"Hey, c'mere!" Mr. Beaver burst in excitedly, "I hope you've all been good, cause there's someone here to see ya!" then vanished again in a flurry of snow.

They shared a wary look, then Suki led the cautious way out into the sunlight. Azula turned to look warily at the sligh, and blinked in surprise at the man standing beside it. He was tall and broad, with a long red beard and a bright red fur coat, and his eyes danced with warmth.

"Welcome and merry christmas to the future rulers of Narnia," he laughed, "My name is Father Christmas. I have gifts for you."


Azula laughed as she twirled through the steps of the dance. The royal Christmas ball was in full swing and she was having a fantastic time. She twirled away from Laith, then back in, catching his hand before being twirled to her next partner, Mr. Tumnus. Her green velvet skirts formed a perfect bell around her.

Father Christmas had come by earlier, and Suki and Teo were comparing gifts in the corner, but Azula knew they'd come join the dance soon enough. The food was plentiful, the music was beautiful, and the ballroom was packed with people who were all having a fantastic time.

Yes, Azula thought as Mr. Tumnus lifted her in the air and twirled her in time with all the other dancers, this was shaping up to be even better than last Christmas.

Tumnus surprised her with a dip, and she had to grab her crown of holly to keep it from flying off. Azula laughed, basking in the christmas spirit.


"This one's for you, Teo," Azula passed a carefully wrapped package over.

"Thanks Azula!" he said as he began to tear into the paper. The four of them had gathered together in Suki's modest Kyoshi Island home to celebrate Christmas together, the only people in this world who did. It wasn't quite the same as their christmases in Narnia, but still, they were all together, and that would have to do.

"I think that's all the presents," Suki sat back, "So are we doing the songs next, or the stories?"

"Not quite," Laith pointed, "Look."

"Now where did these come from?" Teo asked, rolling over to the pile of gifts tucked into the corner, rich green paper topped with red velvet ribbons. Azula had never seen them before, and it looked like no one else had either.

Laith picked one up, reading the tag, and his eyebrows made a valiant attempt to take flight. He quietly passed it over to Azula, who read the tag aloud. "To… Her royal majesty Queen Azula the Merciful of Narnia, from Father Christmas."

She almost dropped the box, whipping her head up to meet her sibling monarch's equally wide eyes. There was absolutely no way, and yet…

"It's a christmas miracle," Suki said joyfully, and Azula could only agree. A miracle.

Merry Christmas everyone!