After a Thousand Years (48 Christmas Wishes/Santa Clause Crossover)

Far Away

Fingers gently brushed the hem of her Christmas green skirt straight before reaching up to straighten the Christmas red pointed hat on top of her head. Finally pleased with the way she looked, Mindy nodded her head to the mirror, her shoulder-length brown curls bobbing slightly as she did so before she took off down the stairs.

"Walk, don't run," her aunt said, making Mindy freeze upon the stairs, almost screeching to a halt.

Mindy raised a hand to ensure her pointed hat was still on her head, frowning at first but then breaking out in a grin. "But this is walking for me!"

Her aunt looked up from where she was making breakfast, frowning. "It's not using your magic, not actually walking, Mindy dear."

"I don't know why I can't use my magic to get places faster," Mindy said, picking up a piece of toast and placing it into her mouth before speaking around it. "I could get to school faster, for example."

"Mindy!" her aunt sighed, shaking her head. "Don't speak with your mouth full. And sit to eat rather than always being in such a rush, dear."

Mindy swallowed the bite of toast. "I really don't understand because I don't have accidents with my magic. I'm not like him, you know."

Her aunt stiffened, then cleared her throat. "Now, don't be that way. He's your older brother."

"And he never graduated from the elf academy," Mindy said, rolling her eyes. "George has to remind me every single time I get into trouble, you know. 'Why do you have to cause trouble like that brother of yours, Mindy.' I'm lucky he never does it in front of anybody else because I don't want to admit Bernie's my older brother."

"Come now. Your brother Bernard is a very special elf," her aunt said.

"I know what that means," Mindy said, her nose wrinkling. "It means difficult, challenging, doesn't fit in. All of that. That's what I've already heard about Bernie, so can we just not talk about him?" She flinched at the look her aunt gave her. "You know what. I'm off to school."

"Mindy, don't...."

Except Mindy already had, using her magic speed ability to carry her through the kitchen door and towards the elf academy where all elves trained—or were supposed to train—before they were placed. She looked up at the school, taking a deep breath, toast in hand with only a bite out of it. She took a deep breath and let it out, so it formed a mist in the cold air. "Don't worry, Mindy. You'll make the family proud and be a toymaker elf like your mom and dad. You know you can do it."

She heard the sound of giggling and turned her head, frowning as she did so to see another group of young female elves that had already noticed her, but the leader of the gaggling group nodded her head. "I see you're not here with any friends today, Mindy."

"I'm just early, Pepper," Mindy said.

One of the elves with the one who spoke leaned over, whispering into her ear. The first nodded her head. "My twin wants to know if the rumors we've heard are true."

"What rumor?" Mindy asked.

"Pepper! Mint!" another called out. "What have I told you and your friends about bothering Mindy?"

The two glanced up, their arms hooked together right before there came squeals from the gaggle of young females before they took off towards the school, whispering among themselves and giving various looks which made Mindy wonder what exactly they'd heard that time as it always seemed like they were trying to find some rumor to hold against her.

"Morning, Mindy," the older female elf said, stopping a few feet away. She straightened her Christmas red dress out. "Sorry for my sisters. They can be a bit much at the time, and I know the three of you don't get along. I wish you did, though."