Chapter Twenty-Two: Light

*Author Note – Hey guys! I want snow for inspiration, but that's not going to happen. It's sunny. And Orange is too busy to even get inspiration. :(

Disclaimer: We The writers of this story do not own Pokémon. This is purely fictional.

We give you this Chapter - wait, I say that a lot. Chapter Twenty-Two: Light

Pikachirate's Point of View

I had to come up with a plan. A plan that would stun the Princess completely. I couldn't just give her a rose. It would look like nothing to a Princess. And I had to seize this chance in this wonderful Winterland filled with perfectly white snow.

I had evaded her for some time now, trying to find the most romantic, uncliché thing there was; no solutions had arisen yet.

But surely, there would be something in this place? There were icy churches, which could be climbed with the stairs. The view would be unforgettable for her, who had been in the castle for most of the time in that climate.

"Captain? Shouldn't it be time for you to head upstairs, too?" Buneary asked, interrupting my not-so-well thought out plan.

"I'll be going up in a minute," I answered. She was very eager in sending everyone to the dorms. Roselia already went to bed together with Sneasel, and put Buneary in charge.

Buneary crossed her arms. "You said that half an hour ago. I think you should just go now, if you want to be able to get up in the morning," Buneary warned. "Go upstairs. Now. Before I make you."

Buneary was able to guess my train of thought. It must be that obvious. "Fine!" I conceded while holding my hands up in the air. "I will go upstairs."

Buneary heaved a sigh of relief.

So we went to the separate rooms upstairs, and well, I fell asleep pretty soon.

The early sun broke through the window; someone had opened the curtains. It was unusually light, as there were no clouds. I squeezed my eyes shut, simply hoping I would fall back in my sleep.

"Wake up, Captain. It's time for breakfast." It was Roselia who woke me up. She mustn't have realized what time I went to sleep.

"Grmlllll . . . ," I said.

"If you don't get up, you won't get any breakfast," she said in a serious tone.

"I'll be there," I answered while trying to wake up enough to get out of bed. Roselia left the room and I was alone again.

I got up and stared out of the window. I always disliked the cold, or the snow that would melt after it had frozen your ears off. No thank you, I rather stay here all day in the inn.

That would never work out well for my plan, would it? So, quite reluctant, I stumbled half-asleep down the stairs. Most only started eating now, but a few were already finished. To name one, Pichu was already done.

I went to sit next to Gengar, who was in a conversation with Chansey. They were in their umpteenth argument about something silly. This time it was the bread that lay on the table. Chansey wanted some margarine, while Gengar said it was good enough as it was now.

Ditto and Mew were playing who's that Pokémon. Ditto wouldn't transform into it for a change, so they both had no idea which Pokémon the other had in mind.

Well, I think they were doing that. But sure I could never be.

And there, close to the fireplace, sat Esmeralda. It was one of the first times I saw her sad while the other two were unstoppable. I walked toward her and the warm fire.

"Esmeralda, is something wrong? You don't seem to like it here," I pondered. She looked at me with the saddest eyes in existence.

She stared back to the fire. "It's no fun here. There aren't any flowers, only trees with snow. And when I accidently hit one, the snow attacks me, as if I did something wrong," she confided me. "The snow is an alien that multiplied itself. It will take over the world!" she added.

"I dislike the cold, too. When you want to get to the other side of the street, it will take at least five minutes. There is no way we small Pokémon could move that fast through the snow," I said. She obviously felt left out. Everyone else was enjoying the snow and had no eye for vulnerable Esmeralda.

"Only the Pokémon who are known to the snow are allowed to move through it; since I know what it really is, it tries to stop me. And the others don't see me struggle, don't see me here. And the snow has hypnotized everyone, even the Princess is looking at it as if it is magical," she added bitterly. "And the most terrible thing is now I can't go see the awesome Xatu and his performance."

She was really down; I wasn't used to her being like this. I had to cheer her up. "I'm sure the rest wouldn't mind helping you out - just ask. They will help you without hesitation," I assured her. She smiled a little angle smile. "What's the deal with this Xatu, by the way?"

She spoke with eagerness now. "He is the one to predict the future! And I want him to predict mine - well, not predict, see - so I get to know what my future is like!"

A stupid idea came to my mind. I would take Esmeralda to Xatu - wherever that may be - but it wouldn't only be the two of us. I would ask a certain green-eyed Pokémon to accompany us . . . No, Esmeralda should ask it to her. With her red Lillipup eyes and cheerful voice, who could say no to that? And Pichu wouldn't even notice until it was too late that I was there, too. Esmeralda would be the buffer, of course.

I was a bit of a Dunsparce in that way. *Dunsparce is Coward here.

"Okay, Esmeralda, we'll go to Xatu. When do you want to go?" I asked casually. I hoped she would say 'Yesterday! A year ago! Yay!'.

Esmeralda was silent for a bit. "In three days! It will be Full Moon then!" Disappointment struck me; but I knew I would have to do something sooner.

"What do you want to do now, if you aren't willing to see Xatu today?"

"Well, since it's very, very, very deserted over here, I guess I will fly on the beds today . . . ," she said, wondering.

Wait, everyone was gone? I looked around me, only to see Gengar and Chansey.

"Where is everyone?" I demanded; Esmeralda probably didn't find me demanding.

"I was the first one to wake up this morning, and went to here at the fireplace. Half an hour later the Princess came down the stairs. We made some small talk – it was still pitch black outside – and I felt great. She really listened to me, just like you did the very same day," she said while smiling. "After that she went to get something to eat. She was really disappointed when there were no apples, so she reluctantly took some bread. Pichu went outside after breakfast, though, and I quote, 'I will go outside now, walking through this wonderful, white coldness'.

"Soon after she was gone, Roselia and Sneasel came by to visit me," she continued. "They offered me some bread and milk, and the Squirtle family were down next!"

Maybe Esmeralda wanted to give me an as detailed as possible way to tell me who came after who; still, I was surprised she remembered it at all.

"They left pretty quickly, because they wanted to swim somewhere nearby and it would be best for the cold morning dive," she rushed out. "Um, then the others came down, with you ending the queue. They all left after breakfast, probably wandering around in the evil snow."

As I wasn't that big fan of snow, I had to choose: stay here, or going after the Princess - I was always moving to the Princess or away from her these days.

Of course I stood outside in mere seconds. It was freezing, I was sneezing already and forgot to put on winter clothes.

Sure, wonderful, white coldness.

I wasn't used to these extreme kinds of weather; but as a Pirate - a Captain at that - I would survive.

The whole village made me think about Christmas, and New Year's Eve. I could still see the footprints the Squirtle family left, although there was no trace of Pichu's. She left and early, and fast. I better turn around.

As if it were impossible coincidence, there she stood. Right in the middle of the frozen circle - the center of the snowflake shaped plaza.

The moment I laid my eyes on her, I was not cold anymore. I had the feeling my whole body was burning up the cold around me. I started to her, across the long distance that held us apart.

She turned, with a slightly bewildered look. I guess she didn't expect me to cross paths with her this soon.

Meh, it was a surprise for me, too.

I finally reached her after those days of avoiding. And she was looking at her feet, not meeting my gaze.

Music started to play at that moment. It was the song Buneary played during that party. Her head snapped up to the source of it, just like mine did. It was no surprise to me it was Buneary playing and Happiny ready to sing.

Esmeralda was one sneaky girl for not mentioning them. All planned of course.

"Would you mind dancing with me on this song?" Pichu asked, seizing this opportunity Buneary handed her.

"Sure, why wouldn't I?" I answered completely at ease. We didn't particularly glide through the snow, but it went easier than the first time.

Shouldn't have thought that. The wind picked up, blinding us at the end of the song and, well, we fell. In the stupid snow.

It was as if those last few days never were in existence. We were laughing at our stupidity of falling and the mistakes were gone.

"You want to walk around the village?" I suggested. I had never taken the time to look around for everything.

"Yes I would like that," she answered in the same manner as always.

We pushed ourselves through the snow, through the frozen water and found a market. It was outside, like the temperature was high enough for it.

"Wow," Pichu breathed when she noticed it. She skipped toward it, leaving me fighting to follow.

When I caught up with her, her arms were filled with stuff she bought.

"Where did you get the money from to buy all those things?" I accused her. What if she stole my money?

"Why do I have to tell you? I had it before the kidnapping already, for your information." Of course. The rich Princess.

We turned around soon; we had to be back in time for dinner at Roselia's and a short meeting.

I couldn't quite remember what everyone was saying, or what happened all at Roselia's. But I remember nothing in particular - I was sleepy, I had every right to be bad at remembering.

I turned in soon today - sleepy - just like Pichu. I had a plan for something romantic tomorrow.

*Author Note - Alright, inspiration didn't struck us, but last night I was writing and suddenly I thought about dancing. I'm unable to decide if it fits there, or to think about the probability of it, so please? I can't do this alone, and since Orange has even less inspiration than I have . . .

I do know something for the next chapter, a part of it is already written, but it's nowhere near completion. And I have to ask, have I stupidly written a Mary Sue somewhere in this story? Because, again, I'm blinded by the story to see the truth most of the time. Please review, or send a PM if you prefer that, or something alike! Ciao!*