It was that time of year again. Festive cheer filled the normally wartorn Auralis, as defenders and invaders alike took a few days off from their usual battles to enjoy just a moment of solace.
That evening, a certain magical girl put on her boots and adjusted her santa hat, opening her backpack to make sure she hadn’t forgotten any of the presents. From upstairs descended her older sister, dressed to go out, who looked in surprise at the younger sibling at the door.
“
What the- Verniy? Where are you going?”
“
To a party, same as you, duh.”
“
Party? Whose party? Wait, you mean those weirdos from last year? Guy with the giant rein-dick? I thought you didn’t know those guys?”
“
Nah, he probably got someone else this year. I’m just gonna go visit some extended family, that’s all.”
“
WHAT extended family??”
“
That’s for me to know.” Verniy said nonchalantly, gently grasping the locket around her neck before leaving the house, leaving a flabbergasted sister behind. The older Sokolov stared at the closed door for a moment longer, then sighed and shook her head, the faint curve of a smile on her face as she prepared her own departure. She had no idea what the girl’s been up to, and honestly she didn’t care that much, but if the runt’s not moping alone at home again then that can only be a good thing.
---
Amidst the snow covered silence of a graveyard somewhere, a lone figure sat before two gravestones, two bundles of flowers laid out before them. It wasn’t often she found herself alone nowadays, with how many thralls she had around her usually, but she had let her retinue go off to celebrate on their own this Christmas Eve; Sunny had gone off to meet with some girl she met during the Summer, and everyone else sans Lavinia had made plans with, of all people, the selfsame defender that had foiled their takeover attempt of the Auralis Island resort. She couldn’t help but wonder sometimes if she let her minions have just a bit too much free will… No, it’s fine the way it is. Life’s more interesting this way, no? Or unlife, as it is. They’re still loyal at the end of the day, and that was all she needed guaranteed.
The crunching of snow behind her drew her attention, but she wasn’t alarmed. “
Back this year again, Sam?”
“
I could say the same for you, Agnes.” The young woman answered, gingerly sitting down beside the lich. “
How’s unlife been treating you?”
“
Same as always. You? Have the joints started hurting yet?”
“
What are you talking about? Look, I’m still as spry and pretty as I was at 21, you old corpse~” Sam joked with a chuckle, pouring the pale girl a cup of hot chocolate from her thermos. The young lady didn’t need any herself; she was just an aetheric body double sent by the real, older her, afterall. “
But really, I’ve been quite fine. It’s been quite the year, watching little Lizzie grow up. She’s learned to talk now, you know!”
“
That so? Congratulations.”
“
Wish you could meet her, Agnes, you’re the only one in our old group who hasn’t!”
“
I’d just be a bad influence. Next thing you know she’s going to be reviving dead puppies.” The lich remarked, getting a chuckle out of both of them before she handed over a small plushie of a cartoonish bedsheet ghost with a santa hat and a small felt gift box sewn on. “
This is for her though. It’s the ghost of Christmas presents. You can thank Lily for it.”
“
Oh it’s wonderful! Do tell her thank you for this, Lizzie will love it! Speaking of, how have Lily and the others been doing? I hope you’ve been treating them well.”
“
Well enough to give them the day off. They repaid me by going out on a date with the enemy. One of which ruined our plans once no less, and they’re going entirely on their own free will too! Bunch of traitors…” The lich complained to her old classmate’s mirthful merriment.
“
Oh really? Do tell!” The young woman urged her on, and the two old classmates continued on through the night. The lich may have cast her human life into the past long ago, and she didn’t regret doing so… but it was nice to reconnect once in a while nonetheless.
---
“
Wakey wakey, sleepy head.”
“
Nghh… Mmm…?”
Hearing an extremely familiar voice, the blonde cyborg opened her eyes and looked around. Where… Where was she? She couldn’t remember what had happened, but she definately wasn’t in this cozy living room filled with festive decorations and a toasty fireplace. She was resting her head on someone too, that someone holding her close with an arm around her shoulder…
Sophia turned to look, and found herself looking up at a face that she hadn’t seen in a very long time.
“
R-ROSEY?!” The cyborg’s eyes went wide and she recoiled in shock, the hand letting her go. “
Wha- How-”
“
Shh, settle down.” The ravenette’s soft voice soothed her in ways she hadn’t felt since that fateful day years ago, “
You’re just having a dream, sort of. It’s complicated, but let’s just say I managed to make a few arrangements for a little Christmas miracle.”
“
You… You did all this for me?”
“
It wasn’t easy, but I couldn’t have done it without that little vessel you made for me, so don’t give me all the credit.” The vision of Rosabeth winked, beckoning the girl back over. “
Now c’mere, we’ve only got one night you know. At least give me a hug!”
And a hug the ravenette got, as Sophia practically pounced on the girl, tears welling up in her eyes as she held her lost love tight. The ghost smiled warmly and embraced her back, gently petting the sad puppy, and silently wondered just why the hell she decided to do this.
Sighing, Elisa took another sip of Ventonnas Wine. She had gotten the partly demonic drink just for a change of pace, but whatever was in there it must’ve been enough to get even an android like her tipsy for her to make a decision like that. She glanced over at the sleeping commando beside her, whom she had hacked into just to construct a happy dream for her and even play the role of Rosabeth herself using memories she dug up. Why did she go to the trouble of doing this for the annoying little psycho-puppy? She couldn’t answer that herself.
The android checked the time. It should be past closing hours at the bar right now, but that redhead succubus bartender didn’t look like she was in a hurry to shoo them out, leisurely cleaning up after the day while festive jazz music played in the background. Well, it suits them just fine.
“
...Merry Christmas… Ro-Ro…”
Elisa glanced towards her companion once more, at the moisture glistening at the corner of the girl’s eyes.
“
...Mery Christmas, Sophie.”
---
“
Remind me why we spent our budget on buying presents for the neighborhood?”
“
It’s good PR, of course! We’re trying to get everyone to like us, remember?”
“
I already brainwashed them to like us! And besides, they won’t even know they’re from us!”
“
Oh shut up and let me have this! I know you had fun picking out the gifts!”
“
Alright, fair.”
Under the moonlit night of Christmas, two pale figures stood atop the suburban homes of the residential district, one possessing a monstrous tail and holding onto a big bag of presents, the other without, instead picking through the contents of the bag for the right gift for the home beneath them.
“
Right, this is the Smiths’, so that’d be the teddy.” Rei Whitley checked her list and retrieved an adorable teddy bear from the bag, looking doubtfully at the blindfold and ball gag over the otherwise innocent toy, wrapped almost suggestively with ribbons. That’s the compromise she had to make to convince Sparkripper to let her fulfil her fantasy of playing Santa like this; the demon got to pick the toys, and where a demon got involved, the corruption of innocence was bound to follow. “
I feel like I’ve seen this done in an anime before.”
“
Does it matter? Just get in there, we don’t got all night!” The tailed demon rushed her tailless counterpart along, and Whitley rolled her eyes and climbed down the chimney. It’s a good thing they figured out how to change their body double’s form, because she was not going to fit down any chimneys with that massive tail of hers. Silent as a mouse, the demoness placed the teddy beneath the Christmas tree, helped herself to a cookie from the plate, and climbed back out the way she came, dusting the soot off.
“
Alright, another house down. Next should be the Robinsons, which would be… the body pillow.”
“
That weeb’s gonna have some explaining to do in the morning!” Sparkripper cackled as she moved on to the next house, Whitley following behind with an exasperated shake of her head. It’s going to be one hell of a morning alright…
---
It was, indeed, a chaotic morning.
“
HEATHER! GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE BRAT!”
“
IT WASN’T ME! YOU CAN’T PROVE ANYTHING!” The cat-eared nun yelled even as she grinned, racing through the halls of the church with half a dozen people on her tail. Why would the others accuse her of such a thing? Just because someone went and swapped out several gifts in the secret santa pile with naughty toys and contraband doesn’t mean it had to be her! How rude!
“
Who else could it have been? Come on, just confess and we’ll go easy on you! Where are the real gifts?!”
“
Alright, alright, fine! The ‘Snap my Choker’ shirt and the Fifty Shades was mine! That’s it! You sure you didn’t just mix up your manga with one of your hentais? You looked like you recognized it!” The trickster nun sneered back at the now blushing Inquisitor and his fellows who were now looking at him questioningly.
“
Y-You-! When I get my hands on you I swear-”
“
Yeah good luck with that! Myahaha~!” Heather laughed, keeping a steady distance between herself and her pursuers, until a giant purple dildo the size of a baseball bat swung from around the corner and smacked her in the face. Clotheslined, the catgirl meowed in surprise and fell over with a thud, groaning on the ground as she looked up at the bemused instructor standing over her.
“
Thanks for the thoughtful present, Heather. As you can see, it’s already coming in handy.”
“
You’re… welcome… blegh.” The catgirl grinned cheekily before feigning death, the world still spinning around her from the concussion.
Worth it.
