The Sea Nymph

bane of ambition

The Maraquan Kingdom is a serfdom in the heart of Maraqua, Neopia's underwater world. The peasants and serfs live either on the dreadfully dangerous outskirts of Maraqua or on their lords' land --with an even worse tax-- and the aristocrats live closer to the castle. Some, the ones that are close to the royal family and king, live inside the great fence and waterproof fire-moat protecting the castle. The others, lower of rank among the aristocrats, stake what claims they have to the land outside the moat. But, of course, the castle is the most royal and grand of all the places in the entire kingdom.

In this underwater castle lives the royal family of Maraqua; in the topmost tower resides the princess.

Some call her a demon, some call her a nymph, but the difference is the same. Ivyanea is the heiress to the underwater throne in the Maraquan Kingdom, a sector of Maraqua that lives still by feudalism-- the relations of lord and serf. Ivy herself is in a state above even nobility; her father is weak and may perish soon, and Ivy's ambition is carrying her directly beyond grief or sadness at his coming death. Only the thought of ruling her kingdom is shining in her eyes, not tears, never tears. Ivy has only watched others suffer, watched her kingdom fall piece by piece, and sat and contemplated her choices for taking power.

Princess Ivyanea loves no one, cares for no one, including herself. All she knows is her own power and gain.

Though... admittedly, there is one thing she herself has questioned of her own coldness. fIvy could never, would never, kill a king, especially her father, to seize control of the throne. She is harsh, but she is no evil being. She'd never even wish him to die.

all the beauty

Princess Ivy is undeniably beautiful. A striking sea-green headdress of corals and sea plants dance in the rippling waves as she swims through the kingdom. Two great diamonds shine in the perfect center of her face, her eyes. And if you have the luck and honor to be able to come up close, she radiates a silver aura that gives off her power even more... As the civilians on the lower end of this serfdom would say, Ivy is just a pretty face. But quoth those who knew her inside and out: "Her appearance is an image of what she is inside, only the opposite. If she looks like she is a pampered and spoiled little brat on the outside, she is inwardly an independent and wise maiden.

And a maiden Ivyanea remains. She would, on any given day, rather be in her underwater castle tower room with a record playing in the background than out in town with a man trying to hold her and lead her. She has sworn to be an eternal maiden; Ivy will be queen one day, and she must not be held back by a man.

Holding Me Steadfast

No being is loved by everyone, but all you need is one. As you may remember, I gained interest for Ivy on one of your boards on the Pound Chat advertising your pets up for adoption. Her name caught my eye, and Ivy's great beauty, inside and out, persuaded me to dedicate myself to this application for the next month or so.

My direct reason for choosing her are slightly unclear to even me. At this moment I suppose it's because I have angels and demons in my Neo-family from both heaven and earth, holding both feathers and fur. I don't have a maiden of the seas as of now, so Ivyanea, along with her beautiful name and appearance, would balance out and improve my family by tenfold. My idea for Ivy also showcased her as an aristocratic being with dreams that clashed with her heart. I've only had individuals and clan or tribe members, never a leader, especially not a haunted one. Ivyanea deserves nothing less that the status of queen, but, of course, no one deserves the suffering that she will always be going through.

A final reason, one that I certainly can't explain: I saw her and loved her-- simple as that.

But Shadows Do Linger

Innocence the Ukali

Innocence the Ukali latched onto Ivy at birth. Innocence is normally a child's gift, most often breaking off during the teenage years. Ivy, unlike most youth, committed no inward or outward crimes. She learned to control anger and emotions at a young age, and made no mistakes except those inevitable for those like her. Ivy is pure, and that is a weapon beyond anything a spirit could bestow on her. She chose it for her own self.

Ivy and Innocence do not always get along. Whenever Ivy is thinking about the day she will be queen, when her father the king is dead, the petpet will bite her from inside. Why do you want your father dead? Innocence will say. Queenship will not last forever. A father's love and blessing will. Treasure the living spirit for as long as you will.



Reflection the Ditrey

Reflection came in a package with Innocence; a collection of the two most needed gifts for a ruler. This little Ditrey gave Ivy the strength to pull away from seizing power from her father. She learned to think over right and wrong, good and bad. While there are no morals in warfare, the king is her father, and his choice to grant her a place in his family as a full heiress, rather than handing it to her younger brother, Nightshade, demonstrates his trust and belief in her. How can she prove him wrong? She could not lift in head in either life or heaven if she betrayed him.

Unlike Innocence, Ivy has always kept Reflection close-- a difficult thing, since the petpet comes between Ivy and the petpetpet. But she has always contemplated decisions and results, and accepted what she's found. Over the years, both Reflection and Innocence have grown closer with Ivy, and the other way around.

Shadow Story

To Restore Amends

Amid the broken air of the evening, the young maiden stirred. Something was different tonight. "It must be..." Ivy muttered. "My father has been growing weaker and weaker." Her hands began to shake; she'd always dreamed of being the queen of the Maraquan Kingdom, but it wasn't ever going to come without this price. A new king always meant the death of the old one-- always. Not even an heir could have early leadership.

Ivyanea used her tail fin to propel herself toward her chamber door. Her father lived on the other side of the castle, but she was already positive of the state he was in. The scent and aura of blackness and despair was all about; no distance could hide it. She shook her head, praying inside her head: "Please, please... I've begged to become queen, but it can't be like this. I don't want my father to be weak.

Empty prayers. The ocean spirits wouldn't listen to even the heiress to the throne. When a king's time was done, he was pulled away to the next life...

The same would happen to her one day.

Ivyanea hurried to her father's room, crashing into his seaweed bed. The king lay on the bed, his eyes barely open. They flickered as he saw her. "Daughter.

Ivy tried not to cry. "Father." She shook her head from side to side. "Daddy. Don't leave me.

He smiled. "I'm leaving tonight... Don't worry; I've watched you grow. I'll always be with you." The smile did not fade, but his eyes did

What? "No!" She felt tears light her eyes aflame. "Please!" Fire burned in her eyes and heart

Her father reached out his flipper-hand, taking hers in his own. "You will be a fair queen, wise and independent. Leave me now. A king must be allowed to die in peace." The king dropped her hand, turning his face away.

Ivy nodded.

~ ~ ~

Queen Ivyanea paced her room, wallowing in a fit of anger and grief. It had happened, and her father had been alone.

Well, he wished it.

Glad as she was that the king had received his final wish, Ivy wished she could at least have seen him again.

With a bang, her door flew open. Ivyanea's younger brother, Nightshade, trudged in, head down. "How are you?" said the prince.

Ivy shrugged. "What do you think?" She could not show weakness in front of her brother, or anyone else in the kingdom. She had to be a strong leader.

Nightshade tilted his head to one side. "Do I still have leave to remain in the kingdom?

Ivy stared. "Of course!" she said. "I'll need you to help me." I'll need you to catch me if I break.

Nightshade, looking slightly more relieved, sat down on the edge of his sister's bed. "Will you change how the kingdom is run?

She thought about that. "Yes, I suppose I will. Father did most things the right way, but I don't like the serfdom. Lords abuse the serfs' medieval promises." It was true; many of the lords had collected more than enough repayment for favors that had occurred hundreds of years ago. The families still remained indebted to their ancestors...

Nightshade stood and exited the room. "I'll leave you to decide, sister." Ivy watched his tail fin weave away.

She followed him to the door and made to shut it behind him. "Please, tell the others nothing as of yet. I don't know anything for sure.

The brother nodded curtly, looking back once.

Ivy sank down on her bed, feeling more distraught than ever before.

~~~

Things had changed drastically three months later.

The kingdom was now more a republic than anything, not a medieval serfdom. But things were better.

Things were better. They were all right now.

The Maraquan Kingdom would live on; Queen Ivy finally understood. It didn't matter what each individual leader did during his or her time; it was the power and control that was passed down in the royal family that did.

And during Ivy's own time, she'd do all that was ever expected of her... and from the day she died, she would watch from above, watch over the kingdom she loved.

Everything would be all right.

Finality

what came in the end

Ivyanea did it. By her death, which occurred on the fortieth anniversary of her father's, she had become the most beloved leader to the Maraquan Kingdom.

She did leave behind an heir: Prince Rivera. He is as noble as she was, and he'll lead the kingdom well.

Honestly, there is a Maraquan Heaven, and there Ivy stands, watching over her son and people. She awaits, not excitedly, the day Rivera joins her in Heaven. Whether he changes the way the kingdom is run matters not to her; the former queen trusts her prince to do what is right, and what he thinks best.

The Kingdom will survive.

The story is long; the ending is brief, just as we may have many years to live but just a few moments of death. Perhaps it is kinder that way.



And in the same manner ends my application for Ivyanea the Maraquan Ixi. I had a very good time putting this app together; I sincerely hope you consider me as Ivy's new owner. Either way, good luck, and I wish you well wherever you go.

If we shadows have offended

Think but this, and all is mended

That you have but slumbered here

While these visions did appear

And this weak and idle theme
If you pardon, we will mend

No more yielding but a dream

Gentles, do not reprehend

If you pardon, we will mend

And, as I am an honest Queen

If we have unearned luck

Now, to 'scape the serpent's tongue

We will make amends ere long

Else the queen a liar call

So, good night unto you all

Give me your hands, if we be friends

And Ivy shall restore amends



The kingdom has not crumbled yet; it does do for the purposes the first king, long forgotten, meant for it. Overtaken every few centuries by an evil ruler, yes, but nothing has permanently swayed its direction.

And while we believe that nothing lasts forever, that lies in the tangible. This particular kingdom has a shield of love and protection for every member, lord to serf, king to subjects. The intangible glories of the kingdom will never die, even if the existing stone walls fall, even if corruption sneaks upon the land.

Love prevails.


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