A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 60 - No Big Woop!

Emma and her friends were crossing a hill on the way to Goldenrod City, until Misty stopped and spoke up as she looked to her left, "Hey, look at that, guys." They followed her gaze to see a building nearby. "It's such a cute little place."

"It does," Emma agreed. "What do you think they use that building for?" Ash asked. Brock hummed, "Good question. From the looks of it, it might be a--" Before he can finish, something slid onto his neck, making him panic and yell, "On my neck! On my neck! Something cold and wet and weird just dropped on the back of my neck! Get it off me, quick! Get it off!"

Suddenly, a bit of the ledge gave way and send Brock sliding down. Ash and Emma gasped. "Oh no!" Misty said, "Brock!"

Emma, Ash and Misty quickly ran down a path that leaded down to the building. They met up with Brock and a pretty girl, holding a Pokémon. 

It is a mostly blue, amphibious Pokémon that resembles an upright, armless axolotl. Its head is large compared to its body, and it has small, round, black eyes. It has purple, branching gills on either side of its head. It has two small, round feet, and it has a large, thick tail. On its belly are dark blue curved markings with a heart mark on top.

Brock was holding her hand, and the girl blinked at him, "It's... nice to meet you, Brock. I'm Olesia."

"I feel our meeting was destined to happen and your Wooper was the cupid that brought us together, don't you feel exactly that way too, Olesia?" he flirted. Olesia looked a bit nervous, "Not, really."

Misty reached over and grabbed Brock by the ear, making him let go of Olesia's hand and groan in pain as the redhead girl dragged him away, "Come on, Brock! Let's not let cupid make you stupid."

Ash and Emma looked at Olesia, and gave her a smile. "Sorry, Brock can get a little weird sometimes and falling over a cliff doesn't help," Ash said. "My name's Emma," Emma said.

"And I'm Ash," Ash said, "And our friend that dragged Brock away is Misty." Misty walked back over as Olesia smiled at them, "Nice to meet you all, my name's Olesia."

"Olesia, maybe you can tell us what all of these buildings are for," Misty asked. "Oh, this is a preschool just for Wooper," Olesia answered. Emma and her friends looked at the Pokémon she was holding and then looked back at her.

"A preschool just for Wooper?" Ash asked and they smiled. "Oh, I get it," Misty said, "That's why the building looks so cute."

"Come and see," Olesia said and led them into the area where's a pond near the building, with a couple of Wooper in it. Wooper hopped out from her arms and jumped into the pond.

"I love Wooper, and when I was younger, I babysat them all the time," Olesia explained, "Then one day I found this pond, which is a perfect place to raise them. Pretty soon, the Wooper just started coming and I ended up building this preschool."

"They're all so cute," Misty said. "So, all of those Wooper are wild?" Emma asked. "Yes," Olesia answered, "Except for the one with a heart shape mark. This one belongs to me."

"Wow, so all those wild Wooper listen to you?" Emma asked and she nodded. Ash pulled out his Dexter, "Let's check 'em out!"

Wooper, the Water Fish Pokémon. Though they prefer to live in cold water, these appealing Pokémon forage for food on land. They are kept warm by a layer of insulating body fluid. Wooper is the pre-evolved form of Quagsire.

"So, these are where the Quagsire come from," Ash muttered. "I can't explain it, but the Wooper just give me a good feeling," Olesia said. "I see what you mean, and I'd love to see how you teach the Wooper," Misty said.