All the townsfolk would dress up in silly costumes to go trick-or-treating. They would spend the entire evening parading through the neighbourhood, receiving pieces of candy and basking in compliments about how “scary” they looked… All while some, like him, were condemned to looking like monsters not just for one day of the year, but for all their lives. It felt like a festival created just to mock him.

He had been living in a quiet hut on the outskirts of town ever since that unfortunate incident of his childhood. He preferred it this way; it was easier to feel normal away from the prying eyes of the townsfolk. Even still, once or twice on a Halloween night, a young Neopian would wander up to his hut to knock on its front door, expecting a treat with a bright smile on their face. Thus, he usually spent Halloween night with his lights turned down and windows boarded up. Even the most oblivious of young Neopians stopped bothering after that.

That night, he had just retreated to bed with a book in hand and a candle in the other when he heard a loud knock at the door. The Werelupe let out a heavy sigh. Not again. When would they ever get the idea? He contemplated staying in bed but then a second knock came, louder and more urgent this time.

With a growl of frustration, he clambered out of the bed and stomped over to his door. He put on his best scowl before swinging the door open, prepared to come face-to-face with yet another trick-or-treater…

Only this time, it was no trick-or-treater at all. The scowl on his face shifted into an expression of surprise. Standing on his porch was…

The Acara hovered in front of him on the porch, ethereal and monstrous, her appearance twisted beyond any Paintbrush or potion. A dark aura surrounded her, and her sharp gaze pierced into his in a manner that would take the breath away from most normal Pets and send the more sensitive ones screaming.

She bared her teeth and flicked her whiplike tail before pushing past the Werelupe and entering.

“Ridiculous,” she said. “I’m sick of it! It ends tonight. It has to.”

The Werelupe, who went by Ward, had encountered Vira more than once on his solitary prowls around the forest around his village, and since then, they’d struck up an uneasy friendship, if one could call it that. She was the only other soul who knew what it was like to be frightening to others year-round.

“Come on in, then,” he said, closing the door. “What are you talking about?”

“As if you don’t know!” Vira said, nearly upsetting a tea set with an angry flare of her wings. “Halloween! I know you like to hole up and hide away each year, but I am utterly SICK of these young Neopians mocking me. And I know you feel the same way.”

Ward couldn’t deny this. He moved the tea set to the centre of the table, his hulking figure moving surprisingly delicately, and then sighed.

“It’s true,” he said. “But what can be done?”

Vira, though about half his height, landed with confident footfalls and walked up to him fearlessly, poking a claw into his chest fur.

“I'll tell you what,” she said, her voice curling wickedly. “I have a plan. With your help, you and I could END Halloween... Forever.”

Ward grimaced. His alliance with Vira had never gone as far as a full-blown conspiracy, and she wasn’t exactly the nicest character. Then again, others always jumped to similar conclusions about him when they saw his frightening form. 



“I’m…not sure,” Ward said. “The young ones do love it…and it seems fairly impossible to erase a holiday that's been occurring for millenniums.”

Vira shook her head.



“Trust me. With your help, much more than that is possible. This is just a small start. You should be grateful that I’m cutting you in at the ground floor.” 



She waited, and Ward faltered under her intimidating glare.



“I…” he began before Vira cut him off.

“Fine. I can see you require some persuasion.”



She flitted into the air again, hands behind her back, pacing as if in thought.

“What if I said I could make it worth your while?”…

"Well, Ward, I know that you've always hated being a Werelupe. What if I said I could help change that?"

"Change it?" He paused. "You've gotten your paws on a Paintbrush, haven't you?"

"No." Vira had been scowling at him throughout their entire conversation, but she realized she almost had him hooked now. She stood suddenly and started slowly pacing the living room. "But I could get my paws on one if you help me. I could get any Paintbrush you desire." She smirked as Ward's face twisted with conflict.

Although Ward looked terrifying, like a dastardly villain from his favourite Neopian Times comics, the Werelupe had never broken any laws or rules, and he had especially never set out to hurt Neopians directly. But Vira was offering him an opportunity for a new life, one where people didn't mock him or cower in fear while he simply tried to purchase his favourite snack from the Faerieland bakery. If what Vira offered was true, he could even become a Faerie Lupe and move to Faerieland! Oh, it would be a dream, one he never thought possible as he came from modest means and no one would employ him long enough to keep up a steady income. He'd heard, "You freak out the customers," more times than he could count. Yet, he still wasn't sure he trusted Vira's offer.

"How would you get a Paintbrush? It's not like you are one of Neopia's Mega-Rich either."

Vira cackled, "Good one, Ward. I have a benefactor of course. A very wealthy benefactor who also wants Halloween gone for good."

"But why?"

"Let's just say they care about another holiday a bit more than this whole trick-or-treat frenzy."

Ward sighed, with the dream of Faerie wings rumbling in his belly and fear of what he was about to do clenching his heart, "Okay, Vira, I'll help you. Let's end Halloween."

He knew that the third day of the Month of Running was cancelled each year due to lack of interest. Did Vira plan to arrange something like that?

"I plan to use magic, obviously." Vira snorted. "My benefactor has gathered most of what's needed, but we need you for the last part. Three of us: You, me, and my benefactor, will gather magical energy from the past, present, and future, all at the same moment."

She smirked. "You can go to Tyrannia. Put on some spotted rags and you shouldn't stand out too much."

Tyrannia? Ward had never been as far away as that. He almost sighed with disappointment. Their talk of a Faerie Paintbrush had gotten him thinking of Faerieland, not of the strange, primitive, distant land of Tyrannia!

"What do I do there?" Ward asked hesitantly. "What is this magic, exactly?"

Vira reached into the folds of her dress and withdrew an amulet, which she tossed to him. She scowled as he nearly fumbled catching it, and subjected him to a long glare that told him what a bad idea dropping the amulet would be.

Once she was certain her point had been made, she answered his question.

"This is time magic, Ward. So tell me what, in a land of the past like Tyrannia, is steeped in the essence of time more than anything else?"

Ward hesitated. He didn't really know the attractions of Tyrannia.

"It's called the Wheel of Monotony," Vira told him, when he didn't answer. "All you have to do to power this spell is spin it, right at midnight. While you do that, I'll be getting the essence of the present from Neopia Central, and my benefactor will be getting the essence of the future from the Virtupets Space Station."

"And then?" Ward asked.

"And then..." Vira smiled wickedly. "We're going to erase a whole day from the calendar!"

"I guess you're here to try the Wheel, right? Well, go on... spin as hard as you can. While you wait for it to stop turning, why not pull up a chair, make yourself a cup of Rancid Dung Coffee, and read a book or something?" The Wheel of Monotony Quiggle suggested.

Ward grimaced and nearly gagged at the thought of consuming such a revolting beverage. He could really go for a Fresh Faerie Fruit Parasol Punch right now…

"Um, would you happen to know what time it is right now?" Ward asked. It was dark out right now, but Ward could not predict the hour. It had taken the Werelupe a decent amount of time to travel here, so he knew midnight shouldn't be too far away.

"Time? I stopped keeping track of time decades ago, you'd be better off asking someone else." The Quiggle responded dismissively.

Ward sighed, beginning to feel anxious. He certainly didn't want to miss his queue. The necklace Vira entrusted him hummed softly with magic beneath his new Tyrannian clothes, hidden from sight but making him no less aware of his current responsibility.

"Hey, are you planning on spinning the wheel?" A stranger's inquiry pulled Ward from his thoughts, and he turned to face a grumpy-looking Kacheek.

"I, uh, want to spin this wheel at midnight. For good luck, you know?" Ward smiled uneasily.

"Well, that's a little while from now, and I would like to spin it now." The Kacheek stated sternly. Ward frowned, his eyes falling to the ground, and just as he was about to consider protesting the Kacheek seemed to soften. "But you caught me in a good mood. How about this: You spin the wheel at midnight, and when it's done, you share half of whatever the prize is worth with me. Or else I'm going to go ahead and take my turn."

It didn't seem he had much of a choice. "Thank you, that works for me… I could use some help with keeping track of time around here, though, if you don't mind."

"You're not from around here, are you? Alright, you can borrow this." The Kacheek handed him a pocket watch, worn and tarnished from use. "Good luck, stranger. I'll come and meet you here in the morning."

Ward felt his heart jump in his chest. Morning?! Just how long did it take for this wheel to finish spinning?

Ward cautiously inched closer, studying the Tyrannian symbols and markings. Was that a Mazzew? Having a little Petpet's company back home could be kind of nice. Or perhaps a codestone to boost his training. He dreaded the thought of what landing on the space with the menacing red beast might mean. Granted, he wasn't sure how sharing any of these prizes would be possible, but he would leave that to the Kacheek.

His thoughts were interrupted then by a polite little cough from the bored-looking Quiggle still standing at the wheel. "Midnight is only moments away, you know," he said pointedly, outstretching a hand to accept Ward's 150 Neopoints.

Had Ward really been pondering his decision that long? Well, he's come too far to turn back now, he finally decided, hastily handing over the wheel's fee. Tightly clutching the amulet Vira had given him, he took one final look at the borrowed pocket watch and observed the hand tick to midnight. Taking a deep breath, Ward spun the bone-shaped spinner with all his might and braced himself for what was to come next. Now to wait...

Exactly seven and a half hours later, the wheel stopped moving with a definitive click. Ward, who had been anxiously staring at the wheel all night let out a loud gasp at the space the wheel had landed on. A Tyrannian Paintbrush!

The Quiggle, who had been casually dozing, startled awake and straightened. "Oh, a Paintbrush. The odds of landing on that space are 0.1%. Congrats." For something so rare, the Quiggle still sounded incredibly bored. He rifled through a chest made of stone before pulling out a Tyrannian Paintbrush and handing it to Ward. "There you go. Next!"

A small line had formed now that the sun had risen over the Tyrannian Plateau. Ward moved aside, still shocked. He had never imagined he would land on a Paintbrush!

"Oh no!" Nearby, a soft groan of disappointment caught Ward's attention. It was yesterday evening's Kacheek who was now approaching Ward with a look of disgust on his face. "Ugh, not a Tyrannian Paintbrush. How boring. You can keep that after all," he said dismissively. "Thanks anyway," he added before wandering off in the direction of the Concert Hall.

Ward hadn't even had the chance to protest. Sure, a Tyrannian Paintbrush may not be exciting to a local, but to Ward, it was everything. It wasn't Faerie of course, but it was still the most awe-inspiring item he had ever owned. Maybe this was a sign to change his plans...

When he had first arrived, he had seen a stern-looking Tyrannian Lupe with dark green fur and sharp tusks guarding a Giant Omelette. Not quite the look Ward was initially looking for, but certainly different from his current, horrible Werelupe state. And here, no one would think he looked like a monster. He could finally belong somewhere. He could feel himself changing his mind. A Paintbrush, no matter the kind, was an opportunity to be treasured.

Suddenly, Vira appeared in a puff of hazy, olive-green smoke. "It worked!" She exclaimed triumphantly. "Now we can erase a whole day from the calendar. Great work, Ward. Hand over the amulet."

But Ward shook his head no. Having struggled with his monstrous appearance his whole life, the thought of spreading that misery to others had been bothering his conscience this entire time. Finally, he made a decision.

"No Vira," he said. "I won't be a part of this plan anymore, and I won't let you or your benefactor do this either! I'm staying!"

And with that declaration, in a sudden moment of bravery and adrenaline, Ward hurled the amulet off the steep Tyrannian plateau into the deep canyon below...

Ward could tell by her reaction even if she dared venture to the jagged rocks below, the amulet was either lost forever in one of the hundred dark crevices or likely shattered and broken, the magic unusable.

She whipped around and planted her feet, marching towards him in gravelly footsteps across the plateau’s surface. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” She seethed. “You think this scheme was all about you, don’t you? Whatever happens, as long as Ward gets his way in the end.”

Ward shook his head but cradled his Paintbrush closer to his chest. “Halloween is loved by so many and it’s not up to me or you to decide who gets to enjoy it-“

“Oh what a load of Barbat dung,” Vira said, cutting him off. “You’ll pay for this Ward.” She gave him a penetrating glare as she disappeared in another poof of olive smoke.

Ward breathed out deeply, trying to calm his nerves. A lot had happened in the last twelve hours. How did he go from being miserable on Halloween night to owning a Tyrannian Paintbrush and making plans for a new future? And somewhere in the middle, he had royally angered an Acara with magic.

Well, he’d think about that later. He glanced down lovingly at his new treasure and immediately set off for the Rainbow Pool in Neopia Central.

Luckily, there was no line to use the magical pool, and he went straight to its stoned edge and gazed at his reflection in the water that shimmered with hues and colours Ward had never seen. Staring back at him was a monstrous and hairy beast with ears too big and teeth too sharp. He growled, pawing at the water to obscure the image.

Werelupe, no more, Ward thought, using the Tyrannian Paintbrush on himself without another thought. Elated, he could feel himself changing, like shedding the beast’s costume for his true self within.

But something felt off. His fur was not turning the shade of green he expected, and when he ran a paw over his face, he didn’t feel the Tyrannian tusks.

Ward rushed to look at his reflection again in the water and yelped as he saw…

“But… But… I was supposed to be Tyrannian!” the transfigured Lupe cried. “I thought only a potion could turn Neopets Mutant…”

“Normally, you would be correct,” announced Vira, floating down from a nearby tree, with her arms folded across her chest, and a smug look across her face.

“How did you—-“ Ward began before getting cut off.

“I laced your paintbrush with a Transmogrification Potion, of course,” the villainous Acara said with a devious smirk. ”For thwarting my plans, you deserve to be even more revolting than before.”

She cackled maniacally as a figure approached from behind her. The figure was towering, green, and cloaked in black.

When Ward realized just who this individual was, he was too stunned to speak. The newly Mutant Lupe shook with fear.

“Hello, Ward,” the figure’s deep voice boomed, his pale chartreuse lips curling evilly. “I’m Vira’s benefactor. It seems you threw a wrench in our plans. Is that so?”

Ward felt paralyzed. The creature before him was none other than Dr. Sloth himself. Dr. Sloth was the villain that haunted his nightmares as a young Neopian. He was the only individual in all of Neopia who scared a tough Halloween Neopet like the former Werelupe.

“I… I…” Ward began, but couldn’t finish.

“You are going to repay us for this wrongdoing. Do you want to know how Ward?” Dr. Sloth asked, malevolence dripping from his words. Without waiting for a response, he continued: “By becoming a villain yourself…”

He had always looked like a villain, but he'd never truly done anything evil. In fact, whenever Ward read his favourite comics in the Neopian Times he always rooted for the heroes!

The closest he'd come to villainy was yesterday when he'd almost helped Vira end Halloween. He'd been selfish, and blinded by his own feelings, unwilling to consider that so many other Neopians loved Halloween.

"Vira told me you wanted to get rid of Halloween because you preferred another holiday," Ward said cautiously. "Which one?"

Dr Sloth chuckled with malevolence. "Why... Sloth Appreciation Day, in the Month of Sleeping, of course!"

imagine that, Ward thought. Now that he knew Vira's benefactor was Dr. Sloth, that made perfect sense. Of course, he'd always thought of Sloth Appreciation Day as a joke holiday that only a few Neopians took seriously. Dr Sloth was the worst of the worst, after all!

Well, he wasn't going to help Dr Sloth again! Mustering all the courage he could manage, he shook his head.

"No... No, I won't be a villain, or help you make Sloth Appreciation Day more popular, or anything else!"

Dr Sloth stood silent for a moment, then sighed.

"What a pity." He murmured. "Of all the times for you to grow a backbone..."

Dr Sloth reached into the depths of his cloak, and produced some sort of futuristic ray gun, painted black and red like his own outfit. He pointed it casually at Ward.

"Well, if you're not with me, then it's time to disappear."

Ward yelped in alarm and ducked as Dr Sloth fired a golden beam of energy from the ray. It sizzled over his head and struck the edge of the Rainbow Pool, causing a chunk of the fountain's edge to simply vanish!

The villain adjusted his aim and fired again, and Ward leapt frantically aside. He ran and tumbled to try and stay ahead of Dr Sloth's shots, but the evil doctor had good aim, and Ward was barely dodging.

If he was a veteran of the Battledome he would have charged at the villain, but Ward had never even been in a fight before. Desperately, he leapt behind Vira.

Dr Sloth aimed at the two of them without hesitation. Vira raised a brow. "Hey, Sloth, wait a minute! Where do you think you're aiming that thing?"

Dr Sloth squeezed the trigger, Vira tried to grab Ward and push him in front of herself, and Ward desperately grabbed for a small item at Vira's side.

It was a hand mirror. Vira always had a mirror on her.

He lifted the mirror into the path of the ray and reflected it back at Dr Sloth. It struck him directly, and in an instant, he vanished!

Vira and Ward both gasped with relief at having evaded the danger, then stepped hastily apart.

"What happened to him?" Ward panted.

"He's somewhere, Vira replied with a shrug. I doubt something like that would bring down Dr. Sloth for good. At least he's not here now, though... And give me that back!"

Vira snatched the mirror back from Ward with a glare. Then her gaze softened a bit.

"Well... I guess you've saved me from Dr Sloth." She muttered with reluctance. "I suppose as a reward, my revenge on you is void."

She glanced away, embarrassed, and caught sight of the Rainbow Pool.

"Oh, but without Dr Sloth's help, I have no way to get you a Paintbrush or undo what's happened to you."

She looked back to Ward, and he looked down at himself, and his new splotchy purplish colour.

"So what are you going to do now that you look like this?" she asked...

How will this story end?

"Really? After all this and you still don't know what to do?" Vira scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Well, what would you do?" Ward countered with a frown. Vira shrugged.

"Get revenge. But I wouldn't be getting any ideas." She glared at Ward, taking a step away from him in case he got any ideas. But revenge was far from the now Mutant Lupe's mind.

Ward shook his head slowly. "Don't worry. I don't want any revenge." He sighed. "This all started because I couldn't control my anger..." He had been so obsessed with the way he looked that he had recklessly gotten himself mixed up in this mess. Even if his current form was due to Vira's involvement, this never would have happened if he hadn't always found trouble with the way he looked.

"I don't blame you for being angry. Like I said; these young Neopians do nothing but make fun of us." Vira muttered with crossed arms. But... That wasn't true, was it? Ward thought of the Neopians in Tyrannia. They didn't even bat an eye at him when he had been there. And the other Neopets who came to his door on Halloween had never mocked him to his face. They were just excited for a night of treats and costumes.

Ward looked up at Vira. Perhaps they weren't all that different; Ward could see himself becoming like Vira if he kept being selfish and focusing on the way he looked. But that was a lonely road, one without friends or happiness.

"I think I know exactly what I'm going to do." Ward smiled up at Vira and she frowned. "Whatever you're planning, I don't plan on sticking around to find out what you're going to do. Have fun being mocked." She disappeared in a puff of olive green smoke and Ward was left alone.

Ward began his trek from the Rainbow Pool back home. His lights were still off and his windows boarded up. With an effort, he began to take the planks used to board his windows down and tend to his yard. Perhaps he had no control over the way he looked, but he did have control over the way he felt about it. So he'd give others the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance and get to know them better.

And who knows? Maybe next year for Halloween, he'll dress up as a Faerie Lupe...

The End.