The Problem Child (Orion’s Story)

     The figure cried out, but nobody appeared to be in the vicinity to hear, other than a few unsympathetic Crokabeks, their screeches sounding more like laughter. As he sank further into the ground, he whispered, “I’m sorry. I am an utter failure…”

     The world around him went dark as the mud swallowed his figure up. As it continued to bury him, he grew numb. Suddenly, he felt a firm tug. However, that fleeting moment faded away as he descended into unconsciousness.

     **

     He awoke to unknown surroundings, his body lying on a hard, wooden bed. A tiny lantern on a nearby table illuminated the room slightly. He peered around, attempting to observe his surroundings, barely able to make out the rest of the room. And then a dark green faerie with emerald eyes emerged and stood over him.

     “You’re awake,” she said. Her voice was deep and slightly gruff.

     “W-where am I? Who are…” he began before she covered his mouth and shushed him.

     “Hush, you’re still weak. I will do the talking,” she said impatiently. “I am Ilere. You are a fool who underestimated the forest before running off into it.”

     “Miss Ilere. Orion,” he said. “Th-thank you for rescuing me…”

     “Your mindless decision nearly cost you your life! You better have a reason for it!” Ilere continued.

     “I-I was thrown out of the house by my p-parents. They hated my attempts to explore scientific ways. They were fortune tellers and s-seers. They distrusted science. But I think magic and science can coexist and c-complement each other,” Orion stammered.

     Ilere paced around the barren room in the cabin before she returned to Orion’s side.

     “Did you say magic? I may have a job for a pet of your age.”

     “Job? What can I do in this state?”

     “Obviously after you’ve recovered,” Ilere retorted, rolling her eyes.

     **

     “Sophie, this is Orion. He appears to be magic sensitive, so I am hoping he’ll be of aid to you,” Ilere said, beckoning Orion over.

     Sophie stared at Orion. She inspected him closely, narrowing her eyes.

     “What are you good at?” Sophie asked, folding her arms.

     “Miss Sophie, I…uh… I can s-see the future and the past… y-yeah…” he stuttered.

     “Future and past, huh? Well, tell me about my past.”

     “I shall take my leave now,” Ilere said. The Earth Faerie then flew out of the tower.

     Orion stared into Sophie’s eyes for a bit. He pulled out a deck of cards and shuffled them. He drew three cards. He peeked at the walls of the room and noted the potion-making equipment as well as the pile of spell books in the corner. On the walls hung distinct portraits, one of Sophie and Bruno, another of her and Gilly, and then an old family portrait.

     He consulted his cards, an upside-down portrait of Illusen hugging an angry Noil, a portrait of the Cyodrake’s Gaze, and a portrait of Aethia.

     Eyes closed, with a deep breath, he began. The cards each glowed as he touched them.

     “Well, y-you’re from Neovia based on my observations, just like I am. My cards s-sense that you’ve been resilient and courageous, but that journey has also found lots of conflict with cursed creatures. Y-you did not let that curse on Neovia stop you, and you care deeply about justice for those who were afflicted. However, y-you’re frustrated that the perpetrator got away. B-but you’re grateful for the friendships made along the way such as with that Usul I-I saw in that wall portrait over there,” Orion stammered.

     Sophie held up her paw. “Alright, that’s enough. What’s with the nerves though? I’m not going to turn you into a Mootix. I am curious though; how did you avoid the curse?”

     “You see, my intention to combine magic and science – it was not well-received by my family. I frequently left home because I could not bear their actions toward me.”

     Sophie closed her eyes and gritted her teeth but regained her composure moments later. “Well, I’m going to need you to help me with potions. Given potions combine elements of both magic and science, I hope that is not a problem for you?”

     “I-I’ll do my best.”

     “In exchange, you can stay in this spare room,” she said, pointing to an empty room down the hallway.

     **

     “What nonsense are you up to?!” Sophie yelled. “I said Dried Black Mushrooms! These are not dry! Now the potion’s ruined and we have to start over!”

     Orion stood and hung his head as he received Sophie’s diatribe. “But Miss Sophie, I think we can still salvage-” Orion began.

     “No, we can’t!”

     “But the science says we could if we just boil it a little-”

     “Ugh, fine. We’ll try it your way!”

     After a few attempts to bring the cauldron to a full boil, the liquid inside it seemed to become clear.

     “Disgusting!” Sophie yelled with disdain. She took a jar and filled it with the liquid.

     “See! This is just swamp water now; not even close to a Neovia Strength Potion!”

     “B-but, h-how? This is most interesting...”

     “Interesting?! I’m not here for your silly science experiments!”

     “Well maybe it still works despite its look.”

     Orion took the jar and sipped the liquid. Then he downed the entire jar.

     “What on Neopia…?” Sophie said, rolling her eyes.

     “Huh? I-I feel better after drinking this. Not stronger, but more relaxed…”

     Sophie glared in disgust.

     “Stop trolling me!”

     “I swear I feel a bit stronger.”

     “What nonsense!”

     “Just take a sip!”

     “No, I’m good. I’m not some mad scientist! You enjoy your gross swamp water. Actually no, stop that. I’m not here to tolerate your dilly dallying! I need you to listen! My Meowclops listens better.”

     “Okay but could you please not yell? My p-parents always... yelled...”

     “If you didn’t do anything worth yelling over I- you know what? Never mind,” Sophie said, shrugging and leaving the room.

     **

     Ilere emerged from the woods as Sophie went for a walk one day.

     “What did you want to speak to me about?” the faerie asked.

     “This apprentice you found, he’s very intelligent, but he never follows my directions and then becomes a nervous wreck when I give any criticism,” Sophie ranted. “Honestly, sometimes I feel tempted to turn him into a Ghost Meepit.”

     “Sophie, do not turn him into anything. He might be a simpleton at times, but he’d be far worse on his own.”

     “I was being sarcastic. But sure, what if he doesn’t improve though? Don’t I have the right to fire him?”

     Ilere threw her hands up. “Well, if so wish to dismiss him, allow me to work out a solution before you do.”

     “Shhh, there’s someone following us!” Sophie said abruptly. “Who’s there, show yourself!”

     Orion emerged from a bush nearby. Sophie covered her mouth.

     “How much did... you hear?” she asked.

     Orion stared at the ground. “All of it. I-it's ok... Miss Sophie. I-I understand if you want to kick me out too. I-I don’t want to be a burden.”

     Ilere reached out, grabbed Orion by the shoulders, and shook him slightly. “You’re not going anywhere yet. Lest the woods try to swallow you up whole again. No, I shall find another arrangement. Until then, you are to remain here and help Sophie.”

     **

     Ilere returned to her hidden treehouse in the woods. She pulled out a pink orb and shook it. Seconds later, a puff of pink smoke filled the treehouse and then the Faerie Queen appeared.

     “Hi Ilere, what did you summon me about?” Queen Fyora said.

     “I have a problem.”

     “I may have an answer,” Fyora said, smiling.

     “Ugh, don’t get smart with me, Fyora.” Ilere said, glaring at the queen.

     “Comic relief is dead these days, I guess,” Fyora shrugged, followed by a loud groan from Ilere.

     “You’re queen, not some standup comedian! Anyways, there’s a dense Ogrin who wandered these woods, and he nearly got himself killed. He apparently has magical abilities. I had him working with Sophie, but apparently, he’s not very competent. Faerieland would be a better environment for him.”

     Fyora took a seat on a tree stump shaped chair. She rested her chin on her right hand as leaned toward Ilere.

     “Alright, I’m curious now. What kind of magic does he specialise in?”

     “He says he’s a seer of some sort.”

     Fyora’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

     “A seer, huh? Could you tell me more about his background?”

     “Not really. Sophie may know more. She did tell me he used his skills and saw into her past.”

     Queen Fyora got up from her seat.

     “Alright, is that all?”

     “So do you have a plan for him?”

     “Thank you for telling me this, Ilere. Let me think on it and get back to you in a day.”

     **

     “We won’t be brewing any potions today, Orion. We need to go to the edge of the Haunted Woods to meet someone important,” Sophie said.

     “Uhhh okay... Miss Sophie, I’m not fired, am I?”

     Sophie rolled her eyes.

     “No, why did your mind just jump there?”

     “I have a hunch that I will not be working here anymore, from my card readings.”

     “Just come on. I don’t have all day.”

     The two of them headed to the edge of the woods. A sudden bright pink flash shocked Orion and then the Faerie Queen appeared before them. Orion gasped and then dropped to his knees. Sophie continued to stand as she glanced over at Queen Fyora.

     “Y-your majesty-” he said.

     “Orion, there is no need for those formalities.” She began. She walked over to him and offered him her hand. He took it and she pulled him up then shook it.

     “I’ve heard a lot about you,” Fyora continued. “About your past and how you have the ability to see the past and the future.”

     “I believe I’ll find your skills to be valuable. However, I would like you to come with me to Faerieland where we can put those to the test. Does that sound alright with you?”

     “But what about my apprenticeship with Miss Sophie?”

     “I’m sure Miss Sophie would be fine loaning you to me for some time, right?”

     Sophie, looking relieved, gave Fyora a thumbs up.

     “Alright then, why don’t we get going?”

     “W-wait, d-didn’t you t-teleport here? H-how are we getting to Faerieland?”

     Fyora snapped her fingers, and a cloud racer appeared out of thin air. Orion glanced at it and grew anxious. He ran his fingers along the front of it and shook his head.

     “I-I have never flown before, Your Majes- I mean Fyora.”

     “Faerieland is close by, and on the ground. We can hover over there at a slower speed rather than fly.”

     “W-wait, Faerieland is on the ground?”

     Fyora sighed. “It’s a long story, but I’ll tell you on the way there.”

     Orion seemed satisfied and willing to trust the queen, so he hopped into the racer and sat down in the passenger seat. Fyora helped buckle him in before the two began their journey.

     “If it helps, you can recline this seat, so you don’t have to look down,” she suggested, noting that Orion was still looking nervously over the edge. “Alright, off we go!”

     **

     “Seer ability, hmm?” Seshatia asked, removing her glasses and getting a good look at Orion.

     “Yes, Miss Seshatia, I can predict the future with these cards.”

     Seshatia scooted around her counter in her wheelchair to be next to Orion. She eyed him closely and then nodded.

     “I got a read on your past. You have lived a rough life, haven’t you?”

     “W-well it hasn’t been smooth…”

     “I know. Your parents don’t appreciate your skills, and Sophie isn’t too fond of them either. But your abilities are real,” Seshatia said.

     “You can tell people’s past?” Orion said, his eyes growing wide.

     “Yes, but not the future. You have a gift I do not have. However, as a test, I want you to guess what book I’m reading and the next book I’ll read.”

     “U-uhh sure.”

     Orion took out his cards, shuffled, and drew three of them.

     He looked at them and noted that he drew right side up Magician, High Priestess, and Hermit cards.

     “Curious,” he muttered to himself as he turned to observe the room.

     He glanced at the pile of books at Seshatia’s desk along with those on the shelves nearby. He then returned his cards. After a few minutes, he looked up from his cards and scribbled his answer down as the Faerie Queen looked on. He then handed Seshatia a piece of paper with his answer.

     “Well, I guess I didn’t want anyone to know I was reading Sleepy Time. I swear it’s not as boring as everyone makes it out to be. And yes, Types of Locks; there are many different kinds that don’t use a key,” Seshatia said, nodding in satisfaction.

     Orion cracked a rare smile at Seshatia. “Yes, Miss Seshatia, I did my best there. See the Hermit card clued me in on your desire to read Sleepy Time as self-care, including adequate sleep, is important. I’m not fully certain why the Magician and High Priestess led me to Types of Locks, but I felt a strong sense that was the correct book.”

     Queen Fyora walked over to Orion and put her hand on his shoulder.

     “Orion, I think your skills may be helpful for not just Faerieland but all of Neopia as well. I also understand your family, unfortunately, has cast you out from their ranks. However, please don’t despair. I would like to invite you to stay in Faerieland and call this land your new home.”

     Orion bowed his head, shaking it slightly.

     “Your Majesty, I do not deserve such generosity.”

     Fyora reached over and gently patted him on the shoulder.

     “You’ve dealt with so much. This is the least I could do. And aside from that, I believe that Faerieland would be a place for you to embrace magic and science together.”

     Orion got up and dusted off his clothing.

     “I greatly appreciate this, Fyora.”

     The Faerie Queen then reached over and hugged Orion. “Welcome home,” she said, beaming at him.

     The End.