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Xueim sat in the coffee shop drinking coffee with marshmallows
reading Illusen's Novel. He had just finished shopping and decided to take a nice
long break. It was half price day and Xueim got a lot of shopping done. Five bags
full of books and some weapons sat on the floor at the mutant Lenny's feet. Nothing
the other pets around Xueim were saying interested him. The book and coffee were
good and the chair was comfy. Then a family of Kougras passed and something the
baby Kougra said caught his attention.
"Eww, Mommy what is that thing?"
"That's what happens to bad Neopets. They become
mutants."
"That's gross! I never want to be that ugly!"
Ugly. That word hit Xueim's heart like a blast
from the Snowager. He stared at his book but didn't really see it. What that
baby Kougra said echoed though his head. Xueim paid for his drink, gathered
up his bags, and left. Sneers followed the mutant Lenny until he reached the
safety of his Neohome.
"Holy!" Xueim called.
When his owner did not answer he went to his
room where he found a note on his bed. It turns out she left to go explore and
pick up some stuff for dinner. Xueim smiled gently at the thought of dinner
and put his books neatly on his stone shelf. He yawned and sat on his bed wanting
so badly to talk to Holy but needing to calm down first otherwise she'd worry.
Xueim laid his head on his pillow and closed his eyes. Soon he drifted into
a warm comfortable sleep.
"Xu Xu! Wake up."
Xueim opened his eyes to see Holy. He sat up
opening his wings wide and yawning. Holy smiled warmly, patted his head then
hugged him. Some of the coldness around Xueims heart melted as his beloved owner
hugged him. He smiled and hugged her back. Holy stood and so did Xueim. Holy
frowned some and looked at him.
"Xu Xu, are you okay?"
"Aye, I'm okay." Xueim decided to quickly change
the subject. "What's for dinner? I'm starved."
"Well I got some Grackle Stuffed Turkey, Pyramidbread
for dinner. And for dessert some love berries, as well as super Juicy," Holy
said. "I know how much you love those berries."
"Great. That sounds yummy!"
"Holy? Can I talk to you about something?"
Holy had just set a big bowl of berries on the
table and was now getting some milkshakes. "Sure, Xu Xu"
Xuiem sighed and blurted out what he wanted
to say. "Holy, I want to be painted a different color."
This was obviously the last thing Holy had expected
to hear. She dropped the milkshakes to the floor with a loud crash. She looked
at Xueim not believing what she just heard. She loved Xuiem the way he was.
Loved the fact that he was different. Holy sighed deeply and after minute she
spoke.
"Are you sure, Xueim?"
"Aye. I'm sick of all the other Neopets and
Petpets running and sneering when I walk down the street." Xueim sighed. "I
want a friend."
"Xu Xu, not everybody runs or sneers," Holy
said warmly. "Aye, they do! I want to be handsome like I used to be!" Xueim
crossed his arms.
Holy rubbed her head. It's true he was handsome
at one point. He was a little Skunk Poogle and many adored him. Then after Holy
brought a potion home, Xueims curiosity got the better of him and he drank it.
The next thing he knew, he was a mutant Lenny. He liked it at first but then
grew to hate it. Holy had always loved him as he was still the same Xueim. Holy
sighed and spoke softly.
"Alright, Xueim. If that's what you really want.
Then we'll go get you a paintbrush tomorrow. What color?"
"Baby! Everybody thinks the babies are cute!
I know they sell the paintbrushes at the Hidden Tower, too!" Xueim said happily!
"Okay… go to bed and we'll leave early tomorrow
to get you painted."
Xueim hugged Holy and ran to bed. Holy sat on
the couch and sighed softly. She wished Xueim would stay they way he was. She
loved they way he looked, but she wanted to see him happy. She pulled a box
out from under the sofa and opened the lid. She smiled and petted a little Warf's
head. The Warf smiled and nuzzled her hand. She set the Warf on the couch and
whispered for him to wake Xueim tomorrow. She gave him a blanket and went to
bed herself hoping Xuiem would like the Warf.
The next day, Xueim awoke to a slight weight
on his back. He opened his eyes and look at what was on him. Xueim's eyes lit
up when he saw the little Warf wagging his tail. Xueim hugged him and the Warf
licked his face apparently happy to see him. Xueim was amazed the Warf wasn't
running away, but didn't really care either. The Warf hiccuped and Xueim laughed.
"I'll call you Hiccup!" Xueim beamed.
"So my name's Hiccup?" the Warf asked.
"Aye! Now lets go find Holy! I am to be painted
today!" Xueim stood holding his new friend.
"Painted? But why? You look so cool!" The Warf
wagged his tail.
Xueim shook his head and walked around the house
looking for Holy. He found her eating breakfast and joined her. Both Xueim and
Hiccup ate fast. Hiccup wanted to explore and Xueim wanted his new paintbrush.
Holy finished first and started the dishes. Xueim and Hiccup brought their dishes
over and helped Holy.
"Okay, are you both ready?" Holy asked when
the dishes were done.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Xueim said anxiously.
Finally, they were in Faerieland. Holy handed
Xueim a bag of 600,000 Neopoints and he began to climb. Hiccup waited with Holy
watching Xueim. Xueim had the Neopoints clamped tightly in his beak and he climbed
higher and higher. Soon he reached the Hidden Tower. He smiled and slowly headed
towards it then froze. He thought about Hiccup and how he liked the way he looked
and how Holy called him Xueim while talking about his being repainted instead
of calling him Xu Xu like normal. Slowly he headed inside.
"I really wish he wasn't doing this," Holy said
to Hiccup.
"Me too. I like him that way," Hiccup sighed.
"Oh! Look!" Holy pointed to something coming
down. "That's Xueim now."
"Oh!" Hiccup wagged his tail and Holy looked
stunned.
What landed before them was not a baby Lenny
like they had figured. What landed was a Mutant Lenny. Holy hugged Xueim as
did Hiccup. Both owner and Petpet were beaming with joy. Even Xueim beamed hugging
them back, the coldness around his heart melting.
"What made you change your mind?" Hiccup asked.
"You guys," Xueim smiled. "You two are my friends.
You don't run or sneer, you like me for who I am. That's all that should matter."
"And we always will. No matter how many times
you change, you'll always be my Xu Xu."
The End
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