Battle For Neopia!
And so it began. It took nearly a month, and I took my winged part of the squadron
through countless flying drills. Others on the ground were taught how dart in
and strike hard before darting back out again.
Luvin and her squadron were doing fantastically. Several packs of Lupes flocked
together and began practising their charges over the forested terrain that was
to be our battleground. Other small groups began forming under Luvin's leadership
and soon our army was a frightening force. Ryshu and the old Techo Master were
kept busy teaching both of our squadrons how to fight and defend themselves.
The soup kitchen supplied all of us with delicious soups, and I managed to slip
the Soup Faerie a new recipe that would be more filling for everyone. Weapons
shops from all over donated to our cause and ensured that everyone was well
equipped.
The day of battle dawned dark, cloudy and was threatening rain and thunder.
A Gelert scout, Arcannio, came running full out, yelping that Atera's army was
on the march and would be here in less than an hour. He shuddered, telling us
of mutated pets forced to march under the power of slave collars and other terrifying
monsters that had to have been raised from the Spooky Forest. Several former
owners cried out in fear, afraid of fighting their own mutant pets and hurting
them.
"Wait a minute!" I cried, in my piercing Eyrie screech, then lowered my voice
when everyone stared at me, "You heard him. They're under the power of slave
collars right? Well when you meet a mutant pet, break the collars off. Do that
and half of Atera's army will turn against her and fight for our cause."
"Hear that?" I heard Luvin's Kougra roar, "We have our own allies waiting for
us to set them free. She thinks we'll wimp out. Well we will show her that NOBODY
messes with pet owners!"
The groups took up savage cries and began getting themselves ready. I took
my team and we all took to the trees and other hiding places. Kacheeks took
their places by nets and Kikos hopped into the streams to spray blasts of water.
Eyries crouched on branches, ready to dive bomb the enemy. Luvin's Lupe packs
lurked in bushes and shrubs waiting to pounce once they caught sight of the
bigger, fiercer pets under Atera's control. Her fellow Kougras were standing
in full view behind Luvin, waiting for the Dark Faerie to show her face.
"You all know the drill. That dark amulet is the source of her power on us.
Faerie Kougras fly around her and keep her distracted," Luvin looked at her
group to make sure they all knew their roles. Several former owners nodded grimly
and rested their paws on their swords. Slowly the forest began to darken, even
though it was in the middle of the day.
"So it begins," murmured Luvin, and the pets about her stirred a little uncomfortably.
The darkness was oppressive, and we could all feel the evil within it. It was
like a cold chill that settled over our souls. A few of the younger owners and
pets whimpered softly and huddled together, but quickly fell silent.
The tread of feet were heard first. Then pairs of glowing eyes blazed in the
gathering darkness. Then slowly forms became visible. Those of us hiding in
the trees tensed and watched as the army passed beneath us. We would wait for
the signal.
Luvin stood on top of a boulder, a feral smile on her face as the army of evil
drew to a stop a few feet away. There was some shifting in the ranks, and then
Atera herself appeared, riding the Monocerous. The evil darkness came directly
from her, and she seemed to wear it like a cloak.
"In the name of the Faerie Queen, stand down Atera. Return us to who we were!"
Luvin snarled.
The Dark Faerie sneered, "You were only the beginning. So this is your pathetic
army? You are hardly even worth my time. I was right. With owners turned into
pets, there is no one to direct the house pets they call Neopians!"
Luvin's eyes flashed under her helmet and she drew her million-degree sword
with a harsh cry. The sword flared to life brilliantly, cutting through the
darkness like... well... a knife. "For Neopia!"
"For Neopia!" roared her army, and the battle began.
United We... Kick Their Tails!
I hunched my shoulders and watched the exchange between my brave friend and
the Dark Faerie. Then Luvin drew her sword, and that was the signal. In perfect
silence the first flight of my squadron, the Eyries, plunged out of the trees
with me in the lead. We made no sound until we were almost upon our prey. Uttering
eagle shrieks a split second before the attack; we hit the army of darkness
completely by surprise.
I grabbed an unsuspecting mutant Moehog in my front paws and hauled him into
the air. I aimed and stabbed at the collar with my beak, shattering it and freeing
him. I glided to the edge of the battle and dropped him onto the ground, as
were the other Eyries With battle cries, the freed mutants raced back into the
fray, striking out at their former captors. Even as we dropped the mutants,
squadrons of Korbats, Buzzes and Pteris dove down, dropping laugh grenades and
other weapons on their targets. Kois and Kikos surfaced in the stream and sprayed
powerful blasts of water at monsters from the Haunted Woods.
I got a brief glance of Luvin swooping and diving around Atera, frustrating
the Monocerous and making Atera curse as she tried to deflect the attacks of
a dozen or so faerie Kougras as they strained to shatter the Amulet of Darkness
around Atera's neck. The Monocerous roared and several pets froze in terror.
Then several Jubjubs answered the roar with their own piercing shrieks and leaped
at the frustrated monster, kicking it with their strong feet. Jarred from their
paralysis, the fighters gave war cries and attacked again, jabbing with their
swords.
The battle was a long and tiring. I cannot count the number of pets I freed,
only to swoop back to do it again.
***
Luvinnemiousis snarled in frustration as she missed the amulet yet again and
had to dodge another swipe of Atera's dark sword. She was sore, battered and
frustrated. Doggone it!
The Uber faeries hadn't been able to join the fray because of that darkness
that Atera was using. The darkness had a terrible effect on any and all good
faeries; draining their strength and making them helpless. Lupes were doing
a wonderful job from what she could see. Teaming up in groups of two or three
on one opponent and breaking the collars on those who were being controlled.
Gelerts sprinted around on fast paws, nipping at legs and chomping on sword
arms and generally harassing the living daylights out of their opponents. Wingless
Kougras were roaring and swatting the smaller enemies aside like flies.
Luvinnemiousis made another dive for Atera's amulet and missed once again.
Atera hit Luvin with the flat of her sword and unbalanced, Luvin fell to the
ground hard. She struggled to get her breath back and looked up in horror to
see Atera raise her blade for the final stroke.
***
I saw my best friend get knocked out of the air and immediately saw red. NO
ONE MESSED WITH MY FRIENDS!!!! With a full-throated battle scream I plunged
down and smashed into Atera hard from behind, knocking her from her seat on
the Monocerous. The dark sword flew from Atera's hand and she landed hard on
the ground next to Luvin. Absolute silence fell over the battlefield as I pinned
Atera to the ground with my massive lion paws. I sliced the cord to the amulet
and tossed it to Luvin.
"This is your honour my friend," I said to her, not looking away from Atera,
"After all, you worked so hard to get to it."
With a triumphant cry Luvin grabbed the Amulet and smashed it hard against
the ground. The amulet shattered under the blow and everyone yelled with joy
as they began returning to human form.
As armoured humans began shifting back and standing up with their loving pets
gathered around them, the monsters from the Haunted Woods turned and fled.
The Amulet's controlling powers gone, the remaining mutant pets pulled the
slave collars off and raced to their prospective owners or clustered together
to wait for someone to take them home.
I grabbed Atera's sword by the handle and glared at her, keeping her down with
the point aimed at her neck. Her power source gone, the Dark Faerie kept still
as Luvin tied her hands behind her.
"Get this straight Atera, no one, and I mean no one messes with my friends."
There were several flashes of light and the rest of the Uber Faeries appeared.
The Earth Faerie gathered up the mutant pets and began the long task of returning
them to their worried owners.
I dropped the sword, shaking a little in anger. I was rarely in the mood to
fight, but when I did, it was really serious. And after word I always felt bad.
Luvinnemiousis came over and gave me a hug as she always did to calm me down
after a fight. "Come on," she muttered to me, "I've got some chocolate ice cream
stored in the freezer at my NeoHome. Let's go home and spoil ourselves. The
faeries can take care of this mess." Ahhh chocolate. The world's best cure-all.
I managed to summon up a grin and we raced each other all the way to her doorstep.
Our pets weren't far behind.
To be continued... | 
