Once upon a time, in a land not too far up north, there lived a boy named Hajime. He wasn't anything special, just a simple farm hand. Each morning he woke up and tended the animals and each night he fell asleep feeling more and more ordinary. He was fortunate to have shelter and food, yet he longed for a greater purpose in life.
One summers day, while Hajime tended the sheep, he noticed a strange chill in the air. He didn't give it much mind until the chickens flew into a panic. Quickly, he checked the chicken pen to see frantic chickens, feathers scattered about, and, amidst all the chaos, a white arctic fox. Before Hajime could reach to grab it, the arctic fox took off with one of the chickens. Hajime would have chased after the fox, hadn't it mysteriously started to snow.
The snow continued to fall from the morning and deep into the afternoon. As Hajime fed the animals dinner, he overheard the villagers speaking of the strange summer snow.
"It's unnatural for snow to fall in summer" one villager said.
"Could it be an ill omen?" Another villager asked.
"I'm sure it will pass" the first villager said.
...
Later that night, Hajime was awoken by the sound of a distressed sheep. Quickly, he rushed out to the barn only to see a pack of arctic wolves running off with a dead sheep. With fire in his eyes, Hajime ran through the snow and after the wolves. He ran so fast and so focused on the wolf, that he didn't take a moment to realize where he was going. As he ran, the snow started to clear up. Just when it seemed that he was going to catch the wolf, Hajime heard a frightening sound unlike any beast. Hajime looked to see a ferocious white lion with a silver mane and violet eyes. Following the lion, was a whole pack of arctic wolves. The lion flicked its tail and snarled, but just when it was about to pounce, the arctic fox from before appeared.
"I wouldn't do that your highness" the fox spoke.
"Wh...what?" Hajime asked in surprise," did you just talk?"
"Nagito!" The lion snarled.
"Forgive me your highness" the fox spoke with his tail tucked behind his legs," but don't you think this boy could be of use to us?"
The lion stared at Hajime before sniffing him. Hajime tried to stay calm and process what was going on while the lion circled around him. Just when it seemed that the lion would leave him alone, the lion pounced onto Hajime and forced him to the ground.
"Listen dear boy" the lion growled," You are coming with us"
"An what if I don't want to?" Hajime asked only for the lion to snarl and release his claws," okay, I get it"
"Then we shall go now" the lion said.
"Wait" Hajime said," can I at least change into something warmer?"
"He is more valuable alive than dead" the fox said," I'll go with him and make sure he comes back"
"Very well" the lion said," bring your warmest clothes, you'll need them for where we are going"
...
Back at Hajimes house, he gathered his warmest clothes. As he did, the fox snooped about.
"What a rather boring house" the fox said.
"I guess it would be boring from the point of view of a magic talking fox" Hajime said.
"Just call me nagito" the fox said.
"What do you even want with me?" Hajime asked.
"I'll let his royal highness tell you all about it" nagito said.
"You mean that white beast?" Hajime asked.
"Yes, he is a lion" nagito said.
"Well then" Hajime said," I'm ready to go"
"Good" nagito said," his majesty is probably getting impatient"
...
Hajime returned to the the lion and his pack of wolves. When they returned, the crescent moon was high up in the sky.
"I see you have returned" the lion said," now, climb onto my back"
"Are you sure?" Hajime asked.
"Would you prefer to walk" the lion asked.
"No" Hajime said.
Hajime climbed onto the lions back, before the animals took off for the north. As they ran, an aurora borealis formed up above and shined magnificently.
...
"Um..your highness?" Hajime asked some time into the journey," where are we going?"
"To the snow queens castle" the lion said.
"Snow queen?" Hajime asked with a shiver.
"There" the white lion said when they climbed to the top of a snow hill.
Hajime looked to see a frozen blue castle on the other side of a sea of fog. The castle stood tall on the mountain with a beautiful yet ominous appearance.
Hajime continued to stare at the castle as the lion walked down into the fog. When they entered the fog, they saw a village incased in spikey deep blue ice. No matter how far the lion walked, the town was desolate and empty of life.
"What happened here?" Hajime asked.
"I wouldn't ask that right now" nagito said before the lion lightly snarled at him," sorry".
They walked past a frozen village square before scaling the mountain path. As they walked out of the village, the fog cleared and revealed the castle.
"You mentioned the snow queen before" Hajime said," is this where she is?"
"Yes" the lion said," now, listen and do as I say"
"Yes, your highness" hajime said.
"Ah, your majesty has returned" a snow owl from above said.
"Good evening, Gundam" the lion said.
"Where is the snow queen?" Nagito asked.
"Last I saw, she was in the garden" the owl said.
"Tell her that I've brought her a servant" the lion said.
"Servant?!" Hajime asked only for the lion to snarl at him.
"Understood your highness" the owl said before flying away.
"God I hope things will start to make sense soon" Hajime said only to make nagito laugh.
"I shall explain later" the lion said.
"Couldn't you have explained things on the way here" Hajime asked.
"What fun would there be in that" nagito said.
Before Hajime could shoot the fox with a glare, the castle doors opened. Hajime looked to see that an arctic weasel had opened the door.
"Oh my" the weasel said," it's been so long since we've had a visitor"
The weasel came closer to Hajime before climbing onto him and sniffing.
"Smells like animals, but I guess I can't complain" the weasel said.
"Leave him be, Sonia" the lion said.
"Sorry" the weasel said before scurrying off.
"This way" the lion said as entered the castle.
Inside, the castle was covered in light blue ice. Hajime followed the white lion up the staircase, while the wolves ran off to some other part of the castle.
When they reached the throne room, a girl sat in the throne made of pure ice. She wore a light blue dress with a scarf of white fur. Her skin was pale as the moon and her eyes were a cold blue. She wore a crown of ice on her head that complemented her fairly long pink hair with white at the end of each strand.
"What do you want?" The queen asked.
"I brought you a servant to tend to the animals" the lion said with a bowed head.
"Fine" the queen said," I don't care"
"Understood" the lion said.
"I'm going to sleep" the queen said," make sure he doesn't disturb me"
"Of course" the lion said.
With that, the queen rose from her throne and walked away. As the queen walked away, Hajime sensed something in her eyes. Despite how cold and distant they were, he could see a glimmer of sadness.
Once the queen left, the lion guided Hajime somewhere more private.
...
"Now are you going to tell me what's going on?" Hajime asked.
"Yes" the white lion said," you see, the snow queen is my daughter"