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     ''Oh gosh - I LOVE her!!!'' one Neopian had said, being trailed by a plain blue Gelert. Mimi raised her eyebrows slightly as the Gelert smiled warmly towards her, and turned her face away. She looked towards the owner of the Gelert, seeing she had only been in Neopia for 7 months - she turned her back on the pair. Her current owner, who had been in Neopia for 105 months, looked towards the younger Neopian, wrinkled her nose and then continued speaking to the keen group which surrounded her.

     Mimi never associated with ''newbie'' Neopians, basic neopets or Neopians who couldn't seem to string a sentence together properly. She spent her time surrounded by those who adored her, wanted to draw her portrait and pampered her. Yet, those who seemed to adore her so dearly, eventually gave her to the next Neopian - Mimi only ever stayed a few months. When she had just decorated her bedroom to her liking, she packed up and moved on. Mimi didn't mind, of course; moving on meant more artwork, more roleplay plots, and more affection.

     ''I'm willing to trade a well named Desert Draik for her.'' A voice spoke up above the excited crowd which surrounded Mimi and her owner. Mimi looked towards the Neopian who offered a Draik, her eyes were greedy and her month count was high. Mimi smiled nervously, and Snowflake give a small squeak. Her current owner smiled, and began asking the Neopian several questions, as the crowd began to dissolve. Soon, only the three remained, with Snowflake hopping around them. Mimi quickly become bored of the talk of VWN and Aged Petpets, and began to prance after Snowflake.

     ''Okay, I'll transfer her now!'' she heard her owner say, and Mimi quickly scooped up Snowflake and bounced towards her owner. As the small group walked towards the Neopian Pound, Mimi snuck looks at her soon-to-be owner. She looked at her differently from most Neopians did. Mimi didn't like this. The soon-to-be owner also kept looking at Snowflake, who was squeaking happily in Mimi's arms. For some reason, Mimi felt suddenly unsure about this trade - this didn't feel right. She looked to her owner in hopes that perhaps they were feeling the same, but she was chatting excitedly to the Neopian and the Desert Draik.

     Finally, they arrived at the Pound. Mimi smiled at the Robot Hissi, who recognised her easily. A cold chill swept over Mimi and Snowflake; this place never felt very welcoming but this time it seemed to be frightening. Mimi watched her owner and the soon-to-be owner hand small sacks of neopoints to the Robot Hissi, and the transfer began. That familiar tingling sensation took over Mimi, before she faded from her owner's side and reappeared next to the Neopian. Her new owner. Mimi looked over to see her past-owner squealing in excitement over the Desert Draik, before rushing out of the pound with promises of a petpet and artwork.

     Snowflake squealed loudly in Mimi's arms, abruptly bringing her back to reality. She realised she had been squeezing Snowflake too hard, and automatically placed her down on the ground where Snowflake bounced around her feet. Her new owner smiled at Mimi and Snowflake, but the smile seemed far from kind. The new owner hastily pulled Mimi out of the pound and to their new neohome, which was located in Faerieland. It was greatly decorated and seemed expensive, but Mimi still didn't feel comfortable.

     ''Finally! I can get the Snowbunny Avatar! I've been after it for AGES!'' her new owner exclaimed, and hastily picked up Snowflake. Mimi watched. This wasn't uncommon, but she didn't like seeing Snowflake being so roughly picked up. A glittering avatar appeared next to the Neopian, and she quickly dropped Snowflake who landed with a thud. Mimi quickly scooped Snowflake up, and watched the Neopian smile at the avatar.

     ''Ah, now I can sell the Snowbunny, and probably trade you off for a Royal Lupe,'' the Neopian said to Mimi, and that's when it struck Mimi that this owner had not been interested in Mimi from the start. This Neopian had only been interested in an avatar, and trading Mimi off for something better. Mimi whimpered, and hugged Snowflake close.

     ''You can't sell Snowflake! She's my friend!'' Mimi cried to the Neopian, who shook their head. Snowflake squeaked in agreement with Mimi, and Mimi hugged her again.

     ''I'm the owner - I can do as I want!'' her ''owner'' stated, before taking hold of Snowflake, and attempting to pull her out of Mimi's grip. But Mimi held on tight, crying and begging for the Neopian to let her keep her best friend. Mimi had never been without her, whenever she had gone to a new home - Snowflake at been with her the entire time. Finally, the Neopian gave up and looked angry.

     ''Fine! Keep the Snowbunny! But I'm trading you off NOW!'' they snapped, before storming out of the neohome. Mimi was suddenly very confused - they had used their monthly transfer; how on earth could they transfer again? Placing Snowflake on the ground, Mimi looked out the window to see the Neopian making an announcement about a Plushie Cybunny UFT. She frowned, before sitting on the ground and petting Snowflake.

     ''Don't worry, Snowflake, I would never let anybody split us up,'' she whispered reassuringly.

     Perhaps an hour later, their owner returned with the new soon-to-be-owner. They walked in silence to the Pound, but Mimi was worried. How could they transfer? She walked behind her owner, Snowflake in her arms. Instead of walking towards the Transfer entrance, they made their way to the door marked ''Abandon''. Mimi gasped slightly. They were... pound transferring? She knew the risks - her past owners had always outright refused. But she remained silent; perhaps it would be better in a cage than with this cruel owner.

     Dr. Death greeted them curtly, his eyes remaining on Mimi. She heard him mutter under his breath that a Cybunny, never mind a Plushie one, wouldn't last a minute in the pound. Mimi shuddered, and followed her owner through the door into a dim room. Without even looking at Mimi, he quickly filled in a form, and left the room.

     Dr. Death led Mimi through to another room. It was cramped and dirty, filled with crying and ill neopets. She held Snowflake close, her eyes wide with fear. She looked for the Neopian who was supposed to adopt her, but couldn't see them in the crowd.

     ''Oh, aren't you adorable!'' she heard a kind voice exclaim behind her, and she turned to see a girl smiling at her. She crouched down, and ran her hand over Mimi's head. She looked at Dr. Death, and nodded.

     ''I'd love to take her,'' she said, and Mimi's stay in the pound was already over. As her new owner led her and Snowflake out of the dirty room, only to be cut off by the supposed-to-be-new owner.

     ''HEY!! That's MINE!'' they stated rudely, pointing roughly at Mimi. Dr. Death growled at the Neopian, who sulked and crossed their arms. Mimi quickly followed her new owner out of the pound. She stood nervously in the street looking up at her new owner, who smiled gently at her, before crouching down again and hugging Mimi close. Mimi had never been hugged before, and Snowflake squeaked happily in the embrace.

     ''Don't worry - you're never going back to the awful place again. Your home is with me now,'' she whispered in Mimi's ear. Mimi smiled into her new owner's shoulder, and closed her eyes. Home.

The End