Falling Star

Falling Star

CHAPTER ONE

Part One

Across night skies what are full of blue clouds and stars so bright that make a boy stop and stare and ask about life. Is a boy who asked a question so very similar to that very thing and ended up miles of the ground flying around and playing on the very same clouds loving everything. He could barely talk to a girl he liked, or be witty enough to get himself out of being insulted or out of a fight. He did think that this was it; this was the answer to everything. Even though it didn’t answer anything, he didn’t mind. It was relaxing he thought. Nothing could harm him up here. Then he quickly snapped out of his daydream, and realised that he had a mission to accomplish, he had to stop the moon from falling, his mission was now calling.

Five nights ago Mark was sitting on a fence outside of his house, he always did it when he was bored and wanted to stare at something else. So he looked up, and he saw the sky, the bright stars; the dusky blue clouds and asked how it was all made. He looked up and for a second thought the moon looked particularly bigger than usual, and almost he thought resembled a cartoon. And he was sure that it was getting closer to him the longer he looked at it, it scared him to bits.

He went indoors to tell his parents “Mum the moon, I think it’s falling!” Mark’s mum put down the bread “Now, now Mark Stride. What have I said before? Falling moons, cartoons what speak to you, dribbling rocks, and runaway socks you should stop telling tales or no one will listen to you!” Mark looked up at his mum and he said to her “I’m sorry mum, the cartoons I swore they spoke and the socks I’m sure I heard them once croak, but the moon mum. Just look at the moon it’s so big and I’m sure it was small. Don’t you think?” “Tall tales you speak of my child, now go and try be normal like your friend Kyle”.
Kyle is boring and dull, Mark thought. He studies all day and all he thinks about is boring things like maths and science and how to spell properly and all his words he pronounces right which makes him sound posh which Mark really doesn’t like. So he went out to the park a private one right next to his house where he sat on a swing and then he saw a mouse.

This mouse was no ordinary mouse, he was three feet tall and wore a waist coat he held a trombone and didn’t slouch. Mark was surprised when he heard him speak, he said his name was Monty and he had been lost for a week. “I need help” he said. “Can you help me? It’s my home it’s crashing and I’d rather not lose it being my home, my house is ruddy smashing!”

“Well, what do you want me to do I’d really like to know? My bedtime is soon and I’d probably best go...” Mark said rather sensibly. “I see, but you should know this trombone of mine can do magical things but not for me and I need someone I can trust to make the magic things be”. The two talked on the swings and Mark soon found out that Monty was from the moon and wanted to save all of his friends from having to lose their homes, Mark couldn’t say no.

Mark went inside his house and didn’t tell his mum he’d met a mouse. Instead he lied and said Kyle asked his to stay at his house tonight instead. “What a good idea my child, you’ll soon learn. That boy may make your brain grow!” Mark grinned and left to help a mouse stop the moon from falling, he was felt like he wanted to sing.

Part Two

“The moon is a nice place to see but you best stay away from where the sun doesn’t like to be. It gets cold and they’re rats there and we mice like rats like we’d like a hole in our pants! I could help the mice but it means the rats will stay which would make me a sad mouse I would have to say. “

Monty took Mark out past the dark where he found a sandpit and made a remark “make a castle with that sand, you’ll soon understand”. Mark took a bucket and a spade and made a castle underneath the night sky. “There, Mark said now what do you want me to do? Tell me is there more to tonight than making sand castles for you?”

Monty took his trombone and played a note and in the noise came a cloud of smoke, the castle grew and grew and there stood one what looked real and brand new. Amazed and impressed Mark was unsure what to do, so he said “wow, now that’s a trick I wish I could do!”

“So what else can you do mouse? Can you make it so I can touch the sky? That that there falling star is a touch away, so that I could fly?” Monty took his trombone and breathed in hard, a piece of that falling star flew straight into his trombone he tooted hard. Mark floated and soared, he flew high and into the midnight sky, swimming like the clouds were islands and all between where oceans.

“Just keep jumping and you’ll stay afloat after a while I’ll no longer need to toot! You’re fine now boy just have a good hoot, but I warn you no one will be safe; unless we fix this falling moon from happening then we’ll be in a happy place.”

Mark came down from the sky by walking to the earth like an escalator or stairs and found himself without a worry or a care. “I’m guessing we’ve more to do now mouse, should we go or stay and fly and watch those streetlights glow?”

The mouse knew how he could save his home but it wasn’t so easy, his mouse pad had a button in his lamp, which helped him go back, the moon being so big it would have been a big help. He knew it was broke this situation was no joke he best find a way to get back without that button lamp he owned.
Something Mark did not yet know was how he was to help his new friend get home. Ideas sprung through his mind like crackers and fireflies till he found one what stuck like a fly on a spider-web. “Let’s build a ship, like the castle and fly off the land! And make sure that things will be right with your mice friends”.

Part Three

The two tried to make a ship but the engine kept blowing up and every time they got close they ran out of luck. So they sat round and muddled for an answer then Monty thought “oh wait I know, there’s the talking panda!” Mark was confused but that was ok as he was about to see something what would be the biggest surprise of his day.

Monty took Mark to a shed not far from his garden where there lived a panda that was called Peter and had a hamster called Fred. “Hello Monty” Went the panda, “you’re looking well! What brings you here is all good and swell?” “I’ve a situation my friend, the moon is falling and I’ve nothing to pull it back up! Do you own a big rope by any luck?”

“Let’s think my friend I’ve a mop, a clock and this big old sock... No rope, nope, not what I can think of. Maybe you should wait till the morning when things are easier to see, sorry I can’t help further but this panda needs his sleep”. Peter in his PJs went back inside, turned the lights off and said to Monty and Mark “goodnight”.

Mark wasn’t nearly has surprised with what happened tonight as he should be, especially as he noticed the panda was wearing one of his socks it made sense why they were missing. He walked passed Kyle’s house and his parents were kissing, “ERRRR” said Mark, “nightmares for a week!” Then out came Kyle, stumbling on his feet, “why are you here, its late and I’ve had no sleep” Kyle had seen Mark in the window, “nothing Kyle, I’ve just got things to do” then Mark started jumping till he flew.

Part Four

“How did you do that? Can I do it too? That’s really unfair, why does it have to be you? How do you do it? Do you think happy thoughts? Are you wearing wings on your shoes? Tell me Mark, I want to fly too!” I used a mouse and he used a trombone with this falling star and I was really close to the moon!” “You don’t need to lie! I’m a sleep aren’t I? I’ll see you tomorrow dream Mark, don’t come to my dreams again and fly when I can’t poo breath!”

Mark was confused, it had told the truth but I guess a talking mouse might make you sound a fool. “Where do we go from here Mouse? Mark said. “Well, I think I know where to get a rope, but it’s not on Earth oh no, oh no. We need to get to Mars and meet a friend of mine who owns a shuttle which will work just fine!

With cereal boxes and oven gloves Mark made a suit fit for space, and with boxes and dustbins he made himself a rocket ship; to Mars to see a Martian about a ship with a big rope, to give the mouse a strong sense of hope.

“Let’s build a rocket ship straight to the sky and meet my friend for pizza and pie, he’s heard about you, you see, I’ve been planning this for weeks I’m sure we’ll be ready soon after a few tweaks”.
They spend time after that collecting bits and bats and Monty even made some wings from feathers what flew from his hat. There they took their new ship into space and Mark saw faces in places in never thought were there. Like the side of stars or on the moons’ face, he never thought he would ever be in space!

Part Five

They arrived with a rickety rackety ka-bash! And Mark looked on with a shocking gasp “So this is Mars”. Mark wasn’t expecting the stores and marble floors and ice cream vans, he stood on with amazement with his mouth in his hands. It’s amazing, but why does no one know this is here on Earth?”

“No one wants to admit Mars is here as it is, you see there is beauty then there is fear. No one on Earth will believe that there is a place better than there, everyone wants to have the better home”.
The surface was long and stretched and looked like a mess, but the mess was a jest of the beauty it possessed. Not all the people wanted to understand or comprehend the great city of Cry, except one Martian called Marty who was looking at Mark fly.

“Oh hello young man, I say my I take your hand? A strange request I admit but there’s something you must know, I am the one that made the wind blow beneath your toes. The trombone of your fried was created by my head. Yes I am Marty the one you seek, get away from that there canopy before it leeks!”

Marty was not what you think of a Martian, more of a set jelly shaped as a teddy. He looked as if his belly had seen a telly and watched it steady, but giggled when the jokes were merry!
The three went inside and yet they did not know just which was their adventure was to go, as the moon seemed to look greater and larger from Earth few really realised how it glowed. What was to happen now you ask is not up the fate but three friends whose names all start with Ms and whose future is great.

Part Six

The three took their seats on chairs that looked like hares, and round a table which took the shape of a stable. They talked about what they needed to do and Marty warned about the dark side of the moon. “Those rats Monty, I hate those rats, they’re brats, they are brats those rats!”
There was a big castle up on a hill where Marty let spill the secrets of the magic spoon. “If I’m honest and I must say I am, then I won’t lie when I say this could be as good as ham! I really like ham, but not like another man, the Martian that I am. Ho ho ho ho! The spoon helps us all, by granting power to anything, dead, living, big or small! Yes it’s the secret of magic my friend and it only goes as far as the imagination ends!”

“Now you want a spoon to make a rope what will rope the moon is that true? Well here’s something I give to you, it’s not exactly what you need but think of it as a wish of good speed!”
It was there that they were given magic string which didn’t quite appear to do much of anything. “You need to sing to the string to make the magic happen now Mister Mouse! Much like your trombone, music is such magic!” Said Marty with his hearty happening heart “Just follow what I say won’t you Mark” said Monty with his smarts. I’ve just the song, if you wish to sing along:

Mice we Mice will walk the Moon.
Has Mice we are and Mice we do;
protect the Earth from looking poo.
Yes we are the Mice of Moon.
Oh beautiful Earth you make us swoon
How we wish you knew,
how we Mice of Moon love to, love to,
we love looking after you!

Squeak, squeak, squeak of Moon
Has Mice squeak, squeak
squeak, squeak Earth squeak
squeak Mice of Moon

So they stood outside and sung to the string and it grew bigger than a never ending ring. “What a thing to discover, what a thing to see, this Mark is exactly what we need. Did you like my song? It is one of few we own in our home. Our national anthem which protects the land we roam, one I am proud of one I like to know”.

They took their ship with their giant rope and went to tow the Moon from crashing into the planet below. First though there was one last thing what was needed to follow, what with Marty behind him Monty needed to add to his plan! He had his rope but now he wanted a really big van, the spaceship is fragile and can break like a tin can. A van like no ordinary van, he wanted a super van what could fly and be above like a high bird or a superman.

Monty and Mark landed on the Moon, and Mark remembered his friend Kyle and thought “could this be a dream too? Oh well, oh who, I don’t mind as long as I’m here and saving the Moon!”
The Moon what they landed on was bright and clean, the rocky surface opened up beneath, to show a world of magical beings, mice. Nice mice, tall mice, small mice, pretty mice, scruffy mice, talented mice, singing mice, happy mice. Yet something was happening on the moon, the mice were all playing and suddenly they all stopped, what was happening now? What oh what?

Part Seven

“What’s this I see before me? Mice fleeing, oh no this must be.... Mark! We must run before we have last of the Sun. When it falls the rats come, I timed this wrong, oh silly me, silly me, can you forgive me?” Monty threw Mark into a house and locked shut the door while throwing himself into the dark.
Where was this place he found himself? The light switch just on the shelf, which he pressed, then came on all the lights. Outside he saw nothing but darkness then a sudden shutter of the outside window what was far from a flutter but more like a crash of nuts pounding at the gutter. He closed the curtains and thought it best to stay still, and waited till there was nothing about to make him think ill.

Around the house he looks, “fill of books and hooks and looks from paintings of mice but one not so good, a longer snout, and beadier eyes, with longer snarly teeth, that mouse would be a good rat he thought, who wait he’s just that! Whose house is this by chance? Is it the Mouse, Monty’s house?”
“Who’s this rat? Did they not say that they were bad? I guess my auntie Carol is bad on at Christmas parties but not like that, not as bad as those big bad rats.” The house was clearly Monty’s with a large picture painted up on the wall, with a mouse five feet wide and several feet tall. “Looks like the mouse I know if not that bit taller, and his nose is a bit crocked and is eyes that bit smaller”.

The morning came so quickly Mark hardly noticed at all, the beaming light which entered through the mouse’s bedroom floor. The whole place looked hand-made. With a bedroom what looked like it was carefully designed with the smallest of blades. With colourful pictures of family, friends and other things what he could not comprehend”.

Part Eight

He opened the door to have a look outside where the bustling life seemed to of subsided, “there’s no one here, no one at all. Was there not a city out here before? I’ll look around and just make sure, that there isn’t anything behind any of these other doors!” So after Mark closed the door to the place of grass and trees he tried another exit which let him to bees. “What’s this what I see before me? Is it a land full of insects and bees? A giant honeycomb, like a labyrinth I see, I better escape before they make an enemy of me”.

Luck was not on Marks side, as a 6 foot bee came down and spoke without glee. “Good day young man, it’s nice to meet you, I’m the Queen bee, Beatrix Bee. Now, what can I do for you?”
So Mark explained how he got here, the Queen bee happy to lend an ear. “Now don’t you worry boy, all will be fine you’ve got at least three days before the gate leaves you behind. A magic house you see that place of Monty’s, lets you go places many will never see. Like a bus of your world getting you A to B.”

“Thank your majesty, would you mind if I looked round? I’d love to explore your bee town. I’ve so much to do, and a world to save but I’d really like to see if I can take in more of this place. “Well, you’re lucky boy. We have different time here, but don’t waste too much time or know they’ll be punishment to fear”.

Mark took head of the Queen bee’s words, but still thought to look around now he was in this new world. A strange place it was with shops on hexagons, many towns and villages all as one. Yet there was one thing Mark noticed as he was prodding along, how all the bees seemed to be humming a song:

Wezz likezz our Queenz so much in deedz
thatz wez arez proudz to call uz beezz
we’rez soz happyz soz much in deedz
letz uz all goez and serves ourz Queenz

We arez beez soz proud are wez
that wez don’t like thoze who are not beez
We arez beez soz proud are wez
that wez don’t like thoze who are not beez

honeycombz and flowerz grow
cause wez the beez wez make it so
all hailz the Queen shez like the treez
we servez all eternityz

“Strange” thought Mark, “they don’t speak as smart as Queen Beatrix, is it something which can be fixed? Or like a lisp, or stutter that they’re stuck with? What to think, what to think, all these bees with all their zees. Perhaps they’ll mistake me for a bee if I wear black and yellow?” Just then a curious looking bee flew down, looked at Mark and frowned his brow, “an’ whooz da ya think ya arz now??” Exclaimed the frowning bee; “the callz me Montgomery Bee, and I’d be carefulzz around these parts if arz were youz ya see. Not mannie roundzz ere like your kind, so be warery cauze ya cud end up bein blindz! Now go bout ya businezz but r’member wat ayez said.” And with that Mark fled.

Montgomery looked at Mark with his frown held low, as Mark turned around and found a picture of the same bee looking at him straight down, a poster what hung just above his height read “Now be warned yez punks or we’ll get yaz ded” with Montgomery right in the centre of it. Mark thought better than staying and tried to find the door to this worlds exit.

Part Nine

On finding the door he realised that it wasn’t there, and he left the honey hexagon just as it were. It wondered how this could be, he’d only been gone for minutes, this shouldn’t have proceeded he knew he needed to find an answer so he carefully looked and planned for some solution. Then it came to him in absolution. “The Queen will help me, I am sure of that, she seemed nice and friendly I’m sure she’ll help me get free.”

Mark looked for hours for the Queens castle he imagined it to look like a paradise full of nectar and giant mantels. He walked through the maze of hexagons and tried to hide himself so no one could know it was there, it would be very bad if the bees saw him, for his life they did not care. An invader was how they saw him, and he would pay with his life if he were caught by them.

He saw it in the distance, magnificent and shining bright, but with a thousand guards keeping security tight. He tried to keep his cool, but knew too well, getting into a castle easily would be abit of a fluke. As he walked up he was soon taken hold, “thare waz noo waayz in hell yaz getting pazz this ere biz” said a guard taking him to a cell.

Next think he knew he was in a cell where the honey acted like glue, and stuck his shoes on the floor and made sure he couldn’t move. Then came a sound from a large bee indeed her voice didn’t carry like the rest, avoiding the Zs. Mark knew too well who was coming from the bottom of the stairs, it was the Queen holding a fierce stare.

“Just be quite now young man, don’t say a word. Anything you say they’ll say you’re crazy, just absurd” Said the Queen secretly, just before her speech to be made publicly: “Now listen to me, I need you all to know this one thing clear, not to be bothered about this boy and allow him to disappear. He needs not ne left here in this cell, he would be better off out of our way so we can work as we are, as bees. You need not me to order you and to yell, but force my hand then you will wish to run and flee.
The Queen freed Mark, and told him thus “You wasted too much time, and you’re door vanished with it. You best hope for a friend to come and search for you and hope that you’ve not been diced and sliced to bits. These bees are not friendly to anyone against their kind, so you best behave and not mind there might. I’ve released you now, this is the last time I can help anymore then they’ll go against even me, good luck young man, I wish you well.”

Mark was now lost and very much confused about where he needed to go, no one was around and he lost his friend, Monty the Mouse. He looked around for a place to say till he found an unusual house the words “this house was made for a mouse” upon its door. “I wonder if this is where I should go. Only one way to know...” So Mark entered and crossed his fingers and hoped.

It was a mirror image of the house he was thrown into by Monty, except it was all off colour and seemed a bit funny. The orange was blue, the purple red and the yellow green and everything looked askew. A voice from the basement echoed around the walls “what to do, what to do, he’s gone, he’s gone oh no, oh no. He was meant to help, only had enough to let one boy fly and he flew alright, flew away!”

That voice sounded familiar to Mark, it was high pitched and yet sounded loud. Like Monty’s but could he be the same mouse? “Monty?” Said mark without letting his voice fall too far out in case the bees would hear him shout. “Mark? Mark! Is that you!? Oh Mark I’m sorry for leaving like that but you’ll understand it’s what I had to do. It’s the mice of moon there has been a war with the rats. They are evil, they need to be banished but there’s nothing we can do, but we have a weapon you see Mark, you.”

Part Ten

“Mouse, why me?” Said Mark wondering what possible reason he had to helping the Monty, Monty making his tea. “I’m sorry Mark there’s a lot I’ve not managed to actually explain to you yet, like why you’re the one I chose to fly, and this you need to get. I was given rule of my home not so long ago, my uncle passed away and I was left in charge, and well I’m not much of a King, I prefer to sing. Yet my home is calling on me now, it started falling down. I just didn’t know what to do, and then Martin came along with an answer or two. He asked for my favourite thing, and I gave him my super special instrument.

He brought out a spoon and waved it like a wand, rather nifty I thought because then its magic bonded with the trombone and me you see. Martin is a really nice Martian, but he knew that to bring the moon back to normal we needed someone, one who would believe in us, and well I kept seeing you every night looking up and I thought that meeting you was just luck. You flew because it’s something you wanted to do, and I used my trombone and that passing star to grant it true, I thought seeing if you were helping me it was the least I could do.

I used my house to find you, it’s not a normal one. My magic was used to have a travelling ship, but it was my first time really using it and it played up a trick. It’s meant to keep a door open to a world for seven days, but it disappeared quite quickly and well I was stuck in your garden, and I’m sorry but I stole some biscuits!

I know this is all so much to take in, but I’d really like it if you could help with these things. I’m stuck my friend and I promise you all the good times it’ll bring. So can we say yes then, are we friends again?”
Mark found his head full of information, and it made his head hurt. So he took a minute so he could work out what he needed to say first. “I....don’t really know, that’s a lot of information to take in, like why not be a singer if you don’t like to be a King? Isn’t that the better idea than being stressed and sulky and not doing what makes you happy? Or are you going round looking round with your trombone thing and hoping things turn out ok? Cause that isn’t the safe way to play, you’ll probably be frowning all the day for the rest of your days, you big mare.”

“I know, but right now I’m my entire home has, and I’m the only one who can stop the hazards, and the rats. We’ll see what happens after all that, but honestly being King is fine, I was raised for the crown and I believe it is my time. Singing for me is a hobby and always will be. I do not need to advertise that skill to anybody.”

Mark and Monty wondered what they were to do next having this war with the rats was not such an easy task. First they would try lift up the moon, and with that they had their first goal. Monty just then had a thought “Marty Mole!!! Of course, he has just the device we need! A machine what will lift us around the moon with all the speed; I know too, just where he’ll be!”

Part Eleven

Monty took Mark to his magic house and they waited inside, Monty sat on his reclining sofa and pulled a switch on the side, the footrest sprung up and the house became a giant ship! Mark flew across the room and conked his head, the bed shifted around the room and dropped the broom onto the shed, for what reason it came inside Mark thought better than to question it. The lights were flashing and the doors were slamming, Monty sat on his chair laughing. “Ha ha, did you just teleport before Mark? This house goes past places and through the dark. Maybe you should sit down before you break your smarts?” Mark saw another side of Monty and thought he was acting out of character, he’s not usually so cheeky and full of laughter, then a bath fell from nowhere and nearly hit Mark, but it was caught by some hidden catcher. “Don’t worry Mark, nothing will hurt you as long as you’re in here it’s protected by magic and there’s little to go to fault, except maybe sometimes I do run out of salt!”

Then there was a big bang, it looked as if the house ship had landed. Mark noticed there was only one door now, unlike a dozen like before. Monty strolled towards and opened it without a pause, to open to a world full of dirt and holey muddy walls. Mark noticed there was no concrete anywhere to be found, but all throughout the city was just mud, dirt and happy looking Mole men, woman, and kids dressed up as clowns. “There’s a festival on today it was this day a thousand years ago that the mole people were saved by the Great Mole Torro Dayro. “

The two ventured on to look where the main festivities were and then walked up to a man in a costume of Torro Dayro. But who throw his sword at a mask of a man who shouted of “boo!” “I think we should watch this play, don’t you” Said Mark who looked puzzled but thought what hard could it do?
On they looked at a Mole with a giant sword who battling demons what went on for hordes upon hordes. Torro shouted at his friends “don’t worry about me just make sure all is safe again! Run and I’ll be fine, just make sure that you protect the Queen, and remember- Godspeed!” The moles in the demon masks crawled slowly up the stage, and Torro fought back and defended his place. “So what exactly made this Mole so great, I mean to actually be remembered for all this time?” Said Mark and Monty replied “Just watch this space”. The Mole stabbed and kicked, throwing the demon masked moles into an onstage pit. Then a large ugly mole came into the play, the crowd booed and hissed him off stage, “the evil Emperor Jaque, he enslaved them all” Monty recalled. Then Torro swung his blade to watch the evil emperor fall, Mark impressed at how Torro fought. “So he freed the moles from being slaves, I understand now but what happened to him? “ He saved the mole world Mark, gave them the freedom right from the start!”

The mole came off the stage and walked towards Mark and Monty, “well welcome friend our parties just beginning, take a seat, good to see you finally, how are we?” Monty wasted no time in explaining the crisis “no time to waste Marvin, think I need to do a Torro for the mice babies!” “Ha ha, yes I see, well come this way I’ve just the thing”.

Part Twelve

Marvin took Monty and Mark to a giant ship with a giant rope, now I’m sure this is something what will help you with where you need to go. Slightly rusty and it might not always stay afloat but it’ll do the job you need, that I know.”

With no time to waste Monty and Mark boarded the ship Marvin saying goodbye outside, they left to the moon and the sight they saw blew their minds! The moon had sunk so low that it was only a couple of feet from the ground, with what looked like a panda trying his best to keep it from touching the town around “took your time I see! I’ve been trying to keep this thing up for the past hour! Well hurry up before it lands on my feet!” Mark tied up the end of the rope swung down while Monty kept the ship just above the moon. “Yeeee haaaaaa!” Shouted Mark as he flung to the Panda, he ran passed rope in hand and tied it around to fly to the ship again “that should so don’t you think?” Mark asked Monty with a cheeky grin. Peter panda moved out the way as Monty and Mark tried to levitate the moon “we need to hurry it could drop anytime soon”.

Then with a mighty blast the ship lifted the moon with both Monty and Mark letting out a gasp. “It’s working!” Said both of them at together, and steadily it came up as light as feather. It just left the Earth and started going up and up until something or other started to tug, “what’s that?” Monty said, and then all of a sudden the rope snapped. “Oh no, oh no, it’s those rats, want us all dead so they’ve snapped the rope, what are we going to do I just don’t know! Perhaps we need to get rid of those rats? What do you think Mark? Should we get help from a dozen cats, set them on them to get the job done, sounds like fun. Hmmm, perhaps that would be a bad idea as the cats might like to eat rats but they probably like Monty me too.” Mark paused for a second and said “let’s fight them then!” “They’ve left us no choice, I shall go home and fight them and lay their race to rest.”

Part Thirteen

Mark had never fought before, let alone be in a war with giant mice and rats, but he saw it simply as this was this and that was that, it was simply something which needed to be done. So as they landed back on the moon they went to Monty’s house and went to spread the word, war was on the horizon.
Yet just a few miles away from Earth were cats purring against each other, fat cats, fluffy cats, tall cats, short cats, and one distinctive cat right in the middle, a big fat Persian cat who liked to talk first, “puuuurrrrific! The white thing in the sky is on its way down, which means more food for us my cat friends any day now. First we need to find the string what we can climb to bring our din dins, it hangs on the white ball with the big string thing. I’m sure there were mice and rats we can sink our teeth in, ooh glorious dinner I can’t wait for you to bring. Do not dare fail me you worthless wretches or I’ll send you back on the street eating meatless fish heads! “Yes boss, we won’t let ya down we swear! Said the scruffy kitten that seemed to really care “We promise you Muffles we’ll bring back all the mice you can eat” Said a really timid kitten called Boots who had white sock like feet. “My name is Boss! Not Muffles, that’s my slave name! Anyone not feel the same speak now and eat scraps from the rubbish bins all day! All the cats in tune all said the same “sorry Boss” and waited for anything else what the Boss Muffles needed to say. “Go now! You’ve not much time that string will only hang there for a couple more cat sleeps. Each cat and kitten will be allowed only two cat sleeps from until you get me my mice will be all!”

Then all dancing and singing along the cats and kittens broke out in song:

Weeee like fishes and milky drinksies.
With lots of juicy meat to sinks our teeths in,
wee got lots of food with Muffles,
he’s our Boss cause he get’s foods
Muffle’s jumps in

Meow! I’m not Muffles I am Boss!
I don’t like that name it makes me cross.
I’ll put you back on the street,
if you make me mad our don’t gets our eats!

Then the cats all sang
We likes our foods,
and our sleeps;
we don’t need humans here!
We’re the masters of the street!
Quick run!
It’s the humans to cage us, flee!

“Remember your mission cats and kittens now get me something to eat!” And Muffles disappeared behind rubbish bins and empty tins. The cats and kittens all split up, and looked for a big white thing with a long string attached. Boots, who was a black kitten with white sock like feet, found a ball of string and decided to play with it, and kicked it in between his paws and feet. Then something hit him on the head, his ears fell and he looked confused, till be saw a key with a bee key-ring what he thought looked like he could use it to play. “Puuurrr, puurrrrr, string, purrrr”.

Part Fourteen

Mark and Monty were preparing for a war but there was something Monty was searching for. “In the Bee world was there something there? There’s something important missing, which if were used could prevent all this trouble elevated double. It’s this mythological thing what can be used to fix all this in what has been happening. I have no idea what it looks like but I know it was last seen with the bees. I wonder where oh where it could be? We have time I think we need to go back there and see, and hope we can find it very quickly.

They entered Monty’s ship as soon as they could; there was an air of eerie darkness like a hollow evening on a Halloween night on Earth, dark, damp and the sky black blue with grey clouds covering a full moon. It wasn’t just war what was at works but black magic but there Monty could tell to wait for something tragic. They entered the Bee world and something was not right, the world seemed emptier and there was the sky didn’t seem to be as bright. Uncertainty filed the air and there didn’t seem to be anything to but things at ease, then a Montgomery Bee flew down and spoke “Mark! It’s grand to seez youz boy couldn’t beez a better timez to show if Iz ever didz know. The waspz have come and razed war with uz all.” Mark was shocked as it felt like everyone was at war but before he spoke there were something that he saw, a horrible giant wasp that lingered and fell up and downright like a seesaw. Montgomery, Monty and Mark fled as quick as thye could, then Montgomery shouted “jump onz me quicklyz” they fleed towards the Queen bees castle as two more followed the wasp to make three. As the barged the entrance they looked for somewhere for safety and entered a large hexagon room, and they looked around, Mark felt like he was in a tomb.

Monty asked Montgomery about the key but said “a key I’mz not surez about son, but I can askz about for ye if yaz like? Won’t be two mometnz just waitz here and stayz clear of thoze waspz. Theyz sting ya for funz.” Montgomery flew off leaving Mark and Monty alone in the room with no one around so they looked about to see if there was anything there to help them out. Then there was bang on the walls and a buzzing in the air “I don’t think that’s the bees” Mark said, and Monty had an idea. He saw a mattress on the floor and several firework boxes around the room, he played his trombone and then nothing appeared to happen, Mark then thought they were doomed. “Get the boxes and spread them around the bed, I know exactly what to do, light them now and watch out for the fun, oh yeah!”

Mark lit the firework boxes and was surprised when the fuse got to its core, the boxes flew open and giant parachutes few out, they started lifting the mattress as Monty shouted “jump on!” The mattress flew up and up and got to the roof where the ceiling opened wide and as the wasps tried to attack they were bounced back by a fantastic reaction. The wasps were reflected off by the magic mattress while Mark and Monty managed to land logically like a game of Tetris. The Queen Bee came flying towards them quickly as they turned around they were sure it was one of the whispering wasps.

“I’m so sorry Mark, we’ve lost the key. The only answer to its location is that long long ago there was a renegade bee called Bernard who went to Earth, he’s the bee who made humans free. A noble one was he, but no one has heard if he lived, I’m sorry but you must venture forth and hope he still lives upon Earth.” Mark and Monty both understood, Monty picked up his trombone and stood upon the muddy earth and spoke with his chest high and his words in verse. “Fair enough my lady, so Mark on we go. We need to find the key so we best flee and hope nothing happens on the way to you, I or the Queen. Good luck Queen Bee!”

Part Fifteen

Muffles’ is sat alone in his owner’s bungalow waiting for the mice and treats he sent the cats and kittens to collect; stretching and scratching his owners dress “Meeeeowwww, some fish heads just aren’t worth my time! Where are my catty treats, my followers with my meaty mice and ratty feet? They’ll be battered around the fur when I see them, puuuurrrrrrr. Those inconsiderate cretins I’ll make sure there scratching poles are covered in maggots and dirty horrible insects which eat at their skin!” Muffles’ was getting very hungry indeed so he took a walk out to where he thought the kittens would be. . .

Boots had never been so happy the key-ring bee flew round and played with him, and when he bit and chewed it would reappear like it never went! “Meow meow meow, meeeow, me likes bee ring, yummy, tasty, chomp, chomp, ka-pow!” Muffles looked through the baron streets in search for his mice hunting minions but couldn’t find anyone, till he heard a sound ruffle from a couple of rumbling tin cans stumbling round a rubbish bin somewhere near where his master lived. Boots heard the paws of Muffles, and scurried into the cardboard boxes coating the discarded banana skins and thrown out cat food. “Muffles not getting hold of my play thing, no, no, mine! Mine! And he pawed the bee key ring into his cardboard den in time for Muffles to stalk by, “mwa ha ha, he’ll never know of my secret surprise!” Boots chewed the head of the bee once again for it to reform “yummy licious!”

Monty and Mark had just come out of Monty’s magic house Monty kept thinking over and over in his head we just need the luck of the mouse! He pulled out a crest what looked was full of colour and looked like Monty himself, and when you rubbed the nose it would sneeze or squeak depending on how it felt. It was a special item what ran through his family, it didn’t really seem very important but it was to him, so he rubbed it once more and as it did Mark thought he heard something squeak. Ignoring what he heard e carried on with his work, in search of this magic thing from the bees.

There was a confession that Mark never quite made, that he was terrified of bees but wondered why he hadn’t been. He thought to himself that his fear was gone, he hadn’t thought about his phobia once. Then he heard a buzz by the side of his ear and he freaked out so much he nearly vanished and disappeared. “Monty, why aren’t I afraid of bees and buzzing things in the Bee world and not on Earth? Is it something to do with how theirs is made of honeycomb and ours earth?” “Truth is maybe you’re just weird boy I do not know maybe you’re braver when you think you’re all alone. Maybe with so much pollen your phobia shrinks and goes, or maybe your reaction to your fear is just rather slow!” “Thanks Monty” Mark sarcastically replied, as the two heard shuffling from a kitten what looked like he was wearing boots appeared from the side.

“Meow! Don’t tell Muffles, no you can’t no, he’ll get mad at me, steal my toy away and hit he’ll bang my paws till they get red and raw and soreee, meeeoow” Boots kept pawing the bee back and forth, tearing its wings then bouncing it between him. “I think we’ve found what we are looking Mark.... That’s a very nice toy, what is your name kitty cat? I think you should say before that big fluffy cat comes back! “Noooff, not Muffles he’s a bad bad cat, he’ll make me pay for not bringing a mice back!” “Better not disappoint and give us the bee toy you have, and we’ll not let spill that you’ve not done the job he wants done. “ “Muffleees, nof, nof, nof him he’ll take my fur away he’s a nasty fur ball! Okay you can play with it for a little bit but not for ages. Or else I’ll cat attack you. Meow!”

Monty took hold of the bee key ring, whilst Mark lingered back. Monty held the key in his hand and to understand, would the key he held be the one what would set free his home land? The bee on the key had a life of its own, and buzzed between Monty’s fingers then all he heard was a big loud, chomp! “I don’t want this out of my site, it’s my bee key my!” Said Boots as he clawed away the bee ring from Monty’s bare hands “I suppose it’ll be ok for you to join us young cat, I’m Monty this is Mark” “Booots, and I’d like it if I held it thank you mouse or I’ll eat you for tea, Muffles would like that very much indeed.”

Part Sixteen

With their new recruit Boots, Mark and Monty walked on, Mark to Monty spoke “are we sure we can take him, he seems abit of a joke “well so was you and I and we’ve turned out ok “but he seems abit mental should we trust him? “ He’s young, he’ll be fine, you’ll see with time.” And Boots prowled behind looking left and looking right.

They ventured back to Monty’s house where they would travel back to the land of the mouse. Boots held on as tight as he could, the four post bed he used as a life preserver instead. As Monty took course for the moon he quickly realised that all of this wouldn’t happen soon enough, as there in front of him was a massive outbreak of war.

Monty, Mark and Boots stepped outside to the moons battleground and they saw mice upon rats scurrying in and out of each other, swords were flying, the sound of metal on metal was being heard everywhere. “I dare not say where to hide in case we find ourselves about to die, come with me Mark and Boots we’ll try be safe somewhere by the giant tree!”

The three hid underneath the tree then a husky feminine voice spoke from their feet, “can I help you? I may be a tree but you could ask before you sit on me. Bit strange all this war don’t you think, it’s the rats they just don’t like how the mice live. Think they get the good things like central heating and they do all that trick or treating, I think it’s just jealousy, or maybe they’re just mean. No one speaks to them you know, those mice just run from the rats... I bet they only have rat friends, poor rodents. Hmm, you can hide in my bark if you like, there’s room. I could use the company you see, nobody likes talking to trees, especially trees like me; talking trees.”

“Nice to meet you tree” Said mark very happily. “I have a name you know, I’m not just called Tree. People like you come on to the moon, expect nothing around except rocks and boredom, see a talking tree and start speaking to it freely and you don’t even ask for her name!” “Oh sorry, what is your name?” “I don’t know if I want to talk to you now I’m afraid, why don’t you ask Mouse or Cat there, or should we ask you Human!? Hmm!?” “ Sorry, is it too late to ask now, my name is Mark and what’s yours Miss....” “Hmmpf, seeing as you’ve asked so nicely. I don’t have a name I wasn’t given one like you people! Just call me Tree!”

“Well, that was pointless why make all the fuss, if you’ve not got a name and all the same you’re name is that which I named. Isn’t that a massive nothing towards a bigger something, you’ve got me confused my words aren’t coming forward like they do what has happened to my words Tree? Is there something you can do?” Said Mark who felt like he was gaining a slight spark!

“Yes, sorry I let out a gas when I’m nervous, not a lot of guess around lately you see, so sorry. You might be confused or discombobulated maybe if you took a breath outside in that terrible war you might be simulated to be more articulated but just wait around and you should get use to it and be more concentrated!”

“I feel bad, Tree” Said Mark “you see I’d rather call you something less ‘on the mark’ than Tree how about Julie?” “Well, now, that’s just made me a very happy tree. Could you tell the cat to stop scratching my bark, it’s getting rather itchy and I don’t like to my home being messy, and it’s getting ever so dark!” “Mmmm, so good for my claws but if I’ll pause even if it’s not great for my paws!” Boots rubbed up against the tree and said “sorry” and licked the leaves which were slumping over the entrance.

Part Seventeen

The sun was to set as monty handed over the bee ring to Mark, he hadn’t been a fan of the buzzing bee from the very start. Monty told Julie the tree, Mark and Boots that he needed to flee quickly, but then the sun completely went and everything changed as the Earth was large and full. Monty’s teeth grew and grew and his back arched and saliva dropped and spewed. “Don’t come near me!” The friends all watched as Monty transformed before their very eyes, they all were thinking if this was really there friend or some rat in disguise. Yet there right in front of them was a taller Monty with beadier eyes with the same waistcoat and looked like he’s been at the pies. “Do we wait for him to speak or do we just run?” Asked Boots who didn’t quite know what to do, so they stood and stared until Monty ran towards and looked ready to kill “maybe run” said the tree as her roots popped from the ground and the three ran like the breeze.

“What’s this?” thought Mark. Monty his friend coming from the Earth’s core as a rat beast who now wants to chase him to the floor. Running for their lives Boots kicked Monty in his eyes, who fell to the floor with a sourer behind than before. “Now don’t be afraid my friends, I’m still Monty the Mouse just different and slightly bent. No I’m no saint and yes I have sinned but I am a were-rat and in the same light I am not him. Think of it like the mad scientist who was two guys, the normal boring one then the monster at night. I am but a mouse yes, but one of two minds, and two bodies by the dimness of the Earth’s light. Pray tell, I hope you don’t mind but there’s a war to win for us mice and we’ve got the advantage now I’m Ronty Rat, were-rat extravaganza! Coming at ya!” Ronty was large, and still in his waist coat, he took his trombone and it looked to smoke. The smoke gathered and agther till nothing was clear then a lot of choking seemed to smother every rat near. The fog was gray then black then blue, the mirage of colours seemed old, familiar and new. Objects were thrown out in the shap of clouds as the magic trombone wielded those magic clouds, nothing seemed to be hurting the rats more, than Rontys squealing through the magic trombone.

Though as if spoken too soon, came a giant cat called Muffles who came from nowhere then zoomed. He ran to Ronty and knocked him flat, it was easy to do as he was such a big fat cat. “Now where’s Boots, that lazy boy, I was due my catnip bits before six and now it’s nine and I’ve still yet to dine, if he’s not here then tell me clear why can I see his collar only so very near the ‘Ronty’ in his waistcoat gear!” Muffles lifted his bum in front of Ronty’s face and pooped a smelly one so it would stay all day. The Moon was in chaos it was fair to say but no one seemed to be able to tell muffles about his fated kitty nibble cake. Ronty stood up from the trombone from which he laid. Julie tree said “Oh gosh he’s rather a bit Mary May if you know what I’m trying to say?” As Muffles strode across and kicked the tree in what could only be described as her painful place. Muffles saw Boots hidden in shame, and strolled over like only spoke in a way only Muffle followers would take. It was rude, too rude to be written on page, on which Boots replied “nof Muffling way!” Muffles annoyed took his teeth and bit Boots ear and said he needed to stay, as his teeth dug deeper and deeper, Mark booted Muffles till all over there was laughter. Mark had hit the cat only so far that he landed in a big pile of left over kitty litter he had left out for the other cats as Muffles snarled “be warned you cretins, I shall be back!”

Part Eighteen

The rats were raging on trying to make sure no one would be around to stop the moon being destroyed, par one were-rat called Ronty who seemed quite annoyed. The fat cat who would stink out any bath had landed in kitty litter now all the problems they faced were all around getting nearer. Then a giant blast came from avast, then from afar came a rat with a giant cigar. What blew out was tobacco spewing out like leaves and nothing but ash scraping the mice’s knees. “Now you’ll do for my tea” came from a fat cat who everyone thought had vanished overseas, Muffles big and fluffy bent over the rat with the cigar and licked his whiskers and gave an ironic kiss. Then the rat kissed back only to attack catching Muffles ear and making him swing back, he clawed out but didn’t hit as the rat had swung the cigar and my magic Muffles once more was hit.

The rat pointed it at himself and it grew bigger than Muffles, Mark and Boots, Julie wasn’t that tall either now this cigar rat had grew. “Call me Ratchet, I’m the King now. The old one had to be escorted out, by force. Now don’t mind me while I use my cigar like a sword but we magic wielders can’t all stand and talk. Prepare fatty, to eat the floor”. Muffles pouted his lips and looked outraged, “how dare you, you insubordinate lower piece of cat nip you deserve to be in my belly not waving that thing like a farmer and a welly. Come here so you can get what you deserve, my behind on your face and you sliced up next to a dead bird. Then I’ll make you into a cake and add ice to your neck then bite down hard till there is nothing left. Muffles burped and it smelt rather bad, it had a whiff of gone off eggs and ham, the large rat, Ratchet looked a bit sick and he seemed to gip once and then just gipped and gipped.
The large rat fell on to his knees with Mark, Ronty, Julie and Boots all looking rather pleased. Then Muffles gave a fowl swoop and knocked the cigar from Ratchets claws to burst apart as is it the floor. Ratchet looked helpless and unable to move and the gang of Mark and the rest wanted to let him loose, but Muffles pulled up his tail and hissed, “this is my meal and you’re not getting any of it”. He sunk his teeth into Ratchets neck as soon it was confirmed the big bad rat was dead. Muffles head got lost in its body and no one could watch as Muffles was off his trolley. The Earth went out of site and Ronty shrunk once again to be a mouse like the rest of the mice he turned around and said “now listen there’s little to be saved of that rat, just turn your heads and we’ll deal later with that cat. Gassy noises came from Muffles as the team wandered across bodies of rats, and Mark could only think one thing, were all these rats that bad?

CHAPTER TWO

Part One

There wasn’t a sound to be heard on the moon nor from Earth, all the rats were dead and all our friends were left with regret. They saw the big fat Muffle’s cat butcher a rat who didn’t seem to really want to die, and they were sure they heard a cry as it said its last goodbye and they seemed pretty sure there was more to this war then killing so they all decided then to try find some sort of cure. They found how evil the cat could be, and watched the hairs on their heads to make sure they wouldn’t be clawed like one of his fleas. They realised before anything that the moon was still gradually falling, and that they needed to do something quick, then just as that happened mark realised he needed to get home within a tick. He was sure his mum would kill him if he was gone too long and he had already lost the time of day already and it could have been Saturday or it could have been Sunday.

They had to put saving the world on hold while Mark ‘came back from Kyle’s house’ as that what his mum was told. So he went back leaving his new found friends behind for a brief time, Mark realising that the further he got back home the less and less he could fly. And like a kite he flew glided down and landed on the doorstep of his house, thinking for a moment about his new friend Monty the Mouse. He opened the door and inside was his mum putting out cat food for the stray cats and hoped Muffles wasn’t going to be around for that cat snack. His mum didn’t seem to know he had been gone for long, and had Mark’s plate set out for dinner with desert set out in front. Mark looked outside the window and noticed the moon as his mum said “it’s strange how we can see it in the day, I wonder if it’s because it’s all the global warming that you always say” and she washed her hands and carried on cooking the dinner. Mark explained he needed to go out again, but said he might be going for a little while longer, and his mum smiled and said go help your friends, Mark was surprised by what he heard. Then woke to find he hit his head.

Still on the moon, they were lost without a hope, only to stop the big moon from crashing to Earth. Mark asked Monty on what they should do, “why Mark my boy there’s little we can do. We should find a new rope, then put all right again, where’s that bee key? Yes that will do, this will stop everything, now Mark, Boots, Julie, follow me!” Julie looked sad and said “I’m staying here, follow you!? I’d rather be dead.” The roots not being able to move from the moon, they all understood as they left her, hopefully not to her doom.

They went to the magic house of Monty’s to transport once more to the bee world, with the distant sound of paws and purrs. It wasn’t coming from Boots but there was no one else to be seen or heard. The door shut but with an extra gust of wind behind, there was no one but the cat, the mouse and the boy and Mark was sure it was a trick to the mind. Regardless, Monty sat in his big chair and pulled a lever or two till the three of them were catapulted into almost oblivion. Till the house stopped at their destination and the bees flew to them like they were their salvation. “Buzzing heckz we’ze not gotz much chanze left. Hornetz up above and spreading their wingz those evil thingz, wez need help will you help uz pleaze?” No one quite knew how they would help but thought of something they could do ask how they could use the key then try helping them, then save the moon.

Part Two

The bee ring hadn’t been seen in a while and everyone wanted to know where it went Boots showed a sign of coughing and being in a bit more pain than he’s usually seen to be in. And he fell to the floor in a wail of pain his boot like paws showed signs of strain and his mouth started bleeding and fell to the floor. Boots was dead.

The bee in his belly had been stabbing away till he could get out and away Boots had swallowed it forgetting it could regenerate. He laid their cold stiff and looking at a distant far off place. Mark cried while the bees looked on surprised as their sacred key came from the cats mouth buzzing with life. “That’z arez! You see that key is the key to killing hornetz that killz uz.” “Now I tellz ya boy do ya rememberz me? Montgomery, yes? Now listen herez. That key can kill off are enemies, give uz it and we’ll give yaz what ya need.” Mark furious with what just happened, his friend dead and the bees not caring about the poor cats end made him smack the bee right in the teeth. “Now would be a good time to exit and leave” said Monty pulling Mark from the now very angry bees.

“Humans are weak, they’re emotions are undeveloped and can’t be relied on for mice nor for squeaks.” Came Monty suddenly looking quite stern and less slouchy, “ignore that boy, he’s foolish and his thinks too much, let me take care of this cretin, once a friend yes but I’d rather be free than caught once more with this boy be living or dead.” Mark was quite afraid and felt like he didn’t quite know this mouse as much as he should, and thought maybe he should think twice before he goes onto another dimension with strange mice.

Life was getting a bit too real for Mark right now as his friend had changed from a mouse to a rat to this mouse that looked quite stern and didn’t seem to care about his life or his friend Boots who still lay dormant on the floor. He shed tears while shouting at all who were listening, but right there no one seemed to be bothered about him, but with everything less and more. Yet it was getting to midnight, and the growl of something very angry was getting closer, and no one was quite sure just where it was coming from, the bees stopped buzzing and Monty looked steady. Mark gasped, as Muffles the big fat evil cat launched on Monty and slashed at the bees with fierce strength which made a lot of bees take their last breaths. Monty spoke in the cats ear and it ran off to without another slash or claw to any of the bees and the mouse, Monty was also left in peace.

Muffles grabbed Boots with his teeth by the scruff of his neck and carried him off to a stream where the parted cat still looked distant yet rather sad. Muffles licked the cat on its ear, pulled his paws over Boots eyes so they closed. Kicking dirt on the cat’s dead body hiding it from the undeserving public, Muffles cried in sorrow and wished the kitten gone cat goodnight.

Mark was sick to his core, that cat Muffles had no right to take his friend from him especially as he had no right being here at all. Annoyed he took his hand and held it to the trombone of Monty’s has Monty smacked him down, and told him to stay on the floor. He handed the bee ring to the bees and waited for a response, none came so he spoke “now there, the boy is on the floor, I hold no loyalties to no one or nothing but my Kingdom and my people, excuse this pawn and give me what I need, you have your key once more now help me understand how to lift my home before it becomes no more.” The bees all agreed and took gave Monty a device which looked rather weak, as Mark remembered there was something what he could still do what he hadn’t used since he first met Monty so he flew high, quickly and fast without time to think. Monty blew on his trombone, his eyes beady and looking cross, Mark had enough of him to stick around and thought better than to fall. There in the distant of his sight was a recognisable cat who he could well despise. Monty still firing whilst Mark was in flight he swooped in and grabbed the big fat cat and flew off into the night, the cat scratched and bit until Mark couldn’t keep hold tight. Muffles fell and he wasn’t sure if he lived or died that night.

Part Three

Marks tears flew across the skies like flickering lights, the salty tears fed the water lilies a bittersweet taste. Mark thought in his confusion how there was a lack of hexagons which only moments ago covered the land and seemed to only end at sunset. Nothing seemed quite right and thought only to escape on the house like ship that was once his friend Monty’s. Yet now that would be seen as theft, only now Mark did not think better of it and flew off towards it not checking for safety or for better grip on himself. He felt enraged, betrayed and in the midst of hell.

Monty had already walked into his house as Mark noticed a cat that was fluffy; sneaking in through the chimney what looked conveniently random and stout. He was sure it wasn’t there before but thought better as he flew in and hid in the chimney. There he could here Muffles muffling about, till Monty was heard on his hair pressing levers and for some reason shout. He sounded like he had done something not to plan Mark was feeling lost and abandoned. He wanted to go home now, but didn’t know how. He knew the moon was falling but thought it was a difficult time to change his plans so thought to save it anyway as it would be best. The house suddenly stopped to a halt and Mark looked askew, he knew this place least he thought he knew, but it looked different somehow, with fewer houses and more towers.

Then a familiar mole came rushing to the door and knocked quick and abrupt like nothing no one had heard before, he flung the door open to let himself inside before whatever chasing him ate him alive. It was Marty the Mole and he looked rather shocked, he wasn’t quite able to keep his feet with his socks. Not noticing the change of atmosphere he spoke fast “the King as gone mad, we must leave now, he will have our heads, and even the cows.” Monty got in his chair, still not knowing Mark was there, as Muffles stood solemn and still on a wooded chair.

No words were spoken nor did anyone seem to try, then a large noise came from the window with a battering light. Thunder roared from the blackened sky and lightning struck across the desolate sky, as they were setting off the lightning struck the house, Monty, Marty and Muffles were shaken around. Mark still in the chimney stumbled down, but before a work was spoken they were in a different place now. It looked almost the same, but it was as came as day, there were trees instead of mud and no screaming or floods. Before they stepped out a mood was in forced, Monty looked at Mark with some presence and force, words came from his mouth but before he could hear him talk, a knock on the door made the tension taunt.

Part Four

“The Queen, the Queen, she is ill and unable to swallow her soup, her sister is there but she doesn’t seem to want to listen to anyone or even care. You look like you could help, she likes random strangers usually and you look like you’re nice enough to make her heart melt. She’s in the castle, just say I sent you, my name’s Torro, the Queens faithful butler, and to you all, good morrow.”

Torro left and the tension built again, Mark looked at Monty with a vengeful stare, “you sold me out, you didn’t even care!” Why did you leave me to the wolves back there? Who are you? Why even bring me here? “There’s some things I’ve yet to say, I couldn’t tell you everything you were hot tempered back there, I’m sorry I couldn’t be honest, but there’s something’s I could not say, I hope you can find helpful and find it yourself to forgive me.” Said Monty, still looking stern, Mark looked round and felt confused he didn’t quite know what to day or what to do, he was stood in front of a mouse he once thought was his friend but he didn’t feel that this mouse could be his friend again. “You go hep Torro Dayro, help him do what he has to, while you do that I’ll do what I came to do, stop the moon from falling through. Don’t come find me I’m done with you, and Muffles, what did you d with Boots you sick fool?” Muffles looked at Mark with a thick glare, nothing was coming from his mouth nor did he appear to care. Mark left the house in a fit of rage, left in the world of Moles till he was free to save the day.
Monty, Marty and Muffles went to look for Torro Dayro as they had no other place or person what would lead them through. Friendships had been tested, but Monty believed it’s all he could do, some bees were merciless and would of killed Mark any who.

While the mole, the mouse and the cat explored the mole planet Mark looked through the windows of the houses, there was no one to be seen and no one to be heard. He looked in the distance and he could see a giant castle what was shaped like a big m. At first he thought it was a burger bar and he was going to go inside to get a big burger as he just realised he hadn’t eaten in a while, his stomach started growling. Just has he was walking up there was an abrupt howling, he could hear wings flapping behind him as he turned to see what it was that was so close to him a magpie landed right in front of him. “Look, I’m in no mood to talk to anyone, leave me alone.” The magpie didn’t speak a word, and walked behind Mark as he walked off. “Just leave me be, I’ve had enough of talking animals, and I can just had a talking bird to the list of people I can dismiss, you can talk can’t you!? Everyone else can.” The bird gently pecked at the floor and spoke nothing. It flapped in front of him and looked inquisitively, pointing its beak at the castle, Mark felt tired and followed the bird, murmuring to himself and feeling lured.

Part Five

The magpie seemed not over keen to use its wings to fly has it stuck with in stepping space of him. There were no other magpies in the mole planet he last visited so he thought to himself that they must have been wiped out with time. Mark looked further and further around and noticed this place didn’t seem as unusual as he first had found. The ground was full of green grass, the trees were in bloom and the sky was clear blue.

The magpie took Mark up a long hill which seemed whimsical, the petals of the surrounding flowers seemed to be picked up by the gentle breeze creating a rainbow of petals blowing up the grassy hill. The air whistled, but seemed to sing and he wasn’t sure if he’d been knocked out cold and was in a dream. The castle seemed to grow and shift shape the closer he got; the magpie spoke for the first them there and then and said “squawk”.

“Well maybe he doesn’t speak then” thought Mark looking at the birds black beak. It flapped and walked towards the castles front, where there was a moat, coated in mythical sea creatures and water dragons. The main doors opened with a sudden crash, as out of the doors there was a man with a ridiculously large hat. “I am Cerberus the mighty high Priest and guardian of the castle of M. If you wish to enter please answer the question thus: If you have three apples and take away eight apples then add nine apples then had three oranges then multiply that by three thousand and six what would you get after you add to that an extra stick?” Mark really wished he paid attention in class but he never did, he usually doodled on his maths book, he was after all just a kid.

He was gave it a shot and tried to work it out and said “ok, three add nine equals twelve, then take away eight that’s four. So now I’ve three oranges, and a stick, but I need to multiply by three thousand and six....” But then the magpie through Cerberus into the moat as Mark jumped at the priest as he dropped his silly hat as a ginormous water dragon snapped out and gobbled up his hat. He grabbed his hand before the priest landed on his nimble hands; and lost them too! Mark just managed to pull him up, as the priest replied “Well done, you passed the test. The bird brought someone I had to make sure you were honest of heart, if you let me drown then I would have known you weren’t who we were looking for. Follow me, follow me. We must go now, it is our Queen.”

Part Six

Mark entered the gigantic castle and around the walls were old photos what looked like old kings and queens all quite old and seemingly human. Seeing humans was becoming more and more surprising for Mark seeing as everywhere he’s been so far has been with talking moles, talking cats, and talking rats. Yet the people on the walls seemed flesh and blood, and Mark seemed safer here than any place he had been so far. The priest has human as he appeared, has a certain look what made him that bit queer, in that he had a long white beard really bad teeth and smelt quite bad like he had been soaking in whisky and gin for the afternoon yet drank enough coffee to be sober for a short period of time.
They headed up the spiral stairs, where there was a door with many bolts and locks and some reason socks on the bolts and pictures of him holding a trident and a speech mark above his head which read “raarghh”. Which Mark didn’t think twice about as Cerberus drank some strange liquid what looked like syrup and spat it out, the locks and bolts went, as did the door, they walked inside, as Cerberus quipped “tastes like lime.”

The Queen was on her bed, looking royal even for a woman who’s been sick for what seemed like a good few months. She looked up at Mark and the magpie and seemed to want to say something what Mark couldn’t quite make out. The words she spoke made no sense but somehow everything became clear to him, the purpose of why he was here, the moles, the mice, the panda , the moon, she called for them all. She seemed to hold power far beyond anyone or anything that Mark had seen or known so far.