I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry. I didn't mean to take so long. I am so sorry. I am sorry I haven't updated since March. I'm still in the Christmas special.
Anyhow I looked back on the story I decided on changing it from past tense to present tense and change it a bit. If you look back on the chapters now they'll be a few sentences gone or replaced and that it's in present tense. I will also be using google translate to check my spelling & gammar (did it again -.-') being some have ask me to do better at that.
Now for the disclaimer:
Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN NiGHTS, Reala, Jackle, Wizeman, Owl, the nightopians, or their christmas design.
Claimer: I DO own Starlight, Starlight's christmas clothes and the plot
Anyway, on with the story. Please forgive me.
NiGHTS pulls Starlight into Frozen Bell. Starlight has been here many times but not as of lately because NiGHTS usually takes care of the Visitors here and Starlight takes care of the Visitors that just want to play in the sun and the rivers and not the snow and skate across a frozen lake. The reason for that is because the little Visitors can play in the snow all they want in their world but they know they will not see any sunshine and warmth for a while and miss it so they spend most of their dreams in places like Pure Valley and Splash Garden. Starlight doesn't mind; she likes to be with the little Visitors and she gets cold staying in the snow covered dreams for too long.
But now it is different. Bright lights of multiple colors hang on the snow covered trees. Bells are ringing all over the place and the nightopians are singing a song that sounds familiar to the green maren. The nightopians new clothing consist of a red jumpsuit with two white puff-balls in the front and a white fluffy collar, white fluffy booties, and a red hat with white fluff at the rim and a white puff-ball at the tip of the hat to finish the look. There was so many bright decorations that most of Starlight read about, few she knows of.
NiGHTS continues to pull Starlight along, not giving Starlight much time to sight see the newly decorated Frozen Bell. The violet maren has a big, goofy grin on his face and excitement sparkling in his cat-like blue eyes. Starlight likes that look on NiGHTS. Seeing him so happy and full of wonder and life, it makes Starlight happy to see NiGHTS like this.
The soft lights all around them makes NiGHTS' eyes look more alive and beautiful. Wait... Did I just think- Starlight's thoughts are interrupted by NiGHTS' voice.
"Come on! There's a really great place I want to take you and I think you'll like it." NiGHTS says excitedly and pulls Starlight along more.
The dark green maren nods and pushes those thoughts out of her head when she sees how happy NiGHTS is. NiGHTS flys faster now that Starlight is flying along with him.
Soon the two arrive at a huge frozen lake where nightpians skate across the ice. Some are doing tricks like a figure-eights or doing a spin in the air, though some are using their wings to help, others are just skating, some hand in hand. Starlight looks over the frozen lake and giggles with a smile. NiGHTS is happy she's enjoying the time they are spending together.
NiGHTS drags Starlight onto the ice and grabs a pair of icicles and puts them on his feet to use as skates. Starlight uses her sparkle dust to make similar skates. NiGHTS sets his feet on the ice with Starlight following in suit. The purple nightmaren moves along the ice diligently but when he pulls Starlight along she wobbles and falls to the ground.
"Ow."
Starlight moans from the fall. NiGHTS is still holding onto her arm and standing. He helps Starlight to her feet.
"I take it you don't know how to skate?" NiGHTS asks as he helps her up.
"I've skated on water when I fly but I've never skated on ice." The green maren speaks, trying to keep her feet steady.
NiGHTS helps her stay from hitting the ground. "Well I better teach you so we can skate together." NiGHTS says in a joking manner and pulls Starlight along to a less crowded part of the ice.
Starlight's legs are trembling to stay up and not fall down again. NiGHTS takes her arm again, keeping her steady.
"It's okay. Just relax." NiGHTS tells her to make her stop shaking. It succeeds. Starlight takes a few deep breaths and she stops shaking. "Good, now find your center of balance." NiGHTS instructs.
"Center of balance?" Starlight asks.
"Yes, when flying you need to balance your weight or else you'll start flying out of control." NiGHTS explains. "It's simply like flying but your on the ground."
"I see." Starlight nods and acts like she is flying, finding her balance quickly.
"Step one, finding your balance, check." NiGHTS smiles, "Step two, moving. Start pushing your legs behind you." Starlight pushes her right leg behind her then her left follows suit. "Good, now lift your your right leg in front of your left and push, then lift your left leg in front of your right and do the same." Starlight pushes her legs behind her and moves, though her feet bump into her legs when she raises them sometimes. She nearly falls down a few times but NiGHTS keeps her from falling. Soon it becomes a pattern to her and she follows the pattern well. "Great. Your doing pretty well. Now final step, learning to stop. There's two ways to stop. You can stop moving and you'll slow down and eventually stop or you can swing both your feet to one side and skit a bit stopping immediately."
"I'll go for the slow one, if that's alright?" Starlight asks.
"But of course." NiGHTS says with that kind smile.
Starlight stops moving her feet and slows down, eventually she stops. Starlight smiles and jumps up and down on the ice, very content with learning how to skate. She hugs NiGHTS and buries her face into the neck of NiGHTS' coat-collar. NiGHTS is surprised but hugs her back at her accomplishment. A minute later NiGHTS pulls out of the hug and bows with his hand out and says,
"Shall we skate, my lady?"
Starlight giggles at the gesture and takes a hold of NiGHTS' hand, "I'd be delighted, my knight." Starlight says with a curtsey.
The two skate happily across the ice. Starlight's giggles and happy gasps are accompanied by NiGHTS' chuckles and smiles. The nightopians make room for the dark green and red pair, squeaking and giggling themselves as well. NiGHTS performs a few tricks while Starlight just skates normally.
"This is fun." Starlight says, skating along side NiGHTS.
"This isn't even half of what to see." NiGHTS says and stops with a skit, taking off the icicles on his shoes.
Starlight gives NiGHTS a questionable look but stops and goes over to NiGHTS, making her sparkled dust ice skates disappear and turn back to her normal shoes. NiGHTS takes Starlight's hand and guides her though the snow to probably their next destination. NiGHTS takes Starlight through one of the snow covered tree forest that has bells and other festive decorations.
Starlight stares at all the shiny ornaments that clutters the trees. Good thing NiGHTS is there to pull her along or else they be in the forest all night. NiGHTS likes the decorations too but he has seen them many times before. Starlight occasionally gives an 'aww' or an 'ohh' or giggles and NiGHTS will chuckle in responds. But another sound joins into the mix, making NiGHTS cock his head and becoming more alert.
NiGHTS stops and puts his arm in front of Starlight in a protective and guarding manner. NiGHTS growls. Starlight stops when NiGHTS puts his arm out in front of her, casts a glance at the red nightmaren when he growls, looks out ahead of them, and shifts closer to NiGHTS.
Not to far away from them are two rather familiar figures. One is a figure that looks much like NiGHTS but still has very pale skin and the mask that covers half of his face is still the same, but the armor he wears is a brighter red then normal and the black parts are replaced with green and there are gold in some parts and the shoes are red and green and the hat that has the same structure as NiGHTS' is red and green as well. The second figure's body is invisible except for a pair of blue eyes and wears a green mantle with white and red stripes and arrows, the collar has a zigzag design with red and gold, gloves with green, red, and gold, a pair of green and red shoes, and a green hat that splits in two going up, curling inwards, with red, white, and gold stripes with bells at the tips. Starlight knows who the two figures are.
"Why is it that whenever something big happens your in the center of it?!" Reala hisses and points an accuse figure at NiGHTS.
NiGHTS keeps glaring at Reala, "It's not my fault if so many interesting things happen around me."
"Really?" Reala's voice heightens in a mocking tone, "Last I check you always butt into other people's business."
The two suddenly get really close and the two first-levels start having an arguing contest. Yelling into the other's face. Starlight takes a few steps back from the duo. Jackle flys over to Starlight. Starlight notices this and meets Jackle halfway.
"Another night, another sibling fight." Jackle says with his arms cross.
"They never seem to stop fighting, do they?" Starlight asks, watching NiGHTS poke Reala's chest, making Reala madder.
"Nope." Jackle says in monotone voice.
"Should we really be talking with each other, right now?" Starlight asks and turns her head to Jackle.
"No need to worry. Those two aren't gonna notice." Jackle turns to Starlight and flashes his insane smile.
Starlight looks at NiGHTS' and Reala's squabble then looks back at Jackle and nods.
"Aside from the Night Dimension changing, how are things?" Starlight asks.
"There's more Visitors, meaning more Ideya to steal and more work to do, but other than that things are normal." Jackle says, "I like the new look on you."
"Thank you." Starlight smiles, "I like your new look too."
"Thanks." Jackle's smile widens and looks back at his brothers now screaming in each other faces.
Starlight glances up and looks at the tree decorations, noticing one plant that she hasn't seen before and there are many of them. "Hey Jackle," The now green second-level madmaren turns his attention to dark green mare. "what's that?" Starlight points up to the trees.
Jackle looks up and sees the plants. He recognizes them and laughs. Starlight looks at Jackle, puzzled by what's so funny. Jackle wipes an imaginary tear from his eye and looks back down at Starlight.
"That's called mistletoe, dear." Jackle says in between laughs and cackles.
"Mistletoe?" Starlight repeats the word and looks up.
"It's a Visitor's tradition that when they're underneath it they must kiss the other." Jackle explains, laughing while holding where his stomach should be, getting an idea from what he just said.
Starlight blushes from what Jackle said. Jackle stops holding his gut and stiffens his cackles to chuckles and looks over to NiGHTS and Reala when it looks like they are about to start punching. He cups his mouth and shouts,
"Hey Fairy Boy and Hothead!"
NiGHTS and Reala look at Jackle with angry expressions.
"Look what we're standing under!"
Jackle points up and NiGHTS and Reala look up, their mad expressions gone and replaced with shocked ones. Jackle let loose a cackle. Starlight just stares at Jackle with the blush still on her cheeks. NiGHTS and Reala didn't say a word. But Jackle continues.
"You know what that means!" Jackle's grin widens as far as Starlight has seen.
NiGHTS and Reala look disgusted by their brother Jackle.
"Do you really have to kiss?" Starlight asks.
"You MUST." Jackle says, looking at NiGHTS and Reala, with the grin still on his lips.
Starlight is uncomfortable by this but slowly floats up to eye level with Jackle and kisses Jackle on the cheek. Jackle, even though he mentioned it, didn't expect it, making his pupils shrinks and a light blush appear on his where his cheeks should be. NiGHTS and Reala are as surprised as Jackle. Starlight flys over to NiGHTS and Reala. She kisses Reala on the cheek, being mindful of the mask. Then she kisses NiGHTS on the cheek. Now everyone is blushing and staring at Starlight and Starlight has the darkest, reddest blush of all of them. NiGHTS opens but closes his mouth not sure what to say.
"You h-have to kiss when your underneath mis-st-l-le-t-toe." Starlight squeaks out in a barley audible cracky voice.
NiGHTS, Jackle, and Reala don't say anything making Starlight anxious. Starlight fidgets and rubs her legs and arms together. Starlight fidgets so much that her bells ring with each movement. Jackle is the first to say something.
"I should have said it in different way." Jackle says, regretting his mistake and the dust red is still coloring his cheeks.
NiGHTS and Reala don't say anything. Soon they all regain their composure but Starlight still fidgets and keeps looking down at the snow. Jackle flys next to Reala as NiGHTS flys next to Starlight. NiGHTS puts his arm around Starlight's shoulder and tries to sooth her and stop fidgeting. It succeeds. Reala scowls a bit but no one but NiGHTS notices.
"Let's go Jackle. We have to report back to Master Wizeman." Reala says in a cold tone.
Reala opens a portal with his parloop. Jackle goes through the portal first. NiGHTS doesn't say or does anything but keep Starlight close to him, keeping his eyes on his twin brother. Reala glares at NiGHTS before going through the portal. The portal closes up behind Reala. NiGHTS and Starlight don't do anything for a couple of minutes. When NiGHTS feels it's safe, he let's out a sigh of relief. Starlight looks at NiGHTS with concern. NiGHTS sees this.
"It's alright." NiGHTS says. "They're gone."
NiGHTS realizes he still has his arm around Starlight and quickly pulls his arm back. NiGHTS feels uncomfortable. Starlight doesn't understand why NiGHTS is uncomfortable and looks at him concerned and worried. NiGHTS catches sight of Starlight's expression and quickly recomposes himself again and smiles at her.
"Come on. There's still more you've got to see." NiGHTS says and takes a hold Starlight's hand again.
They continue on their originally path. Starlight let's NiGHTS lead again. She is happy that NiGHTS is acting normal again. They leave the snow forest after some time of traveling. NiGHTS guides Starlight across the thick snow covered area. Soon Starlight sees something in the distance. They get closer and Starlight sees that they are coming to an area with statues made of snow and ice.
They are statues of castles, snowman, nightopians, Visitors and other things. Some are very well made. You can see the details and how long it must have took them to make. Others aren't made as well but are still nice and cute to Starlight. Starlight admires the winter sculptures, looking at them closely.
"Who made these?" Starlight asks NiGHTS.
"Visitors and nightopians." NiGHTS says. Starlight admires the statues more. "Would you like to make one?"
Starlight looks back NiGHTS, stunned. "But I can't make anything like this."
"We can just make a snowman." NiGHTS says, almost chuckling. "It doesn't have to be first-rate."
Starlight blinks at NiGHTS with a blank expression. NiGHTS gathers some snow and rolls it on the ground to gather more snow, making it bigger. Starlight sees this and does what NiGHTS does. She rolls her ball about, staying away from the other statues. NiGHTS' snowball is bigger than Starlight's. NiGHTS stops rolling his ball and Starlight stops too. He tells Starlight to bring her ball over and she does and NiGHTS puts Starlight's snowball on top of his. They start rolling another snowball. After they are done with the last snowball Starlight goes and gathers some broken sticks for arms, and uses some pine cone, leafs, and berries to make a face. She uses a couple of big branches to make a hat. NiGHTS commends Starlight for her decoration skills.
All of sudden, Starlight gets hit in the back with a snowball. Starlight turns around to face who did it and sees a bunch of nightopians floating not very far away from her and NiGHTS. They throw their snowballs at Starlight and NiGHTS.
"Ack!" Starlight says, startled. "The nightopians are attacking us."
"This is what Visitors call a Snowball Fight." NiGHTS laughs. "And I never lose in a fight."
The nightopians continue throwing snowballs. Starlight cries out moving her arms to cover herself. NiGHTS grabs Starlight and pulls her behind some trees for cover. NiGHTS takes some snow and forms a ball and throws the ball at the nightopians. NiGHTS and Starlight start making snowballs and throwing them at the nightopians. Starlight ducks one time behind the tree she is behind when a snowball almost hits her in the face. The battle goes on for some time. Starlight is enjoying herself greatly. Later the snowball fight ends and Starlight laughs happily with NiGHTS. The two make sure the nightopians are okay. The nightopians are fine and leave to go start another one else where. NiGHTS and Starlight wipe the snow off themselves from the snowball battle.
NiGHTS and Starlight leave. NiGHTS takes Starlight away from the snow art gallery and previous snowball battlefield. They fly above the trees and faster now. They fly for half an hour and Starlight sees a bright light ahead of them. Soon she sees bigger trees than the ones she and NiGHTS were flying over. They are huge and easily 30, maybe 40, times bigger than NiGHTS and they are decorate in the most beautiful Christmas decorations Starlight has seen yet. The lights that wrap around trees are stunning and could be compared to stars. The decorations such as bobbles of different colors and patterns, bells of silver and gold, familiar plants, candles with different shapes, tinsel bigger than Starlight's arms, and sleds and other figures bounces off the light. The star toppers are the crown jewel of the magnificent trees. Some of the lights connect to the other trees. A few nightopians play in the snow below the trees.
"NiGHTS... This is beautiful." Starlight says, gazes at the trees. The lights seem to dance in Starlight's eyes to NiGHTS.
"This is one of the more popular places. It takes a long time to get here but it's worth it." NiGHTS tells Starlight.
"This whole dream world is beautiful, NiGHTS." Starlight says, smiling.
"I'm glad you think so." NiGHTS says, beaming.
Back in Nightmare everyone thought he was strange when he started to take interest to Nightopia's sudden changes when the Visitor's holidays came and he liked it. Specially Reala, he thought his violet twin was going deranged. Wizeman wasn't very fond when he notice NiGHTS' behavior but didn't question it, thinking it was a phase. No one back in Nightmare thought any of Nightopia was 'pretty'. It was satisfying that Owl, the Visitors, and the Nightopians loved it but that's to be expected. It be odd if they didn't like it. Though it nice to have someone else who's not to be expect of feel the same way about this marvelous place.
"Why wouldn't I?" Starlight asks.
"Oh, it's nothing." NiGHTS says.
Starlight doesn't question NiGHTS and looks down at the nightopians, who are now consuming things she couldn't identify.
"NiGHTS," NiGHTS listens to Starlight, "what are the nightopians eating?"
NiGHTS looks down at the nightopians eating. "S'mores, cocoa, gingerbread cookies, and figgy pudding." NiGHTS says.
"What is all that food?" Starlight asks, confused.
"They're food that Visitors eat around Christmas." NiGHTS tells. "You've never heard of any of these food?"
"No, I have heard of them from a few Visitors but I've never seen of them." Starlight answers.
NiGHTS nods and thinks of an idea, "Why don't you go try some?"
"What are they made of?" Starlight asks wanting to know what something is before she's tries it.
"Cocoa is basically chocolate powder mixed with hot water. S'mores are graham crackers with melted chocolate and marshmallows. Gingerbread cookies are a type of cookie that are good and you can decorated on with different stuff. As for figgy pudding I have no I idea what its made of." NiGHTS explains.
Starlight nods and think over what NiGHTS said. The cocoa sounds good but the s'mores sound really messy. I like cookies. But the figgy pudding sounds really weird. Starlight thinks to her self wondering what she should try or if she should try anything.
"Let's go ask the nightopians if we can have some their food." NiGHTS says and flys down to the nightopians. Starlight is jolts from her thinking and follows NiGHTS. NiGHTS flys down the nightopians and the nightopians smile and wave at NiGHTS. "Can we have some of your food?" NiGHTS asks politely.
The nightopians look to NiGHTS and give him some their food.
"Thank you." NiGHTS thanks the nightopians. NiGHTS gives half of the food to Starlight. She thanks NiGHTS and looks at the food in her hands. NiGHTS had given her three gingerbread cookies shaped like Christmas trees, some cocoa and a s'more.
Starlight looks them and wonders what to eat first. NiGHTS is eating his share as Starlight thinks. Starlight looks at NiGHTS and then back at her food. She decides to eat the s'more NiGHTS gave her. Starlight eats the s'more and the messy s'more stains her white gloves. The s'more tastes good to Starlight and after she finishes eating the s'more she sees that it stained her white gloves with melted chocolate. Starlight licks her lips and takes of her gloves. Starlight's hands feel very cold when she takes her gloves off. She rubs the stained gloves in snow hoping it will get the dark brown stains out. The snow gets the chocolate stains out and she put the gloves back on. The gloves don't help the cold feeling in her hands when she put them back on. Starlight rubs her hands together and breaths into her hands, trying to warm her hands up.
After rubbing her hands together for sometime Starlight eats the gingerbread cookies NiGHTS gave her. They taste pretty good to Starlight. She likes the cookies better than the s'more. When she finishes the cookies, she drinks the cocoa that NiGHTS gave her. Some steam comes from the hot drink and she blows on it and takes a sip. For chocolate powder mixed with hot water, this tastes pretty good. Starlight thinks to herself. After a couple of sips, Starlight finishes the hot chocolate. She licks her lips again.
"Thank you, NiGHTS." Starlight thanks NiGHTS for the food.
"Your welcome." NiGHTS says to Starlight as he rubs a few crumbs off his mouth.
Starlight looks up at the giant tree she and NiGHTS are under. Starlight gets off the snow and flys up to top of the tree. She gakes at the star tree topper and she loves the shine it gives. It looks amazing. NiGHTS sees her fly up to the top of the tree and pats the crumbs from the cookies he ate off his clothes and flys up to join her. NiGHTS sees Starlight gazes at the tree and how content she is by gazing at it.
The red maren looks at a specific decoration that he reconsider. He smiles and gets closer to Starlight. Starlight notices NiGHTS and turns her head to look at NiGHTS.
"Would you care to dance with me?" NiGHTS asks with his hand out like how he does to Visitors.
"But there is no music." Starlight replies, being every time she dances there is music.
"No problem." NiGHTS says. He flys closer to the huge tree and handles the tree decoration with care. It is shaped oddly and shows a few mechanics. NiGHTS twists one part around a couple of times. Music starts to play after NiGHTS let's go of the part he twisted and flys back to Starlight.
He smiles and holds out his hand again to Starlight, silently asking the question again. Starlight looks at NiGHTS surprised but smiles and takes NiGHTS' outstretch hand. NiGHTS puts one arm around Starlight's waist and Starlight places one hand on NiGHTS' shoulder. The two dance in the air. The Christmas tree decoration continues to play a tune NiGHTS knows as 'jiggle bell rocks' as the two beings dance.
NiGHTS enjoys dancing with Starlight. NiGHTS hasn't dance with Starlight. They have done duets where Starlight and NiGHTS played their instruments together or where Starlight sang and NiGHTS' played his flute to accompany Starlight's voice. But this was different, this time they aren't performing for the Visitors and are dancing instead of singing or playing. NiGHTS and Starlight twirl in the cold air. NiGHTS and Starlight dance beautifully. NiGHTS feels at bless. They continue to dance even after the music stops. After a few minutes, Starlight notices the music stopped and stops dancing. NiGHTS stops when the dark green mare stops and looks at confused.
"The music stopped." Starlight says in NiGHTS' arm. NiGHTS blushes with embarrassment for being caught up with dancing with Starlight. The dark green mare smiles at the red maren.
Starlight stiffens a yawn and NiGHTS catches it.
"Let's get you home. It's been a long night." NiGHTS says to Starlight. Starlight nods in agreement.
NiGHTS removes his arm around Starlight's waist, Starlight takes her hand off NiGHTS shoulder, and flys away with Starlight back to the Dream Gates. NiGHTS and Starlight leave Frozen Bell and they go to Crystal Castle. Castle Castle isn't as festive as Frozen Bell but there is snow everywhere. NiGHTS flys Starlight over to one the towers that is her home. Starlight opens the windows and goes in.
"Thanks for the night, NiGHTS." Starlight says, sitting on the window sill. "It was tons of fun."
"Your welcome." NiGHTS replies, smiling. "I had lots of fun too."
"Thank you for everything NiGHTS." Starlight says and hugs NiGHTS. "Merry Christmas, NiGHTS."
"Your welcome, Starlight." NiGHTS hugs Starlight back. "Merry Christmas to you too, Starlight."
Starlight breaks the hug and says goodnight to NiGHTS. NiGHTS does the same and leaves Starlight goes back to his home with an owl that no doubt won't stop teasing NiGHTS and asking question of what he and the green maren did. Starlight waves to NiGHTS as he leaves and closes the window and locks it with a yawn. She goes to her closet and takes out her nightdress and changes into her pj's. She gets into bed and goes to sleep, wondering what next awaits her.
Thank you for reading this chapter and being patient. I no this is not the last of the christmas. There's still one more chapter I want to do that's close still in the winter season then it'll be back to normal. But there's will be more chapter fills that I made while working on this chapter. Sorry for the delay.