25 Days of Christmas (2024)

Day One: Snow Fall

The term "when Hell freezes over" ended up being more accurate than sinners knew.

It started with the faintest chill in the air, a sensation foreign to Hell's residents. Then came the snow; a true anomaly in the eternally blazing underworld. Flakes of crystalline frost drifted from a dark, swirling sky, blanketing the streets of Pentagram City. Buildings once cloaked in smoke and fire now sparkled under the bizarre frost, their jagged edges softened by nature's unexpected handiwork.

Inside the Hazbin Hotel, Charlie pressed her nose against the frosted glass of the lobby window, her wide, curious eyes fixed on the scene outside. "Isn't it beautiful?" she asked, her breath fogging the glass.

"Beautiful? Try unnerving," Vaggie muttered, arms crossed as she joined Charlie. "This isn't normal, even for Hell. What's causing it?"

Lucifer looked up from where he lounged in a high-backed chair near the fireplace, his fingers steepled in thought. "The snow," he began, his voice smooth and foreboding, "is not simply weather. It is a manifestation of imbalance. Somewhere in the fabric of Hell's design, a force has been disrupted. This chill is a harbinger of instability—a crack in the foundation of what makes this realm... well, Hell."

"Great," Vaggie grumbled, glaring at the falling flakes. "So, it's not just creepy—it's dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Angel Dust piped up, pulling his blanket tighter as he sipped from his mug. "Sounds about right for this place. At least it's pretty. Maybe I'll take up snow sculpting—make a whole ice castle or something."

Niffty zipped in from the kitchen, balancing a tray of freshly baked cookies in one hand while sweeping stray frost from the floor with the other. "Snow is so exciting! I've never seen it before!" She placed the tray on the counter and spun around the room, humming cheerfully. "We should decorate! And clean! I bet snow makes everything so shiny!"

"Niffty, dear," Alastor's smooth, radio-static voice interjected as he appeared at the base of the staircase, his ever-present smile sharp and unsettling. "While your enthusiasm is... admirable, I'd advise against getting too comfortable. Snow in Hell is like finding a flame in the Arctic—a sign of something deeply wrong."

"Always the optimist, huh, Radio Boy?" Cherri Bomb said, sauntering in as she stomped the frost off her boots. "Why not loosen up for once? We could make snow angels—or snow demons."

"Why, Cherri, I find this all quite entertaining!" Alastor chuckled, spreading his arms wide as if embracing the bizarre scene. "Hell's delicate balance teetering on the edge of collapse? Why, it's the most exciting thing to happen here in centuries!"

Charlie clapped her hands, spinning toward the group. "I still think this could be a chance for something good! We could make memories! Have fun! Maybe even—"

"A holiday musical?" Husk muttered, rubbing his temples as he then chugged a bottle of booze.

"Don't tempt her," Vaggie warned.

Lucifer rose from his chair, his commanding presence silencing the room. "Enjoy your frivolities while you can, my dear sinners. The snow may look beautiful, but it heralds something darker. Prepare yourselves for what comes next may not be so... picturesque."

"Dad!" Charlie scolded.

"Kidding! I'm kidding!" Lucifer said.

The room fell into a tense silence after Lucifer's ominous words. Charlie shifted uncomfortably, her optimism fighting to push through the weight of her father's warning. "Well," she said, forcing a smile, "until that storm comes, why don't we enjoy this while we can? When's the last time anyone in Hell got to play in the snow?"