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Poképhilia Story

Love Has no Bounds

The Yuletide of the Season

Christmas 2022

By J.C. Solis

It was once again Wintertime in the frozen reaches of Daegar, with people hoping to make the most of the arrival of the new holiday season. Ever since the arrival of Thanksgiving, people have been all a flutter over the new ambiance of the chilly season, with the first snows having just barely fallen and the area covered in white. Nearby Lake Shire and parts of the Parfum River have been frozen, meaning that it was the perfect place for people to go ice skating. The people were abound as they skated on the ice while steering clear of the places that were not quite as thick, allowing for people and pokémon to go about their time in cheery fun among the ice sheets.

There were perhaps those who weren't too thrilled about the cold, however. Not everyone was too into the ambiance of the cold, though perhaps a piping hot cup of Hot Cocoa along with some sweet bread would sway their nerves and allow them to get festive. This was the perfect season for those who wanted an excuse to imbibe a hot drink, whether that be tea, coffee, or the previously mention chocolate drink. And with this, the future lay bright for those who wanted to make merry and spend boatloads of money on gifts and presents for the people who were special in their lives.

For one couple that hailed from Galar, this proved to be rather true.

The snowy weather put Dante into a thick weatherproof jacket, the warmth of his attire barely allowing him a bit of respite from the cold of this snowy time. All the while, his trainer and Poképhile partner Rose was happily sitting next to him on the wooden park bench, wearing her usual pink pea coat, warming white tights, and fur-lined boots. The two were sipping from their cups filled with piping hot chocolate, the two basking in the cold of the hour of brunch as they took the ambiance of the yuletide season. Though the Inteleon didn't mince his words about the cold.

"Bloody hell, I thought I'd escape the snowy winters when I left Galar," griped Dante. "This weather is enough to freeze the bollocks off a Mamoswine."

"Oh, relax, you big nutter," chided Rose. "The weather is not all that bad. Be glad that we aren't outside at night. The weather at midnight likes to approach subzero around these parts."

"Well, it's a good thing that I have someone to cuddle and keep me warm on especially chilly eves then, right?"

Rose's cheeks blushed red at the statement, seeing how close she had gotten to her pokémon partner. It was indeed nice to cuddle with someone whom one treasured and loved to spend time with. The season was ready for everyone to spend time in happiness and joy, with the arrival of what would indeed be a White Christmas.

It was during their cuddling and drinking of hot cocoa that another couple came up to them, happy to see such merriment from their friends.

"Hey there, Rose," greeted Saria as she walked towards them. She wore a thick woolen jacket, all while accompanied by her Greninja Pokémon partner Razor - who was also wearing thick winter clothes. "I see you and Dante are taking in the nice weather."

"Nice weather is a bit of a stretch, Saria love," replied Dante as a slight shiver went up his spine. "Blooming heck, I feel like I'm back over at the Galar Isles, or perhaps in the Russo Region. Bloody Russians sure do know how to weather a deep freeze."

"Maybe you ought to ask Natasha then when she and Ivan come on over," chided Rose. "I bet they'd be more than willing to show you what Russians are made of."

"I'm no fan of this weather either," interjected Razor. "I'm not one for snowy days. Then again, this gives me all the better of an excuse to cuddle up with My Sweet over here for warmth."

"Well, Froggy, I'd love to cuddle you."

And with that said, Saria reached for him and wrapped her arms around him. The two were indeed sharing a warming moment among the friends, and Rose and Dante couldn't help but gaze at the tenderness between the two of them. They looked at each other and couldn't help but reminisce on the warmth of this cold day. Love was definitely in the air, and though there was no mistletoe above them, the Frog lovers shared a kiss that displayed the love and passion they shared.

It was then that the bell over at the Church of Arceus began to ring, marking the arrival of Sunday Mass. The four friends had been waiting for when the church would begin, and so they went on their way over to see what today's sermon would be about. Pastor Solis almost always had a wonderful monologue to give whenever Christmas rolled around, and most of the faithful of town was sure to meet for when the pastor would give his speech. As always, the master orator had quite the audience who came to listen.

On arriving at the entrance, the four friends met Justin Solis and Lillia the Gardevoir, the pastor's son, and his pokémon greeting the guests as they arrived with high expectations of his father's sermon. He smiled on seeing his friends coming over to attend, with him already greeting Kiara, his cousin Sarah, and Natasha - along with their pokémon. As friends of the pastor's son, they all had their spots reserved around the front rows of the church. And with that, the Poképhiles all took their seats and waited for the Pastor to get started.

Rose was happy to be with her friends. Over in the front seats were Natasha and Ivan, Sarah and Virgil, and even Kiara and Lance. Though Jason and Fran were missing, the friends hoped that the two and their pokémon would be sure to arrive. Dante looked around the church to see what kinds of folks were coming around, noting the many pretty female pokémon who eyed the handsome water lizard with intent. Then again, there was nothing that he could do since he was already taken, and he'd be damned if he were to cheat on his partner after all the time that they'd been together.

The music began to play as the choir began to speak in an angelic voice. The moment has at last arrived, and on the stage appeared the black suit-wearing man as he approached the pulpit while the music began to do a crescendo in increasing intensity. The choir began to grow silent as the Pastor put the microphone to his lips. But those up close noted the somberness of his demeanor. Even with the holidays now upon the masses, something seemed to be bothering the pastor. And Rose was among those who could tell that that pastor was in a troubled mood.

"Welcome, everyone, to the last Sunday before Christmas. I hope that you're all getting your gifts ready and your hearts filled with the bounty that is coming during this yuletide season. I know that some of you might be wondering why I may not be in a good mood right now. Truth be told, I'm rather shocked to know this truth as well, and I hope that this will be something you can understand." The pastor stiffened his posture, hoping to steady himself so that he could speak his mind. "I know all of you know my stance on the issue with Poképhilia. I have yet to condemn the Poképhiles out there who are getting close to their pokémon, and quite frankly, I hope I never do. Love is love, and Arceus is a loving Alpha who cherishes all of his earthly children. But since I took this stance, I've incurred the wrath of some hardliners who perhaps weren't happy with my stance."

He then pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

"I received a death threat not too long ago. I've kept this secret for a long while, even from my own family, with the sole exception being my wife. I hope you all know what kind of danger I'm in since the person who sent this letter knew my every move and travel location. Needless to say, this is quite the predicament that I'm in, and I'm working with the authorities to find out who could've sent this letter."

The whole congregation began to murmur amongst themselves, wondering who would be as heartless as to want the pastor dead. Rose and Dante were especially shocked, the couple looking at each other after hearing the news, especially as their friends looked at their partners in shock. They wondered what this meant for the pastor and his family, especially Justin. The young man looked as though he saw a ghost, this being the first time that he heard his father mention this as he wondered why his old man kept such a thing secret.

It was at this moment that Kiara and Jason came from the entrance of the church with their pokémon and sat in front seats alongside their friends, with the Unova man curious as to what the murmuring was about.

"Sup, everyone," greeted Jason with oblivious cheer. "Why the long faces? What's got everyone in a bad mood?"

"You may want to sit down for this, mate," noted Dante. "This whole sermon seems to have gone to pot if you ask me."

Even Kiara and Lance became curious as to what was happening.

"So, some bad news has been announced?" wondered the sous chef.

"Horrible news, Kiara girl," noted Natasha.

"You may want to sit down for this, my comrades," added Ivan. "These dark days for sure, what with sick suki wanting to kill Pastor Solis."

The words that he spoke struck Kiara and Jason speechless, the two wondering if they heard the Incineroar correctly. But before they could exclaim their shock, the Pastor carried on his monologue.

"But don't be afraid for me, my friends. I won't back down from my stance, even if my life is at risk. I stand by my vow to everyone that I respect all romances, whether they be human or otherwise. I hope that you'll all join me in solidarity as I march on ahead for my beliefs. If this was something that Arceus hated, then he would have let me know a long time ago. But it seems that the hate has come from those who are unwilling to share my belief in universal love. That is why- "

The pastor kept voicing his vow of courage and valiance, not backing down even as his own life was in danger. He did express regret over the danger that this may pose to his family since he didn't intend for anyone else to share his burden. If he was to be persecuted for his beliefs, then he would face his accusers and stalkers with his pokémon and make them pay for even suggesting that pokémon and humans couldn't have special attachments to one another. And the more he spoke, the more people saw that he stood by his words and would follow them to the letter - so help him Arceus.

"But enough about death threats and those who don't agree with my stance. This is supposed to be a merry and jolly time, with Christmas about a week away. And with that in mind, let's talk about the meaning of the holiday and what impact it has on our society. Christmas is a time for sharing gifts and spending happiness with one another. There are many implications for - "

As the sermon carried on, Rose couldn't help but feel the unease that came from the ominous announcement. She looked around the church and wondered if the people who sent that death threat weren't among the many churchgoers who were part of the congregation. She couldn't believe that such spiteful people would even consider targeting the pastor and his family. She hoped that Justin would be fine - though she heard that he once had an altercation with Team Shroud before she arrived in Daegar. She didn't want him to suffer the repercussions that resulted from his father's actions.

The church sermon carried on as usual, with Pastor Solis speaking about the many miracles of Christmas and the significance of the holiday. His passion could still be felt even as his announcement of the threat against his life startled his congregation and his family. There was a lot to process, though there was hope that such threats were empty. The fact that the church now had evildoers who would even attempt to threaten a holy man spoke to the viciousness that was taking fold as a result of the conflict that was happening as a result of one topic: Poképhilia.

The debate had not stopped, even as people tried to make peace now that the holidays were upon them and they clamored for peace. But ultimately, the people value love more than they wanted to hate, and the daily antics and good nature of Poképhiles were winning over the masses and stirring their hearts to acceptance. It was a tough pill to swallow for the more conservative folks of the Daegar Region, let alone those conservatives within Lakeshire Town proper. But the town was turning into a battleground for the people who wished to either support or reject the notion of love and romance between Pokémon and their trainers. It was simply something that nobody could stem the tide of, with perhaps the only being capable of aiding or antagonizing either side being Arceus himself.

Rose held hope in her heart that the looming threat would not blow things out of proportion. She still clung to her faith in humanity, hoping that the death threats made against the pastor and his family were nothing short of wind that came as a result of a public figure like him vouching for his support of what they thought was the wrong side. Even anti-Poképhilia priest Matthew Grint had distanced himself from the pastor, calling him a traitor against Arceus for supporting such heathens.

In the end, Pastor Solis was a man of peace, and he, among many of his congregation, just wanted the world to be tranquil and accepting. Nobody wanted a bloodbath to take fold, and even less the people who didn't view the argument as needing drastic action. The Pastor was a friend to all people, and he was more than willing to vouch for the spread of love rather than hate. Until the day came when Arceus himself said that Poképhilia was a sin, then there was no need to draw knives and weapons at each other's throats and threaten wanton violence for not having one's way.

When the church ended, the people left the complex in peace. There was a whole host of things to do in preparation for Christmas, and the people wanted to make merry. The Poképhiles upfront gathered together, with all of them, including their pokémon showing support for Justin and his family.

"I hope to goodness that those threats are nothing but wind," said Rose with dejection. "I'd hate for harm to come upon you and your family."

"I can't believe those bastards are doing this!" voiced Natasha. "Are they going to come after a holy man like that?"

"Well, I believe there are folks out there who don't like the idea of peace and love," noted Fran. "I don't think that they'll back down so easily."

"Even then, I'm not giving up cuddling my pokémon!" cried Saria. "I love my cute little froggy, and I'm not going to stop loving him even as these fuckers are getting violent."

Sarah then turned to look at her cousin with worry.

"Are you going to be okay with these assholes coming after your dad, cousin?" asked Sarah gingerly. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you guys."

"Yeah, bro, I mean, you always got me and Camilla to back you up," defended Jason.

"And you also got me and Lance," added Kiara.

Justin looked at his friends standing together in solidarity. He knew that every one of them would stand by his side if the worst were to come. And it was a unity that reflected the total unity of Poképhiles all over the region. But the painful memory of the firebomb incident haunted him. It was barely two and half years ago when that horrible event took hold, and the idea of his father being attacked brought him a ton of anxiety. A man with a condition like his shouldn't be forced to deal with this trepidation.

"I hope nothing come of this," said Justin glumly. "I'll be sure to keep my old man safe, even if I might also be a target."

The friends then turned around and left the church, wondering what would become of the community after hearing such a bombshell. The people were now truly coming to each other's throats, and the mess would not stop even with the calls for peace from one man, or even a group of people. Violence would be the result, and blood would be shed even as a family-friendly holiday was on the horizon. Though all anyone could do was wait around in agony as to what would happen.

Rose and Dante walked out of the church holding hands, this gesture a sign of the love that Poképhiles all over had for their partners. There was still much more to see upon the horizon, and whether or not people would become physically hurt remained to be seen. For now, all anyone could do was drink hot cocoa while munching on sweet bread to help abate the cold.

The cold was both in the air and people's hearts. And it was something that perhaps even the arrival of Spring would not be able to thaw...

The night was silent as the weather began to dip to colder levels, the outside air being icy and with a frigidness that could freeze almost anything. The cold called for the covering of thick blankets while gas and electric heaters were turned on to help sway the iciness of the air and allow one to sleep calmly. But the cold would do nothing against those whose hearts beat with an icy fire. And a fire was destined to happen with the current atmosphere.

Rose and Dante were asleep in their bed, feeling as though the weather was too much to do anything sexual - even with the heater in their room making things more tolerable. But the commotion that came from out of the room was what stirred them awake. A knock was soon heard on their door, and the frantic voice of Kiara could be heard.

"Rose! Rose! Get up!" cried Kiara with hysteria.

All the Galar natives could do was groggily stir, wondering what could be causing their friend to pound their door at 2 AM.

"What's the matter?" called out Rose, hoping that nothing too serious was happening.

But serious things were indeed taking the fold.

"Justin's house is under attack! We have to save him!"

These shocking words caused both Rose and Dante to bolt out of bed. She went for the door and swung it open, hoping that her friend had misspoken.

"What in blazes? Justin's house is under attack, you say?!" cried out Rose.

"You heard her. Team Shroud is coming for Pastor Solis," revealed Lance. "We have to head there now before things get too far gone."

Rose and Dante turned around and immediately began to dress for the battle that lay ahead. They frantically put on their cold-weather coats and boots and headed outside. Though their clothes were a bit mismatched, the passion that burned inside of them would more than warm them up. The four roommates regrouped and headed out the front door, running through the frigid cold and snow as they went for the house of Pastor Solis and his family.

But the air was also filling with soot and ash. A red glow could be seen hovering in the distance, and it was clear that everyone's worst fear was coming to fruition. When they arrived at the house, what they saw shocked everyone to the core.

The house of Pastor Solis was up in flames, the entire place engulfed in a raging fire that didn't seem to quell. The flames raged on, burning the house to timbers as the friends stood in attention with horrified looks. It wasn't clear if the occupants of the house had escaped, with the gang hoping that Pastor Solis and his family managed to flee with their lives. There was only the hope that nobody was seriously harmed and that the family evaded the goons that were in front of their house.

Seven men wearing shrouds were in front of the house, lifting their arms as they seemed to be chanting in a strange tongue. They paid no attention to the four as they approached, though one of them did turn his head around to look at them. The black shadows inside of his hood his face for the most part, but the anger that could be seen coming from his expression said it all. He was unfazed by the friends, turning his head back to face the house as it continued to burn.

Rose was horrified by the sight of the men, the villains not alone in their worship of destruction. Seven pokémon were with them, ranging from Scrafty, a Rhyperior, a Gengar, a Magmortar, and even a Hydreigon. The pokémon all looked to be terribly strong, perhaps too great to deal with by the trainers and the two partners they brought with them. Dante, for one, looked on with an adamant face, hoping to avenge his friend Justin while also keeping his lover safe from the monstrous hands of Team Shroud. A battle was on the horizon, and he was more than willing to have a bout if it meant keeping everyone safe.

The leader of the group from Team Shroud turned and faced the two roommates, a look of indignation on his shadowy face.

"This is what will happen to those who stand to preach the vile corruption of Poképhilia," said the man in a booming voice. "We will not stand to have the will of The Alpha desecrated to serve the needs of foolish men and their delusions. In the end, all will be consumed by flames."

Rose and Dante stood bravely in front of the members of Team Shroud, unafraid in their daunting will to take on the thugs and what they stood for.

"You blokes have made a fine mess of things!" shouted Dante. "Does following your dogma make you into foolish children who'll do anything to make you as satisfied as your mothers' tits? Must you resort to this foolishness?!"

"You bastards are hurting people!" added Kiara. "Other houses are starting to catch fire! Aren't you afraid for the safety of those who are accidentally caught up in your bullshit!?!"

What Kiara noted was indeed true, for the surrounding houses were also starting to burn from the main fire of the Solis residence. Already, the people of those houses fled their smoldering homes, with some of them even having young children in their midst. The vileness of Team Shroud had not affected their targets but also innocent bystanders who had no qualms or intentions of getting involved.

And yet the Team Shroud leader didn't seem to have any qualms about collateral damage.

"These lives are of no consequence. Let them know the truth about the dangers of Poképhilia. And if they also stand to get in our way, then they too will know the consequences of impeding us."

These cruel and heartless words spurred Dante and Lance on, the two pokémon walking forwards and preparing to deal the first blow.

But it was at that moment that other footsteps could be heard coming from behind in the snow. Saria, Jason, Natasha, and Fran joined the fray alongside their pokémon, the friends rallied together after receiving frantic calls and texts from Justin as a result of the attack. All of the friends stood side by side with their pokémon as Razor, Camilla, Ivan, and Christopher glared at the pokémon that were ahead.

"You sons a bitches sure do know how to lite things up," noted Jason. "Literally, might I add."

"You won't get away with this!" cried out Saria.

"Prepare for a beating, you punks!" added Natasha.

"And make sure never to forget it!" voiced Fran alongside her friends.

Their Pokémon stood fiercely in front of the goons' pokémon, the team seemingly equal in strength and might. The Shroud Squad Leader only looked on at the friends with indignation.

"You will all burn alongside this house. You will suffer the consequences of meddling in the affairs of Team Shroud, and even if you are to win, you will all be marked as prime targets," the Leader voiced his threat. "Hydreigon, kill these interlopers!"

The dark dragon raised his head for the sky, shooting a ball of energy from his maw and allowing it to rain down on the Poképhiles as Draco Meteor. But the friends did their best to move out of the way of being pelted, with tough members like Lance and Ivan easily weathering the barrage of draconian stones. All the while, Lance shot out a ball of Aura Sphere at the Hydreigon, all while Ivan used Darkest Lariat to punch into the large dragon.

The other friendly Pokémon charged in, ranging from Chris' Stone Edge to Razor's Water Shuriken. Even Dante jumped into the fold, using Snipe Shot to hit the heads of the enemy pokémon, all while Camilla used her fiery kicks and punching moves, like Close Combat, to deal devastating amounts of damage to Team Shroud's pokémon. thought the opposing pokémon were also strong, they failed to match the unity that the friends shared. The friends fought with passion, one that came from a resolve that united them all and urged them to keep going for the win.

The members of Team Shroud soon found their pokémon being KO'd one at a time, with even the mighty Hydreigon falling to the barrage of the friends and their unity. The villains soon themselves without pokémon to fight for them, and to make matters worse the sounds of police sirens and firefighters could be heard off in the distance. There was no time to dilly-dally, and the Shroud Members could only look at the friends in disdain.

"You've won this battle, curs, as well as our wrath. We will not stop until we destroy Poképhilia and all those that support it!" cried out the leader.

A ball was thrown onto the ground, revealing a deep cloud of smoke that blocked everyone's path. But Lance was not distracted by the ruse. He threw a ball of Aura Sphere into the mist, hoping to hit a member of the fleeing team while using his aura powers. The sounds of man could be heard as a result of the hit, and his falling onto the ground could also be heard. Lance then chased after where the sound came from, pinning the frame of the perpetrator onto the asphalt.

When the smoke cleared, Lance was seen with a foot on top of the Team Shroud member whom he managed to KO, the sounds of the police arriving soon being heard. Canine pokémon charged forward in the hopes of catching the scent of the perps, all while armed men in armor with their other pokémon came to the scene to check on the man that Lance was pinning down. The man was roused from his unconsciousness, with his hood being pulled back and revealing the face of the Team Shroud member. He was dutifully handcuffed and placed under arrest by the police. But though he appeared to be a stranger to everyone, it was clear to Jason who this man was.

"James?!" cried out Jason in shock and horror. "What the living hell? Why are you with Team Shroud? Why would you join up with these bastards?"

The man was none other than James Pitch, Jason's coworker from the Pokéball plant and a Poképhile who had been exposed to the public. He let a half smile, seemingly happy to show his face to his friend.

"I joined Team Shroud because I know they are right," revealed James. "I felt so ashamed when I was discovered, and I then began to think about why I did these kinds of things. I realized that I was wrong to love my Leavanny in the way that I did. I shouldn't have been so close to her, to begin with."

The friends looked on at the betrayal, with Jason still coming to grips with the reveal.

"But Justin and I vouched for you, pal! We supported you and tried to get others off your back! And this is the way you pay my bro back, by torching his house and intending to merc him and his old man?!?" The anger that was on Jason's face was justified, but no less painful. "We trusted you, James! Damn it, we did everything for you and all the other Poképhiles out there!!!"

"Well, I already picked my side, Jason. Now there's no turning back," said James with an even wider smile. "Beware of the coming days. Team Shroud hides in the darkness, ready to attack those who would dare to destroy the balance between humans and pokémon. Even if I'm going to jail, that won't change a thing." He then looked at the Poképhiles with a manic face. "You're all damned! And if you don't want to incur our wrath, I'd suggest you change your ways and support our cause!"

It was then that a voice could be heard from the side.

"That's enough, James!" said Justin's as he appeared from the side.

The stout and broad man appeared from the side, a look of indifference on his face. He was with his partner pokémon Lilia, but more importantly, Pastor Solis, Mother Mary, Sarah, Virgil, and the Handy Helpers were all with him. They successfully escaped the blaze and were now there to bear witness to the betrayal that He and his friend faced.

"Is killing us all you can think about, James? Do you honestly hate Poképhiles so much that you'd be willing to hurt folks for doing so?" Justin crossed his arms and went on. "Look at the times, James. More and more people are accepting Poképhilia. They see us as being good folks who don't want to cause trouble. We love our pokémon, and we want to share that love with others. Do you think that Team Shroud is capable of turning away the hearts of the people as we decide what to do with our pokémon partners? Is violence the only thing you guys can do, simply because you know that your inane and backward reasoning is losing support?

"Poképhiles supported you. We loved you as our own. But you betrayed us and turned against us as we had always been your enemies. Is this how you would repay our kindness to you?"

James' face became enraged, charging forward despite being held in the police officer's arms. The words that the pastor's son spoke stung hard, and James didn't want to face the truth.

"You just don't understand, Justin," James said dejectedly. "I couldn't do it anymore. I thought it was wrong, and I hated myself for what I did with Mila. I couldn't face that embarrassment again! I couldn't dream of doing that again!"

James went from haughty obstinance to astounding shame. He realized what he had done, and that it was now too late to change anything. Now, he lost the people who were his strongest allies. He lost the support of the Poképhiles who had much more humanity than he did.

"In that case, you can go to hell, James," said Justin solemnly. "Until the day comes when you atone for your actions with your heart, you can rot in jail for the rest of your life."

The Team Shroud member was escorted away from the scene with the police, and placed inside a police cruiser as the other officers went in search of the others. All the while, the firefighters tried frantically to put out the house fires and quell the damage that was being caused to the other houses. The fire was soon kept under control, the smoldering ruins of the Solis estate left as a charred husk of its former glory. And the scene was set for a reckoning that James and all the other members of Team Shroud would one day face.

A man wearing a tan trench coat soon appeared, followed by his female Lucario Pokémon partner. The badge at his side said it all, and he needed no introduction.

"I'm glad that everyone is safe and sound, though I think it's time to take some testimony about all this stuff," said none other than Detective Jacob Lombardy. He then turned around to speak to Pastor Solis. "I apologize that your house was torched, Mister Solis. I know that you lost a tremendous amount of valuables and personal possessions from this blaze."

"I only lost what can be replaced," said the Pastor stoically. "The ones whom I cherish most are the ones who are truly irreplaceable. And I'm happy that no one was seriously hurt."

Rose and Dante walked up to Justin; the glumness of the man was evident as they approached him. They didn't know the man named James personally, though hearing how he was once Justin's friend and seeing him on the side of the enemy had hurt. It was a feeling that the two hoped to sway, even as his former home was extinguished. The bitter sting of betrayal was on him, and it was something that even Lillia's warm embrace could not quell.

The friends hung around the scene and gave their testimony to Detective Lombardy, hoping that they could solve the case of the identities of those who burned down the Solis house to the ground. The night was still young, and there were a lot of emotions hanging in the air. All Rosemary and Dante could do were offer their support and hope that no further implications would come as a result of this scene. The threat that Team Shroud made hung in the air as they wondered if they too would be targeted.

It was a prospect that no one was looking forward to...

It was now Christmas Eve, and Rose and Dante were in the living room of Kiara's house as dinner was being prepared by the sous chef. The aftermath of the events that took fold the other day still clung to the air, and they showed no sign of letting up. The news was awash with the burning of the Solis Residence, and many people began to speculate on why such brutish men would target the Pastor and his family in the safety of their home. The whole of Lakeshire Town was gripped in fear and indignation as a result of the fire, with many people voicing their support and condemning Team Shroud.

Even the more hardline Anti-Poképhilia Crusaders couldn't turn a blind eye to what was indeed a monstrous event. The team had taken things too far, with many of them calling for James Pitch, the member who was caught, to be sentenced to the harshest punishments permissible by the law. Indeed, James would be serving a long sentence for his role in the attack, namely charges of Attempted Murder and Arson. There would be hell to pay for what he and his fellow members had done.

But despite the stark news and the recent tragedy, the friends remained hopeful now that it was Christmas Eve. Kiara was expecting everyone to show up to her house to do some partying, and that meant that she was hard at work cooking a big meal. Rose and Dante were sure to help however they could, and hoped that their friends would be treated to a hearty meal once they arrived.

The roommates soon welcomed the arrival of their friends once the mid-evening approached. It was Christmas Eve, and that meant a load of presents that the gangs would be sharing amongst themselves. Hot cocoa had already been made, and Kiara had already finished cooking a huge pot of stew to serve to her friends. All the while the friends brought with them crates of beer and bottles of liquor. Even though it was a cold winter day, there would be much celebration among themselves and their pokémon. The Christmas tree was packed to the brim with presents, and it seemed that everyone would be getting a gift from their fellow Poképhile.

This would be the second Christmas that Rose would be spending in the Daegar Region, and she was elated as everyone played party games after eating their meals. The game of "Card Against Humanity" was played amongst the partygoers, and a riot of laughter soon followed. The funniness of the cards that people chose was astounding, and everyone was having a good time, drinking booze to keep their elation up and hot cocoa to warm up their bodies.

Soon, towards the end, everyone began opening the gifts that they gave each other. The gifts were all excellent, with people receiving everything from clothes to gift cards and even gadgets and devices. The odd pair of socks were also thrown, a gag gift that followed the real gift that was underneath the box. That thing happened to Rose, her gift coming from Justin as he put a pair of socks into a box, only to have her real gift of a new, high-end drawing tablet stored on the bottom.

"Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Justin mate!" cheered Rose. "I really needed this. My old one is going to pot with how old and lagging it is. How'd you know I needed one?"

"Well, I asked Dante," admitted Justin. "He told me the things you needed and wanted. So, I went ahead and bought the best one on the market."

Rose turned to look at Dante, an amused smile on the Inteleon's face.

"You cheeky lizard," said Rose with a smile.

"Well, don't you need one, love?" snarked Dante. "After all, you rave about how broken your current one is and how impossible it is to work. I guess this is my Christmas gift to you as well."

"Dante did pay part of the gift, even though I said I'd pay for it all," admitted Justin. "So technically, this counts as Dante's gift as well."

Feeling the elation start to overwhelm her, Rose lunged for Dante and gripped him in a hug.

"Oh, I love you, you sneaky bugger," said the young woman.

"I love you too, my darling," reciprocated Dante.

The moment was tender, something that awoke something between the two Poképhiles. Love was in the air, and Rose felt that he ought to give Dante something special once the other friends left.

And that moment came sooner than later. On the arrival of 8 PM, the friends went their separate ways, noting how most would have to return to work tomorrow on Monday. And though New Year's Day was still only a week away, that meant that the holiday season was coming to an end.

Rose looked on at Justin and how he had been such a trooper after what happened to him and his family. For the time being, the family was staying at an apartment in downtown Lakeshire Town, one which was close to the police station. The family was well protected in case they would be targeted again. Pastor Solis was said to be preparing an admonishment tomorrow to his congregation, denouncing Team Shroud and all those who supported the sinister group for all of the damages they caused and for attacking innocent people alongside his family. But Justin was mostly stoic through the whole ordeal. He may have lost his house and his possessions, but he valued nothing more than his family and friends. Lillia would be sure to stick by his side, protecting him from any more harm to come.

The house was soon empty, and Kiara, Lance, Rose, and Dante were left doing the cleaning. They were all pretty tipsy from the booze they consumed, with Lance feeling especially upset that he allowed himself to drink too much. But soon, all of the dishes were washed, and the tired friends went to turn in for the night. It was a long day, one that started with the prospect of cheer and happiness. And happiness had indeed been reached, with Rose and Dante turning into their rooms to spend more time with each other. The door was closed behind them, and with that, no one was sure to bother them for what Rose intended to do with her partner.

"Well, love, another Christmas has passed," noted Rose. "I hope you're ready for the gift I have planned for you, lover."

Dante looked on at his partner with amusement. This would indeed be quite the gift.

"Well, whatever you plan on giving me, I'm sure it'll be a lovely one."

Dante laid himself down on the bed while Rose went to turn on the nearby electric heater to warm themselves up. She then proceeded to strip herself naked, revealing her cream-white skin for her partner to admire. Her supple breasts, hourglass hips, and ginger hair made for a woman who was beautiful without a doubt. And Dante felt especially grateful to have her as his partner, all while his arousal caused his member to poke out of the slick from his crotch.

"I think that this is what you've been looking forward to no?" asked Dante as he pointed at his member, which was now fully erect and waiting for what came next.

"Definitely."

Rose went to the bed and laid her head next to her partner's cock, getting a good whiff of the pheromones that were coming from his arousal. She stuck out her tongue and lapped at the drop of precum that was dribbling to its side. The taste of Inteleon semen was so wonderful, a flavor that she never grew tired of. With this in mind, she grabbed her lover's cock with her warm hand and began to stroke him up and down, all while her tongue continued to lick his tip.

Dante leaned back and moaned as he felt his lover get to work. He never ceased to be amazed at the skills of his partner, something that she put to good use in making him loved. The stroking and licking continued for some time as Rose tried milking him off as much cum as she could get without causing him to orgasm. The cum continued to flow out of him in drops, and she was sure to lap every little bit up as it came out.

But after ten minutes of the blowjob, Rose soon had enough. Dante lifted himself from his spot and Rose took her place there. The tables have turned, and soon he found himself staring at her warm and wet pussy. He would be sure to pay her back for all the pleasure she gave him.

"I wonder how good you are with your tongue, love," teased Rose.

"Oh, I believe I have quite a few skills with what I intend to do with you, my dear," proclaimed Dante. "And I hope you'll beg for mercy once I'm through with you."

With that, the Inteleon lowered his head to her pussy, sticking out his tongue and lapping at her clitoris. Rose leaned back and moaned into the enticement, feeling her moist hole being licked and eaten by her lover. He bit into the soft flesh of her womanhood, suckling and licking her with such deft skill and passion. She couldn't believe how good of a cunnilingus session her partner was giving her, and her blood began to grow hot from the intensity. All the poor woman could do was lean back and let her partner do all the work, feeling mighty pleased with his progress. The sounds of his licking and suckling filled the air, which was music to both of their ears.

But soon, Dante grew tired of merely eating his partner. He sat up from his position and crawled on top of her, aligning himself with her entrance as he prepared to penetrate her.

"Is this something you'd rather be interested in, My Dear?" asked Dante cheekily.

"Indeed, My love," said Rose. "Take me. Take me right now. I want all of your hot and delicious cum inside of my warm womb."

Dante nodded his head.

"Your wish is my command."

Dante pushed his member into Rose's awaiting hole, hoping that she would the feeling of being penetrated once more. His cock slid slowly inside of her, inciting Rose to moan as she felt his member bury itself deeper and deeper into her. Rose loved the feeling so much, her pale cheeks turning red with color as she felt her lover delve deeper into her depths. She was panting hard at the feeling, the rubbing of his cock against her vaginal walls sending shivers up her spine. This would be the perfect way for to two to warm up, even with the space heater nearby and cranked to full blast.

Soon, there was no more cock left to give. Dante had reached her cervix with his entire member buried deeper into her body. He slowly began to pull out, the rubbing proving to be agony for poor Rose as the feeling grew more and more intense. When only his tip remained, he pushed himself back into her, sending even more waves of pleasure to her mind. Dante was also feeling the intensity of their session, his member constricted by his lover's walls as it milked him of any semen he could give.

The intensity soon grew as Dante followed a steady rhythm, his pelvis moving up in the air with a pull-out and going down with every thrust inward. The pacing was enticing for both lovers as Rose wrapped her legs around Dante's waist, pulling him closer to her as she tried to lift up her pelvis every time the Inteleon pushed back into her, their thighs smacking as he pushed himself deep into her loins. The warmth the two shared was more than fitting, which served to spur the two on even more into their inviting sex session.

Dante and rose looked at each other, panting heavily into each other's faces. Dante then lowered his head and connected his lips with Rose's as he continued thrusting into him, his tongue dancing around with hers, sharing in the moment of romance and smut. It was a scene that was full of passion, the Poképhiles getting engrossed as their lips connected, caving in on each other, and displaying the love that the two had for each other. And on this Christmas Eve, the two were more attached than ever before.

But all good things must come to an end. Dante could feel the familiar pressure behind his cock start to grow, as Rose also felt her pussy start to contract even more. It was evident that their final moments were coming, and the two wanted to embrace this last act of passion together in each other's arms. There was nothing that could come between them, and it was too late to stop.

Dante thrust one last time into Rose's depths, pushing his tip all the way to the entrance to her womb. His cock gushed with a torrent of potent Inteleon seed, filling her depths with his hot spunk as they basked in their shared moment of rapture. Rose's pussy was now contracting hard, making sure to milk her lover's cock of all the sperm that he could give. And with both of their sex organs pulsating, the two could feel rapture shooting up their spines and overwhelming their brains from the sheer force at play. They were once again feeling a familiar feeling, one that they had shared many times together.

But on this day, the sex felt much more gratifying and rewarding. It was the kind of sex that lovers wished they had every time. And when Rose opened her eyes to look at the face of her lover, she knew that this pokémon was whom she was meant to be with. Even with people like Team Shroud running about spreading fear and attacking Poképhiles, she was more than willing to risk it if it meant being with the man whom she cared for the most.

"Merry Christmas, love," said Rose to her partner.

"Merry Christmas to you too my dear," replied Dante. "I hope that we get to have many more Christmases like this."

"And I hope we will, too."

The two embraced each other as Dante lowered his light frame onto his lover's body. The two basked in their combined warmth hoping that there would be future days like this in bliss. Their lips combined once again as they entered into aftercare, caressing each other softly as their passions join as one.

This would be quite the Christmas to remember. And they hoped that future ones would be like this...

It was now Christmas Day, and the congregation once again returned to the Church of Arceus for today's sermon. But few arrived at the complex with joy. The news of the arson at the Solis residence sent a shockwave across the community, with the churchgoers wishes their well wishes onto the Solis family and hoping that they would recover from such a tragic event. It would perhaps not be easy for the family, with Justin being the one who was the most hurt. It was not easy for one to have to deal with a betrayal, especially from someone so close to him and considered to be a friend.

Pastor Solis, for one, was vocal about the attack, calling this a stain on the history of Lakeshire Town and denouncing Team Shroud as ruthless villains who'll do almost anything to reach their goals, including harming innocent bystanders. The whole congregation was united in this ideal, seeing Team Shroud as nothing but trouble makers and evildoers who would go out of their way to hurt those who'd stand in their way. And everyone was gripped by the harrowing tale of how the pastor escaped with his family.

It turned out that it was Justin who took the initiative, guiding his family through the smoke and fire and saving everyone from a terrible fate. It was a heroic take that kept everyone on the edge of their seats, one which Justin was proud to have pinned to his name.

Rose and Dante were sitting at the front row as Pastor Solis commenced with his sermon about the significance of Christmas and what it meant for the world. He talked about love and peace, and more importantly about the bond that people shared and got to join in on through unity and passion. The sermon was beautiful, and the people couldn't help but clap as the pastor concluded his talk. It was a real treat for all of the churchgoers and for the Poképhile friends in the front rows. There was much to celebrate and be happy about.

But the Galar couple wondered what the future would bring. Team Shroud was still out there, waiting to strike again. And it seemed that nobody was safe once they were deemed their enemy. And the attack on the pastor and his family was clear proof of that. There was much to fear and be afraid of.

Christmas was now coming to a close, but a lot of turmoil lay on the horizon. What that meant for Poképhiles all over town, and even across the Daegar region, remained to be seen...