Several people milled about and chattered in Central Park. Gamma, a group dedicated to helping out abused and poor people, was holding a Holiday Fundraiser. Underdog, who the group had declared their mascot, had shown up as well. He had zipped around for a while and had asked various children what they wanted for Christmas.

Now, however, he was leaning against a tree swirled with lights and waiting for the children to come to him. Polly sat above him in a branch.

"You look ridiculous in that get-up, you know," she commented.

Underdog stuck his tongue out at her, though he had to admit it was true. He wore a felt headband of reindeer antlers with small, silver jingle bells attached. Prior to attending the fundraiser, Underdog had asked Polly to apply some blush to his nose in an attempt to look like Rudolph. Really, he looked more sick than anything. All of that, of course, sat over Underdog's stupidly large red shirt, pants and long, blue blanket cape.

He wanted to fire back with a quip about Polly's attire, but she looked much better than him. She usually did, though. That night Polly was wearing a short, red dress with white trimmings and black leggings. Underdog snapped as an insult came to mind.

"You look like Santa's rejected daughter."

Polly blew a raspberry right back at the hero. Underdog grinned slyly and hopped up, gripping one of the thick tree branches with his hands. He pulled himself up through the V-shaped arms and sat on the branch opposite of Polly. Underdog steadily climbed up to sit across from her properly.

"Ahh," Polly sounded, "Who's a good, iconic Christmas dog?"

"Snoopy?" Underdog answered.

"Ooh," Polly replied. "Okay, you look like Snoopy and Rudolph's crackpot son."

"I'm that most of the time anyway, Ms. Purebred," Underdog answered with a smirk.

"Alright, you got me."

Underdog smiled proudly. It was later and chillier by now, and only a few more pedestrians milled about the plaza, admiring the decor or donating a dollar. A few people waved happily at Underdog. He waved back.

"I bet it's a pretty weird sight, seeing you so comfy in a tree," Polly said.

"I don't know," Underdog answered, "I crash into things enough."

"I said comfy," Polly repeated, a laugh edging her voice. Underdog laughed along, then he suddenly froze.

His ears pricked.

Someone was calling for help.

Underdog lurched forward out the the tree and floated in the air. He flew up, past the trees, trying to locate the source of the cry. He flew up a bit higher, and heard the voice call for help again. Underdog whirled around. Coming straight at him seemed to be a moose of some sort. Underdog jumped, then kicked the air and tried to get out of the line of fire. He was too slow, however, and the moose crashed into Underdog knees-first.

The flying moose, Underdog attached, came plummeting down to earth. The deer let out a deep whinney, and Underdog could've sworn he'd heard several more grunts and huffs, and even a man's scream behind it.

The hero's back scrapped against the earth soon enough. The deer grunted and huffed, their shoes clopping on the frozen ground. Underdog laid, dazed and heaving. Were those bells real or just his head…?

"UNDERDOG!"

That was definitely Polly. With a grunt, Underdog managed to roll and sit up. He spat a bit of snow and dead leaf out of his mouth. Polly skidded on her knees next to him.

"Are you alright, man?! You-" the poodle glanced up. The head deer snorted in her face.

Underdog coughed and beat his chest. "I'm good," he answered hoarsely.

The snow crunched behind them, catching both of the dogs attention. Both of them glanced up quickly, and abruptly froze in their tracks.

Above them, next to the deer, stood a rather round man. He had on a red outfit with fluffy, white trimming and big black boots. He also wore a floppy red-and-white hat, and half his face was covered in a bushy white beard.

"Is that-" Underdog stuttered, his eyes wide.

Polly assumed a similar face. "Santa?"

The man smiled and laughed a jolly, booming noise. "Why, yes I am!" Polly helped Underdog stand back up. Santa faced the hero. "Terribly sorry, good man. The skies are rather cloudy tonight, and poor Rudolph here seems to have gotten a cold. May I ask your names?"

He rubbed the reindeer's neck. Rudolph stomped a hoof and shook his scruff. The red light on his nose sparked and flickered out.

"I'm Polly. This is Underdog," she answered, waving toward him. Polly then reached forward and patted the reindeer's nose. "Poor guy…"

Underdog nodded. He offered the back of his hand under the reindeer's nose. Rudolph gave it a good sniff, then nudged his red muzzle underneath the hero's hand. Underdog rubbed the bridge of the poor deer's nose with his knuckle.

"His nose has no light, there is no doubt; it seems his fire has completely gone out."

Santa hummed thoughtfully. "The rest of my reindeer don't have anything to see through the fog, and the North Pole is too far away. We won't make it to all the good kid's houses on time. I don't know what we'll do."

Underdog padded away to think. Polly patted Rudolph's face and neck. Underdog put a hand to his mouth as he padded closer to the tree he had climbed a little while ago. Christmas White lights circled all around it. Beside the tree. Gamma was packing up their tarps, tables and lights. Underdog's eyes lit up as an idea struck him.

"Hey!" he called, rushing up. His nephew (of course, Wilbur didn't know Underdog was his uncle) and his parents were apart of Gamma, and happened to be at the event.

Wilbur was holding a big box. His eyes lit up as Underdog neared.

"Hi, Underdog!" squeaked the young boy.

"Hi," Underdog answered with a wave. "Someone in danger is having a fright; would you mind if I borrowed your lights?"

Wilbur glanced over his parents, who stood a few feet away. Both of them nodded, so Wilbur handed the box to Underdog. He smiled and nodded gratefully. Wilbur flushed proudly before prancing off to his parents' sides. Underdog held the box tightly and rushed away.

"There's no need to fear!"

A blur of yellow light flew past Santa, Polly and the reindeer. Rudolph snorted indignantly. Underdog did a twirl, extending his arms proudly and beaming. He wrapped himself in the Christmas lights and shone very brightly. Polly squinted against the dark.

"Underdog is here!"

Santa laughed as Underdog floated to the ground. The man stepped forward and patted the hero's head.

"Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Underdog floated up above the team of deer to wait. Santa detached Rudolph from the sleigh, and handed his reins to Polly.

"He needs a rest," he said, "Take good care of him, dear."

Polly nodded, eyes bright in determination. Santa stepped back into his sleigh and adjusted his bag. Polly pulled Rudolph out of the way of the sleigh.

"On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen; on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"

With those words, the team started to run. The two deer in front hopped up into the air, helping the rest upward. Underdog swirled around them as they headed up past the trees and into the smoggy sky.

Polly waved up at them as they dashed across the moon.

Underdog and the Christmas Crew flew as fast as they could from houses to houses, and from countries to countries. In the early hours of the morning, most of Underdog's lights had burnt out and he flew himself back to Central Park with the day saved once again.

His ears pricked again as he heard laughter. Underdog padded his way through the park and soon spotted Polly and Rudolph, surrounded by a group of children. One of the kids was atop the reindeer's back. Polly was holding his reins and leading him around. The group gasped as Underdog neared. He waved kindly.

"Having a good time?" he whispered to Polly.

"I'm exhausted," she replied.

A few more rides later, the children and their parents dispersed, leaving Underdog and Polly in the plaza alone. Rudolph snorted and tapped Polly's shoulder with his nose. Polly cooed and scratched his scruff.

"How's your nose, boy?" she asked.

Rudolph raised his head and, with a whistle, his nose lit up red. Polly chuckled and scratched his face. Rudolph trotted away, hopped into the air and took flight. He circled around Polly and Underdog several times.

"Can you fly back to the North Pole?" Underdog asked.

Rudolph nodded, then scratched his girth like a dog. A single golden jingle bell fell to the ground. He picked it up in his mouth and deposited it in Polly's hands. Polly smiled. The reindeer tapped his nose to her forehead, and then to Underdog's, before he flew off into the sky.

"Man, merry Christmas," Underdog stated.

Polly rubbed her eyes. "I'm falling asleep the sec we get home."

Across town, in a different apartment, a poodle boy had fallen back asleep in his bed. Wilbur had woken as soon as the sun did on Christmas morning and rushed to his parent's room so he could open his gifts.

His favorite was a stuffed toy of Scorbunny. Neither of his parents knew where it came from, but they couldn't tear it from Wilbur's arms long enough to inspect it. He clutched the toy in bed now.

Around its neck, a silver jingle bell was tied. A tag was still attached to its ear. Inside, in a font so curly Wilbur couldn't read it, said: You are the goodest child of all. Love, Santa Claus.