Strain: Eight NeoPets Strain Their Friendship and Their Health

by Mike Watt

The Cast:

First of all there was Missy190 and Dogz_rock. They were both girls. They both had four NeoPets. Missy190 didn't have many friends because she was timid and not very out going. Dogz_rock was the opposite and a complete goofball. Missy190's pets were all female. Tara120 the Blue Scorchio who was her first NeoPet and loves kids. She always tries to be the hero and protects everyone she knows. Tara121 the Green Grundo was crazy. She was always laughing for no reason and spent most of her time bouncing on her fat stomach and eating. Fuzzy2050 the Blue Kacheek was a fashion freak. She never worked for the fear to break a nail and never eat for the fear to ruin her figure. Her and Tara121 didn't get along at all. Missy190's last pet was Tara1220 the Green Shoyru who followed all work and no play seriously. Dogz_rock's pets are all male. Tough_Stuff_Plenty the Blue Gelert was quite like Tara120 and always tried to live up to his name. He was the first and the only one that wasn't adopted. Her other Gelert was Super_Nova_3000 the Green Gelert who was always hyper and always wanted to play.

Like her Gelert, Dogz_rock had two Lupes. Her first was Blue and called Augustana who was quite a bit older than the others were. Augustana acted like a wild Lupe and always ate first keeping order to his "Pack". King_Outkast the Red Lupe (adopted remember) was picky and didn't like other NeoPets but always tried to take the attention away from others. Note: These are real people of Neopia and not just made up characters for a story. I'm sure they would like to become NeoFriends.

The Danger:

It was a beautiful sunny day outside. The ten friends were on a picnic Tara121 was bouncing on her stomach trying to touch the branch on some old tree. Tara1220 had her had her laptop laying across her lap (duh) furiously typing HTML. Fuzzy2050 was holding a mirror to her face as she put on make up. The two Gelerts and Tara120 were laughing loudly as they played tag in the hot sun. "Look it's a cat!" they teased as King_Outkast rubbed up against Dogz_rock who was talking to Missy190. "Don't be mean to your brother," said Dogz_rock trying not to laugh. Everything was going perfectly until a shriek rose through the air. Tough_Stuff_Plenty and Super_Nova_3000 stopped suddenly and Tara120 who was not as balanced as the other two crashed into the both of them and the three went sprawling to the ground. I hysterical Red Usul ran out of the woods and started screaming to run. There then was a rumble in the bushes and a huge Monocerous ran out of the woods after her. The NeoPets and their owners scrambled for the car. Tara120 and the Gelerts helped by picking up the slower ones and placing them on their backs.

Tara120 took flight as Tara121 bounced happily yelling, "Come on! I am the other purple meat!" They pulled the Usul in the car and drove away but the Monocerous ran faster and faster until its horns touched the back bumper. It butted them hard. The car flipped as the Monocerous ripped a hole in it and tossed it aside. The NeoPets flew out but Missy190 and Dogz_rock were stuck inside. The Monocerous kicked the car furiously but decided the NeoPets were better it ran after them. "This way!" screamed the Usul. They took a sharp turn into the thick underbrush. Fuzzy2050 fell just before the opening into the patch of thorns. "HELP" she gasped unable to yell. The Monocerous hovered over her. Just then, they all wondered how long it would be before there was only eight of them, or four, or two or even none.

The Warning:

Tara120 who had been flying swooped down to save her but with a swipe of the Monocerous she was sent sprawling in the thorns. Tough_Stuff_Plenty charged and bit him hard on the leg. The Monocerous roared painfully but Tough_Stuff_Plenty was also swept aside. Fuzzy2050 cowered hopelessly. Everyone had made it into the safety of the thorns but her. Suddenly Augustana charged. He flew on top of the Monocerous and dug his teeth into his back. All the NeoPets felt brave from this and soon joined in, even Fuzzy2050. Augustana was soon flung off and stomped. The Monocerous roared gleefully. The NeoPets panicked and ran accept Tough_Stuff_Plenty and Tara120. They attacked together and soon the Monocerous was dead. But there was still sadness. Augustana lay bleeding on the ground. He whimpered painfully.

"Don't worry," said Tara1220. "I'll heal you in no time and everything will be okay."

"You don't understand!" spoke the red Usul.

"There's still more! Four to be exact! We need your help!"

"Why?" asked Super_Nova_3000.

"Listen," the Usul choked "My name's Fashion_Plenty." She stopped to slow down her breathing. Still gasping she continued "My owner's Krista_rocks. Like you I was separated. I have three sisters. Skayts the Green Fuzio, Zafara_yaaah the Blue Zafara and Missy_rocks the Blue Shoyru. I have discovered there is four more Monocerous here. Please help us fight them". They all agreed to go but Tara1220.

"But, you need to come. We need your brains to help us fight." Argued Tough_Stuff_Plenty who was once again awake as was Tara120. She nodded silently.

"Yeah," said King_Outkast.

"You guys don't need me but Augustana does," she explained simply. They sadly waved good-bye and then departed.

The Battle:

They followed the Usul to the beach. "We need to plan and the Monocerous won't come here," she explained. "The Monocerous are scared of the dragon that lives in the cave over there." She pointed towards a large cave at the end of the beach. "It won't bother anyone unless they bother it but the Monocerous can't figure that out. Anyway let's plan." Next day: The pets awoke to a hideous roar. They looked outside. Four Monocerous bellowed angrily and charged the Pets. "Move," yelled Tara120. They scrambled up on a boulder. The Monocerous stopped and suddenly the rock began to move instead. "Monocerous," half mumbled Tara121. More boulders moved. Monocerous were popping up everywhere. "We have to fight," yelled Tara120. Running, striking, running, striking, pain.

The cave thought Tough_Stuff_Plenty "Tara120!" he called frantically. "What?" she asked him. He whispered to her. He jumped on her back and they took flight. They dove at the Monocerous. He jumped on its back and bit it hard. It roared but before it could do anything he was back on Tara120 and they were up in the air. After doing this to most of them they flew down the beach and the Monocerous followed them straight into the cave. After that the dragon took care of them like sheep flying, fire breathing and goring.

After:

News-A-Roo: Thanks for telling us your story. Any advice on being safe in the wild and preventing this from happening again.

Dogz_rock: Before you let your NeoPets wander make sure they know the rules for being a safe adventurer and never let your pets out unless you're sure they can handle the responsibility. Plus you should always have a spot to go if you get separated.

Missy190: Make sure your NeoPet knows to never fight unless you have to. Just run away.