You enter a slightly warm house, neatly decorated with colourful accents. As you look around to ask a fellow Neopian for directions, you suddenly feel a tug at your left leg. You look down for a moment, expecting to see your shoe caught on a thread, but instead you see a plushie blumaroo, and return your eyes to the doorway to the kitchen.

Suddenly, you realise what you have just seen, look down again, and squeal.

Aw, how cute! What's your name, little fellow?" You bend down to pick up the plushie and stare into its round, golden button eyes.
You can call me Stick!" The plushie replies in a happy tone.
AHHH!!!" You drop the plushie and bellow.
AHHH!!!" The plushie yells as it hits the ground with its very soft tail.
DID YOU JUST TALK TO ME!?" You sputter incoherently.

The plushie looks up at you, slightly confused.
As I recall, you were the first one to speak, intruder.
Taken aback, you glance around the room once again, and see nobody. However, your eyes linger on a photo, what seems to be a family photo, of a young female blumaroo, a male nimmo, a male shoyru, and a young Neopian girl cradling a soft plushie blumaroo. That's when it hits you.
So... I gather that you're not a talking plushie blumaroo plushie? Just... a plushie blumaroo?" The little blumaroo giggles and looks past you.
And the winner is guest !" You turn around in astonishment, as a fellow Neopian with light brown locks of wavy hair and chocolate brown eyes walks towards you with a tinkling laugh.
My name is Cream, and this is one of my four pets. His name is Stick. Stick has been behaving himself hasn't he?" You notice Stick automatically raises his tiny paws and the girl, Cream, almost instinctively bends down to pull him into her arms into a warm, embracing hug.
Oh, hello! My name is guest," you say simply, "... and i was just about to ask for directions to the Tiki Shop? You see I got lost on the Mystery Island Tour and somehow ended up at your house, and uh... yeah." You finish lamely (sorry!).
Oh no worries, guest! We get folks like you all the time, and Stick just loves to guard house. My other pets are out grocery shopping and Stick was just helping me with our garden, why don't you come in and have some bubble tea?" You, very much loving bubble tea, agree.
While you're here, would you like to hear a story?" The girl asks. You glance at Stick, who is now on the girl's shoulders, and notice he is looking at you in earnest, practically begging you with his eyes to allow his owner to tell the story of how his new life began.

You agree.

chapter one

Mommy, mommy! Look over here!"
I reluctantly turned away from the Neopian Times I was skimming, expecting to see a broken kite or some other toy lying limp on the crisp, clean white floors of the Toy Shop. Instead, as I opened my mouth to shout a reprimand, I noticed my first pet, Hu, was pointing to a plushie. I closed my mouth and walked briskly towards her.
Hu, honey, I thought we discussed this. It's not polite to shout in public." Hu rolled her eyes.
Yeah, yeah, I get it mom. Now can you please just look!" I sighed and looked in the direction she was pointing with her pale paw.
In the name of Sloth, what the fuzzle is that?!" An obnoxious orange blumaroo elbowed Hularoo to get a better look at the sought-after toy.
Hey!" Hu screeched from the floor.
Hay is for unis! Ahahaha!" The orange blumaroo chuckled at his own (questionable) humour. I glared at him as Hu whimpered by my side. The insufferable nuisance ignored us and promptly turned on his tail and hollered at the top of his lungs,
Mommmmm! Mom, get over here already you dumb troll!" I was astonished to hear silence, then the clacking of heels at a steady pace. Was there seriously going to be a mother who would allow her child to act like this? Then, a woman with bleach blonde hair, bags the size of skeiths under her eyes, and an armful of toy trucks turned the corner.
What is it, Corlam? Did you find another truck you wanted?" As the woman tried to catch her breath, Hularoo jumped at her chance.
Mom, mom, please! I haven't asked for a single toy the past year, even though you always offer on our weekly grocery shopping trip! I always refuse the offer because I want to save up my allowance to buy the best toy in the whole world, and I finally found it!! Please, mom, please! Let me buy it?!" I glanced at my blumaroo's pleading eyes, and turned to the toy. At first, it seemed to be just a battered plushie. But when I looked closer, I could see the details this plushie had that all other plushies seemed to lack. It was a perfect replica of a plushie blumaroo, in a soft and lovable plushie form! How could I refuse Hularoo this toy? She had saved up all her neopoints from the last year, but I didn't think the plushie could be worth that much.
Hu, how much is this plushie, exactly?" I asked nervously. I knew my Roo well enough to recognize the sheer desire in her voice. She would never beg unless it was an emergency.
Um, well…" Hular_oo stared at the ground and mumbled something.
What, honey?"
I asked slowly. Hu looked at me for a second, then looked straight up at the linoleum ceiling.
Fourty-two thousand, five hundred and ninety-nine neopoints," she recited.

chapter two

My jaw dropped.
Hu, honey, there is no way I'm going to let you use all of your neopoints on one toy!" Hularoo whimpered.
But why, mom? You said it yourself, you were proud that I took the initiative or whatever to save up my neopoints, when Jumper and Shoopy just spend theirs on treats! I've never wanted anything as much as I have now, and it's my allowance money!!" I could tell Hu was close to tears, but didn't know what to do.
Hu, just give me a few minutes, ok?" Hularoo opened her mouth persistently, but I interrupted her.
A few minutes, ok? Just… just let me think about it." Hularoo sighed, sniffled, and sat down on the cold floor. But before I could seriously think of what to do, the obnoxious orange blumaroo intervened.
Look, if you sissies aren't going to buy this, then I'll take it." Hularoo gasped.
But, but, but.. But you said it was ugly a few minutes ago, I heard you making fun of me with your, your d-d-dumb friends!" Hu was about to burst into tears, I could tell by the way her nose twitched and her words slurred. The mother of Corlam, the rude blumaroo, said soothingly,
Look, Corlam, this young blumaroo wants this plushie ever so badly, and you don't. Why do you want me to spend this much money on a toy you won't even use?" Corlam sniffed disapprovingly.
Look, Mother. I want it now! I've… I've seen the error of my ways.
Corlam, it's a plushie. Get over it, because I am not buying it for you just because you want to hurt this poor blumaroo's feelings." The mother turned to Hu, and said,
Don't worry, dearie. You can buy the plushie, my Corlam doesn't want it." She turned to me and winked, and started walking away, but her pet didn't move. Corlam was seething, for he had not gotten what he had wanted, a first in his life. His mother had never refused him a toy, and she wasn't going to get away with it. He looked straight at Hularoo and leered at her.
If I can't have this stupid toy, neither can you, ya big sissy!" He promptly grabbed the plushie with his grubby little paws, and was about to run off with it when Hularoo suddenly jumped up and started to wrestle Corlam for the plushie.
STOP IT! NO! YOU'LL RUIN HIM! STOP IT! OW!" Hu was fighting tooth and nail, or should I say paw and tail, for the plushie. I had never seen her so fierce before.
Hahahaha, now you will NEVER see your precious plushie again!" Corlam taunted.
STOP IT! PLEASE?! HE'S THE ONLY THING I'VE EVER WANTED!!"
Hularoo was sobbing now, and trying with all her might to tug the plushie away. All of a sudden, the plushie twitched, and its eyes came to life, and looked around for a few seconds. I was the only one who noticed, however, as the two blumaroos were too busy fighting. The plushie looked straight at me and bellowed,
HEY! WHAT GIVES? I'M TRYING TO TAKE A NAP HERE!"

chapter three

AAAAHHHHH!" Corlam's piercing scream echoed throughout the store as he ran out, his mother alongside him. Hularoo squeaked and dropped the plushie blumaroo on the floor in surprise.
Thank goodness! I thought I was going to get an arm torn off there or something!" The plushie blumaroo brushed himself off, smoothed back his ears, and straightened himself. He looked up at Hu and said in a sophisticated British accent,
Hello, young blumaroo. How may I help you? My name is xStiches, but you can call me Stick. Now, if you don't mind, would you care to tell me why you and that horrible young blumaroo, the one who shrieked and ran out of this shop, were playing tug-of-war with my fragile limbs?" Hu was at a loss for words, and simply looked at me pleadingly. I cleared my throat.
Well, hello there Stick! I'm Cream, and this is my first pet, Hularoo. You can call her Hu, though. We were just out and about on our weekly grocery shopping trip when my two other pets, Jumper and Shoopy, went to the candy shop and Hu asked to visit this shop. She took a liking to you right away, and then that impolite young fellow, the one who ran out the door like a little girl? Yes, well, he tried to take you away from my Hu, and she was ever so attached to you that she couldn't let go, and the blumaroo just kept being a pansy and wouldn't give up, and then… and then… and then you woke up, I suppose." I paused to catch my breath. Stick looked curiously at me, and then turned to Hu, who was hiccupping on the chilly ground.
You were… attached to me?" He said in a whisper. Hularoo sniffled, and nodded. Stick pondered this for a moment.
You really, truly, honestly wanted to take me home with you? You found me… appealing?" Hu's eyebrows furrowed. "Of course I wanted to take you home, Stick. I *hic*-wanted you more than *hic*-I've ever wanted any other *hic*-toy in the hic-whole of Neopia!" I picked Hu up and hugged her tightly, she was so adorable! Then I heard a sniffing sound, and put her down.
Are you okay, Hu?" Hularoo looked at me, confused. I suddenly realized the sniffling came from behind me. Was… was Stick crying? I sat down next to him and scratched his ears.
What's wrong, Stick? Are you hurt?" Stick looked up at me in surprise, and wiped his two golden button eyes.
No… n-n-no, I'm not hurt. Not physically, anyways. It's just…" I urged him on, but he shook his head defiantly. I looked up at Hu, and she whispered soothingly,
It's okay, Stick. You can say anything." It was silent for a few more moments, and then Stick burst,
I WISH A FAMILY WOULD WANT ME!" Then Stick burst into tears, wailing loud enough for my two other pets, Jumper and Shoopy, to hear in the Chocolate Shop nextdoor. They came rushing in, arms full of sweet and tangy treats. They looked around the store for a few seconds, then spotted me and Hu, and dashed to our sides. They flung their bags down and sat next to us, clambering for space.
What's wrong, mother?" Jumper asked.
WHATS WRONG IS THAT NOBODY WANTS ME!" Stick rolled over and hugged himself. Hularoo whimpered.
Stop that, Stick! Stop it! You're hurting me!!" Stick abruptly stopped sobbing, and turned around.
What do you mean, I'm hurting you? Did… did I k-k-kick you or s-s-omething? I'm so sorry!" A small tear trickled down Hularoo's face, and she sniffled.
No, that's not what I meant, Stick. I've never wanted a plushie as much as you, and since you're a REAL plushie… I just can't bear to see you this upset!!" Stick hiccupped, and looked up at Hularoo.
You… you mean you'd want me to be part of… of your family?" Hu looked at me pleadingly. I knew what she was going to ask, and said quickly,
Of course, we do have room for one more pet in the family, Stick. If you're willing…" Stick was taken aback.
Well.. well… I've never had a real family before," he sputtered. I was confused.
Wait, how exactly did you end up in this shop, Stick?" He sighed.
I suppose I was so depressed one day that I just walked in here and fell asleep by the counter, and the owner thought I was a new and improved toy, and put a hefty price tag on me and shoved me onto these shelves. I steal food every day from his lunch sack, and I can sleep and do whatever I want at night as long as I sit still during the day, and I keep out of the Pound, so I stayed here. I guess I fell asleep on the shelf this morning, I'm usually hiding so nobody actually tries to purchase me." He looked down at the floor, ashamed.
Well, Stick, you're welcome to join this family." I smiled. I had always wanted another blumaroo, and this was perfect! The family already got along with him, so there would be no awkward pauses at the dinner table or anything of that sort. Stick looked up hopefully.
You… you really mean it?"
Of course I do! Except, there is one condition." Stick's face fell, and my three pets looked at me in horror. I waved their scoffs off.
If you want to join this family, Stick, there is one main rule." Stick's eyebrows furrowed, and my mouth twitched.
You have to know how to have FUN!" On the last word, I yanked a Meowclops pillow off of a shelf and threw it playfully at him. Stick didn't move for a few moments, and I could tell Hu, Jumper, and Shoopy were worried. They looked at me disapprovingly, until all of a sudden,
BAM!" All four of us, me, Hu, Jumper, and Shoopy were pummeled by four heavy gnorbu wool beanbags. We all screeched and untangled ourselves only to see Stick cracking up, tears welling up in his button eyes, this time from an overwhelming sense of happiness.
Oh, you are SO dead, Stick!" Hu tackled him and they wrestled playfully, as all blumaroos do, on the floor while Jumper and Shoopy cheered them on. As the store manager waddled towards me, his face as red as a lutari pop and mustache as bushy as a lupe's tail, I thought to myself,
This is the beginning to a very, very happy family.