A Happy New Year

      The wide-eyed Quiggle shouted out into the darkness just as an egg almost fell onto his head. He thankfully caught it just in the nick of time and noticed it was actually a Baby Pteri. He looked up and saw another Pteri bowing its head in apology and flying down to him in a panic.

      “You saved my baby! I'm so sorry! He loves rolling around! Thank you!” He handed the egg back to his grateful mother and waved as she carefully flew away.

      It's okay, he thought to himself cheerfully. This would definitely be a great and lucky year for him, unlike the previous year, and the year before that; also, the year before that; well, every single year of his life.

      He hugged his friends at the party and looked at the confetti and fireworks swirling around in the sky. He took a sip of his drink, then promptly spit it out. A wet and scared-looking Mootix looked up at him and smiled weakly.

      “Sorry! I fell in your drink and couldn't get out! Thank you for not drinking me!”

      As the Mootix slowly moved across the table, Alfred took a deep breath and reminded himself to stay positive. He bid his friends goodbye and headed home in the darkness, thinking of all the things he wanted to try this year.

      He wanted to read more books and get that trophy; he wanted to finally travel to Mystery Island, where his parents came from; he wanted to learn how to cook; and he wanted to learn how to play Gormball.

      He skipped happily in the darkness until he bumped into a Grey Yurble sitting in the middle of the sidewalk. Of course, Grey Neopians always looked sad, but this particular fellow looked like all the light had been sucked out of him.

      “Um, sorry for almost tripping over you. Happy New Year! Uh, are you okay?”

      The Yurble did not look up. He continued to stare at a strange-looking paint brush in his hands.

      “I'm Alfred... What's your name? If you need some help, I'll try to do whatever I can...”

      Alfred thought back to what he used to be like. Last year, he would have never helped this sad Yurble; instead, he would have complained about him being in the middle of the road and walked away. Not this year though!

      By chance, a few weeks ago, he had stumbled upon a book called “You Can Be Happy” for sale at the bookshop. It was just 100 Neopoints, so he decided to buy it.

      He didn't think much of the book at first glance - he just wanted something to pass the time. However, to his great surprise, the book had moved his stale heart. For so long, he had felt angry at the world for all the unlucky things that seemed to happen to him, yet that all changed when he read the book.

      He learned that what you put out into the world is what you receive. He was nothing but negative and bitter, expecting something bad to happen around every corner, and it did. Even when good things happened, he always found something to complain about. He never saw the positive side of any event.

      Even earlier today, with the Pteri and Mootix – last year, he would have grumbled about what had happened, but now he was thankful for the chance to help those two.

      He sat down next to the Yurble, ready to spread the knowledge he had learned from the book when they finally locked eyes.

      Slowly, the Grey Yurble spoke. “I'm Ozzy...”

      “Ozzy, what a nice name! Umm... Whatever you're going through, it's okay! Remember to look on the bright side! It's the New Year, which means a world of opportunities!”

      To Alfred's surprise, the sad Grey eyes quickly turned menacing. He felt the blazing anger resonate from the Yurble's body and suffocate him.

      “Look...on...the...BRIGHT SIDE?! You have no idea what I've been through. Would you tell someone with a broken arm to look on the bright side? Would you tell someone with a fever to stay positive? I don't need your silly words to heal. I need to spread my sadness. I need to make everyone understand.”

      Alfred saw dark mist emanate from the strange paint brush and realised this might be the Neopian responsible for the lands turning Grey. Neopia Central was already Grey, yet still, somehow, he felt it turn even more Grey. He quickly backed away from Ozzy, but stayed close enough so he could still hear his words.

      “I'm sorry, I know it can be annoying to hear what I just said... I was just excited to share some things I recently read, but you're right. I don't know what you have gone through in your life, and as a Grey Neopian. I know it takes more than just changing your mindset. Even when you look on the bright side, bad things might still happen. There may be days when you still want to cry, and that's okay! Cry and cry and cry, and then try again... Life isn't easy at all...but... It's worth it, though! Especially when I'm with my friends and family, I feel lighter... Ozzy, let's be friends! We'll work on this together! I will listen to whatever you want to talk about... Oh, and I'll lend you this great book I found!”

      Thankfully, the dark mist subsided, and the Yurble seemed to relax a bit.

      He quietly asked, “What book? I used to like reading with my sister...”

      “It's called, ‘You Can Be Happy.’ It changed my life! And it's true! Ozzy, you can be happy someday soon as well!”

      Alfred saw tears flow down the Yurble's dark Grey face as Ozzy sobbed into his paws. “I'm sorry. Those words I said weren't really my words... I want to be with my sister again, but I've ruined everything with her...”

      Alfred walked up to Ozzy and put a reassuring paw on his back. “No! I'm certain you didn't ruin anything! You'd be surprised how forgiving Neopians are! I wasn't very nice to some of my friends during my lowest moments, and they never left me. When I finally started to change for the better, they were nothing but happy for my journey! I'm sure your sister will be the same!”

      Alfred was happy to see his new friend finally smile a little. “That's the spirit! Let's go for a walk! My place is right next to the Neolodge, so I...”

      Before he could finish his sentence, a blast sent him flying onto the ground. He looked up and saw an Acara appear in the darkness next to Ozzy. She was both beautiful and grotesque, though her sneer and laughter immediately told him what kind of Neopian she was.

      “I've been looking for you, Ozzy. Let's go, we've got work to do for the New Year!”

      The Acara took a long look at Alfred before laughing even louder than before.

      “You can be happy someday soon!? Don't be ridiculous! What a cruel thing to tell young Ozzy here. I'm the one who is actually helping him heal. I am giving him a route to release his anger and sadness. And together, we are changing Neopia for the better. Don't get in our way.”

      Alfred saw the second blast before he was knocked out cold. He woke up groggy and confused on a bench with the sun shining down on him. He looked around and saw Neopians going about their business, occasionally glancing at him and whispering.

      He sat up and swiftly walked home, wondering where Ozzy and that Acara went.

      When he arrived home, he collapsed onto his bed and looked up at the ceiling. Before falling asleep, he took out his copy of “You Can Be Happy” and put it on his front porch, along with the note, “For Ozzy.”

      He didn't know if Ozzy would really come, but he hoped for the best.

     The End.