It was just another winter in Sinnoh, bitter and wet. It seemed as if every other day brought in another day-long snowstorm to discourage people from going outside and battling. This didn't stop one trainer named Mason, a trainer that didn't enjoy the wet winter season but could cope with it very well. He was tall, hearty, smart, and loved to spend time outdoors exploring and just getting fresh air. Although he didn't look like it, Mason could hold his own when it came to moving heavy things around and doing physical labor, which was perfect for what his plans this winter. Mason traveled to his grandparents' home out in the country not only to take a break from battling, but to help chop down and move trees to process into firewood and sell. Doing so, he would get a cut of the profits, and extra money doesn't hurt at all. And perhaps during his breaks, he could scour the forest at his own leisure, discovering what fascinating Pokémon there are.

After a long morning drive, Mason had arrived at the home his grandparents and several cousins stayed at. A simple two story, country styled house that was always warm and cozy from the furnace being fed firewood, perfect for settling in after a day of working. Mason walked inside and greeted his grandfather, who was busy reading the daily edition of the newspaper.

"Hi, pop! How are you doing?" Mason greeted. His grandfather looked up and smiled.

"Old and bold," replied his grandfather. "As you always know. Your grandmother is away with some of her friends by the way, she'll be back in a week or so. It's just me and Daniel and Neil here." He took a swig of his coffee and went back to reading. Mason kicked off his boots and went to the meat of the matter.

"Another winter like this always calls for firewood, right? Maybe I could help you. I've can hold my own." Mason convened. His grandfather nodded while still reading.

"I know a few friends that will always pay good money for good firewood. Luckily we have a whole forest on our property. If you want to help out, go on right ahead. We'll start tomorrow if you like."

"Yeah, that'd be great." said Mason. He took off his jacket and put it in the closet in the kitchen as he went upstairs to say hello to his cousins that had moved in with their grandparents' consent. Mason went down the hall and into the room ahead, where he found his two cousins, Neil and Daniel, sleeping in. Both were awakened by the ceiling light being flicked on and off repeatedly by Mason. Eventually Daniel got up out of disgust to see Mason patiently stand at the door.

"Remember me? Of course you do. Sorry to wake you up, but I didn't want to make my appearance a surprise to you." said Mason. Daniel rubbed his eyes as he sobered up, with Neil not yet getting up yet.

"Heh, better early than later, I guess," said Daniel," When did you get here?"

"Just now, I talked to grandpa downstairs about chopping down some trees for money. Pretty sure anybody who helps out will get some of the profits." said Mason. He could hear Neil groan in disbelief at going outside eventually while he still lay in his bed.

"I heard that," said Mason," but come on, we don't live at the North Pole. Sure it's cold, and it can always get colder, but this is pretty mild actually."

"Yeah, according to you, from somebody who never ever gets cold." Retorted Neil as he began to get up. It was true that one of the reasons Mason wasn't bothered by winter as much most people was that he had a high natural body temperature. Even while he was outside doing work in the snow, he always felt he was burning up inside in spite of the cold. Mason commonly had to unzip his jacket in the midst of working, which was awkward, but he paid no attention to it.

"And? I don't mind the cold; it's just all the damn snow outside. Turning black in the city and piling up, then it melts in the spring and we get two straight weeks of muddy ground." replied Mason. "We can all use a little extra cash in our pockets by helping out our grandpa, right?"

"You got a point there," said Neil. "I still don't like this damn weather."

The three boys went downstairs to eat some breakfast and chat about what happened in the past, specifically what Pokémon they caught and the battles they won. It was quite immersive, if not heated, as they tried to brag about their own Pokémon being the best out of the group.

" Your Kabutops wouldn't last a minute against my Machamp!" Gloated Mason, stuck in the topic of imaginary battles with his peers.

"Your Machamp couldn't touch it though. I made mine quick to respond; it'll dodge everything you throw at it." Said Daniel.

"I've specifically got one that knows Dynamic Punch. He'll hit you, and he'll hit you hard. It helped me out in a lot of battles." Mason responded. Daniel thought about it and realized his Kabutops probably couldn't hold out.

"I've got a Vileplume that could wipe the floor with both of you easily," said Neil as he participated in the conversation. "Whittle you away with Sludge Bomb and Solarbeam anyday."

"I'm sure it could." Said Mason sarcastically. Between the heated hypothetical battles they waged and strategies they passed on, nearly an hour passed by until their grandfather intervened.

"That's enough out of you boys. You should take it outside and get some fresh air." He suggested. The boys listened and considered the thought. Thinking that there was no time like the present, Mason got up first to retrieve his jacket and boots from the kitchen closet to go out and brave the outside. Daniel and Neil agreed that they would meet up later outside. Mason didn't argue as he exited the house and went to the forest. He knew almost all of it like the back of his hand, every clear trail to large rock perfect for jumping over, as he frequently visited the forest on his grandparents' property in the past.

"Of course I'm going alone, but hey, I like it all to myself." Mason said to himself as he went forward without a care in the world to the frozen wilderness, ready to embrace it and discover what he would find.