Hello neopets archive! So I'm back with a new multi part story! *cricket chirps* Nevertheless, to those of you still here, I hope you enjoy the story!

She was running.

She didn't know why exactly. It sort of floated away from her after the last hour or so. But she knew she had to keep going. They had to be following her. Or were they? Who was following her again?

It was cool, dark and damp in the Haunted Woods, and did not help Xandra's pounding heart. This place looked familiar. Familiar to the point of fear. She supposed there were good and bad memories associated with this place. \

Xandra slowed to a stop. She knew it. She couldn't do it. They were going to catch her. And she knew she wouldn't be able to put up a fight. She slumped against the torn bark of a tree, feeling her cold sweat drip down her face.

So she began the slow and torturous process of piecing together memories.

She had been made of stone. The first year was clearer than the rest. Anger had helped her concentrate. Fruitless planning for when she got out had filled her days. Her rage was always there, but it dimmed as the days blurred together. Soon, she didn't bother watching. What was the point, watching the grass grow around her, watching the pets' curious faces? They would never understand how she was really helping them.

Fyora came and visited her every once in a while. Perhaps it had been years between visits. Every time her words were the same. Updates on Neopia, the weather, the rebuilding of Faerieland and promises. Promises that she would be free, which Xandra knew to be lies. But most of the time she just gazed into the darkness, trying to hold onto memories.

My name is Xandra. I am a Xweetok, a subspecies of Neopet. I can use magic. I hate Faeries. I hate Fyora. I hate Hanso. I hate Brynn. I hate the black and white world.

At least here it's just black. No confusing colours. She thought to herself happily for a moment. And she felt happy. And then terror ran through her.

This is what insanity must be.

And then there was light. Blue skies, wafting flowery scents. She crumpled to the soft ground.

Then it was a blank.

Xandra huffed, and pulled herself to her feet. She figured that her broken mind would stay broken. But at the moment, she wanted to stay alive.

So she ran.

Brynn had settled into what she said was a normal life.

The artefacts had been retrieved two years ago. After all the excitement, settling back into being a Captain of the royal guard had to seem normal.

Or at most times, boring.

She didn't seek thrills; that was Hanso's job. But thrills were thrilling all the same, and her job was less than thrilling than she hoped. She drummed her pen against the table. Another report about a petty thief. She'd let him go with a warning. Crimes in Faerieland were at an all time low. Faerieland's rebuilding was nearing completion. There were no evil Xweetoks trying to ruin her day. All was as it should have been.

Why do I feel so uneasy then? She thought to herself, glancing out the window to the sight of Queen Fyora.

Brynn continued writing her report. Then she had a double take.

"Queen Fyora?"

"Ah, hello Captain Brynn. Would you be so kind to let me in?"

As Fyora floated in, closing the door behind her. Brynn saw the lines at her eyes, with dark circles around them.

"Are you alright, your Majesty?"

"Yes, I'm fine... but I fear Neopia is in great danger once again..."

"What happened?" Brynn asked uneasily.

Fyora paused, and then sighed. "Xandra escaped from her stone prison last night. She's gone."

Brynn felt a year's worth of nightmares come back. Sleep filled with fire, wraiths, and blinding lights. At the end of each one, she was cold and empty stone. And then she would be standing over her, a maniacal smile plastered on her face saying, "I was impressed by your tenacity Brynn. It's quite a shame tenacity won't get you out of here anytime soon."

She would then wake up, her horrible laugh still ringing in her ears.

"That's impossible! The Darkest Faerie was imprisoned in stone for a thousand years before she escaped!" She protested, feeling a lump rising in her throat.

"I know, but that was with the help of Jerdena's necklace..." Fyora clenched her staff. "I just wish that I could have detected it earlier. I have put Neopia great peril due to my lack of diligence."

"I'll assemble the guard right away and prepare to search for her right away," Brynn replied quickly.

"No, I don't want anyone to know of this. It would send everyone into a panic, and Xandra would surely take advantage of that. It must be you, and Hanso," the Queen replied quickly.

"Hanso? ...I haven't heard from him for a year now. I have no idea where he might be," she admitted quietly. After all the thrills, they'd both tried to settle back into a normal life. Every night, Hanso would come back with something new in his pocket. She had tried so hard to change him, but they soon know that they couldn't do it. Yelling, screaming, telling him he wasn't just a thief, telling him that she trusted him.

Obviously he had taken her trust for granted.

So they had parted ways, Hanso to his land of heists and thrills, and Brynn to her life of catching criminals and paperwork.

"I'll locate him and send him here. In the meantime, pack whatever you'll need and wait for us here," Fyora said, approaching the door.

Brynn pulled out her sword, staring at the meaningless symbols etched upon the blade, remembering the wraiths slayed, the adventures, the thrills. She almost smiled. She was finally going to see him again.

"I'll be ready," she answered to the closing door.

Hanso's life had hit an all time low.

He had tried to pull off one of the greatest heist of his life. Unfortunately, Nabile had foreseen it and put in a few packs of werehounds at the door, knowing his great love for them. She even threw in a few angelpis, making sure that he went through the painful experience sneezing.

Now missing chunks of his fur, he gazed into the darkness.

I could get out if I wanted. But hey, the food here is good. He told himself.

If only Brynn was here. Then he could annoy her, always something he took delight in doing. Or she would pay for his bail. Either way would be fine by him.

She's gone, Hanso. She's living a productive life while you're stuck in a dungeon.

Did he make the right choice, to leave her for the riches the world had to offer? Sometimes he didn't know. Even with his magnetic personality and his many fan girls, he still went to sleep at night feeling lonelier than ever.

But it had to be worth the status of master thief. After all, it had been his dream his entire life. And one couldn't bear the title master thief without stealing. Brynn couldn't understand. Stealing without reason, when he rolled around in neopoints would never make sense to her. Only a thief would ever be able to relate to the rush, the energy, the tribulation of not getting caught. The way she'd see would only be in black and white.

Great, you're thinking like Xandra now. That's a pretty good way to tell when you're going a little more than crazy.

Hanso did not like thinking of the Xweetok. He told himself that even if she escaped, he would be beyond caring as he lay decomposing in the ground.

"I still don't understand, your Majesty. Why would you need that good for nothing thief?"

"Must I remind you that he was the one to save you from a lifetime of stone?"

"That was different; he was only saving his own neck! If you were battling with a insane witch for the fate of the world would you-"

"Jazan, must I have to wrench the keys from your paw and free him myself?"

"Alright, alright, I'm letting him out!"

The cell filled with glaring light as King Jazan walked in, holding a key. "Get out of my dungeon Ixi," he said, glowering at him with distaste. Hanso jumped up, charming smile plastered onto his face.

"Oh, how delightful! Might I ask what made you have this glorious idea? Surely it wasn't your loving wife."

"Don't you dare talk about my wife that way! I'd rather keep you locked up in here for the good of Neopia... but for some reason Queen Fyora wants you out," Jazan said grudgingly.

"Well, Fyora should know a true hero better than anyone," Hanso said, idly twirling a key with his finger. "Anyway, tootles!"

Jazan stared into the darkness for a moment. Then his mind processed what he just saw.

"COME BACK HERE IXI!"