Mops Throughout the Ages

Pommom finished dusting the frosting of the Chocolate Birthday Cupcake with sprinkles. It was hard to believe it had already been three years since Moptilda had come to live with her. She was just a teeny little dust mop when she arrived but she was quickly growing into a full fledged Swabby.

Pommom placed the try of cupcakes on the counter and headed down the hall to get the presents out of her bedroom. She loved celebrating birthdays as much as she loved Tilda. As she stopped to adust a stray balloon that had gotten tangled in the frame of the mirror she noticed her own handle was looking a little worn. She made a mental note to pick up another jar of Rohanes Armour Polish. Even though it was technically for weapons and such it made her wooden parts so sparkly. A Faerie Swabby has to maintain a shine, ya know.

She was coming back down the hall when she heard the sounds of the front door opening. Tilda was home! Pom was so excited to start the evening's celebrations. She has bought Tilda a few delightful gifts, including a new Baby Doll and a basket of delighful smelling soaps that glittered in sparkling pinks and purples. She thoughfully wrapped each package in a brightly coloured Wrapping Supplies and tied them with Acara Festival Ribbons.

Happy Birthday!!" Pom shouted, merrily, as she glided into the living room to greet Tilda. She set the packages down to give Tilda a huge hug. "Did you have a good da-" She abruptly cut her sentence short when she saw the huge Krawk tears running down the teeny Swabby's face.

What's wrong, dear?" Pom asked as she wrapped the little one tight in an embrace. Tilda didn't answer for a few minutes. Just sobbed quietly. Finally, she pushed herself back and looked into Pom's eyes with a mournful look on her face.

The other PetPets at school say I'm nothing more than a.. than a... Mop!!!" She immediately started crying again and buried her face back into Tilda.

There, there", the older Faerie Swabby murmered. Trying to soothe her while she thought of the best way to handle the present situation.

She got an idea and gently urged Tilda to sit up. She looked at the tiny Swabby directly in her eyes and said, "You are NOT just a 'mop'. I can prove it to you, if you'd like?

Moptilda's eyes got round with wonder and she solemnly nodded her head.

Ok, first things is first. Get to the sink and wash up. That will make you feel better. Then meet me in back here when you're finished up.

Tilda ran off in the direction of the kitchen. Pommom walked over to the bookshelves and appraised it's contents. Her eyes skimmed over multitude of titles of the books scattered on the shelved. She found the one she was looking for a removed it off the shelf. She gently blue on it's cover getting off the fine layer of dust.

She sat on the couch and a few minutes later Tilda came back in looking more composed and much fresher. She joined Pom on the couch.

Pom turned to the small Swabby and said, "this book is a history of Swabbies in Neopia. I'd like to read it too you so you have a better understanding of our ancestory and how you, my sweet, are not any less important than any other PetPet."

Tilda tilted her head up and looked at the older Faerie Swabby curiously. "Really? We have a history?" she asked in astonishment.

We sure do," Pom answered then continued, "this book explains everything about us." She held the hard covered book flat so that Tilda could see the cover. The rich yellow background helped highlight the three strong looking mops on the cover. Tilda tilted her head and read the word printed down the spine. It read, 'Mops Throughout the Ages'.

Tilda looked up eagerly at Pommom and wiggled a little in her seat.

I take it you're ready?" the older Swabby asked with a big smile. Tilda nodded her head in excited and leaned her head on Pom ready to listen to the tale

Pom opened the cover and began to read...

MOPS THROUGHOUT THE AGES

Part 1: The Beginning

The mop sat in the corner and surveyed the room in silence. He was ignored for the most part. Only needed to clean up an occansional spill. That rarely happned though, for She was very careful. Really, in this tower it was the broom that got all the glory. The mop didn't quite understand what what do special about the broom. All the broom did was brush things around. The mop had things actually seep into his fibers. They never went away. The broom got off quite easy but for some reason She loved the broom. The broom went everywhere with Her. She treated the broom like a pet. It wasn't that the mop was jealous. He just wanted to leave. That, however, wasn't an option. He was an inanimate object and didn't have the free will to do as he liked. He was stuck propped up against the corner until She decided to wave her hands around to make him to her cleaning.

The mop looked up at the shelves above him. They were lined with glass bottles in various shapes and colors. Some swirled around on their own accord while others bubbled as if held over a flame. Many did nothing at all. They just looked like bottled of lightly tinted water. It was one such bottle that the mop was interested in. This bottle contained a liquid that animated anything. The mop had seen Her use it to turn an tiny pink Poogle into a clockwork mechanism that thought on it's own. The mop wasn't sure what would happen to him if he used it but he would certainly like an opportunity to try. The problem was he had to way to get to it. He knew She wouldn't give it to him voluntarily and he had no way to ask. Even if he could ask She had no reason to grant his wish.

The mop was shaken out of his thoughts when She entered the room. She seemed very excited about something. She had a new glass bottle in her hands. This one was clear glass filled with a bright green liquid. Nothing was strange about the liquid but the bottle itself was different, the mop noticed. It seemed to be growing a tail.

She set the bottle on the floor and fired up her cauldron. She murmured things to herself as she grabbed various herbs from drawers lining one wall. She sprinkled them in the cauldron while chanting things the mop didn't understand.

The room started to vibrate. The louder She began the chant the more intense the vibrations came. The bottles started to rattle on the shelves. The mop looked up and saw his bottle was dancing around the edge.

Her chanting reached and apex and She grabbed the tailed bottle. She uncorked it with a flourish and swallowed it's contents. She immediately threw the bottle into the cauldron tossing in the remaining herbs along with it. The cauldron erupted with a loud pop causing several bottles to tumble off the shelves. The mop looked up to see his bottle on the brink of falling of the edge.

He looked back over at Her and couldn't believe what he was seeing. She had transformed! A minute ago She looked like herself but now She looked completely different. The mop didn't understand what was happening but he had a bad feeling.

She smiled a broad smiled exclaiming something about the spell working. She strutted over to an ornate mirror hanging on the wall and pulled off sheet protecting the glass from dust. She turned and faced the mirror and shrieked.

It didn't work!!! It was supposed to turn me into a Faerie! Not this. This isn't what I wanted!" She shrieked again and stomped around. She hit the wall next to the mop then turned around and stomped in the other direction.

The mop was watching her stomp away when he heard the soft shatter of glass. He quickly looked in the direction of the sound and saw his bottle had fallen. His hope plummeted as he watched the liquid pool over the floor tiles. He felt hopeless. He turned his attention back to Her.

A Zafara!" She screeched. "I was promised it would turn me into a Faerie and I end up a Zafara. A Green one, no less." She turned around and kicked her cauldron. The mop watched all this was annoyance. Everything she kicked or turned over was something he was going to have to clean up later. His mood had turned sour when his potion shattered. He was stuck being a mop here forever.

No sooner than the mop had that thought he began to feel a tingling sensation. Every fiber of each strand of his head hummed. He was very unfamiliar with the strange sensations and he was began to feel frightened. He darted his eyes to the left to see if She was seeing him. That's when he saw the liquid that his spilled from his bottled had trickled from the pool to his direction and the strands of his head were soaking it up. He tentatively tested the tip of his handle. It moved slightly forward. Could it be?? He slowly bunched up several strands of his head on each side and pushed up. His whole body lifted. He was alive!

Now he quickly looked in Her direction. She had her backed turned from him and was raging at the mirror. The mop took what he knew may be his only chance and darted out the door. The movement was new to him but he caught on swiftly as he moved hurriedly down the stairwell searching frantically for an exit.

The mop found a door and spent what seemed like an eternity figuring out how to work the handle before finally twisting it and making his escape. Once outside he ran in the first direction he looked.

Weeks passed and the mop got acclimated to his new found freedom. The weather started to turn from Spring to Summer and he quite liked feeling the breeze on his handle. He traveled from the dreary creepy lands of his tower trying to get as far away from Her as possible. As the days went by and the length increased he began to feel relaxed and started to enjoy himself. After coming in contact he learned that everyone had names which would oftentimes be followed with a species. He recently met a quirky character that had cheerfully introduced herself as Puffs the Lutra. Before that he met a fellow named Kudu the Plumpy. He rather hoped he wouldn't be seeing Kudu again anytime soon.

The mop no long wanted to refer to himself as a mop. That was his old life. He contemplated several terms as he wandered along the path. He eventually decided up calling himself a Swabby. She often told the broom she only needed the mop the swab things up. Every time She said that it had hurt the mop's feelings. Now that he had settled on Swabby he needed to come up with a surname. He tossed a few ideas around and didn't notice the overgrown root until he tripped over it. He straightened himself and brushed off the dirt and debris stuck to his fibers.

Psst. Pssst. Pssssst."

The Swabby (it has a nice ring, doesn't it?) looked around trying to determine where the sound came from. He shrugged his soldiers and prepared to continue his journey.

PPPSSSSSSTTTTTTTT

This time the Swabby new he'd heard something. He listened intently and walked closer to the Yellow Eesa Tree, mindful to step over the protruding root.

Psst. Psst. Psst.

The Swabby was certain the sound was coming from inside the tree. He stood up on his strandtips and peeked into a large knothole. Inside he saw a colony of tiny little bugs. "Can you see us?" Asked one of the little insects closer to the front.

Sure can" replied the Swabby.

We are trapped in here." interjected another little bug. This one shorter and rounder than the first.

Trapped? What do you mean trapped? And what exactly are you guys?"

A mean witch said we were annoying her Meowclops and she banished us here." Squeaked a third bug while a fourth in the back shouted at the same time, "We are petpetpets!

A mean witch? This witch wouldn't have happened to be accompanied by a broom, would she??" The Swabby asked grumpily.

Yes!" They all chirped in unison.

The Swabby released the little bugs from their captivity without a question. He heard a chorus of "Thank Yous" as the little bugs scattered.

The Swabby watched them all fly away before continuing along the path. He hummed to himself as he resumed his debate over what name to pick for himself.

Arnold, Dermit, Frank, Carlos, Smythe" The Swabby tossed around the names. Vocalizing themselves out loud to see how they sounded.

I like Smythe." He heard a little a voice interject.

He looked around and saw one of the little bugs had attached itself to some of the fibers on his head. It was a cute little bugger. It was pale green in color with rings of light green striping it's body. It had two sets of antennae, on set on it's head the other on the tip of it's tale.

Smythe and Mootix. It had a good sound to it." the little bug concluded as if there was no more say in the matter.

The Swabby chuckled. The little bug had gumption and he liked that. "You must be Mootix, I presume?" The bug nodded. "Well, Mootix. I like Smythe too. So that settles that. I am Smythe the Swabby. Now to the matter of what you are doing on my head?

I attached myself to you." The Mootix said matter of factly. "That's what we do. Attach ourselves to PetPets, that is.

Attach yourself to PetPets? Then what are you doing with me. I'm just a mo-." Smythe stopped himself realizing that he was no longer a mop. He was now understanding the potion must change inanimate object to PetPets. He smiled at the turn of events. He started the sentence again, "Well, then Mootix, I'm glad you chose me. Let's go have an adventure together!"

The pair enjoyed their summer visiting the sites of Neopia. They stopped at the Rainbow Pool but it seemed as all the magic had disappeared and posed for a postcard at the new Rubbish Dump in Meridell. As Summer began to end they heard whispers of a war in The Mystery Island area so their vacation there was postponed.

Summer turns to Autum and the hum in Mystery Island ceases as the War ends. Smythe and Mootix decide it's the perfect place to spend the winter. Neither of them liked cold weather. The spent the next few months enjoying their tiki hut and watching, curiously, as the Neopets started to change into a Rainbow of new colors. Every weekend they came in droves to visit the beaches. Each time they reappeared it seemed at least one was painted a color the pair had never seen before. The little Mootix was fascinated. He wanted Smythe to change his color. They spent the winter quietly in a humble neohome and when the New Year rang in the duo celebrated from a distance as they watched ten million Neopets join in the festivities.

The following spring Smythe decided they had been cooped up long enough and decided it was due time for a vacation. He brought the idea to the Mootix's attention.

Where do you want to go?" squeaked the little Mootix. "I don't know, exactly. What I do know is I don't want to go back to the Haunted Woods!" The teeny Mootix chuckled. "I agree, so where then?

Mmmmm, how about Krawk Island? We can search for treasure!

OK!" The bug started hopping around in excitement. The next week they spent preparing the house for a vacation. Making sure the neighbors would water the plants and such. Smythe was excited. He had seen a little bit of Neopia when he and Mootix were fleeing from the Woods but since they had settled in Brightvale they hadn't done any traveling.

They arrived at the island a week later decked out in sunglasses and sunblock. The pair hopped off the boat ready for some fun time in the sunshine! They eagerly started walking down the pier heading in the same direction as general flowing traffic. The Swabby looked around, taking in all the sights. He noticed that they appeared to be the only two moving at a leisurely pace. In fact everyone around them moved abruptly and kept their heads down. As Swabby took in more details he also noticed they looked like they were the only one there to sight see. All the Neopets around them were donned in average apparel of seafarers.

The Mootix quietly whispered, "I think maybe we should go to Mystery Island instead." The Swabby shook his head. "No we are here now let's take a look around. We signed on to take an adventure and an adventure we shall have!" He sounded more hopeful than he felt. He was certain he had seen what looked like a Pirate off in the distance.

The two headed off the wharf and started walking towards the smell of food. After the long boat ride they were famished. They headed through the entrance and Smythe admired the decor. The tables were made from old barrels and the seats were wooden crates. Fishing nets and ship wheels adorned the walls, accenting the port hole shaped windows. The Swabby caught a whiff of enticing aromas coming from the back area where he assumed the kitchen must be. He approached a counter where a Lupe was wiping down the wood surface with a dingy cloth. The light from a few scattered candles glinted off his hook.

Ahem" The Swabby nonchalantly cleared his throat. "We'd like a table for two, please.

The Lupe looked around before his gaze settled down and he saw the tiny Mootix nestled amongst the fibers of the Swabby's head. He frowned for a brief moment, before shrugging as if he's seen things more bizarre.

Ye got dubloons?" The Lupe questioned? "Dubloons?" Smythe asked back, puzzled.

What do you mean you don't have any dubloons!!! Go away and only come back if you have some dubloons.

The Swabby slowly backed away towards the door. He quickly turned around and exited. The Lupe was scary! He looked down at the Mootix and said, "How about we head out towards the beach and see if we can find some food there.

They headed away from the Golden Dubloon towards the water they could see a ways ahead of them. The two walked passed a training school.

Can we take a peek inside?" Mootix asked, hopefully.

Smythe veered off the path and walked over to the building. It had a shiny sign by the front down that read 'Swashbuckling Academy'. He peered in one of the windows and leaned close so the Mootix could see.

Inside a row of Neopets were going through a series of battling maneuvers. They were being led be a fierce looking White Eyrie.

What happens here that makes everyone lose their limbs?" Mootix questioned.

Whaa?" Smythe frowned. He looked back in the window and sure enough, the Eyrie had a wing that was replaced with a wooden peg. "I don't know and I don't know if I want to find out. Let's go see the beach, since we're here, then catch the next ferry to Mystery Island. We can make catch an evening luau." The bug nodded solemnly at the idea.

They headed back to the pack and started their walk to the shore, again. Several minutes passed in silence then Smythe noticed the terrain began to change. The path, which he wouldn't exactly consider 'kept', was in a condition suitable to tread on. The spot he could come across now was overgrown and had no signs of navigation. He looked to the left and saw the landscape drop off to a rocky cliff. He walked over to the edge and saw no way down. He looked to the right and could see, on the edge of the beach, a cave. It looked like there might be a rough path carved into the face of the cliff leading down to the opening.

Smythe was determined at this point to see the sights of Krawk Island. They had put it so much effort already. He wasn't going to let a little hike deter he and the bug from seeing the Ocean.

After walking a short distance he found an opening in between a growth of trees and tall weeds. He carefully made his way down the narrow path, watching his footing each step. He reached a point on the path where he had to crawl through a rock tunnel. He could see light shining from the other side so he knew it was a short distance. He quickly shimmied through the tunnel and tumbled onto sand when he reach the other side.

He stood up, brushed off the grains of sands and looked around. The Swabby could see they were on the backside of the cave he had seen. He gazed down and saw the Mootix flipping around in the sand.

The little bug skittered over the the surf and danced around in the foam. He encouraged Smyth to come join him. Smythe shook his head. "I don't want to get the strands of my head wet. They take forever to dry!" He shouted to the Mootix so he could be heard over the roar of the surf.

He sat down and leaned back, enjoying the warm from the sun. He must have dozed off because he was startled by the Mootix screeching, "Look what I found!

The Swabby leaned up and shook his head to clear his mind. He squinted at the little bug. There was a dirty pebble laying in front of him.

You found a rock?" Smythe inquired.

I don't think it's a rock. It's got a bunch of sand stuck all over it. I tried to get it off but I'm it's crusted on pretty good.

The Swabby reinspected it. He noticed this time amongst all the shades of brown there was flecks of green. He started rubbing at the pepple and bits of dirts and sand flaked off. He brushed harder and in matter of moments it was almost clean.

The Mootix jumped up to get a better look. "What is it?" He hopped all over, eager to figure out the mystery treasure.

I'm not sure. It's still kind of dirty". The Swabby, being super absorbant, rifled through the different yarns of his head. He found one that felt saturated with a liquid. He rubbed the fibers across the pepple then buffed vigorously. He reexamined the now shiny surface and laughed out loud.

What?" The Mootix asked still hopping to and fro "What is it?

It's just a pea. It must have fallen of the plate of someone having a picnic. HaHaHa. You're treasure is a pea!"

The Swabby continued to laugh as the Mootix glared. The bug picked up the pea and started to carry it off towards the water to see if he could use it as fish food. Just as the pea was about to get it's first swimming lesson it started to spin and fell from from the Mootix's grasp.

The Swabby jumped up and ran over to watch. He and the Mootix stared as the pea started to spin faster and faster. It rose up in the air a few inches whirling so fast it become a blur then landed with a thunk back onto the sand. The Mootix and the Swabby leaned over in unison and both jumped back suddenly when the pea suddenly popped up off the sand standing on two legs spread slightly apart and it's two miniscule arms stretched wide apart. "Da da da duhhhhh. Da da duh!" It sang. He balled a tiny little fist, punched it in the air then placed his tiny hands on his hips. That's when Smythe noticed an equally tiny red cape attached to the pea billowing in the air behind it.

The Mootix found the courage to speak to it first. "What happened?" was the profound question he asked.

I don't know, you tell me?" the pea retained it's pose it's little pea chest poofing out proudly.

The pair both stared at the pea dumbly. It stared back for a moment then started again.

One minute I was a regular pea. All my life I've dreamed of being a super hero but I was just a vegetable. A bad vegetable at that. No Neopet ever want to eat their peas." He sighed before continuing, "I was flicked off a salad and rolled onto the sand a few days ago. I've been waiting for a Pawkeet to come along and eat be ever since. Instead you came along and made my dream come true. I'm alive and I'm a hero. I've got the cape and everything!" The Pea twirled around to admire his cape then twisted back around making a scissor kick with his tiny legs. He bounced around in a few cartwheels then made a series of chopping motions with his tiny arms. "Because of you I'm no longer an ordinary vegetable. I am an attack Pea. A Super Attack Pea!" With that statement he extended a tiny fist in the air and flew off.

They could hear his tiny voice as he was flying in the distance, "I am forever indebted to you. I shall prove my worth!

The Swabby stood with his mouth gaping open. He had yet to utter a single sentence. He was flabbergasted. He had an idea of what just happened but he couldn't be certain. He had to test it.

Mootix, I think our real adventure just began."

The pair, without word, skipped the trip to Mystery Island and go straight back to Brightvale. They spent the entire trip in silence, partly because they were engulfed in their own thoughts. The second reason is they didn't want anyone to overhear what had just happnened.

The instant they arrived back to their home and shut the door the Mootix began hopping all over the place."What just happened?" he asked Smythe eagerly, "Do you know?!?

Smythe nodded, "I think so, but I'm not sure." The Swabby looked around the house before his gaze settled on a shabby lamp in the corner. He walked over, unplugged it, and walked back outside. The Mootix trailed behind him.

Once outside the Swabby set the lamp on the grass then took a few step back. He looked down at the little bug and said, "I'm super absorbant. It's one of the things I hated the most about being a mop. I became animated because of a potion that my fibers soaked up. I think I rubbed some of the potion I absorbed onto the pea. We're about to find out." He stepped back to the lamp and leaned over. He rifled around until he found the strand of yarn he wanted and rubbed it over the base and shade of the lamp then quickly stepped back.

A few seconds later the lamp started swirling through the air. It hit the grass a few seconds later and began making flopping motions.

Smythe tentatively approached what was the lamp and leaned over it to get a closer look. It had turned into a fish! Smythe picked it up, hastily trotted over to the neighboring pond and dropped it in the water. The Lampfish flipped around for a moment before popping his head out of the water. "Thank You!" The Lampfish exclaimed. "I had always dreamed of being in the water but being a lamp you can see how that posed a problem?

The Swabby and the Mootix nodded in understanding "Now, because of you, I can spend the rest of my life swimming! Thanks again!" The Lampfish said in farewell before gracefully leaping in the air then swan diving below the surface and swimming away.

The duo looked at each other. "Well, that settles that," The little bug said "now what are you going to do?

I have a plan." the former mop said with a grin.

The summer passed as the two worked on Smythe's plan. They took what looked to an onlooker an average vacation. In reality they were touring Neopia collecting items from less than desirable locations. They visited Kreludor for a a week and snuck into Dr. Sloth's utility shed. While in Faerieland touring the Rainbow Fountain they slipped into Jhudora's pantry. They spent a weekend in Roo Island to take a Grand Opening Ride on the new Merry-go-round and snuck under the castle late one night while they were there. The Mootix eyed the strange coffin while Smythe rummaged around in the storage closet. They visited location after locaton taking home the exact same souvenir from each place.

As the weather started to turn crisper the litle bug and the Swabby celebrated their first year together putting the finishing touches on their plan. They had collected thirteen in all. The Mootix had wanted more but Smythe said thirteen was plenty to start. He was waiting to hear from his contact in Terror Mountain before completing the final step.

Another few weeks passed and the first snow started to fall. Smythe finally received the message he was waiting for from Happy Valley. They packed up everything they had collected over the passed six months and went North to the mountain. When they arrived they were immediately greeted by a Christmas Aisha, named Hollay. She smiled and waved when she spotted the two travelers. She looked at the Swabby curiously but motioned them over to wear she was waiting and they briskly walked over to greet her.

After a bit of pleasantries she invited them into her cave. She lit a few candles then turned around. She smiled again before speaking. She looked at Smythe, "What kind of PetPet are you? I'm not familiar with your species." Smyth answered, Swabby, then asked why she had asked. "No special reason, I was just curious. I think you are interesting and I'd never seen anyone like you. Anyways, I think what you two are doing is a delightful idea. This is going to make a wonderful surprise for Neopians this year. Show me what you've got."

Smythe entertained her request and quickly layed the objects out in a neat row. He counted silently and as expected, thirteen in total.

Mops?" Hollay raised a single eyebrow.

The little bug spoke up, "Yes. Mops." Then glared at her as if taunting her to debate him.

Ok, then, mops." she shrugged her shoulders. It, honestly, didn't matter one way or the other. Donations were always appreciated. Running the Advent Calender each year was costly. Besides, she guessed, everyone needed to clean. Practical gifts were gifts none the less.

The Smythe look at her then said blandly, "I'm not finished." He rummaged through his head and was able to quickly determine which were the special yarns now that he was more familiar with what he was looking for. He rubbed them down the wooden handle of each individual mopped then rejoined the Mootix and Hollay. He turned his head and said to Hollay, "Now we just have to stand here wait. Once the change happens I'll need to talk to them for a few minutes then they'll be all yours.

Five minutes passed and the Mootix began to bounce around, impatiently. Another fifteen minutes passed before he bursted out, "Do you think it's going to work? It didn't take this long before.

Smythe didn't have an answer. The fibers had felt decently saturated with the potion but as he'd wiped, each new mop had absorbed some it from him. The yarns were almost dry now but he was certain they had started with enough for the task. He started to tell the Mootix he wasn't sure when the mops began to swirl around. The Swabby grinned. It had worked!

The Aisha stepped back several yards and looked a little frightened. The little bug hopped over and bounced up onto her head. He leaned down so his tiny face was eye level with her and said reassuringly, "Don't worry. This happens every time." Then hopped off and boinged back over to the Swabby.

The mops continued to swirl around. Like the animation they danced in air much longer than the objects before them had. Eventually each one landed on the floor in an upright position.

Smythe approached them and they welcomed him enthusiastically with a chorus of "Thank yous." He hugged each one of them then started to whisper to them quietly.

Hollay looked at the Mootix. "What's going on now?"

Eh," the Mootix looked unconcerned, "He's explaining to them what happened and what is going to happen next. They look excited." The little bug grinned.

I've seen everything." The Aisha muttered to herself. She looked back down at the Mootix. "Uh, what did just happen? Are they like, Robot mops now?

No! Smythe animated them. They aren't mops anymore. They're PetPets. Swabbies, like he is.

Petpets!" Hollay clapped her hands in joy, "I love giving out new PetPets for Advent. This is brilliant." She ran over and joined the new Swabbies. Smythe looked over at her as she approached. "Good, you're joining in right on time. This is the deal. I'm out of potion. This were the last objects I can bring to life. Each one of them seems to have absorbed enough of my potion to animate a few mops each themselves. The cycle should continue long enough for you to have enough Swabbies for Advent.

Hollay gave him a quick hug. "Thank you so much. Neopia is going to adore the new Petpet addition."

The pair said their goodbyes to Hollay and the new Swabbies and began their journey home.

Wait!" Tilda interrupted the story. "You mean to tell me a mop did all those things?" she asked Pom skeptically.

Indeed." replied the Faerie Swabby, as she set the copy of Mops Through the Ages on the table.

Tilda still wasn't buying it. "First he was a mop, then he escaped from Edna, released the P3s into Neopia, created the SuaP, and because of him the Swabby exists?

Pommom laughed and "Don't forget about the Lampfish but yes Smythe really did all those things. If it wasn't for him you and I would be in someone's cleaning closet not sitting here having this conversation.

That's awesome! He's my new hero." Tilda's eyes were full of wonder. She sat in silence for a little while before firing a series of questions, "What happened to him and the Mootix? Where did Hollay find enough mops to create enough Swabbies to give out for Advent? Where you an Advent Swabby? Where did I come from since I'm younger? Did any of the other Swabbies do anything exciting like Smythe and the Mootix?" she hadn't taken a breath and and panted out the last sentence.

Pommom motioned for her to relax and reached for the book. She thumbed through the pages from where she had left off reading. She skimmed through a few chapters then set the book on her lap.

It says here," she motioned towards her lap, "that Smythe and Mootix went back to Brightvale. They enjoyed the holidays, quietly, and loved it when they started seeing a Swabby wandering around here or there. The following summer they met an odd Neopet. His name is..." Pom picked the book up and flipped through the chapters until she found the particular one, "His name is Randolph. It says that at the time, he was new to Neopia and was excited to meet Smythe and the Mootix and immediately became attached to them. Turns out he was a Hissa. They battled with King Kelpbeard and helped protect Maraqua. Seems even without the potion Smythe had more adventures. It also says they are still living happily in Brightvale " She smiled down at Tilda, "That's cool, huh? Smythe, the first of his kind, ending up the Randolph another first of a kind.

Tilda grinned. "That is cool! Maybe we can meet him one day." her eyes widened with awe. What else?" she prodded the Faerie Swabby to continue. "What about you?

I came from the Advent Calender and so did you. See-

The little Swabby interrupted before Pom could finish. "How?? I'm too young to come from there. I'd be big like you.

I'm getting ready to explain. It's impolite to interrupt." The elder Swabby admonished before continuing "See the reason we are different ages is simple. When we were released to the population via advent some Neopets attached us right away. Once you attach to a Neopet you begin to get older and age. Other Neopets put their Swabby away in their safety deposit boxes for a later time. When you're in safekeeping you don't age which makes you stay small, like you." She fondly tweeked the downy yarns in Tilda's head and finished. "Like you.

Ohhhhhh." the little Swabby nodded knowingly, "That makes sense." She was thoughtful for a minute. "What about the other Swabbies? Did any of them do anything super awesome like Smythe and Mootix?"