One day, little Mandesa, a red usul, walked into Usukiland. When she spotted the Magical Hair Usuki Doll, she knew she had to have one. Mandesa ran to her pink cybunny mother, Helena, and begged her to buy her one. Helena, seeing the tears in her daughter's eyes, gave in and paid the shop keeper 200 neopoints.

Mandesa was so excited that she hopped and skipped all the way back to her home in Neopia Central. Helena had to run to keep up with little Mandesa. When they arrived home, Mandesa ran up to her room and started to play with Pandera, the Usuki doll she bought.

"I want you comb your hair and I am going to add some sparkly stuff to your hair." Mandesa told the Usuki doll.

Mandesa found a container of NeoGlitter and sprinkled the sparkly glitter on the Usuki doll's comb. She started to comb the doll's hair when all of a sudden the doll started to shake. Mandesa was confused for a moment and then the doll started to walk around. Mandesa screamed and ran to the closet in her room.

"Don't be scared of me. I am your very best friend." Pandera said in a small voice.

"Please go back to being an actual doll." Mandesa replied in a frightened voice.

"I promise that I do not bite or anything. You have no idea how lonely I am. I was so happy that you chose me. Neopians pass me by everyday and never chose to look at me. What you have done has made me happy. I just wanted to let you know that."

"Pandera, you are not possessed by Dr. Sloth or anything like that."

"No way Mandesa. There is a reason why we are called Magical Hair Usuki dolls. Some dolls can talk and walk like me. Others just blink from time to time."

Mandesa stared at Pandera with widened eyes and could not believe what she was hearing. She started to chant that this was all a dream, but she realized that this was her reality. Mandesa slowly walked up close to the Usuki doll and began to stroke her hair. Pandera giggled and they decided to play "Tea Time". Mandesa realized that she liked having a live doll.

"You know, you're pretty cool for a Usuki doll. I like having you around. You know, being an only child is really tough. But please do not do anything around my mom or dad. They will send you back." Mandesa told Pandera.

"Oh, I will behave. I promise to not do anything around anybody unless you wink at me." Pandera promised.

"It's a deal."

Mandesa shook Pandera's tiny hand and they did a little wink. Then there was a knock at the door. It was Johnny, a cloud acara and Mandesa's father.

"Hello little one. How do you like your new Usuki doll?" Johnny asked.

"I love her. Her name is Pandera and she is magical." Mandesa replied cheerfully.

"Good to know that you have a good imagination. So did you play with her all day?"

"Yes I did daddy. I am so glad that mommy let me bring her home."

"Good, good. Well, just to let you know, I am going away for awhile."

"Why are you leaving daddy?"

"Turns out that Dr. Sloth has an evil cousin no one knew about. His name is Dr. Slacker and just as evil as Sloth. Dr. Slacker has created some Usuki dolls that talk and apparently they plan on destroying all of Neopia. So we have to be on a look out for those dolls. I am sure little Pandera is not one of those. Also, I have to investigate containers of NeoGlitter. They are in connection with the Usuki dolls. So no need to worry."

"Oh. I am going to miss you."

"I know you are, but it is my job with Defenders of Neopia. We are also partnering up with the Resistance. We have to be on the lookout if Dr. Sloth will return or not. Space Faerie and the Resistance are on the look out too. I have to help protect Neopia."

Mandesa ran into her father's arms and hugged him. After he left, Mandesa turned to face Pandera.

"You lied to me. You are in connection with Dr. Slacker." Mandesa said while shaking the doll.

"No I did not. I hate Dr. Slacker. You have to present me to your father. I am one of the good ones. I escaped and then was boxed like a normal doll. But I am a good doll. I will talk to your daddy if you want me too. I have secrets about how Dr. Slacker plans on using us poor Usuki dolls. That is why I was so grateful to you. I would have told you sooner but I got scared. Please do not hate me. I love being your doll."

Mandesa knew that she had to tell her father about Pandera, but she was nervous.

"I will talk to my parents during dinner. You are coming with me." Mandesa said and then grabbed Pandera and took her to the dinner table. Helena stared at Mandesa and then the doll and then asked why Pandera was at the dinner table.

"Mommy, daddy. I have something to show you." Mandesa announced and then tapped Pandera. Pandera obeyed and then began to speak.

"Dr. Slacker is planning on a Neopian invasion. He is using Usuki dolls to make innocent Neopians become hypnotized and join his army and take down the Defenders of Neopia, the Resistance, and the Space Faerie. I failed the mind control test but passed the NeoGlitter test. NeoGlitter has been tainted and makes me come to life. So they discarded me because they knew I would talk. But I ran away from the reject bin and got boxed like a normal Usuki doll. I had to warn someone so that the good guys can be prepared. Dr. Slacker is tired of dilly dallying around and he wants to invade Neopia. The only thing I do not know is if Sloth is alive. You have to help me." Pandera said nervously.

Helena and Johnny looked scared but they believed the doll.

"I am taking you to my boss after dinner. I want you to repeat what you told me. This is some serious business." Johnny replied in a serious tone.

Helena continued to look frozen in shock. Mandesa looked down at poor Pandera and knew that she was risking her life for the world of Neopia.

"I am calling Neopia News. They need to report this incident. Also, the Neopian Times and Usukiland need to know all these details too. I hope my boss allows us to close down Usukiland. This is a matter of importance. Our whole world is in danger." Johnny announced with authority.

Helena decided to cancel dinner and start getting ready to go down to Defenders of Neopia Headquarters. When they arrived there, they asked to speak to Judge Hog. Judge Hog was not surprised that this was going on. He immediately demanded that Usukiland be shut down until further notice. Panic was starting to spread around Neopia. People had started to turn in their Usuki dolls to the Defenders of Neopia and tested them with the tainted NeoGlitter. The evil Usuki dolls were then sent to a furnace and eventually blown up. The Resistance was on high alert. The Space Faerie was asked to have protection with her at all times. So Cylara and Gorix decided to join her. Pandera stayed away from all of the action. Mandesa knew that her Usuki friend was sad because all this destruction was going on. Pandera could not believe all of what was going on because she spoke up. Mandesa and Pandera walked outside of the headquarters and took a breather.

"This is so scary. I know it is sad to see all of your Usuki friends being blown up." Mandesa told Pandera.

"It is. Even though they were not my actual friends like you are Mandesa. I do know that I will miss them but I knew that they were evil. I just hope Dr. Slacker never comes this way." Pandera responded sadly.

"Same here. I hope that this gets resolved real soon. Cause I really want to play with you and show you off to my friends. I want things to be normal again. It would make me feel better. I am so glad that you are honest."

Mandesa hugged Pandera when a mysterious shadow appeared before them. Before Mandesa could scream, she had a paw over her mouth and a potato sack was placed over her head, knocked out, and she was whisked away with her doll in her arms.

To be continued…