The Box from 10,000 Years Ago

     ~~~

     The Fire Wocky shyly looks away from her two companions, knowing that her response didn't satisfy their doubts. She considers for a moment to trust them with the truth, then gives up. After a brief moment of silence, Itachiro leaves the bag and speaks up. “We're on a mission to bring a cursed box to Fyora. She’ll properly destroy it and will grant us a wish for retrieving such an evil and powerful item!!”

     Teca sighs with the revelation of Itachiro and decides to show the box that she has been carrying all the time in the bag. The item emits a beautiful blue glow, capturing the attention of everyone who looks at it. “This is the box Itachiro has been guarding in Meridell. He wants me to retrieve it for Fyora.”

     “Any wish she can grant because of this object?” Asks the amused Magax with big shining eyes.

     “Yah, any wish!!” The ghost replies and then gives happy spins in the air. “I'm going to tell you all a spooky story about the evil box that dates back ten thousand years, which is my story too!" Itachiro began.

     "TEN THOUSAND YEARS?? WHAT??" Vyim almost faints.

      "Neopia was once a happy and vibrant planet, filled with nice Neopets created by Fyora, the Faerie Queen. But then another faerie, who was evil, selfish, and wanted her own servants, decided to create her own creatures. She was named The Darkest Faerie for being the evilest of the Faeries! The rules made by Fyora stated that only the Queen was allowed to create new creatures, or things would get out of control. The Darkest Faerie didn't want to listen to this, and the creatures she created were stronger, more chaotic, more aggressive, and even began scaring and eating the poor Neopets. So Fyora, the Faerie Queen, decided to think of a way to capture and banish The Darkest Faerie and her creations."

     Teca’s ears perked up. “That story… I heard that story so many times when my mother was working in the theatre!!” The group listens to Itachiro while they walk through the quiet path of Haunted Woods at noon.

     The Usul ghost continues. "Faeries can fight and block Darkest’s spells, but Neopets have no chances against her. So the box was created by the best blacksmiths back then, as a way to help the Neopets fight the threat and help to ban the aggressive creatures. Once the object was finally ready, the most courageous Neopets were after the monsters and used the magic from the box given by Fyora to trap the beasts inside, one by one.”

     Everyone was completely engrossed in Itachiro's story, even the most scared Uni like Vyim. The young knight girl remains intrigued by the fate of the evil Faerie. “Was the Darkest Faerie finally trapped in the box too?”

     Itachiro replies with a sad tone. "Unfortunately not… The idea was working well and the item was already filled with lots of beasts, but trying to imprison Darkest inside it was never an easy task. Whenever these Neopets found the evil Faerie, she was able to escape. Until one day she got tired of their chase and decided to put an evil seal on it, saying that the next time the object gets open it would release all of her monsters back into the world. I know she said these exact words because I was there, she was creating another monster species when these Neopets arrived to capture her, which was me. Darkest saw Faeries arriving with the Neopets and left the place disappearing in a dark smoke, forgetting to give me a body and leaving me unfinished. I only exist as a soul form thanks to this day, it was the last time the Neopets chased the Faerie using the box too.”

     "So, you were supposed to be a monster created by the Darkest Faerie? Just like my species?" Zak asks, amazed.

     "Yes, that's right! We are equal!" Itachiro replies with enthusiasm. "But, since I am an unfinished monster, I was never born. I’m forever trapped in this soul form…"

     Magax shook his head in sorrow .“It’s such a sad story… A soul without a body that was never able to be born… I've encountered countless ghosts that already lived their own lives, but I never witnessed a ghost that was never born."

     “You really are that old?? Wow!” Exclaims the White Uni.

     “What else happened??” Inquires the curious female Wocky, she wants to know all the details.

     “So, the Neopets judged the box became useless for doing good and was hidden deep underground and forgotten, where centuries later the country of Meridell would be built. Later on, Fyora was finally able to find and banish the Darkest Faerie, turning her into a stone statue. But few of her monsters were still around, hiding in the shadows, and that's why they still exist today." Itachiro finally concludes. “Since the day the box turned evil, I stayed by its side all those years, hoping that someone would take the box to Fyora for me and turn me into a living creature!"

     "Wow! That's amazing! So that’s how I found you in the deep Meridell sewer! So, your wish for the Faerie Queen will be to receive a body? I can't even imagine how hard it must be to exist for so long without a physical body." Says the girl.

     "YES!! I want to breathe, I want to feel the grass touching my feet, I want to feel the wind... It has been my greatest desire for so long, and I hope that someday it will be granted." The ghost gives many happy spins in the air.

     "Ah, that wish makes sense since you are a ghost..." Vyim continues to comment. “So if you receive a body, will you want to be a Neopet or a… Urgh… A monster???"

     Itachiro stops for a moment. "That's an interesting question! I could keep being an Usul or I can be big and strong like Daisy!! Right now as a spirit, I have the ability to take on any form I want. I chose Usul because they have the cutest tails, don't you all think?" He playfully wiggles the rear while Teca and Zak laugh at his cute moment.

     Then, Itachiro turns to Teca with a sweet expression on his face. "Fate intervened when a young Fire Wocky stumbled upon the box in the sewers. That young Wocky was you, Teca. You showed me your kind heart and bravery by fighting Daisy. And now, we are on a mission to return the box to its rightful place, where it can no longer harm anyone. The rest is history, as they say."

     Teca blushes slightly at Itachiro's words, feeling a warmth in her heart. She had never considered herself particularly brave or special, but hearing Itachiro's praise made her feel like maybe she was capable of more than she thought. “... Y-yes!! We must keep it sealed to prevent any chance of Darkest Faerie kingdom of terror ever being unleashed again!!”

     Vyim's voice was filled with no hope as he replied. "I just want my sight back. I hope this wish thing is real."

     The knight girl placed a reassuring hand on the Uni’s side. "Don't worry, I made the mistake and I'll fix it. Fyora is our only hope…"

     While the group walks to leave the Haunted Woods, some ghosts catch wind of Itachiro's story. The gossip spreads like wildfire among the spirits, passing from one to another until it finally reaches a Wraith group. “It can’t be… Is it really him? After all this time?” They murmur to each other.

     The Wraiths are black spirits with a beautiful purple glow around them, and they appear to be in a hurry to share the news with a special friend. The group floats over a lake and enters a secret portal, leading them to the Darkest Faerie's hideout with other Wraith figures floating around her.

     “Oh my, oh my… You won’t believe who decided to leave the shadows~” Says a Wraith Aisha amidst the Faerie's legs like a cat rubbing against its owner asking for attention.

     The Faerie seems uninterested. "Go on." She commands, with her focus on painting her nails with an ink as red as blood.

     A Wraith Kacheek continues "It's none other than our pesky brother, Itachiro. We never saw him in the Haunted Woods, he was hidden all this time guarding something you might be interested in taking back~" He giggles, his voice being a mix of excitement and mischief.

     The Darkest Faerie raises an eyebrow, with a hint of curiosity and momentarily drawing her focus from her nails. "Itachiro? Who’s this one? If I don't remember, then he must not be of such significance.”

     A Wraith Zafara nods enthusiastically and continues. "He’s the monster you left unfinished when those silly Neopets tried to imprison you in a tiny box. Itachiro is what he calls himself. What a terrible name! Wasn’t he going to be a type of Monocerous?"

     Darkest ponders for a moment. "Hmmm. I think I may recall him vaguely. It's been countless centuries, around ten thousand years, perhaps? And what does he have that I might want to reclaim? I am getting impatient, get to the point.”

     Her Wraiths start trembling under the authority of the winged figure. “He… He was guarding the box that trapped all your creations back then! Our brothers and sisters must be there, all wanting to once more roam into the world!!”

     The Faerie smirks, leaving aside her nail-painting to fully focus on the news. "Interesting." She murmurs. "So I need a way to retrieve the box without being noticed by the other Faeries…" She gets up from the luxurious armchair, her mind works tirelessly through different scenarios and possibilities.

     “If I perform any magic outside this small hideout, the other Faeries will detect my activity… With that, they’ll immediately seek to imprison me on a stone statue again…” She continues wondering, walking in circles. “That’s why I could not create new monsters since my statue broke and I got freed… It takes too much of my energy and I have to be lowkey to not be tracked.” She stops by the mirror. “Releasing my creatures again to Neopia would make me with an army of thousands at my command without the Faeries even realizing what happened! This time, they wouldn't stand a chance." A triumphant smile curves her lips.

     “SHADOWS!” She screams to her Wraith creations, waiting for her orders. “We shall seek for that box.”

     And with that command, the evil spirits quickly leave the hideout back to Neopia. Lurking in the shadows, they search for Itachiro and a way to retrieve the desired object. Meanwhile, it was already time for dinner for Teca and her group. They have been walking for hours and yet no sight of the Faerieland road.

     “There’s a river over here, we should stop and catch some fish.” Exclaims Zak to the group. “I must imagine everyone here is claiming for some rest. We should leave Haunted Woods by tomorrow, we are really near the frontier.”

     Teca leaves her things over the floor, Vyim lays down on the grass feeling relief for resting his legs. Zak grabs some twigs to make a bonfire.

     “I am the best at catching fish!” Magax stretches himself. “Give me a challenge.”

     Zak giggles. “Catch a fish without using your wizard powers!”

     Magax's expression turns sour. “Haha, really funny...” The small male Wocky crosses arms and frowns at his friend.

     “You wanted a challenge, didn't you? A challenge should not be something easy to do!” Teca teases.

     “Humph!!! Alright, alright!! See the master of fishing in action!!” With that, the determined Magax walks to the river edge and faces his own reflection on the current water. He slowly puts his foot inside and instantly regrets after feeling the very cold water. He takes a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead. “Here I go!”

     The Wocky jumps in the water like a professional swimmer, then disappears in the river. Teca and Zak get apprehensive as he takes long moments submerged. Magax reappears on the surface with a small fish in his mouth and Teca and Zak laugh at how tiny it is.

     "Impressive, fishing master!” Zak playfully provokes him by being ironic.

     “Well, he caught a fish! He completed the challenge at least, haha!!” Teca claps, having fun with the situation.

     Magax bows theatrically, holding his tiny fish triumphantly in one hand. "Thank you, thank you! I accept all praise and admiration. Please get in line for the autograph session, hehe!" He puts the small fish back into the river. “Ok, I may need help to catch better fish.” He shrugs.

     Zak smirks and stretches himself. "Don't worry, fishing master. We can work together like we have been doing in the last years, right?" He dives in, splashing water over everyone.

     “HEY!! BE CAREFUL YOU THERE!! I don’t want my beautiful mane getting wet.” Shouts the grumpy Uni.

     “Wait for me!!” Teca playfully enters the water, not worrying about her white dress getting wet.

     Magax feels courageous enough to enter the water again, even if it was too cold for him. He jumps in the river with the others and they all start playing together, splashing water to each one. Itachiro sits on a stone and sighs, wishing to have a physical body to go play with them too. Yet, even in his ethereal form, he smiles with the happiness radiating from his friends.

     After a while, the night comes and the three friends manage to catch enough fish for dinner. Zak comes out of the water and shakes himself like a wet dog. With a bunch of fish on the ground, he starts building a bonfire while Teca and Magax are still playing in the water.

     “Oooh, you see? There’s a big fish right here!” Teca watches the shadow of a fish in front of her in the water.

     "It's mine! It's mine!" Magax shouts as they both dive into the water to capture the meal. After a brief moment, they both resurface, with the two Wockies holding the same fish at each end. Water streams down their fur and their eyes meet, exchanging an embarrassed glance as they realize the comical situation they've landed in.

     Zak is watching them from afar and sweetly smiles once he notices the cute scene the two Wockies were in. “Looks like you two have quite the fishy dilemma.” He giggles.

     The two Wockies hold the fish with their hand while a soft chuckle escapes from each other. "Well, I guess we'll just have to share this one." Says Magax, making Teca's cheeks flush with a subtle smile. The closeness between them feels different from now on.

     Vyim is a herbivore and had eaten some grass for dinner and now he sleeps peacefully, while Zak already has some cooked fish with him. He waits for Teca and Magax to dry themselves and serves them the cooked meal with a salad of mixed leaves he gathered nearby. “Wow! Ladies and gentlemen, we have a professional cook here!” Shouts Teca.

     Zak has a good laugh. “When you have to live alone, you have to learn how to cook things. That’s the life of a lone wolf.”

     The meal tastes good, for so long Teca didn't eat something so delightful. The food she used to eat were the leftovers from King Skarl when she was punished for not using the fire powers. “Why do you have to live alone? There must be a lot of Werelupes in the woods!” She asks.

     Magax lowers his ears and looks worried at Zak, he knows this type of question makes his big furry friend feel bad.

     “Have you noticed that I don’t have big fangs? I'm an adult, but my fangs look like they are still from a child. My brothers made fun of me because of that. It was annoying me so much, destroying myself inside.” Zak takes a deep breath, remembering the bad jokes. “It was a hard decision but I ended up deciding to abandon them, and when a Werelupe abandons their pack, they become enemies.”

     “Ooh… I had no idea you had to go through this…” Teca tenderly places the hand over his cheek. “ I imagine how a good fang must be the pride of a Werelupe. It must be challenging to learn how to survive all alone.”

     “You are right.” Zak nods. ”If you don’t have good fangs or claws, there's no way you can catch a good prey. So this is why I decided to eat Petpets and fruits rather than Neopets. As I came to understand Neopets better, I no longer felt the desire to consume them.”

     “Yes! I am glad to have Zak as my best friend! I was alone and felt the need to have someone by my side.” Says Magax after putting an entire fish inside his mouth. “We get along so well.”

     “Well… Now look at you, Zak! How good you are doing without your Werelupe siblings! Facing challenges in life is what shapes our strength to keep going.” She says with a sweet tone in her voice to the big friend.

     “What a wise quote, Teca! Where did you learn it?” Asks Magax with his mouth full of fish.

     “A Gentle Giant once told me! He was like a father and taught me so many wise things… Godric was the only Neopet in the Meridell Castle that I could count on. I wonder how he is doing there without me…” Her gaze gets distant with her worries.

     “How is it to live inside the Meridell Castle? Do they have shiny armour like yours?” Asks the sleepy Werelupe, giving a yawn.

     “No… Not everyone there has the same armour. You have to go up ranks to get the best missions, payment, armour and the most important of all: prestige. The ultimate rank are the knights in golden armour, they are usually the 3 best knights of Meridell. As for me?” She leaves a heavy sigh. “I’ve been stuck in the most common rank for 18 years… That stupid king wanted to force me to use the fire powers… Right when I finally proved myself to change ranks, he did everything he could to get rid of me.”

     Zak and Magax's ears perk up, Itachiro also pays attention from a distance.

     “How could someone get rid of someone as gentle as you, Teca?? I bet you were the noblest of King Skarl’s soldiers!!” Said the male Wocky, accidentally spilling the dinner in anger.

     Teca's cheeks flush with a small smile. "That's ok, Magax. I no longer will work for Skarl. But you know, even the noblest intentions can't change the actions of those in power."

     “Is that another wise quote from the Gentle Giant?” Asks the Werelupe following up with another yawn, his eyes droop slowly as he listens.

     The Fire Wocky chuckles. “Yes, it is. Godric has a big influence on me. He has read many books and he loves math.”

     Teca notices Zak falling asleep and the bonfire fading away. Magax is still engaged to know more from the female Wocky. “What are you waiting for? Light up the bonfire.” He says.

     “Uh? Me? What if I accidentally burn the entire woods?” She shakes her head, denying the request. “Don’t count on me for this!”

     “It’s just a small amount of fire! C’mon, you really hate using fire powers?” The Blue Neopet inquiries.

     Teca stares at the fading flames of the bonfire in front of her, lost in thought. “I wish fire wasn't so destructive or I would use them often, of course. It's a curse I was born with.”

     Magax smiles while shaking his head. “Your firepower is a gift, not a curse. With the right intentions, it can bring joy and help to those in need.” He still sees Teca feeling sorrow about it, and then he continues. "It's funny, isn't it? Fire can be destructive, but it can also be used to help Neopets survive the cold of the night. Without fire, we couldn’t have Zak’s amazing cooked fish. It’s all about how you use it."

     Teca listens attentively, his perspective offers her a new way to view her abilities. Her sadness seems to be slowly replaced by a spark of hope. "You're right, Magax. I want to believe I can do good with my powers!”

     “So what are you waiting for?? Light up that bonfire for us!!” He encourages her, wanting to see her powers in action.

     The Fire Wocky takes a deep breath and aims her hands at the almost-dying bonfire. She concentrates and lets out an intense blast of fire from her hands leaving the edges of the bonfire on fire, but she doesn't hit the actual bonfire itself.

     Magax steps back after a showcase of her powers. “Wow! You've got some serious fire skills, that's for sure! But… Tsk, you gotta need some more practice to aim it just right.” He quickly brings water from the river and extinguishes the fire around the bonfire.

     “It was awful… I rarely use my powers, that’s why I’m so bad at using them… I have no practice at all.” She looks down, believing she’ll never be able to use fire in a good way.

     The Blue Wocky smiles once again, still trying to encourage her. "Don't worry, Teca. I can help you to improve your firepower skills. A little practice and you'll be like Pew Pew! Hitting your targets down!"

     The eyes of the female Wocky get big and shining. "You'd really help me with that??"

     “Of course! I am the fishing master, I can also be the fire master.” He blinks at her, his confidence unwavering. Teca giggles and follows him to an open area nearby.

     Magax starts the training. "First thing is all about focus. Feel the fire within you, and connect your mind with it. Imagine it as an extension of yourself…” He makes some green fire appear on his own hand, showing Teca that he also knows fire magic. “Soon you will be dancing with your fire!"

     Teca gets excited knowing she’s not the only one there with fire powers. With Magax's guidance, she enters in a new way of discovering her own fire ability, learning to control the flames. Each burst of fire is carefully controlled, each mistake evaluated.

     As the night gets even darker, the only glowing thing that can be seen from afar are the fire powers from the two Wockies training on the camp. Not only illuminating the night, but also strengthens the bond between Magax and Teca. There's a spark of something deeper between them, something beyond friendship.

     After a few hours of practising, Magax and Teca find themselves lying on the scorched grass, gazing up at the twinkling night sky. "You know, it's moments like these that make all the effort worth it." She softly says.

     Magax turns his head to her. "Absolutely. We've come a long way today, and I'm not just talking about your fire skills. We've accomplished so much together."

     Teca nods in agreement. “I am still not perfect in manipulating my powers, but… Thanks to you, now I am able to admire the glow of the fire.”

     Magax's smile gets bigger, shifting his gaze to the starry night. A comfortable silence envelops them, being filled with the gentle sound of winds and leaves.

     The small Blue Wocky turns his head to Teca again, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know, Teca, there's something I've been wanting to ask."

     "Sure. What is it?" She says, having no idea what he wants to know.

     Looks like he wants to ask something of a romantic nature, but soon gives up and decides to ask something else in mind. "... Who gave you your fire powers, lady Teca?"

     “... I was born with it, no idea why. The same didn’t happen to you? Wasn’t you born with the powers?”

     He nods in disagreement. "Well, Zak already knows my story. It all began when I was just a young Wocky." He starts telling the story of himself, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "I was adopted by a powerful wizard Chia in Haunted Woods."

     Teca sits, her curiosity lights up as her friend starts telling his own memories.

     “His name was Hubrid Nox. He was the one who gave me my powers, but everything comes with a price… I had to be his slave and I used to be the greatest threat in Neopia, a villain without equal… I committed the worst crimes under Nox’s commands.”

     Teca’s ears perk up, and she keeps listening with big and surprised eyes.

     He concludes the story with his bowed eyes and closed eyes. “When Nox was eliminated by a Xweetok witch, I became free! Free to be myself, free to change my path. I’ll never embrace the darkness again, never… Yet, the Faeries will never forgive the crimes I committed against them. Still, I seek redemption for my past… And that’s why I decided to help lost Neopets in these woods.”

     The Fire Wocky gets speechless by the fact of discovering that she has met a potential criminal. But upon hearing the sincerity in Magax's voice, she decides to understand his side.

     “You know what once the Gentle Giant told me? You're not defined by your past actions. I believe many Neopets were grateful for your help in the woods.”

     Magax looks at her and smiles, his gratitude evident. "Pfff. I wish the Faeries had the same thinking as you. I can’t leave the Haunted Woods, it's straight to prison if they see me. The Faeries that live here are usually the rebel ones, they're not bothered by my presence so… I am forever stuck here. ”

     “Hmm, it looks like Haunted Woods is a prison for you. Oh! Wait! So that’s why you lied earlier when you said you didn’t know about Faerieland?? Are you afraid of meeting the Faeries?”

     "Exactly." Magax nods, with seriousness in his face. "Sorry for lying earlier. I guess I won’t be able to follow you till Faerieland, but I'm working hard to change. I hope one day the Faeries can see I am different now.”

     “Oh, I see.” She nods. “I understand you. I’ll try to talk to Fyora to see if she can forgive you!”

     Magax giggles and shakes his head, not believing it can have any effect, but he thanks for the help. Their bond deepens after sharing moments of honesty. The two Wockies have a similar wish to move beyond their pasts and make a positive impact on other Neopets.

     Among the dense fog of the Haunted Woods, they walk back next to the river where Vyim and Zak are peacefully sleeping. Everyone there had a well-deserved rest for the night.

     -----

     Teca is the first to wake up in the morning, her sleepy gaze falling on the spot where her bag should have been next to her. Panic quickly rushes through her as she realizes it's missing. She gets up and begins to search desperately for her belongings in the area around her.

     “My box?? Where’s the box?? Itachiro?? Help! Help!”

     Her screams wake up the group. Her heart is pounding and her hands start to tremble. Something catches her eyes and she rushes towards it, it’s her bag partially hidden inside a bunch. She has a bit of relief for some moments till she notices the evil box is missing from inside.

     “Oh no!! The worst happened!! Itachiro, where are you?? Itachiro!!” She calls out for the help of her ghost friend, but he is nowhere to be found.

     “Hey Teca, stay calm! Maybe Itachiro went for a walk…” Says Zak carrying the ropes tied on Vyim. “Magax is missing too.”

     “Oh no!! What happened to them?? Were they attacked by Werelupes, ghosts or something??” Her worries deepens.

     "I'm right here." Magax's voice cuts through the tense atmosphere as he appears behind the group, his expression is a mix of seriousness and sadness. And to their surprise, he holds the object in his hand.

     Teca feels a bit of relief and confusion. “Magax… What's going on? Why do you have Itachiro’s box?”

     The voice of Blue Wocky is shaky as he struggles to tell the truth. "I tried to steal it from you..."

     Teca's eyes widen, her confusion deepening as her brain processes Magax's unexpected revelation. "You tried to steal it from me?? But why, Magax?"

     The Blue Wocky's gaze shifts to the ground, his hands trembling while holding the magical object. "I thought... I thought if I had the box, maybe I could find a way to make amends with Fyora, to prove to the Faeries that I've changed. I thought it could be a chance for redemption..."

     Feeling frustrated, Teca steps closer and snatches the item from his hands. Her disappointment is totally understandable, and he doesn't attempt to defend his actions.

     She holds the box tightly, her voice full of disappointment. "I know you are a criminal, but I thought I could trust you…”

     "I was desperate, Teca... Desperate to find forgiveness from the Faeries... But halfway I realized I was doing wrong by stealing something so important from you. I shouldn't have taken the box, and I'm truly sorry..."

     “Where is Itachiro? Where is he??” Her voice now with an angry tone. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM??”

     “I didn't do anything to him!” He is taken aback by her scream. “I didn’t even see him!”

     “Are you lying again?? Did you attack him to retrieve the box?? You said before that you can eliminate ghosts… He would come to alert me that you were stealing it! Tell me, Magax, what did you do to Itachiro??”

     “Better explain what you did to the ghost.” Zak interjects, with a worried face knowing Magax’s hate for spirits.

     "No, Teca, I didn't hurt Itachiro. I swear! I didn't even see him when I went to take your bag with the box..." Says the small Wocky, but no matter what he says, it doesn't seem to change Teca’s disbelief.

     “I wish I could trust you again…” Her anger remains evident. “I’ll take some time to heal from this…”

     Without another word, she walks away, leaving Magax standing there. He turns to Zak, who shakes his head in disappointment and follows the Fire Wocky girl while carrying the ropes of the Uni.

     Magax watches the group leaving without him. Tears of regret are falling from his eyes. He stands there alone, his mind filled with guilt due to his impulsive actions.

     Teca, Vyim, and Zak continue walking for long minutes under a heavy silence, their heads bowed in disappointment. They walk for what feels like an eternity until they finally arrive at the frontier of Haunted Woods. Faerieland feels near as the vegetation appears to be more alive and colourful.

     Zak breaks the silence between them, his voice carrying a touch of melancholy. "I said I would bring you outside Haunted Woods, so this is where I leave you. Best of luck on your journey to Faerieland."

     With a nod, the female Wocky replies. "Thank you, Zak. We'll miss your company."

     Zak gently pats Vyim's side and gives a nod before leaving. Teca watches her friendly Werelupe disappear in the dense fog of the Haunted Woods.

     She holds the ropes of her blind Uni and presses it against her chest, a strange feeling of emptiness wraps her as she contemplates the unknown path ahead. The disheartened Wocky gazes at the mountainous horizon, facing the responsibility of following the path alone with the White Uni by her side.

     "We're in this together, Vyim." She whispers. “Itachiro is gone, he couldn't accompany us to Faerieland and receive the physical body he wanted so badly.”

     “I can feel sadness in your voice… I bet Itachiro still would want you to deliver the box to Fyora on his behalf. Well, in case the story of the evil box is really true.” Says the Uni.

     "You're right, Vyim. Carrying out Itachiro's wishes is the least we can do for him."

To be continued…