The True Face of a Faerie: Soup Faerie

      A few shop owners scrutinize the dusty, populous streets. They can tell that the roads are so crammed because the pets and their owners are in a line. Most know that this line is not just any line - it is the line to the Soup Kitchen. For those thousands of pets, waiting in this line was their only chance at food for the day. They voyage to the Soup Faerie's small cauldron-shaped kitchen.

      Irritable pets glance at their watches, plodding through the dusty ground beaten flat by many. They grimace as dust flies through the air to land on their noses.

      Average pets speak to their owners comfortably, for they are, if not bloated, at least not hungry. They chat aimlessly to pass the time. Others aren't so lucky.

     The unlucky ones trod the earth alone, without an owner or companion. But these are the most patient, and the most desperate. They stare fixedly at their destination, wavering not at all.

     The wind whistles through the throngs of people without a care to their troubles.

     * * *

     Angelstarr_103 glowered as she squeezed past the suffocating buildings. How she loathed this daily trip! But she loved her pets more than she despised the journey. And so she found herself faithfully visiting the Soup Kitchen each and every day. She and her two pets were only a drop in the bucket of Neopians who did the same. As pets salivated when tempting scents breezed past, owners sighed and wished they had a steady income.

     * * *

      The Soup Faerie glanced at the Fire Motes dancing about her head. The Fire Motes provided light and companionship to the Soup Faerie. As the sun emitted breathtaking bursts of garnet and coral and cream streaking across the sky, she knew that her light hours were soon coming to a close. Judging by the lack of a conclusion to the line, this would be another all-nighter. She crumpled at the sight of every grungy pet without a home. She served them to help. But … She was tired. Oh, not tired in the physical sense. She'd pulled so many straight all-nighters that she was numb to the awareness of fatigue. Her job wasn't strenuous, but it was mundane and lifeless.

      She watched the Fire Motes again as she held saucer after saucer for starving pets. The Fire Motes weren't very helpful, but she had little need for them. She could perform her duties in her slumber.

      The Soup Faerie groaned, sending a small jade Kacheek scurrying away with a bowl of soup in hand. "How can I even think of sleep?" she whispered. "I still have so much to do…"

      She knew she was tormenting herself with her thoughts. She sighed and rubbed her eyes, spilling some of the soup of a red Lupe. A particularly strong gale breathed a paper into her face. She ripped it out of the air and glared fiercely at it.

      The Soup Faerie blanched. It was the very same page of a book she had ripped out of the Neopedia yesterday and crushed beneath her shoe. The Neopedia article on… 'The Soup Kitchen.'

      "It's all lies!" the Soup Faerie murmured, "None of it's true!" She continued this way and before she knew it, it was the dark hours, and all her customers had vacated. The Soup Faerie glanced up at the glaring moon before retreating inside. She reread the article in bed under the unpredictable light of her Fire Motes.

      "Firstly, here it says, '…and no pet has ever dared to complain or reject the charity of the Soup Faerie,'" the Soup Faerie read aloud to her patient Fire Motes. "Hah! As if I don't get hundreds of complaints daily on my soups and stews."

      "Here - '…she is very good friends with the Faerie Queen.' All's the Faerie Queen does is come by on her daily rounds to make sure I'm not out of supplies - she doesn't even make idle chat!"

      "Oh, another one," the Soup Faerie seethed. "'…dedicated to helping stone-broke owners and their skinny Neopets…' Many of my customers are people who have moved their money away (or into items) simply to get the avatar! Oh, but I never reject anyone. I will always help those who have fallen on hard times."

      "But still … look at this!" She held the paper out to her Fire Motes. They began spitting cinders at it and the Soup Faerie hastily pulled it away. "'…Pets and Owners to come together with the Soup Faerie and give a helping hand…' Most of the ones who try to give a 'helping hand' to me interfere by favoring the pets that are better groomed. Those that truly help me are such a rarity. It's just me and you guys, usually." The Soup Faerie affectionately patted her Fire Motes, not even wincing when her hand burnt.

      "Finally, they have this! 'The Soup Kitchen is kept running by donations from the Money Tree…' I don't see a Neopoint of that! I get supplies from Faerieland and my land's rents (Fire Motes, don't act so surprised. I have to pay rent because I'm on Marketplace grounds without selling anything.) are paid by Faerie dues. No, the Money Tree isn't helping." The Soup Faerie tried to stifle a yawn, but failed. She slumped over onto her side and, in her weariness, fell asleep in minutes.

     * * *

      The Soup Faerie stretched, enjoying sleeping in. Today was one of her twice-yearly days off. This day alone she could leave the kitchen and go to Faerieland.

      The Soup Faerie paused. Turning, she invoked a Fire and Earth spell to self-serve soup all day. The Fire kept the soup warm, while the Earth gave the pot knowledge enough to self-serve soup. After a few days, the pot went a little off, so she always immediately deactivated the spells when she returned. While out, she trusted the Fire Motes to burn greedy Pets.

     * * *

      The Soup Faerie parted the clouds like cloth and entered Faerie City. She stared up at the spires, recognizing the emotions she felt every time she visited. It was a pity that long-time Faerie City dwellers lost the awe and wonder at the architecture. Feeling acutely embarrassed and out-of-place, she noticed that no Faeries looked like her. That is to say, no faeries bore the mark of charity - unadorned hair, common clothes, and a lack of accessories. This was important in distinguishing faeries who helped for something in return and charity faeries who helped for nothing in return. The current non-Charity Faerie fashion was a very made-up look. The Soup Faerie wore her Charity look proudly, but still felt slightly embarrassed. She found that genuine beauty came from within, a lesson she knew was easy to say, but difficult to realize.

      The Soup Faerie continued on her way, buying tiny magical trinkets on her small allowance allotted to her because she had no income source.

     * * *

      The next day, back at work, after seeing the superficial faeries snub her because of her appearance, the Soup Faerie showed special kindness to those worse off than she was. Reflecting on her bitterness of two days previous, the Soup Faerie realized that her job wasn't perfect. She wasn't in love with what she did, but she knew she was doing something for Neopia.

Author's Note: Thank you to those who suggested the Soup Faerie. I have nothing against the Neopedia - I just wanted to show the Soup Faerie clearly. This is a continuation of the Fyora story in week 148. Would anyone read a story about Charity Faeries? The next story will be the Space Faerie … if this gets in. Thank you Snowflake for all of your hard work!