Snow was falling on one Christmas Eve.

  Heavy it came, dusting the quaint town of Littleroot in pearly white sediment. Dangling from the branches of swaying trees, piling up in the large garden bushes, it seemed inescapable. And, more than that, it seemed endless. Thundering against the rooftops, stacking up against window panes, threatening to burst the glass through at any moment. Even the Pokemon who preferred to find their comfort outdoors had settled for safety inside their owner's warm houses.

  So, why was he out there?

  A young boy trudged through the snow. White ice settled onto his worn shoes, softening until it ran into cold drips of water, seeping deep into the crevices of his shoes. Clinging closer to his thin coat, he continued to move forward. His uncovered hands shivered with the freezing cold, frost settling under the fingernails. It'd only be a little longer. Nothing that he couldn't handle.

  The faint twinkle of a streetlamp illuminates the path forward. The frost sent many shudders more down his spine. But, the warm glow of that familiar house shone a beacon of hope. The light glistened in his eye, stopping his chattering teeth for only a moment.

  Running, his feet kicked through the snow. Toes curling with the cold, yet continuing to sprint forward regardless. Under the porch of the house does he finally find some retrieve from the snow. A thin roof over his head, sheltering the rain from pricking against his brown locks. An unsteady hand slammed against the doorbell, a faint ringing echoing from the other side of the pearly white door, stained with snowy debris.

  "It's Santa!" a familiar voice shouted from the other side. That cry came before a mighty clatter, making the brown haired boy chuckle, imagining what's going on beyond the frozen over glass. "Owie..." a less than enthusiastic voice called, optimism dampened by what was no doubt a rough fall.

  "Calm down, it's not Santa!" another voice exclaimed, light humour in her tone. Gentle footsteps echoed, until the click of the handle sounded, metal hinges awkwardly shifting open. The ice from the glass window cracked, shattering onto the floor, dripping freezing water over his shoes. Again. His face scrunches up, wincing with the cold, before settling. Fixing itself, to appear confident in the face of his new host.

  "H-Harry?"

  "It's better than Santa!" A blur of red darted past, tackling Harry in the tightest hug possible. "It's a HarrYY-"

  Chills ran down Lucas' entire body, teeth chattering as his hands clasped around his best friend's snow covered coat. Shivers running down his spine, he still clung on, in a naive belief that merely his own body warmth can fight back the freezing snow outside.

  "Lucas! Not now!" Maya pulled him from Harry's arms, dragging him inside. Then, shortly after, she hurried Harry into the house, slamming the door shut after. Biting her lips, she took note of his wobbly legs, jittering arms, and chattering teeth. "Arceus, what are you doing here?"

  "I-I'm welcome anytime, r-right?"

  Tongue in cheek, classic. Something to make himself appear more confident, a joke to be spoken through chattered teeth. And, a little bit of a throw back to Maya's own requests to 'come back whenever he'd like!'. Maya huffed, but didn't scold him.

  "Here..." her hands gripped around the brown coat, throwing away his only protection from the elements, landing on the floor with a squelch. But, obvious to eyes, and any general common sense, the snow left marks more than a simple coat could prevent. Wet, frozen clothes, sticking to the skin. Snapping her fingers, Maya looked to Lucas. "Grab some spare pajamas, Lucas, and bring them to the bathroom."

  "But, what if they don't fit?" Lucas asked, with a tone that Harry couldn't tell between tongue in cheek, or genuine confusion. Either way, Maya shot him a glare. No need for any more words from then on, as the black haired boy shot up the stairs. Maya sighed, walking Harry up the stairs. Then, into the bathroom.

  "We'll have the pajamas out for you in a moment, just-"

  "Got 'em!"

  Heavy trampling echoed outside the door, followed by the gentle creak of the door opening. Lucas tossed the pajamas through the door, only for the fabric to get stuck between the wall and the entrance. A couple pushes later, and the pajamas eventually landed on the floor with a flop.

  "I got you my best pajamas too!" Lucas added, unfazed by his less than graceful present delivery.

  "Just get changed out of your clothes, then come out as soon as you have!" Maya added, before leaving Harry in silence for a moment, her gentle footsteps trailing down the staircase of their family home. Judging from only the exit of gentle footsteps, however, Lucas awaited on the other side of the door. Remarkably quiet. Probably hoping to scare him. Harry chuckled.

  Sure enough, his pajamas were just as Harry had expected from Lucas's 'best'. A pair of Torchic-themed pajamas, with orange blazing stripes all over the bottoms and long sleeve shirt. Cosy, still, soft fabric that wrapped snug around Harry's frame, proving Lucas' worries around whether they'd fit immediately false. Harry took one glance at his face in the mirror, fronts of his hair still drenched from the snow, then stepped out into the hallway.

  "BOO!"

  Lucas tackled Harry in a much warmer hug, this time. The boy started giggling, wrapping tighter around Harry, making up for the lost time in their first meeting. "Did I get ya?" he asked, pulling away from their embrace.

  "No, you didn't," Harry answered stoically, pretending like he hadn't forgotten Lucas awaited behind the door, and that he hadn't jumped when Lucas' hands wrapped around his frame. A lie that Lucas believed without much pushback, beginning to pout.

  "Aww, come on! I just gave you my best pair of pajamas, at least pretend!" Lucas whined.

  "Lucas, you're wearing the same pajamas as me."

  "Yeah, I have multiple pairs, because they're the best!" Lucas spun on his heel, flexing his proudest Torchic merchandise to his friend all too familiar with his obsession. Then, upon the fifth twirl, Lucas finally came to a stop, stumbling before standing up straight once more. "It's even the best for you! I mean, red is really your colour!"

  Harry looked at Lucas' sparkling eyes, and suddenly struggled to think of a witty retort, overcome by the optimism bleeding into his tone. "Thanks," he awkwardly replied, eyes shifting to Maya, coming back up the stairs. Brushing past, she collected Harry's soaking clothes from the bathroom, looking to the two of them.

  "I'll handle your clothes." Maya's eyes met Harry's, before drifting to her child's. "How about you show him the gingerbread house?"

  "Oh, of course!" Lucas bounced on his feet, grabbing Harry by the wrist, before barrelling downstairs like a wild Donphan. Then, trodding into the kitchen, where a large dish covered with a rounded metal lid sat. "It's great, I promise you! But, it needs a drum roll."

  "Seriously?"

  "Seriously! Drum roll, please?" Lucas used his pleading eyes until Harry gave in, hands drumming against the kitchen top rhythmically. The drum solo continued for a moment, alternating rhythms as Lucas' fingers pinched around the top of the lid, until...

  "Dat-dat-da-dah! Here it issss!"

  A gingerbread house it indeed was. Decorated with gumdrops as hinges upon the frosted together walls, holding the entire structure together. A couple areas looked to be missing a few parts, although Lucas pretended it had always been that way. Chocolate frosted windows sat in abundance, Lucas having abandoned the sense of architecture in pursuit of chocolatey goodness. Small gingerbread cookies, molded the shapes of Eevee's, Pikachus and Poliwags lined the lawn, smiling brightly at their future killers.

  "Mom and I decorated it all just earlier today! Guess how many attempts it took to hold it all together!"

  "Seven?"

  "It only took one, you-" Lucas pouted, but struggled to come up with an insult to follow it. "No...faith...haver..."

  "It took five attempts, so you're not far off," Maya interrupted the conversation, watching Lucas' red face turn flush in an instant.

  "Mommmmm!" he whined, arms gently punching against Maya's as she walked down the staircase. "You said you were proud of me! You can't betray me like that!"

  "Well, I can be proud of you and tell the truth too," her hands gently grabbed Lucas' wrists, raising his own hands so they rustled against his hair. "It's half of what it took last year. So, you're showing improvement."

  "And, it'll be half next year! Even if...I don't think it works like that."

  "We'll round down, to be generous." Maya moved past Lucas, leaning against the kitchen top, looking to Harry. "Your clothes and shoes are drying off now, they should be all okay for when you leave tomorrow."

  "Tomorrow?!?" Lucas exclaimed with a grin, grabbing Maya by the hand. "Harry's sleeping over?"

  Harry fought back the instinct to say 'I am?', just as caught off guard. But, Maya seemed to confirm it, with a smile that told Harry it was no joke.

  "Of course, he'll be staying until the snow dies down. Which, I think will be tomorrow,"

  "Isn't that great!" Lucas nudged Harry gently, giggling. "All my favourite people in one place!"

  "And, we've got that Christmas special you really wanted to watch, haven't we?" Maya asked, lighting a fire in Lucas' eyes.

  "Yeah! Oh, it might be starting already!" Lucas turned, hopping the sofa and landing with a thud on the floor. "All good!" he professes, dragging himself back onto the comfy couch.

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  "Arceus, I wish he'd stop doing that..." Maya muttered under her breath, then turned to Harry. "I talked to your dad. Everything's okay for you to stay over."

  Harry's eyes furrowed with suspicion, and Maya sighed, chuckling.

  "Yeah, I just left a voicemail. If he has a problem with it, I'll have a chat with him later." Maya moved past, sliding a knife from the drawer and setting it beside the gingerbread house. "For now, I think we best relax, and enjoy a little Christmas desert. How about it?"

  "Sounds...good," Harry smiled, watching as the house of sugar shattered with one swift stroke of Maya's knife. Crumbling into bits, nearly collapsing upon the Pokémon kept on the lawn. Lucas watched the fall of the gingerbread mansion with distant horror, only distant from the promise of yummy gingerbread at the end of the demolition derby. Maya reached for a few small plates, a little too high for either child to reach for, bringing them down and beginning to dish up the house.

  "Can I have the gumdrop bits?" Lucas called out from the couch.

  "Not all of them, but most," Maya answered, satisfying Lucas' sweet tooth temporarily, with only her words. Splitting off the walls, she gave the gumdrops a 50/50 split between Lucas and Harry, winking at the brown haired boy as she did. Harry swore to silence, giggling childishly. Then, she began to divide up the house. An equal piece for each. Not all the house, but enough for there to be leftovers for Christmas Day.

  "Alright, here's yours," Maya handed Harry's plate over, the young boy waddling over to the couch, flopping down next to Lucas. Lucas watched with intense jealousy and a salvating mouth as Harry chomped into his gingerbread. At least, until Maya came along with another plate, placing it gently into Lucas' lap. "And here's yours!"

  "Thanks Mom!"

  "Thank you Maya," Harry mentally kicked himself at not thanking her earlier. But, she didn't seem too fussed.

  "No problem, glad we had an extra mouth to feed, otherwise we'd have to take an early dentist trip with this little one..." Maya gently pinched Lucas' cheek, the boy whining.

  "Hey, my teeth are perf-IT'S STARTING!"

  Any protests, or arguments about dental health, flossing and brushing teeth, disappeared in an instant, replaced with the shimmer of the TV screen flickering in his sapphire eyes. The shout quickly dragged Harry and Maya's attention towards the screen, where the fast paced intro played, complete with similarly frantic theme music, until it settles into a festive themed title card.

  A joyous episode of Peanut the Poliwag played before them. Gathering all the Poliwag's friends, getting antagonized by the show's group of bullies in the process, but ultimately laughing and going to play in the snow. Then, getting interrupted by one of the bullies following them, followed by a fetch quest for Santa. Filled with laughter, joy, until they reach the climax of the episode.

  A heartbreaking climax, for the bully, a Riolu, destroyed Peanut's present, then waddled away in the snow. Then, when Peanut tries to deliver the Riolu's present, the bully breaks into tears. The episode concludes on one final shot of the Riolu drifting through the snow, leaving Peanut and the rest of his friends behind. Then, the all too happy credits begin to play, signalling the end of the episode. Oh, and Lucas' sniffles. Those also signal the end of the episode.

  "They can't end it there!" he cried through sobs, reaching over Harry's and shaking Maya's arm. "Mom, tell them to play the rest of the episode!"

  "I'm sure they're going to air the next episode tomorrow. They're just saving it for Christmas Day!" Maya lied. She had no idea if anything she was saying was true. But, it seemed to settle Lucas for a moment. Enough to sink back into the couch, more silently sobbing this time. Maya reached over, patting him on the back. "We'll get you some more gingerbread."

  "Ok..." Lucas sniffled again, thin fingers gathering the remaining crumbs of his gingerbread long ago eaten, shoving them into his mouth.

  "Well, did you enjoy it, Harry?" Maya turned her attention to the boy sat between the two, his eyes absently gazing at the screen, as the long list of credits cycled past. It took a moment before he realized he was being addressed, meeting Maya's emerald eyes.

  "Oh, yeah, really good!" Harry responded, before looking at Lucas. "I think someone else might have enjoyed it a little more, though."

  "They're happy tears, I hope," Maya got up from the sofa, helping Lucas from the couch. His tear stained face met his mother's warm winter outfit, continuing to sob as he hugged tightly around her. Harry slowly stood up, cautiously stepping away. But, before he could, Lucas whisked him into the group hug. All three of them, tightly squeezed together.

  "What even is this hug?" Harry uttered, one side sobbing, one side awkwardly smiling.

  "Just go with it," Maya insisted, hand brushing against Lucas' hair. "Come on, let's get you to bed."

  "Fine..." Lucas broke from the hug, finally brushing away his tears, expression returning to a normal smile. "Can't be sad on Christmas, can I?"

  "Of course not, jolly smiles all around!" Maya chirped, leading them through the kitchen so Lucas may stuff his face with one huge mouthful of gingerbread, before beginning to waddle upstairs. Until, eventually, they arrived at Lucas' room.

  "You guys play up here for a bit, I've gotta set things up for Santa coming."

  "Okie Mom!" Lucas shot a thumbs up, the door slowly creaking behind them. Then, Lucas turned to Harry, grin smacked across his face. "Wanna play Super Punch Pals?"

  "You know I'm just gonna beat you again, right?"

  "Nuh uh, I took one game last time!" Lucas announced in a triumph, leaping from the bed and flickering the console on.

  "We played twenty. And you didn't have fun for the other nineteen."

  "I'll do better this time!" Lucas dragged Harry by the hand, scooting the boy across the floor, then plopping the slightly faulty controller right into his lap. "Especially since I got the good controller!"

  Harry chuckled, cracking his knuckles and looking to the monitor with a smile. "Alright, I won't make it easy."

  Lucas got thrashed. As expected. Whining, begging for just one win. But, Harry remained steady taking every game with a smile contained, barely not laughing at Lucas' outbreaks. When Maya entered the room sometime later, she found a scene of Harry finally breaking out laughing, while Lucas playfully punched at Harry's chest.

  "What on Earth is going on here?" she exclaimed with amusement, watching as Lucas crawled to her.

  "Harry's cheating by being too good at the game!" he whined.

  "Guilty as charged for being too good, not guilty of being a cheater." Harry retorted, managing to regain his composure.

  "Maybe it's time for bed, then," Maya lifted up Lucas, plopping him down on the bed, where he sat in a sulk. Maya turned to Harry, beginning to clean up and put their controllers away. "Would a sleeping bag be ok for you, Harry?"

  "He can have the bed if he wants!" Lucas chirps up.

  "But, I thought you were still all mad about getting beat?" Harry retorts with a smirk.

  "Forget I said anything, then, if you wanna be so rude!" Lucas flops onto his side, facing the wall. Maya sighs, reaching into Lucas' closet, dragging out the sleeping bag. Then, making Lucas assemble it while Harry sat on the bed, as punishment for being so rude to their guest. A punishment Harry seemed to revel in, smiling smugly at Lucas, then as innocently as he could whenever Maya faced his direction.

  "Is that comfy enough for you, Harry?" Maya asked, letting Lucas finally take a break, collapsing onto the bed.

  "All good for me!" Harry rested underneath the covers of the sleeping bag, slipping a pillow from Lucas' bed for his own head to lie upon.

  "Good. Now, get some rest you two." Maya began to walk towards the door, flickering off the light. "And, Lucas, please try to wake Harry lightly in the morning."

  "Will do Mama, goodnight!"

  "Goodnight you two! Hope Santa gets you all you want!" Maya smiled, before gently shuttering the door behind her. Only a faint light remains seeping in under the door. Then, that too flickers out, as Maya retired to her chambers. Lucas listened for the faint footsteps, then dove off of the bed.

  "Wanna watch videos of Torchics?"

  Harry sighed. "Sure."

  Following his mother's instructions exactly, Lucas dived on top of Harry as soon as the light reached the boy's eyes, shaking his best friend awake.

  Ok, maybe he tweaked the instructions a little.

  "IT'SSSSS CHRISTMASSSSS-"

  Harry was already awake. But, the shaking certainly ensured he stayed awake. Whatever drowsiness was still left within the brown haired boy shot out the room, much like Lucas a second later.

  "IT'S CHRISTMASSSS-"

  "Arceus, Lucas, you could've given me a heart attack!" Maya called from the other room.

  "I know, but Santa, presents, mistletoe!"

  "Why on earth do you even want mistletoe?"

  "I don't know, it's pretty and festive, now come on!"

  Lucas appeared out the corner of Harry's eye, darting down the stairs. Following after was Maya, in a long dressing gown, still brushing the sleepy dust from her eyes.

  "Merry Christmas, Harry..." she yawned, gesturing for him to follow downstairs. Harry muttered a low response, then followed. Walking down the stairwell, they found Lucas already sat in front of the tree, patiently waiting. Given the way he trampled around the house, Maya considered it a miracle he hadn't thrown himself into the tree for the presents beneath.

  "Can I open them yet?" Lucas kicked his feet in excitement.

  "Just one moment. Gotta make some hot chocolate first!" Maya disappeared into a back room for a moment, leaving Harry to join Lucas, sitting on the floor in front of the tree.

  "What're you wishing for this year?" Lucas asked.

  Harry paused for a moment. Sure, there were things that he would want. But, he didn't expect to get most of them, so he never wrote those wishes down. So, he couldn't truly expect anything. "Nothing much."

  "Aw, but surely you want something from Santa!" Lucas retorted, looking at his gifts in abundance. "Maybe, there's a gift under here waiting for you, just got a feeling!"

  "Like a Torchic themed present, all for myself?" Harry smirked.

  "Not that." Lucas pouted, much to Harry's amusement.

  "Alright, here you go, you two." Maya set down the two mugs of hot chocolate on a nearby table, grabbing a couple of coasters then setting them down on the floor.

  "Shouldn't I just sit on the sofa? Not like I'm gonna open any presents." Harry retorted, beginning to stand up, taking his cup of cocoa with him. But, Maya looked past him, down at the tree.

  "You sure? I think I see something that's wrapped a little differently."

  "Hang on..." Lucas crawled under the tree, identifying a present hiding in the midst, just as Maya described. Then, for added measure, there's a tag which reads aloud, "For Harry...for you!"

  Lucas handed over the present with a great grin. Harry gaped at Lucas for a moment, eyes flashing between the gift, and two others around him.

  "Go on then, sit down and open it." Maya smiled, as the brown haired boy begins to settle down. Setting his cup of hot chocolate aside, his fingers gently traced the wrapping. Adorned with doodles of Santa and his Delibirds, all around. It felt light, with a familiar shape to it. Harry's heart fluttered for a moment, but, his expectations are knocked lower by his own thoughts.

  "Come on, open it, open it, open it!" Lucas bounced with each word, about five seconds away from ripping the paper himself. So, Harry quickly swiped at the paper before Lucas could. Slowly, it's torn to shreds, until all that's left was a single game.

  "T-This is..."

  "Woah, no way!" Lucas' head popped over Harry's shoulder, staring down at the brand new title. One Harry had been eagerly anticipating. The newest fighting game, promising newer characters, fresher gameplay and the best graphics yet. But, he'd never made a wish for it, nor wrote it down on any Christmas list. Only talked with Lucas about it in passing, mostly whenever they were playing another fighting game. "We'll play that loads together! And, you'll probably beat me at that too!"

  "Do you like it?"

  Harry's hand flipped over to look at the back. His heart stopped for a moment. He didn't respond. At least, until soft sniffling did all the talking for him. Slowly carried along the air,

  "Hm, Harry?" Lucas backed away, allowing Harry space, seeing his eyes beginning to leak. Lucas' lip trembled slightly, feeling a swelling of emotions within himself.

  "Wait, is it the wrong game?" Maya's heart thudded, looking between Harry and Lucas.

  "No, it's definitely the right game! You've been talking about wanting this for ages, haven't you?"

  "I-I know, it's just..." Harry chuckled, brushing away his tears. So stupid to get so worked up over something like a game. But, his heart swelled enough to bring him to tears. "It's perfect. Thank you so much."

  "Oh..." Maya breathed a sigh of relief, placing a hand over her heart. "They were good tears. Arceus, I was so worried."

  "Come on, don't scare us like that, can't be crying on Christmas Day!" Lucas shouted, ignoring the hypocrisy of his previous day of tears. And, the hypocrisy of nearly bursting into tears himself, seeing Harry so worked up. Brushing away his own tears, then whatever remained of Harry's, he pipes up. "Plus, we've still gotta go through my presents!"

  "Right, right..." Harry chuckled, setting his back against the end of the sofa, slurping away his hot chocolate. Then, as Lucas unwrapped his countless presents, Harry turned to Maya. "Thank you."

  "Hm? You're thanking me?" Maya asked, taking a glance to Lucas. "What for?"

  "The present."

  "But, Santa was the one who gave you it. Don't be thanking me." Maya laughs.

  Harry's fingers shifted along his mug, gently tapping against the ceramic cup. "Well, thank you anyways. For housing me."

  Harry looked up from the mug of hot chocolate beneath, visions of his reflection in the murky liquid replaced with visions of his best friend. Lucas' face lit up with every gift, excitedly showing it to Harry or his mother, each giving a courtesy laugh. So full of Christmas spirit.

  And, as Harry scraped the price tag from the back of the game, he began to feel it too.

  SANTA! Duh.