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

III Max's P.O.V

"You won't believe what I've just found out!" Ash told us, after finishing his call back home, as we were walking towards Nimbasa City. "Sylveon and Espeon's kid chose to go with Misty!"

"Isn't Glaceon yours?" Iris turned to Ash in confusion.

"And if I have it right, Misty is supposed to be a Water-type Gym Leader," Cilan added.

"She is. And Glaceon is mine. I meant their other kid!" Ash corrected them. "Oh, right! You guys don't know. Sylveon and Espeon had another kid, one that hatched while we were in the Orange Islands, before we came to Unova. She is the cutest thing ever! Unfortunately, she fell in love with Misty as soon as she saw her and now is sure that she wants to become a Vaporeon once she grows up."

"At least, she knows what she wants to do with her life," Riley chuckled. "Not many young people do nowadays."

"Same rules that apply with Bayleef?" I inquired.

"Oh, yes," Ash turned to me with a kind smile. "She's moved in to Cerulean City with Misty, but the week ends are with her parents at the ranch."

"Good, Bayleef loves that," I said with a smile of my own.

Before our conversation could continue, a girl jumped into our path and rudely pointed her finger at Iris in challenge. "You! Dragon Trainer! Don't you dare to hide from me! I can see the Axew in your hair! I challenge you into a battle! Me! Georgia, the "Dragon Buster"! You should be grateful that you'll be defeated by someone like me!" Then she laughed obnoxiously, while her Beartic roared behind her.

While, Beartic are powerful and intimidating pokemon, you are speaking with a group that has met Ash's Charizard up close. Not to mention, all the other Legendaries we've crossed paths with. So, we were not impressed at all by this Beartic- which clearly had recently evolved.

"Ok, I accept!" Iris answered the challenge with a smirk and released her Excadrill.

"Wait! That's not a Dragon-type pokemon!" Georgia complained. "Well, it doesn't matter. Beartic, let's do this! Slash!"

"Counter it with Metal Claw!" Iris shouted, and both pokemon were met in the middle of the makeshift battlefield. Luckily, Ash had his Slowking out and he was quick to raise the necessary safety shields. Beartic proved to be stronger, knocking the Metal Claw away and then used Icicle Crash, which Excadrill dodged with Dig. "All right!" Iris cheered when the Dig landed and Excadrill released his newly learned Focus Blast, which striked Beartic down. "Use Drill Run now!" It seems that Iris was on fire. As the move landed, but... "No! Excadrill!" With Excadrill in close range, Beartic took advantage of the situation and freezed Excadrill with an Ice Beam. "You can do it! Break free with Metal Claw!" Iris emotions resonated with Excadrill's and allowed him to break free. "Well done!"

"Beartic, let's turn this battle around!" Georgia shouted. "Icicle Crash!" Excadrill knocked some of them away with Focus Blast, but others still hit.

Excadrill kneeled to the ground in exhaustion, but Iris was not worried. She was confident and determinated. "Excadrill I still have faith! We can do this!"

Just like that Excadrill regained the strength to fight on. Beartic followed with Rock Smash, which Excadrill countered with Drill Run. Both moves meet and knock the other pokemon down. When none of them stood up again, Cilan called the match to be a tie.

I did a double take at that.

What?

Since when did he take the position as referee?!

"Oh, well, I couldn't care less," Georgie waved the match's results away carelessly, as she returned her fainted Beartic and walked away. "As my pokemon didn't lose to a Dragon-type."