Chapter 1:
It was two days before Christmas, and all through the house, every creature was stirring, for a big party had been planned. A magnificent party, one only known in legend, was being prepared for the wondrous holiday that brings love and joy to millions, allowing them to live through the sadness that is the rest of the winter season.
In the bedroom, Noire was busy posing in front of a mirror, hoping that the dress she crafted was more than enough to make her at least presentable (she could always get the bust correctly for every outfit besides this one). In the main foyer, Uni grew restless as she contemplated whether changing the drapes to a holiday-themed color scheme or keeping them the stark white classic would be better. in the Pantry, Kei Jinguji tripled-check every single piece of useful supply needed for the greatness that was the party, though naturally she found the whole thing a headache to set up. In the rest of the Basilicom...
Oh, wait, there's only maids left? Could have sworn Nisa lived there or something. Where does everyone else live? Jeez, now I confused myself. Where was I?
Ah yes, the party thing. Every year, whether talked about or not, Noire hosts one of the biggest gatherings in all of Lastation. For every holiday she endures, Christmas was the only one she really cared about, and the only time she would actually look so happy with everything. Of course, after Christmas brings on the old CPU, much to a few's chagrin.
This year's festivities will be even bigger than the last, at least according to some of the ads Kei wrote (which are often written as: "Lastation has a party. It will be better than last year. Yes, indeed. Show up if we like you." Quite the charmer, no?). The whole Basilicom, barring a few private rooms, is opened to all the guests, including the outer perimeter areas like the garden in the back, which was adorned with all the lights of the holiday (except white. Noire will never live that one down with Blanc).
There were musical guests, strange games to be played, and of course, the annual gigantic feast known only to the CPU's of lore. It took a lot of work to set up, naturally, and once everything was done, the majority of the maids often asked for triple the payment, some of the newbies walking away from the job if the party grew too hectic. Still, it was one of the best times to be alive on Lastation, and if Noire actually had fun with it, then certainly there had to be something about it.
So, since we now know how people live in the Basilicom, what about the rest of the city, and perhaps the towns that surrounded the capitol? How did they live during this beautiful time of the season?
In the majority of the city, families gathered with loved ones as they sat by the fire, telling stories of the past, including even a ghost story or two. They settled down at the table, where a smaller, yet still heavily symbolic meal awaited them. Fathers and Mothers took the time off from work to spend as much time with their children, though naturally they reserved themselves the fate of being constantly asked what the Santa-tome will give them this year. All-in-all, the city was lively with happiness and spirit.
But not every soul had bountiful feast before them, or a roaring fire and blanket to keep them warm, or even a roof over their head. There were some that would never receive a single invitation from the Goddess, or see many of their family members in time for the most wonderful day of the year. Instead, the only thing that met them was the cold weather that shrouded them in a blanket of remorse.
Lady Noire knew of the hundreds that unfortunately had no home to claim. Many found themselves there thanks to their own doing, while others were, with the lack of a better word, screwed over one way or another. The City did its best to keep these people afloat in their dilemma, but there is only so much you can do for what society perceives as the lowest common denominator. For them, the only happiness they see is whatever spirit they held within.
Luckily for many, even their saddened state was not enough to erode the season. The homeless knew of their blight, but in a strange sense, they always kept themselves together, and even if there was no feast or party to attend, they will still find something to make the best out of the worst. Noire admired that out of them, and that just made her even more guilty that she still couldn't help them.
Unfortunately, even with the best of their abilities, the days prior to the grand one were met with the harshest cold spell ever seen this side of Lowee. Those that had nothing left huddled as close as they could to one another, often basking themselves around a drum set on fire. While the more fortunate had their laughs indoors, the homeless sang their carols with the ice freezing their breath.
…
Around one burning drum was a group of about 10 people, some old, some young in their days. They stood in an alleyway between some sort of card game shop and a store dedicated to selling knick-knacks and kiddie toys. Normally these folk wouldn't be allowed to stay here thanks to the store owners, but perhaps it was the elation of the season that allowed the kindness to show through. Unfortunately, that still didn't guarantee them a roof, and with the snow falling down at a greater speed, that was something they really could use.
It wasn't the biggest drum, so they of course had to struggle to keep the flames on them. It was a sad thing to witness, yet oddly enough, the people forced to endure this seem to have a smile placed upon their lips. As they kept their hands in the fire, the group managed to make some small talk, telling of tales of past ventures, and maybe throwing in some self-deprecation here-and-there. Every so often, you heard a slight chuckle, and even some of their cheeks lit up from their otherwise pale complexions. It was quite the miracle to behold.
Among the taller folk stood a girl of small stature, one that was probably older than how she looked. Her hands pressed the closest to the flames, though still managing to avoid any chance of possible burn. Out of everyone there, she certainly wasn't the youngest, but she was probably the most recent inductee into the hall of the homeless. The others were hesitant of her at first, but through her kindness did they accept her. Besides, it didn't take long before she became just as dirty and cold as they were on a daily basis.
Her name, made in such a way that one wonders if it was ironic right now, was Win (she didn't mind being called "Winnie", however). She was becoming known as one of the top soccer (or whatever you prefer to call it) players in all of Lastation. Why, just two weeks ago in her most recent game, Win delivered the most goals against the Leanbox M. Chiefs, bringing her team a grand victory. She was loved by many, and even a few corporate sponsors tried to use her image (including ASIC at one point. I still have no comment). The only people honestly not familiar in Lastation were those that had no chance to hear about her, and I guess the people that she's with now were those people.
And yet, with all the admiration and possible money she receives, she was still considered the all-time low of society. No one there ever inquired about it, though sometimes Win let a few facts slip through. Whatever the case was, she wasn't able to just walk back and join her team these days, and though they still have some victories over the other teams, it just wasn't the same without their star player. Oh well, she always told herself, if she couldn't do anything about it, she shouldn't feel so bad. Still, the fact that she was probably disappointing a few good people out there sometimes kept her up at night.
No matter what had occurred, Winnie found herself with those she always supported; those with nothing to give back. Whenever she won, she anonymously donated whatever money she could to help the less fortunate, no matter the circumstance. Of course she never expected anything back; as long as they got some happiness out of it, she a-okay with giving them whatever they needed. I have a bad feeling I know how she became homeless.
"Win-chan, sorry ta' botha ya, but may ya please scoot ovah?" A woman with a distinctive accent asked her, feeling as if she was being pushed back. The soccer player nodded to her with a smile, and managed to make some room for the woman. The rest of the group, comprised of all women minus one small boy, still made some heart out of all this.
"So, I guess I should ask you all, and sorry if I offend any of ya's. Christmas is coming up and, well, I know it would be difficult, but got any plans?"
She was the elderly one of the group, and her worn skin only appeared more wrinkled within the flames. Out of all of them, she was here the longest, perhaps longer than even a decade. She knew that life on the road was horrid and painful, but there was always opportunity somewhere within these alleyways. The rest of the group, clearly not as old as she was, looked all around.
"Well," one girl began, "I really want to see my sister again, but she's all the way down in Leanbox. God, I don't even know if she still lives there!"
"I guess I want to get some flowers for my ex. Look, don't look at me like that, alright? I still love her, and and that bitch she's with now doesn't know anything about class!" another spoke soon after.
One by one, every person said something. Even the little boy had a wish to accomplish this year, and that was to meet the Santa-tome and give him/her a "big-o'-hug," leading to the obligatory "aww" from the rest. They all chuckled at their dreams as more and more fuel was added to the flames. The sounds of the flames cracking only made the moment that much more friendly.
Of course, only one voice didn't speak.
"Win-chan?" The elderly lady asked out of the blue. The soccer player, who was busy licking her lip after a snowflake hit her tongue, jumped as the flames grew brighter. She looked at the woman with a look of sheer innocence. "We haven't heard from ya, girl. Anything you want to say?"
The soccer player was struggling to even remember what was asked, and when she did eventually remember, she was struggling to figure out an answer. What was she going to do? It was obvious that pretty much all the people at the drum had no chance in accomplishing her plans, but at least they had aspirations. She was a freaking popular and beloved Soccer player not too long ago, and yet she didn't even have a plan to get back on top and get back on the team. What type of teammate was she?
"Umm..." was all that Win could utter, wondering herself what her false-plans were. The others were looking at her with an earnest expression. Golly, what do I say? She thought, a look of fright playing upon her, do I just lie? But, I never lie! Eh...wow, uh... Even her mind began to fail her.
The woman next to her, one of a tall stature, gave her a motherly expression as she patted Winnie's back. "Do you have any loved ones you miss? You look like a girl with lots of love."
The soccer player looked at the woman's eyes, feeling the warmth only a mother could give to her child. Her gentle hands put Win's head at ease, and suddenly, she felt as if there really was plan within her all along. Oddly enough, though, it was not the plan that was thinking about before. In fact, it sounded kind of...well, strange, at least coming from her.
"I guess...I guess I want to, I don't know, go to that Christmas party Noire's hosting. I really respect her, you know?"
Her words still felt strange, but at the same time, she knew that the words were genuine. If she didn't experience this whole bout of homelessness, she would've been with her team at the big ball, meeting the CPU herself. It was rare for them to actually meet the leading woman of the land, and it was something that Win looked forward to for a long time. To tell you the truth, there were some matches where Noire was able to be at the game live, and when Win saw her for the first time, well...let's just say she was very inspired by her appearance. She often attributed her success to the CPU.
She hoped that her answer was more than enough for the company she found herself with, and to a few, like the little boy and the motherly woman, it was a great plan. Unfortunately, the rest didn't share the same sentiment. "Well, good luck with that one. Why would the Goddess want street trash like us in her Basilicom?" One of the other girls mentioned, snorting as she continued to fuel the flames. The motherly woman shot her a look.
"Don't say that! Noire loves everyone, including us!" she said, standing her ground, holding Win's hand as tight as possible. The soccer player couldn't help but feel a little bashful. Still, she agreed with her words, and she even made a small frown at the other woman.
The girl who wanted to send flowers to her ex folded her arms. "Look you two, I know the both of you are hopeful and all, but look at us. We are literally less than a dogoo right now, and if she actually loved us, we wouldn't be huddled like this!" she spat into the flames, which only made it cackle even louder; the little boy was more-or-less amused by this.
Win shook her head. "She does love us! She loves you as much as any other person!" Winnie said, feeling a strange sense of entitlement grow within her. "Besides," she further elaborated, "I know we're in a really bad place, but she does whatever she can to help us! You can't fault her for not trying!"
The lot of them shook their heads. "At least you're cute, Winnie, because that brain of yours really isn't that good," one of the said, once again spitting into the flames. This made the Soccer player look down; she still looked angry, but now a feeling of rejection started to play on her features. She didn't know Noire personally, but she had to be nice, and she had to...no, Win knew she loved everyone equally. Some were given a bad hand, but that doesn't mean she wasn't trying her best to right the wrongs. Hell, as far as Winnie knew, the majority of these people probably got them into this position thanks to their own shortcomings (though the soccer player could never say that).
Still, her beliefs did not prevent the tears from building up. "She...she is nice, and when I meet her, I'll proof it to all of you!"
A laugh was heard to her left. The woman with the accent was trying to hold it within her, and the motherly woman shot her a glare. "What's so funny?"
"Aw, nothing, lawdy. It's just'a, well, how ya gonna meet the Goddess anyhow? I don't know much, but'a know that ya can only get into the Ba-silly-com via an invitation. Ya got one there, Win-chan?"
Win looked confident at first, for she knew that an answer was building within her. Since she was on the Soccer team, she had full right to enter that party without a worry. It was just one of the benefits of being an athlete, after all.
But that confidence quickly waned when she realized that the invitation they received was for the whole team, not each individual member. Thus, she can only be admitted if her coach was there, and that would mean that she would have to be with everyone else. Why she couldn't just find her coach, well, that was another story about her origins into homelessness, eh? In the end, she unfortunately had no other way to get into that party. That kind of blew.
But she wasn't going to give up. That wouldn't be like Win, now would it?
"I-I'll get one, I'm sure of it! Heck, even if I don't get one, I'll still get into that party. You know, maybe I can get all of you into the party, too!" The whole group around her laughed, though Winnie knew it was against her. She made a sigh, hoping that she could accomplish that plan of hers, and finally meet Noire face-to-face. Looking around her, she too wondered if what she just said could occur; though they laughed at her, she still cared for these people as if they were family (even if they only knew one another for only a short spell), and wanted each of them to find the happiness they deserved.
The motherly woman tightened her hold on Win's hand, and the soccer player looked back into her eyes, the tears still somewhat evident. "Do you think I can do it, ma'am?"
She gave her a wonderful, warm smile, and the tears were dried from Winnie's eyes almost immediately. "Your name is Win, correct? With a name like that, I know you can do it," she said, the smile becoming the brightest thing, even eclipsing the fire nearby. "You know, I still don't know much about you, Win-chan, but I can tell you're special. I think you can do anything."
Another blushed leaked onto the soccer player's cheeks. "Wha-What? N-N-No, I can't do that much! My name is just a name, you know?" Her flustered expression was quickly calmed by her friend's kind look. Soon, even Winnie found herself smiling, the tears of rejection never to return. "Still...thanks for standing up for me. I know she's a kind and sincere soul, and no matter what, I want all of them to know that there are people out there that love them, even the CPU herself!"
The motherly woman chuckled sweetly, and in a gesture that we can only presume to be of friendship, kissed the soccer player on the cheek. Win's faced flared up quicker than a firework's explosion. She knew it was of friendship, but to feel the gentle nature of the other lady's lips made her feel quite joyful, to be honest. The lady could only chuckle in a sweet manner. "You're just so cute, Win-chan!"
"uhhh...uhhhh..."
The other girls there gave them looks, and as they did this, they noticed a tiny little body walking down the alleyway, barely bundled against this blizzard-like storm. She was holding a bear close to her tiny frame, and a hand was placed over an eye, an indication that perhaps she tired, or merely restless.
"Yo, lovebirds," the girl with the ex began, raising a finger over the fire, "You might want to look behind ya."
The motherly woman and Winnie quickly looked away from one another, embarrassment settling in, before the older woman looked behind her. When she laid her eyes upon the tiny body walking down the path, she could only gasp. "Isabel, what are you doing out here?"
The motherly lady ran up to Isabel, holding her close, realizing that the tiny body only had a thin jacket over her pajamas to survive against the chilly atmosphere. When she spoke, even though it had a tired feel to it, she still sounded childish and hopeful, something Winnie cherished. "I wanted to be with you, mommy."
The apparent mother of Isabel held her daughter close, hugging her as tight as possible. "Izzy, you shouldn't be out here. It's way too cold and dangerous! Why aren't you at home?"
Isabel was struggling within her mother's grasp. "'Cause I wanted to be with you, mommy! Daddy was really angry again, and he yelled at me," she said, the tiredness even more evident in her voice. Her mother held her even tighter, a tear building within her eye. "Why can't you come home?"
Winnie felt the heartstrings being pulled, while the others around the drum merely rolled their eyes. "And the plot thickens..." muttered one of them. Winnie shook her head at them.
Her mother drew a big sigh. "It's...it's really complicated, Izzy. Still, it's a lot better there then here. It's cold! Come on, I'll bring you home."
"No!"
Isabel locked her feet solid on the ground, and though her mother tried to lift her, her daughter proved to be quite the opponent of that idea. Some of the people around the drum laughed out loud, the flames being fueled even more, some of the snow being incinerated by its sudden might. "Izzy, please. I don't want you out here!"
Her daughter shook her head. "Well, I don't want you out here, neither! I'm not going back unless you come, too!" her voice rang through the blizzard storm, a sharp wind standing no match against the emotion she displayed. Her eyes, still filled with the lights all children come with, told the whole story to her mother, who was still in disbelief. She was correct, though; the outdoors in a condition like this would never suit the life of a child, no matter the time. However, when dealing with a kid that was only experienced in seeing disappointment, there was no way convincing them would ever suffice.
"Izzy..."
"No means no, momma! I don't care if its cold! If you're cold, I'm cold! If I'm in danger, you're in danger! I'm staying with you, and that's that!" the young child broke the hug and folded her arms, a puff cheek sealing the deal. Win felt horrible to be witnessing all of this, but she honestly had no idea what to do. It was sad to behold, and in honestly, the soccer player wanted to wrap her arms around the little girl and give her all the warmth she possibly could, but if her own mother couldn't succeed at that, how was she supposed to?
The elderly lady sighed. "I understand how you feel, little lady, but listen to your mother. It really isn't safe for a young'un like you to hang around, especially at night," as she said this, she gave a depressed look at the little boy that stood nearby, who appeared to have toned out the whole ordeal. Shaking her head, she continued: "I would go home, now. Besides, it's almost Christmas time, no? You shouldn't be up so late to begin with! Go back home, little girl."
The woman the ex laughed. "Besides," she started, "you ain't going to get any warmer around these parts. This drum already has to many people around it, so you'll probably freeze by morning!"
Win shot her a look as the mother tried to use their words to convince her daughter, but unfortunately Isabel still wanted to stay. "I don't care! Christmas isn't Christmas without mommy!" her words hurt both the mother and the soccer player, the cold around them suddenly feeling much more significant than ever before. The little girl began to cry, and held her mommy close. "I don't want to leave you, mommy! Please!"
Her mother shook her head, a sad sigh escaping her lips. The woman with the accent threw her hands in the air. "Look, girly, it ain't all 'bout ya mom and all, and tha dangers and stuff. Ya stay here, ya won't be warm! Sorry, but none of us ain't stupid enough to give up their position, ya know?"
Those words hit Winnie in a rather odd way. She didn't like that selfish attitude the woman was giving, but she understood it. Even with a child in question, leaving this burning drum would probably be the worst mistake you could ever make. No heat in this weather would be the end for that person, for sure. Isabel probably walked a long distance to get here, so who knows how long she has been exposed, especially in her outfit clearly not fit for this. Sure, they could scoot over, but even with the open space her mother left, there was still not enough for the huge crowd. Adding an additional person would just not work; you didn't have to be that close the fire of course, but let's just say that the snow was not allowing the heat to properly radiate, so it was either all of the heat, or none of it.
And Win knew what was going to happen. Isabel's mother tried, but she knew that trying to persuade her daughter would be futile, meaning she was going to stay here. In order to keep her warm, though, her mom would probably sacrifice a lot, and that would mean no more heat for her.
Winnie wasn't going to allow that, and when she saw her about to open her mouth, the soccer player quickly stepped in. "Isabel, you look really cold. Come on, stand here. Your mother should come, too."
The elderly lady knew what Win was about to do. "Win, are you sure about this, child?"
The soccer player turned to her and gave a nice little smile, even throwing in a little thumbs up. She then stepped out away from the flames, walking to the mother, who's eyes were wide with bewilderment and oddity. "Winnie, no. I don't want..."
Win did a strange reversal of what should be expected and actually petted the older woman on the head. The little Isabel was confused by what was going on, the unjust rules of the world still foreign to her, but when she saw the famed soccer player up close, her tiny eyes, already aglow with childlike curiosity, lit up even brighter than the greatest lights on the most wonderful day of the year. "W-W-Win-chan? Are you W-Win-chan?" she asked with the stammering not from the freezing temperatures around her.
The mother looked at her, confusion still taking front-and-center. "Izzy...how do you know Win-chan?"
Before the young girl could answer, Win placed a finger over her little mouth, a wink being produced from her eye. Isabel was still filled with wonder, the mother getting further and further confused as the time wore on. The snow only fell heavier.
The soccer girl let her finger off of Isabel's mouth, instead allowing her hand to pet her. Let's just say that the little girl was more than elated to feel her idol's hand on her hair. "Hi there, Isabel. Are you a fan of me?" Win asked, feigning a little bit of ignorance. The mother was still left out of the loop as her daughter once more flared up, nodding her head at a quick speed.
"A fan? You're the coolest soccer player ever! Who isn't a fan of you?" she asked, even doing a tiny twirl, her body somehow withstanding the horrid conditions of the winter season. She beamed a smile at her mom, and the mother in question turned to look at the young soccer player, starting to grow annoyed that she still had no idea what was going on. Win noticed this, and waved a hand in the air, a gesture she commonly used out here to signify "Just go with it." The mother was willing to, but it still vexed her. Her daughter was still talking up a storm "...and the posters and I even collected a lot of your cards and daddy's girlfriend bought me a soccer ball you used once and..."
Win was surprised to see that she had such a compassionate, small fan, and she couldn't lie; it was simply warming her heart, making butterflies jump all around within her. However, her words suddenly stopped, as Isabel suddenly had a question to ask. "Wait...if you're the greatest soccer player ever, why haven't you played in so long?" her eyes were suddenly filled with the same feeling her mother was experiencing. "Hey, wait a minute...why are you out living on the streets? Shouldn't you be very rich and living in a huge mansion with a big pool and stuff?"
The soccer player felt bad that she might accidentally disappoint one of her most passionate fans, so she kept her smile on, even when she felt like a frown would be necessary. "Well," she began, a slight chuckle coming out of her lips, her free hand scratching the back of her head, "let's just say I'm, uh, taking a break! Yeah, I wanted to spend time away from the game for the holidays, you know? As for the streets...I, uh, wanted to spend time with the less fortunate. Yeah!"
The others around the drum looked in anger at her as the little girl nodded with understanding. "Ohhhhhhhh..." the high intensity of the h's showing how much she completely understood her idol, and even though to everyone else it was far too obvious to tell she was lying, Win was relieved to find that she wasn't outed yet. The real reason she was out here would probably decimate her fan's mind, and that would not be a good thing. She resumed petting Isabel's head.
"So don't you worry about it, okay? I do wish you did change your mind and go somewhere better than this, but if you want to stay with your mom, well," she looked back at the drum, its occupants still fueling the flames, the snow trying desperately to end the heat prematurely, "You need to promise me that no matter what, you stay with her and keep near the flames, okay? I don't want anything happening to my favorite fan!"
She petted Isabel, who was even more elated than ever before. "Um, okay! It's a pinky promise!" She stuck her pinky out, and Win was happy to compliment it. As they shook their smallest fingers, the mother grew concerned. She couldn't convince her daughter, so that was already a low-blow, but now it seemed that Winnie won't be keeping herself warm. She knew that it was either right next to the flames, or nothing at all.
Ignoring her other questions about Win's past, the mother went to her friend and hugged her. "Win, please tell me you're going to be warm, too! I'll give up my spot if I have to. I can't stand to see you cold!"
Win hugged her back, a move that made both of them feel quite odd with themselves. "Don't worry about me, okay? I can't stand to see either of you cold, either. You daughter deserves to be warm, and so do you!" her words were kind, and even when speaking to the mother, she honestly sounded more like the mature woman here. The older female was honestly touched by her soothing voice. Win then broke the hug, patted Isabel on the head once again, and then started to head out towards the street.
"Wait, you're not staying?"
The soccer player turned back to them and gave them all a thumbs up. "I wish I could, but I need to think of some things right now. Walking around might help me, you know?" The mother looked like she was on the verge of tears, so Win rose her hand once again in a calming manner. "Don't worry about me. I know how to keep warm out here. You need to worry about yourself and your daughter now."
The mother held her daughter close, while Isabel waved goodbye, needing not to say anything more, feeling so awestruck that her idol actually spoke to her. Man, she should have asked for an autograph. "Win," the mother began, still feeling the water around her eyes, "t-thank you. Please, be careful, okay?"
Win nodded to her. "You can count on me. Besides, I won't be gone long. I need to talk with Izzy a little bit more, you know?" she said, making the little kid cheer. Once again, Win began walking towards the streets, the normal nightlife of the city appearing non-existent thanks to the horrid weather conditions. It appeared that a calm walk was to be expected.
However, just as she rounded the corner, the mother called out once more. "Wait, before you go...who are you, exactly?"
Her words were kind, and the soccer player felt that she should know everything. However, though it seemed rude to do so, she decided to instead shoot the mother a faraway smile and say, "I would tell you, but I think Izzy over there is ready to say it." The little girl looked extremely excited, shooting a thumbs up herself to the young soccer player.
"I won't let you down, Win-chan!"
Win bowed to them, and finally she left to the street, walking on the sidewalk as very few lights greeted her against the falling snow. Though she loved helping the mother and daughter, once she realized that the cold was truly unforgiving, regret immediately began to sink in. She rubbed her palms together, desperately trying to keep some sort of heat on her. Don't regret anything, girl. You did the right thing. If I freeze, at least it wasn't them. A nice-if-slightly-depressing thing to think about, but she was feeling horrible that she couldn't have at least attempted to stay at the drum. Sometimes her kindness angered her.
Still, she couldn't really worry about it now. What was done is done, and she really did want to take this opportunity to think about everything. Most importantly, though, she wanted to figure out just how, exactly, she was going to get into that party at the Basilicom. A long and dark road awaited her.
