“Zap!” Eddy jumped back as a spark flew from the tangled mess of wires in his hands. “That was close,” he said, brushing soot off his overalls. His workshop—a cozy shed behind his house filled with blinking gadgets and humming machines—was buzzing with excitement.
“I think it’s working!” said Anna, peering over his shoulder. She was Eddy’s best friend and always helped him test his wildest ideas.
“Not yet,” Eddy replied, adjusting a glowing dial on the strange device in front of them. It looked like a mix between a backpack and a robot. “But soon.”
Just then, the door creaked open, and Lily X stepped inside. With her silver boots and talking watch, she always looked like she’d just arrived from another planet—which, technically, she had.
“You two are still at it?” she asked with a grin.
Eddy nodded. “I’m building a Time Hopper! We’ll be able to visit any time in history!”
Lily X’s eyes lit up. “Cool! Can I help?”
Before Eddy could answer, a soft beep-beep came from the corner of the room. Bell, their robot friend who loved cookies almost as much as he loved math, rolled forward.
“Warning: energy levels rising,” Bell announced in his cheerful mechanical voice. “Suggestion: prepare for launch.”
Anna gasped. “You mean it’s really going to work?!”
Eddy grinned. “Only one way to find out.”
He pressed the big red button in the center of the Time Hopper.
WHOOOSH!
In a flash of light and a swirl of color, the four friends were gone.
They landed with a gentle thud , surrounded by tall trees and chirping birds.
“Where are we?” whispered Lily N, who had joined them just before they left and now stood wide-eyed beside Emma.
Emma adjusted her glasses. “Judging by the plants and air quality, I’d say we’re in a prehistoric forest.”
“Prehistoric?!” Eddy repeated. “That means dinosaurs!”
Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the trees.
Everyone froze.
Then, a giant creature with a long neck and even longer tail stepped into view.
“A Brachiosaurus!” Emma said excitedly.
“It’s… huge,” Lily X whispered.
The dinosaur sniffed the air and took a slow step toward them.
Bell beeped nervously. “Suggestion: do not run.”
But just then, a rustling in the bushes made everyone turn.
A small, frightened dinosaur cub peeked out.
It was no bigger than a dog, with big eyes and tiny horns.
“Oh!” Anna cooed. “It’s adorable!”
The little dinosaur squeaked and hid behind Eddy’s legs.
From deeper in the forest came another rumble—this one angry.
The big Brachiosaurus let out a deep, warning call.
“She must think we’re threatening her baby,” Emma realized.
“We have to show her we mean no harm,” Eddy said.
Anna knelt down and gently petted the baby dinosaur.
Slowly, Eddy raised his hands and took a few steps back.
The big dinosaur lowered her head, watching closely.
After what felt like forever, she gave a low, satisfied grunt and turned away, calling her baby to follow.
The little dinosaur looked up at Eddy with wide eyes, then gave his shoe a tiny nuzzle before hopping after its mother.
Everyone let out a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding.
“That was amazing,” Lily N said.
“I’ve never seen a real dinosaur before,” Emma added.
Eddy smiled. “We did it, guys. The Time Hopper works!”
Bell beeped happily. “Mission success. Snack recommendation: cookies.”
They all laughed.
As they got ready to return home, Anna looked around one last time.
“This is only the beginning,” she said softly.
Eddy nodded. “Yeah. There’s so much more to explore.”
And with another bright flash, they were gone—off to their next adventure in time and space.
