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

IV Riley's P.O.V

So, now that Max has all eight of his Unova badges, we were on route to the Vertress Conference. During our journey we stopped at various Pokemon Center, mostly for their T.V. We had so many Grand Festivals to observe and friends to cheer for. Not to mention, the Sinnoh Pokemon League. We began with Kanto, where Dawn won the Kanto Grand Festival. We cheered especially loud for Quilava who had evolved into Typhlosion. During the video call to congratulate her she told us that she had finally accepted Hermione's invitation to the Poké Chic campaign and to learn under her as a Pokemon Stylist. Paul, on his part, won against the Kanto Battle Frontier and was invited to the Sevii Island Battle Frontier, but he decided to try and face the Lily of the Valley Conference again.

Talking about the Lily of the Valley Conference, Nando won it, with Barry coming as the runner-up. However, Nando lost the Sinnoh Grand Festival, coming second after May. May was meeting us at Vertress City with her parents to cheer for Max, during the video call in which she informed us of that, she also told us that she had decided to give Kanto another go. Drew was also joining her there and traveling with her after winning the Hoenn Grand Festival. They were also being joined by Zoey, who had come in second at the Hoenn Grand Festival. Another old friend of Ash's previous group was Harley, who won the Johto Grand Conference and retired to be a Pokemon Stylist.

On our way to the Vertress Conference, we met with Virgirl and his Team Eevee. He, alongside his older brother, Davy, and his father, Jeff, were Pokemon Rangers and big fans of Ash. Ash was also quite interested on Virgirl, who had decided on becoming an Eevee specialist. He has every single Eeveelution with the exception of Sylveon, but he already had an Eevee that might take that position soon. Max was excited to realize that Virgirl was joining him in the Vertress Conference, with Trip, Stephan, Bianca, and Cameron.

So many friends and rivals... we were all very proud of him.

Right at the get-go he ended up facing against Trip.

"Interesting choice," Cilan commented as Max released his Alola Raichu. "He should have known by now that Trip would use his Serperior. So, why choose Alola Raichu?"

"Because Max does not have anyone on his team that can match Raichu's speed. Max's Serperior can't match that speed yet," I replied. "And the pokemon that can take those hits, his tank, is very vulnerable to Grass-type pokemon."

"Gigalith is not a pokemon I would use against Serperior," Norman agreed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Alola Raichu's levitation will be a great advantage, even with the type-disadvantage."

"Good luck sweetie!" Caroline cheered loudly.

I winced as Alola Raichu immediately took a big hit. The levitation was useless as Serperior rapidly leapt into the air and struck with a Dragon Tail, sending Alola Raichu crashing down on the ground hard. Max encourages Alola Raichu to get up, and he slowly does, but falls right back into the same position after taking a blow from Serperior's Energy Ball. Serperior then launches a barrage of Dragon Tails, and with all the damage Alola Raichu has taken, he is not able to dodge all of them and gets hit again, and again, and again.

"Oh, Max," May murmured sadly.

"Trip is not letting up!" Iris growled.

"Stop talking like this is over!" Ash snapped. "I trained him, he'll win! I've faced worse odds before! We all did!"

"Follow up with Wrap!" Trip commanded, squeezing Alola Raichu hard with his tail.

"Do not give up!" Max shouted. "Use Thunderbolt!"

"Stick your tail into the field!" Trip countered, Serperior did as commanded and had the Thunderbolt being absorbed by the field.

"Copy cat!" Pikachu jumped from Ash's shoulder to his lap. "That's our move!"