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Once upon a time, there lived a pastel yellow Kacheek,
and a shadow Shoyru who lived in eternal joy as friends. They laughed together,
played together, and did almost everything together. The two talked about problems,
and the other always seemed to have the perfect resolution. Both friends shared
secrets with each other, and were as close as two pets could be. If one was
in trouble, the other was right by their side. From fighting off wild creatures
to helping one another clean their rooms, they stayed side by side, no matter
what. The Neopets adored each other, and understood their problems and feelings.
They went through most of their lives like this, going through many adventures
together. The two were as happy as can be, and the best of friends.
But that was nearly a year ago, before the Meridellian
war had started. That was before they had separated and nearly become enemies.
The war had raged, raged, raged, and no one knew
where the poor shadow Shoyru had gone… Until one day…
A yellow Kacheek brought a dagger down on a giant
Spyder. Finally the great beast fell to the ground, defeated. Panting, the Kacheek
looked around for her next victim. Her eyes widened in surprise and shock as
she saw a shadow Shoyru fighting a Meridellian.
No! It can’t be! she thought.
The shadow Shoyru took a green Zafara down with
a mighty battle cry.
The yellow Kacheek raced over as soon as the
Zafara fell. “Midnight?! What have you done?!” The Shoyru’s evil-looking eyes
widened.
“S-Sunshine?” His eyes turned back to kind ones
Sunshine used to know. But evil eyes replaced his own again soon, as some kind
of spell came over him. “No!” he shouted. With that, he disappeared in a puff
of smoke.
Sunshine searched for any sign of her lost friend
Midnight. Her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Midnight, my dear friend… What’s happened to
you?”
* * *
A blue Blumaroo appeared in the doorway of Lord Kass’ room.
“Sir? BlackKnight is here to see you.” The purple
Eyrie did nothing to acknowledge the Neopet. “Send him in,” was all that came
from him. The Blumaroo backed out of the room slowly. “Yes, sir.”
Seconds later a shadow Shoyru appeared in the
doorway.
“Sir?”
“Yes?”
“She’s back.”
* * *
Sunshine sat at home, bewildered. She hadn’t seen her dear friend Midnight
now for nearly a year, and then suddenly there he is… fighting against Meridell.
Tears streamed down her face as she remembered
all those memories she shared with him. And now…he had become the enemy.
Why would he turn against us? Dreaded
thoughts ran through her head. “No…” she whispered. More tears ran down her
cheeks.
I have to talk to him…
* * *
Midnight sat in his small room in the Citadel. Memories came flooding back
as he lifted up a picture of him and Sunshine. Why had he let Kass get the better
of him?
FLASHBACK:
It was a late summer’s day. Pteris flew from tree to tree, visiting with Usuls
who lived there. JubJubs huddled in groups to tell secrets. Blumaroos took a
walk or two together, chattering away. The sky was clear; not a cloud in sight.
Ixi slunk around shadows curiously. Lupes strode proudly down a cobblestone
road. The sun was out, and life was good.
But Midnight was sad. Sunshine was gone on a
trip to Faerieland and was going to be gone for the whole Spring break. The
Shoyru was lonely and had no one to talk to, no one to understand him like Sunshine
had always did.
He went for a walk in good ol’ Meridell. All
of a sudden he saw an Eyrie. A sad looking Eyrie.
“What’s wrong?” Midnight asked. The Eyrie looked
up at him.
“It makes me sad to see another sad. I have sensed
that you are, Midnight,” said the purple Eyrie. “Come with me and I shall show
you happiness. I know what’s best for you. Sunshine will never come back.” The
truth was, the Eyrie, Kass, had seen this pet training for war and wanted him
as a soldier for himself. If he didn’t have him on his side, he would be on
Meridell’s side. And that would be bad.
Midnight was astonished. “H-How did you…”
“I just know, Midnight. I’m just that way. My
name is Kass. Come with me. I know your place in the world. Sunshine is gone.”
Foolishly Midnight agreed. He had been depressed
and dejected, and was not thinking right. All warnings not to mingle with strangers
were pushed to the very corner of his head, and had paid no heed to them.
From that day on, he was called BlackKnight in
the Citadel.
And from that day on, he was considered gone
in Meridell. Missing. Dead.
END FLASHBACK
* * *
Sunshine vowed to find Midnight, talk to him, even if it meant fighting him.
She couldn’t bear losing him again, not this time, especially when she could
prevent it. No, she would not lose him this time, she wouldn’t. Through thick
and thin they stayed together, and for years they had been best friends. Nothing
could change that friendship they had. They were friends, and they would say
friends forever.
No matter what.
* * *
Midnight sat in his room crying silent tears, tears for memories, tears for
Sunshine. He always knew deep down in his heart that he could not fight her.
He was her friend.
The room was dark, dark so that not even mice
dared creep into the shadows, shadows that seemed to envelope the room. The
only source of light was the tiny window hovering over his tiny cot, which served
as a bed at night. But alas, the bright sun hardly looked through the window
as if it could not bear the sight of the poor Shoyru. Now only the moon could
creep into the infinitesimal room by night. All was dejected and sad.
He could just pack his little things and run
out the window. Just leave, just like that. He could go back to Sunshine, tell
her how much he’s missed her, and the whole story of Kass and himself. He’d
explain Kass’ plans on where and when he was going to attack, and he would be
a hero. He would reunite with Sunshine, and it would be like the old days when
they’d be so happy together.
But…
Would Meridell take him back? After all the evil
he had done? Slaying Meridellians… Helping Spyders bring down Meridellians that
were about to defeat them… Devising clever plans for Kass… They should never
give another chance… and yet… he hoped they would.
But what about Sunshine? What about the whole
11 months, 3 weeks and 4 days he deserted her? Yes, he had been counting every
minute that he was away from her. But was she? But was his family? And the fact
that he had turned against Meridell… Would they ever forgive him?
No, he decided. They would not forgive me. I
would not either.
The door burst open.
“BlackKnight! We need you on the battlefield!”
an anxious blue Blumaroo hollered into the dank room.
“Alright, I’ll be there in a second,” said Midnight,
forgetting Sunshine and Meridell again. Dropping the picture frame to the ground,
Midnight left his room.
The Shoyru had left the door open. In shone light
from the hallway, shining on the shattered picture frame. Inside lay the picture
of Sunshine and him.
* * *
“The Spyders are coming! The Spyders are coming!” shouted a voice. Meridellians
everywhere rushed to their doors and windows to see what all the razzmatazz
was all about. Sunshine grabbed her Lost Desert Dagger and ran out the door.
She ran to the battlefield, surveying the war
scene for any sign of a shadow Shoyru. At last she spotted him. As soon as his
victim (a yellow Buzz) fell, Sunshine rushed over to talk to him. She knew it
meant fighting him, but she just had to stop him.
Midnight’s eyes grew worried and frightened as
she drew near. He hadn’t expected to encounter her again.
“Sunshine…” was all he could muster out.
* * *
In his room, Lord Kass was furious. How could she be back? he asked
himself. I sent three warriors to kill her!
Fuming, he looked out his window only to anger
him more. Sunshine and Midnight were standing by each other, and Kass assumed
they had gotten back together.
“Guard!” he shouted. “Quick! To BlackKnight!
You must tell him to destroy that Kacheek!” The guard nodded. Taking up a small
device that looked like a walkie-talkie, he pressed a red button and spoke to
Midnight.
“Orders from Lord Kass, BlackKnight,” boomed
the device Midnight held. Midnight looked down.
“Orders to kill the yellow Kacheek named Sunshine.”
Suddenly Midnight forgot himself again, lost in the world Kass brainwashed him
into believing in. He suddenly felt like carrying out the orders.
His eyes filled with hatred and violence. He
picked up his sword.
Sunshine saw through watery eyes what he was
doing. “No… Midnight, it’s me! Sunshine!” Midnight didn’t even flinch. He started
towards her, sword raised.
As they started to fight, tears welled up in
Sunshine’s eyes. It was like he didn’t remember! “Midnight, try to remember!”
Midnight ignored her, just wanting to carry out orders from his boss.
Midnight had always been the better fighter between
the two, and so Sunshine was losing by a mile it seemed.
The shadow Shoyru swung his sword fiercely at
the Kacheek. With a struggle Sunshine managed to block most of his swings at
her, but every now and then Midnight would cut her. Midnight heaved his sword
up over his head, ready to strike once more. Sunshine let out a cry of fear
as she held up her dagger to block the blow.
Midnight swung.
Sword and dagger connected, and a horrible shriek
erupted from the metal as Midnight pushed harder and harder and the metal ground.
Sunshine’s arms were growing weaker and weaker, and she was growing desperate.
“Midnight! Remember that time when we got lost
in the Tyrannian Jungle and I was falling all over the place? You helped me
then! You guided me then! Guide me now Midnight! Help me now!” Midnight stopped
for a second and blinked, trying to remember. Flashes of jungle ran before his
eyes. But his evil side took over his kind self once more, and he started throwing
his sword at Sunshine again.
“Midnight! Try
to remember! The bookstore where you thought the cookies in the café were free,
and I paid for them! The hidden garden in Kiko Lake where we found our secret
place! Remember with me! Please!”
Midnight stopped as he struggled to take over his evil side and remember.
As he started shaking and remembering, his eyes slowly turned into kind ones
once more. He dropped the sword he was holding and ran to hug her.
They shared a long, warm hug as friends again,
as the battle(s) around them died down. The two friends looked at each other
for a long time. Finally Sunshine spoke.
“Midnight… How did he get a hold of you?” Midnight
looked down and told her the whole story. Sunshine eyes widened.
“So that’s why I was attacked by three Skeith
soldiers in Faerieland!” she exclaimed. She pondered for a second, her eyes
narrowed, and then her expression softened. “Come on, let’s go home. Everyone
misses you.” With that, the two walked hand in hand across the battlefield to
their homes.
I’ll never lose you again, thought Sunshine.
I’ll never lose you again.
The End
A/N: Hi! I’m age 9, and this is my first story ever submitted into the Neopian
Times. I hope you like it!
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