Carol of the Saints

> Be Nolan North

 

It's winter in Canterlot, the world outside your mansion is covered in white.

Winter break started yesterday and now it's two weeks of nothing but playtime.

You. Wish.

"Here's another stack, Nolan. Make sure they are all signed and dated correctly," your father says.

You discreetly roll your eyes before taking the stack of papers in your hands. "Gee, thanks."

You check the top paper, something about the factory in Manehattan. Why does your father even have a factory there?

Sigh and walk towards the study and begin to sort through papers.

The Casino in Las Pegasus needs new security measures...the other factory in Trottingham exploded due to a mechanical malfunction.

Oh dear god, what the fuck.

You stare at the next paper, your heart beating a mile a minute.

Why does your dad have a file on Amy Heart?

Your eyes skim the page and stop on her birthday.

December 25th.

Isn't that...?

You quickly check the calendar on the desk.

Christmas. Two days away.

But more importantly...

Why the fuck does your dad have a file for her?

Then you notice it's not just her, but everyone in your school.

Except for that girl, Norman's purple friend.

Glancing around to make sure no one is watching, you quickly take her sheet and fold it up into your pants pocket.

Thankfully you already had her Christmas present, but what about a birthday present?

You've read somewhere that people born on Christmas day hate having their birthday's lumped with it.

Something more personal...even grander than what you already had...

Uncapping your pen, you begin scrawling away at all the other papers your dad is making you sign.

Even though you've made it perfectly clear that you don't want to take his place as leader, your father still pulls this crap.

You finish in record time and slump on the desk when you hear a knock on the door.

>"Who is it?"

The door opens and in walks Timmy Typhoon. "The Man wanted me to come see if you wanted anything to eat?" he gestures to the small food cart he wheeled in.

>"Ah. Sure, and a coffee if you don't mind Typhoon."

You neatly straighten out the papers and watch as your underling pours you the coffee and mixes in the cream and sugar.

"Sorry you have to work when you're on break, Boss." He hands you the cup.

> "Don't sweat it. It's annoying but meh, what can I do?" You stare out the window and then an idea hits you.

> "I need to go to town and buy a present."

"A present? For who?"

> "Someone special." You stand and walk towards the window.

You open it and peer over the edge. It's about a 10 foot drop. But with snow on the ground, it shouldn't hurt.

"Boss? You're not planning on-?!"

Too late, you've already jumped out the window.

Just as you predicted, it didn't hurt. You look up to see Timmy looking down at you with a scared look on his face.

> "Don't worry, Tim! I'll be back!" You pick yourself up and brush the snow off your pants. "Mind tossing me a coat?"

He nods and ducks back inside. A few moments later he drops down next to you, coat in hand.

> "You don't have to come with me, Tim."

He just crosses his arms.

> "Fine, let's go."

 

> Be Amy

 

You give out a dreamy sigh as you stare out your window.

You've always had this belief that snow = love. Even if it's just frozen water.

Giggling to yourself, you lean back in your bed and take a look at the notepad that had been in your lap and hold it close to your chest.

You've been writing songs to pass the time and this new one...you sigh again, smiling.

You read your lines carefully, singing them softly  under your breath.

 

[All my life I've been waiting for love to come to me

And then I bumped into youuuu

And it's funny cuz like

I've been searching my whole life, for a moment like this

And maybe it's the snow sparkling or the chocolate talking

 

But with you (but with you)

I found my place (I love your face!)

And it's like nothing I've felt befoooore

 

Love is an open door

Love is an open door

Love is an open door

 

With you (with you)

With me (with me)

 

Love is an open do-]

 

Three loud knocks interrupt you. "Amy?" It's your mother. "There's someone here to see you."

You scramble out of bed, tripping over a stack of music sheets on the floor. "I-I'll be right th-whoah!"

Papers scatter everywhere, and the door is thrown open, and your mother barrels in like a tornado. "Are you ok?!"

You wearily give her a thumbs up.

>"I'm fine. Uh...tell them I'll be down in like..." you glance at your vanity and see the state you're in. "...ten minutes."

She raises an eyebrow but gives you a knowing smile, "All right, I'll tell -him- 20 minutes." She walks out and closes the door behind her.

>"Ok! I'll just...wait! HIM?!" You stare down at your clothes, and then look at your hair. "Oh shitshitshitshit." What if it's Nolan? Ok that might be stretching it a bit. But one can never know!

Actually you don't remember if you gave him any of your information.

Argh, can't think of that now. You have to fix yourself to look more presentable.

 

----

 

20 minutes later you are putting the finishing touches on your mascara. There, all done.

You check yourself out in the mirror and blow yourself a kiss.

>"Heh..."

Straightening your blouse out you leave your room, and head downstairs to the living room.

The person down there is not who you thought it would be.

>"Valhallen."

"Hey you." He gets up and gives you an awkward wave.

"I'll be leaving you two alone," your mother leaves. Traitor.

> "Ah...huh." You cross your arms. "I didn't expect you to be here."

You stay on your guard as he begins to pace in your living room, stopping to admire your Christmas tree.

"Mm. Just came by to drop off something." He holds out a wrapped present.

Not thinking much of it, you take it and set it down on the coffee table. "Is that all you came here for?"

"Aren't you going to open it?" he rubs the back of his neck, looking distraught.

> "No. I'll wait until it's Christmas." You walk past him, stopping in front of the fireplace and fixing your stocking. "You should go."

"But Amy I-"

> "Please. Just go." You point towards the door.

"Fine. Have it your way, Princess." he stomps out and has the gall to slam your door.

You can almost feel your house shaking at the force.

Your mother emerges from god knows where, looking quite contrite. "Everything all right, dear?"

> "Really?"

 

> Be Nolan

 

You're standing outside the Carousel Boutique, wondering whether or not you should go inside.

You look back at Timmy, who's leaning against the wall.

He raises an eyebrow at you, "Having second thoughts now, Boss?"

> "No. It's just...bah forget it." taking a deep breath you open the door.

The store is quite a sight to see, there's beautiful dresses all hung with care in neat rows.

Shoes look so shiny, you swear you could probably use one as a mirror if you wanted to.

The store owner is there, pencil tucked neatly behind her ear and a string of measuring tape looped like a scarf around her neck.

Rarity Belle.

The girl of Norman's dreams. You can see why your friend is taken with her.

She was positively lovely to look at.

A lovely girl who was in the middle of a very heated phone call.

"I swear Sweetie Belle, you leave Opal out of your club's shenanigans, you hear me?!" she holds the phone away from her and you're certain you can hear crashing sounds and the painful yowl of a cat from the other line. "You just wait til I get ho- oh!" she notices you and gives you a sheepish smile. "I'll call you back." She hangs up and quickly tidies herself. "Hello Mr. North! How can I help you?"

> "Is everything all right at home?" you can't help but grin as she turns red in embarrassment.

"Why yes! Yes it is! Just my little sister..." she grimaces. "And her friends having a playdate. So!" she claps her hands and smiles at you like a true saleswoman. "What brings you here?"

> "I'm having trouble with finding a present for someone."

Her eyes have a knowing glint in them and a smile of pure joy spreads across her face. "Uwahaha! Have I got just the thing for your lady friend!" She dashes off to the back.

>crashingsounds.mp3

"Too drab. Ick too pink! Maybe...? Oh heaven's no."

You stand there awkwardly, unsure if you should check on her, or just run for your life.

You decide on the former and make your way to where she is.

You push aside the curtain and poke your head through the doorway.

>"Uh...need help?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine! Don't worry about me!" She tries to wave you off.

>"You're tangled in yarn and you're stuck in a chest with your hands and feet tied in weird directions. Are you sure?"

She nods.

Not having it, you help her anyway, despite her protests.

> "There you go."

Her tone is a little clipped when she speaks, "Thank you, but that was not necessary." She clears her throat. "Now, this is what I was trying to get for you." She shows you a small necklace. It looks like small silver snake with a little microphone charm. "I assumed that your lady friend is Amy?"

You gape at her.

> "How did...?"

"A lady has a way of knowing things, Mr. North," she says, holding it out for you to take.

You reach out but hesitate, something about the yarn gave you an idea.

> "Actually, I have another idea. Do you think you could spare an hour or two?"

 

Christmas Eve

> Be Amy

 

Valhallen's visit two days ago left you with a bad taste in your mouth.

You almost wish winter break will last forever so you'd never have to see him again.

And tomorrow is Christmas, and your birthday.

Cherry and Lyrock came earlier today to deliver your presents, which brought a smile to your face.

They didn't stay long, they had other things to do and you're ok with that.

It is Christmas after all.

So here you are in your room again, working on your song.

 

> "'Love is an open door...' hmm..." you tap your pencil against your temple, trying to think of the next line.

 

[I mean it's crazy how we finish each other's sentences

I've never met someone who thinks just like me]

 

Something about that first line seems off, and you scratch it out.

>"Argh!"

You rip the paper out of your notepad and ball it up, tossing it on the growing pile below.

You begin writing again, your teeth biting on your lower lip.

 

[I mean it's crazy how we both share interests]

 

Yes that's better!

 

[Our mental synchronization

can only have one explanation

You and I were just meant to be]

 

Sounds cheesy, but it'll do for now. You scratch your head, and hear a knock.

Or thought you heard. You get up and pull your door open, but there's no one there.

Hear the knock again and you roll your eyes. Did he really come back?

Go to your window and look outside, fully expecting to see your ex.

You're greeted by red hair in lieu of a mop of orange sitting in the tree outside your window.

>"N-Nolan?"

"Yo."

You screech and tumble backwards into your room.

Oh. My. God. Did he hear you singing? Did you look ok?!

"Amy?"

> "Heeey. Whu...Uh What are you doing here Nolan?" you slowly approach the window, trying to act as cool as possible. "It's late, you know?"

"Yeah, and?" his fingers grip the edge of your windowsill and he slips into your room.

Is this a dream?

Is Nolan North really in your room on Christmas Eve?

He looks so out of place here. The way he carries himself is like he should be surrounded by servants catering to his every whim.

>"And...you're in my room. Here. I-I" the monkeys in your head won't shut up. You take a deep breath to try and regain your composure. "I don't remember inviting you in." You cross your arms and try to look as haughty as possible.

He laughs, much to your surprise.

"I'm aware but hey, I was in the neighborhood and decided to drop by." He flashes you a smile.

It should be a sin to have a charming smile like that. No. Keep your head. Monkeys, you stay quiet.

>"And by dropping by you mean trespassing into my property , climbing a tree and then coming uninvited into my room?" you take a few steps back until your legs hit your bed. "I'm surprised you'd take such lengths to see little ol' me."

He turns away to take a good look at your room. "You should be." He mumbles, almost too low for you to hear. "It was actually an ordeal to get out of...well I had another...what I mean to say is." He sputters and brings forth a present. "I wanted to give you this."

>"Uh...couldn't you have waited til tomorrow?" you check your calendar hanging on the wall. Still the 24th.

Just then the clock chimes midnight.

He gives you the most cheeky grin ever. "I believe it already is."

>You chuckle, "Ah. So it is." You look at the gift and begin to carefully unwrap it. Once you take the wrapper off, you take a deep breath and open the box. "Oh my! Nolan this is..." You pull out a cloth. And keep pulling.

It's too long, and the stitching is terrible. "What is this?"

His face is almost as red as his hair, "I uh...had Rarity teach me how to knit...I'm just not cut out for it." He holds out his hands and pulls off a black glove. His fingers are bandaged. "I wanted to give you something I made with my own hands." He looks everywhere except at you.

> "It's perfect." You take his hand in yours and give it a squeeze. "Thank you, Nolan." Without thinking, you lean close and plant a kiss on his cheek. "Merry Christmas."

You both freeze in realization and spring apart like you've been electrocuted. "M-Merry Christmas. And happy birthday." He's so cute when he's embarrassed. You can't even begin to imagine how he sees you.

> "Do you...want to come to my party tomorrow?"