It was at the North Pole. It was also December. All the Elves were rushing about, trying to get every last toy done for the kids. The last few decades, Christmas wasn't so good but this year, there were a lot of believers. The Head Elf, was still sorta new at the job, he was standing on a balcony calling out codes.

Almost all the Elves liked or loved him. The Reindeer really love him because he gives them sugarcubes if they behave. His name was Tsubaki. He got down off the balcony to dive into the mess. He would help out with toy making and baking. For once, the Elves had a Head Elf that did not think highly of himself. Everyone didn't feel rushed because they were ahead of schedule. It was amazing. They had to thank Tsubaki for his time management. He had a surprise for them when Santa got back from his rounds on Christmas Eve.

Nutcrackers opened the double doors to the outside for him. He stepped out, greeted by the gently falling snow. He looked to the sky. He clasped his hands together beaming to the sky. The Northern Lights were starting to appear again. He watched the seigh and the reindeer on their test flight for today. Everything looks fine, He thought. His eyes shortly widened and he dove into a large pile of snow when the reindeer and sleigh went straight at him. "Whoops! Sorry about that Tsubaki!" The Elf driving the sleigh said as it landed. He hopped out and offered his hand to the Head Elf. "You okay?"

He just sighed. "Watch where you're going, please." he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "We don't need anyone getting hurt, especially one of the reindeer. It is too close to Christmas for that."

The Elf chuckled a little nervously, "Y-Yeah.. the last thing we need is a reindeer to get hurt…"

"Anyway," The Head Elf starts. "No more test riding today, got it?"

Sometime later while he was walking around checking on everything, he spotted a little girl sitting on a pile of presents, staring up at the sky. The strangest part about the child, other than he'd never seen her before, was that she had beautiful white wings on her back and a halo floated just above her head. He walked over to her. "Um...hello." he said.

She jumped and looked at him. "O-oh hello." she said, smiling. "Isn't the snow lovely? I never get tired of watching it fall."

"That is absolutely true. You are an Angel, correct?" It was quiet for a few minutes before he would get an answer. She wasn't supposed to be there yet. Not by herself anyway. The Angels were going to come next week, not today. Why was she here though?

She just nodded quietly, watching the snow fall. She shivered a little. "I uh...got lost?" she said lamely, an obvious lie. "What's your name, mister? I'm Artemis, but you can call me Artsi." She looked awfully young to be an Angel. He couldn't help but wonder how she'd died.

"Please, don't lie to me that you got lost. I am the Head Elf Tsubaki. What brings you to the North Pole?"

She bit her lip. "I… sorry… I'm not supposed to tell anyone…" she looked down at her feet. "I'm not really supposed to be here right now… the others aren't here yet."

"Still doesn't answer one question. Why are you here," He pulled a scroll from his back pocket, opening it. "It is scheduled for you Angels to arrive next week. Not one coming alone by herself," He frowned closing the scroll snapping it making it disappear. His indigo eyes look at her. He did feel bad for her. He sits by her. The bells on him jingled at all of his movement. His outfit almost replicated a Jester outfit. The snow continued to drift slowly. It danced in the slight breeze. He frowned a little deeper his pointed ears going back like a dog's.

What happened to you? What was your life like before you died..? I wouldn't know what to do if I died… I don't think Elves get an afterlife like Humans. I heard we just… poof from existence…

Shortly there was a cry. A young man cry, "Artemis!"

Tsubaki jumps up looking at the sky, "Well I'll be bah humbugging! It's Maka, young teen genius that wanted all those books, not toys when he was a little wee baby!"

Artsi looked at Tsubaki in shock. "You know big brother?" she asked, eyes wide.

Maka swooped down and landed next to them, crossing his arms. "Why are you here? We're not supposed to be here until next week." he narrowed his eyes as he stared at his little sister. He turned to the Elf. "Sorry about that. Yes, I am Maka, nice to meet you. You must be the Head Elf."

"Yes. You can call me Tsubaki," The Elf turned to Artemis. "Big Brother?"

She nodded. "Yep! Maka was my big brother when I was...well alive. I guess he's still technically my brother." she looked thoughtful.

"I see," Tsubaki nods some. "Artemis. Go with your brother back wherever Angels come from. I am sorry that I don't know." Maka looks at Artsi.

"Sorry about what?" she tilted her head to the side before looking back at Maka.

Artsi, he doesn't know where Angels come from. That is what he is sorry about. You can't blame him though, Elves don't… well… have souls so one they die, it is like they never existed.

What do you mean Maka? That's...that's not fair...is it? She hugged her knees to her chest.

The only way they are remembered is by they are listed in a book Santa has. Head Elves live at least twice as long as Standard Elves. Rare if they live three times longer than a Standard Elf.

"I don't wanna go back there…" she finally said out loud. "Please...don't make me go back…" she whimpered slightly. This is when Maka frowned.

"You have to. You don't have a choice."

"No… please don't make me go back! I'll do anything, just don't make me go back."

"I don't make the Rules Artsi. Lord Death does."

"I don't wanna go back!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want to see it anymore! Please, Maka!"

They heard the jingling of the Head Elf's uniform. They turn to him and he was on his knees, hands covering ears as he trembled right there on the spot. "M-Mister Tsubaki?" Artsi asked, looking at him. "You okay?"

Maka put a hand on her shoulder and she shook it off. She took off and flew away after a few seconds. The Elf's ears were ringing when he took his hands away. He was staring at the ground. He slowly looked up. Artsi was flying as fast as she could, away from her brother, and away from everything. She just wanted it to stop. "I don't want to go… please… please please…" She said.

She was suddenly no where. Everywhere was black. She knew what this meant. Lord Death was directly speaking to her, "Artemis Albarn..."

"Please no… I can't see it again… I can't do it… Don't make me come back so soon, I can't do it Lord Death, I'm sorry!"

Lord Death stays silent for a few seconds, "...Alright. You must be back by New Years though alright? That gives you a few weeks. And one more thing, what ever happens to the Head Elf, it is on your shoulders."

"Y-Yes sir… thank you sir." she sighed with relief. She flew around for a bit to calm hersElf down before she went back to Tsubaki. "Sorry…" She said quietly. "I...suppose you'll want to know what that was about then."

The Head Elf looks at her, "I would love to know."

She sat next to him. "Well...I'm not surprised you didn't know I'm Maka's sister. When I was five, on my way home from school I was picked up by a strange man in black. I don't know his name, but I do remember his face...God knows I know his face. Anyway, he took me to some weird warehouse-y, basement-like place and beat me day-by-day, week-by-week… I didn't know how long I was going to last. After about six months of that torture the police finally found the place… but it was too late. I'd died a few minutes after the police had kicked down the door and arrested that man. Where the Angels come from… we relive our deaths every day. Most died peacefully in their sleep or heroically like my brother… so for them, it's not so bad. But for me…" She shook some, "I… I have to relive those months every day I'm there… so I ran away and I came here early to avoid that, at least for a little while."

The Elf frowned, ears going down, "I'm… really sorry about that..."

"Don't apologize… there's nothing anyone can do about it really. Nothing can dull that pain or make me forget though. That's the worst part. Angels have to relive their deaths every day of their lives, that is the curse of being a servant to a god."

He looked at his hands then at her, "... If you were still alive…. what would you have want for Christmas?"

"I dunno…" she said after a few minutes of silence. "As I am now, I'd just want to be with my family again. I never really understood Christmas all that well. Growing up, my only family was big brother 'cause mom and dad died. Back then, I really can't say I'd know what I'd wish for. I wished for a lot of childish things then."

"We might be able to fix that." Question was… Who's We?

"You can't help a broken girl like me I'm afraid," she smiled bitterly, "And uh, who's the 'we' in the statement?"

"I bet I can to the end of a Candy Cane," He folds his arms. "We is Santa and I."

She blinked. "What's a 'Candy Cane'?" she asked, curious. "And Santa's the big man in the red suit right? He's funny."

His eyes widened when she asked what a Candy Cane was, "It's this." He pulled one from his pocket.

She just stared. "Do you eat it?" she asked, staring at the red and white striped candy. "Is it really candy?"

"There are fake ones but this is a real one. Try it," He hands it to her.

She stared at it some more. "You sure, Mister Tsubaki? I mean… it's your candy and all…" she didn't look used to being given things this way.

"I am completely sure, Artsi."

She smiled a little before putting the end of the treat in her mouth, eyes widening immediately and seeming to light up and she smiled up at him. "It's really good!" she said, pulling it out of her mouth so she could talk.

"Wait til you have Hot Chocolate with it."

She smiled a little awkwardly. "Um… what's that?" She asked sheepishly.

This was going to be a long day. Through the day, little by little, he was explaining everything to her. Every time he showed her something new, her eyes lit up with the same curiosity and excitement as she had when she'd eaten the Candy Cane. It was a pity she wasn't alive anymore, as she seemed so energetic and full of life as she once had been.

He smiled yet frowned at that. He pointed out the different dressings of Elves. Each uniform meant something else. He takes her to the kitchen. She smells the sweet aroma of everything being baked. "What's that smell Mister Tsubaki?" She asked, practically jumping up and down with excitement.

He chuckled, "Everything."

"What's 'everything' then?"

"Literally, everything."

"Does that include us then?" She asked with a mischievous grin. "You said 'literally everything' didn't you?"

"You know what I mean, silly."

"What kind of sweets are in here, Mister Tsubaki? Is it really everything?"

"Yes."

"Anything I haven't tried yet?" There it was again, that life-like energy of hers.

"A lot of things really."

"We're gonna be here for a while then." She giggled some.

"Here we go..."

They were in there for a long time, to make it short. Tsubaki took her to several more places before it was almost time for him and Santa to go. Artsi flew with them on their rounds, a huge smile on her face. This was the most of the world she'd ever seen in her time of really just existing, and it was just as amazing as she'd thought it'd be yet even more so.

When they got back, the sun was starting to rise at the North Pole. Tsubaki smiled a bit, "Alright! Elves!"

Santa gets out chuckling, his belly jiggling at each laugh, "This Christmas was a very successful one!"

Tubaki tugged on Santa's sleeve, whispering in his ear. Santa perked up, nodding every-so-often. Tsubaki soon moved away grinning, "I will announce..."He turned to the Elves grinning even bigger. "We are going to hold a Gala, sleep for the night after that, then get back to work for next year!" The little peoples cheered. "Dress your absolute best tonight!"

To Artsi, the Gala was really amazing. She had no clue Elves played different instruments. Tsubaki walked over to her smiling some. She thought he had short hair at first but she learned his hat had kept all this lovely black hair hidden. It was in a low ponytail.

"What?"

"..So much… hair..."

"Yeah, lets not talk about it," He took her hand with a smile.