1.1.1 The Quest for St. Nick
By Portalkeeper87
A/N: Just in time for Christmas.
2 Chapter 1-Jake
It was just another busy day at the mall. Christmas was coming up, so Rachel had decided to drag us all out shopping. Trust me, a mall experience with Rachel is worse than battling a dozen Hork-Bajir.
Anyway, I was currently sitting-no, collapsed, actually, on a bench in front of Macy's. A dozen bags of all sizes and shapes were heaped around me. Marco lay on the bench to my left, and Tobias slumped half-asleep on my right. We were all loaded with shopping bags.
Rachel, Cassie, and Ax were still charging through the mall, pursuing the sale rack. Cassie would have been here with the rest of us, but she'd feel guilty leaving her best friend. And Ax was obeying Rachel's every command. After all, Rachel had plenty of cash. And she was bribing him with the promise of cinnamon buns and chocolate.
I was just slipping off to sleep when I heard Rachel's voice, arguing angrily.
"What do you mean you're not shopping anymore?" she demanded.
"Rachel, my obligation as your best friend only goes so far. I seriously can't take anymore." Cassie collapsed on my bench, squashing a few bags from Express.
"And no matter how many cinnamon buns I receive in payment, I shall not suffer any more of this despicable task."
I raised my eyebrows. Ax? Turning down food? Wow, Rachel must be worse than I thought.
"Fine, fine," Rachel said. "I'll let you guys off the hook. It's getting dark; time for us to head back anyhow."
We trudged toward the exit. Near the door was one of those displays where a fake Santa sat. You know the kind, where the little kids line up for a chance to speak to Santa.
Ax spotted the store Santa. "Who is that man with excess body mass in the thick red artificial skin?"
"That's jolly old St. Nick," Marco said rather cheerfully. "Kids go sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas."
"Does he possess the ability to grant wishes?" Ax asked.
Cassie sighed, wanting to go home. I could identify with her. "It's a human tradition."
"Ah," Ax began. Just then, he saw the last little kid jump off Santa's lap. She was sucking on a candy cane Santa had given her. "I would like to experience this strange and unusual human custom."
I groaned out loud. But Ax was already racing toward the startled Kris Kringle.
"I would like to have many cinnamon buns. The type with extra frosting and dripping with cinnamon," he exclaimed, leaping onto Santa's lap.
Santa sort of went "oof", then managed to wheeze out a "merry Christmas" before his fake throne collapsed. The store Santa went beet red and stood up.
"Here, have a candy cane," he growled, thrusting his sack forward. Santa was not having a great day.
"Ooh, bad move," Marco observed.
Ax grabbed the entire sack and began stuffing it-sack and all-into his open mouth.
By Portalkeeper87
A/N: Just in time for Christmas.
2 Chapter 1-Jake
It was just another busy day at the mall. Christmas was coming up, so Rachel had decided to drag us all out shopping. Trust me, a mall experience with Rachel is worse than battling a dozen Hork-Bajir.
Anyway, I was currently sitting-no, collapsed, actually, on a bench in front of Macy's. A dozen bags of all sizes and shapes were heaped around me. Marco lay on the bench to my left, and Tobias slumped half-asleep on my right. We were all loaded with shopping bags.
Rachel, Cassie, and Ax were still charging through the mall, pursuing the sale rack. Cassie would have been here with the rest of us, but she'd feel guilty leaving her best friend. And Ax was obeying Rachel's every command. After all, Rachel had plenty of cash. And she was bribing him with the promise of cinnamon buns and chocolate.
I was just slipping off to sleep when I heard Rachel's voice, arguing angrily.
"What do you mean you're not shopping anymore?" she demanded.
"Rachel, my obligation as your best friend only goes so far. I seriously can't take anymore." Cassie collapsed on my bench, squashing a few bags from Express.
"And no matter how many cinnamon buns I receive in payment, I shall not suffer any more of this despicable task."
I raised my eyebrows. Ax? Turning down food? Wow, Rachel must be worse than I thought.
"Fine, fine," Rachel said. "I'll let you guys off the hook. It's getting dark; time for us to head back anyhow."
We trudged toward the exit. Near the door was one of those displays where a fake Santa sat. You know the kind, where the little kids line up for a chance to speak to Santa.
Ax spotted the store Santa. "Who is that man with excess body mass in the thick red artificial skin?"
"That's jolly old St. Nick," Marco said rather cheerfully. "Kids go sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas."
"Does he possess the ability to grant wishes?" Ax asked.
Cassie sighed, wanting to go home. I could identify with her. "It's a human tradition."
"Ah," Ax began. Just then, he saw the last little kid jump off Santa's lap. She was sucking on a candy cane Santa had given her. "I would like to experience this strange and unusual human custom."
I groaned out loud. But Ax was already racing toward the startled Kris Kringle.
"I would like to have many cinnamon buns. The type with extra frosting and dripping with cinnamon," he exclaimed, leaping onto Santa's lap.
Santa sort of went "oof", then managed to wheeze out a "merry Christmas" before his fake throne collapsed. The store Santa went beet red and stood up.
"Here, have a candy cane," he growled, thrusting his sack forward. Santa was not having a great day.
"Ooh, bad move," Marco observed.
Ax grabbed the entire sack and began stuffing it-sack and all-into his open mouth.