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

III Gary's P.O.V

Though I feel that the ones that should be wished luck are Ash's opponents. The arena is filled with The Saint merchandise, it would be very intimidating to be facing someone as famous as Ash and being surrounded by an arena filled with banners and posters of The Saint.

"Here you go," Riley said, as he handed me a coke and nachos, he was having popcorn and lemonade, just like Dawn.

No one appreciates nachos, I pouted in my head, but soon my attention was grabbed by the announcers announcing Ash's next battle. I need to invest in some good quality earplugs, I thought as the crowd cheered loudly. Otherwise, I'm going to go deaf soon.

"It's another 3 vs 3, right?" Dawn asked as we watched Nando and Ashy preparing themselves to go.

"Yes, and so will be the Top 16," I answered. "It's on the Top 8 when they start going all out."

"Roserade!" Nando called out, cutting our conversation short.

"Magcargo!" Ashy released his pokemon at the same time.

"Yes! Ash has the advantage!" Dawn exclaimed excitedly.

"Well, Nando tends to prefer Grass-types and Bug-types," Riley commented.

"But that does not mean those are the only ones he has," I replied. "He did use a Lopunny and an Altaria in the Sinnoh Grand Festival."

"Sweet Scent!" Nando commanded, but unfortunately, Magcargo simply burnt the powder before it could reach him. "Sunny Day! Follow it with Magical Leaf!"

"Flamethrower!" Was Ashy's answer, torching the leaves easily and rapidly.

"That's a distraction," Lucario deduced seriously.

"What?" Dawn turned to the pokemon in confusion.

"Dawn, Sweet Scent was burnt away easily, why would Nando attack Ash with Magical Leaf? This is not a contest, there are no points for that," Riley explained to her.

"He simply wanted to buy time for Roserade to use Solar Beam," I continued, pointing at the Grass-type pokemon readying to attack.

"No!" Dawn exclaimed concerned.

"Don't worry, distraction strategies are Ashy's specialty. He knows what he is doing," I assured her. Just as I said, Magcargo well-timed an Earthquake that had Roserade missing the mark, followed by a Rock Slide to the gut and a Lava Plume that put her out of commission. "That was a bit overboard." Blackie turned her head back at me, from her seat on the railing next to Piplup, and gave me a mocking smirk. "I got it! It is the season's competition, they have to go all out. But I was not expecting that from Ashy," I huffed, ignoring Blackie's cackling, and turned back to the battle.

Nando was returning Roserade and had released his Kricketune. In response, Ashy returned his Magcargo, after congratulating him on a good battle, and taking out Bulbasaur. Many girls in the crowd were awed at the cute Kanto Grass Starter. But none of them understood how serious things have gotten. Next to me Dawn gulped, surely recalling Bulbasaur's gym battle.

"Sword Dance!" Nando started pumping Kricketune's stats up. "Silver Wind!"

"Light Screen!" Bulbasaur rapidly protected himself, Kricketune's attack bouncing off the Light Screen.

"I still remember the time in which Ash only had his pokemon learn attacks and his only defense was speed and dodging," I commented with a chuckle.

"You know I keep on hearing so much about Ash's past but I find it hard to believe that my Ash and that Ash are the same," Dawn replied.