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

VI Max's P.O.V

It was a sunny day in Kalos, which gave me the confidence to enter the arena for the next fight. My opponent was an Gym Leader with giant Onix, but I knew I had the skill and strategy to win. When we enter the battlefield, my Scraggy popped out of his Pole Ball, ready to take on the enemy. Emerging from the Poke Ball, Onix looked intimidating with his massive build and rock-hard skin.

I knew that Scraggy's fight and dark tricks would be very effective against Onix, so I told him to use Low Kick. This move hit Onix hard, knocking him off balance and causing significant damage. Onix tried to retaliate with Tackle, but Scraggy was too fast. I used the Sand Attack move to blind Onix and make him miss the attack. Scraggy then followed up with his powerful Brick Break, dealing even more damage to Onix.

Despite the damage, Onix wasn't about to give up just yet. Grant used Rock Slide to crush Scraggy under a rock waterfall. But Scraggy prepared for this move and dodged it just in time. Onix tried to use Slam, but Scraggy was too agile and evaded. Scraggy then unleashed a powerful High Jump Kick that inflicted great damage on Onix and knocked him unconscious.

Scraggy's Moxie ability activated after defeating Onix, Scraggy's attack stat increased and evolved into Scrafty. The first battle was over and I was victorious. I knew that Scraggy, and now he Scrafty, was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead, we were ready.

My baby was ready... not that I could call him that anymore.

I raised my Poke Ball and returned Scrafty. I was trained by Ash, so I knew better than to use a pokemon that had just evolved. I kissed the Poke Ball and thanked Scrafty, he had done a great job.

"That was quite a battle!" Grant praised me, with a raised eyebrow. "It's been a while since someone had been capable to take down my Onix that fast, even with type-advantage on their side. No wonder, Ash Ketchum took a shine on you." I ignored that last comment, as it was said out of ignorance. Ash would have taken anyone under his wing, anyone willing to learn, train hard, and enjoy battling. That's just who he was. "But it will take more than that, to finish us off! Tyrunt, you are next!"

"A Tyrunt? Then, Flabébé you are up!" I released my newly caught pokemon with a beaming smile.

"An orange flower Flabébé?" Grant's eyes widened in surprise. "Now that's rare! But it will not stop us! Tyrunt, get ready!"

I knew that Flabébé's Fairy type moves would be super effective against Tyrunt, so I commanded her to use Fairy Wind. The move hit Tyrunt hard, knocking him back and dealing significant damage.

Tyrunt tried to retaliate with a Crunch, but Flabébé was too quick. She used Protect and got away unhurt. Flabébé then followed up with a powerful Vine Whip, dealing even more damage to Tyrunt. Tyrunt tried to use Earthquake to shake Flabébé off balance, but Flabébé was light and agile, not to mention, she levitated for most of the time, and she easily dodged the attack.

With Tyrunt's health dwindling, he was getting desperate he tried to use Dragon Claw to finish off Flabébé. Which stupid, as Flabébé was a fairy and immune to any Dragon-type attack.

"Tyrunt! Stop!" Grant tried to warn his pokemon, but it was already too late.

Flabébé received the attack, which caused no damage, and retaliated with a powerful Magical Leaf from close distance, dealing massive damage to Tyrunt and knocking him out.

The battle was over, and I emerged victorious. I knew that Flabébé had proven to be a valuable member of my team. With Flabébé's Flower Veil ability, my Grass-type pokemon were protected from status conditions and stat-lowering moves, making them even stronger in battle.

"Ah," Grant sighed, but smiled as he headed my way. I was hugging my cute and adorable Flabébé, as we were celebrating our victory. "Congratulations on such an incredible battle! Here you have the Cliff Badge!"

"Thank you!" I beamed, receiving the bagde giddily.

"Well done!" I turned startled by the familiar voice. There, behind me, stood Ash, beaming porudly and clapping. "I did not expect anything less from you!"

"You got here in time!" I cheered, jumping into his arms. "You got to see the whole battle?"

"All of it," Ash assured me. "Filming wrapped up early and I do not have any other scene to film, until a month. So, I am back as your mentor until then."

I was so happy! Riley and Garry had taken upon themselves to mentor me while Ash was away. However, it was not the same. Ash had always been my hero and I've admired him since our journey through Hoenn. Having him mentor me was a dream come true.

"Welcome back, Ashy," Gary kissed Ash in a greeting. "How was filming?"

"Hard," Ash pouted. "I never realized how hard it was to fake-fight. You would think that it would be easier after training to become a Knight, but no."

"Holding back has never been in your vocabulary," Gary agreed chuckling. "So, where to now?"

"I was thinking of Shalour City," Ash hummed. "With Scraggy finally evolving, it will do him some good to watch a Fighting Master battle."

"That will be great! Also, it will give Pigeotto an oportunity to battle on her new form!" I agreed, excitedly.

"Pidgeotto?" Ash turned to me with a confused expression, that soon turned to a sad one. "I missed her evolution? No!"

"Hahaha!" I laughed. "You can't always be there for an evolution. Scatterbug also evolved into Spewpa!" His sulking got worse at that. "Did you expect anything else? Bug-types mature quickly when trained."

"The Scatterbug line is quite interesting," Gary commented. "Not only do they evolve into different forms depending the region, there middle form is completely different from every metamorphic pokemon. While Butterfree, Beautifly, and Dustox middle evolution has a cocoon form, Spewpa does not. Quite interesting..."

"I do not care!" Ash whined, interrupting him. "I missed two evolutions! Three if you count Annihilape!"

I felt bad for Ash, because he truly cared about this. But I could not stop myself from laughing, none of us could. Ash was simply too amusing.