Author's note: After a break, we are off to one new adventure. With Ragnar plotting something terrible and new mysteries on the loose, we'll have to let the Cheshire Cat guide us to escape the trap that is being set.

Good hunt, everyone!

1. Gathering Storms

Three Months after Missing Star

Rafa is going away for Xmas and everyone has come to bid him goodbye. The young man smiles, he didn't expect less. But he knows better. Trixie is still jealous about Stephanie and the pink girl still wonders about Sportacus. Not to mention that Ragnar is up to something, no doubt, and so is Robbie. Gosh! This is getting ugly.

"Cuídala mucho." Rafa smiles at Shogun. The cat grins and tilts his head to the side as always.

"This is yours." Wow. Pinkie has a present for him. Very nice. A new football ball.

"Gracias." The boy smiles. "Am sorry to leave like this but I want to spend Xmas with my people." That reassures everyone. "But, you guys won't be alone. Shogun will keep an eye for me. All he needs is food and a place to sleep. He tucks himself. Merry Xmas!" He finally leaves.

"Bye!" Short time later, Stephie is alone with the feline. "Well, so much for our party. You want some tuna?" They walk home. Shogun stops and cocks an ear. An airship has landed not far from town. By the sound of its engine, it's smaller than the blue hero's. They are coming. Ragnar is not going to wait any longer to keep his son away from the threat. Too bad. He doesn't know he's going to do a great mess if he goes on. Elves and humans must coexist or else something really bad may happen. Hm. Looks like Mr Too Proud needs more than a cold shower.

"Stephanie!" Ow! The blue wonder is here. "Are you going to go skating in the lake?"

"Yeah! Once I have made sure that my uncle knows where am." She runs inside. The elf looks at the cat who shows a very large grin. "Stop pretending cuz I know you understood everything. You are that cat who convince the Council to make me Number Ten."

"So you remember me, hu? Good lad. It'll become handy in this dark times, trust me. " Shogun nods.

"You mean more trouble?" Smart fellow, nevertheless.

"The King has lost one round but the chess game is still on. A great menace is over Latibaer and Lazy Town. This snake in the grass has been quiet until now, that has find the big prize ." Speaking in riddles as always when he knows someone needs advise. "Your dad is trying to keep you away from it."

"Maybe but still, that is no reason for him to act like this." Sportacus looks sad.

"There is no worse injure, my amigo azul, than the one we keep scratching to make it bleed. But the way that you are looking for is not towards your father but to face the snake." He moves slowly his tail. "Only a few find the way, some don't recognize it when they do; some don't even want to."

"A snake in the grass? People like that don´t come here. Specially not important people." True, true, my lad. But… "And my father. Can´t just come and take me away. Is against the rules."

"Not quite. When the smithy can't do it with the big hammer, he´ll use a smaller one."

"Ow, my god!" He has understood. "Robbie."

XXX

"Damned Sportacuts! Why can he just forget about this place and go home." Rotten is trying to get some sleep but all are noises and people talking. There is no way he can get some shut eye. Or maybe yes? A deep silence finally falls. "Much better." He closes his eyes. A shadow leans on him.

"Get up right now, you lazy scum." A powerful kick and the chair falls. Robbie opens his eyes. Over him are the two bodyguards of the King of Latibaer. "We have a job for you."

"I don't want anything to do with elves." Tries to go back to his nap but the elf pulls him up from the collar. "OK, ok…" Whimpers.

"You are half elf so stop barking, you useless mongrel." That is true. "Our King wants you to help him get our Prince back home. In return you'll get a juicy reward."

"Sounds swell but, I want to choose the prize since it ain´t easy to bring down that blue bird." Fair trade.

"Very well. But remember. Do NOT harm the prince. Ragnar only wants him a bit weak or stunned, nothing else." That's easy for you to say. "What is your prize, lazy elf?" Cursed that bloodline.

"Something that should have been mine in the first place." Evil grin. "And come to think of it, I know just the way to bring down that smurf."

Hot start, baby!

Let's see how it goes!

Next Stop: Under the city