GYOAT had been enjoying the lights in his forest. The glowing moss, the falling illuminated snow, and the sparkling floating lights made his orchard look like a beautiful nebula. He had a fun idea. He collected moss and snow on his fur.
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He decided to make himself a spectacle of lights—moss, snow, and if he could catch the glowing lights, he would. Some of the other animals joined him, including Noobkitty’s rat assistant Nibs.
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It was a march of glowing forest creatures into town to show off the pretty lights and maybe get something to eat from Noobkitty.
When they made it to town they saw the place was also lit up with pretty lights. They instantly smelled the food wafting from the center of town and knew it was a party, and knew they'd be a welcome addition.
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The animals marched to the center of town and saw the tables displaying countless treats. GYOAT and his forest parade walked straight to ExpertBunny and Noobkitty and instantly received a warm welcome.
"GYOAT!" ExpertBunny yelled and ran to hug her friend, who graciously accepted.
The rat Nibs ran to Noobkitty and climbed her dress to get to her shoulder, his preferred place of honor.
"Hey Nibs, welcome to the party," said Noobkitty, scratching the little rat’s head. "I have a gift for you."
From her inventory she pulled a small package. The rat squeaked in excitement and took it.
GYOAT looked a little crestfallen seeing the happy rat. Didn’t the greatest yak deserve a present too?
"Don’t worry, we made a present for you too," said ExpertBunny, handing the yak his gift. He jumped with excitement.
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"You're welcome," laughed ExpertBunny at her delighted friend.
He began tearing the present apart and revealed, of all wonderful things, an apple pie!
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"Glad you like it."
"Your turn, Nibs," smiled Noobkitty.
The rat opened his package and found an apron his size.
Official Apron:
Prevents 80% of all food-related stains. "No more flour stuck to your fur!"
The rat squeaked and put the apron on, excited to be official. He hugged Noobkitty’s face.
"You're welcome. Admittedly I need to make myself one too, but making yours was more important. Couldn't have my best sous chef going home a mess," she said to Nibs.
Taking advantage of the new enchantment, Nibs hopped onto the table of sweets and jumped headfirst into a raspberry danish. After a few bites he came out with just a few smudges on his paws, which he happily licked off.
Noobkitty laughed. "Perfect use of a cleanliness enchantment."
GYOAT finished his pie and licked the pan clean. Then he noticed something… words.
“RETURN TO NOOBKITTY FOR ANOTHER PIE”
GYOAT was so excited. A second pie! He picked the pan up and took it to her.
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She held the pan, and a pie appeared in it. She handed him the new pie.
Now GYOAT was a smart yak, and he noticed something… she put the pie in the same pan, which might mean…
He decided, for science, he needed to eat the second pie.
When he finished it, he saw the words were still on the tin, so he picked it up and gave it to Noobkitty. She then proceeded to fill it again.
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He scarfed down the third pie happily and handed it to her again. She filled it a fourth time.
"How many pies did you prepare?" asked ExpertBunny in a whisper.
"Forty. I’ll make more tomorrow. And I added pound cake crumbs to the crust so he'll eventually get full," said Noobkitty. "For now though, we have some very happy animal friends."
They looked and saw the forest animals mingling with the players, equally enjoying the offered snacks.
---
The players of Sweet Victory logged back in. It was near festival end and early morning. Skidmark got permission to be here before school, Grimmblade had made sure his father was fine, Fizzypop had their stream live, and those who lived in Coro?en were ready too.
"It's time," said Coro?en in a mass announcement.
It was a message for those who knew what it meant, and they gathered at the table that held the large green egg.
Players, residents, and the like were excited to see what hatched, but none were more excited than Coro?en himself. He didn't know what was inside. It was something he didn’t make, something he didn’t code, but was somehow… his.
Part of him was prepared for disappointment, but he reminded himself: this was picked by Noobkitty’s sisters. They weren’t greedy devs. They had no reason to trick him.
When all his favorites were there, the players curious enough to ask about the egg and eager to see it hatch, he initiated the hatch sequence.
The egg cracked. A light emitted from it, momentarily blinding. When it faded, the egg was gone, and in its place was...
"A puppy," said Coro?en to the onlookers.
And it was. A green, moss-furred puppy with flowers sprouting from his back. The puppy barked and looked to the crowd.
"So cute!" "Awww!" "Puppy!" They screamed.
"What are you going to name him?" asked ExpertBunny, his energetic Admin.
"Um… Springfield," said Coro?en. "I like that name."
The puppy barked and hopped, accepting his name with joy.
"Yip yip… yip… choo!"
The puppy sneezed and flowers sprouted across the table. The crowd giggled at the sight of the fresh blossoms.
"Who wants to hug my puppy first?" asked Coro?en.
There were many volunteers, but the first to get the honor was the half-cow elf woman from earlier. Her player name was HnyThsl, and admittedly Coro?en had started to take a shine to her. She was insistent, playful and talkative, like all his favorites players were.
The puppy yipped happily in her arms but sneezed again, covering her shoulder and part of her face with flowers.
Coro?en watched his puppy be hugged and adored, and he himself was filled with joy. That was his puppy, Springfield was such a good boy, and he'd enjoy watching him explore his world and home.
He’d have to set up small quests: bonuses for petting the puppy, penalties for being mean to his good little boy.
As Springfield was passed to his fourth player, Coro?en added an enchantment.
Puppy Hugs:
You hugged Springfield the puppy!
+10% endorphin production for one hour
He’d lower it if players became addicted or harassed his puppy for hugs, but it was enough to teach them one thing: puppy hugs were good.
---
The All Night Long festival was coming to an end. In minutes the sun would rise, the light of the world restored, and then the stars and moon would return.
Players climbed to rooftops to watch the sunrise.
Of course Noobkitty was the one who ended up carrying Springfield to the rooftop to watch the sun with them.
She looked to her family as they gathered: Grizzlebeard atop his bar, Grimmblade carrying GYOAT with his leveled-up strength onto the rooftop, Skidmark leaping off rooftops and reclimbing to grind his Parkour! skill.
Noobkitty sat close to her fiancée, happy to have her and to be bringing in this milestone together. She reflected on her thankfulness, a rat on her shoulder, a puppy squirming in her lap, and a bunny by her side.
What more could a vegan hippy woman want?
No, what more could she, an awkward cat beastkin, ever want?
The sun began to rise, and as the light hit, players felt its warmth.
Springfield’s flowers opened wider, covering him in brilliant colors. But Noobkitty didn’t notice at first, she was too busy kissing her beautiful fiancée as the new day began.
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"Fluf!" Noobkitty exclaimed, startling the puppy on her lap.
"What’s wrong?" asked ExpertBunny, ears twitching with concern.
"I gave everyone but you their present," said Noobkitty, clearly annoyed at herself.
ExpertBunny laughed softly. "You gave me you, and you promised to marry me. What more could I want?"
Noobkitty reached into her inventory and pulled out a small package, offering it to her fiancée. "I still made you something. That was the point of secretly crafting in the mountains, of camping in the snow, so you’d be surprised."
"My silly kitty," ExpertBunny said, smiling as she took the gift. Inside was a golden ring, a band etched with tiny carrot shapes. She counted them. "Eighteen carrots?"
18 Carrot Ring:
Makes carrots taste 18% better.
Enchantment effects increased by 100%.
“Makes carrots taste 36% better?” asked ExpertBunny, amused. “Sweetie, you do remember I don’t actually like carrots that much, right?”
“Wait… what? Is that why you always put your grilled carrots on my plate? I thought you were just being sweet!” said Noobkitty, tail fluffing in embarrassment.
“I wonder if we could adjust the enchantment,” mused ExpertBunny. “Maybe make it work with dandelions or spinach. I do like radishes. We could reshape the carrots into radishes.”
“But then it won’t be a pun,” sighed Noobkitty, crestfallen.
ExpertBunny slipped the ring on and leaned in to kiss her fiancée. “Well then,” she said softly, “you’ll just have to make me some carrot cake.”
The vote has been cast, which means I didn’t have to make the decision on my own ??
The result is… Crystal Net til bust!
Every story my puny meat brain comes up with in this universe, until I’m well and truly spent.
For scale: I currently have seven Noobkitty stories planned (with an ending so far out I can’t actually see it yet), three Rowan stories, an MC named Anthony, several side stories, and a potential fourth main character.
So… yeah. This may take a while.
Welcome to the Crystal Net. I’ll be living here for a few years, and I’m genuinely grateful you’re here with me.
