Christmas Surprise -
Ampharos Style
It’s that time again.
A time of the year I once used to enjoy. I would spy upon other Pokémon and their human partners playing in the snow, chanting some festive songs and having a nice time together. I would be delighted about every single one of them while I myself would be sitting above their heads, unseen.
But let’s start with something different first – I failed to introduce myself! My name is
Amphy and I serve as a beacon for the local lighthouse. You might have heard of an Ampharos illuminating the Glitter Lighthouse in Olivine City. Yep, that’s me. Hi there!
‘
Why are you unhappy’ you ask?
Well, as previously mentioned, I really enjoyed watching the outside world having a great time in the past. I also loved doing my job – I still do. It feels like the Pokémon and humans needed me in order to light their world.
However, it’s different this time. It’s not that they don’t deserve to be happy. Everyone out there should be. So should I. But I’m not. I’m not happy. Not right now. Not with that current situation of mine. No, not at all.
It’s Christmas time. December 23rd to be exact.
At Christmas, everyone rubs shoulders with their friends and family – maybe even strangers. I don’t know – basically everyone they want to have around. I’m not one of them. This year, none of my friends will have time to come to see me. Well, maybe Jasmine has.
Jasmine is the gym leader of Olivine City and my human partner. She is kind of a mother to me as well, sometimes also a friend. She means a lot to me. I really learned to love and trust her. I hope she will climb the countless stairs of the lighthouse and pay me a visit.
But that’s not the same. While I can see Jasmine whenever I want to since we live in the same town, my Pokémon friends live all around the world. Up to now, we’ve met up at least once a year at Christmas Eve by tradition.
‘We’ are a group of five. My nearest and dearest. ♥
To begin with, there is a Vulpix called
Flama. She is from the Kanto region. Geez, what a playful girl! Whenever she is with us, she is the one jumping and dancing around, teasing us. Without her life would be boring.
Next on the list is a beautiful Gardevoir by the name of
Ashy. Since she often treats us with great care we call her Mom – and she hates it. Or so she claims. We think she feels flattered though. One way or another, she is awesome just the way she is. Her home is a small town located in the Hoenn region.
Number three would be
Hiji. She is the calmest of our group. A slow-paced Skuntank from the Sinnoh region. Others would rather call her lazy but we once settled on using the word ‘calm’ when it comes to describe her. Nine times out of ten she lies around either snoring or eating. We often use her as a pillow because of her fluffy fur. (Her tail makes a fantastic blanket!) She does not seem to care about it at all.
And last but not least, there is
Ray. He is the only rooster in the yard. He is the youngest among us but also one of the tallest. He tends to be naïve but in a good way. A little crazy sometimes, too. You never know what he does next. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that he is a Volcarona. He comes from the Unova region.
I miss them and it really makes me sad that I can’t be with them this year. I wonder whether they miss me, too? In fact, every single one of them sent me an untimely Christmas card in which they were telling me they wouldn’t be able to make it this year.
I was shocked when I received their cards. Neither of them had time to see me? That is ridiculous. Like they had agreed in advance. But there is nothing to be done about that. Plus, I don’t think they would meet up at a different place with me not being able to join them since I can’t leave the lighthouse without further ado. So they each surely have their reasons. All the same, it's a pity.
✼✼✼✼✼
Today it's Christmas Eve and Jasmine indeed paid me a visit in the morning. Although she seemed a little stressed, she made time for me and even carried some self-made sweets!
So while I was busy eating all the delicious baked goods, Jasmine told me about her annually Christmas party. More importantly, she told me about that one guy who would attend her party tonight. Every time that she was speaking of him, she tried to hide her nervousness but however much she tried, she couldn't trick me. She must like him a lot – I could tell by the look in her face. I really wonder who that guy was, making her smile
that smile and all. Unfortunately though, she didn't blow his name. Not even once.
Anyways. Jasmine had left a couple of hours ago and dusk is falling just now – it even started snowing again. Also, it's gotten less noisy outside. Most of the Pokémon and their humans probably went home by now – sitting around the Christmas tree, being happy while chanting Christmas songs and exchanging presents.
Just as I'm about to start wallowing in self-pity (again), I hear some strange noises coming from the inner staircase. Who on Pokéearth would visit the Glitter Lighthouse on Christmas Eve??
The curious sheep I am, I can't stop myself from having a closer look – I slightly open the door and sneak a peek at the visitors – and I can't believe my eyes. It's Hiji, Flama (is that a pink ribbon tied around her neck!?) and Ashy climbing up the stairs! A high-pitched 'eek' slipped out of my mouth, so they turn their heads just to look right into my face, a face of disbelief, and they just start grinning.
'
SURPRISE!' they bawl, their loud but cheerful voices echoing in the empty stairwell.
And I .. don't know what I to say. Like .. Oh dear! I can't believe they are
real, can't believe they are here right now although every single one of them had turned me down a not-so-long while ago.
After we've stared at each other for like five minutes or something – well, more like I stared while they chuckled over my funny face – Flama's the first to speak,
'
Um, not sure about you guys, but I really would like to–' She gets cut off by a loud crashing sound coming from right behind me. What .. !?
The four of us turn around, only to find an exhausted Ray lying on the floor – right below the window he must have entered the Glitter Lighthouse through – along with a somewhat strange looking .. Christmas tree? Seriously, with a situation as ridiculously funny as this one, we can't help but burst out laughing in unison.
After we've calmed down a bit, I find myself being dragged into a big and warm group hug. Man, I've missed these guys!
They even brought along everything needed for our own Christmas party! Ashy was in charge of baking cookies (she naturally baked way too many) and Flama brought some Christmas decoration. Hiji carried a bag full of fluffy and warm looking overcoats and matching hats for everyone of us, and Ray, well, he drug along that Christmas tree which, if you look closer, isn't a
real Christmas tree but a Pokémon! A Phantump to be exact.
So while we are sitting at the roof of the Glitter Lighthouse now – wearing our new coats and hats, munching away on Ashy's mouth-watering cookies and watching the snow fall down on us – they all tell of their journeys.
Well, all's well that ends well.
Merry Christmas everyone!
PS: That guy Jasmine was speaking about this morning, apparently was Brock, the trainer of Flama!