Mable: Well, this didn't go anywhere near according to plan posting-wise, but at least I got a longer chapter for the finale. I hope everyone had a happy holidays and still enjoys the chapter even though they have passed. I don't own 9, Enjoy!
Next Stop, North Pole
Chapter Five: The Gift of Christmas
The group of Stitchpunks were raised into some sort of plaza, close to the tall Christmas tree in the center of the city. The area was heavily decorated with lights and more while, and yet the group noticed quickest the nearby train and the other group of Stitchpunks. "Hey! Over here!" Nine called to them and soon the remaining Stitchpunks were coming over. Two especially hurried over with a call of, "Hello, over there! How on Earth did get here again?" Four dashed forwards and was met halfway by Three who leapt onto her sister and hugged tightly.
The twins clung to each other while Seven approached to quickly check on her. "It's a long story," Five tried to pass off when One insisted, "One that you will explain." He was firm and giving them a suspicious look. The group all had either a mix of guilty stares or crooked smiles, all glad to be back on track. Before any of them could ask any questions or explain what they saw below, One checked his watch and gasped, "but not now!" Suddenly he looked to the entire group while adjusting his clothing. "Everyone, it's time! Get in position- Away from that bag, you."
Sparky got a sheepish smile and slowly inches away from the gift bag. Getting into position was mostly just the Stitchpunks standing around as One and Two stood between them and the large bag of gifts. "Here is how this will occur. When Santa appears you shall hand me your ticket for him to check, and through this I deduce that he will be able to choose the recipient of the first gift," One explained in a drawn out way. He was interrupted when Two suddenly interrupted, "There he is! Everyone, look to the star!"
The Inventor pointed to the star at the top of the tree where what looked like a swirl of wind and ice appeared around it. The star began to glow brighter and was able to be seen through the small whirlwind. Suddenly it plummeted downwards towards the ground and One made sure to guide the others back as it crashed to the ground in a small burst of sparkling frost. The noise of the rustling wind was cut through with a burst of deep and warm laughter. It should have frightened, but it sounded warm and comforting.
Then the frost disappeared and there stood a figure about the size of Eight, clothed in red and white, with a warm smile underneath a white beard. The Stitchpunks were all stared in awe not only at the fact that it appeared human, but that it was clearly none other than Santa Claus himself. He looked upon the group with an adoration that nobody had expected. "Welcome, children, to the North Pole! I have been waiting for you all." He then playfully looked to One, "Running a minute late?" The conductor sputtered and double checked his watch.
This got another rousing laugh from Santa Claus and a chuckle from Two. "Now then, let us begin! I have been waiting countless hours for little ones to come. Your gifts are reading to be given if you're ready to receive them." The twins gave excited nods and he reached forward to pat their heads. They felt it, but something was strange about his touch. It was wispy and light as though not fully there. Three and Four sent each other a confused like right after and then shrugged it off and looked to the older eagerly.
"Now let's see…" He hummed and looked through the crowd, preparing to choose. Yet before he could Nine blurted out, "Wait!" Everyone looked to him and One sputtered, "We've come countless miles and now you must talk?!" The younger male wasn't detoured as he stepped forward and faced the man. "Uh…Santa?... Look, we're grateful that we were on the train, that you have gifts, but…" One interrupted again, "But must this be now?" He sounded almost desperate and Two gave him a sigh, "Honestly, you're making a bigger scene."
"What is to be bothering you, my child?" The man asked in concern and the doll felt a little strained. This being somewhat reminded him of the Scientist; being an older man with a soothing voice. He wanted to just go along with the celebration, but he had to know and blurted out. "We saw the factory under the city, the abandoned one, and the empty buildings… We need to know the truth now. Why were we actually brought here? Why is this place so empty?!" The saddened look on Santa's face was immediate.
"I was hoping to give you your gifts before the truth came out… But very well, little one. Let me explain." Santa moved closer towards Nine and for a second he fought the urge to step back, but it faded as the human began to explain further. "As you notice, or as the young ones saw, I am not fully here anymore. Not just in head either, not here in body as well. Many years ago I became the spirit of Christmas, living to spread the joy during the holidays for all that I could, to make children and adults happy."
The group all nodded and Velvet clutched her book that she got ahold of again, glancing down at it. Santa Claus continued to explain, "I am not human, or I have not been in many, many years. I am now part of the Spirit of the Holidays, which gives life to the North Pole and to the inhabitants. All kept alive through happiness and joy, wonder and belief, and not only in Christmas." He added this part in with a bit of pride, "We began to add more towards the end; the spirit of Hanukah, Kwanza, many more." He casually explained with a chuckle.
"The end?" Nine asked quietly and it was now that Santa's smile almost dropped. He regained it and continued. "It was necessary to stay secret from world. We worked in the shadows, covered our tracks, and did not just deliver gifts. Sometimes we helped family come home for holidays, sometimes we helped a bit more snow to fall, where we could help we would. Every year a group of children were chosen to ride the train here to see the North Pole and enjoy their gifts early. These children would eventually lose their belief in me, and that was fine."
He smiled wider, "I wanted to make them happy. Is not for me, is for children, is for families…" Then, suddenly, Santa's smile dropped, "…And then one day it was all gone." He looked over towards the tree and at the surrounding city, "One year the children were scared of war, the next there were no more children. All of them were gone…" Nine tensed and now Seven spoke, "You mean the war that… that stopped everything." She was going to say 'killed the humans', but decided against it at the last second.
"After the war the elves began to disappear… The spirit was too weak to support them… My reindeer as well, my rabbits and birds, even my engineers and conductor were gone." This was a sign and almost all of them caught it at once. Five spoke in surprise, "So that is our One and Two!" He looked to the conductor and engineer who both looked rather confused as well. Santa nodded, "Is my fault. I needed someone to drive the train, to bring you here, so I… Borrowed them for a short time. They were only ones who were definitely not children."
"That makes some sense. One would never me this compliant," Seven pointed out and Eight fought the urge to go forward, only stopping when he realized how unfazed One was. Instead he simply squeezed the female with the patched legs' hand, as though hoping she will comfort him. "Do they know?" Eight asked and Santa made a 'so-so' motion. "Partially, but the magic is wearing off quick. What keeps them like this now is their own need to see completion of the night, even if they can't see it."
"This wasn't right…" Nine reminded, but was relatively lenient, and Santa nodded, "I know… But this was my last chance." He reached out to lay a hand on Nine's shoulder and the Stitchpunk noticed it waver. It wasn't fully solid and seemed like it could disappear at any second. "I am disappearing as well," The spirit explained to him, "I thought there was no hope, that the spirit of the holidays, that the joy, would be no more. But instead there was hope. Something still there, a light, life."
He clapped his hands onto Nine's shoulders and a puff of light snow seemed to come from the contact. "You are the last of the children, the last who can feel the Christmas spirit, so I brought you here as my last hope. Either… Either your belief, your joy will take the place of the humans and I can continue my work, or…" He hesitated and Nine questioned, "Or?" After a few seconds Santa finished with a reassuring smile. "Then I will be happy with one last holiday. That is all I need to be happy."
Now it was out there and Nine found himself reeling, staring down at the ground as Santa continued. "…Give me your ticket, son," he had a surprisingly eager smile and One did a double take, "Does this mean- He interrupted us and now he receives the first gift?" He was baffled, Nine was as well, but Five defended his friend. "He should get it. If it wasn't his idea to go through the factory we would still be wandering around," He playfully added in and Nine looked to smile at him. The Healer reached forwards to pat his friend's back quickly before pulling back.
"Besides, we all get gifts… Right?" The older male nodded happily, "Of course!" Nine handed over his ticket which he tucked into his front and Santa looked at it briefly before getting an idea, "Ah hah!" He gasped in delight and handed it to One, murmuring something to him. The Leader nodded and got a small smile before beginning to punch away at the ticket, and Santa wandered over to the bag of gifts before pulling something free. It was a large, silver bell that he carried over.
"Nine, this is your gift," he explained. "Only believers can hear the bell ring and when shaken it shall glow. Use it in dark times, worry not as it cannot be heard by ears of beasts, and may it bring you joy." Nine took it into his grasp in awe before shaking it. The chiming delight it released was like music in his audio receptors and he couldn't believe how wonderful it was. "Santa, this is… Thank you." He smiled at the older male in a warm, delighted way. "You… This is the best gift I've ever received. I won't forget this and I won't stop believing in you."
He thought it would perhaps be some sort of consolation, but suddenly Santa grasped his chest and staggered back a step. Nine blinked in alarm and the others watched in horror before suddenly the older male started to dissolve. "What?! No! Santa?!" Nine blurted out, reaching forward as the man suddenly dissolved into snow on the ground. The group of Stitchpunks could only watch in fear and One dropped his hole puncher as the stared at the spot that the male had just been. All was quiet, a silent night, but then suddenly…
With what sounded like an explosion and a bright flash of light the wind burst to life again. In the midst of a glowing, miniature tornado Nine could see a figure emerging. Other lights, about five of them, started to appear around but glowed dimly as though waiting for something. The wind suddenly halted and there Santa stood once more, looking down at himself in surprise. Nine was surprised as well for instead of the human resembling being there now stood before him another Stitchpunk. Santa Claus had fully changed forms.
The older male laughed in delight and came forward, scooping Nine into a strong hug, "You've done it! Ha ha, that was what I needed; I've been born again!" Nine sheepishly smiled as Santa set him down and looked around at the small lights. They started to form into short Stitchpunks as well, with soft fabric, wide optics, and green clothing. "And look! My elves are returning to me!" The tiny Stitchpunks blinked in confusion and some rubbed their eyes as though they had been asleep. "The spirit has been saved… Christmas shall continue!"
There was a joyous wave of emotions over the group as Santa turned to them with open arms. The twins came forward seeking gifts and wanting to give their own assurance. The others started to move forward with their own relieved looks. It was now that One handed over Nine's ticket to him, "Here. I think you will find this fitting." Nine quipped a brow as he took the ticket into his grasp and looked it over. As expected the word 'save' was printed onto the ticket and he exhaled tiredly. "Of course…" He was certain why, but he turned it over.
The punches on the back didn't read 'save' back and instead read 'yourself'. Nine was immediately baffled and turned the ticket over again only to find that 'save' changed as well. Instead it now said 'find'. Flipping them back and forth it now came out as 'Find Yourself', 'save' was nowhere to be seen unless it was counted as 'save yourself'. Either way, Nine found a warmth growing in his chest and looked over to see One now punching Three and Four's tickets who were waiting eagerly.
Santa, meanwhile, was handing over Five's gift to him. "So that you may see further than ever before," the older male insisted and gave him a beautiful spyglass. It was a golden color with silver rings and silver snowflake patterns. Five beamed at it, "How did- How did you know about our spyglass-?" He was confused and Santa chuckled, "We have our ways. Now here is ticket back." At this One handed over his ticket, then the twins' as well. Santa also fished out the gifts for the twins; two well stitched teddy bears and an intricate music box to share.
He then handed a small bag back to Five, "There is more than enough toys to go around!" Five opened the bag to reveal a set of jacks and smiled before showing Nine, "We might make good use out of these." Nine took the bag and started to shuffle through as Santa handed Six a flat case. "Umm, Santa? What about One and Two?" The older male assured him, "It will wear off, but I will make sure is gone by time to leave." At this time One could be head murmuring, "I can't even fathom what they're talking about. What will wear off? Our ability to drive the train?"
They both seemed a bit unable to comprehend the spell. Two began to respond with, "Come on now, it's Christmas. Stop worrying about-." At this moment Six let out a cry of delight, "It's ink! It's all kinds of ink!" He sorted through the case happily at the different samples of various ink colors. "They hold more than they seem, so don't worry about running out," Santa assured and looked to the elves who were rushing to the bag and back. One did Six's ticket before handing it back; Nine could see that it had 'Lead' on it and wondered if it could be flipped.
"Sky, Sparky, you two should come get your gifts," Six assured them and Sparky immediately rushed forwards to do so while Sky lingered back a bit, suddenly losing her nerve. She inched forwards a little bit before Six was able to stand, reach, and grab her hand to lead her forwards. Santa looked to the both with a hum and a nod before raising a hand, "Hold on a moment." He spoke to two of the elves who rushed off to the bag. A few moments later they returned, each carrying something strange.
They looked like small plush toys at first but as the one approached to hand a fuzzy one over, the blond colored one, it suddenly shifted and moved in the new embrace. Sparky now flinched back in surprise while Sky gasped in delight, "What are they?! They're so cute!" Santa chuckled warmly and the other elf holding the brown animal handed it to her. "They are miniature ferrets. They will be a lot of work to train, but should be very rewarding to have. As well, you will get plenty of food to keep them happy."
"I love it!" Sky squeaked in delight and cuddled the sweet ferret which nuzzled against her affectionately. "It's a him and the blonde one's a girl," the elf explained quietly with a small smile before hurrying off to keep working. Sparky now took his cautiously and looked it over with a smile, "I guess I'm your dad now." The ferrets affectionately nuzzled against the Stitchpunks with full delight, lightly licking and teething on their fabric. Santa nodded proudly at his work and continued on.
"Now onto you two," Santa faced Eight and his female companion. "Miss Twenty-Seven?" The female perked and handed over her ticket, which Santa scanned, handed to One, and retrieved a stuffed animal that looked like a cat and handed it over. As she took it he pulled a necklace off of the cat's neck and place it on hers. It was a soft silver color with a shimmering snowflake at the end. She gasped in delight, "It's beautiful! Oh, I can't accept this!" Santa insisted, "Is made specifically for you, dear. Wear it proudly."
The female thanked him and hugged her plush to her chest as Santa now looked to Eight who was the only one not shorter than him. "You I had a hard time creating for," He point out with a playful smile, "but I like a challenge. Careful with these." He had to get his things from the bag while One did Eight's ticket. Nine clearly saw that it said 'guard' on it and, ironically, he flipped it over too. On the other side it said 'family' but when he flipped it back it still said guard on it. Nine wasn't sure why the difference, but smiled at seeing that he wasn't the only one.
"Be careful with these," Santa warned as he handed over a heavy hammer and some sort of lamp. "Light this lamp and it will burn incredibly hot. Put it in an oven and it will burn even warmer. Use this to heat metal, use the hammer to shape, and you will be able to forge weapons like never before." Eight was a little surprised by the offer. "Like blacksmithing? Santa, I thought you worked with toys," Eight pointed out, actually sounding a bit impressed. Santa simply gave a wink and continued onwards to the next Stitchpunk.
This was Velvet, anxiously awaiting her own gift while standing by Seven, and they both handed off their tickets to One before getting them back. Velvet only glanced for a second before Santa appeared before her, "Hold out your hands, I've got you something very special." The female did so only to have something bulky and metal drop into them. With an 'oomph' and a teeter she almost fell forwards, but managed to right herself. "A typewriter?" She asked in surprise and a bit of confusion, looking at the heavy object in her arms.
"And if that doesn't work," he suddenly seemed to spawn a quill out of nowhere. It had a gold tip with a silvery feather body, "then this will." She took it graciously and thanked him before tucking the quill into her hair and hefting the typewriter along. Now he turned to Seven who questioned the ticket, "Defend my happiness?" She quipped in confusion and the male chuckled. "Sometimes it is important to look towards what would make you truly happy," he followed by taking a golden cage that an elf brought over.
"This is a golden finch," Santa introduced, "It will sing for you and scout for you, but will recharge in its cage." Seven felt like there was a deeper meaning to what he was saying, but merely took a cage with a smile, watching as the clockwork bird looked at her curiously. She opened the door and guided her hand in, letting it hop onto her finger and leading it out so she could see it better. It preened itself and chirped like a real bird; pleased with his work the older man moved on.
"Child, is right?" He moved onto the next and Child responded, "Child is wrong. There is no fathomable way that I should be on a 'nice' list." The older got a large, deep laugh and Child tensed a bit, as though thinking he was being patronized. Santa reached into his bag and returned to the male, allowing One to get his ticket before turning to his companions. "Don't have one," the cat resembling male chimed in and Nine wondered if he was related to a Cat Beast.
"What? You either?" He looked to the other who looked sort of looked like it had wings. The male shrugged and the Leader sputtered, "So that would mean that you are both stowaways?! Of course, I should have expected-!" Santa laid a hand on his shoulder, "Is no trouble. I expected as such and have proper gifts for both." He then handed over a stretch of fabric that revealed itself to be a cape. When Child unfolded it he and the others could see the crimson fabric, rich and velvety.
"I didn't think it was even possible to find fabric like this anymore," Child pointed out in awe, folding it over and Nine boldly started to reach out before stopping. Surprisingly enough Child was so in awe that he wanted others to feel and offered it, "Feel this. It's amazing." Nine felt over the softness and was delighted at well. "This is amazing! I couldn't imagine if we'd have been created with this. We probably would spend all our time rubbing our bodies together." Everyone went rather silent after this.
"…Also, have this," Santa handed over a small, box of tiny, tin soldiers as well. "I think you'll have fun with it." He chuckled and then moved to give the other two gifts as well; handing the cat looking male a mechanical mouse with a winding key sticking in its back and the winged looking male what looked to be a silvery slingshot. Now Santa stepped over to None's side and hesitated, the smiled warmly, "And I certainly have more than one gift for you! First, I have this." Nine looked over just in time to see an elf bringing what looked like a lightstaff over.
He gawked at the sight of it and noted that the only different was that the bulb was frosted instead of clear like Nine's was. None took it eagerly and turned it on where it started to let off a blue tinted light. The male was completely thrilled and curious as he asked, "What about the other gift?" Immediately Santa led him to the side alongside Nine. "There!" He announced in sheer delight, "Long lost twin brother! Congratulations!" The two younger males looked at each other and just stared for a few minutes.
"Now then… Ah! Since you'll be heading soon anyway why don't I just rouse you two?" He looked towards One and Two who stared in confusion. "Now then, just keep looking here and-."
"So that's what happened," Eight explained and One scoffed, not even looking at the male and trying to return to sleep. "Eight, really, you should stop using that blasted magnet. Now go back to sleep." He almost started to fade back to sleep when the Guard coughed and murmured, "Boss… It really wasn't a dream." He looked back to the others before Seven chimed in, "One, pull the blanket down." One mumbled before Seven added in, "One, we're on the train now." The Leader finally started to look back and suddenly delirium seemed to fade.
The Leader promptly let out a cry of alarm and scrambled back on the seat, his back pressing against the window. Seven fought the urge to roll her optics while Eight tried to calm down the older. "It's okay, Boss, really. Look, your gift is right over there and we're almost home. Just calm down and I'll get some nog." He didn't know if One was going to mentally snap or was going to suddenly lose his head but both were a clear possibility. "Is he okay?" Twenty-Seven asked as he passed by her to get a cup of eggnog.
"Yeah… Sort of, but there's a chance of it going either way from here," and he started to head back to give his frantic leader the drink. "He's taking it better than I expected," Five murmured to the others before looking to Two who was wandering around nearby and studying the train. "Two, uh, maybe you should sit down. You might still be unsteady…" Two chuckled and insisted, "It's fine! I'm feeling more than alright!" The others were all sitting and either toying with their new items, nearly napping, or were eating the cookies and drink left out for them.
One of the booths was literally packed with partying Stitchpunks who were talking and laughing. Nine was sided by None and Child while across from him was Child's two companions. They were eating popped corn and talking about whatever interested them; from weird anecdotes to questionable stories. On the other side of the booth; even though the tables had lowered the seats didn't turn back to normal, Sparky and Sky sat with their ferrets curled in their laps. They were discussing possible names while petting their new, fuzzy companions who were more than content to be petted.
Six sat between Sky and the window and was looking through his case at the various inks. Across from him Velvet was trying to practice on her typewriter that managed to somehow not be too heavy for the small table. On the other side of Sparky the twins were squeezed in and cuddled together. Four was laying her back against Sparky and holding her twin, both taking a short rest from all the excitement of the day. Five was sitting at the end of the seat beside Velvet and was turned towards the hall.
Two wandered back over, grabbing two wrapped gifts off of an empty table. "I don't think I can wait anymore at this rate! Here, this should ease One a bit," the Inventor insisted and crossed to where One was starting to become more frantic. "How can this even be possible?! No, Eight, I absolutely do not accept your answer! This is not some sort of magical, fairy tale train!" He was even more distraught by Two's chuckle as he approached. "And this is not funny! How do I not know you weren't secretly behind this?"
"Yes, One. I created a magical train and drove it all the way to the North Pole." He smirked and One muttered before having a red wrapped gift offered to him. "What's this?" Two simply waved to him insistently, "Open it, it's a gift. I have one as well." His own was wrapped in a stormy blue paper and he began to carefully open it as though to save the wrapping paper as best as he could. One finally gave in and started to open his gift, noticing Eight inching off towards a female who he didn't recognized, being Eight's female companion for the entire trip.
Eventually One mocked Two's gesture without a word, trying to convince the male that he could simply leave. Eight gave a nod and dismissed himself without another word. One continued to unwrap the gift to reveal a box which he then opened, revealing a statue and a note. The statue was a replica of the Cathedral, seemingly before the war as it did not have any damage to it, and yet One found himself silently staring at it for a few moments. When he managed to he read the note that was from Santa himself.
"Thank you for your assistance. Without you the night wouldn't have been a success. I know I can't give you what you truly want, but I can give you a memory. May it bring you joy through the years."
One stared at the note somberly. He didn't know exactly how to feel and looked over to Two who gasped in delight. "Look at this!" He pulled the item out of his own box. It sort of resembled a snow globe except was filled with water, sand, and various seashells while sitting on a wooden base. "Isn't this marvelous?" Two asked in delight and looked over the glass sphere, "I can't remember seeing such delicate shells in person before. Oh, this will look absolutely wonderful displayed!"
He then noticed One's own gift and became interested, "Is that… The Cathedral?" One nodded slowly, "It is. Isn't it… An exact replica?" He seemed saddened and Two agreed, "Very close if not so…" He wasn't certain what exactly to say, but simply smiled back. It was still clearly a sore subject, but thankfully the squeal of the train's breaks interrupted any further thoughts. A few of the Stitchpunks had to hold on and the jarring sense of stopping, but most of them had already gotten used to the sensation. The light Christmas music playing through the train stopped.
"Thank you for coming to the North Pole!" The light voice was definitely an elf's. "We were certainly welcome to have you all with us, and to- You know- Be alive again and all. Please, everyone, depart from the train and wait patiently outside at a safe distance." A few moments passed before Nine questioned, "Everyone?" He tried to see past None who looked for him, "It looks like we're… I think we're at that Library of yours!" He beamed and Nine smiled, but was confused, "But all of us?"
"It might be some sort of protocol," Child explained and stood. "Grab your things. They might clean this play out while we're gone. I would expect something like that." He seemed amused by his own comment and stood with the others. Sparky meanwhile roused Four who sat upwards abruptly, nearly knocking her twin over in the process, "I guess we're getting off for a while." He gave an amused smile and the twin blushed and smiled back. They stood, the others as well, and soon all of them were wandering to the door.
All of the Stitchpunks filed out into the snow outside of the courtyard gates. The group all stood there for a few seconds until another voice came from the train, like another intercom. "This is last gift. Now it is time to say goodbye for now," it was Santa's voice and sounded like a recording. Seven basically translated this by bluntly stating, "So our gift is the ability to say goodbye." For a few seconds most seemed disappointed until Six spoke, "Better than just vanishing and appearing home."
He smiled, clutching his ink case to his front, and looked to Sky, "Umm, Sky, I… I'm glad we met." She smiled and he looked down a bit, not hiding back his shyness as he looked to her ferret in her hands instead of her optics. Sky smiled wider before getting a slight tinge of sadness, "I… I wish we could've been friends longer… Maybe we'll find each other again? We can't live too far." Six smiled back hopefully, wanting more than anything for that to be true, "Okay… I'll find you." It was a promise. "I'll find you again."
He reached out hesitantly and offered for her hand, and she didn't hesitate to take it. They stood there in the quiet with smiles on their faces. Others weren't as hopeful at their separation, such as Eight and Twenty-Seven nearby. He held her close to his chest and soothingly pet her back. "Don't worry about it. Your home can't be that far off, we'll meet back up," Eight assured her as best as he could while she nuzzled into his chest, forcing a smile, "You're still damp. You're going to freeze out here." Eight smiled and responded with, "Some things are worth freezing for."
He then hesitated and added in, "I'm sorry. That was pretty bad. Just forget I even said it." The female giggled at the addition and continued to rest against him. Three, meanwhile, urged her sister to approach Sparky again and she did, looking to him with the sadness of goodbye in her own eyes. He smiled and without saying a word opened his arms like in a hug, his ferret quickly scaling his arm and resting on his shoulder. She smiled and quickly leapt forward to hug him tightly, the two resting against each other happily.
"So we're just going to be apart again?" None asked Nine in alarm, "I'm going to have to go back to living alone just like that?!" Nine considered it before shaking his head, "No. Just don't get back on the train." He put an arm around his twins' shoulders with a warm smile. "We'll make you a bed- You can even stay in my bed if you want!" He didn't want to lose what was clearly his twin and None smiled back eagerly. "I might just take that offer, if you don't mind!" Nine beamed and now looked over towards Child nearby.
He hesitated before speaking to None again, "I'll be right back." His twin nodded and he headed over to the male's side. "Hey," he announced and Child looked to him. "Hmm?" He asked back and Nine rubbed his shoulder, "Look, about what you said earlier…" He fell silent and Child quipped a brow, "About what? You have to be more specific; I said a lot today." Nine got a playful smile, "You really did, didn't you?" Child looked impressed and Nine simply continued with, "Just… There's no ill will between us."
Child looked a bit surprised and Nine added in with, "Even though I'm still sort of confused about this whole thing. I just wanted you to know before the train left." At this moment there was a loud blare from the train and a puff of smoke spilled out of the top. Nine's optics widened, but he didn't even look over as the train started to move. Child looked over and choked, "You were absolutely not kidding, were you?" Now Nine finally looked over as One could be heard calling.
"What are you doing?! You're forgetting your passengers!" One bellowed after the train as it started to take off and Two, standing beside Five and Velvet, who had been also been saying their saddened goodbyes before this moment, suddenly hummed. "I notice that they didn't saw anyone would be getting… Back on the train?" He offered and One looked to him, then to the new additions, and now sputtered, "Are we expected to supply this many beds in one night?! My word, Mr. Claus certainly didn't think this through!"
The others were a lot more lighthearted about everything and the Stitchpunks started to lead their new guests inside. None paused to turn to Nine and cheekily add in, "I guess I will be taking that offer after all." Then with Nine's own chuckle the male hurried into the Library. Nine lagged a bit behind the others for a moment, stopping to look back at the train tracks. The black rails started to slowly turn white before turning into nothing but snow. Any evidence of the train being there was once again gone and Nine was left with his bell.
He stared at its glossy exterior before closing his optics and raising it. With only a soft shake the delicate ringing could be heard once more, reminding him that what happened wasn't a dream. With a satisfied smile he tucked it back under his arm and followed the others inside of the Library. It was good to be home.
FIN
Mable: If anyone's wondering, Santa is sort of based off of North from 'Rise of the Guardians', but I had trouble instating the accent. So those aren't grammar errors, they're… Accent errors on my part. XD I also was going to have a long thing on the tickets, but due to time constraints it was cut short... Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed this Christmas adventure! I know I certainly did and, who knows, maybe the train will return again someday. ^-^ I hope everyone enjoyed!