Early in the morning in the land of Moltara, a young Royal Zafara was writing a letter in an old building. He had an overnight bag slung over his shoulder, with his Talpidat riding on his other arm.
Hey boss,
Sorry. Something's going on upstairs, so I gotta head out. By the time you're reading this, I won't be in Moltara anymore.
Being a henchman is cool and all, I really like it! But sometimes there's more important things than having fun. So I guess you'll need to do all your cool science experiments with that crybaby Gelert while I'm gone.
If the world doesn't end, I'll come back, honest! But for right now I bid you a fond adieu.
- Jettinson
P.S. I took the last Obsidian Rock Candy.
The Royal Zafara casually strolled through Moltara City, humming a jaunty little tune as he did. His skull mask was resting atop his head, his tail swishing behind him as he climbed into the elevator to the surface.
Jettinson took a bite of his rock candy before offering it to his Talpidat as the door to the elevator closed, his expression growing more troubled as they headed up.
He had to get to Brightvale... quickly.
Jettinson burst out of the entrance to Moltara, his Talpidat letting out a growl as it clung on to his shoulder... and then the Zafara looked up at the sky.
What was that!?
It looked like a big, purple, swirly vortex of certain doom...
Yeesh, the world really was ending, wasn't it?
Shaking his head, the Zafara made a beeline to the docks of the island Moltara's entrance rested on, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Thankfully, there were still ships operating, despite the seemingly impending doom, so it was only a matter of jumping aboard. The fastest route would no doubt be sailing to Meridell...
Oh, of course. No ships are sailing to Meridell on account of some "grey curse" problem. Just his luck...
He'd have to go to Roo Island or Neopia Central and take the long way home, no doubt. The alternative was heading to Shenkuu…
This… would take him a while...
-
Another day at the fairgrounds...
A Mutant Chomby was leaning against one of the food stands in the Deserted Fairgrounds, a bored expression on his face. He was laying his head against his fist, waiting to see if anything interesting would happen as he tapped a claw against the old wood of his stall.
As his eyes were fluttering, struggling to stay open, he could've sworn he saw...
...Jettinson?
The Royal Zafara trudged into the Fairgrounds, blowing a few strands of his hair out of his face as he inhaled deeply... before yelling at the top of his lungs. "RUV! WHERE ARE YA!?"
"Jett!" The Chomby ran to grab his little buddy in a tight hug with all four of his arms, hoisting him off the ground as if he were as light as a feather. "Where ya been?! You know everybody's missed y-"
"No time for that!" Jettinson squirmed free from the Mutant Chomby's grip as he rushed over to one of the other stalls, rooting around through the Test your Strength prizes. "Grab something to hit somebody with and lets go! We gotta get to Brightvale and get Cam and the girls!"
Ruv quirked an eyebrow at the little Zafara, before the two heard an ominous rumbling in the distance. Both of them looked up and above the treeline…
...before the Chomby grabbed a Dark Winged Axe and scooped Jettinson up in his other arm. "Well, come on, then!"
-
By the time the pair had made it to Brightvale, nearly everything laid out before then had taken on a dour shade of grey.
"Oh, what the-" Ruv stammered in shock as he dropped Jettinson. "I heard about Meridell, but this is-"
"CAM!" Jettinson screamed as he took off into the kingdom, keeping his daggers drawn. "CAMPENELLE!"
"DON'T JUST RUN IN THERE LIKE A CRAZY PERSON!" Ruvffles yelled as he chased after his friend, only to see some blob-like, purple… thing flying right towards them. The Chomby whacked it away with his axe, before turning to look at where it had landed.
What was going on!? What was that thing!?
Was it already too late for Campenelle and her friends? Or anyone else in Brightvale for that matter?!
-
A Christmas Kougra, Royal Zafara, and Faerie Buzz were…
...listening to Yes Boy Ice Cream and studying.
It seemed the three students were completely and utterly unaware of whatever havoc was ensuing outside, nor did they seem to acknowledge the fact that the house they were in was actively turning grey around them. Midterms were coming up, and…
There was what sounded like something kicking at their door, followed by a voice none of them anticipated.
"Campenelle! Are you still here!?" It was a posh, snobby, annoying sounding boy… and all three girls groaned.
Poekellion… What did he want?
The Royal Zafara got off of the floor before smoothing out her dress and straightening her hair, before glancing up at her front door…
...and realizing it was grey.
"Poe?" Campenelle hesitantly approached the door, before looking around at the rest of her house. She signaled to her friends to start gathering their things into their book bags before grabbing a nearby blanket to wrap around the doorknob. No telling if this thing spread via contact…
When Campenelle opened the door, she found the Faerie Lenny looking distressed and disheveled. His feathers were frayed and puffed out, his glasses knocked askew, and his clothes bearing various tears.
"Poe! What the heck happened to you!? You look like you got in a fight!" Campenelle exclaimed as her two friends rushed up behind her.
"Listen, there's no time to explain, but we need to leave. Now!" The Lenny replied, before gesturing to their rapidly-greying surroundings and the odd creatures flying through the air.
As Campenelle and her friends rushed to grab some supplies, Poekellion impatiently waited, tapping his foot against the ground…
...and thinking back.
-
4 hours ago…
The Faerie Lenny had been fast asleep in his dorm, only to be awoken by a bright flash of pink light flooding the room. When he sleepily sat up and put on his glasses, he noticed a dark figure standing right in front of his bed. Turning on the lamp, he was greeted by a familiar Steampunk Blumaroo.
"Lenoreria…" Poekellion groaned and rolled his eyes. "If Wallyss sent you, tell him-"
"No, Poe, listen." The Blumaroo spoke quickly. "I'm coming to you from about 7 hours in the future."
Huh? She had time traveled such a small amount of time to see him?
It must have been important. Lenoreria had mentioned her powers drained her severely whenever she used them, not to discount the fact that she could get into huge trouble if someone discovered what she was capable of.
"You need to leave Brightvale as quickly as possible." Lenoreria explained, before pulling off a small, hidden necklace she had been wearing. There was an old key attached to the chain, which she tossed to the Lenny, who caught it effortlessly. "Go to Neovia, get to Wallyss' house, and just… just take cover until I come back in the present. Okay?"
"How do I know this isn't just some scheme to get me to make up with him?" Poekellion bitterly replied, giving the Blumaroo a firm look.
"I could have come to find you at any point in all of the time you've been gone." Lenoreria replied, her ears lowering. "And I didn't. I gave you space. But I can't let you get hurt."
"So… what's your present right now, then?" Poekellion asked, and the Blumaroo turned away from him.
"Wallyss and I are in Altador at a gathering of all of the rulers in Neopia." Lenoreria said grimly.
The Lenny's eyes went wide as he quietly said, "He… He went back to Altador? He said he'd never go back."
"Yes, well, he received summons." The Blumaroo replied. "Besides, he needs to ensure Mephiztopheles is still secured."
Poekellion looked down at the key he was holding, before a flash of bright pink light blinded him again. When he looked up, Lenoreria was gone. The Lenny thought over what she had said briefly… before looping the necklace around his own neck and going to pack his bag.
He was going to trust her.
-
When Campenelle and her friends exited the house, the Royal Zafara was toting a large bookbag filled with her jar of motes, as well as her Spring Talpidat. Her friends had also grabbed their supplies and their own petpets, looking to Poekellion expectantly…
...right as Jettinson and Ruvffles also ran up.
"Cam, you're okay!" Jett exclaimed in relief… before frowning at the Lenny. "Hey, four eyes. Still need glasses to see?"
"Jett, now's really not a good time." Campenelle pointed out in exasperation. The group were then divebombed by another strange creature, which Ruvffles effortlessly bat away with his axe.
"Follow me! We're going to Neovia!" Poekellion exclaimed, taking the lead of the group and running ahead. Everyone quickly rushed behind him… only for Ruvffles to scoop up Campenelle and Jett… Rukuelo had given one last push to grab on to Ruvffles back, while the Chomby fell back just enough to hook his last arm around the Christmas Kougra.
Just before they had made it to the treeline of the Haunted Woods, Poekellion felt a heavy weight crash into him, sending him rolling across grey grass as the group behind him shouted.
When he had stopped rolling, Poekellion found himself underneath one of those strange creatures, the beast snarling at him. "No trust…!"
The Lenny suddenly felt a sharp pain as the strange being slashed across his chest, ripping open his shirt and leaving three scratch marks in him.
But it was the strangest thing…
They weren't even bleeding…
Suddenly, Jettinson had tackled the beast and began slashing and stabbing at it with his daggers, shouting "I'm the only one who gets to pick on that nerd!"
Once the creature had run off, the Royal Zafara boy offered the Lenny his hand, hoisting him off of the ground. Poekellion merely buttoned his jacket shut as he took a deep breath, trying to ignore the dull pain in his chest.
"Y-Yes, erm, thank you Jett." Poekellion took a moment to straighten his glasses and feathers again. "Now, come on, let's get to Neovia!"
As the group hurried into the Haunted Woods, Jettinson couldn't help but remember that… that damn Royal Kyrii.
Oh no.
He was about to have to deal with them now, wasn't he?