SHENKUU LUNAR FESTIVAL SPECIAL

Shenkuu, the Hiding World
By _Lady_animal_lover_

Beyond the border of mountains tall
Through the fog that never subsides
Over the bridges that will not fall
Lies the city that always hides

Discovered by those who sail at sea
Shenkuu was timid and shy
The sailors never knew such a city could be
Until they passed it by

Though the villagers are kind and sweet
They are cautious and wary of others
But when other Neopians they did meet
They soon did call them brothers

A merchant city beyond compare
The Neopians of Shenkuu work their best
Their prices are good and they earn their share
And no one could think them less

Shenkuu is wonderful in all its ways
As the sailors who found could see
I'm sure it will see many lovely days
As happy as ever could be

Shenkuu: The Orient Mystic
By N0rik0

Amidst the shroud of foggy veil,
Lies silent above a jaded ville
of dragons, phoenix and the Arts
and exponents versed in poison darts.

The delicate balance of strength and grace
the Yin and Yang - a warrior of highest praise
Swiftly scaling the mystical heights
to conquer, to dream - the fancy of flight.

The alien cuisine of an alient land
Passed through ancient orient clans.
With magic restoratives and all cures
such is the power of those Pure.
Solar patterns and lunar charts -
a gift of wisdom from Ancient hearts
Power, mastery and all abounds
within this land of myterious grounds

An ancient pearl so dormant lay
for centuries, years, months and a day
'till a recent twist in Cyodrake's fate
had Neopians begun entering its salt-rusted gates

The Lunar Temple
By Fallingroses

High atop a mossy hill
There sits a temple built of stone
Whose golden roofs shade secrets old
And mysteries of skies unknown.
There an ancient Gnorbu lives
Tracking the planets on his chart
His face is lined with ghosts of years
And still he studies with strong heart.
His challenge calls to visitors
Who come from near and far
To match their minds against his
And map the moon and stars.
He smiles again, extends a hand
Asking you to name the phase
Of the moon you'd see above you
As it travels through dark space.
And so you select the moon you think
Would be seen by those below
But the old Gnorbu smiles at you
And whispers, "That is so."

Up the Mountain
By Fruitychiagirl

I climb the spiral path
That wends its way up the mountain
To reach the observatory
That sits overlooking Shenkuu
I pause a moment
As I breathe in the pure mountain air
Hearing nothing but the flag
That flaps in the wind atop the roof's highest point
And the heartbeat that pounds
In my ears from both fatigue and nervousness

I open the door and he turns to face me
This wise Gnorbu who watches the skies
He smiles sagely at me, so young and so unlearned
He tucks a scroll into the pouch at his side
Hobbles over to me with purpose
Leaning on his gnarled, smooth walking stick

He gestures to the charts, the models of orbs
And he speaks in a voice that is surprisingly strong
"Do you think you have what it takes
To accurately track their movement?"
His ice blue eyes twinkle
With depths of understanding and patience
It is easy to see he is not like the fool
Who tells more than he knows
But the wise man who knows more than he tells

I take a few moments to carefully study
What lies before me
I look here, I look there, I double-check my instincts
"Here," I say, pointing at the sliver of a crescent,
"Here is where the moon lies in the cycle."

I hold my breath in anticipation
As he gazes at the charts, then at me
A slow smile again creeps over his weathered face
"That is the correct answer," he says,
And presses a package into my hand
"Here is a reward for your diligence."

As I duck back out into the sunlight,
Eyes squinting against the brightness
I think to myself that I have never felt
So proud over something so small
And that even next to the vastness
And majesty of the stars and moon
Those blue eyes still hold
More mystery and marvel for me

I clutch my prize tightly in my hands
And take the path down the mountain to go home.