A much lighter hearted almost-sidestory to my series

Yes I know, it's currently set at a much later chapter than I currently have 
written, but that's okay, this isn't the first time (and probably won't be the 
last) that that happens.


The End of Pain
By Liath Hidson (AKA Shadow Dancer)



******
Christmas Special (set somewhere around chapter 12 or so)
******

I stare at the ceiling, and sigh. Christmas eve, and I'm with my family. Sort 
of.

There's my baby brother beside me, and my mother is in her room. Jared has 
fallen asleep watching late night Christmas movies, waiting for Santa to 
arrive. Mother went to bed at almost ten pm. And here I am, staring at my 
computer, at yet another unfinished chapter of my epic story.

Well, it's epic to me. It's titled "End of Pain", and naturally, considering 
how it started, it's a very depressing story. At times.  Then there are times 
where the story is heart warming, and others when it's downright silly.

A half second flash, and a muffled *thump* surprises me out of my dozing, and I 
turn.

There, ahead of me, is a sight that I've only ever seen in my mind. She is 
about four foot eight, with scarlet hair, and deep blue eyes. Tiny horns stick 
up from her forehead, and slightly pointed ears peek out from her hair. She's 
wearing a modest suit, a black V-neck shirt, black pants, and black shoes, with 
silver earrings and bracelets. A black staff with silvered ends greets my 
sight, just before I glance behind her and see her half furled wings.

"You're..." my mouth feels dry as I look at her in awe.

"Yeah. You." she replies with a sad smile. "You look like you're doing well, 
all things considering."

"No...no, I'm not," I reply with a matching smile, "I don't have what I truly 
need. I'm alive, but I'm not..."

"Not living. Is that what you're looking for? You're just...surviving. 
Existing. Which isn't a life, not really." The pain that I feel is mirrored in 
her eyes, "At least you're still alive. Me, I've died twice already getting to 
this point."

"Was it worth it?" I whisper, gazing into her eyes.

"...yes. Yes it was." she whispers in return.

"I wish..."

"Yeah, I would too."

Another thump surprises both of us, and we both turn to the fireplace. A short 
man (Well, everyone is short to me) about five foot six, with snow-white hair 
and beard, peers out from the brick enclosure.

"Hidson residence, yes?" he asks in query, staring at me and...myself.

"Yes." we both reply, then jump at the odd stereo effect.

"Oh, good," he grins, and then ambles over to the brightly lit tree, "I was 
hoping to catch you here." he turns to me, "Did you know how hard it is to 
catch her? She bounces from one universe to another and has missed christmas 
day five times now." He looks critically at her, "You really should wear 
something other than black. It makes you look so gloomy all the time."

She pokes her tongue out at him, "Yeah, well I usually am gloomy. I just jumped 
to another universe, again, and accidentally left my Lilac behind. Of course 
I'm going to be depressed."

The man grins, "Depressed, I can see. You don't have to be depressing though. 
Do you know what you need?"

"A way to stay female forever?" she retorts, wings shaking in irritation.

"No, that's not what you need. You need these." He holds out a matched pair of 
boxes. "One for you, one for your Lilac, when you get to her again."

She eyes him warily, gingerly taking the boxes from his hand, "What are these?" 
she queries.

"Rings of friendship. They'll make it so you never lose her again." He winks at 
her, and then turns to me, pulling out a large (!) circular object wrapped in 
brightly coloured paper. "And this, my dear, is for you."

"What is it?" I whisper, gingerly gripping it. I then grip it harder as it's 
rather heavy for its size...whatever it is, it's either solid, or full of 
something.

"It's your dreams," he replies with a grin, "Maybe not what you want, but 
something that you need. Not just for your pain, but for your growth as well."

I smile at the little old man, "Thank you. I just...thankyou." Tears slip 
silently down my cheeks as he reaches up to pat at my face gently.

"Don't worry about it. I've also got something here for your brother, if you 
think he'll accept it."

"Nothing like this, I hope?" She and I comment, again in stereo. I jump, and 
she giggles. How melodic her voice sounds in person, I muse.

"No, nothing like that. Just a video." He grins at me, then at her.

"A video of what?" I ask, getting suspicious again.

"Oh, a video of your first change!" his grin gets even wider, and my eyes open 
in shock.

"I...I think you'd better. He wouldn't believe without it." I mumble, staring 
down at the object in my hands.

"Trust him," Again a comment in stereo, but this time between her and the old 
man.

I smile softly, "I do...I always do. I don't trust in myself though."

"We know."

"Well...I think I should do this in the bath. Less dangerous for him that way, 
isn't it?" A pair of smirks greet my sight as I look up from the wrapped 
object, "Yeah, I thought so."

A few minutes, and a large splash later, I'm looking in the mirror at my new 
body.

"You know, I was expecting to come out looking like you." I comment to a jaw-
dropped half-demon version of myself.

"Yeah, so was I. You know, if there's _any_ justice in this universe you're 
going to end up the same age as me."

My eyes go wide, "Don't say that. Don't...just don't. I can't afford to be that 
young right now and..." I squeak as I steadily have to look up more at her, 
until I'm looking her straight in the eye. I pout, "That's just mean. Now how 
am I going to pay my bills?" I complain in frustration.

"Oh stop your complaining," demon-me replies with a smirk, "Anyways, I like 
this look. Always did."

I nod and look down at myself again. My body is covered in white (and wet) fur, 
with deep red tiger stripes along my arms and legs. The red so deep it looks 
almost black in this lighting.  At my back is a set of silvered wings, batty in 
shape, but with more (and sturdier looking) bones. As far as I can tell, I 
don't have horns, not even any hiding under my long silver hair. A soggy white-
and-red tail flicks behind me, and I sigh. "You know," I comment, "I think this 
looks even better than I imagined it before," I grin at the other me.

"Yeah, but shouldn't we try some hot water? Just to see if it did anything to 
your other form." I think she's getting a bigger kick out of this than I am.

I smile and turn on the water, trying to ignore the whirring of a recording 
camera from the doorway. I step under the water and...change. I look down, yes, 
my clothes are still too big. I look at my arms, okay, that's skin again at 
least. I reach behind my behind...oh good, tail's gone. I reach up...and 
connect. I turn frantically, to see...my wings. I turn to look at the other me 
in shock, and she's grinning even wider now.

"You know," she comments, "I think I could use you as a mirror now." Her eyes 
twinkle in merriment as she gazes upon me. I poke my tongue out, and she 
responds verbally, "You really shouldn't do that. Someone might take you up on 
your offer." I blush beet red as I think about it, and she giggles merrily.

"Liath?" I hear from the living room.

"Oh crap," I mutter, looking at the other me...just as she winks, grips her 
staff tightly...and disappears.  I turn to look at the old man...but he's gone 
already, as well. All I can see from where he was is a wrapped box with the 
words, "To Jared, from Santa" on it.

I then look up at my brother, and his eyes are wide as he looks at me. I'm 
about to try to say something, and then he grins and jumps up to me, hugging me 
tight. I blink in surprise, slowly wrapping my arms around him.

Jared whispers in my ear, "I got what I wanted this Christmas," he squeezes a 
little tighter, and then says, "Merry Christmas, big sister."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Wings of Hope:
God gave you wings,
And a voice to sing,
Although you don't know why;
Powers so fair,
Suddenly not there,
Find your own reason to fly...
(c) October 22, 1998, Liath Hidson


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