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"So you were actually Articuno this whole time?" Ash asked. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Ash, don't pry!" Misty protested.
"No, it's fine. I am sorry. But I can't exactly transform between this form and the human one at will. It takes a great deal of strength. Besides, would you really have believed it without seeing?" There was an amused tone in their heads as the legendary Pokemon communicated.
"So you can take us straight to the third orb, right?" Misty asked. "What's so important about finding these orbs?"
"You wouldn't remember, but a few years ago, Ash saved Lugia. Your memories were wiped clean of the event because the legendary Pokemon are supposed to remain legends. Once again, Lugia needs help… as does Ho-Oh. Otherwise, the world will be swallowed by the sea,"
"Hey, I think I've seen Ho-Oh before," Ash said. "And my memory wasn't erased."
"Ash… Ho-Oh is a legend," Misty frowned.
"So am I," Articuno reminded her gently. "You will be seeing Ho-Oh soon. You can ask what was going through its mind when you see it again."
"What about Tristan though?" Misty frowned. "You know he-" Articuno lurched dangerously close to a sharp edge in the mountain. Misty and Ash screamed and Misty pressed closer to Ash.
"I think I'd better conserve my strength. Telepathy also takes quite a bit out of me. Sorry about that,"
"You don't sound sorry at all…" Misty said sourly. The bird Pokemon seemed to slide as it regained its graceful flight.
"Look- there's the orb!" Ash said. Articuno dipped to the right, getting closer to the ground before landing easily. Ash and Misty slid off the wingspan.
"Do you have the orb, Misty?" Ash asked, pulling the lightening orb out of his pocket.
"Yeah, its here," Misty said, pulling it out of her bag.
"And here's the snow orb…" Ash said, pulling the orb out of its resting spot. "Now where do we go from here? We have to find Slowking, that's what Zapdos said.
"I am right here," Slowking said.
"You're Slowking?" Misty asked, mouth open a little.
"I am," Slowking nodded. "You must go to there… and place the orbs in their correct spots." He pointed to an island in the middle of the three locations the orb had been.
"I must go," Articuno said. "Moltres is calling for help,"
"But how are we going to get over there?" Ash asked.
"Get as far as you can. Zapdos will join you shortly," Articuno said her decision final as she flapped her powerful wings and took off.
"Slowking, are you comig with us?" Ash asked.
"I will only hinder you, Ash Ketchum,"
"How do you know my name?" Ash asked.
"We have met once before," Slowking said. "Now go." Ash and Misty joined hands before running down the mountain. "I was wondering when they were going to find out they liked each other."
"Look!" Meowth said. "It's the twerps!"
"And… they're holding hands!" James said. "I told you it would be a long time before they got together! Now pay up!"
"Pay up?" Jessie asked. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't remember any bet," Meowth said.
"What? But we had a bet…" James said.
"We had no such bet!" Jessie said, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Come on, let's go get those legendary Pokemon!"
"Hey!" Meowth said as Team Rocket jumped in front of Ash and Misty.
"Prepare for-"
"We don't have time for this! We have to save the world!" Ash said.
"Oh, look at the new couple!" Jessie grinned. "So eager to be alone! Where are your friends?" Ash and Misty both blushed and dropped each other's hands.
"Staryu!"
"Totadile!"
"Water-"
"Wait, stop!" Jessie said.
"Yeah, we don't want to be blasted off again!" James said.
"Quick, Team Rocket meeting!" Meowth ordered.
"What are they doing?" Misty asked.
"Who knows?" Ash shrugged. "It's Team Rocket. Let's go."
"Wait!" Team Rocket said, grabbing onto them. "We'll help you!"
"You'll…" Misty said. "Help us?"
"Yeah, we don't want the world to end!" James said.
"But aren't you guys supposed to 'unite all evil within our nation'?" Misty asked.
"No, we're supposed to 'protect the world from devestation'!" Jessie said. "Besides, if the world ends, there won't be any evil to unite!"
"We could use the help…" Misty said reluctantly. "After all, they have a hot air balloon…"
"Well why didn't you say so?" Jessie grinned.
"Team Rocket's helping out again!"
"What do you mean 'again'?" Misty and Ash frowned.