Looping Over Feeling

“...What are you?” Sunset asked.

The Entity, a warped pony of pure black covered in a harness of bells, grinned at her, a mouth of sharp teeth.

“Krampus,” he replied. “I punish those ponies that truly disrespect Hearth’s Warming.”

“Weird pastime, but good luck with that.”

Sunset made to leave. Krampus stopped her.

“I would love to inform you that you are exactly the pony I’ve come to punish,” Krampus said.

“What did I do?!” Sunset snarled.

“By spurning the ideology of the Founders, my counterpart, you threaten the nature of this important holiday.” He leans down, slit red eyes wide and mouth stretched too far. “We cannot have grinches bring Wendigos upon us.”

“I’m one pony! Besides, what could I have possibly done to deserve being harassed by you?”

“Your friends and family reached out to you and you denied them. You keep to yourself and refuse to acknowledge their presence thus hurting them. Those four alone are fighting back the cheer that keeps the Wendigos at bay.”

“Four…” Sunset muttered. “Flash, Wallflower, Cadance… Wait.” Sunset’s eyes widened. “You can’t be serious, Celestia? No way. There’s no way.”

“Believe what you wish, but you will understand or die,” Krampus said. “I have set up a little—”

“Yeah, buck off,” Sunset snarled.

“Excuse me?” A manic gleam sparkled in Krampus’s eyes.

“I’m not falling for your cheap stupid sentimentality. This holiday is bogus, totally meaningless, and you’re an idiot for perpetuating it.” Sunset scoffed. “What kind of loser shores up a holiday? On top of that, you’re punishing me? I’m the one owed an apology from them and I’m not playing some stupid lame game to… show…” Sunset trailed off.

Snow and ice had steadily covered the entire area. Krampus stared at her, face contorted into a wide smile stretched tight and thin by rage. The bells tinkled slightly from the vibrations of his body as he seethed in place.

“...I had thought a simple game would do, but I changed my mind.” There was no playful tone in his voice, replaced by a deep guttural growling. He still smiled. “I will have you suffer first, learning what you missed, then—” He leaned in close, his heat smothering Sunset “—you will apologize to me.”

Sunset glared. “Bring it.”

The snow and sound of bells swallowed her whole.