Yo-Kai Watch! Christmas in Springdale

Chapter 07: Just Open Your Heart

~ Springdale - Human World | December 24th | Early Morning ~

Rejoining Nate in the his world a few days later, we find him, Whisper, Frostynyan and Jibanyan sitting in a circle in his bedroom. They were all cross armed as they stared on at the Yo-Kai Heart, sitting in the middle of them.

"I still can't believe Damona just GAVE this to you after all the water works she gushed out." Whisper said. Nate nodded, looking by the base of the Yo-Kai Heart to see Damona's medal sitting besides it.

"Remember what she said to me before we left?" Nate asked.

Flashing back to Damona's castle in the Netherworld, Nate looked on in surprise as Damona picked up the Yo-Kai Heart before handing it directly to Nate.

"Here. Take it. You've earned it." she said. Nate gasped as he slowly took it from her hands.

"T-Thank you." he replied. But just then, he also saw Damona begin glowing brightly and her Yo-Kai Medal appeared in front of him. Setting the Heart down, he caught the medal as it fell into his palm.

"If…If you'll allow me one request, will you invite me to your party?" she asked.

"I know. Who would've thought the "emotionless" Oni princess would request audience with US for Frostina's holiday party?" Frostynyan asked. Nate nodded.

"Yeah Nya-te. This practically CONFIRMS you can win the heart of ANY Yo-Kai." Jibanyan added. Whisper nodded.

"But now, we still have one last obstacle to overcome before we can call this case "closed"." Whisper said. The others nodded as Frostynyan's ears drooped.

"I can't believe Nate and Katie STILL haven't convinced any of the other kids at school that we Yo-Kai exist. Kyubi and the others told us that, for the Yo-Kai Heart to grant the wish, we'd need human AND Yo-Kai hearts to be open to one another….to be in sync." he sadly replied. Nate sighed.

"The ONE time I need Eddy and Bear to believe me about something I TOTALLY know is fact….and they don't. At least I have Katie helping me." Nate said.

"Don't forget Nya-te, all the other Yo-Kai are expecting you to have them for your Christmas party tonight. Hoo boy. I'd HATE to see all their angry faces if we don't pull this off." Jibanyan said, shuddering at the end. Whisper gulped.

"Nate? I'm afraid all of a sudden." he quivered.

"Man up Whisper. We've come this far. We have to see Frostina's wish to the end." he said.

~ Katie's House - Bedroom ~

At the same time, while Nate talked with his Yo-Kai, we check in on Katie's house and find her with Frostina. She was seated on her bed before giving a heavy sigh.

"I still can't believe none of my friends believed me. I know this is something I just realized recently, but…..man. This has GOT to be hurting your feelings. I'm sorry Frostina." she said, looking towards the Yo-Kai before her. Frostina shook her head and slowly approached her, resting her arms on her hands.

"Don't worry Katie. I know my wish was a long stretch. But….I really do appreciate all you've done…..you, Nate, Frostynyan and everyone else. Even if it doesn't work out this time, I'm sure it will next year. I don't want to worry you all anymore." she said. Katie smiled, slipping a hand out to place it atop Frostina's.

"It's okay. We'll make your wish come true. And…even if it doesn't happen, we'll have a Christmas party with Nate and the others after the party. Okay?" Katie replied. Frostina nodded before shedding a few tears from her eyes.

~ Springdale Elementary | Gymnasium | Late Evening ~

As time jumped forward, we later find Nate and Katie, with their Yo-Kai, together at the school's Christmas Eve party. It was held in the gymnasium as the moon shined brightly in the sky. All of their classmates, along with other students and the parents of said children, were there as the party was in full effect. There was holiday music playing as everyone was sharing stories about the year, laughing at jokes and enjoying the spread of treats. We find Nate at the concession table with Jibanyan seated on the table top and pigging out on holiday cookies. Whisper floated by his side.

"H-Hey Nate." Katie muttered, catching his attention. Nate quickly turned towards her, blushing slightly.

"O-Oh. Hi Katie. Glad you could make it." he dully replied. They both looked on at the other kids enjoying the party with their friends and family.

"So….I guess you couldn't convince anyone to believe in Yo-Kai either?" Katie asked. Nate shook his head.

"No. And believe me….I tried. We ALL did." he said. As Jibanyan eventually stopped eating, he looked on at the two bummed out kids.

"H-Hey, don't worry Nya-te….Katie. You guys are pretty awesome humans for trying to help us Yo-Kai like this." he said. Whisper nodded.

"Indeed. I'm sure Frostynyan and Frostina appreciate all you've done." he added. Nate groaned.

"No. It's not good enough. Whisper, don't you get it? If we don't find someway to get everyone to believe in Yo-Kai….this means we'll have let Damona down too. Remember, she ASKED to be invited to this party. And I don't want to have her hopes crushed." Nate replied. Whisper and Jibanyan fell silent, looking on at each other when Mr. Johnson took the stage and approached the microphone.

"Excuse me? Can I have everyone's attention please? First of all….I'd like to thank everyone for coming out to our Christmas Eve party." he said, receiving light applause from everyone. Nate and Katie looked on.

"All right then. With everything all set and the party in full swing, the teachers and I would like to announce our "surprise guests" for tonight's festivities." he continued. The kids gasped as Nate and Katie glanced at each other.

"Wait a second. The teachers invited a "surprise guest "to this party?" Nate asked.

"Who?" Katie added. They both looked back to the stage as the curtains behind Mr. Johnson began to pull back. He took a step to the side, causing everyone in the gymnasium to gasp in awe, including Jibanyan. What everyone saw on stage was the musical group, Next HarMeowny.

"NO WAY! Next HarMeowny?!" Jibanyan screamed, his tails sticking straight up.

"How on EARTH did your teachers ever convince the likes of those girls to show up for your party?!" Whisper added. Just then, Fiona stepped towards the microphone.

"Hello students of Springdale! We'd like to thank you guys and girls for the chance to perform for your holiday party. We know how hard your teachers put in to book us for this performance….so show them a good time tonight, okay?" she asked. All was silent as Nate's eyes remained fixated on the stage. Just then, an idea appeared to hit him.

"Wait. Of course! That's it! Jibanyan told me that the leader of Next HarMeowny can see Yo-Kai. I bet….if anything….." Nate thought. He then turned to Jibanyan before tugging onto his taill, gaining the cat's attention.

"Huh? Nya-te?" he asked before Nate leaned in close, whispering the plan into his ear. His eyes shifted between the stage and Nate before he turned to him, nodding his head.

"Okay. I got it. Be right back." he replied. The cat then hopped off the table and started making his way towards the front stage. Nate looked on anxiously as Whisper soon caught attention.

"Okay. What ARE you scheming of this time?" Whisper asked. But rather than answer, Nate remained silently as Jibanyan scurried past the crowd of kids and neared the stage just as Next HarMeowny was about to start singing.

"Forgive me girls." Jibanyan thought, having just climbed onto the stage. Fiona set her hands on the mike and turned back to her band mates with a nod. But just as she turned back to start singing, the microphone she was holding was gone.

"W-What the..?" she asked. Suddenly, everyone let out a group gasp as, to their eyes, the microphone was seen dancing around by Fiona's feet. In actuality, Jibanyan had the microphone in his paws and was singing as loud as possible, catching the attention of Whisper and Katie.

"N-Nate? What's Jibanyan doing?" Katie asked. Just then, back on stage, Fiona lightly gasped as she recongized Jibanyan.

"Wait…I know him. That's the Yo-Kai that helped my little sister. What's he doing here?" she thought. As Jibanyan continued singing, he saw Fiona slowly reaching down for him before he dashed off like a rocket. Fiona gasped and gave chase as everyone watched her chasing the invisible Jibanyan, still holding the mike.

"Whoa. What's going on? Is this some kind of pre-show entertainment?" Bear asked.

"Yeah….how's she doing that?" Eddy asked. Sensing the opportunity, Nate hurried towards the stage and called out Jibanyan's name before the cat threw the microphone as hard as he could towards him. He swiftly caught it in the air.

"Everyone! Listen to me!" Nate announced, his voice carrying because of the speakers. Amidst the crowd, some kids already started to groan.

"Oh great. Not THAT guy." a voice carried.

"Isn't that Nate? That weird kid whose been claiming "Yo-Kai are real"?" another asked. All eyes were on Nate as Jibanyan was eventually scooped up by Fiona.

"Please! I know you all haven't believed me when I said that Yo-Kai are real. But….what you've all just witnessed….THIS is definitive proof that my friends exist!" Nate shouted. His parents watched from the nearby corners of the gymnasium as kids started to boo.

"Yeah right! You were just pulling some stunt! Get off the stage!" a boy jeered. As the booing eventually got worse, Nate looked on at them.

"Come on you guys! Yo-Kai ARE real! And they just want to share the holidays with us! Haven't you ever had something unexpected happen to you that you just COULDN'T explain?! That's proof they exist also!" Nate continued. His voice had trouble traversing the waves of booing students as Nate's parents, Whisper and Katie looked on nervously. But just then, Katie slowly approached Nate through the crowd, eventually reaching his side.

"Please! Everyone! You have to believe Nate. He's telling the truth!" she added. The girls from Nate's class all started looking on in confusion at the two by the stage.

"What's Katie doing up there?" Sarah asked.

"Don't tell me Nate's tricked her into believing in Yo-Kai too?" Lulu asked. As the crowd continued to boo and clamour, Fiona silently looked on at Nate and Katie before eyeing Jibanyan in her arms.

"Sorry about this Fiona. These humans are my best friends, nya. They've been trying to help grant the wish of another friend of mine. All she wants is for Yo-Kai and humans to share one Christmas together." Jibanyan explained "Can you please help?" As their eyes remained on each other, Fiona nodded.

"Okay." she whispered. As she set Jibanyan down, she stepped off stage and approached Nate and Katie. Sensing she was on their side, Nate handed the microphone back to her.

"Everyone? Listen. I know what these kids say probably sounds crazy to all of you. But….I'll be honest too. I believe in Yo-Kai as well." she said. The crowd gasped.

"What the?" Bear gasped.

"You see, a while back…..at one of our meet and greets, a sweet little Yo-Kai cat saved my little sister. And, ever since then, I haven't been able to pay him back for his kindness." she explained, eyeing Jibanyan watching from the stage's edge. She then looked back to the crowd of people.

"But….thanks to these young kids, I finally have the chance to thank that same Yo-Kai for all he's done….by returning the favor. Please everyone. Listen to what these kids say. Yo-Kai are real." she continued. Jibanyan's eyes started welling up with tears as everyone was now dead silent, talking between each other about what Fiona said. She then handed the mike back to Nate as he extended his arm high, showing the Yo-Kai Watch.

"My friends, the Yo-Kai…..all they want to ask of you guys is the chance to celebrate Christmas together….just once. You may not know this, but they've been living alongside us all this time. You just haven't been able to see them like I can." Nate said "If you'll give them the chance, they'd like to say hello….just once." Whisper floated towards Nate's side as he reached into his pocket, taking out Frostynyan and Frostina's medals.

"Come out my friend! Calling Frostynyan! Yo-Kai Medal! Do your thing!" Nate shouted, inserting the medal. As he did, a powerful burst of light emitted from the watch.

SUMMONING CHARMING!

Nate had summoned Frostynyan into the gymnasium as he stood next to Jibanyan, holding tightly to the Yo-Kai Heart. Next to him as well was Frostina, having been summoned simultaneously. But this time, something different had happened as the pair of Yo-Kai was seen by everyone.

"Whoa. W-What is that?" a student asked.

"Are…Are they the Yo-Kai?" another asked. Feeling the weight of their eyes on them, the two Yo-Kai lightly waved to everyone with smiles on their faces.

"These are only a few of the many Yo-Kai I've come to know, befriend and care about over the time since I started school here. And…right now, all we need you to do….is to open your hearts to them. If we can get everyone in this room to believe strong enough, we can share this holiday together. Whaddya say?" Nate asked, speaking into the mike. Everyone remained silent as they looked at each other. But the silence was shattered when Fiona raised her hand.

"I believe…." she said. What followed next was the likes of Nate's parents raising their hands.

"We believe…" they added. The next to do so was Eddy and Bear, standing out from amongst the crowd.

"I believe too…" Bear said.

"Yeah. Nate's our friend. So, if he says they exist, I'll believe…." Eddy added. Nate gasped.

"Y-You guys…." he said. After that, what only could be seen as a miracle, everyone continued the chains of "belief" as they raised their hands and called out that they believe as well, including the teachers and the other members of Next HarMeowny. Nate and Katie's eyes lit up, as did Whisper and Jibanyan. Suddenly, the heart inside the Yo-Kai Heart began to shine brightly as it was absorbing the power emitted from everyone in the room. Nate saw this and a smile lit up his face.

"Thank you..everyone." Nate said. He then looked to Frostynyan, who smiled before hopping in hs arms. They each took hold of one end of the Yo-Kai Heart and slowly began unscrewing it. As they did, the Yo-Kai Watch began to glow as well.

"Then….without further ado….I'd like to introduce you all to my friends….the Yo-Kai!" Nate laughed. With one final tug, the Yo-Kai Heart opened and the glowing heart inside rose to the sky before exploding into a shower of twinkling lights. At the same time, Nate's watch began to spin at high speeds, summoning all of the Yo-Kai he had befriended since the beginning into the room. What started with Jibanyan and Whisper appearing to everyone was followed by the likes of Komasan and Komajiro, Roughraff and Robonyan, the seaweed trio and many more Yo-Kai, including Damona who had appeared right behind Frostynyan and Frostina.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" the Yo-Kai all exclaimed. The crowd of people could not believe their eyes as the gymnasium was filled to the brim with the Yo-Kai now populating the room, visible to all. Hovernyan flew towards Nate's side as they slowly began to mingle, the humans and the Yo-Kai.

"Looks like your plan was a resounding success." Hovernyan said. Nate nodded.

"But I couldn't have done it….without you guys." he replied, making Hovernyan smile.

"Your grandfather would surely be proud of you." he said, putting his paw on his shoulder. Just then, Katie slowly approached Nate before leaning in close. While this did make Nate blush bright red, the kiss on his cheek afterwards turned him into a beacon of embarrasment.

"Thanks Nate….for making me a believer." she said. Nate rubbed his cheek before lightly grinning to her. As he held onto Frostynyan in his arms, they both turn towards you, the reader.

"Merry Christmas to all and to all…." Nate said.

"A very MERRY Yo-Kai Christmas!" Frostynyan added just as Jibanyan and Whisper leapt to his side.

"Happy Holidays you guys!" Jibanyan called.

"Be nice to any and ALL Yo-Kai you should meet!" Whisper added.

THE END