…how an ordinary schoolgirl became an

INTERNET VOYAGER!

When she looked back on it later, Dot would say to herself that Mopples knew how to work hard - and they knew how to play the same way too. Usually she didn't like parties. She felt a bit shy coming into a room full of people she didn't really know - she always seemed to be the last one to arrive - and going round saying hello to them. Also, she could never remember the names she'd been told (she like the parties best where everyone had stickers saying what their name was.) She always ended up enjoying parties in the end - especially if there were lots of her friends there - but she always found them kind of scary to start off with.

Not this one, though! But first...

As they jumped down out of Ron's van (their feet sunk in to the soft blue carpet floor of Mopple Hall just a bit) Wizzie said "What's next?"

Deirdre chuckled and patted hum on the back with a brown and gold wing. "Oh you'll see!" she said. "But first come and meet Old H! You'll like him, an' no mistake! Oh look - there's Farquhar Farquharson! Coo-ee Farqy!"

As Ron and Deirdre were waving at their old friend, Dot had a quick thought. She leaned back into the van and opened the little cubby hole where the squidglet was still asleep. She stroked him gently and popped him into her pocket. If they were going to see Old Hieronymus and get Permission to remain for the little creature, they'd need to have him with them. The squidglet still didn't wake up - he just gave a gentle "prrrrp" and smacked his big red lips.

Dot looked round. As far as she could see, Mopples were getting out of their vans, stretching and smiling at each other, meeting old friends, laughing and giving each other hugs and pats on the back. She saw a fox in a dirty old workman's suit giving a 'High 5' to a crocodile in a purple and gold waistcoat standing up on his back legs (the crocodile was also wearing a monocle, one of those things that look like one side of a pair of glasses with a silky cord on it to hold it round his neck. He had a wicked grin but then you'd expect that!)

Over to her left was a large group of penguins, all chatting away very seriously - nobody seemed to be listening to anyone else in that little group, but by the way they were all nodding it seemed like they knew what each of them was saying! Not far from them, a swan with a gorgeous shimmering green cloak on her back was leaning against her Mopple van with one huge wing stretched out, having a conversation with a greyhound wearing a straw hat and a belt with lots of tools in it. Dot couldn't hear what they were saying but it seemed like they were telling each other jokes, because every so often the swan would lift her head up and go "Honk honk honk", laughing till her brilliant white feathers quivered all across her front and her wings.

There were hundreds and hundreds of Mopples and they were obviously all ready to have a good time!

And still beaming down on them all was Old Hieronymus, sitting now in his throne in front of the eight carved towers that had appeared behind him from his Moppletop.

But where were Adrienne and Mr Mouse? Dot really wanted to see them again, but how were they going to find each other in this huge crowd - so big Dot couldn't even see the end of it on any side?

It was getting noisier too as all the Mopples chatted with each other. Dot turned to Ron. "How can we find - " she began. But Ron had other ideas!

"Come on you lot" he said, smoothing down his jacket and putting his baseball cap straight on his head. "Lets go and say hello to Old Hieronymus first - go to see the man himself now we're here Dot, haven't we!" He started marching off through the crowd, heading towards the throne where Old Hieronymus was sitting.

"Ooh yes" said Deirdre. "He just loves meeting new Mopple companions!"

Dot felt the squidglet moving sleepily in her pocket. Should she tell them she had him with her, she wondered... after all, he was a bit of blackdown and Old Hieronymus might not like him being at the gathering. She was just about to say something when Ron let out a big shout which made her jump. And Wizzie - he yapped in surprise.

"Flossie!" bellowed Ron. "Long time no see!"

It was a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel - just like Wiz, only she was a lady dog, wearing a pink fleece covered with spangly jewels and a pair of mirror sunglasses. She also smelt of a lovely perfume which reminded Dot of Adrienne. Where was her friend the red squirrel searcher, she wondered again - she'd know what to do...

"Ron! Please!" went the spaniel. She had a soft voice with an Australian accent. "You know my name is Florence!" She looked at Wiz and smiled - he smiled back. "Well hello!" she said. "How nice to see one of us here! What's your name?"

"Oh I'm Wizard" said Wizzie, his tail wagging away so fast you could only see a blur. "I'm here with Dot - miss Dorothy.com. We've been..."

But suddenly Florence stopped smiling. "Wait a minute!" she said. "There's something not right here!" She sniffed the air - and then looked at Dot.

"Have you got something to tell us young lady?" she asked - and now her voice was quite different - it reminded Dot of her head teacher Mrs Rudman when she was about to tell you off.

"I think you have" Florence went on. "And I think you should tell us - right now!"