."Hello? Is anyone there?"

My voice echoed eerily around the forest as I padded quietly through it. I could smell damp wood and heard the wet grass squish beneath my feet. It had obviously rained here recently.

."Hello?" I called out again.

Still no response.

I sighed with defeat. Where were my parents? How had I ended up here? I couldn't remember. My memory was playing up again. I seriously must have some case of amnesia or something, I thought.

I wondered deeper into the forest. I looked around. What the... the trees here were blue! How is that even possible? The leaves here were crimson red... and the flowers... oh, the flowers. They offered me comfort. I picked an ice blue one and smelt it.

It smelt of... well, I don't know how to describe it. It just smelt so... powerful. It gave me strength. Somehow knowing this flower was special, I hugged it tightly.

I carried on even deeper into the dark forest until the sun set. Now the moon gleamed overhead, giving everything a silver sheen.

."Is this a never-ending forest?" I wondered aloud.

Perhaps it is.

My head jerked up. Who had said that? It was a voice coming from somewhere nearby. In fact, it had sounded so close by...

You are wondering who this is, are you not?

."Who are you?" I called out, suddenly afraid.

I am your flower, Guiq. Hold me tightly.

I stared down at the ice blue flower. It was now glowing brightly, casting a chilling blue light over the forest.

Hold me tightly...

---

I lay resting under a tree, shielded by a canopy of crimson leaves which had turned a ghostly silver in the night.

The flower spoke to me again just as I felt the first drop of rain splash onto my tail. I curled it around my legs, as if to shield myself from the coming rain.

Do you know who I am? the flower asked.

I shrugged. "No," I whispered.

Who sent you here?

."No one..." I said, beginning to feel slightly uneasy. "I just got lost here."

The flower did not seem pleased with my answer. It stayed silent and I felt an aura of disappointment emanating from it.

."Was that not the answer you were expecting?" I asked.

The ice blue flower spoke again.

No.

I sighed. "Then what was it?"

After I recieved no reply, I was beginning to think I had become a bit... odd. Surely a flower couldn't be speaking to me?

Do you doubt me?

I snorted. "Yes, I do." I was sure this flower wasn't really speaking to me. Its voice was merely a figment of my imagination, something I just created so I had someone to speak to.

Why do you doubt me?

."Because you aren't really there, you're just in my mind, you're just a figment of my imagination, you aren't real, your voice isn't real..."

And why do you say that?

."Aargh! Just be quiet, okay?" I glared at the flower, feeling acutely embarrassed. Quickly I dropped it to the ground. If anyone saw me like this they would try to take me to the place with pets in straightjackets or something.

The flower started to glow again. You doubt me, it said.

I rolled my eyes. "Wow. You finally figured it out."

You doubt me.

I held my paws to my ears, trying to block out the imaginary voice. I could feel a few drops of rain slipping through the protective leaves above my head.

You doubt me.

."Oh, shut up already!" I snarled. "Yeah, of course I doubt you, you aren't even real for Coltzan's sake!"

It seemed to me that the flower frowned. Why do you say that?

."You asked that question less than a minute ago," I moaned.

I need to know why you doubt me before I can accept you.

."Ugh." I buried my face in my paws in despair. This was just ridiculous.

Gui, listen to me!

."I'd rather not, thanks," I mumbled through my paws.

Your loss, then. The flower stopped glowing. Cautiously I drew one paw from my face and saw the flower had turned a horrible crimson colour.

."Huh?" The flower had been ice blue a moment ago; what happened?

The flower made no sound as I picked it up and fiddled with it. The petals felt dry, almost as dry as autumn leaves.

."How did this happen?"

The voice in my head spoke no more. Still feeling a little attached to the flower I held it to my chest.

After a while of watching the rain splash from the sky I began to feel tired. I yawned, lay down on the wet grass and closed my eyes. I had just enough time to realise the flower was still by my chest before a wave of sleep took over me.

---

I opened my eyes slowly to the sound of birdsong. It sounded comforting. I let out a long sigh before sitting up.

."Huh?" I looked around. Where was I?

Then I felt the crimson flower in my paw and remembered what had happened.

The grass was still wet, but it was drying from the warm sun. Slowly I staggered up and stretched. "I suppose I should find something to eat."

I managed to find a few odd looking berries and edible leaves. I gingerly ate a bitter tasting berry. I glanced over at the flower, wondering what had happened to it.

An idea came to my head. I shrugged, knowing I was going crazy, but I tried it anyway.

."I believe in you," I murmured to the flower. "You are not a figment of my imagination, I will listen to what you have to tell me."

I thought I saw the flower glow for a moment, but nothing seemed to happen. I tried again, trying to sound like I meant it.

Still the flower did nothing. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh.

Are you sure?

My eyes jerked open. The voice had come back! "Yes, I'm sure," I said. "Tell me, please."

The crimson colour gradually faded from the flower as the ice blue began to creep in. The flower started to glow; I saw its petals returning moisture. Not knowing why, I felt happy to see the flower was alive.

Alright, Guiq. You are the one I have been looking for, the one who will be my successor.

I stared at the flower. "You're saying I'll be the next flower?" I said flatly.

No. Don't you see, Guiq? Flowers can't talk! This isn't a flower you are speaking to; it is me.

."'Me' is very specific," I murmured.

I am the Great Zafara. Guiq, do you know where you are? Do you know how you ended up here?

."No," I said. It looked as if this 'Great Zafara' was going to tell me how I got here, and possibly how to get out. I breathed a sigh of relief.

You seemed to have teleported yourself here. You have erased your own memory. You are in the Blessed Forest, my forest.

I snorted with disbelief. "I can't teleport myself anywhere, let alone erase my own memory!"

It is true, Guiq. Now, close your eyes.

I did as I was told. Immediately I felt my neck being tightened. I clutched it and tried to break free of the grip that seemed to be growing stronger by the second. I couldn't breathe. I began to panic, I flailed about, trying to rip something off my neck.

Just when I thought I would suffocate, the grip loosened. I drew in a deep breath, and opened my eyes. My breath caught in my throat as I saw everything around me was glowing blue, even the red leaves.

I stroked my neck and touched a soft petal. Puzzled, I fiddled with it until the Great Zafara spoke.

You now have the mark of the Great Zafara. It is the ice blue flower on your neck, on your collar. You possess wonderous powers, Guiq, and with these powers you will become what I am.

."Wow," I murmured. "What can I do?"

All will be made clear to you as you live on, the Great Zafara replied. You will meet a friend who will show you the skills of the Great Zafara, teach you history. And you will have a great adventure soon.

It was only until much later I discovered what the Great Zafara meant.

I remember it, but not as clearly as I should. It was one early day, the sky was bathed in light of what looked like fire. I awoke, thinking I had slept in. But then I saw a Christmas Zafara flying off in a direction, and we introduced ourselves. This is how I came to meet Merachii.

Merachii and I flew towards a burning fire. I became worried that my forest was up in flames, but as we reached our destination, I saw it was just a sky blue Zafara and a crowd of Neopets surrounded her. This sky blue Zafara is called Milesfé.

Merachii and Milesfé already knew each other in Neoschool, something I had never gone to. Apparently Milesfé had (and still has) a bit of a thing for Merachii. She tried to make him be part of her posse... anyway, they each have powers. Merachii has 'emerald magic'... can't remember Mil, I'll have to ask her again.

Mil was trained by an evil Neopet called Mhyux. His power was far worse and stronger than any. I think he was enemies with Merachii or something...

But anyway. Mil was very mean and a bully. When I introduced myself to her she made fun of my name and called me 'quick' instead of 'Guiq'. Though it wasn't a very strong insult, it still made me a little angry and embarrassed.

Mil had called the meeting to talk about the Great Zafara. I was intrigued. But by then I had forgotten almost completely about the Great Zafara (because of my bad memory), so this knowledge was almost new to me.

I asked Merachii who the Great Zafara was, and he told me a tale.

Every fourth generation, the Sacred Souls pick out pets to get powers. Two of these pets were Mil and Mer. The other two had died just after birth. Mer was born for a second time. Mer's power is the blue emerald, while Mil's is orange amethyst. Orange powers are more likely to be used for evil, Mhyux took advantage of Mil and used her to get to Mer. He wanted Mer because once a pet is reborn, their powers are stronger because they don't forget the training they had in their first life. Mhyux wanted Mer's strength and power.

This is where the Great Zafara and I come in. The Great Zafara was Mhyux's rival. I was once him, but I was reborn one thousand years later, so I forgot my powers.

Mer told me what the Great Zafara looked like.

The description matched me completely.

I remember Mil telling everyone to find out as much information as possible on the Great Zafara. She would punish those that didn't bring back any information. I got out of there quickly, with my ice blue flower glowing as if warning me of danger.

My memory is vague... I remember I think sometime later I was at Merachii's place, honing my new-found skills.

Then Elora, my sister, came by. I can't remember too much after that...

Sometime later Elora and I are hiding up in a tree on the day everyone reports back to Mil. Mer stood beside her with a line of pets waiting to tell them some information.

Elora set the tree on fire. I leapt down quickly and we all fled from Mil.

We fled to the Lost Desert and went to this place called the 'Temple of 1000 Tombs'.

We ran through the labyrinth, trying to solve a puzzle that involved Cobralls (I think). We were given clues to help us along the way.

That was when we found the holy sceptre, which Mer took. When Mil caught up to us, Mer threatened her with the sceptre, saying that he would kill her if she didn't obey him. I'm guessing Mil felt betrayed in some way, because she seemed to be very hurt when Mer was acting hostile.

After that, we all became... friends, I guess. Well, as friendly as we can be with Mil, anyway.

I remember settling down to sleep in Mystery Island. When we awoke we saw the volcano erupting, so we ran for it.

Later Mhyux almost killed Merachii. He trapped him and drained his powers. I was desperate, panicking, thinking my friend was going to die.

That was when I used my power. With dark blue aura emanating from me, I attacked Mhyux somehow out of desperation.

And I killed him.

---

We got on well after that. We had somehow been transported to a grassy plateau. At first we couldn't find Mil. Then we saw her, I think her Puppyblew Prince was with her.

So we journeyed onwards_ Elora, Mer, Mil and I. We came across an icky swamp. A Kougra who looked quite a lot like my brother Ori strode by. He knew Mer and Mil very well. This Kougra is called Elijahroo. He also has a crush on Mil, and does anything to impress her.

Eli decided to accompany us on our adventure (I think it was only because of Mil...)

After a while of flying and exploring, we came across a good friend of mine, Courage. He was having trouble with Synthavay and Synthora, so we thought we'd come along to aid him.

He introduced us to a new friend, the best cook in Terror Mountain, Litavis Erecura. We had a nice meal with her in her cosy home in the Ice Caves.

But Synthavay came along and decided to 'have a word' with Courage. They went outside to talk, but we could easily here them and see them through the icy transparent walls. When Courage got angry at Vay she teleported into Lit's house. Elora came out of nowhere and knocked Vay out with a whack on the head from a frying pan.

Courage didn't want to kill Vay while she wasn't able to fight back, so he buried her in the snow and flew off, I'm guessing he hoped Vay's sister Synthora would come and free her...

I think that was what happened. Thora did come and free her. They both flew off somewhere.

We decided to follow them. When we reached them, however, we found Courage wounded and almost dead.

We flew him back to Litavis's place.

Courage was going to recover, thankfully. Litavis sent us to find a vital healing ingredient for him, the Red Seed... I had no idea what it was. We were teleported to a cave that seemed to have no entrance or exit.

The cave started to flood. We were all worried, and the cave monster was furious with us. The walls started to cave in, and just in time, I did something and everyone was surrounded in a bubble.

We floated upwards, and then we... flew back down, and teleported to some place that might have been Tyrannia...

Then we teleported to the Haunted Woods, where we met Fericeus. We followed a trail of blood and found Coventry. He talked to us about how important the seed was, and who... Sabinai is...

One sunny morning I went out to visit Litavis. She had invited me over for a chat. I thought that was strange; she rarely ever invited me over.

Once I reached her place, she told me of this striped Zafara. He was wandering around the Ice Caves, as if looking for something. He came out of the Snowager's more than once with icicles sticking out of him.

Lit seemed really worried about this Zafara, so she asked me to spy on him. At first I refused - how could I spy on anyone? Why on earth would Lit want me to spy? - Litavis said, 'Eh, yer goin' to spy fer me or it's no more chocolate cake for ye!'

Now I was a little angry. "You can't do that to me," I pleaded. "But I can't spy. It's just... mean."

It's fer a good cause," Lit encouraged. "C'mon, do it, please? Once we know what's up with the guy we can sort 'im out."

I didn't want to take part in her plans, still refusing her offer. I slept over at her place for the next few days because I didn't feel like going back home yet.

A few days later the Zafara came out of the Snowager's with blood seeping from fresh new wounds. He seemed to be in pain, but his face was normal.