Even when you live in a constant state of war, you can still take a little time off for a traditional mid-winter celebration…

 

All I Want For Solstice…

 

Tails was humming a pleasant little tune to himself as he flew about the Great Hall, hanging a long garland of pine needles, intertwined with vibrant red ribbons.  He draped it from one corner of the vast space to another, letting the middle rest on the floor along each wall, until he returned to the corner he’d started with.  He then swooped down, grabbed the middle and hooked it at several, roughly evenly spaced places, repeating the process around the walls until the entire room was draped with the vibrant green and red banner.

 

Below him, Sally and Bunnie were hanging highly polished apples, pears and other summer fruits, also decorated with brightly coloured ribbons to the branches of a small pine tree that they’d brought in from the forest.

 

Brightly draped tables laden with rich and exotic foods had been placed at regular intervals around the walls.  Tails had been extremely careful not to let his garland fall in to any.

 

Julie-Su entered, freezing in the doorway, raising a sceptical brow at the proceedings.  The entire room was decorated for some kind of party, though she had absolutely no idea what it was all for.

 

Tails was the first to notice her, and with a mischievous grin, sailed down and pecked her playfully on the cheek.  The pink echidna was a little taken aback by the young fox’s sudden very open display of affection.

 

“What did you do that for?”  She demanded, a little stunned.

 

Tails pointed up to the branch of soft green leaves and dainty white berries, tied with a scarlet bow that hung from the doorframe.  “You ARE standing under the mistletoe.”  He explained.  “It’s tradition.”  He added with a shrug.

 

“Tradition?”

 

“It’s somethin’ to do with it livin’ between the earth and the heavens,” Bunnie explained as she approached.  “And the fact that it stays green in winter.  It’s supposed to tie the sleepin’ earth of winter to the life givin’ sun.”

 

“But it’s a parasitic plant,” Julie-Su said, looking up at it.  “It lives by taking its sustenance from another.”

 

“Are you tryin’ to belittle our traditions?”  Bunnie asked.

 

“No,” Julie-Su shook her head.  “I was just saying…”

 

“It doesn’t matter,” Sally said, stepping in between the pair.  She wasn’t expecting a fight between them or anything, she just didn’t want an argument.  “It was original a minor fertility rite.”  Sally explained.  “Connecting us to the sun as well.  Couples kissed under it so that they’d have a…prosperous new year.  The kiss was supposed to bring with it the promise of new life.  Now it’s just for fun.”

 

“You don’t celebrate the winter Solstice on the Island?”  Bunnie asked.

 

“Not that I’m aware of.”  Julie-Su admitted, skittering away from the plant that hung from the doorframe.  “Besides, it’s the middle of summer back there.”

 

“I know,” Sally smiled.  “Where do you think we got the fruit from?”  She jerked a thumb at the tree in the corner.

 

“So what’s this Solstice?”  Julie-Su asked as she examined the gaily decorated tree.

 

“We all come together in peace on the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice,” Sally began.  “We burn the Yule log,” she pointed to a large, perfectly cut log that sat in the fireplace.  “And as it burns, we remember all that’s happened during the closing year.”

 

“And we talk about our hopes and dreams for the comin’ year.”  Bunnie added.  “Then, when the Yule log burns down, we all collect a little bit of ash, and keep it, so they’ll come true.”

 

“We exchange gifts with the ones we love.”  Sally smiled.

 

“And we eat until we barf.”  Tails finished.

 

“And you think THAT’S fun?”  Julie-Su asked the fox.

 

“Well, it’s what we get to eat,” he smirked.  “All the stuff we don’t have at other times.  Chocolate and ice cream…”

 

“Candy and cakes…” Bunnie added.

 

“Everything we shouldn’t be eating.”  Sally smiled.

 

“And when does all this happen?”  Julie-Su asked.

 

“Tomorrow,” Sally told her.  “We’re having a big party this year.  We’ve invited the Chaotix, too.  And you know Vector would never miss a party.”

 

~~~~~

 

“Any idea what we’re gonna get for Jules?”  Sonic asked as he went through his daily therapeutic exercises.  At first, he’d found them rather pointless.  Rolling his feet on an oversized ball.  Continuously walking up and down stairs.  And an incredible amount of upper bodywork, which he found extremely strange, considering it was his legs that didn’t work properly.  They all seemed like just a waste of time.  But now he could feel the benefit.  He’d gained a great deal of strength and mobility.  His legs no longer felt like a dead weight, and the increased strength in his arms made it easier for him to pull himself to his feet.

 

“You and I both know there’s only one thing she’d want.  And we can’t get that for her.”  Sally sighed.  “Truth is, I wouldn’t mind getting that gift myself.”

 

“You’ll get no argument from me.”

 

“I talked to Ellie-Za and Moni-Ca,” Sally went on.  “They’ve known her a lot longer than we have.”

 

“They suggest anything?”

 

“They said they’d take care of it.”  Sally told him.  “I think they had something in mind.”

 

~~~~~

 

Vector plucked a bright red apple from the tree.  He examined it, rubbed it against his scarf to polish it even more, and prepared to take a huge bite.

 

“Vector!”  Mighty admonished as he grabbed the crocodile’s wrist.  “Don’t eat the decorations.”

 

“Decorations?”  He looked at the armadillo with a raised brow.  “It’s an apple.”

 

“Yeah, with a big bow, hung from a pine tree.”  Mighty added.  “That’s not exactly how you find them in nature.”

 

“It’s a S-solstice t-t-tr-traditon.”  Ray explained.  “To k-keep s-summer alive in the dead of w-w-winter.”  The crocodile raised an uncertain eyebrow, his eyes flicking between the squirrel and the tasty morsel in his hand.

 

“Oh, just let him eat it.”  Espio sighed.  “You’ll never get it through his thick head.”

 

Vector shot him a dirty look.

 

“You guys have any trouble getting away?”  Sonic asked.

 

“Nah,” Vector said, grudgingly putting the apple back on the tree.  “It was a relief to get away.  Things are nuts up there.”

 

“What do you mean?”  Sally asked with a curious frown.

 

“The residents of Echidnaopolis are all screwy…” the crocodile went on.

 

“They’re just scared, Vector.”  Moni-Ca said softly.

 

“Scared about what?”  Sally asked.

 

“That the Guardian line is gonna end.”  Mighty sighed.  “They’ve been gettin’ real pushy.”  He went on.  “As the youngest, they reckon it’s Locke’s responsibility to…continue the line.”

 

“Some females have been practically throwing themselves at him.”  Espio added.  “Landing a Guardian is something of a life-long dream for them.  The position, the prestige, the power…Guardians wives are treated like royalty.”

 

Sally’s mouth dropped.  “You mean they want him to replace…”

 

“Yeah.”  Espio confirmed.  “Locke’s not too happy about it.”

 

“It’s hardly surprising.”  Sally retorted, a hint of disgust in her voice.

 

“Especially when you consider that he’s still in love with his ex-wife.”  Moni-Ca added.

 

“And she’s married to some one else…” Vector added through a mouthful of nuts he’d found in a bowl.

 

~~~~~

 

“So, how you been doing?”  Ellie-Za asked Julie-Su.  The pink echidna was staring off into a world only she could see, something she did a lot from what Sally and Bunnie had said.

 

She shrugged.  “I’m okay, I guess.”  She sighed.  “This whole ‘Solstice’ thing is just a little weird for me.  And don’t go near that weed in the doorway.”  She warned, pointing to the mistletoe that still hung there.  “The others tend to get all touchy feely if you do.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”  Ellie-Za smiled.  She reached into her vest and pulled out a small, brightly wrapped box.  “Sally told me it was the tradition to exchange gifts…” she held the box out to her friend.  “She didn’t know what to get you, so I made you this.  Moni-Ca wrapped it…”

 

Julie-Su took it, a little hesitantly.  She’d only ever gotten one gift before, and that had been rather spur of the moment.  She glanced to the pocket inside her own vest where she kept it. 

 

She gingerly pulled away the ribbon and paper to reveal the small box concealed within.  She removed the lid and frowned at its contents.  It was a brooch, or at least it would be if there had been a gem set in it.  It was a large oval shape, made of gold.  Julie-Su ran a gloved finger across the fine filigree work.

 

“I made it to hold the Chaos crystal.”  Ellie-Za explained.  “I was always kind of afraid you’d lose it, with it rolling around lose in your pocket.”

 

Julie-Su pulled out the mentioned crystal, watching as the burgundy echidna fixed it into the golden frame.  It fit perfectly, but Julie-Su was not surprised, after all, her friend had made the crystal in the first place.

 

“Now you can wear it,” she said, pinning it to Julie-Su’s vest.  “Keep it close to your heart.”

 

“I always did.”  Julie-Su said softly, as she ran a finger across its smooth surface.

 

~~~~~

 

The celebration lasted well into the night.  Everybody ate too much, but none seemed to care.  As they gathered around the Yule log, to talk about the past year, and their dreams for the next, Julie-Su quietly slipped away.

 

It wasn’t something she wanted to talk about.

 

~~~~~

 

The following morning broke cool and clear.  The Chaotix had returned home, to support Locke, and to get away from the cold, which none of them was used to.  The Freedom Fighters, however, decided to have some fun, and to work off all the food they’d consumed the day before.

 

Sonic closed his eyes and smiled as he felt the rush of wind on his face.  It was almost like running at his former full speed.  He’d always been a rather graceful skater, but he’d never felt this kind of buzz from it before.

 

A mischievous glint came into his eyes as he glided up silently behind Sally.  He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her from the ice.

 

“Put me down you idiot,” she demanded, giggling like a maniac.  Her playful protests echoed across the frozen lake.

 

“Those two sure looks happy,” Bunnie commented from where she and Antoine were building a snow-creature. 

 

“Yes,” he agreed.  “It is good to hear them laugh again.  It would seem…”

 

His words were cut short as a well-aimed snowball hit his left cheek.  Looking completely unamused, he noticed Tails, the obvious perpetrator, quickly duck for cover.

 

“Oh, you will pay for that, mon petite amie.”

 

Julie-Su wrapped her arms tightly about herself.  Snow was not good for echidnas.  Her kind were used to a more tropical environment.  That, coupled with the fact that their normal body temperature was several degrees lower than the average Mobian’s, made her extremely uncomfortable.  She almost wished she’d returned to the Island with the others, but she still wasn’t ready for that.

 

She felt a sudden chill breeze as Sonic and Sally glided by, unaware of anything but each other.  The blades of their skates threw a shower of tiny ice fragments over the echidna’s boots.  She smiled at the pair.  Now that their feelings for each other were out in the open, they weren’t so apprehensive about showing them.  She sighed as she watched them.  She didn’t begrudge them their happiness, but…

 

She decided to go for a walk.

 

The forest was quiet and peaceful.  Most of the trees were bear, it all looked so much different to the winters she was used to.  The zone the Dark Legion had been banished to hadn’t really had any seasonal variations, and the Floating Island’s winters were far milder in comparison. They didn’t have snow.  The trees remained green.

 

Unknowingly, or perhaps just out of habit, she walked to the edge of the cliff where she’d last spoken to her beloved.  If she’d known at the time what would eventually happen, she was sure she’d have done something differently, even if it had only been to tell him how she truly felt.

 

She brushed some snow off a fallen log and sat down, shivering at the touch of the cold damp wood.  She looked back towards the lake.  Sonic and Sally skidded off the ice and fell, giggling, into a snow bank.  Antoine had cornered Tails, and, with Bunnie’s help, was pummelling the unfortunate fox cub with a barrage of snowballs.

 

She pulled the crystal he’d given her from her pocket, once again admiring the handiwork of its new golden frame.  Though she didn’t always wear it, now that it could be worn, she never went anywhere without it, it was all she had left of him.  She ran a gloved finger across its smooth curved surface, her face a mask of longing and regret.

 

“They think I don’t care,” she whispered to it, “because I haven’t cried for you, for what I lost.”  She sighed deeply.  “I wish I could.  I wish I could get what I’m feeling in here…” she clenched the crystal in a tight fist, placing both against her heart, “…out.  That I could let go of all the feelings I’ve got bottled up.  But I can’t.

 

“But then, maybe I shouldn’t.  Maybe if I could, it’d mean that I was beginning to forget about you.  About what we almost had…”

 

She lowered her head to her chest.  “Sometimes, I miss you so much it hurts.”  She murmured to the crystal.  It didn’t answer her of course.  It was nothing but a hunk of carefully manufactured, highly advanced, artificial crystal.  Cold.  Unfeeling.  Dead.  “And sometimes I curse your blasted selflessness.  That you put the lives of others ahead of your own.  And then I curse you, for leaving me alone…”

 

She sighed.

 

“You know, I never gave much thought for the future.  I always lived each day at a time.  Until I met you.  And felt the Soultouch.  You have no idea how much it changed me.  I began to think about tomorrow, about my future.  OUR future.  It never occurred to me that we wouldn’t have one.”

 

She looked at the crystal, a deadweight in her hand.  She kissed its cold surface tenderly, then returned it to her pocket.  She shivered involuntarily as a cold breeze chilled her bones.

 

“We just weren’t designed for this kind of weather.”

 

Julie-Su spun quickly, her hand instinctively dropping to the hilt of her blaster.  Her eyes widened as she took in the friendly countenance of a female of her own species.  Her face was unlined, ageless, but Julie-Su instinctively knew that this female was far older than she appeared. 

 

“It’s nice to see one of my kind,” she said as she sat down beside her.  “You’re rather a long way from home.”

 

“I don’t really have a home,” Julie-Su sighed.  She looked at the older female, who just looked back at her with wide, almost playful eyes.  Julie-Su frowned.  There was something about her.  The way she held herself.  A certain air about her.  And the colour of her eyes…

 

“Do I know you?”  She asked.  “You seem awfully familiar.”

 

“You’d be surprised how often I hear that,” she chuckled.  “But, no, we’ve never met.” 

 

Sally’s laugh split the air as Sonic swept her off her feet and threatened to drop her back in the snow bank.  The two turned their gaze on the not too distant group.  “Friends of yours?”

 

“Yeah,” Julie-Su confirmed.

 

“They seem very happy,” she noted, “yet you seem very sad.  Why don’t you join them?”

 

“I don’t know,” Julie-Su sighed.  “I guess they just remind me of something I’ll never have.”

 

“You fear you’ll never fall in love?”

 

“I have, I did,” she lowered her eyes, “but he…”

 

“…fell for someone else?”  The other suggested.

 

“No, we were Soultouched,” Julie-Su sadly shook her head, “but there was a terrible war, and he sacrificed himself so that we could live.”

 

“Oh,” the other nodded sagely.

 

“I know it was noble, logical.  The right thing to do.  Sacrifice one life for millions.  But… It’s been almost a year now, and whenever I see them together like that…” she gestured towards her friends. 

 

She felt the older female’s fingers gently touch her chin.  She raised her head, searched her eyes.

 

 

“You loved him,” she said softly.  She frowned at something she saw in Julie-Su’s eyes.  “You love him still.”  Julie-Su looked away.  “All truly memorable love stories are tragic ones.”

 

“I’d rather have a less than memorable one if it means we could have had a happy ending.”

 

“Where is it written that a tragic love story can’t have a happy ending?”

 

Julie-Su snorted.  “It’s a little hard when one of us is dead.”

 

“Death can not stop true love,” the older one said, “all it can do is delay it for a while.”  Julie-Su looked at her sceptically.  She shrugged.  “I heard it in a movie once.”  She admitted.  “But you never know what the future holds.  Especially when you’re dealing with a child of the House of Edmund.”

 

Julie-Su’s eyes widened.  She hadn’t said anything about him being a Guardian. 

 

“How did you know…” she turned towards the older female, but she was gone.  There was nothing to mark that she’d even been there.  The log was still covered with snow.  There were no footprints to mark her passage. 

 

Julie-Su looked around nervously.  “Okay,” she said softy, “now I’m really going nuts.”

 

A flash of light caught her eye.  She reached into the snow and picked up a bracelet, a circlet of golden beads.  The older female had been wearing it.  She stared at it for a moment, then tried it on her own wrist.  It fit perfectly. 

 

“Well, I guess I can keep it safe,” she said as she admired it.  “At least until we meet up again.”