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// Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas (Edited 10/21/17) 
// Story: Equestria Girls Holiday Special: Wrath of the Krampus 
// by EquineAvenger 
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“Now, what would you like for Christmas, little girl?” Krampus asked, his red eyes glowing with anticipation.
Everyone, CHS students and holiday monsters alike, were anxiously waiting for Sunset Shimmer to answer Krampus’s question. What will she say? What does she truly want for Christmas? What will become of everyone? Will a holiday miracle grant them forgiveness and save them? Or will they be doomed to spent the holiday season, and possibly the rest of their lives, in merciless torment?
“I want you let my friends, their sisters, and everyone here go,” Sunset replied. Krampus raised an eyebrow in astonishment and confusion while everyone else gasped and dropped their jaws in surprise. “I want you to let them go because there’s something I wish to give to all of them.”
“After everything they’ve done to you, what could you possibly wish to give them now?” Krampus asked.
“My forgiveness.” Sunset answered. “True, what they all did was wrong and hurtful. I’ve never felt so much pain in my entire life and I probably won’t completely get over it for quite some time. But there has already been enough negativity and suffering this season, I don’t wish to see anyone suffer anymore. I want to forgive them for the wrong they’ve caused me. I also want to take back every bad thing I’ve said about anyone, even if they don’t take back everything they’ve said about me. They gave me a second chance and I don’t believe I’d be worthy of having my name on the nice list if I weren’t willing to do the same. So will you find it in your heart to give them a second chance like me?” Sunset looked up at Krampus with pleading eyes. 
Krampus pinched the end of his chin while thinking. Should he take Sunset’s words to heart and give the CHS students another chance or are they still not worthy of earning his forgiveness? “Well, are they all truly sorry for what they’ve done?” he asked doubtfully.
Sunset looked at her caged friends and the other students. She wondered how she could convince Krampus that they were all truly repentant souls deserving of mercy. Rainbow Dash was still being held by the two dark elves, she had tears flowing from her pain and sorrow filled eyes. Sunset had known the arrogant athlete for a few years and she’d never seen look so miserable and regretful in her time in this world. It was like her pride was now completely shattered. Her other friends, the Crusaders, and the rest of the student body didn’t look any better either. Principal Celestia looked like the most shameful person in the world. 
“Sunset,” Applejack spoke up. She looked at her friend with sad, remorseful eyes. “Ya’ don’t have ta’ do this. There’s nothin’ any of us can say that won’t really be enough to show how sorry they are.”
“Whatever Krampus has in store for us, we deserve,” a regretful Apple Bloom added. 
The other girls and students all gave her faces that said silent and deeply heartfelt apologies.
Although Sunset really wanted to say that they were all truly sorry and deserved to be absolved of their sins, she knew deep down she couldn’t truthfully speak for everyone. So she had one last thing to ask of the vengeful Christmas demon. “If you can’t bring yourself to forgive everyone here, then… take me in their place.”
Everyone gasped in shock and horror at what Sunset had just asked.
“You would take their place, even though you’ve done nothing wrong?” Krampus asked baffled.
“Sunset, no!” Fluttershy cried in horror.
“Darling, you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into!” Rarity yelled anxiously.
“We’re not worth it!” Sweetie Belle desperately screamed.
“She’s done nothing wrong!” Rainbow pleaded to Krampus. “Please don’t take her in my place, please!”
“Twilight, ya’ can’t let this happen!” a desperate AJ told Twilight Sparkle, who was watching the entire thing with Spike at her side.
“We have to give Sunset Shimmer our trust this time,” Twilight calmly and understandingly responded. “She knows what she’s doing.”
“But she’ll go through Hell!” a panic-stricken Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “Literally!”
“I’ve already been through Hell,” Sunset assured her pink friend. “I can handle it.” This made Pinkie lower her head in shame. “Whatever punishments you have in store for them, I’ll take it all for myself if it means saving all of them.”
“Sunset, you don’t have to do this!” Flash Sentry called to her in desperation while frantically trying to shake the bars of his cage loose, but to no avail. “You’ve already suffered enough, don’t cause yourself anymore!”
“ I’m sorry things didn’t work out between us, Flash,” Sunset sadly apologized. After all this time, she still had deep feelings for him. “I don’t know how I can ever make up for the trouble I’ve caused you and everyone else. I just wish I could’ve been the girl you deserve and not the ‘bad girl you love to hate’.”
Hearing this, Flash stopped shanking the bars and dropped to his knees. He remembered the things he said to both Twilight and Sunset at the Battle of the Bands that the Dazzlings orchestrated. He buried his face in his hands and silently started shedding tears of remorse while Derpy gently and sympathetically patted his shoulder. He began to wish he had never let himself fall under the Sirens’ influence and said those awful things.
“Perhaps it’s better this way,” Sunset said trying to cheer everyone up. “Think of this as my Christmas present to everyone. Crusaders, you three will get to spent the holidays with your sisters like you wanted.”
“But, we don’t want ta spent the holidays with our sisters anymore!” an extremely tearful Apple Bloom cried. “We want them ta be happy!”
“And you’re the only one who can make them happy!” an equally tearful Sweetie Belle added.
“Besides, we’re the ones responsible for all of this. We started Anon-a-Miss. We’re the only ones who deserve to be punished by Krampus!” Scootaloo tearfully said.
“Oh, Sweetie!” A touched and tearful Rarity exclaimed and embraced her younger sister.
“Apple Bloom!” AJ warmly pulled her little sister into a warm hug.
Rainbow and Scootaloo stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, sharing a silent tender moment.
The three elder sisters were extremely touched by, after everything that has happened, their younger sisters would rather sacrifice themselves for theirs and Sunset’s sakes rather than let anymore harm come to anyone else.
“Actually, we’re the ones ta’ blame,” AJ said.
“If we hadn’t neglected you, you wouldn’t had came up with Anon-a-Miss,” Rarity added.
“So if anyone deserves to suffer, it’s us,” Rainbow finished for them.
“I agree,” Fluttershy sadly said.
“Me too,” Pinkie said with tears in her eyes.
“Please, please spare her!” Flash tearfully pleaded.
“Don’t take Sunset from us!” Derpy begged.
“Please don’t hurt her!” Bulk Biceps pleaded.
“Just give us what we deserve!” Trixie begged from the window of the ‘Pride’ car.
“She’s one of the best students I’ve ever had,” Celestia implored. “She doesn’t deserve this!”
“She’s done nothing wrong!” Lyra Heartstrings beseeched.
“She’s a good person!” Snails pleaded.
“She’s innocent!” Snips begged.
Soon all of the other students were begging for Krampus to spare Sunset’s life. Sunset was so touched by this that fresh tears started falling from her eyes.
“You see,” she said turning to Krampus. She got on her knees and clamped her hands together in a form of begging. “They’re not bad people. They deserve another chance, a good Christmas to spend with their friends and family. So please let them go. Please!” She stared up at the towering creature with tearful pleading eyes.
Krampus was in a state of shock and surprise. Sunset was willing to forgive and sacrifice herself for the sake of the ones who hurt her and the CHS students were willing to accept their just desserts if it meant sparing Sunset’s life. He had never seen something like this in over a thousand years. Before Krampus could make his decision, a bright white light suddenly started shining in the dark, stormy night sky. Everyone had to cover their eyes to avoid getting blinded by the light. After awhile, the light started to dim, becoming more tolerable to look at. The sound of trumpets playing in the sky was heard. Then everyone saw three glowing white lights descend from the sky toward the encampment. At first, the lights were hard to make out but as they got closer, they took the forms of small happy glowing children, two were boys and one was a girl. They all had white feathery wings, golden halos above their heads, wearing clean white robes, and wielding shiny golden trumpets.
“What are those things?” Octavia asked staring at the glowing flying children.
“The Herald Angels!” Scootaloo exclaimed in amazement.
The three little angels flew around the CHS students gently patting their heads and giggling happily. The female angel flew up to Sunset Shimmer, who stared bewildered at the glowing childlike creature. The angel gave her a warm smile and gently placed her small right hand on the teenage girl’s left cheek. The touch was warm and made her entire body feel warm too. It was like she was in front of a warm fireplace. Then the three angels flew back up into the sky and disappeared. The terrible snow storm that had been going on most of the night disappeared with them. The air was now calm, quiet, and peaceful. Snowflakes gently descended from the sky.
“Sunset Shimmer, I have made my decision,” Krampus announced. Everyone stared intently and nervously waiting to hear Krampus’s decision of what he was going to do with them. “Your soul is too pure, it has no place in the Underworld. So I cannot take you in their place. But the rest of you have touched the Herald Angels with your kindness and they have sensed you’ve all regained your holiday spirits and have granted you their forgiveness.” Sunset and everyone else felt their spirits lift. They had done it. They had remembered the true spirit of the holiday and they had all been saved. “Release them,” Krampus commanded his minions.
“Congratulations kids,” the chief dark elf said. “You’re all off the hook.”
One by one, the elves unlocked the cages and let the CHS students out. They also unchained and let the other students off the dark train.
"I will spare them all on one condition," Krampus said. "You must all atone for your sins by doing services to the holiday community for the rest of the season. Any one who steps out of line will answer to ME!"
“Thank you,” Sunset tearfully thanked Krampus and gave him a warm smile. He responded by gently patting her head and letting her off his lap and back onto the snowy ground.
“But remember,” Krampus told everyone in a threatening tone. “If this happens again, there will be no second chances! Also take heed, there are other beings associated with this sacred season that prey on foolish sinners, and most of them are not as 'kind-hearted' as I am. Happy Holidays.” With that, Krampus, his throne, his minions, the cages, and the dark train all dissolved into snow and blew away into the wind.
“Wow, who ever thought this season could be so scary,” Diamond Tiara said still a little spooked.
“And dangerous,” Silver Spoon added just as spooked.
“Sunset, I’m proud of you,” Twilight warmly congratulated her friend and put her hand on her shoulder. “You took my advice well. You stayed strong, stayed yourself, and found your family.”
“I knew you could do it,” Spike also congratulated Sunset.
“Thanks for believing in me,” Sunset thanked her two friends. Then she felt two arms suddenly wrap tightly around her and she was pulled into a warm hug by a smiling Pinkie, who’s hair had returned to its normal poofy form.
“Sunset, we’re sorry we ever doubted ya’,” AJ apologized.
“That’s a mistake we’ll never make again,” Rarity promised wiping the tears from her eyes.
“No matter what anybody says, you’re a more than twenty percent cooler friend to all of us,” a tearful Rainbow joined Pinkie in hugging Sunset.
“Sunset,” Apple Bloom said getting her attention. She and her two friends stood before the older girl with remorseful looks on their faces.
“We’re so sorry for what we did,” Sweetie Belle tearfully apologized.
“It’s okay, girls. I forgive you,” she said in a gentle and understanding tone. "Believe me, I know what it’s like to feel like you’re all alone.”
“Can you ever forgive me, big sister?” Apple Bloom asked her older sister.
“‘Course ah can forgive ya’, Apple Bloom. You’re family,” AJ warmly told her sister. Then she turned to Sunset. “And so are you.” Sunset smiled warmly to that.
“But you three still have to answer for all the trouble you’ve caused,” Celestia sternly reminded them.
“We know,” Scootaloo shamefully and understandingly acknowledged.
“Don’t worry, Squirt,” Rainbow assured her little sister figure. “You won’t go through it alone. I’ll be by your side.”
“As will I,” Rarity said to Sweetie Belle.
“Me too,” AJ said to her sister.
“And me,” Sunset also said to the Crusaders. They all exchanged warm smiles to one another.
“Now that’s the nice girl we love to love!” Flash said.
All the other students started cheering in agreement and gathered around to give her thankful and apologetic compliments and pants on the shoulder and back. Sunset had never received such positive praise from the students of CHS before. It felt really good, and she couldn’t help but smile. Then she felt herself hoisted up off her feet and into the air. She found herself sitting on Bulk Biceps’ right shoulder. Looking down and seeing the students all looking up at her with great admiration, she felt like the happiest girl in the whole world. Soon she was joined by the young Crusaders, who had each been hoisted up onto their respective sisters’ shoulders. Then the entire crowd began marching on their way back to Canterlot High carrying Sunset and the Crusaders all the way.
As Twilight Sparkle walked with the crowd, she watched how happy Sunset looked and shed a single tear of joy for her friend. “Well, Spike,” she said to her assistant. “It looks like our work here is done.”
As she was being carryed by Bulk Biceps, Sunset looked up in the sky. For a moment, she thought she saw a tiny light fly over them and heard the faint sound of laughter. 
Ho, ho, HO!
“Nicholas?” she said bewildered recognizing the laughter as it disappeared.

When everyone returned to Canterlot High, Pinkie Pie instructed them to throw a huge school-wide Christmas party to celebrate their success and as a token of apology for Sunset Shimmer. Satisfied now that her friend was happy and back where she belonged, Twilight Sparkle and Spike wished everyone Happy Holidays and returned through the portal to Equestria. The day after, the Crusaders took down the Anon-a-Miss profile from MyStable, Principal Celestia had them apologize to all the students they had hurt, and the three girls were given six months of detention. But they weren’t alone, their big sisters asked Celestia to give them the same amount of detention as a step in a process of make things up for their neglect and for the way they wronged Sunset Shimmer. In fact, a lot of students felt so terrible for the way they treated Sunset that many of them also signed themselves up for detention. In the following days, CHS students had been going around doing all sorts of community services just as Krampus instructed such as donations to charity, working at soup kitchens, working as present wrappers, mall Santas, and many more.
After a couple days, it was Christmas Eve. Sunset Shimmer had asked Applejack’s brother, Big Macintosh, to pick her up at the school and take her to Sweet Apple Acres where they were all going to spent Christmas Eve together. She also asked him to help her bring the presents she had been saving to saving for that day. As Big Mac drove the truck through a neighborhood, Sunset looked out the front passenger seat window and saw many of her fellow students in the houses happily celebrating Christmas with their families. It warmed her heart to see everyone having a good time despite what they had all went through recently.
At Sweet Apple Acres, everyone was getting prepared for their last guest to arrive. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were there; Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were there; even Granny Smith and Maud Pie were there.
“Alright, tree?” Pinkie asked.
“Check,” Rainbow confirmed standing by the beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
“Eggnog with a touch of cider?”
“Check,” Applejack answered bringing out a jug of the delicious beverage.
“Music?”
“Check,” Rarity replied holding up a CD.
“Nat King Cole?” Pinkie asked Rarity another question.
“Check,” Rarity replied again.
“Elf on the Shelf?”
“Check,” Fluttershy answered placing a red happy-looking elf doll on top of a shelf in the room. “Isn’t it cute?”
“Cookies?” Pinkie looked down at the coffee table and saw the Christmas cookies she baked were on a platter sitting on the table. “Check! Now all we need is Sunset.”
“By the way,” Granny Smith interrupted. “When we were all out lookin’ fer Sunset, did anythin’ strange happen to any of ya’?”
“Uh… No,” the girls all hesitantly said in unison.
“Because when ah’ was out there, ah’ came across a strange-lookin’ beast,” Granny Smith explained. “It kinda looked like a reindeer but meaner and had red eyes. Darn thing nearly ran me over.”
Then the front door opened and Sunset and Big Mac came in carry big bags of gifts.
“We’re here,” Sunset announced. “You can check presents off your list, Pinkie. I’ve got some for everyone.”
“Wow, Sunset,” Scootaloo said eyeing the many gifts. “You got all of this for us?”
“Yes,” Sunset replied in a friendly tone. “Not just for my friends, but for you three too.” Sunset was surprised when she saw sad faces on everyone’s face. “What’s wrong everyone?”
“It’s just that,” Fluttershy spoke. “After the way we’ve treated you, we don’t think we deserve all these gifts.”
“Of course you do,” Sunset warmly assured her. “You all apologized and I forgave you. You’re more than just my friends, you’re my family. Besides, I think even girls who make the mistake of easily turning on someone for something she didn’t do deserve to get at least something for the holidays… No offense.”
Everyone stared at her for a moment, then Pinkie burst into hysterical laughter. Soon all the other girls started laughing with her. They all laughed at the irony of Sunset turning their ‘no offense’ antic on them. 
“Alright everyone,” Applejack stopped laughing and got everyone’s attention. “Who’s ready to have the best holiday night ever?” Everyone cheered in agreement. But before anyone could begin, they felt their phones buzzing.
“Hey, ah’ got a message from someone,” Apple Bloom said getting out her phone.
“Oh, me too,” Rarity also said looking at her phone.
“Me three,” Pinkie said holding her phone.
It looked like everyone got the same message no their phones.
“I’ll read it,” Sweetie Belle said opening the message on her phone and began reading it.
To everyone who’s gotten this,
I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. But you’d better watch out, because I’ll be watching you all the next year!
Gruss vom… Krampus!
Suddenly, the mood in the room changed from merry to bone-chilling. 
Meanwhile, all the other students of CHS had gotten the same message and were now in a state of fear. 
Back at Sweet Apple Acres, the terrified Crusaders each clung to their respective sisters who held them protectively while trembling in fear. The once cute and happy-looking Elf on the Shelf was now staring down at then with a sinister, threatening grin. Sunset ran to the window and looked out into the dark snowy night and there, standing in the yard wearing his red ragged cloak, was Krampus who stared back at her with his ominous glowing red eyes. He gave her a wink with his right eye and then disappeared into the darkness.