"And that should be good for the tree!" Tony Stark said, taking off his helmet as he finished setting up the huge Christmas tree in the room.
"Great job, Tony," Adam complimented, checking a box on his list. "All that we have to do now is get all the gifts put under the tree and we'll be set for the party on Christmas Eve!"
"Christmas Eve? But I thought that humans celebrated on Christmas Day," Staghart questioned.
Rachel gave a hum. "Well, Gabriel told me that his family open their gifts on Christmas Eve, then go and visit their relatives on Christmas Day to open the rest of their presents. So it was decided that we would do the same."
"And we have the first gifts right here!" Brooklyn called, walking in with the rest of Team Dream Keepers (minus Gabriel), all of them holding gifts.
"Hey Lena, why is your present shaking?" Sisu asked.
"Hello? It's very dark in here," said a voice from the box. Kairi took the present from Lena and opened it, revealing that Lumpy the Heffalump was inside the present! "Oh, hello there. The name's Lumpy, and I'm a Heffalump!"
When everyone gave Lena the side-eye, she just shrugged. "What? I figured that I could use my magic to track down one of the Hundred Acre Wood pages and surprise Gabriel with it! Besides, Lumpy is a plush elephant, so there wasn't any harm in it."
"I think I'm going to suggest you spend the holiday with Webby and her family," Poe said. "I fear that my dark magic might be rubbing off on you're a bit much."
"Or we can just invite them to the party," Rachel suggested.
"I have been feeling a bit down lately," Lena admitted.
"Hey, aren't you guys supposed to be keeping an eye on Gabriel for us?" Adam asked.
"Oh, Gabriel is plenty distracted right now," Jasiri explained. "They just came out with a new video game that he's playing right now as we speak. With the Co-Dream Keepers taking on more duties, Gabriel has some time to relax for once and decided to do so with some video games."
"Right, it's that Marvel game. What was it, "Midnight Suns" or something," Brooklyn nodded.
"He's also been playing really loud music, so we decided to give him some space," Kessie added.
"Either way, I think this is all going to plan," Rachel said with confidence.
[***]
"None of this is going to plan!" Silver exclaimed, comically falling to the ground in defeat. He was currently in the Animal Kingdom alongside Aline, the two of them racing around the Africa area.
"It's not my fault that you let our gift for Gabriel's mom get taken by those jackals!" Aline sighed.
"I couldn't help it! They looked so cute that I didn't expect them to take the present!" Silver said.
"Jasiri has warned us that jackals are tricky animals, so you should have heeded that," Aline rolled her eyes. She looked over to where the jackal pack was, the dogs passing the gift around like a ball. "Still, it is odd that they jumped us like that. I thought that all the animals of the Outlands were more peaceful now that Jasiri was in charge…"
"That's because of me, unfortunately," Shenzi said, walking up to the two alongside Janja and Madoa. "Jasiri may be the Queen of the Outlands, but with her splitting duties between ruling us and helping Gabriel, Reirei and her pack have gotten bolder in Jasiri's absence. If only I'd seen it coming…"
"Hey, you're doing your best," Madoa assured Shenzi.
"Yeah! Besides, all we have to do is give those jackals a what-for," Janja nodded, throwing up his paws.
"No violence!" Silver shouted, putting his hands up. "Why don't we try talking to them?"
"Because Reirei won't listen to you," Aline pointed out. "In fact, I'm pretty sure the only reason she listens to Jasiri is because she made the Outlands a better place. We'd need someone that can talk to Reirei on her own level."
As the group pondered over what to do about the Jackals, a third party was making her way across the street when one of the jackal kids ran between her legs. She looked over to see the pack playing with the present, then turned to see Silver and Aline making plans on what to do. Going over to the Dream Defenders, she cleared her throat before speaking. "It seems that you two have a bit of a problem, huh?"
Looking up, Silver and Aline were greeted by the site of a beautiful flamingo woman wearing glasses, a blue shirt, brown overshirt, and jeans. "Who are you?" Silver asked.
Aline ribbed him. "Dude, that's Gabriel's mom, Gilda! Toren called and told me that his family members are all different kinds of birds, so this must be her."
"Nice to meet you both," Gilda said. "I trust that my son has been doing well?"
"If by 'well' you mean saving our lives and the Magical World many times over, then sure," Silver shrugged. "I'm Silver, by the way, royal helper extraordinaire. And this is Aline, Fantasia user in training."
Aline gave a small curtsey. "Nice to meet you, mam. We would talk more, but those jackals stole our gift. It's for… someone important, and we really need to get it back."
"Without hurting them!" Silver added.
Gilda put a wing to her face as she thought. "Well, it is the season of giving. How about we show them some holiday spirit?"
Silver and Aline gave each other confused looks. "I don't think that Reirei will listen, or even cares about holday spirit," Aline said. "All she cares about is taking stuff for her pack."
"I don't know who this Reirei is, but she sounds like she does what she does for her kids," Gilda said. "I think you kids should back me up, while I have a heart-to-heart with a fellow mother."
Gilda then went over to where the jackals were, gaining their attention as she did so. "Well, well, well, looks like we have a flamingo approaching us," Reirei said tauntingly.
"You must be Reirei," Gilda said. "I was told that your pack stole a present from these two kids, and I would ask that you kindly return it."
"We took it fair and square," Reirei said.
"No you didn't! You distracted me with your adorable looks and took it behind my back!" Silver shouted.
"That's just how we do it: Jackal Style," Reirei laughed. "We take what we want, and no one can stop us!"
"But if all you do is take from others, are you truly happy?" Gilda questioned.
"What do mean by that?" Goigoi, Reirei's husband, asked.
"Well, Christmas is about giving, so if all you do is take, then you aren't really in the spirit of the season," Gilda explained.
"I don't follow," Reirei shook her head. "We take other people's stuff and give it to ourselves. That fits your logic, lady."
Gilda sighed. "Look, I'm trying to be nice about this… Oh, maybe a song can work out our issues?" The flamingo cleared her throat before doing a few scales, pastel-colored music notes appearing around her as she did so.
"Wait a minute… Fantasia!?" Aline gasped.
"I shouldn't be surprised. Gabriel had to get his pipes from somewhere," Silver shrugged.
"Is she about to sing?" Dogo, Reirei's son, asked.
"You see, Christmas is the most festive season, all about giving, sharing and caring," Gilda said as music came on. "So please, don't be a jerk, it's Christmas!"
Bring joy to the world; it's the thing to do
But the world does not revolve around you
Don't be a jerk
It's Christmas
As Gilda sang, she twirled around, the scene magically changing to the trading post in the Animal Kingdom. The jackal kids all ran around excitedly, grabbing as many items as possible.
There's a sign above the line that says "Express"
That means ten items or less
Don't be a jerk (Don't be a jerk)
It's Christmas
When the jackals cut in line to check out, Gilda shook her head, pointing at the sign for the express lane. Silver and Aline, seeing a chance to pitch in, sang backup for Gilda as she calmly yet firmly made the jackals wait in the regular line to actually pay for their items.
Be nice to babies and animals, old folks too
'Cause that's how you'd like them to treat you
Gilda picked up Kijana, Reirei's daughter, and gave her a belly rub, much to the jackal's delight.
Use turn signals, don't screen my calls
Don't you wreck the house when you deck the halls
The flamingo turned around to see the jackals making a mess of one of the food stands. Gilda gave them her signature Mom Stare, which made the kids freeze up as Silver and Aline helped out in cleaning up.
Spit your gum where it won't wind up on my shoe
Squeeze toothpaste from the bottom of the tube
Don't be a jerk (Don't be a jerk)
It's Christmas
Goigoi chewed a huge wad of bubble gum before spitting it out, which Silver then stepped on, much to his disgust. As the boy tried to scrape the wad off, Aline and Gilda attempted to show the jackals how to have proper dental hygiene. Through a short montage Gilda taught Reirei and her pack all about ways to embrace the spirit of the holiday.
When others are talking, never interrupt
Don't put people down, or leave the toilet seat up
Goigoi tried to say something but Reirei kept talking over him, much to his annoyance. Gilda have the male jackal a comforting pat on the head as Silver made a dash for the bathroom with Dogo, the little jackal needing to go.
It's the time for family and holly and turkey
It is the season to be jolly; not jerky! (Jolly; not jerky!)
Gilda walked out of a shop with a box, opening it up to reveal a whole tin of Christmas cookies. The jackals all drooled at the scent, but Gilda held up a wing to stop them, reaching into the tin and making sure that everyone got their fair share of cookies. Reirei looked thoughtful as she ate her cookie.
Don't dig in the cereal box, for goodness sakes
Take the prize and leave me nothing but flakes
Don't be a jerk (Don't be a jerk)
It's Christmas
Kijana got her head stuck in a cereal box, which Aline removed to reveal the jackal had the toy in her mouth. Kijana looked sheepish as she dropped the toy in Aline's hand.
Santa brought nearly every gift on your list
Why whine about the one that he missed?
Don't be a jerk (Don't be a jerk)
It's Christmas
Dogo looked sad as he stared back at the pile of stuff the jackals had stolen, but Silver surprised him with a gift, that being a rubber ball. The jackal kid took the ball and happily started playing with it.
"That's Christmas!" Gilda said as the song ended. "So, what do you think?"
"So, this Christmas thing is about giving instead of getting," Reirei said, getting a nod from Gilda. "But that seems so… un-Jackal Style!"
"Maybe you're just thinking about it the wrong way," Gilda suggested. "Tell me: when you steal stuff for your children, do you feel better stealing or when you give it to your kids?"
"Well…" Reirei thought about the question, looking over to see Dogo and Kijana playing with Silver and Aline. The jackal mother smiled a bit. "I'd do anything for my pack: lie, cheat, steal, all so that we can live. Queen Jasiri has made the Outlands better, but stealing is all I know."
"As a mother myself, I would do anything for my children, but I also know that I have to do it the right way," Gilda said. "It can be hard, even scary, to change, but know that no matter what you decide, your children will always love you. Family is important, and Christmas is a time to show the ones we love how much we care. When you steal from others, that could just as well be food or an item that could support another family."
"I never thought about it like that," Reirei said. She looked at Gilda with wonder. "Is it too late to change?"
"Like I said, it's never too late, you just have to be the one to decide to make that change," Gilda said with a smile.
Reirei nodded, looking back at her pack before speaking up. "Jackals! I've decided what we should do. In the spirit of the holiday, I say we do what we do best."
"Steal stuff?" Goigoi said.
"Distract people with our adorable looks?" Kijana said.
"Oh, and avoid the Lion Guard!" Dogo added.
Reirei shook her head. "No, what we do is best is be a pack. And if this Christmas holiday is all about coming together as a family, then we should be on our best behavior! So the first thing we do is give back all the stuff we stole!"
Goigoi tilted his head in confusion. "Reirei, that doesn't sound very Jackal Style."
Reirei winked. "Ah, but when we return the stuff, we'll do so without them even knowing! So we'll make it Jackal Style."
"That reminds me of a story I've heard," Aline mused. "About a grumpy green guy that stole from others before learning the true meaning of Christmas."
"And to start, we'll be giving you this back," Reirei said, handing the stolen present back to Silver.
"Thank you," the boy said. "But you still have a lot to give back if you want to do it in time for Christmas."
"And we'll do the best we can," Reirei said with a smile. "Jackals don't give up when we put a plan in motion, right Goigoi?"
"Right!" Goigoi nodded.
As the jackal pack went off to return their stolen goods, Gilda shook hands with Silver and Aline. "It's good that everything worked out for you."
"All thanks to you. That song was silly, but fun!" Aline giggled.
"I can't want to tell Staghart about this," Silver said.
"Yes, I'm sure he will have a good laugh," Gilda said with a wink.
"Huh? How did you…?" Silver said, only for the flamingo to chuckle.
"I work with theater kids for a living. I know what tastes people have in partners just by interacting with them," Gilda said, making Silver blush. "Besides, Gabriel has told me nothing but good things about you, Silver, and while I myself may not be able to understand everyone I meet at first glance, I always try my best to learn about them and find common ground."
"Because understanding why others do things expands your view on the world," Aline said. "I think Gabriel taught me that lesson one time. You really did raise a good kid, Mrs. Gilda."
"Glad that he's putting those lessons to heart," Gilda smiled. "Well then, I'll leave you to it. And be careful with my gift!"
That made Aline and Silver comically fall over. "I think she just might be psychic…" Silver groaned.
Author's Note
And that's Gilda for you! Like my real mom she's great at reading others and especially good with kids and pets. Just don't get my mom angry, or else she'll go full drill instructor on you! Just like my mom as well, Gilda helps out in children's theater, which gives her a sixth-sense in understanding how kids feel. My mom is also a very open-minded person, so even if she doesn't fully agree or understand someone, she'll always make the effort to be there for others. Whether my mom is an actual psychic is still up for debate…
And speaking of moms, Reirei and her jackals were the antagonists in this chapter, but Gilda managed to make a connection with Reirei and the pack about the Christmas spirit. It's been a while since I've watched Lion Guard so forgive me if some of the jackal's dialogue was a bit off!
The song Gilda sings is "Don't Be a Jerk (It's Christmas)" which is from the SpongeBob Christmas Album. It's a silly song but one I think captures how being nice is a big part of the Christmas season. It certainly made Reirei's heart grow three sizes that day, that's for sure!
And yes, it is tradition in my family to open gifts on Christmas Eve, then go to my cousin's house on Christmas Day to open everyone else's gifts. We have a lot of unique rules for the holiday in my family, that's for sure.
Next Time: It's the Gabriel Family Christmas! But will everyone be happy at the party, or will someone be down with the Christmas blues?
The next chapter will be released on Christmas Eve, so see you all then!