Opaka's New Look

by sushichou

Opaka the Shoyru was training hard for the Battledome. She wasn't even near to being the strongest pet in Neopia, but she still was getting better every day. The lab had even painted her a spiffy rainbow color, which boosted her self esteem. Unfortunately, Opaka didn't get to fight a lot. It seemed like the other NeoPets in her strength category didn't want to challenge her because she was a girl.

"You can't hit girls," they said. "Everyone knows that!"

So Opaka was very sad. She had worked all this time for nothing. Then one day, as she was flying home from the training school, Opaka caught sight of the old Scientist from the laboratory.

"Hi Opaka," he said. "You look sad, what's wrong?"

"None of the other pets will challenge me because I'm a girl! I don't want to be a boy, but I wish they'd take me seriously."

"Hmm," said the scientist. "Come by the lab tomorrow and I'll have something to help you."

With that he gave Opaka two more levels to cheer her up and sent her on her way. The next day, Opaka woke up extra early so she could go to the Lab before she went to school. The scientist was ready for her as he had promised. "Here is a potion that will make people see you as a worthy opponent. There is one negative effect, though--They will also see you as a boy, and believe you to always have been a boy."

Opaka was skeptical. She told the scientist that she'd like to think about it for a while and went on to her school. She thought about it all day, so much that her teachers were wondering why a usually attentive student was staring out the windows blankly.

That afternoon, Opaka went back to the lab. She told the scientist that she wanted to try it.

"Good, I'm glad you want to. Don't worry, anyone who really knows you will still know you as a girl. And I can change you back whenever you feel ready."

With that he handed Opaka the potion. She drank it and went home. When she woke up the next morning, she didn't feel any different. She ate her NeoCrunch Cereal with her family as usual, walked her little brother Kaeleon to his elementary school, and went off to her own classes at the Island Training School.

When she got to her homeroom, her teacher began calling off the names on his class list. "Miss Kingd0ng! Mr_NiteLite_! Mr. Opaka!"

Opaka was startled. She said "Here!" and then settled back down to think. That day her sparring matches were the most exhilarating she'd ever had. Her opponents really weren't going easy on her anymore! Opaka decided that the potion had been a good thing. And once she proved herself as a worthy warrior, she would go back to the lab and become herself again.

The End