A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 3 - A Scare in the Air

On their way to Valencia Island, Emma and Ash were buying supplies at a grocery store while Brock and Misty were outside, watching over Togepi for Emma and Ash. They soon enough walked out carrying bags with their Pikachu.

"Okay, we got snacks and got some medicines in case we'll need them," Emma said. "That's great," Brock said as he took one of the bags from her. Ash placed the bags he was carrying on the bench and Togepi jumped from Misty's lap to the bags to see what was inside. "Careful Togepi," Ash said as Emma placed her bag next to him.

"Togy," the Egg Pokémon said as it looked up, holding into a can of Orange juice, which Ash took to open. "How long will it take to get to Valencia Island?" Misty asked as Ash sat down. "Well, if we use Gyarados then maybe a few days," Emma said as Togepi jumped to sit on Ash's lap, and started drinking from the can.

"Sounds great to me," Misty said. "Yeah, except from time to time there's huge whirlpools that appear in the water, so the guide book says it's safer with a blimp," Brock said as he held the guide book, "And with that, it will take at least a day to get to the Island."

"Even better," Misty said. "Yeah, but we don't have the money to buy tickets for a ride on a blimp," Emma said. Misty frowned, "But you do," she said. Emma shook her head, "Nope. I have fair money like the rest of you."

"And we have another big winner!"

The kids looked over toward a stand where two men were hosting contests. They watched as a woman and her daughter walking away and then looked back at the men. "You can win our grant prize trip on a blimp to beautiful Valencia Island," one of them called. "Did he say 'Blimp'?" Brock asked.

"All right, a free trip," Ash said and handed Togepi and the can to Emma. "Wait, you don't think you can win that easily right?" Emma asked as she frowned. "Let's see," Ash said and ran to the stand.

Emma, Misty and Brock exchanged a look and a shrug before grabbing their backpacks and paper bags, and ran to the stand as Ash spined the wheel. The wheel stopped and the arrow pointed to the free trip.

"He won!" one of the men said, leaving Emma, Misty and Brock surprised. "It's our grant prize on the flying blimp trip to Valencia Island for free!" the other said. "Oh well, I guess you can't lose them all," Ash said as he rubbed the back of his head. "Pika," the male mouse agreed.

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

When the kids reached to the blimp yard, they immediately saw a broken-down blimp, at least it looked like that to Emma and Misty, while Ash and Brock grinned at the sight. "I never saw a blimp this close," Ash said. "It's bigger than I thought it'll be," Brock said. Emma and Misty frowned. "I don't know it's a bit..." Emma trailed off. "Unsafe," Misty said, "It looks kinda old."

"Yeah, I don't know if it's safe to fly on it, or if it can even do that anymore," Emma said. "Of course it's safe to fly on it," Ash said, "Don't worry, Em." Emma frowned, "Every time you say that, something happens," she muttered.

"You're not here to blimp ride, are you?" Emma and her friends looked at two workers walking closer. "Yes sir, we won ride tickets to Valencia Island, on the blimp," Ash answered with a grin. The two men looked startled, "Huh?!"

"You kids are brave," the one with the glasses said. "How much you getting paid?" the other one asked. "Uh, getting paid?" Brock repeated. "Is something wrong?" Emma asked. The two exchanged a quick look before looking at the kids and leaned closer.

"Look, that blimp is so dangerous, everybody says it's haunted by a gang of ghosts. I wouldn't fly on that thing even if you'll pay me a million bucks," the other guy said.

"Attention please!"

The kids and the two workers jumped in surprise as a air-hostess and a air-host appeared next to them. They pushed the two workers out of the way, turning to the kids. "Please have your tickets ready," the air-host said. "Passengers may now begin boarding," the air-hostess said.