Baron Burr appears and tells Peter that the elm's gift is temporary, and that he must fulfill the prophecy by the coming sunrise. After Peter experiences difficulty in creating a heat wave that evaporates the excess water, he consults the enchanted elm about his fading powers. When Emperor Spine wakes Nepton from his rest and orders him to create a flash flood, Nepton recognizes Spine as the cause of the pollution and ejects him from his abode with a bottomless water keg, which creates Spine's desired flood. Meanwhile, the sea king Nepton is angered by the burnt debris that now litters the local lakes and rivers, but is soothed to sleep by his chorus of frogs. Edgar informs him of the prophecy that is the cause of Emperor Spine's antagonism. Peter uses his brush to create a thunderstorm that extinguishes the fire, and Fire Bug warns Peter of Emperor Spine's role in the accident.Īs Peter assists in rebuilding, J. To add to this effort, Emperor Spine provokes the flame spirit Fire Bug into setting a wildfire. is won over by Peter's collage of his glory years, Emperor Spine orders his sentient battle axes, the Spine-Tinglers, to raid the forest for Peter. in turn treats Thistle to a round at Beaver's Sashay Inn and Saloon and befriends him. Bear to assist in his errand after removing a thorn from his foot.
On his way to collect Palette, Thistle recruits retired athlete Bud E. Edgar and to deliver Peter to his castle so that Spine can personally devour him. Spine orders his court magician Thistle to execute J. Edgar Beaver, a crow reports his appearance to Emperor Spine, whose reign is prophesied by his wind-riding soothsayer Baron Burr to be ended by a human. As he is granted shelter at the lodge of J. Nature-loving artist Peter Palette takes a nap under an enchanted elm tree, which grants him the ability to communicate with the animals of the forest and to cast spells with his paintbrush.