‘Twas a strange time to be a tourist within the land known as Arcadia. Decorative lighting was hung up, snowmen and plush white bears were being sold and evergreen trees were being harvested and put up inside of homes, much to the irritation of the elves. The odd behavior from the citizens of Arcadia led many to question if some strange spell had been placed upon the populace, with even the ‘God King’ himself having abandoned his formal wear in favor for tacky sweaters and a red and white hat.

As tourists slowly began to realize that the air was not mad but merely festive, the clamor died down, but the inquiries as to the nature of the festivities brought nearly as many questions as answers.

“Why do you have snowmen and snowbears everywhere?”

“Because they fit the season.”

“Why do you have lights up?”

“Because they are festive.”

“Why are you cutting down a tree and bringing it inside and then decorating it?”

“Because Arkhan said that was what we should do during this time.”

“WHY?!”

“Because he said so.”

Eventually most people gave up and accepted the weirdness that was overtaking the nation as ‘just another of the strange things that boy is responsible for’. As the month rolled on, the electronic music-players began to play more and more niche music, and the stores began to phase out their standard white-noise for more festive tunes.

There were not just songs from Arcadia being played either, songs from the elven, dwarven and beastman kingdoms were woven in between newer songs hailing from Arcadia. Versions sung in their ancient languages and the modern common language let everyone in Arcadia experience the turning of the season from the harmonious bar-songs of the Dwarves, the melodious choirs of the Elves and the epic ballads from the Beastmen. As the last month of the year reached the final two weeks, the leaders of the Alliance were asked to gather together by Arkhan for an unknown purpose.

…

As the guests arrived, they were ushered into a reception hall that had been decorated with a massive evergreen that, unlike so many others, merely been transplanted into a suitably large hole filled with dirt. Every MSG that was attending the gathering was given a rather bizarre set of paint jobs, some were red and green, others were blue and yellow, and some were just painted to look like they were wearing ugly sweaters.

Arkhan was wearing a version of his royal garb that was red with white fur and explained to the confused guests what the gathering was about and why he had invited their families as well.

“For the longest time I have had the idea to set one month of the year aside to celebrate the fact that life, the world and everything goes on. I figured that on this day, when the sun is out the least, we can celebrate that tomorrow the sun will start to shine more, and spring will come again. On this day when the world is cold and dark, it is a good idea to remind everyone that there is a brighter day just around the corner and that we as intelligent beings shouldn’t be wasting our time on trying to exterminate each other over some petty differences and instead realize that we are all in this world together. And so, I ask you to celebrate this day with me and hope that one day we might be able to end the bigotry and hatred and war that has plagued this planet for so long. It won’t end today, or tomorrow or even next year, but tonight we can hope and dream of a world where our descendants can live without suffering and without the threat of war and violence! I know you view me as idealistic, but for just one day let idealism live free. Let this day not be one of one faith or one culture, but of an idea, the idea that we may one day live in peace and freedom as equals. So, Merry Newdawn everyone!”

Fin~

…

Author’s Note: I want to thank every one of you readers and commenters for being here. Without your support I likely would have dropped the novel a while ago. I am not Christian, but I feel like the truest and most idealistic version of the ‘Christmas Spirit’ is sound. So, for this one day, let’s all be as naive and idealistic as Arkhan before the war gets to him. Celebrate this day not necessarily as one of purely faith, but of one where the humanity can realize that there are bigger issues than if your invisible man in the sky is better than someone else’s, or that you have a bigger car than them, or anything else.

Let’s just spend one day a year as Humans, nothing more and nothing less. I can’t help that this day is the one that most people gather behind to view the world this way, but I am going to capitalize on it. Happy Holidays/ Merry Christmas/ Merry Solstice/ Happy Hanukkah/ Joyous Kwanza/ etc... Have an awesome day everyone! See you next time!