A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 57 - Gettin' The Bugs Out

Emma and her friends walked to the Azalea Gym for Ash's long-awaited gym match. "It can't be far now," Emma said. "The second gym in the Johto League, the Azalea Town Gym," Brock said.

"Yeah," Ash said with a smile. Misty suddenly stopped them all, holding her canteen as a microphone, "Mr. Ketchum, do you have a prediction about your upcoming Pokémon match?"

Ash smiled, "I predict victory! How about you Pikachu?" His male Pikachu nodded, "Pika-chu."

"Well, I don't know Ash, I think this'll be a tough one for you," Misty said. Ash frowned, "How come?"

"You don't have your star battler anymore," Misty said, "In your other Gym matches, you could count on Charizard to use its fire power to win when you made dumb mistakes." Emma gave her a look, "Misty."

"What?" Misty asked. "No problem," Ash said, "Charizard may be gone, but..." He pulled out Cyndaquil's Poké ball, "Cyndaquil's got plenty of fire power." Emma smiled and stepped between Ash and Misty, "All right, enough with the interviews! My man has a match to prep to and win."

Misty smirked sly and Emma linked her arm with Ash's. "Let's go!" Emma said as she pulled him away.

They all continued on to the Gym, and found it. "This is it," Emma said as they walked closer and inside. "Hello?" Ash asked, "Anybody here?"

"Brock, are you positive we're in the right place?" Misty asked, "Cause this looks more like a garden then a Pokémon Gym."

"Well, it may look like a garden, but according to the guide book, this is the Azalea Town Gym," Brock said as he looked back at the book. "Come on, let's have a look around," Ash said and grabbed Emma's hand, leading her forward.

"Uh, guys, maybe we should wait here," Misty said but followed when Brock stepped forward to follow. "The Gym leader's gotta be around here, someplace," Ash said. "I know we're inside, but it feels like we're in a forest," Brock said.

Misty grabbed a hold on Emma's backpack and pulled herself closer to the brunette girl, "Well, to me, it feels like something creepy is gonna jump out at us any second now."

Ash frowned as he glanced back to the redhead girl, "What kind of something, Misty?" Emma smiled a little, "Probably a--"

Misty screamed as a Caterpie dropped down in front of her and Emma, terrifying the redhead girl and making her hold tightly into Emma. "Get it away!" she screamed.

"Bug Pokémon," Emma finished her saying and tried to get out from Misty's death grip, "Misty! You choking me!"

Misty let her go and quickly ran to the exit, only to stop because of a few Metapod in front of her. She screamed as she turned back around, "I hate 'em! I hate Bug Pokémon!" She rushed back to her friends and quickly held into Brock. "Misty, are you okay?" the older boy asked with a small frown.

Emma noticed the Caterpie crawling next to the redhead girl and quickly pointed it out to Ash. Knowing Misty would scream and most likely kick the little Bug Pokémon away, the boy quickly rushed to pull it away from her side and into his arms. "This isn't a Pokémon Gym, it's a torture chamber!" Misty shouted.

"Wrong, miss." The kids looked up at the tall tree when they heard a new voice, and saw a boy standing on the branch. "This is definitely a Pokémon Gym, the Azalea Town Gym, and if you don't mind me saying so, miss, your ignorance is showing. Because everyone knows that Bug Pokémon are the best Pokémon in the world!"

Misty growled and pulled herself away from Brock, "Don't you dare call me ignorant! Just who do you think you are?!"

"I don't have to tell you who I am," he said, "You're the ones who oughta be telling me who you are." Ash stepped forward, "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, and I came to challenge the Azalea Town Gym leader."