As Ash and his companions continue their trip through Icy Peak to see the Legendary Freeze Pokemon, Articuno, they climb a hill that overlooks a wide clearing that leads to another cavern. But in said clearing was something none of them expected to see. Several vehicles lying motionless on top of the snow. The group looked toward the clearing of the mountain that led toward the cavern. And just outside of it sat what looked like a large black airship along with several six-wheeled armored vans scattered just outside the entrance to the cavern.
"Hey, Ash..." Gary suddenly spoke. "I'm not the only one getting a bad vibe here, right?"
"Yeah, you're not the only one." Ash nodded with a glare in his eye.
"Pika..." Pikachu growled lightly as several sparks erupted from its cheeks.
Clemont, Bonnie and Serena all glanced at each other with questioning looks on their faces as they heard the former rivals exchange in words. "Ash, Gary?" Serena said their names in concern. "What are you talking about?"
Gary's posture straightened as he turned toward Serena and Clemont. "Serena, Clemont. Listen to us. Make sure to have your Pokemon ready for battle at anytime." He said in a serious tone. "There's a possibility we may get into a bit of a jam here."
"I don't understand." The Electric gym leader had no idea what Gary was talking about. "What are you referring to?"
Ash was silent for a moment before he turned toward his companions with the same serious look that his former rival was giving. "We don't know for sure yet, but we think that Articuno as well us are in big danger."
"What do you guys mean?" Bonnie was starting to worried as well as scared. "What's going on?"
Just as Ash and Gary were about begin to explain what was going on, the group of companions heard a loud scream come from inside the cavern. Pikachu immediately jumped off the shoulder of it's trainer and began running in the direction the scream came from.
"That was Articuno!" Gary and Ash both said in unison. After that, the group of companions took off with Pikachu to find the source of the scream.
"Houndoom, Flamethrower now!" A man with orange hair ordered.
The black canine-esque Pokemon had two horns sticking from the top of it's head and a tail with a pointed end. The Fire/Dark type did what was ordered and sent a large stream fire toward the Articuno and hit its mark before it had the change to dodge. Articuno regain it's composure seconds later where the Pokemon's wings glowed bright blue and used Hurricane to create a huge gust of wind sending Houndoom flying around the room, taking it out easily.
"Aggron!" Another man threw out a Poke Ball. Materializing out of the ball was a large grey and white armored Pokemon. The Pokemon had two horns sticking straight from the top of it's head, had a pointy forehead, three claws on it's fingers and thick tail. "Use Metal Sound and then follow it up with Heavy Slam!"
The horns of the final Aron evolution's head started to glow white and move back and forth quickly causing a large ear piercing screech to echo through the cave, hurting Articuno. Aggron's body glowed a faint yellow aura and then started to charge at the Ice type, tackling it with great force sending it flying into the wall behind it. Upon impact with the wall, Articuno let out a painful a scream from the amount of damage it took. And started to fight back again with all it's might.
Articuno quickly flew around the room avoiding the many attacks that were being thrown at it before beginning it's counter attack. Articuno's body became surrounded by a blue glow and commenced to flap it's wings swiftly to use it's Sheer Cold, taking out Aggron. More and more Pokemon were sent out to fight against Articuno, which were quickly wearing the Pokemon down as it tried the hardest it could to defend itself. It wasn't long before the Legendary Pokemon started to pant as it hovered in the air and locked eyes with the Pokemon Hunter that was attempting to capture it.
"Just give it up, Articuno." J said with a smirk walking forward. "You can't possibly win with how worn down you've become." She took out a Poke Ball lightly tossing it. "Drapion, Cross Poison."
A large purple scorpion-esque Pokemon emerged from it's capsule device. Right after the beast materialized, the pincers on it's arms glowed a dark purple. Once it crossed them, a purple X-shaped beam was sent flying toward Articuno. The bird tried to evade the attack, but from the amount of damage it had taken, it was unable to to and fell to the ground.
"Poison Sting." Drapion opened it's mouth to attempt it's next attack, only for it to feel pain from a Thunderbolt and then sent flying by a Hydro Pump not even a second later.
J and her henchmen looked back to see where the attacks came from, only to see two of the very same trainers who fouled their plans in the Sinnoh region. And J wasn't pleased.
As everyone continued to run through the caverns in search of the source of the scream, they started to hear numerous voices coming from deep within it along with a few more cries. Once inside the deepest part of the cavern, they see Articuno trying fight off several other Pokemon.
There numerous people inside with Articuno as well. Most of them had on grey and black outfits. But one person in particular stood out. That person in particular was a woman who had silver hair, a black cloak with a red outfit underneath and wore an arm cannon like device on her hand. Ash and Gary immediately knew who this person was.
Articuno tried the hardest it could to fight off the attacks that were being sent toward it by counting with it's Ice Beam along with several other moves. The enemy Pokemon would use move after move after move so as a result, Articuno was quickly getting worn down from this unfair battle and was panting heavily as it flew in the air.
"Just give it up, Articuno." The woman slowly walked forward with a smirk. "You can't possibly win with how worn down you've become." Her expression changed to a nonchalant look. "Drapion, Cross Poison."
She lightly tossed a Poke Ball into the air with Drapion materializing moments after. Drapion did as commanded making it's pincers glow a dark purple and sent a purple X-shaped beam at Articuno. The bird tried to evade the attack, but from the amount of damage it had taken, it was unable to to and fell to the ground, no longer able to battle.
"Poison Sting." Drapion walked toward the heavily injured Pokemon getting ready to launch another Poison type move.
"Oh no!" Clemont exclaimed in worry.
"Articuno's in trouble!" Serena shouted in concern.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded.
"Blastoise!" Gary quickly threw his Poke Ball. "Come out here and use Hydro Pump to help Articuno!"
"Toise!" A large blue turtle-oid Pokemon with two water cannons mounted on it's back appeared from it's containment and fired large torrents of water from said cannons straight at Drapion.
"Pika..." The electric mouse started to charge up electricity in it's cheeks. "CHUUUU!" Pikachu launched a large blast of electricity from it's body hurtling at the scorpion Pokemon. Both attacks collided into Drapion moments after each other. Thunderbolt electrocuting it and Hydro Pump sending it flying.
The resulting attacks made the Articuno assailants look back to see Ash, Gary and the rest of the group. J immediately recognized Ash and Gary. The two trainers who thwarted her attempts at stealing Pokemon ruining deals with her clients. She scowled the moment she laid eyes on them.
"You kids again." She sneered with a dark tone.
