The Story of Zita Attic Mouse

CHAPTER 1

Welcome to the Luminous Nights of Castle De Haar. Listen to the birds in the castle park, how joyful they are to welcome you again. Oh yes... I am Lindert... pleased to meet you... the oldest tree in Park De Haar. I have been following the fortunes and misfortunes of the castle and its residents for centuries. An old tree collects many stories... something fascinating clings to every branch, twig, or bud. Tonight, I will tell you a magical story from the wondrous, rich book of Castle De Haar... hopefully with a happy ending. Because, oh dear, there is trouble ahead...

The ancient Castle De Haar has a glorious history dating back to the dark Middle Ages. But it wasn't always smooth sailing for Castle De Haar. Disasters, wars, and misfortune took their toll, leaving little of its former splendor. Over a hundred years ago, it was the grand dream of Baron Etienne van Zuylen and Baroness Hélène de Rothschild to rebuild the castle and turn it into the most beautiful treasure trove in the Netherlands... with souvenirs brought back from their distant travels. Admit it, they succeeded quite nicely, didn't they?

One day, they were ready to set off for India to visit their good friend the Maharaja... Longing for a new adventure, the baron and the baroness, slightly excited, sat in their polished automobile. They had granted well-deserved leave to all the castle staff. Only Boris Butler had stayed until the very last moment to personally bid farewell to the travelers. He too would leave the estate for a few days.

"We wish you a safe journey," Boris Butler had shouted as he waved them off solemnly. They had no idea that an even greater adventure would unfold here in the castle park.

Get ready for a grand tale full of thunder, sparkle, and enchantment!

CHAPTER 2

The baron and baroness had only just left, and Boris Butler had temporarily closed the castle gate behind him when something extraordinary happened at Castle De Haar. And you know yourself... 'when the cat's away, the mice will play'... and oh yes... the hero of this story can squeak and loves cheese (hahaha)... the mischievous yet brave Zita Attic Mouse... she will undoubtedly become your best friend.
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Zita Attic Mouse was a well-kept secret. The clever mouse lived in a small, hidden room in the castle's attic and had a heart of gold. Only the birds in the park were aware of her existence. Many of them came to visit daily to chat and chirp. Through a broken skylight, the birds could easily visit Zita Attic Mouse. They brought her nuts and berries from the forest, as well as the crusts of cheese and pieces of French bread left over from the fancy castle dinners. They were friends for life...

Now that all the residents and staff were gone, and no one was to be found in the castle, Zita Attic Mouse could finally go on an adventure. For the very first time, she left her hiding place and slid, jumped, hopped, and danced like a young foal through the baroness's bedroom. A dozen brightly chirping birds followed her. What a party!

And then it happened... what should never have happened...

One of the birds flew into an ancient vase full of mysterious magic that the baroness had once brought from the Far North... It broke... and fell from the windowsill into the castle moat. Castle De Haar began to creak, and an icy cold wind covered everything with a thick layer of ice... and oh dear... what might have been even worse... all the birds in the castle park were cursed... they lost their color and stopped singing...

It became silent and cold in and around the castle. Dead silent and ice-cold. Zita Attic Mouse was in a panic and ran... for the first time in her life... into the castle park.

CHAPTER 3

Baron Etienne and Baroness Hélène had seen almost the entire world. From the Far North to the Deep South... from the Far East to the Wild West... It seemed as if the only place they had never been was the moon.

From each journey, they brought back the most beautiful memories. They returned with the most exquisite souvenirs: mythical creatures full of dragon claws and whale heads, crafted from the most expensive materials..., crystal mirrors to get lost in..., the purest silver..., the shiniest silk..., and the most delicate porcelain. But what was of immeasurable value to the baron and baroness went beyond all that material splendor. Behind each object, there was a heartwarming story about the many friends they had met in the most distant lands.

The most cherished gifts found a place of honor in the castle or the park and were treasured by the baron and baroness. It was even said that some souvenirs possessed miraculous powers and assisted the baron and baroness when they needed help.

One such item is the large, magical crystal ball. The baron and baroness had received it as a gift from a wise fortune teller from the Far East, in gratitude for the many gifts they had brought him from the Netherlands.

The crystal ball was given a place of honor in the castle park. The baroness, in particular, loved to gaze into it for hours, reliving the entire adventure after each journey or briefly glimpsing into what was yet to come.

CHAPTER 4

With a fearful, squeaky heart, Zita Attic Mouse walked through the castle park... Why had she been so careless? How could she ever make things right again? How could she thaw the castle and, most importantly, bring color back to her many bird friends and make them sing again?

Just as she had given up all hope, a crystal ball lit up. It was so clear that everyone could see themselves reflected in it, showing only the very best of themselves.

As Zita Attic Mouse began to gaze into it, the crystal ball started to speak to her...

The park is full of magic, the baron brought it along,
from gifts full of love from overseas so strong.
The dragon gives you fire, the mythical fish gives color, the mirror the loveliest song...

The hourglass runs, but turn back time, and everything will just go along.
But you, brave mouse with a heart of gold, with just a bit too little might.
You will become a hero, loved by young and old, first, eat a golden apple, full of life's light.


The crystal ball slowly faded away. Completely overwhelmed by all the wisdom, Zita Attic Mouse was left in awe. Was this the key to the solution? If she understood it correctly, perhaps the mystery could be solved with the help of the many precious souvenirs that the baron and baroness had brought from their world travels...

A dragon... a mythical creature... a mirror... and an hourglass...

Maybe those souvenirs and gifts were filled with enchantment and magic. If only they could combine their supernatural powers.

But first, on the quest for... a golden apple!

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CHAPTER 5

Zita Attic Mouse sat completely distraught under a tree on a bed of the softest moss. Courage had sunk deep into her little mouse paws. How could she, as a tiny creature, solve this immense disaster? Her stomach rumbled, and she urgently needed a pick-me-up...

Just when she was about to give up all hope, a golden apple lit up... high in the tree under which she was dozing. Zita Attic Mouse sprung up... and to her amazement... the soft bed of moss seemed like a trampoline... She jumped higher and higher until she could finally pluck the golden apple and took a big bite.

As if by magic... golden apples started growing everywhere in the trees around.

Zita Attic Mouse radiated with life force. She tumbled and somersaulted with joy. She gathered all her courage and grew into the brave mouse she truly was deep inside.

She was fully prepared for the real adventure!

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CHAPTER 6

Long ago, the baron and baroness sailed aboard the ship of an experienced explorer. It was the farthest journey they would ever make, in search of the end of the seven seas. No human had ever set foot in this area, and on old world maps, this region was marked as 'the realm of mythical creatures.

'One night, they found themselves caught in a devastating storm. They couldn't see a hand in front of their faces and were at risk of running aground and sinking. But suddenly, the sea turned green as they sailed over a seaweed forest, red when they passed over a coral reef, and bright blue in open sea. That was their salvation!

It quickly became clear who had rescued them from danger when a wondrous mythical creature emerged from the water. It had the head and fins of a fish, but the tail and scales of a chameleon: Fabio Mythical Fish. Every time he perceived a color, he winked with his bulging eyes and radiated the same color, illuminating the water in which he swam.

Out of gratitude, the baroness had invited him to leave the lonely deep sea and come to live in the castle pond of Castle De Haar. And at every party she hosted, Fabio Mythical Fish colored the pond water in the shade of her evening gown.

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CHAPTER 7

Zita Attic Mouse had reached the castle pond. It was a bit startling... Her mouse heart raced... In the middle of the pond was a friendly-looking creature... Fabio Mythical Fish. Every time he winked at her, the pond changed color.

Yellow like the sun that makes us shine.
Orange reflects the evening glow.
Red like in the most beautiful love poem.
Pink like fairytales in cotton candy light.
Purple like the night where you can dream.
Blue like the sky on a heavenly day.

Completely overwhelmed by this magical scene, Zita Attic Mouse gathered all her courage and exclaimed at the top of her lungs, "Excuse me, Mr. Mythical Fish, can you give the birds back their colors?"

The water around Fabio Mythical Fish began to bubble. Fabio winked, and the pond turned green... the color of hope!
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CHAPTER 8

Brrrrrrr..... Ha... ha... hatsie... Boris Butler at your service... the humble and loyal servant of the esteemed baron and baroness.

It is with great honor and pleasure that I formally introduce myself to all of you. I have had the invaluable privilege of serving the noble couple for many years, and it is with deep respect that I fulfill my duties.

It is high time for me to return from my leave with full dedication to ensure that the castle is in perfect condition upon their glorious return. With utmost precision and attention to every detail, I will make sure that every corner of the castle shines and is ready to welcome their presence.

By the way, Mr. and Mrs. have sent me a telegram. They are doing well and thriving at the Maharaja's in India. They even took a ride on the back of an elephant. I am curious about the magical souvenirs they will bring back this time.

Additionally, I am contemplating organizing a grand banquet to celebrate their return, although I have not yet determined which friends I will invite as guests this time.

With deep humility and sincere gratitude for all your interest. Ha... ha... hatsie... brrrrrrr.
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CHAPTER 9

Zita Attic Mouse had gained courage... Lung Wang and Fabio Mythical Fish would undoubtedly assist her, and with a warm heart full of color, she found a beautiful gilded mirror in the park.

"There's something musical about this," thought Zita Attic Mouse. "If this is the mirror the crystal ball spoke about, then it must be able to sing. But how on earth do you get a song out of a mirror?"

Her words were barely cold when a slender figure began to wander in the mirror, and a choir of trees started singing a scale higher and higher.

do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do, re, mi, fa, Sollasitroniaaaaaaa

And behold... at the very highest note, the mirror began to crack, and from the bright light emerged the wonderfully beautiful opera singer Sollasitronia.

The baron and baroness had once praised a concert they attended by her in the Deep South so much that, as a token of gratitude, they received this mirror. Thanks to the mirror, Sollasitronia could come and sing an aria every year for the esteemed guests invited to their parties.

"Would you teach the birds to sing again?" asked Zita Attic Mouse bravely. Sollasitronia beamed, smiled at our hero, and made a graceful bow.
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CHAPTER 10

"The dragon gives you fire," the crystal ball had told her. A dragon! Imagine that! Zita Attic Mouse shuddered at the thought of ever having to come face to face with a fire-breathing dragon.

In the middle of the park, she came across an elegant Chinese pagoda gate with a large gong. 'Fear not (not, not) Lung Wang (Wang, Wang),'

As a token of gratitude for their years of friendship, the baron and baroness once received a precious dragon egg as a gift from an old sage in China. However, they were afraid of what might hatch from the egg and were certainly not capable of taming a dragon themselves. Therefore, they decided to have the dragon raised by an experienced dragon tamer, who built for them an elegant gate containing a magical gong.

They had witnessed the egg cracking and the baby dragon growing up. They named it Lung Wang. Only in times of danger could the gong be struck three times, and then the dragon would come to their aid. Fortunately, this had never been necessary. But Lung Wang gladly made an exception when there was a celebration at Castle De Haar. Then, he provided the most beautiful fireworks.

Zita Attic Mouse gathered all her courage and struck the gong three times. A massive dragon emerged, gracefully winding its way between the trees.

"Could you please help me thaw the castle?" asked Zita Attic Mouse bravely. Lung Wang wriggled with excitement and spewed fire with great gusto.
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CHAPTER 11

Time... Time... time... May I have a little bit of your time? Because time is like a book; each page tells a new story. Just for a moment... back in time... flipping back, amid this thrilling adventure.

How brave is our Zita Attic Mouse! She discovered fire from the dragon, color from the mythical fish, and the most beautiful singing from the magical mirror..., but the crystal ball also spoke of 'turning back time'... and about an hourglass or something... It's high time... that everything becomes what it once was...

Meanwhile, Baron Etienne and Baroness Hélène are already on their way back from their journey to India, with suitcases full of new gifts and wonderful stories about good friends. But will our brave Zita Attic Mouse manage to solve the great disaster and bring back color, song, and warmth to and around Castle De Haar? All traces must, of course, be erased. And... oh yes... that malicious little vase is still in pieces in the castle moat. How will she manage that? There is work to be done... and... there's magic in the air.

But time is of the essence... but time... what is time?... and why time precisely?... It's high time for... something involving time...
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CHAPTER 12

Meanwhile, Zita Attic Mouse had arrived at the castle. Proud of what she had already achieved but with a still small squeaky mouse heart for what was to come, Zita Attic Mouse stopped at an peculiar round door. Above the doorway hung a cuckoo clock. But behold... the hands didn't move forward, but ticked backward...

There appeared Father Time, a kind little man, well... he once lived far from here, sometimes in the tallest clock towers, sometimes deep underground, back in time. Occasionally, he would visit ancient Egypt or travel even further back in time to pay a visit to the cave dwellers in prehistory.

Father Time had a magical hourglass. With it, he could momentarily stop time and even reverse it. The baron and baroness had invited him to live in the castle cellars so he could help them when they were in a time crunch preparing for a party."

I knew you would come; I've been waiting for this. For future, present, and past, I have them all in my grasp," mumbled Father Time. He tapped his staff on the ground, and the large hourglass lit up.

Father Time tapped the ground again three times with his staff. The hourglass started running, but the sand didn't flow down... it flowed up!... back in time... precisely to the moment when the vase fell... The fragments... formed a neat vase again... neatly on the windowsill of the baroness.

With a touch of pride in his eyes, Father Time addressed her: "The vase is whole again, just as it should be... but I haven't been able to break the curse yet; time unfortunately has no influence on that. To thaw the castle and give the birds color and song again, you need other powers...

Take courage, Zita... Your new friends can help you...

The time is ripe... I feel that it will be all right..."
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CHAPTER 13

Zita Attic Mouse was pleasantly surprised. Her friends had fortunately not forgotten her! On and around the castle, hundreds of birds were sitting quietly and gray, waiting for the big magical moment.

The Chinese pagoda gate and the gilded mirror were also ready to begin the ceremony. But where was Fabio Fabelvis? Had he abandoned us? There was no time to wait...Zita Attic Mouse tried to appear brave, but her golden mouse heart was beating fast. With courage, she struck the gong three times.

boing, boing, boing

do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do, re, mi, fa, Sollasitroniaaaaaaa

Then, a deep silence fell over Castle De Haar... everyone held their breath... the tension hung in the air...

...until suddenly, from behind the weathered castle wall, the large, round eye of none other than Fabio Fabelvis appeared. A sigh of relief swept through the park... But would he succeed?... Yes, indeed... thanks to a sly wink from Fabio, all the birds regained their color.

Zita Attic Mouse winked back, and in gratitude, the birds formed a large, colorful heart on the facade of the castle.

All's well that ends well!
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CHAPTER 14

There you go... you've found me... what an evening full of thunder, sparkle, and magic, in and around Castle De Haar.

But after every exciting adventure..., there's also a celebration in the end... Upon her return, the baroness could relive the entire story in the crystal ball. Imagine that... No one had ever expected...

Zita Attic Mouse became her hero!And behold!

... A grand celebration was organized to commemorate the happy ending. Boris Butler had canceled all the previously invited guests and, instead, given the birds a place of honor. There was an extensive buffet with the most exclusive French cheeses, crispy bread crusts, and delightful crumbs. Sollasitronia enlivened the party with a beautiful concert, while Lung Wang provided the most spectacular Chinese fireworks.

And Fabio Fabelvis? He colored the pond water red, matching the baroness's evening gown. The color of love!

Oh yes... for next year, I personally invite you back for a new story... on what will undoubtedly be an equally wonderful... Luminous night.
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