A SECRET FUNFAIR ADVENTURE 
By Abbi McEvoy & Drakaris Thalion 

The Secret Funfair Adventure

Peter and Rosemary sat in the back seat of the car, watching the trees blur past as Mum and Dad chatted about the day's plans.

“A picnic,” Mum said with a smile. “Fresh air, delicious sandwiches, and a beautiful lake. What could be better?”

Peter sighed and exchanged a glance with Rosemary. “Anything.”

Rosemary wrinkled her nose. “Do we really have to?”

Dad nodded. “Yes, we do. Mum and I planned this, and we are spending the day together as a family.”

Peter slumped against his seat, staring out of the window. Rosemary fiddled with the seatbelt strap, already bored before they had even arrived.

Then something caught Peter’s eye. A funfair stood beyond the trees. It was not the biggest one they had ever seen, but it had glowing lights, spinning teacups, and a towering helter-skelter with red and white stripes. The distant sound of carnival music drifted through the air, mixed with the laughter of excited children.

Peter sat up straight. “Mum, Dad, look. A funfair! Can we go?”

Dad shook his head. “Not today. We came here for a picnic, and that is what we are doing.”

Mum gave him a sympathetic look. “Maybe another time, sweetheart.”

Peter sighed as the car turned into the park, but he kept his eyes locked on the funfair until it disappeared behind the trees.

When they arrived, Mum and Dad found a quiet spot by the lake and began setting up the picnic. Ducks drifted lazily across the water, the sun shimmered on the rippling surface, and the air smelled of fresh grass and warm bread. Peter and Rosemary sat down, watching as Mum and Dad unpacked the picnic basket.

The funfair was close. If they could just sneak away for a little while, they could have an adventure. Peter nudged Rosemary and tilted his head towards the trees. She grinned. “Now this could be an adventure.”

They waited for the right moment. As Mum and Dad arranged the food, distracted by conversation, Peter and Rosemary slipped away, darting behind the trees and running toward the funfair.

The air buzzed with excitement as they reached the entrance. Stalls lined the pathways, filled with rows of stuffed animals, towering pyramids of bottles, and goldfish swimming in plastic bags. The scent of popcorn and fried doughnuts filled their noses as crowds wandered past, hands full of sweets and prizes.

They weaved through the fair, pausing by a stall where a man in a striped waistcoat tossed rings onto milk bottles with effortless precision. Beside him, a woman juggled flaming batons, the firelight flickering against her grinning face.

Then Peter saw something odd. Tucked behind an old wooden game booth, half-hidden by a faded banner, stood a tent. It was different from the bright and colorful stalls of the funfair. The fabric was deep gold, shimmering faintly under the fairground lights.

A small wooden sign stood beside it. The words were carved in elegant script:

"The Secret Adventure. For the Curious Only."

Peter nudged Rosemary. “Look at that.”

Rosemary turned and frowned. “Is it part of the fair?”

Peter stepped forward. “Only one way to find out.”

They slipped through the narrow gap and into the tent.

The moment Peter and Rosemary stepped inside, the world changed. The noises from the fair disappeared. The warm, golden glow of the tent expanded into a vast hall, stretching far beyond what should have been possible. Floating lanterns drifted through the air. The floor beneath their feet shimmered like stardust.

At the center of the hall stood a woman. Her cloak rippled like liquid gold, her blonde hair tied neatly in a bun. She had kind, wise eyes and a presence that felt both calming and powerful.

“Welcome, young ones,” she said in a soft, knowing voice. “I am Abbi, a guide for those who seek adventure beyond the ordinary.”

Peter and Rosemary stared, their hearts pounding with excitement.

“Where… are we?” Peter asked.

Abbi smiled. “You have stepped into a place where time pauses, where courage is tested, and where only the curious may enter.”

Peter frowned. “Time pauses?”

Abbi gestured to a floating silver orb. It swirled like mist, showing a still image of the funfair. People were frozen mid-step, popcorn suspended in the air, rides unmoving.

Rosemary gasped. “Mum and Dad! They’re not moving!”

“They do not know you have left,” Abbi said gently. “In this realm, time stands still until you return.”

Peter and Rosemary exchanged glances, their excitement growing.

“What do we have to do?” Peter asked.

Abbi smiled and lifted her hands. From the swirling mist, two magnificent creatures emerged.

A fiery dragon with shimmering golden scales spread its wings, its eyes fierce yet wise. A silver-maned lion stepped forward, its deep, steady gaze filled with quiet strength.

“This is Drakaris,” Abbi said, gesturing to the dragon. “A guardian of fire and adventure.”

“And this is Thalion,” she continued, looking at the lion. “A guardian of truth and courage.”

Peter’s jaw dropped. “We get to ride them?”

Abbi nodded. “Your adventure awaits. But only if you are brave enough.”

Peter and Rosemary didn’t hesitate. They climbed onto their guardians, feeling the thrill of the unknown coursing through them.

Peter and Rosemary held on tightly as Drakaris and Thalion took off into the sky. The air rushed past their faces, their hearts pounding with a mix of excitement and disbelief. The tent and the funfair below faded into a swirl of golden mist. Peter glanced back, but the world they had come from was no longer visible, only a vast, shimmering expanse stretching endlessly around them.

The creatures soared higher and higher until they broke through the mist, emerging into a sky unlike any they had ever seen. Floating islands hovered in the air, their surfaces covered in glowing crystal trees and rivers that shimmered like liquid silver. Strange birds with feathers that flickered like candle flames glided between the islands, singing melodies that vibrated in the very air.

Rosemary tightened her grip on Thalion’s mane. “This… this isn’t Earth,” she whispered.

“No, it is not,” Thalion rumbled. His deep voice carried wisdom, as though he had lived for centuries. “You have entered the Realm of Wonders, a place where time bends and adventure calls.”

Peter leaned forward on Drakaris. “So what’s the adventure? Are we looking for treasure or something?”

Drakaris let out a soft chuckle, his golden scales catching the light of the twin suns above them. “Something far more important. The Celestial Prism has been stolen from the Heart of the Realm. Without it, the balance of this world is crumbling. It is hidden deep within the Labyrinth of Echoes, and only those with true courage may retrieve it.”

Peter and Rosemary exchanged glances. This was more than they had expected, but their spirits burned with curiosity.

As Drakaris and Thalion flew forward, the floating islands gave way to towering cliffs covered in spiraling waterfalls. Beneath them, a vast forest stretched as far as the eye could see, its trees glowing with an inner light. But at the heart of the forest stood something much darker. A massive maze of towering stone walls twisted and turned upon itself, an eerie mist rising from its depths.

“The Labyrinth of Echoes,” Thalion said. “This place remembers every footstep, every whisper, every decision. You must tread carefully, for the echoes of past travelers still linger.”

Drakaris and Thalion landed at the entrance, where a grand archway stood, etched with glowing symbols. As Peter and Rosemary dismounted, the arch shimmered, and the symbols rearranged themselves to form a single sentence.

Only those who listen may find the path.

Rosemary frowned. “Listen to what?”

Peter took a cautious step forward, and the moment his foot touched the ground inside the maze, the air filled with whispers. Voices from every direction murmured, some soft and kind, others urgent and warning. The walls shifted slightly, and a new passage opened before them.

“The Labyrinth speaks,” Thalion said. “Some voices will guide you. Others will deceive you. You must decide which to trust.”

Peter took a deep breath. “Alright, let’s do this.”

They walked cautiously into the maze, their footsteps echoing through the ancient stone corridors. The voices continued, some whispering directions, others calling their names, tempting them to stray from the path.

As they rounded a corner, a gust of wind swept past them, carrying a single, clear voice. Left is the way forward. Right leads to endless wandering.

Peter hesitated. “Do we trust it?”

Rosemary nodded. “It sounds different. Clearer, like it actually wants to help.”

They turned left, and as they did, the ground beneath them trembled. The walls shifted, closing off the path behind them. Ahead, a massive door made of dark crystal loomed, glowing faintly.

“The heart of the maze,” Drakaris murmured. “The Prism lies beyond that door.”

Peter stepped forward and placed his hand on the surface. The whispers faded, replaced by a single deep hum, like the heartbeat of the maze itself. Slowly, the door cracked open, revealing a chamber filled with swirling golden light.

Suspended in the air at the center of the room was the Celestial Prism—a multifaceted crystal pulsing with energy.

As they stepped closer, a shadow detached itself from the walls. A tall, cloaked figure emerged, its presence sending a chill through the air.

“You do not belong here,” the figure hissed, its voice layered with countless echoes. “The Prism does not belong to you.”

Peter clenched his fists. “It doesn’t belong to you either.”

The figure’s eyes glowed like burning embers. “Then take it, if you dare.”

Without warning, tendrils of dark mist shot toward them. Drakaris roared, unleashing a stream of golden fire that forced the shadow back. Thalion leaped forward, his silver mane blazing with light as he struck at the darkness.

Peter and Rosemary seized their chance. Together, they ran toward the Prism. As Rosemary reached out, the air around it shimmered, resisting her touch.

Peter grabbed her hand. “We have to do it together.”

They both reached out, their hands closing around the Prism at the same time. A brilliant light exploded outward, and the shadowy figure let out a piercing shriek before vanishing into nothingness.

The chamber shook, and a gust of warm wind surrounded them. The maze was resetting itself.

Drakaris and Thalion stepped forward, their eyes filled with pride. “You have done well,” Thalion said. “The Realm of Wonders will be restored.”

A golden light swirled around them, and before they knew it, they were back at the entrance of the maze. The sky was brighter, the air lighter. The balance had been restored.

Peter grinned. “Now that was an adventure.”

Drakaris chuckled. “And one you will always remember.”

The world around them blurred. A familiar golden mist wrapped around their bodies, and they felt themselves being pulled backward, back through time and space, back to where it had all begun.

In an instant, they were standing outside the golden tent at the funfair. The sounds of the carnival filled the air once more. The scent of popcorn and sweets drifted around them.

Rosemary turned in shock. The world had continued as if nothing had happened.

“Mum and Dad!” she gasped. “They… they’re still moving like normal.”

Peter looked around. Everything was just as they had left it. No one had even noticed they were gone.

Abbi stood beside them, her golden cloak shimmering in the light. “Time has not moved since you left. To everyone else, you never left at all.”

Peter checked his pocket and found a small, glowing shard of the Celestial Prism resting in his palm. He and Rosemary shared a knowing look.

Without another word, they turned and walked back toward the trees, heading toward the picnic as if nothing had happened.

Mum and Dad were still chatting, still setting up the food.

Mum looked up with a smile. “Come sit down, you two. The sandwiches are ready.”

Peter and Rosemary sat on the blanket, sharing a knowing glance.

Not a single second had passed.

Their secret adventure would always remain just that, a secret between brother and sister.