"We've failed," Rudolph said dejectedly. "We have been beaten by the elves. It means that we shouldn't be pulling Santa's sleigh at all," he signed heavily.

The elves and reindeer were in the Reindeer Barn. Rudolph and the other reindeer, dejected by their loss, were helping the somewhat confused elves into the reindeer tack. Polished leather harnesses with sparkling silver bells hung limply off the small elves. "I don't know about this . . ." Percy stammered. "Perhaps, we should try a different contest. . . another race. . ."

Just then, Erno popped brightly into the Reindeer Barn. "Hello all," he said. Behind his back were two tall silver trophies - loving cups - tall stately cups with handles on two sides. Engraved on one cup was World's Best Elves and on the other, World's Best Reindeer. "The Olympic trophies have arrived," Erno said. "And it gives me great pleasure to award these trophies to the best elves and reindeer anywhere on the globe."

"No, no, it's no use," Rudolph said shaking his head sadly. "We failed miserably, how will Santa ever be able to boast about having the best or the fastest here at the North Pole?"

"Excuse me? Excuse me?" Erno said loudly. "Rudolph, wake up. You're getting all leveled out here over a contest that you couldn't win. You run fast, then you fly. That's who you are. Elves can't do that, reindeer can."

"But Erno, I did win the race," Percy reminded Erno.

"Sure but what does that mean? If the reindeer go too fast, they fly. Can you do that? Can elves fly? No. Can reindeer make toys? No. Does any of this matter? We are the best that we are. The best at what we are, the best at who we are. The best elves and the best reindeer. You can't judge yourself by other standards - it's like the very fast Cheetah wishing he were a great swimmer!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Rudolph, brightening a bit.

"We - elves and reindeer - don't compete against each other - we work with each other. We're a team. If we don't work together, then nobody can enjoy Christmas. We are the spirit of co-operation and we need to be true to our selves - our reindeer selves or our elf selves."

"Hurray, hurray," cried the elves and reindeer together.

As Erno left the Barn, he closed the door behind him and out of the shadows came a large bearded man. Gently he put his arm around the little elf's shoulder. "I heard what you said about being yourself," the big man said. "It was very moving."

"Thanks, Santa," Erno said.

"I've got a speaking engagement coming up soon. Do you think I could borrow that part you said about the spirit of co-operation. . . and being true to your self?"

"Hey, who do you think I learned it from? That would be like borrowing from yourself. Of course, I did put a little polish on it with the Cheetah comparison," said Erno immodestly.

"Ho, ho, ho," Santa chuckled. "Well, Erno, you've done a fine job getting everyone to come around to themselves again. Thank you for helping the best elves and the best reindeer to make the best Christmas."