The Master Path

Another chapter is here. Sorry for the long absence but I have nothing to say to anyone because I am in a good mood. Chapters for this story are a bit short but that's because I write them short and straight to the point. No diverting subject into other topics, no beating around the bush. There's not a lot to explain: simply, Ash is just becoming a badass.

Now let's head into the battles!

Chapter 4: Electrifying Encounters

Ash walked towards Vermillion City to challenge the city's leader for his next badge. The weeks of traveling and training through the wilderness of Kanto had made a lot of his Pokemon much stronger than before. In fact, Ash could detect with his bond thanks to his Aura that many of his friends were close to their evolution time. So that's why he would have them fighting at the Gym. The Vermillion Gym was an Electric-type leader. So his starter Shinx was certainly going to fight. Ash also thought about using Charmander, as he was the closest one to evolve. Seemed that his abandonment had motivated the shiny Fire starter further than any other Pokemon.

His other Pokemon were not so far behind, when it came to terms of power. If anything, the evolution of one of his Pokemon might motivate the others to follow the same example.

The Aura trainer stepped inside the gym with his Electric starter as always on his shoulder. He found a man with spiky blonde hair and a few inches taller than Ash standing on the other side of the huge battlefield. He also had a built body, dressed in combat boots, camouflage pants and military jacket. He had tag-dogs around his neck. Next to him stood a giant mouse-like Pokemon with dark orange skin and a long lightning-tipped tail. The Pokemon was as tall as the man's thigh. Ash knew it was Raichu, the final form of the Electric Pokemon Pichu.

"Welcome to the Vermillion Gym" The obvious Gym leader stated now with a booming voice gazing into his opponent like calculating Ash's chances of winning "I'm Surge, though people call me the Lightning Lieutenant. I assume you came for my badge?" The teenager from Pallet Town nodded "This will be two-on-two and only the challenger can substitute Pokemon. Do you agree to my rules?"

"I do" Ash replied standing on his side of the field ready for his next badge. A referee appeared on the booth with his two flags as usual.

"Challenger, state your name and place of birth" The referee inquired.

"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town" The aura-powered teenager stated, his starter jumping from his shoulder to his side.

"This is an official two-on-two Gym battle between the challenger Ash ketchum from Pallet Town and the Gym leader of Vermillion City Lt Surge. There's no time limit and only the challenger will be allowed to substitute his Pokemon at any moment. Trainers, send out your first Pokemon!" The referee said.

"Go Voltorb!" The Gym leader called out the Electric Pokemon. It looked like a living Pokeball though five times bigger with eyes and a smile.

"Let's do this, Charmander!" Ash called out his Fire starter. The shiny Pokemon appeared ready to battle with a lot of determination. Both the Gym Leader and Referee almost gawked in surprise. A shiny starter was obviously no laughing matter for the leader.

But Ash wasn't going to let his guard down. Surge wasn't known as lieutenant for not training his Pokemon like a driller in the army. If anything, the aura trainer might have to be even more careful in that regard.

"Voltorb vs Charmander, begin!" The referee said

"Use Roll Out!" The soldier leader started. His Pokeball-like Pokemon started rolling at high speeds towards the Fire opponent. But Ash was ready.

"Stop him with Flare Blitz!" Ash countered. His shiny Fire starter roared and charged with his body surrounded in burning blue fire. The two Pokemon clashed with great force. However, the teenager saw that his Fire starter was struggling to stand equally against the Electric Pokemon. After a few seconds, the two Pokemon flew back to their respective sides both with bruises. Charmander's body shuddered with blue volts running through him. The side-effect of Flare Blitz was receiving recoil damage. Ash knew he had to use the move sparingly.

"Now Thunder Shock!" Surge saw the opportunity. His Pokeball-like Pokemon fired the yellow tendrils of lightnings all over the arena.

"Jump and use Flamethrower!" Ash countered now. The shiny starter managed to get away from the incoming attack by mere inches and barfed the powerful blue-flamed blast towards the rival, swallowing it entirely. Voltorb fell with his Pokeball-like body churned and swirls for eyes. Surge was left in shock, pun intended. For a starter to be so powerful already meant that Ash had put them through some serious training sessions.

Just when Voltorb fell Charmander's body lighted up with white light signaling his second stage in evolution. Ash looked in amazement. He knew his Pokemon were close to evolve and here it was. Now in front of Ash stood a black Charmeleon with blue fire on its tail and a few inches taller and longer claws in his hands.

"Voltorb is unable to battle. Charmeleon wins. Gym leader, send out your last Pokemon!" The referee said. Surge returned his defeated Pokemon.

"Great job, Charmeleon" Ash hugged his evolved Fire starter proud of his power. The Lizard Pokemon answered the hug back smiling. This trainer did care for him.

"End this quickly, Raichu!" The leader said to his fully-evolved Electric Pokemon standing next to him. The fully-evolved Mouse Pokemon went into the arena with his yellow cheeks sparkling.

"Okay Charmeleon, return!" Ash recalled his evolved Fire starter and prepared to finish the match. He looked at his own Electric starter "Show him what you've got, Shinx!" The Flash Pokemon jumped into the arena sparks also around him.

"Raichu vs Shinx, begin!" The referee said.

"This won't be a warm up for my Raichu" Surge said a bit overconfident thinking that the small Shinx wasn't a real threat for his Electric mouse "Use, Discharge!" Raichu unleashed a wide electric bolt over the entire field.

"Shinx, receive it!" Ash ordered smiling, surprising the Gym Leader. The Pokemon from Sinnoh took the blast and grinned. Now Shinx' special attack had increased thanks to his ability.

"Now Agility and Iron Tail!" The Aura trainer comanded. The cat Pokemon sprinted with his speed increasing and run up to his enemy slashing with his tail glowing in silver colors. He slashed and smacked the enemy on its head. Raichu flew backwards stunned and bruised but ready to go.

"Raichu, use Hyper Beam!" Surge ordered now. His Pokemon created an orange sphere on its mouth and fired off the powerful Normal-type blast. The Aura trainer knew the attack meant business.

"Quick Attack with Fire Fang!" Ash ordered his counter. His starter charged fast eluding the incoming attack. Now Raichu panted, having to rest for the time being. Shinx bited on the standing Raichu with his Fire teeth. The Electric Pokemon cried out in pain and a second later he bursted in flames from the aftershock.

"Another Hyper Beam!" Surge ordered not liking how he was been schooled. The Mouse Pokemon again readied the powerful blast heading towards Shinx oblivious to the fire.

"Double Team and Signal Beam!" The Aura trainer comanded. His starter created copies and only one was destroyed by the blast. Shinx then unleashed a multicolored beam from his body hitting the resting Mouse Pokemon. Raichu was moving from side to side like suddenly gone drunk. The attack had injured him and also confused him as the side effect.

That was when the white light also swallowed Shinx's body signaling his next step into evolution. His body got bigger and when the light died down there was a feline Pokemon with a black main of fur around its head and sharper-looking neon eyes. Ash smiled proud of his starter now turned into a Luxio. He checked his Pokedex and found out some interesting new moves his starter had learnt.

"Okay Luxio, finish this with Mud Shot!" Ash ordered earning a surprised stare and gasp from the opponent. Luxio opened his mouth and fired a shower of mud bullets towards the confused enemy. Raichu screeched out in hot pain by his main weakness falling on its back utterly unconscious and covered in a lot of bruises.

"Raichu is unable to battle. Luxio wins. The winner of the match is Ash Ketchum!" The referee said.

"That was some tough fight you put, Ash" Surge said handing his yellow lightning-shaped gym symbol "Here, this is my Thunder Badge to prove your victory" The Aura trainer smiled by the praise placing his new badge on the case while Luxio jumped on his trainer's shoulder. Ash suddenly squealed and stumbled backwards until he fell flat on his ass. He was not accustomed to his starter's new weight. The Trainer looked at his starter and the two laughed for a few minutes.

Three badges down.

Ash walked outside the Pokemon Center after having his Pokemon checked over by Nurse Joy. Luxio was now walking alongside Ash. After having added extra pounds thanks to the evolution, the aura-powered teenager decided that his Flash Pokemon would not be carried around anymore. Luxio actually liked that idea, as he felt that walking would also get him stronger. Maybe at a slower pace than training sessions but strong nonetheless.

But just when Ash thought about heading towards his next gym, someone stepped in front of him. The figure had purple sweater and brown spiky hair. And a very idiotic smile plastered across his face.

"Well, if it isn't Ashy boy" The arrogant voice of Gary Oak stated now. The Aura trainer sighed not really in the mood to put up with Gary's intolerable idiocy. The fact Ash had spent a lot of time learning with Professor Oak meant he had to meet Gary on regular basis. He had put up with it for over a decade back at their home town. But now finally outside Pallet, Ash no longer had to play diplomat.

"Get lost Gary" Ash casually answered walking away from his old bully without much of a second glance of acknowledgment. The grandson of Professor Oak clutched his teeth, still seething because he couldn't get his rival to be angry at him. Ever since Ash had talked him down in front of his cheerleaders back in Pallet Town many of them had walked away from him. Those bimbos would eventually see who was the alpha trainer in business.

"Hey Ashy boy, how about a two-on-two battle?" Gary said already thinking about his victory. He obviously hadn't investigated how strong Ash had become in the few months of traveling since their departure.

"Sure, I need my Pokemon to warm up with someone" Ash stated acting calm and collected grabbing one Pokeball in his hand. That kept angering Gary, who didn't like the fact he couldn't get under his rival's skin at all.

"Go Eevee!" Gary called out his cute Pokemon. It was a small fox-like Pokemon with brown fur. The Aura trainer was actually surprised his rival had caught such a rare Pokemon like Eevee. But just by looking at it, Ash knew any of his Pokemon were stronger than it.

"Let's go, Aron!" Ash called out his Steel/Rock Pokemon from the Hoenn region. Gary looked with eyes wide open not expecting to see such a rare Pokemon. And not with the loser of Ash.

"Eevee, use Tackle!" Gary ordered shaking his mind out of the topic. His Normal Pokemon run forward. But Ash sighed obviously not finding any challenge here.

"Dragon Rush!" Ash countered. His Steel Pokemon charged even faster and stronger with his Dragon-shaped aura tackling against Eevee and sending it flying back towards its trainer knocked out. Gary was gawking not believing his Pokemon was already out for the count.

"Great job, Aron!" Ash said proudly to his Steel Pokemon. The Iron Pokemon smiled towards his trainer when his body shone white signaling his evolutionary process. Both Ash and Gary looked in shock at the growing Pokemon, whose shape got longer and a bit chubbier. When the blinding light died down, the Pokemon had a longer body with steel armor on his back and black plates on his underbelly "Or better, Lairon" Ash said scratching his head while smiling. Luxio congratulated his fellow Pokemon.

"Wartortle, go!" Gary called out his evolved starter from Kanto. It was bigger than Squirtle with white fluffy ears and a different shaped tail.

"Lairon, return!" Ash recalled his evolved Pokemon from another region and prepared another one of his friends "Now Pidgeotto!" The Normal/Flying Pokemon appeared floating ready to fight.

"Use Hydro Pump!" Gary ordered right away. The Turtle Pokemon unleashed the high-pressured water sprout from its mouth.

"Quick Attack and Giga Impact!" Ash ordered now. His Flying Pokemon accelerated at high speed dodging the water and surrounding its body in a bright orange aura. Pidgeotto impacted the enemy with great force sending Wartortle flying away unconscious. The Normal/Flying Pokemon panted a bit after using the powerful Normal move.

"You just got lucky. Next time I'll win!" Gary said running away in fear. The Aura trainer barely shocked his head in disappointment. At least one of his Pokemon had got strong enough to evolve.

"You did great, Pidgeotto" Ash patted his first-captured Pokemon in affection. Then the white light again appeared and Pidgeotto got bigger with a much longer wingspan. Now in front of the stunned Ash and Luxio stood the final form of Pidgeot, standing a bit taller than Ash's five feet six inches "Well, Pidgeot I think" Ash scanned his evolved Flying Pokemon and widen his eyes. His Pokemon had now obtained a new ability called Scrappy. It would allow Pidgeot to use Normal and Fighting moves on Ghost Pokemon and hurt them. It was certainly quite the rare ability to have.

"Okay Pidgeot, let's see your strength and take us to the port" Ash said climbing on his Pokemon's back along with Luxio. The Bird Pokemon nodded and took off at great speed towards Viridian Port. At first the flight was a bit shaky but once Pidgeot got used to his trainer's weight then everything went on quite smoothly.

A few hours later, the aura-powered teenager casually rested against the railing of a ship heading towards Saffron City. Yet as the ship cruised through the calm sea at night, the Aura trainer couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. He had found out that the Gym leader in Saffron City was known for been quite the sadistic challenge. And to make things worse her Psychic Pokemon made quick work of anyone going against her without her having to order a verbal command. Ash didn't know how his Aura could fight that kind of power. His Electric starter Luxio looked at his trainer in concern.

Ash then felt a hand touching his shoulder. He turned his head but found no one standing next to him, which was oddly weird. If that wasn't bizarre enough Ash felt the touch again on his other shoulder. Luxio looked just as stunned as his trainer, searching around for something apparently invisible to the normal eye. The Flash Pokemon growled at something hidden in mid air. Ash followed his starter using his Aura sight. There was an invisible Pokemon floating in front of him chuckling because of the joke he was playing. It was a hovering Pokemon with a short human-like body made out of condensated purple mist. It was floating right in front of Ash giggling like a kid.

"A Gengar" Ash recognized the fully-evolved Ghost/Poison Pokemon from his home region. The black-haired teenager surrounded the invisible Pokemon inside an aura sphere, from which the Ghost couldn't escape away. Gengar became visible. And the grinning Pokemon had now a more frightened look over his face "Okay buddy, stop picking on me or you will be sorry" The fact Luxio now had lightning arcs around him made the threat sound tenfold more seriously.

"I apologize, sir" The Pokemon said, his tone a bit frightful. Ash took pity in the poor Pokemon detecting he was sincere and let him free "I only wanted to see if you would have a fight with me" Ash rose an eyebrow. His aura detected it was true.

"Sure" Ash obliged with a Pokeball ready to go "Bulbasaur, let's go!" The Grass/Poison starter appeared ready to fight the future new addition of the team. Gengar suddenly banished leaving a dummy of himself behind.

"Substitute, uh?" Ash stated as the wild Pokemon would make things a tad interesting "Bulbasaur, break it with your Vine Whips!" Bulbasaur smacked the fake many times with his vines. The dummy broke and the real Gengar reappeared in scene grinning "Now attack with Energy Ball!" Ash ordered and his Pokemon fired the green orb from its mouth. However, Gengar intercepted it with his own purple-colored Shadow Ball, the two spheres nullifying each other into stalemate.

Suddenly Gengar phased into the floor becoming a moving shadow. He shot right next to Bulbasaur with a purple-glowing punch. The attack left a bruise on the Grass starter, who clutched his teeth in anger. Ash was surprised by that Shadow Sneak attack. Gengar was certainly resourceful.

"Let's use Stun Spore!" Ash ordered. Bulbasaur unleashed a cloud of powder towards the enemy. Gengar's eyes narrowed drowsily after inhaling it. He rose his hands, charging a blue-colored Thunderbolt. But thanks to the Grass-type move, Gengar had lost his mobility for a few minutes..

"Okay Bulbasaur, use Growth and finish him with Leaf Storm!" The Aura trainer ordered now. Bulbasaur amplified his Attack and Special Attack by one stage each and then fired off a massive rain of razor leafs from its bulb, which surrounded the Ghost, who couldn't dodge the barrage and fell to the floor very injured. Gengar was already struggling to get up from the powerful Grass attack despite having type advantage. It only showed how strong Ash's team already was.

"Pokeball, go!" Ash threw his empty Pokeball and captured the Ghost/Poison Pokemon inside it. The orb trembled three times before indicating a perfect capture with the pin noise.

"I have a Gengar, now" Ash said looking at his new Pokeball smiling. Ghost Pokemon were powerful against Psychic Pokemon so this new addition would come handy when challenging the next Gym leader. Ash patted his Bulbasaur in affection "Thanks Bulbasaur" The grass starter smiled after his victory.

Ash and Luxio then headed towards their room, ready for a nice rest. They had some training to do on the following days to be as prepared as they could.

Notes from Chapter 4:

Ash captured Haunter fully-evolved. And now he has a better weapon to fight Sabrina instead of joking her with pranks.

So now Ash has four of his Pokemon evolved. Wait until the next chapter.

Pidgeot got a rare ability called Scrappy. That's because Ash won't capture the other Flying Pokemon from the other regions like Noctowl or Swellow. Except for Fletchling. That bird is badass as Hell when it evolves!

The Aura hero is ready to go serious. See next chapter and you will see!