A/N: Ok, it is 1:20 in the morning, so you all better be grateful! My internet was having problems today so today was dedicated to Skyward Sword. This chapter is a request/suggestion from Solitaire Emerald, and it was a brilliant idea so...here it is! Thank you all for your support and I'll (hopefully) be back tomorrow with another chapter! Enjoy and make sure to review!

~Diana


An hour later, the party was in full swing. The kids were running around doing kid stuff, and the adults were sitting by the fire talking and laughing. Madeline was trying to stay away from Larry as much as possible. Likewise, Phoenix was avoiding Franziska. Despite that, everyone was having a good time.

Little Pearl came running up with a book in her hands. "Could we read?" she asked hopefully. Maya nodded to her little cousin, then looked around the circle, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

"I think Mr. Edgeworth should read it!" she said happily. Edgeworth looked toward Madeline for help, but she was strategically looking in the other direction. "He needs to get in the Christmas spirit!"

"I really don't-" he began, but then Ruby and Mel surrounded him and the three little girls started begging, and Maya glared at him from over their heads. "Fine." The girls crowded at his feet and everyone else just looked at him, hiding their amusement. He looked at the book. Twas the Night Before Christmas. Really? He cleared his throat and began.

Twas-

"What does 'twas' mean?" Maya asked loudly.

"Really? I mean, I expected this, but only one word in?" Edgeworth asked, irritated. Madeline laughed softly.

"It means 'it was,' Maya," she replied.

"Oh, so like, twas a beautiful night when Larry Butz met the love of his life…" Larry said, scooting over closer to Madeline, who moved away while Edgeworth growled.

"Just continue with the story," she said uneasily.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

"Mouse? Where?" squeaked Maggey, who had just re-entered the room after going to the bathroom.

"No, no mouse. We're just reading," Gumshoe said as she settled back down next to him.

"Oh, good. I'm horribly afraid of mice," she replied.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

"Mama, who's Saint Nicholas?" Mel asked.

"Just another name for Santa, dear."

"Oh."

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

"Mystic Maya, what are sugar plums?"

Maya scoffed. "Oh, Pearly, everyone knows what sugar plums are! They're…they're…Nick, what are sugar plums?"

Phoenix jerked; apparently he'd been zoning out. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Can I just get back to reading?" Edgeworth asked testily.

"But I never found out-"

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

"What's a-"

Phoenix poked her. "Maya. I don't know what you did, but Edgeworth looks like he's about to explode. Just don't ask any more questions, ok?"

"…Fine."

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

"Haha, a Rose Suchak Ladder! Like in the Santa Clause Movies!" Mel whispered to the other two, who shushed her.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

"Edgey, you're not reading it with very much emotion…" Larry trailed off when he saw Edgeworth's face. "Never mind."

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

"What does that mean?" Ruby asked. Everyone looked around in confusion.

"It means that the foolish moon was shining on the foolish snow," Franziska said, twisting her whip in her hands. Everyone jumped; they'd forgotten she was there.

"Oh, ok."

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

The little girls (and Maya) squealed with excitement and Madeline and her aunt smiled indulgently.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

"Mama, who's-"

"Saint Nick is just another name for Santa, dear."

"Oh, ok."

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Nick, are 'coursers' reindeer?"

"Maya, didn't I tell you not to ask any more questions?"

"I was asking you!"

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

"Wait, what about Rudolph?" Mel asked.

"Who's Ru-dolf?" Pearl asked innocently.

"He's another reindeer," Ruby explained.

"I think he's only in stories," Maya said from behind them.

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

"I like that line," Pearl said dreamily, putting her chin in her hand.

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

"What does that-"

"Maya, no."

"Grrr…Nick!

" So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

"Toys!" The little girls' eyes lit up.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

"Mr. Nick, what does a reindeer look like?" Pearl asked.

"You've never seen a picture?" The young medium shook her head.

"Well…" Phoenix thought for a second. "Kind of like a regular deer and kind of like a moose." Pearl's face became serious as she tried to imagine that.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound

"So wait, this guy got to see Santa?" Maya asked incredulously.

"Yes, and what of it, you fool?" Franziska said contemptuously.

"He is like the luckiest guy ever!" she moaned.

. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

Edgeworth paused and everyone looked at him in confusion. "Why'd you stop, sir?" Gumshoe asked.

"I was just surprised that I got to read so far without an interruption."

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

"Santa can fly?" Larry said loudly, practically jumping out of his seat.

"If you consider going up a chimney flying," Madeline said wryly, stopping Larry's movements toward her yet again.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

There was a moment of silence, then everyone began talking amongst themselves. Pearl took the book from him, smiling. "Thank you very much, Mr. Edgeworth," she said cheerfully. The other girls chimed in, before running off to play.

"See, doesn't it make you want to have that Christmas spirit?" Madeline asked, appearing next to him.

"Not really. You might as well give up, I'm a hopeless case."

"I don't think so," she said. "I will make you see what Christmas is all about before this party is over, I promise."