"They've locked us in!" cried Jublet, bashing himself again the rock, trying
to dislodge it. It seemed to unfair! This was the third time their plan had
been foiled, and now it seemed they would never be able to try again.
Jublet slumped against the wall and looked around the dark, dark cave. He sniffed,
on the brink of crying.
"Dear Faeries, help us! Help us!" said the panicked Klik. Chacha
was the only one not holding back the tears. They were locked in--forever. Jublet
came to comfort her.
"I can't help but think," she stuttered, "What it would've been like... if
we had just been ourselves and told them how we felt."
"What do you mean?" said Queegon, standing up and walking over.
"I mean, first we stood on each other to look like one of the big NeoPets.
Then we painted ourselves to look like PetPets! Then we came to them under this
guise of big strong ruthless fighters, but that's not who we are. We're kind,
loving NeoPets, aren't we?"
"But... we had to set them straight," Jublet replied.
"Couldn't we have done that without aggression?" Chacha asked. Queegon looked
shamed.
"Oh, she's right," Queegon agreed, "I wish we could've found ourselves sooner.
If only we could go back in time."
"They'd realise we like them really," Jublet continued, "And
just because we're different, but it doesn't mean we're stupid, or hateful,
or mean."
"I totally screwed up, then," Queegon sighed.
"And we've probably given all the Jubjubs and Chias and Quiggles and Kikos
a bad name." Klik nodded.
"What's that rumbling?" interrupted Chacha.
"I don't know," said Jublet, listening, "Wait, what's that
light?"
A red line formed around the closed mouth of the cave. Quickly the four ran
to the back of the cave. The line got thicker and thicker until the whole stone
came crashing down, and daylight shone in.
After a few seconds, a face peeked in. It was a Poogle. Then a Kougra looked
in. Then a Buzz, then a Lenny, until about fifteen NeoPets were fighting for
a look. Finally, the Kougra spoke.
"Are you guys all right?" he asked, softly.
"Why do you care?" Chacha replied.
"Guys," explained the Kougra, "We, well, we heard your little
discussion. All this time we've thought you must be unlike us because you look
different. We've thought we're smarter than the little people but you are really
kindhearted. And after listening we realised that this wasn't the way we want
you to see us either. We're deeply, deeply sorry."
"You... mean it?" said Queegon in disbelief.
"Yes," the NeoPets all agreed.
"Please, forgive us. We'll never bully or discriminate against any person
again, big, small, fat, thin... I guess there's just no point," the Kougra
said.
"Yes, yes!" squealed Chacha immediately, "We accept your apology!"
"Oh, thank you!" said the Kougra cheerfully. Chacha was not a bit
hesitant as she bounded outside towards the intimidating big NeoPets in the
crowd. Nobody hit her, nobody teased or laughed at her. It was like heaven!
Eventually the other three summed up the courage to emerge too, and Klik was
especially surprised to find that nobody ate him.
And those four NeoPets led to the freedom of everybody's little pets, Zhia,
Quiggle, Kiko and Jubjub alike. And it's thanks to them that the NeoPets realise
that Neopia is a better place without prejudice. Maybe us humans should realise
that too!
The End | 
