Prologue: An Unexpected Invitation

Prompts: Elves

Challenge words: Reindeer, wood, fog

Written for the Super Smash Prose annual Christmas contest, this is not a one shot but a full length story with an a of this posting unknown amount of chapters with prompts and "challenge words" from an A03 December prompt... uh... thing. If you want to join the discord, here's the link - : / /discord. gg / P22DzUDH

In the world of Smash, those who are deemed the best of the best, villains and heroes from all over the multiverse, are granted invitations to join the renowned ranks and stay in the manor the Smashers call home.

What would happen if someone completely unexpected received one of these letters? Would they accept, or give the invitation to someone else? If they accepted, what shenanigans would occur?

This is the story of one of these unexpected received invitations.

This is the story of how Santa saved Smash.

Snow capped mountains, flurries of hail and ice, distant lights on the horizon. This is where our story begins, to the far north.

The North Pole.

Elves ran across the Pole's grounds in all directions, some leading reindeer to either the stables or flight school, other elves were having snow fights or going to the wrapping building to prepare for the one night of the year where there were extreme deadlines.

One Elf, named Buddy, was holding a letter that had no address, yet it was stamped with red ink with a cross symbol inside a circle. He wore a determined expression as he awkwardly avoided the much smaller elves and attempted to stay on the stone path leading to the huge house on a nearby hill.

"SANTA!" Buddy yelled as he entered the house by the front door. "There's a letter for you!" The human checked the letter again. "There's no address!"

Kris Kringle was looking over a reindeer foal when Buddy entered his room. Santa looked up and motioned for Buddy to set the letter on the table.

Santa stepped over to the letter, took a letter opener from a nearby table, opened the letter, set the letter opener back down on the table, then took the letter from the envelope and read its contents silently.

"What does it say, boss?" Asked a nearby elf.

"…Antonio Mario…" Said Kris softly. He then smiled. "Of course."

"Mario? Is that the one guy who's super famous?" Buddy asked.

"Yes. He leads the Foundation of Smash, a multiversal fighting peace force." Santa looked over the letter again, frowning. "I wasn't supposed to receive this, obviously, but who am I to turn down an invitation?"

Boots on wood resounded around the room as a figure entered the room. "You do need a vacation, dear."

The various elves in the room stood up straight and gave various replies of "ma'am" as Santa lowered the letter and gazed at his wife. He smiled. "You're right, Jessica. I do need a vacation." He then looked at the letter and his gaze grew somber. "I know all those that live at the manor. Most of them really never had a real childhood, those that had it, had it ripped away from them before they were ever ready." Nick shook his head, then folded the letter and put it in his coat pocket, a determined look on his white beaded face.

"What are you going to do, Santa?" Buddy hovered anxiously nearby.

Santa gave the misplaced human a brief look over, then addressed him and the elves in the room. "Prepare the sleigh."

"Engine lights."

"Check."

"Running lights."

"They work."

"Hyperdrive - wait a second who put that there-"

"Dunno but it seems to be working."

"Uh… Brakes and detection systems?"

"Check and check."

"Let's see, what else… dunno why he's not waiting until the Eve to leave, but whatever - G-Diffuser and Acceleration systems."

"Good and good."

"Looks like that's everything."

The two elves that had been performing the sleigh look over left the vehicle and wandered over to Santa while other elves led the reindeer flight team into the barn.

"She's all yours, old man." Remarked the Head of the Sleigh Workers as he gave a firm nod to Santa and then left the barn.

Santa let the other elves leave, then he addressed his reindeer team. "Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. I know you must be wondering why we are leaving two weeks ahead of schedule. I received a very important letter to a very important organization, one where my hospitality and good will is needed. Therefore, we ride to a prestigious manor that has grounds that sprawl through a vast forest, across lakes and hills and valleys, through gardens and greenhouses and observatories."

The reindeer cheered and reared and kicked the air in excitement. "But where is Rudolph?" One asked.

"Clarice is having her foal as we speak, he requested to stay behind for a short while." Santa smiled. "Although." He held up his hands as the various reindeer continued to celebrate and they quieted. "Both have agreed to let their first born be given to someone who needs them. Who can care for them and guide them in life, both human and reindeer."

"Did ya pick someone already, boss?" Comet questioned.

Santa shook his head. "No. I will decide when we reach the manor." The old man gestured for the team to get into formation, and the reindeer proudly and quickly moved to take their places in the harnesses.

"I do hope Claire is alright." Vixen said. "She's really nice, that one. I wonder who is going to receive her foal - oh so you think she and Rue will visit whoever Santa picks?"

The other reindeer wondered this as well while Santa hooked them up to the harnesses and bits and various other things. They all then heard hurried hoofbeats and saw Rudolph appear in the barn door, nearly running into it with his speed.

"Santa! Claire… she had… him." The buck panted, slowly rising to his full height and looking his caregiver dead in the eyes. "We named him Kristen."

"Kristen… A very good name. Will the three of you accompany us?"

"I'd love to, believe me, but there are things we must teach our foal on our own. Claire and I can think of nothing better than to let a human bond with him and the two explore life and the world together."

"Very well. I respect your decision. The three of you may visit the manor when you are ready."

Rudolph nodded and left the barn as Santa left the reindeer and slowly climbed into his sleigh and began the startup sequence.

The old wooden contraption began to roll out of the barn, half powered by the reindeer and half powered by twin engines. The sleigh began to hmm as it picked up speed and it began to lift from the snow runway as magical sparkles surrounded the reindeer, sleigh and rider.

As the sleigh left the snow proper and began to rise over the buildings, Santa was greeted with a massive crowd that was growing smaller and smaller by the second until they vanished from view, having been swallowed by the snow and fog.

Santa turned his attention to the front and took out the letter and gazed at it. "Let's see if I have this address entered correctly…."

The old man double checked the coordinates of the manor's location and began to press various buttons as the sleigh slowly picked up speed and leaned back to enjoy the ride as the reindeer and sleigh worked as one to deliver Santa to his new destination…