Midnight Feast

It was a quiet Tuesday night in St Heliers. The stars blinked sleepily above Rosalie’s three-story house, and the wind whispered secrets through the trees. But inside Rosalie’s room—on the top floor with the deck and the Dumbo-covered bed—something was stirring.

Rosalie lay wide awake in her Dumbo PJs, thumb hovering near her mouth (but she was trying really hard not to suck it). Her tummy gave a dramatic growl.

 “I need noodles,” she whispered. “Or chocolate. Or… something magical.”

She tiptoed past the pile of Derbies—over 50 Dumbo soft toys, each with their own personality. Derby, the leader, sat proudly on her pillow, yellow hat tilted just so.

“Derby,” she whispered. “Emergency. Midnight feast required.”

With a soft whoosh, Derby blinked to life, flapped his ears, and floated into the air. His red neck frill shimmered in the moonlight.

“Feast protocol activated,” he said in his deep, comforting voice. “Summon the cousins.”

Rosalie grabbed her device and video called Jasmine, who answered instantly—wearing glittery pyjamas and lip-syncing to a pop song.

“Midnight feast?” Jasmine squealed. “I’m in. I’ll bring the marshmallow fluff.”

Jasmine arrived in St Heliers gracefully atop the swirling winds of the flying magical Derby squad, while Nathan—clutching a half-eaten marshmallow—tagged along reluctantly, only because if he hadn’t, he would’ve tattled on her for sneaking out.

Nathan raced to the kitchen holding a jar of peanut butter and a suspiciously large spoon. “I’ve got snacks. And Mum’s leftover bento rice. Let’s roll.”

Operation: Sneaky Snack Squad

Rosalie came down the stairs, tiptoeing like a ninja. She wore her pale blue hoodie over her PJs. Jasmine had sparkly slippers. Nathan wore socks on his hands for “stealth mode.”

Derby floated above them, leading the Derbies like a parade of plushy balloons. Derby Grandma brought a tiny whisk. Derby Mum carried a picnic cloth.

They raided the fridge:

- Leftover sushi rolls (slightly squished)

- A tub of whipped cream

- Nana’s secret chocolate buttons (hidden behind the kale)

- A suspiciously old packet of fairy bread

Rosalie mixed everything into a giant bowl she called Moonlight Munch. Jasmine added rainbow sprinkles. Nathan tried to toast marshmallows over an element, which ended in a gooey disaster.

“This is chaos,” Derby chuckled. “Delicious chaos.”

Feast Turns Fantastical

Suddenly, the kitchen shimmered. The Derbies began to glow. The Moonlight Munch sparkled like stardust.

 “Uh-oh,” Rosalie said. “Did we just… activate a portal?”

With a pop, the kitchen transformed into a floating picnic island in the sky. Clouds puffed around them like cotton candy. The fridge floated by, humming a lullaby. The toaster danced.

Derby led the way, flying loops around the moon. Jasmine sang a midnight anthem. Nathan built a marshmallow tower taller than Derby’s hat.

Then—creak!—a voice echoed from above.

“Is this a dream?” Mum asked, floating down the stairs in her fluffy purple UGGs.

“Nope,” Rosalie grinned. “It’s a Derby Midnight Feast!”

Mum blinked, then grabbed a spoon and joined in. Even Isabella peeked out from the basement lawn portal, munching on whittaker's Hazella chocolate and shaking her head with a smile.

The Feast That Became a Legend

By 3 a.m., the feast was winding down. The Derbies snuggled into clouds. Jasmine and Rosalie choreographed a sleepy dance. Nathan snored into a sushi roll.

As the stars yawned and the clouds began to fade, the flying magical Derby squad gently whisked Jasmine and Nathan back to Manurewa—Jasmine humming a sleepy tune, and Nathan clutching his leftover marshmallow tower like a trophy from a dream.

Derby tucked Rosalie into her cloud-bed and whispered:

“You’re growing up, Rosie. But never too old for a midnight feast.”

Rosalie smiled, thumb-free, tummy full, heart happy.

And the kitchen returned to normal—except for one floating marshmallow stuck to the ceiling.