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

II Pikachu's P.O.V

"You know that Yamask mask over there is a real, right?" Ash asked Hawes slowly, pointing at the Yamask mask in the Secret Artifact Exhibition of the Nacrene City's Museum. We had come to the the museum after hearing that it was also the city's gym and Lenora and her husband, Hawes, are the co-curators of the place. What we were met with is a superstitious Hawes thelling us that the place was hunted. As if that is too big of a deal! We deal with Legendaries and this world is filled with Ghost-type pokemon! Tell us something we do not know! "I'm pretty sure it is the Yamask owner is the one hunting this place, everyone would be angry if you take someone from them."

"What?!" Hawes was startled, as the Yamask appeared and glared at the curator. "I thought he was a fake! I wouldn't have taken him otherwise! I am so sorry!" This kept on going for a while, Yamask glaring at the babbling Hawes who kept bowing at the pokemon guilty. Once Yamask got her fill and her mask back, she smiled and exited the museum happily. "How did you know it was real?"

"Aura," Ash, Riley, Riolu, and Lucario, answered at the same time, nonchally.

"Show off," I scoffed in good humor.

Lenora then entered the museum with a smile on her face. "HI! How are you? Wait... is that you Ash? Goodness! So, you are finally in Unova!"

"Hi Lenora, how are you?" Ash answered with a smile. "How's Tauros doing?"

"Oh, he is a gem!" Lenora exclaimed with a perky smile, before envolving Ash with a warm hug. "I am fine too, are you here for a gym battle?"

"Yes, my aprentice too, he is Gym Leader Norman's son," Ash introduced them both.

"Hi, it's an honor to meet another Normal Master," Max bowed at the Gym Leader.

"So, you are Norman's son! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Lenora beamed. "He never stops bragging about both of you, your sister and you, ever since your sister became a Top Coordinator he has become even worse!"

"Wait, you guys know each other?!" Iris exclaimed in shock. "How many Gym Leaders in Unova do you know Ash?!"

"Only two, Cilan and Lenora... well, I also know Cheren, who is Lenora's nephew and a new Gym Leader in Aspertia City. By the way, I thought you were retiring?" Ash turned to Lenora quizquily.

"I am, I'm just waiting for Cheren to get used to his new position as a Gym Leader and to his duties as such," Lenora answered with a more serene smile, but one as warm as the one before. "I am one of the 13 Pillars of Unova, Cheren's transition to that position won't be easy, it will take time. Until, then I will continue doing my duty... though my workload is better now that there are two Normal-type gyms in Unova." Lenora turned to Cilan. "It's nice to see you again Cilan, how are your brother?"

"They are doing well," Cilan answered politely. "May I ask how the two of you got to know each other? Especially, since I know this is the first time Ash has been in Unova."

"We met through Professor Oak, he contacted me after Ash took the decision to trade his Tauros, he had like 30 of them back in Kanto," Lenora laughed, as she lead us through the museum to an area restricted to normal guests and into an office. I looked at Ash and sighed when he smiled when his Tauros trade was mention, instead of crying. It seems that he has finally made his peace with it. "I've always wanted one, so I jumped at the oportunity! I even got one for my nephew Cheren! Ash has kepts tabs on all of his Tauros even after they were traded, he made friends all over the world!" Everyone turned to look at Ash surprised, after one trades his pokemon they do not tend to keep tabs. But why were they this surprise? Once you are Ash's pokemon, you will always be Ash's pokemon, no matter where you are in the world. "So, are you ready for your gym battle?"