The Witching Hour: Part Three

     “We’ll probably be travelling for a couple of weeks at most,” she said as she worked at top speed. “Of course, we won’t need to visit all the lands, but just enough so that you can find yourself again, Ana. Rosaline, be a dear and grab that jar of dried fruit from the cupboard, would you?”

     Rosaline saw Ana smile and nod out of the corner of her eye. She permitted herself a small one herself. It was nice to see that Ana had found some confidence at last. The cupboard was almost half empty, and Rosaline stretched to reach the jar of fruit Lillian had indicated. Once this was done, she handed it to the Xweetok who seemed to be having some trouble fitting it in. She was very capable, though, and soon the backpack was all ready to go and so were they.

     “Last thing to do,” she muttered, ushering Rosaline and the Shadow Usul out of the caravan as she locked up. This was done in the nick of time too, and without further ado they were on their way.

     “So, we’ll be heading to Brightvale then, Ana?” Rosaline asked as they exited the gypsy camp and headed west into the Haunted Woods. “It’s obviously got some sort of importance to you, and I’m sure you’ll want to start there.” Ana nodded swiftly. Soon, noise from the markets greeted them. They had walked at a rather fast pace and had entered the heart of the Haunted Woods.

     Ana was fascinated by all the activity going on in the town. As she’d only really spent time in Brightvale and Neovia, she could only stare in wonder as a Bruce selling spooky treats waved to customers from a street stall, and terrified-looking Neopians entered a haunted house known as the Castle of Eliv Thade. For Rosaline, though, it was nothing new.

     Soon, they were out of the Haunted Woods too and heading north-east towards Brightvale. Lillian dug into the backpack and pulled out the jar of dried fruit, which they ate as they walked.

     ***

     For several days they walked to Brightvale, setting up camp miles from the last and eating slowly through their provisions. Ana was beginning to really enjoy travelling and had gazed up at the stars from under her quilt every night. This was a luxury which she had never experienced since she had transformed three years ago. I can already see the road in front of me, she thought happily one night. Perhaps I will find that sunny, content Usul I used to be, not just on the outside but on in the inside as well. With this calming thought, she was able to sleep well each night without ever getting tired while they were on the road.

     Finally, after the third day of travelling, she could see the grand Brightvale castle looming in the distance as the trio approached. Trees grew lush and laden with fruit and Neopians everywhere were enjoying the day, bargaining on fruit or choosing from large, delicate scrolls from the bookshop. With every scene playing in front of her, Ana could remember details she had missed while telling Lillian and Rosaline about her past life. I remember little Melody would climb up that big tree just next to the Wheel of Knowledge, and then she would get stuck and scream and scream until I got her out of there. The others would just laugh at her and she’d become annoyed, but in the end she was the one who would laugh the hardest of all. She felt just a little sad as she reminisced about her favourite sister; so little and stubborn was she. This made her smile whenever she thought of her. Her loose thoughts were interrupted by Lillian’s next words.

     “Let’s go and meet your family,” she murmured. “Do you remember where they lived?” Ana suddenly felt a fear of all the people ahead, but Rosaline gave her a reassuring glance and she nudged it behind her.

     “This way,” she said. She darted ahead towards the town, ignoring the interested mutters from the people of Brightvale as she weaved her way through the crowds. Lillian and Rosaline were hot on her heels right until she came to a stock-still just outside a comfortable looking cottage surrounded by lush fields.

     “This is it.” Ana gestured to the cottage with one paw. Rosaline peered at it as Lillian looked thoughtful. After a few moments of thinking, the Xweetok turned to her and smiled.

     “Perhaps we don’t have to travel any farther than here,” she said. “Maybe, home is just what you need to seek what’s truly in your heart.” Ana just stood there, but looking at the cottage, she knew Lillian was right. Taking a deep, deliberate breath, she stepped up onto the porch and tapped lightly on the door.

     The sight of her former owner, a friendly male Acara, made a smile spring to her lips for an instant, but soon faded after he gave her a look of disdain and started to retreat back into the cottage. Ana lurched after him.

     “Wait! I’m not what you think I am! I’m your Ana!” she called. This made her owner turn back around and stare at her in disbelief.

     “How do you know about Ana? And you can’t be her! She’s long gone,” he said softly, pain crossing his features for a moment. Ana yearned to tell him, yet she couldn’t find the will to speak at all. After a minute of silence, he said apologetically, “I’m sorry; I’m a little busy right now. Perhaps you should come back later.” But he did not sound sure at all. Without a word, he gave the trio a small smile and disappeared back into the cottage. Ana stared at the ground in despair, kicking a small pebble on the porch across into the fields.

     “He doesn’t even recognise the voice, or anything! How can I convince him that I’m his Ana, the one he loved just a few years ago?” she began to sob, cowering on the ground, before she felt Rosaline behind her. Her usually quiet tone was layered with something which sounded almost like scorn.

     “Oh Ana, pull yourself together. What’s the one thing that Lillian reminded you about yourself which your owner always missed in his other children?”

     “I don’t know, I just don’t know!” Ana wailed, trying desperately to think back to the conversations she and Lillian had at the gypsy camp. She looked to Lillian for help, but all she said was, “Think back, child. Only you can help yourself now.” At this piece of tranquility, Ana finally realised what her two companions were talking about.

     “Oh, oh!” she gasped, and Lillian’s words came flooding back to her. You must see that across the land people can accept who you are. If you truly help them in some way, they will see you for who you really are, and will accept you with gracious arms, she had said. As she remembered these crucial words, she vowed she would help her owner in every way she could. She would make him see that she was his Ana, and that she was coming back to him.

     “I guess I’d better get to work then,” she said, trying to hide the joy welling up inside her heart. Then she smiled as she realised the first place she could start.

     Ana’s owner worked at the Brightvale fruit shop; this was where he made a living and made enough income to keep his family comfortable and healthy. Ana explained that if he was still at his job, this would be his sixth year. Rosaline had helped the Shadow Usul come up with a few ideas as to how she should go about helping the Acara. They came up with a list, and by the time they had finished brainstorming, Ana was ready to begin.

     “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Rosaline asked the Shadow Usul, looking her squarely in the eye as she had in the library just a few days ago. Ana met her glance without hesitation and said firmly, “Yes. I am ready.”

     ***

     Over the course of a week, the Shadow Usul used her ability of invisibility to help clean the shop, carry fruit boxes and stock the shelves without being seen. Of course, this seemed very strange to the Acara and he kept muttering, “Gee. It seems as though Ana is with me, always the helpful soul and ready for any task.” It was this day, this exact moment that Ana decided to reveal herself to him. He leapt back in shock, but as she opened her mouth to explain he seemed ready to embrace whatever she had to say.

     “I am Ana,” she began softly. “It’s a long story, but I’ve... changed a lot in appearance since that day. But now you have seen that it’s truly me, you’ll always know that I’m still your bubbly Red Usul on the very inside.” Her owner was astonished at this speech, but after the events that had happened over the past week he could not refuse her. He scooped her up and embraced her; no loving words were spoken but they knew in both of their hearts that they were together again, bonded by the love of a family.

     ***

     Rosaline and Lillian watched from outside the fruit shop. They looked at each other and smiled. The deed was done. Turning back to the happy scene in the shop, the Shadow Usul they had helped transform glanced their way. Rosaline’s heart squeezed at the prospect that she would never see her beloved Ana again. But in that brief glance, words of gratitude and eternal friendship spoke volumes.

     “We should go,” Lillian told her gently, breaking her out of her reverie. “You have done enough, and more. We must now carry on with our lives, for she is safe and content now.” With that, she turned on her heel to go and Rosaline started to follow. However, she spared one last look at Ana, who was finally embracing her destiny. She would be happy at last, and her soul would finally be at rest. Lillian was impatiently tugging on her wing again, so she picked up the pace and walked away from the shop. She refused to let sentiment grab hold of her, so instead she thought to herself, It’s going to be a long journey home...

The End