One winters day a while back, Santa and Alvin the elf got in the sleigh and left Christmas village. Up, up, and away they flew over the icy tundra. Santa tells Alvin to “hold on” just as a circular hole opened in the sky. Santa was jolly and laughing when right through the hole they flew. Santa leans back in the sleigh, tightens the reins and cracks his whip in the air and in loud booming voice he says. “On boys, on through the portal we go, this is going to be a wild ride, HO! HO! HO!”.

You see Santa and Alvin were headed to the elf workshop with more Christmas wish lists from boys and girls all around the world.

    Just at that moment everything was swirling and it appeared as if they were in a kind of worm hole, it circled and swirled and made a loud hissing sound, almost like the sound of a speed skater on an icy pond. Then all at once it opened at the end and out they flew, over an entirely new area, not like where they were before but a mountainous area with Jagged cliffs and snowcapped peaks. 

    Then all at once Santa grasps his pockets then he yells “hold on! hold on! We forgot the list, the naughty and nice list, we do not have it. The elves will not be able to make the toys for the right girls and boys without the list. We have got to go back.” And he turns the sleigh around in flash and back through the portal they go.

    When they get back to Christmas village, the village is wrecked, the candy cane street lights are broken and knocked over, there are rolls of Christmas paper strewn all over the court yard and the Christmas tree is knocked over into the courtyard fountain. Santa and Alvin land the sleigh just at the edge of the village. 

    Santa leaps from the sleigh bounces across the courtyard to the main lodge just as he enters the lodge he says. “I believe the Ice Monsters have been here and they have taken the Naughty and Nice List.”

    Alvin having shorter legs, struggles to keep up with Santa and enters the lodge a few steps behind him, saying. “Santa, Santa, what has happened here? Who are these Ice Monsters?”

      Santa sits in his chair, rears back, puts his hands on his lap and says. “Well, Alvin let me tell you a story from many, many, many, years ago. Long before Rudolph and certainly long before Eggy built the portal we now use. You know Eggy, he is the smartest elf I have ever had working in my workshop. He built that portal, that transports me and my sleigh anywhere in the world instantly. He built it in only one year. He did it after that debacle on Christmas eve 1863, with the help of a young boy named Tesla, Nicola Tesla I believe it was, but that is a different story, one for another time. Now back to the Ice Monsters.”

      “You see Alvin before Rudolph and before the portal the great northern tribe of the elves helped me get around on Christmas eve. They used starlight that gleamed through ice crystals they carved from the purest ice, being from the north they were master ice carvers. Through their skill and a little elf magic they would ride on the sleigh holding the ice crystals and gather the light from the stars and guide the sleigh through the night. 

      This worked for many, many years but with the climate changing and the storms getting fiercer it was becoming more and more dangerous for them. We made it every year, without incident, until that one Christmas night.

Santa leans up in his chair, puts his elbow on his knee, strokes his long white beard and begins to think long and hard. He then tells Avin a story.

"You See Alvin One cold Christmas eve we had made our rounds all over the world and were on our way back here to the north pole. When we ran straight into a terrible winter storm. The elves Glenale & Arichum were riding the sleigh with their lights. All of the sudden there was a strong gust that rocked the sleigh so hard that both Glenale & Arichum were thrown from the sleigh. We turned back in the storm and searched for hours until the weather was so bad we had to call off the search. We came on back home that night and returned to that area the next day we searched for three days and nights but we never found a sign of Glenale or Arichum.Lost in the icy wilderness all the love and cheer was frozen from their elf hearts and they became the ICE MONSTERS.

     A few days later Santa is in the lodge sitting in his chair when in runs Alvin carrying a package, he gives it to Santa. The package is wrapped like a Christmas package in bright red and white striped paper and what appears to be a silver ribbon. Santa removes the ribbon, unwraps the package and removes a letter. 

Alvin says to Santa “What is it Santa? What is it? What is it?

       Santa answers Alvin quickly “Hold on Alvin!! Hold on!! I am reading.”

       Santa takes a few moments to read and study the letter, then raises his head and speaks.

      ” Alvin, do you remember I told you the story of the Ice Monsters and how they were created, after our last visit from them a few days ago, when they took the Naughty and Nice list and trashed the village?”

    Alvin answers. “yes I remember Santa you said the Ice monsters used to be Elves that helped you light the sleigh and had fallen from the sleigh and frozen their elf hearts.” 

       “That is right Alvin and after we got back to Christmas Village the other day I sent a letter to Namote one of the elders of the great northern elf tribe asking how we might melt the Ice Monsters icy hearts and return them to their tribe as elves. This is their answer my boy!!”

“It seems there is hope. When you have friends, who have lost their way you never give up on them, there is always hope. ” 

       Santa begins to read the letter .       ‘Santa this is a special year, the year before a full solar eclipse, here in the great north. If you gather these ingredients and mix them together in a special potion then you can melt the Ice Monsters icy hearts and change them back to the elves we love Glenale and Arichum.

The first three ingredients of the potion are.

two feathers from an eagle’s nest, 

three hairs from a polar bears tail,

a ruby pearl from the southern sea. 

      These all must be ground up fine and mixed in a conch shell from the southern sea.’ 

      Santa stops reading and says “There is more but it seems we must go to the elf village and get the rest directly from the elders.” He then folds the letter puts it in his pocket and tells Alvin “hitch up the sleigh we have work to do.” 

    Alvin does just as Santa says he hitches the sleigh to the fastest reindeer. Santa and Alvin both jump in the sleigh and off they go up into the sky and through the portal.

      A few seconds later and out of the portal they come, up above a forest, they drop down quickly, flying through the trees, at breakneck speed, coming to a screeching halt, in front of a large grove of old growth trees. Each tree has a door in the front and the roofs are made of what looks like red mushroom caps. 

    Santa leaps from the sleigh and runs into one of the houses, he looks to the back of the house, the house looks like a tree from inside and smells like cinnamon and apples. There are light globes that look like crystal balls and ice crystals all around the room. A large wooden staircase in the rear leads up to a half loft with a balcony. You can see the stone chimney against the back wall on the bottom floor and on the top going through the roof.

Then way in the back, next to the stair case. A wee little fellow steps into view. Santa runs to him grabs him up and swings him round and round. Hello Namote my old friend you look great. Santa says.  And it looks like Mrs Clause has been feeding you well my old Friend. Namote replies.  

    Then Namote looks at Santa with a very serious look and says. “Santa I would have sent the rest of these instructions in the letter but this is powerful strong magic and not safe in the wrong hands. So, I asked for you to come here in person and pick them up. Here they are” 

      Namote hands Santa a rolled-up script. Santa takes the script unrolls it and reads for just a second raises his head and says “I SEE.”

Namote then turns toward the door and tells Santa “I would ask you to stay for milk and cookies but I know time is short and you are in a hurry God speed and take care my friend. 

      “OH and Santa remember the Ice Monsters are not going to like what you must do but sometimes when friends have lost their way you must do things they do not like to get them back on track.” 

        Santa turns to Namote and says “Thank you my friend with these instructions and good weather we will have Glenale and Arichum back with us soon”. 

      By this time, they have walked back outside and are standing by the sleigh Alvin is still in the sleigh. 

    Namote looks up in the sleigh at Alvin and says. “I am sure Eggy will have no problem with these instructions but tell him to remember love conquers all.” 

      Santa hops in the sleigh and off they go. As the sleigh rapidly rises into the sky, Santa looks down at Namote on the ground and says.

” HO! HO! HO! See you on Christmas eve.” 

A short while later the portal opens and out they fly ,over a canyon with a river at the bottom. The canyon has sheer cliffs on both sides while jagged rocks teeter on the edges ready to fall. They fly low over the canyon walls and Alvin spots a bird soaring in the distance. 

      He yells to Santa. “there she is Santa her nest must be close.” Then Alvin looks down on the ledge below.

      To his surprise a pile of eagle feathers, right there, just for the taking. 

He motions to Santa and says. “WOW! What luck Santa, eagle feathers, right up here, easy Pickens.” 

      Santa looks down sees the feathers. He then turns to Alvin and says “No Alvin Namote said the feathers had to be from the eagle’s nest and when your elders tell you something to do you must do it just like they told you no shortcuts.” 

      Alvin says “but Santa, how much difference can it make on the ledge, in the nest so what.” Santa looks at Alvin scornfully then says “I don’t know but we will get them from the nest. 

Look, look, there is the nest, just about 20 feet down the Cliffside. Take the reins.”

      Then Santa reaches in the rear of the sleigh grabs a rope throws it over the side. He then swings over the side right down to the nest, grabs the feathers and yells to Alvin 

      “bring them down Alvin bring them down!” 

      Alvin takes the reins and guides the reindeer and the sleigh right under Santa just as he swings and drops into the sleigh.

       Alvin scolds Santa saying “what are you doing! You know I might have missed.”

Santa takes the reins and says “HO! HO! HO! have a little faith in yourself Alvin my boy I knew you could do it.” 

      Santa then takes the feathers puts them in his bag and off they go down through the canyon into the portal.

A short time later the portal opens, they are over what looks to be a frozen coastline. 

      They fly down the coast until they come to a steep cliff. 

      Santa swings the sleigh in close to the bank, then Alvin sees what they’re looking for, a cave there in the side of the cliff. 

      Santa brings the sleigh around and comes to a stop on the frozen beach below. 

      Santa looks at Alvin and says “A Polar bear is in that cave are you ready Alvin” 

Alvin looks back at Santa confidently and says. “Sure aren’t bears hibernating now. This should be easy.” 

      Santa looks at Alvin a little skeptical and says. “Alvin only black and brown bears hibernate for the winter, to stay warm and conserve energy, the same is not true for polar bears. Only pregnant polar bears den up for the colder months and if she’s pregnant she might be a little testy.” 

      Alvin swallows hard and says. “OK”

    They start the long climb up the cliff. It doesn’t take long until they are at the mouth of the cave. 

      They start in slowly, tip toe, tip toe until they hear something, mrrrrgggggllll, mrrrrgggggllll, 

      They stop and listen. Mrrrrgggggllll, mrrrrgggggllll. 

      Alvin says “Where is she?” 

      Santa looks at Alvin with a wide-eyed look turns his head and points over his shoulder and says. “Right behind us. Run Alvin run I will distract her!” 

Santa darts to the left a little farther into the cave, the bear looks towards Santa, Alvin goes to the right and passes the bear.

      To the cave entrance he runs and jumps as far out as he can. He rolls down the hill right into the side of the sleigh making such a noise that the reindeer spook and jump forward a few feet.

Back in the cave Santa turns to the bear and tries to explain what he is doing here, but miss bear is having none of that. She just wants him out of her cave. In a flash, he dashes by her, grabbing a handful of hair from her tail and out the cave entrance with the bear hot on his heels.

      He yells to Alvin “Let’s go! Let’s go!” 

      Alvin cracks the whip and calls on the reindeer, off they fly.

       Santa jumps in the sleigh just as it leaves the ground.

      The bear taking a final swipe just for good measure. 

As they fly off, Alvin asks Santa “how are we going to get three hairs from her tail?

       Santa laughs and holds up the handful of hair.

      Alvin says “well ok then it is off the southern sea, I guess.” 

Santa looks a little embarrassed, his cheeks even a little redder than usual and says 

      “no I think we need to make a quick stop by the Christmas village Tailor shop.” As he raises his bottom in the air to show how his Santa suit has some newly acquired claw marks that show his long johns. 

Santa and Alvin both laugh and Away they go up into the portal. 

      Back in Christmas village Santa walks across the courtyard and over to a shop with a sign outside that reads “Tim’s Tailor shop.” 

TIM'S Tailor Shop

    Santa walks in and hands the elf behind the counter a bright red bag and says. “Ho! HO! HO! Tim, I have a little job for you. Mrs. Claus said you would be much better at this than she would. I do not need them right away just when you get time, I have several pair.” 

      Tim opens the bag and removes the red pants that have been torn by the bear. His face turns red, then he scratches his head, looks up at Santa and says. “Santa you do not need a tailor, you need a garbage can for these.” 

Santa laughs a little half-heartedly smiles down at Tim and says. “Tim, those are one of my favorites, isn’t there something you can do?” 

      Tim takes his hands and places them on both his cheeks, squeezes his face into a pucker, then rubs from his forehead to his chin alternating both his hands three times. He looks up at Santa and says. “Just maybe, maybe there is. Would it be ok if I patched them? On the outside. With one of my custom patches.”

Santa ponders for a second, then agrees. 

      Tim then asks Santa “Ok tell me the story.” 

      For you see when Tim makes a custom patch he likes to hear the story behind the tear in the clothing item, then he makes a custom patch that reminds the wearer of the moment they tore their clothing. So as not to be so careless and tear their clothing again. 

      Santa tells Tim the story of the bear, they both have a good chuckle and Santa leaves the shop. 

      Outside Alvin has been waiting on Santa with Mrs. Claus they are standing beside the sleigh. Santa walks in between Alvin and Mrs. Claus, kisses her on the cheek, then turns to Alvin and says. “HO! HO! HO! Off we go.” 

    Mrs. Claus looks at Santa and tells him. “You be a little more careful this time and no wrestling with bears.” 

      They all laugh Santa and Alvin Hop into the sleigh and off they go. This time almost straight up they flew, a few seconds into the air, just as they pass a large whispering cloud.

      Santa turns to Alvin and says. “Open her up my boy open her up we need to get to the south sea.” 

      Alvin looks up at Santa with a big smile and then asks, almost in disbelief. “Really Santa, really, you want me to open the portal.”

      “Yes boy, yes, open it now. You must learn some time.”

Alvin reaches up to the front banister of the sleigh and puts both hands on what looks like a gear shift knob, only it is bright blue, almost glowing. He makes three small circles to the right then one or two to the left and pushes it forward with all his strength. Whoosh! The portal opens right in front of them and in they go.

      Out of the portal they come almost crashing into a palm tree. 

Santa lets out a thunderous laugh and says.” Don’t worry Alvin you will get better at it with practice.” referring to how they almost crashed into the palm tree. “Ok Alvin look for a good spot to land on the beach.” As they flew low to the sand along the beach, just out of reach from the crashing waves.           

Then all at once off to the left, up on the beach, a grass hut comes into view. 

      and Alvin says. “there Santa, right there.” 

They bring the sleigh down on the sand out in front of the hut. As they touch down the reindeer kick up sand on Alvin and Santa. 

      Santa brushes the sand from his chest, looks at the reindeer and says. “Donner I think you did that on purpose.” Donner turns towards Santa with a mischievous grin then turns back to the front looking down the beach.