Day 1

Thanks to BB's Zero Sail, we made it back with time to spare.

And just as Nemo's day delivering presents is about to wrap up.

Hi, hi! Don't mind us! Team Nautilus just got back from our first day of deliveries!

Check it out, Master! Isn't this Santa outfit awesome!?

Pipe down, Marine.

I only brought you along because you begged me to. Keep this up, and there won't be a next time.

Aye, aye, sir! Shutting up!

I just wanted to show off our new Christmas outfit on behalf of all the Marines. You can take it from here, Cap

I mean, Leader!

Good grief. Looks like I might have to bring Baker and the others along too, or I'll never hear the end of it.

Well, that's all right. I'll just figure that out as I go.

Hi, Fujimaru. Hi, Mash. I'm done with today's deliveries, so I'm back to make my report, as promised.

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Since this was just the first day, it was really more of a test-drive than anything. There weren't many deliveries to make, so it was very easy all around.

But starting tomorrow, I'll be buckling down and really kicking the Santa work into high gear.

That said, my last delivery today was pretty memorable. I even have a present addressed to you as well.

Want to know who it's from?

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It's kind of a long story, so I'll just cover the key points. The last place we went today was

Huh? Nemo, is that you!? What're you doing all the way out here in my neck of the woods!?

Well, come on in! Make yerself at home! I'll put a pot of coffee on.

You know, I always felt you and I had a lot in common. Haven't you ever noticed how similar nautiluses and belemnites are?

Plus, you've battled prehistoric creatures in the deep sea before, right?

Maybe you've even seen a live pterosaur at some point? Come on, sit! Join me for a cup while we enjoy the view of the Lyme Regis coastline. Oh, and let me pick your brain.

Well, I guess there isn't much of a coast to see now that it's a snowy wasteland out here, but who cares!?

I'm sorry. I think it's only snowing here because I showed up.

Merry Christmas, Mary Anning. I know it's a little early, but I have a present for you.

Huh? Christmas? So you're Santa this year?

Aww, and you're not even on the Nautilus. Well, never mind then. Go on, get out of here.

Besides, the whole Santa and Christmas thing? Peace and love, goodwill to all? Yeah, don't buy it for a second.

This world's all about reciprocity. Give and take. Barter, trade, all that jazz. I didn't make a name for myself as a merchant by giving things away, you know.

But even though I love money, I'm too scared to accept a gift from someone for nothing.

It's not for nothing. I'm Santa. All I did was respond to your wish for me to come by bringing you a present.

Well, maybe not so much wishing for me to come as wishing for a specific something. And your name was indeed on my list.

As Santa Claus, I'm just here to bring you that thing.

Oh really? So the thing I want the most right now is inside that box, huh?

Go on then, say it. Say what it is I want, and I'll accept your so-called present.

Not that it's any secret now that I went and told you what I like! In fact, let me guess what you're thinking.

You're thinking, "Mary Anning is a stingy merchant who only cares about digging up weird fossils," right!?

True, that is what you are. And you are very responsible with money. But no, this gift isn't financial.

No way! A stylish doggie outfit! That's the most self-indulgent thing a pet owner can get!

So it seems. Though I don't know about the self-indulgent part.

I've heard that nothing makes a dog happier than seeing their owner happy.

So if you want to see your dog wearing a fashionable outfit, I'm sure your dog is also happy to wear it.

Besides, the outfit is very durable. Rocks could fall on your dog while it's wearing this and they wouldn't so much as bruise it.

Anyway, this is the present you wanted most. Of course, if you don't need it, I'll just take it back with me.

Wait! I need it! I need it more than anything! Are you a secret angel, Nemo!?

For that matter, this Santa thing is nuts! I can't believe you came out all this way in the snow just to bring me a present! For free!

That's just what Santa Claus does. Though that's not quite the whole story in your case.

There's a reason I visited you last on my first day of gift-giving, Mary Anning.

People say you were an amazing paleontologist who always managed to dig up precious fossils wherever you went. I want to hear more about that.

Seriously? You want to hear about my glory days? This seems too good to be true! But, if you insist...

So, where should I start? The ichthyosaurus I found on my first dig? The plesiosaurus I found that turned out to be my first major discovery?

Go ahead, ask me anything! I'd be happy to pass on what I know about excavating fossils!

It turns out Anning can really talk your ear off when she gets going.

I could've stayed there listening to her for hours, but luckily, I found a good point to leave off for the day.

That was when she gave me a present of her own.

...Hey. Would you accept this?

Now that I'm back home, I've been polishing some of the fossils I kept here, since I thought they'd make nice good luck charms.

But I can't let you go without giving you something in return. I am a merchant, you know.

So here. This one's for you, and this one's for Master. Well, it was actually supposed to be mine, but whatever!

I see. So one of the reasons you came home was to prepare a gift for Master.

Thank you, Anning. I'd be happy to accept these.

You're right. This belemnite fossil does look like a nautilus.

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Okay, I have an early day tomorrow, so that's all from me.

Oh, and Master, today proves that the Nemo Series can handle present delivery all on our own.

So I'd like to remind you of my request that you not come with me. Got that?