Okay, this is what I hope to be my first novel. I will post the first chapter up for now and see what you think. Constructive Criticism is appreciated 
Enjoy!
The 13th Birthday (Yeah, I need a better title)
“Happy Birthday!”
Heather gazed at the thirteen burning candles on her birthday cake, slightly worried they could set her long, flowing blonde hair alight. She couldn’t believe that this one moment, one that she had awaited her whole life, had come already.
“Blow out the candles, Heather.” said the brown haired girl next to her. Saffy, or Sapphire on her birth certificate, was always smiling, and was always trying to live up to her name by wearing blue clothes, especially her favourite sapphire jumper. She sparkled like a Sapphire too- not in beauty, but in brains. She was clutching a pink squirrel, that was struggling to keep still.
“Yeah, come on, Heather.” moaned a dark haired boy on her other side, picking at his purple sweater. Darius was the impatient type, always moaning if things took one second longer than they should do. His thick, spiky hair and little goatee beard might have given you the impression he was tough, almost macho, but this was far from the truth. Darius was actually easily scared. He was clutching a squirrel similar to Saffy’s, but grey and scowling.
Heather glanced at the two squirrels wistfully. The pink, hyper one was Nissitau and the grey, wrathful one was Uatissin.
“Perfect Plushes for a set of twins.” said Heather.
“You should get a strong one, Heather. You’d deserve it.” said Darius, petting his plush. Uatissin instantly nipped his owner’s finger.
“You reckon?” smirked Heather, unable to control her pride. She thought of all the possibilities of her first Plush- Pugar? Koafla? Maybe even Onxare!
“We haven’t a second to lose! Let’s go!” gabbled Heather, dragging her friends to the door.
“We, my friends, are going to see Billie!” declared Heather, feeling excited. She was soon to be a confirmed Plush Battler- something she’d waited for for 13 years.
The three friends made their way through a dense forest that was crowded with Oak and Silver Birch trees. Despite all the cuts and bruises from sharp thorns and heavy branches, Heather was still looking forward to her first Plush. Plush were magical Plush Dolls, capable of movement and noise, and if they were trained right they could become powerful fighters.
“OW!”
“Darius, are you alright?” inquired Saffy, sounding concerned.
“No,” said Darius, his voice a little muffled. He was holding his nose in a pained way. “Blooming branch just whacked me on the conk!”
The two females giggled, much to Darius’s annoyance.
A few more steps and the three friends emerged from the forest. Heather looked at a deep cut on her hand and gave it a lick.
“EWWWW! Heather, that’s sick!” shrieked Saffy, giving her friend a push.
“Aaah, so this is Heather.” said an older-sounding voice.
Heather looked on. Standing in front of her was a beautiful, long-haired woman, who had eyes of the deepest, sapphire blue. They spoke of experience, as Heather could feel the excitement of confirmed Plush Battlers from years before.
“Don’t be scared, Heather.” said Darius, reassuringly. He took a step back, giving Saffy an experience look.
Heather was so nervous that she couldn’t speak. She did manage to curtsey though, causing Billie to giggle.
“There’s no need to be so formal.” she said, placing a hand on Heather’s shoulder. The young girl tried to retaliate but soon learnt to trust her. It was if she was looking deep into Heather’s soul, her feelings, reliving her best memories. After a minute or so, she gave a contended nod and stepped back.
“I have never seen such a life full of strength and determination. But with such force, there’s also compassion and friendship. In fact, you remind me of me.” she said, sounding rather poetic.
“You saw all that?” gasped Heather. “I mean, of course you saw all that.”
“Billie is blessed with deep clairvoyance, so she can do a lot more that just read minds.” explained Darius. “She’s like a female Obi-Wan-Kenobi.”
Suddenly, sparkles began to form in the air, dancing closer and closer until they made a recognisable shape. A click from Billie’s fingers produced a Plush; a little brown beaver with red boxing gloves.
“BeaKO!” exclaimed Saffy, only to be shushed by Darius.
“Oh great. Stuck with a beaver!” muttered Heather, rather bitterly.
“Now, if BeaKO will accept you as it’s owner, then you will have your first Plush.” explained Billie.
Heather bent down, in an attempt not to intimidate the scowling beaver, but glared all the while. BeaKO kept glaring back at Heather, causing her to have doubts. But after a twitch of the nose and a contented squeak, BeaKO scurried over to it’s new owner. It gave another sniff and lunged at Heather’s nose, not for a nip but for a gentle lick.
Billie was looking at them in a contented manner, confident that these two were made for each other. But the unity and calm were soon broken.
“You utter cow, Billie!” shrieked a voice. “You told me that my plush would be strongest.”
A brown-haired, pony-tailed girl approached them, fury etched on her face. Neither Heather, Saffy or Darius had seen her before, but she looked like one of those spoilt, superior types. An equally bratty white kitty with pink details was following her, it’s tail snootily stuck up in the air.
“Strongest in your ownership, Chloe,” said Billie, still in a calm and contented manner. “Each person “demands” a different Plush.”
“Why couldn’t you have given her something useless like a Fenixa or a Saltoon?!”
Billie gave the Plush Battler a stern stare, but didn’t reply. People like Chloe weren’t worth wasting words on.
Chloe just scowled, before turning on Heather.
“What’s with the cowgirl look?” sniggered Heather, trying not to laugh.
Chloe blushed deep crimson. She thought her emerald jumper, velvet cowboy slacks and brown leather boots were a cute combination. Embarrassment only raised her fury.
“You don’t deserve BeaKO, and everyone knows it!”
“Is that a challenge?” Heather asked, rather darkly. She wasn’t quick to anger, but Chloe was seriously getting on her nerves.
Chloe looked a little unnerved, but didn’t let it make her look weak.
“That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all day. BATTLE!”
“Oh boy,” muttered Darius.
“Darius, Heather doesn’t know how to battle,” Saffy said, sounding concerned.
“She’ll be fine,” said Billie. Saffy relaxed, as it was rare for Billie to be wrong.
BeaKO looked more than ready for battle, throwing a few swift punches in mid-air.
“Cabate, Cat Scratch!” ordered Chloe.
Woah! Heather wasn’t expecting that. This Chloe was using the bratty kitty’s energy technique as her first attack! Was the little brat really that confident of victory?
The only thing to do was to fight bratty fire with fire.
“BeaKO! Wood Punch!” commanded Heather.
As Cabate rushed towards it’s foe, BeaKO was busy bouncing a little. When the white kitty unleashed it’s claws to execute the attack, BeaKO retaliated with a well aimed punch, which left quite a few splinters in Cabate’s snow white fur.
“You mean pig, Heather!” whined Chloe.
Heather simply replied, “It’s a battle.”
Cabate struck a paw in BeaKO’s face. Knowing it’s foe would repeat this, the brown beaver gripped it’s foe in a painful headlock. Cabate flailed it’s arms, demanding to be released, and BeaKO obeyed- by launching it’s opponent into the air.
The blow from the fall knocked the poor, pretty kitty out.
Both Heather and BeaKO struck a victorious pose. Chloe was too stunned by defeat to do anything.
Heather approached her, offering a handshake.
“Good battle.” she said, smiling.
“What do you mean, “good battle”? I lost!” snapped Chloe.
“Well, you know, if that’s how you’re going to be about it.” muttered Heather.
“Winning isn’t everything,” said Billie, clapping. She looked at Heather. “You have potential, young Heather. You could be a Key Guardian in years to come.”
“Have you thought about becoming a Plush Keeper?” Saffy inquired. “We need someone to put Nick in his place.”
“That’s my dream!” shrieked Chloe, rather protectively.
“Team Slash are ruthlessly strong,” said Billie, sounding a little worried. “If either Chloe or Heather decide to travel, they’ll need all the help they can get.”
Darius didn’t say anything but his frowning expression summed up how he felt about Team Slash.
“And what if I didn’t want to have anything to do with this Nick?” said Heather, an expression of boredom etched on her face. Heather may have looked the angelic type, perfect in every way, but she had vices like everyone else. If she didn’t want to do something, she could not do it, even if it cost the world.”
“Heather, Nick is looking for the Chaos Key.” warned Darius, looking rather worried.
Heather knew what the Chaos Key was, but it still didn’t bother her. The Chaos Key was the most powerful control key in the world, only able to control Lucian Argon, the most powerful Plush in the world. Legends said that Lucian caused havoc in the world of Plushoriam, claiming himself Emporer of the World, before he was locked away in the Chaos Tower. If he was to be released again then the world wouldn’t be destroyed. If that happened, Lucian would have no world to cause havoc in.
Now, in the 21st Century, Nick and Team Slash looked for this Chaos Key, as they wanted Lucian Argon for their own selfish monetary and power desires.
“Fine, Heather! You don’t give a Pig’s Bum about it, but I do!” declared Chloe, tears almost welling in her hazel eyes. “Don’t worry, Billie. I’ll make sure that Nick and his cronies don’t get that key.”
And with that, Chloe and the party made haste, with Heather only following because she wanted to see Chloe fail.
Perservere and keep on writing!
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