? The Plague of the Shadow Usul
Chapter 7: The Plan
Richard and Sarina walked off towards one end of Neopia, while Trista and Ashton walked to the
other. Each pair was carrying a stack of papers, and a staple gun. Sarina past a telephone pole and quickly
whipped out her staple gun and stapled a flyer up on the pole. It read:
PROTECT YOURSELVES!!!!! KEEP SHADOW GAZER AT BAY!!!!!!
Town Meeting Tonight!!!
Where: 17820 Neopia Drive
Neopian Central, Neopia 67834
When: 5:30 p.m. December 24
Save Yourself and your generation. Learn more tonight!
Sarina smiled, and moved onto the next telephone pole.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" Richard asked her, putting his arm around her and looking
at the town pets, meandering around.
"I sure hope so, if not, well, I don't even want to think about it" Sarina answered. They moved onto
the next pole.
Ashton and Trista walked in silence. Ashton looked up the street. There stood about 15 young pet's
surrounding the wishing well.
"I'm gonna wish for. . . A scooter!" a little Acara said excitedly.
"I want another fuzzle" said a kyrii, dragging along a blue and green fuzzle.
"I want a toy car!" said a small buzz.
"I want a new Peophin Brush" a vain little Peophin neighed.
"I want" said Ashton, intruding on the young pet's conversation, "My life to be sparred." Ashton threw
50 Neopoints into the wishing well. The little rets looked up at him with wide eyes, until finally a small male
wocky said,
"Well I want a golden Wocky shield" which excited the little pets back into their own conversation
again.
"You know" Trista said, "You don't have to scare the young ones. They've got Christmas to look
forward to. We probably don't." Ashton stepped in front of Trista, preventing her from taking a step farther.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well it's just that..."
"Listen Trista" Ashton said, making her look up at him, "You're the leader of this crazy campaign, you
know that. If our leader doesn't even believe in us, than who will?" Silence. 10 seconds, 20 seconds.
"But-"
"No Buts" Ashton said.
"Ugh, you sound like my mother" Trista laughed. "Alright, I'll try."
"Ah, but Yoda says, young padowin learner, 'There is no try' " Ashton said.
"Yeah, yeah" Trista said, smiling a little.
4:00, 4:15, 4:45, 5:00, 5:30. Pets from all over town arrived at Trista's house for the meeting that
would change Neopia History. Trista lead all the pets into her backyard, and had them all sit on the lawn. She
then ran up to the front of the group, and looked back at Ashton. He nodded. Trista took a big breath, and
turned back to the crowd, a little nervous.
"Pets of Neopia. For all of you who don't know who I am, my name is Trista Inu. I'd like to star off
this meeting by pressing on you how serious this matter is. Last night, our 7th victim, Denver Draik was killed."
Gasps erupted in the crowd, followed by whispering to one another. Trista held up her hoof to silence them.
It became as silent as the grave. She continued:
"At 9:00 tonight, 4 more will die. After that, no one will be safe. Shadow Gazer will kill until there are
none left. Now males, now females, no young pets. . . No one. There is one way, and only one way to defend
ourselves. We must come together a s a town, and stop Shadow Gazer, before the final four are killed.
Now, The final four sit before you. Sarina Shiaa, Richard Hasai, Ashton Trel ,and Myself. We have
come up with a plan to stop Shadow Gazer before she can stop us! Now, who's with us!"
The pet's cheered.
"Alright then! Let's get to work."
Trista moved down into the crowd. Sh separated the group into four sections. The final four each took
a section and began to plan the final plan.
Ashton stood in front of his group. "Who here owns flood lights?" About 12 pets raised their hands.
"Ok" he said, "Who owns flash lights?" Every pet raised their hands. "Ok, Bring every portable light
you have, flood lights, flash lights, candles, lanterns, Everything! Meet the rest of the group by the rainbow
pool at 8:00 to set up. Ok now go home and get ready!" The pets cheered and scattered like flies toward their
homes. Sarina and Richard had already finished their plans, and now the final plan discussed was Trista's.
They listened intently.
"Every inch, every centimeter of rope you own, bring it to the rainbow pool at 8:00 sharp. We'll get
her for sure this time, now get that rope and meet us there in a few hours!" The pets, a little less enthusiastic
than Ashton's group, left for their homes.
"The plan's set then" Sarina said.
"Yep" Trista said, "When Shadow Gazer comes to us as bait, we turn on the flood lights and such to
reveal Shadow Gazer, Tie her up, Destroy all the cards, and send her to her maker!"
"Ok, let's wait at the rainbow pool" Ashton said.
"Actually, I have to go get something for myself. I see you at 8:00" Trista said.
"Ok" Ashton said, "I'll see you then" Ashton leaned over and Trista felt herself being pulled to him.
He gently pressed his lips up against hers, and they kissed. Trista's head was spinning. So many emotions were
clashing in her head. She pushed him away.
"I'm sorry" Ashton said, and he walked away towards his house.
"It's not -" but he was gone.
6:00, 7:00, 8:30. Trista sat near the rainbow pool. Pet's had gathered and were setting up. Ashton
was there ,but he paid no heed to her at all. Finally, Sarina came over an talked to her.
"It's almost 9:00" Sarina said.
"I know" Trista whispered.
"What are those for?" She pointed to the pair of Lock Cutters in Trista's hand.
"Oh, nothing. Just in case. . . "
"In case of what?"
"In case..." but a strange wind blew from the west.
"She's coming!" Richard yelled. Everyone shut off their lights. Pets hid with their rope. Ashton,
Richard, Trista, and Sarina stood right by the rainbow pool. Ashton could see Trista's breath.
"Trista?"
"Yes Ashton?"
"If we don't make it through this, I want you to know-"
"I know" Trista said. She looked up at him.
"It's time."
Footsteps. Ghastly footsteps, moving closer. Heavy breathing. Rattling. Footsteps. Then Red Eyes.
Tension filled the air so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Trista couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. She
was paralyzed with terror.
"NOW!" Ashton yelled.
Light. Blinding light filled the air. Standing directly in front of Sarina, stood the most awful, hideous
pet ever spawned. Shadow Gazer stood, bleeding black liquid, hissing , glowing in shadow.
"Augh!" She screamed.
Trista found her voice and screamed like her life depended on it, "ROPES!!!!!"
Lassos, ropes, pets came flying through the air. Everything happened so fast. A pet fell, dead, another,
thrown to the ground. Blood. Lots of blood. Then, Shadow Gazer was bound. She squirmed on the ground,
growling. Hissing. She bit her gag apart and screamed,
"No! Let me free, or the truth will avenge me!"
"Shut up" Richard said. He kicked her. She yelped in pain, and rolled over to reveal behind her neck,
a chain. Trista's feet moved all by themselves. She ran grabbed the cutters, and cut the chain. Shadow gazer
flipped over and the ropes went up in flames. She was free from her bounds, and stood less than a quarter of
an inch from Trista. Trista smelt death in her breath, blood on her skin, suffering in her presence. Shadow
Gazer smiled.
"Thank You" Trista was confused. But she didn't have much time to think. Shadow Gazer burst into
flame, and floated up and up and up, until she reached the heavens. There was a yelp off to the side. Trista
turned.
"Whose there?" Then a Malicious laugh.
"YOU FOOLS!!!!" Suddenly a pet jumped out of the shadows, and stabbed Richard and Sarina In the
throats.
"No it can't be!" Ashton said.
"No, not you!" Trista yelled.
Trista stood there, Ashton at her side. Sarina and Richard lay by their feet, dead from bleeding.
"Not you. . . . "
Chapter 7: The Plan
Richard and Sarina walked off towards one end of Neopia, while Trista and Ashton walked to the
other. Each pair was carrying a stack of papers, and a staple gun. Sarina past a telephone pole and quickly
whipped out her staple gun and stapled a flyer up on the pole. It read:
PROTECT YOURSELVES!!!!! KEEP SHADOW GAZER AT BAY!!!!!!
Town Meeting Tonight!!!
Where: 17820 Neopia Drive
Neopian Central, Neopia 67834
When: 5:30 p.m. December 24
Save Yourself and your generation. Learn more tonight!
Sarina smiled, and moved onto the next telephone pole.
"Do you really think this is going to work?" Richard asked her, putting his arm around her and looking
at the town pets, meandering around.
"I sure hope so, if not, well, I don't even want to think about it" Sarina answered. They moved onto
the next pole.
Ashton and Trista walked in silence. Ashton looked up the street. There stood about 15 young pet's
surrounding the wishing well.
"I'm gonna wish for. . . A scooter!" a little Acara said excitedly.
"I want another fuzzle" said a kyrii, dragging along a blue and green fuzzle.
"I want a toy car!" said a small buzz.
"I want a new Peophin Brush" a vain little Peophin neighed.
"I want" said Ashton, intruding on the young pet's conversation, "My life to be sparred." Ashton threw
50 Neopoints into the wishing well. The little rets looked up at him with wide eyes, until finally a small male
wocky said,
"Well I want a golden Wocky shield" which excited the little pets back into their own conversation
again.
"You know" Trista said, "You don't have to scare the young ones. They've got Christmas to look
forward to. We probably don't." Ashton stepped in front of Trista, preventing her from taking a step farther.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well it's just that..."
"Listen Trista" Ashton said, making her look up at him, "You're the leader of this crazy campaign, you
know that. If our leader doesn't even believe in us, than who will?" Silence. 10 seconds, 20 seconds.
"But-"
"No Buts" Ashton said.
"Ugh, you sound like my mother" Trista laughed. "Alright, I'll try."
"Ah, but Yoda says, young padowin learner, 'There is no try' " Ashton said.
"Yeah, yeah" Trista said, smiling a little.
4:00, 4:15, 4:45, 5:00, 5:30. Pets from all over town arrived at Trista's house for the meeting that
would change Neopia History. Trista lead all the pets into her backyard, and had them all sit on the lawn. She
then ran up to the front of the group, and looked back at Ashton. He nodded. Trista took a big breath, and
turned back to the crowd, a little nervous.
"Pets of Neopia. For all of you who don't know who I am, my name is Trista Inu. I'd like to star off
this meeting by pressing on you how serious this matter is. Last night, our 7th victim, Denver Draik was killed."
Gasps erupted in the crowd, followed by whispering to one another. Trista held up her hoof to silence them.
It became as silent as the grave. She continued:
"At 9:00 tonight, 4 more will die. After that, no one will be safe. Shadow Gazer will kill until there are
none left. Now males, now females, no young pets. . . No one. There is one way, and only one way to defend
ourselves. We must come together a s a town, and stop Shadow Gazer, before the final four are killed.
Now, The final four sit before you. Sarina Shiaa, Richard Hasai, Ashton Trel ,and Myself. We have
come up with a plan to stop Shadow Gazer before she can stop us! Now, who's with us!"
The pet's cheered.
"Alright then! Let's get to work."
Trista moved down into the crowd. Sh separated the group into four sections. The final four each took
a section and began to plan the final plan.
Ashton stood in front of his group. "Who here owns flood lights?" About 12 pets raised their hands.
"Ok" he said, "Who owns flash lights?" Every pet raised their hands. "Ok, Bring every portable light
you have, flood lights, flash lights, candles, lanterns, Everything! Meet the rest of the group by the rainbow
pool at 8:00 to set up. Ok now go home and get ready!" The pets cheered and scattered like flies toward their
homes. Sarina and Richard had already finished their plans, and now the final plan discussed was Trista's.
They listened intently.
"Every inch, every centimeter of rope you own, bring it to the rainbow pool at 8:00 sharp. We'll get
her for sure this time, now get that rope and meet us there in a few hours!" The pets, a little less enthusiastic
than Ashton's group, left for their homes.
"The plan's set then" Sarina said.
"Yep" Trista said, "When Shadow Gazer comes to us as bait, we turn on the flood lights and such to
reveal Shadow Gazer, Tie her up, Destroy all the cards, and send her to her maker!"
"Ok, let's wait at the rainbow pool" Ashton said.
"Actually, I have to go get something for myself. I see you at 8:00" Trista said.
"Ok" Ashton said, "I'll see you then" Ashton leaned over and Trista felt herself being pulled to him.
He gently pressed his lips up against hers, and they kissed. Trista's head was spinning. So many emotions were
clashing in her head. She pushed him away.
"I'm sorry" Ashton said, and he walked away towards his house.
"It's not -" but he was gone.
6:00, 7:00, 8:30. Trista sat near the rainbow pool. Pet's had gathered and were setting up. Ashton
was there ,but he paid no heed to her at all. Finally, Sarina came over an talked to her.
"It's almost 9:00" Sarina said.
"I know" Trista whispered.
"What are those for?" She pointed to the pair of Lock Cutters in Trista's hand.
"Oh, nothing. Just in case. . . "
"In case of what?"
"In case..." but a strange wind blew from the west.
"She's coming!" Richard yelled. Everyone shut off their lights. Pets hid with their rope. Ashton,
Richard, Trista, and Sarina stood right by the rainbow pool. Ashton could see Trista's breath.
"Trista?"
"Yes Ashton?"
"If we don't make it through this, I want you to know-"
"I know" Trista said. She looked up at him.
"It's time."
Footsteps. Ghastly footsteps, moving closer. Heavy breathing. Rattling. Footsteps. Then Red Eyes.
Tension filled the air so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Trista couldn't breathe. She couldn't move. She
was paralyzed with terror.
"NOW!" Ashton yelled.
Light. Blinding light filled the air. Standing directly in front of Sarina, stood the most awful, hideous
pet ever spawned. Shadow Gazer stood, bleeding black liquid, hissing , glowing in shadow.
"Augh!" She screamed.
Trista found her voice and screamed like her life depended on it, "ROPES!!!!!"
Lassos, ropes, pets came flying through the air. Everything happened so fast. A pet fell, dead, another,
thrown to the ground. Blood. Lots of blood. Then, Shadow Gazer was bound. She squirmed on the ground,
growling. Hissing. She bit her gag apart and screamed,
"No! Let me free, or the truth will avenge me!"
"Shut up" Richard said. He kicked her. She yelped in pain, and rolled over to reveal behind her neck,
a chain. Trista's feet moved all by themselves. She ran grabbed the cutters, and cut the chain. Shadow gazer
flipped over and the ropes went up in flames. She was free from her bounds, and stood less than a quarter of
an inch from Trista. Trista smelt death in her breath, blood on her skin, suffering in her presence. Shadow
Gazer smiled.
"Thank You" Trista was confused. But she didn't have much time to think. Shadow Gazer burst into
flame, and floated up and up and up, until she reached the heavens. There was a yelp off to the side. Trista
turned.
"Whose there?" Then a Malicious laugh.
"YOU FOOLS!!!!" Suddenly a pet jumped out of the shadows, and stabbed Richard and Sarina In the
throats.
"No it can't be!" Ashton said.
"No, not you!" Trista yelled.
Trista stood there, Ashton at her side. Sarina and Richard lay by their feet, dead from bleeding.
"Not you. . . . "