Disclaimer: You all know that I don't own The Santa Clause. I only own Crystal. Enjoy the story.
Up at the North Pole, the elves were busy as usual. Christmas was just days away, and everyone is doing their best to get everything done on time. Bernard, the Head Elf at the workshop, was making sure that everyone was doing their job, and not slacking off. Santa, also known as Scott Calvin, was looking at the Naughty/Nice List, checking it twice just so he doesn't miss anything. His wife, Carol, was doing well. She's happy working at the school, and making sure the elves don't act impish. The Number 2 Elf, Curtis, was busy coming up with new ways to make the jobs easier at the workshop. But most of his ways weren't very successful. Once Santa looked over the list, he goes around seeing the progress of everything, and seeing how everyone's creativity is going.
"Bernard!" Santa yelled.
"What is it, Santa?" he asked.
"Have you been feeling alright?" Santa asked, with a concerned look on his face.
"Yeah," he said. "Why do you ask?"
"Lately, you've seemed tired," he said. "Not only that, but you are not your usual self."
"I'm fine, Santa," he said, smiling. "Don't worry about me. I'll be alright."
"Alright," he said. "Its getting late anyway. Alright everyone! Stop what you are doing! Its good for today! Go home, and have a good night's rest!"
The elves stopped what they were doing, and headed home for the night.
"Bernard. You should head home too," Santa told him. "You should get an early rest. I think you need it."
"Fine," he said. "Night, Santa."
Bernard got his coat and scarf, and headed out. The streets were empty, and everyone went home. When Bernard went outside, he saw someone ice skating. He thought that everyone went home at this time. He stood near the stairs, and watched the elf ice skate. He then let out a small smile, and enjoyed watching the elf skate. Once he saw the face, it was a girl, who looked a hundred years younger than Bernard. The girl fell on the ice after failing to land one of her jumps. Bernard could hear her talking to herself, not knowing that he was watching.
"Not again," she said. "Why is it always that jump? Maybe I should stop, and concentrate on my work."
Crystal got off the ice, and took off her skates. She then started putting on her shoes, still unaware of Bernard's presence.
"You're really good," said Bernard. "I don't know what you thought about it, but I thought that it was good."
The girl turned around, and saw Bernard standing near the steps of Santa's workshop. She was surprised that someone was watching her.
"You-you really think so?" she asked, blushing.
"Yeah," he said, walking up to her. "I haven't seen an elf ice skate like that. Well, its because that I'm mostly in here. But, you really are good. Keep practicing on the jump, and you'll get it."
"Thanks," she said, smiling. "My name's Crystal."
"Crystal...That's a nice name," he said. "I'm Bernard. The Head Elf at Santa's workshop."
"That's nice," Crystal said. "How long have you been watching me skate?"
"Long enough," he said. "I haven't seen you around here before."
"Oh. I hardly come down here," she said. "I mostly stay home, and I do work."
"What kind of work?"
"Oh just, random things," she said.
"I would like to see your work someday," he said, smiling.
"Really?" she said. "I don't know."
"It can't be that bad," he said. "It would be nice to see another elf's work besides the elves here."
"Alright," she said. "Well, I better get home. Need to prepare dinner."
"Okay," he said. "See you tomorrow?"
"Okay then," she said, smiling. "It was nice meeting you, Bernard. Good night."
"Good night, Crystal."
Crystal smiled at Bernard, and walked to her house. Bernard smiled as she walked away, and he walked to his house. At Crystal's house, there were many small sculptures. Some were elves of all sizes, and some were toys. These sculptures were made out of blue crystals, and some made out of wood. Crystal hung her coat and scarf, and sat at her desk. There was no other light on, except her desk lamp. On her desk were some pieces of wood, some pieces of blue crystal, and a pocket knife. This was what Crystal did when she was home. During the day, she works at the bakery. When home, she makes small sculptures. The wooden sculptures were painted with various colors. What she makes all depends on her day...
The next day, Bernard was up and early. He was on his way to the workshop. He stopped at the ice, and looked around. He remembers asking Crystal if she was going to be here, and she said yes. He looked around, and saw Crystal. He smiled, and walked up to her.
"Good morning," he said, smiling.
"Good morning, Bernard," she said, smiling at him as well. "Are you always up this early?"
"Yeah," he said. "Need to set things up so everything and everyone is ready for work. What about you?"
"Yeah. My house is a little far from where I work," she said.
"Where do you work?"
"The bakery," she said. "I like to bake, and I thought getting a job at the bakery might do. Its a job that I enjoy a lot."
"Yeah," he said. "That's good. I like working here too. Well, sometimes things can get annoying, but I have a good time."
"That's good," she said.
"Hey um...Do you--"
"Bernard!"
Bernard turned, and saw Santa standing at the doors.
"Yes!" he yelled.
"Don't stand there all day," he said. "We need to get going."
"Coming," he said.
"Its alright," she said. "I gotta go too. Were you going to ask me something?"
"I'll ask you later," he said.
"Alright," she said. "Bye, Bernard."
Crystal then started running towards the bakery, and Bernard just watched her run. He then headed inside the workshop. He went to his office, with Santa following him, and hung his coat and scarf.
"Who was that elf?" Santa asked.
"Her name is Crystal," Bernard said.
"Crystal? That's a nice name," he said. "When did you meet her?"
"Last night."
"Last night?"
"Yeah. When I was on my way home, I saw her ice skating," he said. "I watched her, and she's good. Then we talked, and introduced each other."
"Okay. Where does she work?"
"The bakery," he said.
"The bakery...That's a nice place to work," Santa said.
"What's with all the questions, Santa?" Bernard asked. "You hardly ask any questions on who I meet, and who I talk to."
"Well, just wanted to know," he said. "This is the first that I've seen you talking to a girl outside the workshop."
"Santa. Nothing is going," Bernard said, smiling. "We're just friends."
"Okay. Whatever you say," Santa said, smiling. "Anyway, its time to work."
"Right."
The doors opened, and the elves went to their stations. It was December 1st, and everyone really had to get to work. The list was checked, and everything had to be ready. The busiest month of the year. Not only that, but the year end holiday conference was only a few days away.
"Hey, Bernard!" exclaimed Curtis. "Listen, I--"
"Curtis. Whatever you invented, I'm not going to see it," Bernard said.
"I wasn't going to tell you about an invention," Curtis said. "I'm still working on it, though! Anyway, who was the girl?"
"What girl?"
"You know," Curtis said, smiling at him. "What's her name?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bernard said. "Just get back to work, Curtis."
"Fine," he said. "But I'll find out who that girl is."
Curtis went back to his station, and worked. Bernard put his thoughts aside, and concetrated on his work...