Some cookies are necessary to make this site and our content available to you. Other Cookies enable us to analyse and measure audience and traffic to the site. Cookies are also used by us, advertisers, ad-tech providers and others to develop and serve ads that are more relevant to your interests. To consent to the use of Cookies and proceed to the site, click Accept below. If you wish to withdraw consent later you will find a link in the footer Cookie Choices. For more information: Privacy Policy.
Storytelling Competition - (click for the map) | (printer friendly version)

If you have any questions about the competition then read our awesome FAQ!


Week 628
You are on Week 629
Week 630

Every week we will be starting a new Story Telling competition - with great prizes! The current prize is 2000 NP, plus a rare item!!! This is how it works...

We start a story and you have to write the next few paragraphs. We will select the best submissions every day and put it on the site, and then you have to write the next one, all the way until the story finishes. Got it? Well, submit your paragraphs below!

Story Six Hundred Twenty Nine Ends Friday, October 25

"BOO!!!"

Cory laughed as he tumbled clumsily from the kitchen cabinet, nearly falling onto the floor if his older brother Jordan hadn't caught him. The baby Gelert giggled as he squirmed in the older Lupe's arms, doing his best to wriggle out from under the sheet he was wearing.

"Did I scare ya? Did I, Jordan?" Cory asked.

Jordan rolled his eyes and laughed a bit as he gently set his little brother down on the floor. If Cory wanted to get the sheet off of him, the baby Gelert could find his own way out of it. Jordan then eyed Cory with a friendly but disapproving glint in his eyes. "Yeah, I'll admit, you kind of scared me."

"Yes!" Cory screamed as he rolled around on the floor, still struggling to take the sheet off. "I finally got to scare Jordan, the scariest prankster in ALL of Neopia Central!"

Shaking his head, Jordan looked back at the cabinet he had just opened and arched an eyebrow when he saw that his favorite Cinnamon Toasties cereal was missing. "Cory, you scared me because I thought you were going to fall and break your neck. Now, where did you put my Cinnamon Toasties? I'm going to be late for school."

Once the sheet was off of him, Cory smirked from behind the giant Spooky Skull Mask he was wearing. Tumbling out of the cabinet was just Phase One of his master scheme to out-scare his older brother. "I dunno, I think it's somewhere in the fridge."

"The fridge?" Jordan echoed as he started to put the cabinet in order again. "Now, why would you--"

Cory held his breath. Right as Jordan turned around, he lifted his paws above his head and tried to make himself look as scary as possible. "ROOOOOOOAR!!!"

Unfazed by his brother's antics, Jordan chuckled as he reached down and took the mask from his brother's face. "Come on, Cory. You really think using this silly mask is gonna scare me?" he asked as the Lupe went to open the fridge. "It's going to take a lot more than just jumping out of weird places while wearing a mask to scare me. Like you said, your big brother's Neopia Central's scariest prankster, and this year I'm going to be the top scarer at my school's Halloween Festival."

Bothered by the lack of fright generated by his latest prank, Cory frowned as he folded his arms across his chest. "Well, I thought that it was a good idea..."

Still chuckling, Jordan gave up on finding his cereal and grabbed a Croissant from the breadbox instead. He looked back at his baby brother and grinned. "It was a gallant effort, Cory, but let's face it: you're too small, too young, and too cute to scare anyone. Anyway, I'm late for school. I'll see you when I get back!"

"Wait!!!" Cory shouted as he ran after his brother, but it was too late -- his brother was already on his Purple Skateboard and skating off to school. The baby Gelert pouted as he watched Jordan round the corner. "Too small, too young, and too cute to be scary?"

Cory huffed as he folded his arms across his chest. Well, he was going to prove to Jordan that he wasn't too small, too young, and too cute to be scary. He was going to think up the most scary, most terrifying, and most gigantic prank of all time to scare the pants off his older brother.

The question now was... how?

Author: noxlyx
Date: Oct 21st
...But first, man, was he hungry.

Cory tumbled back into the house, tripping over his tail only once going up the front steps, and fished Jordan's Cinnamon Toasties out from under the sink. He plopped to the kitchen floor with a rustle of sugary cereal bits and sunk a paw into the box as he pondered his next move. Jordan scared the Meepits out of Cory every Halloween on the dot, and Cory was pretty sure that was the unfairest thing in all Neopia. He was always gonna be littler than his older brother, so how was he supposed to get the drop on him?

An idea cannonballed into Cory's head and he gaped for a moment, crumbs falling from his mouth as his own genius overtook him. Of course! The bookshelf!

Cory and Jordan's mom, a distracted but loving Kyrii, was a historian of Neovia and the Haunted Woods, and her study was full of books on the spookiest forest in Neopia. One shelf in particular was dedicated entirely to old collections of stories and folk tales of the region, and Jordan could often be found poring over the dusty tomes this time of year, searching for new prank ideas from the undisputed masters. If Cory could find a book his brother hadn't read yet, he was sure to find a way to prank him!

Cory burst up, leaving a trail of Toastie crumbs behind him as he barreled through the house to his mom's study, pausing only to close the door firmly behind him. Jordan often forgot things at home, and Cory didn't want his brother knowing what he was up to.

Cory goggled for a moment at the towering walls of books in his mom's study, not to mention all the crumbling maps and creepy drawings pinned behind glass on the walls, but quickly zoned in on the most colorful shelf of them all. Lightly running his paws along the spines, he recognized most of them as books Jordan had read before, and began looking higher and higher on the shelves for something his brother wouldn't have used. Finally, craning his neck, he spotted on the very top shelf a dull purple book with glossy black letters on the spine, and knew he'd found his prize. Scrambling around the room, he stacked cushions on books on chairs until he'd formed a ladder tall enough that he could clamber up, swaying and shaking, and swipe the book from its perch.

Tightly clutching the book to his chest, Cory quickly hopped down, the impromptu ladder beginning to collapse under him, and lay the book out on the floor. It was bigger than he'd thought, and dustier, and he hadn't noticed the pictures painted onto the cover, which really kind of creeped him out. He opened to a page in the middle with a shudder, scanning the book's contents for anything that looked like it would scare Jordan.

Near the end, where the pages were a bit stained and hard to read, he found what he'd been looking for. The picture showed a ghost of a Hissi rising up out of the ground, wings spread wide and fangs dripping black venom, and a crowd of Neopets crowded scared before her. Whatever was going on in that picture, Cory was sure it would scare the pants off of Jordan.

The text on the facing page was messy and hard to read, but Cory found the clearest section he could and began to read aloud:

"Red Mary, Red Mary, lost in the caves,
Red Mary, Red Mary, never given a grave,
Red Mary, Dead Mary, I call you to me,
Red Mary, Dead Mary, by my tongue you are--"

"FREE!" shrieked a voice, high and shrill like a knife in glass, and a white shape burst from the book as Cory tumbled back, covering his eyes in a vain attempt to block out the terrible noise. The white shape, which had wings and long fangs and dripped black goo from its mouth, tore around the room, blowing books off shelves and smashing the windows with its screams. For one moment it stared at Cory cowering in the corner, then cackled and shot through the far wall into the city beyond.

There was a second of quiet, then the study door burst open and Jordan fell into the room, pale as the ghost that just left, and shouted, "Cory, what did you do?!?"...

Author: tamora_pierce62
Date: Oct 21st
..."I d-d-d-don't kn-know!" Cory wailed. He continued to sit in the corner, trembling from the sight of the ghost he had accidentally summoned. "I-I-I just wanted t-to scare you, Jordan."

Jordan felt a bit of brotherly pity for the little Gelert, but he could not quell his irritation, fear, and anger. "Well... I'm certainly scared, but I wish you would have thought this through better."

The Lupe grabbed the book from where Cory had dropped it when the ghostly Hissi had emerged. He scanned the page, reading to himself the paragraph his younger brother had overlooked in favor of going straight to the incantation.

Over his fear, Cory felt an intense shame at what he had done. Jordan was mad at him and was probably going to have to clean up this mess. Why hadn't he thought before he read that out loud? The picture had looked scary. He didn't expect the real thing to be scary!

"I thought it would turn me into that... like a costume," he said quietly.

"Shush, I'm reading," Jordan said, his eyes narrowed as he focused on the book and on all the big words Cory had skipped over. Cory sat patiently, still staring at his feet in humiliation.

Jordan gave Cory a very severe look as he put the book down and walked toward the door to the study. Cory interpreted it as an order to stay put and stay out of trouble; he interpreted wrong.

"Are you just going to sit there?" the Lupe demanded. "I nodded at you to come with me."

How much more could a little Gelert get wrong in one day? Sighing with resignation for the punishment Jordan was going to ensure he received, Cory followed his older brother.

"This is going to be dangerous, and you've caused enough trouble today already, so normally I would have tried this without you. Unfortunately, it seems that the curse can only be broken by the one who cast it."

"Me," Cory answered somberly.

"Kind of. You spoke it out loud, but we also need the help of the one who created the curse in the first place..."

Author: catchinglights
Date: Oct 22nd
..."Where are we going?" Cory asked as he followed Jordan onto Winding Wood Drive.

"The poem said that Mary died in a cave, right? So, whoever cursed her was probably there, and may still be there. At the very least, there may be a clue there that will help us find them." Jordan had the book tucked safely away in his backpack, in case they needed any more information from it.

"There are caves in Neopia Central?"

"A whole network, under the center of town. I know where the entrance is. I spent a few days looking for it last year when I was trying to perfect the howling banshee prank I played on my class when we went on a field trip. Possibly my best prank yet," Jordan declared, beaming. "Well, except for one, but... never mind that."

Jordan took another turn onto Main Street, and the bustling shops of Neopia Central loomed into view. The shops were usually busy, but not usually this busy. "Hang on. Stay behind me," Jordan said. "This is weird."

Neopians were gathered outside many of the shops, some talking excitedly and others sitting on the ground, trembling. Broken glass covered everything, and as the two brothers drew close to the Book Shop, they could see that the inside looked very much like their mother's study.

Neither of them had to ask what had happened, but that was the question on many of the lips around them. Cory started to explain to a Koi standing near the National Neopian Bank's marble steps, but Jordan nudged him to be quiet.

"Come on," the Lupe whispered. "We need to go."

Cory followed him around the side of the bank and into the woods that bordered the north side of the shops. They didn't venture too far into the woods before Jordan stopped and looked around.

"We're close. I don't remember exactly... there!" he said, pointing to a giant rock protruding out of the ground. Around the back was the cave entrance.

Jordan stepped inside, and then yelped.

"What? What is it?" Cory asked.

"Watch your step. There's broken glass here, too." Jordan looked down. The rock cast a shadow over the cave entrance, making it hard for him to make out what he had stepped on, but he turned his head from side to side to catch the light just right.

It was crystal, not glass, and when Jordan spotted the metal lid nearby, he became sure that it was a potion bottle of some kind. Some of the liquid was still visible in splashes of dark on the cavern walls, which indicated it was recent.

"It looks like we're not the first ones here," Jordan said, and then he took the first step into the cave...

Author: phadalusfish
Date: Oct 22nd
...Cory trailed behind the Lupe nervously.

"Jordan, what if we get lost or something?" he asked, looking up at his brother. Not slowing his pace, he replied.

"We won't. If anything, we'll come out through another entrance somewhere else in Neopia." Cory nodded. He had to trust Jordan on this one. The two stepped over the potion bottle carefully and walked down a narrow passageway for a while. Eventually, they came to a fork in the way.

"Which way are we gonna go?" Cory asked. Jordan either ignored or didn't hear the question, as he was staring intently at the two passageways.

"We go... this way," he said, pointing to the left. A question danced on Cory's lips, but Jordan answered it before he could ask.

"I knew because--" He paused and turned his head to the Gelert. "I could see bits of crystal leading in a trail down this way; be careful you don't step on any." He continued walking, carefully stepping over shards of the crystal. Cory mirrored his actions, but less carefully.

"Owie!" he exclaimed as his front paw brushed over a piece of the crystal. Jordan looked back, a concerned look on his face.

"Are you all right? Did any of the liquid splash on you?" he questioned, a nervous frown crossing his face. The Gelert shook his head rapidly.

"No, Jordan," he said, lying through his teeth. The Lupe turned, somewhat satisfied with Cory's answer.

"Let's continue, then... I think I see another room up ahead." The two continued walking, Cory with a slight limp.

When the two reached the room, Cory took a moment to look at his paw. There was a small but noticeable scratch, and the shimmery liquid -- most definitely a potion -- had seeped into it. He winced looking at it, but he couldn't tell Jordan. Besides, it didn't hurt... that much. His thoughts, however, were then interrupted by a shrill shriek.

"Who dares enter my cavern?"...

Author: tttxyv
Date: Oct 23rd
...Cory hid behind his older brother as he peered into the dark of the earthen chamber. "M-my name is Jordan, and this is my brother Cory," the Lupe introduced, trying to sound brave in front of his little brother.

"Children!" the piercing voice yelled out again in disgust. "I despise children!" The words caused the two brothers to shiver.

"We came here because we need your help," Jordan revealed.

"And why would I help two little children?" the sharp voice began. "What could you possibly need from me? I can't make your homework disappear, place a hex on some bully, or get that special someone in your class to like you. I have no time for your childish antics. Now, leave!"

Cory stared hard, but could see nothing past the thick veil of darkness that enveloped the inner cavern. "My brother awakened something... a ghost, and it's destroying everything!" Jordan explained. "We're looking for the--"

"A ghost? Ha!" the voice interrupted. "You're barking up the wrong cave, Lupe. I don't deal with ghosts... not anymore."

"Please!" Cory cried, finding enough courage to finally speak. "You don't understand. It was a prank, but it went wrong, and now Neopians are being hurt. It's all my fault..." His voice faded. Jordan curled his tail around his little brother, which made him feel slightly better.

A menacing laugh erupted from the darkness that bounced off the cavern walls and echoed through the tunnels. "Ahahaha... you think I'm the least bit concerned about your ill-fated practical joke? Well, I'm not. It's a ghost, not the end of the world, so deal with it yourself."

Jordan became frustrated and yelled out, "So, how are we supposed to do that?!? I've read through the book and it says we need the one who created the curse in order to stop Mary!"

There was a brief moment of silence before the voice returned in a hushed tone. "What name did you just say?"

"Mary," Jordan huffed.

There was another brief silence and then, slowly, something began to emerge from the dark. First a pair of wings, torn and bruised, then a pair of eyes, deep red and sunken. Finally, there was a pair of fangs, sharp and stained black.

"I-I-it's..." Cory stammered before his vision blurred and he fell dizzy to the ground where he slipped into a deep, deep sleep...

Author: potential_ruler
Date: Oct 23rd
***

Cory came to in an uncomfortable makeshift cot. He immediately sat up and looked around at his surroundings. He was still in the cavern, from what he could tell, just a smaller branch of it. A sudden weight tugged his paw downward.

Looking down at it, he was surprised to see a bandage wrapped around it, although a bit too tightly. Before he'd had time to wonder who had bandaged up the wound, a dry, scraping sound caused him to turn and look upward. It was the Hissi he had seen earlier. Beginning to tremble, he called to her in a frightened tone.

"Don't hurt me, please! I just want to know how to stop Mar--" He was cut off by a chuckle. Confused, he took a closer look at the Hissi. Her wings were still tattered and torn, and her eyes still red as a vampire's. Cory's trembles subsided as he grew accustomed to the fact that she wasn't going to hurt him. Her chuckles beginning to fade, she glanced behind herself for a split second before turning to face Cory completely.

"So, young one, how did you manage to get your paws on one of my potions of slumber?" she questioned. Cory looked at his bandaged paw sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, Miss..." He paused and looked toward the Hissi.

"Ruby," she finished. Cory cracked the tiniest smile -- this seemingly terrifying Hissi had a name, after all! She waved one of her wings in a dismissive manner.

"Never mind that. Tell me, young one, what is it you want?"

"First things first. Where's Jordan?" Cory asked, concerned for his brother's well-being. Ruby's expression suddenly turned more serious.

"If you are feeling well enough, you may see your brother." Cory nodded enthusiastically. Ruby cracked a smile, her onyx-black fangs glittering in the cavern's odd light.

"Well, then, follow me. He's waiting in the main cavern."

***

Once everyone was situated in the main cavern, Ruby took the opportunity to speak.

"Even though I despise children -- especially the whiny ones -- your brother convinced me to help you two," the Hissi said, glaring at Cory and Jordan before continuing. "However, you must be aware of Mary's mischief and wit. When she uses them against you... you'd better watch out." Jordan butted in suddenly.

"Ruby, I know we discussed this earlier, but how do you know Mary? Why did you lock her away?" Ruby turned her attention toward the Lupe.

"It's quite a long story -- one of tragedy and friendships long, long ago. Are you sure you want me to tell you?" Cory and Jordan exchanged nervous glances. Finally, Cory nodded.

"Yes." A meager grin crossed Ruby's face.

"Well, then. Like most good stories, this one starts at the beginning..."

Author: tttxyv
Date: Oct 24th
..."Many years ago, when Neopia was just a cluster of rough houses and a general store, I made the best friend I thought I'd ever know. We were drawn to the same things -- the study of magic, ancient history, the deep secrets of the world -- and we challenged each other the way no one else could. We even transformed ourselves to look identical.

I was satisfied with just knowing about many of the things we discovered. After all, knowledge is its own power. Mary was not, however. She wanted to try everything. I tried to convince her that there were things that shouldn't be done, but she firmly believed that every spell existed to be cast, and every single thing that magic made possible was fair game. I don't believe that there was true darkness in her heart back then, just curiosity and a lack of restraint. She was so thrilled with the things that we were discovering and doing that she couldn't stop.

In those early days it was mostly harmless magic, but we found other things... powerful things, dangerous things. Magic the likes of which would make Fyora herself blush if she thought anyone else knew about it. Perhaps even things beyond the Faerie Queen's knowing. I could sense what Mary was becoming, but I was blinded by my affection for her. It made me uncomfortable, but it was a long time before I was willing to accept what she was and realize that she had to be stopped.

One afternoon, around this time of year, in fact, we found a spell book that looked quite a lot like the one your brother found. We found it in this very chamber, hidden under that rock over there. I took one look at it and knew it had to be destroyed. So dangerous. Deadly, but even more than that. Some of the spells that book contained could render the world of Neopia unrecognizable and intolerable for most of its inhabitants.

Mary wanted to try one of them. It would have erased the seasons, made night and day always equal, and the transition between them instant. The weather would be uniform. Neopia would be forever unchanging. The Lost Desert would grow lush again. The Haunted Woods would turn green, but the oceans would shrink and the snow caps of Terror Mountain would melt, and chaos would come to the world. Mary didn't see the harm in it. I didn't know how to stop her.

I finally found a spell in the book that would trap her. It was meant to contain her in that book, but I knew I was going to destroy it, so I created a new book that was as much like the original as I could, which is the one you now hold in your hands. I filled it with less potent spells, and used the spell from the original to trap her in that book."

Jordan and Cory listened with rapt attention until Ruby finished her story.

"Why did you write in a spell that would free her?" Jordan asked.

"Because I hoped that maybe, after all these years, I could save her. That one day I could convince her of how she strayed, and find the friend I lost so long ago. That's also why I modified the original curse so that I would have to be called on to recapture her if she escaped."

"She's crazy. She screeches and shatters glass and tears up everything," Cory said.

Jordan glanced at him. "You would be pretty angry, too, if you'd been trapped in a book for years and years. Do you think you can still save her?"

"I don't know," Ruby said, looking forlorn, "but I know how to try..."

Author: phadalusfish
Date: Oct 24th
..."So, what are we waiting for?" Jordan asked. His eyes stood alert with attention.

"Yeah! What are we going to do?" the baby Gelert asked, following his brother's lead.

Ruby didn't answer. Instead she walked over and consulted her Open Book of Tales. The Hissi distractedly rubbed the rose petals that grew from the vines wrapping around the base of the pedestal.

"What's she doing?" Cory whispered to his older brother.

"Shhhh," Jordan quickly shushed him. "Let her concentrate," he admonished.

The Hissi squinted her glowing red eyes as she read the last of the page. She slowly closed the book, then turned around and walked toward a Potion Cabinet nestled in the corner of the room. She bent over, still without a word, and began rummaging through the shelves.

"WHAT is she doing?!?" Cory asked again, impatiently. Jordan motioned for him to be quiet, but the baby Gelert couldn't contain himself. "What do you thing she's looking for?" His second question came off his tongue barely louder than a whisper.

Before the Lupe had a chance to respond the Hissi stood straight abruptly and whipped around on her tail. "That is precisely one of the reasons why I despise children so much," Ruby announced as she slithered toward them with two items in her hand. "You ask far too many questions." She stopped in front of the brothers. "Since you are in SUCH a rush, let's go ahead and get on with it. Are you ready to hear my plan?"

The Lupe and Gelert nodded their heads in unison.

"Okay. I want you both to listen to me, and for the love of Fyora, do NOT interrupt me with incessant questions." She stared down the pair to make sure they understood.

Both shrunk back from the menacing red glow. "Yes, ma'am," Jordan, answering for the both of them, said feebly.

"Okay, then. First, we are going to lure Mary here." She then turned to Cory. "You'll be in charge of that. You will need to repeat the same chant that caused her to appear. She can't resist the magic of those words, and will answer the call immediately. Do you remember it?" The little Gelert nodded. How could he forget? Ruby shifted her attention to Jordan and handed him one of the items from the Potion Cabinet. "The second Mary enters the room, you need to read this out loud. Quickly."

Jordan looked at the white parchment in his hands. It was tied with a blue ribbon, and felt extremely cold to his touch. "What is it?" The Lupe's ears twitched in curiosity.

"It's a Scroll of Freezing," Ruby answered with a matter of fact tone. "Vocalizing the spell will chill her momentarily, and she won't be able to move. That's when I will take over. Once she is frozen, I will say a few magic words that will encase her in this."

Enraptured by what Ruby was saying, the boys had forgotten about the second item the Hissi had brought from the cabinet. Cory gazed at it with wonder. It looked like a crystal ball. He peered closer and looked deep into the dark velvety blue depth, then blinked. Either his eyes were playing tricks on him, or inside there was a glowing moon and shooting stars. "What is it?" he asked in hushed awe.

"It's what I'm going to use to trap her. Once Mary is inside, then I will finally have a chance to talk to her... yaybe get her to come to her senses. If not, I will move her into a more secure containment field -- one that can't be breached by babies." A look of irritation washed over the Hissi's face. "Are you two ready to get started?"

Cory felt nervous, but nodded nonetheless. Ruby looked at him and motioned for him to start. He took a deep breath and sputtered out the words.

"Red Mary, Red Mary, lost in the caves,
Red Mary, Red Mary, never given a grave,
Red Mary, Dead Mary, I call you to me,
Red Mary, Dead Mary, by my tongue you are--"

"ANGREEE!" Mary shrieked as she flew in the room. "Why have you summoned meeeeeeeee?"

Cory stood, trembling, as she glared at him. He could see Jordan behind her, unraveling the scroll. A second later he started reading...

Author: gypsychic420
Date: Oct 25th
...Jordan's voice quivered, but he read the scroll audibly and energetically:

"Thou doth live a life of vice,
And upon my utterance of this phrase thrice --
See none, evil;
Think none, evil;
Act none, evil;
-- Thou art stuck in ice!"

Mary flung herself at the Lupe, but froze mid-attack. Her lifeless body plummeted to the floor.

"Part one complete," Ruby said quietly. Raising her right arm over her former friend, the ball in her hand, she mumbled some language the brothers failed to understand.

The petrified Hissi glowed bright green for a moment before her essence traveled into the crystal.

"Jordan, Cory," the sorcerer spoke, hardly above a whisper, as she motioned for the two to come over. "Here, stare into the ball."

The brothers did.

"Inside," the Hissi continued, "I've contained Mary's soul, her being, her magic. The effects from the Scroll of Freezing will wear off momentarily, and we'll be able to communicate with her."

Cory waited in anxious anticipation.

Jordan held his breath.

Ruby's grin gradually widened.

"WHY HAVE YOU CAPTURED ME, FIEND?" the ball roared.

"Mary, it's me... your friend, Ruby."

The cave become strangely sultry, and an awkward silence filled the wide room.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND," the ball eventually spat, breaking it. "RUBY DIED YEARS AGO."

The brothers stared up toward the Hissi's face. Ruby noted that the two looked absolutely terrified.

"You... you're dead?" Jordan asked, his tone void of any confidence.

"Did you ever think the crypt would hold me?" the sorcerer boasted malevolently; not just to Mary, but to everyone in the room. Turning her attention directly toward her ball -- but speaking loud enough so that the boys could understand -- she continued: "You may have thought you killed me all those years ago, when I discovered your plan to cast the world-altering spell and condemned you, but I came back... into the ghastly, tattered form I possess to this day. I trapped you in that book, never to escape--"

"THAT WAS YOU? GREAT JOB, RUBY. OH, HOW YOU FAILED--"

"Except," the Hissi continued, interrupting the interruption as her tone gradually rose, "through uttering a spell I devised... it was a fail-safe, in a sense, in the event I ever sought to attempt to reform you."

"REFORM ME?" Mary shrieked. "TOGETHER, WE KNEW MORE THAN THE FAERIES -- WE COULD HAVE RULED NEOPIA. I TRIED TO REFORM YOU -- WHAT POWER IS THERE IN KNOWLEDGE IF THAT KNOWLEDGE IS NEVER USED?"

Hesitation. "I..." Ruby trailed as she attempted to formulate her thoughts. "I do use the knowledge. Every day. I copy spells, create potions... my work trapped and freed you."

"BUT IT'S ALL FOR YOURSELF. I REMEMBER YOUR DISLIKE OF CHILDREN -- YOU WOULDN'T HAVE HELPED THESE KIDS HAD I NOT BEEN INVOLVED."

Ruby scowled. "Of course I help others! I'm doing all of Neopia a favor!" She was almost shrieking at this point. "If you remained free, you would have terrorized this planet! Again!"

"NO, WE COULD HAVE TERRORIZED... NAY, SALVAGED THIS PLANET. WE COULD HAVE MADE THINGS EQUAL, DONE THINGS RIGHT. WE STILL CAN. RELEASE ME, RELEASE ME..." The ball started pulsating... she was going to break free a second time.

Jordan and Cory's eyes darted back and forth between the Hissi and the crystal ball. They came to rest upon each other.

"She's incapable of reform," Cory whispered into his brother's ear over Mary's constant pleadings.

Ruby overheard. The rage she had bottled culminated in nothing but a long sigh. Rocking her hand back and forth, she let the ball slip from her hands and tumble toward the cold rock ground. The crystal shattered into hundreds of tiny pieces, and Mary's voice echoed away into nothing.

Cory noted his brother looked absolutely frightened... probably out of the fear Ruby had dropped the ball and released her. The Gelert, however, believed Ruby dropped the ball and destroyed Mary... not seeing the evil creature, he turned toward the Hissi for confirmation.

"It's done," Ruby finished as she slumped against the cavern wall and slid down. "Mary is no more. Only if all the pieces of the ball come back together can she possibly return -- but, it's an impossible task."

The Gelert grinned, and then he frowned as he ran up to the sorcerer. "I'm so sorry. You've lost your best friend... forever."

Ruby smiled wanly. "Thank you... alas, I won't be around to mope much longer. The crystal ball I trapped her soul in also had mine... it was the artifact that saved me after being slayed by her all those years ago. It allowed me to come back and trap her in that book."

Jordan walked over slowly and joined the two.

"I sacrificed myself to save the world, and you two... you two kids. Oh, how I hate children." She grinned. "Now, exit. Leave me here in peace."

Cory frowned and wanted to stay, but his brother grabbed his shoulder. "It's time we go." The two walked away, out of the cavern.

Ruby smiled.

***

As they walked home, Cory looked up at his brother. "You were genuinely scared."

Jordan chuckled. "Er, yeah. I suppose I was... it wasn't your doing, though." He scratched his ear. "Well, at least, not directly."

"But it proves you can get frightened," the Gelert said, gradually smiling, "so I'm never going to stop trying."

The Lupe sighed. "You're a great kid, Cory."

"Thanks."

"You know, I think I could use someone else in my prank this year."

Cory grinned. "Really?"

"Yep."

The Gelert bounced with excitement. He extended his hand.

Jordan accepted it.

The pair arrived back in Neopia Central, the streetlamps just coming on for the evening.

The End

Author: rielcz
Date: Oct 25th



Quick Jump

Week 1Week 2Week 3Week 4Week 5Week 6
Week 7Week 8Week 9Week 10Week 11Week 12
Week 13Week 14Week 15Week 16Week 17Week 18
Week 19Week 20Week 21Week 22Week 23Week 24
Week 25Week 26Week 27Week 28Week 29Week 30
Week 31Week 32Week 33Week 34Week 35Week 36
Week 37Week 38Week 39Week 40Week 41Week 42
Week 43Week 44Week 45Week 46Week 47Week 48
Week 49Week 50Week 51Week 52Week 53Week 54
Week 55Week 56Week 57Week 58Week 59Week 60
Week 61Week 62Week 63Week 64Week 65Week 66
Week 67Week 68Week 69Week 70Week 71Week 72
Week 73Week 74Week 75Week 76Week 77Week 78
Week 79Week 80Week 81Week 82Week 83Week 84
Week 85Week 86Week 87Week 88Week 89Week 90
Week 91Week 92Week 93Week 94Week 95Week 96
Week 97Week 98Week 99Week 100Week 101Week 102
Week 103Week 104Week 105Week 106Week 107Week 108
Week 109Week 110Week 111Week 112Week 113Week 114
Week 115Week 116Week 117Week 118Week 119Week 120
Week 121Week 122Week 123Week 124Week 125Week 126
Week 127Week 128Week 129Week 130Week 131Week 132
Week 133Week 134Week 135Week 136Week 137Week 138
Week 139Week 140Week 141Week 142Week 143Week 144
Week 145Week 146Week 147Week 148Week 149Week 150
Week 151Week 152Week 153Week 154Week 155Week 156
Week 157Week 158Week 159Week 160Week 161Week 162
Week 163Week 164Week 165Week 166Week 167Week 168
Week 169Week 170Week 171Week 172Week 173Week 174
Week 175Week 176Week 177Week 178Week 179Week 180
Week 181Week 182Week 183Week 184Week 185Week 186
Week 187Week 188Week 189Week 190Week 191Week 192
Week 193Week 194Week 195Week 196Week 197Week 198
Week 199Week 200Week 201Week 202Week 203Week 204
Week 205Week 206Week 207Week 208Week 209Week 210
Week 211Week 212Week 213Week 214Week 215Week 216
Week 217Week 218Week 219Week 220Week 221Week 222
Week 223Week 224Week 225Week 226Week 227Week 228
Week 229Week 230Week 231Week 232Week 233Week 234
Week 235Week 236Week 237Week 238Week 239Week 240
Week 241Week 242Week 243Week 244Week 245Week 246
Week 247Week 248Week 249Week 250Week 251Week 252
Week 253Week 254Week 255Week 256Week 257Week 258
Week 259Week 260Week 261Week 262Week 263Week 264
Week 265Week 266Week 267Week 268Week 269Week 270
Week 271Week 272Week 273Week 274Week 275Week 276
Week 277Week 278Week 279Week 280Week 281Week 282
Week 283Week 284Week 285Week 286Week 287Week 288
Week 289Week 290Week 291Week 292Week 293Week 294
Week 295Week 296Week 297Week 298Week 299Week 300
Week 301Week 302Week 303Week 304Week 305Week 306
Week 307Week 308Week 309Week 310Week 311Week 312
Week 313Week 314Week 315Week 316Week 317Week 318
Week 319Week 320Week 321Week 322Week 323Week 324
Week 325Week 326Week 327Week 328Week 329Week 330
Week 331Week 332Week 333Week 334Week 335Week 336
Week 337Week 338Week 339Week 340Week 341Week 342
Week 343Week 344Week 345Week 346Week 347Week 348
Week 349Week 350Week 351Week 352Week 353Week 354
Week 355Week 356Week 357Week 358Week 359Week 360
Week 361Week 362Week 363Week 364Week 365Week 366
Week 367Week 368Week 369Week 370Week 371Week 372
Week 373Week 374Week 375Week 376Week 377Week 378
Week 379Week 380Week 381Week 382Week 383Week 384
Week 385Week 386Week 387Week 388Week 389Week 390
Week 391Week 392Week 393Week 394Week 395Week 396
Week 397Week 398Week 399Week 400Week 401Week 402
Week 403Week 404Week 405Week 406Week 407Week 408
Week 409Week 410Week 411Week 412Week 413Week 414
Week 415Week 416Week 417Week 418Week 419Week 420
Week 421Week 422Week 423Week 424Week 425Week 426
Week 427Week 428Week 429Week 430Week 431Week 432
Week 433Week 434Week 435Week 436Week 437Week 438
Week 439Week 440Week 441Week 442Week 443Week 444
Week 445Week 446Week 447Week 448Week 449Week 450
Week 451Week 452Week 453Week 454Week 455Week 456
Week 457Week 458Week 459Week 460Week 461Week 462
Week 463Week 464Week 465Week 466Week 467Week 468
Week 469Week 470Week 471Week 472Week 473Week 474
Week 475Week 476Week 477Week 478Week 479Week 480
Week 481Week 482Week 483Week 484Week 485Week 486
Week 487Week 488Week 489Week 490Week 491Week 492
Week 493Week 494Week 495Week 496Week 497Week 498
Week 499Week 500Week 501Week 502Week 503Week 504
Week 505Week 506Week 507Week 508Week 509Week 510
Week 511Week 512Week 513Week 514Week 515Week 516
Week 517Week 518Week 519Week 520Week 521Week 522
Week 523Week 524Week 525Week 526Week 527Week 528
Week 529Week 530Week 531Week 532Week 533Week 534
Week 535Week 536Week 537Week 538Week 539Week 540
Week 541Week 542Week 543Week 544Week 545Week 546
Week 547Week 548Week 549Week 550Week 551Week 552
Week 553Week 554Week 555Week 556Week 557Week 558
Week 559Week 560Week 561Week 562Week 563Week 564
Week 565Week 566Week 567Week 568Week 569Week 570
Week 571Week 572Week 573Week 574Week 575Week 576
Week 577Week 578Week 579Week 580Week 581Week 582
Week 583Week 584Week 585Week 586Week 587Week 588
Week 589Week 590Week 591Week 592Week 593Week 594
Week 595Week 596Week 597Week 598Week 599Week 600
Week 601Week 602Week 603Week 604Week 605Week 606
Week 607Week 608Week 609Week 610Week 611Week 612
Week 613Week 614Week 615Week 616Week 617Week 618
Week 619Week 620Week 621Week 622Week 623Week 624
Week 625Week 626Week 627Week 628Week 629Week 630
Week 631Week 632Week 633Week 634Week 635Week 636
Week 637Week 638Week 639Week 640Week 641Week 642
Week 643Week 644Week 645Week 646Week 647Week 648
Week 649Week 650Week 651Week 652Week 653Week 654
Week 655Week 656Week 657Week 658Week 659Week 660
Week 661Week 662Week 663Week 664Week 665Week 666
Week 667Week 668Week 669Week 670Week 671Week 672
Week 673Week 674Week 675Week 676Week 677Week 678
Week 679Week 680Week 681Week 682Week 683Week 684
Week 685Week 686Week 687Week 688Week 689Week 690
Week 691Week 692Week 693Week 694Week 695Week 696
Week 697Week 698Week 699Week 700Week 701Week 702
Week 703Week 704Week 705Week 706Week 707Week 708
Week 709Week 710Week 711Week 712Week 713Week 714
Week 715Week 716Week 717Week 718Week 719Week 720
Week 721Week 722Week 723Week 724Week 725Week 726
Week 727Week 728Week 729Week 730Week 731Week 732
Week 733Week 734Week 735Week 736Week 737Week 738
Week 739Week 740Week 741Week 742Week 743Week 744
Week 745Week 746Week 747Week 748Week 749Week 750
Week 751Week 752Week 753Week 754Week 755Week 756
Week 757Week 758Week 759Week 760Week 761Week 762
Week 763Week 764Week 765Week 766Week 767Week 768
Week 769Week 770Week 771Week 772Week 773Week 774
Week 775Week 776Week 777Week 778Week 779Week 780
Week 781Week 782Week 783Week 784Week 785Week 786
Week 787Week 788Week 789Week 790Week 791Week 792
Week 793Week 794Week 795Week 796Week 797Week 798
Week 799Week 800Week 801Week 802Week 803Week 804
Week 805Week 806Week 807Week 808Week 809Week 810
Week 811Week 812Week 813Week 814Week 815Week 816
Week 817Week 818Week 819Week 820Week 821Week 822
Week 823Week 824Week 825Week 826Week 827Week 828
Week 829Week 830Week 831Week 832Week 833Week 834
Week 835Week 836Week 837Week 838Week 839Week 840
Week 841Week 842Week 843Week 844Week 845Week 846
Week 847Week 848Week 849Week 850Week 851Week 852
Week 853Week 854Week 855Week 856Week 857Week 858
Week 859Week 860Week 861Week 862Week 863Week 864
Week 865Week 866Week 867Week 868Week 869Week 870
Week 871Week 872Week 873Week 874Week 875Week 876
Week 877Week 878Week 879Week 880Week 881Week 882
Week 883Week 884Week 885Week 886Week 887Week 888
Week 889Week 890Week 891Week 892Week 893Week 894
Week 895Week 896Week 897Week 898Week 899Week 900
Week 901Week 902Week 903Week 904Week 905Week 906
Week 907Week 908Week 909Week 910Week 911Week 912
Week 913Week 914Week 915Week 916Week 917Week 918
Week 919Week 920Week 921Week 922Week 923Week 924
Week 925Week 926Week 927Week 928Week 929Week 930
Week 931Week 932Week 933Week 934Week 935Week 936
Week 937Week 938Week 939Week 940Week 941Week 942
Week 943Week 944Week 945Week 946Week 947Week 948
Week 949Week 950Week 951Week 952Week 953Week 954
Week 955Week 956Week 957Week 958Week 959Week 960
Week 961     


IMPORTANT - SUBMISSION POLICY! By uploading or otherwise submitting any materials to Neopets, you (and your parents) are automatically granting us permission to use those materials for free in any manner we can think of forever throughout the universe. These materials must be created ONLY by the person submitting them - you cannot submit someone else's work. Also, if you're under age 18, ALWAYS check with your parents before you submit anything to us!