(Sometimes later/The Marsanes)
Malos appeared from out of nowhere into the darkness of his room. He turned on the light and sat down at the table. With him he had brought a small parcel, formed like a cone with a ribbon around its upper part. He put it on the table and looked at it.
He had been surprised when he had noticed the changes in the ether link connecting him with Mythra. It had taken him a moment to realize what it meant. She had granted him access, again… He hadn't been to this place for very long. And it had taken him a moment to remember how to get there, Elysium.
Malos was not completely sure as to what this place really was, but he was at least certain, that the Architect had made it for both of his Aegises. A place where they could meet up, without physically being there. It had been, where Pyra had been spending time with Mythra when Pyra had been asleep, sealed away. Nowadays it was the place where Mythra was when Pyra was physically in Alrest (and the other way around).
When he had entered Elysium this time, neither of them had been there however – which was strange. They could not exist in the real world at the same time. They were not two separate entities after all, just two sides of one coin.
But anyway, he hadn't spent much thought on it. He had found what they had intended him to find and left with it – a Christmas present. He wasn't sure, whether he was delighted about the returned favor or amused.
He had had no idea what he was about to getting started when he had seen the star from the Christmas Tree at the Argentum Trade Guild month ago. One of the Nopon had sold it to him as an 'ancient artifact'. Ancient it was, of course, but it was more a decoration than an artifact. Getting this star however had resulted in two Christmas Parties and all of his friends and foes having a fun time together.
Malos smiled at his own brilliant idea and started to unwrap his present.
###
(Still a little later/The Marsanes)
Jin stood in Malos' room. He stood there and stared at the Aegis. Malos sat at the table, eating cake, wearing a red jelly bag cap with a white fringe and a white pompom at its pointy end. This was so unexpected a sight that Jin had completely forgotten what he came here for.
Malos smirked. "Want some cake, too?"
Jin looked at the cake in bewilderment.
"Here." Malos took a knife and cut the remains of his piece of cake in two parts. She pushed the back part forward. "Give it a try. Pyra made it. It is actually very tasty."
"Pyra made it", Jin echoed, feeling stupid. He took a step forward and took the piece Malos was offering him.
"It's definitely better tasting than Mythra's cake even looked", Malos went on.
Jin took a bite. It was… nice. He chewed. A fruity cake with icing. Very sweet. But nice. No. Nice was not the fitting word. It was more than nice. It was delicious, tasty.
Malos grinned at Jin. Jin realized what he just had heard and what it meant.
"You have been there", he stated, "in Aletta, at the Christmas Party."
"Let's say, I happened to walk on by", Malos said.
Jin shook his head in disbelieve. "You got us this tree, the ornaments, presents…" He hesitated. "Why?"
"I was not invited last time", Malos said. "But it did look like fun. And since this will be the last opportunity for us to have a Christmas Party…"
"So strange", Jin said. "I remember you telling me not to get sentimental at the end and now it is you doing so."
Malos shrugged. "Well, that is because no one told me not to." He hesitated. "And it is fun. I even got a funny hat."
Jin finally caught up with all that the Aegis had said so far. If the cake had been made by Pyra… "You… got a present from… Pyra?"
"Yes, cake and a hat", Malos confirmed.
"Santa's hat", Jin stated. "Very suiting, then."
"Santa?"
"Santa Claus, the person who is supposed to be the bringer of the presents."
"Ah." Malos grinned. "Now I get it." He looked very self-contented. "She realized that I'm the person responsible for their Christmas party. And of course, she knew who gave Mythra that scarf."
Jin couldn't help but staring. "You gave her a present, too? You organized a Christmas Party for them, too?"
"I gave them a little push in the right direction." Malos' grin widened.
Jin opened his mouth for a reply but did not find any clever things to say. He closed his mouth again.
"I think", he finally tried again. "I definitely need another glass of Punch." This was one crazy Christmas. He turned around and left.
Malos smiled and took another bite of his cake. Next to the plate lay a small note, written in a neat handwriting. It read: "Merry Christmas and thank you for spreading the spirit of Christmas. If you could just change your mind, we could all celebrate Christmas together next year."
Malos' fingers moved over the writing on the paper, only lightly touching Pyra's words.
"I am sorry", he told the emptiness of his room. "But this is not going to happen."
He had made up his mind long ago, he had made a promise, and he would finish what he had started. Pyra would find out soon enough and in a very painful way, too. There was no turning back for Malos. He was going to get back what was rightfully his and then end it all.
Still – he really liked Christmas. It had been fun, and even someone like him could be a nice guy - at least once every year.
