Englebert is questing! Episode 1/25

Simon—a little vole—and his friend Englebert were in Simon's house, discussing what sort of party they would hold this spring. They wanted to go look for eggs as well. Simon already had some, sent by his mom, maybe the theme of this year's spring party could be eggs, and all the food could be made of eggs. Egg custard, egg tarts, and frothy eggy drinks. It was a good thing they liked eggs.

“Those are sure pretty eggs your mom sent.” Englebert said, pointing at the display on the table. “I hope I can find some like that. Speaking of, where should we go to look for eggs?”

Simon thought, “Well, we always have good luck in the forest; why not start there?”

Englebert is questing! Episode 2/25

Crash!

"Look what I found sitting on my doorstep!”

"Meredith, you almost broke my door, what is going on, why the rush, and why are you waving your hand around so frantically?”

Meredith—the neighbour chinchilla—stopped to catch her breath.

This was outside, it looks odd, but it also looks like an egg…see.”

If you stop waving it around for a minute, we can have a look at it.” Englebert said.

Meredith calmed down and handed the object to Englebert with Simon peering over their shoulder.

Simon said, “It sure looks like an egg, but it is all glossy and—he reached over and gave the egg a tap—hard. What’s inside?”

"I don’t know,” wailed Meredith, “I can’t get it open. I tried while walking over here. See, it has a hinge, or lock or something on the side, and I can’t get it to budge. Come with me to my house, I have some tools that may work.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 3/25

The trio entered Meredith’s house.

“Follow me to the kitchen; I have a knife that I may be able to pry open the egg with.”

Meredith picked up the knife and placed the tip along the seam; she tried and tried to pry open the egg.

“This is not working,” Meredith cried.

“Steady on, Meredith, let me have a look,” said Simon, taking the egg.

Simon turned the egg this way and that way. Simon tried to twist the two sections, and Simon tried to pull the two sections. Simon shook the egg.

“I don’t hear anything rattling inside, and I pulled and twisted with all my strength, but I can’t make it open.”

Englebert spoke up, “If we can’t open it, maybe it cannot be opened. Or maybe it needs something different to open it, like a password or some type of magic or something.”

“You may be correct," said Simon. "Like a puzzle, and we have to find the key. Well, I guess we are going to be busy for a while. Let’s start with, oh…the birds. It is an egg, or it looks like an egg, so maybe a bird could open it.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 4/25

“An owl is sure to know; they are wise and a bird,” said Englebert.

Off the three trooped to where they knew some owls had nests.

Simon spotted an owl on a branch, “Hi, can you help us? We have this egg—well, we think it is an egg. And we cannot open it; do you have any ideas?”

The owl asked them to put the egg on the branch where she could get a better look.

“I see. It looks like an egg, but not the kind of egg I have ever seen. If you leave the egg with me, I will put it in my nest and sit on it for a while. Maybe it will hatch.”

The trio thanked the owl and walked a short distance away to take a break under a tree.

Englebert is questing! Episode 5/25

Simon started awake. “Oh, we must have fallen asleep. We had better return to the owl and see if the egg is open.”

When they arrived at the tree, the owl was sitting on the egg but shook her head. “No luck; this egg is not even warm. Perhaps it will take a lot longer, but I am too busy to sit on an egg for days or weeks. I hope you can find a way to open the egg.”

Simon took back the egg and handed it to Meredith. And so, with thanks to the owl, the three huddled together to discuss their next plan.

Englebert is questing! Episode 6/25

Meredith looked at the egg and addressed it, “Why are you so stubborn? Why won’t you open up.”

Both Englebert and Simon smiled at Meredith. “I understand being frustrated,” said Simon. “It is early; I am sure we will eventually find a way. There is clearly a hinge, and hinges mean things can open unless this is a trick, and if it is a trick, then it is a mild trick and probably not meant to cause upset. It’s an Easter/Spring Mystery.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 7/25

“If a bird cannot hatch an egg, what about a magician?” Simon looked at his two companions.

“You mean we should really go see the magician and ask for his help? I am not sure. We would have to walk through that creepy wood to get there.” Meredith did not look so happy about this idea. Englebert was fine with the idea.

“Wait,” said Simon, let me run home a minute.”

As quick as a blink, Simon returned with a fishing rod. “What is that for; is it a gift for the magician?” Englebert queried.

“No, though now I wonder if we should take a gift. This is to try the fish; we pass over the bridge on the way; why not ask everyone we can?”

Englebert is questing! Episode 8/25

Arriving at the bridge, the trio looked down into the water. Simon attached the egg to the end of the line and lowered it into the water.

“I hope a fish can help us.”

They did not have to wait long. A pretty little fish popped up out of the water.“What is this?”

Simon said, “We have a problem we are trying to solve. This is a mystery egg, we are trying to find a way to open it, and we hoped you could help us.”

The fish sniffed the egg and touched the egg with a fin. “I don’t think I can help you. We fish lay eggs, but they hatch on their own we don’t have to do anything. Maybe if you found the creature that laid this egg.”

With that, the fish dove under the water and swam away.

Meredith giggled, “I am not sure I would want to meet a creature that laid an egg like this. It would have to be some type of mechanical creature.”

“It was worth a try.” said Simon, “Onward to the magician then. Are we all ready?”

Englebert is questing! Episode 9/25

The woods were dark and misty, and Meredith was not feeling all that brave. She had only been in this part of the forest a few times to collect mushrooms, but she had kept close to the outer edge. The three kept walking and trying to be as quiet as they could. The magician’s tower was not that far away—they could catch glimpses of it.

Meredith stopped, “Have you noticed the eggs that are hidden here and there? I have been picking some up, but I wonder who left them?”

Meredith handed a few of the eggs to Englebert and Simon. They were pretty eggs; painted with wonderful designs; some had flowers, and some were painted to look like animals.

Englebert said, “We wanted to collect some eggs today. This is great. We should keep a closer look out for more eggs.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 10/25

“Hello, dearies!”

Meredith stopped in her tracks, Simon bumped into Meredith, and Englebert bumped into Simon.

“Why are we stopping so suddenly?” Englebert asked.

Meredith stood still and pointed. “Witch!”

Englebert tried looking around Simon, “I don’t see…I do see. Maybe she can help us.”

Simon took the egg from Meredith and approached the witch. “Hello, we…um, we have this egg we are trying to open. We are on our way to the magician.”

The witch took the egg and immediately plopped it into her cauldron, stirring it vigorously with a big spoon. Simon, Meredith, and Englebert gasped.

“Don’t worry, this won’t harm the egg; it probably won’t open it either. I believe I know the secret, but you must find that out for yourselves. Hehe, good luck with the magician.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 11/25

“Wow, look at this tower! There appears to be magic going on inside. You can see it swirling around the tower. Maybe we should stay back a bit.” Simon yelled out, “Hello, hello! Magician, are you in there?”

They heard a few crashes from inside. The door flung open, and there stood the magician blinking at them.

“We are sorry to trouble you, but we have a problem.” Meredith explained how she found the egg and what a hard time they were having.

The magician still looked distracted as he ushered them inside with the admonition to not touch anything.

Englebert is questing! Episode 12/25

The magician took the egg from Meredith and set it on a table. Whisking out a wand from somewhere in his robe, the magician waved the wand about over the egg. The three friends looked at each other and then back at the magician. Suddenly bolts of light were whizzing around the room, crackling and bouncing off of walls.

“Ouch,” cried Simon, “That stung, quick everyone, let’s get out of here before something bad happens.”

They ran down the stairs and out the door.

As the three caught their breath, the magician appeared, holding the closed egg. “Sorry about that, wild magic can be a bit…wild. It had no effect on the egg though. I was sure it would.”

The magician turned and went inside the tower.

“Where should we try now, or maybe it is time to give up.” Meredith was starting to get a bit fed up.”

“Let’s wander down to the beach and see if our friend the pirate is around.” Simon suggested.

Englebert is questing! Episode 13/25

The trio reached the beach and saw they were in luck, the pirate ship was anchored near the beach, and someone was moving around. Simon raced up to the captain.

“Arr! Why, if it isn’t my pals Simon and Meredith, and I see ye brought a friend along. Hello to you. What brings ye here on such an outstanding day?”

Meredith explained and handed the strange egg to the captain.

The captain rubbed his chin thoughtfully while peering at the egg.

“It won’t open, says you. I see. I have an idea.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 14/25

“Stand back, everyone.”

The captain had put the egg into the cannon. Englebert, Simon and Meredith were not shocked at this. The egg had withstood, prying with a knife, the cozy warmth of a bird's nest, the bubbling cauldron of a witch, and the wild spells of a magician. They covered their ears as instructed by the pirate and waited.

Boom

The cannon let out a roar, and the egg shot out into the air in a puff of smoke and sailed smack into a palm tree.

The captain, with the friends following behind, ran to where the egg lay on the sand.

“Arr! The egg is still in one piece. That is one sturdy egg, mates. I don’t know what to say to ye. Perhaps ye best be going home and forget about it.”

Shaking his head, the captain went back aboard his ship.

Englebert is questing! Episode 15/25

Disappointed but not surprised, the three walked along the beach.

“Look, more eggs!”Englebert yelled, racing to shake a palm tree that had an egg nestled in its branches.

The three friends spent some quiet time collecting all the lovely painted eggs they found hiding near the palm trees.

Englebert is questing! Episode 16/25

Simon was thinking—as he walked along the road. He had almost grasped an idea when he was interrupted by Meredith poking him on the shoulder.

“Psst, Simon, what is that?”

Looking up, Simon saw a spaceship.

“Don’t worry, Meredith, that is my good friend Zoe, she lives here now, but she likes to zip around in her spaceship to visit new areas of Petland. Hey! Maybe she will have an idea.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 17/25

Zoe took the friends into the spaceship.

“Here, stand behind this screen, you can see what is going on, but you will keep safe. Maybe this laser will work, it certainly can open most things.”

Englebert, Simon and Meredith stood behind the screen—that had a small window in it. They watched anxiously. Zoe put the egg on a stand and fired the laser at it. There followed a lot of sparks and sizzling noises.

“Zoe picked up the egg, shook it, sniffed it, and brought it back to Meredith.

“You have found the incredible indestructible egg. It must be the only one in the Petverse. I am sorry I could not help you.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 18/25

Simon, Englebert, and Meredith said goodbye to Zoe and thanked her for trying to help them.

“There is one last place that I can think of that may be able to help.” said Simon. “The hospital has all sorts of equipment; maybe they will have an idea.”

Meredith agreed, “The last stop, then we will go home, I am tired, and this egg is as stubborn as anything I have ever come across. It does not want to open, and there is probably nothing inside anyway.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 19/25

The trio arrived at the hospital.

“I don’t see anyone going in. Have you ever been to the hospital, Meredith?”

“No, I have never been ill enough to go to the hospital, but my cousin went once. He had a bean stuck up his nose and could not get it out, but the doctor took the bean out quickly. I don’t stick things up my nose.” Meredith laughed and headed for the hospital doors, carrying the stubborn egg.

Englebert is questing! Episode 20/25

Meredith approached the hospital’s receptionist.

“Hi, no one is hurt or ill, but we have a strange request.”

Meredith explained how they had been trying to open the mysterious egg. The receptionist wrote down their names and then made an internal phone call.

“Under the circumstances, I think it best if you see our x-ray technician.”

The three friends did not have long to wait; the technician came through the doors and took the egg.

“I understand you have an egg that won’t open, a bit unusual, considering how easy it is to break an eggshell.”

The technician took the egg and looked at it for a few seconds.

“Ah, this is no ordinary egg. I see. First, we should do an x-ray, to see if there is anything inside. You can come along.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 21/25

The technician listened to the egg with their stethoscope. Then the egg was put on a table and x-rayed.

“I detect no sounds, and as you can see from the picture, the x-ray was not able to penetrate the outer shell of this egg. I am baffled, but there does not appear to be anything else I can do.”

Meredith thanked the technician for their time, and the three left the hospital.

“We gave it our best, and now I think we deserve a snack and some tea. Let’s go to my house.” Meredith smiled.

Englebert is questing! Episode 22/25

“Home, at last. I will put the kettle on and make us some sandwiches. You like pickles in your sandwich, right Simon?”

Meredith got her key out and unlocked the door.

“Come on in and sit down; I just want to put the eggs we found in a basket.”

It was a welcoming house, and they were all looking forward to a well-earned rest.

Englebert is questing! Episode 23/25

Just as Englebert was about to sit in a chair, Meredith gave a little squeal.

“What is going on; the egg is moving, look.”

Meredith held the egg out on the palm of her paw. The egg was wiggling back and forth. Suddenly it jumped up, fell to the ground, and split in two.

Silence

Standing in front of the three friends was a green, fluffy, white-tailed, with a ring of flowers around its head, bunny.

“BUNNY,” the trio yelled in unison.

“Ahem! Hello friends, I am delighted to meet you all.”

Silence

Englebert is questing! Episode 24/25

“Tada, here, this is a special egg, one which was painted by no other than, The Bunny, you know, the bunny that loves to hide eggs in the spring.”

The green bunny, who had just popped out of the stubborn sealed egg, handed a new egg—a beautiful egg painted with heather flowers in hues of purple and soft red—to Meredith. I know you are curious about the eggshell I was in. That egg was designed to only open at a precise time, and that time is now.” The green bunny smiled and ran around, shaking paws with Englebert, Simon, and Meredith. “Now I believe I heard something about sandwiches; do you think you could make mine carrot? Thank you very much.”

Englebert is questing! Episode 25/25

After everyone had enjoyed their tea and sandwiches, and after all the questions had been asked—even if not answered to everyone's satisfaction—they were all happy with the outcome. They had a new bunny friend, they had collected a lot of pretty eggs and they had one very special egg from, The Bunny. A good adventure with good friends. Meredith gave a special egg to Englebert as he was heading out the door. After the door was shut, Meredith looked at the green bunny, the special egg, and the now open stubborn egg. She walked to a chair, sat down, and fell fast asleep.
Englebert has solved the mystery of his egg! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also take part!