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Life in Sant's village was peaceful. Everyone had a job to do and, for the reindeer, the most coveted job was pulling Sant's sleigh every Christmas Eve. Every buck trained for years but only the eight best were ever chosen.
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"Dancer," someone called causing the young doe to look back.
"Hey, Dasher," she said as her best friend came up to her.
"You want to help me practice for try outs?" the young buck asked.
Dasher, like all the bucks, was training to be one of Santa's reindeer. Dancer was sure he would make the team; there was no reindeer faster than Dasher. He wasn't the biggest trying out but he was quick and light on his feet and strong for his size. Even though she knew that she couldn't be part of the team, Dancer liked to help Dasher train.
"I can meet you in the field after I deliver this load of toys," Dancer said.
Transporting toys from the workshop to the storage barns was her job. With a nod, Dasher ran off leaving Dancer to finish her job. Once she had dropped off the last load of the day, the elves unharnessed her from the wagon leaving her free to do as she pleased. She and Dasher always practiced in the open snow fields. It was far enough away to ensure privacy. The young bucks were very competitive. But best laid plans don't always work.
"Hey, Dasher, what are you doing?" someone called.
The friends looked back as three bucks their age came up to them.
"Oh great," Dasher said.
He and Dancer didn't like these buck.
"Hello, Tundra. Blizzard. Comet," Dancer said trying to be polite.
"I heard that you're trying out for the sleigh team," Tundra said ignoring Dancer.
"Why do you care?" Dasher asked.
"You don't have a chance."
"I have just as much of a chance as you."
"No you don't," Blizzard said. "The bucks in our family have been on the team for generations."
"That doesn't mean anything. It's not heritage Santa looks for. It's skill."
"Guys, don't fight," Comet said. "We all have a chance at making the team."
"Well, not all of us," Tundra said looking at Dancer. "She'll never make the team."
"Why do you even train with her?" Blizzard asked.
"Because she's my best friend, that's why," Dasher said.
It wasn't just that. Dancer's father was a current member of the team. In fact, he was one of the lead reindeer alongside Dasher's father. Dasher and Dancer had grown up together watching their dads train and pull the sleigh.
"But she's a girl," Tundra said "She'll only be good for hauling toy wagons."
Dancer was used to this. Nearly all the young bucks thought that she couldn't do anything because she was a young doe. But she knew better. She could do anything they could. If she wanted to, she could make the team. She wouldn't even let the fact that no doe has ever been selected for the team stop her.
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The other reindeer were excited about the upcoming reindeer games. Four of the bucks on the sleigh team had retired which meant that four young bucks would be chosen. Every buck wanted to be one of the four selected. But Dancer only cared about how Dasher would do. If only one of them could make the team, she wanted it to be him. But he would face some stiff competition. Tundra especially wanted to make the team and Dancer was sure he'd do anything (even cheat and/or play dirty) to get it.
"Come to cheer for me?" Dasher asked as Dancer came up to him.
Dancer glanced over at the other bucks.
"Be careful around Tundra," she said. "I don't trust him."
"Neither do I. He thinks he can do whatever he wants because of his family's heritage."
The two friends could already see him showing off to some young does as if he had already made the team. Everyone expected him to make the team.
"Don't worry about it, Dancer," Dasher said. "I've been training; Tundra hasn't."
Dasher soon proved that he was right. He took first place in every event. Comet took second while Tundra and Blizzard tied for third. Tundra defiantly didn't look happy to have come in third place.
"Congratulations," Dancer said coming up to Dasher.
"It's thanks to you," Dasher said. "You helped me train."
"Good job, Dasher," his father said as he and Dancer's father came up to them. "But now the real training begins."
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Following the games, Dasher, Comet, Tundra, and Blizzard trained with Fleet Foot, Star, Polar, and Ice Cap to work together as a team. This was the most important part of training. It didn't matter how strong or fast the new recruits were if they couldn't work together or with the veterans.
"Remember," Fleet Foot told the four young bucks, "it's important to not only keep pace with your partner but also the rest of the team."
All four young bucks nodded. They had worked hard to get here. Not one of them wanted to risk his spot on the team. They paired off each young buck partnered with one of the older bucks. The older bucks would teach the younger ones and then, on Christmas Eve, would give them guidance. And there was only a few weeks left until the big night.
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"This feels a little weird," Comet said.
He, Dasher, Tundra, and Blizzard were all wearing the harnesses that they would be wearing on Christmas Eve. This was to get them used to them and the bells.
"It's so you can get used to them," Star said. "The bells can be a little distracting at first."
"They're not going to bother me," Tundra said.
"Maybe, maybe not," Polar said. "It's best to find out now than when we're out delivering presents."
"I don't see why we need all this training," Blizzard said. "All four of us did great in the games."
"That was the games," Ice Cape said. "On Christmas Eve, there will be millions of kids counting on us."
None of the older bucks wanted to say anything but Tundra and Blizard were a little too cocky for their liking; especially considering they both came in third in the games. The sleigh reindeer had to work together to help Santa deliver the toys.
"We have work to do," Fleet Foot said. "It's just two weeks until Christmas Eve. Today we're going to start pulling the sleigh for short flights."
The sleigh was empty. They would slowly work up to a fully loaded sleigh & long flights. It was all about building up stamina, something the young bucks were going to need. They weren't used to pulling a heavy sleigh. But not everyone was pulling their weight. Tundra & Blizzard skipped as many practices as they attended. With the Christmas Eve run coming soon, that wasn't good. Finally, it was Christmas Eve Day. That night was the big Christmas Eve run when Dasher, Comet, Tundra, Blizzard, Fleet Foot, Star, Polar, & Ice Cap would help Santa deliver the presents to all the good boys & girls around the world.
"Why can't I be in the lead?" Tundra said as the elves harnessed them to the sleigh.
"Because," Polar said, "the deer that are lighter on their feet are always in the lead."
"Polar's right," Ice Cap said from behind them. "The big, strong deer like us are always closer to the sleigh."
"Alright, everyone," Star said from the front. "Enough with the chatter. We have work to do."
The side door to the loading barn opened & Santa came in dressed in his traditional red suit.
"Alright, boys," Santa said to his team as he took his place in the sleigh & gathered up the reigns. "Let's deliver some presents."
The bucks began pulling the sleigh out through the big, double doors. The entire village had turned out. Several of the young does were near the edge. Wanting to show off, Tundra picked up his pace & began prancing, throwing Polar off. The veteran deer jumped forward bumping Fleet Foot & causing him to catch his right fore hoof on Star's right hind leg.
"Hold up, boys," Santa said stopping the sleigh so that the elves could check on Star.
"It's a good gash, Santa," one said. "He won't be flying for a while."
The rest of the team looked at Tundra.
"What? Like it's my fault," he said.
"You were the one showing off," Polar said. "Now we can't deliver the presents since we're short a deer."
"I can do it," Dancer said.
The eight bucks looked at her.
"What?" Tundra said.
"I can help pull the sleigh," Dancer said. "I helped Dasher train for the games. I know I can do it."
"You can't pull the sleigh," Blizzard said.
"Why not?"
"Because you're a doe," Tundra said. "Does can't be on the team."
"Says who?" said Ice Cap. "I watched her train with Dasher & she would have tied with him for first place had she been in the games."
"Well, we don't want to be on a team with a doe," Blizzard said.
"Fine," Polar said. "Donner. Blitzen. You're up."
It took only a few minuets to unharness Star, Tundra, & Blizzard (the last two under protest) & harness up Dancer, Donner, & Blitzen. Dancer looked at Dasher. She was a little nervous since she hadn't been formally trained.
"Alright, boys. And girl," Santa said. "Let's try this again."
The deer began pulling the sleigh; Dasher, Commet, & Fleet Foot giving Dancer encouragement. When they got passed the snowman, the deer began picked up the pace preparing to take flight. At the right moment, the deer took to the air pulling the sleigh with them. Despite the late start. they managed to deliver all the presents before daybreak & return to the North Pole. As usual, the sleigh team was praised for a job well done but none more than Dancer who everyone (or almost everyone) in the village believed had saved Christmas.
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"Mom, is that a true story?" a fawn asked.
"Every bit of it," the doe said. "And, if you four train hard, you can be on the team just like your father & me."
"Here you are," said a buck, the doe's husband. "We need to get going."
The family made their way to the loading barn.
"You fawns be good for your grandparents," the doe said as she and her husband nuzzled their children.
"We'll see you in the morning," the buck said as he & the doe entered the barn.
"Dasher. Dancer. There you are," Comet said.
"We've been waiting for you," Cupid said beside him.
"Sorry we're late," Dancer said as she & Dasher took their places in the lead.
"So what kept you?" asked Vixen from behind her.
"Vixen," Comet's sister Prancer said next to her, "don't be rude."
"It's okay. The fawns wanted to hear a story," Dasher said.
"It's okay," Blitzen said. "Santa's not even here yet."
"Heads up," Donner said as the side door opened.
"Alright, boys & girls," Santa said. "Let's deliver some presents."