Shadow Play, Chapter 17

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17

Zoltan glowered at the mages who had trapped them, his mane bristling and magic coursing through his fur. “You dare test zhe Lord of Shadows?!” he snarled, and they cowered.

“I didn’t know we was dealin’ wit’ him!” an Eyrie said, dropping his wand. “I hear this guy took out like twenty mages wit’ one spell!”

“I hear he’s in cahoots with Hubrid Nox!” said a Kacheek as she backed away from the fearsome Halloween Kyrii. “We picked the wrong guy to mess with!”

Vile turned to run—and bumped into Mammoth, who frowned down at the comparatively tiny Skeith. The Elephante clamped his hands on Vile’s shoulders. “So, about those negotiations,” the furry Defender said.

 

Vile scowled. “Do something, you worthless Vernax!” he barked to his lackeys. “Or you’ll wish you’d never been born!”

“Boss, these guys are impossible!” a Meerca said. “Did you see that spell? I ain’t messin’ with them no more!”

“What’s the use,” said an unmutated Grundo. “We just can’t win.”

“You’re the most incompetent bunch of idiots I ever worked with!” Vile fumed, his tail lashing. “Don’t you dare turn on me now! You know what the price for betrayal is!”

“It’s a price you’ll never make them pay,” a familiar voice said. Tally stepped out from behind the Emerald Amazon, her trailing ears perked. She held herself higher than the last time Terra had seen her. “Don’t listen to his lies and empty threats, everyone,” the Gelert said. “He’s a Skeith who gains his power through fear and despair. The sooner you get away from him, the better.”

“Tally, that you?” the Meerca asked. “You workin’ for them now?”

Tally nodded. “And I’ve never been happier,” she said with a smile.

“We’re offering you something better,” Judge Hog said to the henchpets. “A chance to put your skills to use in beneficial ways. Not only will you be helping your fellow Neopets, but it’ll help you feel better inside, too. And unlike what Vile had to offer you, this new life won’t trap you in a web of lies and guilt. Can you trust us?”

“I warned you, Tally,” Vile said. “I told you never to turn on me.”

“I’m not afraid of you anymore, Vile,” Tally said. “I know the Defenders are stronger than you. They’ll protect me from you, and unlike you, they won’t turn on me.”

The henchpets murmured among themselves, looking at Tally, Vile, and Judge Hog. Some of them looked more sympathetic to the idea of trusting the Defenders than others, but no one came forward to say anything.

“Well,” Judge Hog said, “I’ll give you some time to think about it at Defenders HQ. Don’t worry, the others are rounding up the rest of your associates. They’ll meet us there.”

Mammoth picked up Vile in both his hands, holding the Skeith in a vise-like grip. “You’ll never brainwash me!” Vile said as the Elephante took him away. “You Defenders are all too dense to see the truth! You could run this whole city if you wanted to, and you waste your lives on other Neopets!”

“How sad,” Isengrim said, shaking his head. “He is the one who cannot see the truth. He cannot see how a life spent helping others is a life greatly enriched. If only he would give it a chance.”

“Do you think he’ll ever change?” Terra asked.

“I hope so,” Isengrim said. “There must be some way to get through to him… but in the end, the choice is his. I hope he is not so hardened as to reject any good offered him.”

“Zhere must yet be some spark of goodness in him,” Zoltan said, “no matter how deeply buried. I do not believe anyone is a lost cause. A vise Verelupe taught me that.” He smiled at Isengrim, who smiled back.

“Now to restore the city’s power,” Judge Hog said as his fellow Defenders led away the henchpets. “Kourage Korbat, take Lightning Lenny over to the power station. Tell those wizards that their boss has been caught.”

“I’m on it!” Kourage Korbat said with a salute. He flapped his wings and took off into the night.

Isengrim turned to the shadow Gelert. “Tally,” he said, “it is good to see you well. How are you doing these days?”

“Much better,” Tally said. There was a spark in her dark eyes that hadn’t been there before, and her tail wagged as she spoke. “I’m actually working for the Defenders now! I may not have any superpowers, but they liked my infiltration abilities, so I’m on their stealth support team! The Masked Intruder’s been giving me lessons. That guy really knows his stuff!”

“Oh, I’m so glad,” Terra said.

“Thanks,” Tally said. “And thank you… for not giving up on me.”

“Of course,” Isengrim said. “I know what it is like not to be shown compassion… so now I do everything in my power to give that compassion to others.”

“It makes a world of difference,” Tally said. “I gotta go help out now. Maybe I’ll see you guys around!” She gave them a wave as she jogged away.

“Well, it’s over,” Hyren said to Judge Hog. “It’s finally over.”

The Moehog nodded. “Thanks to you all. We could not have done this without you.”

“Happy to help,” Isengrim said. “I suppose that information I gave you turned out to be much more useful than we anticipated.”

Judge Hog laughed. “Indeed it did.”

Terra stepped up to the superhero and summoned her sword. “I should give this to you now,” she said, offering the blade to him. “I don’t need it anymore.”

The Moehog studied the weapon and then looked up at the human. “Were you able to deduce anything of its origin?” he asked.

Hyren nodded. “There’s a signature on the hilt part of the blade. With some study, I’ll be able to decipher the runes and get a name.”

“Then I think you should hold on to it,” Judge Hog said. “You’re better equipped to find its bladesmith than I am.” He smiled at Terra. “And I can’t help but feel that you’ll be rewarded for your honesty.”

Terra grinned back and recalled the sword in a swirl of magic. “Thanks,” she said. “We’ll get this sword back in the right hands.” She felt an odd pang of worry that those hands might not be hers, but she would much rather do the right thing than hold on to something that didn’t technically belong to her.

Judge Hog turned to Zoltan. “Zoltan… if I may be so bold, would you ever consider joining the Defenders?” the Moehog asked. “I know you are a mage, not a superhero, but your abilities are formidable. We could use someone like you around here.”

Zoltan stared at him for a moment. “I… thank you for the offer, Judge Hog,” he said. “But I must decline. I think zhe Haunted Voods needs me more, to be honest. And your Defenders are quite competent.” He smiled. “However, if ever you run into a dire magical problem again, please send me a Veevoo, and I shall respond posthaste.”

“We will,” Judge Hog said. “Thank you.”

“Judge Hog!” Aisheena called. “We’re just about ready to move out!”

“Coming!” the head Defender said. He turned back to Isengrim and his companions. “Feel free to stay at HQ for the remainder of your time here in Neopia Central,” Judge Hog said. “It’s the least we could do after everything you’ve helped us with.”

“Please, do not worry about any further reward,” Isengrim said. “After all, that is not why we do what we do.”

Judge Hog smiled. “And that is what makes you true heroes. Now let’s call it a night.” With a swish of his cape, he moved to join the other Defenders.

“I said it once,” Terra said to her family and Zoltan as they headed for the entrance to the dockyard, “and I’ll say it again. You guys are awesome.”

“Ve have dealt evil a severe blow zhis night,” Zoltan said. “Thank you… for being people I can trust.” He looked down at the human and slowed to a stop, compelling his companions to halt as well. “And Terra…” he said. “Thank you for taking zhe time to understand me, even vhen I was being difficult. And for—for being my friend.”

“Of course,” Terra said with a smile. “You’re a wonderful person, Zoltan. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t see that.”

“If I may,” Zoltan said, “I dub you Lightbringer. Because you bring light to even zhe deepest darkness.” He extended his paw to her.

Terra took it, and he squeezed her hand. “Wow—thanks,” she said. “I’ve never been given a title before. I feel honoured.”

“You have earned it,” Zoltan said.

“Terra Lightbringer, huh?” Blynn asked. “I like the sound of that!”

“You know,” Hyren said. “There’s another Lightbringer on Mystery Island, although I think she’s originally from Shenkuu.”

Terra shrugged. “Well, it may not be entirely original, but I think it has the right ring to it too, and that’s what matters most.”

“I am proud of you, Terra,” Isengrim said, mussing her hair a bit. “Time and time again, you prove your worth to our family. Shall we go back to Defenders HQ? I did want to try that Raspberry Gelert Cake.”

“Ohhh, yes!” Terra said. “All this battling evil makes me work up an appetite. We should share some with Tally!” She paused. “Err, hopefully she won’t be offended that we’re eating a cake in the shape of her head.”

“Nahhh,” Blynn said. “That’s not really something that bothers Neopets. I eat Zafara Cherry Strudels all the time even though they’re shaped like my tail!”

As they followed the Defenders, Isengrim put a paw on Zoltan’s shoulder. “Zoltan,” he said, “thank you for taking a chance on my family. I know how difficult it is for you to trust people. I can’t blame you. But know that it means a lot to me that you opened up to my owner and siblings.”

Zoltan smiled. “It is not a trust easily given, but your family has earned it and zhen some. And… you have taught me valuable things about myself and my mission. Thank you. I vill take better care of myself from now on. You are right—Neopia needs me to be at my best. And my friends need to not worry about me.”

Isengrim grinned and patted Zoltan’s back. “That’s the spirit,” he said. “I find life’s much better when you know someone cares about you.”

“I think so, too,” Zoltan said.

***

“I cannot get enough of this frosting!” Blynn said as she snarfed down a forkful of strawberry-flavoured icing.

“Right?!” Terra said as she dug into her own slice of cake.

“I call dibs on the nose!” Tally said, and Isengrim served her the foremost piece of the Gelert Cake. The shadow Gelert plucked the candy nose off of the icing and popped it in her mouth. “Ooh, it’s a liquorice button!” she said. “Clever.”

They were all gathered around the living room table in Isengrim’s family’s suite. The wizards at the power station had been apprehended and the city’s power restored, and from their vantage point the group could watch Neopia Central slowly go back to normal.

“I hope,” Terra said, “that everybody else who lives here appreciates what the Defenders do for them. I worry they take the Defenders for granted.”

“I’m sure a lot of them do,” Hyren said, “but the Defenders don’t let that bother them.”

“They are not selective in whom they protect,” Isengrim said. “One does not have to earn their service. As it should be for true defenders—they act out of love for the people they serve.”

“Blynn,” Zoltan said, “vould you like my frosting? I am not so fond of zhe stuff.”

“Absolutely!” Blynn said, and she held up her plate so the Kyrii could glob his excess frosting onto her cake.

Someone knocked at the door. “I’ll get it,” Isengrim said, setting down his own plate of cake to answer the door.

“Neomail!” Lightning Lenny said from the doorway, handing Isengrim a folded paper. “For Terra, specifically.”

“Thank you,” Isengrim said. “Would you like some cake?”

The Lenny looked over at the dessert longingly. “I shouldn’t,” he said, his shoulders slumping. “I’m supposed to stay away from sugar, actually. Considering my metabolism is crazy enough as it is… one time, I ate a cupcake, and I had to run to Terror Mountain and back just to get all the energy out of my system.”

“Yikes,” Hyren said. “That’s pretty severe.”

“You mean you can’t have any sweets at all?” Blynn asked. “How do you cope?!”

“Well,” Lightning Lenny said, “there are some Virtupets-synthesised sweeteners that don’t seem to have the same effect, but they don’t taste great… yet. I’m sure they’re working on improving the flavour, though!”

“We shan’t tempt you any further, then,” Isengrim said, half-closing the door so it blocked Lightning Lenny’s view of the cake.

“Yeah, I should get going,” the superhero said. “Thanks again for your help!” He zoomed away.

Isengrim returned to the couch and gave Terra the Neomail. She opened it, scanned the contents, and laughed, putting a hand to her forehead. “Oh, great,” she groaned.

“What is it?” Isengrim asked.

“It’s from Pharazon,” she said. “He and Celice got the Neomail I sent them, and they’re taking the fastest Shenkuuvian sky-ship they can find to Neopia Central right now, to help us break the spell.”

“Oh my,” Isengrim said, putting a paw to his muzzle with a bit of a chuckle.

“I’m sorry,” Terra said. “I shouldn’t have written that Neomail. Now they’ve gone and left the symposium early for nothing.”

“Well then,” Isengrim said, “we shall just have to treat them to a fun vacation for their troubles! I am sure they cannot complain about that.”

Terra’s frown turned into a smile. “Yeah! I missed Pharazon anyway, and now he’s stuck enjoying Neopia Central with us! Muwahahaha.” She turned to the battlemage. “Oh—and Zoltan, I’m sure they’d love to meet you! My Draik and his friend are magic users, too!”

Zoltan’s ears turned back a bit. “Oh—zhat’s very kind of you, but perhaps I shouldn’t… I am not used to mingling vith other magic users…”

“Or other people in general, I know,” Isengrim said. “You do not have to meet them if you don’t want. But if you decide you want to, we will help it not be a negative experience for you. My brother Pharazon is a nice little fellow. I think you’d get along well with him.” He scratched his chin absently. “Celice can be… a bit pushy sometimes, so just set your boundaries with her and maintain them.”

Zoltan chuckled. “Good to know. I… vill think about it. Thank you.”

“After we eat,” Blynn said, “let’s play DuelingDecks! Tally, have you ever played that before?”

“I think I did when I was younger,” Tally said. “It’s been a long time, but I seem to remember enjoying it.”

“It’s way fun,” Blynn said. “Especially since the Defenders have the expansion pack, too!”

“Except the Xandra card in the expansion is totally broken,” Hyren said. “So we usually leave that one out when we play.”

“Somebody at that game company is clearly a Xandra fan,” Terra said, and they all laughed.

Terra took another bite of cake and sat back on the couch with a satisfied smile. They hadn’t given up, and everything worked out, despite the odds being stacked against them. She hoped the day would come when all the denizens of Neopia would finally eschew evil and walk a better path, but at least for now, tonight, a significant battle had been won.

And she had gained a new friend.

The End

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7
Chapter 8 - Chapter 9 - Chapter 10 - Chapter 11 - Chapter 12 - Chapter 13 - Chapter 14
Chapter 15 - Chapter 16 - Chapter 17