"How many hours did you spend to get this good at the game?" In a dimly lit room two figures could be seen sitting in front of a large screen surrounded by various remains of food and drinks.
"Not that much, maybe ten years or so?" Stretching his arm's out the one on the right replied to the first speaker, his face hidden by a hood.
"And your duties?" The body of the one on the left slowly mutated, stretching and pulsing until it turned into the shape of a large wolf.
"I finish them on the side... still living so long has sucked the enjoyment out of everything, even these games that advanced civilizations make give nothing but a moment of entertainment." A deep sigh came from within the hood.
The wolf let out a smile that looked menacing against the back light of the screen, "You're acting a lot more childish than most would imagine."
"It doesn't matter how they see me long as they don't make any trouble." A carefree shrug came with the reply as he reached and pulled a glass out of thin air. "Want one?"
"I'm fine. Hmm speaking of childish isn't it about that time again?"
"Ah..." With a snap of their location changed from the messy filth filled room to a large audience hall. "Almost forgot about it, thank you Lupa."
Lifting her large body off the ground Lupa went to sit on one side of the aisle, "Considering how you stopped the game at such a convenient time I have done nothing but point out something you already knew of."
Any reply was completely cut off by the sound of the doors slamming open, non-nonchalantly walking in was a group of kids. "Nicky, that was very rude!"
"It's fine it's fine, don't be so annoying, it's like you're my mother." Two girls were leading the group, one of them was dressed in red and white skimpy clothes with an average height and size while the other was dressed in brown furs with what would be called very large assets.
"Hey! Lupa you're here too this year?" Nicky waved at Lupa while walking down the aisle, her red heels loudly clicking against the polished stone floor.
"Hi!" "Hey!" Two twins, one male and female dressed in skin tight leotards shouted out as they rushed from behind Nicky towards Lupa.
"I'm sorry for the noise the other three are making, Lord Reaper" Bowing deeply the one covered in the furs respectfully to the one sitting on top of the throne, her nose lightly glowing red.
"It's fine Ruby, they do this every year. Where are your mothers?"
Ruby lifted her head up, nose glowing even brighter, "Umm, they said they would be busy finishing all the last minute preparations so they will meet us later."
"Sheesh Ruby, enough with all the formal stuff. We're just here to get our no good fathers then we can go have fun at Luna's place." To Nicky's energetic shout the twins also started yelling out an agreement.
Lupa smiled gently at the four as she turned to the Reaper, "Are you going to go with them this year?"
"... No... You can if you want though, just come back before tomorrow ends." Waving his left hand a set of silver doors appeared and slowly opened. From within the clanking of chains could be heard slowly coming closer and closer until a red light came into view. What walked out from the doors was a man covered in a beard of white dressed in classic red and white clothes that most people associated with him. Or at least it would be but the sleeves were ripped off revealing several tattoos about Christmas, or if he had a bulging stomach instead of the extremely toned muscles that were barely contained within his clothes.
"Hurry it up dad so we can leave already." Nicky gave but a glance at her father, instead she opened a red small red sack that was on her hip where several phones came flying out.
"Now is that any way to address your father that you haven't seen for an entire year?" With an indignant look on his face Santa Claus complained to his daughter.
"It's 100% you own fault you ended up here, mom didn't even want to see you this year after all the antics you did the last year." The reply came instantly with a harsh tone without even looking at him, the man known for his jolliness fell to his knees in depression, the chains on his limbs clanking loudly.
"It's good to see you're well father." Ruby bowed to the reindeer that was following behind Claus, the source of the red glow.
"It's nice to see you as well," Widely known across dimensions as one of, if not the top helper of Santa, Rudolph held his head high as his nose shone brightly. However his voice contained none of the innocence or childlike pitch that most people imagined. It was instead a deep grumbling noise; his appearance was likewise different, covered with scars all over his body and even parts of his antlers missing he gave off a old veteran vibe instead. "Has your mother been well?"
"Yes, although she still has yet to forgive you for joining the fight alongside Santa Claus."
"A man's got his honor, although I am aware I have put both you and her through much pain because of it, I am truly sorry."
"Fath-"
"Yeah yeah enough with your emotional reunion and teary stuff that you go through every single year." A cranky old man walked out of the gate which started closing as soon as he was through.
"Dad!" The two twins slammed into the old man making him groan in protest.
"Jacky and Jackie! Get off of me, you're several thousand years old already! Just when will you two grow up!?!" Peeling the two off of him Jack Frost stared walking up to the Reaper. "Let's get this over with, the less time I spend with the delusional idiot over there the better."
"Just make sure you're back by the end of tomorrow okay? I don't want to have to send people after you again Jack." With a motion the shackles that were binding the three slowly faded away, "And no blizzards, just normal snow."
"Yeah I got it already, just keep your men away from me." A wind blew through the place and the spot where Jack was a moment ago was replaced by a patch of ice and snow.
"Hah... if they weren't so vital to so many worlds..." Lifting a finger towards Nicky black smoke flew towards the point the Reaper had designated, swirling into a portal. "Alright portal's up, it's not for you Claus." As the children started walking through the portal lead by Nicky with Ruby reluctantly separating from her father the sight of the huge man trying to sneak his way through was needless to say ridiculous. "I'll see you in a day then Lupa." Lupa nodded her head once in gratitude before quickly moving through the portal.
"But but but."
"Just give it up already boss." Walking through the door was a short man with pointed ears.
"Snippy!" With a shout Santa Claus jumped towards the elf with arms outspread for a tackling hug only to be smacked in the face with a large metal wrench.
"Enough with your foolish acts, we're already fifteen seconds behind schedule, there's even more children this year so we have no time to waste." Snippy nodded towards Rudolph, "Sleigh's ready to go, your team is all prepped and ready, we're just waiting for you."
"Leave it to me, get up Nick." Rudolph headed for the door, giving Santa Claus a sharp kick to his behind on his way past.
"I'll excuse myself now then my Lord." Bowing deeply Snippy started dragging the staggering Santa out the door.
"I almost want to let the three of them go just because of how much of a pain in the ass they are to deal with." The Reaper sighed once again while looking towards the portal that lead to Luna's realm. "Maybe once Shin succeeds."
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"That'll be all for today, enjoy the rest of your day as you please." A white owl deftly picked up the books that were on the table and flew off; leaving Yuki there with a surprised expression.
"I have... free time?" Ever since Yuki has arrived at Luna's place all she's been doing is training and studying, aside from sleeping, eating and taking care of her personal hygiene. It was an extremely bland lifestyle that was even worse than when she was trying to get into a good school.
"Let's play, let's play!!!" Several small rabbits of varying shades of blue jumped into the garden that she was studying at and energetically hopped around her, almost knocking over the various items that were on the table.
"Stop bothering her!" Breathing heavily a girl with rabbit ears collapsed into the garden chasing after the rabbits, "She's still studyin-?!? Where's old Hoot?"
"He left saying I have the rest of the day off, here." Yuki quickly poured a cup of water and handed it to her, "You've worked hard Usa."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
"Play! Play!" As Usa was about to get up to receive the glass of water she was quickly knocked back down into the ground by the group of little rabbits.
"You little $&#($#!?!" Yuki laughed quietly as Usa tried to catch the little bouncing fur balls in vain, being bullied by the kids as usual.
"My, the little ones sure are energetic today." Yuki turned around to face the speaker and gasped in surprise at the breath taking sight. Luna was already what you would call a goddess normally, well aside from the fact that she was in fact a goddess; but right now she was so stunning it couldn't be put into words. Even for Yuki who was also a girl Luna held an allure that felt like it pulled on her very soul. "Is there something on my face?" As Luna smiled her silver hair softly flew to one side releasing a very sweet smell.
"Prettyyyyy," The little rabbits said out in unison with childish innocence while Usa and Yuki were struggling to find words.
"Thank you very much little ones." Luna gracefully walked forward, silver sparkles flowing behind her and crouched down petting their small heads, "Your reaction was expected Yuki, but I didn't think you would still be affected after all these years Usa." Luna had an amused smile on her face, her voice teasing but gentle.
"I-I-I can't help it you know, for one of the sisters with unrivaled beauty so much so that it even leaves the goddess's of beauty in the dust to dress up of course I would react like that." With her cheeks bright red Usa replied while covering her eyes with her ears.
"Is there something special happening today?" Yuki finally managed to speak out in a hoarse voice, her mouth felt extremely dry.
"Oh we have some guests coming over tonight, it's Christmas you know. I came to get you since you are my chosen after all." Luna gently took Yuki's hand and pulled her along as she started walking. "We still need to make you presentable, Usa can you help the girls with the decorations?"
"Of course, come on you guys, let's GO!- BUh?!?" With her eyes still covered Usa quickly marched off in a random direction directly into the fence face first causing the little rabbits that were following her to the burst out into laughter. "Uuuuu my nose." Squatting down with tears in her eyes her appearance caused the rabbits to laugh even harder, sending out various taunts, even Yuki and Luna smiled a bit at her sight.
Leaving Usa and the rabbits behind, Luna swiftly guided Yuki through the garden and into a large mansion made of white rock so pure it seemingly gave off a soft glow. Whenever the two passed by a spirit or one of the denizens of Luna's realm gasps could be heard behind them, of course those weren't directed at Yuki but at Luna. "Who's coming tonight?" Yuki asked with a voice that was slightly too loud causing her to flinch. All the attention was focused on Luna and as a girl she couldn't help but feel inferior and jealous of her, even if she knew it was stupid to compare herself to a goddess.
"Mrs. Claus, Carol who's the wife of Rudolph, Icy who's the ex-wife of Jack Frost and their children." Luna paused, a sad expression briefly flashed across her face, "And hopefully he will show up too..."
"Eh, Santa Claus is real? Moreover he has a wife and child?" Yuki found out really early on that Santa Claus wasn't real, after all the orphanage couldn't afford gifts for every child that was there.
Luna looked over at Yuki with confusion on her face, "I thought Hoot already taught you how gods come into existence?"
"Err, gods are born when power collects and is infused with a powerful idea, thought or worship, typically in the form of a religious god or highly popular mascot. Another way they can be born is when enough power collects that a mind develops, these are called the original gods and are rarely seen." Considering how Hoot had forced Yuki to repeat it until she memorized it, it's not something that she would forget but as far as she remembers Santa Claus never did visit their orphanage; they were mostly good kids too.
"Exactly, as such somebody like Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus naturally would come into existence, incidentally me and my sister are a part of the earliest original gods as for their child. Reproduction is quite possible and often practised, however there are several ways that it can happen with some varying from the image in your head." Luna opened her palm and several images made of silver light appeared. "The first would be what you mortals would call mating or sex, physical interaction between members of opposite genders will result in an offspring. While this method is tedious it also presents the lowest risk to both parties involved, it also results in children that are more unique and is usually the method that most choose as it is also a very intimate act."
The images of various sexual positions with animation included changed into two orbs of different colours, one red and one blue slowly mixing together. "The second way carries far more risk to the two individuals involved but still produces a unique offspring. Somewhat similar to mating two people take a portion of their soul or being, typically half and half and proceeds to mix it usually within one of the partners but rarely in the open. Different than mating this path allows members of the same or with no gender or beings that have no reproductive organs to reproduce, sometimes with more than two participants; the risk to the carrier however increases as the different types of souls are increased. Needless to say the risk of the creation failing and being lost is drastically increased if it is left in the open during the process, without a container most of the time the power just dissipates; if you're unlucky however the power explodes dangerously either causing widespread damage or creating an abomination."
Once again the images changed, this time into a single silver orb. "The last practical way would be called asexual reproduction and is one individual splitting their soul into one or multiple offspring. While this is the fastest way to reproduce it also brings with it a lack of individuality and naturally makes it easier to wipe all of them out it also greatly weakens either the offspring, parent or both as the energy is provided by only one being. This is the preferred way for spirits and several types of monster to reproduce."
Luna made a sad smile as the images changed one last time, a black figure of a human was formed with silver light flowing from it's hands and forming into another figure. "There's really no point in knowing this but the last way a being can be created is literally creation. By collecting energy and giving it thought you can create a completely new being that did not exist before, of course the energy required for such a thing is beyond ridiculous. It would take entire worlds and galaxies being destroyed to collect even a portion of the power required, the only one who can accomplish such a feat is the Reaper who holds virtually unlimited amounts of power. He's called the god of the gods for a reason, in fact it is said that all of creation, original gods included were created by him." Luna fell into an eerie silence after finishing, her face the perfect representation of a sad maiden that would make beings of either gender do anything to appease her.
"Ah, Sorry for going on like that," Luna gave a gentle smile as they stopped in front of a grand door with many floral patterns engraved into the white stone. "Come, let's get you dressed up properly."
"Y-Yeah." Yuki stuttered a bit as the awkward atmosphere from before had yet to dissipate. During the time she spent here there were many clues that Luna was connected to the Reaper at a personal level but... just what is their relationship? The only things Yuki knew about the Reaper were that he's all powerful, the one who kidnapped Shin and whenever Luna is reminded of him she gets extremely sad. Yuki shook her head to clear her thoughts as she started preparing for the party, there's no point in trying to figure something like that out right now, she just has to do what she can so that when she meets Shin she will be able to help him.
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Note* I realize this is quite a bit after Christmas but I did start writing this before if it's any compensation, >.< work has somewhat calmed down now so finally had time to finish it. As for the two chapters I'm rewriting I will delete the old versions when I put the new ones up and they should be done before the end of Sunday and the contents will be changed in terms of the direction everything went. Well going to work on my other story that I haven't been giving much love to for a while. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year, even if I'm late by a little with this!