It was a warm day, the day my story began. It was the sort of day the people
of Neopia Central thought of when thinking of their relaxed, wonderful life.
The sun hung high above the hustle and bustle of the city, spewing its warmth
down upon the people and creatures of Neopia. Light and airy clouds drifted
lazily across the bleached-out blue sky.
A tall young woman had previously come to the looming Create-a-Pet Centre,
and taken a seat in a corner of the large lobby. When supplied with 'The Form',
she cast a quick glance around the spacious lobby and the people of all ages
eagerly scribbling out forms, before proceeding to fill out her own.
Species: Gelert
Name: AndrewOpal
Colour: Green
Gender: Male
The strokes of a pen that literally shaped my very being. She gingerly signed
her name at the bottom, folded the piece of paper, and went to stand at the
back of the line that led to the desk. She waited patiently as the procession
inched along. When her turn came, she carefully handed the form to an adult
Lenny in uniform. Then, after she left, the paper was carelessly tossed into
a huge bin that contained all that days forms.
The next day, the bin was sorted and categorised by species, and each form's
information was then neatly entered into the computer, and filed into the waiting
list. I was the 67th Gelert on the list. My soon-to-be owner would have to wait
three days.
When it was my turn, a scientist with an extreme 'here-we-go-again-for-the-millionth-time'
expression, mixed the exact measurements of dozens of different potions with
ease. Then he flipped a switch which shot extremely high voltage electrical
currents to the large container he had been mixing potions in, and thus I was
created. My owner was sent for, and I went home. I liked her right away. She
had a kind face and soft brown hair. She rubbed my belly and scratched behind
my ears-she even brought me a Fuzzle to play with. Her name was Caitlin Opal.
I soon grew out of my rough-and-tumble puppy stage and into a sleek, handsome,
full-grown Gelert. Caitlin was far more strict than most, but because of her
stern rules, I was well-behaved, polite, good-natured, kind, a hard worker,
and, of course, sensible. All the people we knew adored me and my friends admired
me... I mean, maybe I wasn't a strong battle dome fighter, but I had my priorities
straight. I was one of the few Neopets that didn't long to be 'wild-and-free',
or as my mother called all the animals out in the wilderness without owners,
'Foolhardy.' I was a good example, a role model. My Caitlin and I lived in a
small, but well-furnished, expensive house in a sought-after neighbourhood.
Caitlin had a classy shop called The Opal Paint Brush Shoppe. I was level 5 and
had a genius' IQ, due to all the books I read.
I had passed school with flying colours, and was studying to be a "Paint Brush
Professor." I could already rattle off all the different Paint Brushes that could
be used on each individual species of NeoPet, and was working on compiling them
all into a book. I'd make my first millions. And then I was faced with the most
difficult decision I would ever have to make.
It all started the day I finished my book. I carefully filled the strap-on
backpack-like sack with neatly packaged food, and tucked the thick stack of
papers that was my book in a zippered pocket. Hearing Caitlin downstairs getting
ready to go to work, I hastily tied on the pack and started down the stairs,
reciting in my head; Benjamin Neeper, Magic Lane, Mystery Island. Benjamin Neeper
was the surprisingly heavyset Nimmo, world-wide publisher. I would be making
the journey from Neopia Central to Mystery Island... by myself. I swallowed
hard.
When I entered the room Caitlin was in, she looked up, and instantly her eyes
flooded with tears. "So soon?" She whispered. All I could do was nod my head
miserably. I was excited about publishing a book, making my own living-well,
I would still live with Caitlin, but I would be pulling my own weight... investing
in the stock market, you name it. However, I was, admittedly, scared.
After quick goodbyes I was off, and I didn't look back, for fear of bursting
into tears.
I hurried to the ship dock, at the edge of Neopia Central, and after looking
around nervously for some sign of direction, I sighed with relief as my eyes
fell upon a small wooden table with a sign taped to the front that said 'Tickets'.
As I neared the table, I loudly cleared my throat, hoping to catch the eye of
the Kyrii manning it. It ignored me and continued briskly brushing his Elvis-style
do. Coming to a stop before the table my annoyance gave me confidence.
"Excuse me, sir. Uhm..." The Kyrii was still ignoring me. I squinted at his
scrawled-out hand-written name tag and straightened with resolve.
"Mr. BeerMyer! I'd like a ticket please!"
"When?" the Kyrii drawled lazily, still brushing his hair.
"Now!"
"Now?"
"YES! Isn't it your job to sell people tickets when they want them?"
The Kyrii finally ceased brushing his hair, glared at me, and then started
flipping through papers clipped to a clipboard. "The big 'un leaves in five
minutes-is dat soon 'nough for ya'?"
I ignored his sarcasm. "'The Big 'Un'?"
The Kyrii heaved a deep sigh and pointed to a huge ship crawling with sailors.
I nodded.
"Fifty Neopoints"
I handed them to him, and he gave me my ticket--a yellow piece of paper that
simply said, "I have paid already." I turned to go and the Kyrii resumed
brushing his hair. Then, profusely embarrassed, I turned back to him.
"Uhm..." the Kyrii groaned.
"Does 'The Big 'Un' go to Mystery Island?"
"Yeah..." the Kyrii drawled on absent-mindedly.
"Good!" With that, I hurried toward the ship.
When I got there I was shocked with the sailors' rough language... especially
when talked to. I paused at the edge of the ramp, and as a sailor passed me,
I began haltingly, "Uhm... sir..." I stretched out my ticket to him. He whipped
around and cursed me, and, snatching the ticket from my hand, shredded it and
stomped off. Not having any more Neopoints with which to buy a ticket, I had
no choice but to sneak on and hope no one asked me for my ticket. Luckily, no
one seemed to even notice me and we were off in no time.
The ship moved fast, and as we passed 'Terror Mountain' I began to over hear
the sailors talk about landing. I tried to ask one of them. Finally I received
an answer other than cursing.
"Dat Kyrii dun lied to ye', den, 'cause we sho' ain't landin' dere at Myster-y
Island!
I groaned as the ship anchored on the coast of the cold island. After getting
off the boat I hesitated. "What do I do now?" I asked myself. My stomach decided
for me by rumbling loudly. I started to look for a quiet place to eat, and soon
found myself in Happy Valley. To my dismay, rather than finding a quiet place,
it became busier and busier. I was often jostled by Bruces racing past, or struck
by a badly aimed snowball. It was also becoming colder and colder as I got higher
up the mountainside.
Then I saw it. A cave. No one darted in and out or even seeming to notice it.
It also meant warmth. I hurried toward it so quickly I did not see the large
sign above the opening that read 'The Snowager'. The instant I entered I was
startled by the comforting warmth. Almost like a huge beast lived in there,
giving off body heat. I laughed at my silly thoughts and hurried deeper into
the cave.
Suddenly I saw light catch and dazzle on two slanted blue eyes. My short fur
stood up on end as my eyes adjusted to the light and I saw the huge ice worm
lift it's long neck and look directly at me. A huge roar erupted from deep within
the beast and shook me to the bone. It opened its mouth and sharp icy chunks
sprayed, full force, out. I turned and fled for my life, but it was too late.
The ice chunks struck me hard, and ripped my pack open. Still I ran, and flopped
down at the cave's mouth.
My sides ached and my head throbbed where the ice rocks had hit. Everything
in my pack had been strewn deep in the cave... including my book, which was
undoubtedly shredded from ice shards. The bitter cold bit into my exposed belly
and I forced myself to my feet.
Now everyone made a wide berth around me as if I was dangerous. I limped pathetically
onward, not sure where I was going. Without any warning an Eyrie zipped towards
me. I blindly flung myself out of the way, and landed, half my body hanging
into the abyss. I desperately clawed at the sheer ice and it gave away.
I started to tumble down a deep, deep crevice...
To be continued... | 
