???
Bones chose to put his faith...in Linda.
"…Alright." Bones said with a sigh. "I can't make any promises, but I'll do what I can. I'm not convinced…that death is what he really wants."
"Thank you, Bones."
Bones understood. The reason why Linda was so desperate to save Krampus…and the reason she'd come to him, an enemy, when she had nowhere else to turn. In her eyes reflected nobody but the Krampus. Her feelings had been clear from the start…he was just deluding himself into believing she might one day gaze at him the same way. But despite his ladykiller reputation, Bones knew how to be a graceful loser, and a gentleman. He respected that Linda's feelings, but that did not change his own. Linda had come to him on bended knee, willing to do anything to help Krampus - and right now, Bones felt the same way. He wanted to help Linda, no matter what it took. Even if his very own bones were screaming in pain from the previous battle…he had to go back.
"We'd better hurry. Everyone, follow me!!"
Bones raised his axe high in the air, and with the very last ounce of strength in his body he summoned his bone armor once more. The IGNOites let out a rallying cry to prepare themselves for battle - though their political loyalties to Bones were many and varied, they were all more than proud to follow him as a friend.
~~~~~~~~~~
Across the battlefield, the fearsome battle of red and green continued to rage. Krampus had been on the defensive the whole time, trying to get Santa Claus to exhaust his energy reserves…and slowly but surely, it was succeeding. However, Santa began to grow suspicious of Krampus' passive approach.
"What's wrong, Krampus? Weren't you the one who issued this challenge? What happened to the both of us 'getting serious'?" Santa continued to unleash a fury of flaming fists clad in red-green energy, but the Krampus blocked each and every one. "Yet all you do is shield yourself…if you hadn't warned Bones and the others against interfering, I might think you were stalling for time!!"
He was stalling, in a sense…but it wasn't for Bones and the others. Krampus needed to conserve and let his own energy build up so he could strike at the precise moment that Claus' defenses were at their lowest. Then he would be able to grab the bearded buffoon and launch into an attack that not even he would be able to withstand…and with it, he would finally be free.
"Krampus!!"
Linda cried aloud, but there was no way her small voice would be heard against the fearsome wintry wind. So, the other IGNOites called out in her place. As they drew closer to the site of the conflict, two shapes came into view…Krampus was still standing. They weren't too late!!
"What…?"
Krampus turned towards the source of the voices for just a split second too long. The slight distraction was enough to make him miss his window to block Santa's burning elbow, which struck him clear across the chin and caused him to stumble!! With Krampus' balance compromised, Santa spun around and landed a kick fearsome enough to knock him through the air and send him crashing down into the snow. Claus didn't let that opening go to waste - he charged forward with blinding speed, ready to dive on the Krampus and kick him while he was down!!
CLASH!!!
"…?!"
But it wasn't Krampus on the receiving end of Santa's blows…but Bones. He held the cruel Claus' hands back with his Tvær Skeri - the twin axes. It seemed as though Beinskerandi would reform upon his return to human form, so he hadn't needed to recover the axe he'd lost before. However…the crack in his arm where Santa struck him still remained. Bones simply hadn't been given the time to recover his strength enough to repair his armored shell. This detail wasn't lost on Santa - with his flaming middle and forefingers outstretched, he thrust his arm forward in a precision strike against that fracture!!
"Whoa there!! Save those hot fingers for me, big boy!!"
xL had jumped in at the last second, blocking Bones' arm with his own -he had already pulled off the prosthetic and placed his patented arm cannon, The Toaster, in its place!! Santa's blow glanced off the metallic coating like nothing at all, leaving him wide open to be blasted back by a strike from Tim's lightning!!
"…I wasn't sure if I could channel my magic through a different staff, but that seemed to work well. Thanks, Kristof."
"Naturally. That staff is thoroughly enchanted." The ghost replied. "If anything, you may find your spells stronger through it!!"
Santa lay flat on his back in the snow…his powers had clearly waned considerably in the short time Bones had been away. Whatever Krampus had done, it seemed to be working…and though he was looking a bit worse for wear, he was still alive.
"…I thought I told you not to interfere!!" Krampus hissed at Bones angrily.
"Sorry about that, but there's one thing a viking man values more than a warrior's promise - the request of a queen."
As if on cue, Linda floated out from under Bones' hat toward Krampus, coming to perch on his furry shoulder. She grabbed a bundle of his hair and hugged it tightly to her chest.
"…Linda…?"
"I'm so glad you're okay…"
But there was no time for a touching reunion - though he was much weaker than before, that level of attack alone would not be enough to put Santa down.
"Hey, hey, hey…what's all this about…?" He spoke in the now familiar tone, low with quiet anger. "Nine against one…? That hardly seems fair…"
"And what would you know…about playing fair…?" MTS spat back venomously. "All the years you used us to fight Krampus so you would be free to sit back and run your corrupt empire…you lead us to believe he was a monster!!"
"Oh, but he is. Or didn't you notice the horns?"
"The time for jokes is over, descendant." Kristof's voice was stern. "Even you can't win against all of us."
"Oh, but I can. For you see, as long as I have my artifact…my…my arti…fact…?!"
Santa's eyes went wide as the realization hit him - he had foolishly cast the artifact aside!! Krampus had goaded him into splitting himself from the magic artifact that fueled his immortality…and he'd fallen for it hook, line and sinker!! Was this his plan from the start - to get him to exhaust his energy reserves and finish him off at his lowest point?! Santa couldn't let that happen - but he'd foolishly tossed aside the artifact in a show of pride!!
"You…!!"
Santa turned and dashed away from the group in a flash - he could kill them at any time. Right now, he needed to find that artifact before Krampus could, but where?! The sky had long since grown dark, and the snow had continued to fall steadily around them all this time. And what with all the powder they'd kicked up in their skirmish, it could have been half buried by now!! He scrambled around on his hands and knees, frantically digging up piles of snow in search of the faint glimmer of the silvery-gold trinket.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
But the IGNOites weren't about to let him go that easily!! As the crooked Claus rooted around in the snow, LG was on him in an instant. His Gayblade flashed and lit up the dim night sky, painting trails of light as he slashed repeatedly. However, Santa's reflexes were nothing to sneeze at - he managed to roll out of the path of the many loci in the nick of time!! But as he rose back to his feet, he felt his body bump into something…soft. It was squishy, but firm…wait, it couldn't possibly be…
"TITTY TWISTER!!"
MTS caught Santa's chin on the tip of her fist as she jumped into the air…but that was only the beginning of her signature move!! The real damage came as her huge honking hooters smacked him in the face during the spin - once, twice, three times, more and more and more!! The two danced in the sky as the elf princess whirled her body gracefully…or as gracefully as could be with such bulky bazookas flopping to and fro. Finally their tata tango came to an end, and Santa's body was sent crashing violently to the ground.
"I-is not…ovuh…yeh…"
Claus clambered shakily to his feet as he held his bruised jaw in pain…but he wasn't ready to give up. Now he finally understood why it seemed like his blows had been weakening, and why Krampus was focusing on defense the entire time…he wanted Santa to burn up the last of his energy and finish him off now that the artifact was no longer fueling him. He needed the artifact back…as long as he had that, he was invincible, and could grind these pathetic worms into dust with one finger. If he could just…find it…!!
And then, he saw it. It was the faintest glimmer of gold under the moonlight, almost completely buried in the steadily falling snow…but there was no mistaking it. Santa trudged through the snow, half walking and half crawling, and stretched his hand out…his fingertip gently brushed its polished metal surface. And then, it…bent…back…hard, very hard, fingers aren't supposed to bend that way…!!!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Santa Claus howled in pain, but ultimately managed to tear his hand free. And there, sitting pretty atop the prize he sought…was the pixie queen.
"Looking for something?"
"H-hand it over…unless you want to be squashed flat, you miserable little insect!!"
"My my, such a way with words." Linda twirled around mockingly. "But no…I think I'll hold onto it. Such a beautifully-crafted ornament would look simply divine in my palace."
Though Linda's magic was powerful, she wasn't cut out for combat - naturally, a queen doesn't need to sully her own hands, after all. But in the end, it just didn't feel right for her to be the only one who hadn't done anything - so she enclosed the artifact within a small barrier, and not even Santa's hand could touch it.
"You don't understand…the powers you're dealing with…!!"
"No…" came a voice from behind. Santa managed to turn his head just in time to see a large battleaxe cloaked in flame crash down on his skull. "…the one with the misunderstanding is you."
Finally…Santa had stopped moving. His bright-red suit and the blood flowing from his body left a telltale mark in the crisp white snow…that their battle was finished.
"…come on. We have to…help the others…ack…"
Bones, back in his human form, was barely able to stand. He supported himself on Beinskerandi's shaft like a walking cane, but his steps were still shaky and his breathing very labored. LG and MTS took their places at his side, each grabbing one of his arms and slinging it over their shoulders. Bones would normally be too prideful to accept the help, but he was so beat that he couldn't even summon the strength to argue about it.
"You guys coming?" LG asked Krampus and Linda, who both stood over the corpse of their fallen foe. There was no response.
"Let them be…there's probably a lot going through their heads right now." Tim said, ever the voice of reason. "And what about you, Kristof? What will you do now?"
"…I thought I would pass from this world once this job was finished." He looked at his otherworldly hands with a confused expression on his face. "Perhaps my duty is not yet done. Maybe watching over my artifacts to ensure they never again fall into the wrong hands is my responsibility…and my punishment."
"Well, if you ever need a place to crash in IGNOLand, look me up." xL said, pointing his fingerguns at the ghost. "I'm always up for some paranormal pounding."
"Sigh…you'll never change, will you." LG groaned.
"I'll just be glad when everyone is safe and we can go back home and enjoy Christmas together…" Iris said as they worked to recover the bodies of their fallen friends. She picked up the smallest body she could find - SG2's - and slung it over her shoulders. "I feel like I didn't do much to help out, though…"
"Don't sweat it…you're just not cut out for combat, that's all."
LG left Bones in MTS' care and began loading their companions into the abandoned metal sleigh that had been lying there. Thankfully, everyone was still breathing…but several of them had broken bones (or in Bradios' case, a severely-damaged core) and it required careful effort to gather them all up safely.
"Alright…that looks like everyone." LG clapped his hands signaling a job well done. "Not sure this thing is still functional, though…someone might have to get out front and pull it the ol' fashioned way. What about you, xL? You're always on your hands and knees. Just think of it like, what do you call it, Taint-Tickling Thursdays?"
"Fuck you, I have some dignity." xL snapped back angrily. "I'll only bend over if Kristof agrees to make me mush ;)"
"Actually, this is where we part ways." Kristof said, oblivious to the full extent of xL's comment. "I've asked your friend Tim here to take my staff to a specific place…somewhere I believe it will be safe, until I am needed again."
"Right, we need to grab the artifact, too. You guys can go on ahead…I'll catch up with you in Knochenstadt later. At least…that is if we're still doing the Christmas thing?"
"…I'm feeling pretty beat, but honestly…I'd like that." Bones said with a bitter smile.
They had been through so much these past two days…and he began to regret how he'd spent the month shunning these, his closest friends, while dwelling so much on the pixie who got away. Of course, it hurt him to know their future together could never be…but at the same time, he was happy to have been able to help her in the end. Krampus was now free to pursue a life free from the curse that had tormented him. He no longer had any reason to interfere with them, or Christmas in general. And Linda…whatever life she chose…Bones wished her the blessing of utmost happiness.
"Hmm…I know we should hurry back and treat these guys, but I kinda hate to leave without saying goodbye, y'know?" MTS said, having secured some reigns and a harness to xL. It seemed that in spite of his protects, he was willing to 'mush' for anyone.
"I know what you mean, but…" LG cast an aside glance at Bones.
"It's fine. You guys go ahead. I'll wait here. And…" he paused. "…Give them my regards, would you?"
Bones knew in his heart that this was the last time he would see Krampus…and he was just fine leaving it on a positive note.
<p style="text-align: center;">He could not have been more wrong.</p>
The sound of a gunshot rang out through the air. But…who…? LG and the others screamed. What was going on?! Bones pushed himself up out of the sleigh and over to where they'd gone to meet Krampus and Linda…and what he saw made his blood run cold.
There he stood…broken and bloody, but ultimately still intact. His form was just the same as it had been, though there was no longer anything 'super' about him. He was just a twisted man with insane eyes…and an ordinary pistol in his hand. And on the other side, lying crumpled in a heap on the reddening snow…was Krampus.
Santa Claus…had survived.
"H-how…!!"
Bones made to run towards him, but he couldn't even lift the weight of his axe…and so he stumbled forward, landing on his face in the snow. With the gun pointed ahead, Santa grinned and showed off what was gripped tightly in his other hand…
"Linda!!"
"Nobody moves…or I squeeze this one so tight her head pops clean off."
"Kh…!!"
They had been careless!! Santa was reaching for the artifact when Bones struck him down…and so, when his body fell, his head landed a hair's breadth away from it. It was just enough…that with the last of his strength, he was able to call out to it and make a final wish. The artifact was destroyed in the process…but in exchange, it had revived Santa Claus from the brink of death. Bones thought back to Kristof's words from earlier…
"That artifact was sealed away for a reason!! It was never meant to be used - its potential for abuse was too great!! I tried to destroy it, but it…resisted. It seemed to have a will of its own, an evil power."
The artifact had sensed Santa's desperation…and granted him the power for one last shot. And he had taken that shot literally…
"I may have lost my immortality…but I'll find a way to get it back. There are tons of secret treasures lying all over IGNOLand, I'm sure at least one of them can be of use to me!!" Santa laughed maniacally. "But first I need to finish off the rest of you rabble!! Fortunately I've got just enough power left in me for one…final…blaaaaaaaaaaaast!!!"
Santa threw out his arms and leaned back, an overwhelming aura bursting out from his body. Only this time, it wasn't the signature red-green color of Christmas energy, but a sinister purple-black. The blast radiated out from him in a huge dome and the sky seemed to twist and warp within it, almost as though a black hole would come to swallow them all up if they got caught inside!! The IGNOites turned and ran, but they weren't quick enough - the shockwave of energy erupted outwards and threw them violently to the ground…
When the dust cleared, Santa himself was breathing heavily…and what was left of his clothing was torn and tattered. He had already dropped the gun, but his grasp on Linda remained unflinchingly tight. It was clear that he had very little strength left in him after such a gigantic attack…but he wasn't done yet. He knew better than to assume 'down' and 'out' were one in the same…and he understood well the tenacity of these IGNOites. Though the tiger and her friends never came back after his first attack, his power had faded considerably since that time…and he needed to make sure Bones and the others did not survive to defy him again.
With heavy, crunching footsteps, Claus stomped over to the body of the ringleader of this bunch - Bones. He brought his boot down hard on Bones' unprotected chest, but the Konungur didn't scream…he didn't even have the energy for that much anymore. But that only made Santa angrier, as though Bones was trying to rob him of that satisfaction and remain defiant to the end…
"Scream, damn you…" Santa huffed. "It's because of you that everything wound up this way. My workshop in shambles, my immortality compromised…and now…and now…!!"
Blood sputtered up soundlessly from Bones' throat.
"You…refuse…to give me my gratification…" Santa's voice was now little more than a hiss between his teeth. "I wonder how you'd feel…if it were one of your friends in danger, instead…"
Santa waved Linda in front of Bones' face…his eyes grew wide, but it was exhausting to even react. He was doing all he could just to avoid passing out…what could he possibly do to save her? Nearly all the bones in his body were broken…which was ironic, considering his name. He couldn't even scream for help…but if he could, who would he call? The others were surely no better off…
It was hopeless. They'd finally…lost. At least, in the end, they had put up an honorable fight…that should be enough to please the gods at the gates of Verdhöll. Bones smiled bitterly, ready to accept the end.
"AAAAAAH!!!"
There was a jolt. Santa instinctively yanked his hand back and shook it in pain. And then the fire in his eyes swirled with lunacy.
"YOU INSOLENT PEST!!"
Santa swatted the air, trying to recapture Linda, who had managed to escape. She may not have had any combat experience, but because of that, she was the only one whose energy had not been completely exhausted. She spun through the air, scattering a cloud of shadow spores in the mad Claus' face - they wouldn't deal any damage, but it should be enough to blind him for a moment or two!!
"Bones…come on, get up!! Quickly, come on!!"
Linda buzzed around Bones' face, trying to get him back on his feet…but it was useless. He couldn't even move his mouth to tell her not to waste her time on him.
"…you can't move at all, can you…alright, fine. Take some of my energy…and please, get up!!"
Bones vaguely felt Linda land on his hand, which lay outstretched across the ground…but his arm was broken, and he couldn't lift his head to see it for himself. It seemed like she was trying to do something with his fractured fingers, but he couldn't feel anything either. Or at least, that's what he thought…but faintly, very faintly, he felt a small spark. It was like the weak shock of static electricity…and slowly, it spread throughout his fingertips. Then, his entire hand began to shake. The energy traveled up his arm, to his shoulder, through his neck…and all the way into his brain. Bones' eyes instantly snapped open and his upper body jerked off the ground. He raised his hand to his face and stared down at the pixie, dumbfounded…
"What did you do to me?"
"It won't be enough to do much, but you can at least run!! Come on, hurry!!"
Linda dragged him by the finger as she began to float away - of course, she wasn't actually pulling him, but he went along with it and followed after. Santa was still screaming wildly and trying to regain his vision…but he would recover soon. And what then?
"Where can we even go?!"
"Wherever we can!! Anywhere but here!! There's no longer anywhere in the Ice Plains we can survive!!"
"But…my friends…"
"…I don't have enough magic to revive them all. I only had enough left to save one…"
"…why me? Why not Krampus?"
Linda shook her small head. She opened her mouth a couple of times, but closed it, biting back the words she didn't want to say. It looked like he must have been beyond the point of saving. Bones cursed himself…it was all his fault. If only he had made sure that his final strike was actually a deathblow…!!
"Listen…Bones." Linda broke his train of thought with a soft voice. "Get to the sleigh. Take the friends you've loaded onto it, and get back to your ship. Leave IGNOLand and sail far, far away. Somewhere not even Santa Claus would be able to find you."
"…I won't abandon my country, or my people."
"Bones!!"
"I won't abandon the friends who are still here…"
"Don't you understand?! He's going to kill us all!!"
"And I won't abandon you!!"
Bones snatched Linda out of the air and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. The energy Linda had given him may have been faint…but it was enough to give him a second wind. The adrenaline would have to take over from here!!
"Why won't you think about yourself for once?!" Linda cried, peering out from the gap between his fingers. "Even someone as small as me will just slow you down!!"
"No matter how big or small, I won't desert the people I care about!!"
By now, Santa had recovered, but Bones had escaped under the cover of darkness and the raging blizzard. This would not stand - he wouldn't be satisfied until every last one of those interfering interlopers was dead beneath his foot!!
"Where are you…?"
Claus skulked about like a hungry predator. It was only a matter of time before he found his prey. If only Bones had made a run for it while he had the chance, he may have been able to escape - but instead, he dragged the metal sleigh, now heavy with the many bodies of his friends across the snow. He had to be sure he'd gathered everyone - they would either escape together, or die together. The proud and loyal Konungur wouldn't have it any other way!!
"…10, 11, 12…isn't that all of them?" Linda frantically counted the bodies on the sleigh. "Hurry and get out of here!!"
"No…there's still one more. But where…?"
"Who are you missing?! I see all of them here…look, there's even an extra!!" she exclaimed, pointing at the unconscious Rasha. "You're not thinking about the ghost are you?"
"No…"
"Then who?!"
That was when Bones noticed it - a particularly large bloodstain on the snow. And the indentation left around it…there was no mistaking it. And yet, there was no body to be found. That's when it hit him - and in an instant, he understood why the body had disappeared.
"He couldn't be…dammit!!"
"What?! Bones!!"
Bones bolted away from the sleigh back in the direction from which they'd come. He was trying to go right back to Santa Claus…and to the person he knew must be facing him down at this very moment. But as he worked his way through the blinding darkness, he found himself running smack dab into…
"What is this?! A wall?"
Even though it was dark, Bones should still have been able to see two feet in front of him. And yet, it was as though there was nothing there - all that stretched out around them was the vast expanse of white. So what was standing in his way?!
"…no…" Linda looked up at Bones with tears in her eyes. "Bones, this is…a forcefield."
Having just finished loading the bodies of Bones' fallen friends onto the sleigh, they both understood. Every one of the IGNOites was accounted for…even Kristof, whose staff Tim was still gripping tightly when he had fallen. Aside from Santa Claus, and aside from themselves, there was only one person left who could have possibly made this barrier…and once you understood that, the reason behind it was clear.
He didn't want them to try and stop him this time.
~~~~~~~~~~
Santa's rage was building. He could sense his presence on the air…but Linda's shadow spores had a lingering effect that left his vision blurred and unsteady. But as he focused his other senses, he noticed it - the faint sound of footsteps crunching across the snow. Behind him? Beside him? Even in front of him? Santa could no longer tell. By now, even his ordinarily sharp intellect had become so tainted by anger that he was acting on little more than instinct. And that instinct told him that his enemy would strike…
From behind!!
Santa turned in an instant, roaring like a beast - but there was nothing there. He sniffed at the air…someone was definitely here. So why…?! And then it hit him - 'behind' was behind. Though he had turned his body in the other direction, his intuition…was not wrong.
"What?!"
He realized it just a second too late as strong, furry arms wrapped around his torso, securely locking him in place.
"KRAMPUS!!"
"Your aim was as poor as ever…but it makes sense. You always did prefer to let others take the shots for you…didn't you?"
"Release me at once, or I'll–"
"You'll what?" Krampus' voice was cold and steady. "There's no longer anything you can do. You've lost your precious artifact, and you used up the last of energy it had given you in your attempt to wipe out the others. But I still have one ace up my sleeve…"
From the very start, Krampus had planned to sacrifice himself in a massive explosion using his very life force. It wasn't that he wanted to die…but somehow, he knew it would come down to this in the end. The gay one…what was his name, LG? He had urged Krampus to put his trust in them…but he just wasn't able to cast aside his doubts and believe in their power. And sure enough, it had wound up like this…each and every one of them, beaten and broken. For as much as they had weakened Claus, it simply wasn't enough - and in the end, the only power Krampus found himself able to believe in was his own.
As he made his way over here, he had noticed Bones escaping with Linda. He had hoped that she would at least be able to find safe refuge away from this place…and thrown up a barrier at the last minute to ensure their safety. It wasn't so much to keep them out as it was to keep Claus in. Here, inside this tiny space sealed by the forcefield made from the last shred of Krampus' strength…the two of them would finally leave this world. Never again would anyone be tormented by the Santa Claus…and at long last, Krampus would be free.
Inside their tiny world, there should have been no sound…but Krampus heard a faint banging noise. His arms still wrapped snugly around his quarry, Krampus glanced over his shoulder to see Bones and Linda, furiously pounding on the wall of the barrier…and if he listened closely, he could even make out their words.
"Krampus!! Stop this!!"
"Let us in!!"
He could have run away…he had plenty of opportunities. But in spite of that, Bones had come back…? Why would he do that? Krampus thought back on LG's words…
"You have to trust us. Believe that we won't betray you…and in turn, promise you won't betray us!! If you can do that, I swear…we'll find a way to save you!!"
"…I was a fool to the end, wasn't I…"
But it was too late. He had Santa right where he wanted him - he couldn't back down now. If only he had realized it sooner, perhaps things could have turned out differently. But as it was now, this was their greatest and last hope of victory.
"…Hey, Bones. Do me a favor, would you? …don't let the world know the truth about this Santa Claus. One bad apple shouldn't have to spoil the whole bunch. And I don't want anyone to think of me as a hero. Krampus should be remembered as a monster for as long as he can, until the very last person has forgotten I ever existed. That's my last request. I'd appreciate it…if you actually honored it this time."
"Krampus, please stop!!" Linda fired multiple magic bolts at the barrier as tears streamed down her face, but it was no use - nothing even put a dent in it. "You don't have to do this!!"
"…Bones. Take care of Linda for me…will you? She's stubborn and incorrigible, but I know deep down…no. I don't need to say it. I'm…counting on you, okay?"
"Krampus…" Bones placed his palms against the forcefield - no longer was he trying in vain to break it down. Krampus had made up his mind…and there was nothing they could do to change that anymore.
Santa had been struggling in his captor's grasp the entire time, but it was hopeless. He'd exhausted the last of his stamina in his final dark energy burst…and now, even Krampus' meager strength was more than enough to hold him.
"UNHAND ME, UNHAND ME!!!"
"Come on, at least have a little dignity in the end…you're going to want it when you face your brother and father in the next world."
"NOOOOOO!!!"
Krampus squeezed Santa so tight it was as though the two had melted together…and a blinding flash of light began to spread from their interlocked forms. It radiated outward in a great dome, consuming everything in its path…every tree, every rock, every trace of fallen debris was swallowed up and engulfed by the light. It traveled up their bodies from the bottoms of their feet…but even as their bodies were rapidly atomized, Krampus' smile never wavered.
Once and for all, he knew he had succeeded…and for the first time in longer than he could remember, he was happy. He may not have even realized why…but as he looked on at Linda from beyond the barrier, he felt like he understood something more. A deeper emotion than all the years he'd spent caught up in his desire for revenge against a long-dead ghost…the satisfaction of being able to fight for, and protect others. And not only Linda, or Bones. It was knowing that never again would anyone be tormented by this Santa Claus. That the Christmas he had fought for so long to try and destroy…was now the one he would die to protect.
Hey, are you watching, Kristof…? Are you…proud of me? I think, more than anything else, I wanted…to earn your forgiveness.
As the dome of light reached the innermost edges of the forcefield, it had nowhere to go but up…and with an extraordinary burst, it spiraled upwards and shot towards the heavens…
"KRAAAAAAAMPUUUUUUS!!!"
The tempestuous blizzard drowned out the sound of Linda's cries as the ball of light was swallowed up by the sky. And then finally…the barrier enclosing them faded away like sugar in water. It was the ultimate sign that Krampus, the one who had made it…was no longer of this world.
But Linda could not be consoled…and as the barrier crumpled, she flew straight towards the source of the explosion without a single care for her own safety. But the light had already faded…and any trace that the two had been there in the first place no longer existed. Not even a single hair remained…this time, without a shadow of a doubt, both Santa Claus and Krampus were gone.
Bones understood that nothing he could say would be able to console Linda…so he didn't even try. With a final glance at the last resting place of his long-time foe…Bones turned and walked back to the sleigh. After all, he still had his own friends to worry about. Though the sacrifice of this battle had been great, he knew his friends (well, except for Iris) were tough. But before they could begin on the path to recovery, their injuries would need to be treated.
With nothing but the ordinary medical science of the human world, this could have taken weeks, if not months…but Bones had an extra secret up his sleeve. For the first time ever, he would bring them to his secret palace in the Realm of the Gods, a place that not even his most trusted official SG2 knew existed. There they would be given a panacea that would cure them instantly…but lose all memory of how it happened. Which was of course convenient for Bones, as he would be able to keep the existence of this palace and his divine nature a secret from them. It would allow the plot to move forward in a seamless manner without actually compromising any gigantic plot revelations that would be best served revealed later at Bones' own discretion.
And so, they finally returned to Knochenstadt late into the night of Christmas Eve…though by now, it was officially December 25th. Aside from the last part, Bones filled his friends in on what had happened while they were unconscious…downplaying the extent of their injuries slightly to avoid any suspicions as to how they recovered so quickly.
"So Krampus…is really gone?" SG2 asked, having missed 90% of the entire conflict…which was funny, since she was usually the one who'd save the day.
"And he actually sacrificed himself to take out Santa Claus…" said Karma, sipping her blood-spiced hot cocoa with a side of blood-engorged ticks. "If I didn't know any better, I'd call you a liar. It's just so hard to believe."
"I disagree." LG swallowed his mouthful of cookie faster than xL on Super Suckin' Sundays at the Gas Station Next Door. "A part of me could always tell that there was something not fully evil about Krampus…call it light user's intuition. I had a feeling he'd end up being a good guy in the end…I just wish we could have saved him."
The room had gone somber. Everyone, regardless of their previous feelings for Krampus…felt a sense of loss that night. Though many of them weren't even present for the bulk of the events, the tale spun by Bones made them realize just how little they'd understood this strange being called Krampus. They were told he was a villain who wanted to destroy Christmas…but at the same time, they'd completely fallen for Santa Claus' good guy act and were utterly blindsided by the truth. If someone like Santa Claus could hide such a terrible secret…was it possible that Krampus was keeping his true self hidden beneath the facade of the bad guy all this time?
Only Bones, who had been there to witness his final moments, could say…but he didn't. He had sworn to honor Krampus' last request - to not let himself be remembered as a hero. Though the IGNOites were allowed to form their own conclusions from his story, Bones would neither negate nor confirm their interpretations. Truth…was a fleeting thing. No matter how Krampus had lived his life, it was the record left behind after he was gone that would carry his reputation into the future.
Krampus' final wish…was that there be no such record. Tales of his existence would continue to pass down through oral tradition, eventually fading from warning stories of a real monster into imaginary tales of legend…and then, eventually, he would be forgotten completely. One day, any history that the creature called Krampus actually existed…would be completely erased.
But even if the world would someday forget him, Bones swore an oath to himself. He alone would never forget. And if history were to mark him down as a villain, then Bones alone would remember him as a hero. A hero who gave his life to protect something other than his own well-being.
For her to love you as much as she did…I know there was more to you than that.
"So what now?" SG2 asked, yawning as she lay back on the sofa. "It's already…geez, one in the morning. And I know some of you guys have plans of your own for tomorrow…"
"Yeah, I should probably be heading back to Blood Country." Karma set her mug down on a coaster and went to fetch her armor from the armor rack. "Oh, by the way, I got word from Algernon via comm scroll earlier. Sounds like Fluffyfang made it back okay - his wing was a bit banged up, but he's doing fine."
"That's great!!" Reese, in female form once more, was enthusiastic, having taken quite a shine to the warbat. "I bet Rasha would be happy to hear it as well."
"Actually, speaking of which…what happened to that kid, anyway?" Atlas asked. "And come to think of it, Azaran isn't here either…"
"Azaran never comes to these parties. I'm guessing he took Rasha back with him to his Sanctuary in the city."
"I hope the little guy's alright." Bradios said, tinkering with his Scanner. Naturally, Bones' panacea didn't do much good on fixing his mechanical parts, but Brad was already experienced with repairing his own body and was practically good as new. "Maybe we should pay him a visit after the holidays."
"…YOU GUYS, WAIT!!" xL said suddenly, sitting up in his chair.
"If this is another sex pun, I swear to the Rainbow–"
"No, I'm serious!! I just realized something!! With Santa Claus gone…who will deliver the presents?!"
Everyone's eyes went wide - they had completely forgotten about the presents!!
"W-well…" MTS cleared her throat. "Maybe this is a good thing. We wanted to stop Santa's plan to make Christmas so commercialized…maybe when people wake up to an empty tree, they'll realize the true meaning of Christmas is about love, family, and togetherness…?"
That was almost certainly not what would happen. Still, it was a little too late for alternatives…so the IGNOites accepted MTS' glass-half-full approach as they parted ways into the night. Tomorrow would be a busy day for many of them - and for all of IGNOLand, it would mark a new beginning for Christmas traditions. But what remained in store for that future remained to be seen…
<
p style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Little more than one year had passed since the fateful battle of Christmas Eve. Bones stood with his scarf-like cape hiked up to his neck as the wintry afternoon wind of the Ice Plains blew through his long hair. He had come to pay his respects at a small grave marker, planted in the spot where Krampus had made his final sacrifice. It really was just a pathetic thing of a stone…there was no name, date, or any information carved on it. Anyone who passed by this area would have no idea who or what this stone was commemorating. And that was exactly what he would have wanted.
However, it held meaning to the two who had come here to visit. Bones clasped his hands together and spoke words silently inside his heart…as long as he didn't speak them aloud, no one would understand what they were. But Bones knew those words would reach him, in whatever world he may have been watching from…and as the midday sun shone down on the pair, he thought he could feel him looking down on them with a smile.
"Come on, Bones. We're going to be late."
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
Bones bowed and said one final goodbye to the tenant of the grave…and turned to walk away. The frozen tower that loomed over the mountain top looked upon their passing in silence. Though it was but a short walk from here to the pier, the two walked briskly, not wanting to miss their deadline.
"I don't know what the big deal is. Whether I show up in person or not, everyone is well aware of my iron fist fluffy hugs."
"The big deal is that it's a summit for international leaders…of which you are one." The woman chastized him. "Honestly, I can't believe you've never been to one of these before!! Even the Wayward Woods recognizes the importance of these meetings."
"Hmph…"
Linda, magically enhanced to human size, stepped off the dock and onto the boat that would take them to their destination. She held a hand out to the Konungur, which he took and pulled himself aboard. Bones didn't understand why they had to take an ordinary passenger ship instead of one of the vessels from his fleet…but then again, he didn't understand how he'd gotten roped into going to one of these things in the first place. But Linda had said it was an important duty for the royals of IGNOLand…the little old ladies sitting on the deckside seats peered out the window and giggled at the two, who must have looked like a young couple. Bones scratched the back of his head in mild embarrassment.
Bones and Linda - though they had grown closer in the year since the battle with Santa Claus, they were not involved romantically. Linda stood by what she had told him the year before, and Bones respected her wishes. Besides…he knew that she still carried a torch for Krampus, and it would take a long time for those feelings to fade…assuming they ever did. Even so, he was happy enough to be by her side, even if it was just as an alliance between fellow rulers. Unlike the year he had spent consumed by his festering feelings, Bones heart now felt at ease.
And who knows? Perhaps someday, their relationship could develop further beyond that of friends and allies. But for now, this was enough. Bones was satisfied.
…but was this really the best way for everything to end? Santa Claus was defeated, and things ultimately worked out alright. But in the pit of Bones' stomach, he felt as though something wasn't quite right. One year ago, on that fateful night, what if he had done things differently? Could a small change in his choice turn this bittersweet tale on its head?
Perhaps this was only one potential outcome in a sea of possibilities. With only a small twist of fate, the entire shape of this world may have changed…
