Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 1/29: Sparkle was so happy to be wearing his brand new scarf, knit with love and care from his momma! Settling into the sleigh Santa will take out into the night on Christmas Eve, Sparkle can barely hide his disappointment that he's still a little too young to join in the festivities.
However, a little thought was growing in Sparkle's mind, and with a tilt of the head, if one looked close enough, they would see the twinkle of mischievous plots unfolding in those little brown eyes...

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 2/29: While the rest of the herd settled in for a long night of dreams full of sugar plum fairies and prancing sweets, Sparkle gives Esmerelda a knowing wink, and they patter off on silent snow, stealthily sneaking closer to the sleigh, a plot of adventure hatching faster and faster...

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 3/29: What! Why Esmerelda rubbed their paws over eyes, wide eyed in disbelief! Sparkle is one brave, adventurous soul, but Esmerelda's not sure if wisdom is one of the things Sparkle has at the moment!
Sparkle hitched up the sleigh and with a sure footed jump, lightly swooshed into the night sky, giddy with the thoughts of a new adventure.
Fainting with disbelief at the mere idea of stealing away in Santa's sleigh, Esmerelda starts snoring away.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 4/29: With a crackle and hum, Sparkle found himself surrounded by a winter galestorm, unlike any snow storm he'd seen before in his young life. With a belated thought, Sparkle cried out for help, but the magnetic pull of the Northern Orb tugged fiercely at him, and he spun wildly toward the center...
Sparkle's momma had told him tales of the Northern Orb, and how to escape it, but being a young reindeer, he didn't really pay attention, oh boy here he goes!
Waking up with a start, Esmerelda is horrified to realize that Sparkle is steering them right into a Northern Orb, so Esmerelda begins desperately screaming for help to come rescue them, without a lot of hope it'll arrive in time!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 5/29: As quickly as the strange storm blew in, it disappeared without a trace. Sparkle shakes the snow off and looked around, getting a vibration of something strange.
At once, he realizes he & Esmerelda aren't alone here! The cutest little birds are scrambling around to see what has landed in their back yard, and Esmerelda, cowering over in the corner, doesn't know what to make of these little tuxedo wearing waddlers!
Sparkle notices that, despite the fact only moments had passed, it is total daylight hours, and Sparkle knows it should be still dark? Something surely is wrong here! Maybe he hit his head, and is dreaming? But with a quick pinch with reindeer hooves, Sparkle realizes he is most assuredly awake.
With a close examination, Sparkle has a sinking feeling the sleigh is completely ruined, and there is going to be some explaining when he gets home. But just exactly where that is at the moment, he can't say for sure.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 6/29: Within a blink, Sparkle is joined by two new friends, who are cozily warming up with a toddy and snacks! Sparkle is trying to send out a homing signal to Santa, hoping he'll come to rescue Sparkle and Esmerelda.
But until the blinking beacon brings Santa to them, Sparkle's hoping his new companions share some of those tasty treats!
Meanwhile, Esmerelda isn't convinced there is an actual Santa to come to the rescue! Shouldn't they be dialling for the rescue service first?
Although, in light of the strange night of travel (and, well, a flying reindeer?), anything might be possible. Starting to shiver in the bitter wind, Esmerelda decides maybe getting cozy with those little pets might be a good idea.
Cheerling, cheerling, little pen-guin and cheer-ling land, While you dwell in it, you are happy here! said the little yellow being. Sparkle and Esmerelda love the little tune and start to hum along, while the white cheerling hands over a glass of hot beverages and cookies to each of them.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 7/29: The little reindeer Sparkle's tales about Santa and about Christmas have gotten the cheerlings thinking... They wonder if it might be possible to bring Christmas to the South Pole? And they begin to imagine what preparations they could make? For Sparkle is adamant that those who don't believe, won't receive!
The cheerlings have had plenty of time to explore the South Pole, especially the old abandoned research stations and weather stations, so the little white cheerling starts thinking about using the contents of some old boxes and crates they found stashed away in the back of a dusty old closet...

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 8/29: Sparkle and Esmerelda follow the cheerlings and the little penguin, affectionately thought of as Tux , to an old abandoned weather station, where they find a few boxes up in the attic.
Sparkle and Esmerelda are excited, as one of the main ideas of Christmas is to give gifts to friends, family and random acts of kindness! While warming up in the station, it's a little easier to maneuver flippers, paws and hooves, but poor little Tux seems to have cello-taped his little flipper to the gift!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 9/29: While Esmerelda searches around the old weather station for something to release Tux from the package, Sparkle grabs a beautiful blue bow and tries to decorate the team members, getting into the groove of the Christmas Holiday Spirit.
After cutting the cello-tape off Tux's flipper, Tux flops onto the floor for a quick little 'guin nap. Sparkle, who's still full of mischievousness, slaps a little yellow bow on Tux.... tee hee hee!
And what does Esmerelda spy over there? A cute little fluffy puppy! Esmerelda decides they better keep it, and Sparkle agrees, there's probably a husky puppy on some little child's wish list.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 10/29: Tux! Tux! What have you got? yelled the little yellow cheerling as it quickly ducked behind the biggest gift it could find. Esmerelda isn't quite sure about that strange looking egg-thing either, and the little husky puppy who wandered into the melee sits right down and starts to HOWL!
Sparkle, a little alarmed as well, hears a distinct crackle, and a scratch? Whatever that is, it wants OUT!
Collecting up quickly the gifts to be delivered, the team takes the shortest way out of the old weather station, leaving that strange egg behind.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 11/29: Esmerelda and Sparkle compliment Tux and the cheerlings on their newly acquired wrapping skills, however, the little white cheerling thought Esmerelda said had rapping skills and grabbing Tux's flipper, the two of them starting singing out Yo! Christmas is coming/Can you dig it/Here at the South Pole/It's getting pretty real/Yo!.
Esmerelda threw paws in the air, and wiggled around tapping to the beat, while Sparkle started giggling with glee at the joy shown by the duo.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 12/29: Tux, our little penguin guide, takes the friends around, and is showing off the marker for the South Pole! Esmerelda wondered where the trees were? So far the landscape has been lots and lots and lots of snow, and ice!
Cheerlings excitedly chattered about, explaining to Esmerelda and Sparkle that sometimes there is a little South Pole magic, and if one digs around the Pole, they might be lucky enough to pull one out.
Sparkle, who's always up for adventure, excitedly can't wait to get started!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 13/29: Sparkle is amused to see the cheerlings and Tux diving through the snow! The way they move looks like they are swimming, and Esmerelda figures it must be the South Pole snow is a little different from snow elsewhere in the world?
Coming up empty, but certainly no quitters, the cheerlings are getting excited, as they are sure there is a tree here! Tux, being a little waddly, wonders if he can just dive in and catch a snap nap before anyone else notices?

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 14/29: There is it! There is it! PULL! PULL!
Esmerelda is giddy with excitement to see that the cheerlings have managed to find a tree! Sparkle, always a helper, tugs at the tree, slowly backing up, followed by more tree emerging from the snow.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 15/29: Ta! Da!
Sparkle is staring in complete wonder at the beauty of the tree pulled from the snow! Esmerelda is completely stunned as well! The new little queue of friends now have a component of Christmas, now they just need jolly Santa to come rescue them and meet their new friends!
The cheerlings and Tux have watched other trees magic from the snow before, and every tree is like a snowflake, completely different than any other!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 16/29: While the little penguin, Tux and the cheerlings wait patiently for Santa to get the homing beacon, they show Esmerelda and Sparkle how to play in the South Pole snow. Sparkle is pretty sure that snow games are snow games, but keeps an open mind when it comes to growing new friendships.
Tux, after climbing back up the snowy slope to slide back down, scrapes his poor little belly feathers on something half buried in the snow. Digging down deep, he spots something, and flippering into the bank, pulls out a beautiful blue ornament.
Not sure what to actually do with it, Tux yells over to Esmerelda and Sparkle for help.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 17/29: Esmerelda grabbed an empty box from the old weather station, where Sparkle in his baby reindeer way, had scribbled out his name on the box. What was it about babies always writing their names on everything, Esmerelda wondered, but figured it might be a point of pride?
The little cheerlings were having a wonderful time playing in the snow, and the little white one managed to uncover an amazing gold ornament, and taking a clue from Tux, added it to the box for the start of a collection.
Esmerelda was growing a little concerned, because the little yellow cheerling hasn't been seen for a while, and after finding it ducked down behind a half rolled snowman, asked what it was doing?
Why, playing hide and seek, of course! Did I win? Did I win?
Well, said Sparkle, you sure did, but next time you play, you might want to ask the rest of us to play along? Esmerelda giggled and continued to hunt for buried ornaments.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 18/29: Sparkle and Esmerelda have collected up an impressive amount of ornaments, tucking them carefully into the box. While Esmerelda is enjoying the South Pole, a little warm up is called for, and stealing away for a quick duck out of the cold in the weather station, Esmerelda found a few old articles of clothes, perfect for trimming up the snow man.
Grabbing up a few pebbles from the frozen tundra, and adding the scarf and hat, Sparkle wonders if there is magic in that old silk hat? He could really use some, Santa doesn't seem to be showing up, and he wonders if that blinking beacon made it out of the South Pole?

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 19/29: The box is overflowing and Tux, the cheerlings and Esmerelda have been ignoring the growing rumbly in the tummy, however Sparkle is determined to find every single ornament.
Esmerelda and the rest of the friends, sneak up on Sparkle, tossing a string of ornaments over him, and tickle him until he gives in. What's for lunch?
Who knows, says Esmerelda, but it doesn't really matter does it?
Tux, is hoping it's a great gray bucket of slimy fishies.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 20/29: Why, what is this treasure chest doing in the middle of the snow? asked Esmerelda.
Does it matter, really, Esmerelda? Can't we just crack it open and see? asked Sparkle.
The little cheerlings picked the lock on the treasure chest with an almost criminal quickness, or um, maybe magical ability?
The little white cheerling dashed in with a curiosity that couldn't be helped. What could this treasure be?

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 21/29: Tux can't help himself and just waddles his little behind into the chest tossing out strange fabrics and stuffs of poof, looking excitedly for the Lost Treasure of the South Pole. Tux has heard the legends, you see, of a chest lost eons ago that is said to contain the jewels and gold from the first inhabitants of the South Pole.
Esmerelda is not entirely convinced that what they have here is the Lost Treasure of the South Pole, but is excited to see some of the antique looking things coming out of the treasure chest, as Tux tosses them about with wild abandon.
Sparkle, on the other hand, is happy that whatever that is Tux tosses, lands on his head, giving him a little extra warmth!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 22/29: The cheerlings, jealous of the warmness of the thing Sparkle is wearing, steal it away, and in no mood to share, start tugging it back and forth, while Esmerelda realizes that it's a Santa Clause costume! Telling the cheerlings about how much fun it would be to pretend to be that Jolly Old St. Nick, and while the friends are having fun, no one notices that someone new is slowly ambling up to join in the fun....

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 23/29: Well, hello there, good sir! said Sparkle.
I guess you could call me sir, if you want to, that is, replied the walrus. Esmerelda is confused, because normally walruses are found on the NORTH Pole and not the South, and inquiring minds want to know, what's he doing here?
Why, you aren't supposed to be here either, are you Esmerelda? Sparkle? You either. So doesn't really matter does it, but here I am! With a tilt of his head and a wink, walrus assembles the costume and Tux, the cheerlings and Sparkle laugh at the cute absurdity of a walrus wearing a Santa suit. Esmerelda on the other hand, wonders if that really is the first Santa hat, because if it is, it might be a way to phone home for help.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 24/29: Gathering all the new friends together and taking a complete inventory, Esmerelda and Sparkle find that they have a pretty good amount of the traditional Christmas things here together!
The cheerlings and Tux are in awe and are enthralled to hear again the story Sparkle is telling of the Christmas spirit.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 25/29: Sparkle and his new friends all gather near the old research station, and Esmerelda tells them one last story of Christmas. The Nativity... about immigrants in a foreign land.. about a birth heralded by angels on high.. and a baby who came to save the world.
Tux, after hearing the story, climbed into the old manger, trying to see just how comfortable that baby would have been in that humble bed. And promptly fell asleep!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 26/29: Sparkle, whose baby reindeer voice hasn't changed yet, allowing him to sing in that clear voice, passes time away waiting for the Santa rescue singing all his favourite Christmas Carols. So many to sing! He notices that his friends are all dozing off and comfortable, and his poor little eyes are growing heavy with a need to sleep himself. Joining the rest of his friends, Sparkle soon falls quickly asleep, humming Angels We Have Heard On High.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 27/29: Sparkle has seen Santa many times in his young years, but never before this moment was he so happy to see Santa as he is now!
Santa is pleased to see the little group of friends have brought the Christmas spirit here together, not only in the South Pole but in their hearts to share. Santa checks his list and sees that Esmerelda, who was a skeptic before getting stranded here with Sparkle has moved from the naughty list to the nice list. Asking Esmerelda about the change of heart, he listens as Esmerelda tells all about the adventures and how Sparkle shared the joy of the holiday with their new friends. Santa is quite impressed that Sparkle has been listening and wonders if he underestimated whether Sparkle was ready to be a part of the Official Sleigh Team.
And Santa brought his magic sack and handed out special gifts to each of the little group.

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 28/29: While the little reindeer and the cheerlings were sound asleep, Santa had created a special Christmas present for the cheerlings! A magnificent ice palace, where the cheerlings could store all of their Christmas decorations and make gifts for all of their South Pole friends for many Christmases to come!

Esmerelda looked on in awe, secretly wishing they had an ice palace of their very own, to use in their PnF Art!

And so it came to pass that wise old Santa already knew that Esmerelda had been a good little pet all year long, and Santa had had a busy night creating not just one, but two ice palaces, so Santa was able to grant Esmerelda's secret Christmas wish on the spot, by gifting Esmerelda an ice palace of their very own!

Esmerelda is questing!
Episode 29/29: Having distributed his sack of gifts, bid farewell to Esmerelda, and left the Cheerlings to settle into their new home, Santa hitched up his team of reindeer, and took to the skies... closely followed by his errant little Sparkle, pulling the newly repaired practice sleigh that Santa needed for training the younger reindeer.
As the visitors pulled away from the South Pole, and its perpetual Summer sunlight, night began to fall, filling the sky with stars, and revealing the Northern Twilight Orb in all its splendour, to guide Santa home...
And as Santa disappeared into the sky, Esmerelda heard the faint echo of Santa's voice bouncing off the ice:

Ho Ho Ho, and Merry Christmas one and all! And Esmerelda, don't forget to race on home to swap places with another pet, as I'm sure that another one of my young reindeer will need help too!