Trial Along The Haunted Forest Path

     "What can I do for you, old hag?" he asked politely. The crone's eyes decided to briefly work together, fixing themselves on his face for a few intense seconds before wandering off in different directions again. She cackled wildly and pointed a crooked finger at him. Near him, anyway. Actually a couple of feet to his left. Wonky eyes must affect your depth perception, Jack thought with mild interest.

     The hag cackled again, and lowered the shawl from her face. Jack winced at the sight of her unpleasant visage, but tried not to do so too obviously. He was a well mannered Yurble after all.

     "If thee wishes to proceed," she intoned mysteriously, "thee must provide me what I need; answer me my questions two, for only then can thee go through! You have to get at least one right, or else become a shroom you might! If you are once mistaken, some misfortune will awaken. Should you instead succeed, I'll no longer be freed!"

     Puzzled as he was, Jack couldn't rule out the possibility of the crone possessing powerful magic, perhaps the kind that only works once certain conditions are met such as one failing to answer a question or two correctly. After all, magic comes in many forms across Neopia and unfortunately, Jack was without magic of his own to counter. Hesitant to assume the risk but uncertain of a way out of his current predicament, Jack yielded to this unwelcomed challenge.

     "Fine," said Jack with a sigh. "Ask away."

     The hag cackled again, hopping excitedly from one foot to the other in the same way a stumpy old Quiggle would. However powerful this old Kyrii was, she didn't appear to feel threatening which at least put Jack's mind at ease. Perhaps she was lonely and just wanted to have some fun.

     "What," she asked with a sly grin, "has 1 wheel and flies?"

     Perplexing indeed. Wheels are meant to enhance movement on the ground, not in the air; could such a thing exist in Neopia? Jack massaged his chin in thought while quietly pondering the marvels that existed in Neopia. From toys to furniture to even wearables (because let's face it, Neopia is home to some of the most unique customizations out there), Jack cycled through various lists of things that could potentially match the description he was given. After a short pause, Jack's ears perked up as he placed his left clenched fist into his right open palm. Alas, there was a petpet that fit the description just nicely!

     "That's easy," replied Jack. "A Faerie Wheelie!"

     "SEVEN!!" shrieked the crone as she shook her head and extended her arms to the sky, flailing them wildly. Jack frowned, and scratched his head in confusion.

     "Seven? What does that even mean? That makes no sense."

     The crone cackled with evident glee. Suddenly, a group of seven Batterfly emerged from a nearby tree while holding a miniaturized Wheel of Misfortune on their backs as they flapped intensely above Jack. Jack scooted out of the way as they let the wheel drop, which enlarged to its proper size.

     "MY question, MY rules. I say the answer is seven Batterfly. You're wrong, wrong, wrong!"

     Oh, THAT kind of wheel. Jack sighed again, and mentally shrugged. He wanted to dispute the blatant trickery, but deranged old crones were obviously impervious to reason.

     Jack had no time to lament however; the miniature Wheel of Misfortune spun slowly by itself, almost as if bewitched by his failed answer. Jack watched intently as it slowed and the pointer landed on the red potion space, which any Neopian knew meant that disease was imminent. Sure enough, Jack started to suffer from a case of blurred vision, causing his eyesight to distort the area around him. That blasted hag! How dare she cause such misfortune to an innocent bystander. Jack shuddered at the thought of getting the second question wrong and what that would entail for him, but maintained his composure. He must keep cool and succeed at all costs!

     "Not exactly fair, but whatever. Ask the second question."

     The crone rubbed her hands together in glee. "You'll never get this one," she said slyly. "It's a doozy! I was up all night thinking of it; why, if you get it right I'll be a Purple Spotted Shroom again! Are you ready?"

     Perhaps it was his blurred vision which heightened his other senses and made his hearing stronger, but at that moment Jack couldn't help but zone in on her last words. Words that were inadvertently in the form of a question.

     "Yes," replied Jack smugly.

     Suddenly there was a loud "POP" - and a knee high Purple Spotted Shroom appeared on the path at his feet. A Purple Spotted Shroom sporting an unsightly growth, from which sprouted a single black hair. Jack smiled to himself, then stepped carefully before the fungi and placed it in his backpack. Impervious to the reason she might be, he thought, but rules are rules and magic works both ways. Next time she'll be a little more careful when asking a second question.

     Still, he couldn't leave the old hag alone. Spending the rest of her life as a shroom was a sad fate indeed. After traversing the remaining path carefully and stopping by the pharmacy to pick up a cure for his blurred vision, Jack arrived at the bookstore and picked up a copy of "A Guide to Find the Right Cure". He wasn't sure if there was a way to undo magic that could turn Neopets into shrooms, but he was determined to help the old hag one way or another.

     The End.