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Quest

old gypsy

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Shortly before midnight, little Icky Rotblossom silently slipped into Lucy's bedroom. "Miz Lucy," she whispered. "Wakes ups Miz Lucy... mees needz toos tells yoos sumthin."

Lucy sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "What is it, Icky?" she asked. "Couldn't it have waited until morning?"

Icky shook her head. "Mees wont bees heres inz da mornin," she replied. "Mees trieds toos rite yoos a note butz dat still bees toos hard fer mees, soos mees hads toos wakey yoos up. Mees dint wan ta leeb witout tellin yoos."

"Leave?! What do you mean? Where are you going?!" asked Lucy.

"Mees goin onz a quest," said Icky. "En mees dint wantz yoos werryin bout mees."

"What kinid of quest?"

Icky sighed. "Itz kinda hard toos esplain... maybees jes say mees serchin fer da meenin ub life."

"But Icky..."

"Mees gotz ta goes now Miz Lucy. Mees lub yoos... en dont werry, mees wills bee back..."

"When?" asked Lucy.

Icky didn't hear her. She was already scampering out the door into the cool dark night.
 
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whiterabbit

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oh noos woo gunna watch da garden an makes foods?? AND ICKY YOOS BE SAFE !!
 

old gypsy

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Lucy was worried, but logic came to her rescue. Icky might be impulsive sometimes, but she knew how to keep out of trouble. Goblins had strong survival instincts. "Yes," Lucy said to herself. "Icky will be alright... I'm sure of it."

"There's so much to do," sighed Lucy. She had inventoried the supplies earlier, had tossed out the stale food, rearranged what was left; and now, in Icky's absence, it was time to take over the cooking. She was a somewhat less creative cook than Icky. Hopefully, the deli customers wouldn't complain. Lucy picked up a pitcher of pancake batter that she had previously overlooked and took it to the compost barge. She opened the hatch, held her nose, and poured the batter onto the steaming pile below.

As she busied herself with the rest of the chores, her thoughts kept returning to Icky and her strange quest. "How can one discover the meaning of life?" murmured Lucy. "It seems like an impossible undertaking for a little goblin... or for anyone, for that matter."
 

old gypsy

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The shrine looked to be deserted when Icky first arrived; however, after what seemed like an hour or more, she realized that she had company. Two little mice were perched on a fallen log a few feet away from her. She would not have considered the sight particularly strange or unusual, but... the mice were motionless, their gazes fixed upon the shrine, and they appeared to be meditating.

Watching them from the corner of her eye, Icky whispered, "Om, Om, Om."

The mice, still staring at the shrine, uttered in unison, "Squeak, Squeak, Squeak."

Surprised, Icky turned and looked directly at them. "Om?" she said.

The tiny creatures met her gaze and responded, again in unison, "Squeak?"

"Mees noes beleeve dis," said Icky. "Mices don medatate atz shrinez. Maybees mees jes dreemin."

The mice were staring at her intently, and Icky had a strange feeling that they were studying her... trying to probe her mind.

"Noes," she said.

"Squeak," they said.

Icky moved nearer, expecting them to dart away, but the mice sat very still, calmly watching her.

Icky sat down close to them. "Mees don supposes yoos mices kin anser mees questshun... watz da meenin ub life?"

A loud rustling noise interrupted the moment, and much to Icky's disappointment, the little mice suddenly leaped off the log and quickly vanished into the forest.

Icky turned and observed a tall human figure emerging from the trees. She immediately recognized the garb of a wandering healer.

"Now that was a grand question," said the man. "A question for the ages, and the sages!" He paused briefly, smiling. "But please don't tell me you were expecting an answer from those field mice."
 
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whiterabbit

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The ans maybe long in comeing as icky's computer blows up last nites. herz an mz lucy bees gone fer bit
ozog
 

old gypsy

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Icky opened her eyes and looked around in confusion. She didn't remember falling asleep, but surely that was what had happened to her. One moment she had been stumbling wearily down the road, thinking about her quest and hoping to run into those odd little field mice she had encountered earlier... then suddenly, there was nothing. Although she wasn't certain, she sensed that a great deal of time may have passed since that last memory.

Icky wasn't quite sure where she was, but felt a sudden obsessive urge to return to Pitmuck Island as soon as possible and check on the Deli - and Miz Lucy, who would most certainly be worried about her.
 

old gypsy

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After Icky departed Pitmuck, she retraced her steps in the direction of the place where she had awakened from her strange sleep. As she neared the clearing where she had previously encountered a frightening monster, all of her senses went on high alert. She peered through the underbrush at the edge of the small meadow. As she had feared, it was still there.

The monster was seated quietly in a circle of wildflowers. Its metallic scales sparkled in the sunlight like newly forged valorite armor. Icky moved a little closer, then froze when the monster turned toward her, fixed its deep blue eyes on hers and said, "Noes fite."

Startled, Icky gasped, "Yoos speek goblin?"

"Yerg," it replied. "Mees kinz speek ebery kindz ub talks. Mees berry smarts."

"Ib yoos bees soos smarts," said Icky, "whys didz yoos trys ta fite mees ferst timez mees saw yoos? Yoos shud hab seens mees notz a fiter."

"Mees wuznt tryin ta fite yoos," said the monster in an injured tone. "Mees wuz jes tryin ta hugz yoos."

To be continued...
 
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old gypsy

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The monster suddenly leaned toward Icky and said, "Hugz?"

Nimbly, Icky stepped back. "Err... howz 'bout weeuns talkin sum moor ferst?" she asked nervously.

The monster nodded. "Wees kin doos dat," it said.

"Sense yoos bees smarts, maybees yoos kin anser mees questshun," said Icky. "Doos yoos noes watz da meenin ub life?"

"Maybees," replied the monster. "Butz mees needz moor data."

"Watz data?" asked Icky.

"Data bees informashun," said the monster.

"Ohhhs," replied Icky. "Wat kinds ub informashun?"

"Mees needz ta noes wat life iz befores mees kin figures itz meenin." The monster looked at her expectantly.

"Well yoos soos smarts, yoos shud noes dat life iz... life iz... well, yoos noes..." Icky fell silent, not quite certain
how to explain it.

Wordlessly, she and the monster stared at each other for a while. As time dragged on, Icky grew restless and the monster
drifted into what appeared to be a state of deep meditation.

The sun was setting when Icky finally decided to leave the meadow and continue her quest elsewhere. It was obvious that the monster did not have the answer to her question; and she didn't want to risk sticking around long enough to be asked again for a monster hug.

When Icky reached the edge of the forest she turned and looked back. The monster was still sitting in the circle of wildflowers and softly chanting something. It sounded like "Gates... Gates... Gates..." Fearful that the monster might be in the process of opening some strange and dangerous portals, she broke into a run and didn't stop until she could run no further.

To be continued...
 

old gypsy

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Much time had passed since Icky had resumed her quest. Lucy felt greatly relieved when a wandering healer visited the deli early that morning with a message from the little goblin. She was also somewhat disappointed, for the message offered no news - just a simple question that Icky wanted Lucy to ask the very wise EM Drosselmeyer.

Lucy spoke with EM Drosselmeyer that very evening, then returned to the deli and penned a note for the healer to take with him and read to Icky after he found her again:

"Dearest Icky," the message began. "I submitted your question, 'What is the meaning of life?' to our wise friend tonight. Initially, he indicated that the meaning of life can be found in mathematics, specifically in the number 42, which left me thoroughly confused. But he went on to say something that made a little more sense. He suggested that the meaning of life can be found in becoming the best person/creature one can be, and in encouraging others to become the best person/creature they can be. He then added something rather cryptic - he said to tell you to beware of small birds. He also spoke of your lucky numbers; but, alas, I did not have any writing materials with me at the time and now I cannot remember them! I don't know if his answer is what you are looking for, but hopefully it will be of some help. I so hope you can finish your quest soon, Icky. I miss you. Love, Lucy"
 
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old gypsy

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Icky had wandered the land for many weeks, searching for an answer to the burning question, "What is the meaning of life?" She felt confused and discouraged. Creatures, and the reportedly wise men she had met during her journey, appeared to be equally clueless. Even the wise Drosselmeyer now seemed, to her, to have been merely groping in the dark for some undiscoverable deeper truth.

Icky sighed. "Mees soos tireds," she murmurred. "Mees wanz too goze homes."

It was very late in the evening when Icky finally reached Pitmuck Island. She headed toward the deli, then suddenly stopped, feeling very disoriented. The house sign told her that she had reached her destination, but the building had changed so! She cautiously set one foot on the first step and took a deep breath. "Miz Lucy?" she called. "Miz Lucy, mees homes... mees hopes."

A moment later the deli door swung open. Lucy gasped, then ran to Icky and bent down to hug her. "Oh, Icky!" she exclaimed. "I have missed you so much! Come in, dear, come in. I'll show you what I've done since you've been gone."

"Yoos made da deli biggers," said Icky. swaying slightly on her feet. "Itz looks nicey."

"I'll show you everything in the morning," said Lucy. "Look at you.. the very picture of exhaustion. We must get you to bed, dear." Lucy paused. "Icky, what are those strange white spots on your sweet little head?"

Icky sighed. "Mees foundz outs wat yoos ment when yoos rote dat messege, "Beesware ub small berds."

"Oh my," said Lucy. "So that's what EM Drosselmeyer meant. Well, never mind that now... we'll get you all cleaned up in the morning."

Lucy tucked Icky into her warm bedroll, kissed her goodnight [not on the head] then tiptoed up to her own bedroom.
 
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old gypsy

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So much time had passed since Icky's first quest. Miz Lucy and the deli lived on only in memory. Now Ozog was gone... and a spirit of great sadness had settled over the land.

In a dream the night before, Icky found herself happily reunited with Miz Lucy and their dear Ozog. The dream, however, dissipated as the first light of morning filtered through the branches of the apple tree and woke her.

Icky rose and quietly took care of her chores for the day. When she had finished she placed more food and drink on the vendor, remembering to add extra turnips. "Ozog reely lubbed himz ternips," she whispered softly.

She knew it was time. Time for a new journey. A new quest. After preparing her backpack Icky set out alone, her eventual destination and purpose as yet unknown.

To be continued...
 
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old gypsy

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Icky had been wandering though the wildwoods for several days, accompanied only by her memories and a vague feeling deep within herself that she was being watched. At times she wondered if the departed spirits of those she loved were hovering close by and keeping her safe, for not a single creature she had met so far had displayed any sign of hostility.

Around noon, drawn by the sound of water, she came upon a clearing where a spring-fed waterfall emerged from the side of a rocky hill. It seemed like a perfect spot to stop and enjoy a bite to eat. She sat down and perused the contents of her backpack. "Ternips," she said. "Mees kinda wishes dey wuz ice creams, butz oh wells."

Midway through her meal she suddenly turned, certain that she had heard something moving in the grass behind her. "Wot wuz dat?" she muttered, looking around nervously. "Iz enybuddie dere?" She held herself very still, listening. After a few minutes she finally concluded that whatever she had heard was no longer nearby.

Icky finished eating, but she prudently decided not to linger. "Timez ta goes," she said, as she picked up her backpack and turned south toward the jungle.

To be continued...
 
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old gypsy

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How long had it been since she left Pitmuck? Icky couldn't be sure. It felt like she had been traveling forever. She was truly lost. At this point in time she would have given anything to see a familiar face.

Tired and ready for sleep, she spied a tiny clearing in the jungle and stopped to rest for the night, not even bothering to light a campfire.

To be continued...
 

old gypsy

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The dream slipped in silently as Icky slept. It was formless at first, like shifting mists in the deep night, but two familiar shapes gradually appeared. They smiled at her and she smiled in return. "Aarp Miz Lucy," she whispered. "Aarp Ozog. Mees bin missin yoos guyz. Kin mees comes wit yoos dis timez?"

The two figures shook their heads in unison. "Not yet, Icky," replied Lucy, glancing toward Ozog. "Itz nots bees timez yetz," said Ozog. "Yoos willz noe wen... yoos da onlyz won whoos kin noe wen."

Icky suddenly sat up and reached for them as they slowly disappeared into the mist and darkness. She blinked, then rubbed her eyes. "Itz wuz jes a dreem," she told herself as she curled up inside her bedroll and went back to sleep.

To be Continued...
 

old gypsy

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Many days later and very far away on the island of Pitmuck, A Goblin Artisan quietly tidied up the playground. When she had finished, she laid out her bedroll beneath the cherry blossom tree and wriggled inside. Alone in the silence and the darkness, she wondered where Icky was now and whether or not she would ever see her again.
 

old gypsy

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Icky removed her last turnip from her backpack. "Mees notz hungrie," she sighed. She set it on the ground, then crawled back into her bedroll and quickly slipped into a deep sleep... a sleep from which she would not awaken.
 

old gypsy

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A Goblin Artisan prepared her seldom used backpack for a much contemplated journey. "Icky's bin gonez waye toos long," she muttered to herself. "Itz lookie like itz bees ups ta mees ta finds herz."

She quietly removed the remaining stock off her vendor and politely asked her to find another employer. She then took inventory of items remaining in the ship's hold. After sorting everything into boxes, she hauled them away and placed them into more secure storage before dry docking the ship.

Those tasks accomplished, she set out for the mainland in hopes of finding her missing friend.
 
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