Blessed by the Blue Faerie

     The Purple Zafara was known as Zinpaya, and she was finally starting to be at ease. Zinpaya’s ears lay on her shoulders and her feet left swaying on the outside of the train. The train had picked up speed and Zinpaya calmly watched the image of blurred trees go by. It was early Autumn and the air smelled crisp and of burning wood. She loved that smell as it reminded her of memories from her childhood home out in the woods.

     Zinpaya didn’t have much with her, only the baggy cream t-shirt, baggy blue shorts, and no shoes. Some Neopians would think she was a lost cause, but Zinpaya knew what she wanted but not how to do it. The train would make creaks and grinding noises from the movement as well as screeches from the tracks, but it soothed Zinpaya’s exhausted mind.

     Less than an hour ago, Zinpaya was playing by a creek near her home where she resided with her older brother when she abruptly thought of getting out of town. She thought she needed to leave town, that her brother didn’t care for her. She didn’t know what to do, how to do it or where to go, but she insisted with her thoughts that she would go that instant.

     She walked through a footpath near her house and pondered. Zinpaya was as clueless as ever, but there was a spark of curiosity deep within her that she wanted to explore. At a distance, she heard the whistle of a train heading in her direction, and she immediately headed toward the railroad tracks. Her feet were dingy from the dry dirt of the pathway, but Zinpaya didn’t care about that; she thought of only getting to that train! Zinpaya ran as fast as she could, pushing aside briar and branches that at times would prick her skin or her shirt. The forest was thinning out as she got closer to the tracks and there were no homes around. She made it to the tracks!

     Zinpaya was breathing heavy and looking to her left at the bend on the railroad. She could hear the train coming and she was ready to pounce on it, somehow! The train came around the bend and began passing her. Zinpaya was looking intensely at the train, for at least an opening to secure herself on. There was a yellow boxcar that had an opening. The train was speeding by, but it was at a speed where she could pull herself on. Zinpaya spotted a chrome pull handle and got ready to grab for it. She did just that when it got close and Zinpaya was safely inside. Since it was getting dark, she didn’t need to hide away, but instead collect her thoughts and her breath. Zinpaya thought about where she would get off, but she quickly decided to stay on for as long as she could. Hours went by and the scenery became unknown to her. Zinpaya still with her feet hanging over the edge, looked up at the night sky and took a glance at the beautiful stars above. The air was getting cooler, and the crickets were chirping loudly as the train went by.

     Zinpaya got up from where she was sitting and decided to close the boxcar door. Sleep was on her mind, and she noticed a pile of hay deep within the corner of the boxcar and decided to lay down for the night. The train swayed slightly due to the movement on the tracks and the screeching came and went. Zinpaya’s only worry was that someone would find her and send her back, but exhaustion took over and she fell asleep.

      Zinpaya awoke a few hours later due to the sunlight hitting her eyes. The sun had managed to sneak through a slit from the door. Zinpaya rose suddenly, looking around to ensure she was safe and not dreaming. She was fine and the train was still moving at a fast speed. Zinpaya got up and walked over to the compartment door and slid it open only to reveal that she was no longer in the quiet woods, but now she was looking out at a vast desert! Golden sand was everywhere, and the sun was beaming down with extreme heat. Zinpaya was astonished and didn’t know why she was here of all places.

     As the train continued moving, Zinpaya decided to take a seat on the edge. Off into the distance, Zinpaya could see the outline of Coltzan’s Shrine as well as the dome from Xendrik’s Mansion! She knew she was at the Lost Desert, and she wondered if this train would take her to the City of Sakhmet. The train kept moving, but it didn’t go in the direction of Sakhmet. Zinpaya stared down below at the sand that was passing by. She could see colonies of Geb’s standing by the tracks. At least she wasn’t that small, she thought to herself.

      Zinpaya was getting thirsty due to the humid environment and pondered where she would find water. She started to become disappointed in herself because she abruptly decided to leave for this journey. For all she knew, this train could be on an endless loop around Neopia and she would starve to death in this boxcar! The train made a sharp turn around a bend and Zinpaya grabbed the side of opened door to not fall out. As the train adjusted itself around the corner, she let go of the door and noticed a sealed bottle in the corner of the boxcar.

     Zinpaya’s heart jolted, and she quickly grabbed the sealed bottle. Inside the bottle was a glowing, blue faerie. Zinpaya took hold of the cork that sealed the bottle and used her strength to release the faerie. Pop! The faerie was no longer in the bottle but standing before Zinpaya. It was a faerie of an unknown name, but she blessed Zinpaya for releasing her and quickly disappeared. Zinpaya was left standing there with no clue what had happened. Her eyes were closed, and her adrenaline was easing. As she stood there, she realized the floor of the train was no longer shaking and there were no screeching sounds from the tracks. Zinpaya slowly opened her eyes and saw her older brother standing before her; a tall and thin Orange Zafara.

      Zinpaya was taken aback by this, and she thought she was dreaming. Her brother had tears in his eyes and came forward to give her a hug. A rush of emotion erupted with Zinpaya and she knew in her heart that her brother cared deeply for her. While embraced, Zinpaya realized that the path she took to leave was a mistake and that the blue faerie guided her back home to a brother who deeply cares for her. Zinpaya knew that she had been blessed by the blue faerie.