Volume XII's Winning Shipping: TeslaPunkShipping
One-Shot 12/Final One-Shot: The Darkest Christmas
Ash, Goh, Chloe and their Pokémon friends were in Wyndon for a holiday celebration. "Nothing beats snow to indicate the start of the holidays!" cheered Goh. He wore a green Christmas tree sweater.
"I totally agree, Goh!" cheered Ash. He wore a red sweater with candy canes.
("Same with me!") added Pikachu. Grookey hooted in agreement.
"You four seem more excited about this Christmas party," Chloe laughed, wearing a red jacket over a green dress with a wreath decorated. Eevee giggled to their behavior. Suddenly…
"Ho Ho Ho!" cheered Leon. He and Charizard flew in with the Pokémon Monarch carrying a sack of gifts. "Ash! Goh! It's awesome to see you!" The trainers laughed to seeing Leon wearing the Santa suit.
"Leon, you look great!" giggled Goh.
"Thanks," Leon smiled. "And I see Pikachu, Grookey and Eevee are looking good themselves." The Pokémon cheered in delight.
"Are you bringing presents to the kids in Galar for the real Santa?" guessed Ash.
"Nah, these are treats for the party we're all attending," Leon corrected.
"And you know we'll be there!" cheered Chloe. That's when Leon sneaked in close to them.
"The thing is, I wanna pull something off with a certain someone who I know will be at the party," he whispered. The trio became curious to the request. They huddled in which Pikachu gasped to Leon's wish.
"You think we can do it tonight?" wondered Goh.
"It sounds important not to ignore," Chloe whispered.
"Let's go to the party and be on the lookout," Ash planned.
"Thanks," Leon praised. After plans were made, Leon and Charizard left while Ash and his friends got a room at the Pokémon Center. They did some shopping away from the Pokémon under the watch of Nurse Joy. She had the Pokémon evaluated. They proceeded to the party where plenty of people and Pokémon were around. Opal brought in a few cakes with her swarm of Alcremie. The three visiting tried to remain low-key as they were on the lookout. As they searched, Marnie emerged and grabbed Ash's wrist while Pikachu was on his shoulder. Marnie wore a red Christmas dress while still wearing her heeled boots
"I knew you'd come," she greeted. "Come with me." Ash and Pikachu seemed surprised to have Marnie take them away.
"Marnie, wait!" gasped Ash. No avail. Marnie dragged Ash and Pikachu from the party. Leon saw the three with Morpeko following closely.
"That girl doesn't know what I'm after," he muttered. Marnie carried Ash and Pikachu to an empty room.
"Marnie, what's going on?" he asked. Marnie reached the other side of the room where Sonia was. Sonia wore a red Christmas dress as well and wearing flats. "Professor Sonia?"
"Ash, thank goodness you're here," she greeted. "Listen, I'm going to need your help. I want to present to someone who came to the party." Ash and Pikachu were curious to Sonia's wish. They huddled together where Sonia whispered to Marnie, Ash and Pikachu. Hearing her wish, Pikachu gawked.
("The same thing?") he guessed. Ash seemed startled, but he didn't speak up.
"We can try to help." Marnie offered.
"Let us set up before we get you," Ash plotted. They left before Ash and Marnie paused after returning to the party. He sighed. "They both want the same thing." Marnie blinked, realizing the ordeal.
"The same thing?" she repeated.
("The same thing,") Pikachu confirmed. Marnie realized the connection.
"What a coincidence," she awed. "We may need help in exectuing these plans." Ash nodded as Goh and Chloe heard Marnie.
"You need help with plans?" asked Goh. Ash, Marnie and Pikachu turned to Goh and Chloe.
"And who are you with, Ash?" asked Chloe. Ash turned to Marnie.
"This is Marnie," he introduced. "She's the sister of Piers, the Spikemuth Gym Leader." Chloe introduced herself to Marnie.
"But if what you're saying is true," Goh started. "Both Sonia and Leon have the same thing in mind."
"It should make it easier to formulate a plan," Marnie believed. "Perhaps, we should split into two sides: Ash and I'll watch after Leon. You two can watch after Professor Sonia."
"How can we trust you?" questioned Chloe.
"We've seen how she handles her fans," Goh trusted. "Let's get going." They broke to where Ash, Marnie, Pikachu and Morpeko found Leon.
"Oh, Ash…" he irked. "I was wondering… is that Piers's sister?" Marnie nodded. "I saw you before and was wondering how you're doing."
"I'm having a good time," Marnie smiled. "Ash told me about your predicament and he asked me to help out." Leon became suspicious.
"Your friends not enough?" he wondered.
"They're working on setting it up," Ash lied. "Anyway, why do you need our help in the first place?"
"Easy, it's been some time since the incident with the Darkest Day replaying itself," Leon admitted. "I watched at how caring she was to me while you and Goh dealt with Eternatus." Marnie turned to Ash and Pikachu, a bit surprised.
"You don't mean what happened with Macro Cosmos, right?" she guessed.
"Yeah, and how Chairman Rose wanted to use Eternatus for his plans," Ash mentioned. "But Goh and I couldn't have done it without Zacian and Zamazenta helping out."
"And authorities did find Oleana and Chairman Rose's bodies," Leon mulled. "It wasn't a pretty sight." Ash and Pikachu mulled to Oleana and Chairman Rose's fates.
"At least they received their comeuppances," Marnie believed.
"Anyway, after she treated me," Leon resumed. "I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. Ever since then, I felt that I lost all confidence to myself wanting her. I hoped that I can come out tonight." As Ash, Marnie and the Pokémon keep Leon company, Goh and Chloe confronted Sonia.
"I was there for Leon when he started his Pokémon Training career," she admitted. "Of course, his first Pokémon was Charmander while I had a Rookidee. We traveled and became friends until Macro Cosmos got involved. His friendship with Chairman Rose made me feel like he didn't need me at all. Then came that day Eternatus rose back up. I saw Leon try to catch it and got hurt before you and Ash saved the day and I treated him." Chloe smiled to Goh's accomplishments.
"Trust me," Goh started. "If we didn't find the Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield and given the sword to Ash, who knows what would've happened."
"And now that they've been dealt with," Chloe spoke. "You want to go through with it?"
"I do, and at least he can focus on the Pokémon World Coronation Series," Sonia pointed out. "Still, I wanted to stay by his side before he became the Pokémon Monarch." Goh and Chloe had an idea.
"Chloe, why don't you help Ash out?" asked Goh. Chloe nodded before she left to regroup with Ash while Goh and Grookey prepared Sonia. Ash and Marnie talked to other people at the party which offered to help talk to the DJ. They helped Leon blend in with the rest of the crowd as Chloe joined and helped Ash out with aiding a space for the moment. Goh helped Sonia hide in plain sight in the crowd. After an hour, Leon and Sonia saw each other.
"Leon!" gasped Sonia.
"Oh, Sonia!" irked Leon. Both looked to each other.
"Listen, I just…" they started talking at the same time. They stopped before trying to speak again while others cleared space for the two. "There are something- Could I speak-" The more they tried to speak, the more they sounded equal.
"Okay, let's calm down a minute," Ash stepped in. "I know that you two want to express your feelings, but let's do it one at a time." Leon and Sonia realized their struggle and nodded.
"You go first," Leon offered.
"No, you first," Sonia countered.
"No, ladies should go first."
"But you're the Pokémon Monarch. You go." Realizing the argument wasn't going anywhere, Ash rose both arms, sticking them out to both sides.
"Okay, that's not going to work," he mulled before bringing out a coin. "Pikachu and I'll flip this coin. If it's heads, Leon goes first. If it's tails, Professor Sonia goes first."
"Sounds like a good idea," Leon agreed. Ash tossed the coin before Pikachu leaped up and swatted the coin higher. It soon fell and landed with heads. "It's heads! Leon is the first to speak." Leon sighed before starting up.
"Sonia, I wanted to apologize for abandoning you after starting my Pokémon Training," he started. "I wanted to become the best by any means for you. Sure, I started helping Chairman Rose to help with any research needed, but I had no idea of his true intentions. Finding out didn't take away what I wanted to accomplish what I set out to be, the strong Pokémon Trainer that you encouraged me to be. I just want to have the courage to now say…" He dropped to a knee and pulled out a Pokéball. He popped it open, but instead of a Pokémon… it was a diamond ring. Sonia gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Sonia Magnolia… can I choose you to be my wife?" Everyone remained silent. Bated breathing was all that was heard. Suddenly, Sonia snorted before she laughed rather loudly.
"We blew it," Goh groaned. Sonia calmed down as she reached for something.
"This is a coincidence!" she smiled as she pulled out her own Pokéball and opened it, revealing a gold ring. "I wanted to propose to you as well." Leon gasped before letting out a jolly laugh.
"Leon and Professor Sonia wanted to propose to each other," Marnie laughed.
"At least we can smile at the fact that they wanted to love each other," Chloe giggled.
"So, does this mean that it's a yes?" guessed Leon. Sonia reached Leon.
"Whether or not after the Series you remain the Top Pokémon Trainer," she started. "You'll always be my Top Pokémon Trainer… that I will happily declare my husband." They kissed longingly with the crowd cheering at the successful proposal. The party continued when Piers came to his sister and friends.
"Marnie!" he called. Everyone turned to the Spikemuth Gym Leader.
"Big Bro!" called Marnie.
"Piers, what's up?" wondered Ash.
"I just got here a little late," Piers apologized. "Did I miss anything?"
"Oh, not much," Ash shrugged. "We just helped Leon and Professor Sonia get engaged." Piers laughed at Ash's claim.
"You?" he guessed. "Does that mean Marnie helped as well?"
"Piers, why wouldn't I help out?" shrugged Marnie. Piers giggled to the support.
"There's plenty of Christmas Cheer going about," Chloe offered.
"I'll go and get some," he accepted as he left for some food. After a couple of hours, Ash and Pikachu emerged outside as they looked exhausted.
"Parties like those can wear me out," Ash muttered. "But at least we got to see a proposal."
("And one I can side with,") Pikachu agreed. Piers spotted Ash and Pikachu as he looked outside.
"Are you heading to the Pokémon Center?" he asked. Ash and Pikachu turned to the Gym Leader.
"Yeah, we're going to rest up before we go back to Pallet for Christmas Day," Ash answered.
"Before you go, Marnie wanted to give you something," Piers informed. Ash and Pikachu looked to each other before going back inside. They found Marnie as she came to them.
"I thought Piers would've missed you," she smiled. "I couldn't have had a great time without you two being here." Ash and Pikachu smiled.
"We got to see a lot tonight," Ash smiled.
"We sure did. I just thought that if you're going, I did want to wish you and Pikachu a Merry Christmas." Adding to the wish was Morpeko.
"And a Merry Christmas back to you." That's when Marnie gave Ash a present.
"And it wouldn't be a Merry Christmas without a Christmas present." Smiling, Ash opened the gift. He saw a Pokéball. Since seeing two Pokéballs before used as jewel boxes for the rings, Ash believed it was another ring. Still, he opened it. What was inside was a Drone Rotom. It flew above Ash and Pikachu with something dangling below it. Pikachu gawked to the item.
("Mistletoe!?") he gasped. Marnie came to the pair.
"This is my Christmas gift to you, and I hope it goes far," she offered, "Because you are my Christmas gift that I wanted." She gave Ash a longing kiss to his lips, her spiked-heel boot popped up. Ash blushed but soon recovered and accepted the kiss. Piers looked on to his sister giving Ash more than Christmas cheer. Pikachu jumped from Ash to Piers to see the kiss.
"I believe she's seen the light from what a darkened place we're from," he teased. While Leon and Sonia will make their arrangements to marry, Ash and Marnie have made their start in their pursuit of love. They may be the light that came from the Darkest Day.
END of VOLUME XII, END of ASHMAS
(Readers, this is the end of the AshMas series. What a series that I created, but the stories were more made by you. Does this mean I'm done writing Christmas stories? No. I'll have more Christmas stories down the road by who you want to have paired. I'll take a break until next year when I resume TMNT & Zelda. I want everyone to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I'll see you in 2024.)
