Songs That Tell Stories

"Mommy made me mash my mango fruits!" The notes on the piano dinged under my paws as I paused and frowned at my singing sister. "Why?"

      Dove stopped playing the scales and cocked her head. "Why what?"

      "Why would Mommy make you mash your mango fruits? They are very delicious?"

      The blue Xweetok chuckled. "It's just a warm-up that I use to loosen up my vocal cords. It's not serious. Wren likes this one the best -" She ran her paws over the keys a second time and sang. "Prina Turner took too much primping time!" Her voice rose with every syllable until it reached 'much' and then started to descend.

      I watched in wonder as her paws sped up, and the notes bubbled through the room. The two of us were the only ones home, aside from the babies, so she had promised that she would teach me how to play the piano.

      "Your turn." Dove sat back on the bench. I hesitated, my starry Xweetok paws trembling.

      "What do I play?"

      Dove frowned. "How about a song that tells a story? You know that those are my favorite."

      "What story?"

      The blue Xweetok smiled. "That's your first lesson. I'll take the babies to the kitchen so that you may think."

      I watched as she scooped up the baby Xweetok and Korbat and trotted off. Glancing back at the keys, I sighed. Then inspiration hit me. I grabbed a pen and a paper, and set to work writing my life story.

     ^^^

      My life was different when I was little. I didn't have an owner, nor did I live in the Pound. I lived on an island, and my life was already planned out for me before I was even born. I was to be a lady-in-waiting to Princess Everest of the island Ta-hiki-pall-a-ooga.

      Princess Everest wasn't a mean princess - no, in fact, she was quite sweet. But it is hard to take care of a princess that doesn't like her job, or want to be stuck on the island. I had gotten used to that fact, until one day, she got frustrated that she was stuck there.

      "This isn't fair, Cloudpaw!" The island Xweetok had snapped, pacing back and forth threw her hut. She was not allowed to leave her hut without reason, or she would be cursed. "I MUST be freed, and allowed to get off of this island, or I'll go crazy!"

      I hesitated. "I'm sorry, princess."

      "Stop calling me princess!" Princess Everest shrieked. I leaped back, stunned.

      "I am sorry, pri- Everest. I was trained to call you princess!"

      "Well, don't! Or. . ." she frowned, trying to think of something. "I'll throw you into the volcano!"

      Tears sprang to my eyes, and the princess instantly gasped. "Oh, Cloudpaw! I am so sorry! I didn't mean it!" The island Xweetok ran over to me and patted me on the shoulder.

      I sighed, leaning back on her bed. "It's alright."

      There was a pause. "No. It's not. You've been my only friend, and I treat you like fish skeletons."

      Before I could say anything in reply, the door was slammed open, and an island Techo ran into the hut. He bowed low. "Princess Everest, we have an emergency! Three thieves were found invading the food store, and we must throw them into the volcano tonight!"

      The princess groaned. "More volcano throwing? Fine. But I would like to at least see the prisoners."

      Shakell was taken aback. "See the prisoners? But. . . but . . .?"

      I knew what was coming. What the princess wants, the princess gets. Everest stepped forward and planted her paws on her hips. "I have requested to see the prisoners. Dare you say no?"

      The Techo was quivering in his grass skirt. "Y-y-yes, my princess!"

     ***

      I stood outside of the cave quietly as Everest entered, and listened as she began to speak quietly. Now, I'm not one to be nosy, but I had to keep my princess safe, or I would lose my head!

      Sneaking past the cave, I trotted around to the back, where more of the guards stood. I nodded to them politely, and then scrambled up the rocks. Tapping my paw in random places, I managed to find a hollowed out piece, which I put my ear to. The voices were a bit hard to listen to, but I could make most of it out.

      “My name is Madalleena, and this is Rivers and Amanda.” A strange voice spoke. A female - she sounded young.

      Princess Everest then spoke, sounding sympathetic to the prisoners. “I managed to sneak some food to you, because I knew that you would be hungry after a night in The Cave.” Gobbling and smacking sounds commenced. I frowned. Giving food to the prisoners? They STOLE food from US!

      I struggled to focus again on what they were saying.

      “. . .She is just still exhausted from the sleeping darts. The effects sometimes last up to four or five hours.”

      “Why do you want to help us if your servants captured us?” The voice that introduced the others asked. I furrowed my brow. Yes, why?

      “I’m lonely all the time on this island; I just wanted someone to chat with,” her royalty replied. I nearly gasped. Lonely? What about me?

      “Where do you come from?” the princess asked curiously.

      “Neopia. It’s a lot different from here. Lots of owners, neopets, petpets, and all types of shops and places for adventure. Unfortunately, this isn’t the adventure we wanted. We were on a cruise and got thrown overboard during a storm.”

      “So, what are they going to do to us?” another voice asked.

      There was a short, uneasy silence. “Well, as tribal law, since you three were caught eating from the food safe, you are to be punished in one way. Tonight, under the light of the full moon, you are to be sacrificed to the volcano.”

      I waited to hear a reaction, and soon heard a chorus of sobs. Another, fourth voice spoke up drowsily.

      "Hmm?"

      "Oh, Rivers!" There was another sob, and then I heard Everest start to sniffle. I leaped up, surprised. What was this? She never got upset whenever other pets got thrown into the volcano! Why them?

      "Hey, lady-in-waiting!"

      I jumped, and suddenly found myself falling tail over ears off of the rocky ledge. I hit the ground with a thud, and then floated into unconsciousness.

     ***

      Growling to myself about my stupidity, I wondered about the Island Docks, my foot still throbbing from the fall. "Stupid. . ." I growled. "You know that you would never get away with spying!"

      I ran a piece of wax over the side of the ship, and then smiled at its shine. Perfect! The tribe's boat would look absolutely gorgeous soon enough! But then I heard a voice, off in the distance. Princess.

      "Hurry! We must escape!"

      I stumbled into the boat and pulled a cloth over my head. Leaving a little space for my eyes, I peered out. The island Xweetok strode into the covered docks and glanced around nervously. She must have seen me, as she let out a gasp.

      "Cloudpaw! What are you doing in here?" she hissed.

      "I am sorry, princess! I am sorry that I spied on you! But how can you do this? You know that the tribe will be angry if you free the prisoners!"

      Everest turned her head and looked away. "I am not just freeing the prisoners. I am freeing myself."

      I swallowed hard. "But, why?"

      The Xweetok swished her tail. "You know why. I hate it here." She turned her eyes back on me. "Now, you can either come with me, or be the one to explain my disappearance."

      "I will come with you."

      Everest nodded, looking relieved. "Thank you."

     ***

      The evening had passed slowly, seeing as I got seasick whenever the boat bounced. And the pirate Blumaroo, whom I later learned was named Amanda, snored. Loud.

      When we finally hit land, I nearly threw myself out of the boat. But Everest pushed me back down, and told me to hide. She said that we should go our separate ways. I bit my lip and tried not to cry.

      I listened to the other three pets' return, to their owner's happy voices, and their inviting Everest into their family. She would lead a happy life, while I was lost in this strange new world.

      Once they were gone, I climbed out of the boat and stumbled along the path. I screamed when a purple, tiger-like creature flew over my head. My foot throbbed, and I was so panicked, that I passed out.

     ^^^

      "Greetings, and welcome to Cloudpaw's very first piano performance." Dove smiled at my family, and the two of us sit down at the piano. The blue Xweetok had helped me finish up my story, and turn it into words. Together, we had prepared everything.

      "Hi." I smiled shyly. "I know that I have been here for over a month, and you still don't know my whole story. But. . . I think that it's time for me to tell you the truth."

      My fingers skimmed across the piano keys, producing only a few right notes. Dove played most of it, smiling and nodding. She opened her mouth and starts humming.

      When my turn came, I let out a strand of notes, and then began to sing.

      And as I sang, my family all smiling at my tale, I knew that I agreed with Dove. Songs that told stories are the best.

The End

I can't neomail, but if you want to send comments/criticism, put it on your lookup & send me something useless! Thank you.