The Riddler

by UnicornPrincess17

Once upon a Neopia Time there was a great, great King. His name was Ishikeranu. Ishikeranu was a smart and clever King--nobody could defeat his ways. He always seemed to be tricking someone, because he was NEVER tricked. So you could say that he was very, very smart.

Ishikeranu is a Shoyru. He isn't mean at all, well a little, but he is very funny, but when you lose, you feel like squeezing him till his guts pop out.

One day Ishikernu held a contest: “If you can defeat me with riddles, I will award you the jewels in the chamber. If you shall win, every jewel in the chamber shall be yours.”

All the NeoPets imagined how proud their owners would be if they won the jewels for them! Oh how proud they would be!

Later that day, everyone went to bed, even Hindinah the Kacheek. She dreamed of having the jewels in her paws... How happy she and Usagi would be! The sparkling Yellows, Greens, Reds, Blues, and so on...all sparkling around them. The King was about to hand Hindinah the jewels, and she awoke in her bed. What a silly dream.

“Lon PoPo! Great, now I’m all wet.” Lon PoPo snickered and ran into the living room to watch TV. Hindinah walked into the bathroom, and walked out with a towel dragging behind her. Usagi was staring at the TV, amazed. “His jewels! Coooool. Hindinah, my petties, are you going to try?” All the pets shook their head yes!

The TV show Usagi was watching was The Village News, the village was close to Tyrannia, but not really. Thats why it is a village, its far from Neopia City. The Village News said: “Did you hear it? Yes you did, yes you did! The King Ishikeranu is having a contest, yes a contest!”

How the silly reporter talked mades Usagi and her pets dizzy. “Make sure, yes sure, that you are ready, and prepared, yes prepared. Make the King Confused, so confused you will be awarded will the jewels, the sparkling jewels from the chamber! Every single, single every, one!”

Hindinah was very, very excited! She proclaimed, "I'm going to win!!"

The next day, was the contest... Every single Neopets was there, from far and wide, who knows how they heard of the contest, Hindinah heard most people say "I'm going to sell them if I win!" and some said "I'm making jewelry!" Hindinah thought this silly of them, she knew she was going to be the big winner.

Inside the Castle of Gold and Silver, the King Ishikeranu sat on his Royal Chair, with his Royal Crown, in his Royal Robes, in his Royal Castle. Then one by one Neopets came in (No owners allowed!! Strict rule...) and Ishikeranu told them the SAME riddle, The door was locked and bolted so no one heard, and could think about it ahead of time.

The riddle was difficult....

I can draw a single line
and maybe you can beat me,
but maybe not because
no one can defeat me. Now listen hear.
(Ishikeranu draws a line in the middle of the room...
the line isn't as wide as the room, or as tall)
How can you make this line smaller?

The first contestant thought it easy, he rubbed his hand against the line and made half of it diasapper. Ishikeranu shook his head. This is not what I want!!! I forgot one thing: "YOU CANT ERASE ANY OF IT!! This riddle is unbeatable because there is no way of making the line appear to be smaller without erasing any of it. So care to try again?"

The NeoPets shook their heads in no. They didn't know what to think, they didnt know what to do. It was Hindinah's Turn. The King wasnt pleased. "The Neopets before you have failed, so what makes you think you can beat me! Hah! The Exit is that way, forget it go home."

Hindinah hung her head in disapointment. She opened the door she came out of and went home. Usagi asked her what happened, but Hindinah had no desire to answer. She backed her off, and opened her bedroom door, and slammed it so hard the Glass Windows Shook. "I Guess Hindinah did bad No?!?" Lon PoPo winked as he said it.

Usagi was determined to find out what was munching on Hindinah. She walked up to her bedroom door, but her ear against the hollow door, and knocked -knock-knock-knock-knock-knock- Usagi waiting for a -knock-knock- so she could open the door.

Usagi opened toe door anyways and saw Hindinah hangin low on the bed, sitting at the edge head hanging, sat Hindinah. Usagi spoke with her 'I'm worried about your voice'. "What's the matter" Hindinah looked at her. "The King Ishikeranu didnt even give me a chance, I was last in line, and maybe the shortest and he told me to go home, I bet I knew the answer-no matter what the riddle.

Usagi felt like she wanted to squeeze the King until his guts came out. Then Usagi said to her, "I am quite angry" in a disappointed voice.

"Let's go then! Tomorrow, around 9:00 am, we will go to his 'Royal Castle' and let you solve his riddle!"

It seemed liked time flew and Hindinah just went to bed when Usagi woke her up. She thought she could see the moon through her window, but she saw the sun--its heat rays beamed in her forehead. She jumped out of bed-took a shower, combed her hair, etc. etc., and she was ready to go beat him!

The bridge lowered and Usagi and Hindinah walked inside, and were instantly escorted to Ishikeranu, who was truly disappointed.

“You again?? The shortest, and last NeoPet of all? What d'you want?”

"I bet I can win those jewels ya got there." Hininah was serious.

"Nobody won them, what makes you think you can?"

"I believe I can! I know it, and I'm smart!”

Ishikeranu the Shoyru jumped out of his chair. “OK. FINEEEE! Here is the riddle, but you’re wasting your time.”

I can draw a single line
and maybe you can beat me,
but maybe not because
no one can defeat me.
Now listen hear. (Ishikeranu draws a line in the middle of the room...
the line isn't as wide as the room, or as tall)
How can you make this line smaller?
Without erasing any of it?

Hindinah put her hand on her chin. “I know!”

The King was shocked!! “There is no way, liar. How dare you think you can mock me???!!!”

Hindinah asked for the chalk he drew the line with. She angled up with the line and drew another line, a line bigger than Ishikeranu’s.

"There, your line is smaller."

Ishikeranu was amazed.... “That's Correct.”

The End