Episode 133: Moving Pictures
A whole day had passed since an unexpected incident with a food-stealing Teddiursa, things had been quite at most parts. Sora decided to have a practice battle with Hapu whom sent out her Shiny Onix while Sora had sent out Swinub to battle with Onix. Kairi along with Pikachu, Togepi, and the Pichu watching the battle.
"Okay, Swinub. You ready?" Sora asked.
"Swinub, Swin," Swinub snorted.
"That's what I wanted to hear!" Sora said proudly.
"Like Pokémon, like trainer! Just because you have an edge of Ice over Ground dosen't mean you're gonna put me on ice!" Hapu stated.
"Was that a pun, Hapu?" Sora asked.
"Maybe," Hapu said. "You ready, Onix?" Onix roars in response. "Great! And since I'm a lady, I should make the first move."
"Be my guest," Sora gestured.
"Onix! Start things up with Slam!" Hapu ordered. Onix moves its tail to smack Swinub.
"Okay Swinub! Dodge and use Powder Snow!" Sora ordered. Swinub jumps out of the way of Onix's attack and fires Powder Snow at the Shiny Onix. The attack makes contact. "Now use Ancient Power!" Swinub fires silver crystalized rocks at the Shiny rock snake Pokémon.
"Onix! Dig!" Hapu ordered. Onix dug underground to avoid the attack. The rocks misses their mark. Sora knew Onix would pop out of the ground at any moment and he had to be ready for it.
"Swinub! Onix might come out of the ground at any time! Keep your guard up!" Sora called out. Swinub did look around for a bit. Hapu anticipated that his Swinub was sniffing around for Onix.
After a few seconds of waiting, Onix emerges from the ground with Swinub caught in the mix. Swinub tumbles around landing on his back.
"Swinub! You doing okay?" Sora asked. Swinub manages to get back up. "Great! Ancient Power again!" Swinub fires Ancient Power right at Onix, but this time it came too fast for Onix to dodge. The rocks hits Onix dead-on. "Now use Mud Bomb!" Swinub forms a huge ball of mud and sends it towards Onix.
"Quickly Onix! Dodge with Dig!" Hapu ordered. Onix dug into the ground, but Onix got hit with Mud Bomb before Onix was even half way down.
"Not this time, Hapu! Swinub! Powder Snow again! Send it down in that hole!" Sora ordered. Swinub fires Powder Snow into the hole Onix had dug into. The cold and icy attack forces Onix out and its entire body is covered in icicles. A glowing, light blue block of ice forms in front of Swinub's nose, and it then fires it at Onix, finishing it. Onix falls to the ground beaten.
"No way! Swinub just learned to use Ice Shard!" Hapu gasped.
"Way to go, Swinub!" Kairi cheered.
"Pika, Pi!" Pikachu also cheered.
"Toge, Toge!" Togepi chirped.
"Pichu!" The Shiny Pichu chirped.
"Pichu, Pi!" The Spiky-eared Pichu added.
"You did great, Swinub!" Sora complemented. Swinub smiled having to hear that from Sora. Swinub then started to evolve. Sora, Kairi, Hapu, and the Pokémon were amazed by the sight. Swinub had evolved into a Piloswine. The newly evolved Piloswine let out a loud cry after evolving.
"Whoa! Piloswine!" Sora cheered.
"Didn't think Swinub was ready to evolving just yet," Kairi said.
"Me neither. And I feel kinda jealous," Hapu admitted.
"Why?" Sora asked.
"Since Piloswine knows Ancient Power, that means Piloswine is gonna evolve at anytime. And you're going to have another cool Pokémon with you. Mamoswine is a Pokémon that I wanted," Hapu pouted. Sora was amazed to hear Piloswine can evolve into a Mamoswine pretty soon.
Soon after the practice battle with Hapu, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Togepi, the Pichu, and the Alolan nine continued on with their journey and their destination towards Olivine City when they all noticed gray clouds in the sky.
"I don't like the looks of all those clouds," Sophocles said.
"Me neither. Those clouds do look very dark You think it's going to rain?" Kairi asked.
"It sure looks like it," Sora said.
They all stopped when the heard what sounds like a camera taking some pictures.
"Do you guys hear that?" Kiawe asked.
"I do. What's that sound?" Lillie asked.
"It sounded like a camera shutter," Illima said.
They went closer to the source of the clicking when they spotted a familiar photographer. He was shooting some pictures of a couple of Bellossom.
"Todd!" Sora and Kairi Todd turns and takes some snapsots of the group.
"Sora, Kairi, Lillie, Illima, Mallow, Kiawe, Lana, Sophocles, Acerola, Mina, and Hapu! I don't believe it!" Todd waved to them.
"It's been a long time," Illima said. Everyone remembered their meeting very well. They couldn't forget when Sophocles mistook his camera for a gun and Todd being set up by Team Rocket to steal Pikachu. Fortunately, their plot was foiled when Red wearing a black hooded cloak came along.
"It sure has! And I can see Pikachu and Togepi are doing great!" Todd said.
"You know it," Sora said. Todd noticed two new additions to the group.
"Pichu! And one of them is a Shiny Pokémon and the other one has a spiky-ear!" Todd said. He snapped some pictures of the two Pichu scaring them. They hid behind Pikachu.
"I don't think they like to have their pictures taken, Todd," Kairi said.
"I guess not. Anyway, what have you guys been up to since I last saw all of you?" Todd asked.
"We've been doing some traveling," Mallow said.
"And we met some pretty interesting Pokémon along the way," Acerola said.
"I heard Sora is the Indigo Platue Pokémon League Champion ! Is that right?" Todd asked.
"You heard right," Lana said.
"I figured as much. I was pretty surprised when I saw heard about it. And when I saw your face in some magazines, I was more surprised than ever," Todd said. Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine knew Sora's popularity was spreading around like wildfire, and it didn't surprise them to hear that one of their old friends would catch wind of Sora's success. "So, what else is new with you guys?"
"Well, Kairi got a taste of being a Pokémon trainer and she's already caught some Pokémon of her own," Sora said.
"And I got pretty good at handling them since then. What pictures have you been taking lately?" Kairi asked.
"I'm glad you asked, Kairi. I have a massive load right here," Todd said taking out a photo album and showing them his latest shots. "Isn't this Bellsprout cute? And look at that sad expression on that Gloom's face. This Weepinbell really cracks me up. And looks at this happy little Hoppip I found."
"Sounds like you've been such a busy little bee, have you?" Mallow asked.
"Looks like your talent has gotten better and you were already a natural," Kiawe said.
"Yeah," Mina said.
"It looks like you've been consentrating on taking photos of Grass Type Pokémon," Lillie said.
"It feels like that I have my share of wild Pokémon photos so far; but the one Pokémon that I want to snap a picture of is the legendary bird Pokémon Articuno," Todd said.
"Articuno?" Sora and Kairi both asked at once.
"Yup. I came around here looking for one," Todd said.
"Why are you searching for Articuno, Todd?" Hapu asked.
"Yesterday, a kid told me that some people in a village nearby said they saw an Articuno," Todd said.
Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all looked among themselves and knew this Articuno had to be real and not counting the one Salnius had used to battle along with his Shadow Zapdos and Shadow Moltres. They also remembered them meeting Mew and its genetic counterpart Mewtwo in a cave at Cerulean City. Also, seeing Solgaleo and Lunala while battling along with Red and Ash against the Shadow King. Sora and Kairi defendly remembered their time traveling experince since meeting Celebi again. Sora definitely remembered meeting Suicune since arriving in Johto.
"What do you say, guys? Would any of you like to experince this for yourselves?" Sora asked.
"We all had a feeling you would say that, Sora. It's not everyday that a legendary Pokémon like Articuno comes our way," Illima said.
"I really wanna see it!" Lana said.
"Me too, me too!" Acerola said unable to contain her excitement.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu chirped. Pikachu felt a snowflake land on his nose and lokked up as a couple more snowflakes dropped by.
"What's the matter, Pikachu? Is something wrong?" Sora asked.
"Pika!" Pikachu said pointing up to the sky. Everyone looked up and saw something falling very fast. "What is that?"
"Could it be a shooting star?" Lana asked.
"I don't think it is a shooting star," Lillie corrected her.
"Whatever it is, it's falling pretty fast," Kiawe said.
"It must be a meteor!" Sophocles said.
"And it's heading right towards us!" Kairi said.
"I think it might be Articuno," Todd said getting his camera ready. "I gotta get a shot of this." Todd pointed the camera at the myterious object when Sora jumped towards him.
"HIT THE DIRT!" Sora shouted moving him out of the way before it could land a hit. The myerious object crashes creating a huge dust cloud..
"Sora!" Kairi cried out.
"I'm okay! And so is Todd!" Sora said.
"That was so very close," Hapu sighed with relief.
"You've said it. My heart was racing," Lana said.
"What the heck was that?" Mallow asked.
"It must really be a meteor," Lillie said.
"I guess it wasn't Articuno afterall," Todd said.
"And it's way too small to be a meteor," Sora pointed out. The dust cloud cleared to reveal a Sunjern frozen in a block of ice. "No way. It's a Sunkern."
"Why is it flying around and how did it end up being frozen in a block of ice?" Lillie asked.
"I don't know, but we have to do something!" Kairi said taking out a pink towel. "We don't have time!"
"I just passed a lodge. We can take it there," Todd said.
"Great! Let' go!" Kairi said. Everyone took off carrying the frozen Sunkern. Unknown to the group, another familair face has popped out from a nearby bush.
"Aha! I the legendary Pokémon Articuno is somewhere around here. It is a golden opportunity to capture it and use its freezing powers as my own! And soon, I, Mad Ivan, scientist extraordinaire shall capture it!' Mad Ivan proclaimed. "But, it is just unfornate that I had to bump into those brats again. I'll have to follow them even further and hope that they'll lead me to it." Mad Ivan cackles evilly as an opportunity for both power and revenge had presented themselves.
The group made it to the lodge Todd was telling his friends about. Outside there happens to be an elderly woman sweeping some dust off the curb.
"There it is!" Todd said.
"We got there in just the knick of time!" Sora said.
"And a very good thing too. I don't know how much longer this little Sunkern can last," Kairi said.
"Excuse us, ma'am!" Lillie called out getting the woman's attention.
"My, you kids seem to be in a hurry," the elderly woman said. "Can I help you with something?"
"We just found this Sunkern and she's frozen solid!" Kairi said showing her the frozen Sunkern.
"Oh, that's terrible! Let's go inside and see what we can do," she said. She and the kids got inside with the frozen seed Pokémon.
"You'll be okay, Sunkern," Kairi said.
"I still can't believe something like this happened," Lillie said.
"Neither can I," Acerola said.
"Now, this shouldn't take long," the elderly woman said. She placed a basin on the table and holding a teapot. "Now place Sunkern in the basin, dear."
"Okay," Kairi said placing the frozen Sunkern in the basin removing the towel. She starts to fill it up with hot water.
"A nice warm bath should do the trick," Sophocles said.
"I'm getting warm just thinking about it," Mallow said.
"Me too," Lana said feeling warmed up just imagining being in a hot spring. The ice block had completely melted and Sunkern beamed at the feeling of being in such a warm bath.
"Kern, Sunkern!" The Sunkern said happily.
"Do you like that, Sunkern?" The elderly lady asked.
"Kern, Sunkern, Sun!" The Sunkern replied.
"I think she really does," Kairi said.
"All that ice only slowed down her metabolism," Lillie said.
Sunkern starts singing in the basin enjoying the bath she is retrieving.
"Oh, that is so cute! Sunkern is singing in the bath," Kairi cooed.
"If her voice is warmed up, the rest of her body must be warmed up too," the elderly lady said.
"If I was taking a nice hot bath, I'd be happy too," Kiawe said.
"And I have to say that all of you have done a noble thing by helping out this little Sunkern," the elderly woman said. "My name is Sophia by the way."
"I'm Sora and this is my girlfriend Kairi," Sora introduced placing his arm arounnd her shoulder.
"Hello," Kairi greeted.
"My name is Lillie."
"I am Illima."
"My name's Mallow."
"I'm Kiawe."
"My name's Lana."
"The name's Sophocles."
"I'm Acerola."
"Mina."
"I'm Hapu."
"And my name is Todd."
"Nice to meet all of you," Sophia said with a smile. "And I was happy to help this little Sunkern since this place is known as the Sunflora Lodge."
"Then it's a good thing we all came here since Sunkern evolves into a Sunflora," Mallow said.
"That is exactly right. And the reason we call it the Sunflora Lodge is..." Sophia paused. She walks over to a bookshelf and takes a couple of photo albums. "Oh well. It is a long and complicated story and I'm sure you young people wouldn't be interested in listening to an old lady reminisce." The group were definitely stuck now and none of them could get out of it. She pours some tea and brought out some snacks. "Of course, it rather interesting and I am more than willing to tell it if you insist."
"We would like to hear it if you're sharing your story," Sora said not wanting to be rude. Before long, Kairi, Todd, and the Alolan nine all started to listen to Sophia's tale.
"I wonder if she's got any string cheese," Sophocles said in his thoughts.
"Well, if you insist. This story began about fifty years ago," Sophia started. "I had a very special man named Marcello and he was leaving to work in another town in just a few months. And he left, we had promised to be married. Many months have passed and Marcello never returned. But still, I waited for him. What I didn't know was Marcello was in the hospital for several months and he has been placed into a coma as a result of an unfortunate accident. But, day after day, week after week, I have waited. Hoped. Finally, I got the letter I have been waiting for. I remember exactly what it said, 'My darling Sophia, please forgive me. I'll be passing through the lodge tomorrow, but if you are in love with another, then I wish you happiness. If you will still have me, stand a Sunflora in front of the lodge, I will will know.' And without any hesitation I ran outside and asked every Pokémon trainer I could find and asked if they had a Sunflora. He had returned and we got married. But, unfortunately, the accident had only weakened Marcello and he sadly passed away. My Marcello was gone forever." The group broke out in tears upon hearing the story.
'Such a beautiful story," Lillie sobbed.
"Yeah," Mina also sobbed.
Sophopholes took a napkin and blew on it.
"Someone took a picture on our first day with the Sunflora. And that's what we looked like fifty years ago tofay," Sophia said showing them the photo.
Mad Ivan who had been following the group also sobbed hearing Sophia's story. He blew his nose on the handkerchief he had stored after using it to wipe away some tears.
"Even Mad Ivan's soul is touched," Mad Ivan sobbed. "And to think I never believed in love and now I am even wiser." Mad Ivan sobbed some more. His wrings his handkerchief and it floews like a waterfall.
"That is some story," Kairi said.
"Yeah. I can bet that you miss your husband so much," Sora said. Everyone was caught off guard when they heard a man laughing.
"Not as much you would expect, sonny. But, she can tell a Wailord of a tale, can she?" The elderly man asked.
Everyone was confused by this. It couldn't be who they it is; is it?
"Who are you?" Sora asked.
"I hate to disappoint you, kids, but my name is Marcello," he introduced. Everyone was surprised by this turn of development.
"GHOST!" Sophocles yelped as he fainted and fell on his back. Hapu pats his cheeks to get him back to consciousness.
"Sophocles, Sophocles. Wake up. It's not a ghost," Hapu said patting his cheek.
"I apologize for my wife and for scaring your friend like that. My wife just loves romance stories and loves to put herself and me in 'em," Marcello.
"What did you think of that one, dear?" Sophia asked her husband.
"It had me tearing up," Marcello said. They shared a laugh together. Sora leaned over to Kairi.
"Your grandma dosen't do that, does she?" Sora asked.
"No she doesn't. But, she would tell me stories about her and grandpa when I was younger," Kairi stated.
"I didn't think so. I had to make sure," Sora said.
"Hey, is Sophocles okay?" Todd asked.
"He's just fine. He just dosen't like being scared like that. Especially when it comes to ghosts," Kiawe said.
"I will admit, I was ensnared by her story," Illima said. Todd took a look at the photo.
"This is an interesting picture. Are all these Sunflora real?" Todd asked.
"Oh yes. The Sunflora have been coming by here for years and years because of the weather," Sophia said.
"It has always been warm here down at the south slope in this time of year and the Sunflora always spent the winter there," Marcello said.
"And after we got married, we took a picture and we had our picture taken once a year for forty-nine years," she said showing their young guests the photos. They looked through the photos and saw them with so many Sunflora in the background.
"Look at this," Mallow said amazed.
"So many Sunflora. So very sunny," Lana said.
"There has to be even more Sunflora than we can even count," Sophocles said.
"This year is going to be your golden anniversary," Kiawe said.
"That should make an extra special picture," Lillie said. The elderly couple frowned hearing it from the blonde.
"Well, yes," Sophia said bluntly. Sora and Kairi caught a whiff something was wrong.
"Hundreds of Sunflora. That'll make a pretty good picture. I'm a photographer and I will be honored to take your for your golden anniversary," Todd offered.
"I'm afraid there won't be a picture this year," Marcello said.
"Huh? Why not?" Todd asked.
"We would love one, but the south slopes have been unusually cold this year," Sophia said.
"And for the first time in fifty years, there hasn't been a single Sunflora," Marcello said.
"You mean, they're just gone?" Lana asked.
"Too bad. I would like to see all those Sunflora," Kairi said.
"Yeah me too," Sora agreed.
"We should go up to the south slope and take your picture anyway," Todd suggested. Marcello and Sophia looked at him with surprise.
"You know, he's right. Is is our anniversary tradion after all, Marcello, " Sophia said.
"Sunflora or no Sunflora, we should go up to the south slopes and have our picture taken," Marcello said.
"That's a great idea, Todd," Kairi said. "And I think my Sunflora should be a part of this." Sora smiled taking out his Pokédex.
"I had a feeling you would say that. And I couldn't agree with you more," Sora said handing the Pokédex to his girlfriend. Kairi had accessed her app on the Pokédex and exchanged Raichu for Sunflora. Once the Pokéballs were switched, Kairi sent Sunflora out of her Pokéball.
"Sunflora, flora, flora," Sunflora said.
"That's also a great idea, Kairi," Illima said.
"My, that's quite a beautiful Sunflora you raised, dearie," Sophia said.
"Thanks. I had her when I caught her as a Sunkern. Sora used the Sun Stone he won at the Bug Catching Contest to make her evolution possible," Kairi said.
"Like I said, I won that Sun Stone for you," Sora said.
"And I really appreciate it, Sora," Kairi said lovingly. Sora smiled as he took her by the hand. Todd and Alolan nine smiled warmly as they pictured them as they elderly couple before them. Marcello and Sophia could see it as well.
"I can just picture them in Marcello and Sophia's place in fifty years," Acerola whispered to Mina.
"Yeah," Mina said.
A little while later, they couple had a change of clothes and prepared to head to the south slopes. Kairi's Sunflora decided to carry Sunkern the whole way. Kairi understood the special connection her Sunflora was having with her pre-evolved form.
"Is everybody ready to get going?" Marcello asked.
"Ready as we'll ever be," Sora said.
"Pika, Pikachu," Pikachu added.
"And maybe, while we're up there, we can figure out what happened to the Sunflora," Mallow said.
"It would be worth looking into," Kiawe said.
"Now, before we go, I should get a bon voyage shot," Todd said as he readied his camera. Everyone stood still for Todd to take his picture. Sora scrunched up his nose just for fun. "Sora, don't scrunch up your nose." Sora unscrunched his nose. "Perfect." Todd snaps the picture.
"Alright everyone, let's get going," Marcello said. Not needing to be told twice, everyone took off towards the south slopes. Mad Ivan watched them leave from on top of the roof.
"I know exactly what happened to those Sunflora. I have no doubt the cold weather is Articuno's doung. I shall continue following them and then take a chance for revenge while I am at it," Mad Ivan said snickering.
While the group headed up to the south slope, the elderly couple had some questions to ask about Sora and Kairi.
"Now Sora. You mentioned you and Kairi are together. I hope you don't mind if I would ask how you two have met," Sophia wondered. Sora blushed a bit while Kairi giggled.
"I can field this one, Sora," Kairi said. Sora chuckled nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "Sora and I actually met just when Sora got started as a Pokémon trainer."
"Is that so?" Sophia asked.
"Yeah. Things didn't turn out like I planned. I kinda messed up on my very first try. And Pikachu didn't exactly help out," Sora said. Pikachu gave his trainer a look and Sora noticed. "Don't give me the stink eye; you know it's true."
"Pi," Pikachu stuck his tongue out.
"Out on the same day, I was on a nature walk outside the city I grew up in while living with my grandma. I spotted a Caterpie in a cage. I bashed the lock with a rock and he was set free. And that was when a couple of Pokémon hunters came and kidnapped me," Kairi said.
"Pokémon hunters?" Todd asked surprised.
"How deadful," Sophia said.
"Those guys had a flock of an entire Spearow by their side and they sicced them on me and Pikachu. We both managed to end up at their camp. And that's when I met Kairi here," Sora said.
"He saved my life and I instantly fell for him," Kairi said.
"So it was love at first sight," Marcello said.
"Well, Pikachu got hurt pretty bad by their Spearow, but we managed to beat them and get Pikachu healed up," Sora said.
"It was just the two of us at first, but we met up with nine of them and we've been traveling together since," Kairi said. "We became offically a couple when we both confessed our feelings to each other. I will admit that we both worried that one of us wouldn't feel the same way as the other would."
"It was pretty obvious when we first met first them," Kiawe said.
"Lillie got a glimpse of their first kiss and we missed it," Mallow pouted. Lana also pouted.
"Yeah," Mina also pouted.
Lillie blushed at the memory. She had to admit, it wouldn't be possible if she and the other girls didn't encourage her.
"I was wondering how two met each other since we met, but I never got a chance to ask since I was tricked by Team Rocket to take Pikachu when they thought I actully caught Pokémon for real," Todd said. He felt ashamed that he unkowingly played a role in an attempted theft of a Pokémon until a hooded figure came along and foiled their plot.
"It's okay, Todd. You didn't know you were duped," Sora said.
Todd felt better to know how forgiving Sora was to him despite getting off on the wrong foot. Sophocles even forgave him for what happened since what happed during their first meeting was a misunderstanding. Of course, he knew anybody would have made that mistake.
"So, how much further is the south slope?" Haapu asked changing the subject.
"We're actually close to it," Sophia said. "And there it is. That's the south slope." Sora, Kairi, Todd, the Alolan nine and the Pokémon looked at the south slope and saw brown and gritty it was.
"Just a few weeks ago, the slopes were covered with even more Sunflora than we can even count," Marcello said.
"Wow. No wonder the Sunflora dosen't come here anymore," Todd said "It's all gloomy here."
Without warning it started to snow. Everyone weren't expecting any snow on the slopes so soon.
"It's starting to snow," Lillie said.
"And I didn't pack my snow boots," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"This reminds me of the first time Marcello and I first came up here in the winter. Don't you remember, dear?" Sophia asked her husband. He chuckles.
"Of course, my dear," Marcello said.
"I slipped to the side and Marcello grabbed my hand before I completely fell off. I urged him to let me go or we would both perish," Sophia said.
"And I said that my life would be worthless without you, my darling Sophia," Marcello said. "I pulled you up and carried you into my arms." The elderly couple embraced each other into each other's arms. Sora, Kairi, Todd, and The Alolan nine were moved by their story once again.
"Yep, that'll be Sora and Kairi in a nutshell," Acerola said.
"Yeah," Mina said.
"Love is stronger than the harshness of winter," Lillie said.
"Wait a minute," Sora started to speak. "If you two crossed a bridge to get here, then how come we didn't?" Marcello and Sophia stopped their embrace.
"I guess you got us again," Sophia said with a light laugh.
"The story itself is true, but it didn't happen to us," Marcello admutted..
"I only saw it happen to one of those reality shows," Sophia added.
"D'oh!" Sora shouted facepalmed.
"Fooled us again," Lana said.
The snow was staring to get even heavier than before.
"Guys, the snow is getting even heavier than before," Todd pointed out.
"It's too early for snow!" Illima said.
"And it dosen't look natural," Hapu said.
"I wonder if there's a connection to this weather and whatever made this Sunkern freeze," Kairi said.
"Sunflora," Sunflora shivered.
Everyone heard what sounds like a machine and they saw what looks like a tank erupting snow.
"That machine must be making it snow!" Sophocles said.
"Who would do such a thing?" Marcello asked. Suddenly, Mad Ivan appeared before the group on a jetpack.
"Greetings and salutations, you annoying little neophytes! It has been such a long time since we last met! But, not long enough as it seems!" Mad Ivan stated.
"Mad Ivan!" Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all exclaimed.
"Pika!" Pikachu also exclaimed.
"I didn't think we'd ever see you again!" Sora hissed at the scientist.
"Do you know this guy?" Todd asked.
"Unfortunately yes," Sora said.
"Mad Ivan is a mad scientist who specializes with Ghost Type Pokémon. He also goes around trying to steal Pokémon and use them as living weapons for his chance for world domination," Lillie explained.
"And I can bet my money this creepazoid is who is behind this!" Hapu stated.
"Actually, I played no role for the weather condition, whatsoever. But, I am certain that the legendary Pokémon Articuno is around here," Mad Ivan said.
"And you're here to snag Articuno just to make it your weapon!" Sora said almost yelling.
"You're wasting your time if you think we're going to tell you where Artucuno is!" Kairi said.
"I have no intention of interrogating any of you. Instead, I came here to have my absolute revenge for always foiling my plans since we last met!" Mad Ivan said. He took out three of his Pokéballs to attack. "Gengar! Dhelmise, Pallosand!" The three Pokéballs opens and lets out his three Ghost Type Pokémon.
"Wow! A Gengar, a Dhelmise, and a Pallosand. I gotta get a picture. Don't move now," Todd said getting his camera ready. He snaps some pictures of the three ghost Pokémon. "Got it! Ghost Type Pokémon are pretty hard to snap pictures of."
"Now to let it snow!" Mad Ivan said as he pressed the button on a remote control he took out. A flurry of snow fired at the group. Mad Ivan cackles madly. "Let the storm rage on!"
"And I thought Team Rocket played dirty!" Sora exclaimed holding onto Kairi. Marcello did the same for his wife.
"Remember the last time we were caught in a storm like this, darling?" Sophia asked her husband.
"Yes I do," Marcello responded. Sora sighed.
"Here we go again," Sora said under his breath.
"The blizzard was so harsh and fierce, I grew weak from the cold. I couldn't go on and urged him to go on ahead," Sophia said.
"I don't think, it's time or appropriate for storytelling," Lillie said.
"And it's also too cold to hear it," Sora said turning to his girlfriend. "Let's say we turn up the heat!" Sora out Quilava's Pokéball.
"I couldn't agree with you more!" Kairi said taking out Magby's Pokéball.
"Go Quilava!" Sora shouted throwing his Pokéball. The Pokéball opens and lets Quilava out to battle.
"Go Magby!" Kairi shouted letting her Magby join the battle. Kiawe knew the couple had the right idea. He took out his two Pokéballs.
"Three can play at this! Marowak! Turtonator! Go!" Kiawe shouted throwing his Pokéballs. Marowak twirls his bone and Turtonator snorts out flames upon entry. "Marowak! Flare Blitz on that machine!" Marowak taps his bone on his head a few times and his bone ignites light green flames. Marowak charges towards the snow making machine covered with light green fire.
"Oh no you don't! Dhelmise! Stop that Marowak Anchor Shot!" Mad Ivan ordered. Dhelmise lengthens its chain with the anchor at the end and swirls it around a few times before throwing the anchor to stop Marowak completely.
"Turtonator! Shell Trap!" Kiawe ordered. Turtonator rushed and had his shell spikes glow. The Anchor made contact with his shell before resulting in an explosion. The anchor is sent back to its owner and smacks itself. Marowak successfully destroys Mad Ivan's machine.
"Aah! Dhelmise! And my machine!" The scientist gasped. He growled at the Fire Pokémon trainer. "You'll pay for that, you annoying little firebug!"
"Quilava! Flamethrower!" Sora ordered.
"Magby! Incinerate!" Kairi ordered.
Quilava fired Flamethrower while Magby fired Incinerate turning it into a combo attack.
"Pallosand! Sand Tomb!" Mad Ivan ordered. Pallosand fires a torando of sand and blocks the combo fire attack. Acerola decided to join in and took out Mismagius's Pokéball.
"Go Mismagius!" Acerola shouted throwing her Pokéball. The Pokéball opens and Mismagius anxiously awaits orders. "Use your Magical LLeaf on Pallosand!" Mismagius send out Magical Leaf and the multicolored leaves hits the sand castle Pokémon. The combo attack got through and overcomes Pallosand and Dhelmise.
"My babies!" Mad Ivan exclaimed. He calls back his fallen Pokémon. "Damn you brats! You can't do that to my babies and get away with it!" He turns to his Gengar and it looks back at its trainer. "Gengar! Dark Pulse!" Gengar fired its attack and it knocks out both Quilava and Magby, but Mismagius manages to avoid it. Sora and Kairi calls them both back. The little Sunkern flies out of Sunflora's leaves and her eyes glows yellow and sunlight shines melting all the snow.
"Did you guys just see that? Sunkern just used Sunny Day!" Sophocles cheered.
"We all did!" Hapu added. Kairi turned to her Sunflora.
"You ready for a battle, Sunflora?" Kairi asked.
"Flora," Sunflora nodded.
"Shall I join in, Kairi?" Sora asked taking out another Pokéball.
"You shall," Kairi said.
"That's my girl. Go Meltan!" Sora threw his Pokéball and the Pokéball opens letting the hex nut Pokémon out. Meltan spins its hex nut head upon entry. Todd, Sophia, Marcello, and Mad Ivan were surprised to see such a tiny Pokémon. They knew it was something they never saw before.
"Wow! What kind of Pokémon is that?!" Todd asked excited.
"Meltan," Sophocles said. "And if you didn't get it, it's actually a new kind of Pokémon that was recently discovered."
"A new kind of Pokémon... I have got to get a picture of this," Todd said as he readied his camera and took a picture.
"Incredible. Not even I know what kind of Pokémon it is and those little parasites had discovered it?! I must acquire it!" Mad Ivan stated. "Gengar! Get that Pokémon!" Gengar heads towards the hex nut Pokémon to snatch it.
"Meltan! Flash Cannon!" Sora ordered.
"Sunflora! Solar Beam!" Kairi ordered.
Meltan had fired Flash Cannon and Sunflora's yellow petals had glowed and fired right at the shadow Pokémon. Gengar is caught in the blast and sent back to Mad Ivan as he goes flying in the air.
"YOU HAVEN'T THE LAST OF MAD IVAN, SCIENTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE!" Mad Ivan yelled as he and his Pokémon go flying. A star twinkles in the distance.
"I don't doubt it for a second," Sora said. He turned to Kairi with a smile. "Gotta hand it to you, Kairi, your Sunflora's Solar Beam was awesome!"
"Thanks Sora. Meltan's Flash Cannon was spot on!" Kairi complemented.
"Thanks. But Mad Ivan might have beaten us if it weren't for that little Sunkern's Sunny Day chasing away all those clouds," Sora said.
Todd snaps a picture of Sunkern floating around in the air.
"Picture perfect!" Todd said happily. He walks up to Sora. "Also, Meltan is such an amazing Pokémon. I was wondering if I could have a few snapshots, if that's okay with you. Sora smiles.
"Sure thing, Todd. I think Meltan deserves a pot in the spotlight," Sora turned to look at Meltan only to find it gone. "Hey, where did it go?"
"I think I have an idea, Sora," Kairi said. She points to Meltan helping itself some of the debris from the wreckage. Sora and Kairi shared a laugh. "I shouldn't be surprised to see Meltan eatin all that metal."
"I know. Meltan is like a Munchlax when it comes to metal," Kairi said. The younger couple both laughed as they watched Meltan enjoy and savor the metal from the remains of Mad Ivan's machine.
"That's it, Meltan. Keep eating," Todd said snapping some pictures. Everyone was just amazed by how much metal one little Pokémon was able to eat. Meltan came across a Sun Stone and sniffed it to see it was metal, but tossed the evolutionary stone aside. The stone landed right in front of Sora's feet.
"A Sun Stone?" Sora asked picking it up. Sora suddenly got an idea.
"Well, the snow may have melted and the sun is out, but I'm afraid the Sunflora may be gone forever," Marcello said.
"Yes, that's true. I miss them too, but we can still keep a beautiful snapshot of them in our hearts," Sophia said. "Also we have Kairi's Sunflora to take part of this."
"You're right, dear," Marcello agreed.
"How about we evolve this Sunkern into a Sunflora?" Sora suggested holding the Sun Stone Meltan had found. Illima nodded in agreement.
"A great idea, Sora. Sunkern does evolve into Sunflora with a Sun Stone," Illima stated. Sora approached Sunkern and placed the evolutionary stone in place and Sunkern landed on the Sun Stone. Sunkern then evolved into a Sunflora.
"Sunflora, flora! Sunflora, flora!" The newly evolved Sunflora called out. Before long, more have been calling back.
"You hear that?" Kiawe asked.
"I do," Lana said.
"I think it might be an echo," Sophocles said.
"Maybe not," Illima said. He looked into the distance and saw something approaching. "Look!" He pointed to the upcoming figures, revealed to be a whole bunch of Sunflora.
"Whoa! Sunflora!" Mallow said in awe.
"There has to be more than we can count," Kairi said.
"They must have heard the new Sunflora calling them to come back," Lillie guessed.
As the Sunflora had gathered, the whole south slope began to turn green again. The grass started to regrow. Kairi's Sunflora and the newly evolved Sunflora joined the bunch.
"It's so wonderful," Sophia said.
"Yes. But, it's almost as wonderful as everyday with you, my love," Marcello said. The couple embraced each other. Sora placed around Kairi's shoulder making her blush.
"It's so nice to see them so happy like this," Kairi said.
"Yeah it is," Sora agreed.
"They're still in so much love even after fifty years," Kairi said. Kairi didn't doubt how happy about how her grandparents felt when they were younger. Sora even had the same thoughts about his parents. He placed his hand on his crown necklace.
"Okay you two. Get in the same position you were in fifty years ago," Todd told them. The elderly couple got into place between Kairi's Sunflora and the newly evolved Sunflora.
"How's this, Todd?" Marcello and Sophia asked.
"Beautiful!" Todd said taking the picture. As he took the snapshot, he spotted what looks like a blue bird-like shadow flying across the sky.
"Todd? What's wrong?" Lillie asked.
"I think I saw what looks like an Articuno fly by," Todd said.
"Articuno?" Sora and Kairi asked.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked.
"Pichu," the two Pichu pitched in.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Maybe you just imagined it," Sora said.
"Maybe not. Mad Ivan did mention Articuno bringing the cold weather to the south slope," Illima said.
"Yeah, that does make sense," Sophocles said.
"And that might account for the frozen Sunkern," Kiawe said.
"We should go find Articuno and I can snap a picture of it!" Todd said.
"Great idea!" Acerola said.
"We should all head out and find it together," Sora said.
"Great!" Todd said excitedly.
Todd had the photos developed and handed the photo he shot for Marcello and Sophia and gave it to them. They said their goodbyes to the elderly couple and proceeded on with their journey. Kairi's Sunflora waved goodbye to her fellow Sunflora as well.
Meanwhile somewhere in the mountains, he pops his head out of the snow.
"Mad Ivan does not give up so easily! Articuno will be mine and use its freezing power for my total conquest! And the same can be said for that mysterious little Pokémon as well! Once I get them both, then I, Mad Ivan, scientist extraordinaire shall rule the world!" Mad Ivan cackles as he puts his next plan into motion.
It looks like the hunt for Articuno has begun. How will Sora and the others stop Mad Ivan from capturing Articuno? Just keep reading and find out.