12-19-2017, 08:18 PM
<style type="text/css">.container{position:relative;z-index:1;width:516px;background:#000;font:14px Megrim;border-radius:300px 300px 0px 0px; box-shadow:0 0 15px #000}.container p{margin:0}.image{position:relative;z-index:4;border-radius:300px 300px 0px 0px;margin-bottom:-150px;}.name{position: relative;z-index:3;background:transparent;font-family:Arabic Typesetting;font-size: 60px;color:#970007; text-shadow: 0 0 4px #fff; box-shadow: 0 0 2 #000;}.message{position:relative;z-index:10;width:400px;background:;text-align:justify;padding:0px 0px;color:#970007;line-height:-130%;}.toppadding{padding-top:5px;}.quote1{position:relative;z-index:15;text-align:center;color:#ea;text-shadow:0 0 4px #8b8b8d;letter-spacing:1px;font-size:26px;}.quote2 {position:relative;z-index:15;font-family:arabic typesetting;text-align:center;color:#ea;text-shadow:0 0 4px #8b8b8d;letter-spacing:1px;font-size:26px;}</</style><center><div class="container"><img class="image" src=https://i.imgur.com/mUgcHeb.png><div class="message"><p class="name">Embark</p><p class="quote1"> </p><p class="toppadding">With the ugly demon Krampus gone, only Santa Clause remained. He was as beautiful as she had imagined (and as jolly too). He stood very tall, nearly eighteen hands high. His coat was a bright red in color, his eyes a grassy green that shimmered when he spoke. His mane and tail were the color of fallen snow, nearly reaching the ground he walked upon, and adorned with holly. His rump was spotted with snowflake-shaped markings, beautiful shades of silver and gold.
<b>"Santa!"</b> Embark exclaims yet again, rushing towards him to fall into his embrace. A rumble of laughter emerges from the Jolly Man's belly.
<i>"Ho ho ho! Yes, Embark, I am Santa."</i> The forest seems to lighten as he speaks, it is no longer the dark, foreboding nightmare she had imagined. Fluffy alabaster snow falls effortlessly from the sky, falling onto the tops of trees and onto the ground around them. The sun peers through the trees, illuminating the world in a gorgeous white light.
<b>"I thought I'd never find you,"</b> Embark admits, face falling into a frown. <b>"I thought with Krampus I was as good as gone."</b> Santa chuckles, nuzzling her creamy tufts of mane with his muzzle.
<i>"You're safe now, dear. Would you follow me?"</i> Embark nods her head and they begin to walk side by side. She wonders where her sister had gone, if she had gone back to the playground or not, if she was okay. Almost as if he had read her mind, Santa Clause speaks. <i>"Deiti is okay, too, Embark. You will see her in no time."</i> The small golden girl nods her head at his words.
They soon arrive at the other edge of the forest, by the playground where her journey had started. Except now, it is different than it had been before. Snow blankets the earth in a thick heap, a huge Christmas tree stands in the middle of the field, with bright, twinkling lights and dazzling ornaments of every shade imaginable. Emerald colored ponies, even smaller than herself, lined perfectly wrapped presents all along the underneath of the tree, granting each wish of every child in Beqanna.
<b>"Wow."</b> Is all Embark can manage to say, and Santa smiles at her warmly.
<i>"Those are my elves, Embark, and they help me in granting all the foal's wishes,"</i> He informs her, stepping forward to lead her towards the tree. It smells of delicious pine, and despite the snow the air around her feels warm and cozy. <i>"Now, my child, I </i>know<i> you must be wishing for something, yes?"</i> He turns towards her. She nods, nearly jumping out of her skin with excitement.
Now would she be brave?
Just as she is about to open her mouth something stops her. She thinks of her mother, of how <i>fearful</i> she was. Of how she hid herself away in their cavern, isolated from the world around her. She thinks of Deiti, who has trouble controlling her own powers. She thinks of her father, who must juggle the world on his shoulders. Crimson eyes drop, and she lets out a sigh.
<b>"Santa...I want my family to be okay."</b> She murmurs, defeated. Of all the people who deserved a Christmas miracle, it was her family, who had struggled for as long as she was alive. She looks up to Santa, who (to her surprise), still has a wide grin upon his face. <b>"What, Santa?"</b> Embark asks, head tilting in wonder.
<i>"Well, my dear, you've finally learned what Christmas is about!"</i> He exclaims, another laugh erupting from his belly. <i>"It isn't about what you get for yourself, it's about GIVING, my dear girl. I must say, I am very proud!"</i> Embark manages to smile herself. <i>"And for that, Embark, I will give you a gift for your very own!"</i>
Around her the world began to change. The Jolly Man begins to change her, his magic consuming her. She gasps, as her gift appears in front of her... </p><p class="quote2">Sugar and Spice</p></div></div></center>
<b>"Santa!"</b> Embark exclaims yet again, rushing towards him to fall into his embrace. A rumble of laughter emerges from the Jolly Man's belly.
<i>"Ho ho ho! Yes, Embark, I am Santa."</i> The forest seems to lighten as he speaks, it is no longer the dark, foreboding nightmare she had imagined. Fluffy alabaster snow falls effortlessly from the sky, falling onto the tops of trees and onto the ground around them. The sun peers through the trees, illuminating the world in a gorgeous white light.
<b>"I thought I'd never find you,"</b> Embark admits, face falling into a frown. <b>"I thought with Krampus I was as good as gone."</b> Santa chuckles, nuzzling her creamy tufts of mane with his muzzle.
<i>"You're safe now, dear. Would you follow me?"</i> Embark nods her head and they begin to walk side by side. She wonders where her sister had gone, if she had gone back to the playground or not, if she was okay. Almost as if he had read her mind, Santa Clause speaks. <i>"Deiti is okay, too, Embark. You will see her in no time."</i> The small golden girl nods her head at his words.
They soon arrive at the other edge of the forest, by the playground where her journey had started. Except now, it is different than it had been before. Snow blankets the earth in a thick heap, a huge Christmas tree stands in the middle of the field, with bright, twinkling lights and dazzling ornaments of every shade imaginable. Emerald colored ponies, even smaller than herself, lined perfectly wrapped presents all along the underneath of the tree, granting each wish of every child in Beqanna.
<b>"Wow."</b> Is all Embark can manage to say, and Santa smiles at her warmly.
<i>"Those are my elves, Embark, and they help me in granting all the foal's wishes,"</i> He informs her, stepping forward to lead her towards the tree. It smells of delicious pine, and despite the snow the air around her feels warm and cozy. <i>"Now, my child, I </i>know<i> you must be wishing for something, yes?"</i> He turns towards her. She nods, nearly jumping out of her skin with excitement.
Now would she be brave?
Just as she is about to open her mouth something stops her. She thinks of her mother, of how <i>fearful</i> she was. Of how she hid herself away in their cavern, isolated from the world around her. She thinks of Deiti, who has trouble controlling her own powers. She thinks of her father, who must juggle the world on his shoulders. Crimson eyes drop, and she lets out a sigh.
<b>"Santa...I want my family to be okay."</b> She murmurs, defeated. Of all the people who deserved a Christmas miracle, it was her family, who had struggled for as long as she was alive. She looks up to Santa, who (to her surprise), still has a wide grin upon his face. <b>"What, Santa?"</b> Embark asks, head tilting in wonder.
<i>"Well, my dear, you've finally learned what Christmas is about!"</i> He exclaims, another laugh erupting from his belly. <i>"It isn't about what you get for yourself, it's about GIVING, my dear girl. I must say, I am very proud!"</i> Embark manages to smile herself. <i>"And for that, Embark, I will give you a gift for your very own!"</i>
Around her the world began to change. The Jolly Man begins to change her, his magic consuming her. She gasps, as her gift appears in front of her... </p><p class="quote2">Sugar and Spice</p></div></div></center>