Cheyenne sighed as she looked around the store she worked at. Maria was talking to some other staff picking up decorations.
 “Easy now, we can’t let those decorations fall.” Maria said as some workers were placing them up and they remained balanced on the mantle. “There we go. Keep up the good work.” Then, she turned around and noticed that Cheyenne was down.
 “Hey Cheyenne,” Maria said walking towards her. The cashier looked up to her. “Are things all right?”
 “It’s going to be a mess.” Cheyenne replied.
 “What’s a mess?” Maria asked. “The store is looking good for the Christmas Season.”
 “You know about me and my boyfriend would like to have our holidays together.” Cheyenne explained. “I’m getting what I wanted this year but it’s not the way I wanted.”
 “Shouldn’t you be happy about it?” Maria explained.
 “I remember that each year and my parents would have a gigantic holiday party with hundreds of guests at the manor. And we would also have plum pudding too.” Cheyenne continued. “But because of the out-of-wedlock pregnancy, I was disowned by my parents. I’m afraid we might not have a Christmas this year because we can’t afford it.”
 “You will are going to have a Christmas this year.” Maria stated.
 “Are you sure?” Cheyenne asked.
 “I’ll give you the best Christmas ever.” Her friend replied. “I’ll promise it, Cheyenne.”
 “Okay.” Cheyenne answered. “I’ll trust you, Maria.”

 After getting out of work, Maria called up the other members of the Virtue Girls: Joan, Hikari, Dymphna, Reina, Flora, and Christina. She was the leader of the group. They met up at her apartment.
 “So, what’s going on?” Hikari asked her.
 “Cheyenne is upset that she won’t be able to have a Christmas this year.” Maria said.
 “No…” Christina said. “That won’t be true.”
 “That’s what she’s worried about. I don’t think she and her boyfriend won’t be able to enjoy the holidays.” Maria answered.
 “Welcome to my world.” Reina pointed out. “Even though my family had a roof over our heads, we didn’t have much. But we somehow how to make it through.”
 “But I also said I was going to give her the best Christmas ever.” Maria said. “So we need to make it great.”
 “How about hosting a party?” A guy’s voice said. They turned around and saw it was Jonathan standing in the corner.
 “I’ve never hosted one before.” She said.
 “But you have invited us over here before, Maria-sempai.” Joan answered.
 “You and your anime-isms again, Joan?” Hikari asked.
 “I’m just trying to talk to Maria.” Joan replied. Hikari just sighed and rolled her eyes.
 “What was your Christmases like?” Maria asked John. “You know, when you were alive?”
 “It was quite a party for me and my family from Virginia.” John explained. “We would but a huge log on the iron hearth and set it ablaze. Then, the party would keep on going until the fire burned out. Of course, back then, we had the gift-giving on St. Nicholas’s feast day on December 6th right after Krampusnacht.” The girls just looked at him.
 “That’s just weird.” Joan stated in reply.
 “Haven’t you heard of a yule log?” He asked her.
 “Whenever I hear yule log, I think of a yummy dessert.” She replied.
 “Its how we celebrated it back then.” He said.
 “I don’t think it’s weird at all.” Flora added. “My family and I would celebrate it with a fiesta. And there would be poinsettias everywhere.”
 “Did you have the roast turkey?” he asked.
 “I think you’re confusing Christmas for Thanksgiving.” Hikari said.
 “There was no holiday named Thanksgiving when I was young.” John rebuked.
 “Actually, we would have salted cod and a salad to go with it.” Flora said.
 “Why would you have fish on Christmas?” Reina asked. “That’s not right.”
 “It’s just… We aren’t used to it.” Dymphna answered.
 “I still have trouble getting the stuff together on the 25th.” Christina added.
 “How so?” Dymphna asked.
 “My family doesn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th.” Christina explained. “We celebrate it on the seventh of January. And the salad will help because we have a fast that’s completely vegan until Christmas.”
 “Sounds… fun…” Reina replied.
 “So how are we going to do this party?” Dymphna asked.
 “Well… I’m not quite sure.” Maria replied. “I’ll need some time to think this over on how to fit everyone’s needs.”
 “You have time to come up with something.” John said. “But you need to remember to do it.” Maria thought for a bit.
 “How about on the 18th?” Maria asked.
 “That’ll work, I guess.” Joan said.

 The girls went off to make the preparations for the celebration. Flora and Christina was out looking for their gifts for the others as they walked through the mall. They looked out and saw something going on with a crowd.
“What’s going on?” Flora asked. Then, they approached them to see what was going on.
“What the…” Christina said as they saw two guys staring each other.
 “I’m going to get that doll house set for my daughter.” One of the guys said.
 “No, you won’t foo.” The other barked. “I’m gettin’ it for my daughter.” They slammed into each other and began to wrestle over the doll house. A third guy grabbed the set and ran off with it to the check-out. A fourth guy tripped him, the third guy lost it and a fifth guy caught it.
 “What is going on here?” Christina asked.
 “It must be leftovers from Black Friday.” Flora answered. “Let’s just move. We don’t give gifts on the 25th anyway.”

 Joan and Hikari were in the kitchen. They were making the dishes that were going to be served at the party. Then, there was smoke in the area.
 “What’s that smoke?” Hikari asked.
 “Oh no.” Joan said; she dashed over to the oven. Joan opened up the oven and a bunch of smoke came out of the oven. She pulled out the Christmas cake and it was completely burnt.
 “Oh, geez. The cake is ruined.” Hikari replied.
 “At least the cookies came out well.” Joan replied, she pulled out the cut-out cookies. They had been completely decorated and were perfectly arranged.
 “Those cookies look delicious.” Hikari answered taking one.
 “Hikari-sempai, you can’t eat one. Save one for the party.” Joan said in vain as Hikari put it in her mouth. Then, Hikari ended up spitting it out.
 “Uh Joan,” Hikari tried to say politely. “You might want to work on that cookie recipe.”

 Dymphna and Reina were out looking for decorations for the party. They looked around the stores and saw that the hottest decorations were completely sold out.
 “Damn,” Reina said. “We can’t find anythin’ for the party.”
 “Isn’t there any place to get decorations?” Dymphna asked.
 “I’m tryin’ Dia.” Reina said. “All they have is the blinky lights? Why would somebody put blinky lights as a Christmas decoration?”
 “Let’s forget the outside, we’re going to be inside of an apartment building.” Dymphna replied. “Let’s look at the indoor decorations.”
 “Alright, alright.” Reina replied. “Don’t get your skirt in a knot.”

 Maria was hearing all of the things that was going with the other girls. She saw that the party is quickly turning into a train wreck. She started to feel depressed that she wasn’t going to fulfill what she had promised Cheyenne.
 “Why are you feeling so glum?” A voice said.
 “Huh?” Maria asked. “Who’s there?”
 “You should be happy, happy, happy.” The voice continued. Maria heard what sounded like a beam charging. She jumped and the beam missed her. She turned to face who fired the beam. She saw a red satyr wearing a green ugly Christmas sweater. He had a very crooked and creepy smile on his face.
 “What in the world?” Maria said. “Who are you?”
 “I am the Krampus.” The monster claimed. “I will help you be satisfied with the holidays.” He fired another beam. Maria dodged out of the way but it hit another guy. The man screamed.
 “Oh no.” he stated in a panic. “I have to get presents for my family, my friends, and their families.” He looked out in his wallet. “Holy crap, I’m out of money. I have to go to the bank and pick some up.”
 “He’s not happy.” Maria said.
 “He should be.” The monster said. “Like I’ll make you happy too.” He fired another beam at her. She ducked behind a snowman and then transformed.

When she came out of cover, she had lavender lacing under the skirt and lavender gloves and boots. On her chest was a plumb of lavender with an amethyst crystal in the center. Then, some of the ambient winds that swirled around her came to her forearms. In the right hand, it solidified and turned into a gladius. On the left arm, it solidified and turned into an iron shield.

 “I’m not going to allow you to ruin Christmas.” Maria stated to him, pointing her gladius at him.
 “What do you mean ‘ruin Christmas’?” the monster said. “I’m doing these people a favor.”
 “What do you mean a favor?” Maria asked.
 “I’m showing them how much of an obligation the holiday is.” Krampus said. “I’ll show you.” He turned and zapped another man with the beam.
 “Bah, Christmas.” The man said. “It’s nothing but a commercial joke. Now, I’ll have to deal with my stupid, annoying Uncle Fred again.” And he walked off.
 “You see what I mean?” The Krampus replied.
 “I see you want to get rid of the holiday entirely.” Maria answered. “I’m going to have to save it then.”
 “There is no way to save it, you fool.” The monster roared in laughter. “You are just one person.”
 “Whatever part of the holiday I can spare, it will be more joyous than you can imagine.” Maria rebuked him.
 “Well then, we will see about that.” The monster said, cracking his knuckles. “Let’s see if you can save this part of the holidays.” He fired several beams at her and she blocked them with her shield. She rushed forward and swung her blade. The monster dodged out of the way and the blade cut through the fallen snow.
 She knocked the monster away with her shield. The creature leapt backwards and then rushed forward with his claws open. Maria ducked out of the way and slashed downward, cutting of the Krampus’ hand. It screamed in pain as it got back on his hooves. Then, the creature ran away.
 “That’s right, you better run.” Maria answered. She returned the gladius to its sheath and changed back to normal. “I have to make the party perfect for Cheyenne I just have to.”
 “That’s exactly what the Krampus wants you to think.” A voice said from behind her. She turned around and saw a homeless person carrying a big stick. He was unshaven and wearing much worn clothing.
 “You were watching?” She asked him.
 “I did, yes.” The man answered. “He wants you to be extremely stressed out over the holidays.”  “What do you think I should do?” Maria asked in return.
 “Do the best that you can. It doesn’t have to be perfect.” The guy explained. “The best Christmases are the simplest ones.”
 “I see that you are a wise man.” She commented, complimenting him. “How long have you been around?”
 “Let’s say that I’ve been around for a very long time.” He stated.
 “That doesn’t answer what I should get my friend, Cheyenne.” Maria answered. “She is now impoverished. I fear on what her future would be.”
 “I’ve heard this story before.” The man said reaching into his pocket and he pulled out a lottery ticket. “I would like you to take this to her.”
 “That’s a lottery ticket.” She said.
 “I know it is.” He replied.
 “I don’t think she would like that.” Maria rebuked him.
 “What if I told you there was $500,000 on this lottery ticket?” The homeless man stated.
 “Are you serious?” she asked in response to him.
 “You will have to trust me.” He said as he handed the ticket to her.
 “Are you certain I’m to give this to her?” She asked.
 “Yes, you should because of the situation she is in.” He said. Maria turned around and looking at the lottery ticket. “Well, I guess I can give it to her in addition to something else.”
 “Just give the lottery ticket alone.” The man said.
 “Are you absolutely positively certain?” Maria asked, but there was no answer. “I ask you again, are you…” She turned around and saw that the man was gone. And there was no trace of the man ever being there. “Well, there is only one thing left to do now. Prepare for the party.”

 It was the evening of the party. The Virtue Girls were inside Maria’s apartment talking to each other, while Maria was outside looking at the falling snow and the full moon. Cheyenne came out to meet her carrying a mug full of eggnog.
 “Hey Maria.” Cheyenne said.
 “Hello Cheyenne.” Maria replied. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t make the perfect Christmas for you.”
 “You can’t be sorry.” Cheyenne answered.
 “Please, don’t be mad at me.” Maria stated.
 “Stop it, Maria.” Cheyenne rebuked her. “I was going to say that my boyfriend and I are having so much fun.”
 “You are?” She asked.
 “Of course.” Her friend answered. “Even more fun than all the previous parties my parents threw for the holidays. So, I came out here to thank you for this gathering.”
 “You’re welcome, Cheyenne.” Maria said feeling better. “Oh, there was something I was given and I was to give it to you.” Maria pulled out the lottery ticket and given it to her. “You want to scratch it off?”
 “Okay.” Cheyenne answered. Then, she pulled out a quarter and scratched it. “Oh my God, f-f-five hundred thousand?” She hugged Maria, then dashed inside. “Mikey, we have five hundred thousand.” Maria remained outside, she had a look of confusion on her face.
 “How did that guy know the exact amount that was on the ticket?” Maria thought. Then, John came out. He light skin like Jonathan and short straight dark brown hair. His face had freckles. He had one blue eye on the right side and one red eye on the left side. At the time, he was wearing a red sweater.
 “Do you want to say that this party you threw was a success?” John asked.
 “Yeah, I’m thinking I did exactly what I promised.” Maria said.
 “Let’s head back inside and…” He stated. Then, Joan came running up.
 “Hey, you two.” She blurted. “How’s about a dare?” Then, she pulled out a long pole with a string; on it was mistletoe and it hung above Maria and John.
 “You know, they aren’t going to do it.” Hikari said.
 “How do you know, Hikari-sempai?” Joan answered.
 “Can you quit calling me, Hikari-sempai?” Hikari replied in annoyance. “Just simply call me, Hikari.” Then, the two started to bicker at each other.
 “Well, I was twenty when I became this way.” John answered. “And remained that age for who knows how long.”
 “Are you sure you want to appease Joan?” Maria asked.
 “Well, if you want to.” He replied. Hikari and Joan stopped the argument when they saw the two kissing under the mistletoe.
 “No way.” Hikari said. “I’m surprised they actually did that.”
 “I told you.” Joan replied and she removed the mistletoe. Maria and John stopped kissing when that happened. The two of them were blushing afterwards.
 “So, uh…” He said. “I apologize that was actually my first kiss.”
 “Yeah, uh…” She replied. “Same here.”
 “What to watch a special?” He asked.
 “Sure.” Maria answered. Then, the two reentered the apartment shutting the door behind them.

And the group of friends enjoyed the party together, they parted ways when it was time to head to their respective homes. The girls would spend the holidays with their families as well…

 And with that, this chapter comes to a close. And to you, the reader; I, the writer of Female Crusading Virtue Girls, personally wish you a Merry Christmas. And may God grant you, your families, and your friends many blessings for many years.
-Benjamin W. Dine