Chapter 15: Southern Exposure

"Abbey's in Antarctica," said Robecca.

"That's what I said!" exclaimed Frankie, "but how'd she wind up in Antarctica?"

"She must have turned right at Albuquerque," said Chad.

"Be serious, will you?" asked Clair, "you do realize how serious the situation is, right?"

"Yeah, Abbey's at the bottom of the world," said Chad, "so what? We'll go to Antarctica, find Abbey, blow up whatever Kaijin's bothering her and come back. No big deal."

"This is a big deal!" snapped Clair, "it's a very big deal! Have you forgotten geography class? It's late spring back home."

"I know, so?" asked Chad.

"So," said an annoyed Clair, "if it's spring in North America, what is it in Antarctica?"

"Late autumn," said Frankie as she remembered her world geography, "which means it'll be cold, really cold."

"Uh, how cold are we talking about?" asked Howleen nervously.

"Cold enough that not even the natural fur of a werewolf could protect you," said Elissabat, "if we're going to Antarctica, we're going to need special garb and gear."

"Cold weather clothes those scientists who study Antarctica wear," said Frankie, "and maybe one of those tracked vehicles they use to drive around Antarctica."

"What, a Snow Cat?" asked Elissabat, "yeah, we could definitely use one of those, but we'll never get one in time, not if we're going to rescue Abbey before Obsidian sends someone after her."

"Do we even know where Abbey is?" asked Raven.

"Somewhere near Lake Vostok," said Robecca as she read the message again, "on the continental high plateau."

At that Ghoulia moaned something urgently as she pointed at her laptop.

"Oh, now we're really in trouble," said Venus as he looked at the data on the screen, "this time of year, it can get down to -60 C. If I go down there, I'll freeze solid like that!" she then snapped her fingers to emphasize her point.

"We'll freeze solid just like that too!" said Gil as he and Lagoona snapped their fingers, "Water Monsters don't do well in extreme cold."

"None of us do well in extreme cold," said Robecca.

"Of all the places Abbey could have wound up in, it had to be Antarctica," said Chad in a rather good impression of a certain Humphrey Bogart character.

"So, what are you saying, we should just leave her there?" asked an irate Frankie, "leave Abbey all alone at the bottom of the world while who knows what horrible creep is hunting her?"

"No one's saying that, Frankie," said Lagoona, "but…"

"But we may have to be realistic," said Apple, "Abbey may be safe where she is."

"If it's -60 C. at Abbey's location," said Avery, "then any enemy force sent after her will have the same problems we face."

"It's simply too great a risk, Frankie," said Raven, at which Dexter and Maddie nodded in agreement.

"Well, I'm going!" said Frankie as she glared at her friends with disgust, "I don't care how dangerous it is! Abbey's my friend, and friends don't abandon each other, especially when it's cold outside!"

She then looked at Lagoona and Clawdeen, "remember how alone Abbey was when she first came to Monster High? How we all mistreated her simply because we didn't understand? Remember how great she turned out once she managed to open up? I haven't forgotten."

"Frankie…" started Lagoona.

"No!" snapped Frankie as her neck bolts sparked, "don't bother. I'll go alone if I have to. I don't care if it's so cold my stitches all pop! I won't abandon Abbey! Not now, not ever!"

"You're really going, Frankie?" asked Clawdeen.

"Darn right I am," said Frankie as she stubbornly crossed her arms.

"Good, so are we," said Clawdeen as she smiled mischievously.

"You've Been Punked!" cheered Howleen, to which everyone else playfully laughed.

"Huh?" asked a confused Frankie.

"Like we'd ever abandon a friend," said Apple.

"We just wanted to see how far we can take a joke," said Avery, "sorry if it upset you."

At that Frankie smiled with a hint of mischief, "yeah, I can take a joke as much as the next ghoul," she held out her hand, "put it there."

"Wait! Don't!" shouted Rochelle as Frankie and Avery shook hands, with the former shocking the latter and zapping him across the room.

"I warned him," said Rochelle in a disapproving manner.

"Are you alright?!" asked Apple as she rushed over to a singed and hair-raised Avery.

"Uh…yeah…I think so," said a slightly dazed Avery as Apple helped him up, "I guess I deserved that." At that he began to laugh, as did Frankie. Soon everyone was laughing.

"Okay, now that we've got that out of our systems," said Clair, "what are we gonna do about rescuing Abbey? Where are we going to get cold weather gear?"

"Leave that to me," said Elissabat as she held up a Platinum debit card with an alias name on it, one of many the famed movie star used when traveling incognito, "I know a store that'll have exactly what we need."

Just then Briar, whom, had been sleeping off her decompression sickness symptoms, burst into the room, "You're going shopping?!" demanded the incarnation of Sleeping Beauty, "Without me? I don't think so!"

"My friends," said Ashlynn, "our lives just got interesting again."

"I thought they were already," said Hunter."

…Monster High…

"So, like, what exactly do these things do?" asked Amanita as she, Draculaura and Valentine observed Emory work in one of the many commandeered classrooms. Arrayed before the dark Monsters were several large containers filled with glowing red fluids.

"Just what are plasmitos again?" asked Amanita.

"Plasmids, you petty excuse for a Valley Girl!" said Emory, "and what you see before you isn't Plasmids, not yet anyway. No," he indicated the red fluid in the vats, "this is pure ADAM, from which Plasmids are refined."

"So, this is the stuff that'll make Monsters even more monstrous," said Valentine, "it's just another drug."

"Just…just another drug?!" asked Emory incredulously, "this is no mere drug," he looked at Draculaura, "as you are well aware of! Surely you've not forgotten what just a basic performance-enhancing Plasmid did to that young minotaur, have you?"

"I remember Manny rampaging more than usual," said Draculaura, "but it didn't make that much of a difference! From what we heard, that disgustingly pure Howleen somehow cured Manny!"

"Of which I'm just as outraged!" snapped Emory, "how dare that wait of a werewolf undo my work!? Well, never again!" he then crawled over to one of the vats of ADAM and filled a beaker, "next time will be different, I can promise you that!"

Just then Irvin walked into the room, a sinisterly smug look on his face.

"Well, you look like the cat who just got the cream," said Valentine.

"I wouldn't say that," said Irvin, "on the other hand, Christmas may be coming early for all of us. Our foes have made a tactical error that may just lead to their downfall."

"Well, don't keep us in suspense!" said Draculaura urgently as she gripped Valentine's shoulders, "What is it?!"

"One of our many spies across the world just spotted Elissabat in an outdoors specialty warehouse," said Irvin, "the silver screen diva was purchasing cold weather gear for her and a few friends."

"And she did it out in the open?" asked Valentine, "why would she be so stupid as to do so? Surely she knows we're looking for her and the others."

"Oh, she disguised herself rather well," said Irvin, "it's natural to assume she'd know how to travel without being noticed."

"Of course she would," said Draculaura irately, "she's Veronica von Vamp for crying out loud! She wouldn't have any other life if she couldn't disguise herself among her public!" she then spat in disgust, "I hated Veronica von Vamp before I knew who she really was, now I have them both even more!"

"But how did your spy realize it was Elissabat?" asked Valentine.

"He didn't," said Irvin, "not until Frankie accidentally called her Elissabat when she thought no one else was listening."

"Frankie was always on the slow side when it came to socializing," said Draculaura, "but who else was there?"

"I have the names right here," said Irvin as he pulled out his mobile and pulled up a list of names, "Clawdeen, Howleen, Clair, Ashlynn Ella, Hunter Huntsman, Avery Manning, Apple White and Briar Beauty."

"But where are they going?" asked Emory. He then looked around, "wait…where's…" his eyes widened in shock and outraged as he saw his beaker of ADAM in the hands of Amanita, "THIEF! GONIFF! RETURN THAT IMEDIATELY!"

"Hey, don't mess yourself," said Amanita, "I'm just borrowing the stuff," she then held the beaker up to the light, "hmmm…wonder if this stuff is good for my hair?"

"It'll probably mutate your hair into constricting tentacles," teased Draculaura.

"Eeew! Sick!" exclaimed Amanita. She then tossed the beaker back to Emory, "keep it!"

Emory slid forward faster than his grotesque bulk seemed faster to do so, catching the beaker before it hit the ground and shattered. "YOU NINCOMPOOP!" he bellowed at Amanita, "you have no idea how precious ADAM is, nor what I had to do to ensure a steady supply from its makers."

"It's like mutating goo," said Amanita, "what's the big deal?"

Emory carefully set the beaker on a table, then slit up to Amanita, "the deal, Ms. Nightshade," he said coldly, "is that if you ever interfere in my work again, I will have you exterminated like the weed you are!"

"What?! You can't talk to me like that!" snapped Amanita, "I ought to dump an entire truckload of salt on you!"

"That's enough!" shouted Irvin, "Emory! Apologize to Amanita!"

"I will not!" said Emory wrathfully, "she almost destroyed enough ADAM to make a modified Plasmid and who knows what other idiotic mischief she's got planned!"

"I haven't done anything!" pouted Amanita, "and I gave back your stupid goo!"

"You shouldn't have taken it in the first place, you stupid, spoiled whore!" snapped Emory.

At that Amanita looked mad enough to attack Emory with her bare hands, but Irvin intervened first.

"Mr. Slugworth!" said Irvin with cold fury, "you are a guest in this operation. So long as I am in charge, you will follow what I say and do, and I say you are to apologize to Amanita!"

At that Amanita smiled smugly and stuck out her tongue at Emory.

As if sensing her childish act, Irvin turned around and glared at Amanita, "And you, Ms. Nightshade! You will apologize to Emory for interfering in his work!"

"What? No!" snapped Amanita, "he started it!"

"No, you did!" spat Irvin, "you jeopardized his work, which I might add, is important to Obsidian's efforts! If you do anything to interfere in Emory's work, or anyone's work here, I'll drag you back to the Corpse Flower and seal you inside, permanently."

At that Amanita began trembling with unadulterated terror, her face betraying her fear of an eternity trapped in her floral prison.

"I see I have your attention," said Irvin as he smiled. He then looked at Emory, "you first."

"I'm sorry I insulted you," said Emory as he stubbornly crossed his arms, "it was uncouth and utterly tasteless of me to do so."

"Your turn," said Irvin to Amanita.

"I…I'm sorry," she muttered.

"Say it louder," said Irvin.

"I'm sorry!" shouted Amanita, "I'm sorry I messed with your red goo!"

"And?" asked Irvin.

"And I won't do it again!" said Amanita irately.

"Well, then, glad that's over with," said Irvin as he smiled cheerfully. He then looked around, "now, where were we?"

"I was asking where those pathetic heroes were going with their newly purchased cold weather gear," said Emory.

"Someplace cold, obviously," said Valentine.

"Now why would they be going someplace cold?" asked Draculaura, "they're not looking for a Star Piece, would they?"

"Where? On Hoth?" asked Emory.

"They might as well be going to Hoth," said a thoughtful Irvin as he checked his mobile, "Because if I'm right…yes! We have a Fangire tracking Abbey Bominable in Antarctica! Our foes are going to Antarctica!"

"Antarctica, ugh!" said Amanita, "that place is, like, a mess. I wouldn't be caught dead there!"

"Then it's a good thing you're not going," said Emory, "Antarctica…hmmm…I think I have just the Plasmid in mind," he then picked up the beaker full of ADAM, "and just the enthralled Monster to use it on."

...The Steam Vault…A Few Hours Later…

"Are we going or not?" asked a slightly uncomfortable Hunter as he, Ashlynn, Avery, Apple, Briar, Clair, Elissabat, Howleen and Clawdeen, stood in front of the door, all wearing different colored cold weather gear and had packs full of cold weather supplies. It was decided that Frankie would stay after all.

"What's taking so long?" moaned Hunter as he wiped a few beads of sweat from his brow, "I'm baking in here!"

"You'll be glad to be so warm when we get to Antarctica," said Elissabat, "but I agree, what's the hold up?"

At that Ghoulia moaned in an authoritative tone.

"'Magnetic instability'" asked Howleen, "what does that mean?"

"It means we need to compensate for the magnetic South Pole," said Robecca as she and Jackson helped Ghoulia program the wormhole device. "The Earth's magnetic field is making things rather difficult for us today."

"What does that mean?" asked Ashlynn.

"It means, for you people whom weren't educated in the fine arts of physics," said a slightly annoyed Robecca, "is that if you lot could end up somewhere else on Earth."

"So, instead of someplace really cold," said Hunter, "we could end up someplace really hot?"

"Like the Sahara Desert," said Jackson.

"Okay, well, I guess I'm glad we're going to Antarctica," said Hunter in a slightly nervous tone.

"Oh, we'll be fine," said Briar, "I trust these guys to get us where we need to go, and so should you."

"We do trust them," said Apple, "but…Briar…it's just…"

"But nothing!" said Briar with eager confidence, "we'll be fine. We'll go, find Abbey and bring her back with no trouble at all."

"Famous last words," muttered Avery, but he then put on a confident smile, "then again, as my grandmother once said," he then pointed at the lights on the ceiling, "'you can prepare for the worst and hope for the best, but Murphy's Law is always in effect, so take your chances, you might get lucky.'"

"Is there any situation where your grandmother doesn't have advice?" asked Apple.

"None that I've yet to experience," said Avery.

"Okay," sighed Robecca as she, Jackson and Ghoulia stood back from the computer, "we're as ready as we'll ever be."

"As are we," said Elissabat, "let's go save Abbey!"

With that the door opened, filling the Steam Vault with bone-chilling air.

"Oh, my ghoul!" exclaimed Frankie as she and the others staying in The Steam Vault shivered, "I never knew anything could be so cold!"

"Now I'm really glad we're wearing this stuff," teased Hunter.

"Just go before various body parts start to freeze off!" shouted Gil as he and Lagoona shivered in each other's arms.

"We're going!" said Clair as she, Elissabat, Clawdeen, Howleen, Ashlynn, Hunter, Apple and Avery, hurried through the door, which closed up after them.

"Great Gaia!" exclaimed Venus as she huddled at the warmest part of the room, which happened to be the computers for their warmth, "I feel like I'm dying!"

"Please tell me you know where the thermostat is in here, Robecca," said Dexter.

"What's a thermostat?" asked Robecca, "oh, you mean turn up the furnace." Her expression adopted a few shades of embarrassment, "well…that's…complicated."

"Complicated how?" asked Frankie.

"My father…he…" said Robecca, "he didn't like it when I adjusted the furnace temperature. He wanted to keep it cool in here, not that he wanted it cool. It's just that so much of his machines and equipment produced a lot of heat, and…"

"Oh, for crying out loud!" exclaimed Raven, "I've got it!" with that she waved her hands and sent out several fireballs that hovered midair around our heroes, greatly warming them up."

"Raven, I could kiss you," said Lagoona, "if I didn't already have a special someone."

"Hey, we all owe her kisses," said Frankie. With that she rushed up to Raven, embraced her like a long-lost sister and kissed her on both cheeks, earning a deep blush of embarrassment from Raven.

"Hug and kiss attack!" exclaimed Venus as she rushed up to Raven, with the others getting in line to show their appreciation to Raven.

"You guys are so dead," teased Raven as she submitted to her friend's affections.

…Vostok…Antarctica…

"It's not so bad here," said Howleen as she, Clawdeen, Clair, Elissabat, Ashlynn, Hunter, Apple, Avery and Briar, trekked across what has been recorded as the coldest place on Earth.

"Not bad?" asked an exasperated Hunter, "it's like…like…how cold is it?"

"-60 C," said Elissabat.

"At least we're not at the actual South Pole," said Clair.

"Actually, the South Pole is a few degrees warmer," said Elissabat.

"How do you know that?" asked Ashlynn.

"One of the earlier Vampire Majesty movies, we filmed on Ross Island," said Elissabat, "the climax had the hero and villain fighting on the rim of Mt. Erebus and the villain fell into the volcano. Anyway, I read a lot about Antarctica in between shots."

"Yeah, that's fangtastic, Elissabat," said Clawdeen, "now, how are we going to find Abbey in all of this?" she waved her hands around to indelicate the seemingly infinite expanse of snow and ice.

"Abbey's message said she was holding up in an ice cave," said Elissabat.

"And ice cave," said Clawdeen, "oh, sure, that's just perfect. And just where in all of this," she indicated the ice and snow again, "are we going to find the exact ice cave?"

"Uh…I think we have a more pressing problem, guys," said Hunter as he looked to a dark shape forming on the horizon.

"What is that?" asked Clair.

"That's a storm cloud," said Elissabat in a worried tone, her vampire senses seeing the approaching black shape with greater clarity, "correction…that's no storm, that's a whiteout!"

"And it's coming right for us!" exclaimed Hunter.

"Okay, back to the Steam Vault, now!" said Avery as he pulled out his phone, then held it up as high as he could, "I don't have a signal!"

"Me neither!" said a frantic Clawdeen as she and the others held up their phones.

"The geomagnetic South Pole," said Elissabat, "it's interfering with our phones."

"That and we're in the middle of freaking Antarctica!" said Clair.

"What do we do?" asked Apple as she looked around urgently, "what can we do?"

"We have to find shelter somewhere!" shouted Elissabat as the wind picked up to near gale-force.

"Again, we're in freaking Antarctica!" shouted Clair above the howling wind.

"Here it comes!" shouted Hunter as the whiteout rushed up on them. Within seconds, they were engulfed in a blinding storm of wind, snow and ice. Avery, Apple and the others tried shouting to each other while also trying to stay together, yet the sheer power and ferocity of the storm left them disoriented. Before our heroes knew it, they were separated and hopelessly lost.

The next thing they knew, our heroes realized that with then pummeling wind, came severe wind-chill that made the already biting cold of the plateau seem like a mild spring day. The cold knifed through their protective clothing and chilled them to the bone.

No matter how hard they tried to keep warm, the cold would not be denied. Already their fingers and toes were beginning to numb as hypothermia took effect. Unable to shiver as they grew colder and colder, their minds became disoriented as they stumbled about in utter confusion.

By sheer chance, Apple and Avery stumbled into each other's arms.

"Avery," Apple said weakly, which Avery somehow heard above the howling wind, "I'm cold…I'm so cold…" with that she passed out.

"It…it can't end like this," said Avery as he fell to his knees in exhaustion, struggling to hold onto his mind as the cold sapped his strength to almost nothing, "it can't end like this." With that he too passed out.

"The hell it'll end like that!" shouted Richard as he and the other members of The Alabaster Council, observed the plight of Avery and the others in Antarctica. Ironically, the six counterparts to The Obsidian Council, were all on the summit of Mt. Everest, yet could see our heroes' peril as clear as day, while ignoring the cold and low oxygen of their location.

"Calm down, Richard," said Elizabeth, "getting upset won't help."

"There's nothing we can do," said Susan as she set up a lawn chair and unzipped her sundress, laying down in a bright blue two-piece swimsuit to get a tan, "We're not allowed to directly meddle, remember?"

"I know the limits imposed by the powers that be," said Richard irately, "it's just…"

"That we invested so much time and effort in getting Avery Manning and his friends this far that it would be a downright shame to let it all go to waste just because they got caught in a storm?" asked Tina in one long breath.

"Yep, it would be a downright shame," agreed Thomas.

"What would be a downright shame?" asked Tina.

"That Avery and the others are gonna freeze to death," said Thomas.

"Why?" asked Tina.

"Because they got caught in a whiteout," said Thomas.

"Why?" asked Tina.

"I…I don't know!" exclaimed Thomas angrily, "it's not my fault they were too stupid to anticipate bad weather! And why am I arguing with you about it!? We should be talking about how we're going to help them!"

"We can't help them!" snapped Susan, "the rules, remember? We're only allowed to use proxies to meddle in the material world."

"Well, I doubt we can get a proxy to them in time with a thermos full of hot chocolate!" said Thomas, "I'm going there right now!"

"Don't you dare!" snapped Elizabeth, "you do that and you'll break the prime rule!"

"And if that happens, then Obsidian will be free to break the rule," said Richard, "balance of power; for every move we make, Obsidian is allowed to counter it, just as we're free to counter anything Obsidian does. Last I heard, Obsidian hasn't broken any rules."

"Well, we have to do something!" exclaimed Thomas, "if only to save Apple White."

"I know!" snapped Richard, "Apple White is the key to so much. Kralizec is coming and Apple is to play a role so vital, the future of all existence hangs in the balance."

"And if she dies, then Obsidian will have the advantage in the final war," said Elizabeth in a thoughtful manner, "so…if we were to prevent Apple from dying, then in essence, we would be maintaining the balance."

"We'd still break the rule," said Susan.

"We're not breaking the rule, little sister," said Oliver, "we're just bending it a bit, that's all."

"Yeah, and I'm the Sheik of Araby," said Thomas sarcastically.

This earned a hearty chuckle from Oliver, "oh, that's a good one, sonny, but that ain't the way I heard it!"

"We can hear your bad jokes later," said Richard, "time to get serious."

"You do realize," said Susan as she stood up, "if we do this, you do realize that Obsidian will know and react accordingly."

"I know," said Richard as the six of them stood together, "just as we would react if Obsidian were to break the rule. It was only a matter of time before one side escalated. It might as well be us." With that he closed his eyes and unleashed a soundless pulse of energy that reverberated throughout time and space.

"There, it's done," said Richard as he looked at his comrades in light, "and it was for a good cause."

"Our cause, you mean," said Elizabeth.

"And may the repercussions be on your head," said Susan.

"Somehow I have the feeling that the consequences won't be so bad," said Richard, "at least I hope so."

"The light help us if you're wrong," said Susan.

"Did any of you feel that?" asked Chairwoman Sable as she and the other members of The Obsidian Council, sat around their conference table.

"Feel what?" asked Chairman Taube.

"A tremor," said Chairwoman Sable, "a slight disturbance in the pattern."

"I felt it too," said Chairwoman Umbra, at which Chairman Onyx and Chairwoman Noir nodded.

"Alabaster," said Chairman Dusk, "they've stepped up their game."

"Those self-righteous light lovers!" exclaimed Chairman Onyx, "they've broken the prime rule!"

"But what did they do?" asked Chairman Taube, "what could be so important to them that they would risk escalating the conflict?"

At that a memo appeared in front of Chairman Dusk, "is that all?" he asked as he read the memo. He then passed it among his dark comrades.

"Those fools!" laughed Chairwoman Noir as she read the memo, "they rescued Apple White and her comrades from freezing to death! Of all the situations where they could meddle, it had to be that! What a joke!"

"It's no joke that they need to keep Apple White alive," said Chairman Onyx, "I'm just surprised they waited this long to step in."

"Well, now it's our turn to step in," said Chairman Taube, "they broke the rule, now we're obligated to respond in kind."

"They saved some of their heroes," said Chairwoman Sable, "I say we kill an equal number. It's our responsibility to balance the checkbook, so to speak."

"Balance the checkbook," said Chairwoman Noir, "what a joke! This whole conflict is a joke! We should hit Alabaster's forces with everything we've got! I say we start Kralizec here and how!"

"That'd be going a little too far, don't you think?" asked Chairman Taube cautiously, "the higher power would…"

"Do nothing!" snapped Chairwoman Noir, "they'd do nothing, just as they've done nothing for eons! We've played by their rules long enough! It's time to end this pathetic stalemate and let the darkness grow as it should have!"

"No," said Chairman Dusk coldly, "we wait."

"What?" asked Chairwoman Noir, "wait? For what? For Alabaster to gain another miniscule advantage?"

"We have to respond," said Chairwoman Sable, "otherwise Alabaster will believe they can meddle further! And that is something we cannot allow, not now, not ever!"

"I'm not saying we shouldn't respond," said Chairman Dusk, "just that we respond with strategy."

"Oh, I see," said Chairman Onyx, "we save our response for when it can do the most damage to Alabaster."

"Then we will have the advantage," said Chairwoman Umbra.

"Indeed," said Chairman Dusk. He then saw the look of outrage on Chairwoman Noir, "on the other hand, there's no reason we cannot inform our proxies of the current situation, while also letting slip the current location of certain individuals in need of some 'help.'"

"Does that satisfy you?" asked Chairwoman Sable to Chairwoman Noir.

"For now," said Chairwoman Noir.

"Avery…Avery?"

"Huh?" asked Avery weakly as he tried to sit up but had to lay back down due to dizziness and lack of strength. He then realized several things. First, he and at least Apple were still alive. Second, he was much, much warmer than before. Third, he and Apple were out of the storm. And finally, he was naked underneath a very warm, very soft blanket.

"What the?!" exclaimed Avery as he sat upright, then nearly fell over as he pulled the blanket, which turned out to be a large white fur pelt, up to his chin, "Apple…what…what happened?"

"We're alive, of course," said a happily smiling Apple as she sat next to Avery, wearing a white, fur-lined robe and white fuzzy slippers, "we're all alive and safe."

Avery looked around and saw that he and Apple were in a cave, that he was lying in a stone bed with several fur pelts serving as a mattress, and that the air was warm, very warm, and humid, very humid according to how frizzy Apple's hair was.

"My brain is still a little foggy," said Avery, "so, how did we get here?"

"I honestly don't know," said Apple, "I only woke up a few minutes ago, but however it happened," she held his hand, "I'm glad."

"Me too," said Avery as he and Apple leaned close and kissed.

"Ahem!" said Briar as she stood nearby, also clothed in a white robe and fuzzy slippers, "not that I'm glad that you and your special someone are getting closer, Apple, but this really isn't the time."

"Uh…yeah," said an embarrassed Apple, whose embarrassment was only exceeded by Avery's near full body blush, "it's just…"

"Glad to be alive, me too," said Briar, "but we don't have time for that. The others are awake, and our rescuers want to talk to us, concerning the very person we were supposed to find in the first place."

"What?" asked Avery as he looked around for his clothes.

A short time later found Avery, Apple and Briar, all dressed again and with Clawdeen, Howleen, Ashlynn, Hunter, Clair and Elissabat, in a larger cave with several Yetis and Sasquatches, among them was none other than Abbey Bominable.

"You saved us, Abbey?" asked Howleen.

"Yes, your appreciation is much welcome," said Abbey.

"But…but how?" asked an understandably confused Clair, "how'd you find us?"

"And how'd you get us to this…whatever this is," said Hunter.

"Is long story," said Abbey, "and no small mystery at that. But please, we must go through the first of things," she then indicated the Yetis and Sasquatches, "these are distant cousins and friends of family; they nomads traveling between poles."

"We follow the change of seasons," said one of the Sasquatches, "migrating from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle."

"Most of our kind are at home in the mountains and forests," said one of the Yetis, "but we thrive in the cold and dark, away from the noise and distractions of civilization."

"Oh, they're pilgrims seeking enlightenment, I think," said Elissabat.

"As to how I hook up with cousins," said Abbey, "they found me when I needed help the most."

"It was by sheer chance that we encountered cousin Abbey during her plight," said one of the female Yeti's, one a few years older than Abbey with long hair a few shades darker and slightly paler skin, yet the family resemblance was there. "Naturally, we offered her refuge with us on our journey until she was sure enough to travel on her own and strike back against the evil infecting the world."

"We are aware of Obsidian's contamination of our world," said one of the Sasquatches, "corrupting the minds and hearts of so many Monsters, young and old. When the time is right, we will fight back, as soon as we've gathered enough free minded Monsters across the globe."

"In the meantime," said one of the male Yeti's, "you younglings are more than welcome to share our shelter and take nourishment with us."

"Much obliged," said Hunter, "but still…" he indicated the cave and the warm air permeating it, "care to explain this?"

"Is it part of your migration route?" asked Elissabat.

"No," said an incredibly old yet vigorous Yeti, "not part of route. This place is new, strange, unnatural."

"The ice is never still," said another Yeti, "it's always changing, moving, shifting a bit here, a massive lurch there."

"But a cave like this doesn't form overnight," said a Sasquatch, "We should know, we passed through this part of the plateau just yesterday and the cave wasn't there. Something otherworldly formed it, something that made the air warm yet kept the ice from melting."

"Same something that told meguys and ghouls were in trouble," said Abbey.

"The young one, she sensed friends here on great South Ice," said the elder Yeti, "she convinces us to turn around. We find you, then find this place."

"This is either the greatest of all lucky breaks," said an astonished Ashlynn, "or…"

"Or someone up there likes us a lot," said Hunter.

"We can thank whoever or whatever later," said Avery, "for now we need to worry about getting back to The Steam Vault. When the storm clears, we'll head away from the Geomagnetic South Pole. Hopefully we won't have to travel far before we can get a signal back to the others."

"Oh, just wait till you see what we've done with the place, Abbey," said Clawdeen, "it'll be just like home."

"Home?" asked Abbey as she looked upward and towards, what our heroes assumed, was the Himalayas, "that way is home. Monster High was home, but evil men and women, Normies and Monsters, they take home away from me, they take family and friends from me. Hunted like animal, forced to rely on charity of others, humiliated like an outcast."

She then stood up, her face set with righteous resolve, "but no more. I will have vengeance if it is last thing I do!" This earned roars and bellows of approval from the assembled Yetis and Sasquatches.

"You think she's upset?" asked Hunter.

"What are you, a blueberry scone?" asked Elissabat.

…Monster High…

Irvin did something he did only when he was exceptionally pleased with himself. Donning an iPod and earbuds, he smugly strutted down the halls of Monster High while listening to 'Staying Alive' by The Bee Gees, earning looks of disturbed confusion from the various Vampires, Werewolves, Shadow Acolytes and disguised Kaijin in the halls.

"Well, you're certainly in a good mood," said Neffra as she saw Irvin pass by.

"I have a good reason," said Irvin as he continued his strutting, "I just had a most delightful conference with The Obsidian Council.

"They're in a better mood about our lack of progress?" asked Neffra as she walked alongside him.

"Oh, they're still upset," said Irvin, "but they just delivered some good news; the exact location in Antarctica of Apple White, Avery Manning and their party, as well as Abbey Bomimable and a whole slew of Yetis and Sasquatches."

"And you're gonna capture them all," said Neffra as she smiled wickedly, "how delightful."

"Exactly," said Irvin as he smiled with equal wickedness, "and I've just the plan in mind, assuming our slimy scientist comes through with what he promised." With that the two villains headed towards Emory's lab.

But as they were almost at the lab, they heard a terrified scream from the other side of a classroom door.

Out dashed Draculaura with a blast of hot air from the lab. Slamming the door behind her, Draculaura, singed from head to toe and panting with terror, glared irately at Irvin, "that slimy slimeball! He's gone too far!"

"What?" asked Irvin.

"What'd Emory do?" asked Neffra.

The door opened again, from which dashed Valentine. He slammed the door again just as a bust of flames erupted through the doorframe.

"A Balrog!" exclaimed Valentine, "he turned the test subject into a Balrog!"

"What nonsense is this now?!" demanded Irvin as he shoved Valentine and Draculaura aside and opened the door, ignoring Neffra's remark that the two vampires had ruined his good mood.

Inside the classroom as a charred ruin, the tables burned to ashes, the windows melted, and right in the middle stood an enormous creature spawned from Hell itself. The creature was cloven-hoofed with downward curved horns, a long tail and bat-like wings, all of which radiated with incredible heat.

"Ah, Mr. Weis," said Emory, the sluggish scientist wearing a heat-resistant lab coat, "as you can see," he indicated the Balrog, "my latest Plasmid was a stellar success."

"This is what you call a success?!" demanded Irvin, "I asked you to make stronger Monsters, not burn the whole damn school down!"

"I admit it is a bit…excessive," said Emory, "nevertheless, the creature is more powerful than anything else you have at your command. It is far more than a match than any Rider. Nothing our enemies have can stand against it."

"And…is it under control?" asked Irvin as he looked at the Balrog with uncertain eyes, "Will it obey?'

"Of course it will!" said Emory in an insulted tone, "I wouldn't have made it if it didn't!" he then looked at the Balrog, "SIT!" with that the heat-radiating abomination sat down.

"It will obey any command you and your subordinates' issue," said Emory, "just wait and see."

"But is it safe?" asked Draculaura as she, Valentine and Neffra peaked around from the doorframe.

"Of course not," said Emory in a matter-of-fact tone, then gave a sinister smile, "for those fools in Antarctica that is!" he then laughed like the mad genius he was.

"Yes, but who shall take the reins of the creature?" asked Irvin, "Fabian is recovering from The Hat of Discipline, while Isidore's jaw is still healing."

He then pulled out his phone and sent out a group text. Inside a minute entered Xander, Hortensia, Palomor and Edouard. All four Shadow Acolytes gazed in awe and slight terror at the sitting Balrog.

"One of you shall have the privilege of escorting this gargantuan fiend to Antarctica," said Irvin, "which one shall it be?"

"Uh...I'm already on assignment, Mr. Weis," said Hortensia, "and…"

"And I've got a dental appointment, Mr. Weis," said Palomor.

"I've got to do my taxes." Said Xander.

"I have to see my lawyer," said Edouard, "my ex-wife is making trouble for me again."

"Oh jeez, what's she trying to take from you this time?" asked Hortensia.

"What hasn't she taken from me?" asked Edouard irately, "she's already got the house, my boat, my collection of rare spellbooks, the SUV and the Convertible! Why does she even need two cars?!"

"I don't give a flying fudge about your personal issues," said Irvin, "one of you is going to Antarctica, now which one is it?"

At that the four Shadow Acolytes pointed at each other.

"Great," sighed Irvin, "okay, then, you, Edouard."

"But I'm in the middle of divorce proceedings!" said Edouard.

At that Irvin made a 'world's smallest violin' gesture with his fingers, "now dress warmly, I hear it's cold in Antarctica." With that he walked out of the room.

"I gotta call my lawyer," said Edouard in a depressed, "so he can call my wife's lawyer, we're not supposed to have direct contact."

"Divorce sucks, man," said Emory, "but look on the bright side, you're gonna have a Balrog under your control for a while."

"That…kinda makes thing better," said Edouard, "but I still need to call my lawyer."

"And I need to call my accountant," said Xander, "I'm really behind in my taxes."

"You pay taxes?" asked Valentine.

"You have to," said Xander, "it's either that or get audited by the Evil Internal Revenue Service."

"Trust me, you don't want a visit from the EIRS," said Hortensia.

…Antarctica…A Few Hours later…

"Storm has passed," said the elder Yeti as our heroes and pilgrimaging friends left the ice cave, "is save to travel."

"How can you be so sure?" asked Ashlynn, "what if another storm comes up?"

"When elder says it's safe, it's safe," said Abbey.

"But what if we do get caught in another storm?" asked Briar, "we nearly froze to death in the last one."

"Then we take shelter in next ice cave," said Abbey, "if there is no ice cave," she then zapped the ground with her power, forming a block of ice, "then we make big igloo."

"We were really lucky that there was an ice cave here," said Apple.

"That and have a guardian angel watching over us," said Howleen.

"I wouldn't thank the heavens just yet," said Avery, "the more I think about it, the more I'm believing that we were helped by The Alabaster Council."

"Now why would they do that?" asked Briar, "you told us that they can't directly meddle, that they use proxies."

"I didn't see a proxy lead us to that ice cave," said Elissabat.

"Does it matter?" asked Clawdeen, "we're all safe and we got Abbey back, so let's go back to The Steam Vault already."

"We can't," said Clair as she held up her phone, "still no reception to call."

"We've got to get further away from the geomagnetic South Pole," said Elissabat, "until we can get a signal, we're on our own."

Just then Edouard appeared in front of our heroes, wearing cold weather gear and looking highly uncomfortable in the freezing climate, "maybe you need to change your service provider," he said dryly, not really caring about the delivery of his pun.

"Let me guess," said Avery as he, Hunter, Clair and Elissabat, stood in front of the rest of our heroes, "you work for Irvin."

"I work with Mr. Weis, thank you very much," said Edouard irately. He looked at his watched and sighed with annoyance, "can we get this over with? I have to call my lawyer before the end of the business day."

"What's the matter?" asked Briar, "you getting sued or something?"

"My bitch of a wife is trying to ruin my life!" snapped Edouard, "she's taking everything! My boat, my collection of rare stamps and toys, why does she even need mint condition Star Wars action figures?!"

He then saw the confused looks on our heroes, "why am I telling you my problems?!" he looked up and shouted, "HEY! Get down here already!"

"Who's he talking to?" asked Briar.

"I don't know," said Hunter, "maybe to himself."

"Then let's finish this before he fixes his lose screw," said Avery.

But then the Balrog plummeted out of the sky like a meteor, slamming into the ice and snow with enough force to blast a wave of steam, ice and snow in all directions and forced our heroes back.

"What…what the hell was that?!" asked Clair.

"That…that's impossible!" exclaimed a terrified Elissabat as the steam cleared a bit, revealing the Balrog, "they're extinct!"

"Oh, so you've heard of Balrogs," said Edouard, "this will be interesting." He glared up at the Balrog, "get them!"

At that the Balrog gave an ear-splitting roar as its body flared up with heat, taking flight and rushing at our heroes. Avery and the other Riders barely had time to dodge the creature's claws, the creature's intense heat forcing them even further back.

Completely taken by surprise, our heroes and allies were forced to scatter and run, yet the deep snow slowed them considerably.

The Balrog rose up in the air and unleashed a fury of fireballs at our heroes, each fireball detonating on impact with the ground, unleashing a multiple blast of heat, steam, snow and ice.

After almost a full minute of its fiery barrage, the Balrog ceased its attack and landed next to Edouard.

"Nice," said an impressed Edouard, "now let's see what damage you've done." With that he walked towards our heroes. He had to wait a few minutes for the steam to dissipate and the snow and ice to settle again, but when he could see clearly again, Edouard was especially pleased.

Several of our heroes were on the ground, suffering from concussive and burn wounds, while a few were trapped in ice formed by the rapidly cooling water vapor.

"Avery!" exclaimed Apple as she struggled to free herself from her frozen bindings, straining to reach Avery as he lay in the snow, apparently unconscious.

"Oh, this is perfect," said Edouard as he walked up to Apple, "Obsidian's most wanted, all wrapped up like a gift, I just need a bow to make it complete!"

"You leave my friend alone!" shouted Briar as she struggled to get up, yet her right leg wouldn't support her weight.

"You'll get yours soon enough, Briar Beauty," said Edouard, "but first thing's first!" he then looked at the Balrog, "You! Get over here and kill Apple White!"

But nothing happened, the Balrog just stood there in the snow.

"HEY! What's the matter with you!?" demanded Edouard, "get over here and Kill APPLE WHITE ALREADY!"

But the Balrog ignored Edouard as it trudged through the snow towards Abbey. Dazed and bruised from head to toe, Abbey lay helpless as the creature stopped in front of her.

"Abbey!" shouted Clawdeen as she fought to free herself from her icy bindings, "Abbey! Run!"

"Huh?" asked Abbey as she slowly regained her senses. She looked up with unfocused eyes at the Balrog, while the creature reached down. It extended one claw towards Abbey, the razor-sharp tip touching Abbey with a burst of steam as its intense heat cut through her natural cold physiology, earning a yelp of pain as a few drops of blood flowed from her cheek.

The creature then reared back as if in horror, letting lose a cry of despair as it extended its wings and took flight.

"Hey! HEY! GET BACK HERE YOU BASTARD!" shouted Edouard at the Balrog as it flew out of sight.

"Looks like your friend doesn't want to play anymore," said Avery as he got up, followed by Hunter, Elissabat and Clair, all of whom looked like they had been through too many fights, yet were still eager for one more.

"But we do," said Hunter as he and Avery prepared to summon their Zecters, while Elissabat readied to transform herself into her bat form.

"Another time perhaps," said Edouard, "I've an abomination to catch." With that he vanished.

"Thank goodness," sighed Elissabat as she and Clair sat down in the snow, "I don't know how much fighting I could put up with."

"At least you get to hang around my belt," said Clair, "I'm the one who has to do the heavy hitting."

"It's not over yet," said Avery as he freed Apple from her icy bindings, then helped the others, "that creature will be back."

"Then let's get out of here before it does," said Clawdeen as she freed herself, then freed Howleen.

"No," said Abbey as she stood up, "we can't leave."

"Of course we can leave," said Howleen, "just as soon as we can get a signal to the others, we'll open the wormhole and go."

"We can't leave," insisted Abbey.

"If you're worried about your cousins and friends, they're more than welcome to come with us," said Apple as she looked at the nomad Yetis and Sasquatches, "it'll be a little crowded in the Steam Vault, but we'll manage, somehow."

"We can't leave," said Abbey, "we have to find Balrog."

"Why?" asked Briar as Apple examined her leg, "in the name of sense and sanity, why?"

"That thing nearly killed us," said Hunter as Ashlynn held some snow to his left eye, which was turning a fantastic shade of purple, "yes, it took us by surprise, but why would we want to fight it again?"

"Because Balrog," said Abbey, "is Heath."

"Heath? Heath Burns? Our Heath?" asked Clawdeen.

"Yes," said Abbey.

"Then…somehow…" said Howleen.

"Irvin and his cohorts did the same thing to Heath as they did to Manny," said Avery, "turned him into a living nightmare."

…The Realm of Ever After…

"I'm happy to say that you are without a doubt cured, Giles," said Ophelia after she, as 'Dr. Baumann,' had finished another hypnosis session with Headmaster Grimm.

"Really?" asked Grimm in an ecstatic tone, looking ready to jump for joy. He then regained his composure and cleared his throat, "I mean, do you really think so, Dr. Baumann? And so soon?"

"I know so," said Ophelia, "see my credentials?" she then indicated the forged degrees and certificates adorning her office walls, "And I told you already that it's okay to be on a first name basis, Giles."

"Yes, I'm sorry, Felicity," said Grimm, "it's just…I've been lost for so long, so miserable. I've let irrational fears rule my life and ruin the life of my own brother. I have so much to atone for."

"And you will," said Ophelia as she placed a comforting hand on his, "as soon as all the paperwork is signed, you're free to make as many amends as you wish."

"Then…then is this goodbye, Felicity?" asked Grimm.

"Only for now," said Ophelia, "you will be discharged from the hospital, but you're still my patient and I fully intend to check in on you from time to time, just to see that you're still on the path of sense and sanity."

"That…that's good," said Grimm in a nervous tone, "I'm glad."

"Is there still something you want to talk about, Giles?" asked Ophelia in a curious tone, "we still have a few minutes before my next appointment."

"It's just…" said Grimm, "it's just…no, forget it, it's a foolish thought."

"What's foolish?" asked Ophelia, "you can tell me, I am a doctor."

"That's it, you're a doctor and I'm your patient," said Grimm, "it's wrong for me to have feelings for you and expect you to reciprocate those feelings."

"Oh," said a surprised Ophelia, though in truth she expected this exact thing to happen, "oh! Well..." she then blushed, inwardly pleased with herself at mastering this particular reflect long ago, "well…yes, it would be ethically wrong for a doctor and patient to have a relationship."

"I…I see," said a deeply disappointed Grimm. Ophelia could almost see Grimm's heart breaking. For a moment, she toyed with the idea of pushing Grimm's heart past the breaking point, just to see him suffer. But then she remembered the plan.

"Then again," said Ophelia as she gave a warm smile, "it would be an even greater wrong to deny the heart what makes it happy, even if that heart belongs to a doctor."

"You mean you…?" asked Grimm.

"I've never felt anything like this towards a patient, Giles," said Ophelia as she and Grimm stood up, "I know we could get into very serious trouble if we have a relationship, but it's worth the risk if it makes the both of us happy."

"Oh, Felicity!" exclaimed Grimm as he embraced Ophelia. With that the two of them kissed, while inwardly, Ophelia felt utter revulsion.

'It's part of the plan,' thought Ophelia, 'Irvin will forgive me, so don't feel like you're a traitor. It's all part of the plan, so put up with it! But if Giles tries to slip me the tongue, I'm gonna throw up in his mouth!'

…The End Is Just The Beginning…