Once upon a Christmas

Or how Lucia met Nickolas St. North

Around 160 years after Lucia's birth

It was a terrible blizzard, which had hit Christmas Eve most had stayed indoors enjoying the warmth and was also fast asleep only one wasn't; Nickolas St. North had trouble seeing ahead of him, "Shostakovich! This storm is getting worse!" he yelled, the Reindeer were having the same trouble, doing their best to find a way out of the storm, but failed, "Moi deti, come on we are going to be late!"

North didn't notice someone gliding up from behind him, the person touched the sleigh grabbing a hold of it not hindering, looking at North with concerned eyes. The person had been through many Blizzards and Storms already making sure no one got hurt or got lost until now the person had seen and found few, she had been surprised when she came upon North.

This storm wasn't for anyone to be out in she knew this so why was this one person out in a storm like this it was a stupid thing she knew, but of course her sisters and brothers often did stupid things she just saved people from the storms they had created. She looked for a little while at North observing him and understanding that he had no vision ahead like she had and that made her nod to herself, before gliding ahead silently and unnoticed, she turned invisible, but at the same time making a tunnel in the blizzard with a flinch of her staff in her hand, North looked up blinking and finding he could see again there was a tunnel ahead of him not questioning anything he knew what he had to do. Beginning to Frown he slashed the reins making the Reindeers go faster taking his chance. His savoir looked over her shoulder seeing that North had taken her upon her offer even if he didn't know he had.

North had the same luck around any major Blizzards, he passed someone was helping him he figured, but the someone had yet to show themselves, but he was sure he was getting help from someone.

And he was right at the nearing of the end of his round, he found a girl waiting sitting calmly at the sleighs one wing. Legs crossed barely covered by a white dress and Knee high boots that were brown, long silver Hair was basking in the winds around them, and she had lowered her head hugging a single staff close in her lap. She seemed calm and serene enough or perhaps she was just tired, North wasn't sure, but he had to ask her, even as he did he noted that it had to be a winter spirit, "so you are the one following me?"

She looked up through her bangs in surprise revealing Azure eyes, she didn't smile as she saw him, and: "Yes I am. You were in a hurry and it wasn't my storm," a chime sounded as she moved her staff a bit, making North look around, "that was this" he looked at a staff in her lap, before remembering back on a single event that was imprinted in all.

"Are you the young Lucia?" North asked, he had seen the name on the nice list this year, but he hadn't seen the Winter Spirit up close before only in distance and very few times, one he didn't want to think off and now here she was in front of him seemingly opening up as she watched him.

She tilted her head watching him, "yes and you must be Santa Claus" she said with a small smile, "and a Guardian as well. I remember seeing you all those years ago in the Winter Palace." She didn't say more all older spirits knew about it

"Nickolas St. North amongst spirits" North said, he walked towards the sleigh making Lucia jump off she lowered her staff checking the winds around her as they came with news from all over the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.

"There should be no more snowstorms or Blizzards around other Winter Spirits were making those I'm sorry for that" she hugged the staff as she turned towards North Looking like one Big Apology.

"Bah, you helped me through it" North said walking over and placed a hand on her shoulder he saw her flinch "what's wrong?"

"sorry not used to touch" she said, giving a strained smile, "it has been like this for quite some time" she felt the wind begin pull at her for her to get back into the air she looked to North "I must be going Winter Doesn't spread itself" she said tilting her head

North removed his hand, "oh that's right, before you leave" North reached into the sack with gifts for people he hadn't been able to pinpoint just like her, "you have been on the Nice list for quite some time but first now have I found you" he pulled out a small gift "this is for you something small I know but hopefully not completely useless"

Lucia looked at him in surprise "a gift for me?" she said pointing to her chest she placed her staff up against Norths Sleigh, received the gift opening it and pulled out a blue sweater with a sipper down Lucia looked up at North in disbelief, "how did you? I never asked for anything from you"

"you have been a good girl and you have just proven it further by helping me tonight" North said getting into the sleigh watching Lucia stand with the sweater like it was a prized possession she took her staff to allow North to take off. Her mood lifted and a genuine smile appeared on her lips.

"Thank you Nickolas" she said, "thanks you so much"

"North call me North" he said winking at her, before taking off, "bye young Lucia!"

"Bye North!" she waved her hand, as the sleigh went into the air. She hugged the sweater feeling the night for once was magical.

Lucia never let the Sweater go; she always wore it even after meeting all of the Guardians and learning something about herself, that she never dreamed off.