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

XIII Ash's P.O.V

"Sceptile! Use Grass Pledge!" I yelled.

If we are going down, we will go downn fighting!

As I had predicted the move collison took both pokemon down, but at least this way I it was not just Cynthia's plan.

"You know how to surprise someone," my sister told me with a chuckle as she released the pokemon I was fearing to face in this battle: Garchomp.

"You do too, I was not expecting that," I replied, releasing my own titan: Charizard.

A pause.

Then...

"Garchomp, Draco Meteor!" Cynthia ordered.

I almost panicked. A Draco Meteor from Cynthia's Garchomp or from any of Lance's pokemon is a death sentence. They are powerful beyong words and capable of destroying small villages if they wanted. However, I connected with Charizard in a spiritual level, through my aura powers, and calmed down. We have this.

"Outrage!" I shouted.

"You got it!" Charizard roared in excitement, eyes shinning red as Outrage was activated. Charizard cleaved his way through the meteor shower and exchanged some blows with Garchomp before the side effect of Outrage left him confused. However, I was prepared for that. "Charizard, bash your head on thee ground!" I heard many people gasp at my wild plan, even Cynthia's eyes widenned. Charizard quickly broke out of the confusion by hitting his head on the ground.

"Not bad," Cynthia praised me, impressed by our performance. It was then that she pulled out a lipstick, I did not need her to turn it around to know what was happening. That was my big sister's Key Stone. "Garchomp, let's Mega Evolve!"

"We are screwed," Charizard commented, yet he was smilling in excitement.

"Even with the power-up, this can go either way," I told my partner, staying positive. "They are not the only ones who can Mega Evolve," I reminded him, taking out my Key Stone Necklace and kissing the stone as it shinned. Many Pokemon Masters do it, like Cynthia and Steven, I'll join the club too. "Charizard, let's Mega Evolve!"

"That's what I am talking about!" Charizard roared, I could feel the power rush running through him through our connection- it was exhilarating!

"Dragon Claw!" Cynthia commanded.

"Meet them with Shadow Claw!" I retaliated. Mega Garchomp attacked with Dragon Claw, which Charizard met with a series of Shadow Claws. Using this strategy, we got Garchomp lured into close-range combat, before unleashing a point-blank Dragon Pulse, which scored a direct hit. "That's what I mean!" I cheered with my pokemon. "The next hit will decide the match," I communicated with Charizard though our bond. "Put everything into it!"

"I will," Charizard promised me.

Cynthia seem to have decided to finish the match with her next attack, as well, and ordered a Draco Meteor. As the meteors start raining down again, Charizard fired a Dragon Pulse, which splits up and started taking down the falling rocks. However, the meteors numers were too much, and many of them still hit the ground, creating a big cloud of dust. When the cloud cleared, both Dragon- type pokemon were staring down at each other. One minute, then... Charizard fell down in defeat.

I looked at the scene before me in shock.

I heard the referee calling the match in favour of Cynthia numbly.

I lost...

That's all right, I thought with a bemused smile, shaking my head. Cynthia is one of the strongest champions out there and the strongest Generalist Master, I did incredibly good. Though seeing Charizard being taken down is a surprise. My titan was defeated.

"Ash?" Pikachu asked me in concern, I looked down to my right and found my starter bruised and battered. "Are you ok?"

"I am... it is frustrating, because we put everything we had... and it was still not enough..." I had to put everything I had in me not to allow the tears in my eyes to fall. "But... but we put everything we had, so I have no regrets. We did our best and we'll keep on training to get stronger! We'll face her again and we will win!"

"That we will!" Charizard assured me. I turned around to see him in front of me. When did he move? I rapidly wrapped an arm around him to help him, never more grateful for aura than then. A Draco Meteor from Garchomp is no joke. "Sorry I lost."

"Sorry I lead you to lose," I countered cheekily, making Charizard snort a cloudd of smoke.

"I could not have said it better," Cynthia praised me with a smile, eyes shinning with pride. "Generalist Master Ash Ketchum."

My eyes widened at her words, this time I was not able to keep the tears at bay and cried. Though, I did not mind it. I was crying tears of happiness. I hid my face on Charizard's shoulder as he and Pikachu cheered in celebraation. We might have not won against Cynthia, but we did achieve our Generalist Mastery.

"The Flying Mastery is next, right?" Charizard asked me cheekily, as Garchomp and Pikachu chuckled.

"Hold your Rapidash buddy! Let me regain my breath first!" I complained jokingly. "But yes, that's coming next. So, you better get ready!"

"I was born ready!" Charizard bragged proudly.

I laughed. Because I was happy. I might have lost but this was only halfway-through, we still had a long way to go. And I would rather not travel through this journey with anyone else other than my team.

My family.