Dr. J. Drosslemeyer packed his bag and lifted the keys to his shop from his work bench. The moon was full and high in the evening sky already casting an ethereal glow on the freshly fallen snow as a few final flakes drifted down peacefully from the heavens. He shook his cloak out and tossed it around his shoulder, adjusted his goggles and locked the door, taking care to keep his bag of gifts close and safe. Tonight was the annual Christmas party at the home of the mayor.

His lips curled into a sly smile in anticipation of his god-daughter's response to her coming gift.

She was a special young woman and so deserved a gift just as special. In fact, it was her very uniqueness that gave him hope that something amazing would occur. He had done so much wrong in his life; had so much to atone for and tonight could well be the night where this one gift could make everything right. It was risky, but it was a chance he had to take. Time was a friend to no man and he waited long enough.

Locking the door, he tucked his cloak closer, put on his top hat, and walked hailed the nearby carriage, daring to hope his presumptions would prove correct. After all, Christmas was a time for miracles.

The large Victorian style mansion next to town hall was the most festive of all in the town. Every year on Christmas Eve, a party was thrown and each year was grander than the previous one. Garland was wrapped around every pole and banister lined strategically with crimson bows. Electric light-the newest fashion, had begun to phase out the use of candle-light, but the candelabras and chandeliers were still just as grand as ever with festive sprigs of holly dangling tastefully. No expense was spared and no corner left without decoration to ensure that the mayor's holiday ball would be the talk of the New Year.

Relena had always loved this time of year. The lights, the songs, and the overall feel as the spirit of Christmas spread brought her more joy than any other time of the year. It seemed almost as if it were made for her, or she for it.

Every year, she and her parents would work as hard as they could year long to help ensure the prosperity of the town. The party was more of a benefit gala to raise funds for the continued development and betterment of the town. This year, a few of her father's associates had invited their colleagues and business partners as a show of solidarity toward his charitable effort. Relena wasn't much of a social butterfly, and-in fact- the idea of strangers coming to the party unnerved her, but she would do as she had done all her life and put on her party dress and smile and mingle as was expected as of her. Besides, it was hard for her to be in any sort of bad mood on Christmas.

The grandfather clock in the parlor struck five o'clock announcing the official starting time of the party. Her father had always wanted to ensure that any and all children brought along to the party would have ample time to enjoy the festivities and so scheduled the party for the early evening. The party itself usually never really started until around six but there were games and small events to entertain the young ones. This year, as she was now seventeen, it was her responsibility to oversee said childish merriment while the adults discussed current events in the main hall. Part of her resented still being counted as a child. Part of her wondered if it was because her father truly did still see her as a child, but it was only for an hour or two and then she would be allowed to rejoin the adults for the remainder of the party.

The guests began arriving on schedule with the most prompt being her father's long time friend Marshall Noventa and his wife and granddaughter. She and Silvia had always gotten on well enough. They were often the only girls present around their own age and had much fun sneaking snacks and hiding away behind the Christmas tree. There were other girls there, of course, and young men as well. Mostly, she tried her best to avoid them. As the daughter of the mayor, the majority of the young women present tried to emulate her and remarked regularly on her sense of style and how fortunate she was to have such a father. A few of the young men in the last year or so had begun to show interest in her but she found them utterly droll or pompous young braggarts. Silvia had begun to have her fair share of interest shown from the same group of individuals as well so any admissions of admiration were not entirely genuine.

Truly, there was only one guest that attended every year that she looked forward to seeing. Her godfather, J Drosslemeyer always attending every birthday and Christmas and each time brought her a present more fabulous than the next. J was the town locksmith, clock-maker and toy-tinker. Most of the village speaks so cruelly of him; rumors spread as to how he lost his leg and arm and why he needed goggles to always cover his eyes. In spite of his appearance, however, the kind old man had always been good to her and treated her as his own daughter. As a child, she imagined that he was some sort of mystical being trapped in her world where he used his powers to make the everyday lives of the people better in the smallest of ways.

It had been a silly thought then and an even sillier thought as she grew older, but yet part of her wished to believe it. Her father had, on more than one occasion, mentioned a desire for her to focus more on the actual world instead of daydreaming. In all honesty, she did not daydream nearly as much as she used to. They carried over fro visions she had while she slept of magical castles and enchanted lands where houses were made of candy and roads were paved with chocolate. Rivers flowed with sweet mead and herbs and spices of the holiday season grew as wildflowers. Some of those dreams were lovely; laden with peaceful thoughts and childish enjoyment. Sometimes, they were dark.

There was a shadow that lingered in the back of her mind. Something always went wrong in those dreams: candy melted and ashes flew where frosting snowflakes once fell. She could hear screaming; someone calling out her name so far away she barely heard it around the flames that threatened to engulf her very being. She would wake up in the morning only to feel a continued sense of dread and trepidation. She always felt that whoever called out for her still needed her and wanted to reach her if at all possible. She learned long ago, however to not discuss these dreams with anyone.

Only her godfather seemed to understand and would often lighten her mood with tales of a magic land similar to the one of which she dreamed. He once told her of a young man who trained every day to be the perfect soldier to fight against the tyranny of an evil ruler who had usurped the throne from the rightful heir. According to his story, the soldier spent most of his life searching for the missing heirs and had vowed to stop at nothing until they were restored to their throne. It was a lovely story of action, adventure and potential romance. Supposedly, the soldier had been promised to the young princess upon her birth. Sadly, however, the soldier had been cursed by the evil dictator and the search for his intended was postponed indefinitely. He was turned into a Nutcracker and discarded to be forgotten, waiting for someone to break his spell so he could resume his mission.

Relena had many times imagined herself in their world, helping him on his quest. It all seemed so fantastic and chased the shadows of her nightmares away. Though she had outgrown her ability to believe in such fairy stories, she never tired of hearing them. So, it was his arrival she always anticipated and his presence at the party that truly allowed her to enjoy herself.

"You must be Miss Relena." The voice came from behind her so suddenly that she found herself startled. She turned to find a young woman around her age standing in front of her. Her dark purple, off the shoulder gown accented the pallor of her skin. Her platinum hair and matching forked eyebrows had been allowed to grow to absurd lengths, but did not take away from her chilling beauty. Chilling was, perhaps, the best word Relena could find for this young woman as her cold, grey eyes locked with Relena's own aqua.

"My apologies, I do believe I startled you." Relena jarred herself out of her shock and then shook her head.

"Indeed, I was far too lost in my own thoughts. It is unbecoming of a host, Miss…?"

"Catalonia; Dorothy Catalonia. My Grandfather came tonight to represent the interests of his benefactor and made me come along. Although, I must say, I am so glad he did!" She suddenly linked arms with Relena and gave her a sickening smile that sent a chill down Relena's spine. "I have a feeling we will be fast friends." Relena found herself being ushered into the ballroom with the adults.

"Grandfather! This is she!" The man in front of her was tall and well-built, clearly a military man of some kind. His white hair had a receding hair-line that led down to mutton-chop sideburns and a well trimmed beard. He looked down his long thing nose at her, his eyes studying her closely.

"Oh, indeed? Thomas, is this your daughter? Why she is far lovelier than you made her out to be. Indeed, a rare beauty."

"Yes, Duke. This is my daughter, Relena. I am afraid all of the credit for her looks belongs to her mother."

"Indeed, Thomas." Dermail smiled but Relena could almost feel a sneer in his words.

"Miss Relena, This is my grandfather, Duke Dermail."

"Your Grace." She curtsied to him and as her eyes met his, she felt the same chill race through her.

"And such manners. I can see why you are so proud of her. She is a credit to you and your wife." He reached out a hand as if to raise her chin, but before he could reach her, the door all but flew open. The lights flickered, smoke filled the room, and just as quickly as the disruption began, it ended. In the center of the room stood her godfather. Relena smiled and ran to him, throwing her arms around him in greeting.

"Godfather! You made it!" Relena wrapped him in a joyous hug.

"Of course I did child! Have I ever failed to appear at such occasions?"

"No, of course not. I just always look forward to your arrival."

"And you will be just as equally satisfied with the gift I have for this evening. There is one for every child in attendance of course, but for you, my child, I have a special gift; very important given that you are now nearly an adult. He smiled at her and she could swear she saw his goggle-covered eyes twinkle. "Now, come; it is time I dazzle the little ones with stories of Etherea." Relena smiled, glad to be away from Miss Catalonia and her uncle as she followed her Godfather into the Parlor.