"Buckingham palace! We've hit the big time!" Dab dab squawks as we pull in.

I can't help but smile, taking in the sight of the grand gates and shining stone walls.

The carriage stops at the front steps, and I hop off as a guard opens the door.
"Welcome home m'lady" he says- just before he's smacked flat by the door swinging open.

Out charges yoshi, followed by dab dab and jip.
"Guards!" The man shouts from the ground as rifles are raised.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, no!" I step in between them, holding up my hands.

"They are the Queens own guest. Great them occurring." Lady rose says, stepping down behind us. The guards lower their weapons.

I glance up just in time to see my father clinging onto plim. Father yells for him to stop- but they end up crashing into guards.
"What a great start" I mutter

"This is not the first time Dr.dolittles been here. You got a dying queen, not for long. Dr. Dolittle and novy are in the house!" Dab dab says.

Of course, no one but my father and I can understand her, but I smile anyway- both at hearing my name and at the nickname they called me: Novy.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait for me!" A voice yells, Tommy, the boy from before, comes running up.

"We have a stowaway m'lady. Who claims to be-" the guard starts

"Dr. Dolittles apprentice" Tommy finishes quickly.

"It's quite alright, Garth" lady rose tells him, waving him off.

"Well if he was my apprentice, he should fetch my bags and keep his got shut." Father said

Lady Rose leads us down the gilded hall to the Queens chambers.

"Animals! In the queens chamber. I demand their removal! Ah. Lady rose, my apologies" a man says, bowing quickly.

"Please forgive me I didn't realize that you were part of- John Dolittle." His face freezes.

"Is that Blain?" Father asks

"Blair" he corrects

"Poofling?" Father says

"No" he reply's

"It's McFly?" Father says

"No, it's Müdfly" he says

"Müdfly" my father repeats.

Ah yes- this is the man my father used to tell me about.

"Her majesty has personally requested Dr. Dolittle and Nova Dolittle"  lady rose says, and all eyes turn to us.

"Nova Dolittle" müdfly mutters, watching me step forward.
He moves aside, and father and I walk to the Queens beside.

"Well then, let's get to work. Alright jip, give it a good sniff." I said

The onlookers gasp as jip jumps onto the Queens bed and sniffs delicately. He wobbles back down.

"You alright fellow?" father asks

"Something smelled wrong. And that's coming from a guy who loves the smell of butts" jip says

"Oh you do love butt" father replied

"But i detected a whiff of something else. Im complexed doc. I've never smelt anything like it before" he told us

As i listen, something crawls up my arm- a walking stick. My favorite.

I glance at father, who's pretending to listen to jip now, he glances past me. And I catch on quickly.

He stands, pulling out his googles.
"Uh Keely, jipsy and I and devour deeps, may we consult" he says

"Of course I'd be more than happy to help
you-" Müdfly starts, but father walks right past him to the fish tank. He ducks his head into the tank, and begins to have a conversation with the octopus.

I wander around the room, inspecting paintings while father directs the chaos.
"Dab dab, clear out the human" father orders

I stay at the back, just behind müdfly, listening as jip sniffs through the wooden box.

"What do you smell jip? Elderberry? Inwalk? Egtive? Negative. Ey ey." My father asks, and jip answers.

"What have you found Dolittle?" Müdfly asks

"Could possibly the answer to everything" father says

Then müdfly starts to whisper with the person next to him.

"Bloody he was like this in school. Lean in, lean in, I'm saying something interesting" Müdfly mutters

"I am interested" the man next to him says.

"You should be" I whisper right behind them.
They jump.

"The queens symptoms are due to the effect of a rare plant. Known as the nightshade flower" father explains

A light sparks in my mind; I know that name.

"A solar eclipse will occur on the 17th of this very mouth." I say, keeping my tone even.
"If she has not received the antidote by then she will perish. Is that a ternor?" I ask, gesturing to the painting.

"What a fine painting." I add, carefully letting the walking stick crawl onto the frame undetected.

"I say, Dolittle what is your plan?" Lord Thomas asks

"The plan....I suppose we do need one" I say, turning to my father.
"Father, would you like to explain" I smile

"Well, the queens hope is a cure that's never been tested, from a free that's never been found or seen on an island that's never been found" he says

"Sounds ridiculous" lord Thomas huffs

"Saying it out loud yes. But regardless of that, we have no choice but to embark on this journey, to attain the fruit of the Eden tree." I reply

"Eden tree, oh my fantastic. The Dolittles with their Eden tree island" Müdfly said. My jaw tightens.

"Isn't it enough that your wife-" he starts again

"Shut up Blair" father snaps with a deep voice.

"Sorry- I meant to say, lovely to see you again Blair. We're off now. Ta da." Father said, standing up.

"Oh it's fruit said to cure every malady known to man, granted eternal life. Even restore the hair on your head." Müdfly mumbles behind us.

Father and I make our way back to lady rose.
"You must let nothing pass her lips that has made and served by you. Clear?" Father says

"Yes. I'll see to it" she nods

"That's us to the carriage." Father mutters

"Jip, you stay behind and guard the queen. Very important" I tell him

"Right. Guard dog mood. Stand down everyone, while i secure the perimeter" jip says, then starts to scoot his butt.

I turn to lady rose.
"We won't let you down. This may be the Queens life and the land at risk- But it's also your mother's life. I won't let anyone feel what I did, do you hear me?" I away

"Yes, thank you Dolittle" she says softly.

"Nova's fine" I smile, before turning away.