Disclaimer: I do not own the company of Neopets.
My name is Armin.
I'm only seventeen.
But it feels like I've been alive a lot longer.
I don't remember much of my childhood. I was frozen in ice for several thousand years, so I guess I'll just pick up where my memory is fresher...
It was three years ago. I woke up. My head was in a daze, a throbbing pain in my forehead. I was lying face down in the snow. I rubbed my eyes and looked around. None of my surroundings were familiar. I wasn't inside the mountain anymore...
I got to my feet and trudged through the snow. I didn't know where I was going, or what I was looking for. Something inside told me to keep moving. I kept this up for a few days, living on snow and a few food items I had in my pack. It wasn't satisfying... I had almost given up hope, when - OUCH - I tripped over something buried in the snow. I shifted some snow off the figure and gasped. It was the most beautiful Usul I had ever seen. She was unconscious, and looked like she had been laying in the snow for a few hours. I felt her forehead. She was ice cold. I picked her up and carried her to the nearest shelter I could find...
She had been laying motionless for a few hours. I had built a fire with what kindling I could find, the Usul laying close to it. I was getting worried. What is she never got up? I moved closer to her and felt her paw. Still ice cold. I put my paw on her forehead. Somewhat warmer...
I put my face to her cheeks. Her body was slowly regaining warmth. I moved my hand over her shoulders and to her side. I shifted my body right on top of her, her warmth filling me. I don't know how long I had lain there, in that somewhat suggestive position, but I could feel something inside of me surging with delight. But the spell was broken when she fluttered her eyelids.
I quickly moved away, blushing furiously. She slowly opened her eyes, and sat up a little straighter. She looked around the cave, then her crystal blue eyes fell upon me.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"I found you buried in the snow."
"Oh." Her face fell, scanning me. "Sorry... I just thought you might be... never mind."
Silence.
"So... err, what are you?"
"My name is Armin and I'm a Bori," I replied nervously. "My people live inside the mountain." I lowered my voice. "That is... if there's anyone else left..."
I paused, looking at her expression. She was listening with interest. That cheered me.
"Armin... I like that name."
I blushed.
"I'm Hannah."
Then she told me her story. Of how Kanrik betrayed her and left her to die, how she had found the gem, and how she had to find out what he was up to. She threw in some unscrupulous details of "that nasty Gelert" that left me grinning despite myself. Then I told her my story of the terrible monster, the gem, and the spell that got my messed up in her life.
"And... thanks."
I looked up, surprised. "For what?"
"If you haven't given me some of your body heat, I wouldn't be here."
I stared. "Oh... uh... you're welcome."
She smiled. I got up and prepared to leave the camp, rolling up the blankets and blanketing the fire. "We need to get going. It isn't safe here."
"Wait. Armin..." I paused, looking up at her.
"We shouldn't leave just now. Let's wait until nightfall. I don't have the strength anyway."
"Oh... right."
"And Armin?"
I looked back at her. She was smiling warmly at me. I moved closer to her. She reached out and touched my hand.
"You're alright, kid."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Something woke me in the night. A dark figure was moving toward our camp. Hannah was already up and alert, trying to make out the shadow. Suddenly she was on her feet, shouting curses.
"Kanrik!" She leaped toward the Gelert, swinging her fists at him. My mind went blank, I hurled myself at him, picking up a smoldering stick from the fire as I did so.
"Stop! Hannah, listen to me!"
"Never!" I shouted, jabbing him with my weapon.
"I'm sorry Hannah!"
Hannah leaped on top of him, sending him toppling over into a white pane of ice. It smashed; we fell into yet another cave. I resumed my fight, punching his knees, trying to send him crumpling to the ground.
"I can't fight you anymore, Kanrik. I don't have the strength..." Hannah was lying on the ground, clutching her side, but still glaring at our intruder.
He actually smiled. "I didn't want to fight you anyway, Hannah." He reached out his paw and helped her to her feet.
"And you- knock it off." He shoved me aside as if I had been nothing more than a pesky Buzzer zooming around his head. I glared at him. Hannah was leaning against him for support with a shocked look on her face. Kanrik set her down next to the fire, then said quickly,
"I really am sorry Hannah. I didn't know about the curse." Hannah stared at him still. "The thieves have betrayed me. I am on my own now." Her expression softened considerably. I didn't like that at all, so I added hastily,
"Bori lived in this mountain. The others are inside, if they are still alive."
Kanrik looked at me for a moment with a kind of piercing stare. Then, as if I was not there, he added, "Galem and the thieves are digging into the mountain. They will move faster now that the demon has joined them."
My jaw dropped; shocked. Hannah's eyes widened.
"The Bringer is loose? The others... we must warn them!"
I dashed into the tunnel, shouting, "Quick, this way... this tunnel must lead inside!" I glanced back and saw Kanrik helping a grateful Hannah to her feet. She smiled at him. Anger burned up inside of me. I turned back and grabbed her hand. I wasn't going to let that filthy mutt carry her...
About fifteen minutes later, Hannah's gem began to glow brightly.
"It's getting warmer," Kanrik pointed out obviously. We came to an abrupt end of the tunnel. My eyes widened. There were all the Bori, frozen in ice. No one, save the Keeper of Time, was unfrozen.
"Wow, this is beautiful!" Hannah exclaimed.
A grinding sound was coming nearer. Kanrik shoved us all away, saying "Quick, hide!" as if he knew something we didn't.
"What's that?" Hannah asked.
Kanrik didn't explain, but motioned to the wall... well, the wall that had been standing there thirty seconds ago. The wall had been penetrated, and there, standing with a look of triumph on their faces, were the members of Kanrik's former Guild, and the Bringer. The leader, a big ugly purple Grarrl, shouted, "Spread out and surround the cavern!"
He strutted over to the Heart of the Mountain. The red and blue jewel was glistening in the newfound light. He reached out to touch it, murmuring, "Look at that... what a beauty..."
The Bringer stared at the jewel for a moment, then threw back his head, roared, and emited blue smoke from his outstretched hooves.
"What the hell are you doing!" gasped the leader. Icy skeleton hoardes were emerging out of nowhere, weapons ready.
Panicked, the Grarrl shouted, "Kill them all! Kill them!"
Behind the Keeper's chair, we stood still, shocked. "What can we do now?" Hannah whispered.
"You have the Keystone..." came an ancient voice from the chair. We turned around and saw the Keeper communicating for the first time. The red jewel was glowing blithely. "Unite it with the heart! Hurry!"
She turned to us, fear making it's first appearance in her eyes. "Will you help me? Please?"
I opened my mouth, ready to say, "Anything for you, Hannah!" But was cut short by Kanrik's guffawing, "I would love to," and readying his blade. I'm sure I looked about to throw something, but now was not the time for lovesick emotions to take control.
I hurled myself at the nearest thief, and bit his leg with all my might.
"What the f-"
Hannah and I spotted our next target. Sneaking up behind him, we pantsed the unknowing Skeith.
"You insolent bitch!" He shouted at our retreating backs.
We had almost reached the Heart. I loaded my slingshot, preparing for whatever hit us next...
"Almost... there..." Hannah gasped. The Bringer cowered over her, guarding the gem from her reach.
"Armin! HELP!" She cried in desperation.
"Hurry, Hannah!" I screamed, aiming my slingshot for the towering Moehog.
She attached the gem just in time. The Bringer froze. A red mist floated over the scene, unmelting the frozen Bori.
The Keeper stood to his feet, raising his trumpet to his lips. He blowed an awakening melody, unfreezing the remaining.
"AHHHHHHH!" A piercing scream sliced my eardrums.
The Bringer lay ready to attack her, his scimitar raised.
"HANNAH, I'M COMING!" I screamed. I hurled myself at his towering figure.
They say love makes you do crazy things...
I grabbed his hoof and started beating against it for all I was worth. The Moehog screamed and tried to shake me, slicing my right shoulder on some ice. Infuriated, he beat me against a wall until I dropped.
In the commotion, Hannah jumped out of his way seconds before the Moehog brought down his scimitar, slicing the Heart. In an instant, ice began forming over his body. I lifted the slingshot and watched the Bringer shatter before my eyes.
"Nice shot, Armin!" Came Hannah's voice.
I smiled weakly. The thieves were dispersing, and it seemed as if we had won...
"Kanrik..."
She collapsed.
"HANNAH!" I screaming, rushing to her side.
"Move out of the way!" Kanrik ordered, pushing me aside.
"I'M NOT LEAVING HER YOU GODDAMNED MUTT!" I rushed to her side, and put my paw on her tattoo. It stung, and I moved my fingers away quickly.
"You can't help her, can't you see! She needs Taelia's medicine!"
"I'm NOT leaving her side!"
"Yes, she needs the Snow Faerie's medicine." The familiar ancient voice came up beside us. "Stop bickering, and hurry!"
"We haven't much time!" Kanrik shouted, as he carried Hannah out of the cave. "No thanks to you, anyways..."
I felt ready to explode. Resentment was billowing up inside of me...
"Strange... Taelia never leaves her door open like this..." The Bringer muttered as we hurried inside half an hour later. "Oh, my," He said as we met the frozen Snow Faerie. "I hope I can remember the proper spell..."
A few minutes later, Taelia had poured some special ointment on Hannah's arm. "You brought her to me just in time," she said calmy, "You are very lucky to be alive, young Hannah. I have lifted the curse, but this mark will remain with you forever."
The Snow Faerie turned to me. "Oh, dear, we have a case here. Your shoulder is bleeding dangerously, and you have numerous scratches all over your body. Let me-"
"No," I stated abruptly. "I'm fine."
And then, everything blanked out.
-
I rubbed my eyes. From the looks of it, I was still in Taelia's igloo. Hannah and Kanrik were nowhere to be found. The Keeper was standing over my bed, smiling warmly.
"Feeling better, son?"
"I'm fine," I muttered. I threw off the covers and inspected my shoulder. The cut was still there, but the profuse bleeding had stopped. I slipped off the bed and headed towards the door.
"Armin?"
I paused.
"Be careful not to take these things seriously. You still have your whole life ahead of you."
I dug my nails into the door and gritted my teeth, tears leaking down my face.
"I... don't care..." I ran out the door, tears blinding my eyes. I didn't care... I had already lost a thousand years...
"Are you sure, Hannah?"
I froze, listening.
"I'm positive, Kanrik."
"I am now leader of the Thieves Guild..."
"I don't care! I want you!"
"Hannah... I love you..."
My face burning, I rushed past them, but my ears couldn't block out the last few words ringing in my ears...
He loved her...
I could never give her what she wanted...
"Armin?" Hannah looked up, startled. She and Kanrik were locked in a tight embrace. I turned away and kept running... from what, I don't know...
"Armin, wait-"
"Let him go. He needs come time by himself."
But I never came back. I never could force myself to tell her how I felt. I was too afraid to be broken by the three words that would never come to me.
I don't know where Hannah is today, or what she's doing.
I don't even know if she's still alive.
My name is Armin.
My hopes lay in a dream that never came true.
My shattered destiny.