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

II Gallade's P.O.V

When we got back from training with Riley and his pokemon, I did not expect to find that Serena had entered a baking contest and lost. Then again, her rival and the reason why she had entered the contest, had also lost, so Serena was happy with the results. Since when does she have a rival? We were only gone half a day! Oh, well, I'll just chalk it up as another thing that happens when you travel with Ash Ketchum.

The following day we continued on our journey towards Shalour City, when a tiny and sad-looking pokemon landed in Bonnie's hair. It was her trainer, Grey, who explained to us what was wrong. It seems that little Flabébé has a special bond with his wife, Florence, who had recently became ill, and when Flabébé tried to visit her in the hospital, a passing car blew her flower away. I winced at that, without her flower, Flabébé grows weak and can't really move around. What makes it worse, Flabébé won't accept any flower as replacement. It has to be a Fairy Flower... which are super hard to find!

Luckily, she was a red flower Flabébé, because otherwise we would be in a bigger problem. Red Fairy Flowers are the easiest to find, if that had happened to our Flabébé... Arceus aid us! It would have been a nightmare!

Bonnie, as the one Flabébé clingged to and Max, who had a Flabébé of his own, were especially invested on this week's mission. Luckily, with Ash's aura we were able to find the perfect flower. He simply "read" Flabébé's aura and tried to find a match in the nearby surroundings, which he did. It seems that the reason why Flabébé and Fairy Flowers have such a bond, is because they are connected in an aura level. As Aura is the life energy that connects everythings and keeps things going, it made sense. Which had Gary and Clemont writting up notes and asking questions like crazy. It almost looked like an interrogation!

I did not get to see much, as I had to follow my trainer. Max and Bonnie were delighted that they had found a Fairy Flower for Flabébé that they rushed to meet Grey at the hospital. As the good starter I was, I followed them there. All our hard work was worth it, when Florence perked up immediately upon seeing her dear friend.

After that, we returned to our journey. Each day we got even more excited, especially our team! We trained hard and did our best to get ready, because soon we will be facing our next challenge in the Kalos region!

"It seems that you are both quite excited!" Bonnie commented giggling.

"We love battling," Max answered bashfully. I smirk when I noticed the blush threatening to cover his entire face. My partner was so cute! "And in a couple of days Gallade and Pidgeotto will be facing a Fighting Master!"

"In a week," Ash corrected him with a frown. Earning various startled looks. "On our next stop, I have an exhibition match with Champion Diantha. We will need to stay there for a while... did I foget to mention it?"

"You did, Ashy," Gary sighed, shaking his head with fondness. "That will also explain why Professor Sycamore mentioned we will be meeting soon. He must be quite delighted to witness a Mega Evolution from two champion-rank trainers."

"Not a champion yet," Ash corrected him, but went ignored as Bonnie and Serena borke in excited chatter.

"This is going to be so cool!" Max turned to me, eyes sparkling with joy.

I love when he has that look on his face.

"It will be," I agreed.

And I was right.

The crowd roared as the battle between the Orange Islands future Champion Ash Ketchum and the Kalos Region Champion Diantha began. Ash sent out his trusted partner Lucario, while Diantha called out her Gardevoir. The two pokemon stared at each other intently, and the battle began.