A Heartwarming Christmas

A/N: I'm so, so sorry for the late update, but I do have a legitimate excuse for it this time. I had been feeling sick with a stomach bug for a few days, up to the point where I couldn't even get out of bed! I felt like complete trash! I'm feeling much better now, but now I'm stuck trying to help my family quarantine themselves. We all got tested for the virus, and I'm the only one who is negative.

And my co-author on fanfiction.net is feeling a little bit pessimistic about this global crisis, so I have to try and keep his spirits up, too. As best as I can, at least. There's always hope for the future. 

Anyway, as long as we're still alive and well, let's get on with Chapter 9! Roll it! 

Chapter 9

The Snowstorm

A few miles away from the castle, as a snowstorm was beginning to approach, the travelers were forced to land and search for the perfect tree on foot. Ash was wearing his snow gear again and he was carrying MJ in his arms in an attempt to keep her warm because she was a Grass type, but he was starting to shiver himself because of the approaching storm.

The travelers would once in a while hear the howls of a pack of Mightyena in the distance and Ash and Pikachu began to sincerely hope that they wouldn't encounter them again. Once was enough.

What the group didn't notice was that hiding among the snow-covered trees was Allegra, keeping an eye on them. Even though she was a Fire type herself, the cold snow was nipping away at her limbs, making her shiver.

Just then, MJ saw something up ahead. "Guys, look!" She exclaimed, pointing ahead. The others looked ahead and saw a large, snow-covered pine tree, standing tall and proud.

"That's perfect, MJ!" Ash exclaimed.

"Let's hurry and get it!" The enchanted Bellossom exclaimed.

But then, they saw that the tree was on a little island in the middle of a frozen lake. Everyone got on either Charizard and Staraptor and flew over to it, despite the chill in the air.

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Meanwhile, a couple of miles away, Leona and Kenny were searching for Ash, but it was proving to be difficult because of the snowy winds. Luckily for them, they were better suited for the cold, since Leona was an Ice type and Kenny had downy feathers to keep him warm.

"Do you see him?" The enchanted Prinplup asked his companion.

"Not yet!" Leona answered back, over the roaring wind.

When both of them had reached the top of the hill, they saw that it was mostly downhill from there, but they still had a long way to go. Kenny groaned in annoyance.

"We're never going to catch up to them at this rate!" He exclaimed.

Leona looked around for anything that could help them get downhill faster. When she glanced over at Kenny, she remembered something.

"Hey, you can slide down easily, right?" She asked.

"Yeah." He answered. "But how is that gonna-"

"Just get on your stomach!" Leona ordered. "You're a Penguin Pokémon! You get the picture!"

Kenny was silent for a few seconds before he finally got what she was saying. He groaned in annoyance before getting down and lying on his stomach. Leona then hopped onto his back.

"I've never been so humiliated." He muttered under his breath.

"Suck it up." Leona retorted back. "Now, let's slide!"

Kenny huffed and then pushed himself down the hill, sliding across the snow, gaining speed as he did so. Leona was whooping with joy as they slid down the snowy hills.

********************************

Back further out into the forest, the traveling group had reached the tree. After inspecting it for a couple of seconds up close, they all smiled up at it.

"It really is the best tree ever!" MJ cheered from her spot inside Ash's winter jacket.

"Yeah, it is, MJ." Ash agreed.

"Looks like it's gonna be a Merry Christmas this year after all!" Mikaela exclaimed happily, making everyone else cheer. Then, the enchanted Combusken got into a fighting stance.

"Now, everyone stand back." She said. "It's time for me to do my job."

Everyone obeyed her. Charizard looked like he wanted to try and cut the tree down himself, but a stern look from Ash made him grunt in annoyance and reluctantly follow the others. Mikaela then began slicing at a particular spot in the trunk with her claws.

Ash briefly shivered because of the flying snow. "We'd better hurry, guys." He said, shivering. "I'm getting cold."

"Y-You're not the only one." MJ said, her teeth starting to chatter.

Finally, Mikaela made it through the trunk entirely and the tree started to wobble around before it started to tip over to the side. Everyone quickly backed away from the area.

"Timber!" Mikaela shouted as the pine tree finally fell over and landed in the snow.

Everyone cheered happily at the fallen tree. "Now, let's get that tree back to the castle." Ash said, rubbing his arms. "And fast. It's getting colder by the minute."

Charizard picked up the tree in his claws and with his impressive strength, easily flew up into the air with it. Mikaela then jumped onto his back.

"Hurry and get that tree over to the ballroom." Ash said. "We'll be right behind you guys."

"Aye-aye, sir!" Mikaela said with a salute before she and Charizard flew over back towards the castle.

Ash got onto Staraptor, with Pikachu on his shoulder and MJ tucked inside his winter jacket. "Let's go, Staraptor." He said.

Staraptor then took off into the air, but just as they were flying over the lake, Ash saw an Infernape trying to carefully walk across the ice. The Infernape looked very familiar and he had just met that very same Infernape earlier that afternoon.

"Allegra?" He asked. What was she doing way out there?

He patted the side of Staraptor's neck. "Hang on, Staraptor." He said to his Sinnohan Normal and Flying type. "Bring us back over to the lake." He then pointed over at where Allegra was.

The Predator Pokémon obeyed his Trainer and then headed over to the frozen lake, but remained hovering a couple of feet above the ice while everyone else carefully slid off his back. They then approached the Sinnohan Fire and Fighting type.

"Allegra?" Ash called out to the enchanted Infernape.

Said Infernape stopped in her tracks as she looked behind her and saw the people that she was trying to follow. "Oh, uh, hey, Ash." She greeted the Kanto Trainer nervously.

"What are you doing way out here?" Ash asked her.

"I was, uh...taking a walk!" Allegra hastily lied. "Out in the snow, yeah. Plus, the cold doesn't bother me, anyway. With me being a Fire type, and all."

Ash wasn't quite sure if he should believe her, since she was acting a little bit strange. Plus, the rule of never leaving the castle grounds didn't apply to just him. The servants were also forbidden from leaving the grounds.

Suddenly, the realization hit him right on the head like one of Pikachu's Thunderbolts. Allegra was sent by Ursula! That enchanted Gabite had no intent on keeping him leaving to find a tree a secret! No doubt that she had already reported it to Dawn!

But before he could bitterly voice his discovery to the enchanted Infernape, a loud crack was heard, making everyone freeze in place. "Wh-what was that?" MJ asked.

The cracking was heard again. Ash carefully scanned the ice beneath them. No doubt that it started to slowly break apart under everyone's weight. If they stayed any longer on the lake, then they would soon be swimming in freezing cold water.

"Nobody move." The Kanto Trainer ordered calmly. Everyone obeyed without question, trying their best to not make any sudden movements.

Soon, the cracking had stopped, and Ash calmly began giving out more orders. "Pikachu, MJ, get on Staraptor's back." He said. "Then you, Staraptor, you'll fly up and grab Allegra and get everyone off the ice."

"But what about you?" MJ asked him.

"I'll be fine, as long as there are no sudden movements." Ash said. "But we have to do this fast or else we're all going under."

Pikachu was a little reluctant to leave his Trainer out on the ice, but he couldn't really argue that it was the safest plan, either. At least mostly everyone would be safe and on the shore, and Staraptor would quickly come back for him before the ice gave way.

Carefully, the Kanto Electric type shifted over to Ash's shoulder that was closest to Staraptor, hearing little cracks in the ice as he did so. When he got onto Staraptor's back, Ash then carefully moved MJ out of his jacket and into his arms. He then signaled to his Sinnohan Normal and Flying type to quickly get up into the air, the ice cracking a little louder as he did. When Staraptor was in flight, he then tossed MJ up to him and Pikachu grabbed her little arms and pulled her up.

The ice continued to crack further, but everyone that was still on the lake didn't make another move. Ash then looked back up to Staraptor.

"Now grab Allegra!" He shouted.

Staraptor obeyed and grabbed the enchanted Infernape by the arms with his talons and lifted her up and off of the ice. Then, he began carrying everyone over to the shore of the frozen lake. When they got there, he released Allegra, and Pikachu and MJ slid off of his back, the enchanted Bellossom seeking warmth by cuddling up next to the Kanto Electric type.

Ash smiled at the sight of everyone safe. But suddenly, a super loud CRACK was heard, making everyone's hearts stop. Ash's eyes flicked downward and he saw that the already weakened ice was cracking under his feet. Staraptor immediately flew up and was about to hurry and get his Trainer off the lake, but it was too late. The ice finally gave way, and Ash fell into the freezing water!

"ASH!" Both MJ and Allegra screamed out in horror.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu added his fearful cry.

Ash quickly surfaced, gasping for air and warmth. "Staraptor!" He called out, trying his best to mask the sound of his chattering teeth.

The large Sinnohan Normal and Flying type immediately took flight, zipped through the air, and over towards his Trainer and then tried to reach down and grab him with his talons. Ash tried to reach for one of them, but then he felt something making the current swirl around his legs, threatening to pull him back underneath the freezing water.

A large and angry Gyarados suddenly appeared from the frigid lake waters, roaring loudly and fiercely as it surfaced. Staraptor was forced to back away from the giant, angry Water and Flying type, regretfully leaving his Trainer at its mercy.

As the furious Gyarados searched the perimeter, wondering who dared to wake it from its winter slumber, it saw the small human struggling to pull himself out of the water. The Gyarados roared again, making Ash lose the little grip he had, and he fell back into the icy water. The Gyarados was about to dive back under and get that human when suddenly, something crashed into it.

"Not so fast, ugly!" Someone shouted.

A Prinplup and a Swinub had suddenly appeared from the forest, easily landing on a section of the ice that wasn't breaking. "No humans for dinner today!" The Swinub added.

"Leona! Kenny!" MJ shouted over to them with relief.

"Now, Staraptor!" Kenny shouted to the Sinnohan Normal and Flying type.

Staraptor crowed loudly in determination and a ball of fire formed around his body and then completely envelop him. As he swooped down, the fire-like energy turned blue and the newly-formed Brave Bird attack scored a direct hit on the Gyarados.

The Gyarados hissed loudly in pain while Staraptor had crackles of blue energy over his body after he'd used the powerful Flying type attack. He was too worried about his Trainer to think much about the recoil damage he took.

The Gyarados wisely took the attack as a sign to head back down under the lake. As it did, everyone searched for any sign of Ash, but no one saw him come up.

"Oh no..." Leona said.

Suddenly, there was a loud roar in the distance. Everyone froze, hoping that it wasn't the Gyarados again. Much to their somewhat relief, it wasn't. It was Dawn.

When the Zoroark-like beast saw that everyone was there except for Ash, she immediately figured out where he was. She hurried across the lake and then dove down into the frigid waters. A few seconds later, she burst out of it and then landed on the shore, a freezing cold, wet, and unconscious Ash in her arms.

"Ash!" The servants all exclaimed happily.

They were all about to take a step forward towards the Kanto native Trainer, but Dawn just growled at them, her teeth bared in a snarl. Everyone immediately retracted in fear and watched as their mistress trudged through the snow, keeping Ash close to her. But there was a deep scowl on her face. When they saw that, everyone quickly got the gist as to why.

Kenny sighed in defeat as MJ jumped into his flippers for warmth. "What have we done?" He whispered.

Allegra buried her face in her paws. "This is all my fault." She whimpered, feeling guilty about what had happened.

"We all share some of the blame." Leona said, nuzzling her leg before everyone followed Dawn from a respectable distance. "For even daring to hope for a Christmas."

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An hour later, Ash had woken up from his hypothermic state, dressed in a dry, dark blue long-sleeved tunic with gray leggings and brown ankle boots, with a thick black wool blanket wrapped around his shoulders. His head didn't have a cap on, leaving his wild raven hair loose. Pikachu was curled up next to him and he was overjoyed to see that his Trainer and best friend was alright.

However, Ash soon took notice of his dark surroundings. Everywhere he looked, it was cold and damp and stony. He looked down at his wrists and ankles and saw that there were shackles around them, the chains leading to attachments on the walls. He had been in this area only once before, back when he and Pikachu first arrived at the castle.

When he sensed someone standing over in the shadows, he only closed his eyes in shame, already knowing who it was. Pikachu just snarled at her, his cheeks sparking dangerously, daring her to even try to come closer.

"You said that you would never leave." Dawn's cold voice pierced the air.

"I wasn't trying to leave." Ash said, still not looking at her, feeling red-hot anger slowly beginning to course through his veins. "I only wanted to make you happy."

"You broke your word." Dawn hissed at him before she headed over to the cell door. "And for that, you and your little rat will rot in this dungeon. Forever." With that, she slammed the door behind her, locking it.

Ash snapped open his eyes and stood up, the chains slightly rattling and the blanket falling off his shoulders. He tried to run towards the door, but the chains held him back.

"I should've known!" He shouted at her. "You'll never be anything more than a..." He trailed off, not wanting to really say it, but his blood was furiously bubbling like magma.

"Go on!" Dawn shouted back at him. "Say it!"

"Than a BEAST!" Ash yelled fiercely, letting the word linger in the air for a few seconds before continuing to twist the knife. "I thought that you were starting to change!" He felt hot tears building up in his throat, burning his eyes. "But...I guess I was wrong."

Feeling his anger cool down and letting hurt take over, Ash went back towards the wall and slumped down on the floor, burying his face in his arms as a couple of tears slid down his cheeks and fell to the stone floor. Pikachu just went over to him and curled up next to him again, in a little ball of yellow fur, the only bright thing in the room at the moment.

Dawn heard his little quiet sniffles, the sounds ripping away at her heart. She bit the inside of her mouth, not wanting to cry just because he was, even though this was the first time that she'd ever heard him cry. Quickly, she stormed away and out of the dungeon.

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The grandfather clocks all throughout the castle struck twelve, their chimes ringing in unison. Since it was now midnight, that meant that it was technically Christmas Day. But no one was feeling the holiday spirit anymore.

"Merry Christmas, everyone." Leona said sadly as everyone began to depart for the night.

Zoey placed a crying MJ on her back as they left the ruined ballroom, where the barren tree stood off to the side.

"If only it were." Kenny said as he followed Leona towards the servants' quarters, followed by Zoey and MJ.

Everyone else just went their separate ways, either towards the basement or back to the attic of the northwest tower.

They dared to dream of a Christmas, and look at what had happened. Their only hope for freedom was locked away and their mistress had shut herself off from everything else entirely. Everything seemed hopeless now, just like it had been for the past five and a half years.

A/N: Hold up! The story's not over yet. Not by a long shot! We still have three more chapters to go, so we're in the home stretch. We're so close! 

Well, I'll see y'all in the next chapter! Please leave a comment about what you think! They are highly appreciated, and remember to stay healthy! 

Got to fly! ;)