21/24
Grandfather Frost stood before them, majestic in blue velvet and luxurious white fur, and not the least bit intimidated by the numbers he was facing. He sighed slowly. "You nations really are stubborn. And so unnecessarily violent."
"I don't know about 'unnecessary'," England said. The snow grated beneath his feet as he shifted tensely. Beside and behind him, the others stood still. "We only came to get back one of our own."
"And I did knock first! But you wouldn't let me in," Russia reminded him.
The old man shook his head. He avoided Russia's eyes. "I... rather hoped you could be persuaded to give in and leave. But now that it has come to this I must interfere, as much as it pains me. You cannot be allowed to leave."
"'Pains you'?" Finland repeated, shaking Denmark off his sleeve and stepping forwards. Grandfather Frost raised his eyebrows upon being confronted by his prisoner. "It only pains you because you know it's not right! Okay, I understand you, in principle I do, I already told you that. But−"
"What's 'not right'?" America asked, suddenly a bit more serious. "You're keeping us in the dark here, Finny."
"I believe we would all appreciate some details," agreed a loud voice from their left.
The nations and Grandfather Frost all quickly turned their heads to see the speaker. Lined up in the other end of the snowy yard was the last missing team of nations.
"Just how many of you came here?" Finland hissed in surprise.
"I told you 'a few'," America whispered back.
Germany trained his gun on the old man. "Now, can we discuss this calmly like civilised people, past encounters being what they are? I would be very willing to hear the story behind this."
Grandfather Frost had raised his eyebrows again, watching as Germany's group cautiously came closer, all guns aimed at him. "Now I am surprised. I was informed of twelve new intruders. How did the six of you avoid detection?"
"I wouldn't put us in the same category with that lot if I were you. Big mistake," Prussia grinned, pleased with the fact that they were the only ones who hadn't been found.
"Let's stick to the business at hand," Germany said sternly. " Why did Finland come here and why didn't you let him out?"
"Before that, Comrade Germany," Russia smiled. "You can put down your guns. They won't work. You too, Comrade Switzerland."
Germany hesitated. He didn't really want to give up the security of having a line of fire to their opponent, but when even Switzerland relented with a disappointed huff, he motioned for his team to lower their weapons.
Before anyone could resume the conversation, their eyes locked onto a white ball of fur that slid down from the cover of Belarus's hair and sprinted over the snow towards Germany's team.
"What?" Germany asked.
"A ferret?" Hungary suggested.
"More like a weasel," China said.
"A bunny?" Prussia offered hopefully.
"Mouse," Estonia corrected.
"Christmas," Hong Kong said and crouched down to offer the creature his hands. Christmas climbed up his arm, jumped and attached to his face, swishing its tail contentedly.
Finland was surprised. "How did you know?"
"A guess," Hong Kong shrugged, taking the fluffy creature by the base of its tail to keep it from smothering him, and raised it to the top of his head.
"That's the personification of Christmas," England explained. He had gone back to keeping an eye on Grandfather Frost. "This old man stole it and Finland came to bring it back so our celebrations wouldn't be ruined."
Estonia looked at the creature, his eye twitching. "Illogical..." he mumbled and then coughed. "Well. Then why did he take it?"
Grandfather Frost didn't answer, just looked quietly at Christmas making itself comfortable in Hong Kong's brown hair and waving its tail in front of his nose like trying to hypnotise him.
"Answer!" Switzerland barked angrily.
"It's no use, Comrade," Russia said. "If Grandpa decides we won't leave here, if he decides we don't need to know, then we won't."
"He wanted to help New Year," Finland told them, keeping his eyes on the old man.
"New Year?" Russia repeated, tilting his head.
"Yes," Grandfather Frost finally spoke. "Yes, that is correct. Compared to Christmas, New Year is withering away."
"What do you mean 'withering'?" Germany frowned. "We celebrate New Year every year. And Russia and some of the other Eastern Europeans don't even celebrate Christmas that much, but New Year instead."
"I said compared to Christmas," Grandfather Frost repeated. "How many films are made about New Year every year? How many songs are sang every year just for New Year? How much time and money do people spend planning and celebrating New Year? How many of you Western countries celebrate New Year like the Eastern Europeans, even if they celebrated Christmas like you?"
Denmark frowned. "Well compared to Christmas..."
"Yeah, yeah," America said. "That's true, sure. But that doesn't give you the right to steal Christmas!"
Grandfather Frost sighed. "I... was going to let it go after Christmas. I hoped if people didn't get a good holiday mood for Christmas, they'd try to take it back at New Year. And perhaps they would remember that happy New Year's Eve next year."
"So for that you'd ruin everyone's Christmas?" America said. England silenced him with a glare.
"Does New Year accept this plan?" China asked. "And where is it now?" He glanced around, partly expecting a new weird creature to pop up somewhere.
The old man shook his head. "I haven't told it. But it would probably object. It's in Japan now."
"What's this about people not getting in Christmas mood?" Hungary asked curiously. "Does this cute one being away have something to do with that?"
"Exactly," Finland explained. "As long as Christmas is in this dimension, no one will–"
"That's not exactly it," Grandfather Frost interrupted. "This dimension is merely a pocket in space. Whatever qualities it has is under my will. This is the house of New Year, and I am its master. If I decide Christmas has no power here, it has none."
"Then would you make it stop?" Russia asked.
Grandfather Frost looked genuinely surprised. "Russia?"
"At Finland's house all the rest of the nations who have heard about this are readying the place for us to spend Christmas together," Russia explained, and Finland's eyes widened a little. Russia stepped forward to stand between him and Grandfather Frost. "If these little ones..." He nodded towards Christmas and Finland, "...are away, it would make us very sad. Me too."
Grandfather Frost stared long at the nation who was one of those to always wait for his coming, every year. Then he looked away from them all.
"Are we..." Finland began, hesitating. "...Going to spend Christmas... together?"
"Didn't we tell you?" Lithuania smiled. "Everyone's at your house preparing a good Christmas party for when we get back. Thanks for having us, by the way."
"I see," Finland said quietly to his shoes before raising his gaze to Grandfather Frost, giving him a genuine smile. "Well then, since we'll all be in the same place, shall we go and continue the party at Russia's for New Year? Everyone together," he offered. "You could call New Year home and bring it to party together with us this year. That way we'd celebrate both of them and make both of them happy? How does that sound?"
Grandfather Frost met Finland's eyes in silence. He glanced to Russia, who smiled at him softly, before turning to look at the small, white creature who was now utilising the natural camouflage provided by Prussia's hair. Prussia was wiggling with joy for its cuteness, despite his best efforts to stay focused.
When Christmas noticed the old man's gaze, it hopped down and dashed over the snow, leaving behind a string of small pawprints that quickly faded back into pristine whiteness. Grandfather Frost raised his hand to offer it a seat when it started climbing up his long coat. Christmas made its way down his arm and spun around a few times before settling on his gloved palm. Then finally it raised its blue eyes to meet his.
Grandfather Frost suddenly looked very tired. "You really are... a very stupid creature."
Slowly and hesitantly he raised his other hand to pet the soft fur. Christmas bristled happily and bloomed in a bright, golden glow.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Oh," France said, standing at the sauna door. "I was going to bring you a mistletoe here, but it doesn't seem you need one. May I join in?"
Canada took the time to throw half a bucket of water at him. France squeaked and pulled back quickly, narrowly avoiding the wet attack.
"Just asking," France chuckled, closing the door properly. He held up the mistletoe branch he had been planning to attach to the sauna ceiling. Trying to go in again wasn't the brightest thing he could do right now... so maybe he should go and test this particular branch elsewhere and return later. Now that he thought about it, he still hadn't given Romano that little kiss he had promised. France smiled. Maybe now was the right time. Not even a sulky Italian could resist a friendly smooch this close to Christmas.
Romano, oblivious to France's plans, was just about to enter the kitchen. Actually, he was hesitating if his pride allowed this or not. Technically, it wasn't fair for him to stay here to party with everyone when he hadn't really done anything for the preparations... But offering to help now would be embarrassing and the tomato bastard would use the c-word on him, he was sure of it... But if he didn't do anything there wouldn't be any pasta on the menu and his idiot little brother would be sad when he came back... And those idiots kept screwing something up all the time so if Romano had to enjoy the party he would have to do something... And−
He grimaced and opened the door. Only Belgium gave him a surprised look before turning back to her chocolate bowl. No one else seemed to notice he had come in. Romano huffed and went straight to a certain Spaniard who was standing by the table and cutting vegetables.
"Hey, tomato bastard," he started conversationally. "Is there something I could do?"
Spain looked at him in astonishment. Romano blushed.
"Just tell me something I can do!" he barked when the other just blinked.
Spain smiled. "Oh, you're finally in the mood, Romano? That's so cu–"
"Finish that word and I'll change my mind!" Actually he was already regretting he had opened that damn door.
Just as Spain was about to answer, France's approaching voice sang from the other side of the door. "Spain, mon ami~! Have you seen that little Italian of yours?"
Romano was about to object loudly to being labeled Spain's property, but Spain shut him up quickly and shoved him towards the other door in the room.
"Hide, quickly!" Spain hissed. When France was about to open the door before Romano was out of range, Spain dashed in to distract the him in the best and only way he could quickly think of.
France let out a surprised gasp when Spain kissed him forcefully. The distraction turned out to be very thorough. When they finally parted, France hummed breathlessly. "Hmm~? To what do I owe this sudden sweet− wait, you used that to disctract me, didn't you, sneaky bastard?"
Spain tried to look innocent, but failed miserably. France sighed. "I thought you were on my side. Oh well." He entered the room anyway and looked around. Forget sweet supple Italians for a while, the kitchen was full of feminine beauty in the form of Ukraine, Belgium and Liechtenstein, who had seemingly already recovered from her earlier embarrasment. France thought for a moment, fingering the green branch in his hand. He walked to Ukraine.
"My lady," he said, attaching the mistletoe to her hair. "You look beautiful today." France knelt in front of her briefly, raising her hand to his lips. Ukraine blushed and looked at her outfit: ordinary clothes under a red apron, not to mention the flour and other stains in it. What exactly made her look beautiful?
France stood up and and proceeded to Belgium. He pulled out another green miracle from who knows where and Belgium tensed, not sure if she should run away like Romano or if she actually wanted to stay. France leaned in closer and took her chin for a kiss but stopped suddenly, looking at her lips. Belgium tilted her head, wondering what had stopped him.
France purred. "Hmm, chocolate." He raised Belgium's chin upwards and leaned down to lick her lips lovingly, letting his tongue gather up the dark brown sweet lingering on her from taste-testing her cooking. When he was done he licked his own lips. "Delicious," he hummed to his tense and blushed partner. "Thank you for the treat."
Leaving the paralysed Belgium behind France turned to leave the kitchen and find his next... well, 'victim' was such an ugly word. At the door he stopped and looked up. Now this place needs mistletoe, he thought and stood on tiptoe to hang Belgium's branch over the door. When he was done he nodded and let his hands and eyes fall, only to meet Norway standing right in front of him.
France opened his mouth to ask what was the matter, but Norway cut him off with passionate kiss, straight on the lips. Now France was thoroughly shocked. Spain he could understand, but Norway– wait, was that a tongue?
They parted and Norway simply turned to leave.
"Wait," France stopped him. "Who... who are you and what did you do to Norway?"
Norway huffed, blushing slightly. "Jes' felt like it." He turned back to give France a glare, which then turned to a small smile. "'S Christmas soon. I feel good right now."
.-.-.-.-.-.-.
The nations exited the castle in tense silence, partly expecting Grandfather Frost to change his mind and lock them in, or say 'just kidding' or something similar. When the ice gates slammed shut behind them, there was a collective relieved sigh. They were able to breathe freely again.
Prussia was the first to say something. "Gee," he said simply, taking a deep breath and laughing briefly. "Well, of course he'd finally give in in front of the Awesome Me."
"You didn't even do anything," Hungary told him.
"Did too," Prussia said. "Don't even try to deny you felt my Awesome presence."
"Shut up, brother," Germany ordered, massaging his temples.
"Shut up, everyone," Switzerland corrected. When this earned him a few enquiring looks, he sighed and explained. "I want it quiet for a while. It's been so loud with all the fighting we did that my ears could use a break before we use the snowmobiles again."
"Is that how you came all the way here?" Finland asked, receiving a nod from everyone else and a glare from Switzerland. Christmas wiggled out from inside his collar and pressed its little paws on his mouth. Finland chuckled quietly.
They made the trip to where the rescue party had left their snowmobiles in comfortable silence, basking in the happy warmth of the newly freed Christmas. Even Switzerland couldn't keep scowling for very long. He would have been the last to admit that something had been missing before, but now that it was brightly and vibrantly there it was apparent what they had been missing.
They found General Winter waiting when they reached the snowmobiles. He had doodled the nearby trees full at some point, and looked very surprised that they actually had Finland with them.
However, no matter how much of a relief their guide's presence was, it did nothing to help the next thing they noticed.
"Umm... General?" Russia began hesitantly. "You do realise what you're sitting, don't you?"
General Winter raised his eyebrows. "On a snowmobile?"
Russia nodded. "That's right. And I gather you've been changing seats a few times?"
"Do you understand," Germany said emphatically. "That your icy arse is freezing our only way to get home?"
General blinked and didn't answer, just looked at the freezing snowmobiles around him.
"Does this mean..." Turkey frowned. "That we rescued the princess..." ("Hey!") "...Made up with the not-villain... and can't get home?"
A/N: Sorry everyone: there was no actual "final showdown" ;_; we had comments about people waiting for that and felt like "Nooo! Can we change this at this point? We failed them!" but we couldn't change it OTL Firstly, we can't make Grandfather Frost to appear like an actual villain, that'd rude for all those who wait him every year and secondly, we didn't even have time for that.
ChibiDryad242: There's absolutely nothing wrong with rewieving so much. On the contrary, please do, we are pleased.
This chapter is un-betad, because Cheru is on a trip.