Captain Skull Fire was falling—FAST—toward the bubbling jelly core of the Donut Planet.
"Hot jam on toast!" he yelled, twisting in midair.
Above him, the crumbling lava cookie platform broke apart like a soggy biscuit. Below him, rivers of raspberry magma swirled and popped.
In the middle of it all floated the Golden Sprinkle Orb, glowing with sugary light. Skull Fire stretched out one gloved hand…
Got it!
The orb buzzed in his grip—like a fizzy soda can full of ancient pirate secrets.
But then—SPLOOSH!—a glob of molten jelly splashed up, sizzling his boots.
“Crew!” he shouted into his wrist-communicator. “I have the orb—but my toes are turning into jam toast!”
Up on the surface, Blip Blop’s eyes flashed. “Emergency extraction protocol activated!”
“Nutters!” shouted Zorgabella. “Grab the jelly grappling hook!”
Nutters McGee, who had just finished licking frosting off his paws, zipped into action. He launched the hook down into the crater—just as Skull Fire bounced off a jelly trampoline and caught it mid-air!
WHIZZ-CRANK-ZAP!
With the crew pulling, and Skull Fire climbing like a champion pancake flipper, he rocketed back up to safety—Golden Sprinkle Orb in hand and only slightly melty socks.
They collapsed in a heap, breathing heavily. Zorgabella sang a soft victory hum while Nutters gnawed on a cinnamon stick.
But then…
The Sprinkle Serpent returned.
Its licorice fangs glinted in the purple sun.
“You have passed the trials,” it hissed, “and claimed the treasure. But beware—the orb carries a map to something far older… far more dangerous…”
Captain Skull Fire’s eyes lit up behind his helmet. “Ooh. A secret map? I love secret maps.”
The serpent narrowed its sugary eyes. “It will lead you to the Fizzy Black Hole of Fluffernog, where time gets… strange.”
Suddenly, the orb shimmered and projected a holographic map in midair. Stars, spirals, and a massive swirl of glowing sugar dust—shaped like a bunny’s tail—floated before them.
“Crew,” Skull Fire said seriously, “we’re not just pirates now. We’re treasure guardians on a mission through warped time… and dangerously delicious desserts.”
Nutters looked up, wide-eyed. “Did he say time desserts?”
“Pack the ship,” Skull Fire grinned. “We set sail for the Fluffernog in the morning.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
Will time really twist like taffy in the Fizzy Black Hole?
Will Nutters survive without second breakfast?
And what lies at the very center of Fluffernog?
Find out in Chapter Four: The Time-Pudding Paradox! 🕰️🍮🚀
Sleep well, adventurer. The stars are waiting.