Back to Normal? (Part 3)

WHAM!

"OW!"  I yelled as my head smashed against the roof.

I dimly heard Bolt's voice shouting down the hole that the Emergency Vine wove through.  "Wake up, Splash!  It's Snow Day!"

In my head, I thought "I'm going to kill you, Bolt!"  Out loud, I said "Thanks...  I'll be up in a second..."  Bolt had sharp ears; he'd hear me.

I growled quietly as I got out of bed, stretched a bit, and slid into the water.  Surf was waiting for me outside my den, greeting me with warm smiles and affectionate fin-rubs and nose touches.  My irritation melted away like the snow on a warm spring morning.

Surf pulled away from me with a big smile.  "Happy Snow Day, Splash."

I couldn't help but feel the Snow Day spirit.  "You too, Surf."

The two of us swam slowly next to each other, enjoying the once again ice-covered pond.  Surf spoke again.  "You know, I heard that Inferno actually jumped up and down on Bolt to wake him up this morning?"

I couldn't resist laughing.  "He would do that!  Inferno loves Snow Day!"

Surf gestured to a hole in the ice.  "Here.  The ice is barely too thin for skating, but barely thick enough not to melt."

I looked at him.  "So...  We're letting it freeze more for the skating duo."

Surf made an exaggerated nod.    "Eg-zactly."

I smiled again at him.  We surfaced from the pond to find a cluster of holly berries hanging low over the access hole.  Everyone else in the clan was sitting around the pond expectantly.  I looked at Clover.  "Yes?"

She smiled cheekily.  "What?  That wasn't me..."

Bolt rocked back and forth on his haunches.  "Two Clan members under the holly berries!  You know what that means!"

Surf shook his head at Bolt with an accusing smile.  I just shook my head at him.  "Shut up, Bolt," I said before immediately touching my nose to Surf's affectionately.  At first, he seemed a bit surprised. 

Bolt, Inferno, and Clover said "Awww!" at the same time.  I met Surf's eye while still nose-touching.  I barely twitched my fins, but he got the message. 

At the same time, we leaped away, over Bolt and Inferno.  I shoved Bolt with my tail as I landed, Surf doing the same with Inferno.  I turned around.  Now the two of them were under the holly berries.  Bolt quickly got back onto his paws.  "What was that for!?"

I sat down in amusement, curling my tail over my paws.  "Just some revenge for this morning."

Surf sat next to me, smiling this time mischievously.  "Two Clan members under the holly berries..." he said slyly.

Inferno protested.  "Come on!  You two were cute together!"

Bolt looked at his best friend.  "Oh, blah blah.  Get over here, Inferno."  With that, Bolt rather aggressively jammed his nose to Inferno's!

Inferno jumped away as the rest of the Clan burst into hysterical laughter.  "What the heck, Bolt!?"

Bolt smiled mischievously.  "Just some revenge for this morning," he said, using my words.

Before this turned into another exploding fight, I stepped in, trying to hold back the rest of my laughter.  "Come, guys!  Let's go open presents!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I looked down at the leaf-wrapped presents around my paws.  Clover had been extremely busy with supplying the perfect wrapping leaves (of various colors in some cases) and sap to hold the leaves together.  She and Snow had also made frost-covered leaves to act as labels.  Everyone had put their paw print on each label on each gift, marking who gave what.

I had seven presents.  One from each Clan member.  Others had less, but mostly because some Eevees tag-teamed on their gifts.  Clover seemed the most excited.  "Come on, Splash!  Open yours first!"

I smiled at her.  "All right.  This one is from... Inferno."  I tore the leaves off of the Flareon marked package, revealing a box of wood about the size of my tail.  The box itself was made of wood, but it was decorated with a picture of a Vaporeon on a beach.  I looked up at Inferno.  "It's beautiful, Inferno!  Where did you get it?"

Inferno smiled.  "Got it off of a Fletchling near the town.  She sold it to me for a Weedle!  Look!  It opens!"  He trotted away from his own presents and showed me how pushing on the top of the box opened it, revealing an empty space.  "You can keep stuff in it."

I smiled warmly at him.  "I love it, Inferno!"  He blushed and retreated to his gifts.  Next, I opened one from Bolt, which turned out to be a crystalline rock.

Bolt explained.  "It makes a rainbow when light hits it."

I chuckled.  "Maybe I can use it as an alarm in the morning..."  I put the rock to the side and opened a bundle of water lily seeds from Clover.

She smiled as I opened them.  "When they bloom, they'll be the same shade of blue as you are."

I smiled back.  "It's perfect, Clover!  Thanks!"  I carefully placed the seeds back in the pouch and opened Snow's.   I gasped as I pulled out a perfectly formed ice figurine of Suicune standing regally on a base of frozen waves.  "Snow, did you make this!?"

She nodded.  "I made one for everyone.  They'll never melt."

I looked fondly at the ice Suicune.  "I have a perfect spot next to my bed where I think I'll put this!" I said warmly.  Snow was such a good artist!  Next, I opened a heat absorbing flat rock and cover for my eyes from Espeon and Umbreon respectively. 

Espeon gestured towards the rock.  "It folds up for when you want to store it in your den."

Umbreon spoke after her.  "We know how much you love to bask."

I smiled at them, too.  "I am going to be using this a lot."  Finally, I opened the small package from Surf, which was a perfectly white seashell tied to a very thin vine.  I gasped as I saw it.

Surf smiled.  "It's a Shell Bell.  It only makes noise when it heals you."

I slipped it around my neck.  The shell fell perfectly on my chest.  "I love it, Surf.  I'll wear it all the time."

Surf opened his presents next.  From Clover, he got more water lily seeds; from Snow, an ice Vaporeon leaping out of the water.  Espeon and Umbreon gave him a small orb that changed color depending on what mood I was in.  Surf chuckled at that one.  "Is this so that I always know when to calm her down?" 

I rolled my eyes as Umbreon nodded with a smile.  "But it can also be used to tell when she just wants your attention."  I blushed.

Surf then opened a Water Gem from Bolt and Inferno, which I had almost given him.  He saved my present for last, carefully pulling the leaves off of the small metal thing on a string that I had found.  It was decorated with ocean patterns and smelled like the sea.  Surf looked at me as he pulled it free of the leaves.  "Was this the thing that you found by the human town that you refused to show anyone?"

I nodded.  "Do you like it?"

He looked at it for a few seconds before slipping it around his neck.  "I love it."

Bolt eagerly tore into his presents next, receiving a rock that made sparks fly when electricity was run through it from Surf and me, a mirror that glittered with electricity on the edges from Espeon and Umbreon (which I found rather funny), a magnificent ice figurine of Raikou jumping between two rocks with extended claws from Snow, and a pack of Rawst berries from Clover.  Bolt thanked us for all of it, then spent a minute or two in front of his new mirror.

He then looked at Inferno.  "I am going to save your present until you open all of your other ones.  Then we'll open ours together!"

Inferno nodded, eager to get to his gifts.  From Surf and I, he received a rock that looked like it had actual lava flowing inside of it.  Espeon and Umbreon gave him a mirror to match Bolt's that had veins of fiery light running around the frame.  (Did anyone else find their gifts to be funny?)  Snow, of course, gave him an ice sculpture of the Great Entei, standing tall and proud on an icy cliff top.  Clover got him a pack of Cheri berries.

Finally, Bolt and Inferno each had one gift left.  Inferno nodded to let Bolt go first.  The Jolteon tore the leaves off to find a charred log.  He looked up at Inferno.  "Charcoal?"  Inferno nodded, trying to resist laughter.  Bolt smiled, trying to hold back laughter himself.  "I got you a magnet!"  The two of them broke down into hysterical fits of laughter, finally falling on the floor.

Espeon rolled her eyes with a smile and began to open her presents.  As it turns out, only Snow's , Clover's, and Umbreon's were not kit toys.  Snow had made an ice figurine of Umbreon.  According to her, the rings lit up when moonlight touched it. 

Clover had made a gift for both Espeon and Umbreon, taking the time and effort to create a model of the perfect pair  touching noses made of dirt and vines.  She explained to Espeon.  "Splash' already watered it.  I've put seeds on it that, as your relationship grows, so will the flowers on here.  I've color coordinated them and everything."

Espeon and Umbreon were touched.  Espeon spoke softly.  "Thank you, Clover.  We love it."  Finally, Espeon opened Umbreon's present, which was a beautiful necklace of pearls.

Umbreon was next to open gifts.  He received a book from Bolt and Inferno titled "How to be a Daddy."  Whether it was a joke or not, no one was sure.  From Snow, he received a perfect ice sculpture of Espeon.

Snow nodded towards her work.  "The jewel on her forehead will glow if Espeon is in danger."  Umbreon almost hugged her.

He then opened the gift from Surf and I, a pouch of moon dust, which he greatly appreciated.  I nodded towards him.  "All the power-ups you'll even need.  Just touch the dust, and you're good to go."

"Thanks, Splash, Surf," he said kindly.  Finally, from Espeon, Umbreon received a thing she called a telescope. 

Espeon explained as we marveled at it.  "You can use it to look at the moon in detail at night."  Everyone was thoroughly impressed.

Clover was next, with only two presets.  The entire Clan had pitched in on one, and Snow had made the other for her separately.  Clover opened the Clan's present first, revealing a bed of Luminous Moss, which gave off a soft green glow and was super soft and comfy.  Clover squealed.  "I love it!  Thank you everyone!" she called before hopping into her new bed and opening Snow's present there. 

Snow had put in a lot of extra time with Clover's ice sculpture.  It was a perfectly formed ice figurine of Clover.  True to Snow's words a few nights ago, every notch, nick, rear, and vein was in the right place on the tail.  While the other ice figurines that Snow had made were beautiful, this one for Clover far outshined the rest.  Clover said nothing, only hugging her best friend tightly.

After finally ending the embrace, Snow opened her presents.  Surf and I had gotten her an Ice Gem,  Bolt and Inferno had somehow managed to preserve a large and beautiful snowflake that Snow could hang in her den, and Espeon and Umbreon had gotten her a tub of something called 'ice cream.' 

Finally, Snow opened Clover's present.  It looked like a pair of tiny stones attached to strings.  Clover got out of her new bed and slipped one on.  "There," she said, looking at Snow.  "Now you'll always know where I am, no matter how far away we are."

Snow teared up.  "Clover..." she said, unable to keep a happy tear from slipping down her fur.

Clover helped her put on the other stone.  "I know how broken up I was about the possibility of losing you forever.  Two nights ago, you had a nightmare and were talking in your sleep.  Something about never seeing me again.  You woke up crying.  Now, we'll never lose each other."

Snow lost all control, crying quietly into Clover's fur.  "Thank you..." she managed to say between sniffs.

All of us quietly waited for Snow to calm down, even Bolt and Inferno.  A few minutes passed before Snow was finally able to sit back down, the stone falling perfectly on her chest.  I looked at my Clan, then looked back towards the guest den.  "And now for Soursap's present."

I looked at Espeon, Umbreon, and Snow in concern.  We could not mess this up.  "You guys are sure?"

All three nodded.  Espeon spoke first.  "He has nothing but good intentions in his heart.  He cares for all Pokémon, no matter how injured or disfigured."

Umbreon followed his mate's lead.  "I can't sense anything bad about him.  Sure, he battles at times, but he's kind to the Pokémon."

Snow finished.  "And a few days ago, just as a test, I walked past him with Clover.  We were close to safety in case something happened," she added, just as I was about object.  "...but when Clover exaggerated her injuries, he just tried to help her.  No harm intended."

Surf nodded at me.  I sighed.  "All right...  But you three had better be right about this.  Soursap deserves kindness and no mistreatment."

Clover spoke up.  "Covered!  I plan to check on him every other day for the next month or so.  If something goes wrong, we can always get him out."

I nodded.  "All right, you guys have convinced me.  Snow, Clover, get Soursap.   Bolt, move into position."

"Rodger!" the Jolteon called before zipping off.

I looked at dasher's companion.  "Inferno, get ready in case something goes wrong."  The Flareon nodded and trotted into a nearby bush.  "Espeon?  Make sure the rest of us stay hidden.  Umbreon?  Get ready to signal."  The couple nodded and sat down, Espeon concentrating on masking our presence, Umbreon keeping watch.  I then looked at Surf.  "You have the best ideas. I never would have thought of this."

He smiled.  "That's why I'm here.  To think of them for you."

"Har har," I responded.  "Let's just hope nothing goes wrong."

Inferno interrupted from his bush.  "I hope not.  That would ruin Snow Day!"

A few minutes passed in tense silence.  Snowflakes just started to fall again when Snow, Clover, and Soursap arrived.  Snow was talking soothingly to Soursap.  "Can you feel the snow?"

Soursap responded testily as ever.  "Yes.  I can.  It's cold." 

The remark made Snow purse her lips and Clover shoot her a look telling her to keep her composure.  Snow took a breath and spoke again.  "Here's Splash and Surf.  They have a Snow Day present for you."

Soursap snapped back.  "I don't need a Snow Day present!"

I spoke before Snow could snap back.  "Come on, Soursap.  Just give it a chance?  I really think you'll be happy."

Soursap paused.  "...Fine."

I sighed in quiet relief.  "Thank you.  Now come with Surf and I this way."  Surf supported the decrepit Leafeon as the two of us slowly walked out of the protection of the trees and out into the open.  Towards a human den.  It made me feel uneasy.  Nonetheless, I kept walking, for Soursap.

I saw Umbreon nod to Bolt, who ran silently thanks to Espeon.  He reached the door to the den, and scratched several times before racing off.  I looked at Surf, then Soursap.  "Ok, Soursap.  Surf and I just need to get your present in the right place.  Just keep walking in this direction, ok?"

Soursap grew a bit uneasy as he realized that we were going to leave him alone for a bit.  "Ok..." he responded.  He kept walking, even when Surf and I broke away and ran back to the trees.

The door to the human den opened and a boy stepped out.  I'd guess he was just short of maturity.  He had a kind face, black cloth-furs with some white trim, including one on his head that sported a black feather.  He had a bag slung over his shoulder and a curious expression as he searched for the source of the scratching at his door. 

His eyes found Soursap as he struggled to walk in a straight line.  The brown-leafed Leafeon bumped into a tall metal pole with a light on the top.  Soursap spoke to no one in particular.  "I just hit my head."  No one responded, though Clover wanted to.  "Hello?  Clover?  Splash?  Surf?  ...Anyone?"

Umbreon then gave the second signal by making his yellow rings glow brighter for three seconds.  Seeing him, Streak and Night took off from the treetops and began swooping at Soursap.  They never did any damage, but they put on a good act to pretend they were.

I held my breath as the human boy saw the Staraptors' attack.  "Hey!" he shouted, running towards Soursap.  "Leave him alone!"  The whole Clan took a sharp breath as he took out a Poke Ball.  "Go!  Pikachu!"

Soursap was looking around in confusion.  "What's happening!?" he yelled as the Trainer's Pikachu started to charge up electricity.  Streak and Night dove at the Pikachu, but not before it used Electro Ball and almost put Streak out of commission.

Clover called to the injured Staraptor.  "Streak!  Run!"  The male Staraptor seemed reluctant to leave Night alone, but flew away regardless as the Trainer used the distraction to run behind his Pikachu and pick up Soursap, who seemed exceedingly startled  as the human grabbed him, but the boy muttered soothing words to him as he rushed back inside his den.  Seeing that Soursap was safe, Night fled as well while the Pikachu was underground and dodging her attacks.

The Trainer opened the door to his den and called his Pikachu back.  He then glanced around to make sure that the two Staraptors had not returned, and closed the door.  I sighed in relief.  "Inferno, Snow, Umbreon, Surf, head back to camp and help Streak and Night.  Espeon, get Clover, Bolt, and me over there.  I need to make sure that Soursap is ok."

Espeon nodded and teleported us into the shadow of the den, out of sight of any of the glass panes.  Without a word, Espeon levitated me up to one of the glass panes, barely enough to see what was happening.  "I'm transmitting what you're seeing and hearing to Bolt and Clover," Espeon said in my mind.

Inside the den looked rather cozy.  There was a large fluffy thing covering the floor, a table, a few chairs, most of which were also fluffy, and a large evergreen tree that was covered in lights and shiny things and other things hanging down from the branches.  I saw the Trainer carrying Soursap into the room, then gently set him down on the floor.  Soursap found his paws with a bit of difficulty and stood up, sniffing the air.  The Trainer spoke.  "Hey there, Leafeon.  I'm Chris.  I don't know what's happened to you, but I'll take care of you."

Then, a Snow Day miracle happened.  For the first time that I had seen, Soursap smiled.  "Hello, Chris.  Thank you."

I couldn't help but smile as well.  "Happy Snow Day, Soursap."

Chris looked at Soursap, then at his indoor tree, then to the snow that was gently falling outside.  "Merry Christmas, Leafeon."

Soursap followed his voice, bumped into the fluffy chair that the Trainer was sitting on, then jumped up on to it and sat next to the human boy.  "I like that phrase.  Merry Christmas to you, too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we got back to camp, none of us could stop smiling.  "Hey!" I called as I saw Snow giving Streak some Sitrus and Cheri Berries from Clover's stores.  "You both ok?"

Everyone looked up as we entered.  Streak answered.  "Night is fine, thank Arceus.  It's me the Pikachu hit."

Clover trotted with relative ease over to the Staraptor.  "Good job, Snow!  You look good, Streak!"

Night stepped up to her mate.  "Then we should be going soon.  How did Soursap like the Trainer?"

I smiled.  "I think he's very happy there.  We're all used to being wild at some point or another, but he was almost always with humans.  Surf thought he would never really be happy out here, so we found him a good Trainer that would never hurt him."

Night nodded.  "That's good."

Streak tested his wings.  "We should be going before the snow gets too bad.  Thank you for letting us help in this.  Happy Snow Day!"

"Happy Snow Day!" we all answered at the same time.  We watched the pair take off and fly back towards their nest, silhouettes soon blending with the night sky.

After a minute or two, Clover broke the silence.  "I'm a bit tired.  Can we go to sleep now?" 

Snow nodded.  "Sure.  Can you try stretching first?  I don't want your back cramping up."

Clover stood up.  "Sure.  I've been feeling a bit stiff anyway..."  She placed her paws in front of her and bent into a deep stretch.  And then something happened.

Everyone's eyes went wide.  A hush fell over the camp.  Clover noticed the stares.  "What?  ...Why is everyone looking at me like that?"  For a long time, no one could speak as we stared in amazement.  I finally found my voice.

"Clover... Leafy...  You have wings!"