tegan: wasn't this supposed to be up yesterday?

salem: i think so. hey, Light, what gives?

L&DH: *laying face-down on a couch* uh...leave me alone...i think i was in a food coma or something...

Dante: *leaning over couch with a candy cane* that's what you get for trying to eat half your weight in food, stupid.

L&DH: but it's a tradition!

Tegan: Anyway, enjoy this little (late) Christmas special!

Angelique: L&DH does not own Kingdom 'earts, just us. Enjoy!

Heart, Soul, and a little Christmas Spirit

(A Heart and Soul Christmas Special)

"Next time you get the bright idea to take the lead, Salem, do us all a favor and don't!" Vanitas grumbled as he brushed the snow out of his black locks. Salem was lucky he wasn't the same person he'd been ten years ago. The Nobody would have been long gone if that were the case…

Against everyone's better judgment, Salem had been allowed to direct the group in the Lanes Between. But since the Nobody had the directional sense of a lemming, calamity followed close in their wake. It wasn't long before Salem had led them all into a Solar storm, dividing the group in half and sending them all crashing into the nearest world. Which led to Vanitas' current discontent.

"I don't think it's so bad," Ventus commented, materializing next to his darker half. "I like all the snow."

"It is nice, but you're not the one freezing in it." Tegan pointed out, shivering in the cold. "Where are we anyway? Did anyone see where the Island trio went?"

The redhead looked around in wide-eyed curiosity. Everything was white; snow was everywhere. It looked like they were in some sort of forest, filled with tall pine trees and Douglass Furs. The soft white powder was nearly pristine, except for the four spots where four teens had crash landed. She wouldn't have minded it so much if she had been properly dressed. Her green jacket was nice and all, but it wasn't suited for this kind of weather.

"I do not know where ze others are," Angelique replied. "But I suggest we go look and see where we are, no?"

"I t-totally a-agree with A-Angie…" Salem chattered. "Somewhere…nice and w-warm…"

The Nobody had the hood of his sweatshirt drawn up over his head with the drawstrings pulled tight. His braid stuck out at the side and his nose, which was bright red despite his deep tan, poked out. His hands were busy keeping a small flame alive in his palms and his breath came out in clouded puffs. Clearly, Salem wasn't a snow person.

"I agree." Tegan nodded.

"Ditto." Vanitas grumbled.

Angelique nodded but held out her hands, gesturing for everyone to stop. Glittering pink energy formed at her fingertips as she snapped with both hands. There was a puff of colored smoke around everyone and they found themselves in proper winter clothes.

Angelique wore a stylish, rose-colored ski jacket with white fur around the hood and cuffs. Matching ski pants were tucked into a pair of thick, fur-lined snowshoes and white mittens covered her hands. Instead of braids, Angelique's snow-white hair was set in two buns held back by a pair of magenta earmuffs.

Salem now wore a dark red parka with his signature moon motif and lined with brown fur. His jeans were replaced by thick, baggy black snow pants with lots of pouches for his knives and he wore heavy black boots and a pair of matching gloves. An enormous purple cowl was tucked around his face, covering everything under his cheekbones. With the extra layers, he seemed very happy, even if he looked like a ridiculous Eskimo.

Vanitas looked down in shock at what he was wearing. His outfit consisted of a long-sleeved black shirt, trimmed with red fur and big silver buttons. His pants were similar and he found himself in bizarre, red-and-black stripped socks and black combat boots (red laces). He wore a pair of red, fingerless gloves and a black Santa hat (again, more red fur) on his head. Strangely enough, Ventus wore a similar outfit, except his had a white and green color scheme.

"What the hell am I wearing?!" Vanitas snapped. Angelique giggled.

"What? You do not like?" she teased. "I think zose colors suit you, mon amie. Tegan, what do you think?"

Tegan marveled at her clothes. Like everyone else, she wore a fluffy coat, only her's was the same shade of green as her regular coat. Her hood was deep and lined with gray fur. But for some odd reason, her coat was sleeve-less, showing a long-sleeved maroon shirt. Luckily, her arms were covered by a matching set of arm warmers and a pair of dark gray mittens. Her legs were covered by gray snow pants and a pair of brown boots covered her feet. Lastly, a black-and-gray scarf wrapped around her neck.

"I like it!" Tegan cheered. "I didn't know you were such a fashionista, Angie."

The snowette blushed cheerfully. "I try."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Salem exclaimed. "Let's go!"

Before he could wander off, Vanitas yanked back n the mage's hood. Salem let loose a squawk as he fell back into the snow.

"You should probably let us lead, don't you think?" Ven asked sheepishly as he knelt by Salem. The purple-haired teen glared at the blonde for a moment before sighing and shrugging it off. Within seconds his eyes returned to their normal, bright selves and he turned towards the group's Dream Witch.

"I'll follow you anywhere, Angel." He wiggled his eyebrows and Angelique blushed before laughing.

"Come along, my foolish friend." Angelique linked her arms with Tegan and Vanitas and walked past Salem, winking as she went by. Salem grinned under his cowl and jumped up before chasing after his friends.

…

"Oh, I know where we are!" Tegan's violet eyes went wide as she took in her surroundings.

The four teens stood in the center of a small little village, ablaze in colorful lights and festive cheer. Buildings were strung with ornaments, twinkling lights, and garlands. A large carousel stood in the middle of town. And in the back of the square stood a familiar (at least to Tegan) red building, about the size of a warehouse. The smell of cookies and peppermint filled the air as snow fell in light, fluffy flakes.

"Where are we?" Salem asked as he looked around in wonder. He'd never been to a world like this before.

"Christmas Town!" Tegan cheered excitedly. "We're in Christmas Town! The home of Santa Claus!"

"Santa Claus?" Vanitas scoffed. "You're kidding, right?"

Ventus took Tegan's side as he looked around with a bright, child-like smile plastered on his face.

"Don't you think it looks the part?" he asked. "Come on! Let's look around!" Next to him, Vanitas scowled while Salem bounced on his heels.

"Yeah, lets! I wanna see if old Saint Nick is around!" Salem's face lit up like the Christmas lights around them at the mention of Santa. Vanitas jerked back with a grimace.

"There's no such thing as Santa Claus, idiot." He rolled his eyes at Salem's antics. "That's just some stupid kids' story."

Tegan laughed as she grabbed the ravenette's arm. Her face was bright and cheery; eyes lit up and filled with excitement. Vanitas froze at how innocent she looked, how much she seemed like a little kid. Caught off guard, his mind went blank in her violet gaze.

"Not everything is how it seems, Van." Tegan pulled him towards the big red house. "Can you honestly say after what we've all been through that there couldn't possibly be a Santa?" Vanitas nodded his head, face turned down in a stubborn scowl and Tegan laughed even more. "Come on then. Guys, lets show this non-believer!"

Vanitas dug in his heels as Tegan began pulling him down the square. Salem exchanged a sly smirk with Angelique before rushing up and grabbing the black-haired teen's other arm. Angelique got behind Vanitas and playfully shoved him forward. After many laughs and a few choice curses (courtesy of Vanitas) the four stood up on the warmly lit front porch of Santa Claus' workshop. Grinning wide, Angelique stepped forward and pressed the doorbell. She and Tegan giggled as a bell sounding suspiciously of "Jingle Bells" pealed. There was shuffling on the other end and the door opened up to reveal small, colorfully-clothed person. An elf.

"Hello, can I help you kids?" The little helper asked politely.

"Hi, I was wondering if Mr. Claus was home." Tegan nudged Vanitas and stifled a laugh as Salem talked with the Christmas elf. Gold eyes narrowed as he looked off to the side.

"Oh, you've come to see his list, haven't ya?" The elf laughed. "Come on in, kiddos. Mr. Claus is in his workshop, but I can go get him for you."

"Thanks." Salem waved for the others as the little elf led everyone into the living room. She disappeared into another part of the house (most likely the workshop), leaving the four to look around. As Salem pushed down his hood and squatted by the fireplace, Tegan drug Vanitas over to an oak desk, where a long sheaf of papers lay scattered over its surface. The redhead smirked triumphantly.

"How do you like that, you grouch?" She pointed to the papers. "Santa's Naughty and Nice Lists."

"That could be anything," the ravenette protested. "It doesn't prove anything." Tegan scowled and shook her head.

"I swear, you are so thick. How is it s skeleton got this and you don't?"

"S-Skeleton?!" Angelique squeaked. "Where?!"

"Good gracious, I hope there isn't any skeletons running around Christmas Town." A voice chuckled. "The last thing I need is Jack Skellington causing more trouble."

The four teens whirled around as a man shuffled through the workshop door, arms full of colorful boxes. His clothes were bright red and he had a beard that could give Yen Sid a run for his money. Tegan broke out into a Cheshire Cat-like grin and Angelique gasped in surprise. Vanitas froze, jaw dropping and eyes popping as the man walked past him and set the boxes against a wall. Once the packages were all in place, Santa Claus turned around and smiled at the visitors.

"Close your mouth, young man," he instructed Vanitas with a grin. "You don't want to catch any flies, now do you?"

Vanitas' mouth closed with an audible snap. There was no way. This couldn't really be…Could it?

"Now then, Lacy tells me that you children would like to inquire about my list, correct?" Santa walked back over to his desk and picked up a random stack of papers. "I think I have a few moments to spare before I make my run for Christmas."

Salem jumped up. "You mean it's Christmas already?!"

"Christmas Eve, actually, but close enough. Now come on lad, tell me your name." Santa prompted. Salem stepped up rather shakily, which earned him a couple of amused looks from his friends.

"O-Oh, uh…I'm S-Salem Kurokami…Sir." Santa looked over his list and hummed gently.

"It's been a while since I've seen that name on my list. Well, you've had your moments, lad, but I think you've been rather good this year." Salem's face practically glowed as the jolly old elf picked up one of the colorful presents and tossed it to him. "I think you deserve a reward, all things considered. It may not be a heart but…"

"No! No," Salem looked down at the box in his hands warmly. "Thank you so much, Mr. Claus." Angelique stepped up next.

"Angelique Versailles, Mr. Claus?" Her smile faltered slightly. "And…Dante Versailles… s'il vous plaît."

"Ah, the young Dream Witch. Well my dear, I don't believe I've ever had any trouble with you, except for the occasional snatching sweets behind your mother's back," Santa got up and handed a small, simply wrapped box to Angelique. "As for your little brother…I'm afraid he's been very naughty." Angelique's face fell.

"But I supposed there is always room for improvement. Just be sure to watch out for him, and be there for him, and he should be fine. If anything, that little devil needs the proper guidance he's been lacking."

Angelique smiled softly, clutching her gift to her chest. "Merci beaucoup."

Tegan stepped forward with a wide-eyed grin. She couldn't believe that she was meeting the real Santa Claus! This was too cool!

"Ah, Tegan Rhiannon McAlister," Santa chuckled. "I was wondering why I didn't get one of your Christmas letters this year. I had looked forward to reading it, young lady." Tegan blushed at the smirks directed at her by her friends. So what if she still wrote letters to Santa? She had to do something during her lonely holidays. It wasn't like she actually expected them to reach him all the way in another world!

"Well, young lady, I believe that earlier this year, you ran a motorcycle into one of your neighbors' mailboxes. Care to explain that?" Santa looked expectantly at Tegan and her blush deepened until it matched her carrot-red hair.

"I-It was an accident, I swear!" she protested. "Old Mrs. Miller's chickens got loose and I was trying not to hit them! She just thinks I'm some sort of delinquent punk and assumed that I did it on purpose!" As Tegan began to panic, she watched as the man in red chuckled, before turning into a full-on belly laugh.

"Oh, I know, Miss Tegan." He chuckled. "I'm well aware of the incident but I just thought I would test you. And guess what, my dear? You passed! Merry Christmas." Tegan fumbled in a flustered panic as Santa tossed a gift-wrapped box towards her.

Santa nodded and turned to Vanitas. The ravenette looked away, unwilling to meet the old man's eyes. Santa noticed this and chuckled before turning back to his list.

"I already know about you, Vanitas." The golden eyed teen flinched. "You've caused a lot of trouble over the years, hurt a lot of people. In fact, that has put you on my Naughty list a couple of times."

Tegan frowned and watched as Vanitas looked away. The look on his face told her that he was a little ashamed about it, and probably a little mad that Santa Claus was pointing it out. Instinctively, she reacted out her hand and grabbed his, squeezing it gently.

Vanitas' frown deepened as he slid his hand out from her's.

"But…It hasn't escaped my eye that you have been working in this past year to make up for the things you did. I think you may have a ways to go, before everything is set right, but it is an admirable effort nonetheless." Vanitas looked up to see a box wrapped in red paper, tied with black ribbon, being held out to him. As he stared at it unbelievingly, Santa laughed and pressed the gift into his hands. The jolly old elf laughed merrily as Vanitas stared at the gift in awe, almost as if he were unsure of what to do with it.

"Remember, Vanitas," Santa Claus leaned forward and whispered. "Anyone can find their way out of the darkness, no matter how deep they've fallen. Just as long as you have hope, and a few good friends, there is nothing you can't do. And that includes turning things around for Ventus and his friends. Merry Christmas."

Straightening up, Santa set down his papers and nodded towards the others. "Now then, it's time I started packing for my Christmas run. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a good night." He started walking back to his workshop when he paused in the doorway. "Oh and by the way. If you are looking for your friends, they landed somewhere over in Halloween Town. I suggest looking there before old Jack Skellington gets them wrapped up in one of his hare-brained schemes again."

And with that, Santa Claus left the four teens with his signature "Ho-Ho-Ho!"

The four exchanged amazed looks with each other for several minutes before Salem burst into laughter. Setting his gift on the floor beside him, the Nobody was howling with laughter as he practically rolled on the floor.

"Haha! And you said there wasn't any Santa! In your face, Vanni-boy!" he cackled. Vanitas made a move towards him, gold eyes gleaming with murderous intent, when Tegan wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him back.

"Okay, before Vanitas decides to kill Salem," Tegan interrupted. "Let's open these presents!"

It was a joyous little moment. Salem practically crowed with delight at the new spell book, filled with Memory magic and advanced-level spells. Angelique had a fun time marveling over a pearl-handled mirror she got, which she explained was actually a Dream Mirror. Turns out it was a special item Dream magic users possessed which allowed the user to store and view dreams inside. Tegan captured every second of it with a special camera that could shrink down and turn into a ring that she could wear.

"Aren't you going to open your present, Vanitas?" Ventus looked over the ravenette's shoulder. Vanitas had just been sitting against the desk, watching everyone else open their presents. His own gift lay, untouched, in his hands. Gold eyes met blue ones and Ventus was surprised to see a lack of a sour expression on his darker half's face. It looked almost…happy.

"I just…Thought I'd wait." Vanitas said quietly. "This is my first Christmas present, you know. I'm not even sure I want to open it…"

Ven smiled and nudged Vanitas' shoulder. Or, at least he tried to. Being intangible just meant Ventus would pass through objects, which was what he did with Vanitas.

"Well, there's no fun in that." He teased. "Come on, open it up. let's see what Santa gave you."

Vanitas shrugged and began carefully unwrapping the present. Ventus made a few remarks about how carefully he was treating the wrapping, making sure not to tear the paper or tangle the ribbon, but otherwise he let Vanitas have his moment. Underneath the shiny red paper was a black box. Vanitas lifted the lid as both boys looked inside.

Sitting in the middle of the box was a small, simple frame painted red and lined with black. Vanitas gingerly lifted the frame out of the box and stared at the image behind the glass.

It was a picture of himself, with everyone else. Salem was stuck in a headlock as Vanitas ground his fist into his head. Sora, Riku, and Kairi stood on Salem's side, laughing and teasing poor Salem. Angelique stood behind them, trying (and failing) to hide a smile behind her hand and Ventus standing behind Vanitas, laughing and tangible. Tegan stood next to Vanitas, leaning against him with her arms resting on his head. Vanitas looked like he was smiling, not smirking but actually smiling.

"What?" Vanitas whispered. Ventus pointed to the box.

"Look. There's a note."

Vanitas picked up a little piece of paper and read the words to himself.

Vanitas,

There probably isn't much that someone could give you that means more than what you actually need. I've seen it all, young man. I know what you've wanted all this time, but let me tell you this: everything you need is right in front of you. Never forget that.

-Santa Claus

"What is it you want, Vanitas?" Ventus asked softly. But Vanitas didn't answer. All he did was carefully place the picture frame inside his jacket, close to his heart, and walk over to join the others. And that's when Ventus knew.

Everything Vanitas needed was right there.

Tegan: aw, how sweet! and a lot of fun too!

Salem: no kidding! *flipping through his new spellbook* I've been looking for this for ages!

Dante: Why wasn't I in here?!

L&DH: because you're a bad guy...

Dante: Not faiiiiiiiir...!

Tegan: Ok, before he starts driving us all up a wall (hey, that rhymed!) Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone from us!

Everyone: BYE!