A New Journey - Ash Ketchum {2}

Chapter 92 - The Dunsparce Deception

As the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, Emma, Ash, Molly, Misty, and Brock set out on the winding path toward Olivine City. The air was crisp and fresh, filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and the earthy aroma of the nearby forest. Emma looked at her new contest ribbon with a smile, her fingers brushing over the silky fabric as she recalled the excitement of her recent victory.

"So, Em, did you decide what you wanted to do?" Misty asked, smiling.

"Yeah!" Emma said with a smile. "I want to compete on the next contest!"

Misty clapped her hands in excitement. "That's awesome! I can't wait to see you in action again!"

Ash, Brock and Molly smiled. "Yay!" Molly cheered.

"Then, we're gonna have to look out for contests in the cities!" Ash said.

"Yeah!" Brock agreed as Emma smiled.

"I can't wait to see you in the next contest!" Molly said as she looked up at Emma.

Emma chuckled softly, her heart swelling with warmth at Molly's enthusiasm. "Thanks, Molly! I promise I'll give it my all."

The outskirts of a small town soon came into view, its quaint houses and well-tended gardens a picturesque scene against the backdrop of rolling hills. As they approached, something caught Emma's keen eye--a flash of movement in the tall grass bordering the path.

"Wait," she said softly, holding out a hand to pause the group. "Look over there."

They all turned to see a young boy, no older than ten. He was crouched low, his knees pressed into the soft earth, a look of intense concentration etched on his freckled face. In his hands, he clutched a delicate butterfly net, its white mesh shimmering in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the leaves above.

His eyes darted back and forth on the ground, and he tapped with the net's stick on it. A gentle breeze rustled through the grass, carrying with it the sweet scent of nearby flowers and the faint buzzing of insects.

As Emma and the others watched, they noticed the boy's clothes were slightly rumpled and stained with grass and dirt, evidence of his dedicated search.

"None around here," the boy said. "Nothing over there."

"Hi!" Ash called and the boy turned to the group as they walked closer in the tall grass. Molly was holding onto Ash's hand in her tiny hand.

"Whatcha doin'?" Misty asked as they smiled gently at the boy.

"Lookin' for some kind of bug Pokémon?" Brock asked.

The boy smiled and nodded as he got up to his feet. "Yep, I'm looking all over tryin' to find a Dunsparce."

"A Dunsparce?" Ash repeated.

"What is it?" Molly asked as she looked up at Ash, and he pulled out his Dexter.

Dunsparce, the Land Snake Pokémon. When discovered, the Dunsparce uses its tail to burrow into the earth and evade capture.

Dunsparce is a serpentine, and somewhat insectoid, Pokémon with a primarily yellow body, blue underside, and blue-and-cream-striped back. Its head is round with a wide mouth extending under its jowls and curving up toward the middle of its face. Its chin is blue with two rounded prongs. Its eyes--round and rimmed with blue--are kept closed, revealing its cream-colored eyelids. On Dunsparce's upper back are two tiny white wings. Its body ends in a drill-like tail.

"Hey, I'd like a bug type that runs away," Misty said.

Brock laughed. "I bet."

Emma looked at the boy. "Are you lookin' for a Dunsparce that ran away?"