"Illusen, I got your item," a voice called from the doorway behind her.

The faerie turned to see a Pink Aisha, looking at her through the open top half of the door, red apple in hand. After a quick look at the clock to make sure the Aisha was on time, she grabbed a couple of her cookies and took them with her to the door.

"Great job," she complimented the Aisha, taking the apple offered to her and handing the Aisha the cookies she earned.

As Illusen turned away, the Aisha asked, "So, do you have any big plans for tomorrow? It is your special day, after all,"

Illusen managed a slight smile when the Aisha reminded her that Illusen Day was tomorrow. But that day is usually just as busy as any day.

"Unfortunately, no," she answered. "I'll just be here in my home, asking for items and giving out prizes, like every day."

"Well...since it's your special day...maybe you should take the day off," the Aisha answered.

Illusen turned towards her, the thought never occurring to her. It's true that she never did any quests on Jhudora day, but...yes, it was the day Neopians celebrated her. Why not take the day off? Maybe even join in?

As the Aisha left with her cookies, Illusen sat down in a chair, a blank scroll and quill pen in hand. She needed to think of things that she would do on her day off...

Quickly scribbling a few things down she held it out in front of her to read it. Sighing she realized everything on her list so far...were just additional quests with new prizes. Not things she really wanted to go do.

Looking out her window she thought again about where she could go. Would a trip to Roo island be a nice treat? Maybe Maraqua? No, they seemed too far away. What if one of the creatures nearby needed her and she was gone?

How about just over to Brightvale? Maybe, but then it didn't really seem like a day off. The clock in her kitchen read it was late afternoon already. Could she come up with something before tomorrow?

As she glanced back over at her door she noticed a shadow move past the door. Was someone else coming by? No there were no quests right now. Maybe a visitor? Getting up Illusen walked to the door and peaked out. She spotted a small creature looking back at her as it scurried off into the woods. That was unusual. It looked almost like it was made of wood. Could it need her help?

Grabbing a cloak and tucking her scroll and quill into her bag she turned off the lights in her home. Stepping out of her home she closed her door before quickly heading where the creature had gone.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Illusen called out but no one replied.

A head popped up again. There the creature was again! A long tail swishing behind it was ringed in green moss as the creature scurried up a tree and leapt from one branch to another.

"Wait!" Illusen cried as she began to fly after it. "It's so fast!"

The little creature seemed to know she was right behind it as it sped up. She'd never seen one look like that before. Was it new? Or maybe it was sick!

Flying faster she raced after the creature as it scurried through the dense trees and underbrush. It was getting darker as the trees leaves were closer together and each branch was becoming an obstacle. Flying wasn't a good idea anymore. Landing, Illusen began to run after it, ducking beneath branches and even crawling through bushes.

Spotting a bright spot ahead Illusen pushed forward, tangling her cloak in a tree as she did, and nearly tripped over a root. Righting herself she brushed the twigs and leaves from her hair and walked forward as she spotted the little creature just ahead. Suddenly it vanished from the middle of the clearing.

Rushing forward to reach it she felt a strange wave of something. As soon as she stepped into the clearing a bright light shimmered and she felt herself fall. Flapping her wings she caught herself before she tumbled down again and landed on her feet. Looking around she gasped.

"This isn't Meridell! Where in the world did you lead me little one?" she called as she spotted the small creature just ahead...

Having made her home in a glade, Illusen was quite accustomed to the green shades of the forest, but this was something else entirely. This forest seemed to GLOW.

There was the sound of a stream bubbling up ahead and the soft stirring of forest foliage…Golden butterflies were flitting from frond to frond, leaves were spiralling to the ground in the gentle breeze, and Illusen thought she could even see a faint rainbow in the distance.

Illusen noted the bioluminescent mushrooms. “That explains the glow,” she thought.

Illusen was so overcome by her new surroundings that she had almost forgotten how she had found herself there in the first place.

“Ah, yes… now, where did you run off to little one?”

She scanned the forest floor for any signs of movement. Nothing. She had lost it… or so she thought…

A sudden, curious sound of rustling caught her attention. She looked in the direction of the sound, but could see nothing of note… just some rocks and shrubs. “Nothing unusual about that in a forest,” she thought.

But wait… was that shrub… moving?

Furrowing her brow, Illusen took one step closer to the peculiar little plant. Were those…ears she could see? It was hard to be certain, they could have just been two jagged points on a fallen log… Taking another step forward, yes, those were definitely ears! And Illusen could make out a nose sniffing around in the underbrush.

“What are you?” She said aloud.

The sound of Illusen’s voice must have surprised the creature. It turned around to face her directly.

“Well, how about that?” said Illusen. “Why, it’s almost like you’re part-tree yourself!”

Now that she was closer, Illusen recognized the creature to be a Juma of some sort. She had encountered a few Faerie Juma in her time, but never one that looked like this.

The little Petpet seemed to take a liking to Illusen immediately. It bounded up to her and began investigating her cloak, sniffing and prodding.

“Hello there, little one!” she exclaimed brightly. Oh, Illusen just adored Petpets! “I see you’ve found some of my cookies from this morning,” she chuckled to herself (she had stuffed a few in her pockets for emergency purposes).

But wait a second… this wasn’t the creature Illusen had followed here… could there really be other Neopian creatures just like this one? Creatures that appeared as though they truly belonged to the forest? As though they were the forest itself?

“What’s this?” — A glimmer had caught Illusen’s eye. Something appeared to be stuck in the Juma’s incredibly leafy tail…something shiny…

The Juma gave a little squeak, twitching its bushy (in more senses than one) tail as Illusen took hold of the shiny thing.

"Easy there, easy," said Illusen as she carefully pulled the object out of the Juma's tail.

It appeared to be a heart-shaped locket, though it had no chain attached. When she opened the locket and peered inside, instead of a picture, there was a tiny piece of folded-up paper.

Illusen pulled out the paper and carefully unfolded it.

It read, in somewhat-shaky cursive script:

Hold the forest's children in your heart, and I will always be with you.

Illusen carefully re-folded it and placed it back into the locket.

"I wonder what that means," she said, looking down at the Juma. "I suppose you might be one of the 'forest's children.' But who was it that might have written this? And whose locket might this be?"

The Juma didn't answer, though it tilted its head at her in a rather adorable fashion. Illusen hadn't expected an answer, of course, though given how thick with enchantment this forest seemed to be, she wouldn't have been terribly shocked to hear a Petpet start talking.

"Well," said Illusen. "Perhaps whoever owns this locket is nearby. Let's go and look for them, shall we?"

The Juma tilted its head the other direction, blinked, and then turned and trotted away. After a few moments, it paused, looking over its shoulder as if to check whether Illusen was following.

With no better leads, Illusen followed the Juma once more, keeping her eyes and ears open for anyone else that might be around.

But the only other creatures she saw as she followed the Juma through the forest were butterflies.

Though it was quite possible that there were creatures there she hadn't seen--if there were other creatures here, like the Juma, who seemed to be made of plants, they'd blend in quite well with the forest.

Finally, the Juma stopped in front of a great tree. It made a soft, chirping sort of sound as it pawed at the tree's trunk. Then it leaped onto the tree, scrambling up the rough bark and onto one of the lower branches, where it stopped, looking down at Illusen.

"Do you want me to climb up after you?" Illusen asked. She placed a hand on the tree's bark--and to her surprise, the tree seemed to shudder at her touch.

Startled, Illusen pulled her hand back and watched as the bark of the tree began to shift...

The Juma chirped again, as if encouraging Illusen to pass through the doorway.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Illusen cautiously stepped through the doorway. She found herself in a small room carved out of the tree, with a few simple furnishings made of wood, vines, and leaves. A small table was placed against a wall, and on it sat a single, illuminated candle.

As Illusen progressed further into the room, the door behind her shifted and closed shut, once again becoming part of the tree.

Illusen turned back to the Juma, which was now sitting on one of the room's wooden chairs…

"Who lives here?" she asked, but the Juma only responded with a knowing look and a chirp.

Illusen looked around the room again, noticing something odd about the candle on the table. It seemed to be flickering in an irregular pattern, almost like it was trying to convey a message. She approached the candle and peered closely into the flame. To her surprise, she saw that the flame was forming shapes and symbols in the air around it.

As Illusen watched, the flame formed the shape of a heart, and the words "Follow your heart" appeared in the air above the candle. Illusen couldn't help but feel that this message was somehow connected to the locket she had found. But what could it mean?

She turned to the Juma, hoping for some sort of guidance, but the Petpet only tilted its head and gave her a curious look. Illusen sighed, feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed. She sat down on the floor of the tree-room, trying to gather her thoughts and figure out what to do next.

She recalled what she was doing just before she ventured into this magical forest. She had wished to do something special or different for tomorrow to celebrate her own day but she still hadn't come up with a good plan.

"If only I could get my mind off work and think about myself for once," she muttered. "Perhaps I'll visit a scenic spot and enjoy the sights."

The Juma hopped down from the chair and went over to Illusen, resting on her lap. She stroked its back a few times and the Petpet purred, which she found really adorable, so she picked it up and cuddled it close to her chest.

At that moment, the candle flame extinguished itself, plunging the room into darkness and startling the Faerie. It wasn't pitch black, but it was still hard to make out her surroundings and she had no clue what was going on. She set the Petpet on the floor beside her and stood up, ready to defend against any potential enemies.

However, no one infiltrated the house. Instead, an elderly Acara materialized out of nowhere, glowing, translucent and lacking a physical form. Illusen took a step back, hands out at the ready to cast spells to protect herself.

"Welcome to my abode," the ghost Neopet said, her voice faint and airy.

"Who are you?" Illusen asked, a little wary of the spirit before her.

"I am the guardian of this forest," the Acara answered. "I only appear before those who treasure this place. Only those who appreciate nature for what it truly is are deemed worthy of my rewards."

Illusen was confused. "But what did I do?"

The apparition smiled kindly. "You held the forest's children - my children - close to your heart. I could feel your love and admiration for the Juma when you hugged him. You opened up your heart to me when you talked about your wishes. Because you've met the requirements of the locket and the candle, I will grant what your heart desires..."

"This is all very kind," she said earnestly. "But I am not even sure what my heart desires. I was thinking of taking a little vacation for my birthday, but I wasn't even sure where I should go."

The Acara's squinted eyes twinkled as she smiled sweetly. She slowly walked to the corner of the room and rapped on the wooden wall three times with her gnarled cane. The wooden wall began to ripple and shimmer- another enchanted door appeared, with a stained glass window artistically placed in the centre. Woodland Petpets in a variety of species were depicted, frolicking in a circle surrounding a golden sun.

The little Juma scampered over to the door, where the elderly spirit Acara stood, beckoning Illusen to come closer. "Perhaps you would enjoy visiting the place where this Juma calls home?" The Juma leapt in the air, chirping and swishing his fluffy tail excitedly. He leapt up to the doorknob and twisted, the heavy door swinging open ever so slightly. The Juma nudged it open wider and disappeared into the sparkling glow that was so bright, Illusen had to shade her eyes. She decided to follow, curious what enchanted realm awaited... as she passed through the portal, a chorus of squeaks, chirps, chitters and meeps sounded around her...

"This is wonderful!" Illusen gasped. "Where is this place?" She had seen and even lent a helping hand in growing and maintaining lush forests all across Neopia, but even she hadn't experienced something as marvellous as the view of the woodland before her.

The Acara chuckled. "This realm is only accessible to the Petpets who were born here or found their place here. We, the guardians of this magical forest, protect these creatures with all our heart so that they can live fulfilling lives."

"I've never seen something so beautiful, not even in my own land," Illusen admitted. "Where I hail from, I'm an Earth Faerie - someone who ensures that nature and wildlife can prosper far and wide. This forest has really opened my eyes and inspired me to do better."

The elderly spirit smiled warmly, her grey eyes watching Illusen fondly. "I'm glad you were able to enjoy this place." However, her smile slowly turned forlorn. "I'm glad someone was able to appreciate the beauty of this forest before it expires."

Illusen became worried. "What do you mean by the forest expiring?"

"You see, this forest is powered by magic," the elderly Acara explained. "My kin and I have spent decades keeping this forest alive for the sake of our children, but I'm afraid our enchantments are slowly fading away. I don't think we have enough magic to preserve it for much longer."

Illusen was despondent upon hearing this piece of news, but soon after, she had a brilliant idea. "Perhaps it's fate that arranged us to meet," she said with a grin. "I possess magical abilities that are related to flora, so I believe I can help you..."

Illusen pouted. "What do you mean? How could she just give up?"

The Acara sat down on a nearby rock. "First, Mother Nature gave up on the Material World... with its constant destruction of beauty and harmony in the pursuit of profit, property, empty promises, and polluted progress. Where nature's peace should have brightly burned, only war, cheating, and unfairness echoed." She spread her arms wide. "So, Mother Nature retreated to here, the last vestige of beauty left. But she has been so despondent lately over the state of the world, she's practically fading away, and taking her magic with her..." To illustrate her point, the ghostly Acara's presence became further diminished. "Convinced that the world needs her no longer, soon, there will be nothing left of her."

The faerie flailed and pointed to herself. This couldn't be true! "But I'm an earth faerie, I draw my power from nature herself! And I still have my power!"

She tried to fly to illustrate her point. To her surprise, she found that flapping her wings did nothing, and she merely tumbled -- though like last time, she landed on her feet.

"See?" the Acara sagely conjectured. "You only think it comes from Nature. But clearly, you have drawn on another source of magic for some time. When did you start feeling... different? Tired?"

Illusen reflected. It had been some time, hadn't it? Where she had once been happy, strong, bold, and free... now it seemed as though all she did was hide in her Glade, giving quests and being generally anxious and apathetic. When was the last time she took a walk simply to truly appreciate nature? Other than this trek, of course. Why, it must have been years ago...

The faerie looked back at the apparition. "From where do you draw your magic, Faerie?" the ethereal Neopet asked.

Illusen shook herself as the question reached her very core. From where did she draw her strength, her power? From the Material... or from Nature herself?

What was truly in her heart...

With growing might and awareness, she realized that she was finally -- again -- attuned with the beauty of the natural world. Now radiating green light much stronger than a candle, she flew into the air, cast her hand out at the Acara, and an explosion of clover bloomed about the rock. She squealed giddily and hollered, "I've done it! I've reconnected with nature!" She flew a figure eight. "I haven't felt this alive in years!"

The Acara smiled widely, and seemed to burn a little brighter herself. "I am proud of you, Faerie." She bowed to her. "It was fate indeed that we met. You truly have reconnected with Nature." She seemed to have a spectral tear in her eye.

"Now," Illusen continued with newfound determination. "Take me to her, to Mother Nature. I need to convince her that the world needs her after all -- that I need her..."

How will this story end?

Illusen tried to maintain her own confidence. After all, what would happen to all of these wonderful Petpets if she didn't? She nodded resolutely. "I want to do anything I can to help Mother Nature heal and help this forest again."

"Okay," the Acara said, smiling and glowing brighter once more. "Then I will take you to Mother Nature, but just know that it is a long process, a harder portal to enter than this one was."

"That's fine," Illusen said, leaning down to give the Juma one last scratch behind the ears. She had grown very fond of the adorable little Petpet, but was glad he was once more amongst his fellow kind in this magnificent forest. She silently thanked him for bringing her here, as well as promising to get through to Mother Nature so he and the other Woodland Petpets could keep thriving here.

The Acara said goodbye to the Petpets as well, before leading Illusen back through the portal, which she summoned with the flourish of her cane.

They were back in the room once more. Illusen listened attentively as the apparition explained the process of reaching Mother Nature.

"She has grown wary of visitors, understandably so," the Acara explained. "Many of us guardians are less sympathetic of her disappointment with the Material World and now this forest. But you have noble intentions, so I want you to know that I believe in your ability to resist her dissuasions."

"Thank you," Illusen told her.

"Of course. Now, I will begin the process. Keep thinking about your reconnection with nature and your love for those Petpets."

Illusen nodded solemnly, curious about what the process would be and if it would be hard to maintain those thoughts. The Acara gave the wooden wall six knocks with her cane, whereas before it was only three. Illusen stifled a gasp as the walls shimmered much brighter than before -- it was absolutely dazzling. She wanted to say as much, but it looked like the Acara was concentrating very hard.

Bringing her thoughts back to how much she loved nature and Petpets, Illusen had to stifle another gasp as she floated up into the air, not through her own magic but because of the Acara's. Then she began to feel what she assumed was the booming presence of Mother Nature.

The air vibrated, much like it always did before a lightning storm. Some kind of telepathy must have been going on, because Illusen could sense a question in their space: Why have you come here, and why should I deal with you?

Illusen looked to the Acara, who had grown a little more opaque. She made a gesture which Illusen took to mean that she shouldn't speak, instead just continue thinking.

She thought about her failings to be as true a guardian of nature as she should have been. She thought about how much those Petpets and the Neopets of her world deserved an unobstructed relationship with nature.

Another invisible, silent question hung in the air: And why, then, does the Material World squander Nature so?

The heaviness in Illusen's stomach grew a little lighter as she thought about how the Neopets and Faeries of the Material World were far from perfect, and so Mother Nature was allowed to be too. Nothing and nobody can be perfect, she thought, but they all feel better when they try.

This back and forth between Mother Nature's telepathic questions and Illusen's thoughts continued for quite some time, as the Acara kept giving her supportive looks.

Eventually, Illusen felt a deep release of emotion all around her, akin to the freshness of a sudden rainstorm. She supposed Mother Nature was sighing. Then, just as suddenly, the walls stopped shimmering. They were in a glen that seemed unworldly and like all of Illusen's favourite natural places at the same time.

Before her was a vast, nebulous, constantly shifting... someone. Illusen didn't know any other words to describe Mother Nature with than, simply, Mother Nature. She caught the visages of Petpets, Neopets, and even Faeries, all flickering for a second but never lingering.

She bowed deeply, completely in awe.

Mother Nature still communicated telepathically, so Illusen also refrained from speaking.

Illusen lost track of time as Mother Nature explained the jadedness she now felt for the Material World and even the magical forest. It nearly brought Illusen to tears, a story of the subjugation and objectification of nature that she was all too familiar with.

When she finished, a single sentiment hung in the air: I want to be convinced to change, Faerie, but I am not sure if I am able to anymore.

Eyes wide, Illusen mentally recounted all of the experiences she had that day, from deciding to do something for herself to realizing she had lost touch with nature. She thought about how reconnecting with nature was beneficial for the other creatures of the world, but it was also beneficial for ones' self. There was so much joy in loving nature, even if there might always be those who try to harm it.

Another rainstorm feeling, possibly happier, made Illusen shiver from head to toe. Mother Nature took on Illusen's own image for only a second, but it was enough to make Illusen realize she was being understood.

She expected Mother Nature to communicate her feelings once more, but before she could realize what was happening, she and the Acara were back in the wooden room.

Illusen got her footing. "Is that a bad sign?" she asked the Acara, who still glowed brightly.

"No, I believe it is just the opposite."

The Acara brought them to the enchanted forest again, and Illusen was amazed to see it even more dazzling than before. The Petpets kept running around joyously.

"It's how it once was," the Acara whispered in awe. "Oh, you really have given her a reason to use her magic again. Thank you so much."

"Thank you so much," Illusen said, heartfelt, "for giving me the opportunity to."

"I expect it will be some time before she does the same for the Material World," the Acara admitted. "But in the meantime, do not give up hope."

"I won't," Illusen promised. "Will I be able to visit this realm again? I love it here."

"Maybe if the Juma comes to you again." The ghostly Acara had a smile. "But your world is the Material World."

"Of course, of course." Illusen looked around, heart brimming at the beauty and the life she saw. She knew she would treat her world the same as this magical forest, because it was just as magical, after all. "Well... thank you again."

"Thank you again," the Acara said kindly.

After more bittersweet goodbyes to the Acara, the Petpets, and this wonderful landscape, Illusen was brought back to the wooden room. She went outside and made her way back to her glen, confused at how she seemed to instinctively know the way.

Everything that had happened weighed on her mind, but she made sure to appreciate all of the nature around her. And maybe she was imagining it, but there seemed to be more of a spark to the trees and plants than there had been before.

The End.