Snowflakes gently cascaded onto the bustling streets of Gardenia, blanketing the city in a soft shimmer. The air was crisp and filled with the sounds of holiday cheer—children laughing, carolers singing, and the occasional jingle of bells from passing decorations. Stella, the fairy of the Shining Sun, stood in the middle of the festive chaos, her golden hair glowing against the cold, her excitement barely contained.

“This is *amazing*!” she squealed, twirling in her fur-lined, golden jacket. “Christmas on Earth is like… the Oscars of holidays!”

Amore, her pixie of love, fluttered next to her, wrapped in a tiny red scarf. “And we’re just getting started! There’s so much love and joy in the air. Isn’t it magical?”

Brandon, Stella’s boyfriend and knight in shining armor—literally—chuckled as he adjusted the bags of decorations and gifts he carried. “You’ve said that about five times already, Stella.”

“And I’ll say it five more times!” Stella shot back, playfully sticking her tongue out. “I’ve heard Bloom talk about Christmas for years, but seeing it for myself is… oh, I don’t even have words! The lights, the music, the sweaters!”

“And the shopping,” Brandon teased, motioning to the dozen bags he held. 

“Well, obviously the shopping!” Stella smirked, then paused, her expression softening. “But it’s more than that. Christmas feels so… warm, you know? Like it’s not just about all the pretty things; it’s about people being together.”

Amore clasped her tiny hands together, her eyes sparkling. “That’s exactly what Christmas is about, Stella! Love, family, and togetherness.”

The word “family” hung in the air, and for a brief moment, Stella’s smile faltered. It was imperceptible to most, but not to Brandon. He reached out and gently squeezed her hand. “You okay?”

Stella blinked, pushing the shadow of the thought away. “Of course! Now, let’s get to decorating. If I’m going to throw the *ultimate* Christmas party, it has to be absolutely perfect!”

—

Back at the Winx’s apartment in Gardenia, which Stella had commandeered for her grand Christmas plans, boxes of decorations were piled high. Fairy lights, tinsel, and ornaments glittered in every corner. Stella had insisted on transforming the place into a winter wonderland, complete with a massive, real pine tree that Brandon had somehow wrestled through the door.

“This tree is magnificent!” Stella declared as she levitated a golden star to the top. “It’s like it came straight out of a movie.”

Amore hovered nearby, stringing popcorn garlands with fairy-like precision. “Do you think your guests will like it?”

“They’ll *love* it!” Stella said confidently. “I invited everyone—the Winx girls, the specialists, even Bloom’s parents!”

Brandon chuckled as he hung a strand of lights. “You’re going all out, huh?”

“Go big or go home,” Stella said, tossing a handful of fake snow into the air for dramatic effect. Then her voice softened. “I just… I want it to feel special, you know? Like how Bloom describes her Christmases with her parents. Cozy, happy, full of love.”

Brandon set down the lights and walked over to her. “It *will* be special, Stella. You’ve put so much heart into this. Everyone’s going to feel it.”

Stella smiled, but her mind drifted again. She thought about her own family back on Solaria. Christmas wasn’t a thing there; the Solarian royal family had their own traditions, but they were… complicated. Her parents, King Radius and Queen Luna, had separated when she was still a teenager. The memories of their arguments, the cold silences, and the eventual divorce were things Stella rarely allowed herself to dwell on. Yet now, as she poured her energy into creating a perfect Christmas, those memories began to surface.

—

That evening, after the decorations were done and Amore had drifted off to sleep in a tiny hammock made of tinsel, Stella sat by the glowing Christmas tree. Brandon was in the kitchen, making cocoa, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

She traced the edge of a delicate glass ornament, her reflection warped in its curved surface. “Why am I thinking about this now?” she murmured to herself.

“Because Christmas is about family,” came Brandon’s voice from behind her. He set down two steaming mugs and sat beside her. “And no matter how much we try to avoid it, this time of year makes us think about the people who matter to us—good or bad.”

Stella sighed. “You know, when I was a kid, I used to dream about my parents getting back together. Every birthday, every Solaria Day, I’d make the same wish. I thought if I wished hard enough, it might actually happen.”

Brandon listened quietly, letting her continue.

“But it never did,” Stella said, her voice wavering. “And now, even though I’ve accepted it—sort of—it still feels… broken. Like no matter what I do, my family will never be whole again.”

Brandon reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Families come in all shapes, Stella. Sometimes they’re messy and complicated. But that doesn’t mean they can’t still love each other.”

Stella looked at him, her amber eyes glistening. “Do you really think they love each other? My mom and dad?”

“I think they love you,” Brandon said gently. “And maybe that’s enough.”

—

As Stella drifted off to sleep after a long day of party preparations, she began to dream of the festivities to follow that weekend. She imagined the apartment was alive with laughter and music in her sleepy state, with a vivid picture of the Winx girls dressed in their holiday best, exchanging gifts and taking pictures by the tree. Sky and the specialists were in a heated gingerbread house competition, and Kiko was darting between everyone, stealing bits of food.

In her dream, Stella was the perfect Christmas hostess, radiant in a shimmering gold dress, her smile lighting up the room. But even in her illusion, beneath her cheerful exterior, her conversation with Brandon lingered.

As Bloom’s parents, Mike and Vanessa, shared stories of their Christmas traditions, Stella found herself drawn to their warmth. Watching them laugh together, she felt a pang of longing as she shifted in her bed.

“Hey,” she heard Bloom say, her voice sounding like a dreamy echo as she asked “You okay?”

Stella blinked and forced a smile. “Of course! Everything’s perfect.”

Bloom tilted her head, unconvinced. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

Stella hesitated, then sighed. “It’s just… seeing your parents, how happy they are, it makes me think about my own. And how… different things are back home.”

Bloom placed a comforting hand on her friend’s arm. “Families aren’t perfect, Stella. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make our own happiness. Look around—this party, these people, this *is* your family, too.”

Stella’s eyes softened as she looked at the room. The Winx, the specialists, even little Kiko—they were her family in every way that mattered. 

—

The following morning, Stella gazed out the frost coated window pane, sipping her coffee as she recalled her dream. As she did, Stella felt a warmth in her heart that she hadn’t felt for a while when she thought of her family back home.

“I think I get it now,” she said softly.

“Get what?” Brandon asked, coming to stand beside her with his own mug. 

“What Christmas is all about,” Stella replied. “It’s not just about family—it’s about love. The kind of love that brings people together, even when things aren’t perfect.” Her warm, brown eyes twinkled as she looked up at Brandon.

Amore beamed, as she fluttered to join them. “Exactly! And you’re filled with so much love, Stella. You always have been.”

Stella smiled, her thoughts drifting to Solaria. Maybe it was time to bring a little Christmas magic home. She reached for her phone and, after a moment of hesitation, dialed a familiar number.

“Stella?” came her father’s voice, surprised.

“Hi, Dad,” Stella said, her voice steady. “I just wanted to say… Merry Christmas.”

There was a pause, and then King Radius replied, his tone softening. “Merry Christmas, Stella.”

Stella ended the call, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. She looked at Brandon and Amore, her smile brighter than ever.

“Next year,” she declared, “I’m bringing Christmas to Solaria.”

Brandon grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

And as the morning rays of sun light peeked through the window, Stella knew that she won’t soon forget her first Christmas.

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