Work Text:
Mindy breathed in, her excitement building at the thought of heading to the North Pole to start her life as a Christmas Elf. Her hand gripped the handle of her suitcase as she and the other elves arrived at the train station that would take them through the portal to the North Pole, a trip she certainly didn ’t want to miss.
“Mindy!”
Mindy turned her head, grinning suddenly at the sight of her friend Sammy, and waved her over. “Hey!”
“Cam here yet?” Sammy asked.
“I haven’t seen him,” Mindy said, then craned her neck. “Oh. There he is.”
They waved him over, and their other friend hurried over, his face excitedly glowing.
“All aboard,” the train conductor said. “The portal to the North Pole has only been open for so long, so we’ll leave promptly. Please board in an orderly manner.”
Mindy took a deep breath and lifted her suitcase up the stairs, looking around for a train compartment. She then hurried over, Sammy and Cam joining her. She let out a deep breath, looking out the window as she waited for the train to start up. Despite the train conductor saying the train would leave promptly, the train didn ’t leave for quite a while.
Eventually, the train started, the sound of the wheels on the track echoing into the train compartment. Other elves passed by, chattering in excitement, nothing seeming wrong when—
The power went out.
Mindy stiffened, her head darting around, the sound of the train moving no longer echoing up.
“I’m confused,” Sammy said. “The train shouldn’t be stopping like this. What is going on?”
“I don’t know,” Mindy said.
The conductor came along. “Apologies, but there is a bit of a situation.”
“Meaning?” Cam asked.
“The rails have been frozen over,” the older elf said.
“What? How are we going to arrive at the North Pole in time.”
“We aren’t,” the conductor said, then he stiffened. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but we’re stuck inside the portal.”
Sammy ’s eyes widened. “But it only stays open for so long. How…”
“Apologizes,” the conductor said. “They’ll likely be sending the Head Elf to see what is going on.”
“How’s that even possible?” Mindy asked.
“You don’t know?” the conductor said. “Bernard’s ability is teleportation, so he’s the only elf able to come in and out of the portals between places when they close.”
“Bernard?” Mindy said, frowning. “As in Bernie?”
“So, he’ll teleport us out?” Cam asked.
“Is that even possible?” Sammy asked.
The conductor frowned. “I’ve not really thought much about how his ability works, as he keeps to himself, to be honest. But I think it would be easier for him to bring supplies in?”
Mindy frowned, sitting back.
Time passed, then—
The doors of the compartment opened, and—
“Are you the head elf?” Cam asked.
She glanced up, her mouth pushed together while looking at the older elf, recognizing him, then looking away. He didn ’t seem to notice. “Yes. I’m going through compartment to compartment, checking to see if you’re alright and if there is anything I need to prioritize bringing in.”
“What about your duties at the North Pole?” Sammy asked.
Bernard frowned. “Unfortunately, I’ve had to leave my second in charge, and I’m not looking forward to the end results of that, particularly since Mrs. Clause—well, you need not worry about that.”
“We don’t?” Mindy asked. “What’s going on at the North Pole? Is that why…”
“Oh,” Bernard noticed her. “Just, Mrs. Clause is having a baby. They’ll likely be—well, never mind. Be patient. It will take…”
“So, your powers?” Cam said. “It’s easier to take supplies rather than elves?”
Bernard frowned. “I can only take so many elves at a time, so right now, the priority is getting supplies in, but by the time the portal opens again—yeah. So, patience?” He paused, then said, “Particularly from you, Mindy?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t know what you ’re talking about.”
“Of course, you don’t,” Bernard muttered, shaking his head. “Is there anything that you may need?”
“Like?” Sammy asked.
“Did he just…”
“Nothing,” Mindy said quickly.
Bernard ’s frown grew. “Health issues, such as allergies, things like that. And please be patient.”
He then left, and Cam started speaking again. “Did he just say Mindy’s name?”
“Yeah,” Sammy said. “The Head Elf? He seems to know you.”
“Because he does,” Mindy muttered. I didn’t even know he was the head elf or had that ability.”
“And?” Sammy said.
Mindy let out a deep sigh. “He’s my older brother.”
“Wow. So cool.”
“Bernard isn’t cool, Cam,” Mindy said. “He’s actually really annoying.
Slowly, supplies came through, and Bernard stopped by a few more times, then—
He came and sat down in the compartment. “The Train should be getting going soon, as the ice has been defrosted finally, and the portal is opening back up.”
“What took so long to get the ice melted?” Sammy asked. “Why was it even there? I mean, the portals…”
“Jack Frost,” Bernard muttered, sitting down.
“You look tired.”
Mindy looked up at Cam ’s words, cringing at the circles under Bernard’s eyes. She took a deep breath. “You do.”
“Well…” Bernard said, looking away, his lips pushing together. “I’ve been using my powers quite a bit. Far more than normal. But I’ll be fine.”
“Will you?” Mindy asked. “Because you don’t look fine.”
Bernard sighed. “It’s fine, really. I’ll just keep a long nap once we get back. Shouldn’t do it sooner than that.”
“Why?”
Bernard ’s eyes, which were blinking shut, snapped open. “Why what?”
“Why can’t you sleep now?” Mindy asked. Then, “You always do this! Always….”
Bernard sighed, closing his eyes. “It’s not ideal for me to sleep here, particularly with…” He paused. “Let’s just say sleep teleporting isn’t very fun.”
Cam reached out and poked him. “So we can keep you awake by poking you?”
Bernard looked at Cam while Mindy cringed, but then a sigh came out. “Yes.”
“But if we’re leaving soon,” Mindy said. “You can just teleport home now.”
“I’m head elf. That means I need to see this through.”
“Like how you…” Mindy started saying, then stopped speaking. Cam poked Bernard a few times before she spoke again. “Being head elf is a lot of work, isn’t it?”
“Depends on the day,” Bernard said as the train started up, and a sigh of relief came from his mouth.
Soon, the train arrived at the North Ple, and Mindy looked out, seeing the moonlight streaming down. “The moon.”
“Isn’t it, like, not nighttime?” Cam asked.
“The North Pole is during winter months, always at night.”
“Something like that,” Bernard said.
“Teleport home, now,” Mindy said.
“Not until I see all of the new elves off the train,” Bernard said.
“We’ll help,” Sammy said.
Bernard looked at her, frowning.
“We will?” Mindy asked, then took a deep breath. “Of course we will! Then you can get home sooner, wherever that is.”
“You’ll see when,” Bernard started saying.
“When what?”
Bernard let out a sigh, glancing away.
“The sooner the other elves are off to the dorms, we’ll get you home,” Mindy said.
“Fine,” Bernard said. Then he paused. “Wait. I have to report to…”
“Will Santa like you not taking care of yourself? And Mrs. Clause.”
Bernard sighed. “Mistletoe. Do you have to…”
“You need to take care of yourself,” Mindy said. “Maybe if you did…”
Bernard watched her pause, then said. “Are you referring to…”
“Of course I am!” Mindy said. “You didn’t think that wouldn’t be…”
“Sorry,” Bernard said.