UPDATE (Dec. 27, 2013 12 p.m. EST): Nintendo issues statement on Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter launch delay, click here for more.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

The Pokémon Bank is set to open for North America on Dec. 27, and fans of the Pokémon franchise have a lot to get ready for, including a free Pokémon from the second generation.

The Pokémon Bank has been available in Japan for over a month, but the ability to store up to 3,000 Pokémon will begin on Friday, Dec. 27 from the Nintendo eShop.

The Pokémon Bank along with its Pokémon Transporter will have an annual subscription fee of $4.99. Fans shouldn't worry too much as the first month, from Dec. 27 to Jan. 31, 2014 will be part of a 30-day free trial.

The Pokémon Transporter will serve as the tool to transport your Pokémon from across the four fifth-generation games, such as "Pokémon Black Version," "Pokémon White Version," "Pokémon Black 2 Version" and "Pokémon White 2 Version." Fans will be able to transfer Pokémon from the fifth-generation games into the latest "Pokémon X" and "Pokémon Y" games.

The Pokémon Company International has announced that the download of the Pokémon Bank will accompany the Time Travel Pokémon Celebi. The legendary Pokémon can be received starting Dec. 27 until Sept. 30, 2014. Celebi will be available with the move Hold Back, which cannot be learned in regular gameplay. Hold Back will always leave the opponent with at least 1HP of health. Celebi's other moves include Heal Bell, Recover, and Safeguard.

Another Pokémon that can be obtained for free is Torchic. The latest Pokémon video games feature a Torchic distribution event with the free item "Blazikenite," which will transform Torchic's last evolution, Blaziken, into "Mega Blaziken." The Fire-type Hoenn-region starter has been available since the launch of "Pokémon X" and "Pokémon Y" in October but the offer ends Jan. 15, 2014.

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