Jhudora

I see you have been helping my sisters out... and for what? I have what you REALLY need... here, take this bag. I will summon you when I need you next...

Take it. I have no need for such springtime nonsense. I explained that to he who came before.

Would you believe no one has claimed this barely haunted gazebo at the edge of the haunted woods? It's just perfect!

Brief acquaintances at best.

Practically strangers.

Backstabbing strangers...

Suck up...

I still think it would be easier to just blast all those factories pumping out these new pollution machines to bits.

For once I agree with salad mix over here. Look, I appreciate the suggestion -

*GULP*

She is one of the few people that scare me.

You better not get me sick! Go see Marina if you're coming down with something.

Whatever you say.

*Retches* Sorry that imagery almost made me hurl. That all sounds so dull. Listen, there's a gazebo with sublime gothic architecture near the edge of the Haunted Woods, let's host it there! We could even add in some thorny vines and maybe a few of your flowers, but only dark black, red, and purple hues will do.

You always do this! Oh, they will come to the gazebo at my Faerie Festival, but you won't be invited.

Too bad. Already decided. I'm single-handedly throwing the Faerie Festival this year.

Well, when people get bored at your lame Festival, they can find the fun one on the edge of the Haunted Woods!

By the way, I heard Illusen is offering prizes for garbage at her festival. No really, I hear she wants actual trash! And since you wisely came to my Faerie Festival instead of her little tree party, I suppose I could offer out some special trinkets I've been hoarding... if you bring me more junk than her sycophants do.

Aren't you glad you made the right choice? I'm sure everyone at that knock-off festival is fast asleep by now! Say, since you stuck with me, how about you tag along with me to have some more fun? Meet me down in Moltara in that shiny new tower they put up. The tower is owned by the Moltara Obsidian Company, they've quickly amassed a fortune converting obsidian into liquid fuel for new machines across Neopia. I have some questions about their finances that I had better like the answers to.

Relax, I didn't come here to do any damage. Well... depends on what the slimeball inside has to say. I did some digging about the company, and I have a few questions for him. What's your excuse? Did you change your mind about my approach and decide to show this CEO just how cruel you can be?

Let's cut to the chase, have you been bribing officials to shut down renewable energy ideas?

Then where did you pick up that ridiculous accent?

I have a question about your livelihood, Monty. You went bankrupt in Y15 and were forced to sell all the McTaggart assets, putting up your family estate to get by. Then, right after the tech boom in Neopia, you suddenly have the means to buy the Obsidian Quarry from the City of Moltara. Who gave you all those Neopoints?

The National Neopian Bank Manager owed me a favour after I cleaned him out in Cheat! Now Monty, spill

Okay, then step outside for a minute.

For once just listen to me and go outside before I catch whatever you have. If fear is what motivates him, then let me have a private chat with Monty. Just the two of us.

*Whisper Whisper*

Monty just shared with us that Malkus Vile was his secret investor. I haven't the foggiest idea why, but Vile is behind all of this.

Don't you worry about him, once I'm through with-

Who are you kidding Illusen? You can barely stand. I don't know what's wrong with you, but you're in no shape to chase down anyone.

What you are, is too proud to be real with me. Same old story. So, I'm going to find him by myself.

There you are. Yeah, things got a bit tense there… that Illusen just gets me all tangled up sometimes. But now I know who we are looking for. It won't be long before I track down Vile, trust me.

Thanks to some tracking by Sarah and Daisy, I think I finally picked up Vile's trail! Seems that lowlife is hiding out in the Deep Catacombs below Neopia Central. You can tag along if you want, but keep your head down.

Drop the act Vile, I finally found you. I'm surprised it was so hard given your stench.

Save the formalities. I already know you've been funding McTaggart and bribing officials across Neopia to keep all these fancy new machines running on obsidian.

So, what's in it for you? I know you always have an angle.

Figures, slime like you would prefer to stick to the sewers.

You can skip through all the banal cajolery you prepared. There's a reason you're so smug. Tell me, what's stopping me from hitting you with a curse that would make your worst nightmares seem like daydreams?

What makes you think I care?

Wa- What do you know about that?

The pollution… Vulnerable? No. No, I couldn't. Part of me does still hate her for what she did to me, but I couldn't do that… Uh, not while she is in such a pathetic state that is!

What do you mean a professional?

Plan? Tell me when this is happening before I blast a hole in the middle of your ugly mug!

Arghhh I'll be back for you Vile!

Paws off! If anyone is going to end her, it'll be me.

Oh, were you in there? I just happened to be in the neighbourhood um… shattering random bottles.

Only those who deserve it.

Yeah, sure… probably. More importantly, we need to inform Queen Fyora of Vile's location before he gets too far. I found him hiding out in Collectable Coins.

Well, I've been preparing a powerful potion that should cleanse the air and oceans of Neopia!

Vile, earlier, you said you had orders “from the very top”. You like to put on a show, but you aren't the one running it. So, who's at the top?

Ugh, I think we've done the whole “together” thing long enough today.

*Jhudora and Illusen continue bickering as they walk back to the festivities together*

Please don't tell me you're pairing us together again. I think last year was proof we can't work together!

We burn down this beacon of false hope and attempt to make change in actually productive ways?

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to not have to work with little miss prairie faerie over there, but with everything going on right now wouldn't our, or at least my, power be better extended elsewhere?

Ugh, that didn't even make any sense!

Fine then! Screw helping elsewhere, let's do this thing! I'll throw a way better event than you anyways!

What? We don't need a babysitter!

I don't like this...something is definitely up with this so-called "babysitter"?

This all seems like an awfully big risk just for Neopians to "feel included".

Seriously? You're not questioning this at all? It's not like the Queen is famous for always being forthright about all her plans.

Like you're one to talk about trust. Whatever. We only have a few days to prepare our own stuff, so I'm sure there are lots of leaves for you to collect for decorations or something. See you never, hopefully!

I'd say thanks for choosing my Faerie Festival, but we all know it was the obvious choice. Since I've been forced into doing this again I don't really feel like explaining much. So just bring me stuff you want to donate and I'll give you trinkets or whatever as a reward. And listen closely, if you don't bring me more than those tree huggers over at the other festival I will put my own curse on you that will make you wish you donated your life savings, got it?

Ah, so the Queen sent her most recent problem child to be our babysitter, huh? How great. Wait? You've come at her request? I thought she said you were the one who requested to come to the festivals.

Why have you really come here?

Mhmm, I just might!

Hey, insomniac bookworm you better start explaining things.

Cut it, there's something fishy going on here and I don't like being lied to-

Aha! You were suspicious too, weren't you?! What happened to all that "we've got to trust the Queen" garbage you were spouting earlier?!

Nothing! Talk about jumping to conclusions!

Don't act all innocent! Why are you really here?! I know there's more going on than that pathetic answer you gave me the other day!

I knew you were worried about that!

So the Queen decided to throw this event and put all of us in danger just to try and see if you maybe get visions that could maybe help us or that are maybe just the delusions of a scruffy, sleep-deprived man with a toy instrument?!

I...

Great, so the problem child who was sent to watch us is now the one we need to be watching.

Ugh, just call me Jhudora. Enough with this suck-up behaviour!

Whatever, why are you here?

I knew you'd be trouble! What? Is the world ending and you need me to save you or some drivel like that?

How dare you lie to me! You said you were here for your stupid research, but no, the Queen did send you to watch us didn't she?! This must all be some weird plan of hers to try and get us to work with one another again.

You know nothing of our past! Do not use it to manipulate me!

There is nothing to be said here, why don't you go along and die here! I want nothing to do with her -- or those years we spent together! ...what is happening?!

If you can't get a handle, then my solution is to strangle-

Enough of this! I want explanations now! What in the heck was that back there? How did you do that?

I'll tell you how! We destroy the accursed thing!

It didn't break? That was one of my strongest attacks! Give it here. I'll try at close range!

As much as I hate to agree with her on anything, in this case, she's not wrong.

You're never right. On a rare occasion, you're not wrong. But you're never right.

You're wrong.

Shouldn't we just end the festival early? If Neopians stop gathering wouldn't it get rid of whatever is happening to him?

I am not letting whatever that was happen to me again! We need to squash this right away!

Screw that, I'm out!

You don't know anything about me! You might be strong in your library, Seshatia, but I am stronger and I know you are not able to read me!

....ugh fine! I am only doing this because I would look terrible in grey, so if there's a chance of stopping that then I suppose I can *bleh* sing or whatever for a few minutes! But there better be some sort of plan for if things go too far!

Enough of this gross talk! If you want to fight someone I'll happily take you on!

Shut up! I can handle you by myself!

Enough! I don't care! You will free me from this snare or I will cause you great despair!

Uugh, enough of this! Librarian just try your plan!

I hate you. I utterly despise you. There's nothing in this world that could make me stand beside you!

They say I'm bad, I brush it off. They say I'm evil, who gives a toss? But then there's you...what is one to do?

You could think of others' feelings.

That's a low blow, even from you. At least to myself, I know how to be true.

Ha, yes then you left -- but like that's the worst you've ever done! No more twisting of the tongue!

Isn't that a treat, they all think you are just so sweet! -- You truly are just a delicate flower, when things get tough all you do is cower.

See, that just proves I'm right! I am not the one who started this fight! -- Don't act like you did not push me to the brink. Oh, what is one to think?

I loathe you. I totally abhor you. There's nothing in this world that could make us work as two! Yes, I hate you.

And there's nothing in this world...

That could bring back what we had.

Haha, yes! She is not wrong! That would be a great ending to this wretched song!

It might.

A volcano has got nothing on me.

Okay, fine yes. I guess you helped a bit too.

Don't get used to it. It won't be happening again.

Hooray, you got a lump of crud. What now?

Like I told him, don't get used to it. So what now?

Ugh, don't tell me!

Ugh, fine. I'll fight too. Not with her or anything, but if she happens to be nearby I'll do my best to ignore her.