Zelyo was thrilled with his new home. He got along great with his new family, especially his sister Pandasuki, although he wont admit that he actually likes her because he doesn't want her to know (even though she does but plays equally pretend as he will). Things went well for a while, as ordinary of life as any Lupe could ask for, but Zelyo was too rambunctious for his own good. Going out on explorations around the country side and having innocent fun with his brothers and sisters was a regular activity for Zelyo.

One day Zelyo was out exploring as usual lost in his imagination when he ventured off much further then he has before. Fascinated by his new surroundings he didn't realize he had wandered off the small sandy path. All of a sudden he came across this old rickety wooden hut resembling a mine shaft. Having a pang of hesitation, but choosing to ignore his gut feeling Zelyo went in to look around. It was extraordinary!! All sorts of gadgets and do dads, winky bops and curly springs, wires and buttons, tons of electrical things! They seemed to all be connected to create some sort of ray gun...

Deciding it has to be long since abandoned (for who ever could know this was way out here buried among this hut run down to nearly rubble?) Zelyo decided to look upon it further. Suddenly a croaky voice behind him shouted "Get away from my secret laboratory ray, you fool!" Completely startled Zelyo stumbled back and pressed a small green button. "Noooo!!" the voice shouted, "It's not finished, not perfected! What have you done?!" Stepping into the light of the yellow ray came forth a small lunatic wearing a white robe. Zelyo was no longer startled, but scared. The scientist came at him wildly waving his arms and shouting something Zelyo couldn't make out. Deciding the scientist was after him Zelyo decided to make a run for it. Unfortunately Zelyo was very much mistaken. The scientist was merely after the button to shut down his magnificent invention, but it was too late. Jumping out of the way Zelyo landed right into the ray from the machine!! ZZZAAAAPPPPPPP!!!

It was a terrible feeling like a swooping in his stomach and a tingling right down to his spine. Then it became down right painful. His body started morphing and mutating and suddenly he was no longer an ordinary green Lupe. He had changed into a purple Lupe! Quite a lot of going about for just a simple fur color he thought to himself, but he also felt very different. Stronger, Faster, Tougher! This was great!
So, you have now experienced my Lab Ray little neopet." Said the scientist with a forlorn look upon his face. "You may think it's all great and swell, but it has not been completed. None of my test subjects have not made it without constant visits for treatment. You will have to visit here every day to be zapped or the mutation will take over your body and you will become unrecognizable in both body and mind." he said.

Zelyo looked at him in horror. Every day?! Here?! What will his family think? Zelyo headed home with a heavy heart planning his life tied to the ray until a cure was found. He got to the front door and reached for the handle. But he couldn't turn it. Nobody could accept him morphing every other day and coming home with strange new powers and abilities, they would think he was some kind of freak. They would abandon him just as his first family did. Well he wasn't going to wait to get dropped off at the pound again, he was going to make a life for himself on his own, and he wasn't visiting that awful ray again no matter what!

Stomping off he angrily headed towards the docks of Shenkuu where he saw a ship getting loaded with cargo. Working out of anger and frustration vs rational thought he decided pirating would be the perfect new life. The freedom from judgmental eyes, and the perfect cover with his new transforming abilities. He went down and shoved the small Shoyru handling crates out of the way where he fell into the misty water and hopped aboard the ship.

Before the Shoyru could stop sputtering for air and stop him Zelyo was already sailing away. This was just the way he wanted it. With a stab of regret for his family he turned and looked at the fading sun sparkle over Shenkuu shrinking in the distance. His freedom was short lived however when the next afternoon his body started aching terribly, worse then when he had stepped into the beam of the ray. It was agony... it felt like his ribs were breaking. He had to get back to that ray, he didn't care of the consequences of stealing the ship as it couldn't be worse then what he was going through now.

Sailing back the way he came, he noticed a little hidden cove that he hadn't ever seen before. It didn't seem big enough for his ship, so he climbed aboard a lifeboat and rowed ashore. This was a great place to dock and find that kooky little man again. Rowing forward he nearly tumbled over the edge of the ship when a particular gut wrenching pain took him over. He had to make it, there was no way he could transform into something awful and lose himself forever. Finally making it to the cove he dropped anchor and headed ashore. It didn't take him long to recognize where he was, and it happened to be very close to the hut! What luck!

Gasping in pain and forcing himself forward Zelyo managed to stumble into the hut where the scientist was waiting for him. "Ah, I knew zee little neopet would be back" he said with a sad chuckle. "Well, stand here then" he told Zelyo directing him to the very spot his nightmare began. Zelyo did as he was told and the crazed man went towards the ray. "Get ready" he proclaimed with a mad cackle and hit the button. ZZZZZAAAAPPPPP!!! The ray blasted him with the same yellow light and Zelyo felt his body on fire once more. It wasn't long before the pain subsided and he was left with the same feeling of power and confidence he had before.

Returning to his ship Zelyo wondered when, or IF there would ever be a cure to end his torture so he could return home to his family. With every passing day he began to forget his old life and plunder the seas near Shenkuu and as far out to sea that might be possible to return the next day. Eventually he had found a small handful of companions whom he trusted enough to let join his crew. Although he never shared with them where he went when he took a small life boat to the shores each day demanding they stay upon the ship. They all had gotten used to his shape shifting and mood swings, but to this day have no idea about Zelyo and his dependence on the ray. It would be unwise to tell them... they are pirates after all.