Opening/Widow Tweed’s Last Gifts to her Grandchildren

*(We open on a beautiful winter evening in London, England. And the streets are busy now because of one thing and one thing only; Christmas is coming, and it is Christmas Eve)*

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Parodies Studios present....

*(Out on the streets, carolers are singing some Christmas songs out of their hearts)*

Carolers: **Deck the halls with boughs of holly**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

'**Tis the season to be jolly**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

**Don we now our gay apparel**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

**Troll the ancient yuletide carol**

**Fa la la la la la la la la**

*(In a Victorian mansion in a nice neighborhood, the maids and butlers are busy working on polishing the Christmas decorations. Nearby them is an 18 year old female bat with white fur, black wings, a tan muzzle, arms, legs, and underbelly, blue eyes, and wearing blue eyeshadow, a black tubetop-like sleeveless jumpsuit, a pink heart-shaped brooch, white arm gloves with pink rims, and white high-heeled boots with pink rims and pink heart symbols at the feet. She is Rouge the Bat (Or, in this fanmake, Rouge Strife). Anyway, as they did so, they were singing)*

Butler 1: **Deck the halls with boughs of holly**

*(Then he sprinkled more holly onto the dining room table)*

Butler 1: Always got to have more holly.

*(A maid walks by)*

Maid 1: '**Tis the season to be....**

*(She suddenly noticed all the holly on the table that she stopped singing)*

Maid 1: (To herself) Oh, dear. That's too much holly. *(To Rouge)* Go get your siblings and your brother's friends please.

Rouge: Sure.

*(Then she walked away to find her siblings with another maid. The second maid is a female elderly anthro mouse with a plump figure, light brown fur, rounded ears with pink interiors, a light red nose, short curly light gray hair, gray eyes, and wearing a pair of small glasses, a navy blue long-sleeved dress with white neck and sleeve rims, a white apron, a pale blue frilly nursemaid hat, white frilly, ankle-length pantalettes, burgundy stockings, and black shoes. She is Mrs. Judson. Nearby, another maid has finished dusting the garland on the doorway)*

Maid 3: **Don we now our gay apparel....**

*(Then she stopped singing upon noticing another butler holding a mistletoe above himself and her, giving her a handsome flirty look)*

Maid 3: (Giggling a bit) No, no, no, no, no more mistletoe.

*(But she and the butler kissed anyway. Rouge and Mrs. Judson continued their way, looking for Rouge's siblings and friends)*

Rouge: **Dee, dee, dee, dee, dee, dee, dee, dee**

*(Outside at the attic window, a cute little male mouse ran across the gutter and then climbed into a small hole leading to the inside of the attic. Once inside, the mouse began exploring the area curiously and happily until he came upon a piece of bread laying on the floor in the middle of the room, unaware that some figures are watching him secretly. The first figure is a female 16 year old squirrel/chipmunk hybrid with short red hair, brown fur, a tan upper face, muzzle, throat, underbelly, and underside of her tail, a black nose, blue eyes, and wearing a blue vest and blue boots. She is Princess Sally Acorn (Or, in this fanmake, Sally Strife). The second figure is a female 12 year old female hedgehog with pink fur, short pink hair-like quills, peach skin, a black nose, green eyes, and wearing a red hairband, a red sleeveless back-exposed turtleneck dress with a white neck and skirt rim, white gloves with yellow rims, and red and white boots. She is Amy Rose (Or, in this fanmake, Amy Rose Strife), Sally's little sister. The third figure is an 8 year old plant-like creature with light green skin, green hair with fuchsia almost-budding roses, aqua blue eyes, and wearing a green long-sleeved dress with a white, petal-like skirt with green tips at the ends, white stockings, and green ballet slippers. She is Cosmo the Seedrian (Or, in this fanmake, Cosmo Strife), Sally and Amy's little sister. The fourth figure is a 14 year old girl with short dark auburn chin-length hair, crystal blue/indigo eyes, and wearing a white tank top with a black tank top underneath, a purple skirt with purple biker shorts underneath, a blue belt, a black choker, a yellow wearing a wristband on her left wrist, a purple arm band on her left arm, a yellow bracelet and a black bracelet on her right wrist, a silver necklace with a silver bead, and white slip-on shoes with purple caps. She is Kairi (Or, in this fanmake, Kairi Strife), Sally's other little sister and Amy and Cosmo's older sister. The fifth figure is a 14 year old girl with blonde chin-length hair, blue eyes, and wearing a white sleeveless dress and cyan sandals. She is Namine (Or, in this fanmake, Namine Strife), Sally's other little sister, Amy and Cosmo's other older sister, and Kairi's twin sister. The sixth figure is a psychokinetic male hedgehog with silver white fur, tan skin, gold eyes, a black nose, silver white wavy spiky quills, a white patch of fur on his chest, neck, and back, and wearing white gloves with gold rims and aqua blue light-up linings on his palms, hands, and rims, and white boots with black and aqua blue markings, gold ankle rims with a pink gem, and an aqua blue light-up lining on the ankle rims. He is Silver the Hedgehog (Or, in this fanmake, Silver Strife), Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine's older brother. The seventh figure is a 6 year old male bumblebee with black fur, peach skin, a black and yellow striped rear and antennae, yellow eyes, a black nose, clear blue bee wings, a white stinger, and wearing a black aviator helmet with a red rim and with orange and black goggles, white gloves with black rims, an orange zip-up sleeveless shirt with black shoulder rims, a white neck rim, and a yellow bumblebee symbol on the left side, black pants, and orange and white shoes. He is Charmy Bee (Or, in this fanmake, Charmy Strife), Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, Namine, and Silver's little brother. The eighth figure is a fair-skinned 8 year old boy with curly hair the same color as his skin on the top of his head and wearing a cyan long-sleeved sweater, white pants, a black belt, dark brown shoes with black soles, and a brace ring. He is Jimmy, Sally, Amy, Kairi, Namine, and Silver's little brother, Cosmo's twin brother, and Charmy's older brother. The ninth figure is a 12 year old boy with light yellow skin, stubby black stringed hair on top of his head and a black monobrow, and wearing a red and white striped short-sleeved shirt underneath a green long-sleeved jacket with white lines on the sleeves, blue pants, white socks, and black shoes. He is Ed. The tenth figure is the same age as Ed with three black stringed hair sticking out underneath a black sockhat with white stripes on each side, a gap between the middle of the top teeth, and wearing a red-orange short-sleeved shirt, purple shorts, red socks, and blue shoes. He is Edd, or Double D, Ed's friend. The eleventh figure is the same age as Double D and Ed with pink skin, three black long black stringed hair, and wearing a yellow short-sleeved bowling shirt with a red vertical line and purple collar rims and purple sleeve rims, light blue pants with a white yo-yo string sticking out of the left side pocket, and red shoes. He is Eddy, Double D and Ed's friend. The twelfth figure is a 4 year old girl with ginger neck-length hair, light pink lips, and wearing a pink tanktop, light blue jean pants, and fuchsia shoes with bumpy dark gray soles. She is Sarah, Ed's little sister. The thirteenth figure is a 12 year old girl with short blonde chin-length hair, red lips, and wearing a black short-sleeved shirt underneath a white tank top, indigo pant with white cuffs, and black shoes with white soles. She is Nazz. The fourteenth figure is a peach-skinned boy who is the same age as the Eds with three long strands of orange hair similar to Double D or Eddy's, and wearing a long-sleeved lime green shirt, black shorts, a red baseball cap with a black bill, white socks, and black shoes. He is Kevin, Nazz's boyfriend. The fifteenth figure is a brown-skinned boy who is the same age as Kevin and the Eds with short dark blue hair, and wearing a yellow short-sleeved shirt with a red stripe around the torso, light blue jean pants, and red and cream shoes. He is Rolf. And the last figure is a 8 year old boy with brown skin similar to Rolf's, a bald head with many bristles of black hair, and wearing a white shirt-sleeved shirt, dark blue jean pants, and black sandals with white straps. He is Jonny 2x4. And the wooden board is a beige plank of wood with red eyes, and a blue mouth and pupils that have been drawn on with crayon. He is Plank, Jonny's best friend. Anyway, they are in the attic, preparing something fun for the mouse while hidden)*

Sally: (Shushes everyone) Guys. Now, be very still. This is how we'll do it.

*(Sally then lights a match she pulled out and lit a candle held in a small hot air balloon)*

Sally: With science and mechanics....

*(She blows the flame out on the match)*

Sally: And a bit of luck.

Amy: First, we've got energy.

Cosmo: The heat from the candle will make the balloon rise.

*(Then on cue as she finished her explanation, the balloon slowly floated into the air by the energy of the candle's flame's heat. Then the balloon gently struck a nearby ball track's trigger, making it spin towards a nearby ball laying at the start of the track. Then as the ball was gently struck by the trigger, Kairi continued for Sally, Amy, and Cosmo, which she lets her)*

Kairi: With the momentum from the ball.... That hits the monkey....

*(Then the ball gently hits a nearby toy circus acrobat monkey, making it pivot to a nearby bellow blower)*

Namine: And pivots onto the bellows.

*(Then the bellow blower blew a gust of wind onto a nearby sail of a toy longboat laying on top of an arching wooden board)*

Charmy: (Starting to get it happily) Which blows the longboat.

Silver: Exactly.

Jimmy: My sentiments exactly!

Sarah: I agree with Jimmy!

*(Then the toy longboat struck some books at the end of the board and the books fell onto a nearby stick that is used on a spinning wheel, knocking it onto a nearby pillow, pulling the string and making the wheel on the spinning wheel spin slowly)*

Cosmo: Giving us Newton's third law of physics....

*(Then the spinning wheel's slow spinning made a small toy unicycle rider glide slowly across a string)*

Amy: That says every action has an equal....

Sally: And opposite...?

Charmy: (Now happily getting it) Reaction!

Silver: Absolutely!

Jimmy: Correct!

*(Then the toy unicycle rider gently hits a cricket bat nearby, making it fall onto a footrest cushion nearby, activating a trigger laying on there, dropping a basket over the mouse, trapping him in there like a cage)*

Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine: (Happily laughing a bit) Yes!

Silver, Charmy, Eds, and Cul-de-Sac Kids: (Happily) Yes!

*(Then they came out of hiding, approached the mouse, and kneeled down to him. In the basket, the mouse looked at the siblings and friends, not with fear, but with curiosity)*

Silver: Out of curiosity.

Charmy: Do mice bite?

Eddy: I suppose so.

Double D: If you're horrid to them.

Sally: Except for me, Amy, and Cosmo. I'm an anthropomorphic squirrel/chipmunk hybrid.

Amy: I'm an anthropomorphic hedgehog.

Cosmo: And I'm an anthropomorphic seedrian.

Ed: What does "Anthropomorphic" mean?

Charmy: Tell us.

Silver: "Anthropomorphic," or "Anthro" for short, means "An animal who is described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes."

Double D: Therefore, Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Silver, and Charmy are female Mobians who are described as having human attributes.

Nazz: Just like us.

Kairi: That's right. And further studies *do* say that it *is* true on mice biting people if they're horrid to them.

*(Then the trapdoor the basket and mouse stood on opened, knocking the basket aside and freeing the mouse, making it run off. Then emerging into the attic is Mrs. Judson)*

Mrs. Judson: Oh, there you are. Up and down I've been looking for you rascals. Worn out, I am.

Jonny: Plank says "We were catching a mouse. The same mouse that likes to hang out in our attic.".

Mrs. Judson: (Remembering with interest) The same mouse that Jimmy and Rouge fed their cookies to?

*(The kids nodded)*

Amy: And the same mouse that Mom and Dad said "Yes" on letting us catch to have as a pet.

*(Then Mrs. Judson chuckled a bit)*

Mrs. Judson: (Chuckles a bit, jokingly) Well, if you catch one, I'm not cooking it.

Kevin: (Playing along) Too many bones?

Mrs. Judson: (Winks at them) Too many bones.

*(Then the mouse ran up to them happily and Jimmy picks him up gently by letting the mouse climb onto his hand)*

Mrs. Judson: That little guy seems to have grown attached to you.

*(The mouse lets out a cute happy squeak. Then they changed the subject)*

Mrs. Judson: Now, come on, be quick. We have a lot to do before this evening, please.

*(They then leave the attic and headed downstairs where Rouge awaited them)*

Rouge: There you all are. Where were you?

*(She then noticed the mouse in Jimmy's hand)*

Rouge: Is that the friendly mouse you and I fed the cookies to, and that Mother and Father said we can keep if you caught it later?

Jimmy: Yep!

Rouge: Lovely!

Silver: Isn't he a beauty!

Charmy: More like "Cutie."

*(Then Ruge let the mouse climb onto her hand)*

Rouge: My guess; You were in the attic he hangs out in, and caught him somehow.

Jimmy: Yup!

Sarah: We certainly did.

*(Then Cosmo lets Rouge hand the mouse to her)*

Cosmo: It's wonderful that you immediately like each other.

*(The mouse then climbed onto Cosmo's left shoulder)*

Jonny: What're we gonna name him?

Silver: Yes, shall we name him "Harold?"

Eddy: Or "Bruce?"

Double D: (Pointing at the mouse) "Christopher Colombus?"

Kevin: (Shaking his head) Nah!

Ed: (Jokingly) "Oatmeal?"

Silver, Charmy, Eds except Ed, and Cul-de-Sac Kids: (Confused) "Oatmeal?"

*(Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine, however, didn't like the idea of Ed naming the mouse after a type of food)*

Sally: (Unsure) Um, "Oatmeal" is a type of food.

Kairi: (Trying to come up with a good name) How about...?

Amy: (Voice-over) "Cheese!"

Namine: (Angrily, scoldingly) Amy!

*(After pondering a bit, Cosmo perked up)*

Cosmo: Ah! I know! We shall name him.... Cookie.

*(The mouse, now called Cookie smiled in agreement. Sally then looked at the others after Cookie climbed onto her left shoulder)*

Sally: Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, Namine, and I decided that name because Rouge, Silver, Charmy, the Eds, and the Cul-de-Sac kids won him over with some cookies.

Namine: Not a bad name.

Mrs. Judson: I'll say.

Rouge: Anywho, how did you catch Cookie, per chance?

Eddy: It was easy.

Amy: We set up a piece of bread.

Charmy: Then we used some toys.

Silver: Along with momentums and matches....

Rouge: (Surprised) Matches? In the attic?

Rolf: It was Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine's idea.

Rouge: But you are aware that Mother and Father forbids us from using matches unattended in the attic.

Kids: Sorry....

*(Rouge then got curious)*

Rouge: Well.... Did you blow it out after using the match?

Sally: Yes.

Rouge: Good. At least that's the smart thing to do with matches in an attic.

*(Then, after looking at her watch, Mrs. Judson realized and changed the subject)*

Mrs. Judson: Oh, goodness! Your parents are expecting you all in the family room.

*(Realizing, the kids immediately hurried down to the family room while Mrs. Judson returned to her work. Once there, they arrived to see a man standing right next to a beautiful Christmas tree, somewhat perfectly decorated. The man is a 26 year old man with short blonde spiky hair, aqua green eyes, clear dragonfly-like wings, and wearing a dark purple sleeveless turtleneck bodily jumpsuit, a silver metal bulky shoulder plate on his left shoulder, brown leather suspenders, brown fingerless leather gloves with metal gauntlet-like wristbands, a thick leather brown belt, and black boots, and sometimes wields a huge thick bladed sword called the Buster Sword. He is Cloud Strife, the children's father. And the woman is a 25 year old woman with long light brown hair, green eyes, clear dragonfly-like wings, and wearing a big red hair ribbon and a small hairband tying her hair in a braided ponytail, a black stringed choker, a red short-sleeved jacket over a pink sleeveless dress, gold bracelets on both her wrists, and brown boots, and sometimes wields a rod called the Guard Stick. She is Aerith Gainsborough (Or, in this fanmake, Aerith Strife), Cloud's wife and the children's mother. Upon seeing them come in, Cloud and Aerith greeted them)*

Aerith: Ah, there you all are.

*(They noticed Cookie on Sally's shoulder)*

Cloud: Ah, you caught that mouse in the attic?

Cosmo: We certainly did.

Rouge: And rest assured, it was easy.

Amy: It was me, Cosmo, and Sally's idea even.

*(Cloud and Aerith took a closer look at Cookie and then asked away)*

Cloud: What did you name him?

Children: Cookie.

*(Cloud and Aerith looks at Cookie again, who then nods with a happy squeak)*

Cloud: Well, not a bad name.

Aerith: It fits him, considering he was fed some cookies before.

*(The children then noticed the Christmas tree)*

Sally: Anyway, is that tree why you called us here?

*(Cloud and Aerith, upon hearing Sally, then pointed at the Christmas tree)*

Cloud and Aerith: What do you think?

*(The children looked closely at the somewhat unfinished Christmas tree and calmly got a bit sad, but giving a little smile as Mrs. Judson came in with a feather duster and began dusting the chandelier)*

Rouge: It's.... Wonderful, Mother, Father.

*(Hearing her tone, Cloud and Aerith looked at the Christmas tree again and Aerith got a little sheepish while Cloud cleared his throat)*

Aerith: With a few adjustments, perhaps.

Mrs. Judson: (Agreeing) No shame in that.

Cosmo: (A little sadly) That's not how Grandmother did it.

*(Hearing her, Mrs. Judson and the family got calmly sad)*

Silver: I know, right?

Charmy: Yeah.

Rolf: Indeed.

Mrs. Judson: Widow Tweed sure knew how to make the decorations beautiful.

*(A brief sad silence descends, that even Cookie noticed in calm silent concern. For it turned out the children's grandmother, Widow Tweed, had already passed away a week ago from cancer, and they are now currently in the process of overcoming their grief over what they had lost. Anyway, after that brief silence, Cloud and Aerith perked up a bit along with Mrs. Judson, who resumed dusting away)*

Cloud: Well, children. Your mother and I have some early Christmas presents for you.

Children: (Calmly interested) Really?

Rouge: On Christmas Eve? Tonight?

Cloud: Yes.

Aerith: They're from both us and my mother. She asked us on her deathbed to give them to you on Christmas Eve.

*(The children gave a calm sad smile, glad to know that Widow Tweed had thought of bestowing them their Christmas gifts before her passing. Then Aerith picked up some Christmas present boxes and began handing them out to each child)*

Aerith: This one's for you and the Peach Creek kids, Jimmy.

*(Jimmy accepted his and the Peach Creek kids' gift from Aerith)*

Peach Creek kids: (To Aerith) Thanks, Mom. (Aerith.) *(To Cloud)* Thanks, Dad. (Cloud.) *(Looks up in gratitude)* And thank you, too, Grandma. (Widow Tweed.)

*(Aerith then hands another gift for Silver)*

Aerith: Silver.

Silver: Thank you to all Grandmother and you.

*(As Aerith hands Charmy his* *gift, Jimmy opened his and the Peach Creek kids' and they got happy to see it's....)*

Jimmy: (Happily) Wow! Tin soldiers!

Peach Creek kids: (Happily) Just like we wanted!

Kevin: (Happily) Awesome!

*(As Silver and Charmy opened their gifts, Aerith then hands Rouge her gift)*

Rouge: Thank you.

*(Silver and Charmy got happy at their gifts, revealed to be....)*

Silver: (Happily) Jiminy, a football!**\***

Charmy: (Happily) Yay, a traveler backpack!

*(Then finally, Aerith hands the last gift to Sally while Rouge opened her gift)*

Aerith: And the last one, is for you, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine.

*(Accepting the gift, Sally opened her, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine's gift. At the same time, Rouge got happily amazed by her gift)*

Rouge: (Gasps happily) Grandmother's favorite evening dress!

*(Cloud and Aerith nod at Rouge, feeling a little sentimental)*

Aerith: Yes, it was.

Cloud: She even wore that at our wedding.

*(Then Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine, upon opening their gift, realized their gift is a beautiful golden egg-shaped box with a stand connected to it)*

Ed: What is that?

Silver: Is it a jewelry box?

Charmy: Or a music box?

Sally: A golden egg-shaped box.

Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine: Yes....

*(Even Cookie was interested)*

Rouge: If it's a box, are there any jewelry in there?

Silver: (To Rouge) You took the words right out of my mouth, sis.

*(Rouge just glared disapprovingly at him)*

Namine: Don't know yet.

*(Sally tried to open the egg box gently, but couldn't. She tried again, but a little harder this time. Then she, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine noticed a keyhole on it)*

Kairi: Looks like it's locked.

Sally: Yes, it is.

Cloud: Are you sure it opens?

Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine: Yes.

Sally: In fact, there's a keyhole right here.

*(Then she gently rummaged through her gift box to find a key to it, but to her, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine's confusion, there's no key)*

Cosmo: Odd.

Amy: There's no key.

Sally: Why would Grandmother give us this box without a key?

Eddy: Maybe it's just a silly egg-shaped box just for decoration.

Double D: (Calmly scoldingly) Eddy!

Silver: (Calmly, firmly) Don't make fun of my sisters' present like that.

Charmy: (Calmly, angrily) What if it doesn't come with a key?

*(Feeling calmly hurt, Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine sighed sadly)*

Amy: It's not just a silly egg-shaped box.

Namine: We know, for certain, this opens.

Double D: (To Eddy) They have a point.

*(Eddy got apologetic gently)*

Eddy: Sorry.

*(Silver, Charmy, and Double D calmly got happy again)*

Silver: (Smiling softly) That's alright.

Charmy: (Smiling softly) Your apology is accepted.

*(Accepting Eddy's apology with a nod, Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine got up)*

Sally: Excuse us....

*(They leave the room with their gift, with Cookie going with them)*

Cloud and Aerith: Girls?

*(In the nursery, Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine looked in the gift box closely, hoping to find a key, while Cookie is seated nearby, but to the five girls' disappointment, there isn't a key. Then Kairi noticed something in the box's corner)*

Kairi: What's that?

*(Noticing it along with Amy, Cosmo, and Namine, Sally then pulled out the object, revealed to be an envelope, and written on the front are their names that reads "Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine." Curious, Sally opened the envelope and and discovered a letter in there. Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine then read it together)*

Sally, Cosmo, and Amy: (Reading) To my dearest Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine.

Kairi: (Reading) This gift I bestow upon you is a really special one that will show you what you need when I'm gone.

Namine: (Reading) And to find it, you must find the key to it on your own.

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: (Reading) For everything you need is inside. Love, Grandmother.

*(They got curious)*

Sally: "Everything you need is inside...."

*(Then they heard Cloud and Aerith come in)*

Cloud: Girls?

Aerith: Is everything alright?

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: Afraid not.

*(Then the five noticed the shape of the keyhole on the egg-shaped box and recognized it)*

Sally: It's a pin tumbler lock.

Namine: It's impossible to open it without its matching key when it's locked.

Cosmo and Amy: That's right.

Cloud: I see....

*(He shrugs)*

Cloud: Well, why don't you get ready for the party.

Aerith: And then you can work it out tomorrow.

*(Then feeling sad upon hearing them say that, Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine sighed sadly. Noticing that, Cloud and Aerith got sympathetic)*

Aerith: Girls, I miss your grandmother, too, especially when she got the cancer that took her.

Cloud: But Christmas comes, whether it's good times or not. We must do our best to enjoy it.

*(But that didn't make Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine better)*

Sally: Sorry, it's just....

Kairi: It's hard.

Cosmo: None of us feel like enjoying it right now.

Cloud: (Sitting beside them in comfort with Aerith) Well, that may be the case, but it's important to maintain traditions as a family.

Aerith: (Comfortingly) It's what's expected of us.

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: (Sadly) I know.

*(They hug each other calmly, reassuring each other. Then they heard Rouge)*

Rouge: I'm sorry to interrupt, but....

*(Ending their hug, Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, Cloud, and Aerith looked at the nursery's entrance and saw Rouge standing there, wearing Widow Tweed's old evening dress, meaning that Rouge is now wearing a fuchsia sleeveless, strapless ballroom dress, fuchsia arm gloves, a fuchsia beaded necklace, a fuchsia headband, and fuchsia shoes)*

Rouge: What do you think?

*(Sally and her four sisters, Cloud, and Aerith smiled calmly, but with a hint of sadness)*

Aerith: You look just like your grandmother in that dress.

*(Rouge returned a soft sad smile. Then they calmly snapped out of it and Cloud got up to leave)*

Cloud: Could you please get ready for the party?

Aerith: Don't want to be late.

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, and Rouge: Yes.

*(Then Cloud left. As Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, and Rouge are getting ready with and Cookie sitting nearby, watching, while Rouge and Aerith helped them, they, Aerith, and Rouge were talking)*

Rouge: Still couldn't find the box's key?

Sally: No.

*(She sighs sadly)*

Sally: I wish Grandmother was here.

Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, and Rouge: Yes....

*(Then Amy showed Rouge the letter Widow Tweed left them, and Rouge and Aerith read it)*

Aerith: That's a very sweet cryptic note my mother left you.

Amy: Mm-hm. But something tells us we might find the key somewhere else.

Sally, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine: That's right.

Rouge: Well, I'm certain you'll work it out.

Aerith: You're extremely clever girls, just like her.

Sally: My sisters and I don't feel very clever lately.

Aerith: Well, maybe you might eventually realize you still have your cleverness.

Kairi: I guess so, Mother.

*(Rouge then perked up in realization and then explained away)*

Rouge: Oh, by the way, my boyfriend, Shadow, is meeting us at the party tonight. Isn't that wonderful?

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, and Aerith: (Nods) Yes.

Namine: And I guess we shall try to be positive, no matter how tragic Grandmother's death was.

Rouge: Atta girls.

*(Then Sally asked away as she placed her egg-shaped box she was still holding on the vanity dresser she's sitting at)*

Sally: Mother, do you think we, still have our cleverness?

Aerith: Yes. I still believe you do.

Kairi: We're not sure yet.

Cosmo: It's just that, well, the egg-shaped box....

Aerith: It'll be fine, my dears.

*(Then she, Rouge, Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine sang together as Rouge and Aerith continued to help Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine get ready)*

Aerith: **Well, your grandmother's gone, it's true**

**No family could be perfect**

**Especially with the loss....**

**Well, maybe let that pass**

**In all you say or do**

**You couldn't make it plainer**

Rouge: **You are our mother and grandmother's daughters and granddaughters**

**Therefore, you are class**

Sally: **So we should just accept**

**We just simply move on without her**

Rouge: **That is what she wanted**

Aerith: **And you can take my word**

**You are clever and unique**

***Crème de la crème***

Aerith and Rouge: **No matter what you do**

**We're on your side**

**And if our point of view**

**Is somewhat misty-eyed**

**There's nothing clearer in our lives**

**Than what our family and us wish and feel for you**

**And that's a lot**

**No matter what**

Cosmo: **No matter what happens now**

Amy: **You make us happy**

Kairi: **We love the funny way**

**You stand out from the crowd**

Rouge: **It's my intention**

**My fashion shows the world out there some days**

**Just what we've got**

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, Rouge, and Aerith: **No matter what**

Aerith: **Now some may say all families just exaggerate**

Sally: **That every relative's great**

Rouge: **We are**

*(They giggle a bit)*

Namine: **And every child tends to say their parents' tops**

Rouge: **They pull out all the stops**

**To praise them**

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, Rouge, and Aerith: **And quite rightly**

Rouge: **No matter what the pain**

**We've come this far**

**I pray that you remain**

**Exactly as you are**

Aerith: **This really is a case of mother knowing best**

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, and Rouge: **And loved ones, too**

Aerith and Rouge: **You're always clever**

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: **We might never change**

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, Namine, Rouge, and Aerith: **Our family of us is all we've got**

**No matter what**

*(The song over, they continued getting ready)*

Cosmo: Maybe you and Mother are right, Rouge.

Sally, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: Yes.

*(Amy then reached onto the vanity dresser for her red hairband when she noticed something on her and her sisters' egg-shaped box)*

Amy: What's this?

*(She picks her and her sisters' egg-shaped box up and took a closer look. Even Sally, Cosmo, Kairi, Namine, Rouge, and Aerith looked with her. And sure enough, on the egg-shaped box, there's an engraved M on there)*

Sally: It's an M.

*(Then the seven immediately perked up in realization and happiness)*

Cosmo: It's Merlin's insignia!

Kairi: He is a really great inventor, as well as our godfather since taking our mother and grandmother in when they lost their family to a housefire.

Sally: And maybe....

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: *He* might know where the key is!

Aerith: (Agreeing) Indeed.

Rouge: We should even tell Father your idea regarding your gift.

Aerith: And consulting Merlin about it.

Sally, Cosmo, Amy, Kairi, and Namine: (Nods in agreement) Yes.

*(Then they resumed getting ready even more)*

***Coming up: Upon arrival at Merlin's mansion for the Christmas party and meeting up with Rouge's group, the children, along with Aerith, then, under Cloud and Aerith's permission, consult Merlin himself about Sally, Amy, Cosmo, Kairi, and Namine's mystery egg-shaped box and where its key is.***

**\*The football Silver receives for Christmas is actually a British name for a soccer ball, since soccer is called football in the United Kingdom and Europe**