After a minute of Snorlax celebrating with all of the smaller pokemon climbing his body like a jungle-gym, everyone got back to opening their presents. As he sat back down next to Joyce, she flicked him a slightly worried glance. “Are you okay with a Snorlax?”

  Normally, if someone had asked him if he was okay with one of his friends evolving, he’d be miffed, because he’d be happy with any of his pokemon evolving no matter what, but Snorlax was a special pokemon. Even as a Munchlax, his furry friend could and would eat a frankly enormous amount of food. As a Snorlax, he’d eat even more. Ever since Munchlax joined his family, he’d done his due diligence for the day when his friend evolved and took up his final form. A Snorlax could eat several hundred pounds of food, and once satiated, would fall asleep and enter a ‘food coma’.

  There were several solutions to the food intake problems Snorlax presented. One was to simply feed the beast until he was full, which would bankrupt the normal trainer within a week. The second solution was to buy specialized calorie dense pokeblocks made with rare berries. As he didn’t have the means to make pokeblocks, he hadn’t researched which berries were needed in their recipe, but that was obviously on his to-do list now.

  “It’ll be fine. I’m lucky enough to have an army of Oddish to help me grow what he needs to eat until we get his specialized food.” Ethan commented while bringing up his final present… from Santa? “Uhh, who’s this from?”

  Joyce leaned over and glanced at the present held in his hands. “Santa, of course.” She gave him a confused look.

  “Yeah, but… who is it really from?” Ethan asked.

  “Ethan,” Joyce started, unsure. “Santa Claus gave you this present.”

  They way she said it had Ethan questioning his life. She said it in such a way that she was trying not to offend his intelligence, but Ethan was suspecting he was severely lacking some required knowledge. He leaned over, close enough for Joyce to feel his breath as he whispered. “Where I’m from… Santa isn’t actually real. Is—Is he…?”

  Joyce tried to hold it in, but she snorted, then she laughed, then she cackled. After wiping away a tear, she nodded. “Yes, Ethan. Santa is real. Where did you think all those extra presents came from?” She nodded in the direction of her pokemon, and Ethan watched as Chansey opened up a small box, pulling out a brand new nurse uniform with little Chansey eggs and dancing Happiny decorations.

  Ethan looked over to his own pokemon and saw some gifts that he definitely didn’t give them. Litten tore through his present with his sharp claws and stared curiously at what was revealed. A black and red heated blanket that could be plugged into a socket to heat it up for lounging. Chatot opened up a box, and after tucking her head inside, she pulled out a pair of moracacas and a tambourine. The end of the moracacas had thin elastic bands, which she slipped her wings into.

  When she flapped her wings, the moracacas rattled.

  “Huh… It suddenly feels like I am having a mid-life crisis.” Ethan said blandly, earning a playful smack to the shoulder from Joyce.

  Ethan watched Ursaring open the gift she’d given her and saw the moment her eyes widened. Instantly, she turned to face him, locking eyes. Ethan gave her a smile and a nod.

  A peat block wasn’t expensive, but they were pretty hard to come by. Not everyone owned an Ursaring.

  Ethan opened his final gift—the larger one from Santa himself—and tilted his head. Inside was an electric guitar with a small amplifier. It looked well made, but there weren’t any maker's marks on either of them. He didn’t know how to play guitar, but he supposed it was a nice gift. Maybe he could have some concerts with his pokemon? Chatot had gotten instruments as well—

  The rapid bonking of a drum caused Ethan to turn to Tinkatink, who was sitting on her new anvil and smacking the absolute shit out of a tiny drumset.

  Ethan narrowed his eyes at the implication of all these instruments being handed out.

  Once everyone was done opening their gifts and already well into the process of playing with their newfound items and toys, Ethan got to work cleaning up all of the wrapping paper. Without a word, Smeargle joined in to help with a small smile and both hands gripping his tail in comfort. After a quick one armed hug of thanks, they both collected all the wrapping paper and ribbons into a small pile, then Smeargle used a Flamethrower to set it alight a little ways away.

  Ursaring and Snorlax dragged their log-seats forward while Tinkatink, Chansey, and Clefable formed a conga line bringing in some of his chopped wood to throw onto the blazing fire.

  It appeared that they were having a winter bon-fire for celebrations.

  Jessie and James started setting up skewers and whipped out marshmallows, while Meowth began boiling a pot of water, pouring in a dark powder inside… hot chocolate?

  Ethan smiled as the whole ranch bundled and hurdled around the roaring fire with a festive cheer. Ethan looked at his pokemon, “Did you all enjoy your presents?”

  “? Chatooot! ?”

  “Pachiii!”

  “Smear-gle-smear.”

  “TINKAHHH! BA-BA!”

  “Snoooooor-lax…”

  “Teddii!” “Ted!”

  “Skii…”

  “Emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol-emol—”

  “Shuuuuuu!”

  Ursaring grunted, looking into the box with the peat block distractedly, and Litten didn’t make a sound other than purring and kneading her mittens into his mom’s thigh.

  “I still haven’t gotten mine.”

  Ethan turned towards where he felt the voice coming from, finding Ralts, her mother Gardevoir, and the Kirilia he’d seen only twice before—maybe Ralt’s sibling?

  With a look to Gardevoir, Ethan waited. After a few seconds, Gardevoir nodded her consent. Ralts stepped forward, picking up her toga-like skirt as she trampled through the snow with a frown, upset on not receiving a gift.

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  Ethan flicked out his hand, throwing a pre-prepared cyan and slate-grey sphere right at her head. It plonked right off, causing him to hear a “What—Ow?!” before Ralts got sucked into the Moon Ball he’d just thrown.

  Everyone turned to look at the sudden bit of commotion, but Ethan just sat with a knowing, expectant face as he watched the ball shake and bob.

  It shook once.

  It shook twice.

  It shook thrice.

  *Ding*

  And the Moon Ball stilled.

  With an idle wave of the hand, Gardevoir used her psychic powers to float the ball over to him. Without further ado, Ethan clicked the round button beneath the yellow crescent moon which adorned the special pokeball and released the dumb-struck Ralts onto the snow.

  “Merry Christmas.” Ethan stated, looking down at Ralts with a grin.

  Ralts opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water, before belatedly schooling her features into that of her haughty princess facade. “I—you—That was entirely unannounced and improper! I—ahh…” She took another moment to collect herself, much to Ethan’s amusement. She glared around at everyone watching her fumble her words, reddening with embarrassment. “Hmph!!! Very well! If this is your Christmas offering, then I shall graciously accept it!”

  She took a step forward and jumped and awkwardly climbed his leg. Once on his lap, Ralts plonked herself down and crossed her arms childishly.

  “Merry Christmas. My gift is me.”

  —-----------------------------------------------------------------

  Once the festivities were well underway, with pokemon and human alike chatting and sharing stories, presents, and cheer, Ethan started cooking Christmas dinner while listening to his pokemon rambling about their gifts.

  Shuckle was over the moon with his life-size Dunsparce plushie. It was a reminder of his very first friend, and it had been by his side ever since he opened it. Shuckle’s gift from Santa had been a set of stylish berry-themes corks to plug into his holes. From the outside, it looked like Shuckle had berries poking out of his many holes.

  Santa… He knew too much…

  Skiddo had gotten a woolen blanket to lounge on from Ethan, which she drug through the snow whenever she wanted a new place to plop down and rest. It was thick, but simple. She seemed to like it nonetheless. Santa had given her a well made festive mantle which drooped over her neck and rested on her shoulders and back. It would keep her warm in these cold months and she hadn’t complained about it being put on yet. So, he counted that as a win.

  The one pokemon he was keeping an eye on didn’t come to share her presents, as she was too distracted staring at it. While Ethan wouldn’t call himself Ursaring’s real trainer, as she’d had a real trainer before him, he’d known the big mama bear for over a year at this point. When he was alone, she’d stop by and have him play with her children, and those were the best of days during the… troubling times.

  He’d told her long ago that she could evolve, and even explained about the peat block in the past. Now, it was time to see if she wanted to take the plunge. If she didn’t want to evolve? Well, that would have been fine and dandy to him. She didn’t need to change, but if she wanted to… now she could.

  From what little he researched when looking up a peat block, he found that Ursaring would stay a physical attacker. Her appearance on the other hand, would change pretty drastically. No longer would she walk upright like a humanoid. She’d drop down onto all fours as an Ursaluna, and would have to relearn walking and movement. It wouldn’t be hard, but it would be different.

  He didn’t want to ask what she thought, as that was for her and her alone. When the next full moon comes, he will have his answer anyways.

  The sound of crunching snow brought him back to paying attention to Shuckle as he waved his Dunsparce plushie back and forth, playing with his imaginary-friend. “Do you like your present, Shuckle?” Joyce's voice rang out from behind him.

  “Shuuu!”

  Shuckle then proceeded to show off his plushie and corks to Joyce, who coo’d and listened to Shuckle go about his rant for probably the fourth time, as he had been by Jessie and James before him. His little berry buddy had come out of his shell and had talked to them (Meowth) because they were the one who sold ‘his’ berries every other weekend.

  It was pretty adorable.

  “That’s amazing. Shuckle.” Joyce said, “Do you mind if I steal Ethan away for a moment?”

  Shuckle shook his head and trudged off to Snorlax, his best friend on the ranch who just evolved. He’d already taken a few trips into his den to pull out mounds of berries for his hungry pal to eat. Thankfully, Snorlax remembered his diet from his time as Munchlax, so Ethan didn’t have to worry about his new big poke running around and eating his ranch to the ground.

  Joyce saddled up to his side and watched as he stirred the pot of green beans. He was going to make a green bean casserole once he got back to his oven and took out the cookies he was currently baking. “Thank you for the note.”

  Ethan smiled and waved away her thanks in a little fit of embarrassment. “You’re welcome. Thank you for the headphones. I’m sure it’ll save everyone from my more intolerable music choices.”

  Joyce laughed and shook her head as she stared into the fire. “Looks like you’re going to have a band of pokemon soon.” She nodded off to indicate the small pile of instruments. “Maybe you could enter a contest and take the world by storm. Your little singing videos online are already very popular.”

  Ethan had completely forgotten that Chatot and Smeargle regularly posted their little singing escapades online under his trainer information. He hadn’t ever checked on it, leaving it for his pokemon to enjoy. It was their decision to post them, afterall.

  “I don’t know about that.” He said, “I don’t even know how to play the guitar, and Tinkatink definitely doesn’t know how to play the drums. She just bonks them and they make funny sounds. That’s enough for her.” He laughed.

  “Maybe, but you could all learn.” Joyce trailed off. “Have you ever thought about visiting Kanto?”

  The rapid change in subject threw him for a loop. “I have. I’d have to leave this place for far too long for it to be feasible. Why do you ask?”

  Joyce shrugged, but he could tell that there was a deeper meaning to her question. “From what I remember from your memories, you had a lot from Kanto. Professor Oak would probably like to learn about you and your empathic ability. Maybe he could help you control it?”

  Ethan turned to look at her, giving her his undivided attention. “And?” He asked, probing.

  “You remember Lieutenant Surge?” She continued, and he nodded. “He may be from where you’re from. He has a self-proclaimed title, the ‘Lightning American’.”

  Ethan blinked, not having expected the topic at all. Before he could ask a question, she continued. “I’ve had the Joy clan trying to contact him about it, but he’d ghosted all attempts at communication regarding it. I think Looker tried as well, but he’s been suspiciously quiet.” Joyce shrugged. “I’ve met the man before, and he is not the quiet type.”

  “Hmm…” Ethan hummed, causing Joyce to pause. “You should probably just tell him about me. Tell him someone from America found himself here, be honest about it. While it’d be nice to talk to him and tell him about all of the good and the bad that’s happened since he left, it’s not like I knew him or anything. If I never met him, I wouldn’t be bothered.”

  “Oh…” Joyce looked a little surprised, and Ethan could guess why.

  “If there ever comes a time when you find other people like me—from my world, you can bring them here. They will have a place to call home, but I don’t need a connection back to the past—unless you somehow find my mom. Then, I’d very much like that connection.” He laughed, causing Joyce to chuckle a little unsurely.

  It was obvious that Joyce had thought meeting Surge would be something he’d be very interested in, as they both might be from America… but he wasn’t family. He’d do it, if given the chance, but it wasn’t the same as having your family back.

  “Watch the beans. I gotta go check on the cookies.” Ethan physically moved Joyce by her shoulders to stand where he had been and made his escape.

  He spent the time checking on his cookies thinking about how his family would be having a Christmas of their own.

  The first one he wasn’t a part of.

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