Marsmas Special

A long long time ago, when everyone lived in great domes and the surface of Mars wasn't a livable place, Marsmas wasn't a thing.

There were no glowing wreaths and no Feast of the Red Sky. This was before dust cookies were even invented! This was a time where no gifts were handed out to good little Martians, and where naughty children bullied and ruled.

But this all changed one day, when the Empress of Mars saw from her lofty throne that the children of Mars were sad and unhappy.

They were tired, working all the time, and barely had enough to get by. The children didn't laugh or play; they just sat quietly, afraid of what might happen if they stepped out of line.

That made the Empress frown. "Well, this won't do at all," she said. "Mars is mine, and it should be a place of fun. But how do I make them happy?"

Then, the idea struck her. She'd heard stories about a jolly old man on Earth who flew through the skies, bringing gifts to good children. "I'll do that," she said, "but I'll do it my way."

And so the first Marsmas began!

The Empress didn't bother with reindeer or sleighs. She had a shiny, red, rocket-powered sled that zoomed faster than the speed of sound. She filled it with gifts! Glowing spheres that floated and sang, tiny machines that could build anything, and even delicious treats that never ran out.

But she packed her sled with one more thing: her appetite.

"Oh, yes," the Empress said, "this will be fun. I'll give gifts to the good children, but the naughty ones… well, they'll make a nice snack."

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On Marsmas Eve, the Empress zoomed across the red skies, her rocket sled leaving a trail of golden sparks. She visited every city, from the grandest towers to the smallest domes. She slipped into homes with her strange powers, moving faster than anyone could see.

To the good children, she left gifts under their holographic trees. Maybe a girl who helped her neighbors woke up to find a new robotic pet. Or a boy who shared his food with his friends found a gadget that could grow plants in seconds.

But the naughty children weren't so lucky. If a child lied too much or hurt others for fun, the Empress didn't leave a gift. Instead, she ate the snacks left out for her—and sometimes, she'd look at the child and say, "Maybe next year… if you're better."

The worst of these children? They were gobbled up whole!

By the time the sun rose over Mars, the Empress's work was done. The good children laughed and played with their new toys, and the naughty ones tried to be better—just in case.

From that day on, every Martian knew Marsmas wasn't just about gifts. It was a time to be kind, to help each other, and to do what was right.

And every year, the Empress of Mars would look down at her people and smile. "Good," she'd say, "they're learning." Then she'd plan her next Marsmas, knowing it was her favorite time of year.

***

Ivil closed the book and smiled a self-satisfied smile. "So, what do you think?" she asked.

"Did you actually eat naughty children?" Twenty-Six asked.

"No, not about that," Ivil said.

Maybe this wasn't a good idea.