You didn't think I was serious did you? You thought I was a one shot jokester with no plans for anything else. Not a chance. This is going as far as I can take it. Hope you stick around for the ride.
Disclaimer: All characters, places, and whatnot belong to NeoPets.com, not me. I did the story and nothing but. Please don't hurt me or sue me, I am making no money off of this at all, I swear. I am making no copyright claims and am just using the characters for the purposes of fun and entertainment, not profit.
How do you like it? Write to me at DeMachina@cs.com Flamers: Just don't bother. MSTers: Please don't. Regular comments: Go right ahead.
"That there is the Mystery Island grand hotel. Its theme is Mystery Island and it is one of the most expensive hotels on the strip, both in room cost and maintenance." Capara pointed to a large, lush hotel front, jungle plants springing out onto the sidewalk defying the concrete around them. At her arm was Princess Fernypoo, listening intently to everything she had to say. Of course, she didn't know it was Capara leading her around the city. She thought it was a handsome boy named Cap. Masculine characteristics do have their advantages.
"That's where I'm staying. It's really lovely on the top floor. You should come up and check out the view sometime." Ferny smiled and fluttered her lashes at Capara, shamelessly flirting with the girl she thought was a boy.
"Th-that's alright. I'll pass on that. I don't think it would look right for someone to go with you to your room. Scandalmongers everywhere you know." Capara had to keep tap-dancing on a knife's edge, trying to keep Princess Fernypoo interested, but not letting her get close enough to compromise her secret.
"I suppose you're right. Oh how terrible it is to be a princess sometimes. Everyone just wants a little piece of you to sell, either a photo, or a bit of fur, or some of your clothes. It just gets tiring sometimes. Then again, so does the constant attention of bodyguards. That's why I came here on my own."
"So that explains the lack of fanfare and the bus travel. Interesting..." Capara thought, while she led Princess Fernypoo further down the strip. "There's a lot more to this town than you may realize. Sure it's glitzy and glamorous, and that's what makes it famous. I'm not sure where this is going, but it's better than just staying quiet, no?"
Ferny giggled, hugging Capara's arm tightly. "Oh Cap, you're so funny."
Capara smiled at the Princess and tried not to look utterly mortified and really uncomfortable about the whole situation. "Thanks... Where would you like to go now?"
"Just take me back to my hotel. I need my beauty rest. I have a Cheat competition tomorrow, and I don't want to be late. I'm up against a bunch of commoners who just don't have a chance against me."
"Reach for the stars, Princess." Capara seethed on the inside while she smiled benignly at Princess Fernypoo. "We'll see just who loses at that game..."
"Why don't you come watch me play tomorrow, Cap? It'll be just wonderful to have you out there supporting me. A real boost to my confidence." Ferny hugged tighter to Capara's arm, pressing her face close to the Kyriis.
"Err... Ahhh... I'd love to... But you see... I... Ummm... Have to... to work! Yea, I have to work tomorrow." That was the best she could do? It must be the time. It's too late to think of a really believable lie. "A little three-card monte scam and some easy marks should perk me right up..."
Ferny pouted cutely, halfway between acting and genuine disappointment. "Awww. That's too bad. I really could have used your support. I'm up against a tough player. This Capara is a real professional. Must come from being right off the streets. Not that there's anything wrong with that!" She added quickly, trying to salvage her complimentary stance towards Capara.
Capara had no intention of leaving, no matter how angry she was feeling. "No offense taken at all, Princess. Here's your hotel. Goodnight." Capara smiled and waved pleasantly to the Princess. Once she was out of sight however she took off running back to her motel, gritting her teeth and seeming on the verge of screaming.
"That girl is so insufferable! So high and mighty and superior! And such a condescending attitude! The only reason she even let me be with her was the fact that I'm handsome... cute.. whatever. I really need to scam some pets. Now!"
The next day Capara was feeling reasonably sane and secure. She had been as good as her thoughts and had indeed set up a table to play a little crooked three-card monte. No one ever suspected she was swindling them, and good. She raked in enough to feel rather good about her upcoming game against Princess Fernypoo, Brucey B and Agent 00 Hog. She thanked her lucky stars that the secret agent had only one loss left before elimination. He was a royal pain in the posterior. And speaking of royal pains... "Princess! Hope you have some good luck today. Didn't look like you were doing too well the other day."
Ferny had been scanning her gaze over the audience, perhaps looking for Cap, thinking he managed to get a day off from work or that he had faked sick to see her play. When Capara called out to her, in her higher, more sugary "Competition" voice, she snapped her head around to look at her, glaring. "You. Just you wait, street urchin. I will beat you today. There's nobody here who is a threat to me and my amazing skill."
Capara just smiled. She had seen Princess Fernypoo's weak, soft side and knew she was a sucker, and rather inexperienced. If she played it right she could probably use her natural charm and looks to throw her a bit. "Right..."
"Good luck everyone! I hope you all do well." Brucey B smiled warmly at the other players, trying to suck up to them. He was no fool. However, with Agent 00 Hog's future in the balance and Capara and Ferny at war no one was really willing to be friendly.
"Forget the act. No one has ever managed to suck up to me and succeed." Capara shook her head at Brucey and wagged her finger at him. No one was scamming the con artist today.
"My entire future in this competition is riding on this game. I entered on a "Safety sudden death" deal. If I lose twice I can't compete for another year. I don't wanna go back to secret agenting! It's dangerous! Mommy!" Agent 00 Hog looked terribly frazzled, as though he hadn't slept too well the night before. His normally neat tuxedo was disheveled, hanging crookedly on his form and had several stains on it.
"What a loser. I just knew he was a useless player and not too good in general. I just didn't think he'd crack so quickly." Capara thought about all that while she also devised a good strategy to use against Fernypoo. "She favors calling on multi-cards, but is afraid of calling single cards; unless she thinks you've played it before... I'll wait for three, play one, and then hold two. She'll fall right for it. And I'll split doubles. I hope I don't piss her off too much. I'd hate to have her clobber me tonight... Whoa, gotta stop thinking so far ahead... That sounded so very wrong..."
The game got underway very quickly, each of them playing for something: Capara for money; Ferny for her ego; 00 Hog for his spot; and Brucey B for... Well, actually he was just playing to have a grand old time. As worried as 00 Hog was about his spot he played horribly, missing some rather blatant cheating and calling at some really boneheaded moments. As Capara predicted her strategy of splitting doubles and segmenting triples threw Fernypoo and the others as well. However she eased off near the end of the game, allowing Fernypoo to win and coming in at second place. Brucey B was rather happy with his third place standing, smiling and waving to the cheering crowd of onlookers. Agent 00 Hog had to be physically removed from the stage by two large bouncers. He screamed and sobbed like a little girl as they dragged him away, saying that he was going to be sent to a top secret remote island with a top secret mission and that he didn't want to go.
As soon as the standings were announced Capara had to zip off to her motel room, carefully avoiding Fernypoo while she ran in there. "Only a few minutes to change and get out there. Guess I could use my Monte money to take her out someplace. I might gain a little insight into her personality. Soften her up for a major victory. I just have to be careful, she's not as dull as she looks..." Capara washed off her makeup, making sure that her face was totally clear of the stuff before she struggled into her comfortable post-competition clothes. Dashing out of her room she made her way back to the lamppost she had been at the other night. When she arrived there she rested against it, just trying to relax. Fernypoo was probably primping and grooming at her room and would take her own sweet, regal time to arrive. "I am taking this way too seriously. It's just a scam. I don't have to care about her... right? I really gotta stop watching television. It'll ruin my cheaters edge."
"Yoo-hoo! Cap! I'm here!" Ferny sauntered up to the lamppost Capara was at, smiling softly. She was wearing a marine green dress with white lace at the throat, sleeves and trim. She was wearing her coral tiara but probably had it vigorously polished all day. Hanging about her was the delicate scent of lavender, perfumed to perfection without being excessive. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting long."
"Oh not at all Princess." In truth Capara had been waiting there for over an hour, running through her plans for the evening. She had to get just the right information out of Fernypoo without being suspicious. But she wasn't about to tell her that. "I just got off from work, went home to change and hopped right out here. I couldn't have been here more than five minutes."
"Wonderful! Oh Cap I just can't tell you how good it is to see you. I had such a terrible day today." Ferny leaned against Capara, her perfume gently caressing over the Kyriis senses.
"R-really? Why don't you tell me all about it while we have something to eat? I just got paid and thought I'd treat you tonight." Capara stood her ground, but was quite ready to bolt for the nearest alley. The perfume swirling about her and the feel of the Princess so close to her was more than a little worrisome. Exposure causes tolerance. "If she keeps that up I might start to like it. I don't even want to think about that..."
"Dinner? Really? Will you show me all the little places that you like to go to? Those quaint eateries that serve strange concoctions to common pets?"
"That's what I was thinking. Someplace not too seedy, but with a little street class. That's the thing you learn quick around here. It's all about the street class." Capara gave Fernypoo an oily smile that she hoped wasn't too phony. She did have her "Charming commoner" image to uphold if she was going to keep up the deception.
""Street class"? What an odd concept. What does it mean?"
"Come with me. I'll tell you all about it..."
Not too much later they were both being seated in a cozy corner both at "Blumies", a diner apparently staffed entirely by Blumaroos. "So this is what street charm is... Comfortable and things actually match. It's a bit plain, but I suppose that the poorer pets must make due with things like that. In all it isn't too bad. And it's surprisingly clean." Fernypoo idly commented on the entire place while she waited for the menus to arrive. It was a wonder she didn't comment on the menu shortage in her condescending commentary.
"It's a rather nice place. I enjoy coming here." Capara offhandedly commented, taking her menu and holding it up in front of her, half reading it, half looking over the top at Fernypoo, watching for any little quirks or habits that could be exploited or inquired about. Fifty percent of a scam is the idle conversation that keeps the eyes to one side while the other side is being robbed blind.
"Interesting menu items. They're all so... unfamiliar. What exactly is a 'hamburger'? Or a 'hot dog'? That doesn't sound very appealing." Ferny looked up over the top of her own menu and right into the eyes of Capara. They held their gazes together for a long moment, Capara too afraid of how suspicious it would look to look away and Ferny because she just saw something familiar in the way Capara was looking over the top of her menu. "You remind me of someone... Maybe it's the way your eyes are barely peeking over the menu. It just reminds me of my competition in Cheat. I always seem them looking at me like that. But especially that one girl... Whatever her name is. Anyway she's a Kyrii too. Maybe that's it..."
"Yea! That must be it. I've got that kind of face that you just see everywhere. Seen one Kyrii you've seen us all."
"I wouldn't say that. You have a very distinctive look to you that I'd know anywhere." Ferny winked at Capara, going back to reading her menu.
"Well... Uhh... You said you wanted to know about the food. Well, a hamburger is just fried ground meat served between two halves of a roll. And a hot dog is a sausage served in a bun that closes around it. If you want I can order for you. I'll be sure to pick something you might like."
"No, no, it's ok; I can handle this myself. I have to run a kingdom someday after all. Surely I can handle ordering food for myself."
"Would either of you like anything to start? Soda, coffee, anything?" A Blumaroo waitress hopped over to them, holding a pad and pencil and looking more than a little enthused at Capara. Another one who thought she looked handsome.
"Yes, could I get a cup of hot golden juppie tea with just a touch of buzz honey? And a seaweed scone on the side?"
"Uhhh... Sorry honey. We don't got anything like that around here. Can I getcha an iced tea?"
"Well, I suppose that will have to do." Ferny looked rather disappointed that she couldn't get her tea, but seemed rather determined to press on.
"I'll just have a NeoCola to start me out." Capara muttered quickly, trying to hide behind her menu.
"You got it, Sugar." The Blumaroo looked between Ferny and Capara a few times, smiling a knowing little smile. "You two make just the cutest little couple." She commented before hopping off to bring their drinks.
"Did you hear that? It's like we were meant to be." Ferny looked starry-eyed at Capara, who was starting to sink into her seat.
"Well... Not that I'm saying there's anything wrong but... it was just one opinion... I mean, this is nice but you can't rush into these things..."
"I know that. I'm just saying I'm glad that I'm not wrong. After all, this does look really odd. A princess and a commoner together at a place like this. I'm amazed there aren't cameras everywhere."
"You only think you're above me, Princess. In the end you'll see I've been above you the whole time..." Capara thought bitterly as she continued to smile at Fernypoo. "I guess you can consider yourself lucky. I think traveling alone threw the scandal hounds off your trail."
"I suppose you're right. I'm glad I decided to go it on my own. It's good for me. This will give me the real life experience I need to be able to identify with my subjects."
Capara smiled predatorily behind her menu, looking Ferny right in the eyes. "Believe me, Princess, if you stick with me you'll get all the real life experience you need."
At that moment the waitress returned with Ferny's iced tea and Capara's NeoCola, leaving Ferny wondering why she felt slightly unsettled. She dropped the idea right away, convinced she was just imagining things. "So, you two lovebirds ready to order?"
"Yes, I think I shall try a... hamburger."
"You want slaw or fries on the side?"
"What or what?"
"She'll have fries on the side." Capara interjected, to save Ferny some embarrassing questions that would make her look simple. Strange that she'd help Ferny like that, though. Just acting the part too well or something.
"Alright. And what about you?"
"I think... The same would be fine." Capara closed her menu and handed it to the waitress, indicating for Ferny to do the same.
"Shouldn't take too long. You two just relax and try not to get too comfy, if you know what I mean." The waitress winked at them before hopping off on her tail.
"She was certainly nice. I really should try to associate with more common people. It's really good for me and I'm learning a lot."
"It has its benefits, indeed." Capara said nonchalantly. "Like bringing you out into the open. I wonder just how long I can stretch this."
They both sat in relative silence after that, Ferny looking around and admiring the decor, while making condescending comments about it; and Capara watching Ferny, memorizing all her little quirks, postures and movements. Finally, the Blumaroo waitress arrived at their table with the food. Although she hopped everywhere on her tail she hadn't dropped a single fry, showing a great deal of practice. "Here ya go. Y'all enjoy that. I'll be around in case you want refills."
"Thank you..." Capara muttered, pouring ketchup on her fries and a little on her burger. She handed the bottle to Ferny who looked at it like it was some ancient mystical relic.
"What is this? It looks like... blood." Ferny looked prepared to turn an unladylike shade of green.
"Don't worry, it's just ketchup. Tomato sauce with some spices in it. Try it. It's great with fries and a burger. Fair warning, Princess, you might want to take off those gloves. This meal tends to get a little messy, if you do it right." Capara smiled winningly, giving advice and humor all at once. "I am so good..."
Dinner went mostly as Capara expected, Ferny needing to adjust to the eating of more common foods, while she herself both coached and observed closely. At the end of the evening Capara again saw Ferny to her hotel.
"I had a lot of fun tonight, Cap. You're really teaching me a lot of things I need to know."
"Well, Princess, it's my pleasure to do so." Capara turned to go back to her motel.
"Cap?"
"Yes?" When Capara turned around she found herself tightly embraced by Ferny. She struggled for a moment but eventually let her continue, until she finally let go and planted a delicate kiss on her cheek.
"Good night..." Ferny quietly said, hurrying into her hotel and away from a very stunned Capara.
"Good... night..." Capara whispered, barely a breath through her lips. One hand was over her cheek, rubbing the spot that had just been kissed. This was not part of her plan. Neither was the sudden feeling that everything was not as under her control as she had first assumed.
Things went on like that for a while, each day Capara rising in the ranks of Cheat, no longer constrained by letting Ferny win. Every time Ferny lost she would always gladly console the sobbing princess as "Cap", the understanding commoner boy. But she found it harder and harder to take malicious glee in her mastery of the game and her continued deception of the trusting, caring Princess. She knew that she had lost control of her lies and was now flying without a net over some dangerous territory.
At last came what she had been dreaming of, the moment of greatest triumph. The final match to decide everything. Oliver Usuliko, Princess Fernypoo, herself and Spectre, all at the same table. The stakes were never higher, and Capara felt so uncomfortable, sitting there in her makeup and jewelry while she watched Ferny take a beating in the game. Not that she didn't help in that respect. She was no fool. Every chance she got to make the pile smaller she made it smaller. She tried to get a reading from Spectre a few times but always averted her eyes when he stared at her. His gaze was to cold and dead it was like staring into the eyes of a corpse.
The game moved on slowly, inch by inch and card by card, each pet gaining ground and then losing it again. Slowly but surely, however, Capara began to emerge as the leader, until Spectre started nipping at her heels. Down to the last card, nothing in her hand to use, she tossed t to the table and declared it was what was needed. The room was deathly quiet as the other players looked her up and down. And then... No one said a word. With a mighty cheer from the spectators Capara knew she had done it. Finally, after all her hard work, cheating, lying, deceptions and dishonesty she had won the grand prize fair and square.
Capara ascended the steps that led to the winner's circle, a big, bright smile on her face. She stood there, basking in the spotlight and relishing her place in the sun. She was handed the championship trophy, which she took with great eagerness, and a giant check, also taken with great eagerness. She opened her eyes to look out at the crowd, the adoring crowd that was cheering just for *HER*... when she caught sight of Ferny still sitting at the table, looking dejected and depressed. She knew she wanted... NEEDED the money, and she deserved every bit of it. She could have a real life at last, no longer dependant on anything risky or dangerous. And yet... when she saw the tears falling from Ferny's eyes and the sadness on that face she couldn't help but feel terrible. She now realized that she had changed. As her confidence increased and her exposure dragged on she stopped seeing Ferny as a faceless snob, and saw her for what she really was. A warm and caring Acara, who had hopes, dream ambitions, a real and true life, just like her. And that she had... fallen in love with the person under the mask of haughtiness and hyper civility.
The championship cup began to feel like a leaden weight, cumbersome and useless. The check, too, was more like a giant sheet of metal than a bearer of her dreams. It was as though someone had flicked off a switch inside her. At the moment she was meant to feel most euphoric and grand she felt dead. Utterly emotionally dead. Without waiting for the interviews or commentary that was supposed to follow the game Capara dashed away, running like the wind to try and get back to her motel room. Ferny would return to Aquamarina now that she had lost. Capara had to speak her mind before that could happen.
At the room she dumped off everything from the competition, and dressed herself with greater haste than usual, barely taking enough time to wash the makeup from her face. Every step she took was against the clock, the pounding of her feet on the pavement and asphalt like the seconds ticking away. Once at Ferny's hotel she burst right in and grabbed an elevator, jabbing the button to Ferny's floor repeatedly, even after the elevator started moving.
Capara burst into Ferny's room; lucky the door was left unlocked. "Ferny!"
"Ferny was sniffling pitifully as she unpacked her things from the room's drawers and placed them delicately into her suitcases. "Cap? Are... are you here to see me off?"
Capara hesitated in the doorway, her earlier resolve starting to melt now that was actually faced by Ferny. But with no other recourse she slowly made her way toward Ferny. "You can't leave. Not yet..."
"I have to, Cap. Father expects me back now that the championships are over..."
"But... but I..."
"I know. I do too. But I guess I knew it wouldn't last. I'm just not able to stay. I have to leave."
"There's more to it than just that. I have to... I have to be honest with you. I don't want you to leave or to go on feeling anything until I tell you the truth."
Ferny looked down at the dress she was holding for a long moment, as though it would tell her future like tea leaves. Then she slowly looked up and graced Capara with her gaze. "You lied to me? When?"
Capara faltered, but then drew closer, knowing she was too far along to quit now. "From the start. Just look into my eyes and you'll see."
Ferny looked, shallowly at first but then deeper and deeper into the beautiful orbs. Eyes she had looked at past many a candle and over many a table... Table... Those eyes. Something familiar about them. There was tenderness there; something she had never noticed had been missing. But something else was...
"I love you, Ferny. And I know you love me. But there is one thing I never told you. My real name."
The coldness she'd seen all those times at the start, like ice.
Capara returned the deep staring, wondering if she was just throwing away all her hopes for happiness. Then she realized that there would be no happiness without truth. Her duplicity had crumbled, her lies caved in and her deceptive days were over. She couldn't lie to those eyes again, couldn't watch them fill with undeserved tears.
Something about them, something about him... Something... Something... Closer and closer she came to realizing what it was. It was all blending together. Menus and pamphlets and... cards. No...
"It's me..." Capara said, adopting her competition tone. "Capara..."
To be continued...
Capara: I did it.
Ferny: It's her...
Capara: I can't believe I did it.
Ferny: I can't... no, it can't be...
Capara: Why did I even think I could keep it up?
Ferny: She tricked me...
Capara: How could I honestly believe I could keep from falling in love?
Ferny: And she said she... loves me... And I said... Oh my...
Capara and Ferny: This is so unreal...
Ferny: Now what can I do?