From: RobfromVoid <RobfromVoid@prodigy.net> Subject: [PW!] The Other Jolly Old Fat Man Date: Saturday, December 25, 1999 8:50 PM "How can you be all out of Christmas Trees?!" Marvin the magician is standing in a green tent set up outside the Celadon Mega Pokemart, dressed for the season in his red tuxedo and red bow tie, topped with a red top hat. "I came all the way from Cinnabar Island on a boat full of stinking Magikarp and you're telling me that there's no Christmas trees left?!" The only woman left in the tent, who is dressed in an elf costume and whose job is to tell people that there are no more trees, shakes her head sadly, "No trees. Sorry. We'll be back here next year, though..." The busty blonde girl next to Marvin, a Britney Spearow look-a-like, huffs and stomps her foot, "Thass too late! Hows we gonna have a Cwistmas Magic Show with no tree?! Too bad Marvy no gots a tree Pokemon to decowate..." "Actually, master does have the potential to own a tree Pokemon." The purple Ditto on the blonde girl's head declares. When Marvin and 'Britney' both look confused, the Ditto known as Xerox further explains, "Your Exeggcute can evolve into Exeggutor when exposed to a Leaf Stone, which can be bought in the Celadon City Pokemart just outside. Exeggutor just happens to be the only tree Pokemon. It may be a palm tree, but a palm tree is better than no tree." The woman in the store looks shocked at the purple Ditto's knowledge, "Wow, not only can you talk, but you're smart, too!" "Yes." Xerox's dot eyes narrow, "There is no need to be impressed with my curse, for it shall end on the day that I die." Marvin sweatdrops... Xerox hasn't been the same since she read the document about her past on Cinnabar Island. Marvin grins at the shocked woman to break the tension that follows Xerox's depressed statement, "Thanks for your help!" He grabs a capsule and throws it to the ground. Green smoke fills the tent, and when it disperses, Marvin and his Ditto are gone. Moments later, Marvin is standing before the counter on the fourth floor of the Celadon City Pokemart, with Famifax still looking like Britney and Xerox still perched on the blonde's head. Marvin hands the attendant the money and receives a glowing green Leaf Stone in exchange. Marvin admires the leaf embedded within the stone and reaches into his tuxedo coat with his free hand and stares at it, "Exeggcute's never won a battle since the day I caught them at the Safari Zone, so long ago... Maybe after they evolve, they'll actually be useful. At least they'll be useful when they act like a Christmas Tree." When the Safari Ball hits the floor, the six pink seeds appear in a flash of red light. One of the six seeds sees the Leaf Stone that Marvin holds and recognizes it. The single Exeggcute turns to the five other ones, "Exegg! Exegg!" The others all ask, "Cute?" The first Exeggcute shakes his head and makes an ugly face, "Exegg... EXEGG!" Three of the other five Exeggcute hop up in surprise and start trembling. Two of them, a small one and a cracked one, don't tremble, and actually hop up towards Marvin in an attempt to snatch the Leaf Stone from him. The other four shoot Barrages at the two eager to evolve. Famifax giggles as the two individual Exeggcute get Barraged by the others, "Ex-eggs hurts themselves in the confusion!" Marvin crouches and tries to touch the Stone onto the Exeggcute who spoke first. The Exeggcute hops out of the way before it touches him, shakes his head, and shouts, "Exegg! Exegg-egg-egg!!!" The other three that helped him Barrage the ones who actually wanted to evolve hop up to the leader Exeggcute's side to support him. One of them growls, "Cute-ute-ute..." Another one of them snarls, "Egg..." All four start swaying side to side, Marvin's Leaf Stone leaves his hand, and gets tossed aside! The Leaf Stone hits a nearby Jynx on the head! Jynx wiggles her hips up to Marvin and Doubleslaps him on the face, thinking that he was the one who threw it at her. The Jynx's trainer calls out to her, and she shimmies away from Marvin. Marvin rubs his cheek, then turns to Xerox to help him figure out what's wrong with Exeggcute, only to see an exact replica of the Jynx standing next to Famifax, the busty blonde who has no Ditto on her head. It only takes Marvin a moment to figure out what happened, but *why* is another issue, "Xerox?! Why did you Transform into the Jynx?" The Jynx next to Famifax speaks unemotionally, "I have always wanted to add an Ice Pokemon to my arsenal, but I never had the chance to do so until now. I will have to stay in this form for a while to memorize how to Transform into a Jynx in the future. I hope that you do not mind, master." "Nah, I don't mind. It goes well with you're icy attitude..." Marvin chuckles, but Xerox does not. The magician reaches behind his back and glances at Exeggcute, who are still fighting amongst themselves, "What's wrong with Exeggcute?" Xerox looks down to observe the seeds for a moment, then explains, "Hmm. Two of the weaker Exeggcute wish to evolve into Exeggutor, but four of the Exeggcute do not wish to evolve. It appears that your Exeggcute are democratic and majority rules. Unless you can convince at least two more that evolving is beneficial, then you are stuck with Christmas Seeds, master." "There's no time for that... We have to go back to the caravan and help Bozo set up the stage for the Christmas magic show!" Marvin recalls his Exeggcute into their Safari Ball and hides it in his coat. Famifax fetches him the Leaf Stone, which he also conceals. Marvin sighs, "How can we get the audience in the Christmas spirit without a big, beautiful tree on our stage?" He turns to face Xerox for help, and the moment that he looks at her, a lightbulb appears over his head. An experienced store clerk shouts out to the new kid hanging decorations, "Hang MISTLETOE, not lightbulbs! ARGH!" * Thirty Minutes Later * Santa leaves the Celadon Mega-Pokemart with his helper Jynx and Britney Spearow beside him. Marvin, aka 'Santa', grins under his thick white beard, "This is perfect..." The jolly old fat man laughs and shouts, "Merry Christmas! HO HO HO!" Famifax gasps, places her hands on her hips, and glares at Marvin, "HEY, Santy-man! Who ya callin a ho ho ho?!!" -Marvin