Oh, my head…it felt like I drank an entire 24-pack and didn't drink that much. That, or I'm not entirely over the flu like I thought. I gave my head a quick shake and rubbed it for good measure.
That's when I felt something pointy sticking out of my ear, and I froze when my vision decided to clear. I quickly realized I wasn't in my apartment but in an eerie familiar-looking house. I looked around and saw that I was in the Owl House and that it had been decked out in holiday favors of pale blue and orange.
I first thought that I was just dreaming, but the feeling I was getting from my ears meant I was awake. And that meant only one other thing.
"Steve," I growled under my breath.
"Yes, boss?" I wasn't even surprised when the former guard appeared to my right.
I sent a glare at the horned witch, who just continued to give me an innocent smile. I must have glared daggers at the ex-coven scout for a minute before I sighed.
"Look, Steve," I said, "I don't know if this is payback for skipping your story in the Daily Live section, but this better be temporary."
Steve just nodded, and I frown as I realized something wasn't right with my voice. I looked down at my body and wasn't surprised by what I saw. A shapely but stillage-appropriate body of a girl barely out of my teen years. I wore a simple outfit; a pair of knee-high boots, a denim skirt that went to my knees, and a purple sweater under a hot pink nylon jacket with a gray hood.
I grabbed a handful of hair and brought it in front of my face. It was still my natural black color, but I did see a hint of gold in my roots. I carefully pushed my hair back behind my neck and pulled back the sleeve on my right arm. I eyed the Oracle Sigil on my wrist and sigh as I looked at Steve
He didn't wait for me to get a word in as he turned around and called into the house.
"Hey, kids! I got a surprise for you!"
The sound of rushing feet soon filled the air and it wasn't long before a group of kids was staring at me with wonder. I looked at the four-and-half-year-old witch, human and basilisk, the one two-and-half titan, and the eight-and-half-year-old human and witches, and decided to play along.
"Hi everyone," I said with a warm smile. "I'm Steve's cousin, Michelle, but you can call me Aunt Milly if want."
The "knocked-down" group's eyes all went wide and mumbles of aunt/auntie Milly went out. I looked at Steve with a smug grin, and the ex-scout just turned his head away, a sour look on his face.
I looked back at the group and studied them. Everyone was wearing holiday versions of their usual "knocked-down" outfits, and this caused me to smile. I saw, from the corner of my eyes, that Steve had turned to the "readers" and looked ready to say something, something I knew I don't want to get out yet.
So, I grabbed him by the mouth and brought him close. I used a spell to open a mind-link (thanks Steve for giving me knowledge of this show), and made things very clear to my "cousin".
'Listen here, Steve. If you try to spoil anything about a story that I have not yet published, I will make you the butt of so many jokes in any story I put you in you wouldn't be able to sit down without hearing fart noises. Are we clear?'
'Crystal' Steve squeaked.
With a smile, I cut the link and looked back at my new "nieces" and "nephew" with warmth. Luz, so cute with little King in her arms, walked up to me curiously.
"Pway?" the "knocked-down" human witch asked cutely.
I giggled heartily and kneed down. I gently patted the two on the head, which cause Luz to blush slightly.
"Of course, squirt," I answered warmly and looked at the group. "Now what games are on the table for this evening?"
I frown as I looked over the group once more and saw a certain witch missing. With a sigh, I made a neo-green spell circle and sent the spell to the tree behind the couch. With a gasp, Eda flew into the air and I brought her close to me.
"Now, now, Edayln," I scolded her with a motherly tone. "You know we don't open Soulmas's presents before the evening."
The "knocked-down" Bard Witch just grumbled, crossed her arms over her chest, and gave me a defiant look. I grinned as a thought popped into my head, and I knew what I was going to say would be canon in my own stories.
"Now, Eda, you don't want Krampus coming to your house tomorrow to steal yours and everyone's spirit for not following tradition," I said factly.
I felt the ripples go through my little corner of the Owl House Fandom and watched as Eda's face twisted with mock horror. I smiled inward as I set Eda down on the ground and she looked at all the glaring faces of her family.
"Now that is settled, what games are ready to be torn to pieces?" I asked the group.
The current youngest ones cheered and quickly went to get the game for the night. I giggled at the cute scene and took off my jacket. I lazily tossed it on the couch and took a seat as I waited for the three, four-and-a-half-year-olds to return.
The wait wasn't long and soon the four were back in the living room. In their hands were models of popular Soulmas legends. I giggled as I realized the game was another "old" legend of the Isles.
The goal of the game was to stop Krampus so they couldn't enter your house and take your soul, thus saving Soulmas.
Since they didn't have enough figures for everyone, it was decided to play the game in teams. The teams were quickly formed; It was Amity and Luz with the Grim Snowcat and Camila and Vee as the Blazing Griffin-man. That left Eda and Lilith to play as Krampus, riding his fearsome Giraffe-pulled sleigh.
I, since I was the author here, decided to narrate the timeless tale that goes with the toys. So, with King on my lap, I began.
"The time is once again upon the Boiling Isles; the wall between the realms of the living and the dead had weakened enough that the death collectors walk the land again. Krampus, the Soulless one, came from the young and the unprepared."
As I lay out the story, the kids began to get into it. Eda eagerly moved the Krampus figure more steps than tradition called for, and Lilith scolded her for this. Eda just rolled her eyes and used her magic to flip Lilith's hair into her face.
I let out a soft giggle before continuing. "Standing in the Soulless one's path, chosen by the Titan himself and the only ones to ever escape the realm of the death collectors, are the Blazing Griffin-man and his faithful companion, the Grim Snowcat!"
In a childish flare, Camila held up the Griffin-man figure, with his diamond/steel axe high in the air. Next to her, with a cute roar, Luz put the Grim Snowcat on its hindleg so it was also standing proud.
I had nearly lost myself to a massive giggle fit and had to regain control before I went on.
"And, like time itself had stopped to watch this event, they meant at the breach of the realms and once more had their age-old battle. Who would emerge as the victor this night; the ones fighting to keep the souls of the young safe? Or would the Soulless One win and doom many to the same hollowing fate he walks?"
With the story now done, the group began to play like the children they currently are. Still, thanks to Lilith, the day was saved by BG-man and Snowcat. But, if I was being honest, I knew Eda, even with her childish mindset, didn't have in her to let her kids lose.
After that, it was just good-old fashion playtime. This went on until dinner time and I ushered the current kids into the kitchen. I frown as I looked around and noticed we were missing someone.
I haven't seen Steve since I threatened him. Oh well, no use in crying over spilled smilk, right?
(SC)
Soulmas dinner wasn't anything special; just roasted Chicka-lisk, some muddy potatoes, veggies, and my personal favorite, Devilless Eggs. Of course, Luz, Amity, and Vee all had to dive face-first into the meals, which required me to clean them.
After dinner, we all took quick naps. Of course, when you quested in a room full of hyperactive current kids, I only get about two and a half hours of sleep.
I groaned as I felt Luz land on me, and the wind was knocked out of me. I was just thankful my meal had already settled or I will be giving a certain "knocked-down" human a quick bath.
"What is it, squirt?" I asked as gently as I could, given the fact that I was short of breath.
"Time," Luz said with a cute smile.
I cocked an eyebrow and then looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly nine o'clock, and I knew what that meant. I shook my head slowly to get the cobwebs out and to get some more air into my lungs.
I then picked up Luz and got off the couch. I smiled at the human as I gently set her on the floor and then looked at the gathered group.
"It's time then," I said, speaking in an eerie tone for effect, "For the gifting hour."
The kids all cheered and Eda made a beeline for the rotting Soulmas tree. I sighed and summoned a spirit to block her path.
"As tradition states the youngest open their gifts first," I spoke knowingly. "Which currently is…King Clawthorne!"
'Weh," the "knocked-down" titan exclaimed in surprise and waddled forward.
I took the next few minutes to put the presents in piles to make it easier for the kids and then let King open his gifts. As tradition stated each kid gets three gifts, though I did see that they all got an extra gift.
In the end, King got some child-level war games with premade figs, a new collar, a few stuffed animals, and finally a coat. Next were Luz, Amity, and Vee. All the kids got items related to their school studies, some new toys, and outfits for their "knocked-down" time. Finally, Camila, Eda, and Lilith got some new cookbooks, new outfits, and reversions to the hottest restaurant on the Boiling Isles.
I could tell the kids were pleased with their gifts and that brought a smile to my face. But, now comes the final part of the tradition and I was going to let it play out as I have done in my when I was sick.
"Now," I said, using my eerie voice again, "With the gifting over, it's time for the shielding."
I felt ripples go through my sub-verse again, and the current kids became scared. I smiled as I knew they were only playing at being scared, but they still hurried up to their rooms. With a small giggle, I followed after them.
I tucked all of the children in their beds and made a prayer on the "protection" charm on their doors one by one until I was at the last door, leading me to Luz's room. I helped her to bed and then offered her a small kiss on the forehead as I had done with the others.
"Luve you, Auntie Milly," The human witch mumbled sleepily.
I smiled warmly as I pulled the covers over Luz's body and said, "And I love you too, squirt."
I left Luz's room and closed the door as I offered the final prayer of the night. "Oh Titan in the sky and of the earth, protect these children's souls from the restless Soulless One on this night."
With my babysitting task done, I returned to the living room and frowned. Steve was still nowhere in sight, and that made me mad. He was my ride back home, after all. I was looking around, expecting the scout to suddenly pop up when I saw a gift on my jacket.
I walked up to the couch and picked up the small box. On it was a note from Steve. I took it and read it out loud.
"Here is a little gift for my favorite otherworldly cousin, love STEVE. P.S. you have a giant rip in the back of your skirt."
I looked behind me, and sure enough, there was a rip right down the center of my skirt. I scowled when I saw that my unicorn-covered unmentionables were seeable. That would explain the wayward giggling I was hearing throughout the night.
"That cousin of mine," I groaned as I grabbed my jacket and tied it around my waist.
With that annoyance taken care of, I opened my Soulmas gift. It was a simple necklace in the shape of a pyramid with a strange symbol on it.
I grinned as I slipped on the necklace and looked at the symbol. I knew this was an item from one of my stories that never made it past the planning stages. The necklace allows the main character of that story to travel realms, and it was my ticket back home.
I held out the item and a spark jumped from it. A portal opened in front and I walked toward it with a smile.
"Consider yourself lucky, Steve. I'm not giving you Creeping Root next time you appear in one of my stories," I muttered to myself and looked up at the ceiling with a warm smile. "Happy Soulmas, and Merry Christmas, everyone."
I then stepped through the portal.
(M Corner)
Me (Exiting the portal in my normal male form, and taking a seat at my computer): Well, like I said while in my own little world, I was sick and couldn't get this out before now. But, a day or two late Christmas gift is still better than nothing.
And if you're wondering, Creeping Root is the negative trait of Plant magic. When a plant witch overuses their magic, roots would grow from their feet and if not treated, will become a permanent part of the Titan.
But, with that said, I hope everyone out there had a good Christmas and a Happy New York!