The Order of Arceus

Chapter Ten

The Christmas Present

One week later, we were still in Ameithus. I sat on my hind legs inside the fireplace at Indira's home, letting the fire relax me. "What day is it?" I asked Nicole, who sat in front of me away from the fire. She put her tail in front of her and read the watch that was attached, which was also a calendar, iPod, calculator, and dictionary. "It's December 23rd, 3058." She said. Wow. It was now that I realized just how long it'd been since I'd hatched; around two months, probably.

"Two more days for Christmas…" I announced drowsily. Nicole looked at me like I'd grown a seventh tail. "What? What's wrong?" I inquired. "What the heck are you talking about? What is this 'Krismaz' of which you speak of?" She said, tilting her head. "Nicole, you're kidding, right?" I said disbelievingly. Nicole shook her head. "Is it a kind of food?" Nicole asked.

She was crazy, I concluded. Everybody knew about Christmas! I sat up and headed toward the kitchen to see Indira. "Indira! This psycho doesn't know about Christmas!" I complained to Indira, thinking she could explain to Nicole. She stared at me weirdly. "What is 'Kristmas'?" Indira asked. Oh, come on! Didn't anyone know about Christmas? "MICHAEL!" I yelled. He fell off from the couch and looked at me, rubbing his sore behind. "What is it?" He asked. "INDIRA AND NICOLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT CHRISTMAS!" I yelled. He crossed his arms. "Are you crazy? Nobody does that anymore." He said.

I accidentally exhaled fire. Indira's carpet caught on fire. "Ah, my carpet! Amber, I think you need some air." She said as she rushed to put out the fire. I hung my head and left the apartment.

I took the stairs, but after ten floors I gave up and took the mad elevator. I grabbed on to a pipe I'd discovered as the elevator descended at ultra speed.

I came outside to the snowy city. I willed my body to heat up, so the snow that fell on me quickly melted. The dark sky was clouded. I walked along the chilly sidewalk as the snow melted under my feet.

I walked over to the Galactic Bar, where I was warmly welcomed. The guard Armaldo greeted me and let me inside immediately. "And now, ladies, gentlemen, and pokémon, I would like to sing a special song requested by Miss Canella Range!" The Jigglypuff said, lit by the spotlight. 'Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. How much fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!" She began to sing. I saw Canella sitting inside a booth, drinking beer and chatting with Ethan. I trotted over to her and sat down on the free seat beside Ethan. "Hey Salvador, what'ssssss up?" He hissed. "Nothing much." I replied. Canella looked up from her beer and looked at me with her brown eyes. There was a white scarf, a Silk Scarf, tied to her left ear, and I doubted it was there before. "Oh, hello, Amber. What brings you here?" She asked. There was no joy or warmth in her voice.

"I'm a bit depressed right now." I said. "Hey, Bill, bring me a couple of beers, will you!" Canella shouted at the far bartender. "Why are you sssssssssssad? We sssssell anti-depresssssants for a low price." Ethan offered. I waved my paw at him, and he stuck his tongue out mockingly. "The whole Christmas thing, right? I go through it every year." Canella said sadly. It took me by surprise that she knew. "Huh? How do you know about Christmas? I asked everyone and none of them knew about it." I said. The bartender Grumpig came and served the two bottles of beer. Canella grabbed one offered me the other one. I took it hesitantly, smelled the drink, and took a careful sip. It was bubbly and cold, enough to quell the fire in me. I wasn't sure I was allowed to drink it yet, but one bottle couldn't hurt.

"Darling, because I'm a genius." Canella said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. "Okay seriously, I've already lived once, way back then when Christmas was celebrated. But in my years as a human, that holiday was already starting to die down. It was all because of that idiot Biomegas and his paranoia. He banned Christmas and punished those who disobeyed his new law. I threw a whole tantrum, but I kept celebrating it in secret. Until of course, I was discovered…" Canella said sadly, finishing her beer. "Which is why I'm here." Wait, so all along, Canella had been a reborn, and now she was telling me? Well, she did have some qualities that identified her as no normal Lopunny: tomboyish, short ears, dirty fur, teeth that showed when she talked, brown eyes, and sarcastic nature. Never once had I met such a unique Lopunny.

"Well, I wasn't around anymore when it was banned. But why would Biomegas do that?" I inquired. By now we were whispering, because anyone could hear us, and not everyone was against Biomegas, as I'd learned. "Well you know the purpose of Christmas, right?" She asked. "Yeah, to commemorate the day Arceus finished the creation of the Earth." I said. She nodded. "Well, do the math. Biomegas wanted everyone to adore him and forget about Arceus, so he eliminated every holiday that had to do with her. That would be every one except Halloween and Valentine's Day." She said. "Now, ssssssome rebornssss from long ago celebrate it and ssssssome rebelssss too." Ethan said. There were those who lived disliking Biomegas's dictatorship, those who opposed and despised him (known as rebels), and those who supported him: Omegans. I was a rebel. But I was yet to meet a real Omegan.

"Yes, it makes sense. I see why you're depressed too. Christmas used to be such a joyous holiday, and now it's gone." I said sadly, and drank the rest of my beer. "Well, you know…we could still celebrate it." She offered. "Missssstletoe for only two dollarsssss." Ethan said quickly. Canella reached out and smack him. "Ow! What wassssss that for?" He said, rubbing his head with his tail. "I need you to keep talking, because I love the sound of your voice." Canella said sarcastically. "Really? Becausssse I could sssssssing for you! Twinkle, twinkle little ssssssssstar, how I wonder where you are…" He began to sing very off-key. Canella growled and grabbed Ethan by the neck. "I meant, take a break!" She said. Ethan gasped for air. "Okay, okay! Got it, got it!" Ethan said between gasps. Canella let go of him, and he slithered away from the booth mumbling "Ssssheessssh, sssshe'sss got issssuessss."

"Anyway, I think you're right. I few presents, music, and happiness." I said. "Yeah. So, what'd you say? We could cut down a pine tree outside the city and bring it back to Indira's place. Then we could decorate it, buy a few presents, and just hang around." She offered. I nodded. "I like your ideas." I said. We did a toast with our empty bottles and sat up.

Ethan was lying on a table talking to a man in a space outfit. "Issss it true you've been to the moon? Are there nice ssssspace ladiessss up there?" He chatted with the man. 'It's a very nice place. And yes, there are very fancy ladies up there. I even got a girlfriend waiting for me at the moon, and I'll be going back to her tomorrow." The space man said. He wore a white jumpsuit and had a hand-free speakerphone. He was holding a small metal cube in one hand, and he was showing it to Ethan. "Oh, ladies, why don't you join me? There are enough Octillery arms to go around." The man offered as he saw us. Canella nodded and sat down beside Ethan, and I just chose to sit on the table beside the man, because there wasn't a chair for me. The man put his plate of food at the center of the table. Served all fancy-like were small red tentacles bathed in sauce and vegetables. Canella and Ethan ate them with tooth picks happily, but I thought it was repugnant. Eat Octillery? No thanks.

"So, a storage cube, huh? I have one of those." Canella said, swallowing the food. The man chuckled and set the cube on the table. "Yes, but this one is the latest model. It works in outer space!" The astronaut said. "What does it do?" I asked. He turned to look at me. He had short sky blue hair, blue eyes, and green round glasses. He looked kind off funny, not the kind of person who could go up into space. "The name says it all. A storage cube is used as exactly that, to store things. You see, it shrinks items into mere molecules and when one pleases, the item is restored to its original state. Like for example, this special rock I found on the moon." He pressed a button on the cube, and a circular opening appeared in it. The man dug his hand into it and pulled out a weird rock. It was asphalt black, with tiny traces of gray that looked like stars, and rugged.

"Is that a…?" I began, doubtful. The man nodded. "Yes, it is indeed a Moon Stone." He said. Moon Stones had very eccentric energies which caused reactions in some pokémon that made them evolve. "I find these really often, but I don't really need them, since I already have a Clefable." He said. "If you don't need it, I'll buy it from you. How do fifty dollars sound to you?" Canella asked, pulling out a leather bag. "Absolutely. That money will be useful." The man handed over the Moon Stone to Canella, and she gave him the leather bag. He spilled it on the table, and counted the bronze coins that came out. "…Forty-nine, fifty. Thank you, miss Lopunny. Oh, look at the time! I need to go." The man said as he stood up. He bowed his head politely and left.

Nicole

Amber had gone berserk. I'd asked Indira, and at least I'd learned the correct name of what Amber had been going on about. It was 'Christmas', something I'd never heard of. Unfortunately, I was sure it wasn't some type of food. At least I was sure it was something good. But the only way to find out would be by reading a history book. I shivered. No way. History books and I didn't get along at all. Michael was bound to know something, since he liked to read a lot. I thought I was the only one who knew he read a lot because he was really bad at battling. He knew moves, he could use them, but you couldn't leave him to strategize.

I sat eyeing Indira as she polished her Heart Balls. "I wish you and I could bond," She suddenly began. "You're such a cute pokémon." She finished. My face became bright red. "You flatter me. But you know what? I'm also good at battling." I said. Looks weren't everything. Indira set down an empty Heart Ball in front of me. "Strong, you say? I'll be the judge of that. Want a battle?" She offered, angling her eyes in determination. I chuckled. "Between a wild pokémon and an Iuncta Pectora just for fun? Let's do this." I said. "I'll be the judge!" Michael offered. "Very well." Indira said. It was settled.

We stood atop the snow-covered hill outside of Ameithus City, Indira on the side opposite to me. Indira grabbed her Heart Ball and pressed it against her chest, then she tapped three fingers on the glass and the pink dust flew over to the battlefield. He materialized from the pink dust. Nijash stretched and roared. "Alright. This will be one on one. Begin!" Michael announced. I crouched.

"Nijash, Poison Jab!" Indira shouted. Nijash raised his claws and they turned toxic purple, then he lunged at me. Did this guy really think he could hit me directly? He definitely had another thing coming. I focused the water in my body (which wasn't much) over to my mouth to create a sphere. I imbued it with the questions in my mind and fired the Water Pulse at Nijash. The questions were what could cause the confusion secondary effect. My attack impacted Nijash right in his chest, but he tried not to flinch. He stammered a little, but he jabbed my back with great power. "OUCH!" I growled. "Sorry, girl, but it's what I have to do." Nijash said. "Now use Fire Blast!" Indira commanded.

Nijash opened his mouth and stored tremendous fire. I was still caught between his claws and the ground, and felt the poison starting to seep into me. The poison stung my insides and weakened me, but I had to escape before Nijash could finish Fire Blast.

"Hey Nijash, what's big, purple, and drools like a Lickitung?" I asked. Nijash shook his head. "What?" He asked, keeping the flames inside his jaws. "Itsy bitsy Spinarak went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the Spinarak out…" I sang, using focused power and 'sweetness' in me (yeah, sweetness, disgusting, huh?). Nijash's eyelids dropped. "No! Nijash, don't give in to that Sing attack!" Indira shouted in despair. But it was too late. Nijash closed his eyes and fell back. He snored heavily and drool ran down his mouth. The Fire Blast was gone.

Suddenly, I saw Indira's eyelids drop as well. She staggered a little, and mumbled a few commands to Nijash, but he was asleep. What was wrong with her? "Nijash…wake up…zzz…" She mumbled sleepily. "You're…gonna…cost…us…the…battle…zzzzz." Indira slipped and landed on the floor on her butt. Her head fell back and she began to snore loudly. "Seriously? When she said they were bonded, I didn't know it went this far." Michael remarked. "Yeah they're synchronized, which means, I win!" I announced, but Michael shook his head. "Not until you beat your opponent, Nidoking." He said. I growled. "Oh, I simply love how you're always right." I said sarcastically.

"Wake-up Slap!" I yelled as my tail glowed white and hardened like steel. I ran over to Nijash and turned around, swinging my tail and slapping him many rapid times. The strength of my attack made him roll over to the far side of the field, and then he woke up. He stumbled to stand up, and I saw the bright red bruise on his cheeks. Indira shot up so fast I didn't know how it was possible, but the same red bruises appeared on her cheeks. My Wake-up Slap attack had awoken her too.

Indira growled. "Nijash, use Earth Power!" She demanded, rubbing her cheeks. Nijash roared as he glowed brown and the earth started to open beneath me. I desperately leaped out of the way, but more chasms opened up wherever I landed. Finally, I settled on turning the tables by leaping on top of Nijash's head. He was too stunned to move as the ground beneath him opened and spewed a lava-like liquid from it. Nijash was hit with his own move while I jumped off. After the ground closed, he fell back and collapsed. His body became pink dust and he was returned into his Heart Ball.

Even though I was awesome, I felt the poison linger in my body and sting me. I folded my four legs and laid down. My head was becoming heavier, but before I could pass out I remembered the move I'd been taught in training school. I focused the pain onto my tail, the source of most of my attacks, and it became imbued with a pink glow. I waved it to and fro slowly, like a bell. And like one it emitted loud and soothing chimes that entered my ears and seemed to course through my body, annihilating the poison. Indira's face softened, and the bruises on her cheeks faded, until they were no more. "A beautiful Heal Bell! Thank you, Nicole." She chirped happily. "The winner is, surprisingly, Nicole Katty!" Michael said.

Michael

Nicole was pumped. She wouldn't stop talking about how well her Heal Bell sounded, or how awesome her Wake-up Slap was. She was driving me mad! While we made our way back to the apartment, I caught sight of a lonely silhouette on the hill we'd just abandoned. "I've got something to do…see you girls later." I said as Nicole and Indira walked back into the building. I ran through the frozen sidewalk of the city until I reached the limit that separated it from the wilderness. The silhouette on the hill neared the single pine tree, and as it did it began to shake. Snowflakes fell on me as I dashed over to the snowy plains.

As I reached the top of the hill, I had to duck for my life because of a sharpened blade swinging the wrong way. The slash missed me, but it would've cut my head off. "Watch your aim!" I shouted as I stood up correctly. To my surprise, the attacker was Amber, who unleashed a second attack by surprise. I jumped up and the move missed me. "I'm sorry Michael. It is the one attack I can't master." She said. "What is it anyway?" I asked, irritated. "Wide Slash: an attack that can inflict damage on everything around me, but as hard as I try, I can't get it right. I was trying to cut down this tree, but my attack fails and it can't actually cut anything." She said. So, I was dodging for nothing?

"Why would you want to cut down this tree?" I asked her. "I need it." She said simply. There was something she wasn't telling me. "But, why?" I urged. "I…don't know if I can tell you. Go back to Indira's while I finish over here." She told me. She crouched and I watched as her tails uncurled and became sharp while glowing white. Then in the blink of an eye she spun and slashed with her tails. However, the attack did nothing to the tree, or me. "Damn it." She mumbled.

"I'm not leaving you alone. Let's just chat." I offered and sat down. "Well, what do you want to chat about?" She asked as she tried again to no avail. "Things. Like, who is that Morty guy to you? Your brother or something?" I asked. Her expression darkened. "My adoptive father. He was the first pokémon I saw when I hatched, and the pokémon I lived with until Mewtwo ruined everything." She said. I got the feeling it was a touchy subject, so I left it alone. "You were pretty good fighting Red Knight last week." I said. "Thanks. You were good, too. I couldn't have defeated Red Knight alone." She admitted. "Oh no, I stink at battles." I confessed.

Amber gave me an odd look. "Excuse me? But you've got a really nice Crunch, Hidden Power and Bullet Punch. Those are good moves." She said. I shook my head. "Good moves, but that's it. To be honest, I was just following your lead. When Nicole pinned Red Knight down, I decided to do the same. When I was about to fire a Hidden Power at Red Knight and you stopped me, I wasn't exactly sure of what I was doing either." I said. "Every pokémon needs to know how to battle. Don't worry Michael, I'll teach you as soon as I have time on my paws." She said. "Yeah, right. I'm older than you; you're not supposed to be my tutor!" I said. "Oh, really? Let's see…I'm technically more than a thousand years older than you. So, you loose, bud." Damn, she was right. I was like, what, two, three years old? "Then shouldn't you be walking with a staff, and cursing out technology and those 'hooligans'?" I joked. Amber laughed. Her laughter sounded so nice, so flawless. There was a dancing shine in her amber eyes. "I'm sorry lad, didn't quite catch that! I think I'm loosing my miracle ear!" She joked.

Amber used Wide Slash one more time, and managed to scratch the trunk of the tree. She stayed silent for a second in awe. "It actually cut this time." I said. "Tell Indira I'll be there by nightfall." Amber said. I nodded and stood up, but not before removing my scarf. "I don't know if fire type pokémon can get cold," I started. "But you should use this for a while." I finished as I gently wrapped my scarf around her neck. She smiled warmly. "Thanks." She said as I descended down the hill. That scarf had been sown by my mother, as a birthday gift. I'd always wear it, not only because I liked it, but because it also had a special effect. It was known as an Immune Scarf, which shielded the wearer from any status abnormalities.

I knew fire types couldn't actually get cold out in the snow. The real reason I'd given my Immune Scarf to her was so no wild pokémon could actually hurt her while she was out there. It was to protect my friend.

I was sitting on the couch watching an I.P. tournament on TV when Canella burst into the room. She handed Indira a box and went back outside. Nicole, who sat beside me, sweat-dropped. Canella slowly entered the room walking backwards, carrying the end of a tree trunk. As she advanced further into the room I saw more of the pine tree she was bringing in. Then Amber and Ethan came in, struggling to hold the other end of the tree on their backs. "Canella, if my spine cracks, I'm blaming you!" Amber growled angrily. She panted heavily as she walked in with the tree on her back. "Too heavy! Too heavy for a sssssmall pokémon like Ekanssssss!" Ethan protested. "Quit whining! Now set it down. Steady…steady…there, see, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Canella chirped when the tree was fully inside and set down on the floor. "You're dessssssspicable." Ethan spat.

"Um, may I know why you have brought that into my home?" Indira questioned, confused. "Just an object of decoration." Canella said simply. "Don't worry; it'll look nice when it is finished." She said.

Canella, Ethan, and Amber all pulled up the tree until it stood in a corner. We were all too curious to ask them anything as Canella grabbed the box Indira had been holding and pulled out a large extension of multicolored small lights. Canella started to wrap them around the tree in a spiral form. Then Amber picked up a red ball ornament and hung it by one of the branches. It was the most bizarre process I had ever seen.

We didn't ask because we were all sure they wouldn't answer us. The three kept putting up ornaments like colorful balls, angel figurines, and ribbons. What really surprised me was when Amber pulled out a smaller box, from which she pulled out a figurine that looked exactly like a mini me. Blue eyes, red scarf, everything. She climbed the tree and hung it around the top, then Canella handed her the box. Amber pulled out a figurine of a Skitty that looked like Nicole, another Lopunny figurine that looked like Canella, an Ekans figurine that looked like Ethan, and a Vulpix figurine that looked like Amber herself. I wouldn't normally say it, but they looked cute.

"Is that all?" Canella asked Amber. "No, there's like three more in here…" Amber mumbled. Then she pulled out a Nidoking figurine and a Mismagius figurine. She hung the Mismagius next to her figurine and Nidoking somewhere around Indira's view. Finally, the last figurine was one of a Scizor. She carefully placed it higher than all the others. Then Ethan slithered to the top and placed a big yellow ornament that had five pointy ends, like a Staryu. "There, the star looks wonderful." Amber chirped. A 'star'? I guessed that was the name of such a shape.

After an hour, Amber and Canella were finished. Ethan had gotten tired and stepped out. "Behold! Our new Christmas Tree!" Canella said excitedly. Indira, Nicole and I all stared at it in awe. "Christmas Tree? You're kidding, right? What's Christmas anyway?" Nicole asked. Canella glared and crossed her arms. "The time of year when there is peace and love, celebrating that the world was created. It is the season of giving!" Amber said happily. I wasn't aware of that. Never in my life had someone giving me something just for the heck of it. The scarf was because my birthday so that didn't count.

"I don't get it. Is this some kind of holiday you made up?" I asked nonchalantly. "We didn't make it up. It was forgotten, as all." Canella scolded. Indira clasped her hands together. "Now that I think about it, I've heard about Christmas before! It was banned in the year 2555 by the dictator. Wow, how do you girls know about it, then?" Indira asked. "I was around before it was banned." Amber said. "Yeah, but I was around when it was being banned. Ah, only rebels celebrated it in my time." Canella said. I didn't know she was a reborn! Well, I was no expert, so how could I have possibly seen it coming?

"Okay. Then where'd you get these adorable figurines?" Indira asked, playing with the Nidoking figurine lovingly. "Ah, we made them. We just used some clay, paint, and fire." Canella replied. Nijash materialized from his Heart Ball and stood beside Indira. "Is that thing really supposed to be me? Huff, we look nothing alike." Nijash scoffed at the Nidoking figure. "Oh? It looks exactly like you! It has the same green eyes." Indira argued. "Maybe it does. But it's not as nearly as handsome as me." He said, making a pose. We all sweat-dropped. "Yeah, right. That figurine is a million times better looking than you, bro." Indira scoffed. "Well, you aren't good lookin' either. I should hire you as a scarecrow for Halloween." Nijash argued. Indira gasped. "You stupid blonde!" She barked. "I'm not blonde anymore! I'm a pokémon!" Nijash said. "And blondes aren't stupid either…except for you, of course." He added.

I was laughing so hard my lungs hurt. Amber was rolling on the floor, and Nicole was biting her lip trying not to laugh. "Break it up, you two! Seriously, I have never met Iuncta Pectoras who argue so much with each other!" Canella stepped in and grabbed Indira's arm and Nijash's ear. "Hug and make up." She demanded. Indira shook her head and Nijash crossed his arms. "Never!" They both said, looking away from each other. Canella sighed. "You're hopeless." She surrendered.

Eventually, Indira stopped arguing with her brother. Instead, she started making cookies, with Nicole helping her. They wouldn't let me lick the spoon, so I sat down to admire the weird tree. The multicolor lights blinked on and off with some sort of rhythm as their colors reflected on the crystal ball ornaments.

"I'll be back by tonight." Canella suddenly said as she strapped her Silk Scarf around her neck for warmth. "Where are you going?" I asked. "To ride a mechanical Tauros to candy land." She said sarcastically. "Fine, fine; I won't ask." I mumbled. She was always sarcastic when she didn't want to answer. Canella shut the door behind her and left.

"Here's your scarf back, Michael." I felt a warm paw on my shoulder. I turned around to see Amber offering me my scarf back. I took it hesitantly, enjoying the warmth her paw created. I would never understand fire types. Never once had I been friends with one. The fire type pokémon were so few also, you rarely got to meet one. But all those old folklores about fire types being evil and wanting nothing but to burn everything down were wrong. Amber wasn't like that. She was warm in many ways.

"Thanks." I replied as I took it back. She smiled warmly and headed toward the door. "I'll be back before Canella!" She announced and left. And so, silence shrouded the apartment. Indira was in the kitchen waiting for the cookies to be ready. She wore a pink apron and held a big iron spoon. "Homemade cookies take so much longer than the instant ones…" She mumbled impatiently. "Can I lick the spoon?" Nijash asked. Indira shook her head. "How is it that men always want the rest of the cookie dough? You know what; I'm getting rid of it." She said angrily. She tossed the dough covered spoon to the ground and pointed to it with her hand. She pressed a button on the machine strapped to her wrist, and a red laser was fired. The spoon was shot and disintegrated.

"You and your stupid laser…" Nijash groaned. I sighed and sat up. I was tired mentally, so I decided to retreat into the Guest Room Indira had offered us. I used the doggy-door to get in since I couldn't reach the doorknob. I didn't care; I hopped onto the first bed I found in the darkness. I buried myself in the pillow and closed my eyes.

"You've already delayed one week, Michael. Are you sure you haven't swayed from your objective?" Xepher asked me in my dream. "I'm sure! And I know we've taken a long time…it's just that, well, we needed rest. You know..." I argued. Xepher sulked and played with his hair. "Lady Calypso wants to know of your whereabouts. I can't keep covering for you…Sooner or later she's going to find out about my lies." Xepher said lowly. "I keep telling her you're on your way to Ecruteak and kicking enemy butt, however, she's getting suspicious. I'm done for if she finds out!" Xepher said, accidentally yanking his own hair. The scenario he had created faltered a little. It was anxiety. "Please Xepher, cover for us just one more time…We'll leave before New Year's Eve, right after this whole Christmas obsession Amber has blows over." I said.

Xepher reacted unexpectedly to that. He shot up in alarm and clapped. He showed his pearly white teeth in a huge ear-to-ear smile. "Christmas, you say? Oh the nostalgia! Amber is actually celebrating it. Michael, you are so lucky! I wish I was there to join you!" He chirped. I was dumbfounded. "Christmas was my favorite holiday as a pokémon. I was so sad when I found out it had been banned…Even Foolish seemed depressed." Xepher stated. Again, I was dumbfounded. "So…what exactly is Christmas for?" I asked. "It is to show the people you care about just how much you love them by giving. People used to wait for Santa Claus to bring presents to their homes…but that wasn't the real point. To be with friends and family and share…that's what is was about." Xepher said. His image faltered, and I looked around for a possible reason but saw nothing.

"I think another dream is trying to make its way into your head. I must go. Tell Amber I wish her a Merry Christmas!" Xepher said. Finally, he turned into nothing but water. The beach landscape shattered like glass.

And another dream began.

I was standing on the edge of a cliff. I looked down only to see a great river like five hundred feet below. One wrong step and it would be over. Then I examined my surroundings. There was no green, not a single living thing around me. The sky was much clouded and light snow fell on the ground. Then I heard voices. The voices got closer and closer, so I hid behind a boulder.

"…Are you sure, father? If the Chosen One is heading this way, we must prepare!" A young female voice said. I didn't peak yet. I wanted to listen carefully before I stared. "I am certain. Twenty years ago I predicted the Chosen One would be among us before the end of this year. And, rejoice! My prediction was accurate." A much, much older and raspy male voice replied. "But father…what if the Chosen One isn't a good guy? What if the enemy got to them first, and made them evil?" The female asked doubtfully. "Sasuka! Do not say such preposterous things! You know if that were to happen…You know I would eliminate the Chosen One as soon as I got a chance. If they become evil, we have no idea what they are capable of." The elder said. "I understand, father. I'll back you up if that happens!" The daughter chirped.

I decided to look at the conversers. I carefully poked my head up to see beyond the boulder, but to my surprise all I saw were two silhouettes standing at the edge of the cliff. I couldn't see their faces, but I could identify them as pokémon because each had four legs. "Sasuka, if something were to happen to me, be ready to take my place as the prophet of Johto." The elder said, breaking the silence. "You mean, become the Great Absol? But…" The female tried to argue. "No buts, dear. You know you have the capacity. Besides, it will be long before my time comes." The elder assured her.

"How long do you think you have left?" The one named Sasuka asked. "I hope I last long enough to meet the Chosen One. And as I have seen in my visions, they are heading toward Ecruteak. And just incase they've stopped to rest, I've made sure to alert them to hurry." Suddenly the elder turned his head to me, and I hoped he couldn't actually see me. My heartbeat sped up when he still stared at me, and I was still as a rock.

"How, father?" The female asked. "I'll tell you later. Right now, it is time to prepare for the Chosen One's arrival." The elder said. As they left through the blanket of snow, the landscape also shattered like my previous dream.

A dark feeling in my gut told me that someone had been weaving that dream, also. But, how? I couldn't ponder on it, because right then I woke up. I looked out the window and realized it was morning. Amber was nowhere in sight, but Nicole was sleeping like a beast in her bed.

I stretched and left the room. Once I was in the hallway my nose caught the scent of something really delicious. What was it? It smelled like cookies. And I loved cookies. I ran down the hallway and reached the kitchen, where the smell was overwhelming. "Merry Christmas, pipsqueak!" Canella greeted me as she offered me a cookie. "I am not a pipsqueak!" I argued as I munched on it. I walked beyond the kitchen only to be greeted with a weird sight. Boxes wrapped with colorful paper and ribbons resting under the tree! There was a decent pile of them, each with a white tag with names written on it.

"Don't be shy; I'm sure one of them is for you. Just wait until the rest wakes up." Canella instructed. I looked at her and found it odd she was the only one awake. Not even Ethan was with her. But, what about Amber? "Where's Amber?" I asked Canella. "She left. She said she forgot something yesterday, I don't know what. She should be back soon." She replied.

So I sat and waited.

"Merry Christmas!" Indira shouted. Everyone was wide awake and celebrating. Everyone but Amber. Where was she? Why wasn't she with us? Suddenly the door burst open, and Amber came. "I come bearing gifts!" She announced. I sighed in relief. "Merry Christmas, Michael." She said as she came up to me. Her smile was warm and inviting. "Uh…Merry Christmas, Amber." I replied.

"Now, you may open your presents!" Canella announced. It was so fast, I didn't have time to react when everyone tackled and climbed over each other to get to the presents under the tree. I was climbed over, tackled, and squished several times before I reached the gifts myself. I sat and watched as Ethan slithered over a big purple box and tore it to shreds with multiple Poison Fangs. He picked up what was inside and stared at it. "Great, new sunglassssssesssssssss! Thankssssssss, Canella!" He said as he put them on with his tail. He posed and smiled that creepy smile showing everyone his new look. Awesome, an Ekans with sunglasses and bracers.

"Hm, from Canella, to Nicole…hey, that's me!" Nicole shouted as she found a small present among the branches. The box was wrapped in purple paper and a silver bow. Everyone was paying attention as she picked it up. Not caring how pretty it was, Nicole tore the wrapping to shreds with her short claws.

She took a step back when she saw the Moon Stone. Her mouth hung open in disbelief. Canella chuckled. "An evolutionary item. You may use it whenever you like." She said. Amber picked up the Moon Stone and eyed it carefully. "Nicole…you could use this…to evolve into a Delcatty!" Amber chirped. Nicole took a few seconds to think it over, then she walked over to Amber and demanded the Moon Stone. I knew that as soon as she touched it, she would change forever. "Think carefully, Nicole. Once you evolve, you can never change back." Indira warned.

Nicole shook her head and looked at Amber and me. I nodded in approval. "The heck with it! I hate pink!" And with that, Nicole grabbed the Moon Stone between her teeth. Not a second later, white light engulfed her entire form. Her form changed: she grew taller and taller, grew longer ears, longer tail. When her body was complete, the light left her, and the Moon Stone shattered, revealing the brand new Delcatty.

That was when we saw her real eyes for the very first time. They were cinnamon brown, twinkling brightly. The parts of her fur that were supposed to be purple were actually a little brown, like pancakes. Nicole was mesmerized at her own body, her new figure. She stretched her new long legs and extended her sharpened claws. "I…I can see clearly now! And I'm taller! Wow…even my voice is different! Thank you, Canella!" Nicole shouted, overjoyed. Her voice had changed. Not too different, but she sounded like a full grown woman.

"Wow, Nicole you look better!" Amber chirped. "I know!" Nicole replied. Then she ran off testing her legs. "And now, it's your turn mister." Amber said, turning to me. "Huh?" I said dumbly as she pushed out a box from underneath the tree and right in front of me. The box was blue with red stripes and had a green bow. The box was small. I read the tag that was attached to it. 'From Amber, to Michael' it read. It was Amber's handwriting, and who knew she could use a pen with her paws. Her handwriting was careful and cursive, much better than mine (I swear, when I was at school, stupid teachers would faint when I handed in my tests. I couldn't believe my handwriting was so bad…).

I hesitated to open it. Amber nodded and urged me. "Come on, don't be shy." I lowered my head and bared my fangs until they touched the paper. Then I bit down with Crunch and ripped the wrapping to shreds. There was a white box inside, and I slowly opened it. I finally saw a nice over-the-shoulder travel bag. It was brown and olive green, with a gold zipper to open it. It had many pockets and it smelled new. I held it up and threw it on over my shoulder. It was perfect! "Look inside." Amber instructed. I complied and found some sort of leather band. It was red with one bright pink stripe. I stared at it weirdly until Amber spoke. She angled her eyes and smirked. "It's a Power Bracer. It helps increase the Attack stat while training, but it might make you a little slower. We begin training tomorrow!" Amber barked. "I always keep my promises." She added. I put the Power Bracer back inside my new bag and smiled. "Thank you, Amber." I said. And I really meant it. Never in my life had I felt so warm inside, so happy. It was a new feeling. "Merry Christmas." Amber said once more.

"Merry Christmas, Amber." I replied with a smile. It was my first and best Christmas of my life.

YES! YES! JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE DEADLINE! See, I told you guys I'd upload before Christmas! Take THAT, evil clone!

Evil clone: You win this round, Queen! You may have won the war but not the battle! Oh wait…

So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next chapter! Will be! Written whenever I feel like it ._.

Anyway, I'd like to inform you that I'm planning a new side-story for The Order of Arceus called the Tales of the Reborn. As you can tell by the title, it will be about the lives of those characters who were reborn from my story, such as Morty, Nicole, and Amber! Even Canella and Indira! For this, I must ask the owners of Canella, Nicole, Xepher, Foolish, and Shadow to write their stories in the form of One-Shots or two-shots and e-mail them to me (my email's in my profile!). You will receive full credit, don't worry! And this is only optional because I can write their stories myself. Alright, when I say their 'story' I mean about the story of their past before rebirth, and the moment when they were born. Mail them to me if you finish, and I'll make the finishing touches.

So, see ya in 2011! (YEAH I'M NOT WORKING TILL THEN!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!