Back? # **Chapter Twenty: If You Just Believe…** *Orlando, 5:00 PM* --- Song(s): **I Believe In Santa Claus – Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers** **With Bells On – Maxime Landry, Annie Blanchard** **Run Run Rudolph - Kelly Clarkson** --- “So, how would you find a needle in a haystack?” Sydney questioned half-heartedly, in between bites of sugar-laden pancakes. “Easy. Burn the hay,” Pyx retorted weakly, pushing a stack of undercooked hashbrowns across her plate with a fork. “Okay, wise guy. How about hay in a needle stack?” Astral challenged. Under her breath, she added, “Gods, this is stupid.” Nuro raised a hand. “Two words. Big magnet.” With a sigh, he slumped back against the plasticky bench of the restaurant booth. Not even his mischief-loving heart could find any entertainment in this conversation. Put simply, the heroes were bored out of their minds. They’d been stuck in their rental car for the entirety of the day, fuelled by a mix of anxiety, spite, and snacks. Unfortunately, they couldn’t sustain themselves on that alone. And so, as the sun began to set, they found themselves at a nearby Denny’s for their first substantial meal. It wasn’t the delicious, festive feast they had anticipated for that evening, but the subpar diner food perfectly matched their current state of mind. Mercury’s turkey dinner -- a seasonal special -- sat completely untouched as he sifted through nearby hotels, hoping to find accommodations for the night. Unfortunately, his quest seemed about as fruitful as the travellers’ attempts to return home: not in the least. Just as he was about to investigate one of the only halfway decent listings he’d found, Nuro nudged his elbow. His finger slipped, closing out the tab. If looks could kill, Nuro would be dead. Mercury was just about to tear into his cousin in an exhaustion-and-hunger-fueled bout of frustration when his anger died in his throat. Standing by their table was a handsome man cloaked in lush green velvet. His coal-black curls were artfully sculpted as if he were a marble statue come to life, dotted with golden berries that gleamed against his tanned skin. His vivid honey-and-ice eyes glinted kindly. “Greetings, all. I am Nicholas. Yes, that Nicholas,” he added, noting the party’s dropped jaws and gawking stares. Mercury was the first to respond. He lowered his head reverently. “To what do we owe this honour, o King of Winter?” The visitor shook his head. “No need for the honorifics, Mercury. I’ve come to discuss a crucial matter-I’m your ticket home. Mind if I sit?” Clara patted the empty bench beside her, and Nicholas slid into the booth. “So, you’re not just a story,” Pyx muttered. “Figures -- we already know demons and gods and Paladins are all real; no reason why some dude with a magic sled wouldn’t be.” “Still,” Nuro interjected in awe, “It’s something else to see the Hero of the Great Blizzard -- the damn saviour of my home kingdom -- in the flesh.” “Pyx! Nuro! Voices down, please!” Clara chided. “We’re in public.” Sydney rolled her eyes. “Mom, it’s Denny’s. In Florida. I guarantee you, this is far from the weirdest thing they’ve seen.” Nicholas chuckled. “Very true, Sydney. And there’s no need to worry, Clara -- no one will see or hear anything they’re not supposed to. I’ve made sure of that.” Proving his point, the waitress came, collected their plates, and left without a glance toward the new arrival. Once she was gone, Nicholas addressed the travellers. “It’s lovely to meet you all, even if it isn’t under the best circumstances. As we all know, the Lord of Frost and Despair has been very, very naughty--” Nuro, Astral, and Pyx snickered, accompanied by a snort from Sydney. The quartet quickly quieted down after glares from Clara and Mercury, and Nicholas continued -- but not before muttering something about them being ‘worse than Yemi.’ “As I was saying, he’s been…up to no good, and you play a crucial part in the plan to defeat him. The concert at the Festival must be the best it can be, and that cannot happen without all its performers.” “Let me guess, we’re gonna hop on your magic sleigh and fly back to Mistvale?!” Nuro’s voice was filled with childlike hope and excitement -- he’d grown up on stories of Nicholas and his impossible flight. “Precisely,” Nicholas grinned. “That damn demon and his storms are no match for me and my steeds.” “Then why didn’t you get here sooner?” Astral muttered, the ice in her glass of iced tea clinking as she took a sip. “Coulda saved us a lot of time and frustration.” “Believe me, I would have been here far earlier had someone been more timely in alerting me to the situation at hand.” Mercury sighed knowingly. “It was Yemi, wasn’t it.” “By the ten elements, yes. Direct all your grievances to her, not me.” Nicholas groaned. “Now, shall we get going? We haven’t a moment to waste.” “I agree we should leave as soon as possible, but what about our dinner bill? And the vehicle we rented? And--” “Worry not, Mercury. Everything will be taken care of in due time. Now, Clara and Sydney can help me load your luggage into the sleigh while the rest of you check the backseat. I’ve brought something for you to save us time in the long run.” At his instructions, the travellers left the restaurant. No one made any fuss about them leaving without payment, so they figured they were clear. In the parking lot was a grand wooden sleigh, weaved from thick birch branches and glittering silver metal. Eight whinnying horses formed from snow and wind were bound to its front by leather ropes, ready to carry the sleigh and its passengers into the wintry night air. It was a sight to behold, very out of place against the grimy pavement. Clara and Sydney unearthed the bevy of suitcases from the trunk and helped Nicholas load them into a compartment at the sleigh’s rear. Meanwhile, Nuro, Astral, Mercury, and Pyx found a quartet of garment bags, one for each of them -- inside were the performance outfits Fileran had handcrafted for them, the ones they had been planning to wear at the concert that night. By donning them now, they could take the stage immediately upon arrival at the Magispace, hopefully allowing them to join the battle ahead with time to spare. They ducked back into the restaurant, unnoticed yet again, and dressed themselves to the nines, tucking their civilian clothing into their backpacks. Clara’s eyes glittered when her niece emerged. “Oh, Ashlynn, sweetpea, you look wonderful!” Sydney nodded. “Yeah, you all look great! Fileran knows his stuff.” She held up her phone, the flash of her camera illuminating the costumes’ glittery fabric. Nuro grinned. “Yep, Fi’s a genius. I mean, dude, look at this stuff!” He twirled, and the bottom of his tunic flared around his waist. Nicholas approached, examining the performers. “The craftsmanship on this clothing is phenomenal. The designs, the material, and the stitching are all top-notch. You’ll have to pass my praise along to your brother. Though, there is something it lacks…” He waved his hand, and an aurora of light surrounded the performers before seeping into the fabric of their costumes. Turning around, he did the same towards Sydney and Clara’s winter coats. “There. Protection spell -- should provide a bit more defense against the Lord of Frost’s powers. My magic should be enough to protect us while we’re in the sleigh, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.” “Thank you, Nicholas!” Mercury beamed. “No need to thank me. Thank your cousin for providing me with such a good conduit. Now, hop in. If we want any hope of defeating that demon, we’d best be on our way.” The travellers settled themselves into the cozy, velvet-lined benches of the sleigh. Nicholas mounted the driver’s seat, and the sleigh took off like a shot into the night, bound for Mistvale.