Campfire in the Catacombs (Storytelling Contest)

[RielCZ]

Thanks Chocolate ! Usually I write more comedic stuff so it's been an interesting week getting to stretch my serious/dramatic side.

Yep, first time I entered basically consistently in an STC in a long long time. I entered for every slot except the one won by Kat . (Congrats Kat BTW! )

A few of my better / more interesting failed entries, since seeing those are always fun:

SPOILER: Click to show

...At once, an entrance opened in the side of the Shrine. "Huh? What is this? Where does this lead?" Amira asked, more to herself than to the Nightsteed.

Wordlessly, the fiery figure trotted into the Shrine, looking back, waiting for Amira to follow him. With a single solemn nod, the Aisha strode up to him and they walked alongside each other through the dimly lit corridor.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance to a large chamber.

Amira took a deep breath, readying herself. She had not seen where her father's sarcophagus was ultimately laid to rest, but she knew it had to be here. This had to be the burial chamber of King Coltzan III.

Summoning her courage, she walked into the room, but it was not what she expected.

Inside, held in place by the hieroglyphics on the walls, was a swirling purple vortex.

"It is a portal to an alternative universe," the Nightsteed finally spoke. "I do not know who opened it. All I can say is that I have ventured through it and back... and inside, your father never drank of and succumbed to the poison."

Amira was dumbfounded. Speechless. Broken.

She had had her time of grieving, literally laid this topic to rest, and became the queen her nation needed.

And yet...

The Nightsteed grunted sympathetically. "Will you want to see him again and bring him back...?"

SPOILER: Click to show

...Amira entered the catacombs. Lighting a torch from the provisions the Nightsteed provided her, she ventured into the dimly lit corridor.

A short distance inside, she saw something stirring and started. She breathed a sigh of relief that it was only a Wadjet.

But she narrowed her eyes. Something about that Wadjet was peculiar... Amira gasped. It was grey. A grey Wadjet. Those didn't exist!

Without hesitation, she followed the Petpet, and found herself in an antechamber filled with with grey Lost Desert Petpets.

It was good that her father taught her that desert Petpets were friends, and nothing to be scared of. She wondered if her sister Vyssa might have fainted at the sight.

She trudged around the Petpets and kneeled beside a grey Abubis. "Hey there, friend," she cooed, reaching out her paw to pet its soft fur. "What is this place? What lies ahead?" Amira glanced up at the door in front of her, leading to parts unknown -- parts she knew she had to face if she wanted to save her father, stop him from being permanently exiled from this place, his Shrine.

"You there," came a melancholy and monotone voice behind Amira. the Aisha felt her hair raise as she remembered the undead creatures the Nightsteed had mentioned. "You aren't grey. How can you possibly be this close to the Shrine's inner sanctum without being cursed?"

Steeling her nerves, the queen turned around to see...

SPOILER: Click to show

...nothing but the chamber she was in.

Except... she could sense, nae, see, that the room had a misty, ethereal, supernatural quality about it.

And everything was unsaturated. Muted. Grey.

Amira realized she was seeing the room as though through the eyes of her father's ghost. A shiver ran down her spine. "Coltzan? Father?" she asked the empty air. "Where are you? Are... are you here?"

As though in response, she felt a surge of accursed depression course through her, and tears came to her eyes. She had always been the more carefree and rebellious daughter of King Coltzan III, but she had strong feelings of empathy... though she often kept that side of her hidden away like a precious gemstone.

"My spirit has been pried from my Shrine," the Aisha heard herself speak -- except the words weren't hers. They felt foreign on her lips. "Lost. Wandering. Ebbing away. For years, I have felt it my duty to stay in this realm, and guide the lost souls of the Lost Desert, until such a time as I have done all I could do. But my willpower is fading... fading... I am fading... Reverse the curse on my crown, on my shrine, Daughter, or there will be nothing left of me... Save my soul..."

Amira gasped for air and with a swift motion grabbed the crown and tore it from her head. Breathing heavily, she glared around the room, waiting for her vision to clear.

The ethereal quality dissipated. But the grey remained.

In horror, she looked down at herself with a start. For she, too, had become grey. Intrinsically, undeniably grey.

And then she heard a cackling from behind her...

Also, I tried to setup a very specific ending idea. I'll be curious to see whether the winner caught on or goes in a different direction.

EDIT: Yep I'm glad someone connected it to the current plot events with the gathering of Neopian leaders.

[Chocolate]

I also submitted an ending with it coinciding with the gathering of leaders - great minds I guess!

I will probably be skipping this week while I focus on the new FFXIV expansion - good luck all!

[RielCZ]

For this STC's inept pirates adventure, I keep submitting entries with overt Monkey Island references but to no avail (thus far).

I am prepared to continue trying.

[RielCZ]

Welp, 0 for 7 this week. Alas.

Here was probably my favourite entry I wrote though. (I'll have to reuse some of these ideas for the next pirate STC.)

SPOILER: Click to show

...a Xweetok, wearing a purple and blue plaid jacket and a white Kauboy hat. He was grinning at them, though tapping his foot impatiently. "Howdy! I'm Stu of Stu's Previously Loved Ships, and I'd stand on my tail to make you a deal."

The Kiosk proprietors glared at each other, then back at Stu.

"I can tell that you three are treasure hunters of quality," continued the Xweetok, who spotted their map, "and that quality means a lot to you. I have all sorts of quality ships here, ready to go home with you today! I've got something for everyone. Come take a look around! I want to make you a deal that YOU'RE happy with. Because if YOU'RE not happy, I'M not happy."

Stu just grinned as a pause grew between them.

"Actually," started the Desert proprietor, a touch hesitantly, "we, er, may need a ship. But we won't know for sure until we can interpret our treasure map." She held it up.

"Oh, you can't let that small detail stop you from buying the used boat of your dreams! But let's see if I can help you out -- and yes, I do take tips." Stu bounced up to them and scrutinized the map, but he didn't touch it. "Unfortunately, my skills are in the art of the deal, not in map interpretation." He grinned casually and snapped his fingers. "But I know of a guy who runs a map shop in Warf Wharf, who trained in cartography under King Hagan. If there's anyone knowledgeable enough of the local area to match your map, it's him."

"Sssplendid!" Sidney exclaimed, tenting his fingertips. "Whereaboutsss isss he located?"

"Right next to Little Nippers," Stu revealed. "And again, I take tips."

"Ooh I know where Little Nippers is!" the Cybunny exclaimed. "I got my cute l'il Mirgle from there."

The Wocky grinned. "Lead the way, Amira."

The Cybunny rolled her eyes. "Puh, I'm no princess," she rebutted.

"I think I'll ssstay here..." Sidney trailed with a vile, growing grin. "Sssee if I can... negotssiate a ssship from that Ssstu sssalesssman..." The Nimmo glanced at Stu.

Stu smiled back, determined, unwavering. "Make me an offer, friend. How many dubloons do you have to spend?"

"Good luck, Sid," the Happy Valley Kiosk proprietor said as he clapped a paw on Sidney's shoulder. "We'll meet you back here when we're done with the map."

"Yeah Sidney, you can take him," the Lost Desert Kiosk proprietor finished before leading the Wocky out of the docks. The pair skillfully outmaneuvered some wandering pirates (while learning quite a few insults in the process) and found themselves back in Warf Wharf.

They were soon at Little Nippers, beside which was a little shop named "Maps 'n' Stuff." Though the moonlight shone overhead, through the store's front window, the two Kiosk proprietors noticed the silhouette of a Neopet hunched over a desk, bathed in candlelight.

"Lead the way, 'ol Beau."

The Wocky shook his head at the incorrect moniker and opened the door.

The two walked in to see that the Neopet was a small red Mynci, wearing a monocle, scrutinizing a map. He looked up expectantly, if awkwardly, when they entered. "Oh yes. Hi there. Can I help you? I'm Wallen. Wallen G. Nourri. At your service..."

[Kat]

I'm so sorry, Riel. Ugh, that must be frustrating especially when you enjoyed writing your submissions.

Haven't been active again lately (lols) but we got a Storytelling mention in this week's editorial.

Hola TNT!! *hands you the largest plate of cookies you've ever seen* I’ve been eagerly trying to participate in the Storytelling Contest for the past two months, but despite my efforts, I haven’t had any success in getting my stories accepted. I’d love to understand more about the criteria for this particular contest. I can’t help but wonder if my challenges might be influenced by the fact that English isn’t my first language, even though I believe I have the ability to write a decent story. Additionally, I’ve noticed that many of the same talented players frequently appear in the winners’ circle, often boasting impressive collections of 50-100+ storytelling trophies. This pattern can be quite discouraging for aspiring writers in the community. I would greatly appreciate any clarification you could provide about this situation and any insights into how I might improve my chances in the future. Thank you so much for all the hard work! ~ sosunub

Hello! Thank you for the cookies, although I may get a tummy ache if I eat them all! Here are some helpful tips to help you increase your chances of being selected in the Storytelling Contest:

• Make sure that the flow of your submission works with the previously published story part; if the story is ending soon, try to wrap up the plot and details.
• ensure that your content is original and written without the aid of AI-based programs as this can trigger AI detection (we want to ensure fairness!)
• We love creativity but we also need to stick to canon Neopets information and plots etc. as much as we can
• We typically just this content fairly early in the morning (NST time) so keep this in mind when submitting for your desired part. We also delete all submissions after a new part is selected, so keep this in mind!
• We have a lot of users who submit on a daily basis and while we do our best to diversify the winners, we need to ensure all of the above.

Keep trying and don’t get discouraged! We appreciate your participation! We are aiming to have an updated handy dandy FAQ releasing soon going into more detail about Storytelling, so keep an eye out for that! ~~ Adler

end quote.

So, they might revamp the FAQ to fit the new style of the contest (I'll miss the old FAQ though!).

[RielCZ]

Oooh well an update to the FAQ is long overdue.

Also, re this past STC, I had my ending idea in mind since the Queen character was introduced. I tried my best to set up those themes (allusions to cults/dictatorships, MC thinking he's helping free the Petpets but really he's helping the tyrant, room for various levels of moral greyness) in my earlier entry, and I'm glad that was picked up on (particularly by emeawa).

Though, I... ultimately wasn't satisfied with my writing in the ending this time around. Thought it was a bit verbose in some places and a bit rushed in others. But, I'm glad it placed; I haven't won an ending in almost half a year heh.

Apparently I can win by writing something long with complex and multiple levels of morality but I can't win by writing a fluff love letter to Monkey Island

[RielCZ]

Big congrats to Mostly Harmless (flufflepuff) for winning the STC this week! I know how hard she worked and how many entries she submitted, and the competition these days is just fierce, for some reason.

I put in this for an ending:

SPOILER: Click to show

..."I'm sorry for getting up in your business!" Indigo screamed, caught in the heightened tenseness of the moment. "Even if I did get tons of subs!" She hugged her sister tightly and sobbed.

"You SHOULD be sorry!" Clara roared. Yet, likewise cowering, she hugged her sister back. After the briefest of moments, she added, "And I'm sorry for tricking you into thinking the Snowager actually wanted to give you his stuff AND get an interview with you, and getting you and us into this mess!"

They steeled themselves for a blast. But the blast never came.

The sisters realized, with a start, that the Snowager was slowly closing his gaping, frosty jaw.

"Well done you two," he bellowed, a wry grin spread across his icy maw. "In the face of danger, of absolute certain bodily destruction," he gestured his long pointed snout toward himself with self-satisfaction, "you apologized and made up with each other. I'm no therapist, but I think that has been some very healthy progress and an improvement in your family dynamic."

The sisters just gaped at him, frazzled but decidedly less terrified. Meanwhile, the giant ice worm looked back and forth between his treasure horde and the two Wockies. Treasure was one thing, but it was... not everything. He remembered his earlier thought that he had both everything and nothing.

These sisters were neither everything nor nothing, and certainly were something. Their presence in his life was not nice, per se, but... maybe they could at least represent a nice change of pace for the Snowager. Though out of his comfort zone, it was decidedly nice to feel like he was having a positive impact, helping Neopets through their issues.

"I'll tell you what," the Snowager began, almost tenderly, as he inched his big slender head closer. "For the low low cost of an occasional Negg -- doesn't even need to be an expensive one -- I want to help you two continue to improve your relationship with each other."

The Wockies were... smiling, slightly. Contemplating. "That... sounds like it could maybe be nice," Clara said hesitantly, but genuinely.

The ice worm turned to Indigo, who still seemed somewhat standoffish. "I'm sorry for wrecking your recording device. But hey, to make it up to you, I'll guest star on your livestream, if you'd like."

The dimensional Wocky barked a laugh. "You don't have the rizz to be on my channel, Quandale. But... well, my subs might appreciate it for the memes. You cooking with the times?"

The Snowager frowned at the entire conversation. "Er... skippy fortnight?"

"Ewwww stop bottom fragging," Indigo whined, covering her ears, as she ran out of Ice Cave #7. "Criiiinge!"

"Er..." trailed Clara with a sheepish grin. "I should catch up with her. I'll get back to you. But thanks for everything." The Wocky dashed out of the cave after her sister, the sounds of her footsteps echoing around the large chamber, now devoid of all life but the Snowager himself.

The great ice worm sighed. Alone again. At least for now. Even if the Wockies didn't come back, there would be others. Maybe it was time to retire his mantra of "freeze first, ask questions never."

All this excitement had wore him out. With a mighty yawn, he settled back over his treasure pile, ready for a much overdo nap.

THE END

[RielCZ]

Put in this for the most recent slot. Though I acknowledge it was probably too long and too much tonal change.

SPOILER: Click to show

...rows on rows of Neopets, many dressed in clandestine regalia, sitting quietly and listening to a Meerca lecture at the front of the room. Eustace and Dalith glared at them all and took a seat near the back.

"To reiterate: good benefits, a healthy work-life balance, and all the deets on your rivals and enemies that you could ever want," the Meerca finished. "And more! Those are just some of the reasons you should consider joining the Sway! Thanks everyone for your attention and have a great rest of your evening!"

The Neopets started to get up and shuffle about the room.

"The next presentation is on why you should invest in one of our Sway timeshares on Lutari Island!" exclaimed the Meerca.

"Now's our chance!" Eustace hissed as he proceeded to obscure himself in the fray and movement of other Neopets, and gestured for Dalith to do likewise but to stay close to him.

At last, the pair found themselves out of the Sway's recruitment tent... and near a tent that was much more heavily guarded.

"There, judging by the security, that's the real deal," Dalith opined before donning their finest brown fedora.

Dalith approached the guards, and Eustace followed. "What is happening in there?" the Lupe asked.

"War room meeting of the Tyrannian Elders," replied a fluffy Kau. "No one is allowed inside, unless you're an Elder or have official business with them."

"O-oh..." fumbled Dalith. They were always one to rehearse, and not much for improv. "But, er, this is a highly important--"

"We're here on a personal matter," Eustace interjected. "I'm here to visit my Great Aunt, Kyruggi."

The guard smiled bemusedly. "Is she really your great aunt?" she skeptically inquired.

"Yes," Eustace said proudly. "But just by marriage. Tekel is my blood uncle though."

Dalith and the guards were dumbfounded at this assertion. But the fluffy Kau went into the tent anyway. A few minutes later, a surprised expression on her face, she emerged with Kyruggi.

"Ugga ugg al arrch aka fa," the Kyrii said warmly as she pulled Eustace in for a long hug.

"Ack!? I still can't speak Tyrannian," Eustace muttered, his embarrassed words barely escaping his throat.

"Oh, right, er, sorry," Kyruggi apologized as she released him. "Eustace dear, it's so good you paid your dear auntie a visit! And your friend, too!" Her eyebrows shot up. "Or is it finally a more-than--"

"Noooo," he whined, "they're just a friend."

Kyruggi chuckled, but it quickly turned into a dire expression. "If only you'd come visit due to happier circumstances. You must be here to enlist? Which faction have you decided to join?"

Dalith stepped in and gave the lead Elder a sweeping bow and curtsy. "Forgive our ignorance, ma'am. I am but a humble museum archaeologist and part-time tour guide, but I, and your nephew, do not know know what is happening here. We desire to find out, so we are not doomed to repeat history."

Eustace rolled his eyes at the theatrics.

"Alas, history is doomed to repeat." The Kyrii stiffened and frowned sadly. "By the light of the full moon, the Monoceraptor has been revived." Her body deflated. "Tyrannia is destined to again be plunged into the chaos of war. We Elders have appealed to the ever-warring factions to band together and fight the beast on our behalf, nae, on behalf of all Tyrannians. And like the faction leaders have stepped up with logistics and supplies, many Tyrannian citizens have too to join them."

Kyruggi headed back into the tent, and waved at the pair to follow. "Come, dearest children of the museum, for there is much work to be done..."

[RielCZ]

Never enough use of the Campfire in the Catacombs thread.

Congrats winners this contest! The ending I submitted was decidedly darker heh:

SPOILER: Click to show

..."Dark one is with us in room."

Eustace gulped. "Like... with us right now?"

The beast nodded in affirmative.

At this revelation, those in the cave looked around in panicked fury.

Everyone except, Dalith realized, the faction leader at which the beast was intently staring.

The Duchess remained stoic, smiling. Just smiling.

"It's her!" the Tyrannian Lupe cried out as the beast released a piercing, melancholy squawk.

"But why!?" Eustace practically begged for an answer, spinning on his tail to face the Duchess.

"Is it not obvious?" the matronly Lenny retorted in her bourgeoisie diction. "Long ago, shortly after the Discovery of Tyrannia, the Sway was here, surveying the land to see what sorts of commodities we could extract therefrom. Even more so than the rock quarry in Altador, or the obsidian in Moltara, or the precious gems mined just outside Neopia Central, we discovered that Tyrannia was lined with, by far, Neopia's largest fields of o--"

"Obelisks?" the leader of the Brutes interjected.

"Close enough." The Duchess smirked. "We sought to control the precious resource, and 'persuaded' the Monoceraptor to do our bidding. But, we failed to appreciate just how dedicated the Tyrannians were to fighting for their homeland, and our monster was defeated. Though the Sway continued plotting from the shadows, the discovery of The Obelisk emboldened us to reveal ourselves and continue our fight to control the precious resources of Tyrannia."

During her monologue, the cave became noticeably tense, the only sounds being the gritting of teeth, a faraway dripping, and echoes of the Lenny's powerful, collected voice.

The Duchess paused for dramatic effect. "And now, finally, due to my careful planning, I have you all right where I want you."

This was far more than a tolerable amount of the Lenny's rhetoric for everyone in the room. "No," started Rasala as she prepared some magical energy. "We will NOT let you. We will put a stop to you, and take down the Beast too, if we have to."

"I'm not sure we could take down the beast," Lambert added, quietly, after a quick assessment of the situation. "Probabilistically speaking."

"Lambert gets it. I control all the variables," the Duchess started coolly yet commandingly. "I placed the Monoceraptor's teeth where they were found. I assembled the meeting gathering all of us together -- keep your friends close and your enemies closer, after all. Under my direction, we sourced the museum for answers, and I even encouraged Kanrik to etch his 'call for action' on the museum's mural, so that we could get a 'qualified expert' -- working for me, of course -- to bring us here, the place of your collective doom."

At this everyone surrounded Dalith. "She's lying!" the Lupe shot back. "She's a master of manipulation, remember?"

"Soon, Tyrannia will be the Sway's domain, and nothing will stand in our way!" The Duchess clapped her hands. "Oh Beastie, why don't you finish what your bestie started?" She gestured her wing at the assembly of faction leaders, standing their ground. (Though Lanie and Lillie were skipping in a circle.) "Take out the leaders of these five pitiful factions, and then go after the Tyrannian Council of Elders!" She held up the Monoceraptor's teeth. "Avenge your friend the Monoceraptor's death! And remember, disobey, and you will suffer a fate worse than the Monoceraptor suffered..."

The Beast looked at Dalith and Eustace curiously. Almost as if seeking advice.

"Ah yes, I didn't tell you what to do with them," the Duchess added pensively. "Yes... first... Them. Thinking that a museum curator could somehow play the hero." She shook her head. "The most foolish of all... start with them."

Eustace just looked enraged, but stood protectively in front of his best friend. "We aren't your enemy!" the Hissi hissed. But the Beast stared into Dalith's scared, pleading eyes.

"Yes... attack most foolish of all!" the beast shrieked.

And with a massive "BRRAWWWWK!!!", the beast attacked.

Faster than a speeding Faerie Racer, the beast had the Duchess in its talons, and it was soaring high into the hot clear Tyrannian sky.

***

"Tyrannia is evolving and keeping up with Neopia," Dalith elucidated during their spiel. "The Tyrannia Academy of Arts teaches everything from Petpet medicine to mechanical engineering. Ninety-eight percent of Tyrannians are fluent in common Neopian. But what about some of the even lesser known facts? Like, that the Monoceraptor had been summoned by the Sway? Or that the Beast and the Monoceraptor were friends?"

Eustace nodded along politely as his best friend performed their modified museum tour to the carnal fascination of their tour group. When it was done, they received great applause, and fielded some very interesting questions, ultimately ending with, "You know what they say about those who don't know history -- they're doomed to repeat it. But I hope I showed you that those who know history... can make for very interesting Neopets who are also very good at parties!"

The group chuckled and dispersed, and Eustace slithered up to the Lupe. "You did great out there!"

"Thanks so much!" Dalith exclaimed as they hugged the Hissi. "One more tour after lunch, and then that's it!"

"You said it!" Eustace exclaimed.

"It?" the Lupe asked quizzically.

"No, lunch!" The Hissi grinned, bearing his fangs. "I'm starving and that snack bar's been calling my name for days."

The friends laughed and made their way downstairs.

THE END

[RielCZ]

Nice to see phadalusfish back again.  Congrats!

I liked how... abstract (?) of a theme I managed to develop for mine. (I liked the winning entry, too, mind you.) I don't think mine is reusable so I'll post it.

SPOILER: Click to show

...shimmery? That was the best word he could use to describe the radiant tingly sensations. He looked down at himself and, with a start, realized that he simply did not appear. It was not that he was invisible. More so that he was... ethereal. Celestial. Essence.

Korrish placed a hoof in front of her eyes to shield her vision from the light emanating from the transformation. At last, she gazed upon her friend with wide, amazed, terrified eyes. "Oh hey!" the Kau exclaimed. "Looks like that bottle turned you into a Blue Kau, like me!" She gave a semi-apologetic shrug. "Sorry that the effects weren't more interesting. But being a Kau is super cool! Here, let me show you a trick." She proceeded to gallop and jump about.

Xandor looked back at himself. Was he a Kau? He didn't think he looked like a Kau. He didn't think he had a defined shape.

"What are you, mad?" castigated the large Eyrie from before, still in line, who had sufficiently little excitement in his life that he continued to observe the antics of Korrish and Xandor. "He's no Kau. He's a Gold Eyrie. Pathetic copykad," he muttered.

While Korrish bleated her displeasure and the Eyrie beaked off back at her, a realization dawned on Xandor. He was neither a Kau nor an Eyrie. He was not even a Neopet.

He was a mirror...

[RielCZ]

I liked the ending that won! Clever and even heartwarming (and we saw some Jhudora ).

I er went in a completely opposite direction.

SPOILER: Click to show

...a very angry Illusen -- arms folded, eyes narrowed, tapping her foot impatiently.

"There!" the pumpkin cried. "I remember visiting that faerie shortly before I became a pumpkin!"

Illusen strode over to Gilbert. "Why have you brought THIS back to me?" she asked, her voice thick with indignation.

The startled Gelert almost let the poor pumpkin slip from his paws. He cleared his throat and mustered his resolve. "Missus Illusen, miss," he started cordially with a salespet's grin, "we" -- he tilted his head toward the Acara -- "found this here pumpkin in my patch at Pick Your Own. Seems you may have rendered him in his current state, so he claims, because he may have picked and eaten one of your Dark Faerie Apples when he wasn't there supposed to. Frankly, this doesn't sound like something I've been led to believe you would do, but, er, given you're as upset as you are, maybe--"

Illusen raised her hand and cut him off. "I wasn't talking about that pumpkin, I've never seen it before in my life. I'm talking about HER." She pointed at the baby Acara.

"Who, mwe?" the Acara replied with an innocently vile smile.

Illusen shrieked. "She's a little gremlin, I tell you. She came in with her parental figure and whilst I was bestowing a quest on him she totally wrecked my place. Threw stones at my windows. Stuck gum in my Carmariller's fur. And then she found her way into my garden, started pulling out my plants, even my, er, 'special' one. And she didn't even apologize! She just babbled on in that VOICE!" The earth faerie grit her teeth and fell to her knees. "I admit it, I'm a horrible person, but I just cannot stand kids." She sighed. "So I gave her a Dark Faerie Apple from my secret garden, cursed to turn its eater into the nearest garden vegetable. Kids hate vegetables. I thought it might give her some perspective or poetic justice or something. She would have turned back once she felt truly sorry for what she did."

The Gelert looked down at the Acara incredulously.

She just smiled cutely back. "Yeah... I gave it to my daddy when we were pwicking pwumpkins. And then he turned into one. So I got the kind farmer Neopet to hewp me out."

Gilbert just glared at the wee Acara. "You're telling me... you cursed your own father, in my fields, into a pumpkin, and then recruited my help to bring him out of the patch and back to Illusen, so she could undo this here curse?"

"Accidentawy cursed." The Acara nodded cutely. "And more so twicked you than recruited."

Gilbert almost threw the pumpkin then and there out of irritation. His jaw stiffened and he set it down gently next to the earth faerie.

Illusen turned to the pumpkin. "Well... considering you were not my target, and I did try to curse your daughter..."

"Please undo this!" the pumpkin wailed.

Illusen turned back toward the little girl. "You need to be truly sorry for your actions in my Glade, and your dad will turn back to normal." She stared into the child's eyes. "Are you truly sorry?"

"Yes Iwwusen ma'am." The baby Acara grinned, showing her pointy teeth.

A pause.

He was still a pumpkin.

Illusen intensified her glaring. The child stared back, grin unwavering.

"Please hurry missus Illusen, I don't got all day, I gotta get back to my Pick Your Own," Gilbert drawled, a hint of haste in his tone.

The earth faerie sighed defeatedly, snapped her fingers, and the pumpkin was a Peophin once more.

The Peophin embraced his little girl and they went off.

"And don't EVER bring her back around these parts!" Illusen called to them as they left. "This curse was just the surface of my power!" The faerie shook her fist.

Gilbert left too, back toward Meri Acres. When he got there, he was pleased to see that only a few pumpkins had illicitly disappeared without his watchful supervision. Normally he'd be furious, but after the events of today, he was more than content to toss his pitchfork aside and simply slump down on his wooden rocker on the wooden front porch of his wooden NeoHome, letting the missing pumpkins do as they wished. He didn't even want pumpkin pie.

He thanked his lucky stars that this crop was the last batch of the season.

THE END

[RielCZ]

Congrats on the wins this week Kat and Jae!

I put in an entry for the second slot that had the Fyora call upon Luxinia for morally ambiguous political intrigue reasons.