[electronic music] [motorcycle engine roars]
[evil laughter]
[electronic music continues]
[Lexor pants]
- Lexor: Oh, it's no use.
I'm too old for this sort of thing.
I must travel the galaxies to find an apprentice,
one who believes and will carry on my work.
[exhales] Ex libris!
[shimmer]
- Thorzuul: He's escaped!
Oh, never mind.
Soon all the readers will be gone,
and I, Thorzuul, will rule!
- Milkbreath: Thorzuul will rule!
[Thorzuul laughs evilly]
- Student: They eat grass. - Mrs. Framish: Good.
That's right, Rosario.
Anybody else?
Jason. - Jason: They like sugar cubes.
- Mrs. Framish: Yes, they do, don't they?
I'm thinking of something red and shiny
that ponies like to eat.
Tanya? - Tanya: Apples?
- Mrs. Framish: Yes.
[shimmer]
Now, what sorts of things do ponies like to do?
- Norbert: Holy camoley! - Mrs. Framish: Norbert?
Norbert?
Norbert!
- Norbert: Uh, um...
Uh...
They wear silver gloves? [students laugh]
- Mrs. Framish: Norbert, we could use your help
in getting ready for our story.
We're thinking about what we know about ponies.
What can you tell us?
- They give rides at fairs? - Good.
- Really, all in a robe and everything!
- Jason: Two stories up in the air?
Give me a break.
- Scout's honor.
- Norby!
- Hey, look!
The ring's on my padlock.
I'll bet it's magic or something.
- Come on, Norby.
- Maybe the guy in the window left it.
Maybe it's a sign.
- Jason: Norby, you're too much.
I've gotta go.
See you after dinner.
- Yeah, see you later.
Bye.
[children playing in background]
[shimmer]
Holy camoley!
I'm in my own backyard!
[eerie music]
[shimmer]
[stammers] I-Is this... yours?
Holy camoley!
Who are you?
- I am Lexor, Storylord of Mojuste.
And you?
- Uh... I'm Norbert, boy of Wisconsin.
- Norbert, there is no time to lose.
The wicked Storylord, Thorzuul, seeks to conquer my planet.
Then he will attack yours.
See, I'm old.
My time in this body is short.
I need an apprentice Storylord to help defeat Thorzuul
and save both our planets.
Will you accept the challenge?
- Uh, why me?
- Because you believe.
Your friend did not.
- Well, what do I have to do?
- When this ring glows, come here as fast as you can.
Sit on yon Bike-O-Tron, intone the magic incantation thereon,
stare into this picture, and pedal as fast as you can.
You will reach the land of Mojuste.
- How do I get home?
- Simply place your hands upon your heart and say, "Home."
My time draws to a close.
Will you accept, my child?
- Well, sure, I guess, but I have to be home by dinnertime.
- Brave lad, the planet will be saved.
- Norbert: Hey, the ring's glowing already!
- Farewell, my child.
[shimmer]
[eerie music]
- What was next?
Oh, yeah!
Thunder and lightning, trumpets and drums.
Readers rejoice!
A Storylord comes!
Now, stare into the picture.
Well, here goes nothing!
[Bike-O-Tron clatters]
[whoosh]
[shimmer]
Uh, excuse me, is this the land of Mojuste?
- No, it's the third moon of Garganistan.
- It is?
- No, of course this is Mojuste. - Oh.
- Oh, I'm doomed.
- [clears throat] Can I help?
- No, only a Storylord can help.
- I'm an apprentice Storylord.
- Will that do? - You are?
Oh, I see you wear the gloves.
Here, see if you can open that.
- Norbert: Do the Elephant Dance.
[grunts]
Isn't there a key or something?
- Thorzuul has the key.
- The wicked Storylord? - The same.
He gave me this book
and told me to read how to do the elephant dance,
but he locked it, and now I can't read it.
Oh, how can I understand what a book's about if I can't open it?
And if I can't do the dance, that's what he'll do.
- He didn't give you a chance.
- Oh, he gave me a chance.
This clue.
- Norbert: Plant the seed before you read.
- Then it will grow, and you will know.
Tomorrow, I'll be stone.
- Not if I can help it.
Don't worry, uh... - Millicent.
- Millicent, I think I know someone who can help.
Home.
[shimmer]
Plant the seed before you read.
Then it will grow, and you will know.
- Plant the seed before you read.
Then it will grow, and you will know.
- That's right.
- That's an interesting way to say
what I was talking about in class yesterday.
- It is? - Yes.
It tells you what to do before you read something new.
Look, I'll show you.
Here's your story, The Big Snow.
Before you read it, think for a minute about the title.
What do you think it's going to be about?
- Snow?
- That's probably a safe guess.
Next, think about snow for a minute.
How do you feel about it? - I like it.
- Why? - It's fun to play in.
Make snowballs with, toboggan or ski on.
- Is there anything you don't like about snow?
- Shoveling it.
It can be so heavy.
And slippery to walk on.
Our car gets stuck sometimes.
- So, snow can be fun, or it can be a nuisance too, can't it?
Let's look at your book.
- Norbert: "It snowed and snowed and snowed and snowed.
"It snowed on the houses.
"It snowed on the road.
"Walks had to be shoveled.
Oh, what a load."
- Mrs. Framish: You said you didn't like shoveling.
How do you think that man feels?
- Norbert: The same way!
It's too heavy.
"While children toboggan, a stuck car got towed."
I'll bet he doesn't like snow, but those kids are having fun.
- There, you see?
What you already know about snow
helps you understand the book better.
As your riddle says, plant the seed before you read.
Before you read anything new,
think about what you already know about the subject.
- I get it.
Then it will grow and you will know
means that if you think about what you already know,
it'll help you understand the book better when you read it.
Thanks, Mrs. Framish.
- You're welcome, Norbert.
All right, class.
It's about time for the bell.
Books away.
Billy, don't forget...
- So, the riddle means you've got to look at the title
and think about what you already know before you read.
- Let's try it.
If I can prove I've solved the riddle,
the spell will be broken.
Hmm, what do I know about elephants?
They walk like this.
They go up on their hind legs like this.
- They go... [imitates elephant trumpet]
- Yes, something like that.
They scoop water with their trunks like this.
- They live in jungles.
- They eat peanuts like this.
- They never forget.
[pop] - Look!
Guess what?
You were right.
What I already knew about elephants
is helping me understand what's in this book.
[evil laughter] - Don't tell me.
Let me guess.
Thorzuul? - Right.
[electronic music]
- Well, Milkbreath?
- His Royal Badness, Thorzuul!
- Well, my pretty.
Are you ready to dance for me?
Or will you join my little collection of statues here?
Like all the others who couldn't read.
[evil laughter]
And tell me, who is your little friend here
in the Storylord gloves?
- My name is Norbert Niesenden.
- What do you think, Milkbreath?
Wouldn't he make a cute little stone doorstop?
[evil laughter]
Enough frivolity.
Begin or be stone. [chuckles]
[playful music]
But-- what--
But, it's imposs-- You figured out my riddle!
- It was easy.
All I had to do before reading
was to think about what I knew about elephants.
I found out that I already knew a lot about them.
That helped me understand the book.
[explosion] [playful music]
- You!
You must have helped them.
I'll get you!
- Gotta go!
Home.
[shimmer]
- [exclaims in frustration]
Well, what are you waiting for?
Get me out of here!
- Milkbreath: Yes, yes, right away, your Royal Madness!
[playful music]