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In a town where there lived so many people, that the houses were huddled close together, there once lived a boy and a girl. The boy's name was Ash, and the girl's name was Serena.

They were good friends, and loved nothing better than to play in the window gardens that leaned from the gables of their houses. No matter what the season, you'd always so those two together, or else you'd hear their laughter.

In winter, Ash would run with Serena to her grandmother's window.

Bertha: The snowflakes are swarming, like white Beedrill.

Serena: Do the snowflakes have a queen, too? Like the Beedrill?

Bertha: Well, no one has ever seen her. But they say that once long ago, the Snow Queen looked up at her icy palace and felt sad, because she was all alone. She had a mirror, which she used to look at the icy things she would make. The mirror was the Queen's only companion, she loved it more than anything else. "I love you," it seemed to whisper to her. But one day, she stared at her mirror and grew angry because she'd led such a lonely life, and because there was no one there to love her. "You don't love me," she cried in rage. And then down, down it fell, shattering into a million pieces. All her loneliness, sadness and angry were captured by the millions of shattered fragments of her magic mirror. Some were tiny as grates of sand, and when the winds came they were scattered everywhere. If one of these ever entered a person's eye, nothing looked right again. But far worse was the fate of those whose hearts were pierced by a sliver of the mirror. They would soon forget the pain, and go on as before... Never knowing that the heart inside of them had frozen into ice... Ever since then, on snowy nights, the Snow Queen flies through the streets of the town and looks in at the windows... And then they become covered with ice flowers.

Serena: But why does she do that?

Bertha: Because she is always looking for someone to take back with her, to the land where she rules with magical powers. A lonely land with ice and snow... And forgetfulness.

Ash: Don't worry, Serena. IF she comes for you, I'll chase her inside and corner her near the stove until she melts!

Late that night, Ash went to the window and looked out. It was snowing softly.

Ash: (thinks) Of all the things in the world, sometimes I think... I like snow best of all.

And as he watched, the snowflakes falling on the window box gradually took the shape... Of a woman. She was made of glittering ice, her eyes shown like two stars, yet neither rest nor peace was in them. Ash's eyes grew wide with fear and recognition; it was the Snow Queen! And then suddenly, ice flowers covered the window and she was gone.

It snowed throughout the night. And the next day, the town seemed magically transformed. Great snowdrifts muffled the sounds of the wind, and the world was hushed as if waiting for some great event on stage. Then, as if on a signal, people emerged from their homes and the air was filled with the sounds of the day, and the busy children shouting and laughing.

Just as the town clock struck the hour, a big white sled raced by, blowing snow up into the air.

Ash: (screams)

Serena: What is it?

Ash: (in pain) Something sharp is in my eye. (grunts) Something has pricked my heart. I think it's gone now.

But he was wrong; for one splinter of the Snow Queen's mirror had entered his eye, and another had pierced his heart. His expression changed and he left Serena alone.

Now, it was a custom in that town for the bigger boys to tie their sleds onto the farmer's carts to travel faster over the hard-packed snow. Ash saw the big white sled circling the square. He wanted to show the older boys how daring he was. Quickly, he tied his little sled onto the big one.

Ash: Watch me!

Suddenly, the big sled dashed out of the square, faster and faster. Soon, the town was far behind them. Snow fell more thickly, snowflakes swirled around them, and the sled moved like the wind. The snowflakes grew and grew, until they looked like great white Pidgeys flying near them. At last, the big sled stopped... And the driver stood up; She was the Snow Queen.

Lorelei: (placing a hand on Ash's shoulder) How cold you look. (hugs him) Come closer. Let me warm you. (kisses him on the forehead)

Her kiss was like an icy wound. As he stared into the Snow Queen's face, the longer he looked, the less he knew. And soon all memory of Serena and her grandmother vanished. They set out again, and now they left the earth and were flying in the air. Above oceans, lakes, and mountains they flew, spurred by the wind. Ash could hear far below the cry of Mightyena and the cawing of Murkrow. The white moon came out and traveled with them across the sky.

Finally, Ash fell asleep at the feet of the Snow Queen.

It was a sad, grey winter. As time passed, people in the town began to say that Ash must've drowned in the icy river that ran close to the square where the boys played with their sleds. But Serena could not believe this.

One clear morning in early spring, she put on her new red shoes, quietly left the house and went down to the river.

Serena: (scoops up some water) Is true that you have taken Ash? (takes off her shoes, exposing her barefeet) Here are my new red shoes. (tosses them into the river) If only you will give him back to me.

But the river carried them back to her, as if to say it had not taken Ash. Serena thought she hadn't thrown them in far enough. So she climbed into a rowboat that was in the reeds, and threw the shoes over the water again. Just then, the current caught the boat, and Serena found herself floating faster and faster down the river. She was frightened, and clung tightly to her little doll.

Serena: Perhaps it'll carry me to where Ash is.

At last, the boat drifted near a cherry orchard. An old lady came out of a strange little house nearby, and caught hold of the boat with her shepherd's crook.

Alicia: You poor little thing. (helps her out of the boat) Tell me who you are, and how you have come to be here.

Serena: I-I'm searching for my friend.

And she told the old woman everything.

Alicia: You must not be sad. Your friend will probably pass this way soon. Come inside, and I'll give you some of my delicious cherries to eat.

The windows were made of colored glass, and a strange light shown through. On a table stood a silver bowl full of ripe cherries. As Serena ate them and stayed with the woman, she thought of Ash less and less. The old woman knew some magic, but she was not evil and she had always wanted a little girl of her own.

That evening, when Serena had fallen asleep, the woman went into the garden and pointed her shepherd's crook at the rose bushes. At once, they sank into the ground and disappeared. She was afraid that if Serena saw the roses, she would think of Ash and run away.

In the morning, the old woman dressed Serena up just like a little barefoot princess in a fine dress with jewelry. Serena played in the golden sunshine with the flowers and came to know every one. But, always something seemed to be missing and she could not think what it was.

Many weeks passed, but one day she noticed the painting of a rose on a broad-brim hat the woman often wore, and at once the memory of Ash came rushing in like water from a broken dam.

Serena: Oh, I've stayed here much too long! I must find Ash!

She ran to the end of the garden. Outside, the earth was cold and grey. Serena held tightly to her doll.

A Murkrow came and sat on a branch next to her. It seemed to be saying, "Ash! Ash!", as though it knew where he was. Serena followed it through field of forest, though there was frost on the ground and her barefeet stung.

Suddenly, a pair of strong hands grabbed Serena.

Phantom: Well, what have we here?

Robbers: A real princess?

J: She's a princess all right, and she's worth a fortune in ransom.

But just as the old robber woman was about to grab poor Serena, a robber girl who was watching from up in a tree, jumped down on her back and gave her nose a good pinch.

Shauna: No! She's mine! I wanna play with her!

She was a spoiled and willful child, so the robbers had to give in.

That night, the robber girl took Serena inside the ruins of an old castle. In one corner was the robber girl's room, filled with all kinds of Pokémon - from Bunnelby, to Swanna, and an Ursaring. Serena looked at the poor creatures around her. She was frightened, but tried to sound cheerful.

Serena: Are all these Pokémon your friends?

Shauna: Yes, they all mine.

In a corner of the room, she kept Fletchlings in a cage high up in the rafters. She took one of them and held the frightened bird up to Serena's face.

Shauna: Kiss it!

Serena kissed the bird lightly on the head, and the Fletchling grew calm and cooed softly.

Shauna: Are you really a princess? (puts the Fletchling back in its cage)

Serena shook her head and grew even sadder.

Serena: No, I'm not.

And then told the robber girl how she was looking for Ash, and had come to be in the forest wearing such fine jewels.

Shauna: Oh, what rotten luck, loosing your best friend like that.

In the middle of the night, the Murkrow appeared on the window sill.

Murkrow: Ash! Ash!

Fletchlings: Ash. We have seen Ash. He sat in the Snow Queen's sled and she carried him to her land far to the north. You must ask the Stantler where it is. He will know.

Stantler: (to Serena) I know the Snow Queen's kingdom very well. But your friend must be very lonely and... Very cold.

The robber girl was not sleeping, and was struck with wonder at what she heard. She'd listened quite solemnly, but then jumped out of bed and hugged Serena.

Shauna: (whispers) Listen, I will help you. You should take the Stantler. He will carry you to your friend.

Next morning...

Shauna: You'll need these warm clothes and food.

In return, Serena gave her the doll that had been her companion for so long.

Shauna: No one's ever given me anything. (hugs Serena before she hops onto Stantler)

Then she gave the Stantler a mighty slap, and away they went as fast as they could, farther and farther north into a deep woods filled with the sound of howling Mightyena and birds of prey. The Stantler stopped, listening carefully and moving forward causously. Suddenly, a pack of Mightyena descended from behind some rocks. The Stantler bounded forward, and Serena clung for her life.

Ever head flew the Murkrow, cawing wildly. Suddenly, as the Stantler leapt through a chasm away from the Mightyena, the sky was filled with great arcs of color. These were the Northern Lights, and this was the edge of the Snow Queen's kingdom. The Murkrow, who had followed them there, descended. And as the Stantler watched, the Murkrow changed itself into its real form. There stood the old woman.

Stantler: Old woman, won't you give this little girl a potion, to make her strong enough to defeat the Snow Queen?

Alicia: I can give no more power than she has already. No, my friend. Serena's power is in her heart. Her goodness and innocence are the only weapons against the Snow Queen.

The old woman again changed into a Murkrow and flew off.

The Stantler ran a short way over the snowy earth and set her down at the edge of the Snow Queen's garden. The snow felt especially cold to her barefeet, but she couldn't let that bother her now. She gave the Stantler one last hug.

Stantler: You must go on alone. (sniffles)

Suddenly, Serena saw hundreds of snowflakes growing larger as they came near. They were the Snow Queen's army on the march. Serena stopped short, her breath came fast, forming vapor and frozen air. As she stood there, determined to let nothing keep her from Ash, her breath shaped itself into a band of angels, armed with shields and spears. They through their spears at the snow creatures, shattering them into a thousand pieces.

There were no more barriers after that, and ignoring the cold that could be felt at her unshod feet, Serena was able to walk into the Snow Queen's palace. The palace walls were glittering ice, and the windows and doors were made of wind. Echoing, vast, and cold was the Snow Queen's palace, yet Serena had come so far already... That she was not afraid.

At last, she saw a tiny figure, blue with cold. It was Ash!

Serena rushed at him and threw her arms around his poor stiff body. She began to cry, and her hot tears melted the ice away.

Ash: Oh, Serena. Is it really you? (hugs her)

They ran through icy rooms and down snow filled passages until at last at the door of the palace. With a crack of thunder, the Snow Queen appeared; she looked at them, looked at their love for each other... And her own heart melted.

Lorelei: (smiles) Just go. (disappears)

Soon, they were walking up the stairs to Serena's grandmother's house. Nothing had changed, but when Ash and Serena stepped through the doorway, they knew they had grown up. So they sat, grown up, yet in their hearts, children. And it was summer. A beautiful summer day.

THE END