It felt like an eternity that they had been traveling, engulfed in darkness and battered by the raging storm for Christmas in the North could be nothing less than this- perilous weather memorialized in the form of jaunty mortal tunes. There it was celebrated, coveted even and yet it tormented them here- the frigid chill licking porcelain skin, pawing frantically at skirts buried deep beneath the stiff and no longer harmless snow. A sleigh could only carry them so far now that the sheets of stinging ice reduced their visibility.
They had no choice but to finish their journey on foot but then again, one knew better than to travel during a blizzard.
At long last, warm light glowed in the distance. At least the fates pitied them.
"I can't feel my hands, can you?"
"No"
"Can you knock?"
"You mean like I have the last three centuries?"
Neither could tell if that had been meant as a joke.
As the two bundled figures stood on the door step, one of them raised a limp claw and gently rapped against the door. It stood silent and the world held its breath.
…Was no one home?
Moments felt like an eternity as they slipped quietly by, but finally the storm sighed and the door swung slowly open, the warmth and light pouring onto the two figures. The scent of spices, chocolate and fresh savory doughs flooded their senses before being stolen by the greedy winds…
…But the winds could not rob them of the familiar holiday mirth that filled their bones.
A soft motherly voice spoke, coming from a silhouette in the light.
"Oh dear oh dear! You two are going to catch your death out here! Come, come inside the both of you. Tinsel, Hermey, someone put some cocoa on the kettle!"
The woman led the two inside, her sky blue gown brushing some of the snow they tracked within. Without warning, the smaller of the bundles dashed forward.
"YAY cocoa!"
"Shocky no running in the house! What would mother say?"
The larger of the pair lunged forward as if to grab the flighty Shocky before turning to their gracious hostess with an apologetic smile.
"Please forgive us, it seems during the long voyage over here, we have forgotten our manners...it's so good to see you again Miss Jessica!"
The light shined softly, setting the elderly woman's kind and gentle features aglow. Jessica, now a missus, smiled. "Oh Aqua, sweetie you needn't bother your sister like that. She's just a little excitable is all. Come, let's sit and get you two some food".
She turned and strolled in the directions of Shocky's footprints, chuckling under her breath- adding amusement to the music in the air.
"What WOULD their mother say?" she wondered. Jessica hadn't personally spoken to the woman, but the missed school meetings and those cold blue eyes spoke volumes.
So devoid of humor, so unlike a Kringle. She didn't seem like the kind to encourage excitement.
Behind the cheery matron, Aqua lowered her hood. "We would like that very much, thank you."
Aqua's pace slowed as she paused to listen to the upbeat tune playing throughout the cozy house. Raspy words floated on the heavy air, accented by strong female voices.
"Merry Christmas, I don't want to fight tonight…"
The music ran through the house like blood through veins, giving the place life. It was so welcoming and soft, so unlike their own house. Not since her dad…
…No, Christmas was not the time to think of such things.
Mrs. Jessica Claus looked to Aqua with a smile as she led her to a spacious dining hall. The smell of herb roasted turkey greeted the weary traveler as soon as she set foot inside. In the center, directly below a glittering chandelier, sat a table covered with traditional holiday fare.
"It's not much but we do have MANY mouths to feed after all, heh."
Aqua's brows lifted. "This is actually quite the handsome spread. You've really outdone yourself!"
A gaggle of elves arrived, almost as if on cue. Two of them appeared at first, a small shabby brunette and a well manicured blonde, each with cocoa in hand.
Tinsel and Hermey, her favorites.
A second pair followed closely behind, a taller blonde and a portly elf with wild curls, each with cocoa and marshmallows.
Jingle and Jangle.
It was so good to see their old friends.
Aqua leaned in, lowering her voice slightly. "You don't want to know the menu our servers plan for a 'plentiful' banquet anyway."
A shock of bright glittering hair pushed its way between the ladies, the face beneath breathing heavily over both of them.
"Hi are you talking about the haggis?"
"We don't mention the haggis in polite company Shocky."
Jessica furrowed her eyebrows. She had heard of it but in all her years never even seen nor tasted it. "Haggis? It sounds...interesting..I'm sure it's very delightful?"
Without missing a beat, the tall blonde spoke. "Oh boy, i-i-if it's alright with you Mrs C, I'd just like to say I think haggis is very good! I had it a few years ago when we went to Southtown!"
Aqua looked quizzically to the blonde. "Did you now? you must have an iron stomach then"
Jingle grabbed his hat and shoved it over his eyes. "Will you hush?"
She shook her head. "We shouldn't be talking about these things at the dinner table, anyway I'm sorry for encouraging the discussion."
Shocky perked at the mention of the promised dinner. "Oh right! Food!"
And she dashed eagerly towards the table.
"Hang on now! we haven't been invited to sit yet, Etiquette"
Shocky turned to face her sister with a groan. "But we're not at home anymore"
Mrs. Claus smiled and rolled her eyes playfully.
"Oh girls, no need to wait for invitation, it's not like you're vampires! Sit down, help yourselves, make yourselves at home sweethearts. We are expecting a few guests later tonight, very very important guests…
The next line came in a barely audible undertone.
"I just hope they behave themselves this time…"
She looked back to the group with a smile. "Ah well, not important, you girls enjoy your meals! I'll be back to check on you in a little bit."
And she left, muttering something about said guests under her breath. Jingle and Jangle settled across from them and helped themselves to cocoa just as Shocky looked up, mouth full of food.
"Impoh'n guths?"
"That's never happened before."
With a sigh, Aqua set to work- taking a chunk of turkey and finely shredding it with her butter knife.
"I guess we'll be working this year after all. Ah well, the vacation was nice while it lasted"
Jingle glanced over at them. "These two are sort of important….In the case of the UNIVERSE they're important, but most people view them as nuisances…"
"And they break into song too often"
Aqua answered them with a chuckle. "That sounds like half the big shots that attend our mother's dinner parties"
"With a little too much eggnog!" Shocky chimed in.
Jingle continued. "These two have apparently been causing a little bit of trouble on the border lately, so Mrs. Claus is going to have a long word with them when they get here"
Jangle laughed. "Heh heh, its funny huh Jingle? How, they got so many powers but they get bullied by a little old lady, heh heh"
Neither of the girls were surprised. Border politics were always a messy thing and Jessica was a force to be reckoned with if her days as their teacher were anything to go by.
"You underestimate the powers of the little old lady"
Shocky nodded enthusiastically. "Miss Jessica's the strictest!"
A few minutes had passed when the front door opened downstairs. Two new voices carried through the building. The first, a deep slightly nasal Baritone…with a slight lisp. The second, a small campy Tenor. Jangle began to tremble. They sounded agitated.
Jingle gulped. "…They're here"
"They sure do like to make an entrance, don't they?" Aqua mused as she paused to listen. The rich voice resonated nicely throughout the wooden halls, coloring the wood with its warm sound. Almost musical.
Aqua looked down to her plate and continued dissecting the turkey. She hadn't noticed how good the acoustics were before. Shocky leaned in, eyes wide with concern. "Gee! Are you guys okay?"
Jingle nodded slowly. "These two are a nuisance from afar but up close they're rather intimidating, and being in their homes is terrifying-"
"QUIET"
Jessica's voice boomed over the new arrivals. A moment passed in silence. Finally the voices spoke again, returning to tense conversation. Jangle's expression soured
"Ohh…I can't STAND when the Miser Brothers have to show up!"
Aqua looked up from her plate.
When? In all their visits, there had been no one else.
"Wh… they do this often?"
Jingle answered her. "Unfortunately yes…Almost everyday they leave their homes, go to the border and fight. Mrs Claus is fed up with them right now because it's getting close to Christmas, she wants to make sure everything goes smoothly"
Shocky folded her arms. "Some diplomats they are! No wonder there's border wars!"
"Yeah like that one year remember?"
Jingle pulled Jangle's hat over his eyes for a second time. "We were told to not mention that year, you know better. It makes Santa look bad"
"W-well I'm sure it's not his fault!"
"Oh no it definitely isn't, though at the same time it's not THEIR fault either, they just made the whole year more difficult"
The voices travelled up along the stairwell, growing louder as the trio approached the dining hall. With them, the temperatures fluctuated wildly, like a bad bath.
Aqua removed the napkin from her lap, folded it neatly, and set it beside her plate.
"Hold that thought, it looks like we're going to be having company"
"Really? it feels like they're just busy breaking the thermostat"
One by one, Shocky began shedding the remaining extra layers. As Mrs Claus entered the room, Jingle and Jangle hid behind the table. Two towering men followed suit behind her- a pudgy fire haired man clad in hues of red and gold, and his taller pale counterpart, with hair of gleaming ice. Neither of them were pleased.
Jessica stepped forward.
"Aqua, Shocky, meet the Miser Brothers, Heat and Snow."
The lanky Snow spoke first. "I control how much snow is distributed around the globe"
"And I make sure the heat is still up to par for everyone." Heat finished.
For all they said, however, they may as well have never uttered a word. Shocky stood motionless, jacket halfway off her arms, eyes tracing the Snow Miser's smooth strong features. The air left her lungs with a sudden silent whoosh.
A Silver fox.
…No, she couldn't bear to approach him.
She resolved to shrink into her seat instead, completely neglecting the coats on the floor around her.
Aqua, however, rose to greet them with a polite nod.
"So you're our esteemed guests! welcome"
She glanced to the spot where Jingle and Jangle hid before looking back to the boys with a smile. "It's so good to finally meet you!"
Heat went to extend a hand to shake and Snow stepped in front of him, bowing before the ladies.
"It is a pleasure to meet you two ladies as well, I hope you like things cool, cuz I'm the KING of cool."
Heat grumbled from behind him. Aqua paused, hand posed midair. She tilted her head ever so slightly, the corner of her mouth twisted into an expression just short of sly.
"You certainly do a good job of it." She gestured to the blizzard outside the window.
"I don't think anyone would disagree."
She reached beyond Snow to clasp Heat's hand in her own, eyes lingering on the ginger slightly longer than socially proper. Such a pretty face for such a pretty voice, "I'm sure you both work quite hard to make conditions favorable."
Before either brother could speak further, Mrs. Claus interrupted the conversation.
"They do, but they fight a LOT. You two need to BEHAVE this time of year. Don't make me get your mother, you know how she gets"
They gulped in unison and nodded. "Yes Mrs. Claus"
"Good, now why don't you all get to know each other while I go see how Santa is doing?"
She smiled at the group and left. Jingle and Jangle came out from hiding, the brothers settling at opposite ends of the table- clearly avoiding one another.
Aqua perched herself on her original seat, giving Shocky a sidelong glance before unfolding her napkin and returning it to her lap.
Her sister avoided the eye contact, a twinge of something sharp, something desperate pulling at her. Words failed her now, how could she possibly face Adonis with a mouth full of cotton?
Aqua broke the silence in her place. "So, you visit here often?"
Snow rested his feet on the table and closed his eyes. Aqua bristled, eyeing him up and down, as if to size him up- eyes glinting with something faintly dark.
If she was disgusted, however, she chose not to voice it. Shocky's eyes briefly travelled upward.
A bold move, impolite…but so confident. And those calves.
His reedy voice washed over her. "Well I'm up here quite often, I like the weather, plus they LOVE all the snow I give...Hot head over there can't stand it here"
"Hey, I said I like it inside up here!" Heat protested. "It's nice and toasty, outside is FREEZING! My nose would fall off it's so cold!"
"Ohhh don't be a baby!"
Aqua nibbled on her turkey and chased it down with a sip of her cocoa. She returned the cup and glanced between the two of them with a slight arch of the eyebrows.
"It's a matter of personal preference, I think. Some of us were built to withstand a wilting summer, and some of us are built for the merciless winter"
Snow opened one eye to glance at Aqua then at Shocky, filling her face with color. He returned his attention to Aqua.
"Well I SUPPOSE that's true, even though I'm sure we all know that snow and cool weather is the best"
"Pfft at least I don't give people hypothermia!"
Aqua hummed lightly as she set about shifting another portion of turkey onto her fork. "Hmm, both extremes have their pros and cons."
Heat shot Snow a disgruntled look. Before the taller Miser could answer it, he cleared his throat. "Ahem! So ladies, uh, tell us about yourselves, you look like elemental like us, so I'm curious."
"Oh yeah almost forgot to ask that"
Shocky opened her mouth. It was an easy enough question.
"We're el-"
"-We preside over a territory up north." Aqua cut in.
She paused, waiting for her uncharacteristically meek sister. Shocky, however, did not continue.
"…We're Elvish- not quite Elemental, but not without magic"
The boys sat up.
"What CAN you do?"
Shocky spoke to her plate as she doodled lines with her fork. "W-well, we can do a bunch of stuff."
"Elvish huh? Whats that Like?"
What WAS Elvish like? The smell of old books in a quiet temple? The gentle twist of a snowflake as it danced- emancipated from its cloud? The whisper of a secret ancient language, carried on the wind? None of these were tangible, ideas Aqua couldn't convey.
"To be Elvish is to be a part of old sacred tradition. The history of our People is as old as the history of magic itself."
Heat fixed his eyes on Aqua, impressed with her answer. Snow, on the other hand didn't seem to care, instead motioning toward his pointed ear with an awkward pose.
"I thought it was just short people with pointy ears like us! Haha!"
Shocky's expression lifted. "Oh y-you mean the Kringle clan!"
Heat shot him an irritated glare. "You frozen idiot, that's not what it means at all, weren't you LISTENING?"
Snow glanced at Heat with a scowl before looking at Shocky. "Oh well I suppose so yes, but I thought ALL Elvish were like that"
"I do believe that classifies as racist you snowball" Heat growled.
Shocky placed her hands up. "I-it's okay though! People make that mistake ALL the time"
It was true, though partly their own fault. Isolation had made them a stranger to the world, even to their own kind.
Snow turned back to him with a quick snap of the head, ignoring Shocky's comment. "You're getting on my last nerve hothead! One more quip and you'll regret it"
Heat leaned forward, eyes blazing. "Oh yeah tough guy?!"
Looking between the two, Aqua lifted her cup of cocoa and took a long drag. The temperatures began to fluctuate once again and the Bells hid behind the sisters.
"You wanna GO, brother dear?" Snow hissed in an oily voice.
Shocky drew a quiet breath. Though his voice was seething, there was something low and soft about his tone. Chills ran down her spine… and she wasn't so sure the temperatures were responsible this time.
"Bring it on Snow cone Brain!" Heat huffed.
Aqua set her cup down and slipped a hand under the table. This had gone on long enough.
"If we could kindly NOT have a go inside our hosts' home I'd appreciate it, thanks."
The brothers growled at each other before backing off and taking their seats at opposite ends of the table, each crossing their arms. Jingle and Jangle poked their heads up and whispered in unison.
"Wow...you calmed them faster then their own mother did…"
Aqua released her hand with a sound like sloshing waves and returned it to her cup.
Jingle nodded sagely, understanding the cryptic threat. Jangle stared at the two. He hoped they knew how to handle the situation.
After a moment of awkward agitated silence, Mrs. Claus returned, sitting down at the center chair of the table, glancing at the brothers then the sisters before cracking a small smile.
"SO, did you four get to know each other a little bit?"
Heat spoke. "Well I TRIED but-"
"-This moron kept making things difficult" Snow interjected.
"No Arguing, don't make me contact your mother!"
Aqua took a second drag from her cocoa before setting it down. "Ah yes, I've heard mention of her." She glanced between the two. "Come to think of it, you've heard more about us than we have of you. Your abilities sound impressive and I don't envy your responsibilities"
She leaned forward, propping her chin on an elbow before immediately straightening up.
"But what is your family like?"
Before the brothers could make a sound, Mrs. Claus shot them a warning glare. "You speak one at a time, let's hear from Heat first."
Heat looked Mrs. Claus then to Snow, his full well made face alight with a smug expression. Aqua gave him a smoldering smile as he spoke. Smug looked good on him.
"Why THANK YOU, Mrs. Claus...anyhow, Our family is...chaotic to say the least...but what family isn't? There's me and this frozen Slushy that control the temperatures, our older brother North Wind, who controls all the winds and breezes in the northern hemisphere, uhm...Then there's our step brother and sister. Lightning and Thunder who control storms...uh…"
"Now your turn Snowy" Jessica shifted her gaze to Snow.
"Why thank you. There's also our cousin Earthquake, our second cousins, the Tides, and then, the Creme de La creme is our fun spoiling mo-"
His turn was cut short by the loud crack of thunder. The building shook and, in a flash of light, a woman appeared in the doorway. Her face was young and fresh, adorned with brown and lime curls. Her emerald aproned skirts swished against the hardwood flooring as the surrounding glitter and leaves danced around her. Shocky jumped at the sound, ashen face growing visibly paler.
"-ooother...M-Mother! Hello mother dear!" Snow finished, eyes screaming with an unspoken terror.
Jessica turned to the sisters. "Girls, I'd like you to meet, Mother Nature."
Aqua rose, arms outstretched. "Ah woman of the hour!"
She bowed low.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Madame."
Shocky waved.
"H-h-hi!"
The ladies were greeted with a curtsy.
"Oh how lovely." Her voice was gentle and warm. "Mrs. Claus you didn't tell me we'd be having guests! What are your names ladies? If you don't mind me asking?"
Shocky answered first, abashed.
"H-hi…I'm Shocky"
"And I'm Aqua"
The full figured sister nodded to Jessica, wavy tresses falling over her shoulder. "We were her students back in the day. I must admit that it truly is a pleasant surprise to see new faces in a place as cozy as this!
We're honored to make your acquaintance."
"Shocky, and Aqua, what lovely names for such lovely girls! I'm sure we'll get to know a bit more about each other soon" Mother Nature replied. She turned to Jessica.
"I'm so glad you invited me, I assume this is to discuss Christmas this year, since the boys moved?"
"Yes, you see, since those two moved to the border, they've become a bit of a liability for Santa, We've run some test flights and his path goes right over their homes. We don't want to risk an argument on Christmas Eve you know."
"Completely understandable, Mrs. Claus. Now boys…"
She turned to the two brothers, who in an instant, straightened their posture and smiled. "Yes Mother Dear" They answered in unison.
"You two knew better when I moved you out there. I told you to keep the fighting down. You MUST stop, it's getting too dangerous now."
"Yes Mother Dear" They replied.
She continued. "If something happens this year, I'll see to it that YOU two will handle it! DO I make myself clear?"
"Y-yes Mother Dear" They stuttered.
"Excellent...now…" She turned back to Jessica. "Mrs. Claus, if you wouldn't mind, may I go take a look around? I do love to see this place in action."
Jessica replied. "Oh of course dear, let me go along with you."
The two women rose from their chairs and left, followed by Jingle and Jangle. For the first time, the foursome was truly alone. No one could deny the peculiar sensation that thought provoked.
Aqua broke the silence. "Lovely woman, I see why you treasure her."
Heat eyed her suspiciously. "Sarcasm?"
"She's...she's strict and quick tempered but she's a nice woman that aside…" Snow paused. "What's uh your family like..? You've met ours after all."
Aqua paused, something sharp tugging at her chest.
Their family. It'd been a while since they'd been called that. A soft boyish face nagged tauntingly at the edges of her subconscious.
If only all of them were here…
She gestured to Shocky. "Y-you've met half of ours, biologically at least."
"Th-there's few a us of. Not's many as you guys though"
"But with a population as small as this, the neighboring villages easily become extended family"
"I did notice you two feel rather at home here." Heat remarked.
Shocky continued on. "We kinda grew up hereNOT grew upgrew up but w-we came a here lot after Mister Kris and Miss Jessica were banished"
Aqua had been sneaking out against their mother's wishes, a disobedience worthy of a hefty punishment.
Aqua spared a glance at Shocky. "…Although home is where our responsibilities lie. We're being trained to look after our people and our Mother isn't terribly fond of free range parenting I'm afraid."
Snow frowned. "She sounds REALLY old world"
Aqua looked him dead in the eye.
"You have no idea. "
His long nose crinkled. "Well doesn't that just suck?"
"You could try to be a bit more compassionate brother dear, it must be hard for them"
"Every upbringing has its highs and lows, no parent is perfect."
Heat's expression softened. "Ahhh...well...I'm interested in learning a bit about you girls"
"Yeah likewi-" Snow's turn was cut short a second time as the women returned.
"-Well boys, Mama's leaving, so you should probably be heading home soon. Say good bye to your friends." She curtseys to the sisters a second time.
"Again, pleasure to meet you two"
And in a crack of thunder, she was gone, Shocky jumping once again.
"Yes boys, it's good to have had you, but our business is through and it's getting late, our guests need their rest."
"Ah so soon?" Aqua turned to the boys with a cat-like smile, heavy lidded eyes lingering on Heat a second time. "Well, you know what they say about pleasurable company" She purred.
"T-time flies you're when having fun?" Shocky guessed.
Heat extended a hand to Aqua. "Maybe someday we can meet up again or something, under better conditions?"
She eagerly took his hand with a roguish grin. "I'd like that."
Snow grabbed his brother by the shoulders. "Come on Romeo, stop flirting, lets get outta here."
But no sooner than he said it, his face betrayed him. He locked eyes with the shining green haired girl, cheeks burning with a tell-tale darkness. She stared unblinkingly back at him, small mouth slightly agape on a face now covered in angry red splotches.
In a crack of thunder, the spell was broken.
Jessica turned to the pair. "Ah...I hate politics...anything I can get you girls? or should I show you to your room? unfortunately you're sharing one for tonight"
Aqua waved her hand in front of Shocky's stunned face. "That will be just fine! I'm sure we can refrain from killing each other for a night." Shocky remained dazed for a moment, furiously swatted the hand away when she belatedly registered the conversation. "…Y-yeah yeah! That'll be great!"
"Excellent! I shall show you to your rooms dears."
She led them down hallways, passing various elf bedrooms until they came to one specific door. There was nothing special about it compared to the other rooms, except for normal sized furnishings and changes of clothes just in case they needed it.
In the center of the room sat a small table.
"If there is ANYTHING I can get you two, please don't be afraid to ask, you girls are like my own daughters, heh"
Aqua gave her a fond smile. "And you like our own mother. Thank you so much for taking such good care of us!"
"Y-yeah! It's really sweet of you!"
Jessica nodded and left the two on their own, shutting the door behind her. Immediately, they were surrounded by the scent of gingerbread and pine. A glowing fire in the corner hearth lit the room in hues of cream and orange. Aqua set to removing the multiple bundled layers that had protected her from the biting chill. Shocky, however sat by the decorative panel- watching the snowflakes fall.
So much had happened in such little time. Something seemingly innocent, insignificant...and yet it changed her small and limited world, like the tree shaped window she watched the storm through. Tiny flakes composed of delicate crystalline designs, each one unique like the memories of a life well lived.
Ice.
HIS ice.
Her stomach lurched at the thought, nerves prickling with something intangible. Ice she'd played on as a child, what their nation built their very lives on, what she'd carved a livelihood out of with a simple pair of blades.
His ice.
For a moment, she almost saw someone else's reflection in the glass and her heart skipped a beat. She'd hardly noticed it'd been long until a familiar female voice broke through to her.
"Are you going to sit there staring at the blizzard all night or are you going to pass on sleep too?"
"Oh!" Shocky shook her head. "R-right!" Clumsily, she stripped down to her robe and climbed into bed.
"...Aqua? I- Do you ever-?
…What's it like when you sneak down to the village?
How are you so good with boys? What would dad say?
"I…I think I-…Aqua?"
Shocky sat up, greeted with a mass of silvery blue waves and the outline of her sister…
…Who appeared fast asleep, chest rising and falling as she succumbed to her own questions.
"Oh…okay" Shocky lowered her head back onto the pillow, staring up at the wooden ceiling. Tomorrow was Christmas, she ought to be saving her strength for the final big push, and yet sleep evaded her.
Is this how the children felt every year?
At the border, the two brothers were both preparing for bed. Heat mumbled to himself about being accused of flirting as he undressed as Snow sat in his icy chair, thinking about their meeting.
This strange girl who didn't speak very much, sparked something in him that he hadn't felt before. He wanted to know more about her, invite her to play in the snow with him, go ice skating…
But he wasn't sure why.
At some point, Snow Miser noticed Heat's indoor light turning off, but instead of going to bed himself, he merely stayed awake, staring at his ceiling lamp and bobbing his foot back and forth. He had a plan for tomorrow.
"I've got it, I'll make a glorious sculpture for her, not one of destruction, one of magic and mystery! That'll get her attention!"
But as he said those words, he sighed. Perhaps he may never meet the girl ever again.
"Such is life, people come and go I guess...gosh it's lonely out here."