Muhnster the Lupe was sitting in class waiting for the
clock on the wall to strike three. As he watched the clock, he was sure that
it must be possessed, because the last few minutes always went by so slowly.
Finally the bell rang and he grabbed his bookbag and hurried outside. There
he met his friends. There were the Lupe Twins, their nicknames were Lefty and
Righty. That wasn't their real names, but their owner wasn't too creative when
it came time to name them. They were brother and sister and were inseparable.
But he was a good friend to them, never complaining that they were always together,
unlike some of the other guys. Maybe it was because he was so fond of them both.
He never said "Righty, go away, no girls allowed!" like others did. Then there
was Skeithward, he was such a clown, always trying to make others laugh. And
he'd eat anything, you have to like that. "Hey Muhnster over here!" bellowed
Skeithward across the school yard. "The yearbook is out!" They flipped through
the yearbook and were surprised to find a picture of themselves with the 'caption
best friends forever. 'There was Muhnster the orange Lupe. There was Skeithward
standing on his head, his red scales gleaming in the sun. There were the Lupe
twins in the background, two white Lupes.
"Hey, let's go swimming!" said Skeithward. "Just
let me grab a burrito first." Skeithward's burritos consisted of a rolled up
Neopian Times and "whatever" for filling. And off they went as happy as could
be. Their days were always like that. After school was a wonderful time, they
never knew what they were going to do, but it didn't matter. They always found
something fun to do. The twins liked to explore. Skeithward liked to joke around
and even play pranks. And Muhnster... well he just went along with whatever
his friends wanted to do. Secretly, he liked to read, but that wasn't very exciting
to his friends, he thought. But among them all he was the smartest and also
the strongest.
That night he got into bed and was reading a
new book his owner got for him when he heard a soft knock at the door. It was
his owner coming to say goodnight. But this time his owner had something. He
looked at the object in disbelief, It was a Halloween paint brush!
"I just saw the coolest thing, a Halloween Lupe,"
his owner said. "Here look at this picture."
Muhnster studied the picture. It showed all
the battle poses for the Halloween Lupe too. The more he looked at it, the better
he liked it. It was strength. It was power! He'd never fear anything if he were
painted like that.
"Oh YEAH! I like it!" he said
"I knew you would, it is just right for you,
let's go!" his owner said.
They walked along the dark deserted streets.
It was very quiet as the moon shone down through the shifting clouds. The wind
blew at dead leaves in the trees and it sounded like the flapping of wings.
Muhnster looked up and saw that it was the flapping of wings, a mutant Korbat
was just waking up and was flying off to some nighttime destination. He also
saw little flashes here and there of glowing eyes in the darkness.
"I guess folks are up at night, huh," he
said to his owner, his voice sounding strangely loud and out of place.
"Yeah, some Neopians prefer the night. I imagine
that you will too, after you are painted. It is a whole other world out here
at night. You'd never knew it existed unless you were a part of it. The night
folks, they aren't so bad really. You might even try making friends with them."
"You mean, I'll get to stay up late? Whoa, how
cool is that?"
"Well, your friends are creatures of the day,
and you won't want to leave them. So you don't HAVE to stay up late if you don't
want to. But if it is a problem you can join the night school."
"Oh no, I wouldn't do that. I don't see how
painting me could change anything. I'll still be me. It won't make me any less
intelligent will it?" Muhnster asked.
"No, not less intelligent. But you probably
will change some. I don't exactly know how."
Finally they reached the rainbow pool, which
wasn't so rainbowy at night. In fact, it looked rather spooky, like a bottomless
pit. When Muhnster dropped the paintbrush into the pool, he was reluctant to
enter at first, afraid he would sink and sink forever in the blackness. But
finally he mustered up the courage and stepped in. He sank a little, but not
much. He had to dip his head under the water. When he arose he felt changed.
The first thing he noticed was that the night was not so dark. The shiny eyes
he had seen watching him in the darkness were other creatures. They were the
creatures of the night and he could see them clearly now. They walked around
doing things just like the day creatures, only more quietly. He'd never known
they had even existed before. How many times had he walked the streets at night,
thinking he was alone, never knowing they were all around? It was creepy now
that he thought about it. But he was one of them now, a creature of the night.
The moon began to rise and he knew that he'd be doing things at night now, instead
of during the day. He howled at the moon and felt wonderful. He'd howled at
the moon before, but now it seemed to have a new meaning. The night, the beautiful
night. He never wanted to leave it. He was a part of the night and it was a
part of him. But wait...his friends. He didn't want to leave them.
So he went home and tried to sleep, which was
nearly impossible. His mind said it was time, but his body wanted to be out
there. Finally he was able to relax and he slept a little, but it was nearly
time for school when he awoke. He only had time to grab his books and a double
chicken leg to gnaw on as he rushed outside.
"Owww! That stings!" he shouted. The sun was
really bright in his eyes. He'd never felt anything like this before. He rushed
back inside and grabbed some sunglasses, and the light became tolerable. He
got more than a few strange looks from people as he walked to school, his bookbag
in one hand and a bone in the other.
He got even more strange stares as he entered
the school yard. He was out of place. A creature of the night just wasn't seen
in Day School. Quiet forgetting his appearance, he walked over to his friends.
"Wow, let me tell you guys...I had a rough night.
Phew. I am glad it's over."
"What? Who the heck are you?" asked Skeithward.
"MONSTER!"
"Yeah, it's me Muhnster."
"Muhnster? Is that really you?" Lefty said.
"You're all big and you're...you're really big!" said Righty.
"Yeah, isn't it cool?" he asked
"Well, um...yeah sure if YOU like it,"
said Skeithward.
And that was that. It was just like old times
again. Well, so he thought.
Friday came and Muhnster knew that he didn't
have to go to bed early. He was excited because at last he would be able to
explore around at night and get to see what it was like.
"So you really don't mind me going out there?"
he asked his owner.
"No, you are a creature of the night now, and
that is your world. It'd be cruel to try to keep you from it. But remember,
the night is not like the day. It has its own surprises and troubles. Have fun,
but remember, don't go looking for trouble. And if someone weaker than you teases
you, it is either because they fear you, they don't understand you, or they
are jealous of you. Don't be a bully and fight those weaker than yourself. You
are a big strong Lupe, but you don't have to prove that to anyone. If you are
kind to them and they still tease you, ignore them. If someone bigger than yourself
starts trouble, just ignore them. If you have to fight, make sure it is because
you must fight and have no other choice."
"Well, I think that I will like the night, but
I still want to go to school and be with my friends. So I'll just go out at
night on Friday and Saturday night. It'll be like having the best of both worlds!"
"The best of both worlds! Yeah, that's right.
You can have the best of both worlds. And you can BE the best of both worlds
too. Just be good, OK?"
"Okay, I promise."
With those parting words Muhnster went into
the night. The soft night wind blew and it just felt good to be slinking along
in the darkness. Muhnster looked around and realised that half of Neopia was
asleep. He could go anywhere he wanted to go and there would not be crowds of
people around. Even the shops stayed open all night and he'd heard stories about
the great deals people could make by shopping late at night. But he didn't want
to shop. He suddenly had a mischievous feeling. The feeling a one gets sometimes
when one is alone in the dark. He wanted to pull a prank on someone. He didn't
really want to hurt anyone, he just had this new feeling of power. He felt as
if he could do anything and not get caught. He didn't understand what this feeling
was or what it meant, he just thought he wanted to have some fun. Then suddenly
he heard it. "OWWWOOO!"
His ears pricked up at the sound and the hairs
stood up on his neck. That howl, it was unlike anything he had ever heard. He
was a bit scared at first but then he remembered that he was a Halloween Lupe.
If anything was scary out here at night, it was him. So he became curious instead.
He waited and heard the howl again, this time answered by several more. He tried
to howl too, but it was rather weak.
"Oooh?" he howled
Finally he caught up with who had been howling
and found a group of Halloween Lupes like himself! There were four of them gathered
around in a circle, in a clearing of the forest. There were a few howls and
growls as everyone came together. The biggest one looked at him and just said
"grmp" by way of a greeting to him.
"Him New, Him state name," the Leader said
"Um...hello, I am Muhnster," Muhnster said
"Monster? Hahaha. Him no monster. Him howl funny!"
the Leader said.
"My name is spelled differently than that. It
sounds like Monster but it is spelled."
"Spelled?" the second Lupe asked and laughed.
"Him talk funny too!"
It was apparent that these Lupes were very uneducated,
but Muhnster wanted to be with his own kind anyway, so he just waited to see
what they would do.
"Us break stuff!" the Third suggested.
"No, Us steal stuff!" said the Forth suggested.
"Us knock down big pot!" said the Leader.
"Us make mud!" said the Second.
"Us do all that!" said the Leader and they all
ran away laughing. Muhnster didn't really know what they were going to do, but
it sounded like bad stuff to him. He didn't really want to break things, steal
things, knock things over, and make mud; so he went home. The next day however,
he found out too well what those Lupes had done. It wasn't pretty. They had
robbed some stores, stolen things, knocked over the cooking pot on mystery island
and filled the rainbow pool with mud. Everything seemed ruined by them, and
those who had witnessed the events could all to easily point a finger and say
"It was the Halloween Lupe Gang."
Muhnster told his owner that he had ran into
the gang and was among them for a time.
"But I left as soon as I found out they were
up to no good. Honestly, I left before they did all this damage."
His owner believed him, but suggested that he
stay in at night for the rest of the weekend, at least until this was cleared
up. When he returned to school however,he found that things had definitely not
cleared up.
"I can't believe you expect to just walk right
into school after what you've done," a teacher said.
"What? I didn't do anything. What are you talking
about?"
"Don't play innocent with me young man. I know
what you are. You are one of them. You were out there that night weren't you.
And you wanted to have a little mischief. You didn't think you could get caught
because it was dark and no one would see you. But someone did. Now everyone
knows, and you are not going to get away with it."
The teacher told him to stay put while she called
the Chia Cop. And Muhnster just had to sit there in the hallway, in a chair
much to small for himself, and wait. Of course, the chair broke.
"Breaking things again I see," said Skeithward.
"What? Skeithward it's you! You'll tell them
I am innocent, right? Don't you believe me? You know I wouldn't do those things."
"Oh I am not so sure about that, Muhnster, you've
changed. I don't know what that paint brush does to pets, but it changes them.
I admit I've played pranks before myself, but nothing like that. Someone could
have gotten hurt. And you've destroyed a lot of things. And you are still doing
it, just look what you've done to that chair!"
"Oh this? They made me sit here, I didn't want
to. Of course it broke, I couldn't help it."
Then Lefty and Righty came by, but said nothing.
They just shook their heads at him.
"Wait guys, you know me. You KNOW I am not like
that. You know I wouldn't do that. I tell you, I haven't changed. I am the same
me. Being painted has not changed me. So, some of the Halloween Lupes are bad,
that doesn't mean we ALL have to be. I bet there are others like me. I bet there
are some good ones out there. As soon as I get this all straighten out, I am
going to find them. The ones like me. And we will do good deeds to show people
that not all of us are bad."
But by the look his friends, teachers and everyone
gathered around, were giving him, Muhnster suddenly understood something. They
were afraid of him. It is a strange feeling to know that others fear you. Some
people would be glad to have others fear them, but He never meant for that to
happen. Would things ever be the same between him and his friends? He didn't
want them to be afraid of him, and he wasn't going to make them hang around
in fear. He'd have to win back their trust.
"What are you looking at me like that for? Do
you actually believe that Halloween Lupes go crazy at night or something? Well,
I didn't! I knew right from wrong. I chose not to participate. Everyone is scared
of me now, of what I will do next. But I only have good intentions. I've told
you everything I know, so if you don't believe me, there is nothing more I can
do or say!"
Just then The Chia Cop came in. The looked at
Muhnster and pointed something like a wand at him.
"No wait, please don't Freeze him. Anything
but that!" Skeithward, Lefty and Righty all yelled, but it was too late because
a flash of blue light came from the wand and hit Muhnster.
"What was that all about?" Muhnster asked
"You didn't get frozen," the Chia Cop said.
"Which means you were innocent. I must review this case more carefully." He
walked away chattering and scribbling in notepads. Sooner or later he would
figure out what happened.
"Sorry we didn't believe you," Skeithward said.
"But I knew when they were going to freeze you that I didn't want that to happen.
"Yeah," said Lefty and Righty. "We are sorry."
"Now to catch those real bad guys," said The
Cop.
"Wait!" Muhnster shouted. The Chia Cop turned
to see what he wanted to say. "I don't think those guys should be frozen for
what they did. True, they caused a lot of trouble, and I barely know them. But
I think they are just ignorant. They don't know any better. When I met them,
they could barely speak. I don't even think they have owners. I think they are
wild Lupes. They need to be taken in, shown kindness, and maybe have someone
read to them. Once they learn there are other ways to have fun, they shouldn't
do any more damage."
"That is a wise thing you have said. Perhaps
people do need a second chance. We had no idea about the situation, so it is
lucky for them that you could speak for them. I am sure they'll be glad to know
they had a friend at a time like this. Maybe they won't understand now, but
they will later, with help. You helped them once just now, maybe you can help
them again."
"I will, if you think I can help them," said
Muhnster.
"I think you can, you said what they needed
was kindness, someone to read to them, and show them there are other ways to
have fun besides destroying things. Maybe you could be the one to give them
this," the Chia Cop said.
"We will be their friends too," Said Skeithward.
"Sure, we'll all help out. They'll be good Lupes
in no time," said Lefty and Righty.
So it was later one night when Muhnster found
himself sitting with the Halloween Lupes again, under the watchful eyes of The
Chia Cop in the background. And Skeithward, Lefty and Righty were there too.
"Let's go swimming!" said Skeithward.
"We could go exploring. I found this little
place near Meridell and there was a trail there. I am sure no one has been that
way in a long time. It was kind of creepy, but with Muhnster and the Gang around
I think I'd feel better," said Lefty.
"Maybe in an hour, for now, I have to teach
The Gang their first reading lesson," said Muhnster while giving The Chia Cop
a nod.
"Us teach HIM howl," said The Gang Leader.
"No, say 'We will teach him to howl.' " corrected
Muhnster.
"OOOWWWOOOOOO! They howled.
"Oooh?" Muhnster howled
"Hehehehe. Him howl funny!"
"He howls funny," Muhnster corrected and began
to try to teach them to read when suddenly he heard another sound.
"Oooh?"
"Hehehehe! Her howl funny!" The Lupe Gang laughed.
"No, say 'She howls funny'...wait...she?!" asked Muhnster
Muhnster looked up to see the prettiest Halloween
Lupess ever.
"Humna Humna!" was all he was able to say, but
the Lupe Gang just laughed, they had understood him just fine.
Muhnster went home. His owner was waiting for
him outside their NeoHome. It wasn't dawn, the sun was not up yet. But it wasn't
really light either.
"It's a good time, just right now," remarked
Muhnster
"Did you have a good night?" his owner asked.
"I had a good Everything! I have the best of
both worlds!" said Muhnster.
"And YOU are The Best of both worlds to me!"
said his owner.
The End
Author's Note: If you create a Lupe and name it Muhnster or a Skeith named
Skeithward please log in every day to feed it and take good care of it. I made
up these names, and may want to use them again in another story. | 
