When the second school day with Elissa was over, the elf was still so tired from her late night before, that she dropped off on the couch in the main part of the compound where people tend to congregate.
Felicity went to her room to relax with a little leisure reading.
Talk around the compound that day was about the various repairs and improvements to the droids, weaponry, and other things that had mysteriously come about since the day before. While Dozing, Elissa had overheard some of it.
During the making of dinner, Elissa volunteered to help Beru.
At first, Beru was delighted with the idea, but she had second thoughts soon enough.
Elissa took over, putting in ingredients according to what she thought was best, and going on about which methods she said were best for preparing this or that dish. She was upbeat enough about it, but struck Beru as overbearing.
The dinner was delicious though, and there were a lot of compliments.
Elissa was glad to take the credit, finishing up with "But then, we elves know a few things about food preparation."
Shmi and Felicity winced, Beru's eyebrows raised, Yoda frowned, and Luke stared at Elissa as if she had lobsters crawling out of her ears.
"Is that so?" Sheev said, well perhaps we could get you to teach the force a thing or two about it."
Sheev was actually being sarcastic, but Elissa took it as a compliment. "I'd be honored to!" she said, beaming with overconfidence.
Ben raised his eyebrows.
Elissa ignored the unease, she seemed oblivious to it, and only kept on bragging about the things she could do, and how cool it was to be an elf.
When dinner was over, Elissa accompanied Felicity to her room to help her with her homework.
When Beru and Shmi were clearing up afterword, Beru said, "You are right, she is definitely not like Ocean. She is enthusiastic and seems friendly all right, but I don't think I could put up with much more of her help in the kitchen."
"I don't trust her motives." Shmi said. "If she is using us, and Felicity to puff herself up, that is especially wrong at this time of year."
Luke came out of the training area, excitedly announcing to Ben how there had been several mysterious improvements to various objects.
Ben replied with, "That would be Elissa Baker. But don't let on. She seems a small person with a big ego, so that would go right to her head."
"Oh, so it isn't just me." Luke said in relief, "I thought she was blowing her horn quite a lot at dinner tonight."
"Indeed, she was. Maybe it's just over-excitement. We'll see if she settles down some tomorrow." said Ben.
"Cocky she is. Much arrogance she has shown." said Yoda.
"I couldn't believe how she went on about herself." said Luke.
"Not only that, but how much better she thinks she is than the rest of us." Beru added. "I'm glad it was Ocean we met first. But this girl and her 'us elves' this and that is really getting under my skin."
"If careful she is not, enemies she will make, and a bad name she will give elves." said Yoda. "Much trouble she could make for herself."
"She is well on the way to that already." said Luke.
The homework was quickly done, and Elissa made it so much fun that Felicity was almost sorry when it was over. She enjoyed listening to the little elf's enthusiastic voice that read out the printed assignments and prompted her to come up with answers.
"Looks like that's it for your homework, well done." Elissa said cheerfully. "We'll do it all over again tomorrow. I'm gonna get a snack, then hit the sack." Do you want something?"
"Not tonight, I'm really tired." said Felicity.
"Suit yourself."
During the next couple of days, Elissa's attitude only became worse if anything. She was still excellent at helping Felicity with her school work, and very eager to fix anything around the compound. But her uppityness was becoming more and more difficult to ignore. Soon, everyone's patience, even Yoda's was being tried.
He went to the library to pick up some important books concerning the Jedi code. One of those was not there.
When he asked the librarian about it, she said someone matching Elissa's description had signed it out.
So Yoda searched Felicity's room, where surely the book would've been stowed while the elf was at school with the little girl.
He could not find it.
Elissa concealed it by putting it in Felicity's book bag before going to school. Once Luke had dropped them off, Elissa took it out just before class started.
"A Jedi code book?" a teacher asked when noticing it in Elissa's arms. "Not just anyone can sign those out. However did you manage it?"
"All part of being an elf," Elissa boasted.
"Oh, I see." the teacher said, looking slightly taken aback. "So what do you intend to do with it?"
"Read it during my spare time."
"Elissa," Felicity protested when the two took their seats, "You shouldn't have done that. Ben and Yoda are gonna be so mad."
"Not if I put it back before they find out. Anyway, they should know I'm not actually stealing it."
"Still, you should've asked."
"What makes you think I didn't?" Elissa countered. "The librarian knew I was signing it out. She let me."
"Because you're a Christmas elf, right?" Felicity guessed, rolling her eyes.
"Exactly." Elissa answered gleefully.
"I still think you'll get in trouble." said Felicity.
"Oh, stop worrying." said Elissa.
The conversation was ended there when the teacher asked for silence.
School went well, but Elissa's superior attitude was starting to get on everyone's nerves.
Elissa remembered that Luke would see the Jedi book and probably give her heck for it when he came to pick her and Felicity up. So once again, she shoved the book into Felicity's bag near the end of school.
Luke said nothing about it on the way home, but asked Elissa to go get herself and Felicity a snack.
When Elissa was doing that, Luke asked Felicity for permission to look in her bag to see if the book was there.
She agreed.
Sure enough, there it was.
"Oh, this gives me an idea." he said. I'll be right back. With that, Luke took the book and made a hasty exit.
Soon, Elissa returned, and she went to retrieve the book while Felicity snacked.
"What's the matter?" Felicity asked when she heard a surprised gasp from Elissa.
"Oh, nothing, nothing," the elf said quickly, "I just remembered something. Be back." With that, she hurried out of the room.
She had only just gotten into the library, when Yoda came out from between a couple of book shelves.
"Returned, the book was, that you had." he explained, gently taking hold of her so she couldn't turn and run away.
"an apology you must make for the fib you told our librarian." he said.
"What? I never - "
"Do not play innocent with me." said Yoda, as he lead her to the librarian's desk.
"Hello Yoda and - Alicia?"
"It's Elissa." the elf corrected the librarian.
"Elissa has something to say to you." Yoda said.
Feeling patronized, Elissa sent Yoda a dirty look.
"Yes Elissa?" the librarian asked.
"I wanted to thank you for letting me sign the book out last night."
"And?" Yoda prompted.
"I'm coming to that." Elissa snapped. She turned to the librarian. "I over-stated something I said to you last night. You won't get on the naughty list just for not letting anyone sign out a certain book."
"Thank you Elissa. I appreciate that.
"Apologize, you need to do." Yoda said to the elf.
"I just did." she said defensively.
Yoda shook his head.
Feeling put on the spot, Elissa sighed. "Okay...I'm sorry you misunderstood."
Yoda cleared his throat in disapproval of the statement which sounded more like passing the blame than an apology.
"That's all right, Yoda, I understand." said the librarian.
Elissa was too angry at Yoda to pay much attention to the rest of the conversation he had with the librarian. The whole experience made her back go up so much that she still was not in a good mood by dinner time. She would not speak to Yoda, Ben, or Luke at all, only indicating acknowledgement with gesturing or head-shaking/nodding.
That evening, there was a knock at the door.
Shmi opened it to see another Christmas elf standing there with a brown suitcase.
"I'm Jessica Preston, I was transferred here, Santa's orders." she said seriously.
"Come in, Jessica." Shmi invited, and shut the door behind her.
Jess was nowhere near as bubbly as Elissa had been on arrival, and Shmi was even more uneasy with her from the start. Jess's cold blue eyes had no sparkle to them, her light blonde hair was unkempt, and her chubby face seemed to be in a permanent pout.
So Shmi and Ben helped get Jessica settled in, but had no work for her.
Shortly, Santa called Ben to let him know he intended to take Jessica back to Christmas Town the next morning. She had not worked out on Cat o'Ninetails's droid repair job, and was just in need of a place for the night.
In the meantime, Elissa, though mad at everyone else now, still helped Felicity with her homework after dinner, then before bed, she looked up a story on the web to read.
Since Felicity must've been the one to snitch to Luke or Yoda about the book, Elissa got it into her head to read a not so pleasant bedtime story to her aloud.
It was a story about a misshapen creature called the Rake, that attacked and killed people. The Rake made people write down who he was before killing them, or actually appeared as a man/dog hybrid with a deformed head. And because he could teleport, no one had caught him yet.
This left Felicity quite unsettled.
Getting up for school the next day was not easy, and Felicity's injuries were bothering her again. Thank goodness there was no homework that day.
Neither elf nor student were particularly tired, so they went to the living room/lounging area, and Elissa said she would go get them some snacks.
The dining hall was full of Jedi trainees getting refreshments after their studies were finished that day.
That didn't stop Elissa from making her way to the front of the line and grabbing a couple of plates full of goodies for Felicity and herself.
Unfortunately, one of those plates got snatched from the hand of the person at the front of the line.
"Hey!" he protested, then looked wide-eyed down at little Elissa. "Haven't seen you around here before. Are you gonna eat that all yourself?"
"No," Elissa replied, "Half is for that poor little blind girl."
"Felicity?" the young Jedi said. "Oh, yeah, I've seen her train. She's coming along well. So who are you?"
"Elissa Baker."
Surely you're not a youngling, your diction is too good." said the young man.
"Thanks. That's true, but don't ask my age. That's rude." she said.
"I don't think I've seen anyone like you around here before, you're not a jawa, and you don't look like one of Yoda's race."
Of course not, sir," Elissa said indignantly, "I'm an elf."
"Oh, you too! I guess you're replacing Ocean until she can come back."
"Yep." said Elissa. "But I thought you said you never had one of my race here before."
"Well, you and Ocean look way different from each other, that's all." the young Jedi said awkwardly. "So, I'll let you get away with the snack-snatching this time, but please don't do it again. Besides, Ocean would never do a thing like that."
"Unless she's just kidding around and gives it right back," said the Jedi trainee just in back of the one speaking to Elissa.
"Hmph." said Elissa, and took off with the plates of snacks.
"Huh?" The student who just had his plate taken, looked at his friend behind him. "Not even a 'see you later' from her."
"Yeah, that was a bit rude of her." said his friend.
"Elissa!" Luke, having saw what went on, tried to catch her.
"Sorry Luke, gotta take this to Felicity." the elf hurried away.
"Elissa!"
Soon, Elissa returned with a big plateful of snacks, which she handed to Felicity.. Then, she sat next to Felicity on the couch and started in on her plate.
It wasn't long before she was through, but Felicity took longer. Elissa waited patiently, then took the plates back to the kitchen once they were through.
"I think it's time to get ready for bed." she said to Felicity.
The girl nodded, and the two headed off to their room.
Luke just missed them as he headed into the visiting area. "Hmm, I thought I saw Elissa come in here." he muttered to himself. "They must be back in their room again." so he carried on.
Soon, there was a knock at the door to Felicity's room.
"Elissa." Luke called.
"Hi Luke!" Felicity called back.
"Can I come in?" Luke asked.
"Not now." said Elissa.
At the same time, Felicity said, "Sure!"
Luke opened the door and came in.
Elissa frowned. "Felicity is just taking her calcium, and then we'll be getting ready for bed."
"Elissa, I wanna talk to you for just a moment." said Luke.
"Not now, Luke." came the snappish reply.
"Why not?" Felicity asked. "Ocean never turns anyone away as long as we're still dressed. She usually invites them to join us."
"She doesn't steal someone else's plate from them either." said Luke.
"Is that what this is about?" Elissa said.
"You did what?" Felicity asked.
"Well, it was the quickest way to get something for both of us, what's the big deal?" Elissa retorted.
"Just don't do that again." Luke cautioned., and left, shutting the door.
"What does he know?" Alysa said hottily.
"Taking someone else's plate without asking?" Felicity asked, looking shocked.
"Let me guess," Elissa sneered, "Your friend Ocean never did that either."
"She'd take it from you and give it back to them."
"She wouldn't have to, you know." said Elissa.
"Oh yes she would. You don't just go taking others' stuff without asking around here, not even Yoda does that."
"That's because he and Luke are Jedi. We elves aren't bound by their rules."
Felicity bristled. "Will you stop that?"
"Stop what?"
"This 'we elves' stuff. Anyway, it doesn't matter who you are, you're still bound by common curtesy.
"Don't have a bird over this, I'm just stating a fact." Elissa said.
"Ocean isn't a Jedi either, but she doesn't put everyone else down and call it stating facts."
"Oh, but if she is an elf, she knows she's part of a special group of people, maybe she just hasn't actually said it, but she would know anyway."
"Are you saying she thinks she's better than us?"
"I'm saying she knows she is."
Felicity looked dismayed.
"Let's not argue about it, Felicity, it's time for bed."
"I have to go to the washroom first." said Felicity, and she got up and left.
Instead, Felicity stole out of her room and followed the sound of voices to the general visiting area, where Shmi, Beru, Ben and Sheev were relaxing before bed.
"Felicity, where's Elissa?" Ben asked.
"I think she's reading." Felicity replied.
"What's on your mind? You look a little perplexed." Ben observed.
"Has Ocean ever said anything to you about being an elf VS. being a Jedi, or anything else?"
"Nothing other than that she is neither Jedi or sith. Why?"
Sheev looked knowingly at Ben, then rolled his eyes.
"Elissa thinks she's so special because she's an elf, and she told me Ocean thinks so too, even if she doesn't say it." Felicity finally said.
At this, Shmi bristled. "Elissa is talking through her hat, and she is dead wrong about that."
"I think we should get Ocean back here to straighten her out." said Beru.
"And, I'll be reporting this to Santa as well." said Ben calmly. "Felicity, I am sure Ocean does not feel that way. But if it will make you feel better, we'll have her back as soon as possible."
"I hope you're right.." Felicity said.
"Now, to bed with you." Ben said.
"Yes sir." Felicity said with a smile, and left for her room.
"That took long enough, where were you?" Elissa greeted her. "I was just about to go looking."
"Sorry, I was just out saying goodnight to my friends."
"Well, let's help you get ready for bed, then." Elissa said, and helped the girl as cheerfully as usual.
Elissa's phone rang.
"Oh, hey Jess, what's up?"
"I got assigned to stay here at the compound. That ogre Cat o-Ninetails thought I was doing too much droid testing and not enough work on the repairs."
Elissa chuckled.
"Well I'm not staying just anywhere she or Santa or anyone else decide to put me." said Jess flatly, "So I'm off to a hotel. I just thought I'd say hi first."
"Hi." Elissa said back with a grin. "I'm close to getting a hotel myself, but I'd get in deep for that. They haven't dismissed me yet and they won't as long as I help the little girl out."
"Lucky you." said Jess sarcastically.
"No, lucky her." said Elissa, "She could've gotten stuck with you."
"Haw, haw, haw." Jess responded.
Both elves burst out laughing.
When the call ended, Elissa explained, "That's my crazy cousin Jess. She's a riot."
"I see." said Felicity, feeling even more uneasy. Already she could tell she was probably not going to like Jess, who reminded her of Miss Melvin during school.
In a while, everyone had settled in for the night.
Jess stole out when the whole compound was quiet, and rented a hotel room instead.