The WIzard's Christmas: Synopsis

Long ago in a faraway land, a young wizard’s apprentice named Alerik is busy making preparations for Christmas Eve. Alerik doesn't enjoy Christmas, because the Great Wizard Malerus forces everyone to act happy and give him presents. He can think of nothing else while the people are hungry and cold, and each year his demands become more extravagant until now they spend the entire year getting ready!

As the Wizard’s apprentice, it is Alerik’s responsibility to oversee the preparation of these gifts, so the people of the town don't like him one bit. Alerik morosely takes it in stride, secretly vowing that when the day comes for him to succeed Malerus, he will renew the old traditions of Christmas and become the most beloved Wizard of all time!

But for now he's just an apprentice, and not a very good one at that - he can't seem to get his master's wand to work properly; every time he tries to work magic, things blow up and people get hurt. Alerik decides to sneak away for some solitude in the ruins near the giant wall that cuts across their land, but when he tries some magic there he triggers a collapse and falls through a hole in the ground!

...And discovers a pathway under the wall to a land that is as bright and green as his is dull and dead. He comes across a young girl, Perin, who takes him to a beautiful city alive with the magic of Christmas!

At first Alerik can't believe what he's seeing - it's everything he could have imagined Christmas could be - only better! But soon he's feeling out of place. Perin's brother Markis takes an instant dislike to him, a feeling that is shared by the other townspeople he comes in contact with. Everything in the city is perfect, but his shabby clothes make him stand out, and his clumsiness keep getting him into trouble. After a while, it appears to Alerik that everybody seems to be more concerned with making the city look like Christmas rather than trying to make it feel like Christmas.

But Perin doesn't seem to mind - she's fascinated by Alerik and as friendly as her brother is not. She takes him on a tour of the city, delighted by his reactions and eagerness to participate in all the decorating activities. As the day winds down, Alerik crafts a gift for her to show his gratitude. Unfamiliar with gift-giving, Perin is overwhelmed by feelings she has never felt. The simple act of sharing has shown her what she didn't realize was even missing from their perfect-seeming world...

But then Perin and Markis tell Alerik a story about how long ago, on Christmas Eve, the was a Dark Wizard who broke the Staff of Christmas, dividing their people and splitting the land in two by creating the wall, a living barrier that eminates evil and swallows up anyone who gets too close. Alerik is stunned when he realizes that the story is about his master, Malerus! He tries to leave, but Perin takes him to meet Lucius first.

Alerik's audience with Lucius is a disaster. The Christmas Wizard recognizes the young apprentice for who he is and banishes him from the city. Perin doesn't understand, but she goes along with it, then she convinces Alerik to take her back with him to the other side of the wall.

On the other side, Perin is horrified by the look of the city, and when Malerus appears she recognizes him right away. But Alerik confronts his master with the story, and he and Perin learn that it was in fact Lucius’ selfishness that drove Malerus to fight over control of the Staff, breaking it in half and creating the wall.

Perin doesn't know what to believe, and when she realizes that Alerik is the Dark Wizard's apprentice, she feels she can no longer trust him. She runs away, but Alerik follows her only to see Markis step out of the shadows. They fight with magic, but Perin sides against Alerik to aid Markis, and they escape.

Back in Christmastown, Perin is distraught and confused, and when she confronts Lucius and learns that Malerus was telling the truth, she feels guilty for siding against Alerik. She urges Lucius to forget the past and reconcile with Malerus, but the old Wizard won't hear of it.

Later that evening, Perin is startled by a noise in the darkness of Lucius' throne room. It's Alerik, come to steal Lucius' wand to take it back to Malerus. He's angry and hurt by her betrayal, and he plans to take Christmas away from Lucius altogether by remaking the staff and becoming the Christmas Wizard himself. But Perin admits her mistake, and urges Alerik in the spirit of Christmas to help her repair the damage that has been done and bring the brothers back together. As an act of faith, she gives Alerik the wand.

Alerik hesitates, but before he can say anything, Markis enters the room, and Alerik leaps out the window and away. Seeing the staff has been stolen, Markis runs to fetch Lucius and they give chase, ultimately catching up with Alerik as he emerges from the tunnel on the other side. Malerus is forced to come to Alerik's defense, and the two old Wizards battle each other to an exhausted standstill.

At that moment, Markis reveals his secret lust for power, and he takes up the two halves of the Staff of Christmas, aiming to use its power to rule the land and put an end to Christmas forever.

But as he watched the two old wizards fight over the staff, Alerik finally realizes that Perin is indeed right; the true power of Christmas is in the joy of sharing it with family and friends. The wall and all that has happened since is a direct result to the old Wizard's selfishness and greed.

Alerik and Perin try to convince Markis to stop, but he's out of control, and is swallowed up by the evil emanating from the wall. Perin tries to save him, but she too is overwhelmed. Alerik picks it the staff and holds it out to her in an effort to pull her back.

At her touch, the staff releases a massive blast of white magic, obliterating the wall and shredding the dark forces surrounding them. Perin emerges from the clouds of dust and smoke, floating above them in a shimmering gown that sparkles with Christmas magic. Perin is revealed as the true Wizard of Christmas; the only one who had the true spirit of Christmas in her heart all along. The Wizards and their apprentices can only look on in wonder as the sight of her reborn fills them with the spirit of Christmas.

As the people from both sides of the wall begin to cross over and mingle together, trading gifts, sharing good tidings and offering best wishes for Christmas, Lucius and Malerus decide that it is time to put the past behind them and forgive each other in the true spirit of the season. Standing proud with Alerik at her side, Perin invokes the power of the staff and wishes everyone a merry Christmas!