Alice's New Job
ALICE HAD BEEN flying for some time and she still hadn't reached Faerieland.
She hadn't been given much trouble on her trip here, apparently the plushie
factory owners and the forepet hadn't been to concerned that she was gone. Her
only problem was that she was hopelessly lost. She circled aimlessly in the
sky, searching for a sign, or a landmark of some sort. She chanced to look down,
and saw two pets walking by themselves on the road. The larger of the two was
a starry Elephante, and the smaller was a striped Acara. Alice smiled, they
looked friendly enough. Perhaps she could ask them for directions. Alice spiraled
lazily down to the duo, coming to a halt right in front of them. She smiled
warmly, trying to get rid of any hesitation.
"Hello, would you mind directing me to Faerieland?"
she asked politely.
The Elephante nudged the Acara in the ribs and
jerked his head at Alice, the Acara whispered something to her companion and
they both snickered. Alice was confused, what had she done wrong? The Elephante
cleared his throat and addressed Alice.
"Faerieland? Why it's just up there."
Alice tossed her head impatiently. "Up where?"
"Straight up," the Acara chirped.
Alice stared up at the sky, but she could not
see anything. Suddenly, and without warning, the Elephante kicked Alice from
behind, while the Acara dumped some nearby sludge right in front of the Eyrie.
Alice struggled to keep her balance, but her awkward paws wouldn't have it.
Splat! Poor Alice landed head first in the pile of disgusting sludge,
getting it in her beak and nostrils. As she fought to get back up, she heard
the cackling laughter of the two bullies as they receded into the night. Alice
finally managed to get back up, her beak and pride sorely injured. She considered,
for a split second, going back to the Plushie factory, but then remembered her
promise to Brad. She shook her head angrily.
"No!" she said out loud. "No! I'm going to Faerieland,
getting a job and living the way Brad wanted me to."
She pumped her powerful wings, and grabbed up
some sludge in her paws, and set off towards the pets that had made fun of her.
She found them soon enough, prancing merrily down the path, complimenting each
other on their cleverness in fooling the Eyrie. When Alice was right over top
of them, she gave out a piercing screech. This attracted their attention. They
looked up, as Alice had, and both got facefuls of sludge. Alice roared triumphantly,
and sped off towards the clouds, where she had a suspicion that Faerieland was
there.
In due time, Alice did make it to Faerieland.
She got real directions from a friendly faerie Zafara, headed towards Neopia
central.
"Faerieland is straight ahead! You can't miss
it!" The Zafara had proclaimed, and Alice followed her directions. Faerieland
was the most beautiful place that Alice had ever laid eyes on. The rolling splendour
and beauty of the place left Alice speechless for a moment.
"No wonder it's so expensive to live here!"
She wandered down the rows of displays, searching
for the job agency. She was just about to ask an Air Faerie where it was when
something caught her eye. It was the Faerie costumes booth!
She stared in complete awe, at the Faerie Kougra. It was magnificent! The
deep lavender fur, the sharp, pointed wings, Alice would have given anything
to be a Faerie Kougra! She stepped cautiously up to the bored looking Fire Faerie
in charge of the booth.
"Um, excuse me, but how do you look like...
that?" Alice asked, pointing at the picture of the Faerie Kougra
The Fire Faerie sighed. "Well, in your case,
you would need a Kougra morphing potion of some sort and a Faerie paint brush.
Kougra morphing potions cost about 30,000 Neopoints and a Faerie paint brush
costs about 150,000 Neopoints, standard pricing."
Alice's ears drooped in sadness. She would never
be a Faerie Kougra now! Alice sighed, admitting defeat.
"Could you direct me to the job agency?"
The Fire Faerie pointed down the cloud path.
"Sure, it's just down there."
"Thanks."
Alice walked gloomily down to the job agency,
and found it bustling with people. It was far too crowded for Alice to even
get in, let alone get a job! She stomped angrily out of the building, bumping
right into none other than the Faerie Queen herself! Immediately, the Faerie Queen sensed that something was wrong.
"What's the matter, young Eyrie?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just that I couldn't get
a job at the job agency!"
The Faerie Queen smiled, tapping a slender finger
to her lips. "Hmm... I need someone to stand guard at the hidden tower, would
you be interested?"
"Oh yes! Please! I'd love to! Could I start?"
"Of course. In fact, I think that I'll give
you your first payment in advance..."
The Faerie Queen blew on Alice's forehead, and
instantly the two of them were inside the Hidden tower. The Faerie Queen smirked
knowingly at Alice, and handed her a mirror.
"Look at yourself."
Alice gasped in shock, she couldn't believe
it! She was a Faerie Kougra! She turned to the Faerie Queen. "But, how did you
know?"
The Faerie Queen smiled. "Your words and thoughts
can express your deepest desire. Now, my dear Alice, you may begin your job."
Alice sat solidly at the entrance to the Hidden
tower, beginning her new, and hopefully last, job.
The End | 
