Going forward and beyond {Path of the Aura Ranger: Book I}

III Reggie's P.O.V

Whatever it is, I am just glad that Maylene was getting help from them. It was wonderful seeing my friend so happy. I truly wish for her to succeed.

So, while Riley is with Maylene and Paul sightseeing with Dawn (Again, how?!), Ash and I decided to stay back and share intel about Tobias and Team Galactic. Though he possesses much more information about Team Galactic than I have, some he could not even share with me. So, while I could not help him with that, I was able to aid him with the Tobias issue. It seems that he has been so focused on Team Galactic that he had neglected the situation with Tobias.

"So, what do we know about him?" Ash asked me. It still surprises me how easily he can go from the goofy, lovable boy to the serious Ace Ranger.

"We were able to discover that he comes from Ore," my answer startled him.

Not that it surprised me. Ore was a wasteland, a criminal playground. Many of the ex-Magma and Aqua grunts that had escaped capture fled there. It is also the main reason why Team Rocket is still in operation. While not being weeded out of Kanto and Johto, their most lucrative businesses were shut down, mostly thanks to Ash's help. And their inability to expand to other regions had most of their income dried up. It is only because they have taken over 80% of Ore that they still have any revenue.

This has become personal for Ash. I thought. I could see that just by looking into his eyes.

"So, there are two options." He began. There are?! I exclaimed internally. I thought that there was only one answer. "He is working for Giovani's Ore Branch of Team Rocket..." That's what I thought! "Or he wanted to take me out of the shadows and into the eyes of the people, so he could demand from me to go to Ore and finish the job I started four years ago."

Silence reign in my living room, as it dawned on my Tobias ingenious plan. If Ash had been just a very unlucky civilian, while he would have been praised for helping people out, no one could demand from him to go to war (Because that's what would happen if he stepped into Ore!) to save Ore. But he was no longer just a civilian, he was an Ace Ranger... he was The Saint...

"He is planning on revealing your ongoing war against Team Rocket and demand from the people that you join the Resistance in Ore," I murmured shocked.

"He is," Ash sighed, closing his eyes, leaning back into the sofa. I could see Pikachu's cheeks sparkling in anger. "I was already planning that, Indigo's Elite Four and Lance were just waiting to find the main Headquarters in Kanto and Johto. The plan was to flush the higher-standing members out and freeze their bank accounts, cutting off their source of money and weakening Ore's branch. Then we would go and attack those in Ore from various sides, while Ore's Team Rocket was still trying to stabilize their situation. We were going to ask for help from Hoenn and Sinnoh too."

He should not be telling me this. This was highly classified information! These were war plans! Who in their right mind tells a fourteen years old boy plans for war! No matter how strong he is, he shouldn't be even close to it!

"I know that outrage look, relax I am only joining int the raid to Kanto's Team Rocket's Headquarters. I would be going in with Will and Karen. Lorelai, Bruno, and Koga are going to hit Johto's Team Rocket's Headquarters. While Lance, Steven, and Chyntia would be attacking Ore's branch from three different sides." He assured me with a dry chuckle. "As much as I want to help all the way, they know better than to have me going to Ore. No matter how good I am, I'm still only fourteen."

"Should you be telling me this? What will happen now?" I questioned him, much more relaxed now.

"They were going to ask you to join anyway, if not for the battle for the planning and organization. Maybe for the cleaning afterward, helping to output some good Ranger Headquarters in Ore." He explained. So, that's why Indigo told him about a retired Ace Ranger. I thought. "As for Tobias... well, I am very happy that it is only that. If we are right. I do not want to deal with anything else other than Team Galactic and Team Rocket. Too much on my plate already. I'll contact Lance and have him and his G-men deal with him, maybe he'll become a good contact with the Resistance. But it needs to be dealt with soon before he makes things much more difficult. Especially, putting my family and friends at more risk."

"Good," I sighed. One less problem, I thought in relief. "Do you think he'll continue competing in the Sinnoh League?"

"Yes, it will be a good way to advertise the situation in Ore." He answered, but before he could continue the electricity in my house shut down. "What in the Distortion World?!" Suddenly, Ash's Xtransceiver started to ring. "Josh? What's going on? I don't think you calling me now is a coincidence."

"Team Galactic is planning something on Veilstone City!" Josh's words made a cold shiver go down my spine. In my hometown under attack? No way in I is letting that happen! "Their aim is the meteorite field! I don't know what they are planning on doing, but it can't be good! We can't have rangers go there because they are all occupied dealing with emergencies all over the city. Especially, with the Pokemon Center and Hospital down!"

"Leave it to us!" He answered, after looking at me, I gave him the nod and rushed to prepare. We were quite lucky that Ash had not left Primeape and Heracross with Maylene yet. They will be needed for the fight. "Let's do this!"

The moment we got there I groaned. Of course, Paul and Dawn would end up being dragged into this whole mess, and being the kids they were, they would not back down from a fight. Even against a criminal syndicate.

Pikachu jumped right into the action and took down the swarm of Golbat with a powerful Thunder attack. That was all that was needed to turn the tables. Heracross and Primeape came out and joined the brawl, taking out as many grunt's Pokemon as they could in the least amount of time. In the meanwhile, Pikachu was locked in a fight against Commander Saturn's Toxicroak.

"You two get back here now!" I barked the order to both of them. Only once they were behind me with their Pokemon back in their Poke Balls, did Ash join the fight. "What were you thinking?! Fighting a criminal syndicate!" I released Swalot to guard us, Drapion to join the fight alongside Ash's Pokemon and Staraptor to help get anyone that was around to safety. "You could have gotten yourselves killed!"

"We just wanted to help!" Dawn explained. Paul didn't say anything but one look at him and I could see he was thinking the same. Of course, him growing up hearing stories about me helping Veilstone City had to come and bit me back in the ass. "Ash does it all the time! And I help him!"

"Ash is an Ace Ranger!" I snapped at them, both of them jumped startled at my uncommon behavior, but I was running on adrenaline and worry. "He lets you help with Pokemon needing to find their way back home or healing them. But this is beyond your paycheck! They have guns and weapons, they aim to kill!"

Just as I said the word 'kill', shots were fired from both sides. Pikachu used Agility and Iron Tail to defend Ash, while he took shots at the Galactic grunts. Half of them were already paralyzed on the floor. If I hadn't been so angry at the kids I would have been very impressed by the accuracy of Ash's shots. He was very good!

"A-ash, h-he is..." Dawn stuttered, starting to tremble.

"He is shooting! Of course, he is! What do you think his gun is there for? Decoration!" I snapped but cursed myself afterward. Dawn was very close to tears, as she shook watching the scene before her. How could I have forgotten? Dawn was almost shot! "Paul, take her back home now," I ordered my brother softly, there was nothing I could do right now. Not in the middle of a fight. Paul just nodded his head and guided her away. I turned to Swalot and said: "Let's join."

We were also joined by Maylene, Riley, and their Lucarios. The fight was soon over, not because we got all of them, but because Commander Saturn decided that he had to leave. He took that weird cube thing, called back his Toxicroak, and left. Ash was angry about that, but at least we got all the grunts and their Pokemon, and we stopped whatever they were planning to do.

Soon we were surrounded by cops and rangers, all following Ash's commands about how to deal with the grunts and who to call. Later, we both had to give our statements to the press and Officer Jenny. It was only once we got to the Pokemon Center to heal our Pokemon that I was finally able to relax.

I was mad at myself for losing control like that and snapping at Paul and Dawn. But my worry got the best of me. I just hope that they'll forgive me and that this won't regress Dawn's progress and healing.

Let's just hope it doesn't affect her relationship with Ash.