The beginning of a new road {Path of the Aura Ranger: Book II}

I Cilan's P.O.V

"Well done Max!" Ash congratulated his student with a bright smile and a warm hug. I watched as Max melted on the hug, returning it with the same intestity as his mentor. That's somthing I really admire of Ash, he cares so much for people and they care back. "We'll have to talk with your family later today and share the good news!"

"Thank you, Ash," Max told him with a light blush and a pleased smile.

He then went to the bleachers and took Ash's previous seat.

"I'll stay and finish my humilliation in one go," Cress sighed good naturedly, as he released his only remaining non-evolved and rookie level pokemon. "Let's do this, Panpour!"

"Will I be battling the elemental monkeys? Nice!" Ash exclaimed with excitement, making me smile. "Torracat you'll go first!"

We all watched as the Fire-type jumped on the battlefield and paused... well, this is Ash, he does not care about type advantage of disadvantage.

"Rain Dance!" My brother shouted.

Just as dark clouds appeared on the ceiling, Ash decided to counterattack. "Sunny Day!" Both moves neutralized each other perfectly. "Trash!"

"Dodge with Acrobatics!" Cress countered perfectly, every kick, ever punch was evaded just in time. "Now! Scald!"

The attack caught Torracat point blank on the flank, sending him flying back and crashing on the ground sharply.

"Torracat!" Ash shouted in worry, as his pokemon struggled to get back on his feet? Paws? I was surprised by how easy Cress was winning this battle, then again Ash had told me he would be using his newest pokemon only for Unova... for the gyms at least. Ranger missions and tournaments or the sort, he'll use his other pokemon. "You can do it! Don't give up!" Torracat let out a battle cry as a blinding bright light surrounded him. Where the fire cat pokemon had been, now stood the Heel Pokemon. Incineroar is now a bipedal pokemon with a muscular build and a short snout with a small red nose, bright green eyes with yellow sclerae, and tiny, pointed ears. "Incinerorar... amazing!" Ash was in awe at his newly evolved pokemon. "Let's finish this! Darkest Lariat!"

Both of Incineroar's hands became covered in yellow-orange fire, he then began spinning rapidly while holding out his hands, spinning into the opponent. He created the image of a red and yellow whirlwind, sending Panpour flying. I winced as my brother's pokemon crashed, he had been knocked out.

"Panpour is unable to fight, Ash and Torra... Incineroar are the winners!" I announced. Cress sighed but smiled, returning his elemental monkey, while Ash hugged his pokemon. I chuckled as I saw Ash groaning from how tight the hug was, it seems that Incineroar did not realize how much stronger he is now. "Gym Leader Chili please step forward, it is your time."

"Alright!" Chili cheered jumping down the bleechers and rushing to take his position. "Pansear, come out!"

"Thank you, Incineroar!" Ash recalled his pokemon and sent out his second one. "Aegislash, you are next!"

Ash went directly for the offensive, ordering his pokemon to use Fury Cutter, Night Slash, and Sacred Sword. Pansear dodged with Acrobatics and the use of Double Team, but still he ended up being slashed and bleeding from all the cuts. Even when he went for the offensive, Aegislash's defenses were too much. Her King's Slash took a Flamethrower point blank without even flinching. Chili tried to time his Fire-type attacks for when Aegislash had changed his stance and was attacking, but Ash and Aegislash were too fast and well coordinated for that to work. I could see that this one had much more experience than Torracat. The battle ended with Close Combat, Pansear was too tired to be able to dodge it completely.

"Pansear is unable to fight, Ash and Aegislash are the winners!" I proclaimed, smiling as Cress took my position as referee. "Well done brother," I congratulated Chili, as he was pouting after recalling his pokemon. Always the hotheaded idiot, but I adore him all the same. "We are next, Pansage!"

"Then I am using Rowlet!" Ash changed the pokemon on the field. "Not again!" Ash facepalmed, as a sleeping Rowlet appeared on the battleground, making me and Pansage sweatdrop. "I am sorry, I'll deal with this," Ash apologized, walking towards Rowlet and shouting in his ear. "Wake up sleepyhead!"

"Ro-rowlet!" The Grass-type pokemon cried out, as he flapped his wings and took flight.

His eyes were shinning with determination and a fire to battle, one that I was surprised he had, as he had been sleeping only a few seconds ago.

"Pansage, Seed Bomb!" I commanded, starting out strong.

"Feather Dance!" Ash defended, as Rowlet flapped his wings, flying backwards while leaving behind an empty husk of feathers shaped like himself. I could only gape as our attack hit the husk instead of Rowlet. "Quite the Feather Dance, right? I did not know Rowlet's Feather Dance was this different, until I was training him."

"I can see that," I murmured, it was quite the... unique Feather Dance. "Magical Leaf!"

"Leafage!" Ash shouted, as Rowlet released multiple glowing green leaves from his body. The leaves then spiralled in a tornado-like fashion, before heading towards Pansage's Magical Leaf. Which I did not mind, the explosion and the leafs were a cover for what I was about to do. "What?!"

Pansage had caught Rowlet with the use of Vine Whip, leaving him incapable of moving. "Good! Now finish this! Solar Beam!"

The bush on Pansage's head started to sparkle light blue, gathering energy from the sunlight. Pansage then held his hands up, his bush becoming surrounded in a bright gold orb of energy. Pansage then took the orb in his hands, he then thrusted the orb forward and released a bright yellow beam of energy from the orb at Rowlet.

The battle was over.

I had just defeated one of The Saint's pokemon.

I was the only one of my brothers to have won against the Ace Ranger Ash Ketchum.

More importantly, I've had so much fun battling my friend Ash.

"Rowlet is unable to battle, Cilan and Pansage are the winners!" Cress announced proudly. "Ash Ketchum is the winner of the Gym Challenge, having won two of the three battles."

"That was a good battle!" Ash congratulated me as he returned Rowlet.

"Thank you," I replied, taking out the Trio Badge and handing it to him. "I... we had a good time."

"That's good, we'll have a lot of more fun from now on!" Ash beamed at me.

I looked at Pikachu and grimanced. Was this a threat? Or a promise? Of which should I be more wary of?