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"Azzy! Come on and get up, lazy! It's a wonderfully perfect
morning! The sea is just the right temperature and the tide is gentle! I’ve got
my seaweed ball, too... Azzy!" Crys the Baby Blu tickled her buddy with a delicate
flipper. The Baby Blu groaned and got up from his nest of sand and rocks.
"All right, I’m up..." Azzy regarded his best
friend Crys with large brown eyes. Both Baby Blus had grown up together and
were never far apart. He smirked at her. She gave a titter of amusement and
shoved the green, slimy ball into his fins.
"Come on, Azzy! Throw the ball already, silly!"
yelled Crys, her bright cerulean eyes twinkling with pleasure.
He laughed and threw the seaweed ball towards
his companion. Crys giggled as it gently bounced on her head and onto the ocean
bottom. "Don’t worry! I’ve got it!" Sand stirred under the flutter of Azzy’s
small tail. The ball rocked with the swell of the water until it was picked
up. "Catch Crys!" exclaimed Azzy, lobbing it to her. Everything was perfect,
just as Crys had said before. But everything was always perfect when he was
with his pal. Nothing could ever come between them and their friendship.
Suddenly, the sand was flung up into the water
like a tornado. A large object swiped past Azzy. The petpet coughed violently
and shielded his eyes as he was catapulted away with the blast of pressure.
A scream reached his long ears.
"Azzy! Help me! Azzy!!!" shrieked Crys as she
was dragged into the distance.
"Crys! Crys!" hollered the Baby Blu desperately.
He rubbed his eyes clear of the grit until he could see at last. His head darted
around in search of his only friend in Neopia. As he hunted the sand settled
peacefully back in its place so that it was almost like the recent event had
never happened. Azzy’s voice croaked as a result of his frantic yells. He finally
had to give up. All was silent as Azzy sank to the bottom, fins covering his
eyes. "She’s gone!" he said in a whisper. If he had been on land, crystal tears
would have rolled down his azure cheeks. "Crys’s gone... forever..."
Sunlight danced around him in a mosaic, displaced
by the water’s surface. A shaft of light fell on Azzy. The blue petpet gazed
up into the sky. "I have to find her. I just have to!" The warmth of the beam
gave him an inkling of hope. "Where would I start, though?" In his mind a slender
figure with long golden hair and a tail shining brightly swam around. "A Water
Faerie would help me!" He remembered the stories he was told by other travelling
Baby Blu. Stories of beautiful sea creatures with amazing power who were kind
to all those who needed aid. Azzy needed aid. He needed it now. With as much
speed as he could muster he took off, swimming in the direction that others
had said Water Faeries dwelt.
*****
The blazing fiery orb in the heavens descended, off to explore the other side
of a world Azzy had no understanding or knowledge of. In replacement a pearly
white sphere rose. Azzy halted on his quest, with his light diminishing rapidly,
he could only just tell what lay in front of him. A forest of green kelp drifted
lifelessly, anchored to the murky bed of sand beneath him. Azzy gulped. He had
never been this far away from home, all alone. Bubbles oozed out from the shadowy
curtains. A few of the kelp stems swayed in an opposing direction from the swell
of the ocean. The Baby Blu shivered. There were things in there. Scary things
that swam with the dark and were the nightmare of every Baby Blu. There was
nowhere to go but into the depths of that jungle though if he ever wanted to
see Crys again. Taking a deep breath, the courageous petpet slipped into the
obscurity.
The darkness surrounded him immediately like
a confining black cloak. The only illumination was that which had managed to
sneak through the gaps in the kelp. A dull lustre reflected off the seaweed.
Azzy couldn’t see more than a few feet. A muffled sound arose from below. More
bubbles followed. The kelp moved once again. Fear spread in an instant all over
Azzy’s trembling body. He could feel eyes set dead on him.
A monster exploded out of the unfathomable depths.
It happened in a split second. Without time to think, Azzy moved out of the
way so quickly that he wasn’t sure how he did it. Red glowing eyes and shining
white teeth swam in an arc to take another swipe at him. Gasping with adrenaline,
Azzy sped into the kelp, barely dodging the biting jaws that were hot on his
tail. He felt like he was about to burst as he fled. His lungs ached. I may
as well give up now... thought Azzy. Deep in his air starved mind Azzy knew
there was no way he could out swim whatever it was that was determined to catch
him. Turning around he went to face the creature and surrender. Instead of being
snapped up by sharp teeth, a large fin neatly grabbed him and pulled him aside
as a torrent of hot water flashed past. In the distance Azzy saw the red eyed
monster glare at him with the fury of losing its prey. Azzy was confused. He
twisted his head to get a view of whatever was holding him. He could only see
glowing blue eyes and a dark outline.
"Don’t worry there little fellow. You’re okay
now. Just rest for now and I’ll wake you later." The voice had a hypnotic quality.
Azzy felt drowsy just listening to it. He head gradually drooped and he sank
into sleep.
*****
A gentle nudge rocked him. "Get up lazy!" giggled Crys. "Come on silly!"
"Crys?" Azzy yawned and rubbed his sore head
which pounded like a stampede of Tonu. He looked about him, the kelp jungle
was to his left, swaying quietly.
"Ah good, you’re up." Crys’s voice had disappeared.
It was now the same hypnotic voice that had soothed him to sleep last night.
A smiling Neopet with rubbery blue skin and a long horn came into sight. Azzy
was startled. The Neopet only laughed. "Not every day you see a Flotsam huh?"
he winked.
"Flotsam? I’ve heard of you before! From tales
the other Baby Blu have told me. What was that thing that was chasing me last
night? How’d you get it away? Who are you?" Azzy was full to the brim with questions.
The Flotsam held up a flipper to halt him. "Whoa,
slow down there. Firstly, answer my questions; what’s you name, and why were
you out in the middle of Dark Kelp Forest?"
"My name’s Azzy. And well, you see, I was searching
for a Water Faerie. My best friend Crys was taken by something and I’m looking
for her, and I think that a Water Faerie could help me. Can you answer mine
now? Please?" urged Azzy.
"Okay. People call me Indi mostly. I live in
Dark Kelp Forest and help others find their way through the seaweed. The thing
chasing you last night was a Jetsam. You’re lucky I came to help you when I
did. I used a little water magic on him to rescue you. I don’t have a lot, but
its enough." He gave a nod. "Nasty Neopets a Jetsam can be when they’re hungry,"
he added as an after comment.
"Thanks so much, Indi, for saving me. I would
have been a goner if you hadn’t helped!" Azzy bobbed up and down with gratitude.
"Anyway, you’re looking for a Water Faerie,
huh? There are none around these parts, but I do know that the nearest place
is Mermaid’s Grotto. It’s a sacred place for Water Faeries and there’s bound
to be at least one there. Except there’s one problem with finding it," Indi
rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You can only get to it if you are guided there
by Sapphir himself."
Azzy tilted his head at the name. "Sapphir?
Where do I find him?"
"It’s not that simple, Azzy. Sapphir is very
particular about who he takes to Mermaid’s Grotto. Not just anybody can go up
to him and ask for guidance."
"But... I need to find Crys!" Azzy frowned.
He didn’t understand that some people weren’t as trusting as him.
"Maybe Sapphir will take pity on you. I have
a feeling I know where he could be. I can’t go with you, though." Indi gave
him an encouraging smile.
"Which way? And how will I know who he is?"
The urgency grew in Azzy’s voice.
Indi pointed east. "You’ll know. There’s no
way to miss him. Now you’d better get going."
Azzy nodded and started to swim in the direction.
He turned around for a brief second. "Thank you, Indi! Indi?" the Flotsam had
vanished already. Azzy shrugged and kept going.
From inside the kelp peered out two blue eyes.
"Good luck Azzy. I hope Sapphir understands." Silently he swam off into the
gloom.
*****
As time wore on, Azzy became more and more disorientated. No matter where he
looked, it was exactly the same. Blue ocean stretching off for more miles than
Azzy knew how to count, and bare sand with no rocks or life on it. "I mustn’t
get lost. I mustn’t get lost..." he muttered. He stopped and surveyed the area.
"Its no use! I’m already lost!" His ears twitched. Something was coming. Azzy
freaked. "It could be another Jetsam! And I’ve got nowhere to hide!" He spun
around, seeing nothing but water and sand. A silhouette advanced slowly toward
him. Azzy could only stay still and hope he blended in with the sea floor. The
figure loomed larger and larger. The Baby Blu’s eyes widened. Whatever it was,
it was huge!
"Who comes into my domain!" boomed the shadow.
Azzy’s hope of being unseen fizzled out.
"I’m A-Azzy. Wh-Who are you?" asked Azzy with
a nervous stutter. Finally the creature came close enough for Azzy to see it
properly. He gaped. It was a Walein. An enormous blue Walein, larger than any
Walein had been known to be. The behemoth came to a standstill right in front
of Azzy, angled downwards in an authoritative way. It was at least a thousand
times larger than him!
"Silence! I am Sapphir, Guardian of the Grotto!
State your business, petpet." The Walein fixed his large eyes upon the Baby
Blu.
"I need to get to Mermaid’s Grotto so I can
get help to find my friend Crys!" he squeaked in terror. He realised what Indi
had said about not being able to miss the oversized petpet.
A grumbling came from Sapphir’s throat as he
thought. "Hmm, you have come a long way I can tell. Your friendship with this
Crys sounds important to you."
"She’s my only friend in the world! And I‘d
do anything for her!" Azzy cried out. "Please Sapphir, guide me!"
"Very well. Your heart is true. Sit on my head
and I’ll take you. You would have never found the Grotto unaccompanied. This
water is spelled to confuse anyone who has intentions of coming to the Grotto."
The Walein waited as the Baby Blu settled himself. Azzy gave a weak smile. Didn’t
he know it!
It was like the water had dissolved around him
as soon as Sapphir flailed his giant tail. The endless ocean came to life. Fish
and other small petpets swam around in schools. Corals of all different shapes
and sizes littered the bottom, making it look like a colourful and beautiful
display. Laughter and normal conversation drifted in the water. It was like
an underwater city. Eventually the crowds died out as they approached a cave.
Glittering seaweed covered the entrance like a drape. Lovely singing poured
out from it, enchanting the ears of all who heard it.
"Wow..." said Azzy, breathless.
"Yes. Okay, we’re here. Go inside and explain
your case. I hope you find your friend." Sapphir lumbered off into the sea.
Azzy brushed aside the screen and entered. He
tracked the tunnel and singing until he found it angled up. He followed. He
burst out onto the water’s surface. He was in an air bubble under the ocean.
The captivating singing stopped abruptly. "Oh,
hello there little one." The Baby Blu spotted a young Water Faerie. She was
as wonderful as the stories he had heard. Shells pinned her long flowing hair
out of her sparkling sea green eyes. Her tail gave a flick of excitement. "Are
you here for help?"
Azzy waggled his head with enthusiasm. "I need
help to find my friend Crys. She was taken by something and I have to get her
back!"
"I’ll see what I can do." She reached behind
her and pulled out a clear ball, as delicate as a bubble. She held it firm and
waved a hand over it. "Show me what happened to Crys," she said plainly. Images
from the day before filled the orb. Sand blew up in a flurry, hiding the identity
of the kidnapper. "Oh dear..."’ sighed the Faerie. She chewed her lip and tried
again, and again.
"What’s the matter?" asked Azzy, his brows knit
together in concern.
"I can’t see who took her. And I’m not advanced
enough in my power to work a spell to see where she is. Oh, I’m so sorry little
one!" she said with tears in her eyes.
"So Crys is gone... forever?" Tears came from
his own eyes.
"I’m sorry. I don’t think you’d have found her
either I’m afraid. It's very difficult to find someone even with the proper
spells. If she’s somewhere, it could take you days to get there, and when you
reach there, she might have gone." She placed the ball back into its shelf and
grasped for something else. She pulled down two small bracelets with a charm
attached onto them. A silver swirl sat in the middle of a gold heart. "Take
these as a gift from me." She gently clipped them around his neck. "They’re
friendship bracelets. They have luck spells placed on them. Maybe they’ll help
you, and if you ever see your friend again, you can give one to her." Her eyelids
were half closed as she gazed down upon the petpet. "I’m so sorry I couldn’t
be of more assistance."
The Baby Blu inclined his head to the Faerie
in silent thanks before diving below the surface and swimming out into the ocean
once more. Alone.
*****
Azzy gave up on his journey home. There was nobody to greet him if he did
make it there, anyway. He settled himself on the edge of the coral city and
built a nest to live in. Laying in his bed of sand he regarded the bracelets
and watched the sun pass overhead. "Crys..." he whispered.
Darkness surrounded him. He was being placed
into something. Azzy sighed depressingly. It didn’t matter what happened now.
He swayed with his prison‘s movements. The walls of his confinement were soft
and smooth. The Baby Blu closed his eyes and fell asleep, not caring for his
future.
*****
Azzy fell through the air and landed with a splash into warm water. He drifted
to the bottom not looking up to see where he was.
"Azzy?" squeaked a voice full of uncertainty.
"Is that really you?"
Azzy turned. Another Baby Blu floated in front
of him. She stared at him with pretty cerulean eyes. "Crys?" His own brown eyes
widened.
"Yes, Azzy... it's me..." She blinked back tears.
"Crys!" Azzy exploded onto his friend, pulling
her into a tight hug. He swiftly pulled one of the bracelets off his neck and
put it around Crys’s neck. "Thank you..." he said, thinking of all those he
had met along the way. He realised he had more than one friend now, and this
was the beginning of a new life, one he shared with his oldest and most loved
friend in the world.
Outside the tank a Peophin smiled at the couple.
Carefully she shook the water out of the bag and set it back in the cupboard.
Now her petpet wouldn’t be lonely.
The End
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