Scroll of the Fool

      One day, the Woodland Mynci was called before the two remaining Guardians of the Training School. Ghi Pharun and Ryshu, the Nimmo were to host the following Endurance course while the Techo Master meditated in his secret garden. Both instructors were renowned for their remarkable skills with Neojutsu.

     "Dark Faerie ability, Temporal Leak!"

     The Stealthy Grundo created a massive bubble that decreased the acceleration of all objects within its range. The floating blob continued to expand until Leigume was completely engulfed. He could still hear the muffled voice of Ryshu on the outside, encouraging him to remain calm. "To complete the course, you must endure the pressure for at least another hour," said the Red Nimmo. As the fabric of space rippled around the bubble, a familiar face appeared through Leigume's obscured reflection.

     "Will you draw with me? It's very lonely here in the Shadow Plane," the Sketch Mynci said.

     After the image became clearer, Leigume was able to confirm their resemblance. The doppelganger claimed to have watched over Leigume since he was just a young Slushie Slinger working at the Virtuburger restaurant.

     "Have you ever wondered how you were able to defeat the Grundo Leader with a single slushie cup? It was I who applied the force behind your throw. Now, give me that Scroll of the Fool!"

      Once the Sketch Mynci made contact with the scroll, the lines of his making were synced into the parchment. Ghi could sense a disturbance in the bubble's frequency. He quickly deactivated Temporal Leak, but after the blob had deflated, the Woodland Mynci was nowhere to be found. Only the Scroll of the Fool was left unravelled on the field. Ryshu observed the manuscript with caution. A poorly drawn portrait of Leigume was revealed.

     "Is this supposed to be Leigume?" he wondered. For a second, it almost sounded as if the picture had spoken.

     "Would you like to see a magic trick?" the silly voice repeated. Suddenly, a Sketch Mynci spawned from the scroll in a violent tempest. "From this day forward, I shall be known as Leigume, the paper Trickster!"

     The two guardians immediately assembled into battle formation. "What have you done with our student?" Ghi Pharun asked.

     "That bonfire dummy has taken my place in the Shadow Plane. Thanks to your Temporal Leak, I was able to find a gap in the fabric of space."

     "You have no business in the realm of Neopets!" The Stealthy Grundo insisted.

     "It is my purpose to obtain the Secret of the Stones. Only then will I truly be able to master the six elements of Neojutsu."

     "The Secret of the Stones has been kept safe within the Techo Masters secret garden. You won't even be able to find it," said Ryshu.

     "Hahaha! Have you not learned anything from the Legend of Gadgadsbogen? Never make a bet with a talented trickster!"

     The Sketch Mynci yanked a glowing Pencil of the Light Faerie from his sleeve. Precise circles of light were drawn into thin air while he skipped around with glee.

     "Light Faerie ability, Mote Dance!" he shouted.

     A sum of six Motes were miraculously formed from the surrounding elements. Each of them was drawn with a happy expression on their faces.

     "Attention, guardians of the Training School! Prepare yourselves for my grand art show."

      The Sketch Mynci laughed as he juggled the six Motes at once. He ordered the Gold Mote to shapeshift into a Gold Handled Katana. Ryshu and the Trickster clashed with swords as Ghi Pharun charged up his Psychic Blast attack. As the battle increased with intensity, the Lava Mote spewed over Ryshu's Dragon Blade, melting it down to the hilt.

     "Qanfire Kick!"

     The Red Nimmo went in for a practical attack, but his foot only grazed the Trickster's paper-thin body. The Ice Mote managed to freeze his leg in mid-air. At that moment, Ghi Pharun found an opening.

     "Light Faerie ability, Psychic Blast!"

     A focused laser shot from between his antennae, but the Mirror Mote reflected the beam and hit Ryshu instead.

     "This is getting boring. I must say, I expected more from the guardians of the Training School," the Sketch Mynci boasted. The Dee Mote suddenly appeared on Ghi Pharun's shoulder. This particular Mote came depressed as a Frowny on Grey Day. In seconds, the Stealthy Grundo had completely lost the will to fight.

     "It has been fun playing with you two," said the Sketch Mynci. "Now it's time I fulfil my duty."

      Meanwhile, the Techo Master was in deep meditation somewhere in his secret garden. When the paper Trickster arrived, he demanded the Secret of the Stones, but the wise Techo refused to hand over the tablet without a fight.

     "I have returned from my course, Master. Now, relinquish the Secret of the Stones?"

     The Techo Master remained seated and calmly revealed the tablet in his hand. "If you want it, then come and take it."

     Like a game of 200m Peanut Dash, the Trickster vigorously launched himself towards the stone. Once he entered the garden, a paralysing force of gravity kept him spellbound.

     "What sorcery is this?" The Sketch Mynci tried his best to make a single movement, but he was as immobilised as the Codestones surrounding him.

     "Do you know what makes this garden so special?" The Techo Master answered his own question while returning the tablet to its rightful place. "Look around and tell me what you see. All of the Codestones have stopped shaking. This secret garden is the source of all Neojutsu. You are standing on sacred ground. A foreign entity such as yourself will be bound to the same fate. Now, it’s time you returned to where you came."

      The Techo Master used the most powerful technique in his arsenal. "Air Faerie ability, Diamond Dust!" Shiny fragments rained over the Trickster, trapping him in a dark prism. After the enemy was completely sealed, the master continued his meditation.

     "Leigume, Leigume, can you hear me?"

     "Master, is that you?" The Woodland Mynci questioned from the Shadow Plane. "How long will I be trapped in this forsaken place?"

     "I don't have much time. You must listen carefully. Whenever a sunray passes through the prism, a glimmer of light should reach the Shadow Plane. You must follow the light in order to escape. Do you understand?"

     "Yes, Master, I will not fail you."

     Shortly after, a vibrant rainbow appeared out of the darkness. Leigume escaped through a portal at the edge of the spectrum. The paper Trickster was returned to the Shadow Plane, where he would spend the rest of his days scribbling into the void.