But all was not as well as it appeared to be. One sad day, Mrs. Virus D'Royal bashed her head against a firewall and passed away into deletion. Everyone was really sad, especially Snow Hex who loved her dear mommy. But life goes on. Mr. Virus D'Royal eventually became lonely and decided to get re-married, but he would never again be the virus he was -- his new bride would be the worlds most beautiful Drag Queen. Little did he know of her true nature.

The new Mrs. Virus D'Royal, under the name of Meg, took over the household. She commanded all the binomes ruthlessly until all her wishes were granted. She would order them all around, taking the credit, and constantly checking her makeup in her magic mirror, meanwhile talking to the Wizard that inhabited it.

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the bestest Drag Queen of them all? And by that I mean all the inhabitants of Mainframe, not just the Jerry-Springer-Guest-Wannabies."

"You are great, you're just so good, but Snow Hex controls that hood."

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???????!!!!!!!!!"

"Even though your hair ain't short, you still got that old bald spot."

"Then I shall be rid of this pest once and for all" She rubbed her claws together, "Yes, once and for all. Mwahahaha!"

After a lot of web surfing and downloading ideas, Meg finally found the glitch she desired so. A simple yet sinister plan. Just what she liked. She would get her two butlers to lure that hated step-daughter into the Silicon Valley and 'accidentally' cut'n'paste her mask until deletion. Oh then, then she would be the top dog!

Poor, unsuspecting Snow Hex followed the blue and red butlers into the Silicon Valley, unaware of the fate that awaited her. After all, her new mommy called it an 'educational experience' that would let her miss a day of high school.

"Can't we stop for tea?" She prodded the butlers.

"-tea's good-" "-no-" "-yes-" "-but the boss-" "-no-" They didn't seem to agree on anything at the moment, not to mention all the other times.

"Ahem" She cleared her throat and exposed her fangs, "How about that tea?"

Suddenly, the two morons turned to her, their lasers fully extended in their hands, "-we're sorry but we must kill you-" "-yeah, must-" "-boss's orders-" "-we're sorry-" "-shut up-"

Snow Hex stared in amazement.

"-perhaps-" "-yes perhaps-" "-perhaps we should-"

"Let me go?"

"-yes-" "-yes, let you go-" "-yes, go-" "-hurry now-" "-run little one, be free-" "-to freedom and beyond!-"

And she ran. She ran for what seemed like decades. It was dark by the time she had stopped, tired, her energy levels plummeting below zero. Finally, almost crawling through the digital dirt, she came upon a small cottage in the midst of the foliage. It seemed inviting enough to her tired eyes and now soiled masks that Snow Hex didn't think twice before entering it and making her way to the nearest bed.

"Hi ho hi ho its up Netscape we go, ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho! Hi ho hi ho hi ho hi ho hi ho!"

Seven sprites marched happily towards their dwelling, pirated mp3s tucked in their knapsacks, when they noticed the wide-open door. They hurried inside to find a little surprise in their bedroom.

"Hunny Bunny, it appears someone's in our little nest." A beige female sprite with long, green hair elbowed an aqua male next to her.

"Grumpy, call me Grumpy! How many times do --"

"Shhhhhhhh sugah, she's waking up lol!" Giggled a pink, smiling female next to the couple.

"Maybe, ump, maybe, Happy, maybe we shouldn't, we shouldn't disturb her, mate.." Quietly murmured a tan male, backing up slightly and trying to hide himself behind a surf board.

"We should go make a plan before we do anything irrational." An aqua female put on her glasses and examined the sleeping maiden through the lenses.

"Can we keep her, Doc, can we can we can we???" A small, similarly coloured boy urged her.

"No, Dopey, no we can't. You remember what happened to them hamsters we got you a while ago, don't you?" She crossed her arms and frowned.

"But this is different, I'll take care of this one! I promiiiiiise! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaase?????" He whined and grinned at her. "See, Sleepy agrees with me," He pointed at a large, red dog beside him.

"Well..."

"I say we eat her," Suddenly announced the aqua male. "I'm starving!"

"Hunny Bunny!"

"I said never call me that! Don't you ever listen to me, Sneezy?! My name is Grumpy, damn you!"

Snow Hex awoke to see a yelling sprite before her. She blinked. She smiled. She said "Hullo!"

"...Hullo..." The group of seven stood dumbfounded around the bed.

"Can I stay here?" She asked.

"Well..." Doc paused, thinking it over.

"I'll give you some biscuits if I can, some tea also."

"Done!" Hunny Bunny aka Grumpy hopped at the thought of food.

"Fabulous!" Exclaimed Snow Hex, "How generous! We shall all have tea and biscuits then! And perhaps later we can tango!"

All agreed and Snow Hex thus became a part of their little family. She, however, wasn't allowed to go pirate mp3s with the others; her job was to stay behind and clean and cook for their return. Not that she minded anyway; it was way better then being deleted by Meg's minions.

Meanwhile, in a castle far away, Meg posed in front of her beloved mirror. Life was grand indeed.

"Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the bestest Drag Queen of them all?"

"All I know you're not the best, after all she passed the test."

"Whaaaaaaaaat????????????! Who??????! Who's the best??????!"

"You would be that good one day, but Snow Hex is here to stay."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!" Her cries echoed throughout the castle walls, shattering all the glass withing them including her mirror. "Then I shall finish her once and for all!" Meg vowed to herself as she stomped out of the room.

"Double double toil and trouble, let my potion boil and bubble." Meg sang, stirring an energy shake while adding a helping of cat poo to it, "She will steal the spotlight from me no longer!" She smiled at the brew in her hand, "Now, the show shall truly begin."

A new cycle dawned onto the little house in the middle of nowhere. Snow Hex waved 'goodbye' to the seven departing sprites and was getting to go about her daily chores when there was a sudden knock at the door. Curious as to whom it may be, ignoring the fact that the sprites warned her against strangers, she opened the door. An old woman stood before her, holding up a basket full of energy shakes. She took one out and handed it to Snow Hex, "Buy an energy shake from a poor ol' lady, dearie? Spare some change?"

"How darling!" Snow Hex exclaimed, reaching for the drink. "Better then tea!" As she took the first sip she fell onto the floor in agony, clutching her throat before passing out. Snow Hex has chocked on the cat poo within the drink. The woman laughed.

"Halt! Who goes there?!" The seven sprites rushed towards Meg as she prepared to depart from the house. "Gun, cherry blossom mode!" Hunny Bunny aka Grumpy pulled out his weapon and fired, blowing Meg into a billion little nulls that slithered out of sight immediately.

They ran towards the unconscious Snow Hex who lay motionless on the floor.

"Mate.. I believe she's..."

"She's dead, Doc, she's..."

"Just as them hamsters. I told you, Dopey, didn't I tell you?"

"LOL this is a sad day indeed..."

"She deserves a proper burial -- achoo!" Sneezy wiped her nose and bend down beside the mass on the floor.

After realizing it would be to much work to dig a hole in the ground and bury her, the seven sprites decided to conduct the funeral in a more practical manner -- cremation. They wept as they placed Snow Hex onto a flat rock and prepared to set fire to her body. The digital match was nearly lit when suddenly a handsome male on a white horse rode by.

"It's Bobric, Prince of Geocities!" The seven sprites looked upon their uninvited guest.

"Stand easy, citizens. I am merely passing through on my way to my hair-weave appointment. Now--"

His blue skin turned purple as he saw Snow Hex who was as beautiful in death as she was in life. He neared the group and inquired as to whom this young, dead lady may be. The seven crying sprites told him what had happened. Saddened by their tale yet mesmerized by the maiden before him, he asked their permission to kiss her 'goodbye' before she would leave this system forever...

"Ugh.." Snow Hex coughed, breaking the Prince's kiss. The piece of cat poo dislodged from her throat and fell from her mouth, landing on his silver armour.

"Yucky! My outfit! Nooooooooooo!"

"Darling.. You have saved me my Handsome Prince, I shall never leave your side!"

"Alphanumeric!" Prince Bobric was astatic at this turn of events, forgetting his appearance for a nano.

The seven sprites clapped and hugged each other as Bobric, the Prince of Geocities rode into the sunset with his new bride, Snow Hex Virus D'Royal.