Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Christmas Countdown One-Shot story! Except this year I won't be counting down with multiple chapters until Christmas.
Instead, we'll have one big epic long shipping Minecraft: Story Mode, one-shot with the OCs from last year, plus some new guys, too!

Is everyone ready? Alright - let's do this!

(Also this beginning is literally a mess since I tried to world-build and uh- yikes. But I dunno you guys might like it? It gets better hah anyways please enjoy! - )

Also apologizes for this being a little late! this is really unedited -

-

None of this would have happened if it hadn't been for Kendall. "Common, it's a really nice place, you'll love it!" She had told anyone who would listen.

She had recently won a contest to go to a vacation resort, and she needed to redeem it, soon.

Her sleepy little town was always interrupted by her constant asking, pleading
Some told her no, others completely avoided her gaze. but Kendall had persisted - after all, HarvestTown was big, with many different districts; the Sahara District, the Beach District, the Autumn District, it went on. All culminating in the entire mainly Savannah and Taiga terrain that was their Delamont dimension. But with so many people, towns, and districts, it was getting difficult to ask people who she knew.

Until she had almost smacked herself on the head.
Of course - her friends. I'm an idiot, she chuckled to herself.

Surely they'll want to go with me...hopefully.

To the Beach District!

-

CRASH.

Dawson screamed as the door as a shoe came in contact with her terra-cotta coloured door, pounding it into the floor and it despawning.

"Kendall!"

"Sorry! Dawson - lemme lay down the deal here," Kendall quickly changed into a shady salesperson vibe, sitting on the girl's couch.
"Dawson, how would you like to be part of an amazing opportunity?"

"A h h my cheerios -" The girl bent to pick them up. She had clearly just woken up, being in coral-coloured flannel pjs and having cereal spilt everywhere.
"Well, today's the day! I've been invited to this luxury hotel somewhere per winning a contest, and I'm allowed to bring some friends! So - what d'ya say?"

Dawson yawned, then her eyes lit up. "Are you kidding? That sounds amazing! For how long?"
"Hmm, today? Until a few days before Christmas?"

"Sure, I'm in. Who else have you got?"
"She also kicked our doors down," Came a voice, Wolfe's head appearing in the doorway, followed by Aranna, Myst, and Hatsumi. The third person of that particular squad seemed way too excited.
"You ready to do this?" Hatsumi asked, seeming ecstatic.

"Sure I just need to pick up this friggin' cereal-" Dawson agreed, seeming distracted. Kendall took that as a yes.
"Perfect, we got another one! Let's roll out boys!"

-

"Is this it?" Myst asked.
They had all been collected by the girl and had all agreed to travel to this weird holiday resort. The place looked almost too amazing to be real; a large reddish-brown building with red and cream-coloured awnings and decoration strung up on the insides.
Just outside of the building were a bunch of much smaller wooden log cabins strewn around the rather large area, with the cream-coloured snow billowing and settling on them.
Small gift-shops, trading shops and little marketplaces also littered the place, mainly in various shapes of copper or chestnut brown, but some being coloured.
Banners full of different colours were swathed across the little chestnut-coloured booths, and people seemed to be laughing and chatting away.
The reddish-brown hotel itself was lit up with a yellow-orange light, warm and welcoming.
"That's, where we're staying?" Cindy asked, blown away.
Kendall was grinning. "Yes! A top suite - check out the brochure! According to it, we have -" She titled it diagonally while Cindy tried to grab it. "A pool, a theme room, great views, a decorated suite, a nice kitchen with room service, three bedrooms, and - jeez, chill Cindy! I'm trying to read it!"
"You literally just said to take a look at it!"
"I was reading it!" Cindy sighed and promptly gave up, with Dawson giggling so hard she had to hide herself in her shirt.
They continued to wait a bit, and then Kendall ushered them all to a small train station just across the road from the place.

"So, we're not going in?" Myst asked with a pout. Kendall shook her head. "We're waiting for Jasmine and Rush. They're taking the train and it should be here soon."

Wolfe gave a low whistle. "Kendall, how many people did you invite?" She asked, turning towards her.

"Uh, let's see - well, you, Aranna, Dawson, Jas, Rush, Serena, Star, Myst, Cindy," Kendall began to count on her fingers. "Kyril, Shez, Papisuu, Boredom, Fangirl, Lysa, Investagator aaand Hatsumi. That's it." (I need more guy friends on this site oml)
"Why that many?" Cindy asked, alarmed.
Kendall turned the brochure around, which Cindy took. "It says "Bring up to 15 friends for the price of 1." We only have a few of us extra and-"

Cindy opened her mouth, then closed it again, giving her a look. "Kendall, that says "Bring ONE friend for 15% off.""
"What."
"How on earth did you think-"

All of sudden, the earth and small terra-cotta coloured station rumbled as a train pulled up and abruptly stopped. The doors opened and the new group cheered loudly as people started to step out.
"Ahhh!!" Someone booked it from the crowd and shot herself at them, pulling as many of them into a hug as she possibly could. "Sorry we're late!"
"That's okay Jas, we just got here," Hatsumi said with a simple shrug. "Where's-?"

Rush stepped from the train.
And Kendall forgot how to breathe.

She looked - well, good, of course, she always did - but there was something about her long chocolate hair being up in a high ponytail; a big amber-coloured winter coat being folded around her, along with the tacky-looking lavender and cerulean pantone coloured flannel scarf tucked into her neck, (but somehow she made it work,); and the chipper almost analytically confident look in her eyes that all made Kendall's heart race.
She looked away as Kyril threw her a teasing look, and Kendall gave a quick scoff. Kendall threw a snowball at the girl right before Rush enveloped her into a hug.
(I regret nothing about this lol)

"Hey you!" She greeted; her voice sounded a bit deeper, a bit huskier than when Kendall had last heard from her. "Are you still a nerd?" She teased. "I like your outfit, very out there." She gestured to Kendall's stormy grey and flannel jade-green jacket.
The copper-haired girl attempted to say something for a solid 5 seconds, then stopped and simply let out an awkward laugh.
Rush simply shrugged it off, going to wrap her arms around Dawson, who was currently talking about her thoughts at what if there were any secrets tunnels in the hotel.

"Anyways, let's get over to the hotel!" Jasmine cheered. More cheers rose up, and the group got up from the train station and began talking excitedly. Sure, many of them lived close to each-other, but something about the Christmas atmosphere and excitement at the hotel made them excited to talk.
"So, do you know where Jesse and the others are?" Rush asked to no one in particular. Myst answered her. "I heard that they were staying behind in Beacontown and hold a celebration there, but they might come join us if they can."

The group entered the bustling place and stepped into the hotel. Instantly, Dawson gave a half-laugh. "This is giving me mansion vibes," She joked.
The place itself looked amazing, with many people excitedly chattering away in the main lobby. The lighting bathed the place in a gentle yellow-orange and reddish-brown light that was dazzling, but also seemed very calm and cozy.
Hot cocoa was near the food bars, dipped with marshmallows and bathing everything in a cocoa scent.

Kendall walked up to the front. A young woman looked up.
"Uh yes, hi, Kendall Storm - I won the contest to stay here?" She showed the woman her contest entry and confirmation she had won. After a few moments of looking it over, the lady behind the chestnut-coloured counter tucked a lock of crimson-red hair behind her ear before nodding.

"Yes, okay - we seem to have your room set up for you -" She glances at the others. "Although ma'am, all of your accompanied guests will have to pay for themselves."
"Oh, uh-"
"It's no problem, Kendall," Rush stated. "We can all totally pay for ourselves." Kendall breathed a sigh of relief as they all shuffled to the front.

"HEY I GOT A THING!-" Hatsumi suddenly came bursting through the front lobby on a bright red luggage cart, spinning wildly. Abruptly, a hotel staff stopped the cart.
"Don't do that, please," The young man said.

Once everyone had paid, they loaded up their luggage, taking in the beautiful reddish-brown hotel while the bell-boy escorted them up. All the while, Myst seems absolutely taken.
"So, homeboy," Hatsumi asked, still leaning against the luggage cart while the bell-boy was pushing it.
"My man. My main man. What's your name? You got a dog? A job? Well, hah I guess you do if you're here, that would be weird."

"I'm Aaron," He said, smiling slightly. "I have another job as room service here, but mainly alone."
"He's single," Myst gushed to no one in particular, fluffing up her dark hair smittenly. He guided them through the grey-seafoam carpets and chestnut-coloured halls until they finally stopped at a room.
Opening it up, everyone gasped in excitement.

"Whoa - this place is amazing!" Boredom announced. The room was painted with the same colours of the hallway, with extra beiges and tans. Each room had a theme according to the brochure that Cindy still held, and this was appropriately train-themed.
A scarlet-train was painted alongside the curtains, and across the absolutely luxurious looking beds.
"We've got a hot-tub!" Lysa squealed, who adored fancy bathrooms. "No way! That cannot be real," Dawson exclaimed in alarm, going to see where this was.

"All in favor of letting Kendall host the next vacation," Papisuu said. All of their hands raised up. Kendall laughed. "Aw."

-

"Okay everyone, this is Secret Santa," Cindy explained. "You take one slip of paper, and whoever's name is on it you have to get a present for. There's a marketplace in town. That's where we'll be able to get presents for everyone." She handed out the pieces of paper to everyone.
It was much later in the evening, a cyan haze over the dark chestnut hallways and yellow-orange light. Papisuu had made some food for everyone (with large amounts of help from Boredom,) and had nearly set the kitchen on fire, but luckily they had managed to avoid that.
"Here ya go, Kendall," Cindy said, tip-toeing around everyone's sleeping bags.

Kendall immediately unfolded her piece and paper, and felt dread pierce her stomach. Rush, her crumbled up piece of paper read loud and clear.
Her heart fell straight to her slippers.

How on earth am I going to do this?

As soon as everyone had gotten their papers, Cindy announced that tomorrow they could explore more and that she was going to sleep.
Instantly, she leaped up onto one of the bigger beds, star-fishing across it with glee.
"Hey! You can't take the biggest bed for yourself!" Serena complained.

"Well, no, technically I can. I am fully able to do that, however it may not be morally right." The girl adjusted her glasses, trying to hold in her laughter.
"Get off the bed, Cindy!" Wolfe joined in.

"Too late. I already called it in my head." Cindy snickered.

Wolfe ignored her and belly-flopped, tackling her. A bunch of them were soon in a dog pile, laughing and trying to get onto the bigger bed.
Suddenly, the lights turned off. "We're gonna die," Dawson commented.

Everyone stood, and they could hear people running around from downstairs. A crackle came out in the hallway.

"-Hello, the ninth floor has been invaded with mobs. Tenants on certain floors will be asked to move to our lodges until the situation is under control. In all buildings, the power may spontaneously go out. We are trying to fix the problem as soon as we can. Thank you."

The message continued to repeat itself.
"You think we'll be kicked out? I mean, we're one floor below that." Papisuu asked to no one in particular.

"Eh, we should be fine," Rush reasoned.

-

They evacuated.

The group had moved to one of the cabins, although the large group learned that they wouldn't have to share.
The house was smaller than anyone had predicted. They had been warned that it was a bit older and would have some issues, but they had thought nothing of it.
Although the walls were a much darker brown, the place was still filled with colour, decorations and a warm fire crackling in the fireplace.
There were stockings filled with things from the hotel, such as Christmas flannel pajamas, or tiny bottles of shampoo.

"This place doesn't seem all that bad," Lysa muttered, that was until Shez booked it into the room, panting.

"What's wrong?"
"There's a mouse in the friggen' tub!" She shrieked.

"What!?"
"Yikes! Ew," Dawson shuddered.
A sudden crash made them turn up their heads, and Kendall's foot had come through the cruddy-made second floor.
"This place is in rough shape," Cindy commented bluntly. She turned to Kendall. "Are all the cabins this...badly made?"

"Well, they said that this place was the only place we could go until the hotel was cleared of the monsters and what-not, and I guess we got the crappy place," Star commented. Then her eyes lit up. "Maybe it's haunted."
"A ghost is making the house dilapidated?" Cindy dead-panned.

"There's a ghost here!" Star was adamant. "The light keep going out, the house is falling apart - these are the makings of a Halloween special, I tell ya."

They set down their sleeping bags in one of any of the five rooms, and then Fangirl suggested they go to the marketplace. There wasn't much to do in the slowly crumbling house, anyways. Well, not exactly crumbling, as Kyril and Papisuu had pointed out. Just cozy...with a slightly sunken roof.
And a fireplace.
That was closer to the roof.

...

The marketplace was bustling.

People clustered into groups, admiring the beautiful little marketplace. One section was connected to the main hotel, bathed in a yellow-orange light and filled with the scenes of oak and chestnut, while the other side of the market was covered in pastel banners and booths, with a small skating lake and cream-coloured snow covering the periwinkle-lavender sky.
"Hey, Dawson, skate with me!" Cindy grinned, making her way towards the lake.

The girl grinned and joined her.
The others looked around the cozy place, and Boredom bought hot cocoa for everyone, along with some warm-looking chocolate chip cookies.

Everyone decided to split up and travel around, meeting up in an hour or so. Instantly, Myst found herself walking towards the front desk of the hotel.
She found Aaron pretty quickly, talking to a few women and handling a bunch of suitcases to take up to another room.
Myst dawdled by the fireplace, peeking over the corner to see him.

"What'cha doing?" A voice made Myst scream, turning around wildly. It was Kyril. Myst let her shoulders sag in relief.

"Nothing."

"Ooh - you think he's cute?"

Myst colored. "I mean - theoretically, genetically, yes! He has very nice hair and has...good structure." Kyril snorted. Myst coloured even more.
"Uh, okay. Sure, Myst, sure. Anyways, Dawson and Cindy need help with decorating the cabin and finding supplies. Wanna come help us out?"

Myst caught another glance at the bellboy before sighing. "Yeah, sure." And following her out the hotel.

-

"This is so pretty I'm gonna cry," Dawson muttered, glancing at all of the banners splashed across the booths. Cindy walked behind her slightly, watching the other girl dash from place to place, her grin growing bigger with every sight.

If Cindy was being honest, it was kind of weird hanging out with her.

The two acted like an old married couple, with small bickering and fussing with each-others hair and all that, but...

It felt natural to hang out with her, but not in the ways that she hung out with anyone else like Lila or Ashio.

Whatever, it was probably nothing. She strolled behind, until finally stopping Dawson. "Look! Decorations! You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Probably not."
"Hmm - well how about we..." Cindy turned around slowly to face her. "Decorate the cabin before everyone gets back?"

Dawson gasped loudly, instantly grabbing her hand. "Well then what're we waiting for!! Oh but wait - we haven't gotten our presents yet."
"Hmm. Well who's your person?"

"Hatsumi."
"Ah. I have Lysa. Let's try to find stuff for them."

After wandering the small streets and meeting up with Boredom who gave them hot cocoa as she passed by, Dawson found a beanie for Hatsumi, while Cindy managed to grab some perfume and a stuffed ghost for Lysa.

"Is that everything?"

"Probably! Now let's go."
The two spent a good 15 minutes window-shopping at all the adorable winter outfits and decorations. Dawson bought a ton of flannel pajamas for everyone, while Cindy spent her money getting materials and decorations.

Kyril and Myst met up with them, also deciding to come along.

Their feet crunched through the softened slushy snow until they'd finally made it back to their falling apart cabin.
Cindy surveyed it from the outside. "How can we fix this up? I don't want to do anything that would collapse it, but we also want to make it welcoming and festive."
"True...we could use some of the acacia wood you bought fixing up the side?" Myst suggested.

"This house is going to be completely destroyed," Kyril laughed.

Kyril and Myst started on one side of the house, fixing up the windows and fireplace area, while Dawson and Cindy dealt with the area where the Christmas tree was.
"So, what do ya say, one colour or a whole mix?" Cindy asked.

"I say we go for all kinds of colours, make it the envy of the Neighberhood," Dawson joked chipperly.
"Ahhh, but Dawson the Feng shui!!"
"It'll be more festive and colorful!"
"But-"

"Hnnn-"
"NNNN-fine."

"Woo!" Cindy huffed, then smiled, shrugging. It didn't really matter, anyways.

They passed decorations to each-other, making fancier curtains, adding fake cream-coloured snow to everything, even baking muffins and them actually coming out decently, although Myst had added way too many sprinkles.

"We'll be the most decked-out house this side of the hotel!" Kyril giggled. "We'll be seen from Beacontown," Dawson teased, and Cindy grinned. "I'll take that as a compliment."

-

It had been hours later. Finally everyone had gotten home, and the celebrations had begun. The four decorators had done an amazing job, covering the entire terra-cotta house in golds and emeralds, turquoises and reds and other holiday colours.
Dawson had helped everyone bake muffins and other foods, putting them on a snack table, and presents lay around the tree.
They had put on their new flannel pajamas that Dawson had bought for everyone, and they had all gotten settled around the tree, ready to do the secret santa.

Except for...

-

[Um so I'm real bad at writing kissing scenes so um let's just try this I'll probably cringe at this later ahh-]

Kendall stayed in her room, her new jade-seafoam flannel PJs on, twiddling her fingers. She packed away Rush's gift.
Knock knock.

"Can I come in?" Rush asked from the doorway. Kendall noticed her, spluttered, and stood up. "Yeah, sure. Definitely. I was just getting you-" She shut herself up immediately, cheeks flushing.

"My what?"
"Nothing, sorry." Kendall suddenly yelped as another piece of roof came crumbling down. "I just...I'm sorry for getting us into this situation. Us having to move into this crumbling house instead of the nice hotel, and I brought along too many people and I don't know what to get anyone anymore and-"

"Whoa, hey! Hey." Rush's eyebrows shot up in alarm. "Kendall, don't think like that! Remember last year, when we were making muffins together? Sure, it was a disaster, but we had a lot of fun because it was a disaster. Ya know?"
"I know. But-"

"No, no buts about it. You were really thoughtful by taking all of us along, but you should be having fun too. Please don't stress about this." She had stepped closer. "Let's go down there and enjoy it with everyone else! I mean, I don't personally..." She stopped mid-sentence, pointing up.
Rush swore.
"What? What's-"

Kendall followed Rush's finger up to see a dangling colorful mistletoe. The copper-haired girl realized and flushed.

"Oh, uh-" Kendall exclaimed, voice petering out. Her face warmed up, fast, her heart starting to speed up. It'll be fine, she reassured herself. I'll just back up, and we won't have- but her reassuring thoughts turned to complete mush, noticing Rush's sudden small smile.

Kendall backed up slightly.
"H-hah, who put th-at there? P-probably Papisuu, I can take it dow-" She slightly reached for it, but Rush tilted her head.

"No, it's fine! Leave it there."

Kendall dropped her arm, and it instantly went to the back of her neck.

"Uh, honestly Rush, we don't have to if you don-"
"Do you want to?"
"To...to what?'

Rush quickly grabbed Kendall's scarf and part of the jacket near her chest, pulling her forward.Kendall could just see Rush smirk with a slight twinkle in her eyes before they had completely closed the gap, and Rush had closed her eyes and holy crap -
Unsure how to react, Kendall let her arms stay up in alarm, her eyes open, processing. Rush still grabbed the middle of Kendall's jacket, until finally Kendall let her hands glide to Rush's waist, looping around and closing her eyes. Warmth made her chest pump wildly, spreading to her stomach with a mix of terror and complete excited bliss.
She pulled Rush slightly closer, her brain having turned to static. The two stayed there, dorkily in their flannel pajamas, completely alone in the room, the chatter from downstairs gone.

After what seemed like only a second, Rush pulled away. Instantly, her eyebrows shot up in worry. "I'm sorry, was that too-forward? I should've let you finish."

"No." Kendall slightly touched her mouth, the lingering warmth of lip balm still there. "No, it's fine. That was really nice." She blinked, and then blinked again, until finally she smiled.

"Oh my gosh."

Rush grinned. "You okay?" She asked, stuffing her hands into her pockets. Kendall nodded, dazed. Excited, she pulled Rush's hand and guided her downstairs, where everyone was waiting.
"Hey, where were you two?" Star asked, and Papisuu raised an eyebrow. "Nowhere," Kendall commented offhandedly, sitting on the terra-cotta floor.

"Anyways, gift exchange! Who got one for...." Fangirl thought. "Papisuu?"
"It was me!" Lysa stood up, beaming, and handed the green-haired girl her gift. As soon as she had opened it, she gasped and threw her arms around the standing girl.

"Dude thanks!! This is amazing!!"
She then gave the gift she had gotten for Dawson, who had gotten for Cindy, who had gotten for Kyril. At this point, Kendall knew soon she would have to show Rush the gift that she gave her.

Will she even like it?

"Kendall?" She looked up.
"I got you!" Serena chirped, placing a gift in her lap. Kendall opened it, and immediately her eyes widened.

"Grip boots?"
"Yeah! So you don't slip and fall a lot!"
Kendall sprung up and hugged her as everyone laughed. "You don't know how clumsy I am I NEED THESE!!"

"Oh and I also got you a stuffed bear!"
"You're amazing."

"Alright, Kendall, who did you get a gift for?" Fangirl asked.
"Oh, uh-" She took her gift and awkwardly strafed forwards towards Rush, sitting back down as ooohs filled the room.
Rush smiled and opened it, then instantly looked back up.

"You got me an art kit?"
"Yeah - and, if you look, it also unfolds into blank maps. You know, for world-building. Plus some references for the characters that you make and all that."

Rush looked completely overwhelmed, and opened her mouth to say something, before a loud BOOM shattered the cozy Christmas atmosphere of the terra-cotta and yellow-orange lighting. "What in the nutcracker was that?" Papisuu hissed.

"I think it's..." Kyril gasped. "FIREWORKS, YOU GUYS!"
Everyone clustered outside. Sure enough, in the soft atmosphere outside, everyone stopped and stared quietly as Christmas-coloured fireworks exploded across the sky. The pastel booths seemed to stop, and everyone watched.
"You guys wanna watch?" Rush asked.

"HECK YEAH!" Jasmine exploded forwards, and the entire group of 15 plus a few extra sat in the cold but soft snow, watching the beautifully illuminating sky. In the midst of everything, Rush softly grabbed Kendall's hand.
"This is loud but I'm doing this because it's bonding," She teased. Kendall snickered and shoved her.

"We better be able to go back to the hotel and be able to watch these once we're done in that friggin' cabin," Cindy joked. Everyone laughed quietly, promising each-other internally to go back and finish their present-giving and Christmas celebrations.

After a few more fireworks, of course.

-

Merry Late Holiday! I wanted to make this so much longer but it's literally going to be the first day of 2019 tomorrow so uh-

I really hope you guys enjoyed! Have a really happy new year and I hope everyone has an amazing 2019! Also I'll try to get this out more on time next year hah-

Speaking of which, what should I do for next year? Lemme know! Also I may go back and at more to this later on but I kinda just want to get it out now otherwise it's never gonna happen hah- maybe I'll make it longer soon though!

Anyways, all of you get some comfy pjs, your hot cocoa, some nice Christmas/holiday movies, and have a very relaxing rest of December ^^

-Dawson