|
Untitled Document
As most everyone had, I learned about Zurroball's existence
thanks to the huge article printed in The Neopian Times.
And, being the nosy hoping-to-be-reporter person
I am, I just had to investigate. So I gathered up my things and my Aisha.
"Jade? JADE!" Enastacia screamed at me as I
tried to stuff her in my bag. "What in the Faerie Queen's name do you think
you're doing?"
"I am simply bringing you along with me on an
expose!" I cried, sticking my finger in the air and promptly dropping her.
"Goodness, you'd think... Oh, I dunno. When
you try to get a good story you always get overexcited." She grumbled from her
place on the floor. She got up and dusted herself off.
I glared at her. "Enthusiasm is the mark of a
good reporter!"
"It's never worked before..." she muttered.
Luckily for her, I let it pass, being the good soul I am.
I told her so and she snorted and started calling
for Isabella the Deaver. Humph. That's where kindness gets you.
***
We walked to the International Neopian Airport, which, luckily, wasn't very
far away. The closer we got the more cheerful Ennie got, with Izzie waddling
after us. She liked coming with me on story searches, no matter how crazy or
hopeless she thought it was. I know. I'm her best friend, after all!
I bought two tickets to the Space Station, complaining
a bit at the steep price (hiding Isabella in my bag... No need for extra charge,
right? Right?).
***
The ship docked at the space port and all the passengers walked inside, headed
to different destinations.
I felt something tug on my shorts and looked
down. Enastacia had her sad-irresisteble baby Aisha face on and was hugging
Izzie so tight she was turning a lovely shade of pinkish brown.
This could not be good.
"Jade? I'm hungry! Can we go to the Cafe? Pleeeeeeeaassssee!"
she whined. Then she turned serious and added, "And we might be able to get
the Grundo Chef's opinion on Zurroball..."
I sighed in exasperation. She needn't beg for
food. Sheesh. Oh well. It was a good idea to get other's opinions.
So we went to the cafe and got seats at the bar
near the kitchen. As Ennie and Izzie stuffed their faces, I chatted with the
Grundo Chef.
"So, how do you like your job here at the Cafe?"
"It's pretty good. Nice pay. Dental coverage
too, can't beat that." He answered. He saw my blank stare and grinned. Crystal
shine, I thought. Time to get down to business, though.
"That's great! I was wondering if I could ask
you a few questions for the Times..." I trailed off, holding my breath.
"Sure!" he said, looking excited. "Twenty-six!"
he bellowed into the back kitchens. A small red Grundo came out and stood at
attention. Wow. I wish I could do that. Pictures of Isabella serving me lemonade
on a white sand beach on Mystery Island filled my head.
"Take over for awhile, will you?" the Chef commanded,
startling me back to reality. I sighed.
"Yes sir!" the little Grundo scurried off.
"So, what did you want to ask about?" he continued.
"Uhm, I wanted to know what you thought about
that new game - Zurroball?"
He blinked and answered, "Zurroball is very good.
It is a great game. It is fun for the whole family."
I stared.
"If you'll excuse me, I have some work to do.
Goodbye." He walked off and left me alone. What happened? I mean, did I say
something offensive or what? The Grundo Chef's easy manner disappeared as fast
as the spiced apple pie on Ennie's plate.
I decided to go to the main scene. After dragging
Enastacia and Izzie away from my pie. Oh brother.
***
We arrived at the Zurroball entrance on level five. It was lit up and over
decorated, in my opinion. There were five different balls zooming around. One
looked like... Snot? Ew!
Ennie wrinkled her nose as she looked up at the
snot ball. "Gross! Hey, Jade, if you have to play, don't pick that ball!"
I sighed. "Fine, fine. But what made you think
I'd actually consider using that one?"
"I don't know..."
So I got in line and finally our turn came. The
green Grundo in charge told us there were two spare playing rooms we could use.
I went in one and Enastacia and Isabella went in the other. I saluted the others
in the line then turned and walked in.
There was a huge screen in the middle of the
room, along with some controls. It had a display of the balls we had seen flying
around outside earlier. I picked an electricity one, and the game began.
You know, Zurroball isn't as easy as it looks.
Then all of a sudden I heard something - "Zurroball
is very good!"
That was weird, I thought.
Then, "It is a great game."
Hey, that sounded like what the Gru - "It
is fun for the whole family"
I barely heard it anyway, actually. Might as
well get on with the game. Must've imagined it. Ack! I'm gonna lose! No!!!
Wait... Just...
"Zurroball is very good! Good!"
Wha-
"It's a GREAT game!"
What in Neopia's name?
And I guess I don't need to tell you that I sped
out of there, huh? Or maybe I do. So I sped out of there faster than you could
say 'brainwashed' and ran into the other chamber grabbing the rather stunned
looking yellow Aisha and high tailing it to the other end of the Space Station,
getting on the first ship out of there.
That was too weird for words, but since this
is all words, I guess it wasn't that weird.
As we flew home I pondered as Ennie squealed
and Izzy squeaked over the view, attracting knowing looks from owners with young
pets. Huh. I started thinking about the voice. I mean, it was like that voice
was forcing me to adhere to its beliefs. Sure Zurroball was fun, actually, it
was very good. Great, even. Oh, no.
I turned to Enastacia and asked her what she
thought of Zurroball.
"Um, it was fun for awhile, rather entertaining,
but then this voice started saying things like, Zurroball is good, Zurroball
is great, stuff like that. It was sort of creepy and all of a sudden Izzie looked
really scared so I decided to get out when you flew in."
Flew? Wow. I must've been scared.
"So that's all?" I asked.
She thought a moment and replied, "Yeah, that's
it."
"That's pretty much what happened to me!" I
exclaimed. "Do you know what this means?"
"More interviews?"
"More interviews."
***
We were at the Deep Catacombs in Neopia Central, sipping coffee in our regular
booth. (Yep, we're coffee addicts...) Lots of people were walking in and out,
and soon I spied someone I knew. Eliza! I waved her over and began asking questions.
"What do you think about Zurroball?"
She thought a minute and replied, "It's great,
fun for the who-"
I cut her off and laughed nervously. "Um, me
and Ennie gotta go now. See ya later!"
She nodded and I ran out, dragging Enastacia
and Izzie after me.
***
At Home
"What are we gonna do?" Ennie asked.
"Do? DO? We are gonna get back on that Space
Station and investigate!"
***
Later that Day
We had flown into the Space Station once again, but this time we were staying
there for good. Well, until we found out the mystery. And we had weapons!
We were currently hiding in a bathroom stall,
waiting for everyone to go home. At about 11 p.m. NST we snuck out and headed
towards the Zurroball area. We were right in front when we heard voices and
footsteps. I pulled Enastacia and Isabella behind a sign.
"Is everything set up correctly?" said the first
voice in a cold tone.
"Yes, sir!" the second voice said.
"Good. With most of the population we will be
able to control Neopia!"
I groaned. Another plot to control Neopia!
Then my eyes widened. Oops. They must've heard me. Ennie whipped out her Snowball
Wand and created a Stone Snowball. Izzie got ready to attack. Me? I took out
my rainbow gun and stood up nervously. "Um, reach for the sky?" And the two
figures put their hands up and walked forwards. My eyes grew to the size of
watermelons. The Grundo Chef! And... Twenty-six? What kind of twisted world
was this? Weird.
As they walked forward Ennie screamed, "HIIIIYYYYAAA!"
and launched the Snowball. It caught Twenty-six in the face and knocked him
out. Isabella jumped onto the Grundo Chef's face and started chewing his, um,
ear thingies.
"AAAAGGGHHH!" he screamed as Isabella bit him
over and over. Ennie struggled to get her off him before she ate him altogether.
Though she couldn't, and wouldn't. It wasn't in a Deaver's nature, she was just
protecting Ennie. I think.
I was just standing there helpless. Then I remembered
my rainbow gun, pulled the trigger, and froze the Chef as blue light streamed
out. Twenty-six started to come to.
I picked up a grinning Isabella and walked over
to him. "If you value your ear thingies, you will tell us what you are
doing."
He looked really scared and started blabbing
the whole plan out as the frozen Grundo Chef glared at him.
***
At the Chia Police Station, Relating the Plans
"So, it turns out that they planted a brainwashing device in the game. They
wanted to take over Neopia... First they would attract people by brainwashing
everyone to think that Zurroball was wonderful, then when enough people came
they were going to play the message 'The Faerie Queen is evil'. Then they would
send hordes to attack and would then play the message, 'the Grundo Chef is the
true ruler of Neopia!' Rather ingenious, really." I explained as the big yellow
Chia Chief listened.
He grinned and stood up. "Thank you for your
contribution to the safety of Neopia. On behalf of the Faerie Queen and all
the Faeries, I would like to give you this." He handed me a glittering necklace
with a small one inch key on it. It had gems the colors of all the faeries.
"Use it wisely in times of need," he explained.
I thanked him and returned home, finding Ennie
watching a TV special on our expose. She turned to me and smiled. "Looks like
you've finally found a story, Jade, with nothing but enthusiasm to count."
I frowned. "What about my intelligence?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine, and your
intelligence. Not to mention my weapons and Isabella!"
I glared and shot back, "You mean the weapons
I bought?"
"Yeah, and your stupid Rainbow Gun..."
The End
Author's note: Yes, I got this story, thanks to my wonderful detecting
skills, enthusiasm, and luffley pet and her weird, soap opera addicted Deaver.
Feel free to Neomail me with comments! This is lil_jadeness, signing off. Gotta
jet!
| 
