"That's strange, Lucidia... you never have the Lime Starfish. Is something
wrong?"
"Oh, you know. Everything's... fine." Lucidia said, rather unconvincingly. Something was wrong, all
right; but it wasn't the sort of thing that she felt like discussing, especially while dining on a
glorious meal in Mystery Island's swankiest restaurant.
You see, ever since she'd gotten a job as a booking agent with Tiki Tours, Lucidia had noticed some
pretty strange things going on. She didn't want to say anything, but she'd had her suspicions. Like
the time...
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Author: Neopets Staff
Date: 31 Dec.
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...she'd seen Martin the Techo (a co-worker at Tiki Tours) sneaking into the thickest parts of the
jungle, only to come back an hour later with a bulky package wrapped in bark. But that wasn't the
only time Lucidia had seen the mysterious Techo doing something odd. Why, just the other day Lucidia
had seen Martin rummaging through some crates in the back of the agency. When she later asked him
what he'd been doing, Martin mumbled something she couldn't quite understand, then immediately changed the
subject.
"Hmm?" Lucidia asked, snapping back to the present when she realised that her dinner guest had been
speaking to her.
"I said," her friend Harvey the Chia began, only to drop what he was saying when he realised that
Lucidia had stopped paying attention again. He sighed and sat back in his chair, deciding to leave
her alone for a while. "Maybe she'd feel more like talking if she was left to think for a few
minutes," he thought to himself.
Lucidia, meanwhile, had resumed thinking about her co-worker Martin. She stared absently out the window and
immediately perked up. It was dark, but Lucidia thought she could see a cluster of shadows moving
around the edge of the jungle. After a few minutes, one of the shadows broke away from the rest
of the group. The shadow turned, then started towards the back entrance of the agency (which was
presently closed), just across from the window Lucidia was looking out of. The shadow was crossing
the lawn of the agency when the glow from one of the restaurant's outdoor lights fell briefly across
its face. Lucidia jumped! The mysterious shadow was...
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Author: dragonfire_67
Date: 31 Dec.
|
...none other than Martin himself!
"I thought so," grumbled Lucidia, much louder than she had intended.
"You thought what?" Harvey asked quizzically.
Lucidia jumped, startled once again to find her guest talking to her. How was she going to explain
this one? "Oh, you know... umm," she stumbled, then sighed. As much as she hated to tell Harvey the
truth, she felt like she owed him an explanation for her strange behaviour. And so, she began the
story of Martin and what had been going on lately. By the time she'd finished, Harvey had a sick
look on his face.
"Yeah, well, you know... it's probably nothing you should worry about," he said, then stood rather
abruptly, knocking over his chair in the process. "Well, um..." Harvey stammered while backing away,
"I really should be going. Bye!" He turned, then made a sudden break towards the door.
"How utterly peculiar of him," Lucidia thought. "It was almost like he...
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Author: beautifulunicorn2125
Date: 31 Dec.
|
...was in league with Martin." Lucidia sat pondering this when the waiter came and asked if she would
like anything. "I'm ready for the bill, thanks." How very unfair of Harvey to sneak out on some secret
evil business and make her pay for his dinner. Oh well.
The waiter came back with the bill and a sheet of paper in his hand. "This was left at the front desk
for you." He handed her the paper, then the little black bill book, and left. She stared at the paper
warily for a second. Then she carefully opened it up.
Meet me at the park on the Island Crescent. All will be explained.
--Harvey
Lucidia thought for a second. She didn't see Harvey come in with this paper, so he must have dropped it
off while she finished her Lime Starfish. Had he talked to someone before delivering it? Lucidia paid
the bill and left the restaurant. She walked slowly home in the dark. But halfway there, she came on
the road that would lead her to the Island Crescent Park. Should she turn in that direction? Or should
she go home? She wasn't sure she trusted Harvey anymore, even though he had always been a loyal and
lifelong friend. She was busy thinking when suddenly ...
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Author: vioshine
Date: 2 Jan.
|
... she heard something very quiet.
"Psst! Lucidia!" It was Harvey whispering, calling her from behind a tree. He was wearing a dark
cloak and standing in the shadows.
Lucidia walked over, then whispered back, "What are you doing here? What's going on? Why are you
wearing that?"
"No time to explain." Harvey answered, "Come with me."
He took Lucidia's hand and, as they walked quickly, Lucidia noticed Harvey was looking around
frantically, as if to see if they were being followed.
"What is it? Is anyone following us?" Lucidia asked.
"We must stay quiet; all will be explained soon!" Harvey whispered.
He took Lucidia through alleys and under bridges, until they were in a sewer.
"We're almost there!" Harvey said.
"Almost where?" Lucidia asked. She was starting to worry about where they were going, what was going
to happen when they get there, and if anyone was following them. She got so caught up with these
thoughts that were running through her mind, that she didn't notice...
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Author: 7_of_13
Date: 2 Jan.
|
...the strange markings on the walls, and the looming shadow getting closer and closer. Harvey led
Lucidia into a great door, but she didn't notice.
"We're here," Harvey said.
Lucidia looked around and saw a bookcase in the corner. She picked up a book and started peering
through it.
"Stop!" Harvey exclaimed. "Don't read that..."
Lucidia closed the book, noticing that the title was, "Legend of the Symbols." Suddenly, the markings
all around the sewer lit up.
Harvey yelled, "No!"
The book vanished, leaving behind a note that said,
"Þ Æ ¬ ¶ ð ÿ"
A bright flash emanated from the note...
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Author: regoroz
Date: 3 Jan.
|
...causing Lucidia to drop it quickly. "Ow," she croaked, nursing her left wrist.
Harvey looked disturbingly alarmed. "It burned you?" he asked in a dark tone.
"Yes," Lucidia said, nodding vaguely. As she cradled her hand, Lucidia noticed something that made
her spine tingle.
"Harvey," she breathed. "Th-there's a mark on my wr-wrist."
Harvey looked over Lucidia's shoulder. Sure enough, beneath the red swelling, there was a black
mark, like a tattoo. Even more terrifying was the fact that it looked like the first symbol on
the note.
Lucidia whimpered as she looked at the insane grin spreading across Harvey's face.
"Harvey?" she cried. "Harve--what's going on?"
She screamed as Harvey broke into a maniacal laughter. "Oh, nothing's wrong, Lucidia...
NOTHING'S wrong..."
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Author: air_faerie007
Date: 3 Jan.
|
...Just then, shadows that she hadn't noticed before broke away from the wall, laughing softly as
they entered the light. Martin the Techo led the group.
"Thank you, Harvey. Your work has been more than sufficient--you can expect a slightly greater
reward than what we originally agreed upon. And now," Martin said while he leering at her, his face
looking warped in the shadowed room, "the plan can commence at last." He beckoned one of the shadows,
a huge Grundo, to come forward.
"It's okay, Shorty. No... lollypops after work," comforted the Techo. The Grundo's gaze wandered
around the room blankly, until landing on Lucidia's face. Then, the Grundo looked to Martin, as if
for permission.
"All right, Shorty. Go ahead..."
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Author: magicat109
Date: 4 Jan.
|
...The Grundo ripped the paper off the lollypop and began licking it while Martin explained the
whole story.
"You see," he began. "We love Grundos a lot, so we started a shelter of homeless Grundos. They help
us clean and cook. It is like our own little family."
"But what about that big, bulky, package?" asked Lucidia.
"Oh that," said Harvey. "That is a special kind of food for the Grundos in case they get sick."
"But why were you wearing that big, dark, cloak?" asked Lucidia.
"It keeps the sun out of my eyes," Harvey replied.
"And the strange markings on the walls?" she asked.
Martin laughed. "The Grundos love to look at those."
"Well, I better be going," said Lucidia.
"Wait!" said Martin. "Why don't you stay for dinner? The Grundos are cooking up something special for you."
She agreed, and they all sat down and had a wonderful dinner, which was an entire platter of Lime Starfish.
The End
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Author: ladymarmalade1233
Date: 4 Jan.
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