KHI Holiday Contest: Creative Writing [Voting]

[KingdomKey]

Spoiler Show

“You're too slow.”
“Ahhh!”
The boy didn't have time to react to the snowball hitting his face and sending him on his butt in his surprise.
“You're such a mean cheater, Riku!”
Said 'cheater' only chuckled at the boy's demise and seemed to decide that he'd already won. But Sora weren't Sora if he just gave up like that.
“I want a rematch! Right here and now! I'm not letting you win again!”
“But I have already won.”
“No...Ahh, we'll see about that when you don't get a present from Santa Claus this year!”
They stared at each other silently for a minute. Sora was sure that being such a big meanie to your best friend resulted in being transferred from the nice-list to the naughty-list, but Riku didn't look shocked or afraid.
“You...”, he began slowly before chuckling again and moving towards the footbridge nearby, seeing that Sora's father was on his way to pick them up.
“Don't tell me you still believe in Santa Claus, Sora. That's so childish.”
The conceited grin on Sora's face turned into a pout and he blushed, obviously unsure what to say to that.
“W-what do you mean, childish? I've gotten presents from him every year!”
“Sure. But it might just be your parents putting them under the tree, right?”
Riku turned back for a moment, tilting his head slightly and with the same monotone countenance he always wore. He seemed completely convinced of what he said, and suddenly Sora felt like an idiot for actually believing that anyone but his parents brought him the presents.
But that didn't mean that he was convinced of Riku's words yet! This time, in the night before Christmas, he would stay awake and check who put the presents under the Christmas tree. That way, he could be a hundred percent sure if Riku told the truth or was lying to him. Maybe he was going to ask Kairi the next time she accompanied them to the island, if the other option didn't work.
“We'll see about that!!” he screamed and ran towards the boat arriving near the footbridge.

---

In the end, Sora had not only forgotten to try and stay awake on Christmas Eve, but also heavily overslept the next morning only for his mom to wake him up with a scolding yet loving expression on her face. She'd never get mad at him for oversleeping or forgetting about something. That was just how she was.
Even so, Sora would now have to wait an entire year to find out if Riku had spoken the truth, and if he was honest to himself, he was unwilling to wait that long.

Later that day, he spontaneously decided that it really was childish to believe in something like a man flying on a sleigh and bringing presents to children everywhere in the world. And to convince himself of that new-found fact, he eventually ran through the whole town, telling everyone he knew or didn't know:
“Well I don't believe in Santa Claus, because I'm not childish! Haha!”

---

“Merry Christmas!”
Kairi's cheery voice was accompanied by a warm, loving smile on her face. In her hands were two perfectly wrapped, beautiful boxes with presents in them. They looked identical from the outside, and both Sora and Riku accepted their present gratefully.
“Thanks, Kairi!”
“Thanks.”
It was basically the same procedure since four years ago now. Everyone had presents for everyone, and they spent the night at Riku's place because it was in the middle between Sora's home and the mayor's house, where Kairi lived.
“You've been as lazy as always, Sora,” Riku scolded jokingly and Kairi chuckled at that. The brunette's presents really were super lazily wrapped.
“I tried, okay!”
And then he remembered something.
“Oh right. Hey, Riku?”
“Mh?”
“I was asked by a very special person to give you their best wishes. Guess who it was!”
The grin on Sora's face was gigantic, his chin slightly lifted, but Riku didn't seem too bothered by the information.
“Uh...I don't know. Maybe it was the seagull whose egg you stole years ago.”
“You aren't funny! No. It was Santa Claus. Santa Claus!” He said it unnecessarily loudly the second time.
“Because yes, I have met him and I'll have you know that it's entirely your fault that I was on his naughty-list!”
“How so?”
“You told me not to believe in him!”
Silence. Riku blinked once, twice, then chuckled, then wholeheartedly laughed. Sora didn't understand what exactly was funny about that, but before he could say something, Kairi rose to speak.
“Do you mean back when you stormed around town on Christmas, screaming that Santa Claus was fake and you didn't believe in him in everyone's faces?”
Sora nodded enthusiastically, even though he didn't remember the part where he actually screamed at the people in town. Knowing himself though, it was probably true.
“Oh yes, I remember that. Well, I remember Selphie telling me the next day. I think I had to stay home because I was sick, but I'm not sure anymore. Sounds like you two though, such childish squabbling.”
“That's not the point! The point is that Riku lied to me and I bet he's still on Santa Claus's naughtiest-of-naughty-list. Serves him right though!!”
“I'm right here, you know.”
“Still!”
It really was nothing but squabbling from start to finish, but none of them minded. It didn't even take five minutes until they got back to unwrapping presents and talking about what they had gotten from whom this year.
“Oh, by the way, Sora. The next time you decide to just go meet Santa Claus himself in person…” Riku started with a scolding tone in his voice, but eventually it was Kairi who finished the sentence.
“You absolutely have to take us with you. I bet it's magical!”
And yet again, the biggest smile in the world formed on Sora's face when he nodded happily.
“You can count on it!!”

Spoiler Show

My Little Soldier​

"Close your eyes..."​

He was ten years old, staring up at the night sky, watching as the snow fell to the earth. He felt the cold settling into his skin, and he couldn't help but shiver from it. Looking over at his sister, the ten-year-old edged closer. He looked up at her instead of the sky, trying to understand his sister's mood. A frown coming to his face with the lack of success, he stared down at his feet. His shoes were starting to get covered by the snowflakes, but he wasn't entirely sure if "snowflakes" was the right word.

He'd heard other people call the white fluffy stuff that, but he couldn't remember for sure. Heck, he couldn't remember anything past the recent events of being yanked away from the game of Mythomagic that he was playing.

"I know what you see."​

He was about to win the game when a lawyer had shown up, claiming to have known his parents and then saying that him and his older sister had to come with them so the lawyer could enroll them in the school that their parents had wanted to enroll him and his sister in. He was thrilled to finally get out of there, his sister on the other hand had been suspicious but he'd begged her if they could go.

She'd reluctantly agreed to it.

"The darkness is high..."​

He felt her eyes on him, and made him glance at her. He saw the concern in her brown eyes, and it made him feel a little uncomfortable. He hated causing her to worry, yet at the same time he didn't want her to leave so he felt conflicted on what to do. He heard the voices whispering in his ear, telling him to run and he caught glimpses of shadowy people that roamed the streets; yet it seemed as if everyone else ignored them.

Catching the gaze of one, he felt his panic rise as they hissed in his mind, 'Filth, you have no right to be here. You should have died years ago you pathetic wretch.'

Tears formed in his eyes, they even started to fall in the frigid night air. Feeling his sister wrap her arms around him, he didn't know if he should push away or snuggle deeper into them. He heard her comforting words, but he couldn't ignore the accusations of the shadowy figures around him. They were right, he didn't have a right to exist, even if he didn't understand why. He remembered the arcade room back where the lawyer got them, and how some of the boys had spoken of boy with dark hair and sea-green eyes.

"And you're in ten feet deep."​

His cheeks grew warm at the memory, even so he felt shameful at the way his heart pounded. "I..I think there's something wrong with me, I think I'm crushing on a boy." he whimpered, snuggling closer for all the warmth and comfort he could get.

"It's okay, I promise whatever comes we'll face it together."

'We'll face it together...'

'Together....'

"Liar, you left me behind for the Hunters of Artemis, Bianca." Nico whispered, opening dim eyes, he stared down at the grave stone at the peak of the jutting rock. He always came back here whenever there was snow on the ground, he couldn't help but visit the old military academy. He saw the hollowed out building, and he remembered clearly what happened here. The manticore that was posing as a teacher to get closer to him and Bianca, Percy and his friends arriving here to bring them to Camp Half-Blood for training. Bianca abandoning him in favor of the Hunters.

"But we've faced more terrible monsters than sleep."​

He heard the ghost of words on the wind, and it angered him to know that the wind was mocking him. Kicking at the snow with his boot, Nico fought the urge to let the tears fall. He wasn't a ten-year-old anymore that needed protecting. He was a son of Hades, the Greek god of the dead, an ambassador of Pluto. He was a powerful demigod. He helped to defeat the Titans.

He was just a lost little kid.

He pulled his jacket closer, trying to find some comfort from it. His eyes found the silver skull ring on his finger, and he felt his heart shatter all over again. He didn't want to think of the moment he got it, but his mind betrayed him by dragging the memory to the surface once more.

"And you know I'll be here to tell you to breathe."​

Nico stood in the middle of the dining pavilion, staring at Bianca as he tried to figure out why his sister had called him out here. Not that he'd been asleep, he'd just been acting that way so she wouldn't realize he'd been spying on her. Looking down at the ground, Nico found it a little hard to believe that he was a demigod and that he was now in a safe location and that in this location it didn't snow.

That was the part he was having the hardest time believing.

"Nico, I want to give you something." Bianca said firmly, yet even then it held the gentleness he'd come to admire.

Curiosity getting the better of him, he looked at his sister and blinked a couple of times; looking for all the world like an innocent, curious child. He looked exactly like what he was for once. Taking step toward his sister, Nico didn't have a chance to ask a question before Bianca ordered firmly, "Hold out your hand and close your eyes brother."

Nico instinctively did as he was told, having complete trust in his sister. He felt her slide something onto his finger, and he wanted to look at it but he was afraid of angering his sister. Keeping them closed until he was told he could open them, Nico saw the skull ring sitting on his finger. Happiness rushed through him and Nico tackled Bianca, hugging her tightly he chatted about how much he loved it about a million miles per second, tripping over his words in his enuthasiam.

He saw the smile on his sister's face, the soft warm light in her eyes. Pausing to take a breath of air so he could continue with his chatter, he lost his train of thought as Bianca pushed him away so he was at arm's length, a serious look coming to her face. "Nico, I need you to be a good boy. I'm going on a quest with the Hunters, and I don't know when the next time I'll be able to see you, especially with their "no boys" policy. So, yeah, be a good boy and I'll come and visit you as soon as I can."

His joy turned to fear and despair, but bef/ore he could say anything Bianca had walked away from him, leaving him standing alone in the dining pavilion.

"Tu sei il mio soldatino (you're my little soldier)"​

Nico shook his head, banishing the memory from his mind for time being. He turned his gaze to the winter sky, thinking of the time when Bianca first sang the lullaby that their mother used to sing. Neither one of them at the time had understood where it had come from, and even now, after regaining some of his memories, Nico still didn't fully understand; all he knew was that it was always a comfort to hear the lullaby. Even when he had understood that it was a hint of things to come, as if his mother knew what sort of misery he was bound to come upon.

Falling into the snow, he felt the frozen liquid start to sweep through the knees of his jeans. He couldn't quite understand why he did this, other than maybe his body was tired of moving. Curling up in the snow, he felt the chill of it absorbing into his skin, causing him to shiver as it settled into his bones. He heard the ghosts in the area start to stir, a response to the power that he was sending out. He wanted to stop it, but his mind kept circuling back to the same thing. He was all alone this Christmas, there was no one he could spend it with.

His father was too busy for him. His sister was dead, his mother was dead and his crush has been missing for the past few weeks. He wasn't accepted at either camp, everyone avoided him since he was a child of Hades, the dead only answered his summons because they feared him. Anyone and everyone that he loved and loved him in return was dead. Sure, his crush was still alive, but they didn't seem to notice him because they were too hung up on their crush. He just wanted to die to get it over with. It would be better than the life he was living now.

'Then why don't you die, child?'

'You're weak. No one loves you. No one ever will.'

'Hades seriously screwed up with you, you're a failure!'

Nico heard the venomous thoughts that snuck into his head, causing him to slap his hands over his ears and him to curl up in a tighter ball. "Go away!" He shouted, trying to push the voices back but he noticed he wasn't having much luck, they just kept growing in volume and he could he the faintest sound of the earth below the snow cracking, trying to tear itself open in response to his distress. He knew things were going to get bad and fast, but he didn't know how to stop it.

"La ragione per cui vivo (the reason I live). Non ti scordar di me. (Don't forget me)."​

Feeling the wind pick up, he felt it wrap around him as a soft voice sang to him on the wind. It took him a moment but then recogniztion took over, it was comforting but at the same tie, it took what remained of heart and shredded it into a million tiny pieces. He pushed himself up, looking around him for the source of the voice, temporarally forgetting that they were dead. Climbing to his feet, Nico ran toward the school, throwing the doors open he called out, "Bianca!"

Spinning in a circle, he saw that there was no one there. Panting a little, Nico tried to get his breath back but found that no matter what he did he just couldn't manage it. It felt as if he was slowly suffocating instead as reality caught up to him once more. Bianca was dead. She'd died on that quest to rescue Artemis because of him, she'd been trying to complete his mythomagic figurine collection and she'd found the only one he'd been missing. Hades, who'd ironically enough had turned out to be his father. Clenching his fists as the memory brought with it fresh pain and anger, he wanted to rage against Zeus and tell him that it wasn't fair.

He'd been to camp Jupiter, and he'd seen the pictures of Jason. He knows who Thalia is, same thing with Percy and he didn't think it was fair that everyone else was allowed to have a sibling but he was forced to be alone. Tensing a little as a soul started to manifest in the empty school, Nico listened as the same voice from earlier sang again.

"Io vegilero su di te (I'm watching over you)."​

"Bianca please! Show yourself to me or just leave me alone! I can't take this madness anymore!" He shouted, his voice cracking both from the volume and the pain he was feeling; tears forming in his eyes he watched as a spectar appeared before him. Holding his breath, he saw the way Bianca smiled a sad smile at him.

"Hi Nico, it's been a long time, hasn't it?"

Nico wanted to scream at her, of course it had been a long time. And in truth, he hadn't expected her to show herself; she said that she wouldn't. Huffing a little, Nico couldn't stop himself from staring down at the tiles of the school. He tensed as he felt a pair of ghostly arms wrap around him, the faint smell of Bianca's personal scent tickling his nose. Closing his eyes, he breathed it in so he could try to remember it. "Sleep brother, I'll guard you for the night and then I'll leave you in the morning so you can move on."

"I'm not tired yet." Nico whispered, a ghost of a smile turning his mouth upward at the old argument they used to have.

He saw the disappointed frown on Bianca's face, before she carefully wrapped her ghostly hand over his and walked toward the bleachers; making it clear that she wanted him to go that way. While he knew that she couldn't make him go that way, unlike when she was alive, Nico still found himself following Bianca over to the benches. Sitting down on them, his mind tried to drift to the first time he'd met Percy here, but he shoved it away; focusing instead on Bianca.

Eyes growing heavy, he curled up on the bench and rested his head next to Bianca's leg. Closing his eyes, he felt the ghostly fingers of his sister moving through his slightly tangled dark hair. He knew that she was disappointed that he wasn't taking proper care of himself, but for the moment Nico didn't care; he just wanted to pretend that for once he was just a normal boy even if that was impossible. "Fine, you leave me no choice but to singing Soldatino, Nico."

A shy smile spread across his face at the threat, and Nico felt himself drift off to sleep as the rest of the lullaby wove its into the air.

"Stumbling lost,
The last choice of all that you meet,
It's the cost, of ruling those 'neath your feet.
Paths you've crossed, and trust you're trying to keep.
You're exhausted
Listening for a voice that can't speak.
Ma Nico, mio caro,
Tu sei il mio soldatino (You're my little soldier)
La ragione ho issuto (the reason I live)
Non ti scordar di me (Don't forget me)
Io vegliero su di te (I'm watching over you)."

Nico dove deeper into his subconcious, letting the words of the lullaby pull him deeper and deeper into the void of dreamless sleep; or if he did dream, it was of times when he didn't have to worry about monsters and being a demigod, instead he was just a normal child that had a normal family.

"So you run, through shadows you roam.
Seams undone, by a love you thought you could own.
He's just one, of many that you might call home.
And maybe someday, the bitter will fade from your bones.
Fade from your bones..."

~--------------------~​

"Eri il io soldatino (you were my little soldier)
Ora un principe oscuro (now, a dark prince)
Ma anche per te, c'e una luce (but even for you, there is a light)
Che ad un'dltra vita ti conduce (that leads you to another life)."

Nico woke up the next morning to hear the rest of the lullaby, it was faint in the air, alerting him that if he'd slept for much longer he wouldn't have heard the rest of Bianca's song. A tear sliding down his cheek, Nico brushed it away and ignored the desire to shiver. Instead he climbed to his feet and headed straight for the doors of the building, knowing what he had to do. Walking across the freshly fallen snow, Nico heard the snow crunching beneath his boots; but he didn't pay it much mind as he moved back toward the gravestone. Kneeling down, he traced the engraving of the words on the stone; not even bothering to read the message.

Humming the melody of the lullaby that first his mother, and then Bianca crafted for him, Nico closed his eyes as he let the warmth of the familiar sound enveloped him. Changing the lyrics ever so slightly so it was from his point of view, he sang softly, "I am your little soldier, you're the reason I live. I will always remember you."

Letting his words hang in the air, Nico stayed still for a few minutes holding a private vigil before he rose to his feet. Staring at the stone, he swore softly, "This is the last time I'll visit your grave sister, I promise." Then he turned around and stepped into a shadow, his mind deciding on his destination before he knew it.

He was going to Camp Jupiter to spend the holidays with his other sister, Hazel.

Spoiler Show

“Does everyone know the XIII Days of Xmas?”

“Don’t you mean the Twelve Days of Christmas?”

“As if! Just follow my lead.”

On the first day of Xmas,
Xemnas gave to me:
A heart made especially for me

On the second day of Xmas,
Xigbar gave to me:
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the third day of Xmas,
Xaldin gave to me:
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the fourth day of Xmas,
Vexen gave to me:
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the fifth day of Xmas,
Lexaeus gave to me:
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the sixth day of Xmas,
Zexion gave to me:
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the seventh day of Xmas,
Saïx gave to me:
Seven brand new missions

“Why are you singing instead of working?!”

Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the eighth day of Xmas,
Axel gave to me:
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the ninth day of Xmas,
Demyx gave to me:
Nine dancers dancing
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the tenth day of Xmas,
Luxord gave to me:
Ten dice a-rolling
Nine dancers dancing
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the eleventh day of Xmas,
Marluxia gave to me:
Eleven flowers blooming
Ten dice a-rolling
Nine dancers dancing
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the twelfth day of Xmas,
Larxene gave to me:
Twelve bolts of lightning
Eleven flowers blooming
Ten dice a-rolling
Nine dancers dancing
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me

On the thirteenth day of Xmas,
Roxas gave to me:
Thirteen keys unlocking
Twelve bolts of lightning
Eleven flowers blooming
Ten dice a-rolling
Nine dancers dancing
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me!

“Hey, wait a minute…”

“Think Poppet should have a verse?

“Certainly not! It does not deserve its own verse.”

“That’s good enough for me, all together now!”

On the fourteenth day of Xmas,
Xion gave to me:
Fourteen sticks of ice cream
Thirteen keys unlocking
Twelve bolts of lightning
Eleven flowers blooming
Ten dice a-rolling
Nine dancers dancing
Eight flaming chakrams
Seven brand new missions
Six dark illusions
Five silent schemes!
Four science lectures
Three stabbing lances
Two arrowguns
And a heart made especially for me!

Spoiler Show

Without You


to my good friend Kasidee​

"No! I won't live here! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"
I kicked the door which then bursted open, letting the cool air creep on my skin. I realize what I was about to step into, I was not to turn back to the warmth of that godforsaken cabin, but I didn't care. I just can't live like this now pretending what happened was just a dream!
I raced down the steps leading to the front porch and began to venture the winter forest, battling the strong wind and the large oak trees being obstacles in my path. I could barely make where I was going with the swirls of snowflakes covering my sight.
Screw it, I'm just going to have to go through the snow if I like it or not.
I didn't know where I was going, it didn't matter, nothing mattered to me anymore.
I reach a clearing in the middle of this dreaded maze, where I stop my feet to catch my breath while sitting down on the soft snow. Sucking the cold air in my lungs made tears well up in my eyes with the sharp pain it caused.
I didn't have time to stand up completely till I slip on what appears to be... ice.
I fall and land uncomfortably on my back, knocking the air out of my chest like a boulder. The sound of cracking ice fills my eardrums making my adrenaline rise. This ice isn't thick, it's thin.
But it was too late for me to do anything. The ice beneath me breaks as I grip on the ice that still remains, the bottom half of my body in icy water. I already began to shiver uncontrollably as I try to pull myself free from the freezing water that might lead me to my doom.
But the ice I held onto was beginning to break.
Oh God, please no! No no no no no!
I couldn't take it anymore, I need to call for help. I fill up my lungs, wishing there maybe hope.
"Help! Someone please! Help!" I screamed in a begging yell.
The ice began to break more in a faster pace, I knew the end was coming.
"Please! HELP!!!"
Then something gripped my arm that held onto the ice and began to pull me out of the water that now soaked my clothes. I lay on my side on the snow, away from the ice. I breathed in air loudly due to yelling and from shear relief.
Note to self: don't ever stand on ice unless you're skating.
________

I sit on the shaggy rug in front of the warm fireplace with dry clothes on, having a warm blanket hugging me. I stared at the burning flames, wishing that everything didn't happen. That my mother was still alive.

My mother died of cancer a month back, I had witnessed the death first hand.
My father became frustrated with everything and started drinking everyday wasting the money we had left. He started becoming violent verbally too, calling me names and threatening me.
One day, I had to pack my bags and move to an orphanage, I guess my father decided I wasn't important to him anymore. Then a man came and decided to adopt me 3 days back. The man was probably in his late sixies or seventies from the appearance of his face, he had a long white beard and thin white hair. I wasn't to thrilled with the adoption, I just wanted my mother to still alive so I would live with the family I knew again. But that family I knew is long gone now.

The man came into the living room I sat in, sitting next to me in front of the fireplace. He was holding a mug out expecting me to grab it, but I pretended to ignore him.
"What's that? Poison?" I remarked.
"No, it's hot chocolate. You need it or you'll get a cold," he spoked quietly in a soft tone.
I was irritated that he was right, and grabbed the mug that warmed my hands up instantly.
The man sat there quietly next to me for what felt like forever as I sipped the warm, delicious chocolate and sweet marshmallows in my mouth. He looked at me trying to read my face.
"Do you have a name missy?" he asks in a more louder voice than before.
I don't like being called "missy", my father called me that.
I sigh and answer, "I'm not a 'missy', and my name's Kasidee."
He nods slowly like he was starting to understand a puzzle. I finished the hot chocolate and handed him back the cup. He grabs it, but still gazes at me as I look into the fire trying to imagine he's not there.
"Well then Kasidee, can you tell me why you ran off like that?" he questions.
That did it for me, I turn away as I try to keep the tears in my eyes. I didn't answer, and the man didn't question me again as if he knew.
He then gets up and walks into the hallway that leads away from the living room where he opens a door and pulls out a small box and an envelope. He walks back to where I sit and sets the items next to me.
"I think these belong to you," he whispers. He gets up and ruffles my wet brown hair with his warm hand and leaves the room.
I glance at the box and envelope, curiosity filling my mind. I reach over to the envelope first, opening the seal. A note flew out as I unraveled it and began to read.

My dearest daughter, what I'm about to give you is something that you're grandmother owned, and from her mother and her grandmother.
This has been passed down to you sweetheart. Take good care of it as I hope you may give it to your own child one day. I love you with all of my heart. Merry Christmas my one little joy.
-Mother


I couldn't breathe. Tears flew free that I held back onto the note. I reach my hand and touched my mother's signature. My heart swelled in such deep hurt as I imagine my mother saying this to me.
I put the note beside me and pulled the red ribbon off the brown covered box.
What appears as I pull out what is seen as the most beautiful pendent. A deep red colored ruby that glowed next to the firelight. Complicated engravings surrounded the ruby in the middle. It was absolutely amazing to see.
I snap back into reality as the man walks into the living room with a grin.
"Want me to help put that on you?"
I nodded excitedly as I turn around and handed him the pendent. After he tightened the necklace, I turned and hugged him. We both got up on our feet.
"It's getting late. I must go off to sleep, busy day tomorrow, " the man says. He heads toward the hallway, but I forgot to ask him something.
"Wait! I never got to hear your name."
He stops and turns around having a soft smile.
"My name's Rob."
"Rob, thank you. For everything. Good night and.... Merry Christmas."
We both are now smiling at each other.
"You're welcome Kasidee, good night and Merry Christmas."

Spoiler Show

Two brothers. Intertwining fates. On the eve of Christmas, the two entities who separately embodied the frost and sun, Snow Miser and Hear Miser, would resolve their eternal hatred in the final battle. Heat Miser, known for his arrogant behavior and recklessness, would unsurprisingly be the one who initiated the conflict by arriving at the domain of Snow Miser despite being at a disadvantage due to the chill environment. “Your reserved sense of superiority… pisses me the hell off. I will be done with you and remove your narcissistic face from Mother’s planet!” Heat Miser said. “Ha ha ha… this time... I’ve a new power that’ll put the fight in my odds” Snow Miser said. Snow Miser’s smile grew brighter as he took a breath and said “Tell me brother… are you familiar with what some refer to as a stand?” A being that resembled dragon was created from non-existence and gazed at Heat Miser. “That little creampuff couldn’t freeze a lake in Michigan…” Heat Miser said. “NANI!! But that means…” Snow Miser exclaimed only to be interrupted by Heat Miser. “Yes brother, I am able to see your |MISTER TEN BELOW」because I too have a stand.” Heat Miser clinched his fist and a red turtle arose from summoned smog. “My 「MISTER A HUNDERD AND ONE」will end this quick” Heat Miser said before attacking. “AHHHHHHHH” the both of them screamed. 「MISTER A HUNDERD AND ONE」Started spinning rapidly and riding along the walls of Snow Miser’s domain. The whole earth had started shaking. Snow Miser knew that his apparent advantage had all but disappeared. Snow Miser used his stand to create an ice barrier around himself and proceeded to recall the stand so that he could think. Snow Miser knew that he had to think of something quick. As Snow Miser thought intensely, a vision of his mother appeared. “Snow… If you ever need to defeat your brother… and only if it is to protect my Earth… you must know that he is easily ticked off. That will be his downfall.” Snow Miser then destroyed the shield around him and started to mock Heat Miser. “Kekekeke… Your ridiculous stand couldn’t even defeat a lowly one such as the stand of Rudolph. You are a rapid fool of misbehavior.” These words were effective as Heat Miser began to shake in fury. His intense hatred started to melt the ground below him. All was according to plan. The ground below Heat Miser melted and he started to fall down the icicle realm. Snow Miser went in after him to finish the final blow at this more opportune moment. He called「MISTER TEN BELOW」and sent a barrage of icicle spears at Heat Miser. “ICI ICI ICI ICI ICI” was the battle cry of Snow Miser’s stand. Heat Miser, out of fear, called his stand in an attempt to protect himself. But Heat Miser’s weakened psyche lead to him summoning this turtle guardian in an exposed position, leading his soft underbelly to be penetrated. Heat Miser, having lost his stand, had proceeded to die. As they finally hit the bottom layer of the icicle ream, Ice Miser took a small moment to reflect on the battle. As he gazed at the corpse of his brother, he exclaimed “I’m too much!”