The Sailor NeoPets RPG Series One Episode Sixty-Four The first time Gyanda met Cristina, she was four years old: just a little girl who was beginning to talk coherently and had gotten lost in the middle of Alpine Avenue. After walking helplessly in circles she sat down on a shop porch and started crying. Nobody paid her much attention, thinking "Why do people bring their kids here if they can't behave?" and walking past her, not noticing that she was all alone. Everybody but Cristina. Gyanda took one look at her wrinkled face and blue eyes and knew this old lady was going to help her. And she was right. Cristina took her into the shop, gave her some hot chocolate, and didn't stop until she found Gyanda's mother. From that day on Gyanda was a regular visitor in Cristina's shop. Her mother dropped her there every time she needed to go shopping, and picked her up when she was done. When Gyanda grew up anough to go out alone she often went to Cristina's shop for her school needs (or candy), as well as for advice and later for her job. She was raised there by Cristina and her two kyrii as well as by her parents, and Cristina became her second mother. Gyanda looked ahead over the water and into the cold night. The wind was blowing her hair and making it into a big mess, but for the first time in a long time she didn't care at all. She liked the cold; she liked how it made her skin numb and dried her eyes. It helped her forget how sad she was. If she had stayed home she would have just reorganized something to distract herself; however, she wasn't. She was on the deck of a boat going to Terror Mountain to attend a friend's funeral. But she didn't want to think of that; instead she put her cold hands in her pockets and started playing with something that was in there. Her senshi pen. The pen had the habit of always appearing whenever she least expected it. She took it out and started examining it. For some other sailors this pen was their most treasured posession, but for Gyanda it was just an extra weight, another unlucrative responsibility for her already long list. She had even wondered once if she could ell it. But to whom? And really, even if there were a quantity of neopoints that would equal its value, the faeries and the other sailors wouldn't let her. So she accepted the extra weight, although not very willingly. "Gyanda, come inside! You'll catch a cold." Kaisuu, Gyanda's skunk kyrii, had woken up inside the boat and gone to search for his owner. He could easily see how miserable she felt and he could understand it; after all, Cristina had been her friend and teacher too. So he took his owner's frozen hand and guided her inside, where they sat side by side giving each other warmth. Soon he fell asleep again. Gyanda stroked her pet's fur. When she reached the ear she felt a little cut. He'd gotten it in a battle. They had been fighting a vicious girl and her chia. It was easy to see that she only liked her pet because of his good stats: she forced him to attack incessantly even when he was exhausted, and use weapons far too big and advanced for him. Gyanda had really wanted to beat them to show her the importance of teamwork and loving one's pet. But the chia was better equipped and beat them easily; and when Kaisuu got badly hurt on the ear Gyanda had to stop the fight. The sight of the young user taking care of her pet hadn't touched the other girl, who simply pushed her pet to hurry and sign up for another battle. However, something good had come from this battle: Cristina had seen it and understood that Kaisuu and Gyanda's main problem was lack of good equipment. Of course, although she adored the two, she wouldn't simply give it to them. It was against her judgment to just give away free stuff. However, she did help them: she gave Gyanda a small job in hershop, enough for her to buy her basic Battledome needs. And she soon discovered that not only did she love working at Cristina's shop, but was also good at it. The rest is history. The funeral was long and solemn. Gyanda and Kaisuu sat with Gordo and Silvana, Cristina's Cloud and Starry kyrii. Gyanda didn't cry again during the ceremony; the night before she had cried everything out, and now she just felt sadder and emptier than ever. But she had to be strong, for the pets. Other attendants were Cristina's old friends, whom Gyanda had seen frequently at the shop, along with other frequent shoppers. An only child who had never married, Cristina didn't have many close relatives. The only member of her family at the funeral was a second cousin whom she'd once helped. After the funeral Gyanda walked Gordo and Silvana back to the shop. She was going to take a sleigh and stay at her parents' house that night because it seemed that a snowstorm was coming, so boats back were canceled; but she saw her two kyrii friends so old and weak, their fur so dull, that she felt her responsibility was to make sure they got home safe. When they finally got to the shop it was very late and the storm had started, so Silvana invited them to stay for the night. It didn't take long for Gyanda and Kaisuu to notice that the shop had changed - not in appearance, but in something else. A sort of energy or presence was missing. The two kyrii did their best to entertain their guests, but it seemed as if they also needed cheering. Gyanda was relieved when she was finally able to go to bed. "Now, I'm going to repeat this one more time so that you get it clear." Dr. F. Sloth was guiding Sailors Jetsam and Chia through his plan for the fourth time. He was eager for one of his plans to go right, and had the feeling that this was going to be the one. "For the last time, Sloth: I don't know about the person next to me--" Jetsam eyed Chia evilly-- "but I got it the first time. Give us whatever it is you want to give us so we can go and do our job." She rose to her feet, glaring at the doctor. With a sigh, Sloth handed them each a pair of night-vision goggles ("Geez, worm dude, could you be more tacky?" asked Sailor Chia), his new codebreaker, and a map of their target. Then the two sailors took off. On a different part of Terror Mountain, another sailor had to pass the time away from home. James and his girlfriend were originally going dancing, but the storm had made everything in Terror Mountain close, so they decided to take refuge at the mountain lodge. While registering in the lobby, they got split up. After searching for his companion, James found her sitting in front of a fireplace - although he could swear her ponytails had been lavender earlier, and now they were green. "Hi, James. What a storm. I went to school looking for a book I'd forgotten yesterday, and now . . ." "Wait, you went to school? When?" "Well, right now. I've just gotten back." "Why didn't you ask me to come with you?" "Oh, I didn't think you'd be interested. As I was saying, I went up to school and . . ." At the front of Cristina's shop in Happy Valley, the new pair of thieves wasn't having much luck. The snow didn't stop falling and it was getting colder. Chia tried to use Sloth's machine, but found she couldn't turn it on. She was knocking it against the door in anger when suddenly: "JETSAM GROWL." Sailor Jetsam's attack blasted the door. "I could have done that too, you know. And don't you thik the noise will alert the neighbors?" responded Sailor Chia, eager to prove herself better. "This zone is only commercial; very few people live here. The nearest neighbor is two blocks away; even if the kyrii are awake they won't be a big obstacle; AND your excessive knocking has woken everyone up already. Now follow me. We are searching the shop rooms first. I think there's a big chance it's in the furniture area." "Wait a second! Who put you in charge? As the one with more experience, I deserve to be the leader; and as the leader I say we check the deposits first. If I had to hide something I wouldn't put it in such a public place as the furniture area." "That's why you can't be the leader: you're too shallow. The deposits are too obvious a place to hide something this valuable. Furthermore, I'm keeping the mist after we get it. So there's no point in you having that enthusiasm about looking for it." "No way are you getting the mist! Now give me back the map!" Chia snatched the map from Jetsam, tearing it in the process. "You IDIOT. Look at what you did." "What I did? You were the one who wouldn't let go." "Look, this is what we are going to do." Sailor Jetsam sounded very irritated; she was trying hard not to punch her partner. "I will take the part of the map with the shopping areas. You will take the one with the deposits. The sailor who finds the mist will keep it. Deal?" "DEAL!" Chia took her piece of map and, mumbling "I'll show her who's in charge", started descending to the deposits. Gyanda woke up to noises and immediately thought Thieves! She was going to go see what was happening when Kaisuu stopped her. "What are you doing? These could be dangerous." "Don't worry. I can take care of a couple of thieves - and if the worst happens, I have my pen. Now go alert Gordo and Silvana." Not very satisfied, Kaisuu left his owner in search of the other two kyrii, but was surprised not to find them in their beds. "Let me guess, she's downstairs thinking she can take on the situation by herself." Silvana had appeared out of nowhere, scaring Kaisuu. "Now, whatever you use these days to communicate, use it to call for help. Then hide under the front desk. On a night like this, it'll take them some time to arrive. When they come, guide them to the second office in the attic. Hopefully Gyanda won't meet Chia or Jetsam until then." "Chia or Jetsam?!" Kaisuu thought he was going to faint just thinking of Gyanda needing to take on an evil Sailor Neopet on her own. Then he realized something. "Wait, how do you know all of this?" "I'll tell you later. Now hurry up." "Am I the last one?" Zelda rushed into a small covered patio joining Maxima, Starlee, and Zoe (who had been talking with Starlee and Maxie until they received Kaisuu's neomail). "Hey, sis, what're you doing here?" "No, we're missing Jaimie!" exclaimed Maxima, answering Zelda's first question. She and Starlee were enthusiastic about the arrival of their role model. Sure enough, Sailor Bruce arrived moments later - looking chilly, but with boots just high enough to keep out the piling snow. "Sorry I'm late. I had to make an excuse for my grandmother. A friend of hers just died, and she's a little lonely, but I left Shino with her. Everybody else is alone?" "Mat wanted to come, but we told him it was too dangerous," Maxie remarked. "Good," said Sailor Bruce, causing Maxie and Starlee to beam proudly. "You guys should transform; I think these uniforms are magically heated, or something, because they're warmer than they have any right to be. Okay, what's the plan?" Zelda pressed some buttons on her communicator, and a map appeared on the screen. "We are here, at Ski Lodge Close, and we must get here." Zelda pointed to a place in Alpine Avenue. "Normally it would be a short trip, but with the snow . . ." Fifteen minutes and several dozen Zafara Flames later, the five sailors finally managed to get to Cristina's shop. They entered more easily than the last team of sailors: the only thing they had to do was walk through the huge hole where the door used to be. The shop lobby was now full of snow; and out of a pile of snow which had once been the desk, a cold Kaisuu emerged. Quickly, before they could ask any questions, he guided them up the stairs to a small hall and up again to Cristina's comfortable but crowded old office. At one side was an open door leading to what Kaisuu supposed was the second office, although he had never been there. The skunk kyrii opened the door and, to his surprise, found not a simple office like the one he was standing in but a greater and far more futuristic one - full of monitors and computers. And in the middle of this technology were Silvana and Gordo, the old starry and cloud kyrii. "Look, Silvana, the new team has arrived." "Oh! They remind me so much of their grandparent! Look, those two are twins! Aren't they adorable?" "AHEM." Everybody turned around to look at Kaisuu. "Sorry to interrupt you. But could you please remember that Gyanda is alone confronting two evil sailors." "Don't exaggerate, dear; Gyanda hasn't even seen one sailor. Come here, look." Silvana showed the sailors and the kyri one of the big screens, which had a map of the shop labeled with the names of the sailors. "See, Chia, obviously attracted by the shiny expensive objects, turned right to the Morphing Potions and Paintbrushes Deposit. While Gyanda, who still thinks there are thieves, went directly to check the Main Vault. But it seems as though both are heading to the Tropical Deposit." "So, twins." Gordo had jumped up on his chair, and started organizing the groups. "You two go and help her. Go to the basement, the door at the left. The other three of you, take care of Jetsam. She is still in the furniture area. First floor door at the left. It has a big sign; you can't miss it." "Everybody take one of these," added Silvana, handing out some small objects. "Put them in your ears. They arrived yesterday, the latest in communication. With this we will keep in touch with you. It's a big shop and you could get lost. Ready? Then GO!" "Wait!" The Sailor Neopets were all too ready to go help their comrade and ask questions later, but Kaisuu stood blocking the door. "What about me? I want to help Gyanda too. I can guide them." "You are staying here to help us monitor. If you go downstairs and fight Gyanda will be worried for you, and you'll be an extra weight. You are much more useful here." Silvana's tone of voice was very definitive, so Kaisuu moved and the five sailors passed by. When Sailors Zafara and Peophin heard "Tropical Deposit" they just thought it would contain tropical contents, such as juppies. What they didn't think was that it would actually be a small piece of tropical forest, complete with trees and jungle petpets. They could barely see the path in front of them when they heard a scream in the distance - and the voice of Silvana telling them to hurry up, because Sailors Kyrii and Chia had finally met. In the background they could hear the voice of Kaisuu arguing with Gordo to let him join the fight. When Zafara and Peophin finally crossed the jungle, they arrived at a desert-inspired room. Standing in front of them was Sailor Chia, and at her feet an unconscious Sailor Kyrii. The two sailors tried their best to attack, but their powers, being fire and water, seemed to contradict each other; and Sailor Peophin's attacks won out, thanks to a lake room nearby. So instead of hurting Chia they were actually refreshing her from the hot weather. While the other sailors fought, Gyanda was having a dream: a memory from when she was small. Cristina had taken her to the vault. A door within it opened, revealing a smaller vault. Cristina placed there a small bottle full of some odd swirly light blue substance, which Gyanda had found interesting. Her "treasure", Cristina had called it. When she closed the door, Gyanda realized that it didn't have a handle, so that the door looked as if it were part of the wall. She asked how to open it again. Cristina just responded that if she ever needed it again, she would have to get through the opposite door. Sailor Kyrii immediately stood up. She realized now where she was. If that door really had an opposite, it would be opened in this room. She faced the corner where she guest the door should be and with a Kyrii Cyclone blasted all of the sand away - creating a mini sandstorm which confused the other three sailors, who hadn't even realized Gyanda had stood. But when the sand was finally moved, she saw on the wall a small hole. And, guided by something she couldn't understand, she took her pen out of her hammerspace locker and inserted it into the hole as a key. The door opened; inside was the same bottle she had seen when she was small, and which she new recognized as a Mist of Evian. Sailor Kyrii was about to grab it and drink it, but Zafara had had a moment of inspiration in the middle of the sandstorm. She told Kyrii to throw her attack; adding her own Zafara Flame, they created a flaming whirlwhid which it Chia (who hadn't finished taking the sand out of her eyes and mouth). In the middle of mouthfuls of sand, she ordered Sloth to teleport her back. The other sailors weren't doing so well in their battle. They had managed to take Jetsam out of the furniture deposit and into the snowdrift-filled lobby, but she was still a tough opponent. When Sailor Kyrii reached the fight, she didn't think twice, but drank her mist. Immediately her fuku turned into vapor and floated up - then fell back down as water. When the fuku materialized on her again, the colors had stayed the same, but it was changed: there were some swirly light blue patterns on the white parts, and some blue wavy ones on the light blue parts. Following the instinct similar to the one she felt when she first used her sailor attack, Sailor Kyrii turned the snow into water, then water vapor. Now the whole room was as foggy as the Tropical Deposit. Guided by Silvana, Gordo, and Kaisuu, the five sailors managed to direct their attacks to the enemy. Jetsam, not having any guide or visibility, found it difficult to dodge the five different attacks and throw her own at the same time. Realizing it was a lost battle, she had herself teleported away. "Gyanda, you made it!" Kaisuu came running down the stairs and hugged his owner. The two old kyrii followed behind. "She looks just like her in that uniform. Doesn't she, Gordo?" asked starry Silvana. "Like two drops of water," the cloud Gordo replied. "Like who?" asked Kaisuu, remembering how many questions he had for the two. "Like Cristina, of course! She was the first Sailor Kyrii. That uniform used to be hers. And so did that mist. The Llaphi (Quechua for "temperature") Mist." Silvana's eyes started becoming watery, so Gordo took over the explanation. "You know how in this job you must keep up with all of the latest news and rumors. Well, a long time ago Cristina heard rumors that made her guess the Chaos Faerie was planning her return. She didn't have any children, so she was sure that if someone were to inherit her sailor powers, it would be you. That's why she showed you where the mist was. She wanted you to find it and learn how to use it as she did years ago." In that moment a breeze, cold yet in some way warming, circled the room. And as Gyanda saw the old shop lobby in early morning, with the first rays of the sun shining through the door-slash-hole, that presence she'd been unable to feel the night before seemed to be no longer missing.