The Moonpetal Balloon Derby
3 chapters for 8 characters · about 5 minutes · told 1 time. Flowers that open only for the moon, and a hedgehog who tends them. The highlighted parts are filled in with your own characters when you make this story yours.
Chapter 1: The Secret in the Garden
In the moonlit garden, ⟨Character 1⟩ tiptoes among glowing moonpetals, a basket on his arm. Prickle, a small hedgehog, balances petals on his back.
⟨Character 1⟩: Okay, Prickle, we need at least a hundred petals to finish the balloon before the race. And I only forgot the basket once today, so that’s a win.
Prickle: Squeak!
⟨Character 1⟩: I know, I know. You’re the best petal-carrier in the whole Night Garden. But remember, we have to keep you a secret. If my family finds out, they’ll ask a million questions.
Prickle: Squeak squeak.
⟨Character 1⟩: Oh! A glowing beetle! Look at it, Prickle! It’s like a tiny lantern. I bet it could light up the whole balloon.
Prickle: Squeak! Squeak!
⟨Character 1⟩: You’re right. I almost forgot the basket again. Thanks, buddy. Let’s get these petals to the backyard.
They hurry to the backyard, where a half-built hot-air balloon waits, woven from vines and moonpetals. ⟨Character 1⟩ freezes at a sound.
⟨Character 1⟩: Quick, Prickle! Hide in my jacket!
The back door creaks open. ⟨Character 2⟩ steps out, holding a laptop, followed by ⟨Character 3⟩, ⟨Character 4⟩, and the pets.
⟨Character 2⟩: ⟨Character 1⟩, what is all this? I was trying to debug the company website, and I heard scratching.
⟨Character 3⟩: Nice balloon, dork. Did you build it with your imaginary friends?
⟨Character 4⟩: And what is that smell? Like wet hedgehog and moonpetals. ⟨Character 1⟩, explain.
⟨Character 1⟩: It’s, uh, for the Night Garden Derby? I wanted to surprise you. I was going to race it. Alone. With no help.
Prickle pokes his head out of ⟨Character 1⟩’s jacket and squeaks a greeting.
Prickle: Squeak!
⟨Character 3⟩: Oh my gosh, you have a hedgehog! That’s actually adorable.
⟨Character 4⟩: Well, we can’t let you race alone. ⟨Character 2⟩, you can navigate. ⟨Character 3⟩, you can help with… commentary. I’ll clean up and patch any tears.
⟨Character 2⟩: I hate socializing, but fine. I’ll map the course. But no talking to other pilots.
⟨Character 6⟩: Woof!
⟨Character 7⟩: Awooo!
⟨Character 5⟩: Mrrrp.
⟨Character 8⟩: Meow.
⟨Character 1⟩: You guys will really help? Even you, ⟨Character 3⟩?
⟨Character 3⟩: Someone has to make sure you don’t crash into a cloud. But I’m not getting my hands dirty.
The family gathers around the balloon, moonpetals glowing, and Prickle curls up in ⟨Character 1⟩’s arms.
Chapter 2: Up, Up, and a Wrong Turn
The Moonpetal balloon lifts off from the garden with a soft whoosh, moonpetals glowing along its woven sides. The night sky stretches wide and silver above them.
⟨Character 1⟩: Balloon is up! Everyone hold on! ⟨Character 2⟩, which way to the first marker?
⟨Character 2⟩: According to this, we go… left. No, right. Wait, the compass is upside down. I hate social events and I hate maps.
⟨Character 3⟩: Dad, you’re holding it sideways. We’re drifting toward the wrong cloud bank.
⟨Character 1⟩: Which way? I forgot which way the marker was! Was it east or west? I always mix them up.
Prickle pops out of ⟨Character 1⟩’s jacket and sneezes, pointing his nose toward a glowing path between the clouds.
Prickle: Squeak!
⟨Character 1⟩: He’s right! The moonpetals on the path are brighter that way. Prickle, you’re a genius.
A shadow swoops beside them. A sleek balloon called the CloudCutter, piloted by a raccoon in a tiny scarf, swings close.
Rascal: Nice little garden balloon. Shame if something got tangled in it.
Rascal tosses a tangle of vines that wraps around the Moonpetal’s ropes. ⟨Character 6⟩ barks and ⟨Character 7⟩ howls, and the family scrambles.
⟨Character 6⟩: Woof woof!
⟨Character 7⟩: Awoooo!
⟨Character 1⟩: ⟨Character 7⟩’s howl! It’s echoing off the clouds! ⟨Character 3⟩, what if we use that to find the maze exit?
⟨Character 3⟩: Finally, a smart idea from the kid who forgets his own shoes. ⟨Character 7⟩, howl again!
⟨Character 7⟩ howls, and the echo shows a clear path through the cloud maze. But a tear opens in the balloon’s side, and ⟨Character 8⟩ sits on the valve, making them dip.
⟨Character 8⟩: Meow!
⟨Character 5⟩: Mrrrrr.
⟨Character 4⟩: Everyone breathe. I’ll patch this tear with moonpetal thread. It’s just like fixing a hem.
⟨Character 1⟩: Prickle, you saved us back there. I’m glad you’re here.
The Moonpetal steadies, moonpetal thread glowing on the patch, and the cloud maze opens ahead like a silver door.
Chapter 3: A Soft Landing
The Moonpetal drifts down through the last clouds and touches the grass with a soft bump. Lanterns glow along the finish line, and a small crowd cheers.
⟨Character 1⟩: We made it! Not first, but we made it together!
⟨Character 3⟩: Not bad for a bunch of antisocial map-readers and a hedgehog.
⟨Character 1⟩ steps forward with Prickle in his arms, holding him up for everyone to see.
⟨Character 1⟩: Everyone, this is Prickle. He’s my best friend. He’s been helping me build the balloon all along.
Prickle: Squeak squeak!
⟨Character 4⟩: He’s part of the family now. Welcome, Prickle.
The family gathers around, gently petting Prickle’s soft spines. Rascal the raccoon steps over, holding a tin of cookies.
Rascal: I’m sorry about the vines. That wasn’t fair. Moonpetal cookie? I baked them myself.
⟨Character 2⟩: We’d ⟨Character 5⟩ one. Racing is more fun with friends anyway.
They all lie on the grass under the stars, sharing cookies, the moonpetals glowing softly around them.
⟨Character 1⟩: Goodnight, Prickle. Goodnight, stars.
Back home, the pets curl up in their spots. ⟨Character 5⟩ and ⟨Character 8⟩ on the couch, ⟨Character 6⟩ by the door, ⟨Character 7⟩ on the rug.
⟨Character 5⟩: Mrrrp.
⟨Character 8⟩: Meow.
⟨Character 1⟩ climbs into bed with Prickle nestled in his arms. Moonpetals glow outside the window, and the house settles into quiet.
⟨Character 1⟩: Sleep tight, buddy.
Prickle squeaks once, soft and content, and they both fall asleep.
So ⟨Character 1⟩ and Prickle drifted into dreams, and the whole family slept soundly. Goodnight, ⟨Character 1⟩. Goodnight, ⟨Character 3⟩. Goodnight, ⟨Character 2⟩ and ⟨Character 4⟩. Goodnight, ⟨Character 5⟩, ⟨Character 6⟩, ⟨Character 7⟩, and ⟨Character 8⟩. And goodnight, Prickle.
A question for tonight
What small secret have you been carrying that might feel lighter if you shared it with someone you trust?