Disclaimer: The following characters and settings of the Fire Emblem series are a belonging of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The characters (Mace, Wiz, Zoe, Adrion, Adam, Nicole, Trevor, Keri, Ben, Chelsea, and Mace of Kilvas and Mina of Kilvas) are the only belongings of the author.

—The One with the Sacred Stone Ball—

(Part 3/3)

-Rausten Court-

It is almost the end of Christmas Eve and gathered around a thirty feet large glass table were Ephraim, Eirika, Tana, Innes, Lyon, Nicole, and Pontifex Mansel who sat from across. Sitting on the table were a variety of exquisite holiday foods, drinks, and goodies. In the middle sat a large roasted turkey surrounded in salads, pickles, peppers, and delicious French bread cut in croutons. Next to the turkey, on both its sides, were a honeysuckle white ham and a large lemon lobster. Other varieties featured mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, and hot spicy fried rice. Also included were mini cherry cheesecakes, and almond-covered balls. For drinks were sizzling apple ciders, chocolate champagne, and everyone's favorite holiday drink: eggnog. It was quite a feast, everyone dug in with no haste.

"Enjoying the food guys?" Nicole asked.

"Mm! More than just pleasure. Those peppermint-scented sardines are exquisite!" Lyon licked his lips, his hands practically smelled peppermint.

"You're right Lyon." Tana agreed, "Gee, when was the last time I enjoyed food this good?"

"Probably never!" Innes burped and Ephraim laughed on cue. Tana scoffed, "Maybe you haven't too."

Mansel chuckled, "Well keep enjoying. Keep it on."

"I don't know how we can thank you enough for letting us stay here in your home and enjoying this feast Pontifex Mansel." Eirika told the divine emperor, "We surely appreciate it."

"Oh please, it's Christmastime!" Mansel replied, "Besides, winter here in Magvel is brutal with the freezing rain and no snow. And I had that feast planned out all along."

"Really?" Ephraim asked.

"Yeah." Mansel faced the hallway and yelled, "Hey Dozla! Are the Gingerbread cookies and glistening white fudges 'bout ready yet?"

Coming in the room was a dragged and worn-out Dozla. His apron and clothes were filled with diverse stains from the intense cooking. He carried five trays: four trays of fresh vanilla fudge in glasses, sprinkled in shiny sugar dots, and one tray of gingerbread cookies, which he carried using his mouth. He placed the goodies on the table, "they're ready your Majesty. And believe me, no dribble of mine made contact with the cookies."

"Swell."

Everyone jumped on the cookies and the white fudges. Nicole giggled, "Dozla. You need any help?"

Dozla's eyes fixed on Nicole and began nodding wildly, "Please! I sure will apprecia—"

"Dozla?" Mansel scorned.

Dozla's shoulders sunk, "I don't need help from no one because I'm Santa Claus." He recited blankly, "If I can't travel around the world in one night, nobody can."

"…and?"

"…the same applies to cooking."

"Good!" Mansel smiled, "Now up! Up!"

Dozla dragged himself back in the kitchen. Eirika and Ephraim blinked, "how brutal." Eirika said.

"He'll be fine." Innes replied, his attention on the foods and a plate of barbecue chicken.

"What he said." Mansel agreed.

Just then, Fado, Hayden, Vigarde, and Ismaire came in.

"Ah! It's the monarchs!" Mansel proclaimed, "Come on! Have a seat."

"Hey everyone!" Fado greeted.

"What y'all eating? Ooh! Smells good?" Hayden glanced at the feast.

"Good food Father." Innes exclaimed.

"You should try them! Especially the turkey and lobster." Tana gritted on each pieces.

"Don't mind if I do." Hayden reached for them.

"Hey Father? Whatever happened to the eggnog balls?" Ephraim asked, "we could have tried them."

Fado hesitated, looked at Hayden, Vigarde and Ismaire, then back at the twins with a smile on his face, "who cares for eggnog balls, when you can have the real deal here?" he reached for a glass of the eggnog drink.

Ephraim and Eirika both looked at each other then shrugged.

"Got news for you all." Ismaire disclosed, "it's snowing in Jehanna."

"Really?" Everyone gasped in unison.

"Yes." Ismaire replied, "I just got a telegram from my husband the king and reported that all of the white dunes are totally blanketed in snow."

"Wow!"

"Snow hasn't fallen here hasn't it?" Eirika took a peek at the window.

"No it hasn't." Mansel said, "in fact, the last snowfall happened 700 years ago."

The twins, Tana, Innes, and Lyon were floored to this news, "That long?" Ephraim huffed.

"I wish it did snow again though." Lyon replied.

"Well, I heard it will sometime tonight." Vigarde said, "Imagine snow at the capital."

Lyon sighed, "I just got that imagination Father."

"Well, what do you know? Father and son equal one mind." both Vigarde and Lyon laughed.

"One imperial mind!" Fado said and everyone joined in the laughter.

Just then, Seth, Gilliam, Adrion, Adam, and Joshua came in as well. Gilliam transported Seth's remaining Christmas gifts on a large convoy. Everyone welcomed them at the table with opened arms.

"Hey Seth! What are you doing here?" Fado asked.

"Guess what Father," Eirika disclosed, "Seth is Santa's pet."

"Really?"

Seth sighed. Adrion added, "he's not just his pet, he's obsessed in opening his presents."

Ephraim gasped, "You're kidding!"

"All right, enough disclosures. Yes, I'm 'Santa's' pet..."

An overwhelming "Oooh!" emerged from the crowded table.

"So cute." Gilliam blinked cute eyes.

"And cuddly." Adam added.

"Let's bet on if he's going to be Santa's pet next year!" Joshua flipped his coin which fell on his served mashed potatoes.

"I'll bet. Heck yeah on that mashed potato he will!" Nicole cackled, following laughters.

"All right, all right... but, but I was able to control myself and not open a single gift... at all." he noticed Gilliam shaking a small wrapped box in his face. Seth took the box, tossed it back in the convoy and continued, "And besides, Santa is the stuff of fairy tale."

"I totally agree with you!" A familiar voice came in the room. The entire cast turned to the source of the voice and saw L'Arachel and Rennac. Everyone welcomed them at the table.

"Hey L'Arachel, is it true? You don't believe in Santa anymore?" Nicole asked.

"Yeah." L'Arachel replied, "but I'm okay with it. Whether he exist or not, Christmas still remains the same."

"And since then," Rennac wrapped his arm around L'Arachel's shoulder, "I've found new respect in her."

Nicole, to Rennac's comments, almost chocked on her food.

"Oh Rennac! You and your zingers again." L'Arachel giggled. Dozla joined in the table, carrying a platter of delicious cornbreads, "Here's more desserts."

Everyone leaned in to grab each a piece. Dozla continued, "I'll joined in but I'm a mess, so..."

"Oh forget it Dozla. Come! Come and be unashamed for once!" L'Arachel invited him in.

"Yeah, don't be." Mansel replied, "We're having a good time and it won't be fair excluding you."

"Gee thanks." Dozla pulled up a chair and joined in, but L'Arachel hasn't finished talking, "but don't forget you're doing the dishes before morning."

"Aw blast."

"Just kiddin'"

Largo and Calill entered the scene, along with their cargo full of their gifts. "Is it too late to join in too?" Calill asked.

Everyone shook their head in unison, "No please, go ahead!" and immediately allowed the duo to joined in the feast.

"Hey. So what's up with you guys?" Innes asked, "enjoying your prizes?"

"Well," Largo said, "that's why we came to see you. Not for that, but for something else."

"Oh?"

"It felt shameful for us to leave Magvel with all of these gifts for ourselves, so..." Calill said.

"...we decided to give all of them gifts to you," Largo said, "Innes, Eirika, and Ephraim: the true champions."

The trio gasped in joy. Ephraim almost shed tears, "You're... including me too?"

"Of course honey cub!" Calill said, "you may have been inexperienced than Silver-haired boy here, and we didn't want to exclude you."

Ephraim shot a glare at Innes, who stuck his tongue at him and mocked, "Gnah, gnah, gnah, gnah, gnah, gnah."

"...and you should all be happy." Largo said.

"We're in joy." Eirika complimented, tears ran down her cheeks, "thank you so much."

"Aw!" the crowded table felt moved to this moment.

"It does feel good to give." Largo added, "It was Calill's idea to give away these gifts. I was reluctant even though she persuaded me so hard that at one point, she pulled my ear..." he then glared at Calill, "...which hurt by the way."

Laughter emerged from the crowded table once more. Calill bit her nails, "Oh, pooky-pooh-Largoo. Tee-hee!"

"Look everybody!" came the voice of Adrion by the large window, "It's snowing!"

Everyone immediately left their plates and joined Adrion at the window. Tana and Hayden made room for Innes who trailed behind in his crutches. Everyone breathed in awe at the sight of beautiful, glistening snow flakes, falling from the quiet night sky of the Theocracy of Rausten. Every meadows and trees were blanketed and wrapped in snow. It was beautiful sight. Playing in the background was the quiet instrumental version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sings."

"It's... beautiful." Eirika gasped.

"Yes. It is." Ephraim replied.

"This is one Christmas I will always cherished." Lyon smiled.

"Let's go play in it!" Adrion proposed and like, little children, everyone ran outside to play in the snow, form snowmen and make snow angels. It was a fun night for both the monarchs of Magvel, the royal youngsters, knights, and the visitors of Tellius.

-----------------------------------------

Both Eirika and Ephraim faces the readers.

"From everyone in the continent of Magvel." Ephraim says.

"Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year." Eirika finishes.

"Oh... and watch out for ice." Ephraim warns and smiles at Eirika.

"Oh you!" Eirika giggles, forms a snowball and begins chasing Ephraim. The twins laughs in cue.

END OF THE ONE WITH THE SACRED STONE BALL
Author's Note: The next and final book for this fiction is a holiday fiction based on FE: Path of Radiance. The Christmas Spirit of Tellius comes every year, bringing blessings and joy to all nations of the Beorc and Laguz. But when the essences of that spirit—seven crystal ornaments—which rests on top of the Serenes Christmas Tree goes missing, Christmas at Tellius is about to become last year's eggnog :(. It's up to Ike and company to recover the pendants and restore Christmas in Tellius before it's too late. While this event is happening, the Laguzkings are having a Thanksgiving feast in Goldoa, the three brothers are trying to create a holiday tradition of their own, and Lucia, Bastian, and Geoffrey goes Christmas caroling around Crimea and Daein. The story "Christmas in Radiance" is up next.