“There! All decorated!” Strings of lights sparkled and danced along the walls of the gathering hub. It was a delightful addition to the cozy gathering chambers that were, sadly, empty save the Guildmarm. With everyone out, it would take a lot of positive thinking to avoid a blue Starlight!

Just as the idea of solitude started to sink in, there was a rapping at the window. “What’s this? A Raven?” Ellie opened it and the little black bird hopped through. It spat out an envelope, squawked, and hopped back out, flying off into the cold.

“That was odd…” Ellie muttered to herself, cutting the envelope open with her fingernail. The parchment slid out with ease and bore the prominent watermark of House Fortemps. “What do they want?” A mysterious scrawling of “Meet in Foundation - H” was all that was on the page, otherwise. And so Ellie went to the plaza to meet the mysterious “H.”

“Guildmarm,” the helmeted knight greeted her as she walked up, “thank you for coming. We have much to discuss.”

“Much? Can we make this quick? I have a lot to do today.” A lie, but he did not need to know her plans of drinking cocoa and staring out the window.

“…Very well, I will attempt to be as straightforward as possible.” The knight seemed a little off-put, but Ellie did not care. “As you know, Starlight is upon us. And with Starlight comes much joy, and also much suffering. As you have no doubt seen in the Brume, impoverished young line the streets, reduced to begging.

“Normally, this is not a concern for a mercenary organization, but as the Houses have their hands full with recent events, we have no one else to turn to. Goombus is a real threat, and I fear we will be unable to protect these downtrodden children. Despite his long-standing existence as a Starlight cautionary tale, I must ask that your Hunt Society dispatch post-haste to put an end to it.”

After a moment, Ellie looked up. “What? I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

The knight let out a quick huff. “Go out and kill the Goombus before it can take and eat the orphan kids. Is that to the point enough?”

“Oh! Okay, yeah we can handle that. Send the fee to our HQ!” Ellie replied with cheer. With all the hunters out, though, this would be something she must take care of herself! After careful research and planning, Ellie packed supplies and set out into the frosty Coerthas Highlands.

She tracked the Goombus with relative ease, her scholarly background on full display. Finally, on a snowy peak, she came face to face with the beast, approaching cautiously.

“Hello!” she… cautiously… shouted at it(???). It whipped about, baring its fangs at her. “I have come for you, Goombus!

“Hark! Offspring of Starlight, thou hast exhibited valor and heedless endeavor in thy confrontation with the Goombus, scourge of winter.” It snarled at her. “Doth thy heart dwell in purity, or hath sin flavored it to become a delectable repast?”

“Oh, uh…” She hesitated. “Um… Great Goombus! Thou.. thine? Thine! No it is thou… Thou art uh… Hm.” The Goombus’ eyes narrowed in as it licked its fangs in anticipation. “Look, I want to strike a deal, okay?”

“A pact? A PACT?! I am the Goombas, majestic and dreadful! And thou seek to strike a bargain with me on Starlight’s Eve?! I must confess, thou dost pique my interest. Very well, what hast thou to proffer?”

“I will give you this,” she replied, opening a large sack, “and in exchange, you will not harm children this year.” Inside were dozens of Lalafell-sized gingerbread figures. The Goombus looked at them warily.

“Yea, verily, thou hast a discerning spirit. Are they not laced with the venom of deceit? A serpent’s whisper hath tainted the elixir within those morsels, casting shadows upon the path of trust.”

“Nope!”

“Are they not ensnared by the threads of enchantment? A sorcerer’s spell hath woven a dark tapestry around those confections, testing the mettle of thy resolve and the depth of thy faith.”

“Just magically delicious!”

The Goombus stared at her. Minutes passed, the cold wind the only barrier between utter silence.

“…Acceptable.” The Goombus took the bag and turned away. “ The pact is sealed. Thou may depart.”

“Thank you!” Ellie headed back to the Hub, another job well done! Cocoa and additional gingerbread figures awaiting her return, she knew it would be a pretty nice Starlight after all.