Author's note
GUESS WHO'S BAAAAAAAAACK : D!

Or, guess who's here, if you didn't realise I was gone ;3!

Sooo... My beautiful senpais have been able to bring someone 'back to life'! ARGH! And I know a certain shapeshifter who's more than ecstatic over it.

Please note that the events of short story is over the course of both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I would've posted on Christmas, but I know a lot of y'all will be busy... Like me!

Headcannons in this chapter
- Shifted!Xisuma is a good guy, honestly. But he's sometimes a bit of a jerk. And not the good kind.
- Like with my hermits, the Shifted hermits like being together for the holidays. I mean, who doesn't? IT'S CHRIMAZ-
- Not many knows what really happened to TFC. The few who do hope it stays that way
- Yes, Tango can sit in fire. Yes, it still scares the begeezers outta the faint-hearted
- Imagine EX finishing hid cards, right? Then someone ruffles his hair and glitter just starts falling out. Glitter child. This isn't even a headcannon, but I don't care: he's adorable
- PsychA actually looks much more like I do when feeling super happy! Or super relieved/ relaxed!
- Mysterious gift-giver. I say no more.

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When TFC walked into the lavishly decorated meeting room a few days ago, absolutely everybody was overjoyed.

He was showered with surprised cries, immediate hugs and amazed cheers as soon as he showed his face. TFC wasn't complaining: it was great to be back.

They filled him in on most of what had happened- it was mostly all of the shenanigans that'd occurred while preparing for Christmas.

A voice at the back of TFC's head kept whispering at how they had already been told about the extra-fancy ornaments, but TFC didn't quite understand.

What was expected was Xisuma pulling him aside, telling tales of what the 'hazard creature' had done while he was gone. TFC simply rolled his eyes, walking away before X could finish. He didn't need to hear this.

Back in the present, the hermits were having their annual Christmas party (funnily enough, held in the same room TFC had stumbled into a few days back). This was also where X and EX would be staying for a few days; they planned on updating the server's coding in time for the new year.

All around the room, hermits could be spotted having a good time, whether they'd deny it later or not.

A comically tall, yet beautifully decorated, Christmas tree also graced the corner, with presents arranged prettily underneath. Many hermits had already apologised to TFC for not getting him a gift (for obvious reasons); he only laughed, thanking them for their concern.

Atmospherically, it was very joyous.

It seemed like everyone was present... Except for two last members of the server. One's no-show had more people concerned than the other, admittedly.

Then the door swung open. And silence fell upon the room.

EX and PsychA walked in, brushing off snowflakes that had fallen upon them. The door closed with a slight bang as they ignored the others staring/ glaring, greeting TFC with as much enthusiasm as the man himself did. PsychA also handed both of them a small gift, which TFC certainly didn't expect to receive.

It seemed like everyone else was about to carry on chattering until X ruined the moment, striding over to the three and coughing to get their attention.

"Welcome, EX. It's good to see you inside. As for your guest, I'm afraid I'm going to need to ask her to leave." Xisuma asked, gesturing at the door. Usually, the girl would comply, so it was surprising to see her shake her head.

"No. No, I don't think I will." PsychA spoke, with an aggravatingly sing-song type of voice that definitely drove X up a wall. EX tried his best not to snigger at that.

Said admin growled, taking out his sword. "You endanger the lives of the hermits here. I'm giving you the choice of leaving peacefully before I remove you myself."

Mutters broke out between the other witnesses, discussing what was going on. Like all good people, they didn't actually do anything; they only stared, intrigued by this unforeseen event.

"Attack me, anD I'll reTUrn ThE favOur."

There was a pause before both jumped forward at the same time, only stopped by EX and TFC yanking them each backwards. PsychA quickly stopped, crossing her arms, and Xisuma stopped once his sword was taken off him.

The tension between the two could still be cut with a knife. It was almost visible, in fact, crackling and buzzing through the air.

"Look. I know you both don't like each other... At all... But... It's Christmas Eve. Please, could you at least just try to get along?"

"... You can stay, if you don't do anything bad. That's all I'm promising." Xisuma spat, making his statement perfectly clear.

"Thank you so very much for your unwavering generosity." PsychA drawled, smirking as X growled again at her lack of respect.

EX and TFC shared a look, letting both go hesitantly. The shapeshifter and the admin shared one last glare until Xisuma walked away, evidently stiffer than before.

The party resumed as normal, with no other notable incidents.

Well, a few notable incidents happened:

Tango sat in the fireplace, scaring Impulse half to death.

Cub somehow convinced Scar to grab a sprig of mistletoe for him, and then ran about making 'random' people kiss ('because everyone deserves a bit of love!'). Also pets, for good boy Ren. Hugs were accepted as a last plan of action.

Many complimented the punch, which someone had definitely added something to during the party. Extra orange juice, it was really nice, actually.

We have no idea where X's sword went. Grian and Iskall definitely did not give it to Keralis, who definitely did not draw on it with permanent marker.

Mumbo somehow climbed up the tree, took off the star and perched on the top instead. Then he got stuck and Stress had to rescue him.

False didn't accidentally cut herself on any broken ornaments when hanging them up. She accidentally cut herself on a broken ornament that fell off the tree while Mumbo was climbing it. Joe went full protective dad mode.

'Smile, X! Be more happy!'. Xisuma was not happy.

A slime, which had most likely spawned in a crevice from above, fell on Wels. Jevin did not help the situation.

False and Biffa recreated Scar getting wasted. By a snowball thrown by Mumbo. Doc had to plead with Scar to not kill them for it.

Puppy pile.

A Hermitcraft Christmas was always a happy one. This was the first time they'd had everyone in the server join in, since PsychA came, and it was the best they'd experienced so far.

As the hours ticked by, faster than anyone wanted, friends started to leave. Goodbyes and thank yous were exchanged, until nearly everyone had gone home. Nearly.

Just after Joe bid the remaining people adieu (while carrying a half-asleep Cleo), Xisuma turned around to address the other two stragglers.

"... Why are you still here?" He questioned. Then he realised what was going to happen next, so hastily added. "Not you, EXy."

Pouting, EX 'awwed' with exaggerated sadness.

"... You said I could stay, so long as I don't do anything bad. So could I... Stay the night?"

Xisuma immediately made a face at the request. "You have a home of your own and can look after yourself. I don't see why I need to provide for you even more."

PsychA didn't look at him, focusing instead upon four different things in the background. Then she took something out of her inventory and gave it to Xisuma, much to both brothers' surprise.

"I-I don't want to go. Can... This be your one gift to me this year?" She mumbled, scooting closer to the fire. Xisuma found himself speechless; PsychA's wording had jarred him.

EX chose that particular moment to make puppy-dog eyes. Now Xisuma couldn't say no.

With a 'tired' sigh, the serious admin turned to give PsychA the good news, but found that he couldn't. She had fallen asleep in front of the fireplace, curled up in peaceful slumber.

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Everyone knew that tomorrow, once the journey to their shared Christmas tree was completed, they'd find one anonymous present among ones from their friends.

This happened every year, at every special event involving a gift of sorts (even Valentine's day and Easter, which was impressive). The hermits would wake up, be given gifts from their friends and then find this quizzical gift to them.

What was even stranger was that no hermits knew who gave them, nor how they managed it: out of curiosity, many lay (harmless) traps in order to see who they were. Somehow, the mysterious gift-giver had dodged every attempt at evading them yet, which made the situation even more puzzling.

Regardless, they were nice gifts, so no one really complained too much.

Xisuma was the first to view the new additions to the gift pile. He had awoken a few hours prior to sunrise, tired and chilly, but with a childish fascination he didn't want to admit.

With a cup of coffee and blanket wrapped around his shoulders, he snuck across the large room to note that once again, every hermit had an extra unsigned gift. And he hadn't seen the mystery person at all this year.

Ah well. He could always try again next year, at whichever opportunity came first.

As he snuck back, his eyes landed in front of the fireplace, on the sleeping figure he'd let stay the night. They lingered for a while, before glancing at the weather outside.

Xisuma went back to bed soon after.

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When the morning sun finally arose, reaching out across the whitened server, many a hermit arose with it.

The more excitable raced downstairs to their personal pile of present. Their more pensive friends (because sleepovers were fun) made their way down slower, reminding the suddenly-overactive-children that they had more presents beneath the big shared Christmas tree.

Soon, both admins knew their friends would be appearing here again. Xisuma estimated at about an hour and a half, the first would be arriving, followed swiftly by everyone else.

His brother didn't exactly listen to this: he was too busy searching for everyone's mystery gifts.

"We've had then again this year!" EX did a mini-cheer, before quickly being shushed by X. "Sorry- so, are we opening them after someone shows up again?"

"I am." Xisuma replied, pausing to glance at the door. "You can open them now if you wish."

"Mmm... Nah, I can wait a bit. Sooo are you waiting for him to show up~"

"EX, honestly! You can't- I don't-"

They then heard a sleepy groan, and shut up. After a few seconds of frozen silence, Xisuma breathed a small sigh of relief, looking over at the still-slumbering girl on the floor. For some reason, she looked like she needed the sleep.

He was speedily joined by EX, who had wandered away from the Christmas tree.

"... You know, I'm really happy that you let her stay. I'm more happy that you're giving her a chance." EX mumbled, leaning on the table. He could have sworn he saw his brother smile, but X turned away before he could see it.

"Yes, well..." Xisuma shrugged, faking nonchalance. "... She's not that bad."

Peaceful, PsychA pulled the warm blanket closer, oblivious to their conversation.

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Author's notes

Hm. I wonder...

Anyway, PsychA would like to thank everyone for their help this year. She's enjoying her first Christmas with the server.

HAVE SOME BADLY DRAWN DOODLES- they don't fit on the- NEVER MIND-

1) A Falsey : D
2) The slime boi that fell on Wels
3) 'Smile X!'
'Doc... Stop...'
4) EX being c u t e
5) Scar being KO-ed by a snowball
6) Don't touch da Grian
7) P1 of 'How to tell if a werewolf cares about you'

1) Who KO-ed Scar
2) PsychA isn't a feral animal, unless you treat her like that
3) DAD JOE ACTIVATED (False, be more careful!)
4) 'So what are we, rivals?'
'Ha ha, yeah, I guess!'
'Uh... Guys...?'
5) P2 and P3 of 'How to tell if a werewolf cares about you'

1) Grian's just the perfect height for it
2) 'WOAH- STRESS, CALM DOWN-'
'I AM CALM!'
'IS THAT IMPULSE-'
3) Bow to the kitty queen! BOW.
4) The mysterious gift giver...
5) Zed stands too close to a demon folding his wings

1) Merry Christmas, and thank you, from the Shifted AU!
2) Iskall, wondering how Mumbo got that tree inside...
3) Fancy Wels. With fruit juice.

Aaaaaand from AC (DAZ MEH-), Merry Christmas, my wonderful senpais (and chans)! Have a wonderful time ;3! I love chu!