All For a Lenny

     The mother Zafara could only reply, "I cannot say, honey. Why don't you go run along and play now?"

     Inside the tower, a green Lenny looked forlornly at the pets playing happily outside through his window. They had no idea that someone alive was trapped inside. He had once been free like they were. But now, he was locked inside the tower, with no way out. The window was too sturdy to break, and he had broken his toes trying to dig his way out. Tears streamed from his wide, unhappy eyes as he thought, "Why? Why must I sit in here, wasting away? What did I do to deserve such a fate?" Sitting down on the hard stone floor, he cried his heart out, remembering the strange events that had led to his imprisonment.

     ***

     His first memory had been one of when he had just hatched. A sweet, freckled face looked down at him lovingly. His owner had green eyes and red green hair. Exhausted from breaking open the shell, he let out a weak chirp. His owner smiled and told him, "Hello, little one. I think I will call you Vertinal. You may call me Illusen." Then he had fallen asleep.

     When he woke up, he took his first look around. He was in a building, which was decorated extravagantly with green and red furniture. There were many plants scattered here and there in the room. He was on something soft and fluffy, which on closer inspection turned out to be a green and red bed. His owner was sitting on a chair near him. He took his first good look at her. She had leafy green wings, and wore a short, earthy green dress.

     "Well, good morning, Vertinal. How do you like your new room?" Illusen asked.

     "I'm hungry, mom!" Vertinal peeped in reply.

     "All right, dear. Why don't you get out of bed, and I'll go get you something to eat." Illusen stepped out of the room, and Vertinal stood up. His legs wobbled, but he managed to walk around his room to explore a bit. Opening one of the drawers, he gasped. He didn't know how he knew what they were, but inside were the rarest, most powerful Battledome weapons any pet could hope for. One weapon in particular caught his attention. It was a large faceted green stone, with a long sharp point on the end. It hung from a gold chain. Curiously, he reached out to touch it. When he did, a mossy green glow emanated from the stone, and a soft green fire pulsed up to his wing, as if urging him to put it on. So he did. The stone glowed fiercely for a few seconds, and then the light died down as if nothing had happened.

     At this moment, Illusen returned, carrying a plate of cream cookies and leaf tacos. She was surprised to see him wearing the stone, but quickly regained her composure. "I see you've found my weapons," she said. "Here, I brought you some food. You can eat while I explain to you battling and weapons."

     As Illusen explained, a dark faerie sat outside one of the house's windows, listening to all that was said. Both faeries knew that this was no ordinary Lenny. "I will have this Lenny to serve me," the dark faerie muttered under her breath. And then she flew away.

     ***

     Several years passed. Vertinal grew strong and agile, and he won every fight in the Battledome. He loved springing around the clouds in Faerieland, exploring the Earth Faerie Clouds.

     One day, as he jumped around, enjoying the bounce as he jumped, he found himself face to face with a dark faerie. She cackled, saying, "Good day, Vertinal. I hear you are a good battler, are you not?"

     "Yes, I am. I have never been defeated before."

     "Well, then why don't you try battling this here?" The dark faerie waved her hand, and a large purple blob with leathery wings sprang at the surprised green Lenny. He raised his wings, desperately trying to shield himself from the blob's pointy teeth.

     Suddenly, a giant wall of green flame roared into life in front of him, incinerating the blob. "Wh-wh-what was that?"

     "That, little Lenny, means that you must die, or serve me forever to replace my servant that you just killed. What do you pick?"

     "He chooses neither, Jhudora." The dark faerie spun around to locate the sound and saw Illusen. "He is my pet, and he is staying as my pet."

     "Oh, is he?" Jhudora snarled.

     "Yes he is, and don't you deny it."

     "We'll see about that. Into the tower you go, Lenny!" So saying, Jhudora waved her hand and transported Vertinal to a tower in the middle of a green field. Somehow, he saw in the window as Illusen and Jhudora battled each other. Illusen sent out a giant wave of green flames, and Jhudora sent out a massive purple projectile. Their magic met in the middle and exploded. Vertinal watched as Illusen was hurled off of the clouds, over the ocean, and into Meridell. Jhudora was thrown all the way across Faerieland to the edge of the other side.

     ***

     It was evening now, and the sun shone brightly, coloring the sky brilliant shades of orange, purple, and red. Vertinal screamed in the tower once more, as once again he saw Illusen falling. Anger at Jhudora and sadness for being separated from Illusen built up in him, until he couldn't stand it. He had to release the emotions-he had to let them go-but where?

     The tower exploded. Shattered pieces of rock and crystal rained down on the field below, as Vertinal flew off into the setting sun, free at last.

     ***

     Far away, in Meridell, an earth faerie picked herself up. She had no idea how she got there, had no clue about what her former life had been. But somehow, through her foggy haze of memories, she remembered her name was Illusen, and that a dark faerie named Jhudora was to blame for her present condition. She also remembered that she had lost something, but she could not remember what it was.

     In Faerieland, Jhudora was in a similar condition. All she could remember was her name, and the name of an earth faerie, Illusen. She had lost something because of Illusen. Hate welled up inside of her.

     To this day, Illusen and Jhudora run their own quests, trying to find what they lost, not remembering what it was but hoping that they would recognize it if they saw it. And to this day, Illusen and Jhudora hate each other, but no one knows why, not even themselves.

The End