Sasha Varian is a proud member of Fairy Tail. As she woke up in her apartment, she noticed snow falling and lights shining in Magnolia. She walked up to her window to see what was going on and looked over to a calendar to see the date.
"So it's that time of the year again." Sasha said. It really is the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas Eve. Tomorrow will be Christmas itself. Others are happy about that. So why does Sasha not feel that joyful feeling?
...
Magnolia
Magnolia was decorated in lights with the falling snow. Everyone was doing what they could for the holidays.
"Merry Christmas!"
"Yeah, yeah." Sasha said as he exited the store with a bag full of groceries. "Sheesh. They really need to stock up on supplies. I'm lucky to get this." Sasha walked through Magnolia and saw everyone getting ready for the holidays.
"Come on, Dad!" Sasha looked across the street and spotted Nashi and her family. "Let's go. We still need to do some shopping."
"I'm coming." Natsu said as he and Happy tried to keep up with her and Lucy. "How much more holiday shopping do you two really need to do?"
"You'll see because you're paying." Nashi said.
"Nashi's right. I think it's about time you treated us well." Lucy said.
"What?!" Natsu said. Both of them were just teasing him, but they did enjoy seeing him work for it. Sasha saw them run by and saw them enjoying the holidays.
"Everyone seems to be real happy around this time." Sasha said as she just kept going. Sasha saw a lot of family and friends together for this time. She saw Gale and his family having a little breakfast together. Most people would be joyful around the holidays, but Sasha wasn't feeling any of it. She just kept moving.
"Sasha!" Sasha looked ahead and was met with Simon and Erza.
"Hey, Simon." Sasha said.
"Doing some last minute shopping?" Erza asked.
"Grocery shopping, not Christmas shopping." Sasha said. "Is it just going to be you two for the holidays? Isn't your father going to be here?" Simon wasn't really sure how to answer that.
"Of course he's going to be here." Erza said. "Even if he doesn't, it's not going to be just the two of us. We have everyone in the guild to celebrate with."
"That never really seemed to have worked for me." Sasha said as she walked past them and was on her way home. Simon could tell something was wrong with her.
"Sasha, hold on." Simon said and got Sasha to stop. "Are you saying you don't have any plans for the holidays? Aren't you going to celebrate with the guild?"
"If you remember, I wasn't really a people person back then." Sasha said.
"Okay, but you've become more open to everyone since." Simon said.
"I see what you're saying, Simon, but I'm just not interested in this holiday." Sasha said and kept walking.
"That's too bad. It seems like she doesn't get the magic feeling." Erza said. Simon felt real bad for it seems like Sasha is going to be alone on Christmas and that's something no one should really go through.
"Hold on." Simon said as he chased after her and grabbed her by her arm.
"What are you doing?" Sasha asked.
"You're coming with me and my mother. You're not spending this time of the year alone." Simon said as he pulled Sasha with him. Erza could see what he was trying to do and she was real proud of her son.
"Can I at least put my groceries away?" Sasha said.
...
South Gate Park
Simon's determined to have Sasha experience some Christmas joy. He's not going to let her be by herself during this time of the year. So they headed to the park and saw lots of children with lots of stands.
"What is all this?" Sasha asked.
"This part of Magnolia holds many fun games and activities you can play for the holidays." Simon said. "Some can make gingerbread men, play some games, and work on your presents if you want."
"Take a look. Drake and Kinana are here." Erza said. They took a look and spotted what Erza saw.
"Drake! Kinana!" Simon called and got their attention.
"Hey, guys." Drake said.
"What's going on here?" Erza asked.
"We're playing a little game for the children." Kinana said.
"Yeah. You get to smash stuff." Drake said. He took a melon and smashed it with a mallet.
"What does that have to do with Christmas?" Sasha said.
"Maybe not much, but it's fun. Try it." Drake said.
"Sure." Simon said as he went first. Drake placed the melon in place.
"Okay. Just try to..." Drake didn't finish explaining as he heard something and moved out of the way as Simon smashed the melon. "You could have killed me! I had to clear out of the way!"
"I knew what I was doing. Besides, I knew you would hear me coming." Simon said.
"That's not the point!" Drake shouted.
"Sasha, give it a try." Simon said. Sasha didn't get it, but she figured she had nothing to lose as she took the mallet.
"Okay." Drake said as he placed another melon. "This time wait until..." He didn't finish either as Sasha did the same thing Simon did and narrowly missed Drake. "Are you both crazy?!"
"Okay. Maybe that wasn't so bad." Sasha said as she just ignored the comment.
"Finished!" Erza said. "What do you think of my gingerbread house?" She showed what she made, but they weren't so sure it was even a house.
"You mean gingerbread monster house." Simon said.
"Is it even up the right way?" Sasha said.
"But she has the right idea. You can make your own ornaments or gingerbread." Simon said as he gave Sasha a little push. "Why don't you try it out?"
"I don't know anything about that." Sasha said.
"Neither does my mother, obviously. Give it a shot." Simon said. He pushed Sasha into a few stands and tried to get her to have some fun. Sasha tried a couple games and made a few gingerbread men and actually tried making a house.
"Okay. How does it look?" Sasha said.
"It actually looks great for a first time." Simon said. "I'm not the only one that thinks so." He pointed to some children who looked amazed by it. "Kids. They'll eat anything that looks sweet."
"Uh... Here." Sasha said as she just handed it to them and they all enjoyed it.
"They certainly seem to like it." Simon said. "You have to admit that this is better than being home alone."
"Simon's right, Sasha." Erza said. "You must be having a great time than you have before."
"I suppose." Sasha said, but Simon didn't seem convinced. "The truth is, I never really celebrated in the traditional way. My mother always tried, but it wasn't easy because of what Dantu had us do. She and I never really celebrated and I never got the chance after I was able to escape." Simon and Erza felt so bad for Sasha. After what she's been through, she never celebrated the holidays and it's not easy for her since she had no family and kept her distance from others.
"Hey! Sasha, you've got to come and try this!" Kinana said with Sasha going over.
"I feel so bad for her." Simon said. "She just doesn't understand the magic feeling of Christmas."
"I know. She's never had a real Christmas. If only there was a way to give her that." Erza said. Simon wanted to help her and he thought he had an idea that might help.
"Mother, I need you to help me with something." Simon said with Erza being all ears. Erza left the place early and Simon did everything he could to have Sasha enjoy Christmas. It was soon becoming dark, but Magnolia still seemed alive.
"Well, I think I should head home." Sasha said.
"Sasha, wait." Simon said. "How about we head over to the guild?"
"What for? I doubt there's really anyone there." Sasha said.
"Just trust me." Simon said.
"Simon, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but the sad truth is that this is just another day for me." Sasha said.
"We'll see about that." Simon said as he grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the guild.
"Simon, what's going on? Why do you care so much?" Sasha asked.
"Your my friend. It's as simple as that." Simon said. "Trust me, you won't regret it." Sasha had no idea what Simon is planning, but it seems like he's not really giving her a choice.
...
The Guild
"We're here. So now what?" Sasha asked as the two of them stepped inside, but she couldn't see a thing. "See? No one is here. There's not a single light on. Simon, what is this about?"
"You're about to see." Simon said. Sasha didn't get what was going on until all the lights flashed on.
"Merry Christmas!" Sasha was surprised to see the whole guild decorated in lights and such for Christmas and everyone was here.
"What is all this?" Sasha asked.
"What do you think it is?" Nashi said as she wrapped her arm around her. "It's a Christmas party we're holding at the guild."
"It is the holidays and we should be together." Nova said.
"But I wasn't told about this before." Sasha said.
"That's because it came up on short notice." Storm said. "Erza came around and told all of us on what you've been going through today."
"So we all came together and throw a little party at the guild." Gale said. "This way, you can experience some of the Christmas magic you've been missing out on." Sasha was amazed with all she was seeing. She's never experienced Christmas like this at the guild because she always kept her distance from others.
"I... I don't know what to say." Sasha said.
"Well, you have Simon to thank. Erza says this was all his idea." Nova said.
"Simon, you planned this?" Sasha asked as she turned to him.
"Well, yeah." Simon said.
"We were told about how celebrating the holidays has been challenging for you." Nova said. "Sasha, you should know by now Fairy Tail is family and you celebrate this time of the year with family."
"She's right." Raio said as he came over. "I was in the same position as you for a while. I didn't really have anyone to celebrate with. When I told this to Nova, she invited me to celebrate with her family."
"There are some members of the guild that are similar to you in these situations." Nova said. "That's why we come together." Sasha has never experienced Christmas like this and she was amazed by all of it.
"Enough standing around. Let's have some fun!" Nashi said as she pushed Sasha in and the fun was starting. Everyone was having a great time and it was a real party whenever Fairy Tail gets involved. Drake was having fun himself until he bumped into Storm.
"Hey! Watch it!" Storm said.
"Well, don't get in my way." Drake said.
"Oh boy. Will you two give it a rest today?" Nashi asked. "It's Christmas." That got those two to get along. Nashi does hope those two would get along more. She looked up and spotted something that could cause tension. "Boys, you might want to look up." They both looked up and saw a mistletoe. "You know what happens when you're under that."
"No way!" Storm said.
"Not a chance!" Drake said.
"Oh brother. I'll fix this." Nashi said as she walked over to both of them and gave Drake a peck and did the same with Storm. Both of them blushed and placed their hands over the spot.
"Wow. That actually happened." Storm said.
"Yeah, but she kissed me first." Drake said.
"Well, she saved the best for last." Storm said with the two of them getting in each other's face. Those two never change. Natsu was about to step in there himself for what he saw, but Lucy was doing her best to hold him back. Sasha looked around and saw everyone enjoying themselves. Gale carried his sister around his shoulders, Mira and her family passed out drinks, Juvia is constantly trying to get Gray under the Fairy Tail. It reminded Sasha that there's never a dull moment in this guild.
"Enjoying yourself?" Simon said as he went over and stood with her.
"Yeah. It's amazing." Sasha said as she felt a joyful feeling in her. "I've never experienced Christmas like that before."
"That's good to hear. Sounds like a little Christmas magic is flowing in you." Simon said as he did another part of Christmas and handed her a present.
"You got this for me?" Sasha asked as she took it.
"Of course." Simon said. "You're part of something much bigger. You shouldn't be alone this time of the year."
"Thanks, Simon." Sasha said. She surprised him as she actually hugged him for doing this.
"You don't hug me that often." Simon said.
"Don't get use to it." Sasha said as she released him. It was then that she noticed someone entering the guild. "You might want to turn around." Simon turned around and was surprised to see who was here.
"Merry Christmas, Fairy Tail." Jellal said as he and the rest of Crime Sorciere entering the guild.
"Dad!" Simon said.
"We saw the lights and heard some sound." Erik said.
"So we thought we come and join the party." Sawyer said.
"We've also brought presents of love." Richard said as he was holding the presents.
"Even I have to admit that it is that time of the year." Macbeth said.
"We wouldn't want to miss out on any of this." Meldy said.
"Dad, I can't believe you're really here." Simon said.
"Of course I would." Jellal said as he ruffled Simon's hair. To Simon, this was a Christmas miracle. Sasha was also happy to see Simon being able to enjoy himself with his father home. With Crime Sorcier joining in, the party was a lot of fun with everyone having so much fun. Merry Christmas to all from Fairy Tail.