I was alone again, confined to the small cell. At least my hands weren't bound. My arm ached consideringly from where I had fallen on it, but to be honest, I hurt all over. Stress, emotional and physical fatigue, I guess. I had been prisoner for how long? A couple days? It sure seemed that long. And I'd only had minimal sleep. Not to mention the sheer hopelessness of the situation I was in could destroy anyone's spirit. I stretched out on the metal bunk, exhausted. I soon drifted into a fitful sleep.
Dreams again. Why is it that anytime something changes I dream? Four pets, my four pets. They looked at me with solemn eyes, standing on a plane of glass. I flew than, down through the spiraling clouds, hovering before the four. Aldrai stepped forward and bowed his head, a single tear tracing a path through his fur.
"Too real to be a dream," he seemed to say, "yet it must be. It must."
He shuddered, but the other three did not move.
"Oh, Shi'kly, what have you given me? What was awakened, why do I see these things?!"
I reached out a hand, to help him, but he shrank away.
"A dream. A dream. Nothing more. Nothing more. It cannot be! My mother, my owner, my fate is the same, oh, must I loose her too?"
He fell to the ground, convulsing violently. I cried out, trying to reach out to him, but unable to bridge that so-small distance between us… He shrieked, and the dream faded, much as I tried to touch him, to comfort my stricken pet.
****
"Aldrai, wake up!" Infernus hissed.
The zafara shuddered violently and looked around nervously. They were in Kauvara's living room, seated on the couch, waiting for Kauvara to return with tea. Had he dozed off in such a short time? And what was the dream?
"You okay?" Terraile asked worriedly.
"Yes," he replied miserably, not really meaning it.
He tried to contain his shivering as Kauvara returned carrying a tray. She set it on the table and they all took a mug. The kau seated herself opposite the group.
"So, what is this about the Essence of Neopia?" she asked eagerly. "I know the legends of it, nothing more. But now! With that vortex above Neopia Central, I felt it, the Essence has been reborn, right? Who is it?"
"My sister, child_dragon," Sabreur said grimly.
"Really? A human? How is that?" she said, almost to herself.
"She's not really human anymore. More half pet half human. But anyways, she's the one who fought and defeated the Shadows. You know of those?"
She shuddered delicately.
"Yes, I know of them. The few scholars that know of them believe the Shadow Usul is descended from those that weren't destroyed by the fireflies. I don't believe that, I think they are not a Neopian creation. But I'm guessing you didn't come here to discuss theories with me? What is the problem? Your manner says that something is very wrong," she said, fixing them with a steely glare.
"We four are her pets," Terraile said. "I'm Terraile, also the Heir of NightHawk."
Kauvara drew in breath, eyes lighting up, staring at the bow in interest.
"And I'm Un-eairkagh, that's Aldrai, and the fourth, Lady MoonFall is at home. The scorchio is Infernus, Sabreur's pet, and that's Netsuko, Sakuko's pet."
Sakuko nodded in acknowledgement.
"Now, our problem is, child_dragon is prisoner of Dr. Sloth."
Kauvara didn't reply, merely stared at the eyrie, emotionless. Than she stood and walked to the window, staring out.
"That is very bad," she said softly. "If Sloth can use her, ah, Neopia will be helpless against him."
"Yes, and we need your help to rescue her."
She nodded, and turned to face them.
"Whatever I can do, I will."
Un-eairkagh smiled in relief.
"We need potions. Several."
****
Un-eairkagh detailed the plans to Kauvara, who laughed wickedly and left for her lab, with dire warnings to the rest to stay out while she worked. The pets lounged in the living room, the majority on the verge of falling asleep. It was now five in the morning. Un-eairkagh discreetly pulled Aldrai aside into the hallway.
"Aldrai, I know you've changed somehow since….all that happened," he said seriously.
Aldrai merely stared, waiting.
"Of all of us, you're the only one that truly remembers being with Kiddo in the Shadow's realm. I mean, truly remembers. I have vague memories, as if in a dream, but you remember clearly."
"I didn't tell anyone but Kiddo and Terraile," he said in a soft voice.
"Yeah, well, I don't believe in secrets," the eyrie said hastily, brushing past his eavesdropping.
"Shi'kly told me things," the zafara said, his trust of his brother somewhat wounded, but his very nature forgiving the insult. "She said things in a language of power, and I understood. I'm scared, Un-eairkagh."
The eyrie placed a paw on his brothers shoulder in comfort.
"I know. But you've been born with this gift, whatever it is, and we're going to need it. See, we need you to guide us. You can read people, you know what kind of a person they are. And, I don't know how to explain it, but you just know things!"
The zafara nodded miserably.
"You need me to guide us," he said.
"Yes, we do. For child_dragon."
"Of course," he said, conviction in his voice. "Always for her. But, Un-eairkagh, we must hurry. This cannot wait!"
The eyrie looked puzzled, so Aldrai explained.
"I dreamed. But it was more than a dream, I saw things, things that I knew would be true! We've got to hurry, child_dragon doesn't have much time left."
****
I awoke to someone entering the cell. I still felt tired, even though I had slept for quite a while. It was an effort to stand. Drchao didn't waste time on pleasantries, just bound my hands and roughly marched me down the hallway to where Dr. Sloth was waiting.
"I must say, you've been a lot of trouble," he said cheerfully, and I remained silent. "Perhaps more than you're worth. I grow weary of arguing with you. You will swear to serve me."
"I will not," I replied.
"Come here," he ordered, turning to a computer screen.
I hesitated, and Drchao shoved me forward. I reluctantly walked over to Dr. Sloth's side and looked at the screen. And fell back with a cry on anguish.
"You see, now it is not just your life that depends on your choice, but your pets also."
I shook my head in denial, struggling to remain standing.
"So, child_dragon, what do you say now? I have your pets in my power, and if you refuse to swear loyalty to me, they shall die. Or perhaps I should use them as subjects for my latest transmogrification potion?"
"Let them alone!" I yelled hoarsely, staring at him in hatred.
Drchao grabbed my arm, pulling me back, and I twisted fiercely in his grasp. I struggled, but than I just sagged in his grip, breathing hard, all my strength gone.
"Please, let them go," I moaned, "They are innocents!"
"And that matters to me?" he sneered. "Say it. You know the words, swear to serve me!"
I hesitated. It was my duty to care for my pets, at the expense of myself.
"I, child_dragon, Essence of Neopia, swear…"
I trailed off, the last words tickling free a new thought.
"Why do you stop? Finish the oath!" Dr. Sloth roared.
"I can't. I don't have the right," I said, almost to myself. "I am the protector of Neopia, and I have sworn to protect all pets. What is the greater evil? Sacrificing four to save all of Neopia, or sacrificing all of Neopia to save four?"
I looked up at Dr. Sloth, the agony of my decision evident on my face. He stared down with pitiless eyes.
"I can't," I repeated, Drchao finally letting me slump to the floor on my knees, tired of helping me support my weight. "It's my responsibility to Neopia, to give all."
And I cried, no longer worried that my enemies were watching, my spirit utterly crushed by what I had done. Put my pets under a death sentence. And myself also. But at least Dr. Sloth would not be able to use my power.
"Take her away," he ordered in disgust.
****
Drchao walked child_dragon back to her cell, thinking wildly. The ruse had failed. 'What is with her sense of morality?', he pondered.
"I wouldn't let my pets die," he said suddenly. "I'd take the offer, I mean, ruling Neopia! Dr. Sloth wouldn't make you a slave, more of an ally."
"You're not me," was all she said in reply.
He sighed in exasperation and didn't try to continue the conversation. Suddenly, she staggered, and he reached out to steady her. But than she just crumpled to the floor, falling much too fast for him to catch her. He stared at her unconscious form in surprise.
"Ohmigosh," he muttered, kneeling by her side and feeling for a pulse.
Fezheta stared at her worriedly.
"Why'd she pass out?" he questioned.
"I don't know," he said tightly. "We need to get her to the infirmary, at any rate. I can find out then."
He carefully picked her up, surprised at how light she was, and how fragile she appeared. Now that he really looked, she was a lot paler than when they had first captured her, and almost sickly looking. This isn't good, he thought worriedly. Not good at all.
Dreams again. Why is it that anytime something changes I dream? Four pets, my four pets. They looked at me with solemn eyes, standing on a plane of glass. I flew than, down through the spiraling clouds, hovering before the four. Aldrai stepped forward and bowed his head, a single tear tracing a path through his fur.
"Too real to be a dream," he seemed to say, "yet it must be. It must."
He shuddered, but the other three did not move.
"Oh, Shi'kly, what have you given me? What was awakened, why do I see these things?!"
I reached out a hand, to help him, but he shrank away.
"A dream. A dream. Nothing more. Nothing more. It cannot be! My mother, my owner, my fate is the same, oh, must I loose her too?"
He fell to the ground, convulsing violently. I cried out, trying to reach out to him, but unable to bridge that so-small distance between us… He shrieked, and the dream faded, much as I tried to touch him, to comfort my stricken pet.
****
"Aldrai, wake up!" Infernus hissed.
The zafara shuddered violently and looked around nervously. They were in Kauvara's living room, seated on the couch, waiting for Kauvara to return with tea. Had he dozed off in such a short time? And what was the dream?
"You okay?" Terraile asked worriedly.
"Yes," he replied miserably, not really meaning it.
He tried to contain his shivering as Kauvara returned carrying a tray. She set it on the table and they all took a mug. The kau seated herself opposite the group.
"So, what is this about the Essence of Neopia?" she asked eagerly. "I know the legends of it, nothing more. But now! With that vortex above Neopia Central, I felt it, the Essence has been reborn, right? Who is it?"
"My sister, child_dragon," Sabreur said grimly.
"Really? A human? How is that?" she said, almost to herself.
"She's not really human anymore. More half pet half human. But anyways, she's the one who fought and defeated the Shadows. You know of those?"
She shuddered delicately.
"Yes, I know of them. The few scholars that know of them believe the Shadow Usul is descended from those that weren't destroyed by the fireflies. I don't believe that, I think they are not a Neopian creation. But I'm guessing you didn't come here to discuss theories with me? What is the problem? Your manner says that something is very wrong," she said, fixing them with a steely glare.
"We four are her pets," Terraile said. "I'm Terraile, also the Heir of NightHawk."
Kauvara drew in breath, eyes lighting up, staring at the bow in interest.
"And I'm Un-eairkagh, that's Aldrai, and the fourth, Lady MoonFall is at home. The scorchio is Infernus, Sabreur's pet, and that's Netsuko, Sakuko's pet."
Sakuko nodded in acknowledgement.
"Now, our problem is, child_dragon is prisoner of Dr. Sloth."
Kauvara didn't reply, merely stared at the eyrie, emotionless. Than she stood and walked to the window, staring out.
"That is very bad," she said softly. "If Sloth can use her, ah, Neopia will be helpless against him."
"Yes, and we need your help to rescue her."
She nodded, and turned to face them.
"Whatever I can do, I will."
Un-eairkagh smiled in relief.
"We need potions. Several."
****
Un-eairkagh detailed the plans to Kauvara, who laughed wickedly and left for her lab, with dire warnings to the rest to stay out while she worked. The pets lounged in the living room, the majority on the verge of falling asleep. It was now five in the morning. Un-eairkagh discreetly pulled Aldrai aside into the hallway.
"Aldrai, I know you've changed somehow since….all that happened," he said seriously.
Aldrai merely stared, waiting.
"Of all of us, you're the only one that truly remembers being with Kiddo in the Shadow's realm. I mean, truly remembers. I have vague memories, as if in a dream, but you remember clearly."
"I didn't tell anyone but Kiddo and Terraile," he said in a soft voice.
"Yeah, well, I don't believe in secrets," the eyrie said hastily, brushing past his eavesdropping.
"Shi'kly told me things," the zafara said, his trust of his brother somewhat wounded, but his very nature forgiving the insult. "She said things in a language of power, and I understood. I'm scared, Un-eairkagh."
The eyrie placed a paw on his brothers shoulder in comfort.
"I know. But you've been born with this gift, whatever it is, and we're going to need it. See, we need you to guide us. You can read people, you know what kind of a person they are. And, I don't know how to explain it, but you just know things!"
The zafara nodded miserably.
"You need me to guide us," he said.
"Yes, we do. For child_dragon."
"Of course," he said, conviction in his voice. "Always for her. But, Un-eairkagh, we must hurry. This cannot wait!"
The eyrie looked puzzled, so Aldrai explained.
"I dreamed. But it was more than a dream, I saw things, things that I knew would be true! We've got to hurry, child_dragon doesn't have much time left."
****
I awoke to someone entering the cell. I still felt tired, even though I had slept for quite a while. It was an effort to stand. Drchao didn't waste time on pleasantries, just bound my hands and roughly marched me down the hallway to where Dr. Sloth was waiting.
"I must say, you've been a lot of trouble," he said cheerfully, and I remained silent. "Perhaps more than you're worth. I grow weary of arguing with you. You will swear to serve me."
"I will not," I replied.
"Come here," he ordered, turning to a computer screen.
I hesitated, and Drchao shoved me forward. I reluctantly walked over to Dr. Sloth's side and looked at the screen. And fell back with a cry on anguish.
"You see, now it is not just your life that depends on your choice, but your pets also."
I shook my head in denial, struggling to remain standing.
"So, child_dragon, what do you say now? I have your pets in my power, and if you refuse to swear loyalty to me, they shall die. Or perhaps I should use them as subjects for my latest transmogrification potion?"
"Let them alone!" I yelled hoarsely, staring at him in hatred.
Drchao grabbed my arm, pulling me back, and I twisted fiercely in his grasp. I struggled, but than I just sagged in his grip, breathing hard, all my strength gone.
"Please, let them go," I moaned, "They are innocents!"
"And that matters to me?" he sneered. "Say it. You know the words, swear to serve me!"
I hesitated. It was my duty to care for my pets, at the expense of myself.
"I, child_dragon, Essence of Neopia, swear…"
I trailed off, the last words tickling free a new thought.
"Why do you stop? Finish the oath!" Dr. Sloth roared.
"I can't. I don't have the right," I said, almost to myself. "I am the protector of Neopia, and I have sworn to protect all pets. What is the greater evil? Sacrificing four to save all of Neopia, or sacrificing all of Neopia to save four?"
I looked up at Dr. Sloth, the agony of my decision evident on my face. He stared down with pitiless eyes.
"I can't," I repeated, Drchao finally letting me slump to the floor on my knees, tired of helping me support my weight. "It's my responsibility to Neopia, to give all."
And I cried, no longer worried that my enemies were watching, my spirit utterly crushed by what I had done. Put my pets under a death sentence. And myself also. But at least Dr. Sloth would not be able to use my power.
"Take her away," he ordered in disgust.
****
Drchao walked child_dragon back to her cell, thinking wildly. The ruse had failed. 'What is with her sense of morality?', he pondered.
"I wouldn't let my pets die," he said suddenly. "I'd take the offer, I mean, ruling Neopia! Dr. Sloth wouldn't make you a slave, more of an ally."
"You're not me," was all she said in reply.
He sighed in exasperation and didn't try to continue the conversation. Suddenly, she staggered, and he reached out to steady her. But than she just crumpled to the floor, falling much too fast for him to catch her. He stared at her unconscious form in surprise.
"Ohmigosh," he muttered, kneeling by her side and feeling for a pulse.
Fezheta stared at her worriedly.
"Why'd she pass out?" he questioned.
"I don't know," he said tightly. "We need to get her to the infirmary, at any rate. I can find out then."
He carefully picked her up, surprised at how light she was, and how fragile she appeared. Now that he really looked, she was a lot paler than when they had first captured her, and almost sickly looking. This isn't good, he thought worriedly. Not good at all.