First Snow (OPEN)

[Larxene]

(PM me first if you will be joining, and please only join if you plan on being committed... ;~

---

"...Let me enjoy this one Frozen Moment."

---

The first steps were always the hardest to take. You never knew if you were going to move forward… or if you were going to fall.

And Cadence was quite certain she would fall if she dared take another.

The moment the thickening layer of snow first crunched under her toes the queasy feeling had taken her. With each step she took her legs began to feel more and more like jelly, about to give way if she placed her foot at the wrong angle, put her weight on it the wrong way. So she stopped, legs shaking ever so slightly beneath her, as she gazed outward, eyes wide with mixed fear and wonder, at the almost serene scene.

The First District of Traverse Town laid spread out before her: the café to the left and the great towering doors to the Third District to the right, and ahead a sloping, twisting path of stairs that led up to a shop front decorated with neon lights and deeper into the Town beyond. Tall lamps and countless bright signs lit the small plaza and the alleys and ascending steps frosted with snow, painting the white that was everywhere with glints of gold and every color of the rainbow. Overhead the vast expanse of the sky was a patch work of lofty white and dark night, the stars twinkling down at her as they peeked out from behind the clouds, and all around snowflakes danced in the cool air, twirling with a breeze unseen.

The sight of it all was mesmerizing, and after a long while of staring at the new world around her the first thing she did was shiver.

Cadence didn’t come dressed for this sort of weather. Not at all. Her shoulders were bare, the fabric of her dress and her leggings were too thin, and her boots were not the sort made for the snow. The chill seeped into her quickly, numbing her nose and her ears and her fingertips. But the creeping cold was far from her mind. Her thoughts belonged to something else.

I’m on another world, she thought to herself, her gaze once again sweeping all that was around her, taking in the sights as clumps of snow stuck themselves to strands of her hair. She did it. She actually did it – wiggled out from under her father’s oppressive thumb and struck out into the worlds. She was finally living what was once a far-off dream.

A warmth, at first tight like a knot but slowly did it loosen, swelled in her chest. She shook again, though this time not from the cold, but from the feeling that now permeated from this swelling, heated center. The sensation spread to her arms and legs, through her limbs to her extremities, and she shivered yet again. Her head swam, and her legs quake beneath her, wanting to move, urging for yet another step, falling be damned.

With great effort she stilled her quaking legs and moved to take one step forward. Down, softly like the falling snow did her foot come, and no, she did not fall. She flew. Or rather, it felt like flying, the way she broke out into a run, soaring over the freshly fallen white with each stride she took.

Where she was running? Cadence did not know, nor did she care. She just ran. In circles around the plaza, up and down the twisting stairs, leaping and twirling in the air like she was dancing with the clustered flakes, her joyous laughter a song to accompany her twirling display. What did she care for the cold? The melting snow seeping into fabrics? The fact that she was alone, on a foreign world full of unknown dangers and people, so very far away from home? For once in her life she truly felt free. Free to go where she pleased and do as she wished. Free to feel like a child, so full of wonder, once again.

And like a child did she tumble to the ground, tripping over some stone unseen beneath the white, rolling in the snow in a whirl of white fluff and light-green ruffles. When she regained her senses she found herself on her back, lying in the middle of the plaza and staring up at the clouded sky. She made no effort to get up. Instead she let out a melodious laugh and spread out her arms and legs about her, waving her limbs about her in the fluff, giving herself an angel’s wings, and when she grew tired of that she stopped.

Her giggle was soft, toned down from her boisterous glee from before, as she looked upward as the sky. Same sky as Twilight Town’s, but a new perspective. All new.

Cadence smiled and closed her eyes, and there she remained, lying on the ground in the middle of the plaza in a bed of snow with the white flakes falling to join her. She didn’t move, didn’t reopen her eyes. She just lay there, breathing in the cool, new air of the new world, enjoying herself and feeling truly free for the first time in a long, long while…

---

[rosablackthorn]

<sup>Rosa shot wide awake, gasping in an unprecedented fear. Panic overtook her for a moment, and all she could do was breath heavily and quickly. What... was all that? A dream? she wondered, the paralysis of her fear gradually wearing off. As composure set in once more, the blonde began to collect herself, and she took in the sights around her. Cobblestone was beneath her, and wooden structures were all around. It appeared to be night, but she could see strange energies illuminating paths of some sort.

Warily, she rose to her feet, dazed and confused. "Where... am I...?" Rosa pondered in whisper, the hard heels of her boots clacking upon the pavement as she ventured forth. Emerging from an alleyway, the girl wandered into a plaza which sported a "tavern" and a "shop." What were those, exactly? "I get the feeling... that I'm very far from home," she uttered, unaware of just how far Traverse Town was from Faria.

Moreover, she suddenly became aware of how cold it was. As small, white flakes brushed against her bare skin, Rosa was awestruck. "Snow? At this time of year? Strange..." Strange or not, her attire wouldn't suit the circumstances. She would have to find new garments. But... where?

Shivering, the girl took a few steps more into the open, looking about in a timid manner far from the norm for her. As she took in her surroundings, Rosa only felt more and more out of place. Wrapping her arms around herself, the blonde attempted to pinpoint anywhere she could either find warmer clothes or take shelter. Neither seemed apparent, much to her dismay.

Despairing, Rosa sighed heavily (and visibly, courtesy of the cold). However, the sense of sadness and worry was quickly replaced with a sense of alarm and curiosity, as suddenly another young woman was darting around and about. Pink eyes wide open, Rosa gawked at the stranger, wondering if she had recently been using any 'medicinal' herbs.

Warily, she elected to approach anyway. Whether Rosa was drawn in by some misplaced sense of concern, or some other strange instinct, she wasn't sure. "Aren't you cold?" she asked, tilting her head in a perplexed manner. The snow crunched beneath her feet with every step- until she found herself sliding. At first, it was just her feet sliding apart. When Rosa tried to regain her balance, she instead found herself falling flat on her rear with a loud shriek. Embarrassed, she tried to get up and run in shame- only to yelp as she slipped once more, falling flat on her face.

This time, she didn't attempt to move again. Rather, she merely lifted her head up enough to look back at the other girl. Agitated with her own foolishness, she glared, not spitefully at the other, but with irritation at herself. "Please tell me you didn't see any of that," she groaned, planting her face firmly in the snow out of embarrassment. Sure, it was freezing, but after that, she couldn't look at the stranger without feeling the need to break down crying or punch someone.</sup>

[Larxene]

---

It was the sound of the unknown voice that jolted Cadence out of her blissful reverie.

Eyelashes frosted with fallen snow fluttered as he snapped her eyes open in slight alarm, and with much effort – the ground slick with melting snow beneath her – she pushed herself up onto her bare elbows. She did not know where she had come from, but another girl came into view… and then nearly tumbled back out of view as she slipped on the icy cobbles.

Once, twice, did the girl stumble and fall, landing finally face-first in the snowy drifts. Cadence could not help but let a mirthful smile play its way across her lips and a small, melodic chuckle part from them.

She only chuckled more when the other girl – older girl, she seemed – groaned her question.

“Oh, nonono… I didn’t see you stumble, or fall down, or fall flat on your face. Nope!” A bright smile broke out across her face as she answered. “No, I just saw the snow falling from the sky. It’s beautiful, no? The snowfall? With all the lights shining off it and the gentle wind…”

With a tiny grunt Cadence pulled herself up, knees sliding to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them. She sat there, tilting her head to one side, then the other, pale-gold hair brushing her shoulders at she looked at the girl, curious about just who she was.

When the girl first spoke out to her Cadence was taken off guard, almost frightened. She was not expecting anyone to come along, nor did she see anyone in the vicinity when she first arrived – she may have missed her in her joyous romp – and when her presence was made known, Cadence had feared she may have been a threat. She was, after all, so far away from home in a world full of the unknown and strangers. And all she had to defend herself was her parasol, its staff form, and a few meager spells.

Too quickly did that thought depart from her mind when she saw the girl tumble and fall, and now that she could get a better look at her, well, she did not look all that threatening. No, not at all. She too was fair haired and skinned, and also dressed not-at-all for the snowy weather. …Just thinking about it reminded Cadence how she too was dressed, in nothing but her boots and her leggings and her light-green dress.

Then, and only then, did she start to feel the chill of the winter wonderland. She shivered.

“As for your first question, well, I wasn’t cold before. But now I am, since you brought it up.” She leaned forward, hugging her knees closer to her body, and peered curiously at the other blonde. “And I can ask the same of you. But I won’t.” She giggled cheerfully. “I’m Cadence, and instead I’ll ask for your name.”

---

[rosablackthorn]

<sup>The other girl's voice had a very kind and gentle ring to it- that much stuck out to Rosa immediately. Caydence's playful and light-hearted demeanor made the situation a tad more bearable, but her words drew an embarrassed groan from Rosa. "Please... Just... Do me a favor, and never mention that happened. To anyone. Please," she pleaded fervently, raising her head from the cold, white snow. Realizing that some had accumulated in her long, blond locks, the fencer shook briefly, watching as the flakes tumbled gently back to the ground.

"It is really beautiful, isn't it? Almost... unreal, actually," Rosa answered, rising cautiously to her feet. The girl's arms were spread out to the side as she managed her balance so as not to give a repeat performance. This is... so strange. So difficult to take in. I was at the Hearth, with Caius, and... then everything was black. Caius... what did you do!? Where is this!? she wondered.

The internal turmoil was evident upon Rosa's face for a moment. Her lucid, pink eyes looked pained, and her eyebrows sank with worry and despair. Proud as she was though, she forced herself back to composure- she would not allow a stranger to see her as weak or helpless. Resolve and purpose quickly replaced any signs of prior sorrows.

In fact, her luscious lips curled into a light smile, and Rosa outstretched her hand- a friendly gesture of her introduction. "I'm Rosa- Rosa Blackthorn. And I'm just as cold as you, no doubt," came her answer, followed by a brief laugh. "Sorry for bringing the cold to mind. I was just concerned. Aaaaand a little bit confused. I honestly don't even know where we are. Where can I get some warmer clothing?"

"I n-need to f-f-find my family! I m-made a huge mistake!" The sudden urgency in her voice caught even the girl herself off-guard, though the stuttering induced by the cold was no doubt amusing. "S-s-something t-t-terrible happened, and I don't even k-n-nnow what..." she offered further in explanation, still shivering.

Just when she was getting somewhere, however, Rosa heard something else- something unsettling, almost as if strange whispers. Youuuuuu aaaaaaaare lossssssssst. The sound was difficult to make out to Rosa, and its meaning escaped her. She didn't... imagine it, did she? "Caydence, did you hear that?" she asked, looking off to her left, towards the alley from which she came.</sup>

[Larxene]

---

“Oh, no, don’t worry about it,” Cadence said when the other girl asked her to keep her tumble secret. From whom, she could only wonder; a fall was only a fall. Never-the-less, she gave the girl a soft smile as she watched her rise from the white, running a finger across her lips. “My lips are sealed.”

Before she started her journey, Cadence held the tiniest bit of trepidation. She really did not know that much about the outside worlds and from how her father spoke of the he made it sound like they were so full of danger. So… Cadence was a bit scared of what she would find on her journey, and who she would meet. But this girl, she seemed friendly enough. A bit clumsy too, but that was nothing bad. She almost felt like a kindred spirit.

Quickly Cadence unfolded her hands from around her legs and padded around the soft snow around her, feeling out her parasol. The thing left her grip when she fell, and really, she needed it to cast her spells. She would not last long without it. Soon enough she found it buried, dug it out, and beat the snow out of it. She looked back up to see the girl closer now, hand held out, and a name given.

Grinning, Cadence took her hand and pushes herself up onto her own feet, shaking out the snow still slinging to her dress. “It’s a delight to meet you, Rosa,” she chirped, and then opened up her lace parasol and held it aloft over her head. It wasn’t much, but at least it would keep the falling snow from piling up on her bare shoulders.

“Don’t worry about the cold… I’d have remembered it sooner or later,” she laughed. “As to where you can get some warm clothing… well, I really don’t know. I really don’t know where I am, either. I’m a traveler… and I guess you are too?”

Yes, Rosa seemed friendly enough… but then things got weird.

Rosa just suddenly started stuttering. From the cold or from something else, Cadence could not say. And her cheery, almost ditzy demeanor seemed to just vanish, instead being replaced by what sounded like slight panic. The very sight of it frightened her the tiniest bit.

“Hear what,” Cadence couldn’t help but ask when the Rosa turned toward an alley, her voice now almost a squeak. “I… I didn’t hear anything.”

She followed Rosa’s gaze.

---

[rosablackthorn]

<sub>Rosa's concern visibly grew, but it made her more focused. Cadence had no idea where they were either, nor did she know where to get warm clothes. This was concerning and unsettling in and of itself. "A ... traveler? Me? Hardly. I've never left the forest, except when I was- nevermind. We're obviously far away from there. But... how? I don't understand! Ugh..." The young woman rubbed her forehead with vexation, grasping for answers beyond her comprehension.

"If I could just find some Espers, I could seek their counsel. My crystal isn't glowing though, so there can't be any nearby," the girl rambled on, assuming Cadence knew what she was talking about. "I'd ask if you knew where to look, but since you're new here, too, I'm guessing that's a no-go. Welllllllll..." Silence fell upon Rosa, signaling a complete and total lack of ideas. "I could... No... Uh... Crud. I've got nothin.' Whatever I heard earlier is bugging me though. Would you mind sticking with me until I can figure something out?" she requested, rather meek in comparison to usual.

"I just don't like the idea of being alone right now. I don't know this place, and I don't want to wander right into the clutches of some thug or something like that. I've got enough problems right now." For Rosa to admit that was rather painful. She was used to being so independent and self-sufficient. "Besides, we both need warmer gear anyway," she added hastily.</sub>

[Larxene]

---

Cadence tilted her head from one side to the other as Rosa spoke.

“Not a traveler, eh?” she said. Cadence didn’t understand what she meant by that. How could she have gotten here if she did not mean to come here? Did she… just appear here randomly? Can people do that? Cadence did not know. There was a lot she didn’t know, that she needed to learn.

But that was the spirit of adventure! Delving into the unknown, learning about things her father would otherwise never tell her, seeing places she’s been forbidden to see. It was exciting, terrifying, alluring.

As Rosa continued to speak, Cadence found her mental list of things she didn’t know and needed to investigate continuing to grow.

Espers? Crystal? What? Cadence didn’t realize it, but she was giving Rosa a blank face as she said it all. All she knew was that she knows very little. That very little being that there were more worlds to explore. And magic. Some magic. …A tiny, tiny, tiny bit about magic.

But that magic, she figured, for Rosa’s request, would be more than enough.

“Oh, of course I’ll stick with you,” Cadence said with a bright smile. “And if it’s protection you need, well, I can offer that. Kinda. I’m quite good at this one Protect spell.” She tapped her parasol fondly. “As long as I have my, eh… well, my staff, you’re safe with me. As for getting warm, I think I saw a café on my way in. Shall we check it out?”

---

[rosablackthorn]

Cadence emanated a kindness that was almost too good to be true. She was so happy and seemed almost carefree- a state that Rosa envied a bit, to be quite honest. Nonetheless, her presence was comforting to wayward Rosa. Out of all the possibilities of people she could have run into, she practically won the lottery.

Still, Rosa was bothered. She could tell that Cadence had no idea what she was talking about from the blank look on her face. Was she that lost? That far from home? Or worse... was there still a home to go back to? No- that was a silly thought. Now she was just being paranoid. ... She hoped.

"Thanks Cadence! You won't regret it, I promise! Two lost girls watching each other's backs... this is actually kind of exciting! If only my sisters were here..." she exclaimed with excitement, only to drift off in thought. "Protection magic, huh? I'm not so good with magic, but I'm great with a sword. I can do a little bit of fire magic, but can't sustain it long. Maybe you can teach me a bit later! That can wait though. Clothes come first! To the cafe!"

At that, Rosa struck an odd, overly confident and dramatic pose, pointing straight ahead... only to realize she had no idea where the cafe was. Embarrassment quickly weighed in, and she hid in shame beneath her long, blond bangs. "Right. Lead the way then. Heh. Heh. Ugh... And uh... please pretend you didn't see anything. Please," she pleaded, laughing nervously.