How Luke Got his Groove Initially

      You know, I may be painted now, but I used to be a lame basic colour like you were not too long ago. Can you believe that? Absolutely pathetic, huh? Well, you’ll never believe this, but the Buzz that you’re talking to now used to be just plain old yellow. And not just any yellow! Oh, no. I’m talkin’ about that nasty, putrid yellow that you see oozing off of a rancid can of Achyfi. This is a story, well, actually, my story, of how I became this beautiful snowy bug that you know today.

      So, is this the part where I give you a lame introduction? Ugh, okay. My name is Luke and I was born back in Y8. I was brought into a wealthy family with my mother, brother, and 2 older sisters, but frankly they’re irrelevant. Mom always spoiled them, and I don’t blame her. My sisters were both Xweetoks that mom adopted from the pound. Their fur was so soft and beautiful and mom loved to buy them the most expensive paint brushes and always got the newest clothes. *Scoff* How pretentious. My brother, on the other hand, was already painted royal when mom got him from the pound and he’s been pampered since birth. It makes me sick. As for me – plain old me - I was created by mom as just a dumb, yellow buzz.

      Now that that’s over with, let’s get on with the true tale of woe. You see, I was always insecure about the fact that I was yellow. I mean, who even likes the colour yellow? I wanted to be something special; something different and unique. I wanted to have a purpose. The year had just turned over into Y11 when mom told me that we were finally going to have a chance to make me who I always wanted to be: a snow Buzz.

      “Luke, honey! Come here right quick. I have a special surprise for ya’!”, mom yelled from the kitchen. I came trudging through the hallway, not expecting anything special to truly come out of her mouth. “Listen, baby. I got a special request from Naia, the Fountain Faerie. She asked me to bring her just one item and then I can paint any one of my pets ANY colour! Isn’t that great, honey? You can finally be purple, or whatever it is ya’ wanna be.”

      I had already stopped listening after she said Naia and started imagining myself as a snowy buzz. My time had come. I was ready. All was well in the world. “Wow…Cool, ma”, I managed to stammer out. I had visions of me playing on Terror Mountain with Taelia and enjoying all of the winter festivities. I started to imagine me as white as…well, snow and as cold as *cough*…ice. Mom’s voice broke through my visions.

      “Lukey! Are you even listening to me!?” she snapped. “Here, strap on your coat and your scarf. I need you to walk on over to the Market and buy me the item, okay? Here’s some Neopoints and I slipped a paper in your pocket with what you need to get. Be safe honey! Don’t talk to strangers!” And with that, I was off on an adventure of my own. I was going to make my dreams reality.

      I ventured out of the house and was on my own. Could this be it? Could this finally be happening to me? I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. I reached into my pocket and read the paper. Beekadoodle. That’s all that stood between me and my dream. The only problem is, I had never even heard of a Beekadoodle.

      “Hey, hey mister. Where are you heading off to?” a young Wocky called to me. They seemed friendly enough, but mom specifically told me not to talk to strangers. I tried to ignore them, but they persisted. “Hey man, if you don’t want to talk, that’s cool but don’t just blatantly ignore me.” I started to walk a little faster, but somehow they wound up in front of me. “HEY! Are you even listening to me!? Where are you going?” the Wocky pressed once more.

      “WHAT!?” I exclaimed. “Can’t you see I’m busy? Besides, my mom said not to talk to strangers. Now if you could, please leave.”

      “Ohhhh, if that’s the problem then hi! My name is Xeelo. Now we’re no longer strangers” the weird little Wocky told me. I guess he wasn’t so bad. He just wanted a friend. “Where are you off to?” he asked once more.

      “Hi…” I meekly replied. “I’m Luke, and I’m going to buy an item for my mom. You see, she’s going to paint me whatever color I want, but only if I get an item for the Flitter Faerie…er…the Flutist Faeire…no that’s not ri-“

      “THE FOUNTAIN FAERIE!?”, Xeelo interrupted. “No way! No way! No absolute way! Your mom got a Fountain Faerie Quest!?” he started hyperventilating. “Nobody ever gets Fountain Faerie quests! This is so awesome. You’re, like, a total celebrity man. Can I get your autograph? Holy smokes! Your mom’s totes going to get the avatar and everything if she paints you!”

      “I…what?”, I replied. Avatar? What was an avatar?“I’m no celebrity. I’m just a buzz.” I started to think. Were these quests really that rare? Is this fate? What in Dr.Sloth’s name was an avatar? I managed to ask Xeelo another question. “Hey, buddy, do you know where I can get a Beekadoodle from?”

      “Yeah, a Beekadoodle can be bought over at the petpet shop in the Marketplace. I’ll lead the way!” he replied. Heh heh heh. I have this entire mission in the bag, I thought. I don’t even have to worry about finding the item. This loser got it all down for me.

      Xeelo walked me to the door of the petpet shop, but had to leave because of a hair appointment, apparently. I walked in nervously and sauntered up to the counter. “Excuse me, do you by any chance have a Beekadoodle for sale?” I asked the shopkeeper. My heart was pounding in my chest.

      “Yeah, pal, we’re down to the last one. It’s yours for 12,000 NP” they replied. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my coin sack. I only had 8,000 NP. Oh no.

      I gulped. “Umm…is there any way you could give me a discount? I only have 8,000 NP and I really need a Beekadoodle.” I mumbled. I then went on to explain my current situation and the shopkeeper lightened up a bit. They gave me the Beekadoodle for my 8,000 and even threw in a carrying cage, and I began my trek home.

      My anxiety began to build as I made my way to the door. I finally was about to be what I always wanted to be. I burst through the door with the Beekadoodle and mom let out a slight squeal. “Oh my gawsh! Lukey! I’m finally going to get the avata- I mean. You’re finally going to be painted lemon, or whatever the colour it was that you wanted.” There that word was again. Avatar.

      “Mom, is that why you’re doing this? For an ‘avatar’?” I asked. Mom was shocked. “I thought this was for me, but apparently, my happiness isn’t the first thing on your mind.”

      “What…?”, mom questioned. “You…you already know about the avatar? I’m sorry, Luke, I was going to tell you sooner. I was so happy to learn I could finally have what I was searching for for so long that I completely forgot about your happiness. Forget the avatar! I want you to be what you’ve always wanted to be. Snow.”

      She knew. I was ecstatic. “Oh, mom. Let’s head off to the Rainbow Fountain.” We walked to Faerieland and gave the lovely Beekadoodle to Naia. I took a dip into the waters and was instantly turned to snow. Mom hugged me tight and pretended that she didn’t mind the cold.

      So, that’s that. It may not be the most shocking tale, but in the end we were all happy. I was finally snowy and mom got a cool new avatar to use on the boards. I learned that everyone has their own goals in life, and that some go together hand in hand…and we all lived happily ever after.

      Except for Xeelo. He got a terrible haircut and was never seen again. What a shame.

      The End.