Elements of Christmas
Chapter 2: Family Ties and Treacherous Bonds
((Disclaimer: Yes, I don't own the Miser Brothers, only my OC's… but you all know that…))
Centuries flew by, civilizations on earth continued to rapidly advance and develop, while young Tsunami grew quickly, as all children seem to do. Unlike most children, however, she caused much more trouble and was responsible for more property damage than Father Time ever could have been predicted.
Tsunami climbed onto the roof of their grey, cloud-like mansion. In the high altitude, the wind blew through her long, silvery blonde hair, and she closed her eyes, feeling the unadulterated euphoria of the moment. As she slowly opened her eyes, she spotted the oh-so-familiar, split red and blue atmosphere up in the near distance.
"The Southern Mountain range…" she thought with a wide grin, "Oh, past there… it must be the world of the humans!"
Her mind drifted, as she began thinking about her uncles. Despite the fact that they were goofy and, she hated to admit it, somewhat unthinking… they told some of the best stories. Her imagination ran wild as she vividly pictured her favorite story of all.
It all had happened only a few Christmases ago, and due to an accident involving Santa Claus' back, they were able to go down into the world of the humans and deliver toys all over the globe. Quickly, she found herself lost in her mist day dreams, but her mother's musical voice broke through her thoughts like a train-wreck.
"Tsu, dear, get down from there this instant!!" Lightning called, "You could hurt yourself!"
"But I can see Uncle Heat Miser and Uncle Snow Miser's houses from here!" Tsu squeaked gleefully, "Besides, I'm not a kid any more! I'll be fine!"
"Tsu, listen to your mother!" Her father's voice thundered from inside the house.
Tsunami sighed, brushing a silvery streak of blonde hair behind her ear.
"Do I have to…?" she whined irritably.
"Yes." Her father's voice roared again as the clouds rumbled along with him, almost as though in agreement.
"Okay…fine…" Tsunami answered, as she climbed down making her way onto the semi-solid ground.
Lightning watched her daughter filled with both relief and disappointment.
"Now Tsu… how many times have I told you that you can't go climbing up there." She scolded, as Tsunami mouthed the words along side her mother.
"Billions…" Tsunami muttered under her breath.
"That's right, young lady." Lightning said, "Now go inside, please, your studies are waiting for you."
"Whatever…" Tsunami answered, brushing past her mother and into the house.
Lightning just shook her head and followed her daughter into the house.
Her father watched her enter their spacious, grey home and he smiled in his usual, plump manner.
"What's got you so under the weather, sweetheart?" he asked, going over to her.
"I don't want to study." She complained, "Why can't I just stay on the roof? Grandma doesn't want the assignment for two days…"
Thunder laughed heartily, the clouds shaking as he did so.
Tsunami looked at her father in utter disbelief.
"First mom tells me to study, and now you're laughing at me?! What the heck?" She asked, "I didn't come off the roof for this…"
"Calm down, calm down, sweetheart." Thunder said, putting a large hand on his daughter's tiny shoulder, "It's just that you're as striking as your mother when I first met her… and you're my daughter. It's all in good fun, honey."
Tsunami put her face in her hands as she listened to her father's unbearable puns… it was a habit that she couldn't stomach, and it, unfortunately, ran in the family.
She gave a desperate sigh, and made her way towards the foggy table without another word.
Thunder chuckled to himself as Lightning came to his side.
"You got her working?" she asked in a whisper.
"Of course, dear!" He answered, "But she always has her head in the clouds…"
"Sounds like someone we both know." Lightning answered teasingly.
"Ha, ha… very funny." He said, as she gave him a small kiss on his darkly toned cheek.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
"So what are you telling me? The girl is the most powerful one?!"
The North Wind trembled in the shadow of the large presence that stood before him menacingly.
"Y-yes… m-my mother said so herself." He answered timidly, unable to look the figure in the eyes.
He was answered only by a loud, animalistic grunt and the agitated rustling of a cape.
"You're mother isn't trustworthy! But…you've done decent work, for what it's worth…now go back and find out all you can." The shadow demanded, "I'll be waiting… as usual. WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! GET GOING!"
"Y-yes sir…" North Wind yelped and scrambled clumsily out of the ominous abode of the creature without another word.
The shadow growled lowly as he slinked deeper into the darkness of the cavern.
"That girl will belong to me…by any means possible"
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Tsunami slowly, but steadily finished her assignment.
After throwing the pencil proudly on the table, she stood up.
"Finally, I'm done!" She said.
"Honey, did you say something?" Lightning asked, her head peeking out from the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'm done with my work!" she said, "Can I go back on the roof?"
Lightning gave a disapproving look.
"Tsu, what have I told you about going on the roof? It's dangerous! I don't want you falling and getting hurt." Lightning said, "I'm sorry, but I can't allow it."
Tsunami's face instantly fell.
"But I'm finished with my work…" She complained miserably.
"I think your safety is more important." Lightning said, "I'm sorry you want to go on the roof, but I can't allow you to back up there. I don't want to have to monitor you like a young child, but please… I don't want to have to tell you again."
Tsunami gave a sigh of contempt.
"Fine…" she said sitting back down in the chair, "I just don't know what to do now…"
"Why don't you read a book, or help your father with some things?" Her mother suggested.
It was then that another voice came through the room.
"I could always take the girl out."
In the doorway, The North Wind stood, looking as prim and proper as ever.
Both of them turned around, and Tsunami lit up as she saw him.
"Uncle Wind!" She said, going over to him, "Would you really take me somewhere?"
"Of course, my dear niece… how about we go and visit my other brothers over by the Southern mountains. I'm sure you'd like that." North Wind suggested, knowing full well how much she loved visiting them.
Tsunami's eyes lit up,
"I'd absolutely LOVE it!" she squealed happily, "Oh please mom! Let me go!"
Lightning looked at the two, feeling a certain twinge of unease at the thought, but her eyes landed on her daughter's pleading face, and she agreed. Even despite his past deeds, he was family after all… and that would be no reason to judge him.
Tsunami leaped in the air joyfully, and gave her mother a tight hug.
"Thanks!" She said happily.
Lightning was startled at first by the sudden affection, but gladly returned the embrace.
"Whenever you're ready, my dear, we'll leave." The North Wind said, waiting patiently for his young niece.
"Okay, I'm ready to go." She said, her eyes burning with enthusiasm.
He chuckled deeply,
"Alright darling… just take my hand, and we'll be off." He said.
Tsunami gave him an odd look, but did as she was told. His touch was distinctly cold, and it sent shivers down her young frame.
They left the domain of her parents and headed swiftly towards the Southern Mountain Range.
"You're a real life saver…" Tsunami said looking at her Uncle.
He just smiled,
"I'm glad to help, dear. Remember, I'm always there for you." He said, "No matter what it is."
Tsunami nodded with a certain understanding.
"Thanks." She said, and before she knew it, they were in the middle of the two divided territories.
She gasped.
It was as beautiful as she remembered it, despite the odd sensations of experiencing extreme hot and extreme cold at the same time… but she remembered that too.
"Oh dear brothers of mine, I have brought you a visitor!" The North Wind called, cupping his hand around his mouth to amplify the sound.
Shuffling and what sounded like the breaking of ice was heard, and soon the two brothers emerged from their separate abodes.
"What is it, you windbag?" the hot headed one demanded.
"Yes, what visitors?" The opposite one inquired in his usual, cool demeanor.
"Uncle Heat Miser, Uncle Snow Miser, you must remember me!" Tsunami exclaimed.
The two brothers' faces softened and they made their ways down to meet her. Snow Miser, of course beat his brother, sliding smoothly down the icy pathway, but slowly and surely, the other brother joined the small gathering as well.
"Well, Nami, how have you been?" Heat Miser asked, tilting his head slightly and giving as much of a smile as she could muster.
"Good… but mom has kept me busy." She said simply, "I always have to do work, and stuff…"
"Well, it's all necessary, my little snow ball. Your mother, who is also our sister, always means the best. She's just looking out for you." Snow Miser said, putting a cold hand on her shoulder.
Nami shivered slightly, but looked up at them with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess you're right… I mean, she did let me visit you guys." She said with a casual, nonchalant shrug.
The two Miser Brothers nodded in satisfaction, while North Wind just watched quietly.
"That's the spirit. You're as bright as the sun itself." Heat Miser said patting her other shoulder proudly.
"Well, why don't we all go into my home and have something cool to drink." Snow Miser said, "I'm sure you could use it."
"Sure Uncle Snowy." Tsunami said, as they all followed him into the icy domain.
((A/N: Happy 2009, everyone!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll have the 3rd one up really soon! ))