Chapter 7: Mystery Revealed

Deep in the peppermint mines, the cart chase continued as the carts roared down the tracks. The carts zipped around many curves on the tracks as the old rails creaked and groaned under the weight.

In a desperate attempt to lose them, the Toy Taker grabbed several lanterns from around the cave and began throwing them back at his pursuers.

Rudolph and Clarice were forced to duck under their cart as the lanterns shattered on impact, glass and bits of fire going everywhere. And just then, they went around a sharp turn that nearly had them fall out, but they were able to get their balance again.

After a rather lengthy ride through the caves full of winding turns and sharp drops, the Toy Taker looked ahead and was horrified to see that the track ended there, as part of the tunnel ahead was boarded up. But since there were no breaks on the cart, the Toy Taker couldn't stop as the cart smashed through the boards and fell into a large cavern, crashing against the rock wall and cracking it.

Rudolph and Clarice followed soon after as their cart flew off the rails. However, thanks to their flight magic, the two were able to easily glide down to the ground.

"Surrender, Toy Taker." Rudolph growled, pinning him against the wall with his light.

"I don't know the meaning of the word." The Toy Taker retorted.

"It means you give up!" Clarice snapped. "Now!"

However, the Toy Taker would not easily give up as he reached down, gathered some dirt in his hand and threw it at the two reindeer, blinding them.

Seeing his chance, the Toy Taker quickly ran off into another one of the tunnels.

Coughing and blinded, Rudolph and Clarice wiped the dirt out of their eyes. They were about to go after the Toy Taker when they heard the clicking sound wheels on tracks. The two looked over to see not just Hermey and Yukon (who were out of their disguises), but also Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Bumble coming out of the tunnels on another track.

"We almost had him!" Rudolph exclaimed as they joined up with their friends. "We can still catch him, but we have to hurry before he gets away!"

"If only I had me some rope." Yukon said. "I'd catch that varmint quicker than you could say 'help'!"

"Will dental floss do?" Hermey asked, pulling some out from his pocket.

Yukon took as much floss as he could, tying it into a lasso. "It just might, dentist."

"Hop on, Yukon!" Rudolph told him.

"Time for some reindeer rodeo!" Yukon said, jumping on the red-nosed reindeer's back and riding him like a horse as they speed down the caves after the Toy Taker.

"Yippie-aye-yay! Wahoo!" The prospector exclaimed, twirling the lasso as he and Rudolph quickly caught up with the Toy Taker.

"You'll never catch me!" The Toy Taker yelled.

"Never say never!" Yukon retorted, throwing the lasso.

Luckily, the prospector's aim was true as the dental floss wrapped around the Toy Taker, pinning his arms to his side and causing him to trip and fall to the ground.

With the Toy Taker caught, Rudolph and Yukon carried the tied up toy thief back to the others before setting him down.

"Oh, ho, ho! Well done, everyone!" Santa congratulated. He then walked up to the Toy Taker with a stern glare. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"

"Let's see who he really is." Rudolph said.

With a tug of the rope, Yukon yanked off the Toy Taker's trench coat and fedora…

… and all of them nearly screamed when all they saw was this strange black thing with just a pair of eyes. It looked as if it were a living shadow with two lanky arms and instead of two legs, he seemed to have several small legs attached to the bottom part of his body like tree roots.

Out of pure instinct and fear, Rudolph shined his light at the Toy Taker, causing him to flinch back, as if the light was burning him.

As the toy thief covered his face with his arms, Santa noticed what appeared to be a strange necklace around the Toy Taker's neck. Walking up to him, Santa quickly grabbed the pendant and yanked it off the Toy Taker.

With the pendant yanked off, the shadowy form of the Toy Taker began to dissolve, almost melting away like ice, until there was nothing left but a small golden teddy bear with a blue bow tie.

"Pay no attention to the Teddy Bear behind the cloak! I am the Toy Taker! Fear me!" The teddy bear shouted, trying to be intimidating (and failing).

"But… you're just a teddy bear." Rudolph said in astonishment while the others looked on dumbfounded.

And quite a raggedy old teddy bear at that. The golden fur on his body was worn out and covered in mud, many of his seams were open with stuffing fallen out, and his bow tie looked incredibly out of shape.

"Won't anyone fear me? Please?!" The Toy Taker said, exasperated and almost sounding desperate. "Oh, what's the use?" He said, sounding dejected.

"Oh, dear." Mrs. Claus cooed, walking over and gently picking up the old teddy bear, some stuffing falling out of his pooped seams. "You poor thing."

Santa tsked sadly. "You've lost a lot of stuffing, son." He said sympathetically. "Tell me, what happened to you?"

The teddy bear looked hesitant for a moment. "I'm a very old toy, Santa. And my seams just aren't holding up like they used to." He said quietly.

"So the stuffing in the warehouse… was yours." Clarice realized.

"But… why would a teddy bear steal toys?" Rudolph asked, confused.

"Not steal, Rudolph." The Toy Taker said, "Rescue." He then hung his head. "You see, my real name… is Mr. Cuddles. As for what happened to me, it goes all the way back to when it was my first Christmas. I remember when Christmas Day came, when my kid, Steven unwrapped the box and opened his present. I still remember the look of joy on his face when he picked me up, told me stories, and sang me songs. Made me feel like I was… alive. And for a while it was like that. But as the years went by, Steven began growing up, and he didn't have time for me. I moved from the bed to a chair, and then to a closet. I stayed for years in the dark in a cardboard box, waiting for him to play with me again. But, he never did. And then one day, I felt someone pick up my box, toss me in a truck, and then the next thing I knew I was waking up in the dump." Tears began to well up in his eyes. "Missed Steven for years, and I still do sometimes. I sometimes still think I'd give anything to be with him again, where I still belong."

"And so, I became the Toy Taker to spare other toys the heartbreak of having their kids outgrow them." Mr. Cuddles said. "Because as a toy, you never forget kids like Steven and Molly… but they forget you."

Everyone looked stunned and saddened after hearing the Teddy Bear's story. Yukon and Bumble were even crying a bit, blowing their noses with handkerchiefs.

"You poor darling." Mrs Claus said sadly, rubbing the toy's back comfortingly.

"Mr. Cuddles," Santa said to him gently, "if I may ask, where did you get this?" He asked, holding out the small pendant.

"I found it." The teddy bear told him. "When I landed in the dump, I scrounged around a little bit before I left and then I found it just sitting there. It's also where I found that flute that controls toys. After that I found that coat and hat you saw me where and then I got all that other stuff to continue with my mission. Why? Do you know what it is?"

Santa nodded. "The Solstice Pendant, an ancient artifact that dates back hundreds of years ago. It's power allows the wearer to conceal themselves in shadows. Yet they are vulnerable to powerful lights."

"So that's why my nose affected him." Rudolph said.

Again, Santa nodded before turning his attention back to the teddy bear. "Mr. Cuddles, while it's true many children outgrow their toys, I happen to know that your boy didn't mean for you to be thrown away. In fact, he sometimes still looks for you."

That came as a surprise to the teddy bear. "He does? Really?"

"Yes." Santa replied. "And I'll gladly take you home to him."

"And I bet Queen Camilla can mend those seams." Hermey added.

"Good idea, Hermey." Rudolph smiled.

Picking up Mr. Cuddles, Santa and everyone else headed back into the tunnels to exit the mines and get the teddy bear to Castaway Cove.

All except Yukon and the Bumble however, who were inspecting the cracked wall made by the carts. With a mighty heave, Yukon struck the wall with his pickaxe before pulling back and licking it.

"Silver and gold." He said, surprised. "Gold and silver! Why, there's gold and silver in our peppermint mine!"

The prospector and the snow monster both cheered joyfully as they were back in business!

Taking to Castaway Cove the next day after he returned all the missing toys to Santa was simple enough, and after a stern talking to by Queen Camilla, she agreed to fix the old teddy bear.

Taking him into one of the rooms, Camilla immediately got to work, sealing up the seams and putting some stuffing back in before giving a nice wash.

"There you go, good as new." She said, tying Mr. Cuddle's bowtie around his neck.

"Thank you so much." The teddy bear replied.

Camilla then turned to Rudolph. "Thank you so much for finding my toys, caribou, I am forever in your debt. Please, help them find good homes for them tonight."

Rudolph smiled. "Don't worry, your majesty, we will."

Later that night, all the toys were wrapped in presents and loaded in Santa's sack, which was now bigger than ever.

With his signature red coat and hat on, Santa got onto his sleigh as he took the reins. "Ready, Rudolph?"

Rudolph looked back from the front of the sleigh. "Ready, Santa!" He smiled.

"Then let us be on our way." Santa said. "Full power, Rudolph!"

Lighting up his nose, Rudolph got ready to lead the sleigh when Clarice suddenly ran up and kissed him on the cheek.

"For luck." She said.

Rudolph simply smiled before kissing her on the lips. A bit surprised, Clarice soon closed her eyes as she kissed back.

"I love you." Rudolph said affectionately once they broke apart.

Clarice smiled. "I love you too." She said lovingly.

With a happy look on his face, Rudolph dashed forward with the other reindeer before taking off into the sky.

"Up, up, and away!" Santa cried as they flew off into the night.

Meanwhile, back on the ground Clarice, Hermey, Yukon, Mrs. Claus, Mrs. Donner, and everyone could only watch as they vanished over the horizon in the glow of the moonlight.

"Hope, they get Mr. Cuddles back to his home." Yukon said.

Hermey nodded, "Indeed." He replied.

Suddenly, the group heard a loud honking noise and they all turned to see a fancy looking pink car touch down on the ground.

The window in the passenger seat slid down revealing none other than the Tooth Fairy herself! And wouldn't you know it, courtesy of Queen Camilla, Hermey received a special visitor.

Hermey felt himself freeze up. "T-The Tooth Fairy!" He exclaimed nervously.

"Yo-ho!" The Tooth Fairy waved flirtatiously at him. "Hermey the Elf DDS?"

Swallowing his nervousness, Hermey slowly approached the car. "Y-yes, that would be me." He said.

"Ready for our date… sugar?" The Tooth Fairy winked at him.

Hermey felt his heart leap out of his chest.

The idea for the solstice pendant came from this one user on deviantart by the name the-Gitz. Be sure to check them out. Next chapter is the final one!