This is just a short story I wrote while trying to imagine what kinds of
lessons the Mystery Island Training School used to train our pets.
Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own neopets.com
Agility Class
Mercolagos, the shadow gelert, trotted into the training school and lay down on one of the mats on the floor. He was studying Agility today, and was looking forward to the lesson.
Ryshu had said yesterday that it would be like a game, but had warned that it would also involve a great deal of exercise.
The other students filed in soon after Merc, eager to see what the game was like.
Ryshu the Nimmo walked in and smiled, carrying a large box, "Mercolagos, I've seen you in your studies and I have to say that I'm impressed with your efforts. I would like you to be my partner for the demonstration today. And then afterwards, if you succeed in completing the task, you can go home early."
Merc nodded happily and began warming up for his exercise. Carefully he reviewed each warm up stretch in his mind so that none of them would be missed. No point in getting cramps in the middle.
"Now," continued Ryshu to the rest of the class, "I'm sure you all know of the yo-yo and tricks like Walk the Lupe, Aisha's Cradle and Around Neopia." Several students nodded, remembering their toys. "Good. Well today we're modifying that idea." Ryshu reached into the box and pulled out a rubber ball attached to a long elastic string. "I will perform the tricks and you must catch the ball."
Several students looked blank but Merc grinned. Attached to the string, Ryshu could make the ball jerk and fly all over the room, bounce off of the walls and double back on itself. Merc would not only have to catch it, but learn its tricks so that he wouldn't be falling over himself or banging into the corners. He dropped into a crouch, waiting.
"Go," Ryshu said, and sent the ball into motion.
Merc bounded after the ball; turning, sliding, dodging and leaping after it. At first he was frustrated. The ball was always ahead of him and he couldn't get close enough to grab it.
Then something in his brain clicked and he realized how to keep up. He changed the way he moved. When he neared the wall, rather than slow and try to turn, he leaped up and spun, pushing off of the walls with his paws to change direction without losing too much speed. When it changed direction in the middle of the room he turned around on a single leg, spinning around quickly without loosing precious seconds.
He was tiring out now, so he clicked into another plan. He crowded the ball, making it harder to flick out of the way without it passing right in front of him. It bounced into a corner and he leaped at it from the left. The ball bounced to the right, crossing his path, and he snapped frantically at it.
Mercolagos skidded to a stop, panting heavily and suddenly realized that the ball was in his mouth and the other students were cheering. Exhausted but elated, he dropped the ball and grinned at Ryshu.
Ryshu smiled and clapped, "Excellent Mercolagos! You passed! I think you should get a super bonus today." Ryshu filled out a certificate and handed it to Merc; "Congratulations! You've gone up three agility points!"
Merc held up the certificate with a triumphant shout, waved to the rest of the class and ran all the way home to show his family.
Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own neopets.com
Agility Class
Mercolagos, the shadow gelert, trotted into the training school and lay down on one of the mats on the floor. He was studying Agility today, and was looking forward to the lesson.
Ryshu had said yesterday that it would be like a game, but had warned that it would also involve a great deal of exercise.
The other students filed in soon after Merc, eager to see what the game was like.
Ryshu the Nimmo walked in and smiled, carrying a large box, "Mercolagos, I've seen you in your studies and I have to say that I'm impressed with your efforts. I would like you to be my partner for the demonstration today. And then afterwards, if you succeed in completing the task, you can go home early."
Merc nodded happily and began warming up for his exercise. Carefully he reviewed each warm up stretch in his mind so that none of them would be missed. No point in getting cramps in the middle.
"Now," continued Ryshu to the rest of the class, "I'm sure you all know of the yo-yo and tricks like Walk the Lupe, Aisha's Cradle and Around Neopia." Several students nodded, remembering their toys. "Good. Well today we're modifying that idea." Ryshu reached into the box and pulled out a rubber ball attached to a long elastic string. "I will perform the tricks and you must catch the ball."
Several students looked blank but Merc grinned. Attached to the string, Ryshu could make the ball jerk and fly all over the room, bounce off of the walls and double back on itself. Merc would not only have to catch it, but learn its tricks so that he wouldn't be falling over himself or banging into the corners. He dropped into a crouch, waiting.
"Go," Ryshu said, and sent the ball into motion.
Merc bounded after the ball; turning, sliding, dodging and leaping after it. At first he was frustrated. The ball was always ahead of him and he couldn't get close enough to grab it.
Then something in his brain clicked and he realized how to keep up. He changed the way he moved. When he neared the wall, rather than slow and try to turn, he leaped up and spun, pushing off of the walls with his paws to change direction without losing too much speed. When it changed direction in the middle of the room he turned around on a single leg, spinning around quickly without loosing precious seconds.
He was tiring out now, so he clicked into another plan. He crowded the ball, making it harder to flick out of the way without it passing right in front of him. It bounced into a corner and he leaped at it from the left. The ball bounced to the right, crossing his path, and he snapped frantically at it.
Mercolagos skidded to a stop, panting heavily and suddenly realized that the ball was in his mouth and the other students were cheering. Exhausted but elated, he dropped the ball and grinned at Ryshu.
Ryshu smiled and clapped, "Excellent Mercolagos! You passed! I think you should get a super bonus today." Ryshu filled out a certificate and handed it to Merc; "Congratulations! You've gone up three agility points!"
Merc held up the certificate with a triumphant shout, waved to the rest of the class and ran all the way home to show his family.
