His sweaty paws cupped the splinter-covered rod with apprehensive gestures
when suddenly; a gigantic Chomby was tied around the rod. A voice boomed, "Carry
it, you miserable Shoyru! Lift it up!" All around him, hundreds of spectators
suddenly turned into horrible mutant slaves of Sloth, looming menacingly towards
him.
"No…. Help!! Please.... Nooooo!!!!"
That was the stuff dreams were made of…
Ever since Zaknafeain the Desert Shoyru became a professional weightlifter,
nightmares of strange origins continually plagued his peaceful slumber. Those
horrendous dreams were on his mind as his owner woke him up on the most important
day of his career, the day of the once-a-century "Super-Duper NeoPets Heavyweight
Championship". Contenders from all the eight Neopian worlds will gather at the
Mystery Island Arena to compete for the title, whereby the winner will emerge
champion and bring back a prize of a 999,999,999 Neopoints and a shiny trophy
for their cabinet. Zaknafeain's face lit up with enthusiasm at the prospect
of such glory and riches. His mind wandered to the Pyramid that he had so long
wish to erect on the lands of the Lost Desert. His dream NeoHome built of solid
gold and lined up with the finest furniture that Neopoints can buy. Well, if
only he could clinch the title….
Even before the contest, Zaknafeain was encouraged and pampered by the reporters
from The Neopian Times and the native coconut officials from the Mystery Island.
Several female fans stifled shrieks and cast adoring glances at him when he
walked past. "Ohhhhh… I can't believe that I'm actually seeing him in person…
He's so macho!!" a White Usul fan gushed out as she searched frantically around
for a pen, hoping to get his autograph. Everyone seemed to revolve around him
for after all, he, Zaknafeain was the champion of Neopia. Used to the hordes
of admirers and supporters fawning over him all the time, Zaknafeain gave no
notice of it and continued being escorted towards the Island Arena.
The coconut officials led him and his entourage of trainers into a large room
behind the stage. Zaknafeain left for the water closet and in a minute emerged
in his outfit; his well-built frame carried, with stinging pride, his twines
of biceps and taut muscles. All these were the result of training at the Mystery
Island Training School and the workouts at the Grundo's Gym. Zaknafeain's eyes
sifted through the crowd of weightlifters pouring in. Each of them held their
bulges of strength in a unique but proud way, and every single one of them gazed
at him with respect. How could they not?
A bell signaled them to get on stage. As they passed by the spectators' stands,
Zaknafeain caught glimpse of the White Usul fan who had been going "Oooh-Oooh-Ahhh-Ahhh"
over him earlier on. She was sitting in the Lost Desert supporter's stands,
waving a banner with his name embroidered on it now and happily shouting out
his name amidst the din that the crowd was making. Her friends on the other
hand were fervently snapping pictures of him, much to the annoyance of a pack
of Haunted Woods Supporters on the opposite stands. The coconut official spoke
over the roar of the sound that was now filling the packed arena; his voice
echoed them, booming into every corner of the stands: "Ladies and gentlemen...
Welcome! To the once-a-century "Super-Duper NeoPets Heavyweight Championship"!!
Now introducing our contestants from the various Neopian worlds…" The spectators
screamed and clapped, cheering for their own competitor. One by one, each competitor
was introduced. Bacheek the Tyrannian Kacheek, second to none but Zaknafeain
himself. Only he had a chance of toppling Zaknafeain's three-year reign. The
VirtuPets Space Station's Brown Grundo flexed, without conviction, his triceps
while the Eyrie from Krawk Island shook every competitor's paw or wings. The
other two competitors from the Terror Mountain and Haunted Woods also braced
themselves for the warm-ups. Zaknafeain smirked at Faerieland's Chia. He looked
meek compared to Zaknafeain, but his eyes held an arrogant twinkle. Strange…
Zaknafeain thought to himself. "I have never seen him before…."
Weightlifting is fairly simple. Each contestant has to tackle five different
weights, in ascending heaviness and three tries to complete a weight. The winner
is the competitor who has lifted the heaviest weight.
Krawk Island's Eyrie was a surprise loser. However hard he strained to lift
the stone wheels around the steel rod, the weights still refused to budge after
three tries. Anguish distorted his face as his tears mixed with his pouring
sweat. Zaknafeain could not care less. He simply lifted it up in one swoop.
One hundred kilograms
Krawk Island's Eyrie was a surprise loser. However hard he strained to lift
the stone wheels around the steel rod, the weights still refused to budge after
three tries. Anguish distorted his face as his tears mixed with his pouring
sweat. Zaknafeain could not care less. He simply lifted it up in one swoop.
One hundred and twenty kilograms
The raging crowd pumped each competitor's adrenaline. The weights got heavier
and heavier. More and more competitors dropped out of the fight, their pulpy
biceps beyond anymore strain.
Even Zaknafeain wheezed in exhaustion as his muscles expanded and pounded steadily.
He felt very disturbed when he caught sight of a well-oiled and calm Chia, slowly
lifting one weight after another. His body was free from sweat and his eyes
bore a different gaze each time he came out for a try.
Two hundred kilograms
The whole arena was on its feet, hushing in astute silence, and then in a split
second, it blew up in rumbles of deafening cheers as Zaknafeain held two hundred
kilograms high above his trembling frame. He never felt happier. There was no
doubt now. Bacheek and Chia could not surpass that he was the winner! His owner
gave him a supportive pat on his wings. When Zaknafeain passed by Bacheek, the
latter looked defeated. Zaknafeain's mind suddenly clicked and he walked past
Chia's room. "I completed two hundred kilograms!" A smirk found its way up his
throat. Chia's face was blank.... If he was going to give up, there was no sign
of it. Instead, his eyes were still mocking Zaknafeain. Zaknafeain laughed and
walked back to his room. Just as he entered it, his owner ran in, panting: "Chia
broke your record!! He lifted two hundred and fifty kilograms!!!"
A look of immaculate shock tore apart Zaknafeain's arrogant mask. He looked
at Chia on stage while the coconut commentator announced the results: "A new
record! Ladies and gentlemen! Contestant Chia has just lifted up two hundred
and fifty kilograms! Imagine that!!" Zaknafeain could hardly believe both his
eyes and ears. Sweat poured out of Chia's pores with ease. His breathing was
steady and his eyes still impeccably contemptuous. Yet, this could not be the
same Chia that he saw it was impossible! No one after so many lifts could still
manage two hundred and fifty kilograms! Even the expensive Shrooms from the
Apothecary
could not enhance such a show of strength! It was as if Chia had changed his
body!
Zaknafeain had only one last try. He had to lift up two hundred and fifty kilograms
or his world, the Lost Desert and his pride would forever be tarnished. He heaved
with gusto, his ego in full control. Regaining his confidence and his senses
locking his body in one direction only, Zaknafeain's paws gripped the steel
bar with utmost effort. Its coldness stung his warm skin. As he pulled the weights
up, his mind suddenly snapped, the pain searing through his muscles jetting
upwards and splitting his concentration. The crowd hushed. A champion was dethroned.
Down the stage, the White Usul silently wept while others from the Lost Desert
shook their heads in dismay.
As he left the stage, Zaknafeain felt neither anguish nor anger. Only shame.
Hot, red, stifling shame slapped his face into oblivion. He felt cheated and
wanted an answer. What was happening could not be happening. Never! Zaknafeain
rushed into Chia's room, his brain crammed with millions of thoughts as his
owner raced after him. The questions just died as his lips spread into a grin
which stretched from ear to ear, for sitting together laughing on the floor
were the Chia triplets!
The End | 
