Snow fell lightly outside a house in Greyfog Town. With only one room, it was small but cozy. Naya, a flareon, lay alone on a soft bed by the fireplace. She yawned, stretched, and promptly flopped back down on the bed. This weather must be making me sleepy, she thought drowsily. At least no one else seems to be doing anything either.
"Naya! Naya! Naya! Naya! Naya! Naya! Naya!"
The shouting outside was accompanied by soft objects thumping against the door. Groaning, the flareon slowly rolled out of bed. This is becoming a recurring event, she thought ruefully. The irregular thumping continued as she lumbered over to the door. She quickly opened it and stuck her head out into the frosty air.
"What is it? Did something hap—umph!" Without warning, a snowball flew into her mouth.
"Gotcha!" Aden and Arden giggled and ran behind a wall of snow they built not far from the house. As usual, the twin growlithes had come prepared for mischief.
"You rascals!" Naya chuckled. "Save some snow for me!"
With that, she jumped out the door and hurriedly built a small snow fort. It wasn't much, but it would provide some cover. Without hesitation, the twins began slinging more snowballs at a rapid pace. Fortunately for Naya, they weren't very accurate. After dodging a few snowballs, Naya threw a volley of her own. While most of hers missed by a bit, one of them was close to finding its mark. As the snowball flew towards Aden, he blew fire at it, melting it instantly. The burst of fire was large enough, however, to also melt the wall of snow that he and Arden were hiding behind. The twins stopped and glanced at each other. Naya, seeing her opportunity, sent another barrage of snowballs at them.
"Run!" they yelled as they dove for cover.
The snowball fight continued for several more minutes, in which time Naya was hit several times and the twins at least twice each. While she began to tire, they seemed to possess limitless energy. Not for the first time, she huddled behind her snow fort while snowballs flew overhead.
"Enough!" she panted. "I give up!"
"Only if you do our chores today," called Arden.
"Arden, it's Christmas," Aden whispered. "We don't have any chores."
"Yeah, but she doesn't know that," Arden whispered back with a wink.
"Fine," hollered Naya, not hearing the twins' conversation. "What do I need to do?"
The growlithes hopped over Naya's fort. "Nothing much, just deliver a few packages. Come on, let's go!"
After a trek towards the center of the town, they arrived at a brick shed. Inside was a large stack of boxes wrapped in bright colors. Naya inspected them as she entered. I wonder what they are for. Walking over to the boxes, she picked one up from the top.
"Hmm. 'For Lucy.' Who's it from?"
"Ace says that a fat red person brings them every year," replied Aden. "We tried staying up last night so we could see him, but he snuck past us. Grab a few more and we'll start giving them out."
Naya picked up a couple more. "This one's for Sunny, and—Hey look! Arden, this one's for you."
"It is? Yay!" Arden bounced in a circle. "Let's put it aside for now and get another one."
The trio set out carrying a few packages each. Fortunately, finding the recipients was faster and easier than Naya had expected. Within an hour, they were delivering the last one, which was addressed to Ashe. Naya knocked on the door of the house that Ashe and Bern shared. After a few knocks, heavy footsteps approached the door. Bern, a charmander, opened the door and stepped out.
"So, did you incinerate any of the presents this time?" he asked, as grumpy as ever.
Naya gulped and answered. "No, actually. I've kept them out of trouble."
"Good. Those two go unsupervised too often as it is," grumbled Bern. "I take it this one is for Ashe?"
The flareon nodded. "I'll take it before those furballs set it on fire," he grunted. Without another word, he stepped inside and shut the door.
The three trudged back to the shed. After walking around in the snow, Naya was cold, wet, and ready to get back to her fireplace. They found Ace, the arcanine older brother of the twins, waiting inside the shed.
"Looks like you three made quick work of the presents," he remarked. "But I think you forgot something."
Turning, he walked over to a corner of the shed. "Out of everyone here, there is one person who hasn't gotten a present yet."
He walked back carrying another wrapped box. "Merry Christmas, Naya!"
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