After obtaining the testimony from Team Rocket, Ash and his group decided to climb Snowtop Mountain.
"But climbing a snow-capped mountain is no easy feat! And Ash, are you sure you want to bring Molly along?" Nurse Joy reminded them, urging the group to reconsider.
Ash, in particular, was planning to use a rope to secure Molly to his chest and carry her up the mountain himself. Even with his physical skills, it seemed like an unnecessary risk. However, both Molly and Ash were adamant.
Molly especially refused to sit and wait obediently for her big brother Ash to return; she wanted to climb the mountain and see the legendary Articuno! Now that she had caught a Jigglypuff, she considered herself a Pokémon Trainer, too. And a Trainer, she believed, should be fearless in the face of hardship.
Fearless, however, did not mean reckless. Since Ash had decided to take her, he was naturally prepared to take full responsibility for her safety and ensure she wouldn't suffer a single scratch.
Ash simply shook his head, but before he could speak, Brock stepped forward with absolute conviction. "Please, don't worry. I'll be right behind them the whole way!"
Nurse Joy looked at him with deep suspicion. "May I ask if you have any experience climbing snowy mountains?"
"I have none!"
Please, brother, Ash thought, if you don't have any experience, don't say it with such pride.
Clad in professional cold-weather gear, Ash and his group officially set off. Unlike Team Rocket, they took the established mountain paths rather than attempting to scale sheer icy cliffs.
However, a blizzard soon began to howl across the slopes, and the weather turned for the worse. "Ash, could this mean Articuno is nearby?" Misty asked, clutching Ash's hand tightly and leaning on his strength to steady herself. In such harsh weather, the warmth of Ash's palm provided a profound sense of security.
"If only it were!" Todd Snap added fervently. He desperately hoped Articuno was close. "We've brushed past it so many times before!"
Meeting a legendary Pokémon was never easy. In his haste, Todd tried to march forward, but Ash suddenly grabbed him.
"Ash, what are you doing?" Todd cried out.
"Todd, wait a second!" Misty interjected, hearing the blame in Todd's voice. "The blizzard is so thick you can't even tell north from south!"
Ash's face was grim. "Todd, look closely. Is there even a road in front of you?"
From the moment they entered the mountain, Ash had pushed his Aura Power to its limit. Even in the heart of this blizzard, he could clearly perceive the path beneath their feet.
Hearing this, Todd looked down. Beneath the thick blanket of snow lay a precipice! Though an icy cliff stood tall in the distance, he hadn't realized there was a literal chasm between where he stood and where he wanted to go.
"Ash, thank you!" Todd said, a cold sweat breaking out as he realized he would have fallen to his death if not for Ash. He thanked him sincerely and tried to calm his nerves.
The temperature continued to drop. The moisture in their breath condensed into ice crystals the moment they spoke. "We can't go any further!" Ash declared. He had to make the call for the sake of everyone's safety. Molly was huddled deep in his embrace, and her condition was worrying. "We're heading back immediately!"
He had to lead everyone back before the blizzard became so blinding that they lost sight of one another. However, just as he made the decision, the storm stopped. It was a sudden, preternatural halt. Ash and the others looked up to see the very being they had been longing for appearing right before their eyes.
Ash had always believed Articuno was the most beautiful of the three legendary birds. Seeing it now only confirmed his opinion. Its plumage was a stunning ice blue, said to be made of ice itself. Three dark blue, diamond shaped feathers formed a crest upon its head, and its long, banner like tail fluttered in the receding wind, looking exceptionally radiant.
In his previous life's journey through the Orange Islands, Ash had seen Articuno before. Not just Articuno, but Moltres, Zapdos, and the God of the Sea, Lugia! Todd reacted instantly, raising his camera to snap photos of the legendary bird.
Ash had already abandoned the idea of catching Articuno. This was the guardian of the snow mountain; its compatibility with him wasn't high, and it wasn't something a mere Trainer should claim for himself. Furthermore, Misty was shivering uncontrollably in the cold. Articuno had quelled the blizzard to keep them safe; how could Ash challenge it to a battle now?
Suddenly, Articuno descended and landed directly in front of Ash.
"Articuno!" Molly reacted quickly, reaching out a small hand to stroke the bird's feathers. She succeeded, as Articuno folded its wings and stood still before them.
Ash could see the confusion and speculation in the bird's eyes. It seemed to have sensed a specific aura from Ashan aura that puzzled it. How could a human carry the scent of that lord?
Suddenly, Ash remembered something and pulled an item from his backpack. It was a multicolored featherthe Rainbow Wing from Ho-Oh! Despite the freezing weather, the feather radiated a gentle warmth. As soon as it appeared, Misty's shivering subsided.
Articuno had indeed sensed the presence of Ho-Oh on Ash, which was why it had descended. It lowered its head, resting its cool beak against Ash's open palm. Then, it beat its wings and soared back into the sky, disappearing into the peaks where its nest likely lay. Ash had no intention of following it further.
The blizzard had vanished under Articuno's power, and Todd was satisfied with his photos. Ash quickly led the group down the mountain. As expected, Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy were already organizing a search party. Seeing the group return safe and sound, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
It wasn't until they returned to the Pokémon Center that Ash had the chance to examine the item Articuno had left him. It was another feather! However, this one was much stiffer, feeling almost like metal to the touch, and it shimmered with a silver brilliance.
This was the Silver Wing. Much like the Rainbow Wing, it was a tool used to summon Lugia! As for the location of the summon, it was in the deepest reaches of the Whirl Islands. Ash knew for a certainty that he would be going there.
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