|
|
Post by Kat on Oct 16, 2023 18:46:47 GMT -5
what petpetpet is it, I may or may not want to buy itCongrats RielCZ! And congrats to TJ Wagner - I think I know what I want to do for this contest. Hint: It has something to do with Good Omens. Tried writing an ending for the last one which is kind of creepy and messy but eh. ...a wide array of bookshelves stuffed not only with books of various kinds but also ancient-looking artifacts, scrolls, and even stone tablets and framed pictures.
Everyone except Queen Fyora stared up in awe at the sheer volume of information stored in her archives. Aurinkos and Stella, who had paid the Altadorian Archives many visits over their years of stargazing, knew that there were probably things in Fyora's archives that would not be found in the Altadorian Archives.
"My private archives contain records of every faerie that has existed in Neopia. But some faeries warrant close scrutiny - and that includes the Sleeper," said Fyora, moving past shelf after shelf before stopping at a dusty gilded lectern with a large black tome open on it. "Even after she was petrified, even after the Wraith Resurgence, we have been observing the Sleeper."
Fyora turned several pages of the leather bound book.
"The Sleeper has failed more than once, now, to return to power," she said. "Which is why she has turned to a new way of regaining her strength."
"The power of names?" Auri asked.
"That's correct."
"I knew it," said Rigel, snapping her fingers.
"Even after everything she has done, the Sleeper is still remembered by many for her good deeds as a member of the Council of Twelve, a notable figure in history, and...an interesting personage, in general. Interesting enough to merit her own merchandise line."
Betel tried to peer up at the lectern. "Says here that one of the most effective ways to strip a faerie of her power is to...obliterate her from the memory of others."
"Make everyone forget the Darkest Faerie?" Rigel shook her head. "But that's impossible!"
"He said that was only one way," Fyora replied. "Another way is to make her name synonymous with infamy and evil. Make her memory so repulsive that she can no longer use the power of her name."
Stella glanced at Auri. "You've always been so interested in the Sleeper."
"Then...I can no longer look up at her constellation, if it comes back?" the woodland JubJub wondered, frowning. "I can no longer read about her in the Altadorian Archives?"
"You can still do all those things." Fyora reached down and patted Auri's head. "But we need to convince everyone at the Faerie Festival, right now, that the Sleeper, despite everything she may have done in the past, means us all harm." The ghost of worry flitted across her face. "I do not think Neopia can handle another appearance from the Darkest Faerie, and she must now truly grow into her other name...as the Sleeper, and sleep, for all time."
"How are we going to do that?" Rigel asked.
Stella looked around at Fyora's archives, and at the book sitting on the lectern. But it was Auri who voiced what Stella wanted to say.
"We take everything we know about the Sleeper...and publish it all, during the Faerie Festival," said Auri resolutely. "We give everyone the complete story about the Sleeper, everything she did...and reverse what's happening to the Altadorian constellations!"
* * *
The information campaign during the Faerie Festival had been a success. On that day, the Darkest Faerie lost a number of fans, enthusiasts and aficionados, once the full volume of her deeds came to light. As Rigel and Betel kept vigil over the Sleeper's statue with their energy meters, they noticed the energy levels fluctuate as word got out...before dropping to nothing.
With that, Rigel and Betel had to return to Kreludor, their mission accomplished. They stood on the Altadorian seashore, next to their spaceship, facing Stella and Auri. Auri had unfolded her telescope once more, and confirmed that the Protector and the Sleeper were both once more shining in the night sky.
"We've received reports that the strange black hole in space has disappeared," said Rigel. "Which means...mission accomplished, and we must now return to Kreludor for our full report."
"Will you come visit us again?" Auri wanted to know. "I've always wanted to know more about Kreludor, and I had hoped this would be that time, but then we had to deal with...the Sleeper..."
Rigel traded a look with Betel, who stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Well," he began, "these two were a huge help in investigating the Darkest Faerie Theory and putting it to rest, as well as saving the constellations. I think the least we can do is take them along for a tour of Kreludor..."
"...And let them see the constellations up close and personal." Rigel nodded and smiled at Stella and Auri. "How about it? Would you like to have an even more up close and personal look at the Altadorian constellations, especially now that they are complete in the sky once again?"
Stella opened her mouth to answer, but once again, Auri beat her to it.
"Yes, we'd love to!" |
|
|
|
Post by Stephanie (swordlilly) on Oct 16, 2023 22:22:02 GMT -5
WHOA what a throwback O: I've been kind of swamped lately but maybe I'll try participating in this story next week. ;u; Congrats on the ending btw, Riel!! And Kat on the Oct 10 segment - very well-deserved. |
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Oct 18, 2023 1:23:59 GMT -5
Thanks you two.  And yeah, TJ last won Week 819 according to my records, so a throwback indeed! Never read Good Omens but it's certainly on my to-read list. And I got a P2, not a P3... a Spirkle. I've no real use for't, is r99 if you're still interested heh.Looks to possibly be shaping up to a time loop story? Normally my thing, but given some of my "reservations" about the time travel story 2 contests ago I think I might be exhausted on that topic for a bit.  |
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Oct 18, 2023 6:39:10 GMT -5
Looks to possibly be shaping up to a time loop story? Normally my thing, but given some of my "reservations" about the time travel story 2 contests ago I think I might be exhausted on that topic for a bit. OH COME ON For reference here was my attempt at the second slot - a nod to "The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter" which I tried to slot into that previous time travel story. I EVEN WROTE POETRY FOR THIS ONE ...which opened to what looked like a poem.
"The reader has turned the page,
Beware, The Curse begins!
From the time this book passes
To a Zafara seller of strange things!"
Grella frowned. So it was a bit of verse announcing the beginning of "The Curse". The beginning of the story, she supposed, as she read on.
"A Zafara of blue and stars,
Takes this book into her hands,
From a distressed Lupe of blue,
Oh, nothing has gone as planned."
But as she continued reading, a chill ran down her spine, all the way to the tip of her tail. The first part had been silly, but the second verse she had just read brought to mind the strange Lupe in the coat who had dropped this old book into her clutches.
Surely it was only a coincidence.
"No Angelpi in sight,
But wait and see
The Curse fall
Like a reeling tree!"
Grella could have sworn that she saw the words rippling, the ink forming them on the page, but she shook her head. Perhaps she needed a vacation. And when she read the Neopian Times for too long, the words did start to blur and flicker on the page...
A Zafara seller of strange things, taking a book from a distressed Lupe of blue...no Angelpi...the Curse falling like a reeling tree...
A crash made the starry Zafara jump from her place at the counter, nearly tipping over her cup of Black Cherry tea. But when she looked at the source of the crash, she gasped and stumbled against the counter, upsetting the tea onto her issue of the Neopian Times. Miraculously, the tea missed the book.
Crushing a good chunk of her shop was a large tree, its branches and trunk leveling several shelves of her merchandise, an entire wall, and a lot of roof... |
|
|
|
Post by June Scarlet on Oct 18, 2023 13:57:54 GMT -5
Haha, Time Lupe / loop pun I just thought of.
|
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Oct 18, 2023 14:42:35 GMT -5
Haha, Time Lupe / loop pun I just thought of. Huh, this shines new light on the character of Zylphia. |
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Oct 27, 2023 15:03:37 GMT -5
Alas, couldn't crack the STC this week. Congrats to the winners though! Here's what I had for an ending: ..."I mean, you can pass The Curse onto someone else -- like I did -- but you're not solving the problem," Edna elaborated, seemingly reading Grella's mind. "Just moving it elsewhere. So if you want to do the responsible thing, then yes, it has to be you." She frowned.
"I remember when you were painted starry," Sophie said to Edna through a smirk.
The latter witch just scowled. "And now I can never be starry again. But no matter, I've come to appreciate how easy it is being green." She turned toward the other Zafara. "So... will you do it?" she inquired, her expression otherwise neutral. "Or will your day keep resetting until you have no stars left, and The Curse transfers itself elsewhere, and Sophie and I will have to ask the next starry chump who reads the first page?"
Grella frowned. Cursing Neopets... it could be worse, right? She sighed. "Alright, I'll do it."
The three exchanged determined glances.
"How does one activate the book, anyway?" the starry Zafara asked.
"Just scream," Edna replied automatically. "It was supposed to be a squee of delight at a star, but The Curse twisted it into a yell of anguish or horror." She banged her forehead with her fist. "Such a failure I am."
Grella frowned. She'd have to get Edna a nice little gift or something later, backward as that sounded in her current predicament.
But then a wicked grin spread over Edna's face. "OK, Sophie, do your worst."
"Mew-Shu..." the Ixi trailed before she snapped her fingers at her Meowclops, then pointed at Grella.
Immediately, the Meowclops lunged at the starry Zafara and gave a menacing roar, growing into a 6-foot tall monster with sharp fangs and dripping red fluff.
Grella shrieked and jumped backward. The world started to contort and blur around her. Light and shadows slowed and played tricks. And slithering tendrils of purple smoke emanated from the book... tendrils that wrapped around her body. She felt it shake her twinkly essence, and grab one of her stars...
"Grella!" the starry Zafara heard through the blurry din. Grella's head was pounding. "Don't let The Curse take it from you! Make your curse upon a star, NOW!"
"I wish... to curse..." Grella started, doing her best to stay conscious. "I curse Edna! That only good things befall her... for a whole year! She is so accustomed to being vile and wallowing in self-pity that she will have no idea what to do with her life!" Grella gave an evil laugh as the witches watched on in horror. "Completely upend her! Let her not know what hit her! Make her the pinnacle goodie-two-shoes!"
The purple smoke became unbearably thick, and finally Grella's world went blank.
***
It was a day like so many others for Grella as she sat in her quiet little shop nestled comfortably on the outskirts of Neopia Central.
She was sitting by the counter and reading The Neopian Times while sipping Black Cherry tea. She was perusing her favourite ongoing comic series, "The Adventures of Charlie and Ronnie," when the bell above her door twinkled merrily to indicate a customer had entered.
"Hello and welcome to Grella's Wonders," she said automatically as she put down the paper.
"Hello, Grella," Miss Featherbottom said as she quickly strode towards the counter. "Do you have any more of those darling Angelpuss figurines?"
Grella started. Why did this seem like deja vu?
"I... no, I don't think I do," the Zafara answered. "I thought I told you already that I might have some in by next week?"
Miss Featherbottom shook her head. "First I'm hearing of it." She sighed. "I suppose I'll have to come back then," she said, "Goodbye, Grella. And make sure you get some rest, you look like you haven't slept in days." With the same pompous energy, she left the store.
"Goodbye," Grella said as the Lenny left. She looked down at her counter... empty as it was... and felt like something was missing. Like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
She shrugged and glanced back down at her newspaper. She chuckled. "Ronnie, you just never learn."
THE END And a couple more of my entries throughout the contest that I thought were kinda good. ...A Zombie Aisha, dressed in the big pointy hat and long black robes that quite obviously made her a witch.
Something was... very familiar about these two. Grella narrowed her eyes and her mind raced.
The witch danced into the room, stared right at the Zafara, and then back to her Meowclops. "Oh Charlie, whom do we have here, hmm? Someone who managed to find their way into our story?"
And then it clicked for Grella. "You're..." she was lost for words. "You're Charlie and Ronnie!"
Ronnie's face darkened. "How do you know who we are?" She scritched Charlie's fluff under her chin.
"You're characters in my favourite NT comic series!" Grella exclaimed, dumbfounded. "I mean, I guess obviously you aren't just characters, either I'm crazy or you're standing right before me, but--"
"Yes, you probably are crazy, but what is normalcy anyway but some unrealistic benchmark?" Ronnie started, a thin smile spread across her lips.
The Zafara just blinked. This was too much for one day... or for three days.
"I can see some of your stars have been stolen from you," the Aisha continued, matter-of-factly, through an almost apologetic frown. "Yes, it is my doing. But before you complain about your stars, let me tell you what I know. Charlie and I -- our whole witchy shack, actually -- were captured in this book by THE AUTHOR. Let's just say THE AUTHOR and I had a bit of a magic bet and battle, and I lost. Anyway, as you may well know, there is magic, power in the stars, and Charlie and I were tasked to use our magic -- time magic is our specialty -- to capture 1000 stars from starry Neopets for THE AUTHOR... only then would our freedom be guaranteed." She pouted cutely. "I didn't know about the NT series, but I'm not surprised... once THE AUTHOR realized that Charlie and I are adorable and have get up to great shenanigans, they must have started submitting some of our best bits to the Neopian Times." She grinned.
Grella folded her arms. "Isn't there another way you can free yourselves without cursing and stealing stars from Neopets like me?" She thought back to the harried blue Lupe from earlier.
Ronnie put a finger to her lips. "I can't remember THE AUTHOR'S name, anymore... they cursed my memory. But I have a hunch that if I can remember it -- or if you can go and find it and come back here -- my speaking their true name should free Charlie and I from this curse..." ..Grella's mind raced. Obviously, this book had plagued that Lupe. He pleaded to get rid of it -- and judging that he never re-appeared the second day, he successfully did so -- and now she had to rid herself of the book... lest her stars evaporate and she become literally blue, or worse. What had she possibly said or done so that THE CURSE transferred from that Lupe to her?
And what could she possibly do to transfer THE CURSE to someone else?
Miss Featherbottom opened the door and approached the counter.
"Hello, Grella," the Lenny said, "Do you have any more of those darling Angelpuss figurines?"
"Er... I want to sell something," the Zafara feebly replied.
The Lenny raised her eyebrow. "I should hope it's selling me some of those figurines."
"I, er, need to get rid of it..." Grella trailed dumbly. "Please?" She pushed the dusty tomb toward her customer.
Miss Featherbottom crossed her arms in a huff. "No way am I touching that decrepit thing! Get me your Angel figurines, now!"
"I DON'T HAVE YOUR FREAKING FIGURINES!" Grella shouted, overburdened by the stress of her situation and the unresponsive pomp of one of her most haughty customers.
At once, the world started to contort and blur around her. Light and shadows slowed and played tricks. And then everything went blank.
***
Grella opened her eyes in her bed. Her head was pounding, and she knew that her dream had been all too real.
Yep, another star faded away.
The Zafara raced down to her storefront and saw the book was still there. "OK, CURSE, it's you and me, and until I figure out how to destroy you or pawn you off on someone else, I'm going to own you." With an automatic fervour, the Zafara grabbed the feather pen on her desk that she used for writing receipts. No way in Moltara was she going to deal with Miss Featherbotom again, or let this story control her. Flipping to the next blank page, she wrote, "Miss Featherbottom never came."
Indeed, Miss Featherbottom never came. No customers seemed to for the rest of the morning. Normally that would be discouraging, but this was good today -- she had time to think about her predicament.
Grella seemed to figure a few things out, maybe. It seemed that her screaming or shouting reset the day, for whatever that was worth. And... merely reciting the Lupe's dialogue, uncertain so she was about it, didn't seem to help. Maybe she had to get another Neopian to flip the book open to the first page, genuinely interested?
"Newspaper!" came the Pteri paperboy, disturbing her train of thought. He left as soon as Grella tipped him.
She casually leafed through the paper while waiting for a customer, or something else to happen... and then saw, to her horror, Miss Featherbottom in the obituaries section... |
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Oct 31, 2023 7:03:28 GMT -5
This is no one's fault but again, one of my frustrations with the STC is when I had a similar idea with the winning entry, but did not win. I submitted a Halloween starter that also started with someone hating Halloween. I hate Halloween.
I hate the dark and spooky decorations that tried so hard to be dark and spooky even when they weren't. I hate the noisy trick-or-treaters in their gaudy costumes begging for free candy - cheap, yucky candy that seems to be exactly the same every year. I hate the poorly carved jack-o'-lanterns lining my neighborhood. Most of all, I hate being tricked and pranked with rubber Aboogalas and fake Wraiths.
And today, it was Halloween again.
My Neohome was the only one on the street not decorated for the occasion. I didn't even bother to buy treats for trick-or-treaters; instead, I was going over a spiel in my head that would drive anyone who showed up at my doorstep away as soon as possible.
I stared out my window. My reflection - that of an exasperated red Grarrl - stared right back, silhouetted against Neopians happily putting out their carved pumpkins and their prop Spyderwebs. I shut my curtains and turned away.
Unfortunately, Halloween was such a popular holiday that no matter where I went in Neopia, I was sure to find the same gloomy, scary festivities. Neopians trying to get the jump on me, Neopians tossing toilet paper and rotten Neggs at my home, Neopians bragging about their messy costumes and shoddy pumpkin carving...
I stamped my foot. The floor shook slightly because of my weight. But when my Neohome settled again, an idea dawned on me, and I couldn't help but smile.
I had an idea of how to get rid of Halloween, maybe once and for all... |
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Oct 31, 2023 14:11:25 GMT -5
Darn, yeah, the setup is pretty close there. I do like where you took it with yours, though! (Though I personally don't want to see Halloween destroyed once and for all. ) My starter was very different and probably too verbose/expository; maybe I'll revise it for next year. (In retrospect I probably should have resubmitted one of my several Halloween starters from previous years rather than write a new one, but whatever heh.) Back then, he was just a timid Kacheek.
Bartholomew glared at the abode from a safe distance. Curtains tattered, shingles dispossessed, cobwebs dancing in the wind. An aura of evil emanated from the mansion's dark oak door.
A haunted house had never seemed so sordid, so candid... so entirely alluring.
It was the end of the Month of Collecting, and Bartholomew and his family had just moved into their Haunted Woods neighbourhood from Brightvale. His father, once an esteemed professor of life sciences at Brightvale University, was now... disgraced... for his research into the resuscitation of what once had life and now did not. Hence the move to the Woods, where such investigation was morally acceptable.
The young Kacheek himself always had a penchant for puzzles, for solving unsolvable problems. Though, a complex mind did not equate to bravery... but with a new locale comes new promises of self-improvement, and terminating his timidity was one of his goals -- so much so that Bartholomew even adopted a new moniker, nae a new persona, for himself.
"One day I'm going to own this place," Bartholomew said, the words precarious on his lips, as he stared at the mansion on the hill. "I-I'm going to live there."
"Really? The place all the neighbourhood kids say is haunted?" ribbed Victoria, his older sister, stifling a giggle. "I'll bet you're too 'fraidy to even set foot on the front steps," negged the Lupe, dressed as a witch. "Oh wait... I forgot, you're now a Neopet of highly courageous calibre, oh 'Evil Death'," she mocked with a faux lofty accent. "Why DON'T you go trick-or-treat up there?" She grinned mercilessly.
"You won't mock me for long, sister." Bartholomew harrumphed and narrowed his eyes. "I think trick-or-treating there is PRECISELY what I'll do," he answered, suppressing his fears and instilling his Evil Death display of bravado. Costumed in one of his father's long white lab coats, the Kacheek started strutting determinedly up the hill. He turned around and grinned at Victoria. "Coming with?"... |
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Nov 1, 2023 3:56:12 GMT -5
Darn, yeah, the setup is pretty close there. I do like where you took it with yours, though! (Though I personally don't want to see Halloween destroyed once and for all. ) Like a one-two punch, the second entry goes into the "we will end Halloween forever" plot. I HAD THAT IN MY STARTER TOO UGHHHHHH |
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Nov 3, 2023 0:26:03 GMT -5
Another STC involving time magic? Anyway, this was my entry for the most recent slot: ***
From his patch in the cinnamon heart of the deepest swamps, the Pomp-King felt a disturbance somewhere else in the Woods.
Someone... wanting to destroy... one of the very things that made the Haunted Woods the Haunted Woods?
Sure, Halloween was just one day, but to the Haunted Woods it was a way of life, at the core of the nation's identity.
At the core of its magic.
No, at the core of HIS magic.
Not only would that destabilise the Woods, it would have a lasting negative impact on the whole of Neopia. Generally, Halloween brought Neopets a wicked joy.
He narrowed his eye sockets. He would have to remain guarded, tonight.
***
"So," Ward continued, "what do we have to do? What do I have to do?"
"You, my dear Werelupe, have unparalleled strength and cunning throughout the whole Haunted Woods. I have the cruel curse of tragically twisting anything I touch -- and the skill of recruiting Neopets with my charms." She smiled sweetly and batted her eyelashes.
Ward suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
"And my benefactor has no equal when it comes to Haunted Woods magic." The Acara grinned, showing her fangs. "Alright. They have one equal... and that creature is the magical being that powers Halloween all around Neopia: the Pomp-King."
The Werelupe frowned. They were planning to go up against one of the most magical creatures in the Haunted Woods, nae, the whole world?
Vira started to exit his home. "Grab your essentials and follow me quickly to my benefactor's home. The Pomp-King's magic is weakest on Halloween because he's using it to electrify the holiday and bring haunted magic all across the lands of Neopia. So, he has to be destroyed tonight, Halloween night..." |
|
|
|
Post by Kat on Nov 14, 2023 18:25:13 GMT -5
I'm really hoping my starter doesn't turn into another time travel story ALSDJFLASJF
|
|
|
|
Post by Gelquie on Nov 14, 2023 21:12:09 GMT -5
The number of time travel STCs lately is astounding. x'D
Well, I was just gonna glance to see, since I've been too wrapped up in other things lately to participate. But it was short enough and I had an idea, so I ended up writing a quick thing. It does not involve time travel, I promise. I might post it if it doesn't get in.
|
|
Gray
Occasional Commenter
you're alive, so alive
Posts: 21 
|
Post by Gray on Dec 11, 2023 14:43:23 GMT -5
Blah, I’ll keep trying but it feels like my one STC win was a fluuuuuke. Two holiday starters I tried: The morning sun shines down on the town of Happy Valley and glitters on the freshly fallen snow and dripping icicles. The snow only stopped falling in the early hours of the morning and the slight breeze in the air is bitingly cold. In the town square, a small group is fluttering about decorating, discussing, and delegating duties. Two figures stand together, one tall and one short. Taelia, the Snow Faerie, and Jasper Stillwell, the Speckled Wocky mayor of Happy Valley.
“Lady Taelia,” Mayor Stillwell said in his light, nasally voice. “We are so grateful for your help with the decorations this year.”
“It’s my pleasure, I just love the holiday season.” Taelia’s voice was warm like a crackling fire. “Did you have anything specific in mind?”
“Oh, no, we wouldn’t dream of telling you how to work your magic.” Jasper fidgeted with his hands, flexing and popping his fingers. It was a nervous habit. “Er… so to speak.”
Taelia smiled down at the well meaning mayor and then went to work. She stretched both arms out before her and found herself becoming one with the cold around her. Mallardflesh spread across her exposed skin. All around the square, it began to snow again. Snow blanketed the rooftops of the shops and then in a brilliant sparkling of magic became tinsel and streamers. It fell on the light posts and became red ribbons that coiled and twirled around the post. The snow dusted the event planning staff and became festive sweaters and warm, soft pants. All around the town square, Taelia’s magic left beauty, light, and cheer.
“That was incredible, thank you.” Mayor Stillwell said and took the faerie’s hand when she offered it. Taelia turned and smiled.
“No, tha-“
“Mayor Stillwell! Mayor Stillwell!” A great shouting came from behind them. They turned to see a young Ice Bori running their way.
“What is it, child?” Mayor Stillwell’s voice was alarmed.
“It’s…” The child struggled to catch their breath. “It’s…”
It’s a cold morning in the Month of Giving, Christmas is only two weeks away. Most of Happy Valley are still asleep, tucked warmly in their beds. One Neopet, Reina the Christmas Aisha, is already up and slowly crunching across the snow toward the Advent Calendar and the Calendar Cave where all the holiday gifts are stored. Reina hums ‘Silver Bells’ quietly to herself as she walks.
Today, Neopians from all over will come to receive some very special gifts and Reina is so very excited to share them she can barely contain it. Her heart beats loudly in her chest and she feels like running or dancing but decides to save her energy for her Advent Calendar hide and seek games.
She makes her way past the Advent Calendar stage where gifts are presented and moves instead toward the mouth of the large cave behind. This cave is the secret storage place for all the gifts given out in the Month of Giving. Reina stands in the mouth of the cave and allows her eyes to adjust to the darkness. When they do, she gasps and clutches her chest. All the gifts in the Calendar Cave…
|
|
|
|
Post by RielCZ on Dec 22, 2023 12:05:14 GMT -5
Admittedly I was super disappointed this wasn't a Christmas/Holiday-themed story. I'd submitted a starter that involved Reina being kidnapped probs over the SAP but that would've been for the next writer to decide haha. Due to the busyness of the holiday season I really didn't get into this story, but I tried for an ending that intentionally subverted where the penultimate slot was leading. ...He had to help Aurrick escape with the scroll and together, with their treasures, they would get Coltzan off their tails once and for all!
"No way in Peopatra's good name will you succeed, Coltzan!" Abasi yipped. "This treasure is OURS!"
That is NOT the lesson you are supposed to learn! the spectre roared to Petpet, as though from nowhere and everywhere.
The Ghostly Wand of Spades had gotten them to this cavern by alighting the proper symbols, and Abasi knew it would help get them out. If it wouldn't, why would Coltzan's ghost be so angry? He wouldn't be angry if he knew he had successfully cornered the trio!
"JUST DROP YOUR TREASURES!" Kaira yelled to Aurrick and Abasi as the corruption of the room intensified. "OR WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE IN HERE!" She started hyperventilating.
Abasi sniffed, and realized that Kaira was... holding him back? She was a sweet owner, but couldn't she see that if he discarded the Wand, their ability to leave would be gone and they WOULD DIE IN HERE!?
The young Anubis was self-aware enough to know he was unable to tell real danger from a perceived fun adventure. But in this moment, he knew that he was not the Aisha's Petpet. Not really. And he knew she realized this, too.
The Anubis ran up to nip once more at Aurrick's ankles in a mad hurried frenzy. "We've got to go!" Abasi yipped loudly as he dashed out, beckoning the Neopets to follow him.
"Well... let's go!" the Krawk exclaimed as he ran and grabbed Kaira's paw, practically pulling her out of her sobbing trance, as his other hand clutched tightly to the scroll.
The Ghostly Wand of Spades illuminated the glyphs signifying their path out. And though a dust storm raged always a few feet behind them -- Coltzan's doing, no doubt -- the three managed to race through the passages and escape the Catacombs, into the fresh evening dusk, the last rays of the sun making the coarse sand glistening gold. And the three ran, and ran, until they reached Qasala, until they were sure Coltzan's ghost would not be able to find them.
"See, what'd I tell ya'!" Aurrick drawled as he playfully whacked Kaira's back. "We live! I upheld my part of the deal, and we have everything we aspired to want!"
Except, Kaira was still sobbing. "I don't have what I want... I lost my Petpet back there!"
"But I'm right here!" Abasi yipped, confused.
"But he's right here," Aurrick affirmed.
"No he isn't... he isn't the sweet little pupper I raised from the moment I found him lost and hungry in the streets of Sakhmet. I'm just... I'm not cut out for the dangers of the adventurous life he clearly wants to lead." She knelt down, pet him, and hugged him. "Thanks for being my pal, but you... you stay with Aurrick, now. You're a good boy."
And just like that, she disappeared into the night.
Aurrick looked down at the Petpet, in some disbelief at the events that had just transpired. "Well... you're not a half-bad treasure hunter, I'll give you that. Maybe this'll work out." He leaned down and picked up the Petpet. "But no more nipping." He bopped the Anubis's nose.
Abasi frowned. He had his treasure... but at the cost of his owner.
Was that... worth it to him?
"Hey what's up pup!" Aurrick said as the Anubis leapt from his hands.
Abasi was going to chase Kaira down! Abasi was going to find her. Abasi would be Kaira's Petpet once more!
Abasi... realized he had no idea where the Aisha went. Or even where she'd be, other than that she'd probably head back to Sakhmet in the morning. But it was a long trek to Sakhmet from Qasala, one he admittedly did not want to make by himself.
With a forlorn sign, he let himself be picked up once more my the Krawk.
Still clutching the Wand between his teeth, he supposed his fate was sealed, now. He was going to be an actual adventurer in the perilous Lost Desert.
And, years later, he would find Kaira again. And he'd tell her of all the adventures
He was sure of it.
Aurrick patted down the Anubis's back. The Krawk formed a slow grin as the Petpet, relaxed, started to doze off. "Well, come on then. Let's get a good rest at the inn, and then follow the contents of that scroll..."
THE END Only problem was... I couldn't formally submit it? I kept getting this error, no matter the device, browser, or VPN. First time I'd ever seen it.
 But, a "This is a test" submission went through successfully, so it must have been the entry; I can't really explain what could have possibly caused it. I even tried removing the italic formatting. I ended up putting it on a Petpage and NMing Adler that I'd done so. But still -- anyone ever encounter the error before? |
|
And yeah, TJ last won Week 819 according to my records, so a throwback indeed!
