Red hummed softly, carefully carving the wheels for a car. He could technically just magic up a wooden car but anything made from magic tend to be..well, magical. Unacceptable to give to kids nowadays. A honest shame since Magic was his best quality.

The olden Elves liked to speak of the times when magic was free and they didn't work for Sir Santa. But you would be punished for even listening to the stories. Rarely do they get to hear about them since the decline of Christmas Spirit. Sir had been getting madder and more willing to drink eggnog.

Red wanted to leave, to spread joy in his own way. But... He peeked at the post board where the Head of Wooden Toys walked up. His small flier pausing, the Head looked sad and upset with his eyes red. "Another one."

"Who is it?"

"Someone from the Electric department.."

Everyone froze, staring at the photo. It was their Head's youngest daughter! A bright young girl who was only sixteen Christmas seasons old! She was the brightest one in their generation, not only is she smart but she could make up for three elves.

Red looked at the post and photo, his eyes burning as his heart stopped. A beautiful girl with blonde pigtails and rosy cheeks stared at them.

Name: No. 9413

Age: 16

Crime: Giving to Naughty Kids

Punishment: One Month in the Mines

Candy was a sweet girl with a big heart, Red knew that before the new policy, she would never give a gift to a Naughty Kid. But this new Policy has changed the way kids are sorted out. There was no doubt that the Naughty Kids were probably once Good Kids.

To send her to the Mines?

Candy, the one who can barely lift thirty pounds? Who already has a hard time breathing with daily medicine? It was a death sentence!

Red looked down as the Head started to cry, ordering everyone to go back to work. Before going back to his office with his blinds closing. Three days later, the miners found her body when the lunch bell rang. Her lungs had give up on her after the vents had an accident, causing a dust cloud to be spit out of them.

When the current Head got replaced, Red started to make plans. First thing he had to was getting transferred to the cleaning crew.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

He had spent nearly a whole year of working on getting moved up in the crew. With his magic and past with no marks of Betrayal or anything like that, it was easy. In his first month of cleaning Santa's Workshop, he was in and out. Second, he was sorting out the books to Sir's preferences, taking more time. Third, he had access to the list.

In his fourth month, he had found Santa's Hidden Portal in a snow globe. He didn't do anything, just continue his job with his head down and avoiding HIM. Until, until the Big Day came.

Christmas was here and Santa had left. Red didn't hesitate to pack up and steal gold from the vault. His little Bag was filled with goods and anything he may need. Without caring who saw or what they said, he ran here and there, grabbing what he needed. No Elf had ran away before, being too loyal and honest for such a thing.

Red took everything from his house, even taking out his parents' Bags, attaching it to his slash. Then he ran to the market with all his saved money, buying cloth, raw cooking materials and some medicine.

The next part was the hardest for him.

…ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ

Red looked at the armed elves, they were the only ones allowed to wear red and white outfits besides Santa and His Wife. The Guards, a group he was trained for and had hoped to be a part of. Until his parents- he shook his head and quietly put out his staff.

"Red?" One of the guards looked at him, it was Teddy. He was a bigger elf, nice and sweet. Red smiled at him, before knocking him out with a smooth swing. Immediately, he was surrounded by the others.

He dodge a spike of candy cane and threw a ball of boiling hot cocoa at the female elf. He kicked the nearest Guard to the wall, before doing the splits, barely missing the beautifully crafted ornament. The teal ball shattered against another elf, white marshmallow swallowed the poor elf up. He apologized before continuing.

He grabbed mini gingerbread men from his Bag, yelling a spell as he threw on the ground. They grew until they were slightly taller than them, hardened gumdrops shot out of their mouths. He ran into the room while they were dealing with them, he kept throwing the gingerbread down.

When he got to the place where the snow globe used to be. Keywords, USED TO BE! He turned everything upside-down with his magic, worry and panic settling inside his heart. That portal was Santa's personal one, he should've-he hid it!

Where could it be-he didn't hide it! He moved it!

Red got to the globe just as the Guards rushed in. He pushed all of his magic into it, not knowing where he would be going. Anywhere would be better, he thought as he jumped into the little portal.

"No.9386! Stop!"