Today, Xandor was a Spotted Gnorbu. "Yeah," he said. He glanced down at the thick ruff around his neck. "I've been what, a dozen different kinds of species and colours? Nothing feels right, Kor. Nothing feels like me."

The cross-traffic cleared and the two friends proceeded through the intersection, caught up in the flood of Neopians headed south toward the Faerie Festival grounds.

"I've even been spending a lot of time with the Shop Wizard," he said. "I've tried all the morphing potions I can afford, too. Rainbow Aisha. Strawberry Techo. I even spent a whole week as a Darigan Quiggle, and if you ever hear me say that I wouldn't mind being Darigan again...." He shook his mane. "They say the Fountain Faerie was very generous last year. If I can just get a quest from her, I'm sure I can figure myself out."

A commotion up ahead brought traffic to a standstill. Korrish tried to peer over the crowd to see what was going on, but a towering Eyrie blocked her view.

"We'll get you to Faerieland," she promised her friend, stepping off the road to get a better look.

Ahead of them, she saw....

Xandor groaned behind her, having peered around the Eyrie as well. “You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ll be here half the day before we can check in.”

“It’s only like this the first day,” said the Eyrie in front of them, ruffling his golden feathers as he shifted the stack of items in his hands. Korrish noticed several omelettes, a stack of trading cards, and a rather ugly looking Faerie plushie with Sloth’s face. “Don’t you remember last year? There’s always a frenzy of activity when the event begins.”

“We really didn’t participate last year,” Xandor confessed.

Several other Neopians in line ahead of them looked back with a scandalous look on their face.

“But,” Korrish said loudly, “my friend is hoping for a quest from the Fountain Faerie. So here we are.”

The Eyrie eyed Xandor up and down. “Yes, I can see why he’d be desperate to change his appearance. You’d be much better off recycling your junk though.”

“I heard about the recycling,” Xandor said. “But I didn’t bring any junk.”

The Eyrie snapped his beak irritably. “It’s the best part of the event. You get the chance to win items worth millions of Neopoints.”

“Millions?” Xandor squeaked.

He nodded his golden head. “Try over there,” he offered, pointed his feathered wing to a strip of makeshift shops lining the other side of the street. Clearly some entrepreneurial Neopians were taking advantage of the demand and were selling recyclable items.

Xandor exchanged a look with Korrish. He sighed and grumbled, “I’ll be right back.”

He stepped out of line and surveyed the overpriced items, debating whether he felt lucky enough to spend his remaining sum of money. As he was about to return to Korrish and stick with his original plan, one particular item on a table caught his eye…

"Excuse me. How much is this... morphing potion? And what will I turn into if I drink this?"

The Elderly Kacheek looked slowly at the potion and then at Xandor.

"Oh deary, I found that on the road. There’s no info on it, and I’m looking to make some extra Neopoints to buy my grandchildren gifts. How about just 500 Neopoints?"

He decided to buy it, since it was shockingly cheap and he would still have some Neopoints leftover to buy something to recycle. He thought he saw a strange glimmer in the Elderly Kacheek’s eyes as she took his coins, but he pushed that thought away.

He walked over to Korrish and showed her the potion, though she was not as excited as he expected.

"Are you mad!? You don't even know what you’ll turn into! What did the seller say?"

Xandor shrugged and answered, "The seller said she had no idea, she found it on the road on the way here... Anyways it’s fine! If I turn into a strange colour then the Lab Ray or hopefully a Fountain Faerie quest will turn me into something better. Also we’re going to have to wait in this long line to Faerieland, so might as well make it interesting!"

Without any further hesitation, he drank the unknown potion.

For a few moments he didn’t feel anything at all, making him wonder if it was just some kind of beverage.

However, suddenly he started to feel...

He raised his hands to cover his mouth as more bile rose to his throat. Except now he had two purple claws. He looked to his friend, who somehow seemed clearer as if his vision had improved, gaping at him.

"What is it? I'm not Darigan again, am I?"

Korrish looked Xandor up and down, "Uh...no. But hey, at least we still have the Fountain Faerie!" He smiled awkwardly.

Xandor looked at the empty bottle in his hand. It was just an orange coloured morphing potion. How bad could it be? He pulled his red mirror out, and gasped.

No wonder he thought his vision improved. Xandor had become a Mutant Usul! He had bought a Transmogrification potion.

He ran back to the stall he bought it from. It was empty. All the wares were gone. The Elderly Kacheek nowhere in sight.

Only a single item was left behind on the ground. Xandor bent closer to check it out and saw...

Xandor picked it up to examine the brush further. The paint was all used up, with only a single drop of grey-coloured paint left behind. The handle was rounded at the top in the shape of a cane and the base was adorned with square-rimmed glasses.

“This looks like a Get Off My Lawn Paint Brush… Do you think she just used this?” the newly morphed Usul asked Korrish as he looked around his surroundings again in case the Kacheek was still nearby.

Korrish shrugged and grabbed the brush to look it over herself. “Maybe she used it for a disguise? Easier to prey on unsuspecting victims. I guess she did come off harmless. But what is she trying to pull?”

The pair had their conversation interrupted by a shrill shriek that rang across the crowd. “Monster! There’s a monster over by the shops! Look at it’s glowing eyes and giant tooth – they’re going to eat me!”

Xandor looked around and didn’t see any kind of monster or threat nearby. “Wait a second, are they talking about me?” he asked, looking at Korrish. He turned towards the crowd with his arms held up. “Listen, this is just a misunderstand-” the Mutant Usul started to say before he was cut off.

The crowd devolved into chaos. Neopians broke from their structured lines and were fleeing in all directions, screaming and pushing to escape the proposed danger.

Xandor and Korrish looked at each other in bewilderment. “Well, I guess that’s one way to get to the front. We should get in quick, before they all start coming back!” Korrish eagerly suggested, and together they made their way towards the Faerie Festival…

As the duo rushed across the now empty pink cobblestone path, Xandor made a brave attempt to tamper down the hurt feeling of being shunned and feared in his current state.

"We're finally here!" Korrish cheered, grabbing a neatly folded brochure from a stack by the entrance gate. "Okay, so lots of activities we can partake in. Wheel of Excitement, Free the Faeries, Illusen's Glade, Jhudora's Bluff, Faerie Quests..."

"Faerie Quests," Xandor blurted out. "That's what we need. Look at me!" He gestured towards his mutated form with an unhappy sigh before taking a deep breath and stepping forward to accept a quest.

Korrish immediately pulled him back and dragged him to a side.

"Hang on a sec, wait," the Blue Kau said breathlessly. "We haven't formulated a plan. You've tried all kinds of paintbrushes and morphing potions and haven't found the right fit. If you get a Fountain Faerie Quest, how will you know what colour to select? And do you even want to be an Usul? Also, what if you don't get her quest - then what?"

Xandor shrugged hesitantly. "All good points and I'll admit I didn't envision being an Usul. But no species seems to feel right anyway. I think more than the quest, I need Naia's wisdom. Surely, she's seen it all. I think she can help me find myself."

With that determined declaration, he joined the short line of Neopets waiting for a quest. Soon it was his turn and he received a....

Usuki? He was a Usul, but... could this be a sign?

"Naia," the new Usul humbly started, "I seek your sage wisdom--"

"Come on, come on, move it along!" shouted Aethia as she gestured toward Xandor. "We have a long line and the big girl faeries are very busy giving quests and receiving items."

Korrish accepted her Battle Faerie quest and they prepared to leave the cluster of Neopets. Xandor was dejected that he was ushered away before he could even finish his sentence.

"Come visit me at my Fountain after you've brought me your item, we'll talk then!" the Fountain Faerie called to him as he left.

The Usul brightened and nodded determinedly. "Let's get that Usuki Campground Play Set," he started, turning to face his companion. "I HAVE to talk with Naia..."

They made it to the Shop Wizard within the hour and, once again, the long line of Neopets cleared out at the first sight of the Mutant Usul. At this point, Xandor’s determination overcame any shame he felt in scaring off the crowd. Honestly, it was starting to feel like a special privilege to skip the line.

“Hello, Shop Wizard,” he said, out of breath from hurrying towards the wizard’s hat-shaped building. His Blue Kau friend panted behind him, catching her breath with her hooves on her knees. “Could I have you… Search for a Usuki Campground Play Set, please?”

“Yes, and…” Korrish began, still breathing heavily. “Could you search for… A Chocolate Ice Cream… For me?”

“Give me a moment…” the JubJub Wizard began. “Alright. I’ve found a store that carries them both. It’s called the Usuki Mall & Food Court.”

“Thank you!” the pair announced in gratitude as they walked out of the door.

The Usuki Mall & Food Court was located just a few streets away from the wizard’s hut, so it didn’t take them long to get there.

Once through the door, Xandor stopped frozen in his tracks. Behind the counter was the most beautiful Usul he had ever seen. She had flowing purple and green hair with blushed cheeks and an adorably sloped nose. The way she moved was magical and light. Korrish paused, realizing her friend hadn’t kept following her.

“What’s the matter, Xandor?” the Kau asked, concerned.

“I… I think I know what I want to use my dip in the Rainbow Fountain for…” he said, tears welling in his eyes…

How will this story end?

Xandor was mesmerized as he bought the item. "Can you... tell me what it's like to be... a Usukigirl?" he asked wide-eyed.

"Oh, I love it," the Usukigirl proprietor replied. "I used to be shy, unhappy, and lacked confidence in myself. And, frankly, just painting myself Usuki didn't help me overcome those, of course." She frowned -- even her frown was kawaii cute, Xandor observed. "But it gave me the push to seek to improve myself. Being painted Usuki forced a new outlook onto me. It took some getting used to, but soon enough I felt as inwardly bold and dare I say magical as my colour had me outwardly present myself." She smiled and ran her paw through her long hair, which responded with a beautiful flounce. "Sure, I spend a week's worth of salary on haircare products each month but it's SO worth it."

Korrish caught up to him and paid for her Chocolate Ice Cream.

"I've... never really felt comfortable being, well, anyone," the Mutant Usul replied, hesitant to be vulnerable. "I've tried so many species and colour combos, but nothing really felt... right." His face brightened. "But then I saw you, and everything suddenly clicked for me. I want to be like you!"

She grinned ecstatically at him and batted her eyelashes. "Well, make sure you prioritize not being anyone but simply you! Beyond that, I think you would make a lovely Usukigirl! At least, what's the harm in trying it out?"

***

Xandor and Korrish waited in the line for turning in requested items to the faeries. Thankfully, it was shorter, but Xandor could barely contain his excitement. He gave the Usuki Campground Play Set to Naia, and -- much to the chagrin of other Fountain Faerie questers in the line -- he immediately agreed to go with her to her Rainbow Fountain. Korrish got a tidy stat boost from Aethia and joined him there.

"Thanks for completing that quest for me, I really appreciate it!" Naia exclaimed when they got there. "Do you have a colour in mind?"

"I want to..." He paused. Did it sound silly? Could he really be a Usukigirl?

Korrish nodded determinedly and nudged her friend forward.

"A Usukigirl!" the Usul shouted as happy tears again welled in his eyes.

"I knew you were looking not only for a new colour, but to find the truest reflection of yourself." Naia's eyes sparkled. "And I intuited correctly when I sent you on your quest for a Usuki item."

A surge of excitement coursed through Xandor. So the item HAD been deliberate! Naia was watching out for him!

Yet, the Fountain Faerie frowned. "Alas... Usuki is not one of the colours that my fountain can naturally paint Neopets."

Xandor deflated and his tears became melancholy sniffles. Korrish gave him a hug.

"However," the Fountain Faerie continued with a barely perceptible smile, "this almost makes your situation better."

"H-how?" he asked in disbelief.

"From a distance, I saw you drink that potion my off-kilter Faerieland neighbour left behind, that turned you into a Mutant Usul," Naia observed. "I'm sure you've probably been taking morphing potions like crazy. But this... becoming the Usukigirl you were always destined to be... that will take time." She smiled. "It won't be a 'quick fix' like you've become accustomed to. It won't be something you can just try on and then shed a week later. No, every hard-earned Neopoint you acquire to buy that Usuki Paint Brush, you're going to think, 'yeah, I'm putting in the effort and readying myself to become the Neopet I was born to be.' And it'll make it all the sweeter when you get there."

He stopped crying. That made sense... didn't it?

"And, I want to support you every step of the way," Naia added, raising her eyebrows knowingly. "Let me introduce you to the Lab Ray Scorchio for a battle. When you're ready, of course."

Xandor hugged Naia, and Korrish joined in. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for me!" he said.

"You're welcome," Naia finished with a wide smile.

The Usul and the Kau walked the path away from the Rainbow Fountain.

"So... what next?" Korrish asked him.

"I should probably get some sort of job. Take Naia's advice and starting earning some Neopoints." The Usul's face brightened. "OH! Maybe I can get a job apprenticing at the Grooming Parlour? The Usul there could teach me some tricks about how to keep long flowy hair in check!"

Korrish chuckled. "Xandor, you're going to be a great Usukigirl."

The End.