Author´s note: I must say that I have always seen Zeebad and Zebedee as two sides of one coin, and yes, no gay relations, sorry. I got questions like "Why does Zeebad call Zeb treacherous thief?" and stuff. But let´s do it step by step. I would like it if the film could came out again, but oh well! It is up to me to make you enjoy this story. Hope it works and thank you to all readers. We move on with the project!

3. Blue Shade

Florence arrives at Ermintrude´s house and finds the singing cow talking with Dylan, Bryan and Buxton. Looks like the cat has made friends in no time.

"Oh, Florence! How good of you to come. He has told us that Dougal is mad at you for some stupid story" the cow is delighted to see her.

"Yes, he is" the girl is still thinking about the blue flowers on the hill.

"Too bad for him. I bet he went mad knowing that all was a lie." Sniggers the snail.

"I don´t know. Maybe I should have listened to him" Florence can't a shake a bad feeling about all this.

"Give yourself a break, Florence" says the rabbit.

"Don´t bother yourself with that, pretty one. You are kind hearted and I am sure you have no intention of bothering your friend." Says Buxton and she nods.

"How nice of you, dear. You really are a good friend." Ermintrude glances at the cat with a smile. "If you ask me, you can stay with us all the time in the world."

"Yes, stay, please" Bryan smiles.

"I am sure Dougal will get used to you." Florence sighs.

"You are all too kind. I promise that I will be at your entire service." the cat seems pleased.

"Blah, blah blah. Would you believe that?" Dougal looks in anger how Buxton talks with his friends.

"Well, I can tell he is having fun" next to him, Chess sharpens his claws. He is also a cat but with black fur and normally, not involved in Dougal´s things. Chess is a enigmatic being who loves to watch the events in the village from the rooftops, when he's not mysteriously vanishing. "I don´t like this stranger either but we have to reserve ourselves to observation so we can know him better" the fog in the valley has told him the whole thing.

"He is a blue vermin." growls the canine.

"Vermin, perhaps. But not because he is cat. I don´t like him mainly cuz there is something fishy. But, mi amigo, we must be very careful." Chess always mysterious and cunning.

"Fishy? He eats fish?" Dougal is a bit thick around the edges.

"No, it´s because he is too nice, too humble. And not from the heart. To sell the moon and pour the sun, you must speak the language of the worms."

"Come again?"

"If you look humble and gentle enough, people will open their hearts to you" Chess translates his own word.

"And that is what he is doing" the dog snorts.

"Quite so" the black feline moves the tip of his tail slowly.

"We must do something. He might want to hurt Florence" He is ready to jump over Buxton.

"Hold your bones, rug boy. He is not after your mistress"

"Then, what?"

"Hm. Is just a theory, but I believe he might be after something very valuable" Chess gives it a thought, considering all he has seen.

"Like what?" Dougal sits down.

"Think, my furry one. Think. What is one of the most precious things in this village?"

"My bones?" strike one.

"…"

"Brian´s rocks?" strike two.

"…"

"Dylan´s carrots?" strike three, you're out!

"…"

"Hm. The Roundabout?" saved by the bell, cujo!

"Well, at least an answer that fits. But more exactly, I would say what makes the carousel move." The strange feline narrows his eyes.

"Hu! Zebedee´s magic!" jumps the dog.

"He can be taught!" That commentary makes Dougal frown. "A guessing game is not for you, that´s for sure."

"If that is true, we must warn the others!" He runs towards them.

"Dougal... Why can this rug boy wait for five minutes? Was he a fireman in other life or what?" Chess decided to sit and wait, there is no point in following Dougal.

"Florence! You cat, stay away from my friend! I know you are up to something evil! And I will stop you!" The dog jumps to the middle and everyone frowns at him. "What?"

"Dougal! How can you say something like that?" Florence tells him in anger.

"He is nice and gentle, something you are not!" Ermintrude is next.

"But..." Dougal finds himself unable to answer.

"Buxton wants to be our friend!" Bryan gives him the final ring.

"But..." the dog sits ashamed.

"You are way out of your karma, dude" Dylan adds.

"You dislike him because he is a cat!" that cow could hold his tongue sometimes. Dougal leaves ashamed. While the group apologizes to Buxton for his manners, the blue cat smiles to himself. With that dog out of the scene, he can speak freely.

"Oh bother!" Dougal walks back to Chess.

"I told you to be patient." the black cat yawns.

"So what? That vermin is getting too close to my friends" the dog whines.

"Ejem" Chess frowns and Dougal gets the message.

"Fine. OUR friends. And, I am worried about Florence. And... All right, I go mad when Zebedee plays one of his pranks on me but, he has helped me many other times. We must do something"

"All we can do is wait" sighs the feline.

"Florence..." Dougal looks at the girl. She is really enjoying herself, ignorant of the danger. "Chess, is there anything you can do about it?"

"I will see to it"

"And, can you watch over Florence, please?" The cat is showing a big grin. "What?"

"You and I have never get along and yet you have just said my name and please"

"Never mind." frowns the canine.

"I shall watch over our friend since you asked so kindly."

"... Thanks" They head for the square. Mr. Rusty is busy with the mechanical revision of the roundabout. "Say, uh. How did you know that he was after Zebedee?"

"..." Broad grin. "Deduction, my dear rug boy. After you mentioned the factory, I realized that the appearance of Buxton was no accident. And the most valuable thing in this place is the magic."

"You are one weird cat" grumbles Dougal.

"Thank you, dear" smiles Chess.

Once night falls and everyone´s asleep, Buxton leaves his sleeping place in Ermintrude´s tower and heads for the factory. Chess watches from a safe distance and appears and disappears through the dark to avoid being seen.

But he is not the only one. Once Buxton is inside, Zebedee appears and has a look around the place. Is all empty or so it seems. Then the voice is heard again and the springer gets ready to defend himself. But he does not expect some strange looking tentacles grabbing his face and arms. As an instinct action, his hands and moustache shine with fire and burn down the tentacles, setting him free. No more attacks take place and yet, his arm hurts like hell. Buxton sees this and watches him disappear in a haze of colors. Meanwhile Chess remains silent in his hiding place.

"The fire springer is still here..." The Blue voice speaks. "He must be vanquished or blue will not last long."

"Fear not, your Blueness. According to what I´ve heard, that jumping bean needs his moustache to perform magic as well as the roundabout. If we use those two facts, the valley will be for us" smiles the cyan feline.

"Then go, Lord Buxton. Carry out your mission. And find the ice springer too. With those two gone, Blue shall be perfect."

Buxton then hears thunder. A heavy rain begins to fall and the whole place rests with ease, not knowing the dangers ahead. But luckily, Chess has heard everything and has friends to prevent this catastrophe.

More action to come!

Next chapter: Trust