The Unforgiving Cold
The next morning, Red was faced with a certain problem that prevented him from continuing on his Pokemon Journey.
"Are you crazy?! You can't just give away an expensive new bike away just like that!" Emily scolded Red after finding out he gave his bike to the first kid he just saw outside. Giving it away just like that questioned her worth as being a simple friend.
"First, it's my bike so I'm allowed to do whatever I want with it," Red rudely replied. "Second, I'm not going to need it because I'm going to be taking the sea route to get to my next destination."
Emily's face puffed up with frustration. "Fine then, do what you want with the bike that I gifted you! However, I'm keeping mine with me."
"So you're going to take your bike with you then that's completely fine with me," Red said walking outside with Emily. "In fact, where is your bike?"
"Oh it's on the bike rack right...over there?" Emily was pointing to an empty bike rack
"You didn't even have something to lock up your bike," Red pointed out. "Looks like your bike was stolen right under your nose for not considering a lock."
Emily scowled. "Shut up, Red. If you would have reminded me to buy one, then this wouldn't have happen."
"Yeah, blame me for your incompetence," Red weakly argued.
"Yeah, always expect the worse out of people," Emily summed up the experience. "Now my mood is totally ruined for the day because of some asshole who saw it fit to take my bike away."
"It was a pretty expensive bike as well as brand new," Red replied with the obvious.
Emily took out her Zorua already transformed and today he chose to be a Togepi. She happily picked him up to carry around for the day. She also saw it as a way to calm her angered nerves.
"Well, I guess it's time for us to move on if we want to get to the next city before the sun falls down," Emily pushed the stolen bike to the junk part of her brain.
Red agreed taking the lead to the southern part of the rather small city.
Emily was the one keeping the conversation going for once.
"So how do you plan on crossing the sea route to the next gym?" Emily brought up a good question.
Red thought about it for the first time for he has never considered his mode of transportation. He looked up the sky seeing it was a cloudless day.
I can swim on any of my Pokemon for none can swim. Come to think of it, I don't even have a water type!
"We could fly on the way there on my Pidgeot?" Red suggested. "It's pretty smooth weather along the way there so flying won't be a problem."
"But the route is long one. I don't think Pidgeot will be able to handle a long journey with two passengers," Emily questioned Red's Pokemon capability.
Undermining his Pokemon did not hit Red well and made him a bit sour. "And what other choice do we have?" he asked in an irritated tone.
Emily perked up with a sly smirk. "Well, I'm glad you asked," she sounded as if she had forever waited for the chance to speak. "I just happen to have the perfect passenger Pokemon to carry us across the vast sea!"
"And what Pokemon would tha-"
"Hold it right there!" cried a familiar voice.
Emily didn't attempt to hide her dissatisfaction as she turned around with Red to face Koga's daughter. She walked up to the duo looking like she was forcing herself to inch closer to a pit of spikes.
"Errr…umm...I just want to-uh," Janine had some difficulty trying to form her words. "I just want to apologize for before. I didn't acknowledge your worth as a worthy trainer and denied your victory over my father. An action that has disgraced my family for not accepting defeat in a honorable manor. For that I apologize."She quickly said and bowed after she finished.
Red was left speechless not at all expecting an apology from her even if she was the last person on this world. Emily was also flabbergasted as a fellow hotheaded girl apologized for her actions.
Red had to respond by the annoyed look Janine gave him for not speaking for a while. "Uhh…It's alright! I mean I did get some luck during the battle!" Red tried to explain her rash attitude.
"No, I was wrong and you were the fair victor. Now take my apology!" she said with some detest.
"Errk!" Red jumped back from her scared. "But-"
"Just take her word you moron," Emily interrupted.
Red nervously nodded holding his hands in defense as Janine glared daggers at him.
Janine sighed with relief. "Now that's taken care of, do you mine if I can get your Pokegear number?" she abruptly asked taking out her Pokegear. "So, we can have battle ourselves! It's not what you think!" she quickly clarified herself.
"Oh sure," Red jumped out of his confusion and took out his cellular device. They exchanged numbers with a single click.
"Alright, I'll be looking forward to it," Janine said eagerly.
"Yeah that's great and all but we really need to get to Cinnabar Island before it gets dark," Emily jutted in.
"Cinnabar Island?" she said in a quite confused tone tapping a finger on her lips. She turned around pointed to that direction. "But the sea route that leads there is that way?"
Emily slowly moved her gaze onto Red's sheepish smile. "You were taking us North instead of South idiot! And I'm traveling you with you taking the way!"
Janine giggled. "Better hurry up or you won't make it in time." She waved before returning to her morning rounds. Her pink scarf disappeared behind the building leaving the travelers behind.
"Hehe, I'm still bit groggy from waking up," Red lamely said.
"Whatever, just keep walking," Emily rolled her eyes walking the right direction this time. Red rubbed the back of his head feeling a bit bad for leading the wrong way.
Roars of children's laughter filled the sandy beach overcoming the soothing sounds of the ocean waves rolling in. People of all ages and sizes have come here to have some fun while others where just passing through to make it to Route 19.
Red and Emily walked through the crowd with Emily picking the right spot to release her Pokemon that would carry them along the way.
"Let's go there!" Emily pointed to a large empty portion of the ocean close to the beach and a faraway enough to not cause any major disturbances. She set Zexal on the ground to take out a Pokeball as they neared the area.
Red was sweating from every singe in his body. He took of his hat to rub a hand through his already soggy hair. He felt like jumping into the water and try to swim to Cinnabar Island feeling very stuffy under the sun.
"Stand back!" Emily warned throwing her Pokeball in the air.
The shallow water wasn't enough to keep Emily's Pokemon afloat. A large, light-blue plesiosaur-like creature appeared before Red. I's back was covered by a gray shell with blunt spikes protruding from it.
"Lapras: the Transport Pokemon. They have gentle hearts. Because they rarely fight, many have been caught. Their number has dwindled. In the evenings, this Pokémon is said to sing plaintively as it seeks what few others of its kind still remain."
Red pocketed his Pokedex as Emily returned her Zexal remembering he gets seasick.
The beach visitors around them stop to watch awestruck in sight of a rare Kanto Pokemon. Lapras noticed the looks from the crowd of people and couldn't help but feel a bit shy.
-"My so many...people in one place,"- Lapras said flustered. She lowered her gaze as if she was trying to avoid eye contact with them.
Emily knew the shy character her Lapras had and knew it was best to get out of here as quick as possible.
"Hurry up and get on," Emily hissed grabbing one spike to pull herself on.
"What? ...Oh!" Red was lost on thought but snapped out if of it to scramble on to Lapras's back. The shell felt more like rocks than armor part of sea Pokemon. He tried to make himself comfortable sitting behind Emily but feeling like he was sitting on top rocks wasn't very content.
"Let's go Lapras," Emily calmly said.
Lapras nodded slowly turning around in the shallow water. She pulled herself deeper using her flippers to drag her body until the water was deep enough she became afloat. She tried to not think of the many people staring at her but she could feel the stares behind her.
"Wow! This is great," Red said enthusiastic raising his arm in the air to feel the cool sea wind.
"Aren't you glad I came along," Emily said moving closer to the front.
A few more strokes from her flippers and Lapras was sailing through the water being taken in by the sea current.
Red shifted to find a more comfortable position. "Yeah I would be so lost without you," Red sarcastically said.
"Well, what other way would you have gone if you didn't have to carry your ass around?" Emily asked
"Well, I could have made friends with someone else who could have given me a ride," Red responded sounded a bit unsure himself.
"Ha! That's a laugh," Emily curtly laughed. "You make friends? That's hard to imagine seeing how you make friends."
"What do you mean?" Red queried.
"Well, you make people hate you first," Emily began but was interrupted by Red.
"I do not make people hate me!"
"Well, that Blue guy doesn't seem to like you and I didn't even enjoyed your existence at first," Emily replied.
"Wait, you hated me?"
"At first!" Emily exclaimed. "But then I saw your weren't such a bad guy then."
Lapras quietly swam glad to be away from so many people. She then decided to voice her opinion. –"Ahh Emily, I see something similar between you two…is that why you became friends with him?"-
Lapras didn't get a response which was what she expected. She was glad for that fact because she was afraid what her trainer would have said if she did understood.
"So, how long before we get there?" Red asked lying back on the spike and arranged his cap to shade his eyes.
"Don't worry it won't take long," Emily replied. "Just sit back enjoy ride as well as take in the scenery. It can't take that long!"
A few hours later, Red was cooking in the hot sun as the steady waves rocked him back and forth. He looked on the side to only see a wide plane of water. A sight he has grown tire in the first ten minutes of the journey.
"Are you sure we're going to the right way?" Red asked for the tenth time.
"I told you! I'm following the signs posted on boulders and all say Cinnabar Island is on this route!" Emily replied for the tenth time. "If you're so bored than you should at least join in soaking my feet." She was at the end of Lapras sinking her bare feet into the water.
"But then you will want to gossip about people in your hometown!" Red wailed.
"I do not do such things!" Emily argued. "Look another sign just to prove that we are going on the right path." Emily stopped to read the next sign perched on a boulder. Her expression changed once she read it.
"Lapras! Take a right now!" Emily shouted jumping from her resting spot."
Red groggily got up to see what the commotion was. "What's going on? Are we going the wrong way?"
Emily struggled to put on her shoes. "No, we're taking a rest stop!"
"A rest stop in the middle of the ocean?"
"It's the Seafoam Islands you idiot!" Emily snapped. "You live in this region and yet you don't know what famous locations you have. This is a place that I have always wanted to visit!"
"What's so good about two islands completely filed with ice inside?" Red didn't know what the fuss about besides of there being ice cold cave in the middle of a tropical ocean.
"So, you want to wait for me on Lapras in the hot sun as I go exploring?" Emily asked to look ahead. Sure enough to islands where approaching them. She guided Lapras with a sign she saw that lead to the entrance of the cave.
"I might as well go," Red said getting up seeing they have approached the mouth to a cave.
"Great! Lapras stop right here," Emily held to her Pokemon's neck as she hopped down to the barren ground directly in front of it. Red followed after her already feeling the cool air escaping the cave.
Emily fixed her backpack on her. "Lapras, I know I haven't let you out in a very long time so I'll allow you to roam this island area for a good amount of time. Just talk to the local Pokemon around."
-"Alright, I appreciate it,"- Lapras sweetly replied before swimming off to explore on her own.
"Let's go!" Red said stretching out his sore back from the rocky ride. He first went into the cave with Emily behind her. The walls were cold to touch and Red was all over them, trying to cool but that wasn't going to be necessary. They arrived to a large cavern as wide as a football stadium.
"Wow," Emily gawked at the beautiful natural landscape.
There were small rocky mountains to climb with bridges running between them, large stalagmites and stalactites, and a large portion of the floor was covered in thick ice.
Emily stepped on top the ice and tried to spin around but slipped. Red held in a chuckle as she fell down on her butt.
"Damn, I knew I should gotten myself one of those good quality cameras I saw at the mall," Emily seemed a bit sad as she looked around the winter wonderland. "I know! Pokegears have a camera feature! Red take a picture of me."
"Huh?" Red caught Emily's device already set to the camera option.
"Take a picture of me!" she said enthusiastically, getting back up. "Huh? Oh my god. It's one of those seal-type Pokemon!" She ran to the base of the rock formation where there was a white seal looking at the visitors with curious back beady eyes.
"Aww, it's a Seel!"
Red took out his Pokedex to confirm.
"See: the Sea Lion Pokemon. Loves freezing cold conditions. Relishes swimming in a frigid climate of around 14F degrees. The protruding horn on its head is very hard. It is used for bashing through thick ice."
"Now take the picture of me and this Seel," Emily requested posing by hugging the Seel closer to her face.
-"Hehe, humans are all so nice! I wonder why,"- Seel goofily smiled his tongue sticking out in a cute way.
Red sighed before aiming the camera to take a clear shot. "There." Red said after the camera clicked.
Emily placed the Seel back down before ripping the phone out of Red's hands. She nodded quite pleased with the result.
"Now let's take a picture with you and me1" Emily chirped pushing Red to the place that had a better view of the cave behind them. She stood right next to him with the phone cameras faced right above them that Emily held with her hand.
"Now Smile!" Emily said which nearly caught Red off guard. She clicked the button to take the memory.
"Great!...Wait no!" Emily swiped the cap from Red's head.
"Hey! What's the deal?" Red asked.
"This is the deal!" Emily shoved the picture on her phone to Red. Red saw that his cap hid most of his face in the selfie.
"Now get back into position," she bossed him around. Red did as he was told as so did Emily but only this time she leaned her head closer to Red making slightly blush.
"Now that's better!" Emily said taking another look. She put up her phone before Red could ask for it and threw his hat at him. "Let's not waste precious time. Look a ladder!"
What has gotten into her? Red thought as she acted like a child at the toy store. She climbed the ladder that lodged onto one of the rock formations. The ladder shook a little as she climbed it.
"Be careful," Red warned.
"Come one, Red. You're the one who needs-"
A loud bang sounded throughout the cave. The entire place shook which was enough for Emily to lose her footing.
"Crap!" Red dashed to the ladder. He stood underneath Emily's falling body with hands outstretched. He held his breathe when attempted to catch her. Heavier than he thought, he nearly dropped her but held onto her tightly.
Emily with her eyes clenched opened them u to see she was clinging onto Red. She yelped nearly causing Red to drop her. He set her on the floor for her to recover.
"Uhh….thanks," she weakly said trying to calm down her heart rate. Red rubbed his arm awkwardly.
"Yeah you're welcome…just be careful," Red said.
Emily looked up to the ceiling. "What was that just now?"
"I don't know but I don't think it's wise to continue," Red said.
Emily shook her head. "No we got to find out what was the source that loud boom. Whatever it is, it may be a danger to this delicate ecosystem and I attempt to stop it."
Red thought about it accepted. "If we don't then who will," Red mumbled. "Let's go but please be more careful this time.
Emily nodded cautiously grabbing the ladder and began to ascend again. Red went after her out of courtesy. She climbed quicker than she did before with Red close by. She scampered onto the top and helped Red on.
"I guess we got to up higher," Red said pointing to the ladder on another high area connected with the rope bridge."
Emily regained her sense of adventure. "Well, what are we waiting for?" she said getting on the bridge, "let's just be careful."
Red smiled nodding following her lead through the Seafoam Caves.
They climbed the ladders to the next level getting higher and higher. They went though icy patches full of laughable falls. They met more Pokemon living in the caves as well as becoming more aware of each other's weakness and strengths. Not another explosion sound ruin their exploration.
"Are nearly to the top?" Emily asked stepping onto Red's awaiting hands.
"I think because we have roaming around for a while now," Red said boasting her up to the ledge. She then helped him onto it. "Go on,' Red said gesturing to the ladder.
"Don't get to comfortable of looking at my ass, boy," Emily snickered making Red blush.
"Hey! I'm not looking at your-ass!" Red argued but simply got a giggle from her. He climbed the ladder which seemed to take longer than the other ones he climbed.
The next level was a whole lot lighter than the rest of the levels. That's when Red saw the natural skylight in the roof big enough for a flock of Pidgeots to fly through. They arrived on a single ice covered platform surrounded with water currents surrounding the platform making it look like an icy island.
The two other important features of the final level were the two other people already at the top.
"Oh hey other tourists!" Emily said going to greet them but Red roughly pulled her back. "Hey! What's the deal!"
Red surprised her with his serious look. "You don't want to mess with those kinds of people." He sternly said eyeing the white and blue jackets.
Two Kuraisora members were turned around to greet the trainers. Snow white hair and chestnut brown hair stood out for Red.
"Looks like there are tourists visiting this magnificent place. It's nice to see kids take interest in the nature of…ice." The member Ice said in his calm tone.
Joey looked less serious than his comrade greeting them with a wide smile. "And what brings you here? Sightseeing like us."
"I know you guys are up to no good so cut the act!" Red shouted at the odd duo.
"I do not know what you are talking about boy," Ice replied looking honesty confused.
"Yeah, Red. Who are these people?" Emily confused the whole situation.
"They are part of the Kuraisora group. A bunch of criminals dedicated to some cause that I don't know off but it deals with elemental crystals," Red informed Emily.
Joey showed some shock while Ice remained indifferent,
"How do you know so much about us?" Ice asked. "Who told you all these things?'
"What do you mean how-Don't you remember me?" Red sweatdropped when he received shakes from their heads. "I'm the trainer who tried to stop you at Pewter City Gym…and I'm Ember's younger brother!"
Joey gasped dramatically while Ice simply raised eyebrows.
"Ember's…brother huh," Ice said. "Now I do remember that you were in that museum but to think that you're Ember's brother."
"Umm…whose Ember," Emily hesitated to ask.
Red looked down at his feet. "He's my brother who decided join Kuraisora."
"What! Why didn't you tell me?" Emily felt anger for not being told before.
"Well, I didn't want to drag you into this mess," Red said
"Well, it's too late for that now isn't it," Emily harshly said.
"Yeah, I guess," Red forcefully chuckled.
Ice stood forward. "Enough this tedious talk and let us through or are you going to be difficult like last time."
"I'm not letting you pass until you tell me what you guys were up to!" Red said.
"I see…then a battle is what you get. Joey!" Ice threw a Pokeball in the air as well as Joey did so.
A larger white Seel Pokemon appeared before Ice, a Dewgong Red remembered seeing one in the cave. A pink sluggish creature appeared before Joey resembling a cross between salamander and hippopotamus with a gray shell creature biting its tail. A Slowbro that Red also recognized from the cave.
"A double is what I'm up for! Let's go Granbull!" Emily exclaimed releasing her Pokemon.
A bulldog-like creature stood on its two legs with an astounding large lower jaw that nearly covered its black collar. His head shook violently flopping his limp ears around as if it was angered.
Two water type…I guess Pikachu will get moment to shine, Red thought already releasing his selected battler.
Pikachu appeared with determined pose before the cold caused to break it. He eyed the two men in the familiar sweaters.
Ice wasted no time to call out his moves. "Dewgong, Ice Shard the Granbull and Fake Out the Pikachu!"
Joey on the other hand took his time to order his Slowbro. "Slowbro…just lay there and Calm Mind."
"Pika-"Red didn't get a chance to issue an attack as Emily didn't even speak as there Pokemon were attacked right away.
Dewgong swiftly formed thick ice chunks in forms of sharp arrows that he fired at Granbull in a blink of an eye. Granbull didn't know what hit as he was thrown onto his back his fur unsuitable for the freezing ground. Dewgong managed to defy his body structure on flat ground by jumping right at Pikachu with impossible speed. He did so with a small boost by bringing up water from below his body to launch himself.
-"Eek!"- Pikachu shrieked as Dewgong appeared right before him. The Sea Lion Pokemon clasped his fins together so quick that it managed to fire a thin, sharp wave of wind that slashed across Pikachu's face. He jumped back with slightly in shock holding his face in agony.
"Get back up, Granbull," Emily hushed feeling a bit embarrassed by being caught off guard.
Red didn't mine for being attack first for his worries were placed on the Slowbro sitting back with a serene look as he set up. "Pikachu, forget about Dewgong and Thunder Bolt the Slowbro!"
Pikachu cursed himself for flinching. He really wanted get some vengeance but continued his trainer's order. He struck Slowbro with a Thunder Bolt with all of his strength that he could muster. Drained from some power, Pikachu stopped to see his handy work.
-"Gahhh!"- Slowbro yawned in his concentration. –"Mmm warm time as the beach…sleeping comfortably in the sand…"- He softly chanted his fantasies to himself disregarding the direct Thunder Bolt hit.
-"What the hell is going on?!"- Pikachu shouted in disbelief.
"Err…I see…he has already has enough defense to negate the super effective weakness," Red stated his observation.
Ice responded with cool smirk. "Right you are, kid. You won't be able to hurt him with your petty move anymore…and to make it harder I'll ask Dewgong to help him out with Aqua Veil."
-"Alrighty!"- Dewgong chirped with a toothy smile. He squirted a thin stream of clear water that had special sparkle to it. The particular water made its way to Slowbro to surround him to create an aquatic ring around him suspended by unknown forces. Joey's Pokemon glowed white as the veil slightly healed him.
Emily saw this was bad and knew they had to do something quick. "Granbull, Thunder Fang Dewgong now!"
Red saw his chance to attack now that Dewgong would have his hands full. "Go in and smack Slowbro with Iron Tail!"
"Dewgong, don't let them get through and use Icy Wind," Ice coldly ordered.
Granbull bared his large fangs as he charged at Dewgong who flopped back to get a better aim. From his mouth he breathed out powerful winds at freezing temperatures. The wind had a range wide enough to even catch Pikachu in it.
The ice cold winds slowed down the heroes' Pokemon to the point that they couldn't move. Pikachu lower body became frozen by the ice that formed by the time Dewgong seized to blow. Granbull fell onto his knees shivering in cold unable to continue.
"Don't make this to easy." Ice shook his head as he said it as if he was just wasting his time battling. "Dewgong, go after that mouse with Aqua Tail." He focused his attention to the real threat to their strategy.
Dewgong lifted his tail in the air waving it around as if he was twirling a baton. Swirls of water formed around his tail as he made his way to Pikachu with impish ideas. Pikachu couldn't escape from his icy prison and even tried to create electricity but ice has formed around his numb cheeks making it harder to create static.
Emily realized she had to do something about Pikachu's predicament. "Granbull, please get up and catch Dewgong with Thunder Fang." She pleaded.
Granbull cringed on the ice breathing heavily his eyes clenched. –"Huff-I'll…puff….give it a try."- He opened up his eyes to mark his target. Ignoring the numbing cold throughout his body he charged at Dewgong to his surprise.
-"How could you-!" Dewgong cried surprised. He tried to swipe his tail at Granbull but he dodged the tail to jam his electrified teeth right into Dewgong's back. The Sea Lion let out a shriek at the bite but wailed when he was electrocuted without mercy.
-"Thanks,"- Pikachu muttered as he broke the ice with his Iron Tail already charged.
"Thanks Emily!" Red shot back at her.
"Hey, I'm not just dead weight here," Emily said sounding a bit offended.
"You're definitely more than that," Red said noting the fried Dewgong. "Pikachu, now is your chance. Volt Tackle!"
-"About time!"- Pikachu got on all four feet as he shook the ice off his cheeks to begin charging up. He sprinted to Slowbro creating an electric coating around his entire body.
"Granbull finish him off with a Focus Punch," Emily commanded.
Ice looked slightly worried as the teenagers were able to break through his defense. "Dewgong, Water Pulse Granbull!" He harshly ordered breaking his calm demeanor for a second. He knew Focus Punch required time to concentrate to correctly achieve the attack and something small can break its concentration.
Granbull flung Dewgong into the air as he brought down his fist that started to glow white. Dewgong, weakened and helpless, looked down as his body began to fall back down onto the ice platform. He fired a quick and small ring of water that plopped right on Granbull's head.
-"Gah!"- Granbull lost his focus as well as the Focus Punch. Dewgong fell right on top him, breaking his fall.
"Dewgong, now-"
"Let me handle this now," Joey stopped him. "Slowbro my bro can handle this now. Slowbro, Surf the rat!" Ice wanted to object but Joey waved him away with a hand gesture. Ice furrowed his eye brows but coughed before returning to his quarrel.
Slowbro lazily opened up his eyes to see a charging Pikachu with a blinding yellow light erupted from his body. He closed his eyes again and mumbled something under his breath.
"Woah!" Red felt the ground under him move as if they were in an earthquake.
"Oof!" Emily lost her balanced on the slippery ice and fell right on her back.
Red wanted to go and help her but the next chain of events kept him rooted in his place. He witnessed a huge tidal wave appear behind Slowbro rise up high. He managed to summon up all of the water in the vicinity, Red thought shocked seeing the water around the isolated cavern has disappeared. He watched in horror as the wave crashed down right onto Pikachu with tremendous force. The roar of water filed the room as it engulfed the rodent and flowed in one direction to return right back to the outskirts of the cavern.
"Pikachu," Red shouted as the wave cleared to reveal that Pikachu has disappeared. The water refilled the edges making Red scurry to search for him.
"Red careful! The ground is slippery with the ice!" Emily warned.
Red heeded her advice but still managed to slip and fell frontwards into the ground. His hat flew off sliding to the edge of the icy island. He placed his bare hands onto the ground and felt a jolt of numbing cold along his arms as he pushed himself back up.
-"Red!"- squeaked Pikachu.
Red looked over to the edge and saw two small, yellow paws appear at the edge clinging on for dear life.
"Pikachu!" Red shouted as he scrambled to the brink. Sure enough a drenched Pikachu shivered as he held on with his claws dug deep in the ice. He plucked him off the side to hold its cold body next to his.
-"Th-thanks,"- Pikachu muttered. He knew he was drenched and didn't want to pass on the freezing water to his trainer. He hopped off to shake his fur of icy water. He also grabbed Red's cap close to him and gave it to Red.
Red smiled accepting his headgear. "Still want to continue?"
-"Of course I do!"- Pikachu shouted determinedly.
Red nodded returning to the battle arena to see that Joey was looking off to the distance with a weird smile while Ice called his Dewgong back looking calm as ever.
"Let's do this one more time! Volt Tackle again!" Red ordered. "And Emily!"
"I gotcha," Emily replied. "Granbull, I think it's time to go all out with it. Go for the Dewgong once more this time with Giga Impact!"
Granbull had recovered from being used as fall breaker and stomped the ground with anger.
-"Get ready for this pal!"- Granbull grunted before breaking to a sprint.
Ice raised an eyebrow. "Giga Impact? How can such a low level Pokemon learn such a powerful…is she bluffing?"
A harsh red aura cloak took over the dog Pokemon's body sparking with black electricity. This alerted Ice that Emily was not at all bluffing.
"Dewgong, stop him with Ice Beam," Ice rapidly ordered. He eyed his partner's battle to see Joey was cleaning his ear with his pinky as Pikachu begun to charge up for a Volt Tackle. "Aren't you going to do anything, Joey? Don't get too sure of your Pokemon's strength."
"Don't let the cold get to you Ice," Joey chuckled even though Ice didn't find it funny. "Slowbro, has enough Calm Minds that he can destroy this island if he pleased…but if it it makes feel any better I'll do something. Slowbro, let's dry up that Pikachu with Flamethrower." Ice shook his head but left him to his battle being the tolerant man he is.
Granbull didn't even slow down as the Ice Beam from Dewgong struck him with full force. His Giga Impact acted as a weak barrier from the beam and he tackled back with his powerful move. As if he was hit by a truck, Dewgong flew back to Ice making duck down to avoid being hit himself and landed in the trench of water to faint peacefully.
Slowbro breathed out a powerful Flamethrower which was bizarre for a Water type Pokemon. The flames weren't less dangerous than from a Fire Type Pokemon as they reached Pikachu. Engulfed in flames, Pikachu felt himself get hotter. He pressed on enduring the heat.
-"I-Can't-Fail-Again!"- Pikachu motivated himself to continue using his electric to try and insulate the heat. He produced even more electricity to the point he has reached his limit. His determination was rewarded as the flames died down to find himself a few feet away from his foe.
"What?! Slowbro, Psychic!" Joey jolted in surprised.
Slowbro's slow nature let Joey down as he merely yawned before getting tackled followed by a powerful electric burst. He didn't make a sound as fainted right before a single attack. He fell on his side with a dumbfounded face as well as the Shellder on his tail looked a bit dazed.
Pikachu jumped victorious cringing in pain. He walked back to Red with a triumphant smile even though he has sustain serious damaged himself. He gave the same smile to Emily as well but she looked more concerned for her Pokemon who was panting on the ground to tire to move.
Ice returned his Dewgong floating in the water as well as Joey, looking more bummed out than Ice.
"We had it, Ice! My Slowbro could have easily destroyed their teams," Joey wailed childishly.
Ice simply took out his next Pokeball "We 'had' it. Now let's continue this and defeat these kids so we can leave."
Ice released his Ice Pokemon that was simply a large head made of ice. It had large teeth bared with mean looking eyes staring directly at Red. A menacing yet weird creature Ice had.
Joey's Pokemon was a lot less intimidating. A small red shell Pokemon with yellow noodles as limbs popping out of the appropriate holes as well as noodle with eyes and mouth at the end appeared before him. It had a silly look to it making the new team a whole lot less threatening.
"Pikachu, take a rest," Red returned his tire Pikachu.
"You too Granbull," Emily said.
"Emily, I think it's time to unleash the heat," Red said hoping she got the hint.
"You mean use my fire Pokemon?" Emily asked confused.
"Of course I mean use your fire Pokemon," Red sighed. "Charizard, standby for battle!"
Charizard roared as he appeared for the battle which could have struck fear in his opponents' hearts if he didn't have a small, adorable fox cub standing right next to him. Vulpix barked at her arrival to show her presence as well.
"I'll show you true power soon. Shuckle, Defense Curl all the way!" Joey shouted determinedly.
"Please do something useful than just raise your defense," Ice combed his snow white hair with his hand.
Shuckle withdrew back as his shell developed a blue glow.
"Don't worry Ice. Just you watch," Joey said with energy.
"We won't let you allow you to boost your stats this time," Red proclaimed. "Emily let's burn them down. Flamethrower!"
"Hey don't order me around!" Emily barked. "Naomi, use Flamethrower!" She ordered with detest.
Charizard and Vulpix fired their super effective moves at the same time. The flames came together to form a new wave of fire that overtook the opposing Pokemon like a storm.
"Glalie, protect Shuckle!" Ice ordered having a feeling his comrade had an idea for once.
The floating hockey mask jumped in front of the sea of flames. They were engulfed in the fire away from sight. Charizard puffed up his chest believing he has already took out the foe.
-"What the?"- To his astonishment the two Pokemon appeared unharmed. A clear, blue bubble surrounded the two meaning he used the move Protect to succeed.
"Hah! Shuckle get that Charizard with Power Split!" Joey targeted the Pokemon he deemed as a threat.
-"Okey Dokey!"- Shuckle chirped in a comical, squeaky voice. An orange hue surrounded Shuckle as well as Charizard did so looking a bit freaked out.
"What was that suppose to do?" Red questioned once the glow disappeared and Charizard looked totally fine.
Joey raised a mocking finger at the boy. "Tsk…Tsk…you should have done your homework kid. Power Split is a move that averages the users attack and special attack with the target. Shuckle has, don't take this harshly Shuckle, pitiful attack then your Charizard. Meaning he just got his strength lowered by a considerable amount," Joey explained looking quite proud.
-"What are you talking about?"- Charizard tried to breath out fire to show his power but only managed to cough out a small flame as if he was using Ember. -"What!? I can't even call forth Flamethrowers?"-
"That's not good," Emily seemed worry.
"Hmm…interesting Joey. You do usually come up with the weirdest strategies but this seems quite plausible," even Ice acknowledged the technique. "I'll let you continue. Glalie, blind them with Powder Snow!"
Glalie, looking pissed off as always, spun round to release snow from his body. Clean, white snow fell onto the fire type Pokemon making it look like they were caught up in a mini blizzard. They had to cover their eyes to protect them from the damaging snow.
"Power Trick, Shuckle. The time has come to squash them with Roll Out!" Joey commanded raising his fist high in the air.
"Interesting…using Power Trick to switch your attack with your extremely high defenses coupled with Defense Curls makes his Pokemon a monster," Ice murmured to himself. Why hasn't he shown me this kind of powerful tactics before? Ice wondered feeling this was something he surely would have told him before.
Shuckle tucked his limbs back into his shell. He began to move forward slowly picking up speed. He quicken his place as he approached the two rock-weak Pokemon. He rolled towards the largest mass.
Red had to cover his eyes from the snow as well with his bare arm. Through his squinting eyes, he could see Shuckle's spinning form. "Charizard, catch him with Metal Caw!"
He caught the command just in time to activate his claws but the rolling Pokemon jumped to ram him right into the stomach. The immense pain made him react by grabbing the little sucker spinning in his arms.
"Water Pulse the Vulpix," Ice ordered.
"Naomi, watch out!" Emily exclaimed.
Glalie fired three rings of water from his mouth. Vulpix shook off the snow before he jumped out of the way of the three rings with great agility and the water harmlessly splashed behind her.
"Disable Glalie for his Water Pulse!" Emily thought quickly.
Vulpix looked at Glalie with her brown eyes that blinked bright blue for a second like a camera flashing for a photo. She locked the recent move he used in his mind which was Water Pulse in his case. He struggled to remember how to use his super effective move but miserably failed.
"Now Flame Charge!"
Naomi cloaked herself in fire before charging the disembodied head Pokemon.
-"I can't handle this anymore!"- Charizard said feeling his metal claw beginning to give away. Without warning, Charizard threw his foe back at the other guy.
"Emily!" Red shouted.
"Watch out Naomi!" Emily saw the danger.
Vulpix turned back just in time to see the incoming red shell. She couldn't break her run because she was she was running on bare ice. She simply jumped to the side distinguished her flames to roll across the ice, barely dodging the Shuckle.
Glalie's eyes flew wide open. He couldn't easily dodge the red shell and faced the fate of being hit by a full powered Roll Out attack. Also, rock being super effective against ice types, Glalie didn't have chance to survive the hit. The giant head made of ice dropped to the ground as the culprit popped right next to him a bit dazed.
"You plan backfired…onto my Pokemon," Ice blankly said.
"Hehe, give me another try…?" Joey chuckled nervously.
"Next time give use more time to react, Red!" Emily hissed to Red.
"Yeah, sorry. Now shall we end it?" Red asked
"Don't have to tell me twice for I will deal the final blow," Emily declared. "Vulpix, Flamethrower the weird bug creature."
"Hey he's not weird!" Joey retorted.
Vulpix steadily released flames that engulfed Shuckle who was confused as to where he was. His now pitiful defenses were low enough for Flamethrower to do serious damage. She increased the flames before seizing them.
Shuckle was sprawled out on the floor its noodles limp out. His shell was covered in burns as he his face looked quite daze. He let out a soft moan before blacking out.
"Shuckle!" Joey cried.
Ice rolled his eyes shiftily to his right. "We…have lost, Joey. Next time we are sticking to my strategies like the Dewgong/Slowbro combo."
Joey had tears in his eyes as he went to pick up his poor Shuckle. He cradled the unfortunate creature in his arms as to soothe it. Ice just returned his Pokemon into its Pokeball. Vulpix and Charizard regrouped in front of their respectful trainer.
"That's it?" Red asked surprised. "No more Pokemon?"
Ice nodded. "We use up our last Pokemon to fight in our last battle."
Red couldn't help but smile wide. I finally did it! I defeated two members of Kuraisora! Red celebrated in his mind and had to need to rub it into the guys face.
"However don't think that you guys have won, yet," Ice's tone return to serious. "I am still impressed by the boy. Didn't expect less from the brother of Ember, however." Red scowled.
"Wait, but you guys have no Pokemon while we still have a full team," Emily objected.
Joey returned his fallen friend. "Wait Ice. You don't mean…you're going to use it?" his body stiffened.
"Yes I am," Ice bluntly answered taking out a Pokeball. "I think it's time to show these kids who they're dealing with. I'll now show you a small portion of power that Kuraisora has!" A simple click of the button follow up by a flash, the duo's secret weapon appeared.
Red took a step back in horror as Emily was lost for words. "You can't possibly think of using…Articuno against us!"
The bird written in myths across Kanto stood before them. Standing taller than Red by a couple of feet, the bird looked upon them with dull, brown pupils. It spread out its extensive wingspan, blue ice and snow fell from within its wings, glittering in the sunlight. A streamer-like tail flowed behind its majestic form standing on the ice with gray scaled feet.
A brave face it held before falling down onto the ground as if it was facing fatigue. Injuries were pointed out to the trainers by the sunlight on its back.
"Wh-what's wrong with your Arti-cuno?" Emily stammered still shocked.
"He's just a little tire from a good battle," Ice vaguely answered as he reached into his pocket.
Red made sense of the injuries and came with a conclusion. "I see...you came here to catch the legendary Articuno. You just caught with which explains the injuries."
Ice looked quite smug. "Excellent observation skills, kid. You figured us out but how will that help you now?"
Red thought he was mad. "Even if this is the all powerful Articuno from the myth, how will it fight back if it's too beat up to even get up?"
"Of course, you guys don't have anything against us now!" Emily snapped back regaining her composure after learning Articuno was too battered up to fight.
"Just show them what you got," Joey said losing his patience.
"Fine. You guys really want to see the true raw power right before you," Ice coolly said taking out his hand from his pocket. "Behold the power that we no possess!"
Ice raised his hand to high above his head for the sunlight to hit it. A flash of blue glinted in his hand which turned out to be a blue crystal orb flashing with light. That's when Red realized it was the Ice Crystal they have stolen from the museum. The same ancient artifact he stolen now was being used as it came to life. Electricity seemed to be filling up the orb before the crystal took on a harsh blue glow.
"Articuno, rise," Ice commanded as he brought down his hand to face the weakened Articuno. As if it sensed the avian, a beam was fired from the crystal that struck Articuno.
-"GAHH!"- Articuno shrieked after being struck. His body cried in pain as he began to absorb the power the orb had to provide him.
"Stop it, you're hurting it!" Emily yelled.
Red saw the pain Articuno felt in as he struggled on the ground cringing in pain. He opened one eye to see Red standing there. The pain and sadness in eyes were transferred to Red who felt like his heart was torn away.
-"Grrrr."- the glow fainted from Ice's hand as well as Articuno's squirming. Slowly picking himself from the ground, Articuno got back up looking good as new except for the blue glowing pupils he now possessed.
"As you just witnessed, I have restored Articuno to his healthy formed and in fact made him more powerful than usual," Ice bounced the orb in his hand.
"You, you monsters! How can you do such harm to a poor Pokemon?" Emily spouted furious.
"You couldn't possibly be joking!" Ice chuckled getting strange looks from the teens. "This is not a poor Pokemon. This is the majestic creature from Kanto's myth. One who is now in our control! Don't categorize it as like your pathetic Pokemon."
Joey stood there feeling proud himself. "Don't you think it's time to end this, Ice?" he said cracking his knuckles.
"Your right, it is time," Ice said receiving some motion from the defending Pokemon. "I'll take you all out with a single move. A move, which will not only defeat your Pokemon, to end you annoying opposing trainers lives."
-"I won't allow you to do that!"- Charizard roared letting lose a fireball at Articuno. Articuno swiftly fired an Ice Beam that took out the fireball.
"Your Charizard...is poorly trained," Ice mocked, drunk on power. Red clenched a hostile fist.
"Enough of wasting my time! Articuno…freeze them all with your mighty attack told in many myths and legends-Sheer Cold!" he ordered.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!
"Naomi, Flamethrower!"
Articuno spread his wings releasing more snow. He flapped his wings to create ice cold wind gales from a few flaps. The cold wind was strong enough to demolish the incoming fire as well as immobilizing the two fire types with cold gusts.
Red tried to protect himself from the blizzard-like wind with his arms but that it was effectively useless. Worried, he turned to Emily who was doing the same thing as well with no more luck then himself. She tried to tell him something but her words were lost in the blizzard.
This is bad, Red said feeling numbness was taking over his unprotected arms. The temperature was rapidly lowering down to the point that Red feared was more than enough to freeze water. His eyes were peering through the snow and tried to find Charizard but couldn't utter a word when he saw him. His loyal Charizard was directly in front him as if he was trying to protect him from the wind. Now it was a block of ice that was standing in front of him.
"Charizard," Red hoarsely shouted at his frozen friend. Another yelp caught his attention which turned out to be Emily walking towards him.
"Emily!" Red shouted attempting to run towards her but the moment he stepped away from Charizard's guarding body, vicious wind lashed at his face. Like ice cold whips where slamming at his body numbing his entire face.
Emily reached out her hand to Red but that was as far as she got before her body began to freeze. Ice formed around her feet.
Red tried to reach an arm for her but also felt his feet anchored to the floor. He tried to reach for Emily again their fingers still a good few feet away. Red's eyesight began to fade as the winds increased; his arms stiffen in place due to the freezing effect. He was blacking out, his entire body becoming a human icicle for tourist around the word to visit.
Emily face was getting blurry but Red could still make out some features. She had a strange smile…no an apologetic smile. She was probably sorry for not doing a better job in the battle which Red would have responded that it wasn't her fault if he could have move his cracked lips.
He felt dread as his vision black out. His hearing was filled with the roar of powerful winds but he did hear one last thing before he left to darkness.
"The cold winds have blessed another one with a curse," Ice's voice rang through Red's head.
