Day 8: A Christmas Carol, the Past
Finn sat at his desk, trying to do his work. Noir's warning rang in his head, but Finn couldn't find it in himself to cre about the warnings of someone who could possibly not be real. After all, the Captain of Orario's most prestigious Familia had seen many things, but ghosts were taking it a step too far for his liking. So, he ignored it and went back to work. About an hour through his paperwork routine, he heard a knock at the door.
"Whoever you are," said Finn. "Make sure that you have a reason before you come in and ask questions."
"Oh, I believe I have a reason," came a voice in reply.
The voice sent a chill down Finn's spine. Whoever spoke should have been dead. After all, a that voice could only belong to one person, and they should be dead. Finn slowly grabbed the spear at this desk before standing up.
"What do you want?" asked Finn "I should tell you, though, my Familia would take you, so you should turn around and leave."
"No need to worry about any of that," came the voice in reply. It stepped through the door. "I mean, I doubt I could die twice."
Finn watched as an apparition walked through his door. Standing there, ghostly sword swung over his ghostly armor, was Zard. One of Orario's former greatest heroes, who had sided with Evilus after losing to the OEBD, Finn had thought him dead by Ottar for quite some time now.
"How do I really know that you're Zard," asked Finn, still wary.
The great man rolled his eyes. "Who I end up being doesn't really matter. All that matters is that you're coming with me." Zard continued to walk forward, his spectral figure taking him through the desk. "Now come along, we have some memories to see."
Despite being a ghost, apparently Zard could still interact with eh physical world when he wanted to. He lifted Finn by the collar of his shirt and then made his way out of the office. The weird thing was, though, was that when they left the office, they were not in the Twilight Manor. They were in the middle of a small village. One that awfully familiar to a certain prum.
Finn could feel a pit in his stomach form. He turned to Zard.
"Why are we here?"
"To witness, and to watch," was Zard's reply.
Finn didn't like it but chose to watch anyway. He watched as an even smaller blonde prum came running out of a small hut.
"You guys! Mama did it!" shouted little Finn. "The treats are ready!"
There were enthusiastic calls from the rest of the villagers.
"Ahh! It's about time! I wait every year for these treats!" said one.
"Hey now!" said another. "You're big enough as it is! Leave some for the rest of us!"
Good natured laughter was heard throughout the village. Then, a woman walked out of the same hut Finn had entered, treats in hand. The rest of the village flocked to her. Later, when it was just Finn and his mother, he saw how tired she looked.
"Mama, I have a question," said Finn.
His mother chuckled. "Of course, you do, silly child. You always have a question." She ruffled his hair. "Well, ask away then."
"You seem so tired…if it makes you so tired, why do you make those treats?" asked Finn.
The woman chuckled. "Because it's the Christmas season, Finn. Right now, it's all about doing what you can for everyone. If I can make cookies and raise everyone's spirits just a little bit, then it's worth being just a little bit tired."
"More than just a little bit," grumbled Finn.
Zard smirked. "Oh? And what's that supposed to mean?"
Finn sighed. "I suppose I have to answer if I want to return to work?"
Zard nodded.
"My mother treated every day like Christmas, and worked herself to the bone," began Finn.
"A family trait then," replied Zard.
"Indeed. And because of that, she was so tired that she couldn't run away when the monsters attacked," finished Finn. "There, can I go?"
"If your mother worked too hard on the holidays, then why do you do it?" asked Zard in return.
"Because" said Finn. "I have to give more than I get, alright?"
"So…your living in the Christmas spirit, then?"
Finn whirled on the large man.
"No, because my work is not for something frivolous like cookies. It's for the good of my entire race!" he screamed.
"Aahhh, right, that old chestnut," replied Zard, not intimidated in the least. "Well, I suppose we should move to the next part."
Zard waved his hand, and the image changed. They were in the Twilight Manor, but it was different than Finn remembered. The paint on the wall seemed new, and the people inside seemed a touch more carefree.
"Ah! Finn!" shouted a voice.
The pallum turned to see who it was and stopped at the sight of a living Noir.
"I was just looking for you! We were about to begin the Christmas dinner!"
"No thanks, Noir, I've got some work to do. We are in the middle of a crisis if you might recall?"
Finn looked over to see a younger version of himself. There were less worry lines on his forehead, and a certain carefree attitude about him.
"Bah! Evilus can wait a day!" said Noir. "Come have dinner and go back to planning tomorrow!" He threw his arms in the air. "It's Christmas after all."
Finn chuckled, a sour note to it, but followed his mentor to the dining hall. Inside, everyone was waiting for him with large smiling faces. Ais had only recently joined them, and Riveria was quietly admonishing her for starting to eat early.
"But I don't wanna wait!" said tiny Ais, glaring up at her adoptive mother. "I want to eat my potato snacks now!"
"I'm sorry Ais," said Finn, walking to the table. "But we have to give thanks for this meal first."
And they did, and they partied.
"And the next day, you snuck into the city and began your plotting with Erebus," said Finn. "After all, Christmas was the perfect time for it. Relaxed security I assume?"
Zard did not reply.
"And because I took a break, people in my Familia died," said Finn. "People dying, all for some stupid holiday."
"People don't die for Christmas," said Zard. "And it isn't the fault of the holiday. The fault is with me, and Alfia, and Erebus, and the rest of Evilus."
"Yes, well, I don't plan on letting it happen again," replied Finn.
"Bah, I guess you'll need to hear from her then," said Zard.
Before Finn could ask him what he meant, the big man swung his sword in a great downwards arc. It hit the floor, cause a massive shockwave, and Finn got thrown to the ground. When he stood back up, he was in his office.
The End
Hestia frowned at the quilt in her hand. Of the prum who would not listen, with the giant standing behind him.
"Well…this one's gonna take a while, huh?"
