Housamo's Krampus was our victim over Christmas, as he starts to worry that he might not be scary enough to live up to his duties- and decides hitting the gym is the best way to get a little more beastly!

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Christmas is the most magical and enchanting time of year; and all that implies. Nowhere knew this better than the Tokyo Santa School, which had spent centuries training White and Black Santas- those tasked with rewarding good children with presents or punishing wicked and naughty children, respectively. Two students, Apprentice Santas both, had been nervously anticipating this year's yuletide, as their apprenticeship and education was nearing an end: Yule, a White Santa, was ready to begin spreading Christmas cheer, but his friend and roommate, Krampus, a Black Santa who was feeling more and more uneasy. Yule was a natural Santa; he was a reindeer who radiated holiday warmth and good cheer, with a kind and generous personality. Krampus, however, was a Black Santa, someone meant to scare children straight, deliver justice, and make sure they grow up to be good people.

While Krampus certainly believed in his mission, he lacked confidence; recent events had shaken his resolve. Krampus, deep down, was a gentle soul; he was shy and very grateful to the small circle of friends he had. He was beastly looking, with horns and fangs, black fur, and a night blue mane, but with all of that, children no longer seemed to be afraid of him. His shy and gentle personality meant that, deep down, he just didn't have the heart to be mean. When he roared, they clapped; when he threatened to give them coal, they laughed at him- it was humiliating! Where his roommate Yule was preparing to graduate with flying colors, Krampus was terrified he would fail his final year, and never be acknowledged as a fully fledged Black Santa. How could he remind children of the deeper, darker magics of the season, warn them of the consequences of their actions, if they weren't scared of him?

He had spent hours pacing the floor in his dorm room, trying to either build up the courage to keep going, or figure out what he was going to do next. He had come so far, and his friends had done so much to support him, he couldn't just walk away now- no. Krampus was going to make himself scarier, if the kids weren't scared enough of him. He would hit the gym, and hit it hard- he would become bigger, stronger, more intimidating, more beastly- he would earn the right to call himself a Black Santa, one way or another. Who knows, perhaps some Christmas magic would make it Krampus' way.