The Year Without an Advent Calendar

     Try as she might, she simply could not think of a logical explanation for Reina's disappearance. Everyone in Neopia loved Reina and her family – they had led the Advent Calendar for generations and were responsible for countless hours of joy, innumerable smiles and memories. Even the more curmudgeonly citizens could be spotted cracking a smile or two around the holiday season. But to that end, why would Reina leave willingly? As far as anyone could tell, she loved the job as much as the job loved her.

     It was certainly a mystery – and one that Noella couldn't wait to get to the bottom of. But first, she'd have to get to the bottom of the ocean. Literally.

     ***

     Finally, after over an hour of walking, she arrived at the edge of Meridell. From here, she'd have to take a ferry out to an island she couldn't quite recall the name of and, from there, a submarine down to the depths. Luckily, it was a fairly popular tourist destination, and the transports ran regularly.

     Truth be told, the Fishing Vortex creeped her out a little. Sure, it was full of breathable air, but she could never shake the feeling that it could flood at any moment or that she could be trapped with no escape, no matter how the employees and the Maraquan Visitor Centre tried to assuage her (and everyone else's) fears. This was important, though, and she needed to be brave. "Today, you are a Defender of Neopia!" she told herself, striking a momentary pose with her paws on her hips at the edge of the ferry dock. A few tourists stared in her direction, laughing nervously. But Noella didn't mind them – she was on a mission, and she was going to see it through.

     The remaining 30 minutes of the journey were a bit of a blur, if only because Noella was trying to not focus on the fact that she was descending into the crushing depths of the ocean. She breathed a deep sigh of relief when the overhead announcement came that they had arrived, and she hastily scrambled out of the sub and onto chalky, red dirt of the Vortex's entrance. Meandering her way to the bait shack, she scanned her surroundings. The Vortex was fairly empty, although it was a Monday morning in December. Not exactly peak tourist season – or peak fishing season, for that matter.

     She could spot a few Pets out at the end of the jetty, but couldn't make out any faces or defining features from this distance. She decided she'd start by checking in with the friendly Jetsam, who ran the bait and tackle shop.

     "Morning!" he boomed, a smile spreading wide across his face. "Beautiful day for some fishin'!" Noella nodded politely in response.

     "Actually, sir, I'm looking for a friend. Perhaps you've seen her?" she inquired curiously. "Her name is Reina – long hair, antlers with festive baubles on them, a cheerful sweater?"

     The Jetsam mused over Noella's description for a moment. "Well, I'm not sure about festive or cheerful, but there's an Aisha been here all mornin', long hair as you said." He pointed towards the jetty. "I do hope that's her; she looks like she could use a friend right about now."

     Noella thanked him and headed towards the jetty to investigate. As she made her way out towards the water, she noticed the Aisha he'd pointed out. Noella hadn't noticed her before, yet she was sitting apart from the rest of the Pets. And, unlike everyone else, she didn't appear to have a fishing rod or any gear with her. It appeared as if she was just sitting there, dipping her toes in the water and not doing much else. She was facing away, so Noella couldn't make out her face quite yet. Her long hair was tied back in Reina's signature bow, but it was grey, not a cheerful holiday green. And she appeared to be a dull grey colour herself, not Reina's warm, chocolatey brown. She did have antlers, but the baubles adorning them were, again, a sullen, matte grey, not a shiny rainbow array.

     She supposed it could be Reina…but if so, what had happened to her?

     Noella approached the Aisha cautiously, not wanting to startle her. "Excuse me?" she questioned quietly. The Aisha did not move. A bit louder… "Excuse me? Miss?" The Aisha turned her head slowly.

     Noella gasped at the sight of her face. "Reina?!" she cried.

     Reina stared back at her, her face devoid of expression or emotion. It was Reina, alright, but at the same time, she was just a shell of who Noella knew her to be. Her fur was grey and her eyes lifeless. Her antlers drooped, and her normally shiny hair was oily and dull.

     Reina's eyes showed a hint of recognition. "Noe…Noella?" she croaked weakly.

     Noella was nearly in tears at the sight of her friend, her idol, existing in such a state. "Oh, Reina!" she cried, moving to sit beside her on the dock. "I'm so glad to find you, but dear Fyora, what has happened?"

     Reina sighed, her body shrinking down even further into a slump, if that were even possible. She laid her head on Noella's shoulder, and together they sat in silence for a long, long while.

     Finally, Reina spoke. "I'm sorry, Noella. I know how much the Advent Calendar means to you…to everyone." Noella squeezed her reassuringly. "It's just…the Calendar was something Mom, Granny, and I did together. And now that Granny…" she trailed off, and tears began to well in her big, grey eyes and fall silently down her cheeks.

     Noella hugged her again. "Oh Reina, I had no idea…" she murmured softly as they slipped back into a comforting silence.

     Another short while passed until Reina spoke again. "I…I didn't know what to do. Neopia is counting on me," she stopped to sniffle, "but I just couldn't think of an idea. Mom and Granny trusted me to do this, and I'm letting everyone down!"

     Noella shook her head. "No, Reina, you're not! The Starlight Celebration is about joy – real joy. Nobody expects or wants you to manufacture it for performance's sake! And with everything I know about your Mom and Granny, I'm certain they're proud of you, no matter what happens." She smiled at Reina encouragingly.

     Reina sniffled again. "But I haven't got any ideas! And the opening day is already ruined." She sighed frustratedly, clearly still deeply upset. "How can I bring joy to others when I can't feel it myself?"

     "Reina, do you trust me?" asked Noella, extending her paw out.

     Reina placed her paw in Noella's, and Noella gently assisted her into a standing position. "Yes, of course I do," she stated.

     "Reina, I'd never ask you not feel the way you do, okay? And I want you to know that no matter what you're going through, no matter what you choose, I'm here for you. Always." Noella disclaimed. "But if you're up for it, I think I know how I can help."

     Noella stared expectantly into Reina's eyes as she took a moment to process what her friend was saying.

     The silence this time was a bit uncomfortable, at least on Noella's part. She was worried she'd passed by comforting and supportive and overstepped. Shifting nervously on her feet, absorbed in her own discomfort, she was caught a little off guard when Reina suddenly enveloped her in a massive hug.

     Noella stumbled a bit but steadied herself and began laughing. "Is that a yes, then?" she smiled.

     Reina didn't reply, simply burying her face in Noella's shoulder and embracing her more tightly. Perhaps it was the poor lighting in the caverns, but Noella could've sworn that Reina's fur was just the tiniest bit less dull and just a single shade brighter than before.

     "Well, come along, then," beckoned Noella, grabbing a firm hold of Reina's paw. "I know just where to start."

     And together, the girls walked paw-in-paw back down the jetty. With a gentle wave and a quiet "thank you!" to the bait shop Jetsam, they joined the tiny queue awaiting the next submarine to the surface.

     Reina offered up a small smile.

     "Thank you, Noella. No, really. When I came down here this morning, I was looking to escape it all. I didn't know where to go or what to do. All I knew, or thought I did, was that I couldn't face a year of the Advent Calendar without Granny by my side." She took a deep breath. "But now, now I think I'm beginning to see what the Starlight Celebration is all about."

     Noella lowered her eyes, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed by the tenderness of the moment. She squeezed Reina's paw tightly in gratitude, and together they stepped onto the submarine, ready to face whatever came next.

To be continued…