A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 32 - A Tent Situation

The kids finally were reaching home to Pallet Town. They smiled at the sight. "Well, there's Pallet Town! We finally made it back home!" Ash said and looked at Emma. "Home sweet home," she said. "Pika-chu," the Pikachu agreed.

"Togy! Togy!" the Egg Pokémon said happily. "Just being here is like a dream come true for me!" Tracey said and looked at Emma, "I can't wait to meet your family and see Professor Oak again!" Emma chuckled as Ash smiled at him, "Maybe you could show them your sketches."

Tracey hummed, "I wonder which ones they would like to see first. Maybe I better go through all my sketchbooks and pick out the best ones." Emma blinked, "Uh, how many do you have?"

"A lot," Tracey answered. "Well, why don't we do this at my house?" Ash asked and looked at Emma, "What do you think, Em?" She shrugged, "Sure. Since our parents met, both of our Moms became really close, so my Mom is most likely at your place at the moment," she said and chuckled, "Or yours at mine."

"All right, let's go then and check," Ash said. "Yeah, and Tracey, we can have lunch while you decide what to show Alex and Professor Oak," Misty said. Tracey nodded, "Okay."

"Well, then, what are we waiting for?" Emma asked with a smile. Ash chuckled, "Let's go!" he said. "Pika-Pika!" the Pikachu agreed. "Togy!" Togepi said, and the kids ran down the path.

Soon enough, the kids reached to Ash's house first. "I just can't wait to see the look on my Mom's face," Ash said. "Pika!" the male mouse said. Emma chuckled as the boy ran to the house and walked in, "Surprise!"

"Is that you, Ash?"

The four kids, Togepi and the Pikachu looked surprised, and Ash ran to the kitchen first where they heard the very familiar male voice. The kids, especially Emma, Misty and Ash, were very surprised to see none other than their best friend, Brock.

"He's back?!" Ash asked before he went sliding on the floor and hit the cabinets. "Huh?!" Emma asked. "Who's he?" Tracey asked. "He's, Brock!" Misty said.

Emma walked quickly to check on Ash and so did Brock. The girl then looked at Brock still surprised, "Brock?" Brock smiled, "Hey, Em, how's it been? How about you, Pikachu?"

"Pika-chu," the female Pikachu said with a smile. Brock then took Togepi from Emma's arms, "Hi-ya, Togepi. Looking good." Togepi smiled happily, "Togy! Togepry!" Brock then looked at Misty as the redhead walked closer, "How you doing, there, Misty?"

"What do you mean, 'how you doing'?! What are you doing here?" Misty asked. Emma blinked, "Last I checked, you were on Valencia Island," she said as he handed Togepi back to her.

He then stood up and looked at Tracey, and smiled, "Hey, you must be Tracey." Tracey nodded, "Uh, yeah. That's me." Ash stood up as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, how about a nice cup of tea?" Brock asked and grabbed four cups, "I just made a fresh pot of Indigo Oolong which has a delightful peachy flavor. It has a floral fragrance, and I think you'll find if very refreshing. I like my tea straight, but for you, I'll add a dash of milk and two heaping teaspoons of sugar." He poured the tea in the cups and handed Emma, Ash and Misty the cups, "Now, watch out, it's hot." He handed one for Tracey, "Here you go, Tracey."

Misty frowned, "Brock, what are you doing here in Pallet Town?" she asked. "Yeah, Brock. You love Valencia Island," Ash said. "Yeah, it looked like you were gonna stay there forever," Emma said.

"How come you didn't stay with Professor Ivy?" Misty asked. Right then, Brock froze, "That name." He collapsed and shuddered, to everyone's confusion. "Hey, Brock. What's wrong?" Ash asked.

"I don't wanna talk about it," Brock said. "What's going on? Did Professor Ivy do--" Emma started but was cut off when Brock groaned in agony at the mention of Professor Ivy's name. "She just said--" Ash started but he was cut off by him too as he groaned in agony again.