The YWS Christmas Story

Storybook #2 of the Big Open Seasonal Storybook (BOSS) Project. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in whenever they want, and there's no obligation to post more than once or even make plot-sense. Just have fun.

It's that time of year again, lemon drops! The snow's blowing in and the world smells faintly more of cinnamon, and that can only mean one thing: Christmas is closing in!

On YWS, that means that things are about to get crazy. The green elves are running around like headless chickens, hurrying to make toys for Santa's deliveries on Christmas day, and the Christmas stories are flooding the forums. Oh, and Stella is baking pies. Surprise!

Something feels different this year, though. Maybe there's something in the air, but my Lumi senses are tingling.

But let's forget about that--Santa's going to show up today to talk to YWS about his Nice list, and we have to get ready for his arrival.

Rules

1. All YWS rules apply.
2. Keep things rated G.
3. No profiles are required.
4. You play as yourself
5. Have fun!

Isha (obviously)

Isha stared, star-eyed, at the outfits in the store's window display. The green tights, the equally as green shirts with red belts and collars, the little green-red-white-striped shoes with the curled toes and little, itty-bitty jingle bells at the tips that came in the customer's choice of either silver or gold... and then there were the hats. Oh, the hats. The assorted shades of greens and reds (what other color would there be during the Christmas season?), all of the different sized and colored pom-poms and bells, the stripes and polka-dots and... the elf hats.

She let out a wistful sigh, fingering the change in her purse. She would have enough, wouldn't she? It would be downright humiliating to have to beg Lumi to lend her some spare change; that and it would be... well, asking for money wasn't always appealing. Only if this person had purchased dozens of things for her already, in which case, taking their money was as natural as her characters blabbering at her whenever she turned on their favorite music. ... It was easy, in other words.

"I'm thinking that this store looks good." She nodded, eyes finally peeling away from the display and travelling to the door. "Yeah. I like this one."

She all but left Lumi standing there- would have, had he not been following (she could tell that he was by his chuckling) her in. What? Was her fascination really that obvious? Not that it mattered much; Lumi was a Christmas but himself, was he not? She pushed open the door, barely able to contain herself long enough to hold it for her friend before making a beeline for the most festive-looking aisle she could. One that was draped in tinsel, right below speakers that were playing a Latin translation of What Child is This?. Unless it was Italian... whichv was far more probable, considering Latin was a dead language. Well, whichever it was, she liked being righ where the sound was centered. It added to the mood.

"I wonder if any of these outfits have purple accents..." Her eyes narrowed in attempted concentration- the colors and patterns and the sheer number of outfits on the racks were turning her frantic excitement into a mind-numbing dizziness. She suddenly remembered why she didn't like shopping. Of course, this was Christmas, so she would be excited- minorly overwhelmed or not.

"...might."

Isha blinked, glancing over her shoulder at Lumi. She had been planning on asking him what he had been about to say... but something else caught her eye. Her finger automatically extended towards a rack in the back, and the next thing she knew, she was dragging him over by the arm. "That one. Right there. That shade of green is perfect."

She felt herself grin- shopping with Isha wasn't always fun for the other parties (unless they came for the sake of laughing at her), but shopping with Isha was something that Isha enjoyed. "Where's the cashier?" She glanced at the counter, puzzling at his or her absence. "You have to try that on. Have to." Once again, she hardly gave the poor Greenie time to speak before shoving the outfit at him, standing on her tip-toes, eyes sharp. Cashiers didn't just leave their stores unattended.

But the cashier WAS important to do business with. Lumi had to go back to his work bench, but the candy canes needed some adjusting. All was but quiet in the shop that night. The mice were tiptoeing into the room, nibbling on anything they could find. The air was cold that night, and 567ajt was getting anxious. Isha made an effort to make conversation but stumbled over.

567ajt, rushing to help her up, quickly dropped the shiny Christmas disc!!!! It was- well, "was" at this moment- an ancient artifact that revolved around the spirit of Christmas. It was destroyed! 567ajt had just turned Christmas into chaos!!!

"Are you ok?" 567ajt asked.
"Yes, I'm-" Isha replied.

Mid sentence she realised the remains of the disc. A gasp exited her lips so clear that it would be so hard for anyone not to guess why she was distraught. She kneeled to the floor, in disarray over the broken disc.

"567! What have you done?!"
"I- I-"
"You have just destroyed the spirit of Christmas!"

She put her head in her hands, and the snow started turning into rain.
"YOU DESTROYED THE CHRISTMAS DISC!!!!"

567ajt looked to the sky. He shivered when he realised what he had just done. Santa Claus was due in two hours- where would the spirit be noticed?!!! Upon arrival, Lumi went back from shining the candy canes.

"So, I've made them nice and nutrient for Christmas morning!" He walked in, looked at the floor, now the burial ground for the Christmas disc. His face changed from excitement to horror. He kneeled down, certain to break into tears.

"She did it," yelled 567ajt abruptly, pointing to Isha.
"Bye Lumi!" 567ajt quickly rushed out of the room. Lumi stared at Isha with serious intent.
"You destroyed....THE CHRISTMAS DISC?!"
"But...he's lying-"
"DON'T YOU EVER LIE TO A MOD!" His face was so red it resembled the redness of Santa's attire.
"EVEN IF YOU ARE A MOD YOURSELF!"

Isha was to be banished. An international crisis was inevitable. 567ajt had just past the blame on a mod about the Christmas disc. What a tool. It would have to be him to ruin Christmas wouldn't it?

Lumi twitched, shivering as he regained his normal, cool, calm, collected character. Running a hand through his hair, he looked around the store and nodded, gathering the bits of shiny disc in his hands. "C'mon, we have to get this fixed up...and there's only one gal I know with enough Christmas spirit to do it."

They stood up together, and Lumi turned to walk away, stopping when Isha didn't follow him. He turned around, seeing her holding her hand over her mouth, laughing. "What...what're you laughing at?"

Isha shook her head, stifling another laugh.

Lumi's eyes narrowed. "Out with it, Isha, or I"ll put you on Archiving duty for a month."

Her laugh burst from her mouth this time, sending her to the floor in cackles.

Lumi's face melted into worry. She had to've been laughing at him. He turned his head over his shoulder, looking down at his backside. "Fffff!"

The elf costume had a bunny tail. And it was poised right where he couldn't reach to pull it off. Finally, he sighed and looked down at Isha, who had finally stopped giggling and had regained her composure. She had her hand over her mouth again. "I guess it serves you right, making fun of Galerius all that time!"

"Yeah, yeah," he murmured, looking around the store for more giggles. "As soon as we find Jabber, I'm getting this thing removed."

"Grooby!" Isha's face lit up like a ~*menorah*~ and she clapped her hands together. "I love her!"

"Mmhm," he murmured again, tapping in something on his wrist GPS. "H'okay, apparently she's down near the Lounge, probably setting up more Christmas decorations."

"I love Christmas..." she trailed off, and the duo took off in a sprint, Lumi's bunny tail wagging with each step.

Justagirl walked along the sidewalk, admiring all of the pretty lights and red and green costumes everywhere she looked. She glanced at her feet and let them shuffle along the sidewalk, causing snow to build up on the sides of the path she was making. She sighed. There was just something different about this Christmas. Something was missing. She didn't know what but she wanted to fix it...

She looked around a bit more in the shops, trying to find the perfect Christmas presents for her family. Everything was too.... similar, though. She wanted something unique for her parents. Something perfectly beautiful for her sister. She looked down outside the window of one shop and saw a piece of disc glimmering in the snow outside of the door. She bent and picked it up.

It glittered merrily in her hands and reminded her what Christmas was all about. Being with family. Not the presents, but the joy, and happiness, of your loved ones.

I'll get them this, thought Just, if only I can find the rest of it.

She entered the store and held up the piece of glass to the cashier. "Where's the rest of this, do you know? I can see it's broken but I'd like to buy it and fix it up." She gave a large smile.

"Well... The rest of the pieces kind of went... That way." The clerk pointed.

"What?"

"Lumi and Isha went off to find Jabber and get the disc fixed."

"Ok, thanks... What's your name?"

"567ajt."

"Alright. Thanks, 567ajt!"

And with that, Justagirl ran after Lumi and Isha with the last piece of the disc.

Jabber

"Deck the Lounge with boughs of holly--"

"Falalalalaaa lala la la!"

"'Tis the website to be jolly--"

"Falalalalaaa lala la la!"

"Don we now our pens and paper--"

"Falala lalala la la la!"

"Write some Christmas stories later--"

"Falalalalaaa lala la la!"

Jabber bounced and clapped excitedly. "Bravo everyone! You guys make such good falala-ers!" She hung her final holly as the other YWSers hung their own decorations and enjoyed each other's company. However, Jabber found she was only inches away from the perfect spot for this holly.

And -- elf it all -- it was going there.

"GROOBYGRUB!"

Jabber faltered on top her ladder, clinging quickly to regain her balance. Isha bounded across the Lounge and stood next to her ladder, glowing like some sort of ~*menorah*~. It made Jabber happy. "Isha Disha Doooooo!" she exclaimed with equal excitement.

"Grooby, things happened!" she hissed.

Jabber's jaw dropped, still clinging tightly to her ladder. "What things?!" Isha leaned in and whispered something for only Jabber to hear, while Jabber watched Lumi meander around the room with a little less excitement, taking a very long and odd path as if hiding something behind his back. He finally reached the two of them, standing casually with his back to the wall. Jabber suddenly smiled brilliantly, finally registering what Isha just told her. "Merry Christmas, you two! I made some cookies this morning! They're over there by the tree!"

While Jabber reached the holly out to the perfect spot, Isha explained, "The Christmas disc! It broke! Shattered all over the shop floor right in front of me! We have to fix it, Jabber! We have to--"

"You are going to fall. Hard," Lumi said helpfully, observing Jabber's reaching directly over him. She flailed as the ladder had leaned over again, and she clung tightly to what she could, preventing the fall once again.

"H'okay," Jabber said, taking deep breaths, and looked back at Isha. "What about the circus fish?"

Isha was about to explain until the question registered in her mind, and she only squeaked out of confusion.

"Out with it, Isha, or I'll put you on Archiving duty for a month!" Jabber said sternly. ...Then giggled 'cause she was so bad at enforcing punishment, she gave the spambots in the YWS dungeons little baggies of Christmas candy just this morning. And they don't eat candy.

Jabber tried the holly again as Isha went forth. "The Christmas disc! Someone was carrying it, and it broke into pieces!"

"The meaning of Christmas rests in our hands," Lumi said quite literally, holding out the Christmas disc's assorted, shattered pieces. Jabber looked below her to observe. Only the big chunks were grabbed, but that didn't matter. That disc was so done.

Oddly enough, Jabber started laughing -- but that caused the ladder to shake. THONK! She fell to the ground at Lumi's and Isha's feet, groaning. The holly clutched tightly in her hand as she slowly sat up, rubbing her backside. Lumi finally took the holly, moved the ladder over, and put up the holly with such determination and speed, Jabber had barely noticed she didn't have the holly anymore. In fact, she just laughed harder and nudged Isha. "You're right!"

He came back to the floor and puffed his chest out proudly, seeing the girls' joyful faces. "Lyka bawss."

"Danke schoen, mein fluffy bunny!" Jabber said, and they giggled some more.

Lumichu's face turned bright red and pouted. He made a sudden jerk to grab the tail, but he only spun around in a circle. "Jaaabberrr~"

Jabber smiled brightly. "'Tis the season, Lumichu! 'Tis the season! Every Christmas needs a fluffy bunny!"

Lumichu slumped.

Standing up, Jabber said, "H'okay, so. Christmas disc is destroyed? How'd he get the--oh!" Jabber had observed the pieces more closely and laughed again. "This isn't the Christmas disc! That's my Chipmunks Disco CD! See the permanent marker?" She pointed to the tiny Santa hat -- or what you could see of it -- drawn on one of the pieces. "I've been looking everywhere for that--oh, wait. It's broken."

Isha beamed, clapping excitedly. "So Christmas is saved?!"

"My poor Chipmunks Disco CD!" Jabber added desperately.

567ajt comes running back in. Upon noticing the disc was Jabber's Chipmunks Disco CD, he jumps in joy.

"Wait, where IS the Christmas disc?"

Upon looking all over, he realised. He left it at home.

"Oops."

Jabber

Jabber giggled at 567ajt's reaction. "'Sall good! We have the holidays to celebrate, so let's turn those frowns upside-down and bring home the festive cheer!"

"Jabber! Jabber"

Everyone looked to the door again and found Justagirl running across the room, looking rather relieved and out-of-breath. She stopped in front of them and doubled-over, taking a moment to catch her breath again.

"Hi, Just!" Jabber said. "Want to help with the decorations?"

Justagirl stood up and looked around the room, not having noticed it was completely decked out with holly, garland, lights, and more. "Wow, it looks really good! I would love to help! But first," she turned back to Jabber and held up a piece of a very familiar broken disc, "I'm looking for a gift for my family, and I'd love to get this disc once it's fixed!"

Jabber smiled as Lumi took the piece from her hands. "It's a Chipmunks Disco CD," he explained. "You could find it in the local gas station--"

"Is that a... bunny... tail?" Just said, craning her neck around Lumi. Lumi's lips tightened and he his tail from the curious AJ and Just.

"There's no Christmas Disc here," Jabber said. "Of course, that wouldn't matter in the least -- whether it was broken or not. Christmas isn't about discs."

"It's about family!" Just said, popping right back up.

"Yeah, it is!" Jabber said, and they high-fived. "Anyhow, we have to get this site ready for the big day."

"You mean Christmas?!" Isha asked with identical excitement as Just and Jabber.

Jabber leaned into the group. "I mean Santa."

Everyone gasped.

Jabber nodded. "I've heard he's coming here, so we have to get this place ready. I've even spotted some elves running around. Reindeer are running about outside somewhere. I haven't really gone to look. I mean, seriously! The Lounge!"

"Did you even start on the Welcome Mat yet?" Lumi asked while everyone admired the decorations again.

"That's... that's next. shush," she added, poking Lumi's arm.

Aboard the SPEW Gryphon III, Grif watched the monitors nervously. Normally he preferred discrete and harmless cargo when he made his trip. So when he saw a contract to move cargo and livestock to YWS Station and a small group of passengers, he had jumped at it.

It turned out that the cargo had been piles and piles of gifts, the livestock was reindeer, the "small" group of passengers were elvish bodyguards who were protecting a guy that looked remarkably like Santa Claus. The SPEW Commandos had used a similar trick to infiltrate a high security installation on Nevad V. Grif kept a close eye on his passengers as a result.

"How are they doing?" Adelaide asked.

"They're in the ho-ho-hold," Grif replied.

"Are you sure they're not the real thing?" Adelaide asked.

"No. But the way I see it, there are two possibilities. Either they are impostors, in which case I should keep an eye on them; or they are not; in which case I should keep an eye out for my present. If they are who they say they are; then we'll know soon enough."

"Why's that?"

"Because every pirate in twelve sectors will want to steal our cargo from us," Grif said. It would be a long and dangerous trip.

Skull3670 or Skully

Eugh, that time again. Everyone smiling and happy and WOO coca cola advert-ing around. What about us poor people with December birthdays? How do you think we feel world? Always over looked and over shadowed!
These were the thoughts whizzing through the mind of Skully.
I mean sure, Santa, presents, good will and family are all wonderful but a little appreciation wouldn't hurt.
Perhaps we should cause a little mayhem. The voice of Mikael oozed into my psyche. Get the elves to strike! Or kidnap him from YWS! Yes this could work.
"No, no, no, no, NO!" I scolded him getting louder and louder. Sometimes i wish i hadn't been on YWS crafting my perfect villain when the laptop exploded.
I wandered through the YWS station, wondering just when Grif would arrive with his valuable cargo.
The lounge was beautifully decorated while my room on the station was still christmas free.
I wonder if the others think i'm weird, i thought. Maybe if i explained. Nah. They can just wait until the thirteenth like everyone else.
I wandered back and bumped into Isha and some of the others.
Jabber promptly plopped a necklace of baubles round my neck.
It may annoy me my birthday is overshadowed but look at how happy they are. Ah screw it.
"Merry almost Christmas everyone!" I yelled recieving a cheer in response.

Spark/Sparkle Doubt/Sparky/Anna-Spark/Painter/Dill/Arrowhead... You get the idea.
"Pizza Hut!" I said, running over. "I'm so glad I got here in time!"
"In time for what, Sparkle Doubt?" She said, hugging me tightly.
"Arrowhead!" Isha yelled.
"Ishiesswimingwiththefishes! Luminate!" I said, giving them each a hug. "Well, in time for Santa, of course, Pizza! I thought I'd have Nutcracker during his arrival!"
Jabber looked at me, her jaw hanging open. "Miss Santa? That's crazy!"
"I know! But I don't have Nutcracker, so it's all okay!"
"Phew." Isha said, pretending to whip sweat from her brow. "That's a relief."
"It is!" Jabber said, bouncing a little. "Come and help us with the decorations, Spark Doubt!"
"Okay!" I said, eager to help. "What are we decorating?"
"The Welcome Mat!"
"Why, that's my favorite place!" I said, jumping in the air. "Let's go!" Lumi started to lead the way, and my jaw dropped. "Luminate... Why are you wearing a bunny tail?"
Mr. Foxier-than-a-puma stuck his tongue out at me. "I wanted to. That's why."
"Well.... Okay. Good for you... I guess." I giggled.
He struck a pose. "Don't pretend it's not a foxy bunny tail, Spark. Just don't."
"I would never deny that it wasn't one, LumiBunny."
Jabber giggled. "LumiBunny."
Isha giggled. "LumiBunny."
I looked proud, and grinned at them, linking my arms through their's. "Let's go to the Welcome Mat!"
We skipped along the snow covered street, singing the Wizard of Oz, when I stopped. "Oh, Hi there." I said. A person, who looked very lost and confused was standing there. "Hi."
"Are you new to YWS?" I asked, looking at her tag. 'Joined December 3, 2011'
"Yes." Whispered the person.
"Hi!" I said, grinning. "I'm Drama! Do you need anything?"
"I need to know where I can introduce myself!" Said the new-b, still looking shy.
"Why," I said, grinning happily, "We're headed that way! Come with us!"
"Okay!" Said the New-b. "How long have you been a member?"
"Over a year. This is Jabber, Lumi and Isha. They're mods. They keep the site running a stuff!"
"Hi." The New-b said.
"HI!" Jabber said, hugging the New-b. "What's your name?"
"Harry James Potter."
"OMG That's an amazing name!" Jabber and I said together. HJP blushed. "Thanks!"

The sunlight seemed to fall like a never-ending curtain, shimmering between its folds, on a meadow covered with azaleas. There was a black carrot-topped Lava dancing. She gigggled as the grass tickled her feet and she ran to the swing that magically appeared in the middle of the meadow.
And that was when she realized. A-whooops. Wrong season.

And with that, a flash of binding light dropped Lava onto Sparky who yelped in surprise. Sparky rubber the nape of her neck which witnessed a flash of burning pain. Of course, Lava was hot!

Lava dusted herself and nodded to Sparky with a hello.

Mikko dropped her suitcases on the floor, a little dazzled by events that welcomed her. Removing her sunglasses, a mixed feeling of eagerness and excitement filled her and she was glad she had left the tropical Pacific ocean islands where she had longed to see some snow for the Christmas season.

She felt the temperature difference under her skin. The cold prickled the sensors in her body but it made her happy, though she wouldn't have minded being handed a scarf, for the beige pashmina she wore was not enough to keep the cold away.

"Hey everyone," she said casually, her face expressing none of the bubbling emotions she had felt as soon as her plane had landed on YWS. What she had really meant was:

"Wooooohoooo! It's Christmaaaaaaaas!"

But she suppressed it, and in her totally cool and awesome splendour she walked up to the somewhat dispatched crowd of members present and... tackled each and everyone of them - but Spark.

Mikko tiptoed up behind Spark who was busy talking to the new kid. She put her hands over Sparks eyes and felt Spark's cheek muscles tighten as she grinned widely.

"I got Anna a present for Christmas. Yeah I know it's a little early but..." And behind Mikko a tall, young gentleman with jet-black hair and a pale face stood up straight (because he had to bend down a little since he was taller than Mikko and had to hide).

Spark's jaw dropped. "Marco!"

Anna-Spark

"Marco!" I said, my jaw dropping. "Is it really him, Marco? Is it really Marco?"
"Yeah." Marco grinned. "It's him."
The guy, his black hair slightly tousled looked at me. "So," He said in a British accent that practically made me fall over. "This is Anna Spark?"
I screamed. "IT IS HIM!" I tackled the poor guy, grinning as big as I could. "IT'S HIM IT'S HIM!"
Then I turned to Marco. "You are amazing, Marco. I love you." I tackled her too, and then started bouncing. "I get a Marco for Christmas!"
"What do I get for Christmas?" Marco-Mikko asked.
"You'll see." I winked. "Even though, it won't be as amazing as a real life Marco. But, first, Marco who is really Mikko, how am I going to call you Marco and him Marco? I KNOW. I'll call you Marcoloff."
"Perfect. Do you like your gift, Anna-Spark?"
"I do!" I wrapped my arms around Marco and gave him another hug. "Come and help with the decor, Marcoloff. Marco, you head over to the character cafe. You can talk as yourself and meets some other characters."
Marco walked off, humming slightly. My jaw dropped again. "He. Is. Hot."
Marcoloff laughed. "I knew you'd enjoy him."
"I do!" I hugged Marcoloff and then showed him how to hang the holly just right, as PizzaHut would say.
"Did you do this all by yourself?" Marcoloff asked.
"Oh no! Lava, Pizza, LumiBunny, Ishies and my new friend HJP have been helping."
"Lumibunny?" Marcoloff raised her eyebrows.
I giggled. "Look at Luminate's foxy bunny tail."
Marcoloff looked over, looked away and burst into ringing laughter. I laughed with her, than began singing.
"Jingle bells! Jingle bells! Jingle alllll the way!"
"Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh!" sang the others in the room back. I grinned. Twas the most wonderful time of year.

I had a Marco for Christmas!

~.~.~
For all intensive purposes, Will does not exist. (*cough cough* Marco (not MarcoLoff.She already loves me.) should like Anna-Spark *cough cough*)

TwistedMuffins:

I sat there, as I chewed on the butt of my pencil. As I stared at the blank paper that lay in front of me, something suddenly struck me. I slowly lower my pencil and... and... and still I couldn't write anything! Out of frustration, I threw everything aside, and got up. I held back my tears of frustration, as I made my way to the Welcome Mat. I was just so annoyed! I tried and I tried, but I still couldn't write!

It was a long walk from my work table to the Welcome Mat. I zipped up my jacket, and stuffed my hands in my pocket when I noticed something. There was a big crowd next to the Contest Front Page. "Excuse me." I said, as I shouldered my way through to get a better look.

Just then, my skin went cold, my head felt heavy and everything around me was white.

"SNOWBALL FIGHT!"

Grumbling, I wiped my face, and shouldered my way out, apologizing to the many angry faces for all the pushing.

"Yo, Twisted! Join us, man!" Someone yelled.
"No, thanks." I mumbled back in response. As much as I wanted to joined, I couldn't. How could I join? How could I show my face there? I have probably been the most inactive member for the past two months! What am I supposed to say when they ask me what happened? Why haven't I reviewed or posted anything?

I passed a numerous shops selling Santa and Elf costumes. As much as I wanted to stop and buy some, I knew I couldn't. I was broke. I had spent the last of my penny on winter wear. I wasn't so used to such cold winters, so when it came, I knew I couldn't survive with what I had.

Finally, I was just a few yards away, when I noticed some familiar faces. Going in the same direction as I was, I saw SparkofDoubt, Isha, Lumi, Lava, Mikko, Justagirl, Skull3670 and Jabber Hut. And another person who I didn't recognize. I continued walking, suddenly missing my friends, as I saw how much fun they were having jumping on each other.