My Journey to Altador

     "I assume that you are not approaching me with any hopeful news, are you?"

     Nabile heaved a sigh as Jazan shook his head.

     "Our apologies, your majesty-"

     "Just Fyora please…"

     "Yes, well Fyora, we received note from our commanders in the Lost Desert, and the situation is dire. Therefore, both of us and Amira must excuse ourselves from the council," Nabile said. She turned to her husband. "Anything you'd like to add?"

     "Ahem. Yes, I think that others on the council may start to hear from their lands or pre-emptively decide to depart to prepare for the enemy assault. Dissolving the council may be the wise option here," Jazan added.

     Deep down, the words stung Queen Fyora. She had believed gathering everyone to discuss the situation would have produced a resolution of some sort by now, but instead, it made every land vulnerable; yet another blunder to add to her repertoire.

     However, given the circumstances, she saw little choice but to not make her mistake even bigger.

     "Please do be safe on your journey back. I can only apologize for leaving your land vulnerable in pursuit of a solution."

     Nabile shook her head. "Nonsense, nobody could have predicted such a thing."

     The Faerie Queen stared off into space and appeared lost in her thoughts.

     "Fyora?"

     "Oh yes, um, thanks," the queen replied, snapping out of it. I then approached her with my wing chair after spending this time observing the conversation she was having.

     "Excuse me, are you supposed to be here?" she asked, floating over to me.

     "I’m from the Neopian Times and would like a word."

     "Yes, Geo, I know who you are and why you're here. My question was whether you're supposed to be here…"

     I shrugged and continued looking at Fyora. "Neopians have the right to know what's going on here with the council. I'm here to fulfil that duty."

     "Oh well, there's nothing new to report."

     "My apologies, but I did overhear that last conversation. It looks like council members need to return home to defend their lands. Do you think it was a good idea to gather them all in one spot and leave their realms vulnerable?"

     Queen Fyora furrowed her eyebrows and flared her nostrils.

     "I don't appreciate you implying it was a bad idea with that line of questioning."

     I raised my eyebrows, astonished that the queen would lash out like that. The Faerie Queen noted the reaction, and her head drooped slightly. Before she could utter another word, King Altador stepped in between me and Fyora.

     "Alright, Geo, lets back away for now. We can have a chat in my office," the king insisted, pulling at my wing chair.

     "Alright, fine. Let's go."

     I followed the king into his office tucked in the back of the council chambers. Once inside, he opened up to me.

     "Look, Fyora has not been herself lately. She keeps thinking that she is some sort of failure. And this latest incident where leaders need to return to their lands does not help. I don't think you're going to get answers out of her right now," King Altador began.

          I reached into my pocket for my notepad and pen.

     "I understand she's under a lot of stress. However, I'm not sure why she thinks she's a failure."

     King Altador shook his head.

     "I don't know, she hasn't told me either. It appears to be something from her past that she is unwilling to confront. Anyways, I'd suggest giving her some space. I can answer some questions about the council."

     I took a deep breath. "Yes, do you think it was a mistake to invite everyone here now that the threat of the void has spread everywhere?"

     King Altador paused as he searched for an answer. His eyes lit up as he arrived at one.

     "Well, I don't know if we could have predicted the threat that we face. But given what we know, I don't think it was the best idea to call this council here. But, given what little we knew back then, I think we did our best here."

     Scribbling frantically as King Altador spoke, I then prepared my next question.

     "Ok, that's fair. But how worried should Neopians be if all the world leaders are returning to their lands and readying defences. Why is Queen Fyora not doing so as well? Does she know something that we don't?"

     "She's not very open about that. However, we do know that Aethia's been begging her to return to Faerieland so they can ready their defences.

     At that point, there was a knock at the door but then the Faerie Queen burst in.

     "Altador I… Geo what are you doing here still?"

     "I was just getting some answers from King Altador and.."

     "Please leave…"

     "Fyora, I don't know what's going on, but you've been very…"

     "I'm not going to ask you again…"

     Fearing what she might do if I stayed longer, I quickly cut the interview short and left the chambers. Outside the building, I noticed that Jerdana and Siyana were having some sort of conversation, the latter pressing her hands into her forehead, exasperated.

     "I still don't understand this void essence. It's unlike what this world has seen," Jerdana lamented.

     "It certainly does not have the same signature of any magic I've dealt with. It has nothing in common with what the Darkest Faerie was using to influence folks in Neopia," Siyana replied. She then turned towards me.

     "It looks like we have some company."

     "Oh, um hi, I can't help but overhear something about Void Essences and that they seemed out of this world. Do you think Neopians are in danger from them?"

     Jerdana stepped forward and shook her head. "We don't know still. Dr. Landelbrot and I have been studying them for a while without much progress."

     "I don't sense any dangerous magic emanating from it. However, I would have hoped to hear back from Luxinia and Baelia on this matter by now," Siyana added, her face drooping in concern.

     "You seem worried about them."

     "I am, hard not to be when I feel like Queen Fyora sent them out there without much of a plan."

     "You don't agree with Queen Fyora's move?"

     "I don't. I respect her as the Faerie Queen, but I think she should have had a better plan."

     "Do you think she made a mistaking bringing all the Neopian Leaders into one spot?"

     Siyana shrugged slightly, pausing to think for a bit.

     "I can see why she did that. But I think she should have asked each realm to send a representative rather than had them come here themselves. While it was nice to meet all of them finally, leaving their lands behind was a risk. That said, I hope she's successful, Neopia depends on it."

     "Gotta run back inside to help the doc," Jerdana interjected quickly before rushing back inside.

     The Light Faerie looked at me with a hint of scepticism and sighed as she watched Jerdana disappear back into the council chamber.

     "I don't know if I have the confidence to say Queen Fyora's leading things in the right direction."

     "What makes you say that?"

     Leaning closer to my wing chair and lowering her voice to a whisper after glancing at the surroundings, she continued.

     "She's been hiding things. Even when she saved Altador from the Darkest Faerie, she did not reveal any details about her. Where she came from, why she acted that way, what her true motives were. She just said she was evil and turned her into stone. Not even Jerdana was quite sure about the details. But the Darkest Faerie was doing some terrible things, so it was easy not to ask too many questions. However, I still get the feeling that Fyora's not been entirely truthful with us."

     As I continued scribbling in my notes, the doors to the council chambers swung open and the Faerie Queen stepped out. She gave me a piercing glare.

     "You're still here."

     "Yes, I was just talking to Siyana here."

     The queen opened her mouth and then closed it. Unfortunately, there was also a clatter as my clumsiness caused my notebook to slide out of my paws and tumble to the floor. Siyana tried to reach for it, but the Faerie Queen picked it up first. Even worse, it was flipped to the page where I had made notes about Siyana's scepticism. Queen Fyora stared at the notebook.

     "I can explain…" I began before Fyora put up her hand. She closed the notebook and handed it over to me, forcing a smile.

     "Good day to you both."

     She then swiftly walked away, which became a run as I could see her pull a handkerchief out of her pocket to wipe her face.

     "Oh dang… she's really upset," I commented.

     "Yeah, at herself especially. I know, that's why I've been reluctant to tell anyone else this. But I think she needs to know," Siyana added.

     "Well, thank you for your time."

     I disappeared to the humble abode that I was renting in Altador while I stayed to report on the void council. However, as I approached my desk, I found a white Weewoo from the Neopian Times headquarters sitting on my desk. I removed the letter it held in its beak and read it carefully.

     Dear Geo,

     It has come to our attention that a subject of your reporting has lodged a fairness complaint against your reports. As a result, it is our protocol to conduct an investigation. In the meantime, you are to remain on assignment to Altador and may continue covering news in that location. However, bear in mind that during this period, you are not to report on subjects involving Faerieland affairs including information relating to Queen Fyora.

     Thank you for your cooperation.

     Adel Err

     Neopian Times Editor-in-Chief

     I stared at the note in disbelief.

     "After all those years of tough reporting on Queen Fyora, now she chooses to complain? Perhaps I should go confront her. But wait, she can turn me into stone!" I muttered to myself loudly before a knock at the door distracted me. Opening it, I found Siyana and Psellia at my doorway.

     "So, we received a request from the Neopian Times to find you a semi-permanent place to dwell in Altador rather than this short-term rental you have here. Want to go Neohome hunting?" Psellia asked. Siyana noted my wing chair.

     "We have a few places that have doorways wide enough for your wing chair and well, all of them are near the city centre or the government district," the light faerie noted.

     I followed the two faeries out and they took me to the city centre. Immediately, I noticed a problem.

     "It's very noisy here, do people actually live here?"

     Behind me, I saw Psellia dozed off on a bench while Siyana sat with her, shaking her until she woke up again.

     "Oh goodness! Noise! Why are we here? My head hurts."

     "Alright, I think that means the quiet of the government district is more suitable," Siyana suggested.

     The three of us moved down a wild avenue lined with trees and plants until we happened upon a smaller road that took us slightly west of the Altadorian Hall of Heroes.

     "Actually, most of the Altadorian council lives here. Including us two."

     "I don't live much down here, I'm an air faerie. I live in the clouds!" Psellia commented.

     Siyana pointed to the home across the street. "I live there; the house across the street there is available."

     Floating my wing chair up to the house and inside, I observed the Neohome.

     "No second floor, it's all one floor so your wing chair can hover around no problem," Siyana continued.

     The Neohome was tidy and spacious, albeit a little simpler than what Faerieland Neohomes were like. This made things much easier for the wing chair to manoeuvre though so I decided after a few more looks that I would accept this Neohome.

     "I will take it."

     "Excellent, we'll let the Neopian Times know. Meanwhile… Psellia! It's time to go! I know you fell asleep on what is now Geo's couch!"

     The air faerie emerged from the living room, looking barely awake. "Aww, I was dreaming that the grey was gone."

     "I think we should leave our guest to settle in now and move his stuff for him here."

     With a snap of her finger, my stuff appeared in the living room. With magic, the two faeries were able to rearrange everything so it neatly fit. Once that was done, the two of them left house for me to settle in. I then took a step outside just to stroll around and see what was going on.

     Altador City was busy, bustling with activity as much as Faerie City. As I strolled around, I saw that despite the void rift in the sky, most people continued about their business, although a few of them would point at the sky and whisper. I took my wing chair around the various districts just to take in the environment. The Arena District itself was pretty empty, with signs still posted on the colosseum that the "Altador Cup was cancelled".

     The sun began to set, and it was getting dark, so I headed back to the Neohome. Outside of it, I noticed that a faerie was waiting, it was Queen Fyora herself.

     "Hello, Fyora… may I help you?" I asked as I opened the door.

     "Um, I'd like to come in if that's ok?"

     Before I could say yes, the queen stepped inside and closed the door behind her. She plopped down on the couch in the living room and then stared at the letter the NT had sent me.

     "Oof, I'm sorry about that Geo."

     Unsatisfied with the response, I pressed further.

     "Alright, your majesty. If you have a problem with my reporting, please tell me. I don't need you to go behind the scenes and make your sinister moves."

     "Excuse me?" the queen said, taken quite aback.

     "I know you complained to the Neopian Times."

     She shrugged and threw up her hands.

     "Ok, but to be fair, you've written a very critical piece that even they refused to publish."

     "Great! The editor can choose that! But you're supposed to be a leader. You've been around so long, and now you choose to be upset at the Neopian Times?"

     "Look, fine, I'm sorry I put you through what appears to be a disciplinary process. It's been a rough time for me and…"

     "Every Neopian is going through a rough time. None of us know when we're going to be greyed or voided or whatever!"

     At that, the queen buried her face in her hands and began to sob loudly. With that, I floated my wing chair next to her and offered her a box of tissues.

     "That was harsh, I could have said it better," I admitted.

     The queen took the box. She blew her nose in astonishingly loud fashion before she turned to me.

     "Look, there are a few things I'm not ready to admit yet. And a few things that I really can't tell you right now. I promise it's for the good of Neopia."

     "But why can't you?"

     "Geo, I just can't tell you right now because all I have is a hunch and not any confirmation. Please respect that. I'm sorry for my complaint to the Neopian Times. You're right, I should be above that. But I'm clearly not. If you can meet me at Exquisite Ambrosia at the end of the week, I promise I can try to make it right for you again."

     The queen seemed genuine, so I nodded and held out my paw for her to shake which she gently grasped and shook. The Queen then disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.

     --

     The end of the week arrived sooner rather than later, and Queen Fyora and I found ourselves at a table in Exquisite Ambrosia, face to face with each other.

     "Altadorian Cobb Salad and Altador Meatloaf" the server announced, bringing to platters over to our table.

     "Thank you!"

     Fyora began after both of us took a few bites of our meals. "Alright, first order of business, about the Neopian Times. They said they would allow you to report on Faerieland again, but they genuinely need reporters based in Altador, so they'll ask you to consider the reassignment anyway."

     "I'll probably consider splitting time between the two places. There are a lot of things to report on. But that solves one problem. Still, I get the feeling you're hiding something. The other day, I heard whispers of something called the Faerie Artificer. Know anything about that?" I asked.

     The queen shifted uncomfortably, seemingly wanting to avoid the question. "Well, it used to be a position in the Faerieland government."

     "Ok, why was it needed?"

     "I can't tell you why," Fyora said.

     "Why? What's the issue?"

     "Without being able to share everything, having only partial details will cause panic and anxiety. Trust me. You don't want to know."

     "How can you just assume that Neopians somehow couldn't handle the truth?"

     A stern glare washed over her face as she pondered her next answer, and she folded her arms.

     "Look, I got your name restored. I don't really think this is the right time to try and talk through this other stuff. You can choose to not have confidence in me, but don't try to represent me as someone who does not know what they are doing. I let anyone who needs to leave the council go take care of their land and might do so myself soon. I do not want to focus on whether things were right decisions or not since they are in the past."

     Fearing that the void stresses were getting to her and that pressing her further would not get me anywhere, I decided my best option was to finish my meal and thank her for rectifying her mistake.

     "Dessert?" the server asked.

     The queen stared at the dessert menu and looked at me. I nodded back at her.

     "How about some Chocolate Rose Petal Ice Cream?"

     "I guess, thanks for not totally banishing me from Faerieland."

     The Faerie Queen rolled her eyes.

     "I've heard it all, it's either me turning someone into stone or banishing them lately. It's getting old so I need to find some new reason for people to fear me."

     "You could start by explaining the Faerie Artificer to me."

     "Nice try, but our chocolate ice cream is here so yeah, you wouldn't want that to melt, would you?

     I sighed and shook my head.

     "I'm not going to ever get it out of you, aren't I?"

     "You'll find out if it's necessary."

     The two of us finished out the ice cream and went our separate ways. The queen back to the council chambers and I back to my new Neohome. So, I would be even busier, tackling both reporting on Faerieland and Altador, along with other reporters too, but there were always going to be more news stories to cover.

     The End.