Kunoichi69 - Yeah, we didn't get to see much of Duplica after that one episode in Johto. It'll be nice to involve her more in this story as well. Leslie is...complicated. Looking back at it now, I wished I gave him a more tragic back story, but I guess it's too late now. I'll probably add more stuff later on for him. However, this won't be the last we see of him or his electrabuzz partner. Thanks for reading.
Guest2 - Sorry about that. I got my regions mixed up. It should be fixed now. Anyway, thank you so much. Leslie is rather annoying isn't he and I wonder what he and the electrabuzz will get up to next. As far as I'm aware, growlithes are obedient to anybody in authority and they usually get registered to a police officer no matter who they are. Tom is pretty forgetful and Jones has to remind him that he should be looking after him. I don't blame the growlithe for wanting to fight for somebody else for a change.
Djinn - Thank you so much. I wonder what those two will get up to in future chapters. Hope you'll enjoy the special.
pokemonking0924 - Thanks so much, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. And don't worry about Alice; the short jokes are only inconvenience her a...little. Haha!
Alice: WHAT WAS THAT FOUR EYES!?"
Ah! Sorry Alice! I didn't mean it. Ahem! I too chuckled a little bit when I thought of Flo throwing the jigglypuff. I can only imagine the squeaking sounds they make when they bounce off something. As for what she accidently caught during her search, that mystery will be revealed later on in the chapter previews below. Leslie is a strange case and I have to wonder what he and the electrabuzz would get up to next. It might be a while until they both show up again. Thanks again and I hope you'll enjoy this special chapter.
SkullGreymonX - I guess it wasn't technically his fault the last time, but he really did mess up this time. Maybe we will see Tom later on in the story. Who would hire him, however, is another question. And you're right about how impressionable young children are. His mother did try hard to get him help, but he made up his mind by then. Thanks for reading.
wellingtonlucas282- No problem, thanks for reading.
Sonic7 - A big over reaction, but it would explain the mentality of Pokemon hunters and poachers. All it takes is one bad experience. On the other hand, he seemed to have made friends with the electrabuzz so there's that. I hope to use Hoss more in battles. He's quite an adapt fighter. Thanks for reading.
Lovely - I'm sure Duplica will come up with a name for her new ditto. Perhaps Polly would be suitable name for them. Flo's mystery Pokemon will be revealed in the chapter previews and you are right on the money. Thanks for reading and I hope you'll enjoy this special chapter.
Guest - Hmm, I guess so. I'll definitely consider it, but it does sound like fun to write.
NeoReviewer - Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. It won't be the last we'll see of Tom. He'll crop up here and there throughout the story. I'm excited to write about Grandpa Canyon as well. I've written a small synopsis of what is to be expected. Thanks for reading.
Guest - Don't worry. The growlithe was picked up by Alice and she handed him into the nearest police station. He was be sent back to the training facility for a few months before he was assigned to a more capable Office Jenny over at Centre City. He's much happier now with his post and new owner. I decided to keep the new Pokemon a secret for now until it's addressed in the story. Thanks for reading.
Noisy - Good point. That makes much more sense. I hope you had a nice Christmas. BTW, congratulations on being my 500th reviewer!
Thanks for reviewing :)
Special: Merry Christmas!
Somewhere in a snow covered place in Kanto region, there was a cosy log cabin atop of a hill. There was a warm glow coming from the windows, smoke pluming from the chimney and a luscious green wreath hanging on the blue door.
The door opened to revealed the decorated interior; holly and garlands were hung from the ceiling, the fire place was lit with a glorious fire and the mantelpiece displayed cards and other festive trinkets. There was a Christmas tree in the far corner decorated bright tinsel and glittering baubles; beneath its branches were a number of presents that are yet to be unwrapped. In the centre of the room was along table with food and treats from sweets to Pokemon shaped biscuits.
Finally, sat around the crackling fire, was our heroes sat on armchairs. Charles was calmly brushing Benny's fur, Alice was knitting a jumper while Flo sat and watched the fire with a smile on her face. The young nurse sighed contently as she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes peacefully.
"I love this season," she said, "I love how cosy it is, having fun in the snow, the presents…"
"The food," Alice interjected, looking up for her knitting.
"…seeing friends and family, games, festivities…"
"The food."
"…building snowmen, roasting chestnuts on an open fire," she sighed again, "It's wonderful."
"The food," Alice sighed staring at the table of food as she licked her lips.
("Don't be such a one note character,") Benny said.
"Alice, don't you think about it," Charles warned, making her jolt, "Our guests haven't arrived yet," he told her before the doorbell rang, "Ah! They're here now."
Benny jumped onto his shoulder as he got onto his feet and headed to the door and opened it wide to reveal Titania and Halcyon outside wearing winter clothing designed for the both of them.
"Why, look who it is. It's Titania and Halcyon. Come on inside," Charles announced.
Titania shook off the snow on her coat and rubbed her ribbon feelers together to warm up, ("Did we have to walk all the way up here? I've lost all the feeling in my paws,") she grumbled, ("Why couldn't you have transported us up by our pokeballs?)
"Well, it's like in those Christmas specials you see on T.V. You know when a presenter welcomes celebrate guests at the door just like this and they usually sing a song or something on those lines," Charles explained.
("What specials?")
Charles opened his mouth before he closed it again thoughtfully, "Strange. Even though I feel like that's a well known troupe, I can't think of an example where that has been used," he shrugged, "Let's just blame, Victor for this and move on."
("GRRRR! LAZY WRITING!") Halcyon growled in annoyance.
("It's fine. It's fine,") Titania slowly said as she led her brother into the cabin, ("Let's just focus on getting you warmed up.")
Benny's ear pricked up as he heard something and turned to the open door, ("Look some more guests are arriving.")
"Great," Charles happily said as more of the Pokemon came through the door; with him naming every single one who entered, "There's Ambush and Ruby and Ichigo and Apollo and Alette and Manitari and Mahad and Tommy and Kani and Oracle…."
("Wait, did you invite everybody?") Benny asked as he watched every come through the door.
"…sure did, and Pyro and Sneak and Wildfire and Tyche and Marcel and Epione and Tomoe and Cleo and Marina and Miko…"
"Starting to get crowded in here, Charles!" Flo called out to him.
"…and Fleur and Lilly and Atlas and Hurricane and Ruth and Dorothy and Tyrian and Azure and Hoss and Boa and Echo and…our we forgetting somebody?" he looked outside the doorframe to see who else was coming, "Oh, Mystic you're-" his eyes widened in alarm, "Wait! Mystic! Not through here! Go around! Go aroun-"
CRASH!
The calm and cosy atmosphere came tumbling down as a very large red head of Mystic came crashing through the door and the wall, smashing everything into pieces.
("Darling~ I'm here~") Mystic cooed happily as she swung her head left and right, destroying more things in the process.
"OUR DEPOSIT!" Charles, Alice and Flo yelled as tears flowed from their eyes.
After doing their best to patch up the hole in the wall, Charles stood before all of them and raised both hands in the air.
"Welcome all to the greatest Pokemon Christmas party!" he declared, earning cheers from the audience of Pokemon and the two humans, "Now, without further ado, let's all start the celebration!"
Another round of cheers and cries rang out through the log cabin, but it soon all stopped with Apollo jumped in front of Charles and began to bark at them to stop.
("Thank you, sir. Now I took the liberty of constructing an itinerary for the evening's events,") the growlithe barked proudly.
("Awww,") the rest of the Pokemon moaned miserably.
Apollo either ignored their complaints or didn't notice.
("Right. At 2000hrs we will exchange gifts. Everyone will be split up into pairs and will spend a maximum of twenty seconds to exchange presents and kind words. Those receiving the gifts will have a maximum of two minutes unwrapping gifts and admiring said gift. Secondly, at 2030hrs we will partake in board games and other parlour games until-")
He was interrupted by Alette stuffing a mince pie into his mouth, making him stop in surprise. The clefairy sighed, rolled her eyes and turn to the audience.
("Don't listen to him. Just do what ever you want,") she told them.
("Woohoo!")
Apollo looked as if he was going to complain, but, seeing everybody take off, ate the mince pie instead, ("Hmm, that's quite marvellous,") he muttered, licking his lips in content.
Over by the tree, some of them were exchanging gifts with each other.
Charles was knelt beside the tree while he accepted a neatly wrapped present from his brother.
"Aww, Benny thank you," Charles said as he unwrapped his present and pulled a yellow t-shirt with a pikachu's face print on the front, "Ha!" he laughed as he admired it, "Very funny. I'm going to wear it when I compete in the finals of the league."
("I'll hold you to that,") Benny laughed as Charles gave him a gift in response.
"Here you go, Benny. Merry Christmas."
Benny unwrapped the present with his paws and held up another t-shirt, but it was much smaller and designed for him. On the front was Charles' face, grinning back at him, causing Benny to frown in confusion.
"Great minds think alike, huh?"
("Yeah...") he hesitantly uttered.
Meanwhile, Titania was helping Halcyon with his gift. The stressed eevee looked down at all four of his hairless paws and admired the new woollen gloves that now covered them. The colour of the gloves matched his fur exactly, making them look (at a distance) that there was nothing wrong with them at all. He continued to stare at them for a few more seconds before he looked up at his sister with am anxious smile.
("Do these really belong to me now?")
("Yeah, it's a gift,") Titania chuckled.
("But I didn't get you anything. Too much choice! Grrrr!") he growled before Titania wrapped a feeler around him.
("Don't worry about it. There's always next year.")
("I suppose...") he mumbled as he calmed down, ("I...I want to do this again, but with the rest of our family.")
Titania smiled in determination, ("We will. I promise.")
At the same time, Ambush the tangela used his vines to carry a present and set it in front of Wildfire. The ponyta looked down at the present in confusion and raised an eyebrow curiously.
("Now, what do we 'ave here, partner?")
("Just a gift that's all,") Ambush said as he took a step back, ("Go on. Open it.")
Wildfire hummed in surprise and leaned his head down, ("Well, that's a mighty kind of ya,") he said as he used his teeth the pull the bow.
Suddenly, the top of the present burst wide open to reveal Sneak the sandslash inside, ("SURPRISE!")
Wildfire whinnied in shock, reared back onto his back hooves and began to fall backwards, much to Ambush's amusement as he roared with laughter.
("Here you go, Kani,") Tyche the bellesprout said as he held out the present to the kingler, ("I hope you like it. I spent hours making it. It's very breakable so make sure to take good care of...") he stopped when noticed a large shadow fall over him and looked up to see the fiery body of Wildfire falling on top of him, ("...oh dear,") he uttered as he was smashed underneath the ponyta.
Kani used his smaller claw to poke an unconscious Wildfire's side and leaned down, ("Tyche, dude. Are you okay?")
("Just...fine...") the small voice of the bellesprout croaked out, ("I...may need...a few more hours...to fix your...present...")
("A little to the left, dearie. Oh, too far. Now a little to the right, dearie. There you go. That's perfect,") Manitari instructed using her claw to direct Flo on where she should hang up the mistletoe.
Flo jumped down from the step ladder and admired her handiwork, "Thanks, Mani," she brightly said as she stepped back and turned away, "Now all I have to do is wait for Charles to come on by and invite him over to-"
("Err...dearie,") Manitari said as she tapped her arm and pointed to the doorway.
Flo turned back and gasped in shock to see that Tyrian and Azure were already snuggling underneath the mistletoe, "Hey, you two! That was my plan! Go to another place and do that!"
Azure looked up and sneered at her, ("Tsk! What was that? Don't be so creepy and go away, you pervert.")
Flo fell onto her hands and knees and bowed her head in depression, "I don't even know what she said and I still felt like she insulted me."
In another part of the cabin, Marcel was sat on the floor with his knees up as he moved his hands in circles on either side of him; he used his legs to push himself backwards while he smiled up at the other players.
("Are you sure you're not rowing a boat?") Pyro questioned as he scathed his scaly head in confusion.
Marcel shook his head.
("You sure?") Tommy asked in his little bucket that Flo had filled up with dirt so he could come inside, ("'cause it durn't hal' look like it.")
("It looks like a log fire to me,") Oracle said as she squinted her eyes, ("Is it that?")
Pyro reached over and used his claws to turn her the right way around, ("It's this way Oracle.")
("I knew that.")
Marcel shook his head as he continued to do his little performance until the timer on the side rang, signifying that his time was over. He sighed and stood to his feet and placed his tiny hands on his waist.
("I can't believe you didn't get this,") he grumbled, ("It was clearly somebody golfing.")
...
...
...
("It was?") Pyro asked, making Marcel slump forwards in depression, ("Oh...err...sorry.")
("Alright, mates. My turn,") Tommy said as he twirled around in his bucket, ("And I've got an 'ard one and all.")
He began to nod his head left and right over and over again since his movement was severally restricted. However, Pyro raised his hand in realisation.
("Oh, I know. It's the film 'CeTitanic' isn't it?")
("Ye got it,") Tommy said, making Pyro and Oracle whoop in joy.
Marcel, on the other hand, stared at them in disbelief, ("How in the-")
Over by the table, Alice covered her entire plate with every food, snack and treat that she could get her hands on; it got so big that it looked as if she was creating a miniature in the palm of her hand. She hummed happily to herself as she grabbed some peanuts and put some on the plate before she dropped some into the Ruby's tank that was situated on a trolley beside her.
"Here you go," she chirped, "If you want anything else then don't hesitate to ask."
("W-w-will do, Alice,") the tentacool replied back as she picked up the peanuts that floated in her tank.
Alice smiled and turned back to her plate, but frowned when she noticed that some of the food she gathered up was gone. She inspected it throughly before she looked down to see if she dropped some things; she found nothing and looked up to see more food had disappeared. She blinked in surprise before she closed her eyes, used her senses and suddenly shot her hand out and grabbed the culprit's wrist. She opened her eyes and gave a piercing glare at Mahad who was hanging by his claw in her grip.
"Mahad," she calmly said in a deadly tone, "You might want to reconsider stealing food from an Officer Jenny."
("Duly noted,") he gulped.
On the other side of the table, Epione shook her head and dipped the end of the leek she was about to eat in a bowl of sour cream, ("Deary me, Mahad. You have to be more careful then that.") she said as she raised the leek to her mouth.
("Ah! Epione desist at once!") Tomoe cried as she flapped her wings frantically beside her, ("Thou art about to consumeith mine blade, forsooth!")
("Oh!") Epione said as she pulled the leek away from her mouth and handed it to her, ("Sorry,") she sweetly apologised while Tomoe wiped the sour cream off of it.
("…and that is the story of how I was able to fend off an entire clan of arboks. Those lousy blighters couldn't hold a candle to my strength!") Hoss proudly barked to his audience of Pokemon
For the past half hour, he had been giving stories of the 'glorious bouts' he had been involved during his time spent in the Safari Zone. He was able to conquer his fear of smaller Pokemon by, strangely enough, rolling onto his back and looking at them upside down which seemed to do the trick. The audience pretended that it wasn't strange to have an upside down tauros tell them stories and just focused on what he was saying.
("How exciting!") Mystic said, poking her head through a window from the outside; a compromise they came up with so she could join in, ("Now how about any stories involving darling?~")
("These stories aren't exactly Christmas-y,") Ichigo said as he sat cross legged in front of him, ("Do you have anything else?")
("Maybe one involving darling~")
("Christmas-y, eh?") Hoss hummed, ("Sorry, old boy. Nothing's come to mind. How about the time I fought off a gang of mankey with both my eyes closed,") he suggested.
("Errr….is it alright if I told a story?") Echo asked as he hung upside down from a nearby shelf, gaining everyone's attention, ("I know one about moss growing around the Corral that is quite thrilling.")
…
…
…
("So…mankey, huh?") Ichigo said as they all turned back to the tauros, ("Tell us about that.")
("You got it, old boy.")
Echo sighed sadly and rubbed the tip of the wing on the back of his head sheepishly. However, he was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
("Hey Echo,") Cleo called up to him as Marina wrapped around her middle, ("the kids want to hear a story,") she told him as Ruth, with Dorothy in her pouch, hopped beside her.
("What…they do?") he uttered in disbelief.
("Of course, they do. Isn't that right children?")
("Story time!") they cheered happily as they jumped and slithered before him, looking up at the zubat with their big eyes.
Echo coughed in shock but nodded his head, ("w-well, if you insist,") he said as a smile crept onto his face, ("Well, I was fluttering down to the edge of the corral one evening…or was it the morning…no, I'm sure it was the evening…perhaps it was the afternoon. Anyway, I happen to be fluttering down to the edge of the corral when I saw some moss on a oak tree. Now, in order understand what I'm about to say, I would have to explain to you the properties and unusual quirks that are involved in the formation of moss. You see…")
As Echo continued to rattle on, Cleo and Ruth stood at a safe distance away from them.
("Are you sure this will work?") the kangaskhan whispered to her.
("Don't worry. It works every time it's Marina's bed time. They'll be asleep in about five minutes or less,") Cleo whispered back.
("Isn't this a bit mean to him.")
("He doesn't notice. Besides it makes him happy.")
"And now, welcome to the stage, the sensational Fleur Des Lis Sisters and Miko!" Charles announced before he stepped off the makeshift stage.
The audience applauded and whooped in joy as the two gloom somersaulted onto the stage to the time of the classical music and landed perfectly on their feet. Miko emerged from backstage and twirled around in the air before landing in between them in an elegant pose. The sisters began to twirl around whilst releasing a sweet scent for the audience to enjoy while the vulpix danced in between them, wafting her tails elegantly through the air. The other Pokemon and humans were entranced by their dancing and dazzled by their performance. They were about to go into their next move…when a Pokemon flew in and fluttered in front of them.
("Woohoo! Re-mix!") Hurricane yelled as he crazily spun in the air, much to the performers shock.
The lights passing through his wings flashed and sparkled around all of them, earning sounds of awes from the audience.
("HEY!") Fleur shouted at him in annoyance, ("WHAT DO YOU THINK YO-")
Bang!
The entire stage shook as Atlas jumped onto it and stood beside Hurricane, ("Yo, I didn't know we're allowed to join in! Right on, bro!") he proclaimed as he began to stretch and pose his muscular form to the audience.
("IT'S NOT! GET OFF-")
("My, my! If you want a beautiful performance then all you have to do is ask moi!") Boa declared as she slithered on and began to pose alongside the other two, ("Bask in my beauty, my lovelies!")
The audience cheered as the three stage invaders stole the show from the actual performers while Fleur trembled in fury.
("YOU-")
THWACK!
She fell flat on her face as Lilly hit her at the back of the head, knocking her out in an instant.
("Now, now. It's Christmas, dear sister,") she cutely giggled.
Miko giggled as well, ("The more, the merrier, I guess.")
Over in the audience, Charles, Benny, Flo and Alice watched as their friends had the time of their lives; it was nice to not be travelling and training for once. Charles scratched Benny behind the ears and turned to his friends with a bright smile.
"Merry Christmas you too," he said.
Flo nodded back, "And you too."
"And a happy new year," Alice chimed before they shuffled closer together and enjoyed the festivities.
I hope you enjoyed the small special chapter on what the team did during Christmas. Since we're coming to the end of the year, I thought I would share you with what is to come in 2024!
1) A Day In A Life Of A Persian
Has anybody wondered what happens to the Pokemon not currently travelling with our heroes? Join Cleo as she goes about her day being the big sis at Professor Oak's corral; tackling such duties as waking everybody up, training them, making sure they're fed and…unravelling the mystery of Marina's disappearance!?
2 ) Rough, Tough Igglybuff
After rearranging their team, Flo discovers that she had one more Pokemon then she was expecting and discovered that she had caught an igglybuff by mistake. She decided to befriend the Pokemon and try and apologise, but the cute Pokemon doesn't seem to want anything to do with her. What's worse, the igglybuff seems to prefer Alice over her.
3) The Valley Of The Ancients
The team arrive at Grandpa Canyon, famous for its ancient Pokemon fossils. They meet up with Ash, Misty, Brock and Gary and take a tour of the site led by none other than Gary's older sister Daisy Oak. However, the tour takes a turn for the worse when they discover, deep underground, that the ancient Pokemon are not as extinct as everyone thought they were.
4) Marina And Togepi's Egg-cellent Adventure
Everyone's favourite egg Pokemon Togepi is hatched and Misty and Charles couldn't be prouder. However, with the new baby, Marina is unhappy that all of her mama's attention was drawn away from her and is racked with jealousy. But when she's the only one who witnessed Team Rocket kidnapping Togepi, it's up to her to get her back before she's lost forever,
5) The Great Princess Showdown!
The team made it to O-Hina Town, just in time for the Princess Festival which celebrates female empowerment and the men have to do everything they say. While Charles and Benny question the misandrist premise of the festival, Flo and Alice enter the Queen of the Princess Competition and are forced to battle each other in order to achieve the third place position….Wait, really? Third place?
6) Pokemon In Tights
As they draw nearer to Cinnabar Island, the team stop over at a place called Knott Town where a bunch on unusual crimes have been committed. Pokemon, dressed in strange clothing and led by one adventurous Pokemon, are stealing food from the townspeople much to the anger of the local sheriff. The team are employed by the townspeople to stop these menacing Pokemon, but it won't be easy to catch the outlaw known locally as Robin Hoothoot and his Merry Pokemon.
Happy New Year everybody!