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a synopsis

Mossy and Tangle live next door to each other.  But they don’t get on.  Mossy thinks Tangle is just plain scruffy.  Whilst Tangle thinks Mossy is just stuck-up.

Outraged by the loose science in a story that his Great Aunt Agatha is telling, Mossy sets off with compass and map to prove that you can’t reach the foot of the rainbow.  Meanwhile Tangle has also heard the story from her hiding place amongst the blossom of a pear tree.  She too sets off towards the rainbow, hoping to find the Golden Key at its foot as described in the story.

Much to his amazement, Mossy finds the end of the rainbow and the Golden Key.  He also meets up with Tangle and they are threatened by an alarming shadow that covers the moon.  But the shadow is chased away by the arrival of a Flying Fish that glows in the dark.

The Flying Fish leads them to the beautiful Grandmother – who looks like a young woman despite being over 2000 years old.  She reminds Mossy of the mother he no longer has.  The Grandmother tells them that they must work together to find the Chamber of the Most Precious, which the key will open.  She tells them they will get further help from the Old Man of the Sea – and also to beware of the Shadow Master.

Tangle and Mossy set off.  Much to Mossy’s amazement Tangle is able to interpret a squirrel’s instructions to find the Old Man of the Sea.  They head for the Mountains of Vannset.  But they are suddenly set upon by the two French Maids who are supposed to look after Tangle at home (because her father is so often away) and who make her life a misery.

Having escaped from the French Maids, Mossy and Tangle find themselves in the Valley of Shadows.  Amongst the shadows Mossy sees his mother and Tangle sees her father.  Tangle wants to move on to escape the French Maids.  But Mossy won’t tear himself away from shadow of his Mother.  The French Maids capture Tangle and drag her away.

 Mossy finds himself in the presence of the Shadow Master.  The Shadow Master offers to help to find Tangle if Mossy hands over the key.  But Mossy doesn’t trust him and insists that he will find Tangle through his own efforts.  He carries on towards the Mountains of Vannset.

Meanwhile Tangle confronts the French Maids.  She tells them that she has had enough of their bullying and sends them packing.  And she too continues towards the Mountain of Vannset.  When she reaches the peak she sees the sea below her and scrambles down the mountainside to the shore.  There she finds the Old Man of the Sea – a young-looking man despite being over 5000-years old.  He tells Tangle that she will find both Mossy and The Chamber of the Most Precious on the Island of Calm in the middle of the Sea of Tranquility – and summons a Giant Skate to carry her there on his back.

Meanwhile Mossy finds himself once more beset by the Shadow Master.  Unable to see properly in the middle of a thick mist he falls down a hole and finds himself hurtling towards the centre of the earth.  He manages to grab hold of the side of the tunnel and hauls himself into a huge cave.  Inside which is a little baby – who turns out to be the Oldest Man in the World.

The Oldest Man in the World is interested in the golden key.  But all Mossy wants is to find Tangle.  The Oldest Man in the World produces a snake to lead Mossy through an underground passage to reach the Island of Eternal Peace.  There Mossy and Tangle are reunited.  After a final showdown with the Shadow Master they enter the Chamber of the Most Precious.  To find it empty.  But then they realise that it isn’t empty at all.  They are in there.  And what they have found is precious.  Friendship.