Raihdabi's Quest - A True Story

by Canis_Lupis_2000

Raihdabi swam farther north, where the waters were warmer. She was a very beautiful Peophin, with ruby-colored scales, a beautiful green tail and very pretty blue eyes. She had just been to the Quest Cave, where the Faerie Queen, to her luck, had stood up, said she was worthy, and asked Raihdabi to bring her a New NeoPet as her Quest. Never had she even been summoned by such a renowned Faerie! Out of all the pets, the Queen had chosen her. But her owner could not bear to see her go, so after a lot of arguing Raihdabi was allowed to search far and wide for the First NeoPet Her friends, Diviantia, the Blue Gelert, Toofelttil the Blue Aisha, and Tuofasoi, the Red Grarrl, gave her lots of presents and good luck charms, bidding her farewell. She was in such a good mood, she had decided to go for a swim alone first and play with the Flotsams, Acaras and Kikos that shared her underwater paradise. Suddenly, she was knocked out of her wits by a large, menacing Purple Jetsam with hungry green eyes.

Raihdabi scarcely recovered from the first attack when she was whammied by the Jetsam again. Remembering her first ability she had received from a captured Light Faerie, Raihdabi Healed herself. She was growing angrier. With a fierce whinny, Raihdabi swam at full speed toward the stupid shark and head-butted him ten yards away before he sped off, scared out of his wits. Smiling to herself, Raihdabi Healed her wounds again before she swam towards Maraqua, city of her friends, the Koi. She was so hungry she bought a Sponge Cake from the restaurant using money she had obtained from playing Gormball with her owner.

After resting for a while, Raihdabi decided to Neomail a letter to her owner, telling her not to worry, that she was fine and that she would find the New NeoPet and she'd come back soon. A while after, Raihdabi left Maraqua and started her Quest to find a First NeoPet Raihdabi wondered, What would it look like? What is its personality? Will it be someone I can...? All her life, Raihdabi wanted to be a mother. She'd lived for 6 years now, and all her suitors had been turned away by her owner, who said that they were not good enough for her. Since she was so beautiful and sweet, almost every species of NeoPet had come to ask for her hand. She'd seen Quiggles, Grundos, even, coming up to their shop and proposing on the floor.

Lennies, Unis, Shoyrus, Elephantes, Myncis and Peophins had come for her. Yet they were each turned away. She didn't like any of them anyway; they only loved her because she was beautiful. When asked what they would do if she was ugly, Raihdabi received no reply. So after all those years, she still had not found a worthy husband. This was not only a Quest to gain the Queen's approval...this was a Quest to gain a mate. She basked in the sun's warm light after a night of swimming. Her friend the Koi carried her along playfully. She swam all the way towards Mystery Island, and there she slept. At night, Raihdabi awakened, to find two, round, glittering, blood-red eyes staring hungrily at her.

What are you doing here? the eyes asked. You do not belong here. Raihdabi was too scared to speak. "Who are you?" she uttered at last, her courage building. She was prepared to fight- her brain was racking away at possible escape routes. Do not be afraid. I am called the Shadow Faerie, mother of all the monsters of Neopia! Raihdabi was afraid. "Come into the moonlight," she choked. "I want to see what you look like." Brave girl, the Faerie said. Very brave. No one has dared to ever ask such a revolting question. Very well, you shall see me. The Faerie walked out among the trees and bushes, and there, Raihdabi saw the most horrific sight she'd ever seen.

The Shadow Faerie was as tall as the Faerie Queen, but she was the ugliest of all. Her face was covered with black fur, that parted to reveal crimson lips with pearly-white fangs. Her blood-red eyes glittered menacingly in the moonlight, and her long, clawed hands with the fur of a Kougra lifted up to the air to point at her. Raihdabi looked her up and down in horror, for her head was covered not with hair, but with silver snakes that twirled up and down her neck. The Shadow Faerie stood up, and revealed two pairs of Shoyru-like wings, although they were 100 times a Shoyru's wing's size. She was dressed in mud-brown, and had golden necklaces with a powerful Magic Amulet clasped on her rings.

"Well?" the Shadow Faerie asked, still pointing at Raihdabi. "How do I look? Tell me the truth." Raihdabi looked at her in horror. She thought to herself, "If I tell her the truth," she thought, "I will surely be killed. No one wants to hear that they are ugly." So, swallowing her sincerity, Raihdabi said as sweetly as possible, "I think that you are very beautiful." As soon as the word "beautiful" escaped her mouth, the Shadow Faerie leapt up in a furious rage. "HOW DARE YOU LIE TO ME?!" she screamed. Raihdabi was sure that she would wake everyone on the island up, but no one stirred. "I KNOW YOU! I KNOW ALL OF YOU! PRETTY NEOPIANS WHO THINK THEY CAN ESCAPE MY WRATH BY LYING TO ME!! WELL, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING...I CAN READ MINDS! YOU THINK," the Faerie shrieked, walking slowly towards her, "THAT I AM THE UGLIEST CREATURE YOU HAVE EVER LAID EYES ON! WELL, YOU SHALL SOON SEE ONE MORE THAT'S UGLIER!"

With a cackle of triumph, the Faerie vanished. Raihdabi stared at the place where the Faerie just was, dumbfounded. "Who's the creature that's more ugly than she is?" Raihdabi thought. Then, stealing a glance in the water, Raihdabi screamed. She was covered with warts, fur and blisters. Her once beautiful tail had turned a dull brown, her scales had turned grey, and her eyes were now purple. "Help me!" she screamed. "Somebody! Any body!" She screamed so loud that Mystery Island's inhabitants woke up and ran towards her. When they reached her, they gave a loud shriek and ran back. "Will no one help me?" Raihdabi thought miserably. "I never should have lied."

You will live like this forever, until you find the first NeoPet! the Faerie's cries echoed.

Raihdabi wandered back into the oceans, but everything avoided her too, except the Acaras. They pitied her, brought her food and gave her a home. Raihdabi could never come back to her owner looking like that, so she decided to stay with the Acaras for the rest of her life. Two years later, a kind male Peophin came to stay with the Acaras to study how they lived. Raihdabi hid out of sight and snuck a look every time the male was asleep. She found out that he was nine years old--a year older than she! He was also a very smart Peophin, whose eyes like emeralds.

Raihdabi had grown to like him very much because he was so kind, but who would ever love a Neopian that was so ugly? So she catered for him, being a wonderful cook. She secretly made him breakfast and put it on his bed everyday. She helped the Acaras while he was sleeping, and if he suffered wounds, she healed him when he was not looking. The male Peophin's name was Leonvisti de Boi, and it was a name you would think belonged in romance novels. He was a loner, separated from his herd when he was just a baby. He'd learned to read, write and work on his own, surviving in the oceans. Raihdabi often sneaked a look into his diaries.

Leonvisti was wondering who kept preparing his meals and healing him, for it wasn't the Acaras. They shook their heads and swam away when he asked. So one day, he decided to hurt himself purposely and see who would heal him. When no one came, he went to sleep, only to find on the next day a fresh breakfast prepared and his wounds healed. Leonvisti decided to pretend to fall asleep and watch who was preparing his meals. So he slept at night, and woke up extra early in the morning. He pretended to still be sleeping and caught sight of Raihdabi as she entered his room. Leonvisti wasn't horrified as Raihdabi expected. Rather, he pitied her like the Acaras. So, as she was leaving his room, Leonvisti suddenly cried out, "You are beautiful. What is your name?" Raihdabi gasped and swam away. When he was fully awake, Leonvisti raced out to the Acaras, asking where that NeoPet was. They shook their heads and told him she had swum towards Mystery Island. Leonvisti pursued, and soon caught up to her.

"Don't look at me," Raihdabi gasped, tears mixing with the salt water."I...I... I'm a monster."

"You call a Neopian who heals my wounds, gives me wonderful meals each day, and watches my every night a monster?"

"I...I'm horrible. I look ugly."

Leonvisti sped ahead of her and stopped her in her tracks.

"Tell me your name," he commanded.

"My name is Raihdabi, of the Tracking-Star Peophin Herd." Raihdabi had never told anyone her real herd's name, so she was shocked to hear her words come out of her mouth.

"I can see in your eyes that you hold a dark secret. Tell me," he pleaded. "Please..."

Raihdabi's eyes watered. Suddenly she told Leonvisti everything- her encounter with the Faerie Queen, her swimming to Mystery Island, what the Shadow Faerie did to her when she lied...

Leonvisti's eyes looked at her kindly when she finished, with a deep, penetrating stare that crept into her heart.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of. I will help you find this first NeoPet, and you will regain your pride." Raihdabi's cheeks flushed until they were the color of the Shadow Faerie's eyes. She had a sudden longing to be with Leonvisti, and she clung to him. He didn't resist, and as soon as they touched her warts fell away. Her scales regained their lost color, and her eyes returned to the wonderful shade of blue they were before. Leonvisti looked at her, bewildered. Suddenly Raihdabi understood.

"You said you were free once you'd found the first NeoPet!"

"I did!" Raihdabi exclaimed.

"You are the new NeoPet. You are the first one to accept me for who I am, not just because of how I look."

And with a flush to her cheeks, Raihdabi looked away. Leonvisti put his head next to hers, and they floated along, necks entwined, across the wide ocean, back to Raihdabi's home.

Leonvisti and Raihdabi were married the next month, and it was a happy and joyous occasion. As soon as they kissed, the Faerie Queen appeared.

"You have found the first NeoPet," she said. "You reward will be..."

But she was cut off my Raihdabi. "I don't need rewards. Being married to Leonvisti is the best reward I'll ever have."