A/N: Now the REAL STORY...BEGINS!
"'Twas the Year Before on Christmas"
Prelude
Everywhere
For some it was a nap borne for exhaustion, both emotional and physical. For others it was because it was night…
…
But all of them slept and dreamed…
…
And their hearts contained their wishes…
…
Wishes that normally would not be granted…
…
However…It was Christmas…In terms of the season… And for those in Japan, it would soon be the day…
…
And Christmas…It has a magic too it…
Somewhere
"These wishes are very curious…" A voice said. "I have never understood why the human heart desires something most on this day… I must explore it…"
"Would that be wise?" Another voice said.
The person who had spoken first was, to their surprise, surprised. They did not expect another individual to reach the plane of existence they were on, much less able to sneak up on them. "Greetings, may I inquire who you are and what you are doing here?"
"Do you not know who I am?" The second voice said.
The first was one dressed in Blue, their outfit that marked them as an Attendant. "My apologies. I cannot tell who you are…You have made yourself obstructed from view via a blurring effect and you are distorting your voice…I suspect to disguise yourself…Why would you do this?"
"Nothing bad, I promise you. I just do not wish to be made known…There are those who I am…trying to avoid…"
"If your intentions are not ill…then why do you hide? Should you not face things honorably…? As a man, assuming you are one?"
The blurred figure chuckled. "When I was your age, I was much like you. Things seemed so simple…But then one day things changed for me… I saw something I should not have…"
"And what is that?" The One in Blue said.
"The Truth…" The Blurred Being said sadly. "I saw the Truth…And it saddened me...I…could not follow the path I was destined for…So I moved away from it…Forged my own…"
"Is that why you wish to block me? Stop me from understanding the Humans and their wishes?"
The Blurred Being looked at the One in Blue. And even though the One in Blue could still not make out the face of their visitor…They could somehow tell they were being scrutinized…
…
It did not feel pleasant.
"I haven't tried to block you…I just asked if what you plan is wise?"
"I must understand why the Humans make these wishes…especially this time of year… I have not encountered them yet…"
"You will…" the Blurred Being said, almost with an odd…fondness.
"Now you claim to know my future?" the One in Blue asked skeptically.
"It is inevitable. You are One Who Wields Power…are you not...?"
The One in Blue swallowed hard. They felt this stranger knew them quite well. "Yes…"
"You had planned entering their minds…did you not?"
"I…Yes I had…"
"Hasn't your Master forbidden such actions…?"
The One in Blue wasn't appreciating this conversation at all. However, they were merely troubled. They had learned well the lesson of patience… "You…you know my Master…?"
"Answer the question," The blurred being firmly but politely said.
The One in Blue was surprised by their visitor's abruptness…but figured that if this Being wished ill…he would have done something by now. "He…has not forbidden such actions…merely frowns upon them…"
Now the Blurred Being seemed happier, "Ah…Perhaps there is a better way…"
"And what way is that?" the One in Blue said.
The Blurred Being told him.
The One in Blue was stunned. They didn't expect this suggestion…What was suggested was possible…and there were few restrictions on it…at least in the format proposed to him.
"There always are…possibilities…" The Blurred Being said after a time.
"And you promise that the Humans will not be harmed?"
"Harm…is a relative term…They may not like what they experience…But if by death or bodily injury you mean harm…There should be little chance of that…"
"Any other consequences I should know about?" The One in Blue asked.
"I cannot think of any…" The Blurred Being said in an almost off-hand manner.
"Very well…" The One in Blue said. "However if this is a trick…"
"This is no trick…This is you trying to grant their wishes…You have my word…" The Blurred Being said candidly.
And so after nodding, the One in Blue opened a book. It was a large and heavy tome. And yet some pages did not even have words.
But energy flowed out from them…
And then the energy…invisible to the mortal eye…impacted on the sleeping individuals. Even the bear in the other land.
"It is done…Now would you tell me why you…?"
They turned around. The Blurred Being was gone.
The One in Blue shook their head. "There was something familiar about him…but what…?" Then he shrugged and looked in his Tome. There were now several different images on the pages…
"I must observe this closely…" The One in Blue said.