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The first Christmas that the Ruzaders shared with Ruze was quite the memorable affair. Previously ignorant of the holiday’s traditions, they observed in hiding how Ruze was roped in to help Armis with different activities, such as decorating the Christmas tree, helping Goldbullet cook the evening feast, even singing along to different Christmas carols with the bounty hunter group, albeit rather reluctantly.
However, it wasn’t until later in the evening that they discovered Ruze’s own Christmas tradition. It was late into the night, at an hour where the rest of the denizens in the tavern were resting soundly in their beds, when the Ruzaders were awoken by a quiet shuffling and curious sound of chains dragging across the room.
Once the Ruzaders had awakened enough from their stupor, they were stunned to see the great axe wielder decked out in a dark furred coat, chains, and what looked like a taxidermied lamb dangling from his shoulders. To top it off, black horns curved off the top of his head, giving him a demonic look under the light of the full moon.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” Ruze whispered. “Wake up the stragglers. It’s time for my favorite part of Christmas: The Hunt for Santa Claus.”
Passing through the portal that Ruze had opened up for them, the Ruzaders couldn’t help but to shiver as a strong, cold breeze blew past them and they found themselves surrounded by nothing but snow.
Now it made sense why the bounty hunter had warned them to wear something warm before they made their late night journey, but the fact that they were currently huddling together on the face of what appeared to be a mountain left all of them bewildered.
Despite the scarves and woolen hats that many Ruzaders had hurriedly put on before they rushed through the portal, they sat there crowding together for warmth while they waited for the great axe user. When Ruze finally followed them through the portal, the furs and fabric of his outfit flapping from the gusts of wind blowing through, he was kind enough to explain to the prank of Ruzaders just what it was that they were planning to do.
“Every year, to end Christmas day, ol’ Saint Nick and I battle it out to see who’s the strongest ‘cuz there can only be one crimson clad bastard in the world, and that would be me! Since this is your guys’ first year joining, I decided to bring you as backup to hunt down our other enemy.”
At this, he paused for dramatic effect, before whispering, “Santa’s elves.”
The Ruzaders only looked at him in confusion, but Ruze pressed on, saying, “Ya can’t show them any mercy, ya guys got that! We need to show them that the Ruzade will not waver with their so-called holiday cheer! Give them no quarrel, and take ‘em out.”
Not completely understanding, but not wanting to argue anymore in the freezing cold, the Ruzaders let out a cheer in unison, their little nubs and axe tails at the ready.
“Alright, Ruzaders,” the bounty hunter yelled. He tightened the grip on the chains of his Krampus costume, a maniacal grin plastered on his face as he pulled the chains to allow the chains to emit a melodic, rattling sound for dramatic effect. “Time to give them our Season Greetings!”
After a long and grueling hike, they had somehow found the mountain clearing that Ruze had sworn was there. From their vantage point, through the intense, snowy winds, they could just barely make out the golden light leaking through the windows of what looked like a large cottage lodge.
“There’s your target, Ruzaders,” the fur-clad bounty hunter pointed out. “In the past, when it was just me going one-on-one with the ‘Jolly sack of Holiday cheer,’ I’d have to find his workshop first and cut the power so that his elves couldn’t interfere with our battle. Now though…” Ruze grinned. “I’ve got you lil’ monsters here to wreak some havoc.”
He turned to address the prank of Ruzaders surrounding him. “I’m giving you guys permission to go wild! Chew the wires… devour their secret stash of cookies that I’m sure is hiding in the building… just go nuts!”
Some Ruzaders let out meek chirps as they shivered around each other, asking what the monster hunter would be doing in the meantime.
“Me? I’ll be heading to the summit,” he said, smirking as he slung the chains over his shoulder. “That’s where I’ll be kicking Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick’s ass.”
And they had every intention of following the monster hunter’s orders! Honest! Full assault on the building! Leave no cookie uneaten, and all that good stuff! It’s just that… well…
“Oh! New friends!” One elf exclaimed, as they came face to face with each other for the first time.
“It’s nice to see that Ruze has found more critters to get along with!” Another elf remarked.
“Would you guys like some hot cocoa? You all traveled a long way to get here, and the fight’s about to start! We have plenty of room to watch Santa and Ruze’s fight on the big screens here if you’d like to join us?”
Wait… what?
“Oh, you poor things must be freezing! Here! We have warm blankets and quilts too, and you all can cozy on up to the fireplace.
Where you will burn us?! The Ruzaders chirped accusatorily. Their remarks only made the elves chuckle.
“Don’t be silly! Any friends of Ruze are friends to us!”
Friends?! But… but… Ruze sabotages the workshop every year so that he can fight with Santa Claus! Why are you all welcoming us?
“Oh! Yeah, Ruze shuts off the power for a short time, but he always leaves the back up generator intact,” one elf explained. “Plus, Santa and we actually look forward to this friendly test of strength! We even project it on all the TV sets throughout the workshop.”
“Some of us even have a betting pool on who will win each year,” another elf remarked. “When Ruze first learned of Santa’s existence and challenged him to a duel, he struggled quite a bit against the boss.”
“His persistence has really paid off, though,” another elf praised. “It took awhile, but after years and years of training, he finally started to rack up some victories. Now though, it’s rare not to see the boy come out on top!”
“Santa appreciates the practice too. He always tells us it’s fun for him to go all out and give joy to our cantankerous friend through the adrenaline of combat!”
Hearing all this, the Ruzaders just looked at each other in bewilderment, wondering just how many surprises could be fit into their first Christmas with Ruze.
“Now that that’s all settled… How about that hot cocoa?”
And so, a new tradition was born: While Ruze and Santa Claus went off to fight on their own secret battleground, the Ruzaders hung back to hang out with Santa’s elves, snuggled up nice and cozy with their hot cocoa and cheering on Ruze from afar as the elves broadcasted the fight throughout the workshop.
It may have been an unconventional Holiday tradition, but they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good fight!