Snowball is questing! Episode 1/25

It was an evening towards the end of October. In the dusk of the quiet country­side where the air had the scent of pump­kins and the chilly breeze whispered secrets of the approach­ing night, a small, un­assuming figure darted through the shadows. His name was Tobias, a cheer­ful little mouse with a penchant for adventure. He was accompanied by his friend, a Arctic Hare called Snowball.

Snowball is questing! Episode 2/25

Tobias's eyes grew wide with excitement as he saw some­thing that didn't quite fit the serene picture of the country­side. There, in the middle of the lane, lay a dark blue umbrella with gold stars scattered across its fabric like a constell­ation. His curiosity piqued, he scurried towards it.
"Tobias, wait!" Snowball called out, with a hint of anxiety, hurry­ing after her friend, and grasp­ing Tobias’s paw.

Snowball is questing! Episode 3/25

But the little mouse was too eager for anything to stop him. He scampered closer to the umbrella, reach­ing out excited­ly with his free paw. As his furry paw­tip grazed the cool metal handle, the world began to spin. The ground beneath them shifted, and sudden­ly they were no longer in the comfort of the familiar lane.

Snowball is questing! Episode 4/25

When the spinning finally ceased, Tobias and Snowball found them­selves atop a float­ing island that gently sway­ed in the cool breeze, majestic clouds swirl­ing around them. They had been whisk­ed away by the time-traveling device conceal­ed within the seeming­ly ordinary parasol. Laughing with glee, Tobias flung his arms wide. “Can you believe this, Snowball? We’re on an island cloud!”
The island was a marvel of steam­punk invention, complete with brass gears and billow­ing steam vents. Wind-chimes made from tiny brass pieces tinkled mysteriously.

Snowball is questing! Episode 5/25

Just as they began to take in their surroundings, the little island lurched and began its descent, land­ing soft­ly on a warm, inviting beach pepper­ed with palm trees. Rope bridges link­ing their little island to others sway­ed gently.
Tobias and Snowball looked around in wonder, try­ing to make sense of their surroundings. “It's a tropical paradise!” Snowball exclaimed. “This is a bit scary, isn't it? How did we get here?"
Tobias was made of sterner stuff. "Perhaps it'll take us back now," he declared stoutly. "It's an ad­vent­ure! But I don't think we should leave our island in case it takes off without us." They both sat and enjoy­ed the balmy sea air. Then the umbrella started humming! "Take the handle, Snowball, or you'll be left behind!”

Snowball is questing! Episode 6/25

As they grasped the umbrella tightly, they suddenly found them­selves being lifted into the air by a steam­punk hot air balloon. With a slow whoosh, they rose into the bright ceru­lean sky. Below, the world trans­formed, revealing sprawl­ing fields and bustling towns.

Snowball is questing! Episode 7/25

They found themselves in the middle of a very busy and noisy bazaar, with street sellers calling out to passers by, and all around were the spicy aromas of food cook­ing on fires. The two pets looked wist­fully at the dis­plays of dumplings, cauli­flower mezze and layer­ed pastries filled with nuts and drip­ping with honey. They were very hungry. "Is this Greece, do you think?" asked Snowball. "That's baklava." Tobias gasped. "Oh! Look at that on the stall over there! It's Turkish Delight! We must be in Turkey!"
The friendly stall holder laughed. "We call it lokum!" he said. "Here, try it! Don't worry, it's free!" He gave them a generous portion of lokum and the grate­ful pets thanked him warmly. It was a truly delicious sweet treat. Brushing icing sugar off them­selves, they wandered to the out­skirts of the market and came across a fayton for hire, tended by a Sassy Radish. "Hello, little fellows!" she called out to them. "Would you like a guided tour? Hop on board!"
"Thank you, but we can't stop. We're time travellers!" responded Tobias cheekily.
"So am I," said the Radish, with a wink.

Snowball is questing! Episode 8/25

The umbrella hummed again! They found themselves in what was un­mistakably 1900s America. A nearby general store declared it was on Route 66. Next to it was a quaint garage with its large wood­en doors swinging lazily. Inside, a gleam­ing auto­mobile shone like a jewel. Tobias squeaked with joy, “A vintage car! How magnificent!”

Snowball is questing! Episode 9/25

Outside was an old general store, its sign creaking gently in the breeze. The window dis­play was filled with arti­facts of the past: rock candy, penny loafers, and an assort­ment of antique toys that made their hearts flutter with nostalgia. A bell jingled merrily as they push­ed open the door, and the scent of fresh apple cider waft­ed out to greet them. A reminder that Hallow­een was approach­ing was the presence of a tray of toffee apples. Both pets were very hungry and the shop­keeper accept­ed their golden moles for half a dozen toffee apples.

Snowball is questing! Episode 10/25

The two pets explored further and came across houses with a particularly smart motor­car out­side one impos­ing dwelling. In the back were seated a smart­ly and formally dressed couple and on the box at the front were sitt­ing two uni­formed chauffeurs, ready to drive off. Tobias was thrill­ed at the dis­play of opulence. "Hello, chauffeurs!" he called. "Would you each like a candy apple?"
The men, startled, glanced down at the pavement, then at each other. One of them raised his hat to their new friend. "Thank you kindly, young 'un, but we can't risk getting molasses on our rig. But y'all have a good day exploring now."
The vehicle started up and pro­ceeded down the road at a stately 5 miles per hour. Tobias and Snowball, jump­ing up and down, waved at it until it was out of sight. Then the umbrella indicated it was taking them on, and they both fell into a swirling vortex!

Snowball is questing! Episode 11/25

When the whirling stopped, the two pets found them­selves on a rail­way station plat­form in front of a very familiar figure! For a few moments they could only stare and gasp. "Where did you two spring from all of a sudden?" enquired the kindly bear.
"Kerry!" squeaked Tobias.

Snowball is questing! Episode 12/25

"We've come from the year 2024! You're famous in PnF Land! We've all read your story and saw the film of your life at the cinema! Of course, you know, you're retired now and enjoy­ing life with your grandcubs."
The bear took this in his stride. "Time travel­lers!" he rumbled genially. "Whatever next? Flying to the moon? Only kidding—we know that's not possible!"
The umbrella started humming. "We have to go now, but it's been magical to meet you!" called out Snowball. Both pets grasped the umbrella handle. Fleeting images of rail­way cogs and gears swept by and then the land­scape started to reform. "Happy Halloween!" echoed faintly back onto the railway platform.

Snowball is questing! Episode 13/25

The two pets found they were in biplanes, cruising through the cloudy sky, heading good­ness knows where! Tobias had a some­what imaginat­ive idea, culled from films, of what his air­craft looked like which wasn't quite the reality! They looked down to see the vast ex­panse of the Irish Sea far below them, the sun­set casting an orange and pink path across the waves.

Snowball is questing! Episode 14/25

They started ascending as the land came into focus. The dark silhou­ette of Blackpool Tower grew larger, its Victorian grand­eur stand­ing proud against the evening sky. Seeing the metal structure loom­ing towards her, Snowball yanked the steer­ing column to one side, and to her dismay, found herself loop­ing the loop in a most spectacular (and stomach-churning) way!

Snowball is questing! Episode 15/25

They flew further south for another 300 miles. They were feel­ing quite tired as they approach­ed the coast of Brighton. The biplane's engine roared as they descended, and the cool salt­water air filled their nostrils. There were strings of lights lining the Marine Parade and on the Pier stretch­ing out like a finger pointing to the stars.
Their hearts raced as they neared the stony beach, the waves crashing against the shore. The plane wheels touched down, sending a spray of pebbles into the air. They were very glad to be able to stretch after being confined in a tiny cabin for so long. "It's fun in the sea, isn't it, Snowball?" chuckled Tobias.

Snowball is questing! Episode 16/25

As night fell, lanterns flickered like stars hung low, and they saw doors decorat­ed with jack-o'-lanterns. Strolling along the beach towards the fair­ground, Snowball and Tobias met a friendly owl witch out­side her quaint little residence on the sea front. "Help yourself to some sweeties!" she invited. They thanked her and each took a sweet. Then they headed towards the fairground!

Snowball is questing! Episode 17/25

The fair was a whirlwind of lights and motion, a steam­punk wonder­land. The air was filled with the smell of fried dough­nuts and candy­floss, mingling with the oily tang of hot machines and the faint scent of the sea. The sky was ablaze with colourful explosions of fire­works, reflect­ing off the brass and chrome of the giant Ferris wheel that loomed over the scene.

Snowball is questing! Episode 18/25

The merry-go-round was a sight to behold. Horses made of gleam­ing brass pranced in place, steam hissing from their nostrils, and the carni­val organ filled the air with a catchy tune. With the umbrella tucked under his arm, Tobias scurried over to the merry-go-round, his eyes shining like the polish­ed chrome. Snowball followed closely, his paws clutch­ing the umbrella handle tightly. They both climbed onto the back of a carousel horse. The world around them was a whirl of lights, colours and sounds, as the carousel began to turn.

Snowball is questing! Episode 19/25

With their tums full of doughnuts, popcorn and candy floss, Tobias and Snowball contented­ly toured the fair­ground until they came across the fortune teller's tent. The queue outside moved swiftly, and it was now their turn to step into the flicker­ing candle­light. The air had the scent of incense, the smoke swirl­ing around them like ghosts in a silent dance. The pets felt a strange mix of excite­ment and nerves. There was some­thing about the allure of the approach­ing Halloween that made one want to indulge in a little bit of mystery!
The fortune teller looked nothing like they had expected! She gazed into her crystal ball, making mystical passes over it with her hands.

Snowball is questing! Episode 20/25

"Welcome, little travellers," she said, her voice like velvet. "Madame Zara sees that you have been ... displaced."
Tobias and Snowball looked at each other, then back at the fortune-teller. "How did you know?" stammered the mouse.
Madame Zara merely chuckled. "The stars whispered it to me," she said cryptically.

Snowball is questing! Episode 21/25

The fortune-teller's hand hovered over the ball, the crystal surface swirli­ng with images of their past adventures. "Ah, I see," she murmured, her eyes distant. "You've been experienc­ing different eras with the help of a very special para­sol. But it has served its purpose and must take you back home and then return to its own time and place in the universe."
Her words were met with exclamations of disappointment from Tobias and Snowball.