A few years ago…
"Hilbert!" a younger Johanna called out as she treaded the forest. The mother was worried sick for her son since he went out somewhere. Eventually, she found him in front of a river. "There you are! I was concerned something happened to you! You'd usually be back home around this hour."
A younger Hilbert didn't seem to answer since he usually was too busy to notice what was going on around him. Eventually, he finished creating something and he noticed Johanna. "Oh, hi Mom."
"So, what did you make this time?" Johanna asked since she usually helped her boy make a lot of gear toys before.
"It's a snowball launcher!" Hilbert presented his creation. It was a metal tube that was connected to a water bottle and a magnifying glass. There was also a fan and wires on it.
"I take it you will put snow there?"
"Nah, just watch!" Hilbert yanked a cord that was connected to the tube. The launcher shot some snow with water, but not a whole lot. It barely got away from the two people. Hilbert was annoyed while Johanna seemed impressed.
"How'd you pull that off?"
"Magic from the sunlight that the water should be able to keep in place for a bit of time and some signals from the wires with some air," Hilbert explained before becoming miserable. "And of course, this was a bust."
"Come on, you did at least create something. That's something you should be proud of. Not everything works on the first try," Johanna ruffled Hilbert's hair. "Now, what do you say we get your sister and head on back home? My treat."
"Alright, I guess…"
"So, tell me: what inspired you to create that snowball launcher?" Johanna and Hilbert began to look for a younger Hilda.
"Eh, I guess a dream. A real weird one, at that."
In the present day, Hilda and Hilbert are still arguing even when they went inside their home.
"Egghead!"
"Death seeker!"
"Wimp!"
"Whiner!"
"Weiner!"
"I see the two of you made it back," Johanna smiled, though weakly.
"No thanks to Miss Nut Job here," Hilbert glared at his sister.
"I would have been fine without you!" Hilda snapped back.
Johanna sighed as she approached her kids. "Alright, cut it out, you two. No need to try to kill each other. Just get changed, you had a big day."
Not wanting to upset their mom, the two kids did as they were told and went to do their thing when they approached the living room.
"Hilda! Hilbert! I made us some tea!" Johanna entered the living room with the tea a few minutes later. Hilda was on the couch with her deerfox Twig while Hilbert was on the floor checking Spark's coding using a small PC that was the size of a pencil case.
"Neat!" Hilbert chirped in.
As the two were drinking their beverages, they were disturbed by a door opening. It was the Woodman.
"Oh, him again." Both Johanna and Hilbert complained.
"Well, at least it's not a robber." Hilda crossed her arms.
"The least he can do is knock on the door and ask for entry. Remind me why I can't just install a lock on this door." Hilbert facepalmed.
"He probably just wants to get warm!" Hilda argued. "He's made of wood, after all."
Hilbert said nothing as he looked at Woodman. He had an evil grin on his face as he started to approach him while holding out his arms, but his sister stopped him.
"Don't even think about it."
"You should really close that door," Woodman interrupted. "And for Pete's sake, cut it with the fighting. You're getting nowhere but trouble."
A knock on the door was heard. Hilbert approached and opened it, only to see a small letter on the doorstep.
"Let me guess: another letter from the small people?" Hilda asked.
"Sixth one this week, good grief." Hilbert nodded as he handed his mom the letter so she could read it with the magnifying glass.
"They really need to stop. They aren't even stating the reason for the eviction," said Johanna with a frown.
"I guess we are not really popular with the tiny people." Hilbert shook his head.
"Basically," replied Johanna as she looked at the paper.
"Screw this. Let's see how they like it." Hilda began writing a letter in response to the tiny people. Once she was done, she placed it outside the front door just as Woodman exited the house.
"Phew. Thought he wouldn't leave," Hilbert was relaxed. "Anyway, who's up for another game of Dragon Panic?"
"Can't wait to beat your ass," Hilda smiled. "Your streak is over the minute we play!"
"Your competition is making me left out," Johanna whined as she sat on the couch. "Who's up next?"
"Mine!" Hilbert announced as he rolled the dice. Hilda was desperate to crush her own brother in this competition.
Everyone played until it was bedtime. Spark plugged himself in the house to recharge himself. However, it was short lived. Items flew everywhere. Twig's tail was on fire. Spark was malfunctioning. The TV was static.
"Alright! That's enough!" Hilbert and Hilda said in union before Hilda picked up a broom and Hilbert picked up a super powerful hair dryer before the two kicked the little people out.
"And stay out!" Yelled Hilda as Twig ran up to her before she petted him.
"Finally found a use for that hair dryer," said Hilbert with a frown as Spark turned into a ball and rolled towards him. Hilbert picked him up and headed inside. Hilda did the same.
"They're gone!" Said Hilda to her mom before seeing the state the living room was in. "Damn."
"We can't keep living here, you two," Johanna said as she witnessed some of the destroyed objects in the house. "If this keeps up, we might have to move to Trolberg."
This thought did not please Hilda and Hilbert. "No!"
"We can't leave this place!" Hilda begged. "Me and Hilbert grew up here since we were born!"
"Moving to Trolberg can be good for you. It's a chance to make new and proper friends." Johanna dusted her hands.
"I wouldn't get along with people there," Hilbert added. "I'd rather be friends with Woodman."
"Yeah, this place is better than Trolberg! I don't want to be in the dirty, old city." Hilda added while giving the puppy eyes with Twig.
"I know I don't get out much, but I will admit I do like the emptiness of this place."
Johanna sighed. "It's nice to see you two agree on something for once," Johanna first was happy before she became upset. "But I'm sorry. We have to move out of this place. It's for our own good."
Hilda was determined to stay. She went to write up another letter to leave for the small people. Hilbert, on the other hand, felt upset. The fact that there weren't many people around is what made him like being in his home. Unlike his sister, he wasn't the adventure type of guy. He couldn't leap across gaps that much, climb walls, or outrun beasts. The boy went back to bed in his room. He slept for a while until his sister entered the room. She whispered in his ear to wake him up, but he didn't respond. Shaking him proved to be useless as well. Hilda had no choice but to smack Hilbert in the face.
"OW! What the hell was that for?!" asked Hilbert angrily as he woke up before Hilda shushed him. The boy rubbed his cheek as his sister spoke. "Why do we have to share a room, again?"
"Come on, you handled way worse," whispered Hilda, rolling her eyes as Hilbert massaged his eyes. "One of the tiny people who trashed the house came in offering help."
"And where are they?" asked Hilbert with a frown as he narrowed his eyes.
"You got to sign some paperwork to see him,"
"Sure, I can do that," said Hilbert as he got out of bed. Hilda led him to the desk where a small stack of paper sat. Hilbert sat down and signed the paper without much thought, knowing that it wouldn't hurt him in any way. "There, where is he now?" He said and Hilda replied by pointing at her ear. There was a small elf sitting there.
"Hello! My name's Alfur." said the elf cheerfully.
"Whoa. Either I drank too much, or that is one small elf you got there."
Spark looked at Alfur and made some sparks, admiring his appearance.
"Seems Spark is a fan of the way you look. Name's Hilbert, by the way." The boy dusted himself off.
"You might need to take a look outside," Alfur pointed to the window.
The two blue-haired kids noticed a strange sight. Small houses started to appear on the ground. Everyone got out to take a better look.
"You mean to tell us that all this time, we have been destroying the homes of elves whenever we are out there?" Hilbert was surprised.
"Correct!" Alfur said before seeing Hilda pick up a house. "Careful! There's someone in it!"
"Hilda!" Hilbert scolded his sister. "Put down that house. You could hurt someone there."
"Oh, you're right!" Hilda acknowledged that her brother was right and did as she was told.
"Yep, that kind of action will make elves hate you," said Alfur in a worried manner.
"So, how far does this go?" asked Hilbert as took in the sight of all the houses. Twig and Spark followed right after him.
"As far as the eye can see, I can say. There are about 15 counties in this valley alone and your house is smack in the middle of one of them." Alfur explained.
"But why get pissed now? Ever since our grandfather made this place, we have lived it in for our lives and there hasn't been any bother." Hilda was confused.
"It's the new prime minister. He planned to be rid of you when he got elected," replied Alfur as he jumped on an elf sized hill that had a house on it before climbing a pole with a flag that had an X covering Hilda and Hilbert's face on it and pointing towards it. "And now that he is, he is doing everything he can to make it happen."
"But that's not fair!" exclaimed Hilda as she pulled the flag a little.
"Yeah, WE also have a right to live here," added Hilbert as he crossed his arms.
"Don't pin this at me! I agree!" Said Alfur, who was a little stunned by the pole when Hilda let go of the flag.
"Maybe if you weren't so sniffy about who sees you and who doesn't, our grandfather wouldn't choose a location that is ...populated," said Hilda as she gestured towards all the houses around them.
"Hey, it's an important tradition for my people to be sniffy about it." Alfur was offended.
"Then take us to the prime minister. Maybe I can get him to fix this before Mum takes us to Trolberg" said Hilda as she extended her hand to Alfur.
"Can we do it in daytime? I don't think they'll like it if we bang on their door in the middle of night." Said Hilbert before yawning.
"It's true, also you can't send a request for a meeting and go say 'hello!'" Said Alfur after jumping onto Hilda's hand.
"Well, I'm a giant girl so-"
Alfur quickly cut Hilda off. "The mayor! I'll arrange a meeting with the mayor of the town your house is in. Perhaps he can help us with the prime minister. I'll arrange a meeting, so for now, see you tomorrow!" He said before cheerfully heading somewhere.
"Well, time to sleep no-" Hilbert said before his sister tugged on his shirt and pointed in a direction. Hilbert looked in her direction and was paralyzed by the sight. It was the giant. Seeing him on a screen was cool but in person was...terrifying. Hilbert started shaking uncontrollably, his breathing got faster, he couldn't hear anything around him. It wasn't until the giant had left that he calmed down.
"Hilbert!" Said Hilda, shaking her brother around. "Stop panicking!"
"Sorry, sorry," said Hilbert, taking deep breaths. "I think I freaked out."
"You shouldn't be scared, he won't hurt you," said Hilda calmly, trying to comfort her brother from his panic attack.
"Hilda, that's not how fear works," said Hilbert as he looked back at where the giant was once more before heading inside.
"Well, that's not how an adventurer thinks." Said Hilda with a smile.
"Hilda, we both know I'm not the adventurer type," said Hilbert in frustration.
"That's something we can't argue about," said Hilda happily before they entered the door.
"Now remember, let me handle the introductions," said Alfur as he rode on Hilda's pocket.
Hilda, Hilbert, Alfur, Twig, and Spark were now heading towards the elf town's mayor's house after they got dressed up in their daily clothes. Hilbert also had his backpack with him. The group arrived at their destination. Alfur dropped down to the house and rang a bell that summoned the mayor, but before he could introduce them, the mayor spoke to them first out of order.
"Oh, I know. I know who you are! The giants! The monsters!" Said the mayor. "So, you can finally see it, can you?"
"Cut us some slack, we just learned about you yesterday." Hilbert shrugged his shoulders.
The mayor gave an annoyed look to Hilbert and continued rambling on. "We've had enough of this chaos! Haven't we, Angelina?" Said the mayor talking to his cat.
"Again, we didn't know about your town until yesterday," said Hilbert with a frown.
"You're ignorant!" the mayor complained.
"You're invisible!" Yelled the twins in unison.
"Lower your voices. You're bugging my pet." Said the mayor as he hugged his cat.
"Look, I'm sorry about what's going on recently, but please don't evict us." pleaded Hilda.
"Yeah, plea-" said Hilbert before he heard the voice of the mayor. "And he's not listening to us. Hilda, I'm not good at the whole talking thing, so just tell me when you're done." The boy walked away a bit and sat down next to Spark as Hilda gave him a nod.
Spark let out a bunch of zaps between their horns in morse code causing Hilbert to sigh. "I am okay. Just exhausted." Spark replied to that with another sequence of zaps, but before Hilbert could reply, Hilda pulled him in a rush, confusing the boy. "What is going on?"
"Come on, the prime minister!" Hilda recalled as she pulled her brother.
"That fast? Why is it when I just sit down, the action starts?" asked Hilbert as he got pulled by his twin sister.
"Hilda, wait! I'm telling you that marching in like this could be dangerous!" Alfur cried, worriedly after barely managing to jump into her hair.
Hilda didn't listen as the group headed to the prime minister by leaping at the waterfall.
"There it is!" exclaimed Hilda as she stared at the waterfall.
"Phew. Can we take a rest for a minute?" said Hilbert, trying to catch his breath.
"Not yet! We got to-" Hilda couldn't finish before a rabbit flew into her, knocking her to the ground.
"What the hell?" asked Hilbert in confusion before helping his sister up. He started quickly pulling an odd-looking flashlight out of his backpack. "This can't stop a troll, but it can stand a chance against the elves and their rabbits."
"Aaah! It's not just a rabbit!" Said Alfur in a panic before many elves on rabbits showed up. Hilbert ignored Alfur and pointed the flashlight at the bunny cavalry up the hill and they all stopped in place. Hilbert walked forward with a tired look.
"I was not expecting that," said Alfur in surprise.
"Shall we go?" Said Hilbert with a smug smile as he gestured to the cavalry while keeping the flashlight pointed at them.
"Show off," Hilda scoffed with a deep frown before she and the rest made it to the cavalry.
"Time to unfreeze them," said Hilbert calmly and he got a nod of affirmation from Hilda. He turned off the flashlight, letting the rabbit cavalry move again.
The cavalry looked a bit scared but didn't give up; though before they could attack or do anything, Twig stood in their way and growled. "Retreat!" Yelled the cavalry's leader as soon as he saw Twig and they all ran away.
Hilbert stared at Twig with his jaw dropped due to what he just witnessed. Hilda gave him a smug smile before petting Twig and headed towards the waterfall. "I was able to stop them in place with the press of a button and they're afraid of the adorable deerfox?" The boy sighed tiredly before just resigning to his fate and followed Hilda to the waterfall. It was time to meet the prime minister.
"Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
Chaos erupted inside the Prime Minister's place immediately the moment Hilda appeared.
"Please, calm down. I mean no harm," said Hilda calmly, and complete order was restored immediately...for some reason.
Hilbert couldn't believe everything calmed down in a matter of seconds. The elves sat in an orderly fashion. Once that was settled, Hilda filled in the reason she came to visit. Sadly, there was nothing the Prime Minister could do. It was out of his hands… and he doesn't even have any hands. Eventually, Hilda sadly left the area. She sat on a rock and let out some tears. Hilbert felt bad for her and wanted to stop themselves from moving out of the wilderness, but he knew that there was nothing he could do to prevent that from happening. Alfur, seeing the two kids depressed, knew he couldn't let them down. He had one mission to do: take them to the king.
