Shout Outs!
Realm9: Jingle Bells thatnks you for the sugar. As for the mistletoe…that was an idea already in the works. Arcane is going to pop up again.
Raliena: No worries! Have a good winter break, and don't let internet rationing get you down.
Dragonet: Just wait, mistletoe will show…
Rogue77: I know how it is, it's almost two weeks to Christmas and I can still walk around in a t-shirt.
torque: I knew hippo meant horse. I didn't know about kalos. Learn something new everyday, hmm?
Laureate: Wait no longer-this chapter introduces Danny's Grandma! Thank you very much for the compliments on the Danny/Arcane bit. Another bit like that soon enough, I think.
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"Welcome to Kentucky." I said as we passed the stateline. A couple days of hard travel and we were almost there.
Thankfully the home where my Grandmother was lay only forty miles beyond the line. Almost there.
Hey girly, what's gonna happen after this?
"Well, first we're going to take a stop near the Golden Oak stable and see if we can't get you a gig as a racehorse. Golden Oak ain't exactly the Triple Crown, as far as racers go, but I daresay you'll get challenged enough. 'Sides, handsome fella like you probably gets all the ladies."
Damn Straight!
I laughed as he started prancing around. He turned his shoes to the state line and we started the run to the end of the journey. Doggy followed lankily behind.
So, sweetheart, what's with you and the guy who hides his face? He got something for you. You got something for him?
"We don't 'got' anything. He's a friend of mine."
Tch. Wish I had more lady friends like that, I'd never be lonely.
"You know, I could always rethink your status. I will hand you over to the salt mines."
Yeah right. Whatever. So, what's the problem? He an old boyfriend? Crush? Dead weight stalker that you have feelings for?
"I can smell the salt right now."
And I can see you freezing in the snow where I threw you off. Doesn't mean it's happened.
"You are the most annoying horse I have ever met."
And yet everyone is still strangely attracted to me. It's hard being the Adonis of the horse world. You really have no idea, girly.
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Logan walked around a small town in Pennsylvania, asking people about the missing girl. Everyone had seen the girl and horse walk into town, but nobody had seen them leave.
"Can't believe this kid." He growled. He couldn't use his super senses in this weather. The scent was buried under tons of snow drifts.
"When I get a hold of that girl, she will be doing Danger room sessions all break and then some."
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Clip. Clop. Clip. Clop.
The rhythmic hit of the hooves on pavement woke me up. I had fallen asleep on Jingle Bells' back, and to my surprise, I knew where we were.
We were in the last stretch of the journey. In the distance I could see the home.
"Alright!" I cheered. Jingle Bells reared up, surprised.
You wanna yell that in my ears a little LOUDER!?
"Sorry. Just ecstatic. I mean, we've been gone for almost a week. And now we're here."
Doggy woofed in agreement.
"Yeah. Let's get there so we can get out of the cold. I'm surprised there's pavement to stand on."
Looks like they just ploughed. Happy Acres around here?
"Golden Oak. Happy Acres is a funeral home. Yeah, it's a couple miles to the west."
Alright.
The last few miles went by fast, and soon we were standing next to the gates. Through the window, I could see a few people staring at us. I waved. A few of them waved back. There was a greenhouse in the back and I got off of Jingle Bells and walked him back there. The greenhouse was g enough to hold several horses, so I left him in the warmth with a feedbag full of oats so he wouldn't eat the plants and went inside the home.
"Can we, err, help you?" A nurse asked a little apprehensively. After all, I just put my horse into the green house and I had a massive dog on my heels.
"Yes, I'm looking for my Grandma. Rosaline Nesmond."
"Oh, thank goodness. She's been totally unlivable after she found out she wouldn't be visiting family. Come on." She led me through the halls into a side room where there was a gathering area. Christmas Music was blaring out of a tiny radio and some elderly people were dancing.
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
When you pine for the sunshine of a friendly gaze,
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home.
I met a man who lives in Tennessee,
He was headin' for,
Pennsylvania, and some home made pumpkin pie.
From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin'
Down to Dixie's sunny shore,
From Atlantic to Pacific,
Gee, the traffic is terrific.
Oh there's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
If you want to be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays,
You can't beat home, sweet home.
Take a bus, take a train
Go and hop an aeroplane
Put the wife and kiddies in the family car
For the pleasure that you bring
When you make that doorbell ring
No trip could be too far
I met a man who lives in Tennessee,
He was headin' for,
Pennsylvania, and some home made pumpkin pie.
From Pennsylvania, folks are travelin'
Down to Dixie's sunny shore,
From Atlantic to Pacific,
Gee, the traffic is terrific.
Oh there's no place like home for the holidays,
'Cause no matter how far away you roam,
If you want to be happy in a million ways,
For the holidays,
You can't beat home, sweet home.
For the holidays,
You can't beat home, sweet home.
However, one person sat at a table all by her lonesome. I walked over to her.
"Hi Grandma."
The old woman looked up and brightened up immediately.
"SAMSON! I'm so glad you're here, I missed the entire family."
"Yeah, we missed you too Gramdma."
"Don't call me Grandma! You know my name is Rose! You always teased me, Samson." She pouted.
"Sorry Rose. So how's life?" I asked with a totally straight face.
Grandma is…erratic. Very. Samson is the name of her brother. He died before I was born. She calls me Samson all the time for some reason. It might be because I look like him.
"Oh, can't complain. That son of mine won't come up to pick me up. Uses the excuse of snow, can you believe it? There's just a little bit of snow." She waved her hand to the window, which was half blocked with snow.
"I can't believe it at all."
"Samson, I'm glad you're here. I would've hated to spend the Holidays alone. I won't even get to see little Chrissy, Donnie, those little wee ones, my son has so many children, you know." She went on like that for awhile. I nodded and interjected little comments, making her laugh. Doggy laid his head on my knee.
"But did you know? One of them is a little different?" She said suddenly. I glanced up.
"Oh?"
"Oh yes, Samson, one of them is a mutant. Little Danielle was her name. Poor little thing. It's not her fault, but I bet she gets all sorts of stuff from other people."
"I heard she was doing quite well," I said carefully.
"Yes. But I'm going to miss her the most you know." She sighed.
"Why?" I asked curiously. Doggy perked up his ears.
"Because, my dear brother, Danny was always the best one."
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Aww…..
Doggy will take the reviews! Jingle Bells will too, as he will be leaving soon.