Dark And Deep....

 

Along The Way....

As You might recall, Dear Readers, Tiny Bear. Mr. Plum Bear and Petunia had set out for a walk on a lovely afternoon heading toward The Castle. Tiny Bear had been there many times before and he was pretty sure he remembered the way. Petunia and Mr. Plum Bear had never been out into the big World before. Petunia was excited by everything she saw, and Mr. Plum Bear was just tagging along. But it was such a lovely fall afternoon that it was difficult not to enjoy the walk. 

At least that was what Tiny Bear kept telling himself! 

But because it was not quite so new to him

 he was feeling the weight of being the leader.

And the farther they went, the less sure he was....

 

Because everything looked so different...

or maybe he hadn't paid attention before...

But one thing was certain...

the farther they went the darker it became.

 

And on top of that, he was pretty sure he didn't remember this...

"Are we coming to The Castle yet?" asked Petunia.

"Not for a little while...." replied Tiny Bear.

And then he looked up ahead...

"Uh-oh..." he said, coming to a stop.

There was a huge green dragon

 perched on the hilltop just ahead!

And he had spotted them...

"Well.... well.... well..." said the Dragon landing in front of them.

"What have we here...?"

"Uh, H-hello Mr. S-slitherwing...." stammered Tiny Bear.

(He had met Slitherwing before...!)

"It's Me, Tiny Bear," he said. 

"And here are my friends Petunia and

 Mr. Plum Bear..." he added hastily.

"We're headed to The Castle..." he added for good measure.

"Is that so...." said the dragon, sneering just a little bit.

"And I thought I was looking at my dinner companions...."

 he said smiling nastily.

"But I suppose we could all go together

 to The Castle...." he added slyly.

"I could give you a ride...." he added helpfully.

(Tiny Bear had done this before and didn't trust Slitherwing at all!)

 

 

"You can't take us all at once..." said Tiny Bear defiantly.

But just then Petunia stepped forward...

"Oh, I would like a ride, Mr. Dragon...!" she said excitedly.

 

 "Well, I'd be only too happy to oblige..." grinned Slitherwing.

"Climb right up...." he added.

"But, Petunia..." said Tiny Bear hastily....

 "This is not a good idea!"

But Petunia had already climbed onto the Dragon's back.

"Well, you won't be able to take all of us together....!" 

declared Tiny Bear again.

"But I can surely take two of you...." sneered Slitherwing

 as he grabbed Tiny Bear in his talons.

"And I can come back later for your friend... 

Mr. Plump Bear, is it? Never fear.... I'll be back...."

and off he flew!

Up over the treetops.....

and away....!

Leaving Mr. Plum Bear alone on the Heath!

"Oh dear!" thought Mr. Plum Bear....

"Now what should I do?"

"Should I go back....?" he wondered....

"Maybe I should hide...."

"But he said he's coming back...."

"But that doesn't sound like a good thing..." he added to himself.

and then suddenly he could hear voices approaching...

"I think I am going to hide...!" he said darting off.

And just then who should be traveling over the Heath 

looking for magical herbs....

Brother Beorn and Sweet Pea the Fairy Bears

 were enjoying an afternoon stroll!

They really had not a care in the world!

But Brother Beorn had spotted something strange....!

"Well, Hello there!" he said coming closer.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself...?" he added gently.

"I was h-here w-with Tiny and Petunia..." stammered Mr. Plum Bear....

(he was that agitated!)

"And th-then a huge D-dragon flew away with them...!!" 

he said almost incoherently.

"He said he was c-coming b-back to get me too.... 

but I d-don't w-want to go...!" he added defiantly.

 

 

"Oh, my!" declared Brother Beorn. "This is not good!" he added.

"I think we should take you to The Cloud Palace..." he suggested.

"We Bears have to help each other...!" he added reassuringly.

"I'm sure Blue, the Blue Fairy Bear will know what to do!" he added.

"Why don't you climb on my back..." he said kindly. 

"I can carry you there!"

So Mr. Plum Bear climbed up and away they flew!

And before long they arrived at The Cloud Palace, 

high above the World!

Sweet Pea was right behind them.

"We found this little fellow down on the High Heath..." said Brother Beorn.

"His friends Tiny and Petunia were carried off

 by the dragon Slitherwing!" he explained.

"We thought you might know what to do...!" 

 he added a little self-consciously.

"Oh, Heavens!" declared Blue. "This is Trouble indeed!"

"I am only able to grant the wishes of those who ask..." she said gently.

"I cannot grant them for others."

"If there is something you wish, Mr. Plum Bear...?" she asked.

"Oh!" said Mr. Plum Bear thoughtfully.

"I wish to help find them..." he said.

"And help save them from the Dragon..." he added bravely.

"Perhaps we need to find The Little Dreamers...." suggested Sir Orion.

"I am sure they will be only too glad to help...!"

"If you would like, I can help you find them..." he added.

"I think I would like that...." said Mr. Plum Bear a little nervously.

(After all.... he really didn't want to see the Dragon again at all!)

 

Meanwhile, Dear Readers, I am sure Some of you might be wondering

 if there is going to be An All Hallows Eve Party at The Castle this year? 

Well, you can rest assured that Kendall has the arrangements well in hand!

There have been a few improvements at the Great Hall....

(The windows are at last in place!)

A few Old Friends have come to help with the Party decor...

Everyone's favorite Band... "The Deadly Nightshades" 

are back to Rock the Night away....

And over at the Lovely Old Dollhouse, 

the locals are trying to decide what to wear...

"I don't know.... " says Pollyanna

"I thought I wanted to be a Witch.... but maybe I should be a Gypsy... 

or a Princess...?" she added doubtfully.

"I'll be whatever you wish..." says Arthur helpfully.

"Yes, but what do You wish...?" she asks... as if he hasn't just told her...!

Victor and Joanna were having the same discussion in the Kitchen...

"I don't know...." says Joanna..... 

"I just don't feel like Maid Marion...."

"Maybe I should be a witch...?" she asks.

"Well," says Victor...."You know I love your Maid Marion... 

but I love anything you decide to be!"

"That's the problem...." she added.... "I just can't decide!"

 

And even Helen and Charles seem to be undecided....

 

 "Well, we could be the Lord and Lady..." says Helen....

"But I don't know.... maybe we should be Pirates....." she says

"Or minstrels..... " she muses... "Do we have a harp...?"

While they are making up their minds, 

Dear Readers, I am almost certain that Some of you

 will be wondering Where Oh Where 

had Slitherwing taken Tiny Bear and Petunia...?

Well, he had flown not too far away....

But not where anyone would think to look...

He dropped them off at the edge of The Dark Mysterious Forest.

"Stay here while I fetch Mr. Plump..." he told them.

 

And then flew off again.

"That was not very nice of him!" declared Petunia.

"Now what do we do..?" she demanded.

"Umm....I think we need to go hide..." said Tiny Bear bravely.

"In the Forest..." he added.

 "It will be hard for him to find us in there..."

"What about Mr. Plum Bear...?" asked Petunia.

"I am sure Mr. Plum Bear is hiding from Slitherwing..." replied Tiny Bear.

 (At least he Hoped Mr. Plum Bear had thought of that!)

"What will we see in the Forest...?" asked Petunia cheerfully.

"Hiding places..." said Tiny Bear. "Lots of hiding places..."

So they set off into the Deep Dark Woods...

And suddenly.... not very far ahead of them, 

tucked under the trees,

 they could see a small cottage!

"Oh, what a darling house!" cried Petunia.

"I don't think it was there a minute ago...." said Tiny Bear warily...

"At least.... I don't think I saw it there..." he said uncertainly.

"Well, we can hide there...can't we?" asked Petunia happily.

"Oh, look...!" declared Petunia, running toward the cottage,

 "There's a teacup.... and a Bunny!"

"Hello, Ms. Bunny..." she said cheerily,

 "Can we hide here from the Dragon?" she added.

"Of course you can." said the Bunny.

"Can we go inside..?" asked Petunia sweetly.

"Of course you can." said the Bunny again.

"But how do we get in...?" asked Petunia....

"Just say the magic password..." replied the Bunny.

"Oh dear." thought Tiny Bear. 

"This doesn't sound like a good idea..." he said to Petunia.

"But I want to hide in there...!" declared Petunia.

 

 

Well, Dear Readers, the story doesn't end here....

but perhaps we should leave them here for a while...

seeking the magical password...

Deep in the Dark Forest as Night draws in!

 

(To be continued......)