Gallery Name: ~Usuki Heaven~
Owner: wernertje
Description: As I walk up to the convention center, the gigantic sign, USUKICON, welcomes me in bright, bold colors. As enter the building I am immediately overwhelmed by the sheer size of it; miles and miles of Usuki dolls and accessories...I'm in heaven! Usuki Heaven!! The young Neopian at the door, dressed as an Usuki Musketeer, hands me an official Usukicon Y7 guide and a convention hall map. Everywhere I look I see Usukis....people in Usuki costumes, posters of Usukis, goodie bags with Usuki souvenirs in them.

I stroll slowly past each booth and mentally price the Usukis I need for my own collection. The aroma of the food vendor's booth reminds me that I haven't eaten yet today. I walk on over to the nearest one to see what they are serving. Of course they have Usuki Rarebit, Usuki Green Salad and Usuki Head Stew. I buy some stew and a rarebit. The stew is surprisingly good and so I ask the vendor for the recipe. She winks and tells me it's still a secret. Disappointed, I dispose of my food wrappers, pick up my guide and my goodie bag and head off down the aisles.

The first few booths I come to have classic Usukis...Magical Hair, Traditional Welsh, Funky Diva. I pass them fairly quickly as I already have all of those Usukis. Then I see it; the booth that has it all! There is a Werewolf Usuki, an Usuki Defender, the Meridell Royals, the Queen Fyora Usuki AND the BAT THING USUKI. I have been looking for a Bat Thing for over a year! I ask the collector for the price as I pick it up and stroke its wings. Oh...what I would give to have this Usuki. She tells me that I probably can't afford it as it is the rarest of them all. Little does she know that I have been saving up forever to buy this one doll. She tells me the price and as I put the doll down and walk away, I mentally count my Neopoints. Do I have enough? Almost. If only she would come down on her price just a bit.

I wander past the next few booths and check out all the new Usukis...the Jhudora, the Jhuidah, the Vira Usuki...all of them are beautiful and I definitely want them but...the Bat Thing fills my mind. I might be able to get the Bat Thing but I cannot afford all of them. What to do, what to do? My mind is racing as I keep walking and of course, find myself back at the booth that has my beloved Bat Thing. The collector looks up at me and with a knowing smile, hands me the doll to hold again. She wants to sell it...I can tell. And I want to buy it!

Can I do this? I offer her quite a bit less than what she is asking for it, knowing that she will not take it immediately. She smiles and politely refuses my offer but does come back with a price that is closer to what I have. Ooooh....I might have a chance. I take a deep breath and offer again a bit less than what she has asked. She again politely refuses but does indeed come down a wee bit more on her price. Now I'm going for it. I offer her all the money I have. My heart is pounding, my head is reeling and I feel as if time is standing still. Will she accept? She doesn't answer right away and my heart sinks. Oh no...I've lost it. I stroke the wings again and look up at her hopefully. She is smiling! She has decided to accept my offer!!!! I almost faint as I hand her the money and hug the Bat Thing tightly. I can't believe it! I got it!!

As I leave the convention center, there is a spring in my step and a song in my heart. I have the most complete Usuki collection in all of Neopia now. I can hardly wait for next year!