Stories/Planning Christmas at the Castle

*(Meanwhile, Olivia and Marina's group and Ponyo walked down the long halls together with the female penguin looking concerned)*

Marina: That's strange, why's your king so grumpy all of a sudden?

Ponyo: I don't know. He's always like that.

Olivia: Even at Christmas?

*(Finally, they entered the study as Ponyo nodded)*

Ponyo: Yeah.... *(Confused)* Guys, what's Christmas?

Snake: (Shocked) What? You don't know what Chrisssssstmassss issss?!

Ace: What's wrong with you? Where have you been?

Olivia: Ponyo, you must know about Christmas.

Marina: Stockings in front of a fire? Tree? Tinsel?

Billy: Presents?

Ponyo: (Gasps) Presents? Do I get one?

Olivia: Of course, everyone gets a present on Christmas.

Ponyo: Oh, even the Master?

Olivia: (Smiles) Yes, even the Mouse King.

Ponyo: What are you going to get him?

Olivia: Gee, I don't really know him well enough to know what he would want.

Marina: I know what Hubie can have from me!

*(She takes a green crystal out and carved it into a shape of a heart)*

Ace: A crystal?

Marina: Not just any crystal. A special pebble.

Arturo: Oh, the ones that symbolize love and friendship.

Trixie: We get it.

Marina: Exactly.

*(Then Marina finished carving the pebble and placed it on the table)*

Ponyo: And what would you want, Olivia?

Olivia: Well, what I love most in the world are my books. My stories.

Ponyo: Well, why don't you give the Master a story?

Olivia: You're right, Ponyo.... A story.

*(The females began gathering items. As they did, Olivia began singing)*

Olivia: **When I get to know him**

**We'll find more things to say**

**One day I will reach him**

**There has to be a way**

**Everyone needs some one**

**He must need someone, too**

**When I get to know him better**

**Here's what I will do**

**I'll read him stories**

**From picture books**

**All filled with wonder**

**Magic worlds where the impossible**

**Becomes the everyday**

**We'll find a mountaintop**

**And some moonbeams**

**To sit under**

**I'll lead because I know the way**

**So much to discover**

**I do it all the time**

**I could live inside bright pages**

**Where the words all rhyme**

**We will the slay inner demons**

**That still follow him around**

**And he'll smile, yes, he'll smile**

**As his dreams leave the ground**

**Stories, and stories**

**'Bout mermaids, kings**

**And sunken treasure**

**Magic worlds where the impossible**

**Becomes the everyday**

**I know a tiny place**

**Just a dot, too small to measure**

**I'll take him there**

**I know the way**

**Stories 'bout heroes**

**Who overcame their deepest sorrow**

**They'll put hope into his heart again**

**He'll cherish everyday**

**He'll find a better world**

**And the strength to face tomorrow**

**I'm sure that when he knows the way**

**He'll want to stay**

*(Finally, the finished book with the filled pages was placed inside a big box along with the pebble in a small box, wrapped up with each a pink ribbon)*

Ponyo: Do you think they will like the gifts?

Olivia: (Giggles) I do.

Ponyo: (Excitedly) So does this mean we're gonna have a Christmas?

Olivia: Uh huh, absolutely!

Marina: No one should not have Christmas after all.

*(Later, in the kitchen, Eddy looked furious as the others heard the explanation)*

Eddy: Absolutely not!

Servants: Why not?

Eddy: Out of the question! Not a chance! Dream on! Not any possibility, forget it!

*(A few servants only slumped over)*

Eddy: (Glares) Suck in that gut, Ed.

*(He does)*

Naveen: Oh get with it, get with the spirit. Unwind.

Tiana: That's what I would do if I were you.

Granmamare: Come on, Eddy, have a heart.

Servants: Yeah, come on.

Eddy: No, no and let me think.... *(Snaps)* NO!! This is where I put my foot down. The Master has forbidden Christmas.

*(He slammed his foot down onto the ground)*

Olivia: (Surprised) Forbid Christmas?

Marina: No one can forbid Christmas.

*(Unknown to any of them, a familiar cat and three monsters peeked from around the corner)*

Eddy: He doesn't wish to be reminded of his past, and Christmas is a most painful reminder of it. I, for one do not wish to torture him.

Hubie: Actually, I, for one think that a little Christmas cheer would do him for good.

Brick: He could use a little cheering up.

Boomer: That's right.

Butch: What's not to like about Christmas?

Naveen: Hubie and the group are right. It is up to us to do something about it.

Eddy: (Frowns) It's not our place to get involved. No, no, no, no! We just can't mind our own business, can we? We just have to stick our weight where it doesn't belong.

*(Ed tickled Eddy, making Eddy go flying and lands in a tub full of suds. The group all laughed at this funny moment)*

Eddy: (Growls in anger) Humiliating!

Fujimoto: Pish-posh. I think it's a wonderful idea.

Eddy: But the Master doesn't want it. His castle.... His rules.

Ponyo: It's not fair!

Ed: (Whining) She's right.... It's not fair!

Eddy: Don't blubber, Ed!

Ed: (Whining) Sorry.

Granmamare: (Sighs) Look at us, squabbling and bickering, breaks my heart to see it, it does.

Fujimoto: And we used to be at our very best at Christmas.

Tiana: Why we used to prepare a feast for the entire castle.

Naveen: Ah, you could have some stuffed turkey....

Marina: Cranberry sauce....

Ponyo: Short-bread cookies!

Naveen: (Smiles) Mince pies....

Fujimoto: Pecan toast....

Ed: Gravy and buttered toast...!

Tiana: Christmas gumbo with potatoes....

Naveen: Delicious beignets.

Ace: Christmas pudding! I like it.

Double D: And most importantly, Christmas jawbreakers!

*(During the list, Eddy slowly became interested, especially at the part "jawbreakers")*

Eddy: (Excitedly) J-J-Jawbreakers?! With cookie flavor?!

Double D: What do you think we are? Barbarians?

Tiana: Of course with cookie flavor!

Double D: And Japan flavored.... And beef jerky flavored.... And all those things you like!

*(He looked at everyone before finally sighing)*

Eddy: Oh... Oh, all right.

Ponyo: (Happily) Yes!

Eddy: (Frowns) But if the Master finds out about this he will be furious, so everybody keep quiet.

Naveen: Come on! What are we waiting for? Christmas?

Double D: Good heavens! We don't have much time! It's Christmas Eve! We gotta hurry!

Tiana: I'll see to the dinner with Fujimoto and Granmamare.

Fujimoto and Granmamare: Yes.

Naveen: I'll get some mistletoe.

Olivia: We need to brighten this place up.

*(At that moment, Naveen and Ed grinned as Ed spoke)*

Ed: I know some friends who will help!

Naveen: One of them is an old friend of mine before I married Tiana.

Eddy: Now, now, wait for me. I'm in charge here, I'm in charge.

*(At that moment, he noticed everyone already gone. Quickly, he began following)*

Eddy: (Dashing) Wait for me!

*(And with that, he was gone)*

***Coming up: Everyone convinces Runt, the Mane Six, Spike, and a reluctant Rita to help in preparing Christmas, assuring Rita mostly that Christmas is not a hopeless folly.***