Where in Neopia am I?!?

Warm, tilled earth enveloped Cora's body. Her surroundings were so dark that she could not tell if her eyes were opened or closed. The perturbed Kacheek tried to move her arm, only to find that she was surrounded by dirt.

"Oh no, this can't be! I'm in the ground!"

Panic rushed through Cora's body. With all of her strength and with all of her might, she began twisting. Moving. Climbing. Hoping that the direction she was going was up.

Suddenly, her paw broke through the surface toward the dark night of the Haunted Woods. Cora pulled her body out of the grave of dirt and lay on the cool, hard ground panting. She was exhausted!

Cora lay there, for what seemed like hours. After regaining her composure, she stumbled to her feet. Lights shone in the distance from the nearby city of Neovia. Seeming safer than her present location, Neovia became her target for finding help.

After a few miles, Cora made it to the eerie city. Spotting an old antique shop, she peered into the windows. A shrill scream escaped her mouth, but what frightened her was not what she saw inside. It was her own reflection.

"I, I'm a za-za-zombie?!"

Cora collapsed to the cold, stone walkway. Her beautiful white fur had been replaced with pale, vein-covered skin. Her once bright and loving eyes were dark holes piercing into her soul. Paralyzed with anxiety, she sat slumped against the building, thinking of what had happened earlier that day...

That's right... she thought. I came here to get a Schnelly.

Okay, so that explained why she was in the Haunted Woods in the first place, but it didn't explain why she was a zombie, nor did it explain how she had gotten buried alive... erm, undead.

Now that she thought about it, Cora recalled that she had gotten a Schnelly. Her thoughts were hazy, but she could remember finding the Spooky Petpets shop and buying a Schnelly. Where was it, though?

Cora put a hand to the side of her head. The memories were starting to get fuzzy, like they were fading out of her mind. Also, what was worse was that she could feel something starting to replace her thoughts.

A hunger for brains.

No! No! she screamed in her thoughts. I'm not going to do that! I refuse to feast on brains! I'm going to figure a way out of this and return to normal!

The hunger was still there, but through sheer force of will she was keeping it subdued. Instead, she implored herself to try and think of what had happened after she'd gotten the Schnelly.

Cora remembered being quite happy with it. So happy, in fact, that she hadn't been paying attention to the road. Despite her intention to return home, she had instead ended up going even deeper into the woods. Rather than going home, she recalled seeing some sort of tower.

Wait! Cora thought. That's it... I got lost, and I ended up at Edna's Tower.

She tried to think of what happened after that, but her thoughts were getting fuzzy again and, try as she might, Cora couldn't think of what had happened after she'd gotten to Edna's Tower.

I need... I need to get there... she thought. Maybe Edna knows what happened... or maybe she did this to me?!?

Cora got back to her feet and began to shamble through the city. She needed to make her way to Edna, and she needed to do so quickly. The desire for brains was starting to get stronger...

She experienced a few anxious moments as she passed the gypsy camp on the outskirts of the Haunted Woods. An old gypsy Zafara sat near a colorful wagon, warming her hands by the welcoming glow of fire and mumbling incoherently to herself. As Cora sidled by, hidden in the shadows of the surrounding woods, the gypsy suddenly sat bolt upright. Staring into the impenetrable darkness, she seemed to mark Cora with her gaze; slowly she raised a trembling hand and pointed a grimy finger in Cora's direction.

"Foul creature of the night," she muttered in a watery, sing-song voice, "avoid this place, be gone from sight." Cora lowered her head and moved by as quietly as she was able. Edna's tower lay just ahead.

As she stumbled toward the front door of the tower, Cora began to hear the sound of speech coming from within. It seemed to be one sided; Cora surmised that whoever was speaking was either talking to themselves or to something that was incapable of responding. She stood on the front stoop swaying as the conversation waxed on.

"...Jellied Eyeballs always works! Why not this time? The only thing that's missing is the presence of my beloved Miaow-Miaow. Why did I ever think that you could replace him? You might be a fine housepet, Schnelly, but you'll never be the familiar my Meowclops was. If I can't find him, I don't know what I'll do..."

With hope beginning to rise dimly in her chest, Cora raised a moldering, dirt-encrusted hand toward the doorknocker...

She had been playing with her new Schelly when she found herself in the shadow of Edna's tower. While she stood there, marveling at its size and ominious appearance, the door opened and Edna herself appeared. Grabbing her Petpet, Cora had jumped behind a tree and watched as Edna hurried away, mumbling something about ingredients.

She would never be able to explain her next series of actions, but the fact is that curiousity overtook the normally cautious Kacheek. After a quick glance around, she snuck over to the tower with a giggle. She was going to check out the inside of the tower while Edna was away.

Carefully, she cracked open the door and something furry pushed past her. All too late she realized it was Edna's familiar, but she didn't have time to worry about that now. Besides, she figured the Meowclops would find his own way home as she made her way inside.

Everywhere were bottles and vials, and Edna had left something bubbling in a cauldron that had an acidic, nasty smell. Cora was only planning on lingering for just a moment when a sound behind her captured her attention.

Edna had returned, staring at the terrified Kacheek with flashing eyes. "Where's my Miaow-Miaow?" she hissed, and Cora realized that she meant the Meowclops. She tried to answer, but in her fright she couldn't manage to speak.

Edna picked up the Schnelly and glared at him. "I guess this will have to do for now," she growled, "but you will still have to pay."

As the memory faded from her mind, Cora dropped her lifeless hands as a single tear dripped down her pale face. Without a doubt, the cure for her condition had to be inside the tower, but Edna wasn't going to be offering any help...

Foul fumes greeted her as she tucked the grate back into its corner. A hot furnace roared beside the door, meanwhile a voice could be heard humming old tunes above. I'm in Edna's basement... she realized. Shelves of spell books were hanging neatly around the room and a small mound of fur sat on a mat next to the furnace. At the sound of Cora's entry the Schnelly raised its head and let out a heartfelt mew.

"Hush now," she said and stroked the Schnelly. "It feels good to see you, too."

She thoughtfully looked at the books, then began to glance at their titles, one by one, as something occurred to her. There! Cora grabbed a particularly dusty book from its spot, which was titled Spells for the Undead. Suddenly and without warning, the shelf gave way, sending piles of dust and books to the floor. With the volume tucked beneath the crook of her arm, a startled Cora fled just before she could hear a voice screech.

"Who dares to sneak into my house?!?"

After tucking the metal grate back into place, she ran as far into the dark woods as her legs could carry her. Edna's vicious yowl was still audible by the time Cora came across a street aligned with lamps and a bench to rest on. After checking to make sure that she hadn't been followed, she peeled the book out from under her arm. I hope it was worth it, Cora thought ruefully. She then pried it open and read the first page...

Cora sighed. "Emerald," she said, addressing the Schnelly, "I'm really hungry." She then shook her head really hard; time was running out.

Cora looked back at the book, only to find that the fearfully drawn zombies in the illuminations were ambling about the page! She turned to the next one, but then the zombies crawled over the edges of the page and started eating the letters. A few drawn zombies were clumsy and fell off, at which point Emerald began to bat them around.

"Stop that!" Cora said to all parties. "That's not very nice!"

A loud cry startled both Cora and Emerald, who rolled over on a tiny zombie Aisha. When Edna's familiar -- that erstwhile Meowclops called Miaow-Miaow -- emerged from a nearby bush, however, they relaxed again.

"Miaow-Miaow!" Cora cried. "You're a naughty Meowclops, you know! You've gotten me turned into a zombie!"

Miaow-Miaow tilted his head and looked up at Cora, slowly blinking his big eye. He looked down at the book of spells, and then looked even further down at the illustrated zombies that had fallen off the pages. He then jumped up onto the bench and pawed at the book. Cora helped him turn the pages until he found the one he wanted.

The Meowclops then laid on his favorite page, curled up, and went to sleep. As he purred, the ink drawings of zombies faded and returned, presumably, to their homes.

"You bratty Meowclops!" Cora sighed, and then stroked the sleeping Petpet. She had never seen one this close before, let alone been allowed to pet it. No wonder Edna had been so mad about losing it, Cora thought. This truly was a once-in-a-lifetime pet -- not only budget-wise, but if it was Edna's friend as well?

She couldn't possibly have many of those, Cora thought before giving a sigh. There was really only one thing to do...

Just as she made the turn onto the correct path, the blood in her brain began pulsing rhythmically and, totally beyond her conscious control, Cora turned in the opposite direction. She watched helplessly as her legs lifted and lurched ahead, one after the other, the blood in her head now pounding and surging in time to the steps. At the same time, her insides clenched with hunger, and drool began to form and drip from her pale blue lips. At the end of the path she could see what was drawing her: the Brain Tree.

Cora's pace quickened as she recognized the convoluted mass of orange matter that rested atop the tree's thick trunk: brains... dinner... she was so hungry.

The Kacheek opened her mouth and lunged at the Brain Tree, but before she could take the bite that would soothe her ache and yearning, a large branch came flying through the air and knocked her to the ground. The book and Petpets went flying.

A voice boomed from the mouth, dark and wide, that now appeared in the Brain Tree's trunk. "Someone died some time ago, and I need to know where, and when, for my records. You must go and find this information out. Return to me and I shall give you a prize."

The blow broke the trance that Cora had been in, and she now regarded the speaker with fear and distrust. "I... I'm sorry. I don't have time..."

"For my records I need to know when, where and how... Cora Kacheek died."

"But, but that's me..." Cora said weakly. She shook her head slowly, trying to make sense of the message. Surely I'm not dead. Not dead dead. Just... undead? Besides, where would I find out this information? Today is just so... hazy.

Movement in the corner of her eye caught Cora's attention. She turned to see Miaow-Miaow dragging the spellbook toward her, still opened to the Meowclop's favourite page. As if to emphasize the point, several small and inky figures were jumping up and down on the illustration that filled the page, which was of the Esophagor. Cora took a deep breath and knew where she needed to go for the answers...

Along the way, Cora discovered a blackberry bush and thought it wise to stock up on some juicy currency. After all, the Esophagor answered questions for a price, and he was always hungry. She snapped off a twig full of berries and continued toward the Esophagor.

When the trio arrived, the Esophagor was nowhere to be found. "Where is he?" Cora asked, flipping through the book and looking for answers. "He should be here!" Emerald and Miaow-Miaow shared the same confused stare, as if to mimic Cora's dismay.

Suddenly, the dirt beneath them began to tremble. Deep tones of stone scraping and sliding against stone rumbled throughout the dark corner of the woods. Cora could barely stand as the earthly tremors came at her like the waves of the ocean. Emerald and Miaow-Miaow had climbed Cora's limbs like the branches of a tree and held on desperately.

The ground then split, and a deep trench formed into the shape of a bottomless mouth. As it rose up, two hollow pits followed, each illuminated by the terrifying darkness of death. Before their very eyes, the ground became the Esophagor, and it spoke, “I AAMMM HUNGGRRYYYY... ffeeeed mmmeee aannndd I wwiilll reeewwaaardd yyoouu...”

Cora, still shaken from the earthquake, plucked a handful of blackberries from the twig she was carrying and tossed them into the Esophagor's mouth. "I need to know when, where, and how I--Cora Kacheek, died."

The Esophagor swallowed the berries whole and then closed his eyes in thought. After several moments his eyes reopened and slowly he answered, "Cora Kacheek dieedd thhhhisss veerrry niighhhtt."

Cora waited for the rest of the answer, but it was not forthcoming. "Where, and how?" she pushed, growing impatient. The Esophagor did not answer, but instead opened his mouth. Cora rolled her eyes before tearing off another handful of berries and tossing them into the trench.

"MOOOOOORRREEEEE!!!" the Esophagor boomed, shaking the ground and opening his mouth even wider.

Miaow-Miaow and Emerald cowered behind Cora as she took the blackberry twig and threw it in. "There! Are you happy? That's all I have! Now, please... you must answer!"

The Esophagor closed his eyes and remained very still as he thought for the answer again, "Cora Kacheek dieeedd aaat thhhhhee gyypsssy caaammpp juuussst beeeyoonnnd thhhheee Haaaunnteed Wooooodss."

Cora froze, as if the words had triggered a replay feature in her head. Suddenly, she saw what had really happened that night...

"I guess this will have to do for now," Edna hissed, holding Emerald in her boney hands. "You still have to pay, though."

Cora cowered behind her white fluffy tail as Edna approached her. "Please, I meant no harm! I will find your Meowclops and bring it back to you! I promise!"

Edna thought about this for a while before deciding to let Cora leave her tower and search for her dear Miaow-Miaow in return for the Schnelly. Cora searched high and low, venturing through the graveyard and even the Deserted Fairground, but still there was no sign of the Meowclops. Just as she was about to give up the search, however, she heard a horrible cry coming from the gypsy camp.

Entering the camp Cora saw Miaow-Miaow had been caught and caged. She quickly ran over and lifted the latch, setting the frightened familiar free. Then...

The memory faded into a blur and Cora found herself in front of the Esophagor, with more questions and not enough berries...

The Esophagor was silent. Without answering, he sank into the ground once more, his eyes shrinking to nothingness and the crack that was his mouth sealing to form a smooth, whole ground.

"No!" Cora shouted, crumpling to the ground. "Answer my question!"

There was no response, however, not from the Esophagor or anyone else. The Kacheek buried her face in her hands. Just when she thought she had the answers, they'd escaped her. Again. Her two Petpets, sensing that something was wrong, sat next to her, as though sharing in the despair.

Cora slowly raised her head from her hands and caught sight of the Schnelly and Meowclops, sitting there quietly and staring at her. That image, the sight of Emerald and Miaow-Miaow, sparked yet another memory, which came flooding back...

"What are you doing here?"

Panic rose inside her, and she felt her heart jump into her throat. Cora grabbed the Meowclops roughly, leaping aside, but the darkness prevented her from seeing where she was and what she had jumped into. There was a clang of metal as she hit something, something that tumbled down and hit her head and the rest of her...

The Meowclops in her arms darted out and slinked away as her world faded to black.

The flashback ended as quickly as it had began.

"That's how..." she murmured to herself. Had it really happened just that night? It seemed as though an eternity had passed.

Taking the book and Petpets, she headed back in the direction of the Brain Tree. She ignored the tantalizing scent of brain and passed right by him, paying no attention to his booming shouts of, "Have you found the answer to my questions?" She had somewhere to go, and something to do. Before long she saw the tall, looming tower of Edna standing before her. This time, she walked up to the door confidently and knocked three times, in quick succession. Edna came to the door, and before she could say anything, Cora shoved the book and the Meowclops into her arms.

"There," she said. "I got your Miaow-Miaow back. I kept my promise. But now, you have to help me..."

"Oh Miaow-Miaow, my precious boy!" Edna crooned as she picked up her Meowclops. "I thought that dimwitted Kacheek had lost you forever, yes I did!"

"Well, as you can see, he isn't lost to you forever, thanks to me. Also, I seem to have suffered some... collateral damage when I was saving him,” Cora said bravely.

Edna set Miaow-Miaow gingerly onto the stone floor of the keep. Her features hardened into a menacing scowl and she slowly started advancing on Cora, backing her up into the huge wooden door behind her.

"You break into my home, lose my treasured Petpet, make a wreck of my basement, steal from me... and then have the gall to come back here and expect that I help you?!? Get out of my tower, little girl."

"No! Not until you help me. I can’t stay like this forever," she wailed. Her back started to burn where the metal hinges were digging in and she thought of pushing Edna away to relieve the pressure, but the witch was so close... and she smelled so delectable. Cora licked her lips.

She'd denied her hunger since she first awoke, and now the pangs crashed over her like a powerful wave. Her glassy eyes strayed toward Edna's forehead and she gripped the witch's furry limbs to prevent her from moving. Cora opened her mouth wide, and would have gone in for the bite if that naughty Meowclops hadn't let out a shrill screech and launched itself at her.

Edna broke out of Cora’s firm grasp in the confusion, grabbed Spells for the Undead up off the floor and then started retreating further into her tower. Miaow-Miaow ceased his assault and gave her a vaguely apologetic look before trailing after his owner. The unsatisfied and still very ravenous Cora started shambling after the two, not really knowing where she was going but letting the scent of Edna's brains be her guide.

Finally, she shuffled down a flight of stairs leading to a large metal door. Cora knew Edna was on the other side; she could smell her. The Kacheek lifted both of her arms and started slowly banging on the door.

"Would you quit that?!? It's hard enough getting my spells right without all these distractions," Edna said in a huffy voice. Cora could hear something bubbling in the cauldron, as well as the tinkling sound of glass vials and flasks being handled.

Cora wanted to beg the mean old witch to help her, but the only thing she could seem to manage was a hoarse cry of "Braaaaaains..."

The peep-hole panel at the top of the door slid open and Edna's eyes blinked at the Kacheek. "What an amateur," she said with disdain. "You wouldn't happen to have any Mushroom Toothpaste out there, though, would you?"

Cora let out a tortured moan and lunged at the peep-hole.

"Ah, thought not. Maybe Miaow-Miaow knows where I left it..." Edna muttered to herself as she shut the peep-hole again.

Cora didn't know how long she waited there by the cellar door; she had no concept of time or anything else. Her sole being was focused on only one thing: her all-encompassing desire for brains. By the time she heard the locks on the other side of the door click open, she was in a positive frenzy. There was absolutely nothing that mattered to her more in all of Neopia than her hunger.

When the door swung open, she knew that this was her chance. She ambled into the dark basement, the acrid smell of whatever was brewing in the cauldron stinging her eyes. She didn't care about the bitter potion, though, because the smell of brains was heavy in the room.

Edna and Miaow-Miaow were nowhere to be seen. There was, however, a covered basket sitting on the wooden table in front of the cauldron. Cora shambled up to it and lifted the rag off the top. She nearly fainted when she saw what was inside.

Brains... in all sorts of preparations! Brain Muffins, Squishy Brain Wraps, a Brain Hot Dog, Brain Kebabs... there was even a tub of chilled Brain Ice Cream. She plopped herself down on a stool and started to dig in. Finally, after hours of waiting, her hunger would be satiated.

After she'd guzzled down her second Squishy Brain Wrap, she started to feel the strangest sensation. It was like her whole body was on fire, all her blood boiling through her veins. She collapsed onto the cold floor, head pounding, and saw Edna pop into her periphery before everything turned black.

Cora was still lying in the same spot when she came-to again. She sat up and blinked her eyes blearily. Miaow-Miaow and Emerald were curled up close beside her, her apparent caretakers. Edna sat at the table reading a spellbook, muttering to herself and making notes here and there. She spoke when she finally noticed Cora was awake.

"I always knew it would pay to keep those Gross Foods down here. Not only are they great for rooking foolish young Neopets into fetching ingredients for me, but apparently they're also helpful for zombie outbreaks! Who knew, eh? I laced those tasty brain treats of yours with a potion from the spellbook you tried to steal from me. It worked like a charm."

Cora looked down at herself and, sure enough, her fur was as pristinely white as ever. Even more indicative that she was no longer a zombie, though, was her feeling of nausea when she noticed she had a little bit of leftover brain hanging from her lip. She hastily muttered a "thank you" to Edna, scooped up her Schnelly, and fled Edna’s Tower. She never returned to the Haunted Woods.

"Well, Miaow-Miaow... now we can finally get some work done," Edna said.

Miaow-Miaow leaped gracefully up onto the wooden table and pawed at the pages of Edna's book until he found his favorite. He purred and butted his face against Edna’s hand, then curled up, shut his eye, and fell asleep.

"You're absolutely worthless," Edna sighed affectionately. "But welcome home."

The End