MERIDELL - One of Neopia's newer features is the medieval-themed world, Meridell.
It is popular for its many games, some including Cheeseroller, Kiss the Mortog,
Potato Counter, and Illusen's Glade.
Last week, I was lucky enough to
interview Jhudora the Darkness Faerie in my quest for knowledge. Frankly,
I was curious as to why Illusen and Jhudora dislike each other, but only got
half of my answer. Illusen allegedly went into a garden all alone one night,
and after that, didn't talk to any Darkness Faeries at all. Apparently, that
was the reason she left Faerieland, but I still needed to know more than just
Jhudora's side to all this.
My trip to Meridell early in the morning caused me a bit less stress over
the interview. I was, to say the least, quite frightened over meeting Jhudora
for something else than a quest, but I was surprised at her "easygoingness"
when I arrived. I knew that if Jhudora, of all people, had no problem with the
interview, Illusen surely wouldn't.
Once at the glade, I knocked on the door to a small cottage, which Illusen
apparently called her home. The door was flung open abruptly, and I saw an Earth
Faerie no taller than me in the doorway. "Oh, hello!" she greeted upon seeing
me. "What brings you here this early?"
"Hello," I replied out of courtesy. "I'm peachifruit, a reporter for the Neopian
Times. I was hoping to have an interview with you...if you have a minute to
spare, that is."
"Oh, of course I do!" she exclaimed. "Come in, come in! It's not every day
a faerie like me gets an interview in the Times." I was kindly escorted into
the cottage, a neat two-room house which was humble and tidy. "It's small, I
know, but I spend most of my time outside anyway." As before, the following
is a transcript of the interview.
Peachifruit: Well, it's a pleasure to be here. If you don't mind, I'd
like to ask some questions about you and--
Illusen: Ah, the quests? They're running smoothly, actually.
Peachifruit: Err...that's not exactly what I meant. I was hoping to
find out more about--
Illusen: The glade, of course. Silly Illusen--well, I found this glade
not too long ago when--
Peachifruit: That's not what I meant, either. I was hoping to find
out more about you and Jhudora...if that's all right with you.
Illusen: Oh...right. (Pauses.) I suppose we don't get along too well.
What exactly did you want me to tell you about that?
Peachifruit: Well, first off, Jhudora told me that the reason you don't
talk to Darkness Faeries is because of an incident in the Faerie Queen's garden.
Is this true?
Illusen: I suppose it is--but not entirely. Anyway, I was in the garden
years ago when I was surrounded by a group of Darkness Faeries. They asked me
what I was doing there, and I told them that I came to look at my favourite
tree--a cherry tree, by the way. They told me that I wasn't allowed to be in
that garden, or else the Faerie Queen would be upset. I suppose I DID sneak
in at night. But anyway, they told me that I had to leave.
Peachifruit: Did you?
Illusen: No. I told them that I didn't need to leave because they told
me. Then, the faerie in front told me that the Faerie Queen really didn't like
intruders in her garden. Another faerie said that they were assigned to keep
intruders away. I noticed that she was holding a zaptwig.
Peachifruit: That was persuasion enough, wasn't it?
Illusen: Yes, actually. That faerie told me that she would be forced
to use it if I didn't leave. I noticed she wasn't joking, so I left the garden
that night--crying all the way. When I left, I decided I'd never go into that
garden again. I knew she wasn't assigned on security rounds around the garden,
but I didn't want to get myself hurt. That's not the only reason I hate those
darkness faeries, though.
Peachifruit: Oh, really? What's the whole reason, then?
Illusen: Well, Jhudora was holding quests for innocent Neopians to
carry out. She was plotting to take over the throne, and I knew it. If she got
the items she needed, she would be able to take over Faerieland! I couldn't
let that be. I tried to stop her--to keep those minions of hers from carrying
out her quests, but days passed and my objective seemed so hard to achieve.
It was then that I left Faerieland--never to return.
Peachifruit: And then you started your quests here in Meridell?
Illusen: Precisely. That is, until I found out that people were doing
Jhudora's quests AND mine. Since she was a Darkness Faerie, I wouldn't stand
for it. When I stopped it, she came over and told me that she didn't appreciate
my 'stealing good business' from her. I told her that she was exactly the reason
she left. She and all of her fellow Darkness Faeries ran me out of town.
Peachifruit: But Jhudora told me that she was nowhere near the garden
that night. Are you sure you can be upset with her?
Illusen: Tell me again, peachifruit, when you can start to trust Jhudora.
Peachifruit: Um...
Illusen: Uh-huh. Was she telling the truth when she said you would
get 'magical artifacts of ultimate power' by doing a few quests? How'd you feel
the first time you got a poisonous lollypop?
Peachifruit: Yes, but that's only the--
Illusen: First quest? And the next one and the next one until finally
you just give up on winning that wand that she shows you when you first start
off. In my opinion, they're all alike, those Darkness Faeries. Conniving, lying,
deceptive--
Peachifruit: Err--that's all the time we have for today! I've got to
go...um...now.
I left Illusen ranting and raving about Dark Faeries that day. Jhudora says
that Illusen's crazy; Illusen says that Jhudora's lying. Will this quest ever
come to an end? Perhaps, but not with me--I give up! That's all I can find out
for now, I suppose. If you're trying to find out the truth, good luck! I suggest
you pack a bottle of aspirin--you'll need it. | 
