Before too long, Christmas week had begun. Everyone was looking forward to the food, fun, and lots of presents. Of course, there were some who wanted to "gift" their loved ones new Animalian conversions, especially in their bedrooms, and there were still some other things as well.
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Because Matt had accidentally converted his mother, Katherine, there was now a new discussion on "changing/updating the packaging" of Animalia doses. Also, Katherine was able to meet a new group of Animalians who converted themselves by accident (including a few men as well), mainly by misreading/misinterpreting the packaging the Animalia Virus came in. Though the group wasn't focused on what they'd lost due to their conversions.
"I used to be a 40+ frumpy housewife before my conversion." said the Mare Animalian Katherine was talking to during the Christmas Feast, who was part of the same group she now was. "And I accidentally took my son's double dose, which he also left in the fridge."
"So... there aren't any real problems?" asked Katherine, still in a form of "culture shock".
"Nope!" declared the Mare Animalian, giddily. "Though I might be developing 'Party Girl Syndrome'."
"You what?" asked Katherine, surprised.
"My guilty pleasure was watching videos of girls with large bottoms shaking them in interesting ways." said the Mare Animalian, not at all ashamed to admit it.
"I think I get what you're talking about." said Katherine, having caught Matt watching one of those 'twerking' videos online and grounding him for a month after that.
"After my conversion, and learning a bit more about it, I'm hooked." continued the Mare Animalian, giggling slightly, "I've even got several videos, including livestreamed ones, just of me shaking my rump to music."
"But what did your husband say?" asked Katherine, who'd been nervous about this ever since she converted.
"After a bit of persuasion," answered the Mare Animalian, "I was able to make him a strong, virile, stallion man. I've got to say, not only have our new forms encourage us to stay in shape as we both approach our 50s," she said, flexing her arms, "but we're a lot more energetic and happier as a result.
"I guess..." said Katherine, clearly imagining them doing 'private workouts' in their bedroom at night.
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Another thing that was going on was the Great Snow War, which the Quasi-Raccoon cuties were doing special coverage of, mainly for an Asian Audience who didn't know much about WWI and trench warfare (though they made it clear from the get-go that this wasn't judged for historical accuracy). However, there were still plenty of amusing things going on, such as Jin getting caught in a spray of "collateral snow".
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Sometimes, adapting Western holidays with Eastern elements can cause an entirely new holiday to result. The best example of this was when Budai and the Eight Immortals of Taoism arrived in Heiya Island as an adaptation of Santa.
"I am the Buddha of the Future!" Budai declared as he stepped off the magic ship the Eight Immortals had built.
"You don't look like you're from the future." said Meryl, looking skeptically at what was supposed to be the Asian equivalent of Santa.
"Well, let me tell you as quickly and simply as possible," said Budai, clearly ready for something like this, "after the final battle at the End of Days, when the old world is destroyed, a new one will be put up in its place. And that's when I appear, to make sure that the teachings of Siddartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, are not lost."
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No matter how, or where, or even if, you celebrate Christmas, it was a time for peace, love, and understanding. Merry Christmas from Animalia.