In Whisker Woods, I stood for a moment before going any further. The Polar Fields, I was sure, would be cold, so I wondered what I should use as a backup warm thing. I looked toward the Hot Spring; I still had my warm stone.

Walking toward the Hot Spring, I noticed a Bear, and realized it was an escapee from the Zoo. I went towards it instead, and it saw me coming with the red, evil looking eyes. I stood before it, my tension rising a bit. It had been a while since my last competition.

The sun rose in the sky as the bear looked at me, weighing in what it wanted me to do with it. I would be surprised that it didn't want to do something with me.

"Fishing battle! Catch me a Brook Trout!" it said to me. I hadn't even said any consent, these animals were possessive under magic. "I love fresh Brook Trout! Now get fishing!"

I went to the pier and started fishing, and it took me a while. The first time, I pulled too soon, then I caught a Pale Chub, then a Brook Trout.

"All right! This Is the Brook Trout that Bear wanted! Let's go back to Bear and give him this Brook Trout." Beat said.

I ran back to the Bear, happy that I caught it sooner than I had expected. For something like this, I expected at least a full day.

I handed the Brook Trout to the Bear, who looked at it in his paws with surprise. It didn't talk for some time, just looking at the Brook Trout.

I finally had to say, "Bear!"

That snapped the Bear out of his evilness, and his eyes were back to a beady black. "What. . . What have I been doing? I bearly remember. . . I do seem to recall Ivlet casting some spell on me. . ." the Bear looked at me and looked utterly bewildered. "I must have really caused you some trouble. Sorry about that. I'll just lumber on back to the Zoo."

"All right, Bear!" I told Bear, as it walked away, again leaving me 1000G. I started to think about where they keep the money. In their mouths, perhaps? I shook my head to clear it.

I went across the small bridge to the Hot Spring and took the Warm Stone out. Dipping it in the Hot Spring, I felt the temperature in the rock rising. As soon as it was done, I instantly put it away so that I wouldn't have to carry it to the Polar Fields. I could still feel some its warmth against me.

Crossing the bridge that went to the front of Roaring Falls, I went into the direction opposite the Caverns and went straight across another bridge and onto a small little island where I saw a Kiwi Bird. I saw the evil glint in its eyes.

I went towards it, and waited for instructions.

"Kee-wee! Time for a Treasure Hunt battle!" it said.

I saw the different treasures being hidden, a bronze coin was ten points, a silver was twenty, a gold was thirty, and a package of gold was fifty. I was ready to go, and so was the Kiwi.

I cannot recount all of the different ones I got, though I know I got at least one package of gold. I got two hundred and ten points while the Kiwi only got seventy. I was shocked at how eas it had been for me.

I stood in front of the Kiwi, waiting for a response. It was in the shock above mine.

"What. . . What have I been up to? I seem to remember Ivlet casting a spell on me. . . I'm sorry for bother you. I'll just toddle on back to the Zoo." I watched the Kiwi walk away, leaving me 1000G.

I thought about when Victor had me look for his Bug Cage and Fishing Tackle, I had found them so easily. Learning that had helped me with the challenge the Kiwi brought on with me.

I went to the Crystal Caverns, going inside and choosing the one to the far right, since it hadn't been opened yet. I pushed it, realizing how much heavier it weighed, though I was somehow strong enough to push it.

I went through, throwing rocks at snakes as I went and moving quickly through. When I reached the Polar Fields, the temperature dropped. It must have gone down at least fifty degrees. The sun was setting and there was a Cornish Rex standing in front of an igloo wearing a blue snow hat and a yellow scarf.

I knew from this how unprepared I was, and knew there must be something like the Flame Retardant Suit to help me through.

"You're not from around here, are you, kiddo?" the Cornish Rex sneered.

I looked at him with utter disbelief. Yes, I may not be from around here, I may be wearing only a pendant and a sun hat, but I'm no child. "Well, no, it's actually surprising you can tell!" I lied. If he thought I was a kid, then I would play the kid.

"Oh, I can tell just by look at you! The only people dressed like that around here are outsiders or fools! Either way, they don't stick around for long." I noticed the Cornish Rex then look curious. "So what brings you here? You're a long way from the beach!"

"To fish, and to find the Ice Crystal!" I told him, surprising him. One wouldn't expect that from a child, huh?

But, he kept his voice even and as if I didn't surprise him. "Indeed, the Ice Crystal is said to rest out in the Polar Fields. But you have one problem here. You'll be turned into a block of ice if you go out there without a Warm Clothing Outfit. Which it doesn't look like you have, har-har!"

I was already tired of his attitude.

"Very well, kiddo. Meeting you here must be fate or something. If you don't mind a paw-me-down, you can have one of my old ones."

"Great!" I said.

"But I do have one request. . ." somehow, this didn't surprise me. "Ripe Coconuts grow in warmer parts, don't they? I've heard the milk from them is really tasty! I'll trade you my Warm Clothing for a Ripe Coconut! I've heard you can find Ripe Coconuts out at Dolphin Coast. And this is apparently what they smell like." I was given the smell, which smelled as it was. I loved Coconuts. "Thanks for this!"

I had to admit, I didn't expect a thanks from him. But I took what I got. I went to the far corner of the small little fort we were in and found a Warp Stone. I touched it and went to South Pawville where the temperature suddenly got warmer.

I went to Dolphin Coast and stood where I was. I looked at the trees off to the side where Victor and I had played. I whined at the sad memory, before visiting Ivlet. Before any of this happened.

When Beat spoke, I wondered if he'd even heard my whine. Then again, I wondered if read my mind at times. "Looks like those are Ripe Coconuts growing up there! But we can't reach them. How can we get one down?"

I instantly looked for a rock. I picked one up and ran towards a tree, throwing the rock up at it. One fell, it was green and, smelling it, I knew it was a Ripe Coconut. I barked at it, then picked it up. It was surprising to get one down that quickly.

"Great! We got a Ripe Coconut!" Beat said with excitement.

Back in the Polar Fields, I handed the Ripe Coconut over to the Cornish Rex who looked at the Ripe Coconut with what looked a little like disgust and surprise.

"So this is a Ripe Coconut? It's not quite as exciting as I expected. . ." then I knew what the disgust was, surprise that it wasn't too exciting to look at. "Here you go, as promised!"

I held a light red outfit in my paws, the Warm Clothing.

"If you wear this Warm Clothing, you'll be able to walk safely around the Polar Fields. However, please remember this. They won't totally protect you from the cold. Make sure you warm yourself up every now and then as you go! You can have this, too." I was given the Warm Clothing Pattern. "If you want a different color, bring these to the Fashion House. Then they should be able to start selling them there, too!"

"Now we can travel freely through the Polar Fields! Let's go find the Ice Crystal!" Beat said, though I had already made plans to get the New Breed Rainbow Fish first. I then realized he probably didn't read my mind.

"Thank you!" I told the Cornish Rex. Then I settled behind another of his igloos and dressed into the Warm Clothing, taking off the pendant and the hat.

I went to the door and went in just as it got dark out. I noticed there were hot springs everywhere, but they were for my warmth, not to warm the Hot Stone, or Warm Stone, should I say. I ran through and saw a Penguin with a red glint in its eye at the first turn I made through the glaciers.

I went into a hot spring first, then went to the Penguin for the challenge.

"The ultimate challenge. . . a Curling battle!" I looked at the Penguin with surprise, but I abided by its wishes.

I won eighty to fifty. I had gotten into the green space once, which was twenty points, and into the blue space twice, which was thirty points. We each had three chances.

"Wh-what have I been up to. . .?" it asked in shock. "I remember Ivlet casting some magic on me. . . I don't know what came over me. I'm normally such a quiet fellow. . . I'll just waddle on back to the Zoo." The Penguin left me 1500G.

I walked through some more and there were two different ways for me to go, whether to the right or to the left where there was a big block of ice. I went to the block of ice and melted it with the Hot Stone. Behind it was a pier and a hot spring.

It was daytime when I went in there and started to fish for the New Breed Rainbow Fish. It was hard work, too. I first caught two Blue Hakes, then two Walleye Pollocks, another Blue Hake as the sun set, another Walleye Pollock when night came, another Blue Hake, and another Walleye Pollock when the sun rose in the sky. I was beginning to lose hope. Any small one I felt from then on, I just let go, because I knew it was the Walleye Pollock.

"How does Charles expect me to get it to him if he's not even sure it's real?" I muttered under my breath, happy when Beat didn't make any notion to answer.

Then I caught an Angler Fish, especially unhappy to know there wasn't a New Breed Rainbow Fish yet, and daylight set into night when I caught a Golden Salmon. The sun rose again in the sky and I still had no New Breed Rainbow Fish. I then caught another Golden Salmon.

I went to the hot spring behind me, just as a small break, and got warmed up a bit before going back to fish. With another big fish, I caught a Golden Angler Fish. The sun set in the sky and I wondered how I was supposed to catch the New Breed Rainbow Fish at all.

Night came and I was tired, I wanted to be done, but I kept going anyways. I caught another Golden Angler Fish. The sun was rising again and I just wanted to catch the New Breed Rainbow Fish, I was determined. I caught a Salmon, and then another one when the sun set once again.

I got so much more fish than I wanted, that it was hard to count how much I had. I knew Tom would be happy to see all the fish I've got.

Nighttime came again and I watched the waters with interest, waiting for an unsuspecting fish to come. When daylight came again, I caught a Blue Hake, and then, night came again, and I found one that was hard to reel in. I pulled and pulled and, when it came out, I saw a fish with every color of the rainbow on it. I barked with enthusiasm and happiness.

"So this is the New Breed Rainbow Fish. . ." Beat said with interest, and I guessed it never thought I would get the fish. "Let's get it back to Charles!"

I ran back with such happiness, that I didn't feel myself get numb. When I warped to South Pawville, that was when I realized how numb I was, and I was unhappy to know I had to go back in order to get the Ice Crystal. But it wouldn't take that long.

It was daylight when I went to Charles and handed over the New Breed Rainbow Fish to him. He was overjoyed.

"Thank you so much for this!" he said, so happy that he bounced around while still holding the New Breed Rainbow Fish. "You really are the greatest."

I waited outside the Aquarium while Charles put the New Breed Rainbow Fish on a display to show its importance to people. He came back with so much excitement that I was glad I went through all that trouble to get the New Breed Rainbow Fish.

"Now my little get-together will go off without a hitch! I did wonder for a moment if I was going to be able to pull it off. . ." I watched him intently, then he went. "Ha ha ha!"

I didn't say anything. What he had said made it seem as if it had been him who caught the fish. I thought of all the trouble I went through to get it and wondered if I had done the right thing in helping Charles through his terrible lie.

He noticed my silence a few seconds into his laugh. "Ha. . . ha ha. . . With the discovery of the New Breed Rainbow Fish, my colleagues will give me a new tank! Then I will take thirty fish at once!" Charles hand me 1000G for my troubles.

I ran away him to Tom's Pawn Shop where I sold sixteen Blue Hakes, eight Walleye Pollocks, seven Saurys, three Salmons, one Hairtail, eight Herrings, four Golden Salmons, and five Golden Angler Fishes.

I went into my home and just sat there for a while, warming up. Then I went to sleep and woke up only to run out of the house again, my parents looked after me in surprise. I ran to the Warp Stone and landed in Polar Fields.

I ran to the door and went through. I went to the right instead of to the left, where an ice block had formed again, and ran as fast as I could. I slid across ice, almost hit into a Polar Bear, and went into a couple of hot springs along the way.

I finally turned a corner, and saw the sight I had wanted to see. The Ice Crystal on its little castle, the crystal shaped like a snowflake. I howled, and took the Ice Crystal from its pedestal.

"Excellent! The Ice Crystal is ours!" Beat said, surprising me, since it wouldn't actually be ours for long. "Now we can make the Magic Shield. Let's hurry back to Theophilus!"

"Right!" I said.

I appeared in Theophilus' home where he looked so happy that he was going to cry, meanwhile I felt tired. I may have slept at home for a bit before returning to Polar Fields, but I had lost so many days of sleep.

"I got it!" I told him, handing over the Ice Crystal, which he took gladly.

I was given 4000G, and he looked excited, laying them all out before him on his large desk.

"Finally! Now we've gather all of the items we need. Now we should be able to make the Magic Shield." Suddenly, Theophilus looked remorseful. "But I don't think I can do this alone. . . After all, we're talking about creating an item capable of resisting the Magic Hat. That's too much magic for one dog. . . ."

"Then what should we do now?" I asked him, wondering if he was going to say that I had to help him. Even I wasn't happy of the thought, because I wasn't sure of how much help I would be.

"I'm not keen on the idea, but we're going to need the help of my younger brother." I felt stronger all of a sudden, and Theophilus looked smug, as if to say 'we may need my brother's help, but I'm more powerful.' You could say he wanted to get away from the topic of his brother. "Kaci! Can I ask this of you?"

"Of course you can, anything!" I said, wondering where I might have to go to find his younger brother.

"My younger brother's name is Bartholomew." Theophilus said. "He went out to Gongoro Peak more than ten years ago and still hasn't come back. I'm sure he just got sidetracked by something or other. A very common occurrence for him, I assure you. So, please, go look for him. This is what he smells like." Theophilus gave me a piece of fur that I smelled, and I wondered how he got it and kept it.

I thought to myself how worried he sounded about the disappearance of his brother. It seemed he was always annoyed by Bartholomew, but that didn't mean that he didn't care for him.

"In order to get out to Gongoro Peak. . . . . . you need to pass through Lonesome Park from Jade Fields." Theophilus told me, turning around to do some sort of experiment.

"All right, I'll be back in a little while." I told him, turning to leave.