With a Shadow of a Doubt
After his close shave with the Aisha Assassin,
Daellian was meant to be taking it easy. He was doing anything but. Pacing nervously
around the room, he couldn't stop thinking about that Aisha Angel. And he didn't
forget how her ring had burned him - she had too been in danger and he must
know if she was uninjured. Guay, the two nearly inseparable since he'd saved
Daellian, had promised to smuggle him to Faerieland this evening and he could
barely wait for the daylight to fade.
***
Many miles above Daellian, Maenia too had her thoughts on him. Flying in the
evening, trying to chase the swiftly setting sun back to Faerieland, Maenia
could not help but wonder about the tall, mysterious Alien Aisha. Trifalla,
however, soon snapped her out of her reverie.
"Look, Mae!" Trifalla was pointing to a dark
shape floating just below them. Maenia dipped her wings to get a little closer
and felt a panic driven nausea driving her away from the thing. It was pure
evil and its presence made Maenia feel uneasy. Such a thing had not been seen
for a long while in Neopia. Maenia touched her halo for reassurance and released
a small burst of pure light. T he being dispersed into the air.
"What was that, Mae?" asked Trifalla.
"Probably just another Dark Faerie minion,"
she remarked lightly, not mentioning the touch of the evil power, still scraping
against her nerves and pure heart roughly.
But then they both felt it. For a fleeting
second, their feathery wings and halos disappeared, reappearing again in an
instant. Maenia halted her fall and turned to Trifalla. They found it hard to
meet each other's eyes: the touch of the immense evil had exposed their own
evils - even the pure power of the Aisha Angels had some darkness, for power
is partly evil, even if used for good. There was a moment of tension then Maenia
extended her paw to Trifalla and the other clasped it tightly. They knew each
other's shadows in a soul of pure light, but their friendship had endured. Still,
both of them felt horribly exposed and flew on at double speed.
***
Daellian too began to feel slightly uneasy but his excitement at seeing Guay's
familiar figure at his window dispelled any other feelings. He hurriedly threw
open the window. Guay smiled rakishly and threw a leg over the window. Daellian
gratefully received the coil of rope handed to him and paid it out over the
side of the wall. Nimbly clambering down, he arrived at the bottom even before
Guay. Together the pair snuck over the moonlit gardens, dodging the occasional
security guard and exited over the outside wall.
Inside the big manor house, Lady Solonia smiled.
She knew her son had been distant these last few days and was obviously longing
to escape the confines of the manor, out on the borders of Neopia. Well, a trip
with his loyal friend wouldn't matter too much, she thought, and not much harm
could come to him. Perhaps, for not the first time, she was slightly inaccurate
and perhaps she meant for the best when she instructed a handful of guards to
follow him.
***
Maenia rushed through the palace, Trifalla in her wake. Usually the place
would have been full of life and Maenia could have had a good laugh at Jhudora
trying to flirt with Darkian, the Prince of Dark Faeries, even if it did occasionally
get her turned into a Mortog. Still, today was too serious for that frivolity
and no Faeries were to be seen anyway. Maenia changed her course, heading for
the Main Hall.
Flying at high speed through the double doors,
Maenia assessed the situation. All the Faeries were thronged in here, tightly
packed but silent. The Dark Faeries looked drained - she spotted Darkian slumped
against a wall. Obviously the evil was draining their power. The Light Faeries
looked in worse shape, with pale faces and strained expressions. Plenty of Faeries
were lying around in a half swoon or swaying on their feet. Even Fyora, bolt
upright in her throne, was squeezing the arms of the chair tightly.
Maenia swooped low over the Faeries and made
a quick report to Fyora, including the evil shadow she had seen. Fyora gripped
the throne and addressed the room.
"Sisters and brothers. As we all know, something
evil is gathering in Neopia. I feel its power already, closing like a vice around
us. We must unite to defeat it. I propose that while we occupy the thing's attention,
those among us pure of heart will destroy the beast's source."
Fyora turned to Maenia, hovering in the air
above her. "What do you say?"
With a quick glance at Trifalla, Maenia answered.
"We will pledge our hearts to save other's souls."
Fyora smiled. "Brave words. Remember, you have
the greatest power and, when the time comes, you shall know what you must do."
Maenia nodded at this cryptic reassurance and exited the hall. She had some
preparation to do.
***
Daellian stood lightly on the cloud, staring at the enormity of Faerieland.
How would he find one pet in here? Firing up the rocket pack, he came to hover
next to Guay.
"Hit the thruster, Dael, we're going in!"
"Going where?"
"The Castle, of course. I bet most of the
occupants of Faerieland are in there!"
Daellian and Guay sped off towards the castle.
Finding a small tower, they alighted there. Daellian was about to go down the
staircase when Guay motioned at something.
"Isn't that her? And who's she with?"
Two little white figures with feathery wings
were flying into the distance.
"It's her!" said Daellian excitedly. "Let's
follow!" He fired up the rocket pack and began to follow the two figures.
***
Maenia and Trifalla were both absorbed in their own thoughts. They knew that
this venture was their most dangerous one yet and if they failed, the fate of
Neopia was at stake. Both travelled light, wearing little more than a small
pouch containing Dried Prunes and other rations. Maenia wore a golden headband
in her proximity as leader of the Aisha Angels. They usually relied on mobility
and nimbleness to avoid attacks and against some of evil, physical armour would
not be much use. Both travelled quickly back to their base, a secluded part
of Neopia.
Reaching their base they landed and quickly
informed the Angels. Soon the place was a hive of activity. The young Angels
were to be delivered into the care of the Soup Faerie in Neopia and to help
her there. Every other able-bodied Angel was preparing for the journey - meditating,
flying or sitting quietly with friends.
Maenia too sat a little way off. Maybe she
should have been organising the activity going on around her but she knew it
was more important to have a strong mental defence, so she could bring light
to the darkness in which they would soon travel.
She found her thoughts wandering again to
that Alien Aisha. She could not afford to waste any of her powers to take a
look at where he was now. She sighed.
***
Perhaps it was well that Maenia had not taken a look at Daellian's location.
If she had, she would be surprised to find it was behind her. Daellian did not
like to creep about in bushes, spying on pets, but he didn't yet know how to
approach her. Guay was impatient - he wanted to take a saunter around the camp
and see if he could spot the other Angel who he'd followed here.
Daellian decided to take the plunge. Quietly
stepping out of the shrubbery, he stood behind the Aisha Angel and touched her
shoulder.
***
Maenia turned around to find the handsome Alien Aisha behind her. Slowly getting
up, she held his paws.
"You came," she said.
He smiled. "I'm here."
"I never even knew your name."
"Daellian. I don't know yours either."
"Maenia."
They stood gazing into each other's eyes, two
descendants of separate bloodlines, overcoming ancient prejudices. The future
was near.
To be continued... | 
