Daniel played on his paraversal prize, the limited edition Gamegirl, most nights of the year 1990.
​
When it finally struck that time at the end of the year among the fresh snowfall, he fell into a warm sleep in his pink sweater with pinky cheeks and a blushing red nose.
​He awoke in Winterland much like the year or so before and remembered instantly what he wanted to do! He wanted to go find his best friend, Flynn Tanner. After all, this would be the only time of the year the two would get to meet, for who knew how long…
​…but Flynn was nowhere to be found.
​
​Daniel searched the top of the Tree of Eternal Revelry. He bravely climbed the short path, filled with the Christmas Bulb Bugs that scared him so easily before, with nothing but a determined smile on his face.
​He looked amongst the frosty crystal caverns beneath the slopes of Lady Cliff's Ballroom. He slid on his bright-green ice-skates and carved up a magnificent twirl in excitement. He had never felt more alive.
​And lastly, as the excitement began to fade into worry, he searched the last place they’d played together in Winterlands past. Daniel looked upon the Fields of the Grand Snowmen. It was a conjuration of magic by a great magician of Alheim, who had seen the kids playing and created an infinite supply of snow-people to engage in a great snow-war against them for hours upon hours.
​
​But in none of these places did Daniel find his friend.
​Flynn Tanner — had he left him for good? Daniel wondered at the harrowing possibility.
​The tears began to swell, and the young boy, on the cusp of his transition to adulthood, felt abandoned. Somewhere out there Flynn had decided to grow up all by himself. He left his best friend behind, and Daniel had just realised what that truly meant.
​A small magical snowball found Daniel, who was hiding around the corner of Tarlog's Great Mess Hall. The ball shook a little and a faint jingle of snowflakes made a wonderful chiming sound. It glowed faint purple and yellow and even though it was made of snow, it felt warm to the touch.
​Daniel picked up the friendly creature, like he would pick up his old teddy bear back home.
​
​A small sound came from the back of his throat as the creature stirred. His breathing hitched unsteadily. The friendly snowball floated up to his chest, and began to hum.
​Daniel's hands closed around it, clutching the kind creature against his heart.
​
​---
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​'Oh, you've found a friend. I see how it is.' A voice broke the quiet that followed Daniel's sadness.
​The creature perks up, like a dog whose owner just came home. It sparkled and jingled around a tall woman standing in front of Daniel. She wore green from head to toe, and even a strange Russian ushanka hat.
​Daniel wipes away his dried face and stands up abruptly. 'Sorry, I was just — I just wanted, you know. I was just sitting here, and they came along and…'
​'You're Daniel Wright?'
​Daniel wasn't sure if the woman said Daniel, right? or Daniel Wright? He decided not to linger on it. ​'Y-yes ma-am. That's me.'
​'You okay?' She sounded firm, but she was concerned.
​'I'm fine! I just got a bit lost and decided to have a sit-down, that's all. I should be going, I think I need to go home.'
​The woman didn't move. She just stood, silently watching him.
After a moment, Daniel sucked in a short breath and marched on. As he walked past her, she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder.
​'You know, there's a light show happening in about 20 minutes. The guy who runs this town was talking something big about it. It's a galactic meteor shower that goes for the whole night. Tears of the Universe, he called it. Sad name if you ask me.'
​Daniel didn’t know what to say. He still hadn't figured out how to say no yet. Flynn was usually the one who would help him with that.
The lady kept talking anyway. ​'I think there's a friend of yours there—’
‘Flynn!’ Daniel gasped Flynn’s name almost before the lady had finished speaking. His eyes lit up and she saw it, but had to respond with a shake of her head.
‘Sorry, not Flynn Tanner.’ She sees the disappointment on him like a weight. ‘Her name’s Marybeth Delaney. I have it on good authority that she wants to see those lights with you.’
It took a moment for Daniel to piece it together, hurtling from hope to disappointment to surprise to suspicion. But, after a bit of uhming and ahhing, he nudged his nose up with his thumb and gave himself enough Christmas pluck to say, ‘I think I’d like that too. If that’s okay… You aren’t pulling my leg, are you?’
The lady smiled. ‘Not at all. I’ll pinky promise on it.’
Her hand extended into hundreds of tiny wiry ribbons, floating over towards Daniel to wrap gently around his pinky and shake.
Danny felt no fear, only amazement — he knew exactly what this meant! His excitement made him glow with his Light, his power that made him special. It glowed across his skin and through his eyes, so much that he began to float. He’d nearly forgotten it was there.
‘Easy, there,’ said Kudzu Delaney. ‘I’ve seen what a power like yours can do, and I’d rather not have to deal with that tonight.’
Someone like me! Someone with powers!
Danny rushed off all sorts of questions as the two walked through the snow, towards the Tears of the Universe. Where did yours come from? What can you do? Are there more like us?
Kudzu’s answer was simple: ‘I had a great teacher. He told me that if I ever found someone lost who had a power like his own, I’d know what to do.’
Danny was too excited to see the familiarity and fondness in Kudzu’s eyes when she looked at him.
Light and colour tore across the skies above, meeting and departing in quick succession, colliding in great showers of sparks and wonder.
A wonderful Winterland was to be had for all.