An Unusul Usuki Doll

     The Disco Wocky sighed as she left her umpteenth voicemail before following up with a quick text. Something had to be wrong. Una would never miss this event. Perhaps she should leave and go to her friend’s house; but, if she did that, she’d lose their spot in line. A tap on the shoulder interrupted Willow’s racing thoughts.

     The Wocky looked up from her phone to see an impatient Shoyru behind her nodding ahead. Willow spun around to see the line had inched closer to the entrance as Usuki fans crowded together in anticipation. The doors would soon open, and her Rainbow Usul friend was nowhere to be found. Willow wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans. The strong smell of Hubert’s Hot Dogs wafting through the air and the sounds of excited chatter buzzing all around felt like a barrage on her senses. She had to get out of here. Something was wrong. This wasn’t like Una.

     As soon as Willow had decided to exit the queue and began looking for the cleanest escape, she saw the doors to Usukiland swing open. A Blue Blumaroo with a sweet smile called out to the awaiting fans. “Usuki-time! Please have your tickets ready and keep the line orderly. Let’s have a doll of a day!”

     Before she could react, Willow was pushed forward by the surge of Neopets scrambling for the entrance. She abandoned her thoughts of leaving and decided to instead wait for her friend inside. Willow grimaced through the pushing and nudging of the eager attendees and thanked Fyora that she’d worn sturdy sneakers as an eager Moehog stepped on her foot. Finally, handing over her ticket, she made her way into the store.

     This wasn’t Willow’s first time at Usukiland. She and Una had been frequent visitors over the years, amassing their doll collections and following the latest releases. Willow even had her tenth birthday party at the shop after hours. Still, the sight of her beloved Usukiland specially decorated for the festivities and overflowing with dolls and clothing sets filled her with joy.

     She ensured that her cellphone was still on and that she had no calls or texts from Una; then, the Disco Wocky meandered through the crowd, examining the merchandise. Willow found herself staring up at a display of new releases and felt a pit in her stomach. Una would love this. She checked her phone once more. Nothing.

     A frown pulled at her mouth as Willow distractedly ran a paw across a line of the neatly packaged, newly released Usuki Dolls. Their colours and accessories blended together as her mind raced, until a familiar sight caught her eye, bringing her to a halt. Sitting on a shelf at eye-level was a Rainbow Usuki adorned with a homemade Usuki Doll t-shirt and wearing a Magical Hair Usuki wig. Willow’s brows furrowed as she leaned in to further inspect the doll. “Una?”

     Inside its plastic and cardboard case, the doll’s expression changed. A look of shock followed by relief crossed its face as the small doll exclaimed, “Willow! Oh, thank Fyora you’re here!”

      Mouth ajar, Willow stared back in shock. She turned her head to both sides, checking to see that no one was watching the bizarre encounter as she whispered back. “Una, is that you?”

     “Willow, you’ve got to help me,” the Usuki Doll cried.

      The Disco Wocky simply blinked in confusion.

      The doll continued. “Willow! Willow, it’s me, Una! You’ve got to get me out of here!”

     Willow shook her head, coming to her senses as she addressed the doll. “I’ve been worried sick!” she scolded. “I called and texted. Where have you been? What happened? Why are you a Usuki Doll? How are you a Usuki Doll?”

     Una sighed and gave a small shrug, confined by the plastic binding her in place within the display. “It’s a long story. I promise I’ll tell you everything, but first, we’ve got to get out of here. Shove me in your purse, and let’s go.”

     “I can’t steal you,” Willow hissed. She plucked her friend off the shelf a bit too hastily, eliciting a cry of protest from the Rainbow Usul-turned-Usuki Doll as Willow searched for the price tag. “Yikes!” Willow exclaimed. “Una, you’re expensive; an exclusive edition. I don’t have this many Neopoints.”

      “Put it on your Neopian Express card. I’ll pay you back,” the doll demanded as Willow placed her on the floor and reached into her purse.

     The Wocky peered into her bag, riffling around in search of her wallet to ensure she had indeed brought her credit card. After she’d sifted through her cosmetics, phone, and other items, she finally collected her wallet and plucked out the credit card. “Voila!” Willow exclaimed as she turned on her heel and looked down at the floor in triumph. Panic spread through her as she beheld the empty carpet, the display box housing her friend nowhere to be found.

      “Willow! Willow!” a small, muffled voice cried out in the distance. The Wocky’s head began to dart around in all directions, her eyes scanning the crowd, mind racing to pick out her friend from the multitude of boxes on display and in the hands of eager Neopets. Willow took a step toward a Baby Kougra, examining the doll clutched in his hands, only to find it was a regular, Magical Hair Usuki, not a Usul masquerading as a toy. Her attention then turned to a beaming Island Lutari joining the checkout line. Clutched within her claws was none other than the box containing Una. The doll’s eyes were wide with panic.

     Willow gulped nervously as she approached the tall Lutari. She didn’t like confrontation, but absolutely could not take no for an answer. “Um, excuse me,” Willow began nervously, extending a shaky paw toward the toy. “I was going to buy that doll.”

      The Lutari stayed silent for a moment before shrugging. “I’m sure there’s another one,” she said with a dismissive wave in the direction of the new releases.

      “Um, no, that’s one of a kind. I have to have it.” Willow insisted, her heart hammering in her chest.

     The Lutari tightened her grip on the box. “I found this on the floor. It was up for grabs.”

     Willow grimaced and gave a small nod. “Yes, I—uh—I was in shock at finding my friend—” she paused as she locked eyes with Una, the Usul-Usuki fervently shaking her head and mouthing ‘no.’ Willow cleared her throat and continued, “at finding my friend’s dream Usuki Doll. I was just checking for my card. I’d really appreciate it if you’d let me have that one.”

     “Sorry, I’m buying this doll,” the Lutari insisted with a huff. The checkout line moved forward, and the Lutari walked on ahead. Willow spun on her heels to follow after, digging into her bag to collect her wallet.

     “Here,” she offered, fishing out the Neopoints she had on hand. “I’ll give you,” she paused to count the amount, “thirty-seven Neopoints!” Willow stared up at the Lutari with pleading eyes.

     “I said ‘no,’” the Lutari responded with a bite of annoyance in her voice. She stepped around Willow again and moved closer to the checkout as another customer skipped off happily, brimming shopping bag swaying along at his feet.

      Willow suddenly became very aware of the rushing crowd. The buzz of chatter, the pushing of too many bodies cramped tightly into a small shop. The store was warm as outside air rushed in with every Neopet that entered. Willow’s forehead beaded with perspiration. “Willow! Willow!” Una’s small, desperate cries chimed, indistinguishable to anyone else in the throng, but a haunting, blaring sound for her Wocky friend.

      Suddenly, Willow was a little girl on the playground at school, crying after a Jetsam pushed her off the swing set. “Willow! Willow!” Una had called as she raced over to the scene, crouching down to help her friend brush off woodchips from her fur before rising onto the tips of her Usul toes to level the intimidating bully with a murderous scowl. “Don’t you ever touch my friend again,” Una hissed as she puffed out her fluffy chest.

     “Willow! Willow!” the pleas of her friend broke the Wocky from her memory. Willow bared her teeth, whipped her head toward the Lutari, and charged. One moment, she was an uncoordinated, nonconfrontational Wocky, and the next, she was Winberto Seliz wrestling the Yooyuball away from his opponent, on an unstoppable trajectory toward the goal. With all the strength she could muster, Willow raced forward, snatched Una’s box from the Lutari, and took off for the exit.

     “Hey! Hey!” the Lutari shouted. “She took my doll! That Wocky is stealing my doll!” Her protests were swallowed up in the bustle of the store as Willow threw herself into the horde, edging past Neopets, slipping between groups to fully conceal herself in the crowd. She carefully tucked Una into her oversized purse and headed toward the exit. She could hear her friend grunting and groaning in protest as the box was rocked and shaken during the commotion.

     As she approached the exit, Willow threw a paw up over her mouth and bent forward, feigning retching sounds. “Excuse me. Excuse me,” she pleaded. A security Draik seated by the door stood to approach her but Willow waved him away. “Watch out! I’m going to be sick,” she croaked as she pushed aside the entering Neopians and rushed into the awaiting Bazaar. She lifted a paw up to cover her eyes from the onslaught of the bright sun as she hastened away from the scene of her crime. She ran through the street and didn’t stop until she’d made it to the safe haven of woods behind the Wizard Shop.

     Willow ducked into the copse of trees, leaned against a sturdy trunk, and slid to the ground. She wiped sweat from her forehead as she yanked open her bag to retrieve her friend. “Una, are you okay?” she asked as she withdrew the box and flipped it around to face her. She was startled to find the doll inside laughing. “Una?”

     “Willow, that was brilliant!” the Usul exclaimed, still chuckling. “I can’t believe it. You, Willow, a thief! Kanrik himself would be impressed.”

     The Wocky gritted her teeth as she shook her head in protest. “You’re one to talk,” she retorted. “You’re a doll!”

     That ceased the Rainbow former-Usul’s laughter.

      “Well, right now you’re a doll,” Willow amended. “Usually you’re a Neopet, which means you’re not actual merchandise…which means I did not steal from Usukiland. Anyway, how on Neopia did this happen?” she asked, gesturing to the box.

     Una sighed. The doll took a deep breath and then began sheepishly. “I wanted our first Usukicon to be special. We’ve dreamed of this—you’ve dreamed of this—for so long. I wanted to surprise you. I went to Jhudora and asked for a quest in exchange for a VIP upgrade to our tickets.”

     “You didn’t,” Willow interjected. “Una, you know better.”

     The Usul didn’t meet her friend’s accusatory gaze as she continued. “I collected the items Jhudora requested and brought them to her last night. I was going to get our upgraded tickets and meet you as we arranged, but Jhudora had other plans. She thanked me for my help and told me I’d earned a ‘doll’s-eye view.’ The last thing I remember is the world spinning and everything getting larger as I heard her cackling in the background. I awoke this morning on a shelf staring across an aisle at a display of Usuki Dolls.”

      The two friends sat in silence for a moment, processing what had occurred. A sniffle followed by Una’s small voice broke their quiet. “I’m sorry I ruined Usukicon.”

     Willow snickered. “Ruined?” she questioned. “This is the most memorable Usukicon either of us will ever have. You started off our convention journey with a bang.” Willow smiled down at Una and gingerly brushed a paw across the glossy, plastic cover of the box. “You’re my best friend, Una, and your heart was in the right place. I’m going to fix this.” With that, Willow placed her friend back in her purse and headed south to have a word with the Dark Faerie.

      The trek to Faerieland was uneventful. Willow and Una passed the day with their normal chatter of life, plans, and favoured stories. They were in a fit of giggles over a silly story from last summer when they approached the Bluff that Jhudora inhabited. Willow held her head high and squared her shoulders as she rapped on the door.

     “Come in,” called the faerie in a voice that sounded both welcoming and threatening at the same time. “Welcome to my home,” Jhudora continued as she smirked down at the Disco Wocky.

     Willow cleared her throat and stared up at the Dark Faerie, willing her nerves away. She reached into her bag and produced the box, holding the display up to face Jhudora.

     “What is this?” the faerie mockingly crooned.

      Willow let out a huff and stared ahead, determination in her eyes. She couldn’t show weakness before the faerie, but she also had to maintain respect. “Honoured Jhudora, you turned my friend into a Usuki Doll. I am here to insist she be returned to her usual Usul self.”

     “Insist?” Jhudora quirked her brow, but otherwise maintained a neutral expression. Willow couldn’t tell whether the Dark Faerie was amused or offended by the bold demand. Jhudora shrugged and tapped a finger against her chin. “I see so many Neopets a day. All asking for quests and hoping I will grant them a coveted reward. It’s impossible to keep them straight.”

     “But—” Willow began to interject before Jhudora shot her a warning look. The Wocky held her tongue.

     The Dark Faerie smirked before continuing. “I do recall a particularly incessant Rainbow Usul asking for a VIP upgrade to her tickets to Usukicon. Something about a best friend, childhood dream, blah blah blah,” the faerie mocked them with the wave of her hand. “I promised her a ‘very important’ and ‘immersive’ experience should she complete my quest,” Jhudora cackled. “I do believe I outdid myself.”

      “Transformation was not specified in the agreement!” Una shouted, the plastic of the display box muffling her protest.

     “A fun surprise,” Jhudora insisted. “Anyway, don’t get your bow in a twist. The agreement is only valid for the duration of Usukicon. Once the day concludes and the festivities end, you will return to your Neopet form. Now begone. You bore me.”

     Willow turned to look out the window of Jhudora’s home. The long travel to Faerieland had taken most of the day. The sun was near setting. She turned back to Jhudora and bowed her head. “Thank you, benevolent faerie,” she offered, eager to stave off Jhudora’s quick temper.

      The Wocky quickly exited the Bluff and turned toward Faerie City. She took a seat in the grass along the path and placed Una down gently next to her on the ground. The two waited a short time for the sun to set, signalling the closing of Usukiland back in Neopia Central and the end of Usukicon. Once it did, a flash of white light enveloped the box housing Usuki Doll Una. Willow shrieked in surprise. She reached for her friend, but as she did, the box was replaced with a familiar Rainbow Usul body. The white light dissipated to reveal Una, Willow’s dearest friend, returned to normal and standing before her. The two let out sharp cries of relief and rushed into each other’s arms.

      “Never do anything like that again!” Willow scolded. She felt her friend’s arms tighten their already crushing hug as the two laughed and cried.

     Una nodded in agreement. “Willow, I promise you a very ordinary, boring Usukicon next year.”

     Willow smiled, still holding tight to her friend. “I can’t wait.”

     The End.