Neopia Central
As the young scraggly Lupe Karnivekker thrusted
his lanky arm into the air, a well-kempt muddish-brown Airax spread it's ruffled
feathers and took to the air. The teenaged Lupe watched through bright neon
green eyes as his beloved pet soared and swooped. But this particular Airax-
which is a bird-like petpet reigning from Tyrannia- was different than most.
Across it's face were two scarlet slash designs, on his furry chest lay two
blue triangles, and on his wings were red and blue wavy lines. As the Airax
looked down from high above, he scowled at his so called, 'master'. His life
had not always been this way. With a forlorn sigh, he drifted back down, all
the while remembering his long, forgotten past.
In the land of Tyrannia, oh so many human centuries
ago, the land was much different. It was ruled in a tyrannical fashion, and
Tyrammet was the slave to their ruler. The Tyrannian volcano still flowed, and
deeply etched into it's side was a stone throne room, filled to the brim with
Airax-related goods and jewelry. It is there, that a solitary voice rolled of
the walls into the distance.
"Halt, traveler! This realm is not of yours
to pass through!" boomed the great Mage. A humble Tyrannian villager bowed,
clanking the rusty metal chains attached to his arms and legs in doing so. The
villager looked somewhat like a white Lupe, but with long tusks and a rat-like
tail. Overall he was pretty good-looking, but in comparison to the mighty Mage
he was utter filth. Towering above him loomed a Mage, or a powerful male faerie.
He had a dark tan skin-tone, and piercing navy eyes which seemed to show no
mercy. Over his shoulders draped a long cape of Airax feathers, painted over
with blue and red designs of triangles and dashes. In his hand he held a long
wooden staff with the titanium head of an Airax topping it, and he floated in
midair. His boots were leather and bathed in dancing orange flames, while he
had matching leather gloves fitting his hands. The Mage was quite large, suggesting
the same size as an adult male human.
The Tyrannian 'Lupe', undoubtedly his unwilling
servant, stood back up and winced; afraid of his Master's fury.
"Lord Colyrforenix..."
"Plain Master to you, pig!"
"Master, oh great master! Ug... The people
of Tyrammet are ug... in grave worry...ug. Not that I, ug, doubt your rule-
Ugga- Master...They believe that- ug- if you don't stop the ug- dictatorship-
ug- if you don't mind me saying - ug - so that..."
"Get on with it, Karni-Vore-X!
"Ugga-ug! They believe that Fyora may come
down to impeach your rule! I am sorry! Take me now, if you like, Master, please
Master!"
"No. But you must leave me now. As Ruler
of Tyrannia I demand you leave. And capture all who doubt my rule and send them
here for a..." he chuckled maliciously to himself, "...rather fiery execution."
"Yes, my Lord Colyrforenix, Master..."
Karni-Vore-X bowed, and hastily made off. With a grin, the Mage slipped on a
stone Airax-faced mask and picked up a Tyrannian Battle Axe, which he had personally
hand-crafted for execution purposes. Sitting down on a fiery throne, he steadily
tapped his fingers boredly on the throne-arm, falling amidst his morbid thoughts.
'...or maybe I shall try telling them first how long their death will last...hah-hah!
Ah, these are the days. The Mighty Mage of Airaxes, and Ruler of all Tyrannia.
Perhaps we should go to war with Mystery Isle? Or Sakhmet? Or maybe...'
"My Lord! My Master! The Faerie Queen has
arrived at last! How must I serve to protect?"
"Protect? Hah..puny mortal...creature! You
are nought but a mere pet of mine, nothing more! I can defend for myself. So...where
is she?"
"On her way, oh on her way, Master."
"WHERE? Where, I say!"
"On the Plateau, descending! Oh...there!
I see her in the distance, my Master!"
"You, Karni-Vore-X...stand aside. I have
to make my own," the Mage of Airaxes shouted, his voice bounding off the
rocky cave walls like thunder. As he touched his booted feet to the ground,
he took great strides forward, and waited at the entrance to his cave as a blur
of hazy purple light descended from the distant sky, as swift as a flock of
speeding Pteris being chased by a Grarrl.
Suddenly quite close, a tall, gorgeous and thin
Faerie stepped from an ivory carriage daintily. She wore a sparkling crown of
fine glass, and trailed diamond dust in her wake. A look of discontent sat on
her clear face, and she shook her head regretfully.
In a voice as smooth as silk, she nagged, "Colyrforenix,
you have done a plentiful number of horrible misdeeds to the fair creatures
of Tyrammet. Why? Why, my friend?"
"The question is...Fyora," he spat
the last word out hatefully. "...why NOT? There is no law against it. I
am the only law. For I am Master." Behind him, Karni-Vore-X nodded in an
exaggerated fashion, though rather timidly.
"No, you are wrong. Mine is the ultimate
decision. If you do not stop now, you shall dearly pay. No matter the price."
"What can a worthless female do to me? Me,
Lord Colyrforenix, Mage of Airaxes, Ruler of Tyrannia, Master of All!"
Wrong thing to say.
With a furious glance and a quick yank of her
feminine wrist, Fyora blasted a brilliant, blinding ray of ultra-violet light
towards the Mage. As he spiraled to the back of the room, he under-went a magnificent
transformation. His Airax cloak engulfed his body and covered him through, his
mask became real and swallowed his Mage-face, and his arms sprouted feathers.
In an instant, he shrunk. With a miserable sigh of weariness he fainted, completely
transformed into a puny Airax.
Karni-Vore-X gasped in disbelief, then turned
to Fyora with a feirce growl from deep within his throat.
"Ugga-ug! look what you did to him! My Masteer!
My beloved Master! You fiend!"
"But my, you are now free, my creature.
Go, go out into the world and live a new life! Free from this - this monster..."
"You- ug- disgust me! An Airax? He was my
Master! I loved him! Why?"
"Dear me! He must have you under a brain-washing
spell! Do not you worry, I will save you, and all the other villagers as well!"
She gasped and tried to pick the pre-Lupe up, only resulting in a fierce nip.
"I am not brain-washed! I love my Master!
We are friends! Forever! And now...now..." The Faerie stood and looked
down at the inocent Lupe. He was forlorn and sad, and suddenly a deep compassion
sprang up for the Lupe from the Faerie Queen's heart. 'This creature cannot
be brain-washed, by the looks of him. What shall I do?' she thought.
"What is your name?" she asked softly,
kneeling down to pat his head kindly.
"Karni-Vore-X," he replied meekly.
"Karni-Vore-X, as a blessing for your love
I will grant you a long line of children into the centuries of humans. As for
your friend, I can tell that you admire him greatly. He too, will be spared
a gift. The gift of eternal life. But for both of your treachery against the
forces of good, you will die within the next year, but, of course, following
you will be many a son and daughter. And for all eternity your line of descendants
and this Airax must remain together. No matter what."
Hewr last words stood in the Lupe's mind for
a moment, and when he finally looked up, the Faerie as well as all of her carrages
were gone. The Airax stood, and blinked. He had heard every word. With the best
smile an Airax can give, he hopped over to the Lupe and cawed a soft, 'Thanks'.
***
'Perhaps...' thought Herbivorenix, 'Perhaps t'was fate. Or even...destiny...'
He flapped back down to Karnivekker and smiled gratefully. Tomorow was just
anotherr day. Another day with his master. For forever.
Author's Note: This is a story of compassion, as well as the past of my
teenaged Lupe, Karnivekker's pet Airax, Herbivorenix. I hope this story has
somewhat touched you, and I wish you all Happy Holidays. | 
