Daniel's Christmas Carol
2.
I was just wondering if maybe I died once too many times, when Santa showed up. Yeah, you heard me right. Santa, as in ho-ho-ho, making a list, checking it twice, that Santa.
"Cumtraya!"
And the wonders never cease.
"Daniel Jackson!" He's looking at me from beneath that red furry hat, as though I could ever take anyone seriously who's wearing that. "Do you believe in me?"
Oh, boy. Is this how ascension was every time? No wonder I chose to come back.
"Look, eh…don't get me wrong…"
What, now I'm worried about hurting his feelings? This is all a hoax to begin with! Is Anubis doing this? No, I know: they're testing me! Of course! I should've thought of it earlier. They're probably thinking twice before letting me up there again. So I guess I'll have to pass this test, whatever it is.
"I'm a little old to believe in Santa."
"But you never believed in me!"
Busted, huh? Honestly. My family was not much for tradition—besides, accompanying my parents on all those digs, I had about twenty thousand other mythological creatures to believe in. There simply was no room left in my six-year-old head for Santa.
"Listen, you and I both know you're not really Santa, so whoever you are and whatever you're doing here, just get to the point so we can get this over with and I can ascend!"
He's taking his hat off, and wouldn't you know, there's a shiny little bold patch there.
"Who do you think I am then, if not Santa?"
"Ohhh…probably just one of the ascended Ancients…or maybe the Ori playing with my head"—which, by the way, is a disturbing possibility that has just occurred to me—"or else just a figment of my imagination."
Well, that seems to thoroughly amuse him.
"Ho, ho, ho!" he shouts, patting his red-clad belly. And as luck would have it, even though this mine is probably in my head, there's an echo in here—so soon there's a chorus of 'ho-ho-ho's flying around. "Now listen here, boy," and of course, now he's all serious and grave, "you must learn to believe again. Only then can you be saved."
"Saved from what, exactly?"
But he just shakes his head, waves a flowery goodbye and vanishes into thin air, just like Jack. And I'm alone again. But at least now I know what all this is about, this test of sorts. So I imagine it won't be long before the next round.
***
Surely enough, someone else soon pops into existence right next to me.
"Daniel Jackson."
Well, it's certainly good to see that everybody knows my name.
"Come. You must follow me."
This guy's got a dark cloak covering his entire body, and a hood covering his features, so I can't really tell who it is. Maybe the Easter bunny. He's leading me deeper into the mine…wait a second, why am I going for this? I stop and cross my arms and demand to know who—or what—he is.
"You must follow me," he repeats, extending an arm towards the murky corridor of the mine. Is this guy for real?
"Yeah, I don't think so," I say, holding my ground, "not until I know who you are."
I'm kind of bluffing, actually. If it's him or more waiting around in an empty mine, I'll take my chances with Mr. Dark and Mysterious. But hopefully he won't call my bluff.
"Oh, very well, then," he relents (what do you know—this will go better than poker team nights, after all.)
He's taking off the hood in a dramatic gesture. And the winner is—holy buckets!
"I…am the ghost of Christmas past."
Heck, no!
"Apophis!" He looks smaller and less menacing in his raggedy cloak, but that's him alright, Mr. Just-won't-stay-dead.
Guess every race has got to have one.
I back up a little, just in case he produces a ribbon device or a staff weapon or who knows what else he's got up his sleeve. I just can't believe this.
I die and end up in the same place as him?!
Though come to think of it, he doesn't look particularly menacing right now. He's just giving me that trademark disgruntled glare from beneath his eyebrows.
"Apophis! How did you—"
"I said I was the ghost of Christmas past, okay?! Impudent!"
Oh-kay. Someone's snippy.
"Now follow me, Daniel Jackson," he continues with a roll of his eyes and a repeat of the earlier hand wave. And I think to myself…why not? Maybe that way I'll finally get to the bottom of this.
***
A/N: Bluedahlia86: Thank you so much for your comment on my last chapter; it was really encouraging.
(sorry about replying to reviews in a chapter, I know that's a no-no according to the guidelines--which, by the by, I just had to reread for the 100th time to post this new story!--but until they come up with a better way of responding to anonymous reviews, this works!)
Thank you for reading! Feedback is loved ^_^.
Until next time,
Myosotis
