The Dream

by cute_waffle

Lost.

The word struck terror in Tayuki’s heart. She was just playing for fun. And ended up lost.

It all started when Tysan, the Mystery Island Training School’s big bully, dared her to spend a night alone in Haunted Woods, which is rumored that whoever goes in, never comes out. Stubbornly, she accepted the dare, much to the obligation of her friends. Now, she regretted her foolish decision of not thinking about her own safety.

Tayuki looked at the dark and forbidden-looking forest. The bright moon shone on her, casting shadows and somehow, it made the forest looked even more sinister than usual. Strange noises came from everywhere, and Tayuki thought she saw a pair of red, gleaming eyes coming out from nowhere, glaring at her.

A cold wind blew around her, and she tried to use the leaves she had collected before nighttime as a blanket. But still, she felt as cold as ever.

No longer standing the cold, Tayuki felt that she must look for dry sticks to make a fire. She wrapped herself with a Flotsam Sweater, and began to look.

But what she didn’t realize was, she was venturing deep in to the heart of the forest, where, people had said, the witches do their spells and curses.

A sudden movement from a nearby bush startled Tayuki, and she realized, with fear, that the surroundings were different from where she had come from. And, the air smelled of evil. Pure evil. Tayuki looked around her, and felt eyes, not one, but hundreds of them, looking at her. And, she felt a presence; strong with power, yet she can neither see nor hear anyone. Frightened, she took a few steps back.

POMP! “Ouch!” cried Tayuki, as she fell over something huge. It was only a huge tree stump. “Phew.” She sighed in relief, and discovered a strange thing. The echo that was caused by her voice, instead of becoming softer, it became louder, and louder, until the whole forest sound like repeating the notes forever.

Tayuki felt dizzy, and shut her eyes and ears. When she opened them after a while, the echo was gone, and a bright white light shone on her. Feeling afraid, yet curious, she walked quietly towards the light, careful not to break any sticks or disturb any creature that might have been there.

The light was too bright for Tayuki and she had to cover her eyes with her hands and dodge behind a bush. She took a deep breath, and looked into the light. What she saw made her gasped.

Six witches, dressed in black, from their pointy hats, to the dresses they wore, were standing in a circle, surrounding a weak-looking witch that laid on the floor. The witch was somehow different. She wore a white pointy hat and pink dress. She looked nice, Tayuki thought. Then she shook her head and laughed. Witch? Nice? Nah.

One of the witches mumbled something and raised her hand. The other witches followed. Tayuki quickly recognized the first witch as the Chief of Witches Tower, Edna the Witch. But before Tayuki could see what they were doing, there came a blinding flash. Tayuki quickly covered her eyes.

When she thought it was safe to open them again, Tayuki saw the weak-looking witch still there. She seems to be in pain, thought Tayuki. Should I help her? Tayuki wondered, for she heard that witches are evil. But this one looks nice, she thought. Besides, she won’t be able to do anything to me, right? So Tayuki made up her mind and sprinted across the empty space towards the witch.

As she went closer to the witch, she noticed that the witch’s eyes are closed, and she was as still as a mouse. Quickly, Tayuki helped the witch up.

“Who…who are you?” The witch fluttered her eyes open.

“I’m…I’m Tayuki the…the green Shoyru.” Tayuki said, frightened.

The witch smiled. “Well, Tayuki, don’t be afraid of me. I’m a Good Witch. Just call me Ovia.”

“A Good Witch? I thought all witches are evil?”

“No. Years ago, witches were born, and they were good witches that helped poor Neopians and made good spells. One day, a young witch found a book, full of evil spells, and the then-Chief of the Witches ordered her to burn that book. But, because the book promised that, whoever that uses this book, will have strong powers and become unbeatable, the witches, overcome by greed of power, learnt the new spells and become evil. The Good Witches fled to a place faraway, and were never to be heard from by Neopians again. But the Chief of Evil Witches, now known as Edna, decided to destroy the good witches now and forever. So she sent her most powerful witches to destroy our peaceful place that had become a home for all of us Good Witches.”

Ovia paused, then continued.

“I roamed everywhere of Neopia, until I came to Haunted Woods. I had no idea that the home for the Evil Witches was right here, in Witches Tower. Edna, after learning who I am, decided to banish me into here, where there is no way out.”

“No way out?” cried the green Shoyru. All hope was gone. Tayuki began to cry again.

“What’s the matter?” Ovia asked gently. Tayuki told her the whole story.

“I understand.” Tayuki said quietly. She looked at the witch in front of her. “Your face is a little pale, is there anything you would like to ask me to do?” she asked.

“Why yes. Thank you so much. I need a bottle of Healing Potion XII and also a bottle of Starlight Potion in order to restore my health.” Said Ovia. Tayuki pulled a healing potion and the Starlight Potion from her backpack, and gave it to the witch.

The witch drank it. There goes almost 20,000 NPs worth of potions, thought Tayuki, but hurriedly pushed that thought away. If it helps someone, I’ll be willing to sacrifice it. Suddenly, the witch transformed into a beautiful winged-like creature in front of Tayuki’s eyes.

“Thank you, for your help, Tayuki,” said Ovia, in a voice, as soft as the midnight stars, and as calm as the ocean. “I have now transformed into my true self.” She flies all around, glistening in her bright pink dress with light surrounding her.

“As a reward for your kindness, I shall grant you one wish. Name whatever you wish for, and you will see your wish come true.”

Tayuki had never been so happy in her life! “Oh thank you! Thank you ever so much!” she said. “I wish…I wish that I am back home safely and none of this ever happened!” A bright light flashed, and Tayuki felt dizzy. She closed her eyes….

“Wake up, Tayuki!” Tayuki felt someone shaking her. “C'mon, wake up!”

“Huh…what?” Tayuki opened her eyes. Chukuda, her younger brother, was bouncing on his tail and shaking her at the same time.

“Wake up, you lazy bum!” He stopped shaking, and said, “Urgh! Fine, I’ll just leave you alone!” The Meerca bounced away and shut her bedroom door.

“It’s just a dream…a dream…” Tayuki felt confused. But it had been so real! She thought sadly. Ovia…

Suddenly, she felt something clasped into her hand. She opened her hand and found a bright clear crystal. She turned the crystal, and found a note inscribe on it. It read:

Dear Tayuki,

Thank you for your kindness, for I shall never repay the kindness you have given me. Please, accept this magical crystal, for it will shine whenever you do a good deed. The world’s most beautiful crystal, for the world’s kindest pet, Tayuki.

From,

Ovia

Tayuki smiled sadly, and whispered, “Thank you, Ovia.”

The End