Author's note:

WOOOOO!
This is my first fanfic ever.
I joined after reading some of the amazing stuff some of you guys have put up here, and I guess that's why I'm writing this right now.
Hope you guys enjoy! R&R please! If you're going to criticize something, could you please make it constructive, not just straight up insult it. That would be appreciated.
Anyway onto the... Oh wait.

Disclaimer: I do not own Neopets. If I did, then it'd be shut down. Yay.

Chapter One- Beginnings

"Look, I just don't want to, ok? I'm fine as I am now, I don't feel like I need to change anything right now." I sighed.

"Oh fine. If you change your mind, which I know you will, just tell me early and we can get something started." He flirted, a smirk on his face as he left.

This has pretty much gone on all year- so many idiots asking me out, all in the same way- to them, I was just something to be used, to be flaunted. I'm like a status symbol to them- whoever has me, is the best.
I think about it- none of the guys I've talked to around my age have even acknowledged that I'm a person, with feelings, emotions, that I'm not just a doll.
I'm also pretty sure that a lot of the people around my age who I haven't talked to will be the same.

I guess that's who I am- Celeste, the Cloud Xweetok, the thing you'll obsess over your whole life. Right. Like I would ever stand that. According to the things I've been overhearing, I'm apparently the best looking female around in this area, something which I hate with a burning passion. I mean, sure, I'm painted, and I guess my species is known for being attractive, but seriously? Seriously? I can always think of a huge list of people who I think look more attractive than me, but yet they still keep on coming. My friends say that it's a good thing, but all it's been doing has been attracting attention from all sorts of creeps.

I walked back over to the marketplace, content with spending the rest of the day near the bustling stores. I watched the people for a while- always something to do, always somewhere to go, a purpose in life. I sighed again, feeling the wind pick up slightly past my white fur, the black barely noticeable in the corner of my eye. My tail brushed over myself a couple of times, simply a small habit of mine I developed when I was still young, something to keep me occupied when alone. I yawned, deciding to move somewhere else- this corner of the markets was starting to empty. I stopped when I saw why.

A Darigan Lupe had arrived- the same one living around here for the past year. He was slightly larger than the average Lupe, yet looked a lot larger than anything else- he simply had a menacing look, something which you would be scared of when young, a part of bed time stories never to be thought of again in life. His tattered wings matched with his dark purple fur and his red, bloodshot eyes- his tail was hanging down low, the tip seeming to have a life of its own. I shivered slightly as my eyes went over him, a glance just enough to send slight fear into my mind- he looked evil, looked like something that was never meant to be. It probably didn't help that he was known to be one of the better fighters in the Battledome. Rumour was that he lured children back to his home, promises of safety and food, to do what only our imaginations could think of.

I moved slightly from where I was before, into a small alcove where I couldn't be seen easily, but I could see him. I saw him looking around, scanning the area for anything. I froze for a second as his eyes went around to my area, then relaxed again as he resumed elsewhere. He continued walking through the marketplace, head drooped low and tail absently swishing from side to side. I saw a small Kacheek scamper away from where he was, intent on finding somewhere to hide from the Lupe. The Lupe looked in the Kacheek's direction for a while, but decided to keep walking. As he turned, I saw straight at his eyes for a split-second; the red was overpowering, the eyes sharp and focused, but I couldn't help but see a small hint of sadness and loneliness within. Deciding to head back to home, I jumped out and walked back out of the Marketplace. As I left, I swore I could feel the Lupe's gaze fixed on me, his gaze piercing through me.

I sighed as I walked into the marketplace again, empty as usual. I had moved here about a year ago, and the locals didn't exactly have a warm reception waiting. The mere fact that I was Darigan, that I looked like I did, was enough to scare everyone off. One year of nothing more than mumbled words, stares, and overheard comments. Of course, I tried not to be affected by these- but it takes a toll on you, hearing nothing but rumours, lies, things which only isolate you more. Most of them came out of when I actually did try to interact with the locals- I once tried to help a small Acara who was injured, but he ran away from me. The next day, I heard people talk about how I tried to kill the Acara, something which evolved into much worse by the time the week had ended. The only thing I could do was to stay strong inside, to keep my mind right. So far, it has worked... to an extent. But I know I'm starting to break. And I know I won't be able to stand this much longer, and when the rumours may become real...

I snapped back into the present, berating myself for such thoughts. I needed to keep those out of my head, out before I do something which I regret. I remembered that I needed to get some supplies- my food was about to run out. Looking around, a Cloud Xweetok hidden in a small alcove caught my attention for a second. She was staring at me, and I turned away quickly, not wanting to attract any more bad attention. I felt something on my tail, hanging low as usual. I turned around, and a small Kacheek was running down the nearest alley. I stared for a while, then shaking my head, resumed my walk towards the food stalls. I heard a small noise behind me, and as I looked around, I saw the Xweetok from before walking out of the Market. To be honest, she did catch my attention, but knowing things as they were, I let it go. She probably wouldn't even let me come anywhere near herself.

After about thirty minutes of walking around the marketplace, I had bought everything I needed. As usual, the shopkeepers had a nervous tone to them, and I was pretty sure I knew where that was coming from, so I left quickly. Whenever I did talk to someone, or even try, they always had that tone. Or the screaming, 'please don't touch me' tone with the more... immature crowd. Or children.

Sometimes, I did wish that just one person, at the very least, would not respond to me like that. Maybe even be friendly for once. But after a year of nothing, I didn't raise my hopes too high.

I checked how much money I still had- and I quickly realized that I was nearly out. I should probably visit the bank soon- the bank was one place where they didn't seem intimidated, but they always had a cold backing to their voice. Like some sort of inherent hatred running through them. Maybe it was just me, but I still thought that the manager eyed me suspiciously whenever I entered, and I swear that sometimes, the camera in the entry would swivel around right towards me. In fact, sometimes I think the only thing that keeps me there is my sizable gains from the Battledome. I hope I'm not becoming paranoid. Or maybe I already am.

I turned back, leaving the marketplace, hearing small voices behind me, turning to chatter, then the regular talk of the marketplace resumed. I stopped to listen for a while, then realising that nothing of interest was currently happening, started to walk back to my home. Along the path, various neopets avoided me, going by the sides of the path. I shrugged, used to it by now, and reached the crossroads before turning to the left. I walked for a few more minutes in silence, and I saw my house from a distance. I quickened my pace slightly, before I heard a scream.

I backed away slowly, panic racing through my mind.

"I've already told you no! Get away from me!" I shouted angrily, as the Gelert approached me, a glint in his eye and slight smile on his lips.

"Oh come on, you haven't even given me a chance..." He laughed, his tone hollow. "I'm sure this will work out just fine..."

I hated myself. I hated myself for being painted, I hated myself for having this happen to me, I hated myself for allowing this to happen. After leaving the marketplace, I walked home, observing the clouds in silence. I saw a few of my friends along the way, and smiled and waved at them, before continuing back home. The crossroads, as always, was crowded, and I saw a few people I knew before turning left and down the path. I was still about five minutes away from my house when I heard a familiar voice, one that I had talked to recently, and one filled with anger and hatred. He wasn't used to rejection, being relatively wealthy, and spoiled from birth. And now, now he was here in front of me.

"No, no, NO! I won't let you..."I screamed as he shoved his paw across my mouth, silencing me.

"Now now, don't want anyone to come over here do we..." He smiled, pure malice across his face. He dragged me over into a small secluded area, one which could only be seen if someone was actually searching for it. I gulped as he started to make his gradual approach towards my face, his intentions starting to show. He moved his mouth closer to my ear, slowly, but surely.

"And now you're all mine." He whispered. I struggled, tried to make some noise, anything, but his grip was strong.

"That's not nice, now is it? But don't worry. This will be over real soon, and you won't tell a word of it, will you?" He cooed, and my eyes shot open as he started to move his other paw around, down to...

"I would advise you to keep away from her, right now."

He whirled around at the unexpected noise, snarling at the intruder, before his face blanched. I tried to turn around, still struggling, trying to see who had arrived. When my eyes arrived, I gasped. Or tried to anyway, the Gelert's paw still over my mouth. I didn't believe it, but the owner of the mysterious voice was the Darigan Lupe.

I tried to locate the owner of the scream, where it came from. My sensitive ears led me over to a dark clearing, and from there, and from there, into somewhere I had never been before. I kept on searching, and hearing a small muffled voice, I darted forward and stopped. A Blue Gelert was leaning over the Cloud Xweetok from before, paw over her mouth and grinning like a maniac.

"I would advise you to keep away from her, right now." I snarled in the most threatening tone I could muster. The Gelert turned around and snarled back, before realising who I was. All colour drained from his face, and he looked around frantically, searching for some way out. Realising there was none, he leapt off the Xweetok and tried to tackle me to the ground, intending to stun me for long enough to run away. Of course, I wouldn't let that happen. I sprung out of the way quickly, leaving him to pounce on nothing, and I rammed into him from the side. I heard a small whine before he hit the ground, and deciding to capitalize on my reputation, stood my ground.

"Get out of here, now!" I roared, my voice, surprising myself, sounding a lot more ferocious than I expected. I suddenly had a small thought in my mind justifying the fear from others, before pushing it away. The Gelert turned and ran as fast as he could out of my sight. A small whimper on the ground reminded me of why I had come. The Xweetok was crying softly, and like that, she looked utterly pathetic. Trying to stop the tears, I leaned down to the Xweetok and in the gentlest voice I could, I asked her;

"Are you ok?"

I started crying softly, now knowing that whatever happened, I was completely and utterly screwed. I didn't know what was worse; the Gelert in front of me, or the Darigan Lupe which struck fear into everyone. I heard a large sound, and I dimly realised that it was the sound of one body impacting into another. There was silence, before I heard a huge roar. I didn't register the words, and I stayed on the ground, still afraid of what was to happen.

"Are you ok?"

A voice entered my conscience, and it was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard in my life. It was soft, and had a loving undertone to it, a ringing in the ears continuing long after the voice stopped. It was laced with some worry too, and a layer of comfort was placed over it all. It soothed me, brought me back to my senses, and it stopped the tears. I turned up, and I realized the Darigan Lupe was over me. I was still scared, but I still managed to give a response.

"I... think...I'm..fine.." I stuttered softly, still trying to comprehend what had just happened, what I had heard. My mind was slowly starting to comprehend that the voice was from the Lupe, and as my mind screamed about how it wasn't possible, a small part of me still believed, still gave a small thought to what it was. And despite the rest of my mind shouting out in protest against it, it made me think that maybe, just maybe, that I could have been wrong about him the whole time. That we all could have been wrong.

Another short A/N

I think this story is a bit on the short side, but meh. The next chapters will hopefully be longer. I DID type this in two days...

Anyway, give me motivation, in the form of reviews! Please? ._.

Celeste: Oh yes, otherwise I won't be able to find out what happens next!

Wait, what? Aren't you the person who's actually living out what happens?

Celeste: Aren't you the person who's meant to be writing about what happens?

Oh, snap. Right. Sorry about that, I'll get to work.

?: Hey, when are you going to give me a name?

... Be patient, it'll be in the next chapter.

?: (grumbling) Fine...

ANONYMOUS REVIEWS ARE ON. So go press that shiny button. Or, in the case of Ipods/phones, that slightly less shiny button but with an awesome slick buttony feeling that you only get from pushing something. Like a button.