//------------------------------// // First Year at the North Pole/Misfit Doubts // Story: G5 Adventures in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer // by ponydog127 //------------------------------// Sunny and Rudolph brought the white fox cub inside the warm cave for Rudolph's parents to see her, and when she looked up at the tall figures over her, the multi-colored eyes of the fox shown fear and worry about what these strangers might do to her. “It’s okay, little cutie,” Sunny smiled gently. “We’re not going to hurt you.” The cub seemed to be less tense after that, stepping away from the group and sniffing around the cave. “It’s very remarkable, Donner dear,” said Mrs. Donner, looking at the fox as she sniffed around the cave. “A fox with three different colors mixed into her eyes... truly amazing!” “Huh... now what can we do about that?” Donner wondered. “No dirt is gonna cover those eyes.” “Donner, I don't see why you would have to cover Rudolph's nose with dirt-- he's perfect the way he is,” Sunny spoke up. “Despite his unique nose, he's perfectly healthy, and happy, by the look he's giving right now.” Truth be told, Rudolph was playing with the fox cub on the other side of the cave, both of them smiling and giggling and having a great time. “It’s... just a shame that no one else will get to see Rudolph's unique gift,” Sunny frowned. “I think it's amazing.” “Well, others might not see it the way you do, Miss Starscout,” Donner told her sternly. “And, I for one, am not going to have a son that's going to be the laughing stock of Christmastown!” “Donner! Control your temper!” Mrs. Donner scolded. “Sunny's just trying to help you see what good Rudolph's nose might be.” “...don't you think I know that?” And just like that, Donner walked out of the cave to get some air, passing Sunny's friends on the way out, causing them to become worried. Sunny turned toward Mrs. Donner with a guilty look. “I'm sorry, Mrs. Donner. I-I just wanted to help him see--” “I know what you're trying to say, dear. It's just... my Donner can be so set in his ways, and his ego coming from his lead reindeer role doesn’t help much either.” “Well... yeah, but...” “Sunny?” Izzy and Pipp stuck their heads into the cave after seeing Donner walk off. “Is everything okay?” the pink pegasus asked her friend. “Donner just stormed out, looking kind of upset.” “...he'll be fine, guys,” Sunny said, half-lying to her friends. “Everything is gonna be just fine.” Rudolph, somehow sensing Sunny’s sadness, walked over to her and rubbed up against her leg, making her smile. “Thanks, Rudolph… somehow you knew exactly what I needed. So… what do you think, Mrs. Donner? You think we have room for a sweet little fox until we can find her family?” “I certainly don’t see why not,” Mrs. Donner spoke. “But she’s going to need a name and a collar. Certainly, the elves can help with the collar, so why don’t you pick out the name?” “Really? Okay!” Sunny smiled in delight before humming in thought. “Let’s see…” Sunny began to notice some characteristics about the fox that might decide the name. Her eyes, for one thing, were stunning, and she was very playful. Suddenly, the perfect idea for a name hit her dead on. “How about... Borealis? Bori for short. Because her eyes sorta remind me of the Northern Lights.” Borealis yipped excitedly, her furry white tail wagging, and this caused Mrs. Donner to chuckle. “I think she likes that name.” “And I think she and Rudolph really like each other too,” Sunny noticed how Borealis and Rudolph were snuggling with each other. “All right then, Rudolph-- looks like Borealis is gonna stay with us for a little while! Let's call the others inside to meet her, and then we can get to showing you around Christmastown and whatever else your parents need you both to learn.” XXXXXXXX Needless to say, the others absolutely fell in love with Borealis, and were willing to help the parents take care of her and Rudolph, figuring it would be as easy as taking care of a foal or filly. But, they had no idea of how wrong they were. One morning, after learning that Donner had taken Rudolph and Borealis out into the Christmas Tree Forest, the ponies decided to go check on them, only to find that Donner was teaching the young reindeer how to spar with his tiny nubs of antlers. “Hey there, cutie Rudy!” Izzy cooed. “What are you all doing out here?” “Just teaching my little buck here how to defend himself,” Donner explained. “In case he and the fox were to ever need it.” Zipp didn’t like how Donner kept calling Borealis the fox, but decided to discard the thought when another thought entered her mind. “Wait... why would Rudolph need to learn how to defend himself? Seems like you would always be protected up here.” Suddenly, a loud roaring sound was heard, caught Donner and the ponies' ears. Rudolph and Borealis instantly got close to Donner when they heard this, and Donner urged everyone behind a large snowbank as the earh shook with giant footsteps. Who is this giant, you may be wondering? Well, this beast is none other than... the Abominable Snow Monster of the North. He's mean, he's nasty, and he hates everything to do with Christmas. That's why all the reindeer and elves and forest creatures knew to stay away from him, if at all possible. After the snow monster disappeared into the trees, Donner knew it was safe for the ponies, he and his son and Borealis to come out of hiding, and Borealis began to roll around in the monster's footprint, not having a care in the world, despite the scare a few moments earlier. Zipp took a breath to try and calm herself down. “Well, I guess that thing answered my question. Do you want some help looking out for anymore dangers? We have been known to fight a time or two.” “You guys can do the fighting and whatnot,” Pipp told her sister. “Izzy, Misty and I are gonna go see what we can do about a collar for Borealis and see if we can help those elves in Santa's workshop. Come on, girls!” “Bye, guys!” Misty waved before she and Izzy ran off after Pipp. That’s when Zipp turned to Rudolph in a ready stance. “Okay, Rudolph. Sunny, Hitch and I are gonna help your dad train you to keep yourself out of harms way. First things first, sparing-- which it seems your dad already taught you. But, the real object of fighting for ponies is using our legs. First up, some basic kicks and leaps.” XXXXXXXX Izzy, Misty and Pipp finally made it to Santa's workshop, and Mrs. Claus gladly let them inside to show them around. “Oh-ho, wow!” Izzy beamed in delight. “There's unicycling at every turn!” “Will we get to meet some actual elves, Mrs. Claus?” Misty asked excitedly. “Oh, yes!” Mrs. Claus smiled. “I actually want to introduce you to the head of the toy-building operation.” Walking their way was a short, no-nonsense elf dressed in green before stopping only a foot or two away. “You wanted to see me, Mrs. Claus?” “Yes, Boss Elf. These are some Equestrians that are spending quite a bit of time here in Christmastown, and they wanted to see what you elves do here.” “Nice to meet you, Mr. Boss Elf, sir,” Misty said politely. “I'm Misty, and this is Pipp and Izzy.” “Nice to meet all of you,” Boss Elf told them. “Come on, we'll show you the main operation.” The three ponies immediately followed the Boss Elf to the biggest room in the workshop, where a long line of elves were hard at work, making toys. “Oh, wow... really Christmas chic!” Pipp said, taking some pictures. “Look at all the building and hammering and painting and... wait. That elf at the end seems a little out of it, don't you think?” Boss Elf looked at where Pipp was pointing, and true to her word, an elf at the end was taking his time painting a toy wagon, causing him to growl in frustration. “Excuse me for a few minutes, ladies. I need to make sure Hermey knows his place.” Without another word, the Boss Elf stormed over to the elf on the end with hands on his hips. “HERMEY!!” he yelled, honestly surprising the elf, now known as Hermey, and the ponies all at once. “Aren't you finished painting that yet?!” Hermey shook her head as work on the line diminished to a stand still, causing everyone to look down at him. “There's a pileup a mile wide behind you,” Boss Elf told him sternly. “What's eatin' you, bboys? Hermey's only response was a shrug-- a rather unhappy shrug, to make matters worse. “Not happy in my work, I guess.” “WHAT?!” “I just don't like to make toys.” Izzy honestly couldn't believe such a statement, but if it didn't make Hermey happy, there was no point in trying to force it. “Oh, well, if that's all.... what?!” Boss Elf shrieked. “You don't like to make toys?!” “No...” That's when the Boss Elf turned to look down the line. “Hermey doesn't like to make toys!” he said, causing the other elves to whisper down the line. “Hermey doesn't like to make toys!” “Hermey doesn't like to make toys!” “Hermey doesn't like to make toys!” “Oh, shame on you!” all the elves shouted, but before the ponies could intervene, the Boss Elf spoke up again. “Mind telling me what you do want to do?” “Well, sir,” Hermey admitted, “someday, I'd like to be a... a dentist!” “A DENTIST?!” The other elves laughed at such a claim as Hermey excitedly brought out a book of dentistry and laid it on the table. “Well, we need one up here. I've been studying. It's fascinating. You've no idea. Molars and bicuspids and incisors.” “Now, listen, you. You're an elf, and elves make toys!” Boss Elf shoved the unpainted toy wagon in front of him. “Now, get to work!” Suddenly, a whistle blew right near Misty, causing her to shriek and fall onto Izzy in surprise. “10 minute break!” Boss Elf said, letting all the elves leave... all except for Hermey. “Not for you! Finish the job, or you're fired!” All of other elves left the workshop, leaving Hermey in tears as he continued to worm. That's when Izzy just couldn’t stand seeing him so sad... it was too much for her to bare. The lavender unicorn approached Hermey, picked up a paintbrush and began to paint a toy train. “It looked like you needed some help in such a short time span.” “Oh, that's all right,” Hermey reassured them. “You don't have to go to all the trouble. I suppose I did this to myself.” “But, I don't think the head elf should discard your dreams as nothing and force you to make toys,” Misty shook her head. “It doesn’t really seem right.” “So, why don't we paint these toys for now and get them ready to be wrapped,” Pipp offered, “and you can keep reading that dentist book of yours.” “Wow, that's very generous of you all! Thank you very much,” Hermey smiled. “I'm Hermey, by the way.” “I'm Izzy-- Izzy Moonbow,” Izzy introduced. “And that's Pipp Petals and Misty Brightdawn.” “Hello!” “Nice to meet you!” After a little while of talking and getting to know one another... Hermey began to sing his frustrations of what he was going through. Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit You can't fire me, I quit! Since I don't fit in The ponies seemed to feel bad for their new friends, but they weren't sure what to say, so they just kept on working. After a while, the toys were done, and as the girls prepared to head out before the other elves got back, Hermey handed them a small box. “Here, I want you to have these. They're special necklaces that elves give to their friends, but... I think you deserve them more. There's even some for any friends you may have too.” “Really?” Misty asked as she took the box. “Wow... thank you so much! We'll come back and visit you soon!” And so, waving goodbye, the three ponies left the workshop to head back to their home away from home. XXXXXXXX The next few months went by quicker than anypony would have expected, and Rudolph and Borealis were growing up quickly, becoming closer to each other and to their pony friends by the day. The elves even crafted a very special collar for Borealis, so everyone would know who she was-- there was a white fringe around the red collar, and attached to the collar was a shimmering snow globe with a golden heart charm stuck inside... something Borealis treasured more than anything in the world. However, much to Donner's dismay, Rudolph's nose seemed to get brighter and brighter, and Borealis' eyes continued to shine like the Northern Lights. Both of them seemed to feel like outcasts since Borealis was being raised by reindeer and since she and Rudolph seemed like they were the only ones they knew of with these gifts... but they didn't see them as gifts. Donner was determined to at least hide Rudolph's nose from the world, so one day, he took a dirt-made cover for Rudolph's nose onto his hoof and lifted it up for his son to test out. “All right, son. Try it on.” “I don't wanna,” Rudolph protested as his nose continued to glow. “Daddy, I don't like it.” “You'll like it and wear it!” “But-- but, Daddy!” Rudolph argued as his father put on the cover. “It’s not very comfortable on him, sir,” Borealis said uncomfortably. “Maybe we can try something else?” “There are more important things than comfort, fox; self-respect,” Donner said sternly. “Santa can't object to you now.” Borealis and Rudolph decided to take a walk outside, unaware that the ponies were outside in the snow, listening to everything that Donner had said. When he thought they were alone, Rudolph took the cover off his nose and softly began to sing. Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit Just because my nose glows... Why don't I fit in? Borealis snuggled up against Rudolph's cheek, trying to softly smile. “Don’t worry about it too much, Rudolph. Donner... I think he just wants to protect you from being hurt. As for me... I don't know what to think.” “You know... I know first hoof how it feels to be different than everypony else,” Sunny said as she and the other ponies approached. “I was the only one out of an entire town of earth ponies to believe that pegasi and unicorns could be friends after my dad passed away. I know exactly how you feel.” “So... after you brought magic back to your world... did ponies start treating you differently?” Rudolph asked. “I mean... since you were an alicorn part of the time?” “...sometimes they treated me better when I was an alicorn, sometimes they treated me the same,” Sunny said hesitantly. “But we think you're both amazing, no matter what anypony else thinks.” “...even with a glowing nose? And a fox with colorful rainbow eyes being raised by reindeer?” Borealis asked, causing Zipp to tickle her slightly. “Even with those differences, we still think you guys are amazing.” “And I bet that soon,” said Misty, “other people will see the same thing we see.” Borealis sighed and looked up at the snowflakes falling from up above. “I sure hope that you guys are right...”