Christmas Story by Stonefist

Thank you Stonefist for entering the Christmas Fiction Contest. Here is their story...

(By Dan Peyton)

Over the bleak, cold arctic north a large BADGE landing craft buzzed through the gray skies. Gliding next to it was the stone hero Gargoyle, keenly watching the white land below.

Nova sat in the command seat of this large craft while his trusty robots managed the controls. He touched a comm device attached to his ear, “Anything yet, Gar?”

Gar answered, “Just snow. I...WATCH OUT!”

The proximity alarm went off and the whole craft lurched to the side as something slammed into them. The whole craft spun out of control, the three robots on the bridge rolled about like toys in a storm while Nova kept his firm grip on the command chair.

Nova looked out the front windows as they fell out of the sky and slammed into the ground. Waves of white powder spewed from either side of the ship as they plowed across the frozen north. After the sliding came to a stop, Nova shoved the emergency exit open and jumped out.

Gar landed next to him, "Sir, look!"
A demon approached,“Ah, Director Nova. It’s been a while.”

“What is it this time, Krampus? You and I both know you’re unable to get into Santa’s palace.”

Krampus resembled a man with shaggy hair all over his body, long demonic horns on his head, a long tail, and goat-like legs. He smiled at Nova with those fangs of his, “True, I could never get into that place. But, things have changed.”
“What are you talking about?”

Krampus answers, “These Morphons are spectacular little blessings, now aren’t they? Some humans have been turned almost into gods with them, and some into demons...depends on what they do with them I suppose. I, already being nearly a god myself, found them to be most delightful.”

Nova growled, “What have you done?”

“What I was always meant to do, punish the nasty little brats of this world. And with Santa out of my way, I think I can do my job unhindered. I think I will go eat at least ten thousand children, for starters. I believe that should make up for the lost years with Santa holding me back. Then, who knows? Maybe I’ll eat a few thousand more, all before Christmas.”

“No, you can’t,” Nova exclaimed.

Krampus laughed, “Who will stop me? Without Santa’s cheer, and morphons surging through my body, I am invulnerable. Now, I think I’ll start with a nice aged appetizer.” He jumped at Nova but was blindsided by a full-body slam from Gar. Without a second thought, Gar punched the demon hard enough to send him sprawling ten feet backward across the snow.

“Stay away, monster,” Gar commanded.

Krampus sat there, wiping a trickle of blood from his nose. “You’re an interesting foe. I’ll enjoy playing with you when I’m done. But, alas, I have other plans.” He vanished in a black puff of smoke, leaving only a cackle in its wake.

Nova let out a furious scoff, “This is serious.”
"What was that thing?" Gar asked.
"A demon who dines on little children. Since you can fly, head back to BADGE HQ and alert the leagues that Krampus must be defeated. I’ll stay here and call on any heroes who can help me find Santa and set this all straight. GO!”

Gar took to the skies while Nova headed back into his wrecked ship. He activated his comm, “Nova to all heroes, I need anyone who can help me find Santa, this is a matter of planetary emergency.”

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(By Stonefist)

With B.A.D.G.E.’s enormous resources, heroes all over the globe were activated for the inevitable confrontation. They did not have long to wait as the demon appeared in North America to the terror of children and adults alike. Director Nova struggled to coordinate the response from his crashed landing craft.

This morphon-boosted Krampus was like no opponent B.A.D.G.E. had ever faced. To onlookers, it seemed to fight with glee, enjoying the rush of new power. Wave after wave of defenders entered the fray, only to be tossed aside, some seriously injured. The Krampus clearly had the upper hand. Yet the heroic champions fought on: the cost of losing too great to imagine. Already the demon’s villainous allies had made the fight a global one.

Director Nova, watching live feed from Chicago, exclaimed, “It isn’t even tiring. How can this be? Some of our most powerful heroes are in that fight. It’s laughing. Who laughs in a fight?”

SS: I am here to help, Director Nova. Please let me assist you.

DN: You are the new guy, Stonefist Samurai, or something like that, right?

SS: Yes.

DN: Unless we figure out something quickly, we are going to lose. I will not accept that.

SS: I believe there is a solution to be found here, Director. If you indulge me for a few moments, I think we can find it.

DN: I can handle things here, why aren’t you on your way to the fight?

SS: Not every problem can be solved with a sword or a fist, Director. I believe this is one of them. You have many champions, far more powerful than I, already engaged with the Krampus. When the time comes, I will gladly give my life fighting the Krampus. However, I believe there is another way, an answer which has eluded us. We must take the time to think.

DN: Yes, yes, but shouldn’t we be doing something? Who has time to think in a time like this?

SS: That is the point, Director. I believe this to be part of the Krampus’s strategy. It is forcing us to react to its aggression without planning. We are fighting all over the world, but we aren’t winning. We are engaging, but not getting anywhere. We are losing. We will lose.

The Director let out an audible sigh. “What are you thinking?”

SS: The Krampus and Santa Claus are two beings of immense power. Santa represents generosity, mercy and light. The Krampus representing greed, punishment and darkness. They have been in conflict for years upon years.

DN: And…

SS: Why are they still fighting after all this time? We all know that in every conflict, luck plays a role, as does preparation. Surely, Santa could have found a way to defeat the Krampus by now? We know the Krampus hasn’t killed Santa, he has merely incapacitated him in some way, I suspect the reason is that despite their power, they can’t truly defeat each other.

The director looked aghast. He hadn’t considered this.

SS: They are opposites true, but perhaps one can’t exist without the other. The Krampus seeks to punish evil children. Santa shows mercy and generosity, but is unable to extend this to all children despite his desire to do so. The Krampus is thwarted in trying to gather all the naughty children. They are two halves of a whole. What this means is that Santa must be alive, weakened perhaps, but alive, because the Krampus is still active.

DN: That’s very interesting, but we already know Santa is alive. The Krampus told us.

SS: Let me continue. We’ve watched the news footage. Every one of our agents is involved in a fight somewhere. We have almost no one actually looking for Santa, the one being powerful enough to defeat the Krampus. Moreover, why did the Krampus go to Chicago, or any other big city for that matter? The Krampus has been thwarted for centuries, maybe longer. Now that Santa is out of the way, why not go on a kid-eating binge?

DN: There are lots of kids in Chicago. Probably lots of naughty ones.

SS: True, but with Santa out of the way, he can eat any naughty child he likes. And sure, there may be more kids, but there are also lots of heroes. Chicago is a B.A.D.G.E. regional headquarters. It is also the home of three powerful leagues. So why go somewhere defended to pick a fight? Why not attack somewhere remote where the Krampus could dine at its leisure? The Krampus may be many things, but I do not believe it is foolish or stupid.

DN: So, what are you thinking?

SS: You said it yourself. Who has time to think? That is what the Krampus is counting on. He wants us to react, to jump in, and not consider what is going on. He needs us occupied.

DN: He does seem to be enjoying this fight.

SS: Why does an immortal being, thwarted for centuries, maybe longer, in his life’s goals, take the time to not just pick a fight, but enjoy it? He is playing the long game. He thinks he has all the time he needs. He is confident that he will win. He is planning to wear us down, and dine at his leisure right in front of us.

DN: But how is this possible?

SS: Here is where I need your help, Director. Do you think Santa can be trapped physically in any possible way? From what I understand, he can go anywhere he likes with ease.

DN: Maybe the Krampus found a way to drain his energy, trap him that way.

SS: If what I suspect is true, Santa is trapped, but does not know he is trapped.

DN: What??

SS: Imagine what would happen if Santa missed just one Christmas? It would be chaos. The Krampus would win even if Santa came back. So perhaps, all the Krampus needs is to keep Santa out of the way for a few days. What if Santa is not trapped in a location so much, but in a time?

DN: Holy Holly! Reliving an event over and over? Say, Christmas eve?

SS: That was my thought too. Is this possible? All the Krampus needs is to keep Santa out of the picture for one Christmas. Any longer is a bonus.

DN: Time bubbles are possible, not simple, but possible.

SS: Director, I believe that if Santa were anywhere on Earth, B.A.D.G.E. would find him quickly. Even the Krampus can’t mask that much power and I bet it knows this. So where else? I would choose somewhere out of the way, perhaps the dark side of the moon?

DN: Of course, It makes perfect sense. When can you leave?

SS: Wait? What? I can’t fly, you have many, much more powerful heroes that can take that task. Let me join the fight.

DN: Those champions are currently battling the Krampus or his allies. You’ve said you are no match for him in a fight, but if what you say is true, you’ve still bested him. We have ships that can make it to the moon in less than 4 hours. Pick a team and be ready to leave as soon as you get to the launch site. If you are right, we can still save Christmas.

SS: But what if I am wrong?

DN: Then you can join the fight when you return.

And so, the Samurai called Stonefist and few others, travelled away from the fight to the dark side of the moon. It should surprise no one that Santa was indeed trapped in a particularly well-crafted time-illusion, living out his Christmas eve deliveries, over and over again, completely unaware of his situation.

The trap was deactivated and Santa soon recovered. His cheeks were flushed red with anger as he bid the heroes goodbye. “I must undo this damage quickly,” he said. With his index finger to his nose, he vanished.