New chapter and just a reminder this is an AU story i'll be using things from the anime, game and manga as well as my own original ideas on how Ash's life would be with his aura powers. Enjoy

Ash and friends had just arrived in Viridian city and were now at the Viridian city Pokemon centre healing up their Pokemon. Serena was stocking up on supplies they'd need for their Journey; Ritchie was gathering information on the area and trails they could take, and Ash was talking to his Mom on the phone and he had just showed her Pikachu, "Oh! Ash I'm so glad you are doing fine on your journey! I just new you'll catch so many new Pokemon friends." Said Ash's mom. "Hey mom, your embarrassing me." Said Ash, blushing from embarrassment. "Hey! Ash! They say there's a gym in this town!" said Ritchie as he and Serena walked up to meet Ash, "But they say he's the most powerful gym leader in the Kanto region. So maybe we should leave this city and try the gym in Pewter city, that's a good one for beginning trainers." "That just makes me want to battle him even more!" said Ash, getting excited and so was Pikachu. "Oh! Honey are these your friends?" asked Ash's Mom seeing Ritchie and Serena. "Yeah. This is Ritchie and Serena." Said Ash introducing his friends to his mom. "Hi!" they said in unison to Ash's mom. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Ketchum." "I'm so glad it's only your first day and you already have new friends!" said Ash's mom smiling at her son and his friends, "Anyway Ritchie, Serena, please take care of my son." "We will Mrs. Ketchum." Said Serena. "Yeah! And Serena already acts like a mother to use." Added Ritchie with a smile. "Hey!" protested Serena with a smile causing everyone to laugh. "Well, bye mom" said Ash as he waved his mom bye. "Bye! Ash!" said his mom, as they ended the video call.

After they left the Pokemon centre Ritchie suggested they look around town before they do anything else, but Ash wanted to go to the gym first but was out voted by Ritchie and Serena. They looked around the town, Serena looked through clothing stores, Ritchie spoke to a traveller who mentioned the safari zone in Fuchsia city that deals with wild Pokemon and is good for dealing with active Pokemon which will help develop catching skills as a Pokemon ranger, even Ash was interested in the Pokemon gear like the variety of Pokeballs and Pokeball belt. When they were done, they made their way to the gym. When they got to the gym Ash was excited that he was going to have his first gym battle. When they went into the gym Ash requested for a gym battle. The receptionist looked over her computer and said, "Yes the gym leader is available you can go in." "alright!" said Ash, Pikachu exclaimed happily. "You two can join the audience in the stands and watch the match. The battlefield is that way." Said the receptionist as she directed them to where they should go. Ash walked through the doors and stepped onto the battlefield. It was a large ground field with stands at the side filled with people. Ash saw Serena and Ritchie walk in and take seats at the front of the crowd. Opposite where Ash was standing the door opened and a man in a suit emerged looking quite serious, he was obviously the gym leader. "You must be the challenger. My name is Giovanni and I am the Viridian city gym leader. Now what's your name kid?" asked the gym leader Giovanni. "I'm Ash and I'm from Pallet town." Responded Ash. "Well now that's out of the way let's get this started. The referee walked onto his position and raised his flags. Then announced, "The battle between the viridian city gym leader Giovani and the challenger Ash is about to begin! Each side will use four Pokemon and only the challenger will be allowed substitutions. Now both sides can now present their first Pokemon." Giovanni called out a Rhydon and Ash called out Metapod. Giovani raised an eyebrow at Ash's choice of Pokemon, "Let the battle begin!" said the referee.

"Metapod use harden." Said Ash. Metapod's body flashed silver and its body grew harder. "Rhydon use Drill run." Said Giovanni. Rhydon's horn glowed then began spinning and it charged at Metapod and struck it out of the field and into the wall behind Ash. "Aw! Metapod!" said Ash in concern. Metapod was unconscious from that one attack. "Metapod is unable to battle! Rhydon is the winner!
said the referee. The audience was shocked that Metapod went down in one hit. Ash returned Metapod and looked a little upset that Metapod went down like that. "You just started your Journey, right?" asked Giovanni. "Yeah! This is my first gym battle." Responded Ash. "Well, then you should just give up. This is pointless if you haven't battled other gym leaders. I'm the strongest gym leader in the region with the strongest Pokemon and you won't stand a chance against me with your Pokemon and I don't have time for weak Pokemon." Said Giovanni. This angered Ash, the idea that the match was already decided without him fully fighting, and that his Pokemon didn't stand a chance against Giovanni's. "You don't know that until all my Pokemon are out!" said Ash and he then sent out Pidgeotto next. Giovanni sighed as the referee said, "Battle! Begin!" "Rhydon use rock tomb and make this quick." Said Giovanni with a bored tone. Rhydon raised its hands and created boulders from the sky that rained down on the field. "Pidgeotto use quick attack and dodge it!", said Ash, Pidgeotto began to zoom around the field in wide circles to avoid the falling rocks. "Now come from behind with steel wing back to back." Pidgeotto's wings turned silvery and it flew from behind and struck Rhydon on its head causing Rhydon to cry out. "Use Thunder punch!" said Giovanni, Rhydon held its fist which became filled with electricity and punched Pidgeotto with that fist. "Pidgeotto!" cried Ash, Pidgeotto fell and was paralysed from that attack and was barely holding out. "Finish this with Stomp." Said Giovanni, Rhydon used its foot and stepped down on Pidgeotto knocking it out. "Pidgeotto is unable to battle the winner is Rhydon!" said the referee. Ash returned Pidgeotto, "You see kid? This is pointless, in a Pokemon battle the strongest Pokemon wins and that's all that matters." Said Giovanni. The crowd was beginning to think that way too based on their behaviour they were already talking about how Ash should just give up and go home because there was no way he'd be able to win this match. Ash was starting to feel the pressure but one look at Pikachu and Ash knew that this wasn't over. "No, way! Its not over until its over!" said Ash, Serena heard him say that and began to smile, "You go Ash!" cheered Serena from the stands. "We're with you!" added Ritchie. "Thanks guys.", said Ash before turning to Giovanni and sending out his next Pokemon. "Nidorino! I choose you!"

"Battle begins!" said the referee. "Rhydon use drill run." Rhydon's horn started spinning and glowing before it charged forward at Nidorino. "Nidorino use counter!" said Ash, Nidorino's body glowed orange and Rhydon's attack was sent back by the force of the orange glow. "Counter?" asked Serena, "That's a move that can reflect an attack back at the Pokemon who used it." Said Ritchie. "Wow! Go, Ash!" said Serena. "Now use double kick." Said Ash. Nidorino jumped and used its back legs to kick Rhydon. "Use Stomp." Said Giovanni. Rhydon crushed Nidorino beneath its foot then kicked him away, then Rhydon bent over in pain and had purple colouring on its face. "Rhydon is poisoned. Quick use horn attack." Said Ash. "Use drill run." Said Giovanni, the two Pokemon charged at each other and Collided with each other causing a massive explosion and when the smoke from the explosion cleared it was revealed that both Pokémon we're down but Nidorino was able to get up and Rhydon collapsed and fainted from the poison . "Rhydon is unable to battle the winner is Nidorino." Set the referee then Giovanni returned his Rhydon and sent out Nidoking. "Not bad kid. But that's as far as you'll get against me. No more Mr. nice guy" Said Giovanni with a hint of approval of Ash's win against his Rhydon. Ash grinned, "We'll see about that." Was Ash's only comment.

"Battle! Begin!" said the referee. "Nidorino use fury attack." Said Ash, Nidorino launched swift strikes at Nidoking. "Nidoking use Thrash!" said Giovanni, Nidoking started punching and kicking Nidorino rapidly knocking Nidorino back. "Nidorino!" cried Ash, Nidorino was struggling to get up from the attack. "Finish this with hyper beam." Said Giovanni, Nidoking blasted an energy beam from its mouth at Nidorino which caused a large explosion. When the dust cleared Nidorino had fainted from the attack. "Nidorino!" cried Ash. "Nidorino is unable to battle, the winner is Nidoking." Said the referee. The crowd was shocked by the way the battle ended, they felt that the gym leader was to harsh in his attacks. "That attack…" said one man. "He showed no mercy." Said a woman. ".. so mean." Said another man. Ash returned Nidorino and was scared of sending out Pikachu because he was worried that Pikachu would get seriously hurt like Nidorino. "Pika!", said Pikachu, Ash looked down at Pikachu, "Pika! Pi!" as he charged up his electricity to show that he was ready to fight. Ash smiled at him, "Okay. Pikachu, I chose you!" said Ash. Pikachu ran out into the field and was ready to fight.

"Battle! Begin!" said the referee. "Pikachu! Use quick attack!" said Ash, Pikachu sped off and slammed into Nidoking then jumped off. "Nidoking use Thrash!" said Giovanni. Nidoking ran to Pikachu and started trying to Punch and kick Pikachu. "Use quick attack and dodge it!" said Ash. Pikachu zoomed around Nidoking's legs and avoided being hit. "Use mega punch!" said Giovanni. "Dodge it." Cried Ash. Pikachu moved but Nidoking wasn't aiming for it and instead hit the ground Infront of Pikachu, then brought up dirt and used it to blind Pikachu. "Now use drill run." Nidoking rammed into Pikachu with its horn and Pikachu flew back and hit the ground. "Pikachu!" cried Ash. Pikachu was struggling to get up, "Come on Pikachu I believe in you! Get up!" Pikachu tried to stand but couldn't properly. "Finish it off with Hyper beam." Said Giovanni. Nidoking began generating a beam of energy in its mouth and was about to fire. "Uh-oh! This could finish Pikachu off for good." Said Ritchie worried about Pikachu. "Oh no!" exclaimed Serena. "Pikachu no!" cried Ash as he sprinted onto the field and stood Infront of Pikachu. "that's enough!" "Nidoking fire!" said Giovanni, with conviction. Nidoking blasted at Ash and Pikachu causing an explosion. "Ash!" said Serena and Ritchie in unison. The audience was shocked at the turn of events, they couldn't believe Giovanni was so cruel. When the smoke cleared Ash and Pikachu were fine and surrounding them was a barrier of blue light that quickly disappeared as Ash opened his eyes. Everyone was surprised to see that, while Giovanni looked surprised too, he decided that he was done. "Nidoking return." He pulled Nidoking back into it's Pokeball then started walking away, "This match is over." "U-Uh, right! Pikachu is unable to battle the winner is Nidoking and the victor is the gym leader Giovanni!" said the referee. No one said anything as Ash carried Pikachu out the field and was headed straight to the Pokemon center, Ritchie and Serena left the crowd and joined Ash as he left.

At the Pokemon center Ash was sitting in the waiting area for nurse joy who was with his Pokemon when Serena spoke "Are you alright Ash?" "Yeah. I just hope Pikachu and the others are okay." Responded Ash. "They will be." Said Ritchie, then to change the topic he said, "So what was that barrier thing you made?" "I don't know. It just appeared when I was trying to protect Pikachu." Said Ash. "Good thing it did otherwise you and Pikachu would be a lot more hurt." Said Serena. "Yeah." Added Ash then he looked down again. "Why so sad kid?" asked a voice Ash looked up and saw a man with brown spiky hair in and orange shirt walk up to him. "Who are you?" they asked in unison. "Someone with some advice for you. Don't be upset about a loss. People and Pokemon lose all the time. The important thing is to learn from it, get stronger and never give up." Said the man. This motivated Ash and he sprang up, "Your right. I can't give up now cause its not over yet. I'm going to get stronger and come back and face the gym again." Said Ash with renewed energy. "Yeah." Said the man as he started walking away, "Oh and a little tip. Try teaching your Pokemon moves to handle their weaknesses." "Wait!" called Ritchie but the man walked out of the Pokemon center. I feel like I know him from somewhere thought Ritchie. "Okay once I get Pikachu and the others back, we're going to do some serious training then we're going to beat the Viridian city gym leader." Said Ash and Serena and Ritchie smiled at seeing him so energetic and excited about training.

Meanwhile in a dark room Giovanni was sitting on a large chair with a Persian on his lap while he was speaking on the phone to some unknown people. "I received reports about something in the cave. I want you to find it and gather as many Pokemon as you can find that live there." Said Giovanni. "Yes sir!" said the voice. Then he ended the call and picked up a tablet and was looking at a picture of Ash and Pikachu inside the barrier that stopped Nidoking's hyper beam. "Interesting!" said Giovanni as he rubbed Persian's head.

There you have it I kept to my deadline and this is the beginnings of Ash learning about his aura powers. He'll find out about more later. I'll try to update next week and as always comment I'd love to know what you think.

Cjaymortem out.