The Melody Maze rose before them like a frozen symphony made solid. Towering walls of crystallised sound twisted and turned in every direction, their surfaces shimmering with trapped musical notes that flickered like fireflies. Some walls hummed low bass notes that Alfie could feel in his tummy, while others sparkled with high tinkling sounds that made his ears tickle.
"This place is bonkers," Dad whispered, his eyes wide as dinner plates. "It's like someone built a maze out of actual music!"
Crash Cymbal floated ahead, his golden cymbals catching the strange light. "The Melody Maze protects the Fire Stage where Strummer Blaze performs. But beware—the maze changes with every wrong note."
Alfie touched the nearest wall. It was warm and vibrated gently under his fingers, sending a soft ping through the air. The Infinite Brick in his pocket pulsed with orange light—the colour of his new compassion energy.
"So how do we get through?" Alfie asked.
"We must play the right melody," Crash explained. "But I can only make percussion sounds. I need someone who can carry a tune."
Dad immediately stepped forward. "Say no more! I was in a band once, you know."
"Dad, you were in the school choir for three weeks," Alfie reminded him.
"Still counts!"
Before anyone could stop him, Dad opened his mouth and sang the first note that came to mind. It was... not good. The wall in front of them shuddered, turned an angry red, and suddenly shifted—blocking their path and opening three new routes that definitely hadn't been there before.
"Oops," Dad said sheepishly.
"The maze is grumpy now," Alfie groaned.
They tried the left path, but every time Dad hummed or whistled, the walls rearranged themselves into even more confusing patterns. After the fifth dead end, Alfie noticed something odd. His footsteps were making tiny musical sounds on the crystal floor—different notes depending on where he stepped.
"Wait!" Alfie crouched down, examining the glittering ground. "It's like a giant piano! Each tile makes a different sound!"
Crash Cymbal's hollow form brightened. "Of course! The Harmony Steps! I'd forgotten—Strummer Blaze designed them so only those who listen with their hearts can pass!"
Alfie closed his eyes and let his new orange belt energy spread through him. He thought about compassion—about understanding others, about listening instead of rushing. When he opened his eyes again, he could see faint glowing paths on the floor, tiles connected by threads of light.
"I can see it," he breathed. "The melody!"
Step by step, Alfie danced forward, each footfall creating a beautiful note. The walls began to glow warmer colours—yellow, orange, pink. Dad followed carefully in Alfie's exact footsteps, while Crash Cymbal added gentle cymbal taps that wove perfectly into the tune.
Together, they sounded amazing.
The maze opened before them like a flower blooming, walls sliding apart to reveal a magnificent arena at its centre. The Fire Stage blazed with actual flames—but these flames were orange and red and gold, dancing in rhythm like living fire dancers.
And there, at the centre of the stage, stood a figure made entirely of burning guitar strings.
"STRUMMER BLAZE!" Crash Cymbal cried, his voice cracking with emotion. "It's really you!"
The fiery figure spun around. Where a face should have been, there were six glowing guitar strings stretched tight across a frame of ember and ash. When Strummer Blaze spoke, the voice was like a power chord—beautiful but angry.
"Crash? After all these years, you dare show up HERE?"
The flames around the stage grew higher, fiercer. Alfie felt the heat pushing against him like a wall of anger.
"I came to say sorry!" Crash called out desperately.
But Strummer Blaze raised one flaming hand, and the fire exploded outward in a roaring wave.
"SORRY isn't a SONG I want to HEAR!"
The flames rushed toward Alfie, Dad, and Crash Cymbal with terrifying speed. Alfie's orange energy flickered—compassion alone might not be enough to face someone this furious.
And that's when Alfie noticed something that made his heart skip a beat.
Behind Strummer Blaze, half-hidden in the flames, was another figure watching from the shadows—a figure holding what looked like the broken neck of a bass guitar, with eyes that glowed an icy, jealous green.
They weren't alone in the Fire Stage.