It was a stormy Friday morning when both Megz and leb388
decided to roll out of their beds at their homes and log on to Neopets. Through
sheer luck the literally ran into each other, both clutching a piece of paper.
They recognised each other and sighed.
"You're banned, too?" Megz asked, irritated.
"No, actually, this is my homework," leb388 sighed,
waving an inch-thick packet of papers in the air. "But I'm guessing you got
the message as well?"
They had both received a Neomail from Mr. Shankly
that read:
"Dear
Neopian Times Author,
Due to recent events, individuals
who do not support Dungism or
aren't a Dungist may no longer
write for The Neopian Times. Also,
they may no longer purchase a
copy of the Times. Please abide by
these rules or you will be permanently
frozen.
-Mr. Shankly"
"I've had it," Megz growled.
"Me too!" Leb388 yelled, swinging a baseball
bat.
Megz looked at leb388. "Shh! You'll wake everyone
in Neopia up. Hey, where'd your homework go?"
"It's in my backpack," leb388 explained, sliding
off her backpack and pulling the papers out. "Why?"
"I've got an idea." Megz strutted to the nearest
Chia paperboy, who was giving out issues of The Neopian Times. "Excuse me!"
The paperboy looked annoyed. "The newest issue
of the Times isn't out yet," he said.
"Oh, that's a shame. I was just talking to my
friend here about how awesome that meeting last week was," Megz said, nudging
leb388. "Y'know, the Dungism meeting."
"And I was just saying--"
"How horrible it was that they forgot the password,"
Megz supplied, "for getting the Times."
"Sorry. No one who doesn't know the password
can't get a new iss--" the paperboy suddenly stopped.
"So it is the new issue!" Megz exclaimed.
"NO ANTI-DUNGISTS ARE ALLOWED TO READ THE TIMES!"
the Chia bellowed, running off.
Megz sighed. "Now, I think that makes
this serious. Do you still have that homework?"
"Way ahead of you," leb388 grinned, holding the
new issue of the Times.
JamezBfod walked by, carrying a suspicious sack
that appeared half-full. "Little sis, I salute you. Your pickpocketing skills
are almost as great as mine."
"Okay, so what now? Are we going to go to California
to tell the rest of the staff that Shankly's being unfair?" Megz retorted.
"No, I have to be at school in ten minutes."
Leb388 scanned the new issue. "Jamez, Megz, look! All of the articles are about
Dungism! And there's something about what that Chia said. 'All Anti-Dungists
are simply naive,'" leb388 read, "'and need to be shown the truth about how
great Dungism is.'
"I think this means we're going back to the Hidden
Tower," leb388 continued.
"Just don't walk into it again," Megz sighed.
"That only happened twi--I mean once! Anyway,
I've got to get back to school. Meet you at the Tower as soon as possible."
After hours at school, leb388 burst home and
ran to turn on her computer. JamezBfod followed her as they waited to travel
into Neopia.
"We need some sort of cover," leb388 explained.
"I mean, in case anyone asks us if we're Dungists or Anti-Dungists."
"Say you're undecided," Jamez replied. "That
way, Dungists can't say anything, since you might turn to their side,
and they'll help you get information and stuff."
"That's a great idea!" leb388 exclaimed. She
looked at the computer screen. "Has Christmas gone by already?"
"Um...yeah," JamezBfod replied.
"Well, I'll try for a new computer for my birthday."
Meanwhile...
Megz tapped her foot impatiently at the Hidden
Tower. "Where could they be?" she thought.
Finally, she saw two Neopians riding a Blue Shoyru. It was leb388 and JamezBfod,
riding Six75, Jamez's Shoyru.
"'Bout time," Megz sighed.
"Sorry--computer troubles," leb388 explained,
going transparent and then normal again.
"I see. Now, let's go in."
"I'll go first," leb388 said, walking into the
Tower. "Ouch! I was sure the entrance was here!"
"This way," Megz directed, walking in.
Fyora looked up immediately when they walked
to her desk. "I heard about the Times. We need serious help. How many Anti-Dungists
are there besides you?"
"We don't know of any," leb388 said.
"I'm Undecided," Jamez replied proudly.
"All of you, come with me," Fyora said urgently,
looking at Jamez suspiciously.
More people than usual were in the Hidden Tower
eyeing weapons, but the trio followed Fyora out a secret door.
"They all must be examining weapons for a possible
fight," leb388 whispered.
Fyora only nodded. The trio followed the Faerie
Queen up a winding staircase into a small, private room above the Hidden Tower.
All the weapons were strange, funny-smelling, and confiscated--including a dusty
dagger marked "Dung Sword".
"Don't tell me--Shankly's," Megz said, glancing
at it with disgust.
"Yes. And I hate to say it but I believe we'll
need to use it at some point, or at least keep it out of Shankly's hands. Chances
are that tomorrow Shankly will begin to lash out at the 'Anti-Dungists' and
faeries," Fyora said firmly. "And there's a secret meeting for Dungists tonight."
"That means we should have a spy there," Megz
said, as all eyes turned to Jamez.
"What? Me? NO!" He yelled. "I promised Six we'd
play hackey-sack tonight!"
"I'll go," leb388 said suddenly.
Now everyone stared at leb388.
"Who in their right mind would volunteer for
such a thing?" Fyora asked.
"Me. Now, tell me the time, the place, and the
getup."
"Before I do," Fyora replied, walking out with
the trio and locking the door, "you each need to take two weapons from the Hidden
Tower."
"The Sword of the Air Faerie and Little Timmy's
Slingshot for me," Megz said proudly.
Fyora unlocked a weapon of each type and gave
them to the awestruck Megz.
"I want the Yo-Yo of Death and Hubrid's Puzzle
Box," Jamez said.
"And I want the Crystal Boomerang and Radish
Bow," said leb388.
Fyora gave them each their weapons, and carefully
instructed leb388 about the meeting.
Three hours later, leb388 found herself at the
ruins of Maraqua wearing all-black. She wasn't alone, however; she seemed to
blend in perfectly with the crowd.
"Hi, leb388, glad you could make it," al_the_chia
said monotonously.
"Al? They got you--I mean, so you're a Dungist
as well?" leb388 stuttered.
Al sighed. "So naive. Almost everyone's a Dungist
now! I was hoping we wouldn't have to force you, and here--" he handed her a
piece of paper. "This is a list of all Anti-Dungists."
This'll come in handy, leb388 thought.
"Say, Al, when's Mr. Shankly coming?"
"You mean the Dung god?" he asked. "Oh, he's
already here. I'm the High Priest of Dungism now," Al said proudly.
Leb388 was about to say something when suddenly,
Mr. Shankly appeared in the centre of the ruins. Everyone crowded around him
to listen.
"My fellow Dungists!" he began proudly. "Thank
you all for attending this meeting at very short notice. But it has come to
my attention that some Neopians do not wish to join this wonderful club that
is Dungism, and are even speaking out against it! And it has also come to my
attention that we have a traitor in our midst."
"LEB388!" came a familiar, shrill voice.
"Yes," said Mr. Shankly. "Leb388 is a spy!"
To be continued... | 
