go, pokeball!" Keigo toss the ball and it tapped against Beedrill. Beedrill went inside and they waited to see if it was actually caught. When the ball stopped moving, it dinged and meant Beedrill was caught. "I did it! I really did it!" Keigo was feeling proud of himself now and his friends were happy for him as well.
...
The Pokemon Center
After making sure Beedrill and Buizel were in good shape, Keigo and Mizuiro were getting ready to hit the road.
"You're leaving already?" Ichigo said.
"Now that I got a Beedrill, I need to get to work." Keigo said.
"And my pokemon are all set to go themselves. There's not much reason to stick around." Mizuiro said. "Ichigo, we hope to see you in the Kalos League."
"You will." Ichigo said.
"We hope to see you again." Orihime said.
"Well, you can come with me." Keigo offered, but Mizuiro grabbed his ear and pulled him away.
"You all take care." Mizuiro said as they all waved goodbye. Ichigo was glad he got see his friends, and now he has new rivals to look forward to battling.
Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves and it backfires on us, but things always have a way of turning around for the better. After seeing his old friends, Ichigo can't wait until he gets to battle them as stronger trainers. Now, he has another challenge just ahead. Next stop, the gym in Boota City.
To Be Continued...
Pokemon Question: Okay, trainers. The answer to the last question was...Pidgeot. Pidgeot's feathers is what makes it popular among trainers. Here's the next question. What ghost-type can be found in water, but is not a water-type?
