A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 51 - Chikorita's Big Upset

At sunset, Emma and her friends had stopped on their way to Azalea Town when they met a young boy who wanted to have a battle. Ash had agreed to battle with him, so he was using Chikorita, and the other boy was using a Raticate.

"Chikorita, Tackle attack!"

"Raticate, Hyper Fang, now!"

Chikorita charged forward and Raticate leaped in with its fang shining, nailing Chikorita easily and knocking her back. "Chikorita!" Ash said, "Are you alright?"

Chikorita go back up and charged back in. "Raticate, stop it with your Quick Attack!" the boy said. Raticate dashed in and hit Chikorita again. "I think you should change Pokémon, Ash," Emma suggested, to Chikorita's annoyance.

"Good job, Chikorita, but I think you had enough for today, so return," Ash said but Chikorita stepped back into battle, "Chiko!" Ash frowned, "Didn't you hear me?"

"What's going on?" Emma asked quietly. "Togy," Togepi said in her arms, blinking. "Chikorita's taken a lot of attacks and it's gotta be exhausted," Brock said, "Why would it want to go on?"

"I don't know, but Ash better call it back, quick," Misty said. Chikorita launched a Razor Leaf that hit Raticate. "Change to Pikachu, Ash!" Emma said as they noticed Chikorita panting. "Nice Razor Leaf, good aim, but now I'm replacing you with Pikachu," Ash said as Chikorita looked annoyed.

Ash held Chikorita's Poké ball, "Chikorita, return!" However, Chikorita dodged the red light, to their surprise. "Chikorita, I said return!" Chikorita started leaping away from the red beam of light. "Stop it, Chikorita! Get back here, Chikorita! Return, now!"

"Dinner time!" A woman called out. The boy glanced to the house and then held a Poké ball, "Raticate, return." Raticate went back into its Poké ball. "Huh?" Ash asked, "What are you doing? We're in a battle here, you can't just leave."

"Just call it a draw, Ash," Emma said with a sigh. "She's right," the boy said and picked his school bag, "Besides, it's late and I can't wait all night for you to get your Chikorita to listen." He waved goodbye and rushed away.

"Bye," Ash muttered before looking down at Chikorita, "Chikorita, we would've won for sure if you'd have just listened to me." Chikorita looked annoyed by that, and this time she didn't dodged when she recalled. Ash looked at the Poké ball, "What's with you?"

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

After reaching to the Pokémon Center, Emma and her friends let out their Pokémon so they could eat. Ash went to make a call to Professor Oak while Emma, Brock and Misty looked after the Pokémon.

Emma smiled as she watched Togepi eating with Sneasel. Ash walked closer, "Looks like everybody's enjoying their dinner." Emma's smile disappeared when she saw Chikorita wasn't eating and instead sitting at the window, staring out into the darkness with a forlorn slump, "Well, not everybody."

Ash followed her gaze, "Hey Chikorita, why don't you go eat with the other Pokémon?" Chikorita turned to stare up at him, "Chiko?" She turned away in annoyance when Emma stood up with a bowl of Pokémon food and walked closer. She kneeled down and placed the bowl next to the Leaf Pokémon, "Here you go, Chikorita."

Chikorita flickered the food away with her leaf, "Chika!" Emma and her friends looked surprised a bit, while the Pokémon were annoyed by her behavior toward Emma, especially the girl's Pokémon.

"That wasn't nice," Ash scolded as Emma stood up. "I wonder why Chikorita's been acting so nasty?" Brock asked. "Chikorita's in such a bad mood we should start calling it Krabbie," Misty muttered. "I just don't get it," Emma muttered as she rubbed the back of her head, "Every time I try to talk to Chikorita, she gets annoyed and turns away."