MiracleStar spent hours closeted up talking to Skyil. We had rooms in the royal wing of the palace, a couple doors down from Fyora's apartment. It was late at night and hardly anyone was stirring. I was supposed to be sleeping but found that quite difficult. Jaix was sound asleep in his bed, his chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm. Taffin was asleep also. He'd woken up for a bit to eat something then promptly went back to sleep. I didn't think he was quite that tired out, he was merely taking advantage of this to be lazy. I let him do so though, if I couldn't sleep there was no point on inflicting my misery on someone else.

My thoughts bounced around like crickets, refusing to be silent. I wondered where Diganis was, if she was alright, if she needed help. I remembered the faerie lingering in the dungeons, the one that I had captured. What would become of him? And most of all I remembered MiracleStar's haunted eyes as she regarded the prisoner before her and glanced over at the collar on Skyil's neck. No choice for any of us.

Neopia has always taken its safety for granted. The faeries watched over things and kept us safe, tucking away the world's evils and presenting a shimmering surface to the inhabitants to oh and aw at. Now we were on the other side of that gilded curtain and I was experiencing first hand exactly what safety meant. Intrigue, secrecy, and death. On one hand was the rebellion, grasping for power for some unknown reason, and on the other, Fyora, doing her best to maintain the current structure of authority. None of this had any choice in this, perhaps least of all Fyora herself. I can't say that thought made me think any better of her, but it was some consolation to my soul that she could be suffering as much as we were.

I sat in an armchair and stared pensively at the fire someone had lit in the fireplace. It was dying out but there was still enough light to reflect off my eyes and gleam on the tips of my fur. I do not remember falling asleep, the thoughts finally sinking away into quiet. But I woke the next morning in a bed so I had to assume that MiracleStar had carried me to one when she came in last night.

Skyil was asleep nearby. I rose, careful not to wake her, and walked into the living room of our chambers. MiracleStar was sitting at the table, a mug of tea before her, Taffin and Jaix sitting nearby.

"Hello Nianso," she said wearily, "Com'ere. We're just about to go over our plan of action."

"And Skyil?" I asked.

"She already knows. Let her sleep."

I nodded and climbed up into a chair opposite her. She took a sip of tea and sighed heavily.

"Alright. Here's the plan: there is a large meeting of the leaders of this rebellion in three days from now. The only problem is someone is probably going to notice that the faerie we captured is missing. That'll put them on alert and the meeting will most likely be moved or cancelled. Unfortunately, security is so tight anyway that this faerie isn't quite sure himself who exactly is in charge. He knew quite a few names, but none of them are the ones in charge. Besides, we need nab them all at once, in one go."

"But if the meeting is going to be impossible to get to with him missing...." I said.

"Then we lose what may be our one opportunity. Yes. That's why we're going to try something else."

And she opened her hand to reveal the silver starburst resting on her palm.

"Losgadh'eolas," I whispered.

"Exactly. I think we can force this to happen if the bait is right."

"What kind of bait are you going to use?"

"Just watch."

And she pressed the starburst between her palms and closed her eyes, dropping to a different level of communication only she could hear. We waited in silence. And waited. And finally Taffin got bored and started examining the room for easily carried away valuables. A thief's instincts are never gone. Eventually she opened her eyes and stared into her tea mug, face solemn and tired.

"Well?" I asked eagerly.

We crowded around her. She took another drink of her tea.

"He agreed to help. He finds all this amusing and happens to be on Fyora's side. We've got the help we need."

"What exactly is that help?" I persisted.

"He's sending... a representative to the rebellion for their next meeting. Never before has he allied himself openly with any political faction. This will be an opportunity they can't pass up. The meeting will happen as planned, where it was planned. No one would suspect a dragon of treachery. But it'll come - he has decided it's time to remind Neopia of his influence and power."

"So who is he sending? Us?"

She laughed harshly, a hysterical little bubble of laughter that was on the verge of tears.

"No, apparently he can only get one person in safely. He's chosen his one remaining servant aside from us. Diganis."

From there on out it was a waiting game. MiracleStar argued with Fyora a couple times. I tried not to eavesdrop and spent my time with my siblings, practicing our fighting. We would need it come the third day. MiracleStar had outfitted us with more weapons, hemlock darts, more daggers, and ordered Jaix and Taffin to leave their large weapons at home. We had to be fast and stealthy to do this. On the second day MiracleStar came to a crisis.

"I'm not going through with this," she said, bursting in through the door and startling all of us.

"But we have no choice!" I cried, "They'll destroy our wings."

"I know. I'll do what needs to be done but I'm not doing it the way we planned. You're not coming. None of you."

"Hold up!" Jaix cried, "You are going in alone against who knows how many faeries, humans, and pets?"

"Yes. You're in too deep. No more."

"We're a family," I said firmly, "We stick together. If this is what we must do then so be it. We're coming."

"No. No arguing. This conversation is over - you are not coming."

"Think you can stop us?" Taffin growled.

MiracleStar looked him over haughtily.

"Yes, I can. And I will."

"You're just being selfish again," I retorted, "Making yourself the martyr here. You're not thinking of us; just yourself again."

"I am a selfish person!" she cried, "And I do not want you involved in this! I do not want you to see what I am!"

"We already know what you are!" I screeched in response, my wings snapping out to either side of me, "You are MiracleStar! Our owner! The greatest thief in Neopia! To hell with Kristen. You are not her anymore and you are doing this for us, not her. We are coming because this is our fight, not yours, not Kristen's. You took a new name when you took us. It's time to chose who you are going to be. We want MiracleStar and so do you. But with that name comes us. Decide."

The corner of her cheek twitched and she dropped her head in defeat.

"Very well. But let me tell you this - I don't want you to follow me when I go after the ringleaders. I want you to stay outside and cause a distraction. Nothing more. This is not to protect you - it is because I fight alone. You'll just get in the way."

"Alright. That's a deal," I replied, but I was already scheming in my heart.

She would have my help, want it or not.