Of Faeries and Lupes: Part Four by neopets4241626 |  |
"Ares! Are you all right? I heard what happened and rushed right over to the
Iyana as fast as I could!" Jack told Ares.
"Wait a minute… what on Neopia are you talking about, Jack? You aren't even
in the Neopia Army! You're a NeoPet doctor!" General Ares asked incredulously.
It was turning out to be a very strange day indeed. All around them faeries
flitted joyously, throwing their lights down on the Iyana and NeoPets
were rejoicing, but Ares was oblivious to the fact.
"I just enrolled! But I'm not fighting, of course. I'm a doctor in the Neopia
Army, Ares! Isn't that cool?" Jack gushed. Ares' face spread into a wide grin.
"That's just wonderful, Jack!" he congratulated his best friend, and clamped
one paw on the Scorchio's back in a hearty pat.
"But I'm on the Psellia!" Ares suddenly remembered. But Jack remained
cheerful. "Aw, don't worry! The Iyana and the Psellia are just next to
each other!" and armed with that thought, General Ares and Doctor Jack walked
through the crowd happily. "Oh yeah, and have I told you, you look absolutely
dashing!" Jack said enviously, "I wish I had armour like yours!" But General
Ares just smiled. "I wish I were a fire NeoPet, just like you!" he reminded
his best friend of the dream which he still had.
"Oh yes, here's a little something on my part!" And Jack brought out a parcel
from within his thick coat. He handed it to the Lupe, who received it with both
paws. "What is it?" Ares tried to shake the parcel, but the present inside did
not rattle or move. "Something," Jack replied mysteriously, "And don't open
it now, or I'll take it back from you! Open it when this whole war is over.
Promise me." General Ares promised Jack he would only open it after the war.
Suddenly, something green and purple raced through the air, sending showers
of sparks and glitter raining down on the two friends. The crowds on Iyana and
the now nearing Psellia (battleships were linked together by wide wooden
planks) cheered eccentrically. Then the Battle Faerie landed right in front
of Ares and Jack. "I see you've found your visitor!" she smiled at Ares, her
deep purple eyes piercing into his own. "Jack's my best friend," General Ares
said simply, returning the attractive faerie's smile. Since Jack was a small
Scorchio, he and Ares were about the same size, so the Battle Faerie looked
just like how she had in the cabin.
"What was the shower of sparks for?" Jack asked, his eyes wide. Ares could
tell that the sheer beauty of the Battle Faerie had captivated his friend. "Oh,
they requested it," she replied nonchalantly, waving her hand in a careless
manner. General Ares laughed heartily.
But his laughter and good mood vanished when he caught sight of a white Blumaroo
making his way over to him. "Charles…" Ares murmured. "What?" Jack asked. The
Battle Faerie was also looking at the white Blumaroo Sensing the worst, Ares
clapped a paw on Jack's back. "Jack old pal, get back into the Iyana and tell
your fellow doctors, the cooks and servants to stay in the ship," he told Jack.
Jack's face drained of colour, and he lost his usual bubbly mood. "Y… yes,
Ares," he said, and flapping his flaming wings, he took off into the air.
The white Blumaroo was still a distance away from Ares and the Battle Faerie.
She turned to Ares, "General Anwar?" she asked him. Ares nodded but said nothing
in reply. The white Blumaroo with the red bandanna with white polka dots bounced
up to the Lupe and the faerie. "General Ares, Sir…" but before he could go any
further, General Ares interrupted him. "Take us to him," he nodded. "He's on
the Psellia, along with Lady Keri, leader of our Aerial Spies," Charles
panted out.
The Battle Faerie nodded, and she began to grow huge. Now she was about three
times the size of General Ares. "I'll take us there, it'll be much faster,"
she told the surprised Lupe Ares had just enough time to thrust Jack's gift
into Charles' hands, say, "Put it in my cabin for me," before the Battle Faerie
scooped him up in her arms and headed off towards the Psellia. Ares found himself
high up in the air, below him lay the battleships, basking in the warmth of
the morning sun. "So, is this how flying is like?" he had to raise his voice
to be heard over the wind. "Yes… beautiful isn't it?" the Battle Faerie's voice
told him, and in his heart he agreed.
With a whiz of purple and green, General Ares found himself standing on the
deck of the Psellia, with the Battle Faerie standing next to him. She
had grown smaller now, and was about the size of a large Lupe Looking ahead,
General Ares could see General Anwar running towards him, with a great black
shape flying along. "Who's that?" the Battle Faerie asked Ares. "It's Lady Keri,
a skunk Eyrie. She's the leader of the Neopia Army's aerial spies. A skilful
flyer indeed," Ares whispered to the faerie, who nodded in understanding.
"What's going on, General Anwar? Lady Keri," General Ares acknowledged the
sleek black Eyrie with a slight nod of his great shaggy head. "My troops have
reported a large mass of black creatures heading this way to our battleships.
It seems that none of them are heading to Neopia Central, or any other inhabited
areas. The whole mass is concentrated on our six battleships," it was Lady Keri
who answered Ares' question.
The Battle Faerie, who had been listening, asked Lady Keri exactly what Ares
had planned to ask. "And how far are they from us?" Lady Keri replied promptly,
"My sources tell me about five hours away from the battleships." Ares glanced
over at General Anwar, who nodded sadly at the young Lupe "This is the one,
Ares." And Ares knew that he meant this battle would go down as the greatest
battle in the history of Neopia.
"I have already informed the leaders of the other ships… Iyana, Nereid,
Fuhnah, Maelstra and Fyora… the leaders all know. They are getting ready
for battle even as we speak." General Anwar put in. The Battle Faerie nodded.
"I shall convey the message to my troop leaders. General Anwar, you have the
full support of my faeries and I assure you, they will fight to the end." General
Anwar nodded and Ares saw that Lady Keri now looked upon the Battle Faerie with
even more respect.
"I have one last piece of news, General Ares," the Lady Keri turned to Ares.
"The swarms have among themselves a King and a Queen, and one of my spies overheard
the royal heads talking. It seems that both of them have set their sights on
you, General Ares."
At this, General Anwar refused to look at the young Lupe, and the Battle Faerie
gave a shocked gasp. The Lady Keri kept her head bowed before Ares. "Wha… what
do you mean?" Ares asked, his heart pounding furiously inside his furry chest.
"It means," Lady Keri explained, "It means that they are bent on destroying
you, General Ares."
Ares felt as though all the wind had been knocked out of him, and as soon
as it came flooding back, he was left with an empty feeling in the pit of his
stomach. He felt somewhat dizzy and faint, but finally he managed to say, "Thank
you, Lady Keri, General Anwar." And with that, the skunk Eyrie took up into
the sky and General Anwar sprinted away. Then Ares' legs gave way and he would
have crashed to the floor had not the Battle Faerie stopped him. "Did you hear
that? They want to destroy me!" Ares cried, fear engulfing him. The Battle Faerie
stroked the soft fur between his ears and said soothingly, "It's all right,
Ares. I'll be right by your side. Now go on to your cabin, I've got to convey
the important information to my troop leaders."
The Battle Faerie's voice seemed to strengthen Ares, and he managed to walk
shakily back to his large room under the Psellia's deck. The minute he
opened the door, something soft and furry hurled itself into his arms, causing
Ares to stumble a little. Upon closer inspection, the Lupe realised that it
was his PetPet in his arms. Ares set his midnight blue Anubis down on the floor
and patted the small animal with his paw. "Oh Vulpes…" Ares murmured desolately.
"What am I going to do?"
"You're going to fight to the end, that's what you're going to do," came a
voice from behind him. Ares whirled around and came face to face with the Battle
Faerie. "But… but I'm going to be destroyed in the end anyway! You heard what
Lady Keri said, didn't you? The King and Queen want to destroy me!" Ares said
despairingly. The Battle Faerie gave a sigh, and placed her delicate hand under
Ares' jaw. "Ares, Ares… You must find the courage and the strength to face your
fears. The King and the Queen want to slay you because they know you are powerful!
And use that power, Ares, find the power inside you to defeat all evil!"
the Battle Faerie whispered tenderly.
Ares looked away. "I understand now," he said softly, "I have been a coward!
But now I'll fight to the end, because if it means saving Neopia, I'll be there,
on the front-line." The Battle Faerie smiled, then added, "Besides, you do have
a Tri-Scimitar and such strong armour!" Ares smiled and nodded vigorously in
agreement. "Yes! Now let's go on deck to help with the preparations!" he told
the faerie. "We have only three hours or so left…" the Battle Faerie reminded
him. "How time flies…" Ares lamented.
The Lupe and the faerie went on deck, and immediately they were hurled into
the busy activity of the Psellia. Faeries of all kinds were flitting
about, checking if the weapons were in proper working condition. Sailors and
soldiers were busy practising their combat skills. The light faerie whom Ares
had saved a few days earlier flew to the Lupe, and settled herself on his nose.
"Thank you so very much for saving my life, I grant you my blessings in all
our battles," she said to him, and in a blaze of yellow light she flew up into
the air and joined the other faeries again.
Two hours left...
The Battle Faerie stayed by Ares' side wherever he went, and Ares felt secure
and strengthened by her presence. The preparations were in full swing now, all
the weapons were working, and the ship had been repaired so that it was as good
as new.
One hour left...
General Ares faced the throng of sailors, soldiers and faeries. There was
little time left, but General Anwar had insisted that he make a speech. So he
began:
"Members of the Neopia Army and Neopia's faeries, we are gathered here today
for a battle that will go down as the Greatest Battle in the history of our
beloved country, Neopia. Today we will be facing vicious mutant species who
want to wipe out the beautiful life we have on Neopia. We will NOT let them
do it." At this, a loud cheer rose up from the crowd, and the light from the
faeries grew stronger, fiercer. General Ares, greatly heartened, continued with
his speech, "We will protect Neopia from all harm, because that is what we are
here for, as the Neopia Army. And when we fight, we fight with our hearts. And
when we win, we win with all our hearts. And when we die, we die from our hearts."
A thunderous applause filled the air.
Then there came shout, "The enemy is approaching!" Faeries flew into the air
and positioned themselves, soldiers ran about the Psellia to their posts,
and General Ares found the Battle Faerie at his side. "The King and Queen will
not come until much, much later. Fight the enemy, while you are waiting, and
do not worry about exhaustion," she said to Ares.
Soldiers were loading up the frost cannons, Kacheek ice cannons, Kacheek fire
cannons, Kacheek pebble lobbers, cardboard sprout cannons and many other firing
weapons. The soldiers who were not manning the cannons had special bombs in
their hands. Each NeoPet soldier was equipped with armour and weapon meant for
its particular species. Ares could see General Anwar and his Platinum Tech Bow,
and down below them in the waters surrounding the battleships were more soldiers.
Jetsams, Kois, Peophins and Flotsams all equipped with armour and ready for
battle. In the skies too, besides the clouds of faeries, were many NeoPet soldiers.
Buzzes, Eyries, Korbats, Lennys, Pteris, Shoyrus, Scorchios and grand looking
Unis all armed and alert.
A sense of anticipation hung about the battleships. Over at the Iyana,
many more troops too were ready for battle, as well as on the Fuhnah,
Maelstra, Fyora and Nereid.
"The enemy is approaching!" came the cry again, and this time it was for real.
Thousands of black creatures, this time with wings, flew from the North and
headed towards the battleships. Hundreds of creatures in the water swam rapidly
towards the battleships.
"Neopians!" General Ares roared. "Prepare for battle!"
The enemy swooped down at the battleships from above, blocking out most of
the daylight. But the light from the faeries made up for that.
"FIRE!!" someone shouted, and the cannons lined up at the side of the Psellia
went BOOM as their cannonballs shot through the air and into the
water. Wave after wave of black creatures rained down from the sky, and overhead,
streaks of purple, dark blue, red, green, yellow and light blue showed that
the faeries were attacking and defending viciously.
Something black landed in front of General Ares, and he withdrew his Tri-Scimitar.
It was time to fight. Fight to the end.
To be continued... |
