"No."

"Can I ask why?" Saint Nick asked.

"Shall we begin with the years of emotional, verbal and sometimes physical abuse? Made an outcast for something I can't control, something I am? The exclusion even by you? All I wanted was to join the sleigh team, but you let them convince you I'd be a distraction. And now... you come here, hat in hand expecting me to jump at the opportunity, as if none of it had ever happened!? That I should be grateful?!"

The old man was considerably less jolly as Rudolph shamed him, remembering all he could have done and yet hadn't.

"I can't change the past Rudolph, only apologise deeply for it. You're right, I have no excuse for the many ways I have failed you. But it's not about that right now, it's about the duty we have for the children of the world. Can you set aside your grievance for one night and help me, with the promise that I will deal with it properly?"

"No, I won't have anything to do with that miserable bunch of polar bear dung."

"Is there anything I can do to change your mind?" The old man asked.

"Yes, if you want me, I won't work with any of them. Get a new team, and let them know what it's like to be excluded for once."

"None of the others are experienced enough yet."

"Didn't stop you bothering me, did it? That's my condition, take it or leave it. Or go and see if those idiot elves can make you something that will work."

XxxX

"So, did you convince Red Nose to do his job?" One of the waiting reindeer asked. In that moment, Santa's eyes narrowed, and he suddenly understood the depth of his failure towards the outcast reindeer. His face clouded over with controlled anger, and the team saw the face from the distant past, the Nicholas who had once beaten Arius within an inch of his life.

"We are going back to the shed," Santa said icily, and none of the reindeer dared break the silence of the short trip. Once safely back in the shed, Santa dismounted, the waiting elves worried at his stormy expression, matching the rising blizzard outside.

"Take them off," the old man ordered the elves.

"But what about the delivery schedule?" One elf asked.

"I will be leaving on time. I just need a new team to take me. And while you're at it, modify the draw, I need a single leader."

"You can't be serious, you need us," Gallop protested.

"What I need is someone to guide the sleigh and the team through the worst blizzard I have ever seen. What I don't need is a team that has excluded and abused one of their fellows based just on their nose! And maybe what I need is a new fur lining for my suit, and to stock up on venison for next year. Keep complaining and I'll take it as you volunteering!"

"Sir, who will pull the sleigh if not us?" Willow asked. "We haven't had time to properly train the next team."

"Well, they'll just have to step up now," Santa replied. The reindeer went back to their stalls, some with grace and some with anger, while the new team was installed. When he was satisfied, Santa hefted the magical sack onto the sleigh, and guided the new team back into the driving wind and snow.

"We can't navigate properly in this weather," Dasher called out from the front.

"I know, we're getting someone else to assist," Santa said as he guided them not to the runway, but to another of the reindeer shelters, one some of them recognised. They pulled up outside, wondering what Santa had in mind as he got off and went back inside. A few tense minutes later, the old Saint reappeared, and behind him came Rudolph, his nose glowing brightly. Santa moved Rudolph to the front of the sleigh team, showing him the recent additions that would put him at the head of the team. Rudolph nodded and allowed himself to be harnessed.

With that done, Santa went back to his seat and gathered the reins, calling out to the team.

"On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen! And Rudolph, guide us all safely tonight!"