Jhudora snarled at the Plushie. She had lingered under the tree for a few moments, pretending not to care as she awaited an outcome, but nothing seemed to happen. Whatever. It wasn't as though she believed in that kind of magic anyway.

It was nearly the month of Collecting, and Faerieland was abuzz with crowds that had travelled from all around Neopia to take part in the annual Faerie Festival. Jhudora had reassured herself and anyone who would listen that she was relieved Fyora hadn't asked her to lead the festival this year, especially if it would have to be in collaboration with that goody-goody Illusen.

Now though, as giggling hordes of Neopets filtered through the valley, she felt... useless? At least the past few festivals she had held some authority and had an excuse to linger around during the celebration. Now, she was left watching guests eat Faerie Bonbons along the edges of her bluff as they compared their latest quest rewards. Quests from Fyora, that is - they hadn't even come to help her. It was enough to drive anyone mad. Jhudora had to get away from her Bluff, at least for a little while.

That's what had led her here, to the quiet little grove where the Discarded Magical Blue Grundo Plushie of Prosperity hung. She was far enough away from the hustle and bustle to not attract too much unwanted attention, but maybe, just maybe, a little of that special Faerie Festival magic might find her?

Jhudora folded her wings in closer to shield herself from the growing chill in the air. "Why did I even bother," she muttered to herself as she began to trudge away toward the stream.

She had only taken two steps when she felt something heavy fall against her left shoulder, tumbling to the ground beside her...

Jhudora rubbed her shoulder--it would probably bruise, which meant she would have to don her cool-weather ensemble before she'd wanted to. If she hadn't been in such a sombre mood, she might have cursed the Discarded Magical Blue Grundo Plushie of Prosperity into a Pink Poogle Toy or something else equally undignified for hurling something so heavy at her from its perch on the branch. But she found she didn't have the energy. She didn't even have the energy to tell the thing off.

Instead, she bent down to examine the thing in the grass.

It was a box, wrapped in glittering pink and purple paper, tied with a matching bow. As she looked closer, she noticed spots where the glitter had been worn away, the shine of the paper faded. The ends of the bow were ratty, and was that--yes, that was definitely an Aboogala resting on its tiny web in the curve of the bow's ribbon.

She glanced up for a moment at the Discarded Magical Blue Grundo Plushie of Prosperity's tree. This box had been here for a long time, it seemed. No matter. Whatever was in it was definitely hers now, and--

Jhudora's breath caught. There was a tag on the top of the box, half-hidden by the bow and the Aboogala's web.

To: Jhudora the tag read. But where the gift's giver's name should have been there were instead two carelessly scrawled words: I'm sorry.

Jhudora studied the tag for a moment, took in the details of the box a second time. What in the name of the deep dark was this supposed to be about?

Her first thought was that the box had been left there by Illusen, but Illusen's handwriting was infuriatingly beautiful, and she never would have rushed on a gift that had been wrapped with such care. The colours were Fyora's, but that didn't make much sense either.

The Dark Faerie stood there a moment, rubbing absently at her shoulder and debating whether to open the cryptic, maddening box or to leave it there and go back to her Bluff to stew about this year's Faerie Festival when, to her horror, she heard a familiar voice behind her. She moved quickly to shield the box at her feet from view--no one else needed to know about whatever this was!--and turned around to see...

Appearing frazzled, Jhudora ensured the box was secure and hidden from their sight. She noticed they were hauling supplies for this year's festival: gems, bottles of magic, books, an assortment of crafting supplies, and a few Battledome weapons.

"Ha. Just a bunch of trinkets," she thought. As they strolled closer, she flashed them a fake grin. Though, Jhudora was in luck because they were too occupied to notice her odd behaviour.

"Jhudora! What are you planning for the festival?" Aethia inquired. Reluctant to answer her, Jhudora kept her response brief and snippy. "Something big... You'll see."

The two passing Faeries looked at each other with confusion but also weren't surprised by her defensiveness. In truth, the Dark Faerie refused to accept defeat and becoming a victim in this years festival. Now, her vendetta to have the most popular contribution to the festival grew. "Well, we look forward to seeing what you'll have in store for all the visitors!" Aethia giggled. "What's her deal?" Delina muttered to Aethia as the two busy Faeries passed her.

After they vanished from her angered gaze, Jhudora hurriedly uncovered the box beneath her feet and glanced at it. Her obsession with knowing what could be inside grew even more curious. Her sharp green claws wrapped around it tightly and she headed back to her Bluff.

Back at her Bluff, Jhudora anxiously began pulling the tattered ribbon apart as her Bartamus flew circles over her in excitement. "What could it be?" she cackled. The vexing box pried open uncovering...

Jhudora slowly withdrew the package and unwrapped it. Her breath caught as she held the familiar locket up to the light. Gently, reverently, Jhudora traced the gold and emerald vines engraved on its surface, battling an overwhelming surge of relief as she beheld what had been once long lost. Jhudora never thought she’d see it again, this missing piece of her heart. She slide a finger along the seam of the pendant, releasing the clasp and opening the locket.

In instant, relief turned to dread. Dread turned to fury. Where was the image that had once lain inside? Who would dare to steal from her? Who would thieve a precious memory from her grasp, swindle hope from her heart, rob her of a power she longed to feel again? This was not a gift… this was a threat. Her mind raced. Someone held her secret in their grubby claws. She’d tear Faerieland asunder to get it back. She’d tear apart all of Neopia to get it back.

A slow, conniving grin split across her face. There’d be need to ruin the realms. There was a festival, after all. Jhudora could do plenty of evil with her contribution alone. She’d find the culprit, seize what they had taken, and ruin the festival all in one fell swoop. Delighted in revenge, renewed in determination, Jhudora paced the bluff, as a plan began to take shape….

The ratty ribbon, the Aboogala web, the places where the glitter had been rubbed away all spoke to her in the language she understood best, the language of small betrayals and hurried hands. There was a faint trace of orchard spice on the paper, as if the wrapper had brushed against a cart by the apple stands, and a fleck of green leaf caught in the bow that did not belong to any of Fyora’s formal gardens. If whoever had left this wanted to hide, they had been careless.

Perfect. Jhudora set the locket back inside the tissue and tucked the box into the top of her cloak. She would not wail or plead, she decided, she would lure them out. For the festival, she would concoct a spectacle so tempting that whoever had stolen a memory could not help but come and take it back, and when they did, she would be waiting...

Illusen, tending her neat little booth of flowered crowns nearby, lifted an eyebrow. “Jhudora. I’m surprised to see you. I didn’t know you cared to contribute this year.”

“What can I say?” Jhudora replied with a sneer. “I’m feeling extra generous.”

Illusen eyed the locket. Jhudora watched her but the Earth Faerie said nothing, so Jhudora raised her voice and addressed the surrounding crowd. “Listen well Neopia! Whoever can break into this box by strength, or spell, or wit, can keep the locket as their own. A prize beyond measure if you dare to claim it.”

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd. Jhudora gave a lazy bow and drifted into the shadows at the clearing’s edge, cloak training behind her. She didn’t linger to explain the locket’s supposed power. Only the thief and her knew it wasn’t the locket that was magical. But she hoped the flippant treatment of the locket would cause the thief to secure it back.

One by one, Neopians crowded the table attempting to break the box. Some tried brute force, some tried locksmithing. Nothing worked. The box refused to open for them. The night descended and the lanterns burned low. Most Neopians had gone home. Jhudora’s eyes began to droop. Evil scheming was tiring.

Then, there came the sound of metal clinking and a glass box falling open. Jhudora’s eyes snapped open to see…

Jhudora gasped as she took flight and gave chase, drawing her wand from under her cloak.

"Get back here!"

"And why should I?" a mocking voice answered. The voice belonged to a faerie in a leather tunic and brown leggings, whose purple hair fell in wild waves around her face. In one of her hands was Jhudora's locket, opened to reveal that it was still empty, and in her other hand was a slim knife, which she had presumably used to open the box, and which continued to glow with an ethereal light like a lantern in the night.

She continued speaking. "You said anyone who can open the box and take the locket can keep it as their prize. Well, thank you, because I now have everything I need."

"I know you," said Jhudora, gritting her teeth in a terrible scowl. "You're the Faerie Thief. And you said you now have everything you need..." She gasped. "It was you, wasn't it? You stole what was inside the locket to begin with, and now you're stealing the locket itself!" Without waiting for the Faerie Thief to answer, Jhudora raised her wand and aimed a blast of poisonous purple and green flames, but they merely dissipated, revealing that Jhudora had merely blasted air.

The Faerie Thief cackled from atop a tree branch, now wearing the locket.

"Ha! Try and catch me, then, if you want it back so badly! Because if you're not fast enough...I just might reveal to everyone tomorrow just what your secret is..."

Her secret.

Was it too late to bluff? "I don't know what you're talking about!" Jhudora shouted.

"Oh, Jhudora," the Faerie Thief said, one hand delicately touching the locket, the other holding onto the tree trunk for stability. She had a knowing smirk on her face, an expression Jhudora normally wore herself. "I think we both know I know you better than that. I think it's time a Faerie with [i]real[/i] dark powers made an impact on the festival, don't you?"

"Wait!" Jhudora said desperately. "Please -"

But the Faerie Thief waved a hand around herself, casting some kind of shielding spell, creating a semi-translucent wall in front of her. And then, without a backwards glance, she darted from the tree to the ground and ran away.

The way forward was blocked by her spell.

"That thief!" Jhudora said. What was she going to do? This was bad, this was -

"Jhudora," a quiet voice murmured from behind her. "I can help..."

"Long time no see Jhudora," Luxinia peeped up quietly, a slight flinch accompanying her words. "It looks like you're in need of a Light Faerie to break that spell." Her nose crinkled as if expecting Jhudora to strike at any moment.

The secret weighing on Jhudora, she relaxed her stance to look at the Light Faerie again.

"And why, EXACTLY, would you help me?" Jhudora crossed her arms as she faced Luxinia with an arched eyebrow.

"I was there when it happened, you know - what you want kept secret..." The Light Faerie trailed off as she approached the shield, her palm glowing as it touched the boundary, "Everyone should be allowed their secrets."

Luxinia turned to face Jhudora and smiled, while Jhudora scowled and assessed her options. Her stomach felt hollow realizing this faerie may be telling the truth. But if she knew Jhudora's secret, why would she help?

"Jhudora, may I take your hand?" Luxinia approached and reached for Jhudora's hand.

Jhudora flinched back, but at the open gaze from the Light Faerie, she allowed Luxinia to take her hand. With both their palms on the boundary, Luxinia said a few murmured words and the boundary shattered.

As Jhudora turned to go, Luxinia cleared her throat. Seeming at last composed in the Dark Faerie's presence, she offered, "I may also know where the Faerie Thief is hiding..."

How will this story end?

“Fine, where?” She asked reluctantly.

Luxinia brightened quite literally, forcing Jhudora to squint her eyes against the light. “Follow me.”

***

They didn’t have to fly far. Luxinia stopped at the opening of the Faerie Caverns.

“She’s in there,” Luxinia whispered. “I’ve seen a light come in and out of here in the nights lately. Neopians usually don’t venture into the caves this late.”

Jhudora nodded. “Stay here.”

“I can help—”

“No.” Her voice left no room for argument. “You’ve done enough.”

Jhudora strode into the chamber then paused. Turning slightly to see Luxinia’s puzzled look, she muttered a quick thank you before proceeding, not staying to see Luxinia’s glow shine brighter at her words.

***

Jhudora rarely visited the caverns, and usually it would be a hopeless maze of chance, but like Luxinia noted, a faint light led her through the right path.

Left... right... left...

After the final turn, Jhudora arrived at the treasure chest. Leaning on it, toying with her locket was the Faerie Thief. She clicked it open and closed, and Jhudora could see that it was no longer empty.

“Ahh finally,” the Thief purred, “You know, it would’ve been easier if you’d just let the world see the truth instead of doing all this.”

“No,” Jhudora said, stepping closer. “Give me the locket.”

The Thief raised the locket to the light, watching it spin. “Funny thing, though. Everyone assumes you're made of poison and spite. But this?” She tapped the locket. “This tells a different story.”

“Give it back, or you’ll regret it.”

“Oh, come on.” The Faerie Thief twirled the locket once more before letting it dangle from her hand. “You act like you’re untouchable, but this proves it - you’ve got something to hide. And that means I win.”

And suddenly, Jhudora understood something. Her gaze relaxed, and a flicker of surprise passed through the other’s face at Jhudora’s change.

“You don’t really want to expose it do you,” it was more of a statement than a question. The Faerie Thief tensed. “All this time you had so many chances, but you didn’t. Because you want me to tell the story, to choose to bleed my vulnerability in front of all of Neopia. To show that, us Dark Faeries... are just like them.”

The last sentence was barely a whisper. Jhudora’s steady gaze met the Faerie Thief’s now wavering one.

“You’ve taken all the fun out of things,” the Faerie Thief sneered, then threw the locket at Jhudora, who caught it with one hand out of the air.

Without a backward glance, the Faerie Thief’s powerful wings took her out of the cave.

***

The next morning, when the Faerie Festival resumed, a new booth appeared beside Illusen’s. Jhudora sat behind it, arms crossed, scowling as always. Above her, the banner read: “Make a Wish, Pay a Price. No Questions Asked.”

Neopians lined up out of curiosity, then stayed for the mystery.

All of the Faeries were confused, but pleasantly surprised that Jhudora had taken the initiative to join. Only Luxinia watched from afar, a knowing smile on her face.

Despite Jhudora’s parting words, she had snuck in after and listened in on the conversation, ready to jump in to help if needed. It was a real challenge to forcibly dim her lights, but she was glad she did it.

Now, watching Jhudora as she impatiently gestured to the next Neopian in line, Luxinia knew that Jhudora’s secret would be safe. After all, it really wasn’t much of a secret any more.

The End.