The Un-Valentines Day Ball

     Mezmerella stepped back to admire her handiwork. All of her Un-Valentines Plushies were now perfectly arranged on her shelf. All of their sad, grey faces frowned at her as she made sure each one was exactly in line with the rest. She absentmindedly tapped her finger against the one empty spot on the shelf.

     “Well… almost perfect.” She grumbled. She’d had a hard time finding the final plushie to complete her collection, the Un-Valentines Cybunny Plushie. She’d left a neat and tidy little spot on her shelf for the plushie, ready for when she was finally able to get her hands on one. She obsessively wiped and dusted this shelf every day, keeping her precious plushies in pristine condition. She loved these plushies because they looked just like her, a soft shade of grey.

     Mezmerella was contemplating another trip to the Plushie Palace when suddenly, CRASH!

     Something solid soared through her open window and landed with a plop on the floor. She jumped back in surprise and nearly fled the room in fear, but stopped as her eyes landed on the object. It was a present. Specifically, a grey present tied with a delicate white bow on the top.

     Mezmerella ran to the window and looked outside but didn’t see anyone nearby. She looked back to the gift, wondering if it was safe to open. She looked to her plushies for reassurance and imagined them encouraging her to go pick it up. Slowly, she worked up the courage to kneel in front of the box. She poked it with a finger, half expecting it to move, but it was just a normal box.

     “Here goes nothing.” She whispered and gently pulled on the bow until it fell delicately to the ground. She lifted the lid to the box and gasped in surprise.

     It was an Un-Valentines Cybunny Plushie!

     If Mezmerella wasn’t so grey she’d be jumping up and down screaming with joy. Instead, she smiled softly and squeezed the precious plushie in a giant hug. She brushed her hands on the toy’s soft fur as she tried to regain her composure. She made her way back to her shelf and lifted the plushie over her head as she prepared to gently place it into its empty space.

     Mezmerella paused when she saw a little white envelope in the plushie’s hands.

     She stared quizzically at the mysterious envelope. She knew all of the qualities of the Un-Valentines collection, every defect and every stitch. This plushie was not supposed to have an envelope at all! She gently pulled the envelope from the toy’s grasp and turned it around.

     Mezmerella was written in delicate cursive on the back of the envelope.

     She hesitantly tore open the letter and pulled out the piece of smooth cardstock inside.

     “Dear Mezmerella,” She whispered as she read the invitation to herself. “You are cordially invited to the First Annual Un-Valentines Ball. This private event will take place in a top-secret location. Please be at the Faerieland Rainbow Fountain as the clock strikes twelve tonight.”

     There was no signature at the bottom. No indication at all on the envelope or anywhere in the invitation that would tell Mezmerella who had sent this to her. She stared at the letter, reading it over and over again until she felt her head start to swim. She clutched the Cybunny Plushie to her chest as she plopped onto the floor deep in thought.

     “What should I do?” She asked the plushie in her arms. She’d never been invited to a dance before, let alone one as formal as this. Even the invitation was fancier than anything she’d ever seen before!

     Plus, Mezmerella was, above all else, grey. Grey Neopets didn’t attend balls or any other festive events.

     But this is an Un-Valentines event, she thought to herself. If there was ever a ball for her to go, it would be this one. Mezmerella’s mind was spinning in a million different directions. The thought of going to this ball made her afraid, excited, anxious, and everything in between. She looked into the Cybunny’s eyes, willing it to talk to her and tell her what to do.

     Mezmerella stayed like that until the sun began to go down. She had a decision to make.

     ***

     Later that night, as the moon rose to its peak in the night sky, Mezmerella found herself walking alone in Faerieland. A purple mist seemed to swim around her as she approached the Rainbow Fountain. It seemed to glow at night, sending thick colourful bursts of steam into the air. Mezmerella wasn’t sure where to go now, so she began to wander around the fountain.

     The night was quiet except for the steady splash of the fountain water. She peered over the edge into the pond and nearly fell in when she heard a noise behind her.

     “Psssst!”

     “Who’s there??” Mezmerella squealed, jumping around and trying to make sense of the shadows in the dark.

     “Shhhh! Over here!” The voice called again. Mezmerella squinted as she tried to make out the dark figure pressed up against the side of the mountain where the rainbow water flowed from. She approached cautiously as the figure stepped forward out of the darkness.

     It was a Grey Cybunny!

     “Mezmerella, I assume?” He whispered, glancing nervously around for any other Neopets. Mezmerella nodded quickly, transfixed at the sight of another Grey Neopet. Let alone a Neopet that looked just like her new plushie!

     “Follow me.” He grinned and then stepped back towards the mountain. Mezmerella blinked and suddenly the Neopet had vanished! She quickly stumbled forward, desperate to keep her sights on this mysterious Neopet, when she saw a shadow move within the mountain.

     “What is this…” She whispered, stepping forward further and finding herself within a secret entrance in the side of the mountain. She kept her hands on the walls around her, slowly following the Cybunny as the weaved through the secret passage. Finally, Mezmerella saw a light at the end of the tunnel and gasped as the duo stepped into a large cavernous space.

     It was giant cave beneath the crest of the Rainbow Fountain, and it was filled to the brim with Grey Neopets! A giant banner hanging above them read “Welcome to the Un-Valentines Day Ball!” in the same beautiful cursive as the letter Mezmerella had opened earlier that day. There were grey roses in vases surrounding the dance floor and grey balloons floating above their heads. Mezmerella had never seen so many Grey Neopets in one room, she was left speechless.

     “Pretty cool, huh?”

     Mezmerella whipped her head back to the Grey Cybunny, who was also admiring the room. The cave itself seemed to glow like the waters outside did, the faerie magic seeming to drip from the space.

     “This is magical.” Mezmerella confessed. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

     The Cybunny nodded appreciatively.

     “Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to look the same for everybody.” He said amicably. “Sometimes we have to create a more… unique experience. One that feels more like us.”

     Mezmerella nodded, knowing exactly what he meant.

     “Thank you for inviting me.” She said sincerely.

     “Don’t mention it.” The Cybunny smiled. “Now go, have fun!” He shooed Mezmerella off as she stepped into the crowd.

     Her plushies were not going to believe this!

     The End.