It's Christmas time in Lavanya and our story takes place in Oasari where our heroes spend their time in peace and warmth as they ready for the upcoming wedding and Christmas festivities. The snow falls heavily as it gathers on the ground and on heads, Criston is yelling at some of the workers to put things where they belong, most the huge tree's ornaments. Brako is sitting at the bar, drinking eggnog as he watches with mild interest as the workers prepare the food for the feast on the other side of the massive field.

A few of the village's young children are building forts nearby, preparing for their massive snowball fight, which some of the Athalia students may or may not join in on. The music is in the air as the band Carmen pulled together plays for those around. Though, there is a hint of darkness in the air as the feeling of something watching them slinks up the back of their necks. Most simply shrug it off, but some feel the sinister presence nearby.

"How is it that it always snows around Christmas here?"

"C'mon Mitch, you've lived in Oasari for two years now, you should know the answer to that."

"Yeah, you know how it is. The people wanted it to snow during the holidays so they made it happen. Magic 'n' that."

"We Oasarians definitely benefit from magic, that's for sure."

"Well I mean...have you seen our bandleader?"

"I heard that."

"I know."

"Alright, second set incoming! Hit #44 and we'll go from there."

"You going to sing this set, Carmen?"

"You be glad I already wrote your check, Bobby."

And with that, amidst a ripple of chuckles emanating from the band members, Carmen counted off the band and the second set began. As the pianist took a lengthy solo on "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" and the group's soothing jazz vibes spread over the town square, Carmen leaned on the side of the bandstand and took a look around. The giant Christmas tree in the middle of the square was quickly taping shape, people the skylark knew and loved roamed the snow-covered Fußgängerzone (pedestrian zone), and Christmas spirit filled the air as the snow gently fell. Carmen smiled as the peaceful, picturesque scene unfolded before her before turning to cue the end of the piano solo.

Lily chuckled from where she sat at the long table in the center of town, watching the band and Carmen. When one song ended, she cheered and yelled, clapping happily for her roommate. When the next song started, she got up and walked over to Carmen, poking her friend in the side playfully.

"It sounds lovely, Carmen." She spoke, smiling warmly. She was bundled up in all white, white fur lining her big coat. She had on a flowing white dress, the first in a long time, with white stockings and jeweled shoes Carmen had picked out. Another soft smile as she turned to the band as they played and winked at them, chuckling as she turned back to Carmen. "How much longer is everyone booked to play?" She asked, looking at Carmen expectantly. She thought about the presents sitting under the big tree for all of her friends and the small box meant for Carmen and she blushed.

This was all a bit silly for someone like her to do and probably the dumbest thing she'd done in a while. It hurt her heart in a way. She knew it would hurt her in the end, but she couldn't really stop herself. Absentmindedly, she rubbed her ring finger, while smiling at Carmen.

Oh, it's that time of the year again.

Polished formal beige and white shoes, black formal pants, a white, long sleeved formal shirt and a black blazer, coupled with a pair of black gloves and a white scarf. The black-and-white dressed man's calmly taken steps brought him closer and closer to the center of the town. The man carried an air of confidence, his expression was centered; although the hint of a mischievous smile became evident when he was close sufficiently. There was also an aura of something dark and evil, but one couldn't exactly pinpoint him as the one who brought it. He could hear the song playing perfectly already - and not soon after, he could see them.

Bael would laugh loudly, if he could.

But instead, he carefully stepped to a less... visible spot. Then, he crouched down - disappearing from sight.

...

...

Some strange noise.

Flooooop!

Two carefully made snowballs flung from seemingly nowhere; both perfectly aimed at Lily and Carmen.

A laughter was heard in the moment they were thrown.

"Aahaha! The shadows of evil have came!"

After almost pulling over the Christmas tree-which probably would have destroyed more than anyone cared to think of-because he got himself tied up in the lights, Crash had been banned from helping with any and all decorating. He'd also been banned from helping with the feast as well, after a jug of eggnog had ended up over one of the volunteers head and one of the cookers...needless to say no-one much appreciated his fire fighting effort. And he was banished by the handful of foam covered volunteers.

Despite all of that Crash was in high spirits. Christmas was his all time favourite holiday, he liked the music, the decorations, the clothes, the colors, the food...basically everything about it. Having been banished from near enough everywhere else, Crash found himself in the last place he'd expect to be. Supervising-of all things-the children as they built their snow forts and prepared for the snow ball war, he'd been helping all of them build up their walls and hoard snowballs. There were little walls of snow all over the place as was the way of children, no definite area of battle. "This is just...chaotic" He said to himself, scraping snow out of his hair and brushing it off of his coat. He wasn't wearing anything particularly Christmassy at the moment, he'd forgotten to go out and buy anything so he was sporting a long black and white coat over a light blue jumper with a pair of jeans tucked into winter boots. He was hoping Carmen wouldn't notice his terrible choice in clothing...yet again it was a daily occurrence for him and probably expected.

He'd removed himself from the center of the snow fight after he'd been bombarded with snow balls for 'helping' the enemy...which meant all of them had thrown snow at him. He was now stood off to the side listening to Carmen's band and twirling a drumstick through his gloved fingers. 'It definitely is the most wonderful time of the year...' He thought to himself with a smile. He hadn't celebrated Christmas with such flourish for many years, he'd tagged in on Mercy's Christmas get togethers. But as welcoming as her family were he had always felt like an outsider.

"It'll be different this year...surely" He told himself, pulling his coat tighter as he noticed a small person dart behind the tree next to him. He slid his drumstick into his pocket next to the other one and pretended he hadn't noticed anything. "Ha!" The youngster exclaimed as he jumped out and threw a snowball at Crash. The shapeshifter turned in surprise and allowed it to hit him square in the chest, throwing himself backwards with a playful cry as it struck his coat. "Ahhh, you got me! Man down!" He complained, clutching at his chest as he sat up. By now the youngster was giggling like mad. "He's down but he's not out" Crash added, scooping some snow into his hand and throwing it back at the youngster, who jumped away in surprise. Gathering another a handful of snow, the shapeshifter hopped to his feet and scrunched it into a ball, ready to throw the snowball at the retreating youngster. He hesitated however as he heard someone laugh behind him. Keeping his arm suspended in the air, he turned round in time to see two snowballs fly at Lily and Carmen.

Carmen looked up after playing the last note of the tune as she felt a poke, that she knew came from Lily, her roommate and partner in crime. "Oh, you're too kind, Lily," the skylark purred in response to the angel's compliment. "I'm so glad you like it. You look lovely, by the way. The dress compliments you nicely...and of course the shoes," she teased. "I think we stylized well together," she said, looking over her own flowing dark red dress.

Listening to Lily's question, Carmen looked over at the band quickly and replied. "I booked the band for another hour, but I can have them pack up early if you'd like. They wouldn't mind...they're still getting paid, after all. Or I could just join the festivities and have them keep playing on their own. Whatever all of you would like."

She hoped Lily hadn't noticed that in addition to the gifts that Carmen put under the tree for her roommate, there were many more waiting at their apartment.

Before she could run with that thought anymore, though, she was hit square in the stomach with a snowball. She saved herself from falling backwards onto the saxophone player, and she was perplexed. "If that's what the 'shadows of evil' look like, we've all been worrying for no reason," she joked with Lily. "Hey cats - let's hit #21. "Let it Snow" in E flat. Here we go..."

After hastily counting off the band, she turned her attention back to the stealth snowballman. "What's wrong, don't like the music?" she called out with a critical, but still playful, tone. She noticed that others, conspicuously including Crash, were involved in CQC (Cold Quarters Combat) as well, so she didn't think much of an errant snowball.

Lily laughed at Carmen's response. The skylark had a way of doing that, despite Lily's attempts at staying sad and somber. Whenever she was around Carmen, she found herself smiling a lot more, reason enough to stick around. She blushed at the compliments and chuckled at Carmen's comment on their dresses together.

"I still think you out shine me at any party in any dress but I don't think you'd really mind that." Lily returned with another jab at Carmen's side. She listened to Carmen answer her question and offer solutions. She didn't want to steal Carmen away from everyone, but at the same time she selfishly wished she could steal her away permanently.

She let out a soft sigh and smiled at Carmen. "If you think they can preform without you to keep them together, then by all means." She teased, sticking her tongue out at her roommate.

Before she could say much more, a snowball landed on her face and slide down into her coat. Her eyes went wide and darted around to look for the culprit.

"Aahaha! The shadows of evil have came!"

"Right, the shadows of evil." She returned to Carmen, her voice monotone as she focused on the direction from which the snowballs had hailed.

Her eye twitched for a moment before she rushed over towards the group playing with the snowballs. "Alright, which one of you brats threw those snowballs?" She yelled, looking over the kids and then at Crash. With a wicked grin, she leaned over to push a pile of snow into her own snowball and tossed the sucker in Crash's direction.

-Andromeda-

Andro had watched everyone else prepare for christmas with odd fascination, as she had every christmas since she first ever came to Athalia. she hadn't really had christmas when she lived with her parents. her mother never gave her anything, her secretary did, something simple but expensive, like a necklace and earrings or an expensive painting. her father showered her in gifts but it wasn't exactly odd and it wasn't like there was much ceremony to it. she'd never had a big thing christmas morning where she opened presents with someone staring at her with love and admiration. the servants were all scared of her and wouldn't do anything with her. the few that actually knew her had tried once or twice but she always got so meloncholic when it came to the holiday that they could never make her do much.
but at Athalia it had been differant, everyone had freaked out and the ones who stayed at the school would make Christmas a huge deal, get everyone involved. and after they came to Oasari it really hadn't changed much. she hadn't done much. she didn't have much either, she certainy didn't have acess to a fortune anymore but she did what she could to get her few friends some presents, small things that she hoped they would like. they were all under the massive tree, just waiting. she didn't honestly expect any presents herself but she figured that wasn't the point.

she liked the sound of the band. that's what she was doing now, just listening. so she was witness to Lily and Carmen's snowy assault. she couldn't help smiling and chuckling a little.