Disclaimer: Still not owning things, still working on finishing this up, still wondering WTF am I even doing anymore.

Blake walked for hours.

She walked deep into the dark forest, where the trees and bushes seemed to have a mind of their own, often turning others back to Halloween Town when they tried to wander too far. Deeper still, where everything was far more sparse, the vegetation moving whenever she blinked to make way for them. And then even further, where nothing moved. The moon had long since retreated to its own rest, allowing weak rays of daylight to filter past heavy clouds and the thick canopy overhead. It was never bright in Halloween Town- frankly, it was better that way- but neither were any of her fellow creatures acclimated to being awake during the daylight hours. They were fond of shadows and darkness and moonlight, not the penetrating brightness of the sun.

Still, Gambol Shroud led on, and she followed at a steady pace. Her shoulders sagging as weariness called her to rest, Blake blinked blearily at her guide, who was nearly impossible to see during the daylight. It wasn't the kind of 'tired' a mortal might expect- she could keep walking until even Gambol Shroud faded away, and even longer after that- but there was still a desire to rest and recover nagging at her, urging her to abandon whatever fool notion had taken hold of her predecessor and, by extension, her.

However, just as she was about to give the thought serious consideration, the cat came to a stop. It lowered itself to the ground, nearly disappearing into the fallen leaves, and looked back expectantly at her, waiting.

Curious as to what would cause her predecessor to lead her all the way out to such a weirdly specific location, Blake continued on cautiously, scanning the clearing ahead of her.

It... wasn't what she was expecting.

Arranged in a circle were tall, thick trees, ancient looking ones that had likely stood tall since the moon first hung in the sky. Carved into their faces were strange emblems the likes of which she'd never seen before and bright brass knobs attached to each.

Okay, so it wasn't entirely true that she didn't recognize all of them. One of the trees bore the silhouette of a cat, tail arcing up above its head and bark dyed by some substance she couldn't name. Instantly, she was drawn to it, reaching out to lightly skim the tips of her fingers across the blackened bark. Movement out of the corner of her eye, however, brought her away from the door as she noticed Gambol Shroud sitting patiently beside one of the other trees, though there was a hint of accusation in those eyes that weren't-quite-there.

Belatedly, Blake realized that she'd followed the spirit in the hopes of finding something new to save her from the boredom she could feel creeping into her soul... and then promptly erred on the side of caution, investigating that which was familiar instead of one of the other emblems. She didn't bother trying to justify herself- it wasn't like her predecessor was inclined to chastise her, beyond lashing the air with her tail- and instead swept her golden gaze across the other symbols, puzzling over what each one meant. Eventually, she settled on the green flower with four leaves beside Gambol Shroud, taking a few steps towards it before the light landed just right, catching her eye.

It didn't bounce off the knob. It didn't filter straight down, missing every limb and leaf to land across her face, no. It gleamed off the golden star set at the top of a green tree, spotted with splashes of color that seemed to glow all their own.

Blake stopped, turning towards the door with her head tilted to the side. It was a strange sight, this one. The others were mostly solid colors, but this one was colorful and bright, so at odds with Halloween Town's darker palette. Even if she preferred the shadows, taking a closer look wouldn't hurt, right?

Gambol Shroud followed her, making no noise as it rose to peek over her shoulder at the strange emblem. With only a moment of hesitation, Blake reached out and touched the brass knob, surprised that it was colder than the dead. A previously invisible seam appeared the moment her hand wrapped around it, the hidden door easing open without so much as a groan of complaint. Inside was darkness- the kind of pitch that the Black Cat would normally dive into head first- but there seemed to be a breeze coming from deep within, perhaps from far below the ground she currently stood upon. Her ears twitched, partly in trepidation and partly in excitement.

Whatever this was, it was new.

"Should I?" She looked over her shoulder at her predecessor, curious to see if her hesitation was warranted or worthy of another tail flick.

In the end, she never found out as the cold wind whipped hard, seeming to wrap around her like the Butcher's arms, dragging her forward without her assistance. Before she knew it, Blake was falling into the darkness in a way that was entirely alien; whatever she'd stumbled upon, it didn't respond to her commands to accept her into itself, to become one with her and her with it. Instead, she fell, weightless as the cold whipped at her frame, tumbling until she was suddenly able to see again.

What she saw, however, was almost enough for the mighty Queen of Halloween to feel a tiny tendril of fear.

As far as the eye could see, there was white- white trees, white hills, white clouds drifting past the white moon, and little white specks pelting her in the face as she fell from the sky, somehow plummeting headfirst despite having never felt her center of gravity shift. The ground rushing to meet her might've terrified a mortal but, being the Master of Scares, she merely tucked her knees into her chest and twisted her hips, redirecting her body's descent even her plummet continued. If she tipped forward just right, she'd be able to hit the ground and roll, then spring up to her feet. All she had to do was-

Nothing, as a matter of fact, because the ground wasn't as solid as she was expecting, instead giving way as she suddenly sunk up to her waist in white fluff that was so cold it sent a shiver down Blake's spine. The Black Cat found herself struggling just to get out of the hole she'd unintentionally made, only to sink back down into a fresh section of the white powder.

"What's this?" She furrowed her brows, gathering up a handful of the stuff and examining it. She sniffed it, tasted it, tried crushing it- it smelled fresh, tasted clean, and what didn't become compact beneath her fingers scattered on the wind. It didn't behave like anything she'd ever experienced before. More of the stuff kept falling on her, too, making her ears twitch at the unexpected sensation. Yet, no matter how strange, Blake couldn't help but look up and feel a new sense of wonder fill her chest, a smile spreading across her lips. She hadn't felt this excited since she first learned how to dive into shadows and come up blocks away, spending days just losing herself to the darkness that was so prevalent around her home. Suddenly possessed by so much energy she couldn't keep still, the Blake Cat lowered herself into the strange powder, gathering up as much as she could in both arms and throwing it high, laughing as it came crashing over her again, showering her in what felt like thousands of soft, tiny crystals. "What is this?"

"It's snow, you dolt."

Blake's ears perked, turning towards the voice that had answered her. It wasn't one she recognized, which meant it was someone new, someone who sounded vaguely frustrated and feminine, and the moment her gaze landed on the only other person in sight, she was not disappointed. There, sitting on a tree branch laden with more of the white powder but remaining unbent despite it, was what appeared to be a woman.

She looked almost Human with her expression pinched into one of annoyance, blue eyes a bright splash of color in an otherwise pale visage, from her white jacket to the offset ponytail that peeked around the right side of her head, the locks just as colorless as everything else. The tips of those long tresses brushed lightly against her crossed ankles clad in high heeled boots with every gentle breeze, drawing the Black Cat's attention briefly before she looked back up into those sharp blue eyes that never deviated, never faltered. Whatever this person was, she was no mortal, surely, for who could bear the weight of the Queen of Halloween's stare?

"Snow?" Blake tilted her head, marveling briefly at how even the woman's skin seemed to match the fluffy white substance surrounding her, paler than moonlight that shone down on both of them. She would almost think it was bone, were it not for how soft and pliable it looked. "I don't understand."

"What do you mean 'I don't understand'? What is there to not understand?" She gestured around them with her left hand, a vaguely annoyed gesture that was disguised as being helpful. "It's snow. Falls from the sky, cold, white- snow. This isn't difficult."

"No, but it is new." Just saying the words aloud brought a wide smile to her lips as she ducked down to gather up some of the substance in one hand, offering it towards the woman above. "And I don't understand what it is."

The annoyance slid away, replaced by thoughtful contemplation for a moment before she leaned back, falling from the branch with a graceful backflip. Blake watched as she landed a few feet away, utterly soundless, her shoes failing to make the same deep indentations in the snow as the Black Cat had during her landing. Instead, they seemed to melt together and fuse, never separated despite the woman taking slow strides towards her.

"Snow is... well, it's what happens when water in the clouds are touched by Winter." She cupped her hand, one of the white specks falling into her open palm. It hovered above the skin, though, before more specks swirled around it, eventually taking shape, a beautiful lattice work of nearly transparent ice forming with little sound. "Once under Winter's thrall, the clouds drop these- snowflakes." She raised the example up, allowing the Queen of Halloween to lean in and get a better look, marveling at the intricate design composing the middle, the sharp looking spikes all around the edges. It reminded her of a spider's web in complexity but it was far too beautiful to ever be considered unnerving, even by mortal standards. "They're small, but once enough of them gather-" With a flick of her wrist, the construction was dispelled, bursting into the tiny army that composed it and falling, silently, to join millions more at their feet. "- it creates snow. Once Winter passes, they turn to water, and eventually return to the clouds, but for now, they'll remain- in banks and slopes and drifts, and on branches and houses and whatever else will bear their weight. Truthfully, snow gets everywhere." As the snow continued falling around them, the woman looked up at her, a few inches shorter but remaining unintimidated regardless. "Now, who are you, to be so close to Christmas Town and not know what snow is?"

Ah, that might explain it. Lacking an introduction- and any attempt to properly terrify the woman- could be why she seemed unafraid.

With a flourish, Blake bowed at the waist, her voice smooth and fluid as she spoke. "I am Blake Belladonna, the Black Cat, and Queen of Halloween."

As she straightened up, she flashed a disarming smile, far too practiced at her role to miss the opportunity presented. She held out her hand, waiting for the woman to take it. When she attempted to do so, though, the Black Cat vanished in a puff of purple smoke, emerging from the shadow of the tree overhead a moment later just behind her target. As those blue eyes blinked, confusion and surprise telegraphed in her posture, Blake reaching out and grabbed her shoulders, letting out one of her best roars to scare the woman.

It worked, far better than she could've hoped, a sharp blast of freezing snow hitting her in the face as the woman let out a shriek, darting away far easier than Blake could even move in the knee high snow without the aid of her shadows.

"Why would you do that?" A flash of rosy pink- not dark or vivid enough to be blood- spread over her cheeks as she glared at the Black Cat from a few feet away.

"You asked who I am; what's an introduction without a demonstration?" It had been many decades- maybe a century or so, even- since the last time the Queen of Halloween had ever felt so pleased with herself over a simple scare. It was also perhaps one of the few times that she'd suffered some sort retaliation for doing her job, though dislodging the snow clinging to her hair and ears was rather simple. Despite her role not changing much, having such a refreshing response had her entirely enthralled, amusement plain in her expression as she watched the other fuss over her jacket.

"Well, it was very rude." The woman huffed, crossing her arms over her chest and turning slightly away, shoulders hunched. "Not to mention entirely unnecessary."

"Actually, it's very necessary," she replied, ready to provide a more explicit answer... until she realized that she'd somehow forgotten why. There was some point where she knew- many centuries ago, when she was still just a kitten walking in her predecessor's shadow- but the words and memories escaped her, causing her to pause long enough to draw those blue eyes back to her, one white brow raised in askance. Offering a small smile, she ducked her head, ears falling enough to express contrition. "But, perhaps it was rude. Please, forgive me, Miss..."

"Weiss." The woman supplied, gaze flickering to the hand Blake extended the same as before. Though there was a hint of suspicion, she closed the distance between them, a small smirk gracing her lips. "My name is Weiss, and I-" She stopped, suddenly, her voice snatched away by the wind as she began to fall to pieces before Blake's very eyes, swirling away as a mass of snowflakes. Golden eyes widened a moment before she felt something cold tickle one of her cat ears. "I am the Snow Spirit."

Brows rising in surprise, the Black Cat turned her head, finding Weiss hovering just over her shoulder, her form once again solid as a flurry of snowflakes twisted around her body. They faded in and out of her jacket and skirt, much the same as the snow on the ground melted with her boots once she touched down again. Amused that the woman thought she'd be so easy to scare, Blake let out a chuckle, once again extending her hand. Although a little crestfallen at not receiving a bigger reaction, Weiss still offered her own in reply, which the Black Cat took, thumb brushing across dainty pale knuckles.

"Then, this beautiful landscape is all your doing?" Golden eyes scanned around them, at all the snow covering everything in sight.

"Just a bit of... practice." There was a flicker of something akin to disappointment in those blue eyes as she surveyed the scene herself. "One gets bored from time to time, you see."

"I do," she quickly replied, perking up at the prospect of finding a kindred spirit, someone fighting against disenchantment the same way she struggled, and perhaps doing better than her at winning. "You said something about a... Christmas Town, was it?"

"Yes, just over the hill." Weiss waved with her other hand in the proper direction, glancing away briefly. "Would you... like to see it?"

"Please."

And just like that, the Snow Spirit shifted her hand so she could hold Blake's more firmly, leading the way through the snow and trees as the night wind picked up a bit, the light flurry falling down accompanying the crunch of snow beneath the Queen's feet.

The moment they crested the hill, Blake's eyes went wide. Spread out below them was a town much like her own in terms of size, but that's where the similarities ended. Not content to be bathed in moonlight alone, bright lights hung from every building, wrapped around every pole, some pure light while others were tinted by bright colors, some flashing while others merely shone, and they weren't even the most colorful part of the view before her. There were great big trees- like the emblem that brought her to this place- with colorful balls and lights hanging from their branches, some sort of golden rope also draping them, and shining stars set at the very top.

Her jaw popped open, shoulders sagging in sheer surprise.

"What's all this?"

"So, you're really not from around here, are you?" Weiss noted, a small smile on her lips.

"No, I'm from Halloween Town. This-" she gestured with her free hand "-is... nothing like where I come from." Excitement began rising within her, a smile gracing her lips as she recovered from her shock, ears standing proud and tall upon her head as she turned towards the Snow Spirit. "May I take a closer look?"

"I don't see why not." Worry overtook her companion's expression. "Though... it may be wise for you to go unseen. Just for now."

"That's not a problem for a Black Cat." She looked back to the town, relishing the challenge ahead of her. With so many lights, there were plenty of shallow shadows around. They weren't the best for travelling through but, for a chance to be closer to whatever lay before her, there was no doubt the extra effort would be well worth it. At the same time, her exploration wouldn't be nearly as fun without her newfound companion. "I wonder, though, if you can keep up."

With a mischievous glint in her golden eyes, Blake let go of Weiss' hand and took two steps before jumping into the nearest shadow, stepping out within the walls of the strange and colorful place called Christmas Town. She quickly scrambled up to the roof of the nearest house, careful not to disturb the winking lights along the gutters. From there, she could see squat little creatures- not Humans, for sure, but similar- bustling from building to building, carrying things in baskets and bags and some on contraptions that lacked the wheels of a caisson but appeared to serve the same purpose, drawn not by undead horses but rather bulky creatures with white fur.

However, the little creatures were almost forgotten entirely as strange scents suddenly invaded her nose- sweet and crisp and warm, so unlike the delightfully acrid stench of fear or acute rot. She followed her nose, leaning over the roof's edge to see a pie of some sort sitting on a window ledge, along with at least three others, each wafting gently up into the sky. Immortal beings had no necessity for such things, but there was an enjoyment to be had in tasting their imitations of mortal food and drink, and whatever these were, they certainly weren't the blood soaked bones or rotten apples she'd expected.

Oh, and what was that noise? Her ears swiveled, allowing her to turn her head directly towards the source of the harmony of voices, lifted not in chants against the coming night or mortals calling upon Pyrrha to visit them in the dark, but rather in some sort of song that spoke of love and laughter and cheer. Rather than each voice standing out, competing to be louder, offset to incite more horror, these joined together, blended in the air until it was almost impossible to pick out the individuals from the whole.

It was strange but, the more she witnessed from her post slinking along the rooftops, the more she began to regard the bland white snow everywhere as the perfect backdrop for so much color, but like the darkness served as the perfect shroud for Halloween Town. It lent to everything a contrast; where the darkness was meant to conceal and exacerbate terror, the snow serves to starkly show what myriad of wonderful things existed, breaking up the scenes perfectly.

Feeling giddy for the first time in centuries, Blake ran and jumped, leaping from rooftop to rooftop in pursuit of more- sights, sounds, smells, all of it. And all the while, though she didn't really check, she could feel the cool presence of Weiss, hovering just a step behind her, quietly observing the Black Cat as she drank in everything she could. The wind picked up slowly though neither of them paid it any mind, one too caught up in experiencing more, more, more, and the other a silent shadow.

Finally, Blake came to rest on top of the tallest building, able to see everything spread out before her. Before it stood the largest tree in the town, though there were many other peculiar things arranged around it in a circle, like a giant candelabra and a red crescent moon. The lights danced, half a dozen different melodies blending with the hustle and bustle of the creatures below that reminded the Queen of how the mortals acted whenever the denizens of Halloween Town came to visit their plane.

Except, there was no fear or terror drifting on the night wind, no screams indicating panic, no growls or cries or hisses. There was nothing but joy and laughter, warm and uplifting, and it made the snow draped landscape all the brighter for it.

"So... this is Christmas Town?" Although she didn't divert her gaze, the Black Cat had no doubt she was heard by her intended audience.

"Yes." Weiss slowly came to stand beside her, boots soundlessly sliding through the snow on the roof. "Is it very different from your home?"

With a sigh born half of contentment and half of aggravation, she sat down, shivering slightly at the deepening cold seeping into her bones. It wasn't painful or distressing but the novelty of the sensation hadn't worn off yet. "Very different."

"Would... you be willing to show me? Your home, I mean." That caught her attention, dragging her gaze away from the merriment of Christmas Town to look up into those bright blue eyes. "This may seem all bright and fantastic to you, but it's all I've ever known. Seeing something different would be... nice."

Although her voice was calm and even, there was just enough uncertainty for Blake to pick up on, having a unique awareness to such emotions, even among those who existed outside the mortal plane. She considered- very briefly- drawing out that tiny pinprick of fear, the aversion to rejection that was hiding just beneath the Snow Spirit's pale countenance. But then, she stood up and smiled, wide and true. Perhaps showing her own home to someone who didn't rightly understand it might remind her why it was so important for the Queen of Halloween to keep her position. Maybe it was just the sort of thing she needed, a fresh perspective to revitalize her own.

"Of course."

Even if it didn't, the shy smile she received definitely made the trip back out into the snow swept woods worth it.

Finding the clearing of emblems without Gambol Shroud's assistance was a trial only made easier when Weiss dispersed her physical form, sweeping through the forest as a million tiny snowflakes and returning minutes later with the proper direction. Once given a suitable heading, Blake took off, jumping through the shadows falling across the snow. The Snow Spirit was never far as they streaked across the untouched landscape, always hovering just a few feet behind whenever the Black Cat emerged from one shadow and before disappearing into another. The chase was brought to an abrupt end when Blake was caught mid leap, lifted by a flurry high up, nearly to the tops of the trees surrounding them. She laughed, amused beyond words that the woman was trying- in vain- to scare her, dropping her without warning back to the snow and shadows below. There was no danger in it, the drifts so deep she'd be buried up to her ears and still not reach solid ground while the shadows were never out of reach, allowing her to slip seamlessly from freefall into the next jump. When they reached the very edges of the circle of trees, nearly an exact replica of the one Gambol Shroud lead her to before, containing her mirth was nearly impossible, especially when the Snow Spirit appeared beside her, annoyance pinching her expression.

"Something wrong?"

"One of these days, I'll get you back, you can count on it," Weiss replied, defiance shining in those brilliant blue eyes. "And you'd better not try to scare me again in the meantime!"

Going cross-eyed momentarily to focus on the pale digit that was thrust in her face, Blake took a step back, tilting her head a little as she smiled, gleaming fangs on display. "Word of warning, if you want to leave with everything you take with you; the people of Halloween Town are... predisposed to biting."

There was a look of confusion that briefly crossed the woman's features before understanding dawned. Snatching her finger back, the Snow Spirit huffed and turned away, striding towards the center of the clearing without another word. Unfortunately, her retreat wasn't quick enough to hide the flush emerging on her pale cheeks. Blake preened quietly, a smug smile on her lips as she strode towards the Black Cat emblem on one of the trees. While Weiss might be as easy to pull a reaction from as any mortal, the Queen found it interesting that she hadn't been abandoned yet. A Human would've run screaming and any of the monsters who resided in her town wouldn't be phased; this woman fell somewhere in between, in a place she'd never known existed before. It was refreshing, to say the least.

Overtaking her companion when hesitation slowed the shorter woman's gait, Blake reached for the knob and grabbed it, pausing for a moment before offering her other hand towards the Snow Spirit. Although she was regarded with- perhaps well founded- suspicion, she merely grinned, fangs tucked away for the time being.

"You saw how I arrived here, right?" She motioned towards the sky with a helpless shrug. "I wouldn't want us to be separated somehow, especially given our destination."

"I... suppose you have a point."

A slim hand slipped into hers as the wind began to howl around them, much colder than before. The Black Cat paid it no mind, opening the door presumably leading to her home, a stray thought worrying over what could happen with two beings entering the mysterious portal at the same time entering her mind momentarily. She brushed it aside though, confident that both of them could weather whatever the portal might demand. Golden eyes caught the twinge of uncertainty in Weiss' frame as an unnatural darkness spilled out from the void beyond, creeping towards them slowly. She gave a reassuring squeeze of her hands as the shadows reached them, the familiar pull of home drawing her forward easily, and her companion along with her. Whatever fear might've gripped the Snow Spirit couldn't hold a candle to the might of the Black Cat Queen, so she flashed Weiss an easy smile as the darkness took a firmer hold.

"You don't have to worry. I'm the scariest thing you'll find in Halloween Town and everyone knows it," she said even as they were pulled from the banks of white snow and into the pitch of the void beyond, the cold wind abating as they transitioned between planes. "You'll come to no harm, I promise."

There was yet another moment of weightlessness, breathless anticipation that sparked excitement in Blake and a stronger fear in the other woman, who quickly clung to her arm as her own home fell away.

Author's Note: There will be more shenanigans in Christmas Town soon. But first, shenanigans in Halloween Town. Basically, just a bunch of shenanigans in different places. All the shenanigans. All of them.