The Night Before Christmas
Kairi walked about cheerfully in the snow followed by the crew. Riku walked into an inn and turned around for the others to see him and follow.
Everyone was dancing in the dinner room cheerfully.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas It's the best time of the year I don't know if there'll be snow, But have a cup of cheer And when you walk down the street Say Hello to friends you know And everyone you meet.
Aeris and Cloud swirled about laughing, much to Tifa's dismay. Sephiroth looked away. Yuffie winked at Leon and stopped dancing to get something to drink. Walking away Leon noticed Rinoa.. under the mistletoe.
Oh, ho, the mistletoe Hung where you can see Somebody waits for you Kiss her once for me
Leon smirked and approached her but someone beat him there. Vincent began to talk to Rinoa who looked up at seeing something and smiled. Looking at Vincent she smiled more and pointed up. He looked up and almost immediately Rinoa pecked him on the lips. Vincent blushed and stuttered until he heard a growl. He looked over at Leon who turned his head toward Yuffie and was just holding some punch and looking down into it with a lifeless expression on her face. "They won't work out as a couple," muttered Leon thinking of just how.. weird of a match they were. "I think you should be happy for them." said Kairi a little angry standing next to him. Kairi looked over to the staircase and there stood Queen at the top. She was in a white gown. Riku looked up at Queen in a dazed look. She smiled warmly. Her white gown flowed on her body like a stream. Her shape was graceful as she began to walk. Her gown had on spaghetti shoulder straps. Of course, she has on pearl drop earrings that swayed with her every move. Her blue eyes had a pleading look in them. She walked down to Riku. "Riku?" she asked softly snapping him out of his daze. He made a grunt. "Please dance with me?" she asked sweetly. "No!" he said a little too harshly. Queen looked like she had been slapped. "Why?" she asked softly. "Look Queen. You're a good friend but I DO need space." A said less harsh. "A-Alright.." Queen whispered. Riku turned and left leaving Queen to stand there.
Riku laid in his bed. He felt guilty, confused, thrilled, hurt, afraid, and many other things. Suddenly the door closed and locked. "That's bad." "Riku.." A ghostly voice moaned eerily. "Y-Yes?" he asked looking around. Sora appeared in chains. "Sora?" "Don't call me that. It's Marley, Scrooge." Sora yelled. "Who's Scrooge?" Riku asked. "Sora why are you in chains?" "This fate be fell me because of my greed. It has been seven years of suffering for my wrongs! You will suffer the same fate if you do not change!" Sora warned. "Sora what are you on? It has only been three years, you're not greedy, and you are not dead! You are stuck in the Dark Abyss." Riku said. "Foolish Scrooge!" Sora retorted. "My name's Riku." he replied. "Tonight three ghosts shall visit you Scrooge." "It's RIKU!" "Remember." Sora's voice echoed as he disappeared. Riku blinked his eyes a few times. "Okay that's new.Sora on crack. Ya okay three ghost whatever." He muttered and fell asleep.
Riku felt a tap on his shoulders. "Go away." He mumbled. "I am the ghost of Christmas Past." Said a voice. Riku opened his eyes slowly and saw someone smiling at him. "Aeris? What are you doing here?" he asked. "Who's Aeris? I am the Ghost of Christmas Past." "Have you been hanging around Sora's ghost?" Riku asked. "I am a ghost too!" Aeris yelled. "Since when?" "Since Sephiroth went insane and stabbed me with his sword. " "Oh.. so you're supposed to teach me some moral or something?" "Oh ya, that. Touch my cloak." She said holding out her sleeve. He gently grasped her sleeve. He looked around at what appeared to be Destiny Island his home. Another flash of light came and he and Aeris er.. the Ghost of Christmas Past stood in a room. Riku looked over and saw a younger version of himself. "It's me!" he said running up to himself. He tried to touch himself but his hand went through his body. He looked shocked and confused. "No one can see or hear us." Said Aeris. "W-Why?" Riku asked. "Because these are nothing but shadows of the past, Scrooge." "Don't even start." Riku warned but Aeris ignored him. Suddenly two other people entered the room.Kairi and Sora. Riku looked down at the gift he was going to give Kairi. It was a wooden boat he made himself. He got up but Sora walked up to Kairi first. "Here you go. Mwerry Cwistmas Kairi." Sora said giving her a ballerina doll. Kairi's face brightened. Kairi smiled noticing they were under mistletoe. She bent up and pecked him on the lips. Riku couldn't hide his hurt. He turned around and threw the wooden boat on the ground. Riku (the present one) looked away. "I was weak back then. But what importance does this have.. pain?" Riku asked. "Someone knew and still knows how you feel." Said Aeris. Aeris opened her mouth to sing (The Night Before Christmas by Amy Grant, not the nutcracker one! You can probably download it off KaZaA it's a pretty song.).
Children carry through the streets
A brightly painted star.
Angels gather round the hearth,
Strumming on guitars.
Suddenly a flash of light came and they were in a very elegant place. It looked like a huge feast was happening. He saw children laughing but one child was standing away from the crowd. She looked to be about 12 and wore a green dress that went to her knees with long sleeves and lace at the end. Her blonde hair was short and she had innocent blue eyes. "Who's that?" Riku asked feeling pity for the person.
Men of great renown and faith
Say prayers on boulevards
It's the night before Christmas
"That's Queen, The girl of your dreams. You just don't know it yet." "Oh." Suddenly a boy walked away from the other kids.
But you don't have to be an angel
To sing harmony
You don't have to be a child
To love the mystery
The boy turned around to see Queen. "Hi, my name's Queen. What's your's?" she asked sweetly. The boy seemed kind o intimidated and looking around for an escape. "What's wrong?" Queen asked. "You're weird. The other kids say you can use magic and summon things. Look, you seem nice and all but keep your distance. I don't want the other kids to get ideas and push me out." He said walking away.
And you don't have to be a wise man
On bended knee
The heart of this Christmas is in you and me
Queen stood there for a moment letting it sink in. She was always different. No one wanted to be her friend! She ran up the stairs despite Queen Minney's desperate protests from afar.
If your heart's been longing
You've been afraid to try
Sorrow's kept you company
And the dance has passed by
I'll lift you up and blaze with you
Across the moonlit sky
On the night before Christmas
Queen ran into her room locking the door and ran over to a balcony but pushing over her nightstand on the way. She fell to her knees in tears and ripped her sleeves and other parts of her gown in disgust at herself. Slowly she laid on the floor and wept. Riku tried to comfort her but it was no use as she couldn't hear or see him.
'Cause you don't have to be an angel
To sing harmony
You don't have to be a child
To love the mystery
And you don't have to be a wise man
On bended knee
The heart of this Christmas is in you and me The heart of this Christmas is in you.and me
Slowly everything disappeared and Riku and Aeris were back in his room. Aeris turned to him. "Is that enough?" Aeris asked. "Look that was all in the past. Times have changed. I'm fine now and so is Queen what should I change for?" Riku questioned. Aeris shook her head. "Scrooge." "It's Riku." Aeris slowly disappeared. "Wha-?" Riku looked around but she was gone. He shrugged and got back into bed.
Riku felt another tap on his shoulder. "Not again." he muttered. He opened his eyes to see Rinoa. "Rinoa what are you doing here. Oh, wait! Let me guess, the Ghost of Christmas Present, right?" Riku said feeling proud of himself. Rinoa only looked at him and blinked a few times. "OOOKKKAAAYYYYY." She said. "Okay so you know the routine?" she asked. "I didn't know there was one." Riku said. Rinoa sighed in exasperation and held out her sleeve. "Oh ya that." Riku muttered and touched her sleeve making a flash of light. He saw people dancing merrily in an inn. He saw Kairi looking out a window. "What's she depressed about?" he asked. "Well it's another Christmas without Sora. Kairi opened her hand to real an ornament. "Hey, that's part of the collection. Sora would get her an ornament every Christmas.." Riku said feeling a bit hurt. "She always liked his gifts better than anyone else's." he murmured. Meanwhile the REAL Rinoa walked by. "Hey she looks familiar.." The Ghost of Christmas Present said. "Gee, Ya think." "I can't put my finger on it." "Could it be she looks EXACTLY like you?!" "No, that's not it.. though there is a resemblance." "Try identical." "Anyway, let's see who should we go to now?" Rinoa asked. "I don't know. You're the ghost. So did Sephiroth stab you too?" "No, I died of something called Lunar Moon or something like that." She answered. "I know. Let's visit your neglected lover!" "Who?" "Now, where's Queen? Oh ya! The bar!" "WHAT?! She's getting drunk now?!" "Yep." Said Rinoa giving a swirl and then came a flash of light. Queen stood with a lifeless expression on her face. "Hit me." she whispered weakly. "Don't you think you've had enough?" asked the bar tender. "I said hit me!" she yelled. He slid another Shirley Temple down the counter to Queen. "I thought you said she was getting drunk?" Riku muttered at Rinoa. "Well she is. You just need to be more specific." Rinoa said in her defense. Queen got up leave but was followed by some guys. "Hey there sweetheart where ya going?" one asked. Another guy gave a howl. Queen ignored them and kept walking on much to the guys' offense. One guy grabbed her roughly. Queen winced and Riku looked ready to kill. "Please let go!" she cried her voice sore. "Where do ya think you're going?" he asked again angrily. Queen kicked him in the shin but it had no effect except on pissing the guy off more.
Queen ran through the streets far away from the brawl that had started back there. Her dress was torn and covered with some dirt. Her mouth was bloody and her cheek had a spot with a dark color. She stopped running when a broken glass bottle edged into her foot. She winced pain and stopped. Limping over to a wall in the alley way she lid down her knees to try to get the glass out of her bleeding foot. Soon it became hard to see with tear brimming her eyes. She hugged her cold body as it began to snow. Riku was suddenly back in his room. "Hey! Take me back!" he yelled. "Sorry but my shift is over!" Rinoa said. "It was nice seeing you Scrooge!" "RIKU!" Rinoa disappeared.
Riku felt a shiver go up his body and he awoke. "Rinoa's gone. Was it all a dream?" he asked but then a mist filled the room. Suddenly a cloaked figure appeared. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Future." The figure said eerily. Riku blinked his eyes and fell over laughing. "ANSEM!" "NO! I am the Ghost of Christmas Future, SCROOGE!" he said regaining his composure. "For the love of-my name is RIKU! R-I-K-U! It's really not that hard in fact its shorter than scrooge!" Riku yelled and began to pant. Ansem snickered. Riku smirked. "Need the money from this job?" Riku asked mockingly. Ansem only snickered. "You have yet to know what I will show you." He said. A flash came and they were in a house on Destiny Island. There he saw Sora and Kairi holding their baby. "Nice to know they lived happily ever after." He said. "Hey it makes me just as annoyed. It means that I'm dead!" Ansem whined. "Get over it." Riku muttered. Ansem growled. "Fine let's show you a more enjoyable future." He said and a flash of light came. There was Queen or should I say Queen Queen. "Oooo! I became king huh?" Riku said. A man entered the room. "No, he did." Ansem said. "But why?! What happened to her thing for me?!" "Uh it was an arranged marriage besides you took too long to tell her how ya felt." Ansem said. "What?!" "Get over it." Ansem said stealing his line. "So who did I end up marry? Rinoa? She's too childish plus she has a thing for Leon." "No she married Vincent." "Ha! So how did Leon take it?" "Him and Yuffie are still seeing therapists." Ansem said. "How far in the future is this?" Riku asked. "Five years." Ansem replied. "So who did I marry? Aeris? Tifa? Yuna?" "Nope, Aeris married Cloud much to Tifa and Sephiroth's dismay and Sephiroth and Tifa married much to Aeris and Cloud's dismay. As for Yuna do I need to say?" "Nope, she's always all over Tidus." Riku muttered in disgust. "So I'm still single. Good to be free! So what am I a millionaire?" Riku asked. "No actually." Ansem didn't finish he showed a man working in a cardboard box company. The man wore a dirty and ugly uniform. The man had hair as long as Sephiroth's. "I this guy Sephiroth or his offspring?" Riku asked. "Yo bud! We have more paper work for you!" a man called. The man with long hair like Sephiroth's went into his office. "Poor guy looks like he doesn't get much sleep.. or fun for that matter." Whispered Riku. "Ya, he gets paid only 100G a month. Not enough for bills so now he lives in a dirty trailer park." Ansem said. "Tell me spirit, who is this man?" Riku asked softly. A flash of lighting came as Riku saw a nameplate on the desk. Slowly in fear, he crept toward it. He slowly read the inscription. "Riku." (I have no idea what his last name is. "NNNOOOOO!!!!!!" He yelled. "I swear spirit! I'll change! Just give me one more chance!" Riku pleaded. But Ansem began to disappear. Soon Riku found himself in his own bed. He jumped up and kissed his pillow. "I'm alive!" he exclaimed. He jumped up, ran across the hallway, and knocked on a door. "Kairi answered. "Riku? It's three in the morning. What do you want?" she asked groggily. "I'm a changed man er.beast!" Riku exclaimed. "Good for you.and?" Kairi asked. "Nothing else." Riku said. Kairi rolled her eyes and slammed the door. Riku was left to frolic in front of everyone yelling, "I'm a changed man!"
Not too far into his frolicking did Riku remember something. "Queen!" he gasped (okay now let's see if I can get off the comedy and become serious). Riku ran to the bar and followed by what he remembered to get to the alleyway. Soon he found a shiver and crying figure. His eyes softened until he noticed the guys from the bar approach her. They were bruised and obviously drunk. "Hey1 It's you again!" the guy yelled. "Who?" asked another drunk one. "I don't remember but she makes me mad!" he said as if justifying his anger toward her. Queen looked up slowly and one grabbed her roughly and pulled her to her feet making her wince. "Please!" she begged but it was no use. Riku roared in anger and tackled the man. The man slugged him but Riku was unaffected and punched him knocking him out. He turned to the others angrily. They all looked scared and ready to run but Riku cast Blizzara on them and they froze. He caught his breathe for a moment. "Riku?" asked a voice on the verge of tears. His eyes softened and he walked up to Queen and gently picked her up. She shivered and eh wrapped his arms around her carrying her back to the inn.
Riku finished taking the glass out of Queen's foot and put a bandage on it after treating it. He did the same with the wound on her cheek but as for her mouth, he only rinsed it with water but it bled some more. He gave Queen a big T-Shirt to change into. "I'll leave so you can change." He said and she nodded. After he came back in, she was sound asleep. He took of his shirt, changed into a pair of sweat pants, and climbed into bed. He fell asleep to the sound of Queen's warm soft breathing. When Riku woke up it was morning again. It was cold a shiver ran up Riku's spine and he huddled into his blankets more. He felt someone stir and snuggle closer to him. Rolling over he saw Queen still asleep and smiled. He wrapped his arms around her for more warmth. I mean he was ONLY keeping warm, right? No harm in that.of course not. "Riku?" someone whispered sleepily. Riku snapped out of his thoughts and look down at her. "Ya?" he asked. "I'm cold." She said. He grinned and huddled closer to her. He kissed the top of her head and she sighed blissfully. Then he sweetly kissed her forehead and made a trail down her neck then moved to hovering over her lips and she smiled. He closed in *Knock, knock, knock* came the sound of someone at the door. "Where's a sledgehammer when ya need one." Riku muttered and Queen chuckled softly. "Yes?" Riku shouted. "Merry Christmas!" came Yuffie's cheery voice. Oh how he wanted to strangle that voice right about now too!
Everybody was on the ship. Tifa and Rinoa were playing checkers. Aeris was arranging flowers in a vase while Yuffie was playing monopoly with Leon, Vincent, and Cloud (all three boys loosing badly and getting more angry with Yuffie's cheery taunts of her winning). Kairi was standing by the window with Queen talking. No body knew where Tidus and Yuna were (hehehe). Everyone else was in the cockpit with Cid. Kairi looked out and her mouth gaped open. "What?" asked Queen who turned and gasped. There was a large keyhole on the entire Christmas planet (okay so I made this one easily found! But what enemy could I use! It's a holiday one)! Kairi pointed her Keyblade at the planet and a light shot straight forward from it into the keyhole. It disappeared in not time. Kairi smiled continuing their journey.
Kairi walked about cheerfully in the snow followed by the crew. Riku walked into an inn and turned around for the others to see him and follow.
Everyone was dancing in the dinner room cheerfully.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas It's the best time of the year I don't know if there'll be snow, But have a cup of cheer And when you walk down the street Say Hello to friends you know And everyone you meet.
Aeris and Cloud swirled about laughing, much to Tifa's dismay. Sephiroth looked away. Yuffie winked at Leon and stopped dancing to get something to drink. Walking away Leon noticed Rinoa.. under the mistletoe.
Oh, ho, the mistletoe Hung where you can see Somebody waits for you Kiss her once for me
Leon smirked and approached her but someone beat him there. Vincent began to talk to Rinoa who looked up at seeing something and smiled. Looking at Vincent she smiled more and pointed up. He looked up and almost immediately Rinoa pecked him on the lips. Vincent blushed and stuttered until he heard a growl. He looked over at Leon who turned his head toward Yuffie and was just holding some punch and looking down into it with a lifeless expression on her face. "They won't work out as a couple," muttered Leon thinking of just how.. weird of a match they were. "I think you should be happy for them." said Kairi a little angry standing next to him. Kairi looked over to the staircase and there stood Queen at the top. She was in a white gown. Riku looked up at Queen in a dazed look. She smiled warmly. Her white gown flowed on her body like a stream. Her shape was graceful as she began to walk. Her gown had on spaghetti shoulder straps. Of course, she has on pearl drop earrings that swayed with her every move. Her blue eyes had a pleading look in them. She walked down to Riku. "Riku?" she asked softly snapping him out of his daze. He made a grunt. "Please dance with me?" she asked sweetly. "No!" he said a little too harshly. Queen looked like she had been slapped. "Why?" she asked softly. "Look Queen. You're a good friend but I DO need space." A said less harsh. "A-Alright.." Queen whispered. Riku turned and left leaving Queen to stand there.
Riku laid in his bed. He felt guilty, confused, thrilled, hurt, afraid, and many other things. Suddenly the door closed and locked. "That's bad." "Riku.." A ghostly voice moaned eerily. "Y-Yes?" he asked looking around. Sora appeared in chains. "Sora?" "Don't call me that. It's Marley, Scrooge." Sora yelled. "Who's Scrooge?" Riku asked. "Sora why are you in chains?" "This fate be fell me because of my greed. It has been seven years of suffering for my wrongs! You will suffer the same fate if you do not change!" Sora warned. "Sora what are you on? It has only been three years, you're not greedy, and you are not dead! You are stuck in the Dark Abyss." Riku said. "Foolish Scrooge!" Sora retorted. "My name's Riku." he replied. "Tonight three ghosts shall visit you Scrooge." "It's RIKU!" "Remember." Sora's voice echoed as he disappeared. Riku blinked his eyes a few times. "Okay that's new.Sora on crack. Ya okay three ghost whatever." He muttered and fell asleep.
Riku felt a tap on his shoulders. "Go away." He mumbled. "I am the ghost of Christmas Past." Said a voice. Riku opened his eyes slowly and saw someone smiling at him. "Aeris? What are you doing here?" he asked. "Who's Aeris? I am the Ghost of Christmas Past." "Have you been hanging around Sora's ghost?" Riku asked. "I am a ghost too!" Aeris yelled. "Since when?" "Since Sephiroth went insane and stabbed me with his sword. " "Oh.. so you're supposed to teach me some moral or something?" "Oh ya, that. Touch my cloak." She said holding out her sleeve. He gently grasped her sleeve. He looked around at what appeared to be Destiny Island his home. Another flash of light came and he and Aeris er.. the Ghost of Christmas Past stood in a room. Riku looked over and saw a younger version of himself. "It's me!" he said running up to himself. He tried to touch himself but his hand went through his body. He looked shocked and confused. "No one can see or hear us." Said Aeris. "W-Why?" Riku asked. "Because these are nothing but shadows of the past, Scrooge." "Don't even start." Riku warned but Aeris ignored him. Suddenly two other people entered the room.Kairi and Sora. Riku looked down at the gift he was going to give Kairi. It was a wooden boat he made himself. He got up but Sora walked up to Kairi first. "Here you go. Mwerry Cwistmas Kairi." Sora said giving her a ballerina doll. Kairi's face brightened. Kairi smiled noticing they were under mistletoe. She bent up and pecked him on the lips. Riku couldn't hide his hurt. He turned around and threw the wooden boat on the ground. Riku (the present one) looked away. "I was weak back then. But what importance does this have.. pain?" Riku asked. "Someone knew and still knows how you feel." Said Aeris. Aeris opened her mouth to sing (The Night Before Christmas by Amy Grant, not the nutcracker one! You can probably download it off KaZaA it's a pretty song.).
Children carry through the streets
A brightly painted star.
Angels gather round the hearth,
Strumming on guitars.
Suddenly a flash of light came and they were in a very elegant place. It looked like a huge feast was happening. He saw children laughing but one child was standing away from the crowd. She looked to be about 12 and wore a green dress that went to her knees with long sleeves and lace at the end. Her blonde hair was short and she had innocent blue eyes. "Who's that?" Riku asked feeling pity for the person.
Men of great renown and faith
Say prayers on boulevards
It's the night before Christmas
"That's Queen, The girl of your dreams. You just don't know it yet." "Oh." Suddenly a boy walked away from the other kids.
But you don't have to be an angel
To sing harmony
You don't have to be a child
To love the mystery
The boy turned around to see Queen. "Hi, my name's Queen. What's your's?" she asked sweetly. The boy seemed kind o intimidated and looking around for an escape. "What's wrong?" Queen asked. "You're weird. The other kids say you can use magic and summon things. Look, you seem nice and all but keep your distance. I don't want the other kids to get ideas and push me out." He said walking away.
And you don't have to be a wise man
On bended knee
The heart of this Christmas is in you and me
Queen stood there for a moment letting it sink in. She was always different. No one wanted to be her friend! She ran up the stairs despite Queen Minney's desperate protests from afar.
If your heart's been longing
You've been afraid to try
Sorrow's kept you company
And the dance has passed by
I'll lift you up and blaze with you
Across the moonlit sky
On the night before Christmas
Queen ran into her room locking the door and ran over to a balcony but pushing over her nightstand on the way. She fell to her knees in tears and ripped her sleeves and other parts of her gown in disgust at herself. Slowly she laid on the floor and wept. Riku tried to comfort her but it was no use as she couldn't hear or see him.
'Cause you don't have to be an angel
To sing harmony
You don't have to be a child
To love the mystery
And you don't have to be a wise man
On bended knee
The heart of this Christmas is in you and me The heart of this Christmas is in you.and me
Slowly everything disappeared and Riku and Aeris were back in his room. Aeris turned to him. "Is that enough?" Aeris asked. "Look that was all in the past. Times have changed. I'm fine now and so is Queen what should I change for?" Riku questioned. Aeris shook her head. "Scrooge." "It's Riku." Aeris slowly disappeared. "Wha-?" Riku looked around but she was gone. He shrugged and got back into bed.
Riku felt another tap on his shoulder. "Not again." he muttered. He opened his eyes to see Rinoa. "Rinoa what are you doing here. Oh, wait! Let me guess, the Ghost of Christmas Present, right?" Riku said feeling proud of himself. Rinoa only looked at him and blinked a few times. "OOOKKKAAAYYYYY." She said. "Okay so you know the routine?" she asked. "I didn't know there was one." Riku said. Rinoa sighed in exasperation and held out her sleeve. "Oh ya that." Riku muttered and touched her sleeve making a flash of light. He saw people dancing merrily in an inn. He saw Kairi looking out a window. "What's she depressed about?" he asked. "Well it's another Christmas without Sora. Kairi opened her hand to real an ornament. "Hey, that's part of the collection. Sora would get her an ornament every Christmas.." Riku said feeling a bit hurt. "She always liked his gifts better than anyone else's." he murmured. Meanwhile the REAL Rinoa walked by. "Hey she looks familiar.." The Ghost of Christmas Present said. "Gee, Ya think." "I can't put my finger on it." "Could it be she looks EXACTLY like you?!" "No, that's not it.. though there is a resemblance." "Try identical." "Anyway, let's see who should we go to now?" Rinoa asked. "I don't know. You're the ghost. So did Sephiroth stab you too?" "No, I died of something called Lunar Moon or something like that." She answered. "I know. Let's visit your neglected lover!" "Who?" "Now, where's Queen? Oh ya! The bar!" "WHAT?! She's getting drunk now?!" "Yep." Said Rinoa giving a swirl and then came a flash of light. Queen stood with a lifeless expression on her face. "Hit me." she whispered weakly. "Don't you think you've had enough?" asked the bar tender. "I said hit me!" she yelled. He slid another Shirley Temple down the counter to Queen. "I thought you said she was getting drunk?" Riku muttered at Rinoa. "Well she is. You just need to be more specific." Rinoa said in her defense. Queen got up leave but was followed by some guys. "Hey there sweetheart where ya going?" one asked. Another guy gave a howl. Queen ignored them and kept walking on much to the guys' offense. One guy grabbed her roughly. Queen winced and Riku looked ready to kill. "Please let go!" she cried her voice sore. "Where do ya think you're going?" he asked again angrily. Queen kicked him in the shin but it had no effect except on pissing the guy off more.
Queen ran through the streets far away from the brawl that had started back there. Her dress was torn and covered with some dirt. Her mouth was bloody and her cheek had a spot with a dark color. She stopped running when a broken glass bottle edged into her foot. She winced pain and stopped. Limping over to a wall in the alley way she lid down her knees to try to get the glass out of her bleeding foot. Soon it became hard to see with tear brimming her eyes. She hugged her cold body as it began to snow. Riku was suddenly back in his room. "Hey! Take me back!" he yelled. "Sorry but my shift is over!" Rinoa said. "It was nice seeing you Scrooge!" "RIKU!" Rinoa disappeared.
Riku felt a shiver go up his body and he awoke. "Rinoa's gone. Was it all a dream?" he asked but then a mist filled the room. Suddenly a cloaked figure appeared. "I am the Ghost of Christmas Future." The figure said eerily. Riku blinked his eyes and fell over laughing. "ANSEM!" "NO! I am the Ghost of Christmas Future, SCROOGE!" he said regaining his composure. "For the love of-my name is RIKU! R-I-K-U! It's really not that hard in fact its shorter than scrooge!" Riku yelled and began to pant. Ansem snickered. Riku smirked. "Need the money from this job?" Riku asked mockingly. Ansem only snickered. "You have yet to know what I will show you." He said. A flash came and they were in a house on Destiny Island. There he saw Sora and Kairi holding their baby. "Nice to know they lived happily ever after." He said. "Hey it makes me just as annoyed. It means that I'm dead!" Ansem whined. "Get over it." Riku muttered. Ansem growled. "Fine let's show you a more enjoyable future." He said and a flash of light came. There was Queen or should I say Queen Queen. "Oooo! I became king huh?" Riku said. A man entered the room. "No, he did." Ansem said. "But why?! What happened to her thing for me?!" "Uh it was an arranged marriage besides you took too long to tell her how ya felt." Ansem said. "What?!" "Get over it." Ansem said stealing his line. "So who did I end up marry? Rinoa? She's too childish plus she has a thing for Leon." "No she married Vincent." "Ha! So how did Leon take it?" "Him and Yuffie are still seeing therapists." Ansem said. "How far in the future is this?" Riku asked. "Five years." Ansem replied. "So who did I marry? Aeris? Tifa? Yuna?" "Nope, Aeris married Cloud much to Tifa and Sephiroth's dismay and Sephiroth and Tifa married much to Aeris and Cloud's dismay. As for Yuna do I need to say?" "Nope, she's always all over Tidus." Riku muttered in disgust. "So I'm still single. Good to be free! So what am I a millionaire?" Riku asked. "No actually." Ansem didn't finish he showed a man working in a cardboard box company. The man wore a dirty and ugly uniform. The man had hair as long as Sephiroth's. "I this guy Sephiroth or his offspring?" Riku asked. "Yo bud! We have more paper work for you!" a man called. The man with long hair like Sephiroth's went into his office. "Poor guy looks like he doesn't get much sleep.. or fun for that matter." Whispered Riku. "Ya, he gets paid only 100G a month. Not enough for bills so now he lives in a dirty trailer park." Ansem said. "Tell me spirit, who is this man?" Riku asked softly. A flash of lighting came as Riku saw a nameplate on the desk. Slowly in fear, he crept toward it. He slowly read the inscription. "Riku." (I have no idea what his last name is. "NNNOOOOO!!!!!!" He yelled. "I swear spirit! I'll change! Just give me one more chance!" Riku pleaded. But Ansem began to disappear. Soon Riku found himself in his own bed. He jumped up and kissed his pillow. "I'm alive!" he exclaimed. He jumped up, ran across the hallway, and knocked on a door. "Kairi answered. "Riku? It's three in the morning. What do you want?" she asked groggily. "I'm a changed man er.beast!" Riku exclaimed. "Good for you.and?" Kairi asked. "Nothing else." Riku said. Kairi rolled her eyes and slammed the door. Riku was left to frolic in front of everyone yelling, "I'm a changed man!"
Not too far into his frolicking did Riku remember something. "Queen!" he gasped (okay now let's see if I can get off the comedy and become serious). Riku ran to the bar and followed by what he remembered to get to the alleyway. Soon he found a shiver and crying figure. His eyes softened until he noticed the guys from the bar approach her. They were bruised and obviously drunk. "Hey1 It's you again!" the guy yelled. "Who?" asked another drunk one. "I don't remember but she makes me mad!" he said as if justifying his anger toward her. Queen looked up slowly and one grabbed her roughly and pulled her to her feet making her wince. "Please!" she begged but it was no use. Riku roared in anger and tackled the man. The man slugged him but Riku was unaffected and punched him knocking him out. He turned to the others angrily. They all looked scared and ready to run but Riku cast Blizzara on them and they froze. He caught his breathe for a moment. "Riku?" asked a voice on the verge of tears. His eyes softened and he walked up to Queen and gently picked her up. She shivered and eh wrapped his arms around her carrying her back to the inn.
Riku finished taking the glass out of Queen's foot and put a bandage on it after treating it. He did the same with the wound on her cheek but as for her mouth, he only rinsed it with water but it bled some more. He gave Queen a big T-Shirt to change into. "I'll leave so you can change." He said and she nodded. After he came back in, she was sound asleep. He took of his shirt, changed into a pair of sweat pants, and climbed into bed. He fell asleep to the sound of Queen's warm soft breathing. When Riku woke up it was morning again. It was cold a shiver ran up Riku's spine and he huddled into his blankets more. He felt someone stir and snuggle closer to him. Rolling over he saw Queen still asleep and smiled. He wrapped his arms around her for more warmth. I mean he was ONLY keeping warm, right? No harm in that.of course not. "Riku?" someone whispered sleepily. Riku snapped out of his thoughts and look down at her. "Ya?" he asked. "I'm cold." She said. He grinned and huddled closer to her. He kissed the top of her head and she sighed blissfully. Then he sweetly kissed her forehead and made a trail down her neck then moved to hovering over her lips and she smiled. He closed in *Knock, knock, knock* came the sound of someone at the door. "Where's a sledgehammer when ya need one." Riku muttered and Queen chuckled softly. "Yes?" Riku shouted. "Merry Christmas!" came Yuffie's cheery voice. Oh how he wanted to strangle that voice right about now too!
Everybody was on the ship. Tifa and Rinoa were playing checkers. Aeris was arranging flowers in a vase while Yuffie was playing monopoly with Leon, Vincent, and Cloud (all three boys loosing badly and getting more angry with Yuffie's cheery taunts of her winning). Kairi was standing by the window with Queen talking. No body knew where Tidus and Yuna were (hehehe). Everyone else was in the cockpit with Cid. Kairi looked out and her mouth gaped open. "What?" asked Queen who turned and gasped. There was a large keyhole on the entire Christmas planet (okay so I made this one easily found! But what enemy could I use! It's a holiday one)! Kairi pointed her Keyblade at the planet and a light shot straight forward from it into the keyhole. It disappeared in not time. Kairi smiled continuing their journey.