|
Post by RielCZ on Mar 4, 2022 18:53:39 GMT -5
Congrats June Scarlet and Stephanie (swordlilly)! This was a pretty fun story. Here was my ending, probably trying too hard to wrap it back to the beginning (and emphasizing Eric's quiet nature): ..."dearest Eric, for the past several years, I have been developing something amazing."
Eric gasped. The Professor was to the study of Petpetpets as Lupewig van Beethoven was to music -- nothing sort of a revolutionary genius. It had been Eric's greatest honour to be supervised by the then-Kougra during Eric's Masters Studies at Brightvale University.
"Since the successful completion of my crowdsourced Habitarium research project, I--"
Eric gestured a large (albeit gentle and squishable) paw out to the Professor, moving it up and down.
Clodbottle chuckled softly. "Yes, I did morph and paint myself. Being a Yellow Kougra was starting to tire. Anyway, I was well involved in the study of Petpetpets under specific and closed conditions, and we learned so much -- oh, you know, you transcribed many of my notes when you were my RA!"
The Kougra grinned, revealing his fangs. He remembered his research assistant days well. Ah... They were easy compared to his graduate work.
"But, in the years since closing the Habitarium -- after which I wrote and published 12 articles in top-tier peer-reviewed scholarly journals--"
Eric nodded. He had read each one.
"--I developed THIS. You were my most gifted grad student, I wanted you to be the first to see. And, I did want to show you over a cup of Borovan, but... Well, since you've already seen it in action, I think we can delay the Borovan a bit."
The Ogrin held up the tiny and lumpy gemstone-encrusted idol. It had a neon green and oblong sort of body, with two orbs attached to one end, and spikes emerging from the other in a flowery pattern. The spikes gently pulsated with a blue hue.
The Tyrannian Kougra frowned slowly, and then pensively. He had seen that before... hadn't he?
"Yes, I made the machine look like an off-colour Glyme, but that's just for the artistic splendor! You should know I have my artsy side... I certainly know that you do." Clodbottle winked at his former student. "And you'll get a real kick out of this story, too... Along the trail, I accidentally dropped it. But -- you know my eternal clumsiness -- I programmed in a fail-safe this time! A GPS-based homing mechanism, so that it would be able to find me, and then actually move in my direction. So, I sat perched up in a tree, looking and waiting until I saw the blue and green glow appear in the dim Haunted Woods light. And wouldn't you know it, it had actually been captured by a Beekadoodle!" He grinned widely at his apparent artistic talent in making it so realistic.
Eric grinned back. He and the Professor started to walk up the trail and towards the Haunted Woods proper.
Clodbottle continued his story, his excitement growing with each word. "But then, as soon as I saw the bird o'er the horizon, I started to shrink -- you see, boy, that's what my invention does! And that's what you experienced, too! I guess that Beekadoodle had accidentally activated it when it picked it up... The effects last while the device is in range. Oh, and speaking of effects, the effects can go both ways -- depending on how my 'Glymachine' is attuned and activated, it can produce different glows, and make Petpetpets bigger, or Neopets smaller! Perfect for studying these marvelous creatures up close and in their own environments. Isn't that some crazy 'Fanny in Bizzareland' stuff for you, eh?" He guffawed; he enjoyed the work by Bruice Carriel.
Eric nodded vigorously. But... Huh. That would have explained the gargantuan Unidentified he saw, earlier. Where had it gotten to, anyway? Eric's eyes were wide.
"Don't look so shocked, dear boy -- this was only a natural product of my research! Anyway, I threw a branch at the Beekadoodle as it flew by, and it did drop my Glymachine -- luckily, into that Venax's web, so the Glyme wasn't damaged -- but there was no way I was going to disturb the Vernax. You know they can be vicious little critters."
Indeed, as Eric knew, the Web of Vernax game had it exactly backwards.
"Thankfully you came around and helped distract that Vernax long enough that I could free and deactivate my Glymachine." He playfully elbowed the Kougra. "I guess there was a good reason you were blessed with your musical prowess, eh?" There was a pause. "So, what do you think of this all?" The Ogrin grinned.
"This... is incredible, Professor," the Kougra replied, breaking his usual silence. "The story, but especially the invention itself." He was always a quiet and studious one; though, his silent tendencies had been reinforced during his days under Clodbottle... that Kou -- er, Ogrin sure did like to talk. Clodbottle sometimes talked to the point where he made Eric feel... well, ironic given the circumstances, but small.
Speaking up more was something he was actively working on with his therapist. "Actually," Eric continued, mustering his courage, "I wanted to tell you that I've been researching the Unidentified Petpetpet on my own, since we parted academic ways. I've made numerous interesting discoveries about the species, including that they are attracted to weird music. It's why I learned the bagpipes." He smiled, sheepish at first, but then resolutely. "Then again, I've also -- very recently -- discovered that, it seems, many Petpetpets enjoy the bagpipes. Heck, one can even command Mootix with them."
"Hmm." Clodbottle nodded; the Ogrin did seem impressed. He clapped. "How would you like to complete your research as a doctoral student, and write it for your thesis?" The Ogrin beamed. "I can be your supervisor again! It will be just like old times!"
Except, the Kougra didn't want it to be "just like old times". He mustered his strength again and took a deep breath. "I will. If," Eric started, his bravery returning, "you let me speak up more. I want to be able to express my own ideas and directions for the research. I don't just want to do your tasks, and live in your shadow."
Clodbottle frowned and furrowed his brow.
Eric did, too. Had he gone too far?
And then the Ogrin clapped a paw over the Kougra's shoulder. "You are the brightest student I have ever had. I want you to know that, dearest lad. I promise you that I will give you more autonomy this time around. And if you ever feel that I am pushing you too hard, please -- speak up and tell me off!"
The two shared a good laugh, and then shook paws. It would be nice to work together again.
They stepped into the corporate limits of the Haunted Woods. The Kougra gave one look back at the trail. The Unidentified Petpetpet could wait. For now.
Eric turned toward the Professor and smiled. "Let's go get that Borovan."
THE END Admittedly, I was a bit disappointed that there was only one winning ending this week, haha. I was kinda hoping Mac would start a new trend with multiple endings.
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 7, 2022 19:42:58 GMT -5
Congrats on getting to start this week's contest, Herdy! My two starters were one featuring my chocolate Gelert who runs a whimsical chocolate shop in Brightvale and gets a visit from Illusen who needs his help with something, and the other was Illusen losing her memory. Maybe I'll reenter them in the future, or even turn the first one into a full short story.
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 18, 2022 18:58:14 GMT -5
Me: haha since one of the characters is Beatrice, clearly I should create a character named Esme as an A Series of Unfortunate Events referece
Me, five entries later: FRICK IT REALLY IS A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS NOW, RIGHT DOWN TO WHAT HAPPENED TO BEATRICE
(Rosalie was also a reference, this time to Twilight. Not one of my favorite books but y'know. Since she was supposed to be Count von Roo's daughter.)
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Mar 18, 2022 19:39:14 GMT -5
Congrats to everyone!!! =D This was a really enjoyable contest. RielCZ - That ending was so tragic!! R.i.p. Beatrice, literally.
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Mar 18, 2022 19:55:56 GMT -5
Ahaha, thanks you two (I think). This was an excellent story. I loved the Victorian Edgar Allan Poe-esque feel that developed as it progressed. And yes, Kat, I thought your naming of Esme (juxtaposed Beatrice) was an Unfortunate Events reference! Nice, nice. The ending WAS tragic! But honestly, I thought this story (again due to its plot development) deserved a tragic twist ending. Originally, I conceived of the the final entry just being a single letter in which Rosalie writes to Mr. Dubont, saying that Beatrice was incapacitated and that she (Rosalie) had been working alongside Lady Carstairs the whole time to usurp control of the Guild, for reasons I didn't really flesh out because then Kat's entry threw me for a loop. Thinking about it more, I developed the idea that I could still go that route, but even... grimmer, and without betraying Rosalie's character arc. I bounced the idea off Rabbit ♠ and with her comment that it was "so dark but so good" I decided to go for't. Also There were 2 parts of my ending that, after conversing with Mac, were cut. Was in Mr. Dubont's letter. Apparently it toed the line of too much violence, which is fair (at least, outside the BD I suppose), and the dagger never came back into the story anyway. And, the big one at the end
In the end I worked out with Mac to have it shortened, but I full well intended Rosalie to have willingly succumbed to the fate of her friend out of her guilt. As it is, it's just implied, heavily so if you read her letter in some parts carefully.
And, not gonna lie, I wanted to test whether a dark ending like that COULD even be published. Not that every ending should be dark, but just that the option is there... it's refreshing and opens up many more possible plotlines. (And "macabre" is literally in Mac's name so from that perspective... ) Congrats to those that made it in this week! Especially Herdy , Kat (x2) and Stephanie (swordlilly) .
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 18, 2022 20:10:32 GMT -5
I actually entered for each slot except the ending (which I could not write after winning twice and taking the second to the last slot), so if anyone is interested, I will unload all of my attempts here later. At first I couldn't find my groove with this story until I introduced the plot development that capped off the first week and from there everything just snowballed. Congrats to everyone!!! =D This was a really enjoyable contest. RielCZ - That ending was so tragic!! R.i.p. Beatrice, literally. And then Mr. Carstairs had to extend his stay at the Meepit Oaks Sanitorium. The end. Stephanie, I never would have been able to pull that development off but now I feel even more sorry for him oops. Ahaha, thanks you two (I think). This was an excellent story. I loved the Victorian Edgar Allan Poe-esque feel that developed as it progressed. And yes, Kat, I thought your naming of Esme (juxtaposed Beatrice) was an Unfortunate Events reference! Nice, nice. The ending WAS tragic! But honestly, I thought this story (again due to its plot development) deserved a tragic twist ending. Originally, I conceived of the the final entry just being a single letter in which Rosalie writes to Mr. Dubont, saying that Beatrice was incapacitated and that she (Rosalie) had been working alongside Lady Carstairs the whole time to usurp control of the Guild, for reasons I didn't really flesh out because then Kat's entry threw me for a loop. Thinking about it more, I developed the idea that I could still go that route, but even... grimmer, and without betraying Rosalie's character arc. I bounced the idea of Rabbit ♠ and with her comment that it was "so dark but so good" I decided to go for't. Also There were 2 parts of my ending that, after conversing with Mac, were cut. Was in Mr. Dubont's letter. Apparently it toed the line of too much violence, which is fair (at least, outside the BD I suppose), and the dagger never came back into the story anyway. And, the big one at the end In the end I worked out with Mac to have it shortened, but I full well intended Rosalie to have willingly succumbed to the fate of her friend out of her guilt. As it is, it's just implied, heavily so if you read her letter in some parts carefully.
And, not gonna lie, I wanted to test whether a dark ending like that COULD even be published. Not that every ending should be dark, but just that the option is there... it's refreshing and opens up many more possible plotlines. (And "macabre" is literally in Mac's name so from that perspective... ) Congrats to those that made it in this week! Especially Herdy , Kat (x2) and Stephanie (swordlilly) . Honestly I find that violent bit more tame than, y'know, the implication of Rosalie's fate. When I read your entry the first time, it was ambiguous enough that I did not catch it until Stephanie mentioned the possibility. My first thought was perhaps Rosalie ran away, to never return to her friends again. Then "oh...oh sweet mother of Sloth." There have been fairly dark STCs in the past as well as Neopian Times stories that toed the line very carefully so I'm not surprised but still impressed. For the second to the last entry I also considered having Rosalie write the letter with both Beatrice and Felicity out of the picture. And Stephanie and I considered possible dark endings as well, though if I had the opportunity to write the ending, I would have tried for a less dark one wherein they find Beatrice but Esme still retains control over the guild. But we definitely considered the possibility of Beatrice "disappearing" entirely from the story. So I would have submitted two endings - a dark one where Beatrice is completely gone, and one that would have reunited Dubont with Beatrice though in less favorable circumstances. In my entries I had also tried to tie Rosalie to Esme (by the way, this I did not intend but there is also a character named Esme in Twilight who stands as Rosalie's mother figure, sort of). Either as her willing henchwoman, or yes, someone who was roped into the plot but would choose Beatrice over Esme in the end. One of my ideas was Rosalie being kidnapped and Beatrice being forced to choose between her and leadership over the guild. ANYWAY. I finally settled on having Felicity write the second to the last letter, determined to finally give Rosalie the real role she deserves. I missed an opportunity to reference her Fake Neocola Token on a String again. So, to quote Lemony Snicket, Beatrice is dearest, darling, dead. Truly a Series of Unfortunate Events.
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Mar 18, 2022 22:53:36 GMT -5
Hehe, I had another idea for the ending that I'd shared with Kat - basically, I considered the possibility that the Carsairs siblings were actually in cahoots with each other, and that Mr. Carstairs had actually brought Mr. Dubont to the Sanitorium to have him incarcerated there. So in the ending I envisioned, the last letter would be from Mr. Carstairs to Esme, saying he'd intercepted the letter from Felicity, was glad to hear that Esme's part of the plan was working, and reporting that his end of the plan was going well, too. Soon, the Carstairs faction would be in power.
I didn't think Beatrice would actually die, though. @__@ That was a really grim ending, but satisfactory because it defined everyone's roles so neatly. x) Congrats again!! =D
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 19, 2022 3:05:31 GMT -5
Sharing my other entries for this STC: In which I interpret Mr. Carstairs ribaldry more literally, and I already had the idea of a rival in mind as early as the second part: Dearest Miss Casterfell,
My, how exciting! Not many Neopians ever get the opportunity to visit the Virtupets Space Station. You and Felicity will have to bring back some souvenirs, as I myself have never been there - or ever contemplated such a trip.
I have heard of these so-called "rockets", however. Hot air balloons are one thing, but these will probably be more turbulent than the aircraft those oddballs in Meridell came up with, so please, do hold on tight. This reminds me of that one hot air balloon trip I had with Mr. Carstairs, and he simply wouldn't stop shouting down to the folk below, especially the ladies. Imagine! I don't know if I would have enjoyed the view more with or without his coarse commentary.
Speaking of Mr. Carstairs, when he found out that you and the Guild would be headed for the Space Station, that wily Tonu just had to make uncouth remarks about accompanying you "lovely ladies" and I had to change the subject. I'm not sure this was the kind of "pleasant distraction" you had in mind for me.
But I digress.
One of Mr. Carstairs' young maids whispered to me a rumor about those "rockets" in Neopia Central, and I believe it is my duty to warn you. Your old rival, Miss Esme Danchester, was sighted in the vicinity when the spacecraft was being built. Wasn't she the Kacheek you had expelled from the Neovian Women's Guild for her brash, unbecoming demeanor?
I fear she may have a comeuppance for you in mind. This may only be a rumor, but be on your guard.
Nevertheless, I look forward to your next missive.
Kind regards,
Oswald Dubont In which the rival is sus but hasn't been named Esme yet Dear Mr. Dubont,
As I write this letter, we are sitting in this so-called "rocket", waiting for it to launch. Felicity claimed the window seat and could not stop looking out at Neopia Central laid out beneath us. Neither could she stop talking about the, I assume, breathtaking view.
All the other members of the Guild are chatting eagerly about what they would do once they arrived at the Virtupets Space Station. Miss Sixson wanted to try what she called "space food"; she was not satisfied with the cucumber sandwiches at the Marketplace, that portly old Vandagyre. Meanwhile, Mrs. Vittorio wouldn't stop talking about all the souvenirs she would buy for her children.
There is one Guild member who isn't happy about this trip. Yes, it's Miss Louisa Danchester, my old rival. Do you remember when she tried to seize leadership of the Guild? I don't think she has forgotten the time I exposed her plot. Now, that wily Kacheek is at the back of the rocket, her arms folded and her face in its usual scowl.
As I furtively glanced over my shoulder to look at her, Miss Danchester suddenly stood up and walked further back despite the attendants telling us to remain seated before the rocket "blasted off" or something of the sort. I suppose it's the same thing as a launch, or a flight. No one else seemed to notice her, and at first, I wondered if she simply needed to use the facilities.
That is, until she passed the door to the bathroom entirely, striding purposefully toward the cargo hold.
I'm afraid I'll have to cut this letter short, my good man. I must know what Miss Danchester is up to.
Sincerely,
Beatrice Casterfell I WAS REALLY HUNG UP ON INSERTING A POWER GRAB IN THIS STORY Rocket Number One
The Marketplace, Neopia Central
From the pen of Miss Casterfell:
Dear Mr. Dubont,
As I write this letter, we are sitting in this so-called "rocket", waiting for it to launch. Felicity claimed the window seat and could not stop looking out at Neopia Central laid out beneath us. Neither could she stop talking about the breathtaking view and how she wished she had what Neopia Central locals call a "camera" with which to capture said view. Alas, she'll have to make do with a pair of opera glasses she had packed with her for the trip.
All the other members of the Guild are chatting eagerly about what they would do once they arrived at the Virtupets Space Station. Miss Sixson wanted to try what she called "space food"; she was not satisfied with the cucumber sandwiches at the Marketplace, that portly old Vandagyre. Meanwhile, Mrs. Vittorio wouldn't stop talking about all the souvenirs she would buy for her children.
There is one Guild member who isn't happy about this trip. Yes, it's Miss Louisa Danchester, my old rival. Do you remember when she tried to seize leadership of the Guild? I don't think she has forgotten the time I exposed her plot. Now, that wily Kacheek is at the back of the rocket, her arms folded and her face in its usual scowl. As I furtively glanced over my shoulder to look at her, Miss Danchester suddenly stood up and walked further back despite the attendants telling us to remain seated before the rocket "blasted off" or something of the sort. I suppose it's the same thing as a flight, with hot air balloons. No one else seemed to notice her, and at first, I wondered if she simply needed to use the facilities.
That is, until she passed the door to the bathroom entirely, striding purposefully toward the cargo hold.
I'm afraid I'll have to cut this letter short, my good man. I must know what Miss Danchester is up to.
Sincerely,
Beatrice Casterfell I also had Rosalie's character conceived fairly early but I initially tried to have her go to Dubont: Carstairs Estate Aplehamshire, Neovia
From the pen of Mr. Aloysius Dubont, Esq.
Dear Miss Casterfell,
It seems I still possess that penchant for prankery I mentioned, as today dear old Tibs has received his comeuppance at last. I placed mud into his morning coffee cup, posted a "Kick Me" sign on the back of his jacket, and placed a bucket of water over the door to his garden. He has declared war, and as I write my next missive, I am certain he is plotting, no doubt with the cooperation of his servants.
But I befriended one of the young maids, a pretty, petite Cybunny named Lily. Perhaps she will be so kind as to fill me in on Mr. Carstairs' plans.
It looks like both of us are surrounded by quite the interesting characters, dear Miss Casterfell. Me with Mr. Carstairs, and you with Felicity, who has always been eager to try the new and unexpected. While it is a shame to hear that you missed your shuttle, I can't fully blame Felicity for hoping to see as much of Neopia Central as she could before you two "blasted off", to use the scientific term for your departure. I do wonder how much of Kreludan culture she plans to imbibe while you are sojourning on the moon.
To this day, not much is known about Kreludor, except that it is home to the Grundos, whom you have already met and even spoken to, and that it is the only known source of Kreludan metal. While there is not much in the way of tourist spots, you might be able to find a Booktastic Book to read to pass the time, or try some of the Kreludan Cafe delicacies. I hear the Blueberry Moon Tart is highly recommended; do try a bite of it before your shuttle arrives. I think Felicity will enjoy it as well.
While I do miss you dearly and likewise wish you could be here to witness the great prank war about to unfold, you may be pleased to find out who visited the Carstairs estate today, sometime after Tibs finally emerged from his study, no doubt with a new scheme brewing in his incorrigible mind.
Rosalie von Roo paid us a visit as the sun was about to set, but could not stay long, as she planned to spend the night with her father on Roo Island. She has always been the closest to him, barely leaving his side, but recently she has become more open to the outside world, learning everything she can but still setting aside time for her father. She asked about you, of course, to which I replied that you were on an excursion with the Neovian Women's Guild.
It's quite odd, really. When I mentioned that you were stranded on Kreludor, awaiting the next shuttle to the Virupets Space Station, she suddenly announced that Count von Roo could not wait for her any longer, and that she must take her leave. She very nearly knocked over one of Tibs' busts of famous Neopian heroes on her way out, and only Lily's quick reflexes saved the day.
She did mention wanting to see you again as soon as possible, with quite the determined glint in her eye, but I had not the opportunity to press her further as she had left as quickly as she came.
Aloysius Dubont In which I tried to use the Vira costume early Grundos Cafe
Virtupets Station
My dear Mr. Dubont,
I truly wish we could enjoy the Virupets Space Station, especially for your sake, but it has become that much more difficult with this new development - not to mention, failing to meet with the rest of the Guild again despite finally making it to the Space Station. Not that Rosalie's company is unwelcome, of course.
Speaking of which, she has outdone herself once again. After we combed the entire Recreation Deck, it was Rosalie who found the Neovian Women's Guild sitting in Grundos Cafe! We caught them just as they were partaking of Constellation Soup, and they were just as surprised as we were at finding them.
As per your warning, we immediately approached Mrs. van Koenig, though Rosalie did so not without trepidation. Already I could hear the whispers of her old nickname - "Grossalie" - borne from her relationship with Count von Roo and her unconventional abilities. I steered her away from the rest of the members as we sat down with Mrs. van Koenig at her table.
Apparently, she had not expected us for another hour, believing that our shuttle had been delayed. That struck me as odd, but before I could say anything, Felicity beat me to it. First, Mrs. van Koenig had given us the wrong timetable for our departure from Neopia Central, which brought us to Kreludor. Then, just as we departed on time from Kreludor, another scheduling mishap meant we had to search for the Guild upon our arrival.
As we pondered this, I glanced at Mrs. van Koenig, who dismissed these events as a coincidence, or perhaps her eyes had become weaker over the years. When she shifted in her seat, I heard a strange squeaking sound from the floor. Felicity must have heard it too, as she pretended to knock over her fork, apologizing profusely as she bent down to pick it up. But when she straightened up again, she gave me a very flabbergasted look and gestured furtively with her fork at Mrs. van Koenig's skirt.
Or rather, what was under the hem of Mrs. van Koenig's skirt. The toes of black leather boots were peeking out ever so slightly, the source of that noise.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I could swear I had seen that extremely strange choice of footwear before.
Then I remembered your letter - and Mr. Carstairs' joke, which may not be a joke after all. Were these the boots from a Vira Halloween Costume? They certainly seemed like it.
I don't know if we have found Lady Esme, or if this is just another perplexing coincidence. I'm afraid I must cut my letter short here.
Beatrice Casterfell My attempt to show Rosalie connected to Esme: Carstairs Estate
Aplehamshire, Neovia
Dear Miss Casterfell,
I apologize for the weight of this missive. The reasons for the same shall become clear to you as you read my letter, unless you choose to read what is weighing it down first.
I am only too happy to hear from you again after days of waiting to hear whether or not you, Felicity and Rosalie were able to find Lady Carstairs, or better yet, figure out her plans. But at the same time, I am deeply grieved by the fate that has befallen dear Mrs. van Koenig - and incensed at Lady Carstairs successfully returning to your fold.
From what you've narrated, it is possible that someone may have tampered with the oxygen supply of Mrs. van Koenig's spacesuit. And it is equally possible that that someone could have been Lady Carstairs. Still, I am no doctor, and that machine you described sounds much more credible than I am.
Now that Lady Esme has officially returned to the Guild, and may not be satisfied with just Mrs. van Koenig's position, it is my bounden duty as your friend to inform you of what we discovered here at the Carstairs Estate - and to warn you that your childhood friend, whom you sorely missed, may be harboring a sinister secret herself.
Mr. Carstairs was not satisfied with not knowing the particulars of his sister's scheme, so we spent the last few days combing the manor for any clues as to Lady Carstairs' plans. For a while, the only clue we had was that Mr. Carstairs could not find Lady Esme's Vira costume in her wardrobe.
But eventually, we found an ornate locked box sealed with a puzzle you had to slide this way and that in the proper way for it to open. After several attempts to break it open, Mr. Carstairs obliged, and at last, the box revealed its secrets - but not without leaving a cloud of glitter in its wake. Poor Mr. Carstairs was covered in the stuff, but he said it was for a good cause - and that Lady Esme had always been the superior prankster between them. But we found something in the box that was worse than the surprise glitter shower.
As you recall, despite your popularity as president, the Guild has always vehemently voted against Rosalie's membership. The poor lady's only sin is being closely related to Count von Roo, resulting in not a few of the members calling her "Grossalie" behind her back. Lady Esme, likewise, has been nothing but unkind to her.
Or so we thought.
Inside this box were several letters, much like the ones we are exchanging now, albeit between Lady Esme and Rosalie. It seems that for months, Lady Esme has been courting Rosalie's support for her bid to take over the Guild. And though this may pain you to hear (or rather, read), Rosalie has been considering Lady Esme's honeyed words very carefully.
Though there were no particulars about Lady Esme's scheme, she has been meeting with Rosalie several times, including just before your excursion to the Virtupets Space Station.
Scarcely had we started reading more of these letters when Mr. Carstairs immediately gathered them all up, rolled them rather expertly into a bundle, and insisted that I send them straight to you. I do not know how quick Aplehamshire's post office can be with a package of letters instead of just one, but I can only hope that they reach you sooner than later.
And I hope that these letters between Lady Esme and Rosalie mean something else entirely, for your sake, in more ways than one.
Again, I advise you to be vigilant, and pray that you and the rest of the Guild weather this storm.
I also apologize for the glitter these other letters may leave upon your hands.
Aloysius Dubont
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Mar 23, 2022 14:55:47 GMT -5
I considered the possibility that the Carsairs siblings were actually in cahoots with each other, and that Mr. Carstairs had actually brought Mr. Dubont to the Sanitorium to have him incarcerated there. So in the ending I envisioned, the last letter would be from Mr. Carstairs to Esme, saying he'd intercepted the letter from Felicity, was glad to hear that Esme's part of the plan was working, and reporting that his end of the plan was going well, too. Soon, the Carstairs faction would be in power. I really like that idea, too! It never crossed my mind for the Carstairs siblings to have been in cahoots; I was always under the impression the Tibs was not a fan of his sister. So, such an ending would have been a real twist to me! We lost an entry yesterday, but one is up now. Congrats Rabbit ♠ ! I like how you made Sellescha more relatable. Also, I'm not sure if it's common knowledge, but Mac informed me that it is their personal rule not to publish a beginning submitted by the previous week's winning story ender. So, a possible heads-up there.
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Mar 25, 2022 16:14:39 GMT -5
Sorry to double post, but congrats Kat ! This was my entry for that slot: ...Farmer Gilbert.
"Hey you teens," started the crotchety Gelert, his demeanour a clear shift from earlier (when the young kids and media were around). "What are you still doing here!? The contest is over, the clover is found. Either pay up for berry picking or get off my property!"
Sellescha and Gabriel scurried away.
"So," started the Kacheek when they were a safe distance from the farmer, "April Fools is in 2 days. What did you have in mind? Something about a competition?"
"Not a strict competition," the Gelert lad replied. "But something in the spirit of competitiveness. A good ole' prank for your bad ole' sister."
Sellescha frowned. "OK, but what did you have in mind?"
Gabriel beamed at her. "I am going to help you figure that out."
The Kacheek whined.
Gabriel patted her shoulder. "It's fine, really. OK, let's brainstorm and start with something simple. What is something, er--"
"Lerli--"
"--Lerli likes. What's something she likes and could never live without?"
Sellescha harrumphed. "The 12 leaf clover, apparently."
Gabriel clapped his paws. "That's good! That's a great start. And timely, too. Now," he continued, rubbing his paws together, "why does she like it?"
"Because it was mine," she grumbled.
"Why else?"
The two stopped their movement just short of where all the crowds had been, earlier. Where Lerli had slashed the ribbon, starting the race on her own terms.
The Kacheek frowned pensively. "She likes the clover because... it's supposedly lucky, I guess."
The Gelert pointed at her. "There. There you go, right there. That's the prank you should pull."
It hit Sellescha then, and an excited grin grew on her big face. "I should convince her that possessing the clover is nothing but bad luck..." I wanted to turn the story into a plot where Sellescha and Gabriel played tricks on Lerli and convinced her the bad luck was because of the clover, and eventually she would just want to get rid of the clover somehow.
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Mar 26, 2022 4:38:49 GMT -5
Thanks! Looks like I still haven't moved on from the last STC, I am determined to make Gabriel the antagonist of the story. I mean, I left it up in the air whether he's got a prank in mind or if he's got something more sinister, but y'know.
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Apr 4, 2022 21:20:21 GMT -5
*high-fives Mostly Harmless (flufflepuff)* Congrats Cassie! I may be wrong, but I do believe this is the first ever STC beginning collab, so that's exciting.
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Apr 8, 2022 21:20:08 GMT -5
AFAIK this is my first time seeing a collab starter but then again I have been quite MIA from Neopets for years. Congrats guys!
Anyway so I just had to bring back the holidays since we were starting to drift away from that plotline.
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on May 3, 2022 17:59:58 GMT -5
Congrats Kat ! This was my entry for that slot. ...with an ethereal hum followed by a small click, the puzzle box opened. Out dropped a small bottle, which Jhudora deftly caught in midair. With a righteous grin, she held the bottle and its contents up to her face. The exhausted, ghoulish, ever-angry face of her sister stared back at her. The Sleeper. The Betrayer. The Darkest Faerie. Jhudora chuckled menacingly to the trapped faerie, though quiet enough that she was certain her sister could not hear her through the anti-magic containment bottle. Her sister had been the cause of so much ill in her life. In all the faerie's lives, what with the Sleeper's continued attempts to weaken Faerieland's magic barrier -- an act that had certainly slowed Faerieland's rebuilding efforts and kept it planted to the ground. But with some of Balthazar's magitech and the assistance of Fyora and Illusen -- a name that once would have revulsed Jhudora, but now felt sweet across her green lips -- Jhudora succeeded in capturing the Darkest Faerie. After a harrowing, life-changing ordeal, Jhudora found herself firmly within the Faerie Queen's inner circle and on the right side of Faerie history. Under orders of Fyora herself, Jhudora had spent the past year or so trying not to destroy the Sleeper... but to rehabilitate her. Drain her magical energy for the good of Faerieland, yes -- the Betrayer would be transformed into nothing more than a Grey faerie after this -- but then, free of the evil magic coursing through her veins, the difficult work could begin. Not just with saving her sister from herself, but rebuilding Faerieland in earnest... maybe even seeing it back in the sky. This... This task belonged to Jhudora. It was her newfound life's work. The dark faerie cracked a smile and looked at her wand, the jade tip still alight. Illusen would be proud. If only Earthie were here right now to witness this live; that saccharine face of hers would just be awestruck... Focusing her skill and magical energy, Jhudora pointed the wand at the bottle and muttered an incantation. The whole of her solution-soaked wand started to glow that familiar shade of jade, as did the bottle containing the Sleeper. The energy started to pulse, and she felt the magic of the universe about her. It was in her hair. In her bluff. In her soul. Everything was connected. She couldn't help but feel a... reverberation, within her. Deep within her. Like she was dancing. Like she was screaming. Except she wasn't. It was just her, and her. And then she heard a voice in her head say... I was really trying to make this story a sequel of 907 heh. Would have been a fun birthday present.
|
|
|
Post by Kat on May 4, 2022 7:54:24 GMT -5
Thanks, and happy birthday! My present for you is that I am going to turn this into a NQII storytelling contest. I do have an alternate entry, which would have turned this into a NQI story instead: As the Hubrid's Puzzle Box whirred and clicked and vibrated, what looked like thick brown sludge began to seep from the device. Jhudora's lips twisted in disgust and she stepped back, gripping her wand. One year ago, she had found a shady Mynci sorcerer traveling through Faerieland, and the power he demonstrated had been so awesome, so majestic, that, well, Jhudora simply had to have it for herself.
She expected the ooze to form the figure of a Mynci, or perhaps cough up the hapless magician, but it continued to pile up on her floor till it was a mound half her size, with a purple, star-spangled cape.
The cape, Jhudora realized, which the Mynci had been wearing on that day.
"Bow to me," the dark faerie declared, pointing her wand at the sludge. "I, Jhudora, am your master, and I command you to give me your - "
Her words died away into a gasp when an arm of sludge suddenly shot out, gripping her wrist. With a flick of her hand, Jhudora tried to blast the creature, but much to her surprise, the sludge merely absorbed the energy.
And then it opened its eyes, and its mouth, and started laughing as it took advantage of this brief moment of shock to grab Jhudora's other arm.
"You fool," the sludge creature whispered hoarsely. "You thought to master me?"
The faerie's heart raced as she tried to pull away. Sparks, jets of bright green flame, and other spells sank into the rippling ooze, which was already beginning to pool around her feet as well.
"No," she whispered, her brow furrowed in concentration and frustration and disbelief. "It can't be! You're..."
"That's right," the creature hissed. "I am Xantan, and I need your power..."
|
|