A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 64 - Skarmory vs Cyndaquil! Steel Wing!

After Emma and her friends found a Pokémon Center after Ash got Totodile, they had decided to spend the night there and the next day continue their journey. But before that, Emma had asked Nurse Joy to check her Houndour.

The kids were waiting at the lobby when Nurse Joy walked closer with Houndour, who had his bandage removed. "Houndour!" Emma said happily and kneel to pat her Pokémon.

"Houndour doesn't need a bandage anymore," Nurse Joy said, smiling at the kids. "But make sure not to use him for a battle just for a few more days."

"Got it, Nurse Joy, thank you," Emma said as she stood up, smiling up at the woman. She held Houndour's Poké ball, "Return, Houndour."

"You kids have a safe journey," the woman said as Houndour was returned inside his Poké ball. "Thanks," the kids said together. They grabbed their backpacks and walked to the exit. "Goldenrod City, here we come," Emma said. Togepi smiled as it called happily in Emma's arms, "Togy!"

"Hang on, Growlithe!" They heard as they walked out, only for Ash to get hit back on the ground with a boy in their age.

"Are you guys okay?" Emma asked. "You should be more careful or somebody could get hurt," Misty scolded the boy.

"Sorry, but my Growlithe's in bad shape," the boy said and Emma and her friends looked at the Pokémon that the boy was carrying in his arms. "Looks like it lost a pretty tough Pokémon battle," Brock said.

Ash and the boy stood up. "Yeah, Growlithe and I messed with the wrong trainer this time," the boy said. Ash smiled, "Hey, you think that trainer would be up for another Pokémon battle?"

"Yeah, especially with that Pokémon," the boy said, nodding down to Growlithe. "Are they around here somewhere?" Ash asked. "Yeah, they're at the Old Mountain Bridge, and if you're smart, stay away," the boy warned before running past them into the building.

The male Pikachu looked up at his trainer with a smile, knowing what he was thinking. "Pika?" Ash looked down at his partner and smirked, "You bet, bud."

"Well, which way do we go?" Brock asked in confusion. Ash looked at the older boy, "We go the hard way, straight up to the old mountain bridge." The male Pikachu jumped on his shoulder and held his paw up, "Pika-chu!"

"Why I am not surprised?" Emma asked, a small smile playing on her lips. Togepi laughed cutely, "Togy, Togy!" Ash led the way and they followed. 

"I wonder what kind of Pokémon this trainer uses?" Brock asked as they walked on the path, "That kid didn't say."

"Maybe a Grass type or a Water type... maybe even a Fire type," Misty suggested. "Since Growlithe is a Fire type, and it looks in bad condition, it could possibly be a Ground type, Rock type or like Misty said, a Water type," Emma listed.

"Well, whatever it is, we'll find a way to beat it," Ash said and looked at his partner, "Right, Pikachu?" The male Pikachu nodded, "Pika!"

**

Emma and her friends reached to the Old Mountain Bridge, but the area seemed empty. "I don't see any trainer," Ash said as Emma spotted a young girl standing not that far looking over the mountains cape.

"Guys, look over there," she said and pointed, the boys and Misty followed her gaze to the young girl. The young girl turned and she seemed to be at Brock's age. Brock was immediately and obviously smitten by her and ran toward her.

Misty groaned in annoyance as Brock grabbed the young girl's hands. The girl blinked at him as he flirted, "I climbed this mountain and found the peak of perfection."

"Yeah, but he lost his mind," Misty growled while Ash and Emma watched tiredly at the older boy's attempt to flirt.

"My name's Brock," Brock said, "What's your name, miss?"