With all the love to give to the world and nothing in return

*This story is based off a Christmas tale under my folder “25 Christmas tales”. This story is under my folder “Jester and fairy”. Gacha Club character designs are under this forum: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=116005&start=990. Enjoy and Scary Creepmas!*

Introduction

Ysabelle and Kix, though both grown up, had still believed in the magic of Christmas and love. Of course, many people with their own hardships and troubles mocked them, for Christmas was seen as a “childish holiday” and that there was absolutely no point in celebrating when there were oh so many problems with the world.

With their love for each other and their love for the world, Ysabelle and Kix had opened up their house every Christmas Eve to all in their village, giving what they could to make everyone happy. It wasn’t as though they had asked to come from old money, it just happened.

Their love had extended far beyond Christmas, but of course, all love will bleed away once vulnerabilities come to light…

Chapter One: Parents never leave [Ysabelle]

Ysabelle opened her eyes, the morning sun hitting her eyes. The white lace curtains reflecting the sunlight delicately.

She felt Kix’s arms wrap around her and smiled. His hug was always welcome, he always brought such joy.

He smiles too much. He doesn’t take anything too seriously. He has gaps in his teeth. So many gaps. Why would you marry someone like him?

It was the voices of her parents circling her mind, all of their thoughts on Kix merged together. She was an adult, she could live her own life.

But their voices were still there and she still felt her heart break a little from their words.

No matter. Kix was around. He loved her. He cared about her.

It was no use worrying about that when everything was going to be fine, because she and Kix were together. They had each other. They didn’t need to worry about what other people thought because they were connected forevermore.

That was what Ysabelle told herself to kick the spiraling, twisting, winding thoughts under the bed.

Chapter Two: Talk of Christmas charm [Kix]

“What theme should we go for this year? Last year was about candy canes, what should it be now?” Kix asked.

The both of them were in the kitchen making their breakfasts, for they could choose if they wanted to hire help or not. Ysabelle seemed a little on edge in the morning, but Kix hoped that the excitement of Christmas would cheer her up.

Ysabelle seemed to ponder a bit as she was frying her eggs on a skillet. Then, her eyes lit up and she said with a smile:

“Let’s do an enchanting winter theme! Faeries and glittering snow, the iridescent feeling of love! What do you say?”

“I love it!” Kix beamed as he finished buttering his french toast.

One hand held a cup of tea, the other held a plate of his fresh toast. Before he left for the living room, he gave Ysabelle a kiss on the cheek.

There she was. The cheerful woman he married.

Chapter Three: Dreams of something sweet [Ysabelle]

FLASHBACK

Ysabelle sat in the corner of the ballroom, watching everybody engage in the Christmas festivities. She loved the decorations. She loved the different outfits. She loved the music. She absolutely loved her family.

But then, Ysabelle would sometimes see the other children with “less money” meet their families. They didn’t have big parties, but everybody knew each other. Everybody watched Christmas movies, had a cup of hot cocoa, and wore clothes that were a tad more comfortable than the restricting dresses that Ysabelle wore.

No, Ysabelle didn’t have a problem with her dresses or her family. She loved both deeply.

But why couldn’t they all just sit on the couch and watch a Christmas movie? Why couldn’t she talk to anybody that wasn’t her family?

Why did everything feel so…wrong?

Chapter Four: Snow-dusted memories [Kix]

Kix was just about to bring the last box of decorations downstairs, for he had already brought down all of the other decorations, until he saw it.

The old toy chest from his childhood. The one that he brought to the mansion when he and Ysabelle got a place of their own. Inside of it was a cloth jester and fairy doll. The fairy doll was originally for his little sister, Karissa, but she didn’t want it, so he kept it for himself.

Inside of the toy chest, they were rotting away with dust.

Kix put down the box of decorations and opened the toy chest, an idea as bright as the LED lights sparkling in his mind.

Why not bring them out of their festering tombs and into the light of the world?

Chapter Five: Never too early for presents! [Ysabelle]

“I know it’s a bit early to give out presents, but I thought that you would like this.” Kix’s voice said behind her.

Ysabelle turned around, away from the decorations. In Kix’s hands was a cloth jester doll and a cloth fairy doll.

“I got these dolls in my childhood. They’re my favorite toys. They’ve got such endearing faces, don’t you think? Do you want them both? Or only one?” Kix asked, his eyes alight with hope.

Ysabelle smiled warmly, for she always loved things that reminded her of childhood, and said:

“Thank you so much! I’ll take the fairy.”

As Kix gave her the fairy doll, she couldn’t help but wish that her parents had given her something like that other than the mounds of jewelry that would get tangled in her many different jewelry boxes.

Chapter Six: Lovely new Christmas gifts! [Kix]

FLASHBACK

Mom brought out two brightly colored boxes from underneath the tree and gave Kix and Karissa one of each.

“These came all the way from the North Pole! We hope that you like them.” Mom said with a smile.

Kix excitedly unwrapped the present. When he found a white box, he opened it up.

Nestled neatly inside the box a cloth jester doll, its costume in pink and purple.

Kix held the jester doll to his chest, thankful for his new friend, but right next to him-

“A doll? Really?! I wanted a necklace!” Karissa cried out, throwing her fairy doll on the ground.

Kix flinched, startled by her outburst. While Mom and Dad tried to comfort her, he got up from the couch and took the fairy doll from the ground.

Why would she throw such a nice doll? If Karissa didn’t want her, then he would take her.

Maybe his jester and fairy would become friends!

Chapter Seven: People must be invited, right? [Ysabelle]

Ysabelle was upstairs in the parlor room, drawing out the invitations to the Christmas party herself, for she loved to create a symphony of art all her own that everyone could enjoy. The fairy doll sat on a chair next to hers, watching ever so closely.

She wasn’t certain on how many people would come or if anybody would come, but filling her afternoon with drawing was more productive than moping about in misery.

All the riches that anyone could ever want and yet still, Ysabelle wanted to share her love.

Humorous, wasn’t it?

Chapter Eight: They come, they go [Kix]

The hours had passed, the time for the party had come. Though they didn’t talk to Kix or Ysabelle, the people still came, for who could resist a mansion party?

In an art to comfort her, Kix squeezed Ysabelle’s hand as they both greeted the guests at the front door. He was already thinking of how Ysabelle would cry deeply, of how her heart would break from their reactions. She always wanted people to like her, as though they were her family.

Later on, he’d hold her. Later on, he’d kiss her.

But for the moment, they had to put on a party for people who would take it all for granted, who would forget about it the next day.

Chapter Nine: What was wanted the most! [Ysabelle]

FLASHBACK

Ysabelle was with her parents in one of the fancy jewelry stores, looking at all of the different sparkling necklaces, rings, and tiaras.

She had a several tiaras at home, all of them more detailed than the last, but everyone Ysabelle went, she saw kids with toys. Toys that they would carry with love, toys that were all dressed up, toys that were like little friends.

“Can I get a toy this time? Please? I really want one!” Ysabelle pleaded with her parents.

“Why would you want a toy when you could get jewelry? Not many kids have what you have.” Mom said.

“But I want something to play with!” Ysabelle demanded. Her pink plaid dress was starting to feel tight with the belt, her black Mary Janes and white tights were pinching her toes. Why couldn’t she just go home and wear her pajamas? Why did she have to go to the jewelry store?

“You don’t need to play with anything. You could spend your time with something better.” Dad said, squeezing her shoulder slightly less than the dress was restricting her.

Something better? But she wanted a toy! Just one! Maybe more!

There was nothing but jewelry. Sparkling jewelry. Pretty jewelry. But jewelry all the same. Nothing to name, nothing to talk to.

Just cold, lifeless stones.

Chapter Ten: Karissa, what’s the matter? [Kix]

Karissa would smile and speak politely, but there was a small morose glimmer in her eyes. The kind that came up when she deeply detested something but was trying to hide it with pleasantries.

It wasn’t new for Kix. He saw it all the time, she wasn’t particularly happy for many things.

But then, why did something inside of him feel so wrong? Like looking at her meant that his insides would break and bend? Was he thinking too much?

Maybe Kix could talk to her. Maybe he could try to help her. Maybe there was nothing to worry about and he was just overreacting.

Either way, talking to her wouldn’t hurt. After all, she was his little sister. What could she possibly do to him?

Chapter Eleven: Lovely yarn dolls [Ysabelle]

As a last minute thing, Ysabelle put out the yarn dolls that Kix took out on the dining room table, as a finishing touch. Sure, they didn’t exactly go with the “magical winter fairytale”, but who cared? Their sewn-on smiles had a certain kind of charm, their floppy bodies made them look oh so huggable!

“Are those toys?” A little girl asked, eyes wide with surprise.

Ysabelle nodded. There weren’t usually toys in their mansion, but the fairy and jester added vibrance to their vast home of many halls and many rooms.

“Can I play with them?” The girl asked quietly, in a manner that said she was afraid to ask.

Ysabelle took them both off and handed them to the child, saying with a smile:

“You may.”

The little girl giggled, her eyes bright with the wonder that came at Christmas, and sat down on the ground, playing to her hearts’ content, a toothy grin spreading on her face.

Ysabelle didn’t just feel her heart warm over, she felt it blossom, spreading inside, filling her with an overwhelming sunshine embrace that she hadn’t felt in a long time.

If a child wanted to play, then so be it. They were yarn, nothing bad would happen to the dolls.

Chapter Twelve: Isn’t Christmas supposed to be delightful? [Kix]

“What’s wrong, Karissa? You seem exceptionally sullen today.” Kix asked as he sat next to Karissa on the couch.

Karissa recoiled away from him, as though he had a contagious, distasteful disease, and said:

“Nothing is wrong. It’s just that in Christmas, I never really get what I want. I never get what I deserve.”

“What do you think you deserve?” Kix asked, trying his best to keep the judgement out of his voice. Nobody was entitled to anything, not even money. No, no. They had to earn it.

But Karissa was family. Karissa wasn’t entirely bad. She was just a person, like him.

“I don’t think that I deserve anything. I know that I deserve to have a spectacular Christmas. Mom and Dad were sweet, but they could never get that to us. I deserve magic and wonder.” Karissa said, her voice sounding strangely like it was traveling far away from her.

“Isn’t this magic?” Kix asked, gesturing to the splendid decor of the winter mansion.

Karissa shook her head, a soft smile forming on her lips. Kix almost recoiled away, but stopped himself. She was only smiling sweetly, shouldn’t he be proud of that?

“That’s not what I mean.” Karissa said warmly.

She got up from the couch and headed down the hall. Kix stayed put, trying his best to make out what she wanted in his mind.

What did she want?

Chapter Thirteen: Introducing Kix [Ysabelle]

FLASHBACK

“I want you to meet Kix! He and I have been dating for quite a while, he’s got such interesting stories to tell!” Ysabelle grinned.

She was standing in the living room with her parents, Kix accompanying her. They didn’t look too pleased, but then again, they always looked bothered.

“Does he have any money?” Mom asked in a tone that sounded like she was trying to hide the strain in her voice.

Ysabelle nodded. Why did they care? It wasn’t that important, it wasn’t like it mattered the most.

“Hmm…” Dad trailed off, as though he were trying to decide whether or not Kix would stay.

But Kix broke the silence with one of his stories. Ysabelle felt her heart lift with joy, but still, there was a lingering sense of irritation that her parents didn’t even make an effort to pretend to be nice to Kix.

They would like him later on. What was there not to like about Kix?

Chapter Fourteen: What is her deal? [Kix]

Kix searched all around the house for Karissa, bumping into a few people and hearing a little girl cry, but after a while, he heard Karissa’s voice in the attic.

Kix pulled down the string on the ceiling and walked up the stairs, following the sound of her voice. No, he didn’t understand a single word that she was saying, it sounded like a convoluted song.

Maybe he just needed to go up to her. Maybe he just needed to check on her.

That was all, right?

Chapter Fifteen: Console, comfort [Ysabelle]

Ysabelle patted the girl’s back, trying her best to comfort the child. She briefly met Karissa when Kix was introducing her to his family and got quite unpleasant vibes from her, but she never dreamed that Karissa would have the audacity to snatch up the yarn doll from the girl’s hands.

“I’ll go get it back, I promise. She’s an awfully negative person, don’t worry about her. Say, do you want gingerbread cookies? They’re in the grand hall. Want me to take you?” Ysabelle asked.

The little girl nodded, still wiping away her tears. Ysabelle got up and asked if she could take the little girl’s hand, to which she said “Yes, it’s okay.”

With that, Ysabelle led the little girl to the grand hall, ever so irritated that a grown woman stole a doll from a child.

When would they ever learn?

Chapter Sixteen: A weird book [Kix]

FLASHBACK

Kix brushed the dust off the book, hardly believing that it was in the monstrosity of the family lawn.

It was a leathery brown book with an azure eye on the cover, an azure that had a wide stare, seeming to look up with secrets it wished it didn’t see.

Karissa snatched the book from his hands, saying:

“It’s magic!”

Magic? Was that so?

Chapter Seventeen: Her luring words [Ysabelle]

Ysabelle walked up the attic stairs, wrinkling her nose at the scent of sour mildew in the air. Yet still, she could hear Karissa’s voice in the mystery of the attic, could hear it singing:

“Dolls so sweet, eyes so meek, come inside, you’ll be happy for weeks.”

Ysabelle could feel the veins in her body twisting and turning, colliding in her with her flesh, just like a rag doll unraveling at the seams.

Why wasn’t she able to run?

Chapter Eighteen: Pulled away [Kix]

All around him, Kix could see the party being pulled away, everything pulled all around him.

No, the party itself wasn’t being pulled. It was him. He was being pulled far, far away, up to the dusted attic.

But what was moving him? Why wasn’t anybody doing anything? Could they even see him?

What was the ringing in his ears?

Chapter Nineteen: Weakened heart [Ysabelle]

Ysabelle looked up at Karissa, who held a brown book with an azure eye on the cover wide open. She frowned at Ysabelle, shaking her head and saying:

“All of this money and yet you choose to spend it on these parties. It bothers me to no end! Do you not understand that money is your most trusted friend?”

Ysabelle couldn’t shake her head nor scream. Her heart felt so small, so weak. What did Karissa do to her? Why did she want to harm Ysabelle at all? Why would any human want to do whatever it was that she had done?

“Ah, here comes my brother!” Karissa beamed, her eyes alight and facing another direction.

What about Kix? Why did Karissa’s words frighten Ysabelle so?

Chapter Twenty: Why would she do such a thing? [Kix]

Kix could feel himself being pulled further and further into the attic, until he could not move a single bone in his body, could not utter a word.

In front of him stood Karissa with the odd book that he had found in the family backyard many years ago, her eyes casting a slight hint of excitement, but otherwise, nothing.

Kix didn’t know what was going on, but he felt his heart twist inside of him, something inside of told him that Karissa had done something terrible…

But whatever was the reason?

Chapter Twenty-One: Bounded bodies [Ysabelle]

“Well, you won’t waste any money now! I’ll be able to use it as we are supposed to, while you sit and do nothing! Just like you always do!” Karissa snickered, slamming the book shut.

She walked off with the book under one arm, leaving Ysabelle and Kix in the attic. Right across from them was a cracked, dusted mirror, a silver frame surrounding the reflecting glass.

Ysabelle kept her attention on the mirror. Reflected back at her was a fairy doll and a jester doll, only, their bodies were sewn side by side, conjoined twins at the hip.

She felt her stitched heart twist and turn, her joy seep into her yarn skin.

Was it that she and Kix were the dolls? Were they always going to be in the attic? Would they never be free again?

Was that what it was? All over something as petty as money?

Chapter Twenty-Two: What about family? [Kix]

For a few minutes, Kix and Ysabelle didn’t say a word, taking in their new forms. Nobody knew what to say or how to say it.

Finally, Ysabelle asked about Kix’s sister, to which he said that she “wasn’t always like this” and that “she simply loved our life of money”.

But then, did he really know Karissa at all? How long had she been learning magic? Why would she go so far as to trap them in dolls and then conjoin their bodies?

Memories of Karissa flooded his head, his sewn-up heart filled with dread.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Memories stain [Ysabelle]

“I’ve been going on about my sister and my life. But what about your family? You never told me about yours. Do you want to talk about it?” Kix asked.

Ysabelle sighed. Her parents, oh, her parents! They said that they loved her, they got her everything that a child would want and need, but…

Never once did they all decide to relax and laugh together. Never once did they get her something as simple as a yarn doll.

The memories of her parents hit her as though an automobile crashed into her head, but she couldn’t keep them lodged inside of her, could she?

Was Ysabelle even alive anymore?

Chapter Twenty-Four: Love all bound up [Kix]

“My parents obsessed over getting me things they thought that I would like. They never asked me for my opinion and when I spoke, they said that I was being ridiculous. That I couldn’t possibly know that all I wanted was things no one else could have, because that was how they thought everybody was.” Ysabelle said.

Her voice went quiet, she seemed to slump on his shoulder.

Kix remembered her parents, but he only met them briefly. They didn’t seem to like him very much even though he had money. Was it because of how he acted? How he looked? Did that exude any “off-putting” vibes about him?

Well, he hoped that his love would extend to Ysabelle even in the doll bodies, for it was exactly what she had always deserved.

And he never wanted to cease giving his love.

Chapter Twenty-Five: A child to hold [Ysabelle]

In the midst of the strangeness, Ysabelle could feel Kix’s love flow through their stitched together bodies in a song of sweetness and beauty. She thought of the cherished days of their dates, their marriage, their house…

Their house which was too big for just the two of them.

That poor little girl with her tears, who only wanted to play with the fairy doll! How her eyes lit up at the prospect of cookies! Hopefully she was much better. Hopefully she didn’t worry too much about Ysabelle. Why would she? In her eyes, Ysabelle was a “rich woman” and nothing more. Nothing as monumental as a confidant, a mother.

But at least the little girl was okay. At least she didn’t get hurt.

Why couldn’t Ysabelle have children?

Chapter Twenty-Six: Would he ever? [Kix]

“We were always so busy, but in life, I wondered if you would ever agree to having a child. I love you, but I wanted to love someone that was small and vulnerable, someone who needed guidance.” Ysabelle said.

Kix didn’t say a word. She had brought up the talk of children in the dismal, dusty attic. In his pain-ridden mind, thoughts of a little child running about, happy as can be, holding one jester and one fairy, brought a glimmer of joy in his heart.

“I would have loved to have a child with you. Think of how vibrant our mansion would have been, think of how much happiness the child would have given us!” Kix gushed.

The two of them sighed, dreaming of a life that could have been. How could they ever be parents when they were mere children’s toys, hidden away to rot for eternity?

Children’s toys…huh. Kix thought to himself, an idea beginning to make itself visible.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: The beauty of love [Ysabelle]

“We’re children’s toys, Ysabelle. It’s only a matter of time before some kid stumbles into this attic and takes us. We’ll be able to look after a child then.” Kix said.

Oh, yes! A child might come and take them, they would both find happiness, then they wouldn’t have to think about Karissa and anything horrible, but…

“What if nobody comes up here? Or what if somebody does come up here, but with time, they grow old and let us go? What then? We’re toys like you said, but we might rot alone.” Ysabelle pointed out.

There was yet another silent moment between them. Ysabelle felt the soft, sweet petals of love in her heart from Kix’s words, but they were just too good to be true.

Karissa had cursed them, would they ever find joy again?

Chapter Twenty-Eight: As they rose up [Kix]

“What if we could live just fine as toys? We’re magical. It’s not like we lost our personal thoughts or anything like that.” Kix said.

As the two of them pondered about their new kind of existence, their bodies began to mold and twist into something more, their love seeping all around within them.

They started with everything and ended with nothing, but that was alright. They would get their lives and their happiness back.

Kix was certain of it.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Creeping out of the darkness [Ysabelle]

From the cracked mirror, Ysabelle could see herself and Kix as tall, gaunt dolls, their button eyes peeking out woefully. It was a sight that most children would fear, but with their love, Ysabelle hoped to make them care.

“We can walk amongst the walls. We just have to not make a sound. We can still watch everybody, we just can’t be noticed.” Kix said.

So, Kix led their conjoined bodies downstairs, to where the party was happening, to where the festivities were growing.

Ysabelle didn’t like the attic one bit, but she hoped that they wouldn’t be caught. It wasn’t their fault that they were cursed, but humans didn’t care about that, did they? If they saw something they were scared of, then they were scared.

It was like humans didn’t see the soul within.

Chapter Thirty: Watching the party go on [Kix]

Kix and Ysabelle were able to walk out of the attic unnoticed by all.

But still, it hurt to walk by and watch the party go on, all because they weren’t living by how Karissa wanted. How could Kix spend his money in a way she wanted? It just wasn’t fair and incredibly absurd.

Yet his heart had hints of sorrow about her. What was it about Karissa that he missed? What was it about Karissa that couldn’t be fixed?

Why must she give them both such a horrid curse?

Epilogue

Kix and Ysabelle had spent most of their time in the attic, afraid to frighten anyone they came across. Nobody knew what became of them that Christmas Eve, only that they disappeared one day and never came back.

Yet there was one instance of which a little girl by the name of “Musette” was awfully lonely during Christmas and so they happened to find her. The both of them spent their days with the child, finding love in their doll hearts.

Perhaps someday, they would find the answer to their madness. Perhaps someday, they would find true peace.

But at the moment, Ysabelle and Kix focused on doing what they did best:

Bringing about love to those that deserved it.