This is a different kind of collab I wanted to do with Steelcode, the moment he asked in doing a Christmas story. There may be some songs in the chapters, just to give a heads up. Rest assured; I will credit as much of them as I can.
Lea Thompson and her family belongs to me. Nate MacTire and his family belongs to Steelcode. The rest belongs to their respected owners. Hope you all enjoy.
A Christmas of Light
Chapter 1: A Blue Christmas with a Foxes Tale
It was a cold Winter day in Magnum High. Sixteen-year-old teen, Lea Thompson, was sighing gently in art class.
She had autumn brown eyes focused down on a blank piece of paper that's supposed to be a draft of her future artistic canvas to prevent to people. She kept blowing on one of her beautiful, golden curls that were slightly on the right side of her face to see better. The rest of Lea's curls were held back by a white scrunchie as a high ponytail. Her skin was slightly tanned healthy, at first glance. She was wearing a light pink long-sleeved shirt with a white diamond bedazzled snowflake in the center, black jean skirt with D-Tech base layer white snowflake legging pants underneath, and black-colored bow mid-calf flat snow boot shoes.
So far, she couldn't draw nor create anything today because the holidays are coming up and, unlike everyone, isn't looking forward to it. The blonde teen had her reasons.
'Just once, can we not go anywhere this year?' Lea questioned herself in thought with sadness, taping on her paper.
"Deck the Halls with bows of Holly, Fa, la, la, la, la, la,la-la, la, la," A sixteen-year-old Nate MacTire sang, as he walked into the art class with a box of decorations in hand. "Happy Holidays, Lea."
He had cerulean blue colored eyes and medium-length black hair with dyed teal blue tips. His attire was a white shirt with a black celtic knot in the shape of a triskelion imprint, black jeans, and brown combat boots. He also wore a sky-blue jacket with a navy-blue hoodie on top of his white shirt. For accessories, he had a white beaded necklace accustomed with black and light blue beads, brown leather bracelet, with two handmade friendship bracelets on top; one was a mixture of blues and greens while the other was blue and white.
Lea looked up and gave a small smile. "Oh. Hey, Nate. Happy holidays to you, as well."
Nate has been Lea's friend for as long as she could remember. No matter who was having a bad day, they manage to cheer each other up. And Lea does appreciate having someone like Nate around during her saddened state.
"Hey, give me a hand. This is pretty heavy," Nate grunted.
Nodding her head, Lea stood up and helped her friend out. "Wow, Nate. You weren't kidding. This box carried alone is super heavy."
"I may of almost an ornament or two along the way. Uh. Thanks. I was put in charge of decorating the art classroom this year. Want to help?" Nate asked, bringing out ornaments and a small tree.
"Sure. I don't mind," Lea answered, knowing her artwork isn't going anywhere...if she could come up with anything.
"So, what were you doing? Homework?" Nate asked, as he grabbed some garland and tinsel.
"Sort of. It's just some final artwork that represents what I've learned throughout the semester," Lea explained with a shrug, taking the small tree to set up. "My teacher said it can be anything. However, I can't seem to come up with a draft of what it should be."
"Hmmm…Well, mine was an ancient story my grandparents told me, as a kid. It's about the Northern Lights," Nate said, as he pinned the garland in place around the edge of the room." Nate replied.
"Northern Lights? As in the Aurora Borealis?" Lea questioned, putting the tree at a desk corner near the windows. "I don't see how that's an ancient story when everyone knows that exists at the coldest regions."
"Oh, but what about them coming to life because of a fox wanting to become a star and becoming friends with old Saint Nick?" Nate replied.
"I'm sure those are just fable stories. And I've heard of Santa Claus friends with elves and reindeers, but never winter foxes," Lea admitted, getting small decorations for the tree. "Might as well say the Christmas Man himself is friends with yetis, too."
"Golly, who put coal in your stocking? What's wrong, Lea?" Nate asked, as he moved to get the large wreath. "Usually, you're bouncing off the walls spreading cheer and making hot chocolate,"
"Sorry, Nate. I don't mean to sound like a downer, but...I'm just not in the Christmas spirit this year," Lea admitted, rubbing her left arm.
Nate put the wreath up and moved to their table, patting Lea's seat. "Talk to me."
Sighing, Lea went over and sat down. "The truth is...My granddad, James, passed away recently this month and I'm still grieving about him."
This was hard for the blonde teen because her grandfather was the whole reason why she loved Winter. He even gave her a few lessons in playing the acoustic guitar and Lea would sing some of the songs with him...Even if she was shy in doing it in front of other people that aren't from the family. Grandpa James would even try to encourage his granddaughter to join a singing group for having such a beautiful voice.
Nate smiled, sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Lea. I know how important he was to you, but you know he's not really gone. He's always with you."
"I know. That's what my folks keep telling me," Lea said, although having a hard time believing it and felt tears forming in her eyes. "Ever since he passed away, I feel like the days have been slow and I can barely think of anything creative or super happy to do."
Nate gave a small sad smile, before a thought came to mind. "Hey, I know. Why don't you come with me to pick out a tree? That was always your favorite thing, during the holidays."
Sniffling while rubbing her teary cheeks, Lea looked at Nate with a small smile and nodded her head. "Okay. We can do it after school."
"Cool. Hey, maybe I can tell you the "fable" of the Christmas fox, while we're looking?" Nate replied, grabbing a string of candy canes.
Chuckling lightly, Lea grabbed a fake miniature snowman from the box before answering, "I don't see why not. I am curious about that tale."
A bell rang, a few minutes later, and Nate and Lea stopped at their lockers to grab their things.
When going outside, Lea had on her winter earmuffs with white fur and a black handle, light crystal blue scarf around her neck with a large white stitched snowflake signature on one of its ends, a light cyan blue coat zipper jacket, and grey snow gloves.
She was then putting her books away in the locker until she saw a familiar small guitar pick with a snowflake on it. That was her grandfather's gift to her from last Christmas. Thinking she shouldn't leave it behind, the blonde teen took the pick and placed it in her jacket pocket before closing her locker door.
"So, ready for a story?" Nate asked.
"You know I am," Lea answered with a playful smirk, adjusting her backpack on her back while moving to leave the school. "Fire away,"
"Okay. So, long, long ago, there were no stars in the sky," Nate began. "Just empty darkness and the moon…
But the moon always grew dark at certain times, and people were beginning to need more light and stories to tell their children. So, the moon came down from the sky and as winter came through dragging his frost cap, the moon froze a lake. The animals who had gathered to drink were shocked and asked who this strange being was.
"Who are you? What have you done to our lake?" a great bighorn asked.
"I never took the Man in the Moon as a literal person," Lea replied, walking down the steps. "So, what happened next? Did this mystery stranger explained why he did what he did in freezing the lake?"
Nate chuckled. "The moon gave a peaceful gesture before replying,
"You know me. I am the moon. I've come to ask for your help in lighting up the night sky." the moon replied.
A great grizzly stood up on its hind paws and asked gruffly, "Why would we do such a thing?"
The moon waved its gleaming staff above his head, spreading its magic to explain. "I am not as strong as the sun. I wax and I wane and you are cast into darkness. If you join me, you'll help the nocturnal and provide and people will tell stories about you for generations."
The group of animals looked at each other and began a small council to discuss what needed to be done. Meanwhile, not far away, a young red fox played chasing fireflies through the forest till he too came to the lake. Now, the fox was younger than most of the animals in the counsel and had not heard most of the meeting. He watched, as the Bighorn and grizzly bear, along with the other animals, nodded their heads.
"Okay. How do we help you?" The bighorn asked
The moon gave a smile before waving the Bighorn forward, "Come forward and you will see."
Nate and Lea stopped at a light watching the traffic go by on the snow-covered streets.
"Something tells me that little red fox will play an important part to the story," Lea pointed out. "Where did the Moon take the animals?"
"So, one by one the animals stepped onto the lake until all, but the fox, were on the lake," Nate continued…
Spread around the moon, the animals moved, stood, and watched as the moon spread its arms wide before splaying its fingers where light amounts of dust scattered across the darkened lake; making designs on its glistening surface. The Bighorn moved forward and stepped onto one of these marks. Then, in a brilliance of warm light, the Bighorn was turned into a powerful Ram with a sparkling coat. Rearing back the newly turned, the Ram leapt up high into the sky; prancing along till it stood proudly in the sky before the sparkles in its coat were the only things visible.
Soon, all the animals were joining, turning into sparkle covered shapes before leaping into the sky filling it with what we now call constellations. Till, all that was left was the fox.
Smiling with eagerness, the fox leapt onto the still frozen lake and proudly put its paw onto one of the marks…Only, unlike his friends, he did not change shape. He remained the same. Looking around, the fox moved to another mark, only for the same thing to happen. The fox tried again and again, but, to the poor one's dismay, wasn't turned into a constellation.
The moon looked at the now despaired fox, as it stared up at its friends. "What's wrong little fox?" the moon asked.
"I tried so hard, but I can't become a star like everyone else," the fox replied, a small tear falling in its eyes. "I just want to help light up the sky like the others."
The moon stared up at the now star filled sky and gave a smile, before turning to the fox. "Well...whoever said you could only become a star?"
The fox turned to the moon in confusion, just as a firefly flew in front of it. Chasing it to the far side of the lake, the fox soon came upon a green sparkle just like the firefly standing at its feet. Cautiously, the fox stepped onto the green light. Instantly, its fur became snow white with a rainbow-like flame at the end of its tail. The fox hovered above the lake, staring in astonishment at the moon who smiled and waved it to the sky. With a great laugh, the fox took to the sky; its tail flying behind it like a banner of colors dancing through the sky.
That light became what we call the Northern Lights, and, what many believe, guides the spirits to the afterlife. However, that is not all that the fox's tail does.
Lea stares at her friend in awe. "Whoa...So, the fox became the northern lights while the little guy's animal buddies became the stars? Right in the feels,"
"Yeah. Now, here is how Saint Nick comes in," Nate said with a smile…
So, years later, when Santa comes in with the elves and the workshop, Santa came to the fox and asked for its help in making his route through the sky so the sleigh could fly. The magic in the fox's tail gave the magic for Santa to fly to each and every house under their protection. And the power to slow the flowing of time, but that wasn't all the fox's light could do. With houses that weren't covered in snow, one touch of the fox's snow-white paws would make just enough snow for the sled to safely land...
"So, it's said that, on each night, if you're lucky, before hearing the clitter clatter of reindeer hooves, you may hear the pitter patter of paws," Nate finished with a smile.
"That does sound super magical. Who's to say we won't run into the fox?" Lea responded, walking down the path in where the pine tree sales are. "Oh, look. We made it. I didn't even realize we were already there."
"Amazing what a good story can do. So, what kind of tree are you picking?" Nate asked.
"Not sure. I don't want it to be too big or too small," Lea responded, checking the different options. "It needs to be just the right size for us to carry back home."
Nate smiled. "Or we can have my uncle take it. UNCLE VELKAN!" Nate shouted with a smile, as he spotted his uncle walk into the tent.
Lea blinked once. "Well, that's convenient."
"There's my cub! HA, HA! You grew again! I told you to quit! I don't need grey hairs," Uncle Velkan said with a laugh, while walking towards the two teens. "And who is your beautiful friend there?"
Lea blushed from that compliment. "Lea. I'm Lea. Friend of Nate's since forever, I guess. We came looking for a tree."
"Your parents said you'd be going this way, after school. I wanted to surprise you by picking you up, but traffic got in the way," Velkan said with a smile. "So, let's get those trees."
Smiling a little, Lea accepted Nate's uncle's help for this.
An intriguing tale Nate has shared with Lea. Will it come true? Find out in the next chapter.
If you guys like this story enough, along with getting either many favs or reviews or a bit of both, I might consider posting the second chapter a few days early. We'll just have to wait and see.
Please, leave Steelcode and myself a review, but no flames! Thank you.
Continue staying safe, everyone.