Orihime might have lost at Pokemon Talent Star, but our heroes have decided have entered Jacklot City's annual tournament.

"There it is just ahead." Ivan said as he showed the way to the arena. "Best of luck to all of you in there."

"Thanks, Ivan." Ichigo said.

"Is this tournament really a lot of fun?" Orihime asked.

"Yeah. The fun part is that you never know what they're going to do." Ivan said. "There's something different every year. I wish I could stay and watch, but there's somewhere else I need to be." Ivan showed them were the arena was, but he had to go. That means that Ichigo and the others are on their own.

"Well, I guess we should be ready for the unexpected." Rukia said.

"No worries. Let's just see what this tournament is all about." Ichigo said as they were in it to win it.

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): Reunion and Suddenness

Ichigo and his friends went to the arena and registered. They also noticed some other trainers entering. It looked like it was going to be a lot of fun.

"It doesn't even seem the registry tells us what's going on in the tournament." Rukia said.

"That's the point. We're not suppose to know what's going to happen." Chad said.

"I am curious to know what the prize is going to be for the winner." Orihime said.

"Yeah, well..." Ichigo was about to say something until he felt something coming his way. It was coming at him fast like a torpedo.

"Ichigo!" Ichigo held out his arm for who was calling to him and his elbow ended up being driven against the guy's stomach.

"Hey, Keigo." All of them were surprised to see Keigo was there as well.

"This is a surprise. It's actually great to see all of you again." They all saw Mizuiro was there as well.

"Keigo and Mizuiro!" Orihime said. "Does this mean you two are entering the tournament as well?"

"We sure are." Mizuiro said.

"Just you wait." Keigo said as he jumped right back up. "I've gotten stronger since the last time you guys saw me. Just you wait. I'm going to be the big winner."

"I see you keep running your mouth." Ichigo said.

"Ichigo, good to see you again." Ichigo turned around and spotted Kugo was there as well.

"Kugo!" Ichigo said. "I didn't know you were here as well."

"Yeah. It's been a while." Kugo said. "I thought I have fun in this tournament before I hit the gyms again. Don't expect to be walking out of this tournament as the winner." That got Ichigo's competitive spark going.

"Hey! Tall, dark, and dummy! Are you going to move?!" Chad turned around and they were all surprised to see Hons was there as well.

"Hons? You're entering in this tournament too?" Chad said.

"That's right, and I'm winning it." Hons said. "Listen, you just got lucky the last time we battled. You're not going to be so lucky this time. I'm the one that's winning this time." Looks like that not everyone is going to be a friendly rival in this tournament.

"I see he still likes to talk big." Rukia said.

"Well, we can't say that it won't be interesting." Ichigo said as he walked over, but he accidentally bumped into someone. "Sorry." He bumped into someone wearing flowing black hair. He wore a white dress shirt with black pants being held by suspenders.

"Try to be more careful." The man said as he walked by. That man gave Ichigo a strange feeling.

"Absol, you felt that too, right?" Ichigo questioned.

"Absol..." Ichigo isn't sure what it was, but he got an off feeling from that guy.

...

The Arena

"Welcome, everyone! This is Jacklot City's annual Battle Tournament!" Everyone cheered as they were excited to see this fun event with those who are competing within the sides of the arena. "It's great to be here. I happen to be the mayor of this lovely city, but I'm also acting as the emcee for this tournament. Trainers have gathered here to battle against each other in the name of sportsmanship. The best part of this tournament is that we do something different each year. It's also a good way for trainers to adapt to some situations. Now, I'm sure you all wish to know what our big winner will get. The winner of our tournament is this!" The mayor held out a feather decorated like a necklace. "The prestigious Lunar Wing!"

"A lunar wing?" Ichigo questioned as he wasn't sure what it was.

"It's a feather that chases away bad dreams. They say the feather comes from a glorious pokemon named Cresselia." Rukia said.

"It's beautiful." Orihime said.

"I'm sure you would all like to get your hands on it." The mayor said. "That's why we're going to get started. The first round of this tournament is a one-on-one battle. We'll now reveal the matches for the first round. They all looked to the screen and showed the sixteen competitors and who they're competing against each other.

"Yeah! Look at that!" Keigo said as he pointed to his photo. "I'm battling in the very first match!"

"We can see that." Ichigo said. He also spotted who Keigo was battling. That's the guy Ichigo bumped into earlier. He looked around and spotted him in the crowd. Ichigo isn't sure why, but he's got the feeling that's the one to watch out for.

"Hey, carrottop. You might want to focus on our battle." Hons said. Ichigo looked to the screen and saw he was battling Hons in the fourth match. "This will be an easy win."

"Easy? You want to lose?" Ichigo said.

"It also looks like I'm battling against that Kugo in the fifth match." Mizuiro said.

"Well, you better be ready. I'm not going to be holding back." Kugo said. All of them were ready to go and excited to battle.

"We will now begin with the first match!" The mayor announced. "Our first battle will be between Tsukishima and Keigo!"

"So that's his name..." Ichigo said. Keigo and this Tsukishima stepped out on the field and were ready to battle.

"Each trainer is allowed the use of one pokemon. The battle will be over when a pokemon is unable to battle." The mayor said. "Remember to play nice. Now, let's get started!" The tournament officially begins.

"Bunnelby, let's go!" Keigo called.

"Bun!"

"What a cutie. Looks like Keigo got himself a new pokemon." Orihime said.

"I wonder who his opponent will use." Ichigo said.

"Kricketune, come out." Tsukishima said.

"Tune!"

"It's Bunnelby vs. Kricketune. Let's see what they can do." The mayor said.

"First attack gets the win! Bunnelby, Double Slap!" Keigo said. Bunnelby ran right at Kricketune, but Tsukishima and Kricketune seemed perfectly calmed. Kricketune easily dodged each of Bunnelby's ears without any concerns. "You think you're so cool? How about this?! Bunnelby, Mud Shot!"

"Bun!" Bunnelby jumped in the air and shot mud from it's ears. Tsukishima and Kricketune were still calm. The attack hit around them, but it never actually hit them. Some were amazed at that. Even Keigo and Bunnelby were surprised.

"Did you all see that? Even with a powerful attack like that, Kricketune stayed perfectly calm and still without even being told." The mayor said.

"It's almost like they knew the attack would miss." Rukia said as they were all astonished.

"I don't think that's an ordinary trainer. This one looks strong." Ichigo said.

"I believe it's our turn. Kricketune, Slash." Tsukishima said.

"Krick!" Kricketune went at Bunnelby and slashed Bunnelby into the air.

"Now use Silver Wind." Tsukishima said. Kricketune generated a shining wind with its wings. It blasted Bunnelby when it came down and blew all the way into the wall. Bunnelby was taken out after that.

"Bunnelby is unable to battle! Kricketune is the winner!" The referee claimed.

"That's where we have our first winner! Tsukishima advances to the next round." The mayor announced.

"No! I lost already?! That isn't fair!" Keigo cried.

"Baby." Ichigo said with annoyance and embarrassment on even knowing him. Tsukishima simply returned Kricketune to it's pokeball and walked away. Ichigo could see that Tsukishima was certainly no regular trainer. He's much stronger than he looks, and it has Ichigo a little concerned. The tournament went on as the other two battles happened and had their winners. The time soon came for the fourth battle.

"We have now reached the fourth battle of the day! It's Honz vs. Ichigo!" The mayor announced.

"I'm up." Ichigo said as he got himself ready.

"Ichigo, remember when I battled Hons?" Chad asked. "He battles using big and large pokemon thinking they're more powerful."

"Chad's got a point. He might use a fighting-type against you." Rukia said.

"Don't worry. I got it all under control." Ichigo said as he headed for the battlefield.

"Here are our next battlers. Let's see what they can do." The mayor said as the two of them faced each other.

"I'm hoping to face your big friend, but it looks like I'll have to get through you first." Hons said.

"As if I'm going to let you get to Chad so easily. You've already lost this battle." Ichigo said.

"I have, have I? I don't think so." Hons said as he held out his next pokemon. "Emboar, take this punk down!"

"Emboar!"

"Emboar? It's a fire-type, but it's a fighting-type as well." Rukia said.

"It's also a pretty big and large pokemon too. I wonder who Ichigo will use." Orihime said.

"If he wants to beat that pokemon, his best bet would be..." Rukia said as Ichigo was about to show his choice.

"Frillish, let's go!" Ichigo called.

"Frillish!"

"It's Frillish vs. Emboar. Let's just see where things go from here." The mayor said.

"Please. That little runt can't beat my Emboar." Hons said. "Emboar, let's bring down the hammer! Hammer Arm!" Emboar went right at Frillish with the attack ready, but when it swung down, it passed right through Frillish. "What?!"

"There you have it, folks. Frillish is a ghost-type and ghost-types aren't affected by fighting-type attacks." The mayor said.

"Might doesn't make right, Hons. Didn't you learn that lesson yet? Frillish, Water Pulse!" Ichigo said. Frillish formed the water orb and blasted Emboar with it.

"Frillish fights back with Water Pulse. An effective attack against a fire-type like Emboar." The mayor said.

"I know this attack will have some effect! Flamethrower!" Hons said. Emboar took a deep breath and breathed out flames from it's nose. Frillish got blasted by the attack. Frillish endured it, but was still taking damage. "Now use Heat Crash!" Emboar surrounded itself in a ball of fire and went at Frillish.

"Frillish, use Mist to conceal yourself!" Ichigo said. Frillish breathed out the mist and disappeared. Emboar had to stop when it couldn't see Frillish anymore.

"Frillish has completely disappeared in the mist! Where did it go?!" The mayor said.

"Now use Poison Sting!" Ichigo said. Frillish fired through the mist and the poisonous needles blasted against Emboar.

"Don't let that wimp push you around! Flamethrower!" Hons said. Emboar used the attack again and fired right through the mist with Frillish getting hit, but that was when a dark aura formed around Emboar. Hons knew what it was and was annoyed.

"Not good. I think Frillish's Cursed Body ability has activated." The mayor said.

"I thought that only works on physical attacks." Orihime said.

"Not true." Mizuiro said. "It actually works on all attacks. Attacks like that have about a thiry-percent chance of being disabled with that ability."

"We're not going to let that stop us!" Hons claimed. "Heat Crash!" Emboar surrounded itself in heat and went on the attack.

"Water Pulse!" Ichigo said. Frillish launched the attack and blasted Emboar hard with it stopping Emboar in its tracks. "Water Pulse once more!" Frillish used the attack and blasted it right in Emboar's face. Emboar was knocked down and taken right out.

"Emboar is unable to battle! Frillish is the referee!" The referee claimed.

"Ichigo is now our fourth winner!" The mayor said with everyone cheering.

"Way to go, Frillish." Ichigo said. Frillish was so happy as he wrapped himself around Ichigo. "Okay, easy." Hons was upset about the lost as he brought Emboar back in its pokeball.

"How can I lose when my pokemon are bigger?!" Hons said with him acting like a sore loser.

"Ichigo sure is something." Mizuiro said as they were all impressed with his win.

"You bet, but now it's our turn." Kugo said. With their battle next, the two of them went on the field.

"The next battle is about to start with it being Kugo vs. Mizuiro in this battle." The mayor said. The two faced against each other and both intended to win. The tournament has some fierce competitors in this battle, but only one will be walking away as the winner.

The first round of the Jacklot Battle Tournament has had a splendid start. We'll see who else will be making it to the second round. Who will win it all? Keep watching to find out.

To Be Continued...

Pokemon Question: Okay, future trainers. The answer to the last question is...Volcaronna! In ancient morals, Volcaronna is depicted as a deity of fire. Here's the next question. What pokemon can come in many different shapes?