Chapter 244: The Deity of the Snowy Mountain, Articuno!
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In movies and TV shows, when martial arts apprentices practice, there's often a scene set at dusk where two people face off on the surface of a river or the sea. Every punch carries determination and youth, and with each splash, you can no longer tell if it's seawater or sweat. It evokes a feeling of a magnificent, passionate struggle.
At this moment, Articuno and Ash were just like that.
Articuno executed an upward kick that grazed Ash's cheek, while Ash landed a "Black Tiger Snatches the Heart" punch, striking it squarely on the white feathers of its chest.
Under the light of dusk, the entire sea around the Seafoam Islands sparkled with golden light. From time to time, a few Magikarp would leap from the water.
The boy and the bird stood a meter apart. The water reached Articuno's waist, but it was up to Ash's chin.
Ash: "..."
There was nothing he could do. He was several heads shorter than Articuno. If they stood on the same level sea floor, the water would have almost completely submerged him.
But both Ash and Articuno stared intently at each other, locked in a tense standoff.
"Kreeh!"
"Hmph, you're not bad either!"
They mutually acknowledged each other's skill in fighting, but the battle wasn't over. The atmosphere between them grew even heavier...
"Click."
The sound of a camera shutter from the shore broke their standoff. The two couldn't help but turn their heads to see a dark-skinned man taking a picture of them.
"Haha, this scene is too epic. I couldn't resist taking a shot. You guys continue, don't mind me."
Brock rubbed his head and replied awkwardly.
The Deity of the Snowy Mountain wasn't breathing ice, but throwing punches?
A wonder of the world!
For some reason, Brock suddenly felt the urge to be a director and shoot an action movie with Ash as the protagonist.
He had even come up with a title.
*Thousand-Man Slayer! A List of the Legendary Pokémon Beaten Up by the Pallet Town Super Newcomer.*
Ash, Articuno: "..."
With that interruption, the tension between Ash and Articuno dissipated. They simultaneously dispersed their auras and walked toward the shore.
Problems weren't solved by fighting; they had to be discussed properly. Anything could be settled by sitting down and properly stabbing each other in the back.
The boy and the bird walked ashore, found a spot, and sat cross-legged, preparing to use their knowledge and ideological cultivation as shields and weapons to begin the second round of battle.
Articuno launched the first verbal attack.
"Kreeh?" it challenged.
"Did Pikachu defeat you?" Ash countered.
"Kree?" Articuno retorted with a sharp cry.
"Is Pikachu on the field right now?"
"Kree?"
"Then am I not on the field as well?"
"Kree?"
"Why can't a Trainer fight? Are you discriminating against humans?"
"Kreeh!" Articuno cried, indignant.
"Then you're just going back on your word. Is this all a legendary bird amounts to?"
"Kreeh!!"
"Oh, you're testing my short temper!" Ash growled.
"Kreeeeh!!"
After just a few rounds of debate, the boy and the bird started fighting again.
Everyone: "..."
It was already dinnertime, so the group decided to eat while enjoying the human-bird war.
As Brock brought out the food, Articuno suddenly exerted its strength, erupting with divine potential. It sent Ash flying with another kick and instantly flew to Brock's side.
It really hadn't eaten in half a month. Even a legendary bird has to eat!
"Oh, oh, does Articuno want to eat? Today's Pokémon food is spicy, Magikarp-flavored Sitrus Berries."
Brock tentatively reached out to pet the latter. Its feathers were cool and soft to the touch, very pleasant.
On any other day, if someone dared to touch it like this, Articuno would have long since used Sheer Cold on them. But after understanding that this dark-skinned young man was the one in charge of food in this group, Articuno didn't say much. Its stomach began to rumble, and the aura of the snowy mountain's divine bird began to fade...
It smelled so good.
The next day, early in the morning.
"Kree-kreeeh!!"
In the morning light, Articuno spread its wings and soared, displaying its breathtaking charm and elegance in the sky. With every flap of its wings, shimmering ice crystals drifted down. An icy and powerful aura enveloped the area; even the waves on the sea surface stilled, creating a suffocating feeling.
"Is this the Deity of the Snowy Mountain..."
Ash and his companions watched in a daze. Although they had fought all day yesterday, seeing their opponent's form in the sky was still incredibly stunning.
Moreover, the current Articuno was in its true peak condition. Its aura was much stronger than the day before. If they were to fight again, Ash wasn't sure if he could capture it.
"Kree-kreeh!"
After circling for a while, Articuno landed in front of Ash. It folded its ice-blue wings, and its ruby-like pupils flashed within its proud eyes, staring straight at him.
"Uhm..."
Ash gulped but hardened his gaze to meet its stare, not showing any weakness.
"Kreeh..."
After a long stare-down, Articuno finally dispersed its powerful aura, lowered its head slightly, and gently pecked Ash on the head.
Since it had eaten, and they had even slept huddled together afterward, it might as well let itself be captured.
What's done is done. Having crossed that mental hurdle, Articuno no longer dwelled on the matter of being captured by a human.
"Articuno...!"
Ash had thought it was about to bid him farewell. Although he was reluctant, if Articuno was determined to leave the team, he could only respect its choice.
He never expected...
Ash was overjoyed. He couldn't help but lunge forward and hug Articuno's neck tightly.
It was a cool and refreshing sensation that felt very relaxing.
Just like with Fire-type Pokémon, only when they truly acknowledge someone will their flames cease to burn hot. And only when it truly acknowledged someone would the intense chill from Articuno's body feel warm.
"Kreeeh~~"
Articuno was still not quite used to such intimate contact with a human. It struggled slightly and turned its head away, its cry tinged with a hint of complaint.
But a blush had crept onto its ice-blue cheeks...
Afterward.
"Kree-kree-kree~"
Ash discovered that he had gained a new ability: he could now seamlessly understand the words of Legendary Pokémon.
"Are you leaving?" Ash's voice carried a trace of reluctance, but he could more or less guess its intentions.
"Kree-kree-kree~"
Articuno nodded. As a proactive Legendary Pokémon, she needed to experience traveling the continent alone to comprehend life and hone her power. Only then would she settle down, either with a human companion or in seclusion as a regional powerhouse.
She wanted to become stronger, which meant she had to walk this journey exclusive to Legendary Pokémon.
This Articuno had only just begun her journey and had been cornered on the Seafoam Islands for half a month. She could be considered incredibly unlucky.
But to have such strength right from the start also demonstrated how extraordinary she was.
At the very least, her aptitude was much higher than that slacker Zapdos from the Power Plant.
"Then you can come with me!"
"Kree-kree-kree~"
Articuno pecked Ash's head again. She slowly raised her ice-blue wings, the tips finally tapping gently on Ash's forehead.
*Forgive me, Ash.*
*When I have completed my journey, one that is exclusive to Legendary Pokémon, I will join you in fulfilling your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.*
Ash: "?"
Why does that line sound so familiar?
Although they hadn't known each other long, a bond had already faintly formed between the boy and the bird. Ash could understand her desire to become stronger, and Articuno could understand Ash's obsession with becoming a Pokémon Master.
"Kree-kree-kree!!" Articuno tapped Ash's chest one last time, signaling him not to forget the feather she had left there.
As long as he called, she would return.
Finally, Articuno flapped her wings and soared towards the distant sky. She left a trail of endless ice crystals and snowflakes, leaving everyone with the beautiful image of the Deity of the Snowy Mountain.
Ash caught a few of the ice crystals falling from the sky. In his other hand, he tightly gripped an Ultra Ball and an Azure Feather.
"I'll become stronger, too..."
——
(Yeah... but still... it's hard to handle her if she stays on the team, so...)
(This isn't a release. There will be no releasing in this book.)
(end of chapter)