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A frosty day in the evergreen city of Meridell was usually
not too surprising to the normally cheerful residents that lived there. Under
normal circumstances, the weather wouldn't have mattered if it was the coldest
day in Neopian history, or at least, it wouldn't have mattered too much. But
the situation was far from normal. Meridell was under siege.
To Everlight the Blumaroo, the frosty weather
meant mounds excitement and adventure -- even if his home was under attack constantly.
He had both begun to hate the war ever since it had wreaked a seemingly constant
interruption of chaos in his own world. Neoschool had been shut down for a while
now, and the Neopet thoroughly enjoyed it. Now Everlight had chosen to defend
his homeland, no matter what the cost.
"Mom!"
"Yes, dear?" replied an elderly Blumaroo. She
glanced down with bright eyes to her oldest child.
Everlight stood waiting in the doorway, his
deep blue fur ruffling freely in the breeze. In his clenched paws rested a gleaming
Sword of Domar, his prized possession. Ever since the eager pet had heard of
the repeated attacks on Meridell, he had been practicing with his father's saber.
Many a times the young Blumaroo could be seen hacking away at trees with his
trusty blade.
"They've taken some of the peasants, Mom," explained
the Blumaroo in a hurried tone. "They say they've fallen under some sort of
spell." The worry in his wide eyes was unmistakable. "They're attacking the
North Woods right now," he continued. Seeing his mother's confused look, he
explained, "Where Illusen's Glade is located."
His mother nodded, but halted Everlight when
he began to leave.
"You cannot harm Meridellians!" she protested.
"They're just under a spell -- it will wear off soon!" she pleaded to her son
with misty eyes. "Please!"
"They're not our people anymore," said Everlight
coldly. "I fight for Meridell." With that, he turned and shut the door and he
was gone.
~*~
He reached the beautiful scenery of Illusen's tree house ten minutes later.
There the courageous Blumaroo witnessed a gruesome sight -- a small horde of
giant Spyders being taken apart by a single Lupe, armed with an sword, backed
up by Illusen, the enchanting Earth Faerie. Spyder legs and corpses littered
the ground everywhere as far as Everlight could see. The Blumaroo gazed at the
attackers. The Spyders' huge glowing eyes inspired hate to blossom in Everlight's
heart. He hated them -- the way they walked, their toothy smirk.
The Lupe fought with unmatched strength, like
a true warrior would. But even with Illusen's magic aiding him, the Spyders
seemed to be overwhelming them. With a tremendous battle cry, Everlight leapt
through the small clearing and swung his mighty blade to meet one of the overgrown
petpets.
But before Everlight's blade could touch a Spyder's
leg, they disappeared into the chilly air. The sword arced through the air gracefully,
but pierced nothing but tuffs of snow. Everlight stumbled from the missed blow,
but quickly righted himself.
"Wha-?!" Everlight cried, bewildered. Glancing
around him, he found that the Lupe's attackers had vanished as well. The Lupe
surveyed the battlefield with him, looking around in astonishment. Beside them,
Illusen staggered, then collapsed with a small groan. The Lupe warrior rushed
to her side instantaneously.
"Lady Illusen!" he cried. "Lady Illusen!" The
Earth Faerie awoke, just barely. "I'm fine…" she whispered, propping herself
up on her elbows. She gazed up at the Lupe. "Did the spell work?" she inquired
in a weak voice.
The Lupe nodded, and then said, "I'll go get
a healing potion from your house. Rest here." He will quickly sprinted off to
Illusen's home, his heavy battle armor clanking sporadically. He disappeared
behind the door of the tree house, leaving the stunned Blumaroo to the Earth
Faerie.
Everlight spoke up. "What ha-- where did the
Spyders go?" he demanded. "And where are the Zombie peasants?" He sheathed his
sword, and sat next the fallen Faerie. Illusen looked up at him.
"I used the rest of my magic to send them back
to the Darigan Citadel. They would have overcome the Glade, otherwise, you see.
About the peasants… they retreated before we I could lift a hand. But they'll
all be back, and with reinforcements as well." She paused to take a breath.
"You must get me to King Skarl's palace," she ordered. "Before they return--
or who knows what may happen." With that, she collapsed on the ground once more.
The Lupe's commanding voice rang out through
the still air like a bell. "Okay, I've got the potion," he pronounced triumphantly.
He handed a small glass jug of purple liquid to Illusen. She brought the glass
to her lips and drank the liquid gratefully. The empty jug disappeared with
a wave of her hand.
"Thank you," she said. "But this potion will
not restore my magic to full health. As I was saying to the young Blumaroo,
you must take me to Skarl's castle. I'm still too weak to stand or transport
us there, you see," she explained further.
The Lupe acknowledged her with a small bow.
"Whatever you wish, milady." He turned to Everlight, his eyes bright and ready.
"You," he beckoned to the sitting Blumaroo,
who were still entranced by the faerie's message. "Help me transport Lady Illusen
to the castle. And stay quiet during the duration of the journey." He couldn't
help but smile in the dire situation. "You never know when you could be attacked."
"And why should I follow your orders?" questioned
Everlight with a slight trace of annoyance in his voice. His eyebrows arched
to compliment his challenge.
The Lupe stared grimly at the Blumaroo.
"Because if you don't, Meridell will fall. Do
you see this snow falling?" he asked, his voice wavering in the cold. The Neopet
nodded vigorously, afraid to displease the Lupe warrior.
"It will soon agitate into a blizzard," he stated
coldly. "Yes, a blizzard," he repeated, seeing the pets' uncertain looks. "A
blizzard like Meridell has never seen before…" he trailed off. But he regained
his train of thought quickly. "Let's go, before the blizzard gets worse."
"A blizzard? In Meridell? That's unheard of!"
Everlight waved his hands crazily so as to convey the message that it was preposterous
for a blizzard to occur in Meridell.
"That might be so," replied the Lupe coolly.
"But do you really want to take that chance?" A stern stare from the Lupe settled
it.
"Good point."
~*~
Reaching the castle took all the energy the Lupe had. He crumbled on the floor
in a heap a second after he had set Illusen down on the marble floor.
"Uh…" groaned the Lupe. "Illusen -- lay off
the Faerie Cakes." Illusen chuckled from her position on the floor.
"No, seriously."
A rush of warm air greeted the group. Almost
immediately after they entered the castle, two blue Gelerts heaved the fallen
Lupe onto a gurney, along with Illusen, and they were off.
"Be careful!" cried Everlight, leaning against
the wall to support himself. His voice echoed eerily through the large corridor.
A new voice rang out.
"Who are you?" A Gelert-shaped shadow appeared
from the curtain of darkness. Everlight strained his eyes to see. The dim light
provided no features of the pet at all. A few torches strung carelessly around
the perimeter of the corridor provided the only light in the castle.
The Gelert, or what appeared to be one, continued
his interrogation. "What were you doing with Captain Jeran?" one questioned.
"And what tragedy has befallen Lady Illusen?"
"Captain Jeran?!!" cried Everlight. He turned
scarlet red. "That was the famous Captain Jeran…" he mumbled. "Why didn't I
recognize him?"
The Gelert that had asked them the questions
tapped his foot impatiently. "Lady Illusen and Captain Jeran?" he demanded,
more forcefully.
The astonished pet quickly explained their story
to the anxious Gelert. As the details of their story reached the ears of the
Gelert, his eyes widened.
"Come, quickly," he murmured. He followed the
Gelert to a strange room, and beckoned them in. "Quickly, quickly," he strained.
Inside the room sat fat King Skarl, his royal
robes lying lazily in a clump on the floor. He sat at a small wooden table,
and facing opposite to the King sat a Mynci, holding a clipboard and pen. Royal
advisor, noted Everlight.
The two entered the room quietly, and listened
to the ongoing conversation.
"And so," the Mynci declared, "we must establish
another meeting with Fyora to discuss the terms of an alliance."
Everlight interrupted, flying into rage. "What
are you talking about!?" he yelled uncontrollably. "Another meeting will only
waste time! Meridell is crumbling beneath your very noses!" cried the Blumaroo
miserably. "Homes are being burned by ruthless Darigan guards, and farmers die
every day trying hard to defend their home. And you know why they die? It's
because you refuse to take action, King Skarl." Everlight stopped to glare with
piercing eyes at the King. " And it's because you refuse to accept the fact
that Meridell is in a war. You will not send soldiers. It is time to take action-
the diplomatic meetings Queen Fyora are accomplishing nothing, nothing at all.
And all the while Meridell is being taken apart piece by piece."
King Skarl sighed. "You're right," he mumbled
quietly. "We do need to do something." With that, the King rose from his position
on the chair and donned his royal garments. "But all I can do is send out small
groups of soldiers. We can't really do anything without the reinforcements from
Fyora. And she won't send the reinforcements if we don't say the word. Right
now Darigan guards surround us. We cannot send messengers through the blockade.
They are too big and easily spotted."
"I'll do it," said Everlight without hesitating.
"I'm small and fast. The guards won't see me."
The King shook his head. "I cannot allow children
to sacrifice themselves on account of my mistakes," said the King. "I will not
allow it."
"But even you said it was time for action,"
he reasoned. Don't you see?" the Blumaroo asked. "It's about the cause, the
cause of freedom. It's about freedom and the emancipation of Meridell from the
scum that pollutes its farms. If we don't go now, Meridell will be lost forever,
and the cause will be defeated."
The King's tired eyes closed. "Have a bike be
ready for the Blumaroo," he said weakly.
"No," said Everlight sternly. "They'll spot
me if I use a bike. I'll go on foot."
~*~
"Good luck, child," said King Skarl as he finished his message. He wrapped
it in a small envelope, and handed it to Everlight. "I wish you good luck."
"Let's go! To Faerieland!"
The pet rushed off in a blur of snow. King Skarl
watched him, until he disappeared behind a clump of trees. "The fate of Meridell
rests in your hands."
~*~
The Blumaroo trudged on through the wilderness, never once stopping to rest.
The message he possessed was too important, too significant, to be withheld
for a minute longer. The fate of Meridell rested in his hands.
Captain Jeran was right about one thing -- the
weather did worsen. And as it worsened, the pet's morale and hope dwindled with
it. It became significantly harder to push through the thick wads of snow enveloping
the ground. Thick wisps of snow choked the air so it was hard to breath. By
then, snow puffs the size of Flouds were dribbling down from the bleak sky,
and the tall trees of Meridell were blanketed with a never-ending avalanche
of flurries.
"I…will…make…it…or…die…trying," swallowed Everlight.
And despite the frigid cold, the torrential
snow, and the icy winds, he did make it. He made it all the way up the steps
to Faerieland, slipping through the blockade unnoticed and escaping the clutches
of the blizzard.
Everlight's face was red and pale at the same
time, his eyes pale and his movements drunken. His blue fur was clotted with
snow blots, and by the time he reached the doors to the Faerieland palace, he
looked like they had been painted snowy.
The Blumaroo collapsed in a pile of snow at
the front door. Blinking the snow out of his eyes, he managed to knock two times
on the majestic palace doors.
A Water Faerie's head poked out the doors. "Who's
there?" her voice was melodic and gentle. She noticed the fallen pet and called
for aid immediately.
"What happened to you?" she asked softly, brushing
some snow from the pet's eyes.
Gathering the remaining strength he retained,
Everlight looked the Faerie in the eye, and extended his arm with the letter.
Scraping the letter from his icy paws, the Faerie took it in her arm and read
it out loud.
"To arms! To arms! Faerieland allies-To arms!"
-Skarl
The Faerie looked back down at Everlight, who
had begun to slip into unconsciousness.
"Thank you," she whispered gently. A small tear
descended from her face and dripped onto the Blumaroo's face. The tear seemed
to refresh him, for he was able to fight against the cold for a while longer.
The tips of Everlight's frozen lips managed
to lift ever so slightly. He nodded to the Faerie as he drifted off.
"For Meridell…" he whispered. "And for freedom."
He could only hope that his part in the war
would make a difference. And he could only hope that the difference he made
be heard throughout Meridell when it was vindicated from the evil that occupied
it now.
Content with his thoughts, Everlight drifted
off to unconsciousness.
For Meridell…
The End
A/N- My first story, or rather my first story submitted to the Neopian Times.
Inspired by the fascinating, but brutal war on Meridell. Send me your thoughts
via Neomail. Hope you like it!
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