The world was calm and blanketed with a soft flurry of white snow and blue slush and the wind was caroling merrily through the leaves of the evergreens as it playfully nipped upon my ears with an unrelenting urge to slowly cajole me back inside. However inviting the warmth of my home was, I had a mission to accomplish – a mission I had never quite tried to complete and yet started every time the holidays rolled around. Not only was this an annual attempt (and failure) every time I managed to allow the opportunity to eel its way out of my grasp, I find my want and motivation to finish off the task becoming more and more minute and, quite frankly, that worries me.
I pulled my scarf tighter around my neck and tucked my hands in my armpits as I glanced around. Never before had it snowed to this extent, especially not in these parts. The pokémon weren't used to the lower-than-usual temperature that they were all hiding and huddled together to beat out the cold-front… and yet even they could fully appreciate the beauty of those glistening crystals of snow and ice. The distance betwixt Violet and New Bark grew smaller and smaller, and I could feel my heart begin to make the dangerous climb from deep within my chest to the summit of my throat… and I realised then that this was going to be far more difficult than I had originally surmised.
The sounds of laughter and partying in general soon overtook my ears, and I couldn't help but smile in spite of it all. After forcing the strongest organ in my body to behave itself, I took a few terse steps into the small town before gaining confidence and entering with a (one could say) cocky bounce to my step until I was finally in the midst of a very small, yet excitable community in the throes of a winter hoe-down of sorts. Amused by their fun, I stuck around for a bit before my final destination became ever more noticeable from the corner of my eye and I knew I was running out of time.
As the sounds of laughter and cheer died down around me and the festive lights began to dim and fall, my footsteps quickened their gait because the sound of the ticking clock was getting louder and louder in my head until… my knuckles finally connected with the flesh of his heavy wooden door. The sound was deep, and it wasn't too much longer before his typhlosion Explotaro opened the door and directed me up the stairs to his room… as if I was expected to come. I kicked off my shoes and tip-toed through the hallways and up the staircase until I finally am met with his room and the portal there soon gets knocked upon as well.
It is but mere seconds before he answers my call and he stands there in front of me with a strong, yet equally as soft smile playing across his lips. "Took you long enough, Crys." I can't help but try to match his smile, but my heart is acting up again, causing it to become difficult to breath and my face began to go blue… or was it red? His smile broadens into a grin I knew only too well. "Don't look now, but I think we're under the mistletoe." And of course I look and my face deepens whatever colour it had been… and he leans down and I lean in and decide…
I decide that perhaps my confession can wait again until next year, as this annual visit underneath the mistletoe… seemed almost criminal to break.