The Wonders Books Bring

      In a small cave, eroded into the side of a large hill, a White Gelert whose hip bones were noticeably visible was sleeping.

      “Amy! Amy, it’s time to get up!” said a small Brown Doglefox as he nudged his owner awake.

      “What?” The Gelert yawned. She opened her eyes; their normal green color was still glazed over with sleep.

      “Today’s the day!” exclaimed the Doglefox. “The Travelling Library is in town!” The giddy little creature was now skipping in front of the cave entrance.

      Amy laughed and smiled at her small friend.

      “Well, what are you waiting for, Hugo? Let’s go!” replied Amy.

      Hugo barked excitedly and ran outside to the ledge of the cave.

      Amy followed and then looked out at Brightvale in the distance. The town was already buzzing with life even though the sun had barely awoken. Not even the horrible storm of the night before could dampen the spirits of the souls of Brightvale.

      “Who knows? Maybe today will be our lucky day...” whispered Amy into the wind.

      Hugo took the lead into his small paws and jumped down onto the worn path that resided alongside the river, which led into town. Amy followed happily.

      The Travelling Library was legendary. When this day came every season, the young neopets would pull out the neopoints from the back of their sock drawers, so they could buy their much sought books.

      The old Skunk Bori Book Keeper always brought a smile to the young ones’ faces. Even his long white beard couldn’t hide the wide smile the children also brought back to him. Old Al, as they called him (although no one was sure what his real name was), was like a grandfather to all.

      Amy had never shared with Hugo her wildest hopes of one day traveling with the Library all over Neopia. She knew, of course, that would probably never happen.

      “Amy? You still with me here?” asked a concerned Hugo, whose front paws (which were wet from stepping in water puddles) were on her chest as he looked up at her.

     Amy shook her head as if shoving the thoughts that had previously distracted her to the far corners of her mind.

      “Yes.” Amy smiled. “I was just thinking.”

      “Well, there’s no time for that! We’re here.” said Hugo.

      They had reached the fork in the road where the left path lead to Brightvale and the right one went to Meridell. They took the left path and soon entered the town.

      There were people and carts of all sorts. Severo, the Blue Draik that owned the Armory, was setting up his newest swords and shields as the small children gazed glassy eyed up at them.

      Amy and Hugo walked up the street that lead to King Hagan’s castle and passed the Scrollery and the Potionery. They were delayed a few minutes when Amy had to stop Hugo from drinking an unknown potion that Rolf the Red Cybunny had dropped from the collection of many potions in his arms.

      When they finally reached the castle it was no surprise that the Library was extremely popular. The very top of the cart could hardly been seen over all of the people gathered around it. All the young ones had what few neopoints they had to spend, clutched in their small hands. The cart was stacked and stuffed tall and wide with books of every sort an imaginative neopet could come up with. Yet every time Old Al came around with his cart, there seemed to be more new books than ever.

      Hugo saw the cart and smiled broadly and ran towards it. Amy trotted after him, her own smile creeping across her face.

      As Amy browsed the books upon the shelves, she noticed a small Green Acara named Charlie, who was by far one of the shortest shoppers there, trying to reach a book that was on the top shelf, far beyond the maximum length of his arms.

      Amy put her front paws on a shelf edge and worked the book free with her nose. The book came loose and fell and Charlie caught it. He smiled widely up at her.

      “Thank you!” he squeaked.

      “Not a problem. I used to have trouble reaching things when I was a pup,” she replied.

      Charlie ran over to Old Al to trade his small pouch of neopoints for his book. Al looked up over the head of his young customer and smiled at Amy, who, having returned to looking at the new books, did not see him.

      Old Al thanked his young customer for his purchase. Charlie ran over to his mother, a Pink Acara named Grace who had just finished buying some fruit, and he grasped her hand.

      “You get your book, Charlie?” his mother asked kindly.

      “Yes, Mother.” He smiled as he held up his book.

      They walked back down the road towards their home.

      “Hey! Look at that silly Doglefox!” exclaimed Jasper, an Electric Zafara.

      Amy only knew of what to expect.

      There was Hugo on his back two paws, standing on a shelf trying to get a book from the far back when his footing slipped, and he fell, book in mouth, with the whole shelf of books tumbling after him.

      “Hugo!” groaned Amy as she hurried over to help him.

      “Sorry,” mumbled Hugo as worked free from underneath the pile of books. “I just wanted this book, not the whole lot of them...”

      “That’s quite alright, little one.” Old Al smiled as he limped over to Hugo. He placed the remaining fallen books back.

      “I’m terribly sorry, Al,” said Amy, “He gets carried away sometimes.” She glanced at Hugo, who was now looking at his book on Roo Island.

      * * *

      The book buyers were finally beginning to recede. Amy assisted Al with the few remaining customers until there were no more.

      Dinnertime was setting into the town so the streets were barren except for the cart and its three inhabitants. Old Al was placing the few mis-shelved books back in their place. When he finished he stopped and scratched his bearded chin for a moment.

      “Amy? May I speak with you for a moment?” he asked as he sat down on his stool, because the pain in his leg was beginning to badger him.

      “Sure,” said Amy as she left Hugo to his book.

      Old Al was looking at the horizon with such intensity that it seemed to have momentarily frozen in its colorful beauty.

      “What do you know of the Travelling Library?” he asked softly.

     Amy thought for a moment and finally said, “Well, I know that it travels with its Keeper all over Neopia, and that it is probably the most widely known traveling cart. It has even been said that Lord Darigan once made a purchase here.”

      Al chuckled. “Yes. But have you ever wondered how it passes from keeper to keeper? This cart was entrusted to me by an elderly Rainbow Lenny known as Maxwell the Wise. He told me that when a Keeper becomes too old or unable to keep the magic of the library, they must find a new Keeper.”

      He paused and glanced at Amy.

      “I understand. But what does this have to do with me?” she said even though she knew exactly what he meant.

      He smiled at her; his silver eyes sparkled with tears. “I may be old and have a bad leg, but I am still as sharp as a Grarrl’s tooth, Amy. I have chosen you to be the new holder of this cart and all its wonders for years to come, until you choose a new keeper.” Al paused. “And you too, Hugo!”

      The brown and white head of Hugo peered around the corner.

      Amy was speechless. This was what she had dreamed of most dearly for all her life. “Y-you mean...?” she stuttered.

      Old Al burst out laughing.

      “Yes, my girl. You will make a fine Keeper. I’m sure of it,” she said.

      “You hear that, Amy?” said an eager Hugo. “We get to be the next Old Al!”

      “Oh, I’m sure you will find a name of your own,” said Al gleefully.

      Amy looked down at Hugo and smiled at him.

      “Thank-” she began but when she looked up, Al has vanished. On the ground where he had stood only seconds ago, lay a piece of paper.

      Amy picked it up and read,

      “Now it is time for your story to be written, and for it to be read by all.

      -Old Al

      P.S. Keep an eye on Hugo. Those shelves can be rather dangerous.”

The End

This is my first NT entry. I hope you enjoyed it! =D