Orange: Part Three

by dragonmagic1313

Vanessa was a pretty poor Neopian. She had only a few hundred Neopoints and all of her pets had to share a room. Lila and Pink_Paw had once each had half the room, now all of the pets had a quarter of the room. Orange sat on his bed, clutching the gift Vanessa had given him, the thing he had wanted all his life, a book. He had never read in his life but ever since he saw an Aisha sitting in a chair in the pound reading 'All about Air Faeries', and saw how much fun she was having, he had wanted a book, any book. Vanessa had given him a tattered copy of Billy Blue Hat.

Pink_Paw was lounging on her bed, playing with a dusty blue yo-yo, Lila was taking a nap on her bed, being a very young Cybunny, who was only 1 week old, and Squeak was playing with a reject Poogle toy. She didn't care, the Poogle, uh, Pooka, as Squeak called it, was her best friend.

"Vanessa, you promised you would teach me how to read Buh-buh-billy buh-loo huh-huh aaaaat," struggled Orange. "Coming, Orange...and you can call me Mom if you want," said Vanessa.

"Okay, mom," Orange answered. "Orange is gonna READ?" cried Squeak. She forgot all about Pooka the Poogle toy and ran over to Orange's bed. Pink_Paw looked a bit interested. She put away her yo-yo and jumped onto Orange's bed next to him. Lila snored loudly.

Vanessa came in and sat down with Orange. "B-billy Buh-loo Huh-huh aaaat wuh-zzzz..." Orange read proudly. He read the book over and over and over, then jumped up and shouted, "I CAN READ!" And so he could.

"Put on your jacket, Orange, Lila, Pink_Paw, and Squeak!" called Vanessa.

"We're going to the park!"

"The park! The park! We're going to the park!" shouted Lila at the top of her lungs. Orange grinned and pulled on his jacket. He also brought his new book, Falling Leaves.

Vanessa had gotten it at the auction house with a bunch of other books with ripped pages and a tattered cover. Quickly, Orange also grabbed Techo Says: The Book, and darted down the stairs. Squeak was giggling with Lila and Pink_Paw was with Vanessa, chatting with her. It wasn't very often that Vanessa's pets got to leave the house, because of their rarity.

Vanessa sat on a park bench with Orange's books and Lila's Poogle toy, Pooka. Lila and Squeak played on the swings together while Pink_Paw and Orange slid down the sliding board. Vanessa smiled and watched them play.

With a snicker, a young rapscallion named Thomas Wilson and his two Skeiths, Bob and Bill, snuck up on the four pets. Tom wanted Neopoints, and with four oddly-colored NeoPets he could surely make a lot. Bob opened his wings and grabbed Orange in mid-slide. Suddenly, a green Gelert appeared out of nowhere and attacked Bob. He seemed a bit familiar to Orange.

"AGGGG!" Vanessa shouted, and ran to Orange. Squeak, Pink_Paw, and Lila ran after her.

It was Squeak who spotted Thomas and Bill. "HEY YOU BIG MEANIE! STOP TRYING TO STEAL MY BIG BROTHER!" shouted Squeak.

The silver Shoyru had never visited the Battledome before, but suddenly, a jet of flames burst out of Squeak's mouth. Bill howled in pain and ran away, with Thomas following him. Now, Bob was MUCH bigger and stronger than Bill and would take a LOT to get him away from Orange.

But, the green Gelert and Orange were taking care of Bob. They used their tails like whips and bit Bob. Now Pink_Paw was on top of Bob. She used Lupe Howl and Bob fell asleep. No one else did, though. Pink_Paw was experienced in fighting in the Battledome. Squeak joined in with her flames and Lila kicked Bob with her huge hind legs. They had defeated Bob!

"Thanks for helping us...do I know you? You look...familiar!" Orange told the green Gelert.

"You're my brother, Orange. I'm Fang," the green Gelert said.

"Woah!" cried Orange and everyone else.

"Do you know where my mother is?" asked Orange.

"Yes," replied Fang, "She escaped our master, as I did, and we're the West Gelert Pack."

"Can you show me where that is?" asked Orange.

"Not unless you'd join our pack...we can't afford to have our location known," said Fang.

"But...but...I have a family!" shouted Orange.

"Well, if I knew where you lived, then I could ask Mom to come to you..." answered Fang.

"We live on 1313 Magic-Dragon Avenue," Vanessa told Fang.

"Okay, I'll tell her!" And Fang raced away.

"Well, I guess the best thing to do is to go home," said Pink_Paw.

"Okay," agreed everyone else. So they all went home and went to sleep.

All except for Orange. He lay awake in bed and wondered.

The next day Orange woke up to a smiling green Gelert's face. "Mom?" he murmered.

"Yes, it's me, Orange," whispered his mother.

Orange leaped up and hugged her. His mother smiled and hugged him back.

"I'm sorry for what happened back at the pound," Orange apologized.

"It's okay," said Orange's mom. "I forgive you."

Orange smiled at his mother. He knew he had the best friends any Gelert could have.

"Mom?" called Orange into the kitchen.

"Yes?"

"What?"

Orange sighed. Vanessa and his real mother, Treeleef, had both replied to him. "I meant Treeleef," said Orange.

"Oh," answered Treeleef, trotting up to her son. "As much as you like it here, you're going to have to come home," Treeleef said before Orange had the chance to speak.

"NO!" shouted Orange at the top of his lungs. "You just can't take me away from my family like that! It's unfair!" A few tears slithered down his face.

Lila ran into the room. "Orange is going bye bye?" she asked, and burst out in tears.

Next, Vanessa ran into the room. "What's wrong, Lila?" she wondered.

"ORANGE GO BYE BYE!" she screamed.

"Is this true?" asked Pink_Paw, stepping in.

"Orange? I thought you were my best friend!" cried Squeak. "Why are you leaving?"

"I'm NOT leaving!" cried Orange. "SHE is making me!" He shot an accusing look at Treeleef.

"Well, I'm his mother so," stuttered Treeleef.

"No. Vanessa is my mother," said Orange. "You were, but you left. You never even tried to find me. I hadn't seen you in my life till the day -"

Orange cut himself off. He didn't feel much like telling the world about that day.

"So, you're staying here?" asked Pink_Paw.

"Yes," replied Orange. And he did.

The End

Epilogue: Orange lived happily ever after with his new family. He loves Squeak, Vanessa, Lila, and Pink_Paw to death. His mother, brothers, and sisters still visit him often.