Never Trust A Xweetok: Part One

     She had traversed the open seas between Neopia and Krawk Island, trekked to the top of Terror Mountain, and time-travelled between Neopia Central and Meridell. Briette had braved the Deserted Tomb of Geraptiku, bested the heat of the Lost Desert, and bounced her way around Roo Island. She had crept around the Haunted Woods at night, and caved her way in the Ice Caves, like Hannah, her hero.

     But Briette was incomplete. She was one of the most well-known adventurers for her exploits, but what she lacked was a family. Briette travelled the world looking for her parents and distant cousins, or aunts and uncles. But, no matter where she went, she had no luck. Now she was trying the last place. Faerieland. The tomb of all her hopes. Or that was the story, at least.

     At Neopia Central, she sat down at one of the tables surrounding Hubert's Hot Dogs.

     "Now how do I get up there?" she mused, looking preoccupied enough so that none of her fans would come up and pester her.

     Behind her were around ten people with Briette merchandise on, snapping pictures of the famed explorer.

     Briette had an unfortunate phobia of the teleporters. She rather liked the feel of the ground underneath her sturdy shoes, and the feel of nothing under her feet gave her the shivers. Of course, she didn't know she was just zapped up there, not left waiting in the middle of the atmosphere surrounding Neopia.

     A tall scarlet Eyrie with velvety feathers came up to her and asked, "Is this spot taken?"

     Almost absently, she shook her head and said, "Come sit down."

     The Eyrie sat himself down, and peered at the blue Xweetok. She seemed familiar for some reason.

     "I think I know you from somewhere… Aren't you that explorer, Briette?"

     Briette nodded. "And who might you be?" she asked.

     "My name is Kowe Deras. I'm a lonely traveller, like you. Except I've been to Faerieland, as well. I know that's the one place you haven't been seen at."

     Briette gave a momentary grin, and then wiped it off her face. She peered intently at a lime green leafy vine which was coiled around his index finger. It was interesting.

     Kowe noticed Briette staring at the ring, and said, "That's a family heirloom, handed down generation, after generation." Okay, that wasn't that true, but she didn't know that, did she?

     In reality, it actually was Illusen's Ring, given to him once he had completed one of the quests. She had sensed that one day he would come up against one of Jhudora's minions and he would need her help. So she had wound it around his finger, saying, "Take this. Whenever you're in danger, say my name, and I will protect you."

     Kowe smiled, remembering Illusen and her lovely gift. At the same time, she had given him her staff. He remembered asking what would happen if it ran out of magical charges. Illusen had replied, "You can still clobber them 'round the head with it."

     He was jolted back to reality when Briette told him, "I have a family heirloom as well. Do you want to see it?" she asked.

     "Uhh, yeah," he answered reluctantly.

     What she withdrew astonished him to no-end. It was Jhudora's Wand. She held it out, caressing it lovingly.

     What Kowe didn't know was that she was telling a lie as well. She was a follower of Jhudora and she had given the Wand to Briette, sensing that she would have to battle an Illusen worshipper as well.

     She had come into possession of the wand when the famed faerie had come down to her house when she was a child, in guise of a noble who needed the services of a guide. Briette was that guide.

     She had walked with Jhudora for a mile or so before the infamous Dark Faerie revealed who she really was. She had thrown off her deep purple cape and Briette had her first sight of the toxic green which was her trademark.

     In her rich voice, she told Briette, "Briette, I think you have already grasped who I am."

     Briette could only nod.

     Jhudora smiled. "I sense that you will battle one of that dirty Illusen's minions someday. You must win. To help you emerge victorious, I have come to give you a number of gifts. First of all, there is my wand."

     She clicked her fingers, and a purple and green wand appeared out of insubstantial air to rest in her hand.

     "You will need this in the battle. It holds some of my power, and if you call my name, my spirit will be with you, guiding you and keeping you from harm."

     Jhudora passed the wand to Briette, who was awed to hold the powerful wand.

     "Next, you will come into possession of a Night Stone. I have removed the, ummm, 'side effects' from it. Keep it next to your heart, and it will keep you from harm as well."

     The Dark Faerie passed the stone to Briette, who immediately placed it next to her heart in a small pouch.

     "Then last of all, I will pass into you the ability to keep your aura one of a normal blue Xweetok. Xweetoks are somewhat attracted to earth, so I have had to adjust your aura to an earth aura. In the process, I had to give you earth powers. So you are an earth and dark animal. So if someone attacks you with earth, it will not affect you. Just make sure no-one hits you with a light attack. That could prove fatal." With that, she spun on one foot, and disappeared. Briette had smiled triumphantly. She knew she would be on the winning side.

     Briette smiled, remembering that moment which filled her with dark spirit.

     Well, Kowe thought, she doesn't seem evil. Maybe it was a family heirloom, after all.

     He muttered a spell which allowed him to sense her aura. It was a normal Xweetok's aura, which re-enforced his suspicions. Briette was only a normal Xweetok, with a family heirloom that was a very good copy of Jhudora's Wand. And that Briette had no idea what it was, or how to use it.

     It's funny how wrong a red Eyrie could be.

     Briette was one of Jhudora's most powerful minions. Kowe held the same role on the other side. And here they were sitting on opposite sides of a cheap plastic table outside Hubert's Hot Dogs.

     As for Briette, she could tell straight off that Kowe was devoted to Illusen. Eyries had an airy aura, and when she thought the spell out (Briette specialised in non-verbal spells), and an earth aura was what Kowe had, she knew that he was on Illusen's side all the way.

     Well, now I know he has Illusen's Ring. I know what that can do. I just have to block his mouth somehow so he can't yell for Illusen. That should be easy enough. I probably have to assume that he has Illusen's staff as well. He he. No light weapons. Stupid, silly and unprepared.

     Illusen should have tried to disguise his aura as well. Jhudora is an earth/dark Faerie, so it was easy for her, so I guess that Illusen couldn't since she is just plain Earth. She could have gotten Psellia or someone like that to enchant him though. Illusen is silly and stupid though. All the better for me.

     Briette, ever the actor, asked Kowe in a wavering voice, "Can you come up to Faerieland with me?" She stashed her wand once more, and gave Kowe a scared and shy smile.

     "Sure." Kowe was taken aback by Briette's question. He never would have thought she would have been scared of the teleporter before. He was learning every second something more about Briette.

     "Thanks," she quietly said.

     Together, the two supernatural enemies walked up to the popular teleporter and stood on the Faerieland map. That was the first time Briette had ever used it in her life. It was not to be her last either.

     The first glimpse Briette had of Faerieland was all it took to sum up the place. Fluffy, cloudy and soppy. Yuck. She wasn't much of a sentimental person.

     Again, Kowe took her up to the main city, chatting all the way. Briette didn't notice, though. She was too busy 'looking' around at the soppy splendours of Faerieland. Actually she was assessing the strengths and the weaknesses of the city, as well as trying to find Jhudora's Cloud, the place she would undoubtedly go once she had gotten rid of Kowe.

     When they reached the main gates, they turned to look at each other, one red Eyrie, one blue Xweetok. Here they said goodbye in front of the picturesque gates.

     "Well, I guess I'll see you, Briette," Kowe said.

     "Yeah. It was fun, Kowe. Thanks for bringing me up here."

     Bringing? he thought. Why did she use the word bringing?

     "We'll have to do it soon sometime. I'll see you sometime then, if I'm lucky."

     "Don't worry, Kowe. You will," she said, as she gazed out over the cloudy base of Faerieland, ever prophetic.

     As Kowe stared at Briette, something amazing happened. She turned purple, and the ruff of blue fur around her neck changed colour to toxic green. His subconscious was shrieking all kinds of warnings, but his conscious didn't take notice of any of them. Briette had already woven her magic. Kowe blinked, and Briette went back to her usual colours.

     "Oops," she said, and giggled girlishly. "Bye!" she said and transformed herself into a faerie, and flew off.

     Into a Dark Faerie.

To be continued...

Author's Note: My first series! :) Hope you like it. Thanks to APST for supporting me!