The Alien Aisha: Part Two

by krazy4kikos

The Quest

As I left the Cocos' cave, I asked Blapsat, "Are you going to come with me?"

"No," he said sadly. "High One said must do by self. Want to but no. Luck to you, Noluny." Blapsat lifted his free hand and waved.

"Wait!" I cried. "But how do I get to Faerieland?"

"No know," Blapsat shrugged. "Go to town, ask. Must go. Luck to you, Noluny." He turned and went back to the cave.

I made my way through the jungle. After endless hours, I saw liquid. I also saw a dilapidated shack on a row of planks stretching into the ocean. I decided to go to the shack.

Inside was a Coco! He stood with his spear alongside a yellow, striped beast. "Are you sure you want to leave our lovely island so soon?" he sobbed the minute I entered, putting his hand to his face. The beast made a pathetic whine and blinked hard, causing a tear to drip down his fur.

"What?" I asked in confusion. The Coco stopped crying and stared. "You are at the harbor. This is where Neopians leave our lovely island."

"Oh!" I cried. "Yes, I think I have to leave."

"Nooooo!" The Coco started bawling again. The animal just looked at me, puzzled, until the Coco elbowed it and it started crying again.

"Wait!" I hollered over the pitiful sound of fake tears. "Will you stop for just one minute? Tell me the way to Faerieland! Or the town!"

The Coco glared at me and gulped down clear liquid from a bottle. He offered some to his pet, and then turned back towards me. "Okay, I'll get you a boat if you really want to leave. Do you want some lovely Mystery Island water?"

I took a quick sip of the "water." It was very refreshing. "Thanks," I gasped, wiping it off my face. "But I'll come back soon, I promise. I have some Coco friends here."

"Am I one of them?" he beamed hopefully.

"Yes," I assured him. "Great! So you want to get to Neopia Central? Don't worry at all, the boat will take you right there. But I don't know how to get to Faerieland. I'm sure people in Neopia Central will, though. Good luck!" The Coco waved, and his beast did too.

After a horribly rocking boat ride, I arrived at Neopia Central. It was filled with shops. I walked on and saw an area with much more interesting stores. I saw Chocolate Factory, Fresh Smoothies, Bakery, Fine Furniture, Gardening Supplies, Gifts Galore, Wishing Well, Usuki Land, Toy Shop, and many more. But one plot was empty, right in between Health Food and Toy Shop.

"Living here for a while wouldn't be bad," I said out loud. "I think I'll interview some of the Neopians and ask what they need."

I went in the Grooming Parlour and asked the clerk, "What do most people complain about?"

The Usul-as I later learned she was-replied, "Oh, hon, that's easy. It's all about the money, you see. Food too except that's easy enough. There's the Soup Kitchen and the Giant Omelette. But it's all about money. People have, like, too much for the Soup Kitchen but not enough for other stuff and they don't like omelettes. It's hardly better to be an official shopkeeper than a normal Neopian because no one thinks they can afford to buy stuff. But I credit some of those rich people who donate towards charity, and I scorn the others that show off items in their unofficial shops just to, well, show off!"

"Thank you," I said, glad to get a word in. "So if there was some easy way to pick up some money and food it'd make everyone happy?"

"Pretty much!" the Usul chirped. "And thank you for askin' my opinion, hardly anyone even talks to me!" I nodded with a smile and left the store, after apologising that I had absolutely no money to buy any of her goods with and that the minute I get settled I would.

So I need a way to give Neopians money and food, I thought. What would be a good way to do that fairly?

To be continued...