Krampus, Harmony's Shadow

It was a chilly day in November, when comicon came to my city and I decided 'you know what, I'm gonna cosplay.' Oh how I hate that decision now, woops, where are my manners? My name is Vartile Shadowmaker. You see I wasn't like other con goers, while everyone usually went with the coolest or most popular beings of fantasy. I decided to cosplay as Krampus from the 2015 movie Krampus, now I know what you're thinking, this guy just went in a random demon mask with horns and fake fur, and that's where you're very wrong. I made an exact replica of the suit, beard, chains, and rusty bells, from the Krampus movie including the old man mask and horns through the hood. I even managed to track down cloven hoof shoes from someone in the furry community...don't ask. I even managed to get the claw finger nails correct, and soon I arrived at the con and started stalking around full Krampus, safe to say I drew a lot of attention.

It's not every con you see someone who is fully cosplaying as the literal shadow of saint Nicholas, but there I was. I should have known something was up the moment I started walking around the vendor booths but I didn't pay much attention. I was having too much fun snarling, and talking demonically with a bunch of spoiled brats. But as I walked past a particular booth I couldn't help but overhear an argument.

"What do you mean you won't sell to me" The guy cosplaying as One Above All.

"Exactly that" said the ragged old man, who was dressed as The Old Man from wasteland 3. "There is already one that I've sold to and I don't have anything like what you're asking for" the old man finished.

"It seems you're bothering the nice man, now why don't you get out of here before you learn what happens to naughty boys and girls" I said in my demonic voice.

"Oh yeah and...what...are..you" he said turning around getting quieter as he realized who I was cosplaying as.

"Boo" I said, causing him to scream and run away in fear. "Bwahahaha" I laughed in my normal voice as the merchant behind the table cackled with me.

"Thanks a lot lad, he was really starting to irritate me" The Old Man said. He looked my costume up and down and asked "so what can I do for you Krampus?"

I smiled as I walked up to his table to look at his wares, he had spell books, devil fruit, the necronomicon. But what caught my eye was the sack filled with toys and four rusted old bells. I picked up one of the bells and was amazed as it had 'Grüß vom Krampus' engraved on it, I was practically jumping for joy in my head. "I'll take these four bells, and what's in the sack?" I asked pointing to the old burlap sack he had in a corner.

"Just some old toys, would you like to take a look to see if they're to your liking" he asked. When I nodded he walked over and picked up the sack bringing it to the counter. I opened the sack and I literally almost fainted, the entire sack was filled with replicas of the evil toys Krampus had.

"How much for the bells and the sack of toys?" I asked as I reached for my wallet which I had hidden under the soot covered red jacket I was wearing. As I began to pull it out the man waved off my attempt.

"No no, that won't be necessary" he said as his eyes lit up and a smile formed on his face. "It's the least I could do to repay you for driving away that false One Above All, that and it doesn't seem right to let Krampus go without being himself" he finished.

"Thanks," I said, picking up the bells and attaching them to my chains. As I did this the merchants smile turned almost demented, "well thanks again man I appreciate it" I said picking up the sack of toys, and began to walk away.

"Oh it was no problem, enjoy your trip Krampus" he said cackling madly again. I turned around with a confused look in my eyes, as I began to feel light headed, as I started to black out I heard the merchant call out one last time. "I can't wait to see what you can accomplish, just remember, somethings can't be changed" and with that I finally blacked out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I groaned as I started regaining consciousness, "ohhh, my head" I said putting a hand against my skull. "Did anyone get the license plate of the truck that hit me" I finished rubbing the spot where my skull felt like a hammer was striking an anvil. I decided to open my eyes and when I did, I instantly regretted that decision, I wasn't lying on the cold floor of the con and I wasn't in a hospital room like I thought I would be, instead I was in a very dark looking forest. "Well then" I started and instantly stopped as I was still talking in my demonic voice, 'this can't be right' I thought to myself as I tried getting to my feet. Once I was finally standing I braced myself against one of the old trees in the forest and started panning my head back and forth trying to locate a pond of any kind. I didn't see anything but my ears picked up the sound of running water, I turned my head in the direction I heard it and attempted to start walking towards it.

I say attempted because I was hunched over and when I put one of my hands against my back I felt the wicker basket I had made specifically for my cosplay. Deciding it would be easier for me to walk without such a great weight on my back I attempted to take it off, it wouldn't budge when I turned my head I noticed the burlap sack resting against the tree next to me. I don't know why I decided to grab it...I just did, I tried opening the basket and it actually opened so I decided to put the sack in there instead of carrying it on my shoulder. I turned my head once more towards the stream and started trying to walk, I found that my movement was slow like my attempt at stalking at comic con, and that my foot falls felt heavier.

Once I reached the stream I dropped to my knees and looked into the crystal clear stream to see the old man mask staring back at me, I put my hands to where I knew the mask ended but I felt nothing but skin and sharp nails. Looking back into the water I realized there weren't any seems to indicate a mask and when I attempted to pull off one of the fake nails it wouldn't budge, at this point I was starting to freak out but I lost it once I looked down and lifted the coat from around my feet and realized that the cloven hooves shoes I was wearing turned into my real feet. I fell onto my ass and started hyperventilating, until my memory dragged up the con and the merchant. "That mother fucking, cock sucking, son of a douchebag lapping, numb cunt son of a whore turned me into the real Krampus" I said angrily. I started snorting and my vision turned red, I didn't like where my mind was going so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, in through the nose, out through the mouth. I thought in my head as I did my breathing exercise, I don't know how long I sat by that small creak just breathing it could have been a minute, it could've been a couple hours, but my train of thought was broken when I heard a twig snap behind me.

I decided to stay still and let whoever or whatever was there come out and make the first move. When I heard bushes rustling to my right, I took a deep breath of air and let my new senses take over, I smelled a strong scent of lilac, metal polish, and ozone. "Whomever is there, I will not bring you harm unless you bring it to me" I stated with my eyes closed.

"How didst thou know we were here, thou back is turned to us" a feminine voice said.

"I could hear and smell you child, may I ask as to why you sought to sneak up on me?" I asked the female, still with my eyes closed and my back turned, focusing on the powers that Krampus possesses.

"Thou art a strange creature, prithee what is thine name?" The strange female asked.

Standing up, I finally turn around and open my eyes, and standing just a few feet away is a dark blue female, with the muzzle of a horse, large eyes, wings and a horn. "My name is Krampus" I said smiling, making sure my razor sharp teeth stayed hidden. "And pray tell, what is your name lass?" I asked even though I already had a good idea of who she was.

"Thy name is Princess Luna, Princess of the moon and night" she said. "What type of being are you? You have the horns and hooves of a ram, but you don't look like a ram," she asked.

"I am a being known as a satyr half man, half goat" I said. "And pray tell, what are you?" I asked.

"Thy am an alicorn, dost thou not already know that?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"I have never heard of your species before, though I have met many different species. You say you control the moon, I am the protector of the innocent and I punish those who have lost faith in family, friends and all that is good" I said hoping to gain her trust.

"Really?" She asked skeptically. "Then Thou shalt come with us to talk with mine sister, then we will decide what to do with thee" she said leaving no room for rebuttal. I just nodded and slowly walked beside her as we headed to wherever her sister was, although I had a really good idea we were headed to the castle of the two sisters.