A Christmas Special

Noncanonical Subject
Contains content deemed as **not canon** to the overall lore

**A Christmas Special** is a non-canon crossover episode between Rainimator's Fractures universe and TheBlueJerome's *Running to Never* saga. It features Rain, Zeganirn and Stella alongside TheBlueJerome's Agnia, Igor, Nero and Zach attending a Christmas Party, and is split into two parts.

Part One is on Rainimator's YouTube channel, followed by Part Two on TheBlueJerome's.

## Synopsis

### Rainimator's Synopsis

The dragon tamer meets up with the ruler of the holy stones for a special Christmas party!

### TheBlueJerome's Synopsis

Two worlds are colliding on Christmas! Let's see how this will end!

## Plot

### Part One

Nero, Zach and Igor begin preparing Nero's extensive house for the Christmas party on Christmas Eve, setting up the table.

The Narrator introduces the episode, as Rain walks alone from the snowing tundra to Nero's door --- having traveled to TheBlueJerome's alternate dimension using End magic on Stella's behalf. As Nero completes the Christmas tree with the star, Rain rings the doorbell and Nero welcomes him inside, beckoning him to the table to eat.

Nero introduces himself as "the ruler of the holy stones", but Zach mocks him for the sudden made-up name; Rain implores of him to call him by name rather than title. At the table, Zach asks Rain of Stella's arrival, but as Rain explains an End Chest began to rattle, alerting Igor. Stella abruptly hops out, hoping to impress them with her knowledge of End magic, but Rain is frustrated for she made him traverse the dangerous woods for her "dumb trick".

Nero, surprised, points out the surrounds are mostly peaceful. Rain tells of his encounter with a girl who seemed to be evading something, but Nero recognizes Rain's vague description of the girl as Agnia.

In the woods at night, Agnia is pursued by a provoked Zeganirn in the trees, exhausted. At Nero's house, Igor monitors the End Chest for more sudden arrivals, which amuses Stella; Zach expresses his admiration for the enchantress based on tales of her adventures, to which Stella replies she no longer is enchantress due to being a demon.

As Zeganirn catches up to Agina, he is calmed down by Rain while Agnia is saved by Nero. Agnia calls Rain a "weirdo", angry Zeganirn attacked him, of which a defensive Rain retorts that he says Agnia attacked him first. Zeganirn also states the End portals malfunctioned, transporting him here.

As Rain and Nero discuss the species of Endermen in their dimension back home, Stella and Agnia are angry at each other for the incident, leading the boys to think up a series of puns. Soon, the gifts arrive, overseen by Igor and Zeganirn.

### Part Two

In Part Two, the contrast between Rainimator's fantasy world and TheBlueJerome's scientific are shown frequently as a theme, occasionally brought up in conversation.

Stella gives her gift to Zach, to which opens it to find a leatherback book. He asks Stella about it if it's a spellbook, and she answers that she hopes it can help, reasoning that "magic exists in your world...right?" There's a bit of a misunderstanding, as Zach assumes she means science. He's still confused why the book is in another language, but thanks her nevertheless.

Meanwhile, Rain talks with Nero. He asks about Nero's sword, to which Nero gives a rather scientific explanation that Rain can't quite understand. Rain tells Nero he reminds him of a renowned inventor back in his universe. When asked about his own sword, Rain brags about his Ender Greatsword, but when asked by Nero about its' scientific properties, he isn't quite sure how to respond. After contemplating, the Rain says it doesn't have any 'science stuff', to which Nero answers that he believes all magic can be broken down by science. Nero gives Rain his gift, a compact glider suit, offering to show him how it works later. Rain thanks him enthusiastically. During this entire conversation, Rain hits Nero multiple times, likely by accident.

Just when they think the gift-giving is done, they see a final present that no one remembers bringing. Out of the present, an elf hops out, panicking because Santa will be furious at him for being so far away from the factory. He shows the group his Virtual Dimension Recorder, or VDR- a device that he used to send himself to a random dimension with. The VDR functions like a holographic projector.

Pressing play, the Elf shows scenes from TheBlueJerome's video Running To Never first, Nero reminisces about the time they got their airship to take off. Next, it changes to shots of Rain and Stella in Wishing Dead where they fought each other. Nero comments that Rain and Stella have a rough history. Then, as the VDR shows Agnia and Nero battling one another in Running to Never, Rain and Stella tease them back for it.

Just then, the Elf realizes it is nearing midnight, but realizes he cannot reach the North Pole in time.

With a sudden idea, Nero offers the Elf Rain's glider suit, him reluctantly questioning its safety --- just before the Elf spirals off, screaming as they head inside; off-screen, they talk in friendly banter, watching another scene in Wishing Dead, as the Narrator wishes the audience a cheerful "Merry Christmas!".

In a short post-credits scene, the Elf flies directly into the viewpoint as the suit spirals out-of-control, abruptly ending the video.

## Cast

* Nero
* Rain
* Zach
* Stella
* Agnia
* Elf
* Igor
* Zeganirn

## Trivia

* This is the first ever non-canon episode of Fractures, as the Fractures Trailer was, as the name suggests, a trailer.
	+ This is also the first Christmas special, and the first crossover episode, as well as the first crossover with TheBlueJerome. The crossover is also the sole non-canon special.
	+ This is also the first two-part episode, and the first episode to be shared across two channels.
* Production for Nightmares was subsequently postponed to focus on development of the collaboration, Rain stating "I know... [fans]... will love a special, non-canon episode to hype up the Christmas spirit", and " to experiment" and "do something different."
* TheBlueJerome and Rainimator had a share of animating the scenes for the video. TheBlueJerome was first in completing his share, as he announced on Twitter on the 3rd of December, 2020.
* Both TheBlueJerome and Rainimator have released promotionals for the collab on their respective channels.
* Lost Compositions and EileMonty reprise their roles as Rain and Stella respectively, while Kmillions reprises her role of Agnia from *Agina Explains*.
* This is the first episode without a physical fight scene, the first episode to introduce the idea of a multiverse, the first episode with a narrator and the first episode where the characters are actually referred to by name instead of title.
* This is the longest episode, with a screen time of roughly eleven minutes.
	+ Poison however, is the longest canon episode, beating Clear Skies by a single second.
* The episode is fully set in TheBlueJerome's universe, and is the first episode to suggest the capabilities of End magic in travelling through the multiverse.
	+ This in turn could allude to the true power of the End Crystals, as they allow one to travel to 'new frontiers' as explained in To The Void.
		- The idea of End Crystals piercing the multiversal fabric does give an idea as to where the Orchid Fleet thus ended up.
* The episode is the second episode to use rounded mouths.
* Zeganirn is mentioned as a pet instead of a Guardian, whilst Rain and Stella say their days as Dragon Tamer and Enchantress respectively are "long gone".
	+ This episode also cements the fact that Stella is a hybrid Netherkin and Undead, a fact that was heavily disputed in the community.
	+ The dismissal of their titles alludes to the fact this may be a time skipped variant of both Rain and Stella that is yet to appear, potentially their Season 4 counterparts.
* It is revealed that it is possible to understand Endermen, without being of the End, however if this shall be translated into the canon or not is unconfirmed.
* This seems to be the two sets of characters' first meeting, although it is interesting to note that it seems Rain and Stella are known as legendary by Zach.
* Ceris and Azura are both mentioned in this episode, but do not appear in person.
* **Animation Error**: During TheBlueJerome's part, Rain's face loses its unique detailing for two scenes.

## Gallery

An early promotional for the **A Christmas Special** depicting a simple Christmas tree.A far-shot render of Nero's House.Rain nearing the entrance of Nero's house in a promotional render.Rain in a promotional for this episode.Stella supposedly waking up Rain in a promotional render.A promotional showing an unknown present.The cast displaying anger at an unknown object or character in a promotional render.The cast displaying surprise at an unknown object or character in a promotional render.Rain drinking from a mug in a promotional gif.The group preparing for an attack around a green present.Rain and Stella besides each other in a promotional render.