The Shadows of Darkness - Sandre's Return: Part One

by nanjikat

This story is the sequel to "The Shadows of Darkness", which begins in Issue 46.

It was a bright summer's day on Mystery Island. I was in my dorm room at the Mystery Island Training School, looking at one of my favorite pictures, when Master Techo walked in and changed my life forever.

"Hello, Adria," Master Techo said in his usual, cheery voice. If I didn't know him better, I would have thought that this was simply a visit. However, one look into his eyes told me the truth. Something was wrong.

I decided to play along, though. If he wasn't going to tell me right away, that was his decision. "Oh, hello Master Techo. I was just looking at my photo album."

"Yes, I see that." I saw him wince slightly as he looked at the photo. It was a picture of a purple Peophin and a bright yellow Scorchio--me and my best, no, former best friend, Sandre. It was from the pre-Sloth days, the days when Sandre had been good and kind. Or perhaps he was always evil. Perhaps I just never noticed.

I suppose Master Techo could tell I knew something was wrong, because he dropped the cheery exuberance and sat wearily down in a chair.

"Adria," he said sadly, "I have some very bad news. It's about Sandre"

My stomach started to do flip-flops. His voice, his eyes, everything was the same as that fateful day last summer when the Mystic had gone into his trance, only this time the fear was even more intense. Something must have been terribly wrong.

"W-w-what happened, Master Techo?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor of fear in my voice from making itself apparent. "What happened to him?"

Master Techo's eyes started to water, and he handed me a cold, empty bottle labeled "Top Security". Instantly I knew what had happened.

Sandre had escaped.

I sank to the floor in disbelief. Sandre had been in top security at the Neopian Bank, guarded 24 hours a day. Only someone extremely powerful could have helped him escape. Only...

"Yes, it was Dr Sloth," Master Techo said gently, as though he had read my thoughts. "The faeries have not yet found him. He's still on the loose. We've tried to cover it up, but he's still around. The security tapes show everything. How he entered, how he left, how he got to Sandre by killing. . ." the Master turned away and said no more, but I understood. Dr Sloth had killed Sandre's guards. I remembered how cheerful they had always been, how understanding when I went to visit. I started to cry.

"Adria," Master Techo said softly. "I know you're upset, but you have to listen to me. There is more to be told."

I looked up at him. What more could he possibly say? I was about to find out.

"We have reason to believe that Sandre will come after you, Adria."

My head instantly jerked towards him. Had I heard him correctly?

"Yes, Adria, you heard me correctly. He told you in the cave that you were supposed to be the first to go, that his master commanded it. I asked the faeries about it and, well, Adria, you're the Blessed One."

"The Blessed One, Master? Surely, there must be some mistake."

"Oh, there's no mistake, Adria. I've suspected it for some time, ever since that time in training when you performed Mote Dance with such amazing power that no one could touch you. You had only just begun your training, you probably wouldn't remember." He began pacing about the room. "You are the Blessed One, the child of the Queen Faerie and Sampsonus Peophin, your father. You are the one destined to save Neopia."

"But Master," I faltered, "How can I save Neopia? I know so little..."

Master Techo turned towards me and smiled. A faint, watery, smile, but a smile nonetheless. "Ah, my dear Peophin, you know more than you think. Anyway, you're going to Faerieland, to train with your mother for two weeks." He sighed. "I'd like it to be longer, but we can't waste any time. I can only pray it is enough."

That's easy enough for him to say, I thought. He doesn't have the fate of all Neopia resting upon his shoulders.

To be continued...