Lights cast down over the living room, centering on me in my green sweater splattered with candy cane patterns and plaid pajama pants.

"Welcome, one and all, to the 8th Annual PM64 Christmas Special!" I pressed a button on my remote, and applause sounded over the empty air space.

Ryder and Laura walked in from off-screen, the latter dressed in a blue sweater. She stretched her arms, causing gears and circuits to whir underneath, and said, "Ah, you got the roof fixed."

I collapsed into my armchair and groaned. "I'm never hiring a Bombirdier to deliver my mail again."

Ryder winced. "Yeesh, has the ninth generation of games really been out for a whole year already? Time sure does fly."

"Don't remind me. Between getting a job this year and balancing my work/life schedule, the last thing I need to think about is how much older I'm getting." My eye twitched. "Do you know how crazy customers can be?!"

Laura smirked. "I should know. I like to mix up price tags at the grocery store."

"That was YOU?!"

Ryder sighed. "Well, we're here now, and we've got a lot to cover this year."

I grinned. "No kidding. It's a special year this time around since we saw the conclusion to The Secret of the Idol. Years in the making, started all the way back in my final semester of high school—oh Arceus, I feel old again!"

Laura snickered. "Now, if only you got to work on my side story—"

"I'm working on it! Sheesh!"

Ryder plopped himself onto the couch and reclined back. "Well, with 2023 drawing to a close soon, what do you have planned for us this year? Last year you gave a three-hour discussion about the original draft of BOTF. What's cooking in that brain of yours this time?"

"Well, I quite enjoyed going over my thought process with my works, though there's still lots to cover when it comes to stuff I want to work on. Projects that won't see the light of day, and others that are in the works. We have the side story, Sand and Toxins, going on, but that will end way before BOTF ever comes to an end. So, that means we've got time before the next big story. So, the question becomes which story to work on next?"

Laura grinned. "Ahhh, I see where you're going with this."

"I may have an idea of what I want to do next, but why not give a little sneak peek to everyone on the PM64 server to get them enticed for what's to come?" I grinned. "The two stories currently up for circulation: the long-awaited sequel to TAATP, The Phoenix Knight's Path, and the sequel that I never planned on, Era of Fusions."

Ryder nodded. "That's right, you said you never wanted to do a sequel to Tribe of Fusions."

"I had my reasons, though recent updates in Pokémon have given me ideas to work with. Crazy ideas, but that's on brand for me. So, what better way to end off the year than talking about what I've written out so far?"

Laura nodded. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'm sold!"

"Glad to hear! Hopefully I'll be able to complete this special on time this year. I don't have the free time that I used to." I collapsed back into my armchair and stretched. "Speaking of which, our guests should be arriving shortly."

"So, who's coming this year?" Ryder asked. "I'm expecting Melissa again. Anyone else from Bandits?"

I chuckled awkwardly. "Uh, well…"

RING, RING!

"Well, see for yourself." I stood back up and walked over to the door. Upon opening it, three figures entered: Melissa Penworth, Jason Stormbreaker, and…

"I still can't believe I agreed to this," said the grumpy Gligar, Amos Lancaster.

Laura's eyes widened. "You invited him?!"

Jason groaned. "Yeah, we were just as surprised as you. Since he's the main character of his own spinoff story, Brad wanted to invite him on."

Melissa rolled her eyes. "Hurray for us."

I laughed. "Oh, give it a chance. This is all in good fun, right?"

Amos growled. "Give me a reason to, I'm getting the bleep out of here—" His eyes widened, grasping at his throat. "What the bleep?!"

I laughed awkwardly. "Oh, right. Uh, since I try to keep these specials under my usual rating limit (and because you swear worse than a sailor), a profanity filter has been installed on the house."

"Bleep! Bleep! Bleep! Bleep! Bleep! Bleeeeeeeeep…" Amos hung his head in disbelief. "Oh my Arceus…"

Melissa snickered. "Okay, now I'm kind of glad he was invited."

"Don't tease him," Jason said, though struggling to contain his own laughter. He grabbed her hand and led her to the couch. Amos quietly followed behind them, still in a daze.

The doorbell rang again, and I opened it. Entering afterwards was Krystal and Cybil Frostwood, walking in wing-in-paw. Krystal dressed in an obnoxiously bright blue and orange sweater while Cybil dressed in a simple black sweater with her cross wheel necklace hanging out.

"Welcome to the Christmas special, girls!"

Krystal grinned. "Thanks for having me again! And thank you for extending an invitation to my darling wife!" She pressed her cheek up to Cybil's and nuzzled her.

Cybil blushed sheepishly. "Hehehe, um…yeah, thanks."

"Well, you two have a seat on the other couch. We'll be getting started soon." I waved them along and closed the door.

"Is anyone from Tribe of Fusions showing up?" Melissa asked.

I grinned. "Just one person…and one other." The doorbell rang again. "Ah, and that's them."

I opened the door and let the last of my guests enter: Tamara the Meowth-Accelgor Fusion and…Jango Phoenix, the Bearer of Life and Purity.

"Yo," Jango greeted. "Been a while."

Tamara bowed. "Thank you for inviting me onto your special. I look forward to seeing what's in store for this year."

"Glad to have you on as usual, Tamara." I guided them over to the couch.

Ryder smirked. "Jango."

Jango smirked back. "Ryder."

Laura chuckled. "The unspoken rivalry burns brighter than ever."

Tamara flipped onto the back of the couch, sitting above Melissa and Jason. "So, usual shtick like last year? Only doing one round of questions?"

"That's right," I said before taking my seat. "Same applies. Two questions per person, and we'll be answering them on Christmas Day. It'll be extra difficult since I have work now, but I'm sure I can manage…barring any surprise submissions at the last second."

Jason chuckled. "Good thing you've opted to do those live discussions instead of going on some random tangent of interest."

"It does save a bit of time, plus I can plan around work for it, so works for me. Anyway, looks like we're all set for this year."

Melissa pumped her fist. "This is going to be awesome!"

"You said it, sister!" Laura cheered. "Bring on those questions! Let's get ready for 2024—"

"Hehehehehehehe…"

Everyone's eyes widened as a haunting laugh echoed through the living room. Tamara immediately sprung to her feet, fists raised for combat. "I sense evil afoot! Show yourself, fiend! You stand before the Azure Spirit!"

"What the bleep is going on?" Amos asked.

Ryder grimaced. "Oh no, I know that laugh…"

"I didn't invite him!" I gasped.

Black smog erupted from the center of the living room and took shape before us. A figure stretched out from the darkness, hovering high above the living room in a grandiose fashion with shadow and fire dancing around him. Piercing red eyes burned from the smog, glimmering down on us as the figure laughed.

Jango summoned his sword to his hand. "Don't tell me that's…!"

I groaned. "Yep, it is…"

"You've got to be kidding me," Ryder growled.

"Oh…my," Laura mumbled nervously.

The smog dispersed, revealing the malevolent figure of darkness himself: the Lord of Fear himself, Dark.

"Don't tell me you put this entire soiree together without inviting me first. But fear not, for I shall just invite myself~."