"FWAAAAAAAH!" Kylie screamed as she dove out of the frozen tunnel, barely escaping more than a dozen wickedly sharp spears of ice. She tumbled a bit over the snow and finally scrambled to her brother, who was shaking his head in disgust.

"I told you to be quiet," the Lupe sighed, staring down at the frazzled blue Kyrii, who was still gasping for breath at his feet. "You have to tiptoe in and stay against the wall, then—" Conrad stopped his lecture as he noticed that his sister, who’d begun to recover, was staring at something she had clasped in her paws. "Don't tell me you actually managed to get something on your first try?"

Kylie looked up at her brother, grinning, and nodded vigorously. She raised her right arm, and swinging from her paw was a chain attached to a beautiful medallion. The Lupe gasped. "How... I mean... where..." Conrad stuttered. "He usually only has Neggs and keyrings! Let me see that!" he said, attempting to swipe the necklace from his sister.

"No way!" Kylie yelled, quickly putting on the necklace and hopping away a few steps. "I grabbed it from his pile. It's mine!" As she shouted, her voice echoed along the shallow alcove where they stood. Without any warning, the ice directly above her cracked and fell violently, sending snow and ice everywhere.

"KYLIE!" Conrad screamed as he raised his paws to protect his face from the chunks of ice flying toward him. Once the snow had settled, the Lupe ran to the spot where his sister had been. Much to his surprise, she was perfectly fine! By some miracle, the ice had landed in a circle around her, leaving the Kyrii completely unharmed. "My goodness, you're lucky!" the Lupe said, still a nervous wreck. "You have no idea how fortunate you are! That should have been the end of you!"

"Yeah, that was almost impossibly lucky..." she said, staring down at the charm, which was draped around her neck...

“So... what’re you going to do with it?” Conrad asked, clutching his own meager spoils -- a sticky, half-melted Chocolate Negg -- in his paw. “Once we get home, I mean. I’ll bet you could get a whole lot of Neopoints for it at an auction...” Frowning slightly to himself, the Lupe tried to put all feelings of jealousy out of his mind... but why was it that his sister had been lucky enough to grab such a cool item on her very first trip to the Snowager? It just wasn’t fair...

The blue Kyrii smiled thoughtfully and cupped the pendant in her paws for a moment, her breath fogging its deep cobalt surface. “Hmm... You’re probably right, but I don’t know... I think I’d rather keep it.” Folding her arms behind her head and beaming with satisfaction, Kylie closed her eyes against the biting wind that kicked up the drifts of powdery snow around them into the air. “It could be magic, after all -– and besides, doesn’t it look good on me? Hee hee!”

“Y-yeah... whatever...”

The bleak sunlight barely touched the surface of Terror Mountain, and yet the charm shone as brightly as a star...

A short distance away from the Snowager’s lair -- perhaps only fifteen or twenty metres from the mouth of the cave -- a deep crevasse split the side of the mountain at a curve in the glacial wall. The fissure ran through the ice and rock for almost a mile; great piles of snow and rubble had accumulated between its two walls over the years, making it treacherous to navigate and nearly impassable in many areas. However, if one were to brave its frigid depths for long enough, they would find an area which appeared to display the signs of being well-kempt and free of debris -- a little further on, a cavern that had been gouged out of the sheer rock wall -- and (if one looked carefully, perhaps) evidence of small, fresh footprints in the snow.

At the moment, however, there was no life to be found in the crevasse -- except for the two figures hidden in the shadows at its opening. They were almost completely covered in heavy winter clothing, with scarves wrapped tight around their faces and dark hats pulled low over their heads; the only parts of their bodies visible were two pairs of inky, shining eyes and two slowly waving Mynci tails, both covered in short, forest green fur.

Crouched in the deep snow, swathed in darkness, both were almost completely still... until one leaned forward with a start, gazing intently ahead.

“She’s got it.” The Mynci’s voice was male, soft yet urgent; with one gloved hand, he reached out and jiggled his companion’s elbow. “The Amulet. She’s got it -– the little one, the Kyrii.”

After a slight pause, the other’s eyes narrowed slightly in a broad smile, and a deep female voice could be heard murmuring in reply, muffled by scarf and snow. “Perfect. We’ve been waiting a very long time for this, Larpa...” She stood slowly, brushing the snow from her shoulders and arms, before looking to her companion. “I think we should make sure this investment of ours pays off, don’t you?”

“My thoughts exactly, Pruza. Shall we follow them?”

“Yes, I could do with some travel...”

...By the time Kylie and Conrad reached Happy Valley, it was already dark. The snow reflected the starlight and the aurora blazing above, and despite the hour its denizens were still out and about, having snowball fights and sledding down the sloping hillsides that ringed the valley.

“This sure is a… happy place,” Conrad remarked with a chuckle as they reached the valley floor and headed for the nearest inn. They would head home tomorrow morning, as according to their plan. Conrad was looking pointedly away from his sister, who was still wearing her smug expression of pride. It was starting to get on his nerves.

“Yeah,” she grinned, “Maybe we should vacation here someday.”

It had been a bit of a chore for their two trackers to climb down the mountain as slowly as the siblings had — being Myncis, they were far more adept at scaling the cliff sides, and much of their day had been spent waiting on shadowy ledges for the pair to struggle down. Had they not been so wrapped in their winter garments, they probably would have been very cold indeed from sitting still so long.

And now the pair moved together across the surface of the valley, looking for all the world like a simple pair of tired travelers. They stopped by the Ice Cream Parlor and handed in a pair of coupons, affecting an air of nonchalance as they watched Conrad and Kylie disappear into the Happy Valley Hotel, which was built to look like a palace built entirely out of ice.

“So that is where they will be making stead tonight.” Once again, it was Larpa who initiated speech. “We should wait for the darkest hour of the night…”

“…when even the lights in the sky have burned themselves out,” Pruza finished for him.

The two fell silent and ate their ice creams. Mr. Chipper, the ice cream vendor, stared at them for a moment, cocking a brow. He then surreptitiously grabbed his cart and scooted away...

"Kylie, they aren't going to steal that amu-- achoo!" Conrad began only to be interrupted by a series of harsh sneezes. The cold had not been kind to him. The blue Kyrii quickly rushed her brother up to their room, shoved him into the nearest bed, wrapped him tightly in a bundle of blankets, and put a hot thermos on his head.

"A thermos?" asked Conrad ignorantly.

"Would you rather have an ice pack?" Kylie replied sarcastically. "Now you hold still, don't go running about. I'm going to get you some soup."

"Yeah, like I can run about wrapped in this eggroll of a blanket," the Lupe stated unhappily. "Where can you get hot soup in a cold place like this?"

"I don't know. Don't be so pessimistic," bid Kylie, sauntering out the heavy, vanilla-colored door. She really didn't know where to go to get soup, but she decided to go search anyway.

Meanwhile, the two green Myncies carefully maneuvered up a tall tree up towards the room that they calculated was the two siblings' room. It was a habit, as always, for Larpa to begin and Pruza to commence, and they rarely broke this habit, whether talking or acting.

"Yes, Pruza. This is the one. The clock reads ten, and the small one isn't to be seen."

"Hmm... she must return by the hour in which the world is in the pocket of mischief, Larpa. Scour the inn. It'll be best if we can catch her alone in the dark..."

"Hello?" Her voice echoed harshly in the darkness, and she shuddered involuntarily. Where was everyone? It was only ten o'clock; there were usually plenty of people about, stumbling to bed and locking up for the night. But there was nobody.

As she pushed open yet another door, into yet another corridor, Kylie became aware of hurried footsteps behind her. Stifling a gasp, she turned, her paw instinctively on her amulet. But there was nothing to be seen but shadows.

Inside their little room, Conrad was sleeping fitfully. He had finally worn himself out with sneezing, and had fallen asleep, clutching a little hot water bottle.

Unbeknownst to him, he was not alone. Standing behind the door, watching for the return of his sister, stood Pruza. She watched the Lupe moan in his sleep and smiled. If all went well this night, he would have far more to moan about come dawn.

Kylie had finally found the kitchens. They were locked up and empty, but luck was with her. The inn-keeper had left the key on the table, and a minute later she was inside, tipping an assortment of vegetation into a large cauldron.

As she stirred the bubbling mixture, she became aware of something. Somebody was watching her, she was sure of it. Not daring to turn on the lamp, the little kitchen was black, the only light coming from the glowing coals beneath the cauldron, and the omnipresent shine of the amulet.

Larpa was, of course, her watcher. He stood, still and silent in the shadows cast by a wooden cabinet. His tail swished silently as he watched and waited for the signal. It would be so easy, he thought, to grab her. But Pruza had given him his orders, and he had to obey them. She was older, wiser, and in charge.

Pruza was at that moment slipping down the stairway, her nostrils dilated. Like all Myncies, her sense of smell was acute. And the bubbling soup, and Kylie's fear, were a veritable stink on the air. She saw Larpa outside the kitchen, and nodded slowly.

Kylie had finished her cooking. The soup was ladelled into a chipped earthenware bowl, and she was ready to return to the comfort of her bed. It was dark and cold, and she was scared.

The moment the Kyrii stepped from the kitchen, Pruza and Larpa struck. Kylie had time to let out no more than a muffled scream before a heavy green paw was over her face. She felt cords around her ankles, and a hand at her neck, grasping at the amulet.

"No!" Biting down fiercly, she broke free from the suffocating grasp. Kylie flailed, and the soup-bowl that she had somehow remained clutching emptied its boiling contents upon the heads of her offenders. With a scream of pain, they fell back, rubbing at their heads.

Luck had saved Kylie once more. With a last, contemptuous glance at the pair, Kylie fled for the stairs, bursting into her bedroom as Conrad sat up in bed, startled.

"Kylie? What happened..."

"But..." started Conrad, holding the younger Kylie tight to comfort her.

"There's not time to explain. Go!" She pushed herself away, holding back the tears, but clearly trembling with fear. She was trying to act bravely and impress her older brother.

Reluctantly the Lupe hauled himself from the comfort of his bed and followed his sister over to the window Larpa and Pruza had peered through earlier. Ice hung from the windowsill, and Kylie's breath instantly condensed on the chill surface. The window had frozen in place, and she had to push hard to finally open it. A blast of bitter wintry air charged into the room.

"What are you doing? We can't go outside. And why out the window?" questioned Conrad nervously, frightened by his lack of knowledge on the proceedings.

"They're already inside, Conrad. They're looking for me."

At that she leapt through the window and fell to the ground, her fall luckily broken by a billowing snow drift built up against the wall of the inn. Conrad stared at the window nervously, before finally deciding to jump through after Kylie.

Lurpa and Pruza charged up the stairs with alarming speed, while remaining completely silent, and twisted into Kylie and Conrad's room.

"Where are they?" an inquisitive Lurpa pondered.

Pruza answered quickly and confidently. "Fled, as I had predicted. They have walked straight into our trap..."

"Come on, come on!" she squeaked anxiously. She was clutching at the amulet with her other hand, and unless it was Conrad's imagination, the pendant appeared to be emitting a pale glow.

"Hide that," he barked, nodding at the necklace. Kylie stuffed it under her scarf and out of sight.

The Lupe stood up and dusted at his jacket in an attempt to dislodge the powdery snow which was now caked on it, but to no avail. Kylie plucked at his fur, eyes wide with fear.

"Alright, alright," grumbled Conrad, following her. "One moment you're offering me hot soup and the next you're dragging me through the snow." He sneezed loudly.

Just then, a figure appeared from the darkness, running quickly towards them. The two Neopets gave a joint gasp of fear, until they recognised the shape as none other than Mr. Chipper.

"What're you--" began Kylie, but she was cut off by the ice-cream vendor.

"Be very quiet," he whispered calmly though his face was anxious. "You are in great danger. We must get out--"

A sudden crash covered his words, and something loomed up from the snow...

Several bulky Mynci henchmen, obviously in the services of Larza and Pruza, burst from the snow around the trio.

Mr. Chipper gave a panicked look around and then grabbed Kylie and Conrad and skittered through the clutching hands of the Mynci minions. He tore off across ice and snow, never losing his footing, the young siblings clutched tightly in his arms.

"Wh-what's going on!?" Conrad cried amid a flurry of sneezes.

Mr. Chipper glanced down at him momentarily, not slowing his incredible pace in the slightest. "That charm your sister wears," he began mysteriously, "is both a blessing and a curse."

"Huh?" came Kylie's muffled voice. But there was no time for talk now, the Myncies were coming after them, easily matching Mr. Chipper's speed and not nearly as heavily encumbered.

"We have no chance of outrunning them," Conrad moaned, and Mr. Chipper knew it to be the truth. He could not maintain this pace forever, and the weight of his cargo was already wearing his stamina thin.

"We must hide!' Chipper cried, dashing into a small cave in the side of Terror Mountain.

They were no more than ten feet inside when a torch sprang to life before them.

And there stood Larza and Pruza.

"Well, well, well," mused Larpa casting a wicked glare at the trio. "What have we here?"

"You'll never get this amulet!" Kylie cried, backing up.

Pruza laughed. "So protective! Do you even have any idea what kind of powers that amulet has?..."

"The amulet will give its wearer protection and unbelievable luck," said Larpa, "from the time he or she dons it until the darkest hour of the night..."

"...when even the lights in the sky have burned themselves out," Pruza continued, as if reciting. "But if the wearer should fail to remove the amulet before that time, he or she will be struck with misfortune just as powerful."

Kylie paled, and ripped the amulet off from around her neck. Was she too late? Did she even dare to believe the Myncis could be right?

"Why do you want it, then?" asked Conrad beside her. "If all it does is give you good luck only to give you bad at the end of it..."

"Foolish cub," spat Larpa, eyeing the Lupe with distaste. "Did you hear nothing that Pruza has told you? If you remove the amulet before it's too late, you get only the good luck and protection." His lips twisted into a triumphant smirk. "And it's too late, I fear, for you."

"Hand over the amulet, Kyrii, and we will leave you to your fate," commanded Pruza. "I guarantee it will be more mild than what will befall you should you refuse."

Her throat clenched with suppressed tears, Kylie stared at the pale light of the amulet in her hand as it slowly darkened to a bloodred tone. She could already feel a malicious air around her, as if something whispered in unheard tones of the evil that already rushed toward her. She cast a despairing glance up at the black sky, and her eyes widened at what they saw.

A star. A single, brilliant star.

When even the lights in the sky have burned themselves out.

A wild idea exploded inside her head. It was too late for her, perhaps -- but now the darkest time of night was past, and it was a new day!

Ignoring the cries of protest from the Myncies and their henchmen, Kylie tossed the amulet to her brother...

"NO!" Larpa roared. "STOP HIM!"

But Conrad had already slipped the amulet over his head. The two burly Myncis who had lunged toward him found their feet coming down in a patch of ice. Caught by surprise, they skidded and windmilled their arms desperately before crashing to the ground, groaning, one pinned beneath the other.

The Lupe spun around, only to barrel right into another of the gargantuan Mynci henchmen. The hulk leered down at him, lifting him up by the front of his jacket and making to tear the amulet from his neck.

Conrad flailed and kicked at his captor. He had almost despaired when the Mynci's grip suddenly slackened and the surprised Lupe was released to land on his backside in the snow. He quickly scrambled out of the way as the Mynci collapsed, facedown. Looking up he saw Mr. Chipper, his hat askew, hefting a large rock; he had delivered the blow that felled Conrad's attacker.

Unopposed, the two darted towards the cave mouth and safety.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Larpa drawled.

He and Pruza had hardly moved from the spot where they had been standing before. But now Larpa was holding the arms of a struggling, miserable-looking Kylie.

"Toss me the amulet, or she dies," hissed Pruza.

"Don't give it to them, Conrad!" Kylie pleaded.

Conrad looked at the amulet, glowing blue once more. He looked at Pruza's outstretched palm; at her face, disfigured by rage.

"If you hurt her, I'll smash it."

"Fool," Larpa snapped, but the color had drained from his face. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, wouldn't I?" Conrad retorted. And with that he yanked off the amulet and threw it as hard as he could out of the cave.

"Catch it!" Pruza screeched, and both Myncies streaked after the amulet. Conrad, Kylie, and Mr. Chipper seized their chance to escape. Glancing over her shoulder, Kylie only glimpsed the scene that ensued.

Pruza crowed her triumph, the amulet cupped in her hand. She must have snagged it a bare inch from the ground. She hastened to put it on, cackling softly. But her grin soon turned to a look of horror as the amulet faded from softly glowing blue to forbidding red.

Following her gaze, Mr. Chipper smiled.

"That amulet could never be worn by those with evil in their hearts," he explained. "What they knew was only part of the story. It is true that the amulet grants protection and good luck; but only to those who are worthy of it. You won't be hearing from those two again."

Kylie laughed out loud from sheer relief. Conrad started to laugh too, but it turned into a sneeze halfway.

"When we get back to the hotel, I really will get you some hot soup," Kylie promised.

"No, no!" the Lupe said hurriedly. "I'm just fine, thanks."

Kylie chuckled again, and hand in hand, they made their way back to the inn.

The End