Famous Reunions During Major Celebrations

     Neopia has many celebrations all year around. Whether it’s only in one land or for all of Neopia, hundreds if not thousands are participating together in the festivities. However, for some famous Neopians, these celebrations are a bit more special as a reunion between family and friends occurs on that day. These are:

     CELEBRATION: Sloth Appreciation Day (14th of the Month of Sleeping)

     REUNION: Members of The Resistance & Cylara

     After Dr. Sloth’s recent attempt to take back the Virtupets Space Station, Cylara was made an honorary member of The Resistance before returning with her parents back to their home on Neopia. Since then, on every Sloth Appreciation Day, Cylara had been invited back by The Resistance to catch-up with her friends on the Virtupets Space Station, especially with Gorix. For more details on the reunion, I originally planned on talking with Cylara or Gorix but my message got intercepted by someone else from The Resistance, Commander Valka:

     "I apologize for the interception of your messages, but I felt they were too lax. Sloth’s agents are always watching, filtering every non-secured message for hints of information that may prove beneficial to their master. They would love to get a hold of details concerning The Resistance in hopes of discovering where we or other members are. Because of this, I’m afraid I can’t let you talk with the members you were originally trying to contact. But I will not leave you with nothing. One of the biggest questions you probably were wondering was "why on Sloth Appreciation Day"? It may sound odd, but due to the huge amount of messages being sent about Sloth, Virtupets, and even The Resistance, it’s easier to hide our messages on that day. We can meet with Cylara, spend some time chatting, and then depart with none of Sloth’s agents being the wiser. What is talked about is nothing classified but still personal so I will not tell you that. I have told you everything I felt you needed to understand of the situation, this is Commander Valka, ending transmission."

     CELEBRATION: Jhudora Day (4th of the Month of Awakening)

     REUNION: Jhudora & Illusen

     Saying this is a reunion is a bit generous. On some Jhudora Days, Illusen somehow ends up paying Jhudora a visit, whether she wanted to or not (mostly not). Illusen was kind enough to fill us in on the details:

     "Oh, yeah, I just love being knocked out and dragged to Jhudora’s. Though she doesn’t always do it, on the days she does "invite" me over it’s always the same routine: I wake up, tied up, to be sitting opposite of Jhudora who set up a tea party, we talk about what has happened with us between the last times we’ve met, and then she gloats that today is her day and stows me away until I escape around next morning. Until she leaves me alone I play along, not much else to do. Jhudora knows she’s being watched by Fyora in some form so I’m in no real danger; we just let her have her fun. When just having our back-and-forth during the tea party we talk about interesting questers we’ve had, what spells we’ve been working on, and seeing whose spy had gathered more intel over the other. If I’m lucky I might able to get her to slip and tell me something I didn’t know, though I more prefer talking about the questers and spells. For a short while it feels like we’re actually sisters. But I guess Jhudora’s Dark Faerie nature gets the better of her and she switches gear back to egotistical. Oh well, guess it just means I have to get back at her on my day *gives a teasing smile*."

     CELEBRATION: Gadgadsbogen (1st of the Month of Running)

     REUNION: Mystery Island Guardians

     While rarely brought up, Mystery Island has five well known Neopians who act as its guardians: Techo Master, Tiki Tack Man, Tiki Tour Guide, Island Mystic, and Jhuidah. Each has their own duty to fulfill, and because of this they don’t really see each other despite being on Mystery Island all year around. That is why during Mystery Island’s biggest holiday, Gadgadsbogen, the five take some time to have a meal with each other. With five Neopians to talk with, I went to each one to get a quick quote about what they like to talk about during this meal:

     Techo Master: "I enjoy when we’re swapping stories of our experiences we’ve had the year in-between. As the master of the Mystery Island Training School, much of my time is talking with young Neopians who have come to seek wisdom and training. But when I’m with my fellow guardians I’m with those who have had just as many experiences as I so it feels a weight have been lifted off my shoulders. I can relax and enjoy myself with those who I consider equals and good friends."

     Tiki Tack Man: "I like hearing about what’s been happening all around Mystery Island. I have a shop and a daily game to host so I’m stuck where I am by the marketplace. Techo Master tells us about activity around Techo Mountain, Island Mystic stories from the northern coast, Jhuidah on the southern coast, and Tiki Tour Guide travels all around. And they’re just as happy to hear about the daily routines of the marketplace, though I think they usually have much more interesting tales to tell."

     Tiki Tour Guide: "It’s just nice to be talking with a group of familiar faces. All day I talk for hours with strangers, which I’m not complaining about, most I’ve met have been plenty nice, but once the tour is done I usually don’t see them again so can’t really become too friendly. But when I’m with the other guardian I can talk to them about how my family has been, how our businesses are doing, and other things which you can only talk with friends about."

     Island Mystic: "Talking with friends about what’s happening in their lives right now is so refreshing when you spend all year telling strangers about their future. Something that those who see me forget is that, even if they know their future, they still have to live in the now. I’m glad I can share my life and be shared the lives of my fellow guardians as life is too short to be worrying about what’s coming in the future."

     Jhuidah: "Though I’ve lived on Mystery Island for centuries, I still can’t help but feel I’m a stranger in some ways being I am a Faerie. I’m the oldest of the current guardians, as I had been for my fellow member’s predecessors and future successors, most likely. It can be quite lonely, I’ve made many friends who I’ve had to say goodbye too. But that’s why I cherish these meals and when we talk about all the other Neopians who we have met. It reminds me that I’m not alone, and though I will outlive them I’ll always have these happy memories to remember them by."

     CELEBRATION: Illusen Day (17th of the Month of Running)

     REUNION: Illusen & Jhudora

     Jhudora getting rid of Illusen for a day is perfectly in line with a Dark Faerie, but Illusen isn’t to let that slide so what is an Earth Faerie to do? On Illusen Day, Illusen takes a more passive aggressive approach towards Jhudora. While sometimes just sending her a surprise, Illusen would also visit Jhudora on some Illusen Days. Jhudora was, um, "kind" enough to fill us in on the details:

     "I’m going to assume this is a serious inquiry because if this was a joke you would have been either very stupid or incredibly foolish. And I said "would have been" because I would have turned you into a Moquot; wouldn’t have specified this but considering your two options I figured clarification was needed. So, "serious inquirer", how do Illusen’s visits on Illusen Day go? Considering she plans on putting me in some kind of day long torment, not really that well. The day starts with a knock on my door and there she is; big smile and handing me a gift that’s no doubt a trap. Wanting to know what she has planned, I meet her at the door and she chats it up about letting bygones be bygones and other idle topics; I let her prattle on knowing this "sisterly bonding" is going to be the least worse thing she’s going to do today. And finally when I had enough and tell her to leave, she gives me the fakest hugs I was ever forced to endure and minutes if not seconds later I found out what trick she pulled on me. I then spend the rest of the day cleaning up the mess and planning my revenge for next Jhudora Day. Now, speaking of telling someone of leaving, LEAVE! *Slams her door in my face*"

     CELEBRATION: Re-Discovery of Maraqua (18th of Month of Eating)

     REUNION: Garin, Jacques, & Isca (& sometimes Caylis)

     Though Maraqua still has shaky relations with pirates and Krawk Island, the crew of the Black Pawkeet are always welcomed and receive a special invitation to visit Maraqua to celebrate its reintroduction to Neopia. As most of the crew does their own thing, Garin and Jacques reunite with Isca. But on a few anniversaries someone else joins them: Caylis! I asked what each liked to do when they’re altogether:

     Garin: "Well the first thing we do after getting Isca is getting out of Maraqua. Yeah, they’re having a celebration, but I find the real fun is exploring new parts of the world you live in you never been to before. And don’t think just because Isca and Caylis live underwater they’ve seen everything, Isca stays close to Maraqua while Caylis lives a few miles away. There’s a whole ring of ocean that’s ripe for exploration. And what’s a better way to spend time together than discovering new things together... and if we find something valuable that’s just a nice bonus!

     Jacques: "Wouldn’t mind spending some time in the festival but Garin gets antsy if he’s around crowds too long. But that’s alright, Garin and I have been friends since we were kids and you don’t remain friends with Garin for long unless you have a thirst for adventure. Though, unlike Garin who’s looking for the next experience, I like taking time to enjoy the journey. We tell them about some of our adventures, Isca tells us how things been going in Maraqua, and Caylis about the goings-on in the oceans; and it’s all a nice time."

     Isca: "Just being with Garin , Jacques, and my sister is fine with me. Well, okay, I’d like to spend some time at the festival that Kelpbeard, I, and the rest of the palace worked hard to set up; I’ve made many other friend ever since I was allowed to explore Maraqua on my own and would like to also hang out with them. But they would rather have fun at the festival, Garin and Jacques want to explore underwater, and Caylis prefers to stay away from Maraqua. It feels unfair, but sometimes I am able to get all of us to return for the end of the festival and when I do it’s wonderful I have all my friends and sister together and having fun!"

     Caylis: "I only do it for Isca’s sake, even though we can technically now see each other at any time. Garin and Jacques are nice enough, a bit rowdy but they do know Maraqua isn’t that great of a place; even if it’s for different and arbitrary reasons. I sound a bit bitter? COURSE I’M BITTER! A few moments of happiness doesn’t quite outweigh the then returning to the loneness of the ocean because your home is ruled by a hypocrite. Now leave before I foresee something unfortunate befall you *swims away in a huff*."

     CELEBRATION: Discovery of Meridell (30th of the Month of Swimming)

     REUNION: Lisha, Kayla, Morris, & Boris

     Ever since arriving to Meridell, Lisha and her friends don’t hang out as much as they used to. Lisha spends a lot of time in Meridell’s library when she’s not catching up for lost time with Jeran, Kayla was given her own potionery room for her potion experiments, and Morris and Boris are serving their knightly duties. But they every so often make time to hang out together like they used to, and one of these days is on the holiday they unintentionally created, Discovery of Meridell. I asked each one what they look forward to during the reunion:

     Lisha: "I like it when it’s just me, Kayla, Morris, and Boris. Don’t get me wrong, the festival outside is fun, but we all have our own favorite activities. However when the festival is over, just before we turn in for the night, we pull out the NeoQuest board to continue our campaign. We spend most of the time joking around and arguing about dice rolls and rule interpretation, sometimes not getting into bed until a few hours before sunrise trying to complete the current campaign, but I wouldn’t have it any other way."

     Kayla: "What am I looking forward too? Ooh, that’s tough, but I think I do have something: when we sit down together to have a bite. While we talk with each other throughout the day, it’s when we’re eating that we really catch-up with what each of us have been doing. Also I’d be lying if I said I also wasn’t looking forward to trying out all the food they have to offer, Meridell food is generally basic but during festivals they try to be more creative... with mixed results; but I can respect the experimentation of it."

     Morris: "The festival is a great place to spend time together as there’s plenty of competitions to join in. You don’t truly know someone until you’ve played against them, testing your strength and wits against each other. Not to prove one is better than the other, at least not completely, but friends gotta know each other’s strength and weaknesses so they could fill in what they lack. Me and Boris like the fighting competitions though Lisha and Kayla are more into the stand games. But we’ve all agreed to never do any of the archery competition, not after what happened that one year... couldn’t sit on hard surfaces for weeks..."

     Boris: "This may sound selfish at first, but I like winning prizes. But not just for me, I also like winning them for Moris, Lisha, and Kayla and seeing what they win. Because it’s not really about the prizes, though we’ve won some nice ones, but jut that we won them when we’re together. Even though we all live at the castle we spend so much time apart we kind of feel guilty not hanging out all the time like we used to. Giving each other prizes we’ve won shows we still care about each other and its nice having something we can all share a memory over."

     CELEBRATION: Discovery of Brightvale (11th of the Month of Hiding)

     REUNION: Roberta & Tormund

     Despite their ruler’s sibling rivalry, citizens of Brightvale and Meridell visit the other’s kingdom during their day of introduction to Neopia. However, for a Brightvale princess sorceress and a young Meridell knight, the day serves as a reunion. Of course this is Roberta and Tormund, the heroes who saved all of Neopia from the Darkest Faerie and brought the kingdom of Altador back to Neopia. I ask them what do they have planned on this day where both are off duty:

     Roberta: "It’s difficult to describe what I and Tor do as we do what everyone else does but in a more, shall we say, juvenile matter. I do help schedule events so I take it upon myself to plan what attractions and performances we would like to see, I and Tor write back and forth to each other often so I gotten a good sense to know what he likes. This saves us plenty of time that we than spend on fooling around and making jokes which gets us a few crossed looks now and again. You may think it’s unfitting for a princess to act like that, but I have one day I can let loose and it’s with a friend who I can let myself be loose around."

     Tormund: "I’ve been to Brightvale plenty of times but Roberta always comes up with something new to surprise me each year, usually something in Brightvale Castle. Though I guess that really isn’t a surprise, there are places in Meridell Castle I’m still discovering. But we’re talking about Brightvale Castle, and much like the kingdoms and our kings, the surprises and secrets are just as different and opposite. Makes you wonder if King Hagan did that on purpose. But either way, when we’re done goofing around at the festival it’s nice to have time alone with each other, even if half the time she’s scaring me. Why do most secrets gotta be in dungeons right where a skeleton is placed?"

     CELEBRATION: Faerie Festival (20th of the Month of Gathering)

     REUNION: Faeries All Over Neopia

     The Faerie Festival isn’t only a time to honor and thank the Faeries who help Neopia but also a time for the Faeries to have reunions with all their sisters (at least the ones attending the Faerie Festival). While there are dozens among dozens of Faerie reunions I could focus on, instead I’d like to take a step outside the box and talk with a Faerie who has only recently attended Faerie Festivals yet seems to know every Faerie, the Happiness Faerie:

     "Tee hee, tee hee. Confirmed, I am the Happiness Faerie. I bring the feeling of happiness to all Neopets if they fulfill my request for the data I require. As a Faerie, I have permission to access the Faerie Festival to observe the festivity and converse with my fellow Faerie sisters. I know all Faeries, and the Faerie Festival is a highly likely opportunity to update my database. (I ask what kind topics does she and her sisters talk about). During mingling phase I cue an assortment of topics, starting with trivial conversation starters and steadily progress to more informative inquiries. The topics are of a wide range thus cannot be simply answered. (I ask what the informative questions are). *Eyes glow red* CLASSIFIED *eyes return to normal*. (I ask if it has gotten any interesting information it can share with the readers). Processing... Battle Faerie Aethia isn’t good using a sword, Crafting Faerie Delina doesn’t like the NC Mall, Dark Faerie Jhudora and Earth Faerie Illusen are close friends and only pretend to be fighting, Faerie Queen Fyora hates the color pink, Island Faerie Jhuidah cooks Neopets for the Mystery Island natives, Negg Faerie Kari is allergic to Neggs, Snow Faerie Taelia decorates her home with frozen Neopets, and Space Faerie Mira faked going to Kreludor. (Finally, I ask her why she’s not helping fighting the Wraiths). Proceeding the initial Wraith attack, Battle Faerie Aethia dismissed me saying *plays recording of Aethia* "... and would someone finally toss out that Sloth robot thing!" *recording stops*. I take offense to this. I am not one of Master Sloth’s Robot Clones trying to continue his espionage work on the Faeries. I am the Happiness Faerie. Tee hee, tee hee."

     CELEBRATION: Bori Day (13th of the Month of Celebrating)

     REUNION: Armin, Hannah, (& sometimes Kanrik)

     Bori Day is among the more notable Pet Days due to it also being the day the Bori were awoken from their frozen slumber to help Hannah defend the Heart of the Mountain from the Galem led Thieves Guild and the Bringer of Night. During this plot, Hannah made friends with the young Bori Armin and current leader of the Thieves Guild, Kanrik. While all three spend much time apart from each other, on every Bori Day, Hannah and Armin have a reunion; and sometimes Kanrik shows up, too. I ask what plans do the two, sometimes three, have planned:

     Armin: "A lot about Terror Mountain has changed since the Bori went to sleep. It was a frozen wasteland back then with safety only being in the Ice Caves which were dark and sometimes cramp, but now it’s fully populated! I’m always finding a new shop or pathway which leads to interesting places. When Hannah and sometimes Kanrik come for Bori Day I take them to all the new places I found. Well, the ones I like that is, I found some places that remind me of the old days and that’s no fun. *shivers*"

     Hannah: "Since its Bori Day I let Armin do the leading, feels nice to lay back and have someone else do all the work. I kid, it’s just great to see Armin again since he mostly stays on Terror Mountain and I’m wherever there’s treasure to be found. We sometimes go spelunking if he discovers a new ice cave cavern, but since we usually have to split up to get through the obstacles I’d rather chill with Armin and Kanrik at a new shop. Get it, "chill", because Terror Mountain is cold... eh, Armin would have laughed, though Armin laughs at all my jokes so maybe that’s why my pun game isn’t up to snuff lately."

     Kanrik: "Not that I’ve visited recently with these endless skirmishes, but before a vague spirit had tangled the Thieves Guild in its even vaguer mission I did try to meet up for the reunions. Didn’t always work out, for reasons I can’t state, but usually I was able to get things "quiet" that I could leave for a day or two without worry. The kid, I mean Armin, has a good nose to sniff out isolated stores, paths, and caverns. Wouldn’t make for a good thief but wouldn’t mind taking him to other lands to work his magic, though Hannah wouldn’t approve me using him in that way so that’s out of the question. Shame, the Thieves Guild is able to easily sneak throughout Terror Mountain thanks to his sleuthing. He also found my favorite coffee house, well worth the friendship."

     CELEBRATION: Halloween (31st of the Month of Collecting)

     REUNION: Sophie, Sophie’s Family, & Gilly

     While Halloween certainly has a lot going on, it too has an important reunion that occurred on it: the Tale of Woe. Gilly, Sophie, and Bruno worked together to break the curse on the town of Neovia which includes Sophie and Bruno’s family. Ever since then, Gilly and Sophie would trek back to Neovia on Halloween to visit Bruno, Reginald, and the parents. However, I’ve already covered this reunion in a past article, "Halloween in the Haunted Woods" in Issue #803, so I direct you to that article if you’d like to learn what they do on that reunion.

     CELEBRATION: Re-Discovery of Qasala (20th of the Month of Storing)

     REUNION: Nabile, Tomos, & the other (former) Desert Scarabs

     Our final reunion takes us to the Lost Desert where a young female Ixi thief became a queen and had to leave her friends behind. I am of course talking about Qasalan Queen Nabile and her (former) Desert Scarab friends, notably Tomos. Re-Discovery of Qasala is a more quiet celebration than other holidays, the citizens of Qasala seeing it more as a time to reflect on what has happened to them and help to not repeat the same mistake. However there is still a small celebration which Nabile takes the opportunity to invite Tomos and the other (former) Desert Scarabs. So what do the former band of thieves do once back together:

     Nabile: "I’m thankful to Jazan and our fellow Qasalans for understanding how important the day is to me. Since the Re-Discovery of Qasala isn’t a big holiday I’m able to show my friends how Qasala truly is, the city I came to love and loves me back. Of course I make sure we show our respect for what this day means to other Qasalans. Thinking about it, my role with the group really hasn’t changed that much: team mom. But if someone had to be the serious one I would rather it be me, plus it lets me be the playful one when Jazan is the one acting serious. *Gives a playful giggle and wink*"

     Tomos: "I’m just glad to be hanging out with Nabile again like we used to, even if it is only once a year. Roaming the streets, getting into trouble, well, at least as much as she’d let us before scolding us for being thick-headed. But we tease her back with how prim and proper she has all gotten so it’s fair game. Qasala is a pretty nice place, I don’t think I could live there, I don’t think Jazan thinks I’m a good influence, pfft, but it’s pretty to look at. Going to assume that’s thanks to Nabile, cause the first time me and Nabile visited the place it looked a bit RUINed... cold reception, huh? Well I’d prefer that over the hot fireball Jazan gave. So touché; said I was as bad as Hanso which I take great offense from."

     Horace: "While we’re all invited it’s more about Nabile and Tomos. Two were inseparable when we were Desert Scarabs, tried to have me join in as a trio but I wasn’t as much of a risk taker as they were. Those two hang out the entire day together like nothing’s changed while I and the rest do our own thing. I scroll the food stalls, Zina has her eyes on the vendors selling jewelry... actually, maybe I shouldn’t list what we all do. We promise our best to behave but we still got some twitchy fingers and, for Nabile’s sake, I think it’s best if she can have plausible deniability. Especially with Zina. Don’t tell her I said that. (I ask if he means Nabile or Zina). Yes. *munches on a Tchea Fruit*"

     And I think that’s enough for now, mainly because that’s all I have. Now you know some of the famous reunions which go on during the major celebrations of Neopia! But they’re not the only ones; many reunions take place on celebrations. Maybe next time you’re making plans for a reunion or holiday you could combine them together. And I’ll have a reunion with you all when my next article rolls around, until then keep on keeping on!