A Christmas Caper: An Astro Boy Fanfic by AprilSeven

[AprilSeven]

It all began last Christmas.

Nothing out of the ordinary – or so it would seem: a quiet, Christmas Eve had settled over the city, and a light snow was falling – just enough to set the perfect mood for everyone. It was as if the entire world had snuggled in beside a warm fire with family and friends to share a magical winter evening. The sharp air practically tingled with the sounds of distant voices singing and laughing, while the whirrrrr of snow stirred up by occasional gusts of wind carried everything skyward and across the sprawling city.

Across town, in a dark, forgotten corner (slated for urban renewal in the coming new year) a single dim light from a television screen made its way out to the street. If you dared to peek in the window, you’d see a strange man, sitting all alone, sullenly advancing the channels one-by-one on his remote. He stopped on an animation of the story of The Night Before Christmas and watched, transfixed, as the poem he recalled from his childhood came to life before his eyes.

“Mom in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap…”

He slumped further into the lumpy old armchair even further, and held something small and battered close to his chin. Drawing in a deep breath, his mind raced back to his own childhood – what there was of it he could still remember. So many foster families, and many winter nights – like this one - spent alone out in the cold; fighting to stay focused, stay warm, and keep awake until morning when the sun would return and he could re-assume the bravado he had developed as a cover. With a shiver, he reached down and pulled up his socks – all three pairs he was wearing! They were a testament to his surviving frostbite – he’d never be without them after that, and couldn’t care less if they had helped earned him his nickname (due to the fact he was reluctant to ever wash them!).

Comfortable once more, he drew the old toy up to his face, and settled in for his own “winter’s nap.”

“Merry Christmas, Skunk,” he muttered to the stuffed animal that was the only tangible part of his childhood that remained, and he dozed off. In his dream, he was a boy again, and riding with Santa aboard his fantastic golden sleigh, loaded with toys. “I wanna ride Blitzen!” he shouted as he determinedly climbed upon the handlebar, balancing as he prepared to jump onto Blitzen’s back.

He could hear people counting . . . “Three, two, one…” but instead of leaping atop the flying reindeer, he awoke with a snore and a start, to hear voices crying “Merry Christmas!” with footage of Astro Boy hovering 150 feet in the air to place the glowing star on top of the city’s Christmas Tree.

Skunk face-palmed in frustration, and groaned, “That damned flying robot replaced my flying reindeer!”

Silence. He peeked between his fingers at the TV screen; it was Astro-free. He dropped his hand and gazed straight ahead and repeated, “flying robot . . . flying reindeer.” Sitting up and smiling, he mused, “Now, those reindeer ain’t no robots . . . so . . . how do THEY fly? Waaait a minute. . .” a sickly taupe hue flushed his normally discolored skin as his mind raced, “allll this time, allll these centuries, Santa has been holdin’ onto this kind of technology and passing it off as something ‘magical??’”

He leapt to his feet, holding his toy skunk out at arm’s length and shouted excitedly to it, “I don’t THINK so!! There ain’t so such thing as ‘magic!’ Little Skunk, next Christmas you and I are gonna be on top of the world!! Ya hear me?” With a couple of whoops and a few minutes of gleeful dancing around the room, “big” Skunk began to put his plan in motion.

“I know just the partner for this little adventure!! Good ol’ Ace!!” A series of beeps sounded as he ran through his phone listings until he located ‘Lamp, Acetylene.”

Before he even heard the phone ring, a gruff voice barked, “What the hell do you want on Christmas Eve?”

Skunk gave him a few moments of silence to create mystery, “Hey, Ace, if you don’t want the biggest freakin’ Christmas present you ever got, I’ll be happy to give it to someone else.”

“Quit the drama, Kusai.”

“Do you believe in Santy Claus?”

A long pause.

“I’m serious,” Skunk continued, “because if you do, then, I want you to help me acquire the biggest technology breakthrough EVER, and I’ll share the rights – 50/50!”

“50/50? That’s not how Skunk thinks,” thought Lamp, keeping silent as he processed this uncharacteristic offer, ”either he’s desperate, or this is too big for him to pull off on his own.” Either way, it sounded like his participation was going to make or break the opportunity.

“Why ME?” barked Lamp into the phone.

“I need supersonic transportation and deep pockets. It’s you, or I wait until I win the Lottery.”

“When does this ehhh ‘project’ begin?”

“Tonight. Right now.”

“Where –“

Skunk cut him off: “No more on the phone. I’ll meet you at your plane.”

[Satus]

Wow, I really like this so far. Skunk is very amusing. I like how you've paced the story too.

[Gotta Love ASTRO BOY]

Wow this is awesome! In the begining I actually felt sad for poor Skunk

[Alittleacorn]

I know I read this before but...I LOVE IT I LOVE IT LOVE IT! ^^
sooooo
*bounces up and down* WRITE MORE WRITE MORE WRITE MORE! I wanna know where this is going! ^_____^

[AprilSeven]

Thanks so much, guys . . . hopefully in a day or so the next installment!!

[the 鉄腕アトム fan]

Wow that's really awesome Aprilseven!! Can't wait to read more! Just like Acorn; *bounces up and down* WRITE MOREEEE WRITE MOREE!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!

[Astro Forever]

That was very nice, April!

[Gotta Love ASTRO BOY]

Did you happen to finish this?

[AprilSeven]

Noooot yet! I was afraid things over the holidays would get too crazy for me to spend time writing . . . but I promise, GLAB, I will finish!!

[Gotta Love ASTRO BOY]

YAY! ^^ *jumps around* I'm excited now! YYYAAAYYY!!!