I am doing the work of the gods. I think.

In the frigid, merciless, dark winters of Anistar City, there sat a tailor shop. But it was no ordinary tailor shop. It was one of the biggest and best shops in all of Kalos, and possibly, of the world. And its owner was very much famous for that.

Ruby Petalburg, a man still handsome in old age and held massive wealth and excellent tastes. Would've been an ideal husband if it wasn't what laid under the beautiful image was an ugly soul, a soul too recognizable to everyone. Wealth, given to none, love from his heart, only to himself and his now deceased friend Emerald Kessho. Those truly blind cannot see through his so-called virtues.

"Ugh, pretty boy and his great wealth," the woman in the corner who was sewing a shirt with her hands covered in bandages grumbled. "So great and mighty, yet would make even the Renegade Dragon be disgusted at him."

"Shauna? What did you say?" the aforementioned man Ruby asked as he walked up to her.

The woman's eyes widened a bit. "Oh nothing Mr. Petalburg," she calmly replied, smiling widely but on the inside wanting to poke his crimson eye with her needle or punch his so called perfect and wrinkled face. "Just nothing. Other than the fact that I kind of want to go back home for the winter. Harvest season is over and the Winter Festival of the Mortality Trio is coming soon, can't I just take a break with my brothers?"

Ruby's face wrinkled into disgust. "Why would I do that?"

"Because you barely even pay me and I have to work my sorry ass every day just to bring food on the table!" she screamed internally, but she continue to smile. "Well, I worked hard enough in the year, and I do deserve a break, don't I? I mean, I am liable to meeting with Death and his servants, and the healers did say that overworking can result in death, right? And I believe you don't want me to die from overworking."

Ruby was about to respond, before a rap on the entrance door echoed in the room. "I'll get it," he grumbled.

"Thank Xerneas for that knock," Shauna muttered before going back to her work.

When the man opened the door, it revealed two men, one who was shorter and plumper with blue eyes and neat black hair and the other taller and lankier and had strange blonde hair.

"Hello! Would you like to donate some money for the charity feast for the winter Mr. Petalburg?" the tall man asked.

"Why would I do that?" Ruby asked.

"Well, they get good food," the tall man's shorter companion said. "Also happiness, warmth-"

"Get out. You're wasting my time with helping people who should be better off dead," he ordered, then waved his hand in front of his nose. "And your breath smells too."

He then slam the door in front of the two, then walk up to Shauna, who was focused on the collar of a shirt.

"So?" she asked without looking up.

"You're going off with pay," he sighed. "But I expect you to work longer hours after that!"

"Thanks Petalburg," she replied sharply, then put down her project, grabbed her coat hanging behind her on her chair, and went out the door. After closing the door for a few moments, she went back in and closed the door, her hair covered in snow and a rather surprised expression on her face.

"I think you want to go outside," she shivered then brush off the snow. "Some crazy guy out there is yelling your name."

"Hey! No-"

"YO UNCLE!" the said man bellowed, then opened the door of the tailor shop, letting the wind blow in the snow.

"Now I have to clean it up!" Ruby groaned.

"You'll make the cleaner do that," Shauna pointed out then raised an eyebrow.

"Whatever!" The man then turned to his nephew, who slammed close the door hard enough to be heard in the whole city.

"HAPPY WINTER!" he cried.

"Black, stop yelling," Ruby sighed. "And really? What's with a happy winter?"

"There's family gatherings, food, and celebrations! Plus, I have the Festival feast tomorrow! Want to join!?" he offered.

"Ugh! Winter is just a time of year where Death creeps up to you further, the winds are just more colder, no farming to do on the barren ground, and no money for you to pay! What's the point of being happy about that!?" Ruby ranted.

"Maybe because even people who only see the dark things of life just want a break from all of that?" Shauna asked.

"See!? Even that grumpy lady agrees with me!" Black cried.

"Bah! Winter is just useless anyways!" Ruby grumbled. "Why did even Lugia made Articuno anyways!?"

"Xerneas and Zygarde needs a rest after three seasons of growing food," Black answered with a voice filled with pity. "They may be gods, but they're still alive and can tire."

"Hmph," Ruby grumbled. "Can make people immortal and suffer yet can't make food grow all the time. What a bunch of nonsense. I'm going back home."

"I guess that is better for everyone," Shauna shrugged, as the elderly man grabbed and put on his coat and left to his home.

After lighting his hearth, Ruby sat down on his comfy armchair in his comfy pajamas. "Ahhhh….after a day of fools, this is the life."

"Not so after you die," a voice said behind him.

Ruby screamed, then turned to the turned behind him.

And there stood in front of him of his friend dead for seven years, Emerald Kessho.

He was wearing the same green coattails and light brown pants, and still shorter than the average grown man, but he was paler and wispier, bound in chains lugged by heavy iron balls and bore a very forlorn expression.

"Hello Ruby," he greeted very mournfully.

Ruby screamed again, wishing that he still had his Mightyena Nana with him.

"Are you done?" Emerald sighed.

"W-who are you?" Ruby stuttered.

"You recognized me as your friend in life, Emerald, yet you deny that in the same time?" the spirit asked. "Anyways, I have some horrible news to bring."

"The fact that those chains don't match with your clothes?"

Emerald face-palmed.

"No. Ruby, you and I have been making grave mistakes our whole life. We have grown wealthy but used it for unwise choices. My, and eventually yours, selfishness will give me, and you too, the options of wandering in the Forest of Suffering or haunt the living forever, carrying these chains of greed. It is tiring, having to travel unless I want one of the death gods or their servants hound at me. So you will be visited by the lieutenants of Mew, Giratina-"

Ruby winced, then said, "You shouldn't say that."

"-and Yveltal-"

"Stop it!"

Emerald sighed once more. "-and the influencers of kindness, greed, and apathy, who really are just really decent living beings, tonight. They will try to change you and get you out of the punishment I have. Heed their words Ruby, and avoid this suffering after life."

The ghost then vanished, leaving Ruby alone with the fire and still shocked. "Hmph. Probably just a long day," he muttered after a long while, then decided to retire to his bed and rest for the night.