The Return of Destiny

     Nice to see you again, dear reader. I mean, I, The Storyteller of this story, would be nothing without you. Thanks for caring about what I have to say. Especially for this magnificent story that I have rescued from the confines of Neopia.

     It is well known that in Neopia there is a strange force, guilty of ruining the poor sanity of the Neopians. This force manifests in the form of a Gelert, a faerie and a Skeith and this force is known as "The Three". This force is the cause of Lord Darigan's already cured madness, for example.

     But what few know is that there is a place in Neopia totally dominated and ruled by that force. It is the place where the spirit of Lord Kass remains still and tormented. Some Neopians end up in this place under very special circumstances.

     The fact is that one cold and humid night in the Enchanted Forest, a Neopet found his way to "that place".

     Merlin was a tired-looking grey Wocky with long grey hair and big glassy blue eyes (a standard grey Neopet, anyway). He was little more than an ordinary teenager, pretty good at school by the way. Like most of the inhabitants of Neopia, he was also a bit withdrawn and quite dreamy. One rainy winter night, Merlin was walking through the deserted streets, dressed in an elegant costume typical of the Forest.

     But it is well known that sometimes, in the Forest, things happen that should not happen. Suddenly the outdated Merlin sensed a presence. He turned around several times in search of someone else, but saw no one. The dark streets of the town remained unchanged. Worried, the Wocky trotted unsteadily to his Neohome, always feeling that someone was watching him. Halfway there, he found three hooded figures sitting on a bench in the Neopian plaza; and without hesitation, he headed towards them.

     Merlin was happy to have found some company on that horrible ride. But what he didn't know was that the horrible was yet to come.

     – Excuse me... Could you give me the time, please? – Merlin asked as a pretext to start a conversation.

     But none of the figures responded.

     – Sorry, but... Did you hear me...?

     Before he had finished speaking, the figure in the middle, apparently the largest, spoke without moving, with his grim and deep voice.

     – You don't need to know the time if you have a gold watch in your pocket.

     Merlin was terrified upon hearing those words. How did that Neopet know that he had a gold watch in his pocket?

     – Obviously we have someone here who cannot read. Said the figure on the right, which had a soft, feminine voice, though curiously high–pitched.

     "And someone who cannot read cannot return home," replied the figure on the left with a powerful and melodious voice, generating a strange echo.

     – Let's teach him. –Concluded the middle figure.

     The three of them rose from their seats and surrounded Merlin, leaving only darkness around them.

     ***

     When Merlin opened his eyes, the first thing he realized was that he was in the Enchanted Forest. But not in Neopia, but in the heart of the forest. That is, in one of the most dangerous and terrifying places that exist in Neopia.

     The Wocky jumped to his feet and looked around. All he saw were grey trees bathed in the light of the full moon. He felt no pain, just a little tired and a lot of fear. Looking for his watch, he found his pocket empty. It had disappeared.

     With no other option but to surrender to the mysterious arms of the forest, the Neopet began to walk. If they had seen poor Merlin's face they would have laughed instantly. Please imagine it and enjoy.

     The minutes passed and absolutely nothing was heard; no breathing; whisper; scamper; flap; howl; squawk... nothing. The typical sounds of any forest had ceased. Only the sound of the branches breaking was heard. Every now and then, a cold wind blew silently.

     Ten minutes after their agonizing walk, the Neopet seemed to see something glinting in the mud a short distance away. It was his watch, but something had happened to it. Well, it was no longer gold, but silver. After cleaning it with a handkerchief, you could see that it had exactly the same drawings, the same marks as his watch. Also, on the back was engraved his name "Merlin A. Longvaison" just like always. The only thing that had changed was the material of the watch, in addition to the fact that the clock hands had frozen at two in the morning.

     Increasingly terrified, the Neopet continued walking, then began to run from the nerves he felt. He ran and ran until he stumbled upon a lake that gleamed reflecting the perfect moon. Merlin didn't know why, but he had the feeling that the water had been waiting for him. Thirsty and very tired, the Wocky approached to drink. So that! Seeing his reflection, he screamed in a spectacular (and perhaps too effeminate) way.

     Merlin walked away from the lake and then came closer and reality checked: he was no longer a grey Wocky, his fur had turned white. Not only that, his face was full of small changes that greatly favoured him: his eyes no longer looked sad or too large, but rather resembled pale diamonds. His normally small ears had been enlarged to the graceful shape of a Lupe's ears. The hair that framed his face, shone so bright that it almost seemed to be made of silver strands. It was a beautiful creature that the lake reflected, something that Merlin had never been.

     Spellbound, this Wocky was never tired of gazing at his image, he had even forgotten to quench his thirst. But then, three strong and cruel hands, as if coming out of nowhere, pushed him into the lake.

     Merlin saw himself inside something that was really neither liquid, nor gas, nor solid. The water supported him but at the same time it sank him, it pressed his chest but allowed him to breathe. A confusing tide of shadows engulfed him and blinded his beautiful, crystalline gaze, then revealed an even more incredible sight.

     White, everything had turned white. Merlin floated in a vast brilliant world, in which he felt happy and calm, and lighter than a feather. He found himself flying through a soft, protective whiteness. From time to time, the calm was interrupted by the sound of a scream; a cry; a lament in the distance. But that did not bother the Neopet, who felt as free and full as he had never felt in his life.

     Moving like this through the seemingly infinite place, Merlin was able to see something in the distance. As he approached in his fine flight, he began to see the figure of a faerie, in the middle of the snowy reality. The faerie was lying in the very air that surrounded her, and a blinding glow covered her body and wings. Only her face could be clearly distinguished: it was a beautiful face, perfectly soft and placidly closed eyes. Long curly black hair floated around the faerie's features, in which the curve of the chin, the roundness of the cheekbones and the blackness of very long and curved eyelashes stood out.

     Captivated, the Neopet wanted to touch that creature's face, just to make sure it was real. But before his hand had reached it, the faerie opened her eyes, revealing two glowing circles of blue and green. Indeed, looking from the front, the faerie's left eye was blue as the sky, and the right, green as poison ivy. Merlin was sunk, drawn to the beauty of those two eyes, and before he lost consciousness, he could feel the presence of the faerie that stalked him from the streets of Neopia.

     Meanwhile, from somewhere above their heads, and without modifying the whiteness of the space, three sharp and distant laughs reached them.

     ***

     The light from the weak winter sun gave the building a calm and soothing glow. It was a place inhabited entirely by students from the Forest, who chose to leave their homes in Neopia and lead a more independent life. In bedroom 915 (yes, lucky number), a Gelert Darigan named Sheyn Tandrak (probably named after the famous yooyuball player), was preparing to face a calm and carefree Sunday. Sheyn was an exchange student from Darigan Citadel who had come to the Enchanted Forest recommended by his teachers, who saw in him more talent for magic and the occult of the Forest, than for the coldness and calculation of weapons and teaching. almost military of the Citadel. Indeed, Sheyn was enjoying his time in the Forest immensely, and was even considering exchanging his Yooyuball outfit for that of his beloved new land (even against his own name).

     With the task of dressing finished (which in the Forest takes a long time, you have to think about how complicated those suits are), Sheyn went to bedroom 950 to pick up his friend Merlin and go for a walk somewhere.

     – Hey, Wizard, come! I want to buy something at the Bakery before the neighbours take it all away!

     But Merlin (called "Wizard" by his friend), did not respond.

     – Wizard, if you don't come right now, you'll pay for the purchases!

     Seconds passed. Nothing.

     "For Coltzan's sake, you're useless..." Sheyn muttered sulkily before withdrawing.

     But the moment he turned his back on the door, it opened. Annoyed, the Gelert turned around, ready to reproach his friend for being late, but what he saw stopped him. The bleak, dull Merlin he knew had vanished, to make way for a handsome boy with white fur and heroic bearing.

     "Wow..." Sheyn whispered without leaving his astonishment. "At what point did you paint yourself white?" You look great, I won't have to be ashamed to walk with you anymore! ”Sheyn exclaimed, suddenly happy for his friend.

     Merlin gave his friend a splendid, bright smile, which only served to further disconcert the Gelert.

     –Last night I bought a morphing potion in a shop in the suburbs. I'm glad you like the change. Now hurry up or you'll be the one to pay for the cake.

     – Never that, pretty boy! That you look like a marble figure does not give you the right to proclaim yourself more handsome than me!

     – Shut up, you look like a bum from there! Unkempt!

     – Dared!

     After the "formalities" of the pleasant friendship finished, Merlin and Sheyn descended the stairs, greeted the acquaintances who crossed in the way (all of them admired the new face of Merlin), and left the building towards the Bakery. (Just in case you're interested, I'll tell you that the Bakery Meerca was so enchanted by the Wocky that she gave him a magnificent glazed banana cake.)

     But Merlin's room was not lonely. Curled up on the sofa, was the faerie who lived in whiteness. She was wrapped in a grey sheet and was shaking at times. Her hair was damp, since for an unknown reason, the room, barely lit by a beam of light that entered through the curtains, was filled with fog.

      ***

      – A dress?? Hey, I understand that you look good in white and everything, but... really?!?!...

     – Don't be ridiculous, it's not for me, but to give away!

     Merlin and Sheyn were sitting outside the Bakery, enjoying the sun and the fresh cake.

     – To give to whom?

     "There is little time left for my mother's birthday, and she loves clothes," Merlin lied easily. Actually, her mother's birthday was four months away, but Sheyn didn't have to know, since he had come to the Forest only half a year ago.

     – Oh, I see. Good thing, I was freaking out. Sheyn commented, devouring another piece of cake.

     – I haven't been visiting her for quite some time, so I should show off with this... I should also buy her shoes, don't you think?

     "Yeah, and since we're here, we should buy her toothpaste and a nice sweater!"

     – Enough, if you do not love your own mother does not mean that the others are the same – said Merlin getting up from his seat and putting the remains of cake in his box.

     – Hey, I do love my mother. Sheyn answered as he got up. "That I never send her gifts is just because that doesn't matter." You guys from the Forest are very materialistic. He finished with a refined accent.

     "If you say so..." Merlin smiled at him, showing his white smile again.

     After buying both the dress and the shoes (both elegant and brand–new in black), the two friends wandered around chatting about unimportant things.

     There was no way they would have known that, in Merlin's bedroom, after the room had completely filled with mist, the faerie had sat up and gazed out at the world with her bicolour eyes. The silver clock next to the sofa was still stuck at a bloody hour. A malicious smile appeared on the feminine lips of the faerie, as if foreshadowing that something bad would happen in Neopia...

      ***

     Obviously, a conversation about seasonal fruits seems very trivial, but you will see that it will not be, dear readers. You will see...

     Either way, we'll turn our attention back to Merlin, who was in class on Monday morning.

     "Longvaison, is something wrong?" His seatmate, a brown Aisha with large grey eyes, asked in a whisper.

     – I'm fine, thanks.

     And the truth is that it was. Just a little... distracted. Worried about what he should say to his friend Sheyn.

     The end of classes came and Merlin immediately went to find Sheyn at the back of the room (he sat in the front row).

     – Magician, how rare to see you in the suburbs. –Commented Gelert, who was tidying up his bag (in the Forest they don't use backpacks, but bags).

     – Sheyn, can we talk? It's very important.

     – Of course. If you put it that way...

     But the Wocky didn't open his mouth until they were quite far from the school.

     – It's a little bit complicated.

     – Everything is complicated with you, so say it now and that's it.

     – Look, I'll put it like this... the dress I bought yesterday was not for my mother.

     – Oh no, don't tell me it was for you...

     – I’ve already told you no, silly! It was... for someone else. For someone I'm going to introduce you right now. Actually, that someone wants to meet you.

     "Are they a relative, or what?" Sheyn asked, more and more intrigued.

     – You'll see it right now. She's in my bedroom.

     Once at the building, both Neopets entered Bedroom 950 and found...

     "A faerie ???" Sheyn was amazed.

     Kadriya stared at the Gelert, and instantly gave him one of her most tender and wicked smiles.

     ***

     "What happened to her?" Asked a guardian Pteri.

     – I don't know, she was very normal all week, as always. But last night she just freaked out. The guardian Acara replied.

     They both cast uneasy glances at Oridel, who was sitting in her dungeon staring at the opposite wall, as if she didn't know where she was.

     "Actually, do you know why she's here?" The Pteri whispered.

     – I do not know. One day a spotted Xweetok came by and entrusted her to me, saying she was one of the most dangerous villains Neopia had ever met. I couldn't do anything but lock her up, that Xweetok was crazier than Darigan in its worst days.

     – Obviously, that Xweetok brought her on purpose, because he knows that no judgments are made here.

     – Exactly. That's why I locked her up without protest.

     Two sweet tears escaped from the Draik's eyes without being noticed. They were sweet, because all the salt stayed in his soul. The scent of plums took over the Neopet, the only follower of the Faerie of the Mist.

     – Oridel, Oridel... come to your senses. Remember me. And help me. Bring me what I need. You are in the Citadel, for you it is easy. You are strong, you can escape from there effortlessly. And bring me a lot of those fruits... a lot of fruits.

     – If I'm here, it's because I'm safe here. the Draik whispered.

     – Oridel, don't you love me anymore? What did I do to deserve this? Tell me.

     – You give me a headache. Anyway, what would you do with the blessed plums if you had them?

     – When you still loved me, you used to give me Darigan plums all the time, Oridel. They are like baby food; I need them before I can feed myself with more... advanced things.

     – Shut up, I don't even know who you are... Leave me alone. cried Oridel, with pain in the soul.

     – Oridel, Oridel...

     ***

     "Why doesn't she speak?" Sheyn asked uneasily.

     – Sometimes she just stands still like that without saying anything. It is because you are talking to someone else.

     – WHAT?

     – I don't know, I don't have telepathy! I do not understand it either.

     – Well, I better end the conversation quickly, because this is scary.

     But Kadriya sat still, a smile plastered across her lips, whispering into the mind of an increasingly deranged Draik.

     ***

     An explosion in the upper dungeons forced all the guards to move to the scene.

     – A leak! –Shouted the guardian Acara to all those who were arriving– An escape! I should never have trusted that Draik!

     Oridel was several kilometres away now, his strong wings spread out to their fullest. The Neopet hadn't felt so happy for a long time.

     – You know? I don't know who you are, mysterious voice. But you helped me regain my freedom, which I had stopped appreciating. I was very wrong. You renewed my will to live. And if I helped you two years ago, as much as I don't remember, I still have to help you. Because... you are my friend, mysterious voice.

     – Oridel, Oridel...

     The Draik's arms were gleaming with fruit.

     To be continued…