Episode 135: Freeze Frame
A whole day had passed since running into Todd and the legendary Pokémon Articuno had been rumored to have been sighted. Sora, Kairi, Todd, Pikachu, Togepi, the Pichu, and the Alolan nine were getting closer to the tall mountain where Articuno had been said to roost. Sora had let out Noctowl and Gligar to check into it. Todd brought out his binoculars and peaked through them.
"You sure you saw Articuno around here, Todd?" Mallow asked. Todd lowered his binoculars.
"I know I did. It flew right towards that mountain," Todd said pointing to the mountain.
"It's no surprise. Snowtop Mountain is said to one of the sightings of Articuno. And it's feezing all year round," Lillie said.
"I can see why that is," Sora said. Noctowl comes right back. "Find anything, Noctowl?" Noctowl shook his head in response. Sora sighed. "At least you tried, Noctowl."
"How could it be? I saw it fly this way. I know I did," Todd stated. Sora places his hand on Todd's shoulder.
"If you said you saw Articuno fly over here, I believe you. And we're with you to the end. You have my word, Todd," Sora told the young photographer. Todd felt better and nodded as he smiled.
"You're right, Sora. Not gonna give up just yet," Todd said.
"We're all with you, Todd," Sophocles said.
"Sophocles is right. You started this and we're gonna help you finish it," Acerola said.
"Thanks guys. And you're right. I won't give up just yet," Todd said. Just when they were about to keep going, Kairi saw Gligar fly back.
"Guys! Gligar's coming back!" Kairi told everyone. They all saw the fly scorpion Pokémon come right back to them.
"Gligar! Did you find anything!" Sora asked his Pokémon. Gligar nodded and pointed to his right. Figured you would, Gligar!" He turned to his friends. "Everyone follow Gligar!"
"Pika!" Pikachu added.
The Pokémon trainers and photograper followed Gligar even further in Snowtop Mountain. Gligar landed on the ground as everyone made a stop and gasped at what they saw. It was a Cubone frozen in a block of ice.
"A Cubone?" Lana asked.
"And it's frozen in a block of ice," Lillie said.
"Odd. Cubone don't normally wonder around in areas with snow. It's possible, it may have gotten lost," Illima said.
"Cubone is a Ground Type Pokémon; and ice and snow wouldn't be very ideal for them," Mallow said.
"And I have a pretty good idea on how Cubone got frozen in the first place. It has to be Articuno that did this," Todd guessed.
"I think you're right. How are gonna get Cubone out?" Sora asked. Kairi stepped in taking out Magby's Pokéball.
"I know how. Magby! Go!" Kairi said throwing her Pokéball. The Pokéball opens and lets out Magby. "Okay Magby, use your Ember to thaw out Cubone." Magby shoots Ember at the block of ice making the ice block melt. Cubone shook itself dry. Kairi handed Togepi to her boyfriend and walked up with a blanket to keep warm. "There, there now. Does that feel better?"
"Cubone, bone," Cubone said shivering.
"You poor girl. I'll keep you warm. I promise you that," Kairi said. Cubone looked up to the auburn haired girl's face and saw her smiling at her. Under her skull mask she smiled back at her. Todd snapped a picture of the shivering Cubone.
"There!" Todd said satisfied. "Think you can ask Cubone if she had seen Articuno, Kairi?"
"I can try," Kairi said. She looked to the lonely Pokémon in her arms. "Cubone, do you know where a bird Pokémon called Articuno go to? I'm only asking because we want to know."
"Cubone, the Cubone said pointing to the mountain.
"So that's it. Articuno must have headed up to Snowtop Mountain," Kiawe said.
"You were right, Todd. It was Articuno heading up there," Sora said.
Meanwhile further up Snowtop Mountain, Mad Ivan is seen climbing up the mountain with some minature picks and ropes to help him climb up. He laughs with glee.
"Yes. I know you came here to Snowtop Mountain, Articuno! Once I get hold you, then you shall serve Mad Ivan, scientist extraordinaire!" Mad Ivan proclaimed climbing up the mountain. Just when he kept climbing, a Spearow grabs the pick on his right hand. "Hey! Give me back that pick this minute, you flying turkey!" He winced when a dozen more Spearow fly around the scientist. "Musn't make a careless move. Just gotta grab either Gastly's, Haunter's, or Gengar's Pokéball and let out whosever I grab and then, let them deal with them." Mad Ivan moved slowly, but the Spearow started to peck him pretty fast. "Hey! Stop that! Stop pecking me, you dirty birds! Don't do that!" A couple of Spearow pecked at the bolt above him and it makes him fall. "No!" Mad Ivan shouted taking a fall. "Can this be the untimely end of Mad Ivan! scientist extraordinaire?!" Mad Ivan screams as he plummets down the mountain.
Meanwhile, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Togepi, the Pihu, Todd, and the Alolan nine walk down the path to get to the mountain. The group is joined by Cubone, whom is walking next to Kairi. She knew that the lonely Pokémon had already liked her and she wanted to stick around. Sora took Kairi's hand as he gave a small chuckle.
"You know, this Cubone kinda reminds me of the one we met back in Lavender Town way back," Sora remembered.
"Why bring that up?" Mallow asked.
"I think it was right after all of us met Sora and Kairi," Lillie pointed out. "We made a stop at the Pokémon House ran by Mr. Fuji."
"Right. It's a housing facility for abandoned and orphaned Pokémon, if I remember right," Illima said.
"You remembered it right, Illima," Kairi said.
"Really? I only heard of Mr. Fuji, but I never really met him," Todd said.
"You never met Mr. Fuji?" Mina asked.
"No," Todd answered shaking his head. "Like I said, I only heard of him, but I met some people who used to work for him as volunteers."
"We only met him twice before," Sora said. "The first time was when Team Rocket had taken over the Pokémon Tower and tried to make it their secret base. But, it wasn't so secret when everyone already knows about it."
"Yeah. And unlike Jessie, James, and Meowth, those other guys were tough," Hapu said.
"And we gave them the heav-ho and many of them ended up in jail," Sophocles added. Todd thought of something for a moment.
"You mentioned a Cubone back in Lavender Town, Sora. Was this Cubone you met abandoned or orphaned?" Todd asked. That question made Sora sigh.
"The Cubone I was talking about was an orphan. It's mother, A Marowak, died trying to protect her baby from some Team Rocket members. Mr. Fuji was the one who found him and brought him to the Pokémon House. Cubone became so very distant, so he sht his heart out from the rest of the world," Sora explained. That made Todd gasp, not believing what he was hearing.
"No way," Todd said in disbelief.
"Mr. Fuji was the only one Cubone opened up to; but, that kinda chaned when Kairi comforted him to the best of her abilities," Sora said. Kairi's eyes filled with tears remembering that experience. She looked to the Cubone right into the bone carrying Pokémon's eyes.
"I don't doubt it. I've seen how she is with her Togepi and her other Pokémon," Todd said.
Just when the group kept going, Lillie spotted something and she made a stop.
"Everyone look," Lillie said pointing to something. Everyone did stop and saw two Stantler not too far from them. One Stantler was smaller than the other, so they figured it was a parent and a child.
"Stantler. Two of them," Sophocles said.
"I think it's a mama and her baby," Mallow said.
"Toge, Toge, Togepi!" Togepi chirped.
"This'll be great!" Todd said taking their picture. The two Stantler pranced away. Todd felt proud for the picture he had taken. "Maybe I'll print up a whole bunch of 'em and make 'em into Christmas cards."
"Those will sell great!" Sora said. He already imagined getting one of those for Kairi just to celebrate the holidays.
"Pika!" Pikachu said pointing to something. Everyone turned to see what Pikachu was pointing at.
"A Pokémon Center!" Lana said.
"I didn't think there was one all the way up here," Sora said.
"Me neither. But, I'm already getting warm just thinking about drinking some hot cocoa and sitting by a nice warm fire," Sophocles beamed feeling warm.
"Yeah, me too," Kiawe said.
"Our Pokémon could use a rest though," Kairi said.
"And we can rest our feet," Acerola said.
"Yeah," Mina agreed.
The group went up to the Pokémon Center and they all noticed a sign just outside of it.
"Guys, there must something on the bulletin board," Kiawe said.
"Welcome trainers, this the Snowtop Pokémon Center; the highest Pokémon Center in the world," Sora read. "And no wonder."
"Sora, Kairi! How about you two stand close to the sign and I take a picture?" Todd suggested. Sora and Kairi liked that idea.
"That sounds fun," Kairi said. She grabs Sora by the arm. "Come on, Sora! Let's have Todd take our picture. Please?" Sora looked into Kairi's eyes and saw they were really pleading for him to have a picture with her. Seeing no way out of it, he caves in.
"Okay, okay. You can have our picture together. I do want to see you happy," Sora said. Kairi grins happily knowing Sora would cave in so easily.
"Works every time," Kairi said.
"Okay you two, get ready," Todd told the couple.
"How's this?" Sora and Kairi asked. They got behind the sign with Sora's arm around Kairi's shoulder and her head on his shoulder.
"Perfect! Now hold it!" Todd said. He took the picture and the flash made them blink several times. "Now how about one more. But this time, how about Kairi kisses Sora on the cheek. Get ready!" Todd got his camera ready and Kairi gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek just in time for Todd to snap a picture. "Beautiful!"
The Alolan nine weren't surprised that Todd had asked them to do that. The girls all giggled to themselves like little girls.
"I think you took that one just so they can have something to remember the occasion," Kiawe said. He and Sophocles both shared a laugh, making the couple stick their tongues at them.
Just then, Officer Jenny came rolling in on a snowmobile.
"Oh, Officer Jenny. Hey," Sora greeted.
"Hi kids. Let's go warm up," Officer Jenny said.
"Good idea. Because Kiawe's here probably shivering so much since going shirtless all the time," Sora joked.
"Hey! I just forgot to pack a jacket, okay?" Kiawe snapped at him. The group laughed at his expense. "Not funny."
Once everyone got inside, they warmed by the heater to keep warm. The group explained to the policewoman that they were looking for Articuno for Todd to snap a picture. In the meantime, Togepi started to play with Cubone. Kairi giggled at the sight and saw how cute it is.
"Do you like your new friend, Togepi?" Kairi asked.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi nodded.
"Cubone, bone," Cubone added.
The two Pichu joined in by jumping on Cubone from behind. The four little Pokémon shared a laugh.
"It's not surprising to see those little guys getting along well with the new girl of the bunch," Sora said with a joke. He turned to the young photographer. "What's up, Todd?"
"I was just thinking. Just looking at that mountain, it's going to be much harder to get a picture of Articuno than I thought," Todd said.
"Don't worry, Todd. We'll get it somehow," Kairi said.
"Kairi's right. We came all this way to make that happen," Mallow said.
"The question is, how are gonna get a picture of Articuno, anyway?" Sophocles asked.
"Good question," Acerola said. Everyone thought for a moment. Sophocles then got an idea.
"Wait a minute! I've got it! How about we get Kairi let out Jigglypuff and her sing!" Sophocles suggested. "We can have her Jigglypuff sing a song for Articuno and it'll fall right asleep. And Todd can snap a picture!"
"Problem! Jigglypuff's song will put us all to sleep with Articuno too," Sora said. Sophocles realized how right he was and he remembered the first time it happened.
"Okay, you're right. Well, it was a pretty good idea," Sophocles said.
"No it wasn't! It was a dumb idea!" Hapu said.
"I appreciate your suggestion, but even if I could stay awake, I wouldn't want to snap a picture while it was asleep," Todd said.
"Good for you, Todd. It's not enough to catch a picture sleeping legendary Pokémon. Also, it'll be best if you could get it while it's flying," Kiawe said.
Just when the group was talking, Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny walks up to the group.
"Officer Jenny tells me that you're looking for Articuno, is that right?" Nurse Joy asked them.
"Yes, that's right," Lillie said.
"I just saw Articuno fly up here yesterday!" Todd told them.
"Well, that's not too surprising," Officer Jenny said.
"Articuno has been coming here far longer than anyone can remember," Nurse Joy added.
The group were pretty surprised by what the two young women had told the group.
"Wait a minute! You mean you know about the Articuno?!" Sora exclaimed.
"Yes," Nurse Joy nodded. "Come with us and we'll show you."
Sora, Kairi, the Alolan nine, and Todd followed them both while Pikachu gestured the little Pokémon to follow along. When they stepped outside, the nurse and policewoman led the group to a shrine of Articuno. They were very amazed by how the statue looked. It looked exactly like how they imagined it.
"A statue of Articuno?" Sora asked.
"It looks so lifelike," Lana said.
"Could it be how whoever carved this statue saw it?" Illima asked.
"It is. This statue was carved more than 1,200 years ago. Ever since then, Articuno has been a familair sight around here," Officer Jenny said.
"Travelers say Articuno watches them over them on their journeys," Nurse Joy added.
"I'd belive that," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu added.
"There are some people say that the Articuno still has nests in all the highest mountains in the coldest places. And that it flies from nest to nest bringing winter weather with it," Officer Jenny said.
"Snowtop is a very high mountain and it's very cold too. That's the reason why people say it has a nest up here as well," Nurse Joy said.
"There are lots of stories and legends about Articuno; and it's no wonder it's called a legendary Pokémon," Officer Jenny said.
"Maybe, it's just a legend about those travelers, but I know I saw one fly up here," Todd said.
"At least one of the traveler's story is true; there's a diary from one of the people who carved the statue that said Articuno rescued him and lots of others," Officer Jenny said.
"Rescued?" Sora asked surprised.
"Pika?" Pikachu also asked.
"You mean Articuno saved those people?" Kairi asked just as surprised.
"Maybe that's what it's doing up here now," Todd guessed.
Everyone let the story of the Articuno sink in as they were amazed by how Articuno rescued so many people in the last 1,200 years. They couldn't help but wonder how many the legendary bird of ice had rescued over the centuries.
Over to the mountain, Mad Ivan managed to land on a ledge and his heart was beating faster than a drum and breathing heavily not believing he survived such a fall.
"For a moment there, my life was flashing before my eyes. Everything from the day of my birth to right to this very moment," Mad Ivan said to himself. "Well, there is only one silver lining; it cannot get any worse than this." Suddenly, it began to snow. "I had to say it, didn't I?" The snowfall then suddenly turned into a blizzard. "Oh! Curse me and my bad luck! How could my life turn into such a fiasco?! I did everything absolutely right and what do I get in return?! It's bad enough I get humiliated by some brats, but I get stuck into a blizzard!" Just when Mad Ivan was close to sudden doom, a glowing blue image of a bird appears before the scientist. "WHAT IN THE WORLD?! WHO'S THERE?!"
Back to the Articuno shrine...
"Legend has it that three travelers were stranded on the mountain, but an Articuno found them and led them to safety," Nurse Joy explained.
"Then a year later, the same three carved the statue and brought it here, thanking and honoring Articuno for saving their lives," Officer Jenny concluded.
"If an Articuno lived here, then it has to be the same Articuno and it still lives by," Mallow said.
"Yeah," Mina said.
"I gotta go find one!" Todd said determined.
"If we all work together, we will find Articuno," Sora said.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"I don't think you realize how difficult it is to climb an icy mountain like Snowtop. It's very dangerous," Nurse Joy warned them.
"Nurse Joy's right. We've been in sticky situations before and this one will be no different from the others," Acerola said.
"Then, one mistake we make while going up there might be our last," Sora said. He strokes his chin. He knew Acerola was right about them being in dangerous situations before, but they already came this far and it was too late to turn back. Suddenly, it started to get colder as it starts snowing and he starts shivering. "Lillie. Snowy's still in her Pokéball, isn't she?"
"Yes she is. Why?" Lillie asked.
"Just checking," Sora said.
"Cubone!" Cubone exclaimed.
"Pichu!" The two Pichu's ears perked up.
"Pika!" Pikachu's ears also perked up.
"Pikachu?" Sora asked, then that's when it hits him. "The Pokémon all sense something."
"Maybe Articuno's coming!" Todd said as he readied his camera. The snowfall then turns into a blizzard. Cubone was close to being blown away, but Kairi saved her while tucking Togepi in her backpack.
"I've got you, Cubone!" Kairi said grabbing the lonely Pokémon. "I won't let anything happen to you!" Cubone held on tight. Kairi held Cubone's bone in her hand, not wanting her to lose it.
"Let's not take any chances! Let's all head back to the Pokémon Center!" Officer Jenny suggested.
"Couldn't agree with you more!" Sophocles agreed.
"Todd! Come on!" Sora said holding onto Pikachu with his eyes shut.
"There's something out there!" Todd said still holding his camera. Sora opened his eyes. "I can just feel it!" In a brief moment, Articuno flies up in the sky, having to drop something. "That looked like-!" The blizzard then ceased.
"What was that about?" Hapu asked.
"I don't know, but I'm glad that's over," Lana said.
"That has to be a mini-blizzard," Sora said.
"But, it dumped more than snow," Todd said looking at the something Articuno left behind. Sora took a look and saw that it wasn't a something; it was more like someone. It was revealed to be Mad Ivan buried in a heap of snow.
"Guys! It's Mad Ivan!" Sora exclaimed.
"I knew he'd lurking around here somewhere!" Kiawe said.
"Look at him. He looks so blue," Mallow said.
"He must be so very cold," Sophocles said.
"We've gotta help him get warm!" Kairi stated. Sora and the Alolan nine all looked at her suspiciously.
"You're kidding right?" Acerola asked.
"You mean after all the times we foiled him before?" Mallow asked.
"I know he's our enemy, but even he dosen't deserve to freeze to death," Kairi said.
"Kairi is right. Even our enemy needs our help from time to time," Illima agreed.
"Then let's do it," Sora said. He pulled the scientist out the snow heap and he groans stirring awake.
"Where am I?" The scientist asked. He looked around and he found himself off the mountain. He turned to see Sora dragging him. "You." He shivered.
"I don't like this either, but it's not like I had a choice here," Sora said.
"Why are you helping me?" Mad Ivan asked.
"You don't need a reason to help someone. You only do it because it's right," Sora said.
Mad Ivan couldn't understand why his mortal enemy would help him out like this. He was certain they would let him freeze to death, just as he would have let them.
Once inside, the scientist was wrapped in a huge blanket just so he doesn't catch a cold. Jenny and Joy went into the kitchen to prepare some chicken noodle soup for him. The Alolan nine were doing their part to help while Sora, Kairi, and Todd stayed with the scientist.
"Again, I just cannot believe you pulled me out," Mad Ivan said.
"Okay, spill it! How did you end up in that blizzard?" Sora interrogated him.
"Since our last encounter, I have on pursuit of Articuno, and I recieved a clue on it's whereabouts, so I came here," Mad Ivan explained. "I climbed up to get to the top of the mpuntain, when I was attacked by some Spearow and I fell onto a ledge as luck would have it. But, I knew it was a long way up and down, and even my Pokémon wouldn't last long in such a cold condition; Sandygast and Pallosand included. Then, a blizzard came from out of nowhere, and there was something in there as well."
"Did you see what it was?" Kairi asked.
"No. I blacked out before I got a good look. I had no idea how I even got here and to add to my list of misfortunes, I bumped into all of you," Mad Ivan concluded.
"What?" Sora asked.
"I know exactly what it was," Todd said. "It's just like the story Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy told us. He ended up stranded and an Articuno camr and helped him out."
"Articuno?" Mad Ivan asked under his breath.
"I've got to go!" Todd said, heading to the door.
"Wait a minute, Todd!" Kairi said.
"We need to make a plan first!" Sora said.
"I came up here to take a picture of an Articuno! I don't have time to sit around and plan!" Todd said heading out. Sora sighed and turned to Kairi.
"Should we go after him?" Sora asked his girlfriend.
"Like you wouldn't do the same thing. I'm going with you just to make sure you two boys come back safe," Kairi said. Sora smiled and nodded.
"Figured you'd come along. Let's go!" Sora said. The couple went after the photograper. The Pokémon saw the couple go after him, so they went after them. Pikachu and Togepi especially didn't want something to happen. Mallow and Lana came in carrying some blankets.
"Sora! Todd!" Mallow called out.
"Kairi!" Lana also called out.
"They can't go climbing up that mountain dressed like that!" Mallow said.
"We have to tell the others about this!" Lana said.
"Right," Mallow agreed. The two girls went to tell the others what had just happened, leaving Mad Ivan completely alone.
"I don't believe it! The legendary Pokémon I saw was an Articuno! I had it within my sights and I let it slip right through my fingers!" Mad Ivan exclaimed in disbelief. "But, I will not let this one slip by again!" Mad Ivan stood up, but quickly sat back down when he heard the Alolan nine come back. They all wore some jackets and carried three extra jackets for Sora, Kairi, and Todd. They all went out the door after them. Mad Ivan quickly stood back up and threw off his blanket and went outside. "A snowmobile! Perfect! Now to get to the mountain!" Mad Ivan got on the Snowmobile and rode off to the mountain.
A few minutes later, Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy came out with a hot pot of chicken noodle soup.
"Here's some hot soup for you," Officer Jenny said. Both women saw that everyone was gone. "Where did everyone go?"
"You don't think maybe, they went after Articuno, do you?" Nurse Joy asked worried.
"That's very likely, Joy," Officer Jenny said. The policewoman placed the soup down on the table and then they both stepped outside and saw the snowmobile was missing. "My snowmobile's gone!"
"You don't think the kids took it, do you?" Nurse Joy asked.
"No, it wasn't the kids," Officer Jenny corrected her. She saw one set of footprints in the snow. "Look at those footprints. He took it. And they couldn't pick a worse time to go out with a storm on the way."
"You're right. That storm is heading right to the mountain," Nurse Joy said.
"We better find them before the storm hits," Officer Jenny said.
"Let's go," Nurse Joy said. Both women put on some warm coats and went after the kids hoping to find them before it's too late.
Almost an hour later, the Alolan nine finally caught up with them and gave them the jackets to keep warm.
"Good thing we found you," Sophocles said.
"Your mother and grandmother would disapprove of you two catching a cold up in this weather," Illima said handing them the jackets.
"It's a good thing you all came," Kairi said putting on her jacket. She placed Togepi inside the jacket to keep warm.
"Yeah. I don't know how it might have gotten worse," Sora said. The wind started to blow and everyone was caught in a blizzard. "Shouldn't have said that."
"The weather was just fine a second ago!" Sophocles exclaimed.
"Blizzards do happen here a lot!" Hapu said.
"This blizzard could mean Articuno is somewhere nearby," Sora stated.
"I hope you're right about that, Sora," Todd said. "I'm not gonna give up until I get its picture!"
"Articuno is not going to fly out looking for us," Kiawe said.
"You're right, Kiawe. We have to move fast," Sora said. Before they could keep going, a blizzard came again. "What the?!"
"Pika!" Pikachu said with his ears perking up.
"Pichu, Pi!" The Shiny Pichu said with his ears also perking up.
"Pi, Pichu!" The Spiky-eared Pichu also said.
"Cubone, Cu," Cubone also said.
"I think they sense something," Kairi said.
"I think you're right," Sora said. They all gasped as they all saw something descend down to them. They all saw a familiar long blue tail come down.
"That tail," Todd pointed out.
"Looks so familiar," Lillie said.
The mysterious bird turns out to be Articuno itself.
"Articuno!" Sora, Kairi, and the Alolan nine all exclaimed.
"It's so amazing!" Lana said.
"It looks exactly like the statue!" Illima said.
"But it's even more beautiful than I thought," Kairi said.
"Toge, Togepi!" Togepi chirped.
"Articuno, it's really you," Sora said as he walked forward. Articuno screeched in warning. "What's wrong?" He got his answer when he looked down and he saw they almost plummeted down to a cliff. "There's no ground!"
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"We almost walked off a cliff!" Kiawe said.
"And that would have been bad," Lana said.
"Yeah," Mina agreed.
"If we just kept walking right through the snow, we might have gone over the edge and we would have died in the fall," Todd said realizing what almost happened. "Articuno saved our lives by stopping us from going further."
"So that's it. Articuno knew the danger before we did. And it came here to warn us," Illima said.
"Gotta get this picture now!" Todd said. He readied his camera to snap the picture, but suddenly, balls of shadows heads towards the legendary ice bird Pokémon only to avoid it. "Something's attacking it!" Everyone turned to see it was Mad Ivan who had finally caught up with them. He had Gastly, Haunter, Gengar, and Dhelmise out to battle.
"At last! The bird of legend, Articuno! But, the only obstacle in the my way to unimaginable glory happens to be all of you. It's only unimaginable to you, but not me," Mad Ivan said.
"Seriously?! How could you make an attempt to capture Articuno after saving your miserable life?!" Hapu exclaimed.
"That was then, and this is now. And I had made it clear to capture Articuno and I am not leaving until I get it! And with the bird of ice as one of my weapons, I will use its power to rule the world!" Mad Ivan proclaimed.
"You're just as low as Team Rocket!" Mallow stated.
"We're going to stop you, Ivan!" Lillie stated.
"You are welcome to try!" Mad Ivan said. "Dhelmise! Anchor Shot! Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar! You use Dark Pulse on those urchins!" Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar fired Dark Pulse right at the group while Dhelmise fired Anchor Shot right at Articuno. It flapped its wings sending the anchor back. The anchor hits Dhelmise clean. Everyone avoided the attack and resulting in an explosion. Articuno got ready to fire Ice Beam and they all knew how powerful it was going to be. Articuno fired Ice Beam. "Gengar! Dark Pulse! Full power!" Gengar fired Dark Pulse to counter Ice Beam. "Gastly! Haunter! Shadow Ball!" Both ghost Pokémon fired Shadow Ball right at the legendary bird Pokémon as Gengar had ceased fire. Articuno did the same thing when it saw Shadow Ball coming right forwards it. The attacks missed, but it struck the wall. Articuno got struck by some of the ice while Sora, Kairi, and Todd fell when the edge under them broke, running to it.
"Sora! Kairi! Todd!" Lillie gasped.
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"Bone!" Cubone added.
Pikachu and Cubone went the cliff's edge. Pikachu grabbed Cubone as she used her bone to slide down the wall, just so they don't fall.
"Guys!" Kiawe called out to them. A blizzard starts raging again, but it was even stronger than last time. Mad Ivan and his Pokémon were blown away by the blizzard they go flying in the air.
As they fell, Sora grabbed Kairi in his arms.
"Kairi! No matter what, I won't let you go!" Sora promised. Kairi put her arms around Sora and Togepi held on to her tight. Articuno opened its eyes and they glowed red.
"Where the hell did that blizzard come from?!" Kiawe asked.
"When Articuno was struck by that falling ice, the power it was holding back must have been unleashed," Lillie theorized.
"We have to find them before something happened to them!" Mallow said.
"We should head back to the Pokémon Center and get help from Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy," Illima suggested.
"Right. We're going to need some help finding them!" Acerola agreed.
Down to a ledge, Togepi pokes Sora's face a few times.
"Toge," Togepi chirped. Sora regained consciousness pretty quickly.
"Togepi?" Sora asked. He saw Kairi sitting up. He was relieved to see her okay. "Kairi. Are you alright?"
"Yes I am. But, what about Todd?" Kairi asked. He turned to see the photographer.
"Todd? Todd!" Sora said shaking him. "You still alive?"
"Yeah I am," Todd confirmed.
"Man, we had a pretty big fall," Sora said.
"I know. I just can't believe we survived that fall," Todd said.
"But how did we survive in the first place?" Kairi asked.
"Toge?" Togepi chirped.
They all heard flapping and turned to see Articuno watching over them.
"It's Articuno!" Todd said happily.
"I'm glad it's safe. Maybe Articuno can help us get out here," Kairi said.
"Hold on a sec! I can bet my badges it was Articuno that saved us," Sora said.
"I think you're right, Sora," Todd said. They all looked at the majestic bird Pokémon. "Thank you, Articuno."
"You really saved our lives," Sora said.
"And we are grateful to you for doing that," Kairi said.
"Togepi!" Togepi chirped.
The three kids heard a scrapping sound and turned to see Pikachu and Cubone sliding down the wall.
"Pikachu!" Sora beamed.
"Pika, Pi!" Pikachu chirped. Pikachu jumped right into Sora's arms.
"I'm so glad to see you," Sora said.
"I am too, Pikachu," Kairi said petting the mouse Pokémon on the head. She turned to Cubone. "And you too, Cubone." Cubone gave Kairi a hug. Kairi giggled at the gesture. "You're so very sweet and so very cute."
"Cubone, bone, Cu," Cubone said.
They heard screaming as Mad Ivan and his ghost Pokémon came crashing down.
"Out in the cold again. And just when I had Articuno in my si-" Mad Ivan's words were cut when he saw the bird of ice. "SAINTS BE PRAISED! ARTICUNO!"
"No you don't, Ivan!" Sora stated standing up and taking out a Pokéball. "The only way to Articuno is through me!"
"I intend to! Gastly! Haunter! Gengar! Dhelmise! Go!" Mad Ivan shouted. His ghost Pokémon charged in for battle.
"Go! Piloswine!" Sora shouted throwing his Pokéball. Piloswine snorts upon entry. "Okay Piloswine! Use Ancient Power!" Piloswine forms silver crystalized rocks and sends them towards the ghost Pokémon.
"Dodge it, all of you!" Mad Ivan ordered. They all dodged Piloswine's Ancient Power hitting the ground instead.
"Shadow Ball!" Mad Ivan ordered. Gastly, Haunter, and Gengar threw their balls of shadow at the swine Pokémon. It was becoming too much to handle for Piloswine. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Smoochum!" Kairi shouted throwing her Pokéball. The Pokéball lets Smoochum out as she starts pumping up. "Okay Smoochum! Powder Snow!" Smoochum fires Powder Snow right at Ivan's Pokémon. The attack hits only Gastly and Haunter. It wasn't enough to keep them down.
"Dhelmise! Anchor Shot at Smoochum!" Mad Ivan ordered. Dhelmise hurls the anchor right towards the kiss Pokémon. Sora saw it coming.
"Piloswine! Protect Smoochum!" Sora called out. Piloswine went in front of Smoochum and takes the hit. Articuno became astonished to the teamwork Piloswine had displayed by taking the hit for Smoochum.
"Serves that disgusting swine right for getting in the way," Mad Ivan said.
"Don't you say anything bad about my Pokémon!" Sora snapped at him. Piloswine slowly starts to get back up. Piloswine lets out a loud cry and starts to evolve. Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Todd were amazed by the evolution.
"Isn't this great?" Kairi asked.
"Wow! Piloswine is evolving!" Todd snapped pictures of the evolution. Piloswine had finished evolving and became a Pokémon that looked like a woolly mammoth crossed with a wild boar. The tusks are much larger and appear to be going downward. It had a blue colored face mask with a white rim. The only place that wasn't brown was the area that was around the snout; it was a dark cream color.
"Sora," Kairi could only say.
"Wow! Piloswine evolved into a Mamoswine!" Todd said taking a picture. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned his newly evolved Pokémon.
Mamoswine, the Twin Tusk Pokémon
The evolved form of Piloswine
Type: Ice/Ground
Mamoswine was believed to be extinct since the end of the Ice Age dating back to 10,000 years, until a live specimen was found and thawed from a block of ice. Its tusks are said to be made of ice.
"Hapu was right. I got myself another cool Pokémon; Mamoswine," Sora said with awe. He looked at his newly evolved Pokémon and walked up to him. He placed his hand on his newly evolved Pokémon. "You ready to give those ghostys a taste of your ice power?" Mamoswine nodded. "Great! Move in with your Ice Fang!" Mamoswine's tusks glows light blue and grow larger. Mamoswine charges at Dhelmise, sticking the anchor-like Pokémon.
"AAH! DHELMISE!" Mad Ivan gasped.
"That was great, Sora!" Kairi cheered. Smoochum! Shadow Ball!" Smoochum forms a ball of shadow and sends it to Gastly. "Now use Ice Punch!" Smoochum lands an icy punch on Haunter. Mad Ivan growled with frustration.
"Now I am angry! You little rugrats have stood in my way for the very last time! Gengar! Dark Pulse! But, aim it for that girl!" Mad Ivan ordered. Gengar fired Dark Pulse, bypassing the battling Pokémon and heads towards Kairi. Sora gasped in horror, seeing what he had done. Cubone jumps and takes the hit for Kairi.
"CUBONE!" Kairi gasped. Articuno became angered by what the scientist had done. He ordered his Pokémon to aim for the trainer and the Cubone took the hit for her. Seeing enough, Articuno fired Ice Beam at the shadow Pokémon landing a devastating hit.
"AAH! My baby!" Mad Ivan gasped.
"Mad Ivan! You tried to hurt Kairi! I will never forgive you for what you did!" Sora shouted in anger.
"That's the price to pay for getting in my way, boy! And it looks like that Cubone did that for her," Mad Ivan said. Kairi was apalled by what he did. She picked up the injured Cubone in her arms.
"You monster," Kairi said in digust.
Articuno fired another Ice Beam attack right at Mad Ivan's Gengar.
"Articuno must be angered by Mad Ivan's actions. And now it's battling to avenge Cubone's honor," Todd said.
"Gengar! Dark Pulse!" Mad Ivan ordered. Gengar fired Dark Pulse again, but the freeze Pokémon manages to avoid it.
"That was Articuno's Agility!" Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi said.
Articuno's body become surrounded by a blue aura and freezes the ghost Pokémon instantly.
"What was that?" Sora asked.
"That was Sheer Cold," Todd answered. Articuno flaps its wings and a blizzard comes out from them. "Now it's using Blizzard!" The blizzard blows Mad Ivan and his Pokémon right into the wall.
"DENIED AGAIN!" Mad Ivan shouted as he went flying right towards the sky.
"Well, he's gone," Todd said.
"After what he tried to do to Kairi, I say good riddance," Sora said.
The sun started to come out from behind the clouds and the sunlight shone upon them.
"The sun's coming back," Kairi said. Cubone stirs awake. The couple and the photographer looked to the legendary Pokémon and they were amazed by the sunlight shining down it, making it even more beautiful and majestic.
"This is the shot I have been waiting for," Todd said getting out his camera. He snapped its picture. "Thank you, Articuno. You're the best."
Articuno nodded to them and nodded to them. It ascended into the sky leaving them blessed, and saw how much the couple cared not only for their own Pokémon, but other Pokémon as well.
"You know something? I think Articuno knew you wanted its picture," Sora said.
"I think you're right, Sora," Todd said.
"I believe it too," Kairi added.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Cubone, bone," Cubone said weakly.
"And Cubone, thank you for saving me like that. I was pretty worried when you jumped in front of Gengar's Dark Pulse to help me," Kairi said.
"Cubone," Cubone said.
"GUYS!" Sophocles called out. Officer Jenny, the Alolan nine, and the Pichu all came in riding on snowmobiles. Hapu rode in on Mudsdale's back.
"Thank goodness we made in time!" Lillie said.
"Yeah. What luck!" Kiawe said. He stopped in his tracks when he spotted the Mamoswine with them. "Is this what I think it is?!"
"Yeah. Piloswine evolved into a Mamoswine," Sora confirmed.
"But, where's Articuno?" Lana asked.
"Up there," Sora said pointing to the sky. Articuno was flying straight up.
"So beautiful," Lillie said.
"Yeah," Mina said feeling inspired.
"It is really such a sight to behold," Officer Jenny said.
Sora, Kairi, and Todd climbed on Mamoswine and they rode off the mountain. Todd was amazed by how is riding a big Pokémon like Mamoswine.
The group made it off Snowtop moutain and right to the Pokémon Center for Cubone to be healed up. After waiting for a half-hour, Nurse Joy and her Chansey helpers come strolling out Cubone on the stretcher.
"Cubone is going to be a-okay," Nurse Joy said happily.
"That's a good thing," Lillie said.
"I'm very glad to see Cubone is alright. I wouldn't be, if she hadn't taken the hit for me," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped. Cubone jumped off the stretcher and started to cling to her leg.
"I have a feeling, Cubone wants to be your Pokémon, Kairi," Officer Jenny said.
"I think you're right," Kairi said bending down to Cubone's level. If you want to be my Pokémon, then I'm more than happy to have you," Kairi said taking out a Pokéball. Cubone presses the button on the Pokéball and flows inside. Stars swirls around the Pokéball confirming the catch. Sora's Pokédex starts buzzing and he hands his girlfriend the Pokédex asking her if she wants to keep Cubone with her. She shose to keep Cubone with her in exchange for Sunflora.
"Looks like Cubone made the right choice," Todd said.
"You're right. She did," Sora agreed. "So Todd. What are you going to do now?"
"I think I'm going to stick around here for a while and see what other Pokémon live around here. And who knows? Maybe, I'll snap some more photos all around," Todd said. Sora smiled. He didn't find it the least bit surprising.
"Well, if you feel that way, then I'm going to wish you luck in your career," Sora said.
"You too, Sora. I wish you luck in the Johto Pokémon League and hope you win like you did at the Indigo Plateau," Todd said.
"Thanks Todd," Sora said. The two friends shook hands. Sora, Kairi, the Alolan nine and the Pokémon bid the photographer farewell and continued on to Olivine City for Sora's fifth Johto Gym Badge.
Well, all's that ends well. I was thinking of doing a Legend of Thunder Arc next. It'll be three chapters long and it will feature Sora and his friends dealing with Team Rocket Members, Attila and Hun, as well as Jessie and James. Also, they'll be teaming up with Eusine, Ethan, Lyra, and Kris on the next one. Until the next time!