24 Days Before Christmas [Original - PG-12] - Raistlin The Wizard

24 Days Before Christmas

Day 1

"Operation
Xtmas domination starts today!" thought Rudolph, pacing up and down in
his hut in the North Pole trying to devise a plan for overtaking Santa
and Xtmas this year. For too long he allowed people to ride him and for
too long he smiled at kids when what he really wanted was to stomp them
with his hooves. "But not this year!" It would not be easy though, Santa
was too beloved, too cherished, too good! "Ergh, I hate good people.
However… perhaps I could get some help…" and with that thought in his
mind he left the hut.

(100)

Day 2

The
wind was blowing strong that day and from where Rudolph was standing up
high in the sky he couldn't see properly if the house below was
inhabited or not. Making a swift descent he soon touched the ground.
There were no Xtmas lights anywhere, no signs that Xtmas was rapidly
approaching. “Yes, this is the right place. Only his house could invoke
such misery and sadness this close to the North Pole.” Soaring to the
sky again, the reindeer headed back home to devise a plan on how to get
his soon too be ally to side with him.

(100)

Day 3

Knock.
Knock. Rudolph. “Who the blasted hell can it be?” Knock. Knock. “Ho,
ho, ho, Rudolph, you’re there”. Rudolph’s stomach twisted in disgust but
he headed towards the door. “Hello Santa, what brings you here?” he
said trying to sound pleased. “Just cumin’ to check on you, the pack
says you’ve been kinda distant, lately, everythin’s a’right, Rudy?” How
Rudolph hated being called that, he swallowed the rampage of curses he
wanted to lash out. “Everything’s fine, thank you Santa, I was on my way
out now, see you another day” he said and closed the door on Santa’s
face.

(100)

Day 4

Once
again the wind was blowing up high in the sky and Rudolph looked into
the house below. “Let’s see if foe can become friend.” Making a stylish
descent he touched the ground and headed towards the door which had a
big paper sign “NO CAROLERS WELCOMED!” Rudolph smiled. “I guess we’re on
the same page.” He knocked on the door. A figure all in green opened it
bearing a cranky face. “What do you want, Santa’s pet?” he said in a
grunt. “To end Christmas, interested?” Rudolph’s let no margin for
mocking and so the Grinch let him enter.

(100)

Day 5

“That
stupid, moron, dim witted, narrow minded, loathsome, repellent, awful,
evil shadow of a cockroach!” Rudolph was pacing furiously in his hut.
The Grinch had let him in only to kick him out after he had explained
his plans. Rudolph had been sure they would have teamed up, the Grinch’s
ambition to take Santa’s place and end Christmas was ancient, a battle
as old as the world itself! Still, the mad man had repelled suddenly and
with no motive, leaving him confused and despairing for Rudolph could
not achieve his plans without the Grinch’s resources. He needed a new
plan…

(100)

Day 6

Failure.
That was all that Rudolph could think of. Tried as he might, he could
see no solution to his problems. The Grinch was the key. No other plan
would be as satisfying and humiliating for Santa. He needed to get the
old stubborn green giggle’s support. But his initial approach had been
perfect, he knew it, he had made no mistakes! Knock. Knock. Rudolph
opened the door ready to unleash his fury. “Who…” he stopped in
surprised. A dark elf stood in front of him and delivered him a note
that got him smiling, it said only “Come tomorrow.”

(100)

Day 7

“So,
tell me again. How can the old fool’s most famous pet want to turn
against him?” The Grinch was sitting in his chair, a mockery of Santa’s
throne. Rudolph was now getting frustrate. He had explained himself
twice already. “I’ve already told you…” “EXPLAIN!” the reindeer flinched
under the Grinch’s sudden wrath so he explained once more. “I’m tired
of being Santa’s lap dog. I want glory of my own. I’m tired of silly
children. I want freedom, I want the world”. The Grinch looked at him
and said “Very well and how do we manage that?” Rudolph grinned.

(100)

Day 8

“Yes,
yes, yes!” Rudolph was ecstatic, thrilled! The Grinch had agreed to his
plans which were now set in motion. His ambition to end Christmas had
finally started but now he had to wait for the Grinch to complete the
first task. He was so happy he even decided to go for a stroll in town.
That quickly proved to be a mistake. The town was so full of Christmas
spirit he soon got grumpy and irritable. Carolling, lights, happy
people, noisy and loud children running around, Santa’s posters
everywhere. All of it was sickening and Rudolph soon ran away.

(100)

Day 9

“Snow…
it’s always snowing… I swear that when this is over I’ll move south,
someplace tropical!” Rudolph grumbled. “So bitter… I may come to like
you… Now look” said the Grinch. Rudolph was back again in the Grinch’s
house after having received another note delivered by a dark elf saying
“The first one’s ready. Come.” The dark elves, the Grinch’s minions,
were bringing something under a veil. “Behold my servants work. And what
a fine work it is. Your plan might work.” The Grinch gloated while the
dark elves unveiled the mysterious object. Rudolph gasped in awe and
said “Marvelous!”

(100)

Day 10

“Oy!
Dasher! Oy!” Rudolph ran to catch up. Dasher’s was Santa’s most
impetuous reindeer but also the strongest of them, physically speaking.
“Evening, Rudy, what’s the problem?” Rudolph’s eye flared red briefly at
the mention of the nickname, Dasher knew he hated it but still used it,
which made Rudolph’s work much easier erasing all of his guilt. “I
could use your strength back at the hut, got a new bed and I need to
move it.” Dasher’s chest inflated, flattery was his weak spot “Sure
buddy, let’s go” Rudolph grinned as they went, Dasher was about to be
surprised.

(100)

Day 11

“Oy!
Dancer! Oy!” Rudolph called. Dancer turned around in a swift movement,
being Santa’s most balanced and coordinated reindeer and with a passion
for dance and synchronized movements. “Hullo, Dolph, what’s up?” For a
split second Rudolph hesitated. Dasher was his favourite of all of
Santa’s reindeers, he was always nice to him, but what it must be, must
be. “I need your help. I want to surprise Santa this year with a musical
act, do you think you can help?” Dancer’s face opened in a wide smile,
“Of course!” he beamed. “Perfect, come by my later then, see ya!”

(100)

Day 12

“Oy!
Prancer! Oy!” Prancer took his time to look at Rudolph. “What is it,
child? You shouldn’t go around screaming like a buffoon, we have a
status and dignity to maintain.” Rudolph cringed inwardly. Prancer was
so uptight he managed to be disliked by everyone. “See, that is exactly
why I need you. I was wondering if you’d be willing to gives some
classes on how to be more poised and well-mannered.” Rudolph lied with
all of his teeth. “There might be hope for you after all. I shall come
by your place later.” Prancer said as he walked away.

(100)

Day 13

“Oy!
Vixen! Oy!” the female reindeer gave him lavish look. “What’s up,
stud?” she said while brushing her shoulder against Rudolph’s making him
roll his eyes. Vixen had a tendency to be overly affectionate and too
touchy and he liked to keep a personal distance from everyone. “I could
use your femme fatal skills, gorgeous”. At this Vixen shook her head and
laughed. “I’ll do anything to help. What is it you need?” Rudolph fake
smiled “Oh, it’s a surprise, why don’t you come later by my hut to check
it out?” Rudolph teased. “It’s to die for, I promise.”

(100)

Day 14

“Oy!
Comet! Oy!” Comet looked at Rudolph and beamed. “Why, whassup,
sunshine?” he was the most cheerful and happy of Santa’s reindeers lot.
“I need your help. I’m organising a surprise party for Santa and I need a
lot of shooting stars, noises, livelihood. All in all an awesome party!
I know you are definitely the reindeer for the job. So what do you say,
will you help me?” Comet started asking all sorts of things at once,
and what was he allowed to do or not. Rudolph stopped him. “Come by my
hut later, we’ll discuss everything, see ya!”

(100)

Day 15

“Oy!
Cupid! Oy!” the exuberant reindeer turned to face Rudolph. “Why, hello.
Isn’t it a lovely day? A joys meeting of love that brings us together?
How may I rejoice your life, my friend?” Rudolph had to keep his stomach
strong. Cupid was always full of that silly love talk. Love! What a
silly thing! It only makes you weak and vulnerable. “Me and guys were
thinking of lovable way to thank Santa but we’re not having luck getting
ideas, we need your help. Can you meet us later at my place?” Comet
gave him a thug and left singing.

(100)

Day 16

“Oy!
Donner! Oy!” the reindeer eyed Rudolph suspiciously. Donner was the
smartest of them all. He could detect mischief miles away so Rudolph
couldn’t really tell him a lie. Instead he just said the truth. “Will
you please accompany me to my hut where you shall receive a blow the
head and be switched by a cloned version of yourself so I and the Grinch
can take over the city and end Christmas forever with the help of dark
elves and cloned reindeers?” And when he finished two dark elves jumped
from the shadows and bonded Donner. “Thanks for cooperating.”

(100)

Day 17

“Oy!
Blitzen! Oy!” said Rudolph after he finally managed to spot Santa’s
fastest reindeer. “Finally I find you!” Blitzen looked restless while
wiating for Rudolph to make his point. He couldn’t stay still for too
long, had to always be blazing from one place to another in dizzying
speeds. “I need your help. We’re decorating my hut to make a surprise
party for Santa but we’re running really late. Could you fast help us?”
Without a single word, Blitzen ran to Rudolph’s hut to find a destiny
that would have him standing still for a long time, if not forever.

(100)

Day 18

“Perfect!
It’s all going according to plan, victory’s nearly ours!” Rudolph said
to the Grinch. “Yes, yes, yes” said the Grinch in cranky tones “But
there’s still work to do.” Rudolph gave an exasperated sigh “We got all
of Santa’s reindeers locked up and replaced with clones that will only
obey our orders, what could stop us now, really?” The Grinch turned to
him furious “You insolent, stupid, ignorant child. Long before you were
born I was trying to take down Santa. He has a way of turning bad things
against you, so for now I’ll remain sceptical”. Rudolph shivered.

(100)

Day 19

Knock.
Knock. “Seriously?” Rudolph got up and opened the door to a worried
looking Santa “Hey Rudy. I need to talk to you” and let him in. “What’s
wrong Santa?” Rudolph was getting nervous, had he been discovered? “I
don’t know… I just feel something strange in the air… even the other
Reindeers look different… somewhat distant…” Rudolph could feel the
danger “I’m sure it’s nothing Santa, you just must be nervous with Xtmas
rapidly approaching. Worry not, everything’s fine as are the others.
Now go rest and get ready for the big day.” So Santa left not totally
convinced.

(100)

Day 20

“We
need to act. Fast!” Rudolph was pacing nervously at the Grinch’s house.
“Santa’s beginning to grow suspicious.” He waited for the Grinch to
react, which had been very quiet since Rudolph told him what happened.
“Why aren’t you more worried?! Did you listen to me?!” The Grinch eyed
the reindeer menacingly. “I did. You bring great news. Suspicious as he
might, he can’t do anything now, that’s what he’s feeling, despair. He
knows something bad’s about to happen and can’t stop it. Phase two of
our plan begins tomorrow, now leave.” Rudolph gave him a dirty look and
left.

(100)

Day 21

Swift
as snakes, the dark elves began to invade the city of Christmas in the
North Pole, jumping on unaware Santa’s elves, silencing them. Soon the
city was crawling with them and the regular folk didn’t even noticed
them, though to be honest the difference between a dark elves and
Santa’s elves relied merely on their allegiance and a dark twisted glint
in the depth of their eyes. Probably only Santa and the Grinch could
tell them apart. This is why they had cloned some of Santa’s elves and
placed them in strategic places, in case Santa went wandering about.

(100)

Day 22

Rudolph
positioned the cloned reindeers outside the Gifts factory to stand
guard and allowing no one in or out. The takeover of the fabric was one
of the final stages of the takeover. With the fabric in their possession
they would switch all the toys in the presents with coal using the
teleport delivery system (as if the fat old Santa would actually travel
all around the world!). Dark, black, coal. Every child would get it,
good or bad it didn’t matter. That would be the final strike, the
announcement to the world that Christmas was dead and forever gone.

(100)

Day 23

Rudolph
watched as the dark elves disposed of Santa’s security elves. The last
obstacle had been overcome. The city was now completely under his
control. There were dark elves placed everywhere, acting to make sure
Santa wouldn’t be able to complete his everlasting trip around the world
distributing presents to children. Rudolph watched a shadowy figured
appear in the horizon. The Grinch’s limping strut became soon
recognizable. He stood for a moment in the border, just gazing. “At
last, after so many years I return to this place from where I was
banished…” and then he entered to unleash havoc.

(100)

Day 24

“Where
is everyone”, Santa thought. “We can’t risk ruining every child’s
Christmas.” Santa was heading towards the door when someone knocked in.
Opening it quickly expecting to be one of the elves he almost fell
backwards in shock. “You..? How… how did you get past the city’s
protections?” Breaking his face into a wicked smile, the Grinch couldn’t
stop himself from gloating “Oh, I had help… look” and he stepped aside
to let Rudolph in who said “Your time is up old man, this year children
will stop believing in Santa Claus” and finished the words knocking
Santa out cold.

(100)

Day 25

On
Christmas morning the world was different, though everything appeared
to be the same there was something definitely wrong. There were no
screams of joy, of surprise, of delight. The world was silent. Children
made no noise, instead they just stood staring blankly at the trees,
their little hearts devoid of all happiness. No presents made their way
to their stockings, instead they were filled with coal. Dark, black
coal. This year they wouldn’t spent the rest of the day trying out their
toys and play until oblivion for that year someone had finally stolen
Christmas. Santa was gone forever.

(100)

THE END