"The nights are getting longer! (longer)
And there's a chill in the air!
And you feel a bit of magic/
Ooh, everywhere!

"It's a special time that we all hold dear/ (dear)
So come on, everybody, time to spread the cheer! (yeah!)
There's dancin' and there's prancin' 'round the Christmas Tree/
And a little bit of sparkle for you and me!

No, I just can't wait 'til it's Christmas Day!"

Hitch sighed as he changed the volume on the radio. "Heard this song a thousand times already, and it's only the 23rd. I know we don't get long to listen to Christmas stuff, but playing it continously from the end of November is excessive, don't you think?"

"I dunno!" Izzy said, as she climbed down from the shed ceiling, having just put up some tinsel. "I like festive music. It cheers up the mood and brightens our days! Especially given dad's gonna be away on the oil rig until tomorrow."

"Izzy does have a point, Hitch," Sunny replied. "It's probably a good thing we try to keep the holiday spirit, if only for somebody else's sake."

"You've already done a fine job of that, Sunny!" Salty said. "This shed's more ship shape than a selection of sloped salmon!"

"Is that a thing?" Hitch asked.

"Sure is, me hearty!" Salty replied.

Sunny's phone buzzed, and she took a look. "Oh! Time for lunch. See you in a bit, guys!"

"See ya!" Izzy said. "Hitch, you wouldn't mind holding the ladder whilst I climb back down?"

Sunny walked out of the shed and back towards her home, wrapping her scarf a little tighter around her neck owing to the cold. Winters seemed to be bitterly cold these last few years, and the omnipresent snow didn't help matters all that much. There was already talk of getting the snowblower out.

"It never used to get this snowy," Sunny said, as she knocked on the door. "Mom, dad, I'm home!"

The door opened a few seconds later, and her nostrils were soon greeted by the smell of festive food. "Welcome back, Sunny," Argyle smiled. "We've got quite the feast lined up here."

"Enough food to feed an army, no less," Goldie joked. "Dive in when you're ready."

Sunny took off her scarf and coat and hung them up before taking a seat. "We sure have had a busy morning."

"Dockyard been busy again?" Argyle asked.

"Plenty of ships are bringing stuff in and out," Sunny replied. "Mostly last minute Christmas goods, as it seems some people have left their Christmas shopping a little late."

"That'd be awkward," Goldie said. "I've done that more than once. When I was still living in Rhode Island I saw something in a storefront on Christmas Eve and realised it'd be perfect for Moondust. So I bought it, got it wrapped, then gave it to him the next day." She paused. "There was a film when I was a teen about two men racing across America to buy the last example of a certain toy for their children. It wasn't very good in my opinion."

"The one with Arnie in it?" Argyle asked.

"Yeah, that one." Goldie smiled. "Still, good with the bad. At least The Polar Express exists- we're watching that tomorrow, right?"

"We cannot have Christmas without it, can we?" Sunny answered, before suddenly there was a knock at the door and a letter dropped through the door.

"Must be the council," Argyle said. "Only they still send letters."

Sunny walked over and saw it was addressed to her. "It's to me," she said. "The last time that happened we ended up on Sodor and ended up at war." She opened it regardless and started to read.

"Dear Sarah Starshine,

We at the Royal Cornwall Hospital wish to collaborate with you and your railway. The children who are at the hospital are very interested in the Maritime Line, and we are organising a delivery of Christmas presents to ensure they will have the Christmas spirit at this time of year.

We would like you and Salty to deliver the presents from Falmouth to Truro, and we hope you will accept.

Many kind returns,

NHS Cornwall."

Sunny nodded. "Well, that was interesting."

"Well?" Goldie asked. "What's your reply?"

Sunny sat back down. "Given this is the season of goodwill, I'd be keen to help them. Part of the spirit of the season is helping those less fortunate than ourselves, and I have a personal connection to the hospital too."

"As well I know," Goldie commented. "Hard to believe that was nearly 18 years ago now."

"So yes," Sunny said. "I'll help."

"Not often I get a trip onto the dockside!" Harvey said.

"Well, with Porter down for parts changes we need to step up," Goldie said. "Besides, this is a nice break from endless last minute business calls."

Harvey was handy as a shunter, and had been assigned to the bottom end of the yard where the container flats were often loaded. These were a very handy means of transportation, as they could be used to move objects in bulk- such as Christmas deliveries.

Once round the train, Harvey pushed the stock along the siding to the crane before he noticed something odd. "Why is an empty crate upside down on a flat wagon?" he asked. "That's not how they're normally positioned, right?"

"I don't think so," Goldie said. "Then again I've seen all sorts of strange things in my time. Let's keep going and see what we find."

Once round the siding, they came to a stop next to the box.

"Hello? Is anypony there?"

"Did you hear that?" Harvey asked.

"I did," Goldie replied. "It sounded like a voice, if I do say so myself."

Just then, the voice was heard again, albeit a little louder.

"Hello? Is anypony there?"

Goldie applied Harvey's handbrake and stepped over to the box. "Now who is under this box?" she asked.

"I'm trapped in here! Could somepony let me out?"

Goldie thought the voice sounded familiar, but was confused by the use of 'somepony'. She lifted the lid- and was very surprised at what she saw.

"Well, it's been a while since we last worked together."

Brookes rolled to a stop in the siding at Truro, soon seeing his old friend glancing over. "Just nice to be working up here with you again, just like old times."

Nigel laughed. "We've got plenty of new goods to move about. And that means lots of work for you and me."

"Just another part of the winter season," Onyx added. "I have a new poem as well, well to sing and speak."

"Let's hear it while we work," Argyle said, as he put Brookes' cutoff into forward.

And off Onyx went:

"What are these flakes my eyes do see?
What is this chill coming over me?
Is this some... enchanted winter fan-ta-sy?
Snowpony, come and set me...
Free, free, free...
The flakes fall down, the trees don't wither.
Colts and mares, I wish you...
Frostyshivers."

There was a moment of silence that was suddenly interrupted by Brookes' whistle. "Well that was something. Who are the colts and mares you speak to?"

"It's a translation error, adaptation fault, the end falling of stars and light as we move closer to dust, dust as the end of days."

Argyle just looked confused. "I'll take your word for it!"

After some more work, the yard head at Truro walked over to them and handed Argyle a message. "Work order for you," he said. "You are to take some tankers down to Newham gasworks to be filled. Considering what happened in Calmenick last year, we'll be stationing tankers filled with gas at sidings along the line in case gas lines get cut off."

Argyle nodded. "On our way. Let's go, Brookes!"

"We'll need to collect the tankers first!"

So they did, and two brake vans to allow them to change ends. Once they had drawn the train together, they set off for Penwithers Junction and ran round before proceeding back down the Newham Branch. Already the snowfall looked to be on the verge of slipping onto the line, and this concerned them greatly.

"I'll be glad when this snow lifts," Brookes said. "The silly soft stuff causes so many problems."

Once they were down the branch, they pulled into Newham docks and ran round the train again. Now at the correct end, they shunted the stock into the siding at Newham gasworks and waited for the workmen to start filling the tankers.

Argyle hopped off the footplate for a break and to catch his breath. The cold air could sometimes play havoc with his lungs, and his coat and scarf weren't as effective against the cold as he had hoped.

Just then, he heard a voice.

"It's very dark in here! Help please!"

Argyle walked in the direction of a voice, which seemed to be coming from a tarpaulin. He pulled it off- and looked astonished.

Author's Note

Hello fellow readers, and welcome back for my annual Christmas tradition! Christmas stories are a staple of my account, and what better way to mark the holiday season than a story about giving? The program Sunny is participating in is based on something my school used to do, sending gifts to children in hospital.

But what have Goldie and Argyle found? Find out tomorrow!