12/25/07 Merry Christmas! I finished writing this today and it just flowed out of my brain. XD Enjoy!

Love,

Tesh and Kuja : )

A Royal Christmas

Brushing her waist-length hair at her vanity, Princess Kuja grinned. Christmas tomorrow!

Even though she hated being a Princess, fifteen-year-old Kuja tolerated it at Christmastime. Her parents, being fake sweet unfortunately, at least let her go to the village. The festivities there were wonderful- it was like having one big family. This year, she could spend time with her new friend Sarra as well. She planned on doing many things- eating, dancing, singing, and feeling like she belonged for once.

The Princess tied her vivid red hair in slightly messy ponytails. How she'd love it if she went down to a dinner like that, but alas she was just going to bed.

She climbed in, closed her silver eyes, and dreamed of candy canes and carols.

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“Merry Christmas, Mother, Father,” Kuja said as she bounded downstairs from her bedchamber.

“Walk like a lady,” Queen Cassandra replied with a sniff. Kuja frowned- a simple “Merry Christmas” would've sufficed.

Sighing, the Princess sat down to the left of her mother at the long table covered with gold leaf. She ate very little- she was saving her appetite for later.

About a half hour later, King Medwin said, “You can go now... Behave yourself, and don't do anything foolish.”

“Yes,” Kuja replied flatly. She rolled her eyes when she got up from the table and made her way toward the Castle's exit. When her back was turned, of course.

As soon as servants and guards from the Royal Army bowed her out, Kuja took a deep breath of fresh winter air. It had snowed last night- the world was covered in a crisp blanket of white. She pulled her white overcoat closer around her body and trudged through. She wished she could wear trousers instead of her voluminous velvet dress, but he was a Princess of course. She sighed again.

A few minutes later, she arrived in Olde Crown Village with a broad smile on her face.

The decorations were beautiful. Tall pines were covered with colorful handmade bulbs. Wreaths were on every wooden door and pine boughs were wrapped around poles. Even though it wasn't part of the decorations, the icicles on the banisters were a nice touch.

“Kooja!” The Princess turned as a long sapphire braid trailed behind a thin, rosy-cheeked nut-brown face.

Sarra Baker almost make Kuja topple over from her hug. “Merry Christmos!” she sang. Kuja laughed and returned the Christmas wishes.

“C'mon! Let's GO!” Kuja cried. Laughing, the two girls ran toward the village square.

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It began to snow again. Kuja stuck out her tongue and tasted the icy goodness while standing outside in the village square. She held a songbook in her gloved hands and the villagers were just about to start singing carols around a small, modest nativity scene. They began with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on Earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!

The men sang out in rich voices, and the women's high voices sounded sweet to Kuja's cat ears. After they sang a few more carols, one of the women announced that the food was ready. Finally!

Kuja's eyes grew wide as she beheld the women's cooking. Piles of her favorite dessert- apple pie, turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potatoes, veggies, and tons more covered the tables set up in the smithy. She piled her earthenware plate, so different from the crystal ones at the Castle, with so much food she was afraid it would break. Sitting next to Sarra on the steps of a church, they ate abundantly, talking and grinning as they watched children play in the snow.

“That looks like fun,” Kuja said wistfully. She frowned at her velvet dress. “Y'know what? Whatever!” She set her plate down, climbed a few steps, turned, and took a running leap, diving feet first into a pile of fluffy white snow.

Sarra's indigo eyes widened. “Princess!”

Kuja emerged, grinning like a maniac, her hair and face covered in snow. “What? C'mon in!”

Sarra didn't know whether to look amazed or indignant. Standing with her hands on her hips, she said, “Whot will the King and Queen say?”

“I said, c'mon!”

Sarra shook her head. “Oh, all right.” She also took a running leap and dived this time head first.

Kuja whooped. “All right!”

Sarra emerged with a grin that rivaled Kuja's. “That wos fun!”

The two friends played in the snow for an hour and finally went inside Sarra's house, shivering. By now Kuja was soaking wet- her dress was heavy.

Sarra's mother fussed over her Princess's health and clothes. “ I hope yoo don't get sick!” she said frantically. Kuja was touched- her own mother would never do that. Mrs. Baker offered to dry her dress and coat, so Kuja wore one of Sarra's thin shifts. She really has to wear these? I hope she doesn't get sick, Kuja thought sadly.

“Oh! I heard bells! It's time to dawnce!” Sarra said excitedly. “Let's go!”

“That's my line!” Kuja replied, chuckling.

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The redheaded teen, her dress now nice and dry, twirled to a man playing a fast jig on a fiddle. The white velvet looked very nice as it fluttered gracefully.

She danced with a nice-looking young man, who looked very taken with her. Kuja frowned slightly- her parents would never've let her dance with him- she had danced with plenty of rich, gross-smelling old men. She'd show them. She linked arms with him and twirled even faster, yelling happily with her fist raised. The young man laughed when the music stopped and Kuja swayed, dizzy.

“It wos a pleasure dancing with yoo, Princess,” he said, his blue eyes twinkling. Kuja found out that his name was Jack and thanked him.

Sarra waited until the music had stopped and the tall Jack moved away, and nudged the Princess. “He wos cute, huh?”

“Yeah.” Kuja grinned wickedly. She had done that a lot today. She sighed happily.

“Oh no!” Sarra cried, checking a the position of the moon. “Isn't it time for yoo to go home now?”

“Ah, shoot!” Kuja scrambled to put on her coat. She hugged Sarra and wished her a Merry Christmas again.

Jack stopped her before she fled. “Is it possible to see yoo again?” he mumbled, a slight blush on his cheeks.

Kuja sighed. “I'm really really sorry, but I really don't know,” she said sadly.

Jack knelt down, grabbed her slender hand, and kissed it softly. “Like I sayid, I loved dancing with yoo, Princess. Merry Christmos.”

This time Kuja blushed a little. “Thank you.”

She waved to the Crown Village dwellers and headed off.

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Kuja tried to sneak in and slip upstairs without being cau-

“You're late,” her father said sternly, arms crossed.

“Ah, uhm...”

“Your dress is so wrinkled!” her mother shrieked.

Kuja scowled. “It's not that bad...”

The Queen cut her off. “Just go to bed,” she snapped. “Tomorrow is the official Royal Christmas celebration.”

Still scowling, Kuja marched upstairs and slammed her bedchamber door behind her. She changed and sat at her tiny window, which overlooked the village.

“I'd rather have a commoner's Christmas than a Royal one,” she whispered.

A Royal Christmas, The End

Happy Holidays!