Twas The Night Before Christmas

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Disclaimer: I don't own the BMFM, Charlie, Carbine, Rimfire, Stoker, Limburger or Brie. I do, however, own Mari, Mandy, Snowfall, Ice and the Changing Times.

Just a little Christmas story to get us all in the mood. It is set a few days before "When Love Breaks." Enoy. Man did I write this one early.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

By Goldenmane

The snow had begun to fall when the first bikes arrived at the Changing Times. Mari went to greet them, Snowfall gently bundled in her arms. She was greeted with the unexpected suprise of other faces as well as those dear to her.

"I knew you guys were comming," she said to Throttle as he shook himself of the snow that clung to his fur. "But I didn't expect more company."

Throttle shrugged, moving to make way for Modo and Vinnie. "What can I say?"

"What is it?" Mandy yelled from another room.

"Carbine, Rimfire and Stoker are here as well," Mari called back. She ushered them in. "Just grab a cup and fill 'er up. Mandy's own special recipie."

Vinnie stopped, tickling a giggling Snowfall under the chin. "And how's my little Snow," he cooed.

Mari cleared her throat, quirking her brows, trying in vain to get his attention. "Um," she said in a low voice. "Charlie's looking this way and I don't think she's too happy."

Vinnie rose and turned. "Um, well," he stammered.

Mari only smiled, turning, almost running into Mandy. "All set?"

Mandy nodded. "Just as soon as everyone settles."

"Ready for what?" Modo asked.

"Well, y'see, Mandy has this tradition whereas every Christmas eve she does her rendition of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'," Mari said, moving to find a seat.

Mandy took a perch on the edge of her worktable and loudly cleared her throat. She grimaced when no one except Modo, Mari, Vinnie and Charlie paid attention to her.

"Don't worry," Charlie said. "With this many mice, you kind of get used to it."

Mandy only chuckled. "Raid!" she yelled.

Everyone froze except for Throttle who went for his laser and Stoker who held up his hands in surrender. Both of them blushed deeply when they realized what happened.

"Good, now that I've got everyone's attention, can we please settle down. Find a seat, make sure you've got a drink handy and I'll recite a story for you," Mandy said rather loudly and hastily before anyone could say anything.

Everyone grabbed a drink and chose a seat, except for Stoker and Rimfire who chose to stand. They quieted, much to Mandy, Charlie, and Mari's supprise.

"Good, now that you're all focused and paying attention. As I do every year at this time, I tell the story of a time, long ago, when the true Christmas magic still flowed," Mandy said. "It is "The Night Before Christmas"."

Mari snuggled deeper into the chair, repositioning Snowfall in her arms. She chanced a look towards Vinnie and half smiled when she saw Charlie take his hand. He looked to her with a warm and tender look before refocusing on Mandy. Mari returned her thoughts to her friend and listened.

Mandy cleared her throat once for emphasis then began.

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all throught the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

"Musta been at daybreak," Vinnie half commented.

Charlie whacked him on the shoulder. "Quiet, will you?"

He sheepishly grinned, returing his gaze once more to Mandy.

Mandy only sighed and continued.

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled, all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads."

"Sugarplums?" Rimfire asked.

"A kind of sweet of Olde England when this story was written," Mari said.

"Oh," he replied.

"But what about the socks? I mean couldn't they put 'em in a dryer? And what does this Saint Nick guy have to do with socks?" Modo asked.

Mari sighed. "Nothing. I guess ya gotta go research that one."

Mandy wondered if she would ever get through it, but forged on nonetheless.

"And Mama in her 'kerchife, and I in my cap, had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap. When out on the law there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter."

"Plutarkians," Stoker mumbled. "Gotta be Plutarkians."

Mandy ignored him.

"Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash."

She breathed a sigh of relief when no one commented.

"The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow gave the luster of midday to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer."

"Reindeer," Throttle whispered to Vinnie. "Must be an old English term for 'horsepower.' "

"Yeah, but how do they get all those presents in a tiny sleigh?" Vinnie whispered back.

"With a little old driver so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be Saint Nick," Mandy said quickly so not to be interrupted.

"Is that what they mean by the 'nick of time?' " Vinnie chuckled, recieving a clout on the shoulder from Charlie.

Mandy groaned, looking towards Mari. Mari only shrugged.

"More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, and he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name: "Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

"As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house top the coursers they flew, with a sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

"And then in a twinkling, I heard on the roof, the prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head and was turning around, down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound."

"Hope there was no fire going," Modo commented.

Mandy sighed. Things had been going so well.

"He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, and his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

"His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!"

"Too long in the cold," Stoker mumbled.

"His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.The stump of the pipe he held tight in his teeth, and the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

"He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a ripe jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself."

"Sure he wasn't a Plutarkian in disguise?" Rimfire whispered to Modo.

Modo only shrugged.

"A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work. And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying a finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod up the chimney he rose.

"He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight. "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" "

Mandy breathed a sigh of relief.

"I don't get it?" Vinnie said perplexed. "I mean, couldn't've this guy written in english?"

"He did," Mandy said. "Clement Clarke Moore, the writer of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" was an Englishman. And you've got to keep two things in mind. First this was written in the mid 1800's and secondly, it's poetry. The words are supposed to rhyme, that's why they don't always make sense."

"I guess you've got to understand poetry," Mari said, absently smoothing Snowfall's hair.

Vinnie only shrugged.

"I think it was great," Carbine said, the only one who remained silent the whole time. "Perfect for tonight."

'At last,' Mandy thought. 'Someone who appreciates good poetry.'

"And a good message," Stoker added.

They all raised their glasses in a silent toast.

"To the times ahead, whether for good or bad," Mari said at long last.

"For friendships both old and new," Throttle said.

"Peace to the galaxy," Carbine added.

"If only for this one night," Mandy finished.

They gathered together, watching the snow fall outside. Tonight they would have some little peace in their lives. A break from war. A time to celebrate what they had done, and what they could do in the years ahead.

And most of all to renew their vow to the Earth and Mars.

And to each other.

Merry Christmas one and all.