Author's Notes: Hello, friends. My long story hibernation is hopefully over. I'm returning with a one-shot that might be a bit of an odd one for long time fans, but it's the best thing to break my fanfiction drought. I debated whether to put this in the "How It Should've Ended" series, but then I decided it's better as its own thing. "How It Should've Ended" implies there was something wrong with the ending, whereas this is just a fun "What if?" continuation. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 1

Merry Christmas, Princess

The day when the children of Pokey Oaks Kindergarten returned from their winter vacation, they burst back into their homeroom, full of joy. Santa had given them everything they'd asked for, and they eagerly told their classmates about the wondrous gifts they had received. Yes, everyone was cheerful...

...except Princess Morbucks, who entered the room much saltier than usual, with a nose as red as Rudolph the Reindeer's, and puffy eyes from a cold she was still recovering from. After Santa had gotten rid of her powers and revoked her wish of being a Powerpuff Girl with a tap to his nose, she had to walk all the way home from the North Pole back to her mansion. And to make matters even worse, she was now on his permanent naughty list.

She sourly threw her fur coat onto the rack, along with her beret and gloves, then wiped the slimy snot from her face with the back of her hand and flicked it with equal disdain onto the floor. After that, she slouched down heavily at one of the tables, folding her arms and placing her head on top of them.

The injustice of it all weighed heavily on Princess as she surveyed her classmates with a seething resentment. Why should Mitch Mitchelson, of all people, end up on the "nice" list after torturing the class hamster, Twiggy, and acting just as much of a bully as she did? True, Princess hadn't been fond of the mangy little rat either, but at least she never stooped to animal abuse. And what made those Powerpuff Girls so special either? Why were they deemed "nice" when they were too selfish to even let her on their team?

The rest of the class, in contrast, weren't too concerned about her, and Buttercup and Blossom looked downright smug, having saved the day yet again and foiled Princess's plan to rewrite Santa's list. Bubbles, on the other hand, looked at the sniffling, fuming Princess with a degree of sympathy that was difficult to suppress. As spoiled as she was, no one deserved to be left out on Christmas. She had even planned a surprise, which she had kept hidden even from her sisters.

Gathering her courage, she stood up and walked over to the lonely table that held Princess, who sat with her arms serving as a pillow for her head. Bubbles tapped her on the shoulder. Unsurprisingly, this did not go over well.

"WHAT?!" Princess barked, her volume getting the rest of the children's attention. Her face was red with both anger and her own sickness, snot dribbling from her nose. "Haven't you girls had enough of humiliating me? You won already!"

"No, Princess, that's not it—"

"Then what are you here for?" she shouted, standing up. "To gloat? Is it not good enough that I'm on Santa's naughty list forever because of YOU? Is it not good enough that I'm never EVER going to be a Powerpuff Girl because you're too selfish and spoiled to let me on your team?"

Her voice rose with each accusation, and if Bubbles wasn't mistaken, the tears welling up in Princess's eyes seemed to come from somewhere deeper than her illness.

"Isn't it enough that I'll be receiving coal for the rest of my—"

"Here." The sudden presentation of a gift, held out to her arch-nemesis, cut Princess's rant short, stunning her into silence. The whole room fell silent. Even Bubbles' sisters looked taken aback.

"Merry Christmas, Princess," Bubbles said, her voice brimming with hope.

Stunned into silence, Princess stared blankly at the beautifully wrapped package. Her gaze swung between Bubbles and the gift, as though attempting to decipher an unspoken language. A bewildered moment hung in the air, her mind grappling to comprehend the unexpected act of kindness.

Her confusion, however, quickly hardened into skepticism as she retreated a step, her eyes narrowing into suspicious slits. "What is this? Some kind of trick?"

"No, a present," Bubbles replied innocently.

"Yeah right," Princess scoffed. "What's in there? More coal?" She added a derisive sneer, her words a sharp jab, "Very funny, Powerpuff Girl!"

But Bubbles genuinely seemed hurt by this accusation. "Of course not, Princess. That wouldn't be in the true spirit of Christmas."

With a high-pitched "hmph!", Princess swiftly seized the gift, her nose angled haughtily at Bubbles as she reclaimed her seat with a graceless plop.

"Like I need any charity from you," she grumbled under her breath, her words a shield for her wounded pride. Yet, Bubbles couldn't help but notice the spark of curiosity in Princess's eyes as she carefully placed the gift on her lap, her fingers tracing the edges of the box with a tentative interest.

Bubbles turned to make her way back to her sisters, her action greeted by their quizzical glances. The unspoken question of why she would extend such a kindness hung in the air, but Bubbles simply offered a shrug in response.

Meanwhile, Princess's gaze darted around the room, her eyes ensuring the coast was clear before her fingers gingerly tugged at the ribbon adorning the box. She cautiously removed the lid, her movements measured as if she were diffusing a ticking time bomb. But the suspicion etched on her face swiftly morphed into shock as she registered the contents of the box.

Nestled within was a friendship bracelet, a simple yet heartfelt gift, woven from strands of colorful embroidery floss. A soft gasp escaped her lips as she delicately lifted the bracelet, Bubbles's name stitched beautifully in a vibrant blue thread. She cautiously slid the bracelet onto her wrist, her gaze fixed on the humble gift as she turned her arm, her eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions.

A hint of color blossomed on her cheeks, a rare display of humility overtaking her usual pompous demeanor. She gave a noncommittal "hmm" that was less contemptuous and more reflective. As she laid her head back onto her arms, Bubbles, from a distance, couldn't help but smile at the sight.