[Pokémon: Articuno (Legendary Pokémon)]
[Type: Ice/Flying]
[Level: 40]
[Ability: Snow Cloak]
[Moves: omitted]
The system overlay threw Articuno's stats up before Grey's eyes.
A bit under-leveled—might not even eat a few punches from Annihilape.
"Puf—din…" (So tired…)
Jigglypuff let the air leak from its mouth; their descent sped up several-fold.
"So this is one of the legendary birds…"
Grey met Articuno's gaze, and for a heartbeat, he felt the emotions burning there.
Anger. Frustration… and fatigue.
"Liiing!" (Humans! You even tracked me here?)
Articuno spread its wings. Snow danced at its sides, blossoming into lotus-like flakes drifting in the air—beautiful to behold.
Its long tail-feathers trailed behind; the cold wind stirred them in ripples. Tiny crystals glittered along the plumes, each seeded with a terrible core of frost.
Between its wings, twin bands of blue light flared—an Ice Beam could lance out any second!
"Hold up—wait!"
Grey thrust out a hand, aura flaring with good intent and flowing into Articuno's mind. "We're not here to harm you!"
"Liiing!" (I'll judge that for myself!)
Articuno climbed, and the blue light ripped down into the water—freezing it into a solid, iron-hard sheet in an instant.
In a blink, pillars of ice rose from nothing, bristling across the new-frozen floor, hemming the two of them in like a silent army.
"Ten out of ten on the VFX."
Grey hopped onto the ice, crouched, and rapped the surface, clicking his tongue in wonder.
"Grey… are we going to be okay…?"
Green tucked herself behind him, shivering so hard she could barely lift a foot.
"I'm here. Don't worry."
He palmed Annihilape's Poké Ball. If it wouldn't listen to words, he wouldn't be gentle.
"Rio rio." (Let's not fight, okay?)
Riolu padded forward, a tiny body standing between two humans and one bird. The small, growing smile on its face caught Articuno's eye.
"Liiing!" (You!)
Articuno folded its wings; its killing intent sank back down.
Its body had changed a lot, but it still recognized the little Pokémon before it.
"Ri—o~" (Yup, it's me~)
Riolu squinted into a grin, covering its mouth with a paw and giggling.
That signature gesture eased Articuno's stance.
"Liiing!" (Even so, I hid myself well—and you still found me. It seems I can't stay.)
Not three seconds of calm passed before vigilance returned to its face.
"Wuu-wuu." (I'm the one who found you!)
Poliwag bobbed up from the water, hopped over, and patted the ice with its strong, feather-like tail, making a clear, crisp clack.
"Liiing…" (If even a Poliwag can follow my trail, then yes—this place isn't safe.)
Articuno shot the little Poliwag a lofty look and let a puff of white mist escape its beak; a wave of hopelessness rolled off it.
Poliwag: ?
What do you mean "even a Poliwag"?!
Poliwag bristled at once, its tail-feather pointing and wagging at Articuno in protest.
"Liiing." (Enough. You wouldn't understand.)
It let Poliwag be and turned to Grey with a small nod.
"Liiing." (Human, I'll be leaving for another place. If fate allows, we'll meet again.)
As the words fell, soft snow drifted down, casting the Seafoam's depths into a dream—like the heart of a frozen world.
Articuno's shape blurred, dissolving into the endless white.
"Wait!"
Grey's shout stopped it.
The bird's body stilled, then sharpened back into view.
"Liiing." (What is it?)
It cocked its head, confusion in its eyes.
"Have you been hunted by trainers in uniforms with a big red 'R'?"
Grey had thought it through. The only ones in Kanto who could pressure Articuno like this were Team Rocket.
League trainers might chase legends, but the strong had no interest in this quarry, and the weak couldn't even find it.
Rocket, sitting in the middle, would value Articuno—and had the manpower to comb for legends.
"Liiing." (Yes.)
Articuno dipped its head. Despite being Ice-type, a flash of hot anger cut across its eyes.
If not for those uniformed hunters, it wouldn't be hiding and running, living this miserable life!
It was Articuno—a legendary!
Not on the level of the one on Ice Island, maybe—but still a legend!
Legendary Pokémon are not to be beaten!
Yet a crowd of humans had hounded it across the seas.
If not for a kind trainer on the ocean throwing up Snowscape at just the right time, it might've been captured.
At the thought, Articuno's chest heaved. Ice energy lashed wild, and the Seafoam's heart grew colder still.
Blizzard-thick snow whipped by; Grey's world went white.
Flakes landed on his shoulders and melted into water.
"Liiing." (Pardon the display.)
Articuno gathered itself, curious what Grey had stopped it for.
Surely not to mock it?
"Come with me. Live in the human world."
Grey took out a Great Ball, weighing it in his hand.
Green, Articuno: ???
"Liiing!" (Insolent human—I am a legendary Pokémon!)
Articuno's brow turned to a blade; its gaze went razor-sharp.
Whoom!
One sweep of its wings, and killing frost exploded outward, freezing the very mist to ice.
A thin fog of cold spread; a dozen jagged Ice Shards rose between its wings, each one bleeding cruel chill.
"Against an average trainer, you're strong."
Grey flipped a Poké Ball.
Red light flashed—Annihilape's fists flared with blinding heat. Waves of warmth rolled out; beneath its feet, the ice began to soften.
Urgency pricked Articuno; it snapped its wings, and the dozen ice blades screamed forth like lightning!
Crack—shhh!
Annihilape slammed its fists together. Heat blasted outward, and those great burning hands smashed forward. Shockwaves—hot enough to rumble the air—met the onrushing shards and turned them to water in a single exchange.
"So? Still want to go a round?"
Grey smiled and sent out Blaziken as well. "Or do you need a fight between equals before you can accept it?"
"…"
Articuno said nothing—just beat its wings and stared at Grey.
Run into Grey in the Seafoam, get hunted like a chick, and even going all out it still couldn't win.
"Liiing." (Give me a reason to follow you.)
The proud bird lifted its head. As a legend, it didn't bow to the weak.
"I can help you get revenge."
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