With the Ultimate Talent Star behind them, our heroes are now on their way to Sakura City so that Ichigo can earn his eighth and final badge.

"Ichigo, wait." Rukia said as the others were ahead and she was falling behind. "Are we really going to the Sakura Gym? There's plenty of other gyms around."

"Okay, what's up with you, Rukia?" Ichigo said as they all turned to talk to her. "Ever since we decided to go to Sakura City, you've been acting really weird. Why do you keep trying to talk me out of going to that gym?"

"Is there something you're not telling us?" Chad asked. Rukia wasn't quite sure what to say. She was holding a secret and perhaps this was the time to tell them.

Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm unbeatable
Walking down this endless highway
With nothing but my friends beside me
We'll never give in, we'll never rest
Advanced Battle is the ultimate test
From the earth, the land
The sea and sky
They can never win, but they sure can try
Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokémon
(Advanced Battle!)
Oh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm undefeatable
From the stars and the ancient past
They come to play, but they'll never last
Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm unbeatable
Pokémon
(Advanced Battle!)
Ohh oh-oh-oh oh-oh
I'm undefeatable
Oh oh oh
(Advanced Battle!)
I'm unbeatable
Pokémon

(Ichigo's voice) Revealing Ice

"Well…." Rukia said as she wasn't quite sure what to say. The guys were all ears, but Orihime was a little distracted.

"Guys. Come look at this cute little village." Orihime said. All of them caught up with her and saw the village from the top of that hill.

"Where are we?" Ichigo asked and Orihime was looking over a map.

"It says that this is Silk Village." Orihime said.

"I've heard of this place. It's a playful place where you can interact with many wild pokemon." Rukia said. "Let's go check it out." All of them went down to the village to check the place out. Lucky break for Rukia. All of them went down and saw either hardworking adults or playful children.

"It feels so peaceful." Chad said.

"You're right and everyone looks so happy here." Orihime said. All of them were passing through when they noticed a bunch of children hanging on a man with long white hair wearing a large white coat with a black shirt that had a yellow line running through it and jeans. He was playing with all those kids with an Ampharus.

"Okay. Settle down children."

"Ampharous." Rukia recognized that voice and saw the way he smiled.

"Jushiro? Jushiro, is that you?" Rukia asked. The man opened his eyes and saw her standing there with her friends.

"Rukia!" Jushiro said. He placed the children down and went over to talk to her. "I can't believe it. What are the odds you would be here now of all times?"

"Hang on. Jushiro? Do you mean to tell me you're the same Jushiro who is a member of the Elite Four?" Ichigo asked.

"Yep. The one and only." Jushiro said.

"Wow! I can't believe we're actually meeting another member of the Elite Four." Orihime said as she was amazed to meet all four members.

"Jushiro, these are my friends." Rukia said.

"Hi. My name is Ichigo and this is Absol."

"Absol."

"My name is Orihime."

"I'm Chad."

"Rukia, how do you even know Jushiro?" Ichigo asked.

"When I was younger and learning to be a trainer, Jushiro was actually my teacher." Rukia said. "I got to where I am thanks to him."

"No need to be modest." Jushiro said. "Why don't we head back to my cabin? You can tell me all about your adventures over a cup of tea or juice."

"That sounds great." Rukia said.

…

Jushiro's Cabin

Jushiro served them all a drink and offered their pokemon some food. All of them sat around the table as Rukia was finishing telling Jushiro all about her adventures from when she first met Ichigo.

"My. You sound like you've had quite the times together." Jushiro said. "It is nice to meet a show-woman, but I'm sorry you didn't win the Ultimate Talent Star, Orihime."

"It's okay." Orihime said.

"What about you, Jushiro? Have you been up to anything lately?" Rukia said.

"I can't say that I have." Jushiro said. "Ampharus and I just move around and travel to find some enjoyment. So what brought you here to Silk Village?"

"We were just passing through is all." Rukia said.

"Yeah. We're on our way to Sakura City. I'm going to challenge the gym there and earn my final badge so I can enter the Unova League." Ichigo said.

"Really?! That gym is suppose to be the toughest gym in all of Unova." Jushiro said.

"I heard. That's all the more reason I want to battle that gym." Ichigo said.

"The Sakura Gym? What do you think about that, Rukia?" Jushiro asked, but Rukia wasn't sure how she was going to answer. Just before she could, they all heard some sort of strange noise. All of them went out and saw a Flygon going on a rampage.

"A Flygon?" Ichigo questioned.

"What's it doing?" Chad said. Flygon unleashed Dragon Breath attacks around.

"It looks like it's out of control. We better try and stop it before someone gets hurt." Rukia said and the gang went after it. Jushiro stayed behind for a moment.

"You timed that pretty well." Jushiro said as he was talking to someone who stayed behind in the shadows. Rukia and the others followed the Flygon over to a lake.

"How are we going to stop it?" Orihime questioned.

"Flygon are dragon and ground-types. I can stop it with my ice-types." Rukia said. "Dewgong and Cryogonl, help me out!"

"Dewgong!"

"Cryogonal!" Both of them hanged at the lake to intercept the raging Flygon.

"Dewgong use Brine. Cryogonal use Rapid Spin." Rukia said. Cryogonal spun around and Dewgong shot a blast of water, but Flygon avoided both attacks. Flygon flew down at both of them with a Dragon Rush attack and rammed against both of them.

"That Flygon is so fast." Chad said.

"Chad's right. We've got to contain it somehow. Drive it into a narrow area." Ichigo said. Rukia looked around to see what they could use and saw an opening in cliffs.

"You two try to drive Flygon in that direction." Rukia said as she pointed to the openings. Cryogonal and Dewgong attacked. Rukia ran over to the opening to get in position with the others following.

"Rukia, what are you going to do?" Orihime asked.

"I'm going to try to reach Flygon and see if I can reason with it." Rukia said.

"What? That's insane." Ichigo said. Cryogonal and Dewgong kept on attacking and kept pushing Flygon closer and closer to the cliffs. Flygon was doing its best to fight back, but Dewgong and Cryogonal tried staying a step ahead. Rukia made it to the cliffs and was in position.

"That's good." Rukia said. "Now force Flygon in here with Blizzard and Signal Beam. Don't let Flygon escape."

"Cry!"

"Dewgong!" Dewgong and Cryogonal used their attacks and blasted Flygon. Flygon slammed against the ground and was right where Rukia wanted it. Rukia jumped down and grabbed Flygon by the neck. Flygon was flailing around and was trying to shake Rukia off, but Rukia kept her arms and legs around Flygon so she wouldn't fly off.

"Rukia, stop! This is crazy and dangerous." Ichigo said.

"You're going to get hurt." Orihime said, but that didn't seem to bother Rukia.

"Flygon, try to stay calm. Just try and tell me what's wrong with you?" Rukia said. Flygon wasn't trying to communicate with Rukia. It was just freaking out and Rukia couldn't see why.

"She's going to get herself hurt. We've got to do something to help her." Ichigo said.

"Absol." Absol stepped forward and was ready to battle, but Ampharos stopped Absol. Jushiro placed his hand on Ichigo and stopped him from going anywhere.

"Let's give Rukia a chance." Jushiro said.

"A chance for what? To get herself hurt and maybe a few broken bones?" Ichigo said.

"It's okay." Jushiro said. "Let's just watch and see how this goes." Flygon continued to flail around. It tried to fly out, but Cryogonal hovered over Flygon and kept it from escaping.

"Fly! Flygon!"

"Flygon, it's okay." Rukia said. "Just calm down. Everything is going to be okay." Rukia tried soothing Flygon and it was starting to work. Flygon was starting to calm down and felt Rukia's touch comforting.

"Flygon."

"There we go." Rukia said. "Now how about you try and tell me what this was all about." Flygon didn't get the chance. Flygon turned red and just disappeared with Rukia hitting the ground. "What happened?"

"Flygon was returned." Jushiro said.

"Flygon was simply testing you to see if you've grown." Someone said and Rukia knew that voice far too well. She turned around and looked up at the cliffs to see someone with long black hair wearing a white top and pants with some blue on the sides.

"Byakuya!" Rukia said.

"Who's that guy?" Ichigo asked.

"That is Byakuya. He's the leader of the Sakura Gym." Jushiro said.

"That guy is the gym leader?!" Ichigo said.

"He also happens to be Rukia's older brother." Jushiro said.

"Brother?!" All of them said with such a surprise.

"So you didn't know?" Jushiro asked.

"We didn't even know Rukia had a brother." Ichigo said.

"Hello, Byakuya." Rukia said and didn't know what else to say. She and Byakuya had a distant relationship and it was hard for Rukia to speak to her brother.

"You've grown on your journey." Byakuya said and turned away. "I'll be waiting at the Sakura Gym to see how far you've really come." Byakuya walked away and Rukia was pleasantly surprised to hear that Byakuya actually wants to battle her.

In a stunning turn of events, our heroes have finally met Rukia's brother and the gym leader of the Sakura Gym. With a challenge to his younger sister declared, this should be an interesting battle. Stay tune for this one.

To Be Continued….