Metal rings out against the rustle of dry leaves as her Vampiric Blade cut down another swath of overgrown foliage, carving another several feet forward in her path. Who knew what unearthly terrors lurked where none have trod in centuries? She hoped the sword served its other purpose- intimidation. She couldn't fly above the thick tree canopy, and she wasn't exactly disguised, being a bright brown, whipped creme and candy corn splotch in a landscape of purple, dark blue and black. So, she chose the next best option- carry a nasty-looking weapon, and force anything out for a scuffle to reconsider their choice. Vehl only hoped it wouldn't also deter her target from appearing.

Another swing of the blade-

THNK!

The sword reverberated backwards with the hit, having struck something solid. Vehl moved forward to shove the grasses aside, revealing the crumbling remnants of a wrought iron gate. It was worn and deteriorated beyond compare, far older than any structure she'd ever witnessed. Her eyes widened, before narrowing in determination. She leaned back to glance at what remained of the nameplate.

Inkblot Cemetery.

This was the place. She'd seen the name only once, in a tattered newspaper fragment from the Neovian Library microfiche collection. The article had been an interview with explorers who'd retired to Neovia, after long and fruitful lives attempting to map the Haunted Woods in search of treasure and civilizations lost to the choking brambles. They'd uncovered plenty of burial mounds and dilapidated houses, but only one claimed to have seen the mythical grave site known as Inkblot Cemetery. Having made the mistake of departing to restock on supplies, they had lost the path on their return, and never found the graveyard again. Theories circulated that the timeworn plots of Inkblot housed ghosts and ghouls older than any known Neopian society, predating even the time the Ice Caves were formed by volcanic eruption.

If he was here, she had no need to hide anymore.

Snapping open the chocolate wafer wings, Vehl took to the air, skipping past the jagged iron fence and opening up the landscape of an ancient graveyard below her feet. Headstones with epitaphs almost completely gone, monuments broken and weathered from time immeasurable. Signs of people once living, now gone so long not even their names stay behind.

A spirit as ancient and rife with mystery as Jacko the Phantom Painter could only come from a graveyard of the unknown.

Vehl landed on the crackly grass pathway, and began checking graves. It was tedious work. Of course, with few names to reference, indecipherable graves far outnumbered the legible ones. Row after row of tombstones, row after row of stone statues. Batterflies observed from the eaves of a mausoleum, blinking their big yellow eyes and ruffling their wings.

AHA! There, on the stone just below the eaves- a name! Or... something like one.

'J--KO', followed by scratched off gobbledygook she couldn't read.

Should she bet all her chocolate chips on this? After all, half of a name was not a confirmation.

The Draik checked her watch. Less than an hour to midnight, on Halloween. She had to make up her mind, or give up on this venture.

...no. She didn't traverse thickets and groves of dangerous woods for nothing. If it was fruitless... she'd cross that bridge when she came to it. But she would DEFINITELY fail in her mission if she didn't at least try.

Digging the grasses aside with the tip of the sword, Vehl unearthed the cracked, weathered stone atop the mausoleum entrance.

‘J- - KO.’ The fragmented name continued to echo throughout her head. She had often heard tales of a spirit that would haunt Neopians and on rare events, he would even leave them a paint brush. She continued to ponder about this spirit as she stood over the entrance. Then it clicked.

“JACKO!” Vehl exclaimed loudly as she figured out the missing letters. She was so excited that she yelled the name two more times with the same intensity, completely forgetting there were other words scribbled near Jacko’s name.

“SCREECH!”

A high pitched noise had caused Vehl to come back to reality as a group of Batterflies flew towards her, surrounding her face and head. She must have startled them when she yelled Jacko’s name. Vehl tried to shoo them away, but they were too relentless.

“Leave me alone!” Vehl exclaimed. The Batterflies flew away. Feeling super proud that she had finally managed to scare them off, Vehl started to feel around her face and head to make sure she had no injuries.

As her claw got to the back of her head, she felt a tiny bit of pain. There seemed to be a small scratch where one of the Batterflies must have left her. She then noticed a tiny bit of blood on her claw that came from the scratch.

“Oh well, it could have definitely been worse,” Vehl said as she flicked her claws to get the little bit of blood off. She paid no attention to it landing right on the entrance to the mausoleum.

Suddenly the ground beneath her began to rumble. She quickly jumped off of the entrance as she saw it collapse into the ground revealing a rather suspicious set of stairs.

Vehl knew she had no time to waste for midnight was almost here. She quickly descended down the stairs, not realizing the scratched off gobbledygook next to Jacko’s name started to reveal itself:

Beware this forsaken place.

There lives a spirit with a menacing face.

Jacko’s his name, avoid three times.

Beware the Batterflies and their chimes.

Should you say his name a three,

Red will provide a dark path for thee.

Setting her jaw resolutely, Vehl walked on, the darkness making her lose all sense of time and direction - well, all direction that wasn't down, at least. But surely this staircase had to end somewhere, right?

At last, there were no more stairs. The Draik touched down onto a cold floor - and suddenly, her surroundings were no longer dark.

Dim red light bathed the stone chamber, and instinctively Vehl raised her Vampiric Blade. But there was nothing else aside from the spiral staircase that had brought her here, the ornate coffin that was ahead of her, the stone walls. But when she tried to glance at her watch, now that she could properly see it, something caught her eye on the walls.

There were murals painted on the stone, aged with time and isolation. Near the staircase was an image of what Vehl thought was the Rainbow Pool, surrounded by several Neopets dipping paint brushes into it. Other Neopets of varying colours walked away from the Rainbow Pool in equally varying degrees of emotion: joy, elation, disappointment, frustration. But they had one thing in common; all of them were depicted as moving toward the coffin in the chamber. The final Neopet, a Draik like herself, was pointing with a Red Paint Brush at the coffin.

Vehl's heart raced and she finally checked her watch. Less than five minutes to midnight.

She followed the Neopets painted on the walls to the coffin, which was adorned with intricate carvings - and more importantly, a tarnished nameplate that read "JACKO", plain and simple. The Chocolate Draik took a deep breath and was about to read the name out loud, but she remembered that midnight was near.

In this coffin were most likely all the answers to her questions about the elusive, mysterious Jacko the Phantom Painter. This was the perfect time to disturb a spirit, even for just a while.

Vehl clutched her Vampiric Blade and wedged it under the cover of the coffin, trying to prise it open.

The good news was that the cover moved as she exerted all her strength.

The bad news was that the chamber began to rumble and shake. Vehl stumbled and dropped her sword, and her eyes darted around. From the corner of her vision, she could see the minute and hour hands on her watch already on the twelve.

And then, a voice spoke...

But will you choose to rejoice or to fret?”

Vehl froze in shock and fear. The voice of the phantom seemed to tickle the back of her waffled ears, making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. If the Chocolate Draik knew one thing, it was that any entity who spoke in rhymes and levitated was one that shouldn’t be messed with. However, she made this perilous journey specifically for this ghostly encounter and so she knew that this was the time to muster up all of the strength and bravery that she could. With that in mind, she had an idea…

“To fret at the sight of a spirit, nay never;

I come to you as inquisitive as ever.

Searching for a word from the other side,

I would never flee from thee and hide.”

Jacko was pleasantly surprised by her response, cracking a nearly transparent toothy grin. He floated towards the mural behind them, motioning as he went.

“Young traveller, I invite you to see,

A spectrum of vibrant colours before me.

For centuries, I have roamed this realm,

Donating aesthetics that with overwhelm.

A paint brush to suit any individual,

From ghoulish to gold to otherworldly mythical.

To determine what colours I bestow,

I identify your aura and afterglow.”

In saying his last line, Jacko floated back toward Vehl. The Chocolate Draik gulped and took a step back. She loved being Chocolate. That wasn’t even a paintable colour! Would Jacko force herself to be painted a different colour? Would she never be able to be Chocolate again?

Her thoughts raced as the phantom was only inches away…

The Phantom Painter was taken aback. It was unusual for a Neopet to venture so far into his abode, coming on behalf of another. The bravery of Vehl, yet again, impressed the foreboding Spirit.

Tell me, young Draik,

Why have you come?

For you do not want your

Chocolate visage undone.

What in your heart do you desire?

What purpose sets your soul on fire?

Vehl's confidence rose. She seemed to have this Phantom figured out. She stood up a bit taller, and looked him straight in the glowing eyes.

I come for my friend,

To help lift her mood.

Her colour is grey,

And I don't mean to be rude,

but she always seems down.

Often wants to be alone.

I feel very strongly

that a better way can be shown.

Could you, please, Jacko,

help me with my plight?

Can you give me a paintbrush

that would help show her the light?

The Phantom floated ominously before Vehl, seeming to consider her request. Vehl waited, holding her breath in anticipation to hear his reply.

Which colour would you friend like best?

"Faerie!" Vehl blurted out. She did not expect the Phantom to comply. Jacko stared at her harshly, eyes burning with disappointment. She swallowed hard and then thought out loud.

I apologise for my rash decision.

Please let me reconsider with greater precision.

My friend loves to hide,

sneaking up on friends is her biggest pride.

Dreaming of life as a pirate or hunter,

always seeking treasures to plunder.

Or dressing as a ninja and pretending,

she even has her sack of rocks and sling.

Hmmm, I would like to amend my appeal,

a Stealth Paint Brush would make her squeal.

Jacko listened to her thoughts patiently. His head bobbed up and down as he closed his eyes. Vehl stood anxiously as he floated in silence. Finally his voice filled the chamber once more.

In the chest over yonder,

there lies your prize, but with a monster.

It's time to put your bravery to the test,

be sure to give it your very best.

Selflessness shall receive a reward,

others will be deplored.

If you manage to pass,

and return to your green grass,

you are forbidden to speak of what has transpired here,

and yes it will reach my ear.

My Batterflies are everywhere and know your mark,

they will find you, light or dark.

You have been warned, young explorer,

do not cause unnecessary disorder.

A sudden chill ran down Vehl's spine with Jacko's parting words, yet the Batterfly scratch burned white hot. She could only nod and peered in the direction he pointed to. A large, once golden chest lay in the corner. It was covered in a thick layer of cobwebs and dust. From the corner of her eye, she saw the Phantom wave his arm and the heavy chest seemed to glow from within. The Chocolate Draik gulped but pulled out her Vampiric Blade and held it with both hands as she crept toward the chest.

The gleam of the Faerie Paint Brushes was particularly beautiful. The sheen was so inviting that Vehl reached for it without thinking. Eyes wide and mouth slightly open, she reached out slowly, her claws nearly grasping the lovely brush - until Jacko's words rang in her ear.

Selfishness shall receive a reward, others will be deplored.

Vehl gulped and yanked her hand back with a jerk. The Faerie Paint Brush was tempting - the soft colours, the pretty pink glow, the promise of the ethereal wings, the...NO! The Chocolate Draik shook herself.

"This is not about me," she whispered to herself, her voice barely denting the thick silence.

Nodding to herself, she firmed her grasp - and grabbed the Stealth brush. But just then, the Batterfly scratch seared the back of her skull. A blindingly brilliant flash of light flooded dusty corner, and a strange sound rang out...

Very well done, you followed the request,

yet still you have managed to not pass the test.

Jacko did say to grab the stealth brush,

but selfishness would never have caused any fuss.

you were intended to take more than one,

but since you did not, the timer's begun.

you have half an hour to find a way out,

It'll be very tricky since there's only one route.

So make like a mouse, and scamper and climb,

just make sure that you keep track of the time.

and with these last words, I bid you farewell,

Good luck with escaping this solid stone cell.

With those haunting words in her mind, Vehl frantically tried to make sense of what happened, and how she was going to escape.

"was I supposed to take both the stealth brush AND the faerie brush then?" she mumbled to herself, looking around the new room now that her vision had returned after the blinding flash.

"Nevermind, it doesn't matter if I can't get out of here." she said sternly to herself, then forced herself to get up from the chair she'd been manifested in, and started searching.

It seemed to Vehl that it was indeed solid stone, and there wasn't so much as a window or air vent.

"I wonder if there's only thirty minutes of air in here, and that's why I have a time limit?" she wondered, then shook herself. "Focus, Vehl!! What can you do? Where can you look?"

Something occurred to her then and she went over to the wall and started running her fingers along the cracks and tapping at the larger plates of rock. Suddenly, when she was feeling a particularly large crack in the stone, she felt something give way a little. She pressed harder with no luck, then started pulling at it. Right as she was about to give up,it started to budge, and

CRACK!

***

Vehl found herself on the other side of the mausoleum, panting heavily. She must have collapsed of exhaustion after the ordeal... Anyway, the half-hour had long since passed, as the inky black night had given way to the dim light of dawn.

She forced herself to gaze backwards at the destruction she wrought.

The tomb was reduced to rubble. Splatters of paint and broken pictures were everywhere. Jacko's tomb, of utmost legend in the heights of all Neopian lore, was gone.

She held a stealthy paint brush in one hand and her blade in the other, and she was still chocolate, but she wanted to cry. She had done this. It was her fault.

And then she heard a voice.

Oh Chocolate Draik, I thankest thee,

For by your kindness I'm now set free.

Selfishness shall gain reward,

But only in the saddest horde.

'Twas a lesson that I learned too late:

In life I fought to accumulate,

And so in death, to compensate

For selfish actions I now regret,

I gave away my wealth. And yet

I found myself unable to move on,

Trapped in my tomb for aeons.

But I've done my part, as yours you faced,

And now I'm not tied to this place,

I can now make my own destiny,

Farewell Draik, you have set me free,

Neopia, I thank all thee.

Well... That was it, then. She has truly undid Jacko the undead. But fault wasn't the right word... In light of those words, it now felt... Right. Maybe he had been trapped here in spirit, living out some sort of kindness spawned from regret or a feeling of obligation. And maybe he enjoyed it. But even Jacko the Phantom Painter deserved to move on.

Vehl turned to leave, but then noticed a handle with wings sticking out from the dirt. She dug a little... A Faerie Paintbrush.

Hmm.

Maybe it was time to change her colour after all. Jacko seemed to think it suited her.

And she dug some more, and found even more brushes. Tons and tons of brushes.

Well.

Jacko was gone, but that didn't mean she couldn't gift them out to Neopians in need.

Content with her adventure here, she left Inkblot Cemetery, covering the entrance to make it look as untreaded as when she arrived.

The soft rays of the sun's light were now visible over the forested horizon. Yeah, the sunlight would look pretty, refracting over her new faerie wings.

THE END