Freeze Frame

Continuing their journey to Olivine City, the heroes have started passing through more mountains. But the day wasn't looking too bright.

"The sky looks pretty dark," said Emily.

"It's getting cold too," Kaiba added. "Looks like it might rain."

"We're going to need some kind of shelter," said Yugi. He looked around, but there weren't any caves they could hide in. Even if there were, wild Pokémon would probably be hiding in them. Just then, Yugi thought he saw a blue figure in the distance. "No way! Was that-?"

"Hmm?" Emily asked. "Did you see something, Yugi?"

"Yeah, for a minute, I thought I saw Articuno fly by."

His friends follow his gaze, but don't see anything. "There's nothing there," said Kaiba. "Are you sure you didn't just imagine it?"

"I believe you, Yuge," said Joey. "This mountain area is pretty cold, so maybe you did see Articuno. It could also explain why this place is so cold."

"It was heading that way," Yugi said, pointing to the mountain that looked like a volcano. He wanted to check it out and see if Articuno was roosting there. Kaiba decided that they could do that later. For now, they had to find a Pokémon Center and get to safety. Thankfully, they found one at the nearby slope.

After spending hours at the Pokémon Center, the weather finally started looking better. Now they could continue their journey and search for Articuno. It was pretty cold, so the mountain Pokémon wouldn't give the heroes any trouble. Not to mention ice and snow are frozen water and rock-type Pokémon hate water.

Although Yugi and his friends managed to make it to Snowtop Mountain, climbing it would be a difficult task. The whole area was covered with snow and ice. At least there was a Pokémon Center near the base of the mountain. They could warm up and borrow some equipment. And right next to the Pokémon Center was a statue of Articuno. It was believed that Articuno appeared to travelers who were lost and trapped by the forces of snowy weather and would bring them to safety. People also believe that Articuno build their nests and raise their young in the highest mountains of the coldest regions and they travel around the world bringing the coming of winter. So Nurse Joy wasn't surprised that Yugi and his friends came to look for Articuno in Snowtop Mountain.

It was a dangerous journey, but Yugi was determined to seek out Articuno. Emily and the others knew he would be in danger on his own, so they changed into the appropriate attire for the weather. When they got to the base of Snowtop Mountain, a blizzard started to pick up. In the snowy wind, Yugi saw the same blue image from earlier. When the blizzard let up, his vision became clear and the figure was revealed to be the great bird of ice: Articuno.

Yugi was awestruck. "It really is Articuno!"

"It's so beautiful," said Emily.

Kaiba grinned and told Yugi, "Sorry I doubted you, Yugi."

Yugi forgave his friend. He tried to approach Articuno, but the majestic ice phoenix screeched to ward him away. Yugi looked down and saw that there was no more ground and he almost fell off a cliff. Articuno spoke, but only Emily could understand her. "You have sought me out like many other travelers. Every time a storm comes in, some unfortunate fool gets trapped. But rescuing them is not something I am not used to."

Emily moved closer and was standing next to Articuno. "We mean no harm, Articuno. Trust me when I say seeing you is enough satisfaction for me and my friends."

Articuno was intrigued to hear that this human girl responded and was speaking to her. "Strange. You understand my words as though I am speaking in your tongue. Then again, maybe it is not so strange after all. I have heard of a group of four young warriors chosen by the Great Goddess herself and one of them has the talent of talking to monsters and animals."

"Yes," said Emily. "My friends and I are descendants of the Children of Millennia. The great pharaoh and his wife were my mother and father."

"Can it be true?" Articuno wondered. She got down and carefully observed the heroes. "It is. You are the chosen warriors of Millennia. What an honor this is."

"It's an honor for us to meet you as well," said Emily.

"Stories of the battles that occurred in the age of the Shadow Games are not unknown to us legendary Pokémon. They have been passed down to us for generations. And now that you are here, many more of my friends will know of your arrival. But why have you come?"

"My friends and I have been sent here by the Great Goddess herself," Emily answered. "We're on a mission to find and gather the shards of the Cobalt Star and one of them may be hidden somewhere in the Johto Region."

Articuno softly cooed. "Yes, many of us have felt an ominous force and believed it to be the presence of the Dark Lord. But I am afraid the whereabouts of the Cobalt Star shard you seek are unknown even to me. But there may be a Pokémon who would know. Who, I cannot know for sure. But I can assume that when the time is right, it will make itself known to you."

"Thank you, Articuno," Emily whispered. She raised her hand and gently petted Articuno. Articuno even allowed Yugi to pet her as well. After witnessing Yugi's courage and determination, she could certainly see that he had the spirit of an ice phoenix; brave, graceful, and calm and collected. Articuno flew to the top of Snowtop Mountain, honored to have met the Heroes of Millennia.

"You never cease to amaze me," Yugi told Emily. "You and Articuno understood each other and were talking to each other. What did it tell you?"

Emily looked up and answered, "Articuno knew of the legend of our ancestors and was honored to have met us. She also said that a Pokémon might have knowledge of the Cobalt Star shard we're looking for, but she didn't know which one. We're just going to have to press on. Hopefully when we do, the Pokémon will make itself known to us and we'll find the Cobalt Star shard."

Joey and Kaiba looked up as they watched Articuno fly higher above them. "I guess we'll have to wait and see," said Joey. "Well, like they always say: 'All good things come to those who wait.'"

"After all we've been through, it's actually true," said Kaiba.