It was that time of the year once again. As the holiday season started to sweep over the Galar region, so did a bit of Circhester's cold climate spread throughout the region. The unfortunate factor regarding Galarian weather was that due to its instability and pollution problems, only some of the cold was shared throughout the region, sans the majestic white blanket of snow that truly gave the winter feel.

Though even without natural snow, a few cities and towns couldn't even experience the cold. Thus deprived of the magical feeling of winter in their areas.

However, the people and Pokémon of Galar were resilient, making do in either correcting the weather climate the best they could with their current resources or simulating the winter atmosphere through the powers of Ice-types.

Speaking of resilience…

"A brilliant idea, no?" Leon proposed.

The former Champion had gathered the reigning Gym Leaders of the recent season in the Pokémon League HQ at Wyndon with the help of current Champion, Victor, while he had some high-ranking officials of the Pokémon League committee in attendance for witnesses and legitimacy. Though he mainly managed the Battle Tower, formerly Rose Tower, Leon had been proactive in his mission of guiding Galar to be the best it could be, which included becoming an advisor of sorts to Victor and the Pokémon League, considering how green Victor was to the position, since Rose stepped down in disgrace and Oleana was fulfilling her community service in the mines. And regarding Rose's Macro Cosmos, its executives sorted out their leadership issues and resumed pushing forward in providing technological advancements for the good of Galar.

"Forgive me for speaking out of terms," Bede raised his hand, skepticism laced in his tone. "But how is your holiday plan supposed to inspire strength and courage to take on the Champion title, ex-Champion? I'm not seeing it."

"Ah, yes, excellent question, Ballonlea Gym Leader Bede!" Leon grinned, adjusting his cravat before resuming. "Surely you recall the momentous events over the year? The previous Gym Challenge? The second Darkest Day? The rise of a new Champion?"

Victor felt all eyes fall upon him, knowing that he was involved in all the above. Though his expression remained steady, he couldn't help but turn slightly red from the sudden and unwanted attention and feel himself slightly slide down his seat. He did resist taking his knit cap laying on the table in front of him and hiding himself behind him as it would unbecoming of him to do so.

Though among the eyes that scrutinized him, his briefly locked with the stoic green eyes belonging to the new Spikemuth Gym Leader. Her expression originally neutral, a brief flash of astonishment lit Marnie's face before she dubiously turned away, a bit of pinkness filling her pale cheeks.

Victor was bemused by her behavior ever since she had opened to him in the Slumbering Weald a few months back. It was when he resolved to make her a priority to visit more often while she vowed to express herself more comfortably. In any case, whenever he said something nice or complimented her battle style or appearance, Marnie would act rather coy and turn away, her normally pale cheeks tinged with a bit of redness. Victor doubted that the redness was a result of sunburn, so it had to be Marnie being uncomfortable with the flattery. Except his words weren't sweet nothings; they were sincere and direct.

He would have to figure out Marnie later, or at least before they all go through with Leon's holiday celebration plan. As much as he wanted to do something special for her, right now Leon appeared needing help with his current proposal.

"Uh, mind if I answer?" Victor intervened.

"Of course, Champion!" Leon gestured, taking his seat. "The floor is all yours!"

"Er, right," Victor nodded, standing up. Despite the fact that all eyes were back on him, it was for a different reason. "I believe that what Leon wants is to simply further unify Galar. His reminder of past recent events brings to mind all the trying times we faced together and that more will be coming our way in the future."

"In other words, holding a huge holiday celebration in Wyndon is part of Leon's plan in bringing the unity, correct?" Nessa interjected.

"Precisely!" Leon banged his fist on the table jubilantly. "After all these years, you still get it, Nessa."

"You, Sonia, and Raihan were nutters back in the day… Well, mostly you and Raihan," Nessa shrugged, but grinned over the nostalgia nonetheless. "And you boys still are, matter of fact."

"Oi! This kind of mind-boggling energy Leon and I have was what makes us the strongest Trainers in all of Galar!" Raihan protested, slamming his hands on the table, though the exaggerated posing was for his Rotom Phone to take a special conference-protest selfie.

"And yet our new Champion isn't as easy to get a rise out of like you," Gordie chuckled, head resting on a propped fist. "Wonder what that says about your difference in skills."

"Watch it, mate," Raihan grinned viciously. "Come back and say it to my face when you're the third strongest Trainer of the Galar region."

"Hmm… Does the fact that I spanked you in the semifinals of the last exhibition tournament mean anything to you?" Gordie taunted.

"One victory alone in one battle doesn't mean you've won the war!" Raihan growled, stomping over to the Circhester Gym Leader's seat. "Don't let your head get bigger than your body over that win, or I promise I will send you rolling back to your mum in a Ball."

"Don't get her involved!" Gordie bristled, jumping out of his seat to confront the Hammerlocke Gym Leader directly in his face.

"Enough!"

A fist and a foot into their stomachs sent both men crumping into the ground. Making her way between the two within a blink of an eye, Bea had coolly tranquilized them in the only efficient manner available, knowing that Raihan's tough abs and Gordie's buoyant girth could handle her physical strikes, before returning to her seat. Even she had her limits on the amount of nonsense allowed to take place in meetings like these, but at least no one had objected to her methods so far and in the past, Leon saw there was no ill intent behind her strikes and merely laughed it off as another quirk of Galar's colorful Trainers. Even Raihan's Rotom Phone was in on it by taking a slumped-over-in-pain selfie of its owner.

"Well, that was predictable," Bede remarked dryly, though was ultimately ignored.

"Whew, I was worried things were going to escalate even more," Milo sighed.

"Hmph, you've handled worse," Nessa scoffed. "You've handled all that I've thrown at you so far, Milo. And you can certainly handle Bea putting a couple of hotheaded Centiskorch in their place."

"Shucks!" Milo blushed.

"Fire-type metaphors appreciated, but I feel we're being detracted," Kabu cleared his throat. "Reminiscing of the old days aside, how would we go about arranging this regionwide celebration? What makes it different than past seasonal events held in Wyndon?"

"Right! Apologies, but seeing Raihan and Gordie go right at it nearly made me want to jump in!" Leon laughed. "The good old days. Anyway, all I'm saying that in past Galar holidays, all towns and cities had their own thing going on. And you're right, Kabu. While Wyndon did have some big celebrations during those times, there was no spirit of unity or joy. Only the commercialization of old worldly traditions with no substance to support it." He sighed and shook his head before lightly slapping his face to force him to look back up. "It wasn't a champion time then, but now, even though I'm no longer Champion, I wish to rectify my inability of bringing the hearts of Galar together and create a holiday celebration that'll make all people and Pokémon want to be a part of!" He then glanced at Victor before having his eyes single out every Gym Leader in sight. "I know Champion Victor is on board on this. And I know you guys can help out because I know you do feel the same way I do!"

"Hmm, it's going to take a lot of work and we don't have a lot of time, but… after everything that's happened this year, I don't see why not," Nessa winked. "And I know Sonia's into the plan too. Heh… Her and her… enthusiastic research assistant. So count me in."

"Ah, yes!" Leon grinned. "Professor Sonia and Hop will also be helping out the best they can, provided that the rest of you are in agreement."

"… I'm in," Marnie raised her hand, looking up at Leon before her eyes drifted to Victor. "As representative of Spikemuth, I won't go on unheard. No more. And… I wish to give back the kindness of giving Spikemuth the respect it deserves."

"Spot on!" Leon cheered. "Yes! This is the kind of spirit of unity we must promote. My deepest apologies for failing to involve Piers and Spikemuth as much as they should."

"The past is the past," Marnie waved off. "My bro's over it. And I'm fine with the way things have turned out."

"Really sporting to be so forgiving," Raihan remarked. "But that bro of yours does have a good head on his shoulders. I like Piers, so if his little sis is putting in the effort, then count in me as well, Leon!"

"I think it'll be fun, so I'll do it," Milo smiled.

"As am I," Bea nodded, a faint smile crossing her features.

"… Fine," Bede shrugged, sensing some eyes on him for an answer, mainly Victor's. "Why not. I suppose I owe you that much."

"This will be a nice treat for aspiring Challengers and spectators alike," Kabu commented. "For the people and Pokémon of Galar, I'm in as well."

"Heh, nothing more than a chance to show off," Gordie smirked. "But I'll give my all in this. It is for a good cause."

"Looks like we got the green light from all current Gym Leaders," Leon beamed, facing Gordie expectantly. "Say, Gordie. Part of setting up the big celebration in Wyndon will involve getting Ice-type Pokémon to help. For all of Galar to have a holiday champion time, will you reach out to Melony for her assistance?"

"… Is this a joke?" Gordie balked, his expression turning to fury. Many of the longtime Gym Leaders were aware of the falling out between him and his mother while the newer members, Victor, Marnie, and Bede, could only watch in bemusement. "Look, I have nothing else to involve myself with… that woman. I took over the Circhester Gym as she wanted, but I repurposed it to specialize in Rock-types instead of Ice-types. What more do I need from her?"

"She may have had strict intentions, but they were for you," Bea rationalized. "She's still your mum."

"This coming from the girl who rose to Gym Leader status because of her own strict parents?" Gordie countered, prompting a frown to mar the Stow-on-Side Gym Leader's face.

"No, we're not starting another scrap here," Nessa intervened, glaring at Gordie. "It was frustrating enough watching you and Raihan get it on, but I'm doing this for your own good. You won't stand a chance against Bea, unless your gut misses the feeling of her foot squashing the air out of you."

"I know I don't," Raihan muttered, a free hand feeling the sore spot where Bea silenced him earlier.

"Tch, point taken," Gordie grumbled. "… But do we really need to call upon her?"

"Well, isn't it about time you two made up?" Leon suggested. "The year is at its end. And we can really use her Ice-type Pokémon to help us out big time. Do you really want to leave things with your mum on such a sour note?"

As much as Gordie wanted to argue back, the former Champion's words rang true in him. Even when Gordie looked at the current Champion, who could only observe in concern due to his unfamiliarity with his issue with his mum, he could tell that Victor would advise him the same thing. That was how much of a kindhearted and chivalrous young man he came off as when he went through the Gym Challenge.

"… I'll… see what I can do," Gordie mumbled rather begrudgingly.

"I'll take it," Leon accepted. "Now that we're unified on this front, it's time to plan out the preparations. When the day of celebration comes, we'll be going all out and under Victor's guidance, we will know what it truly means to have a holiday champion time!"

This will probably be about two or three chapters, just to spread out the flow of events instead of condensing them into one. Though this started out with wanting to get Victor and Marnie together, I want to involve Shield exclusives Melony and Allister in some capacity, mainly for fan service since I did play Sword. I've gotten a chance to learn more about them through watching Shield playthroughs, so feel free to correct me if my deductions in chapters are off. Consider them as a side plot while I work my magic in carrying on Victor and Marnie's relationship from the previous story.

I should get in a posting after Christmas, but I should be done with all before the year ends.

Please review!