Belfry Loses His Cool: Extended synopsis

### Expanded Synopsis: "Belfry Loses His Cool"

In the heart of Towering Oaks lies Buttenhauser's Meadow, where Belfry reigns as the coolest bat in the forest. Known for his impressive flying skills, Belfry dazzles onlookers gathered at the old story tree with his daring aerial stunts. As always, he ends with a big finale and a confident wink from behind his signature moon glasses. This evening, Belfry has something new in store. For weeks, he had been working on a spectacular new landing that was sure to leave everyone in awe and cement his status as the best flyer in Towering Oaks. However, things don't go as planned. Raif, who was secretly jealous of Belfry's popularity and skills, puts himself in Belfry's path, foiling his big finish. As Belfry quickly maneuvers to avoid hitting Raif, his moon glasses slip from his face and fall into the tall grass below leaving Belfry suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable.

Unaware that Raif had found and hidden his moon glasses, Belfry embarks on a mission to find them the next night. Returning to the scene of the mishap, Belfry desperately searches the branches of the old story tree and in the tall grasses at its base for his shades. Raif, seizing the opportunity, convinces Belfry that someone had taken his prized possession deep into the forest. Trusting Raif, Belfry follows the false trail, unaware of the true culprit behind his missing glasses. During his search, the familiar forest soon becomes a maze of uncertainty. With each passing day, his desperation grows as his moon glasses remain elusive and Belfry's confidence wanes.

Hearing cries for help, he comes across the whip-poor-will twins, Whisper wing and Willow. After helping Willow out of a thorny bush she had gotten stuck in while hiding, Belfry uses a trick inspired by his younger brother Basil and his own aerial skills to help the twins avoid capture by a mean Owl they call "Bent Beak"-who turns out to be Old Barnabus. While accompanying Willow and whisper wing back to the safety of their nest, Belfry tells them about his lost moon glasses. Having gotten to know Belfry without his prized glasses, whisper wing and Willow don't understand why he even needs them but they offer their help. The search, however, is unsuccessful and Belfry decides to return home, doubtful that he could ever face his friends again. As they say goodbye to their new friend, the whip-poor-will twins try to convince Belfry that he is more than his moon glasses but to no avail.

Upon returning home, Belfry feels demoralized. His self-confidence shattered, he lacks the courage to return to the old story tree. He wonders whether he could ever face everyone again without his coveted moon glasses. His younger brother Basil then reminds Belfry how he helped him learn to land, exclaiming that for him, it was the coolest thing Belfry had ever done. And how whenever others are impressed with his landings, he always says "my big brother taught me that!". Basils admiration boosts Belfry's confidence and he works up the courage to return to the story tree the next night.

As he arrives at the old story tree, Belfry is surprised to find Raif sporting his long-lost moon glasses and mimicking his aerial tricks in a not-so-successful attempt to impress the crowd. In a rage, Belfry yells Raif's name and charges after him. Raif, Shocked to see Belfry, tries to fly away with the moon glasses. He isn't fast enough however, and Belfry tries to snatch his shades from Raif's head as he catches up to him. Determined not to lose his stolen prize, Raif holds on to them as tightly as he can. During the mid-air battle, Raif loses his grip on the glasses and crashes into a tree. Stunned, he falls toward the ground where the recent rains had left a deep puddle. Belfry throws his coveted moon glasses aside without thinking and dives toward Raif scooping him up just before he landed in the murky water.

Back in the safety of the tree, Belfry is cheered as a hero and he feels a surge of confidence. Once Raif recovered from his brush with disaster and realized what could have happened, he expresses his gratitude to Belfry and apologizes for stealing the moon glasses. Belfry forgives Raif and the two shake hands effectively burying their rivalry. Grandpa Owl praises the boys for putting their differences aside Belfry suddenly realizes that he's lost his long-sought moon glasses again. Strangely however, it doesn't feel like the disaster it once was.

Raif offers to really help look for them this time, in hopes of making up for his behavior. However, Ollie Owl however, approaches the former rivals carrying Belfry's moon glasses. As he tries the return them to their rightful owner, Belfry realizes that they're just a pair of glasses and he doesn't actually need them. He tells Ollie he can keep the once coveted pair of shades. Looking back at the whole ordeal, it becomes clear to Belfry that in his search for what he thought was his identity, he found his true self.