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

II N's P.O.V

The Delcore Islands were beautiful, it was truly the right idea to leave Unova and join Ash in his new adventure. And an adventure it was. Our next stop after Honey Island, was Scalchop Island, where the yearly Scalchop King competition was being held. It was filled with Oshawott and Dewott, everywhere you looked you could find one! The win went to Caesar, Cadbury's Dewott, who Osharina, the Oshawott Queen, had fallen in love with. So, it was a happy ending for everyone. I think I've grown a lot, I did not get angry or upset at seeing the Oshawott and Dewott battle. While I have learned to accept it, I would still get upset and not like watching them fight each other. However, this time I simply saw pokemon battling for love- battling because of their nature.

I am not conceited enough to believe that I am right by denying someone's nature.

Our next adventure was in Grand Spectrala Island.

Like honestly! The names of the islands could not be more forshadowing if they tried!

From the ship we were able to see a giant pokemon through the fog! It was kinda creepy, especially when I did not hear anything from them. Ash did not feel aura from them either, so we both knew that something was wrong with... that. We did not expect it to be a Zoroark treating injured pokemon in an abandoned Pokemon Center. That took us by surprise. It seem like Zoroark was disgusing themselves as a Nurse Joy, they had only revealed themselves when an older Nurse Joy, who investigates Pokemon Centers, appeared and accused Zoroark of being an impostor. They ended up being an evolved Zorua that had been saved and treated by that same older Nurse Joy. They had stayed after everyone had left to continue the mission of aiding injured pokemon, the same way Nurse Joy had saved them in the past.

Touched by Zoroark's determination and actions, Nurse Joy decided to stay and aid the re-opening of the Pokemon Center. I am quite sure that Ash made some calls about getting them some fudning, but I can't be for sure. Situations like this, remind me that pokemon-human relationships can be wonderful. They aid each other to grow and become better. Beautiful.

Then again things like this happen and I am reminded that as beautiful as they can be, they can also be horrible.

We were all in a pirat's hideout surrounding emotionaly hurt pokemon, treating them like criminals... well, they were pirats, but it was not their fault!

"I get it, trainers can suck," Emboar agreed with Croconaw, Azumarill, and Octillery- the pirats that had broken into our ship and stole boxes of food. "But stealing from civilians is not the answer."

"There are worthy trainers out there," Serperior told them, quite comforting for her character.

"How would you know?!" Croconaw snapped with a glare. "You did not get kicked to the curb for not being able to evolve!"

"Or for evolving," Azumarill added with a sad expression.

"Or for losing battles," Octillery looked down ashamed.

"But I did," Emboar answered. "I lost many battles and I was abandoned, but Ash found me and got me a new family."

"I was not able to use powerful Fire-type moves, so I was deemed unworthy," Charizard snorted, puffing some black smoke. "Who is laughing now bastard?"

"I... I do not understand you, I simply left my trainer," Serperior agreed with the pirats. "He was not worthy of me."

"Would you mind sharing your memories with me?" Ash knelt down with a gentle smile. "Espeon can copy them and then send them to the right authorities, that way your trainers can face the consequences of their actions."

"Y-you can arrest them?" Azumarril asked him startled, making my heart ache at the fragil hope in her voice.

"We can," Ash assured her. "Just leave it to us."

"What will happen to us now?" Croconaw asked, once Espeon was done.

"Are you going to arrest us too?" Octillery asked fearfully.

"The worst you've done is steal food," Ash smiled at them. "I believe we can forget about it if you promise not to do it again."

"He is right!" Officer Jenny was quick to agree with Ash, my friend has really scared the crap off the clan. It would be hilarious, if it wasn't such a tragic scene. "Just don't do it again."

"We promise!" Azumarill agreed, happier this time, but there's still an undertone of sadness.

"I would like to offer you an option of what you could do next," I stepped forward, suddenly feeling nervous under everyone's attention. "Would you like to become my friends and travel with me?" I would not ask them to become my pokemon, the simply idea of referring to owning a pokemon makes me shiver in disgust. "I will not ask you to evolve if you do not want to or to battle... you will simply be my family and have a home with me."

"You want us?" Octillery asked in disbelief. "Really?"

"Really," I assured her, assured them.

"We accept!" They all exclaimed together and allowed themselves to be caught by the Poke Balls I borrowed from Ash.

"Congratulations N!" Iris cheered.

"Your first catch, this is poetic!" Cilan agreed cheerfuly.

"Well done, N," Ash smiled proudly at me.

However, all of my attention was on the Poke Balls in my hands.

On my family.

I was so happy!

Or at least I was until Ash answered a call in disbelief. 

"What do you mean that New Tork City in under attack?!"