Episode 144: Moving Pictures
A few days have passed since the unexpected events of a food-stealing Teddiursa whom has evolved into an Ursaring after Kairi has defeated him. Since then, things have been pretty quiet.
Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and the Pokémon continued on their way towards Olivine City and kept their eyes opened for Team Rocket, the Heartless, the Nobodies, and Trickster's monsters. Things were mostly quiet.
As they looked around, they all noticed how dark the skies were.
"Just look at all those clouds. You think it's going to rain?" Karen asked.
"Pikachu," Blossom said.
"If it is, then we'll have to find shelter fast," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"But it is getting chillier and chillier," Sora said, shivering.
Just as they kept going, they're being watched by a pack of Sneasel. One of the Sneasel is pink has yellow feathers and light blue markings.
"We follow them-" Alpha Snesel subtitle.
And they do follow them, not wanting to be seen until they really want to.
A little further, they all stopped when the heard what sounds like a camera taking some pictures.
"Do you guys hear that?" Tracey asked.
"I do. What's that sound?" Sakura asked.
"It sounded like a camera shutter," Sora 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 snapshots of the group.
"Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi, too! I don't believe it!" Todd waved to them.
"Long time no see," Sora said.
"How have you been, Todd?" Kairi asked.
"You know me. Just going around, snapping pictures of wild Pokémon. How about you guys? What have you been up to?" Todd asked.
"Well, as you can see, still traveling, and dealing with the Heartless," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Sounds about right," Todd said, noticing the three new people with them. "Who are they?"
"Right. Todd, this is my twin sister Karen and her partner Blossom," Sora introduced.
"Nice to meet you," Karen said.
"This guy here is Tracey, a Pokémon Watcher and this is Sakura," Kairi introduced.
"Nice to meet you, Todd," Sakura said.
"Sora told me about you," Tracey said.
Tracey remembered being told that Todd took the pictures to show to the police and a Team Rocket plot to frame Seto Kaiba for Pokémon trafficking. Todd noticed the two Pichu with them.
"And these are?" Todd asked.
"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. I heard about that you're a won the Indigo Plateau Pokémon League afterwards. I was very impressed! And when I saw your face in some magazines, I was more surprised than ever," Todd said. Sora, Kairi, and Karen 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?"
"There's more I think you should know," Sora said.
"What?" Todd asked.
"Okay, as usual there's Team Rocket causing all kinds of trouble, but they're rank amateurs compared to some bad guys called Organization XIII and the Nobodies," Sora said.
"Organization XIII? Nobodies?" Todd asked.
"You see, when someone with a strong heart turns into a Heartless, a Nobody is created. The Organization has control over all the Nobodies," Sora said.
"And there's someone calling himself Trickster, too. We've been keeping our eyes opened for them," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"You know, I have been hearing rumors about guys wearing black hoods going around. I'm gonna guess it's the Organization XIII you were just telling me about," Todd said.
"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?" Sakura asked.
"You're even better than I imagined," Tracey said.
"It looks like you've been consentrating on taking photos of Grass-type Pokémon," Karen 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?" Sakura asked.
"Yesterday, a kid told me that some people in a village nearby said they saw an Articuno," Todd said.
Sora and Kairi looked at each other and knew this Articuno had to be different from the one Sora has caught.
"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," Tracey said. "Also, I would love to get a sketch of it."
Pikachu and Angel sensed something up above them.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu chirped. Pikachu felt a snowflake land on his nose and looked up as a couple more snowflakes dropped by.
"What's the matter, Pikachu? Is something wrong?" Sora asked.
"What's the matter, Angel?" Kairi 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?" Sakura asked.
"I don't think it is a shooting star," Karen said.
"Whatever it is, it's falling pretty fast. It must be a meteor!" Sora 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," Karen sighed with relief.
"You've said it. My heart was racing," Sakura said.
"What the heck was that?" Karen asked.
"It must really be a meteor," Sakura 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 Sunkern 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?" Karen 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 them, Team Rocket were hiding in the bushes and saw them run off with the frozen Sunkern.
"Those twerps have all the luck. They got a hold of a Sunkern," Meowth said.
"Chill out. Maybe we'll capture Pikachu and that Sunkern, too!" Jessie said.
"Two for the price of one," James said.
"Let's follow them before the trail gets cold," Jessie said.
Team Rocket starts to follow them once again.
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!" Kare 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," Sakura said.
"Neither can I," Karen 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," Sora said.
"I'm getting warm just thinking about it," Tracey said.
"Me too," Kare 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." 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," Sora 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 and my sister Karen," Sora introduced placing his arm arounnd her shoulder.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"This little Eevee us Angel," Kairi introduced.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"This Pikachu is blossom," Karen introduced.
"Pikachu," Blossom said.
"My name's Tracey," Tracey said.
"And I'm Sakura," Sakura introduced.
"And my name is Todd," Todd finished.
"Pichu," the Spiky-eared Pichu said.
"Pichu," the Shiny Pichu said.
"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," Kairi 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. Sora thought, "I wonder if she has some string cheese." Before long, Kairi, Todd, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and the Pokémon all started to listen to Sophia's tale.
"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 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," Kairi sobbed.
"Yeah, very beautiful, Karen agreed as she sobbed.
Tracey 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.
Team Rocket who had been following the group also sobbed hearing Sophia's story. They blew their noses on handkerchiefs they had stored after using it to wipe away some tears.
"I have to admit, I'm overturned," Jessie said.
"It has touched my soul," James said.
"Mine too," Meowth said.
"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.
"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.
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," Karen said amazed.
"So many Sunflora. So very sunny," Sakura said.
"There has to be even more Sunflora than we can even count," Tracey said.
"This year is going to be your golden anniversary," Sora said.
"That should make an extra special picture," Kairi said. The elderly couple frowned hearing it from Kairi.
"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?" Karen 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." Kairi took out Sunflora's Pokéball and let Sunflora out of her Pokéball.
"Sunflora, flora, flora," Sunflora said.
"That's also a great idea, Kairi," Tracey said.
"My, that's quite a beautiful Sunflora you raised, dearie," Sophia said.
"Thanks. I had her when I caught her as a Sunkern," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel 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," Kairi said.
"It would be worth looking into," Sakura 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. Team Rocket watched them leave from on top of the roof.
"This is our big break," Jessie said.
"While they're focusing on the Sunflora, Pikachu will be unprotected," James said as Team Rocket snickered.
"Get ready, twerps, cuz things are about to get really flaky," Meowth said as they snickered some more.
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. Pikachu wouldn't do a thing I said, so I caught my very first Pokémon without his help," 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 along with Angel. 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. Angel found us and led us to 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.
"The same for Pikachu and Angel. They got hurt pretty bad by their Spearow, but we managed to beat them and get Pikachu and Angel healed up," Sora said. Sora left out the part involving the Heartless since those hunters met their end by the hands of the Heartless.
"It was just the two of us at first, but we met up with Tracey coming to Johto 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."
"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 their plan was foiled.
"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.
"So, how much further is the south slope?" Sakura asked changing the subject.
"We're actually close to it," Sophia said. "And there it is. That's the south slope." Sora, Kairi, Todd, Tracey, Karen, Sakura, 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," Sakura 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, Tracey, Karen, and Sakura were moved by their story once again.
"Yep, that'll be Sora and Kairi in a nutshell," Karen said. She remembered the sacrifice he made for her. "Love is stronger than the harshness of winter."
"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 as he facepalmed.
"Fooled us again," Kairi 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!" Tracey said.
"And it dosen't look natural," Karen 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!" Tracey said.
"Who would do such a thing?" Marcello asked. Suddenly, Team Rocket appeared before the group, riding on skiis.
"Prepare for trouble! We make it snow!" Jessie said.
And make it double! That's the part you know!" James said.
"To protect the world from devastaion."
"To unite all people within our nation."
"To denounce the evil of truth and love."
"To extend our reach to the stars of above."
"Jessie!"
"James!"
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
"Meowth, Thats right!"
"The morons, should have known," Sora sighed.
"I didn't think you three losers would be still at it," Todd said.
"Well, the little photographer has a negative attitude," James said.
"Go infest a dark room, you little shutter-bug," Jessie said as Wobbuffet came out of his Pokéball once again.
"Wobbuffet!" Wobbuffet said. Jessie turned to the Patient Pokémon with an annoyed expression.
"Speaking of bugs, bug off," Jessie said.
"You should take your own advice," Kairi said. Todd held his camera.
"Wow, a Wobbuffet! This is gonna be great!" Todd said, snapping pictures of Wobbuffet.
"What are you shooting, a horror picture?!" Jessie snapped.
"Any movie she'll star in will be a horror movie," Sora said in his thoughts as he held his hands backwards and summoned his Keyblades. Kairi does the same thing.
"Begin the assault!" Jessie said.
"We can grab Pikachu from the snow!" James said.
"Gotta turn it up to full blast!" Meowth said, pushing a button. The machine fires a blast of snow at them, but Sora and Kairi quickly cast combined reflect spell around them all and blocked the cold.
"Hold on, Sora!" Kairi said.
"You hold on, too!" Sora said.
"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," Karen said.
The blizzard ceases as Team Rocket saw the magical barrier. Jessie growled in anger.
"Using your Keyblades is cheating!" Jessie hissed.
"We do the cheating around here!" James said.
"Maybe if you would follow the rules every once in a while, we wouldn't have to use these," Sora said. He held his Keyblades and he casts his thunder spell and it struck the machine into pieces. "There, no more piece of junk!"
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!" Karen cheered.
"We all did!" Tracey 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 a Pokéball.
"You shall," Kairi said.
"That's my girl. Go! Stantler!" Sora threw his Pokéball and the Pokéball opens letting Stantler out. Stantler skids the snow. Sora figured he was no baby anymore. Jessie and James each took out a Pokéball and threw them.
"Arbok! Go!" Jessie called out.
"Go! Weezing!" James called out.
Arbok and Weezing both came out at the same time.
"Arbok! Use Poison Sting!" Jessie ordered.
"Weezing! Use Sludge Bomb!" James ordered.
Arbok and Weezing unleashed their chosen attacks at Stantler and Sunflora.
"Stantler! Use Confusion to block!" Sora ordered. Stantler blocks Arbok and Weezing's attacks with his psychic powers. Stantler then sends them back and struck them both.
"Sunflora! Use Razor Leaf!" Kairi ordered. Sunflora lands a heavy hit with Razor Leaf.
"We're not gonna take this laying down! Arbok! Use Crunch!" Jessie ordered.
"Weezing! Use Double Hit!" James ordered.
Arbok and Weezing both start charging at the couple's Pokémon to land a hit.
"Stantler! Use Psyshield Bash!" Sora ordered. Stantler charges at Arbok and Weezing with his whole body covered in blue and purple psychic energy and rams into them.
"Use Solar Beam!" Kairi ordered. Sunflora immediately fired Solar Beam due to Sunkern's Sunny Day. Arbok and Weezing were both taken down. Jessie and James quickly called back their fallen Pokémon.
"I can feel that blasting off vibe coming," Jessie said.
"Me too!" James said.
"I'll get the balloon!" Meowth said, pushing a button for their balloon to come and pick them up.
"Well, once again, you win, we lose, so how about we leave it at that for now?" Jessie asked.
"You're not getting off the hook that easily," Sora said, summoning his Kingdom Key and held it up. "Wind!" A strong wind blows the balloon away and has them flying.
"We guess we did pay," Meowth said.
"I thought were going to win today," Jessie said.
"It always rains on our parade," James said.
"Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Team Rocket shouted as they go flying.
"Wobbu!" Wobbuffet said as a star twinkles in the distance.
"I have a feeling they won't stay away too long," Karen said.
"I don't doubt it," Tracey said.
"Gotta hand it to you, Kairi, your Sunflora's Solar Beam was awesome!" Sora complimented.
"Thanks Sora. Stantler's Psyshield Bash as spot on!" Kairi complimented back.
"Thanks. But it was little Sunkern's Sunny Day chasing away all those clouds that really helped out," Sora said.
Todd snaps a picture of Sunkern floating around in the air.
"Picture perfect!" Todd said happily. He walks up to Sora. "Also, your Stantler 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 Stantler deserves a pot in the spotlight, too," Sora turned to look at Stantler. Todd snaps a few pictures of the Big Horn Pokémon.
"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, taking a Sun Stone from his backpack.
"A great idea, Sora. Sunkern does evolve into Sunflora with a Sun Stone," Tracey 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?" Karen asked.
"I do," Sakura said.
"I think it might be an echo," Tracey said.
"Maybe not," Kairi said. She looked into the distance and saw something approaching. "Look!" She pointed to the upcoming figures, revealed to be a whole bunch of Sunflora.
"Whoa! Sunflora!" Karen said in awe.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"There has to be more than we can count," Kairi said.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"They must have heard the new Sunflora calling them to come back," Sakura 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, and the same for her parents. Sora even had the same thoughts about his own 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?" Sakura asked.
"I think I saw what looks like an Articuno fly by," Todd said.
"Articuno?" Sora and Kairi asked.
"Pika?" Pikachu asked.
"Eevee?" Angel asked.
"Pichu," the two Pichu pitched in.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Chu," Blossom said.
"Maybe you just imagined it," Sora said.
"Maybe not," Karen said.
"We should go find Articuno and I can snap a picture of it!" Todd said.
"Great idea!" Sakura 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. But they were unaware of the pack of Sneasel following them.
Along the way, Sora has come across a wild Swinub as it sniffs around for some food. Todd has snapped a picture of the Pig Pokémon. Sora slowly took out a Pokéball and threw it. Swinub flows inside and the Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Swinub with him, so he chose to send Swinub to Professor Oak's lab.
"Got myself a Swinub," Sora said.
"And he did look really cute," Kairi said.
"Swinub normally lives in colder environments, so I guess a lot of Swinub were living here when it was cooler," Tracey said.
"Makes sense, because of Articuno around here," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Let's keep going," Todd said.
It looks like the hunt for Articuno has begun. Joined by their friend, Todd, they see to it that Todd snaps a picture of the legendary Pokémon of ice. But they weren't aware of the Sneasel pack following their trail. What will happen when the Sneasel do meet them? Find out when we go even further.