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

I Charizard's P.O.V

I began to shine, my scales turning black and my flames blue. I felt powerful, I felt strong, I felt invincible... but the best feeling, was the bond that now took physical place between my trainer and me. We were one, sharing the same mind, soul, and will.

"You are done for!" I roared, attacking the annoying dragon.

Blows and attacks were exchanged for a long time. It did not help that Hunter J Mega Evolved Salamence as well. The bastard had much more experience with it and it showed. But I had defeated a Legendary, without even Mega Evolving, and was not worried. If anything, I was extending the fight as it has been a long time since I had someone keep up with me like this. It had my blood boiling.

'Water Team report!' I heard the voice of Ash, through Espeon's mental link.

'Dealing with the fires, boss!' Croconaw replied. 'They are contained, but someone works on those lasers!'

'Pidgeot, let's Mega Evolve!' Ash called out. A blinding light shone on my left. 'Deal with the lasers!'

'On it!' Pidgeot's regal voice resonated through the link, and an Aerial Ace later the lasers were done with.

'Thank you!' Croconaw said. 'Now we can finish dealing with the fires and support the other teams that need it.'

'Don't mention it!' Pidgeot replied, leaving her Mega Evolved form. 'We will continue giving our support by attacking the airship from outside.'

'I am loving the automatic translations, Espeon.' We heard Ash say, that was just for show- Espeon's bragging. 'Healing Team?'

'We are good, there is not a lot of pokemon hurts.' Meganium said. 'Most are pokemon of the area that gut hurt by the fire or falling trees, thanks to the lasers. We've also been taking care of the Poke Balls the Ghost Team has been stealing from the grunts.'

'Good. Rescue Team?' Ash asked.

'Ranger Sarah is saying that we are almost done with the area, all that's left to do is check out if anyone was left behind and take them to Aunt Meganium'. The youngest member's voice could be heard, making many of us quite relieved.

'Well done Jolteon.' Ash praised her. 'Sceptile, Primeape?'

'There are more grunts than we thought of,' Sceptile clicked his tongue.

'But nothing we can't handle!' Primeape voiced.

'The Ghost Team has been quite a lot of help, stealing Poke Balls and giving them to the Rangers so they can recall the enemy's pokemon before having Psychic Pokemon send them to Meganium's team.' Sceptile continued.

'Good. Well done Ghost Team!' Ash praised. 'I want you back with me Honedge, we are about to face Hunter J.'

'My pleasure,' Honedge's smooth reply came through- I almost forgot she was there, she surely is too quiet.

I honestly did not give it much of a thought, the fact that Ash was facing against one of the most wanted hunters in the regions. He had Pikachu, Espeon, and Honedge with him. We had faced off many disasters and Legendary Pokemon, a puny human was not such a big obstacle.

Or at least, that's what I thought until the moment I heard a bomb going off inside the airship and saw Ash falling.

'Ash!' We all shouted through the link.

Pidgeot flew as fast as she could, trying to get to her trainer's side in time... but she was too far. So, I tried to get to his side, but that damn Salamence kept blocking the way. It was only when the Mega Evolution suddenly stopped, and I saw Ash crashing down the trees that I snapped.

Blaze took over me in a way it had not done since I was a Charmeleon. My trainer, my friend, and protector are... I don't remember what happened next, only that when I regained my consciousness, I was holding Salamence down on a big crater. The dragon looked half-dead, but I could not care as tears run down my cheeks. The pain and misery I felt could not begin to comprehend were taking over me, as I sobbed for my trainer.

'Guys! Guys! I am ok!' I suddenly heard the voice of Ash in my head, I looked up startled. It was a foreign pokemon trying to make a mental link with my family, which I would normally loath, but hearing Ash's voice brought me nothing but relief. 'I am fine!'

'Ash!' Everyone called out in relief and happiness.

'Ash! You are alive!' Pikachu cried out; his relief palpable in his voice.

'I am so sorry Ash!' Pidgeot sobbed. 'I failed you.'

'Do not worry about it, I don't blame you.' Ash assured her. She did not reply, but I could understand her motives. I felt just the same. 'Feraligatr used an Aqua Jet and soften my landing.'

'Feraligatr?' Espeon spoke up in surprise. 'The crocodile evolved?'She asked what everyone was thinking.

'Yeah... to save me.' Ash answered in a tender tone, which only made me feel worse. 'Meganium, I need you to get ready. A Psychic Pokemon will be transporting us there and Feraligatr needs healing.'

'On it!' She replied happily. 'I will also check you out, Ash.'

'Charizard, Sarah, and a bunch of other Rangers are heading in your direction.' He told me. 'Let them take care of Salamence and then get to the Medical Team. Pidgeot and Jolteon, too. Got it?'

'Yeah,' I replied, still breathless, hearing the girls give out similar replies.

My trainer was alive, I had not lost him. I wept internally.

'What happened with Hunter J?' Ash asked.

I saw the Rangers coming and rapidly flew off towards my human. I still had to see it to believe it completely, and not think it might be a delusion or a Psychic Pokemon's idea of a sick joke.

'After you stopped her from jumping off the ship and escape, I shocked her and Espeon put her to sleep. We are waiting on Josh to take care of her, but he is trying to land the airship as we speak. So, Espeon has her immobilized with Psychic.' Pikachu answered. 'Are you truly ok Ash?'

'He has various bruises and scratches from the trees, not to mention a dislocated shoulder from the hard landing.' Meganium answered for our trainer, huffing as she spoke. 'But other than that, he is ok. The trees broke the fall. Feraligatr had some cracked ribs from receiving Ash, but I fixed him with Heal Pulse. Other than healing his bruises and cuts, I can't do anything' she said disappointed 'Ash will have to wait until we get him to a Nurse Joy to fix that shoulder.'

That only had me flying faster. It seems that I took the fight quite far away, from the area of the fight. I do not know if that was better or worse. But what I do know, is the immediate sheer relief I felt when I finally got there and found the rest of the team there. They were battered and bruised, but nothing Meganium could not quickly fix. It was only Ash the one who looked worse for wear, holding his left arm.

I felt so relieved, but what I did not expect was the look of pure horror on my family's face, on my trainer's face, as I appeared. I could not understand why not until I looked down and noticed all the blood coming out of me. It seems that the bastard dragon got me good before I took him out. I must have not noticed because of all the adrenaline.

What I did notice was Ash crying out my name as I blacked out.