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The Visitor

With his anger still burning inside Sano didn't stop running until he made it to his home. The two Christmas petpets inside, Astro, a Puppyblew, and Akida, a Dogglefox woke up from their naps when they heard the loud slam of the door and a sound run into Sano's room.

Recognizing her owner's scent Astro quickly followed into Sano's room to find him collapsed on his favorite beanbag chair. She slowly approached the frustrated Gelert and gently pawed his left ear.

Sano flopped his head on its other side and gazed glumly at her, "Come here girl." He said wrapping a paw around the Puppyblew and held her close to him.

The little petpet cooed and nuzzled his face asking for an explanation.

"I had the worst day Astro. Just like last year I didn't make the team. And the year before that. (sigh) I'm never going to be noticed for who I am, just Hegiowu's twin and nothing more."

"Aww you poor thing." A dark eerie feminine voice echoed from the far corner of his room.

Astro suddenly leaped off the chair and ran down the hall.

Sano quickly raised his head thinking at first it was his brother. But no one was there in the room. He then thought Akida might've gotten into something. He ventured out of his bedroom to investigate when a green and purple fog suddenly envelope around him. "Whoa! What's happening!"

The fog blinded him from everything around him. He couldn't see anything that would distinguish him what room he was in. it was as if he was no longer in his own home.

"Don't you just hate those ignorant fools." The voice spoke again, "Always favoring your brother instead of realizing your true talents."

"Yeah but…I don't have any real talents…." Sano meekly replied, trying to find his way through the smoke.

The voice chuckled, "Oh yes. Yes you do. I can see them hidden deep within yourself, just waiting to be released, and I above all will help you."

His ears perked up with excitement, "You will! Who are you? And where are you?"

"That is not important now. If you want to know, bring a bottle of rainbow sand to the Haunted Woods within three days time. And I'll help unlock your gifts. Do we have a deal?" the fog then grew even thicker and began to close in around him.

He knew he shouldn't. He knew that the voice was untrustworthy. However the promise of finding out his true gifts excited him. Something that only he has and no one else? Something that'll distinguish him from his brother? It was too good to be true!

"Deal."

The smoke vanished and he was back in his room atop of his favorite beanbag chair.

"Sano…Sano are you alright?" he heard another voice say this time. Sano opened his eyes to see Hegiowu, Astro, and Akida around him. Looking down on him with concern.

"Sano?" Hegiowu asked again sounding even more worried.

"Why the long faces?" Sano replied with a tired groan.

Hegiowu knelt down till his faced touched his brother's, "You were tossing and turning in your sleep. I thought you were having a nightmare."

Sano became more alert sat up on his seat. He tried to recall what had happened but it now seemed too fuzzy to recall anything. He looked over to the clock above to see that it was passed eight-o-clock. He ran away from school around one. "Man, I must've slept right through." He then looked to Hegiowu, "Did you…notice anything odd when you got here?"

Hegiowu cocked his head a little, "Odd? No I don't think so."

Sano looked down and laid his head back on his paws, "Then all that was only a dream…or was it?"

The next few days Sano wondered what happened that late afternoon with the phantom visitor. And why would it want a mere bottle of sand? Surely the voice would know that the magical powers of the sand from Mystery Island were actually a gimmick.

But it was simple enough. And to find out what his true abilities were it was a rather good deal on his part.

"Uh hey, some of the guys are going go and root the Hasee on with the timed doughnutfruit harvest. Wanna come?" Hegiowu asked on the third day after the tryouts.

Sano looked over his shoulder from his homework on his bamboo desk. "No."

"What? But you love watching the little petpets catch the fruit while avoiding the flying droppings." The blue Lupe looked at him curiously. Ever since the tryouts the young Gelert had kept himself isolated from others. He barley said anything in school, never went out with his friends, he didn't even look at Orana at all like he usually does. And now not going to the Hasee Jump?

"Sano…if something's bothering you…"

"Look I'm not exactly in the mood so can you please leave me alone?"

Afraid to make matters worse Hegiowu backed off, "Sure ok. If you change your mind you're free to join us."

Sano turned his back and listened as Hegiowu met their friends at the door and head out to the game field.

Once they had left and the coast was clear Sano quietly snuck out of the house and headed toward the outskirts of town. Luckily for him the Haunted Woods was only a few short miles away. And even luckier was that the store that had the sands was on the way. He stopped by at the shop and quickly paid for the vile before anyone inside could ask him what for. Carrying the bag with the bottled sand in his mouth Sano crept out into the seemingly empty streets. Almost everyone in town was either at home, or watching the track meet at the school. The very thought disgusted him.

"Sano is that you?" a soft voice suddenly say behind him.

Sano jumped nearly two feet into the air, spun around, and landed on all fours. His jaw dropped open in shock letting the bag fall on the grass. "Orana!"

The little Aisha smiled sweetly at him. She was wearing a light pink ribbon around her neck.

Sano gulped nervously. He couldn't believe she was standing in front of him. She must be looking for another Sano. "Who me?" the stuttered between rapid breaths.

She simply nodded and cocked her head curiously, "Is everything alright Sano?"

Sano's green fur turned pale then bright red. He couldn't believe she was talking to him. To him! He took a deep heavy breath, "Um yeah. Yeah everything's fine. Why should it be?"

Orana stepped closer to him, "I saw what that Lenny did to you. I think it's so unfair that the coach didn't see it."

"Well could you blame him? I mean with the nationals coming up so quickly he needs a team…" Sano said now trying to sounds more confident…or at least more or less normal.

"Don't make excuses for him!" the Aisha exclaimed, "You're the best runner I've seen on the track! You have no need to resort to tricks to win."

"Speaking of which why aren't you at school?" Sano asked just before her previous words sunk in.

Orana lowered her head, "I told the coach I wasn't feeling well."

The Gelert was surprised. And dumbstruck. He didn't how much longer he could last being around her for the first time. Especially since he had an appointment with the mysterious voice.

Orana pick up the shopping bag and handed it back to him. "So, what are you doing?"

Sano snapped back into focus and remembered he had to get to the Haunted Forest. But he couldn't tell her about it. Even he didn't what was in store. "Well, just out running errands, nothing that would interest you."

"Oh, well…I was thinking we could hang out and talk."

"Um, some other time ok…I really have to go." Sano said finally reaching down and grabbing the bag in his mouth. Just as he was about to sprint off both of their stalk ears got tangled up in each other's.

"Ah! Ooh! Ow! This is so embarrassing." Sano said again dropping his bag and started detangling the knot.

Orana just laughed as she tried to help him, "Well, can't say it wasn't expected. Ouch! Though it is kinda funny." She said with a giggle.

Sano smiled as he undid the last tangle. "Well I guess I'll see you in school tomorrow then."

Orana the white Aisha nodded and watched as the green Gelert ran off down the road. She leaned against the side of the store with a delicate paw over her heart, "I can't believe I actually talked to him!" she said with a dreamy sigh.

After nearly an hour Sano reached the outskirts of Neopian central. He gazed at the dark and dreaded forest nervously. Cold shivers shook all the way down his spine and tail. His jaws shook nearly tearing into the bag. Slowly he neared the first layer of trees. Those cold dead plants with their blackened bark and tangled branches that looked like gnarled hands reaching out to the outside world.

"Um….excuse me…mysterious voice. I'm here….I have the sands you asked for…" he said through his teeth. He waited for any sound to answer, ready to bolt when the first unfriendly inhabitant showed up.

"Come in little one." Echoed the same haunting voice that visited him. "Come in."

Slowly, and carefully he walked into the forest. And even sooner the same purple and green smoke surrounded him.

He shut his eyes to avoid getting the ominous cloud in his eyes.

"Welcome to my home."

Sano quickly opened his eyes to the sound of the voice but what he saw wasn't what he expected. All around him he everything from collums, to tables, even the walls were made of dark tinted clouds. He looked down a vast dark hallway. All along the walls, shadow, fire, ghost, and even fiend creatures were watching him. Baring their fangs, stretching their claws and growling under their breaths at him.

"Don't worry Sano. They won't bite."

Sano lowered his head and walked down the aisle. He stopped at the foot of a long flight of steps which lead to a golden throne shaped like demon wings and talons.

And sitting on the throne was a tall, powerful looking faerie. She wore a dark purple and green dress to match her long flowing hair. Her long claw-like nails caressed the end of her staff. Her skin was pale and phantomlike.

The young Gelert gazed at her in awe, "Who are you?"

"I am Lady Jhudora. Ruler of the Dark Faeries."

What is he going to do? What had he gotten himself into? Read and Review