Brotherly, Sisterly Love (Well, Kind Of): Part One

     The Shoyru was jerked awake. She sat bolt upright in bed, rubbing her groggy eyes, heart pounding. The darkness of her bedroom was almost suffocating... her eyes ranged from her closed door to the clock on her bedside table. Furious, she took a fistful of her bed sheets and grimaced.

     It was six o'clock in the morning.

     Who wakes up this early? Her mind was going in a million directions, until she heard it yet again. A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek pierced the air and she jumped, shocked, toppling out of bed.

     Her bedroom door banged open. Light from the hallway flooded in, and the silhouette of her brother was framed in the doorway. Blinking in the bright light, she slowly got to her feet and stretched, struggling to make sense of the commotion.

     Alec slammed the door shut and flicked on the light. He was a jelly Blumaroo with whom Xrai did not get along. He opened the door slowly, so that it was ajar, casting a wary eye upon the hallway through the crack. "I think I lost her."

     Xrai was mutinous, not happy to have been woken. "Lost who?"

     "Courtney," he replied, referring to their owner. He snapped the door shut and wheeled to face her. He recoiled at the expression on her face and swallowed hard.

     Livid, she stomped forward and, going toe-to-toe with her younger menace of a brother, growled, "Why are you running from her?"

     He blinked, and in his mind he did a quick check of who he feared most: Xrai, or Courtney. Waking Xrai while she was sleeping, especially at six in the morning, was not a smart move. It was almost as sure a death sentence as poking the sleeping Snowager in the eye with a stick. Weakly, he tried to smile. "I -- I was going to drop a water balloon on our neighbors," he said earnestly, backing away and speaking soothingly as if trying to calm a wild and angry Tonu. "See, they've got this annual gardening thing going on, and little Billy was coming around the corner -- how was I supposed to know Courtney was helping them?"

     "So you dropped a water balloon on our owner?"

     Alec nodded, hoping she would see the dire circumstance here and his absolute need for a hiding place.

     Xrai pushed him forward, wrenched open the bedroom door, and shoved him, hard, onto the floor. He spun around to stare at her. Fuming, Xrai spat, "The next time you wake me up, the house had better be on fire."

     She slammed it shut.

     ****

     Eight thirty rolled around. Much better, thought Xrai. A much more reasonable waking hour. The Halloween Shoyru tidied up her room, threw open the curtains, and quickly brushed her teeth. Thundering down the stairs, she passed her little sister, Cuni. The baby Uni was in a frenzy and kept tripping on her way up the stairs.

     "What's the hurry?" queried Xrai.

     "Dare's a sale going on at Usuki Wand!" gasped the Uni, an all-out Usuki fanatic. Xrai paused and watched the Uni round the corner and come to a crashing halt in her bedroom. She heard Cuni rummaging through her drawers, and when she came bolting out of her room again it was with a pouch of hard-earned Neopoints from lemonade stands and a trail of Usukis at her feet.

     Xrai followed her into the kitchen, where her family was seated around the table. Alec was looking more ill tempered than usual, a grouchy look on his face as he slumped in his seat. Beside him sat a plushie Kougra, Snickers, Xrai's other younger brother. Snickers was shooting him furtive glances and looking perplexed. Across from Alec was Courtney, who, indeed, looked as bitter as Alec did. Her short, dark hair was slightly wet and her merry eyes had a rather unpleasant gleam in them.

     At the sight of Xrai, Alec barked, "There you are. Jeez, Xrai, we've been waiting all morning!"

     Cuni was dancing in anticipation at Courtney's side. "Couwtney," she pleaded, jingling her pouch of Neopoints in the air, "when can we go? What if all da Usukis are taken already?" The baby Uni looked horrified at the very prospect and she clapped a hoof to her mouth. "You said we could -- could go to da sale -- "

     Smiling slightly, Courtney replied, "Soon. After breakfast, okay?" She shifted in her seat and glared at Alec across the table, who steadied his gaze and glared back. Snickers sensed the tension and rested his head on the table, focusing on the window that framed a beautiful Neopian day outside of their hostile Neohome.

     Cuni calmed slightly, but it could not have been plainer than she wanted to leave the house as quickly as possible.

     Xrai pulled on an apron and regarded Alec through curious eyes. "Why have you been waiting for me all morning?"

     Alec rolled his eyes and gestured at their owner. "Duh. You know Courtney can't brown a slice of toast without blowing up the toaster."

     Courtney shot him a warning look. True though that statement may be, she was in no mood to allow Alec's jokes to pass unnoticed. "Alec," she said, in a dangerous voice that had Alec making a mental note to revise his living will, "I was going to let you off the hook, but you're being such a smart-mouth." She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "You're grounded. You're not to leave your room today. Get it?"

     Alec stared at her, open-mouthed. "But -- but today I'm going over to Shiverz's house with Snickers so we can -- "

     Courtney's dark eyes bore into him and he choked on his words. Their owner tossed a loose strand of hair out of her way and leaned forward. "Get it?" she prompted.

     Defeated, he mumbled, "Got it."

     Satisfied, Courtney leaned back in her chair and said sweetly, "Good."

     ****

     The Battledome was packed with pets and owners alike. Xrai gripped the handle of her trusty sword and leaned against the glass that enclosed the arena. Her eyes wandered from the arena to the many stands that would be soon filled with citizens eager to watch the battle. The Shoyru's gaze fell upon a Quiggle across the stadium, who was fingering a weapon and looking nervous. She smiled. He could only be her opposition.

     In no time at all, the clock struck noon and the stands were crowded. Xrai took her place in a small boxed in area with nothing but the bench on which she sat. On the other side of the arena was a similar boxed in area, occupied by the trembling green Quiggle who was eyeing her with great apprehension. She grinned at his unease.

     "Ladies and gentleman!" boomed a voice that appeared to come out of nowhere. The crowd of Neopians' chattering voices died away instantly and there were hoots of satisfaction. "Allow me to introduce Xrai the Halloween Shoyru!"

     Applause rang out, marred by stamping feet and shrieks of glee.

     "And, the challenger -- Claude the green Quiggle!"

     Polite cheers and clapping were offered, and the Quiggle's face was flooded with crimson as he blushed.

     "Are you ready? Set... BATTLE!"

     The metal door on Xrai's box creaked open and she calmly entered the arena. The Quiggle burst from his box, stumbled, and nearly fell, but caught himself at the last second. Eager, he pulled out a sword. Xrai grinned and started forward...

     It was a fierce battle, complete with cries of emotion displayed by the audience. Time and time again, their blades met with a ringing clang. The Quiggle, determined, knocked her blade out of her hand and Xrai, caught off guard, backed away. Instantly the Quiggle pulled out... a Quiggle Tongue Whip.

     With a crack the whip bound her and Xrai found herself the unwanted victim of a very strong bond. She thrashed but could not wriggle herself free. Teetering, she overbalanced and fell to her knees. The Quiggle looked shocked to see her at his mercy and, surprising even himself, he cried out, "Ha! I knew I could win!"

     Xrai snorted, doubled over with the effort of getting back to her feet. "You haven't won."

     He sneered, but he did not look confident. "Oh, yeah? Whatcha gonna do about it?"

     The Shoyru smiled at him sweetly and said, "I'm sorry."

     "Sorry for wh -- ?"

     She did a series of twists and turns, could not break free, and fell upon the strength in her legs. She made a great kick and sent the Quiggle sprawling. With a victorious gesture, she snatched up his fallen blade between her teeth, using hidden reserves of strength as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She brought it down... between her momentum, the adrenaline, and the blade's sharp tip, the Quiggle had a sudden fear, and not quite an irrational one, that he might lose his life...

     The blade stuck itself into the ground, sticking out at a very odd angle. The Quiggle, having closed his eyes and guarded his face with his hands, peeked out to see the damage she had done to his blade mere inches away from his fallen body. With a terrified squeak, he surrendered.

     "XRAI WINS!"

     The customary handshake followed, and Xrai found herself exiting the arena to backslaps and and cheers.

     "Hey, great win, Xrai!"

     "Wait to show him, Xrai!"

     "XRRRAAII!"

     She halted in her tracks at the urgency in this voice. She knew that voice... it was oddly familiar...

     And she was nearly bowled over by the figure of a plushie Kougra. The crowd scattered as Xrai, tempted by her quick reflexes, dodged him, and her brother, carried by his momentum, was sent flying into the nearly empty stands. "Snickers?" She moved forward, surprised, and placed her blade on the bleacher. A gaggle of onlookers laughed but moved away as Xrai shot them a glare. "Snickers -- what are you doing here? What's the matter?"

     Her brother rose and dusted himself off, looking petrified. His face was etched with lines of worry and he appeared to be jittery. "Xrai, it's... it's awful -- you've got to come -- "

     "What's awful?"

     "It's -- come on -- I'm not sure if Courtney knows, but -- "

     "Snickers, what?"

     "Come ON!"

     He tugged at her arm and, her blade forgotten, the two sprinted by tightly-knit groups of Neopians, scattering a fan club and knocking down a little Chia wearing a baseball cap. His wails of "MOMMY!" echoed in Xrai's mind, but whatever could drive Snickers to the edge of insanity with worry was much more important.

     "Snickers," she cried, out of breath, as they flew on through Neopia Central, "Snickers -- just -- tell -- me!"

     "No time!"

     The two created a scene at the Rainbow Pool. A Krawk holding a Starry Paint Brush was knocked aside and collided with a Cybunny holding a Shadow Paint Brush. The pair was hurled into the depths of the mystical waters and resurfaced looking like the masterpiece of a two-year-old, stars lining their backs and splashes of shadow blotching their faces. Xrai and Snickers saw none of this, however. The two were already hurtling down the path in the woods that would lead to their home in Guild Street.

     "Snickers, is everyone -- okay -- ?"

     "Yeah -- I think -- so -- "

     "Then what's the problem?" Xrai was exasperated.

     Snickers would not budge, though. His leg snagged the tip of a stick, resulting in a cry of pain from Snickers and several purple loose threads on the branch from his plushie form. But he sprinted onward, increasing Xrai's worry tenfold with each step they took.

     "Snickers -- WHAT?" Xrai queried, one last time.

     But as they rounded the corner and exited the woods, coming upon Guild Street, she saw, quite clearly, what.

     She gasped. Tears came to her eyes but she had no time to think about blinking them away. Outrunning Snickers, she burst through the crowd that had circulated around the sidewalk near her Neohome. It had once been a safe haven. It was now aflame.

     Smoke billowed out of every crack, and flames licked the cobblestone path that lead to their porch.

     Their house was on fire.

     "No!" In her mind it was a resounding scream, but it passed her lips as a whisper. The dizzying effects of this scene before her had her sinking to her knees. She shook her head and rose to her feet again, just as Snickers appeared at her side. Tears matted his plushie exterior and he suddenly looked limp.

     It was mesmerizing. The smoke hovered over their home as the fire crackled and roared. Citizens of the neighborhood had filtered out of their Neohomes, muttering and whispering. "Oh, how awful," they chorused. "What a shame!"

     Xrai could not bear to hear their words. This was not their life burning to cinders before their eyes. It was hers... and it was Snickers', and everything they had known and loved was a flaming death trap...

     The thought burst like a bubble in her mind, and Xrai rounded on Snickers, yanking them both out of a stupor. "Snickers," she cried over the mumblings of the crowd and the roar of the fire, "is everyone okay?"

     He shrugged helplessly and nodded in the direction of a member of the Chia Police Force that was heading their way. The Chia, clad in navy blue, was upon them. Gravely, he asked her, "This is your home, yes?"

     She could not respond. The weight of what was happening had silenced her. Where was her owner? Her sister?

     Snickers answered for her. "Yes, it's ours."

     "Is everyone out of the house?"

     At this, Xrai let out a cry. "Oh, Fyora, no -- the Petpets!" Her poor Snowbunny... she was nearly blind!

     "Well, we've notified the fire department and they're on their way."

     A terrified girl flung herself onto the scene. Appearing at the Chia's side, she was hysterical. "Oh my word -- I was just coming down the street -- is everyone here? What happened? Is everyone okay?" Courtney's shoulders shook with repressed sobs and her eyes ranged from Xrai, to Snickers. As the Chia began to talk her down, tears blossomed in their owner's eyes and she clapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes fixed on the burning of their Neohome.

     Xrai thought of her sister's Miamouse... she was a frightened little thing, and she was ensnared by the crackling fire. As if on cue, Cuni galloped and skidded to a halt, boxes of Usukis left lying in her wake. Her cries punctured Xrai's thoughts.

     Oh, and Alec's poor Mazzew...

     As if in slow motion, her mind began to wrap itself around the reality of a thought that had just come to mind. Cuni and Courtney had been at Usuki Land... Snickers had been at a friend's house... Xrai had been at the Battledome...

     Alec was grounded... in his bedroom!

     Without conscious thought, without voicing her idea, she sprang away from her family and the Chia, leaving behind her bewildered owner, brother, and sister. Xrai dashed to the edge of the crowd just in time to see a battalion of Chias donning red suits blast into view. The crowd, as one, moved aside to allow them passage, and Xrai backed away. They skidded to a halt and flooded the area, carrying hoses and safety equipment.

     There was no time to alert the Chias. The firefighters would first have to get information about her brother, and then... oh, she'd wasted enough precious time already!

     The Shoyru threw herself behind a group of Chias and beat the air with her powerful wings. Hovering in the air, she glimpsed Snickers' horrified face but ignored the nagging "you're-going-to-regret-this" voice in her head.

     Oh, all the times I've fought with him -- hang in there, Alec!

     She flew around to the side of the house, hidden within the dense foliage (Alec was right, they had gone on a gardening spree next-door...). The thought of her brother overturned her insides and she swallowed hard. She was sure that officials would attempt to stop her if they could see her...

     She burst from the thick bushes and spotted an open window near the back of her house. Flying to the backyard, where she was no longer visible to the anxious crowd, she flew to the window, hoping...

     "Yes!"

     There were no flames at all. The floor beneath her feet felt warm as she descended... a smoky feel was in the air, but it was not so dense that she would suffocate... she hoped, anyway...

     Alec, where are you? Come on, you maniac...

     She recognized the room as Cuni's. Usukis littered the floor. It was astonishingly pink. Nestled beneath the bed, she saw, was...

     "Cybana! Shyle!"

     Her Snowbunny emerged at the sound of her voice, and Cuni's Petpet followed suit, whimpering with terror. "Come here, you guys," Xrai whispered, crouching low. Cybana immediately obeyed. Shyle, the Miamouse, however, squeaked and dashed to the door, going berserk with terror.

     "SHYLE -- NO!"

     Xrai darted for the open door, making a mad dash for the Miamouse's destination -- her brother, Alec's, room.

     She almost made it, too.

To be continued...