Well, I started this story back in January of 2023. AFTER Christmas, due to the release date of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. So, it's only fair that I finish the story just in time for Christmas 2023. I am truly grateful for everyone who left comments on this story, and I appreciate everyone who stuck with this story for nearly a year for the finale. I hope it was worth the wait. Merry Christmas to you all, and a Happy New Year!
Chapter 8: Perrito's Merry Christmas
In one of the guest rooms of the castle, Puss and Kitty were the very picture of coziness. In the luxurious four-poster bed, Puss and Kitty both dozing with adorable smiles. Tucked underneath the cozy blanket, the two cats were face to as they slept, with their tails hidden but intertwined. As the Sun peeked over the horizon, its light lit up the room as it shone through the window. The dawn of Christmas Day's first light, a moment of heavenly peace.
"WAKE-UP! WAKE-UP! IT'S CHRISTMAS!"
Perrito shook the entire bed as he jumped on it, instantly waking up Kitty and Puss. Normally this would be a terrible mistake. You don't wake a cat up out of a sound sleep, especially a cat like the legendary Puss in Boots or the mysterious Kitty Softpaws. However, this moment was an exception due to two reasons: Perrito was the one waking them up, and it was Christmas morning.
"COME ON! COME ON! THE JOY! THE LOVE! IT'S ALL FINALLY HERE!" Perrito cheered, and he hopped off the bed and dashed out of the room.
Puss rubbed his eyes and said, "I knew he was going to end up doing that."
Kitty crawled out from under the blanket and did a very feline stretch. She sighed and said, "Well, a living alarm clock comes in handy on Christmas morning, am I right?"
Puss smirked, and he grabbed his hat from the night table and tossed it up into the air. Then he jumped off of the bed and cartwheeled down and right into his boots. His hat then neatly landed on his head, and he smugly adjusted the brim.
Kitty tossed a pillow into his face, and she slipped into her own boots as she said, "You're not gonna outshine the tree, Puss."
Puss straightened out his whiskers and said in mock offense, "Well! Just for that, I see several choruses of ¿Dònde Està Santa Claus? In your future."
" Bieeeen, " Kitty said with a roll of her eyes, but her smile betrayed her true feelings.
As expected for a royal castle, the Christmas tree was a thing of extraordinary beauty. The golden star on top, the gold and silver balls, and the multitude of magical lights made it a tree fit for a king, ogre or otherwise.
Naturally, all of Shrek and Fiona's friends were present. Even Dragon stuck her head in through a wide window.
Christmas joy flooded the room as the gift exchange took place, with everyone unwrapping gifts and expressing their joy at both receiving a symbol of love from someone close to them and seeing the light of happiness in the eyes of the person they gave a gift to.
Puss handed Kitty a rather small looking package and said with smooth confidence, "Ladies first."
Kitty held the gift in her paws. It was about 2 to 3 times as long as her paw. The box wasn't wrapped in paper. It was an orange and gold box with a white ribbon tied in a bow to hold it shut. Kitty pulled the ribbon and it came undone easily. The perfect packaging for a declawed cat.
Kitty opened the box, and her breath was taken away when she saw a small dagger with a hilt made of carved onyx stone to look like a cat's head.
"You had so graciously given me your gatito blade, which ended up saving my life, I might add," Puss said humbly, "I could hardly let you go without a back-up of your own."
Kitty ran her fingers over the hilt. "Oh, Puss. . ." she said, her eyes sparkling as they reflected the beautiful work of art. Then she smiled and handed him a package around the same size, wrapped in white paper with blue snowflakes.
Puss neatly cut the paper with a claw, and then flicked the lid off to reveal something the left him nearly speechless. It was cloak clasp in the shape of a cat's head, nearly identical to the one he already owned. However, this one was very different.
"Kitty. . . is . . . is this. . . ?" Puss asked breathlessly.
Kitty smirked confidently and finished Puss' sentence, "carved from a chunk of the Wishing Star? Yes. Yes it is."
Puss stared at the glittering crystal, a physical reminder of the adventure that led to his rebirth of character.
Then the two cats looked at each other, their eyes meeting. Slowly but surely, they began to get lost in each other's gaze. . .
"What great gifts!"
The cats turned to see Perrito, with a wide grin and a wagging tail.
Puss chuckled and said, "Si, si, Perrito. And speaking of. . ."
Puss and Kitty quickly went and retrieved a medium-sized, flat, rectangular gift with red paper and a green ribbon.
Perrito was more gleeful than ever when the gift was set on the ground in front of him. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" He cheered, and he said, "How do I do this? Do I untie the bow first? Do I cut the ribbon first and then peel off the paper?"
Kitty couldn't help but laugh, and she said, "Whatever you like! Go wild!"
"Okay! I'm going in!" Perrito said, and he tore off the wrapping and opened the lid. He let out a loud gasp when he saw what was inside.
It was an actual dog sweater, with vibrant colors throughout. There was the orange and green of Puss, combined with the black and white and blue of Kitty.
"Oh. My. Gosh. I LOVE IT!" Perrito practically squealed out, his forepaws pressed up against his cheeks as his smile threatened to escape the confines of his face.
Perrito's joy was clearly infectious. Puss chuckled and petted the pup. "Hearing you say that is the best gift we could ask for."
Perrito grinned and said, "But I got you two a gift."
This was understandably surprising to the two friends.
". . .Did you?" Kitty questioned.
"Yep! It came to me around midnight, I think!" Perrito said happily.
"Came to you?" Puss echoed.
Perrito nodded, and he dashed over to Pinocchio and said, "Alright! It's time! And thanks for agreeing to help me!"
The puppet nodded and chuckled, "Aw, no problem, puppy!" Pinocchio then took out a mandolin and started to play.
Perrito turned back to Kitty and Puss, and he swayed from side to side and bobbed his head as he started singing the song he had written.
You are my best friends in the whole wide world
Turn out that you two are my wish come true
You are the bravest, smartest, coolest cats
And I'm so lucky to have met you
We've been through dangers and delights
We've seen the wonders of the Wishing Star
We've shared our wishes, our fears, our laughs
And nothing can ever tear us apart
Team Friendship, on the land and the sea
Celebrating Christmas together as one
New friends, new life, I owe it all to you
Our lives are destined for adventure and fun
You are my best friends in the whole wide world
Turn out that you two are my wish come true
You are the bravest, smartest, coolest cats
And I love you, yes I do
Perrito finished his song with one paw raised and his chest heaving. All the other guests had turned to look and listen as well. The room fell silent after Perrito's song, as if waiting for someone to speak.
Kitty had one paw over her mouth and another over her heart. Puss was clearly stunned as well. Eventually, Kitty lowered her paw to reveal the warm smile on her face, while Puss raised a paw to wipe a tear from his eye.
Puss sniffled and said with a chuckle, "Well. . . what are you doing standing over there? Get over here!"
Puss opened his arms, and Kitty copied the gesture. Perrito ran into his friends' arms, who held and hugged him type as everyone else couldn't help but clap, or stomp in Donkey's case.
Donkey sobbed openly and shouted, "Aw man, Little P! Why you gotta be so pure!"
Kitty smiled down at the dog and said, " Feliz Navidad, Perrito."
Perrito felt happier than he had ever felt before, and he smiled up at his two best friends.
"Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. . . everyone ."
The End
