Pokemon Twist: A Gift from Delibird

This story is adapted from A Gift from St. Nicolas an American folktale that suits the present season. I'm not religious, but I like the story because it gives hope that no matter the hardships good things will find their way to good people. A Gift from Delibird A long time ago in Blackthorn City there was a shoemaker named Noboru Kita, he was a warm hearted and well-off man. He was well known and well liked by all the people of Blackthorn. Although he wasn't married he was quite content with his life of making sturdy shoes for hikers and cave delvers, until he met Miyako. Noboru fell madly in love with the beautiful Miyako the moment he met her, and immediately sought her hand in marriage. He was not her only suitor though, the local mayor also wished to marry Miyako. However, the mayor was a cold and uncharitable, and so Miyako married Noboru. The Kita's lived happily for some time, raising children and starting a side business in raising pokemon for food in addition to making shoes. Unfortunately the mayor was a vengeful sort of man, and he began to make expensive improvements to the city and charged the Kiba's heavily so that soon they and their children were quite poor. To make matters worse a man moved into the town who was able to repair shoes much more cheaply than Noboru. By the mid-winter holidays the family was down to their last meal of bread and dried berries. Noboru thought desperately about what he could sell to get more food for his family, and remembered an elaborate apricorn ball he had received as a gift many years before. It was such a nice apricorn ball that he knew it had to be a gift from the holiday's patron pokemon Delibird, which was believed to bring gifts every year to the residents of Blackthorn City. Noboru rummaged through an old trunk for some time before he found the ball, still in pristine condition having been wrapped in old clothes. As he removed it from the container he felt a cold draft of air blow in through the door, turning to close it quickly so that the house wouldn't cool too much he paused upon seeing a small squat bird with a buldging tail and feathers that made it appear to have a bushy white beard. It scuttled to into the house with comical squawks and waves of its short wings, letting Miyako close the door behind it. It stopped at the fireplace where a tiny lick of flame struggled to stay lit and looked up at the family with a shake of it's fluffy head, as though to scold them for such a pitiful fire. Noboru explained that they had nothing left to burn, and with a flurry of feathers the old bird produced logs from within its sack-like tail and piled them into the hearth. Soon a warm fire was blazing and with the nod of a job well done the bird proceeded to entertain the family with dances and songs. It was terribly difficult to be unhappy around this jolly little bird. After about an hour of games and songs the scarlet and white pokemon started rubbing its belly and staring at the cupboards. Realizing that the creature was hungry Miyako blushed and admitted to the bird that they had no food to offer. The bird tilted its head and scurried around the room, before the hungry family knew it there was a feast of food upon the table, all of the traditional holiday dishes, plates heaped to their fullest. The children cried out in delight and the whole family feasted with the generous old bird seated at the head of the table. As the meal was done Noboru showed the bird the apircorn ball and told it about his intentions to sell it for his family. Taking the ball gently in its wings the bird turned the ball around and looked at it for a long time, as though seeing an old friend for the first time in a long time. Shaking its head he hopped to its feet and scuttled to the trunk from which Noboru had taken it and replaced it inside. Nodding in satisfaction that things were as they should be the wise old bird returned to the side of the fireplace as the clock chimed midnight. The bird gave a bow, and one last happy dance before disappearing from the house in a flurry of feathers and soot. The children insisted that they had seen the bird go up the chimney, while Noboru and Miyako believed that the bird must have gone out the door after scattering the ashes. With full bellies and lighter hearts the family went to sleep. When morning came and Miyako swept up the ashes she found bags full of pokedollars underneath all the dirt, each with a tag reading 'From Delibird to you.' Soon there was a clamor from outside their home, hurrying outside Noboru and Miyako found that their old damaged house was now fully repaired and beautifully repainted. At first their neighbors weren't sure what to think, they were rather afraid until the Kita's told them their story and showed them the gifts from the holiday pokemon. The people quickly decided that Noboru should be the city gyms curator, an important position that would support the Kita family for years to come. The End I like to think that if pokemon had folk tales similar to our that this would be among them. If you have a suggestion as to what story should be adapted next feel free to suggest one through a pm.