Swoosh. A gust of wind blew past our house, on top of the clouds, in
Faerieland. I tossed over and tried to go back to sleep. My Faerie wings crinkled
a little as I rolled over in my bed.
I thought of what I had to do today. Go shopping, go to the gym to run a few
laps (grrrr), meet Aeri at Pet Central, enter the Beauty Contest…WHAT? The
Beauty Contest I
almost forgot!
This would be the first time I got to walk down that runway in front of millions!
Of course many pets were entered in all of the contests but I was not one of
them. My owner didn't believe in showing off pets to be judged by millions.
Parading through the crowds of NeoPets gapping at the many beautiful pets with
painted glossy coats or dressed in fur and silk.
After some begging and pleading my owner finally gave in and said I could go
with Aeri to Pet Central. I got up and turned on the light in my room.
"Hmm, what can I do?" I modeled my rainbow wings in front of my Full Length
Mirror. They weren't that special. Well to me. Some people gasped when they
saw them but I'm not sure why. I'm a blue female Shoyru. I was painted Faerie
when I was three. And my Mum says that an Air Faerie blessed me with stars so
I was special.
I didn't have any make up or special outfits to wear but Mum says people should
judge you on what's on the inside so it didn't matter. Well, it's not like I
didn't want to try something special on it's just that Mum said it was a waist
of money and I didn't need a dress and eyeliner to be beautiful.
So I guess I should wait till Mum and my siblings to get up, waiting, waiting…
CAN'T WAIT! I ran down the halls knocking on the doors of all my siblings' bedrooms.
"Get up! Get up! It's time to go!" I shouted flying down the carpet laughing.
I could hear my older sister moan as she was rudely awakened by a ballistic
Shoyru that happened to be her little sister.
Mum got up and dressed. "What's the hurry?" she asked.
"Remember, Mum? Today I'm entering the Beauty Contest."
"Oh ya," Mum, well my owner Chibi said drowsily.
First we went to the gym and I ran on the treadmill and lifted weights. Then
to the Neolodge's famous Spa. They pressed my wings and washed my star-studded
coat till you could see yourself in it. I was about to take off to Pet Central
but Mum spotted me and I was forced to walk.
My older sister Tiana was entering too. She was a tall slender Uni with a
stunningly white coat. She had her best outfit on and had sprinkled glitter
over her mane.
"Let's fly," I whispered to Tia. She grinned at me and we took off.
"Hey!" Mum shouted.
"I'll get her!" my twin brother, Flame shouted excitedly.
I saw him, a fire Shoyru gliding towards us. I laughed and began to beat my
wings faster.
My oldest brother was still walking with my Mum. He had wings because he was
painted Faerie but he was nice enough to stay on the ground. I wished I were
more like him. A responsible Kougra always head strong and confident yet kind
and gentle.
"Come on Jake!" I yelled. "You're missing out if you just walk there."
"Okay," he said. Mum jumped on his back and he took off. Soon he was up in
the clouds with us. Then I spotted Aeri.
"Hey look there's Aerinya!" I shouted gleefully.
We landed on some soft grass and I ran towards the sign up booth where Aeri
sat, waiting.
"Aeri!" I called.
"Hey!" she shouted back and came to greet us.
Aeri was my best friend. She was an unusual Flotsam with a heart of gold.
What made her unusual was her coat--glass on top with strips and snowy white
on the bottom. Mixes of different colours like me.
"Hi Khyaila!" she greeted cheerfully. "Hi Tiana, hey Flame, um h-hi Jake."
"Hi" Jake said in his sort-of deep, gentle voice. He smiled.
Aeri blushed. She had sort of a crush on him. Jake is really nice so I guess
I can't say anything. But I giggled a little.
"Why are you so nervous around Jake?" I asked with a smile. "He's not royalty
or anything."
"I don't know" Aeri replied. "And stop talking so loud." Jake was looking
at us because he had heard his name.
"Hey, what are you two whispering about?" he asked.
"Stop being so nosy," I said.
He pounced on me playfully. I laughed and rolled over on him. Mindi watched
patiently till we were done probably wishing that Jake were playing with her
instead.
"You'll be late," Jake warned.
"Are you sure you don't want to come?" I asked him.
"Nah." He replied and went to go get a seat.
Aeri and I went to the booth. Many NeoPets stood in a long line that stretched
out towards the NeoHome area. I saw many interesting pets. Even with mixed coats
like mine. Then I saw her. A young female Lupess being carried on a throne by
slave Grundos and Techos. Then she hopped off and jumped on a Uni that was way
to small for her. Dressed in a million-Neopoint dress, she slowly padded to
the booth.
The Lenny bowed and asked her how she was doing. The Lupess simply held her
head up higher and walked pass through the doors of the stadium.
"Haven't we seen her before?" I asked Aeri.
"I think so," she replied. "By the way she got here I'd say she was a princess
or filthy rich."
"Yeah," I simply agreed.
I tried to remember where I had seen the arrogant Lupess before…
"I know!" Aeri shouted, "She's Luprina that really rich pet. Her dad like
owns half of Neopia."
"Oh yeah," I said, "She was at the grand opening of that huge mall in Faerieland. I bet her dad had to pay Millions for that the Faeries don't like malls
taking up all there cloud space."
Aeri giggled a little and nodded. Finally after about forever and a day we
got to the booth. We filled out some simple forms and entered the stadium.
It was sunny and bright out on the stage. Aeri and I got split up because
she was in the Flotsam group. I was waiting with about fifty other Shoyrus.
I saw one sitting in the corner, a plain blue Shoyru.
"Hi," I greeted, "What's your name?"
"Kyraki," she answered shyly. She was about my age maybe a little older.
"Hi my name is KhyailaYianni but just Khyai or Khyaila for short," I said
cheerfully.
"Nice to meet you." She smiled and shook my hand.
"WILL ALL PETS IN THE SHOYRU DIVISION REPORT TO THE STAGE? THAT MEANS ALL
THE SHOYRUS, YES, YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT!" the microphone blared.
"Well we'd better go I guess," I said slowly getting up.
"Okay," she said nervously.
"Here," I said handing here my charm bracelet. "It brings good luck."
"Wow! Are you really going to give this to me? Th-thank you!" She stuttered.
I merely smiled as we walked out onto the brightly-lit stage.
One of the Shoyrus on my right had a wedding dress on. I dragged on the floor
because it was so long so she flew to her spot. And the one on her right was
fire. Amazing flames were painted on her coat.
Then something odd happened…she balled her paws into fist and concentrated
suddenly she was engulfed in flames catching the other Shoyru's dress on fire.
She ran around ballistic until a Uni came and put her out. Her dress in ashes,
she ran from the stage in shame and the Fire Shoyru ran after her apologising
frantically leaving a trail of flames behind her.
It was quite a scene but we went on without them. First we had to line up
and walk along the isle in front of the crowd and judges. Then the judges would
vote and half were sent off. Luckily Kyra and I made the cut. Next we would
tell something about ourselves.
I was next; "Well I live with my family in Faerieland. I like to fly with
my sister and brothers they're really nice to me. I wouldn't change anything
about them! And I'd like to thank my Mum for supporting me and helping me to
realise that everyone is special. Thank you."
A big applause after my speech lifted my spirits a little. I spotted Jake
in the crowd he was probably clapping the hardest next to my Mum whose was on
the brink of crying.
"Well that was KhyailaYianni the Faerie Shoyru! Wasn't she great? Hey Khyai
do you have a boyfriend?" Shouted the announcer, a handsome glass Shoyru behind
the desk.
I shook my head and blushed. He smiled. Our eyes locked and I stood there
looking up at him until the Uni came out and told me it was another Pets turn.
I went to go stand in my place while another Shoyru said her part. She was Tyrannian
so her claws and teeth kinda freaked me out.
"Ugga Tryra ugga ughhhha," went her interesting speech.
Now we got to sit and watch the other divisions do their speeches.
First the Peophins then came Flotsams. I watched Aeri carefully. She kept
stumbling but managed to finish.
There was a polite applause as Aeri went to take her place in line.
"Uh and that was Aerinya128 the Flotsam," the announcer said.
The votes were cast and Aeri was one of the Flotsams that were eliminated.
I ran to her and asked if she was okay.
"Yeah I guess so," she said dully. And went to go get a seat in the crowd
by Jake and Mum. Jake got up and walked her to a seat and tried to comfort her.
I thought she was enjoying herself.
Next up, Lupes. Some wore nothing but the fur on them and others were dressed
in shawls and wraps so much clothes that you could hardly tell that they were
pets at all.
Then I spotted Luprina in a different dress. It was made of--Jake gasped.
Her dress was made entirely of Kougra fur. The Kougras in the crowd growled
including Jake.
"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful," she said arrogantly to the Kougras.
"Especially you." She pointed to Jake.
It was Mindi who stood up now. "Grrr, I don't think anyone so and sweet and
kind would EVER, EVER go out with YOU!!!!!"
Then Jake pushed her aside. "She's right! Someone who would wear another NeoPets
fur in a cruel, selfish brat!"
"Hmph, well if you want to be like that then I take it back."
"You better!" Aeri and Jake said simultaneously.
Geesh, I thought to myself.
Meanwhile, Jake and Aer were having a convo that I couldn't hear but I'll
tell ya about it anyway.
"Do you really think all of that is true?" Jake asked. (He's incredibly modest.)
"Well, ya," she said.
He smiled and took her hand and… ick mushy stuff yet us skip that part. Back
to the contest.
"I'm very rich and I go to the mall my father built everyday and I spend lots
of Neopoints to get dresses made out of fur and silk. I know you're all jealous
of me but just live with it and face the fact that you'll never be as rich as
I will. And if I don't get your vote I'll kick you out of your homes since my
daddy owns half of Neopia!" And guess who that was, Luprina? Correct! How did
you know?
So the votes were cast and of course Luprina moved on to the third round automatically.
Now the rest of the pets. I sat patiently until Shoyrus were called for the
third round. We were supposed to do an act and present our 'special talent'.
I played an instrument I made at home myself it was kinda lame but I guess
the judges liked it.
Next was Luprina, she was dressed in shawls and wraps like a belly dancer.
People began to cheer only because they feared of losing their homes. She danced
and danced and took off the wraps and then when she was at the last wrap she
disappeared from the stage. She wasn't that bad I guess.
Then I remembered the Shoyru behind the desk. I soon got up the courage to
go up and talk to him.
"Excuse me," I said politely to get his attention.
"Hmm?" he said turning around.
"Um… I uh… hi," I stumbled out.
"Uh okay hi," he replied. "Hey wait you're Khyaila right? That flute thingy
was cool."
"Really? Thanks," I smiled. "Well um…I guess I should go."
"No!" he said suddenly. "I mean why don't you stay?"
"I don't know I wouldn't get in the way?"
"No but there isn't another chair… we could share the seat, you wanna sit
down?" he asked hopefully.
"Okay," I said as I sat down next to him. It was kinda squishy but I didn't
mind.
"So first time here?" he asked.
"Yup," I replied. "So what's your name? Mine is Khyaila but I think you already
know that."
"Kaeo," he replied gruffly. "I know it's a stupid name but I'm stuck with
it."
"I don't think it's stupid I kinda like it."
We smiled at each other. "Uh oh, time to announce the pets chosen to represent
their divisions," he said a bit worried because he didn't want to be the one
who sent them away, some cried, some pouted and some screamed.
"And now the pets chosen to represent their divisions in the last part of
the competition where the people and pets of Neopia get to vote for the winner!
For the Shoyru division, KhyailaYianni! Flotsam, _89Trese_9! Lupe, Luprina!
Uni, Tiana4689! Kougra, Markot_920IE," and so he announced all of the pets and
told them what they needed for the last round. "For the last round will all
contestants turn in a picture or drawing of themselves and a brief paragraph
on why you want to be chosen in the beauty contest.
All the pets entered their drawings and pictures, including me, and a few
sentences about myself. And all week I checked for updates in the voting area.
Luprina was in first by a few hundred votes next came Tiana then me. I was exited
because I might place in the tops three and get a trophy! And it was only my
first try.
I waited all week to find the results. I rushed over to Pet Central as soon
as they were up. I saw that I was…
***
Actually I came in fourth I was really hoping to get a trophy I could display
in my closet but that's okay I got something even better, my new mate Kaeo.
Oh ya, Luprina got suspended for threatening owners and pets to vote for her.
Me? Well, I can't wait till the next Beauty Contest!
The End | 
