Articuno’s Awakening

Part one: Before Man-kind

15 million years before man-kind prehistoric pokémon roamed the earth, each
of them spending day after day hunting food for their family.
The situation was that the weak would not survive, when the meteorite struck
and wiped out all life only the strongest pokémon survived and evolved over
millions of years to the pokémon we know today.
Some pokémon such as the Omanyte and Kabuto were embedded in the earth and
can be found and ressurected today as fossils.
Some pokémon though were born with special genes ancient species whose race
was once rife are now extinct or only in their few.
Once such race the Articuno lived in the frozen north, there were over
100,000 according to Professor Oaks studies. When the meteorite hit, the
entire continent of the frozen north was destroyed, wiped out in a flash.
Or so they thought, the wise mother Articuno predicted the catastrophic
event several weeks before it happened. She had noticed one of her sons was
stronger than the others. She would save this one.
When the meteorite struck the Articuno race was wiped out apart from one
.The mother had spent the recent weeks digging a deep hole in the ice due to
the power of the Articuno mother the tunnel stretched for miles underground.
The mother placed the strong baby at the bottom of the pit and filled it in.
As she finished filling it in the baby Articuno started its near eternal
slumber, never to wake up for another 15 million years. The mother looked
down to the icy ground with hope for the future of their race as the
meteorite approached and as it struck the mother protected the spot where
she had put her child, the only hope for the Articuno race.

Articunos Awakening : Part 2 the awakening

This would be Team Rocket’s finest moment Giovanni thought to himself as the
excavation team got to work. He had only been the leader of Team Rocket for
a couple of months and already he would make the name Giovanni world wide
known.
After hearing one of Dr.Oak’s speeches about Prehistoric Pokémon, he was
inspired to search for the mystical bird known as Articuno. Dr. Oak was
regarded as foolish by many but Giovanni knew he would become a Professor
one day. He had tried many times to recruit Dr. Oak into Team Rocket but he
wasn’t interested. Now though he would gain his trust by harnessing the
power of Articuno.
Giovanni looked on as the giant drill was put into place, then all of a
sudden a wild Starmie lept out of the ocean towards Giovanni. It never got
the chance to attack as the Team Rocket members shot it into pieces.
Why did this Starmie take it’s life trying to stop the digging, maybe the
power of Articuno could take over the world. Giovanni couldn’t care less all
he wanted was Articuno’s power. It took hours to drill through the miles of
ice but for every minute of those hours Giovanni kept his focus on the ice
and the prize that lay beneath its surface.
Finally at some unearthly hour in the morning they hit something. As the
drill pulled back Giovanni could hear a noise. He looked down the pit to see
the Articuno twitching, this was the first time in over 15 millions years it
had been woken.
Giovanni turned to laugh in delight at this amazing event but something
happened he did not expect.
The Articuno let rip a great roar and spread it’s icy wings to the world
once again. Giovanni was blasted back several metres by the gust and just as
he got up he saw the mystical bird flying high above him. It let out a
deafening screech to the world. What terror had Giovanni released.

Articuno’s Awakening: part 3 - Dr. Oak and Giovanni.

Recap – This story is set 20 years before Ash and co. Giovanni has released
the mystical bird Articuno from it’s icy prison in the north continent. Will
Dr. Oak help him capture it.

The news reached Pallet town that the deadly bird Articuno had been released
from it’s icy dwelling. Dr. Oak was excited at first but then he thought of
the consequences this might cause. He demanded to talk to Giovanni in
person.
The two met at the Game Corner in Celadon City. Dr. Oak arrived early and
sat down at one of the slot machines and put a coin in. A few
pocket-emptying minutes later he heard a voice behind him.
“You wanted to meet me”
It was Giovanni, Dr. Oak looked shocked and pretended not to be playing the
machine.
“I wouldn’t play any of these machines they have all been rigged to lose”,
Giovanni said heartily
“I wasn’t, I mean, umm” Dr. Oak stuttered trying not to lose his reputation
as a respectable man of science.
“Come with me Dr. Oak” Giovanni said with a smile that could cut through
steel”, We have much to discuss.
Oak reluctantly got up and followed Giovanni. He led him to a poster at the
back of the Games corner.
“Now here’s the secret” Giovanni whispered to Oak as he reached for a
button.
The lights went out and panic ensued throughout the corner, seconds later
they came back on though. Oak and Giovanni had disappeared though.
Dr. Oak looked around at his new surroundings, this was Team Rockets secret
base.
“Dr. Oak if you tell anyone of this I will have you killed. Team Rocket will
destroy you if you do not help us” Giovanni explained to Oak.
“Team who” Oak replied
At the time Giovanni joined Team Rocket they were a little known band of
nobodies but Giovanni promised to change that.
“listen Oak Team Rocket are a group dedicated to evil and I am the leader,
no-one may know who we are today but when I get Articuno, people will praise
me” Giovanni replied
“You want me to help you get Articuno, no way” Dr. Oak said immediately.
“Oak I have looked up to you for so long, I wouldn’t want to have to hurt
you to get specific information” Giovanni said making a fist gesture towards
Oak.
“Why did you release it from it’s icy prison, do you not know of it’s deadly
power. No one could possibly harness that kind of power not even me” Oak
demanded.
Before Giovanni could answer a thumping noise could be heard on the roof. A
Team Rocket member ran up to Giovanni, “Sir Articuno he’s, he’s”
“Come Dr. Oak, hurry” Giovanni told Oak
Giovanni headed up the staircase and Oak followed in pursuit he hadn’t heard
what the young member had said “pidgeys on the roof” Oak muttered to himself
as he took chase.
Giovanni reached the roof first and as he swung open the door, Articuno
spread it’s icy wings.
Giovanni stood in shock then Oak burst through and stopped dead in his
tracks when he saw the mysterious bird. The two enemies (Oak and Giovanni)
looked at each and decided they would have to co-operate if they were to
defeat this beast.
Oak went for his first pokéball and cried out “Go Charizard” as Articuno
shot up hovering several metres above the Game Corner roof.

Articuno's Awakening: Part 4 - Showdown at game corner rooftop

Recap - Giovanni has forced Dr. Oak to help him capture articuno. Oak has
just released Charizard.

Charizard was in mid jump as it soared out of Oak's pokéball.
Giovanni looked on in amazement as he thought of a devious plan to steal
this fire pokémon.
Oak cried out to Charizard " Flamethrower now."
The towering beast let out a stream of never-ending fire but the Articuno
avoided it easily.
"Is that the best you can do Oak" mocked Giovanni "watch a Pokémon master at
work.
"Go Rhyhorn" he cried "Horn drill now."
"But isn't Rhyorn.." Oak tried to say but Giovanni wouldn't listen.
Articuno let out a blast of ice towards Rhyhorn before it's horn drill could
impact. The Rhyhorn froze in mid air and dropped to the ground letting out
an earth-shattering bang through the Game Corner roof.
"Damn that'll cost me hundreds to rebuild" Giovanni complained
"Charizard take down now" Oak commanded
Charizard swooped under Articuno and took it by surprise, the Articuno was
startled and decided to retreat.
It looked back at Oak and if pokémon could speak this one would be saying
"I'll be back"

Giovanni was still estimating repair costs as The Articuno flew away.
"Oak we have to stop it, I can't afford this I spent the entire Rocket
budget on Dratini eggs, they were fake. I got ripped off." Giovanni pleaded
"Giovanni we will meet again" Oak replied as he got on Charizards back "How
pitiful thinking you could threaten me"
Then Oak flew off back to Pallet .
Giovanni looked at the damage and saw the Team Rocket members defrosting
Rhyhorn below.
He was having second thoughts about having released Articuno, he had
preferred his life back at Viridian Gym as a Gym leader but he couldn't
possibly return there now. He had a reputation, a reputation he had to keep.
The next day the tabloids were filled with stories charting the destruction
that articuno had caused, Giovanni looked in shock at the report lying on
his desk. Damage estimates to Team Rocket property were now at 7 million.

Dr. Oak was busy in his lab preparing a plan, then a married couple entered.
"Dr. Oak look at Jesse and James" the man said "Aren't they wonderful little
siblings and you delivered them"
"I haven't got time just now the world is at risk from Articuno" Oak replied
"I need time to formulate a plan"
"Okay then doctor" the woman replied.
The couple left and Oak returned to his studies. Lance entered his office
next.
Lance was a young and able trainer, his dream was to be a member of the
elite four. Oak believed he could do this because when he was young a
Dragonite captured him and took him to a place where no human has ever been,
he fought out of the place and managed to capture three Dratini's. Lance had
raised them and all of them evolved into a Dragonair a pokémon never seen by
human eyes. He was the strongest of the young pokémon trainers going about.
"Oak" Lance said "I want to help you defeat Articuno"
Oak agreed that Lance could help, he knew he was strong maybe even stronger
than himself.
Just as Lance was leaving a eerie noise swept over Pallet town.
Oak knew what it was, Articuno had returned.
He and lance acted on instinct and ran out of the study pokéballs in hand.
As they reached outside they released their pokéballs.
Oak screamed "Go Venasaur"
Lance cried "Go Dragonair"
Articuno swooped down from above preparing to strike the newly released
pokémon.

Articuno's Awakening Part 5 - Lance is defeated
 
Recap - Giovanni is freaked out by the cost the damage caused by the savage Articuno will cost to repair. Dr. Oak and Lance decide to team up against Articuno then they hear an eerie noise over Pallet town.
 
Oak's Venasaur let out a raging "SAURR" as Lance's Dragonair swooped to intercept the Articuno.
"Lance are you sure Dragonair is strong against ice" Oak asked 
"I am positive my Dragonair will weaken it no problem" Lance said with a smug grin
"Dragonair Slam Articuno, now" he cried
Dragonair's attack hit but the Articuno didn't even flinch. Articuno then released a beam of ice that hit Dragonair and it was frozen solid.
"Lance, get Dragonair to the pokémon centre in Viridian city, hurry you can hitch a ride on my Charizard" Oak said while shouting commands to Venasaur.
Lance agreed reluctantly and got on Charizards back, "But Dr. Oak how will you defeat it" Lance pondered
"Lance just get out of here" Oak said in desperation
Charizard spread its wings and flew off, over the Viridian forest
"Okay Articuno, it's just you and me now" Oak shouted "Let's get it on"
Articuno used ice beam against Oak's Venasaur but the attack missed.
"Ha ha ha, Articuno your ice is not effective against Venasaur prepare to be defeated, Venasaur Leech seed"
Before the attack could register the articuno retreated back to the icy mountains to rest.
 
In Viridian City Lance was in the pokémon centre waiting room, Oak walked in and sat down next to him.
"Lance it wasn't your fault, that Articuno was way too powerful for you" Oak said sympatheticaly
"I should have known that ice was super-effective against dragon pokémon, I'm useless as a dragon trainer" Lance said with his head hung in shame.
"Lance, you just have to train them more, I didn't get to where I am today just by sheer luck. A pokémon trainer must overcome all the odds. If you train these Dragonair they may evolve into the Pokémon every trainer dreams of having. Dragonite." Oak explained
"Dr. Oak, I want to defeat Articuno on my own. I will start my pokémon quest from here to fight and capture powerful pokémon." Lance said with a burst of hope
"Very good Lance you are a strong trainer, maybe you can restore peace to the world, you must leave now, protect all the other towns from Articuno" Oak said
"But Oak what about you" Lance asked
"I must guard Pallet town and help the others, I cannot leave, you can keep in touch with me at the vid-phones in the pokémon centre" Oak said sadly
"Here's your Dragonaire" the woman behind the counter said "It's fighting fit now, we hope to see you again"
 Lance took the pokéball and clipped it onto his belt.
"Dr. Oak we will meet again" Lance said before exiting through the pokémon centre door.
 
Lance looked up to the sky and saw a trail of ice particles heading towards Pewter City, his next destination.
 
Giovanni glanced over the damage reports from Articuno's handywork. A Team Rocket member walked in.
"Sir preperations for the pokémon de-atomiser ray gun are complete, it'll be ready to fire in less than 24 hours.
"Excellent" Giovanni said with a ear to ear grin on his face "I want you to get Dr. Oak, I will not let him escape again"
"Yes sir, boss" the member snapped back instantly

Articuno's Awakening Part 6 - the Aerodactyl fossil
 
Recap: Lance's dragon Pokémon were defeated by Articuno's powerful ice beam. After some inspiration from Dr. Oak he set out to beacome leader of the Elite 4. Meanwhile Giovanni is preparing the Pokémon de-atomiser ray to destroy Articuno.
 
ROAD TO PEWTER CITY
 
While on the way to Pewter City Lance came across a rather shady man with a stall. The sign read "mystical Pokémon Magicarp, if trained well will evolve into a powerful dragon pokémon."
Lance was extremely excited at this prospect so he asked the man for a price.
"3000$ for a Pokémon" Lance exclaimed "I'm not trying to buy rare candies here."
"Oh really" the man said "Rare candies are a steal at just 5000$"
Lance walked away from the stall disappointed, maybe he could get a wild Magicarp someday. 
 
A few minutes later a boy approached Lance, "Are you ready for Pewter Gym, prepare to fight"
"I'm not going for badges young boy, I am going to stop Articuno and become leader of the Elite 4" Lance replied.
"Ha ha ha ha" the boy laughed "How do you expect to become leader of the Elite 4, I bet all your pokémon are weak and badly trained"
By this time Lance was really mad and shouted at the boy "Let's battle punk"
"Okay then" the boy agreed "Go Geodude" he cried as the pokéball flew from his hand.
Lance tried not to laugh when he saw Geodude being released.
"You don't know what you have done" he said as he reached for one of his 3 pokéballs " Go Dragonaire, Agility"
Dragonaire flew from the pokéball and started to run rings around Geodude.
"Agility, agility, agility" Lance cried
"Geodude, rock throw" the boy cried in vain but geodude was overwhelmed by Dragonaire's speed.
"Geodude return"
"Well I better get moving on" Lance said to the boy "Keep training"
As Lance walked away the boy was still in awe at the dragon Pokémon he had just seen.
 
PALLET TOWN
 
Dr. Oak looked at his notes trying to comprehend a way of defeating Articuno when his train of thought was disturbed.
He could hear a noise behind the lab and decided to investigate.
He looked down to see a smashed bottle on the lab floor.
"Now who could have put this here" he thought to himself.
Shadows lept around him as he tried to run away but Giovanni had it all planned.
As Oak reached for the door a posion arrow pierced his neck and he was knocked out cold.
As Team Rocket dragged his body away into the chopper they seemed to forget one thing, to take his pokéballs away from him.
 
PEWTER CITY
 
"No sign of Articuno" Lance thought to himself "I'll visit the pokélab here"
Lance approached the Lab only to find it blocked off by a bush. A notice could be read near the bush.
"Only those pokémon who know the HM cut can get through to the lab" it read
Lance decided to bypass this and called his Dragonaire out "Dragonaire use agility through the bush"
Lance was presented with a metal door with a small slot for people to see through. A scientist peered through the window and shouted to his colleages in the room "It's Lance everybody"
Lance was lead into the room and the scientists stared curiously at him for a minute before their leader approached him.
"We've just heard the news from Pallet town that Dr. Oak was kidnapped by Team Rocket" the scientist let out "You must hurry soon Articuno will be upon us, it is following you"
"How do you know" Lance bolted at him
"Lance we have studied Articuno's patterns and after our last com-link with Dr. Oak we have been able to conclude it his hunting you"
"Hunting me" Lance squealed
"Lance take this Aerodactyl fossil, if ressurected it will be a powerful addition to your team" one of the scientists suggested
Lance looked in wonder at the fossil, "Forget Magicarp I'm getting one of these" he thought to himself.
"I thinks there's a ressurection lab on Cinnabar Island" the second scientist added
Their leader spoke again "Lance we haven't much time, you must move on and become even more powerful"
"What about Oak" Lance replied
"Uhh oh yeah you must rescue Oak from Team Rocket whose base is also on Cinnabar Island, I hear they carry tests out in the burned out building which is their HQ"
"I'll be going now" Lance said as he departed
Something seemed suspicious about the scientists he thought to himself as he left Pewter, in the distance he saw at least 5 trainers eager for battle.
As he was about to approach them he heard a familiar screech, the hunter would now get it's prey
 
ROCKET HQ CINNABAR ISLAND
 
Oak was chained up in a dark cell. Giovanni entered the room.
"Well Oak the information we extracted from your notes was quite interesting and as we speak that fool Lance will fall into my scientists trap" he said smugly "My only problem now is that blasted Articuno but in 9 hours he will be mounted on my wall as a trophy of my victory"
Oak looked up to Giovanni "You'll never get away with this"
Giovanni simply laughed and left the cell closing the door with a loud thud.
All Oak could hear now was the group of Rattata's nibbling at his toes as he thought of an ingenius way to escape from the cell, then he remembered he still had his pokéballs.
 
 Articuno's Awakening Part 7 - The mystery of Digletts tunnel

Recap - Articuno is approaching Lance just as he gets the Aerodactyl fossil
from Pewter City and Dr. Oak has been imprisoned by Giovanni as Team Rocket
prepare to destroy Articuno.

OUTSKIRTS OF PEWTER CITY

"Arrr-ti-cuno" the great bird let out as it flew over the trainers who were
being blasted back with little effort from Articuno.
<br>
The trainers regained their balance and ran to Diglets tunnel which was just
across a fence nearby.
Lance just stood there though as the bird approached him with staring eyes
flapping it's icy wings in every direction.

"Articuno, you don't have to do this" Lance pleaded

Articuno let out a beam of ice which Lance narrowly dodged.
At this point Lance was also heading towards Diglett's tunnel where the
trainers had went.
As Lance entered the tunnel everything went dark, he couldn't see a thing.

Then all of a sudden a rumble from the ground distracted him.
He turned round to see Articuno entering, but this image only lasted a few
seconds as he was dragged underground at a great speed.
Then he blacked out and the mysterious force continued to pull him under.

"Where am I" Lance asked as he slowly got up.

His clothes were covered in earth and grass.
He noticed the other trainers who were also in the same situation.

"It's him" one of them shouted "He's the one who led Articuno to us"

Lance stuttered to reply but was interupted by the other two trainers.

Prepare for bother,
Meet my brother,
To protect the world from Articuno,
To denounce all good-hearted pokémon,
To extend our reach to a higher salary,
Tarbuck,
Talon,
Team Rocket blast off at the sign of ice,
Surrender now or we'll kill Dr. Oak
Drowzeeeeee

It was the famous Team Rocket brothers, the only reason they are famous is
because they've never won a battle between them.

"So, you must be Lance I hear you have a rare dragon Pokémon, that will
please the boss" Tarbuck told Lance

"Drowzee hypnosis, now" Talon shouted to Drowzee

Lance was overcome by the hypnosis and slumped to the ground, as Team Rocket
went over to take his pokéballs the other trainer approached them.

"Leave him alone " The young boy told them

"You think we're gonna listen to a little brat like you, get outta Team
Rocket's way" they both shot back at him

"Go Digletts get Team Rocket" the boy cried

Suddenly a group of Digletts surfaced with their heads bopping up and down

"Uh oh" the two exclaimed nervously as the tiny mounds of earth approached
them in a menacing manner.

Tarbuck and Talon ran down the tunnel leaving Lance's pokéballs behind in a
cowardly manner, their Drowzee ran after them.
<br>
"Did you save me" Lance enquired as he got up

"These Digletts are my friends they help me out" the boy explained "Do you
have Dragon Pokémon"

"Yes I do and I will use them to defeat Articuno, I can't stay long" Lance
said

"Oh okay then I'll show you the exit, it's over here"

As the boy showed Lance the exit Articuno could be heard from the tunnel.
They saw Tarbuck and Talon running directly in front of it.

"Quick Lance, get on the Diglett, they can get us out of here"

Lance complied and sat on the bed of fast moving pokémon.

Team Rocket stopped dead and noticed that Articuno was following Lance not
them.

"I can see the exit" Lance screamed "I'll get my Dragon's to fly me away
once we get out"

As they exited Articuno followed in haste.

Lance reached for Dragonair's pokéball and released it.

With lightning fast recations he leaped off the Diglett's and flew away on
Dragonair waving goodbye to ?. What was his name, Lance would only remember
him as the Diglett boy.

"No time to lose" Lance though to himself as Articuno followed "I need to
get to Cinnabar Island, I think the St Anne is heading there maybe I can get
a lift"

Then Dragonair used agility and they finally lost Articuno's scent.

CINNABAR ISLAND TEAM ROCKET HQ

Giovanni looked at his Onix brand watch, made only by the finest black
crystals from an Onix.

"2 hours till Team Rocket become heroes" he thought to himself "Then I will
unleash my true evil once I have their trust"

TEAM ROCKET CELL

Dr. Oak had been trying in hope to get his pokémon out for the past hour but
without the use of his hands this would not work.
He looked at the floor and saw a glinting object, A KEY.
If he could just reach his foot towards it he would be free.

Coming next - Magicarp and the St Anne disaster