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

VII Max's P.O.V

I kept quiet for most of our journey towards Geosenge Town to look for a Lucarionite. Ash and Riley stayed most of the time giving Korrina tips about Mega Evolving a Lucario, while their Lucarios did the same with her Lucario. Having three Lucarios in the group was confusing, because when one of us calls out for Lucario you end up getting three different pokemon answering you back.

Still, I kept my distance and stayed quiet. I didn't even join them when they headed towards a mountain cave, where the Lucarionite was suppose to be. Instead I stayed behind with Gallade.

"Is there something wrong?" Gallade asked me worriedly. "I can feel your emotions being all over the place."

"I want to Mega Evolve as well," I told him seriously. "If we want to win against Korrina and even make it far into this Pokemon League, we will need Mega Evolution. Kalos is the region where Mega Evolution was found, as such there will be a lot of trainers and Gym Leader with access to a Key Stone and Mega Stone. We need to level the playing field." Gallade looked at me with determination, my words resonating with his heart. "From my team only you and Banette can Mega Evolve. I read that around Shalour City there's a place called Mega Island, where various wild pokemon capable of Mega Evolving gather because there are various Mega Stones around. Scientists hypothesize that the stones call to them, even though the wild pokemon cannot Mega Evolve on their own... maybe it's an aura connection like with Flabébés and their Fairy Flowers."

"So, after here we will go to Mega Island?" Gallde inquired, at my nod he smirked. "Good. Ash will surely enjoy guiding us to our next adventure... though, it seems that he won't be coming with us." He deduced, watching me frown.

"I need to do this on my own," I shared with my starter. "Only us, my pokemon and I. We need to stop relaying so much on Ash. We need to find this and get this on our own, he can't keep on moving on holding hands with Ash. He didn't have this, a mentor to get him evolutionary stones or Mega Stones, he had to work hard to earn them and become who he is. So, do we. It will help us grow as trainer and pokemon."

"Then we will work hard to find them and grow even stronger!" Gallade assured me, making me smile. A smile that dropped as everyone else approached me, looking worse to wear. "Lucario lost control?" Gallade asked the obvious.

"Yes, he did," Korrina smiled weakly. "But at least we got the Lucarionite!"

"Hey, who is that?" I asked them, when I noticed the old man and Blaziken that had joined their group. "That Blaziken looked much stronger than May's!" I looked impressed, my sister's starter was strong. She might be a coordinator, but my sister was also trained by Ash.

"May's?" The old man inquired.

"My sister!" I replied with a big smile. I missed her so much! "Her starter was a Torchic! He is now a Blaziken and they both reached the title of Top Coordinator!"

"Congratulations!" The old man laughed. "Also, I am Gurkinn, the old Gym Leader of the Shalour City Gym. Korrina is my granddaughter."

"You are Korrina's grandfather?!" I exclaimed shocked.

"It seems that he planned the whole thing as a test, to see if I was prepared," Korrina laughed sheepishly. "He had Blaziken fight my Lucario to test us, though at the time we thought he was a wild Blaziken."

"A wild Blaziken in Kalos?" I asked her skeptic, with a raised eyebrow.

"Not my best moment," Korrina admitted.

"Let's get back to business!" Gurkinn spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "I am concerned about Lucario's violent reaction. I now understand that there's more about Mega Evolution than our family knows. Still, I think you should seek out one of his former teachers on Pomace Mountain for special training."

"Training? We can do that!" Korrina perked up, her Lucario getting fired up as well.

"Then let's all go!" Serena cheered.

"That's a good idea," Clemont agreed.

"I won't be coming," I said, silencing the excited chattering, making me wince. "I mean, I have something to do."

"What is that?" Gurkinn asked, knowingly.

"Gallade and I are going to Mega Island in search of a galladite!" I announced, earning various startled looks. Though, Ash smiled at me in pride. "I will be going on my own," now Ash's smile had left his face. "I need to do it on my own... this is a challenge Gallade and I need to do ourselves." My starter was nodding alongside me.

"I will go as well," Gary spoke up. I looked at him surprised. "You see, researching that island will surely make Professor Sycamore happy and I would love to look around. There's also the fact that the place is dangerous and you might get hurt. Not to mention, that as someone without a high-school diploma you cannot go around without a mentor. I know you want to branch out from Ashy and prove yourself, but you can do that without getting putting yourself in danger."

"Then, we will be counting on you," I smiled at Gary, before turning to Ash shyly.

"I am so proud of you Max," Ash told me with an encouraging smile. I felt the tension leave my body and sighed in relief. "Take care of yourself and your pokemon, ok?"

"Ok!" I beamed.

After a night in the Pokemon Center, we parted ways. Everyone else left fot Pomace Mountain, while I followed Gary to Mega Island. The place was incredible... with many powerful pokemon. It was almost as if the island gave them more power. Luckily I had Gary supporting me the whole way.

"I can feel it!" Gallade exclaimed excitedly, he had his eyes closed and was using his psychic powers to feel out the galladite. "It's on that direction!" He pointed out right and we went running that way. There we found a huge green crystal, inside of it, encaced, was the galladite. "There it is!"

"Gallade! Focus Blast!" I commanded.

"On it!" Gallade replied, I could feel his excitement radiating through our bond as he crushed the crystal into million parts. Gallade rapildy caught it and we both cheered. I turned to see Gary smiling gently at us, a strange expression when it was not directed at Ash or neither of their pokemon. "We finished our mission! What about the everyone else?"

"Ashy contacted me, Korrina can now control Lucario's Mega Evolution," Gary informed me. "Are we heading towards Shalour City for a gym challenge?"

"No," I shook my head. "I need to train more before challenging her and we still need to get a Key Stone," I turned to Gallade and we both shared a look of determination. "But once we have it and we are ready... we will be taking the Shalour City Gym by storm!"