The Baby Problem

      Ever since Luthivèra had been painted Maraquan, swimming and anything to do with water had come naturally to her. When her sister Ewayènna was painted Faerie, she had spent a lot of time hovering, flying, and gliding in the wind. Unfortunately, little Mistletoe, their little sister, couldn't run, fly, swim, read, or even speak properly. She had been zapped by Boochi, and she was to remain a child forever.

      Mistletoe pouted. "I can't!" she grumbled. "Don't know howta swim."

      Luthivèra and Ewayènna simultaneously groaned. They remembered teaching their sister how to swim a few weeks ago. Since then, Mistletoe had always been the fastest swimmer. But that was before Boochi.

      Luthivèra scowled to herself and cursed the little Baby Bruce with a variety of words that would've made her owner, Adelaide, faint. "Never mind," she grumbled. "Let's just go back to our Neohome, I guess."

      Ewayènna sighed as well. She hadn't had fun with her sisters ever since Mistletoe had been zapped Baby. The three glided, swam, and crawled back to their cozy mansion, 51856 Faerie Queen's Crown, Fyora's Castle.

      ~*~

     "Well, what are we going to have for dinner tonight?" said the cheerful voice of their owner, Adelaide. Adelaide was a very tall girl with hazelnut colored hair and toffee colored eyes. She was very kind, not to mention very rich.

      "I just want a carrot and pea omelette," grumbled Luthivèra, referring to her LEAST favorite food. She only ate omelettes when they absolutely had nothing else to eat. Luthivèra was folding her long tail behind her when Ewayènna growled: "Same for me," while tucking her hooves underneath her.

      Adelaide was very surprised. Her two pampered and spoiled Neopets NEVER had omelettes or jellies for dinner! They only had healthy and nutritious gourmet food, and they were against eating any cheap Tombola food or any kind of other 'regular' food. For example, just the other night, Ewayènna had a Wocky Loaf (20,000 Neopoints) and Luthivèra had a Refreshing Peophin Burger (1,000 Neopoints).

      "And…some Pea and Ham Baby Food for Mistletoe," their owner sighed, cranking a can opener out of a drawer and trying desperately to pry open the stubborn green can of mush.

      "Tank yaw!" Mistletoe squealed.

      Ewayènna and Luthivèra exchanged exasperated glances. Oh, Boochi, moaned Luthivèra. Why did Boochi have to get THEIR sister and turn her into a little child forever? Would she never experience the word 'fun' again?

      Dinner had flown by extremely quickly. Both rather spoiled Neopets weren't used to eating such cheap food, and had rather grown out of it. They both had taken only two small bites from the corners of their omelettes before downing an entire goblet of Tropical Fruit Smoothie. They had sat quietly while Mistletoe nosily gulped down her Pea and Ham Gaga Grub.

     After Mistletoe had eaten every last bit of food, their owner dropped her plates in the sink and the can into the trash bin before going to tuck the little Baby Acara inside her crib in her room made of white chocolate. Ewayènna and Luthivèra sat waiting at the dinner table. Adelaide was a very sharp person when it came to noticing things, and their kindhearted owner was sure to have noticed their strange behavior during this evening's dinner.

     Sure enough, Adelaide soon came out of Mistletoe's room and motioned for Ewayènna and Luthivèra to follow her to the library, which was also the place where Ewayènna and Luthivèra studied. Mistletoe had studied there too. Before. When the three reached the room, Adelaide pushed forward the heavy oaken door and sat in a comfortable armchair, crossing her long legs and pushing her hair back behind her ears. She frowned and asked: "What happened?" in her gentlest voice.

      Stubborn and strong-willed Luthivèra didn't answer. Instead, she gazed at the polished dark oak shelves and at the books on the shelf. She had read all of those books over a hundred times…with the help of Mistletoe. Before. The three sat in silence until Ewayènna finally burst out: "We can't have any fun anymore ever since that sloth-dratted Boochi came and turned our sister into a babbling…a babbling baby! We can't have any fun with her any more!! Can't you just save up some Neopoints to earn her a paint brush? Any color but Baby!"

      Adelaide looked trouble, and she crossed her arms. "Ohhhh, I see," she murmured quietly, frowning sadly. "I thought this might happen. You see, I am a little frustrated too about poor Mistletoe. I can hardly understand her anymore, with her baby talk. And her Gaga Grub is getting really expensive nowadays. Whenever I pay the bills, I tell myself: 'She's not going to stay a Baby forever; then I don't need to buy her food anymore'. But then I realize that she IS going to stay Baby forever."

      Luthivèra's eyes softened sympathetically. Her poor owner!

      "A thousand cases of Neomonia on Boochi!" swore Ewayènna savagely, jumping upright from her chair, hooves clattering against the marble floor. "I'm going to bed," she mumbled, before galloping off to her room.

      Adelaide had turned to Luthivèra, her eyes trying to seek comfort and reassurance.

      "I know this is hard," she began quietly. "This is a large step for each of us."

      "More like a step backward in time," mumbled Luthivèra.

      "But there's nothing we can do about it. Why can't you have fun with Mistletoe?"

      Luthivèra blinked away tears. Adelaide didn't understand ANYTHING! She wasn't stuck with a blabbering baby every minute of every waking hour of her days…but she remembered the intelligent sister Mistletoe had been before, teaching her and Ewayènna new things, like the names of fruits and flowers, and showing them hidden games…maybe this time, she could do it to Mistletoe…

      Jumping up with a determined gleam in her eyes, she announced: "I think I have the solution! Good night, Adelaide," she murmured, before slithering off to her river room.

           ~*~

     "Come on, Mistletoe and Ewayènna, we're going on a special adventure today!" Luthivèra exclaimed, trying to make her voice sound as jovial and cheerful as possible.

      Ewayènna blinked groggily, but Mistletoe leapt up with a squeal of joy. "Tat's wondaful!" she exclaimed.

      Luthivèra took her baby sister by the paw and shot a glance at Ewayènna.

      They walked and walked until they reached a small bush, covered with flowers and berries.

      "Look Mistletoe," Ewayènna said, gesturing toward a pure white berry with light blue speckles. "It's a snowberry!"

      "Snowberry?" repeated Mistletoe, eyes wide.

      "Yes! And look!" she said, pointing again. "There's a Voidberry. You can always spot one of those because of the dark black color…"

      On and on the lesson went. Soon, Ewayènna joined in on the teachings. At the end of the day, both Ewayènna and Luthivèra were exhausted. But Luthivèra was pleased. Her sister had taught her many things about the world of Neopia before she had become Baby. And now it was her turn to teach her sister what she had taught her long, long before.

The End

This is my first story published in the Times. Hopefully, it won't be the last! Comments/feedback appreciated.