::Story::

My tale is a long... and somewhat improbable one. If thou wouldst care to hear it, I will speak on. If you wouldst rather read, go here: http://www.geocities.com/kelinordragon/astastory.html



I was born in the mountains of Meridell, at Phaedra Lake in the north. The leader of Phaedra Herd was Laertinus, the keeper of the herd amulet and a strong purple peophin. His mate, Andromachae the White, was the alpha mare, and powerful in magic. The herd prospered in the grassy mountain slopes, bathing in the crystal clear ice melt of the lake and breathing clean crisp air. Not many bothered them; King Skarl was referred to every so often on the off hand, very much seeming part of another world. Laertinus himself prospered, and four foals in a litter were born to him and Andromachae. The oldest was Kordyseus, green and white and blessed with the magic of controlling others' courage and spirit; Rainjerr, blue and white and strong with healing magic (controlling others' bodies); Astyanaxae, red and white and with the power to control others' minds; and Samraika, gold and white and able to control others' hearts and joy. Yes, this was my family, Phaedra Herd's finest. In such a way we grew, sheltered and happy. Then it 'twas calamity struck.

Rainj and I, being one pair, where Kord and Sammie were another, took to exploring further and further as our seasons progressed. On one such spring morning, fading imperceptibly into the beginnings of summer, we had gone a long way, into the afternoon. When it was settled to head back, Rainj ran ahead, probably hoping to surprise me. I then decided to hatch a plan, and I took the shortcut, to get ahead of him. Behind a big old rock I settled down to wait, in the hot sunshine.
Thrice-cursed summer afternoons! I only woke up when huge clouds rolled over the sun, blocking its warming rays and blasting cold air down the mountainside. I scrambled to my hooves, clambering on to the rock as faint noises drifted up from Phaedra below. I could not believe my eyes. Above the lake bed was floating a dark and horrific castle, casting twisted shadows across our once beautiful fields. Swarms of creatures below were attacking my herd! As I stood transfixed, being still inexperienced, I saw flashes down below as my mother struggled to hold them off. That purple and blue blur, was that not my father and Hephaestus? Snapping to my senses, raw fear coursing through my young frame, I dashed off down the hill, stumbling and crying as I went.

I never saw any of them again.

On reaching the lake, I stopped folorn. The waters already turning to thick sludge under Darigan's influence (yes, Darigan was its name, and the name of its feared lord), the lake seemed deserted. Wailing my grief to the uncaring sky, the foal that I was slumped down by the edge of the lake. So uncomprehending was I that I did not notice the dark zafara and evil looking moehog until it was too late. "Another whelp? I thought they were all destroyed!" snapped the zafara, clapping korbat-like wings together with a decisive snap. The moehog dipped his head submissively and starting galloping towards me. Some of Kord's courage inspired me, for I stood up, jaw set and suddenly tearingly angry. I was very unexperienced at my magic, but I tried it anyway. Freeze! My mind shouted at the moehog's, grasping it with rough and ready mental hands. For a few seconds it even seemed to work, and the zafara blinked. But then it slipped, and the moehog returned with a vengeance. "How dare you, peophin scum!" He grated, slashing forward at me with sabred hoof. Suddenly the zafara intervened. "Wait, Zaksis. Remember the paint program? His lordship did say he wanted strong test subjects…"

And so struggling wildly, until knocked senseless from a brutally aimed paw of the much larger zafara, I became a denizen of Darigan's castle. As the plans for a paintbrush that twisted neopets into eviller versions developed, I was part of the first semi-successful batch. This paintbrush worked, but was permanent; later versions were ensorcelled by the faeries so that they might be painted over. But for us, no change could ever be brought about. From then on the paintbrush was hidden everywhere over Neopia, spreading darkness.

For my own fate, with a few other aquatic pets, I was given a name and ordered to guard the moat (or Phaedra Lake as it once was). Under the shadow of the castle, all those painted are helpless to his will; so I had no choice. My name was Guard Izmexia; my wary fellows, and later my cautious friends, were Guard Tass the acara, Guard Koda the krawk and Guard Xamen the jetsam. Despite our enslaved bodies, and small part of our minds still scratched and screamed for escape. With my magic governing minds, I found it easier to cope with than most, and nurtured my own consciousness against the day that I could escape. I hated my twisted and furry body; I cherished the memories of summer sunshine, laughing siblings and my smooth red skin and bright white mane. One thing of which I was glad; my purple spots remained, showing through even this coat, leaving my mother's flower still imprinted upon my side. One thing still eluded me; my own name. Izmexia I became, in absense of another.

Seasons turned. I passed my adolescence guarding that dark castle; I was nearly full grown when the whisper began among us. Over the time, we had managed to loose our minds grip from his; and thought our bodies still relentlessly obeyed, we could still hate it with enmeshed minds breaking free. And the news passed around; the knights of Meridell were marching! Neopia wanted to rid itself of this black menace, and now massed in strength against Darigan. And soon we could see the battle lines advancing; many more moat guards had hastily been created, still mindless in their obedience. Koda, Tass, Xamen and I, the originals, had pledged to fight, fight our bodies' control and aid the Knights.

As the banners came to the lake edge, the aquatic Knights leapt into the water to clear the way. As they swam strongly toward us, the four of us suddenly turned and roared at those Darigan guards behind us, and struggling to maintain control, began attacking them. The Knights at first did not understand; I tried to use my mind control powers, but Xamen and Tass, Tass my dearest friend there, were sent to the depths before we managed to communicate which side we were truly on. Helping them out, the drawbridge stairs came slamming down as eyries and unis battled in the skies and Knights stormed the castle. Koda and I staggered out of the lake shore. "Help us! We can revert once we leave the shadow of the castle!" I managed to shout out, supporting the wounded Koda with my own exhausted shoulder. A few looked doubtful, but the lupe sergeant who had seen us fighting gave a curt order, and though we were bound, we were taken out into the sunshine.

OH! Never had that sunshine seemed so sweet as when I first felt it again after season's absence. A shudder ran through our bodies, and Koda slowly sank to all four paws. A veil seemed to lift from my eyes and mind, and everything suddenly seemed clear. I gasped as memories started flooding back. I was interrupted by Koda's voice.
"Izmexia? Iz, we did it, my friend!" He paused to cough, his red eyes now alert with passion but dimming inexorably. "Remember, I have died a free Neopian… we have escaped!"
And with that the krawk drew a few more laboured breaths, before smiling slightly and passing. And his death suddenly brought back all the other deaths, my herd, my parents, my siblings. And the loss of Phaedra, and the fact that I had slept while they were slaughtered, and I wept. In front of the assembled soldiery, breathing free air, stil I wept, for the first time since I had entered the service of the castle those years ago.

"Retreat!" yelled the Messenger pteri soaring above. "Retreat!" Through the announcements running through the army that began limping back, I, walking numbly with the soldiers, picked up that a peace treaty had been signed, with the demise of Darigan and the retrieval of the Orb.

On reaching the valley below, the soldiers, always seeming uneasy around my darigan presence, waved me cheerfully off. "Well then, Asta was it? I'm sure you're waiting to return to your home…" said the lupe in charge of the unit I was walking with. I turned bitter red eyes upon him. "I lived where Darigan's castle now resides, and my destroyed herd," I said flatly, before looking away again. Freedom I had gained! What for? I now wondered. My siblings were gone , Kord, Sammie, my beloved Rainj; my newer friends had all died in the escape attempt; I never knew their real names, but may the faeries bless their resting places, Tass, Xamen, Koda. And in my mind along with them I buried Izmexia, resolutely turning to times ahead. I would cherish the spirit of Phaedra Herd, as the last survivor, and I would live somewhere. But where? I suddenly thought. Back in the present, the sergeant cleared his throat uncomfortabl and swished his tail a bit. "Well hen, why not go to Neopia Central? I'm sure that you could find a human to care for you there…. Or maybe Mystery Island, with the survivors of Maraqua?"
Anywhere but here, I added silently to his comment, watching the nervous looks of his soldiers and his desperate attempt to get me away from him. I sighed. I know he didn't mean to be unkind, but I guessed this was what I would have to put up with from now on.

So I began my travels. I visited Mystery Island, and Sakhmet, and Terror Mountain; but none welcomed me there, and I kept wandering. Eventually my hooves led my back to southern Meridell. Passing through on my way to the plains to Neopia central, a mutant doglefox chased by a yapping puppyblew dashed across my path. The doglefox, espying me, dashed towards me and pressed close against my side. This touched me deeply; this was the first thing I had met in Neopia that did not view me askance, or not deign to put any trust in Astyanaxae. The puppyblew however kept its distance, still barking occasionally. Suddenly a black kougra, with electric gold stripes, came bounding up across the rolling hill.
"I say, Bunter, do be a good chap and stop chasing that poor thing!" he called, leaping to a halt by the puppyblew and then looking up at me. I stiffened, certain I was to receive yet another hasty excusal of company. But instead I received frank friendliness and an open stare.
"You're not from round here, wot?" he commented pleasantly. "Name's Peter, What may I call you by, young miss?"
I was astounded. Most of the freed Darigan pets had been over-painted, so I was still a rarity within Neopia, and most recoiled. A friendly word was warming to me, and I smiled timidly.
*Thou mayst call me Astyanaxae," I said hesitantly, Phaedra accents echoing still in my voice. "Or Asta, if you prefer," I said suddenly, recalling Kord's nickname for me. Rainj had called me Naxi, but that name still hurt a little to hear, and I had never really liked it in the first place. I laughed softly at the memory, and Peter smiled affably.
"I say, the little fellow there really seems to have taken a shine to you," he commented. "Has your owner given you a petpet yet?"
The puppyblew began to bark again, and I reached and froze its little mind into obedience without thinking.
"I have no owner," I replied in a low voice. "I live nowhere either, travelling the streams and paths as a traveller."
"A traveller, eh? Capital! It seems nearly dinner time, and you look like you could do with a jolly good scoff. Come back to my Neohome, and Harriet will cook you up something. Probably with cinnamon though, so watch out." He winked before turning on a neat paw, leaving me still standing. "Well, are you coming then?" he called back over his shoulder.

And in the second I decided to, and began yet another new life. The doglefox followed me incessantly, and I named him Fell; and I became a pet of Harriet's and first tasted that wonder spice cinnamon, and had a home in Meridell to live in. But I still wander; Peter's good enough, but of the newer pets, Cibreeze annoys me slightly with her happy-go-luckiness and Trick & Erin are a little confusing and supercilious sometimes. So I travel out to the plains a lot, roaming the rivers and forests and even down to the sea sometimes. There you are most likely to find me.


*She bows her head, tangled ebony mane hiding her red eyes, and withdraws*

.:: R.U.U.Y.J.I.N - or Jin ::.

Ruuyjin, Experiment 12A, a mutant creature of an evil master... Thus it was when I first met him. Times change and through hardships and pain we have grown close. Dare I even say it, Jin, he is my reason to keep on fighting for the things we love... I know we have suffered much, but we can make it home.

The binding collar has been released; my only love is free of his master's restraints. Much as I detest cliched, slushy sayings... they all seem to apply to you, my Ruuyjin.

::Friends & Family::
This is a little bit about my friends in Harriet's house... and witness the new found hope I have discovered. I know my brother is alive out there...

	This kougra would be Harriet's oldest pet, Lord Peter. He's quite English and aristocratic, but very friendly and aimable. He is my best friend apart from Harriet at the house in Meridell.
This is my adopted sister Cibreeze, a _very_ hyperactive ghost shoyru. Harriet & I are rather fond of cinnamon, but give too much to her... you have to pry her off the ceiling giggling happily... It annoys me rather a lot, but c'est la vie, I guess.
	Ah.. this has always confused me somewhat... these two unis are Trick & Erin.They're both my siblings, but you can only talk to one at at time; they're twins of a kind, they just don't quite exist seperately. Trick's pretty quiet but enjoys the occasional practical joke when Erin lets him; Erin is sweeter, but more sensible. However they both have a rather stand-offish view on life, and off on the top floor of Harriet's house you sometimes forget they exist...
Kel-chan, or Harriet as she is known as in this part of the world,, is my cinnamon obsessed owner... she rules you all. Harriet cares for me and provides a home for me to sleep in, and food to eat. For that I thank her.^^
I've recently met Nefi, a faerie peophin who's very cool. People don't expect a darigan and a faerie peophin to be friends.. but there you go :P. I'm trying to teach her to like cinnamon at the moment... I have not spoken to her in a while though...

::Harriet's Art::

Take a look. DON'T take anything else. *thawps paws away*






::FAN ART::

Unbelievable... I have a fan art! Thanks Zaurac!! ^^



AND.... an art trade with the excellent Melodiith!