The Plague of the Shadow Usul



Prologue





Trista trotted down the icy walk way. Neopian winters were beautiful, especially to Uni's, such as herself.

No better time to go shopping. Uni's Clothing was stocked full with winter scarfs and coats, the air was filled with the

smell of Christmas cookies from the nearby bakery, and the wishing well was decked out in bright lights in shades of

green and red. Her Christmas shopping list was complete, and she had just enough neopoints to buy a special

something for hers truly- herself. She pressed her nose up against the card shop window. There they were. The 12

Special Edition Shadow Usul collectable cards. Only 12 were made, and Trista had her eyes all over them. She knew

she had to get one. Full of glee and excitement, she walked into the shop. The card buzz, Larry sat behind the

counter, counting his card collection, and when Trista walked in he dropped his cards on the counter and ran to her,

hugging her.

"Trista, my dear, how are you? And Merry Christmas!" Larry said patting her on the back.

"Hello Larry, Merry Christmas to you too! So, I hear you have the 12 Special Edition Cards. . ." Trista said,

slyly, "How much are they going for?"

"Ah , the Shadow Usul cards"Larry said, happy that he had a customer, "Well there so rare, I can't let them

go for less than 1,368NP a piece." Trista looked into her wallet. She counted her neopoints.

"What do you say to about 1,200NP even?" Trista haggled.

"1,300, No less!" Larry said firmly.

"Oh come on Larry! I gotta eat you know!" Trista said persuasively, "1,250NP?"

"Deal!" Larry said stepping behind the counter once more, "but only because you're a regular customer.

How's your deck coming by the way?" he walked over to the showcase, and pulled an Usul card off the showcase. He

then put it in a card protector and walked behind the counter again.

"Oh, I need about 10 more cards to have the entire collection that's ever come out in the history of Neopia"

Trista said, handing Larry the neopoints.

"Well that's what happens when you've been coming in here since you were born!"Larry, "Now you take

care!" he handed her the card.

"Thank you, Merry Christmas!" Trista yelled as she left out the door.

"Merry Christmas!"Larry yelled back.

Trista came back to her neohome, and switched on the lights. She set her gifts and gift wrap on the kitchen

table and walked into her bedroom. She opened er closet, and stuck her precious card in her safety deposit box.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who could that be?" Trista said. She walked to the front door and opened it up. It was her Aisha friend,

Sarina.

"Sarina!" Trista said, hugging her, "Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Sarina answered.

"Come in! Trista exclaimed, opening the door wider. Sarina walked in.

"Oh, wait a second" Trista said. She ran to the table, and quickly hid Sarina's present.

"So" Sarina said, sitting down on the couch, "Have you gotten the new Usul card yet?"

"Yep! I got the first one" Trista boasted.

"Lucky! I got the last one! They're already sold out!" Sarina said, smiling.

"Well, how much did you get yours for?" Trista asked.

"1,500NP" Sarina said, in a "matter of fact" like tone.

"HA!" Trista laughed teasingly, "I got mine for 1,250NP!"

"Man!" Sarina said in disbelief, "but that's because you got the first one. Mine was bound to cost more!

Anyway, I came over because Ashton and Richard wanted to go to the coffee house for a Purple Juppie Deluxe.

Wanna come?"

"I don't know. . ." Trista said reluctancy, "This sounds like a date attempt. Who asked?"

"Ashton" Sarina said.

"Total date attempt. You know he wants to ask me out!" Trista said, "This is a total set up!"

"What's wrong with a Gelert dating a uni?" Sarina said.

"Nothing, it's just that it's Ashton. Ashton, who sang "Life After Love" by Cher for the National Neopian

Talent Show. Ashton, who bought me a bouquet of paper flowers for my birthday in the 3rd grade!"

"I think it's cute" Sarina said.

"Well at least Richard is the same species as you!" Trista said. There was an awkward silence.

"Oh, Come on!" Sarina said, breaking the ice, "I'm not asking you to kiss him or anything! Just come as a

friend! Please?!?!?!?"

"Ok, fine" Trista finally agreed.

"Ok, then we gotta go, like, now!" Sarina said.

* * * * * *

Sarina and Trista looked in through the crowded coffee house. Neopets were bustling in and out with their

Puppyblews, and Kadoties carrying coffee and muffins. Some sat at tables chatting no doubt about the Christmas

cheer that was spreading all throughout Neopia. At the far table sat Ashton and Richard. Richard was wearing a red

winter coat, which looked extremely good with his green fur coat. He looked "in the season". Ashton was wearing his

usual: A red scarf that could barely be seen unless you were up close, given that his coat was bright red. Sarina and

Trista entered the building, and were greeted by the smell of roasted Juppie , and Tigersquash. Richard spotted them

and signaled them over. Trista fought through the crowd over towards them.

"Hello Richard, Hello Ashton" she said, cheerfully.

"Hello" they said in unison.

"Merry Christmas" Ashton said.

"Same to you" Trista said. Ashton blushed a little.

"I'm gonna go get a- " Trista began but Richard cut her off.

"Already ordered for you. Tigersquash Deluxe with 2 shots ok?"

"Ah, two shots. It's like you read my mind!" Trista said, taking a seat.

"Where's Sarina?" Richard asked.

"Getting the muffins. Blueberry ok?" Trista said.

"Perfect" Ashton said. Sarina came back with the muffins and passed them out.

"Say hello to owners of the Shadow Usul collectibles" Sarina said, striking a pose, with Trista.

"We bought them too!" Ashton said.

"Cool" Trista said. Ashton and Richard went into their conversations.

"Hold it" Sarina whispered to Trista, "Hot Uni waiter, 10:00"

"Where?" Trista said, excitedly.

"Over there" Sarina said. He had a green coat, just like Trista, and had a single earring on his left ear. He

was walking over towards them.

"Oh my gosh, he's coming over here" Sarina said, "act gorgeous." He came by with their four coffees and

handed them out.

"Ok, You two got the Red Juppie Supremes" he said, handing their coffees to Richard and Ashton, "And

you two got the Tigersquash Deluxe?"

"Yes" Sarina said taking her coffee.

"Thank You-" Trista said.

"Tobey" The waiter said.

"Thank You Tobey" Trista said, smiling.

"You're welcome, Merry Christmas" he said, smiling back. He walked away with one last look at Trista.

"Oh, he digs you!" Sarina said, squealing a little.

"Shh" Trista said, slapping her. She took a sip of her coffee, and looked out the window. By the light of the

coffee house she could see a wisp of something. Like a shadow, or a silhouette. It was looking in, right at her and her

friends. The lighting , however, made it impossible to reveal the shape off whatever it was that was looking in, and

before long it was gone.

"What'cha lookin' at?" Richard asked, looking out the window.

"Nothing" Trista said, and she returned to her coffee. Just then, a Bruce burst into the coffee house. He was

all sweaty like, and was panting trying to catch his breath. He looked disturbed.

"HELP!!!" he screamed.

"What is it?" the shopkeeper said.

"My sister! *pant pant* she's been murdered!" he said. The entire coffee house went silent.

"Where is she?" the shopkeeper said, phoning the police.

"Right outside the coffee house!" the Bruce yelled.

"Get this man some coffee!" The shopkeeper said, then he began to talk on the phone. "Hello, police?

There's been a murder." His expression changed suddenly from shock, to agitation. "Yes, I'll hold."