The snow was melting, icicles dripping and patches of green emerging. I looked over to where the snowman had stood but something else had taken it's place.

I couldn’t determine the exact outline of the form, it was still a bit like the shape of the snowman but it seemed to shimmer around the edge.

Although I was filled with fear because I did not know what it was, at the same time I was also fascinated by the ever-changing appearance. So with great trepidation I slowly slipped and slid towards it over the patches of thawing snow.

All this time the sky around me was turning a dirty greyish yellow – a sure sign that more snow was on its way. I wasn’t too bothered, more snow was forecast to fall that night but it was so early in the afternoon that I thought it would be a few hours before that happened, by that time I would be safely home. I certainly didn’t expect the sudden clap of thunder that seemed to shake the surrounding air.

From nowhere, a myriad of snowflakes tumbled from the sky, completely obliterating the view of the trees to my left and the road to my right. The strange thing was that the form which stood where the snowman had been seemed to be getting more distinct. The edges had taken on a more rigid outline and although I could not see to either side because of the torrent of snow, I could see that shape, or should I say, shapes, so clearly.

The curious thing was that I was not afraid but I should have been. It was cold, it had suddenly gone very dark, snow was swirling, I was totally disorientated but still, I wasn’t afraid. Not in the slightest, me the biggest scaredy cat in the school and I wasn’t afraid! At that moment I wanted to show Susan Bates and Patrick Jones that I, Holly Brooks, wasn’t the wimp they thought I was, Hopeless Holly they called me.

I had courage, I was brave, I was fearless but I was also alone. In fact, I was very alone because as I got closer to the form I realised what it was not what it had seemed at first. The snow was settling on both its heads, the arms were thrashing wildly trying to shake off the snow and the legs were trying to heave themselves off the spot where they had been rooted to the ground.

My bravery suddenly left me. I turned and tried to run but I slipped in the snow and down I tumbled. Down and down and down I seemed to drop and then nothing.

The scene couldn’t possibly be real. No sooner had I entered the kitchen, than all around me began to swirl and distort. All that remained were the words FEARLESS HOLLY, burning deep into my mind. I now knew that I could do it. I could achieve the task I had been set. I blinked and the bright lights of Ice World appeared once more.

The Ice King was stood by my side. His features appeared less imperious than before. Drained and pale, his ghost like complexion emphasised his physical deterioration. I felt that I had to break the awkward silence that existed between us.

"Please, just tell me what I have to do?" I pleaded.

In his raspy and cracked voice, he strained to reply "recover the Orb which lies in the hands of the treacherous water demons that roam this land. They have strived to destroy the serenity that we have created in out world."

The desperation in the Kings voice stirred a sense of bravery in my bones and I knew that this was my destiny. I had to prove that I am fearless.

"Where do these devilish monsters lie?" The sense of urgency in my voice increased.

"Take this…" And with those final painful words, he collapsed to the ground to weak to move. I took the scroll from his outstretched hand. Unclasping the seal, I slowly unravelled the stiff parchment and the journey I had to make lay before me.

I walked for hours past the frozen lake and through the icy, leafless forest. The icy wind cut into my skin like freshly sharpened daggers. My eyes glanced back to the map and I realised I had strained off course. I was meant to be passing the frozen waterfall; instead I was walking across a snow covered plain. On the horizon I could see small, derelict houses. I headed towards the houses and as I got closer, I saw the remaining inhabitants of Ice World piled on top of each other, withered and dying. Being faced with such horror sharpened my focus. I could barely contain my emotions at the devastation that lay before me. As I blundered, my eyes were swimming with tears and my vision blurred, there was a blistering red glow coming from what appeared to be a small fracture in the ground.

From under the surface I could hear a foul screeching and groaning. For a second the bravery that had got me this far, temporarily abandoned me. Trembling, I tentatively peered over the edge of the fracture. At the bottom of the pool I saw a glistening light at the centre of the red glow. As I looked closer I realised it was the Orb. In a final act of bravery I jumped in, seeing the demons larger and clearer than before. I clutched the Orb closely to my chest, knowing my mission was almost complete. Rising to the surface I felt something clawing my leg. I managed to pull free from the clasping jaws. As I left the pool I knew that all I had to do was destroy the Orb and the Ice World and Earth itself would be saved. My elation was suddenly crushed, as the ominous figures of Susan Bates and Patrick Jones stood over me smiling…