Aquapet Adventures

**Aquapet Adventures** was a serialized short story published in the Aquapets e-mail newsletter during Generation 1. The story follows the characters of Bunni and Tu on their Journey to Aqua Village as they encounter various characters and obstacles along the way. A total of 5 entries were made available during the short run of the newsletter, and they represent one of the only sources of Aquapets lore.

## Transcript

### Entry 1: Aquapets Story

**(From Newsletter #2, July 2004)**

Bunni was lost.

She knew that she shouldn't have wandered into the forest, leaving Puku and Bebe at the picnic in the meadow, but the sunlight glittering through the trees made her so happy. It had only seemed like she was gone a few minutes, but when she turned around she was nowhere near the picnic. It was getting dark and her friends were gone! Bunni was scared.

She told herself to be brave, that she'd easily find her way back to the picnic. But which direction should she go? Everything looked the same!

Her ear began to fold and bend, its tip flopping down over her eye. That happened when she was sad. Anyone could tell how Bunni was feeling simply by looking at her ear. It was the thing she liked best about herself, and she liked to shake it when she was happy. She hid behind it when she was shy (which was often!)

And sometimes - because she didn't really like speaking out loud - she even pointed with it!

Now she used it to wipe away a little tear that had begun ton form in her eye.

She sat on a rock, all alone with a single ear drying her crying eyes like a windshield wiper in a storm, and waited.

Suddenly, she heard a rustle in the tree branches above her as if someone was falling through the leaves. Then there was a thud, as a smiley green Aquapet landed at her feet.

It quickly picked itself up, turned around twice as if to check where it was, and turned to face Bunni with a great smile on its face. It was Tu! Bunni was so happy to see someone she knew.

"Wow! That was so coooool!" Said Tu, breathless. She giggled.

"Hey Bunni! What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I'm..." Bunni wanted to tell Tu that she was lost but she couldn't get her words out fast enough.

"Wow! That was a crazy fall wasn't it? I'm always doing that! One minute I'm jumping through the treetops, the next I'm dropping through the leaves! Wow! That's just crazy!"

Tu was the sort of Aquapet who always spoke with exclamation marks. Bunni started to speak, but again Tu was too quick for her.

"You know, Bunni, you don't look too happy! Is there something wrong?"

"I'm lost and cold and tired and scared. I don't know where I am and I miss my friends" lamented Bunni. A tear fell from her cheek and dropped to the forest floor.

"Oh no!" Said Tu. "Well, I'm sure we can fix that! I know my way around the forest really well! We'll have you back in no time!" She held out her hand to Bunni.

Bunni took Tu's hand in hers and they began to walk through the forest. Bunni felt better. Her ear stopped being floppy and grew just that little bit straighter.

Tu chattered about anything and everything. Soon they saw a clearing up ahead, bathed in eerie moonlight.

"Stop!" Bunni whispered, pulling Tu back.

"What is it?" she said.

"I thought I heard something... something big!"

"I don't hear anything!" Tu looked around.

"There's a really big animal in the clearing! I'm scared!"

"How can you tell?" Tu was a little confused.

"I can hear it! With my ear I can hear things that you don't. Now it's getting closer, and I think it's angry!"

"Oh no" said Tu quietly, almost to herself. "I think I know what it might be. Sometimes the Aquabears come down from the mountains to look for food. And when they're hungry they get really grouchy! We don't want to be around a grouchy Aquabear! We've got to get away from here!

She grabbed Bunni's hand again and dragged her back under the cover of a huge tree, just as they heard the loud crashes and crackles of an angry Aquabear pushing its way out of the clearing. The two friends were close enough to see his eyes, bright lights in the dark, as he came nearer and nearer to their hiding place. But Bunni wasn't looking! She had covered her eyes with her ear, too frightened to peek out!

*What happens next? Will Bunni and Tu be safe? Will Bunni get back to her friends? Find out in the next Official Aquapets Newsletter!*

### Entry 2: Bunni, Tu & the Aquabear

**(From Newsletter #3, September 2004)**

*Last time we left Bunni and Tu, they were hiding under a tree as a grumpy Aquabear came crashing through the forest! Were they OK? What happened to them? Well, read on to find out!*

The crashes and crackles continued as the bear came towards Bunni and Tu. Bunni couldn't see what was happening because she had her long ear covering her eyes, but she could feel Tu's hand squeezing hers and it made her feel a little safer.

The crashes got louder and louder... and then... stopped.

All Bunni could hear was the gentle sound of the forest, and then a funny sniffing noise. The Aquabear was near!

Suddenly, a very slow, dark, gruff voice spoke.

“Yes. Yes, I know that smell! Where do I know that from? Hmmm..” As the bear spoke, its jowls smacked against its mouth. I’ve not smelled that smell for a very, very long time...hmmm…oh yes. I remember, Aquapets. I wonder where they're hiding?”

Bunni finally lifted her ear from her face, and looked out. The Aquabear was almost directly in front of her, very close to where the two Aquapets were crouched. She shivered in fear, but as she stared at the huge beast Bunni began to think that It wasn't very frightening at all. It was more cuddly than anything, and its fur was soft and warm. Then she looked to her left, and saw Tu trying to hold very still her eyes crammed tightly shut. Bunni pulled on Tu's arm, and whispered her name. Tu, very slowly, lifted her right eyelid. “Shh! The Aquabear will get us!" she said, and closed her eye again.

“I don't think he will. He seems friendly." said Bunni. The bear now sat on its behind in the middle of the clearing and looked up at the sky through the trees. His big, soft paw scratched his ear, and he yawned a great wide yawn, shook his head and turned around - and stared straight at Bunni and Tu! “Oh, there they are. Little cute Aquapets! What are they doing all crushed up under that tree? Come on out, little Aquapets. let me say hello to you!"

Tu whispered out of the side of her mouth. “Uh oh. He's seen us! What shall we do?”

Bunni decided that if Tu wasn't going to do anything, then she was going to have to be brave! She climbed out into the clearing, and stopped just far enough away from the bear. Tu saw her moving and jumped out too, but only to hide behind Bunni.

“Hello there little Aquapets! What were you doing under that tree? It didn't look very comfortable to me!”

Bunni peeked out from behind her ear. “Errm, we were hiding, Mr. Bear” she said with a gulp.

“You were? What were you hiding from? Oh no! Is there something scary around here?” The Aquabear jumped over to where the Aquapets were standing and looked around the moonlit clearing, as if he was frightened. “Are we going to be OK?” he whispered.

Bunni and Tu didn't know what to say. They looked at each other, and then looked back at the Aquabear.

"We were hiding from you, Mr. Bear” said Bunni very softly.

“You were hiding from me? Why would anyone hide from me? What would I do?”

“You...you were making all that noise. We were scared" Bunni was feeling a little braver now she'd spoken. Her ear perked up a little. “Yeah, you were going to eat us!” Tu popped her face out from behind Bunni. but ducked back when the bear looked at her.

The bear bent his long neck to look around Bunni, and fixed his big, brown eyes on Tu.

“What was that you said little one? I’d eat you? Oh, I wouldn't do that.” The bear moved back in front of the two friends and sat down to look at them. Even sat down, he towered above the Aquapets.

“I don't know where that idea started, but it's not true. We always want to talk to Aquapets but they always run away from us! It makes us feel very lonely... Aquapets would love us if they just got to know us…”

The giant, fuzzy bear buried his face in his chest and was silent for a moment. Bunni almost thought that she heard him sob.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Bear. We didn't know. It's just that you are so big!” she said, and then thought for a second. “I know! If you could help me get back to my friends, then we’ll all know that Aquabears are nice and friendly”

The Aquabear raised his head. "That would be nice” he said and then looked at Tu, who had moved out from behind Bunni but was still keeping her distance. “Do you think we could do that?” Tu looked down at the ground and then back at the bear. “I…I guess so…” she said.

And so the two Aquapets and their new friend left the clearing together, the big Aquabear leading the way as Bunni gently rubbed his fur, and Tu skipping along behind.

Soon, they noticed the trees thinning out. They were almost back at the meadow where Bunni had left her friends! Bunni moved ahead, excited to be back to somewhere she knew. But when she came out of the forest into the morning sunlight, she couldn't see anything or anyone she recognized! Where had they all gone?

### Entry 3: The Flower and the Note

**(From Newsletter #4, October 2004)**

*As you may remember, Bunni had become lost in the forest and had met Tu, and then the frightening, but actually quite friendly, Aquabear. They found their way out of the forest and were excited to join Bunni with her friends again…*

Bunni walked out into the meadow to see… nothing. Just the beautiful flowers and sunny grass where yesterday had been her friends, their big picnic and their even bigger camp.

Why hadn’t they waited for her? Why hadn’t they sent out search parties through the forest to look for her? Her ear fell, crumpled down to touch her face.

She turned as Tu and the Aquabear caught up. “This is odd…” said the bear. “I thought there was supposed to be a camp here?”

“I know!” said Bunni sadly. “Where have they all gone?”

Bunni looked across the meadow, and her eyes focused on a red flower right in the center of the field. It was much taller than all the other flowers, and its petals glowed in the sunlight, and hanging on it was something that looked like… a big piece of paper with a note on it!

The writing was clearly Bebe’s. The letters were confident and curly and fun, dancing across the page.

“Bunni, sorry we couldn’t wait! We heard IMPORTANT news, so we had to rush back home! Fanga was racing through the forest to tell us the news, and saw you talking to Tu, so we knew you were safe! Come home quickly! It’s exciting! Love Bebe and Puku (and Fanga!)”

Tu perked up. “We’ll just have to keep on going, then!” she said. “I like being with you! It’ll be an adventure!”

“And I did promise that I’ll help you get back to your friends,” said the Aquabear.

Bunni (and her ear!) perked up “OK! Let’s go then!” she said happily.

And so the three friends ambled bouncily across the meadow, out through a wooden gate that groaned as they opened it, and down onto the road that lead to the Aqua village.

### Entry 4: Fanga, the Good News and the Scary Store

**(From Newsletter #5, November 2004)**

*The friends are rushing back to Aqua Village to meet Bebe, Puku and Fanga so they can find out the important news!*

As Bunni, Tu and the Aquabear traveled along the road, the sun became warmer and warmer and soon the three friends became a little tired and more than a little thirsty.

Luckily they came across a store nestled under a large tree at the corner of a crossroads. And there, next to the tree, sat the gleaming face of Fanga!

The friends ran up to meet him and they all hugged.

“What’s the big news, Fanga?” asked Bunni.

“It’s great, it’s great, it’s really great!” shouted Fanga. He was always excited!

He zoomed around them, spinning and spinning and making them dizzy. “You won’t believe it, you won’t believe it!” he sang as he passed them.

“Tell us!” said Tu, and Fanga finally slowed down.

“Kadet’s cousin, Kazu, is here! He came down from outer space to visit us. Wahoo!!” And, believe it or not, his smile beamed even brighter.

All this excitement made the Aquabear even more tired. He sat down under the tree, leaned against the trunk, closed his eyes and gave his back a quick wiggle to scratch his favorite spot. Hmmm, that felt good!

“I have to rest” he said, “you little ones explore while I close my eyes for ten minutes.” And with that, he fell promptly asleep.

Tu decide to see if she could get a drink from the store. She quickly jumped onto the porch and tried the door. It opened with a sharp squeak, as if the hinges hadn’t been oiled for a while, and a spider scurried from out of the doorway into the shadows inside. It was a little spooky, but she went inside anyway. The door creaked and slammed shut behind her.

Under the tree, Bunni looked up at Fanga and smiled. Things were getting better; the sun was shining, she’d made a new friend and she was on her way home…

…and then there was the crash of a slammed door, the noise of an Aquapet rushing towards them, and Tu shouting, “You’ve got to see what I found! Come quickly! You won’t believe it!”

### Entry 5: An Exciting Find!

**(From Newsletter #6, December 2004)**

*When we last left the Aquapet friends, they were resting under a tree next to the store where they had met Fanga. Then Tu announced that she had found something strange…*

Bunni and Fanga turned around quickly to face Tu. The Aquabear simply opened his right eye, having found a verrry comfortable spot against the tree that he simply didn’t want to lose.

Tu was even more excited than usual. She rushed towards the group with her little hands waving in the air.

“You’ve got to see this!” she screamed “It’s cool!

“What is it?” asked Bunni.

“I found Kazu’s spaceship!”

“Wow!” said Bunni, starting to move towards Tu and the store. “Let me see!”

The two friends entered the rickety old store and peered through the dark inside. Tu was right: slap bang in the middle of the floor, just where you would expect to find aisles of day-old pastries, bottles of cola and bags of beef jerky, was a large disc-shaped craft with a clear bubble on top. And it was just large enough to fit an Aquapet inside!

Tu and Bunni slowly circled the craft, prodding it here and there.

Fanga landed at the doorway with a bang. “No, no, no, no!” he said. “No, you’re not supposed to know! I wasn’t supposed to tell…

“Kazu asked me to keep it safe while he went to visit Kadet and all the other Aquapets. But now they’ll know I didn’t do my job…”

“That’s OK, you didn’t tell us - we found it ourselves!” said Tu. She didn’t like to see Fanga upset.

“And we won’t tell anyone!” agreed Bunni. “In fact, let’s leave it alone. We don’t want to break anything. Let’s try and wake the Aquabear, then head back home. I can’t wait to see all of my friends!

They left the dark store and its exciting treasure, closed the squeaky door shut behind them and returned to the Aquabear. He was fast asleep and snoring loudly. They tried to wake him, and in fact it took several minutes of prodding and pushing, nudging and kneading by all three Aquapets to finally get him to open his eyelids.

“What’s all this ruckus?” he said, sleepily rubbing his eyes with the back of his huge paw.

“It’s time to go!” replied Bunni, her ear standing straight on top of her head, happy as a candle. “I’m almost home! And you can meet all of our Aquapet friends!”

“That sounds like fun. But won’t they be afraid of me, like you were?”

“Oh…” said Tu, scratching her head. “That could be a problem. But let’s cross that bridge when we get to it!”

And so, they started on the final part of their trip, back to see all their friends in the Aquavillage. Tu went at the front of the group, closely followed by Bunni, Fanga and finally the Aquabear, who seemed a little worried about what lay ahead.

*What will happen in the Aqua Village? Will the Aquapets accept the Aquabear? Find out in the next OFFICIAL AQUAPETS NEWSLETTER!*

## References

1. ↑ Newsletter 2, myaquapet.com. (Archived link).
2. ↑ Newsletter 3, myaquapet.com. (Archived link).
3. ↑ Newsletter 4, myaquapet.com. (Archived link)
4. ↑ Newsletter 5, myaquapet.com. (Archived link)
5. ↑ Newsletter 6, myaquapet.com. (Archived link)