25 Days of Rudolph
Day 3: Rudolph's Research
In the heart of Santa's bustling castle, Rudolph found himself in the quiet sanctuary of the library. Surrounded by towering shelves filled with books, he felt a strong urge to deepen his understanding of the Christmas magic that enveloped the North Pole. He'd lived for several years, and yet never even thought of learning more about himself. However, now knowing that he (and Clarice) were immortal, he figured he'd better start getting more curious.
His newfound curiosity drew him to a worn leather-bound volume titled "The Reindeer of the North Pole: Legends and Lore." With gentle hooves, Rudolph pulled the book from its place and delicately opened it, his eyes scanning the pages for answers. As he read, his heart swelled with newfound knowledge about the origins of the reindeer's ability to fly.
According to the book, the first eight reindeer—the predecessors of Rudolph's sleigh team—had gained the gift of flight through a fateful encounter with a benevolent warlock. The Winter Warlock, recognizing the potential of the reindeer, fed them enchanted corn, infusing their beings with the magic of the Christmas spirit.
The magic, the book explained, was passed down through the generations, sustained by the collective belief and love of children and adults alike. As reindeer soared through the skies, sparkly dust—like shimmering stardust—fell from their hooves, marking their celestial path.
Intrigued by this revelation, Rudolph stood up, feeling the weight of the knowledge settling upon him. His eyes glimmered with anticipation as he tapped his right hind hoof on the library floor. To his astonishment, a pile of magical sparkling dust materialized before his eyes. The sight filled his heart with joy.
Curiosity danced within him, and Rudolph raised his left forehoof and gave it a shake. Soon the floor beneath him was adorned with a fresh pile of enchanting dust. Chuckling in delight, he began trotting in place on the tips of his hooves, watching the magical dust cascade down, like a flurry of starlight.
Returning to the book, Rudolph read further, learning that while the magic dust dissipated quickly, its presence could replenish with time. However, the book cautioned that excessive tapping or shaking of hooves could deplete a reindeer's magic, requiring a few hours of rest to regenerate from the surrounding Christmas spirit.
Rudolph's jubilant expression dimmed momentarily as he realized he might have used up his magic reserves by creating so much sparkling dust. He feared he would be unable to go on his evening fly with Clarice as they had planned earlier.
Yet, an inner voice nudged him to try anyway. With a determined spirit, Rudolph sprang into the air with a quick hop, and to his sheer astonishment, he found himself levitating several feet above the ground. The magic within him responded effortlessly, allowing him to spin and roll through the air with grace and precision, his hooves showering more sparkling dust upon the library floor.
Upon landing, Rudolph gazed down at the magical dust beneath him. To his surprise, it appeared to linger longer than the book had described. A glimmer of realization crossed his eyes, and a mischievous smile curved on his lips.
"How magical can I be?" Rudolph pondered aloud, his nose responding with a radiant glow. "Perhaps, as a glowing nosed misfit, I possess a touch of extra magic compared to the average flying reindeer."
Rudolph gently closed the book, placing it back on the shelf, filled with newfound wonder and appreciation for his unique abilities. With a skip in his step, he exited the library, the smile on his face reflecting the magic he had just discovered within himself.
As he ventured forth, Rudolph knew that he would continue to honor his role as a symbol of Christmas, spreading love and joy to all. And with each step, his heart glowed brighter, embodying the extraordinary magic that set him apart—a misfit turned hero, forever destined to shine in the hearts of those who believed.
Note: I threw a reference to Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (1970) in this one. I like that film's origin story for the flying reindeer. I also like how it at least acknowledges Rudolph as "another story," but it's also a stop motion Rankin/Bass film, so that's to be expected.