Weiss dreamt about her past. Memories that had not even been shown to her again were playing like films in her mind, depicting events of loss and devastation, but also nostalgia and comfort. Despite this, she remained sound asleep, until another bright light shone in Team RWBY's dormitory room, this time accompanied by the loud roar of flame.

Weiss woke with a start, jolting up in her bed. She rose too quickly and too high, and bumped the top of her forehead on a beam of the bed above her. She rubbed her minor injury more frustrated than hurt, then turned her head to see where the light and sound of crackling flame were coming from. When she saw the figure that now occupied the corner of her room, she scooted closer to the edge of her bed, curiously attempting to get a better look.

"Ha ha!" the figure laughed in a familiar, domineering voice. "Get up! Come get to know me better!"

Weiss obeyed, kicking her feet, which still had slippers on, out from under the sheets as she stood up. She walked slowly over closer to the figure, her head bobbing and turning to try and take in all angles of the marvelous sight before her.

Sitting in the corner of the dormitory was a large Spirit, and unmistakably resembled Yang Xiao Long. While Yang was already the tallest member of the team, the Spirit was a bit further beyond that, easily ten feet tall. She sat on a stack of items, among which were wrapped gifts in red, white, yellow, and purple, Holiday wreathes, ribbons and bows, and bowls of fruit and nuts. At the bottom of the pile were a sword in a scabbard and what appeared to be an antique crossbow. The Spirit herself was a stunning display of fire and light: her hair was a reflective gold that poured down her back and down to her waits, appearing like crackling flames when it waved. She was dressed in a long golden robe, which shimmered with what looked like embers that had been plucked from flame and sewed into the fabric, laced with metallic gold trim. A circlet of fire was around her head, an orange scarf around her neck, and in her right hand she held a gold torch with a roaring flame within, illuminating the entire room. Her purple eyes were kind and soft.

"Are you… another Spirit?" Weiss asked timidly.

"I am the Ghost of Holiday Present!" the giantess replied in the hotheaded, but jovial voice of Yang. "I'll bet you've never seen anyone quite like me before!"

"Well, you do bear a resemblance to someone I know," Weiss commented, unsure if the Spirit's appearance was affected the same way the Ghost of Holiday Past's was, or if this Spirit knew about it. She cleared her throat and decided to change the subject. "Listen. I know you're here to show me something. To help me. So please, take me wherever you intend to go, and I will do my best to learn and observe."

The Ghost of Holiday Present smiled a wide smile. "Come over closer, and grip onto the hem of my robe," she said. Weiss obeyed, walking over. After climbing on top of the pile of presents and sitting down on them, she reached over with her right hand and gripped the golden edge of the robe. Her hand was instantly filled with warmth, and her whole body felt like it was next to a warm fireplace.

The Ghost pointed her torch to the wall with the window. Suddenly, Weiss saw a small flicker out of the corner of her eye. She looked up and over to see a small flame on Yang's sheets.

"Oh no!" Weiss said, concern in her voice. "Yang's bed is on fire!" She rose up, still holding onto the robe.

"Do not worry!" the Ghost responded. "Sit tight."

Weiss crouched back down, but kept her eye on the spreading fire. Suddenly, she saw her and Ruby's beds catch fire as well, and finally Blake's. The bookshelf and its books were soon ignited, and as each piece of furniture burned away, they seemed to transforming embers and ash that simply blew back into the Spirit's torch. Weiss watched with frightened awe as the wall itself went ablaze, the wallpaper peeling and dropping away and the window melting. Even the boy band poster above Yang's bed burned. The blaze grew so large that Weiss had to cover her eyes from the heat and glow, but when she felt it subside, she lowered her arm to see the wall and all items that would have obstructed her view were gone completely, with no evidence they were ever there. What surprised her the most was that it was clearly daylight outside now, though the snow still fell and whirled around heavily. There was a creaking sound, and Weiss' eyes widened and her mouth turned up into a subtle smile as she saw the view from the exposed room shift forward rapidly, though never loosing elevation. It was as if the room were an airship that had simply detached from Beacon and was now flying over the world of Remnant.

"May I… may I go get a closer look?" Weiss asked timidly, a feeling of thrill like that of a small child racing through her.

"Of course," the Ghost replied. "Just stay close."

Weiss let go of the robe, her fingers sore from gripping it so tightly, and she walked with shaking legs closer to the other side of the room where a window and wall had once been. There was no turbulence or unnatural motion, more as if the world were moving around the room rather than the room moving around it. Weiss wondered which was the case. Careful of her balance and the Spirit's warning, she got as close to the edge as she dared and took in the view. The snow blew around and in at her. She felt the cold wind and flakes rush past her, but she was in such high spirits that she did not mind. She saw them flying over trees and streets, the city of Vale covered in deep white snow below her. She instinctively extended her arms at her sides. Feeling the rush of the fight before she turned and hurried back to the Spirit, warming her cold hands and face on the specter's fiery warmth.

Weiss finally noticed the view change elevation, dropping quickly down towards the ground. It halted just as it was seemingly hovering above the a street in the city, and moved through it slowly like a vehicle cruising calmly on tour.

Even in the whirling snow and cold, there were still people up and about. They were bundled up tightly, walking down the streets and in and out of shops. They would speak and call to each other, and Weiss kept hearing "Happy Holiday! Merry Holiday! Happy Holiday! Merry Holiday!"

"I present to you: Holiday morning!" the Ghost cheered while sweeping her torch through the air.

Weiss looked out with awe at the sight. None of the people seemed to see her or the Spirit, but she assumed that this time they were the shadows. She leaned forward to try and take everything in.

"Even in this weather, they still go out and wish each other a Happy Holiday," Weiss observed. "Why would they do that? Why not stay inside and stay warm?"

"Lots of reasons!" the Ghost exclaimed. "Some have to stay on the move. Some have things they have to go do. Some have things they want to get to. And some are just so full of Holiday Spirit and cheer that they cannot bear to keep it all to themselves, and need to wish it upon others!"

As Weiss continued to look, she saw a line of people on one of the sidewalks. She scooted as close as she could while still having a fingertip on the Spirit's robe to see that the people were poorly dressed, and were standing in line outside of a small noodle shop. A banner on the stall read "A Simple Wok" and displayed an image of two figures in straw hats and a bowl of noodles. An elderly man with thinning grey hair was working quickly behind the counter, serving bowls of noodles and broth to the people in line. Weiss noted that none of them were paying.

"Here you see people with no homes to go stay warm in," the Spirit explained. "But their hearts are still filled with the joy of the day. And the keeper of the shop generously gives them hot food."

"It's a shame," Weiss said. "On a day dedicated to celebration, they have nothing to celebrate."

"Just the opposite," the Ghost said. "They celebrate the warm food in their bellies. They celebrate the kindness of strangers. They celebrate the air in their lungs. They have very little and still find time to celebrate it. Yet you have so much and cannot see its worth."

"I know how much I have, and what it's worth!" Weiss scolded with a stern tone, upset because she had been getting along with this Spirit so well.

"Then why do you not appreciate it?" the specter inquired. "Why do you not celebrate?" She locked her purple eyes with Weiss'. I see a girl before me who has spent her entire life getting exactly what she wanted. So instead of fretting about what you do not have, savor what you do."

Weiss was about to respond when she had to stop and think. She had heard those words before. Someone had said those exact things to her before.

"What is it?" the Ghost asked.

"Professor Port told me that," Weiss replied, remembering. "I made a lot of progress in trying to be a better person that day…"

"What happened?" the Spirit asked in a tone that implied she already knew the answer and just wanted Weiss to say it out loud.

"I… relapsed," Weiss said, pausing to think of the right word. "I just started getting so frustrated with my team, my situation… then the Holiday season came and I just got so upset…" She sighed, unsure what to say next.

The view began to move rapidly again, as if the room were racing at incredible speeds through the streets of Vale. Weiss huddled back a bit closer to the Spirit, watching the blurring white until they halted suddenly at an area on the edge of the city. Weiss recognized it as the docks, where she and her team had once visited on one of their days off. There were large boats docked next to wooden piers, and on the far end was a small airstrip and landing pad for some privately-owned air transport.

Amidst all of the swirling white, Weiss saw three instantly recognizable colors: red, yellow, and black, standing next to a tall gray figure. She let go of the robe and walked off the pile of gifts, slowly and cautiously approaching the open wall.

Ruby, Yang, and Blake, all dressed in heavy winter gear corresponding to their respective color schemes, were standing talking with a tall man in a grey jumpsuit and coat, wearing a helmet and sunglasses. His arms were crossed and tucked in, trying to stay warm in the wind and snow.

"Sorry, girls," the man said in a pleasant, but firm voice. "It's just not safe to go anywhere."

"But we need to get to our family in Patch!" Yang said, gesturing forward. "We have some extra Lien if that helps…"

The man shook his head. "I really wish I could help you out," he said. "But the water's too icy and the winds are too strong to set sail, and the wind and snow make flying out on a Bullhead impossible too. The snow would make visibility nonexistent and the winds would take it right out of the sky. We've had to cancel all transport off the mainland for everyone's sake."

"So… you're saying we won't be home for the Holiday?" Ruby asked, a sadness in her voice.

The man shrugged slightly. "I'm sorry, girls. That's really a bummer. I'd go get somewhere warm. You can still have a safe and wonderful Holiday."

Blake nodded to the man. "Thank you for all your help," she said.

The man nodded back to her. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more." He turned to go back to his work, turning to wave back at them. "Stay safe, and Merry Holiday!"

All three girls waved back. "Happy Holiday!" Yang called after him. Then they all turned and began walking back towards Beacon. Weiss could see tears running from Ruby's silver eyes and evaporating off of her cheeks. Weiss had always thought of Ruby as like a child, something she had used in negative sense when thinking of her as their leader and her permanent partner. But seeing a child, or even someone Weiss thought of like a child, cry on the Holiday was something even she could not find joy in.

Yang wrapped her arm around Ruby's shoulder. "Aw, cheer up, sis," she said, a sad but optimistic smile on her face. "We'll give Dad a call and say we can't make it."

"This will be my first Holiday away from home," Ruby said, sniffling quietly.

"That's not such a bad thing," Yang suggested. "It stinks, yeah, but you're at Beacon now. Both of us can show Dad how much we've grown up. And we'll see him and Zwei again soon."

"We can attend the event the Beacon staff are putting together," Blake said. "You can even use some of the excess gifts you bought last night at the swap. And if all ways off of the mainland are closed off today, that means there'll be even more people there."

"That's a great idea, Blake!" Yang said. She hugged Ruby closer. "What do you say, Ruby? Think we can still have a good Holiday?"

Ruby smiled sadly and nodded, wiping away a tear. "Yeah," she replied. "There will be the three of us, Team JNPR, all the teachers… we'll have fun." Her smile dropped. "Except for Weiss."

Weiss felt a pain through her heart when she heard her name mentioned. She hoped that they would forget about her.

Yang's eyes briefly flickered red before she spoke. "Weiss is just a grump. You know that. We'll leave her alone and just let her do what she wants to do. And if she has a problem with us having a good time, I'll punch her for you. Deal?"

Ruby shrugged. "I just thought we had made a breakthrough, that's all."

Yang nodded then turned to Blake. "Sorry," she said meekly.

Blake shook her head. "Don't be sorry. Thank you for even thinking about and inviting me, it was really nice of you guys, and I'm sure I'll meet your dad someday. Besides, I was planning on being stuck at Beacon before your invitation anyway."

All three girls giggled, and for once, Weiss wished she were out in the snow and the cold, walking alongside them and giggling as well.

Weiss turned and looked to the Spirit. "So they really won't be going home this year?"

The Ghost shook her head. "No. But as you heard, their spirits are not dampened. That is the magic of the Holiday!"

Weiss sighed. "It's a bit off-putting to hear that I'm the one reason they wouldn't want to come back to Beacon…"

"We will now look at another place your name is mentioned," the Spirit said, waving her torch again. Weiss hurried back over to the Ghost's side as the room began to rush up and forward again, this time traveling at speeds so fast that Weiss could not make out what they were flying past. All she heard was the howling of wind as the room began to shake slightly, as if even the magic of the room was being affected by their speeds.

When the room finally slowed and stopped, Weiss shifted forward, almost expecting a jolt from their stop. However, there was none. She looked out and saw that they were indoors, and an all-too-familiar indoors. She scooted off the presents and slowly walked forward.

Before her was the Schnee Manor dining hall. There was the elongated table with white tablecloth, surrounded by blue upholstered chairs, all on top of an ornate blue rug and under angular crystal chandeliers. The sky outside the multiple windows was noticeably darker, as if the time had passed as quickly as the magic room had. Servants were scattered about, setting out vases of holly and dusting the urns and pillars lining the walls. Seated at the table, in opposite chairs, were her younger brother Whitley and her tired mother, both dressed in matching blue and grey shirts and vests. As per usual, her mother Willow Schnee had a bottle and wine glass in either hand, and was sipping from one or the other.

"Mother?" Whitley asked.

Willow raised her head slowly, enough indication that she had heard him.

"Are… are Weiss or Winter coming home this Holiday?" he asked.

Weiss was shocked. Was Whitley wanting her to come home? Or was he just preparing something nasty if she was?

Weiss would not get an answer, as her mother slowly shook her head, her white ponytail swaying on her shoulder. "No," she said in her disoriented, sad, but soothing voice. "Winter is assisting General Ironwood, and Weiss is all the way in Vale. Besides, you know Weiss doesn't care for the Holiday."

"Oh," Whitley simply stated, his expression never really changing. Weiss pondered what he was up to.

"It's a shame," a dignified voice suddenly came. Willow visibly flinched, and Whitley's eyes looked up to see his father entering from his study on the other side of the room. "I would have very much liked them to be here to mingle with our guests again." He nodded to Whitley. "Speaking of which, you should go ready up. They will be here soon."

Whitley nodded. "Yes, father." He rose from his seat and walked quickly out into the entrance hall.

"Is your Holiday dampened by not having your typical things to show off?" Willow muttered, taking another drink.

"They are great examples of Schnee standards, yes," Jacques said, ignoring the insult. "But whether you choose to believe it or not, my dear, I do care about my daughters." He glanced out the window. "And I do hope they're safe tonight."

That moment was probably the most humanity Weiss had seen from her father. Part of her was still convinced he just did not want his possessions damaged, but another was at the very least touched that her family was thinking about her.

"We have one last stop," the Ghost remarked. "Come."

Weiss obeyed, walking back to the Ghost and her throne, but keeping her head turned and on her family until she reached her spot and crouched down. The room moved again, and again Weiss could not see or even hear where they were from the wailing wind and blurred surroundings that were increasingly darkening.

Weiss sighed, then shivered as a chill ran across her. She found it odd at first, but realized there was much less heat coming from the Spirit. She looked up and saw that the light from the Ghost had dwindled by a great deal. The fire in her torch was much smaller and weaker, and the embers of her dress and crown flickered and began to fade. Weiss noted tired bags under the Spirit's eyes, but opted not to say anything before they stopped.

The Ghost of Holiday Present pointed her dying flame at the opening, and Weiss followed it as she moved forward and looked out. It was nighttime, and the snow falling was now a gentle flurry accompanied by small, but incredibly, bitterly cold gusts and breezes. They were in a forest of trees, mostly pines like Holiday trees, and there was a small flicker of light. Weiss leaned in to see a minuscule campfire surrounded by stones, popping and crackling with a faint light and heat but a soothing and earthy smell. However, she saw no one sitting around it.

As Weiss stared at the campfire, she heard a noise, one that made her instinctively raise her guard and reach for where Myrtenaster would have been on her combat outfit. It was a low growl, accompanied by the crunching of snow and the crackling of branches. She saw red eyes suddenly peer out from the darkness. She took a step back as a Beowolf Grimm emerged from the foliage, snarling and sniffing the air. It grew closer and closer, and Weiss backed up out of instinct alone, unsure if the same rules regarding her invisibility and intangibility applied to Creatures of Grimm.

Just as she was about to call to the Ghost, Weiss was startled by a round metallic clang. The Grimm roared loudly as it jolted over, and Weiss saw what appeared to be a shiny metal crossbow bolt in the creature's side. She turned her head to see a pretty young woman in a forest green cloak and hood, padded beige leggings, and wielding a large ornate crossbow. She had shoulder-length brown hair and bright green eyes that seemed to illuminate in the night. She fired another bolt, but the Grimm swiped the air and knocked it away before it could make contact. Just as the Beowolf turned and prepared to charge at her, another individual that Weiss had not even seen burst out from the trees, wielding a large sword. There was clearly a Lightning Dust crystal embedded in a chamber in the blade, and as he rushed out, the metal was coated inn electricity that sparked and arced across the blade. His brown cloak bellowed behind him, and his hood flew off to reveal dirty blond hair. He slashed at the Beowolf from behind, electricity shocking at the slash. The Grimm reared up, spasming and howling to the sky, when the other warrior rushed up and pressed a button on her crossbow, extending blades from the limbs, and slashed across the Grimm's stomach. The monster howled once more before collapsing and turning to a thick cloud of black dust and mist, blowing away in the breeze.

The woman panted and shivered, but gave her companion a thumbs-up. "Good job, Mike," she said.

"Thanks," he replied, pulling his hood back up. The two walked together over to the fire and sat down on stones next to it, shivering as they set down their weapons and rubbed their hands over the small flame.

The woman shuttered from the cold and sniffled slightly, and the man reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a small box. He handed it to the woman.

"Happy Holiday, Aurelia," he said.

She looked at the gift and then to him, "Mike," she said sentimentally. "You shouldn't have. When did you get me something?"

"The last town we were in," he said. "I saw it and thought you might like it."

"Aw, you didn't have to do that," she said again, gently taking the box from him. She opened it up and smiled ear to ear as she reached in and pulled out a golden necklace with a small emblem resembling the shattered moon on the end.

"It's beautiful," she said, draping it over her hood and letting it hang over her cloak. "This is just the fashion statement I needed to complete the look."

The man laughed. "I know it's hard for you to be out here while your husband and kid are still at home. I just wanted to bring a little bit of the Holiday to you."

The woman smiled. "Thank you, Mike. You're the best partner a girl could have." She leaned forward and gave him a hug. "And I didn't get you a damn thing," she jokingly muttered.

Weiss watched the exchange, smiling as well. She turned to the Spirit. "Who are they?" she asked.

"A Huntsman and Huntress," the Ghost respond, an air of tiredness in her voice. "They were partners all the way back from their time at Haven Academy, and have stuck together as partners in their duties ever since. On this night, this Holiday night, they do not go and spend time with their families or loved ones. The Huntress has a husband and daughter. The Huntsman has a beloved sister. But they give up the chance to celebrate and be with them to continue carrying out their duties as protectors. They are out in the cold on Holiday night to make sure that everyone in the towns and Kingdoms nearby are safe tonight."

Weiss tilted her head. "A Huntsman and Huntress," she repeated. "I guess when you're in that profession, you have to be grateful for what you have." She thought back to what Professor Goodwitch had said.

"Indeed," replied the Spirit. "But they still are grateful for safety and each other. They do not despise the day because they are not celebrating like others. They're doing a duty, which is a duty that requires sacrifice. It is the duty you are training for."

Weiss heard all of the words and took them in. She looked back once more to the two brave warriors warming themselves by the campfire, then slowly walked back towards the Spirit.

The room was dark now, and the heat was gone. The last few flickers of flame popped in the torch. Weiss could see that the Ghost's skin was pale, and her crown of fire had gone out. Her hair was growing lighter in color, and her eyes looked ready to fall into deep sleep. As it was also Yang's appearance, Weiss felt unnerved seeing her ally in such a condition. She decided to ask about it.

"Are you alright, Spirit?" Weiss asked.

"My time is almost at an end," the Ghost of Holiday Present replied sleepily.

Weiss nodded, unsure of what to say. She had never had to comfort someone dying or going away before, so she was not sure what to do. As she looked at the Ghost's faded appearance, she noticed something she had not before. On the far end of the Spirit's robe, she thought she saw a clawed hand protruding from underneath.

"Forgive me if it's not my place," Weiss asked, "but what is that under your robe?" She pointed.

The weary Spirit reached down and pulled back part of her robe, revealing a bare leg. However, clinging to it were two children, a boy and a girl. They were dirty and unkempt, wearing torn clothes and with muddled hair. The boy had bull-like horns protruding from under his ashen hair, and the girl's fingernails were long and sharp. They glared at Weiss with gray eyes that made her blood run cold, and she backed away.

"Who… who are they?" was all Weiss could manage to ask.

"The boy is named Ignorance," the Ghost explained. "The girl is called Want. I want you to beware of them, but remember that they are the responsibility of all people, including you."

"How did they come to be like this?" Weiss worried. "What happened to them?"

"They should have worked and trained harder, made something of themselves," the Spirit said, echoing Weiss' own words back at her before closing her robe again and sighing deeply.

Weiss looked away, hoping to see the joyful sight of the Huntsman and Huntress again, but the view had changed again without her even noticing it. She saw what appeared to be the outer grounds of Beacon Academy, covered in both the white show, the darkness of night, and now a dense fog.

Weiss looked back to her spectral companion, and saw her struggling to keep her eyes open. Weiss hurried over, forgetting about the children and stepping over the presents, to be close to the Spirit, if for no other reason than to repay her for her warmth than by offering what little she herself had.

"Thank you," Weiss said lightly. "For showing me."

"Remember well," the Spirit said softly, her eyes meeting Weiss' and a small smile on her lips before her eyes closed and the Ghost of Holiday Present drifted off into sleep. Weiss looked down and somberly climbed off the throne of presents. She looked at the torch just in time to see the fire go out, and a chill blow past her. She blinked, and suddenly the dormitory room, and the Ghost of Holiday Present, were gone. She looked around, only to see shadows and fog around her.