He confidently approached the secretary's desk, reached up as far as he could, and laid his application on the high counter. Then he jumped, pulling himself up to his chin. The secretary gave him an odd look.

"Uh, can I help you?" asked the confused looking Uni.

"Yes. My name is Sebastian. I'm your new superhero!" he said, holding up a scrap of paper from the Neopian Times that read: Heroes wanted! Protect Neopia from evil! Submit your application to the Defenders of Neopia. "Can my superhero name be 'SUPER SHOYRU?'" Sebastian said, trying to pronounce the last part in a deeper voice.

"Well, um, we ARE accepting applications, but, erm, what we're looking for... is... how do I put this? Neopians of superior stature and maturity? I'm afraid you are just too young and small to be a Defender."

"WHAT?!? Okay, I may be a little on the small side, and I may be young, but I've got it where it counts!" yelled the Shoyru, his hands nearly slipping off the counter. "At least let them interview me! Give me a chance!"

The Uni sighed. "Oh alright," she pressed a button on an intercom, and said, "Judge Hog, we have an applicant for the new Defender position." Sebastian smiled and dropped back to the floor.

"Excellent!" said Judge Hog, emerging from the office. He looked past the counter, then gazed questioningly at the secretary. "Uh, where are they?"

"I'm right here!" said Sebastian, stepping up from behind the counter. "I'm ready for my interview!" he chimed, a huge smile on his face.

Judge Hog gave a startled look that continued as the small Shoyru walked into his office.

The Moehog followed him in and had him sit in a chair. Around him sat Zeirn the Electric Kougra, who had the ability to harness the power of storms, The Marvelous Stretchy, a Chia who could stretch himself like rubber, and Judge Hog's second in command, a Buzz named Sergeant Brexis.

Judge Hog sat down among them, and shuffled the Shoyru's application. "Well, um, Sebastian, we would just like to ask a few questions first, to see if you are Defender material. First of all..."

"Oh, I have a power FAR more stupendous than any of these guys!" he replied, dismissing the ruffled Defenders with a wave of his emerald green hand. Judge Hog massaged his chin thoughtfully.

"And?" he prompted. The Shoyru grinned, reaching a hand into a small, scruffy, bag that hung at his side. Judge Hog watched with interest as Sebastian began to draw out some sort of object. As it drew nearer and nearer to the bag's opening, Judge Hog saw that the object was not the amazing weapon of ultimate power that he had been expecting, but rather a ragged, scraggly old Fuzzle. Sebastian held the Fuzzle above his head and beamed with pride.

"You see my friends," he began, turning back to the other superheroes. "While you have mastered the petty arts of strength, or harnessed the power of the elements, I have a truly original and unpredictable weapon. For you see, I have the amazing, incredible power... of the Fuzzle!" Sebastian declared. Judge Hog raised a brow, pondering whether or not to press the security button on the underside of his desk.

"So... what exactly does this power do?" the Moehog inquired. Sebastian patted the Fuzzle lovingly.

"I can communicate with Fuzzles, sir," the Shoyru replied. Suddenly, he seemed to hear something, and carefully lowered his ear to the Fuzzle's stitched on mouth. A grin spread across Sebastian's face.

"Ah, you see? Mr. Fuzzy here is telling me that you should hire the nice, powerful Shoyru!" Sebastian proclaimed, smiling winningly at Judge Hog. The Moehog rolled his eyes and scribbled a large, "rejected" over Sebastian's application.

"Sorry Mr. Shoyru, but we're looking for heroes here, not weird, delusional pets." he stated. Sebastian's leathery wings dropped in sadness. He was just turning to leave the building, when suddenly a large crash was heard, and a ferocious Poogle leapt in through the window, shattering the glass and sending shards flying all about the room. Sebastian's heart fluttered as he turned down to his Fuzzle. The Shoyru grinned. Now was his big chance, to show what he could do and prove himself as a superhero.

Sebastian whirled around and snarled at the Poogle, holding the Fuzzle up to his ear and roaring,

"Fuzzy! Aaaaaattaaaaaack!"

Hog gasped in wonderment at what happened next...

...The Fuzzle's eyes opened wide, then narrowed as it glared at the creature. Sebastian threw him at the Poogle, who looked quizzically at him for a moment before smiling, then carrying on snarling.

"Fuzzy, power kick!" Sebastian commanded. Instantly the Fuzzle leapt up and karate kicked the bewildered Poogle. The Poogle shook his head from the pain, but decided a kick in the nose wasn't enough to stop him.

"I'll take over-" Zeirn began, but the Fuzzle was taking numerous commands from the Shoyru, and promptly carrying them out. The Poogle, at first surprised, was now trying to swallow the powerful toy.

Just then, they heard the sound of drums approaching. "What?" Judge Hog headed for the broken window, only to see hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny feet speeding towards them, making a sound similar the pounding of drums. Fuzzles. Judge Hog felt a chill down his back. How strange, he thought; he'd never experienced anything like this before. He had seen a hero turn water into fire, a simple Neopian rot the crops of enemies from Mystery Island, but this was scary. Toys, toys??? "Stop this! We can do it the normal way! Sergeant Brexis...?"

But they were all captivated, watching the Fuzzles' great defending! The toys themselves poured in, and soon the large ferocious Poogle was covered in a mass of coloured fur.

When everything had calmed down and the beast lay unconcious on the floor, Judge Hog turned to Sebastian, mouthing quietly. "I, I..."

"So..." questioned Sebastian, "am I in?"

Judge Hog turned to look at the other Defenders, who were all still staring at the mass of Fuzzles on top of the villain. They all noticed, and nodded hard, mouths still hanging open.

"I can't believe Fuzzles could be so powerful!" said Zeirn in disbelief.

The next day Sebastian was deemed an honorary member of the Defenders of Neopia. The other superheroes had recovered from their shock, but were still startled to see Sebastian talking to his Fuzzle "Fuzzy".

Suddenly, the secretary burst in the door.

"Judge Hog, there is a new case! Some Chia Police were kidnapped in action, and were taken to the Haunted Woods! No one saw the face of the kidnapper, but from the look of the tail, they think it was a Wocky. That's all the information."

"Wow Fuzzy," said Sebastian excitedly, "our first case!"...

...Sebastian's heart beat a thousand times a second as he and Fuzzy made their way to the Haunted Woods. Sebastian had only ever been to the Haunted Woods once, and that was for a dare. Now he had to go back again to solve a case.

Just a few minutes away from entering the Haunted Woods, he could hear voices behind him. As he turned around, he could see an electric Kougra and a Chia running up to him.

"Hey, wait there pal!" cried Zeirn. "Wait!"

The two superheroes finally caught up with him, and Sebastian was surprised to see that neither of them were out of breath.

"Judge Hog has sent us here to aid you," spoke Zeirn. "We've received some new information on the Wocky-like creature. Apparently the creature is not of normal size. It's about three times the size of a regular Wocky, and should be considered very dangerous. It also seems that the Chia Police were hypnotised into following him to his lair, where by now, anything could be happening to those officers who were captured."

"Thank you for this information, Zeirn," said Sebastian in a rather formal tone. "It seems that I might be needing your help, after all."

Quietly, the three Neopets made their way into the Haunted Woods. Sebastian shivered as he entered, since the temperature had dropped so dramatically. The sun was no longer shining, as the trees were too thick to let any light through. The wind seemed to howl, and he felt imaginary eyes staring at them from all directions.

Sebastian clutched Fuzzy tightly in his arms and whispered, "Do your best Fuzzy, I'm counting on you."

Suddenly Sebastian jumped, as did Zeirn and Stretchy. Something big and black had just been seen in the distance. As their eyes focused onto it, they realised that it was edging closer and closer towards them.

"I see we have found some new prisoners," it hissed. "Come to save the Chia Police, have we? I'm afraid you're too late!"

"W-What have you done to them?" asked Sebastian, terror ringing through his voice.

The creature lowered his hood. It was a horrible sight. Evil, red eyes illuminated his whole face, which was wrinkly and green. Yellowed fangs jutted out from his jaws, and his whole face twitched twitched uncontrollably as if something was crawling beneath his skin.

He didn't answer Sebastian's question. Instead, red rays issued from the creatures eyes, hitting Zeirn, and then Stretchy. Then he aimed at Sebastian. Quickly, the Shoyru raised his Fuzzle just as the ray was about to hit him. The ray bounced off Fuzzy's plastic eyes and hit the creature instead, who fell to the floor screaming.

However, as Sebastian looked at Zeirn and Stretchy, terror swept through his body. They had been hypnotised. Both were swaying, and their eyes were a deep red.

"G-Go to my-my lair," the Wocky stammered. "GO!"

Both Zeirn and Stretchy obeyed his orders, and quickly moved onwards into the darkness. Sebastian had to follow them whilst the creature was down, otherwise it could be too late...

The young Shoyru cautiously eyed the Wocky, who was struggling to his feet painfully. Sebastian took a deep breath, clutching Fuzzy tightly against his chest, then immersed himself in the shadows.

At first he walked quickly after the fast moving Defenders, but his steps soon grew into a jog, then an all-out run. Sebastian soon lost sight of the other Defenders in the thick brush, and he no longer had any idea of where he was going. He just kept running, running...

Before he knew it, Sebastian was flat on the ground, as he tripped over a jagged tree root. Fuzzy flew out of his arms and out of sight.

He panicked. His hands trembled as Sebastian frantically felt the forest floor in search of his toy, but instead pricked his fingers with keen thorns.

"Fuzzy, Fuzzy!" he whispered hoarsely, crawling on all fours.

Leaves crunched behind him. Sebastian froze. He slowly turned around, only to come face to face with glowing red eyes...

...eyes so red, so deep with malice and crimson coloring. Sebastian's stomach, which had felt heavy with worry for his Fuzzle a second ago, was now totally and completely empty. He felt his peripheral vision dissipate into a sea of ruby... slowly, but steadily; the world was collapsing inward, into the ocean of those scarlet eyes. He was drowning in a lake of red. Being shoved under the surface of those pupils. He struggled to keep his breath, and in an instant there was no air. Just emptiness... and a lagoon of deep red.

A voice called to him. It seemed to echo forever in his ears, but then it was bouncing off the walls of a faraway place. "Go to my lair," instructed the cool, firm voice of the Wocky. "Go to my lair..." The young Shoyru felt his legs begin to move, as the hypnotic voice and those eyes controlled him. He was beckoned toward a clearing in the forest, whose distance from where he had been, he did not know. Time passed, but the Shoyru could neither count or remember.

Sebastian suddenly felt electricity run from his green head to his feet. A red flash and crimson fireworks registered in his eyes, and then he was back--back in control, free from the hypnosis, and alive! He dragged his heavy head to the left, and then his right. He was in a damp dungeon, chained to the wall. His first worried thoughts were of his best friend, Fuzzy, who was nowhere to be seen.

Sebastian's mind grew clearer, and he saw his teammates, Zeirn the Electric Kougra and The Marvelous Stretchy, chained beside him. They were tethered to the grey stonework, with three chains apiece. Each also had a gag in their mouths. With a shock, Sebastian realized that he was merely chained to the wall. Anger built up inside of him. Was he less of a threat? Just a measly Shoyru?

I'll show them, the Shoryu thought to himself. Even without Fuzzy, I'm still a Defender! Sebastian quickly hatched a plan...

So many questions, so little time... Sebastian tried to think, but what was he supposed to do? He looked at his chains, and figured that in order to do anything, he would have to free himself first...

The green Shoyru sighed and pulled his arms down. What should he do? That's when, suddenly, Zeirn made a strange sound: "Mmfff!" Sebastian blinked and turned his attention to the Kougra. "It must be really hard to talk and be understood with that gag in your mouth," Sebastian said. He walked over to Zeirn and removed the gag, so he could hear what the Kougra had to say.

"Splendid, young fellow!" Zeirn the electric Kougra said. Sebastian blinked, wondering what Zeirn meant. Then he realized that his arms were free! He looked back at the wall and saw that, to his surprise, the chains had been designed for adult pets! Sebastian slowly smiled happily.

With improved courage, he then took a look at Zeirn's chains and tried to free him. He pulled and pushed the chains and locks, but the chains were really strong, so he wasn't doing very well. "Hurry up! The guards could come back any time soon!" Zeirn said, irritated. Sebastian continued to struggle with the Kougra's chains, but when Zeirn told him to hurry up the third time, Sebastian got irritated and put the gag back in the angry Kougra's mouth.

Afterwards, he turned away from the chains, and wondered what he should do now. He walked around in circles a while. Suddenly, he hit his left foot on something and landed on his belly. He looked back, in order to see what it was that he'd tripped over, and saw... a rock.

His first impulse was to kick it away, so he raised his left foot for the kick, but suddenly he thought of a better use for the stone...

...picking it up, he darted over to Zeirn, and raised the stone up high. The Kougra gave a muffled shriek, thinking that Sebastian was going to hit him, when the Shoyru began banging on Zeirn's chains with great force. Sparks flew, and Zeirn winced in fear, wondering if Sebastian would hit his paws, but the Shoyru hit exactly the same spot every time. Both of them saw that the chains were beginning to break! At last, with a loud snap, the chains fell apart. Zeirn was free!

Suddenly, the dungeon doors flung open. Sebastian and Zeirn picked up their chains, and held them against the wall, pretending to still be chained up and drowsy. They glanced up, and felt like gasping when they saw who had entered. It was two Chia Policemen-- but their uniforms were torn and ragged, and their faces were cold and hard. Each of their mouths were curled in evil grins, with eyes gleaming menacingly. They had been hypnotized by the evil Wocky.

To Sebastian's horror, he saw that, clutched in one of the Chia Policeman's hands, was a fluffy orange object- Fuzzy! He tried whispering to his beloved toy, but the Fuzzle could not hear him, and wouldn't move.

The Chia Police started to check the prisoners in the dungeon. Zeirn and Sebastian were last in the row, behind more Chia Policemen. All of the Chias were tied to the wall and unconscious. Next to Zeirn and Sebastian was Stretchy. He was also out cold and chained to the wall. Soon, the two hypnotized members of the Chia Police reached the three Defenders of Neopia. Sebastian and Zeirn lolled in their chains, pretending to be unconscious like everyone else. But the Chias were checking Stretchy, and nodding in approval. At once they unchained him and, taking Stretchy in their arms, marched out of the dungeon.

Zeirn and Sebastian looked at each other. "We need to get Fuzzy!" the green Shoyru cried.

"Stop thinking about your little toy!" Zeirn snapped, "We need to save Stretchy!"

Sebastian nodded. "Come on!" he said, and they ran out of the dungeon. As soon as they passed through the door, they found themselves in a long, dark tunnel. It was lit with candles, each squashed into holders on the wall, with wax overflowing their sides.

Suddenly, they heard loud noises coming from the right side of the tunnel. They darted through the shadows, coming to an old wooden door. Guessing that this was where Stretchy had been taken, they quietly twisted the handle and went through. Once they'd gotten inside, Zeirn and Sebastian let out smalls gasps of horror.

They were on a balcony, in a huge chamber. To the side of the balcony was a set of stairs that lead down to the ground. On the ground, hundreds and hundreds of Chia Police were training in hand-to-hand combat. An arsenal of mighty weapons lined the walls, including the fearsome Chia Skunk Tail--a weapon of terrible power.

Standing on a large platform was the evil Wocky. His mutated face glowed with menace, and his twitching skin was covered in scars and warts. A gleeful smile was upon his purple lips as his red eyes scanned the Chias. Then Sebastian gasped when he saw that in the Wocky's hand a staff was clutched. It was a long, gnarled stick, and on top of it was a red, glowing crystal. If the Chia Police seemed to gather their senses for even a moment, the Wocky shot his red gaze through the crystal, refracting the light among the Chias and enslaving them once more.

He quickly explained this to Zeirn. they both saw that, through the toiling crowd, were the two Chia Police. They were taking the waking Stretchy up to the Wocky. The two Chias left him before the platform, and to the Shoyru and Kougra's horror, the Wocky then rose his staff in front of his eyes. Zeirn suddenly couldn't bear to see his friend like this. Before Sebastian could stop him, the Kougra yelled, "NO! LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

The Wocky looked up. His face became furious, and he snarled angrily when he saw the two Neopets. He yelled out in a different language and waved his staff at the Chias. At once everything was dropped, including Fuzzy. The Chia Police all marched robotically out of a different door, which was slammed shut, leaving Zeirn, Stretchy, Sebastian, Fuzzy, and the Wocky in an awkward silence.

Then the evil beast rose his staff again. Zeirn and Sebastian tore down the stairs, and ran across the ground. Sebastian rushed over to his Fuzzle and snatched him up.

"Two of my prisoners have escaped?" the Wocky spat, "You fools! You do not know what I am planning!"

"Why are you kidnapping the Chia Police?" Zeirn demanded.

"Don't you see? I am taking away the Chia Police and hypnotizing them... then turning them into my army!" the Wocky shrieked with glee, "I took away your Stretchy friend to question him about your precious Defenders, and all your secrets. I will enslave the Defenders of Neopia, then the Faeries, and then all of the Neopets! Once I have them all under control, I WILL RULE NEOPIA!"

Sebastian and Zeirn gasped. "NO!" Sebastian yelled. He wouldn't let Neopia be taken over. "Fuzzy! ATTAAAAAAAAACK!" The Fuzzle leapt forward and kicked the Wocky in the face. Roaring with rage and pain, the beast flung the toy away. Sebastian picked him up.

"You talked to that Fuzzle!" the Wocky snarled, "That little toy must be powerful... I want it!" He suddenly waved the staff at Zeirn. The Kougra went rigid, and his eyes... started to glow blood red. He had been hypnotized. He bared his razor fangs. His needle sharp claws flexed eagerly as he began to prowl forward.

"Bring the Fuzzle to me," he commanded, "And as for the Shoyru... destroy him!"

"Zeirn!" Sebastian cried, "Stop! It's me! I'm your friend!"

But the Kougra shrieked and snarled like a wild beast, then charged towards the terrified Shoyru.

Sebastian stood there, watching as the brainwashed Kougra bounded towards him. He had Fuzzy to protect him and wanted to use him, but even though Zeirn was under the influence of evil, he was still Sebastian's friend. The Shoyru felt numb with fear, and wondered what on earth he should do...

The Wocky snarled and held the staff to his eyes, pointing it at Sebastian. "Then I'll just have to make you give it to me, little Shoyru!" Sebastian gasped as the red beam shot through the ruby red jewel upon the staff. He desperately tried to shield his eyes, but knew this was the end. He would never have that freedom again. Never the free will to walk and talk on his own again. He had failed Neopia, the Defenders, and Fuzzy. That's when a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Fuzzy! The beam couldn't harm the Fuzzle! "FUZZY!" Sebastian shouted, raising the Fuzzle that was in the arm not shielding his eyes. He launched the Fuzzle towards the evil Wocky. Time seemed to slow down, as the Fuzzle flew towards the Wocky, and the mind-enslaving beam became closer and closer...

Suddenly, it seemed like time had returned to normal, and the Fuzzle knocked the staff from the Wocky, where it fell and shattered on the floor. As soon as the jewel was destroyed, a ruby light broke out of it and enveloped them all, then quickly disappeared, leaving the Chia Police, Stretchy, and Zeirn shaking their heads in bewilderment.

The Wocky sat up, spitting. "My staff! You broke my staff, you insolent fool! You--" The red beam began generating in his eyes, but Sebastian, in the commotion, had leapt behind the Wocky and easily blind-folded him with it's own hood, pushing it over the Wocky's eyes and tying it in back. The Chia Police dropped Stretchy, and went to work at chaining the Wocky.

"Thank you, Defenders. We couldn't have done it without you," one said, the other apologizing to Stretchy.

Sebastian smiled. "Thanks, Officer. It's my job!" He then squeezed Fuzzy. "And it was all thanks to you, Fuzzy! Let's go home now." The four left the site, Zeirn holding his head as they left for Neopia Central.

A week later...

Sirens rang in the Defenders of Neopia headquarters. Super Shoyru had become an established superhero in Neopia, and was now working on cases with Judge Hog himself. Judge Hog signaled Super Shoyru to his office. Together they examined a map. "According to this, a thief has taken some valuable artifacts from Kauvara's Magic Shop. We have to hurry," Judge Hog said.

Super Shoyru nodded. "Okay, Judge Hog, sir! Come on Fuzzy, we have a new case!" The Shoyru grabbed his Fuzzle up, and together they all flew out of the building.

The small green Shoyru awoke in bed, clutching his orange Fuzzle. It was early in the morning, and his mother was calling him. Was it just a dream? He walked downstairs, where his mother, a pretty Shoyru, was holding the phone. "It's Judge Hog. He needs you right away at HQ." The young Shoyru smiled.

"Okay, Mum! I'll be home as soon as possible!" He grabbed his Fuzzle and rushed out the door, flying away. As he flew towards the Defenders of Neopia building, he shouted, "SUPER SHOYRU AND THE AMAZING FUZZY! UP, UP, AND AWAY!"

The End