Chapter 24

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="14800640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Beginning):  </B><A HREF="dr_pro.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Prologue"><U>Prologue</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 1"><U>Chapter 1</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 2"><U>Chapter 2</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 3"><U>Chapter 3</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 4"><U>Chapter 4</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 5"><U>Chapter 5</U></A></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making:</B>  <A HREF="mim18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 18"><U>Chapter 18</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 19"><U>Chapter 19</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 20"><U>Chapter 20</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 21"><U>Chapter 21</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 22"><U>Chapter 22</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 23"><U>Chapter 23</U></A>   |   <B>Chapter 24</B>   |   <A HREF="id734.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 25"><U>Chapter 25</U></A>   |   <A HREF="mim26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 26"><U>Chapter 26</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection:  </B><A HREF="dr6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 6"><U>Chapter 6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 7"><U>Chapter 7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 8"><U>Chapter 8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 9"><U>Chapter 9</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 10"><U>Chapter 10</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 11"><U>Chapter 11</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 12"><U>Chapter 12</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 13"><U>Chapter 13</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr14.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 14"><U>Chapter 14</U></A></div> <div> <B>Dark Reflection (Finale):  </B><A HREF="dr15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 15"><U>Chapter 15</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 16"><U>Chapter 16</U></A>   |   <A HREF="dr_epi.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Epilogue"><U>Epilogue</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/oldnews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Old News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrfic/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanfics</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/zrart/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>My Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/a-j/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors A-J</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/k-z/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Authors K-Z</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/art/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Fanart List</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/ffsubmit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit a Fanfic</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/fanart_submit.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Submit Fanart</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://pub46.ezboard.com/beeveesmb"><U><B>Message Board</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethraltier/links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://members.fortunecity.com/zethralti"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Chapter 24</I></div> <div> <B>A Master in the Making: Chapter 24: Wind Chill Factor</B></div> <bR> <div>     "It's just so amazing!" Zeth exclaimed, as he stared out one of the windows in the upper observation room of the airship.  He had let out all his pokémon to watch as they had lifted off, and they were all as awed as Zeth was.</div> <bR> <div>     "Actually, you haven't seen anything yet," Lawrence said from behind them.  "This airship has some of the highest technology available installed in it.  Watch this!  Computer, propellors off!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth spun around, "Wait a second!  What are you doing?"  The collector just smiled and pointed at the slowing propellors.</div> <bR> <div>     Florio covered his eyes with his vines.  {We're all going to die!}</div> <bR> <div>     Sting buzzed with laughter, {Not likely, Florio.  Look, we haven't even begun to fall, and the propellors are barely moving!}</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course we're still flying," Lawrence explained.  "This airship is equipped with an antigravity propulsion system, much like the Porygons that David works with every day.  You shouldn't really be surprised that we used the same technology on this airship.  The propellors are actually just for backup, just in case the main system fails or gets damaged."</div> <bR> <div>     "It's incredible." Zeth said, still finding it hard to believe that he was actually on such an advanced aircraft.  "I'm just lost for words!"</div> <bR> <div>     "You'll get used to it after a while.  In the meantime, you and your pokémon can help me out a little in the gallery.  Before we lifted off, I brought some pieces of my collection along with me.  You can help me set them up on the proper displays."</div> <bR> <div>     "Sure, we'll help you out with that," Zeth beckoned for his pokémon to follow him.  "Come on, all of you."</div> <bR> <div>     After riding the elevator platform down to the gallery, Zeth noticed a pile of boxes that had not been there before.  Lawrence must have brought them from his mansion when he had come aboard.  The Collector pointed at the boxes.  "There's quite a few different items in those boxes.  Each goes on a different display around the gallery."</div> <bR> <div>     "Shouldn't be too hard to match up.  We should have this done in no time."  The whole procedure lasted a bit longer than the "no time" Zeth had predicted, because they had to ask Lawrence where each item went.  Still, there wasn't that much to set up and there weren't any extremely heavy items, so it was a fairly easy job.</div> <bR> <div>     Finally, as they were setting out the last of the collection Lawrence had brought, Zeth noticed a strange piece.  It was neither old, or even an original artifact, but instead it was a rubbing of something he had seen about four years before.  "Hey, Lawrence, this is a copy of that legend from Shamuti Island, isn't it?  Why do you have that in your collection?"</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence took a quick look at the paper, then nodded.  "Yes, that is a copy of the Legend of Lugia.  I made a rubbing of it when I was eleven.  I found it to be quite an interesting legend, and I've always wanted to find out if it's true that Lugia really guards those four islands."</div> <bR> <div>     "Well, I think it's true." Zeth told the Collector.</div> <bR> <div>     "I do hope so.  It would be so much more interesting than if it was not."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth was about to agree when the voice of the airship's computer systems spoke up.  "An anomaly has been detected nearby.  Analysis indicates that the anomaly is ruins from an ancient civilization."</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence smiled, "What luck, Zeth!  We're barely off the ground and we've already found somewhere interesting to explore!  If our luck holds, we may be able to find some priceless artifacts to add to this collection!"  The Collector addressed the computer, "Where are these ruins?"</div> <bR> <div>     "The anomaly is near Beryll Pass," the computer supplied.  "Showing exact information on the holographic projector."  On hearing that, Sting took flight and shot up through the hole in the ceiling.</div> <bR> <div>     "Come on," Zeth suggested.  "Let's follow her and see what we found!"</div> <bR> <div>     As Zeth, Lawrence, and the rest of Zeth's pokémon ran for the elevator platform, Lawrence shook his head.  "I've just realized something, Zeth."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yeah, what's that?"</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence launched himself into his chair and hit the button for the elevator to rise.  As they shot upward through the elevator tube, he explained his observation.  "We have the holographic projector set up in the observation room, so if I want to see it, I have to go up there.  It's an important part of the navigation systems, and I don't think it would be good to have to run there all the time."</div> <bR> <div>     As the elevator came to a halt, Zeth waved toward the holographic projection that was displayed, "Well, how can we fix that problem?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I don't know.  We'll think it over and see what we can come up with.  In the meantime, let's see what we've found here."  The projection was showing a tall, snow-covered mountain in the Northern Granite Mountain Range.  "Glass Mountain?  Is that it?  Perhaps our luck was not so great after all."</div> <bR> <div>     {What's wrong with Glass Mountain?} Blaze asked.</div> <bR> <div>     "Nothing is actually wrong with the mountain, but I already knew of the ruins there.  Remarkably well-preserved, but totally useless.  There's been scientists and archaeologists up there before, but no one has really found out anything about it.  No one even knows who built it."</div> <bR> <div>     {I think we should go there,} Sting stated, peering at the tiny, fuzzy image depicted by the projector.</div> <bR> <div>     "Why should we go to there?  There's nothing of interest to be found!  All that's up there is one old stone building and a lot of ice and snow!" Lawrence objected.</div> <bR> <div>     "Wait a minute.  Are you thinking what I think you're thinking, Sting?" Zeth asked.</div> <bR> <div>     {I most certainly am.  We may have just found ourselves the Orb of Ice!}</div> <bR> <div>     "Orb of Ice?  What are you talking about?" Lawrence questioned them.</div> <bR> <div>     "It's part of that quest that I was talking about earlier," Zeth explained, showing the Collector the two Orbs he had already found.  "We're looking for two more of these, and that ruin on Glass Mountain might just be the Temple of Ice!"</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence considered this for a moment.  "Well, I suppose that we can make a quick detour to see if you're right.  Computer, set course for the ruins on Glass Mountains!  We'll find anything that's worth finding there!"</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Most of the trip to Glass Mountain was spent helping Lawrence move his holographic projector to a better position on the elevator platform and then carefully integrating the system into the floor of the platform.  From this new location, Lawrence could have much better access to the information the projections could provide.  No one had anything better to do anyway.  Zeth decided that when they got to the Orange Islands, he would see if he could find a few board games to pass the time.</div> <bR> <div>     While Zeth, Florio, and Sting were helping Lawrence with his projector, the rest of Zeth's pokémon were trying to help Teak work on his electric attacks.  When Zeth came over to check on them, he could tell that the extra training really hadn't helped that much.  As Teak tried once more to use an electric attack, he shot off random blasts of electricity that scattered everywhere.  Blaze and Eva dove for cover, while Aqua teleported right into Zeth's arms.  Some of the electric arcs bounced off the forcefields that had just been turned on to protect Lawrence's collection from harm.</div> <bR> <div>     {I just can't do it!} Teak complained.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth patted the Jolteon on the head, "Yeah, I noticed.  I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually, though.  Don't worry about it."  Zeth turned to Blaze and Eva, who were peeking out from behind one of the displays.  "What all have you tried, so far?"</div> <bR> <div>     {Well, let's see.} Eva started to list off all the techniques they had tried.  {We did a whole lot of target practice, and tried to see if he could start with the crazy lightning, then try to focus it and bring it under tighter control.  Blaze even tried to make him angry so he would blast him.}</div> <bR> <div>     "Really?  What happened with that?"</div> <bR> <div>     Blaze covered his eyes with a paw and Teak stared at the floor in embarrassment as Eva explained.  {Oh, it worked.  Teak blasted him... and me, and Aqua, and just about everything else too...}</div> <bR> <div>     Teak winced, then added, {Don't forget that whole "feel the electricity -- you are the lightning!" thing Blaze was talking about for a while.}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth laughed, then considered the problem for a moment.  "Well, have you tried just using a tiny bit of electricity?  It might be easier to control if you don't use a lot of power."</div> <bR> <div>     {Hmm, I guess we didn't try that yet,} Blaze admitted.  {That might just work!}</div> <bR> <div>     {I'm starting to feel a little drained, though.  Can we take a short break?} Teak asked.</div> <bR> <div>     Eva shook her head, {Not yet.  We'll keep practicing for a little bit longer, then take a break.  You shouldn't need to use much energy if we try what Zeth said, anyway.}</div> <bR> <div>     {But I'm tired,} Teak objected.  {Hungry too.  I'm the one who's been doing all the work after all.}  The Jolteon laid down on the floor and closed his eyes.  {I think I'm just going to take a quick nap, then get something to eat before we practice some more.}  A moment later, he jumped back to his feet as something fuzzy hit him in the face.  {Hey, stop it!}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth chuckled, "Looks like it's tough love for you, Teak.  It's your own fault, though.  I warned you about her Tail Whip."  At that, Eva giggled and pranced around Teak, smacking him with her tail every now and then.</div> <bR> <div>     Blaze watched Eva complete a circuit around Teak, then looked up at Zeth, {Would that be considered a Swagger attack?}  Eva stopped and gave Teak one last brush with her tail, then shot away and yelled back that he couldn't possibly catch her in his weakened condition.  At that, Teak darted after her.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shrugged, watching the two of them chase each other around the gallery.  "I don't know, Blaze.  Either way, I think Teak's fallen victim to Eva's Attract attack."</div> <bR> <div>     {Yeah, but we already knew that,} the Growlithe replied.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     Glass Mountain was a forbidding spike of rock that stood out from among the other nearby mountains.  The top of the mountain was covered with snow and ice, often perilously piled up at the edges of steep drops.  Zeth could just imagine setting off an accidental avalanche from one of those piles.  As they circled the mountain, he saw the ruins come into view.</div> <bR> <div>     Turning away from the gallery window, Zeth shook his head, "You know, I don't know how we're going to get down there."</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence joined Zeth at the window, took one look out, and shrugged, "It's no problem.  We'll take one of the hoppers and land right in front of the ruins in that flat area."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth looked at Lawrence in confusion, "What's a hopper?"</div> <bR> <div>     "They're small, two-person airships that I had built to ferry me and any companion I have with me from this airship to the ground.  If you didn't notice earlier, this vessel can't land.  It's simply not built for it.  Before we took off, the airship was resting on a special frame, but since there would be no other places like that, I had to come up with an alternative solution so I could explore any locations I can't examine from flight.  That solution was the hopper.  It's a useful little craft; about as fast as this airship is, too."</div> <bR> <div>     "So why use this airship at all?" Zeth inquired.  "Wouldn't the hopper work just as well?"</div> <bR> <div>     "In many circumstances, yes, it probably would." Lawrence replied.  "But the hopper is too small to hold some of the prizes I hope to obtain, and it is not as durable or well-equipped as this vessel.  But as I said, it does have its uses.  This situation would be one of them.  Come, I'll show you my little ships."</div> <bR> <div>     The two hoppers were stored in the lower sections of the airship, ready to take Zeth and Lawrence down to the surface.  Lawrence explained that the second one was a backup, in case they had a problem with the other one.  The hoppers made full use of the antigravity technology, relying on that instead of any propellors.  There was no holographic control system inside, just a small screen between the pilot and copilot, who would be seated side by side.  Just as in the main airship, most of the hopper's controls were voice-activated, although there were manual controls as well.  However, on the trip down, Lawrence made almost no use of those manual controls, instead letting the computer do most of the work.</div> <bR> <div>     "Nothing to it," Lawrence said, as the hopper gently landed in front of the stone building.  "A child could fly one of these."</div> <bR> <div>     "I believe it," Zeth agreed.  "It's one amazing little ship."</div> <bR> <div>     "Yes, it is, although it's slow enough that a Pidgey could fly rings around it."  Lawrence opened the door on his side of the hopper, which allowed a gust of freezing air to hit Zeth.  Now he was glad that Lawrence had given him a nice warm coat before they had come down to the mountain.  Wincing at the cold, Zeth shoved open his own door.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth thought of something as he climbed out of the hopper.  As he and Lawrence trudged through the snow towards the ruins, he had to shout over the howl of the wind that suddenly whipped past them.  "You know, that just reminded me...  What about your gym back in Diamond City, and all your pokémon?  We left all that behind when we left."</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence yelled back to him, "Don't worry, Zeth.  They're all in good hands.  I made preparations for that before I left!"  The wind died down again as they reached the ruins, which Zeth was now certain was the Temple of Ice.  There was no real protection from the weather to be found in the temple, which only seemed to be a stone frame.  There were no walls and no ceiling, although rock slabs ran around the tops of the pillars.  A cube-shaped block of stone in the center of the room was the only other unusual feature to be found.  Zeth ran toward it, as Lawrence stood at the edge of the temple and watched.  "You see what I mean, Zeth?  There's nothing to be found here!"</div> <bR> <div>     "We'll see about that!" Zeth called back, shivering as a gust of ice-cold wind blew past him.  As Zeth had expected, he quickly found a depression on the stone cube shaped like his half of the pendant.  As he had done before, in the other temples, he placed the medallion in the depression face-down.  And once again, the medallion started to glow.</div> <bR> <div>     At the edge of the temple, Lawrence saw the light and started to walk inside to see what Zeth had discovered.  But a moment later, the wind picked up, driving him back.  Inside the temple, a funnel of wind and snow whirled in front of Zeth.  The whole temple frame started to glow, then ice shot down from the rock slabs, forming walls.  The ceiling remained open, but as Zeth looked around, he found that he was now trapped in the icy structure.  A sheet of ice began to spread across the floor as well.  Only the cube-shaped block of stone remained untouched by the ice, even though it was directly underneath the swirling white funnel.</div> <bR> <div>     That funnel suddenly exploded, leaving behind the ice bird, Articuno.  As if to complete the effect, a gentle snow started to fall around Zeth and the legendary bird.  Zeth looked around for a moment, then smiled and picked up his pendent piece.  He almost hung it around his neck again, but then he realized how cold the metal would be and decided against it, sticking it in his pocket instead.  "You really know how to make an entrance," he told the ice bird, who had landed on the other side of the stone cube.</div> <bR> <div>     This time, Zeth remembered to turn on his pokédex translator before the bird started to speak.  There was a touch of humor in the birds attitude, which Zeth took to be a good sign.  {Welcome, Seeker.  You have come a long way to find me here, and I would not wish to disappoint you with a less than fantastic greeting.}  </div> <bR> <div>     Zeth chuckled, "Well, that greeting was far from disappointing.  I am glad to have found you here, Articuno.  It is a pleasure to meet you."</div> <bR> <div>     {How nice of you to say so,} the Articuno said.  {I just hope that you will be so pleased after we part ways.  I am supposed to guard the Orb of Ice with all my strength, you realize.  That is what you came here for, of course?}</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth nodded, "Yeah, it is, and yes, I know you're not supposed to go easy on me.  That's what Moltres said when I saw him."</div> <bR> <div>     {Oh, so you've seen that old fireball already?  Then you truly are the Seeker that I've been waiting for.  Very well then, let's have a battle, shall we?}</div> <bR> <div>     "You're on!" Zeth replied, getting out all his pokéballs.  "Ok, everyone, come on out!  It's time for a showdown!"  In unison, all of Zeth's pokémon came out of their pokéballs.  Then all of them except Blaze and Aqua started complaining and shivering from the cold.</div> <bR> <div>     The Growlithe and Shellder just watched the others for a moment.  {I guess they're cold} Aqua observed.</div> <bR> <div>     {I could set them on fire so they'd be warm again,} Blaze offered.  None of the others took him up on that, however.  Florio gave the fire dog a look that suggested he thought Blaze had lost his sanity, so the Growlithe added, {No?  Suit yourself...}</div> <bR> <div>     {I don't know,} The Articuno told Zeth, observing his pokémon's reactions to the cold.  {If your pokémon can't take even this amount of cold, they almost certainly won't be able to withstand my freezing powers.}</div> <bR> <div>     "They'll be fine," Zeth assured the ice bird.  "Just worry about yourself."</div> <bR> <div>     {Very well then,} the bird waved a wing and the wind suddenly picked up again.  {Defend yourself!}</div> <bR> <div>     As Articuno's Blizzard attack began to fling shards of ice at the six pokémon, Zeth yelled out orders.  "Teak, Eva, use Double Team!  Florio, try using Razor Leaf!  Aqua, Teleport and Clamp!"  Before Zeth could give any other commands, the wind hit full force, blocking out the sound of his voice.  Sting could figure out her own strategy, though, and all Blaze had to do was use any fire attack, so Zeth wasn't that worried about those two.</div> <bR> <div>     It seemed to Zeth that Florio was the one having the most difficulty.  Being a plant-type, he was far less resistant to the cold than most of the other pokémon.  Now that Zeth thought about it, Sting should be affected by the low temperatures just as much as Florio, but the Beedrill seemed to be handling it better.  Looking back to Florio, Zeth could see that his Razor Leaves were having no effect because of the strong wind.  Unable to block the shards of ice, Florio was taking quite a beating.  Since Zeth couldn't call out to his pokémon, he would have to get to the Ivysaur to suggest a different strategy.  Pushing off the stone cube, Zeth slid across the slick floor towards Florio.</div> <bR> <div>     In the meantime, Teak and Eva had teamed up against the Articuno, showing it with Swift attacks from two different directions at once.  Blaze noticed what they were doing and added in his Flamethrower.  The ice bird quickly shot into the sky and circled for a moment before diving down and firing off an Ice Beam at Blaze.  The Growlithe jumped to the side to dodge it and ended up slipping on the icy ground.  Out of control, he couldn't possibly dodge the second Ice Beam the Articuno hit him with.  Blaze fell over, still sliding across the ice.</div> <bR> <div>     Aqua was now on the offensive.  The little clam had teleported right on top of the ice bird and was now firmly clamped onto the Articuno's back.  The bird tried to spin and knock Aqua off, but the Shellder had too tight of a grip.  Since that didn't work, the Articuno spun over in the air and allowed Teak and Eva's Swift attacks to hit him.  Or rather, hit Aqua, who didn't see the attack coming until it was too late.  Releasing his grip, the Shellder fell to the ground with a loud clattering sound.  Zeth returned him to his pokéball when he didn't move.</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth managed to make it to Florio, although he slipped and fell over when trying to stop.  Grumbling at his misfortune, Zeth leaned over to Florio, who was shivering violently.  "Hold on, buddy, we'll be out of this in no time.  See if you can charge up a Solar Beam through this storm."</div> <bR> <div>     Florio shuddered as another wave of cold wind blew past.  Then, gritting his teeth, the Ivysaur nodded.  {I'll try, but there won't be any guarantees!}</div> <bR> <div>     Blaze, sliding past, was attempting to climb back to his feet.  Zeth called out to him next.  "Blaze, stop slipping around and use your Flamethrower to melt that ice!  Then go after Articuno with a Flame Wheel!"  Blaze barked a reply, but the pokédex's translator couldn't make it out over the wind.</div> <bR> <div>     Sting was the next pokémon to fall.  She had managed to ambush the ice bird with a Twinneedle attack, but the cold had slowed her down too much for her to get away after that.  The Articuno quickly smacked her to the ground with one wing, then dove at Eva, who was flinging Shadow Balls at the bird.  As the Articuno bowled Eva over with a Take Down attack, Teak used the opportunity to pounce on the bird and hit it with a Double Kick.  Articuno slid on the ice and fell over.  Zeth couldn't help but laugh at the irony of seeing the bird slip on his own ice.</div> <bR> <div>     Once again in the fight, Blaze spat out a flaming hoop that smacked into the Articuno.  The bird didn't wait for the Growlithe to get off another shot, though.  As Blaze tried using a Flamethrower, the bird took to the air again, dodging the fire, which just melted a hole in the Ice Temple's "wall."</div> <bR> <div>     "Florio, use that Solar Beam now!" Zeth commanded.  The Ivysaur complied, releasing all the solar energy he had managed to soak up.  It wasn't as powerful as it could have been, but Zeth hoped it would do some damage.</div> <bR> <div>     His luck wasn't with him, though.  The Articuno quickly used its Protect attack to block the shot completely.  Zeth shoved Florio aside and dove to the ground as the bird retaliated with an Ice Beam.  Even though the main attack missed both of them, Zeth felt the icy edge of the beam sweep past him, making him shiver.  The Articuno flew right over him, ramming Florio into the wall as it shot by.  Florio fell over, breathing heavily.  Zeth recalled him, hoping that Florio would feel better once they got back to the airship.</div> <bR> <div>     Now only Teak and Blaze were left.  Eva was still conscious, but she appeared to have twisted her paw when the Articuno knocked her over, and she was slowly limping away from the battle.  Zeth slid over to her and picked her up.  "This doesn't look good, Eva.  That Articuno looks like he's still got a lot of energy."  Zeth was right; the ice bird was still in good condition, despite the battering it had taken.  The Articuno dove on Teak and pecked him in the side, then spun and splashed Blaze down with a Water Gun attack.</div> <bR> <div>     Suddenly a blast of heat hit the far side of the temple, melting the wall on that side completely.  All the combatants turned in surprise as a pair of metal hexagons flew towards them.  The two hexagons spun around them for a moment, then shot towards Articuno, somehow snapping together to catch the icy bird between them.  The surprised bird tried to squeeze out the gap between two sides of the strange device that had surrounded him, but his beak bounced off a forcefield that the two hexagons seemed to be generating.</div> <bR> <div>     "What in the world?" Zeth asked, as the Articuno screeched and smacked against the forcefields, trying to escape.  With the bird no longer able to control the weather, the wind started to die down.</div> <bR> <div>     "It appears that you were correct, Zeth!"  The teen turned to find Lawrence striding through the hole in the temple wall.  "There was something of value to be found here after all; Articuno, the legendary bird of ice!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head in astonishment and uneasiness, "What are these, Lawrence?  Why did you do this to him?"</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence walked up to the floating device that held the Articuno captive.  "It's quite simple, really.  I have been in pursuit of the legendary birds for the longest time.  Any one of them would be a priceless addition to my collection, so I prepared a way to capture them, should I ever encounter them.  This was just the opportunity I was looking for!"</div> <bR> <div>     "But you can't capture this Articuno!" Zeth exclaimed.  "I need him to give me the Orb of Ice!"</div> <bR> <div>     "Why settle for a mere glass ball when you can have one of the rarest pokémon in the world?" Lawrence asked Zeth.  "You realize that we'd be world famous for capturing a live Articuno!  You could even be its trainer, Zeth.  Imagine training such a magnificent pokémon!"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth shook his head stubbornly, although he had to admit, the thought of training an Articuno was appealing.  "No, Lawrence, we have to let him go.  Much as I would love to have a pokémon such as this Articuno, I have promised to collect all four of my Orbs.  There are lives that depend on the successful completion of my mission.  There will be other chances for you and I, other great finds.  This is just too important for me to let you stop me!"</div> <bR> <div>     "And if I refuse to release Articuno?" Lawrence challenged Zeth.  "What will you do then?"</div> <bR> <div>     "I'll never let it go," Zeth warned the Collector.  "I'll follow you, hunt you down, and interfere with all your treasure hunting until you give in.  I've already beaten you once, back in Diamond City, I'm sure that I could do it again if necessary."</div> <bR> <div>     "You couldn't possibly stop me, Zeth.  You've seen just some of what my airship can do, but I assure you, it can do far more.  My technology is far stronger than my pokémon training skills."</div> <bR> <div>     "So?" Zeth retorted.  "I've just battled an Articuno without any fancy equipment.  A Moltres too, a little while back.  Don't think that I'm a pushover just because I rely on pokémon instead of technology.  I assure you, I will not be defeated so easily as you might think."</div> <bR> <div>     For a long moment, Lawrence and Zeth stared at each other in silence.  Then the Collector sighed.  "Very well, Zeth.  I said I would help you on your quest, so this time I will release Articuno to you.  I do not think that you could truly hinder me, should I choose to keep him, but you were the one to find him, and you have been a good friend to me, despite this difference of opinion."  Lawrence pulled a small box out of his pocket and tossed it to Zeth.  "Do as you will with him."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth caught the device and glanced at it for a moment, finding it to be a remote control for the rings holding the Articuno captive.  He looked up, and smiled with gratitude.  "Thanks, Lawrence.  I know how much this meant to you."</div> <bR> <div>     The Collector shook his head sadly, "No, I don't believe you do."</div> <bR> <div>     Without responding to Lawrence, Zeth found the switch on the remote that shut off the capture device.  He pressed it and the whole assembly fell to the ground with a clatter, breaking apart into two hexagons again.  The Articuno also fell to the ground, drained of energy by the device.  {Thank you... for releasing me... Seeker,} the bird said shakily.  {I am afraid that I will have to give the Orb to your companion, though, for it is he who vanquished me.}</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence shook his head, "I gave Zeth control of your fate.  He held your future in his hands and he released you.  Give the Orb to him, I don't want it."</div> <bR> <div>     {As you wish,} the Articuno said.  {In that case, the Orb of Ice is yours, Seeker.  May it bring you luck enough to complete your quest.}</div> <bR> <div>     A light snow suddenly started to fall again, and a warm light beamed down on the stone cube in the center of the temple.  The light soon became so bright that Zeth had to turn away.  A moment later, the light died down again, leaving behind the Orb of Ice.  Zeth picked up the sphere, which glowed with a bright blue light at his touch.  Behind him, Articuno rose to his feet.  {It is done.  Now I must depart and regain my strength.  Farewell, Seeker.  And farewell to you too, companion of the Seeker.  I hope that both of you find that which you desire."  In a quick swirl of snow, Articuno disappeared.</div> <bR> <div>     "You know, someday I'd like to find out how they do that." Zeth commented, as he returned Eva, Teak, and Blaze to their pokéballs.</div> <bR> <div>     "Zeth, I would like to know something."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth looked at Lawrence and found that the Collector was watching him intently.  "Sure, what do you want to know?"</div> <bR> <div>     "In this quest of yours, is it likely that you will encounter more legendary pokémon, such as Articuno?"</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth considered whether or not he should tell Lawrence the truth, considering what he had just gone through.  After a moment's consideration, he nodded, "Yes, I believe that I will see more legendary pokémon before this quest is over.  And yes, I will not be able to try to capture them."</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence rubbed his forehead, then smiled, but it was an unhappy smile.  "I'm afraid that we will have to part ways, then, Zeth.  I could not let another opportunity like that slip past me as that one did, and I would not wish to endanger our friendship because of that.  Continue on your mission, and I shall continue mine.  Perhaps if we go our separate ways, we will both succeed in our goals, as Articuno said."</div> <bR> <div>     Zeth thought about that for a moment, then sighed.  "I suppose you're right.  We would both be getting nowhere if we stayed together.  We'll have to say goodbye, it seems.  It's too bad, really.  I was looking forward to adventuring with you back home in the Orange Islands, but I realize now that I would probably just get in the way.  So, considering all that, would you mind dropping me off at Opal City?"</div> <bR> <div>     Lawrence shook his head, "I can do better than that, Zeth.  Take the hopper.  You should have no trouble controlling it, and I do have a spare."</div> <bR> <div>     "Oh, I couldn't take your hopper," Zeth objected.</div> <bR> <div>     "Of course you can, and I won't hear any more objections about it!"  Lawrence reached out and took the remote control from Zeth's hands.  "And don't worry about me.  I have a ride back up to the airship."  Saying this, Lawrence reactivated the metal hexagons that were laying on the ground.  The two hoops spun around him, then snapped together.  The Collector pressed another button, and the whole apparatus started flying back toward the airship, carrying him along with it.  "Good luck to you, Zeth.  I'm sure we'll meet again!"  In a moment, Lawrence was gone, leaving Zeth alone in the Ice Temple.</div> <bR> <bR> <div>     As Lawrence had said, Zeth found it easy to control the hopper, which, after some consideration, he decided to name the <I>Skylark</I>.  It would definitely help him travel around Obsidia faster, and therefore, help him complete his mission a lot more easily.  Still, as Zeth flew towards Opal City in his new transportation, he could not help but wonder if he would ever again see Lawrence III...</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>