//------------------------------//
// Hearths Warming Special, Rhede Pelt saves Hearths Warming [13] 
// Story: Stories in Stone, Lost Empire 
// by TDR 
//------------------------------//

 Stories in Stone
Lost Empire
By TDR






Hearths Warming Special





[Sweet Apple Acres, 2 years after the War of gods. The Five Beasts second Hearths Warming since awakening.]




“Pick that one.” Sweetiebelle demands. 

“Ah ain't singing something written by  Pinkie's friend Cheese Sandwich. No telling what'll be about.” Applebloom grumbles with a yawn. “ Prolly Santa going crazy or bombs falling or somethin.”

“Don't be so cranky, “ Scootaloo snaps back. “It's a Hearths Warming Carol, they're all weird. I mean Rudy the red nosed reindeer? A red light wouldn't be worth anything if fog that sort of light would just reflect off the clouds. What Santa needed was a good weather pegasus not a  caribou with a flashlight on his face. Heck he'd ruin his own night vision with that thing.”

“ Stop over thinking them. Maybe we should just pick something simple. Something Berry could at least hum along with.” Pip points out. “We only have a hour at best before we get sent to bed.”

“She doesn't want to join us.”  Brush comments in a monotone as he looked over the books of carols. “She has yet to leave Luna's Side.”

“You could at least try to call her Ma or something, she did adopt you.” Pip grumbles at  Brush. “It makes her feel bad.”

“I try to when I address her, but it is not been exactly easy you know. Not all of us can forget our parents as easily as you can to accept others in their place.” Brush comments back with no emotion.

“You think this has been easy for me?”Pip growls leaping to his hooves.

“Okay knock it off you two.” Rhede orders trotting quickly over to the small group. He spares a glance back across the room to the kitchen where most of the adults were talking. Thankfully neither Luna or Jer'rahd had heard the conversation of the foals. While Jer might have been a little upset he would have dealt with it better than Luna. The last thing anyone needed was for Luna to get depressed again due to her adoptive foals fighting about not calling her mother.


This was the first Hearth's Warming  Eve party that every one had been able to attend since the war and despite being regulated to foal watching duty he was doing his best to be every where at once. Still if they young ones were fighting it was time to intervene.

New Canterlot was still barely a city, Jer had only been let out of the hospital about six months ago and both he and Twilight were still magically burned out, though Sparkle was able to use smaller spells at least. There were a number of ponies who couldn't claim to be that fortunate, and despite the best attempts of the Princesses the holiday season was still a reminder of  what, and who, many had lost.

Rhede had spent the last year as newly appointed head ambassador, again, trying to build up lagging relations with the other nations. He had also spent most of that time doing his damnedest to actually woo Velkorn for real. Granted the latter was only slightly less challenging that the former.

Still despite the difficulty of the last two years, he thought he had made some progress and was about ready to make the ultimate play for her. He just needed to find a ring that he thought was worthy of being worn by her.

Of course that was then, now he had drawn the short straw and was stuck watching the CMC and two of  Luna and Jer's adopted foals. Orange was here, but she was doing her best to try and be adult. Of course she had spent all night  asking Velkorn questions about everything medical related. While Velkorn was happy to answer the burgeoning doctors questions, it made it impossible for Rhede to get close to her. He had finally given up when he heard the shouting and decided to actually do what he was supposed to.

“He started it.” Brush states flatly.

“I did not!” Pip snaps.

“I don't care, no fighting, please.” Rhede placates. “ Look how about you just sing here comes Santa Hooves, that's a classic. That one was around when I was a foal.”

Rhede glances back noting Berry start to creep closer to the group having finally left the kitchen and where she had been hiding under Luna's wings all night.

“What is the point of singing something about some one who doesn't exist?” Brush grumbles.

“Hey take that back...” Applebloom fusses.

“Yeah.” Sweetiebelle  shouts as well.

Annnd there Berry went back into the kitchen. So much for the little one opening up any Rhede sighs as the argument continued.

“I dunno... Brush has got a point. I never got what I wanted.” Scootaloo chimes in. “ And you guys never got your cutie marks despite asking every year.”

“Yeah well you got yours and you can fly now so at least you don't need to ask for that stuff any more....” Sweetiebelle grumbles.

“Not exactly helping yer side ah tha argument.” Pip sighs.

“Santa doesn't give out cutie marks or flying lessons, those are things you have to do for yourselves, there are no short cuts to that sort of thing.” Rhede explains. “Why don't you believe  Brush?”

“He didn't bring back my parents last year and I doubt he will this year either.” Brush states flatly. “Berry hasn't said anything since........., mom could always get her to talk....”

Rhede exhales looking at the kitchen, he wasn't cut out for this sort of thing. He was certain that was the most emotion he had ever heard in Brush's voice  and sad foals were one of his great weaknesses, right up there with pretty mares in striped socks and singing. Still he needed to set Brush, and the others straight.

“Santa can't do that either, trust me I know that from  personal experience.” Rhede mutters.

“Personal experience? What personal experience?” Pip questions.

“I asked him once, after I saved him.” Rhede says off hoof.

“WHAT?!”  the group of them shout sending Berry scurrying back into the kitchen and forcing Applejack to duck her head out at the noise staring at the group curiously before heading back into the kitchen with the others once she was sure nothing was wrong.

“Calm down, calm down. Alright I’ll tell you a story, all of you gather around listen up. I've only been an ambassador for a year, but I’ve already traveled all over Equss.....”

The foals settle down  staring up at the tall pony wondering what sort of story this would be. Rhede smiles a little at the rapt attention he was getting, even if it was from foals.

============================================

[One Year After the War of Gods. The Frozen North.]

The scrape of steel runners on snow did little to comfort Rhede as he hunkered down further in the sled.
Not that his attempt at hiding from the cold mattered, the frigid air could hit him no matter where he sat. Snow boots, several scarves two coats and a couple of blankets were piled over his sorry flank and a massive furred hood over his face and he was still freezing.

He didn't recall it being this cold last time he came up this way, granted that was before the events of Nightmare Night and maybe it had gotten colder.  It was that or he was just getting old, though he liked the idea of the former better.

Velkorn had suggested he stay in the Crystal Empire while she ventured up to visit the Windigo and the snow ponies. He had of course dismissed that and told her after the meeting with Princess Cadence about the Changelings he would join her. He was of course regretting that now, but he wasn't about to tell her that, especially after she managed to talk one of the Windigo into coming back to pull a sled for him.  He had loaded the sled down with a number of bright colorful things to give as gifts, recalling the snow bound ponies interest in such things.  The Windigo towing the sled was a somber one, or a cheerful one, or an angry one, honestly the wispy snow spirits  where as emotionless as ice. Still  ice cube horses aside he was going to make sure the gifts he had were brought to the snow ponies. Velkorn would be happy to see them happy , and he wasn't about to not bring some gifts  this close to  Hearths Warming, or as the Windigo called it, 'The day when the noisy neighbors finally left for good.' Actually the emotionless things probably called it 'year one' or something just as boring.

Velkorn was playing hard to get for once, or she really didn't care for him any more. The latter he could live with, even now he thought she could do better than him with practically any stallion out there. The idea that it might be the former however drove him insane. He was  used to  having a female wrapped around his hoof with little more than a wink and a smile. That was all it took for any mare with even a small interest in stallions to melt like warm butter in his hooves. There were exceptions to that of course. Starfall, the Current Element Bearers and the Princesses primarily, but it still drove him nuts that Velkorn was on that short list now.

Then again that was probably the point, payback for the years he avoided her........

=========================================

“Okay, okay, now hold it.”Pip  interrupts.

“What?” Rhede asks.

“What does any ah this have tah do with Santa Hooves?” Pip fusses. “ It's just ya going off on how yer all lovey dovy fer Miss Velkorn.”

“That is true. There has barely even been a mention of Hearths Warming in this story.” Brush comments. “ Close to the holiday is also subjective, it could be moments or weeks.”

“Oh. Well this all only happened last year  about this time.  Don't you all remember  those toys I sent back from the Crystal Empire for you?”

“No,” chime Sweetiebelle and Scootaloo.

“You two don't count, I'm not related to you.” Rhede grumbles. 

“I think mine exploded.” Applebloom comments.

“We were kinda swamped with gifts last year. It was our first Hearths Warming in the castle after all. I dun remember who sent who what.” Pip sighs. “ Sorry. We couldn't even see the tree with how much stuff the nobles and other ponies sent trying to curry favor, I couldn't tell what came from who.”

“ This is true. It was rather odd and we sent a great deal of it to those less fortunate.” Brush  mentions.

“You gave away Heaths warming gifts?” Scootaloo gasps. “From rich ponies?”

“It was the proper thing to do. We didn't need all of it. Others did.” Brush mutters as Pip nods. 

“You're not supposed to grow up that fast.” Rhede mutters to himself  as brush glances over to Berry.

“Wait did you send Berry the stuffed dragon fly?” Brush asks.

“Yeah that was one of them.” Rhede nods.

“She still sleeps with that.” Brush comments as Berry sinks back behind the couch to avoid others looking at her.

“Well that's one of you at least....””Rhede chuckles  his ears flattening suddenly as  he glances over to Applebloom.” Wait, it exploded? How did you make crystal wind chimes explode?”

“Well, ah, Isn't it sweet Brush cares about others enough tah give things away?” Applebloom changes the subject.

“Yah really sweet” comments Sweetiebelle.

“Blah...” gags Scootaloo.” Can we get on with this? I expected you of all ponies  might have something interesting to tell, not a snooze fest love story.”

“Hey I am getting to the action. I simply needed to set the mood.” Rhede snorts.” Let me get back too it.........”

=========================================

The sled continued to rush across the frozen wastes leaving Rhede with his thoughts and the scraping of runners along the ice. The Windigo ran along the top of the snow with nary a sound nor a hoof print in the fresh  white powder..

To have such swift travel come to a dead stop, mid stride was jarring to say the least and Rhede was snapped out of his thoughts by a sudden impact with sleds floor.

Jerking up to his hooves, he looked over the top glaring at the Windigo puller who  was staring at  something laying in the snow.

“What is it?” Rhede asks hopping off the sled and sinking down into the snow until just his head was showing.

“Caribou. There is a den of them not far from here. “ The Windigo says coldly , it's voice echoing in it's throat, making the voice sound hollow and far off. “ It is not a threat, return to the sled we shall........ where  are you going?”

Rhede  bounds through the snow cursing the chill of it as he approaches the fallen Caribou. The reindeer was fairly large, a little taller than he was at the shoulder, and counting the antlers on his head  the creature would tower over even Princess Celestia. The caribou was lying on it's side in the snow, small puffs of mist escaping  it's nostrils with shallow breaths let Rhede know it was still alive. It's chest and forelegs were encased in a tattered bright green outfit with a number of gaudy frills and  even silver bells. It had a cutie mark that looked like a short pine tree decorated with bright colors and lights.

“A Hearths Warming tree as a cutie mark?” Rhede mumbles crouching to look over the creature closer noticing what  appeared to be some rather large shards of ice clinging to it's flank and back legs. There was no blood, but from what he could tell the damage was  more bludgeoning  than slashing. There was a rather large bump on the creatures head as well and Rhede briefly thought something had shot his eye out, but it was simply a impressive bit of swelling like it had run into a low hanging icicle.


“Smoke.” the Windigo states flatly, looking out over the expanse of  white to  a column of black smoke rising up from between some hills.

“Hmm. Somethings up. I always thought Caribou were peaceful. Come on help me get this guy into  the sleigh so we can go check this out. There might be more like him injured.

“No.”

“What?”

“That area is off limits to us a powerful god resides there who does not like company, nor us and the meals we gather. Also I was told to bring one summer walker back to the village. I will only carry one of you.”

“Good well run him to Velkorn and let her fix him up and when he comes back home after healing up I can ask directions.” Rhede snorts  pushing the caribou up into the sled with a wince at the beasts weight before turning to  start trudging towards the smoke. Having to hop out of the deep snow from time to time to make sure he was going the right way.

“What? You would stay here? The snow is deeper than you are.”

“Yeah well this is clearly an attack. We're missing a couple of criminals so I need to make sure this isn't their hoof work. Equestria's trying to clean up after itself. Checking this out is sorta my job.” Rhede smirks.

“Meddling in affairs not of your business is your job?” The Windigo asks in what could be considered sarcasm if it didn't come from a creature nearly devoid of emotion..

“No that's my hobby. Any way  get going, the poor tree butt might freeze out here if we keep yammering and that  fire's not getting any closer for me .” Rhede states continuing to march and hop though the snow towards the smoke.

The Windigo snorts  before turning and darting off. Rhede was rather surprised at how fast they left,  fully amazed at the speed the Windigo could pull off. He sighs looking back at the smoke then at the sun in the sky  hoping he could make it there before dark.

===========================================

“So the windigo didn't want to help?” Scootaloo asks. “Why not?”

“Windigo tend to be very isolationist. They care for their charges the snow ponies and very little else. We've been trying to open trade with them for years, but they refuse. That they live so far north helps them keep out of the worlds problems , but they know what's going on. They're immortal creatures composed primarily of snow and ice, materials that can cure a great many ills with some rather unfortunate side effects.” Rhede gestures to his black scared and striped side.” Velkorn knows more about them than any other creature on the planet, including some of the gods.”

“Still it was mean that he wouldn't help.” Sweetiebelle says.

“It's just their nature, you know changelings feed on the energy of Love , Windigo feed on the energy of strife and hate. The only difference is they don't need to be close to feed on that,  and they don't need nearly as much to survive.”

“I bet they got a great meal from the war. “ Pip grumbles,

“I'm sure you are right, but also unlike the changelings , they don't try an cause this emotion. They just let it happen. I don't think they want to see any one suffer, but they don't want to starve either so they have this  odd sort of gruff mindset. Still I'm only alive because of the boon they gave Velkorn that they waited a thousand years to repay, so I can't exactly call their compassion and loyalty into question. They helped Celestia as well  in payment for something Velkorn, Luna, and  Starfall did for their snow pony charges. But that's a story for another time. Now where was I … Oh yes.”

==========================================

After  what seemed like a much longer walk than it actually was though the deep snow. Rhede finally burst through a snow bank and tumbled down a  incline landing in a field of green grass  with a single building in the middle of it.

The field itself was little more than a flat  grassy plain that one could find in many places in Equestria.  The oddity was in it's location in the frozen north, the air was still cold , but the grass was soft as if it was fresh spring shoots.  A number of smoldering spots dotted the field along with pooled water and shards of ice as if a battle had taken place

There were no bodies that he could see though there were a small number of Caribou  running back and forth from the edge of the field with buckets of snow  which they were throwing on the fire burning on the thatch roof of the cottage  in the fields center.

The building was a one story affair that looked like it was only big enough to hold one room. Despite the roof being on fire, Rhede though it looked rather homey, and comfortable. The only other thing of note was a red and white candy cane striped pole jutting from the ground not far from where  the cabin was marked with a sign that read, 'North Pole' in several languages

The caribou seemed to have the fire under control when one of them noticed Rhede at the edge of the field still covered in snow from his trip here. The  reindeer were all dressed like the one he had found out in the snow, though some of the others also wore red and white socks or pointy green hats that were as gaudy and festooned with bells and tinsel as the shirts.

“We missed one! YES.“ one rather burly looking reddish furred one shouted  rushing towards Rhede with a rather convincing battle cry. He scooped up an ax in his mouth that was imbedded in a chunk of half melted ice as he thundered across the field towards Rhede.

“Dunder Wait!” shouts another.

“Hey, what? Wait a moment, I just got here.....” Rhede tries to explain before he was forced to dive aside as the ax slammed into the ground where he had been.

The Caribou yanked the ax free with a shower of dirt and lashed out at Rhede again. There was no skill or finesse to the attacks, just brute force. Rhede had little trouble dodging the attacks though he could feel the strain of muscles he hadn't used since Scarlet nearly killed him over a year ago. He had let himself get soft and that was going to be a problem in the long run here. Thankfully the attack was rather short lived as three other Caribou tackled the first to the ground. Rhede blinks at the pile a moment as the three others seemed to have trouble holding the larger caribou down and no luck trying to calm him.

Rhede took the moment to catch his breath. He really needed to get back in shape. He spared a glance up as an older looking caribou approached. He had a long blue scarf decorated with snowflakes. The elder was graying and had a fairly long beard white beard hanging from his chin almost to the ground..

The old caribou seemed to be fighting off a cold with the amount of sniffling and sneezing he did just getting over to Rhede. His nose had turned a bright red from the illness, and he constantly had to stop and wipe it with a tissue he pulled from a large box of them nestled in his antlers. Above the box a massive scroll covered in what looked like names rested between the tines on his head and seemed not to have any weight at all the way he was moving his head with each sneeze. 

The caribou looked down at Rhede blinking as the pony shook off the snow, a small smile crossing his lips.

“Greetings  Rhedric Pelt. I am Rudy.”

=================================

“How did it know your name?”  Sweetiebelle asks.

“Patience I’m getting to that.” Rhede sighs at the interruption though by this point he was expecting it.

“No no no, I always wanna know all the things all at once, like when I was reading the Ballad of  Smoke and Steam and I skipped to the end.” Sweetiebelle explains. “ Really weird  how Daneilla choked to death on a pretzel.”

“WHAT?” Shouts Pip.

“SPOILERS!” holler both Scootaloo and  Applebloom.

“Deal with it.” Sweetie taunts.

“Any way …. like I was saying.” Rhede continues.

=================================

Rudy led  Rhede inside the no longer burning building, to speak with him and Rhede felt a slight chill along his spine as he crossed the thresh hold, though that was quickly forgotten as he saw the inside.

There was no way the inside of the one room cottage could hold what he saw in front of him. 

The place was like a massive factory. Conveyer belts criss crossed the room  trailing into machines or vanishing from sight  as they spiraled towards the back  and out of view in the tangle of other machinery. Strange devices blinked with lights, let out steam or smoke, whistled and blipped and whirled as far as he could see. Hundreds of the gaudily dressed reindeer moved among the machines fiddling with this or moving that. And it all seemed to be for toys! He watched a number of reindeer finish painting a toy pony in a super hero costume before dropping it in a box labeled ' Turbo Mare' , and sending it down a convenor belt to vanish from sight.

“How in Equss...?” Rhede muttered.

“Hmm? No bigger on the inside comment? Odd the Doctor said  that was a common response to this sort of thing but I’ve never heard any one say it. Any way, you came at a rather bad time Mr. Pelt, or perhaps the perfect time.” Rudy mutters.

“What? What are you talking about, what's going on .. what is this?” Rhede stammers gesturing to the  factory with a hoof.

“Hmm I’ll answer in reverse. This is Santa Hooves workshop at the north pole, that one is kinda obvious, in truth  we have the pole and everything outside, though I’ll forgive that due to the ax thing. What's going on is we are trying to recover from an attack while still finish the toys in time for  Hearths Warming, yes we'll just use that since you are a pony and all. What I am talking about is your arrival here.” Rudy lists before turning to head along a catwalk towards what seemed to be a small office suspended over the work floor. “This way please Mr. Pelt.”

Rhede stared after the Caribou as he walked, looking down at the general chaos of the plant floor. On closer inspection he noticed a number of damaged machines, piles of ice and snow and a fair number of destroyed toys.

His ear flatten at the sight, wondering why any one would attack here. He saw a few of the gaudily dressed Caribou staring up at him , some with curiosity, some with annoyance, though most with confusion as if he wasn't supposed to be here. He stepped away from the rail trotting to catch up with Rudy.

Once inside the office  Rhede's ears flattened as he looked up at the ballroom style impossibly high vaulted ceiling above him decorated with a multitude of mosaics  depicting things such as a blue griffon surrounded by teeth, a overly large rabbit surrounded by eggs, a very fat diamond dog with sand billowing around him, to name a few.

The rest of the office was decorated in a plethora of styles from a multitude of races  Rhede recognized most as variants of Hearths Warming, though there  were a number of festive things he didn't recognize.

=========================

“Wait, other races celebrate Hearths Warming?” Applebloom questions. “ Ah thought it was tha celebration of when  the three tribes founded Equestria?”

“It is, though there's also Glacier Day, celebrated by the Griffons and harpies, Yule celebrated by the Zebra and the Elk...” Rhede pauses with a small wince. “ And cold ground day celebrated by the Diamond Dogs. In truth Cold Ground Day is a heck of a lot more festive than any of the others despite the name. Diamond Dogs know how to party. The Dragons also celebrated a Holiday called Hearth Warming, though it has nothing to do with our holiday and involves a lot more fire. All of them have differing decorations and this  office was covered  by all of them, fresh gemstones, candy canes, stockings, crystallized snowflakes  and so and so on. Rudy was probably using Hearths Warming as a term because that's what I celebrate. 

“But Santa celebrates all of them? That doesn't make any sense.” Sweetiebelle chimes in.

“Yes. While  most of the holidays are celebrated on or around the same day of the month, none of them fall on it exactly, heck some of the official starts of the events are not even in the winter. Hearths Warming for instance is historical placed in early spring, not the middle of winter. “ Rhede explains.

“ What?” Several of them chime.

“The date for the holiday and gift giving actually started before the migration to Equestria. Often in the middle of winter some ponies either didn't have enough food stored, or some accident cost them what they had. So some ponies who had more than enough started giving what they could to those who had under prepared, had accidents, or just had too many mouths to feed. Some of the early ponies didn't even have issue sharing with the other races if they were in need and so the generosity spread to the other races as well. Before long the event sort of became kind of a end of the year party  with ponies actually saving up anything they could  just to make sure  everyone had enough.” Rhede explains.

He glances to the small group seeing that they all still seemed interested in the history lesson before he cleared his throat and continued.

“Pretty much every race  had some sort of seasonal event close to the closing of the year and given the lean times  most of them put the  events together into one much larger event simply out of practicality.
When Equestria was formed the Winter holiday already existed and  the ponies simply lumped the founding of Equestria into it.  Since Santa has been around before the events of Hearths Warming it's fair to assume his origins were on the original days of thanks the races had before they all became what they are today.”

“So that means that every one is celebrating pretty much the same thing only in a different way with a cultural mask pulled over it. “ Brush ponders.

“There's more to it that that, but that's the short version, yes. Still it does mean that any one wishing you well around this time of year, no matter how they say it,  should only be responded to with a 'Thanks, you too.' “ Rhede grumbles. “ Too many ponies don't get that. The war on Hearths Warming groups are idiots. ”

=============================================

Rhede shook  his head  focusing on the massive desk at the end of the room rather than the multitude of murals. Thankfully Rudy didn't go towards the massive and highly decorated desk covered in snow globes. He simply moved to a desk close to the door that was much smaller, though was highly cluttered with paper work and multiple unfinished mugs of what Rhede assumed was hot chocolate.

Rudy groans as he sat down on a padded bench shifting uneasily.

“Getting to old for this shit.” he mutters.

“Tell me about it...” grumbles Rhede getting a small chuckle from the older creature.” So you mind telling me what's going on?”

“Not a problem, though how was Holy when you put him in the sled? Not too bad off I hope, we were going to send some one to get him once we put out the fire. Poor boy spooked at the first sign of trouble ran right into a icicle hanging off the edge of the   building and  kept going.”

“He should be fine. I sent him to see Velkorn. I'm sure she wrote a book on Reindeer a while back.”

“Ah yes. We are aware of her, and you Mr. Pelt.” Rudy says  looking up to meet the stare of the black striped earth pony.“Yes well I suppose I don't have time to dotter too much and I doubt you are much the patient type any way. This  is Santa Hoove's work shop. We are Santa's reindeer and  Santa himself along with most of the toys we made for good little children of the world have been taken.”

“You're joking.”

“No Mr. Pelt I am not. Santa has been kidnapped and your timing is far too perfect to be accidental some one or something guided you here, most likely the spirit of the Element you once were a bearer of. Knowing your record I can see how a ahhhh ,hmmm, ah, an infiltration  expert such as yourself could be useful in resolving this crime.”

“This is ridiculous. I have seen a great deal of strange things in my life, but you are expecting me to believe that, One, there is a real Santa Hooves? Two, this real Santa with all his supposed powers has been kidnapped. And three, that I am supposed to be able to help?”

The old Caribou smiles and reaches up to the scroll in his horns  unraveling the massive length of  the scroll. The end he pulled on vanished into the air  before him and the scroll seemed to spin faster  and faster without shrinking at all, despite the yards and yards of scroll that unrolled and vanished.

The parchment suddenly stopped  and Rudy reached up pulling down a bit more reading over the paper in front of him.

“Rhederic Pelt, Age 3, A stuffed rockodile,
Age 4  A black and white striped puppy named Spot,
Age 5 a little sister, we didn't field that one.
Age 6, The adventures of Captain  Grit vs the Moon Mare and for us to take the little sister back, We didn't field that second request either.
Age 7-9 your Cutiemark, We can't field that one.
Age 10 for Spot to come back.  We couldn't field that one. Sorry.
Ages 11-14 Coal, it was about this time you became a bit of a holy terror to everyone and started getting into fights quite often and became a bully. When you finally calmed down and grew out of this phase you thought yourself too old to believe in Santa and thus were off the list.”

Rhede stared a moment as the scroll rolls back up and closes in the Caribou's antlers.

“How could you know about.......Spot.... what...is this?”

“You are in Santa's Workshop, at the north pole and I am in charge of the naughty and nice list as I have been for the last fifty years. “ Rudy states with a little bit of smugness dripping from his words.
“Now that it has finally started to sink in I would like you to help us get Santa back. There are only  scant few days left til Hearths Warming and we have much to do and precious little time.

==================================

“So you asked Santa for your cutiemark too?” Applebloom asks.

“Yeah, I didn't get it until fairly late either, Jer got his a long time before I got mine. But it was Spot that kinda got to me. I was the only one who called him Spot. He was a striped collie mix. “

“So what happened to him?” Pip questions.

“My brothers and I were attacked by a wild cat. Spot fought it off but died from the wounds.  Wanting him back was the only thing I asked Santa for on Hearths Warming. When it didn't happen I sorta shut out everyone for a couple of years. Like Rudy said a holy terror. Santa can't bring back those we lost no matter how bad we want it, or how good we are.”

Pip, Berry and even Brush looked  a little dejected by this revelation.

“Any way this is supposed to be a Holiday story not a time to be mopey.  A lot more happened so listen up...”

=====================================

“So what am I supposed to do?”

“Rescue Santa of course.” Rudy states.

“Okay  back up a bit then, who am I rescuing him from, and where is he being held? And other useful bits of  information please.”

Rudy frowns a bit though shrugs before blowing his nose again.

“There's a yeti named Sourpuss, he calls himself some other stupid name or another now, but that's not important. Sourpuss has always been around, though he's never bothered us before. He has the magical ability to bring ice and snow to life  and he uses this ability to rule over a small town called Whatville, that's inhabited by his golems. We figure that is where he took Santa. He showed up this morning with a bunch of his golems and simply started wrecking the place. He didn't seem intent on really hurting any one, but the moment Santa came out to stop him he acted. Sourpuss tied Santa up in something after an argument he  and a few minions climbed on the back of a giant snow goose the yeti made and flew away. That was a little before the time you showed up.”

“Errr how did snow creatures set the roof on fire?”

“They didn't we have a few spell casters in our ranks for various purposes . Fire melts the snow golems quite well, though our casters are not skilled with attack spells..... and clearly do not know the concept of aiming.....” Rudy mutters the last.

“Alright so how  far is this place from here on hoof?” Rhede asks.

“About two days travel. Hence why time is of the essence. If we get Santa and the gifts stolen back  we might still make it in time. Other wise there will be a great deal of children out there who are going to be quite disappointed  when they wake up on Hearths Warming.”

“Alright, I can do this. It's been a while since I’ve done a rescue mission. I might need some help though. I'm not exactly built for cold weather marching.”

“That's because of the Windigo. They healed  you, and one of the side effects is you are more susceptible to cold.  I'll have Vixen make up some Mint Coco. That should alleviate the issue for a while. I'll call every one together, I'm sure we can get a small escort for you. I'm quite sure Dunder and Blitzen will be all for it. Those two hot heads are probably itching for a fight.” Rudy sighs. 

“Vixen sounds interesting.” Rhede grins.” And Dunder was the one with the ax earlier right?”

“Vixen is indeed a interesting buck. And yes that was Dunder. Come on,” Rudy groans getting up from his seat and winces as his old hooves hit the floor again. “ Let me call every one together.”

“This is a rather daunting task here.” Rhede grumbles following along.

“It's not like I’m asking you to crawl though air vents  and walk on broken glass to fight off terrorists. To top it off, I'm sure with the resources here we can even present a  suitable reward for your help.” Rudy smirks.

“I don't need a reward for this.”Rhede states.

“Ever the Element of Generosity ehh?” Rudy chuckles walking back out of the office.

=================================================

“Hey, my sisters the Element of Generosity, not you!” Sweetiebelle  states.

“I was the Element Bearer before her . A thousand years ago.” Rhede points out. “ I thought you knew this?”

“Oh yeah... sorry I forgot.” Sweetiebelle mutters.

“She gets a bit defensive about her sister.” Applebloom whispers.

“You're one to talk if I recall the sister hooves social thing..”  Scootaloo grins.” Still you're no where near as bad as Brush and Pip over here. When it comes to protecting Ice Berry they go over board..”

The two colts  did their best to be paying attention to something else as they were mentioned.

=============================================

“So that's the situation lads.” Rudy states to a rather sizable group of Caribou gathered below the catwalk they were on. Rhede was not even sure where they all had come from, the building surely couldn't hold a tribe this big. Even with the size of this odd factory the area was wall to wall Caribou, a one festively dressed Diamond Dog with fake antlers Rudy had called Buddy, and then suggested Rhede simply not ask further.

“I'm not gonna force any of your to go , but I am sure  Mr. Pelt here could use the help to at least get to Whatville. “

There was a great deal of muttering among the gathered reindeer, though none of them spoke out or set themselves to  join the red pony. It was fairly clear that most of them were afraid of what might happen to them if they tried to fight that army of snow golems. Sour Puss had managed to kidnap Santa, what chance did they have.

“Hmm, seems I under estimated most of their skittish natures. You might be going alone, still interested Mr. Pelt.” Rudy sighs.

“I said I will do it. I'll do it. I'll rescue Santa Hooves.” Rhede mutters a bit  not liking the idea of dealing with something that caused a whole heard of creatures to panic like this. It was not as if he was in the shape he should be. While not suffering much from his injuries, aside from a pang here and there, he hadn't really practiced his craft aside from  keeping tabs on some nobles.. He hadn't fought anything since Scarlet over a year ago, nor had he trained any.”Though I don't exactly know the way to where he's held.”

“I will help you as I can Mr. Pelt as long as you aid us.” Rudy  nods.

A young looking reindeer with a black mane and a short beard of the same coloration stepped forward looking up at Rudy and Rhede.   He wore an odd armor made of what looked like discarded and broken toy parts covering a harness and the gaudy green outfit most of them wore.  A large sword made of plastic hung from his side. He wore an over sized hoof ball helm that had an advertizement for 'Hay, proud sponsor of the Reindeer games' emblazoned on the side. A pair of  large holes were cut in it for his antlers and a green ball with an inordinately large yellow feather was stuck on the top of it, to Rhede the adornment looked like a cat toy. His cutie mark was barely visible under the toy armor but it seemed to be of a tin solider with one leg missing.

“If by my life or death I can guide you I will.....” he reaches back drawing out  what seemed to be a plastic toy cutlas muttering around it. “ You haf mai smorfd...”

“Dasher... ever the dramatic one.....” Rudy mutters to Rhede.

“And you have my bows!”  shouts a brightly dressed and rather feminine looking reindeer with longer ears than the others as he holds up a mass of brightly colored wrapping tinsel made into a very fancy looking bow in one hoof. The cutie mark on his flank was much the same  a brightly colored green bow.

“Vixen....” Rudy rolls his eyes. “ Don't ask.”

“And my AX” the gruff looking Dunder shouts holding up the wood cutter ax  he had attacked Rhede with earlier. The large caribou's cutiemark seemed to be a single present simply wrapped in gold paper.

A large blond maned reindeer steps forward staring at Rhede. His cutie mark was of what looked like a toy train riding on rails made of lightning.

“You carry the fate of the holiday with you my little pony.”

“I'm as tall as you are you know.” Rhede grumbles.

“If it is the will of stars  I Blitzen will GAAHAHHH!!”

The dramatic ranting was cut short as four others shove forward pushing Blitzen out of the way.

“Oh you ain't doing this without me. I got a bone tah pick with that yeti.” shouts a decidedly feminine voice from the smaller caribou. 

Rhede blinks not really able to tell the difference between the males and the females he was seeing as they all seemed to be about the same build and most had beards and antlers. The one doing the most shouting was a light haired caribou with a image of a sleigh. A nearly black furred female stood next to her with a cutie mark of what looked like a  rat with a crown on it's head dancing with a griffon solider in full pomp and fluff uniform. The other two seemed a near identical brown save one had a patch of white fur over her left eye and the other had a patch of white fur over her right. The one on the left had a green  ball ornament with red stripes and the one on the right had the same as a red ball with green stripes. 

Deciding they were all females a number of interesting thoughts ran through Rhede's mind about the twins he was looking at before he slaps his face hard with a hoof reminding himself about a pretty stripped mare he was supposed to be courting. Rudy chuckles at the self inflicted hoof punch before speaking.

“Dancer, Prancer, Comet, and Cupid, not bad lasses but they are young and prone to trying to prove they are better than any one else.” Rudy comments as an argument breaks out between Blitzen and  Comet.” Especially Blitzen.”

“Nine companions...... so be it “ Rudy states  his words getting drown out as the pair start bickering.... you shall be the fellowship........ You...... OH FOR SANTA'S SAKE YOU TWO SHUT UP OR GET A ROOM!” Rudy bellows suddenly making every one including the two bickering caribou freeze in place. Rudy snorts in annoyance before speaking in a measured tone again.“ Honestly we have more important things to worry about here than petty bickering. You lot go get to the sled, the rest of you clean up this mess and lets try to get as many toys built as we can before they get back. A rescue won't mean a thing if we can't keep up the quota. NOW MUSH.”

The assorted reindeer and one diamond dog, scramble over themselves thundering around to get back to work.

Rhede whistles as the area before them was cleared in  only a few seconds.” Wow, Jer could take some pointers from you.”

“I've been at this a long time Mr. Pelt. I am sorry that there were not more volunteers.” Rudy sighs.

“Nah, that's fine, if I had too many we'd loose any element of surprise. I tend to work better alone most of the time any way.” Rhede shrugs as Rudy heads back into the office to get a few things. 

Rhede was going to follow the older caribou when a odd beat caught his attention and he turned his gaze to goings on around the workshop.

“Laughing at the smoke from the factory chimneys.”

A number of the Caribou finished setting up a broken conveyor belt locking it back in place.

“Marching to the beat of a heart within me”

Rhede couldn't see a source for the beat aside from the construction and repairs that were going on. A few of the machines started to chug to life adding to the tune.

“hi-ho, hey-o, we're off to work again
bells are ringing
we are singing
joyous in our industry”

He realized suddenly that the noise was from all over the sounds of the repair and  clean up some how lined up in a melody along with a singsong chant.

“I love my job
he loves his job
pull that lever
start the engine”

He spotted who he thought was the lead singer . She was moving around the machines deftly dropping off supplies or parts as she moved, bouncing with the melody. She was a rather lithe looking Caribou, and the first that Rhede could tell was female at a glance. She had a pale coat and a bright red mane and tail. A musical note of some kind dotted her rear as a cutie mark.

“pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

It's the perfect job”

Rhede's ears perked as the others started singing as well, the mixture of tones only adding to hers.

“Happy workers
Happy workers, yes
Happy workers, hee
Happy workers”

The singing stopped for a moment though the tempo and the beat seemed to increase as he lost sight of the lead singer.

When she started again she had sped up her singing matching the increased tempo.

“I love my job
he loves his job
pull that lever
start the engine

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button

pump the water
build the pressure
push the piston
press the button”

It's the perfect job”

A whistle sounds nearby making him jump as the music seems to die for a moment before picking right back up again.

“Happy workers
Happy workers, yeah
Happy workers, hee
Happy workers”

“I love my job
Oh, he loves his job
pull that lever
sister, start the engine
pump, pump the water, yeah
ooh, yes
honey, build the pressure
oh, yes”

“pump the water
build the pressure
press the button
oh, yeah

It's the perfect job”

The chorus starts up again humming and chanting something along with a beat that rises to a higher pitch  and then drops off as the music kicks off again. Rhede looks around in surprise noticing that the machinery all seemed fixed and the assembly line had started rolling again.

“Happy workers
Happy workers, yeah
Happy workers, hee
Happy workers”

“I love my job
Oh, he loves his job
pull that lever
sister, start the engine
pump, pump the water, yeah
ooh, yes
honey, build the pressure
oh, yes

pump the water
build the pressure
press the button
oh, yeah”

“It's the perfect job “

==============================================

Rhede blinks his ears perking as he looks at the foals.

Sweetiebelle was on her back in what he assumed was a dead faint. Applebloom was driving her head into the floor. Brush had his ears covered with his hooves. Pip seemed to be trying to pull his own ears off. Scootaloo was doing an ostrich impersonation into the couch cushions and Berry had run off back to the kitchen.

“What?” Rhede asks confused.

“Never ever ever do that again.” Applebloom whimpers.

“Do what?”

“Even attempt to sing, ever!!. Wynona sings better than you and all she does is howl.”Applebloom whined.

“ Our cutie mark crusaders song was better than that!”

“It wasn't that bad.” Rhede mutters.

“You sing again and I will set you on fire.” Scootaloo threatens. 

“Seriously?” 

“Yes!” they all shout.

“Fine …. I’ll get back to the story then..... in a moment.” Rhede looks up as the door to the kitchens squeaks open Velkorn trots into the living room balancing a plate on her head and wearing an apron. Berry is following along with her , eyes locked on the tray balanced on Velkorn's head. Rhede smirks a little at the homemaker look the curly haired zebra had  going, more than a few dirty thoughts were running rampant through his mind as well. That train of  thought is cut off quickly as the zebra  tosses her head and a chocolate chip cookie lands on Rhede's nose.

[“ Mind out of the gutter Rhede, you are starting to drool. “] Velkorn smiles.

[ “Well you are giving me a very good reason to do so.”] Rhede snarks back.

“Since you all are doing so well minding Rhede, I expect  you are good enough for a cookie or two before bed.” Velkorn chuckles flipping the plate down to her  hoof and  holding it so the foals could scramble around it. “ I know tis the season for a bit of fun, but bed time is still coming soon, so only take one.”

They all  glance to each other  and  then try to grab the largest cookie they can, with Berry managing the prize out from under the others.

[“So how's it going in there?”] Rhede asks in zebra.

[“As we expected. Celestia and Jer'rahd are arguing about everything, with Luna trying to make sure they keep it civil as possible. Rarity is flirting hard with Lionheart and trying to get him under mistletoe. Twilight had too much hard cider, and by too much I mean half a glass, and she is out like a light. Bleu and Discord have kept themselves busy redyeing her coat and mane to look like Rainbow Dash. Dash and Big Mac ducked out the first chance they got to go make out somewhere. Fluttershy and Applejack are pretty much cuddled in a corner ignoring every one else. Starfall is watching Discord to make sure he doesn't do anything, though she is adding pointers to the proper coloration and pattern they should use for Twilight’s coloration. Peach Blossom is of course trying to flirt with her … badly I might add. And Pinkie Pie just started making cookies for some reason, which brings me out here with said cookies.” ] Velkorn finishes.

[“Don't I get any hard cider?”] Rhede pouts.

[“What Rainbow Dash didn't drink, Jer'rahd did. I am starting to believe that the powers the Bearers of Loyalty get also include iron livers. Besides I heard you attempt to sing a moment ago, no cider is the punishment for that.”] Velkorn threatens trotting off  back to the kitchen as Rhede watches her go with a sappy grin.

“Wow. You. Are. Gone.” Scootaloo comments.

“It's still sweet.” Sweetiebelle chimes.

“Blargh.” Pip expresses getting a sage nod from  Brush.

“Heh some day you'll understand it colts. Still not sure how she feels though, she's kept it hidden pretty well and I can't read her like I used to.” Rhede grumbles.

“Yup she likes you. That's easy tah tell.” Applebloom states  nomming on her cookie.

“How do you figure?” Rhede asks.

“Take a look at yer cookie. She gave yah tha one with tha most chocolate chips in it. She's gotta like you.” Applebloom states matter of factly as Rhede looks at the cookie with a smirk.

“Good eye.... suppose I should continue before it gets too late.” Rhede  chuckles taking a bite of the cookie. “Rudy was correct in it took exactly two days to reach Whatville.”

“So what did you make some friends with the reindeer and have other adventures?” Pip asks.

“Of course we all became fast friends and learned important lessons like check your Hearths warming tree for squirrels first, a dog house can win first price in a decorating contest, and Bumbles bounce.” Rhede rolls his eyes. “This isn't some foals tale Pip........”

The group of foals look strangely at Rhede and he slaps his face with a hoof.

“You know what I mean, it's not a fairy tale, Argh, never mind.  The trip was mostly made in silence. I got to know a few of them, particularly with how talkative and flirty Vixen was gah. “ Rhede shudders at that memory “Still most of them didn't like me because while they ran and pulled a sleigh I was the outsider in that sleigh and none of them were thrilled that they needed an outsider for help. Still when we arrived I had a plan formed  already.”

==================================================

“I have no idea what I am doing here.” Rhede mutters peeking up from the other side of a snow drift with a couple of the caribou, looking down  at the city proper.  It really was a city of sorts with tall buildings and structures made of ice and snow,  wide ice streets and what looked to be hundreds of  snow golems milling about.

The creatures where made of three balls of rolled snow, each smaller than the last and stacked on top of each other. They all had a corncob pipe, button noses , and two eyes made out of coal. Several had small jackets, carried brooms, or had three bits of coal on their middle ball like buttons. Their arms were little more than sticks jutting from their sides like arms, scarves of multiple colors and oddly, top hats. All of them wore fancy top hats.

“There's a lot more of them than I recall having attacked us.” Prancer mutters.

“Must have been mustering his forces here for defense.” Blitzen points out.

“They don't seem like they are defending.” Rhede mutters. “Looks like they are just milling about.”

“Clearly waiting for an attack. I say we oblige them.” Dunder grins.

“No, Dunder,.... down boy...” Rhede hisses. “ Look. Most of them seem to be around that building in the middle that looks like a city hall. That group is patrolling, the rest are just milling around. What's the sign over the door say? I can't read yeti very well.”

“It says town hall. That's got to be where Sourpuss is.” Dancer states.

“From the description of him I was given, I figured  he would have some sort of castle looming over a cliff or something.” Rhede sighs.

“Nah that was sooooo last season, this season he decided to go with the mayor bit, modern era is more stylish and chic.” Vixen coos.

“There is something that is holding their attention over there as well.” Dasher points out offering Rhede a toy spyglass.

Rhede sighs taking it to look, rather impressed that the thing actually worked. ”Good eye … seems like there's a good  fifteen to twenty of them clustered around something..... looks like a toy robot?” Rhede questions.

“Red ears, bright blue body with glowing green eyes?” Prancer asks.”

“Looks like a visor not eyes, but the colors right..” Rhede states.

“Model 734814 poni-robot. Rather popular a couple of years ago, orders have been waning  lately.” Comet lists. 

“ Hmm either way they seem fixated. I have an idea. Vixen how many bows do you have ?” 

“Dumb question honey. I've got all of them.” Vixen  giggles in a very deep tone that doesn't seem like it could come from the other wise effeminate caribou.

“Okay that is really unnerving please stop doing that.” Rhede shivers. “Right, they might be like the snow ponies and easily distracted by colors. If we can distract them maybe we can sneak in and actually get some where warm. “

“It's not bad out here? Really almost swimming weather.” Cupid taunts.

“Alright  here's the plan. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, you four go out and leave as many toys and  bows around as you can with out being seen. Anything to occupy as many of the snow golems as possible. Comet, Cupid , Dunder, Blitzen and I  will sneak into the building once the guards are distracted  and try and track down and free Santa.”

“And bring that yeti to Justice.” Dunder snorts.

“Not on the list alright you four go , lets get this  Rhede says.”

==================================

“So what went wrong?” Pip asks.

“What makes you think anything went wrong?” Rhede questions.

“Because if it worked  properly it wouldn't be much of a story.” Pip points out

“Weeeelll.” Rhede mutters.

===============================

“Alright so what went wrong?” Rhede curses  glaring at the reindeer around him.

The entire group of them were hanging upside down by their rear legs from a frozen ceiling, all of them bound in chains made of ice in a cell made of ice in the basement of mayors office which was of course, made of ice.

“Well,  Dasher didn't want to give up his armor for a distraction and while he and Dancer were arguing over it they got jumped by snow goons and Prancer and I got caught trying to save them.” Vixen states flatly annoyance in his tone.

“Dunder rushed in and challenged Sourpuss directly before getting his flank stomped before he even found the yeti. The rest of us just kinda walked into the ambush that his charge brought about.”  Comet rolls her eyes.

“Well it happens, this is the first mission for you all and since you are all still alive I’d say there's hope yet.” Rhede comments looking up at the chains he was hanging from eying the locks.

“How is this a good thing, we didn't find Santa or the toys.” Prancer grumbles.

“And I heard Sourpuss eats reindeer.” Cupid shivers.

“I some how doubt that or you'd be having more than one raid every so often.” Rhede points out sitting up with a faint groan showing a good bit of flexibility  his foreleg wrapping around the chain to hold himself up as he digs around for a lock pick in his robe with the other.

“On the plus side Dunder is still knocked out so we have some peace and quiet.” Vixen chuckles.

“Yeah except we all know when he wakes up he won't stop complaining about it.” Blitzen sighs.

“Well there is that, we are also still inside  the enemy base. Which means we are that much closer to  finding Santa.” Rhede states falling free of the chains and landing lightly on the ground.

“I don't see how this is helping us considering we are hanging from the ceiling here Pelt.” Dasher growls.

“Oh no, you shut up, you're partly at fault along with Dunder at least Pelt  had a plan. You just have that stupid armor of reject toys.” Comet snaps back.

“Oh don't give me that, I needed this armor to survive the fight.” Dasher yells.

“What fight? Your toy sword broke the first swing and your armor didn't last any longer.” Blitzen curses.” All you've got left is that stupid feathered helmet you made.”

“I'm still awake and Dunder is not, I’d say that's a good use of my armor.” Dasher snaps back.

“He's got a point there, it's not 'very' effective armor but it was better than nothing.” Rhede states pushing open the cell door, the locks had been surprisingly simple. “ Anyway I’m gonna look around you guys hang out a bit.”

“Okay we'll do that and thank you for that it's nice to know some one appreciates.....” Dasher starts  to rant again though he cuts off as the cell door closes, all of them suddenly realizing Rhede was no longer hanging from the ceiling or even in the room with them. 

“He's buggered off” Vixen states.

“So he has...” mummers Cupid.

==============================================

“You left them there?” Sweetiebelle growls.

“They were not in the slightest bit effective at any sort of stealth mission. The fact we got caught at all was proof of that. Half of them wanted to fight and the other half wanted to be heroes. I just wanted to find Santa and get somewhere that wasn't absolutely freezing.” Rhede grumbled. “ Besides with how they acted they were safer in the cell anyway. I planned to go back and rescue them later once I found Santa.”

“You better have … Sweetiebelle stares. The glare making Rhede a bit nervous for some reason.

=====================================================

The place was a maze made of ice,and packed with sticks, coal and snow. Strangely there was a warm breeze blowing down the hallways and Rhede figured that following it was as good a direction as any to start.

There were a few snow golems moving around in the halls, but all of them seemed to be sneaking away  rather than patrolling. Rhede watched as one paused, looked around nervously, before  stroking the head of some sort of red furry monster thing with a big smile and googly eyes. The toy suddenly giggled that it had been tickled and the golem panicked clutching it close and rushing off down the hall.

Rhede winces a little hanging from ceiling, thankfully unnoticed by the creature that had stopped below him. Rhede drops down freezing in place as a pained, angry yell echos down the hall. The red pony freezes in place a moment before realizing it wasn’t directed at him .

Rhede moved on, coming into a massive room with a high ceiling, made of ice of course. In the center of the room sat a throne, made of ice. Covering the throne and filling most of the massive room were piles and piles of toys. Race carts, plush pigeons, hoofballs,creepy bug eyed bird things that stared into your soul, red rider bb guns,video game crystals, scooters, trolls with strange bright hair and gems in their bellies, balls, chess sets, Equestrian girls figures, A-10 models, skateboards, bike, sock monkeys,
everything and anything that could ever have been something a colt or filly desired, was in this room in massive piles.

It was massive enough that even Rhede had to hold back a whistle at the horde. A sudden curse from the center drew his gaze back to the throne. What he had first thought was an overly fluffy yellow stuffed cat was flailing around atop the ice throne throwing toys and other objects  across the room as it pulled them out of a large red sack.

The creature did not look like any sort of yeti Rhede had ever seen. Normally a yeti came about as the very rare child of a Diamond Dog  and a Windigo.  While the Windigo were very protective of the children they had with normal ponies, they seemed to have no interest in  the yeti. The yeti however seemed fine with this as most of them tended to be even more reclusive than the Windigo were and inhabited the lands closer to the top of Equss where the cold made even the Windigo shiver.

This small bundle of yellow fluff looked like a hoofball  that was more than half fanged mouth with stubby arms and legs  large green eyes that took up half it's head a short tail and cat like ears and features.

“NOT IT. NOT IT. NOT IT!!” screams the little yellow furry ball creature.

Rhede watches it as it all but climbs into the sack throwing things  out of it and screaming loudly. Across the room was a  large door, not made of ice,for once, but of metal, crudely worked metal, but it was different enough that Rhede wanted to investigate.

Rhede snuck across the room, ducking behind toy piles  and crawling though valleys of  various children's gifts  to cross the massive room. He was nearly at the door  when  a sudden voice at his feet made him jump.

“Let's fly to the castle!”

Looking down  Rhede could see he had stepped on what looked to be a pink mockery of Princess Celestia and pressed a yellow button hidden  on her cutiemark. 

Rhede froze as the creature suddenly popped out of the bag clamoring up to t he top of the throne like a monkey, claws gouging chunks out of the ice as it stood on the tall back looking over the horde of toys it's ears perked.

“Well, thief! I smellz U  I feelz U air. I hearz U breath!” the creature snarled, it's voice far deeper than something of it's tiny size should have been able to muster.

Rhede dove into a pile of toys without a sound. He was tempted to simply take out the yeti, but if Rudy was correct Sourpuss was a potent spell caster, perhaps even a god. It was a real possibility, no one knew how many yeti there really were and if he created all of the snow creatures running around outside he had access to a great deal of power. Considering he didn't have that star metal dagger any more he needed to be careful, just in case.

“Well thief come take thing, I haz plenty, feelz free.”

Something this size probably had a bit of a ego, maybe if he could stroke it a little it might not notice him moving to the door. At the very least if he threw his voice properly he could cause the mini yeti to look else where.

“No thank you, ummm, your tremendousness! I did not come for presents. I only wished to have a look at you and see if you were truly as great as tales say. I did not believe them. But I see they truly did not do you justice.” Rhede yelled out, his voice seeming to come from the other side of the room.

The yeti whirls staring and sniffing in that direction looking for anything before his gaze swept back around over the rest of the room.

“Does you naow? U haz nice manners forz a liar and thief.” The yeti bristled, it's ears perked up as  a faint blueish glow flickered over it's fur like a static charge. “ And who are U to come thus uninvited?”

Rhede winces at the glow around the yellow creature. The flowing flickering light  causing the moisture in the air to freeze and snow to fall down around the creature where the glow touched. Rhede slid out of the pile  creeping closer to the door freezing again behind a giant teddy bear as the yeti looked his way. There was definitely something about this creature that was making his fur itch.

“I have many names.  Blackhoof, Death of Song, Silent Blade, Red Death, the Love Machine..... “  Rhede continued to rant off names making up a number of titles, making each seem to come from a random point in the room. He even threw his voice to the metal door a few times just to make sure the yeti didn't think any part of the room was silent enough to warrant further interest.  “.... Twinkle Hooves, The Snow Cursed,  Black Sheep, Beast of the Moon....”

“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!” the yeti rants clawing at the ice chair. “ U is thief and little more than that. Do U not think I knowz U are with them horned miscreants that invade I home? I can smellz them on U as plainly as the nose on I's face. U titles are meaningless to us. I IS DR. DOOMSDAYER!! I shall not allow U to steal what I have come so close to finding, This bag mine along with it secrets  and if what I seek not here. I rips it from the ignorant clawz of that which does not even have any. Him got hooves for ice's sake ,where does he get off calling himself clawz anything?”

The small yeti continued to rant about names for a while, which left Rhede the perfect opportunity to slip into the door leaving the yellow fluff ball to his babbling rampage.

===================================================

“The villain  was only this big?” Applebloom asks in shock holding a hoof about to her chest.

“A little smaller than that , but yes.” Rhede admits.

“Well that doesn't seem very dangerous.” Pip grumbles.

“Keep in mind he made an army of snow monsters, an entire city of ice, and trapped Santa Claws on his own. So yes I was  quite wary of him, because that is very dangerous.” Rhede states. “ Size is never a indicator of how dangerous something is. Proof enough of that is how many ponies scream and run away from spiders and  bees. Those are tiny and every one knows they are dangerous. “

“Yeah but you described him like a overly fluffy cat, that can't be all that dangerous.” Scootaloo protests.

“My sister's cat is fluffy.” Sweetiebelle mutters quivering in fear.

“I withdraw my complaint.” Scootalloo shudders.

======================================================

It looked like  Sour Puss was going to rant for a while so Rhede took the chance to to try the door.  Finding it unlocked he slipped inside while Sourpuss was still going on about pointlessly lengthy titles.

“Geez his name should have been 'complains about names'. “ Rhede mutters quietly closing the door his gaze shifting around the room.

>” He is throwing a tantrum. He has been doing that quite a bit.”< a voice whispers yet booms at the same time, seeming as if it echoed down the side of a mountain like an avalanche, a very quiet avalanche at that.

Rhede freezes, ears perked as he looks around the darkened room, then his gaze lifted, then lifted a little more, and then a little more.

Towering two stories over him, while sitting down, was Santa Hooves. The massive Caribou wore a bright red suit that seemed strained against his chiseled form. It was trimmed around the neck and sleeves with enough white fur to have left a good dozen polar bears naked. His hooves were black as coal and easily as large as Rhede. His chin was covered with thick coarse white haired beard that fell nearly to the floor. A pair of antlers erupted from his head like great trees fanning into numerous points as they spread upward. Tinsel and  glimmering lights stretched around his antlers the tines covered in ornaments, sliver bells, stars, and in one instance a tiny red  Santa hat that looked as if it was sized for a normal pony. Piercing blue eyes that had depth and color beyond anything any artist  had ever tried to convey stared down at  Rhede locking him in place with a look as his eyes met the great Caribou's.

>”Rhederic Pelt. Quite a surprise to meet you here.”<

=============================================

“No way.” Applebloom protests.

“ What now?” Rhede sighs.

“Santa Hooves isn't huge like that and he sure isn't built like a mountain.” Applebloom fusses.

“This is true. He his large, but he is fat and jovial. You describe him as if he is built like a tank.” Brush states in his flat tone.

“Huh yeah he was about the size of a tank.” Rhede ponders. “ Never the less this was Santa. The fat rolly poly one you see every where that's often a variety of races is a marketing gimmick by that one drink company that had the polar bears.”

“Colta Cola?” Scootaloo offers.”

“Yeah them. If you look into history Santa was often depicted as much thinner and taller. A bit more menacing as well. Well, a LOT more menacing in reality. The chubby one is far more child friendly.” Rhede explains.

“ I do remember reading something about that.” Sweetiebelle mutters. 

“Trust tha dictionary tah  know that .” Pip chuckles getting a glare from Sweetie and a laugh from the other CMC.

“Alright any way ...” Rhede continues.

“Hold up. Why was Sourpuss ranting about Santa Claws?” Applebloom asks.

“Different races have differing names for him, Santa Claws, for the griffons, dragons and  Yeti it seemed. Santa Hooves for the  ponies and Caribou.  Fish Cringle  for the sea ponies. And Saint Nick for the Diamond dogs, as well as a bunch of others.”

“Oh … kinda like Hearths Warming stuff we talked about?” Applebloom pieces together.

“Exactly.” Rhede nods.” Any way it's close to bed time I need to speed this up.”

==========================================================

“Whoa...” Rhede mutters  his head craned back to look up. “Um yeah hello... I'm here to rescue you … though I have a hard time believing  that little guy out there managed to catch you.”

>”Not half as surprised as I was. Though he had a weapon I did not expect.”< Santa claims lifting a hoof slightly  and sending the tinsel and bells jingling.  Rhede blinked looking at it closer. No, it wasn't tinsel and it wasn't just wrapped around his horns. The thin silvery lines were wrapped around his whole form, pulled tight into the fluff of his fur and suit but clearly there. The chains were crudely crafted and seemed more like melted globs than chain in some places. The shaping was pointless  however as it was the metal itself that Rhede recognized as the issue.

“Star metal. Where did he get  this much star metal? There's got to be a ton of it wrapped around you.” Rhede asks.

“Rock from  sky fall here bunches. I simply had I's army collect  rock and we makez  into  chainz.” growls a voice from behind Rhede.

“Oh buck....” Rhede sighs.

>”Language Rhedric.”< Santa chides.

Rhede whirls around seeing a bristling yellow ball of fluff standing in the now wide open doorway  a blue glow flowing around him, the wisps of magic sprinkling snowflakes around the tiny yeti.

“So you haz come to free Santa without clawz named Clawz. That not happenz until I can haz precious!” Sourpuss yells.

“What?” Rhede asks looking up at Santa.

>”He did not get a present last year. He is some what understandably upset about it, if a little overly proactive in his complaint, but I do not know what happened to it. “< Santa sighs.

“I was good. I can haz present,  like always, but wake up find nothings under tree. NOTHINGS!” Sourpuss screams throwing his claws up in the air , the magic swirling about faster. The energy arcs off hitting the walls and floor of the room. Soon snow golems  begin forming and rising from the ice and snow of the buildings construction.

“Okay seriously, you kidnapped Santa and the presents right before  Hearths Warming because you didn't get a gift last year? Seriously how old are you? Two?” Rhede snarks glaring at the cat creature who was no longer listening as he ranted about his missing gift.

>“Around six actually. Well in mental years. He's been around for about two hundred now being a god and all. He's usually a good boy, but easily gives into his emotions.< Santa calculates.

“Lovely....” Rhede mutters looking at the massing snow creatures all starting to gather around Sourpuss. It would take a few seconds for them to all make it though the door. He could use Santa as a tree  and get out of their reach. Maybe he could free Santa from the chains or at least get a hold of one to use against the snow creatures and Sourpuss. But he wasn't sure if that would work as neither the snow creatures nor Sourpuss seemed bothered by the presence of the metal.

“FOR  SANTA!” shouts a voice from the other side of the toy filled room room as eight tiny, compared to Santa, reindeer charged across the field of toys slamming into the  gathering snow creatures with reckless abandon.

Sourpuss hisses looking back at the attackers his claws whipping about as he summons more and more snow creatures.

Rhede rubs his forehead with a hoof as the snow creatures start flinging snowballs at the attacking reindeer and they are deftly knocked out of the air by a hail of brightly colored bows.  

“Just out of curiosity Santa, what was the gift?” Rhede mutters as Dasher gets flung through the air by an overly large snow creature.

>” Same thing he always got and was going to get this year. A feathered catnip mouse.”< Santa grumbles flinching as Prancer took a snowball to the face and went down.

“A feathered catnip mouse....... yellow feathers?” Rhede blinks.

>” Yes he thinks it looks like a canary.”< Santa admits. >” He likes Canaries.”<


Rhede slowly blinks a moment staring into the other room as the complete absurdity of this conflict and kidnapping finally hit him. He had just barely lived through a real war and to see a mock up that was almost like children playing at war being waged before him. There was an audible snap as he  gritted his teeth and flattened his ears, it could have been his tolerance breaking, but more likely it was a stick arm of a snow creature.

“Oh for the love of... EVERY ONE STOP. HOLD YOUR FIRE. CEASE FIGHTING.  HALT AND WHOA!” Rhede bellows tapping into the Royal Canterlot voice. 

While not even close to as impressive as Luna could do, or even  Jer, any one who ever had to delegate between the Harpies and Griffons  knew the value of being extremely loud.  The effect of the booming voice was nearly instantaneous , every one froze, even Santa and  Sourpuss.

Rhede storms into the room with all the toys  ignoring Sourpuss as he walks past the ball of fluff and the golems and caribou. He got a number of looks and fearful stares as he made a beeline for  one reindeer in particular.

Dasher looks up from where he had landed and been jumped on by a number of snow creatures. The constructs back quickly away as the glowering Rhede storms up. Dasher blinks looking up at him  though before the reindeer can say anything Rhede yanks the  hoof ball helmet from his head and turns around storming right back towards the metal doors. He stops in front of Sourpuss staring down at the cat creature who simply looked back in confusion and a hint of worry like a child who had made a parent mad.

“It was evidently in the discarded toy pile, an accident I’m sure. These things happen, don't be so dramatic about it.” Rhede grumbles yanking the feathered cat toy off the top of the helm and dropping it before the shocked Sourpuss. “There you go problem solved, some one wake up Prancer and help me get the chains of Santa. I'm taking those  away from you by the way.”

Sourpuss stares at the feathered toy for a moment before pouncing happily on it and flailing about on the ice floor. The snow creatures look at one another before starting to move away themselves, grabbing a toy here or there and greatly dwindling the horde as they head outside to the cooler weather.

Rhede and the others freed the giant reindeer and  head back to Santa's workshop with a surly Dunder and Dasher. The latter due to the loss of his helmet and the former due to the lack of actual fighting he was allowed to do.

The trip back was uneventful and cold.

===============================================

“............Yada, yada, yada, the end.” Rhede finishes his ears perked up as if he was hearing something in the distance.

“What? That's it ?” Scootaloo complains.

“What a gyp” Sweetiebelle snorts.

“That cannot be it.” Pip whines.

“It pretty much is and since it's close to bedtime I had to speed it up.” Rhede admits.

“Well then what else happened?”  Brush asks.” There has to be more than just that. You said the snow things took the toys.”

“They did, Santa returned to his work shop though not in enough time to remake all the toys needed for every one. So I went back to Sourpuss and set up an equitable trade deal that gave back all the toys that he and his snow people had taken. Pretty much I just told him if he didn't give them back he would be on the naughty list for sure and not get another toy of any kind. Between the returned toys that were not damaged, and the snow creatures help, offered with only a little prompting, the caribou were able to meet the quota needed. Thus Santa took off and managed to deliver all the presents to the good fillies, colts, chicks, pups, excreta excreta.” Rhede continues rising from where he was sitting with a brief wince and a glance to the black striped scars along his side. “The rest of it was negotiations, deals and  my attempts to woo a certain striped mare. Santa offered me a gift of anything I wanted  in return for my help, but as he couldn't let me see or talk to Maw, there really wasn't anything I wanted. “ 

“But...” Scootaloo chimes in getting interrupted by the  kitchen door opening.

“Ah'll right now time fer ya'll git ready fer bed.” Applejack calls as she pushes open the door from the kitchen with a passed out Twilight across her back and a concerned Fluttershy over her making sure that the sky blue unicorn didn't fall off.

“Wow, she is out like a light.” Rhede comments smirking at the new coloration the previously purple passed out pony possessed.

“Yup, ah don't even think what I gave her is alcoholic.” Applejack states  dropping the unconscious unicorn down on the couch where Rhede could see  that Bleu and discord had even managed to  give her fake wings and masked her cutie mark with paint. “ Scootaloo, you an Sweetiebelle git ta stay here tonight Yer mom's will be coming by in tha morning.”

“I thought I was going home with Rarity.” Sweetiebelle whines. 

“Umm well she and Mr. Dragonheart had a few things to do and they figured you would rather be here with your friends.” Fluttershy points out.

“Yah mean Lion Heart  Sugar.” Applejack corrects with a grin. 

“Yes... but he is a dragon, sorta and terrifyingly tall....”Fluttershy notes.

“Right anyway you three git. Brush you an Pip ken take Big Mac's room, he's going to make sure that Dash gets home safe.” Applejack says muttering the last to herself. “An if'n he thinks ah believe that fib he ain't as smart as he doesn't let on he is.”

“So Ma and Da arn't headed back to the castle?” Pip asks.

“Nah. Jer's in trouble fer arguing with Princess Celestia all night. He's staying here cause he claims  tha guest room beds more comfortable than tha couch at home and yer Ma left early tah take care of tha night duties. Not every pony ken git outta work even on Hearths warming Eve. An Celestia got dragged along tah help Luna with something as punishment fer arguing with Jer all night. Since ya'll were coming here tomorrow fer dinner any way this jus saves a trip. Now git tah bed Santa ain't coming  if yer awake.”

“Berry can stay with the girls or with Jer'rahd if she likes... oh my. Where did Rhede go?” Fluttershy asks looking around before Twilight lets loose with a loud snore startling the pale yellow pegasus and the orange farm pony too.

“Who boy, Spike was right bout that snoring....” Applejack chuckles.

=================================================

Rhede steps outside, his hooves crunching in the snow as he makes his way to the edge of the orchard  just past where the lights of the house reach. He shivered  wishing he had put on his coat  though he didn't expect the guest  would stay that long.

“I thought I heard sleigh bells. I didn't think you would be out this early.” Rhede comments looking up at a massive shadow.

>”It is Hearth's Warming Eve Rhederic. This is the night my power works best. I am not only here  I am also every where else delivering gifts.”< Santa states looking down at Rhede from the trees.

“So what did you want? I figure bells only I was hearing had to be you.”

>” I have brought you something Rhedric. A gift for your aid.”<

“I told you before I didn't want anything.” Rhede pauses looking back at the house. “Unless you can do something about the nightmares Jer and Luna's foals have, I know you can't do anything in regard to their parents, but....”

>” For tonight  they will dream only of sugar plums dancing and other sweet things, but I can only grant that this night.” Santa snorts and smiles .>”Considering that was still not a gift for you I still feel I owe you something. So here.”< Santa raises his hoof  to Rhede. >” I know you will not refuse this.”<

Rhede stares at the coal black hoof a moment before finally seeing a tiny green box in the center of the massive hoof. Rhede sits down in the snow reaching to take the box in his fore hooves It was about the size of his own hoof  and rather simply wrapped.

“So what is this? “

>”Open it and you will know. Tis the nature of a gift Rhederic.”<

Rhede sighs tearing the paper and pulling open the box, looking down at  the inside. He narrows his eyes and flips the box over dropping a gold band in his hoof with a tiny chip of a diamond set in one side of it. Rhede blinks a moment tilting it, his eyes latching on to something carved on the inside. He reads it out his eyes widening.

“To my love. Everything I have and am is yours.” Rhede mutters nearly trembling his ears drooping on his head as he stares at the ring's inscription.

>” Given how you and your mare friend are getting along I expected you would propose before too much longer.”<

“This..... this is my mothers wedding ring...... how … how..... Granny Smith had never even heard of it she ..... is this real?” Rhede stammers.

>” That is her ring yes. It was lost, but it was not unfindable. Rest easy knowing that the one who had it has been compensated for it and shall not miss it. I gather you accept it then? Good. Sometimes the best gifts are ones you do not know you wanted or needed.”< Santa Claws smiles turning to leave Rhede sitting in the snow staring at the ring. >” Happy Hearths Warming  Rhederic.......”< Santa pauses a moment looking back. >”... And to you as well little one.”<

With little more than a whisking sound and a sudden rush of wind that smelled of peppermint Santa was gone leaving Rhede still sitting in the snow with the ring in his hoof. After a moment his ears perked at the sound of tiny hooves crunching in the snow. He glances back seeing Ice Berry half hidden behind an apple tree and buried in a coat looking up at him in awe. 

Rhede smirks getting a faint smile from Berry before he rises to head back into the house with the filly. Countless plans for how to propose to  Velkorn now rushing rampant through his head. He glances down at Berry and chuckles softly.

“Told you I met him.”