Cain woke up falling through the ice-cold air, looking down at the ground as snow fell all around him. He looked up and saw clouds. He pinched himself. This was no nightmare.

“What?!” shouted Cain.

“I tried to wake you up,” said Krampus. “You wouldn’t get up. I told you — we had to get up early today.”

Krampus grabbed Cain by the shoulder. The pair slowly floated down to the tarmac in the back of Santana’s Workshop. As they floated down, Cain spotted the giant candy cane that marked the center of the actual North Pole, topped with a giant red glowing gumdrop. Cain wouldn’t have been surprised to find out that the candy cane was made of real sugar, given what he’d learned about Christmas magic over the holiday season.

“Oh shit,” cursed Cain, causing his mark to burn.

Hey, said Vixen. Don’t forget the rules.

You’re back? Cain asked the reindeer spirit. Where’s my bear?

Back in the snow globe, said Vixen. Krampus did the switch while you were asleep. I think he was worried you might’ve been a runner or something.

“Krampus, I need to go back,” said Cain. “The bakery, I promised Candy I’d explain it all to her.”

“Why didn’t you do that last night?” asked Krampus. “Cain…”

“I know, I know,” said Cain. “So, can I go back?”

“No,” said Krampus. “There’s a Christmas emergency, and they need all hands on deck. Nobody’s leaving The North Pole unless they’re hitched up to Santana’s magical sleigh.”

“Candy, it’s break time,” said Avery, coming up to her curvy employee. “Want to go get some fresh air?”

“I’m okay,” said Candy. “I, uh, am waiting for someone.”

“Oh, Cain?” asked Avery.

“The way you said that makes it sound like…you don’t think he’s going to show up,” admitted Candy.

“Krampus and I were dealing with a work emergency last night,” said Avery. “It’s, uh, not related to the bakery, but it means Cain had to go away early today, on his special assignment.”

“He promised he was going to come by,” said Candy. “Guess he frikkin’ ghosted me. If a guy does that to me during the holiday season, does that mean he ‘Christmas ghosted’ me?”

“Cain likes you, Candy,” said Avery. “This was outside of his control.”

“Yeah, but he chose to make a promise he couldn’t keep,” said Candy.

“The eight of you gathered here are the only eight shifters that were willing to help with The Ride,” said Santana, pacing the room in front of the eight people who were all clad in identical black tactical outfits, complete with boots and earpieces. “The eight of you are our only shot at Operation Don’t Let Christmas Get Fuckin’ Ruined.”

Cain couldn’t believe it. He’d just heard Santana ‘Santa’ Claus frikkin’ curse. He looked down the line as Santana made his way back down the line. Pandora Claus, Jack Frost, Krampus, and even Boreas Winter were suited up. Three other shifters, who Jack had learned were ice elementals during his first briefing, were watching Santana intently.

The last-minute emergency reindeer training had been brutal. Cain had ended up being the most experienced reindeer shifter in the group, the best at flying, but he was still stuck in the second row of reindeer, as the sled was always led by Dasher and Dancer. One of the ice elementals had Prancer’s shift, so Cain didn’t expect much in the way of conversation. The elementals were all chilly and stoic.

“I’m not here to blame anyone about what’s happened this year,” said Santana pointedly, looking at Boreas. “What’s done is done. I cannot force other ice elementals to lead my sleigh during The Ride. The three of you penguins that volunteered, even without having done the special training — thank you. This is definitely enough to keep you three on The Nice List for quite some time.”

“Ahem,” coughed Boreas.

“The five of you were-penguins, sorry,” Santana apologized in a half-ass way. “The reindeer shifts you’ve been given have led my sleigh for ages. Listen to them and listen to the comms station back at The Workshop. They’ll tell you what to do. Remember, our comms devices are made with Christmas magic — when you shift into a reindeer, the headset will change to fit your reindeer’s head. When you talk into them, your voice will automatically get translated from animal to human. We can all hear everything over the comms channel, so keep the channel clear unless it’s absolutely necessary to say something. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” said all eight of the temporary reindeer shifters.

“Then why the fuck is my sleigh still on the ground?” asked Santana, taking two fingers to whistle. “Move, move, move!

“It’s a party, Candy, why aren’t you having fun?” asked Avery. Avery, Brie, and some of the other employees were all sitting around watching cheesy Christmas cartoons while eating the day-olds. It was their little holiday office party. The only person without a smile on their face was Candy.

“I just…it’s stupid, never mind,” said Candy.

“Tell me,” said Avery. “You should be having fun, enjoying yourself. There’re pastries, drinks, good music. What’s not to love?”

“It’s not about what’s here. It’s about what’s missing,” said Candy. “You know Christmas is my favorite holiday, right?”

“I gathered,” said Avery. “You hum Christmas songs under your breath to the point I find myself humming along. We’d make quite a pair, walking the streets of The Wreath, caroling in hums.”

“I always thought Christmas was about joy. I thought it was all about having fun — opening presents, eating good food, watching cheesy movies. Now, well…I’m not so sure what Christmas is about,” said Candy. “Part of me thinks that it’s about more than just having fun, that maybe, just maybe, it’s about bringing joy to others as well. That’s what has me bummed.”

“You can bring joy to people here,” said Avery.

“It’s not the same as…bringing joy to someone special to me, to, well, to Cain,” admitted Candy. “I thought that…well, I don’t know what I thought. I guess I thought I’d be his fated mate, but in retrospect, I know that’s silly. I just. I wish he were here, even though things didn’t turn out the way I’d planned.”

Avery weighed her options. She wasn’t supposed to tell Candy the truth about Cain or Christmas magic. But, Candy and Cain were meant to get together. That’s why Santana had Avery hire Candy in the first place. Was breaking the rules and doing something Naughty worth it if it would result in something Nice?

“Candy…wait,” said Avery. “I think we need to have a talk. Grab a coffee and meet me out on the back patio.” The last time Avery had asked Candy to do that, it had changed Candy’s life forever, and so it would again.

Santana landed the sleigh on the top of a large building near the night market. He hopped out of the sleigh and descended into the madness of the Taipei night market. Nobody gave the man with a large sack a second glance. For all they knew, he could be carrying some live chickens or packages of frozen dumplings.

Cain looked around. He’d never been to Taiwan before. He knew one of his friends had done photo shoots out there, for a Taiwanese romance novel series, but he’d never been before. He’d visited more countries that night than he’d ever visit in his life — he’d nearly visited them all. The end of The Ride drew close.

“Already?” Cain said into the comms as he saw Santana scampering back up the roof to the sleigh.

“My dad’s efficient,” said Pandora.

“That efficient?” asked Cain.

“Taiwan’s not that big of an island,” said Pandora. “It’s no Australia.”

“He finished delivering gifts to the whole island?” asked Cain.

“You were just as surprised once he finished India,” said Jack. “Humans, am I right, guys?”

“I’m not human,” said Cain.

“I mean, you’re half,” said Krampus. “Shifters are pretty close to human.”

Santana got back in the sleigh.

“What did I say about keeping the chit-chat to a minimum?” asked Santana. “Let’s get this bad boy in the air and fly. No teleportation this time. It’s a quick jump.”

“Where to, boss?” asked Boreas sarcastically.

“Get ready to say konnichiwa to Japan,” said Santana.

“Merī Kurisumasu,” said Krampus.

“Merī fakkingu Kurisumasu,” agreed Santana.

The sleigh took off. Santana didn’t teleport the sleigh to Japan. While he took a load off, the reindeer rose into the sky, high, high above the island nation of Taiwan, and made their way along the Eastern Asian coastline, passing by South Korea.

Cain looked down. The first few times they’d gone up, he’d been terrified of the view. Now, he was able to enjoy it. He looked down at the glistening cities below.

It’s a Hell of a view, isn’t it? Vixen asked Cain.

I can’t believe you get to see this every year, said Cain. It’s funny to think that all those people down there…they don’t know about Christmas magic, about the fact it’s real, that Santana, flying reindeer, and heck, even The Naughty List, are real.

Speaking of The Naughty List…started Vixen.

I’m not getting off it, said Cain. There’s no time. I did everything I could think of this holiday season, and I’m still on the list.

I’d expect you to be more — started Vixen.

Upset? Cain finished. I did too. I know this might be the last time I’m in any shift, ever again. But…look. If I learned one thing, it’s that Fate’s path for us can weave and warp through so many threads of the tapestry of life. If I’m meant to lose my shift…then that’s my fate. I just…I hope Fate will bring Candy and me back together, so I can explain everything.

When does she leave? Vixen asked Cain.

Christmas Day, so as soon as I hit that tarmac, I’m heading back to Montana to tell her everything, said Cain.

Santa Claus’s real name was Santana Claus, and he was Avery and Krampus’ boss? And Avery was a Christmas elf? Krampus was a demon and Santana’s best friend? Santana had a daughter, Pandora, her regular, and she was magical too, some sort of Christmas magician, and the boy, Jack, well, he had some kind of ice powers.

Candy tried to follow Avery’s story. She was incredulous of the whole thing until Avery pulled back her hair and revealed that she had pointed ears.

“Okay, those are fake,” said Candy.

“No,” said Avery. “Try pulling on them.”

“Uh…” started Candy.

“Don’t worry, I wash my ears,” said Avery impatiently. “Give’m a yank.”

Candy tugged. They didn’t move.

“What is it, glue? Plastic surgery?” asked Candy, pulling her hand away.

“I’m a Christmas elf,” said Avery. “They come with the package, along with doing stuff like this.”

Avery waved her hand, and a poof of tinsel appeared.

“Okay, that has to be some sleight of hand magic trick,” said Candy. “Real funny, Avery. Come on.”

Avery waved her hand again. A pile of jingle bells appeared. She snapped, and glitter showered the collection of decorations. She did a clap, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies appeared.

“That’s just freaky-deaky,” said Candy. “What’s in the punch, Avery? I think I’m seeing things.”

“Nothing, you think I’d shell out and get all my employees liquored up? Please,” said Avery. “This is Christmas magic, girl, and it’s real.”

“Fine,” said Candy. “Let’s pretend that I do believe this. Let’s just say I believe this. I believe in Christmas magic.”

“You do?” asked Avery.

“Whatever, sure, fine. If it’s real, it’s real. I guess Santana is really Santa Claus, Krampus is really a Christmas demon, Pandora and Jack have magic powers, and you, well, you’re a Christmas elf,” said Candy half-heartedly, looking at Avery’s pointed ears. “There’s just one thing I don’t know if I can believe.”

“What’s that?” asked Avery.

“I…I don’t think Cain really likes me,” said Candy. “After all, if he did, wouldn’t he be moving Hell and high water to spend Christmas Eve with me?”

“Sweetie,” said Avery, taking Candy’s hand in hers. “How do you know he’s not?

The Ride was nearly over. Cain could’ve jumped for joy if he wasn’t frikkin’ flying with seven other reindeer, needing to stay in formation. The eight reindeer had gotten off to a rocky start — while the various reindeer spirits obviously knew each other and had their own drama, the real issue was the fact that nobody but Cain and a few of the penguins had used a reindeer shift before. Even Boreas and Krampus, who Cain thought would be excellent fliers, were worse than him. That might’ve been because they were assigned Donner and Blitzen — not only were they stuck next to each other, they were near Santana, and the three of them had been bickering all night, Santana’s comms rule about no chit-chat be damned.

I can’t believe it, thought Cain. Soon, this’ll all be over.

Still not a Christmas fan? Vixen asked Cain.

It’s grown on me, admitted Cain. It’s got the best desserts. I just…I can’t wait to see her again, you know?

Cain, said Vixen, as Santana warped the magical teleporting sleigh back to The North Pole. You need to —

I know, tell her how I feel, propose, said Cain. It was all Cain had been thinking about during The Ride, during the moments where the team of reindeer had floated through the sky, on the way to their next destination. He’d thought about what he’d say to Candy, rehearsed it all in his head, gone over the lines over and over and over. He knew he only had tomorrow to tell her how he felt, or she’d slip out of his grasp forever.

No, it’s that — started Vixen.

I already told you, I know what I need to do, said Cain.

“Cain!” shouted Krampus in Cain’s earpiece. “Cain, watch out!”

Cain looked around. Then, he looked forward again. Before he realized that he’d missed the turn down to the tarmac, through the giant candy cane marking The North Pole’s true center, the rest of the reindeer had kept moving, and Cain bonked his head on the candy cane.

That’s when Cain blacked out, and this time, it wasn’t from mixing tequila and beach balls.