Winter's Snow

-Prologue-

~Nix Lysander

It was a long time ago, or at least it seems that way to me. Most of the "people" around here say that if they ever see them again, it would be too soon. I do not agree. Sure they are horribly hot, and they try to make themselves even more hot when we are around, but it really is not their fault. They always make heat, yes, but they could easily argue it is not them that are hot, but us that are cold.

We are the Winter after all.

The cold of endless night, the piercing chill of a blizzard's wind, and the deathly chill of frozen salt water is our idea of luxury. Our castle is ice and our kingdom is snow, all of it sparkling under the cold light of the moon. Reindeer are our steeds and polar bears our oxen. We are the Winter after all.

"My Prince! Lysander! Oh where did he go this time?"

I sigh under my breath. I have almost given up trying to get Ventus to simply call me Nix. Almost. He is so formal despite having known me for several decades now. I practically have to order him to refer to me as Nix even when we are alone. I call him Ventus after all. Any time I try to convince him it is acceptable to refer to me informally in private, he rambles about the whole class nonsense.

Well speak, or think, of the devil and he will come. A rush of arctic winds announces his arrival,"My Prince, there you are!"

"I guess you found me Ventus."

"P-Please, I'm just a mere servant, you-you shouldn't address me so familiarly P-Prince Lysander, I don't deserve such an honor!"

"Ventus, or as you would say, Fridgidaire, you have been my personal servant and best friend for over a century, how many times do I have to tell you that you can drop the formalities when it is just the two of us?"

"B-But Prince Lysander..."

"Nix, call me Nix already."

"But-"

"Do I have to order you?"

"N-No Pri-Nix."

"Good boy," I say, rustling his hair in a human-like fashion. He gives a small frown and a sigh at that.

"My Pri- I mean Nix, you must get rid of those human habits you picked up from that boy all those years ago."

"I have long since made this clear; losing them would be easy, but I would rather not."

"You're going to get in trouble!"

"Let them. What is the worst they could do? Exile me?"

"It's no secret that that would be no punishment for you. How many times have you tried to escape now? 136? No 137."

"Your accuracy is as spot on as always Ventus."

"Please, it's Frigidaire Lysander sir."

I sign and roll my eyes. Oh well, I'll try again later. For now though,"Why were you looking for me anyways?"

"Oh! I'm so sorry my Prince, I forgot all about it! I'm sorry! Please forgive me!" he cries. Needless to say he has a "bit" of an anxiety problem.

"It's okay," I say, laughing a bit. I would never do that in one of my parents' stuffy conferences, which is about the only other place I show myself, willingly at least. I really hope that is not what I am needed for.

"You've been summoned to council Lysander sir!"

"Naturally..." I sigh.

I put on my ice-crown-thing that no one but me seems to actually realize could be replicated by any Winter with a half decent eye and a piece of rock or metal or anything hard and sharp enough to etch ice. It is just ice shaped like a crown with snowflake and wind patterns etched into it. While I *will* admit it *would* be quite a challenge to copy it, it's not like we don't have the time or resources to do so.