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Hometown was gently blanketed in snow by a cozy winter. Most residents had already settled in.
Among those who still hadn’t was Noelle, for she was walking Ralsei to the school. After spending a wonderful day at the Dreemurr household with Kris, Susie, and Berdly, their laughs rang in her heart.
For just a bit, nothing else mattered.
“You know Noelle…”
Her trance vanished as Ralsei spoke.
“I’ve actually never done anything in the snow.”
“Huh, really??” Noelle’s shock quickly turned to pity as she added, “That’s kinda sad…”
“I’m afraid so…” he went on to explain, “Castle Town’s dark world doesn’t exactly have seasons like the light world.”
Given Ralsei’s predicament, Noelle’s eyes sombered and her brows slanted.
Then, a thought sprung to her mind. “Hey wait a minute– Ralsei?” She called out to him.
“Yes?” He asked as he looked at her.
“Do you…” Noelle’s eyes squinted at her candy cane watch.
Ralsei stood with a left banked head.
“I have time.” She deduced, before looking back to her friend. “I can take you to the park if you want.”
“Oh?”
He gave her invitation much thought. He had heard of the town’s park, but never saw it personally. Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to hang out with a good friend of his.
Ralsei came to a conclusion. “Sure. Show me the way.”
Noelle’s ear flickered with glee.
Thus, they began heading off in the appropriate direction.
Upon arrival, the two took in the view of the park. Noelle was most familiar with it and its sense of nostalgia, while Ralsei was enamored by the beautiful simplicity of it. Lamp posts faintly illuminated an aged fence gate, with benches and trashcans scattered sensibly, and a centered tree that reminded the prince of Castle Town’s grand fountain.
While admiring the sight, Noelle felt something amiss. “Hm. Mom usually decorates this place before Christmas Eve.”
“Man, it would have been so cool to see those tonight…”
Ralsei endorsed the idea. “I’m sure it looks nice; it does sound as such.”
Noelle smiled a little.
“Anyways! Ralsei,” She turned to him. “you said you haven’t done anything in the snow yet?”
“Yes.” He turned to her as well. “Why?”
“How do you feel about starting now?”
“Oh? What do you mean, Noelle?”
“Faha! I mean, look in front of you!” Noelle stretched her arms out to emphasize, “There’s a whole open field with a bunch of snow!”
He pondered for a bit.
“You want to show me… snow activities?”
She giggled softly. “That’s right, I’ll show you the ones we do the most.”
Ralsei smiled, enamored by her enthusiasm. “I see. When are we starting then?”
“Right about now.” Was all she said, before kneeling down. “Help me gather some snow Ralsei!”
He indulged her, albeit not without curiosity.
“What are we doing Noelle?”
“Making a figure out of snow.”
“A figure? Like, a person? Someone we know?”
“Could be. Do you want it to be?”
The boy paused. His friends came to mind. Which of them would he want to sculpt?
“Hmm? Ralsei?”
He muttered, “H–huh?” unaware he looked tense. “Oh um… sorry. I was deciding. I think I do, yes.”
“Well alright then. Anyone in particular?”
Ralsei smiled playfully.
“Ah. Okay. Keep your secrets then, har har!”
“Hmm… we actually need some pebbles and sticks to build our snowman. I’ll go out to get some, alright?”
“Wait uh–”
“Don’t worry Ralsei, you’re doing good so far!”
“Really??”
By that point, Noelle was already out and about. She was in the Cross Country Team after all.
Thus, Ralsei was left to his own devices.
“Hm.”
He resumed forming his snowman to the best of his abilities, as hasty as they may be. Upon his conclusion, Ralsei went to idle by the gate, awaiting Noelle’s return.
“Heya Ralsei.” Noelle greeted upon return. “How’d your snowman building go?”
“Ah, it was lovely.” He chuckled. “I’m delighted you showed me this, Noelle.”
“Happy to hear. Were you waiting for me?”
“I was actually. You… wouldn’t mind staying here for a bit, would you?”
“Hm?” She then teased, “Is this a part of your secret?”
He meekly replied, “Um… yes…” His chin was nearly meeting his chest.
“Faha! Well, I don’t mind. I’ll keep myself surprised then.”
“Thank you Noelle. May I have the sticks and pebbles?”
“Oh sure.”
After handing over the items to Ralsei, Noelle turned around as per her honesty. She watched as coldwater fell from the top of the sky.
Ralsei set aside the sticks to place pebbles where needed, then exchanged his pebbles for the sticks and finished off the snowman.
“Hey Noelle?”
She didn’t turn around, but still replied, “Yeah?”
“Are you okay with me holding your hand to guide you?”
“Sure.”
Ralsei did as he said. He found Noelle’s hand smooth. She found his fluffy.
After a short walk, Ralsei told Noelle, “Alright… you can look at my snowman now.”
She did as she was told.
“Oh my gosh.”
Ralsei’s heart sank, “I’m sorry! Is it bad? I–I tried to–”
Noelle squealed.
“Ralsei, I love it! I was expecting you’d build Kris – maybe Susie – but not me!”
“You don’t mind how rough it looks…?”
“Hey, it’s your first time; and, you built me! That’s like… a giga compliment, ya know?!”
They both chuckled.
He replied, “You’re welcome Noelle…!” his tone warming like his cheeks.
As her happy feet slowly settled, Noelle immediately began returning the gesture.
“Ralsei, could you close your eyes for me?”
“Hmm? Oh, sure.” Additionally, he turned around. He was a very courteous prince after all.
As quickly as his eyes closed, as quickly as they reopened. For seemingly in an instant, Noelle told him, “Ralsei! You can open your eyes!”
Bewildered and impressed by her speed, Ralsei turned back.
“Oh.”
“Whaddya think?”
“Noelle, this… this is lovely, I…”
Noelle giggled a little. “I thought it’d be fair to build you since you built me–”
Suddenly, Ralsei hugged her.
“Thank you…! Thank you! Um– I– Y–yeah, it’s… it’s beautiful…!”
Noelle returned the gesture.
Noelle’s tail wagged a little. “You’re welcome, Ralsei.” she said, tone ever so tender.
They then let go.
“Alright, what’s next Noelle?”
The doe said nothing, simply walking further away.
Concerned, he checked on her. “Noelle?”
She ominously crouched, then got up, confusing him further.
“This is.”
Next thing Ralsei knew, his robe was hit with a snowball. “ACK–” He shouted.
Noelle laughed cheerily. “Snowball fight!” She proclaimed.
“Huh?”
“Just… you know. Throw snow at your friends for fun! Come on, throw some at me, Ralsei!”
“Are you sure?”
Noelle signed an “OK” with her hand, which Ralsei understood.
The boy crouched down, formed a sphere of snow, then hurled with mild strength at his friend. It struck her in the face, which made Ralsei gasp, then slowly cover half of his face.
Much to his relief, as she wiped the snow off, Noelle laughed heartily. An expression from her he’d rarely seen. They made eye contact for a bit, before Noelle formed another snowball, which she hurled back at him.
Ralsei dodged, then swiftly dashed in the direction opposite of her. “Hey! I still have some snowballs who want to talk to you!” Noelle playfully shouted, to which Ralsei teasingly replied, “I have some too, but let me fetch them first!”
The pair ran the whole park, hitting and missing shots along the way; they also occasionally paused to reload their palms. This continued for a while, until Ralsei landed a hit on Noelle’s face once more.
Wiping the snow off her snout, she commented, “Fahaha! I didn’t know you…”
“...were really good at aiming…?” Confusion occupied her tone, for Ralsei was nowhere to be seen. Save for a footprint path in the snow.
“Hmm…”
Noelle saw that it led straight to the tree in the middle. Naturally, curiosity dictated her decision.
She tilted her head a bit. “Ralsei? You there?” Noelle was expecting he’d pop out of nowhere with a big snowball in his hand, the likes of which he'd smash on her head.
Which is exactly what happened.
After that, Ralsei held onto Noelle, for his balance escaped him. Unfortunately, he merely brought her down with him.
They both grunted lightly as the snow cushioned them.
After a short pause, a burst of laughter followed.
As his two hands slipped off Noelle’s back, Ralsei teased, “Hehe… I’d say I won this fight.”
“What? Seriously?? I landed more hits on you!”
“Well, yes, but… I got one big hit!”
Quickly, Noelle formed a snowball and gently pressed it on Ralsei’s face.
“But I got the last hit! How’s that?!”
She watched as he laughed. Her heart somewhat fluttered. Noelle subsequently laughed in unison both out of genuineness, and to make it less awkward for herself.
Courteous as ever, Ralsei suggested: “How say you if we call it even?”
“Oh no no– it's fine! I’m just a little competitive, faha!”
“I think you deserve it after that big snowball.”
“Aw, well– if you say so! Then thank you Noelle!”
“And um… sorry for pulling you down…”
“No, no! I apologize for losing balance!”
They both chuckled. After which, they locked eyes with a smile.
After a brief moment, Ralsei’s heated cheeks were the first to pull him back to reality.
“So um… may you please get off me?”
“OH WOOPS–”
Ears perked up and tail beginning to wag, Noelle rolled to her right, then sat a fair distance from him.
“Sorry! Sorry, I got caught up in the moment– I didn’t notice I–”
“I forgive you.” Ralsei said, smile warm as ever.
“O–oh…”
“Well…”
Noelle felt relieved. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome Noelle!”
They fixed their appearances a bit, until Ralsei spoke up.
“Anyway… are there any more activities for us to do, Noelle?”
“Hmm… There is one last one. It’s more relaxing than a snowball fight.”
“Ooh, what is it?”
“Snow angels.”
Ralsei’s interest piqued.
“Ohh! What are we supposed to do?”
“I… can’t really explain it. But I can show it…!”
“Here, watch.”
He watched as she lay on the ground to perform motions akin to a metronome with her limbs. He observed the shape left in the wake of said motions.
“I see.”
Ralsei got down on his back to copy what Noelle was doing. After a bit, he was rewarded with his own snow angel.
“You did pretty well for your first time.”
“Ehe.” Ralsei chuckled. “It was kind of easy to do.”
“I guess.”
They smiled at each other yet again.
After all was said and done, the two sat together by the snow angels.
Noelle twiddled her fingers.
“This… was fun.”
“Everything we did reminded me of…”
“The good times. Especially with my older sister.”
“Faha…”
She sniffled. “Ah… S–sorry, I’m getting sentimental again…”
Ralsei placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I’m happy this hangout means a lot to you Noelle.”
She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling more comfortable. He laid his head on hers.
“Thank you Ralsei.”
“Anything for you Noelle. I should be thanking you, actually. This was a very fun experience.”
“Well, anything for you.”
They both chuckled.