Story
Chapter 15: Hope is the Thing With Feathers
Drakara and Vocivus move on to their next target: the Rainbow Fountain. As the fallen artificer gloats over her creations, destruction, and machinations, Baelia must find the bravery to choose her own path.
Drakara
Is something the matter, my precious caged bird? Don’t tell me you’re so grateful you’ve been stunned into silence…
Baelia
...
Tavi
Don’t listen to her, B.
Drakara
Stay out of this, pest. You’ve already led her astray once, I won’t have you doing it again.
Baelia
This… this is all my fault.
Drakara
Hmm?
Baelia
That Paint Brush… the Grey Painter… all the grey, all over Neopia… it was because of me.
Drakara
That’s right, Grey Faerie. It’s all your fault…
Drakara
And there’s no fixing it now. All that’s left for you to do is take the Acrimonious Paint Brush, and become who you truly are.
Baelia
Y-you… you don’t know who I am…
Drakara
Don’t I?
Drakara
You are a Grey Faerie. You were once a promising artificer. But you’ve lost your power, lost your beauty, lost your wings… you’re helpless without me.
Drakara
Just like Fifi is.
Drakara
So take it. Take the power I am offering you.
Baelia
No… I’m not…
Drakara
Yes you are! You, Grey Faerie, are the only one fit to truly wield the Acrimonious Paint Brush. To use it to destroy what’s left of Neopia’s vitality – to make everyone feel what we once felt!
Baelia
I… I can’t do that. I won’t do that!
Drakara
Of course you can. And you will.
Drakara
My weapons are powerful, but can only shine in the right hands. In your hands.
Drakara
Isn’t this what you want? To connect with others, at last? Together, the two of us can make them all understand.
Drakara
Neither of us will ever be alone, or cast out, ever again.
Baelia
I...
Baelia
...
Baelia
I...!
Drakara
…Ah. I see. No, it isn’t power you want… You want something else I was able to gain after my exile.
Drakara
You want something greater. More precious.
Drakara
You want… a name.
Drakara
And I am the only one who can give one to you.