May 2024

You are chilling in a room in Seattle and having a bluetiful and ribbeting evening when you get a text on your phone.

Be there in 5 minutes. - Doty

Then you remembered - it was Bihotz's birthday bash in Mercer Island Today!

After hurriedly getting dressed in your favorite faction gear for the event, you run out and see a fluffy red-shirted yeti show up at your complex's door.

"Get in the car, Agent!" he shouted from his boxy and suspiciously wired DeLorean. "We're going to Bihotz's party!"

Once you're safely inside the car, you see IrishGinger carrying a tray of baked goods in the front passenger seat.

"Oh no, the car won't start up," complained Doty. "What happened?'

"Did you type in the passcode?" asked IrishGinger. She handed Doty a paper.

MAYTHEFOURTHBEWITHYOU2024

"Oh, that's it," replied Doty as he furiously typed with his little plushie paws. And then, in a dramatic whisk, pressed the enter key.

Suddenly, the car started shaking and groaning. Shapes outside of the car seemed to blur, as if they were speeding past the It seemed like the scene in Star Wars: A New Hope, when Han Solo sends his spaceship into hyperdrive.

And then, it all stopped.

"Where are we?" you ask when the DeLorean stopped moving. Mercer Island looked - very different than what you expected it to be. You remember entering an island with bridges, but this clearly isn't Aubrey Davis Park. Everything seemed black and white.

"I think I misspelled the passcode," said Doty sheepishly.

"No worries," said IrishGinger. "It looks like our scanners are still working. I have a collage of pictures that can give us a clues. Let's work together to figure this one."

"You're in Prussia! Jealous, lol," replied Bihotz once Doty broke the news. She sounded very happy, as if going to a place a long time ago and far far away was a normal thing to her. "Could you bring me some marzipan?"

"Sure," said Doty. "I'll see what I can do."

After he put down the phone, IrishGinger said, "Well, at least we have the cupcakes. Wait - where are the cupcakes?"

"Oops," replied Doty as he hid his icing-covered paws.

"Darn," signed IrishGinger. "It looks like we're going to have to get more snacks anyway. Let's see what is available here."

You walk down the streets of Königsberg with your two friends, hoping to find some candy shop of some sort around the castle. Surprisingly, this city seemed very metropolitan. You passed by some sort of observatory, a university campus, and some sort of botanical gardens. People were selling all kinds of goods, speaking all sorts of languages, and even playing international football.

It wasn't long until you were able to find a bakery that sold marzipan - with a red-headed English-speaking owner too! All four of you became very best friends, and you learned how to make marzipan. It wasn't long until you completed a full tray for the birthday party.

"This is amazing," said IrishGinger. "Thank you for showing us how to make marzipan!"

"No problem," replied the baker. "You're going to need to know how to put together trays of marzipan, especially if you're around Prince Frederick!"

"Yeah," replied Doty sheepishly. "Marzipan is so delicious. One is not enough!"

"By the way," replied the baker. "It's nice to see more redheads here in town. We used to be made fun a lot, but our amber-haired princess put a stop to it."

Doty nodded. He could not speak because he was busy munching on some marzipan.

"Which reminds me," suggested the baker. "You said you are looking for a special gift? If you're going to get a souvenir from this city, you should go ask for some amber jewelry."

"How are we going to get amber jewelry though?" you ask. "We didn't bring enough money to get a gift that awesome."

"Silly goose," replied the baker. "Ask Prince Frederick to help you." She then smiled at Doty.

"Wait!" you answered. "Doty, you know Prince Frederick?"

The baker burst out laughing. "This one needs a little more sugar!" she said as she pointed to you. "Of course, this little yeti is our very own Prince Frederick. He likes to be called Doty for short!"

"Well, when almost everyone in your family has the same first name, you got have your own nickname," replied Doty matter-of-factly.

The amber market was amazing. You found the perfect piece of jewelry for Bihotz. You didn't remember much else because after the sugar high became the sugar crash -

"Brother, wake up," replied Bihotz as she gently shook Doty. "You're already at Mercer Island." Bihotz was wearing a black and white dress, perfect for a cross-Faction gathering. She also wore sash that read birthday princess. Her amber hair danced in the gentle breeze.

"What happened?" you asked groggily as you tried to wake yourself up from the slumber. "And how did Doty drive us here when he was asleep?"

"Self-driving cars, of course," replied Bihotz with a smile. She touched one of the screens in the car a few times. "And look at that - he accidentally used the home button right before coming here to Mercer Island. Silly brother!"

Doty shook himself awake. "Woah, we're in Mercer Island already. Oh, and happy birthday, sister!"

"I fell asleep too, I had an adventurous dream!" announced IrishGinger. "We visited Königsberg in Prussia! It was amazing! And Doty was a prince!"

Bihotz chucked. "Next time we need to visit somewhere nearby - maybe Ephrata. Now time to set up for the birthday party!"

As you helped to set up the birthday party, you recalled your dream of visiting Königsberg. It was an amazing place, and you were glad have visited there in your sleep. It was then when you noticed the tray of marzipan, the amber necklace around Bihotz's neck, and Doty humming a familiar tune.