Harmony's Christmas, seasonal witches p1

Harmony awoke stretching away her sleepiness. Now wide-awake, she wriggled her toes into Christmas slippers adorned with and she shuffled over to the bathroom seeing herself dressed in her snug Christmas pajamas. It was Christmas Eve and she needed to get ready.

Pulling strands of her long black hair out of her eyes and mouth with a finger, she then shot a small blast of blue magic at her toothbrush and toothpaste. The two objects floated into the air as magic squeezed toothpaste onto the toothbrush. She then took the toothbrush and brushed her teeth. After combing her hair, the witch then went back out into her room. She entered her closet and with a flash of her magic her pajamas were replaced with a red dress and hat styled after Santa Clause. Woolly boots replaced her slippers and cane cane striped stockings shielded her legs from the cold.

She walked past the lively, decorated trees and variety of snow globes out of her cabin home. She walked through the winter wonderland to her stable stepping over it without sinking or slipping. Inside the stable was a beautiful reindeer doe and a mighty Clydesdale stallion munching on hay. Harmony gave an inspection of them to make sure they were alright. Between the water heaters that kept their water from freezing and her mega-sized flat screen TV in her living room, Harmony liked technology. Only foolish witches were Luddites.

She pet the reindeer between her antlers, “Ready to go back to the human realm for another glorious Christmas, Winter?”

The reindeer shook her neck grunting in displeasure. Harmony rubbed the animal’s neck confused, “What’s wrong girl?”

The reindeer gave another soft bellow. Harmony smiled, “Oh, I see. Well, maybe there will be a special gift for you this year.”

There was an unmistakable smile on Winter’s muzzle. Harmony nuzzled her deer’s cheek, “That’s a good familiar.”

She then went over to the next stable over with the Clydesdale. He stuck his head out expectantly, and Harmony put her hands behind her back, “Feeling good today Rick?”

The horse nodded. There was a blue glow behind Harmony; then she put her hands back out in front of her offering him an apple. She giggled as he gobbled it up happily, “You have been a good boy this year. A far cry from how you were when I found you.”

She pet his nose, “Do you think that you are ready to return to your original form?”

Rick gave a low whinny. Harmony was surprised, “Really? You would rather remain as you are?”

She hugged his neck, “You are more than welcome to remain as a horse for another year if you so choose. However, I do think that you are a handsome man underneath.”

The horse whinnied in a choppy manner that sounded like a laugh and pulled her closer with his head embracing her over her shoulder. Harmony broke the hug gently to not spook him, “You are a good friend, no ropes or bits ever required. I will remember this kindness in Christmases to come.”

Rick whinnied happily. Harmony backed up and with a wave of her hand, the bars of the stables opened the two animals walked out. Harmony led them to another part of the stable where she had a sleigh. The sled was worn from age but its Christmas decorations shone through the age. On the back of the sleigh sat a large bag, Harmony checked inside the bag making sure that the gifts that she handmade were still there. Her sisters have pranked her in the past.

Rick stood in front of the sleigh allowing Harmony to harness it to him with magic. She gave him a ‘good job’ pat and got in the driver’s seat. She opened the double doors before her with a wave, “Alright Winter help me find a good seam that takes us to a remote location as always.”

The reindeer went first sniffing around, and Harmony took the reins as Rick pulled the sleigh following Winter. Finally, Winter gave a grunt. Harmony shot a burst of magic towards where her familiar was facing and a blue portal opened up before them. Both animals raced forward with enthusiasm with Harmony holding on laughing all the way. Once they passed through the portal, they ended up in a pine forest without any snow. Harmony looked around happy the place was still cold enough to justify her garments, “Interesting…”

She changed the skis on the sleigh to large wheels and urged Rick forward. Now Winter followed behind the sleigh as they entered a town. They stuck away from the roads to avoid traffic, and eventually found a Santa village that was a Christmas lighthouse in an ocean that lacked it. So few lights and no snow made Harmony wary, so she dismounted and approached a young man who appeared about her age. He wore a Christmas sweater and jeans with a toboggan to protect his ears from the wind chill. He adjusted his glasses as she approached stunned to see Harmony’s entourage.

“Excuse me miss,” He asked slack jawed at the sight, “Are you the petting zoo lady who has been sending me letters about helping out with the fair?”

Harmony nodded with a cocoa warm smile, “Yes I am. I also offer sleigh rides and presents to good children as well as the chance to pet my animals.”

“Don't get me wrong it's a great relief. So many people canceled on me or had all sorts of trouble or were already booked I was afraid I'd have to cancel the whole get-together. I am so happy to see you here! When I got those letters I thought it was too good to be true, but you showing up is nothing short of a miracle. Forgive me I just don’t see many of those animals around here especially unleashed.” He smiled holding out his hand, “Forgive my lack of manners, my name’s Ethan.”

The witch shook his hand amazed at the storm of bad luck, “Harmony. Don't worry, my pets are as well trained as any you could ever find if not better. Anything going the way you planned?”

“My cousins pulled through for me and are doing hot chocolate like champs. Concessions is running good as well.” Ethan replied with a smile. He then glanced behind her as if searching for a vehicle she could of came in then got on her carriage, “So, you need any help?”

Harmony played up her reaction some hoping to draw his attention away from obvious questions, "No, I have all that I need."


While the two talked about where Harmony should go, Winter came up to them and started sniffing Ethan who was understandably taken aback. He petted the reindeer between her ears as she sniffed all over him, “I don’t have any food boy, sorry!”

Harmony giggled, “She can be affectionate. Female reindeer grow horns too.”

Ethan smiled as his bare hands ran through the reindeer's warm, soft fur. She did not smell like an animal. She was far from fresh out of a shower, but had a pleasant barn odor that was a comfort to any who have been in a clean barn. “You are a sweetie aren’t you?”

She unexpectedly nuzzled him in return carefully to avoid sticking him with her antlers. Her nose did not cover him in snot either which was a plus for Ethan. Harmony left the two to their fun as she rode over to an unused track. When kids saw her sleigh they flocked over to her calling her Mrs. Claus and clamoring for rides. The parents were puzzled but went along with it. Harmony let parents and kids alike enjoy a ride on Rick’s sleigh. The horse behaved well around the children even if they pulled on him. Harmony rewarded him with pets and slipped apple slices between his lips for him to munch on in when she could find a moment.

Harmony was so focused on managing the sleigh rides she completely forgot about Winter and Ethan. After getting a schoolteacher parent to regulate the sleigh rides and assuring her that Rick was perfectly harmless, she then went back to where she met Ethan and saw a little house with a cracked door. She rolled her eyes and opened it all the way to reveal a man and a woman cuddling together on a Christmas pillow that accommodated both of them. The woman had full antlers while the man was in velvet. The man was unmistakably Ethan without his toboggan thanks to the antlers, but the woman was someone Harmony did not recognize. Her identity was easy to discern because her coat, leggings, and boots looked like reindeer hide.

“Winter?” Harmony asked.

The woman glanced up to Harmony blushing, “Sorry mistress! We did not do anything crude!”

Harmony held up her hand, “It is okay.”

Ethan shook his head as if regaining his wits then was frightened when he saw Harmony. He readjusted his glasses nervously, “I swear I have no idea what is going on!”

Harmony giggled, “It’s okay I believe you. Might as well come out and tell you that I am a witch, the Christmas Witch some call me, and my familiar Winter seems to of taken a liking to you.”

“So we didn’t just come here because we were needed eh?” She added looking over to Winter with a smirk. The two antlered humans breathed a sigh of relief.

Winter cuddled closer to Ethan, and he kissed her in response. Winter swooned, “I was so bursting with excitement when I saw him that I changed into a human to be with him and I suppose my magic affected him too when we kissed. You have a pair of lovely fuzzy antlers.”

Ethan bashfully felt them, “Yeah, very fuzzy!”

Winter did as well enjoying her dexterous fingers as she pinched his velvet antlers. Ethan flinched from the odd sensation, “Wait… I have antlers?!”

Winter kissed him again calming him down. She drew back looking, “Yes, I… changed into my present form with my magic I share with Harmony, but our love changed you a little bit too matching me…”

Ethan did not know what to say to that, but he did draw her closer, “I do not care. Really, all I can see now is how beautiful you are…”

Harmony closed the door giving them privacy. She then returned to Rick and the sleigh happy that the teacher ran with efficiency and without the screaming kids killing each other to ride again. Harmony gave the woman a pen, “Do not throw away this pen, you will find that it will last you a long time.”

The teacher thanked her and both wished each other a merry Christmas. After a few more rides and a few last presents for well-behaved children, Harmony stopped giving rides. There were so many letters in her sleigh to Santa.

Harmony then guided the sleigh towards Winter and Ethan’s hiding spot. She collected the inseparable pair and placed them in the back with the smaller bag. The witch wrapped them up in a warm blanket as the two snuggled drinking hot chocolate.

Harmony found a seam and went through it ending up in her world of white. The witch changed the sleigh’s wheels to skis again in mid passage so they glided across the snow once they were home. She then parked the sleigh back in the barn leaving it alone for now so she unharnessed the tired Rick. She brought him back to his stable humming a Christmas carol leaving a bushel of carrots for him to enjoy. “Good work. Don’t worry, tomorrow we will spend Christmas together.”

She then guided Ethan and Winter across the snow to her cabin Winter’s magic keeping the two from sinking into the snow. Finally, they made it to the witch’s cabin where Harmony made a roaring fire and brought out a tray of goodies for them to enjoy. Christmas cookies, fudge, and hot chocolate were shared as they sang Christmas songs for what seemed a blissful eternity. However, Winter was exhausted and fell asleep on Ethan’s shoulder. He joined her soon after.

Harmony admired the two with their visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads before she cleaned up the mess and went into her own room changing into her pajamas. She got comfortable in her bed happy that another Christmas Eve went off without a serious debacle. Tomorrow, she could relax some after a year of spreading cheer in any way she could.