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

I Bulbasaur's P.O.V

"Nee, Froakie, why did you decide to stay?" I asked the newest member of our family, finally startling him out of his meditation. "You had never stayed with one trainer before, but you chose Ash."

"I... I believe that you can understand my reasoning, the same way any of Master's pokemon would," he replied, slowly, his gaze turning towards the smiling Ash. "As you said, I chose him. I once thought that all I wanted was an experienced trainer who could bring the best out of me and help me evolve. That's why I always left those newbies the black-haired Professor kept giving me too. Then I got traded here as a result, not even an explanation, just a Poke Ball exchanged. Not that I expected anything more, my last trainer is a good kid who loves pokemon, but a boy that only just started his training, so I never bothered to listen to him. Not to mention, that when I was released by Master, I found myself surrounded by so many strong pokemon, got told about all the adventures and achievements from my new trainer... I had finally gotten my wish. I was only thankful for my previous trainer." He continued, eyes wandering off deep in thought. "At first, I only stayed because of all the strong pokemon around. I wanted to be one of them. Especially, when everyone kept on evolving after only a month of training. That's when things started to piss me off. Everyone kept on evolving but me. I could not understand why I was not able to evolve, I wanted to be stronger... I believed that strength came with evolution. So, I could not understand why Master Pikachu was the first in command after Master rather than someone like Master Charizard or Master Sceptile. Or why, he chose you as the second in command. Then one day I wandered off and saw the mock battles Master held between the original team members. It was then that my eyes were open.

I saw Master Pikachu take down Master Charizard, Master Squirtle defeat Master Primeape and you defeat Mistress Pidgeot, even with the type disadvantage. It was then that I started listening to the stories the rest told about their journeys with Master. How he had saved most of them from unfortunate fates, how he had released his Butterfree so he could go off with his mate and Lapras to go with her family. How he had let Squirtle, Primeape, and Pidgeot leave so they could fulfill their dreams before returning to him. Even if it meant that he would lose very strong pokemon and most likely put off his dream a couple of years behind schedule. How it was you and Master Squirtle that had decided not to evolve, and he had allowed it. It was then that Master Charizard visited me and told me his story. He had noticed me... moping as had called it."

I chuckled at Charizard's comment but kept quiet, his meddling was surprising.

"He told me that he had once thought the same as I did. He had wanted to evolve to become stronger so that he would never have to suffer the same fate as he had once suffered. That he had looked down on the rest of his teammates because they did not hold the same power as him... how he had caused Master his first League loss because of his pride and cockiness. How Master still never gave up on him and nursed him back to health during their Orange League Adventures, the same way he had done when he used to be a Charmander. The story of how he turned his back to the trainer that saved him and treated him as an equal to then only realizes his mistake too late and losing his precious treasure a few months later when Master left him on the Charizard Valley."

I looked at Froakie in shock, I had never expected it to affect Charizard so much. But he had truly taken it personally, even Ash leaving him at Charizard Valley so that he could be with his mate felt like abandonment for being a bad pokemon. I'll have to talk with Pikachu and then have Espeon translate, we can't leave things like this.

"He wanted me to learn the lesson early, so I would not make the same mistakes. I did. I learned that there is no need to rush into evolution and that evolution does not mean you won't be defeated, that power is not the same thing as strength. To never underestimate anyone because of their appearances. I learned that Master doesn't choose his pokemon, but they choose him. That we are equals and if I want to put an input in my training Master will listen... and that's the kind of trainer I want. I want to stand beside Master not because he chose me, or because my previous trainer traded me off, but because I chose him. I will defend him and fight his enemies at his command until my last breath." He swore.

"Good to know we are on the same page," I smiled at the frog pokemon, who nodded back and returned to his meditation.

My gaze went back to my trainer and smiled at the happy picture he made, smiling and cheering with the Fighting Types and Honedge. This is the trainer we would give our lives for. And everyone understands that, even the new guys. Ash deserves the world and we are going to give it to him.

My smile dropped when I saw Pikachu jump on Ash's shoulder, the usual image tainted by the presence of the Jolteon by Ash's heels. Don't get me wrong, we all love the new member of the family, she is so much like her dad that it's impossible not to love her. Her mom on the other side...

I glared towards Professor Oak's ranch, wishing I could tear her apart for what she did to kind, sweet, loving Pikachu. Even if she hadn't wanted him as a mate, keeping their daughter a secret was crossing a line we will never forgive her. I still hear his sobbing late at night, when think it's only Ash and him. She broke his heart and danced all over it. The bitch still hadn't apologized!

Fucking prideful dark bitch, I scoffed in my head.

What's worse Gary had decided to spend the summer in Pallet Town, trying to learn what he can from his grandfather's ranch. Blackie simply can't get a clue and leave Pikachu alone. I get that she wants to stay close and keep her daughter company, but why does she keep on trying to talk to Pikachu? We had all made sure that she doesn't get one hundred feet from Pikachu. Her teammates don't bother stopping us, even they are disappointed in her. Her own daughter is angry!

It doesn't matter now. Luckily, Gary accepted to share custody over Jolteon and she is coming with them for the while Sinnoh journey. That will give them enough time to bond.

We will not only keep Ash safe but Pikachu too.