The Trial by Ice
EVENTUALLY, WE MANAGED to get to Happy Valley. Dozens of Neopets of all shapes
and colours were milling around, chatting, preparing for their respective events.
Angel and I removed our skis and rejoined our families. Father looked seriously
at me. I glared back.
"Wait in the centre of the square, Holly," Mother
said more kindly. "After all our events we'll be right back." They went off,
and I sat miserably down to wait. Another Snow Fest, and I was stuck doing completely
nothing. Suddenly I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Holly," said Angel gently. "Come
with me." Curious, I followed her around one of the street corners. Tokum and
J.J. were waiting there, smiling. I looked at them.
"What's going on?" J.J. held something broad
and flat and yellow out to me, and I gasped. "How did you guys get my snowboard?"
"Picked it up off the mountain after you left,"
Tokum grinned. "I think there's still time before the snowboard events start.
You're still entered, you know."
Joyfully I hugged each of them in turn and we
all four headed off to the area for the snowboarders to wait.
"Name?" asked the Bruce dressed in a red fur-lined
coat and hat.
"Hollyfrost Snowpaw."
"Snowpaw…Snowpaw…Ah, here you are. Say, you
wouldn't be related to old FrostPromise?"
"Yup."
"It's a surprise for me to see an Usul here,
let alone a Snowpaw," the Bruce continued. "Mostly they're skiers, I would have
thought."
"I don't ski, sir."
"Well, just do your best out there," smiled
the Bruce.
"Next!"
A young Wocky pushed past me to the front. "Hechaq
Longtail," he said to the Bruce, and then turned to me.
"Hey," he snickered. "So, the high and mighty
skiing fluffballs have finally decided to mingle with the lesser crowd. Hope
I don't trash you too badly."
"Do your talking on the halfpipe," I snapped.
"We'll see," he sneered, and then he strolled
away. A little Kacheek carrying a board stepped up to me.
"How did you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Stand up to Hechaq Longtail," she replied.
"He's the champion boarder you know. He won the Junior Division last year."
"Well, I'm just out to show them all that they're
wrong about Usuls," I said fiercely, looking in Hechaq's direction. "Everyone
says Usuls don't or can't snowboard- I'm going to show that they can and they
will!"
***
I watched my family ski. Snowbelle and Icechip came in the top two places,
Icechip winning by a fraction of a hair, and my parents getting the same results.
Soon the ski events were over and it was time for the snowboarding events. My
Usullyrn might or might not stay, but whether they did or didn't, I was determined
to do the former and win at least the third place. The Junior Neopets, those
under a year in age, were already competing. The Young Neopets' division, my
event, were slated to go next. J.J. stayed with me while I prepared myself for
the event. Her support was comforting, and whenever I got nervous she reassured
and encouraged with such kind words that soon I was raring to go. My Usullyrn
would have noticed by now that I was missing, and I knew they wouldn't leave
without me.
"And now, first up to compete in the Young Neopets'
Snowboard Championships," called the announcer, "Hechaq Longtail!"
I watched Hechaq with narrowed eyes as he shot
down the halfpipe. I had to admit he was good; it was clear he was my main opposition.
The others after him faltered or slipped or hesitated at each turn but not Hechaq.
He stayed firmly on his board and performed trick after trick in rapid succession
with perfect ease and grace.
The crowd was roaring after he had completed
his run, and as he passed me he tweaked one of my ears. I was about to dash
after and pound him into the floor but J.J. Held me back.
"Look at the rest, Holly. Watch them. Maybe
you'll pick up some strategies."
Trying to wrestle down my anger, I obeyed, and
pretty soon I heard the announcer's voice for the seventh time.
"And next to go, Hollyfrost Snowpaw!"
"It's literally now or never," I muttered to
myself, and pushed off.
I can't quite remember what I did exactly. It
was almost like a dream. I remember executing a triple-turn somewhere and something
else somewhere else but I was following my instincts, following the board, performing
everything as I had practised it. It seemed to last an eternity, yet when I
slid into the end of the run and got off my board it felt like just a few seconds
ago that I had been standing, waiting for my turn. At any rate, the applause
was barely heard by me, and I walked out of the halfpipe, emotions mingling
in me. Tension, because my family had yet to speak their minds. Satisfaction,
because I felt I had done everything to my best ability. And relief; that the
whole thing was over.
Tokum dashed up to me and hugged me before I
could think.
"You were great!"
"What?" I asked, somewhat groggily. "Did I really
do OK?"
"You sure did," J.J. beamed, coming up behind
him.
"That was amazing," Angel agreed.
My family was running up as well, as well as
the entire Usullyrn. I couldn't read their expressions, and anyway the announcer's
voice was sounding again behind me.
"And the results of the Young Neopets' Snowboarders
is: Second runner-up, Kasari Silvercoat. Runner-up, Hollyfrost Snowpaw, and
Winner, Hechaq Longtail!" The applause was deafening.
"And I also want to point out," the announcer
added, "that Hollyfrost Snowpaw is the very first Usul to ever participate in
this event, and that she has done exceedingly well, considering the fact that
she has only been snowboarding for three weeks."
I looked at J.J. She grinned.
"Go, go!" said Tokum, pushing me with a paw.
As if in a dream I felt myself walking up to the podium and the silver medal
being hung around my neck. The little blue Kacheek I had spoken to earlier turned
out to have won third, and we congratulated each other.
Hechaq smiled awkwardly at me. "Hey, Usul, just
ignore what I said earlier. You were great, I really think so."
I looked at him a moment, and nodded, smilingly.
"You too."
Slowly, I got off the podium and walked over
to the Usullyrn. They looked at me, and I looked back at them. Then Ridgerunner
burst out, "Holly, that was fantastic!"
Immediately, every Usul in FrostPromise was patting
me on the back and congratulating me on my achievement.
"We saw the whole thing!"
"Super performance, Hol."
"Magnificent!"
"Way too cool!"
My father pushed through the throng. He looked
as if he didn't know whether to hug me or reprimand me. But eventually, he opted
for the former.
"I'm proud of you…Holly."
"Thanks…Dad." He didn't seem to mind that.
Mother, Snowbelle and Icechip all came in and
hugged me at once, and then stepped back as I waved for attention.
"I would seriously like to give most of the
credit to J.J., this Shoyru. She has helped me so much and taught me so well.
Couldn't have done it without you, J.J." J.J. slightly covered her face with
a wing embarrassedly as the Usullyrn cheered.
Chillbane walked up wearing an admiring look.
"That was great, Holly. Maybe you'd care to board with me sometime? While I
ski, of course."
I smiled; then looking at Tokum, shook my head.
"Thanks, but no thanks."
Diamond, Winterheart and Sugarfrost looked at
me in awe.
"Gee, Holly," said Diamond, "do you think you
can forgive me for everything I said about you?" I smiled.
"Of course she will," Angel broke in quickly.
"And now everyone, let's go back home to celebrate!" The suggestion was met
with roars of approval. "I've got to get back home," J.J. said. "My owner will
be worried sick. Congrats, Holly. See you tomorrow?" "Same time, same place,"
I replied, grinning, as she scurried off. Tokum took one of my paws, Angel the
other, and with my family and the rest behind, we led the way up the mountain
and home.
The End | 
