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

V Reggie's P.O.V

"Everyone thinks so," Ash chuckled. "But Heracross is the most suited to face you," he promised Tobias. Ash's right hand moved to his neck to pull out from inside his t-shirt a chain, the camera made a zoom on the pendant at the bottom of his chain and I gasped, ee all gasped. Being held possessively by a golden dragon claw was a Key Stone! "Heracross!" Ash boldly announced with a smirk, as the crowd's anticipation thickened in the air. "Let's Mega Evolve!"

A bright glow overtook the battlefield below us and left behind Mega Heracross, standing proudly before his trainer and glaring challengingly towards Darkrai.

I must say I am impressed, I thought. A normal pokemon would be shaking fearfully before Darkrai... then again, he is not a normal pokemon. He is Ash's pokemon.

"Well, even Mega Evolved he won't be able to stop this! Darkrai, Dark Void!" Tobias ordered and... it hit? Mega Heracross went to sleep with one move and Ash did nothing to stop it. The crowd groaned in disappointment, and I could even hear some malicious people talking about how they were expecting it as this is a Legendary pokemon and they did not expect a mere ranger to handle it. The use of 'it' for a pokemon made the blood in my veins boil in rage. "Wh-what? Why are you smiling?"

I turned my attention back to the arena in confusion, Tobias was right. Ash was smiling widely and uncaringly, and so was Pikachu for the matter. Next to me, Garry murmured two words in amusement: "Sleep Talk."

That's... that's genius! I exclaimed in my head. Insane, but genius! But... is he gonna fight the whole battle asleep?

"Two words," a sly smile slowly spread through Ash's face. "Sleep Talk."

I could feel the astonishment of the crowd, without needing to see their faces, as Mega Heracross slowly, as if he were possessed, rose to his feet with his horn glowing bright white, faint red, and multiple shades of yellow. Then with a speed, no one was expecting from someone asleep, Mega Heracross rushed forward and rammed Darkrai with his horn.

I winced in sympathy, Megahorn is one of the strongest Bug-type moves, and being stuck by it from a Mega Evolved pokemon... that must have hurt like a bitch!

"Darkrai!" Tobias' eyes widened as he observed his previously untouchable pokemon flinch back in pain. "Quick! Use Dream Eater!"

Darkrai's eyes flashed eery red, sending shivers down my spine. I will never get used to that, no matter how many times I watch him do it, I complained to myself. Darkrai then created a shadow-like version of himself. The shadow then tried to go through the sleeping Mega Heracross and suck up his energy.

Try being the keyword.

"Sleep Talk!" Ash called out, and as the shadow version of Darkrai tried to go through Mega Heracross, the sleeping pokemon Throat Punched him back into his real body. "Sleep Talk again!" Luckily, Darkrai was still disorientated from the failed Dream Eater and close to Mega Heracross, thanks to that Close Combat could be utilized to its maximum.

"Darkrai, snap out of it! Fade!" Tobias called out and his pokemon faded back into the shadows in time to evade the last punch and kick of Mega Heracross' Close Combat. But it was still a good start for Ash and Mega Heracross! "Now, Will-O-Wisp!"

"Shit! Ash won't be able to command Heracross to dodge that!" Gary cursed.

"Sleep Talk!" Ash shouted, and Mega Heracross answered with a Slash, which Darkrai dodged easily and managed to land the attack on Mega Heracross.

Is he... yes, Mega Heracross was badly hurt by that move. I sighed in my head. Now it's a race against the clock.

"Great! Let's try Dream Eater again!" Tobias cheered.