Chapter 1

It was Christmas Eve. The houses in Anistar City were decorated and shone with a sweet glow. Trainers and their Pokemon were out doing some last minute shopping.

Sammy herself was doing just that, so her Pokemon were still inside the house. They had been ordered not to leave.

One Pokemon was making sure that nothing fun happened.

"Augh. Jayla, stop pulling pranks on me!" yelled Nala, the agitated Pyroar.

"But it's fun!" whined Jayla the Pikachu. "Nala, lighten up. It's Christmas Eve!"

"Christmas, bah humbug Pokemon!" sighed Nala.

"Nala, you're such a downer!" retorted Jayla as she walked off.

Nala sniffed. She didn't like one little thing about Christmas. What was the point? All it celebrated was the birth of Arceus's son. To her it was just considered another birthday. And besides, she needed to train. Everyone needed to train. Celebrating a Pokemon's birthday that they didn't even know was ridiculous in her eyes. All she cared about was training, and she was going to get the others to see it her way.

"Bah humbug Pokemon," she muttered again.

She looked over what was going on. Jayla was pulling another prank on Avacream the Avalugg, but the gentle Ice-Type was laughing. Cecilis the Lapras was with the four youngest members Tosca the Carbink, Base-Line and High-Line the two shiny Basculin sisters and Keyana the Klefki as they prepared to sing carols on the big day. Tor the Greninja and Flazie the Talonflame were staring at the Christmas tree as his arm and her wing touched each other's backs. Axel the Haxorus, Barksey the Simisage and Kingston the Tyrantrum were teasing poor Airlight the Ampharos once more as he charged up the Christmas lights. Sarah the female Lucario was leaning against the wall, chatting with Masked Bird the Hawlucha and Mystrir the Aegislash. Everyone looked like they were having fun.

Lila the Butterfree fluttered up to Nala. "Hey Nala. Would you like to put the last book on the tree?"

"No," replied Nala bitterly.

"Are you sure?" asked Lila. "You're the only one who hasn't read -"

"I said no, so back off!" repeated Nala, growling.

Lila looked offended, and she fluttered off sadly.

"I wish those guys would stop asking me to do that sort of thing," the Royal Pokemon thought to herself.

Keyana floated up to her out of nowhere. Behind her the other three and Cecilis smiled.

"Hi, miss Nala," she said sweetly. "We were wondering if you could help us with something."

"What?" seethed Nala.

"Well, we would like it if you could use your Flamethrower move to give light to other Pokemon," the Pokemon explained. "You see, there are lots of abandoned Pokemon that we feel should get a bright Christmas this year, so -"

"Listen up," interrupted Nala. "I will not, repeat NOT have anything to do with Christmas. And that includes HELPING OUT JUST FOR A STINKING HOLIDAY THAT ONLY LASTS ONE DAY!"

As Nala's voice rose into a roar, the others gasped and turned around. Nala herself was oblivious to this and glared at Keyana with a stare that could intimidate Darkrai.

Keyana was silent. She stared back at Nala as she took in the sudden response. Before anyone could say 'Oh Arceus', the young Pokemon burst into tears and floated upstairs.

"Keyana, wait!" yelled Cecilis as she used Psychic to levitate and get herself up the stairs.

The other Pokemon turned back to their tasks sadly.

Nala didn't even look sorry for Keyana's sadness. She huffed and padded to the archway.

"I'm headin' to bed," she announced. "Goodnight."

She was met with no response. Nala didn't care and headed into the bedroom. She got comfortable in her bed and settled in for a good night's sleep.

Little did she know that the night was going to be less comfortable than she would have liked.