"How marvelous! With just a stitch here and a stitch there, this dress will be good as new! And this old fishing hat... I could make it shine brighter than the day it was purchased!"

Cassandra had been working as an assistant to Felix, the Ruki who owned The Neopian Second-Hand Shoppe, for a few years now. To Cassandra, it was almost a dream when the position opened up. She had always loved fashion -- as a child she had read almost every edition of Uni's Fashion Monthly -- and as she grew older she enjoyed sewing her own outfits.

"Ahh..." Cassandra fantasized as she sorted through the latest donations. "These pants could have been worn by an adventurer who scaled Terror--"

"Cassandra!" Felix called out, interrupting her fantasies. "We need more donations for display! Could you go to the storage racks and pull some more for me?"

Cassandra opened the door to the storage room, revealing endless racks of old clothes.

"These dresses are simply to die for!" Cassandra said, fantasizing about herself in one and dancing between the racks.

For those who had donated them, these clothes were sadly just old, worn-out, and useless; to Cassandra, though, every piece -- whether it be a hat, shoes, dress, or a tuxedo -- had a story behind it AND a great future ahead of it. She considered making that future happen her job.

"CASSANDRA!" Felix yelled once again. He wasn't the most patient of bosses. "Could you hurry up with those clothes? We have plenty of Neopians waiting!"

"Coming!" Cassandra replied and quickly grabbed a few items before rushing to the door.

Before leaving, however, a gleam caught her eye. It came from the very end of the storage room. Cassandra knew she needed to get these donations out to Felix, but she couldn't resist the urge to take a peek.

It was the most beautiful dress Cassandra had ever laid eyes on; not ostentatious in the slightest, it seemed to blend in with nature. It was a beautiful sea green color, with small bows reaching the length of the dress that fastened it together. A magical glow seemed to pour out from its beauty as it persuaded Cassandra to come and try it on.

"How could someone donate a piece as magnificent as this?!?" Cassandra wondered. She dropped the clothes she'd been carrying and put the dress on.

For a moment she lost herself in the elegance of the dress. As she spun around the dank room she fancied herself a distinguished guest at the Brightvale Royal Ball.

She went over to the dusty old mirror in the corner to admire herself in it, but the moment she looked into the mirror, it cracked...

"Fyora's sake! Cassandra!" Felix called out. Having lost his patience, he began stomping back to the storage room. "What is going on in there?!?"

Cassandra's heart fluttered in panic. If he saw her in the dress she would be fired for sure. She struggled to slip out of the dress, finding herself unusually uncoordinated. Before she could manage to untie a single lace bow, Felix had spotted her.

"What in Neopia are you doing back here?" Felix questioned with a frown, examining Cassandra in the green gown.

Cassandra blushed and hung her head. "I'm sorry, Felix. I just couldn’t help myself--"

"This area is for staff only," the shopkeeper continued. "Customers have to stay in the showroom."

Feeling a bit confused, Cassandra tried to clarify. "But Felix, it’s me--"

"I don't care who you are!” the Ruki interrupted. "You could be King Hagan himself! This area is for Cassandra and me only."

Cassandra raised a furry eyebrow and stared, puzzled. Has he lost his mind? "But I AM Cassandra!" she pleaded.

"Alright, I see what's going on here," Felix began. "You rich types think you own every shop you walk into. Well, not this one... no ma'am! I'm afraid I'm going to have to escort you to the front door."

Cassandra yelled as the Ruki grabbed her by the paw. "Felix! Come on, this isn't funny!"

"This isn't funny in the least. You'll have to pay for that, you know," Felix noted as he pointed across the room.

Cassandra spun around, following his finger, and found herself looking into the cracked mirror. Only, she wasn't the one that she saw...

"Wh-what?!? That isn't me!" Cassandra squeeked, her mouth dropping open in shock. As if to prove her wrong, the Kougra in the mirror mouthed the same words at the same time they left Cassandra's mouth.

"Don't you make excuses!" Felix glared, dragging the Cybunny-turned-Kougra to the door.

Too shocked to speak, Cassandra cringed as she heard the shop door slammed behind her. Looking around, she noticed all the Neopians walking by as usual, some pausing and pointing at her and her dress.

"Excuse me please, ma'am," a young Wocky interrupted, breaking Cassandra out of her shock. "I can't get into the shop."

"Oh, sor-- wait, I know you!" the Kougra gasped, grabbing the Wocky's shoulders. It was one of the shop's regular customers. "It's me, Cassandra! I help you choose clothes you might like!"

"S-sorry, I d-don't you!" the Wocky squealed, a look of shock and fear on her face. Breaking free of Cassandra's grip, she dashed into the shop.

"Great, it looks like nobody recognises me," Cassandra sighed, staring as the Wocky disappeared inside. "I'd better change out of this dress first."

Taking one last look at The Neopian Second-Hand Shoppe, she hurried (as best as she could in the dress) to Unis Clothing Shop. Upon entering, the Kougra quickly grabbed a shirt and rushed past the startled Uni into a changing room. She gasped in shock.

"A-are you okay, ma'am?" the Uni asked, knocking gently on the changing room door.

"Fine, thank you," came the reply. Cassandra couldn't risk telling the Uni that she had broken the mirror in the changing room, too! One mirror was already enough to cover her pay at The Second-Hand Shoppe.

Cassandra started to remove the dress, but no matter how hard she tried, the lace bows always seemed to evade her paws. After several minutes she gave up the seemingly impossible task.

"It's as if this dress is stuck on by magic!" Cassandra sighed, tugging at the dress fustratingly. "Wait, that's it! Magic!"

Why else would all the mirrors break? Why else would I suddenly morph into an unrecognisable green Kougra and also be unable to remove this dress? she thought, staring at the cracked mirror. Indeed, magic had to be the answer.

After purchasing a large coat to put over her eye-catching dress, the Kougra left the shop quickly and started heading toward the place where she knew she would get some answers...

"You weren't in that mess," Kauvara observed from her place by the register. She was recording the sales in a small blue notebook, and her mouth was moving as she added up the total.

"Uh, no... no I wasn't," Cassandra answered hesitantly. She walked further into the shop. There were things still left on the shelves, and she thought that, if she bought something, then Kauvara would be more willing to help her. The closest thing was a plain bottle with a handle, which had green translucent liquid inside. Suspended in the liquid was a golden star. Cassandra reached for the tag, but when she saw it, she drew her hand away: Starburst Bottle. 1,484 NP.

"So," Kauvara prompted. She closed the book and watched Cassandra move toward her through the shelves.

Before she took off her coat to show Kauvara the dress, the Cybunny-turned-Kougra took one look around the shop to see if anyone was there.

"I put this dress on, and I turned into a Kougra."

"What were you before that?"

"A Cybunny."

Kauvara's suspicions were aroused. More than once a week she had visitors claiming that some misfortune had transformed them from Draiks or Krawks (or, sometimes, even Cybunnies) into other species. Most of them did it in the hope that they would get a free morphing potion out of it.

"And what would you like me to do?" she finally asked.

"I was hoping you could help me. I break mirrors, too. Two of them so far -- every single one I've looked in since I put the dress on."

Kauvara reached under the counter and took out a small hand mirror. Some Neopets drank the morphing potions that they bought from her right there in the shop; having something around so that they could look at themselves after the transformation's completion was useful. She handed it to Cassandra, with the mirror facing the counter. "Turn it over," she instructed.

Cassandra did, and she jumped at the shattering sound that followed.

"Where did you say you got this dress from?"

"I found it, in the storeroom of The Second-Hand Shoppe. It was just one of the donations. I thought it was so pretty that I tried it on," she confessed.

"Donation?"

Cassandra nodded.

"Hmmm. Why haven't you taken it off yet?" Kauvara was afraid she knew the answer before she asked.

"I can't. I tried. The bows... they just won't untie. I haven't tried cutting it off yet."

"You probably shouldn't try that. This is definitely caused by magic, and severing it like that could have... devastating consequences. Spin around for me," Cassandra did, but she didn't know how it was going to help. "There!"

"What?"

"There's a stain, right at the bottom there. Oh yes," Kauvara paused.

"Well?" Cassandra asked.

"It was no accident that this dress ended up in The Second-Hand Shoppe. Think about it -- someone would be eager to wear it. What I don't understand is who did it, or why. The magic is, indeed, from a potion. The fabric was probably seeped in it before the dress was made. That's what the color's from. The dark spot is probably just some bleed over of where the cloth was directly exposed to the potion -- the color is more concentrated."

"So, you know how to fix it?"

"Not exactly. These kinds of things work until they've done what they intended to do."

"Meaning what, exactly?"

"Whoever made that dress wanted something done, and wanted to give someone a powerful incentive to do it."

Cassandra sighed. The only lead she had to figuring out who made the dress and what they wanted was finding out who had donated it to The Second-Hand Shoppe. That information was in Felix's records if it was anywhere, and those records were kept in the storeroom. Cassandra couldn't get back into the storeroom. Not unless...

Kauvara gave Cassandra a strange look. "Help you how?" she asked.

"Well," she answered, "Felix will probably recognize me and not let me back into the store, and the only way I'll be able to find out who is behind this is if I can get to the donation records in the storeroom. The thing is, the only ones allowed in there were him and me, and since I don't look like myself anymore, I can't get in."

Kauvara seemed to know where she was going with this. "So, you want me to make a morphing potion and disguise myself as you, then go into the storeroom and find out who donated that dress. Am I right?"

Cassandra nodded. "It wouldn't take long, and I know you could change yourself back once you returned here. Please, Kauvara? It would be a big help!"

Kauvara sighed. "Fine. What color of Cybunny were you before you put the dress on?"

"Red. A red Cybunny." Cassandra said.

"Alright," Kauvara said. "It'll take me some time to get a potion ready, so just sit back and don't touch anything."

Kauvara placed a sign on the door that said "Closed" before heading into the back of The Magic Shop.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting, a red Cybunny came out of the back of the shop. "I hope this works," Kauvara said. "I had to use up the last of my dried Beetroot. I'm going to have to go gather more ingredients when I'm done."

"Thank you for helping, Kauvara!" Cassandra said. "You look just like me!"

Kauvara didn't say a word. "Let's hurry, then. I'm not sure what our mysterious magic-user was trying to accomplish with this dress, but if they had to do it in secret like this, it can't be any good."

Cassandra nodded and the two of them exited The Magic Shop, with Kauvara locking the door behind her. They then headed toward the Plaza, back to The Second-Hand Shoppe.

It seemed like the crowd from earlier had died down, and Cassandra could see that there were only two Neopets in the store through the windows. What gave her a bit of pause was that she could also see Felix, and he looked extremely angry.

"Uh oh..." Cassandra said.

"What?" Kauvara asked.

"I forgot. I was supposed to bring in a bunch of donations from the back when I put the dress on. Felix is going to think that I bailed on him. He must be furious!"

Kauvara groaned softly. "Any plans, then?" she asked. "I'd rather not get chewed out by your boss for this."

"You'll have to sneak in through the back," Cassandra said, fishing in her pockets under the dress and pulling out a small key. "Don't lose this. If Felix found out that I lost the key to the store, he'd fire me for sure!"

"You sure he's not going to fire you for leaving him like this? You did technically walk out on your job," Kauvara replied, taking the small key.

Cassandra was quiet again. "Do you think you can do me another favor and vouch for me?" she said with a bit of a hopeful smile.

Kauvara rolled her eyes a bit. "You're lucky that I'm so nice... so, where is the storeroom with the records?"

"Its the first room on the left if you're entering through the back," Cassandra said. "I know for a fact that this dress wasn't there yesterday, so it should be in the most recent file."

"Alright," Kauvara said. "Hopefully this won't take too long."

With that said, Kauvara headed behind The Second-Hand Shoppe as Cassandra waited for her to emerge.

As she waited, she couldn't help but look over the dress she was in. She couldn't believe that something so beautiful was causing her so much trouble. Maybe it could still be salvaged after all of this was over? It would just be a shame to lose such a lovely dress.

Cassandra had been so enamored over the dress that she had lost track of time. What finally snapped her back to reality, however, was a red Cybunny coming out the front door of The Second-Hand Shoppe, along with the sound of Felix's yelling as it boomed from the store.

Something must have gone wrong if Kauvara was back out here like that, Cassandra thought.

"What happened?" Cassandra asked.

"Well, I have good news and bad news." Kauvara said. "The bad news is that you're fired. Your boss showed up in the back after about two minutes, saw me in there, chewed me out about leaving, and then fired you right then and there."

Cassandra's heart sank. She loved her job, and to lose it over something like this almost made her want to cry. She had waited years to work there, and now it was gone, just like that.

"The good news, however," Kauvara said, "Is that I was able to sneak out with this!"

Kauvara reached from behind her back and pulled out a plain manila folder. Cassandra recognized it as one of the folders in which they kept the donation records.

"That's this week's records folder!" Cassandra exclaimed. "That should have exactly what we're looking for!"

"I hope so," Kauvara said. "I don't think I can go back in there again. Or, technically, you can't go back there."

Cassandra really wished Kauvara hadn't reminded her that she had just been fired, but at least they had the records she needed. She reached out and took the folder from Kauvara and opened it up, looking through the notes.

After about a minute of skimming the records, Cassandra found exactly what she was looking for. "Ah ha!" she said, pointing to a spot on the paper. "Here we go. One green dress, full length bows."

Cassandra moved her paw over to the location in the records where it listed who donated the clothing in question, and written there was...

"Hey Kauvara, look at this," Cassandra said, holding out the record for her to see and pointing to the side note Felix had written.

"Did you ever see a wooden box back there?" Kauvara asked, handing the record back to Cassandra.

"No, I didn't..." Cassandra answered, then thought for moment. "Wait, Felix was standing on a box behind the counter when I came in to work this morning! It was wooden, but I just figured it was a step stool. I bet that's the box!"

"We need to see that box. If it was hand-carved, then it could have the carver's initials in it," Kauvara mused. Cassandra smiled mischievously at Kauvara.

"Do you know what I'm thinking?" she asked the Cybunny-Kau.

Kauvara sighed. "Back to my potion store?" she asked. Cassandra nodded.

"Okay, but we need to stop at the Health Food Shop for some Organic Beetroot first. It's the most potent kind..."

"A sleep potion," the Kau said, by way of explanation. "All you have to do is throw this at him and he'll be out like a light."

"And then we can get the box," Cassandra said.

"Exactly."

The potion soon started simmering, and before long it had turned a light, misty, blue color, smelling vaguely of blueberries. Kauvara, grabbing a bottle from a shelf, filled it with potion and corked it securely.

"Here we have it," she said, passing the bottle to Cassandra. "All you have to do is throw it at him."

Felix, standing on top of his box, was hunched over the register, tapping at the buttons. He hardly looked up as Cassandra approached.

"Welcome to The Second-Hand Shoppe," he muttered. "Take whatever you want."

Cassandra removed the stopper from the bottle and, before Felix could react, dumped its contents over his head.

"Wha--"

"Sorry, Felix," she said, watching as the Ruki collapsed on the floor, snoring. "I need this box."

She then exited, dragging the box behind her...

"Not for long, though. Come on! We need to find the name on that box."

After searching for the initials on the box, Cassandra found them. When she read what they were, her expression froze for a few seconds while she stared at what was engraved on the box. She then took a deep breath and began to speak.

"F.t.U.?" Cassandra asked, then took a pause and put her hands on her head before she started talking again. "Who is F.t.U.?"

"I don’t know... there are a lot of things that those letters could be."

"Oh, Fyora... it's all Felix's fault!" Cassandra started to freak out and walk around Kauvara in circles. "Why did I accept the offer to work for him? WHY?"

Cassandra stopped talking and walking. She even stopped blinking. All she was doing was breathing.

"What happened?" Kauvara asked. "Did the dress do anything do you? I mean, besides morphing you."

"Of course it did... working in that store was always my dream, and now I'm saying bad things about Felix? There's something wrong."

"He just fired you; of course you're mad because of this."

"No, Kauvara. I mean, there must be something very wrong."

"So... maybe that’s the purpose of the magic? To make someone mad at Felix?" Kauvara asked with the hope that Cassandra would think of something.

"Maybe, but who would want to make trouble with Felix?" Cassandra asked. She then started to scratch her chin. "I mean, he just collects donated clothes..."

"Oh, not again. What’s going on? Tell me!"

"Didn't you notice? Clothes! That's the answer we want. The one who wants to cause trouble with Felix has something to do with clothes, and the initials F.t.U. remind me of--"

"Faboo the Uni!" Kauvara yelled. She was happy with the fact that they had finally discovered something.

"Yes! We need to talk to her."

Ten minutes later, Cassandra spotted her while looking at the Uni's shop. She couldn’t just walk in, because if Faboo was the one who did this, then she would notice the dress. Kauvara would have to step in again.

"You need to see her for me."

"Yes. I thought you might need me to, since she'd surely recognize the dress." Kauvara took a deep breath. "Good luck to me."

Kauvara entered the store and saw the Uni...

"Kauvara, my dear!" the Uni said, spotting the approaching Kau. "How nice to see you. You know, our stores are so close, but I don't believe I've ever had the pleasure of your custom. Finally looking to diversify your closet a bit, are you?"

"Hello, Faboo," Kauvara replied, ignoring the jibe at her monotonous brewing robes. She glanced around and saw several Neopets perusing the clothes racks. "Do you have a moment to chat? In private?"

"Oh, well, I'm afraid I'm busy with customers at the moment, dear. Another time, perhaps."

"I must insist. I have important business to discuss with you. No doubt there's an employee about who can briefly watch the store for you."

Kauvara walked slowly toward Faboo, gesturing toward the back of the store. Faboo looked nervous, and hesitated as if considering whether to refuse Kauvara's request again. Faboo finally sighed and lead Kauvara to the back, where an employee was on break. The small room was mostly full of clothes racks, but it also contained a desk and small table.

"Watch the front, will you, sweetie?" Faboo said to the idle employee, who nodded and went to the storefront.

"So, what's this business of yours that just couldn't wait?" Faboo asked.

"You look awfully nervous, Faboo. Are you hiding something, perhaps?"

"I--I have no idea what you're talking about. What're you doing, coming into my store and talking to me like this?"

"Now you're defensive. I think you know why I'm here."

"I'm sure I don't."

Kauvara sighed. "Faboo, just tell me about the green dress. I mean, you delivered it to Felix in your own box. Did you think no one would find out?"

Faboo narrowed her eyes, then gave her mane a flip as she looked away. "As if you would understand," the Uni finally ground out in an angry voice.

"Why don't you explain it to me, then?"

"Fine. It doesn't matter. You can't change it, anyway," Faboo said softly. She leaned against the desk before she continued. "You wouldn't know what it's like. No one can compete with your potions, especially since you've built up such a reputation for yourself. You're the only game in town."

"You sound bitter, Faboo, but you have quite the reputation as a fashionista yourself."

"Nobody cares where they get their clothes, so long as they look good. There's nothing special about me. You saw all the clothes filling the racks out there. My merchandise just doesn't sell like it used to -- not since that Felix opened his Second-Hand Shoppe."

"None of Felix's clothes are new. How could his store compete with yours? You can always order new stock. Felix just takes what he can get."

"Forget it. I knew you wouldn't understand my situation. Just look at your--your robes. Clearly you don't know how much it costs to look as fabulous as I do."

"Okay, so you're angry that Felix is competition for you, but what about the green dress?"

Faboo smiled. "It's enchanted to encourage the wearer to discredit and impede Felix and his store at every turn. The shape morph makes sure that whoever wears the dress isn't recognized and silenced by friends or family. The longer the dress is worn, the stronger the enchantment becomes, and the dress can't be taken off until Felix's store is closed... for good."

"I can't believe you'd go so far, Faboo."

Faboo turned toward the desk before she continued, "Well, I wanted to be certain that Felix and his obnoxious store were out of the way. That's why I had two potions made. One to soak the dress, and one for any nosy snoopers!" Faboo then spun around and flung a viscous green potion at Kauvara...

"Good night," Faboo said, smirking. She gently shut the door.

Cassandra tapped her feet along the ground. From where she stood, she could easily peek through the glass front doors of the shop and see Kauvara and Faboo depart toward the back.

Faboo had just returned to the counter, alone. "That's odd. Where's Kauvara?" Cassandra whispered. She lightly crept toward the shop, stopping at the doors. Faboo was busy reading something at the counter. The door in the back was shut.

Cassandra stepped inside. "Faboo, where is Kauvara?" she asked clearly.

The Uni looked up from her counter. "Why, hello there!" she said with a smile. A shadow passed over her face as she beheld the dress Cassandra was wearing. She glanced at the door to her office where Kauvara lay unconscious, then quickly turned back to her. "Come with me," she said at last and ushered her to the back.

Faboo's eyes widened in shock as she entered. Kauvara was sitting on her desk. Resting on her lap was a long, ornate purple dress, embroidered with gold ribbons.

"H-How did you... b-but..." the Uni stammered.

The Kau grinned and held out an empty vial. "Countered it. That silly potion of yours was no match for mine. Who made it, anyway? It had a most putrid odour."

Faboo stood there, gaping.

Cassandra strode over to Kauvara. "Have anything to say, Faboo?"

The Uni stared at the dress in Kauvara's arms. "W-What are you going to do with my dress?"

Kauvara gave a light chuckle. "Something you won't like," she said slyly, pulling another vial from here pocket. It was filled with a swirling black liquid. She tipped it over the dress, as if to pour out its contents.

Faboo gasped. "You wouldn't! That's my favourite and best dress!"

"Then take this dress off of me!" Cassandra cried.

"I can't! It won't come off until Felix's shop is shut down."

Kauvara uncorked the vial. "I'm sure you have something that can counter the enchantment," she muttered.

"No, I don't have anything of the sort! Please don't pour that!" Faboo begged.

The Kau raised the vial over the dress.

"Okay! Okay!" Faboo shrieked. This was too much.

Kauvara smiled and replaced the cork before returning the vial to her pocket.

The Uni hobbled over to a clothing rack and moved it aside, revealing an alcove in the wall. She reached inside and withdrew a manila folder, similar to the one that held Felix's records. She placed the file on the table.

"This is all I can give you. My accomplice left me several notes regarding the composition of the potion. You'll find all the ingredients he used to make it," she said.

Kauvara flipped through the folder. Silence settled in the room as she examined its contents. "This is all it took to make the potion?" she said at last, chuckling. "I'll have a counter curse ready by tomorrow," she told Cassandra. "In the meantime, you'll have to stay as far from the Second-Hand Shoppe as you can."

The two left Faboo to gripe in her shop and strode back through Neopia Central. Cassandra smiled. She would finally be free from her curse!

"Though, I still lost the job of my dreams..." she mumbled cheerlessly.

Kauvara stared at the downcast Kougra. "You know, Cassandra, I might be able to help you get your job back."

Cassandra's eyes shot up in surprise. "Really?"

The Kau nodded. "We'll both tell him the truth. He has to believe us. After all, I have no reason to lie to him, and there have been much wilder stories than the one we have." She then winked.

Cassandra hugged her. "Oh, thank you so much Kauvara!" she said, then drew back. "Hey, do you smell that?"

Kauvara groaned. "Ugh! What was in that potion?"

The End