Lucky Compass

     The shady, hood-wearing Elephante promised you that it was forged by Illusen herself. You tend to instinctively pay attention to one’s eyes to seek the truth, to decipher for yourself if what they are claiming is realistic; but you couldn’t. His hood was hanging so low, that only a slit was left between his trunk and his forehead and his unsmiling face didn’t particularly make you feel confident. As you stood in that smelly alley, Neopoints in one hand safely tucked inside your pocket, the other hand delicately tracing the vines on the surface of the compass, you contemplated.

     But you bought it anyway. You bought it because you heard the stories, you grew up with them. The stories that always claim that Illusen promises luck. You bought it because the delicate surface print of this lucky compass was unmistakably hand etched by a Faerie. And now that you have it, it is your time to embrace luck and become the famous Neopet you were always meant to be. You've always dreamt of being popular - of other Neopians looking up to you, shops such as the Chocolate Factory or Cog’s Togs providing you with free samples of their finest products for you to test. A Neoinfluencer as you call it.

     You turn the crown clockwise and the lid props up slightly. Excitement rushes over you. You feel the little hairs behind your ears stand up as you open the lid to discover the glass dial housing the lucky needle. The needle itself has the form of Illusen’s staff. A tiny, grey leaf is hanging loosely from it. The staff is held in place by a little pin, which presses down onto the curved part of it, while the straight piece of wood rotates freely.

     Not so freely. It starts to frantically revolve on its axis, the leaf at the end becoming a streak of a thin, grey circle. And then it stops, fixating its pointy end northeast.

     You move the compass around, you tilt it in a slanted position, you even turn it upside down. The staff is diligently pointing the same way. Even with the slightest sudden movement, the needle is quick to react and point you in the desired route. Thus, you decide to trust it. You don't know what to expect but you want to allow it to guide you and let Illusen’s luck flow through you. To grant you the one wish you've been yearning for; and for which you've spent all your hard earned saved Neopoints.

     So you set off. You pass through forests and swamps, rocky mountains and misty islands, through breathtaking plains which you don’t even stop to admire. You are hooked on the wooden staff pointing you in the precise direction. It’s never about the trip for you, it has always been about the destination.

     You trek for hours, and despite the great distance you’ve covered, it only feels like seconds because of the exhilaration, before you finally reach the outskirts of Faerieland. You notice that the grey leaf now dons an orange tint, more closely resembling the real staff of Illusen. This is the first time the compass has changed ever since it spun when you first opened the lid, and you feel hopeful that you are on the right track. Luck is on your side and they will finally see you for who you are.

     The path has turned to cobblestone, leading you towards the vast rock that is now Faerieland. It is a lengthy path, meandering in and out thickets of trees which makes the trip more difficult. But you march on. You can faintly make out the Healing Springs on the far left and glimpse a few faint bridges in the horizon. Ever since its fall, the pink city’s colours have changed to include shades of forest green. With each step you take, the leaf on the needle turns into an even clearer shade of orange. You adjust your direction and continue, entering the central Faerieland area.

     Suddenly, the leaf glows bright orange and you are taken aback, not because of disappointment but because of the abrupt change. You slowly move your gaze up from the dial to see where Illusen has let you. You are standing in the crossroads where the Healing Springs meet the Rainbow Fountain. The path continues on as a diagonal, leading further into the city.

     For a second, you stop and decisively plant your feet in the ground. Slowly, you start spinning on your own axis, turning towards the Springs. As you turn anticlockwise to face the great waterfall that splashes into a pool of clear water, the needle slowly counteracts your movement, aiming for the Fountain. With the leaf triumphantly glowing orange and an end goal in mind, you sprint towards the Fountain with big leaps.

     Does the compass want you to complete a quest for Naia the Fountain Faerie? Does it expect you to enter the waters regardless? You know that you haven't helped the Faerie recently as it has been a while since she's invited you on a quest.

     You are inches away from the entrance. The whole Fountain is hidden inside, what seems to be, a giant bowl, protected by trees and thick vegetation. You hide behind a mossy rock just by the entrance and slowly raise yourself up to take a quick peek inside. There's no sign of Naia.

     The leaf on the compass is glowing blindingly bright now, so you close the lid and stash it in your pocket. You know you are at the right location. Sheepishly, you get up and cross the threshold into the Rainbow Fountain. At once, you feel the misty atmosphere surrounding you. The humid air clings to your skin and your eyes tingle. This is it! Any second now, everything will change. The moment that will have eyes turning on you and everyone will know your name.

     You glance around cautiously, searching for the resident Faerie and you finally notice her. She's lying on a grey rock just by the edge of the pool, fast asleep. This compass must indeed be lucky, you think as you grin. You still keep your distance and quietly move around the pool, in the opposite direction.

     You look down into the rainbow coloured waters. A Royal Zafara stares back at you. The little ripples forming on the surface are inviting you to take a deep. The hues of red mix with the greens, a swirl of orange disturbs them while a stray blue brush stroke joins the haze. The compass is pulsating inside your pocket, you can feel it urging you on. You take a deep breath and step inside the Fountain.

     The water is as cold as the coldest day on Terror Mountain. A hue of purple dances around you, as you see a torrent of yellow and black and white colours rushing your way. And you submerge further in, covering yourself head to toe.

     You feel the water swirl around you as if you are standing right in the middle of the eye of the storm. You are suddenly aware that you feel differently. You can’t put your finger on it but it’s a sensation that makes the little hairs behind your ears tingle again. The compass should have worked its charm. As soon as you exit the Fountain, you will be a new individual. Fame and glory have been delivered.

     You frantically exit the fountain and start running. You are running and running for hours, or was it seconds? You don’t know and you don’t care. You need to know what changes you’ve undergone. You open your Neohome’s door and it hits the back wall with a loud thud. You rush to your bedroom, eager to see your new you, ready to forever be thankful to Illusen, you grab the floor mirror and place it in front of you, ready to admire your now famous face.

     You have turned Invisible.

     The End.