Freeze Frame

After meeting up with their old friend Todd Snap, Ashlyn and her friends had join in the quest to capture a picture of the Legendary Pokémon; Titan of Ice, Articuno. They helped an elderly couple, Sunkern and Sunflora with the mysterious weather of snow, caused by Team Rocket.

So now the group is on their way to find Articuno. Ashlyn had let out Noctowl and Yukina to search while Brock let out Crobat to go look as well. Todd was surprised that Ashlyn had a shiny Articuno. Ashlyn offered to let him take a picture of Yukina, which he instantly took up the offer. A few minutes later, Noctowl and Yukina returned.

"Any luck?" Ashlyn asked.

The two shook their heads. Then Crobat comes up beside them.

"See anything, Crobat?" Brock asked.

Crobat shook his head.

"But we saw Articuno fly this way. Its gotta be around these mountains." Todd said, determined.

"Well we can't exactly check which one so easily." Volkner pointed out.

"Maybe we should find a Pokémon center and warm up for a bit. Then we'll be able to think of another plan." Brock suggested.

"Good idea." Misty agreed.

Everyone else agreed.

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Todd and the gang soon arrived at a Pokémon center that was at the foot of a mountain.

"What luck! A Pokémon Center!" Misty smiled.

"Wouldn't this be the perfect spot to cuddle up with a hit cocoa and a warm Nurse Joy?" Brock suggested with a droopy expression, hand on his chin.

Everyone turned towards him with confusion and suspicion. Brock flinched as he broke out of his thoughts when he saw those looks.

Brock shook his head frantically, "T-That's not what I meant! I meant a warm fire!" He corrected nervously.

'Yeah right.' Ashlyn thought with a flat expression.

They walked over to the Pokémon Center and saw a sign poster out front.

"'Welcome Trainers, This Is The Snowtop Peak Pokémon Center. The Highest Pokémon Center in the World'." Ashlyn read aloud.

"That's interesting." Volkner commented.

"Raichu." Tesla nodded.

"Why don't you go over and stand by the sign and I'll take a picture so you guys will have a souvenir?" Todd suggested.

The gang stood by the sign and Todd took a picture of them. Then he took another with her Rotom Phone. At that moment, Officer Jenny came up in a snowmobile.

"Officer Jenny!" Brock gushed.

"Hi Kids! Let's get warmed up!" Officer Jenny smiled.

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The group sat around a warm heater as they tried to think of how to find Articuno. But nothing came to mind. Ashlyn decided to switch out her Pokémon while they thought of a plan. She sent Genji, Cybele, Togetic, Misdreavus, and Noctowl to the lab. Prof. Oak had just called her and told her that Nariko had evolved into an Alolan Raichu a little after she was sent to Prof. Oak's cousin and Cedar had evolved into Venusaur. So she brought Nariko, Bayleef, Croconaw, Quilava, Flaffy, Sliggoo, and Heracross onto her team.

"Getting a picture of Articuno is a lot harder than I thought it would be." Todd stated.

"Don't worry, Todd. We'll get it somehow." Misty assured him.

"Are you sure about just getting one picture of Articuno? What if you don't get one?" Brock questioned.

"If I get the chance to take a picture of Articuno, I want it to look the way I've always imagined it; big, powerful, majestic." Todd listed, "I don't need a million shots either. I'll be happy if I could just take one that captures a little bit of what Articuno is really like."

Ashlyn pondered on their situation. She knew that right now that Team Rocket was stranded on the mountain and that Articuno would come and save them.

"Excuse me."

The group turned the voice and saw Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny.

"Officer Jenny has told me that you're looking for Articuno." Nurse Joy said.

Brock instantly stood up, "Yup, but I settle for a steady girlfriend, Nurse Joy!"

Todd stood up as well, "That's right, Nurse Joy. Have you seen Articuno because I saw one yesterday flying up towards the top of the mountain."

"That's not too surprising." Officer Jenny said.

"Articuno comes to Snowtop Mountain for as long as anyone can remember." Nurse Joy added.

"Really?!" Todd and the group exclaimed.

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Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny led the group outside the Pokémon Centre, where they saw a statue of Articuno.

"Amazing. This statue of Articuno is extremely well made." Ashlyn said, as she looked at it.

"Yeah, pretty impressive too." Todd added.

"What's the story behind this statue?" Volkner asked.

"This statue was brought there more than twelve hundred years ago. Travelers say that the Articuno watches over them on their journeys." Nurse Joy answered.

"Some people believe that the Articuno still has nests in all the highest mountains and coldest places and that it flies from nest to nest bringing winter weather along with it." Officer Jenny added.

"Snowtop's a very high mountain and it gets very cold too. That's the reason why people say that Articuno must have a nest someplace up here as well." Nurse Joy continued.

"That's not all, there's a diary of one of the people who brought the statue here, who says that Articuno rescue him and many others." Officer Jenny said.

"Then it's true. Now I'm really eager to take a picture of Articuno." Todd said, excitedly.

"I'm sure we'll be able to find it if we all look together." Volkner spoke up.

"I don't you realize how difficult it is to climb an icy mountain like Snowtop. It's very dangerous." Nurse Joy stated, worried.

Brock was quickly in front of Nurse Joy, "Don't you worry, Nurse Joy. I'll be leading every step of the way!" He declared.

"Will this be the first time you ever tried ice climbing?" Nurse Joy asked.

"Yes it will!" Brock admitted proudly.

"Then it might be your last." Nurse Joy stated, bluntly.

Brock gasped, "That's cold." He was soon encased into a block of ice.

"What a drama queen." Ashlyn whispered.

"Yeah." Volkner agreed.

"Raichu. (He just never learns.)" Tesla sighed.

At that moment, Ashlyn felt a powerful presence nearby. Then snow began to fall. Suddenly a blizzard blew out of nowhere.

"Articuno must be here!" Todd exclaimed and got his camera ready.

A few seconds later, the blizzard ended.

"What was that?" Misty asked.

"It was like a mini blizzard." Ashlyn replied.

"But it dumped more than snow." Todd said.

The gang looked to where Todd was looking and were shocked (besides Ashlyn) to see Team Rocket in a snow pile.

"Team Rocket!" The gang exclaimed.

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A few minutes, Team Rocket were wrapped with blankets as they sat in front of a heater while Meowth was curled up on a coffee table.

"Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny are in the kitchen making some hot soup for you. Not that you three deserve any. It'll be ready in a few minutes." Brock informed the trio.

"What happened to you guys, anyway?" Volkner questioned.

"We were stranded." Jessie replied.

"Alone." James added.

"Okay and then what?" Todd asked.

"Then this gigantic thing flew up from out of nowhere." Jessie started.

"Then it lit up and we all blacked out!" James finished.

"That had to be Articuno!" Todd gasped, "Let's go!"

Todd was half way to the door before Volkner grabbed the back of the collar of his shirt.

"You shouldn't be going out dress like that, Todd." Ashlyn pointed out.

"You'll freeze to death before you get the chance to take Articuno's picture." Volkner added.

Todd sighed, "Fine."

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After getting some warm clothes on, the gang headed out to find Articuno. By the time they headed out, a major blizzard was blocking their way.

"Just where did this blizzard come from?" Misty asked.

"It was clear a few minutes ago." Brock replied.

"It's possible that Articuno is nearby." Volkner guessed.

"You might be right about that, Volkner." Ashlyn agreed.

"Well I hope you're right about that because I'm not giving up until I get its picture." Todd said with determination.

Tesla's ears twitched, as she heard something coming, "Rai..." She said.

Everyone noticed that the blizzard was letting up and they saw the Pokémon they were looking for, flying in front of them; Articuno, the Freeze Pokémon.

"Arttt!" It said, calming the blizzard down.

"Its Articuno..." Todd said, breath-taken away.

Todd lifted his camera up and was about to take a picture of Articuno when suddenly...

A Poison Sting attack came towards Articuno. Luckily it dodged the attack. The gang looked behind them and saw Team Rocket and their Pokémon.

"Team Rocket!" Todd and the gang exclaimed.

Team Rocket had said their motto.

"Yukina, let's go!" Ashlyn released her shiny Ice Type bird.

"Arttt!" Yukina called out.

"Use Ice Beam!" A white orb of light appeared in front of Yukina's mouth along with Articuno. They fired an Ice Beam at Team Rocket who were quickly encased in ice.

"Oh crud." James muttered.

"Now let's get rid of them. Tesla, Thunder Shock! Yukina, Blizzard!" Ashlyn ordered.

Tesla, Yukina, and Articuno's attacks hit Team Rocket and sent them flying into the air which broke the ice off their heads.

"So close, yet we failed again." Jessie whined.

"The only thing we got were cold feet." James whined.

"I rather be back warming up on the coffee table near a heater." Meowth added.

"Yeah." Jessie and James agreed.

"LOOkS LIKE WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!" They shouted as they disappeared into the sky.

"WOBBA WOBBA!" Wobbuffet screamed.

Ashlyn sighed with relief, "Thank goodness they're gone."

The dark clouds began to fade away and the sun shined in.

"Hey, the sun's out." Misty smiled, as the shine hits her face.

"Togi Togi." Togepi chirped.

"Yeah." Brock said.

Everyone turned around to see the two freeze Pokémon and gasped.

"..." Everyone was speechless.

"Arrt~" Yukina sang.

"Arttt~" The wild Articuno followed.

Articuno and Yukina were both sparkling under the sunshine as they flapped their wings.

"Todd, the picture." Volkner told the photographer.

"Oh yeah. Big powerful and majestic. This is the exact shot I've been waiting for." Todd quickly took a picture of the wild Articuno and then he took a picture of Yukina, finally a final image of both Articuno's together. "This is the best shot that I've ever taken." He smiled, widely.

Then the Wild Articuno flew into the sky and disappeared into the clouds.

"It's a magnificent sight to see." Brock said.

"Yeah." Todd agreed.

Ashlyn returned back her shiny freeze Pokémon.

At that moment, they heard a snow mobile come up. Officer Jenny was driving it.

"Officer Jenny!" Ashlyn called out.

"Kids! Are you all alright?" Officer Jenny asked as she pulled up to them.

"Don't worry, we're alright." Ashlyn assured her.

Brock was instantly by Officer Jenny's side and held her hand, "Now that you're here, how about we warm up together?" He suggested.

Officer Jenny blinked, "Huh?"

Misty grabbed Brock's ear and dragged him away.

"What you need to do is cool that mushy brain of yours." Misty said.

"Ow, ow, ow, my ear!" Brock yelped in pain.

The others sighed at this.

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Todd's picture of Articuno was printed out big and placed on a wall inside the Pokémon Centre and it looked magnificent.

Now Snowtop Mountain has two things in honor of Articuno, a statue and a photo.

Todd also printed two small photos and gave them both to Ashlyn; one picture was of Yukina and the second one was of, Yukina and Articuno together. It was beautiful and breathtaking to them together.

Ashlyn asked Todd to have larger one of Articuno and Yukina together printed out and send it to her home. Todd agreed and did just that.

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Soon it's was sunset and it was time for the gang to leave Snowtop Mountain.

"Huh? You're going to stay around here?" Misty asked.

"Yup. I'm going to stay and take a lot more shots of the Pokémon that live in the mountains." Todd explained.

"That makes sense." Volkner said.

"See ya and good luck in your gym battles Ashlyn." Todd told her.

Ashlyn smiled and nodded, "Good luck with your pictures." She said.

And then the gang bid farewell to Todd, Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy.

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And so Ashlyn and her friends leave Todd behind to continue on their journey, though now they go their separate ways, one thing that always unite them... A successful quest to capture the image of Articuno.

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Pokémon on hand: Raichu (Tesla)(F), Type: Null (Talos)(Genderless), Zeraora (Raiden)(M), Shiny Charizard (Natsu)(M), Lucario (M), Marshadow (M), Shiny Articuno (Yukina)(F), Alolan Raichu (Nariko)(F), Bayleef (F), Croconaw (M), Quilava (M), Flaffy (F), Sliggoo (F), Heracross (M)

Pokémon Caught: Heracross (M), Furret (F), Stantler (F), Bayleef (F), Quilava (M), Togetic (F), Croconaw (M), Steelix (M), Flaffy (F), Girafarig (F), Misdreavus (F), Drizzile (M), Thwackey (M), Shiny Greninja (Genji)(M), Shiny Chestnaught (Cybele)(F), Hakamo-o (M), Sliggoo (F), Meowstic (Orin)(M), Meowstic (Bella)(F), Thievul (F), Gothorita (F), Rapidash (F), Houndour (M), Shiny Noctowl (M), Zeraora (Raiden)(M), Pikachu (Nariko)(F), Marshadow (M)