So I have this idea for a Luminaire pet...

I want to make a species I don't have already, and one of those is a darkonite. I'm thinking it fits my idea quite nicely. Thing is, I'm going to need another slot, lol, so this isn't going to happen right away as much as I sincerely want it to. I used to have a Christmas pet on Neopets and that pet was SO much fun. I can't wait to get this pet and start designing her and drawing for her...shoot, I'll probably have her all drawn up and written before I can afford her slot, lmao. Anyways, let me know what you think - I'd really appreciate it.

story

"You've got to be kidding me. You're a darkonite. You can't have Luminaire spirit."

"See those pointy bits on your tails? That means you're evil."

"You can't like Lumineve! Darkonites are supposed to like darkness and dark things!"

She had heard variations on these things her entire life thus far. Born to a small, poor family of darkonites with many more children than they could afford in Northern Meneb. When she was just a pup, she and three of her siblings were given up for adoption to a charity that placed pets of poor families in more affluent areas of Subeta. Her brothers and sister went to Centropolis while she was sent to the cold, frozen land of the Arctic Frost which had just opened up a new adoption home.

Her first few years were spent happily enough, as what do the very young know of cruelty? She enjoyed frolicking in the snow, loved throwing snowballs, and loved to go sledding on Cybill Hill. But she loved absolutely nothing more than Luminaire. The bright lights, the candy canes, the festive ribbons and wrapping paper, and the general spirit of kindness and love that spread through the land. She was a generally happy girl all throughout the year, for all that she was the only darkonite among a population of mostly anyus, jollins, and cybills. It was only when she reached school-age that her trouble began.

Her first day of school, she walked in with the other young ones from the adoption home and almost immediately her hopes began to be crushed. An older girl made fun of her candy-cane-striped scarf. It hurt, but she shrugged it off as the girl having a bad day. The rest of the day went as well as a school day ever does, but in her last class they had been discussing the history of Luminaire and Lumineve and whether or not the story of a land beyond the polar ice fields was true and whether or not Luminaire traditions such as lights on trees and Santa hats were everyday things there. It was the only time she had spoken up all day. A brightly spoken "YES of course it's real!" got her rude laughs and jeers from her peers and she felt lower than dirt.

She ran from the room as soon as the bell rang and ran all the way back to the adoption home, tears freezing as the cold air hit her face. The next morning, she didn't want to go back to school at all, but of course she had to. And she had to the day after that, and the next week, and the following months. Her peers' treatment of the little Luminaire-loving darkonite didn't get better. If anything, it got worse when they found out how much it hurt her. They thought it was funny, it made them feel that they were better, funnier, stronger, than the silly little darkonite who didn't even have a proper home.

One weekend, after a particularly hard week, she decided to take a walk in the new fallen snow which usually cheered her up. She put on her favorite red hat, her candy cane scarf, and her fluff-lined red boots and set off. She didn't have a path or a destination in mind and soon she found herself walking next to a short cliff face with steps set into it. She shrugged and walked up the steps, wondering where they led. Something smelled wonderful as she came out around a few thick snowy pines. A pretty thatched-roof log cabin set in the middle of a small stand of pines, smoke coming from its chimney. She crept up to a window and looked in.

Sensing a presence, the blond-haired winged woman turned and looked out the window. Her eyebrows raised and she smiled as she saw the small face looking in. It wasn't Luminaire yet, but she always welcomed visitors. She walked to the door as the small face ducked down out of sight.

Oh no. Someone was there and had seen her. She was in so much trouble. Now they would see her and make fun of her and maybe hurt her for looking in their house. She began to cry as she backed fearfully away from the cabin, watching the door warily. Her eyes widened as a small woman in a red coat stepped out the door.

"Hello there little one. Whatever's the matter? Why are you crying?" Melody asked, crouching down to the small darkonite's level. "Are you alright?"

She blinked a few times. The woman...looked like..like pictures of Melody she'd seen. But it couldn't be. Melody would never talk to her, a stupid little darkonite...would she? But...it had to be Melody, she thought. Who else would be nice to her.

"I...I'm (name). I just, I mean, I was just walking and...I don't mean to intrude." (name) stuttered fearfully.

"It's alright, love. You're not intruding. I was just taking a break from preparations for this year's Luminaire celebrations." At Melody's kind smile, (name) broke down and told her her entire story and how horrible the kids treated her. She told her how it hurt when they made fun of her for believing in the magical land beyond the ice fields and how she still believed in it even so and wished more than anything that she could go there. Melody listened, nodding and patting the girl's shoulder.

"Well," Melody said when the girl finally stopped and was quiet, "I can tell you that your belief is not misplaced. That land is indeed real. I've been there - in fact, it's where I'm from. And it very much is Luminaire all year around. It's called Lumindale and it's where the Luminaire magic comes from."

(name) was silent, wide-eyed as she took in the truth. "I knew it! I knew it was real! Oh! I wish the kids at school knew the truth! Then they could stop being mean and be happy and we could all be friends! But if I just tell them, they'll never believe me. I wish I could take them there!"

Melody smiled kindly, shaking her head. "Those who don't truly believe, those who don't have the Luminaire spirit, can't get in. There's a barrier to keep the magic pure and untainted."

(name) frowned sadly. "So they'll never be able to know."

"True Luminaire spirit must come from inside. It can't be shown to someone, can't be proven. It's something each of us much decide to have ourselves or it doesn't work."

(name) glanced off towards the North. "I wish I could see it. I know I could get in. I want to be there, I want to live there. I don't fit in here and I probably never will. But there...Luminaire is what I live for."

Melody smiled, a plan forming in her mind. She knew what it was to be different and felt for the girl. "It's getting late, my dear. I think it's time you head home. You don't want to be outside in the dark with how cold it gets once the sun goes down."

The girl's shoulders drooped, a sigh escaping her lips. "Yes...I guess you're right. It was really nice talking to a friendly person for once. Thank you for talking with me."

After she left and was past the pines, Melody went back inside her cabin and began to write a letter, and then another. She placed a stamp on the outside of both, put them in her mailbox outside, and pushed the flag up. The she smiled and went up to bed.

A week passed and (name) went through her daily routine, going to school, getting made fun of, going home, and only feeling a little cheer when she thought of meeting Melody and hearing that she was indeed right about the land beyond the ice fields, Lumindale, being real.

"(name), come down here please!" The headmistress of the adoption home called. "There's someone here for you."

"Coming!" (name) shouted as she got up from her small desk and went towards the stairs.

Standing at the door was Melody. (name)'s eyes widened and she smiled. "Hi Melody!"

"Hello love. I've got a surprise for you. I really do hope you like it. It took some doing...but I think you're ready for this. I've written to your headmistress here who invited me here today. I also wrote to some friends in Lumindale." Melody smiled kindly at the hopeful look on the girl's face.

"What is it? What's going on?" She looked from Melody's face, to her headmistress', to the faces of the other kids who were peeking around the corner from the library.

"I am pleased to offer you a place in Lumindale. It isn't a traditional family placement as I know most of you are hoping for." At this, Melody smiled at the faces peeking in from the library. "You would be living and working with those in Lumindale who make all the lovely ornaments and things that are then sent to the rest of Subeta to celebrate Luminaire."

"WHAT?! Are you...you can't be...you're serious?!" (name)'s voice squeaked as she couldn't believe her ears. "When do I leave? When can I go? How am I going to get there?!"

"Calm down now, (name)." The headmistress admonished. "If you're agreeable to this, and I can see that you are, you may go upstairs and pack your things now. Melody will take you there."

After that fateful night, (name) was welcomed with open arms into Lumindale. They didn't care that she was a darkonite. They recognized her as one of them, another who had the same Luminaire spirit as they.

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So I have this idea for a Luminaire pet...

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