The Tale of Sammy the Rainbow Yooyu

     The life of a Petpet shopkeeper is pretty much the same across the entirety of Neopia, which isn't all that interesting, to be honest. You wake up, make sure the Petpets are all well-fed and clean, do regular health checkups to ensure they're in perfect condition to be adopted out to new homes and, if the schedule allows you to, play with them so they don't get bored. However, by virtue of being situated in Altador, I have a special job that no other shopkeeper in Neopia gets to do, and that is to prepare the Yooyus for the annual Altador Cup!

     Throughout the year, I look after a fresh batch of Yooyus for the Altador Cup committee and observe their individual health, habits, personalities and growth. This data is later assessed by the committee to determine which ones will be suitable for the tournament or "rejected" and put up for sale in my shop. That's how it has been for many years, but this year, the appearance of an unconventional Yooyu completely changed everything I thought I knew about this job. This is the story of Sammy…

     Sammy was a young Rainbow Yooyu that the Petpet Protection League brought over to my shop after it was abandoned by its previous owner. Its downcast eyes and rather hunched body hinted that it was uncomfortable with its new environment. I wasted no time in trying to make it feel welcomed by introducing it to all the other Yooyus I had housed in an enclosed pen because I thought it probably needed some companionship.

     However, it turned out that my assumption was wrong, for Sammy quickly settled in a corner and wrapped itself into a ball. The other Yooyus hadn't paid much attention to it and continued to zip around happily or rest along the borders of the enclosure. Sammy probably wasn't hungry or thirsty either, or it would've headed for the bowl of food and water just a couple of inches from where it sat. I pondered for a bit as to what could be the problem but left it to its own devices not long after when a customer entered my shop and sought my assistance. Perhaps it needed some rest after a long journey, so I didn't bother about it anymore.

     The first week of Sammy's arrival passed by in a flash, with little to no improvement on its well-being. It looked forlorn and quiet, perhaps sometimes stressed too. I often checked to see if it was being shunned or bullied by its other fellows, but nothing of that sort happened. By this point, I believed that it was either an introvert or too afraid to make new friends because of traumatic past experiences. Either way, I had to do something to make Sammy feel a little better at least.

     An idea came to me a few days later when I was doing one of my routine inspections on the Yooyus for the upcoming Altador Cup. Maybe I could cheer Sammy up by getting the little Yooyu involved in this assessment session, so I created a small obstacle course and set it in front of Sammy, hoping that it would join in when it saw the other Yooyus enjoying themselves.

     However, my expectations soon died out when Sammy's first reaction to me approaching was to rush to a corner and curl into a ball, something Yooyus naturally do when they feel threatened or stressed. "You know, little guy..." I started to speak while keeping my distance, trying to keep my voice as calm and comforting as possible, "I don't have much knowledge of what you went through, but looking at you, I can assume it wasn't really good. In a way, you and me, we're not that different, you see."

     I noticed Sammy stir a bit, so I continued. "I had a huge family, so many siblings and even more cousins, all very talented people. And then there was me, a clumsy, anxious kid who was always the butt of jokes and pranks. As the years went by, my family started to lose faith in me. They said I was good for nothing and began to distance themselves. Back then, I felt just like you... scared, unsure, unsafe, devastated."

     I watched Sammy uncurl and inch a little closer, but felt it was better to stay still and smiled at the Yooyu. "But as I was alone crying in the fields, I saw a flock of Vaeolus playing nearby. One of them was having trouble keeping up with the rest because its wings were not developed properly, but it still hopped around without a care in the world with the same enthusiasm and energy as its brethren. I approached them and they didn't feel threatened or disturbed. Instead, they invited me to join, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged somewhere. I felt safe. Where my family left me, I found a new one... with the likes of you Petpets. That's why I took up this job."

     Sammy was now standing at an arm's length away from me, still watching carefully. "It's never too late to make a new start, find a new purpose. You've faced bad times before, but time changes, and it's up to you how you want to change with it. I know what you're feeling now, but you can rest assured that you're safe here."

     I stretched some food out for the Petpet, which took a step back, but after a moment of consideration, moved closer and began to eat. "See, it wasn't that hard," I told Sammy. "Now, would you be willing to give the course a try? I'm sure you'll love them. I made all that specially for you."

     Slowly, it approached the course and analyzed it before turning to me with a hopeful look.

     "You want me to help?" I asked.

     It nodded enthusiastically and curled into a ball when I scooped it up into my paw. It then expertly weaved through the obstacles before returning to me.

     "Great job, Sammy!" I praised as I patted its head. For the first time since its arrival, I saw a change of expression on the little Yooyu's face. It was delighted, and it made me happy too. For the rest of the day, it was in high spirits as it spent the majority of its time around the hoops and getting acquainted with some of the other like-minded Yooyus.

     I slept in peace that day, satisfied and proud of myself after having helped Sammy get better. But little did I know, I probably did much more than that, because when I returned to the shop the next morning, I found Sammy right by the obstacle course, still whizzing around the hoops and cones while all the other Yooyus hadn't even woken up from their sleep. And to my surprise, it was doing great!

     Over the course of the next few days, I found out that 'great' was an understatement for Sammy's abilities. As the Yooyu became more accustomed to its new home, it showed more and more of its true self. I couldn't believe how skilled and active it was, especially during the days when I had to evaluate their physical abilities via game setups. Sammy also had a cute way to celebrate its successes - it would bounce twice and then unfurl itself on the third bounce before landing on its feet, punching an arm into the air while flashing a bright smile.

     And then came the day when the Altador Cup Committee came to my door to inspect the Yooyus in training. They watched the Petpets and examined the traits of each and every one of them, from their physique and health to their performance, scribbling notes on their pads as they did so. Well, every Yooyu except for Sammy, which made sense since it was never an intention to send Sammy over for the Cup. The whole routine was just so that it could feel more at ease and was more comfortable in his new home. But apparently, the Yooyu didn't have the same idea.

     As the committee personnel made their way through the batch of Yooyus, completely ignoring Sammy despite it trying to catch their attention by jumping in their field of vision again and again, I noticed the bright and cheerful expression on its face slowly grow dull.

     "I think we're done with the assessment." One of the personnel, a Skeith told me. "You've done a really nice job this year with these Yooyus. Just give us a moment to compare notes and then we'll give you the final word on which Yooyus of yours will be participating in the Cup this year."

     I just nodded absentmindedly; my attention was on Sammy, which was once again curled in its corner. I excused myself and approached the little Yooyu, gently brushing its back. "Hey there, little one. Anything wrong?"

     The Yooyu looked up at me with doleful eyes, then turned its head to the Skeith. I instantly knew what it was thinking.

     "Alright, Sammy!" I said, standing up. "If a chance to participate in the Cup is what you want, then that's what you'll get."

     I walked back to the committee members who looked like they were finished with their discussion. When they saw me approaching them, the Skeith grinned and handed me a parchment. "You really outdid yourself, madam! We would have taken the entire batch with us if you didn't need some for your shop stock. But anyway, here's the list of the selected Yooyus."

     "Yeah, no!" I stopped him. "You ain't getting any Yooyus this year. Not unless Sammy is on the list."

     The Skeith blinked for a moment and then burst into laughter. "You mean the Rainbow Yooyu? Oh, that was a good one. I never took you for a prankster!"

     "And that's because I'm serious," I said sternly, looking straight into his eyes. "Sammy is the best Yooyu I've ever had the chance to train. If it ain't getting into the tournament, then none are."

     "You can't be serious!" the Skeith exclaimed, his expressions hardening. "It's not even a normal Yooyu, for crying out loud!"

     "Why? Because it's Rainbow?" I asked. "You paint the Yooyus before the tournament anyway, so why does it matter?"

     "It's got nothing to do with that," the Skeith answered. "It's just not the custom."

     "Don't you dare lecture me on customs!" I growled. "This is the land of Fauna the Gatherer. If a Petpet can't have the life that it deserves here, what good are your customs anyway?"

     The Skeith let out a sigh. "Alright let's work out a middle ground. You say this Yooyu is the best one you've trained, right? Let's see it compete with the actual best Yooyus on the field. If it can beat them, we'll allow it in the tournament. If it can't, then you'll just step back and let us do our job. Understood?"

     I shook his paw. "Deal. I have every confidence that Sammy will impress your committee."

     A pang of sadness hits me as I recall the scene of Sammy and the other Yooyus in the hands of the Altador Cup committee member leaving my shop. They brought me so much joy, as well as a new and unforgettable experience, especially Sammy. I know it'll make me proud whenever it'll be on the field and I'm happy that after everything, the Yooyu has finally found his purpose in life.

     The End.