Winnie the Pooh and The Dark Crystal Read-Along

This is the story of "Winnie the Pooh And The Dark Crystal". You can read along with me in your book. You will know when it is time to turn the page when you hear the chimes ring like this. (chimes ring) Let's begin now.

In another time, another world, gentle Gelflings and simple Podlings lived together in peace. Every 1,000 years, the Three Suns of this world would come together in a Great Conjunction of blinding light. Tremendous energy would pass through a magical Crystal located at the heart of a shining Castle. But during the last Great Conjunction, the Crystal cracked, and a single Crystal Shard broke off and was lost. The Crystal darkened, and evil came into the world.

(chimes ring, turn page)

Two new races appeared: The cruel Skeksis and the gentle Mystics. The Skeksis took control of the Dark Crystal and brought unhappiness to the land. An ancient Prophecy said that their harsh rule could be endedbut only if a Gelfling healed the Crystal. So the Skeksis ordered the death of every Gelfling to prevent the Prophecy from coming true. However, the good and wise Mystics saved one Gelfling baby, a boy named Jen, and raised him in their hidden valley. Years later, Winnie the Pooh and his friends have traveled to this world and met Jen, and as the Mystic Master lay dying, he summoned Jen and the others to his side and showed them the image of the missing Crystal Shard. "Jen, soon the Three Suns will meet again. Find this Shard, or else the Skeksis will rule forever. Your new friends will help you. Seek Aughra, keeper of secrets." "Oh, dear, he's dying." Said Piglet. The Shard gave off a clear musical note and disappeared, and the Mystic Master faded from sight. "Oh, Master, We will go where you send us, though we barely understand." So Jen and the others left to find Aughra.

(chimes ring, turn page)

At that same moment, in the Castle of the Dark Crystal, the Emperor of the evil Skeksis also died. No sooner had he dropped his scepter than the Chamberlain snatched it up. "Hmm. I should be Emperor next! It should be me!" The Skeksis General howled. "CHAMBERLAIN, LAY DOWN THAT SCEPTER! I challenge you to trial by stone! Slaves, bring us the swords". The Chamberlain went first. With all his might, he crashed his sword against the Trail Stone. But nothing happened. Then the General swung fiercely, and the black stone shattered. "It's me! I'm Emperor now! Throw the Chamberlain out of the Castle forever!"

(chimes ring, turn page)

Just then the Crystal sounded, and the Skeksis rushed to the Crystal Chamber. There in the Dark Crystal was an image of Jen and Pooh and the others. "A Gelfling alive? How can that be? We've killed them all! And those strange creatures are with him." Angered, the General turned to his army of huge dark beetle-like creatures. "Garthim! Find the Gelfling and his friends now, or they will destroy us!" Meanwhile, our heroes continued their search for Aughra. "Uh, I have a feeling that we're about to get caught in a trap." "Chumley, don't be rediculus. Who would want to trap us?" Said Tennessee Tuxedo and Chumley. As they struggled up a rocky cliff, long vines suddenly reached down and pulled Jen off the ground and traps fell on Pooh and the others. "Boy, they must really hate salesman." "Suddenly looking for Aughra doesn't seem like such a good idea." Said Tigger and Rabbit. A hideous one-eyed women stepped before them. "You, Gelfling? Can't be. All dead." "But I am a Gelfling. These are my friends. Are you Aughra? We seek the Crystal Shard." "Is that all? Come, everyone, follow me." Aughra touched the vines, and they set Jen down and she took the traps off of Pooh and the others.

(chimes ring, turn page)

Aughra let Jen and Pooh and the others to her wonderous observatory. "Everything in the heavens is here. That's how I know next Great Conjunction is coming. Better find your Shard before that, everyone." Aughra dumped out a box full of Crystal Shards. Jen and the others searched through them carefully. "These three look like the Shard my master showed us, but one is it?" "There's so many, it's hard to choose." Said Eeyore. Jen thought awhile, then piped the sound his Master's Shard had made. The middle Shard began to glow. "Uh, you know, I think that's the Crystal Shard we need." Said Chumley. "Aughra, this is the one! But what do we do with it?" Why, you must heal the Dark Crystal!" But before she could explain, Garthim warriors ripped through the observatory wall. Jen and the others jumped onto passing metal moon and sailed over the Garthims' heads. Below, Aughra fought off the invaders. Fearing for their lives, Jen and Pooh and the others hurled themselves off the moon, crashed through a window, and tumbled down a rocky hillside. But both them and the Shard were safe.

(chimes ring, turn page)