Pokémon Christmas Bash

Chapter 8: Santa Arrives Tonight



He and Misty had just gotten home about an hour ago and had changed into their pajamas. They both met back in the living room and played another game of Pokémon Trading Card. Meanwhile, Brock arrived home, depressed again. Ash decided to get some more wood and had just returned from outside.

"Oh, it's freezing out there." Ash said as he opened the door to the cabin.

Misty agreed, shivering. "Close the door." Ash nodded and kicked the door closed. "Did you get more wood?"

"Oh yeah!" He said dropping the wood next to the fireplace. "Hey, what's that?" He asked looking over Misty's shoulder at a piece of paper she was reading.

"It's a Christmas poem. ''Twas the Night Before Christmas'. I downloaded it from the internet."

"Oh, I know this one." Ash said clearing his throat. "'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even Meowth." He laughed and set the sheet back down in front of Misty.

"Eggnog's ready." Brock called setting a tray of three glasses of eggnog and a plate of cookies in the shape of trees, pokéballs, and Santa shapes, on the table.

"Eggnog?" Ash asked.

"Yeah. Brock made eggnog and Christmas cookies." Misty answered.

"All right!" Ash cried happily.

"Oh you guys are reading a 'The Night Before Christmas'." Brock said. He set the tray down and cleared his throat. "'Twas the night before Christmas and…"

"Uh, I already read that part." Ash interrupted. "Pick it up from here, Brocko."

"Err, right. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there."

"The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of Vileplumes danced in their heads." Misty said trying to picture the scene in her mind.

"Hmm. Hey, uh, where'd you download this version from, Misty?" She shook her head and laughed softly.

"And my mom in her kerchief, and Mr. Mime in my cap. And I think Professor Oak was there too." Ash said, resting his chin in his palm. "Had just settled their brains for a long winter's nap."

"When out on the roof there arose such a clatter." Misty said. Ash's head snapped up when he heard a sound on the roof.

"Hey what was that? Did anybody else hear that?" He asked, shifting his gaze to Brock, Misty, back to Brock and back to Misty. They both shook their heads. Ash sighed and got up walking to the window. He placed his palms on the windowsill as Misty continued.

"I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter"

"Away to the window I flew like a flash," Brock said, "tore open the shutter and saw Rapidash."

"The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of midday to Jynxes below." Ash said staring at the blue gray snow and how perfect it looked.

"When what to my half open eyes should appear but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer." Brock said, continuing the poem.

"With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick."

"More rapid than Moltres, his courses they came, he whistled and shouted and called them by name." Ash said. Suddenly a crash was heard in the kitchen.

"To protect the world from devastation," Jessie said.

"Team Rocket! I knew I heard something! What are you doing here?"

"We came to capture some rare Pokémon so da boss will give us our Christmas bonuses dis year." Meowth answered.

"Oh. Isn't that quaint? They're reading a Christmas poem."

"Ooh, Jessie. This is my favorite part. Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen."

"To the top of the porch to the top of the wall. Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all." Meowth added jumping up into Misty's lap. She smiled softly and scratched him behind his ear.

"Anyway, as I was saying..."

"Move over twerp." Jessie said pushing Ash into the couch.

"Ahh!" Ash cried.

"I'm reading this part." Jessie said. "And dried leaves that before the wild hurricane fly when they meet with an obstacle mount to the sky. So up to the housetop the courses they flew with a sleigh full of toys." She continued.

"And some Pokémon too." Meowth added.

"And then in a twinkling I heard on the rooftop, the prancing and pawing of each little Machop. As I drew in my head and was turning around down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound." Brock said leaning on the table next to Misty.

"He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot. A lot like me actually." Meowth said as Misty gently stroked his back. He purred softly. "And his clothes were all tarnished like ashes with soot."

Ash's head shot up and he cocked his eyebrow. "Huh?" He asked.

"A bundle of toys he had flown on his back and he looked like a trainer just opening his pack." Misty said, as Ash pulled up a chair and sat down next to Misty.

James smiled and walked up next to Jessie. "His eyes how they twinkled, his dimples how merry. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow."

"The stock of a pipe he held tight in his teeth and the smoke - it encircled his head like a wreath."

"He had a broad face and a little round belly that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly."

"He was chubby and plump a right jolly old elf and I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head soon gave me the know I had nothing to dread."

"He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work and filled al the stockings, and turned with a jerk." James said.

"And laying his finger aside of his nose and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose."

"He sprang to his sleigh - To his team gave a whistle. And away they all flew like uh, the down of a thistle." Meowth said turning the first page.

"But I heard him exclaim as he drove off to the mall." Said Jessie laying her head on the table.

"Happy Pokémon Christmas, catch 'em all, catch 'em all." All six of them said softly and in unison. Jessie and James stood up.

"Well, thanks for the unannounced, temporary hospitality, twerps. I guess we're just gonna go." Jessie said, pulling James towards the door. Meowth smiled and followed. Ash, Misty and Brock stood up and followed them to the door.

"See you later, Team Rocket. Merry Christmas!" They said in unison. Team Rocket turned around and smiled.

"You too, twerps." The three of them answered. Brock closed the door and yawned.

"I'm heading off to bed." He announced and walked to his room. Misty glanced at Ash, wrapping her arms behind her back.

"Yeah. I guess I am too." She whispered, trailing back to her own room. Ash smiled and nodded. "G'night, Ash." She whispered softly.

"Night, Mist." He said.



Later that night, after Ash made certain that Misty was fast asleep he snuck in her room, a thin, long white box in one hand, and a decorated Pokéball in the other. He set them on her nightstand and gently leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Sorry I freaked out earlier. I've just never kissed anyone before, and I just chickened out." He whispered. "Please stay with me forever. I love you, Misty. I want you by my side forever, even after I become a master." He slowly departed from her room.



Meanwhile, eight Stantler crossed the milky black sky. A red sleigh followed, sporting a jolly old chap with bright green eyes, a red suit, and a white and red cap. He and his sleigh landed on the roof of the cabin that Ash and his friends were staying in. Slowly the magical elf slid down the chimney, a huge black bag in his hand. When he landed in the living room he first noticed a list and a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. He smiled. "Let's see. Ash Ketchum: good. He gets a brand new Pokémon League Jacket and a note saying to try his hardest and one day he will achieve all his dreams. Misty Waterflower: good. She gets a giant stuffed Mew doll, and a collection of romance novels. Brock Stone: good. He gets a new set of cooking supplies, and a book on how to impress girls. Time to fill the stockings." The man spent the next ten minutes stuffing the stockings with necessary items and candy.



Next the elf went to Professor Oak's house. He saw a huge bulge in the stocking and approached it cautiously. "Wonder what that could be?" He questioned. He took the note off the stocking and read it. "For me?" He asked, gently reaching into the stocking. His hands clamped gently around a small furry object and he pulled it out. "A Pikachu? Professor Oak gave me of all people a Pikachu. I've always wanted one." He said, hugging the mouse.

"Pika." The Pikachu laughed. The man finished filling the stockings and putting the gifts for the professor, Gary and Tracey under the tree.

"Come on Pikachu. We have three more to get." Pikachu nodded and laughed as the man and it rose up the chimney.



Team Rocket shivered as they huddled closer together. Meowth cried softly as the wind bit into his tail. The man sighed and put a huge blanket over the three of them, gently sitting pillows under their heads. He slipped an envelope of money and passes to sleep in the Pokémon Centers for two years into Meowth's hand. Slowly he reached down and took James' hand and set it against Jessie's. Pikachu leapt onto his new master's shoulder. "That looks better." He said and the group left into the night, never to return until another three hundred and sixty four days later.