Kringl (Rescued by the Alien)

Chapter 28

Chapter

Twenty-Eight

J oy's vision dimmed as her lungs screamed for air, burning as Velsnickel’s hand closed around her neck like a vise. Despite the desperation of her situation, bittersweet relief washed over her. They had won, the village was free, and Velsnickel had been defeated. Her only regret was that she wouldn’t live to enjoy that freedom or to tell Kringl how much she loved him.

As darkness enveloped her and her body went limp, a rumble shook the ground. The beast holding her roared, the sound both angry and confused. Through her fading consciousness, Joy managed to open her eyes just enough to make out a massive shape dropping rapidly through the clouds.

Her slow heartbeat quickened as the grip on her throat loosened. She opened her eyes wider to take in the spaceship, sleek and powerful, that now hovered above the village. The wind from its engines whipped the snow and ice into the air, and the deafening roar drowned out all other sounds.

In the chaos, a blue blur flashed in front of her and crashed into Velsnickel. Joy fell to the ground like a stone, gasping for air as Kringl and the elf rolled in the snow. It only took her a moment and a few deep breaths to realize that Kringl had used the distraction of the ship to lunge and knock her from the creature’s hold.

Her head swam as she sucked in desperate lungfuls of oxygen, and she attempted to crawl away from the fight. Velsnickel, enraged and desperate, shrieked and clawed at Kringl. Then he broke free and spun to face her.

Her chest lurched, and she tried to crawl faster, but then white flashed through the air like a furry torpedo. Brave little Snowball had found Kringl’s blaster and flown through air with it tucked into his body, landing in Kringl’s arms.

“Don’t take another step, Velsnickel.” Kringl’s voice was steady but forceful as he aimed the weapon at the elf.

Velsnickel froze, then his face went slack when the sound of jingle bells came from behind him. “Impossible.”

“Someone has been a bad elf,” a booming voice said as the white-bearded man approached.

Tami’s face broke into a smile as she ran forward. “Santa?”

Velsnickel’s shoulders sagged as he slowly turned. “How…?”

The round-bellied man shook a fat finger at the elf. “I got a message from a Valorian ship that you were holding some nice people hostage. Now is that any way for an elf to behave?”

Velsnickel paled as the other elves shuffled toward Santa, their heads bowed. “Does this mean you’re taking us back to the North Pole? Does this mean we have to make toys again?”

Santa shook his head. “No toys for you, but I do need some elves to be on reindeer duty.”

“I hate reindeer,” Velsnickel muttered as he shuffled toward the ship Santa was waving him and the other elves toward, as some North Pole elves marched alongside the naughty ones.

Joy stood in shock staring at the actual living Santa with his rosy cheeks and merry smile. “You’re real.”

The man winked at her. “Of course, I’m real, dear. How else would all those children on Earth get presents?”

Joy opened her mouth to state the obvious but then thought better of it. Instead, she cleared her throat. “Thank you for coming.”

His smile slid to Tami and then back to Joy. “I couldn’t let Velsnickel ruin Christmas for so many people who are on the Nice List.”

Tami drew in a breath, her eyes wide and unblinking. “I’m on the Nice List?”

Santa bent down and touched the tip of her nose with one finger. “You are, which is why I brought presents for you.”

He swung a sack off his back, a sack Joy hadn’t even noticed, and began pulling brightly wrapped gifts from inside. The children from the village ran to him, swarming around Santa as he handed out presents and laughed until his belly shook.

With Velsnickel neutralized and everyone else safe and amused by Santa, Joy turned to Kringl and staggered into his arms.

He held her tightly, kissing her hair. "I was so scared I'd lost you.”

"You saved me," Joy whispered, her voice hoarse.

Kringl pulled back slightly, his golden eyes intense as they met hers. "No, Joy. You saved me. I was lost before I met you, but now I know exactly what I want, who I want—and it's you."

Joy's pulse fluttered even as she shook her head, unwilling to let herself believe him. “But you're a prince. You can’t pick me.”

Kringl's grip on her tightened. "I'll give it all up if it means I can't have you. I know now that you're more important to me than any throne or title. I do not want to be without you.”

Joy threw her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder, oblivious to the second ship touching down beside the village and kicking up a flurry of snow.

When Joy finally noticed that the ship had landed, its engines had quieted. Her heart pounded as a ramp extended from the ship and several figures emerged. Zaan walked down first, his silver markings glinting even in the dusky light.

He nodded at Santa and then locked his gaze on Kringl. “It looks like you've been busy, Your Highness.”

Kringl kept one arm around Joy as he addressed his first officer. “The elves are being taken back to Earth thanks to you and the message you got to Santa Claus.”

Zaan gave a curt nod. “I was only following the orders you gave me. As you expected, Mr. Claus was grateful to learn where his runaway elves were and was more than happy to assist.”

Joy glanced at the children laughing as they opened the presents Santa was handing out. She never imagined that the real Santa would actually come, but now that he was here, all her dark thoughts about the holiday evaporated.

“We have many more refugees to rehome,” Kringl continued. “And several who will be coming back to Valoria with us."

As if on cue, Snowball leapt onto Kringl's shoulder, clapping his tiny hands excitedly.

As the reality of their situation sank in, a mix of emotions washed over her. Relief, joy, and excitement battled with uncertainty about the future. She looked at Kringl, who’d stepped aside to talk with Zaan about arrangements for the villagers.

When he caught her gaze, his face softened into a smile that made her heart skip. He reached out, taking her hand in his. "Are you ready?"

Joy squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers. "As long as we're together, I'm ready for anything."

As the crew began to organize the villagers, Joy realized that this was just the beginning. But looking at Kringl, with her pet snow squirrel happily curled around his shoulders, Joy felt truly hopeful. The nightmare of being stuck on an ice planet controlled by a bitter elf was over.

As snowflakes began to fall gently around them and Santa’s booming laugh reverberated through the air, she tilted her face up to the sky and smiled. This, she thought, was what real Christmas spirit felt like—love, happiness, and hope.

This was a Christmas she could get behind.