A Moonacre Fanfiction Peace on Earth

Maria followed Robin, dodging through trees and under low-hanging branches. Maria admired the way the curving pine boughs cradled the snow, almost like a mother's arms. But Maria could not marvel long, for Robin was a quick mover. Now they reached a steep slope.

"Watch your footing here," Robin said. "It can be slick with the snow and the frozen ground." Maria's nose was cherry red from the cold, but she stuck it out impudently.

"You worry about yourself, Bird Boy." He chuckled, as though she were a child and had said something adorably ignorant.

"I'm as sure-footed as a mountain goat," he said, puffing his chest out. Maria pursed her lips, but said nothing. So Robin began to lead the way down. Maria followed in his footsteps, choosing her path carefully. But Robin was reckless and, in an endeavor to demonstrate his masterful sure-footedness, he took long, hasty strides. This recklessness was his downfall—literally.

His foot slipped out from beneath him. He flew up into the air, landing solidly upon his behind and tumbling roughly down the remainder of the hill. Grunts of discomfort met Maria's ears. At last he reached the bottom with a groan.

"Now Robin," Maria called out, trying to keep a solemn face, "I do not know very much about mountain goats, but I am fairly certain that—"

"Oh, lay off, will you?" he moaned in irritation. "That was not as easy as it looked."

"Indeed," Maria smiled, putting one foot daintily in front of the other. She stooped to retrieve the bowler hat that had fallen from Robin's head, chuckling to herself. Robin lie still in the soft snow, gathering his wits. Finally, Maria made her way to the bottom of the slope.

"Ready?" she asked, crossing her arms. He grunted.

"Give me a minute." She sighed.

"So, what is this you want to show me?" His lips curled up a little at the ends.

"Oh, you'll like it. Don't worry."

"Well at this rate I'm not sure we'll ever get there. Perhaps I'd better go back home. I'm sure I ought to clean the manor in preparation for Miss Heliotrope's cousin." Robin's smile slid into a frown, and he rose to his feet.

"No, stay with me. You haven't even seen it yet."

"Oh, I don't know. The guest room needs to be seen to, and—"

"Please?" Robin begged. His disheveled curls had snowflakes glistening in them and his breeches were damp from his landing, a sorry sight indeed. Maria feigned uncertainty.

"Well, I…"

"Be a dear, won't you, Princess?"

"I suppose." She relented. It was better that she not seem too eager. She had to make him think that he won her over. Otherwise he would take her for granted.

"Good!" he said. "And, ah…may I have my hat?"

"Oh, no, I'm keeping it," she declared, handing him her black fur pillbox hat instead. He looked at it a moment before shrugging and setting it on his head. Maria giggled. "Robin, you should see yourself," she said.

"I think it's a good thing I can't," he replied ruefully. "Now then, shall we?" he held out his hand.

"We shall," she assented, taking his hand. So they began to walk on. Presently Robin asked,

"You wouldn't really have gone back to clean the manor, would you?" Maria looked at him out of the corner of her eye and smiled.

"And miss the chance to spend time with you? Never!" He grinned.

"I knew it. No one can turn down my charm."

"Oh, is that what you call it?" Maria's eyebrows disappeared under the bowler hat.

"It is known by many names," he began with an air of superiority, "charm, wit, appeal, charisma—"

"Pride, arrogance, superciliousness—"

"Super what?" Robin echoed in bewilderment. Maria laughed at his simplicity. Now who was superior?

"It means egotism. Like, the world revolves around you."

"And doesn't it?"

"No, the world revolves around the sun and rotates on its axis," Maria said, rolling her eyes. "Haven't you ever had a science lesson?"

"Aren't you on Christmas vacation from your lessons?" Robin returned the question with a question.

"Yes. Your point?"

"Maybe you could take a break from being smart. Let the knowledge just slip your mind for a while." Maria cleared her throat.

"Oh, like you slipped down that slope, you 'sure-footed mountain goat'?" Robin opened his mouth to protest, but he only sighed.

"Touché," he replied. "Let's change the subject."

"Very well," Maria consented. "When will we reach whatever you wanted to show me?" Robin studied their surroundings.

"Soon. Don't you worry your pretty little head."

"Oh, my head's not the pretty one right now. It's yours." She tapped the elegant fur hat he wore. He grimaced.

"Don't remind me. This is temporary, mind you. Actually," he ran a hand over the fur. "It's pretty warm. How's mine working out for you?"

"Quite well, thank you. Very warm. But, ah," she grinned as the rim tipped down over her eyes. "It's just a little large."

"Well, what did you expect? I have a big head."

"Indeed you do," Maria agreed heartily, laughing. After a moment, Robin's face reddened.

"Oh." He said, sighing. "I guess I walked right into that one." Maria's giggles subsided.

"Yes, you did. But there now, I won't tease you anymore. At least, not for the present. Let's be serious a moment; or at least, less senseless, if that is possible for us. I'm concerned."

"All right. What do you want to talk about?"

"Oh, anything. Christmas."

"All right. What do you like about Christmas?"

"What do I like about Christmas? Hm. What don't I like about Christmas? This will be the first time in a long while I've been surrounded by friends and family for Christmas. I love the snow," she kicked up a tuft of snow, "And the laughter. The presents and the tree with its candles flickering, the delicious meal, the joyful hymns, the quiet peace. Yes, the quiet peace you have when you are with those you love. I think that's one of my favorite parts. Don't you?" Robin, who had been so lost in her bright eyes, was now jolted out of his daze. He smiled a little.

"Yes, I do," he said. "I do. Oh, here we are. Close your eyes."

"What?"

"I want it to be a surprise. Close your eyes." Robin ordered. Maria reluctantly closed her eyes.

"You're not going to play any tricks on me, are you?"

"No. That is, not right now. All right, hold on to my hand and keep walking." He led her through a grove of pine trees. "No peeking," he scolded.

"I'm not," she said truthfully.

"All right. You can look now," Robin's voice said. Maria opened her eyes and blinked. Slowly, a smile spread across her face as she drank in the scene.

"Oh, Robin!"

A/N: My dear reader,

Thank you so very much for reading this next chapter! I do hope you've enjoyed it. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your encouraging reviews. You cannot know what your words mean to me. I remain

Yours truly,

Ponygirl7