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

I Dawn's P.O.V

"This place is beautiful!" I exclaimed twirling around Pinkan Island. "Can you believe that all of these pokemon are pink?!"

"It's truly a wonder," Paul agreed, in a calmer way. "I heard that various researchers are investigating how it happened, I can't wait to read those research papers when they are done."

Paul and I paused our journey through Kanto when we received an invitation for the opening of the Sevii Islands Battle Frontier. Luckily, I already had all five of my ribbons, which included the Wallace Cup! Yes, I won the cup this time! Though, it was not easy, I had to defeadt Ursula, Nando, and Kenny! But that's a story for another day. Going back to the issue at hand, Paul had also advance a lot on his Battle Frontier Challenge. He already has five symbols, the only ones he still needs are the Ability Symbol of Salon Maiden Anabel and the Brave Symbol of Pyramid King Brandon. He had even already challenged the Salon Maiden Anabel and lost. Not that anyone blamed him, they are the two hardest challenges. So, right now, he is taking a break to recharge and rethink his battle strategy.

"Are you planning on catching another pokemon?" I turned to Paul curiously.

Paul had decided to focus on the pokemon he already had and to train them up to be Battle Frontier worthy. However, that did not stop him from getting new pokemon. In Kanto he caught a Pidgey and trained all the way to a Pidgeot, ironically it was one from Ash's Pidgeot's flock. So, it was already strong from the get-go. The look on Paul's face when his Pokedex listed the moves his newlwy caught Pidgey knew... marvelous! You would not expect a wild pokemon to know so many moves, but it seems that Ash's pokemon are in the policy of spreading the Ketchum Chaos. I heard that even poor Max was a victim of this. Then again, his Meganium is the child of two of Ash's strongest Grass-pokemon, what else could he have expected? Going back to Paul, he also caught various other powerful pokemon, like Gyarados, Garchomp, and Metagross. Yes, Paul is in the possession of two pseudo-legendary pokemon, one pokemon behind from Ash's count.

As for me, I've decided not to catch new pokemon and focus on the ones I have in hand. My Buneary evolved into Lopunny, and my Cyndaquil evolved all the way to Typhlosion. I was very proud of my team and how much they have advanced. However, it also made me feel a little bit sad. As I miss the days of having rookie pokemon to train. Is this what Ash feels? Why he is always catching new pokemon?

"No, I am not interested in catching new pokemon," Paul answered me. "I already have enough on my plate to add training a new pokemon to it."

"Well, I will!" I declared. "I miss having a baby pokemon to train," I admitted. "I was thinking of catching a Pidgey. I was always in awe of Ash's Pidgeot. Not only will they be a great advantage in contests, I will be able to fly on them!"

"You know you can always use my Pidgeot right?" Paul replied.

"I know, thank you! But it is not the same! Also... they are pink! My favorite color! Can you imagine how beautiful they will become once they reach the Pidgeot level?" I was bouncing in excitement. "I think I saw a flock of Pidgey over there, I'll get going! See you in a couple of minutes!" I rushed towards the flock and took out the poffins I had baked earlier that day. I was rapidly surrounded by the flock and they were eating out of my hand. As they ate, I quietly told them of my dream of becoming a Top Coordinator and asked if any of them wanted to join me. Only one Pidgey stayed after the poffins were finished. I caught them in excitement and the Safari Ball returned to the entrance point. I returned to Paul's side skipping in happiness. "Done! Now we will both get a Pidgeot!"

Paul simply chuckled and walked towards the entrance. I follwed him, still skipping, and cheered when the managers gave me the Safari Ball with my pink Pidgey. I was so happy! What made me even happier is the reminder that the opening act is later today and we will be meeting with May and her family for dinner afterwards. May had also come to the Sevii Islands, like did the rest of Ash's traveling friends. She took a short break from her journey through Sinnoh for it, not that it mattered much, as she already had the five ribbons she needed to qualify to the Grand Festival. I saw all of her contests and was in awe of her performances. Her last appeal with her Alola Raichu was incredible! Not to mention, how far she came on her training with her Wormadam in the last few months, the Bug/Steel dual-type pokemon won every battle of her last contest easily. That's Ash Ketchum's training for you!

Talking about Ash Ketchum, his opening act was about to start.

A beautiful girl steps on stage and takes out some kind of shell. The crowd went silent, not in some kind of reverent silence but in a confused silence. Wasn't Ash supposed to do the opening act? Where was he? And who is that girl? Did something happen to my big brother? Or is he in some kind of ranger mission?

The girl took the shell to her lips and sweet music started to play. It was beautiful and soothing, in ways I've never experienced before. Kind of like a mix of Sing, Sweet Scent, and Aromatherapy all in one.

Then, from the ocean Lugia leapt into the sky, a water a giant stream of water rises out of the ocean, color glowing along the beat of the music. I gasped as I saw various Water-type pokemon swiming along the stream, which crossed the main stadium like a bridge in the sky.

"Is that... please tell me Ash is not on the back of Lugia?" I almost begged Paul, who sighed in exasperation and shook his head- he looked as I felt, done with it all.

Ash then took out three Poke Ball and released them, from them came out three pokemon I was surprised, but at the same time not so surprised, to see. "Are those Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres?" Paul was on the verge of whining. "How is he even real?!"

"Ash did tell me he had caught four very interesting new pokemon... I don't know why we did not expect this," I sighed.

On the air, the three Legendary birds joining Lugiia and Ash's dance on the sky. Thunder, ice, and fire joined the water stream, it was honestly frightening but also veru beautiful to look at. Kind of like Ash. Why he is not involved in contests I will never know. He has a knack for them. Suddenly, the stream returned to the ocean, while the Legendary birds and Lugia rapidly flew higher. Many people in the crowd gasped as Ash jumped of Lugia's back, but the gasps of horror turned into exclamations of wonder when aura surrounded Ash, slowing his descent- it was almost as if he was floating down with blue aura wings on his back. Thunder, Blizzard, Sacred Fire, and Aeroblast were thrown high above us, clashing against each other and releasing beautiful fireworks that must have been heard all the way to Kanto!

"Now, this is something else," Paul murmured. "I can't wait to battle him again!"

"I don't think he will use them against you," I chuckled, clapping alongside the crowd- who went wild as the Legendary birds and Lugia landed around Ash in the middle of the stadium. "But you can always ask."

"Oh, I will," Paul promised me with an eager smile.

"Battle junkie," I shook my head with fondness. "The both of you."