Neopia: 300 BN
“...and if that wasn’t enough, he’s established a Marrow Tax! A Marrow Tax! Can you imagine?” The Purple Lupe was dressed in green Meridellian garb. He had with him a number of other Neopets seeking shelter in Lightwater Forest from King Skarl and his terrible taxes!
“I do understand. You and your band are welcome to stay here as long as you like, of course. I’ll see if I can’t make Skarl see sense!” Illusen sighed. Some sort of plague had fallen on Meridell and nothing she tried seem to be able to get rid of it. Perhaps she should fly to Faerieland and find Jhudoa for advice? But more and more Jhudora was getting a dark reputation–nothing that anyone could prove–but sinister whispers surrounded her old friend. She shook her head. It was all likely left over from that Terask business. Jhudora should have let her participation be known!
Illusen arrived at Meridell Castle just as a group of knights were returning. She stayed on the side and listened. “This Golden Orb shall bring new prosperity and health to our realm!” The lead knight proclaimed. Even as she watched, Illusen felt the power of the artefact! One activated it seemed to reach out, healing and curing all!
“Excellent! You’ve done splendidly! Let us discuss this over a feast!”
Once they left the room Illusen pondered whether to follow or to investigate the Orb. Then she saw a figure like a purple shadow steal into the room! Jhudora was clearly visible as she approached the Golden Orb. She frowned at it and began canting, sigils of green and violet light surrounded it and settled into it. As it reached its height, Illusen stepped into view, breaking the last spell.
“Jhudora! What are you doing? What’s the meaning of this?”
“Don’t you know dear Illusen? Well, you’ll soon find out! And you’ll regret having interrupted that last spell!”
“But what were you doing? This artefact is healing Meridell!”
“Go back to your Grove, Illusen! You’re out of your depth here!” Jhudora frowned and teleported away in a puff of acidic green and dark purple smoke. Illusen got close to the artefact and tried to listen to its magic. Healing and protection were there, but something else was too! Hard as she tried, though, she couldn’t figure out what it was! More importantly she wasn’t sure if it had always been or if Jhudora put it there!
“Oh Jhudora. What have you done?” she said in a whisper, feeling a break in her heart. She wiped a tear and went back to her Grove. Perhaps now that the plague was ending Skarl would end his absurd taxes! Perhaps now everything would be alright!
*** Neopia: Year 5
“What I still don’t get is why Meridell didn’t suffer a similar fate to Darigan when the Orb broke.” The Ixi Mage had come to Illusen for help with a healing potion. “I mean, when those knights stole it, it inflicted that curse.”
Illusen frowned and shook her head. “It is a puzzle, I admit, but we need to focus on this potion or it’ll never get done!”
The potion was coming along beautifully, eventually turning the appropriate color after the last bits of reagents had been added. “Yes, you’re right, of course. Still it makes you wonder doesn’t it? It’s almost like whatever caused the first curse was removed somehow.”
Illusen remembered Jhudora’s magic. And then her own anger when Darigan transformed. She was sure Jhudora had done it, but now…was the last spell she interrupted the one that would have stopped even that? She didn’t know and that bothered her.
Once the mage left, she looked in the sky towards where Faerieland was, thinking of her anger at Jhudora. Her suspicions, which she’d been too quick and eager to share. “What have I done?”
*** Neopia: Present
Illusen had walked all the way from her Grove to Faerieland. Again. Not long after its fall she had made the argument against raising it into the sky, but now it seemed as though history were about to repeat itself! She didn’t go to the city proper, though. Somehow, despite all this time, the city still looked wrecked.
She made her way instead to a bluff on the outskirts of Faerieland, close to the Haunted Woods. It was Jhudora’s Bluff and it was dark and cold. She looked at it and began to sing:
“Once did a fairy, who thought herself kind,
“Let suspicion and hatred take sway.
“And this toxic poison let take over her mind,
“And thus pushed her best friend away.
“Can you hear me Jhudora? Will you give a sign?
“As unworthy as I may be, I’d talk once again,
“And admit to the fault that is mine.
“For there’s no faerie as much a fool as I’ve been.
“For such is the nature of self-righteousness,
“A sureness that eats at ones soul,
“And takes away mercy leaving one much less
“With a terrible resounding toll.
“Can you hear me Jhudora? Will you give a sign?
“As unworthy as I may be, I’d talk once again,
“And admit to the fault that is mine.
“For there’s no faerie as much a fool as I’ve been.
“Thus does the night go and thus does the day,
“The moon and sun making their rounds.
“And all this time that you’ve been away,
“I’ve been reconsidering my ground.
“Can you hear me Jhudora? Will you give a sign?
“As unworthy as I may be, I’d talk once again,
“And admit to the fault that is mine.
“For there’s no faerie as much a fool as I’ve been.
She finished singing, her voice like mournful bells across the empty night. For a breathless moment all seemed possible, but then the night moved on. Illusen hung her head in sorrow and shame. She should have known better. How could she expect Jhudora to forgive her when she could not forgive herself?
Then, suddenly, there was a purple light behind her! In front of her, Jhudora appeared. “Well, it took you long enough!” She cackled and offered a hand, which Illusen took. “We’ve got a lot to talk about!”
