Fabric & Thread: Tale of a Plushie Lupe

      As was often the case these days, Agatha was working with the other healers following another raid attack on the city. Malicious attacks, especially at the outskirts of Altador, were becoming common. As the gold of Altador increased, so did the jealousy of neighbouring warmongers, eager to take over the power that the city had amassed.

      There were many injured Neopets during the battle, and Agatha and the other healers were tending to the wounded in the field, armed with bandages and Healing Potions. Agatha was gently treating a wounded Techo soldier by wrapping his arm, her digging claws working deftly. She had worked for so long and with such concentration, she didn't realize that she had injured herself on a weapon while tending to the soldiers. It wasn't until another healer pointed out the injury to her, that Agatha realized she had an injury along her forearm, likely from removing a blade from a wounded Neopet. She clutched a paw to it and tried to wrap it herself, unwilling to pause for long, as other Neopets needed her healing abilities.

      It was then that a glowing light emerged from above onto the field of aid tents, causing all Neopets, both healers and the wounded, to look up in wonder. Agatha herself was too preoccupied to notice. Down floated Siyana, the famous Light Faerie of Neopian lore, returning from the field of battle. The Faerie flew on iridescent wings, emanating a yellow glow as many Light Faeries did. She often provided strategic advice and served on The Council of Altador as an important decision maker. Siyana approached Agatha as the Bori healer finally noticed the Faerie's presence.

      "Oh! I-I..." stammered Agatha, caught unaware by such a highly regarded hero.

      "Say nothing, young Bori – I can see you are a true healer and dedicated to your craft. We will need Neopets such as yourself, and I admire your dedication and skill." Siyana reached out and briefly touched Agatha's forearm, looking gently into the Neopet's eyes.

      "Take this, to always remember that your skills are honoured," continued the Faerie, taking a piece of her own yellow gown and ripping a shred of fabric from it, tying it over Agatha's injury and binding it. "This will heal you."

          "Thank you," was all that Agatha could reply, feeling the warmth of the Faerie's blessing in her chest.

      With not another word, Siyana continued on her mission through Altador castle. Sometime after, Agatha became known as the most skilled healer that Altador had ever known. She always kept the silky gold fabric from Siyana wrapped on her person, as a reminder of the Faerie's blessing. Of course, Agatha passed down not only the fabric but her healing skills to all Bori in her family tree.

      Many decades later, a young Donny held the soft fabric in his hands, the garment faded but still gently glittering in the light. It felt like the softest silk but was incredibly strong. Donny knew his family wanted him to become a healer like the rest of the family line, but he had chosen a wildly different path – the black Babaa of the family. Were they disappointed in his choices? He wondered for a moment before taking the yellow fabric with him to his working desk. Well, no matter. The decisions he made would amount to something important, he was sure of it.

      *****

     Sometime later, Donny was again returning to faded memories. They always seemed to take hold of him in the winter months, wrapping around his mind like a never-ending blizzard. This time he was looking for different objects in his belongings.

      Digging through the ancient chest again, he was looking for old receipts and order forms, sorting out some business for the Toy Repair Shop. That Tax Beast was always after him, for the meagre amount of profit he made, and he wanted to make sure his chequebook was in order. It was here, pulling through massive stacks of paperwork, that he accidentally brushed against a roll of blue, checkered fabric, the soft flannel tickling his claws. He had to pause, suddenly being filled with many emotions.

          Donny picked up the soft fabric. It was dark and light checkered in pattern, and flannel in fabric type. It was a baby blanket. He had not thought of it in many years. He brought the blanket to his cheek to hold it there as he closed his eyes and remembered.

      *******

      It was a long time ago, but Donny was not by himself back then. He still lived in the same cabin and tended to the same fire. However, in his paws he held a small, young red Bori, wrapped up tight against the cold in a blue blanket. He spent much time and effort after this young Bori, who seemed unable to gain the strength to run around in the snow like the other Neopets. She coughs slightly, as Donny makes adjustments to the wood piled in the fireplace. Its an exceptionally cold blizzard this year.

      Of course, they had made many trips to the Snow Faerie, but those remedies never seemed to last. Special foods, magic items, blessings from the Faeries themselves all came and went, and his young daughter never fully healed. During their last visit, the Snow Faerie calmly put a hand on Donny's shoulder and shook her head. There was nothing else to do.

      Donny spent the rest of his time crudely crafting a Red Chia Plushie for his young Bori. It was his first attempt, and of course the plush ended up being lopsided, with a bit of a crooked grin. When it was presented to his daughter, she loved it and held onto it with glee.

      Donny never forgot how the experience made him feel. He knew then that he had to spend the rest of his life chasing that feeling. He wanted to improve the lives of young Neopets. Later, he carefully folded and packed the blue blanket away, not wanting to relive the memories but unable to get rid of them. Maybe in the future there would be some use for it, but right now, he could not bear to remember.

     *****

     Yarnfuzz listened to his tale in awe, unaware of how she came about. Donny wiped a single tear from his face as he finished the story, not expecting to experience such emotions from sharing it. Yarnfuzz felt a warmth emanate from her Plushie core, as she embraced the grumpy Bori in a hug. She took a look at her own body, made primarily from warm red wool, and her clumsy paws in tough green fabric suddenly seemed different to her – she was part of Neopian history now. Her chest was indeed a familiar silky fabric, with sparkles that were only revealed in the light. Yarnfuzz used a paw to rub one ear, feeling the soft blue fabric there.

          "Thank you for telling me, Donny. It means a lot to me," she continued with emotion, as the Bori tried to wave her away.

      "It's nothing, it's nothing. You're just very special to me," continued Donny, eager to move on after showing some vulnerability. He was, however, very proud of his work and of Yarnfuzz.

      Donny leaned back in his chair in front of the fire and thought back to all the experiences he had in Terror Mountain since coming here. All the Neopets he had helped, directly or indirectly... Even Yarnfuzz was his own creation unleashed on the world. He hoped she would continue to help Neopets, too. While it didn't happen often, the suggestion of a smile crept up the old Bori's face as he sat there, thinking about the past and the present.

      The Plushie Lupe was unphased and bound up and down the cabin floor with excitement. "Does this mean you'll start teaching me the toy shop trade?" she exclaimed with eagerness.

      "I didn't say anything about that!" grumbled Donny, back to his old self.

      Yarnfuzz put her big Plushie paws on the Bori, "Oh please, Donny, please!", she howled with her best Baby Lupe eyes.

          "I want to make a plushie, first!" she continued. Donny finally acquiesced and pulled out the red Gnorbu wool. "Oh, all right, then. Get the good thread for this one..."

      That night, the two spent the entire evening at the old wooden work desk, carefully measuring out and sewing with bright red Gnorbu wool. Yarnfuzz's first creation would be a Red Chia Plush.

     The End.