#ANA PLEASE LOVE THE JELLY ELLE1 I KNOW U WERE EXCOTED FOR HER!

[safyresky]

Fusion AU Part II: When Elle Met Berline

Part I: The History | Part II: When Elle Met Berline | Part III: The Bernelle Bit | Part IV: The Triumphant Return of Jackie Frost

(IT’S FINALLY HERE!!! Picks up during TEC, and goes from there! It will end just before Crystal Springs would pick up, I had to split it in half tbh). Side note: It was very hard to write this part and not write the entirety of the Jacqueline and Elle reunion post-TEC blowout, heh).

(also biggest thanks ever to @lovelypidge who let me throw parts at her inbox to make sure Elle was in character and also for writing some of the Elle dialogue for me when I got stuck u r the best :*)

Things had gone from bad, to worse, to horrible, to hopeful, and then right back to bad again, Bernard thought. He leaned on the wall, his head feeling like it was going to explode, as the love of his life exploded on her best friend.

“What else was I suppose to do?”

“Be my friend!” Elle shouted, choked up. “All you had to do was be my friend, Jacqueline. But I’m sure even that was a chore for you. Just like it was for Jack.”

There was a brief moment of silence. Bernard wanted to speak out but his head was throbbing; he couldn’t find his voice. The cold silence spoke for itself; the temperature dropped and Bernard could tell that Jacqueline had been rendered speechless.

“You know what? Just go. You did your job, and now you can be done with me too,” Elle said.

“I bet there’s no point to convince you other wise, is there? Once Elle makes up her mind about something, nobody is changing it.”

“Glad you have me down to a science.”

“You know what, fine. If that’s what you want then I’ll go,” Jacqueline said quietly, voice heavy. “I’m dead tired of this drama anyway. If the two of you had just fused this whole thing could have been avoided!” 

Bernard’s vision was swimming a bit, but he could see the look of confusion on Elle’s face.

“Good luck with this one Bernard,” Jacqueline said, her dress swishing, her voice heavy now as well. “I get the feeling you’ll need it.” And with that, the sprite disappeared. 

“Ugh. She’s so! I hate--! What does that even mean?!” Elle stomped her foot, tears falling down her face. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Good riddance, I’ll bet.”

Bernard needed to tell her...he needed to go...somewhere? He really, really wasn’t doing well.

“Elle, I don’t think--” he slid down the wall, groaning.

Elle rushed over, concern all over her face. She would have to put Jacqueline’s comment on the back burner now. Bernard needed her help.

"Have you thought about talking to Jacqueline yet?” Bernard asked her one day, a few weeks after what had become known as The Pocket Watch Incident had been resolved.

“Have you thought about talking to Jacqueline yet?” Elle mocked.

Bernard rolled his eyes. “I’m serious, Elle. Have you?”

Elle bit her lip in thought. She had been thinking of it, especially after Bernard had told her a bit about what had happened between Jacqueline and her brother, and pointed out how Jacqueline had never actually betrayed Elle in any way. She had just been doing her job. She let out a long sigh. “I have been. Of course I have, B.”

“I’m just checking in,” he said, shrugging and doing that goofy lil smile that Elle really, really loved.

“I know, and I appreciate it. I really do. It's just..." she sighed, resting her cheek on her fist. "I dunno. I came away from that last discussion with Jack with more questions than answers about Jacqueline, but one thing I do understand is that what happened wasn't Jacqueline's fault--and that the things that I said to her? Yeah, they were really messed up.”

“It is a bit of a slushy spot for her,” B said, sitting down beside Elle.

She fell silent for a few moments. "I really upset her then, didn’t I? I can't tell if she was offended, or angry, and honestly? I'm kind of scared to find out.” Elle sighed. “B, I'm the one who owes her an apology, and I don't know where to start." She pulled her knees up to her chest. "What if now that she doesn't have to be my friend anymore, and...and with everything I said...she doesn't want to be?"

“Elle,” Bernard began, putting his arm around her shoulders and holding her close. “I’ve known Jacqueline for a very long time. I betcha she’s having the same struggle you are! Or something similar at the very least. I can tell you with certainty that Jacqueline still wants to be your friend.”

“Are you sure?”

“As sure as Santa will ride the sleigh on Christmas Day.”

“Well...” Elle began, lifting her head and grinning. 

Bernard laughed. “Good point. But seriously Elle, it really will be okay.”

She scratched the back of her neck, frowning. “I just have so many questions to ask her. I want to know what happened between her and Jack. I’m kinda tired of not knowing that. I want to know what she meant with that fusion comment...”

“The fusion thing is just an advance magical technique we fae can do that’s used for emergencies only. Don’t worry about it too much. As for the history between the two Frost siblings...you won't know until you ask Jacqueline."

“Then I guess we should talk to Santa about taking a Day off to go visit,” Elle said, deciding to press her friend about the fusion thing since B seemed pretty unconcerned by it.

“Already taken care of,” Bernard said, standing up and offering a hand. “Santa’s cleared us for the day and I’ve already talked to Quentin. Shall we go visit my Aunt and Uncle?”

Elle laughed. “Stop it, you guys aren’t related. Cousins my behind.”

Bernard grinned. “Doesn’t mean I don’t see them as such. So, wanna go? My arm is getting tired.”

Elle laughed, grabbing his outstretched hand and pulling herself up. “Yes, let’s.”

Jacqueline stood in the kitchen, drinking a carton of chocolate milk, still in her pyjamas. Her hair wasn’t even frozen, and was up in a very messy ponytail.

“I don’t like seeing you so upset,” Winter said, eyes trained on the crossword in front of her.

“That makes two of us.” Jacqueline sighed, taking a sip from her carton. “I dunno Mom. I know I should talk to her but she probably doesn’t wanna see me at all, less so how I usually like to appear.”

“Is that why you haven’t been freeze drying lately? It’s very unlike you.”

“No. Yes. I don’t know. I just...she thinks I’m just like him, Mom.”

“Jacqueline dear, come here,” Winter said, standing up and walking towards her daughter, arms open. Jacqueline smiled, happily accepting her Mother’s hug. “You are not like him. You’re nothing like him. And I’m sure Elle will realize that soon if she hasn’t already. I bet she’ll come marching through that door to see you any day now.”

Jacqueline laughed, about to reply when the doorbell rang. Both women stopped and stared at each other, equally confused.

“I didn’t think she’d appear today.”

“That’s not funny, Mom.”

“I wasn’t being funny.”

“I’ve got it!” Blaise shouted from the foyer, answering the door. The sprites waited. “Bernard! And Elle, I presume? What a surprise, come in!”

“Oh my goddess it is Elle,” Jacqueline said, panic setting in.

“Jacqueline, it’s okay. It’s fine. Just breath.”

“It is super not fine Mom, holy snowballs.”

“You won’t feel better until you talk to her.”

“I know, but I’m...I can’t do this Mom.”

“Yes you can--”

“No, I can’t!” Jacqueline whisper shouted, disappearing in a panic, leaving a shower of snowflakes and blue sparks in her wake.

Jacqueline knew her Mother was right, and she knew that Elle’s arrival meant that they would have to talk. But she was not going to talk while in her jammies with her hair uncombed and unfrozen, nope. She was just going to get changed and then muster up the courage to go downstairs.

Or at least, she was, until there had been a knock at the bedroom door.

Thankfully Jacqueline has been dressed, her hair in its usual white, curly mess; but she hadn’t mustered the confidence to go down and talk to her friend just yet. All because she was afraid she would scare Elle; after all, Jacqueline and her brother did look alike. They were siblings, as much as she wished they weren’t. Winter was right, they were very different.

But that didn’t stop her own insecurities from hitting her like a sentient storm, nor did it stop Elle’s words from their fight from repeating over and over in her head. So naturally, Jacqueline did what anyone else in her situation would have done. 

She hid under her bed.

“Jacqueline? Are you hiding from me?”

“No?”

“Then where are you?”

The sprite was silent for a moment. “...hiding.”

“Can I sit?”

“Yeah sure, make yourself at home. Mi casa e tu casa, and such,” Jacqueline said, cringing because that sounded very Jack.

“Listen. It’s okay if you wanna hide,” Elle began, sitting on the bed. “I don’t blame you. After you left I...I talked to Jack and...what I said was really, really messed up and I...god, I have no idea where to start.”

Jacqueline frowned, her heart going out to her friend. If they still were friends, that is. She wanted to get out and comfort her but...goddess, I should have stayed defrosted, she thought.

“We still are friends. At least, I’d like to be. But honestly, after everything I said...I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to be friends anymore. I’m sorry Jacqueline. I really, really am. I was so angry about everything and I took it out on you and I’m just, I’m really, really sorry.”

Jacqueline laughed.

“Hey! I just poured out my feelings and you’re laughing at me?”

“Not because of your apology! I just...I was afraid you would be different but you’re the same old Elle, even knowing me like this. It’s...comforting.”

“I’m not sure what this is referring to since you’re still hiding. Same old Jacqueline, I see.”

“Mostly,” Jacqueline said. “Just a little frosty, I guess.”

“After I talked to Jack...I got an idea of what happened between the two of you. I’m not sure if I offended you, or made you angry, or both--”

“It was none of those,” Jacqueline said, her voice cracking. “I’ve...got a lot of complicated feelings towards the brother. I’ve grown up all my life being compared to him; people automatically assuming we’re exactly the same just because I’m his sister, and his Legate. When you said what you said...I was thrown off completely. I wasn’t expecting it. And...honestly, one of my worst fears is becoming just like him. So when you said--”

“Oh man I seriously messed up, I knew it! I’m so sorry Jacqueline I really, really am--”

“Elle! Stop it. Stop apologizing,” Jacqueline said. Elle felt a pair of familiar cold arms around her. “It’s okay! I messed up too, you know.” 

Elle looked back at her friend, blinking briefly in shock. “Oh geez, a little frosty indeed. Is this why you were hiding?”

Jacqueline shrugged, grinning sheepishly. “Yeah. I was thawed before you arrived but when you guys came in, I decided that if I was gonna talk to you I’d do it with my most comfortable appearance. I freeze dry all the time and I tend to go towards the bluer shades which I know is a lot like Jack and I was super afraid that you’d be afraid of how I looked--”

“Calm down snow buddy! You don’t look that alike.”

“Really?”

“Really! Your face is a bit rounder, your eyes are a bit of a darker blue, your noses are similar but I think yours is smaller. I was expecting a lot more ice on that face to be honest. You’re surprisingly warm.”

“I’ve never had a frozen heart. It’s my claim to fame,” Jacqueline said, winking.

“Nice,” Elle replied.

“Yeah. I promise, everything is all good. I’m happy you still want to see me and that you still want to be my friend, cause I still want to be yours. It was never a chore for me, Elle. You’re the first real friend I’ve ever really had, aside from B-Man, I guess. And I’m sorry, too.”

“You didn’t do anything! You were just doing your job. You were trying to protect me and your home. I understand that.”

“See, that’s the thing. I was doing my job. I shouldn’t have been so flippant when you mentioned magic existing, I should have been more supportive...I was a little harsh too, after all. The good luck thing was kinda a low blow.”

“So was me comparing you to Jack. I think B said it was a bit of a slushy spot?”

“Y-yeah. A bit.”

“What happened between the two of you?”

“The Day of Darkness happened.”

“That’s loaded.”

“It lives up to the name, I promise.”

“Do tell,” Elle said, settling in.

Jacqueline paused for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face before she began to talk. “Growing up, Jack had always been trouble. He had a penchant for evil. Dad was always hounding him which he never really appreciated. Then I came along. Apparently having someone to mentor put a curb on Jack’s evil streak. It didn’t last, though. Once Santa entered the scene, Jack was back to his old ways, trying very hard to take his season back. It got really bad, to the point where Dad confronted him one night.”

Jacqueline paused, lost in thought, her hand clutching the material of her dress covering her belly. “They fought. Like, with their powers. I heard them from upstairs. I was scared. I knew Jack did bad things, and my biggest fear was coming true: Jack was doing a “very bad”, I called it, and my parents sounded like they were hurt. I ran downstairs and Jack was leaving. He wouldn’t go back to help them. I had no idea that he had hurt them...just a feeling. I...I followed him outside.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. A huge ice storm had begun, the likes of which I had never seen. I asked him why he was leaving. If he’d come back. He got really upset when I said he was doing a very big bad and that he would be on the naughty list forever. I begged him to stay; he was my only friend, my mentor...what would happen when he left? Who would teach me? He got really upset and yelled for me to leave him alone, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground, with three very sharp pains in my abdomen. And he was gone.”

“Three icicles. To the stomach,” Elle murmured.

“How did you know that?” Jacqueline looked perplexed.

“The stabber himself. And Father Time, admittedly. He’s sassy.”

“I think it’s his bald spot. He’s touchy about that.”

Elle snorted. “Sorry you got stabbed, dude.”

Jacqueline laughed. “Thanks, Elle. I lived, so y’know, there’s that.”

“Did he do it on purpose?” Elle asked suddenly.

“I don’t know. And knowing all the sleet he’s pulled...well, it’s hard to decide. Part of me hopes it was an accident. Because as horrible as it is, after everything he’s done...I miss him, Elle. How awful is that?”

“It’s...it’s not. He misses you too, you know.”

“Ha.”

“I’m serious! It’s one of the reasons why he did the pocket watch thing.”

Jacqueline looked...perplexed. Maybe a bit concerned? Elle couldn’t tell, and she was being careful mentally. She didn’t want to violate Jacqueline’s privacy by prying into what seemed to be her deepest thoughts and fears.

“That’s hard to believe.”

“I know. But take my word for it, he really does want to make amends. It shocked me, too.”

“Elle, it’s...really hard to believe. When we were younger, we’d often find ourselves fused and...his thoughts, that up close and personal? Terrifying.”

“I feel like that’s a loaded statement as well, but I have no idea how deep it is because I have no idea what fused means. Does it have to do with that fusion thing you mentioned?”

“It is the fusion thing I mentioned. Didn’t Bernard tell you about it?” Jacqueline asked, genuinely shocked.

“I asked. He said it was “just an advance magical technique we fae can do that’s used for emergencies only”, and then he said not to worry about it.”

“What a typical Elvin attitude towards fusion, honestly that Bernard--”

“If it’s not an emergency technique then what is it?”

“It is a magical technique and some fae do view it as an emergency thing. The Elves before the Christmas Elves you know--and are, nice ears there kid--saw it as a battle tactic; a very important, very special one. With the Christmas Elves that became “something we can do for emergencies only”. Faeries think themselves above it and would never fuse with any of their cousins, just with other faeries. Pixies were neutral? I think? I can’t remember what Mom told Jackie, I was very young. It’s not like we could ask pixies either, they’re...gone.”

“Who’s Jackie?”

“They are--or rather, were--the fusion of me and...Jack. Jackie Frost was their name. The Ultimate Jackie Frost, but it’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it?”

“Fusion of...so fusion means what it means, doesn’t it? Two people combined into one person?”

“In principle, yes. Fusion is a magical technique that only fae--so sprites, elves, faeries and pixies--can perform. At it’s base, it’s the combination of two fae to form one. But that’s just at it’s base, Elle. It’s so much more than that.”

“The sprite view, I assume?”

Jacqueline chuckled. “Yeah, the sprite view. The right view if you ask me. It's...an experience! You combine your form with another and become someone entirely new. New thoughts, new feelings...at the same time, the fusion knows everything each counterpart knows. All of the thoughts and feelings of each other. Everything.”

Elle was silent for the briefest of moments before a large smile graced her face. “That sounds amazing! Silver bells, Jacquie!”

“It really is,” Jacqueline said, grinning. 

“I wonder if Bernard would fuse with me,” Elle mussed.

Jacqueline snorted. “The only times I have ever fused with Bernard have been in emergencies.”

“You’ve fused with B?”

“A few times, yeah. Usually in really dangerous situations. Santas would sometimes send him out on these crazy errands. Like I’m talking several hunters pointing guns at us emergencies. You can see why I’m a tad skeptical.” She paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “Then again, he really loves you so maybe he will agree to fuse with you.”

“Cuddles count as an emergency, right?”

Jacqueline snorted. “If that doesn’t work, I can show you how to fuse,” she said winking.

Elle grinned back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Elle, it’s for emergencies only! We can’t just fuse because we feel like it.”

“Jacqueline says we can.”

“Well Jacqueline isn’t the authority on fusion!”

“Nor are you!”

Bernard glanced over at Elle, not slowing down. “Fair enough. Had I known you were that curious I would have explained it to you the proper way.”

“I like the sprite view better, to be honest.”

Bernard smiled as they entered Santa’s office. “I can tell.”

“Well I mean if you won’t fuse with me, I’ll just go and ask Jacqueline,” Elle said, turning to the side and crossing her arms, hazarding a glance at Bernard. He looked upset for a moment, maybe even...jealous? Elle grinned.

“I--”

“Ah! There you two are,” Santa said, coming up from under his desk. “I have a very big problem.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t find my snow globe.”

“Excuse me?!” Bernard nearly shouted.

“I was talking to Charlie!”

“Santa, you need to stop taking the snow globe out of the hall. You know how special it is!”

“It’s the only way I can talk to Charlie face to face!”

“Just get a smart phone,” Elle said.

“The screens are too small.”

“We can make you a big one.”

“It’s not the same,” Santa insisted. “If I get a big smart phone it’s going to be so bulky and I may as well just get a tablet.”

“Then get a tablet?” Elle suggested.

“I don’t like the idea. I guess the snow globe is more of my...”

“Aesthetic?”

“Yes! Thank you, Elle.”

“Santa if you really want to stick to your aesthetic, I can make a replica that serves as a communicator. That way the real one stays safe inside of the hall and you don’t. Loose it! How did you misplace it?” Bernard asked, exasperated.

“That’s the thing! I put it down for a second and when I turned, it was gone.”

“So it just disappeared?” Elle asked.

“Yes!”

“That’s impossible,” Elle said, glancing over at Bernard who had paled...considerably. “You okay B?”

“It’s not impossible,” he said, voice cracking. “It happens all the time.”

“What?” Santa and Elle said at the same time.

“Okay, picture this. You’re doing your laundry, and you pull your socks out of the dryer. You start matching them up, only to find that there’s a few matches missing. And they never resurface.”

“I hate when that happens,” Santa said. “I had these really nice pair, that had toe homes, and I lost one of them. Never found it again.”

“Well, they do go somewhere. They end up in the mountains at Crystal Springs. And I think that’s where your snow globe may be.”

“Well that’s great!” Santa said, excited now. “You can get it for me! And bring it back! And we’ll put it back and I’ll stop using it to call Charlie, if you can make a replica.”

“Course I can,” Bernard scoffed. “And in theory, yes, it should be easy to get back.”

“And in practise?”

“It’s more complex. The mountains surrounding the Northern Province, where the Vortex of Lost Items is, just so happens to be in troll territory.”

“Trolls?!” Elle asked.

“Vortex of Lost Items? That’s what it’s called? That’s not very creative.”

“The Mountain Trolls aren’t very creative.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Do you mean to tell me there are mountain trolls? Like in, like in the Hobbit?” Elle asked.

“Almost exactly like that, yes,” Bernard replied. “I’ve faced them before. They’re really stupid, but really great at bludgeoning. They have an excellent sense of smell, too.”

“We need to get that snow globe back,” Santa said. “Bernard, I’m going to request a special errand.”

“Of course,” he replied.

“Special errand?” Elle questioned.

“It’s one of the...well, I wouldn’t say perks, but uh, parts of being Head Elf. Sometimes Santa sends me on special errands that nobody else here could really do.”

“Does Elf Number Two have a cool mission perk?”

“Sometimes,” Bernard said.

“Maybe you should take Elle with you,” Santa said, sitting at his desk. “It may be helpful for a second set of hands when it comes to mountain trolls. And, it’s great practise for future special errands, if the need for her to go on one should arise.”

“I agree, but I don’t think mountain trolls would be the best starter errand.”

“Why not?” Elle asked.

“It could be dangerous. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

“Oh please, I can handle myself, remember?” Elle asked, tapping her head. “Danger is my middle name,” she added, grinning.

“No it’s not,” Bernard said. He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Elle, send a message to Jacqueline and tell her to meet us at the base of the Northern Mountains. This way, if things get hairy we’ll have some backup.”

“Has she dealt with them before?”

“We both have, together. This isn’t the first time a Santa has misplaced something and I’ve had to fetch it. After the Clifton Manor Incident, Jacqueline tended to go with me whenever I had one of these riskier errands. Just in case things got nasty, like they did at Clifton Manor. Though it was really a Lodge--”

“Oh! Was that the incident with the hunters?”

“It-yes, it was. How did you know?”

“Jacqueline mentioned it. You guys fused!” Elle realized.

“It was an emergency,” Bernard said. “If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have been able to get out with what we needed.”

“I suppose if something did happen, it would be best if she was there since you guys have fused before,” Elle said, a little weary for some reason.

“I’m sure it will be fine. The trolls are all over the place and I doubt they’d be by the vortex. Really, it’s a small chance we’ll see the trolls.”

“Right. And I guess it would be better to have someone experienced with fusion there, just in case.”

Bernard smiled. “Right.”

“Sorry to interrupt but, uh, fusion?”

“It’s a thing elves can do. And sprites.”

“Pixies and faeries as well,” Elle added.

“I’ll tell you more about it later, Santa. Right now, we need to get that snow globe back, as soon as possible.” Bernard said. “Shall we, Elle?”

“Yes, let’s,” Elle said, taking his hand and letting him teleport them where they needed to go.

It was dusk when they arrived; the two elves blinked briefly as their eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness, since it was a perpetual daytime back at the Pole.

“Is it just me, or is the darkness up on the mountain ominous?”

“It’s very ominous,” Bernard said. “You told Jacqueline?”

“She said she’d be right over. She lives in this province, doesn’t she?”

“The Frosts are one of the few residents who live up here, yes. Now where is she?”

A snowball came flying right at Elle; sensing it, she ducked, the projectile hitting the side of Bernard’s face and sticking to it in a very comedic fashion. Elle snorted.

“Whoops, sorry B-Man! I was aiming for Elle,” Jacqueline said, ducking out from behind a nearby boulder.

“Nice to see you too, Jacqueline,” Bernard said, wiping the snow off of his face as the two girls giggled.

“I told you you wouldn’t get me!”

“Just you wait, I am the snowball master,” Jacqueline said, grinning. “So, let’s get down to business. What’ve we got?”

“Santa’s lost his snow globe suddenly,” Bernard said, air quotes punctuating the suddenly. 

Instantly, Jacqueline groaned, throwing her head (and her torso) back. “Ugh, that means trolls, doesn’t it? They’re so smelly and so, so stupid.”

“It’s a slim chance they’ll be there,” Elle said. “Bernard thinks it will be fairly easy. If anything, this climb is going to be brutal.”

“I’ll just fly us up,” Jacqueline said, a cold north breeze beginning to stir.

“Hold on a second--” Bernard began, but it was too late; the breeze had turned into a heavy wind and Jacqueline grabbed them both, propelling them up the mountain side. The trip was fast, and they landed just at the cusp of the mountaintop, hidden behind a few boulders.

“There we go! First problem solved. And we’re hidden. Just in case,” Jacqueline said, shrugging. 

“We needed to be stealthy.”

“It was more stealthy than teleporting, B-Man.”

Elle carefully moved to peer over the boulders as her companions argued, taking in the scene. The peaks lowered down into a plateau; in the far left of the plateau was a deep hole, surrounded by all sorts of items. There were a lot of socks, Elle noted, just like B had said earlier. A few larger objects were there as well.

Suddenly the hole began to glow, an object popping out of it. In the brief light given off by the vortex, Elle recognized it instantly.

“Guys, if you’re done bickering? I can see the snow globe.”

Bernard and Jacqueline joined her on either side, peering over the boulder. Bernard spotted it instantly. “Nice work, Elle.”

“It just popped out.”

“Thank goodness it travelled fast.”

“We have a problem,” Jacqueline spoke up, eyes trained on the right side of the plateau. The two elves followed her line of sight--about seven trolls sat around a large roaring fire, cooking something on the flames.

“Gingersnaps,” Bernard said.

“So much for a slim chance,” Jacqueline added. She turned away and slumped behind the rocks, hidden from view. Bernard and Elle joined her, deep in thought.

“We need a plan,” Bernard said.

“Trolls are really dumb, right?” Elle asked.

“Incredibly dumb,” Jacqueline replied.

“Okay, well here’s what I’m thinking. I’ll sneak down there and just pick up the snow globe. If they notice me, I can redirect them with the good old brain box,” she said.

“That’s risky,” Bernard pointed out. “They can hear really well, you know.”

“I’ll throw a rock on the other side of the plateau, this way they won’t look at me. If I stay on the far side, I should be able to do it.”

“I like it.”

“Jacqueline!”

“What? It’s simple. So are they,” she said, gesturing over the rock.

Bernard got up, glancing at the trolls again, then ducked back down behind the rock. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Elle. Or, y’know, eaten by trolls.”

“It wouldn’t be a fun way to go out,” Jacqueline added. “You sure about this Elle?”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t sure,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “You guys can watch me from up here and if anything happens you can come and give me backup. However you decide to,” Elle said.

“I’m cool with that. It took me forever to get the stench out of my dress last time I dealt with trolls. Bernard?”

“We’ll give it a try. Just, please be careful Elle,” Bernard said.

Elle blinked, his sincerity warming her chest. “Of course. I’ll be back before you both know it,” she said, and with that, Elle left.

“She seems bothered by something,” Jacqueline noted. “Almost...jealous sounding? Sort of?”

“I was getting that vibe too. I think she’s upset I won’t fuse with her if things get bad today.”

“That would do it. Here’s hoping her plan works then. I don’t think Berline would help her mood much, if that’s the case.”

Bernard nodded, turning his attention to Elle’s retreating form.

Elle had decided to head over to the left side of the clearing and descend there. It was farthest from the trolls and the light from the fire didn’t quite reach. She began her decent, frowning.

She was in a little bit of a mood. The worry Bernard was giving off was a little overwhelming; she would be fine. She could handle this. There was no need for Jacqueline to come "lend a hand” if need be.

Elle knew she really didn’t need to be so upset that Bernard had fused with Jacqueline before and not her. She didn’t need to be upset because B had asked her to call Jacqueline just in case. It made sense--Jacqueline had experience fusing and Elle did not.

Though if B would just fuse with her then she wouldn’t be such a novice!

She lost her footing on the climb down, a few pebbles falling. She inhaled sharply, immediately stopping her climb and plastering herself as flat against the side as she could. She looked over at the trolls; they had heard. Of course. 

Quickly she scanned the opposite wall, spotting a loose rock on the side and giving it a little mental tug. It cracked and rolled down the side of the mountain, falling on the floor.

“Eh, wot’s that?” One of the trolls said.

“Someone here? This is our hoard, leave off!”

With their attention all turned to the other cliff side, Elle exhaled and continued her decent, touching down lightly. She breathed a sigh of relief, glancing over at the group. They really did stink, she noted. Like compost, or manure.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the rocky wall, slowly sidestepping over to the currently dormant vortex. Her eyes were peeled on the trolls, as they grumbled about, trying to find what had fallen the rock. They were now arguing over what kind of animal it was, and if they could eat it.

“Oh man, you’re all really, really stupid,” she grinned. She glanced above them, giving another rock a bit of a shove. It landed on one of their heads, causing a bit of an uproar.

Careful, Elle. Don’t get too cocky.

I know what I’m doing, B, Elle replied mentally, continuing her slow sidestep against the wall. “If you were so worried, you could have just fused with me. Bet that would’ve kept me safe,” she said out loud, frowning. She sighed, inching closer and closer to the vortex. “I just wanna fuse with my man,” she said out loud, a tad loud. She stopped, glancing at the trolls. They were still preoccupied with the opposite wall.

Everything okay bud? Jacqueline’s voice asked.

You too??

I’m just checking in. You stopped and I missed why.

Oh, Elle replied. She flushed a little, a tad embarrassed for snapping on Jacqueline. Sorry for snapping. It’s all good, pal. Elle said, even though she was decidedly not good right now, what with the whole fusion thing getting her all...worked up (she refused to call it jealousy, even though a part of her knew that’s exactly what it was).

She shook her head, shoving the fusion stuff to the side as she approached the vortex. Or well, hole, as it was currently dormant. She glanced around, trying to find the snow globe. Her eyes scanned over the mess of objects--socks and keys, a few weird nick knacks, some teddy bears, and...some treasure? Sure enough, there were several small chests filled with all sorts of loose change, glimmering every so often. And were those weapons laying about?

There’s a lot of stuff here, she told them both mentally. Swords, even.

Let me know if you see one with a really nice sapphire inlaid hilt, I lost it back in the fifteenth century, Jacqueline replied.

How do you loose a sword?

Your jealous knight of a boyfriend “misplaces” it and then actually can’t find it.

Elle snorted. Is this the one that hated how good you were with a sword?

Yeah, that’s the one. And I really liked that sword, too.

Do you see the snow globe? B asked. Elle scanned the area she thought she had seen it pop off to. Sure enough, it was right where she had watched it fall, in a pile of Canadian pennies.

I got eyes on it. I’m grabbing it and heading over, she replied, inching closer to the globe. It was very close to the hole. She got closer, and closer, when suddenly the hole lit up. 

The whole area was bathed in light; she could hear the trolls making a fuss and realized they were looking over at her. But had she been spotted?

“Lookit that, s’another trunk of gold!”

“Wait, what’s that there? Is that a person?”

“It smells like elf!”

“Uh-oh,” Elle said, the light dying down. “I have been spotted.”

She turned to run but was suddenly pulled up by a meaty hand. The trolls were...faster than she thought they would be.

“Shit,” she said.

“Did you come out o’ the vortex?” the one holding her asked.

“Why would she come out o’ the vortex?” another one said, smacking that one upside the head.

“Ow!”

“Looks like she got a little lost.”

“Can we eat her?”

“Elf meat is very good, I hear.”

“You definitely don’t want to eat me,” Elle said. “I’m barely an elf I like just got my ears. I haven’t aged well at all, I doubt you would want fresh meat--”

“Fresh meat is much better than aged meat!”

“No it’s not! Aged meat has a nice taste to it!”

“Wot do you say, elf? What kind o’ meat is the best?”

“Definitely aged,” Elle said.

“She’s just sayin’ that so we don’t eat her!”

“Let’s get ‘er on the spit, then we’ll discuss seasoning, ‘ow’s that?”

“Oh boy,” Elle said, as one of them began to rustle around for some rope. Craning her neck, she stared at the troll, imagining a large fist punching it out. She felt the mental tug head towards the troll--but nothing happened. He blinked and swatted, as if a bug had just hit him.

“I am in a bit of a pickle,” she voiced.

“Pickles? Oh, that would go great with elf, thank you, dinner!”

“Do we ‘ave pickles?”

“I’m sure someone will loose pickles and a jar will pop right out o’ the vortex ‘ere.”

Elle sighed. This was going to be a long night.

Jacqueline and Bernard watched as the vortex lit up, revealing Elle to the trolls.

“Elle!” Bernard shouted, making to get up. Jacqueline grabbed his shirt, pulling him back down.

“We can’t rush into this,” Jacqueline said. “Those are trolls, B-Man.”

“They have Elle!”

“I know! I’m just as worried as you are!”

“I knew this was a bad idea!”

“She had it handled and would’ve managed if the vortex hadn’t lit up when it did.”

“I-” Bernard paused, and exhaled. “You’re right. She did. What do we do now?”

“We can probably take them,” Jacqueline said. “Berline could definitely take them. I just don’t want them to upset her.”

Bernard hesitated. “They could. If we can get Elle to distract them again, we can untie her, grab the snow globe, and head out with a minor skirmish.”

“And if not, I’m pretty sure Berline could do a number on them.”

“Absolutely,” Bernard agreed. He glanced out at Elle, who was now tied to a long stick. He cleared his throat, offering a hand and sinking into a bow. “Shall we?”

Jacqueline curtsied. “Yes, let’s,” she replied, taking his hand. A flash of light and the elf and the sprite were gone, replaced by a very tall, four-armed fae. “Let’s kick some troll ass,” Berline said, grinning and floating down the cliffside.

Elle, meanwhile, was having a time. Her offensive telepathy had no effect on them. Why didn’t it work? 

I know I said I would do this on my own but, uh, I could definitely use a hand. She directed the thought towards Bernard and Jacqueline; she couldn’t see both of their mental links with her, for some reason. They were...foggy. Maybe the trolls had a cloud of stupid that effected herself?

How about four hands? A voice replied. Elle nearly screamed, before the voice spoke again. S’okay! It’s just me. Well, us. Details, really.

There was something familiar about the voice; it calmed Elle down a tad as she was jostled around on the stick, very disgruntled. Had B and Jacquie fused? Elle was getting that vibe. A feeling of relief washed over her, overtaking her anger. Please tell me you’re on your way to help me.

Course. I’m not going to let you get eaten by trolls, that’s an awful way to go out. And smelly. My tunic still smells like them sometimes. I need you to do me a favour, the voice said. 

I’m a little tied up at the moment, Elle said. She snorted at the unintentional pun; so did the voice.

It’s fine, it replied, laughingly almost. It’s all mental stuff.

That’s kinda not working right now.

What do you mean?

I tried to knock out the one that tied me up out but he just...brushed it aside, like a bug or something.

Trolls are made of stone. That’s probably why it’s not quite working. I should’ve specified, sorry ‘bout that. It’s mostly vocal stuff.

What were you thinking?

Distract them. Get their eyes off of you so I can grab you.

Can do. The snow globe, we need to bring it to Santa. I dropped it when they grabbed me. 

I’ll grab it, don’t worry.

I’m a little worried. I’m on the menu, after all.

They’re picky eaters, the voice replied.

“I can work with that,” Elle said out loud.

“Wot?”

“Stop talking to dinner!” 

“I just have a bit of a complaint here,” Elle began, remembering The Hobbit. “This is the absolute wrong way to cook elf.”

“Wot?”

“You can’t roast elves. We won’t cook evenly.”

“She’s just saying that to get out of being eaten!”

“I would never! You caught me, I am definitely trapped and not expecting a rescue anytime soon.”

“Wot?”

“If I’m gonna go out being eaten by trolls, I just want to make sure it’s done...properly,” she said, glancing towards the vortex. She could see the objects moving around; someone was coming...but she couldn’t see who. They reached the globe; it was jostled, as if a foot had nearly kicked it. She saw the globe float up and disappear.

Get them to look away, said the voice.

I’m working on it! Elle snapped.

Sorry. I just want to get you out of here and get you back safe.

“Then wot do you suggest?” The troll holding her slammed the pole she was tied on into the ground, the edge sticking in the ground and putting her right side up.

“You gotta grill us,” Elle said. 

“Wot?”

“We cook better if we’re grilled, not roasted. You’ll have to find a wire rack, and get that set up. Go on, I’ll wait here.”

“Well, you all ‘eard dinner.”

“I don’t trust it,” another troll said.

“Well I don’t want to spoil the first good meal we’ve ‘ad in a while!”

“Or was it boil? Maybe we cook better boiled. I can’t quite remember, there’s just so many variations of elf flambé .”

Soon enough, all seven trolls were arguing, looking away from Elle. She breathed a sigh of relief as a warm chill surrounded her (a very strange feeling, to be honest). She could feel the ropes loosening, though she still couldn’t see the person doing the untying.

“Nice job,” the voice said, right in her ear.

“I told you I was working on it,” she whispered back. “Did you get the globe?”

“It’s in my satchel. We should be able to make a clean break unless--”

“Oi! Do you lot smell that?” One of the trolls shouted, disrupting the arguing. 

“I smell fae,” another one said. “I thought you said you were alone!”

“Did I say that? I don’t remember saying that.”

“Who’s here?”

“Well since you asked, my boyfriend and best friend are here and they’re going to kick your asses.”

“Tiny elves like you? Ha! We’re trolls!”

“Made of stone!”

“Nothing can take us!”

“Jacqueline and Bernard will! They’ll fuse and kick all seven of your gross, smelly, butts.”

“Fuse?”

“Wot did she say? A Jacquenard?”

“Actually, it’s Berline,” the voice said. The trolls looked around; they couldn’t see the newcomer. There was movement behind one of the trolls beside Elle. Elle could make out a hand, tapping it’s shoulder. The troll whipped around. Berline appeared, grinning. “And I would appreciate it if you didn’t eat my Elle,” they said, two arms winding back and launching forward, punching the troll straight in the face. 

He was thrown backwards, hitting the nearby rocks and loosing consciousness. The others bristled, Berline shaking their fists. “That’s gonna bruise.” 

“I told you so!” Elle shouted, as Berline lifted one of their arms, a gold light tossing the troll on Elle’s other side right into the vortex.

“Wot’re you doing! You just tossed our cook into a void!”

“I know,” Berline replied dryly, giving the ropes a final tug. Elle hopped down, grinning; her angry mood before all but forgotten now. “And I’m about to steal your dinner too. It would be much appreciated if you all just stepped back and let us leave.”

Elle laughed. Berline was already winning her over; they were about the size of the mountain trolls themselves, and a lot better looking. The four arms would take some getting use to; Elle hadn’t expected a fusion to have extra arms, nor to be as giant as Berline was. 

“You’ll have to go through us, first!” one troll shouted, drawing a weapon.

“Yeah!” the rest agreed, gathering their arms.

“‘ow do you plan on doing that?”

Berline glanced down at Elle. They had one brown eye and one blue eye, Elle noted; their nose looked a lot like Bernard’s, though the face shape was more Jacqueline’s, Elle thought. And their hair, holy heck it was massive and crazy curly! It reminded her of River Song, and went down just past their shoulders. Jacqueline hadn’t been joking when she said a fusion was an entirely new person, Elle realized. She gazed back up. Berline winked, before turning back to the trolls. Watch this, they said mentally, rolling their shoulders.

“You really want me to tell you? It’ll spoil the fun,” they said, pouting.

“Well you’re spoiling our dinnah!”

“I have a lot of replies to that but ah, I think I’m in enough hot water already with this one,” they said, head gesturing to Elle. “You do pose an excellent question, though. How ever will I, a very powerful fusion of an elf and a sprite, thank you very much, get past a wall of one two three four...five mountain trolls? Well, here’s how. First, I’m gonna give Elle my satchel to hold. Then I’m gonna come at you with another punch,” they said, pointing to the left end. “Then I will freeze your three companions there in place and proceed to blast that fifth guy right over there with his snoozing pal. Then, once those three inevitably break out of their freeze, I’ll hit them all at the same time with my fists, knocking them out, and blast you over into that wall there. Then I’ll pick up Elle and simply walk out of here with her and what we came to get. I hope you were writing all this down because I’m about to get busy,” Berline finished, taking off their satchel.

“Hold this please, Elle.”

“I got your satchel, you go kick their asses!”

With a grin, Berline cracked their knuckles and shot forward, a cool breeze rustling Elle’s clothes. They rushed over to the troll on the far left, right arms already smacking the troll in the face. He went flying, hitting the wall behind him. Stones fell from the impact, burying him.

“That was unexpected,” Berline said, shaking ice off their fists. They turned around, the other four trolls coming at them fast. All four arms shot out at once, a huge blast of ice and snow hitting the three in the lead and freezing them up to their midsections.

They began hitting the ice, the final troll rushing around them and screaming, running right towards Berline.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you!” Elle shouted.

“She’s right,” Berline said.

“I’ll not let you get away with our dinner!” The troll said, weapon raised. Berline rolled their eyes. With a lazy flick of their wrists, a blast of gold shot him all the way across the space, hitting the rocks and landing right on top of the troll slowly gaining consciousness.

“Take that!” Elle said. She narrowed her eyes and moved her arm, a large group of boulders tumbling down the sides and landing on the two trolls, knocking them both out once more.

“Ha! Nice!” Berline said, grinning.

“I try,” Elle smirked. “Look out, you’ve got company.”

“Oh! Right!” Berline turned around and ran towards the three formerly frozen trolls, who had all broken out of the ice and were rushing towards the fusion. Ice began to form around all four of Berline’s fists, as they finally clashed with the trolls. Berline ducked one swing, punching that troll up and over them, into the wall behind them. 

The other two trolls came at Berline at the same time, hoping to catch them unawares. It didn’t quite work that way, of course; Berline turned on their heel and hit one troll, then the second one, tossing them over to the pile of trolls Elle had just covered in boulders. They landed in the pile with a loud thud.

Berline stood up, stretching and dusting the ice off their hands. “I told you so,” they said to the now unconscious trolls, heading towards Elle.

“That was awesome,” Elle said. “You’re a badass Berline, holy heck!”

“I try,” Berline said, joining Elle’s side. “Sorry you almost got eaten by trolls. I really didn’t want your first errand to go like that,” They said, gesturing to the pile of unconscious trolls to their right and plopping down beside Elle. Sitting, they were about as tall as Elle.

“I told you, danger is my middle name.”

“No it’s not.”

“Huh?”

“Your middle name is cutie pie,” Berline said, booping her nose.

Elle giggled, suddenly overcome with shyness, for some reason she couldn’t quite place. “So, uh...do you know me?”

“Of course I do,” Berline grinned. “I also know that cutie pie isn’t your middle name. It’s Sophia. I was trying to be cute.”

“I gathered. It worked, don’t worry,” she said, smiling. “Here’s the satchel back, by the way. Did it get bigger?”

“Well if it stayed Bernard’s size, the strap would’ve broke. I’m twice as tall as he is. Literally,” Berline winked, grabbing the satchel and throwing it over their shoulders again, standing up. “Ready to head out? I hope you don’t think it’s weird if I put you on my shoulder.”

“Fine with me,” Elle said. “Watch out behind you.”

The vortex had spat the cook back up and he was running towards Berline. Berline barely even blinked before their left arms were covered in ice and shot up, the troll slamming right into their fists and falling over, unconscious.

“Literally, so badass,” Elle said again, walking onto the hand Berline offered. “Does the ice function as armour?”

“Thanks,” Berline said, grinning. “And yes. I’m not fond of bruised knuckles.”

“So how come the trolls didn’t see you? Or me, for that matter? Can fusions turn invisible?”

“I can because Jacqueline can.”

“She can? That explains so much,” Elle realized. 

“Heh. Yeah. I don’t know why we didn’t just send Jacqueline down, invisible. Not that you weren’t doing a good job, of course. You almost made it were it not for that vortex.”

“Your disappearing act was so cool though, oh man. Those trolls were so confused it was hilarious, the look on their faces! Priceless!”

“Does that mean you aren’t jealous anymore?” Berline asked, eyebrow raised in a very Jacqueline way, Elle noted.

“Jealous? Me? Why would I be jealous?”

“Bernard was getting those vibes. Jacqueline could full on tell. She really didn’t want myself to appear, she was afraid it would upset you more. To be fair, it sounded like my appearance did upset you.”

“Okay fine, I was a bit jealous. Am, I guess.”

“I figured as much. Well, we’ve got a fair ways to go, let’s chat,” Berline said.

“I dunno, it’s just...the way Jacqueline explained fusion made it seem so special.”

“It is,” Berline agreed.

“And I really really want to fuse with Bernard and I guess the fact that he’s fused with Jacqueline before just bothered me a lot. It makes sense she would be here I mean, you have way more experience than I do with fusion. I mean, you are their fusion...I’m rambling,” Elle said, blushing as they cleared the wall they had come down originally in two steps. 

“You’re cute is what you are.”

“Stop it, I’m trying to be mad,” Elle semi-joked. “God, it’s just so silly that I’m jealous of you and talking to you about it!”

Berline laughed. “That’s not silly, it’s funny. I made you jealous! That’s hilarious.”

“It’s not funny!”

“Oh man, it really is Elle. See, the thing about fusion is that not only does fusion result in a totally new fae, a fusion is representative of the relationship between the two fae. That’s why it’s so funny to me. I’m a representation of Bernard and Jacqueline's relationship--I’m basically the personification of a real tight sibling relationship, Elle. That’s why it’s so funny!”

“I’m not quite following,” 

Berline stopped, offering their hand to Elle, who tentatively stepped on it. Berline brought her in front of their face, so that they were eye to eye. “The relationship you and B have is really special, Elles,” Berline began. “When you two do fuse--and I know you will--your fusion will be very different from me. And a lot more special,” they finished, smiling a very Bernard smile. “Are you crying?”

“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” Elle said, swatting away the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes.

“I think I’d know if I was,” Berline frowned, placing Elle back on their shoulder. “You understand what I was saying now though, right?”

“Yeah,” Elle nodded, smiling. “I do. You really think he’ll come around?”

“Of course I do. I’m part Bernard. And he’ll remember this conversation. As will Jacqueline. If he doesn’t come around, she’ll be sure to remind him. And hey, you could always ask her to fuse with you still,” Berline said, blue eye winking.

Elle laughed.

“Let’s head home,” Berline said, making sure Elle was safe on their shoulder before disappearing in a very large burst of snowflakes and gold sparks.

(This has made me love Berline even more, holy fuck, they’re just so sweet with Elle and I am deceased thank you for reading give me feedback please it only makes me stronger)