A Spooky Christmas Lesson

     The two of them were good friends and would frequently be seen engaging in spooktacular activities throughout the Haunted Woods.

     Naturally, Halloween was their biggest night. Neopians from all over would come to the Haunted Woods to prove their bravery and witness the magic of the other side. They could really kick it up a notch without being worried about repercussions. Everyone in the Haunted Woods could.

     Neither Danny nor Katie paid attention to what else happened in Neopia the rest of the year. They were content in their day-to-day, but wished they had more magic than one day a year.

     They were content, that is, until one fateful day when he came to town.

     “Ho, ho, ho!”

     An eerie silence filled the entire Woods.

     This was too upbeat. Too happy. Too jolly. This isn’t something that happened in this area of Neopia.

     “Ho, ho, ho!” The voice said again.

     Residents of the Woods stopped what they were doing and looked over. Some peered out of their windows. Others quickly rushed inside. This voice was an outside, but not one willing to engage with local customs. This voice could be harmful.

     Danny was brave. He followed the voice.

     “Ho, ho, ho!”

     Katie watched Danny go.

     Danny continued to follow the voice. It slowly started to feel colder, and strange white stuff seemed to be on the ground in a trail. “What’s this?” he picked some up and wondered aloud. He followed it, it was leading towards the direction of the voice.

     “HO, HO, HO!”

     The voice was getting louder.

     “Can I help you? What is this ho business?” Danny asked.

     “Oh, ho! There someone is. Hello there. I believe I have gotten lost. It is December, and every day this month I give out gifts to all the good Neopians. But I have never been here before. I think I crashed.”

     Danny looked at him suspiciously. He was a large fellow with a bright red suit and hat. He had a large bag and a strange sleigh.

     “Hiya stranger! I appear to have broken down here. I have so many sweet Neopians all over waiting on me. Can you be of assistance so I can be on my way?”

     Danny narrowed his eyes. “You don’t belong here. We will show you why you don’t belong here.”

     “Now I see why I’ve never been here before. Look, my name is Kris. Kris Kringle. You may know me as Santa Claus.”

     He paused like he was waiting for something. Danny wondered what that was. Applause? Laughter? Any sort of recognition? He had nothing to give.

     Katie walked up.

     “I’ve heard of you. You make people happy and get a whole month. We make ourselves happy only for one night.”

     “Happiness? I want respect,” Danny snorted.

     “Why not both? Come with me. I believe Between the three of us, we can get this working again.”

     “Whatever gets you on your way faster,” Danny said as he approached Kris.

     “What do we do?” Katie asked.

     “Well if we just stand here, and then lean this way, as I bend down and tighten this, and….. Yes…. hold on…….. GOT IT!”

     And poof. Just like that the three of them were somewhere neither Danny nor Katie had been before. That white stuff was falling from the sky, there were a lot of giggly happy Neopians running around, bright colours everywhere, pleasant sparkly music.

     “Oh dear. I didn’t think it would work that well. Sorry to have dragged you here,” Kris said nervously.

     “What’s this?” Danny asked as he grabbed the white stuff from the sky.

     “Snow,” Kris replied.

     “Snoooooowwwww,” Danny slowly repeated.

     “I know this isn’t as dreary as the Haunted Woods, but we are quite happy here,” Kris told them.

     “There’s colour everywhere. Snowballs are being thrown. Everyone looks happy. Lights are hanging. Trees are decorated,” Danny was muttering to himself walking around.

     “What do you call this place?” Katie asked.

     “Happy Valley,” Kris replied. “It’s currently Christmastime. A whole month to celebrate.”

     “I want it!” Danny exclaimed. “I’ve never experienced these feelings. I want it. I want Christmas.”

     “Well the thing about Christmas is that it’s for everyone.”

     “No. I mean I WANT it. I want to rule this place just like I rule Haunted Woods.”

     “That’s not how it works, son. There is no ruler of Christmas.”

     “Why not? You said that Neopians wait for you. Only rulers have that. You have people worshiping you all over Neopia all month long, while anticipating your arrival for the other eleven. And what do I get? One night in one land for those who brave it.”

     “But anyone can do what I do. Just spread cheer! Give out presents! Hug someone you love! That’s what the holiday spirit is all about.”

     Danny looked at Katie and grinned.

     Katie gulped.

     Danny turned back to Kris and snarled, “I have a better idea.”

     Before Kris had a chance to react, Danny grabbed Kris’ bag and whacked him over the head with it.

     “Goodnight, Mr. Coconut.”

     Danny stuffed Kris into his bag. He stole his suit, his sleigh, and his bag.

     “What are you doing? You heard him, you can bring the holiday spirit anywhere. This goes beyond the spirit of the Haunted Woods, this is just plain evil.”

     “I will bring the spirit everywhere!”

     Danny threw the bag in the sleigh and hopped in, leaving Katie alone in the cold. She had a bad feeling about this, and not the usual bad feeling that consumed her at home. This was a bad-bad feeling, not a good-bad feeling.

     Danny chaotically guided the sleigh back to the Haunted Woods. This was nothing like flying a broom.

     When he landed he opened up the bag, manoeuvred around Kris and started pulling out presents.

     “Come one, come all, I have big news for you! I have presents!”

     Those in the Haunted Woods were suspicious of this act. They were familiar with Danny, and knew he would be one to produce something unsettling. Cobralls in a can most likely.

     He started chucking them at those nearby.

     They cautiously opened them.

     Silence.

     Danny looked up. The looks on their faces fell.

     “What?”

     One normally shy Ruki spoke up. “These aren’t scary. These aren’t silly. These are, and it pains me to say this, cute.”

     A Lupe gasped at the word “cute” – that was a bad word around here.

     “Is this why we don’t do Christmas in the Woods?” Danny asked. He felt rejected and heartbroken. He was genuinely excited to bring the snow and gifts to his fellow Woods folk.

     There was some muttering amongst the crowd. They didn’t have the heart to tell him.

     Kris had regained consciousness and had climbed out of the bag.

     “What are you doing? You’ve been a naughty boy, Danny.”

     “I told you, I wanted to be the ruler of Christmas.”

     Kris sighed. “I told you, there is no ruler or king of Christmas. Everyone has Christmas in them. Giving people gifts is great, but it has to come from the heart. Something they will like. Or a shared experience, that time together. Everything in my bag is personalized for every Neopian who has been good. Which includes many here. Except you, Danny. There is no spirit in you.”

     Danny was quiet for a moment.

     “Could there be?” He asked sheepishly. He had no idea this was a whole ordeal.

     “Well, yes. I told you. It’s for everyone. If you would like, I could help you.”

     Danny didn’t want to seem weak or desperate. He still had an image to maintain.

     “No need. I will get this done all by myself. I release you, carry on with what you were doing. I will figure it out myself. Be gone now. And, uh, thanks.”

     Danny took off the outfit and went home.

     He drew up plans and made toys. He started organizing decorations, looking for trinkets, anything he could find. He was determined to out-holiday the big guy.

     While everyone, including Danny, knew the whole month of celebrating was about the holiday, December 25th was the biggest day of them all. That was the official Day of Giving. He had never participated before, he liked to think he was above materialism and kindness, but this time he had to show them all he could be above it and still be the best at it.

     He worked overnight decorating the Woods. Lights in the trees, snowmen, ornaments, snowflakes, and bright colours everywhere.

     He wrapped presents and put names on them. He made sure to get things others would like here, as he was instructed. Danny knew it was going to be the second-best day in Haunted Woods this year.

     When everyone woke up, they were amazed. This was nothing like the Haunted Woods they knew. It was bright and colourful – like videos and photos were seen of faraway lands and Altador Cup games.

     They started digging through their gifts, searching for their names.

     There were spooky outfits, spooky clothes, spooky books, haunted toys. Edna had a new cauldron. Esophagor was presented with enough food for a week (in theory). Anything creepy and crawly and the opposite of Christmas was here. And they loved it.

     Katie hadn’t spoken to Danny since he abandoned her in his blind rage.

     “Katie, I’m sorry.”

     She didn’t say anything.

     “I got you this.”

     She didn’t even turn around.

     “Please, take it. Everyone else has something. I’ve never been happier. I think I get it now. I understand the spirit. I can be spooky and give joy without compromising myself.”

     Katie cautiously extended an arm behind her. Danny placed the gift in her paw.

     She opened it.

     Big eyes blinked back at her.

     “Ahhh!” She screamed and dropped the box.

     Out tumbled a Meepit.

     It blinked again at Katie.

     “Oh, Danny. It’s horrifyingly perfect.”

     She picked up the Meepit and hugged it.

     It blinked and started chewing on her hair.

     “Scary holidays, Katie.”

     “Happy holidays, Danny.”

     The End.