Storytelling Competition - (click for the map) | (printer friendly version)
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Week 192 |
| You are on Week 193
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Week 194 |
Every week we will be starting a new Story Telling competition - with great prizes! The current prize is 2000 NP, plus a rare item!!! This is how it works...
We start a story and you have to write the next few paragraphs. We will select the best submissions every day and put it on the site, and then you have to write the next one, all the way until the story finishes. Got it? Well, submit your paragraphs below!
Story One Hundred and Ninety-Three Ends Sept. 3rd
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Miraan
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"Hey guys, over this way!" Miraan shouted as he swam farther away from the safety of Maraqua.
The golden scales of the Maraquan Scorchio shimmered from the diluted light that shone down from
the surface.
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Tetsu
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"Where we goin' today, mate?" asked Tetsu, the Maraquan Techo, swimming up next to his friend.
"Wherever the tides may take us!" Miraan said, doing an enthusiastic backwards loop.
"Heh, as usual..." Seltina said as she swam up and stopped in front of them. "You boys do the
same thing every Saturday," she laughed. "Always off to explore."
"Yeah, and every time," the Scorchio said, grinning, "you come along with us."
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Seltina
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"Someone has to keep you two out of trouble," the Maraquan Kyrii said with a grin, then flicked
her tail and sped off in front of her two friends. "Last one to find adventure is a rotten negg!"
"Yah! Let's go!" Tetsu yelled, swimming quickly after her.
"Right behind you guys!" Miraan yelled with a laugh, then swam to catch up with his friends...
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Author: A Little Fishy
Date: 30 August
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...The Maraquans swam off into the sparkling waters, darting down into the depths outside of
Maraqua. Full of chuckles they enthusiastically played chase, holding mini races as they
each kept a keen eye open for adventure.
"I want to go and visit the sunken ship ruins!" Seltina burst out, pausing for a breath after
their latest race.
"Not again," Miraan said, rolling his eyes at Tetsu. "We check it out EVERY week, and nothing
changes!"
"We won't find any excitement there, that's for sure," Tetsu teased, knowing that in the end,
they would all still seek out the sunken ship, as it was something that held great interest
for their good friend Seltina.
"Well, thank you boys for your opinions," the Maraquan Kyrii said huffily, not impressed that
they didn't show the appropriate amount of excitement.
"Aww, come on Seltina... you know we're coming with you!" Miraan and Tetsu said,
chiming in together.
"Last one there is a rotten negg, MIXED with rotten kelp!" Tetsu yelled, issuing the common call
that signified the start of a race between them that was for the sheer fun of it.
The Maraquan friends swam as if their lives depended on it, although the only thing that was
actually at stake was the honour of coming in first. Their spirit of competition was a strong
bond, as each had their own strengths.
Miraan was a speedy (yet flighty) swimmer, who would sometimes pause to check out things that
had caught his attention.
Tetsu was very agile, and nothing took his attention away... nothing, that is, except the
kelp that sparked his hunger!
Seltina was a graceful swimmer, who always kept her eye on the target; as a result, her chances
of reaching the sunken ruins first were usually just as good as those of the others.
"Aha! I knew I'd be first!" the Maraquan Techo shouted triumphantly, a crooked grin spreading
over his face.
"That's only because you didn't see any food along the way, my friend!" Miraan heckled.
Seltina seemed quiet, so the boys turned to see what she was up to.
"Do you hear that?" she whispered, "It sounds like it's coming from the ship!" The Maraquan
Kyrii's eyes were big as saucers.
"I don't hear a thing--" Tetsu began to say...
Just then a loud, creaking groan was clearly heard by all. There was no doubt that it was coming
from the depths of the ruins...
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Author: moongirl_20
Date: 30 August
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...The three friends cast a nervous glance at the core of the sunken ship. "I bet it was just a
strong current." Miraan offered as explaination, but even he didn't sound convinced. The other
two friends found confidence in his voice, however, and nodded.
"Yeah, you seemed pretty scared for a second, Seltina." Tetsu chided.
"Yeah right!" she said, laughing nervously. "Let's go inside."
The three of them swam closer towards the ship, searching for a small nook in the algae-infested
wood, that would allow them entrance. But once more, a tremendous groan issued from inside the
ship. They stopped cold, as if the water had frozen over.
"For a big current, I didn't feel anything..." Seltina said.
Even Tetsu was starting to lose his nerve. "I-I think I see some good kelp beds in the distance...
why don't we go there?"
Before the Seltina and Miraan could reply, the ship gave a tremendous shudder, startling the three
friends out of their wits.
"SWIM!" cried Miraan, beating his tail as fast as he could. Seltina and Tetsu didn't need to be told twice--
they made a mad dash for clearer water...
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Author: damietta
Date: 31 August
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...however, clearer water wasn't going to help, because the three quickly noticed that the crystal
blue water was turning a thick black!
Too scared to turn around and see where it was coming from, the friends kept swimming until they
were far ahead of the gaining blackness.
"Did you guys SEE that?!" Tetsu said, his eyes bulging. The other two nodded.
"Did anyone see where it came from?" Seltina whispered.
The boys shook their heads, looking in the direction that they'd come from.
The three started talking about it, then Miraan put a hand up to silence his friends and said,
"Do you guys hear that?"
Tetsu and Seltina listened for a moment, then both said, "What?"
"I don't hear anything..." Seltina said, puzzled.
"Right, where is everyone?" Miraan said, raising his eyebrows.
They all looked at each other, then slowly started swimming towards the direction that
they'd just come from. "Hold it, I DO hear something!" Tetsu said, leaning his ear
towards where they were facing.
It was growing louder -- a rumbling, maybe something like a current, or perhaps... swimming?
They were all trying to think of what it was when, at last, they saw something coming towards them.
It was a huge group of Maraquan Neopets, swimming frantically away from where Miraan, Seltina
and Tetsu had just come from...
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Author: baybistar1612
Date: 31 August
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..."Swim away, if you value your lives, young Neopets," a Maraquan Kougra, who was swimming far
ahead of everyone else, warned. He seemed a bit older than the rest of the fleeing pack.
"Wait!" Seltina yelled. The Maraquan Kougra made a motion as if to leave, but hesitated,
then turned around to face the trio.
"Don't leave," Seltina pleaded again, bewildered as to what was occuring. "Please sir, what's
going on?!"
By this time, the Kougra had become quite antsy, itching to leave the foreboding scene. However,
seeing the look that was upon the faces of the frightened three, he decided to answer them. "Did you not see the spreading
blackness? Did a shiver not run down your spines as you passed this horrible wreck?
Have you not paid any heed to the increase in strange noises that's been protruding from the ships?"
Miraan, loaded with questions, opened his mouth to say something in return. However, the Kougra
interrupted. "Not here... not now. These waters have become troubled and dangerous. Follow me,
there's no time to lose."
Confused by what this Maraquan Kougra could've meant, the three friends did not hesitate in the least to
be led away to a safer place. As they sped along, cries could still be heard issuing from the
dreaded shipwreck. Here and there, Neopets could be seen fleeing in packs, all talking to each other
in frightened whispers. Eventually, they would all merge into one great big pack. It seemed as
though they were all headed towards the same place.
"My name is Raamon, by the way, young ones. May I have the honor of knowing who you are?"
The three friends quickly introduced themselves, and moments later, they had all come upon what
seemed to be a large, underwater cave. Moss clung to the outer sides of the slimy cavern, and
seaweed grew in thick patches around it. All the fleeing Neopets had halted at the cave's
entrance. Raamon approached the cave's opening and started to recite what must have been some
sort of password...
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Author: _redwall_abbey
Date: 01 September
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...soon thereafter, the door opened swiftly and silently.
"Raamon, what was the black stuff in the water?" Seltina asked fervently.
"That, young ones, is what destroyed ancient Maraqua, long, long ago." the Kougra
answered quietly. Glancing around quickly, he continued.
"Maraqua used to be the shining utopia of the sea. It was a sanctuary for the lost, a home for
many, aand the palace of Satago, the King of the Sea, and his Queen Tamina. It was the peak of a
golden age, with peace and prosperity for all... of course, there was no way it could last."
Raamon added sadly.
"One day, a thick coat of black crept through the sea... the same blackness that surrounds us now.
Kelp beds withered at its touch, as crabs scurried away in fear. Any that was touched by this evil
blanket would fall over, twitching in pain. Soon, the only place left untouched by it was the
mighty palace.
"Satago and Tamina feared for their people, but couldn't find a way to stop the blackness.
Faced with no other choice, they gathered their people and rushed off to this very cave.
Tragically, Satago and Tamina fell, as they tried to protect their people from this nameless
fate." Raamon said, finishing off with a sigh.
"How do you know all this?" Miraan, who was astounded, inquired.
"Because, child... I am the lone descendant of Satago and Tamina, the sole survivor of a dying
race that is known as the Royal Familly Of Maraqua. Now, I have a favour to ask of you three...
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Author: tamora_pierce62
Date: 01 September
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...You seem to be quite an adventurous bunch. Have you explored the shipwrecks before?"
The three, in astonishment, replied, "Yes."
Raamon continued with a slight crack in his commanding voice. "Good. Now, I need you three to make
your way around the shipwreck. There is a small cave directly behind it -- this is the back entrance.
Take the trench route, to avoid the black water, as it should not have spread in that direction. Not
far into the cave, there will be a three-way tunnel. I cannot tell you which to choose, as it might
determine your fate." The three young travelers shivered at the thought of what might happen. "There
is a mystical creature in the correct tunnel, who will help you put an end to this. Do you understand
what you must do?"
Seltina, flustered, said, "Wh-why can't you tell us the correct--"
Raamon interrupted. "You must go NOW, before it is too late. Now hurry, and swim fast!"
"Yes, Raamon." Miraan and Tetsu replied, as if they were being punished by their mother for stealing
candy. Seltina was so perplexed that she could not manage any words at all.
The three took off through the cave entrance, which Raamon quickly opened, then saw as it abruptly shut
behind them.
"Well, here we go. I guess this is the adventure we were asking for," Seltina said, upon getting
her head on straight.
The three Neopets swam quickly, not speaking at all as they swam through the deep trench. Far above,
they could see the blackness still spreading through the water. Soon, they came to...
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Author: sammieskates5229
Date: 02 September
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...the shipwreck. Not saying a word, the three friends nodded and took the trench route as
Raamon had said.
Soon they came to the three-way tunnel. They glanced at each other nervously. Tetsu was the
first to speak. "S-so... which one... which should we choose?"
"I don't know," Seltina said. "I wonder why Raamon said he couldn't tell us which to choose..."
"He said something about 'determining our fate' or something, I'm not sure." Miraan responded,
with an unsure look on his face.
"Well..." Seltina said, then faltered.
"What is it?" Miraan asked.
Seltina's eyes darted to the sea floor. "I suppose we could split up. There are three of us...
one for each tunnel."
"I-I'm not sure if that's a good idea, Sel," Tetsu said. "I hate to think that two of us might
crumble to our doom here, and one of us would be a grieving sole survivor"
"Besides," Miraan said, smiling, "We can do anything, as long as we work together. Even if we
choose the wrong tunnel, at least we'll meet our end together, and honorably."
"Yeah, I guess so," Seltina said quietly.
"Well, we only have one life to live!" Tetsu announced. "I say we do it now. Stalling won't save
Maraqua."
"Let's do it!" the three declared together, and off they went... bound for an adventure of a
lifetime, or possibly an end to their young lives.
The three Maraquan youngsters decided to take the tunnel in the middle, trying to chase away
thoughts of terror circling their minds. Determined to take their fates honorably, like Miraan
had said earlier, they swam off to face whatever was in store for them...
They reached the end of the tunnel at last. Panting heavily, they slowed to a stop.
"I-I'm afraid we took the wrong tunnel," Seltina said at last. "There's no mystical creature
here. Just... darkness."
"I think Sel's right," Tetsu said. "This doesn't look like the right place... This looks like
the end of this tunnel."
"We'd better head back... and take the right tunnel or something, then," Miraan said. "Even if we
fail, we at least need to try our best."
Nodding their heads solemnly in agreement, Tetsu and Seltina said, "Let's do it."
Suddenly...
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Author: aquarius_star_401
Date: 02 September
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...there was a shudder as they were about to leave. They wanted to swim away, but they couldn't,
because they were frozen in fear.
Moments later, two red eyes popped out of nowhere and glared at them. "Who are you?" the enormous
figure demanded.
"We are three friends, who came to ask you for help!" Seltina cried. The other two nodded in
agreement.
"If I help you, then what will you give me in return?" the looming figure asked.
"Well, we don't have anything to give you... could we do you a favor in return?" Tetsu blurted.
"Brave ones you are... however, that is not always enough." There was a small pause, then the
creature continued. "I will help you, but as you promised, you will have to do a favor for me."
All the three friends could do was nod their heads, because as it said those words, the creature
emerged from the shadows.
In all actuality, the figure was really a very large fire Koi, about the size of a whale. Its
body was black, with red and yellow flames flickering along its sides... the red and yellow
light that it gave off reflected in its eyes.
Recovering from the initial shock, Selina spoke up. "Since you agreed, I will tell you our
problem... A thick black cloud has swept over Maraqua again! Raamon sent us to tell you, because
he was sure that you could help us!"
The creature tensed, and the flames along its body flickered with rage...
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Author: oonanqtyujaoo
Date: 03 September
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...The massive Koi shook its head from side to side, then finally spoke.
"I knew this day would come once again." The Koi almost hissed the words as he thought out loud.
The three puzzled Maraquans watched the creature, as it seemed to be planning something in
its mind.
"I know what we must do," the Koi told them, ""however, we must move quickly, for if we do not act
with haste, all of Maraqua could be destroyed!"
Tetsu and his friends recoiled in shock when the Koi told them this. Where could the black
cloud be coming from, and what could be causing it? They wanted to ask the Koi these questions,
but now was not the time.
"Stay low, and follow me to the secret grove!" the colossal-sized Koi shouted to the group.
With that, he turned and started racing out of the cave.
For its size, the Koi could move through the water at an amazing pace. Seltina and her
friends had to use all of their energy to keep up with the massive creature.
"He's... going... too fast." Miraan found himself saying, barely being able to put words together
and swim at the breakneck speed he was currently going.
The black eerie fog of blackness seemed to be closing in around them. It was almost like
the cloud had a mind of its own, tracking the group of Maraquans and the Koi.
Finally the Koi stopped. The three friends looked around, trying to figure out why they had
halted their swim. At last, they spotted what the Koi was looking at. It was an aged statue,
and from the fractures and moss covering it, the figure looked as though it had been there
for some time.
It was a statue of a faerie, and her face looked as if it was twisted in pain. Her hands were
close to her body, and seemed to be protecting something. Tetsu swam closer and inspected the
object... a glowing crimson jewel!
"This jewel would not be glowing if it wasn't needed." the Koi quickly told the group. "A
long time ago... before you were born, an ancient monster of the sea owned an onyx jewel like
this one. He was cruel, and wanted to cast Maraqua into an eternal darkness in which no light
would ever be able to pass through. He would have succeeded, too, if it hadn't been for this
heroic faerie, who gave her life to stop the black fog."
The Koi whispered a few words to the statue, which slowly released its grip of the jewel.
Solemnly, the Koi lifted it from the statue's neck and handed it to Seltina.
"Now, the favor I must ask of you three... take this to the surface, and let just one
ray of sunlight pass through its middle -- when you do, the good that is sealed inside this
jewel will burn through all the evil that the fog stands for! Now go! Hurry to the surface
before its too late! I'll try to hold off the blackness!"
With that, the Koi faced the murky black water and whipped its fins around, using the water
to push the blackness away long enough for the three friends to escape. Seltine looked at each
of her friends, and they nodded, for they knew what they had to do. The friends darted
past the blackness of the cloud, and they raced towards the surface of the water.
"I don't think... I can make it..." Seltina gasped.
"You can do it!" Tetsu yelled from behind.
"Were almost there..." Miraan shouted.
The fog was within feet of them as Seltina let out one last burst of energy and shot towards
the surface. What light the fog was letting through surrounded her, and engulfed the jewel in
a brilliant haze. Suddenly, the entire ocean seemed to be filled with a dazzling scarlet color.
When the jewel faded and died out, the black cloud was nowhere to be seen.
"I think we did it!" Tetsu exclaimed, overwhelmed with happiness and hugging Seltina.
"I think that's enough of an adventure for one day." Miraan replied, joining his friends with a
happy laugh.
The friends nodded at each other for a job well done, then headed back down to Maraqua, where
they were welcomed as heroes.
The End
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Author: undeadfortune
Date: 03 September
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