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

II Serena

"What are you doing?" I tilted my head, as Ash prepared various different plates of pokemon food. "Aren't they too many? Can't your pokemon share a plate?"

"They could, but each pokemon has its preferences," Ash replied with his customary smile. "It's not only about their species or pokemon-type, which does influence what pokemon food is better for them to eat. It's also about their own preferences. Like Pikachu loves to have ketchup on his food for some reason and Charizard has lately been quite fond of galarica twigs being added to his food." His smile turned fond as he looked at his pokemon with so much warmth that it had me falling for him again. "Each pokemon is different and special, it's our duty as their trainers to take notice and care for them on our best capabilities."

"I haven't thought about it like that," I murmured, turning towards Fennekin who was with Litleo, learning Flamethrower from Ash's Charizard. Then I turned to the other side of our makeshift training ground, where Ash's Butterfree had taken it upon himself to mentor my pokemon. "I will pay attention from now on! I will do better!"

"That's the atittude!" Ash cheered me on. "Now that we are at it, why don't we check how far your pokemon are coming along?"

"Let's do that!" I agreed excitedly, taking out my Pokedex to read my pokemon's stats.

Pokemon: Fennekin.

Gender: Female.

Ability: Blaze.

Type: Fire.

Move set: Ember, Scratch, Hidden Power, Quick Attack, Tackle, and Flamethrower.

Egg moves: Wish.

NOTE: The egg move has yet to have been unlocked.

Pokemon: Spewpa.

Gender: Female.

Ability: Shed Skin.

Type: Bug.

Move set: Tackle, String Shot, Stun Spore, Bug Bite, Harden, Protect, Struggle Bug, and Pounce.

Egg moves: Poison Powder.

NOTE: The egg move has yet to have been unlocked.

"Not bad," Ash hummed impressed, making me preen. "They are coming along nicely... but you have an issue."

"What?" I turned to look at him confused.

"You are relaying too much on my pokemon to guide them and teach them new moves," Ash pointed out. "Which is fine, I do the same. With so many pokemon, I can't be with them all the time or teach them every move I want to. Which is why I made a system, where the oldest pokemon mentor the younger ones while I am away. They give them pointers and teach them moves. Sometimes, I even have Espeon "record" individual lessons with her psychic powers and pass them to my pokemon via telepathy. However, you are depending too much on my pokemon. I don't think I've seen you train with them since you got them. I am not saying that you neglect them, you spend time with them, groom them, and bond with them... but it is not the same. Max barely uses my pokemon anymore."

"I see," I murmured, realizing that what he had just said was right. "I don't think I want to be a gym challenger... battling is not really my speed. But you are right when you say I am depending too much on them. Even if I do not know what I want to do, I am still their trainer and I should start acting like it... though, I do not know how."

"That's what we are here for!" Ash assured me. "Though, I do not think that my training methods would work for you... Gary!" He called out to his boyfriend, who was discussing some papers with Clemont. Gary turned to us in anoyance, making me flinch but Ash simply smiled and waved at him.

"What is it?" He asked us with a scowl, as he reached us.

"Could you mentor Serena?" Ash asked him, surprising us both.

Gary? Mentoring me? I thought stunned, feeling lightheaded. Are you trying to torture me?!

"I thought you would be taking her under your wing," Gary replied curiously. "Like all the other younger trainers you've picked along the way."

"I thought of it... but I don't think I am the best fit," Ash answered, tilting his head and looking at me. He was searching for something and I think he found it. "You will be a much better fit. I would distract her too much... or at least that's what my aura is telling me." I blushed, eyes widening in realization of what he meant by that. I wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. "So, thank you for the help!" He clapped Gary on the back and left to continue taking care of his pokemon.

"I... he's..." I stuttered, face red and speechless.

"Relax, I don't think he realized it either," Gary sighed. "He might have matured a lot on the last couple of years, but he is still an oblivious fool when it comes to matters of the heart. His aura might have nudged him, but it's not like he understood the nudge."

"Y-you k-know?!" I exclaimed, horrified.

"Since the summer camp," he replied drily. "Why do you think I was such an asshole to you?"

"Isn't that your default mode?" I replied automatically. My eyes widened when I realized what had just come out of my mouth. "Sorry!"

"Relax!" He laughed. "I honestly did not know you had it in you... good. Then our training might not be such a bore." I glared at his words, feeling quite offended. "Would you look at that, the little girl is glaring. So scary!"

"You are annoying!" I growled, under my breath.

"It's my default mode," he deadpanned with an obnoxious smirk and a raised eyebrow. "We will start training tomorrow, as for now, we better pack up and get going. The next town over is closeby, we might reach it before night falls."

I huffed, but did go to pack up. As he said, we reached the town before night fell and made it to the pokemon center. The boys bunked together, as the rooms only have four beds and Ash and Gary shared one. While, Bonnie and I stayed in another one. The following day, my training session with Gary got cancelled because he had to do some field research for Professor Sycamore. Ash decided to follow him and make it a date. Bonnie and Clemont were around somewhere, while Riley and Max were training. So, I decided to do some baking and do a batch of Poke Puffs, to show my consideration for my pokemon.

Or at leats, that was the plan until a Slurpuff swiped them!

"Hey! Those were for my pokemon!" I complained, looking quite crossed.

"Calm down," a girl my age approached us. "It's not like they were any good, were they Slurpuff darling?"

"What did you just say?!" I exclaimed, shocked by the guts of this girl. "Who are you even?!"

"I am Miette and this is my partner, Slurpuff," the girl huffed. "I also make the best Poke Puffs!"

"Do you now?" I raised an eyebrow unimpressed.

"I do!" Miette snarled. Good, she was getting as annoyed as me. "I'll prove it to you! There's a baking competition happening today, let's enter! Unless you are afraid."

"I'm in!" I growled. I will not allow her to mock me like that.

"Good!" Miette smirked.

"Great!"

I will show her who is better! Just wait!