Ancient Evil
A Prequel to 'The B and B'
Hannah Hawthorne, as anyone who was even remotely aware of the treasure hunting Usul would tell you, was not a big fan of being patient. All of the patrons of The Golden Dubloon had long since gone home and the owner had left her the keys to the place so she could lock up.
She had tried many things to pass the time: she'd spent minutes twirling her long, brown hair which she'd recently gotten curled. When that didn't work she walked over to her green and white winter coat and pulled out an old book of crosswords she kept around for such occasions. But even that had not been enough to cure her boredom as her mind started to think about what had gotten her into this mess in the first place.
It was only yesterday morning, at her house on the eastern shore of Krawk Island, that she had received a strange letter in the mail. Inside was a written cry for help from an anonymous individual and the promise of a very large sum of money for her assistance. As much as she loved the sound of coins in her purse, however, Hannah was having an even deeper desire for a good night's rest. One of them was going to have to give. Just as she started to get up to exit the restaurant, however, the creaking of the front door told her that her guest had arrived at last.
"Hmm...I figured you would've gotten angry and stormed out of here by now. I misjudged you." the cloaked Acara said, almost as if she had forseen Hannah's temper at that moment. Taking off her flowing robe and hanging it on the wall next to her host's winter coat, the mysterious visitor revealed herself with an almost wicked smile. She was a blue Acara, muscular, and wearing a somewhat humbly designed gold tiara as well as a red qigong dress, with black trim, that ended in muddy traveling boots. It was quite different from what Hannah had expected from someone of royalty.
"Does my new appearance surprise you? Princess Fernypoo, the most spoilt brat in all Neopia." the royal Acara sighed. "Times change. I have a muscular build because I've been enduring nonstop training for the last five years. All in preparation for what is to come. It's the reason that I need your help." she said again as if she was just going through the motions of something she'd already seen prematurely.
"Must be some kind of help considering the sum you're willing to pay to get it."
Fernypoo replied with a small laugh as she knew Hannah was well aware of how wealthy she was supposed to be. Even though the truth was somewhat different Fernypoo didn't give Hannah any indication of the fact.
"Well what I require is complicated and may sound quite unbelievable or even farfetched. I guess the best way to explain would be to tell you a story from the distant past."
Hannah, begrudgingly, leaned forward to listen as Princess Fernypoo walked over to her cloak and retrieved a large tome from one of the pockets. It was a dull brown volume with gold inlays and hardened dust covered each of its many pages: it had the look of something that had recently been dug up from an excavation.
"This tale begins a thousand years ago with my ancestor. You know him as King Altador but his real name is lost to time. As you know he founded the city of Altador as a haven of peace but what isn't told is what he left to establish such a place. It may be hard to believe but what he left was a Neopia that is identical to the one found in the game Neoquest." Fernypoo said solemly as Hannah couldn't help but laugh at the suggestion. A very poignant stare in return quickly silenced the humor and informed Hannah of how serious she was.
"You see it was King Altador who defeated Jahbal, Mastermind, and the reborn Xantan. With the long war over, however, he realized that the Neopia he knew was in utter disarray with only the patches of civilization he'd passed through on his journey to remind him of its former glory. It fell upon him, and him alone, to build a place of refuge for the survivors and Altador is the result. That is until the Darkest Faerie intervened whom I suspect had an earlier role in Jahbal's rise to power."
"So where's the problem?" Hannah said in a tone that revealed her still complete disbelief in Fernypoo's grandiose tale.
"According to the ancient writings of this book, which contains King Altador's account of the entire conflict, Jahbal was conscious long enough to speak a cantrip as he fell to his death. The spell's power would resurrect him a thousand years later. It would also allow him to absorb magical energy, making him stronger, until he rose again. Today marks the nine hundred and ninety ninth anniversary of that event."
Hannah had been glaring at Fernypoo with disbelief but now her eyes held a fiery wrath as she was infuriated beyond reason. She got up and kicked the chair in while snatching the restaurant keys from the table.
"You mean to tell me that I sat here waiting for nearly three hours for you to show up and a stupid, incoherent fairy tale is what I get!" Hannah fumed as she swung the front door open with a flourish and pointed outside.
You're nothing short of insane, Fernypoo, and I'm nothing short of exhausted so I think it's time for you to leave and for me to get some sleep. Good night, Princess!"
Fernypoo sighed as she got up from the table as slowly as possible and delicately scooted in her chair. It only served to make Hannah even more furious and it was all she could do to not try and start a brawl with the royal Acara. But even this was tested as Fernypoo didn't move forward to leave instead choosing to stand still as if she was deep in thought at what to do next.
"I'm not telling you again, you spoilt brat! Get out of here and take your folklore with you!" Hannah screamed in something just shy of a hissy fit as Ferny finally came to attention.
"I had hoped to avoid having to do this." Fernypoo replied as she gestured her fingers in a slight forward motion the result of which caused a gust of wind from inside to blow the door closed. Hannah herself was barely able to remain standing as she tried to hold on to the door handle despite the tornado-like breezes that were being sent her way.
"I'm not going to ask for your help again, Hannah, now I'm ordering it. It is your destiny and you must accept it as I have accepted mine."
"Oh yeah! What is your destiny, your highness? To spin and weave your incredible fiction to whomever will be gullible enough to believe you?" Hannah said with contempt even though she was barely able to speak over the howling whirlwind that was shaking the very windows and furniture in the restaurant.
"I am destined to battle and defeat Jahbal upon his return as I am the last descendant of King Altador. Your destiny is to become the NeoGuardian of Ice Magic and help lead the fight against the army he's going to bring with him."
At this final statement, Hannah's rage melted away as she realized that Fernypoo was really telling the truth. Her eyes now softened and a lump started to form in her throat as she also came to terms with what such a charge would require of her.
Well what if I refuse, Princess. What happens to Neopia then?" Hannah said with a much calmer and more concerned tone as Fernypoo replied by again sighing deeply. Finally letting the wind die down, she carefully weaved through the tables and walked towards Hannah and grabbed both sides of her head.
"I cannot tell you what will happen" Fernypoo whispered in her ear as Hannah turned away in fear "...but I can show you."
Instantly the treasure-loving Usul's mind was flooded with the beginnings of a horrific vision of things to come: an ancient evil that would shroud all of Neopia in a fog of inescapable terror, pain, and anguish.
As seconds and then minutes passed, and Hannah fell to her knees with despair in her heart, all she could see was more and more suffering...the fullness of which was now being etched, like the mark of Ta-Kutep on her arm, onto her teary and grief-stricken face...
