The Six Visit The 1st

Christmas is always a magical time when there is snow falling, and this year had recorded record amounts in Elmwood.

B-Jay, the wonderful red Beetle car, had really enjoyed helping his friends save Santa on Christmas Eve, but that seemed so long ago now. They had saved Santa when a rather dense fog had drifted in, making navigation impossible, with an ingenious idea involving fairy lights. With the help of Jasmine and several of the rabbits from her warren, they created a runway across the field, and Santa was able to find his way to town by following the lights. Christmas had been saved, and they were able to enjoy the festivities and celebrations as heroes.

The snow continued to fall all through January and for most of February, and B-Jay was missing his friends and their adventures as much as he was missing the sunshine.

It was now March, and the first signs of spring were finally beginning to show. Crocuses were starting to push their way up through the ground and sunlight cast its first rays across the landscape, waking the world from its winter slumber. Even the sparrows and the starlings heralded the morning with their incessant chattering. The last of the snow was scattered in small desperate piles, clinging on in a futile attempt to a land that was starting to change.

B-Jay looked out of the garage window at the landscape beyond, dreaming of when he might get back to visiting the cottonwood tree for another adventure with his friends, when all of a sudden he caught sight of a rather large bird flying towards him. It was only when it spread out a magnificent pair of wings, slowing its approach to land on the window ledge in front of him, that he recognized it as a Great Horned Owl. It was his friend, Aruna.

"Aruna!" he shouted joyfully. "I cannot tell you how good it is to see you again!" His lights flashed brightly in response, lighting up the whole garage.

Aruna landed on the ledge just outside, stretched his wings to their full extent, shook them twice, before they settled back down, behind him. He hadn't flown in a while due to the bad weather. "Hello, B-Jay," he responded.

Suddenly, B-Jay grew concerned. His lights dimmed, before turning off again. None of his friends had ever visited him at his garage—he had always met them at the cottonwood tree. "Is everything okay?" he inquired.

"Yes, yes, yes," remarked Aruna in response, pecking at a single misaligned feather. "But I do need your help with something rather urgent. It is a timely issue and I cannot achieve it without your help. Can you meet me at the tree in two days' time?" His head twisted to the left as he waited for a response.

"I think so," replied B-Jay. "That shouldn't be a problem, but why?"

"I will explain all in two days' time. I have more to attend to in the meantime," voiced Aruna, spreading his wings once more, hooting twice and taking flight before B-Jay could interject further.

"I will be there!" he shouted as the owl disappeared from view.

I wonder what is going on, thought B-Jay to himself. It didn't sound like an adventure because he had used the word "help." And it was something "urgent," which also sounded problematic.

The two days passed quicker than he expected, and on the 3rd day of March, B-Jay exited the garage, nervously making his way towards the cottonwood tree. He drove slowly, clearing the dust and sleep from his engine. It felt good to be driving again, and even more so as the sun was shining. He was so happy he tooted his horn to anyone that was listening, before his thoughts turned back to the mystery at hand.

As he rounded the bend, he caught sight of everyone. Aruna was perched high in the tree. Cressida, the proud black cat, was pruning as usual. Maxwell, the rather large St. Bernard dog, was curled up asleep at the base of the tree. Digger Bo, the tumbling badger, was living up to his name and tumbling, while Zippo, the animated and theatrical ant, was directing the badger's movements with a stick like the lead conductor of an orchestra. Zippo swooshed the stick through the air, his tiny cape billowing in the spring breeze. Other than Zippo’s latest theatrical act, everything was normal.

"You know he only goes round and round in a circle," taunted Cressida, pausing between licks. "I'm not sure there is really much to orchestrate." She smirked, finding them slightly amusing, but not wishing to offer any encouragement, carried on with her cleaning.

"I know," replied Zippo, his face contorted with a somewhat painful focus. "But I am trying to perfect my Jedi mind control; the stick is just a prop. As you can see, the force is getting stronger, because he is tumbling under my control." He relaxed his arms and slowly swirled the stick to match Digger Bo’s movements.

Cressida gave him a look of sheer bewilderment before continuing. "So that explains your new outfit, then."

"You mean my Jedi Master's robe? Yes, and this stick is meant to represent my lightsaber. And before you say it, I did try to order a real one, but I don't have Amazon Prime. So until I can, I am practicing my lightstick technique." Having finished the sentence, Zippo pulled the hood of his cape back over his face before swooshing the stick around to the sounds of bwooooooozzzzz, bweeeessssshhhh, warrrrraaaaaannnnng. Stepping backwards and to one side, he brought the stick to a halt, as if having delivered the fateful blow on some imaginary adversary.

B-Jay laughed at his very amusing friend before turning his attention to Aruna. "So what was so urgent? Why are we meeting today?" he asked.

"Today is Cressida's son's birthday," said the owl, landing on B-Jay's headrest. "And we are going to reunite him with his mother for a birthday surprise," he replied, giving the headrest a friendly squeeze with a careful taloned grip.

"We are?" said Cressida with a shocked look, her paw suspended in mid lick. Her ears pricked backwards having heard Aruna’s response. "How are we going to do that? I have no idea where my son, Ludwig, lives." She turned, rose and leaving all other matters behind, slinked closer to hear more.

"Leave that part to me," said Aruna. "Not long now and all will be revealed."

No sooner had he finished the sentence when an unknown voice sounded, from B-Jay's passenger seat.

"Sergeant Horatio Nelson reporting for duty, sir!"

They all looked up at once to see a pigeon, slightly smaller than Aruna, perched on the headrest. He was standing to attention, with his chest puffed proudly forward and saluting profusely.

"At ease, Horatio, my old friend," responded Aruna, twisting to face him. "Are you ready for the mission we spoke about?"

"Sir, yes, sir!" shouted Horatio in the voice of a most serious drill sergeant. "I am ready to go on your command, sir. Do you have the necessary mission plans for me?" He relaxed his chest and bobbed his head up and down several times, which looked to Zippo like he might be dancing to some unheard song.

Aruna flew up to his branch in the cottonwood tree, grabbed something and returned quickly with a rolled up, small piece of paper containing the necessary details and attached it to the ring on the bird’s leg. "Operation Post-it-Note is a go. Make the necessary preparations and I will inform the rest of the troops. We go in five minutes."

Aruna flew to the others, landing on the grass and explained to them all that Horatio was a very famous homing pigeon with a rather unique skill set. Unlike most homing pigeons who can find their way home from anywhere in the world, Horatio could locate anyone in the world, as long as he knew their full name. He flexed his right leg, scratching at the stone underfoot and let out a hoot.

"Wow, that is incredible!" said B-Jay, feeling a cold chill creeping up his tires.

"And you speak pigeon as well as Canadian and Toad?" asked Digger Bo, who had stopped tumbling due to the amazingness of the situation.

"I guess I do, yes," replied Aruna, playing along.

"No wonder Zippo has a Master Jedi robe; we really are a collection of superheroes. Maybe I should get a superhero tumbling outfit. Maybe something spangly and tight fitting, with good aerodynamics." As he finished he tumbled a complete lap of the cottonwood tree imagining he was wearing such an outfit.

"Oh God, no," replied Cressida. "Not the disco ball outfit again. Once was enough."

Aruna replied sharply, "Enough of the shenanigans; we leave in five minutes. Someone wake Maxwell, please." He turned his head sharply to the tree, clicking his beak twice as if offering a command to action.

They all took up their positions in the car: Cressida up front in the passenger seat, Zippo on the dashboard, and a sleepy Maxwell alongside Digger Bo in the back. They were ready to go once Aruna had finished instructing Horatio. Seconds later, Aruna positioned himself on the headrest of the driver’s side and informed B-Jay to follow Horatio, who would fly slowly in front of them.

B-Jay complied feeling a wet slush on his mudflaps as he pulled away, his tires gripping nicely as he negotiated the slowly melting snow that lay across the road ahead and all they way into the visible distance.

They had no idea how long the journey would take or even where it would lead, but it was Digger Bo who started the conversation, curling up on the seat to keep warm. "So, I guess if we really are superheroes now, having saved Christmas..."

He whispered something to Maxwell about the uniforms that they had discussed, while he was sleeping, thinking he needed to be aware of their plans for improvements.

"And Pinocchio," interrupted Maxwell, who was now feeling wide awake and ready for an adventure, before his face contorted into an expression that reflected some deep inner contemplation, his eyebrows knotting together to form a unibrow as he considered whether he needed an outfit of his own. He eventually relaxed and curled up next to Digger Bo reasoning that if Lassie didn’t wear one then he really didn’t need one.

"Yes, Christmas and not forgetting Pinocchio," continued Digger Bo, raising his grizzled chin as he spoke.

"And Jasmine when she was lost," replied Maxwell, his tail thwacking the seat as he spoke, before nestling his rear quarters into Digger Bo’s flanks.

"Yes, Christmas, Pinocchio, and Jasmine..." they both agreed, talking to each other like a famous comedy duo.

"And B-Jay's wheel!" Maxwell interrupted once more, figuring it must be his turn again. He turned facing Digger Bo with his jaw drooping slightly, before puffing out a snort and a huff that turned into a warm cloud before ejecting backwards into the cold, swirling breeze.

"Yes, Christmas, Pinocchio, Jasmine, and B-Jay's wheel," continued Digger Bo. "Then we really are superheroes. Which can mean only one thing left to do!"

"Get Amazon Prime!" exclaimed Zippo, excited at the prospect of wielding a real lightsaber. Once again, he started swooshing his stick in all directions, spinning round and crouching before launching himself in attack mode along the dashboard to the sounds of bwooooooozzzzz, bweeeessssshhhh, warrrrraaaaaannnnng.

"No, I mean we need a superhero name," responded Digger Bo, feeling quite toasty with the big dog leaning up against him. "Something like the Famous Five."

"We can't call ourselves the Famous Five," informed Maxwell, raising his head while feeling intelligent. "That is a book by Enid Blyton, so there might be a copyright issue." He turned to Digger Bo wondering why he never knew that.

"I think you'll find that wouldn't make much sense, given that there are six of us," retorted Cressida, looking at Maxwell as if to suggest his point was moot anyway. She wasn’t pruning as she said it and it wasn’t because there was a chill in the air, it was her thoughts that focused on the journey to meet her son that kept her mind occupied.

"Wasn't there a sixth in Star Wars, Zippo?" questioned B-Jay, flicking his wipers.

"You're thinking of the Sith," replied Zippo, "and if you're thinking of calling ourselves the 'Six Sith,' then we would all have to turn to the dark side." His stance altered as he said the words "dark side" and his voice changed as he tried to imitate Darth Vader, breathing in and out making a wheezing sound that eventually tickled his throat causing him to cough uncontrollably.

"That sounds a little ominous," replied B-Jay, laughing, who didn't like the sound of the dark side, but was amused at Zippo’s choking monologue.

Before anyone could come up with another name, Horatio came circling back to the car. "ETA two minutes, sir," he said, speaking directly to Aruna. "It is two clicks to the south of our position and currently we are undetected." He flew off ahead to reconnoiter the area, his head pointed forward, eyes blinking constantly as his wings flapped up and down with serious purpose.

They all rose from their seated positions. One by one they stretched, removing the roads bumps from their hindquarters and shaking the long drive from their bones. Each one looked ahead, expecting to see the palace where the great Ludwig resided, but all that was visible was a farmhouse with a very run-down barn, a few cows, and a chicken coop just off to the side of the farmhouse.

"Wait, what?" questioned Maxwell, looking at the others, who bore the same look of confusion. Slowly they turned on the warm leather to question the person next to them. Each one held a quizzed expression, but no one spoke the words.

Cressida paid them no attention. She was staring out the window, looking uncharacteristically nervous as B-Jay turned down a long, rutted dirt track that led toward the massive, weathered red barn. Quickly whipping a paw to her lips she pruned her whiskers and smoothed her hairline.

"A barn?" Zippo squeaked from the dashboard, unable to hold it in any longer. "I thought we were going to a palace! Surely, Ludwig Gustav Clawhauser Fritz the 1st, son of Queen Cressida, lives in a castle with silk cushions?" He placed his hands on his hips and turned to Aruna for answers.

B-Jay pulled to a stop. The barn was bustling. The old wooden doors creaking in the wind as they arrived. Horses whinnied, and the smell of fresh hay and old leather filled the air. Suddenly, a streak of orange and white fur leapt from the hayloft, performing a mid-air twist that made Digger Bo gasp in envy. The cat landed perfectly—covered in bits of straw, with a notched ear and a very dusty tail.

"Mother!" the cat meowed, his voice gravelly and cheerful. "Is that you?" He came bounding towards them to check his assumption more closely.

"Yes, my son," Cressida replied lovingly, hopping out of the car in double-quick fashion, her tail flicking behind her with a mind of its own. She looked at his dusty coat and winced, but then, to everyone's shock, she sat on her haunches and began to lick the top of his head vigorously, affectionately and with much attention, before exclaiming with a tone they hadn’t yet heard, "You have hay in your ears. And is that… mud? Honestly, child."

Ludwig squeezed his eyes shut and leaned into the grooming, purring like a rusty engine.

"I’m a working cat now, Mother!" Ludwig grinned, twisting his head towards her. Then, turning to face her he smiled affectionately, revealing a missing tooth. Then, abruptly he launched forwards and turned towards the car to greet her friends. "You must be the famous ‘B-Jay and the gang’. I’ve heard stories about your adventures from the migrating swallows." He sprang gracefully upwards landing smoothly on B-Jay's hood.

"We are still working on the gang name," replied Zippo, standing tall before turning to make his Jedi robe more obvious. "It’s a work in progress."

Maxwell hopped out, sniffing Ludwig’s paws. "You smell like… adventure! And mice! And hard work!" He paced circles around him before charging towards the barn like a bounding puppy, his large ears flopping madly around his face.

"I am the Head of Security here," explained Ludwig, his upright posture oozing confidence as he walked with relaxed shoulders across B-Jay's hood, before dropping back down to the ground, landing on all four paws at the same time. "I keep the farm food safe from the local rodent population. I am quite a legend in the farming community, even if I may say so myself." He explained as he led them all to the barn, eager to give them all a tour of his home; sauntering towards it with the same poise as a lion would, patrolling the savanna.

For the next hour, they all explored the barn. Maxwell was everywhere at once, bounding and twisting with an energetic fervor, such were the smells that he was distracted by. He was in his happy place. He launched himself into a pile of golden hay, disappearing completely before popping his head out with straw stuck in his ear. He flicked it out with a double twist of his head, his lips flapping awkwardly as he did so, before launching himself into the hay pile once more.

Zippo showed Digger Bo how to use the haystacks for "Mega-Tumbles," directing him expertly with his Jedi stick while B-Jay sat in the sun, watching his friends having fun, enjoying the quiet hum of the farm. He felt warm inside and it wasn’t from the heat of his engine slowly cooling. It was from seeing the joy on their faces. His friends' faces.

All the while, Ludwig and Cressida sat alone, in a dark corner, just inside the barn and off to the side, catching up on Ludwig's life. Everyone left them to be together. Cressida stayed very close to her son. She wasn’t acting her usual aloof, high-and-mighty self, and every few minutes, she would reach out a paw to straighten his fur or point out a missed spot of grooming. It was a side to her they had never seen before. She was tender and loving and her posture was very different. She didn’t seem tense and preoccupied with herself. She was relaxed with a smoother calmness that made her dark coat look even shinier.

A few hours later Horatio reappeared on the fence at the side of the barn. Landing quickly with a coo-coo noise, he settled next to Aruna. The owl was perched silently on the fencepost enjoying a one-eyed nap, while standing on one leg. Horatio voiced an instruction quietly so as not to startle him, not realizing that Aruna was always alert, even when sleeping. "Sir, we need to leave soon if we are to make it back before nightfall." He stood upright waiting for Aruna’s instructions.

Aruna nodded his approval, before blinking the world back into focus. He twisted his neck slowly in all directions, spread his wings into the breeze, flapping them once, then placing them back by his side, began motioning everybody back to the car.

Reluctant to leave they all crawled back, slowly, like scolded children. Digger Bo walked back slowly, not tumbling, but dragging his tiny, clawed feet across the ground, head down. Maxwell, turned, ears down, to look once more at the haystack, dragging his sad face away from the thought that whispered ‘you have time for one more’. Zippo, waved his stick at Aruna as he got within range, then speaking in a different voice, he uttered the words ‘these are not the ‘droids’ you are looking for’. Eventually they all reached B-Jay, assumed their positions quietly, leaving Cressida until last, allowing her a few precious extra minutes to say goodbye to her son.

"I don’t understand," questioned Zippo to B-Jay, breaking the heavy silence. "Cressida loves luxury. She was dressed as an Egyptian Queen in the Halloween Parade. Why is she so proud of a son who lives in a drafty barn? I thought she would be upset."

Cressida overheard him as she made her towards them, her son watching lovingly as she left.

She stood up tall, as she climbed onto her seat, her tail twitching. "He may not have a velvet cushion, Zippo, but he has the respect of every horse and cow in this county. He has chosen his own path. And while his grooming is… questionable… his heart is as gold as my sequins."

"Well, I think it is great that he lives in a barn," replied Digger Bo, his whiskers twitching as he smiled, remembering the afternoon. "All those great places to practice tumbling. I am a little jealous myself. I had a wonderful time in the tumble barn."

"And all those smells," said Maxwell, joining in the conversation with a perk in his voice, ears snapping upwards as he too, thought about the fun they had enjoyed. "I too am a little jealous—so many smells and places to sniff. Which reminds me, it must be dinnertime." As he said that, he turned to remove a rather spiky piece of hay that was lodged in his tail, poking him in the side as it swished side to side on the seat.

They all laughed, and any sadness that remained in the car was dispelled by Cressida, who responded by saying, "He is my son and no matter where he lives, or who he becomes, it is my job as a mother to love him for who and what he is. My son! That is all that needs to be said." She relaxed forward on the seat, having given her son one final glance. Then, she rested her head on her paws, shutting her eyes contentedly.

The rest of the journey home was spent looking out of the window, reflecting as the land passed by. There was no need for any games or gang name suggestions. Everyone remained quiet, contemplating the day they spent meeting Ludwig Gustav Clawhauser Fritz the 1st. In truth they were all worn out from the day's events.

Even Zippo resisted the urge for theatrics and Digger Bo looked, for once, like he had no more tumbles left in him. B-Jay smiled, his headlights reflecting the measure of his joy as they shone on the wet road before him, the last of the snow resigning itself to a nearby puddle.

It was dark when they arrived back at the cottonwood tree. They all said their tired goodbyes, and just as B-Jay drove away, he heard Zippo talking to Maxwell. "I don’t suppose you have Amazon Prime, do you? Buddy! This stick is good, but a lightsaber really would be an upgrade!"

B-Jay was still laughing to himself as he closed the door to the garage.