|
The Draik and Zafara had landed in Happy Valley hours ago
and were now hiking into the Ice Caves.
"Why did we come here instead of following the
map to the Cloud of Gems, Cecilia!" Zag whined.
"I want to know why the faeries didn't find
her after she disappeared and why she never came back. Zag, she's been drifting
around forever without family or friend. There has to be a reason," Cecilia
calmly explained from an outcropping.
"I wish we could fly," Zag said.
"Me too, but it's too windy," replied the Draik.
They climbed a little more, "Finally!" Cecilia exclaimed.
"Hey! I found an ice negg! Look, Cecilia, there's
a whole pile of neggs over here!" Zag yelled.
"Not so loud, Zag!" Cecilia cautioned and flew
over to him. "Wow! There are at least eight neggs here. Zag, look! It's a super
hero negg!"
"What do we do with them?" Zag asked. He licked
his lips at a happiness negg.
"We take them to the Snowager!" Cecilia said.
"What!?!?"
"We give him the neggs in exchange for the answer
to our question," the Draik explained.
"Cecilia, these are worth a lot of Neopoints!"
Zag cried.
"I know. But it will be worth the effort if
we can find the Cloud of Gems and answer the Faerie's question."
"Good point," Zag said.
They gathered up the neggs and went to the Snowager's
Cave. The way the breathing form the cave sounded it seemed as if the terrifying
Snowager was awake. They entered the cave and sure enough, the Snowager glared
down at the two intruders and was about to roar when he noticed the arm load
of neggs these two pets had with them but had not taken from him. Curious.
The Snowager lowered his head down and looked
closely into the Neopets' eyes before speaking. "What do you want?" the Snowager's
voice boomed off of the ice cave's walls and echoed a long time.
"We have gifts for you if you can answer a question
for us, great Snowager," Zag said unsteadily.
"A question?" the Snowager repeated, suspicious.
"Yes, we need to know why Fyora's sister was
not sought out after her escape and why she never returned," said Cecilia.
"Fyora's sister? The thief?" said the Snowager
"We do not speak of her. But I will answer your questions with one answer because
it solves both problems. When Fyora's sister escaped," the Snowager paused,
"Fyora forbid anyone harm her sister because their was a threat of war if harm
did occur to the radiant beauty that was Fyora's sister. So Fyora cast a powerful
spell of forgetfulness onto her sister. To this day the sister of Fyora knows
nothing of her past or of her family," he paused again. "She doesn't know of
Neopia or even her own name." The Snowager finished and growled greedily at
the neggs the pets still held.
"I have answered your question. I am entitled
to my gift," he said.
The Neopets' placed the neggs next to the treasure
of the Snowager, thanked him for his help, and began to leave. Cecilia stopped
and asked, "I have one more question. What is her name?"
"You have no more gifts for me. But I will answer
because you gave instead of took. I do not know her name because she has not
been spoken of in ages. However, Illusen has a memory keener than that of all
but the Faerie queen herself. Seek out Illusen for the answer to your question."
The Snowager yawned and fell to sleep.
"So we're going to see Illusen? What if she asks
us to do a quest before she'll answer your question?" Zag asked as they bounded
into the calm air.
"We just hope that she doesn't," Cecilia said
matter-of-factly.
It didn't take them long to get to the rolling
countryside of Meridell or to find their way to Illusen's Glade.
"Hello, young Neopets', can you get these things
for me? I will reward you," Illusen said when they entered the glade. She didn't
even glance up when they tiptoed in.
"Illusen, we would be happy to get these items
for you but we have no Neopoints," Cecilia said.
"Then why have you come," Illusen said.
"We are seeking answers to questions no one
has asked for a very long time," Cecilia replied.
"We were told you could remember more than anyone,"
Zag piped in.
"Oh, so what question do you seek an answer
to?" Illusen, at first irritated, now was calm and interested in the young pets'
curiosity.
"We want to know Fyora's sister's name. Do you
remember what it is?" Cecilia asked.
Illusen sighed and smiled. "I do remember her
name and wish that events had not happened as they had. But I cannot tell you
her name."
"Why not!?!?" Zag exclaimed.
"I have been bound by the Faerie Queen not to
ever tell her name."
"How can we learn her name then," Cecilia asked.
"Only Fyora can tell you her sister's name,"
Illusen said. "You must find Fyora and ask her."
"How do we find Fyora?" Zag asked.
"Go to the Hidden Tower and you will find her
there," Illusen said.
"Thank you," Cecilia said.
The two Neopets' immediately flew to Faerieland.
"Cecilia? How are we going to find the Hidden
Tower if it's hidden?" Zag asked when they arrived on the fluffy white cloud
above Neopia.
"I don't know?" she replied, sounding genuinely
puzzled. "We don't even know who we could ask."
The two Neopets' were at a loss. Where and what
were they supposed to do now?
"Uoo? Hoo? Uoo! Hoo!" came a small voice from
the petpet shop.
Cecilia perked up, "What was that?"
"Meekins!" came the voice.
Zag had already scooped up the little Meekins
and was cuddling it. "He is so cute! He's mine!" Zag said.
"Hidden Tower! Hidden Tower!" chirped the petpet
and squirmed in Zag's arms.
"I think he knows where the tower is, Cecilia!"
"I think you're right. Put him down. Lead the
way little one," Cecilia said.
It didn't take long for the Meekins to bring
the pets to the hidden tower and up the long twisted stairway to the room at
the very tiptop. A small wooden door sat in front of the Neopets' The symbol
of the Faerie queen was placed in gold in the middle of the door.
"Knock, knock!" the Meekins cried.
"I guess we knock then," Cecilia said.
They knocked and a beautiful voice replied,
"Do not enter if you cannot afford what I have here."
"We have no Neopoints, but we wish to ask you
a question," Zag said politely.
There was a moment of silence before they heard
a small click and the voice said, "Enter."
Cecilia pushed open the small door. The room
was filled with wonderful and expensive items. Cecilia was awed by the hundreds
of baby paint brushes hanging neatly on the wall. Zag looked carefully at the
yo-yo of death that was locked in a glass box in the middle of the room.
"Hello, young Neopets' What is this question?"
came the voice.
Cecilia and Zag turned around to face the most
beautiful Faerie they had ever seen. She smiled at them and Zag blushed.
"We would like to know your sister's name,"
Cecilia said quietly.
"And how have you learned of my sister?" Fyora
asked.
"From legend. The pirates told us about the
treasure and how the treasures were stolen," Cecilia said.
"And the Snowager told us about the spell of
forgetfulness. Illusen told us that we had to ask you for her name," Zag finished.
"You are very determined Neopets' so you deserve
to know the answer to your question. Be warned that the spell will be broken
if you tell her her name. I will hold you responsible for the consequences."
Fyora said firmly.
"We understand" Zag and Cecilia said together,
softly.
"Fylona is her name," Fyora said, "I assume
you are in search of the Cloud of Gems?"
"Yes. But our quest has changed, your majesty,"
Cecilia began. "We started in search of the treasure but now wish only to give
Fylona the answer to her question."
"You have honorable honesty, young Draik Be
safe on your journey." Fyora disappeared with a pop.
"Zag, where's the map! We have to find Fylona,"
Cecilia said as she flew out the tower's window with Zag behind her holding
the Meekins
"Wow!" exclaimed Zag as he turned around to
find nothing but air. The tower had disappeared.
The Draik and Zafara flew for a long time and
slept twice before the Cloud of Gems came into view. They landed on the cloud
and walked quietly down a path that was surrounded by piles and piles of unbuyable
items; toys, paint brushes, Draik eggs, even petpets could be seen roaming the
forest of stuff. A Krawk ran across the path causing both Neopets' to shriek.
"And who are you?" a voice, beautiful but dark,
asked.
The pets were about to answer when a Faerie
in a dark purple dress covered with shimmering purple gems appeared. She was
even more beautiful than Fyora. "Can you answer my question?" she asked, her
eyes sad.
"I'm Zag and this is Cecilia."
"We think we can," Cecilia said.
"If you do you will be rewarded greatly. What
is my name?"
The Neopets' smiled. "Fylona," they replied.
The Faerie's eyes brightened and she smiled.
"Thank you!" cried Fylona. "I remember everything. Oh, I am sorry, I really
am!" and she began to cry. "I can't give you anything for your answer because
none of this is mine to give. I must return it all to Fyora," Fylona explained.
"I thought so," said Cecilia. "Don't cry. We'll
go with you to see the Faerie queen. Alright?"
Fylona nodded and suddenly the cloud changed
direction and began to float faster and faster toward Faerieland. Soon the Cloud
of Gems stopped right beside and above Faerieland and Fyora appeared.
"Thank you for returning my sister to me," Fyora
said, "and I am glad she has changed her ways. Solitude has done you good, Fylona."
"Yes, it has. I am so happy to be back. I think
that these Neopets' deserve a reward for what they have done," Fylona suggested.
"You're right." Fyora faced the two Neopets'
"For your actions and selflessness in restoring Fylona to me and the Faerie
kingdom you are allowed to choose anything you want from the Cloud of Gems,
and once a year you will be allowed to choose one item as long as you use it
wisely and selflessly."
They thanked the Faerie queen and choose one
item a piece. Cecilia found a Faerie paint brush for Leiliani and Zag picked
a starry paint brush for Angel. After thanking the two faeries and telling Fylona
good-bye they flew home.
Ruth sat on the steps to the Neopets' home with
tears on her face, looking very worried when Zag and Cecilia landed in front
of her. Ruth was overjoyed and hugged the two pets until they could barely breath.
Angel and Leiliani covered the Draik and Zafara in hugs and kisses when they
were given their paint brushes.
After a trip to the Rainbow Pool four very happy
Neopets' played tag in Neopia while their owner sat below the flying trio and
watched the quartet with a smile.
The End
| 
