Santa's reindeer, with Blitzen in the lead, trooped into Santa's Workshop. "Where are our diamonds?" the reindeer asked the elves accusingly. "We had a whole box in the cave and now they're gone! You elves were the only others that knew about the cave. And we hadn't made the necklace for Mrs. Claus yet. We need our diamonds," Blitzen finished angrily.

The elves looked at each other in confusion. Then Amber said, "Wait a minute, we're not the only ones who know about that cave - Ignatius was there too," she cried pointing her tiny elf finger at Ignatius.

"Yeah, ask the Australian where he was last night," Percy added.

"Austrian," Ignatius said quietly, "Yes, you're right. I took the box of sparkling rocks," Ignatius said.

"Our diamonds!" Blitzen gasped.

Ignatius slowly started backing toward the door as the elves and reindeer closed in on him. Just as they were about to pounce, "Well, not exactly diamonds," Ignatius said, "Let me show you." He opened a box near the door and pulled a large sparkling rock from the pile. "Quartz crystal," he announced.

"What?!" cried the elves and reindeer in unison.

"Not diamonds, I'm sorry," Ignatius said, "but beautiful none the less. I tested them this morning. They are quartz. But don't despair. Quartz is a very hard rock that forms beautiful crystals. Some are clear in colour like diamonds, others are a smoky taupe, milky white, a lovely rose colour, or purple called amethyst."

Just then Santa and Mrs. Claus entered the Workshop. Santa was back in his usual fur-trimmed red suit and shiny black boots. He was still wearing his sparkling 'S' on a chain around his neck.

"How are the busy diamond miners today?" Mrs. Claus asked.

"Foolish," Blitzen answered downcast.

Santa looked down at his necklace proudly. "Reindeer, I love my necklace. It shines brighter than any diamond because it was a thoughtful gift," Santa said.

"Oh, I hope you'll still make me my 'Mrs. C' necklace. I don't mind if it's diamonds or not, it's the thought that counts!" Mrs. Claus said.

"It is the thought that counts," Ignatius said, "And all of you have been so very thoughtful to each other - it is indeed heart-warming. The reindeer had this jewelry idea long before I was to arrive with the tools so they had me fly in the mining tools months ago. Where else would they get miner's helmets that fit reindeer heads except from the Ignatius Tool Company? And the elves were thinking about what to give Santa this year and they had me bring . . ."

"Oh, we almost forgot! Santa we have a surprise for you - follow us to the barn," Percy said proudly.

In the reindeer barn, the elves pulled the red wool cover off Old Magic.

"Check the sparkle on Old Magic!" Erno announced. Roly pushed the 'sparkle button.' Santa and Mrs. Claus gasped with pleasure.

"Well, that's just awesome!" Mrs. Claus said.

"Boo yah - I mean like I am totally cool with that. Thank you," Santa said.

On Christmas Eve, after the elves had loaded Old Magic with toys for all the good boys and girls of the world, Santa climbed aboard. The reindeer were harnessed and Rudolph's nose shone extra brightly. "All set?" Santa asked.

"Hit the sparkle button," Erno hollered.

Santa pushed the button and the sleigh glowed red, green, white and blue.

As Santa drove out of sight into the night sky, Mrs. Claus looked up and sighed, "My it does look like northern lights. How beautiful."

From the glowing sleigh, as it drove out of sight, everyone heard a loud and jolly, "Ho, ho, ho."