A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 39 - Illusion Confusion!

While on their way to Violet City, Emma and her friends were standing in the middle of a deep forest. Emma sighed in annoyance while Ash was looking around, trying to find a way out. Misty sighed, "Don't tell me. We're lost again, aren't we?"

"We're not 'lost', exactly," Ash lied as Brock crossed his arms over his chest. "No, we're not lost. It's just that we don't know where we are," Emma said. "This always happens when Ash is in charge," Misty complained. "It's almost sundown, and we're gonna be stuck in some spooky forest all night,' Brock said.

Misty blinked, "Did you say 'spooky'?" Ash turned to the trio with a smile, "Don't worry, guys! Come on, let's go!" He started to ran away, and Emma, Misty and Brock stared after him. "Go where?!" Emma called. "Just trust me!" Ash called, "You'll see! Our troubles will be over in no time!"

Emma, Misty and Brock looked annoyed. "That means, our troubles are just starting," Misty said. The male mouse sighed, "Pika, Pika."

...................

It was night time, and the kids were sitting in the forest. "Ash! Where are we now?" Emma asked. Ash turned to her as he rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Now we're, lost." Emma and Misty looked annoyed. "And we're in the middle of nowhere!" Misty snapped.

"Everywhere is somewhere," Ash said as he looked up at the trees. The Pikachu looked up at him, "Pika-Pi!" They all looked around at the trees, and Misty walked closer to Emma and grabbed her arm as she spoke, "I don't like this place. It's--It's spooky."

Emma frowned, "For some reason, I have this feeling that we are being watched." Misty looked at her nervously and then looked around. Slowly, the moon disappeared behind some clouds and the wind started to blow. Suddenly, they all heard a noise, startling them all. Misty glared at the back of Brock's head, "Cut it out! Making those sounds isn't funny!"

Brock turned to the girls, "That wasn't me," he said. "Who's there?! Come on out!" Ash shouted. That same noise was heard again, and with a sudden glow of blue light, frightening faces appeared on the trees, causing everyone to run in terror. But everywhere they ran, a scary tree appeared before them.

Suddenly, an owl with big eyes shine a bright red light from them, blinding making the kids close their eyes. The red light also caused the trees to return to normal, and the kids looked around in confusion. "The trees," Emma said, "They're back to normal!" Ash looked confused, "What was that?"

"That was nothing."

The group looked behind them in surprise to see Gary. Emma smiled, "Gary!" she said. Ash blinked, "Gary?" he asked. "Everything you saw and heard was an illusion," Gary explained. Everyone looked down and saw that same owl Pokémon at Gary's side.

It is an avian Pokémon that resembles an owl with a round body. Most of its feathers are brown, but its belly is cream-colored. It has large, red eyes; a small, pinkish beak; stubby wings; and a fan-like tail with three feathers. Encircling its eyes are black rings; the lower rims of the ring have three protrusions that resemble the teeth on a gear while the upper rims have extensions that resemble the hands of a clock.

Gary placed a hand on its head, "Good job, Hoothoot." Ash pulled out his Dexter, "What's a..."

Hoothoot, the Owl Pokémon. Hoothoot stands on one leg, but uses both its powerful eyes to see clearly even through the darkest night.

Gary looked at Ash, "Unprepared as usual. Don't you know you have to use a Hoothoot to get through this forest?" he asked. Emma rubbed the back of her head, "We didn't know..." Ash frowned, "What do you mean? What happens if we don't?"

"You'll get lost here... forever," Gary said. Ash looked shocked, "Forever?!" The male Pikachu looked surprised, "Pika?!" Emma looked from Ash to Gary, "But, you have a Hoothoot and you're still here in the forest. If you're not lost, how come we caught up with you?"