"I've done it!" the Korbat declared to the world at large. "And to think, they called me mad! I'll show them! I'll show them all!"

The Korbat paused, scratching his head through his erratic locks of grey hair. "But wait... this isn't enough! I need more, more power! Igor!"

A shadow detached itself from the wall of the castle's laboratory and moved into the light, revealing the hunched frame of a Halloween Wocky.

"Mathter," the Wocky responded with a heavy lisp.

"I need more power, Igor!" the Korbat demanded.

"The lightning conductor ith already working at full power, Mathter," Igor answered. "Another thrike thould do it."

Through the laboratory's sole window, another flash of lightning lit up the sky, causing several scientific instruments inside the room to whirr and buzz. Electricity coursed between poles, and on the table the Korbat was standing over, the Experiment began to twitch.

Sparks filled the room as the equipment overloaded, and the lights blew, plunging both scientist and assistant into darkness.

"Igor!" the Korbat commanded. "The backup generators!"

"Yeth, Mathter," the Wocky's reply came.

A moment later the lights flickered back to life, and the Korbat gasped. On the table, the creature was sat bolt upright.

"Wath it a thuctheth, Mathter?" Igor asked, trembling slightly and returning to the shadows.

On the table, the creature opened its mouth experimentally and replied...

The Wocky took an involuntary step backward, jamming himself against the cold stone wall of the laboratory, and with the larger of his two jaundiced eyes growing yet larger with surprise, he asked, "Well, Mathter, wath it a thuctheth?"

The Korbat raked both hands through the shock of grey hair upon his head, the hair that perennially stood up like a dandelion gone to seed from his constant, unconscious attentions, and answered slowly, "I can't be sure, Igor. I can't be..."

The Korbat was cut off as the Experiment responded to the sound of his voice, turning its head until its golden braids whirred through the air, cracking like whips in their speed, and again it intoned, "Meep!"

Igor slowly advanced from the shadows, and in a voice both husky and phlegmy, asked, "But, Mathter, wath it really thmart to put a Meepit'th brain in an Uthuki doll? What will it do with conthiouthneth?"

"There's no way to be certain," the Korbat replied, his eyes darting with fascination over the sentient form.

"But why, Mathter? Why Meepitth? Why Uthukith?" The Wocky gestured with one warty arm and asked, "And Mathter... why tho many?"

The Korbat's eyes followed Igor's bent finger to where it indicated the row of lifeless Usuki dolls that stood in a row as still and as straight as fence pickets, the finger that then stopped to point at a cage of angry Meepits who snarled and "Meep"ed nastily when they noticed his attention.

"Why so many questions all of a sudden, Igor? Don't you see what we've done here? I think this has been a success. We've created life!" As he stressed the final word, the Korbat nearly yanked out the handfuls of hair that his excited fingers grasped in their fervour. "Life!" The Korbat repeated and let loose a gleeful cackle that echoed throughout the large chamber.

Lightning flashed once more outside the castle, illuminating the scene in a wash of daylike brightness. As the thunder cracked and boomed once more, the room plunged into darkness yet again; a darkness made more absolute by its comparison to the recent lightning flash.

"Igor! Lights! We must have lights!"

"Mathter, it'th the generator. It mutht be broken."

"Then torches, candles... anything, Igor. This moment is too important."

The Korbat blindly groped through the air to his workbench and retrieved the candle from its usual place. Once alit, he raised the flame into the air and waved it in the Wocky's direction. "Igor, I need you." Getting no reply, the Korbat walked purposefully toward his assistant's last position and found no one there. Sweeping the light through the dimness, he stopped cold when he noted the table. Empty. His Experiment was gone.

With the cold fingers of dread tickling the back of his neck, the Korbat raised the candle to illuminate the further reaches of his laboratory, gasping when he saw...

"Igor!" the Korbat exlaimed angrily, rushing toward his assistant.

Too late.

A pink mob surged out of the cage, rushing about the laboratory. They flickered in and out of the candlelight, but the Korbat could hear their destruction. Phials, test tubes, beakers, all smashed on the ground. Sparks of electricity buzzing through the air, escapees of a chewed-through wire. And the worst sound of all.

The creaking of door hinges as it swung open.

The Meepits had escaped. That meant the Experiment had escaped as well.

The uproar of the Meepits faded away and, miraculously, the generator started up again. Lights flickered on, revealing the entirety of the damage.

His Usuki dolls were torn to shreds, the stuffing flung about the room. The lights hung from their wires, the attachment to the ceiling having been destroyed. Shards of glass covered the floor, and shelves were torn off the walls. Everywhere, visible wires had been chewed, torn, ripped, or bent out of place.

As a scientist, the Korbat's main concern was why.

The inventor had altered his assistant's brainwaves, making him subservient to every whim. There were only two ways to reverse this. The first was that the scientist undo it himself.

The second was an immeasurable surge of a single emotion:

Fear...

"What happened, Igor?" the Korbat demanded, now standing in front of the Wocky.

"Thcary," Igor whispered to himself, still rocking, still staring straight ahead -- right through the Korbat -- with wild eyes. "Thcary."

"He's useless, worthless, now," the Korbat muttered to himself, turning around and striding out the laboratory. "I will have to adjust his brainwaves later." He paused outside the laboratory to close and lock the door before continuing down the dimly lit corridor.

The Korbat paused in front of the first door -- he believed that it led to the library -- and eased it open an inch, peering inside the darkened room. He was about to shut the door and continue down the corridor, but before he could, he heard a quiet "Meep!" coming from one of the far corners of the library.

Grinning, the Korbat swung open the door the rest of the way and stepped inside the room before slamming it shut again. He flicked on a nearby lamp, illuminating one of the Meepits cowering in a corner between two bookcases. He advanced toward it with outstretched arms, but before he could catch it, several more Meepits attacked him from behind and knocked him to the carpeted floor, pinning him down.

"Did you really think you'd be able to catch us so easily?" a high-pitched, girlish voice said from his right. The Korbat lifted his head and turned it to the right to come face-to-face with the frozen smiling face of a Usuki doll: the Experiment.

"How... how can you talk?" the Korbat sputtered.

"You put my brain into one of the new talking Usukis," the Experiment said. "The device in my throat that allows me to talk can translate whatever I say in Meep to Neopian."

"Oh." The Korbat suddenly remembered that Igor had selected the Usuki, and he had said something about it being 'thpecial.' He realised that the Wocky had probably meant that it was one of the new talking models.

"It's rather helpful," the Experiment continued. "You'll be able to understand everything I say, meaning you can help me with my... own little experiment..."

"Because, Doctor..." It waddled closer to him on unsteady, fluff-filled legs. "I have the upper hand. You're held down by at least a dozen hungry Meepits, and we both know how angry they get when they haven't eaten. Besides..." The Experiment leaned in and whispered in the Korbat's ear. "I know why your assistant was so frightened. And trust me, it's something you'll want to know."

"So that's the plan? Strong-arm me into doing your dirty work?" The Korbat struggled against the Meepit's paws, desperately trying to free himself before what he assumed would be his demise.

"Well..." The Experiment turned away from its creator. "Yes, I suppose. It's not as if you have a choice in the matter, so I suggest you listen closely to my instructions..."

The scientist immediately hypothesised the Experiment's plan. "If you believe that I'll help you make a stronger body, you're wrong. You are an abomination to the world."

The Experiment turned and looked at him with disgust. "You are the abomination, the epitome of arrogance and misguided beliefs. You are correct to suppose I am creating myself a new body. But it is not to become stronger."

The Korbat didn't understand what the monster wanted. Was it not attempting to escape the feeble body it was already in? That was how he would have reacted, if in the Experiment's place.

"Summon your assistant," the Usuki figurine ordered.

At an order from their leader, the Meepits dug sharpened claws into the Korbat's wings and shoulders. He arched his back in agony, biting back the scream that grew in his throat.

"Fine," he hissed through his teeth, and the Experiment gestured to the Meepits. The claws relaxed, although one vengeful Petpet cut a deep scratch into the scientist's body. The Meepits were still bitter about being locked in a cage.

"Igor!" shouted the Korbat, and footsteps resounded through the hallway. He would be there in a moment, beckoned by his master.

"Just tell me," the scientist inquired. "If not to become stronger, then what?"

The Experiment stared at him. "The adoration of others, Doctor. Being so impressive that even the strongest-minded of Neopets will obey without question. I plan to fashion my new body after the most influential Neopian..."

"Queen... Queen Fyora?" the scientist asked incredulously, biting back laughter.

"Yes, of course," responded the Experiment coldly. "I plan a new, slender body, with garments of pink and purple, splendid, flowing purple hair to match, and sparkling wings to bring the whole ensemble together."

At this last declaration, the scientist could no longer hold back. He burst into hysterical laughter and then dissolved promptly into tears. "HA....ha, ha, you... you, Queen Fyora? YOU?? When... when you asked for, haaa, light green and black cloth, I thought you were going for Sloth... but... oh, it's too precious! FYORA!!!"

"I cannot deal with your hysterics any longer," glared the Experiment, annoyed. It paused dramatically before saying, in a low, steady voice, "Meepits... dispose of this pathetic excuse for a scientist."

The Korbat's eyes immediately widened in horror, "NOO!! Not the Meepits! You... you need me!"

"No, I don't," replied his Experiment menacingly. "Igor has already been summoned."

"Please... anything!" But it was too late. The Korbat's cries for help were drowned in the screeching of 'Meep's as Meepits swarmed him and soon overwhelmed his small body, dragging him out of sight.

Igor arrived at the door a moment later. The Experiment calmly turned to face him. "Ah, yes. Igor..."

"Igor, didn't you hear me?" yelled the Usuki. "Get to work!"

The stooped Wocky just stared at the place his master had disappeared.

"Igor, if you continue ignoring me, I will make it so that you follow a similar demise as the loony old Doctor."

That snapped him back to reality. As he blinked several times, trying to get rid of all the doubt clouding his mind, the Experiment was assembling the scraps of purple and pink that Igor had brought.

But how could he betray his master? Igor suddenly turned and jumped at the Usuki, but the Usuki was prepared for him. He rolled out of the way, so that the Wocky landed headfirst on the stone floor.

"Ahh, Igor... I should have known you would betray me in the end..." muttered the Experiment.

He clicked his fingers -- or at least gave a passable imitation of such -- and the Meepits restrained Igor, holding his arms securely to his side.

"No more, Igor. No more..."

The Meepits started to carrying him away, but Igor yelled out, "Thtop! Don't take me away! I will... I will..."

"You'll do it?" the Usuki repeated, holding up a paw. The Meepits paused, awaiting further orders. Igor nodded, hoping, praying that the Usuki would give him a second chance. "Very well," the Usuki said, snapping its fingers. The Meepits dropped Igor on the floor -- he grunted in pain, but said nothing -- and formed a tight circle around the Wocky.

"Follow me," the Usuki ordered, turning around and heading toward the laboratory. The Meepits, still surrounding Igor, followed, stabbing the Wocky with a sharp claw every so often to force the poor creature to walk faster.

The Usuki entered the laboratory, scanning the room and surveying the damage that it and its fellow Meepits had caused earlier that night. The Experiment frowned, thinking that they should've been more restrained. It had simply wanted them to frighten and distract the Korbat; it still needed to use the equipment to build itself a new, improved body. But the Experiment supposed that they had been careful enough. The necessary equipment appeared to still be in working order.

"Begin sewing together the cloth to resemble Queen Fyora, Igor," the Usuki ordered.

"Okay, but before I thart," Igor said, "I want you to promithe you won't hurt Mathter."

"Fine, but if my new body isn't a perfect imitation of the Queen," the Usuki replied, "my fellow Meepits will dispose of you and your 'Master'." Igor nodded, grateful that he had a chance to save his master. The Usuki repeated the conditions to the Meepits in Meep, and one of them left to tell the Meepits with the Korbat that he wasn't to be harmed.

Under the surveillance of a watchful Usuki and vengeful Meepits, Igor sewed, stuffed, and sewed some more. Hours passed, but the Usuki refused to allow the Wocky to take more than a five-minute break to eat his rations of stale bread and lukewarm water. Finally, Igor put down the needle and held up the Usuki's new body to be inspected.

"It's satisfactory," the Usuki pronounced. "I will spare you and your master." Igor nodded, relieved that they were saved. The Usuki said something to the Meepits and they divided themselves into two groups, the first lifting the Experiment on a table and the second hoisting the new body beside it.

With the help of the Meepits, the Usuki hooked itself and its new body up to the machine beside the table.

"Pull that lever, Igor," the Usuki ordered.

"Okay," Igor said, grasping the handle, but hesitating to pull it down.

"If you don't pull that lever, I'll have my Meepits dispose of your master," the Usuki threatened.

"Okay, okay!" Igor said, gripping the handle harder and forcing himself to pull it down. The Wocky held his breath, watching in both horror and fascination to see what would happen...

Igor hesitated. He glanced between his master and the Experiment.

"Wait!" the Korbat shouted.

"Igor!" the Experiment shouted louder. "If you don't obey..."

The Meepits dragged the Korbat to the ground and stood over him. A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the laboratory, casting long shadows throughout the chamber: angry Meepits, bent over the helpless doctor, lines of electrical wiring with swinging light bulbs attached to the ends, rows of machines with levers and buttons and dials and switches and every other kind of input device imaginable. The dim light returned.

"A moment," the Korbat gasped for air under the weight of the attacking Meepits. "Just a moment."

The Experiment sighed. The Meepits tightened their grip, waiting for the inevitable order. "I suppose," it mused, "now that my plan is so close to being complete, I can allow you this... one indulgence. What is it you wish to say?"

"You promised you'd tell me what scared Igor."

"Oh, that." The Experiment sat up and looked around the room. Another flash of lightning threw everything into sharp contrast again, and it shuddered.

"Mathter, I wathn't thared of anything!" Igor protested. His paw clenched on the lever until his knuckles turned white.

"But, then..." The Meepits allowed the Korbat a little more freedom, enough for him to lift his head and survey the room. A third flash of lightning outlined the Usuki. "What could have--"

"Your machine, of course. The charge it gave off when you created me was on a similar frequency to your servant's brainwaves. It interfered with them, scrambling the message. You should get it fixed. I'm going to need you when I take over Neopia," it cackled at the expression that spread over the Korbat’s face. "You thought I would leave you alone? How pathetic!"

Igor reached for one of the dials on the control panel and turned it just a smidge to the right. The Korbat noticed, and grinned.

"Now, Igor. Make me beautiful! Err... powerful!"

Igor threw the switch. Just at that moment a final flash of lightning struck the power conductors, and the air in the room whirred and hissed. The Meepits let go of the Korbat, and he stood up, stretched his sore wings, and cackled as loudly as the Meepit.

"Did I do right, Mathter?" Igor asked as the energy settled.

"Yes, Igor. You did right. Brilliant idea."

"Can I thtay free?"

"I think so."

"MEEP!?!"

"Oh, that." The Korbat looked at the small, squirming likeness of Queen Fyora on the table. "You gave me -- Igor, rather -- an idea. If the frequency of the machine could interfere with the controls I put on Igor's brainwaves, then it could also interfere with the frequency of the wires that allowed you to speak Neopian. Igor made a slight adjustment, and... voila! Faerie Meepit. I'm going to get a fortune for you at the Auction House." He looked at Igor and grinned. "Rather, Igor and I are going to get a fortune for you..."

THE END