🎅ho🎅ho🎅ho

...

(Y/N)'s P.O.V

"And the baker now has a sale on cakes for the Ellingboes!" Jesper speaks, leaning back with a grin.

"And they don't even have knifes or blades baked in," I add, Klaus lightly flicking the reins as the reindeer walk at a easy pace.

"Oh! And arson is down 70%," Jesper continues, nudging Klaus.

"Really?" I question, grinning as he nods with a smile.

"It's true. When's the last time you saw a house burned down?" he questions with amusement as he leans back, tilting his head.

I pause, lightly tapping my knuckle to my mouth in thought.

"Exactly, doll," Jesper chuckles, leaning back with a stretch. "And the cookouts, swap meets, and uh... Yeah, I don't know. It's like everyone's gone mad or something."

Klaus was silent for a moment, "A true selfless act... always sparks another."

I look over at him, Jesper glancing from me to Klaus as he sits up. "Well, look who's suddenly a chatterbox! Tell me, what made you squander all those words into that nugget of wisdom?"

"Oh, just something..." Klaus trails off, sighing as he frowns. "Someone used to say."

"Huh," I nod, leaning my arm on the side. "That's a lovely statement. Like a ripple effect, good deeds spread around."

Klaus shortly smiles before his face becomes neutral, facing ahead.

"Hmph," Jesper shrugs, leaning back. "Well, let me tell you guys something. I've been around long enough to know that everyone is out to get something."

"Ah, Jesper the Pessimist strikes again," I sigh, shaking my head and leaning my cheek on my palm.

"Come on, doll. Just think about it," Jesper continues, making me roll my eyes. "Those kids? They're in it for the toys. And the grown-ups...?"

Klaus and I look at each other with amusement as Jesper trails off, knowing he didn't have an answer.

"... Well, I don't know what they're after. But it sure is not goodwill and peace on Earth."

He leans back, tilting his hat down to cover his eyes as he gets comfortable.

"What about you?" Klaus questions, his brows furrowed. "What's in it for you two?"

Jesper raises his hat as I look over, humming in thought.

"Nothing I guess," I reply after a moment. "Well, not nothing. After seeing Smeerensburg so full of life and love... I guess I do this to try to keep it the way it is now."

Jesper glances to me with a small frown, Klaus nodding slowly, satisfied with my response.

"And what about you?" he looks down at Jesper.

"Me?" Jesper sits up, leaning his forearms on his legs. "Well... You know... It's different. I don't..."

I tilt my head at his demeanor before looking ahead with wide eyes, softly gasping.

"Klaus!" I shout, the large tree on the cliff ahead starting to tilt.

"Look out!" Jesper gasps, watching as Olaf pushes the large tree.

"Mine!" Magdalone screams, hurling a boulder off the cliff.

I gasp as Jesper yelps, Klaus watching with wide eyes. The reindeer whinny in alarm, taking off at full speed as Klaus tries to take back control.

"I can't believe this! What are you doing at our ambush?!"

"Your ambush?! This is our ambush!"

Mr. Ellingboe and Mrs. Krum argue, Jesper frantically trying to yank the reins with Klaus while I try to soothe the reindeer.

"Easy, easy!"

"Stop, stop, stop!" Jesper shrieks, Klaus grunting as he pulls the reins.

"I'm trying!"

Jesper continues to chant 'stop' before we all scream, looking up at the boulder and tree with wide eyes as they fall towards us.

The objects barely scrape the back of the carriage, making the wheels break as the reindeer continue racing with all their might.

I yelp as I almost fall off the side from the force, gripping the side tightly while Jesper yells, Klaus shouting as we bounce roughly.

"Great! Look what you've done!"

"What we've done?!"

The two continue arguing in the distance behind us, the now-sleigh sliding quickly through the snow as Klaus tries to steer.

The reindeer leap over a small of snow, my eyes wide at the sight.

"This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!" I yell, Jesper and Klaus screaming as the reindeer race to the end of the slope.

We all scream in fear as we soar through the air, not knowing a little boy looked out his window and happened to see the reindeer and sleigh.

We land roughly, the reindeer free but remaining nearby as they slide on the frozen lake. Klaus' hair was poofy and crazy, Jesper's eyes wide with horror as I blink rapidly, gripping the side of the carriage tightly.

"... Friends of yours, I take it?" Klaus says after a moment, his hands gripping the reins.

"Uh..." Jesper drags out, me slowly and shakily rising as I step out of the carriage.

"They seem nice," Klaus lightly jokes.

...

Third Person P.O.V

The next morning

"I seriously can't believe we survived that," (Y/N) quietly snickers, Jesper chuckling himself as he takes the letters.

"No kidding."

"My legs were still shaking when I got back to the school," she continues, leaning on the table.

The door was slammed open, making her and Jesper, as well as the other kids, look over.

The little boy pants heavily, shutting the door behind him and leaning back on it.

"You guys are not gonna believe what I saw last night!"

...

"... A flying sleigh, pulled by magical reindeer?" Klaus repeats slowly, looking up from turning the carriage into a sleigh.

Jesper nods in confirmation, leaning on the side of the cart with a grin as (Y/N) giggles with nods.

"Yep," she grins.

Klaus starts chuckling before full-on laughing, (Y/N) smiling and sharing a look with Jesper.

"Oh, look. It can laugh," he teases, (Y/N) lightly shoving his arm with her own laughter. "Mystery solved."

"Ho ho ho!" Klaus bellows, clutching his stomach. "Ho ho ho!"

The birds in the area scatter, Jesper's mouth falling open in an amused bewilderment as (Y/N) laughs.

"Wait, wait, wait, time out. Really? That's how you laugh?"

"Right," Klaus sighs in amusement, rising. "Let's load up."

"Oh, no, no," Jesper snickers, quickly following Klaus with (Y/N).

"Let us hear it again," she joins, making him let out a small huff with a smile.

"No."

"Come on, just a snicker or a chuckle," Jesper grins, "just a giggle."

"Keep it up. See what happens," Klaus playfully warns, still walking away.

"All right, we'll stop," (Y/N) sighs in amusement, tucking her hands in her pockets as Jesper thinks for a moment.

"Say, have you ever heard the one about the one-legged man who walks into a bar?"

...

(Y/N) helps Klaus to finish loading up, Jesper checking the toy barn before walking out. He goes to close the doors, his smile falling as he peeks back inside.

The shelves were nearly empty, his eyes wide as he softly exhales through his mouth.

"Jesper, come on!" (Y/N) calls, making him quickly close the doors.

Klaus looks over the children's letters with a fond smile, (Y/N) leaning on the sleigh and waiting for Jesper.

"Say... We're kinda running low on inventory, aren't we?" Jesper questions, rubbing his neck as he climbs onto the sleigh.

(Y/N) climbs up after him, settling in as Klaus tucks the letter away.

"Yes, only a couple more trips, and that should do it," Klaus nods, (Y/N) stretching. "You both must be... Looking forward to no more night shifts," he says after a moment, frowning.

"I enjoyed them," (Y/N) replies with a grin. "Sure, I'd be exhausted during the day, but... Worth it. Huh?"

She nudges Jesper with her elbow, making him jump slightly and snap him out of his worried daze.

"Hmm? Oh, r-- right."

(Y/N) frowns, tilting her head as he continues to stare ahead with wide, fearful eyes.

"Yeah," Klaus says in agreement. "Yeah. I did, too."

He lightly cracks the reins, making the reindeer snort as they take off in a trot.

...

Later...

Jesper trudges up to his post office after dropping (Y/N) off, the starts dazzling the purple night sky.

"Hello, Postman!" Márgu greets in a thick accent, making Jesper pause as he was about to open the door. 

She smiles widely up at him from her spot, lightly kicking her legs.

"Oh, good. You're back," he huffs, rolling his eyes.

"Can you speak with me now?" she questions, tilting her head.

"Yes, yes. That's very nice," Jesper sighs, opening the door, waving his hand. "But whatever it is you're saying, I've got my own problems, you know?"

He shuts the door, Márgu sighing softly as she looks away before jumping as the door opens again.

"I mean, we are out of toys!" Jesper peeks back out, his eyes wide with concern. "And without toys, there are no letters. And without letters..."

He groans, shaking his head.

"Forget it!"

He shuts the door again, making Margú frown once more before she jumps as he rushes out of his house.

"I'm running out of time! There, I said it!" Jesper grips at his hair, "it's almost Christmas already, and I still..."

Jesper pauses, a slow smile spreading on his face. "Christmas... Christmas! That's it! Wait! We gotta-- I gotta-- (Y/N)--" he rushes around, Margú tilting her head.

He shuts his door, rushing down the steps before pausing and turning to Margú.

"Can you please get off my porch? You're trespassing."

Márgu watches after him with raised brows, her mouth in the small shape of an oval.

...

In Smeerensburg...

A large torch was lit in the center of towns, the Krum clan and Ellingboe clan meeting.

They hold their weapons tightly, not trusting the other party. Mrs. Krum steps forward, resting her hands on her cane.

"I, leader of the proud Krum--"

"Get on with it already," Mr. Ellingboe interrupts, making her eye twitch as she lowers her arm.

"Shut up, you idiot! I'm getting to it!" she growls, huffing before getting back into character. "I, leader of the proud... Oh, forget it. The mood is gone. You know why I'm calling this meeting!"

"... Yeah, I know," Mr. Ellingboe glances around, confusion on his face. "Of course I know. Uh... Midnight brawl?"

"Look around, Aksel! Where is your clan?" Mrs. Krum demands, gesturing around.

Only a handful of people on both sides remained, most not wanting to fight anymore.

"... Huh," Mr. Ellingboe mumbles as he glances around.

"I'll tell you were they are," Mrs. Krum rolls her eyes. "They're at block parties, hayrides, and cookouts!"

"Brunches!" an Ellingboe man shouts. "Don't forget about the brunches."

A Krum woman sobs, "it was a book club that took my poor Sven!"

"You see?" Mrs. Krum shakes her head with a glare. "That postman and school teacher and that old toymaker are brainwashing everyone!"

"What're you saying?" Mr. Ellingboe demands, raising a brow as he sets his hands on his hips.

"I'm saying it's time to join forces against a common enemy," Mrs. Krum turns, stabbing her cane in the ground as the clans gasp. "I'm saying... We need a truce."

"A truce?!" Mr. Ellingboe falls back, two clan members catching him and stabling him. "Have you gone mad?"

"Either we band together to take care of this, or its gonna be all book clubs and cookouts from here on--"

"And brunches!" the same man screams. "Don't forget about the brunches!"

"... Yes, that... That too," Mrs. Krum adds, her face showing annoyance.

Mr. Ellingboe frowns, rubbing his chin. "So... We must join together in peace... To help stop this peace?"

"Our ancestors demand it."

Mrs. Krum firmly replies, Mr. Ellingboe looking down in thought for a moment.

He takes a few steps forward, "for the Ellingboe bloodline!"

"For the Krum's honor," Mrs. Krum also steps forward.

The two raise their hands as she continues, "the clans are on the warpath... Together!"

They shake hands, officially joining together. Their clans cheer and roar, and Magdalone accidentally rings the bell.

Everyone halts, and attacks. They all scream as they brawl, Mrs. Krum sighing heavily and rubbing her temple.

"I... this is gonna take a lot of work."

...

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