Not since the time of Bill Odie and the Goodies had anyone tried to discover the secrets behind the magic properties of Sherbet, but this was the quest Miss Blimey was now sent on so it seemed. She had received a charter to the far off island of Zard to discover the makers of the famous sweet, and her patron was now nestled quietly in the guest quarters. A strange bearded man, small in stature but quite knowledgeable on the subject of sherbet. So far their journey had taken them through many strange seas, passing many ports they did not dare stop at, for fear of non-payment had been put into them by Patron. The sky had cleared earlier on that day, a pleasant breeze was filling the ships sails giving the Raven a nice coasting speed and it wasn't long before Miss Blimey spotted the island.

"It looks like he was right after all!" called Betty H.V from the bow of the Raven and jumped down to go and tell Patron they had arrived. Miss Blimey turned the Raven into the harbour of Zard and soon had her docked and moored. Looking up at her fabulous vessel she could just make out the outline of Patron standing next to Betty hates Veronica as they both took in the strange view before them. Not far off was the little village, home to, what Patron assured them, were the actual sherbet makers themselves. Miss Blimey almost laughed to herself at the thought of having sailed someone hundreds of miles to find little sherbet makers, whom she was already picturing as looking like crazy out of control sugar fuelled pixies.

"Come on, we need to get to town and get you settled in Patron," stated Miss Blimey and stalked off towards the nearest road.

Strolling through the little town Miss Blimey and her crew were soon approached and promptly arrested. It seems the residents of Zard did not take to kindly to tall visitors from other parts of the world. Miss Blimey signalled for Betty H.V to stay her hand and allow the little people to think they had these visitors under control. In truth, Miss Blimey was more than a little stunned that her assumption that the people of Zard would be some kind of hyperactive pixie children was not far from the reality.

Presently they arrived at the town jail, and at the sight of it Betty hates Veronica could contain herself no longer and began laughing hysterically. It was obvious there was no way any of them would fit inside, it was the size of a dollhouse. The Zardians looked sorely confused, and began babbling incessantly at each other. Patron sat down hard on the ground and refused to speak until the matter was resolved. Only Miss Blimey understood the seriousness of the situation and turned to the little pixie people.

"Look here," she said sternly. "Clearly we will not fit inside your jail, and you cannot contain us against our will, so far we have been very patient with you but this madness stops here lest you feel the anger of the blade."

"Uh.... what do we do then?" asked the tallest of the sherbet makers. "We can't have you walking willy nilly around our small town, you would destroy it all with one false move! Tell us what you want and then we think it would be best if you left."

"With pleasure shall we go, we only came to drop off Patron here, that man sitting on the ground," replied Miss Blimey

"Patron?" asked the tall pixie sherbet maker

"Yes, Patron," said Patron finally standing and pulling the hood of his cape back at last and revealing the face attached to the beard. The Zardians gasped and all dropped to their knees, bowing their heads and keening in a strange tongue. Miss Blimey and Betty hates Veronica did not know what to make of this and began slowly backing away, swords drawn in case some kind of sugar riot should erupt in the street.

"You have returned finally, as prophesised," said the tallest Zardian.

"Indeed I have, to show you the pure ways of sherbet once again, you have lost the true recipe and it's magic powers have wanned this many year," stated Patron sternly.

"Forgive us oh great Patron!" shouted the Zardians in chorus and began running in circles, performing what Miss Blimey could only assume was some kind of strange apology dance.

"We better get out of here Betty H.V," whispered Miss Blimey and together they crept off back to the Raven.

Back on the ship the two girls burst into giggles, unable to look towards the town without imagining the crazy scene, which must still be playing out there. When they had calmed down Miss Blimey turned and opened the little silver box that had been left in the guest room by Patron and found inside it their fee for delivery.

"Looks like we got a bonus!" smiled Miss Blimey tipping the money out onto the bed and finding that along with it were several sherbet canisters.

"Sweet," said Betty H.V, which only caused them to start laughing hysterically all over again.

The End