Felix trudged through the snow-dusted streets until the market square came into view. He frowned as he gazed at the empty courtyard, with scattered market stalls set up around the area, and bored-looking salespeople leaning against their booths, now frozen in time. He could imagine the scene from the factory worker’s description—candles glowing in frosted lanterns, strings of lights crisscrossing the square, and the hum of laughter and conversation. But now, the silence was absolute, broken only by the faint whistle of the wind.

At the center of the square stood a towering pine tree, its branches brittle and barren. Felix approached it carefully, pulling a string of holiday lights from his bag. He began winding them around the tree. As he worked, he could almost hear faint echoes of past celebrations, the warmth of the memories pushing him forward. When he finished, he plugged the lights in - the first bulb flickered to life, casting a faint, colorful glow. One by one, the lights chased away the grey, and as the tree blazed with color, it seemed to breathe life back into the square.

A small miracle unfolded before him. The stalls regained their hues—deep reds, greens, and golds—and the faded wreaths on their posts looked freshly woven. A gentle warmth filled the air, almost imperceptible, but Felix felt it stir in his chest. Still, it wasn’t enough. The square was alive again, but empty. Its true vibrancy had always been its people, and for now, they were missing. He approached one of the stall workers, standing on his tiptoes to see over the counters.

"Oh!" The young woman standing there gasped, leaning over through the gap to look at him. "Hi there, little guy! I'm supposed to ask what you'd like to order, but... hah, this might sound crazy, but it feels as if I've just woken up from a dream."

"You're not crazy." Felix shook his head, craning his head up. "Everything was frozen. There was this monster that came through and sucked all the color out from the town."

"A monster?" She echoed, then she looked past Felix into the distance. "..You're right. I do remember a monster. It was over there, by the train station. I was staring at it, circling the parked train, for so long... how are we back, then?"

"The tree." Felix turned towards it. "The lights brought back color to the whole square. But this place still isn't quite right. It's empty. It needs people - a celebration, like there used to be. Could you help me?"

"Of course!" The girl's eyes sparkled.

Felix grinned. "Then I'll be right back."
He turned on his heel and dashed back toward the streets he had already visited. The toy store was his first stop. Inside, the deer woman was dusting off brightly colored shelves, marveling at the life returning to her shop. She glanced up as the door jingled.

“Felix! Look at what you’ve done!” she exclaimed, gesturing around her shop.

“It’s not just me,” Felix said with a modest grin. “But listen—I need your help. I’ve restored the market square, but it’s missing something: all of you.”

The deer woman tilted her head. “The square?”

“Yes! It’s lit up and ready, but it needs people to bring it to life again. Can you spread the word to anyone you know? Tell them to bring holiday cheer—candles, decorations, anything festive!”

Her face lit up with excitement, and she nodded eagerly. “Of course! Leave it to me!”

Felix beamed and continued down the street, stopping by the factory, a bakery, a tailor’s shop, and even knocking on doors of homes. Each time, he urged the townsfolk, now bright and colorful again, to join him in the square. As he explained his plan, faces softened, eyes widened, and slowly, hope began to flicker in their expressions.

“It’s been so long since we’ve had a reason to gather,” one man murmured as he stepped outside with a knitted scarf in hand.

“Well, now’s the time!” Felix said, throwing his arms out toward the glowing square in the distance. “We’re going to remind everyone what the holidays feel like. Together.”

A small group began to gather behind him, and Felix’s chest swelled with warmth as he led them back to the square.

The time flew by. Before Felix could even believe it, the entire town's community had come together to decorate the town square, just like they used to do. Children darted around the square, their laughter ringing out like the notes of a long-forgotten song. People began to talk, to laugh, to share stories and memories. Felix stood by the tree, gazing at the transformation with awe. It was better than he imagined. This was the heart of the town, the spirit that had been missing. And yet, as much as he wanted to stay, he couldn’t ignore the tracks leading toward the train station.

He tightened his grip on his bundle of lights. “Keep the square alive,” he told the woman from before, now running a bustling hot cocoa stand. “I need to take care of something.”

She nodded with understanding. “Be careful, Felix.”

With one last look at the vibrant square, Felix turned and followed the tracks toward the looming silhouette of the train station. Holiday cheer was spreading—but the monster was still out there, and it needed to be stopped.