A Post-Fyora Faerieland

     Fyora’s abdication and the subsequent dissolving of the Faerie Monarchy have rattled a recovering Neopia, none more so than the citizens of Faerieland itself.

     Questions are swirling;

     What is this Council?

     Who will be on it?

     When will things go back to normal?

     Where is Fyora now?

     I, Gorel Goldenrod, headed to the beleaguered region to get some on-the-ground insight, starting with the governance changes.

      “I’m not focused on who sits on what Council,” A Koi, Gissog, stops sweeping and wipes his brow. His home, a small island dotted by closely-entwined trees within a lake of The Forest of Fay, was badly damaged by the void attack, though you wouldn’t know it from the outside. “The priority should be repairing our homes first, it’s what I would do. I can kip well enough under the water, but a meerca? They’re not doing that.”

     I ask if he’s seen Faeries – of any type – help folks like him repair the damage. “A few,” He shrugs. “Mostly Earth Faeries. They can’t help but give quests, but they know we’re stressed. One asked me for ‘That stick. That one. In particular,’ Just a regular stick three feet away. When I gave it to her, she grew my trees and wound them together, then blessed them with a defence spell.”

     After that, I walk the paths of The Forest of Fay, talking with others. A blue Bori estimates it will take months to repair her burrow. “One of those great hulking … things! …. Infected the dirt. My walls won’t stay up!”

     Following more interviews, more questions, I enter the city. It’s interesting to see damage and be uncertain who did it - The Crash by a certain Xweetok? An overly excited Void-Entity? Who can say.

      If I wanted to get the inside scoop on potential Council members, my first stop is to the Faerie who knew everything – Sheshatia. We sit at a table.

     “First, there’s Luxinia and Iridesia –”

     “Iridesia? Who is that?”

     “They’ll introduce themselves when they’re ready. Trust me, they’re a friend,” She sips at her tea. “Aethia will be involved, of course. The difficult part, I’m seeing, is finding ordinary Neopians to join. There’s plenty, but how do you pick? Quaglor explored the Faerie Caves; he knows the ins and outs of this region. Celandra was Fyora’s maid; she must have a good head on her shoulders. Orion…” She pulls a sympathetic face and moves on. “It is a lot of work, and not many jump to serve.”

     Was? Had Queen Fyora [Editor’s Note: Stop saying Queen! It breaks my editing flow!] Let her go when she let go of her crown?

      Danslee, owner of Faerie City Caterers, is hesitant. “We have so few female rulers of major regions in Neopia; I took a lot of pride in being ruled by a queen.” The Faerie Chomby tells me in the middle of her kitchen, which is otherwise intact besides a missing wall. Shimmering magic – like a bubble – is the only indication that something protects the space.

     “I’m sure this …Council will be fine – I trust Iridesia and Luxinia. Just…a strong female leader was nice, you know? Who doesn’t make a few errors in their job?” She sighs. “I suppose change is always difficult.”

     Danslee gives me something to ponder; With Fyora’s abdication, the only female rulers are Queens Amira and Nabile.

      This thought is far away from most of the citizens of Faerieland as they help each other, with sorcerers of all species doing minor repairs, casting away debris and repairing lamps. A Dark Faerie (after taking a moment to make sure no one saw her – but I did!) even took the time to repair a Chia Superball.

     But I spot something unusual - a cart has stopped on the cobbled streets, with Meridell Taters painted upon it. Two Kaus unload crates upon crates of produce in front of a restaurant as a Kacheek marks a clipboard.

     “You’re a long way from home,” I say by way of greeting.

      She looks up. ”Indeed, we are, sir. Relief delivery from Meridell. When we recovered, our King – who also recovered, yanno – sent out an edict; Any farms with a surplus to take ‘em to Faerieland. Fyora had been so helpful and nice t’him, he says, durin’ his grey spell, that he wanted to help out in return. An’ ya don’t say no when Skarl is doin’ somethin’ kind. An’ the Brightvalers are doin’ something similar, sir.”

     It makes sense; As repairs are underway, the farms may need to be checked for curses, retilled, and other farm-related things until food can grow. I don’t think it will take long to get back to a semblance of normalcy when all of Neopia is pitching in!

     There’s a bulletin board outside of a small cafe. A plethora of help wanted ads, including asking for certain types of Faeries to contact them, asking for their blessing for everything from curing the aftermath of Void Poisoning to finding a lost Meekins. These messages litter the boards.

     While I read about Delina seeking new Crafting Apprentices to keep up with the new demand, a figure is suddenly beside me, reading the pleas for help. “Oh, the faeries are abandoning us again!” They sneer. “Now we’re begging them for help on a message board?”

     Normally, as a reporter, I don’t want to influence citizens who speak openly, but I gently push back. “Oh, I’ve heard plenty of stories of faeries helping out today.”

     They scoff. “Even if their so-called blessings are useless.” They put on a mocking tone. “‘Ooh, your speed increased. ‘I healed three hit points,’,” They turned to me. All I can see is that their fur is green. “But Fyora could fix everything with a snap – She still has the power, the ability – and isn’t helping, right?”

     I - silently - concede that it didn’t appear Fyora herself was helping. It may have shown on my face, because the person steps in closer, took my paw, and presses something within. “If you want to do something about it – with others – find us.” Before I can respond, they take off, head down, hooded, moving furtively.

     Readers, I can’t tell you what the note said – it’s in some sort of code – [Editor’s Note: Working on deciphering it!] But there was one question I didn’t get to ask the mysterious figure (Though I can surmise from our conversation), the one I asked everybody I interviewed today;

     Do you have any idea where Fyora is now?

     No one did – But Sheshatia had an inkling of an idea.

     “She’s discovering who she is.” A heavy book titled Fyora’s Rule was soon on the table. “Fyora was queen for longer than most of Neopia has been alive. She has to learn who she is without the title.”

     I can tell you that Faerieland will take time to return to the ethereal state we all know and love – albeit one with big changes. There is no time estimate on the formation of the Council or the restoration of civic service. But Neopians are helping each other with the tenacity and kindness that has gotten us through nearly three years of grey; We can weather anything together.

     — Gorel Goldenrod [Editor’s note: And me!]

     The End.