"See that Jolteon?" I told the little princess, pointing out the window. "That's Sinnoh," I said, smiling at the waitress as she placed the food in front of my pokemon and me. "We are getting close."
"Jolteon!" She replied, excitedly, before turning towards her plate.
I was finally on my way to Sinnoh, on a boat towards Sunyshore City. After last week's meeting, I decided to stay on the lower floors enjoying a calm trip and good food. I still can't believe how well they took my reply.
"Seeing how nervous you look I believe that Professor Oak spilled the beans," commented Scott with an amused smirk, not that it calmed me down. "So, did you make a decision?"
"I…" I looked at the three powerful men in front of me nervously, still not believing that all of them all wanted me. "I can't accept being neither a G-men nor a Head Ranger," I finally said. "I love to travel, see new places, meet new people, get into new adventures. My pokemon do too. As a Head Ranger, I would be restricted to my Precinct's location for most of the time and as a G-men, I would only go to where I am needed, I am not comfortable with neither of those choices… but if I can I would like to become an Ace Ranger. I am always bumping into dangerous situations and crime syndicates, being a Ranger will give me the right to apprehend them if necessary. It's not like I would ever turn my back on someone in need. If I am already doing the job, may as well do it officially." I smiled, cheekily, Pikachu beaming on my shoulder.
Head Ranger Charles smiled warmly and nodded his head: "We would love to have you as an Ace Ranger, Ash. Welcome to the family."
"Thank you," I smiled, excitedly.
"Ah," Champion Lance sighed, but did not look disappointed or sad, it was as if he was already expecting that answer. "With all those crazy situations you get involve with and all the Legendaries I would have liked to have you involved with the League, but having you work with the Rangers is better than nothing."
"Well, thanks for that," Head Ranger Charles teased, making us all chuckle.
"Congratulations on becoming both an Ace Trainer and an Ace Ranger, Ash." Champion Lance smiled at me, making my heart ache with warmth.
The Indigo Champion recognized me!
"What about my offer?" Asked Scott. "You don't have to worry about traveling, as you only need to be on your facility whenever a challenger appears. And there's teleportation for that."
"I know," I sighed. "I would like to accept the offer…" Scott started to beam. "But only after I win a Regional League Conference." If it weren't such a serious conversation, it would have been very funny how fast his mood deflated. "I will only become a Frontier Brain if I can prove to myself that I truly deserve it, by winning a Conference."
Scott looked as if he wanted to say something, to protest, but Lance shook his head and beamed at me: "That drive to prove oneself is the same one every Master possesses." I almost started to cry at his words. "We won't insult that by disrespecting your decision." Even if he was looking at me, I knew that he meant those words for Scott. "By the way, here," he placed a box on the table between us. "A gift is always given by the League to those who have reached the Ace Trainer level or have become a Master. Most of the time they are both, like in your case."
"Master…" I whisper, not believing his ears. "I am not a…"
"It seems that you had not looked up your Trainer's Page, yet." He commented. "Why don't you do that now?"
Slightly trembling, I took out my PokeNav Plus and entered my Trainer's Page. There it was listed where I was born and live, my height, age, and my hair and eye color. Not sure why those were needed, as there was a picture of me. It is mentioned that I am sponsored and taught by Professor Oak. A list of all my pokemon and accomplishments. Not only my badge number, Conference Positions, and Gran Tournament wins (Orange Islands Challenge and Battle Frontier). There was also a list of all my accomplishments against poachers, helping out the Officers Jenny's of many cities, helping out the different League's against Team Rocket, Team Aqua, and Team Magma. All under Ranger's Jobs. But none of that interested me, what truly caught my eye was at the beginning, where my titles were placed right under my name and age. There stood Ace Trainer and Terrain Master, soon to be followed by Ace Ranger once the paperwork is through.
"Terrain Master?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"That's quite the achievement," Champion Lance commented, completely oblivious of my short circuit. "Normally one becomes a Type Master or a Generalist Master, before achieving a Second Mastery- like Terrain Manipulation. But you have quite a knack and imagination for it. Even turning Legendaries attacks to your use and turning them into a new field for your advantage. Even if you are not yet a Generalist Master, you sure as Arceus is a Terrain Master after all your achievements. Not even I have such a keen manipulation of the field, I do prefer to overpower my opponents" I heard him talk but my mind kept on repeating Master, Master, Master."
"Ash, you do know that you already are a Master level, right?" Scott cut in. "I do like that fire in you, wanting to wing a Conference to prove something to yourself, every one of us has it. But you also need to take pride and recognize your achievements. Your Pikachu can turn any battlefield into his advantage, being water, rock, and even air. He can fight in the air, using his opponent's attacks as a propulsor, as if he was a Flying Type. Heck since your fight against Brock you showed signs of a proficient field manipulator. Your Birds can fight on the ground, the way only Flying Masters can achieve."
"I… I know that, but it has always been my pokemon the one that wins the battles for us." I said, still far away in thought.
I always wanted to be a Master and I am finally one!
"That is a noble way to see things," Head Ranger Charles spoke, taking pity on me. "Maybe you are right when it comes to Type Mastery or Generalist Mastery, but they are your ideas that made it possible to take advantage of the battlefield and other attacks, turning it into your battlefield. Take pride in that."
"I do…" I sighed. "It's simply too much in so little time, it feels so surreal," I admitted, taking comfort in Pikachu's nuzzles.
"I understand. I am sorry for having to make it worse," he replied, putting another box on the table. "Whenever a Ranger is promoted to Ace Ranger you receive a reward."
I looked at Head Ranger Charles with a betrayed expression and rapidly turned to Scott, who simply smiled and placed another box on the table. I moaned, hiding my face on Pikachu's fur.
"Jajaja, we all agreed on the same gift. Believing you need them and are responsible enough to wield them. Especially, since the chances of you going against Team Galactic is not questionable." He joked, but you could easily tell he was seriously under his teasing exterior.
"What are they?" I asked, kind of scared by the answer- they were too serious to be handing me an Evolution Stone or a pokemon.
"I believe Professor Oak taught you about Mega Evolution." Champion Lance commented, opening the box to show me to Mega Stones. "These are a Charizardite X and an Altarianite."
"Why am I not surprised?" It left my lips before I could stop them, luckily, he was not offended, if anything he was amused.
"Can you fault me? I am a Dragon Master." He replied, between laughter.
"This is a Pidgeotite," Head Ranger Charles said, opening his box.
"I got you a Heracronite. Professor Oak got you a Key Stone as a gift," Scott added.
"By the way, be careful with the Mega Stones I gave you. Mega-Altaria becomes a Dragon/Fairy Type and Mega-Charizard X becomes a Fire/Dragon-Type." Warned me, Champion Lance.
"A Dragon-Type can become a Fairy Type?" I asked stunned. "Isn't that like a Fire Type being an Ice Type too?"
"That's a Galarian Pokemon," Scott commented, I shook my head not wanting to confuse myself anymore.
I looked down on my wrist, still stunned by the beautiful Key Stone on the Mega Bracelet. On the other hand, Charizard, Pidgeot, Altaria, and Heracross loved being able to evolve even further. They took Mega Evolution as a Goldeen to the water, that did make me very happy. Showing that the bond with my pokemon is strong. Even with Altaria, who I had only had for three months. When Charizard found out about his species having another Mega Stone to evolve into a Mega-Charizard Y, he could not stop pestering me about it.
Talking about my pokemon I am so happy that with my Ace status I was allowed to bring up to 12 pokemon with me. I decided to keep 6 of my old pokemon with me and the rest for any new family members I end up catching. I might only have Pikachu and Jolteon out, but I also have Aipom, Vibrava, Honedge, and Froakie with me.
This was a new start, a new me. But, of course, things could not change too much. As always, when I am in a new region, I caught the Regional Bird, a handsome Starly. But things cannot stay quiet and peaceful for too long for me. On my way to Professor Rowan's Lab, I had to hear a girl's scream, being who I am I ran towards the sound.
I'll help the girl and then deal with whoever is following me later.