A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 43 - The Little Big Horn

Emma and her friends were now in a city, and were enjoying a leafy green oasis right in the middle of a busy metropolis. Misty sighed happily, "It must be nice to live here in the city and have such a beautiful park so nearby."

"Yeah, and it's pretty nice for us, too. We can cut through here and get right to the center of town," Brock said. Togepi spotted something moving in the bushes and jumped from Emma's arms. "Togepi?" she asked and the Pikachu hopped from their trainers' shoulder to quickly follow the Egg Pokémon.

The three Pokémon stopped together as the bushes moved, and the kids stared. Something peered up from the bushes. "Don't move. It'll see us," Misty said. "With eyes that big, it'll see us anyway," Ash said as Brock and Emma frowned. "Take another look, guys," Brock said. "Those aren't eyes," Emma added, "Those are antlers."

The head the antlers are attached to popped up to reveal a cute little Pokémon. "Aw, it so cute," Emma said with a smile. "Togy!" Togepi said happily.

It is a quadrupedal, caribou-like Pokémon. It has a tan pelt with a cream-colored belly and a few spots on its back. Its tail is large, short, and round, and each of its legs ends in a black hoof. It has a large, brown nose and a pair of pale cream-colored antlers, each with a black orb in the center. The shape of the antlers and the black orbs causes them to resemble eyes.

"What is it?" Misty said. "Let's check it out," Ash said as he pulled out his Dexter.

Stantler, the Big Horn Pokémon. The eye-like shapes at the base of its horns produce a pleasant odor, that has a bewildering effect on anyone who smells it. It can also create startling, realistic illusions by shaking its horns. Stantler form herds and live in mountainous terrain.

"Wow. I wonder what it's doing so close to the city. Especially all alone," Misty said. "This one's still young," Brock said. "Yeah, it probably got lost," Emma said and stepped forward to it, calling out gently, "Hey, there, little one. What are you doing here all alone?" Emma stepped closer and noticed its leg had a red, swollen mark, "It looks like its leg is hurt."

Emma stepped on the grass and sat down as she pulled out a box of Pokémon food she made. "We'll fix that up," she said as she poured some Pellets into her palm. "Come on, little one don't be afraid. You'll like it." Stantler sniffed the food and approached wearily. "It's okay," Emma said as her friends approached quietly. Stantler's horns begin to emit an aroma, which everyone breathed in.

"Pika," the female Pikachu said. "That smells good," Ash said as Stantler nuzzled up to Emma. "See? Nothing to worry about little one," she said. Ash, Misty and Brock smiled as they watched before noticing something behind Emma and the Stantler, causing them to panic. "Emma?" Brock asked.

"Emma, look out," Misty said. "Behind you!" Ash said. Emma looked back as a herd of angry looking Stantler were there. "Uh-oh..." she trailed off nervously. "Just, stay calm," Brock said quietly as Emma slowly grabbed her backpack, and Ash grabbed Togepi.

The Stantler showed signs of charging and the kids took a step back. "It's. It's..." Emma trailed off. "It's an awful lot of Stantler antlers," Ash said. "Let's get out of here!" Brock said and they ran away as the angry Stantler herd charged in. "The whole herd's after us because they must think we hurt their little baby!" Brock called. "Less talking, more running!" Emma called.

After a bit of running, the kids and the Pikachu had stopped to catch their breath. "I guess we outran 'em," Ash panted. "You think we're safe?" Emma looked behind them to see no one was there. "Well, maybe, but they were right behind us a second ago and now they're nowhere in sight," Brock said.

Emma frowned, "Like they vanished into thin air as quickly as they appeared," she said. "You know what they say, out of sight, out of mind," Ash said. "If you're not scared you are out of your mind," Misty said. Emma frowned sadly, "It's too bad. A few more minutes and I could've bandaged that Stantler's leg."