Hello everyone! I've decided to take a break from my regular writing in order to try this little holiday challenge! I've enlisted the help of my friend, who gave me 12 different holiday themes. For each of those themes, I'm to write a short story that centers around the theme. It's like a take on the alphabet challenges (which I plan on writing one day, once all my other work is finished, heh.)

I will release a new chapter every day up until Christmas. So, for the next 12 days, there will be 1 chapter. 12 in total. Get it? ;D

Enough of me talking. On with the Twelve Days of Christmas!

Ribbons

"Dashing through the snow, in a one Ponyta sleigh…"

Ash stuck his tongue out as he carefully pulled the colorful wrapping paper around the medium sized box, trying as hard as he could not to tear the delicate paper.

"Over the fields we go, laughing all the way…"

Ash smashed his flat palm over the folds in the wrapping paper in order to keep it in place. His eyes darted around quickly, searching desperately for the tape. Pikachu came skipping up to his trainer, the roll of adhesive strips sitting evenly on his head. Ash smiled and gratefully took the object.

"Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright…"

Ash used his one free hand to try and rip some tape off the roll. It stuck easily to his fingers, wrapping them together. Ash groaned and shook his hand crazily, but it only made his situation even worse.

"What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight!"

"Misty!" Ash finally cried, "Shut it!"

Misty raised her head to glare at the frustrated raven haired Pokémon trainer, who in seeing Misty's angry face looked back down at his poorly wrapped presents.

"Excuse me for trying to spread some holiday cheer," Misty snapped as she finished taping the wrapping paper on her own box. Ash grew wide eyed as he caught sight of her sea of presents.

The various sized boxes were all wrapped neatly and beautifully, in vivid blue paper with silver snowflakes. Large silver bows adorned each box, and the tags dangling off each present featured the flawless hand writing of the red headed gym leader.

In turn, Ash's presents were wrapped to the point where they looked completely unrecognizable, and pieces of tape stuck off each gift like wild tentacles.

"How'd you get so good at wrapping presents Mist?" Ash raised an eyebrow.

"Years of practice," Misty's eyes sparkled mischievously.

"Oh," Ash looked, and sounded, dejected, "that…sucks. My presents look awful, especially compared to yours."

Misty smiled sweetly at the boy, "they don't look awful Ash. In fact, they look okay to me!" She glanced away from Ash ever so slightly, hoping he wouldn't catch her lying. His eyes remained clear, however, and Misty knew she was safe. "Besides, no one will care how you wrapped it. The fact that you did it just for them means more than how it looks."

"You really think so?" Ash blushed.

"I know so," Misty nodded surely, "but, if it'll make you feel better…"

Misty grabbed several rolls of bright, colorful ribbon, and tossed them over to the teenage boy. Ash carefully inspected each spool, unraveling some trimming from each one.

"What will these do?" Ash furrowed his brow.

"It'll make your presents look a little nicer."

"So you do admit they look like crap!" Ash wailed.

"No they don't," Misty sighed, "I just thought tying some ribbon on them would make you feel better. You're obviously not too confident in your wrapping abilities."

"You got that right."

"So use the ribbon."

Ash nodded and used a pair of scissors to cut off a long strand of the material. He tried to wrap it around one of his misshapen boxes, but it was too short. Ash let out a miserable groan and haphazardly threw the decoration behind him.

"I can't do anything right," Ash mumbled.

"Ash," Misty frowned.

"How come I'm awesome at battling, but when it comes to almost everything else, I suck?"

"You don't suck," Misty crawled over to Ash and grabbed his hand. He looked down and flashed a fierce crimson. Misty's was red as well, but far more faint. She shook it off easily and smiled up at the young man, "you just need a little help is all."

Misty took one of the rolls and cut off a long strip of ribbon. As Ash watched, she tied it around the box he'd previously tried to decorate, and did so with ease. As she finished tying off the bow on top, Misty grinned cheerfully up at Ash, who in turn looked rather bashful.

"Thanks," Ash's voice was practically inaudible.

"Don't mention it," Misty shrugged, walking back towards her corner of the room, "just remember how the old saying goes."

Ash tilted his head, and asked confusedly, "what old saying?"

Misty giggled playfully and responded, "It's not how much your gift cost, or how you wrapped it."

"That's not an old saying," Ash folded his arms.

"You didn't let me finish," Misty growled. Ash rolled his eyes and gave Misty an expectant look to confirm he was still listening.

Misty sighed, but then let out another set of soft laughter and continued, "It's the thought that counts."

And with that, she gave a flustered Ash a flirtatious wink before returning to her own gifts.

How was that? This one was very light on the Pokeshipping, I know, but other chapters will feature everything from kissing to the future ;) The next one will be up tomorrow, so not too long of a wait! Leave a review and let me know what you think!