Publish Date: sometime in December 2004
Featured Characters: SG2, Yon-Khu, Angel, )v(ajin
Wordcount: 10,027 (1,057 of which is the Author’s Note – classic SG2)
Status: NON-CANON
Like the story that came before it, this one featured the proto-IGNOites teaming up with Dragonball characters to save Christmas – except this time, they were very specifically the versions of those characters from my Dragonball fic, in a weird bit of cross-promotion. And it still predates the creation of the IGNO forums. However, as this was the first Christmas Story I wrote, it is the origin of a few tropes that would continue to pop up in future stories (namely the Krampus’ ice fortress being destroyed, and SG2 not remembering him despite having just fought him the year before).
Below is a failed attempt I made at adapting the story to suit current IGNO lore, before I decided to just scrap the old stories entirely. Worth noting that while these specific events are no longer considered to have happened, a reference to ‘the time they got turned into children’ on a previous Christmas adventure does pop up in one of the canon stories (I forget which), because I wanted to make a cheeky callback to the first Christmas Story I ever wrote.
SG2 and her friends Angel, )v(ajin and Yon-Khu are hanging out together on Christmas Eve when suddenly a mysterious force appears before them. It's a creature who seems to know them, but they don't recognize...until he reveals that it was he who controlled MarQooz the year before, and guided him on his Christmas stealing mission. MarQooz was just another pawn in the grasp of this creature, who identifies himself as Krampus, a holiday beast who hates Christmas and wants to kill Santa Claus and end the holiday once and for all. However, his powers are only at their peak on Christmas Day. Unlike MarQooz, however, his powers are not stolen from Santa, and his Anti-Christmas Magic can only be defeated by the purity of The Christmas Spirit.
The Krampus claims to be appearing before the group in advance as a warning to stay out of his way this year, or they will regret it. )v(ajin is annoyed at this proclamation, and tries to shoot an energy blast at the Krampus - however, he vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving only a small wooden tile in the snow below him with an image of a Santa hat with a red 'X' printed on it. Obviously the real Krampus is hiding somewhere safe biding his time until his power is maximized...the group despairs, having felt his incredible power. Angel points out the cryptic words he left them with - the only thing that could stop his power is The Christmas Spirit, so the group decides they need to load themselves up with whatever that might be. They make a wish on a Christmas star that they can be filled with Christmas Spirit so they may defeat the Krampus...
Suddenly, there is a flash of light...the friends are all surprised when they look at each other and realize they've been transformed into children!! They realize that this must be the Christmas Spirit - the Krampus' evil powers cannot harm the innocent purity of children.
)v(ajin questions whether or not becoming children was the only effect of getting Christmas Spirit - it would prevent them from being harmed by the Krampus, but not make them strong enough to defeat him. Powering up, the gang realizes that they've all been given a unique Christmas-themed power along with their new tiny size - SG2 now dual-wields candycane swords, Angel's wings turn red and green and let her generate powerful winds, )v(ajin has a deadly whip of razor-sharp tinsel, and Yon-Khu has gained elf shoes which sparkle with extra Christmas niceness to pack a super-powerful punch to any naughty ass he kicks. Armed with these new abilities, the newly-miniaturized friends set out into the night, with only a few hours left until Christmas, to find the Krampus and put a stop to his diabolical plans.
It's not long, however, before the group finds themselves lost in the middle of a blizzard, with no way to track down the Krampus' whereabouts. That's when a small voice is heard nearby...they follow it to meet a Christmas elf who was sent by Santa, anticipating the Krampus' revenge. The elf's job is to guide them to the location of the Krampus' hidden Ice Fortress, which, before long, the gang arrives at. The elf warns them that the Krampus has already sent minions out into the cities to intercept the present delivery, and that when the clock strikes midnight the Krampus' powers will be at 100%, and their new powers will wear off.
The gang wastes no time charging into the fortress, battling their way through the Krampus' minions to reach the top of the castle. Finally, they arrive…only slightly more than an hour until Christmas, worn out and beaten. Still undeterred, however, they swing open the door to the Krampus' chamber, which is lit only by a few candles. They stand in the doorway, their small size daunted by the towering throne that their enemy sits upon.
The group notices that it's not just an illusion created by their new, small sizes - the Krampus has actually gotten bigger and more muscular in the time since they saw his projected image earlier that day. Still, they fight bravely, using their new powers to put the smack down on the Christmas-hating monster...all he does, however, is dodge. )v(ajin finally figures out that he's trying to buy time until midnight, when his power is at maximum!! Still, knowing that doesn't help them much, because they still can't manage to land a blow on him. Already weary from the journey to the throne room, the heroes find themselves without much will to fight...and with only 30 minutes until midnight, it seems hopeless.
Finally, SG2 gets the idea...if they can't hit the Krampus, then they just need to focus their powers on a bigger target. While she serves as a distraction, the other 3 concentrate their powers and attack the walls of the Ice Fortress itself...escaping out the window before the foundation comes crumbling down with the Krampus still inside, and 2 minutes to spare until midnight. Surely, not even he could survive this..their elf guide prematurely exclaims that they've won, until he's knocked face-first into the snow...the fatal wound in his back smoldering from the flaming Christmas present that was just launched at him by the Krampus. The clock has struck midnight, and now a mere crumbling castle isn't enough to bring him down. Furthermore, SG2 and friends have reverted back to their adult forms, their Christmas powers gone...Once again, the gang despairs...Christmas is over. "FROM NOW ON, DECEMBER 25TH WILL BE A DARK AND HOPELESS DAY!!", he exclaims, as power surges through his body.
Yon-Khu, )v(ajin and Angel cower - they know that there is nothing they can do anymore to stop the Krampus. They've missed their chance...but SG2 foolishly stands and walks towards the Krampus, whose power has whipped up a ferocious wind all around them. He grins, mocking the foolish tiger for continuing to stand against him even now, but she doesn't move. With everything else kept at bay by his wind, it's just the two of them...and SG2 gathers all the power she can muster. The Krampus continues to mock her, growing more agitated by the fact that she won't submit to his will...he summons an army of evil Nutcrackers, Gingerbread soldiers, and Snow Golems to destroy SG2 while he goes to use his power for more important things, like killing Santa Claus once and for all. As prepares to leave and do that, however, SG2 defeats all his minions in a single burst as she continues to gather power...the Krampus stops in his tracks, unbelieving. He screams that she's still no match for his Anti-Christmas Magic now that it's past midnight and she's reverted from being a child.
"No..." she whispers, gathering a ball of energy that is slowly tinted red and green. "It doesn't matter how old you are...as long as you're young at heart..."
SG2 and the Krampus fire at each other simultaneously, their energy fighting for dominance against the other. SG2's ball slowly begins to overpower his, and his body begins to melt from the sheer power...
"YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, AS LONG AS YOU BELIEVE!!"
SG2's energy fully engulfs the Krampus, whose body is slowly giving way to ash. Before he is completely disintegrated however, his voice carries a final message on the wind...
"You may have foiled me again this year, but never forget. As long as there is good in this world, evil will always rise to snuff it out. So it goes for Christmas...and as long as evil remains in this world, my spirit will return every year, until I have destroyed this holiday once and for all!!"
With the Krampus foiled once again, there is nothing but silence for a long while as the gang stands together in the falling snow, victorious over their enemy. They have all learned the valuable lesson that young or old, Christmas Spirit resides in the hearts of all who wish to believe...and so they return home to join the sleeping world who, thanks to them, will wake in the morning to enjoy a Christmas holiday with their loved ones.