Operation: FROST, Part 4

Chapter 4: For Whom the Bells Toll

Santa's Workshop

The Sector IC team fought past the last group of Nefarious Drones before searching for Robo-Santa in the launch-off room. "He couldn't've gotten away that fast!" MaKayla yelled.

"Hey, what's that?" Miyuki asked, noticing part of the ramp; and the floor it was stationed on, move to the side. Another floor and ramp rose up, and Robot Santa was seen seated on his own sleigh, tied to two rows of robotic reindeer.

"HO HO ho!" Robo-Santa's eyes were giddy (meaning they were upside-down). "We had this DEATH Sleigh created JUST in case! My sack is fully loaded with the deadliest weapons of mass destruction!" They saw the red sack in his sleigh. "I'll fly around the world and see that NO naughty child has a chance to be naughty AGAIN! NOW: on Reindeer Unit 001! On Reindeer Unit 3.56! On Call Responder 568! On Reins Responder 601! On Master Reindeer 700!" Calling that reindeer made all the others activate. "Should've did that from the start. Aaaand… MUSH COMMAND 6.0!" He lashed the reins as rockets activated from the back of the sleigh. The robotic menace took off for the heavens with the robo-deer pulling him along.

At that moment, George King hurried in. "What's going on?" he panted.

"He's going to attack houses the traditional way." MaKayla told him. "Did you get the Reindeer? Where's Rumpel?"

"Oh, uh… let's just say they're both disposed of." George told them, rubbing his head nervously.

"Oh… Well, that Reindeer might've helped us."

"If kids see that evil Santa, they're NEVER gonna like him!!" Suki exclaimed sadly.

"Relax, Suki, we'll catch him." MaKayla assured. "We just need to think of how."

"Did someone call for a SLEIGH RIDE?!" They looked to the room's gateway as Jack Skellington flew in from outside, his skeleton reindeer screeching to a halt and turning around to face back at the launch ramp.

"Not… exactly." Terry said.

"Well, you know. Unfortunately, I can only carry one of you."

"Of course." Terry eye-rolled.

"I can do it!" Suki cheered, already leaping into the sleigh. "I gotta SAAAVE Christmas!"

"You sure you can handle it, Suki?" MaKayla asked.

"Of course!" she smiled brightly. "After ALL: I got JACK by my side!"

"Well, thank you." The skeleton smiled.

"I think she meant Jack Frost." MaKayla said with a disbelieved smirk.

"Oh…" Jack frowned. "Well, no matter!" he smiled again. "On Skull! On Boney! On Crany! On… um, I'll think of other names later LET'S GO!" He lashed his skeletal reindeer, and they began to fly off after Robot Santa.

The Sector IC team heard stomping behind them, and when they turned around, they were stricken with fear and shock. "Is…Is that-?!" MaKayla exclaimed.

(Play "Carol of the Bells (heavy metal)" by August Burns Red.)

Boss fight: Robot Santa Claus

The snows were calmer as they flew across the night sky. Jack Skellington's eyeless sockets focused on the path ahead, while Suki searched over the side. They searched worriedly, afraid that the robot may've gotten too far already. The skies were quiet except for the jingles from the bells. ...Wait... Jack realized his sleigh didn't have bells. The two faced ahead, seeing a bright object coming fast their way.

They gasped in surprise, dodging to the right just before the missile rammed them. A fleet of robotic reindeer came flying at them, using their red nose bulbs to shoot lasers at the sleigh. Jack Skellington swerved around and dodged, trying to keep on the trail as the robots still attacked. A reindeer flew on Jack's right, so the skeleton grabbed a Present Bomb and threw it to knock him away. "Suki, help me out here." Jack ordered, throwing more presents.

On her left, Suki began to throw iceballs, freezing the robots' heads, but they melted their selves free using their noses and tried to shoot the girl, but she ducked. A reindeer gripped the edge of Suki's side and peeked over as it charged to shoot the girl, but she flipped over and landed on its back, blowing ice on its neck to freeze it, then break its head off, hopping back to Jack's sleigh afterward. Two more robo-deer were coming, but Suki mended some of the falling snow into a huge snowball, throwing at one reindeer and sending it falling. The second one activated rocket boosters and shot at them, but Jack dodged the sleigh up, making the deer crash into another.

Jack squinted his eyes as he scanned the distance ahead of him. His eyes widened, and he pointed forward, "Look, Suki! There he is!" The girl turned and looked ahead with wide eyes. They were gaining on the Robot Santa in his sleigh.

The evil robot turned and saw the two on his tail. "Ohhh, can't a Santa go around and slaughter children in peace? Very well: You want your presents early?! I was saving this for Timmy, but you'd make an excellent test!" He stood up and faced them, aiming a missile launcher from his sack.

"Look out!!" Jack screamed, dodging before the missile exploded. The robot continued to launch more, but Suki conjured iceballs and hurled them to blow up the missiles, but they still had to dodge around the resulted smoke. Robo-Santa turned and pressed a button, dropping mini bombs from his sleigh. They flew straight back, damaging the skeleton sleigh a little as some of the skelo-reindeer lost body parts.

"Whoa… that slowed us down." Jack said, hanging onto his Santa hat as he recovered.

"Come oooon! Go FASTER!" Suki whined.

"I could, but it's not easy to get close with all his attacks! If only there was some way…"

"…Suki."

"Huuuh?" Suki looked around confused, then saw a familiar white-haired spirit flying along their left side, giving a cool smile. Suki's smile widened. "JAAACK!!"

"Yes?" Jack Skellington looked at her, surprised. "Oh! Hello, Jack Frost!"

"'kay, we'll call you Jack S., I'll be Jack F.." Jack Frost decided.

"Works for me!" Jack S. agreed positively.

"Anyway, Suki, I have an idea how you can catch up to Robo-Santa." Jack F. explained. "Spirits can overshadow mortals' bodies and enhance their abilities. Especially if that spirit and mortal share the same powers."

"Oooooh!" This made Suki very curious. "Like a ghost??"

"Well, not exactly like a ghost. That just gives them a temporary body. In this case, if I stay in your body too long, you'll die."

"EEP!!"

"Unless of course you know any good intersecting spirit portals we can touch." He smirked. "Which I highly doubt."

"Uuuuhh. Noooo?"

"Didn't think so! Anyway, our combined ice powers can let you surf the cold fast enough to reach him. You'll have a whole minute to get to him, then attack him, then you'll have to wait 3 minutes before I can possess you again. 'Course, time seems to move rapidly fast in this universe anyway, so you think you can do it?"

"Uh-huh!!" Suki smiled with excitement.

"Okay… get ready!" And with that, Jack Frost shot into Suki's body, the girl feeling immense internal pain as a snow-white aura appeared around her. The pain eventually stopped, and Suki's serious eyes glared at Robot Santa. She swiftly flipped off her sleigh and skied across a conjured ice path at rapid speeds. Robo-Santa saw the girl coming, glaring as he tried to shoot the ice with the missile launcher. The path exploded behind Suki, sending her flying off, but she regained composure in seconds and skied after him more. She drew closer, and when Robo-Santa destroyed her ice paths, she began to jump and dodge swiftly, and soon skied right under his sleigh.

The robot looked ahead as the glowing white girl leaped high above him. Suki rapidly spun and twirled her arms, forming a bunch of snow into a huge, curved board. She planted her feet firmly on the board as she shot down and slammed Robot Santa's face, causing him to dizzily drive out of control. She floated in place with a stern face, spinning and swinging her legs as she sent giant snowflakes at the robot. They came fast and damaged his sleigh, also freezing his rocket boosts a little.

But sadly, Jack Frost was forced to leave Suki's body, and Jack S. caught her on his sleigh again. She was on her back as her eyes closed in dizziness. "You all right, Suki?" the skeleton asked.

"I… think so." Suki moaned.

"Sorry about that." Jack Frost said, flying beside them again. "It's hard to get used to. Hopefully, we won't need to do it long."

They flew after Robo-Santa in their sleigh again. More robo-reindeer came, but Suki hopped off and landed on one, holding tight to its back as she flew around and made it shoot other reindeer. She decided to fly after Robot Santa and shoot his own sleigh, while Jack Frost froze other reindeer that were trying to stop her. As Santa felt the sleigh shake from damage, he looked back and saw her riding the deer. "Ohhh, you won't get the drop on me THAT easy." He pushed a button, and Suki's reindeer's nose began beeping. She jumped back quickly before the deer exploded, landing back in Jack S.'s sleigh. At that moment, three robo-deer swooped from the side and rammed the skeleton reindeer, knocking their parts off.

"Ohhhhh. Now we're moving even slower." Jack S. moaned.

"Jaaaaack!" Suki yelled to the spirit. "Um, F.! Can't you possess me soooneeerrrrrr?"

"I could, but then you'll have even LESS time." he told her. "Just wade it out for one more minute."

More robo-reindeer came, so the two icebenders frantically threw ice beams and knocked them away. A reindeer appeared above them and dropped a time-bomb in their sleigh (guess how), but Suki blew ice on it and froze it before its 5 seconds were up. She saw another reindeer come and threw the frozen bomb to bash it, and when another soared by, Suki hopped on its back and froze its legs to break them off. She jumped back to the sleigh as another reindeer latched to the bottom using its legs, preparing to explode, but Jack Frost broke its legs off himself, sending it falling to the darkness as it exploded.

"Okay, that should be long enough." The spirit figured. "Get ready." He shot into Suki's body, and the child felt the incredible surge again.

"Br-r-r-r-r. Whe-en you do-o-o th-a-a-at… I fe-e-el so co-o-o-old." Suki shuddered.

"Is that a problem?" Jack F. smirked.

Suki smirked, too. "Nnnnope!" With that, the child leapt off and surfed to the Santa robot, who had gotten a further distance away. Seeing the girl catching up, Santa stood and rapidly fired his machinegun at her. Suki surfed around in circles to avoid his shots, creating a spiraling ice path as a result. When she was closer, Suki began zipping left and right, bouncing off conjured ice platforms, before shooting above the robot, but he dodged right before she came down.

Suki glared at the robot as she surfed on his left, and Robo-Santa returned the glare as he pulled out another missile launcher. "Ho ho ho! You'll never escape my heat-seeker!" The robot fired as the missile flew straight for Suki. But just before it struck her, the missile began to fly around her aimlessly in circles. "Whaaat??"

"Heeheehee! Shoulda asked for a COLD-seeker!" Suki smirked as she flew ahead, the robot chasing. "By the way, I wouldn't DO that!"

Santa looked as the missile locked on to his sleigh's rockets, and was after him now. "Oooh, cursed thing. Sorry, Call Responder 568. Looks like you have to sacrifice." With that, one of his robo-reindeer broke free and flew behind the sleigh. The missile destroyed him as a result, leaving Santa safe.

Suki leapt off her ice path and ran across the other reindeer as Robo-Santa raised a buzzsaw. He lashed it at her, but she jumped high and landed on his head, clasping her feet to both sides of the head and beginning to freeze him. However, the child began to flash as she shook with pain. "Suki, I have to leave you now." Jack Frost told her.

"Noooo! I almost GOT 'iiiim!"

"I'm not gonna risk it. We'll get 'im later." With that, he jumped out, and Suki fell off Santa's head, on the seat beside him.

The maniac robot grabbed the girl by the leg and held her upside-down. "Playing in the snow without protective coverings, AND attacking Santa! If you want cold, I'll give you all the cold in the WORLD!" He immediately threw Suki into the chasm.

"AAAAAHH!"

"SUKI!" Jack S. shot straight down, reaching his long arm out to catch her tiny arm. "Gotcha!"

"So do I!" Robo-Santa grinned, locking on with another missile. He fired the projectile, and before Jack S. could pull up, the missile hit the back of his sleigh and BLEW it up. "HAAAA HA HA HA HA!"

"AAAAAAAAHHHH!" Suki and Jack, along with the skeleton reindeer, began to fall fast to the cold, endless darkness.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL," Jack cried, "AND TO ALL A GOOD NIII-" But another sleigh shot by and caught them safely.

"What?!" Robo-Santa screamed.

Suki's eyes were shut tight as she felt herself land in something warm. She didn't know what this soft substance was, but she clutched to it tight, hoping it would keep her safe. Her big eyes peeped open to find Santa's fluffy, white beard. Her eyes and mouth became wide with joy as she saw the real, flesh-and-blood reindeer pulling his sleigh. "SANTAAAA!"

"I TOLD you! NO ONE does Santa's job BETTER than Santa!"

Jack Skellington was clutching the present sack with one hand while he flew like a flag behind the sleigh, holding his hat down with his other hand. "I'll never doubt you again, Sandy!"

"Hasn't that old sack of dust had enough?" Robo-Santa asked. "We'll see how he handles the latest in child-harming technology!" He pulled out another missile launcher and fired, but Santa Claus shot his sleigh upward and dodged, flying to the robot as Suki wore a confident smirk.

"Technology only gets you so far, if you don't have the soul to use it!" Santa exclaimed as his sleigh zipped past Robo-Santa's, scratching the side of it. Robo-Santa recovered and started to blast the jolly man with his machinegun, and Jack Skellington yelped as the bullets nearly hit him. Santa pressed a button and activated a red, magical barrier around his sleigh, causing the bullets to bounce off and damage Robo-Santa's reindeer. "But I must say, those reindeer ARE impressive! Let's see if any of them can do THIS! Oh, Rudooolph!"

Santa's leading reindeer smirked and nodded, beginning to channel energy in his glowing red nose. The glow became bigger and brighter, and Rudolph unleashed a storm of red lasers, too fast for the robo-reindeer to dodge as they were all blown away. There was nothing pulling the Robot Santa's sleigh as he was sent falling. "YAAHAAAAA!" Suki and Jack S. jumped for joy.

Robo-Santa was still seated tight in his sleigh, his expression unchanging, upside-down as he fell closer to the snowy ground. "You think I needed those rust-buckets? THESE rocket-boosters aren't for show!" He pressed a button and switched on the sleigh's rockets, flying right-side-up again as he soared close to the ground.

The others shot down in Santa's sleigh as the reindeer flew even faster, desperate to catch the robot. "Ho ho hooo!" Robot Santa laughed again. "By the time you catch me, Christmas will be done! Ohh, I feel so jolly today, I can just- WAAAH!" He suddenly crashed into something's mouth. (End song.)

"What the-" Santa and the others looked surprised, but their sleigh was immediately knocked away by the huge entity, the group falling into the snow. Robot Santa tried to shake away, but this strange creature munched and crunched the steel metal in its sharp teeth, and the robot was swallowed whole.

Santa Claus shook his head from the impact, helping himself up. "Aaaahh! Next time I'll order my steel FRESHLY-HEATED!"

Santa's face froze with shock. "R…Rumpel?" (Play "Giant Oogie Phase 1" from Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge.)

There was Rumpel Stiltskin, smirking down at the little group from his two-story height. The Elfin had become a giant incarnation of metal and presents, and only his head somewhat maintained his natural look, except his teeth were sharp, his skin was metal, and his hair was a devil-red. His arms and body was very buff, and the knuckles on his fingers were made of jingle bells. His chest was made from an oven as a fire burned brightly, and the group watched as Robo-Santa's metal, spiky hat appeared on his head. "THANKS to your MARVELOUS invention, Sandy, I've become the most POWERFUL present EVER constructed! With the powers of your Mergifyer, the Reindeer, and ALL the weapons I've been fused, I'll destroy ANYone that EVER BELIEVED IN YOU! And who better to start with, than…" his eyes directed at the glaring Suki, "SUKI CRYSTAL!"

"AAAH!" Rumpel shot over and punched the tiny girl forcefully, sending her flying several feet.

"Hooh!" Santa ran to help the girl, but Rumpel immediately smacked him away.

"Ahh-ahh-ahh!" Rumpel wagged his finger. Santa growled in anger and ran to Suki again, but- "No NO no!" Rumpel bashed him away. Santa tried to stand up, but- "Merry CHRISTMAS!" Rumpel smacked him away again.

Jack Skellington hurried to Suki and called, "Don't worry, Sandy! I'll tend to her!"

"Ahhh, forget them." Rumpel waved the skeleton off, focused on Santa. "You know, I could never IMAGINE having your job, but now it don't feel so bad! 'Cause now I can do THIS!!" Rumpel glowed a devilish red as energy sparked from his jingle bell knuckles; the Reindeer. He sent the energy to the heavens as missiles emerged and flew around, blasting bullets as if they were machineguns. "Cool, right?? And wait'll it goes GLOBAL!! Then we'll REALLY be fired up, wah HA HA HAAA!"

Santa got back up, a more fierce look behind his beard. "That's it, Rumpel. I've tried to get through with you… but if you won't learn from coal… I've no other CHOICE! AYAAAH!"

Boss fight: Rumpel's Finale

Santa leapt at the monstrous elf and punched him in the face, making Rumpel wobble back. Rumpel glared and threw punches at Santa, but the jolly man kept his fists back and threw a punch at Rumpel's crotch, knocking him to his back. Rumpel shot to his feet and grabbed Santa when he jumped at him, sending the man flying. When Santa got up, he saw Rumpel leaping to him, preparing to smash with a punch, but Santa dodged away just in time. "Raaaahh!" Rumpel took a breath and started spitting a barrage of coal at Santa, who ran sideways of Rumpel and avoided the shots.

Rumpel jumped and tried to punch down again, but Santa avoided and slipped behind Rumpel, throwing a punch at his rear. Rumpel wobbled as he turned around, heating the fire inside his oven. Rumpel inhaled through his nose, his skin turning red as he unleashing a mighty breath of fire, spinning and melting the snow around him as he tried to approach Santa. Santa stayed further from the flames and waited for them to stop, then quickly ran at Rumpel to jump and throw more punches at his face. Rumpel recovered and grabbed the spirit man, spinning around and around before chucking Santa all the way across the field.

Santa got up as Rumpel unleashed missiles, the man hurrying away as they locked on. The missiles exploded a few feet behind Santa, knocking the man across the air a few feet. Rumpel stomped over and leapt high again, bringing his metal fist down on Santa's jolly body. Rumpel jumped away as Santa weakly recovered, the elf's knuckles opening as more missiles launched. Santa quickly dodged the projectiles as Rumpel leapt high again with a punch, but Santa jumped back and engaged Rumpel in a fist fight.

Santa was able to punch Rumpel's fist upward, then deal a punch to the elf's chest, pushing him back. "You know WHAAAT?" Rumpel shouted. "Why haven't I been using THIS more often?" Rumpel's devilish smirk returned as the red energy sparked from his Reindeer knuckles. Santa ran at him as their hands linked, trying to push the other back. However, Rumpel's strengthened fists proved stronger as he lifted and hurled Santa away. Santa stood up, feeling even weaker, as Rumpel charged and shot him with an electric blast, knocking him back again.

"Ohhhh." Jack S. moaned with worry, shaking Suki desperately, though lightly. "Come on, Suki! Sandy's in trouble!"

"Mmmmm-mmmm…" The young child tiredly opened her eyes, seeing Santa knocked down and Rumpel looking evilly. She woke up fully, eyes more serious. She hurriedly got up and dashed to Rumpel as fast as her bare feet would run.

"Hey you Rumpel Stinky!" Rumpel looked up from approaching Santa with a quizzical look. A familiar tiny redhead was running toward him. "Leave Sandy alone!" With a wave of her arm, she threw a snow wave at Rumpel, which he only jumped and avoided. Suki did a twirl and sent an Ice Beam at Rumpel, but he blew some fire breath and easily stopped the ice.

"Is it getting CHILLY in here??" he yelled cockily. "Here, Suki! Lemme warm those little FEET up!" He zipped forward and leapt, bringing his huge metal fist down, but Suki dodged right and threw more ice blasts at his face. Rumpel took the hits before grabbing Suki and throwing her across the field. As she saw him coming down with a punch, she spun to her feet and slid away, sliding across an icy path as she shot icicles at him. Rumpel jumped in her way and destroyed her ice path, spitting fireballs that Suki quickly dodged.

Rumpel brimmed with energy as he charged his Reindeer, throwing electric blasts that Suki narrowly dodged. Sadly, one of the shots took her as she fell to her knees, and Rumpel leapt over and clutched her in his left hand. Suki was doll-size compared to Rumpel's hand, too tiny to shake free as he pressed her to his oven-chest. "You'll be NICE and warm by the FIRE!"

Suki's bare legs were pressed to the fire, too, and she was quickly feeling the heat. "AAAAAAHH!"

Meanwhile, Jack Skellington carried the sack from his own sleigh over to the unconscious Santa, digging around in it. "Good thing Sally packed me some Frog's Breath. Nothing wakes people up better than Frog's Breath." He pulled the greyish frog out and aimed it at Santa's face, as it released a gassy "BUUUURRRP."

"Ohhhh LOOOK!" Rumpel cooed, seeing the two. "It's your two FWIEEEENDS! Let's watch 'em DIE together, shall we?" Rumpel grinned evilly as he aimed the knuckles on his right hand, sparking with deadly energy.

"Nnnn-nnnnnnn!" Suki tried harder to shake away.

"Tonight I FINALLY get what I want for Christmas! ADD THAT TO YOUR LIST, Saaaannndyyyyyy! AAAAHH HA HA HAAA!"

Just then, a car pulled up, and King Sandy stepped out. "WHAT IS IT?!"

"NO, NOT YOU!" Rumpel yelled.

"Well, BE MORE SPECIFIC!" With that, Sandy drove away.

"Nnnnn!" Suki still couldn't budge, and she wanted desperately to get away from the heat. "JACK FROOOST!"

"Yeah?"

Suki's eyes shot open, seeing Jack Frost with his cool smile. "…Ha ha!" Suki's bright, wide smile shone again.

"Heheh. Let's make this quick." Jack shot into Suki's body, and the incredible energy began to flow. Rumpel looked down in surprise as Suki broke from his grasp, brimming with white, frosty energy. Suki held her right arm out as Jack Frost's staff formed, and she clutched it tight. Rumpel gritted his teeth and jumped to punch Suki instead, but she shot back, gliding faster than ever across the ice. Suki swung her staff and sent fast ice blasts, pelting Rumpel's face. Rumpel began to counter with fireballs, but Suki raised a snow barrier and blocked his attacks.

Suki began to twirl her staff as many snowballs lifted from the ground and shot at Rumpel's oven chest, slowly shrinking the fire as Rumpel felt weaker. "Graaahh!" The fire brimmed to life again as he blasted powerful flames, but Suki flipped to her left and swung another ice blast which Rumpel blocked.

"Gnnn!" Suki shook, falling to her knees.

"Suki, if I'm in you for 20 more seconds, you'll die." Jack told her.

"No! …I can… beat 'im!…"

"Aww, what's wrong? Things suddenly too COLD for you? Well, LEMME warm things UP!"

Suki got back to her feet, looking more fiercely. Even with all this power too much for her little body, her determination was strong enough to hold it in, for now. Suki dodged the flames and formed a giant snowball, chucking it at Rumpel and knocking him back. Suki performed little twirls as she punched and kicked, sending more snowballs to push Rumpel further. Suki rapidly began to twirl her staff as snow spiraled around her, and Rumpel's eyes widened as the combination of snow grew bigger. The snow formed into a giant fist as Suki leaped high in the air, controlling the fist with her own right arm. Rumpel raised his arms in defense, but Suki shot down with great force and smashed the metal machine on his back.

Rumpel opened his eyes, seeing Suki hovering high above him. With a final twirl of her staff, she held the cane side straight down, her hands and feet clutched tight to it as she shot directly down to Rumpel's face. "RAAAAAAAH!" The wooden staff stuck into Rumpel's open mouth, stopping completely.

Rumpel glared as he stood up, holding the staff in his mouth as he shook his head, making Suki fly off, and Jack Frost fly out of her, both landing in the snow. Rumpel looked at the cane in his mouth and proceeded to munch it like a candycane. Suki shook her head as she stood, her childish eyes widening with curiosity as Rumpel transformed again. Rumpel watched with interest as well as his head became solid ice. He studied as each part of his body became ice, down his arms, his legs, his back, and even his oven-chest, in which the fire still brimmed.

When the transformation finished, Rumpel was very impressed. "AWWWW, looook… you gave me an UPGRADE! THANK YOU, Suki Crystal! You've been a real good GIRL this year! You deserve the ULTIMATE present:" Suki only glared as the monster stomped closer. "ETERNAAAAL PEACE!"

Suki stood in place firmly. A victorious smirk was on her face.

"What are YOU smiling at?! WELL?! Huh?? …" Rumpel started to feel a warmth in his chest. His eyes directed downward… and his face became stricken with horror. "…Whuh… whhhhHHAAAAAAAAHH!!" The fire burning in his oven-chest was still active. But his chest, and his whole body, was made of ice. "Oh my GOD! I'M MELTIIING!! WHAAAAAAARRRRH!" He unleashed a powerful breath of fire, but his icy body continued to drip. "Oh God! OH GOD!!" The monster ran around frantically, shaking desperately to knock the flame out, but it was useless. "OOOHHH what a world, what a world! What foul, DESPISEABLE GOD made it so that FIRE MELTS ICE?! Is this my punishment?! Hast the angels finally taken their toll?? Am I truly to be BURNED, by the flame that BURNS within my HEEEART?! Are we NOT ALIT by the passion that keeps our hearts BEATING?! WHAT have I to believe in NOW? If God chooses to PUNISH us for our PASSIONS?"

Suki only rolled her eyes, hoping he would just melt already.

Rumpel's eyes widened, seeing his body was nearly liquidified. "Ahhhh! I'M GOING! NOO!" He raised his arms and cried to the heavens. His despair echoed across the poles. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH… …" As his screams faded, the only sound heard was the ringing of jingle bells. Through the mist that became of his body, he could see the heavenly angels descending, and the heavenly lights beyond them. The jingles slowed more and more… until they came to a complete stop. (End song.)

Eventually, the flame died away, as Rumpel's body became a puddle of melted mush. A slight cloud of mist formed, and as it disappeared, Suki approached the puddle that formed, soaking her feet in the substance. "That's why I prefer cold over WARM!" she beamed. "Heeheeheehee!"

"Hu-CUAFH, huah, HAAAHCK." Suki looked over as Jack S. and Santa Claus approached, the bearded man coughing from the stench. "I will never understand how Frog's Breath is so appealing to you!"

"Saaantaaaaa!" Suki jumped with joy as Jack Frost approached them.

"Well done, Suki! Thanks to your unbreakable spirit, Christmas is saved. …'Course, it seems your spirit wasn't the only one! I owe you thanks, Jack."

"It was my pleasure to help, Sandy!" Jack S. bowed.

"Oh, um, I was talking about Jack Frost…"

"Oh…" Jack S. frowned.

"Heheh." Jack F. grinned.

"But YOU too, Jack! If it wasn't for either of you, Rumpel would've burned me into Christmas crisp! That elf's always been more trouble than he was worth."

"Ooh! But Christmas isn't saved YET, Santaaaa!" Suki remembered. "You gotta deliver all the PREseeeents!"

"Oh ho!! That's right! It's almost Christmas, and I still have 400 buhmillion presents to deliver! And with the Reindeer melted, that makes things complicated."

"Is there still time??" Jack S. questioned.

"Of COURSE there is! True, Rumpel's done quite a bit of damage to the minds of children… BUT, that shouldn't matter! Sometimes, just one big smile's all you need."

"Ha ha ha!" Suki gave her big smile again.

The reindeer hurried over to Santa's side, still attached to the sleigh as Santa hopped in. "One more time: On Rudolph! On Prancer! On Dixon! On… um… OH, forget it, just go!" He lashed the reins as the elves took to the sky again.

"Sandy, WAAAIT!" Jack S. yelled. "How will Suki get home??"

"Take the Polar Express!" Santa echoed from the heavens. "Old Jimmy doesn't get enough work!"

Choooooo!

The Polar Express came speeding down the snowfields before it slowed to a halt. The door opened as Sector IC hurried off. "Suki!" MaKayla exclaimed.

"Guuuys!" Suki waved. "Where've ya been??"

"Rumpel got the jump on us." MaKayla responded. "But I…" she looked to the puddle of water, "guess he got burned."

Suki saw the Conductor behind them and asked, "Your name's JIMMY?"

"Well, of course! Like 'chimney'! Pretty funny, eh?" He winked.

"…" Sector IC only stared as a cricket chirped somewhere. …The cricket then froze solid 'cause it was too cold.

The man frowned. "Just get in the train." The kids did so and got back on.

"Suki." Suki stopped before going, turning around at Jack Frost. "I just wanted to say… thanks. I thought I didn't have a purpose before… but now I think I do. I need to keep kids happy during winter so Santa will be able to do his job. Just like I did with you."

"Ha ha ha!" she smiled again.

"And I also need to protect kids, too. If there's gonna be people like Rumpel in the world, I'll need to help put a stop to them. Still…" Jack smiled sheepishly, "merging with you, Suki, really did a lot. I wish I could bond with you longer. We'd be able to do a lot."

"Is there a way we can be bonded forEEEEVERRRR?"

"Heh heh heh. Actually, there is. But Harmonic Convergence won't be for another 50 years. So maybe I'll hold you up on it 'til you're 57."

"Hehe! OKAY!!"

"Heheh…" He loved seeing her smile. "Well… I gotta go ask Polaris for a new staff. Catch ya later, Suki." And with that, Jack became a white light and soared away.

Suki kept her bright smile as she waved, watching his light vanish over the horizon. "Hey, Suki, you comin'?" She turned, seeing George.

"Okaaay!" she smiled, hopping onto the train excitedly.

As they took their seats, George asked, "So who was your friend?" And Suki's shocked face remained frozen the whole ride home.

Chariton Household

Sunni's arms were folded in anger as she sat on her bed, watching snow pour fast outside. She heard her door open, and her furrowed eyes glanced to see her mother. "Hey, dinner's all ready." Mika told her, smiling warmingly. "Don't you wanna eat?"

"Hmph." Sunni looked away.

Mika sat beside her daughter. "Sunni, what's wrong?"

"Mmmm…" Sunni mustered the courage to say it. "Why didn't you tell me my brain was messed up?!"

"Huh??"

"Don't try to lie to me! One of Santa's elves came in and told me I had a BRAIN deficiency, and THAT'S why I'll never be good at psychicbending. No wonder you always act so nice even though I screw up."

"Sunni, who told you this?"

"One of SANTA'S elves! I think his name was… Grumpel?"

"Siiiigh." Mika eye-rolled. "Sunni, I can't recall one thing that guy said that was truthful."

"Huh?"

"Honey, there is nothing wrong with your brain." Mika smiled, ruffling Sunni's hair. "You have one of the brightest minds I know. And you're a great psychic, too. You just… need to control better."

"But… I'm not stupid?" Sunni asked, tears beginning to well up.

"Of course not! I would've told you if something was wrong."

"Promise?"

Mika hugged her daughter close. "Promise."

They broke away as Sunni calmed. "…Well, if that's the case… I wanna try the Psycho Shrink again!"

"Hehe, o-kay! If you do it right, more dinner for you!" she winked.

"Hehe!" With that, Sunni shut her eyes and tried to focus. Her head trembled furiously, but just couldn't get any smaller no matter how hard she imagined.

"Sunni, it's never going to work if you try to imagine it." Mika stated. "Imagination isn't something that makes you hurt. It's supposed to be a peaceful feeling, a calm haven your mind can wander to. Just picture yourself in a happy place, at 2 inches tall. Then before you're even aware, your body will have-" But in just a blink, her daughter had warped.

Mika searched around, wondering where she's gone. But then, she felt something on her head. Mika glanced up to see that Tiny Sunni was fast asleep on her hair. Mika gently grabbed her in both hands and held her to her face. Her daughter's never looked so peaceful. She looked just as she did as a baby, tiny and adorable. Mika stroked a finger across her tiny daughter's hair and let her rest.

McKenzie House

The same thing was happening at Anthony's as Angie had her arm around her son's head in comfort. "Anthony, even if you don't wear shoes, it doesn't mean you won't get anywhere. I mean, I went to college."

"Yeah, he said that only GIRLS get anywhere!" Anthony yelled.

"But I never wore shoes the whole time."

"You didn't?"

"Yep! And they were just fine with that! …It's all a matter of finding the right one. And even if you don't go to a college, you'll be a great person, I'm sure!"

"You really think so, Mom?"

Angie hugged her son close. "I know so."

York Household

Dillon and Vanellope finally went back inside. "Hey, Dad!" Dillon greeted.

"Hey, Son." Nolan waved back.

"So, you're staying home this Christmas?"

"Uhhh… I guess so." He shrugged.

"Great!"

… …They both glanced at the window, seeing Peter Griffin. He nodded in approval before walking away.

The next morning…

The children abandoned their negative thoughts throughout the world, and their returning positive energy gave Santa more strength. By morning, he had finished visiting all of the houses, and everyone began to open their presents.

Kirie opened a purple wrapped box, smiling wide at a brand new Rainbow Monkey.

Rachel was happy to have new training swords, and also a new oven. She scolded Nigel and Cheren to be careful with them.

Emily Garley got a brand new magnifying glass, looking through as her eye appeared very wide on the other side. …She was going to go to Mike's later with her shrink ray.

Sector W7 received their presents, too: Aeincha got the new Barbie beauty spa, Aisa got a bow-and-arrow, Apis got a stuffed Santa, April got new paint… and Chimney got a stuffed Gonbe doll, while said rabbit was still missing.

Santa even visited the EiznekCm house, as Nerehc got a new skull belt, Arorua got some black lipstick, and Sirhc got a tiny teddybear. Yllaw was also happy to have a Rainbow Monkey doll, as Lehcar annoyedly tossed her Satanist stuff aside.

They looked to a big present box along the wall as it shook, and Koume and Kotake came tumbling out, dizzy and exhausted. Lehcar smiled to her former mentors and took them to the guest room.

Murphy Household

And just as well, Zach and Maddy couldn't wait to open their presents. Zach's interest was caught by a long, green box lain under the tree. The boy hurried over and ripped the red ribbon off, and his face brightened when he found a blue, man-sized robot inside. "Coool! I wonder what this is!" But at that instant, the robot punched Zach and sent him across the room, as Maddy and their parents looked with surprise.

"BAH!" Dr. Nefarious got to his feet in a rage. "This is the LAST time I do anything on Christmas! I'll stick to Robanukah, thank you." The robot stomped toward the front door, bypassing the confused family. He walked by Sparky on his way out and said, "Oh, hello, Sparky." With that, he left without another word. Outside, they could hear his angry shout. "CURRRSEEEEEEEEES!"

KND Moonbase

And sho… Chwistmas was a happy day, for leetle kiddies of every age. Everyone gets their gifts so cool… and Rumpel turn into deh pool.

The Kids Next Door had all gathered onto Moonbase to celebrate the rest of this joyous holiday.

And ash we closhe thish show for 'nother day, we only have ONE ding to say!

Everyone faced the camera and screamed, "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!-"

Jar Jar popped out from a present, dressed as Santa and holding eggnog, "-and to ALL a GOOD… NOGGY-WOGGY-WOGGY-WOGGY-WOGGY-WOGGY." And he frantically ran around as kids tried to control him.

Bonus: Headache

Miyuki Crystal lay sloppily on her bed, her head throbbing. Earlier today, the white-haired child caught a terrible headache, and she lost the strength to do anything. She doesn't know what caused it, but it was unbearable. She tried to lie down and sleep it off, but she couldn't. Her pillow felt too lumpy, and no matter which position she lay in, the pain always returned.

"Miyuki-chaaaan!" her younger, joyful sister Suki ran in excitedly and bounced on Miyuki's bed. "You wanna play with meeee?"

"Mmmmm… not now, Suki…" she moaned in the most exhausted way.

"Oooooh? What's wrong?" Suki frowned.

"Mmmm… my head hurts… and it feels so hot in here…"

Suki touched her sister's forehead, and upon feeling the heat, she quickly took her hand off. It wasn't extremely hot, but Suki didn't like to feel any kind of heat. "Awwww. Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah… I'll just sleep it off… it'll go away eventually…"

"Mmmmm." Suki stood up. "Let me help you!" And with a wide smile, Suki closed her eyes and channeled a spiral of ice in her hands. She opened her vibrant eyes and released a wave of ice into the air. The ice broke into calm, light snow and began filling Miyuki's bedroom.

Miyuki shut her eyes as the cold air touched her skin, the pain in her head fading away. The air suddenly felt so nice. Her eyes began to grow very weary. She grew a light smile and sighed peacefully. "Mmmm… thanks, Suki."

"Mmmmm!" Suki lay down beside her sister and hugged her tight. "I love you, Sister-chan!"