We welcome you to What If World.
Hey there folks, and welcome back to What If World, the show where your questions and ideas inspire off-the-cuff stories.
I'm Mr. Eric, your host, and today we're starting off with a question from a patron named Carson.
Hello, Mr. Eric.
My name is Carson.
I like Pokemon Beyblades, my family and nature.
My what if world question is what if fred the dog dug a hole so big that everything fell in bye?
Oh, my gosh carson, you like so many things and i can just see fred the dog digging that hole right now.
We do have one more question from a listener named Regan.
She drew a sketch of her idea and emailed it to us, but I think I'm going to save it until the end.
This story originally aired back when Fair Elise was president, so don't let yourself get mixed up as you listen.
I've remastered it with better sound balance, added some great discussion questions for you to talk through with your grown-up and, of course, I'm working on a brand new episode for next week.
Now let's find out what if Fred the Dog dug a hole so big that everyone fell in.
Parents.
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To explore active family gaming today.
You might recall that in What If World...
The what-house is not so much a house as a simple wooden door and frame, freestanding in the midst of an ancient forest called the Forest of If.
But when you opened that door, you could step inside the true what-house, which could be as big and elaborate or as simple and wholesome as the president and their people decided.
So when Farrelly stepped inside her what-house, She was unsurprised to see that it very much resembled the forest of If on the inside.
The walls were a thicket of brambles, alternating thorns with beautiful flowers that would bloom every morning and close up to sleep every night.
The biggest difference was that the What House wasn't nearly as empty as the Forest of If.
People clamored about, all shouting for their president at once.
Barely.
You're telling me I have to make an appointment to see my own partner?
I would like to talk to the president.
Okay, all right, all right.
Just give me one minute.
It's my first day.
But the clamor only continued louder than before.
Farrelly's Lord Zard!
Now hold on, my love.
No, no, no, I won't hold on, no.
The thorny brambled walls of the what-house parted before Farrelly's and closed up behind her.
She found herself within the hopeful office and saw a little dog-sized desk made of stick that must have once belonged to fred.
Oh fred, it is my first day as president and i'm feeling a little overwhelmed.
She flew over to the desk and opened a drawer still slimy from freddy's tongue, ew.
Within she found a note scrawled with paper and crayon.
It read simply eat sticks, love fred.
This is the advice he gives me.
What if the world's longest running president and all he can say is eat sticks?
At that moment, Farrelly's partner, Sprite All Right, teleported into the room.
All right, love, it's your first day as president, and I know you don't have much time for me.
Sprite.
All right, I always.
I just want to remind you that you promised Pixie Caddo to be home by nine to tuck her in tonight.
Oh, right, right, of course.
Just be in the hopeful office at 9 p.m., and I'll teleport here to pick you up.
Yes, I will.
All right, I'm running late.
And she disappeared. leaving Fair Elise alone again.
But she could still hear an increasingly loud clamor from within the what-house.
So she flew out to investigate.
The foyer was filled with trees and snow came on and these strange spinning top creatures that flew around shearing off little pieces of thorn and petal wherever they got too close to the walls.
Uh, uh, Wayblades, excuse me, please do not prune the what-house.
Spin yourselves over here and I will hear what you have to say.
Nope, no fair. complained the trees.
Rizard snore, grumbled a snowy dragon.
There it is.
A red and yellow wayblade whose jagged steel edges looked kind of like fiery comets, spun its way right up to her.
Fred the dog sent me wayblades.
Had to stop cutting down trees.
Well, yes, deforestation has been an issue.
But that's all we're good at.
What are we supposed to do?
Well, I thought with a little retraining you could work as fey blades, only pruning where needed and cutting back overgrowth and clearing dead vegetation.
Boring.
We don't pay attention to that.
We just clear the way like trailblazers.
We're the Wayblades.
Well yes, Feyblades could also work as guides, leading others through dangerous parts of What-If World.
Hmm, Meteor Swarm must think about this.
The Wayblade known as Meteor Swarm started spinning in thought.
Getting hotter and hotter as it did.
No, no, no.
He'll melt the snow, snow, snow.
Yes, trees and snow came on.
I hear you.
Meteor swarm?
What is it?
Your fires are rather dangerous to the trees and snow came on within the what house?
Don't tell me how to use my fire and my blades.
What if I just helped you retrain yourself into a fey blade with a little magic?
Hmm, keep talking.
So, instead of going back to school for a year, you'll have all the training you need right now.
Before you chop down the trees and melt, the snow came on.
Hmm, fine.
And Faralee started magically imparting her knowledge and kindness upon each of the Wayblades, helping them become Feyblades that could keep the forests clear and guide people safely from here to there.
But before she could finish, the snow came on, and trees impatiently pushed their way in front of her.
I know I'm sorry.
You're right, it isn't fair to put others first.
Excuse me, Farrelly's, interrupted Mr. Mouser, her chief of staff.
Oh, what is it now?
It is time for your lunch break.
And he held up a perfect little fruit and vegetable wrap.
But Farrelly's couldn't be bothered.
I really don't have time for this.
And with a flick of her wand, the wrap went from in her plate to in her belly.
Oh, I really hate that too fast.
Also, a large hole is appearing in the forest and people are falling into it.
Mr. Mouser, please kindly do something about that.
And leave me to the many problems staring me in the face.
My goodness, said Mr. Mouser, looking wounded.
But he picked up a tiny shovel and skittered out of the what-house.
Go, go, go, it's our turn to go, go, go, complained a tree.
I'm sorry, Harigo, just let me finish hearing Snarazard out.
Zarda snar.
You were not here first.
I'm 10,000 years older than you.
So, Snarazard, you want permafrost magic on all the snow gaemon?
Like in Frozen 2?
Snar.
Oh, because some of you are melting.
You know, I'm trying to combat climate change.
I really am, but it's a slow task.
Snar, snar, snar.
You're right, I feel horrid.
Listen, just bring whatever Snokemon are here, and I will give them permafrost magic.
Isn't it, isn't it?
Bowed Snarazard and he opened the door to the White House and barely saw hundreds of Snokemon lining up outside beside a growing number of Wayblades.
Oh...
Alright, alright, we'll take turns.
One Wayblade becomes a Feyblade, and then one Snokemon gets Permafrost.
And while Fair Elise was casting one spell after another, she spared an ear to listen to the trees.
Well, we just wanted you to tell the Wayblades what to do, and we kind of like your solution.
We think it'll lead to less pollution.
Well, thank you, Harigo.
You know, if some of you trees could lend your magic, I'd be able to help the wayblades.
And the snow came on much more quickly.
No, no, no.
I'm afraid no.
You're right, it's not fair to give them my magic and ask you for yours.
You should help us heal twig and bark from woe to weal.
Absolutely.
So just get in line and I'll heal one tree and make one fey blade and give one coat of permafrost at a time.
Help us first achieve our goal, then help my trees out of that hole.
I know, but helping reform the Feyblades will actually be helping heal the trees, indirectly.
And all of that will help climate change, which will help you snow game on, eventually.
And although none of them were happy, including Faralise, they agreed to take turns getting their tree healing and their fade blade training and their permafrosting as Faralise went down the line, casting spell after spell after spell, moving farther from the wathouse and deeper into the forest of it as the sun went down in the cold sky.
All right, little snow came on hold tight.
A crack appeared in Fair Elise's wand as her spell failed.
That's strange, said Fair Elise.
As she found herself falling to the ground.
Her little flapping fairy wings were no longer keeping her aloft.
Ugh.
She hit the half-frozen ground nun too gently, and the little snow caiman ran up to her.
Snow?
I'm fine, I'm fine.
I just think my magic needs a little rest, is all.
Tatana, snow.
Peeta, snow, it's fine.
I'll be okay.
The cute little Peeta pocket of snow put itself over Faralee's.
Like an igloo.
She found the inside of the PETA igloo glittering gently, and she started feeling warmer right away.
But that only made her feel more tired.
PETA, I'm so grateful for this shelter on such a cold night, but... Snow, snow.
No, I just haven't got time to rest right now.
You just have to come back tomorrow, and I'll get your permafrost done then.
At least you were the last one in line.
What do you mean there were others in the line before?
But they were swallowed up in an ever expanding hole in the ground?
Oh, and we're tumbling in it as we speak.
Excuse me?
And the little pita pocket of snow closed around Fair Elise altogether, hugging her tightly as they tumbled down down down, down and down down down, down.
Oh, we must have finally hit the bottom.
And down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down, down.
Down, down, down, down.
Are you quite finished, Mr. Eric?
All down.
I mean done.
Peter Snow, you saved me, even though I didn't give you your permafrost.
Snow, Peter, that's very wise, but could you let me out now?
I want to make sure we are both safe, wherever we are.
The snow came on, unwrapped itself from Fair Elise and she saw they were at the bottom of a very deep hole.
Looking up she could see just a sliver of moonlight, and looking around she could see hundreds of shadowy figures.
Who's that?
Who's there?
I'm president, I'll have you know.
Farrelly swarily raised her wand and tried to fly into the air, but found her wings were all out of fairy dust.
I'm afraid we're all down here, Farrelly, said a familiar voice.
Abacus, is that you?
Not just me, but everyone in What If World who cannot fly or teleport.
But I thought you can both fly and teleport.
Yes, but my magic is a bit unpredictable.
If I were to disturb the sides of this massive hole... Oh, I see, Abacus, yes.
Well, we'll just have to find another way out.
Oh, I don't think so.
We'll get to the other side of whatever before you know it.
Fred the dog.
Oh, hi, Farrelly.
How's it going being president?
Not particularly well.
My magic has failed on my first day.
And instead of tucking in my daughter, I am stuck in a hole.
Oh, no, you're not stuck.
See, I have a theory.
If I keep digging down, eventually, I'll just be digging up.
Oh, but where's your proof, puppy?
Said Alabaster Zero, Theralisa's partner in crime solving before she became president.
Well, my proof is at the bottom of this hole, so just help me, keep digging and we'll find out together.
Can't see the fault in that logic.
Where's my shovel?
Ah, you can have mine.
I was trying to fill in the hole, but then I fell in.
Oh, Mr. Mouser, I'm sorry I sent you here alone.
I've just got so much on my plate.
Fair Elise, did you forget to take my advice?
Your advice?
You said eat sticks.
What kind of advice is that?
Only the best kind I could give.
Did you do a single thing that was nice to yourself all day long?
Well, no.
See, for me, no matter how tough things get, I make sure I take a moment every day to eat some sticks.
But I've got too much responsibility.
Snowpita?
She used a ball of magic.
You need some sticks, stat.
Fred, I'm a fairy.
I don't like to eat sticks.
Well, yeah, but what's your stick?
You know what I mean?
I have no idea.
Oh, yes.
My sticks.
Sprite, all right.
Pixie Cato, where are you?
And her partner and daughter appear. right at the bottom of this very cramped hole.
Mother, it's a bit late, don't you think?
Fair Elise, I have been looking for you all night.
I'm sorry I wasn't giving myself time for the things I love.
And so my stress got away from me.
Is that what made you dig this hole, Fred?
Were you stressed about not being president anymore?
What?
No, this is my retirement present to myself.
I figured there's gotta be a lot of cool sticks on the other side of the world.
All right.
Well, I can teleport a few of you out of here, but I'm just about used up from looking for Faraleece all night.
I guess our only option is to keep digging through the center of the Earth.
I think you'll find that there's molten lava at the center of the Earth which would be dangerous for most of us.
Except, of course, the lava people, said Pixie Cato.
Thank you for thinking of us, said Molemo, the lava person.
Oh, that's just what is world stuff.
The center of what if world could be anything.
We won't know till we get there.
And Fred started digging into the earth again.
No, Peter.
Yeah, I agree.
It is getting hot in here being stuck next to this lava person.
Oh, I'm president.
This is all my responsibility, but I'm too exhausted to even think.
If only we knew where this dirt was going.
Then we could go there.
What was that, Alabaster?
I mean, we're miles below the surface, so all that dirt and rock can't be here.
Of course not, Sillies.
You can't keep the dirt in the hole you're digging.
That's crazy.
Then where is the dirt going?
Oh, you know me.
I just take it with my big long tongue and I stretch it several miles back up to the Earth's surface.
That's why the digging is taking a little longer now.
Fred the dog, if your tongue can reach up To the surface of the earth.
Then we're really not per raw stuck down here.
Who says you were stuck?
I thought you were just hanging out with me.
I think I'm almost to the center, everybody.
And I think everybody wants to go to bed.
Or wake up.
Or have lunch.
Depending on our time zone.
Fred the dog.
Finally, realizing not everyone wanted to be in this hole with him, began wrapping his long, slimy tongue around each of them and lifting them up and out by twos and threes.
When everyone was back on the surface, the sun was already rising and with it a clamor of requests began again.
Now that I have your attention, the observatorium needs repairs.
And I would like a new diamond bracelet if we're asking for stuff we want.
For lava accessible buildings that don't melt when he enters.
I hear all of you, and some of these are obviously very important requests, but I need to rest.
We're lucky that there are many, many helpers out there, not just the President, and we can all continue working together so that we can all continue taking breaks for ourselves.
That's a good speech, Farrelly.
Now you go have a stick.
You deserve it.
Oh, no.
He must have dug to the center of the earth.
He's still falling.
And falling in.
But we don't know what is at the center of What If World.
I don't actually know where I'm going.
This is weird.
Well, we're going to have to find out.
Right after I get some sleep.
Maybe a what if question will help me figure out where I am right now.
Like a question for one of you kids.
All right, all right.
We get it, Fred.
He probably can't hear me.
No, I can still hear you.
You just sound very far away.
Kind of like me.
Hang on tight, Fred.
We're gonna find you.
Okay, okay, now I'm sure he's officially lost.
Yep, yep, he's lost.
Sorry, no, I thought I saw a stick.
But now I'm lost.
The end.
Well, Regan and Carson, I hope you enjoyed your story.
Oh, and I can tell you Regan's question now.
It was, what if Fair Elise lost her magic?
Thanks, Regan.
Do you remember how Fair Elise was trying to help everyone at once?
Have you ever felt overwhelmed because too many people were asking you for things?
What did you do?
Who could you talk to next time if you feel that way?
Fred talked a lot about eating sticks, which means taking care of yourself.
What are some things you do to take care of yourself, especially when you're feeling tired or upset?
And lastly, do you remember how the snow came on needed help to keep from melting?
Why is it important to listen to what other people or creatures really need, instead of just guessing?
You can talk about these topics or anything else from the story with your grown-up.
Maybe your discussion will inspire a what-if question.
And if so, please email hello at whatifworldpodcastcom with your grown-up's permission and share your ideas with us.
You can also go to whatifworldcom slash support to learn how to get ad-free episodes, a shout-out on the show, monthly bonus content and more.
I'd like to thank Karen O'Keefe, my co-creator, Craig Martinson for our theme song, Desiree McFarland for her sound design and editing, our producer, Miss Lynn, and all you kids at home who know that helping others is great.
But you've still got to make sure you take time to help yourselves.
Or in the wise words of Fred the Dog, eat some sticks.
Actually, they shouldn't eat sticks.
Sticks aren't good for children.
Until we meet again, keep wondering.
