Read softly at first… because this chapter feels close… very close.
The giant portal shimmered and slowed.
It no longer showed stars or planets.
It showed something… familiar.
A bedroom.
A small bed.
A favourite blanket.
A window with moonlight shining through.
Alfie’s room.
Alfie took a step back.
“That’s… my world.”
Behind him, Chimichanga gulped.
“I have never been in a real bedroom before. Are they dangerous?”
Mixie bounced.
“I CALL TOP BUNK!”
The funny rival team waddled forward together.
“We vote YES on being allies!” shouted the jelly creature.
“We brought snacks!” said the gremlin.
The robot clapped—far too late.
Captain Skullfire stood very still.
His cloak flickered like a dying flame.
“This is where training ends,” he said quietly.
“When adventure comes to the real world… heroes must lead without me.”
Alfie’s heart thumped.
“But—” he started.
Captain Skullfire knelt, placing a warm hand on Alfie’s shoulder.
“You already have what you need,” he said.
“Skill. Patience. Teamwork.”
“And courage—whether you notice it or not.”
Chimichanga saluted bravely.
“I will protect him. Even if I fall over.”
Captain Skullfire smiled.
Then he stepped backward…
into shadow…
into silence.
🔥 FWOOSH 🔥
He was gone.
No goodbye.
No explanation.
Only a glowing symbol left behind in the air:
💀🔥 SKULLFIRE WILL RETURN 🔥💀
The portal hummed.
Alfie swallowed… and stepped through.
🌙 BACK HOME 🌙
Alfie landed gently on his bedroom carpet.
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Until—
PLOP.
Chimichanga landed on the bed.
“Soft! I approve.”
Mixie rolled out of the portal, bumping into a toy box.
“I HAVE ARRIVED IN REALITY!”
The rival team squeezed through, one by one.
“WE WILL BE QUIET,” they whispered.
Immediately knocked over a chair.
The portal shrank…
smaller…
smaller…
Until it zipped itself into a tiny spark—
✨ PING! ✨
—and disappeared.
Silence.
Alfie sat on his bed.
“Okay,” he said slowly.
“So… adventures are real.”
Mixie nodded seriously.
“And bedtime just got BUSY.”
From outside the window, something glowed softly.
A signal.
A problem.
A call.
Alfie felt it in his chest.
Tomorrow…
school would happen.
Normal life would happen.
But tonight?
Something had crossed over.
And the world was going to need a hero.
⭐ To Be Continued… A New Kind of Adventure
Buenas noches, campeón 🌙
Tomorrow night…
the real world gets interesting.