Carol... And that's the whole story Rudolph came running in knocked over little bud and told me what I told you.
Santa... Well that's a big problem I will have to talk to the reindeer.
Carol... Santa, I have a present for you.
Santa... What is it Carol?
Carol... We need another cradle made and girly things I am having a boy and a girl.
Santa... That is cheerful news I shall run to my workshop and shout it to my elves. And have a word with the Elf Council on what to do about the reindeer strike.
Carol... I will go to the barn to tend the reindeer and have a word with them and hopefully change their minds.
They walk out the room and too the door Carol getting her coat on.
Lucy... Hello Carol. Anything I can assist you with?
Carol... Lucy bright as ever. I am just going to the barn to tend the reindeer and have a word with them they decided to go on strike this Christmas.
Lucy... I shall help you feed them you shouldn't be carrying buckets of feed in your condition. Oh my goodness! That's not a good idea if they did that. Then the children all over the world will be sad. They wont recieve presents.
Carol... And worse the magic will die. Kids beliefs in santa is what keeps the magic alive like belief in tooth fairies and easter bunnies. Beliefs in fairies and mother nature is what keeps things alive like I marrying Santa and how our son and future children are your half brothers and sister your brother is Santa's son and therefore my stepson. Just like your my step daughter same mother but different fathers. But you call him uncle Scott.
Lucy... I know I figured that out when I was 13 but I like calling him uncle Scott him and dad get along like brothers. And I like this place.
They walk into the barn.
Lucy... Comet.
Comet... Lucy! Santa never said you was coming when did you get here?"
Comet walked forward.
Lucy petted comet.
Lucy... Comet I heard what you planned and Santa is very mad too.
Charlie. Yeah comet how could you think of ruining everything for everyone around the world?
He held bud in his arms.
Carol... Lucy, Charlie, I don't think the third degree of shaming them will work. Charlie you check the stalls for cleaning and I will fill their water troughs and Lucy you lay their feed out I will discuss with them afterwards.
Comet... No we will discuss this now the kids are right to be cross with us.
Carol... Go on.
Comet... The fur of the harness is coming off and the bells are also loose and tarnishing.
Dancer... And our hooves are getting worn from standing a certain way on slanted roofs it would be nicer to land in front of the house.
Prancer... And the reins are starting to fray as well as our harnesses the bolt is coming off. The only one that dont has a rein or harness is red nose Rudolph.
Dasher... And hearing our names be said over and over all night is getting tiring.
Carol... So you want to go on strike without considering the consequences?
Comet... Consequences?
Carol... Yes you dash all kids beliefs in Santa Claus and this place will lose its magic you will no longer speak you wont be able to fly Santa will lose his magic and lose his beard and weight the elves in this happy villiage will start aging they will not know how to make toys they will be normal kids. The tooth fairy and Easter bunny will no longer have powers. Even mother nature may lose her powers. And that one thing thats worse than anything else than losing the magic.
Comet... Worse?
Lucy... One of two things will happen.
Charlie... One we are stuck here forever.
Lucy... Or two we wake up in our homes no memory of this place and you reindeer wake up in a farm someplace in Alaska.
Comet... That is horrible. I will think about what to do the others will do the same. Won't you?
The others nodded in agreement.
Charlie quickly cleaned the stalls with a few elves while Lucy and Carol fed and watered the reindeer.
Suddenly an elf was shouting for Mrs Claus to come quickly.
Carol... What is the matter feral?
Feral... Its a surprise.
He tugged her to the stall at the end.
Carol... Oh how lovely a foal.
Feral... The other one is coming out but I can't pull it.
Carol... Go get Bernard.
Feral ran out in search of Bernard actually running right into him.
A young Elf that still looks in his teens.
Bernard... Slow down feral your liable to run into a group of elves carrying cakes and knock everything over like dominos.
Feral... Quick a foal needs pulling.
Suddenly Lucy and Charlie end up on the floor and water going everywhere.
Carol and Feral and Bernard rush to help.
Santa came in and seen the mess.
Santa... Another junior in training? Whats the fuss?
Feral... Oh I completely forgot. A foal needs pulling Santa the Chestnut is popped.
Santa... Well let us go deliver this package.
Bernard and Carol pulled the reindeer off Charlie and Lucy.
Charlie examined the reindeer.
Lucy... Next time walk until you can fly. If you fly then do it slowly.
The reindeer said sorry.
Charlie... Nothing broken and no cuts.
Carol... Thats good.
Santa... There we go two foals. The mare got up and shook her mane. I say she needs a good rub down then some special herbs to help contend with those motherly cramps after carrying those foals.
Carol... Scott what did the Elf Council say on the matter?
Santa... You havent called me Scott since before we was married. But the Council said if it comes down to it they will put the sleigh on a metal contraption with jet packs strong enough to handle the sleigh and six elf piolots in exchange of reindeer. And they asked me to go ahead a week before Christmas to look in on a certain teen who either will come live here with us to escape from the world she is in now or to change for the better.
Carol... What is the case? Elves never usually do that sort of thing.
Santa... Her father is being mean and she is a valuable asset for the elves. Her mother lives here she is daughter of Mother Time granddaughter of father time. His daughter went to the small town to be normal for a bit she met Mercedes father but then she felt father time calling for her and she came back after Mercedes was born and took her place as Time keeper.
Carol... Do be careful then. And tell Mercedes she is welcome to come home where she belongs.
Santa... I will but if she chooses to not come back then it is her choice.
Mother time... Give this time glass to her tell her the sands of time is in the center turn it over times three and hold me in her heart and time will lift her to me. I miss my child with all I have. She said handing santa the little time glass on a chain.
Santa... Dont worry Mother time. I am sure she will come when she hears the chimes of time.