It was a Christmas Eve hangout. Jack and Nick are at the park, downing Taco Barn Burritos and debating the best Christmas movies.
“Home Alone is a classic,” Jack said, blowing on his drink.
“But Klaus is cooler,” Nick countered.
As they laughed and goofed around, a small figure darted past them, tripping and dropping a notebook.
“Hey, you dropped this!” Nick called, but the figure—a tiny person in a green outfit with pointy ears—was already gone.
“Was that… an elf?” Jack asked, picking up the notebook.
The cover read: Christmas Planner 2024, property of Holly Tinselbrew
“No way this is real,” Nick said, flipping it open. Inside was notes about delivering presents, Dear Diary entries of Holly’s excitement for 2024, and “Santa Claus’ annual pre-Christmas Flight Checklist.”
“This has to be a prank,” Jack said, though his grin suggested he hoped otherwise.
Suddenly, a soft jingling sound came from the trees. They didn’t know but Holly the elf perched on a branch, smiling mischievously at the Jewel Knights as they read the notebook.
“That’s for you, young heroes,” the elf whispered with a smile. “A little Christmas magic will cheer them right up!” Then, with a twinkle of lights, she vanished.
Jack and Nick turned their heads towards the jingling sound, then at the notebook. Flipping through a few more pages, Jack and Nick read together:
In this era, heroes are shunned and uncool, yet there is still one super who the children think rule. With a beard white as snow and a twinkle in his eye, when you need some holiday spirit, he’s always your guy. Flying across the sky like a bird or a plane, the jolly fellow carries many gifts, soaring without strain. No, not once does he ever break a sweat, and for his selfless acts, we are forever in his debt. Come learn his story and how he came to spread holiday cheer, all on one Winter night, at the end of each year.
Now once long ago this man was unknown, much time would pass before he’d take the Christmas throne. Even in the past did his good soul shine, as his endless mission was to ensure everyone was fine. Though many insisted that his kind acts be repaid, any efforts to do so—the man would evade. This hero had no worldly desire—as long as joy, his acts did inspire.
Happiness, however, would not be maintained, as the goodwill of all could not be sustained. One day, villains came to the hero’s sleepy town, and their awful antics caused all to frown. While many cowered in fear confronted by such evil, the man who gave gifts remained steadfast against the upheaval. Without any power or real means to fight back, he did not rely on a plan to attack. Instead, he was kind and leaned toward reason, but those grinches replied with heinous treason.
They struck the man with many a powerful blow, and through the air he did go. He landed in his workshop with a clattering crash, but from the wreckage was a mighty flash. The goodwill and joy from the presents the man had created, fueled him and left his muscles sated. Now energized by generosity and hope, there wasn’t a single chance those villains would cope. Swinging a coal-filled stocking, the man sent them packing with a blow to the rump, and finishing them off with a ho-ho-hopeful thump. The whole town cheered as the day was saved, and all celebrated the white-bearded man for the dangers he braved.
Now imbued with a power far beyond what he dreamed, the scope of the man’s kindness expanded, it seemed. With incredible speed and the power of flight, he reckoned that he could cross the globe—in but a single night. So he prepared countless presents for that same time next Winter and took off into the sky like a world-class sprinter. Not only would he offer these gifts to good girls and boys, but he would conquer supervillains as he delivered the toys.
Though evildoers would come to resent his name, that was how Santa Claus achieved worldwide acclaim.
Jack turns to Nick and said, “did we just find out that Santa Claus is real AND a super hero?”
An awestruck Nick nods his head, saying “I think so.”
They spent the rest of the night speculating about Santa’s gadgets and whether reindeer really flew, their laughter echoing through the snowy park. Whatever the truth was, it was the most magical Christmas Eve they’d ever had.