The Quest to Rescue Baelia: Part Three

The trio of new friends decided to spend the night with the Eyrie at the Slushie shop so that they would be able to make a clean start in the morning. They talked and discussed their plans for getting to Shenkuu and finding Alecienic's friend. It was very late in the evening when the group decided to go to sleep and get some rest for their travels ahead.

     When the dawn broke, Quitaso was already awake and preparing for the journey. He made sure to pack some food, water and weapons – all necessary components when one is on a quest. He woke up Alecienic and Grace and went to say good-bye again to Eyrie. Not long after that they set out. It was decided the night before that they would leave from the Rink Runner Skating Rink as it had the best take off location.

     Quitaso explained to Alecienic and Grace how they would be making this part of the trek. With his cape on, Quitaso had super powers that enabled him to fly. These powers were so rare that it was decided that only Pea Chias would be able to be blessed with it and only the very fortunate could actually gain access to a cape. Quitaso explained that he would fly the group across the Neopian Sea to Shenkuu. To do this they would need to hold onto his hands tightly the entire time, for if they were to let go they would plummet into the Sea below and to certain death. Although they were somewhat nervous about the prospect of flying over water, Alecienic and Grace agreed that they would hold on and not let go. Quitaso assured them that even though the distance was long it would take but a fraction of the time when he was flying.

     The trio was ready to go as they gathered at the end of the Rink Runner Rink to prepare for take-off. There was a large group of Neopets that had gathered to watch this epic event, as it would be a story that they would tell for the ages. The morning sky was clear and the wind was light as Quitaso clenched the hands of Alecienic and Grace and launched himself up into the air. Alecienic was taken aback at how quickly the ground below her disappeared from view. It was mere seconds and the gathering below that had watched them take off was but a mere speck in the distance.

     In what seemed like just a few minutes Alecienic felt that they were beginning the decent from the high clouds, and she couldn't believe they were already at their destination. Much to her surprise Quitaso had them landing on the roof-top of a building at the very peak of a mountain.

     "How's that for an express flight?" asked Quitaso jokingly.

     "My goodness, that was much faster than I had anticipated; you were really faster than a speeding bullet!" replied Alecienic.

     "Haha, yes, this cape is a wondrous thing! What do you say we get off this roof-top?" said Quitaso.

     Alecienic and Grace nodded and they scaled down the roof and dropped nimbly to the ground below. The building before them loomed up out of the haze that had begun to gather in the early evening light.

     "Shall we knock?" asked Grace.

     "Well, I suppose we better; I don't want to sleep out on the stoop tonight!" answered Alecienic.

     Grace stepped forward and rapped her hoof on the door of the building three times. The trio waited patiently for someone to come and answer their call. Just when they had thought that no one would come, they heard shuffling and muttering coming from the other side of the door.

     "What? Who's there?" came a raspy voice through the heavy door.

     The door creaked open a crack and Alecienic caught a glimpse of a long white beard and the aged face of a Gnorbu that she recognized from stories that she had heard from a dear friend.

     "You must be the wise old Gnorbu that guards the lunar temple. I am Alecienic and I am here looking to speak with Myshoiya."

     The door creaked open slightly more and the three travelers could see the ancient Gnorbu peeking around the door peering at them through eyes that betrayed his age with their youthful sparkle.

     "Alecienic, Grace and Quitaso, welcome to the Lunar Temple! Lady Myshoiya is resting now; however, she did anticipate your arrival and has prepared beds for you. Please follow me, so that you might catch up on your rest. When the dawn breaks, Myshoiya would like to meet with you in the library."

     The trio followed the Gnorbu as he shuffled down the hall of the temple leading them to their rooms. He nodded to Alecienic as he left them to get some rest for the night.

     Alecienic took this opportunity to give a bit of background information about Lady Myshoiya to Grace and Quitaso. Myshoiya started out, like all Draiks do, hatched from an egg in the Draik nest. When she was born, she was chosen by the Faerie Queen Fyora to be her royal pet. For many years, Myshoiya lived with Fyora and travelled with her to all of the lands in Neopia visiting other faeries and important creatures with the Queen. Myshoiya and Fyora became very close, and although faeries do not age, Draiks do and over time Myshoiya found herself growing tired and being unable to travel such long distances with Fyora. So, she asked a favour of the Queen, who had long since become her best friend. Myshoiya asked that she be able to retire as the royal pet, and take residence in the land of Shenkuu. Fyora knew that this day would be coming, and although it broke her heart to part with her good friend, she knew that she would always be a short flight away. So, Myshoiya moved to Shenkuu where she lives high atop the misty mountains in the Lunar Temple, in a place of peace and tranquility.

     Having explained all of this to Grace and Quitaso, Alecienic lost track of time and the hour had grown quite late. So the three said good night and decided to get some rest.

     In the morning, just as the sun peeked out around the tallest mountains of Shenkuu, Alecienic left the warm comfort of her bed and ventured out into the temple to try to find Myshoiya. She found her in the meditation room where the calm trickle of the river below could be heard as the soft morning sunlight gleamed in through the windows.

     "Ah my old friend, did you sleep well?" asked Myshoiya with her eyes closed, while still in her meditative stance. Her long tail was wrapped around her feet and her wings were folded on her back, but Alecienic could see that although Myshoiya seemed visibly aged, her scales still sparkled brightly in the sunlight.

     "It's so good to see you, Myshoiya! It has been far too long!"

     Myshoiya then opened her eyes and smiled at her friend as she stood up to give Alecienic a hug.

     "It has been too long, hasn't it? I'm glad to see that you are doing well, aside from the whole turning grey thing. I guess we had better get down to business, eh?"

     It was there, in the early morning light, that an aged Royal Draik and a determined Grey Ixi made their plans for the next stage of the journey. Myshoiya would have to call in a huge favour, but she knew that it was the only way.

     A short while later the rest of the troop had woken and the group gathered in the library to talk about what was to come. Myshoiya sat at the head of the long table and explained slowly how the next few days would unfold, hopefully.

     "In order for you to be able to continue on your quest to get Baelia's powers back, I will need to call in a favour to Fyora. She, I am quite certain, will be able to give you guidance and a great deal of help on the next leg of the trip. Fyora knows about a secret place in the mountains of Tyrannia that hold enormous power, and I will ask her to lead us there. In the coming days there will be a massive war for this place, many will fall, only the valiant will succeed. Thus, we must reach the place before all others! So pack your bags, yet again friends. For in the morning we depart for Faerieland to see the Queen."

     Having never been close to royalty, especially such royalty as Queen Fyora, the team of travelers were extremely nervous. Myshoiya excused herself from the group and went to send her royal Weewoo messenger to the Queen to give them advanced notice of their coming. Alecienic knew in her heart that if anyone would be able to help them, it would be Fyora, and she hoped that they would be able to get Baelia's powers back before the war broke out.

To be continued...