Disclaimer: And so it continues. Be ready for scary voices.

They were falling, through the twilight that danced on the treetops as the sun set on the horizon, headfirst towards a ground far less forgiving than the snow blanketing Christmas Town. There was a stifled cry, a short blast of cold accompanying the Snow Spirit reflexively trying to disperse herself into a cloud of flurries, but her form remained solid, still holding tight to Blake's hand. Without a worry, the Black Cat controlled their descent, pulling Weiss' smaller frame towards her and wrapping her up in a tight embrace, all the while aiming them for a deep shadow cast by a large, dead oak tree. Small, pale hands grabbed the lapel of her suit's jacket, the Snow Spirit's face hidden in the cloth as they neared the ground, but all the fear was for nothing as the darkness threw itself up to catch them, Blake navigating the familiar darkness with ease despite the added presence.

A few seconds later they emerged, head first, from the edge of the shadow, slowly returning to their feet among the dead trees and fallen leaves. It took a moment for Weiss to stop shivering, clinging tight to the Queen of Halloween as she was watched, a bemused expression on Blake's face. For one who seemed to be made of things that fell from the sky, the woman apparently didn't enjoy the descent nearly as much in this form.

"Are you okay?" She spoke softly, carefully reaching up to brush the backs of her knuckles against a pale cheek. It was a gesture she'd observed countless times while traversing the mortal plane, a common response from one Human to another whenever fear had frozen one to the spot.

It seemed to work... although a bit more violently than she'd imagined.

"What is wrong with you!?" Weiss shoved against her chest, sending the Black Cat stumbling back a few steps. "That was terrifying! Is this what you people do for fun?"

The Queen of Halloween opened her mouth to defend herself, and then was forced to acquiesce the point. "Actually, yes. Scaring people, even each other, is pretty common here, but it wasn't my intention with you."

"Then why stop me from being able to land myself?" Although she crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head up in a show of agitation, there was just enough of a curve to her shoulders to show a little vulnerability, a fear far too real for the casual pranks Blake favored. "And without warning-"

"Wait, I didn't do anything." Blake held her hands up in surrender, ears falling slightly. "I can manipulate shadows and scare a mortal to death, but I don't possess any powers that would rob you of yours." She blinked, tilting her head slightly as she scanned her companion. "You do look... different, though."

"Different?" The Snow Spirit looked down at herself, brows furrowed. "Different how?"

Only one description came to mind. "Warmer."

"Warmer? I-" Weiss stopped, realization dawning on her a moment later as her shoulders sagged. "Of course. Winter's touch can't reach here, and thus, snow can't form." She lifted her gaze to the treetops above them, the purple and blue sky beyond a prelude to a wonderfully dark night. "I... should've thought of that sooner."

Taking a cautious step forward, and another when the woman didn't retreat, Blake offered a soft smile. "Fear has a way of pushing thought to the side. It's only natural."

"For me." Blue eyes met gold for a brief moment before darting away. "You weren't scared, and I highly doubt any of your fellows would be, either."

"That's true." Her smile widened. "However, if I was content with that, I wouldn't have found you in the first place, now would I?"

"I suppose you have a point," Weiss replied, lips curling into a hesitant smile.

Reaching out to take the Snow Spirit's hand, Blake turned towards Halloween Town, the pull directing her home unmistakable now that she was back in her own plane. "I meant what I said, Weiss. While here, you'll come to no harm. I promise."

Her expression relaxed as the Black Cat lead the way through the dark forest, plunging ahead with certainty that was never once questioned. She took special care to help her companion through the gnarled roots and twisted brambles, anticipating that the woman- so unused to actually walking as opposed to gliding across her snowy landscape- would have trouble navigating, especially as the sun sank low enough to cede the world to the moon's charms. It took them some time to walk back to town, though Blake saved them the trouble of walking around the spiked wall by calling for the ground to once again rise up, ferrying them over the danger with ease.

Landing back in the graveyard, however, brought with it an entirely new set of obstacles in the form of one very, very, very distressed clown.

"BLAKE!" The voice was raw and ragged, tinged at the edges by a fury that would rattle the bones of mortals with ease. Weiss jumped, quickly hiding behind the Queen as Yang tore around the corner of a mausoleum. Blood red eyes glowed, razor sharp teeth protruding from her jaws as she locked onto her target and charged, blonde hair wreathing her like hellfire. The make-up she wore to portray a jovial visage was twisted and running, the red looking like freshly drawn blood while the white made her look deathly pale, even moreso than Weiss. "BLAKE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"

Rolling her eyes, the Black Cat leveled a stern stare at her friend, bringing the enraged Clown to a halt a few feet away. Knowing the blonde as she did, a failure to acknowledge her would've resulted in being tackled to the ground, which wouldn't look good to her companion even if it was a harmless action. "I've been out. Is that a problem?"

"When you don't tell anyone where you're going, yeah, it kinda is!"" Although regaining some control over her anger, the clown was still far more demented than her usual cheery demeanor, making as if she was going to reach out and attempt to choke Blake. "You couldn't give us a little heads up you were going to disappear?"

The retort at the tip of her tongue was stymied by the sensation of Weiss stiffening behind her, a quick glance over her shoulder confirming that the Snow Spirit was not taking well to the display before her.

"Yang, I need you to calm down," she said instead, refocusing on her friend.

"Me? Calm? I am calm!" The blonde growled, jabbing a finger at the Black Cat's chest even as the edge to her voice refused to dissipate. "I'm as calm as anyone else scouring the town for you! We couldn't even get Gambol Shroud to come out and tell us-"

"Enough!" Golden eyes flashed dangerously, staring down Yang as the Clown broke off her rant and drew back slightly. "I'm sorry, truly. I didn't mean to cause a scene."

There was a growl and a grunt before the flames surrounding her died, red fading to lilac as the blonde's shoulder's sagged. When she spoke, the voice that had struck terror into the hearts of mortals was replaced with her usual, softer tone. "We were really worried, Blakey. The Mayor was beside themselves; I've never seen Ozpin and Salem struggle that hard for control."

Her ears fell slightly, appropriately chastised. Perhaps leaving on a lark wasn't the wisest decision, especially given that she was still young and had no successor. To leave Halloween Town without a Black Cat was very ill advised and rightly would cause a panic. Then again, she hadn't anticipated the loss of time in moving between planes; it certainly never occurred whenever they entered into the mortal world.

"Again, I'm sorry. I'll apologize to everyone soon." The corner of her mouth tugged up into a grin, confident that Yang was probably the easiest person in all of Halloween Town to get along with, aside from her 'sister'. "But first, I'd like you to meet a new friend of mine." The Clown blinked, leaning over to peek around Blake and drawing back slightly when her eyes fell on the Snow Spirit. Although the woman had mustered a brave facade, there was still a few faint tremors wracking her smaller frame. "Yang, this is Weiss, the Snow Spirit. Weiss, this is Yang, the Twisted Clown."

"Twisted... Clown?"

"Yup!" The blonde chuckled, her previously horrifying countenance melting away completely at the prospect of meeting someone new. "Mortals are a funny bunch, ya know? Most of the time, I don't even have to get angry! Though, ya know, I do, a lot... it's pretty effective."

"No kidding." Weiss muttered, offering her hand somewhat hesitantly. "Pleased to meet you."

"Yeah, same, though I gotta say..." The blonde squinted, grabbing the Snow Spirit's hand and cocking her head to the side. "You are tiny."

"Excuse you!" Snatching her hand away, Weiss glared at the Clown. "Where I come from, I'm actually quite tall, thank you very much."

The expression didn't do much but pull a laugh from the blonde. "Well, I guess I'll take your word for it!" She jerked her head away from them. "C'mon, Blakey, Ozpin wanted everyone to meet in the square on the hour to report if anyone'd found you. Might as well wait for the others to come back."

"That sounds-"

"BLAKE!" The sound of rattling bones cut through the air, followed by a single heavy stomp of a boot against stone. It was all the warning Blake had to prepare herself for the Reaper as Ruby barreled into her stomach full force, obviously not bothering to even slow down before tackling the Black Cat. By some miracle, she didn't lose her footing, though her stumbling back did force Weiss to step aside, lest she be bowled over as well. With fond exasperation, Blake waited until the skulled face of Yang's 'sister' appeared from beneath her blood red hood, silver eyes shining like her scythe's edge, which was hovering precariously over both of them. "Blake, where did you go? We were all so worried!"

"I've gathered that." The Black Cat chuckled, unconcerned by the death rattle in Ruby's voice, though the drop in temperature signaled that the Reaper's tone had roused enough of the dormant spirits to make the graveyard an ill advised location for a reunion. Regardless that the Snow Spirit hadn't become rattled enough to run away, waking the not-quite-dead always brought with it peculiar headaches that she just didn't want to deal with on top of putting the whole town at ease. "I have a good reason, though."

The bones constituting her skull shifted, eye sockets becoming narrow slits with piercing silver centers. "Really?"

Blake nodded, turning her head to indicate her companion. "Ruby, meet Weiss, the Snow Spirit. Weiss, this is Ruby, the Reaper."

For the first time since arriving back in Halloween Town, the woman looked almost as pale as the snow surrounding her own home, though her voice was steady when she inclined her head. "Nice to meet you... under these circumstances, anyway."

Tilting her head to the side, the Reaper regarded the visitor for a single, quiet moment before the skull fell away, revealing Ruby's usual, nigh angelic face. "Wow, are you a friend of Blake's?"

"She is," the Queen of Halloween quickly said, smiling. "And I'd appreciate it if I could introduce her to everyone else."

"Huh? Oh! Right." With a chuckle, she disengaged, hefting her scythe up as if it was nothing. "That's probably for the best. Ozpin's really trying hard to keep it together, but Salem's about two steps away from just rousing the Grimm to chase everyone to their homes. You're probably going to have to get everyone's attention the hard way. Oh..." The cringe that overtook the Reaper's face was telling enough, nevermind the way she scuffed her boots against the ground. "And, I guess I should mention, that someone's gone a bit... overboard looking for you."

"Oh, sunshine and rainbows, someone told him?" Yang slapped a hand to her face in exasperation. "I thought we all agreed that was the one thing we weren't going to do?"

"Excuse me, but told who?" Weiss looked between the three of them before settling on Blake, concern evident in her eyes. "Are you in trouble?"

"I'm the Queen of Halloween, Weiss. I don't get in trouble." She sighed, ears drooping as her mood soures. "What I get is annoyed by a certain someone who doesn't understand the simple meaning of the word 'no'."

"Adam isn't exactly a nice guy," Yang said, apparently picking up on the Snow Spirit's confusion and the lack of willingness on Blake's part to elaborate. "Like, sure, we all like scaring people, but Adam's the Shade, and he's always taken things a bit too far. He drives mortals crazy."

"I don't understand." The woman shook her head. "A Twisted Clown and a Reaper are straight forward... to an extent, but how does shade inspire fear?"

"A Shade is a shadow with malicious intent." Blake explained, motioning for the other two to lead the way back to the square while she addressed Weiss. "While many of us are physical fears for mortals, Adam's more... metaphorical. He's the shadow on the moon, the thing that follows and never stops, a step behind until you look, around every corner- he's the darkness that dwells wherever the light can't reach."

"That makes him sound quite... terrifying." The Snow Spirit pushed her shoulders back, raising her chin defiantly. "But you're not scared of him, right?"

"Of course not. Shades are only powerful when one doesn't know how to ward them off." She could feel the unease rising up from the graves, those not-quite-dead having caught enough of the conversation to be roused even further from their slumber. Thankfully, they weren't inclined on making their appearances, though Gambol Shroud did join them at the edge of the cemetery, silently padding along in their footsteps. "Adam can't inspire fear in anyone who sees him for what he really is: insecurity, doubt, isolation. He's the idea that negative emotions can take physical form, but as long as you keep those things at bay with good company or something equally positive, he's nothing more than smoke. Present, but not really there."

"He's only somebody in the mortal plane, honestly." Yang shrugged. "Here, he's almost a vapor."

"But, he's also a big part of why the rest of us are so scary to the Humans." Ruby pointed out, though she didn't seem very happy about it. "His presence makes it easier to terrify mortals, because he makes them feel like there's no way to escape us."

Blue eyes fell on each of them, even as they wound their way through crooked streets filled with dark corners, scurrying rats, and the occasional bat. "I feel like there's something all of you aren't saying."

Blake groaned, shoulders sagging. "Usually, the Shade and the Black Cat are... close. The two combined are the driving force behind what we do whenever we cross into the mortal plane; he's the metaphorical presence of fear and I the physical embodiment." Her ears flattened, a growl roughening the edges of her voice. "But Adam's always wanted to take things farther. Fear- being afraid- is important, but he wants to go a step beyond by driving the Humans to madness and despair, and I absolutely refuse to allow it."

There was a moment of silence, nothing but the heavy tromp of Yang's boots- she'd removed the squeakers at some point- to herald their approach to the square, the remainder treading much lighter across the cobblestone street. Already Blake could see a gaggle of various denizens, all huddling around the fountain where Mayor Ozpin stood, shaking with the effort to keep Salem in check. At this point, she almost wished he would allow his other side to come out and quell the rising distress; there really was no reason for all this fuss.

Thankfully, she didn't see Adam among the assembled, so she could probably gain control of the situation before he appeared and did his best to make everything worse.

"Is that Blake?"

"Blake's back?"

"Blake!"

Suddenly, the square erupted into a cacophony of sound as easily half the population of Halloween Town rushed towards their Queen, everyone seeming relieved now that she'd returned.

"Easy, calm down everybody, calm down."

"Blake!"

"Where'd you go?"

"Why'd you leave?"

"Blake!"

The press of people wasn't that difficult to deal with- Ruby's scythe and Yang's wingspan kept the majority from pressing too close- but the noise was quickly reaching her threshold for tolerance. Frustrated by the lack of response to her attempts to quiet the crowd, Blake snapped, allowing her fangs to come out as she roared, gaining four feet in height while her features took on a more beastly appearance, golden eyes sweeping across the assembled monsters around her. Her newly grown tail lashed the ground vehemently as nails became sharp claws, her suit morphing to appear more like fur than cloth and complete the look. There was a gasp of shock as everyone reeled, startled by the sudden shift from her usual, calm countenance to one of her signature scares in the blink of an eye. Even the Reaper and Clown found themselves jumping in place, despite having suspected how things would go once they were on their way to the square.

"Do I have your attention now?" Her voice was a bestial growl, thrumming through her audience like a deep bass drum, rattling anything that was too loose. It made the assembled mass cower a bit further, even Mayor Ozpin in the back who looked equal parts relieved to see her and terrified of the anger that could possibly be directed his way very shortly. Sweeping her gaze to cow the monsters even further, Blake could keenly feel the fear radiating off of everyone gathered round.

Well, all of them aside from Weiss, oddly enough. The Snow Spirit seemed to only be surprised, gazing up at her in wonder.

As much as she wanted to address the Snow Spirit- so annoyed with the news that Adam would once again be hounding her, she'd completely forgotten to warn her companion of the transformation- Blake forced herself to attend to the worried denizens of her home at once, slowly easing back into her usual appearance.

"First off, I'm sorry. I should've let someone know I would be away for a little while." Her gaze happened to land on Gambol Shroud, the spectral creature hovering just over top of Junior's head and looking all too smug. "Or left better instructions for that message to be passed along." She offered a small grin. "It was never my intention to worry anyone."

"Good job on that one." Someone muttered, sounding suspiciously like Mercury. The pained little whimper he let out when Emerald stomped on his foot almost confirmed it, but Blake paid him little mind.

"I'll be sure to give better notice before disappearing again." Immediately, a myriad of voices rose up, all voicing several questions at once. She held up a hand, once again commanding silence. "It's nothing serious, guys. I decided to take an impromptu trip and met someone very special." With a smile, she put a hand on the woman's shoulder. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce Weiss, the Snow Spirit."

All eyes were drawn to her then, various degrees of curiosity written on the muzzles and faces of those assembled. Although she stiffened under the scrutiny, the woman didn't buckle or cower, instead giving a pretty little curtsy to the audience. Her voice was steady, loud enough to be heard above the crowd. "A pleasure to meet you all."

Instantly, everyone began talking excitedly, surging forward to properly introduce themselves. To make things easier, Blake stood beside the Snow Spirit and ensured the energetic crowd didn't overwhelm her companion. Yang and Ruby did their parts as well, funneling the group into a single file line to make the long list of introductions a bit less chaotic, each creature stepping up to shake Weiss' hand- or attempt to, at any rate- before stepping aside, all the while the Black Cat did the talking.

"This is Jaune, the Living Scarecrow." Straw that served as hair bounced as her stumbled, mumbling something before quickly moving on; he never was very good at first impressions, unfortunately. "Pyrrha, the Poltergeist." Shimmering and transparent, the ghoul merely smiled, waving as she helped the former along. "Miltiades and Melanie, the Witches Malachite." The twins tilted their heads to the side in tandem, eyes narrowed slightly. The two were always a bit suspicious but they seemed to accept Weiss after another moment of appraisal, stepping aside with murmured replies. "Junior, the Butcher." Wiping a permanently blood smeared hand on his already soaked apron, the burly man shook the woman's smaller, pale hand once, forcefully, giving a nod before stepping off. "Neo, the Silence." Hetero-chromatic eyes briefly regarded their target before the diminutive woman- smaller than Weiss, even- gave a flourishing bow, retaining her customary muteness. "Roman, the Vampire." Dressed smartly as always, the man offered a charming smile and a tip of his hat. "Cinder, the Flame." Embers drifted up and away from her red dress as she smirked, smoldering eyes flicking to the hand on the woman's shoulder for a heavy moment before she stepped away. "Neptune, the Drowned-"

"Hey, Snow Angel," he said, pausing longer than the others as he winked, a confident grin on his lips. "Welcome to Halloween Town. If you're looking for a tour-"

"Easy there, Killer." The Beast, pure muscle with shaggy blond hair that match his tail, chuckled as he easily grabbed onto the other man's waterlogged jacket, having immediately caught Blake's small frown. "Give her some space."

"C'mon, Sun, knock it off." Neptune protested, struggling as much as he could while the stronger of the duo dragged him off. "Well, maybe later, okay?"

"Doubtful," Weiss replied coolly, though the Drowned had already been hauled out of earshot by that point. She rolled her eyes when she noticed the Black Cat's raised brow. "I already have the best escort for such an endeavor. Right?"

"Of course." Blake nodded, pleased that Neptune's antics did nothing to change their plans. There was still so much about Halloween Town she wanted to show the Snow Spirit without dealing with the added headache of interruptions and interjections from the denizens of her home. With a hand low on the woman's back to direct her, the other swept out to clear a path through the remaining crowd. "Speaking of which, perhaps we should start now?"

"Please," she replied, lips curling into a smile as they stepped away from all the excitement, Ruby and Yang taking up the task of shooing off the remaining townsfolk.

However, they hadn't made it more than a few steps before the disappointed grumbling of the crowd gave way to a deep, unhinged chuckle. While Weiss immediately pressed close to her side, Blake laid her ears back in annoyance. Of course they wouldn't be able to make their retreat before the Shade caught wind of them, slinking in and weaving through those that remained in the square. She mentally lamented their luck while preparing herself to discourage Adam's usual tricks. Her fangs came out, claws replacing fingernails as she waited, scanning around for where he would appear. She could see his tendrils of smoke swirling around everyone's feet, smoothly gliding over the cobblestone without a sound. If it wasn't for his breathing- not necessary, but a habit he refused to break- Blake might've had no idea where to look. He was swirling, preparing to manifest, and it was almost guaranteed that he would try to scare the Snow Spirit, just like he tried with everyone else in Halloween Town. She just needed to stop it.

Unfortunately, the Black Cat hadn't anticipated that he'd appear between herself and Weiss, pushing the two apart. So soon after returning from the mortal plane, he was a lot more solid than usual, giving him an advantage she'd failed to account for properly. A growl rumbled from her throat as she caught herself, glaring at Adam's back while his attention was focused entirely on the Snow Spirit. Although there enough to push them apart, he wasn't powerful enough to manage a solid form entirely, the shifting shadow that constituted his long black jacket allowing the Black Cat to see her companion's expression. To her slight surprise, the woman was leveling an impressive scowl at the Shade, not backing down as he lifted himself up to tower over her.

"So this is what kept our beloved Queen away?" He sneered, one claw tipped hand moving to brush against the Snow Spirit's cheek. However, those blue eyes didn't waver, and the Shade's hand failed to make contact, pulling another agitated scoff from him. "This... thing?"

"That's enough, Adam." Blake growled, transforming again so that she could dwarf the Shade. He immediately turned around, staring up at her with beady red eyes, and baring fangs that were no match compared to the Black Cat's. Yet still, he tried to resist the inclination to back down, the fear that he felt as keenly as everyone else in town showing only in the way his presence gathered beneath him, as if trying to root himself to the spot. Or preparing to abscond, intimidated by the fury anyone could see flashing in golden eyes. There were many things Blake had tolerated from the Shade over the centuries, but rudeness was not one of them. "Her name is Weiss and you will show her the appropriate amount of respect."

"Respect? Respect?" Adam gathered his power, a snarl on his features as he did his best to match the Black Cat's stare. It was an impressive attempt but, ultimately, the Shade was just wasting what strength he had gained from their night among the Humans. "You-"

"Blake," Weiss said calmly, stepping forward and walking through Adam. He jerked and slid away, glaring at the Snow Spirit with as much might as he could muster after being so thoroughly disregarded. "As much as I appreciate the gesture, I'd rather you not waste your time." She held out her hand. "The night's almost half over and I've yet to see much of your domain." There were whispers and mutterings all around them- no one withstood Blake's terrifying form for long, and even fewer would dare to advance towards her, mortal or not- but the woman seemed uninterested in the gossiping monsters surrounding them, not even sparing the Shade a glance. "You can deal with him later, can you not?"

"... of course." In the blink of an eye, her fangs and claws melted away, and she favored the Snow Spirit with a small smile and the crook of her arm. "Shall we?"

"Let's." Slipping a pale hand to hold her elbow, Weiss allowed the Queen of Halloween to lead the way, everyone scurrying out of their path as they walked away from the square. Blake opted for one of the lesser traveled roads, the twisting path narrow and lined by darkness, untouched by the moon overhead. It was dark and intimate, allowing the two to ignore the renewed excitement behind them as others joined those who were already in the square. "I don't suppose that made things any easier for you, did it?"

"Yes and no." The Black Cat hummed, laying a hand over the one on her arm and leaning towards Weiss conspiratorially. "You've just embarrassed Adam more than anyone else would dare get away with; we may not like him, but the Shade holds an important post within our town. It isn't wise to earn his ire so publicly and it's not something I generally allow."

"You say that, but I don't seem to hear any disapproval in your tone."

"Well, for one, he deserved it." She grimaced, ears drooping. "I'm sorry he was so disrespectful towards you. I should've known going to the square first would draw too much attention."

"You hold an important post, too; you're their Queen." Weiss shrugged, waving a hand dismissively. "It's only natural you'd attend to your duties first."

Being reminded of her responsibilities to Halloween Town worsened her expression briefly, seeing as this entire adventure so far was spurred on by her lack of attachment to them. Jumping through the shadows of Christmas Town was by far more enjoyable than the past century of scaring mortals but she couldn't very well forsake her crown without becoming nothing more than a spectral projection herself. There couldn't be two Black Cats, after all, though she wondered how difficult a rule that was to break.

Filing that thought away for later, Blake turned towards her companion with a small grin. "But, now I have a question of my own."

"I suppose it's only fair if I allow it," the Snow Spirit replied, nodding her head. "Go on."

"Why weren't you scared?" Her ears flicked forward, intent on hearing the answer. "I had the entire town cowering- those who know exactly what I'm capable of- and you weren't even a little afraid. Not of me, not of Adam- and you were terrified when we arrived-"

"Come, Blake, it's not that difficult to understand." She faced forward, tilting her chin up and speaking with utmost certainty. "You gave me your word that I wouldn't be harmed. What have I to fear?"

Somehow, those words made the Black Cat a lot happier than she could've imagined, even if she wasn't quite sure if that was all to the answer. She accepted them, though, and lead her companion out onto one of the other main thoroughfares through town, motioning towards a decrepit looking building on one side of the street- the town's meeting hall, which was broken down and busted, not from disuse or abuse but for practical reasons. When asked about what could possibly justify a broken wall, Blake launched into a story from her first few decades, and the main reason Yang was not allowed to juggle indoors anymore.

A few minutes after beginning her tale, the Queen of Halloween heard something that was as common as screams on the nights she walked in the mortal realm: laughter.

She'd almost forgotten how good it sounded.

With all the fuss of their missing Queen dying down now that she'd been found, the majority of Halloween Town went back to its routine. The Mayor was likely off drawing up plans for next year's trip, Adam was sulking somewhere to nurse his wounded pride, and Blake was busy showing her new friend around as the night wore on, leaving absolutely no one with any clout to supervise the rowdy crew who had poured into the town's tavern. Seeing as they lacked the need for sustenance, by and large, the two story building was mostly used for talk and games- a few rounds of bobbing for eyeballs in the twins' cauldron was a great way to pass the time. It usually lead to a scare-off between the more excitable monsters, though tonight promised to hold fewer attempts at terror and more idle musing on the oddity of the current situation.

"I'm just sayin' that I don't remember it ever happenin'," Junior said with a weary sigh, using a cloth to clean his cleaver. It was a useless endeavor, seeing as the blade always found itself lodged in someone's body before the night's end, but it was something to do. "People don't just... show up."

"And there's no mention of a Snow Spirit in any of our texts." Miltia pointed out, one such tome in her hands.

Her sister nodded. "There's not even a mention of snow. Is it a Human thing?"

"She doesn't look very scary." Mercury leaned back in his chair, his tail swinging lazily behind him. At the heavy stare he could feel centered on him, the Werewolf cracked open an eye and met Neo's gaze evenly. "Okay, so looks aren't everything, but you gotta admit there's something off about her."

"He's right." Emerald added, picking at the wrappings covering one arm. It was difficult to read her expression but her red eyes were usually enough to convey her point. "Did you see the way she just walked through Adam?"

"Yeah, like he wasn't even there."

"Children, please." Roman chuckled, swirling a glass filled with fresh blood with his right hand. Truthfully, he wasn't even very thirsty, but it was difficult to pass up such a delicious vintage. "I think it's rather obvious what's going on here."

"Oh, then please enlighten us." The group sitting at the 'bar' started, all turning their attention to Cinder as she entered the room. Usually, the embers falling from her dress and the sharp sting of burning flesh was enough to warn anyone of her approach but the whole lot of them were too distracted to notice. "You are one of the longer lived creatures still stalking these streets. What wisdom has the Vampire to share?"

Roman tilted his head, adjusting the fit of his cap before beginning in earnest. "Well, it's been a millennia or two, but I recall something about a nexus of worlds somewhere deep in the dark forest. If Gambol was to be believed, it connected our realm with others- planes that mirror our own but don't intersect, filled with others who are unburdened by the trouble of mortality." At the disbelieving looks he received, the Vampire shrugged. "Like I said, it's been a while. For all I know, she was just trying to mess with my head, but she did tell me that she went to one of those other planes, once."

"What did she find?" The Mummy sat forward, though she tried to seem disinterested in his answer.

"She would never tell me." He smirked wryly. "Said she didn't want me getting ideas. But, she did mention that there were people there I wouldn't understand, much like she didn't. Gambol never admitted to being scared but something about them must've seemed... off. Like this 'Snow Spirit'." He lifted his glass to his lips. "So, if I had to guess, I'd say our dear Blake has followed in her predecessor's paw prints." Roman paused. "Except, she brought back a pet."

The Werewolf barked out a laugh in tandem with Emerald, the two shaking their heads.

"C'mon. You honestly expect us to believe that?" Mercury licked his snout, lolling his tongue out in a clear look of amusement.

The Mummy was right there with him, shoulders shaking with barely restrained amusement. "This Weiss is supposedly from another plane that's not the only other one we know of? Please."

"It makes a certain amount of sense." Melanie mumbled, once again consulting her tome as her twin continued.

"We know the mortals celebrate other nights like our own, with parties and the like." She tapped blood red nails against the bar's wooden top. "That does seem to point to there being other planes out there."

"Ah, you two don't honestly believe this gibberish." The Butcher shook his head, sticking his cleaver into a holder on his belt. "Anyway, what difference does it make, really?"

"Uh, you were the one going on about 'people don't just show up'." Mercury narrowed his eyes at the man, ruffling his fur once before crossing his arms and tucking his chin down to his chest. "She's gotta come from somewhere."

"And I think we should find out where." Cinder nodded to her lips, running a finger just beneath her lips. "We have three-hundred and sixty two days until the next time we can have a bit of fun with the mortals. Why not pass the time by playing a trick on our beloved Black Cat?"

Immediately, the assembled group of monsters snapped their gazes to the Flame, most absolutely shocked. Only Neo seemed the least bit intrigued by the idea, though the Vampire's hand on her shoulder quickly tempered that.

"You can't be serious." He shook his head, nearly sending his cap falling off orange locks. "She walked through the Shade and stared down Blake in one of her more terrifying forms. Whatever that creature is, I'm not looking to get her and the Black Cat after my head."

"You don't take chances."

"No, I don't feel like taking a snooze in the graveyard any time soon, much less permanently." He glowered at Cinder. "I'll kindly remind you that none of us are actually immortal and being not-quite-dead's only fun when it's a choice. Getting sent to the in-between isn't exactly a party."

Cinder put her hands up in a gesture of surrender, pushing off the bar with a chuckle. "Very well, then. And here I thought you might enjoy scaring the Black Cat."

This time, it was the twins' turn to laugh in disbelief.

"No one can scare the Black Cat."

"It's impossible."

"So they say..." The Flame threw a look over her shoulder, a smirk lifting her red painted lips. "Personally, I think it's high time to prove that saying wrong."

Mercury slowly lowered his chair to the ground, tilting his head and lifting his ears. "So... you have a plan."

It was at that point that Cinder's expression turned downright sinister. "I do."

A restless silence that settled over the group, each shifting as it enveloped them. While what the twins had said was true- and had been for millennia- there was also the fact that the Flame had a knack for coming up with very good plans. More than once, she'd been enlisted by Salem for that very talent, especially on years when the Mayor was having trouble coming up with good scares for the mortals and Blake was less than attentive to her duties.

All in all, it was a prospect nearly too good to pass up.

"Of course, I understand your hesitance," she said, drawing her audience along a little further. "Balance is such a delicate thing. Upsetting it is... scary."

The scraping of chairs behind shoved out from under their occupants was music to her ears.

The moon was dipping towards the horizon, preparing to make way for the coming dawn, when Blake and Weiss found themselves back at the entrance to the cemetery. They'd walked the length and breadth of Halloween Town, half a hundred stories filling the night in between talk and laughter. She'd shown the Snow Spirit many of the things she enjoyed about her home. With each landmark and every story, the Black Cat could see excitement and wonder reflecting back at her in those beautiful blue eyes, likely akin to how she looked while exploring Christmas Town.

"Blake," the woman said as they strolled through the headstones arm in arm. "Do you ever need rest?"

Although she hadn't made any mention of it, she had noticed the weariness settling over Weiss' shoulders the longer they'd walked. Personally, there was just too much to show the Snow Spirit for her guide to think of being tired throughout the tour, but now it was hitting her harder than Nora's hammer. They had spent a day or two either traversing the planes or exploring them, which required a fair bit of energy.

"Yes." She gestured around them. "I usually sleep here, among the tombstones."

She tilted her head. "You don't have a proper bed?"

"Oh, I do." With a small grin, the Queen of Halloween nodded, bringing them to a stop to point out a great stone tower that jutted up above the rest of the town. Perhaps it was time to return; resting among the not-quite-dead had lost its novelty decades ago. "That's my home, I suppose you could say."

"And you wait until now to tell me this?" She tilted her head, moonlight white hair spilling over her shoulder.

"Do you have a home?" Blake pointedly asked, smirking at the slight flicker of annoyance that flashed across her companion's expression. "Turn about is fair play."

"I do have a home in Christmas Town... perhaps you'd like to see it?" She had started walking again, tugging lightly on the arm still linked with her own. They meandered together through the gravestones, the not-quite-dead having fallen silent and allowing them to pass unmolested. "Not now, of course-"

"Why not?" Blake smirked, guiding her companion to the edge of the cemetery, the ground beneath their feet slowly swelling so they could pass over the wall without trouble. She received a light hip check for her query, which could only be answered with a chuckle as they were gently deposited outside Halloween Town's boundary.

"Because we're both exhausted and we have responsibilities that demand our attention." The Snow Spirit spoke calmly, but there was a undercurrent of regret in her words, likely the same pang that hit the Black Cat at being reminded of her duties. "I doubt Halloween Town would be very happy about you departing again so soon and I have some... matters I should settle once I return to Christmas Town."

Tilting her head, Blake frowned and brought them to a soft stop at the edges of the dark forest. "It wasn't my intention to get you in trouble, Weiss."

She didn't reply for a moment, distracted by the weak dawn light that started creeping over the eastern horizon, painting Halloween Town and the surrounding forest in a sickly orange sheen. It really brought out the strength of the town's character, allowing the jagged streets and dark buildings to retain the allure they held during the night, but the Queen couldn't be bothered with the scenery at the moment, focused entirely on the wistful expression her companion wore.

"I doubt I'll be in any more trouble than I was originally," she said, leaning her head against Blake's shoulder. "If anything, the time away has given me perspective that I desperately needed."

"Oh? Well, that's good." Golden eyes drank in the sight of the early morning light playing off long white tresses, the warmth infusing the Snow Spirit's visage a curious sight. Even if it served to make her more expressive, Blake also liked her pale features when surrounded by snow. "Do you feel like sharing?"

"I... do, actually. Which... is odd, for me at least, but I'd rather have that conversation after some well deserved rest." Weiss looked up at her then, a small pout on her lips. "That is, of course, if you plan on us ever seeing each other again."

Immediately, Blake's eyes lit up as she flicked her ears forward, smiling down at her companion. "I most certainly do. Though, you probably shouldn't try coming here without me to help you down. Maybe I can convince the Witches to make a spell that will allow you to come here easily." She lifted her hand to gently cup Weiss' face, brushing a thumb over her cheek lightly. "Anyway, in a few days, I'll go back to Christmas Town. Is that alright?"

Blue eyes sparkled like rediscovered gems long buried in a crypt. "That's perfect."

There was a sense of anticipation swirling around them, like there was something they were supposed to do in that moment, but neither moved, content to instead turn their attention to the rising sun limping up into the sky. Unfortunately, they couldn't watch the full ascent, the Snow Spirit beginning to sag against Blake's side as she struggled to remain awake. With a quick word of warning, the Black Cat scooped her companion into her arms, setting off into the dark forest while good-naturedly ignoring the weak protests thrown her way. The woman eventually fell silent, either lulled into a light slumber by the steadiness of Blake's gait and the darkness still prevalent in the forest's deepest parts. She was only roused when again the sun broke through the treetops, the circle of portals just a little further.

"You can put me down now," the Snow Spirit said softly, not sounding the least bit invested in her request.

"I will. Eventually." Blake smiled, waiting until they were within the circle before allowing her companion to stand on her own feet again. She watched for a moment, ensuring the woman was steady before following her towards the door leading to Christmas Town. "So, I'll see you in a few days?"

"Absolutely." Weiss looked at her over her shoulder, one hand already opening the door. "Try not to work too hard between now and then."

"I'll try." There really wasn't much to do for at least eight months, at least on her part, but she didn't doubt that the Mayor would find some excuse to ask for her opinion on cobwebs or the like. "Be careful on the way down."

"I will be." As the tree emblem separated from the tree itself, a hard, bitter cold wind blew into the clearing, much more sharp and biting than when Blake was among the snow. She fought not to let her ears lay flat at the sudden assault, especially when she saw how being surrounded by the cold air again reinvigorated the Snow Spirit, her features turning pale once more. "Oh, and Blake?"

"Yes?"

Pale, pink lips pulled into a teasing grin. "Make sure someone knows where you're going when you leave. I'd rather not have a repeat of tonight during my next visit to Halloween Town."

In the blink of an eye, the edges of her physical form blurred, pinpricks of white spiraling into a flurry of snowflakes that lifted her from the ground. Despite the increase in dreadful cold, Blake felt a smile tugging at her lips, watching as the Snow Spirit prepared to return home. However, before she departed entirely, Weiss slid forward and rose up, borne on the flurry until she was of equal height with the Black Cat. Cool lips pressed against her cheek, parting words whispered against her skin like a sigh on the wind.

"Rest well, Blake."

Then, the flurry retreated, slipping into the void within the tree as the door swung closed of its own accord, the winter wind vanishing in a snap as all was still in the clearing once more.

Slowly, she raised a hand to brush the still tingling skin of her cheek, at once cool to the touch yet feeling as if it was on fire.

Whatever that parting gesture was, she liked it, and Blake fell asleep that day- in her own bedroom, cobwebs and all- to the idle thoughts of what it might mean.

Author's Note: Yay for our 'nefarious' villains beginning their plot. And yay for fluff.