When we last saw Penelope, she was spending time to herself at home on a cold December day, getting things ready for Christmas.
It was December 1st, and the lovely Penelope Pitstop was seen in her home setting up her Christmas countdown advent calendar on her living room wall.
"I can hardly believe it's December already." She thought to her herself with a smile. "24 days until Christmas! There's so much little ole me is ever so eager to do this holiday season! What shall I do today?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by the ring of her door bell, and the sound of familiar male voices singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
You've got carolers, Penelope! I wonder who they could be…
Penelope followed the voices and at once her heart was warmed when she saw that the singing carolers at the door were her ever-present protectors, the Ant Hill Mob. She continued to watch with a grin as they continued their song.
"Oh, the Ant Hill Mob! My darlings! How sweet of y'all to come and surprise little ole me like that! Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, Penelope!" All seven of the Ant Hill Mob greeted her.
"This also counts as our invitation for you to go caroling with us!" Clyde, the Ant Hill Mob's leader, invited her. "Would you like to go with us?"
"We could use a lovely voice like yours in our carols!" Pockets grinned.
"Yeah, your voice is like a beautiful angel from heaven above." Softy sobbed.
"Yeah, heaven…" Snoozy snored.
"Aren't you boys ever so cute! Of course I'll go with you! I need something to do to kick start the little ole holiday season!" Penelope accepted their invitation.
"Oh boy! Penelope's joining us!" Dum-Dum said.
"We're gonna have so much fun with Penelope!" Zippy smiled. "I just know we'll have fun!"
"And when we're all through, I'll have some hot chocolate for everyone!" Penelope offered.
The Ant Hill Mob cheered in delight. Both time spent with Penelope (especially spreading Christmas cheer) and hot cocoa made them happy, just as she was happy spending time with them.
"There's no time to waste just standing here, fellas." Penelope grabbed her coat and prepared to leave with the boys. "Let's get going."
"Right, Penelope!" Clyde replied as everyone headed off to do more caroling.
And it's caroling away our heroes go! Where's the next stop, Penelope?
"There's one house in particular, and one person who lives in that house, who I am eager to see."
Penelope and the Ant Hill Mob soon reached another large house. Penelope came up to the door and rang its bell. From there, she led the Ant Hill Mob in a singing of "Silent Night." Out came Penelope's Wacky Races competitor and boyfriend, Peter Perfect, who was no doubt happy to see his Christmas angel singing a lovely melody with her friends.
"Merry Christmas, Peter." Penelope greeted her love.
"Merry Christmas, Pretty Penny." Peter came up to her and held her. "That voice of an angel. It's a pleasure to hear it again, my dear."
What a pleasure to see you, Peter Perfect!
"Huh? Who said that!?" Peter looked around in confusion and surprise.
Why, I just simply follow Penelope around and speak with her on her adventures.
"This could take some getting used to…"
"Peter, sugar, this also counts as our little ole invitation for you to go caroling with us!" Penelope told Peter.
"I'd love to join you, Penny!" Peter accepted. "You and the Ant Hill Mob!"
"Glad to hear it, Peter!" Clyde smiled.
"And make sure you go with us back to Penelope's home after." Said Dum-Dum. "Penelope promised us some hot chocolate for everyone!"
"Ah, yes, Penelope makes the best hot chocolate!" Peter nodded. "How could anyone say no to it?"
"Oh, Peter, you too are ever so cute!" Penelope blushed and giggled as Peter joined her and the Ant Hill Mob on their trek.
During their caroling trek, the heroes happened to come across a large tree in town.
"I declare! Look at that beautiful Christmas tree, boys!" Penelope pointed out.
"Oh what colorful lights!" Softy wept.
"Let's make time to look at it, everyone." Said Peter.
Everyone else agreed and went right to the tree. They admired how indeed beautiful it looked with its lights and its ornaments, when all of a sudden, a strong wind blew Penelope's winter hat away.
"Oh dear!" Penelope cried. "My little ole hat got blown away by that terrible wind! I've got to go find it! I won't be long, alright, fellas?"
"Right, Penelope." Clyde answered.
"Do what you must, Penny." Peter told her. "We'll wait."
Penelope continued to look for her hat through the town, which looked so beautiful and joyous with all of its Christmas decorations. Intrigued by the town's festive appearance, Penelope couldn't help but take time to admire the holiday sights during her search for her hat.
"Excuse me, madame?" Said a male voice. "Is this your winter hat?"
Penelope looked and saw her hat hanging from a lamp post that was decorated with a lovely wreath and garland.
"My hat!" Penelope ran over and retrieved her hat from the lamp post. "Thank you ever so ever for finding it! Whoever you are, come on out of the shadows, please. How can I express my little ole gratitude if I can't see you?"
Out of nowhere, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm, and she heard an evil laugh from behind her. Penelope turned her head and at once discovered that she had landed in a trap set by her archenemy, the Hooded Claw, with his evil twin henchmen, the Bully Brothers by his side!
Oh no! It's none other than that villain of villains, the Hooded Claw!
"Well it isn't Santa Claus." The Hooded Claw sneered.
"What brings little ole you here in town, anyway!?" Penelope tried to get her arm free.
"Oh, you know, doing you in." The Hooded Claw laughed before turning to his henchmen. "Isn't that right, Bully Brothers?"
"Right, Claw." The Bully Brothers replied in unison.
Quick Penelope, you have to do something!
Penelope, while struggling in the Hooded Claw's grasp, immediately took her cell phone out of her coat and made an emergency call.
Who are you calling, Penelope?
"Peter? Peter, you and the Ant Hill Mob have got to come help!" Penelope warned Peter and the Ant Hill Mob.
"Penny, dear, what's going on!?" Peter grew concerned. "Where are you!?"
"Little ole me has been trapped by the Hood…"
"Let me have it." Hooded Claw snatched her phone and turned it off.
"Penny!" Peter cried.
"Penelope's in peril again!" Yak-Yak chuckled.
"Duh, how are we supposed to find her, Clyde?" Dum-Dum wondered. "We walked, so we don't have Chuggaboom."
"Oh but we will…" Clyde reassured the rest of the boys, before turning to Zippy. "Zippy, go get Chuggaboom!"
"Right, Clyde!" Zippy sped off to retrieve Chuggaboom.
In less than a minute, Zippy drove Chuggaboom, the Ant Hill Mob's loyal car back to Peter and the rest of the Mob. From there, the guys loaded into Chuggaboom.
Thank goodness, Zippy got Chuggaboom here in a flash!
"Quick, Chuggaboom, we've got to find Penelope!" Clyde ordered. "She was captured in town by the Hooded Claw while retrieving her winter hat after it blew away. We'll go into town and from there, you'll go find Penelope's trail! Got it?"
"R-r-right!" Chuggaboom nodded in approval.
"Good! Now get us into town, fast!"
Chuggaboom sped off on the road into town, but in his haste, his speed caused the Ant Hill Mob and Peter to fall out.
Luckily, Peter grabbed the back of the vehicle and hung on, but the Ant Hill Mob was too slow.
"Oh, I hate when he does that!" Clyde grumbled.
"Gentlemen!" Peter called out, still holding onto the still speeding Chuggaboom. "A little help here, please!"
Better hold on tight, Peter!
The Ant Hill Mob quickly got back on their feet and sped after their car.
"Chuggaboom, stop!" Clyde yelled. "Come back here!"
While poor Peter was still holding onto Chuggaboom, trying not to let go, Clyde and his men kept running after Chuggaboom.
The guys had better hurry and get Chuggaboom back. Heaven only knows what peril awaits our Penelope at a time like Christmastime!
Author's Note: School is finally over for good, which means I'm back! Just in time for Christmas, too! Having put my HB Tales of Terror fic on hiatus for a while, I have, as early as November, been thinking of some good HB Christmas stories to write, but it wasn't until this month when I finally decided to come up with this fic, because I feel as though Penelope Pitstop deserves her own Christmas story! My goal is to hopefully complete this at the end of December, even if it's New Year's Eve when the last chapter is posted. With school finished, it might be easy, but with reality, heaven only knows if it'll be possible.
I'm trying to come up with some good Christmas/winter peril ideas for the Hooded Claw, so some good peril ideas in a PM or review is greatly appreciated! Please do enjoy and have a Merry Christmas!