Mytho's Christmas presents
Once upon a time there was a girl who smiled and made friends with ease. Whether she made friends because she smiled, or smiled because of her friends, didn't matter as much as she did so and that was how it was. Her gestures were small kindnesses, like feeding birds and holding out umbrellas to keep off the rain. But, small and confusing though they were, they were done with such open feeling one could not mistake her good intent.
Although she befriended those closely tied to the tragedy of their story, its sorrow never touched her. She had only to remain their friend, because she said whatever happened it would never trouble her. The prince and the knight, with the help of Princess Tutu, eventually changed the story's end to a happy one. And, with her friends finally free of their burdens, the girl could see reflected in their smiles the kindness and happiness she had shown them before.
Once upon a time there was a loyal knight. He protected a prince against any threat, and watched over him night and day. But ever since they met the prince had not understood why the knight did so, save for it was his role. And the knight did not say why he did so, save for it was his role. Yet if roles were all they had, the prince was truly not a prince without his heart. But throughout the years the knight said it was fine this way and the prince followed his words.
One day a princess appeared with the intent to restore the prince's heart, and for the first time the prince and the knight faced each other with opposite intent. The prince was unable tell the knight how this heart made him understand what it was to be what he was supposed to be. Because the knight had always seemed to know what it meant to be a knight to a prince that knew nothing.
But the knight's loyalty never wavered, even at the threat of death. He stayed by the prince's side, enduring the fits of weakness and the troubles it brought. In time, the princess returned all of the prince's heart and at last they were able to defeat the raven, side by side.
Once upon a time there was a ballerina. She had spent many years and much effort working on her ballet, so she was beautiful to behold for those who saw her dance. Many wanted to dance like her. And dancing with her was...a feeling indescribable.
She grew up into a prima donna and found happiness.
Once upon a time there was a story of a prince and a raven, locked in eternal combat. This was always the way the tale was told, but within it came a girl. And the cruelty of the story gave her the fate that she should love the raven, her father, and the prince, both.
As befitting happy endings, the prince had his heart restored and triumphed over the raven. Once again the land was safe from the story that they had sprung from and caused so much misery over the years. But the prince knew if he could not ease the girl's suffering he would not fight against it. Even if her love turned to hatred, and her hatred demanded vengeance, because that is the way of stories. And because he could not love her the way she asked. He knew at least what he felt for her was that the last thing he wanted was to cause her pain. And if the sacrifice of his life would give her peace he would not fight against this fate.