The sun was shining as it slowly rose through the sky in Neopia City. I stepped outside Neopia Palace and stretched, looking out on the horizon. It was hard to believe that I had arrived here in Ancient Neopia only five days ago, and have already accomplished so much. First, it may have taken an entire day inside the Dank Caves, but I had defeated Xantan the Foul and acquired his magical ring. Then, after facing many horrors inside the Jungle Ruins, I, with the help of some friends, killed a pygmy chief, an idiotic mutant, and a psycho researcher. And now, standing outside with my Nature Wand, I felt extremely refreshed. My desire to journey was renewed, and I was ready to set off to- to- well, exactly where, I didn't know yet. Eleus Batrin, the town's master weapon smith, had told me to come and meet him here at the crack of dawn. So, here I am, just waiting for him.

It was nearly morning before an old Kyrii stepped outside of Neopia Palace. I ran up to meet Eleus, who smiled warmly at me.

'You have come a long way,' he said, patting me on the back. 'You have defeated many monsters and rescued many people. I commend you,'

He bowed down at my feet. 'Errr, thanks, I guess,' I stuttered modestly. 'But what should I do now? Where are the others?'

'I think you will be pleased to know that Tylix, Margoreth, Pommana, and Korabric are all snoozing soundly inside the building right next to us. It hasn't been used in quite a while, and they are interested in making another research facility, if smaller, to replace the Jungle Ruins.' Eleus answered. 'In the meantime, yes... your next quest. Margoreth mentioned something about a Medallion that Rollay Scaleback gave to you before he died?'

I remembered: the Rusty Medallion that the creature used to wear around its neck. I drew it out from my pack. The string was still there so I could still wear it around my neck if I tied the two ends together, but it was still slimy and rusty, so I kept it with all my other items. The weapon smith took it from my paw, inspecting it closely.

'This medallion does have some a scripture on it,' he said finally. 'But I cannot decipher it. However, I do know someone who might be able to... Gali Yoj, my teacher. She could probably translate it for you. Gali Yoj lives in a place called Sunny Town, far, far away. Just take a left at the Spooky Forest and go south through the Swamp. From there, you'll have to ask somebody for the 411 on how to get there, because I have no clue what lies past there.'

I left Neopia City by breakfast. For the past hour, I had heard dire warnings about what lies west of the town, and it was really starting to get tiring.

'Undead monsters haunt the plains!' An old man said.

'My wife was taken in by a swamp beast!' another one said.

'My son was taken by things!' a rather deranged old lady screamed.

So far, I had made it all the way out back to the Hills of Jub, but I hadn't encountered anything new- yet. Undead monsters apparently roamed the area, but I had yet to see one. Soon, I was far, far away from Neopia City and approaching the end of the Hills of Jub.

'Where could those things be?' I wondered aloud. 'Where?'

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice the small Red Korbat sitting at the top of the hill I was climbing. However, he noticed me.

'You!' exclaimed a small voice from my left. I turned and saw- Rikti the Korbat! Rikti was a lost adventurer who had been trapped in the Dank Caves by Xantan the Foul's horrible magic. After I rescued him, he said that he was going to stick around the Hills of Jub some more.

'Didn't you receive my note?' he asked, leaping up.

I shook my head. 'What note?'

'The note! It had a bit of Xantan's Cape stuck to it! Did you not see it?'

I shook my head again. Suddenly, the wind began to pick up, and a piece of paper that was attached to a piece of brook coloured cloak with little purple stars on it slapped me in the face. 'Youch!' I shouted, grabbing it off my cheek.

I studied it a bit. Then I realized: it was that piece of paper I had seen when I came out of the Dank Caves! It had gotten blown away by the wind, and the breeze must have taken it through the Hills until it finally reached- here!

'Well, read it!' Rikti commanded.

I looked at the note, peeling it off Xantan's Cape. Placing the small piece of cloth into my pack, I began to read,

'Lupe, I will be roaming around the Hill of Jub for a little while. The next time you are passing this way, please take me with you back to my hometown, Swamp Edge City. I'm sure that my brother misses me dearly. I shall be waiting at the most north-western hill of the Hills of Jub, because once you get off it, you're in the Haunted Plains. Cheers! -Rikti'

I quickly looked past Rikti the bottom of the hill. Sure enough, there were the plains. The note had said that it was the beginning of the Haunted Plains- and they sure seemed a bit haunted. A light fog lingered through the area, and the grass was charcoal black.

'Well, if we're going to get through there before nightfall, then let's hurry!'

And with that, Rikti took off down the hill. I quickly ran to follow my temporary companion, so that he didn't trip and do a back flip down the hill. The last thing I needed was to have to carry him through this weird place and that dreaded swamp everybody was talking about.

'Hehehehe, this is fun- YOUCH! I think I'm going to trip and do a back flip down the hill, so somebody'll have to carry me through that weird place and the dreaded swamp everybody is talking about!'

And sure enough, that's exactly what Rikti did. He tripped over a dead root, did a back flip down the hill, and needed somebody to carry him. Sighing, I reached the base and hoisted him up on my shoulders. The young Korbat's body was slightly cold, but he wasn't dead- yet.

I quickly ran through the Haunted Plains as fast as I could. I was attacked by undead monsters, but I simply gave them a taste of my Nature Wand. Its light perished in the fog, as the mist began to get deeper the more I ran through it. Soon, I was dreadfully tired, and wanted to lie down on the ground. A small forest lay next to me, which was completely filled with the fog. This must be the Spooky Forest, as someone in town mentioned.

Rikti woke up. He shook his small head and leaped off my back. 'Wow! That was fun! Can we do it again?'

Sighing, I stood up very reluctantly. Looking up, I noticed that the fog was starting to clear in one area. Squinting even more, with my eyes, I could just make out the characteristics of a swampy land. The Swamp! I had finally reached it!

'The Swamp! We're nearly there to my home town!' Rikti cheered, jumping up. I quickly ran towards it, with Rikti right behind me.

Sure enough, we had found the exit! Bursting through the land of nearly-impossible sight, we were faced with: swamp. Swamp as far as the eye could see, with a hint of a small plain somewhere along the horizon. Rikti was much more excited than I was.

'Come on! This way!' The energetic Korbat led the way as he skipped through the muck in the south-east direction. Quickly, I followed him, stomping and splashing mud everywhere, sending mud and the occasional burst of water flying through my wake.

The journey through the swamp was messy and disgusting, but better than the Haunted Plains. The Swamp Vines and the occasional Krawk were the only monsters that we could see, and they weren't too difficult after what I had been through. With my help, Rikti also progressed with me, leading the way. With each track through the ick, he seemed to become happier, as if he was finally home.

After about half an hour of tracking, we had finally reached his destination: a series of mountains to the west side of the swamp. The sight of the small stretch of plains was basically right in front of us now. The grass did not hide what lay beyond: a huge stretch of desert that went far beyond the horizon.

'This way!' the young Korbat cried. Small foothills bumped through the mountains and led to the other edge of it. Eager to get out of the muck, I followed him as he dashed through the evaluated land as nimble as an elf.

It wasn't long before a small city loomed into sight. Rikti practically jumped up and down in glee.

'Swamp Edge City! My home! My house! My brother!'

With that, I realized that the lost young adventurer had finally made it home. But what was this place?

'I would just like to thank you again for bringing Rikti home!'

A gracious Red Korbat, considerably larger than Rikti, sat down at inside his kitchen on a wooden stool. Beside him sat Rikti and I, all sipping water and making conversation with the host, Mokti.

'Really, it was no problem,' I said modestly for probably the 10th time. 'I know that Rikti means a lot to you, I guess...'

'He sure does! I've been using his room for a guest bedroom for months now... I guess it will be put to better use now, eh?'

Mokti slapped Rikti on the pack, causing the young Korbat to spurt out his mouthful of water. Choking, he said, 'I'm never going adventuring again... I'll tell you what happened later, I guess...'

'Well, what should I do now?' I was eager to continue on my quest to Sunny Town.

'I don't know, really. Did you say something about any cities to the south? Well, to the south of this swamp lies the Desert of Roo, stretching as far as the eye can see. I have once attempted to go through it to see what lay at the other side, but after three days of fruitless walking, I knew that my destination, whatever it might be, was probably hopeless. I have heard from many travelers that what lay beyond a small stretch of plain at the end were some maze-like caves and nestled somewhere inside them was a small village. Rumor has it that it's on a cliff right next to the sea, so it's sunny there all the time.'

Sunny all the time... Sunny Town! That must be it.

'Thanks a million,' I thanked. 'But I really must be going now.'

I turned to leave, but Mokti suddenly shouted, 'Oh wait! I'd like to give you a little something other than my thanks for bringing my little bro back...'

The Korbat ran up to me and pressed a light cloth into my hands. It was brook-red in colour, and I realized that it was a new set of robes. 'This is the Sorcerous Robe,' Mokti explained. 'Your current one is looking a bit shabby... you should really thank old Leirobas for them... and to think, all he really wanted was a junky generator...'

'Err, thanks, I guess...' I trailed off, trying to think of something to say. 'Who's Leirobas?'

'Crankiest dude in town... I wouldn't visit him at this hour, if you don't want to get blasted out his door as soon as you put in as much as the tip of your tail. If you're ever in the neighbourhood, drop by! You're always welcome here.'

'Thanks, again-' I began, but Mokti pushed me at the door.

'I'd just like to thank you again, but I REALLY need some time to discuss certain issues with my brother...'

Mokti shot a dark look at Rikti before bidding me good-bye once more and then slamming the door in my face.

I leaped out of the swamp to the plains beyond. I was exhausted, grieving after a narrow escape from a HUGE poisonous vine at the end of the swamp. Sighing, I glanced up at the morning sun which was slowly rising. An Ancient Neopian noon was approaching, and temperatures were probably going to go to boiling.

Glancing at the desert, I took my first step on to the sand. It felt like just what I had predicted it would: burning hot, like coals at my feet. I lifted it up again in pain. What was I to do?

I sat down on the grass. Small, flat stones lay all around the small plain, littering one section. I picked them up, and they felt very as light as a feather. Staring across the sand again, I threw the stone at the golden hot mess and it landed perfectly on a small patch of sand.

And that's when the idea came to me: stepping stones! I could use the stones as stepping stones to get across the desert! Quickly, I scooped up all the stones I could find and dumped them into my bag. I leaped on to the first stepping stone, with one foot in the air.

My idea was a success. I wasn't touching the flaming sand and I could get through the desert this way. It was like stepping on paper plates on the ground, or flat fish across water. I didn't know exactly which way to head, but a small speck of grey had appeared could just faintly be seen through the wild golden yonder. So, that's where I was headed, south-west from the plains towards what was most probably the middle of the desert.

Two either sides of me there stood water, which didn't really make since as it was a desert. The monsters were all gruesome and hideous, but they were just like the swamp beasts: easy enough to beat. The sun was setting by the time I had finally reached the grey speck, which turned out to be a ring of mountains. The air started to get cooler just when I had run out of flat rocks. Grateful, I stepped on to the sand, which was stone cold. Dashing, I ran around the mountains and into the ring, expecting to see something hideously strange, but I didn't get it. All there was a small cavern that appeared to lead downward, reminding me of the Dank Caves.

'Hello, what's this?' I said to myself. By the dying rays, I peered down it. All I could see was a landing of dirt and dust, with the occasional THUMP! of what sounded like monsters from far below.

All of a sudden, there came a huge THUMP! from behind me. My feet seemed to have grown wheels now, and it was lucky they were like that: one second more of delay would have gotten me killed by a huge dust mummy. Now that it was cool, the beast could finally roam around the Desert of Roo.

'UGH ROOOOOOAR!' it shouted in an undead-ish way.

'What?' I asked it, but that probably wasn't a good thing to do. If there's one thing I've learned from all of this, then I've learned it: Never provoke undead creatures, such as mummies.

'GRRRR!' It shouted its war cry and then came charging towards me!

'This is so not good,' I said to myself. Looking behind me, the huge hole made a gigantic gap in the ground, leading down to... where? I do not know, but I had to do something before it killed me.

'Well, I know it's not good to provoke you, but I'll say it anyways: Seeya later loser!'

And with that, I jumped down the tunnel into the Temple of Roo.

'Luce!' I whispered in the darkness.

My Nature Wand lit up the dark, dank tunnel that I was in. It definitely reminded me of the Dank Caves now. Just thinking about my experience there made me shudder, and I hoped that this adventure wouldn't turn out like that one...

I began my trek down the small maze of tunnels. The THUMP!s I had heard from above were silenced, but I had the odd feeling that something strange lay ahead of me.

Sure enough, when I had reached a place where I could see an actual stone floor, a small deranged Cybunny sat at the exit, as if guarding the way.

'Eh?... Who's there...'

I blacked out my wand's light and stepped out of the shadows.

'I'm... well, I forgot who I am so long ago it's lost interest in telling people that, but let's move on to more important issues: Who are you?'

The Cybunny looked stunned. 'Well... I'm Erick, I guess... can you do me a favor?'

Now it was my turn to be taken aback, but without really realizing what I was saying, I answered, 'Sure,'

'Ai... I was sealed here... after the battle... so many dead... I myself trapped here... must escape...'

He continued to go 'Blah blah blah' with more gibberish before finally getting to the point.

'Need... staff... any staff... carved wooden oak staffs... a Jewel of Power... the Coruscating Gem... seek the Archmagus... he resides here, below... far below... beware...'

And with that, Erick had rushed off, leaving the way for to exit the small tunnel and enter into a world of-

'What?' It was not like the Dank Caves anymore now! Sand had caved into some parts, but most of the area looked a long-lost and ruined temple. I noticed a few small rooms, with what seemed to be a river of sand at the other side which led into a long hallway. Figuring that if I wanted to continue on, that was probably my destination, I hurried over to the place.

Monsters had now started attacking me, but I had been expecting them. The eerie silence was very suspicious, but they didn't seem to think so. Droves and droves of beasts, from golems to temple monsters, sent their best attacks and attackers raining down on me. I evaded and shot spells at them, as the numbers slowly started to decrease. Finally, I was sore and extremely tired, but the monsters had backed off. Only the brave few (or should I say dozens?) still bothered to attack me, but the monsters rate was now back to normal.

Sipping a healing potion, I crossed the 'Sand River' on a small stretch of stone that hadn't been buried yet. I was now facing what I had seen was a large room littered with statues. Statues never really meant much good in a place, no matter how magnificent it looked. I trudged down the hall, fighting off monsters.

At the end, I was faced with a dead end. Discouraged, I knew I had to go either to the left or right. My brain wasn't working quite right, and that's exactly the way I took: right. Once again, there were two narrow hallways that led back.

Knowing that anywhere could work, I trudged down the first. It only took me to a huge pile of soil, which had obviously caved in from the upper cave itself. I turned back and then ran down the upper tunnel, only to reach a dead end. I was incredibly confused now, and headed back down to the dead end of the first hall and trudged down a hallway that branched off from the left, the way I didn't take. It had led me to another fork, one which led back to the first hall and one which led down another hall. I took that one, only to come across another mound of dirt that had supposedly dropped from the ceiling.

'I give up! I'm too tired!' This I yelled to the hall. There was only one reasonable thing to do now: sleep. The monsters wouldn't dare get me... would they?

I was too tired to care. Yawning, I dropped down on my knees, landed on the ground with a KLUNK! and knew no more.

A loud THUMP! like the shattering of glass against rock roused me from my sleep.

'Whazzit?' I muttered stupidly, getting up. 'Whozzere?'

I stood up on my hind legs, my eyes still closed. Stretching my arms, I opened my eyes and came face to face with a large sphere of glass.

I gasped in horror. The Crystal Golem, on the other hand, raised its arm to attack. I leaped out of the way as it struck the soil behind me with such a strong force it all parted, making a shortcut out of the hallway.

I assumed that it had probably just came, because it probably would have attacked me in my sleep and not waited until I woke up. I sent a couple of small spells against the wall to distract it momentarily so that I could run past it and down the parted soil.

At the end of the main hallway I had wandered last night, by turning to my left, there was an exit on sand. Since this was underground, the sand couldn't be flaming hot, since the sun hadn't been beating down on it. I was right, as I found out when I stepped on it. There was only a very light dusting of sand, and I ran through it like splashing through water.

The crystal golem had finally realized that I wasn't there. A loud howl of rage came from the hallway, as it smashed through a solid wall and began to chase me.

'Aiyee!' I hustled through the sand, while the monster behind me thrashed with rage. Apparently, the trick I had played on it had made it extremely angry.

Soon, a small forest emerged filled with small but living trees. Small, feeble rays of sunlight shined through many holes where the sand had not covered up.

I flew through the forest, darting through the trees. They were too small to actually climb but big enough so that they were taller. The golem raised its massive, crystalline arms and simply crushed the trees out of the way.

Finally, the jungle ended into an extremely large room. I blasted away the trees blocking the nearest entrance and ran through it. Small pieces of furniture were covered in dust, and as I flew by these, a small cloud of dust had formed my trail. The golem was not far behind; it had crushed the exit making it wider and was going through the part of the floor that wasn't covered in the sign of not cleaning for centuries.

I burnt into another room, while the crystal golem thrashed through it. Running as fast as I could, I ran down the hall and raced through another room. A narrow hallway separated it from the next room, but it was covered in sand. I was starting to get tired now, but the crystal golem was more furious than any other wild monster I had ever battled.

By that time, I was too tired to stand and fight it. I need a strategist plan to destroy the monster once and for all. The room I was in now had two narrow hallways which simply led back to the left and right main halls, which were completely useless to me. I spared a glance behind me: the crystal golem, with its glass-like body-

Glass! It was made of glass! Not crystal; I knew it wasn't crystal, but glass! I realized this when it had smashed through a wall; a small chunk had broken off. I mean, it still was a crystal golem, but its origin seemed closer to glass than gem.

By this point of my series, then you must have realized by now that I had always managed to worm my way out of sticky situations like these with a simple strategy. And, as predicted, I had an idea.

Quickly, I ran against the wall. It was stupid just remaining motionless like that with a horrible monster coming, but I stood my ground. I tried my best to look as if I were tired.

It worked. The monster charged at me. However, when it had nearly reached me and crushed me, I darted aside. The crystal golem struck the wall so hard that its arm broke off. Enraged and not thinking that I would probably try the same thing again, it charged towards where I was standing (at the left side) and once again I leaped aside. Its other arm was lost in the endeavor, and that made the crystal golem even angrier.

My plan was working. Quickly, I ran up against the right wall and the monster charged once again, readying itself for a body slam. It tilted its body and struck the wall, but this time I had not moved: it had simply missed.

BANG! Its body fell off. Now all that remained was its head, half a sphere, and looking like a chopped radish. There was only one wall left now, and that was the front wall. As soon as I made it the crystal golem charged once again at its last attempt to destroy me: a headbutt. This time, however, it had no body and therefore had less weight to move around. The golem had moved so fast I could not even dodge it.

WHAM! The force hit me in the stomach. Gasping in pain, I slumped down against the floor. However, the force had been too much for the remainder of the crystal golem also; it split in two and hit the ground, shattering into millions of little particles.

Sighing with relief, I forced a healing potion down my throat and felt instantly better. As a reflex, I hunted around the remains to see if it had dropped anything. Scooping up a couple of healing potions, I turned to leave before something shiny caught my eye: a piece of crystal that appeared to be living.

I scooped it up. I expected it to be cold, but on the contrary, it was warm. It was living! Not Neopet-like living, but plant-like living. I didn't know what to do with it, but I put it in my pack anyways.

During my little fight against the golem in the room, I noticed a small hallway of dirt that must lead to the next part of my journey in this place. I rushed down it and approached the end, finding a small ramp that led downwards to deeper depths.

Feeling that the difficult part of my adventure was finally over, I slid down it gleefully, putting my arms up and shouting, 'Whoo!'

I had not had this feeling for 10 days, nor had I said this phrase. 'Oh the irony!'

The Archmagus of Roo sent a large spike of magic towards me. I ducked, sending the attack against a wall, causing it to crash down. I had dropped my wand some few feet away, but was too weak to care. Until I could gulp down a couple of healing potions, the only thing I could do was evade the Archmagus's evil work. I couldn't possibly imagine anything that could get me out of this mess. Quickly, I hid behind a statue and gulped down two healing potions so fast I choked. The Archmagus of Roo heard the noise and approached my hiding spot, causing me to jump over the statue (it was of a beautiful staff engraved with a sparkling gem stone at the top) and rushing to the center of the small room where my wand lay.

Snatching it up, the keys I had so desperately found in order to get to fight the Archmagus rattled inside my pack. There were six in total, each getting shinier as their rarity increased. They do have a special power: to open doors. Little did I know that they had something... else.

I launched an array of attacks at the Archmagus. He took two steps back, for my attack had stunned it, if only for a little while. The amount of time was short but long enough so that I could fully drink one healing potion before he raised his staff to attack once more. I launched more attacks at him, though not too affective. This battle had to be ended soon, or else I would drop dead with both boredom and exhaustion.

The Archmagus of Roo stretched his body to its limits and opened its mouth wide. No spell casting issued out of it; instead a small black hole opened up in front of his mouth and stretched across towards my body. It landed on my head, and began draining my health. I stumbled in weakness at the Archmagus recovered with my powers.

I was clueless, without a strategy. The Archmagus didn't seem to have ANY down factor like any monster that I had fought so far. Though, come to think of it, none of these major monsters had really had any down factor. However, with a pang, I realized that for all the other bosses I had received some sort of help: Xantan had decayed over the years and became significantly weaker; Margoreth, the ex-teacher, had cast a spell to make barrels and statues knock out Kreai the Pygmy Chief; Tylix, Margoreth's student, had stuck wooden pegs into the body of Gors the Mighty and I merely helped cast the spell that made the ceiling of the classroom collapse inside the Jungle Ruins and crush its body; and Denethir the Scholar had appeared at exactly the correct moment and I had presented the correct components of a Nature Wand to him when Rollay Scaleback had nearly defeated me.

'So I did have help,' I said aloud. 'But not this time!'

I twisted around to the Archmagus and launched a torrent of white beams at him. They struck him in the arm; on the leg; critically on the hand; shot at the tail; almost everywhere you could imagine.

'Puny little Neopet,' he boomed. 'You are no match for me!'

The Archmagus of Roo lifted his staff and shot an ENORMOUS beam of emerald-green light towards me. I jumped out of the way just in time, and one of the keys (I recognized it as the Copper Plated Key) fell out and hit the floor with a CLANG! Both the Archmagus and I stared at it for several wasteful moments before the boss stepped back in fear.

'Don't bring that key any closer to me!'

It held up a warning paw and stepped back cautiously. What would happen? I wondered. Obviously, curiosity brought me to throw the key as hard as I could towards the Archmagus of Roo.

BAZAM! A large flash of rust-coloured light had begun trailing behind the Key when I had thrown it. For its few seconds in the air, it looked like a shooting star flying across the sky. And then, just like that, it hit the Archmagus.

For a few seconds, smoke lingered in the air. Nothing appeared to happen, though he thought that something terrible was about to erupt from somewhere. It didn't take long to find out: a twister, similar to the one he had used to drain me of life, had appeared against the wall. It was huge, as huge as the Turmaculus, and black, as black as night. I could only watch with wonder as it slowly began to swallow up the Archmagus of Roo into another vortex.

'Nooo! This cannot be happening!' he roared. It was so loud that the room seemed to begin to shake as he uttered his last words, 'Find Erick! He has gone mad after being shut up in this place... perhaps you can bring peace!'

The words 'peace' echoed through the room as he was slowly swallowed up into the black hole. Then, there was a flash of bright purple light, and he was gone.

A small, clouded gem lay on the floor where the gasping vortex had been only seconds ago. Wordlessly and thoughtlessly, I bent down and took it. It felt stone cold in my paw, but a small light seemed to pulse through a small area, and whenever I touched it a warm energy would erupt around my body. This gem probably contained some trace of magical powers, but what could it be?

I suddenly remembered the words of Erick:

'the Coruscating Gem... seek the Archmagus...'

The Archmagus of Roo supposedly had the Coruscating Gem... that's what he said. I didn't know this any better than Rikti would, I thought. Chuckling to myself, I put away the small, clouded gem along with a couple healing potions. A small teleporter had emerged from a small corner in the Archmagus of Roo's chamber.

Looking around the place and gazing at the spot where the vortex had been only minutes ago, I chuckled to myself and declared, 'Seeya, Archie!'

As I jumped through the teleporter, I could have sworn a small, bolt of purple lightening had erupted momentarily in the middle of the room, but before I could go and investigate what happened, the teleporter made a strange whirring sound and I had teleported away.