A/N: This story predates the first Game Over. I think it was around Neopet's Y6 or 7, or at least our 2004 and 2005, back when I was an active Neopets user. Yes, I'm writing about my pet (or what formally was my pet, long story); since I got a Game Over story idea that follows from this one, I'm hoping your reviews to this will give me the motivation to dive back into Neopia and finish it. Motivation is a scarce mistress at times.

As it's old old (for my work at least), the first chapter or two isn't going to be pretty even though I have corrected the grammar and stuff since then. General corniness, mostly. Nevertheless, I hope you all enjoy.

As a final note, this was originally intended for the Neopian Times. However, a short talk with a Neopets-savvy familiar of mine that I gave the overall summary of the story to told me that the NT wouldn't take it due to... well, check the genre.

Chapter 1

24TH day of Hunting, 10:04 PM

Waterspace around Mystery Island

As most stories begin with a dark and story night, I'll keep up the tradition by saying that it was a dark and stormy night. And I mean dark and stormy. Anyway…

It was a dark and stormy night on Mystery Island. All the inhabitants had taken cover in what grass huts haven't blown away or in one of the caves scattered about. Some thought that someone was angry. Someone was (another poor soul had failed Jhudora's Quest again), but she had nothing to do with this story's main plot.

A strange figure swam in the stormy waters around Mystery Island. She swam low enough to avoid the turbulence, yet high enough to keep the water pressure off. To the casual observer that had no idea what Neopia's villains look like, it would be strange to see this Neopian afloat with those boots and black dress she wore.

The figure reached the shoreline. Finding a sub-marine cave, she swam down and into it for shelter until the storm ended. There were no air pockets in the cave, but being an Acara, the creature found it unnecessary.

When the storm cleared… she has a bit of business to settle… one with one little girl… another with the whole island…

***

14TH day of Swimming, 9:30 AM

Mystery Island

Several weeks later, long after the storm had stopped, a medium-sized tugboat pulled into the harbor of Mystery Island. As the gangplank was extended, several Neopets, dressed for the tropical climate, of several different species made their way for a day of hot beaches, cool water, and crazily low prices.

One Neopet dragged a suitcase as tall as he was and twice as wide. The green Kacheek made his way to the gangplank and it was only with very careful coordination that he managed to get him and his suitcase to the dock without tumbling head over heels.

SonStar was on vacation while his owner took care of a few things in his hometown of Neopia Central. He had a cheery personality, and being a Kacheek, always tried his best to avoid violence.

He made his way down the wharf and to the beach. Unfortunately, the islanders didn't really know how to make maps, and as a result he was totally lost. Strange… apparently they knew how to make fliers.

He noticed a nearby Island Grundo handing out fliers for Gadgasbond. He dragged his suitcase (boy it didn't feel this heavy when he got on that tugboat) over to the Grundo.

"Excuse me," he said, "but do you know where the Island Sanctuary Hotel is?"

The Grundo pointed along the beach.

"Thank you." As he dragged on, he didn't notice the small giggle the Grundo held behind his mask.

SonStar made his way down the beach, pulling the suitcase with what strength he had, which to be honest wasn't much.

Soon, he had left the warm beaches near the dock and all of the tourists and shops behind. The sand of the beach around him felt cold, and the coast was rather rocky.

Island Sanctuary Hotel? he thought. Perhaps Yosie should've checked the description for that place a bit better.

Too focused on both his thoughts and his luggage, SonStar tripped over a rock, sending him face-down in the cold sand.

He recovered his senses after a few moments, and got off, brushing off sand and spitting it out as well. He was about to pick up his suitcase when he saw it was shaking slightly.

Wondering what it was, he undid the latches and the suitcase popped open.

Inside, along with some of his personal belongings, was another Kacheek, same size and age, but was colored Fire.

"Charcoal!" SonStar said, hints of surprise and anger in his voice. "What are you doing in my suitcase?"

"Well," Charcoal replied in a 'cool guy' kind of voice, "my owner couldn't afford tickets and I wanted to go, and I learned you were going, so here I am."

"But what about Charlie?" SonStar replied, "Isn't he gonna be worried sick?"

"Nah, he doesn't drop by too often. He'll never know I'm gone. On an unrelated note, you're out of food."

"But I packed plenty before I left."

Charcoal's reply was a burp.

SonStar pulled his friend out of his suitcase and closed it. "Look, I've got enough money for two tickets back," he said as he started to walk away, "but that's means we can't spend that much ourselves in the meanwhile. I'm spending the full week here, and I don't care how you spend it."

"I'm gonna spend it with you. You're the only person on the island I know. By the way, where ya going?"

"Island Sanctuary Hotel."

"But that's on the west side of the island. You're heading east."

SonStar stopped, turned around, and headed back down the beach in the direction he came from, grumbling under his breath, but it was only a few steps when he heard something.

It sounded like soft singing. Soft and beautiful.

"Do you hear that?"

"What, your mouth?"

"No, that singing."

Charcoal listened. "Yeah, I hear it."

"Hold my stuff." SonStar gave the huge suitcase to Charcoal and followed the sound into the jungle.

Being as quiet as he could as to not alert the singer (or anything else, for that matter) to his presence, SonStar quietly made his way through the shrubberies of Mystery Island until he reached his destination.

It was a small clearing of which about half was taken up by a pool with a small 10-foot waterfall (compared to a Kacheek, that's kinda tall). A large rock was on the shore of the pool, and sitting on it was apparently the source of the song, facing away from the bewildered SonStar. Judging from the back, the figure was another Kacheek.

SonStar tried to sneak closer, but stepped on a twig right in the middle of the clearing quite by accident. The new Kacheek stopped singing and turned around.

SonStar was almost blinded by the light the singer seemed to radiate. The singer was an Island Kacheek, yet seemed very different from all the rest. He could tell the singer was a girl, judging from the eyelashes. A large island flower was above her right ear, right next to the three white marks on her forehead that appeared in all other Island Kacheeks. She wore an earring on her left ear. The upper half of her torso was covered in a deep red sleeveless shirt with a green dot pattern around the bottom, and a Jetsam tooth necklace hung in front of it. Around her waist was a grass skirt and on her feet were sandals with bamboo soles and grass straps.

"Why, hello," she said in a kind, soft voice, "Who are you?"

SonStar seemed to keep losing his track of thought. "I'm… I'm, uh… I'm SonStar."

"Pleasure to meet you, SonStar," she replied as she got down from the rock and landed gracefully on the ground. "I'm Novashine."

"Novashine… that's a beautiful name."

She slightly blushed and put her hand to her mouth to stifle the cute little giggles. "Thanks."

SonStar blushed even more than Novashine did.

Suddenly, SonStar's concentration was diverted when Charcoal burst into the clearing behind him, dragging SonStar's suitcase. "Why did ya have to go off without me, SonStar? Leaving me to carry your luggage? What kind of friend do you think you are?"

"Charcoal, not now. There's-" He turned to indicate Novashine, but she had disappeared.

"There's what?" Charcoal asked, looking at the clearing.

"Nothing," SonStar replied sadly, taking the suitcase from Charcoal and walking out of the clearing, head down. Wondering what "nothing" really was, Charcoal followed.

***

14TH day of Swimming, 11:06 AM

Mystery Island marketplace

After checking into the hotel, SonStar and Charcoal decided to walk around a little bit. There were several stores in the marketplace, as well as a few homes.

Quite innocently, SonStar overheard a nearby elderly Island Quiggle talking to a Blumaroo and a Kongura. "So, any new things going on?"

"My son disappeared a few days ago," the Blumaroo said, "I don't know what happened to him."

"I think I have a guess," the Kongura replied, "That diva Kacheek I've heard about. What's her name, Novashine?"

SonStar gestured to Charcoal that he'll catch up later. After the fiery Kacheek left, SonStar walked calmly over to the three islanders. "I couldn't help but overhear. Something about someone named Novashine?"

"Yeah," the Blumaroo replied.

"I met a Kacheek named Novashine in the middle of the jungle," SonStar said, "just this morning."

All of them looked more unbelieving than surprised.

"How long were you talking?" the Kongura asked.

"Maybe about ten seconds before my friend barged in. Then she just disappeared."

"You ought to be thanking your friend," the Quiggle said, "He possibly saved your life."

"What?!" SonStar said, now being the one disbelieving. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that anyone that spends over a minute with that diva is never heard from again. Several young men have disappeared, only two of which were tourists. Those that have managed to escape, which is about six not counting you, say that she's so beautiful, those that stare at her too long will be practically hypnotized by her looks. What she does with what she catches is still a mystery, mostly 'cause people don't know where she lives. Some say she kills them, others say she marries them. No one knows anything anymore…" he began to trail off.

SonStar politely excused himself and made his way after Charcoal. Was this strange female Kacheek trying to waylay and kill him?

He'd heard looks could kill, but this was ridiculous!