Flutter: Part One

     The only thing I knew for certain is that I am a female Aisha. Well, what about my color? Let me explain. I have pink fur with red stripes and wings more reminiscent of a Carmariller than a faerie Aisha. That’s four colors all in one.

     How did that happen? I don’t know. I was born that way. My childhood wasn’t an easy one. No one else would have anything to do with me.

     “What are you?” they would ask.

     They had no idea that I was just as confused as they were. I became introverted and solitary. I hated going out; all of those staring eyes and just-loud-enough whispers. Having four ears is not a blessing when all one hears is negative. When I did go out, there was only one place I went: the Rainbow Pool.

     There I could daydream to my heart’s content. No one bothered me. They were focused on becoming painted in the Pool. Being invisible for even an hour was blissful for me. I thought of the many possibilities the Rainbow Pool represented.

     A new color. A new start. With a dip in those magic waters, a Neopet could become anyone. Who could I be?

     Baby, beloved by all?

     Biscuit, sweeter than sugar?

     Basic, simplistic and overlooked?

     It didn’t matter to me. On every visit, I had a new dream. Any one color, even those such as mutant, elderly and grey would have been easier to cope with than my own four. So, time passed. I was alone in the world, save for my dreams.

     Then, one day, I tripped.

     An excited Meerca dashed blindly past me. He had just gone from Tyrannian to orange. Surprised by the quick movement directly in front of me, I fell back, my knees hitting the stone edge of the Pool and in I went. The water rippled with at least a dozen colors from different ‘pets being painted. It wasn’t deep and I rose to my feet.

     I noticed that too many colors to count splashed across my fur but in a moment faded. I was instantly dry, a curiosity of the magical Rainbow Pool. No ‘pet wanted their color to drip as they left the Pool. This was an unusual incident but, since I was unharmed, I paid it no heed. Nothing had changed or at least so I thought.

     The next day, I went back to the Rainbow Pool. I watched a Cybunny go from silver to strawberry. Then I thought, what would it be like to be strawberry? Being edible was a challenge but one always had the pleasant, sweet scent of strawberries following one around. It reminded me of the end of spring, the beginning of summer.

     I sniffed the air and frowned. The strawberry Cybunny had left the Rainbow Pool. There were no Strawberry Fields Forever Paint Brushes, no other strawberry Neopets or Petpets or actual strawberries in sight. So why did the scent seem to be following me around? That’s when I look down…

     I let out an exclamation of shock. I was strawberry! Not four different colors (I looked behind me; no oversized wings!), just one. How had this happened? I sat down a nearby bench to think it over.

     I recalled the incident of the previous day. It was the only thing that made sense. Then, my curiosity kicked in. My mind flooded with questions. I wanted to understand what had happened to me and what I could do.

     I retreated to my one room shack that was the only home I had known as I had gotten older. Alone, I was able to begin figuring things out. First, was this permanent? Was I strawberry and only strawberry forever? I thought about my original colors and, in a moment, I was back.

     By that evening, I had learned quite a bit about my new abilities. These are things that I learned:

     I could become any color I wished, just by thinking of that color.

     I could not become more than one color at a time (other than my original colors). Like I would want to!

     I could not become a color unavailable to Aishas, such as agueena, MSP or polka dot. If I tried, nothing happened.

     I did not have to go back to my original colors. I could switch from one color to another.

     This new ability of mine changed my life. No longer did I have to live with curious stares and too loud whispers. I could be any color I wished and mingle with the rest of Neopia. Yet, there was still something missing. I was now never alone but I was always lonely.

     I had never had a friend. I couldn’t have a Petpet. I took all my meals at the Soup Kitchen. I would watch other Neopets and Petpets interacting: family and friends. Laughing, smiling, sharing each other’s lives.

     Things I could never have.

     As time passed, I fell into the habit of never being the same color twice in a row. I used them all and had no preference for any. I was fascinated by the different reactions I got, just by my color. Some instilled fear, respect or adoration. I had known by now that Neopets were basically shallow, reacting first and foremost to what their eyes told them.

     Did I really want someone like that for a friend? I tried to convince myself that of course I didn’t but failed. I did want someone to share my life with, to be my friend. There was just no one out there that I could truly be myself with. So alone I stayed.

     Then, one day, I tripped.

     A pack of wild young Lupes dashed past me and one of them bumped into me. Taken by surprise, I stumbled and would have fallen, if someone hadn’t caught me. I looked to see a young orange Aisha smiling at me. She made sure I was steady and then dashed off, after the Lupes. I stood there, frozen in shock.

     I had just experienced the first kindness I had ever received in my life (from another Aisha no less!).

     My ability had given me that.

     I felt tears flowing down my face and quickly went invisible (the color, I mean) so that no one would see. It took some moments for me to gain my composure. Then, I was full of questions. This time about the other Aisha. Who was that kind stranger?

     Over the next few months, I learned about the orange Aisha. She lived in Neopia Central. She was always with the young wild Lupes, a silver Lupe in particular. They all wore green collars, a form of identifying themselves, I presumed. The orange Aisha was energetic, intelligent and full of life.

     This Aisha was living a life that I could never have. Could she be the friend that I had been looking or but never found? She got along with everyone, it seemed. As I observed her, I was careful not to be the same color twice. Now, how to actually approach her?

     My fear of rejection was very real. My memories of my life before I gained my ability were as fresh as if they had happened yesterday. Then, I came to a decision. I would not let my fear stop me. I gathered my courage and came up with a plan of action.

     It was fitting that we were at the Rainbow Pool. It was raining. The orange Aisha and her silver Lupe friend were huddled under an umbrella, staring into the Pool as the rain created ripples in its still, clear surface. I stood feet away, mutant in color. My reasoning being that if she didn’t like a mutant with one eye and three mouths (one with a severe overbite, dripping with saliva) then she would never like the real me, just like everyone else.

     I was not intimidated by the silver Lupe. He rarely spoke and was almost the exact opposite of his lively friend. They looked like the sun and Kreludor standing side by side. I listened to their conversation, biding my time.

     “We both understand that change can be good and bad. Others must find that out for themselves,” the silver Lupe said.

     I let out a gurgly snort. These young Neopets had no idea what change could do. This caught their attention and they turned to face me. No time like the present to jump in.

     “Most ‘pets believe that being painted is a milestone. A new beginning. They don’t want to live with the stereotype of being 8-bit, baby or Darigan. They want to be accepted and treated like everyone else,” I said, the two mouths on my antennae giving me voice, since my actual mouth was virtually useless.

     I saw the orange Aisha bristle. She took a step towards me, out of the shelter of the umbrella.

     “Well, I say that those ‘pets are cowards. They’re running away from adversity and bowing to peer pressure,” the orange Aisha spat at me.

     “Don’t judge others unless you’ve been in their position. You were born orange, a normal color with no labels given to it. You’ve no idea what it’s like to be scorned!”

     “How do you know I don’t? You don’t know anything about me! Not every problem is caused by a paint brush!”

     More may have been said but a call made the orange Aisha and silver Lupe turn. Thankful, I made my exit. That had not gone well. I decided to try again, not willing to give up quite so easily. At a distance, I watched the orange Aisha and silver Lupe enter the Auction House.

     I changed my color to biscuit and then followed, careful to keep my distance. The Auction House was always noisy and crowded, no matter the weather. I felt uncomfortable in crowds; that feeling never left me, even though I now blended in. To my surprise, the orange Aisha ended up at the same auction I was at. This was my second chance.

     I moved closer to the orange Aisha. “I believe we got off on the wrong foot before.”

     The orange Aisha looked at me, clearly confused. Of course she didn’t recognize me.

     “Well, I don’t know you. So, how could we have gotten off on the wrong foot?” the orange Aisha asked.

     “How could you have forgotten our…disagreement so easily?”

     The orange Aisha stepped back, bumping into her silver Lupe friend. Her quick blue gaze studied me closely. Then, recognition!

     “You were the mutant Aisha I argued with not even a half hour ago! You got painted biscuit,” the orange Aisha said.

     I smiled. “Yes, I’m pleased that you at last recognize me.”

     “So, do you like your new color better than your old one?”

     “It suits me, for now.”

     “Have you been following Adino and me?”

     “No, I just get bored easily.”

     “I can understand that!”

     We smiled at each other, our past argument forgotten. Adino shifted behind the orange Aisha. She glanced back at him then looked back at me.

     “Adino and I were just leaving. Would you like to join us?” the orange Aisha asked.

     “Depends. Where were you headed?” I asked, eyebrows raised.

     “Well, we were going to join up with our packmates.”

     “Your packmates? Not his?”

     “Yes, ours. I’m as much a Collared Green as any Lupe.”

     I could only shake my head slowly, bemused. I was only beginning to understand what I had gotten myself into. I took only a moment to make up my mind.

     “Alright, I’ll come,” I said at last.

     To be continued…