Articuno was a large avian Pokémon adorned in stunning blue feathers—its beautiful, semi-transparent plumage said to be formed of ice itself. It had a regal crest of three deep-blue, diamond-shaped feathers atop its head, sharp red eyes, and a short gray beak that matched its long, slender legs. Its flowing, banner-like tail, longer than its own body, rippled elegantly in flight.
A legendary Pokémon capable of controlling ice, Articuno was said to dwell in the perpetual frost of snow-capped mountains, drifting through white-out blizzards on graceful wings. It could freeze the moisture in winter air, conjuring snowfall and blizzards as it soared above the peaks. Some claimed that when explorers found themselves freezing to death in the mountains, Articuno would appear before them like a mirage.
Seeing two legendary Pokémon face off was enough to leave Rex and Brycen exchanging stunned glances—they hadn't expected the recent Pokémon migration to have been triggered by a battle of this magnitude. But thinking about it, it made perfect sense. Only power on this scale could've scared off the native mountain Pokémon so thoroughly.
"Brycen, what do we do now?" Rex asked.
This trip, Rex hadn't brought Diancie or Shaymin with him. With just Swellow and his current team, there was no way he could stop these two legendary Pokémon if things escalated.
Mediating between legends wasn't something to take lightly—one wrong word could land you at the center of a two-sided beatdown. Rex valued his life too much to go barging in blindly.
"Maybe… maybe we wait it out a bit. They might finish soon," Brycen offered.
He wasn't the impulsive type either. Despite their calm appearances, trying to forcibly stop Articuno and Keldeo from battling could go sideways fast.
The two of them directed Swellow and Noivern to land on a nearby outcrop to watch from a safe distance.
It didn't take long for Rex to realize that Keldeo was on the defensive, clearly overwhelmed by Articuno's aerial advantage. And that was while it was still in its Ordinary Form—had it reached its Resolute Form, things would likely look very different.
Before long, both Articuno and Keldeo noticed the intruders. They shot sharp looks at the two humans, clearly signaling that they weren't welcome.
But Rex and Brycen hadn't come all this way to just back off. A single glare wasn't going to make them turn tail.
"You two have invaded my territory. Leave now, or face the consequences."
The commanding voice echoed in both their minds—clearly a telepathic warning from Articuno.
"Yeah! Go on, get out of here! I've still got to finish my training with Lord Articuno!" added a more youthful voice—Keldeo, obviously.
"Articuno, Keldeo," Rex responded calmly, well-versed in telepathic communication. "Do you realize your battle has frightened all the Pokémon in the area and driven them to flee?"
"Of course I know," Keldeo huffed. "They'll come back when I'm done challenging Lord Articuno!"
It was clear it didn't grasp the consequences of what it had caused.
"Do you know those fleeing Pokémon formed a stampede that headed straight for Icirrus City? If we hadn't stopped them, the damage could've been catastrophic."
Rex ignored Brycen's subtle warning glance and pressed on, voice firm.
"I… I didn't mean for that to happen," Keldeo murmured, suddenly sounding much smaller. "I just wanted Lord Articuno to help me train…"
Rex knew it had the Justified ability—a Pokémon with a strong sense of justice. That was why he wasn't afraid to be blunt.
"I see," Articuno's deeper voice responded, more composed. "That was not my intent. I will suppress my aura and allow the local Pokémon to return."
Unlike Keldeo, Articuno was calm and mature. It had only agreed to battle at the request of Cobalion, whom it owed a favor. Now that it understood the broader consequences, it was quick to adjust.
"But… what about my training?" Keldeo said in a small, dejected voice, clearly aware it had messed up.
Keldeo had grown up under the guidance of Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. Its desire to do good had driven it to this snowy peak as part of a trial set by Cobalion. It needed to challenge Articuno to awaken its inner power and achieve its Resolute Form.
"If it won't take too long, you can finish your battle," Rex finally said after some thought. "But I hope this will be the last one in this area."
At this stage, the damage was already done. All they could do now was minimize further harm and let Keldeo finish what it started before the local Pokémon returned.
"Really?! Thanks! You're the best!" Keldeo bounced excitedly around Rex.
"Hmph…"
Articuno, on the other hand, looked far less thrilled. It had hoped to return to its nap, not continue fighting the overeager little unicorn.
The truth was, Articuno had no real interest in this battle. It was only here because it owed Cobalion a favor—and this so-called "training" had already taken a toll on its energy reserves.
Now that they understood Rex and Brycen had come to investigate the disturbance—and not to interfere—Articuno and Keldeo let them be and resumed their clash atop the snowy peak.
(End of Chapter)