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

I Gary's P.O.V

"Gary!" I laughed as I received an armful of a very excited Ash. I spun him around enjoying his giggles, and enjoying even more the kiss that followed after I had put him down. "I've missed you so much!"

"So have I Ashy," I replied with a smile. I was done with my lectures for the rest of the month and the proyect I had been helping Professor Sycamore with was done, and there will be a couple of weeks before we can start with the next one. So, I had free time and decided to meet Ashy and his group at Mistralton City. "So, how wild have these last few weeks been?" I asked him as we sat down for lunch, it's been a while since we had time for a date!

"Well, not as wild as some adventures we've had," Ash confessed.

"Ashy, you've fought Lengendaries, what you concider normal is a wild adventure to everyone else," I deadpanned.

I love the boy, but he can oblivious at times, I shook my head with fondness.

"I'm just saying," he pouted cutely, making me want to lean over the table and kiss the pout away. Unfortunately, the waiter came and took our order, the thought of food perked Ash up and the pout changed into a smile. "Well, first we met with Professor Juniper's father, Professor Cedric Juniper, to join him to explore a ruin said to be the site of a meeting between an ancient Hero and the Legendary Pokemon Zekrom. It was. Zekrom told me afterwards. It seems that his blessing was what kept our adventure there tame. I mean it!" He exclaimed when he saw my disbelief. "It was as if we were visiting a museum, nothing popped up to attack us. The place was nice, maybe I can ask Slowbro to teleport us there later. You would love it!"

"Maybe for a later date," I smiled at my boyfriend and his kind heart.

"Yeah! Well, afterwards we met with this kid Mick. He was being bullied by this guy Glenn, so he borrowed Pikachu to battle him and his dad's pokemon," Ash told me with a smile. A smile that was too bright and big to be completely innocent.

"You allowed a kid to borrow Pikachu, the same pokemon that can defeat a Zapados without your aid, to battle another kid... just because he is a bully?" I asked him slowly, in disbelief, not believing that I had heard him correctly.

"I don't like bullies," Ash shrugged unconcerned. "And Glenn stopped being a bully after I was done with him." I gulped hard when I saw the satisfied glint in Ash's eyes. He has been become too much like Auntie Delia lately. Those scolding sessions of his are scray. "Well, afterwards, we were finally attacked! There was a stampeding herd of Bouffalant, which we had to take care of."

"Well, after getting used to your stampeding Tauros herd, it must have been easy," I snorted.

"Yeah, it was," Ashy sweatdropped with a sheepish chuckle. "After that we finally reached Mistralton City and here I am!"

"For that I am eternaly grateful," I smiled softly at him, caressing his hand over the table, which had him blushing. "Talking about Mistralton City, you've really been a hardass on Unova. Not only did you send a complain to the Unova Pokemon League about Gym Leader Clay, which had him attend anger management classes, you've also called them on Gym Leader Skyla. You do know that her Gym Leader Licence is now in probation, right?"

"She deserves it," Ash pouted, unrepentant.

Which, yeah, he is right, she did deserve it. I can understand that Gym Leader Skyla's passion for flying, and so that she can have enough time to pursue her hobby, she needs to keep a tight schedule at her Gym. However, her "Air Battles" were a total disregard and shame to everything Gym Leaders stand for! They take place only in her mind! Gym Leader Skyle envisions the outcome of each battle, and within moments, the winner and loser are decided without actually battling. That's utterly... I have no words...

Of course, Ash just had to get involved and use his Ace Captain Ranger status to put a stop to this madness. Afterwards, he had challenged her to a gym battle, for which he had only used Tranquill. I have heard that Ash had sent his newest bird to train with Pidgeot... but Lugia was that battle a massacre. Swoobat, Unfezant, and Swanna were taken out in quick succession. Hurricane, Brave Bird, Aerial Ace, Sky Attack, one after the other, the most powerful Flying-type attacks were released in succession and took the Gym Leader's pokemon out without she could even retaliate.

The speed, power, and stamina of Tranquill was over the roof! Yes, Gym Leader Skyla's pokemon were rusty because they were out of practice, but still it was a huge achievement for such a young pokemon. Then again, Ash has always had an affinity for Flying-type pokemon and he has their training already mastered. So, it was not that much of a surprise. She had also evolved after defeating Swanna. It was a good day for Ash's team overall.

But what was the cherry on top of the cake, was Max managing a perfect defeat as well. Jumpluff, Braviary, and Drifblim, were taken down by Max's Mightyena, Pikachu, and Banettte, respectively. None of his pokemon fainted and he had switched them right after their victories. I believe that was a wake up call for Gym Leader Skyla. Being defeated so easily by a rookie. After the battle, Skyla announced that she will no longer use Air Battles. She had realized that the effort of both the trainer and their pokemon could bring unpredictable results.

Still, Ash was petty, something I would have never thought Ash capable of being. Me, one million times yes! But Ash? That was a surprise!

So, Ash was being petty and still called the Unova Pokemon League. It was all, just in case she ever goes back to bad habits and they can keep a close eye on her.

"Never change Ashy," I chuckled and thanked the waiter when he brought our food. "So, what is your gang doing right now?"

"Don't call them my gang," Ash shook his head, digging into his burger. "They are my friends. But to answer your question, they are helping Max aid his Alola Raichu to get used to his new form. Passing from an Electric-type pokemon to a Psychic/Electric dual-type pokemon has been rough on him. Especially, since he has not been able to get a hang of the levitation yet."

"Max's Pikachu evolved?" I asked him shocked. "When did that happen?"

"During the Wishing Bell Festival," Ash answered, nonechally. "During the scavenger hunt part of the contest, Max had to find a Thunder Stone."

"Someone threw it towards his Pikachu, didn't they?" I deadpanned, realizing what had happened.

"Yup!" Ash popped the "p" with a cheeky smirk. "Poor Max tried to stop it, but he does not have my reflexes. Pikachu evolved into an Alola Raichu and he got himself out of the competition to be there for his pokemon. Stephan won the whole thing and rang the bell."

"What did he wish for?" I asked him curiously.

Ash was silent for a minute, before asnwering sheepishly: "That everyone would pronounce my name right."

"Wow... poor guy..." was the only thing I could say.

How bad is it that he would waste his wish on something like that?! I thought stunned by Ash's reply.

"Hey! Can we go to the ruin later today? Please?! I really want to show it to you!" I looked at Ashy's beautiful hazel eyes and relented- how can I saw no to that pout? "Thank you! We will have so much fun!"

I laughed and went back to enjoy my food.

Oh, I've missed him so much, I thought fondly. I'll look forward to traveling with him for next couple of weeks.