Velvet and Vixen - Meant to Be Togetherby Furious47ChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1Before their fight, before the events of story mode, Velvet and Vixen, two young reindeer of Reine City, were lovers. Never in the city’s long history was there ever a couple that loved each other as much as Velvet and Vixen loved each other. The story of how the self-proclaimed, EXTREMELY narcissistic Velvet came to find someone she loved more than herself would go down as the most historic moment in all of Reine City, no, of all of Fœnum. Only a few citizens knew about their relationship, with many of the townspeople believing they were strangers to one another, or fierce rivals as they had been back in the day before they started seeing each other. To say that the few reindeer who knew about their relationship were obsessed with them would be an understatement. No, they were ABSORBED in their relationship, saying how they were meant to be, and offering huge amounts of money for their wedding. The city’s MUSEUM had an entire exhibit dedicated to all things about their pairing, from artwork to ice sculptures to crappy fanfiction. The theater held PLAYS about their love. Epic novels about them were written, like the famous ‘Velvet and Vixen,’ a story where Velvet’s parents forbid her from being with Vixen. After finding her lover dead, Vixen takes her own life, being unable to live without her. This story was so popular that it became required reading in schools, and the money that the book made went entirely to Velvet and Vixen so they could work towards having the greatest wedding in history. Yes, if it wasn’t already obvious by now, this town was a little strange. Behind closed doors, when they weren’t bombarded by fans out in public begging them to kiss or going up to them and asking when their wedding would be, Velvet and Vixen had a completely ordinary relationship, out and about enjoying one another’s company after Vixen returned from work and her usual duties as a mysterious Elite. Life was perfect. Vixen had someone who loved her and cared for her… And Velvet had a doe who was rich and showered her with expensive presents… This is what some people thought was going on behind the scenes: That Velvet was using Vixen just to get nice things. In actuality, despite how odd it might sound, especially to those who are familiar with Velvet, Velvet didn’t care about Vixen’s wealth or her generosity. Nope, not one little bit. Velvet was a completely different reindeer around her. Okay, she was still pretty snooty and still kind of a brat, she acted a little more like herself. She let herself become excited, she gave compliments and usually talked about other things besides her floof, and on special occasions, she even dropped that accent. Her ladylike demeanor completely fell away with Vixen, she felt free to be however she wanted to be around her, and Vixen felt the very same way. She had a connection that no other reindeer would ever have with Velvet. Before she met Vixen, Velvet’s biggest fan was none other than herself. She worshipped herself like a goddess, her ego was off the charts… But when Vixen came along, all of a sudden, for the first time in her life, she no longer loved herself anymore. All of that love belonged to Vixen, and she told her that every day. Somehow, Vixen had the power to completely change Velvet, she didn’t understand it, but she didn’t have to. They were both happy, and that was so special to her. Vixen was much different than Velvet. She was a small, humble pink reindeer pretty much cut from the same cloth as Velvet was. Her family was almost just as important as Velvet’s, she was just as wealthy as Velvet, and she had a great future ahead of her as one of the Elite 6. She was almost nominated as champion of the tundra actually, becoming one of the final contenders as a matter of fact. Of course, all of this was stripped away from her when she met her. And that is where our little tale begins. Vixen was standing in the city’s Colosseum where the reindeer games were taking place. Usually, this spot was meant for sports events or shows. Today, it would be where all of Reine City’s contenders would go head-to-head to prove their worth to the entire city. Seven reindeer had entered the Colosseum, but only one would leave as champion of the tundra, given the highest honor to represent their city in search of the Prophet’s Key. Being one of the Elite 6, Vixen of course was guaranteed a spot as one of those contenders. Earlier, she had done battle against three of her fellow elites, and emerged victorious, now only one reindeer stood in her way to glory… …And whoever it was, they were taking a remarkably long time getting ready. Vixen was unaware of who her opponent would be the seventh contender was a mystery to all. Not even the hosts of the event knew who it would be. Vixen tapped her hoof, thinking about all the opponents that she had faced already, and the ones that were left. It would seem the only one left is Blitzen… Vixen thought to herself, Of course, it had to be him. Blitzen was a powerful reindeer, with probably the best magic skills she had ever seen, not only that, but he was far stronger and taller than her. The odds were not in her favor whatsoever… But the reindeer that entered the arena was not Blitzen at all. Instead, it was… “Velvet Hoofstrong!!” The voice of the reindeer announcing the contestants knocked her out of her thoughts. Vixen blinked as she saw her opponent approaching, three winter sprites all around her, dolling her up with make-up, which seemed rather unnecessary at a time like this. Vixen had heard of Velvet, a reindeer who called herself the ‘ice queen,’ and had an ego larger than her head, but that was all Vixen knew, tuning out all the nonsense others spewed about her. Whoever she was, Vixen was not ready to take this lightly. She knew there was a reason she was here today, she knew there was a reason they kept her presence here a secret. Vixen was no fool, this was not going to be an easy fight. Velvet was pretty, she supposed, cyan antlers twinkling in the sunshine as she ran a hoof through floof so thick you could get lost in it. The crowd seemed to favor her immensely, Vixen would notice, so much so that it was almost impossible to hear as Velvet spoke: “Hm~ Can’t ve just declare me ze vinner~?” A winter sprite carrying a bell flew in between the two does, and after muttering some nonsense that either doe didn’t understand, it rang the bell, starting the match. The rules of this little reindeer game were simple. In short, it was a battle of both hooves and magic. First to tap out loses. Vixen didn’t know it yet, but in a few minutes, her life would change forever. An icicle flew right toward Vixen’s face, as quick as a flash she threw up a barrier of ice just as the projectile hit its target. Vixen chuckled, throwing the barrier down, swiftly knocking the others Velvet summoned with small blocks of ice. “My my~ Look how quick you are~”, Velvet said, summoning a thick line of ice to sweep Vixen off her hooves. “Trying to talk me to death, hm~?” Vixen responded quickly, avoiding her foolish attempt to trip her and retaliating with a swift kick to the throat. Vixen grinned as she felt her hoof connect with her opponent’s body, and the crowd collectively gasped as the first blow was made. “Make this easier for us both darling and give up~” Velvet chirped, summoning more icicles around her. “Why~? Afraid you’ll get hurt? Don’t worry, dear~ this'll be over before you know it~” Velvet chuckled, “Ve’ll see about that~” Vixen was wrong, for their battle lasted much longer than the previous ones. With every minute that passed by, the crowd lost interest more and more, some fell asleep, and others took out books. Fifteen long minutes later, the fight was beginning to show signs of ending. Both fighters looked clearly spent, their bodies banged up from each other's blows. Vixen had Velvet on the ropes, she just knew it. Leaping gracefully, she smiled down at Velvet as she kicked her in the face, sending her tumbling down to the ground. With her last bit of strength, Velvet used her magic to erect a statue of herself right below Vixen, knocking her back into the air. Before she even knew what was happening, Velvet was up on her hooves, sending icicle after icicle, frosty missiles hitting her from every side, until finally, Velvet ended her combo by kicking her right in the face with all the remaining strength she had in her back legs. The next thing she knew, she was sliding across the ground, pain covering her from antlers to hooves. Her eyes were met with the harsh sunlight, her ears bombarded by the cheers of the crowd. Blinking, Vixen saw Velvet slowly pad over to her, crossing her hooves elegantly as she tilted her head down just a little bit to speak to Velvet: “Don’t be ashamed, you were beaten by ze best~” And that was the first time they met. Velvet went on to become the champion of Reine City, and Vixen went back to being part of the Elite. Not long after, they met by chance at a party that was being thrown in Velvet’s honor, and the rest was history. Vixen and Velvet would soon warm up to one another, and transform from fierce rivals to lovers. But it wasn’t meant to last… Chapter 2It was the most special time in Reine City. The holiday season. Reine City was already a magical place, but for one month out of the entire year, it became a completely different place. It was Velvet’s favorite time of year. It used to be because her fans gave her lots of gifts, but ever since she met Vixen, she started to love it for another reason entirely. Vixen was given a month off, along with all the other Elites, to spend the holidays with their families or whatnot, meaning that Vixen could spend more time with the doe that she loved. Tonight however they didn’t have any elaborate plans like they usually did. They had already decorated their homes together (they didn’t actually do the decorating, they just had their winter sprites do it,) they had already gone to every special play they were showing this time of year, they had already enjoyed their fair share of ice skating and ice sculpture making, even though those two activities were a year-round sort of thing, which makes sense in a land of eternal winter. And so tonight, not being in the mood to go out, they spent their night at Velvet’s home in front of a fire. Vixen always loved Velvet’s home. Of course, ‘home’ would be a vast understatement to describe her place. You see, Velvet lived in a manor. She was, after all, the ice queen! Velvet’s manor, located in one of the more busier parts of town, had EVERYTHING. Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a ginormous library, a huge kitchen and dining room, a cellar, a greenhouse, a tennis court, four emergency exits, a vault, a panic room, a room full of mirrors for Velvet to admire herself, a bathhouse, and a humble little living room where the two spent most of their time, along with the master bedroom, of course. How did Velvet afford to pay for such a place? Her father paid for it. Velvet chipped in, of course… By using her college savings. Out of all the rooms in Velvet’s manor that were probably older than the two of them combined, the living room was probably the simplest room in the entire home. It was the perfect place for them to simply unwind and spend time with one another. Tonight, Velvet and Vixen sit in front of the fireplace, empty cups of hot chocolate sitting beside their hooves. Curious readers might imagine that sitting in front of a campfire while covered in fur would make for an uncomfortable time, but it’s important to note that air conditioning doesn’t exist in Fœnum. The room was silent except for the gentle crinkling of the flame, and Velvet sat silently while her doefriend softly stroked her floof, something she usually charged other reindeer to do. Vixen was the only exception. “Can’t get enough of ze floof, can you~?” Velvet turned her head, locking eyes with her lover. Vixen chuckled, she heard Velvet say that at least five times a day, yet she never grew tired of hearing it, “You know it, snowflake~” Vixen murmured, using her other hoof to pull Velvet’s head closer. Velvet snuggled closer, her tail fluttering as their bodies touched, their floof ruffling each other, as they got closer. Vixen lowered her head, delicately nuzzling her cheek, “What would I ever do without you, ice queen?” Velvet giggled as she pulled away, “You couldn’t live without me~” And that was right. Life without Velvet seemed unbearable. Agonizing, even. The only way Vixen wanted to live was with Velvet right by her side, “You’re right~” Their snouts touched, and Vixen felt Velvet’s hooves start gracefully dancing over her body, “You don’t have to worry~” Velvet said, her voice lowering to a whisper, “I’ll never leave you~” Vixen shivered, her each twitching. Her promise carried only the most sincere, most genuine love, and Vixen believed it with every fiber of her being. She hugged her doefriend tightly, as if someone would try to take Velvet away from her. “And I’ll never leave you either.” “Good~,” Velvet said, sighing softly as Vixen started exploring her body. Velvet was a beautiful, beautiful doe, and it was no wonder that everybody wanted a piece of her. Despite being one of the Elite, Vixen always found herself surprised that SHE was the one who was able to win her love. They were both almost the same, yet it was like they were both worlds apart. Velvet stayed perfectly still as she touched her, Vixen felt the slow rise and fall of her chest as she held her close, rubbing down from her back to her thick haunches. Velvet blushed, and Vixen giggled as her face turned a shade of pink similar to her own body while she poked her flank, feeling more adventurous than usual. “You should be lucky I love you so much.” Velvet said, blinking slowly, her cheeks still red, “I would kick ze oats out of anyone else who did that to me~” Vixen pulled away to just look at her doefriend again. Velvet’s muzzle curved in a smile. She was beautiful, there was no other way to describe it. There were no words that could be said to describe just how gorgeous she was. Vixen never had an eye for females, she always thought she would fall for a buck eventually… But never a doe! Oh… When her father found out that she was dating another doe… He was mad… Vixen briefly recalled his fury when he discovered she was dating Velvet, and how it escalated into a huge argument when she tried to defend herself. In the end, she was glad that she stood up to her father. Ever since she started seeing Velvet, her life changed for the better… Even if people started fawning over her like they did Velvet. Velvet closed her eyes and started leaning over for a kiss. Vixen blushed, her heart thumping in her chest as she quickly snapped back to reality, closing her eyes and meeting Velvet’s muzzle with her own. The two does kissed, their heads slowly tilting, their hooves touching, as they finally did what they wanted to do from the moment their little date had begun. Velvet was a fabulous kisser, at least, according to Vixen, she was. She didn’t know what exactly made someone a good or a bad kisser. It didn’t matter. It was the greatest feeling in the world, and that’s all that mattered to her. “I love you, Vixen~” Velvet chirped, licking her muzzle, “From the bottom of my heart.” She said that with no accent… She really did mean it. Velvet always used a phony accent whenever she spoke, to make herself sound sophisticated and fancy, diligently sticking to it, only dropping it when she got angry. It was the first time Vixen had heard her ever speak without it… She must really love her… And Velvet really did. Though her words said plenty, all Vixen needed to do was look into her eyes to see the undying love twinkling in those big blue diamond eyes to know just how much Vixen meant to her. A kind of feeling that Velvet herself had never felt towards any other reindeer other than herself. They rested their heads together, content with being with each other. “Do you vish to stay with me tonight, darling?” Velvet said, her accent returning as quickly as it disappeared. Vixen couldn’t help but laugh a little. Velvet frowned, “Vhat?” Vixen laughed again, bopping her snout with a hoof, “Nothing, my deer~” she said, “I would love to stay the night with you…~” Chapter 3The holidays were every reindeer’s favorite time of the year, and Vixen was no exception. She loved the holidays! Or well, she used to. Vixen lay in bed one night, quietly sobbing, her chest rising and falling quickly as memories good and bad rushed through her head. Her winter sprites stood by the door, looking at each other, and then back at Vixen, both unsure whether to try and help her feel better, or leave her be. At the very least, Vixen treated them like actual beings and not literal animals, unlike Velvet. Two years ago around this time, Vixen had made the worst mistake of her life. She had met a tall, handsome buck who she few head-over-hooves for, requiring her to make a sacrifice, a choice that would change their lives for good. She could either remain faithful to Velvet and forget the buck, or break things off with Velvet forever. She had put a lot of thought into this, believe her, she had. The truth is, although the city never grew tired of giving the two does attention, soon Vixen started to get a little bored with Velvet. They had done everything together, she felt like she was beating a dead horse, that there was no point in pursuing this relationship anymore. She figured Velvet must be figuring the same way, after all, she did get bored of things quickly. And so, despite her better judgment, she decided to end things with Velvet. What a mistake that had been. She had shattered Velvet’s heart into a million pieces, and she knew it. Their little fight during the breakup said it all. Velvet’s eyes were welling up with tears as she glared angrily with utmost hatred, “I thought you LOVED ME!!” She had screamed, scooping some snow off the ground and throwing it at her, “I gave you EVERYTHING and THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?! BY LEAVING ME?!” “Velvet listen, I-“ Her attempts to try and end this on good terms were stopped as Velvet spoke, venom lacing her voice, “No, you listen, you little… Bitch!” Vixen gasped, “Little bitch!?” “YOU HEARD ME, VIXEN!” Vixen started hyperventilating as she remembered the argument that had ensued after that. They both had said things they knew deep down that they didn’t mean, it was a wonder that the fight didn’t get physical. Vixen closed her eyes, her breath catching in her throat as she remembered what ended it all: “Get this through your head, Velvet! I don’t love you anymore, you’re spoiled, selfish, and stubborn, and I would rather DIE than be with someone like you!” And then all the anger disappeared. Velvet gasped, cowering as her soon-to-be ex doefriend shouted at her. And then she just collapsed, sobbing into her hooves. Vixen didn’t try to say or do anything else, she just… Left. After that, she entered a relationship with that buck she had met, and it didn’t take her long to forget all about what happened. But what became of Velvet? After the loss of her girlfriend of almost two years, Velvet was overwhelmed with despair. She stayed home crying until she couldn’t cry anymore. When she started to feel better, she decided she was done shedding tears for Vixen, and so she moved on with her life, vowing to never love another deer again. It was a hard journey, but eventually, she was able to overcome her sadness and resume her perfect life. And what of Vixen? Well unfortunately for her, her life didn’t remain glamorous forever. Everything changed when she found her new lover with another doe kissing behind a building. All at once, her new life came to an end as she realized that she had left Velvet for a cheater. Her lover begged for her to forgive him, but she didn’t want to hear it. And then the realization hit, that she had pushed Velvet away, lost the best thing that ever happened to her, and it was all her fault. She never knew how much she would miss Velvet until she was gone. She was wrong, Velvet wasn’t getting bored of her. She had hurt the doe she loved, and Velvet would never forgive her for it. She ruined everything, and the thought that she caused so much pain to Velvet hurt her just as much as their breakup. Vixen clutched a pillow tightly, sobbing into it as she tried to think of SOMETHING other than what she had done, but to no avail. And then suddenly something hit her. It was her that ruined everything, right? So maybe she could fix it! No way. She thought she would never forgive me. Not in a million years. She raised her head. But she had to try. Perhaps if she could, she would finally start feeling better. Or maybe, she would only make things worse… Christmas Day. Vixen stood in front of Velvet’s manor, a little plastic bag holding a gift in her mouth. Nistolga filled her as she recalled countless memories that she had been in this place. Before Velvet gave her free access to come into her manor whenever she liked, she even gave her a key! Now, she wouldn’t dare step foot onto the land. She began to have second thoughts, so much so that she could hardly even force herself to walk forward towards the door. It felt like she was walking to her death, and in some ways, she was. Velvet might actually kill her, or at the very least, maim her. Yeah, Velvet wasn’t a very fun reindeer to be around when she was angry. Stopping in front of the door, Vixen put her little peace offering down, took a breath, knocked on the door, and waited… She stood there for maybe five seconds when she started to worry and have second thoughts, but it was far too late to back down now, the sound of the door unlocking told her plenty. Now was the time. Not like she could simply leave and forget about this plan of hers. She had foolishly thrown away the receipt of the gift she bought. The door opened, and Velvet, who seemed to be in a very chipper mood, immediately stepped away to close the door again, her expression turning sour in less than a second. “Wait,” Vixen said. SLAM! “Or not.” Vixen sighed as the door was shut in her face. Her ears twitched. Trying to stomp out her irritation, she knocked on the door once more. When Velvet opened the door again, her chipper mood seemed to have vanished. Normally, reindeer would cower before Velvet when she got angry, but fortunately for her, Vixen was used to Velvet. She didn’t frighten her… Much. “Vhat do you vant?” Velvet demanded, her hoof on the door ready to close it again if she heard something she didn’t like. Almost forgetting what she came here to do, Vixen picked up the bag with a hoof and brought it over to her, “I brought you a little something.” She said. Velvet took it with distaste, “Vhat is it?” She asked. “Well, that’s for you to find out,” Vixen said with a note of humor in her voice. “It’s some sort of gag gift, izn’t it?” Velvet said accusingly, “It’s going to explode and cover my floof in paint or something, I just know it.” Vixen remained silent as Velvet took a small wrapped box out of the bag and apprehensively began to open it. Once the paper was off, Velvet closed her eyes as she used another hoof to very slowly open the box… And to her surprise, nothing happened. No explosions, no gag gift, nothing. Just a plain ordinary gift. Opening her eyes, her scowl fell as she finally saw what was inside. It was a silver necklace with a snowflake charm. Allegedly, this piece of jewelry would freeze anyone who attempted to harm the wearer. This has yet to be confirmed. Velvet seemed shocked, surprised even. Vixen could tell that she was wondering why someone like her would ever go out of her way to do something like this for her. She wasn’t sure how to react. She wanted to scream, to yell and curse at her for ruining her life, but she also wanted to thank her, to say something that truthfully, Vixen wanted to say as well. Instead, she closed the box and said, “T-Thank you.” “You’re welcome, Velvet.” Vixen said, “Merry Christmas.” And then Velvet shut the door, leaving Vixen outside in the snow. Nothing else happened between them. From then on, they remained neutral towards each other, sharing a few words now and again, but never anything more. They lived two completely separate lives, and apart, they lived the rest of their lives in peace and happiness… Vixen shook her head. This couldn’t be the end. She knew there was still so much left to be said, absolutely nothing had even happened! Velvet felt the very same way too. She stood there in front of the door, thinking about something she could say or do to resolve everything that they were feeling. At the very same time, Vixen knocked on the door, and Velvet opened the door, prompting them to look at each other awkwardly. It would be the first time they had ever had a peaceful conversation in years. “You look well.” Vixen started, scratching her neck. “Thanks.” Velvet responded, “You as well.” Vixen exhaled, and Velvet looked off to the side. There was so much for them to say, and yet there was nothing to say. Nothing to make up for the pain and betrayal. This wasn’t something you could fix with an: ‘I’m sorry.’ And yet Vixen foolishly tried anyway, it was better than just standing there waiting for one or the other to speak, “I’m sorry, Velvet.” Velvet looked back at her shyly, her eyes filled with sorrow, “I never should have gone with that buck, it was the worst mistake of my life.” Velvet swallowed a lump in her throat, she had been waiting what felt like forever to hear her ex-lover say those words, yet she remained apprehensive, “You hurt me.” Velvet said. “I know.” Vixen said, “And there’s probably nothing I can do to fix that.” “You’re right.” Velvet said, “You have no idea how much it hurt when you left me.” Although she did. She felt the same thing when she broke up with her new lover and she realized her mistake. In some ways, it was perfect. She knew exactly how Velvet felt. “I know,” Vixen said, “And I understand you’ll never trust me again. I just wanted to make peace with you, Velvet. I’ve never stopped loving you, I was stupid foolish but-“ “I haven’t either.” Velvet said, smiling a little, “Oh the times we had… We were perfect…” She sighed, “Vixen, I’ll never forget what we had, and I appreciate you doing this, but I’m not ready for this. Not yet.” Vixen took a breath, “I understand.” Velvet took her hoof, “But I thank you for doing this. Perhaps sometimes we can talk. About us.” Vixen smiled a real smile this time and suddenly found she was able to stand tall as she felt weight coming off of her shoulders, and Velvet felt the very same way. For a moment, things felt just like old times, just the two of them, happy as can be. “I would like that.” Velvet let go of her hoof, gingerly nuzzling her cheek before retreating inside, “Merry Christmas, Vixen.” “Merry Christmas, Velvet.” With one last glance, Velvet closed the door, and together they both relished in a feeling they hadn’t felt in a long time: Happiness. Genuine happiness. Perhaps things would be alright for these star-crossed lovers. Only time would tell. As a gentle snowfall began to pour down onto the city, Vixen turned to leave. With her mission complete, she started making her way towards her next destination - The cafe for a nice, well-earned gingerbread coffee… Author's Note Happy holidays from all of Foenum!
Chapter 1Before their fight, before the events of story mode, Velvet and Vixen, two young reindeer of Reine City, were lovers. Never in the city’s long history was there ever a couple that loved each other as much as Velvet and Vixen loved each other. The story of how the self-proclaimed, EXTREMELY narcissistic Velvet came to find someone she loved more than herself would go down as the most historic moment in all of Reine City, no, of all of Fœnum. Only a few citizens knew about their relationship, with many of the townspeople believing they were strangers to one another, or fierce rivals as they had been back in the day before they started seeing each other. To say that the few reindeer who knew about their relationship were obsessed with them would be an understatement. No, they were ABSORBED in their relationship, saying how they were meant to be, and offering huge amounts of money for their wedding. The city’s MUSEUM had an entire exhibit dedicated to all things about their pairing, from artwork to ice sculptures to crappy fanfiction. The theater held PLAYS about their love. Epic novels about them were written, like the famous ‘Velvet and Vixen,’ a story where Velvet’s parents forbid her from being with Vixen. After finding her lover dead, Vixen takes her own life, being unable to live without her. This story was so popular that it became required reading in schools, and the money that the book made went entirely to Velvet and Vixen so they could work towards having the greatest wedding in history. Yes, if it wasn’t already obvious by now, this town was a little strange. Behind closed doors, when they weren’t bombarded by fans out in public begging them to kiss or going up to them and asking when their wedding would be, Velvet and Vixen had a completely ordinary relationship, out and about enjoying one another’s company after Vixen returned from work and her usual duties as a mysterious Elite. Life was perfect. Vixen had someone who loved her and cared for her… And Velvet had a doe who was rich and showered her with expensive presents… This is what some people thought was going on behind the scenes: That Velvet was using Vixen just to get nice things. In actuality, despite how odd it might sound, especially to those who are familiar with Velvet, Velvet didn’t care about Vixen’s wealth or her generosity. Nope, not one little bit. Velvet was a completely different reindeer around her. Okay, she was still pretty snooty and still kind of a brat, she acted a little more like herself. She let herself become excited, she gave compliments and usually talked about other things besides her floof, and on special occasions, she even dropped that accent. Her ladylike demeanor completely fell away with Vixen, she felt free to be however she wanted to be around her, and Vixen felt the very same way. She had a connection that no other reindeer would ever have with Velvet. Before she met Vixen, Velvet’s biggest fan was none other than herself. She worshipped herself like a goddess, her ego was off the charts… But when Vixen came along, all of a sudden, for the first time in her life, she no longer loved herself anymore. All of that love belonged to Vixen, and she told her that every day. Somehow, Vixen had the power to completely change Velvet, she didn’t understand it, but she didn’t have to. They were both happy, and that was so special to her. Vixen was much different than Velvet. She was a small, humble pink reindeer pretty much cut from the same cloth as Velvet was. Her family was almost just as important as Velvet’s, she was just as wealthy as Velvet, and she had a great future ahead of her as one of the Elite 6. She was almost nominated as champion of the tundra actually, becoming one of the final contenders as a matter of fact. Of course, all of this was stripped away from her when she met her. And that is where our little tale begins. Vixen was standing in the city’s Colosseum where the reindeer games were taking place. Usually, this spot was meant for sports events or shows. Today, it would be where all of Reine City’s contenders would go head-to-head to prove their worth to the entire city. Seven reindeer had entered the Colosseum, but only one would leave as champion of the tundra, given the highest honor to represent their city in search of the Prophet’s Key. Being one of the Elite 6, Vixen of course was guaranteed a spot as one of those contenders. Earlier, she had done battle against three of her fellow elites, and emerged victorious, now only one reindeer stood in her way to glory… …And whoever it was, they were taking a remarkably long time getting ready. Vixen was unaware of who her opponent would be the seventh contender was a mystery to all. Not even the hosts of the event knew who it would be. Vixen tapped her hoof, thinking about all the opponents that she had faced already, and the ones that were left. It would seem the only one left is Blitzen… Vixen thought to herself, Of course, it had to be him. Blitzen was a powerful reindeer, with probably the best magic skills she had ever seen, not only that, but he was far stronger and taller than her. The odds were not in her favor whatsoever… But the reindeer that entered the arena was not Blitzen at all. Instead, it was… “Velvet Hoofstrong!!” The voice of the reindeer announcing the contestants knocked her out of her thoughts. Vixen blinked as she saw her opponent approaching, three winter sprites all around her, dolling her up with make-up, which seemed rather unnecessary at a time like this. Vixen had heard of Velvet, a reindeer who called herself the ‘ice queen,’ and had an ego larger than her head, but that was all Vixen knew, tuning out all the nonsense others spewed about her. Whoever she was, Vixen was not ready to take this lightly. She knew there was a reason she was here today, she knew there was a reason they kept her presence here a secret. Vixen was no fool, this was not going to be an easy fight. Velvet was pretty, she supposed, cyan antlers twinkling in the sunshine as she ran a hoof through floof so thick you could get lost in it. The crowd seemed to favor her immensely, Vixen would notice, so much so that it was almost impossible to hear as Velvet spoke: “Hm~ Can’t ve just declare me ze vinner~?” A winter sprite carrying a bell flew in between the two does, and after muttering some nonsense that either doe didn’t understand, it rang the bell, starting the match. The rules of this little reindeer game were simple. In short, it was a battle of both hooves and magic. First to tap out loses. Vixen didn’t know it yet, but in a few minutes, her life would change forever. An icicle flew right toward Vixen’s face, as quick as a flash she threw up a barrier of ice just as the projectile hit its target. Vixen chuckled, throwing the barrier down, swiftly knocking the others Velvet summoned with small blocks of ice. “My my~ Look how quick you are~”, Velvet said, summoning a thick line of ice to sweep Vixen off her hooves. “Trying to talk me to death, hm~?” Vixen responded quickly, avoiding her foolish attempt to trip her and retaliating with a swift kick to the throat. Vixen grinned as she felt her hoof connect with her opponent’s body, and the crowd collectively gasped as the first blow was made. “Make this easier for us both darling and give up~” Velvet chirped, summoning more icicles around her. “Why~? Afraid you’ll get hurt? Don’t worry, dear~ this'll be over before you know it~” Velvet chuckled, “Ve’ll see about that~” Vixen was wrong, for their battle lasted much longer than the previous ones. With every minute that passed by, the crowd lost interest more and more, some fell asleep, and others took out books. Fifteen long minutes later, the fight was beginning to show signs of ending. Both fighters looked clearly spent, their bodies banged up from each other's blows. Vixen had Velvet on the ropes, she just knew it. Leaping gracefully, she smiled down at Velvet as she kicked her in the face, sending her tumbling down to the ground. With her last bit of strength, Velvet used her magic to erect a statue of herself right below Vixen, knocking her back into the air. Before she even knew what was happening, Velvet was up on her hooves, sending icicle after icicle, frosty missiles hitting her from every side, until finally, Velvet ended her combo by kicking her right in the face with all the remaining strength she had in her back legs. The next thing she knew, she was sliding across the ground, pain covering her from antlers to hooves. Her eyes were met with the harsh sunlight, her ears bombarded by the cheers of the crowd. Blinking, Vixen saw Velvet slowly pad over to her, crossing her hooves elegantly as she tilted her head down just a little bit to speak to Velvet: “Don’t be ashamed, you were beaten by ze best~” And that was the first time they met. Velvet went on to become the champion of Reine City, and Vixen went back to being part of the Elite. Not long after, they met by chance at a party that was being thrown in Velvet’s honor, and the rest was history. Vixen and Velvet would soon warm up to one another, and transform from fierce rivals to lovers. But it wasn’t meant to last…
Chapter 2It was the most special time in Reine City. The holiday season. Reine City was already a magical place, but for one month out of the entire year, it became a completely different place. It was Velvet’s favorite time of year. It used to be because her fans gave her lots of gifts, but ever since she met Vixen, she started to love it for another reason entirely. Vixen was given a month off, along with all the other Elites, to spend the holidays with their families or whatnot, meaning that Vixen could spend more time with the doe that she loved. Tonight however they didn’t have any elaborate plans like they usually did. They had already decorated their homes together (they didn’t actually do the decorating, they just had their winter sprites do it,) they had already gone to every special play they were showing this time of year, they had already enjoyed their fair share of ice skating and ice sculpture making, even though those two activities were a year-round sort of thing, which makes sense in a land of eternal winter. And so tonight, not being in the mood to go out, they spent their night at Velvet’s home in front of a fire. Vixen always loved Velvet’s home. Of course, ‘home’ would be a vast understatement to describe her place. You see, Velvet lived in a manor. She was, after all, the ice queen! Velvet’s manor, located in one of the more busier parts of town, had EVERYTHING. Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a ginormous library, a huge kitchen and dining room, a cellar, a greenhouse, a tennis court, four emergency exits, a vault, a panic room, a room full of mirrors for Velvet to admire herself, a bathhouse, and a humble little living room where the two spent most of their time, along with the master bedroom, of course. How did Velvet afford to pay for such a place? Her father paid for it. Velvet chipped in, of course… By using her college savings. Out of all the rooms in Velvet’s manor that were probably older than the two of them combined, the living room was probably the simplest room in the entire home. It was the perfect place for them to simply unwind and spend time with one another. Tonight, Velvet and Vixen sit in front of the fireplace, empty cups of hot chocolate sitting beside their hooves. Curious readers might imagine that sitting in front of a campfire while covered in fur would make for an uncomfortable time, but it’s important to note that air conditioning doesn’t exist in Fœnum. The room was silent except for the gentle crinkling of the flame, and Velvet sat silently while her doefriend softly stroked her floof, something she usually charged other reindeer to do. Vixen was the only exception. “Can’t get enough of ze floof, can you~?” Velvet turned her head, locking eyes with her lover. Vixen chuckled, she heard Velvet say that at least five times a day, yet she never grew tired of hearing it, “You know it, snowflake~” Vixen murmured, using her other hoof to pull Velvet’s head closer. Velvet snuggled closer, her tail fluttering as their bodies touched, their floof ruffling each other, as they got closer. Vixen lowered her head, delicately nuzzling her cheek, “What would I ever do without you, ice queen?” Velvet giggled as she pulled away, “You couldn’t live without me~” And that was right. Life without Velvet seemed unbearable. Agonizing, even. The only way Vixen wanted to live was with Velvet right by her side, “You’re right~” Their snouts touched, and Vixen felt Velvet’s hooves start gracefully dancing over her body, “You don’t have to worry~” Velvet said, her voice lowering to a whisper, “I’ll never leave you~” Vixen shivered, her each twitching. Her promise carried only the most sincere, most genuine love, and Vixen believed it with every fiber of her being. She hugged her doefriend tightly, as if someone would try to take Velvet away from her. “And I’ll never leave you either.” “Good~,” Velvet said, sighing softly as Vixen started exploring her body. Velvet was a beautiful, beautiful doe, and it was no wonder that everybody wanted a piece of her. Despite being one of the Elite, Vixen always found herself surprised that SHE was the one who was able to win her love. They were both almost the same, yet it was like they were both worlds apart. Velvet stayed perfectly still as she touched her, Vixen felt the slow rise and fall of her chest as she held her close, rubbing down from her back to her thick haunches. Velvet blushed, and Vixen giggled as her face turned a shade of pink similar to her own body while she poked her flank, feeling more adventurous than usual. “You should be lucky I love you so much.” Velvet said, blinking slowly, her cheeks still red, “I would kick ze oats out of anyone else who did that to me~” Vixen pulled away to just look at her doefriend again. Velvet’s muzzle curved in a smile. She was beautiful, there was no other way to describe it. There were no words that could be said to describe just how gorgeous she was. Vixen never had an eye for females, she always thought she would fall for a buck eventually… But never a doe! Oh… When her father found out that she was dating another doe… He was mad… Vixen briefly recalled his fury when he discovered she was dating Velvet, and how it escalated into a huge argument when she tried to defend herself. In the end, she was glad that she stood up to her father. Ever since she started seeing Velvet, her life changed for the better… Even if people started fawning over her like they did Velvet. Velvet closed her eyes and started leaning over for a kiss. Vixen blushed, her heart thumping in her chest as she quickly snapped back to reality, closing her eyes and meeting Velvet’s muzzle with her own. The two does kissed, their heads slowly tilting, their hooves touching, as they finally did what they wanted to do from the moment their little date had begun. Velvet was a fabulous kisser, at least, according to Vixen, she was. She didn’t know what exactly made someone a good or a bad kisser. It didn’t matter. It was the greatest feeling in the world, and that’s all that mattered to her. “I love you, Vixen~” Velvet chirped, licking her muzzle, “From the bottom of my heart.” She said that with no accent… She really did mean it. Velvet always used a phony accent whenever she spoke, to make herself sound sophisticated and fancy, diligently sticking to it, only dropping it when she got angry. It was the first time Vixen had heard her ever speak without it… She must really love her… And Velvet really did. Though her words said plenty, all Vixen needed to do was look into her eyes to see the undying love twinkling in those big blue diamond eyes to know just how much Vixen meant to her. A kind of feeling that Velvet herself had never felt towards any other reindeer other than herself. They rested their heads together, content with being with each other. “Do you vish to stay with me tonight, darling?” Velvet said, her accent returning as quickly as it disappeared. Vixen couldn’t help but laugh a little. Velvet frowned, “Vhat?” Vixen laughed again, bopping her snout with a hoof, “Nothing, my deer~” she said, “I would love to stay the night with you…~”
Chapter 3The holidays were every reindeer’s favorite time of the year, and Vixen was no exception. She loved the holidays! Or well, she used to. Vixen lay in bed one night, quietly sobbing, her chest rising and falling quickly as memories good and bad rushed through her head. Her winter sprites stood by the door, looking at each other, and then back at Vixen, both unsure whether to try and help her feel better, or leave her be. At the very least, Vixen treated them like actual beings and not literal animals, unlike Velvet. Two years ago around this time, Vixen had made the worst mistake of her life. She had met a tall, handsome buck who she few head-over-hooves for, requiring her to make a sacrifice, a choice that would change their lives for good. She could either remain faithful to Velvet and forget the buck, or break things off with Velvet forever. She had put a lot of thought into this, believe her, she had. The truth is, although the city never grew tired of giving the two does attention, soon Vixen started to get a little bored with Velvet. They had done everything together, she felt like she was beating a dead horse, that there was no point in pursuing this relationship anymore. She figured Velvet must be figuring the same way, after all, she did get bored of things quickly. And so, despite her better judgment, she decided to end things with Velvet. What a mistake that had been. She had shattered Velvet’s heart into a million pieces, and she knew it. Their little fight during the breakup said it all. Velvet’s eyes were welling up with tears as she glared angrily with utmost hatred, “I thought you LOVED ME!!” She had screamed, scooping some snow off the ground and throwing it at her, “I gave you EVERYTHING and THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?! BY LEAVING ME?!” “Velvet listen, I-“ Her attempts to try and end this on good terms were stopped as Velvet spoke, venom lacing her voice, “No, you listen, you little… Bitch!” Vixen gasped, “Little bitch!?” “YOU HEARD ME, VIXEN!” Vixen started hyperventilating as she remembered the argument that had ensued after that. They both had said things they knew deep down that they didn’t mean, it was a wonder that the fight didn’t get physical. Vixen closed her eyes, her breath catching in her throat as she remembered what ended it all: “Get this through your head, Velvet! I don’t love you anymore, you’re spoiled, selfish, and stubborn, and I would rather DIE than be with someone like you!” And then all the anger disappeared. Velvet gasped, cowering as her soon-to-be ex doefriend shouted at her. And then she just collapsed, sobbing into her hooves. Vixen didn’t try to say or do anything else, she just… Left. After that, she entered a relationship with that buck she had met, and it didn’t take her long to forget all about what happened. But what became of Velvet? After the loss of her girlfriend of almost two years, Velvet was overwhelmed with despair. She stayed home crying until she couldn’t cry anymore. When she started to feel better, she decided she was done shedding tears for Vixen, and so she moved on with her life, vowing to never love another deer again. It was a hard journey, but eventually, she was able to overcome her sadness and resume her perfect life. And what of Vixen? Well unfortunately for her, her life didn’t remain glamorous forever. Everything changed when she found her new lover with another doe kissing behind a building. All at once, her new life came to an end as she realized that she had left Velvet for a cheater. Her lover begged for her to forgive him, but she didn’t want to hear it. And then the realization hit, that she had pushed Velvet away, lost the best thing that ever happened to her, and it was all her fault. She never knew how much she would miss Velvet until she was gone. She was wrong, Velvet wasn’t getting bored of her. She had hurt the doe she loved, and Velvet would never forgive her for it. She ruined everything, and the thought that she caused so much pain to Velvet hurt her just as much as their breakup. Vixen clutched a pillow tightly, sobbing into it as she tried to think of SOMETHING other than what she had done, but to no avail. And then suddenly something hit her. It was her that ruined everything, right? So maybe she could fix it! No way. She thought she would never forgive me. Not in a million years. She raised her head. But she had to try. Perhaps if she could, she would finally start feeling better. Or maybe, she would only make things worse… Christmas Day. Vixen stood in front of Velvet’s manor, a little plastic bag holding a gift in her mouth. Nistolga filled her as she recalled countless memories that she had been in this place. Before Velvet gave her free access to come into her manor whenever she liked, she even gave her a key! Now, she wouldn’t dare step foot onto the land. She began to have second thoughts, so much so that she could hardly even force herself to walk forward towards the door. It felt like she was walking to her death, and in some ways, she was. Velvet might actually kill her, or at the very least, maim her. Yeah, Velvet wasn’t a very fun reindeer to be around when she was angry. Stopping in front of the door, Vixen put her little peace offering down, took a breath, knocked on the door, and waited… She stood there for maybe five seconds when she started to worry and have second thoughts, but it was far too late to back down now, the sound of the door unlocking told her plenty. Now was the time. Not like she could simply leave and forget about this plan of hers. She had foolishly thrown away the receipt of the gift she bought. The door opened, and Velvet, who seemed to be in a very chipper mood, immediately stepped away to close the door again, her expression turning sour in less than a second. “Wait,” Vixen said. SLAM! “Or not.” Vixen sighed as the door was shut in her face. Her ears twitched. Trying to stomp out her irritation, she knocked on the door once more. When Velvet opened the door again, her chipper mood seemed to have vanished. Normally, reindeer would cower before Velvet when she got angry, but fortunately for her, Vixen was used to Velvet. She didn’t frighten her… Much. “Vhat do you vant?” Velvet demanded, her hoof on the door ready to close it again if she heard something she didn’t like. Almost forgetting what she came here to do, Vixen picked up the bag with a hoof and brought it over to her, “I brought you a little something.” She said. Velvet took it with distaste, “Vhat is it?” She asked. “Well, that’s for you to find out,” Vixen said with a note of humor in her voice. “It’s some sort of gag gift, izn’t it?” Velvet said accusingly, “It’s going to explode and cover my floof in paint or something, I just know it.” Vixen remained silent as Velvet took a small wrapped box out of the bag and apprehensively began to open it. Once the paper was off, Velvet closed her eyes as she used another hoof to very slowly open the box… And to her surprise, nothing happened. No explosions, no gag gift, nothing. Just a plain ordinary gift. Opening her eyes, her scowl fell as she finally saw what was inside. It was a silver necklace with a snowflake charm. Allegedly, this piece of jewelry would freeze anyone who attempted to harm the wearer. This has yet to be confirmed. Velvet seemed shocked, surprised even. Vixen could tell that she was wondering why someone like her would ever go out of her way to do something like this for her. She wasn’t sure how to react. She wanted to scream, to yell and curse at her for ruining her life, but she also wanted to thank her, to say something that truthfully, Vixen wanted to say as well. Instead, she closed the box and said, “T-Thank you.” “You’re welcome, Velvet.” Vixen said, “Merry Christmas.” And then Velvet shut the door, leaving Vixen outside in the snow. Nothing else happened between them. From then on, they remained neutral towards each other, sharing a few words now and again, but never anything more. They lived two completely separate lives, and apart, they lived the rest of their lives in peace and happiness… Vixen shook her head. This couldn’t be the end. She knew there was still so much left to be said, absolutely nothing had even happened! Velvet felt the very same way too. She stood there in front of the door, thinking about something she could say or do to resolve everything that they were feeling. At the very same time, Vixen knocked on the door, and Velvet opened the door, prompting them to look at each other awkwardly. It would be the first time they had ever had a peaceful conversation in years. “You look well.” Vixen started, scratching her neck. “Thanks.” Velvet responded, “You as well.” Vixen exhaled, and Velvet looked off to the side. There was so much for them to say, and yet there was nothing to say. Nothing to make up for the pain and betrayal. This wasn’t something you could fix with an: ‘I’m sorry.’ And yet Vixen foolishly tried anyway, it was better than just standing there waiting for one or the other to speak, “I’m sorry, Velvet.” Velvet looked back at her shyly, her eyes filled with sorrow, “I never should have gone with that buck, it was the worst mistake of my life.” Velvet swallowed a lump in her throat, she had been waiting what felt like forever to hear her ex-lover say those words, yet she remained apprehensive, “You hurt me.” Velvet said. “I know.” Vixen said, “And there’s probably nothing I can do to fix that.” “You’re right.” Velvet said, “You have no idea how much it hurt when you left me.” Although she did. She felt the same thing when she broke up with her new lover and she realized her mistake. In some ways, it was perfect. She knew exactly how Velvet felt. “I know,” Vixen said, “And I understand you’ll never trust me again. I just wanted to make peace with you, Velvet. I’ve never stopped loving you, I was stupid foolish but-“ “I haven’t either.” Velvet said, smiling a little, “Oh the times we had… We were perfect…” She sighed, “Vixen, I’ll never forget what we had, and I appreciate you doing this, but I’m not ready for this. Not yet.” Vixen took a breath, “I understand.” Velvet took her hoof, “But I thank you for doing this. Perhaps sometimes we can talk. About us.” Vixen smiled a real smile this time and suddenly found she was able to stand tall as she felt weight coming off of her shoulders, and Velvet felt the very same way. For a moment, things felt just like old times, just the two of them, happy as can be. “I would like that.” Velvet let go of her hoof, gingerly nuzzling her cheek before retreating inside, “Merry Christmas, Vixen.” “Merry Christmas, Velvet.” With one last glance, Velvet closed the door, and together they both relished in a feeling they hadn’t felt in a long time: Happiness. Genuine happiness. Perhaps things would be alright for these star-crossed lovers. Only time would tell. As a gentle snowfall began to pour down onto the city, Vixen turned to leave. With her mission complete, she started making her way towards her next destination - The cafe for a nice, well-earned gingerbread coffee… Author's Note Happy holidays from all of Foenum!
