Lesson One: “The Letter”

Have you ever met a real life King? Then you’re in for a treat. Today, we'll meet a very special guest – someone who wears a red fuzzy cape, a fake blond mustache, and a shiny gold crown! But beneath that golden crown is a head full of worries. Have you ever felt worried about something? What do you think is troubling our guest? Let’s find out together! This is the story of King Mateo and the mystery of the missing animals.

There once was a young King called Mateo. He lived a life of adventure with his friends - Teresa the tigress, Charles the chimpanzee, Sergio, the whale, and many others. Together, they were the happiest of explorers.

Or, at least, they were. You see, everything changed when the entire world came to a screeching halt. They called it "The Long Break". A strange illness had forced everyone indoors. A race to find a cure for this mysterious disease had begun.

Yet, King Mateo was in no hurry to return to 'normal life.' You see, he was afraid.

"It was a mistake to leave me in charge! I’m not old enough or smart enough. Argh… what were my parents thinking? I’m not ready to be King of Tribeca."

His phone released a soft chime, interrupting his anxious thoughts. It was from the Tribeccean Parliament.

"Citizens of Tribeca,

The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived! We've found the cure! At midnight tonight, the Long Break will officially end. Join us tomorrow morning for a citywide celebration. Free cupcakes for all!!

Sincerely,

The New Parliament of Tribeca”

King Mateo’s face went pale. A tight knot twisted in his chest.

“No... not yet!”

A loud bang shook the castle doors.

“Maybe that's them! My parents!”     

King Mateo ran down the castle stairs as the banging continued.

“I’m coming!"

With a push, he threw open the heavy mahogany doors. All was quiet. The front garden was empty. Yet, there at his feet, atop the royal welcome mat, lay an envelope. And it was addressed to him.

King Mateo ripped open the envelope. Inside was a letter and a map. It said: 

“Dear King Mateo, 

If you are reading this, then the worst has happened. All the animals in the kingdom have disappeared. Gone, vanished, poof! Only you can find them. Their future is in your hands.

P.S. Awful news, I know. But here's a clue that may prove to be helpful… E4, C4."

Sincerely, 

The Shadow King

King Mateo felt his heart drop. “This can’t be real. But if it is... I must save them!”  

"You, you're going to save them? How? You're just a silly boy!" King Mateo's anxiety was back, and louder than ever.

"That may be true, but I must try. They would do the same for me. Now, where did I put my adventure supplies?

Soon King Mateo found what he needed. Then he loaded the Landy, and was off.

"Here's to solving the mystery of the missing animals!”

—

Not long into the drive, King Mateo came to a stop. Before him stood a stone entryway. Behind it, was fog-filled forest, belonging to the ancients of legends past.  

Entering the forest on foot, King Mateo threw his backpack over his shoulder and listened. A series of strange sounds bubbled and bounced off spindly branches and through brambles, all prickled and knotty. Jurassic sized leaves blocked the sun’s warming rays. 

King Mateo stepped onto a wild path. Velvety weeds tugged at his feet while distant howls sent shivers up his spine. “Remember what father says, 'We can still be brave even though we're afraid'".

Mumbling this mantra over and over again, King Mateo tip-toed his way through the forest's dark and clammy heart. Until at last…

"A clue!" 

There, hanging on a tree branch full of sticky spider web, was a bit of torn cloth. But as he reached for it, a flurry of furry footsteps swept him off his feet. From the forest floor, King Mateo watched as a creature leapt into the black hollow of a dying tree.

Could this be one of his missing friends? Or was it the legendary eighteen-legged monster that stalked these woods?”

A familiar knot of panic lodged itself in Mateo's belly. His fear and anxiety was back. “What are you crazy?" said the fist-like knot. "Only real Kings go on rescue missions and jump into scary tree holes. Not pretenders like you.”

King Mateo’s knees buckled and his shoulders shrunk. He was about to give up when he remembered something else his father had said. 

He said, “Son, your fears are there to keep you safe. But if you’re not careful they may hold you back. To do great things you’ll need to learn to quiet those fears.” Then he taught King Mateo a trick to do just that.  

King Mateo closed his eyes, made a tent shape with his fingers, and spoke to his fears, “You're just looking after me, I know. But… what if everything works out?”

With that, the knot in his tummy unraveled and fell quiet. King Mateo was ready.

Launching himself inside the hollow tree, King Mateo landed with a thump. Something warm and squishy pressed against his leg. 

“Ahhhhh!! Oh wait, I'd know that spotted fur anywhere!"

It was Harold, a Dalmatian puppy, and one of King Mateo's missing friends!!

But this exciting reunion was short-lived. A danger scary and real dangled above their heads. King Mateo was the first to spot it.

“Harry, keep absolutely still. But when I say go, jump two steps forward. And whatever you do, don’t look up!”

At that exact moment, a tree spider the size of a large pony slowly descended from its nest high above, striking terror into our adventurers' hearts.

“GO, Harry!! GO!!” Harry sprung forward. And just in time too. The spider’s giant body slammed onto the forest floor with a bang. Our adventurers stood frozen with horror as the arachnid screeched and scrambled to its feet.

King Mateo came to his senses and belted out, “Run!!!” Out of the tree they leapt.

And in a flash, they darted through the foggy forest, raced across a false-bottom desert, up the slippery hills of death, until finally falling breathless in a desolate valley - the Blackmar Pits of Fire.

Hissing smoke and tiny orange flecks of fire danced around them. 

“We're safe now." King Mateo wiped the sweat from his brow and patted Harry’s spotty head.  

“Now tell me Harry, what on earth were you doing all alone in that scary forest?”

Tears streaming down his face, Harry told his sorry tale. How he and his siblings had been invited to a surprise party at the castle, but during their journey there, he was separated from the group.

"King Mateo, what if I never see my brothers and sisters again?" he sobbed.

King Mateo put his arm around the pup. “Don't worry, we'll find them. We'll find all of our missing friends!” 

But Harry didn't respond. Something was wrong. He was ‘Stuck like Chuck,’ as King Mateo would say. Frozen in place.

"Oh no! I’ve heared about this. It happens to puppies when a dangerous object blocks their path! But where's the danger?"

King Mateo waved his arms to brush away the lingering smoke and found himself face to face with a massive maned lion. Ahhh!!

Fear rippled through the King. But he knew he must act. And fast.

"Maybe I can scare the lion away with one of these?" In his hand was a velvet pouch filled with delicate glass vials. Each vial contained a top-secret formula, courtesy of The Royal Lab. "Not sure what this one does but here we go!" he said as he launched a vial at the lion's furry feet.  

King Mateo held his breath, waiting for the lion to react… But nothing happened. The secret formula didn't work.

He was about to launch another vial when he realized.. the lion had yet to blink. "Wait, it's a statue!! That's why the formula didn't work. But it certainly doesn't explain why there's a note with my name on the lion’s mane.

In  disbelief, he snatched the note from the statue and read it aloud.

"Please join us for the surprise party of the century. Details below.

Your friend, the Shadow King."

And then scribbled below that: 

"P.S. Hello, King Mateo. It seems we meet again. You’re getting closer to me but further from your friends. If I were you, I’d focus on finding them before it’s too late!”

King Mateo's face went pale. "I don't like this. We need to leave. But first..." He heaved aside the massive statue, clearing Harry's path.

It worked! Harry was free! And not a moment too soon because King Mateo sensed a new danger lurking in the shadows. If they didn't move quickly, they’d be trapped, or worse.

“To the castle!”

What do you think will happen next?

Come back next week to find out!

But for now, would you like to meet King Mateo? He’s excited to teach us a fun game!