Bernard x Oc

The Return and Battle

Tom paced around the room in thought as Alfina's eyes followed his tensed frame. The man hummed to himself as he rubbed his chin, "With Bernard unconscious, how will we get to the Pole?" Tom wondered out loud. Alfina studied the floor as she waited for Bernard to wake up. Although the incident was still fresh in her mind, Alfina knew she had to do something. Alfina shoots her head up in realization. Curtis! Leaving the armchair, Alfina grabs Bernard's bag that is next to him. Searching in the bag, the child finds a glass snow globe.

"What are you doing?" In confusion, Tom strides up to the girl, staring at the snow globe in awe. Alfina peers up at him, "This is a magic snow globe that the elves use. There is an elf at the pole that can help us." She shakes the globe, thinking about Curtis.

JINGLE!

The sound of bells echoes around, and a puff of glitter appears in the middle of the room. As the glitter settles, a tiny elf stands there. "Sorry about the glittery mess," Alfina nervously cracks up as Tom wipes it off his shoulders, "That's okay, Alfina." The tiny elf was covered in black and blue bruises and had a torn sleeve on his suit. "What the?!" The little elf leaps back as he takes in his surroundings.

"Curtis!"

Curtis spun around and spotted Alfina standing a few feet away from him. The girl dashes up to him and wraps her arms around his neck, surprising the elf, "Alfina?" Curtis gasps. Alfina examines the bruising on his face, "Did Santa do that to you?!" She growled. Curtis dropped his head down with a desperate look. Tom stepped up to the elf and examined the cracked glasses on Curtis's face, surprising the elf.

"DON'T HURT ME!" The elf leaps away from the man in fear. Alfina grabbed Curtis's hand and cooed, "Curtis, he's been helping us," She assured him, "We need your help in returning to the pole and stopping Krampus." Curtis's eyes gazed over Alfina's shoulder and landed on the unconscious elf on the sofa. "Bernard..." Curtis whispers in shock. The elf moves toward Bernard and checks for a pulse, "Is he...?"

"He's still alive," Tom reassured, "but he has taken a beating from your so-called Master." Tom grabs his gun and loads it with a few gunpowder bullets. Curtis carefully watches him as he straps the weapon over his shoulder. Alfina reaches for Curtis, "He's going to help you guys," She points out to see Bernard shift under the blanket, open his eyes, and land on the tiny elf.

"Little brother, you're here..." Bernard mumbles.

Curtis gives the head elf a toothy grin, "Hi, big brother."

Bernard notices the bruising on Curtis's face and frowns, "He hit you..." The tiny elf focused on the ground, "He was angry, Bernard..." Curtis proclaimed, "If you don't return to the pole, Santa demanded that all the elves shall suffer because you hid Alfina." The tiny elf stated. Alfina glimpsed at Tom, "Please save the elves." She whispered to him. Tom's eyes filled with determination and anger. Not at the elves, but at Krampus. Stepping up to Bernard, Tom took his arm and slowly helped the elf to his feet, "I suggest we get going then," He ordered.

Alfina leaped up with joy as Curtis smiled proudly, "Thank you! Thank you!" Curtis cheered as he helped Bernard to his feet. Then, using whatever magic Curtis had left in him, he teleported the four of them back to the pole.

Alfina peered around the room to see they had settled in Bernard's office. Tom rubbed his eyes in shock as he examined his surroundings.

"Alfina," Bernard nodded his head towards his cabinet, "there's a bow and arrows for you." The girl turns to the cabinet and opens the door to see a beautiful red bow and at least twenty-four arrows next to it. Alfina was in awe. She took the bow and arrows, strung the string, and strapped the arrow bag to her back.