**Title: A Timeless Race** [The setting is RJ's cozy nook inside a large oak tree. Various appliances and gadgets litter the area, evidence of his scavenging skills. RJ, a slick raccoon, is fiddling with a sleek, unfamiliar device as his friends, including Verne the turtle, Hammy the squirrel, Stella the skunk, and the rest of the gang, gather around, curious.] RJ: (grinning) Feast your eyes on THIS, my friends! The future of gaming! Verne: (squinting) What is that, RJ? RJ: It's a Nintendo Switch! Just got it fresh from...uh, a very special place. We can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on it! [The gang oohs and aahs as RJ hooks up the device to a salvaged TV.] Hammy: (bouncing excitedly) Ooooh! Can I be the speedy one? I wanna go fast! RJ: (laughing) You got it, Hammy. Everyone pick your characters, let's race! [As they select characters and the race is about to start, Verne has a puzzled look on his shell.] Verne: Wait a second... If it's 2006, how do we have a console that comes out in 2017? [The room goes silent, everyone turns to Verne, then to RJ, and then to the Nintendo Switch. Suddenly, there's a loud knock on the door.] Stella: Who could that be? [A group of Time Police agents burst in, decked in futuristic gear and holding gadgets that seem to scan the room.] Time Agent 1: (sternly) We've detected a historical anomaly in this sector. Hand over the time-displaced device immediately. RJ: (confused) My...Switch? Time Agent 2: (grabbing the Nintendo Switch and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe) You're in violation of the Temporal Preservation Act. This technology does not belong in 2006. [The Time Police confiscate the gadgets, muttering about "maintaining the timeline" and "avoiding historical inaccuracy."] RJ: (deflated) Well...that happened. Verne: (sighing) Guess we're back to board games? RJ: (determined) Not on my watch. I've got a backup plan! [Time passes. RJ returns, triumphantly holding a Nintendo DS and Mario Kart DS.] RJ: Behold! The Nintendo DS, and Mario Kart DS! Totally timeline appropriate! Hammy: (clapping) Yay! Racing time! [They gather around, a bit more cramped this time, squinting at the smaller screens. Despite the downgrade, their laughter and cheers soon fill the room.] Stella: (smiling) You know, this isn't half bad. Verne: (nodding) Yeah, it's all about who you're with, not what you're playing on. RJ: (grinning) Exactly! And who knows, maybe one day we'll get to play on that Switch again. Without the Time Police crashing the party. [They all laugh, the room warm with the glow of friendship and the excitement of the race on the tiny screens.] **THE END**