Episode 146: Freeze Frame
Shortly after finding a hot spring and Sora's Swinub has evolved into a Piloswine, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Todd, and the Pokémon were walking through the mountain, Todd he stopped and saw the same bird-like figure fly right at a taller mountain ahead of them. The pack of Sneasel were still following them.
"Articuno!" Todd exclaimed. The rest of the group stopped.
"Todd?" Tracey asked. The photographer saw the group looking at him. "Is something wrong?"
"I saw Articuno just now," Todd said.
"Articuno? Where did it go?" Sora asked.
"It headed right for that mountain," Todd said, pointing to the mountain ahead of them.
"You sure you saw Articuno, Todd?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, I did. There is no mistaken," Todd said.
"Then we should head on over there and see for ourselves," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"I just hope we don't run into Team Rocket, or the Heartless, or the Organization," Karen said.
"Pikachu," Blossom said.
"You think we could get that kind of luck?" Kairi asked.
"She has a point," Tracey said.
"Well, we have to watch our step," Sora said.
"Pika, Pika, Pikachu," Pikachu said.
Later, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Todd, Pikachu, Angel, Blossom, and Togepi made their way through a tundra as they looked around. They saw that they're around Snowtop Mountain. They wore warm jackets to keep warm. Kairi has spotted a red, avian Pokémon with a white, hollow tail. Its face and chest are covered in white feathers with two, three-pointed crests above its eyes. Black markings surround its circular eyes, and it has a light yellow beak and feet. There is a single white spot on its stomach. Its feet have two digits each. Kairi took out her Pokédex and scanned it.
Delibird, the Delivery Pokémon
Type: Ice/Flying
Delibird carries its food bundled up in its tail. There once was a famous explorer who managed to reach the peak of the world's highest mountain, thanks to one of these Pokémon sharing its food.
"Such a sweet Pokémon to have," Kairi said. She looked at Angel. "Okay, Angel. You up for some action?"
"Vee," Angel said. Angel rushed in and confronted the Delivery Pokémon, and it saw her.
"Angel! Use Iron Tail!" Kairi ordered. Angel jumped in the air and her tail gave off a metallic glow and swung it at Delibird. Delibird holds out its wings and a gift box appears in between them. It threw the gift box at Angel and it explodes. Angel goes flying in the air. "Use Quick Attack!" Angel dashed across the snow and lands a hit onto Delibird. Delibird threw several gift boxes at Angel. "Hit her with Swift!" Angel fired Swift at Delibird and hits her on the mark. "Use Headbutt!" Angel lands a hit onto Delibird and fell on the ground. Kairi took out her Fast Ball and threw it. Delibird flows inside and the Fast Ball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Fast Ball to confirm the catch. Kairi's Pokémon Box goes off asking her if she wants to keep Delibird with her, so she chose to send Delibird to Professor Oak's lab. "Good job, Angel!"
"Eevee, vee!" Angel exclaimed in joy.
"Great job, Kairi," Sora said from behind. Kairi and Angel turned to see Sora, Pikachu, and Togepi standing there.
"Enjoyed the show, Sora?" Kairi asked.
"Every bit of it," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Togepi," Togepi chirped.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Glad you did, Sora," Kairi said. She gave Sora a kiss on the lips. "Did you feed Togepi like I asked you to?"
"I did, Kairi. And he started missing you, so we came looking for you. Wasn't too hard," Sora said.
"It wouldn't be hard for me, Sora," Kairi said. "We should rejoin the others."
"Right," Sora said.
The couple rejoined their friends, so the Pichu were playing with Blossom in the snow.
Meanwhile further up Snowtop Mountain, Team Rocket are seen climbing up the mountain with some minature picks and ropes to help him climb up.
"I have to say that coming here ahead of time was genius," Jessie said.
"It sure is, Jessie. That way, the we can nab the twerps before they get here," James said.
"Shouldn't we have stopped by that Pokémon Center we passed on the way over here?" Meowth asked.
"Stop complaining and keep climbing!" Jessie snapped at Meowth.
"I'll keep climbing, and I'll keep complaining," Meowth.
Just when they kept climbing, a Spearow grabs the pick on Jessie's right hand.
"Hey! Give me back that pick this minute, you flying turkey or I'll pick your brain!" Jessie snarled. Team Rocket winced when a dozen more Spearow fly around the the Moron Trio.
The Spearow then starts pecking at them.
"You shouldn't have called them that, Jessie," James said.
"Get away from me, ya buzzards!" Meowth said.
"Peck anywhere but the face!" Jessie said.
The Spearow pecked at them some more and they fall right off the mountain.
"No, it's too soon to be blasting off!" James said.
Team Rocket screams as they plummets down the mountain.
Meanwhile, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, the Pichu, and Todd, walk down the path to get to the mountain.
Sora has sent out Noctowl and Yanma to look around as Kairi has sent out Ledian to do the same thing. They didn't wait long as Noctowl and Yanma returned to give their report.
"Any luck, you guys?" Sora asked. Noctowl and Yanma shook their heads.
"But I saw it fly up there. It has to be up in that mountain somewhere," Todd said.
"I don't see how we'll be able to climb up that mountain," Karen said.
"It'll be tough since Snowtop Mountain is icy all year round," Tracey said. Ledian returned to the group.
"Maybe Ledian had better luck," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Pichu," the Spiky-eared Pichu said.
"Pichu," the Shiny Pichu said.
"Ledian, did you find anything?" Kairi asked. Ledian pointed the way she came. "Come on, let's go!"
Everyone followed the Five Star Pokémon to the spot and they saw a frozen Jigglypuff. Sora and Kairi recognized the Balloon Pokémon.
"Jigglypuff!" Sora exclaimed.
"It's been a while since we saw her. What is she doing all the way up here?" Kairi asked.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"You know that Jigglypuff?" Tracey asked.
"We sure do. This Jigglypuff would sing and everything would fall asleep. And then scribble on our faces when we do," Sora said.
"You mean that's the Jigglypuff you told me about?" Karen asked.
"That's the one," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"Better thaw her out," Sora said, taking out Cyndaquil's Pokéball and threw it. "Come out, Cyndaquil!" His Pokéball opens and lets out Cyndaquil. "Flamethrower!" The Fire Mouse Pokémon spews Flamethrower melting the ice, thawing Jigglypuff.
"Puff!" Jigglypuff exclaimed from the burns.
"That was too much heat ti handle," Sora said. Todd ran up to Jigglypuff and started to shake her.
"Jigglypuff, tell me! Did you see where Articuno go?" Todd asked. But the shaking only earned a Double Slap in the face. "Ow!"
"That's no way to treat a star," Kairi said.
"Star?" Sakura asked.
"Jigglypuff thinks she's a star," Sora whispered. Kairi bent down to the Balloon Pokémon.
"Jigglypuff, do you know where Articuno fly off to?" Kairi asked nicely.
"Puff!" Jigglypuff pointed to the mountain in a huff.
"I knew it! Articuno flew at the top of that mountain!" Todd said.
"I think I get it. Jigglypuff was trying to sing for Articuno, so it thought it was challenging it to a battle, so Articuno attacked with an Ice-type move and froze her solid," Kairi said.
"Until we found her," Sora said.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
"Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Pichu," the Pichu said.
"Articuno must be up there to roost," Tracey said.
"Then that's where we're going," Todd said.
Joined by Jigglypuff, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Todd, Pikachu, Angel, Blossom, Togepi, and the Pichu continued towards the mountain. Just when the group kept going, Sakura spotted something and she made a stop.
"Everyone, look," Sakura 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," Karen said.
"I think it's a mama and her baby," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge, Togepi!" Togepi chirped.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"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!" Kairi 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," Tracey beamed feeling warm.
"Yeah, me too," Karen said.
"Pikachu," Blossom said.
"Our Pokémon could use a rest though," Kairi said.
"And we can rest our feet," Sakura said.
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," Tracey 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!"
Karen wasn't surprised that Todd had asked them to do that. She just giggled to herself like a little girl.
"Ooh, mom is going to bust a button when she sees the picture. Same with your mom, Kairi," Karen said. The couple just blushed.
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.
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 the Pichu. Kairi giggled at the sight and saw how cute it is.
"Todd, could you take a picture of this?" Kairi asked.
"Sure thing," Todd said, taking a picture. Todd looked at the mountain.
"What's up, Todd?" Sora asked.
"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," Sakura said.
"The question is, how are gonna get a picture of Articuno, anyway?" Karen asked.
"Good question," Tracey said. Everyone thought for a moment. Karen then got an idea.
"Wait a minute! I've got it! How about we get Jigglypuff to sing!" Karen suggested. "We can have 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. Karen realized how right he was and she remembered what she was told.
"Okay, you're right. I guess it was a dumb idea anyway," Karen 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," Tracey 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," Kairi said.
"I just saw Articuno fly up here earlier!" 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, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and Todd followed them both while Pikachu and Angel 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," Sakura said.
"Could it be how whoever carved this statue saw it?" Tracey 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.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"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, Team Rocket managed to land on a ledge and their hearts were beating faster than a drum and breathing heavily not believing they survived such a fall.
"Well, it's a good thing that we landed, but it's a bad thing we're stranded," James said.
"Without our equipment, we have no way to get up and no way to get down," Jessie said.
"Well, there is only one silver lining; it cannot get any worse than this," Meowth said. Suddenly, it began to snow.
"I had to say it, didn't you?" Jessie asked. The snowfall then suddenly turned into a blizzard. "Oh! Curse us and our bad luck!" James panted heavily.
"My breath's frozen!" James said. Just when Team Rocket were close to sudden doom, a glowing blue image of a bird appears before the scientist.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT?!" Team Rocket exclaimed.
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," Karen 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," Kairi said.
"Then, one mistake we make while going up there might be our last," Sora said. He strokes his chin. He knew Kairi 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. "Did it get chiilier or is it just me?"
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"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. Jigglypuff was close to being blown away, but Kairi saved her while tucking Togepi in her backpack.
"I've got you, Jigglypuff !" Kairi said, grabbing the Balloon Pokémon.
"Puff," Jigglypuff said.
"Let's not take any chances! Let's all head back to the Pokémon Center!" Officer Jenny suggested.
"Couldn't agree with you more!" Tracey 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?" Sakura asked.
"I don't know, but I'm glad that's over," Karen 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 Team Rocket buried in a heap of snow.
"Guys! It's Team Rocket!" Sora exclaimed. "I knew they'd lurking around here somewhere!"
"Look at them. They look so blue," Sakura said.
"They must be so very cold," Karen said.
"We've gotta help him get warm!" Kairi stated. Sora and the others all looked at her suspiciously.
"You're kidding right?" Karen asked.
"You mean after all the times we foiled him before?" Sora asked.
"I know they're our enemies, 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," Tracey agreed.
"Then let's do it," Sora said. He, Tracey, and Karen pulled the Moron Trio out the snow heap and they groans stirring awake.
"Where are we?" Jessie asked. He looked around and he found himself off the mountain. He turned to see Sora dragging him. "You." She shivered.
"I don't like this either, but it's not like I had a choice here," Sora said.
"Why are you helping us?" Jessie asked.
"You don't need a reason to help someone. You only do it because it's right," Sora said.
They couldn't understand why their mortal enemies would help them out like this. He was certain they would let tjem freeze to death, just as they would have let them.
Once inside, the Team Rocket 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. Tracey, Karen, and Sakura were doing their part to help while Sora, Kairi, and Todd stayed with the scientist.
"I feel so warm and toasty," Meowth said.
"Okay, spill it! How did you end up in that blizzard?" Sora interrogated him.
"We were stranded," Jessie said.
"Alone," James said.
"Then what happened?" Todd asked.
"Then we saw what looked like a giant bird in a blizzard," Jessie said.
"And we got lifted up and we blacked out," James added.
"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 came and helped him out."
"Articuno?" Team Rocket asked under their breaths.
"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, Angel, and Togepi especially didn't want something to happen. Jigglypuff went right after them. Karen and Sakura came in carrying some blankets.
"Sora! Kairi!" Karen called out.
"Todd!" Sakura also called out.
"They can't go climbing up that mountain dressed like that!" Karen said.
"We have to tell Tracey about this!" Sakura said.
"Right," Karen agreed. The two girls went to tell the Pokémon Watcher what had just happened, leaving Team Rocket completely alone.
"I don't believe it! The legendary Pokémon I saw was an Articuno! We had it within our sights and I let it slip right through my fingers!" James exclaimed in disbelief.
"We let it slip by just because we were cold and stranded," Jessie said.
"We have an Articuno to catch and give it to the boss!" Meowth said.
They heard Tracey, Karen, Sakura, and Blossom came running out of the Pokémon Center. Team Rocket got up and and hopped on Officer Jenny's 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. Those three 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 Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and Blossom finally caught up with them and gave them the jackets to keep warm.
"Good thing we found you," Karen said.
"Your families would disapprove of you two catching a cold up in this weather," Tracey 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!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Blizzards do happen here a lot!" Tracey 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," Karen said.
"You're right, sis. 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.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Pika!" Blossom said.
"Pichu, Pi!" The Shiny Pichu said with his ears also perking up.
"Pi, Pichu!" The Spiky-eared Pichu also said.
"Puff!" Jigglypuff 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," Kairi said.
The mysterious bird turns out to be Articuno itself.
"Articuno!" Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, and Todd all exclaimed.
"It's so amazing!" Sakura said.
"It looks exactly like the statue!" Tracey said.
"It's like the one Sora caught," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel 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!" Tracey said.
"And that would have been bad," Sakura said.
"Chu," Blossom said.
"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," Tracey said.
"Gotta get this picture now!" Todd said. He readied his camera to snap the picture, but suddenly, poison barbs heads towards the legendary ice bird Pokémon only to avoid it. "Something's attacking it!" Everyone turned to see it was Team Rocket who had finally caught up with them. They had Arbok, Weezing, and Wobbuffet out to battle.
"Now to capture Articuno," Meowth said.
"Seriously?! How could you make an attempt to capture Articuno after saving your miserable lives?!" Sora exclaimed.
"That was then, and this is now," Jessie said.
"And we intend to capture Articuno and we're not leaving until we get it!" James said.
"This only shows how ungrateful you truly are!" Karen said.
"Pika!" Blossom said.
"Can it!" Jessie said. "Arbok! Use Poison Sting!" Jessie ordered.
"Weezing! Use Sludge Bomb!" James ordered.
Arbok and Weezing fired their attacks at the Freeze Pokémon
It flapped its wings sending the anchor back. The attacks froze before they could reach it. Articuno got ready to fire Ice Beam and they all knew how powerful it was going to be. Articuno fired Ice Beam.
"Look put! Articuno's getting ready to fire Ice Beam!" Meowth exclaimed.
"Wobbuffet! Use Counter!" Jessie ordered as she, James, and Meowth hid behind him. Wobbufet blocked it, but the attack is sent back, so Articuno fired another Ice Beam and blocked it, resulting in an explosion, making the edge shake. Sora, Kairi, and Todd fell when the edge under them broke, running to it. Pikachu, Angel, and Jigglypuff went after them.
"Sora! Kairi! Todd!" Karen gasped.
"Pika!" Blossom said
"Guys!" Sakura 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 did that blizzard come from?!" Karen asked.
"When Articuno was struck by that falling ice, the power it was holding back must have been unleashed," Tracey theorized.
"We have to find them before something happened to them!" Karen said.
"We should head back to the Pokémon Center and get help from Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy," Sakura suggested.
"Right. We're going to need some help finding them!" Tracey 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, Angel, and Jigglypuff sliding down the wall.
"Pikachu!" Sora beamed.
"Angel!" Kairi also beamed
"Pika, Pi!" Pikachu chirped. Pikachu jumped right into Sora's arms.
"Eevee, vee!" Angel said, also jumping into Kairi's arms.
"I'm so glad to see you," Sora said.
"I am too," Kairi said petting the female Eevee on the head. She turned to Jigglypuff. "And you too, Jigglypuff." The Balloon Pokémon just blushed. She was about to sing when they winced.
"No, don't sing!" Sora pleaded.
They heard screaming as Team Rocket and their Pokémon came crashing down.
"Ow, that's a 4 for style on that landing," Meowth said. Team Rocket beamed when they saw Articuno again.
"Articuno!" Jessie said.
"Now to capture it!" James said.
"No you don't, morons!" Sora stated, standing up and taking out a Pokéball. "The only way to Articuno is through me!"
"We intend to! Weezing! Use Sludge Bomb Go!" James ordered. Weezing fired Sludge Bomb at Articuno.
"Go! Cyndaquil!" Sora shouted, throwing his Pokéball. Cyndaquil came out and flared up upon entry. "Okay, Cyndaquil! Use Flamethrower!" Cyndaquil fired a Flamethrower at Weezing.
"Arbok! Use Headbutt!" Jessie ordered. Arbok hits Cyndaquil with Headbutt.
"Sludge Bomb!" James ordered. Weezing spews Sludge Bomb at Cyndaquil, dealing some heavy damage. It was becoming too much to handle for Cyndaquil. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Mismagius!" Kairi shouted throwing her Pokéball. The Pokéball lets Mismagius out as she floats in the air. "Okay, Mismagius! Shadow Ball!" Mismagius fires Shadow Ballright at Team Rocket's Pokémon. The attack hits them both. It wasn't enough to keep them down.
"Arbok! Wrap at Mismagius!" Jessie ordered. Arbok hurls the himself right towards the Magical Pokémon. Arbok's Wrap does nothing. Sora saw it coming.
"You should have known Normal-type moves has any affect on Ghost-type Pokémon! Use Flame Wheel!" Sora called out. Cyndaquil went Rrght at Arbok and lands a hit. Articuno became astonished to the teamwork Cyndaquil and Mismagius dished out.
"Get them both!" Jessie said. Arbok and Weezing came at the couple's Pokémon when Articuno fired an Ice Beam at them, freezing them both.
"Articuno just used Ice Beam!" Sora said.
Articuno fired another Ice Beam attack right at Team Rocket.
"Articuno must be angered by Team Rocket's actions," Todd said.
"Use Counter!" Jessie ordered. Wobbufet uses Counter, but the freeze Pokémon manages to avoid it when Ice Beam is reflected..
"That was Articuno's Agility!" Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi said.
Articuno's body become surrounded by a blue aura and freezes the Poison-type 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 Team Rocket, their Pokémon, and Jigglypuff right into the wall.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" Team Rocket shouted as they went flying right towards the sky along with Jigglypuff.
"Jigglypuff!" Jigglypuff exclaimed as a star twinkles in the distance.
"Well, they're gone," Todd said.
"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. She noticed Jigglypuff was missing. "Where dod Jigglypuff go?"
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.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"GUYS!" Karen called out. Officer Jenny, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Blossom, and the Pichu all came in riding on snowmobiles. "Glad to see you're a-okay!"
"Yeah, thanks for your concern," Sora said. They all got off the snowmobiles.
"Is that Articuno?" Tracey asked.
"It is," Kairi said.
"I got the picture I was looking for," Todd said.
"I must get a sketch of this," Tracey said, taking out his sketchbook. Articuno then flew off into the sky.
"Where's Jigglypuff? Wasn't she with you?" Sakura asked.
"That's what I was wondering, too," Kairi said.
"She must have been blown away with Team Rocket. I hope she's okay," Sora said.
They made it back to the Pokémon Center and Todd had an announcement to make.
"I'm going to stick around and take a lot more pictures of the Pokémon that live in the area," Todd said.
"We wish you a lot of luck, Todd," Karen said.
"He's not going to need any luck," Sora said.
"But thanks all the same. I'll be wishing you luck on your way, and I hope you find your friend," Todd said.
"Thanks," Sora and Karen both said.
So, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Tracey, Sakura, Pikachu, Angel, Blossom, Togepi, and the Pichu leaves Todd behind to continue on their journey in the Johto region. Now that the legendary Pokémon Articuno has been caught on film, Todd continues his own passion in Pokémon photography. Unknown to them, the pack of Sneasel have caught up with them again, and they continue to follow them. What will happen? Will a fight break out? Just wait and find out.