PRIME TIME SLUSHIE

      Eighteen years and two months into the future bring us to Y21, the month of Relaxing. However, there would be no time to "relax" because the 16th Altador Cup had just begun. In honour of this special event, Virtuburger would be promoting Chicken Yooyu Balls and Altador Style Bratwurst for 50% off. This flying restaurant has an official slushie station where many customers gathered to watch Yooyuball on the Neovision Screen above. One hardworking red Mynci manages that kiosk at the center of the restaurant. Being able to sip & serve with his exclusive Slushie Slinger Hat made Leigume's job super convenient. A customer approached Leigume with a request for another Lime Berry Virtupets Altador Cup Slushie. The red Mynci was authorized to use the new Slushie Maker, developed by Power X corp. The company where no one goes in or comes out. Leigume procured ice from the Shaved Ice Machine and quickly filled the Slushie Maker. In a rush to gaze back at the screen, he unknowingly poured in Voidberry Extract instead of Limeberry Krawkade. To speed up the process, the young Mynci flicked the switch to its highest capacity and left the machine to work its magic. The blade inside spun so fast it ripped through time & space, creating the Black Hole Slushie.

      Leigume was fascinated by what the Slushie Maker created. Knowing he couldn't offer the drink to a customer, he decided to claim it for himself. He replaced the Oranella Slushie attached to his drinking hat with the mystery flavour containing the miniature Blackhole. Leigume slowly pressed his lips to the plastic straw and took the first sip. He paused as if having a massive brain freeze. In moments, his body twisted and warped before being sucked through the straw.

      The young red Mynci was transported to a pitch-black cave, unaware it was the Lair of the Beast. His uniform and Slushie Slinger Hat were luckily still in tack. He pushed away a massive egg blocking the only source of visible light. It rolled off a cliff and splattered on the hot plateau. When the beast returned to roost, it found Leigume in its nest and released a loud screech. The flying beast blocked out the sun with its wingspan and swooped down from the sky in pursuit. Leigume ran away, looking back every second. The hunt lasted through the plateau and into the wilds of Burger Forest. A towering stalk stood before the Lair Beast. Cousin of the Purple Grasper, this 100ft plant is known as the Purple Megalith. It constricted the beast with its active stems, allowing Leigume to slip past the vicinity.

      After witnessing the things he saw, Leigume realized he must have gone back in time to Tyrannia before Y1. The young Mynci panicked, checking his Yooyuball Wristwatch only to find it not working. He rapidly tapped the screen to no avail. The chase left Leigume starved and lacking energy. He snatched a strange fruit he saw hanging from a nearby tree. The red Mynci was sceptical before attempting a bite. A sudden shuffle in the bushes put him on guard. The burger in his hand began to growl and grow dagger-like teeth. These were the notorious Beast Burgers. This traitorous food attracts Neopets to its delicious appearance. Once in range, it bites off the hands of any who try to pick off the tree.

      Leigume dropped the snapping sandwich and stomped it flat as 8-Bit Pizza. There were still dozens of more flesh-eating burgers, all snarling and hopping closer towards a tiny Pickulsaur. The gang of Beast Burgers had the Petpet cornered. Leigume dived over the Pickulsaur and held it tight between his chest. He curled into a ball and braced for the worse. The Beast Burgers shred the backside of Leigume's Fancy Collared Shirt. They snatch away his Slushie Slinger Hat and tear off the cup attached at the side. The red Mynci barges his way out of Burger Forest with the Pickulsaur still clutched in his arms. He released the reptile once they reached Tomato Sauce Swamp. Leigume pointed straight forward, assuming the Petpet would hurry back to its natural habitat. The Pickulsaur, instead, crawled closer. It propped its stubby arms on Leigume's left thigh, sniffing for something. After shuffling through his pockets, Leigume managed to scrap up nacho crumbs leftover from Virtuburger. As the Petpet ate from his palm, Leigume felt a new appreciation for the little guy and asked if he would like to join the Virtuburger crew. The Pickulsaur conveyed agreement by gently massaging its head on Leigume's hand. While petting the reptile, he felt the lumpy texture of its skin and knew just what to name him. "Prickletops."

      A massive tomato had exploded due to extreme temperatures in this area. The remains covered half the jungle and created Tomato Sauce Swamp. This wetland is full of more dangerous things, including Spore Blossoms, which spray a wretched smelling spore on any who venture too close. The soil was thick as tomato paste, and the waters were tainted red. Persistent sounds of belching marked the territory of Tomato Spitters. These lip-smacking plants lapped everything in mashed tomato, making it difficult to move.

      Leigume marched through the swamp with slow footsteps. A slimy tentacle slithered through the red water, low and steady. The young Mynci and his Pickulsaur get pulled into the tomato sauce. He frantically tries to swim away before it could fill his lungs. While flailing his free limbs, Leigume came into contact with something sharp beneath the red water. A Turned Tooth, possibly belonging to a Tyrannian Plathydon. He used the sharp edge of the tooth for a clean cut. After being released, Leigume realized Prickletops was missing. He called out and squinted his eyes in focus. The Pickulsaur was spotted in the distance, swimming towards his new owner.

      Leigume cheered on Prickletops with open arms. His smile faded the moment tiny bubbles rose to the surface of the red water. Out came a cage-like jaw, encircling the Petpet like a prison of bones. This terrible creature was none other than the Evil Blancmange. Leigume heard stories of this sea-dwelling predator in modern Tyrannia, but he's never seen one this big. Prickletops was only moments away from being consumed. Using his acrobatic skills as a Mynci, Leigume scaled a nearby tree and swung from thick vines towards the mouth of the Evil Blancmange. The vile anemone attempts to swat the red Mynci down with its remaining tentacles, but Leigume slices each of them with the sharp tooth.

      The Evil Blancmange inhales through its mouth, causing the swamp to brew like a cauldron of ketchup. A whirlpool is triggered, leading directly into its belly. After Prickletops goes down the drain, Leigume soon followed behind. With great courage, he jumped into the whirlpool, filled with long Chains of Onions, Hot Tyrannian Peppers, and everything else from the swamp. The Evil Blancmange swallowed the entire wetland and its wildlife. Carving a hole through the swamp monster with his jagged tooth, Leigume freed himself and everything else. The release came with a big burst that transferred everything from Tomato Sauce Swamp to a different location. The land was now exposed to sunlight and quickly dried as a result. Without liquid to sustain its body, the Evil Blancmange shrivelled up like a Deflated Heart Balloon.

      The purified swamp gave a clear view of the land. Prickletops was chewing on what remained of the pink monster. Leigume joined the Pickulsaur in finishing the gourmet food. Together, they feasted with the appetite of the great Turmaculus. Being a resident of the Virtupets Space Station, Leigume is no stranger to gross foods. He focused his eyes on something metal reflecting in the sun. A strange pill-shaped machine, just big enough for one passenger, lay in the open. It had rusted words imprinted on the side. Leigume recognized the writing as "Power X Corp." The same organization that created the new Slushie Maker built this Time Machine.

      He and Prickletops boarded the mysterious object with great caution. There was a lever beside a panel of mixed numbers. Leigume arranged the numbers to meet the exact date and time he was present before drinking the Black Hole Slushie. With nothing left to lose, the red Mynci pulled the lever. The Time Machine clanked and rattled much as the Slushie Maker did, only this displayed a numerical countdown that was all too obvious of its meaning. Leigume whispered to his much appreciated Pickulsaur, "We are going home."

     The End.