It was after Christmas and Gwen was helping with removing Christmas decorations until next year. Her family were happy with the gifts she got them from various places around the world. With the new year approaching, Gwen is more excited now that the wedding was not far away with all the arrangements set.
After putting Christmas décor away, she sat down on the couch to rest.
"I think that's everything." Gwen said to herself.
"Gwen! Get your coat, gloves and boots! We're going skiing!" Elder Kettle announced.
"Oh, you sure he won't mind us sliding down his slopes?" Gwen asked, concerned.
"Nah, he's a big ol' softie with all that soft snow. Now come on dear." Elder Kettle said.
Gwen magically dressed herself in winter wear and joined Elder Kettle and the three cups to the enormous mountain with their skis and poles equipped.
"I hope he's in a good mood today." Cuphead said.
"Me too." Mugman added.
"I think he's sleeping." Ms. Chalice said.
"Not to worry boys, I'll get his attention." Elder Kettle said, clearing his voice.
"Elder Kettle don't!" Gwen quickly exclaimed.
"YODEL-E-HEE-HOO!" Elder Kettle yodeled loudly and out of pitch.
Gwen and the cups quickly covered their ears.
Suddenly, the ground started rumbling and two enormous arms raised up from the sides of the mountain and two eyes opened and the mountain started yawning. He angrily looked down at the group.
"WHO DARES YODEL ME AWAKE?!" The mountain angrily boomed.
"Hey there Mr. Mountain! Can we ski down you today?" Elder Kettle called out loudly.
Mr. Mountain growled angrily as he reached his enormous rocky hand down to them until Gwen stepped forward.
"Wait! Elder Kettle didn't mean to yodel! We're sorry to wake you! He won't do it again!" Gwen called.
Mr. Mountain looked at Gwen, then scooped her in his hand and lifted her up to him as she looked nervous.
"You really mean that tiny human?" Mr. Mountain asked suspiciously.
"Y-Y-Y-Yes sir. If it's okay with you, could we just ski down just once today? Please?" Gwen nervously asked.
Mr. Mountain gave her a serious look.
"Fine, but if he doesn't knock off the yodeling, I'm gonna knock you off… again!" Mr. Mountain warned.
"D-D-D-Deal." Gwen frantically agreed.
Mr. Mountain lowered his hand down to the group.
"Okay guys, he said we can ski down him once today if Elder Kettle doesn't yodel again. He and the other mountains really hate yodeling." Gwen explained.
"Yeah, don't you remember what happened last time you yodeled on top of him?" Mugman asked.
Elder Kettle thought for a moment. He recalled the first time he took Gwen and the cups skiing; he yodeled so loudly Mr. Mountain shook the snow off of him, causing a massive avalanche that they had to rapidly ski down for their lives while Mugman accidentally tripped and rolled down the mountain in a giant snowball, causing him to bump into Elder Kettle and Cuphead while Gwen quickly skied to the side barely avoiding him, causing him to crash down to the ground in a pine tree. After skiing down to the bottom, Gwen and the cups glared at Elder Kettle for his yodeling as he chucked nervously.
"Oh yeah. Now I remember. He was really mad." Elder Kettle said.
"Promise me Elder Kettle. No yodeling. I don't wanna be buried in an avalanche this time." Gwen sternly said.
"Okay, I promise. No more yodeling." Elder Kettle promised.
"Good!" Gwen said.
Elder Kettle and the cups were scooped up with Gwen and were lifted to the top of Mr. Mountain. Gwen checked out the beautiful view.
"Really nice up here. As always." Gwen said.
"I don't wanna trip and tumble down again." Mugman said nervously looking down.
"Aw come on Mugsy, don't be a scaredy cat!" Cuphead said.
"Yeah Mugsy, remember to twist your legs this time to make a turn." Ms. Chalice said.
"And bring the tips of your skis together like a triangle to stop." Elder Kettle added.
"Oh. Okay." Mugman said.
"We'll go slow this time, so you'll get the hang of it." Gwen assured him.
"Okay Gweny, I'll follow you." Mugman said, feeling calm.
"Will you go already!? I don't have all day! I wanna go back to sleep!" Mr. Mountain complained.
"Alright already!" Gwen called.
"Okay, let's do this!" Cuphead said excitedly.
"On your mark…" Ms. Chalice said.
The group gets ready.
"Get set…" Elder Kettle said.
"GO!" The group called out.
Cuphead, Ms. Chalice and Elder Kettle started skiing down Mr. Mountain. Gwen goes first while Mugman watched her. She stopped a few feet down and looked up.
"Come on Mugsy! Just do what I do!" Gwen called.
"Uh… okay." Mugman said nervously.
He tries to ski down, but he was still not moving him his starting position. Mr. Mountain finally loses patience.
"WILL YOU SKI ALREADY?!" Mr. Mountain boomed, startling Mugman.
That made Mugman start sliding down against his will.
"Mugman! Bend your knees slightly and don't lean forward!" Gwen corrected him.
Mugman tried to follow her instructions as he struggled to slide down the mountain.
"Make a triangle to stop!" Gwen called.
Mugman did so and he stopped in front of Gwen.
"Good job Mugsy! You're doing it!" Gwen praised him.
"Oh, you really think so?" Mugman asked.
"Sure! Now, follow me!" Gwen said.
Gwen continued skiing down the mountain, passing pine trees. Mugman slowly followed her as he started to feel confident. Gwen checked again, making sure he was following her then she continued. She catches up with Elder Kettle, Cuphead and Ms. Chalice down at the bottom of the mountain.
They watched Mugman slowly coming down, following Gwen's lead until he finally reached the bottom.
"I did it!" Mugman said excitedly.
"You did it Mugsy!" Gwen happily said as she lifted him up and spun him around.
"I couldn't have done it without you." Mugman said.
"We're proud of ya Mugman." Cuphead said as he and the group unclipped their skis.
"Wonderful! This calls for a celebration!" Elder Kettle said.
"No don't!" Ms. Chalice cried out.
"YODEL-E-HEE-HOO!" Elder Kettle yodeled loudly, not remembering his promise.
Mr. Mountain really gets agitated.
"You yodeled, now I'm gonna bury you!" Mr. Mountain furiously yelled.
He starts shaking and all the snow slides down, causing another massive avalanche.
The group screamed and tried to run for cover. Just then, Gwen noticed her French friend Lisette walking in the woods.
"Oh, bonjour Gwen!" Lisette greeted.
"Lisette! Run! Avalanche!" Gwen yelled.
"What?" Lisette asked.
"AVALANCHE!" All three cups exclaimed.
Lisette looked up and noticed the massive avalanche coming down the mountain.
"Sacre bleu!" Lisette exclaimed and started running for her life.
Gwen, the cups, Elder Kettle and Lisette run until they hide behind a wide pine tree as the avalanche sped past them. The group hugged each other fearfully until the snow stopped flowing.
The group sighed of relief then glared at Elder Kettle.
"Oh… oops." Elder Kettle said nervously.
"You just had to yodel again!" Cuphead angrily scolded.
"We can't even ski without you angering Mr. Mountain and causing avalanches!" Ms. Chalice added.
"Sorry everyone." Elder Kettle apologized then quickly ran off.
"Now what?" Mugman asked.
"If only we could ski without causing avalanches or yodeling." Cuphead said.
Gwen thought for a moment until she got an idea.
"I heard in the human world there's a wonderful ski resort we could go." Gwen suggested.
The cup's eyes popped and gathered around her.
"Where? Where?" Cuphead asked.
"Canada." Gwen answered.
"Canada?" Mugman asked.
"Yeah, it's north of the USA. There's a ski resort called Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort. It's one of the best in the world and the biggest one in North America." Gwen answered.
"Ooh! Let's go! Let's go!" Ms. Chalice exclaimed.
"Can I come with you?" Lisette asked.
Gwen was unsure at first but figured it would be good for Lisette to see the world.
"Okay." Gwen agreed.
"Merci Gwen!" Lisette thanked.
Gwen tapped her ink pen, and the group disappeared. They appear in the parking lot of Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort in a place called Upper Village. The group stared up the two mountains and are wonderstruck.
"Wow! Look at those mountains!" Cuphead exclaimed.
"It's beautiful." Lisette said, looking up.
"Let's go guys." Gwen said.
The group walked up to the entrance and noticed a line of skiers waiting to get in. The group waited their turn until they reached the ticket booth.
"Good morning. Five daily passes please." Gwen spoke up.
"25 dollars please." The ticket booth attendant said.
Gwen reached in her enchanted wallet and pulled out a twenty and five-dollar bills. The attendant takes the money and hands her five daily ski passes.
"Welcome to Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort. The ski lift is right ahead." The ticket booth attendant said.
"Merci." Lisette thanked.
The group go inside and line up at the chair lift to go up the mountains. They put their ski gear back on while Gwen magically equips Lisette with skis, boots and poles.
"Let's go guys." Gwen said.
The group ski up to the chair lift and are carried up to Whistler Mountain. They finally reach the top and ski towards the slopes.
"Alright, you guys ready for this?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" The cups exclaimed excitedly.
"Lisette, you've done this before?" Gwen asked.
Lisette hesitated to answer.
"That's okay, it's easy." Ms. Chalice said.
"Let's start with the green trail. It's good and safe for starters." Gwen said.
"Good idea." Mugman agreed.
Gwen goes over the basics of skiing with Lisette as she did with Mugman.
"Alright, I just hope the mountains don't get angry and there are no avalanches this time." Lisette said.
"Don't worry. Unlike back home, these mountains aren't alive." Gwen assured her.
"That's good to know." Cuphead said.
The group gets ready to ski. Gwen takes the lead, and the group follow her down the trail. They meet down at a stop to regroup
"How are you doing Lisette?" Gwen asked.
"That was amazing. I've never done anything like this before." Lisette admitted.
"Let's keep going then." Ms. Chalice said.
The group continued skiing until they decide to take a break and grab lunch at the Rainbow Lodge. Cuphead orders a braised short rib grilled cheese with fries, Mugman orders mafalde pasta, Ms. Chalice orders chicken-fried venison, while Gwen and Lisette ordered wild game burgers.
"That was fun!" Ms. Chalice said as she was eating.
"I agree." Mugman agreed.
"Forget Mr. Mountain, this place has the best ski slopes!" Cuphead said.
"I figured you guys would love it here." Gwen said.
"I love it here too. It was thrilling and exciting." Lisette said.
The group raised their glasses of root beer.
"Cheers!" The group exclaimed.
They clinked their glasses and sipped their root beer. Just then, they hear music playing and the group noticed a band playing music. Lisette enjoyed listening to the music as a few people got up to dance.
Just then, a young light brunette man approached Lisette.
"Bonjour madame. Puis-je avoir cette danse?" The man asked her to dance in French.
"Oui mousier." Lisette agreed.
The man takes Lisette's hand and leads her to the dance floor.
"Huh, she's meeting someone already, just like you did Gwen." Cuphead said.
"Yeah. That's how Clarence and I met at that restaurant Rose and Will took me to. He asked me to dance." Gwen said, remembering that memory.
"That guy spoke French like she does. Is he from France too?" Mugman asked.
"Either that or maybe he's from Quebec." Gwen guessed.
"Quebec?" Both cups asked.
"One of the 13 provinces in Canada. It's like French Canada. They speak French." Gwen explained.
"Oh, nice." Ms. Chalice said.
They looked at Lisette dancing with the Quebec man and socializing with him. After dancing, they returned to their table.
"How was dancing?" Gwen asked.
"It was wonderful. Hamilton's a wonderful dancer." Lisette answered, revealing his name.
"Hamilton?" Ms. Chalice asked.
"Oui, I am Hamilton Fontaine." Hamilton introduced himself.
"Oh, you speak English." Cuphead said.
"Oui. I am bilingual like Lisette is." Hamilton said as they sat down in chairs.
"So, what brings you here to here? Are you skiing here too?" Gwen asked.
"Oui, I traveled from Montreal. But I am here to relieve my sadness." Hamilton answered.
"What happened?" Mugman asked.
"I do not have a job. Nobody can find a job in Montreal. So, I thought I would travel to find a job but with no success. After many failures, I decided to come here hoping skiing would cheer me up." Hamilton explained.
"What are you good at?" Gwen asked.
"Well, I like to teach." Hamilton answered.
"Like teaching in school or a certain subject?" Lisette asked.
"Oui. I like to teach home economics. How one should take care of themselves when they will be on their own one day." Hamilton answered.
"Oh, I had a real mean home economics teacher back in junior high. She was mean and snooty." Gwen groaned, wincing at that memory.
"Junior high sounds terrible." Cuphead said.
"You have no idea." Gwen agreed.
"I'm sorry you had a mean teacher. But I assure you I would not treat kids that way." Hamilton assured her.
"That's kind of you." Gwen said.
"Oui, very kind." Lisette agreed.
"So, what are you gonna do now?" Mugman asked.
"Well, I plan to return to Montreal tomorrow. I travel by train." Hamilton answered.
"Is that how you came here to British Columbia?" Gwen asked.
"Oui. I traveled a long way. I just hope I find a job soon." Hamilton said.
Lisette placed her hand on Hamilton's arm in sympathy, making him smile.
"So, why are you here in British Columbia?" Hamilton asked.
"We're just here having fun. So, we decided to try out the ski slopes here." Gwen answered.
"Where are you all from?" Hamilton asked.
"You could say we ain't from around here." Cuphead answered.
"I was from America." Gwen answered.
"And I used to be from France." Lisette added.
"You were from France?" Hamilton asked.
"Oui. It was a hard life for me, but Gwen helped me get me back on my feet. I owe her my life." Lisette explained without going into detail.
Gwen nodded with a smile; happy Lisette is eternally grateful for saving her life from mobsters.
"Well, we're gonna go. It was nice to meet you." Gwen said, getting up.
The others get up, preparing to go home.
"Lisette? Will I see you again?" Hamilton asked.
"Maybe. We'll see." Lisette answered.
"We'll figure something out." Gwen said.
Hamilton and Lisette exchanged phone numbers. They all say goodbye and the group leave Hamilton to teleport back to the Inkwell Isles. Lisette and Ms. Chalice return to their apartments while Gwen and the cups returned to the cottage.
A few days later, Lisette visited the cottage to talk to Gwen. She invites her inside and brewed up some tea for both of them.
"So, how's it going?" Gwen asked.
"It's been good. I know Sally can be tough, but she's impressed with my hard work." Lisette answered.
"That's great. Sally speaks highly of you since she hired you as her assistant." Gwen complimented.
"Merci." Lisette thanked.
"So, did you talk to Hamilton?" Gwen asked.
"Oui. He finally got a job at a school as a home economics teacher." Lisette answered.
"That's wonderful. I'm glad things finally worked out for him." Gwen said.
"He also asked me out on a date this evening." Lisette added.
"Oh, he's asked you out for tonight?" Gwen asked.
"Of course. Which is why I want to ask you if you could take me to Montreal to his house." Lisette requested.
"Well, okay but just for a while." Gwen agreed.
"Oh merci!" Lisette thanked.
"What time do you want to go there?" Gwen asked.
"At 6 o'clock." Lisette answered.
Gwen looked at the cuckoo clock and realized it was 5:30.
"Oh, in 30 minutes." Gwen said.
"Not to worry, I'm already dressed and ready for the date." Lisette said, showing her dress and hair.
"I noticed. You look lovely." Gwen complimented.
"Merci, Gwen. I have no words to express my eternal gratitude to you for everything you've done for me." Lisette said.
Later, Gwen teleports to a small house in a neighborhood in Montreal, Quebec. Lisette casually walks up to the front door and rung the doorbell. She turned around and looked at Gwen as she gave her two thumbs up gesture. The door opens and Hamilton looked at Lisette, admiring her beauty.
"Tu es très belle." Hamilton complimented in French.
"Merci, Hamilton. Tu as l'air très beau." Lisette complimented back.
"Merci. Are you ready?" Hamilton asked.
"I am." Lisette answered.
Hamilton takes Lisette's hand and leads her to his car.
"We should be back around 7:30 or 8!" Lisette called to Gwen.
"Great! I'll pick you up then!" Gwen called back.
"Merci!" Lisette thanked as they entered the car.
Gwen teleports back to the cottage to rejoin her family for dinner.
After dinner, Gwen sat on her bed in her room sketching in her sketchbook while she waited.
"I hope Lisette's enjoying her date with Hamilton." Gwen said to herself.
"I hope so too." A familiar voice agreed.
Gwen gasped and grabbed her ink pen and pointed at Mortimer Freeze floating next to her.
"Ugh! Mortimer! You scared me to death!" Gwen scolded.
"My apologizes kid, I just came to give you an invitation to our upcoming Winter Ball. We'll have snow cones, ice cream, frozen custard, popsicles you name it. I heard through the cards you did a spectacular snowman show at the tree-lighting ceremony. Maybe you could do that for me too." Mortimer explained as he handed her an invitation.
"Oh wow. You and your cult hold annual balls?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, to keep our cult socialized." Mortimer answered.
"Oh, I see." Gwen said as she read the details.
"Anyway, what's this I'm hearing about a friend of yours on a date?" Mortimer asked.
"You know eavesdropping is rude." Gwen said.
Mortimer looked unamused as he magically summoned his cards. He pulls three cards and reveal a card with a girl stick figure with the French flag in the background, a card with a boy stick figure with a Canadian flag in the background and the last card showed a pair of the stick people dancing with candlelight in a winter-like surrounding.
"Ah, the cards tell me your French friend is on a date with a Canadian boy. Am I right?" Mortimer revealed and asked.
Gwen sighed, knowing she can't fool him.
"Yes, the cards were right. But I told her I'll pick them up in a couple of hours." Gwen said.
"I wanna see some of the human world and freeze things up for your friend." Mortimer suggested.
"No Mortimer! You will not ruin their date!" Gwen scolded.
"No, my dear. I wouldn't think of ruining their date. I wanna make it magical with my wintery touch." Mortimer assured her.
"Kinda like the time Djimmi and I did that with my friends Akilah and Elijah." Gwen said remembering that memory.
"Exactly. So, what do you say? Wanna help me make their date a winter magical one?" Mortimer asked with a smile.
Gwen sighed then thought about it.
"Well, okay. Maybe just for a while." Gwen reluctantly agreed.
"Wonderful! Let's go!" Mortimer said excitedly.
He takes Gwen's hand and makes a whirlwind of snow circle them until they find themselves at an outdoor restaurant.
"Wait, where are we?" Gwen asked.
Mortimer pointed and Gwen looked and saw Lisette and Hamilton sitting together at a table.
"Oh, there they are." Gwen said.
"Now, watch and learn kid." Mortimer said.
"Okay, but stay out of sight." Gwen whispered.
"You got it." Mortimer agreed and winked.
Mortimer flies up in the clouds as Gwen watched. Then she noticed snow started to fall from the sky. The locals noticed and looked up at the sky.
"Oh, it is snowing." Lisette said looking up.
"Oui, it's a pretty snowfall." Mortimer said.
The couple resumed eating their dinner as the snow continued falling around. Later, Lisette and Hamilton leave the restaurant and take a stroll through the falling snow. Gwen was in her ghost form following Mortimer and watched his actions carefully. Later, they come across a pond. Mortimer uses his magic to freeze the ice and thicken over the water.
"Hey, the pond is frozen." Hamilton said pointing.
Lisette looked and saw the frozen pond.
"Beautiful. If we had ice skates, we could go ice skating." Lisette said.
Just then, Mortimer quietly whistled to Gwen and gestured her to use her magic. Gwen sighed, then she used her ink pen to transform their shoes into ice skates.
"Oh! My shoes!" Lisette exclaimed.
"Mine too!" Hamilton added.
Lisette looked at the frozen pond and cautiously stepped on the ice. She carefully skated along the ice, making sure it was safe.
"Come on Hamilton! It's alright!" Lisette called.
Hamilton approached and stepped on the ice and started skating along the ice.
"Wow, you're right it is pretty thick." Hamilton said, looking at the ice.
Lisette and Hamilton skated together along the ice. Gwen smiled at the couple as she floated about the clouds with Mortimer.
"Now, let's create the mood." Mortimer whispered.
Mortimer raised his arms and wiggled his fingers, making winter fireflies appear and fly down to the trees. They land in the trees and illuminate their lights, making the couple notice.
"Wow, winter fireflies." Hamilton said.
"So beautiful." Lisette said.
Some of the locals noticed the couple skating on the frozen pond and gather their ice skates. Several more people joined the couple ice skating on the frozen pond, having a great time.
"Looks like we're drawing a crowd." Gwen said, pointing down.
"Yep, the more the merrier." Mortimer said.
After a while, the couple returned to land as Gwen magically transformed their ice skates back into their shoes.
"That was fun." Lisette said.
"It was even fun with you." Hamilton said.
Lisette pulled out her pocket watch.
"Oh, it's getting late. Gwen will be waiting for me at your house." Lisette said.
"Not to worry, I'll take you to my house." Hamilton said.
They walk back to his car and started driving for home. Gwen teleports herself and Mortimer back to Hamilton's house and wait patiently for them.
"That was fun, eh kid?" Mortimer asked.
"Yeah, it was nice making someone's evening magical again." Gwen said.
A while later, the couple arrives in the driveway. Lisette and Hamilton exit the car and approach Gwen.
"Gwen! You're here!" Lisette exclaimed and hugged her.
"Of course, I am. You ready to go home?" Gwen asked.
"Un moment." Lisette answered.
Lisette walked up to Hamilton.
"Merci for the enchanted evening." Lisette thanked.
"It was enchanting with you." Hamilton said.
Both humans leaned to each other, puckered their lips and shared their first kiss.
"Aw, how romantic." Mortimer said.
"SHH!" Gwen shushed.
After kissing Lisette rejoins Gwen and Mortimer. Gwen teleports the group back to the Inkwell Isles. Lisette once again hugs Gwen.
"Thank you, for all this Gwen. I never thought I could be this happy." Lisette said.
Gwen smiled, touched by her compliment and how happy she made her.
"Yeah." Gwen said.
Gwen takes Lisette back to the apartment and returns home. She rejoins Mortimer outside the cottage.
"Wow, you really made that human happy. The cards told me of her dark past." Mortimer said.
"Yeah. Do you suppose if this works for her, would she want to move to Montreal or would she try to convince Hamilton to move here?" Gwen asked.
"I can't say for certain. That would be entirely up to her to make that choice. Nothing is really set in stone. Whatever we do next and the choices we make determines our future. Like you chose to stay on Earth with your friends and family until you decide you're ready to be a goddess." Mortimer advised and pointed out.
"Oh, you know about that?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, the cards told me." Mortimer said.
"Oh." Gwen said.
"Now, are you still on for the Winter Ball?" Mortimer asked.
"Sure thing. Just let me know." Gwen said.
Mortimer leaves and returns to his tundra home on the fourth isle. After some time, Gwen helps him out with the Winter Ball with all his cult members dancing to the music and enjoying frozen treats. Gwen once again brings the snowmen back to life and provided music and dancing.
"Thanks to you kid, the Winter Ball is a huge success." Mortimer complimented.
"Thanks Mortimer." Gwen thanked.
"It was even nice of you to invite your French friend and her Canadian boyfriend here too." Mortimer said.
Gwen noticed Lisette and Hamilton wearing warm winterwear and dancing together with the anthropomorphic snow couples.
Gwen felt happy for Lisette finding love and knows what ever she chose to do with her life, she would support her no matter what.