The Master Path

The second chapter for this great story. I appreciate all the fans I have already attracted with only the first chapter. Keep coming the reviews, people! It always motivates me to go on.

I know I said that I wouldn't be able to update until the 17th. But because of my genius mind, I passed a few of my exams with flying colors. So now there's a small gap of time for me to concentrate in my stories.

Also many fans have asked about the pairing of this story. There's no official couple yet. Ash is a badass, who will get what he wants and then leave everyone hanging for more.

Now let's head into the story!

Chapter 2: Battles in Kanto

For the next two weeks, Ash spent most of his time with his Electric starter getting to know him better and doing a lot of training. Usually, the Aura trainer and his Flash Pokemon jogged around so to increase each other's stamina and strength. After all, Ash didn't want to slack off when he had to be training just as harder as he always did. No trainer, with a goal to strive towards ever slacked. And other times, Ash practiced how many new moves Shinx could learn by making the starter attack him while the teenager was protected with an Aura shield. That way Ash also trained the defensive form of his rare powers. Through so much training, Ash found out his electric starter also had an ability called Lightning Rod, which allowed the Pokemon to receive all kinds of Electric attacks and amplify his own special attack by them and not take damage from the attacks. And so Ash and Shinx had fought against many wild Pokemon like Rattata, a few Raticates and a lot of Pidgeys, Caterpies, Weedles and Beedrills. Even a few Furrets and Sentrets normally found in Johto. However, Ash hadn't captured anyone of those Pokemon. He had only fought against them so to make Shinx stronger and put to test some of his moves. Unlike other trainers, Ash wasn't in a rush to capture the first Pokemon he were to run across.

Though Ash did capture a Pokemon. On his way through Viridian Forest, the fifteen-year-old Aura trainer had captured a wild Pidgeotto. The Normal/Flying Pokemon had been quite a challenge thanks to his incredible set of moves and his abilities Keen Eye, which made dodging moves like Double Team useless and Tangled Feet, which amplified the Pokemon's elusion when confused. Yet Shinx had still won the fight and added the first official capture of Ash in Kanto. Thanks to the Flying addition, the Pokemon trainer from Kanto had managed to cross Viridian Forest in just a week as Pidgeotto could fly above the trees and tell the way to go. Normally starting trainers would get lost for weeks and ended up with Officer Jenny having to rescue them from the Bug-infested forest.

And so the days passed as Ash traveled through his birth region. He had been challenged by a lot of trainers, both new and moderately experienced, yet non proved to be a great challenge thanks to the quick work of his powerful Shinx and Pidgeotto. The Aura user smiled as he knew his Pokemon would soon be ready. His first Gym to compete in was the one in Pewter City and it was a Rock-type Gym. Considering Ash only had two Pokemon, who were weak to Rock attacks then one would say he was at a disadvantage. However, thanks to all the knowledge Ash already had about Pokemon, he had made sure to teach his team a sort of powerful moves. That way, people would underestimate him and make a foolish mistake by letting their guard down. And with their pants down, the aura trainer was going to be exactly where he wanted to claim victory in one clean sweep.

And so the Aura trainer currently found himself heading towards the gym in Pewter City heading with a steady pace. That was until a man sitting with his back against a wall looked at Ash from the ground. He looked like a homeless but Ash could perfectly see he wasn't malnourished at all. There were a lot of rocks behind the man with a price ticket on them and with the words 'Evolution Stones' over them. Ash almost sweat-dropped. If those were evolution stones then he was a Mew in disguise.

"Young man, are you here for a gym badge?" The old man said his face covered by a bushy bear and a wooden hat. Ash nodded in response. The elder man snorted arrogantly still sitting "Then you better turn around. You aren't ready to win anything here" The derogative statement made the young trainer ball his fists tight in anger.

"Hey creepy, how about you let me go get my badge and you go get a shower?" The Aura trainer replied his eyes briefly glowing blue to prove his point. The man instantly backed down not wanting to get any punch. Ash sighed, his Electric starter licking at his cheek to calm him down. Ash smiled towards his starter for his actions, stroking his head. He wasn't going to let anyone put him down, specially not a stranger, who so happened to pop out of nowhere.

After having his Pokemon check over by Nurse Joy, the trainer found himself standing at the front door of Pewter City Gym. Ash smiled still not believing that he was already having his first official Gym battle.

"Are you ready, Shinx?" The Aura trainer asked towards his Electric Pokemon standing on his left shoulder.

"You bet I am" The starter from Sinnoh replied his body sparkling with volts. Ash smiled by his Pokemon's decisiveness and stepped through the door's threshold. The entire place was pitch black but both trainer and Pokemon had unique sights to reach the main arena without getting hit by an object.

"Who dares to enter my Gym?" An imposing voice stated with an echoing boom. The light appeared over the place and there was a man on the other side of the battle field, dressed in a green vest with brown clothes underneath. He had to be Brock, Rock-type specialist.

"I want to challenge the Gym Leader for the Badge" Ash stated boldly and fearless. He had prepared for this and wasn't leaving empty-handed.

"And the leader accepts" Brock replied snapping his fingers. An official referee appeared on the sidelines with his two flags as usual. "This will be a two-on-two battle and only the challenger can substitute Pokemon. Do you agree to these rules?" Ash briskly nodded in confirmation.

"Challenger, state your name and place of birth" The referee said towards Ash.

"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town" Ash said looking with determination at his rival like Shinx was doing.

"This is an official two-on-two Gym battle between Pewter City Gym leader Brock and the challenger Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town. Only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokemon and there's no time limit. Now, send out your first Pokemon!" The referee said raising his flags.

"Geodude, go!" The leader sent out the Rock/Ground Pokemon. It was a head with two arms and a mean look.

"Let's do it, Shinx!" Ash said to his starter, who flipped into the arena with electricity running over his feline body. Brock rose an eyebrow not knowing what kind of Pokemon he was facing. But by his electric display then his victory was a given.

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

"Finish this fight quickly with Rock Throw!" Brock ordered. His Pokemon lifted a giant boulder and flung it right into the starter. But Ash was already prepared for anything the leader could come up with.

"Dodge with Quick Attack and then use Ice Fang!" Ash countered. His Pokemon started sprinting and nimbly closed the gap after dodging the giant rock. His sharp fangs shone icy blue and bite hard on one of the Rock Pokemon's arms eliciting a cry of pain out of him. Now Geodude was covered in ice and unable to move away.

"Now finish him with your Iron Tail!" The Aura trainer comanded one last move before Brock could even react. His starter jumped and flipped with his tail glowing silver and lashing downwards. The Steel move obliterated the frozen Pokemon sending him flying completely knocked out with swirls for eyes.

"Geodude is unable to battle. Shinx wins. Gym leader, send out your last Pokemon!" The referee said.

"You did it, Shinx!" Ash said proud of his starter. Brock recalled his Pokemon and prepared for his second one.

"Now Onix, let's rock it!" Brock called out his last Pokemon. It was a giant snake-like Pokemon with its entire body made out of rocks. Its body coiled almost over the whole field.

"Shinx, take a break" Ash said to his starter Pokemon, knowing it could be too much for him to handle at the moment. Shinx sighed thankful that he didn't have to fight against the freaking huge Pokemon. He ran back to his trainer's side "Now Pidgeotto, I choose you!" The Flying Pokemon appeared floating in the arena.

The Gym leader rose an eyebrow. Was his challenger serious? Flying on a Rock type? Just because the kid had been lucky with an Electric Pokemon didn't mean the same trick could work again.

"Onix vs Pidgeotto, begin!" The referee said.

"Use Stone Edge!" The Gym leader ordered ready to take things seriously. The Rock Snake Pokemon created stones orbiting around him and shot them at the enemy with great accuracy. But Ash wasn't the kind of trainer, who just waited on to get hit.

"Send the rocks back with Whirlwind!" Ash perfectly countered. The Flying Pokemon flapped its wings at great speed and with great force halting the sharp rocks on their tracks. A second later, the rocks flew backwards hitting their owner. Onix cried out in pain, receiving moderate damage from his own bullets.

"Use Take Down!" Brock ordered now realizing he had to do something about that annoying bird. His Pokemon went forward with his body glowing yellow. Ash knew that the attack was powerful but it would cause recoil damage. But at the same time, Ash guessed that maybe this Onix had the ability Rock Head. That, however, wasn't stopping Ash from coming up with a proper counter.

"Agility to dodge at the last second and fly high!" Ash ordered planning. His Pokemon obeyed and waited until the enemy had gotten close enough. Then the Normal/Flying Pokemon increased its speed and went high into the ceiling neatly eluding the attack "Now slam Onix into the ground with your Steel Wing!" The Flying Pokemon descended with greater velocity, which amplified his silver-glowing wings attack impacting the Rock Pokemon harder than a giant mallet. The Rock Snake Pokemon screeched when his cranium met the ground hard, his eyes turning into swirls.

"Onix is unable to battle. Pidgeotto wins. With all the Gym leaders' Pokemon knocked out I declare Ash Ketchum the winner!" The referee said.

"Alright!" Ash cheered in happiness lifting Shinx and taking Pidgeotto on his shoulder. It was incredible they had won their first battle without even getting injured. Things were really great so far.

"Congratulations, Ash. This is the Boulder Badge, symbol of your victory" Brock said towards his challenger handing his grey symbol smiling. Ash took it with an unwavering smile.

One down, seven to go.

Now leaving Pewter City after having his Pokemon checked by Nurse Joy, the Aura trainer was walking towards Mt Moon on his way to the next gym in Cerulean City. Shinx was as always standing on one of Ash's shoulders checking the place around with his eyes glowing gold. This was one of the abilities Shinx and his evolutionary line had and because it wasn't a move no other Pokemon could learn it. It allowed Shinx to see through objects like a personal X-ray machine. This helped to find hiding enemies like when they were using moves like Dig. Ash was always surprised by this as it reminded him of his own Aura vision, which had pretty much the same function.

As the trainer and Pokemon edged through the pass, a small hole appeared in front of them. A Pokemon appeared looking around apparently confused in where it currently was. The wild Pokemon had an armored body with silver metal plates as his head and back and black armor for his underbelly and short legs relatively equal to his size. He was no bigger than Shinx was.

"An Aron!" Ash said in surprise checking the Pokemon with his Pokedex. Aron was a Pokemon from the distant region of Hoenn. Finding one in Kanto was really rare. And provided with a unique opportunity to catch a new ally for his team "Shinx, let's capture it!" The Electric Pokemon chirped happily and hoped in front of the Steel/Rock Pokemon.

The blue eyes of the Steel-type Pokemon landed on the Electric starter and started growling. Aron had never backed down from a battle and he wasn't starting now.

"Use Swift!" Ash started the Pokemon fight. The Electric Pokemon fired the shower of golden stars from his mouth hitting his enemy right away. But it seemed to do little damage, as Aron charged with his metal head glowing with a shinning white luster.

"That's Iron Head" Ash stated looking at the incoming opponent waiting for the proper moment to strike back "Shinx, stop him with Iron Tail!" Shinx lashed with his silver-glowing tail, the two Steel moves hitting and blocking each other with equal power. The two were sent backwards after the stalling. However, the Flash Pokemon recovered his bearings faster "Now use Ice Fang!" The cat Pokemon bit on one of Aron's leg with his blue fangs earning a screech of pain from the Steel/Rock Pokemon. Ash saw that it had one of his legs frozen so now fighting would be twice as difficult for the wild Pokemon.

Yet Aron still stood defiant and roared with new vigor. His body exploded with a dark purple aura shaped like a Dragon. The ice trapping him shattered and he charged with great force. Ash and Shinx had their mouths on the ground recognizing the powerful Dragon Rush. That Aron was quite the tricky customer if the teenager had to say so.

"Shinx, dodge quickly with Double Team!" Ash countered before it could be too late. Shinx obeyed and created many copies of itself. The Dragon-surrounded Pokemon charged through a copy and slam himself against a tree, cutting it in half. Aron was now moving from left to right with his wobbling feet. Ash saw that he had confused himself by impacting the tree. That meant an opening for Ash's Pokemon starter "Now Fire Fang!" Shinx charged with his Fire teeth biting hard again on Aron's back. The Pokemon cried out in pain and a second later his body bursted in flames doing even more damage to him. Once the fire died down, the Steel/Rock Pokemon fell unconscious to the grass finally out of stamina.

"Pokeball, go!" Ash threw the empty object and swallowed the wild Pokemon inside. The orb shook in the ground for a couple of seconds with the Iron Pokemon fighting to break free. But a second later, the orb stopped trembling indicating a perfect capture for the new trainer.

"Welcome to the team, Aron" Ash said to his new Pokeball smiling. He then looked at his starter stroking his head "And great job, Shinx" Shinx then jumped on his trainer's shoulder cheerful as usual and licked at his cheek in affection. The Aura trainer clipped his new Pokemon in his waist and kept moving forward.

Notes from Chapter 2:

I know Shinx doesn't have Lightning Rod as an ability. But it's way cooler than other abilities like Intimidate. And wait until his final evolution of Luxray arrives.

Many would have liked for Ash to capture Caterpie so then it evolves into Butterfree. But I don't like those Bug Pokemon. There are only four Bug-type Pokemon I will ever consider Ash catching and they are the badasses of the Games and Anime. Try to guess who they are and I will answer any question you have about anything.

Pidgeotto was one of my favorite Pokemon especially when it evolved into Pidgeot. Only Staraptor and Talonflame follow behind them in the contest of Flying Pokemon.

So Ash now has an Aron. You should expect other rare Pokemon to appear too. But I wrote that in Chapter 1 so if you didn't read it go back and find it.

And Brock is not traveling with Ash. Because Ash can handle things on his own.

You should also expect Ash to be very strong for a starting trainer. Like a lot. You will read that in the next chapter.

And so the first badge is here along with Pokemon. Let's see what happens to our hero in the next chapter!