Alias: Crystal, Champion of the North, Keeper of Secrets

Age: No one knows for certain, but some say she has lived for 10 life cycles of men.

Gender: Female

Looks: Her coat is as black as shadow, but as soft as a blanket of new fallen snow. If you run your fingers along her pelt the wrong way, you will find your fingers are spattered with red liquid from the porcupine like sharpness of the fur. Her horn is a sunset purple and her eyes are like pools of blue, dotted with silver flecks. Her mane and tail are an ashen gray color, but from far off, they look black, like her coat. Her wings are pure shadow, just wisps of darkness that can disappear and reappear at a moments thought. A long scar stretches from her cheekbone to her chin where it splits into three long gashes of crusted bl00d and broken flesh.

Personality: Crystal is a unique creature. She is not one you would pick out in a crowd for she loves to be alone and has learned to blend in and hide in the shadows of the night. She is not someone who would reveal herself to just anyone. She will only explain things to those who she feels are worthy, believing the old saying of 'you can't trust anyone'. She has secrets, dark and evil ones that have to do with her past. Like the scar; no one knows where it came from and most likely, no one ever will, save for her and the one who did it. She doesn't have any friends, not like you and I have friends. Only the pure even have a chance of finding a place in her ice cold heart. She has learned that nobody is pure and her heart has become sealed. She shows no emotion, save for scorn towards humans, who she believes are worthless creatures who don't deserve to live. However, she is not a killer. She has killed when necessary, but she does not feel the need to take life from someone. Do not cross her, that would be a bad idea, she knows how to make someone feel pain without killing them.

Likes: Night, Darkness, Being Alone, Her Kin

Dislikes: Day, Light, Being in Crowds, Humans
That's enough information for now, I believe. Let us keep going.What's that? You want to know about my past? That is a dark question, human, and for another time. Look, we are here. These are the ruins of N' urthal. You look baffled, traveler, are the sights too terrible? Are you imagining what may have happened here. Well, stop, and follow me to my home. It's that one, there. The large gray rock with the purple spires.
As she points her magenta horn at her home, my eyes widen. The place she calls 'home' is nothing more than a hollowed out rock. Sprinkles of rock dust are falling from above onto the burnt grass and I cringe at the sight. I look back at Crystal, at the great uni whose mane is waving in the slight breeze. She looks strong and courageous, but something tells me that there is a darkness in her that cannot be tamed. I shiver and walk towards the rock. As I crawl into the cavern, I find myself shaking. This place has a presence of something lurking in the darkest corners and my mind wonders whether it was worth it to come here. I look back at Crystal and watch her wander in after me, her blue eye are staring straight into my green ones, causing me to forget my thoughts. I shake my head as she opens her mouth to speak.
Human, calm yourself. There is nothing here but the ghosts of those who once called this place their home. They will not harm you while I am here, but do not wander off or you may find yourself the feast of lost souls. Oh, you wish to know of what I speak? Fine, I shall tell you, but I warn you that they, if seen, can scare a human to death. They are the unis that used to live here. They died in battle, but have not found their way to the other life. Their eyes are red and they are wrapped in bandages. Their fur is glowing green and none but the chosen or their leader can touch them. Those who try become like them, a ghost, wandering forever in the woods, trying desperately to find their way home.
But that's enough of that. You should try and get some rest. We still have a ways to go before we reach the castle of Eriendakl where my brethren lie. Scared? You should be, but fear not. I will keep you safe from harm....
She whispers the last line, an inaudible phrase in the unknown language of the shadows.~H 'ikla Unki~She said, but to my ears, it sounds like giberish. I know not what it means, though from the blank look she is giving me, it must not be unkind.
You want to know of my past? I shall tell you, but not the entire thing, just of my childhood for now. The rest is too scary for a bedtime tale.

Childhood

I was born in the year 500. If you can do the math, you may find what my age is now, though I doubt you can. I had three siblings, Treetail, Sever, and Starshine. Only one of which I know today, the rest are dead and gone. I did not have a bad childhood, being that I was the king's oldest daughter and was doted on hand and foot by human servants and N' urthal citizens alike. My mother and father treated us well, not like the princesses and princes you hear about in storybooks with evil stepmothers and the like. Now, I should tell you something, when I was born, I was born at 12:00 on New Years Day, a very unlucky time. Nobody knew this, however, save for my mother. When I was born, I was born a pink uni and as I grew, I became a red one. Only my horn was different from most. It was black as night with bl00d red swirls. My mother never divulged this secret, not even as she lay dying on my 18th birthday. Up until then, life was good. However, when my mother died, my father became a recluse, locking himself away in his tower. His brother, my uncle, took up the throne for him and raised us as if we were his own.
It was soon after this that my sister, Starshine, and I left the castle, wanting an adventure...
As I listen to Crystal's story, I can't help but wonder, if her childhood was fine, how she ended up as a shadow uni. I feel her gaze on me. My eyes droop. I must sleep...sleep....sleep.

Waking

Wake up little human, it is midday. Do all you humans sleeps past dawn? Oh good, you're awake. Now, follow me. We shall eat on the way.
I awake to find Crystal staring down at me, telling me to follow her. I stand and gather myself, trying to look calm, not such an easy feat when a grand shadow uni from the royal household is staring you down.
Here, take this. The purple berries give your strength, but taste horrible. No, they aren't poison, how dare you suggest that. What? you wish to know more? Ah, so you were paying attention last night. Alright, I shall continue, for the journey to the castle is long and arduous.

The Journey
Starshine and I left the castle to seek out a more fulfilling life. Yes, being a princess was fun, but it could get tiring and I knew that I was meant for something different than just ruling a kingdom. It was around this time that the events in my life turned from great memories to terrible nightmares. As soon as we stepped away from our home, we were separated. Starshine, only a blue uni at the time, was kidnapped and I was powerless to stop it. As the black cloaked men ran away with her, as fast as they could given the circumstances, I felt like an idiot. I should have saved her...

Don't interrupt, I'm not to that part yet. Anyway, as I was saying.

I went after the men, but they flew away in a metal beast that looked like a giant robot Pteri, except it never flapped its wings and it breathed steam from its mouth. I didn't know it was called a 'plane' until later, when I visited a human town in disguise.

You can't imagine a neopet ever looking like a human? Especially a quadruped like me? Well, guess again!

I watch as the great uni begins to shrink till she is just below my waste. She unbends herself as the fur starts to disappear into her body. Her wings melt against her skin, as if they had never been there. Her horn slurps back into her head, leaving only a mark in the shape of a star on her forehead, but that too fades, leaving just an outline. Her mane crawls up her back and sticks itself into her head, which is now flat. Her 'hair' turns a black color to match her brown, leathery skin. Her nostrils come together and a bump forms in between her eyes and mouth, forming a nose. The only thing that seems to be the same about her are her eyes, those deep, penetrating orbs that seem to stare into your very soul. Suddenly, she changes back, everything that once happened had gone and she is back to being a 6 foot tall shadow uni.

• Original Picture by: Northern Horse
• Edited By: Me
• Coding help from: Jinkaro on DeviantArt