Kingdom Hearts Christmas Special: After The Keyblade War

Chapter Three: Christmas Town

As the snow fell gently from the sky, Kyle was running excitedly towards the castle, hoping to find Kairi inside so that she could tell him where Sora was. He ran across the fully decorated town square, and ran past Merlin's house, and he kept running, his face beaming with enthusiasm. On the way, he saw Scrooge McDuck, and he stopped by to say his hellos. Scrooge noticed the boy's rush, and he smiled and went towards him. "Well hello there laddie, what brings you in such haste?" Kyle smiled and caught his breath and then he was able to speak normally. "Well, you see, I'm heading to the castle to see if Kairi is there, because I need to talk to Sora." Scrooge nodded and then he turned around. "Ah, so that's the case. Well, do you want to take some Sea-Salt Ice Cream with you?" Kyle brightly nodded. "Yes please, I'd very much like one." Scrooge then went into his vault and took out one Sea-Salt Ice Cream and gave it to Kyle. "Thanks Mr. McDuck, I'll be seeing you!" Scrooge then shouted out. "All right laddie, best of luck to you, just be sure not to eat that ice cream out here in this blithering cold!" Kyle ran so fast and so suddenly that he didn't hear those last words that Scrooge said, but he knew it had something to do with the ice cream.

Meanwhile, inside the castle, Riku and the others were hard pressed as on what to do concerning the threat of attack by their mysterious new foe. Riku looked outwards through the window, watching the snow fall and then he looked at Kairi. "We need to make sure that we're on step ahead this time, we can't afford to take any chances. If this means that the war still isn't over, then we have to take precautionary measures." Kairi nodded and sighed. "It's a shame. We've been at peace for three months now and already a new threat has come to us. We'll have to make sure to keep everyone here safe, we can't let Radiant Garden fall to darkness like it did three months ago." Ventus and Trish looked at each other worried. "Well Kairi, let's just hope things get clearer for us along the way." Kairi smiled and agreed, and then Ventus and Trish asked permission to leave. "Excuse us Kairi, but we have to go back to Kyle." She nodded and smiled warmly. "Of course." After about a few minutes, Kyle comes through the castle entrance and he sees Kairi and then he catches his breath again and then he smiles. "Excuse me Master Kairi, but I need to ask you something." Kairi turned around and looked at Kyle curiously. "Hmm, weren't your parents going home just a few minutes ago?" Kyle looked around and noticed that she was right. "Oh, I see. But anyways, I need to ask you something, but you can't let Mom and Dad know!" Kairi nodded and then she looked at him. "All right, what is it?" Before Kyle could say anything, Riku came in and did the talking for him. "I'm guessing that he's looking for Sora. I got word from Leon that he's been thinking about a present for Ventus and Trish, but he doesn't know what."

Kyle, feeling appreciation for what Riku just did, nods in agreement. "Yeah, that's pretty much it." Kairi smiled and then she answered. "Sora is in Halloween Town with Donald and Goofy. If you hurry up, you might just be able to catch up to them." Riku then opened a portal. "Come on, I'll take you there." Kyle nodded and smiled in appreciation. "Thank you both for your help! Remember, if Mom and Dad come asking for me, just tell them I'm in town or something." Kairi smiled. "All right, will do." With that, Kyle stepped into the portal with Riku and both of them instantly arrived in Halloween Town. Kyle was instantly awe struck by the atmosphere. He saw Jack o lanterns, tombs, dim light alleyways, and a certain sense of fright in the air. "Wow, so this is Halloween Town huh?" Riku nodded. "Yup, home of the world famous Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington." Kyle looked around and started to eat the Sea-Salt Ice Cream and he immediately got brain freeze. "Ah, it burns!" Riku laughed. "Ha, you know you shouldn't eat ice cream in cold weather, it'll just make you even colder." Kyle smiled. "Yeah, you got a point. So, where do you think Sora is?" Before answering his question, Sora, Donald and Goofy came down from the graveyard, and then they noticed Kyle and Riku.

"A-hyuck, hiya there fellas!" said Goofy cheerfully as he walked down carefree towards them. "Hey Sora, its Kyle and Riku!" Donald said with an excited squawk. Sora then went towards Kyle and Riku and he hugged them both. "Hey guys, how's it going? What brings you two to Halloween Town?" Kyle looked at Sora and then started to explain about how he didn't know what to get Ventus and Trish for a Christmas present, and after all his explaining, Sora smiled cheerfully and then he nodded. "All right, I know just the place to go. Christmas Town isn't too far away from here, I can take you there." Kyle jumped of joy. "Yes! Thanks Sora!" Sora nodded and then he looked at Riku, Donald and Goofy. "Hey guys, I need you to look after Halloween Town while I take Kyle to Christmas Town, okay?" Riku and the others nodded. "You can count on us." With that, Sora and Kyle went towards the graveyard and then kept walking until they reached a clearing with many trees, each with a different door. "Whoa, is this like the doorway to the holidays?" Sora nodded. "Yep, that's it. And here's our destination." Kyle looked at the door Sora was pointing at, the brightly colored door with a Christmas Tree emblem.

Together, they went through the door and fell down what seemed to be a bottomless abyss. Everything then faded to black, and then all of a sudden, Kyle felt the fluffy sensation of snow, and when he opened his eyes, he noticed that he had fallen face first into the snow. He then popped his head out of the snow and saw the splendor that was Christmas Town. Just looking at the place made Kyle beam with excitement, and he could hear the laughter of the elves, and he saw smoke coming out of what no doubt had to be Santa's Toy Factory. He looked around to see where Sora had gone, and he noticed that he was at the bottom of the hill. Sora then shouted. "Hey, are you coming or what?" Kyle then smiled happily. "Coming!" He went running towards Sora, but then he slipped, and for a moment he felt like he was surfing on the snow, and then he bumped right into Sora's back. "Whoa, careful there Kyle." Kyle nodded and blushed. "Sorry about that." With that, they walked into Christmas Town, and they saw that the elves were hard at work putting up decorations and cleaning Santa's sleigh and feeding the reindeer. "Wow, the elves look so happy and so focused huh?" Kyle said as he observed them. Sora smiled and then he nodded. "Yep, I remember the first time I visited this place, it was awesome." Kyle turned around and then he saw Santa's house right in front of him. "Oh wow, look at that!" With that, they both went inside, and they sat in the waiting room and one of the elves brought in hot cocoa for them to drink. "So, how does Santa look like?" Kyle asked curiously. Sora sipped his cup of cocoa. "Oh don't worry, you'll see him soon enough."

Just when Kyle was about to ask another question to Sora, he saw a big, red cloaked old man with a jolly disposition and more than enough enthusiasm, and he opened his eyes wide. "Wow, are you Santa Claus?" The old man looked at Kyle and smiled warmly and then he let out a jolly old laugh. "Ho ho ho, yes, that's me, and I know who you are. Your Kyle, aren't you?" Kyle nodded in shock. "H-how did you know my name?" Santa then sat down and he laughed. "Oh, well it's my job to know every boy and girl's name in the whole wide world. Oh, and hello Sora, how are you doing today?" Sora finished his cup of cocoa and waved hello. "Oh, I'm doing fine Santa, I brought Kyle here because he wanted to see you, oh, and by the way, could I have a second serving of hot cocoa?" Santa pointed at the cafeteria and nodded. "Ho ho ho, well of course Sora, help yourself to as much as you like." Sora nodded in appreciation and then he went to the cafeteria, and then Santa turned his attention towards Kyle. "So then, tell me young boy, what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Kyle didn't even know how to begin, because seeing Santa for the first time made him happy but at the same time nervous. "Ho ho ho, there's no need to be nervous Kyle, think of me as your friend." Kyle nodded. "O-okay."

And so, Kyle explained everything to Santa Claus, and he especially mentioned the fact that Ventus and Trish had adopted him, and all the while Santa was paying close attention. He saw the love and affection with which Kyle talked about his parents, and it made him feel happy that he was such a good boy. After Kyle finished explaining everything, Santa crossed his arms and closed his eyes and then he smiled and took a bite out of some cookie that were in a nearby cookie jar. "Well Kyle, from what you've told me, I can tell that you're a very good boy, and I'm very touched that you want to repay your parents for having adopted you. But, I'm sorry to say that I don't know of a gift that I could recommend you to give them." Kyle then looked down sadly. "Oh...I see." Santa smile and he laid his hand on Kyle's shoulder. "Kyle my boy, the best present that you can give to your parents is one that you make yourself, one that is made with love and with heart." Kyle analyzed those words, and then he smiled and his face beamed with excitement. "I got it! Santa, I got it! If I may, could I use your Toy Factory? I think I know just the thing that I could make for Mom and Dad!" Santa nodded enthusiastically. "Well of course my boy, by all means! Oh, and if you want, Jack Skellington can help you." Kyle gasped. "Jack Skellington? He's here!?" Santa smiled. "Yes, he's helping me oversee the development of the toys this year, he's been a great help." Jack Skellington then came through the door and then he waved hello at everyone. "Did somebody call my name?" Kyle nodded excitedly. "Yes Jack, I want you to help me make a present for my Mom and Dad!" Jack then raised his fist with determination. "Excellent, then we will make the greatest present they could ever hope to have!"

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At last, Kyle finally has an idea of what to give his parents for Christmas. What could it be, and how will he make it? And what other events will unravel? Stay tuned for Chapter Four: "Making A Present."