When the trio got back to Fraggle Rock, they were met by Mokey and Boober, and they didn't look very happy (well, with Boober it was hard to tell, because he hardly ever looked happy).
"Nevada, where have you been?" Mokey asked.
"You shouldn't be up and around like that!" Boober scolded. "Do you want your ankle to get infected and turn black and fall off?"
"Oh brother," Nevada sighed. "Give it a rest, would ya, Boober? I'm fine! I had to get up and walk around or else I was gonna go crazy."
"It's okay, you guys," Wembley said. "Gobo and I went with Nevada so he wouldn't hurt himself more than he already has. We took him exploring, see?"
Nevada pulled some of the crystals out of his backpack to show Boober and Mokey. Of course, Mokey was impressed, but Boober wasn't. He was still a bit angry.
"Well, you've been gone for so long, your lunch has gotten cold," he said, sounding somewhat put out.
"I think I'll survive," Nevada said, making a face at the idea of not only radish soup in general, but cold radish soup. Then he cleared his throat, and headed down one of the tunnels.
"Where are you going now?" Mokey asked.
"To see the Doozer construction site," Nevada said. "Check on the progress."
"Wait for me, Nevada!" Wembley shouted. "I'll go with you! I haven't seen it yet!"
"But what about your . . . ." Boober started.
"For crying out loud, Boober!" Gobo shouted. "You worry too much!"
Boober said nothing, and went back to his kitchen.
Meanwhile, Nevada and Wembley watched the Doozers build the tower. Or at least Nevada watched the Doozers. Wembley was staring up at the ceiling.
"Wow, that's pretty high up," he said.
"Yeah, I'm surprised I didn't break my neck comin' down!" Nevada shouted.
Wembley nodded, and turned his attention to the Doozers building. Instead of the regular construction frame they usually built, they were gluing the sticks together, like they usually did to their bridges, and creating blocks out of them.
"This method is going to take awhile," Cotterpin explained. "We just want to make sure this tower won't crash while you're climbing it, Nevada. I hope we don't run out of Doozer sticks!"
"As long as we keep Large Marvin away from here, you shouldn't," Wembley said. "At least I don't think."
"How long do you think it'll take until you're done?" Nevada asked.
"Hard to say," Cotterpin said. "We're not even halfway done."
"You don't want to leave already, do you, Nevada?" Wembley asked.
"No, I was just curious," Nevada said.
"Good," Wembley said. "Because there's lots more down here to see, and we can show you more stuff when you're ankle gets all better instead of sort of better!"
"You're the excitable type, aren't you?" Nevada asked.
"Well, yeah, I guess so," Wembley said, shrugging. "It's not every day we get Silly Creatures down here!"
"I've been meanin' to ask, why do you call us humans 'silly creatures'?"
"That's what Gobo's Uncle Matt calls you. I guess it kinda stuck."
"I see. While it may be a good name for some of us, not all of us are silly."
"Oh, I know that. I don't think you're silly, Nevada. I think you're the bravest person I've ever met! Next to Gobo, that is."
"Thanks, but the truth of the matter is, I'm not all that brave."
"Sure you are! You've taken on tigers, and falling stalactites and rockslides, and earthquakes . . . ."
"Yeah, and I was scared to death every time, too! You never know what life's gonna throw you as an adventurer."
"Well, you're still the bravest Silly Creature I know."
Nevada laughed, and tousled Wembley's hair. Then the two of them went back to the Great Hall. Boober was ringing the dinner bell.
For the next few days, the Fraggles took Nevada to their favorite places while the Doozers worked on their tower. Nevada finally had something to write about in his journal. He also observed their games, and joined in on occasion. He even played some games with the Fraggles that his grandfather played with him when he was little. At one point, he was swinging Red back and forth by her hands. Unfortunately, he swung a little too hard, and lost his grip. Red went flying, and landed directly into the Fraggle Pond with a huge splash. She came out of the pond spitting water out of her mouth and sputtering.
"Uh oh . . . ." Wembley said, nervously. He figured Red was going to lose her temper after that.
"Sorry about that, Red," Nevada said, a little sheepishly. "You okay?"
"Okay?! Okay?!" Red shouted. "I'm fantastic! That was great! That was incredible!"
"Boy, I thought she was going to get mad," Wembley said.
"That's Red for you," Gobo said. "But that did look like fun! I'm next!"
Nevada shrugged, swung Gobo around by his hands, and flung him into the pool as well.
"Wow!" he shouted, once he emerged. "You were right, Red! That was incredible!"
Pretty soon, most of the Fraggles in the rock wanted to join in on the fun. Nevada couldn't believe this one, but he complied anyway.
"Yahoooo!" Red shouted, as she flew into the pond.
"Hey, watch where you're splashing!" Boober shouted. "I just finished the laundry and if it gets wet again, it might mildew!"
"Come on, Boober!" Gobo shouted. "Take a break and play Fling the Fraggle!"
"Fling the Fraggle?" Boober repeated. "I don't think so, Gobo. It sounds painful."
"No, really, Boober, it's a lot of fun!" Wembley shouted. "Watch this! My turn, Nevada!"
Nevada grabbed Wembley's hands, swung him around, and tossed him into the pool.
"Whoopee!" he shouted, as he hit the water.
"Fun?!" Boober shouted. "You call being heaved into water fun?! That's a good way to drown!"
"Not if you hold your breath before you hit the water," Mokey pointed out.
"Then you run the risk of holding your breath too long and passing out from lack of oxygen!" Boober shouted. "This game sounds far too dangerous. You could get flung too hard and bust your head open when you hit the bottom of the pond! You could get flung too early and break your neck hitting the ground! You could even get your elbows dislocated just by being swung from your arms like that!"
"You're really the life of the party, aren't ya, Boober?" Nevada asked, somewhat sarcastically.
"Come on, Boober!" Red groaned.
"No, Red, it's okay," Nevada said, giving the yellow-and-orange Fraggle a wink. Boober didn't notice. "If he doesn't want to play Fling the Fraggle, he doesn't have to play Fling the Fraggle."
"Thank you, Nevada," Boober said.
"I think we'll play Dunk the Fraggle with him instead!" Nevada shouted.
"Wait, what?!" Boober shouted. Before he could say another word, Nevada grabbed the blue Fraggle, and dunked him into the pond as if he were a doughnut in a cup of coffee. Boober screamed as he was submerged, and then came out, spitting water out of his mouth.
"Oh no!" he shouted. "Look what you've done! I've got to get out of here and dry off before I catch pneumonia! Aaaaahhhh!"
Boober than jumped out of the pond and ran to his hole as fast as he could.
"There's no way to get him to lighten up, is there?" Nevada asked.
"No," Red said. "Boober's idea of fun is washing dirty socks. Oh well. That looked like fun anyway. Dunk me next, Nevada!"
"Oh boy, this is gonna be a long afternoon," Nevada said with a sigh, but he complied anyway.
By bedtime that night, Nevada was exhausted. He hadn't been this tired since he went mountain climbing in South America searching for the Bird of Paradise.
"Boy, I'm gonna sleep good tonight," he said, as he crawled into his sleeping bag.
"I hope we didn't wear you out too badly today, Nevada," Mokey said, as she, Gobo, Red, Boober, and Wembley walked over.
"Maybe a little," Nevada said. "I don't know where you guys get your energy from. I gotta tell you, I'm beat!"
"That's mostly Red's fault," Gobo said. "She doesn't know the meaning of the words settle down."
"Very funny," Red said sarcastically, giving Gobo a glare.
"Come on, you guys," Nevada said. "Knock it off. I'm too tired to referee!"
"Sorry, Nevada," Red said. "'Night!"
"Sweet dreams," Mokey said, and she and Red ran off to their cave.
"'Night, Nevada," Gobo said. "Tomorrow, we'll try to take it a little easier on you, okay?"
"Good," Boober said. "And in turn, you can take it a little easier on me, too."
"Come on, Boober, it was just a joke," Nevada said.
"Some joke!" Boober shouted. "You scared me to death! Do you know what it feels like to be so close to death?!"
"Actually, yes," Nevada said. "What with fightin' tigers, dodgin' scimitar weildin' guards, and nearly gettin' impaled by fallin' icicles, I'd say so."
"Oh," Boober said. "Well . . . . well I don't like practical jokes!"
"But Boober, don't you like to scare the balloobious off everybody?" Wembley asked. Then he turned to Nevada. "He likes to hide in places and then jump out when you're least expecting it and scare you half to death!"
"Oh really?" Nevada asked, raising an eyebrow at Boober.
"Yeah . . . ." Boober said, starting to feel a little sheepish. "Well . . . umm, no hard feelings then, okay, Nevada?"
"Okay," Nevada said, and he and Boober shook on it. "And I promise, no more practical jokes."
"Okay," Boober said. "Goodnight."
Gobo, Wembley, and Nevada began laughing the minute Boober was gone.
"I don't know what we're going to do with that Fraggle," Gobo said. "Anyway, see you in the morning, Nevada!"
"'Night," Nevada said, waving to Gobo. Then he turned to Wembley. "Aren't you going with him?"
"Ummm . . . ." Wembley said, thinking it over. "You think maybe I could . . . . you know, sleep out here with you tonight?"
"How come? I thought you were over your nightmares."
"Well, yeah, I am, but . . . . but the Doozers are going to get the tower finished any day now, and that means you'll leave, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can."
Nevada stifled a laugh. Then he sighed, and moved over a little.
"Okay, come on," he said.
Wembley smiled, and crawled into Nevada's sleeping bag, making himself comfortable. Nevada tousled his hair a bit, and began singing another song his grandfather had taught him, figuring it was another song the Fraggles might have known.
Music grows in the rose
Rock and rain and the blowin' snowstorm
Everything seems to sing
Everywhere I go
I say one, two, play me do
Let me sound as sweet as you
Play me wide
Play me long
Let me be your song
Play me down on the ground
Song comes singing from the midnight places
Raise me high in the sky
Song comes drifting through
I say one, two, play me do
Let me sound as sweet as you
Play me wide
Play me long
Let me be your song
Play me high
Play me low
Play me where the wild winds blowing
Play me wide
Play me long
Play me for your song
I say one, two, play me do
Let me sound as sweet as you
Play me wide
Play me long
Let me be your song
By the time Nevada was finished singing, Wembley was sound asleep. Nevada patted his shoulder, lay down himself, and closed his eyes.
"Sleep tight, good buddy," he said, before drifting off to sleep.
Two more days had passed, and finally, the Doozers were finished constructing. All of the Fraggles went to see the new tower. Instead of a standard Doozer tower, they had built what looked like a large staircase. Once Nevada saw them, he let out a low whistle.
"Kinda remind me of the Exorcist steps in Washington, DC," he commented.
"What are those?" Gobo asked.
"Do you guys know what a movie is?" Nevada asked.
"No," Gobo said.
"Then forget it," Nevada said. Gobo shrugged, and decided to let it go.
"You guys sure this will support Nevada?" Boober asked.
"Positive," Cotterpin said. "That's why we packed the construction material tightly together. Or as tightly together as we could. These steps will support at least a thousand pounds."
"Thank goodness I'm not that heavy," Nevada said, climbing on one of the steps, and stomping on it a little, testing it out. He sat down on them and turned to the Doozers.
"Thanks a lot, fellas," he said, shaking Cotterpin's hand with his index finger. "I really appreciate this."
"You're welcome, Nevada," Cotterpin said.
"Yeah, we loved every minute of it!" a Doozer named Wrench shouted.
"It was the most challenging thing we've done to date!" Cotterpin's father, Flange, shouted.
"We'd like to give you something to remember us by, Mr. Nevada," the Architect said, "and to thank you for giving us one of our greatest accomplishments."
A Doozer came forward, carrying a Doozer helmet that was spray painted with shiny gold paint. Nevada laughed, and took the helmet, which fit in the palm of his hand.
"Thanks, fellas," he said, sticking it in his backpack. "I'll add it to my collection of stuff I've collected on my adventures."
"I'm sure gonna miss you, Nevada," Red said, giving Nevada a hug around the leg. "We won't be able to play Fling the Fraggle anymore. None of us here is strong enough to fling us all the way to the pond."
"Yeah, we sure had a lot of fun while you were here," Gobo said.
"I think I'm gonna miss you guys, too," Nevada said, giving both Red and Gobo a hug at the same time. "I never had so many laughs on an expedition in my entire life."
"Be sure to take care of that ankle," Boober said. "It might be all healed up, but you never know when complications are going to set in!"
"I'll have my doctor take a look at it as soon as I can," Nevada said, giving Boober a pat on the back.
"I have something for you, Nevada," Mokey said. "I've been working on it since the Doozers started building this staircase."
Mokey handed Nevada a painting she had made. It featured him surrounded by the Fraggle Five.
"Thanks, Mokey," Nevada said.
"Take care of yourself," Mokey said, giving Nevada a hug.
"You, too, Mokey," Nevada replied.
"Can I go with you, Nevada?" Wembley asked.
"Wembley!" Gobo groaned. "You can't go into Outer Space! You've always been too scared to go, remember?"
"But I don't want Nevada to leave!" Wembley shouted. "I want to stay with him! I'll miss him too much if he goes!"
"Sorry, kiddo," Nevada said. "But I have to go. We've been over this before. My family and my friends are gonna worry to much if I don't get back pretty soon. And I'm startin' to miss them. Besides, if you went with me, Gobo, Red, Mokey, and Boober would miss you too much, wouldn't you, guys?"
"Oh yeah," Gobo said. "Definitely. You're my best friend, Wembley! I'd hate it if you went away forever!"
"The Rock just wouldn't be the same without you," Mokey said.
"And you'd probably miss us too much if you went with Nevada," Red said. "Wouldn't you?"
"Yeah," Wembley sighed. "I guess you're right. But can I at least go up the stairs with you, Nevada?"
"Oh, what the heck," Nevada said. "Sure."
Nevada picked up Wembley, and put him on his shoulders. Then he waved to the rest of the Fraggles, and started up the stairs. The Fraggles waved and called out their goodbyes, then went back to the Rock. Gobo, Red, Mokey, and Boober were going to stay behind to make sure Nevada made it back to Outer Space okay, and to make sure Wembley made it back down the staircase okay, too.
It was a steep climb, but Nevada was used to it. The Doozers had built a handrail. Nevada figured that would be the fastest way for Wembley to get back down to Fraggle Rock. He could just slide. Finally, Nevada made it up to where he had fallen, and started back toward the cave entrance. Once he got there, he took Wembley off his shoulders, and set him down on the ground.
"End of the line, kiddo," he said.
"Wow," Wembley said, looking at the cave entrance. "Outer Space looks so different than the other Outer Space!"
"How do you mean?" Nevada asked.
"Outer Space where Gobo gets his postcards from his Uncle Matt is kind of dull and brown and gray and stuff. Here it's green and blue, and . . . and colorful and pretty!"
"Well, there's lots of Outer Space. Gobo showed me some of his uncle's postcards, and you've seen pictures of where he's sent them, so why are you so surprised?"
"I've never seen it in person before."
Nevada nodded. He checked his backpack to make sure he had everything, including the Doozer helmet, and Mokey's painting. Then he sighed, and turned to Wembley.
"Can you make it up to the handrail on the staircase, or do you think you might need help gettin' on it?" he asked.
"I think it's a little too high for me to get on it by myself," Wembley said.
Nevada nodded, and he and Wembley walked back to the staircase. Nevada picked up the green Fraggle, and sat him on the railing, but before he let go, Wembley gave Nevada the biggest hug he could muster.
"Thanks for all the stories," he said. "And for helping me with my nightmares, and for everything."
"You're welcome," Nevada said.
"I'm really gonna miss you."
"I'm gonna miss you guys, too."
"Will you come back and visit us again? We'll keep the staircase up so you can! You won't leave forever like your grandfather did, will you? You won't forget about us like he did, will you?"
"Well, I can't promise anythin'. You never know where an adventurer is gonna go next. Maybe Grandpa John didn't come back to Fraggle Rock because he was too busy. And I don't think he ever forgot about you. If he did, he wouldn't have kept that marble. But I'll try to come back and see you again."
"Bring your friend Jerry with you. Just in case he doesn't believe you, like you said he didn't with that tribe of mice."
"Okay. Listen, I want you to have somethin'."
Nevada reached into his pocket, pulled out his lucky marble, and gave it to Wembley.
"Gee, Nevada, thanks," Wembley said. "But I can't take this! Your grandfather gave it to you, and it's your special good luck charm!"
"I know, but I want you to have it," Nevada said. "So you don't forget about me."
"I'd never forget you, Nevada."
Wembley gave Nevada another hug, and put the marble in his pocket. Then he sat down on the railing.
"Ready?" Nevada asked.
"Yeah," Wembley said. "All set."
"Okay, then," Nevada said, and he let go of the green Fraggle. "Look out below!"
As Wembley slid down the railing, he turned his head back, and waved to Nevada. Nevada waved back, and then headed to the cave entrance. Once he reached the bottom, Gobo caught him before he could fall off and hit the ground.
"Wow, that looked like fun!" he shouted.
"Yeah, it was," Wembley said. "Sort of. It would have been a lot more fun if Nevada didn't have to go."
"I know," Gobo said, patting Wembley on the back. "Saying goodbye to a friend who has to leave is always hard."
"Look what he gave me," Wembley said, taking out Nevada's marble.
"Wow, he gave you his lucky rollie!" Gobo shouted. "That's great, Wembley!"
"Yeah, except . . . ."
"Except what?"
"Well, you know Fraggle tradition. I'm supposed to pass on neat rollies like this, but . . ."
"But you don't really want to, do you?"
"Well, maybe not right away. But I don't want to break tradition, either. But . . . but Nevada gave it to me! For me to keep! But I don't want to wind up like Boober did when we found the perfect blue rollie. But I don't want to give it up either. But . . . ."
Gobo knew an oncoming wembling fit when he saw one, and this was one of them. The orange Fraggle grabbed Wembley by the shoulders, and shook him slightly.
"Wembley, relax!" he shouted. "It's okay! You don't have to pass Nevada's rollie on to another Fraggle right away. Why don't you hold onto it for a little while? The others will understand. Come on, let's had back to the Rock. It's almost time for lunch."
Wembley nodded, and followed Gobo back to the Rock.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The song in this chapter is from the "Fraggle Rock" episode "The Minstrels." My apologies to Cantus fans for giving it to someone else to sing it.