Book 3

## Chapter 1

They reappeared in front of an ice-cream shop. Ice bear gasped, bending over and panting. She was still in shock from what had happened just now.

An image of Hop jumping in front of her to protect her from the DOT’s beam flashed through her mind, as the blue beam striked hop bear in the chest. Fear stabbed through her as Hop’s limp body on the ground appeared in her memory. She shook the thought from her mind as she stood up and helped her brother up.

“Hop, are you okay?” Ice asked, concern edging her voice.

Hop bear nodded in exhaustion, standing up slowly.

Ice heaved a sigh of relief. Phew, she thought. Thank goodness he’s ok. Just a close call I guess.

As soon as Hop’s eyes caught a glimpse of the ice-cream shop, they lit up and sparkled with pure joy. He hopped over to the ice-cream shop as fast as his right leg could carry him, until he realised that he actually had his left foot back.

He hadn’t felt like this in years!

“Oh right, my foot’s back! I can walk!!” Hop noted.

Walking painfully slowly to the ice-cream shop, hop excitedly shouted, “I MISS WALKING SO MUCH!!!”

“Yes, I’m sure you do,” said ice boredly, having to stop every 2 seconds to wait for Hop to catch up. Well, he’s probably not really used to walking after having to hop for 8 years, she thought.

So, they both headed toward the ice-cream shop, and when they finally reached there, they saw a sign plastered onto the ice-cream shop:

“WHAT??!!” Hop bear screamed.

“Yeah, that ice-cream shop is a real rip-off,” Ice added, also feeling angry that the ice-cream shop was so unfair.

However, little did she know that that wasn’t what Hop was screaming about.

Suddenly, his eyes became glazed and he clutched his stomach.

“Hop, are you okay?” Ice questioned, super concerned. What was wrong with him?

Then suddenly, a pale blue glow emanated from his stomach. The glow pulsated, growing bigger or smaller every few minutes. That pale glow was strangely familiar for some reason, though. It was a very weird shade of icy blue, and it kept growing more and more intense.

I knew it was too good to be true that we were finally out of this mess… Ice scoffed.

Hop bear's stomach grew brighter with every second, and so did Ice bear’s fear and dread. But then suddenly, a memory rushed through her mind. She’d seen the blue glow before…

WAIT…

A cold and scary flashback blew through her mind, like a freezing blizzard, each second spent thinking about it making her mind feel colder and darker.

An image of the DOT surfaced at first. Then an image of Hop bear, Ice bear, and the scenery started building itself until she was no longer in the black void of her mind, but back at Russia Airport.

The DOT stretched out her hand and a bolt of blue lightning shot out of her stick, the stream of electricity buzzing and climbing toward Hop bear at a breakneck speed.

Suddenly, an eerie blue glow exploded on Hop bear’s stomach and rippled through his fur. He collapsed on the floor in a crumpled heap just before Ice bear grabbed the diamond and whisked them away…

That zap- from the Demon of Time, it must have done something.

It must have done something to Hop.

Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, THEY DID.

Hop bear swiftly walked up to Ice bear and snatched the ring right from her hand before she could even react.

“The ring!!!” Ice shouted.

Hop bear’s dazed eyes locked with hers, and when they did, Ice bear could’ve sworn she’d seen the DOT’s reflection in them, staring back at her with a smile of malice.

## Chapter 2

Just then, Hop bear blinked. The reflection was gone. Ice sighed with relief. Even though his eyes were still glazed, Ice could see a glint of life returning to Hop.

“Yes, Hop, fight the DOT’s spell!” Ice cheered.

However, the force of the blue glow was too strong, pulling Hop bear’s consciousness back down into oblivion. Ice gasped in fear, backing away from him. Now, his eyes were just empty slates, staring at her with an unwavering gaze. Just then, Ice saw the DOT’s reflection again. But this time, not in Hop’s eyes. This time, an image of the DOT appeared in a puddle on the floor. When the DOT stretched an evil smile across her face, Hop’s face moved in unison, the sound of his neck cracking as he slowly turned to face her making Ice bear’s hairs stand. She was controlling him like a puppet!

“Hop bear!” she screamed in terror. “Snap out of it!”

Although that was all in vain. She didn’t know that because of the spell, Hop could no longer hear her. He could no longer hear anything else. All he could hear were the orders screamed in his head in the DOT’s voice.

“Do not lose the ring!” an unnerving hiss filled Hop bear’s mind. As far as he knew, he was nothing. Nothing but a blank empty slate.

A robot to be given orders to. He had no soul. And even if he did, his memory, his senses, everything had been stripped of him. Everything except the blank heavy darkness his mind now sat in, silently awaiting new orders.

An external force dragged his legs forward as he forced his body to move along with it. He had absolutely no control.

Slowly, he began to walk like a zombie towards the bear. What was her name again? He didn’t know. Nothing was left of him; he was now an empty shell.

He kept walking and walking, until he heard the sharp voice slice into his head:

“Stop.”

He froze.

“Phew!” He heard the bear say.

Not long after, his almighty master materialised in front of him. Oh, she’s so amazing and totally not evil at all, Hop thought deliriously.

The orders ceased all of a sudden, and an irresistible power forced his legs on the floor and moved his limbs until he was in a kneeling position in front of her.

Slowly, he was forced to stand up, and his hands stretched forth as he handed the ring to the DOT.

## Chapter 3

Ice bear was in shock. Everything happened so fast, she had no time to react. What happened just now flashed through her mind…

Hop, acting strange, his stomach starting to glow.

His eyes becoming glazed, his body being controlled.

Him snatching the ring from her, and the DOT appearing right before her eyes.

She really hoped the effects of the zap would only be temporary…

Would Hop stay a zombie forever?

What was she gonna do?

Her heart started beating rapidly as Hop bear handed the DOT her ring.

The DOT’s eyes slowly lit up as the ring got closer to her, and cackled evilly.

“FINALLY! THE RING’S GONNA BE MINE! WAHAHHAAAAAA!”

Wow, she sure was noisy, ice thought.

Holding on to one last sliver of hope, she jumped for Hop, well Hop-zombie. She flew high into the air, lunging for the ring. Unfortunately, the DOT whispered a command to herself and Hop-zombie swiftly stepped out of the way, causing Ice bear to fall towards the ground and on her face.

“OWWW!” she screamed. She stared at Hop bear and the DOT in utter shock. Was this the end of the world? As soon as the ring landed in the DOT’s fat paws, she grasped it like it was her child and raised her paw in the air.

“I HAVE THE POWER OF TIME IN MY HANDS! NOW I SHALL TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!” the DOT laughed, screeching at the top of her lungs.

Ice bear’s head started spinning. Everything was starting to get really real, really fast. Was this the end of the world? She clutched the diamond in her pocket in fear, and-

Wait, diamond?

Right! She realised she still had the diamond! And the diamond could time travel way faster than the ring could! While the DOT was laughing maniacally, Ice bear took the opportunity to slip away. But the DOT didn’t even notice her, she just kept right on laughing evilly. Ice bear ran behind a fat green shrub dotted with periwinkle blossoms. She knelt down and whispered to the diamond: “take me to Russia, 5 September 2136.”

In an instant, the diamond whirred to life and glowed a starry blue glow that pulsated more and more until the glow surrounded her. A milky bubble materialised over her as the glow faded and parted like mist. Soon, some golden numbers flashed across the bubble and the thick swirls of opalescent sheen obscured the scenery as the image of the airport in her mind got clearer, and with a bright flash, the date counted down and brought her to Russian airport, 2136.

The scenery shifted into focus as ice bear stepped out of the bubble, remembering to keep clear of her other 2 selves already in the timeline.

One from 2136, and another from about 20 minutes ago. The ring had given her the information of the consequences of time travel, and the timeline could really get messed up if you interacted with your past selves too much.

Just then, she saw that Ice bear from 20 minutes ago was just about to give Hop from 20 minutes ago the ring-boomerang. Slowly tiptoeing closer to her past selves, she watched the scene unfold again.

*Hop bear throwing the boomerang.*

*The gangsta falling on the ground.*

*Hop from 20 minutes ago having his left foot reappear, jumping up and down in glee.*

*The GOT appearing and giving them the diamond.*

*The GOT telling them about the DOT.*

*The DOT appearing.*

She knew what was next.

Hop getting zapped in the stomach.

She stared at the ring, wondering how to make it work. What should she do?

Okay, clearly she didn’t think this through very well…

The DOT appeared in front of Ice and Hop from 20 minutes ago.

“ANOTHER CATTY CAT!!” Hop giggled.

*ARGH I HAVE TO THINK OF SOMETHING QUICK,* Ice bear thought frantically.

Ice bear rushed over to hide behind a random tree while she continued to watch the scene unfold.

Just then, an idea clicked into place like a puzzle piece. What if she could use the diamond to…

The DOT raised her stick.

Ice bear fumbled for the diamond, pointing the tip of the diamond at the DOT.

The DOT lowered her stick, and it started to buzz in a low frequency.

Ice bear didn’t know if it would work, but she decided to cling onto the tiny strand of hope and pray for the best.

Fear coursed through her veins as she saw Hop bear from 20 minutes ago jump in front of her from 20 minutes ago. It was now or never.

Ice whispered to the ring, “Freeze the DOT in time!” and pictured a paralysed DOT.

She closed her eyes as the beam shot out of the diamond.

Will it work?

A huge blue ray leaped out of the diamond and shot towards the DOT.

She barely had any time to react before the ray touched her fur and wrapped around her, crystallising. SHE DID IT!!!!! SHE FROZE THE DOT IN TIME!

The large crystal around the DOT glinted in the soft light of the airport, each facet reflecting the DOT’s movements just before she was frozen in time in slow motion. From the reflections, one of the DOTs glared at Ice bear with her stone-cold gaze, but also pleading with her to set her free.

Since the DOT would only unfreeze in about 2 hours, that gave Ice and Hop plenty of time to escape back to the present.

They were brought back to the present in another blinding white flash, and Ice crashed onto the floor before Hop and the GOT. Quickly, she surveyed her surroundings, checking to see if she had undone the damage done by the DOT. Yep, Hop was all normal now, they had the ring, and there wasn’t a trace of the DOT left in the scenery. Feeling that she deserved a reward, she asked, “Hey guys! Want some ice-cream! I just saved Hop!”

“Huh?” everyone asked in confusion.

Oh right, she thought. The timeline changed so only I can remember it…

So anyways, they decided to grab a quick bite of ice-cream.

As she was reaching towards her ring for some money, she caught the GOT staring at her as if he knew something. And when their eyes locked, he nodded in approval.

*Wait… did he know what I just did to save Hop???* Ice thought. *He must be able to remember timelines I change since he’s a guardian I guess…*

He commented, “Congratulations, Ice bear. You have just unlocked the freezing people in time power!! But do remember, time travel is very dangerous and you need to use it carefully, if not there could be grave consequences that can’t even be undone by me.”

Ice bear didn’t like how the GOT’s tone became more ominous for the last half of the sentence. She gulped. The GOT then realised how he might have freaked Ice bear out a little, and his tone changed.

“Anyways, let’s have Ice cream!!”

Ice bear heaved a sigh of relief, staring at the beautiful scenery before her. The people in her life she now loved most, her brother and their new friend GOT, all having ice-cream together. The sun had already begun to set, and all the shades of orange and pink and purple in the sky melted together into a beautiful background that shone onto Ice bear’s face, staining her fur a beautiful golden. Finally, she had her life back again. Everything was exactly as she wanted it. She laughed and watched Hop chase the GOT around a tree holding his boogers out at him as GOT ran for his life and screamed like a girl cat. Their cheerful laughter (and GOT’s shrill screams) morphed into a beautiful harmony in Ice bear's ears as she stared at all of them, smiling sweetly. Suddenly, a warm feeling spread across her heart, thawing the layers of harsh cold ice that had formed around it over the many years she spent alone. She soaked up the feeling, cherishing every second of this moment.

Slowly she walked towards them and asked what flavour ice-cream they wanted. As they walked toward the ice-cream shop and queued up, they spent the whole time chatting and laughing. I wish this moment could last forever, Ice thought, staring at her new family.

However, all their joy and happiness was short-lived. “Icy, look!” Hop shrieked, pointing at the ice-cream shop. The ice-cream seller was gone!

Fear spiked Ice bear’s senses as she froze in shock, all the warmth from just now draining out of her soul. The ice-cream seller at the front of the ice-cream shop was replaced with a giant rotting taco in the shape of a bear and wearing a sombrero.

*Honestly, who would fall for that!* Ice thought.

Well, maybe Hop would. He poked the taco several times, then took a big bite out of it. Ice looked away as Hop choked and spat out the piece of the taco-bear.

But what disturbed her more, was that this wasn’t a mere prank, she knew exactly who did this, and what she saw next only confirmed it. She stared at the sign outside the ice-cream shop. It now said:

All her hopes came crashing down as she read the last sentence. The DOT…

Had escaped.