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

II Riley's P.O.V

So, someone tried to steal our food again.

This time it was a pair of Darumaka. However, these guys had a good excuse. In an old building near the town we were staying in, there was a an exhausted Darmanitan, who's using its psychic powers to keep the clock tower's gigantic bell from falling and destroying the entire building. So, of course, Ash being the Ace Ranger he was helped them. He also got the town to aid in the rebuilding of the building, so those three pokemon could have a place to live in.

We then continued our way to Nacrene City, until we got to Luxuria Town and discovered that they had a Battle Club there as well. Max was very interested on stopping there for a warm-up battle. I might not be the empath Ash was, but I can sense auras well, and as soon as we got into the Battle Club there was this annoying confusion and stress following us from a distance. I secretly looked around and found the same guy we shorly met in Professor Juniper's Lab looking at Ash from a distance.

Please don't tell me this is another Paul situation, I moaned in my head. I love the kid, but the last thing I need is another emotionaly constipated trainer that Arceus put in our path so that Ash can teach him how to have human emotions. Because there's no way we ended up meeting Paul so many times in a huge region like Sinnoh without cosmic intervention! What was his name again? Trish? Trey?

"Hey, isn't that Trip?" Ash wondered out loud.

That's right! His name is Trip! I exclaimed in my head, but kept a cool expression outside- though, from how Lucario was trying to keep himself from laughing I was sure he knew what was going on in my head.

"Is he a friend of yours?" Iris asked curiously.

"That's the guy from Professor Juniper's Lab!" Max exclaimed, before turning to Iris. "No, but we did meet him once we got to Unova. He was in Professor Juniper's Lab to get his starter, it was a Snivy like the one I got!"

While Max and Iris were talking, Ash was heading towards Trip with a huge smile on his face. I shook my head, not understanding how one person can be so charismatic. "Hi! How are you? I don't know if you remember but we met in Professor Juniper's Lab! I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, in Kanto!"

"I know," Trip answered quickly, before blushing and rapidly explaining himself. "My little sister is a big fan of yours... would you sign something for me... please? It would mean a lot for her."

Ash expression softened, his smile never leaving his face. "You must love your sister very much... of course I will!" Ash then took out a notebook from his bag and signed a paper, before handing it to the blond boy. "Here you go!"

"Thank you..." Trip blinked stunned that it ended up being so easy. He took the paper and put it safely in his bag. "Would you be up for a battle?"

"Of course I am always up for a battle!" Ash beamed at the boy, who looked at him stunned. I could see a red tint on his cheeks. Oh no... "Three vs three? I need to inform you I only got my newest pokemon with me, I used to have Incineroar and Aegislash with me, but now that they've gotten used to their new evolved bodies I sent them back to Professor Oak's Lab."

"What kind of pokemon?" Trip asked him suspiciously.

"Riolu, Rowlet, Gible, and Dratini," Ash answered with an oblivious smile, as Trip looked at him stupidly. Many trainers around them had stopped to look at him in shock. Those were not pokemon one would hear being mentioned so casually. "I also have a Oshawott, Pidove, Sandile, and Tepig, but they've not completed their training to face anyone in battle yet." There he goes casually mentioning two regional starters and a Sandile, one of the pokemon with the foulest attitudes. Now trainers were gaping at Ash, as he continued to smile obliviously. "I also have Pikachu, but I am not sending him to battle anyone below Elite Four level, that will be overkill."