The streets of Lómëdor where surrounded by streamers, banners and pictures. Music blared from open doors of homes and the people flooded the street randomly, offering gifts and strengthening family blonds. Stella walked through the streets baring her own gifts, having no family of her own to bond with.

She made her way to the square where she stood and offered an odd to gift to people walking by. After all her gifts where given she began to recite a poem she had heard once. The Poem was quite famous, and one of her favorite. She believed it summed the day well.

"Past
Present
Future,
Very linear
Very simple.

The winter solstice
A threshold
After which
The days become longer
The sun stronger
Yet for the next six to eight
weeks
It becomes
Colder.

Past
Present
Future
Very linear
Very
Very
Simple"

People offered her money but she refused. It may be the time for giving, but Stella was not up for receiving. People of all the race's where joining together, racial hatreds forgotten. Evil and good untied, everyone on this joyous day neutral. Stella hummed along with a song that began to play. It was cheerful, and the streets became more crowded, and food began being brought out, put onto walls. People stood around drinking champagne and eating dainty sandwiches. The atmosphere was merry and so was Stella. People began to dance around, and Stella joined in merrily.

The wingless-angel slipped through the crowd of joyous people. Yet there was no joy for the angel. He still carried the burden of many souls who desired justice for a hideous wraith's actions. He moved again, noticing somebody. Perhaps it was the girl, yes it was. He moved through the crowd still, the people not minding his ruffling the way through. He moved up beside Stella. "Happy Holidays?" He asked, though any happiness he portrayed was just that, portrayed. Still the general happiness of the people did put him in a better mood.

The angel looked to his right, then to his left. People celebrating, giving gifts. They gave him gifts, which he gave to other people, who gave them to other people, and so forth. Not keeping anything for himself. He needed none of this. Only one thing, one thing that he could not have. The justice of the souls and his wings. Oh his wings, reduced to simple stubs. What way could he get them back? He knew not. And the justice, the poor souls. Even if he defeated the wraith, they would still have been murdered and that would haunt Naois. Yet today was for celebration, not brooding. If only Naois saw it that way.

Stella smiled, then hugged naois. "Happy Holliday's!" She called back, looking him up and down. "How are you?" She asked, generally concerned for a friend of hers. She moved to a nearby table, and took a drink that was upon it. She made her way back to Naois.

"Here you go Naois!" She called, offering him a hot coco. "I'm glad you made it. Its nice to see a familiar face around here." But Stella sensed that Naosis was not happy, and his pain hurt her.

"Is anything the matter?" She asked. A dance number started up, but Stella stayed where she was, talking to Naois. Some how, even though Stella did not know him all that well, she knew he was a friend, and friends helped each other.

When the music ended, the people began to rush around again, the present offering beginning again. Stella simply ignored them all, more concerned for her friend then anything else.

This time of year was a weird time for this was the only time in the world when everyone can forget all feuds and come together for a day. Nobunaga was no different. He was naturally a pure evil person but it was on this one time of the year he was able to throw it all out of the window and be among the natural people of arda.

Happiness was not easily attained in the heart of nobunaga but it was worth a shot to achieve. He was never naturally happy unless he was on a battlefield but tonight, for the next few days, he would make himself happy. No bloodshed during these festivals. That was his pact with himself and that’s what he planned on doing. He just wished he had someone special to spend these few days with, but all in due time. Someone will try to throw out all negative feelings with nobunaga and see him for something good for the day. Hopefully.

The streets crowded and the people loud. It was such a fun time for everyone. Gifts were being handed out and kids playing. It was such a joyous time. A kid even ran and glued himself to nobunaga’s leg. Normally this kid would be dead right now, but following his pact to not shed blood nobunaga smiled and picked the kid up. He placed him on his shoulder so he could sit high like a king. The smile on the kids face was priceless, and there was also a smile on nobunaga as well. It seems as though nobunaga got his wish, the kid sure didn’t mind being on top of the world like this and nobunaga was happy to do it for the kid.

Naois sighed, taking the drink. It warmed his hands, that he was thankful for. He didn't have much to wear, and thus was quite cold. Yet he never complained about it, the cold like pain and suffering, let him know he was alive. Being alive meant he could continue the fight. He watched the dancers for a moment, that wasn't his sort of thing...was it?

"The wraith escaped again, I can never catch him..." Naois gripped the mug almost breaking it. He took a sip, then another, and continued till nothing was left but a small puddle at the bottom of the cup. "He makes a fool of me, kills countless innocents, and escapes from me every time," He growled, tightening his grip so much that the mug shattered. Yet the sound was muffled out by the sounds of happy people exchanging gifts. He blinked hot liquid out of his eyes, rubbing them. He had unexpectedly wiped blood onto his face. The ceramics that made up the mug having gashed his hand.

Stella's eyes widened at the mug bloke, and some how blood appeared on his face. She grabbed a towel and began to wipe at it, then she sighed.

"That wraith.. why, if i ever meet him again.." She murmured, not really thinking about what she was saying. It was quite stupid really, since Stella knew that she had had her chance at him, and had missed it. She spoke to Naois again.

"Don't worry about him. One day he will be punished." She answered, then sighed. She wished he would, it wasn't fair if innocents had to dies because of her. She looked at Naois seriously.

"Do not trouble yourself over him." She said seriously. If he got this mad over it, then she did not think it was very healthy. She looked at Naosis again, seriously. "He could kill you." She whispered, afraid. She doubted there wasn't ANYTHING that wraith wont do. Sighing, she sat down. "Your all cleaned up." She told him. She looked around at the merry people, and kicked a shard of the mug.

"Forget the Wraith, at least for today! Today is the day for celebration!" She Jumped up excitedly.

Naois sighed, slumping in his seat. The small stubs moving slowly up and down. If there was any convenience to not having his wings it was that he could now rest comfortably in normal chairs, and they couldn't get caught up on stuff at all. "So...why are you here? You aren't exchanging anything." He rested his head upon his hands, which in turn rested on the table. "As for me, I'm just moving through, I need to keep on the lookout for the...wraith." He shuddered, his eyes seeming to dim and yet shine faint rage at the same time. He mumbled to himself, waiting for Stella's reply. Naois began to ponder what he needed to get so he could face the wraith and win. Spirit blade? Blade of Vengance? Holy Broadsword? So many tools, so hard to obtain. He sighed and straightened, listening to Stella.

"I'm here to have fun. You should be too!" She told him, then grabbed his arm, pulling him up. "DANCE!" She shouted over the blaring music, as she herself began to dance, the music was lively and everyone was keyed up.

The song plays out a tune Stella had herself requested over an hour ago, her favorite song. The words where joyous and best described this wondrous day. Stella, along with many other jumped around in time, shouting out the words. She turned to Naosis.

"For this day only you are to forget the wraith, okay?" She asked. She didn't want him to be angry, or upset on such a fun day. Everyone in the land where banding together to have a good time, even the good and the evil. Today was a day of celebration! The song came to an end and Stella stood panting.

"Would you like another drink?" She offered him, making her way to the drink stand.

Naois shook his head lightly, sighing in humor. "You really are cheerful, and energetic." He smiled and followed her, "A drink would be nice." He paused, thinking about the wraith. Surely the joyous feelings would repel the wraith, happiness is to evil as fire is to ice. He nodded, his smile growing. A tune came on that Naois recognized, and he began to hum along with it. He took his drink, sipping occasionally. He wathced people being foolish, watched people being loving, watched people being generous. No way the wraith could cause this day to be sour.

He moved around, exchanging gifts, keeping none for himself still. He helped a little girl find her mother, who thanked 'Mr.Angel-pewson' as the child called him. So he was left wandering about the party, spreading good will. "Yeah, today is a nice day to be alive." He smiled and handed Stella a drink.

Interesting, the effect of the winter solstice as celebrations seemed to erupt from every corner of every city, temple or ruin. Citizens were almost like madmen, dominating the streets with lyric and poem if not with greetings. The horizon seemed bright, brilliant as the day when flowers of spring bloomed and were distributed amongst men and women of every race. It would seem that at this very hour, evil itself retired to its cradle and an otherworldly sense of unity reigned amongst the populace.

It has been over a century since he had embraced a dawn such as this. War and toil have occupied the center of his existence simply because for the most part of his life, he had been a crusader in protecting his family’s welfare. Aye, the sound of a child’s laughter still played with clarity in his ear. Once long ago, he carried his eldest son upon his shoulders so that the young lad may see past the towering crowd of grown men and women and catch a glimpse of a colorful parade of flowers and linen in a festival of young dancers.

Melandro smiled to such a memory, acknowledging that Vhalen and Damien could never be mere children forever. In his subconscious wishes, he knew that they had grown to become men that he would have been proud to meet again. Perhaps someday, that time would be granted to a waiting father yet for now he was here to live in the present faced with a blossoming future filled with adventure that mingled with uncertainty.

Stella accepted the drink, and laughed at Naois began to get into the spirit. Noticing a nearby lake Stella gasped and grabbed Naois's hand. "COME!!" She called, dragging him towards the ice skating, and rented them both some skates. Stepping on the ice, she immediately fell straight down, but she just laughed it off.

Skating around the rink, Stella couldn't help but giggle. "Hey Naois don't you think this time of the year is awesome?!" She asked, shouting over the many voices. Stella learnt something that day. She couldn't skate, at ALL. She'd skate a while then fall straight after. But yet Stella just couldn't keep away! She skated for hours before finely sitting down.

"Ah that was fun was it not?" She asked, then looked around. People where beginning to pack up. Stella sighed. "But.. its not over." She complained. The street lights where turned on, and lanterns where lit. Children where put to bed, and again more people came. Stella smiled from ear to ear. Now the real party began.

Booths where set up. Games where played, and harder drinks where introduced. The music started up and Stella made her way to the drink table. She took a lager and offered Naois one. The night was just getting started.

Naois snorted at her attempts to skate on the ice. "Not too good are you?" He had not yet stepped on the ice himself though. Perhaps he was just waiting for the challenge to do so. Once he felt he had obtained that challenge, he stepped onto the ice. Kicking off he slid past Stella, sitting on the ice, "Its rather simple actually," He turned, going backwards now. "Just get the actions down, thats all." He turned again, going straight. He went about for a while before coming to a stop next to Stella.

He paced through the crowd, getting a drink for himself. Non-alcoholic of course. He didn't drink in the common slang usage of the word. He came to a stop next to Stella, "So nice." He sighed looking at a few stars twinkle into visibility in the sky, that reminded him of Stella which his gaze fell upon.

Stella found herself blushing as he looked at her. She smiled at him. "Ive had a really nice time tonight with you Naois." She murmmered, then sighed. "The nights almost over." She wished this day could end. All the fun things they had done she wished they could do it forever.

She looked up at the stars with Naois. She smiled. Everything was a dream tonight, and she felt a chill from the air. "Come." She said again, taking his hand and leading him towards a little patch of grass under a tree. Snapping off a few twigs she grabbed her wand.

"SPARK." She shouted, and a spark lept from her wand onto the twigs. Soon a fire was roaring. Stella jumped up. "Wait here please!" She called, runnig through the crowds, up to the food table. Grabbing somthing, she ran back to Naois. "Here!" She frew him the packet.

"Marshmellows." She anounced. Sitting down on the soft grass. "I love them!" She said smiling. They where one of her favourate sweets of all time!!

From a distance, Obsidian came to observe the two beings of intrigue that came before him. Ahh the youthful play of affection He smiled, as their activities reminded him of those shared by children: picnics, playful banter and ice-sliding dances he had never seen until this day. Mayhap old dogs too required exposure to new tricks that he probably wouldn't try for himself. His boots were not quite equipped nor were they built to navigate upon smooth icy surfaces.

He attempted to imagine himself upon the sheet of ice upon which the two youthful beings once enjoyed themselves and he could merely picture an image of his form in a constant stumble that lacked entirely on grace. But why stop at the mere perceptions of a fantasy? Melandro dared himself to give this insanity a try.

Cautiously, he walked upon the snowy surface of white with its powdery nature providing friction to each and every stride as he moved ever closer to the smooth glass-like surface of ice.

There he placed his left boot with much care upon the sheet, gradually applying his weight there for assured stability before moving on with the other.

There is nothing to it!

He confidently proclaimed to himself as he brought both of his feet unto the platform.

Now how did they...

Obsidian attempted to move one of his legs, hoping that such an act would allow him to glide across the even surface. His boot slid unexpectedly. His arms waved, desperately seeking balance. His eyes formed to the size of saucers as he realized that all was lost to the mercy of gravity.

THUMP!

He fell unto his side, wincing to the slight pain that crept to his thigh upon striking the ground.

Stella watched as a man nearby fell to the ground. She jumped up and ran over to him.

"Oooh are you okay?" She asked, offering an hand to help him up. "Its my first time with this white powdery stuff they call snow..." She leaned in closer to him and whispered. "I'm terrible at ice skating." She announced, then backed off giggling.

"Would you like to join me and my friend?" She asked. She pointed over to where Naois sat, next to the roaring fire. "Who have marshmelloooows." She coaxed, looping her hand through his and attempted to lead him other. The she spotted it. Hot. Coco. With a yelp she ran over to the stall and took in her possession two mugs. She offered one to the man.

"Here. Warm yourself up. It seems to be getting colder." She shivered as she said this, suddenly missing the fire. Stella had only her dress on. She began to skip over to the fire. When she sat down she patted the ground next to her. "Come." She said, still patting it.

"Ahh..."

Obsidian grumbled, feeling the pain swell upon his leg as if crippling him for a moment. He would have denied any form of aid for the sake of pride yet for what use? The girl had after all offered her friendship to him through the form of an extended hand, a hand which he would gladly accept as he anchored himself with his other bare grasp. There he felt the cold cause a sting upon his flesh, biting unto his sense of touch for a fraction in time until his palm became cold with numbness. The ice was slippery as a thin layer of water formed upon the surface nearly causing him to slip once again until he was finally able to take firm control by planting his hand upon the snow's powdery feel.

To the female's words, Melandro could not help but lend a mere smile. It seems after all that they both had something in common.

"I caught a glimpse of you both at play here. I thought you were quite skilled for such an activity which you say was your first time to perf---"

His words were cut short as the eager girl took him by the hand and virtually led him to her friend in full speed. Sprinting as well, he trailed her, curious as to what had suddenly caused this sense of excitement.

"We need not rush really..."

He continued only to realize that she had collected in her hands two mugs, one of which she lent to him in an act of generosity.

"Thank you. You are very kind."

Stella smiled, patting the seat next to her. "My names Stella." She introduced herself to him, then blushed. "Whats your name?" She didn't want to sound too forward, or anything. Whilst waiting for an reply Stella took a marshmallow on a stick, and hovered it over the fire.

Twisting it every now and then, she made the outer layer completely golden. She offered to the man. All around people had followed her lead and made their own fired. Stella smiled enviously at the couples, and the families with children.

All around people huddled close to one another as the air turned colder and colder, the temperature forever dropping. Stella's breathe came out in clouds, as did others. Combined with the glow from the fire, Stella's own glow seemed brighter this day - Probably because she was so happy.

This was her first winter here on earth, and even though it was cold she loved it. She could stay up all night! Which she would be doing anyway since Stella could not sleep. Over all, this had been a perfect day, and she had even made a new friend! Or so she hoped he would be her friend.

Naois looked at the fire, so warm. It was an unquenchable entity, burning and burning till it starved. Forever hungry its flaming maw would eat. Eat till all about it is gone, where it slowly dwindles, becoming more skeletal by the moment. Like the wraith. Unless you provide the mighty water to it's blaze, the sword of justice to the wraith. Yes, the relation is much like water and fire, fire can make water loose bits of itself in steam, but in the end water wins.

Naois tilted his gaze to where Stella had run off to. What was she up to? Making friends, she was always making friends, couldn't get enough of them? He shrugged, watching her help the man up. Soon she had returned back to where she was before. A new arrival now, wonderful. Naois shifted so he could see the newcomer better. "Hi.." He didn't really have it in him at the moment to both with much more than that.

"It is certainly a pleasure to meet you, Stella, as are you..."

Von Mortem came to refer to his companion's friend whom she has yet to introduce with formality. However, he came to realize that it was on the other hand his turn for an introduction in a manner that he wasn't quite accustomed to. Few were the instances when the Nocturne came to mingle with regular civilians to the point of exchanging names. He was a secretive man for understandably dark reasons. His life, his name wasn't particularly the most celebrated as much as he himself had attempted to clear his slate of all Valec's transgressions however such a task was close to impossibility.

His mind reverted to a time when he had last revealed the truth behind his identity. Only one knew him by the name Melandro Von Mortem aside from his close allies, the long forgotten Syndicates. Only Phedre, wife of the dark god kept the most private of his secrets.

"My name is Alessandro."

He was lying for that which he called himself was in truth one which belonged to the father of his first wife, the figure who through the years had become his source of inspiration in becoming who he was now. He would not have denied them of his true name if only the world was far more forgiving yet there were far too many dangers, far too many enemies that had sought for his head.

"What brings you both here this evening? I hope I did not intrude in any way?"

He smiled, watching them prepare their meager snack upon the fire.

Naois looked up into the sky, stars flickering across the night sky. He looked back at Stella, how a star could be sentient, he had no idea. Yet there she was, living proof. Though he shouldn't be very surprised, the deities were just as unusual after all. Naois scratched his head, thinking about that for a moment more.

The other man soon talked, "My name is Alessandro." He nodded replying, "My name is Naois, nice to meet you." He nodded to the man whom he now knew as Alessandro. He turned his attention back to the fire. The fire that was so similar to the wraith, and then to the lake, water so similar to himself. He shook his head slightly.

Naois turned back to Stella, "So what are you going to do? Where are you headed? Its self explanatory what I'm going to be doing." He smiled and looked back up to the sky. Too think that he probably once gazed upon her in the sky was almost humorous.

"Me?" She asked, then smiled. "I don't no. Where ever i feel i guess. I'll have to decide soon though, this celebration is coming to an end, and so i cant really stay here..." She looked around, at the people clearing up. Then sighed.

"I guess I'll check out the Misty Forest. I hear some strange things have been going down and I'm rather curious..." She mumbled. Stella had been told storied from the townsfolk of strange happenings in the forest. People seeing things that aren't really there, and some not even coming out, and Stella wanted to witness all this first hand.

She turned to the other two. "Naois, try not to do anything stupid over the wraith. I wouldn't want to see you hurt..." She mumbled. She herself hated that wraith too. She then addressed Alessandro. "Where are you heading?" She asked. Sh was immensely curious, as Stella always liked to ask questions.