Inside, it was indeed freezing cold. Hope was thankful for his plumage, though Chelsey was less fortunate. At first, the twosome were lucky, and didn't run into any other Pokemon, but by the 5th floor, a Piloswine was wating for them. Luckily, a couple of Embers from Hope knocked it out, to which they headed to the next floor. As they went up, a voice unheard by their ears, spoke.

"... Someone has intruded upon the forest... The enfeebled flow of icy winds... Is the intrusion to blame? It must be stopped. For it is to protect the forest..."

On floor 6, two Ditto waited. The first was taken out with Razor Leaf, but the second quickly used Transform. Another Piloswine took its place. Razor Leaf once again took care of it. Chelsey was also pleased to see Nosepass, a Pokemon she could very easily defeat. After that battle, the rest of the trip up was pretty uneventful. Then they reached Frosty Grotto. The only two Pokemon there were Rhyhorn and Metang, which the two avoided as much as possible. They needed to save their strength, in case of another trouble near the top. They eventually reached the top. Hope turned a bit, searching.

"We sure have traveled far into this forest." he commented. "I think we'll be out if we can get through this part. It shouldn't be far. Let's keep going."

As they started forward, a voice carried in the wind. It was hard to hear, thus hard to understand. Confused, Hope turned to his partner.

"...Huh? Chelsey, did you just say something?"

She shook her head.

"... I didn't think so... I thought I heard a voice... I must have imagined it."

Apparently not, for the voice spoke again. It was still hard to hear, but they managed to catch two words, then four.

"... Turn back. You may not pass..."

A twinge of panic overtook both Pokemon as they looked for the source.

"Who's there?!"

"You are forbidden to pass... If you persist in trying to pass... Then, so be it... But only after you have defeated me!"

Chelsey's gaze was already skyward, since recent experiances had always been with birds. Snow bagan to fall and the sun reflected on the icy ledge upon which they stood. Hope's eyes snapped shut.

"Ow! It's too bright! The ice around us is reflecting the light!"

A scream from above sounded, and before Chelsey could yell warning about what was rapidly desending upon them, the ice got super bright, and the figure dropped down with so much force, the two tiny Pokemon were thrown back. As Chelsey had thought, it was indeed another bird, a large, beautiful blue one.

"I am Articuno! The warder of ice! Those that enter the forest I shall destory with all my might! Let us begin!"

As the angry bird lifted into the air a second time, Chelsey quickly turned to her partner.

"Use only Ember on it." she advised, before grabbing a gravelrock and thrusting it towards the bird.

The stone hit, and the bird came a bit closer. CHelsey struck again with PosionPowder, and Hope used Ember. The blue bird screamed as the fire washed over it, and retalitated with a flying tackle. Chelsey took the hit, but bounced away, countering with Razor Leaf. While Articuno turned to deal her a blow, Hope used Ember again. The fire struck the mighty bird's back, and it screamed in agony.

As the furious bird turned to deal Hope a blow, Chelsey threw in a Blast Seed. Articuno turned again, fury shining in its eyes. Another Ember from Hope spared the Chikorita a hit.

"Enough! Powder Snow!"

Both Pokemon were thrown off their feet. Hope managed to get up, but Chelsey did not. She struggled to reach the toolbox while Hope used Ember to protect her from the Ice Titan's wrath. Down when a Reviver Seed, and she was on her feet once more.

"Let's see how you like this attack! Tackle!"

The Chikorita charged, bounding hard on the slippery surface of the ledge. She could only hope she wouldn't slip due to this stunt. Her attack, luckily, was dead on. While Articuno shook off the attack, Hope struck with another Ember. Again, Chelsey used Razor Leaf. Articuno floated there a moment... then collapsed. Team Titans had won. While Articuno tried to catch its breath, Hope tried to reason with it.

"Please, Articuno! We have to get through, no matter what. Please, let us pass!"

Eyes filled with anger once more, the big bird strightened up, wings spread as wide was possible.

"No! I cannot allow your passage!"

"Why? Why can't we pass?"

Articuno took pause, folding its wings once again, before continuing.

"The frigid forest's air... It has warmed considerably in recent times."

"W-warmed up?" (I'm still freezeing, but...)

"The flow of frigid air has been disturbed in the forest. Snow has started to melt. Snow is melting. Snow that has never melted before. This has never happened, even once." Articuno continued, now fixing them in its gaze. "Then you appeared in the forest."

It's wings were spread once again, voice rising in anger.

"Is this not your doing?!" it bellowed.

"W-we don't have anything to do with that! It's a coincidence! Please, Articuno. Listen to me. It's not our fault that the snow is melting. It's not just here. Right now, natural calamitites are occuring everywhere. The forest's frigid airflow would have been disturbed even if we hadn't come."

The large bird stared down at the Torchic.

"Is that all? You expect me to believe that?!"

Panic raced down the spines of Chelsey and Hope when the bird spread its wings again. This was posture for attack.

"Waaaaaaaah!"

"Enough of your foolish talk! Prepare for your end!"

But it was not the end. As Articuno prepared for an attack, another voice rang out.

"Stop it!"

Landing between the angry Titan of Ice and the two frightened Pokemon was the white Pokemon from before. Articuno looked shocked.

"A-Absol!"

The now identified Pokemon spoke up.

"There is nothing false in what you said. Calamities are indeed occuring in nature everywhere."

"Is... Is that true?" Articuno asked.

"Yes. I have the ability to sense natural disasters. The calamities taking place now are of a special nature. I've never experienced suched before."

"... So, there are calamities besides this..."

The Pokemon began to calm, folding its wings once again.

"... Fine. I will choose to believe you. You may pass."

"Articuno!" chirped the now beaming Hope, though if anything else were going to be said, it was cut off sharply by Articuno's wings spreading again.

"However!"

"Waah!"

"You must try to prevent the calamities from spreading. I'm counting on you!"

"Yup! We promise, Articuno!"

Without another word, the large bird lifted into the air and disappeared from view. Hope let out his held breath.

"Whew... That was too close..."

Then he looked towards their rescuer.

"Thank you. You saved us."

Absol turned to them. Silence answered for a moment.

"Rather than saying thanks, focus on stopping the calamitites before they worsen. If they are left unchecked, worse will befall us... My instinct warns me so."

Hope groaned sadly.

"I sensed the terrible power of the natural calamitites... I was led here by my feelings of foreboding..." Absol continued, turning from them a moment. "I think it would be best if we combined forces..." He turned back. "I will join you."

This statement caught both Pokemon off gaurd.

"Huh? You will? Really?"

"Really. To put an end to the calamitites, cooperation is vital. Let me lend you my powers."

Hope sniffled, eyes welling with tears of happiness.

"Thank you, Absol."

"By the way, my name is Breeze." The newest member added quietly.

And so... After getting through the Frosty Forest, Chelsey's team... Headed further north... The more they advanced... The harsher the conditions became...

The three Pokemon continued walking. A blizzard had started, making it hard to see. Chelsey shivered, wishing she had a nice coat of fur ot feathers.

(This icy mountain path seems to go on forever... We've walked a long way here... Hope looks exhausted, too... We've been running all this time out of desperation... What's in store for us ahead? Are we really doing the right thing?)

She was snapped back to reality by Hope.

"Brr... This is too cold! There's nothing but snow now. The scenery's been the same for a while... I wonder if we're really making progress..."

Hope paused again, then the Torchic directed his next few sentences to his partner.

"... Um, Chelsey? I was thinking... It looks like we've finally reached somewhere that's deserted... I also have a feeling that there isn't anything ahead... And, I am pretty tired... The two of us... What's going to happen to us?"

Chelsey listened and considered carefully. In truth, she did not know. However, Hope's spirits seemed to be down, and they had come so far anyway. The chance that they would make it seemed so possible. And she didn't want to bring Hope's spirits down further. She smiled.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine!"

Her words seemed to brighten Hope. He paused and turned to her.

"... You're right. There isn't any point in wondering about what we did. Not after all this. Sorry, Chelsey. I was just getting down on myself. Chelsey, I believed in you, and that's what got me this far. And that's not changing. I have faith in you, Chelsey... I'll go with you, always."

The greatly touched Pokemon felt like tears, but held them in.

(Yes... Hope trusts me without any doubt. I can't afford to be indecisive. I have to believe in myself more.)

Just then, something happened. She didn't know what, but something made her lurch with a groan. She managed to ragain her footing before she had the chance to pitch over on her side.

(... Wh-what? What was that?)

It happened again, a kind of energy that made her flinch.

(... D-dizzy? Or what?)

Unknown to her, Hope watched with concerned.

"Huh? Is something wrong? Chelsey?"

She could not answer. She jerked again, and a voice, a very familiar voice, filled her mind.

"...Finally. ...Finally, you have arrived..."

(Someone... Someone is talking to me... Hope...? No. This voice isn't Hope... This voice... I've heard it somewhere...)

The grass Pokemon shook her head, trying to clear it, then she spotted the source of the voice. It was Gardevoir.

"Finally... You have arrived..."

For a moment, Chelsey was taken back to her reoccuring dream. The speaker turned to her.

"I've been waiting for you."

"Ga... Gardevoir!"

Chelsey blinked, and found herself once again in the freezing cold, staring at the ghost of Gardevoir.

"I am so glad. Finally, we get to meet."

"... You're... What..."

"Chelsey, is something the matter? Why are you talking to yourself?"

Hope and Breeze were both looking at her. Chelsey glanced at Hope, then back at Gardevoir.

"I cannot be seen by others. I am visible only to you." Gardevoir explained, then continued. "A little farther ahead... There is a jagged mountain range topped by Mt. Freeze. Inside its peak... Ninetales lives."

"... Ninetales?!"

"Ninetales awaits your arrival. Beware..." Gardevoir was starting to fade away, giving the Chikorita a jolt of panic.

"Oh! W-wait...!"

It was too late. Gardevoir was gone, and Chelsey was left to stare where the spirit had originally been. Hope and Breeze looked around, trying to find the source for her strange conversation, but saw nothing but snow.

"Hey, Chelsey! Chelsey! What's the matter? What happened...?"

Chelsey did not respond, at least not at first. She started to walk again, heading for Mt. Freeze. Along the way, she filled Hope and Breeze in. She finished by the time they reached the foot of Mt. Freeze.

"...Oh. So something like that happened. Gardevoir appeared to you... That's why you were looking so stunned earlier. I'm amazed, though... Ninetales isn't just a legend. It really exists... And that Ninetales is up at the peak..."

Hope hopped a bit, happy tears forming. He sniffled.

"Chelsey! All the effort we put into getting here... It's finally going to bear fruit! We'll meet Ninetales and get the truth! We'll finally get rid of the suspicions others have about you, Chelsey! Awesome!"

Silence was the Chikorita's reply.

"Listen, Chelsey... Don't be so worried. It will be all right. It's only natural that you would be scared of meeting Ninetales, Chelsey."

It wasn't really meeting Ninetales that had her worried. It was what she might learn...

"The heartless human who abandoned Gardevoir... It may be you... I can understand how you could think that. But that's impossible. You're not that human--I'm sure."

"You believe so much in me?" she asked finally.

"Hmm...? Well, there was a time when I had some doubts... But now... I wonder why? I really don't know why. But it doesn't matter. I know you're a good sort, Chelsey... Do you remember...? When I first got the idea to start a rescue team... I met you in the Tiny Woods, Chelsey... Even back then, I sensed there was something different about you. It is weird, isn't it? But I believe in you, Chelsey. Anyway, we'll know the truth when we get to the peak. Chelsey, let's do our best!"

The Chikorita managed a very small smile, then she led the way into Mt. Freeze, where at the end of this journey, Ninetales would be waiting for them.

To be continued...

How did everyone like that? The next chapter will be up soon.

Mini-Marianne