This is something that's been brewing in my mind for a while, and I really wanted to have something special and Anicordia-related made in time for Christmas. As the title says, this is about Crystal Sapphurai experiencing her first true Christmas in Anicordia, with some help from her friends. Hope you enjoy, and a Merry Christmas to you all! =)

***

The next day, when Crystal’s food-induced stupor had worn off, and her stomach had mostly shrunk back down to its normal level of plumpness, Turbo and Eclipse showed up at the lighthouse again. The former was carrying a heavy book under his arm. They sat down with Crystal and Syren before the fireplace.

“Well, Starshine,” said Turbo, “Mom and Audrey told me you greatly enjoyed the holiday sampler they gave you.”

“I really did,” said Crystal, “but I think I had too much. Miss Carmella had to carry me back home, cuz I got so fat and sleepy.”

“Aw, don’t be hard on yourself, Cryssy,” said Syren. “All that matters is that you enjoyed it.”

“That’s right,” said Eclipse. “Everyone overeats around the holidays, whether they mean to or not. That’s why a lot of people go on diets as a New Year’s resolution, to work off that holiday pudge.”

“Whether or not they actually stick to it is another matter altogether,” said Turbo.

“I don’t mind my pudge,” said Crystal, patting her belly, “but I don’t want to get too big. I don’t like the sound of the word ‘diet’, though. I know what it means, but why does it have to sound like ‘die’ with a ‘t’?”

“A mystery for the ages, Cryssy,” said Eclipse, smirking.

“In any case, Crystal,” said Turbo, “we’ve given you a taste of what the decorations mean, and you’ve literally gotten a taste of what kind of food animals enjoy around the holidays. For the last lesson, I’ve gotten in contact with an expert to fill you in on some of the lore behind the holiday itself, how it all got started.”

“Ooh,” said Crystal, intrigued. “Which expert?”

“One you know quite well,” said Turbo, grinning.

He reached into his pocket, and pulled out something small and spherical.

“You remember when Henry made these Compacameras?” he asked.

Crystal nodded.

“Well, a while ago, he found a way to turn one into a two-way communications device. At this moment, he’s currently expecting a call from me, and he’ll be beaming into us live from where he’s vacationing. Once he knew he’d be helping you out, he was more than ready to set some time aside.”

He winked genially, and Crystal blushed. She was grateful that her friends were willing to drop what they were doing to give her a hand, but it also made her feel a little embarrassed.
Turbo pressed a minute button on the underside of the Compacamera, which made the lens blink white. He held it close to his muzzle.

“Testing, testing,” he spoke clearly into it. “Turbo Vulpe calling Henry Kuwack.”

He turned the device so that the lens pointed towards the ceiling. A beam of light shot forth from it, stopping about halfway, before expanding into a circular patch. In the middle of it showed the grinning face of Henry Kuwack, wearing sunglasses in place of his spectacles, his head adorned with a slouch hat.

“G’day, friends!” he called. “Greetings from the land down under!”

“Hi, Henry!” everyone called.

“Hi, Henry!” said Crystal, smiling broadly. “Hope you had a happy Winter’s Eve!”

“Aha, so they’ve told you about that, have they?” asked Henry. “Very enjoyable, as always. It’s sad not to be able to celebrate at the same time as the rest of the country, but nature’s nature, and when bears gotta sleep, birds gotta fly. I know Jack feels the same way.”

“So, how’s Australaylia?”

“Australia, kiddo,” Henry corrected mildly, “and it’s excellent. Very hot here, but much better than the cold I left behind. We’re actually not in Australia proper, but we’re on an island off the coast of Sydney. Beautiful harbor town, magnificent opera house.”

“Aren’t there a lot of...what did you call them, hoo-mins there?” Crystal asked.

“Oh, plenty of humans,” said Henry. “Now that the kingdom’s reopened, we’re gradually re-establishing connections with our neighbors across the sea. I could tell you a thing or two about what that’s been like, and what His Majesty and Fhey have had to deal with, but that’s not why I’m here. Turbo tells me you want to learn about Christmas.”

“Uh-huh,” said Crystal. “They’ve told me about the decorations and the food, and now he says you know some holiday history.”

“I certainly do,” said Henry. “Even though my passion is for science, I’ve always had a keen interest in history. Plus, my cousin is a dedicated folklorist, and has amassed quite the collection on tales and legends. I asked Turbo to find some literature to help with my demonstration, preferably with some good illustrations.”

Turbo held up the book he had brought with him.

“So, you ready, Crystal?” Henry asked.

“Very ready,” said Crystal, earnestly.

“Atta girl,” said Henry. “Well, let’s start at the beginning. The precise date is unknown, but it dates back to the days of the earliest-recorded king of Anicordia.”

Turbo opened his book and held it out for Crystal to see. It depicted an illustration of a snowy landscape, the sky alight with a celestial glow.

“Legends say that in the Frozen North,” said Henry, “where the night sky glows with the aurora borealis, there lived a tribe of wise and generous reindeer.”

Turbo flipped the page, showing several antlered reindeer in long cloaks.

“These reindeer were blessed with the art of professional craftsmanship, and since there’s not much to do in a land that’s nothing but snow and ice, they took to using those very resources to build and sculpt. They especially loved making trinkets, knickknacks, and toys.”

The next pictures showed the reindeer at work with hammers and chisels, and then some sculptures and figures made from shaped ice.

“These ice carvings were very special indeed,” said Henry. “They say there was some magic in those reindeers’ hooves, as the ice they used never melted.”

Crystal goggled at him.

“Never?”

“Never, not even on the hottest day in July,” said Henry.

“Wow,” breathed Crystal.

“Impressive, isn’t it? Well, these reindeer were mighty fine builders, but after a time, they began to wonder what to do with all the things they had made. There were only so many of them up there, and they couldn’t just keep them all to themselves. They thought that surely someone would want to share in what they made.”

The next picture showed the reindeer surrounded by a multitude of sculptures and carvings, looking thoughtful and worried.

“But then, one of them had a stroke of brilliance.”

Now the book showed one reindeer, taller than the others, talking to his fellow animatedly. Above his head was a speech bubble, showing what looked like three hooded figures walking towards a stable, a star hanging overhead.

“He gathered the others together, and told them of a story he had heard, of three wise men who came from a far-away land, following a star to find a newborn king, and presenting him with precious gifts. He suggested that they do the same: follow the stars, and travel south to find a king upon whom they could present the fruits of their labor. And so they did.”

The next illustrations showed the reindeer floating across the water on a raft made of ice, and then wandering single-file through the wilderness, all bearing cloth packs on their backs all the while. Strings of tiny bells sparkled at their waists.

“It was a long journey, and very tiring. The reindeer had never left the Frozen North before, and didn’t know the way to anywhere else at all. That’s why they wore belts of silver bells, so that if they should get separated from each other along the way, they would eventually find each other again.”

Now Crystal saw one of the reindeer pointing excitedly to a distant castle on the horizon.

“Even though they didn’t know exactly where they were going, they eventually made their way to what’s now Lionden, and found a grand castle sitting at the edge of a great forest. ‘Surely,’ they thought, ‘a great king must live in such a fine castle as that!’”

The next page showed the reindeer bowing before a regal and surprised lion seated on a throne, their ice-made gifts set out before them.

“There was indeed a king in the castle, and he was amazed to receive such visitors, and impressed by the generosity.”

Now a pair of lion cubs, boy and girl, were happily playing with the ice toys, while the king, his queen, and one of the reindeer looked on with smiles on their faces.

“Luckily, the king and queen had children, who were very happy to receive these gifts, even if they were made of ice. Never before had they received such magnificent toys.”

Now the reindeer were kneeling again, as the king reverently laid the tip of his sword on the lead deer’s shoulder.

“The king was so impressed by their skill, generosity, and determination in traveling so far, he named the reindeer his royal toymakers, and had special accommodations arranged for them, as they had been used to cold climates all their lives.”

The next group of pictures showed the toys made of ice, then ones made of wood, and then more modern-looking toys.

“The gift-giving reindeer improved upon their craft, moving from ice to wood, which was far easier for them to carve and sculpt with, and didn’t need special enchantments to last forever. As the years passed, the legend of the generous reindeer passed down through the generations, and it eventually became the custom for all Anicordians to follow their example, and present each other with gifts on Christmas Day, though it’s always said that none can make toys quite as well as a reindeer.”

Turbo closed the book. Crystal merely sat there, eyes wide in amazement.

“Wow,” she said, finally. “That’s amazing!”

“Yeah,” said Syren. “Even I only remembered bits and pieces of that old story.”

“It’s amazing what a simple act of random kindness can do,” said Eclipse.

“Couldn’t have put it better myself, Eclipse,” said Henry. “Whether or not the legend is true, those reindeers’ story set an example of compassion and charity, even for someone they’d never even met, and that leads to the next point of this whole lesson.”

Crystal looked up at him, all attention.

“There’s countless stories, movies, TV specials and the like all centered around the holidays, Crystal, which all tell different tales centered around Christmas, and often involving those who don’t understand what Christmas is truly about. A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the like. Oftentimes, the folks in those stories, and even in real life, get so swept up in the presents and presentation, that they become solely focused on that aspect, and fail to realize the true meaning of Christmas.”

Crystal nodded slowly, to show she was still listening, her eyes fixed on Henry.

“Which is,” Henry continued, “that while getting presents and all that is nice, Christmas isn’t about getting. It’s about giving. Not just giving gifts, but giving time and love to those around you. It may seem like it’s about presents, decorating, cooking, and singing songs, but in reality, the presents, the decorations, the food, and the songs are about showing others how much you care about them, and for them to show how much they care about you. Christmas is a time where creatures everywhere can open up their shut-up hearts, cast aside the dreary drudgery of their day-to-day life, forget the worries of yesterday, and come together in heart and soul, to share in the spirit of the season, to wish for peace on Earth, and for goodwill towards all.”

Crystal stared, open-mouthed, at Henry. At long last, it was starting to become clear to her. She now understood why animals felt such joy and happiness at Christmas. It wasn’t simply about getting gifts, singing songs, cooking food, or making their homes look nice, as Henry said. It was the fact that the gifts, the songs, and the decorating each meant something special for the season, a season that brought animals together in the spirit of compassion, kindness, and generosity. It was, to put simply, a season of the heart.

Now that she thought about it, it reminded her of…

Turbo, Eclipse, and Syren, who had been similarly wowed and warmed by Henry’s speech on the true meaning of Christmas, were looking at Crystal to see the effect that all of this had on her, to see if she now understood. They began to grow disconcerted as she remained silent and thoughtful.

“Are you ok, Starshine?” Turbo asked.

Crystal blinked and looked up, realizing that everyone was staring at her.

“Huh?”

“We figured you’d be happy to learn what you wanted about Christmas,” said Eclipse.

“It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?” asked Syren. “To really have it explained?”

“Oh, it is!” said Crystal. “I am happy! I do understand now, and it feels wonderful. I’m happy to know what about Christmas makes animals so happy that I can feel it. It makes me want to share in it too, more than ever before!”

They could see the earnestness of her feelings in her pudgy face, as she clasped her hands to her heart in fervor, and yet, there was still that lingering thought lurking in her expression. Looking from one face to the next, she saw that they still looked a little concerned, so she put her hands down and said, quietly,

“It also reminds me of something, something I’d forgotten about until now…”

The others looked at each other, the concern now mixed with a hint of tension.

“What is it, kiddo?” asked Henry.

“You can tell us,” said Turbo. “We’re your friends.”

“And your family,” said Syren, earnestly.

She drew an arm around her and drew her close. Crystal once again looked around at her friends, who were all regarding her with kind sympathy. How could she disappoint them by not telling them the truth? Surely they would understand.

“Well,” she said, slowly, “you all have so many wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas with your friends and families, and it’s all so lovely, and it makes me feel all warm and happy inside. It’s just like…”

She paused, swallowed, then said.

“It’s just like...like the holiday Daddy and I shared…”

***

A silence filled the lighthouse living room at Crystal’s last words. An uneasy, tense silence. Syren clapped a paw to her muzzle. Eclipse twitched her tail in agitation. Turbo and Henry looked askance at each other, the latter visibly tugging at his collar in his projection window.

Finally, Syren broke the silence.

“The...holiday you and your dad shared?” she asked, tentatively.

“Mm-hmm,” said Crystal, quietly.

There was another pause. Crystal looked about, saw them all looking tense and worried, and said,

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you all worry about me. I know Daddy’s...not here. It was just that kind of...what’s that word, Henry? For when you remember something about your past?”

“Nostalgia?”

“That’s it. It gave me a nostalgia, because Christmas feels a lot like it.”

The others couldn’t help chuckling at her innocent misuse of the word ‘nostalgia’, but they got the idea of what she meant. The mood had lightened a little now.

“So, what was your holiday called?” asked Eclipse. “Do you mind telling us?”

“I don’t mind,” said Crystal, “but all I know about it is from what Daddy taught me, so I don’t know if there’s more to it. He called it Fest Coristelle, which he said means ‘Celebrating the Heart of the Stars’.”

Henry looked thoughtful at this, stroking the underside of his beak, but said nothing.

“The Heart of the Stars?” Turbo echoed.

“It’s one of the names Daddy had for our greatest queen,” said Crystal. “He called her Emera the Everlasting. He said she was the protector of the Amberites, and had been for many years.”

Turbo and his friends looked askance at each other, unease on their faces, especially on Henry’s. Crystal still didn’t know about what had happened to her planet, the planet this ‘Emera the Everlasting’ was supposed to have been protecting.

“Something wrong?” Crystal asked, innocently.

“Oh, no, nothing!” said Turbo, hurriedly.

“Please, tell us more about this holiday of yours,” said Henry.

Crystal screwed up her face in concentration, puffing her cheek out rather cutely as she thought.

“Well, as far back as I can remember, we always did it the same way, the way Daddy taught me,” she said. “We would have a special dinner, made from the local foods of whatever planet we were on at the time, since our house was always on the move. Daddy said it doesn’t matter what we eat, so long as we share in what our neighbors have to offer us, since Queen Emera wants us all to be brought together, just like King Amicus and Chef Ambrose did.”

“She remembered!” Turbo eagerly hissed in Eclipse’s ear, who grinned and nodded.

“Wow,” said Henry. “That sounds really nice, and it definitely sounds Christmas-y.”

“Yep,” said Crystal, “and we all eat as much as we can, until we’re so full we can’t eat another bite.”

“Is that where that tummy of yours comes from?” teased Syren, tickling Crystal’s little paunch. “All that Fest feasting over the years?”

Crystal squealed and giggled, shielding her belly with her hands to prevent further tickle attacks. The others chuckled. Once Crystal settled down again, she continued,

“After that, we wait until the sun goes down, or at least one of them does, if the planet has more than one sun, and then we light star candles around us.”

“Star candles?” asked Turbo.

“They’re tiny bits of space rock that glow like stars when it gets dark enough. Lighting as many as we can is our way of sending our greetings to Queen Emera from across the galaxy, Daddy said. He also said that doing that, and singing songs nice and loud, keeps away Inanis.”

“Who?” asked Syren.

“Inanis. Daddy said he’s a mean trickster who lurks in the dark spaces between the stars, gobbling up all the bad boys and girls on every planet, and spitting them back out across the galaxy. Lighting up a lot of star candles keeps him from being able to sneak up on you, and if you eat a really big feast, you get too big and heavy for him to gobble up.”

No one seemed to know what to say to this. Turbo looked at Henry again, and he merely shrugged.

“I...see,” said Syren.

“Sounds like a real jerk, if he spits kids out across the galaxy,” said Eclipse. “What does he expect them to do, find their way back home by themselves?”

“I asked Daddy about that as well,” said Crystal. “He said Inanis only punishes the really bad boys and girls, the ones who never listen to their parents and cause trouble on purpose. He said it might be harsh, but it hopefully teaches them a lesson. He always told me I’d never have to worry about Inanis, though.”

“Because you’re always such a good girl,” said Syren, giving Crystal a warm hug.

“Aww, Syren,” mumbled Crystal.

“It’s true, you know,” said Henry, grinning. “I’d like to see any old blowhard like Inanis lift a cosmic finger against our little Crystal.”

“That goes double for me,” said Turbo, fervently.

“And me,” said Eclipse.

“Stop, you guys,” said Crystal, bashfully, her cheeks crimson. “You’re making me blush.”

Syren released Crystal, everyone still smiling, and she eventually recovered herself enough to continue, though still a little pink in the cheeks.

“So, you light star candles to keep Inanis away, and you sing songs?” Turbo prompted. “What kind of songs?”

“We sing a mix of our favorite songs, and favorites of the planet we’re on,” said Crystal. “I guess, in a way, they’re kind of like Christmas carols, since they’re the kind of songs everyone tends to know.”

“My goodness,” said Henry. “Who would’ve thought that other planets had carols of their own?”

“And finally,” said Crystal, “when the planet’s moon is at its highest, or moons, if they have more than one, we hold up our birthstones to the stars.”

“Your birthstones?” Turbo repeated.

“You mean your necklace?” Syren asked, looking at the green gem hanging from Crystal’s neck.

“Uh-huh. We hold them up, and give thanks to Emera for another good year. Daddy said every Amberite’s birthstone is connected to their power, and the love and happiness we feel on Fest Coristelle makes them light up, shining like new stars for Emera to see, so she can know we still have her and each other in our hearts.”

No one said anything for a moment or two. Just as Crystal had been stunned into silence by Henry’s speech on the true meaning of Christmas, so too were her friends rendered speechless by this pronouncement. Even Henry, whose old friend had observed Amberitian activity before his death, had never heard this kind of tale before.

“And that’s Fest Coristelle?” Syren asked, at last.

“That’s Fest Coristelle,” said Crystal, proudly. “We do give each other gifts, too, just one each for our friends and family. Of course, I always had a hard time hiding mine from Daddy, mostly because I was so excited for him to get it.”

This produced another good-natured laugh. The mental image of a tiny Crystal, her face glowing with anticipation, waiting to present a gift hidden behind her back, was too precious to put into words.

“Well, what do you know about that,” said Henry, sounding impressed. “Here we all were, thinking we’d be teaching you about Christmas, Crystal, and here you go, dropping a bombshell on us. A bombshell by the name of Fest Coristelle.”

Crystal looked puzzled.

“It’s an expression, Cryssy,” said Syren. “He means telling us something big that we never expected.”

“Ohh.”

“That really is the best kind of teaching,” said Eclipse, “when the student teaches the teacher just as much as the teacher teaches the student.”

“Like me teaching you to actually show me how to swordfight?” Turbo asked, wryly.

“Oh, shush,” said Eclipse, nudging her vulpine beloved. “I mean, yes, but shush.”

Syren and Crystal giggled.

“Get a room, you two,” chuckled Henry.

“But, in any case,” said Turbo, “we’re all very impressed, Starshine. You’ve not only been a good Christmas student, but you’ve given us something new as well: a little bit more about the Amberite we all love.”

“Aw, Turbo,” mumbled Crystal, turning pink again.

“And therefore,” Turbo went on, “it wouldn’t be right for us all to celebrate our holiday and leave yours unacknowledged.”

Crystal stared, looking puzzled again.

“What do you mean?”

Turbo looked around at the others, who seemed to comprehend what he meant, as they smiled and nodded.

“I mean,” said Turbo, “that I swear to you that we’ll do what it takes to make sure that we’ll all celebrate not just Christmas, but Fest Coristelle together this year, even if it has to be during the Christmas party itself.”

Crystal’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates, sparkling as her face lit up with delight.

“You mean that?” she asked, breathlessly.

“I do,” said Turbo, stoutly. “It’s only right that, as we’re sharing our customs with you, you should have the chance to share yours with us. After all, isn’t that in the spirit of the season of giving?”

With a delighted cry, Crystal suddenly launched herself from the sofa and tackled Turbo where he sat in a tight hug, nearly upending the chair with the both of them in it. Though caught by surprise themselves, Eclipse, Syren, and Henry all laughed.

“Whoa-ho, easy there, Cryssy!” Turbo gasped, looking down at the little blue cannonball that had just collided with his torso. “You gotta warn a fella before you tackle them like that.”

“Thank you,” said Crystal. “Sorry, but thank you.”

Turbo, smiling, returned her hug.

“Of course, Starshine,” he said. “Anything for a friend.”

Eclipse got up and added herself to the embrace, purring happily, and Syren was not long in joining.

“Aw, shucks,” said Henry. “That’s one of the caveats of these video calls: you can’t join in any group hugs. Makes a fella feel a little left out.”

“Sorry, Henry,” said Eclipse, looking up. “We really appreciate you lending your knowledge today.”

“Yeah, Henry, thanks,” said Crystal, fervently, looking up at Henry’s floating face. “Very much.”

“No trouble at all, Crystal, my dear,” said Henry, gallantly. “Always happy to lend a little insight and knowledge where it’s needed. Now, I hate to cut this short, but I’d better get going. There’s a rugby match today, and we’ve got prime seats. Catch you later, kids, or, as they say down here, hoo-roo!”

“Bye, Henry!” the friends chorused, and with a jovial wave, Henry’s image disappeared.
“All right, Crystal,” said Turbo, as the group hug broke up, “we’ve still got a few days before the Christmas party. All we really need to do is find you a good outfit and brush you up on a few Christmas carols. Do you think you’ll be ready by then?”

“After what you guys have shown me, I’ll be ready,” said Crystal, confidently.

“I’ll make sure she’s ready,” said Syren, just as confidently.

“Excellent,” said Turbo. “Then look out, Anicordia: Fest Coristelle is coming to Lionden!”

***

At long last, the day every animal had been waiting for had come. Christmas Eve had arrived, and with it, the annual Christmas party at the castle in Lionden.

If the hustle and bustle to prepare homes and dining tables for Christmas had been hectic, it was nothing compared to the excitement within the city walls. From the front gate all the way to the castle, the main street was absolutely packed with animals all dressed in their festive best, talking animatedly and inching their way ever more towards the site of the Christmas party. The most active theme park waiting lines could hardly compare, though they operated at roughly the same pace.

There was much to see along the way, however. Every shop window, every door, every lamppost was decked out in their holiday best, festooned with garlands, lights, wreaths, and holly. There was also the massive Christmas tree standing in the middle of town square, one enormous tower of pine, festooned with lights, casting a multicolored glow on the city all around it. Every which way one looked, their eyes were met by the sight of Christmas cheer around every corner. This, coupled with the sheets of white snow covering every rooftop and blanketing the ground, and the cheerfully lighted windows of the castle beyond, made Lionden look the most inviting it had been in years.

Standing at the entrance to the castle, decked out in resplendent clothes of red, green, and gold, and with a crown of holly atop his mane, was King Richard himself, greeting guests joyfully and boisterously, and wishing them all a Merry Christmas. He was in the highest of spirits tonight, for nothing gave His Majesty greater pleasure than seeing so many animals gathered together, especially for such a night as tonight.

On the opposite side of the door, doing likewise, though with not as much enthusiasm, was Fhey Augur. She had divested herself of her usual long black cloak, and was wearing a green mantle trimmed with white, worn over a crimson sweater, matching skirt, and white tights. She was pulling the double job of greeting guests and checking them off the extensive RSVP list floating beside her as they came in, for though all were welcome to attend the king’s party, it was still customary to give proper forewarning, lest insufficient preparations be made.

Fhey was smiling amiably all throughout this proceeding, though feeling a little self-conscious, as she tended to do whenever wearing anything that made her feel silly, even if it matched the occasion. However, her face lit up with joy at the sight of four familiar foxes, a cat, and an Amberite, all decked out in Christmas finery, making their way forward.Truth be told, the one thing that Fhey regretted about being the royal mage was how long she often went without seeing her friends outside of Lionden, and she’d missed them very much.

“Welcome, my dear friends!” she called, when they were close enough. “Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas, indeed!” boomed King Richard. “Welcome, Vulpes, Moontails! And you too, Miss Aquas, Miss Sapphurai!”

“Merry Christmas, Your Majesty, Fhey,” said Turbo, beaming.

“Merry Christmas!” chorused the others.

Fhey blinked, then shook her head, unsure of what she was seeing.

“Turbo,” she said, slowly, “are you...wearing a wreath?”

“Why, so I am,” said Turbo.

And so he was. Hanging over the shoulders of the coat and suit he was wearing for the occasion was a large wreath, like a great green yoke. It was earning quite a few stares, but Turbo hadn’t taken any notice. Carmella merely shook her head in an amused way, and Audrey giggled.

The corners of Fhey’s mouth twitched, looking on the verge of a laugh. She cleared her throat hurriedly, then turned to Eclipse.

“And, Eclipse,” she said, in the same tone, “it’s hard to tell, but is that...tinsel around your neck?”

“Why, yes it is,” said Eclipse, smiling. “So glad you noticed.”

How could one not notice? Then again, when seen with the sparkling scarlet dress Eclipse was wearing tonight, one could almost mistake it for a glittering boa. It certainly matched with her attire better than with Turbo and his wreath. Her mother and little brother Shade had not joined her for the evening, preferring to spend Christmas quietly at home, but they’d found her and Turbo’s idea of ‘festive accessorizing’ quite funny as well.

“I see,” said Fhey, amusement in her tone. “Well, I’d love to ask more about your choice in holiday-wear, but we’ve got to keep the line moving. I’ll catch up with you later once everyone’s checked in.”

So saying, she waved her paw, and several names were crossed out on her list. The group shifted forward a little more, allowing for Crystal to get closer to Fhey. She was wearing a green dress that fell to her ankles, her bellapinnas plaited with red ribbons. It was similar to what Syren was wearing herself, except her dress was dark-blue.

“Hi, Fhey!” she said, giving a little twirl. “How do I look for my first Christmas?”

“Very festive, sweetie,” said Fhey, beaming at her. “I’m sorry I haven’t got time to talk now, but I’ll see you later, ok?”

“Ok! I can’t wait to see what kind of magic you did for the party!”

“Oh, just take a peek at the courtyard, and you might see something,” said Fhey, winking.

Excited, Crystal re-engaged herself with the others, and followed them through the castle gates, looking this way and that, not wanting to miss a thing. Once they got to the outer courtyard, she saw what Fhey had hinted at, and gasped.

A whole corner had been devoted to what looked like a winter playground. Igloos had been erected, as well as a pair of snow forts, behind which young animals were already engaged in a snowball fight with each other while their parents watched. Further on was an ice-skating rink, where more animals slipped and slid, laughing all the while. Most prominent of all, however, was a large golden-brown house decorated with white trimming, which was giving off the unmistakable smell of gingerbread.

“Look, look!” Crystal squealed, tugging Syren’s arm and pointing. “There really are life-sized gingerbread houses!”

“Well, would you look at that!” laughed Syren.

“My goodness!” said Carmella. “Now that’s a gingerbread house!”

“Fhey really outdid herself this time,” said Eclipse.

“I’ll be even more impressed if that thing’s made of self-regenerating gingerbread,” said Turbo. “Otherwise, it’ll be gone in about an hour. Maybe even less.”

The others laughed, then moved on into the warmer castle interior. The portraits lining the walls were framed by holly and wreaths, candles burned brightly in freshly-polished brackets, and even the suits of armor were draped in garlands. The castle decorators must have been at work for hours getting all of it ready for tonight.

The congregation soon spilled out into the grand ballroom, where animals were already spread out and mingling with each other. This was where the party usually began, before being dispersed for food and games. King Richard’s policy was to keep both dining and entertainment running in equal measure, so guests could come and go from one to the other as they pleased, depending on their preference.

After some time of milling and mingling and marveling at the decorations, with Crystal revolving on the spot to catch it all, the group of friends was joined by Fhey, smiling broadly as she caught up with them. She gave them all a big hug one after the other, though she would only consent to hug Turbo if he took the wreath off, saying she’d rather not get fir needles all over her clothes. Having accomplished what he’d wanted with his and Eclipse’s little joke, he gladly cast his unorthodox adornment off, and hugged Fhey warmly. Crystal was last but not least, as Fhey kneeled down to give her a big embrace and a lick on the cheek.

“I hope you’re ready for your first Christmas,” she said.

“Yep!” said Crystal. “I wanted to know why it made every animal so happy, and now I do, thanks to the others.”

“How wonderful,” said Fhey. “Speaking as a mage, it truly is a magical time of year, and I’m glad you get to share in it with us.”

“And that’s not all,” said Turbo. “Crystal had a little surprise for us as well at the end of her lesson.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

Turbo opened his mouth to continue speaking, but was interrupted by the blaring of trumpets.

“Later,” he mouthed to Fhey, then turned his attention to the doorway like everyone else.
Bernard, the king’s dachshund page, stepped forward, stood to rigid attention, and called, in his strident voice,

“Ladies and gentlemen, his Royal Festiveness, King Richard Lionheart IV!”

There was some laughter mixed in with the burst of applause as King Richard strode into the ballroom. Animals everywhere bowed.

“Welcome, my fellow Anicordians!” said His Majesty, his arms spread wide. “I won’t keep you too long from the fun and feasting. I merely wish to say how proud it makes me to see all of you gathered here tonight, on this night of nights, especially after the tumultuous events of last year. I know not all of us could be here tonight, such as our hibernating and migrating brothers and sisters, but I wish them all the best in their rest and relaxation, and can only state my earnest hope that we make up for the time lost last year with the best Christmas we’ve seen yet. A Merry Christmas to you all!”

“Merry Christmas!” roared hundreds of voices together.

“And now, Miss Augur, if you will,” King Richard called.

Fhey straightened up, turned to the crowd, and said, in a clear voice,

“Ladies and gentlemen, let the Christmas festivities begin!”

She raised her paw and snapped her fingers. The ballroom was soon filled with cries of ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’, as what appeared to be snowflakes came fluttering down from the ceiling, which seemed to have vanished, replaced with an open view of the night sky outside. The flakes, however, vanished the instant they touched the floor or an animal, vanishing with a silent puff and a refreshing spritz of cool air. That wasn’t all, though. Even more cries and gasps sounded as the night sky ceiling was lit up with the spectral colors of an aurora borealis.

Turbo let out a low, impressed whistle.

“Not bad, Fhey,” he said. “Not bad at all.”

Fhey’s purple cheeks turned slightly pink, but she looked quite pleased with herself.

“Well, shall we?” she asked. “The banquet’s already laid out in the dining hall, and piping hot.”

“Ooh, yes, let’s!” said Crystal, eagerly. “I want to sample as much as I can!”

“And get a nice big Fest belly for tonight,” quipped Syren, giggling.

Fhey looked slightly puzzled at this, but she still led the others on to the dining hall, where many other animals were congregating, having determined to start off the party with a hearty meal. The selection was just as varied and appetizing as the one Carmella and Audrey had Crystal sampled, and she was soon one of the first to load up her plate with as much as she could on a first trip, though the others weren’t too far behind.

As Crystal ate, drank, and made herself merry, Turbo and Eclipse explained to Fhey about their Amberitian friend’s own special holiday, from everything she told them. The young mage was quite surprised, as well as deeply impressed.

“Astounding,” she said, low enough so that Crystal couldn’t overhear. “I know my astrological kin must have noted this holiday in their findings, but I don’t remember hearing about it in full detail. And you all want her to recreate it here?”

“As best as we can,” said Turbo. “It’s the least we can do for her, since she’s sharing Christmas with us.”

“How wonderfully magnanimous,” said Fhey. “I’ve no doubt we can make special arrangements for the candle-lighting and song-singing in some privacy. I might know just the place, but first, let’s let her enjoy the food and games.”

“Of course,” said Turbo.

“She’s certainly enjoying the food,” said Eclipse, grinning, as Crystal got up from the table to refill her plate.

***

Once everyone had eaten their fill, which took quite a bit of time in spite of, or rather because of, the huge selection, they made their way slowly out of the dining hall. Crystal was looking quite full and satisfied herself, one hand on her stuffed belly, but she also looked eager to join the festivities. Carmella had stayed behind to talk to the attending cook, a rat who just so happened to be a descendant of Ambrose Sweetsnout himself, and the two were deep in conversation.

“So, Fhey, what’s on the itinerary for Christmas games this year?” Turbo asked.

“Oh, a little bit of everything,” said Fhey. “We’ve set aside different rooms and spaces in the castle for everyone to enjoy the games, the dancing, and singing without conflicting with each other.”

“Sounds great!” said Syren. “What do you want to do first, Cryssy?”

“I want to see the games!” she said, excitedly. “I want to dance and sing!”

“Well, Fhey, you heard the little lady,” said Eclipse. “Lead the way”

“Certainly,” she said, and leading the way, she began to show them the activities set up for the evening, all around that castle.

One room had been given over to an enormous dance floor lighted by a grand chandelier. Animals were already dancing with great spirit to the accompaniment of a full orchestra. The genre seemed to shift every so often between ballroom music and classic Christmas tunes. It didn’t matter, as everyone danced alike, or as well as they could; at times like these, what mattered more than actual dancing prowess was enthusiasm, and the group of Fenwood friends had plenty of that, as they danced along to their liking. Fhey simply stood and watched with a smile, especially at Crystal.

At one point, the fiddler broke out into ‘Sir Roger de Coverly’, a classical dance number. Eclipse practically dragged Turbo onto the dance floor, in spite of his protests, and he was only barely able to keep up with her, while the others watched, laughed, and clapped to the music. By degrees, however, Turbo’s awkward steps turned to proper dancing as the music went on, and he and Eclipse were soon among the more striking couples on the dance floor. The music reached its height, and as it struck the closing notes, Turbo was the one to surprise Eclipse with a dip and a kiss.

Everyone applauded, though it could just as all have been for this as for the dance itself. Eclipse was quite stunned by Turbo’s boldness, but it soon dissolved into a smile as she kissed him back, and the two rejoined their delighted friends.

Another large room had been converted into something like a karaoke hall. A crowd was gathered below the stage as animals got on stage to sing their favorite Christmas songs. When Crystal and her friends looked in, someone was singing what sounded like ‘Deck the Halls’, though the words were quite different, and seemed to start with ‘Deck us all with Boston Charlie’.

“Must be from out of the country,” said Eclipse, shrugging.

Crystal had only gotten a basic lesson on the popular carols, so she didn’t feel confident enough to go up on stage herself. She did sing along as best she could as Audrey, feeling quite extroverted in spite of herself, hopped up on stage and sang a spirited cover of ‘Winter Wonderland’. Then, Turbo and Eclipse performed a duet of ‘Marshmallow World’. Even when they weren’t participating on stage, the crowd was having just as much fun. Even Fhey could be heard singing along, though only Crystal could hear, standing beside her.

Yet another room was devoted to guessing games. There was a game of 20 Questions in one corner, Christmas trivia in another, holiday Pictionary in another, and charades in the last. This was a spot where Henry would gladly exercise his mental acuity, if he had been present. On the other hand, Eclipse and Fhey proved to be quite keen at Pictionary, the former at drawing, and the latter at guessing. Turbo and Audrey proved to be an effective brother-sister duo at charades, and Crystal was content simply to make guesses at 20 Questions, which often served to give the rest of the crowd the clues they needed to guess.

The courtyard, apart from the section set aside for kids, had snowball fights, games of blind man’s buff, and a snow sculpture competition. Crystal cheerfully bounced from one game to the next, and even took some bites out of the gingerbread house with the other kids, finding, to her delight, that it did regenerate itself if enough was eaten away. She’d have to thank Fhey for that.

In these exploits, she was joined by the sudden arrival of her friend Toby Griptail, who had been looking for her all evening, and was delighted to see her again, as was she to see him. He was, as he said, a ‘whiz’’ with snowballs, and could honestly give Pal the reindeer a run for his money. He was also a pretty good ice skater, using the tip of his tail to both steer him into sharp turns and carve figures in the ice behind him.

At one point, by sheer coincidence, Crystal recognized a sprig of mistletoe hanging over him on a tree, and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Toby’s face instantly went red, and after standing stock-still for a second or two, collapsed onto his back on the snow. For a wild moment, Crystal worried she’d somehow knocked him unconscious through sheer surprise, but she was proven wrong when Toby sprang up from the ground and returned the kiss on her cheek. It was hard to say who was blushing more after that.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but Crystal outshone them all for sheer joy. Now that she understood why Christmas made everyone so happy, she could properly share in that happiness. Her bellapinnas felt warm and tingly, and her heart felt like it had grown 3 sizes tonight, and she was already a creature of a large heart. This was the most wonderful she had ever felt in her life.

***

Around 11 o’clock, the friends gathered together again. Toby had gone to be with his family, and Audrey had drifted off to find Carmella. Fhey led the others to a secluded part of the courtyard. There, she gestured to a particularly large igloo sitting in a quiet corner. It was the biggest one any of them had ever seen.

“This igloo should provide ample privacy,” said Fhey. “It’s nice and spacious enough, and we can make a hole in the roof to see the moon through. That’s one of the requirements for Fest Coristelle, I believe.

She smiled down at Crystal, who beamed.

“Very nice,” said Turbo. “Looks big enough for even Eclipse’s bubble butt.”

*Whap* Eclipse’s tail slapped the back of Turbo’s head, as she gave him a pointed look.

“Just teasing, hun,” he said, rubbing the back of his head.

Eclipse said nothing, but merely rolled her eyes.

“All righty, then,” said Turbo, after clearing his throat. “Ladies first.”

Looking excited, Crystal got down on her hands and knees and shuffled inside. Syren followed after, then Eclipse, who, sure enough, fit through easily. Fhey gestured for Turbo to go before her, which he did graciously, before slipping in herself. It was indeed lucky that the igloo had been made the size it was, for tight squeezes had sometimes been a trouble for the two felines, much to their displeasure.

The friends, now all inside, huddled together against the igloo wall, hugging their knees to their chests. Fhey pointed her paw to the ceiling and gave her wrist a twirl. A circular patch disappeared right above their heads, opening up onto the sky. Looking up, they could see the stars twinkling down at them as a gentle snowfall fell. The moon was shining especially bright, almost directly over the heads. It was a beautiful sight.

“So, Crystal,” said Fhey, “I don’t know if these could be considered star candles, but they should suffice.”

She waved her paw, and everyone’s eyes were suddenly dazzled by what seemed to be a new cluster of stars. A multitude of tiny lights had sprung up around them, floating before them like stationary dandelion puffs. Crystal’s eyes went wide, and she reached out to touch one. Her finger made contact, and it briefly grew brighter.

“Very fancy, Fhey,” said Eclipse, approvingly.

“Very pretty,” said Syren.

“These are just like star candles!” Crystal breathed.

“I’m glad to hear,” said Fhey. “And you said you sing songs until midnight?”

“Uh-huh. I know you don’t know any of the songs I know, but I can still sing them, if you want.”

“Please do!” said Syren.

“Yes, please!” said Turbo.

With unanimous consent, Crystal closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and began to sing. The others couldn’t understand the words, but that didn’t matter. The voice Crystal used to sing was low, soft, and lovely. There was palpable emotion in her words, as though it were something intermingled in the sparkling, frosty air, and the lights Fhey had conjured seemed to glow even brighter at the sound of her voice.

The animals all sat, in enraptured silence, as Crystal sang, until she ended on one last, long note. She opened her eyes and looked around at her friends.

“Did you like it?” she asked.

“Like it?” Syren repeated. “Sweetie, that was beautiful!”

“Absolutely enchanting,” said Fhey.

Turbo and Eclipse simply applauded. Crystal smiled bashfully.

“Thanks,” she said. “I can teach you the words someday, if you want.”

“We’d be delighted,” said Turbo.

“Shall we have another?” Fhey asked.

From there, the friends took turns singing songs to each other. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of the igloo, but they all kept their voices as low and soft as Crystal had been, sounding more like lullabies than traditional Christmas carols. It didn’t matter a bit, as the songs lent themselves to the occasion beautifully. Even Fhey, who hated singing by herself in front of others, sang with them.

For nearly an hour they sat and sang together, until it was 5 minutes to midnight. Turbo marked the time on his watch.

“Nearly time for your birthstone ceremony, Starshine,” he said.

Crystal nodded and held her necklace stone in her palm, quivering with anticipation, or perhaps the cold was catching up to her. Syren nudged Turbo to get his attention and whispered something in his ear. Smiling, he nodded to her.

“Before it’s time, Cryssy,” she said, “I wanted to give this to you.”

Crystal looked up at her. Turbo opened a pocket of his coat, pulled out a thin, brightly-wrapped parcel, and handed it to Syren, who handed it to Crystal. The little Amberite stared at it, her mouth slightly open, then up at Syren.

“For me?” she asked.

Syren nodded.

“Go ahead. Open it.”

With trembling fingers, Crystal tore the paper open, then gasped.

Inside lay a picture frame, made from bits and pieces of seashells. The picture inside was of Syren and Crystal in front of the lighthouse, the vixen giving a warm hug to the little Amberite. Crystal stared at it, then up at Syren, who was smiling with tears in her eyes.

“This was taken when we first moved into the lighthouse,” said Syren, her voice husky. “With all of my beloved sea friends, I’d only really felt at home as a fox in Fenwood thanks to Turbo and his family. Now I have you, Crystal. The day you landed in Fenwood was the beginning of the happiest days of my life, getting to spend them with you. Having you as a friend is one of the greatest gifts I could ever ask for.”

Now Crystal’s eyes were sparkling with tears. Her lip quivered, and her cheeks were dotted with happy tears as she held the paw-made picture frame. Turbo, Eclipse, and Fhey were all smiling warmly, watching the pair of them.

“Thank you,” Crystal said, so quietly it was almost a whisper.

And then, the clock tower bells began to chime the hour.

It was midnight.

Christmas Day.

Setting the picture down carefully, Crystal stood up, gazing up at the moon, the reflection of which shone on her tear-stained face. She held the gem of her necklace up towards it in her hands, closed her eyes, and began to mutter soundlessly. A deep pink glow surrounded her hands, and the gemstone shone brilliantly, casting the inside of the igloo in a bright, green glow.

And then, something else appeared, amidst the shining light. Ghostly images appeared within it, visible only for an instant or two before fading away again. The animals watched, astounded and awe-struck, as they saw the image of an Amberitian, tall and slender, garbed in a floor-length dress appear, smiling benevolently, before disappearing. Next came another Amberite, a male, thin but muscular, with a goatee beard, a scar over one eye, and a fatherly smile on his face.

Queen Emera and Crystal’s father.

The others looked at each other, at a loss for words, but there was more to come, much more, and far more familiar.

There was Turbo, Eclipse, Audrey, Carmella, Fhey, Henry, Jack, Tessie, Toby, Stella Cotton, all of the close friends she had made since landing in Fenwood. Last, and brightest of all, was Syren, whose image seemed to linger longer than the others before disappearing.

The glow faded away. The gemstone lay, dark but still glinting, in Crystal’s palms. She opened her eyes and looked at her silent, amazed friends, a warm smile on her face.

“We think about our blessings when we give our thanks to Queen Emera,” she said, “and Daddy said they shine out for all to see. That’s my gift to all of you, my best friends.”

None of them spoke at first. All of them were gazing upon the little Amberite with warmth and admiration. Syren’s tears had redoubled, while Turbo hurriedly wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his coat. Fhey had her paw to her heart, and Eclipse’s eyes were rather brighter than normal.

At last, with a happy sob, Syren threw her arms around Crystal in a tight embrace, kissing her forehead as she did so. Crystal wrapped her arms around Syren in turn and snuggled against her. Turbo, Eclipse, and Fhey added their warmth and love to the hug, until they were all huddled together in one big group embrace under the moon and stars.

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” said Crystal.

“Merry Christmas, Crystal,” said her friends.

“And Happy Fest Coristelle,” said Syren.

There was a pause, and Crystal’s hug tightened.

“Happy Fest Coristelle,” she said.

The End