Magic Library and the Mutant Fish of Blackwater Creek | Bedtime Story for Kids

0:04 Hello, friends from across the nation and around the world. I'm Martin, and you are listening to Dad's Bedtime Stories, the podcast that takes listener ideas and turns them into bedtime stories. Now, as many of you know, I ran a contest in March, a social share contest where if you shared the podcast, you were entered into a draw for a guaranteed story idea. The winner of that draw was Will, and I did a little interview with Will this past weekend to check out his story idea and ask him a few other questions. So I think it's time to check that out now.

0:47 So Will tell me about your story idea.

0:50 Some of my story is a magic library idea. And you go into a fishing book, you go fishing, and there are these people who ask you if you want to go fishing, and then like they take you a different part of the river that you've never been before, and they don't tell you the like the water is toxic. So then you catch a musemant fish and it chases.

1:16 You out of the book, and then you've got to go into another book to find someone to help you fight it and put it into the actual book.

1:28 All right, I like it is the Magic Vibrary one of your favorite series.

1:33 Or yeah, it's one of my favorites.

1:37 What other ones do you like?

1:39 I like the Quantum Computer.

1:42 Oh, I need to do more of those. If you could travel into one of the worlds, which one would it be?

1:48 Oh, definitely the Quantum Computer.

1:50 What do you like about it?

1:52 I just like, like, I'm very creative and like I would like to see, like what the computer looked like.

2:01 That's cool.

2:01 I'll have to do more of both of those, the Magic Library and the Quantum Computer. And based on that suggestion of that conversation I had with Will, that's exactly what I decided to do this week because I released a Quantum Computer episode, which I haven't done in quite a while, on Sunday, and today we're going back to the Magic Library. Anyways, Will and I did talk for a longer time than that, but I thought those would be kind of the relevant portions for today's episode, because it's now that time again. Time to get as comfy as you can in that bed, close your eyes and imagine yourself doing what the kid in the story does.

2:48 Imagine yourself sitting around in your room once again. Yeah, it's kind of one of those boring days where you're not sure exactly what else to do. And that's when you see it. The key, the key to the magic Library, and suddenly all of your problems of boredom are gone. You hop up off of your bed, walk over and pick up the key. It feels cool and heavy in your hand. You move over to a blank section of the wall and hold the key out toward it. Just before the key touches the wall, a key hole appears.

3:35 This is still amazing, you mutter yourself. You slide the key into the magic new key hole, turn it, and hear a familiar click. At once, the glowing outline of a door appears in the wall. You pull it open and step through down the stone stairs, through the long corridor lit with what look like magical blue torches, until you reach the great wooden door at the far end.

4:10 You open it up and step into the magic Library. It's just as incredible as ever. Books stretch upward on shelves that seem to go on well forever. Staircases wind around railings and balconies. Cozy reading nooks are tucked here and there between the stacks and overhead books drift through the air flapping their covers like little wings as they fly from place to place. Welcome back, says the librarian.

4:48 You look around, though, of course, you know that you're not actually going to see anyone. The librarian is well, sort of just the voice of the library itself, a magic consciousness built into it, or something, at least that's what you assume. Hey, librarian, you say, I think I want something a little calmer today.

5:13 Calmer. The voice replies.

5:16 That's an unusual request for you, but I believe I can manage it. You head down the circular stairs towards the big reading area in the center of the library, where couches and pillows and blankets sit in a giant cozy ring.

5:36 Perhaps, says the librarian.

5:39 A nice outdoor adventure, something peaceful. Ah, sure, that sounds perfect, Maybe like a camping story or hiking or I don't know, fishing. Fishing, says the librarian. Excellent choice. One of the lying books glides down from above, turns neatly in the air, and lands in your hands. You look at the cover the secret fishing spot. Oh nice, You say that sounds relaxing. Yes, says the librarian, very relaxing. Now will you do in fact, notice the slightly strange way he says that particular phrase.

6:30 You decide to settle into one of the soft couches and pull a blanket up over your legs. Anyways, you open the book. Instead of ordinary pages, a swirling portal glows inside the cover. You lean toward it, and instantly you feel your whole body pulled forward, as though the book has suddenly become a tunnel, or well, a portal.

7:00 When you open your eyes again, you're somewhere completely different. You're sitting on a small fishing boat drifting gently down a river. Tall trees lean out over the water, their leaves rustle softly in the breeze. The current is slow and steady, and the boat rocks in the most peaceful way imaginable. You look down and see that you're wearing fishing boots, a vest with way too many little pockets, and a hat that makes you feel like you probably know what you're doing. In your hands is a fishing rod.

7:41 And then you hear the familiar voice of the librarian narrating the story.

7:47 All around you, ah no river. Hidden far beyond the usual trails, there was a fishing spot known only to a lucky few you, and on this particular day, one kid had finally been invited there. As the words are spoken, little flashes of memory start to move through your mind, the way they often do in these books. Now, the kid you will be taking the role of was known among friends as patient, observant, and very eager to catch the biggest fish of the summer. When two experienced fishes offered to take you or him to their secret spot, there was no chance that you or he were going to say no. Across from you when the boats at two older kids, both with rods in hand and tackle boxes by their feet. Who I told you this place

8:56 was worth the trip, one of them says, best fishing spot ever, says the other.

9:03 Hardly anyone knows about it. You look around at the quiet river and grin. This place is amazing, you say. The first fisher nods proudly. Well, you just wait till you see what bites around here for a while. It's really perfect. The boat drifts slowly, the trees sway, birds chirp. You cast your line out into the water and watch the ripples spread in little circles. You listen to the soft sounds of the river and begin to relax. But after a minute or two you notice something odd the water as we have a bit of a strange color to it. Not everywhere, just in little patches. One spot has a faint green shimmer. Another is of purple in a way that it shouldn't be. You squint down at it, You say, is the water supposed to do that? The

10:11 two fishers exchange a glance to what one asks that you say pointing the glowing Oh, says the other that yes, you say that it's probably fine. Probably, you repeat, very probably, says the second you narrow your eyes. That is not a comforting answer. Listen, kid, all we know is this is one of the best fishing spots we've ever seen.

10:49 The fish here are way bigger than anywhere else.

10:53 Ah.

10:53 We don't want to ask too many questions about why, or you know, bring some of them environment mentalists down here or something like that. A strange cluster of bubbles rises near the boat. One pops with a tiny puff of purple mist. You stare at it. Why are the bubbles purple? Ah, minerals The fisher answers, Uh, maybe magic.

11:22 Honestly we're not really sure what it is. But again, big fish, Hey, he says, you're getting a bite, and he's right. Your fishing rod bends so suddenly and so hard that you nearly get yanked out of your seat. WHOA you showed, I got something allD on tight, says one of the fishers. Real reel it in, shouts the other.

11:50 You brace your feet against the bottom of the boat and start reeling with all of your strength. Whatever is on the end of the line must be huge. It pulls so hard that the whole boat lurches sideways. This is not a normal fish, you say. That means you got a good one, one of the fishers replies. The line slices through the water, the boat drifts faster. You keep reeling and reeling, until suddenly, with an enormous splash, the creature bursts from the river. At first, all you can process is its size. It's a gigantic fish, bigger than any fish you've ever seen, closer in fact, to the size of well, a shark. Then you notice the rest its scales, shimmer and strange glowing patches of green and blue seaweed hangs from its back like messy hair,

12:54 though you're pretty sure it might actually be attached to the thing's eyes bulge kind of oddly. It's fins twitch in the wrong direction, and then very disturbingly, a pair of little arms unfolds from its side.

13:13 You freeze.

13:15 The fish lands on the edge of the boat with a wet slap and grins at you. The fish can grin.

13:26 Oh, the fish says, cheerfully, a new one. Hello, welcome to the river. You should come in the Water's wonderful. You blink? Did did the fish just talk? Of course, I docked, said the fish. That's one of the upgrades you get to this water.

13:54 Then, with a horrible sort of sclching sound, it grows longer arm and from beneath its body, two strong back legs unfold kind of awkwardly. You take a step backward in the boat. Nope, Nope, perhaps absolutely not, you say. The fish tilts its head.

14:18 Don't be rude. I'm being friendly.

14:22 You're a fish with arms and legs, Yes, it says proudly, And I don't want to be the only one you stare at it. Sorry what The fish leans closer. You should come into the water, it says, in a weirdly cheerful voice. It tingles it first, but then you get used to the extra parts extra parts.

14:54 You shout, The fish nods. Do you know how lonely it is being the old what around here with fins and elbows?

15:04 I guess I don't you reply, Oh, it's lovely. Once you accept it, we could all swim together, muted friends forever. One of the fishers raises their hand. Ah, to be fair, he does seem kind of lonely. You look back at the fish. Oh, it says. You're saying no, aren't you. Yes, You reply, the fish size dramatically. You're being very closed minded about mutation. I'm being the correct amount of closed minded about mutation.

15:50 You reply. The fish's eyes narrow. Then maybe it says, I just need to get you in the river myself.

16:03 With that, it slams its tail into the side of the boat. Crack, one of the boards, splits, open water starts rushing in. Okay, this is not relaxing in any way.

16:16 You shout.

16:18 The fish clambers further into the boat, flopping and stomping its little weird fish legs, smashing tackle boxes and knocking over fishing gear everywhere as it makes its way toward you. You duck as its tail swings over your head. Come on in the fish says, the water is strange, but honestly, you get used to it. No, thank you, Uh, librarian, get me out of here. This isn't relaxing at all, understood.

16:54 A glowing portal appears beside you, the exit. You don't has it for a second. You leap straight through the thing. The last thing you hear before you dive through is the strange mutant fish shouting don't.

17:10 Run from your destiny.

17:13 You tumble out onto the couch and the magical library, landing in a pile of pillows, thinking that you're safe, and that's when you hear the same strange, squishy noise behind you. You turn to see the mutant fish dragging itself out of the still open book. Oh no, I forgot to close the book.

17:41 Oh good, it says, a new place. This place needs more water. What are you doing in the library?

17:52 You ask, and the librarian answers immediately because he says, you left the book open again.

18:02 Ah, I forgot about that. Well by now, I thought you'd remember. I think it's a fair expectation. At this point, the mutant.

18:13 Fish flops down off of the table and starts stomping through the reading area. Books scatter into the air, chairs, tip over. Its tail, sweeps across a low shelf, and knocks a stack of books onto the floor. This blaze is too dry, the fish complains, and also not nearly mutanty enough. Hey, leave my library alone. No mutating it, the librarian says. From all around you, Oh, I think I just might. It would improve it. You duck behind a couch as the fish lungest towards you.

18:59 There you are, come along. You will look great with gears. I don't want gills. You say that, now, says the fish. But wait until you try breathing sideways underwater. It's amazing.

19:19 It lunges again, and you jump on to the back of the couch, then up to a nearby railing. The fish crashes into the couch, sending pillows everywhere. You run along the railing, trying to think, how are you supposed to stop a giant, talking mutant fish. Maybe you should have just finished the book, but well, it's too late for that now. Now you need some way to get this thing back inside its own book, and well close it preferably forever. Then your eyes land on a table near the reading area. Sitting on it is another book.

20:03 One that you've read before the Dragon King. Of course, you skid to a stop, grab the book and flip it open right to the end. The portal glows. That says the librarian is either an.

20:21 Excellent plaid or a terrible one.

20:25 I'm hoping I'm excellent, you say, as you dive into the portal. A moment later, you're back inside the world of Eldoria, racing through the final chamber where the golden armor and flute weight. Because you've done it before, you already know exactly what you need. You grab the armor, snapping it into place piece by piece. Golden plates slide over your arms and chest. Then you snatch up the flute before immediately jumping through the eggs at portal. You land in the library once again, this time wearing shining gold armor. The mutant fish stops mid stomp and blinks at you. Oh, it says you changed, Yeah, you say, lifting the flute and you are going back in your book.

21:25 The fish folds its arms. You know, if you came into the river, you could probably grow arba naturally sort of. It might be permanently stuck to your skin, but it would be so fun. That sounds like a terrible idea, and nobody wants to do that. You reply, Oh, fied, it's mostly wishful thinking anyways. The fish admits. You raise the flute to your lips and begin to play. The melody pours out into the library, clear and bright and powerful.

22:05 At once, golden light shines from the open dragon king book. A huge shadow rises. Then the golden Dragon emerges, climbing from the portal with a slow, majestic sort of grace that makes the entire room feel smaller. Books whirl through the air from the wind of its wings. His golden scales gleam in the library light. He lowers his great head and looks first at you, then at the mutant fish I see. The dragon says, in a deep voice, that you have found trouble again. Huh, a little, you say.

22:55 The dragon looks at the fish that appears to be more than a little. The mutant fish straightens up and tries to look impressive her a big lizard. The dragon narrows his eyes.

23:12 Fish with legs. I prefer to think of myself as a fish with possibilities, the mutant fish replies.

23:22 Then it charges, or at least it kind of tries to It's sort of more of like a half running, half flopping motion, but it moves with surprising speed. The dragon sidesteps, gracefully, swings its tail and knocks the fish backward into a pile of cushions. The fish pops up again. I'm not going anywhere, not alone. Oh, being a mutant fish is such a lonely thing. Won't what have you come with me? Perhaps you dragon? Being a mutant dragon could be fun.

24:01 I don't think so. You will return to your river, but it's lowly there.

24:12 Ah, then maybe you say from behind the flute, you should stop trying to mutate everybody, That, says the fish is how I make friends? Has that ever worked for you? Before you ask?

24:29 We're no, not exactly, but I was hoping this would be the first time.

24:36 The dragon takes one heavy step forward, then another. The fish backs away. The dragon doesn't slash or bite. He simply advances with slow, irresistible power, hurting the fish backward across the reading area.

24:56 Back.

24:57 Says the dragon. I don't want to go back back. You are a very repetitive dragon.

25:07 It's working, isn't it.

25:10 The fish glances around wildly, then makes one last desperate leap toward a shelf, as if maybe it can hide there among the books or something. The dragon inhales and lets out a mighty roar, Not fire, just a huge roar, one so powerful that it shakes the room and blasts a gust of winds so strong that the fish tumbles backward, end over end right. In two the open fishing book, You sprint forward, slam the cover shut, and press both hands on it. The book wiggles once, then twice, then it goes still. You let out a long breath. All right it closed? Say definitely closed? Yes, says the librarian, closing the book. A strong new strategy. I hain't get it, you mutter. You know what else would be a strong strategy, librarian,

26:16 maybe warning me that the book I'm about to read isn't just a relaxing sort of fishing book. It actually has a super weird, talking mutant fish that wants to make friends.

26:29 Well, I I thought you might enjoy a little adventure. To be honest, you look bored. Thanks.

26:37 Next time, maybe I can decide what kind of adventure I want.

26:42 Eh. Sorry, I won't do that again, I promise.

26:49 Anyways. Time to clean this place up. You pick up the flute once again and begin to blow into it, allowing your fingers to move exactly where they're supposed to go. The flute produces a well, an almost hypnotic sort of sound. Hearing it, the dragon turns back towards the book and jumps into his own portal. You walk towards it next and take off the golden armor, shoving it back into the book along with the flute. Then you carefully close the book tight and place it back on the table.

27:34 Well, would you like to perhaps choose another book for today, since you apparently did not enjoy that one.

27:44 Asks the librarian. H No, I think I'm just gonna head to bed, you say. You make your way up the staircase back through the giant wooden door, down the long chin amber hall full of glowing blue lights, and up the set of stairs. You push open a little door at the end and step back into your very own room. You close the door behind you, turn the key, and with a click, the outline to the door disappears.

28:26 You pull the key out of the keyhole and it glows for a second before disappearing as well. You place the key on a shelf and head back to your bed, You pull the covers up over top of yourself. You close your eyes, and you begin to simply focus on your breath. With each breath, your shoulders grow more and more relaxed, your arms sink down into the bed, your legs let go of any tension at all, and you even relax your face into a nice sort of half smile.

29:19 And as you continue to breathe, you allow your mind to wander off off the thoughts of new dreams, new fishing trips, and new adventures to come.

29:36 Good night, everyone, yes.

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