Chapter Text
“Are you sure about the beard?”
Entrapta tinkered with the electronics snugly hidden beneath the bright red sleigh. Gold metalwork spun webs of sweeping coils along the edges like vines, rails running wide and solid to keep the pace swift. The tech was intricate, finely balanced yet robust to counter any obstacle.
She blinked, turning on prehensile pigtails. Catching sight of him her lips blossomed into a smile, emitting a delighted squeal. A thin book opened in a hair hand.
“Hordak, you look amazing! It’s just like the picture!”
“But does it have to be so… fluffy? And why are we using pookas to pull the sleigh?”
“Robots can’t fly silly. The pooka are amazing. With just a liiitttle genetic engineering and gene splicing I’ve increased productivity by 350%. I’ve really learned a lot about epigenetics in this project.”
“I see… and the branches attached to their heads are for…?”
“Antlers of course! The picture says the pookas need antlers.”
“Some of them have leaves. That one can’t see where it’s going.”
She waved him off with a hair hand.
“Oh, don’t you worry, with my Dryl to Space Transfer Technology we won’t get lost at all on this trip!”
Hordak did worry but he would trust her unto the ends of their eternity on Etheria. He shuffled slightly, dignity degraded somewhat, but she was right. In the fluffy red suit trimmed in white, the large black belt keeping the pillow in position, and black shiny boots, he certainly looked the part. Only the beard was amiss. Too wide for his face, it left gaps along his cheeks. He had to concentrate so as not to dislodge the hooks which held it in place.
Entrapta wore no costume except a matching red hat, the requisite pompom bouncing around with her nervous energy. A white beard graced her small face making her appear older and wiser. She wielded the book, ‘borrowed’ from Bow’s parent’s library, as a talisman of her faith in research. An Etherian tradition to which she was hitherto unaccustomed was something to relish.
Emily and Kadroh sauntered into the courtyard, layden with a heavy sack. From the depths, a movement. Then Imp, mischievous look upon his toddler-like features, emerged with several identical boxes all wrapped in crisp purple and silver paper. He flew off with his treasure back towards Crypto Castle to shouts from Hordak, beeps from Emily and cackling glee from Entrapta who waved him off,
“Oh, let him have some fun. There’s plenty. Look, here’s the prototype!”
She held out a miniature Emily in her palm. It blinked a miniscule purple light, pinged once and opened a door at the back. A tiny cupcake of red and purple icing and silver edible stars emerged. Hordak considered the pocket-sized creation carefully.
“Entrapta, that is a beautiful gift, one which I am sure will delight all of Etheria.”
She grinned as Kadroh and Emily received her gifts in rapt awe. Emily beeped in excitement as her itty-bitty counterpart followed, dancing around her.
“Time to go Kadroh, don’t stay up too late or the Horfather won’t come!”
“The Horfather has already been, Starlight,” Hordak grumbled, but he couldn’t bear to say it loud enough for her to hear. He looked dubiously at the pooka ‘reindeer’ before him.
“Emm, how do we start?”
Entrapta spun so high from her hairtails that Hordak was glad they were still on the ground.
“This is gonna be so much FUN!” she squealed, eyes like saucers, glittering with an intensity only known to the infinite depths of the cosmos. “Ok come on girls, it’s time to get this show on the road! On Nipper, on Muncher, on Clamper, on Pincher, on Snacker, on Gnasher on Butch!”
“Butch? Starlight, whatever method do you use to name these… barbaric creatures? And why is the nose of this ‘Butch’ painted red?”
Raucous laughter filled the air as the pookas ran across the ground and soared upwards. High above the clouds the air was still, the daymoon dipping below the horizon, leaving a deep blue/black skyline in its wake. Entrapta bounced excitedly while Hordak clutched the reins tighter, face furrowed and staring straight ahead.
“Don’t look down,” he muttered, “Just don’t look down.”
“Aw silly,” his lab partner chided, “It’s perfectly safe up here!” To demonstrate she jumped overboard, disappearing over the edge in a flash of purple. Hordak yelped and reached out, grabbing nothing but empty space. Shock overtook momentarily, as she swung back up on his side and landed in his lap. He stared at her.
“Oops, my bad, I thought you’d move.” She lifted herself up but he pulled her back into his arms.
“I think you should stay right here.” He grinned, fangs showing behind the too-large beard, a hint of mischief in his dark red orbs. She heaved a breath as he clutched her tighter and her voice grew sultry.
“Oh, Hordak, you really are The Horfather. Let me help you with that list…”
“You mean this one?”
“Oooh yes.”
“Where do we start?”
“Let’s start at the top.”
“A good place to start.”
“It’s very nice to touch.”
“Mmm, that’s… very good.”
“It’s so thick.”
“It is indeed.”
“I used quality paper.”
Hordak coughed and began, “Alphabetically, Adora, naughty; Bow, naughty; Catra, most definitely naughty; Entrapta, very naughty (she giggled); Queen Glimmer, in fact…”
The Horfather threw the paper aside and kissed Entrapta with alacrity. The pookas knew what to do, and the onboard navigation system was in full swing. They were just melting into each other’s arms when the control panel spluttered to life. Entrapta broke free, pointing to the planet surface. The Kingdom of Snows lay far below in a haze of white, grey and soft blue.
Maneuvering the controls, she opened a mini portal into Frosta’s castle where the sleigh stopped at the foot of the young princess’s bed. The reindeer pookas whimpered until she fed them tiny dried fruits.
“What happens next?” Hordak asked, his dulcet tones sounding perhaps more gravelly than usual. Entrapta consulted her book.
“You leave a gift under a plant or something. They’re supposed to leave out refreshments... Aha!”
Next to the princess, a vase of winter flowers shrouded a delicate crystal glass. Hordak laid the gift down and sipped at the drink. He spluttered, bubbly liquid spattering on his red suit.
“The fizzy wine must be for you,” he surmised.
One by one The Horfather slipped down chimneys, his partner’s Pocket Portal Technology proffering time to complete the task. Gifts were left beneath potted plants, tiny trees or wintery wreaths. Softly slumbering dreamers were unaware of the festive pair who drank fizzy wine and whisky and fed treats to the pooka reindeer. Salineas was silent, Plumeria perfectly peaceful, the Crimson Wastes were wistfully weary, and no-one noticed them at all until Entrapta espied a wonderous sight.
“Oh! A social experiment! Can we go? Pleeease?”
The Horfather grunted and shook his head, “It’s not on our route.”
She looked at him, wide-eyed and he found himself steering the sleigh towards the ground.
“Five minutes,” he grunted.
On the ground the sleigh stopped outside a large tent of colourful merriment. The tent door opened wide and Elberon welcomed their new… guests.
Many children crowded round to see the fancy sleigh and the Jolly Fat Man within. He smiled, red fangs glinting in the moonlight, large red orbs impenetrable, cold. A silence fell upon the crowd as they took in the sight of Hordak and the pooka reindeer whose single staring eyes and teeth like knives turned to stare at the children without blinking.
“HO! HO! HO!” The Horfather said, remembering his lines.
A child screamed. Most of them ran away. Only one little girl in a pink dress and butterfly wings remained. She giggled and rushed up to meet him.
“Ooh, who are you meant to be?”
“I am The Horfather. How old are you, Flutterina? And what gift would you like?”
“Oohh! You know my name!” Her eyes sparkled. She jumped a few times to show she was giddy with excitement. “Please, I’d like a ray gun with real life red dot targeting, sling shot capabilities and reusable poison darts!”
Entrapta’s eyes lit up like stars and she had the weapon created in moments, handing it to Hordak.
“Are you really The Horfather?” The small girl quizzed, “Your beard doesn’t fit and your pillow just fell out of your suit!”
“Of course I am…”
“I don’t think so. You’re an imposter!”
“Imposter!” He grabbed and hauled her up into the air, “I have been waiting to talk to you… Double Trouble.”
“Hi Hordak!” The lazy drawl of the tall shape-shifter permeated the air, “What are you up to these days? Terrorising children? Have fun, you delectable
devilish bat-beast, ta-ta.”
They sequestered a gift from the back of the sleigh and disappeared into the crowd, leaving nothing but silence in their wake. Hordak realised he was currently holding a small child in the air by an iron-clawed fist. A soft pigtail rested upon his shoulder. He gently placed the real Flutterina back on the ground handing her the gift she’d asked for.
Climbing back onto the sleigh he waved a slightly embarrassed arm to the crowd and nudged Entrapta. She urged the pookas back up into the sky, resuming the night’s work.
“HO, HO, HO! Merry Hordesmas.”
___________________________________________________________________
Giggling and crashing emanated from Brightmoon’s gamesroom. Catra, tired after a long day of laying on Adora’s lap was suddenly on high alert. Gingerly she opened the door to find The Horfather and his assistant hard at work.
“Oh no…” she groaned, “Pleeease, not tonight!”
“Hiiiii Catra!” Entrapta waved to her comically distressed friend.
“What are you doing?”
“HO, HO, HO!” the Horfather grinned in an effort to bestow cheeriness and yuletide blessings, but red fangs and pupilless eyes presented a macabre sight.
Entrapta leapt forward on happy pigtails. She wrapped loose arms around Catra, head languishing upon a rigid shoulder. The feline, unnerved, sniffed the air as a purple sparkle filled the space beside her. Bow and Adora appeared in the doorway.
“Entrapta, are you drunk?”
“You’re my beeestestest friend ever Catra.”
“What’s up?” Glimmer yawned, then yelped at the sight of the tall, red-clad entity holding a bulging sack.
“Hordak! Tell me you’re not stealing from Brightmoon! This is a new low even for you.”
“He’s not stealing,” Entrapta whined, trying her best to stay focussed and upright. “He’s the Horfather.”
“The Horfather?” Adora asked, eyebrow raised.
“Hordak, take her home.” Catra complained, finally losing her grip. Entrapta fell to the floor with a thud. Hordak glared.
“We are recreating an ancient Etherian tradition.”
“It was the night before…” said the floor. The rest was muffled under an arm shaped pillow and a faint snore. A pigtail held a thin red book above the prostrate purple scientist. Bow took it.
“I know this. It’s not Etherian legends. It’s fairy tales from other worlds thousands of years ago!”
Suddenly the head snapped up and she grabbed the book back.
“It is? This is incredible! Imagine, stories from across the galaxy and a distant past long since gone. And we’ve been bringing them back to life!”
Bow groaned, “You’ve been doing this all night? Drinking the fairy tea the kids leave out mid-winter?”
A yawn escaped her. Hordak led her towards the sleigh, tucking her into the blankets.
“Starlight, perhaps it is time for us to retire?”
“Or... stay here for a sleepover!” Catra’s wicked grin received a horrified glare.
“I have never been one for ‘sleepovers’!” With a grunt and a tug of the reins they flew off into a portal.
“Did we do it?” Entrapta asked sleepily.
“We did Starlight.”
“Your eyes are like rubies in the moonlight.” She smiled, nuzzling into his chest, “Tonight was beautiful.”
“As are you,” He held her close in the knowledge of a job well done for the woman he treasured. The sleigh disappeared into the magic night.
