A Real Battle: Part Two

by _ana_2

I was in the Battledome, the most awaited place in all of Neopia! For some, it meant fun. Battling pets to see who bests who. For others, the arena is an evil, terrible, violent, dangerous place which should not even exist. Right now, I didn't care what kind of place it was. I just wanted to stop the worrying that churned in my head. Just that morning, I had assured my pet, Valorie, of things that I was having to tell myself now. Now, Valorie faced a Koi, ready to fight, tail muscles tensed and ready to spring out. I held my breath, waiting for the...

"Ding!"

They were off! Before the Koi could move, Valorie lashed her tail out and smacked him hard across the face. Then she whipped out her rainbow gun and blasted the Koi with rainbow.

"Come on, Jim! Use your abilities and stuff!"

The Koi defended against some of the rainbows with a Wooden Shield and used Heal on himself, a 1st level Water ability. Then he grabbed a Wet Snowball. Valorie did also, and the battle became a snowball fight. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then, a Snowball splattered Valorie's face and she fell backward. I gasped. It was a Mud Snowball. The mud wouldn't let her see, unless...

"Valorie, use your Night Vision! I don't know if it'll work, but give it a shot!"

Valorie used her Night Vision, and was able to see through the mud. She grabbed her rainbow gun and fired at the Koi one last time to make him faint.

The referee took Valorie's tired, blue, Peophin hoof and held it up in the air. "The winner!" he shouted.

"Good job, Valorie!" I cried. Then was when I realized that a small crowd had accumulated around the fight. Had it really been that exciting? Valorie bounded over to me, a huge smile on her mud-streaked face. I took out my handkerchief and began to wipe the mud off, telling her how well she had done.

"Did you see? Did you see that big crowd of people that were watching? They came over and watched of their own accord! Was there supposed to be a crowd? Did I really fight that well?!"

"Yes, yes, I saw it all! You were very good! How about we-" I stopped as I saw the poor Koi being carried off in a stretcher with his owner sniffling sadly behind. I couldn't stand it when boys cried and I especially couldn't sit and watch a helpless NeoPet and not try to help it. Valorie nodded as if she knew what I was thinking. We went to catch up with the boy owner.

"Hey! Wait up!" I called. The boy ignored my calls as soon as he saw who it was. I grabbed a Green Healthshroom from my backpack.

"Please! I've got something that will help!" The boy looked at the Healthshroom and blinked. He stuttered.

"F-for me?" he asked.

"For your Koi. Promise you'll use it for that purpose only?"

"Of course! My Koi, Jim509.. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have him." I handed the boy the Green Shroom and he blinked again. Then he stuffed it in his pocket and pulled out some NP.

"Here," he said, handing me 200 NP, "It should pay for some of it. I know how much those mushrooms cost."

"No, no, no," I refused, shoving the money back into his hand, "I couldn't possibly take it. I've got enough NP and I surely don't need any more. Keep it. By the way, what's your name?"

"John Cummings. What's yours?"

"Anna Gettum. Cya around, John!"

John nodded and dashed off to his Koi, Jim. Then I noticed that Valorie was tugging softly on my shorts. I looked down and saw that her bright blue face had become flushed. I quickly picked her up in my arms.

"I don't feel so good," said Valorie.

"I know. You're pretty tired, huh? Okay, lets get you back home and you can have a Fuzzy Blue Negg, like I promised. How does that sound?" Valorie nodded and closed her tired eyes. I smiled a small smile and carried the sleeping Valorie carefully out of the Battledome

"Hurry up!" a Grarrl shouted urgently as I made my way out. I turned and glared hotly at him, making him shrink back a little. I giggled and carried Valorie the rest of the way home.

To be continued...