| Also by Joey200010
Flowal pressed her pink nose against the cool glass. She
stared in awe at the purple ring, sitting royally on its red cushion throne. It
seemed to glow with power, drawing her green eyes to it the minute she entered
the Hidden Tower.
The skunk Usul was mesmerized. She exhaled with
a deep, longing sigh, misting the glass. Everything here was so beautiful, and
each thing more expensive than the last.
Suddenly, she felt somebody’s eyes on her back.
Turning slowly, sure enough there was Fyora, her lilac tinted eyes flashing
in warning.
Flowal giggled with embarrassment (she never
blushed), and hastily wiped her nose print off the display case with a soft
black paw.
“Sorry,” she apologized, grinning awkwardly.
“I was just looking at this ring.”
Fyora heaved a sigh, but then nodded slightly.
The Faerie Queen then gently turned around and glided over to a blue Cybunny,
who was carelessly attempting to play with a Yoyo of Death.
Flowal glanced one last time at the ring, but
then slowly made her way towards the next glass case, which contained a Mask
of Coltzan. She stared at that for quite a while, enthralled by its beauty,
until the amethyst-coloured door, which led into the Hidden Tower burst open.
Through it walked a small purple Acara, whom was holding the paw of a chubby
Christmas Meepit.
Flowal shuddered ever so slightly – Meepits gave
her the creeps. Her owner, Joey, had tried to force one upon her but Flowal
didn’t want a petpet that might scare people. She much preferred her three-headed
Bearog.
Flowal snapped out of her daydreams. Rabbit,
her Bearog! Where was he!? He had been sitting loyally at her feet a moment
ago.
“Rabbit, RABBIT!” she called loudly, making everybody
stare. Flowal was not in the least bit self-conscious.
A few moments later, Celandra, the Faerie Queen’s
maid, approached Flowal, holding the squirming petpet against her apron. “I
believe this is yours, Flowal? I found this little guy chewing on a Snow Faerie
doll.”
Flowal bit her lip, gathering the wheat-coloured
Bearog in her arms. “Sorry! I won’t bring him again,” she promised.
“Well you better not, or I might just feed him
some Slorg flakes,” chided the Gelert.
Flowal’s attention was then diverted to the purple
Acara with the Meepit.
The Acara was now leaning back against a stained-glass
window, muttering some untraceable words to her petpet. It was a rather odd
thing to do; talk to a creature that probably didn’t understand English at all
in the middle of a Queen’s shop of exquisite items.
Flowal shrugged, yawning. She was used to strange
interactions with petpets, having a little sister that enjoyed the company of
a rock. She decided that it was probably time to go now… before Joey become
worried about her. So the skunk Usul surveyed the Hidden Tower one last time,
and then strolled towards the door leading outside.
Normally, exiting the Hidden Tower would be
an uneventful thing. She’d walk throughout the mazes of glass cases until she
reached the door, then swing it open and step outside.
But then again, this day did not happen to be
normal.
Just as she was reaching the stained-glass window,
that purple Acara suddenly jabbed one paw out, blocking Flowal’s pathway. The
Usul did not see it, and she went flying into the air, and soon landed on the
lavender carpet with a thud!
After a few moments of bewilderment, the black-and-white
pet shot a glare up at the Acara.
“Why did you do that!?” she snapped, snatching
Rabbit (Who had landed a few feet in front of her) back into her grip.
The Acara puffed out her bottom lip, causing
an overdramatic frown to form on her face. “Do what?” the creature asked.
“Didn’t you just… trip me?” she asked in confusion,
dusting herself off briskly and trying to regain her composure. She removed
a piece of carpet fuzz from her fur, “because I’m pretty sure you did.”
“I didn’t see her fall over, did you Layaushi?”
the Acara asked her petpet, in mock surprise. The Christmas Meepit squeaked
an answer in the same tone.
“I… think I did,” Flowal voiced out loud, rubbing
the back of her head. She had been wrong about such things before.
“You must’ve lost your memory from the fall that
never happened.”
Flowal nodded, her face screwed up trying to
comprehend what was going on. It took too much effort, so she relaxed. Hadn’t
somebody told her that thinking gives you wrinkles, anyway?
“I’m probably wrong. Bye then,” Flowal said,
taking careful steps towards the door so as to avoid falling over again.
The Acara fell into step with her. “My name’s
Sareona, and this is Layaushi,” she introduced herself and her petpet.
“Oh, so now you introduce yourself? You’re really
messed up,” Flowal stated, abruptly stopping in her tracks. It was out of character
for her to start arguing with strangers, but she really hadn’t enjoyed the mouthful
of carpet.
Sareona scowled, obviously insulted by Flowal’s
remark. “You don’t have to be so rude,” she said.
Flowal snorted, rolling her eyes. “Rude? You’re
the one who purposely tripped me – I’m pretty sure that really happened -- and
now you’re calling me the rude one? I honestly don’t find this funny.”
The two stood silent for a moment, and the feeling
of rage lingered in the flower-scented air. Fyora somehow sensed this, and the
queen gracefully strode over to the pair.
“May I ask what is the matter?” she inquired,
her voice smooth like silk.
“Yeah, I’ll tell you what’s the matter. This
Acara tripped my Bearog and I and now denies it completely,” Flowal declared
accusingly.
“Did not!” Sareona yelped.
“Did too!”
“Did not!”
“Did too!”
“Did too!”
“Did not!”
“May you two please continue this nonsense outside?”
This was an order, not a question.
It was not wise to disobey the Faerie Queen.
With Rabbit cuddled snugly under one arm, Flowal stormed over to the door, yanked
it open and then burst outside. Sareona followed suit.
“You have some nerve,” Flowal began immediately.
Her arms were getting tired, so she put Rabbit down, and then clenched her fists
by her side.
“Oh yeah?” Sareona retaliated lamely.
The Usul huffed in annoyance, trying to think
of something clever to say. “This is stupid. We’re arguing over nothing!”
“Are not!”
“Are t--“
Flowal2000! There you are!” a black haired girl,
who was standing a few feet over, exclaimed. “I couldn’t find any carrots, so
I was thinking to myself, ‘Where are all the carrots!?’ Because, you know how
we usually have carrots? Then that got me wondering about where you and Rabbit
were…” She took a pause for breath. “Do you have any carrots with you?”
“Umm… no, Joey,” Flowal replied to her owner.
“Who’s this?” she asked curiously, looking at
Sareona.
“This is… Sareona, was it?” Flowal asked coolly.
Sareona held out a purple paw, smiling politely.
“I’m so glad to finally meet you! Flowal has told me SO much about you,” she
gushed.
Flowal blinked. “What?! No I haven’t!”
Joey ignored her. “Oh, I’m happy to meet another
one of my baby’s friends. Would you like to come over for lunch?”
“Oh, I’d love it! And Flowal would too… right?”
Sareona turned towards Flowal, smiling innocently.
“No… I mean… what the… I don’t even know you!”
the Usul exclaimed.
“Aww, no need to deny your friendships, Flowal!
Now c’mon and let’s eat some lunch!” Cheerfully, Joey started descending down
the giant-marble staircase leading from the Hidden Tower.
Sareona flashed a semi-wicked smile at Flowal,
but then with Layaushi by her side, galloped after her ‘friend’s’ owner. After
a few moments of puzzlement, Flowal did the same.
Joey mindlessly chattered about random things
during the 2-hour walk to her Neohome. The two pets walking with her stayed
mostly silent. They’d add in a few remarks here and there, but combined, they
talked a mere 5% percent of the conversation (If you could call it a conversation
at all).
“Ah, here’s our humble abode,” Joey announced,
as they approached 21829, Winding Wood Drive. “We’ve been doing some renovating.
Haven’t we Flowal? Come on in.”
“Yes, do come in,” Flowal said through gritted
teeth.
Sareona poked her tongue out when Joey’s back
was turned, and stepped inside onto the inviting marble floor. She immediately
tripped over a Robo Acara that was patrolling the hall.
With quick reflexes, Flowal caught her. The two
smiled at each other for a split second, at the irony that Flowal could have
let her “friend” fall like she had herself that morning. Then she let go of
her, as if she’d been zapped.
“Don’t touch me,” Sareona muttered.
“I won’t again, believe me,” Flowal said in disgust,
crossing her arms.
The purple Acara barred her teeth slightly in
reply, a result of having been born a Kougra.
“LUUUNCH!” Joey suddenly shrieked from the kitchen,
“I found the carrots!”
“Oh goody… carrots, again!” Flowal exclaimed.
Sareona was unable to tell if she was being sarcastic or not. “C’mon whatever-your-name
is. Joey’ll get antsy if we take too long.” She stomped away, and Sareona mimicked
her.
Joey was sitting at the kitchen table, flipping
through a copy of the Neopian Times as she chomped on a carrot. Next to her
sat a Baby Cybunny, and beside her was a Spotted Aisha.
“Where’s Rofal?” Flowal asked, plopping down
in one of three vacant chairs.
“Heh, that’s a funny story actually! Anna told
me that he went out to buy carrots!” she exclaimed.
“Oh –”
“Whose Anna?” Sareona interrupted, sliding into
the next empty seat.
“Ooh, why don’t you introduce your friend to
your siblings?” Joey suggested.
Flowal sighed. “Rofal’s my brother… he’s not
here right now. And that’s Anna, and that’s Grundioy,” she stated, jabbing her
paw first at the Baby Cybunny, and then at the Aisha.
“Who's dat?” Anna asked, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
“I’m Sareona… Flowal’s best friend!” Sareona’s
eyes glittered with amusement.
Flowal didn’t even bother to reply to that.
“I don’t like carrots,” Anna said, turning her
attention away from the stranger.
“That’s ridiculous!” Grundioy frowned. “How can
you not like carrots? You’re a Cybunny.”
Anna didn’t know, and she hopped out of her seat
and over to the kitchen cupboard to eat something else.
A few moments later, there was a loud BANG! of
the front door slamming. A silver Shoyru then flew into the kitchen, holding
armfuls of carrots. “Carrots! Carrots! I got ya carrots!”
He spilled them all onto the table. “You guys
should have been more specific. I got a faerie carrot, rotten carrot, carrot
stuffed pepper, chilled carrot, the exotic taokicarrot, some freshly tinned
carrots, a triple carrot sandwich, carrot with extra carrot on the side, a funky
carrot, organic carrot, golden car--“ he stopped, looking at Sareona. “Who are
you?”
She opened her mouth, but Flowal cut in. “This
is Sareona. She’s my best friend in all of Neopia.” They exchanged false smiles
and then turned back to him.
“Whatever,” he said, picking up a rotten carrot
and chewing on it.
Flowal’s mouth fell open. “Rofal, you can’t eat
THAT! It’s like, ammunition!”
He shrugged.
“I’m not hungry,” the Usul mumbled.
“Me either,” the Acara followed Flowal’s lead.
Flowal sighed, scooting her chair back and standing
up. “I’m gonna go to my room right now… c’mon Sareona.”
The two ‘friend’s’ trotted off.
They soon arrived
in Flowal’s room. They didn’t speak at first, and an uncomfortable-feeling silence
lingered in the bedroom air.
“Ugh!” Flowal finally exclaimed, throwing her
paws up into the air. “What do you want with me, Sareona? WHAT!?”
Sareona cocked her head, thinking. “I dunno,”
she replied.
“Okay, you just ‘dunno’? Define dunno for me!
Is dunno ‘Oh I crashed into you at the Hidden Tower and now I’m pretending to
be your best buddy’ or is it dunno ‘Heh! This is fun to mess with somebody’s
mind!’ Because it’s not fun Sareona! Not at all!” Flowal start panting, out
of breath.
Sareona took a deep breath. “Dunno,” she said,
“ I followed you because I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize about what? Tripping me! You could’ve
apologized there!”
“Not about that, Flowal. About something else…”
Sareona gulped, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.
Flowal stood there, a perplexed expression on
her face. “Apologize about what?”
“For… for being jealous.”
“Being… jealous?” the Usul inquired, tilting
her head to the side. She studied this strange purple pet, who was wringing
her paws uncomfortably.
“You see, I only hangout at the Hidden Tower
to drool over the items. I could never actually afford any.”
Flowal exclaimed, “That’s exactly why I go there!
If I every actually considered BUYING one of those items; Joey would be broke.
I go just to stare at them, until I get kicked out.”
Sareona flashed a tiny smile, barely there for
a second, but long enough. “I guess we don’t have so little in common.”
“I guess not.”
They stood in awkward silence for a few seconds,
but then Flowal spoke again. “Why are you pretending to be my friend?” she asked.
Sareona sighed. “It’s kind of odd. It’s just,
jealousy tends to capture me and I pretend to be friends with whoever I’m jealous
with as a way of… being noble myself, I suppose.”
Flowal cocked her head. “That’s kind of odd…
but I guess it does –”
Suddenly, the door to Flowal’s room creaked
open and in scuffed Layaushi. She moaned, staring longingly at Sareona.
“I-I think that Layaushi wants to go home. I’ll
see you later… maybe. Okay?” She hastily went over to the Meepit and scooped
it into her paws.
“Bye…” The skunk Usul waved slightly.
Sareona rushed out of the room.
Flowal stood quietly for a few minutes, deep
in thought. It had been a peculiar day; a random pet had followed her home,
staged a best friend act, and then just suddenly left. She sighed, flopping
down upon her bed. The Usul had a sudden strange urge to meet Sareona once again.
“I’ll be going back to the Hidden Tower tomorrow,”
she whispered, “please be there Sareona.”
The Next Day…
As soon as Flowal (who was wearing a tiara in attempt to look somewhat ‘noble’)
pushed open the heavy doors, she saw Sareona. The Acara was staring fixatedly
at a royal Uni. The pet was purchasing the ring that Flowal had been admiring
the day before. With a pang of sadness, the skunk Usul wondered if Sareona was
planning for this Uni to take her place.
Flowal cleared her throat. “Hi.” Surprisingly
she was a very good actress, and managed to keep a bright smile on her face.
Rabbit wasn’t with her today, for once, and she felt just the teeniest bit insecure
without her Bearog at her feet. But she wouldn’t let it show.
“H-hi,” Sareona replied.
The two pets walked slowly to a less occupied
space. “So… what now?”
There was a timid silence.
“I honestly don’t know. You look stupid in that
tiara,” Sareona responded, pointing her paw at the top of Flowal’s head.
Flowal grinned, straightening her glittering
crown, “Thanks. You look like a plum threw up on you.”
There was a pause while they smiled uneasily
at each other.
“So, do we hate each other?”
“Of course!”
“Do you wanna go have lunch?”
“Okay,” Sareona frowned, “but you’re paying.”
The friendly enemies exited the Tower, linking
arms. Fyora watched them leave and shook her head in wonder. “We sure do get
some strange pets in here.”
The End
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