A Tale Written

     The Negg Faerie has been puzzled over for many years and I have never revealed anything about myself.

     Some say that my darkest deed was raising the price of my Neggs.

     That has been my darkest deed as the Negg Faerie. But I wasn’t born the Negg Faerie. I was someone just like every other faerie—once.

     I have secreted myself away because I no longer want to see the treachery and evil of the world, no longer want to see the remains of what was my life.

     ***

     It was a long time ago, nearing the beginning of the world. Faerieland was only for faeries in this time; no neopets or humans were allowed anywhere near it. I do not know much of what those other cultures were doing, but Faerieland was in a tumult.

     Valeane, the Battle Faerie was very busy warding off dark faeries at the time and I was still at Faerie Towers, studying for my graduation which was coming up soon. I had big ambitions and was often a dreamer in class.

     Perhaps I could be like Valeane, talented and strong... or maybe I could help Fyora and do some great deed... or perhaps I’d just lie low and help as many people as possible.

     I did have—other dreams. But I never thought that these dreams would come true. Dreams of writing a great novel or at least for the Neopian Times... maybe I could publish a great short story that everyone everywhere would read and I’d be famous. Maybe I’d even get acclaim from Fyora herself!

     But these were only silly dreams to pass the time when I was in class or desperately bored when I’d finished all of my work and my friends were still going. These were too precious to write down because I knew when I saw them written in black and white ink that I’d feel so silly and stupid and throw them in the bin.

     So I kept them in my secret cupboard inside my head, only to be cherished and read by my own eyes. Perhaps it would be more prudent to leave them behind when I graduated, but I know that I’ll take them with me to ends of Neopia if I must.

     It was during this time that Valeane was so busy that something both amazing and terrifying happened. The dark faeries and their other forces came together and prepared for war.

     I knew this before anyone else only because I lived in one of the highest points of Faerieland—and the world for that matter—where my neohome resided. I was sitting at my desk, contented and peaceful. I’d graduated the day before and was happy just to have achieved that.

     I took out paper and ink and wrote down a fantasy to amuse myself for an hour or two. When I was searching for just the right word, I happened to look out one of my huge, lofty windows where the airy curtains were fluttering.

     Something there caught my interest and I stared.

     A huge purple cloud of immense size was very slowly moving towards—if my geography was right—Meridell. I knew that the Battle Faerie had recently headed there because some small war between the Meridellians and dark faeries had broken out.

     But this was a cloud of magic and magic meant trouble. That—very obviously—meant that it held something that the dark faeries had cooked up and whatever they had cooked up was meant for those fighting in that war.

     I had to warn them!

     Was my first, immediate thought—but how? If a war was raging, then no one would have time to check their neomail, a letter wouldn’t get there fast enough—and no one would deliver mail during a war!

     I had to go myself.

     The answer fluttered into my head and I wondered who had placed it there. I had to leave everything that I’d ever known and go and fight. If I didn’t... then I’d never forgive myself.

     So I set out to what many would call certain doom.

     ***

     Old-fashioned and quaint, Meridell had always been a fine place of great standards. Many had flocked there when it had first been established long, long ago. The residents kept to the old ways of life and used candles instead of electric-lights. Life was slow and pleasant in good old Meridell.

     Until now...

     Valeane was fighting down there, her sword ringing against another. She was easy to pick out, being the only non-dark faerie down there.

     I flew down there, my heart heavy. It appeared that Meridell wasn’t doing too well. If only there was some miracle on the way. But there wasn’t. There was only me.

     When night fell, I gathered everyone together.

     “Everyone,” I called. “I have bad news. There is a large, magical cloud coming towards Meridell. It might be here tomorrow; it might be here tonight. Who knows what will come out of it. It’s a mystery and I don’t want to take any chances. I just wanted you to be prepared. I also wanted to tell you that I will fight. I have to.”

     There was a round of applause and cheering.

     Valeane smiled at me.

     When everyone else had filed out to get ready for bed, she put a hand on my shoulder.

     “You’re doing the right thing,” she whispered with a kind smile.

     Was I? I didn’t have time to think about it. Time or not, I had to find a sword of some kind.

     I stood atop a large, grassy hill and looked out upon the beautiful, starlit night. Large white clouds hung harmlessly in the sky. And then there was that huge, purple cloud which was so imposing to this world. I glared at it and willed it to disappear before my eyes.

     I turned around, ready to go back inside. And I saw a little stall even farther up the hill. There, a beautiful faerie of what race I couldn’t say was beating metal.

     When I walked up to her curiously, she didn’t look up from her work.

     “I suppose you need a sword and shield, Renata?” she asked.

     I jumped.

     “How do you know my name?”

     “I’m magic,” she said. “Do you?”

     “Yes,” I said cautiously. “What does it matter to you?”

     She just smiled and handed me a sword and shield from beneath her bench.

     I took them and studied them in my hands. They were beautiful with pearls and gems glittering on the hilt and embedded in the silver of the blade. The shield matched perfectly.

     When I looked up to thank her, she was gone. All that remained was her gifts.

     Back at the tents, Valeane was waiting for me.

     I showed her the sword and shield.

     “Ah, my friend Jesameine loves to give out gifts. She gave me my swords of fire and ice. She’s lovely—but dangerous. She may give you gifts that you cannot handle. I’ve known some who died from her gifts.”

     I shuddered. My beautiful memory wasn’t tainted, but now I saw my sword and shield as weapons of mass destruction.

     “She—she wouldn’t do that to me—would she?” I asked.

     “No. Generally she only gives those gifts to ones who are big-headed and think they could master any weapon or blade.”

     I gave a smile of relief.

     In the morning, the battle would begin.

     ***

     Valeane and I fought back to back, slaying those who dared come close to us. The day was long and weary and in the late afternoon when the sun was about to fade, the cloud broke.

     Down from the sky rained things which did not need sleep or food, things which would destroy anything in their path. Our only choice was to flee.

     Illusen was kind enough to let us into her glade and we stayed there, watching those things destroy Meridell.

     I cried bitter tears of hatred while Valeane comforted me. How could they do this? How could they ruin others' lives and leave nothing but destruction? If only a miracle would save what little was left of Meridell.

     And so things still stand. Meridell is destroyed. What once was a proud kingdom is now just rubble and ruins of a life passed.

     ***

     So that is my tale.

     I have always fancied myself as a writer. This was my last chance. After that incident in Meridell, I have never written anything again. So here is my first and final piece of work which shall forever be remembered by those who have read it.

     So now you know that is why I do what I do.

The End

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