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Prelude
Another wonderful tale from the Aisha Legends. This old book is filled
with Aishan lore from tales of war, betrayal and sadness to ones of friendship,
joy and peace, all written in the mysterious language, Ancient Neopian. Painstakingly
translated, this particular story brings you the beginning of the Snow Aishas…
The Aisha Legends: Falling Snow - Part 1 - Rebellion
Sometimes, it only takes one snowflake to start an avalanche…
The tan coloured Aisha stretched leisurely on
her owner's lap. She felt warm and content. She pressed closer to her beloved
human, Ray -- they would never part…
Imril was woken up to harsh reality by a cold
snowflake settling on her fur. She sighed. Her dreams of a luxurious past were
now only that -- dreams. After the War of the Faeries, her owner, along with
all the other humans, had fled. She remembered her heartbreak at the betrayal.
She felt a drop of moisture run down her cheek and rubbed it away angrily. Tears
wouldn't do anything. The movement woke up Torin, a male Aisha, who was her
good friend. Together, they unofficially led their pack - a band of other Aishas
who'd been lucky enough to have owners… once.
Imril apologised to Torin then looked angry.
"Why must it be only dreams, Torin?"
Torin knew what she was talking about. He became
downcast and sad. "They're long gone, Imril. Our owners abandoned us with the
start of the Faerie War -- and they're not coming back."
"Faeries!" Imril sounded disgusted. "Where are
they now?" Her angry exclamations woke up another member of their elite Aisha
clan, Filan, a red Aisha with a mechanical bent.
"They're sitting all high and mighty in their
clouds, that's where," he remarked. The Faerie War had driven off his owner
too - and he distrusted magic.
Torin nodded. "Filan's right -- they've deserted
us." The bitterness in his tone could not be concealed.
The Aishas sighed unanimously. They had been
rich, well kept pets and now they had to scrounge off Neopia with all the others,
the ones who'd never known owners - lesser pets. They'd lost their owners and
their status. They covered their broken hearts with a haughty demeanour and
greed, but they could not deny it to themselves.
Imril sat bolt upright. "We should do something,"
she remarked, the beginnings of an idea forming in her mind. A perfect plan
-- outwardly, for personal gain and the recovery of their status. But deep in
her heart, Imril wanted revenge -- against her owner and those who'd driven
her owner away.
"But what to do… the Faeries have all the magic
and power," grumbled Torin.
"They're selfish," said Imril. "Whereas we will
use the magic to help ourselves. We are superior Neopets and it will not be
too hard." She smiled.
"Rouse the group -- we must plan carefully.
And, Filan…"
Filan looked at her questioningly.
"Bring your flying machine -- we're going to
pay a visit to the Faeries."
***
As Imril ascended into the sky, she felt the snow peter out -- the cloud had
passed, for now. Imril regarded the contraption below her with suspicion. Several
test flights had done nothing to inspire her confidence. Besides, flight was
a Faerie abomination -- magic could give even graceless, nom aerodynamic pets
effortless flight. Imril felt the prospect was tempting now, though -- anything
but being stuck on this infernal machine.
Torin obviously shared her nerves.
"Are you sure this is safe?" he shouted back
to Filan as the machine juddered ominously.
"Indubitably," Filan replied.
Imril was still glad to see the sparkling spires
of the Faeries' main hall -- Faeriehome -- rise into view. Rumour had it that
they would extend it into a palace and rename it Faerieland. Imril viewed their
extravagance with disgust -- the Faeries seemed to imbue whatever they lived
in with their own special presence, beyond value, and she both envied and loathed
this. The flying machine gave a jolt and then hovered level with the clouds.
Filan immediately stepped off and examined his beloved machine. He should have
been born an Alien Aisha, thought Imril.
She dubiously stepped onto the cloud. The warm
fluffy surface bore her weight easily and she and Torin walked onto the cloud
unreservedly. Filan handed them a pair of blowpipes and darts anointed with
a strong sedative. He also gave them some other useful equipment - binoculars,
rope, suction grips. The plan was simple -- to spy out Faeriehome and escape
with some items if possible. Their plan was fired by a strong curiosity, as
well as their greed. And so their small plan, a snowflake in a blizzard, was
to start an avalanche that would engulf them forever.
Torin and Imril told the others to stay on alert
and be ready to escape quickly. The pack trusted each other strongly, which
was unusual in most of Neopia's packs then. Imril and Torin had taken the lost
and bewildered Aishas, whose owners had fled, and shaped them into a strong
pack. The Aishas huddled together on the flying machines, waiting patiently
for their unofficial leaders to return.
Imril and Torin skirted round the edge of the
cloud and slowly approached the great main hall. It was formed of crystal glass,
mysteriously opaque, and it sparkled in the early sunlight. Most Faeries were
helping out on Neopia and did not stay in Faeriehome. The place was quiet and
empty and there was only one token guard, for show more than security. Imril
and Torin kept their distance and reached the edge of the building without mishap.
Just as Imril eyed up the sheer side of the
hall, ready to scale it, a strong hand was laid upon her shoulder. A kindly
Water Faerie looked into Imril's cunning black eyes.
"I'm sorry but this place is forbidden for non
Faeries to visit. I can help you back down to Neopia, if you wish."
Imril smiled charmingly. "I'm so sorry -- I
got it a little lost." She sounded apologetic. As she appeared to turn around
to leave, she lashed out. Torin leapt upon the Faerie and knocked her out cold.
The two Aishas bit their lips -- they couldn't afford to leave her there. In
their hearts, they knew what they were doing was wrong but they would not admit
it and their desires overruled them. They dragged the Water Faerie under the
overhang of the hall's roof, where she'd be sheltered, and left her.
Torin and Imril clambered up the wall, finding
it extremely difficult. The smooth, slippery crystal proved to be challenging
but, by use of the carved pillars and Filan's ingenious suction grips, they
eventually reached the top. Lying flat on the roof, they prepared themselves
for a long wait. A night and day was to be spent on outside reconnaissance then
they would move inside at the sunset. They curled up next to each other to keep
warm. The snow had started up again, gently, eddies of snowflakes drifting down
spasmodically. Imril and Torin kept watch through the falling snow…
Taelia sat up and winced. The Water Faerie had
a very bad ache in her side and head. She'd been out cold for a while, she estimated.
She recalled the two Aishas and did not judge them. They'd probably been scared
of her and struck out wildly to escape. She suppressed her memory of those ruthless
black eyes, trying not to remember the burning desire for power and revenge
that lit them. The Aishas were long gone, she decided, and not worth disturbing
the peace that had settled on Faeriehome while Fyora was still in her training.
She upturned her face to the snow and smiled happily, forgetting her pain. Taelia
got up and went in search of a healer.
The snowflakes danced behind her…
To be continued...
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