I don't own Neopets. but i am rich cuz i have a penny. a COPPER penny. What now random guy whispers in my ear. . .what. . . .im not rich u say. . . .you have a million dollers in your pocket?! well ill be back later. i just have to talk to my friend here. . . .with my gun in my hand. . . .in this dark sound proof room.. . . . .enjoy the fic!evil grin

Mystery's Musical, Part 2-
First Movement: A Prelude to the Past.
Author's note- First Movement refers to when Leo compares his life to a sonata. Sonatas are musical pieces divided into different themed parts called movements, a prelude usually being the first.

The room began to spin. Everything around him became hazy and unclear. A familiar seering pain began to erupt inside Leo's head. He tried to stop it, but tried in vain. He wanted it to stop. He so dearly wished it would end. And then…..

Leo awoke in a daze. He found himself in the Neopian Hospital. "Leo!" came a familiar voice. "Leo! Oh man, you've finally come to. I was beginning to think you'd never wake up." Leo sat upright and looked to his side. The voice belonged to a fire-painted figure. It was his best friend (and practical brother) Animo (actually, his full name was Animositas, but his friends called him Animo for short).

"Animo! I haven't seen you in years! What's goin' on, man?"

Animo and Leo had both been forced to grow up in the Neopian Adoption Center because they both had no family, nor recollection of their past. Ironically, Animo had been found wandering in a neighborhood near the crime scene of Leo's parents' death. When the Defenders of Neopia found him as a stray, they sent him to the adoption center with Leo. But for some strange reason, authorities would never claim to know about finding them there, nor dropping them off at the center. There were no date records of the incident either. It was as though the two had lived in the center their entire lives, though they both knew that to be false. But after a while, they just ignored and forgot about it. The two became best friends and got along like brothers, regardless of the fact that Leo was a Kougra and Animo was a Lupe.

"Dude, you really started to worry me there. Do you know how long it's been since you got here?"

When Leo left the Adoption Center, he decided to open up a detective agency. He figured that by becoming a detective, he would be able to get more informaton on Neopia to solve other people's cases. Then, using that info, he might be able to solve his own. Before he left, he offered the position of Partner to Animo, but Animo said he'd rather stay and help with the Adoption Center. 'You help others in your way, and I will in mine,' he said. 'But let me know if you ever need help with a case.'

"Honestly it feels like 2 seconds."

The two friends kept in touch, but both eventually gained more business and saw each other less. This was the first time in years they were able to talk again.

"2 seconds? Try 2 weeks. You've been in a coma since we found you."

"Have I really been out that long? Wait a sec, how did you find me?"

"Oh, well, some guy called the hospital and claimed to have found you unconcious in the middle of Darigan Citadel. When we got there, though, we only found you. You were lying in the middle of the street"

'I wonder if it was that Eyrie from before,' Leo thought. 'And wait, how did I get out of Lost Valley, or even that madhouse to begin with? Was it all just a dream?'

"Oh, and by the way," Animo said, "We found you holding this." Animo slid open the bed-side table drawer and pulled out a letter. It had the seal from before! Leo grabbed it quickly, tore it open and read: "Things just got a little more interesting between the two of us. Now the players are all here, and all the pieces are falling into place. The game's not over, kid. It's already begun. I'll be waiting. You know where to meet me. Check."

'Well, at least that answers one question,' Leo thought, 'But still, how did I get out? That Avarus guy said he and his friends were the only ones who knew the way out of Lost Valley. And he told me I wasn't leaving there alive. One of his friends couldn't have saved me because apparently they all want the same thing as him. And what does he mean by things getting more interesting between us? Did I do something I can't remember?'

"Hey, Animo," Leo started, "When you found me, was there anything in the immediate vicinity that looked unusual? Anything at all?"

"Why? This another one of your cases?"

"You could say that, only I'm my own client this time."

"Well, the only thing that comes to mind, I'm afraid, is the brand on the manhole. It was different from the others in the Citadel."

"How so?"

"The others all had DC on them, but this one had SS, with Hissis forming a cicle around the edges."

"Are you absolutely sure that was all? No suspicious people or objects?"

"Other than the letter? Nope, nothing. Ahh, don't worry about it. If I know you, you'll catch your culprit in a week tops."

After Leo was released from the hospital a few days later, he and Animo decided to hang out for old times sake. They took the day off and spent it at the arcade. Leo beat Animo at almost all the puzzle games, but Animo won all the action games. Things hadn't changed a bit. But, throughout the day Leo gained an increasing fealing of dizzyness and nausea, and he couldn't shake the feeling that there was a hidden message to that letter. 'He said he wanted to meet me again,' Leo thought. 'And what about when he said the game had already begun? In that text it should have been just begun. Maybe he's just bad at English grammer? Or maybe it's some sort of clue as to where to meet him. If I could just figure out what it meant!'

"Hey, dude, you okay?" Animo asked. "You look like your gonna be sick. Probably just to much activity after recovery. You want to sit down?"

"Actually I think I'll get a drink. Don't worry I'll be fine. You want something?"

"Well, as long as you're getting it, I'll have a small splime smoothie." Leo left for the nearby slushie stand.

"Hi, I'd like two-

"Jeez, haven't you figured the note out yet?" Leo froze. He recognized that cold voice. He spun around to see Avarus standing behind him. "Honestly, and here I thought you were a detective."

"YOU!" Leo grabbed the scruff of his shirt and raised him in the air. "What's wrong with you! You almost ki-" But Leo suddenly lost all strength in his body and fell to his knees.

"You're one to talk. Your little scene at my mansion caused quite a bit of collateral damage, but, thankfully, nothing beyond repair."

"What are you talking about? I blacked out."

"Yes, and you also wound up here on the surface again. Not that that is at all strange and seemingly unexplainable," he added sarcastically. "It all goes with that hidden potential I was talking about earlier, if you recall."
"Hidden….potential?"

"Oh! Hey doctor K!" It was Animo. He was running up to Avarus. "So, just making sure, you said Leo would be alright in few days, right?"

"Yep, just as long as he isn't too active," replied Avarus.

"Doctor K? No, Animo, you've got it all wrong. This guy is-"

"Ahhh I might suggest reconsidering that, Leo," Avarus whispered casually in his ear. "After all, we wouldn't want a friend to get in the way. It might get too complicated and one of my friends might have to deal with it, know what I'm sayin'?"

"Animo, I'll catch up with you in a few, alright?" Leo asked.

"Fine, but make it quick."

"Alright, what's going on? Why did he call you 'Doctor'?"

"Because, my inquisitive little friend, I am your doctor. Surprise!! Oh, and by the way, I'm the one who's responsible for your nausea and dizzyness, along with the sudden strength-loss. I decided to stick to the old fashion ways and use good old poison."

"You what!"

"Of course, I have the only cure (it's a very rare poison), and the only way you can get it is if you can solve my note. C'mon! It's so simple!"

'Oh great,' Leo thought. 'Now I have to play his stupid game?'

"One more thing," Avarus added, "you've got 1 hour. If you don't figure out the note and meet my expectations, as well as my chalange, you'll die. 1 hour. Don't be late." And when Leo turned to him to answer, he was gone.
To be continued…

I do hope you enjoyed this small part of a large story. Till next time, see ya.

p.s. Please review.

p.s.s. IM RICH!!!!! I GOTTA MILLION DOLLERS!!!!!! AND DOWN ONE FRIEND!!!!!! you wornt supposed to hear that. . . .if you dont tell. . . .i wont kill.