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“Okay, Gingina. We have two more stops than we can head home.” His companion sighed in half relief, half disbelief.
“Thank goodness. I’m not sure if I’m cut out for this position.” Krampus hummed to himself, finding the situation rather amusing.
Two long years have flown by since the infamous war between the Guardians, Pitch Black, the Snow Queen, and Mother Nature, and Krampus still couldn’t fathom the events that had transpired soon after. With the sudden decline in belief and with its rapid return days later, the Spirits that had once faded away were miraculously brought back to life. Evil or demonic spirits—who had been gone for countless centuries—were suddenly back and causing destruction and chaos upon the world, and spirits — who had only existed in children’s storybooks and movies — were suddenly alive and roaming the spirit world without purpose and in utter confusion.
Krampus glanced at his Overseer in-training, who was currently looking at the Nice or Naughty list once more. Much like Old King Cole and Little Boo Peep, Gingina came into existence when millions of children began believing in those old nursery rhymes and folktale their parents would read to them before bed. Unlike her story counterpart, she by no means was trying to run away from every living thing she came in contact with. Gingina was a very relaxed gingerbread woman with long, stringy hair and blue button eyes. Today she was wearing a purple dress and shoes that looked like icing.
When he found the young spirit several months ago, he found the gingerbread women roaming the grounds of a small town in Alabama, confused and without a purpose. Upon coming to the South Pole, he noticed right away how similar she was to the elegant Mother of Christmas. She was highly organized, had a phenomenal memory, and had this motherly intuition to watch over the elves that worked both within the busy workshop and the dark coal mines. Unlike Nicholas, who had Phil and the other Yetis to help him with Christmas preparations, Krampus only had twelve elves. It certainly helped to have Gingina around to monitor them. He couldn’t have his helpers passing out on him while deep within the mines.
“Krampus?” Gingina asked as he directed his yule goats to land the sleigh on the roof of a yellow home in Whoville.
“Yes?” Krampus glanced at her, noticing that she was staring at the Nice or Naughty list again. “Is there something wrong?”
“Why is the Grinch on the Nice List? He’s not even a child!” Krampus glanced at her, a white brow raised.
“The Grinch may not be a child anymore, but he has recently rediscovered the spirit of Christmas. After everything he’s been through, even he deserves a little happiness. Don’t you think?”
Gingina nodded, saying nothing as she followed him down the chimney. Within seconds, the two were in front of the most decorative tree she had ever seen. The tree, decorated with red, yellow, and blue ornaments and a golden star on the tippy top, was practically touching the ceiling. The star, unfortunately, was now slanted due to being too close to the ceiling.
Gingina glanced at the tree in disbelief. “Seriously? They didn’t need such a huge tree for such a small home.”
Krampus chose to ignore the comment for now as he filled the children’s stockings with small gifts and trinkets. Then, as he was about to fill the last stocking, he paused.
Blinking, Krampus glanced at the name on the last stocking hanging above the fireplace. He read the name, only to reread the name two more times before shaking his head in mild amusement.
“Cindy Lou Who, you certainly are full of surprises.”
The Grinch was written in bold and glittery lettering on the red and green stocking. Inside the stocking was a miniature wooden horse; the surface of the horse was colored in with what he assumed was a red and green crayon and decorated with yellow and silver glitter.
Instead of leaving the stocking along, Krampus placed a small teddy bear within it, knowing the Grinch would recognize the bear as the one he used to play with as a child. A small smile crept onto his normally frowning face as he continued his task of placing presents under the Christmas tree. Then, he turned around, only to find the Grinch, himself, standing nervously in the hallway with Cindy Lou Who and his dog Max.
“Santa? Is that really you?” Cindy Lou Who asked as she held a plate of cookies and milk on a small tray. While Krampus wasn’t a cookie and milk person like Nicholas was, he did appreciate the gesture.
“Cindy Lou Who, Grinch, Max, you three should be asleep.”
Cindy Lou Who and Max slowly approached the demigod, careful not to spill the fragile gifts in her hands. “I’m sorry, Santa Claus. I just wanted to give you these.”
Krampus bent down to the child’s height and gently took a cookie and the glass of milk from the tray. “Thank you, Little One. You did not have to.”
“Oh, but I must. You didn’t show up last year or the year before that.”
Ah, that explained it. Nicholas had always been rather neglectful of his duties as of lately. Krampus glanced at the Grinch, noticing he had not moved from the hallway.
Krampus lifted his chin over so slightly, meeting the Grinch’s worried green eyes. “Grinch, come, I will not bite. You are not on my naughty list this year.” The Grinch’s eyes got so wide that he could see the pale yellow surrounding those bright green irises.
“But… but… After everything I did?” He shook his head. “After what I did last year?”
“Grinch, you have been on my naughty list for almost forty-eight years. And within that time, you have faced many hardships and betrayals. You have done things that should have kept you on my naughty for as long as you live.” The Grinch couldn’t meet his gaze and instead gazed at his dog, who seemed more than a little ecstatic. Rather, it was towards his often misunderstood and grumpy owner or, for him, was debatable.
“But… but…”
Krampus stood up then, making his way over to the Grinch. His long red robe followed him as he moved. “Everyone deserves a second chance, even you.”
“But I’m not a child anymore.”
“It is not every day an adult rediscovers the spirit of Christmas.” Before the Grinch could say anything more, Krampus placed a small gift in his hands, which was the size of his palm.
From behind him, Cindy Lou Who gasped. Inside the small gift was a golden medallion. The medallion sparkled like a newly dug-up diamond that had been preserved for ages. Engraved on the medallion was an image of a woman who had long since left this world.
Tears welled up in his eyes. “Ma-mama…” The Grinch looked at Krampus with a watery smile. “Th-thank you, Santa.”
Krampus nodded. “You are welcome.” A single clawed finger touched the side of his nose. “I expect you to be good for all the years to come,” he said as his red eyes glowed, making him look like the infamous monster that the humans often described him as, “because if you don’t… you will be enslaved to my mines for all eternity!”
The Grinch and the child blanched at the threat. “We’ll be good!” Cindy Lou Who said; her eyes so big and so blue that it made his heart melt just a tad.
“I know you will,” he said as he and Gingina turned into golden dust that lingered for just a moment before traveling up the chimney.
“That was rather nice of you,” Gingina finally spoke up as the team of eight female yule goats with fluffy white fur and long twisted horns guided them over the vast mountain regions and snow-covered forest of what she knew would lead them to the Kingdom of Arendelle.
“Nice has nothing to do with it. Rather one is a child, an adult, or a spirit, no one deserves to believe their parent has abandoned them, not even the Grinch.” Krampus grew silent as they approached the first house. Krampus noticed a relatively young snowman talking to two boys outside the home. He frowned.
What is Jack Frost doing here, and who is that with him?
“Krampus, is that Jack Frost and his new trainee?” Gingina looked over the sleigh, uncertain if she was seeing things right. “Aren’t they supposed to be at Mother Nature’s palace for the annual Christmas Party?”
That was undoubtedly true. After the whole fiasco with the Guardians, the young Head Seasonal had declined their pitiful offer of guardianship, opting to aid the children of the world in his own way. He was doing a rather good job if he was being honest. He wouldn’t say that to Pitch’s face, though. He was in no mood for more gloating. He had enough of that to last him three centuries.
“I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t he talk? Doesn’t he like me?”
“Well, you see…”
Krampus shook his head as Jack Frost tried to reassure the young snowman of… whatever his issue was. With Krampus’ signature frown firmly set on his wrinkled, olive-colored face, and despite going against his better judgment, Krampus jumped off the ledge of the roof, landing right behind the two spirits.
“What are you two doing here?”
“Krampus!” Jack glanced at his trainee, noticing he was trembling. His diamond-colored eyes were wide and scared as he gazed at the intimidating, horned demigod. Olaf, on the other hand, seemed only mildly confused with the newcomer.
“Krampus? Who’s a Krampus?” The snowman wasn’t exactly the smartest tool in the shed, it seems.
Jack Frost coughed into his fist, giving the elder spirit an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Krampus. He’s new.”
“Oh?” Krampus asked, only mildly amused.
“Krampus, this is Haru, my new trainee.” Krampus nodded his head toward the dusty white hair and green-eyed winter spirit in acknowledgment. “And this,” he paused for dramatic effect, “this is Olaf. He was created a few months ago by Her Majesty.”
Ah, he must be referring to the new queen of Arendelle. A troubled young woman, that she was.
“Hello,” said Olaf as he approached him with a big smile. “My name’s Olaf and I like warm hugs.”
“I see?” He finally said, a white eyebrow arching slightly above his brow. “I am Krampus, young one. Tell me what is bothering you.” Krampus had immediately noticed the rather tall snowman in the front yard, wearing nothing but a long red scarf and holding a broomstick in his left hand.
“He won’t talk to me,” said Olaf.
“Olaf… he’s not…” Jack started but was interpreted by Krampus.
“Well, of course, he isn’t going to talk. He’s in a deep sleep,” said Krampus, getting confused looks from the other spirits and snowman.
“Really,” said Olaf, “how do I wake him?”
“Yea, how do you wake him?” Haru asked, still standing behind Jack Frost.
“Simple,” he said with a sharp toothy smile, “with this.” Krampus reached into his red sack and pulled out a gray top hat; it was decorated with a simple black stripe and a small pink flower resting on it. Offering the object to Olaf, Olaf bulleted to his snowman friend.
Krampus watched in mild interest as the snowman’s body twitched and moved on its own the moment the hat was placed on its snow-covered head.
“No way,” Haru suddenly said as the snowman’s eyes blinked, not once, not twice, but three times.
A smile soon crossed his feature. “Happy Birthday, everyone.”
“Happy birthday, Frosty! Happy birthday,” said Olaf as he jumped up and down like a small child.
Frosty’s laugh seemed so warm and inviting. Krampus would have loved to stay, but he had presents to deliver and was running short on time.
“Olaf, my friend, I did not mean to ignore you. I’m sorry.”
With a tap of his nose, Krampus was gone and off to deliver the gifts he had for both the naughty and the nice.
“Why a swamp of all places?” Krampus didn’t glance at his trainee as he grabbed the presents he needed for the three good little children in this household.
“Well, ogres are quite fond of their swamps. Did you not see the sign?”
“I saw, and it says Beware Ogres,” Gingina said, sounding more than a little worried. No, that wasn’t the right word. She seemed almost scared, frightened even. Krampus straightened to his full height. One clawed hand held the sack of presents over his shoulder, while the other was firmly on his hip.
“Gingina, as long as you are in my care, no harm will come to you. Wait here; I will be back.” The Dark Santa Claus didn’t even give his companion a chance to protest before he disappeared down the chimney.
The home of Shrek and Fiona seemed like any typical home. Baby toys littered the small living space, hastily placed stockings were hung over the now unlit fireplace, and newspapers and other personal effects could be seen throughout the home. On the table was a note and a red apple.
Briefly placing the red with golden trimming sack on the ground, Krampus picked up the note and began to read.
Dear Mr. Claus,
I apologize for being so direct. I am not one to ask for help. I have been alone my entire life before meeting Fiona and Donkey. I never thought I would be this happy, not since the war.
Ah, yes, I remember that day very well. The destructive War of the Gods certainly was a very well-known war in the spirit realm. Many of Mother Nature’s spirits, sprites, and many others were caught in the crossfire of that dreadful war. So many new and ancient spirits’ centers had been damaged, shattered beyond repair in their attempt to stop the Greek and Roman Gods from killing each other. It truly was a sad day to see so many young, bright spirits fade away before it was even their time.
Tobias and Lena weren’t exactly the smartest ogres, with the amount of trauma they placed upon their son, but they weren’t stupid either. Parents would do anything to protect their children in the face of danger, and those ogres were no different.
Shame their lives ended so soon, Krampus thought as he continued to read the letter.
Anyway, I’m no good with this whole parenting thing. I… I’m not even sure if I’m doing anything right. You see, my three little ones aren’t feeling well. Haven’t been for weeks, and no one seems to know the cause.
“Hmmm, well, that is certainly odd,” Krampus said as he continued to read through the father’s heartfelt letter.
I don’t know what to do. Me and Fiona are worried that they might not make it. It breaks my heart to see her so sad.
I know Fergus, Farkle, and Felicia haven’t been the most well-behaved ogres. But all I ask is to show them some mercy.
I understand that you don’t typically get letters from adult ogres, but all I ask is to help them. Please.
~ Shrek
Krampus placed the note back on the table, his signature frown back on his face. His wrinkly face made him look much more older than he physically was. The demigod sighed, his fingers running through his long white beard as he thought.
This was rather troubling, even for a several century-old spirit, much as himself. In all his years of life, he had never faced a parent thinking three babies would be on his naughty list and then begging for mercy of punishment, nor ever been asked for help.
Krampus sighed once more, deciding to place the presents he had brought for the little ones into their respective stockings. Once the stockings were filled and five medium-sized gifts rested against the small tree, Krampus decided to visit the unwell children.
Finding the children wasn’t that hard. The three little ones were fast asleep on their parents’ bed. However, he realized their rest was not restful. Their cheeks were flushed, their green skin damp with sweat, and their breathing seemed a bit too shallow.
As Krampus entered the room, he noticed the father shifted ever so slightly. At first glance, he would have assumed the parents had been asleep with their sick children. But, then again, who could sleep when there were three sick babies and the uncertainly that loomed above their little heads?
“Hey, how did you —” Shrek whispered angrily at the intruder, only to stop when he realized who he was staring at. “You’re—you’re Santa Claus…”
Krampus nodded, tilting his head ever so slightly at the children. “What sickness do they have?”
Shrek’s eyes drooped. “We don’t know. It’s been three weeks, and they aren’t getting any better. They barely eat or drink. They don’t play anymore...” He paused, his eyes tearing up. “The doctor said they don’t have much time.” His voice sounded very soft and broken, fearful even.
That doesn’t narrow it down very much, he thought, but given their species and their general location and age, maybe…
“Tell me, what were they doing before they got sick?”
“They were outside, playing near Fiona’s garden.” He paused, gasping softly. “No, they couldn’t have gotten near the Mull-Berries,” he whispered, horror edging into his features.
Mull-Berries were very popular berries around these parts of the swamp. They were very delicious, nutritious, and edible when cooked properly, but very poisonous if eaten raw.
Krampus, ever the resourceful, pulled out a small vial from his pocket. “Here, give them this.”
Shrek gazed at the clear vial with a frown. “What is it?” he asked.
“This is a very powerful antidote. Just give them one drop each, understand?”
Shrek nodded, looking so very relieved. Sherk turned away from the ancient being to whip the tears from his eyes; when he returned his gaze to give the other a proper thank you, the being, Santa Claus, was gone.
“Thank you, Mr. Claus. I will not forget you.”
His goats stomp their hooves in displeasure. Their golden eyes glowed in pure hatred as they glared at the offending sleigh that dared share the same space as their masters. They snarled at the famous reindeers of the one and only Santa Claus. Dasher, Donner, and Rudolph eyed the female goats with uncertainly. Dancer, Prancer, and Blitzen returned the goats glare with equal hatred, while Vixen, Comet, and Cupid didn’t seem to care about the newcomers, choosing to ignore them in favor of eating the apples the Snow Queen and her children were giving them.
“Jack Frost, how in the gods did you get here before me?” The young boy smiled, a hand running through his white hair. “And where is your trainee? Did you ditch him in Arendelle?”
Jack frowned at him. “That isn’t nice, Krampus. I wouldn’t abandon him like that.” No, he wouldn’t. He wasn’t anything like Old Man Winters. Jack Frost was a compassionate and thoughtful leader. A mischievous, childish leader, but a good one nonetheless. “He and Night went to find Sandy and Koz.”
“Sandy?” The ancient dream weaver, known as the Sandman, while still a Guardian of Childhood, hadn’t spent much time with the other Guardians since Jackson Pitchiner-Overland’s untimely death. If he remembered correctly, Sanderson and Pitch had been working closely with each other since World War I.
“Something happened to the other Guardians.” Krampus glanced at the young woman, who had been feeding Cupid another red apple. Before her death three centuries ago, the young woman was fifteen years of age, had snow-white hair and eyes the color of a newly created snowflake. The Snow Maiden was wearing a white lace skater dress with a high halter neckline and fitted bodice with princess seams. Krampus noticed the dress had panels made of sheer lace accents around the waist and on the hem of the flirty skater shirt. It was a gorgeous dress that seemed to fit her often childish, adventurous personality.
“And why would I care about them?” He wasn’t exactly friends with Toothiana or Bunnymund, nor was he on good terms with Nicholas at the moment.
“As much as I loath those beings, she personally requested our help.” The Snow Queen looked regal in her light blue dress with sheer sleeves, cape, and adorned white snowflakes and golden trimmings. “I couldn’t say no to Mrs. Claus,” she said, a slight frown forming on her features.
Before Krampus could say anything, Gingina jumped out of the sleigh with record speed for a small delicate gingerbread woman and somehow ended up in front of the siblings without breaking a leg.
“She’s here?!” The Snow Queen sighed while Jack Frost and the Snow Maiden snickered behind their mother.
“She is.” Everyone looked up to see one of Krampus’ twelve elves entering the sleigh hanger, holding one of the few ruined Elf on the Shelf toys the children had been asking for. “She’s in the Globe Room,” Ketkrokur said, tossing the doll to his goats, who proceeded to stomp the horrifying-looking toy into tiny pieces.
Krampus firmly frowned at that as he walked past his uninvited guests and into his workshop. It didn’t take long to find the Mother of Christmas. She was standing in front of the fireplace, gazing at a small photograph of him and Nicholas in their youth, while the elves brought in the yule log that was adorned with red berries and pinecones for their Christmas celebration.
“Lydia, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your husband?” Lydia placed the photograph down gently before turning to face him.
His frown only deepened as he took in her appearance. Her normally bright emerald eyes looked troubled and exhausted, with bags under her eyes. Her normally fair, healthy complexation was pale with sickly worry. Her long white hair was hastily tied into a bun, and her red and white dress was disheveled and stained with some kind of black substance. And her cheek…
“What happened, Lydia?” Krampus walked over to her, placing a gentle hand on her bruised cheek.
“Some strange-looking children somehow gotten into the workshop. I-I don’t know how. They ambushed us.” Her bottom lip trembled slightly as she tried to prevent the tears from falling. “Nicholas had told Phil to take me to safety and that he would catch up.” Lydia choked on a sob. “He didn’t.”
Lydia couldn’t stop the tears as Krampus pulled her into his warm embrace. He rubbed her back gently, listening as she continued to speak, despite her tears. “Toothiana and Bunny went to rescue him, but they have been gone for days.
“Days?” Krampus looked over his shoulder to see Pitch Black, Sanderson, Jack Frost, Susanna, and Flee entering the globe room. Pitch Black seemed unpleased to be dragged away from his work early, while Sanderson seemed rightfully worried for his fellow Guardians.
“Everyone take a seat,” Krampus’ gruff voice said. “We got a problem.”
The room was silent as Lydia finished retelling the events of the attack in full detail. When she finished her story, Pitch slammed his fist against the table.
“Of all the stupid things they could have done, it had to be this?”
Susanna merely sighed in irritation, while Jack and Flee just looked at each other with small frowns. Halloween Town was one of the many spirit towns that had come into existence with the rise of belief. Oogie Boogie was just as cruel and sadistic as his movie counterpart, or even more so, and the rest of the monsters were as odd as they come.
Krampus didn’t have anything against the group of monsters. They haven’t done anything that would warrant his intervention. Pitch, on the other hand, thought differently. This alternate nightmare bringer didn’t seem to have any sort of restraint when it came to delivering nightmares and didn’t care if his targets died or not.
“Oogie Boogie is a dead man.” Oogie Boogie made Pitch look like an angel with fluffy wings and a small bright halo, and Pitch hated that.
“And how do you expect to do that, my dear?” The Snow Queen asked. “He’s been under your radar for months.”
“Why don’t we just ask Jack Skellington?” Jack asked. “If there’s anyone that can help us find him, it would be him.”
“Krampus, Mr. Frost, Mr. Black, and Mr. Mansnoozie, how can I be of assistance?” Jack Skellington approached them with a warm smile. By the guess of it, he had been having a romantic dinner with his girlfriend, Sally.
“Is something wrong?” Sally asked, her concerned features making him wonder if she had an idea of what was going on.
“North and the rest of the Guardians are missing,” Pitch informed them dully.
“We were informed that Oogie Boogie was behind this,” Krampus added. “You wouldn’t happen to know where he is by any chance, would you?”
The Pumpkin King seemed stunned at first, but he understood the issue far quicker than they thought he would. “I see,” he said first before sighing. “He’s up to his old trick again.”
Sally placed a delicate hand on his shoulder. “I told you he was up to something no good,” Sally said, frowning ever so slightly. “Seeing the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy was no coincidence.”
Jack Frost perked up at this. “You’ve seen Tooth and Bunny?”
Sally nodded. “They didn’t tell us who they were looking for, only that it was a friend and that his trial led them here.”
“But if Oogie Boogie really is behind this,” Jack Skellington said, his finger gently resting under his chin, “then those three are in grave danger.” The Pumpkin King and his girlfriend stood, turning in the direction of Oogie Boogie’s hideout. “Follow us. Let’s just hope we are not too late.”
“You bloody ratbag! Let us out!” Aster’s voice could be heard across the room as he was strapped to the spirits’ gambling table. North flinched as Aster was hit with anything those children could get their hands on. He shifted his gaze from Aster to Tooth, who was trapped within a cage. She was trying, desperately, to cut the metal bars, but to no avail.
In the distance, the spirit known as Oogie Boogie was sitting on this throne, laughing at the screaming Guardian of Hope. Frowning, North realized that the other spirit seemed to be having a bit too much fun torturing his victims. North tugged on his restraints, hoping to break free before the creature got the idea of enacting on his original promise of putting an end to them.
The sound of Oogie Boogie’s laugher mixed with Aster’s screams as one of those naughty children thought tearing his fur off his body was a good idea.
“You blood ankle-biters, just wait until I get out of here!”
“You, my friend, are going nowhere,” Oogie Boogie sang with a sinister laugh before nightmare and dream sand and ice swarmed the lair, freezing the insects that served that nightmarish spirit.
“Oogie Boogie, that is enough!” A new voice entered the chaos as Jack Frost, Pitch Black, and Sandy appeared in front of them.
“Jack!” Oogie Boogie hissed.
North eyes widened as the Pumpkin King, a female spirit, and his old friend, Krampus, jumped from somewhere above them, landing several feet away from Oogie Boogie.
North’s heart stopped the moment Krampus came into his view. Never in his dreams did he think Krampus would come for him, not after his unforgivable act against his brother all those years ago.
“Jack, my boy,” his eyes sparkled with wonder as the Head Seasonal of Winter floated in front of him. He forced a smile. He couldn’t deal with the weight of his sins right now. “You found us!”
Jack’s smile was filled with that warm compassion he often showed his sister and elder brother. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you and the others out of here. Don’t move. I’m going to freeze yours and the others’ restraints.” North froze for a moment as he looked down. He had to be suspended at least ten to fifteen feet above the air.
“Jack, I don’t think…” Before he could say anything, a mixture of dream and nightmare sand engulfed all three Guardians the moment they were free of their prison, protecting them from the sinister creature, pulling them into the dark shadows.
From within the shadows, North was surprised to see Jack Frost’s nightmare horse and Pitch’s loyal steed watching them from within the moving shadows. Night approached him rather happily.
“Are you okay, Santa?” North was surprised to hear the nightmare horse at all. Typically, only Pitch and Jack could understand what they were saying.
“Cricky! You can talk?” Aster’s voice seemed to echo loudly in the dark space they found themselves in.
“Of course, we can,” Onyx said coldly. “You are in the shadow dimension. This is the only reason why you can understand us. Otherwise,” she scoffed, “you would all be clueless fools.”
“That isn’t very nice, Onyx,” Jack spoke from behind them. The Guardians jumped, not expecting Jack and Sandy to be behind them. The shadows shifted once more, putting the Guardians on edge as it got closer to them.
“Jack, you bloody show pony, what in bloody hell is going on?”
“We’re here.” Was the only warning they got before the Guardians found themselves being kicked out of the shadows and falling hard on the workshop floor.
“Why that no good for nothing…”
“Nicholas!” The Guardian of Hope soon found himself being thrown across the room as Mrs. Claus threw herself at her husband of over five decades, sobbing in relief. “You’re okay. I was so worried.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you, my dear. Please don’t cry.” Despite North’s soothing words, Lydia did not stop crying until Pitch and Krampus returned to the workshop with Pitch’s usual overdramatic flair.
“Bloody hell, Pitch!” Aster yelled. “Don’t sneak up on people like that!”
Pitch rolled his eyes at the Pooka, forcing himself not to kill the vermin. “Last I checked, this wasn’t North’s Workshop, nor the Warren.”
“That’s enough you too.” Toothiana and Jack stood in between them before the two could start another war. “Aster, you said you wouldn’t start any fights!” Toothiana smack the back of Aster’s head lightly with her hand, looking at him in disapproval.
“It’s Christmas, Koz,” Jack said, a frown on his features, “you promised to behave and not start another fight with Bunny.”
Pitch sighed at his brother while Aster just grumbled under his breath. The two glared at each other, but instead of apologizing, they turned their back to each other.
“Lydia, your husband is safe and sound.” Susanna walked over to her husband, a small smile on her features. “We will be taking our leave.”
“Actually,” Susanna said, “I was thinking we could join Krampus and the elves on their Christmas celebration. We can always head over to Emily Jane after.” Pitch’s shoulders sagged, not liking the idea of being within the same space as his enemies.
“I wouldn’t mind the company,” Krampus finally spoke up. “It’s usually just me and my elves.”
North lifted his eyes to his old friend, unsure if he really meant what he said. “Krampus…”
“Nicholas, it has been a very long time since we’ve spent Christmas together.” For the first time in centuries, Krampus smiled at his brother. “Please stay. We have much to catch up on.”
North eyes were wide as he met his old friend’s gaze. North said nothing for a very long time, but slowly, very slowly, he smiled with his own blue orbs misting.
“I would like that. Thank you.”