After meeting with Uryu, our heroes are heading for Coumaroo Town for Orihime to compete in Pokemon Talent Star.

"Orihime, are you excited? Coumaroo Town isn't that much farther away." Rukia said.

"I actually am. I'm going to get my first medal this time." Orihime said as she couldn't wait.

"Hold on. What's that?" Chad said. They all looked ahead and they saw a dark thin line of smoke coming from the trees.

"That's an indication that there's a fire!" Rukia said.

"Fire?!" Ichigo said. That didn't sound good at all. They all hurried to where that smoke was coming from, hoping they could do something to stop a fire before it gets too out of hand.

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) Fiery Charge

They all hurried as fast as they could to where this fire was. They could see the smoke coming from just behind the bushes. Rukia acted fast as she pulled out a pokeball.

"Dewgong, put out the fire with Brine!" Rukia said.

"Dewgong!" Dewgong came out and shot fire to where the fire was. It looked like the fire was being put out.

"Hey!" Someone called and she sounded upset. That wasn't what they were expecting. They all looked closer behind the bushes and saw the fire they put out was done by a girl with her pokemon. It also looked like they were cooking. "Thanks a lot. Ninetales worked hard on the fire."

"Ninetales."

"Sorry. We thought there was a fire going on." Ichigo said.

"A fire? That was all done by Ninetales fire power here." The girl said. A closer look at the girl shows this girl had brown hair with pigtails tied with yellow ribbons. She wore a black shirt with jean shorts and wore a burgundy jacket. "We were doing a some cooking that required fire power."

"Fire power? What kind of cooking requires so much fire power that it looks like a forest is burning?" Ichigo questioned, but Rukia drove her elbow into him for the rude comment.

"Again, we're sorry." Rukia said. "What's your name by the way?"

"I'm Rena, and this Ninetales here is my partner."

"Ninetales."

"Wow..." Orihime said as she was amazed with Ninetales and petted it on the side of its face. "Your Nintales looks beautiful. It is nice to meet you. My name is Orihime."

"I'm Ichigo, and this is my partner: Absol."

"Absol."

"I'm Rukia."

"And my name is Chad."

"We feel bad that we ruined your cooking." Rukia said. "How about you let us make it up to you? We were going to eat soon ourselves. How about you join us?"

"Well, I suppose it's the least you could do." Rena said. Rena joined them as they all set up lunch. They let out all their other pokemon and ate together. Rena was in a bad mood earlier, but the food was good and it put her in a better mood. "Not bad. Ninetales seems to like it too." She looked over to her Ninetales and saw it was enjoying the food as well. "Ninetales is usually a little cautious about food. It's only comfortable eating my food, but it looks like Ninetales really enjoys it."

"We're glad you like it." Orihime said.

"So are you some sort of cook, Rena?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah. I learned a few things from my parents." Rena said. "I'm from Jacklot City. They're the owners of restaurant. I learned a few things from them and learned how to use Ninetales' flames in them. Ninetales enjoys some cooking as well. Ninetales and I make a great team, don't we?"

"Nine!"

"Ninetales is considered a mystical pokemon." Rena said. "It is said that Ninetales can live for a thousand years. Having firepower that can last for so long. To cooks like myself, firepower is a great thing. The fire itself can add a little flavor to the food. The flames Ninetales can generate makes it the perfect partner for me."

"It sounds like you two make a great team." Orihime said.

"You better believe it. I was also one of the best trainers back when I was still in school." Rin said. "In fact, I can show you."

"Are you saying you want one of us to battle you?" Ichigo said.

"Yeah, and I know who. Rukia, it's you and me in a battle." Rena said.

"Me? Why do you want to battle me?" Rukia said.

"You ruined my cooking. To a cook like myself, it's an unforgivable act." Rena said. "Besides, seeing all these ice-types sours my appetite."

"Excuse me?" Rukia said as she took some offense to that.

"Don't get me wrong. Ice-types have their benefits. It's like coldness in delicious food like ice cream, but I'm all about firepower." Rena said. "What do you say?"

"You want a battle? I'll give you one." Rukia said. Both of them took their positions and stood ready for a battle.

"I'm using Ninetales in this battle." Rena said. "Who will you be using?"

"I'll go with Jynx!" Rukia said.

"Jynx!" Jynx was excited Rukia chose her. She stepped out and was ready to battle.

"Let's get this started! Jynx, Icy Wind!" Rukia said.

"Jynx!" Jynx breathed out a blast of cold air. The attack hit, but Ninetales didn't seem bothered by it at all.

"It's not working." Orihime said.

"It actually is." Chad said.

"The attack is dealing a little damage, but Ninetales just doesn't appear to be affected by the attack. Rukia needs a better move than that." Ichigo said.

"If that's all you got, this will be over sooner than I thought." Rena said. "Ninetales, Flame Charge!" Ninetales coated itself in fire and charged right at her.

"Jynx, Teleport to escape!" Rukia said. Jynx teleported away before Ninetales landed the attack. Jynx reappeared behind Ninetales and was ready to attack again.

"Ninetales, Flamethrower!" Rena said.

"Teleport again!" Rukia said. Ninetales tried blasting Jynx with fire, but Jynx teleported out of the way again.

"So, Jynx knows Teleport does it? Not anymore." Rena said. "Ninetales, Disable!" Ninetales eyes glowed. When Jynx reappeared, a blue outline appeared around her.

"Ninetales knows Disable?!" Rukia said as she was shocked to see that.

"What's Disable?" Orihime questioned.

"It blocks Jynx from using Teleport." Chad said.

"Jynx, blast Ninetales with Ice Beam before they can attack again!" Rukia said.

"Too slow. Ninetales, Flame Charge!" Rena said. Jynx fired the cold beam, but Ninetales lit its flames around itself and charged through the Ice Beam. Ninetales kept going until it smashed right into Jynx. In that one attack, Jynx was taken out in one hit.

"It looks like that's it." Orihime said.

"It was a good effort, but Jynx was at a disadvantage against a fire-type." Ichigo said. "Even so, that Ninetales appears to be pretty strong."

"Jynx, thanks for trying." Rukia said as she brought Jynx back in her pokeball. "That's some Ninetales you got. I wasn't expecting Ninetales to use Disable."

"It's a helpful attack for when our opponent knows an attack that could cause some trouble for us." Rena said. "After having a battle, I hope you saw the intense firepower that Ninetales has. It's that sort of firepower that's also going to help us win Pokemon Talent Star in Coumaroo Town."

"Pokemon Talent Star in Coumaroo Town?!" Orihime said as they were all shocked to hear that she was going to be competing as well.

"You're a pokemon show-woman?!" Ichigo said.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Rena said. "I became one because it's a great way to spread the word about my family's restaurant. It also helps me hone my skills and have other people try my cooking. Just imagine if we manage to win the Ultimate Talent Star. Can you imagine the buzz we would get with that?"

"Nine!" Ninetales certainly appeared excited about the thought.

"Sorry, but you're not the one who is going to be winning." Ichigo said.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Rena said with a bit of anger.

"That's because Orihime is the one who is going to win." Ichigo said.

"Orihime here is competing herself." Rukia said.

"You are?" Rena said.

"Yeah. I'm certainly going to give it my best shot." Orihime said. "I'm hoping to get my first star medal here in Kalos."

"Is that so? Well, don't get so hung up on the idea of winning." Rena said. "I'm the one who will be taking that medal home. No one can top Ninetales when it comes to firepower."

"Well, I got a little firepower too. Isn't that right, Solrock?" Orihime said as she gestured to Solrock.

"Solrock!"

"Does your Solrock know a fire-type attack or something?" Rena asked.

"Yeah." Orihime said. "Solrock, could you please show her your Fire Spin." Solrock happily obliged. Solrock pointed itself to the sky and spun around at great speed as it launched the attack straight into the sky. It looked like a good attack.

"Not bad, but it can't top Ninetales." Rena said. "Ninetales, show her what I mean by using Flamethrower straight to the sky!" Ninetales used the attack and shot straight into the air. The flames felt intense, much stronger than what Solrock could generate. As one should expect from a pokemon that actually is a fire-type. Orihime could see she'll have some competition on her hands. "See what I mean? If your Solrock and my Ninetales were to battle, your Solrock wouldn't stand a chance."

"You don't know that." Orihime said.

"Even a small flame from a candle could be a blazing fire." Rukia said.

"I'm not trying to be mean or anything." Rena said. "I'm just saying that I haven't met anyone who had firepower that could outmatch Ninetales."

"But my Solrock is as strong as any other pokemon." Orihime said.

"Oh yeah? I can't wait to see you prove it." Rena said as she pointed the way. "Coumaroo Town is just a couple miles from here. We can settle this little disagreement in the competition."

"Okay, you're on." Orihime said as she wanted to show how tough her pokemon really can be. "Solrock, I'm using you in the competition."

"Solrock!" Solrock appeared happy and excited that it's the one that gets to compete this time.

"In that case, I better get going." Rena said as she gathered her stuff. "Thanks for lunch and the battle. Orihime, I'll see you soon." Rena and Ninetales went on ahead. Orihime has a new competitor and this one has a little fire to her.

"Seems like you have yourself another rival." Ichigo said.

"You think you can take on that Ninetales? It's certainly has some power to it." Rukia said.

"I don't know, but I'll certainly give it my best shot." Orihime said. She's looking forward to this competition and a future battle against Rena.

Orihime has found herself a new rival with Rena. The competition is coming up and it looks like there's going to be a good battle between her and Orihime. It's coming up and you don't want to miss it.

To Be Continued...

Pokemon Question: Okay, future pokemon trainers. The answer to the last question is...Gabite! The scales of a Gabite can be used to treat illnesses. Here's the next question. What pokemon's body is comprised of poisonous gases?