[Satyr] A Christmas Short (Multiple)

>Today is the night of Christmas Eve.
>A day where your daughter has no desire to sleep.
>She awaits a particular person to arrive.
>You stare at the fireplace.
>The flames burn with a passionate glow.
>Lyra has snuggled up against you.
>Her minty coat warms your body.
>Hope softly hums a familiar tune.
>She is excited.
Hope, it's past your bedtime.
>"I know, Dad, but I can't sleep! Santa should be arriving soon!"
Santa isn't coming until you're asleep.
>Hope plops on your left side.
>Her going to bed isn't an option. Instead, she wants one thing.
>"Read me a story, please?"
>Her cute voice melts your heart away.
>You give in.
Alright. Just one story then you're off to dreamland. Promise?
>"Promise!"
How about the time I saved Ponyville from the tricky changelings?"
>"No! I want a Christmas story!"
It has a large candy cane to fight them off.
>"A real one!"
This is a real one.
>"Daaad!"
Ok, ok! Let's see. How about this?
>You clear your throat.

It was the day before Christmas. Hope sneezed as the cold air tickled her nose. Luckily, with the warmth of layered clothes, the shivering woes would soon disappear. She had her favorite hand-knitted scarf wrapped around her neck. Her mint gloves kept her hands from freezing over. As Hope stepped into the snow, she noticed it only reached below her knees. She treaded through the slush, making her to the top of a nearby hill, where all her friends waited. From left to right, there was Glimmer, Ivy, Cider, Icarus, Pogo, and Garnet.

Garnet seemed agitated, his arms crossed. "Do you plan to keep us waiting in this forsaken cold?" he asked, tapping his foot in a rhythmic manner.

Suddenly, Cider kicked Garnet in leg, making him yelp out of the blue. "Stop yer complaining!"

The group, except for Hope and Garnet laughed.

	"Sorry it took me so long," Hope apologized. "I was looking for my scarf. I thought I lost it."

	"It's fine," Glimmer waved her hand, stopping Hope. "As long as you're here, we can have fun together!"

	"That's right!" Pogo shouted. He pulled out his sled from behind his back. "I'm going to take the crown today!"

	"Nuh uh!" Icarus protested. "It's mine!"

	"Y'all sure about that?" Cider joined in. "I bet I can reach the bottom first!"

Hope giggled. She had been the champion of the Sled Race for ages. Nobody had taken the title away.

	"Let's start then!" she said to them.

Hope, Cider, Icarus, and Pogo took their positions. They sat on the well-crafted wood, their butts firmly in place, and awaited for the trigger. The air tensed up.

	"Ready?" Glimmer asked.

	"YEAH!" they yelled.

	"On your mark..."

All four placed their hands onto the snow.

	"Get set..."

They were itching to take off.

	"GO!"

And away they go! Hope makes a dash for first, followed by Pogo and Cider. Icarus is lagging behind, but he's closing in! Slowly but surely, he comes neck-and-neck with Cider and Pogo! Hope, on the other hand, is still in first! Who's it going to be? Will Hope be the reigning champion she has been for years? There's the final stretch! Will the others gain the advantage? It's close! Very close! And... Hope is winner! She still holds the title!

Glimmer took a breath while Ivy clapped for everyone's effort and hard work. Meanwhile, Garnet had started on his perfect snowman. The base of its body was close to the right proportion. Hope and the others arrived, their faces flushed in red. A big grin ran across Hope's face. Cider, Icarus, and Pogo frowned at their loss, but they hadn't given up.

	"Congratulations, Hope!" Ivy complimented. "You're still the champion!"

	"Not yet!" Icarus interrupted. "We settled on a rematch!"

	"Rematch?" Glimmer said. "She agreed to it?"

	"I say bring them on!" Hope smiled. She was confident enough to destroy the competition.

Once again, the players took their positions. The serious look on each satyr's face made the championship much more desirable.

Glimmer stood straight, giving the instructions. "On your mark. Get set. GO!"

The sled riders raced down the hill. Glimmer observed their swift movements in silence. Hope pulled another lead. She was speedy; however, Cider, Icarus, and Pogo gained momentum. They were almost tied, pushing themselves to the limit. Hope grinned. She unlocked a small potential she kept hidden, allowing her to accelerate faster. In the end, Hope proved to be the reigning champion.

	"Wow. Cider, Icarus, and Pogo tied for 2nd. Think they're getting closer, Ivy?"

Glimmer turned her head, but the pink haired satyr was nowhere to be found.

	"Ivy?"

Ivy took an interest to build a snowman of her own, except it was half the size as Garnet's.

	"Hey. That's pretty good!" Glimmer praised.

Ivy's face beamed at Glimmer's kind words. "Thank you. He's a snow tyke. One day, he'll grow up to be like his father, big and strong."

The sled racers looked exhausted. Climbing up from the bottom took a toll on them, especially carrying the sturdy sleds, but the challengers wanted one more chance. They took their places.

	"Last chance?" Glimmer asked.

	"Pretty much," Hope replied. "We're getting tired."

	"I can go all day!" Icarus hollered.

Cider chuckled. "Weren't you complainin' about being worn-out and having us draggin' you back up here?"

	"Shush!" Icarus snapped.

Pogo raised his hand, wanting to start. "Let's slide!"

"Alright," Glimmer nodded. "Everybody ready? This is the last race. Being the champion is on the line! Will one of the three satyrs win, or will Hope retain the title for another year? On your mark! Get set! GO!"

The final race was underway. Hope started late. This time, she was on equal footing with the rest, yet she stayed calm. Her body leaned forward, causing the sled to pick up speed. If she tilted too much, she'd lose. A demonstration was about to appear. Icarus shifted to the left. He was close behind until Cider cut him off.

	"Ack!" Icarus said.

	"Sorry, Icarus, but I'm going to be the winner!" Cider shouted.

Pogo soon joined Cider's side. Icarus scowled. He wasn't going to be dead last. He wanted to be this year's champion. He tipped his body, hoping he would rush past everyone, but he lost his balance and fell forward.

	"Oof!"

Icarus tumbled down. He rolled, causing a large snowball to form. Cider and Pogo looked behind, their eyes bulged out.

	"Whoa!"
	"Yikes!"

The two satyrs were caught in the rolling snowball. Hope tried to avoid the danger, but the snowball gobbled her whole.

	"Uh oh," Glimmer said, staring at the disaster.

	"What happ--" Ivy stopped herself as she looked down. "Oh my."

Glimmer and Ivy rushed down to their friends. As the snowball reached the bottom, the satyr kids poked their heads out from the snow. They struggled to move, but it was useless; however, Hope's arm popped out. Her index finger touched the ground.

	"I win!" she proclaimed.

The three groaned. Even with the catastrophe, Hope still somehow managed to win. At the top, Garnet smirked at his snowman masterpiece. Everything was perfect: the body, the head, the two eyes, the nose, the stick arms, and the smile. The sled race went unnoticed for him.

	"Where did everyone go?" he questioned. When he looked at the bottom of the hill, his eyes rolled. It took time to excavate the four trapped inside the snowball. Garnet joined the group as Icarus was the last satyr to be pulled out.

	"Let's call it a day," Glimmer said. "Catching a cold before Christmas Day isn't the brightest idea."

Hope nodded. "So what did each of you wish for Santa?"

	"Santa?" Garnet spoke harshly. "Don't be foolish. It's obvious he doesn't exist."

	"He does, too!"

	"No, he doesn't! Your father just says that, so you have something to look for Christmas!"

	"I'll prove it then!"

	"Prove it? HA! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

Hope grabbed Garnet's collar and pulled him.

	"Hey! Watch the delicate clothing! Where am I going?"

	"To show you proof!" Hope said.

The others quickly followed behind. They were curious. Proof that Santa was real? As an individual becomes older, they realized the truth, yet Hope still believed in him.

Hope's house wasn't too far. Once the group reached it, Hope dragged Garnet inside her home. Glimmer entered soon after.

	"Excuse us," Glimmer announced.

Hope's dad, Anon, appeared. He was quite shocked to see all the satyr kids.

	"Hey there, gang," he waved his hand. "My daughter staying out of trouble?"

	"No!" Garnet complained.

Hope released her grip and ran to her dad. Garnet fixed his large jacket, smoothing out the wrinkles.

	"Dad!" Hope called, her serious tone of voice caught his attention. "Is Santa real? Garnet says it's something you just say."

Anon crossed his arms. "Well, do you believe in him?"

	"Yeah."

	"Tch." Garnet shook his head.

	"Then all you need to do is wish," Anon explained. "Close your eyes and wish."

	"Right! Come on! You heard my dad! All you need to do is wish!"

The satyrs looked at each, full of doubt. Nevertheless, they did as they were told. They closed their eyes and wished. Garnet sighed but decided to join as well.

For two whole minutes, the satyrs stayed silent. Anon watched, a smile ran across his face. Hope opened her eyes.

	"Nothing happened?" she asked, disappointed.

	"See! I tol--."

>*Knock, knock*

Garnet was immediately cut off by the knocking.

Anon chuckled. "Get the door, Hope."

Hope turned the knob and opened the door. Her reaction was priceless, her mouth agape. A large, familiar body entered the house. He wore his signature red coat and red pants. His huge white beard was surely recognizable. And the most important was his trademark hat, Santa's hat. The children froze, unable to speak a word to the person known as Santa Claus.

	"Which one of you called me?" Santa asked.

	"We did!" Hope blurted, trying to calm herself.

	"Each of you made a wish? Ho ho! I'm lucky to see these nice children!"

Santa turned to Glimmer. "Young Glimmer," he said, surprising her. "Reading is the most enjoyable hobby, is it not?" Santa stuck his arm inside his brown sack. He then pulled out a book.

	"Here you are!" he handed it over.

	"Wow!" Glimmer gasped. "It's the newest edition of Daring Doo! It's been sold out in all of Equestria! Thank you, Santa!"

Icarus was next.

	"Spirited Icarus," Santa said. "Have you been looking for this?"

A pony figure emerged from the sack. Icarus held it in his hands.

	"A limited edition Wonderbolts figurine! I have all 11! My collection is complete! Thanks, Santa!"

2 down, 5 to go.

	"Ivy," Santa acknowledged.

	"H-hi, Santa," she greeted in a soft tone.

	"Tell me about Mr. Bunny."

	"He's a nice bunny!" Ivy pulled the stuffed animal from inside her heavy coat. "He's often lonely, though. He's always wishing for a companion."

	"Like her?"

A stuffed bunny fell from the air, landed in Ivy's hands, and touched Mr. Bunny's nose.

	"Oh! Mr. Bunny! Meet Ms. Bunny! Make sure to take care of her. She'll be a wonderful companion."

Pogo jumped excitingly, catching the jolly man's attention. Unexpectedly, he touched Santa's belly. "You're just as big as they say you are!"

Santa laughed at Pogo's directness. "Are you surprised?"

	"Yeah!" Pogo replied. "Surprises are the best!"

	"Then I have the perfect surprise for you!"

Santa withdrew a party popper from the sack, but it wasn't just an ordinary party popper. It was an infinite party popper. Pogo gladly accepted the gift, only to try it right then and there. He pulled the string. A small bang was heard. The plastic cylinder fired confetti into the air.

Anon stared at the colorful material floating down. Was that the drawback of having an infinite party popper? Leaving a mess everywhere? No. Something took Anon by awe. The confetti mysteriously disappeared. Whatever magic was contained inside the party popper helped the ease of cleaning up.

	"Miss Cider." Santa called.

	"Y-yes!" she panicked.

	"You wished to bring back something that was once lost. Do you remember?"

Cider nodded. "My apple hair clip. Pa gave it to me last year. I felt horrible when I lost it."

	"Make sure to keep it close to you," Santa informed. "Treasure it always."

In the palm of Santa's hands was the apple hair clip. Cider blinked before she received it. She placed it on the right side of her hair. A tear rolled down her cheek. She longed to be reunited with an important piece she cherished. Her heart gave thanks to Santa. No words were spoken.

	"And Garnet." Santa smiled. "You were in a similar situation."

Garnet bit his lip.

	"You asked for a new one, but I cannot do that. Instead, I can give you the old one."

Santa handed Garnet a scarf. It was a magnificent scarf, sewed by the finest seamstress, however, his name on the scarf read as Garrett.

	"The scarf my mother and father both worked on and gave to me," Garnet explained. "I had ripped it. I tried to fix it, but it turned into a calamity, completely irreparable. I was afraid to ask my mother for help, so I requested for a new one, but my wish was never answered. Why, Santa?"

Santa rubbed his white, thick beard. "You loved that scarf. During the cold season, you wore it everyday. You valued it. A memory most dear to you."

Garnet wrapped the scarf around his neck. The nostalgic feeling came back. His body warmed up. The bitterness he once held was no longer present.

	"Thank you, Santa." Garnet smiled.

	"And finally, Hope." Santa addressed.

	"Yes, Santa?" she responded.

	"Your wish was the most special. Are you glad it came true?"

	"Mm!"

Santa let out a satisfied sigh. "I shall take my leave. There are many children who need their wishes comes true. Merry Christmas!"

	"Bye, Santa!" the satyr kids waved.

Santa exited the house, but when Hope opened the door, he had disappeared.

	"Hope," Garnet called. "What did you wish for exactly?"

Hope slapped Garnet on the back.

	"Ah!" he cried.

	"It's a secret!"

	"What?" Glimmer said. "Not going to tell us?"

Hope shook her head.

	"Tell us!" Icarus demanded.

Hope giggled. "Never!

Anon watched as his child was being questioned. He knew what she wished for. Something that rendered her name as the source. Hope.

>The clock strikes 12.
>You stop speaking.
>The story comes to a close.
>Lyra and Hope are sleeping soundly.
>The fire is slowly burning out.
>You need to lay out the Christmas gifts.
>But you can't move.
>You don't want to move.
>The warmth of your loving wife and sweet daughter makes you tired.
>To you, this is your Christmas present.
>The best present a man could ask for.