Home is the Heart of the Holidays
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam SEED/Destiny. Only the respective company, Sunrise does. This special story takes place after the final episode of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (Final Plus). Miriallia and Dearka, pairing. Also, this is an adaption of "A Christmas Carol" and there will be some OOC for each chapter. Read & Review, please! Finally, Merry Christmas, everyone!
Chapter 1 – Contempt:
It's winter season and Lacus is holding an annual Christmas Dance Ball for Naturals and Coordinators to coexist on one special holiday night.
This special event was made several months after the Second Bloody Valentine War had concluded, thanks to the heroic efforts of Kira and Athrun, along with the Terminal, led by Lacus Clyne, thwarting Durandal's plan.
In the midst of the aftermath, Shinn came to a realization that he was not only blinded by his own rage, but was also used by Durandal and had nearly killed Luna, if Athrun hadn't stepped in. Nowadays, Shinn is fighting for humanity after finding out that Kira is Freedom's pilot and attended the memorial services at Orb several months earlier but didn't have the knowledge right up until then. He is currently dating Luna and is on good terms upon learning from Miriallia that senselessness revenge will not bring back his family and his previous lover, Stellar.
And speaking of Miriallia, she continues her role as a freelance photographer after her relationship with Dearka Elsman ended on bad terms. When she first encountered him on the Archangel during the First Bloody Valentine War, he insulted her boyfriend's demise and tried to stab him, but was intervened by Sai. Her connection with him quickly altered, when Flay declared that all Coordinators should be exterminated and as she goes to pull the trigger with a firearm, Miriallia immediately intercepted by tackling Flay down at the right moment and disarming the weapon before it went off. Flay informs her that they are the same, but Miriallia right away declined and stated that they're different.
Soon afterwards, Dearka begins to warm up with Miriallia and later informs her, while inside his cell that he didn't assassinate Tolle. Miriallia than overhears a conversation between Kira and Athrun, regarding their previous conflict and became stunned that Athrun was the one who killed Tolle after Kira took Nicol's life in retaliation. As soon as Dearka joined in with her, she yells back at him and declared that killing Athrun won't bring Tolle back to her. She took off after revealing the latter and there wasn't anything that Dearka could do to help.
Right after the First War, Dearka and Miriallia began dating before and during the Second War. That is, until it ended in an instant when she tells everyone on the Archangel that she has dumped Dearka and didn't explain why. Before long, she had previously bumped into Athrun, the individual that took Tolle's life and asked her about the relationship with Dearka; she didn't reply, despite that she didn't lash out her anger on him.
Miriallia travelled nearly everywhere with her trusty camera and was dressed warm enough to survive the cold weather, while attempting to capture more snapshots. Upon knowing that the temperature was starting to drop immensely, she decided to head back to Orb in order to avoid frostbite. Once she went inside the facilities and removed her toque and gloves, she comes across an old acquaintance that took the life of her boyfriend, Tolle: Athrun Zala.
Realizing that someone was behind his back, he turns around to see Miriallia standing before him. "Miriallia, it's been awhile."
She slightly nods her head. "Yes, it has."
"What brings you out here in Orb?" he asked.
"It's a long story." She than notices that everywhere she sees across Orb, it's being covered with Christmas decorations such as wreaths, angels, reindeers and mostly Christmas trees. "It looks so wonderful out here. I never would've imagine Orb being so creative on this holiday occasion."
Athrun replied with a smile. "That's because Lacus is putting together a Christmas Dance Ball for all Naturals and Coordinators, ever since she became PLANT's supreme councillor."
The moment Miriallia heard his statement about Naturals and Coordinators coming together for a dance event; her body cringed and felt unhappy of possibly meeting up with an old friend of hers. "But, why?"
"Relax, it's only for one day. Which reminds me, you haven't answered my previous question from our last encounter. How have you and Dearka been lately?" he asked her, relating to her connection with him.
Recalling her previous five-minute discussion with Dearka during the Second War, she answered with her eyes narrowed. "I…I dumped him."
He gasped in bewilderment after learning that the relationship between them had ended. "You what? Why?"
She folds her arms and turns her head away from him. "I won't tell you."
Judging on the angered look on her face, he could tell that something was troubling her and he knows why. "I get it. You still reflect on him, don't you?"
Knowing that Athrun is referencing about Tolle, Miriallia countered back with frustration. "What's your point?"
Athrun was taken by surprise from her tone of voice. "My point is, what were your other reasons to end your relationship with him?"
By biting her lip, she revealed the truth. "The reality is that I can't stand people nitpick and complain about the choices I make with my life and I would dump anyone who would try it. When Dearka started to criticize them, I dumped him after dating for five months."
His eyes were widened in shock. "Now, let me get this straight; you dumped him, because he criticized your choices and you not accepting constructive criticism from him?"
Miriallia gripped her fists and starts shouting at him with anger. "What do you think? Of course, I did! I had to do what was right! The nerve of him!" What she didn't realize is that Dearka was a short distance away from her with Yzak at his side and overhears her yelling as he slowly walks towards her and listens to her conversation with Athrun. She again crossed her arms and makes a shocking statement to Athrun about not being with Dearka. "I'm much better off without that worthless Coordinator scum bugging me!"
As Miriallia looked back at Athrun, she became surprised at his expression of her disagreement with Dearka. But he wasn't glancing back at her; he was glancing at someone else that overheard her. As soon as she turned her head slowly at Athrun's direction, she too gasped in shock to see Dearka with his mouth opened dry and quivering with fear while some sweat was formed on his forehead.
Not only was he deeply shocked, so was Yzak. Rather than letting Miriallia explain her actions, he hung his head down and took off with Yzak following him.
Athrun became disgusted of how Miriallia described Dearka as a Coordinator and her short-lived relationship with him. "How could you say something like that? You hurt his feelings!"
She tries to explain, but comes up short upon staring at Athrun's angry expression. "But, I…"
"No excuses. You need to think this through, before tomorrow's dance."
"I've already made up my mind! I'm not going! As if you wouldn't make it to see another worthless Coordinator!" shouted Miriallia in frustration.
Assuming that she was mentioning his connection with Cagalli, Athrun's blood began to boil and with rage in his emerald green eyes, he slaps her right across the face.
As a result, Miriallia has a small red mark on her cheek.
Instead of lashing out his anger, he took a deep breath and sighed. Than, he responded. "Miriallia, there is an old saying: sometimes the right choice…is the wrong choice. In fact, I know why you dumped him; it's because you're selfish. Have a Merry Christmas." He concludes his sentence by taking off and leaving Miriallia all alone and dumbfounded.
She feels the small red mark on her cheek and it was a little hot. When she realized that she has made a harsh mistake by severing her ties with Dearka and than insulted Athrun, she muttered to herself. "Oh, no. What have I done?"
Now inside her fabled home, she puts on her light purple pyjama robe and tucks herself in bed. She traced back to the disturbing statement that she had said about Dearka.
"I'm much better off without that worthless Coordinator scum bugging me!"
She shuts her eyes and said to herself about what has transpired the other day. "What was I thinking? I shouldn't have said that." She stares at the ceiling and contemplated about tomorrow's Christmas Dance Ball being organized by Lacus. "What's the use? There's no way that I can ever make amends with him by starting over. Even if we did, it would be pointless." She than recalled the remark Athrun had made to her and touched her cheek that was slapped by him. "What if, Athrun was right? Have I only cared about myself than others?" She shook her head. "No way. I'm not selfish." She hopped back on her pillow and started sleeping.
Than, during her sleep, a creek of the stairs began with every step and as soon as it becomes louder and closer to her door, a flash of shock came from her eyes and stood up from her bed. She pulls the covers of her blanket and braced herself for the inevitable.
Seconds later, the door had swung open slowly that let out a loud creek and a white silhouette person appeared in front of her. "Look, well, Miriallia Haww. For only you can see me."
Miriallia's fear had quickly risen and asked the ghostly individual invading her bedroom. "Who…who are you?"
As the ghostly figure took its form, it begins to speak to her. "In life, I was your boyfriend, Tolle Koenig."
Her body and eyes were filled with shock to see her ghostly childhood friend standing right in front of her. "T-Tolle! It is you! B-But, why are you here?"
"I've come here to warn you. To save you, by any means necessary."
Uncertain as to what he means, she asked him again, while her body continues to tremble. "To save me? Save me from what?"
He explained to her. "From such a fate as mine. When the real truth will awaken from within you, you can't do anything but to accept the truth. Underneath everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved, despite the differences."
She traced back to her times with him, while shedding some tears in her eyes. "Tolle, you meant everything to me! We were doing so well together until that fateful day."
Tolle countered. "Fate? Was it fate for you to be a Natural? If you were a Coordinator, things would've become a much deeper turn for you. Let alone mine." He than warns her. "Now, heed me; for my time is short. Three spirits will visit you. Without their visit, you will not be able to shun the path that I tread. You will be shown the visions of a Christmas Past, a Christmas Present and a Christmas Yet to Come. Listen and follow them starting with the first spirit, when the clock strikes midnight tonight."
As he makes his exit by going through the window, Miriallia tries to follow him. "Tolle! Wait!"
"This will be the final time you will ever see my face."
"Tolle!" She quickly gets out of her bed and made her way to the window. But it was too late. He was nowhere in plain sight and she hung her head down in misery. "Oh, Tolle."
