The moon shone brightly on that warm night on Mystery
Island. While winter grew on some of the rest of the world of Neopia, Mystery
Island was one of the lands with a year-round tropical climate. Thus being one
of the reasons Mikasaden, one of its residents, enjoyed living there so much.
A rather quiet, intelligent little Shoyru, Mik had lived on Mystery Island for
all of his life with his owner and friend Tasha, and an Aisha named Baloonuh,
who had lately gone through some rather bothering changes with the lab ray.
"TASHA!!" a red Kiko wailed as it flew into
the mohogany-coloured house in the obscure Hidden Village, named for the jungle
that hid the small village and beach connected to it. Tasha was a tall and slender
girl with soft brown hair, that fell a bit lower than her shoulders. She stood
awe-struck in their kitchen as the red male Kiko flew around the room insanely,
bawling and hiccuping. The Kiko buried its face into Tasha's shorts, bawling
even harder as she said, "Who... oh no, Baloo? That you?"
"Yes Tash, it's me, Baloonuh! Don't you recognise
me at all?" she sniffled.
"Poor Baloo... what has the lab ray done to you
this time," she said with a sigh. "Of course I recognise you--you still have
the same beautiful eyes!" she said this calmly with a smile, despite Baloo blowing
her nose into her shirt.
"How can you recognise my eyes... when while
I was an Aisha my eyes were TOTALLY different?! You're just making it all up
to make me feel better! That lab ray... it's... it's awful! I look awful! I'm
ugly! I never wanna go back there again! And of all things, it turned me into
a male Kiko! It's not fair! I don't wanna be a guy!" She screamed angrily, bolting
up into her bedroom, bumping Mik's shoulder as she flew past. He simply shrugged
and walked into the kitchen, a fluffy little Babaa prancing along behind him.
He grabbed his tawny buckskin bag and went towards the front door, but, Tasha
stopped him. "Hey Mik... where're you going?"
"Just... out."
"Out, eh?"
"Yeah... down to the beach. You know, to do some
thinking."
"Oh, all right then. See ya later." She waved
goodbye as he went out the door.
The stars twinkled brightly, staining the sky
with endless diamonds. Mik sat on a low ledge on the beach, silently watching
how the moon shone on the gently waves as they crested lowly over the long stretch
of golden sand. He chuckled softly as his little Babaa Pie sniffed around in
the sand for who-knows-what. Pie was an unusually curious and bold little Babaa
Sometimes, Mik wondered if Pie got his bravery and curiosity from himself or
if he was naturally an individual little sheep.
Mik sighed as he swooped down into the beach
sand. "Pie... I just don't know what to do. I want to fight in the Battledome
and get stronger... I want to help in the war that's brewing in the Meridell
area... but, it's kinda hopeless for our circumstances. I mean, we definitely
don't have the most Neopoints around... there's just not much to hope for. I
love it here, you know that, but I just feel like I gotta get out and into the
world. I just wanna know what I'm missing out there." Pie nodded and meeped
softly, initiating that he knew what Mik was talking about. Mik thought for
a moment; then, picked Pie up, and took flight towards home.
The red Shoyru walked through his front door.
The whole house was dark; apparently, everyone had gone to sleep. He walked
to his bedroom quietly, trying not to wake anyone up. He opened his bag on his
bed, throwing a few items in; a bag of Neopoints he'd been saving up, a few
Battledome items, and a jacket. He tucked Pie into the bag, letting his head
stick out so he could breathe and see what was going on as well. Out of his
desk he pulled some paper and a pen, scribbled a note, and put it under a paperweight
on his desk. He opened his window, climbed out, and soared out into the night.
He looked back at the house, and as he flew
away, murmured, "This will always be my home."
***
A horn sounded in the night as the SS Adam (who ever said Adam was modest?)
pulled into Mystery Island Harbour. The moonlight shone on the cresting waters
as if diamonds were floating in the sea. Mik stood up off of the bench he'd
been sitting on, tucked his Babaa Pie into his tawny buckskin bag, and walked
towards the boarding dock. He handed his ticket, and got on board.
On-deck, he put on his jacket and looked around
tiredly; it was dimly lit by lamps in the night. He thought how worried Tasha
would be when she found the note that he left, and that he was gone. "Gee Pie,"
he said as the little Babaa hopped out of his bag, "I don't even know where
this ship's taking us!" He chuckled, and scratched the fluff behind Pie's ear.
"Attention all passengers: Now leaving Mystery
Island Harbour for Meridell. We should arrive in the morning."
He scratched his head, taking a seat on a deck chair and laying back. "Well
buddy, I guess we're off to Meridell, then!"
The Next Morning...
"Mmf... huh?" Mik rubbed his eyes groggily as
the sun beamed down on the ship deck.
An announcement boomed throughout the ship: Good morning passengers. We
have arrived at the land of Meridell. Please enjoy your stay.
Mik nodded and looked around... where was Pie?
"Pie?" Mik called. "Piiieee..."
"Meep meep!" A familiar, yet smothered and muffled
little voice cooed disparately. "Oh!" Mik hopped up off of the deck chair; he
had been sitting on Pie, somehow. "Sorry little dude."
"Meeep." Pie shook his head and followed Mik
off of the boarding dock.
Meridell was a busy, lively place in the early
noon, markets overpopulated, tourist attractions swamped; but, Mik was astounded.
He'd never been outside Mystery Island in his life, and it was never busy there,
always warm, quiet and serene. Nevertheless, he loved it. Although, this new
place fascinated him like none other. There was one bothersome thought on his
mind, though...
The war, he thought, was supposed to
be starting soon, was it not? He felt relieved he had brought the old Battledome
items, that he had kept in case of an emergency. He then brushed his brow, decided
to think nothing of it just yet, and went to enjoy the scene.
They wandered around till the evening, checking
out everything; they guessed the weight of a rather large vegetable, they counted
potatoes for a prize, visited a large sleeping petpet-like thing, and even kissed
a few Mortogs.
Although he was starting to miss home, he and
Pie agreed on one thing: they weren't going to be too excited about leaving
just yet.
To be continued... | 
