"You have become strong, my little Zafara," she said. "Go and test your skills in Neopia. I will not leave you empty handed--here is a Jelly Sword. Use it wisely."

"You've got to be kidding," I replied. "A sword made of jelly? C'mon, this is a joke, right?"

Without a word, the Battle Faerie disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

"Oh, great. Now what am I supposed to do, eat it? Everyone is going to laugh at me. I can hear it now, Here comes Raabiat with his edible sword!" But the exact opposite happened when I arrived back into town. I was like a celebrity or something...

Now, I was confused. I was just an average Zafara, right?

There was so much commotion on the streets, that I was glad to finally reach my NeoHome. Once inside I flopped down on my bed, and put my Jelly Sword away on the shelf with care. Just then, my friend, Sheemop, dashed breathlessly into my room.

"Raabaiat!" yelled Sheemop, brandishing a copy of the Neopian Times.

"What, Sheemop? Look, it's been a hard day and..." I stopped quickly, as I caught a glimpse of the front page of The Neopian Times. Snatching it from Sheemop's paw, I studied the paper with utter shock.

There, on the front page was a picture of me! The caption said, "Little Neopian becomes lucky owner of priceless sword!" I could barely keep from scoffing. A sword made of Jelly was priceless?

I skimmed over the article, and my heart skipped a beat. One of the sentences, which I read and re-read, said: "Raabiat, who was once an average citizen, is now in possession of a Jelly Sword. Many heroes from eras gone by have used this very sword to compete in tough battles. It has never failed them. We hope this lucky Zafara will fair as well as the other heroes."

I finally looked up from the paper, my eyes shrouded with doubt.

"Raabiat, I read the paper this morning, and I bought some books to research more about what I had read in the paper. The books said things like, only those destined to be legendary heroes find themselves in the possession of a sword like yours."

I gasped. "Sheemop, I can't be a hero. You heard the paper. I'm average. I'm not brave enough!"

Sheemop shrugged. "Well, I have faith in you Raabiat. You'll find a way to change Neopia, I know it! But I would put that sword somewhere safe. It's powerful, and in the wrong hands.... Well, I don't want to think about it."

I nodded. Sheemop was right.

Several weeks flew by, and although I was a little more popular, nothing happened to test my bravery, and nothing dangerous happened.

That night though, I was asleep in bed when I heard my door creak open, and a chilly wind whipped across my face. I bolted up in bed, my face perspiring with cold beads of sweat. There, hovering over my Jelly Sword, was...

Slipping on my Shadow Usul head slippers, I slowly tiptoed across the moon-stained room to the paw. I grabbed the Jelly Sword and raised it high. The rest did not seem to be my actions.

Slicing down and hard as possible, missing the little paw by centimeters, a force ignited into my arms. A power, as powerful as light itself, and as true as can be surged through all the veins in my body. A voice, much unlike my own spoke.

"Who dares steal the sword, given to me by the Battle Faerie herself?"

A quivering, high sounding voice answered. "I... didn't... not... erm... mean... OH, SAVE ME OH CHOSEN ONE!"

An Aisha, quivering with terror, cowered in the bushes that surround my NeoHome, looked up with milky white eyes.

I looked upon the filthy little creature, not quite sure of what to make of her. I studied her. In the voice that still could not have been my own, I asked, "What is your business here? What is your name?"...

I was startled and, I'll admit, a little embarrassed when the blue creature bowed down to me on her knees. My face was redder than a tomato as I slowly brought down the Jelly Sword. "Please, get up!" I pleaded in my own voice. I was very relieved to have my old voice back. That other voice was creepy!

"As you wish, oh chosen one," Katrina replied as she lifted up her head to look at me.

"And please don't call me that, okay?" I asked. "My name's Raabiat. Now, do you mind telling me what you're doing out here, trying to steal my sword?"

"I wasn't trying to steal it, Raabiat, I swear!" Katrina denied. "I was trying to see if you were indeed the one that possessed the Jelly Sword, and I have seen for myself that it's true. Please, you must come with me!" The little Aisha wrapped her tiny paws around my ankle and tried to pull me forward.

"Wait a minute! Wait a minute!" I shouted as I held my ground.

"We can't wait a minute, Raabiat!" Katrina shouted in her high-pitched voice as she struggled to pull my leg with no success. "There's no time for this! You have to come with me! Our whole land is in danger and you're the only one who can stop it!"

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what I'm up against, Katrina!" I protested.

The little blue Aisha let out a frustrated sigh as she finally let go of my leg. "All right, I'll tell you, but it'll have to be quick." I sat down on the ground and gently laid the Jelly Sword down by my side as Katrina began to tell me her story...

"The people in my village got together and were going to hunt it," Kantrina told me in a shaky voice, "My father was against the idea from the start. He said since we didn't know what we were up against we should try and find out first." The little Aisha's eyes brimmed with tears.

I put my paw on her shoulder, "It's okay Katrina. I just can't understand how something no one can see would be causing so much trouble."

Katrina wiped her eyes, and continued, "It is some kind of creature that howls terribly at night, no one has been able to sleep well for weeks. It emits a glow, or so I have heard, that is so cold most run away before they can even look at it. That's why you must come with me and help my village!! The Battle Faerie has faith in you, or she wouldn't have given you that Jelly Sword! Please you must help us, and you must come quickly!!"

After I got Katrina to calm down, I began to pack some of my belongings into a small bag. I didn't pack much because I hoping I wouldn't have to be there long. After grabbing what I thought I might need, Katrina and I headed out into the night and began the hike to her village...

After five miles of walking, we came to a halt as the forest stood before us. I looked at the sign near the forest and Forbidden Forest was what it said. I gulped.

"Do we have to go in there?" I asked.

"Yes, but we'll have to cover ourselves in garlic so that the other creatures, or the thing, can't detect us."

I realised I didn't have any garlic on me. I panicked but a relief came to me when Katrina drew some garlic out of a hole.

As we approach more and more of the middle of the forest, different sounds could be heard. The sounds were endless and were the most creepy things I ever heard.

Then, a few scores of meters away, I saw a low, golden glow. Katrina saw it too and we were both clutching each other. The glow approach more and more when that strange voice of mine spoke...

"Jelly sword? Are you serious?" snickered the Scorchio as he tucked the small lantern into his belt. "You know, pal, you're not going to get far in this wood threatening people with a sword made of some confectionary dessert!"

The strange voice had left me again as I lowered the blade. "This sword was given to me by the Battle Faerie herself! Seems to me, if she saw me as worthy of this formidable weapon, I'd get a lot farther than you!" Katrina stood at my side, glaring at the fresh young Scorchio. "Who are you, anyway?"

The cocky Scorchio bowed low. "Aramir, at your service... and may I be the first to welcome you to my forest."

Katrina rolled her eyes. "YOUR forest, huh? Since when is it your forest?"

Aramir grinned. "Since always." He turned back to me, momentarily forgetting Katrina's comment. "So if this Jelly sword is so great, why don't we put it to the test?" He never took his eyes off me, and slowly drew a long sword from the sheath on his back.

Katrina looked at me frantically. "We don't have time! My village!"

I nodded. "She's right, Aramir. I can't stop to fight because we have to save Katrina's home from whatever evil is threatening it! I'm sure it's why the Battle Faerie gave this sword to me to begin with."

Aramir nodded, still grinning. "All right, all right... it won't take long. A short spar, my furry friend, to test your sword... if I win, the sword's not worth it and I'll take it off your hands for you... heh. If you win, I will grace you with my presence and help you save Katrina's village, deal?"

It seemed I had no choice, so I agreed to meet Aramir's challenge. I had no experience outside the training school, but somehow I felt that with the Battle Faerie's blessing, I could beat this warrior. I glanced at Katrina, who gave me a confident wink. I nodded to Aramir. "Deal. Let's get to it."

"Excellent! Follow me!" cried Aramir.

I followed him a short distance into the trees, which suddenly gave way into a wide clearing. I held the Jelly Sword tightly and stood at the ready for Aramir's onslaught. Aramir, who was leaning casually on his blade, waiting for me to prepare. When he saw that I was ready and suddenly leapt into the air, cutting through the air in a downward slash. With a cry of fear, I held the Jelly Sword up to block the attack...

"All right, all right, you win!" he gasped. "I will help you defeat the monster in Katrina's village."

"Then we have no time to waste! Come on!" Katrina yelled, as she pulled both of us toward her village.

As we were nearing the village, we slowed down. All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my back. Katrina and Aramir we're right in front of me so who could have tapped me? I turned around and saw a familiar face...

"Th-th-th-there was th-th-this thing ch-ch-chasing m-m-me and it w-w-as horrible... b-b-big t-t-teeth..."

"Sheemop, why don't you come with us? I just discovered how great this Jelly Sword is, and you'll be a lot safer if you're with more people. Katrina and Aramir are right in front of us so I'll just introduce you quickly and we'll be on our way. Katrina! Katrina? Aramir? Where are you?"

I looked all around me in panic. There was no sign of her anywhere. Aramir had disappeared, too.

"We must have taken a wrong turn somewhere because--" I had just been interrupted by Sheemop's scream "What's the matter?"

"IT'S THE MONSTER I WAS CHASED BY BEFORE! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!!"

I looked and saw a huge monster with fangs and a horrible, horrible face. I turned around and ran, dragging Sheemop along, praying that I was running fast enough. Then I reached for my sword and felt... nothing...

What was I going to do?! I glanced to my left, where a baby Neopet's tire-swing dangled from a tree, long forgotten. I left Sheemop and dove towards the tree, narrowly missing the beast's claws. I snipped the frail rope attaching the tire to the tree, and in one swift motion, leapt into the air and shoved the tire onto the creature's head.

Tumbling to the ground, I ran to the sword and picked it up, feeling a new strength sweeping over me in a wave and filling me with confidence.

"You can do it, Raabiat!" Sheemop called from the bush he was hiding under.

"All right monster," I said, the strange voice returning once again "what do you want here?!" I called, holding the Jelly sword in front of me...

I stared, my mouth hanging open, as the giant, ugly beast shimmered for a moment, changing into the Battle Faerie. The Jelly sword quivered in my hand, then dropped on the ground as I took a step backwards.

"But you're...you're the Battle Faerie!" I cried as I stared at her in astonishment.

"My dear Zafara, you look much better with your mouth shut," the Battle Faerie gently chided. I closed my mouth with a snap, then shakily reclaimed my Jelly sword.

"But... why were you threatening the village?" I asked, my voice cracking a bit.

"You didn't believe in yourself, Raabiat. Now, you do, and you believe that you can make a difference. You're a hero, now, and deserve the Jelly sword."

I glanced down at the Jelly sword, feeling that old, familiar pang. That Jelly looked so good, so... delicious! "I guess," I muttered softly. Maybe I did deserve the sword... and maybe I could eat it!

"Raabiat, what's going on?" Sheemop asked as he moved up to stand to my side, and slightly behind me. "Where's the monster, and why is the Battle Faerie here?"

I motioned towards the Battle Faerie absently as I shrugged lightly. "The Battle Faerie's the monster, Sheemop."

"Erm... was, you mean," Sheemop pointed out as the Faerie disappeared in a puff of green smoke. I blinked, then grabbed Sheemop's arm, dragging him with me.

We pushed through a few bushes, then hopped back on the trail, heading on towards Katrina's village. As we moved along, the moon slowly fell to the horizon, then disappeared as the sun become to poke its head over the opposite horizon.

As the first rays hit us, we reached the village. All the Neopets were waiting for us, gathered in the village's center. As Sheemop and I walked past the last few houses, into the center, a great cheer went up. I was a hero, at last, with my Jelly sword!

Katrina and Aramir ran forward, shouting at the top of their lungs.

"We thought the monster--"

"I was so scared--"

"Would get you--"

"And I thought I'd never--"

"How did you--"

"See you again!"

"Beat the monster?"

Both were talking quickly, interrupting each other while trying to keep my attention. I laughed, and then began waving my hands around as I told them what happened.

"Then you really are a hero!" Katrina cried. "You faced the monster, and you saved my home! Thank you, Raabiat!"

I laughed, then threw my arms around each of their shoulders, and the four of us started towards the crowd, all talking and laughing. Finally, we were all heroes; my edible sword, my friends, and me. What a team!

The End