HOLD UP, if you're reading this, you're a chapter ahead. You can read the previous chapter as this chapter was posted hours after this one.
All characters from Disney and other properties are owned by their respectful owners. The OCs made here are written entirely for the story. Enjoy this fic.
Luz Clawthorne's Christmas Sidetrack: How Calypso Saved Krampmus
Note: The following takes place during the second half of Chapter 78.
At the Brooke home, Skara and Nina were walking towards a storage house in the backyard.
"You don't have to offer to help me clean out the storage house, Nina," Skara told the werecat.
"I got nothing better to do anyway," Nina replied while following Skara. "Plus, I could use this to stretch out my legs rather than be cooped up in my room all day."
When they got in front of the storage house, Skara opened the garage. Nina saw a lot of stuff inside… weird, bizarre stuff.
"Are these… both your parents' stuff?" Nina questioned while noticing a Krampmus inflatable.
"Yeah, most of it is decorations for Krampmus and Titan's Day or Scabrina's old experiments," Skara said while finding a stuffed troll doll. "Oh, the Troma doll, I remember having one of these!"
"Aren't those things the reason twelve people died during one Black Moon Friday shopping fiasco? I hear they banned those toys. Must be worth something on the black market," Nina said while moving some boxes and objects, including a mounted red warthog's head. "Huh?" She noticed something sticking out from the pile and she pulled away a box, revealing a face. "WHAT THE FUCKING RABIES IS THAT!?" she freaked out while backing away. "YAAH!"
"What?" Skara asked while looking at the face. She used her magic to bring the thing out.
"Nononono, don't bring it out!" Nina said but it was too late. In front of them was a blue furred creature wearing a red hat, red shirt with black trims, and red elf-shoes. It had sinister yellow eyes and its arms were raised up. "Is… is this a decoration of some kind?!"
Skara recognized the mounted creature. "Oh, that's no decoration… that's the Krinch!"
"The who?" Nina asked in confusion.
"The Krampmus Krinch! My mom fought this guy one Krampmus night…" Skara trailed off as a flashback-
"Wait… there's a story behind this thing?" Nina asked while Skara nodded. "Uuuuugh, and I have to hear it, do I?"
"You agreed to help, so you might as well hear the story while we clean out this storage house quicker," Skara suggested while moving out some boxes. "Unless you want to talk about something else instead… like Donna."
Nina became flustered. "Tell me about this Krinch guy…"
"Well, it all started one Krampmus night…"
Years ago, it was a snowy evening in Latissa. One tavern in particular was filled with the toughest, meanest looking witches you could find. They drank, sang Krampmus songs, and fought each other. But when they heard the door swing open, everyone stopped what they were doing and fell silent.
All eyes fell on the newcomer, someone who wore a red hood over her head and her white hair. The dark-skinned witch with a red slit dress with black leggings and brown furred boots marched over to the bar. Everyone stayed silent, for they knew who this red hooded witch was… The Red Hood Huntress, Calypso. And she had a reputation.
Once Calypso took a seat, the silence broke… as the patrons all began to cheer for her.
"All hail to the upstart!"
"Did you hear that she recently beat that large beast down by the Femur Forest?"
"What would be her next hunt, I wonder?"
"What'll it be, Calypso?" asked the bartender as Calypso placed a large bag of snails and took out a few, placing them on the counter.
"Dark Night-Gale," she requested.
"Celebrating, then?" he asked while bringing out a large bottle and pouring it in a mug.
"Something like that," she said while grabbing the mug and drinking from it. She shivered. "Mhmm, this stuff keeps getting stronger each season!" she said while wincing at the taste, letting it burn through her throat.
"That's quite the bounty you got there, Calypso," said one of the patrons. "Big catch?"
"It was nothing," she responded.
"Nothing?" asked one witch who marched over. It was an orc woman with long black hair, blue eyes, and a tribal top and black trousers. She was holding a billy club. "I bet it was nothing compared to my bounty!" She placed an even larger amount of snails next to Calypso's.
"Still trying to compete with me, Nazgul?" Calypso asked her rival.
Nazgul bellowed in laughter. "In this kind of job, Hoody, the biggest bounty gives you the biggest rep."
"I suppose," Calypso replied as she kept drinking her gale. "How's your mom, by the way?"
"Doing good, they finally fixed her fang," Nazgul replied in a friendly tone, the two hunters sharing a smile.
"Caw! Caw-lypso!"
A crow flew into the tavern, heading straight to Calypso. A voice rang out. "Cali? Cali, I'm calling for you!"
"Welp, I'm going," Calypso announced after finishing up her drink, moving out from her seat, tipping the bartender. "Thanks for the drink, Bud."
"Are you gonna get that crow?" Bud asked, pointing at the crow. "It seems to be for you."
"Cali! It's your sister, Scandalyn!" it cawed while Calypso makes a bee-line to the door, ignoring the crow.
The Beast-Keeping Coven had a large, orange compound with statues of two manticores on each side of the entrance. It was this flat, one story building that the Red Hood Huntress was making a stop by.
She passed by stables and cages filled with beasts that were either being kept there or had been turned in by other Beast-Keepers. She walked past a young Eyepatch, as well as a young Rupert who waved to her.
"Happy Krampmus, Calypsi!" Rupert waves to her.
"Yeah, Happy Krampmus," Calypso replied while she heard someone calling for her.
"Calypso," said a demon brown bear who wore a black horned helmet and had yellow eyes and a black snout. He wore an orange and black armor with shoulder guards, the Beast-Keeping symbol in the middle, and armored pants. "I am surprised to see you here."
"Greetings, Head Witch Oso the Breaker," Calypso said to him. "I wanted to see if there were any other assignments for me."
"Please, no need for the formalities," Oso told her. "And shouldn't you be at home, spending time with your family? After all, it is Krampmus."
Calypso shifted her eyes away. "I would rather be here, to be honest…"
"Why?" Oso pried. "Your family must be missing you on Krampmus Eve. Even I have some Krampmus plans with my wife and son. Don't you?"
"Just… I don't like talking about it, okay?" Calypso told the Head Witch. "Sorry, Head Witch. But if you don't have anything for me to do, I will just be on my way…"
Every witch down in Bonesborough loved Krampmus a lot… but the Krinch, who just lived up the Knee, did not. The Krinch hated Krampmus, the whole Krampmus season. Now please, don't ask why, no one quite knows the reason.
It could be, perhaps, his boots were too tight. It could be that his head wasn't screwed on just right. Or maybe it could be that Krampmus gave him an itch, causing every mention to make his body twitch. But most believe that the most likely reason of all… may have been that his heart was two sizes too small…
"Wait-Wait-Wait," Nina said, pausing the story. "Are you saying the guy's heart was too small? And what the hell does his boots have anything to do with why he hates Krampmus?"
"It's just how the story goes," Skara said. "Now, where was I? Oh right, anyway…"
But whatever the reason… either his heart or his itches, he stood there on Krampmus Eve hating the witches. At times, he stared down from his home with his sour Krinch frown at the warm lighted windows below in their town. For he knew every witch down in Bonesborough beneath, was busy now hanging a holly witch-wreath.
"You alright, boss?" asked a muscular bodyguard.
"It's their damn Krampmus festivities, Max," the Krinch sneered at his henchmen. "Tomorrow is Krampmus, it's practically here!" Then he growled, with his Krinch fingers nervously drumming. "I must find some way to keep Krampmus from coming, or tomorrow, I know all those witchlings and demons will wake up bright and early…"
The Krinch imagined everything that would happen on Krampmus morning as he monologued. "They'll rush for their toys, and then… oh, the noise, oh the noise, noise, noise, noise!" he could almost hear it happening, drums banging on his head as he imagined. "There's one thing I hate, all the noise, noise, noise, noise! All the shrieks, squeaks, and squeals! Shooting their new wands around in spiels! They'll dance with their new music records, play their bard music all night! They'll have grimoires, dolls, spellbooks and illusion spells to cast right!"
The Krinch had a look of insanity. "They'll have blown their witch-hoobers, they'll bang their ghoul-gonkers! They'll beat their grub-goobers, they'll slam their beast-bonkers! They'll beat their brew-blookers, they'll slam their witch-wonkers! And they'll play noisy games like Bop the Faes, perform their scrying spells and new grudgeby plays! And then they'll make ear splitting noises deluxe… on their great big electric light showdown at the flux!"
"Now that sounds like a noise complaint you could make, boss," Max pointed.
The Krinch continued, lost in his monologue. "Then the witches, young and old, will sit down to a feast, and they'll feast and they'll feast, and they'll feast on stool pudding, and a rare devil-roast beast! Oh the roast beast is a feast! I can't stand it the least!" He cringed "But then they'll do something I hate most of all… those fucking bards that always follow you around to sing Krampmus carols even when you go on milk runs! I can't even go on a rager without those saps following me and filling my eardrums!"
And the more the Krinch thought of the Krampmus sing, the more the Krinch thought: "I must stop this whole thing! Why, for as long as I lived, I've put up with this sham! I shall ruin this holiday, even if I'll be damned!" And then he grinned, oh what a sickening grin. He thought of what to do as he stroked his own chin. "And I got the perfect plan in mind… oh Maxwell, fetch my hat and coat, I got a holiday to grind!"
And so, the Krinch along with his hired muscle, Max, set out to plan how to ruin Krampmus for everyone. His evil showed no bounds…
You're an evil one, Mr. Krinch
You're as nasty as a Basilisk!
The Krinch spread out his map, showing which houses to hit.
You're as mad as a hatter, you'd like to take bad risks…
Mr. Kriiinch!
Krinch and Max opened up a storage area full of weapons and items to use as the Krinch wore night-vision goggles.
I wouldn't let my children go near you… no matter how brisk!
Testing out his grappling hook, the Krinch climbed up the wall with Max behind him.
You're a bastard, Mr. Krinch!
You make Belos look like a Saint!
You're as bad as a Snapdragon, your evil will make her faint…
Mr. Kriiinch!
Krinch and Max make practice dummies to steal presents from them, using illusions to make them look like they're crying.
The Inner Demon would even diagnose you as a… sniveling pile of greasepaint!
The Krinch laughed evilly as he prepared to strike that night…
"Here are some traps and arrows for you, Calypso," said a shopkeeper who handed Calypso what she wanted. "Merry Krampmus."
"Thank you," she replied as she paid the shopkeeper and left the shop.
As she stepped outside, she was suddenly ambushed by someone who grabbed her from behind. The Red Hood Huntress shoved her attacker away, allowing her to get a good look at them in their black ninja-like outfit. She pulled out her knives, prepared to defend herself.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Cali, stop!" the ninja said, prompting Calypso to stop. She saw her attacker remove her mask, revealing a dark-skinned young woman slightly younger than Calypso. She had two-sided hair, one white and the other black, green eyes. a scar across her left cheek, and black lips. "It's me! It's me!"
"Scandy?" Calypso asked. "What the fuck were you thinking? Ambushing me like that?!"
"It was the only way to get your attention!" Scandalyn responded. "I've been trying to reach out to you all day! You weren't answering my calls!"
"Why is it so important for you to get my attention?" Calypso asked. "What do you want?"
"I just want you to come home so we can spend Krampmus with mom and dad, like we used to!" Scandalyn said while Calypso glared at her.
"You know that I'm not on speaking terms with them," Calypso said as she turned around. "And I have no intention of that changing."
"But it's Krampmus Eve!" Scandalyn declared. "You've been avoiding our family ever since you graduated and joined the Beast-Keeping Coven. I know you have a reputation now and everything, but would it kill you to at least come home every once in a while? Where have you've been living? Are you even eating-"
"Look, Scandalyn, you know of all people should know why I don't talk to them anymore," Calypso told her little sister. "Would it kill me? Probably not. But I would certainly kill them."
Scandalyn sighed. "Okay. I understand why you don't want to spend Krampmus with our parents… but what about me?" she asked, causing Calypso to hesitate.
The elder sister shook her head. "I promised myself that I would never go back to that house," she said. "Do you remember what our previous Krampmuses were like?"
Scandalyn shifted her eyes away. "W-Well… I know our parents were hard on us, but they have their reasons-"
"Do you still have those Krampmus scars?" Calypso asked her, making sister fall silent. "Yeah, I thought so."
"Calypso…" she said while rubbing her own arm.
"I will never forgive our parents for what they did to us… we were just kids, for Titan's sake." She started to walk away, leaving her sister behind. "And don't worry about me, I will be fine. Just focus on taking care of yourself."
That night the Krinch and Max had made it to Bonesborough, where they commenced with their plans. Once all of Bonesborough have fallen asleep, the Krinch set his sights on one house.
"This will be stop number one," the Krinch said as he snuck into the house while Max stood guard.
The Krinch saw stockings hanging over the chimney and he used his magic to take the nails out for the stockings, causing them to fall into the bag. He then slithered across the floor, sneaking behind the Krampmus tree to take all the items off it. That includes checkerboards, popcorn, wands, laughing taffy, and even the slab of meat left for Krampus, along with his ale.
He threw the first few bags of toys and Krampmus items for Max to catch. Then the Krinch magically popped out from the chimney to tell him: "On to the next stop, old chum! Those children will only find a crum!"
You're an asshole, Mr. Krinch!
(Nina: Of course there'd be a second verse)
(Skara: Shush!)
You got fleas crawling under your skin!
The Krinch and Max continued to hit each house, robbing and stealing all the toys and goods from the children. Even stealing a star from the tree.
Your heart is as rotten as a wart, you show no remorse for your sin.
Mr. Kriiiinch!
The Krinch downright opened the presents for the parents, while even going so far as to steal items that had nothing to do with the holiday.
If I could send you to any place on the Isles, it would be… straight to the loony bin!
He continued to hit the homes of unsuspecting witches, using a cane to hit some ornaments, causing them to roll into a hole that took them to where Max was.
You're a $%^#, Mr. Krinch.
You'd make a nauseating spell of rot!
He magically made the toys to dance in his bags. Then he took all their jewelry.
You'd make friends with Baba Yaga, and she would dip you into her boiling pot…
Mr. Kriiiiiinch!
If I were to rank you between a shrew and a politician, I'd rank you around as… a horrendous pile of slimy snot!
He eventually made it one particular house, which was home to a family of demon bipeds including one named Eberwolf who was snuggling with their siblings. The Krinch went through their bedroom as he robbed their home, even taking their chew toys.
He then made his way to the fridge, stealing their food, even the last can of witch-hash. But when he heard a gasp, he turned around to see a little young Eberwolf at the kitchen doorway. The Krinch paused as he looked at the little biped demon witch.
"Um… how do you do, little witchling?" the Krinch asked only for the little demon to snarl. "Now don't you growl, you don't want to wake up-"
They jumped on top of the Krinch, biting on his head. The Krinch flailed his arms around, trying not to scream since that would wake the family up. He slammed into the wall in an attempt to make Eberwolf get him off, but the little demon crawled around and kept biting him.
In the cold night Calypso walked down the road alone, past the Krampmus lights and the windows showing Krampmus decorations. She spotted a gangrene bread house with a model family set up in front of it. She sighed as she continued her walk.
"Freeze!"
Calypso paused, hearing a scout behind her. Much to her surprise, she recognized her voice as she slowly turned around with her hands up. "Lilith?"
"Do I know you?" asked a young Lilith as she removed her mask, revealing that her hair was dark blue with some red streaks. She squinted due to not wearing glasses or contacts.
"You don't remember me from Hexside?" Calypso asked as she unhooded herself. "I was in Beast-Keeping, but we were in the same gym class?"
Lilith squinted harder. "Calypso? Calypso Woodemon?" she asked in surprise while Calypso flinched. "I'm so sorry for startling you like that..."
"Don't be, and for the record, I don't use my last name anymore," Calypso responded while walking towards Lilith. "…did you dye your hair?"
"Oh yes, Head Witch Vina thought I could use a new look," Lilith replied. "So um, would you like to catch up? We could warm up by my wagon if you like."
"Sure," Calypso said as the two went to sit by Lilith's wagon, using a lantern for warmth.
"How's working alongside Head Witch Vina?" Calypso asked her.
"Well, she can be a little… frank, but I have learned a good deal from her," Lilith responded. "How about you, Red Hood Huntress… or is it Scarlet Huntress?"
"Red Hood, Scarlet, makes no difference really," Calypso replied. "But I do well, at least to make enough to live in a small cabin in the woods."
"What about your family?" Lilith asked her, which made Calypso frown.
"I've… decided to spend Krampmus alone," Calypso told her. "Despite my younger sister's attempts to bring me home. I have nothing nice to say about my parents, on Krampmus or any other day of the year." She sighed.
Lilith looked down. "You know, I used to love Krampmus. It was always one of my favorite holidays to spend with Edalyn, including how we used to set up traps for Krampus to fall in. It was so fun back then… but ever since my father's injury and Eda running away, things haven't been the same."
"I guess us older sisters have both ended up spending Krampmus alone," Calypso noted.
It was then Lilith's crow cawed. "All scout units, we have reports on a Code: Zap In. Repeat, we have a Code: Zap. Apparently there is a deranged thief with an accomplish down by Sage Oak Avenue in Bonesborough!"
"A breaking and entering?" Lilith said as she stood up and held the crow. "This is Coven Scout Clawthorne, I should be close to the area, I could be there!" Lilith said while turning to Calypso. "Looks like we have to cut this-" She saw that Calypso was already gone. "-short."
At the Scooter Crane's Home for Unwanted Demons and Watchlings, Max was on lookout, not realizing that Calypso was silently rising up behind him, pulling a syringe from her sleeve and stabbing it in his neck.
"AAH!" Max cried out as he stepped back and turned to her, growling. "What did… you do?!"
"That's a highly painful mix of venoms," Calypso said as Max started to pant. "I was saving it for a big guy like you…"
As Max started to collapse, the Krinch was up on the rooftop, struggling to get his bag of stolen presents out of the chimney. A knife narrowly missed his head and became embedded in the chimney next to him, prompting him to turn around.
"Reach for the sky, dirt bag!" Calypso said while bringing out several more knives. The Krinch raised his hands up while Calypso drew closer. "Now if you surrender peacefully, I'll consider-" Suddenly the Krinch leapt up and kicked her across the face, making her back away. "Oh, it's time to make your blue furred ass into a coat!" she shouted while rushing towards him.
The two fought each other on the rooftop. The Krinch knocked her down and was about to tackle her, but she kicked him back as she raised herself back up. Standing up, she threw more knives at him, making him duck and dodge them. The Krinch delivered a kick to the side, but she grabbed his leg and swung him away.
The Krinch got back up and dodged a punch thrown by Calypso as the two traded blows against each other. He gave her an upper-cut while she delivered a haymaker. Calypso tried to kick him while the Krinch blocked it with an arm-cross. He then saw her boot bring out a knife from the stiletto, making him dodge and grab her leg and swing her around across the roof like she had done to him before.
She quickly got up and she and the Krinch charged at each other again, throwing more punches. Calypso this time grabbed him in a headlock and punched him across the face before flipping him across the roof. But when she charged at him again, he delivered three kicks to her face and her stomach. Yet when he tried to hit her again, Calypso dodged it and tackled him to the roof.
She punched him in the face when he was pinned down, but then he grabbed her face and headbutted her. He got her off of him and tried to run for his bag of presents, but Calypso summoned a glowing rope that wrapped around his ankles, making him drop his stolen goods. As she marched towards him, the Krinch pulled out a knife that was stuck in the roof.
"You think you may have won, you think all too well," he said with a grin. "Kiss my blue-hairy ass, I'll see you in Hell!" He threw the knife and it hit her in the shoulder.
"AAH!" she cried out, which gave the Krinch an opportunity to jump up and swipe his leg through her feet, making her fall off the rooftop.
The Krinch made his getaway while Calypso laid motionless on the snowy ground below. Children and staff ran out to see what had happened to her.
"Is she dead?" one asked, only for Calypso to open her eyes and sit up.
"Dammit!" she cursed as she stood up. "That fucker got away!"
"There are children present, you know?" an administrator asked while Calypso just shrugged.
The same orphan noticed Max laying nearby and she pointed to him. "Is he dead?"
The Krinch had his rat worms pulling a cart full of stolen presents. He traveled up to the Knee, having successfully made his getaway. Or at least he thought so until he looked in his rear-view mirror and saw Calypso in pursuit of him.
"Get back here with those presents, you punk!" Calypso shouted as she made haste.
"Faster you rat worms!" the Krinch ordered. "Before she turns me into blue paste!"
As Calypso chased them, the Krinch had one more trick up his sleeve as he used his magic to zap something in the woods. Before Calypso could catch up, a growling roar is heard as something jumped out of the trees. This made Calypso halt as she drew out her twin curved blades when she saw the creature.
It was a Slitherbeast, which roared at her… despite it being shorter than her waist. In fact, this Slitherbeast was nothing more than a Slitherpuppy.
She put away her blades and saw that the Krinch was getting farther away. She got an idea as she jumped towards the small beast with her hands outstretched, about to tame the creature.
Kicking down the door to his cave, the Krinch brought in his bags of stolen items.
"I may not have it all, but this will do!" he declared while lighting a match. "Now it's time to burn these gifts and away with them I will dispatch!"
"Stop right there!"
The Krinch turned to see Calypso, who had gotten here thanks to a Slitherpuppy pulled sled. "You're going down, Krinch!"
"It is you who are going down, bitch!" the Krinch said as he jumped towards Calypso without a hitch.
The Red Hood Huntress got into a fighting stance, but was unable to stop her from clocking him in the face and sending him to the floor. She tried to get on top of her, but the Krinch kicked her away from him. He got back up and drew spell circles, firing magical blasts at her and causing her to duck.
She ran around the cave room while the Krinch chased after her, managing to slip out of sight. "I know these caves like the back of my head, and you can't hide from me when you are dead!" he shouted while grabbing a pick-ax.
He then spotted her red cowl peeking out of a hiding place. "Aha!" he shouted while striking down with his pick-ax, only to realize that the cowl was covering a rock. He was tricked and he suddenly felt Calypso's legs wrapped around his neck, choking him as she hung down from the ceiling. He flayed around to get her off of him as she attempted to snap his neck. Eventually the Krinch managed to shake her off of him and she fell.
He grabbed the pick-ax again, attempting to hit her with it. But Calypso rolled out of the way and kicked it out of his hands. She then kicked him in the chin while standing back up and throwing a knife at his shoulder.
"AAH!" he cried out as he pulled out the knife from his shoulder and tried to use it against her. She dodged his attacks, though one swipe did manage to cut her side. It wasn't a deep cut, but she still winced in pain. "For someone as skilled as you, you're still likely to lose, oh boo-hoo!"
Calypso gritted her teeth as she picked up a shovel laying on the ground and threw it at him. He managed to move his head out of the way in time, but while he was distracted she delivered a kick between his legs.
"EEIIIIEEE!" The Krinch's screech was so high pitched, it could wake up dog demons.
Calypso did a flip-kick towards him, knocking him across the head. He fell down the floor and she grabbed him by the collar, pulling him up and shoving him against the wall with a blade on his throat. The Krinch paused while Calypso had him in her grasp.
"Ready to finish me off?" he asked while Calypso just glared at him.
"Just tell me this," she said. "Why… why do all of this?"
The Krinch shifted his eyes before he looked at her. He sighed. "I guess I owe an explanation about why I've been so naughty. I guess it all started before Belos's rule…" He then started to sing. "When I was younger, a little Krinch… Krampmus wasn't good for a lonely tot! I was picked on by the other kids and as I got older my heart started to rot, as the Kriiinch!"
As Calypso lets him go, the Krinch continued. "You see, hoping for a happy Krampmus was all for naught. No presents or feasts, you could say that I was… a lonely, bastard clot!"
"Over the years, as the Krinch!" he sang the final verse. "I would grow grouchier during Belos's rule! I hid up on the Knee, to get away from the festive fools, cause I'm the Kriiinch! But each year they keep getting noisier and noisier, and I grew lonelier and older… in a way, I'm just… a lonely… jackass… and… cruel!"
"So… all this time you've been living lonely up here, with no one to celebrate Krampmus with?" Calypso asked.
"Never had a family or friends, Maxwell was the closest thing and I think you killed him. But… even then, I don't think I treated him as a friend, not even on a whim," the Krinch said as he sighed. "I grew to hate Krampmus, because it just reminds me of all the times I've been lonely all these years. But you know, those noisy witches had it coming, disturbing my peace and hurting my ears!"
"That's not a good reason to go out and breaking and entering!" Calypso told him off. "Listen, you may not have had good experiences with Krampmus, but what were you hoping to achieve? Ruining Krampmus by stealing all of these gifts from people?"
The Krinch crossed his arms as he mumbled. "It's not like they did anything for me, that's always how it will be."
Calypso looked down and put away her knives. "Look Krinch, on Krampmus, I understand where you're coming from. I honestly never had a good Krampmus either. But if there's one thing I know, it is that Krampmus is more than about just family or friends or presents… it's about finding companionship in general." She reached out to him. "Whether it's with an old friend or a complete stranger, it's about bringing people together. Because we are all children of the Titan, all brothers and sisters."
And the Krinch looked up to Calypso. "How do I know you won't stab me in the back?"
"How do I know you won't get the drop on me?" Calypso countered. "But I'm risking it anyway, cause at the end of the day, you're just an old grouch who spent far too many Krampmuses alone."
The Krinch hesitated as his hand reached for Calypso's… and once he grasped her hand, she shook it. The gesture set him at ease.
"Instead of isolating yourself from everyone else, you could have made an effort to reach out to the people," she suggested. "You may have been lonely all this time… but you don't have to be lonely now."
"Would you… help me not be lonely this time of year?" the Krinch asked her.
"Of course," she nodded. "Because that's what Krampmus is all about. To be there for others that don't want to be alone… which might be something I need as well."
The warm, fuzzy feeling of Krampmus spirit sprinkled inside of the Krinch. For he realized that he had learned the true meaning of the holiday. And about showing compassion toward others, not just those you know. He smiled, a genuine smile. For the first time in a long time, he was happy…
And what happened, then? Well, in Bonesborough they say that the Krinch's small heart grew three sizes that day. And then… the true meaning of Krampmus came true-
"Time of death, 2:10am."
Calypso looked down at the now dead body of the Krinch. When his heart had grown literally three sizes that day, he immediately experienced a heart attack. She had tried to revive him, but it was no use. The coven scouts along with the healers had come by to retrieve the stolen presents.
"Well… in all my years as a healer, I've never heard of someone getting a heart attack after learning the true spirit of Krampmus," spoke a young scout who turned to Calypso. "You did well stopping this thief, Ms. Huntress. You saved Krampmus"
Calypso just shook her head and turned away. "I need a fucking drink."
Spotting her, one scout removed her mask, revealing herself to be Lilith as she walked up to her. "Hey, I heard that you caught up to him."
"Yeah, I talked him down and then he got a heart attack," Calypso said with a sigh. "But I guess he's in a better place now."
"Dear Titan…" Lilith said while looking at the Krinch's body.
Calypso turned to Lilith, thinking about everything that had happened. And how too many Krampmuses alone had made the Krinch a miserable, lonely hermit. And how he had resigned himself to that fate. "Say, um, do you have any Krampmus plans?"
"No, not really," Lilith admitted.
"Well… maybe we can both spend Krampmus together then," Calypso suggested. "Two old classmates reconnecting and all that. I honestly think that I would enjoy the company."
Lilith thought about it. "You know, I would too, actually," Lilith considered. "I'll ask if I could get the day off."
"Thank you," Calypso said with a nod. "I… would appreciate it."
Krampmus was here at last. While the denizens of Bonesborough enjoyed their gifts and their toys, Calypso and Lilith enjoyed hot drinks by the fireplace in a cabin in the woods.
"So he just, died while learning the true meaning of Krampmus?" Lilith asked her.
"Yeah," Calypso responded after sipping her drink. "But you know, I actually kinda saw myself in him. Or at least, what I could be. This cabin could easily become no different than his cave home. I may have issues with my family, but I shouldn't let that ruin Krampmus. I don't have to spend it with my parents, but I also don't have to spend it alone."
"I can appreciate that sentiment," Lilith said to Calypso. "I know we aren't family… heck, we aren't even really friends. But this is… nice, even if it isn't conventional."
They then heard a knock on the door. Calypso got up, grabbing her crossbow. "Wait here," she said while Lilith looked alarmed at Calypso's crossbow. She peeked out through a small window to see who it was. To her surprise, it was Scandalyn, waiting at the doorstep. Dropping her crossbow, Calypso opened the door for her little sister outside.
"Scandy…" Calypso said while Scandalyn looked up to her.
"I'm not here to bring you back," Scandalyn said while looking down awkwardly. "I've decided to spend Krampmus with you, rather than at home."
Calypso was silent for a moment before moving herself aside to let Scandalyn in. "Come in, it's too cold out for you."
Scandalyn entered Calypso's home, spotting Lilith who waved to her. "Good Krampmus morning," she said to her.
"Good Krampmus morning to you too," Scandalyn replied as she joined in, Calypso giving her hot chocolate. "Thank you, sis, and… good Krampmus morning."
"And a good Krampmus morning to you too," Calypso responded as the three sat together, enjoying their drinks and having a good time. It wasn't like the Krampmuses that they were used to… but that wasn't a bad thing, since a merry Krampmus was still had by all three witches.
"And that's the end of the story," Skara finished as she looked around. "Hey, what do you know, we cleaned out the storage house."
"So even though she didn't kill the guy, and the Krinch did learn his lesson, she had him stuffed and kept his body in storage?" Nina questioned.
"Well, she keeps him mounted as a reminder of what she learned that day," Skara said while looking at the mounted statue of the Krinch. "About the true meaning of Krampmus and how we're all children of the Titan."
Nina looked up at the Krinch, then looked down while thinking about all the previous Krampmuses she had spent with her family. Sure, she wasn't into their quirks, but it was still pleasant. The corny songs, the big catch her father bought for them all to eat, and all the tribes gathering around to tell stories and be thankful for their good fortunes. Then the realization hit Nina that she may not be able to spend this Krampmus with her family…
She turned to Skara. "So… do you ever talk to your extended family? Your grandparents?"
Skara shook her head. "We don't talk about them, nor do they want anything to do with us."
"Oh, right," Nina said. "What about your aunt?" Skara fell silent, which Nina picked up on. "I guess that's a touchy subject as well."
"Yeah…" Skara said as the two left the storage house, now cleaned and organized.
Calypso saw the two coming back inside. "How did it go?"
"We finished and came across the dead body you had mounted," Nina told her.
"She means the Krinch." Skara said, "I told her about the story behind it."
"Ah, yes, the Krinch," Calypso said, feeling nostalgic from that day. "Ever since I mounted his body, his spirit is said to still roam around, spreading joy to those who are alone on the holiday. Guess he really did turn around even as a spirit."
"Which makes part of the Krampmus pantheon!" Skara declared, while Nina started to go upstairs. "Nina, you want to grab a bite to eat?"
"No, I'm just… going to turn in for the day," Nina said.
Once she made it to her room, she shut the door behind her. She held up her scroll and turned on some loud heavy metal music. And as she listened to the music play… Nina Fangs started to cry.
Downstairs, Calypso was looking down at a framed photo of her sister. She slowly grabbed it and lifted it up, sighing. "Hope you're okay out there, Scandy…"
In another part of the Boiling Isles, Odalia Blight was visiting a cemetery. She sighed as she stood over the graves of her parents. Despite the hatred she held for her parents… she didn't feel that now. They were dead, after all. And life goes on.
"Odie?"
Odalia turned around to see her brother, Geist, walking up to her. "I… I got your message. You wanted me to meet you here?"
She nodded. "Yes…" she said, trying to find her words. The Blight woman took a deep breath. "Geist, I'm sorry… for everything. For not listening to you, for distancing myself from you, and for everything else that I've and done…"
"Hey, hey it's okay, Odalia," Geist said as he embraced his sister. She hugged him back, tears in her eyes. "No matter what, after all this time you're still my sister."
Odalia sniffed. "Thank you, Geist…" she said as the two let go of each other after a moment. They looked down at their parents' graves. "It's been years since I've been here, since I've visited their graves."
"Yeah," Geist nodded. "I… do think about them, sometimes. Like if dad was still alive, he'd think that I'm a failure for my club. What about you?"
"Well… most of the time I try not to think about them," Odalia admitted. "I hated them for what they did to us… but I can't help but wonder if they hadn't died…" She didn't finish her sentence as guilt and regret washed over her. She thought of Emira, who hated her now just like she hated her parents. And she knew all too well where that path led. "Nevermind. I really shouldn't continue to hold a grudge against them." She turned to her brother. "I am surprised that you don't hold a grudge against me."
"I never did," Geist confirmed. "I always wanted to be here for you when you needed me. But I will admit… I am surprised by this. What happened?"
Odalia sighed. "That is a long story… but let's just say that I was forced to take a nice long look at myself and now I want to start fixing the family that I helped break. Starting with you. I just got back from a very strange trip and it made me realize that there is so much that needs to be done…"
"Do you want to talk about it?" he offered.
She nodded. "Yes… because I know that I can't do this by myself. In order to ensure a better future for our family, I am going to need your help."
"What do you have in mind?" Geist asked.
But Odalia just smiled.
Note: The following scene is non-canon and not meant to be taken seriously.
On the set of the "Luz Clawthorne" series, many of the cast and characters of the series gathered around at a Christmas party. All the Owl House characters, other Disney characters, and the OCs have gathered to mingle and talk. It was then they heard a spoon hit a glass as all turned to Eda.
"Hey guys!" Eda waved to them while wearing a scarf. "On behalf of this Christmas celebration, along with passing the 80th chapter milestone, we're here to commemorate the holidays with a very special surprise!"
"Santa?" Soos asked happily.
"No, no, dude, I think Krampus is coming," Spud points out.
"I thought we're having a roast?" Jerbo asked.
"No, no, we're gonna have a good old after-party karaoke!" Eda declared while Mabel and Jackie rolled over a karaoke machine. "JP and Buck decided the best way to celebrate the end of the year was with something for the readers. A special holiday treat for all."
"I think you should go up there," Amity whispered to Luz.
"Yeah, I'll show them how this bad girl can sing," Luz said while walking up, only to see that some of her fellow cast members (Emily, Boscha, Nina, Mel, Ed and Em) walking up as well. "Okay, looks like we all have the same idea."
"I was just thinking of singing ABBA," Emily said.
"So are we going to draw straws or what?" Boscha asked.
"Unless there's a song we can all sing!" Nina suggested excitingly, not like her character.
"Yeah, like a Bad Girls duet or something with the seven of us," Edric said.
"But what song to sing?" Emira questioned, while Mel already had an idea.
"How about this one?" Mel suggested, showing them the song she had picked.
"Hmm, well since it's the holidays, sure," Luz said with a nod..
"Get on with the song!" Lupe cheered along with the Inner Demon (who wasn't wearing his make-up), Nicole, and Terra as the music started to play.
Luz took the lead. "This happens every year, it's not the way that I planned, I start out being good, and now I don't know where I stand~!
"I feel conflicted, my wicked ways are done, but come on Santa, tell me now we can't have any fun?" Luz stood on top of a prop monster. "A little mischief, a little spell… I know you're watching, but there's secrets I won't tell!" She hid the spoilers file, knowing a sniper was ready for her.
It was then Boscha's turn to sing while holding a mirror. "I think it's pretty clear, my mirror never lies." She sat on the Emperor's throne prop. "I've gone from bad to good, now Santa can't you sympathize?"
"I made a few slips, maybe I didn't try," Emily sang her lyrics while walking past the villainous cast. "But now the Queen of Mean is gone and I have to get a better side! And turn my life around-"
Nina popped up. "Santa can't you see!"
"Cause there's an angel on my shoulder where the devil used to be," Emily sang with a wink.
"I made just one mistake or two," Nina followed up. "Cause maybe I don't know what to do…?"
"Maybe I'm naughty, maybe I'm nice," they all sing. "You could call me sweet, but maybe think twice! I've done a lot of bad, but I'm trying to be good. Santa won't forgive me like I knew that he would! I've been bad for so long, now I'm rolling the dice, Santa won't you tell me I've been naughty or nice? Naughty or nice? Naughty or nice?"
"Santa won't you tell me if I'm naughty or nice?" Luz sang while sitting on Belos's throne.
Edric then started to sing. "I love this time of year, presents under the tree, I'm kinda worried, but I'm hoping there's one for me…?"
"Forget the things I did, the new me is here to stay," Emira sang as she stood near some band posters, including one for the Hex Girls. "But maybe bend the rules, now that sounds like a holiday!" She crossed arms with Viney by her side.
"How about a little gift?" Edric held his gift.
"And then a lot to take!" Emira took away his gift.
"Hey sis, that isn't fair!" Edric argued.
"Come on, give me a break!" Emira countered while holding the gift, looking sad.
"I've made just one mistake or two," both the twins sang. "I don't know what to do…"
"Uno, dos, tres, cuatro!" Luz and Nina shouted before all seven sang. "Maybe I'm naughty, maybe I'm nice! You could call me sweet, but maybe think twice! I've done a lot of bad, but I'm trying to be good, Santa won't forgive me like knew that he would! I've been bad for so long, now I'm rolling the dice, Santa won't you tell me I've been naughty or nice?"
It was then Mel's turn as she turned with a smirk. "From under the sea, to under the tree, the bad girl's gone, at least for now, you got something for me?"
"Get your list checked twice," Mel held up a list. "Am I naughty, am I nice? Tell me now cause I just can't wait! Leave your sleigh, send it freight!"
"I'm on my way, seeing the light, being a good girl this silent night!" Mel appeared on a sleigh with other shadowy characters behind her. "What's my name? Say it here, say that I'm bad, try again next year!"
"I hope it's not too late for me to change my ways…" Luz sang.
"There's a softer side of me that comes out to play!" Nina sang.
"Just give me one more chance now before you go…" Emily sang
"I wanna knoooow!" Boscha sang.
Luz, Boscha, and Emira stood together. "Maybe I'm naughty, maybe I'm nice…"
"You can call me sweet, but you better think twice!" Emily and Mel sang together.
"I've done a lot of bad, but I'm trying to be good!" Luz, Boscha and Nina sang.
"Santa won't forgive me like I knew that he would," Edric and Emira sang.
"I've been bad for so long, now I'm rolling the dice, Santa won't you tell me I've been naughty or nice?" they all sang. "Hey Santa, won't you tell me if I'm naughty or nice? Santa please tell me that I'm nice? Nice! Santa, won't you tell me if I'm naughty or nice? Santa please tell me that I'm nice? Nice!"
"I've never been bad for so long," Ed sang.
" And now I'm rolling the dice!" Em sang.
"I know that you've made a list, and you're checking it twice!" Boscha sang.
"Just a little bit of sugar," Mel sang with a smirk and a wink.
"And a lot of spice!" Luz sang.
"Santa, won't you tell me," Nina sang.
"If I'm naughty or nice?" Emily finished.
"Naughty or nice? Naughty or nice?" they all sang.
"Santa won't you tell me if I'm naughty or nice?" Luz finished the song while Mel's eyes flashed green and the rest of the cast embers cheered.
"Alright, now that was good, girls and Ed," Eda commented as she clapped.
"Hey, just one second here!" spoke up Dr. Doofenshmirtz, who marched onto the set. "I want to know what's the big idea, cutting me from Chapter 81?!"
"Ooh, sorry about that. We meant to give you a cameo but we decided that there was already enough going on," Eda told the good doctor.
"Unbelievable," Doof said, rolling his eyes. "You know what? I'll just go and see if I could make a crossover with the Proud Family or Big City Green in the other fanfiction studios."
He walked out, leaving things a bit awkward. Luz walked up to Eda. "Should we tell him there might be plans for him to possibly appear for Book 3?"
"We'll just give him a call and see how he feels," Eda replied, while turning to the cast. "So who's next?"
This has been another chapter made for the fun festivities for the holidays. A chapter so soon but it's a LC Sidetrack for Christmas.
The Krinch is an obvious parody of the Grinch, including a song for his misdeeds. The reason we've made this was for the holidays as well as to show an establishment to Calypso and her family. We were thinking of introducing her parents here, but we ended up didn't. But we did introduced her sister, Scandalyn.
Also yes, the Max that's used for the Krinch's bodyguard is the same Max that used to be Dolly's servant and also used as a creation of Dr. Bride's. Guess we learned the secret origins of him.
The fight scene at the orphanage is a reference to Joe Swanson fighting the Grinch in Family Guy's earliest seasons before that was retconned later on. Just taking up some liberties to put in a reference.
And of course, the behind-the-scenes karaoke is a nod to like when Disney characters do Karaoke in their promos. The song the Bad Girls sing was a Descendants fan song "Naughty or Nice" from PattyCake Productions "Descendants Christmas" video which we recommend checking it out. We thought it would suit for the LC bad girls.
It was meant to add a bit of foreshadowing such as Doofenschmirtz being originally put in for chapter 81 but was cut due to too much going on with that chapter.
Gonna answer some of the reviews:
Matteso: 1) You know you don't have to point these things out. 2) No spoilers. 3) No we haven't, and there's no guaranteed that the portal under the shack would lead them to the Demon Realm. You do remember that the portal could potentially lead to a disastrous dimension, and that there's too many complications to where to coordinate to the demon realm, which if you remembered where Ford was sent to. 4) Nah, it's better for Amity to know.
JTK: We'll see.
Shuffollower: We're still deciding on if Bridge would fit in the story.
Deadpoolllover77: No and no.
Happy Holidays and be sure to submit your OCs.