Avatar Goldmine

     A very dizzy and sleep-deprived Rysony looked at the time on his NeoWatch, it was now 7:30 AM. He only had 20 – 30 mins until they announced the list of the Top Avatar collectors for the month. After an eventful couple of days, from his conversation with Dr Sloth in Altador to a rocky ride on the back of a Poogle from Haunted Woods to Neopian Central, he and Willy finally arrived where the award ceremony was taking place. Rysony chuckled gently as he heard other Neopians eagerly waiting in line ‘I only have 285 avatars it’s not fair!’ ‘I have 337 avatars maybe this will be my month!’ ‘Oh I’ve got 380 avatars but I’m going to reset anyway’ A gentle and humble voice showing encouragement rang out across the crowd. It was Kay, who had recently made the ‘‘Top Avatars collectors we imploreee you announcement.’

     After a few minutes, Rysony and Willy arrived at the front of the queue and were greeted by an Ixi sitting in front of a wooden table covered in messy piles of papers. The Ixi sat next to the ever-known Kay.

     Kay gave Willy and, Rysony a ticket which granted them entry into the ceremony and wished the pair luck. As they walked down to their right, Willy and Rysony were immediately deafened by the roaring cheers of hopeful Neopets crowded in front of the black digital board that was about to display the top 100 avatar collectors. In the background was a stream of banners and confetti from friends, family, and guilds of the hopefuls cheering on their loved ones. Rysony smiled and waved as he saw some of the friends he’d made on his adventure. He saw Quartz from Mystery Island, Kerry from Krawk Island (still with snowbunny in hand), Neq who he’d sat next to at the Altador Cup was buried in her phone (probably watching the latest episode of Adventures of the Sorchio), and Mandy at the Fishing Vortex in Maraqua.

     After pushing through the crowds and ducking past the confetti, the pair finally made it to the front of the big black digital board.

     Rysony gazed upwards in awe at the gigantic black digital board. Anyone actively involved in the Neopets community was well aware of this digital board. At 8:47 AM on the first of the month, it would always display the top 100 avatar collectors, the top 50 of which would earn an avatar. The ceremony was shown on TV, broadcasted on radio, and the results were published in the Neopian Times.

     Despite the rollercoaster of an adventure he’d been on in the last month, Rysony felt a sense of excitement knowing it might not be much longer until he was reunited with his beloved sister.

     As they were waiting for the ceremony to start, Willy explained how a group of Meepits would get together at the end of each month to put up the black digital board. ‘It’s quite an occasion!’ Willy explained excitedly.

     Suddnely, the crowd fell to dead silence as a deep mysterious voice rang out. ‘Hello all. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for coming for our monthly top avatar collector’s celebration. May I wish you all the best of luck!’ The voice continued to announce that there would be refreshments at Altador Hall of Heroes afterwards.

     Followed by a round of applause from the observing crowd, fireworks erupted in the sky. It was an absolute electrifying environment, and the digital blackboard lit up! Names of Neopians were shortly after plopping on the screen, one after another in descending order. Rysony enjoyed watching so many Neopians cheering upon seeing their names displayed on the board.

     As the minutes went by, Rysony started to feel more and more excited by the possibility of being a top avatar collector. Rysony leaned forward nervously, clasping both of his hands in front of his mouth as the position got down to 40th. He knew it was only a matter of seconds until he would learn his fate. Suddenly, he felt a tail wag hit his face. It was Lordion, who Rysony had sat next to at the Altador cup opener. Lordion jumped and shouted rather childishly ‘I made it Ry!! I made it!’ ‘Big child’, Rysony chuckled to himself. Neq and Lordion had come 47th. 48th was a Yurble called Helena, who seemed half asleep as she chewed at her pizza. Rysony’s stomach was doing somersaults when it came down to 49th. The announcements may have come within seconds within the last name, but it felt like minutes. The announcer announced ‘in 49th place is Willy aka Mooink! ‘As soon as his name was announced, a couple of MSP poogle jumped to do a salsa dance with another MSP Poogle and shouted, ‘MSP party!’ As much as Rysony would’ve appreciated the entertainment, he couldn’t focus on anything else other than the fact, that the 50th and final place for this month’s ‘Top Avatar Collector’ was about to be announced. Rysony couldn't bear to look at the screen as he clenched his eyes shut and listened for the final name. This was the moment of truth.

      ‘And in 50th place is Quartz!’ Rysony bowed his head down in disappointment. He would need to go on another month of adventuring and, worst of all, he had let down his sister and Ellen. All the doubters were right, he wasn’t up for this adventure.

     Suddenly, he heard an ‘Ahem...’ Rysony lifted his head up with a glimmer hope - ‘And in joint 50th place is, Rysony!’ Rysony couldn’t believe his eyes or ears! It wasn’t until Lordion came running up to Rysony wagging his tail excitedly ‘Howdy Top Avatar Collector!!’ Rysony immediately leapt straight up from his seat, knocking over the Neocola of a nearby Neopian in his excitement. ‘I DID IT!!’ Shouted Rysony. He pushed off Lordion who was attempting to give him a tight hug and walked up to the podium where they were handing out the top avatar trophies and avatar. He stood with the other top avatar collectors, hardly able to believe what had just happened.

     A few moments later trophies and avatars were individually handed out, with each Neopian receiving their own cheers from the observing crowd. Rysony stepped down from the stage, smiling in disbelief as he looked at the shiny Top Avatar collector avatar. Suddenly, he felt a hand tap his shoulder. Rysony immediately jumped and spun around to see who it was. He gasped to see Dr Sloth leaning over him. Rysony trembled and asked shakily ‘Um.. Well, I’ve done what you’ve asked me to do, have you got my sister?’ Dr Sloth cackled ‘I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. We won’t be returning your sister!’ As he let out a sinister laugh. ‘NOO’ Rysony shouted… as his view faded to black.

     The next thing Rysony knew, he found himself glaring at his blue bedroom wall with a view of the King Altador poster that’d been pinned on the wall. Rysony looked around confused. Ellen entered the room and sat down on the bed next to Rysony.

     ‘Huh?’ Rysony slowly sat up, ‘Where’s Meggily, is she ok?!’ Rysony’s Neo Mom chuckled gently and replied, ‘She’s in the bathroom, dear.’ Just then Meggily walked out of the bathroom and scoffed as she went into her bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

     ‘Come on Rysony, get up. We leave for Mystery Island soon’ Ellen told Rysony. She sympathetically rubbed her hand on Rysony’s arm before leaving the room again.

     Rysony briefly looked around... the room was exactly how he’d left it before he went on “his adventure.”

     ‘It all was just a dream’ Rysony chuckled to himself.

     …or was it.

     The End.