Kingdom Hearts - A Christmas Tale

It was long ago since that day almost seven years ago……

It was Christmas Eve on Destiny Island and the whole Island was as festive as ever. The palm trees were decorated with hundreds of colorful lights and everywhere people were preparing their home for the amazing holiday. The joy of Christmas was in the air. Little Sora was on his way to go send his last letter to his all time hero, Santa Claus. 
            Sora went down to the main part of town. He then slipped his letter in the mail box with so much excitement, hoping Santa would grant his request. “After all” little Sora thought, “I have been a good boy this year”. With the satisfaction of seeing his letter be put into the mail truck, Sora finally went on his way. However, while walking down the road to his house near the beach young Sora came along his best friend, Riku.  
            “What were you doing down in town?” asked Riku. Even though Riku was Sora’s best friend Riku hated Christmas and Sora always tried to avoid him around this time of year. 
            “Oh, nothing”, said Sora, being very shy. He was afraid that Riku would make fun of him for believing in Santa Claus.
            “Ah, don’t pretend I didn’t see”, exclaimed Riku. “I saw you put that letter in the mailbox. You were writing to Santa Claus weren’t you?”

            “But Riku what’s your problem with Santa”, said Sora defending his hero. “He brings gifts and makes Christmas the best holiday ever.”
            “Come on Sora, I thought you were better than that. You’re such a child”, mocked Riku. “Santa Claus isn’t real.” 
            “What! What are you talking about Riku? Of course he’s real. You know what, I bet you’ll get a piece of coal this year just for saying that.”
            “Fine with me then” spoke Riku with a smile. “We’ll see if Santa actually makes your wonderful wish come true. You’ll see that nothing is going to come and no one is going give you presents except for your parents.” 

            Sora was so furious at Riku and went home with anger in his face. However, his anger became joy when he saw his house decorated completely. His mom was making a turkey and there were already some presents under the tree. Later that evening Sora had Christmas dinner with his family and then, as it was time to go to bed, little Sora left out some milk and cookies for Santa. Then as he laid in his bed he closed his eyes and thought “I do believe in Santa, I do believe in Santa” and soon enough he fell asleep. 
            The next morning Sora woke up early and found that the cookies were eaten and the milk was gone. Sora knew that Santa must have been at his house. He ran downstairs to see all of the amazing presents. There were dozens of beautiful presents waiting for him under the Christmas tree. He opened them all and found lots of toys inside them, however, none of them were what Sora asked Santa. Sora was greatly disappointed. “Was Riku right?” he thought. But then Sora remembered the letter he sent Santa yesterday. It was his ultimate Christmas wish and maybe it was so big that Santa could only give him that one instead of all the other presents. His Christmas wish was a kiss on the cheek from the most beautiful girl in town, Kairi. “There’s still hope”, Sora thought.
            He went to the small island hoping to see Kairi and in fact there she was, sitting on the tree branch. Little Sora smiled as he knew he was about to get his kiss. He approached her slowly but inside he was very excited. 
            “Hello Kairi”, said Sora.
            “Oh, hello Sora, said little Kairi.
            “Is there something you want to say or do”, Sora asked his friend. He blushed. 
            “Uh, Merry Christmas, I guess”, she answered being very confused. She then got up from the tree and left for the boats leaving Sora all alone. 
            Sora felt tears rolling down his cheeks. He could not believe it, Santa didn’t grant his wish. This means Santa really wasn’t real. Sora’s heart was broken and to make things worse, Riku was walking towards him. 
            “See”, mocked Riku. “Santa Claus isn’t real.”
            “I guess you’re right Riku”, said Sora as he was crying. “I guess Santa is not real. In fact I think I’m going to tell everyone that Santa is not real.” And indeed that’s what happened. All Christmas Sora spent the day telling everyone that he didn’t believe in Santa Claus. His Christmas spirit was broken. He never wrote Santa another letter again and never spoke about Santa Claus with Riku or anyone until..... 

            “Before you go Sora”, said Santa Claus. “I believe there’s a friend of yours who was the one who told you there’s no such thing as Santa Claus. Be sure to give him my very best wishes.” And when Sora gave Riku Santa’s best wishes, Riku smiled at him and said “I believe now.”