EPISODE 150: Tree of Festivity!

Solemn, the snow falls, as the people wake up to full glory. Everyone forgot the massive panic last night, Suicune's trauma, and the blood moon. The region is blissful today, Yuletide has begun and Ho-oh shall arrive! A young boy ran across the streets, with a bell and stick on his hand. Through the snow, this young boy dashed, waking all the people to fullest glory!

"Wake up! Wake up! The day has arrived, it's Yuletide everyone!" The boy beamed with joy as he whacked the bell and stick together, producing an awakening tune.

The people of the town began to wake up. They opened their windows and chanted, "Yuletide has arrived!" Everyone is beaming with joy and excitement, a big day, a new beginning, and a bright tomorrow!

Pidoves and Pidgeys began to chirp as they spread their wings and flew through the town. Everyone's heart was filled with excitement, exuberance, the bliss, for later this evening Ho-oh shall arrive, bringing kindness and peace for another year.

The bells and gongs hanging above the Pokemon Battle Temple, began to ring with a tingling tune. The trumpets began to play, while a parade walked through every street of the town, bringing a musical ecstasy to everyone's heart.

"Ah!? I forgot, today's Yuletide!" Glade woke up as he heard the musical ecstasy produced by the parade.

"Wake up everyone, it's Yuletide!" Glade shouted with excitement as he rushed outside the room. Glade's heart was mesmerized as he watched the people parading through the town.

"Y...Yuletide? Yuletide!" Camellia uttered with drowsiness as she remembered that today was Yuletide. Her heart was suddenly rushed with excitement as her drowsiness faded away.

"Auhaaaah!" Zhery yawned and fixed her hair. On the other hand, I and Riolu were fixing our bags.

"Where's Glade?" Zhery questioned as her eyes rolled around the room.

"I think he went out to watch the parade..." Camellia hunched as she stepped down from her bed.

"Parade!? There's a parade." Me and Riolu beamed with excitement and rushed out of the room quickly.

"Jeez, is this their first time to see a parade?" Zhery sighed and facepalmed.

"Come on Riolu, we've gotta hurry before we miss it!" I beamed with excitement as I rushed through the corridors. Riolu on the other hand, was hanging on my shoulder with his heart teeming with exuberance.

Music filled the air, festive beats lifted the spirits and made the people want to move, jump, and sing. It was a time to celebrate being alive, celebrate the wonders of creation, and be one with the community. The air tasted so heavenly with the chefs alongside the parade, every delicious thing ready to be shared with friends.

The excitement of the annual town parade pervades everyone's senses. As I was glancing through the crowd I saw the little children sprawled out on their multi-colored blankets brimming with eagerness, with their parents in their own bright crimson and royal blue lawn chairs.

Every normal thought and worry is banished, there is simply no room for it with all the excitement in my mind. I breathe in deep. This day is my vacation from reality, the day when fantastical symphonies awaken everyone's heart.

From a distance, I saw Glade gazing upon the passing parade. His eyes were filled with sparkling glitter as he and his Luxray listened to the rhymes and rhythms of the symphonies playing around the streets.

"There you two are!" Zhery uttered with frustration.

"Hehe... I guess we were too excited that's all." Glade's excitement was suddenly snapped out as he got scared with Zhery's frustrated tune.

"According to my calculations, the morning celebration only makes up 4% of Yuletide, and the last day of the Festival of the Beasts," Camellia uttered with certainty.

"4%, so that means there's more!" Me and Riolu beamed with excitement and rushed towards the central plaza.

"Kalem, wait for us!" Glade uttered and started to chase me as well. Zhery and Camellia followed us from behind.

Everyone was filled with ecstasy as they walked to the central plaza. The two flames that were lit could be seen from the distance, the last one however felt barren and desolate. Two major parts of the prophecies were fulfilled, the pure lake turning into a wine of murky red substance, and the blood-red moon which hovered across the sky last night.

No one knew that the prophecy was fulfilled, only me and Glade does. Even Camellia and Zhery knows nothing about the prophecy. I remembered my mission that day, to climb up Mt.Alympus and stop the heart of evil from disrupting the last part of the prophecy, the falling star.

"...Let this be the day of happiness and prosperity, today is the day we learn and improve our mistakes from the past. As Yuletide comes to an end, Ho-oh shall appear, and I shall do my duty to plead for rain and purity." Zo proclaimed.

"I Zo, mayor of Enju City welcomes everyone to Yuletide! Before the clock strikes six, all shall gather before the tree of festivity, and there the exchanging of gifts will occur. Once Ho-Oh leaves the town, we shall let our sky lanterns drift across the night sky. Each individual will receive one later. For now, we want everyone to eat, drink, and be merry!" Zo proclaimed and instructed.

While dawn hasn't arrived, numerous competitions were held, such as snowman building contests, snowball fights, and many more! The town's people felt excited and blissful. Our Pokemons played at the snow, they threw snowballs at each other, they rolled everywhere and interacted with other Pokemons.

For lunch, another feast was held. Everybody ate alongside with their Pokemons. Riolu a feisty eater, ate almost all of my curry. Only a quarter was left on my plate.

After lunch, everyone was allowed to skate shoes with their Pokemons. Skates can be rented at the nearby stalls.

"W... Woah." Riolu uttered with worry as he tries to skate around the plaza.

"Riolu... don't you know how to skate?" I giggled.

"I forgot how to! Look at my head, it has a small itsy bitsy brain." Riolu teased as he stumbled on the slippery ice.

"Feel calm, and glide through the ice. That's the secret!" I instructed while skating around Riolu.

"Hmph! I got this..." Riolu uttered to himself and tried to balance his body. Riolu stumbled every time he stood up, but he never gave up until he got a hang of it.

"Kalem... I'm doing it!" Riolu beamed with excitement as he skates through the plaza blissfully.

"That's great Riolu, let's have a race!" I beamed with excitement and skated towards Riolu.

"You won't beat me Kalem, I'm faster!" Riolu grinned and accelerated.

"Oh ho, you're trying to compete with me eigh!?" I beamed blissfully as I accelerated faster. Riolu looked behind and saw me catching up.

"Watch out buddy!" I giggled and stopped for a moment.

"Huh!? Ahh!" Riolu looked forwards again and saw a tree in front of him. Riolu suddenly became cautious and accidentally bumped the tree.

"Are you alright Riolu?" I skated towards Riolu, smiled, and lifted him up.

"You could've told me sooner!" Riolu uttered with slight infuriation as he kneads his head.

"Out of the way! Out of the way!" Camellia uttered worriedly as she bumped to the tree Riolu first bumped on.

"Ouch... that's gotta hurt." Riolu squinted his eyes.

"Are you alright Camellia?" I questioned as I extended my hand to lift her up.

"Y... Yes, I'm fine." Camellia uttered solemnly while I stood her up from where she fell.

"Don't tell me you don't know how to skate?" I giggled and teased.

"Excuse me? I am a professional skater. I just stumbled that's all... hehe." Camellia charmed as she tried to skate through the ice again.

For another time Camellia stumbled again in the middle of the plaza. Me and Riolu skated to her to help her up.

"Are you sure you're a professional skater?" I giggled and stood her up again.

"You'll see! I'll prove it." Camellia uttered as her feet started to slide uncomfortably again.

"W... Woah, Woah..." Camellia uttered as she tried to balance her body. Her feet made her stumble towards me, luckily I was able to grab her quickly.

"Are you sure you're alright?" I giggled and teased while holding her. Camellia looked to my face as her cheeks turned slightly red.

"Glade! Glade! Give me the camera, we've gotta picture this moment." Zhery instructed as she watched me and Camellia from the distance.

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"Just relax, that's what Riolu did, "I instructed.

"R... Relax?" Camellia uttered softly as she began to stumble again.

"Don't feel anxious when skating. That's what my mother thought me when I was an amateur skater like you." I giggled and lifted her up again.

"Just relax..." Camellia uttered to her mind as she began to glide through the ice. She may stumble at times, but as time passes by, she was finally able to skate blissfully.

"Great Camellia! You're doing it!" I complimented as she glided through the whole plaza.

"Yes! I finally know how to skate... oh no." Camellia beamed with joy as she glided towards another tree.

"Just keep practicing, and you'll be an expert in no time!" I cheered.

As dawn arrives, we were asked to proceed to the central shrine. The shrine was filled with a golden coating, and sparkling auras. On the center of the shrine, lies one tall tree. The tree is said to be the root of Enju town.

Once upon a time, when Enju town was barely in the making, two Pokemons fought for a tree. This tree was bared only one berry, and only one Pokemon can have it. The fight between these two Pokemons sparked chaos, as they wrecked everything from their path. Then, a young boy went to the tree, took the berry, and sliced it in half. He gave the Pokemons half of the berry each, the two Pokemons that were fighting against each other stopped, and thanked the boy. These two Pokemons slowly became friends with each other as peace was restored once more.

"It takes both sides to build a bridge, great satisfaction comes from sharing with others." The boy quoted as he extended both of the Pokemons arms. From that they on, the people called the tree, as the tree of festivity.

The tree reminds us of the importance of sharing, that is the purpose of Yuletide and exchange gifts. The young boy proved to us, life is not about taking something, it is about sharing.

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle, and the value of emotions comes from sharing them and not just having them. Lit up the candles and may the exchanging of gifts commence!" Zo proclaimed.

The lights surrounding the tree began to turn on. It colored the night sky with bliss and love, as the tree glowed wonderfully.

Everybody enlightened their sky lantern as Ho-Oh descends from the sky. Golden tail, and blissful wings, Ho-oh descended majestically.

"Ho-oh, hear our pleads and restore rain to this region," Zo begged and pleaded.

Ho-oh beamed with his cry, as his eyes glared on my pendant. My pendant began to glow and everyone decided to look at me.

"The pendant is your hope, go to the tallest mountain, and plead before Arceus. He shall restore the rain, and all of you shall live peacefully again." Ho-oh spoke telepathically to everyone as my pendant stopped shining.

I heard what Ho-oh uttered and stared at my pendant. I was about to use it for good use, but I guess the rain is more important. The people began to chant and cheer for Ho-oh, a symbol of hope was given to the people.

"Why do you look so down Kalem?" Glade questioned.

"I was going to use my pendant for my personal needs. I never thought of using it for the need of the whole region." I uttered solemnly.

"Cheer up, putting others first before yourself is a good deed, what were you going to use the pendant for anyways?" Glade questioned.

"Something tells me something grave will happen on the mountain. I had a feeling that I might have to... you know what I mean." I uttered solemnly.

My head was filled with worry, but I knew that I have to put others first before myself.

"Thank you Ho-oh, for you have bestowed this child." Zo knelt and greeted.

"I didn't bestow the child..." Ho-oh uttered telepathically and flew back to the skies.

The heart of the people started to ignite as we floated the lanterns to the sky. The night was filled with a colorful array of lanterns. The lanterns were the dreams of those who lit them, illuminated like stars against the inky black night. Those on the water merged with the reflections of those in the sky, creating an unearthly experience.

Their frames were fashioned by the blacksmith and the think colorful silk bartered from the seamstresses. Inside each was a small candle, lit as the daylight faded with hopes and dreams.

As the lanterns floated to the sky, the people started to exchange gifts. Camellia gave me a fiery looking stone called Tsunagu, while I in the other hand gave her an Absolite and a mega ring I bought in the department store. Camellia can finally mega evolve her Absol.

Glade gave Zhery a nice little pearl, which can be used as jewelry, while Zhery, on the other hand, gave Glade a pack of cherish balls. Little pokeballs with a full red coating.

Everybody was happy with their gifts, especially Riolu and Absol. I applied the Tsunagu beside Riolu's mega stone attached to his small pendant. While Camellia wore her mega ring and applied the mega stone to her Absol.

"Tell me Kalem, are you planning to head to the mountain?" Zo went closer and questioned.

"Y... yes Mr.Zo, the Pokemon League will take place there as so as some other events," I uttered solemnly.

"I know you have other plans for your pendant, but I am begging you to save the region from total drought. Please put others before yourself, do unto others what you want others to do unto you. That is the golden rule."

"I know Mr.Zo, I'll use it to save the rain... don't worry." I did a cold smile as Zo rubbed my head.

"Kalem feels suspicious, he's eager to use his pendant for something," Zhery uttered while observing my movements.

Yuletide, and the festival of the beasts has finally ended. It is time to look ahead to Aulmurus city, the site of my sixth badge. On the next day, it's time to move to a new dawn of a lustrous day. A new beginning, a new tomorrow. A tomorrow filled with high hopes, and best wishes. My mind is still baffled, if I should use the pendant for rain or for... I rather not say it for now.

As the journey continues...