Max knows this LEGO town better than anyone alive. He built every brick, designed every guard, placed every lamp and fountain. But when he's escorted through the gates of Brickhaven under armed escort, the citizens look away and Krag — the champion Max designed himself — calls him confused, or dangerous.
Max gets to see his creation alive for the first time at ground level: the bakery with real bread, the fountain with actual flowing water, the clocktower actually ticking. And then he's exiled through the east gate with nothing.
New to Brickhaven? Start at Chapter 1...
Brickhaven is a LEGO adventure story for boys 8–14.
00:00:00 — Max arrives at the gates of his own town — and the guards don't know him
00:00:30 — Chapter 2: The Gates of Brickhaven
00:08:15 — Escorted through Brickhaven as a prisoner — his own citizens won't look at him
00:18:15 — Face to face with Crag — the champion Max built to protect the town
00:28:45 — Expelled beyond the walls — into the Destroyer's territory
00:29:00 — CH 3 — What Comes Next
New chapters weekly.
Narrated by Reed Sterling.
I am the author of serialized fiction books for kids, teens, tweens and young adults, including:
- Brickhaven: A Bricks Fan Fiction Adventure
- Colony In Danger: A Fire Ant Adventure
- Eagle's Edge: A Story of Rome, Gaul and the Making of a Soldier
- Treasure Island: A Classic Adaptation
- Iron Rails & Ruin: A Novel of Steam, Sorcery and the Lawless Montana Territory
📚 All five books -- are now available on Amazon: https://us.amazon.com/stores/Reed-Sterling/author/B0H2ZM86WQ
📖 Wanna check out all five series for yourself? Get all five Chapter 1s free: https://compass-codex.kit.com/middle-school-reader-group
Thank you for listening! This is Reed Sterling. Remember: Never stop exploring unknown worlds.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Max built Brickhaven brick by brick, every wall,
(00:04):
every guard.
But now they've escorted himthrough the gates as a prisoner
to assess.
The man he built to be theirhero calls Max a myth.
This is Compass and Codex.
Never stop exploring unknownworlds.
Brickhaven a Bricks fan fictionadventure.
(00:27):
Chapter two The Gates ofBrickhaven Scene 1.
The guards' plastic facessomehow managed to convey
suspicion despite their limitedfeatures, two dots for eyes, a
simple curved line for a mouth.
I stood motionless before them,caught between wonder and
(00:49):
disbelief that my own creationsnow regarded me as a stranger.
The gate remained closed, theport cullis half lowered in a
defensive position I had neverdesigned it to take.
One of the guards motioned tosomeone behind the wall, and I
heard the distinct click of Legomechanisms engaging.
(01:09):
A sound both familiar from yearsof building and utterly foreign
in its autonomous operation.
The massive wooden doors, reallyjust brown plates arranged in my
careful pattern, began to partslightly, just enough to reveal
three more guards standing information behind them.
Their spears pointed outward,forming a bristling barrier
(01:31):
between me and the town beyond.
I'm Max, I repeated, raising myvoice slightly.
The builder.
I made Brickhaven.
I placed every brick.
My words hung in the air,seeming to drop to the ground
between us like physical objectsthe guards observed with
suspicion.
One guard, taller than theothers, with a small red
(01:54):
insignia on his chest that Iremembered painting myself,
stepped forward.
The builder is a legend, hesaid, his voice higher than I
expected, but clear and firm.
A story told to explain ourorigins.
Not a legend, I insisted.
I'm real.
I built this place.
I gestured at the walls aroundus.
(02:16):
Two months ago in my bedroom Ithe words suddenly tangled in my
throat as six pairs of eyesfixed on me.
My brain raced ahead while mymouth struggled to keep up.
I designed the pattern of I feltthe familiar sensation of my
thoughts scattering under socialpressure.
My right hand dropped to myside, fingers beginning to tap
(02:39):
against my leg, index, middle,ring, pinky, then reverse.
A rhythm I'd developed years agowhen words failed me.
The guards noticed, theirplastic hands tightening on
their spears.
Your eastern watchtower, Imanaged finally, my words coming
in short, precise bursts as Iforced myself to focus.
(03:02):
It has a hidden support beam,brown, one by eight, embedded in
the third layer.
You can't see it from outside.
I pointed toward the corner ofthe wall.
I put it there because the firstdesign was unstable.
The guards exchanged glances,their simplified faces somehow
conveying complex emotions.
(03:22):
The lead guard's eyes narrowed,an impossible movement for a
painted on feature, yet I saw ithappen.
Anyone could guess at hiddensupports, he said, but
uncertainty had crept into hisvoice.
My fingers continued theirtapping as I gathered my
thoughts.
I was losing them.
Words weren't working.
I needed to show, not tell.
(03:46):
The crenellations, I said,pointing upward.
There are exactly one hundredand forty four around the entire
perimeter, thirty six on eachwall, except I paused, pointing
to the western wall segment,except there, thirty five there,
I ran out of the right pieces,had to improvise.
The lead guard turned to lookwhere I was pointing, then back
(04:07):
at me, his expression impossibleto read.
And the gate hinges, Icontinued, my words coming
easier now as I focused on theprecise details of my creation.
They're asymmetrical.
The right hinge is one platehigher than the left.
I did that because the door keptcatching on the ground
otherwise.
(04:28):
A murmur passed through theguards, not words exactly, but a
sound of collective unease.
They couldn't deny what I wassaying.
These weren't things someonewould notice without intimate
knowledge of the construction.
The fountain in the square, Ipressed on, gaining confidence.
It has a blue two by two roundplate at the bottom that doesn't
(04:50):
match the rest.
I dropped the original piece andcouldn't find it under my bed.
The lead guard stepped backslightly, conferring with two
others in hushed tones.
I caught fragments.
Impossible knowledge andsecurity risk, and Crag must
assess.
I took a deep breath, focusingon one final detail that I knew
(05:13):
would prove beyond doubt who Iwas.
The east wall, I said loudlyenough for all to hear.
Behind the third guard tower,there's a loose brick, grey, two
by four, second row from thetop.
It looks fine from the outside,but it's not connected to
anything behind it.
I meant to fix it, but forgot.
(05:35):
The lead guard froze midsentence in his conference with
the others.
He turned slowly to face me, hissimple face now showing
something I hadn't seen before.
Fear.
How could you possibly knowthat?
he demanded.
That vulnerability is classifiedinformation.
Because I built it, I saidsimply.
(05:57):
I built all of this, everybrick, every minifig.
I gestured at him, includingyou.
The guards formed a tightcircle, their conversation now
too quiet for me to hear.
I stood waiting, my fingersstill tapping lightly against my
leg.
The gates remained partiallyopen, revealing tantalizing
(06:18):
glimpses of the town beyond, mytown, alive with movement and
activity I had never imaginedpossible.
After what felt like minutes butwas probably less than thirty
seconds, they broke theirhuddle.
The lead guard approached me,his posture rigid with what
appeared to be formal decision.
You will be admitted toBrickhaven, he announced, his
(06:40):
voice carefully controlled.
Not as the builder you claim tobe, such claims require
assessment by higher authority,but as a person of interest who
possesses concerning knowledgeabout our defenses.
Two guards moved to flank me,their spears not quite touching
me, but positioned to make itclear I was under their control.
(07:01):
You will be escorted to the townsquare, the lead guard
continued, where your claims canbe properly evaluated.
Any attempt to deviate from ourpath will be treated as hostile
action.
He paused, studying my face.
Is this understood?
I nodded, recognizing thatarguing would only make things
(07:21):
worse.
Understood.
The gates swung open fully,revealing Brickhaven's main
street beyond.
The lead guard gestured for meto walk between my escorts.
Welcome to Brickhaven, he said,his tone making it clear this
was a formality rather than agenuine welcome.
Keep your hands visible at alltimes.
(07:44):
I stepped forward between myguards crossing the threshold
into the world I had built.
Not as its creator returninghome, but as a stranger under
suspicion, a prisoner to beassessed.
As we passed through the gate, Iheard the heavy doors close
behind us, followed by thedecisive clunk of the locking
mechanism I had so carefullydesigned engaging.
(08:06):
The sound felt like a period atthe end of a sentence, final,
conclusive, marking the end ofone reality and the beginning of
another.
(09:14):
Brickhaven had welcomed itsbuilder home, not with open
arms, but with spears at theready, and suspicion in its
plastic hearts.
A road I had paved brick bybrick with smooth grey plates,
now worn in places as if fromyears of traffic that had never
(09:37):
actually occurred.
My escorts maintained perfectformation around me, their
postures rigid and professional,spears held at precise angles
that somehow conveyed boththreat and routine.
I walked between them, myplastic feet clicking against
the road surface, taking in theimpossible reality of my
(09:58):
creation now alive at minifigscale.
The first building we passed wasBrickhaven Bakery, a simple
structure I had assembled inabout twenty minutes one Tuesday
afternoon.
I'd used white bricks for thewalls, brown for the counter,
and placed three small roundpieces as decorative bread
loaves in the window.
Now those bread loaves wereactual bread, with visible
(10:22):
texture and, I blinked twice toconfirm, actual steam rising
from them.
The scent reached me as wepassed, warm and yeasty, a smell
I had certainly never built intothe plastic.
That's impossible, I muttered,staring at the bakery.
I never designed functionalovens or silence, the lead guard
(10:44):
instructed without turning hishead.
You will be permitted to speakwhen questioned.
Behind the counter stood a bakerminifig, one I recognized as a
standard Lego figure with awhite hat and apron that came in
a set I'd received for my ninthbirthday.
I had positioned him therepermanently.
Now he moved with purpose,arranging loaves on shelves,
(11:08):
occasionally glancing toward ourprocession.
When our eyes met, he quicklylooked away, busying himself
with dough.
The pattern repeated as weprogressed through the town.
Citizens, all minifigs I hadplaced throughout Brickhaven,
ceased their activities as weapproached.
Conversations died mid sentence,eyes averted.
(11:30):
A group of three figures outsidewhat I had designed as a small
market, folded their yellow armsand turned their backs as we
passed.
They're afraid, I realizedaloud, forgetting the
instruction to remain silent.
The guard to my right nudged mewith his spear.
Not hard enough to hurt, butsufficient to remind me of my
(11:51):
status.
We turned a corner onto what Ihad named, in my head, at least,
Fountain Square.
The centerpiece of my designstood before us, a three tiered
fountain built from blue andwhite pieces, with a central
column supporting two shallowbasins.
When I had built it, I'dimagined water flowing, but of
course it had been staticplastic.
(12:14):
Now incredibly water actuallyflowed.
Clear liquid sprang from thetop, cascaded into the first
basin, overflowed into thesecond, and collected in the
pool at the bottom.
Light caught the droplets,creating tiny rainbows that
vanished as quickly as theyformed.
The physics of it seemedimpossible.
(12:35):
The water maintained perfectscale with the environment,
falling in dropletsproportionate to the minifig
world, rather than behaving likethe actual water it appeared to
be.
How is this possible?
I whispered, quiet enough thatthe guards chose to ignore the
infraction.
I noticed the blue two by tworound plate at the fountain's
(12:57):
bottom, the mismatched piece Ihad mentioned to the guards.
It sat exactly where I hadplaced it, now submerged under
actual flowing water.
Beyond the fountain rose theastronomer's tower, a tall,
narrow structure I had builtfrom dark grey bricks with a
single round window at the top.
I had placed a minifig with asmall telescope there, aimed at
(13:20):
nothing in particular.
Now the telescope was positionedprecisely, angled toward the
ceiling of my bedroom, whichfrom here appeared as a distant
sky.
The telescope itself had gaineddetails I hadn't built, small
adjustment knobs, a focusingmechanism, even a tiny chair for
the astronomer to sit whilemaking observations.
(13:42):
The astronomer herself, a femaleminifig with printed glasses on
her yellow face, quickly duckedaway from the window when she
saw me looking up.
More evidence of their fear, Ithought, cataloguing these
reactions.
We passed the blacksmith's forgenext, a simple structure where I
had placed an anvil, a smallgrey piece, and a furnace, black
(14:06):
bricks with transparent orangepieces suggesting flames.
The setup had been purelydecorative in my design, now the
forge glowed with actual heat,the bellows pumped rhythmically,
and the blacksmith, a minifigwith a printed beard, hammered
at what appeared to be a tinymetal sword.
The sound of metal strikingmetal rang out clearly ping,
(14:29):
ping, ping, until the blacksmithnoticed our procession.
He immediately set down hishammer, extinguished his forge
with a bucket of water thatproduced actual steam, and
retreated to the back of hisshop.
They've all been instructed toavoid me, I realized, the
pattern now unmistakable.
As we approached the town centrewe passed a small courtyard,
(14:52):
where I had positioned threechild minifigs with various
toys.
I had added the children as anafterthought, placing small
objects near them as props, atiny boat, a ball, a jump rope
made from a thin black piece.
These children now played withthose toys actively.
The boat sailed in a smallpuddle, the ball bounced between
(15:15):
them, the jump rope whippedthrough the air as a child
minifig hopped over it withperfect timing.
Upon seeing our approach, anadult minifig, presumably a
parent, rushed into thecourtyard, gathering the
children and hurrying theminside a nearby building.
The door closed firmly behindthem.
(15:36):
Throughout our march I becameincreasingly aware of the
garrison, a large, fortifiedstructure I had built on the
east side of the town square.
In my design it had been animpressive but ultimately
decorative feature, housing whatI imagined as Brickhaven's
defenders.
Now it dominated the square withan ominous presence.
(15:57):
Guards patrolled its walls, morenumerous and better armed than I
remembered placing.
A black flag I had never createdflew from its highest tower,
bearing a symbol I didn'trecognize, something like a
shield divided diagonally.
That's new, I noted mentally.
I never designed that flag oremblem.
(16:18):
The clock tower, a tallstructure on the north side of
the square, contained actualfunctioning mechanics.
I could see the gears turningthrough the transparent pieces I
had used for windows, markingtime in a world that shouldn't
have had any concept of itspassage.
The clock face showed tenfifteen.
(16:38):
Though whether that correspondedto the actual time in my room, I
couldn't determine.
Our procession finally halted inthe centre of the town square, a
broad open space I hadintentionally left mostly empty
to serve as Brickhaven'sgathering place.
The guards maintained theirformation around me, forming a
perfect square with me at thecenter.
(17:00):
Citizens who had been in thesquare quickly departed,
entering buildings or sidestreets with conspicuous haste.
Within minutes the square wasempty except for our group and a
ring of additional guards whotook up positions around the
perimeter.
The fountain continued itsimpossible flow of water behind
us.
The clock continued itsmechanical ticking above.
(17:22):
But otherwise an unnaturalsilence descended on what should
have been the busiest part oftown.
Wait here, the lead guardinstructed, the first words any
of them had spoken since weentered the town.
He stepped away, approaching thegarrison's main entrance, an
imposing doorway I hadconstructed from black archway
pieces and a double door of darkbrown plates.
(17:45):
I stood, motionless, observingthe square from this new
perspective.
Every building, everyarchitectural feature was
exactly as I had designed it,yet simultaneously transformed.
The plastic had gained texture,the colours subtle variations,
the straight edges slightimperfections that suggested age
(18:06):
and use.
My perfect Lego town had gaineda history I never gave it, a
life I never imagined for it.
The lead guard spoke brieflywith someone inside the
garrison, a conversation toodistant for me to hear.
He nodded once, sharply, thenreturned to our formation.
He will see you now, the guardannounced, his tone neutral, but
(18:28):
his plastic face somehowconveying apprehension.
Who?
I asked, though I alreadysuspected the answer.
Crag, the guard replied, thename hanging in the air like a
weight.
The protector of Brickhavenawaits.
The guards tightened theirformation around me and began
marching toward the garrison'sentrance, where a tall figure
(18:51):
had emerged, standingsilhouetted in the doorway.
Even from this distance Irecognized the distinctive
outline of the special minifig Ihad designed to be Brickhaven's
champion, the custom black armorI had carefully assembled piece
by piece, the helmet with itsunique visor, the posture of
authority I had imagined forhim.
(19:14):
Kragg, my creation, waited topass judgment on his creator.
Scene three.
Kragg stepped into the square,and the air seemed to change
around him.
He moved with a fluid precisionI had never imagined my creation
could possess, each stepdeliberate, the black armor
catching the light in waysplastic shouldn't.
(19:36):
I had spent hours designing thatarmor, connecting small black
plates in overlapping patternsto create the impression of
formidable protection.
Now, seeing it in motion, Irealized I had succeeded too
well.
The figure I had crafted to beBrickhaven's protector now
radiated an authority thatbordered on menace, his visor
(19:59):
casting his face in shadowdespite the bright light of the
square.
The guards around mestraightened imperceptibly,
their postures shifting fromalert to rigid attention.
One of them whispered somethingthat sounded like present, and
as one, they adjusted theirstance, spears perfectly
parallel.
(20:20):
Cragg approached with measuredsteps, stopping precisely ten
brick lengths away from me.
Up close I could see the detailsof his armor, the slight
variations in the black plasticthat suggested wear, the barely
perceptible scratches on hisbreastplate that I had never
created.
His helmet featured theretractable visor I had
(20:40):
designed, currently raised toreveal his face.
The standard minifig features,two dot eyes and a curved line
mouth, somehow conveyed a coldintelligence I had never
intended.
This is the intruder, Cragasked, his voice deeper than the
other minifigs, exactly as I hadimagined it would be during
(21:00):
those late nights building hisworld.
Yes, Lord Protector, the leadguard replied.
He claims to be the builder.
Crag's eyes fixed on me,studying me with terrifying
thoroughness.
Interesting, he said finally.
You don't match any known designin Brickhaven.
(21:21):
I stared back, momentarilyunable to speak.
This was Crag, my creation, mychampion, the figure I had
positioned at Brickhaven's gateto keep the town safe.
I had given him the best armor,the finest weapons, a position
of honor.
I had named him after acharacter in a story I'd made
(21:41):
up, carefully printing the namein my notebook Craigvar.
Your name is Craigvar, I saidsuddenly, the syllables feeling
strange in my mouth.
The effect was immediate andunsettling.
Crag's plastic face remainedimmobile, but something flashed
behind his eyes, recognition,confusion, perhaps anger.
(22:05):
The guards exchanged glances.
Where did you hear thatdesignation?
Kragg asked, his voice perfectlycontrolled but somehow sharper.
Finding unexpected confidence, Icontinued.
I named you that.
I built you, piece by piece.
I gestured at his armor.
That breastplate, I used sixteendifferent pieces to create it,
(22:29):
small black plates overlappingto create the impression of
segmented armor.
The shoulder guards took thelongest.
I had to use hinge pieces to getthe angles right.
Krag remained motionless, hisface betraying nothing as I
spoke.
Your helmet has a special visorthat can be raised or lowered, I
continued, the words coming moreeasily now.
(22:51):
I built it that way because Iwanted you to have two
expressions, the friendly onefor the townspeople and the
intimidating one for the town.
For enemies.
I pointed to his belt.
And that symbol on your beltclasp, it's not a standard Lego
piece.
I painted it myself, a smallshield design because you were
meant to be Brickhaven's shield.
(23:12):
The square had gone completelysilent.
Even the fountain splashingseemed muted, as if the town
itself was holding its breath.
Your sword, I added, noddingtoward the weapon at his side.
It's non standard too.
I traded with Jeremy Coleman forit, a special piece from a
medieval set I didn't have.
I wanted you to have the bestweapon because you were the
(23:35):
town's champion, its protector.
Cragg's hand moved to the hiltof the sword, the exact sword I
had described, his fingerswrapping around it with a
deliberate slowness.
I positioned you at the maingate, I said, standing guard,
keeping the town safe from Ihesitated, suddenly remembering
(23:56):
what lay beyond the easternhills in my design.
From the destroyer in the east.
At this Crag's expressionshifted, the barest narrowing of
his eyes, but in a face withsuch limited articulation it
registered as significant.
You speak of things you cannotknow, Crag said finally.
(24:20):
His voice remained even,controlled, but carried an
undercurrent I couldn'tidentify.
Yet you are clearly not thebuilder.
I am, I insisted.
I built this entire town, everybrick, every building, I created
you to protect it, not to Igestured around at the fearful
town, the excessive guards, thestrange emblem flying above the
(24:44):
garrison.
Not to rule it like this.
Cragg studied me for anotherlong moment, then made a small
gesture with his hand.
The guards around me tightenedtheir formation.
The builder is a myth, Craggsaid with terrifying calm, a
story told to children, aconvenient explanation for
(25:05):
origins better left unexamined.
He stepped closer, looking downat me from his slightly taller
height.
You are either confused ordangerous, perhaps both.
But I you possess knowledge thatthreatens the security of
Brickhaven, Cragg continued asif I hadn't spoken.
Knowledge that could only havebeen obtained through suspicious
(25:29):
means.
I know these things because Ibuilt them, I said, frustration
creeping into my voice.
I can prove it.
Ask me anything about theconstruction, the interior
supports of the garrison, thehidden storage room beneath the
clock tower, the Enough Kraggraised a hand and I felt silent.
(25:51):
Your claims are impossible, yetyour knowledge is real.
This presents a security concernI cannot ignore.
He turned to the guards, hisdecision apparently made.
Take him to the East Gate.
A chill ran through my plasticbody.
The East Gate.
The one facing the dark hillswhere I had placed the
(26:13):
destroyer, a monster I had builtas a challenge for the town's
hero to overcome, a monsterthat, in this living version of
Brickhaven, might be equallyalive.
No, I said, the implicationssuddenly clear.
You can't send me out there.
I built the destroyer to beunbeatable except remove him,
(26:34):
Crag ordered, turning away as ifthe matter were settled.
Standard expulsion protocols.
The guards grasped my arms,their grips surprisingly strong.
I struggled briefly, but theirhold was secure.
This isn't what I designed youfor, I called to Craggs
retreating back.
You were supposed to protect thetown, not rule it through fear.
(26:56):
Cragg paused midstep but didn'tturn around.
The town is protected, he saidquietly.
I ensure it daily.
Then he continued walking,disappearing into the garrison
without another word.
The guards marched me across thesquare, away from the fountain,
away from the garrison towardthe eastern edge of town.
(27:19):
Citizens who had been watchingfrom windows quickly pulled back
as we passed.
No one met my eyes.
You're making a mistake, I toldthe guards as we approached the
East Gate, a reinforcedstructure I had built with extra
supports and defensivepositions.
The destroyer is out there.
I built it, so I know what itcan do.
(27:40):
Then you understand why threatsto Brickhaven's security cannot
be tolerated, the lead guardreplied, without emotion.
We reached the east gate, whichwas smaller than the main gate,
but more heavily fortified.
Two guards operated a mechanismI had designed, turning large
gears that raised the portcullisand unlatched the heavy doors.
(28:01):
The gate swung outward with alow groan, revealing the
landscape beyond.
The eastern hills rose in thedistance, dark and forbidding
against what from thisperspective appeared to be a
grey sky, but which I knew wasactually the ceiling of my
bedroom.
Between Brickhaven's walls andthose hills stretched a barren
(28:22):
plain I had left intentionallyempty in my design.
A no man's land that thedestroyer would have to cross to
reach the town.
The guards marched me throughthe gate, their spears at my
back.
When we reached the outerperimeter they stopped.
By order of Lord ProtectorKragg, you are hereby expelled
from Brickhaven, the lead guardannounced formally, return, and
(28:45):
you will be treated as hostile.
With a sudden shove, they pushedme forward.
I stumbled, catching myselfbefore falling, and turned back
just in time to see the eastgate swinging closed.
The massive doors met with aheavy thud, followed by the
decisive click of locks engagingand the mechanical grind of the
port cullis lowering.
(29:07):
I stood alone outside the wallsof my own creation, facing the
darkening eastern hills, where Ihad placed a monster of my own
design.
The sound of the lock slidinginto place echoed in the empty
landscape, its finality settlingaround me like a physical
weight.
Brickhaven, my Brickhaven, hadrejected its builder and cast
(29:30):
him out into the wilderness.
And somewhere in those darkhills waited the destroyer, a
puzzle guardian I had built lateone night, designed to be
unstoppable unless thechallenger knew its specific
weakness.
A weakness that standing herenow as a minifig in a world
suddenly impossibly real, Icouldn't immediately recall.
Max knows every brick of thistown.
(29:53):
He built them all, but Cragwon't hear it.
If your creation came to lifeand didn't recognize you, what
would you do?
Next episode Outside the Walls,one small scout has been
watching everything.
Subscribe to Compass and Codexnow so you don't miss the next
chapter when it drops.
(30:16):
Thank you for listening toCompass and Codex Never Stop
Exploring Unknown Worlds.
Max built Brickhaven brick by brick, every wall,
(00:04):
every guard.
But now they've escorted himthrough the gates as a prisoner
to assess.
The man he built to be theirhero calls Max a myth.
This is Compass and Codex.
Never stop exploring unknownworlds.
Brickhaven a Bricks fan fictionadventure.
(00:27):
Chapter two The Gates ofBrickhaven Scene 1.
The guards' plastic facessomehow managed to convey
suspicion despite their limitedfeatures, two dots for eyes, a
simple curved line for a mouth.
I stood motionless before them,caught between wonder and
(00:49):
disbelief that my own creationsnow regarded me as a stranger.
The gate remained closed, theport cullis half lowered in a
defensive position I had neverdesigned it to take.
One of the guards motioned tosomeone behind the wall, and I
heard the distinct click of Legomechanisms engaging.
(01:09):
A sound both familiar from yearsof building and utterly foreign
in its autonomous operation.
The massive wooden doors, reallyjust brown plates arranged in my
careful pattern, began to partslightly, just enough to reveal
three more guards standing information behind them.
Their spears pointed outward,forming a bristling barrier
(01:31):
between me and the town beyond.
I'm Max, I repeated, raising myvoice slightly.
The builder.
I made Brickhaven.
I placed every brick.
My words hung in the air,seeming to drop to the ground
between us like physical objectsthe guards observed with
suspicion.
One guard, taller than theothers, with a small red
(01:54):
insignia on his chest that Iremembered painting myself,
stepped forward.
The builder is a legend, hesaid, his voice higher than I
expected, but clear and firm.
A story told to explain ourorigins.
Not a legend, I insisted.
I'm real.
I built this place.
I gestured at the walls aroundus.
(02:16):
Two months ago in my bedroom Ithe words suddenly tangled in my
throat as six pairs of eyesfixed on me.
My brain raced ahead while mymouth struggled to keep up.
I designed the pattern of I feltthe familiar sensation of my
thoughts scattering under socialpressure.
My right hand dropped to myside, fingers beginning to tap
(02:39):
against my leg, index, middle,ring, pinky, then reverse.
A rhythm I'd developed years agowhen words failed me.
The guards noticed, theirplastic hands tightening on
their spears.
Your eastern watchtower, Imanaged finally, my words coming
in short, precise bursts as Iforced myself to focus.
(03:02):
It has a hidden support beam,brown, one by eight, embedded in
the third layer.
You can't see it from outside.
I pointed toward the corner ofthe wall.
I put it there because the firstdesign was unstable.
The guards exchanged glances,their simplified faces somehow
conveying complex emotions.
(03:22):
The lead guard's eyes narrowed,an impossible movement for a
painted on feature, yet I saw ithappen.
Anyone could guess at hiddensupports, he said, but
uncertainty had crept into hisvoice.
My fingers continued theirtapping as I gathered my
thoughts.
I was losing them.
Words weren't working.
I needed to show, not tell.
(03:46):
The crenellations, I said,pointing upward.
There are exactly one hundredand forty four around the entire
perimeter, thirty six on eachwall, except I paused, pointing
to the western wall segment,except there, thirty five there,
I ran out of the right pieces,had to improvise.
The lead guard turned to lookwhere I was pointing, then back
(04:07):
at me, his expression impossibleto read.
And the gate hinges, Icontinued, my words coming
easier now as I focused on theprecise details of my creation.
They're asymmetrical.
The right hinge is one platehigher than the left.
I did that because the door keptcatching on the ground
otherwise.
(04:28):
A murmur passed through theguards, not words exactly, but a
sound of collective unease.
They couldn't deny what I wassaying.
These weren't things someonewould notice without intimate
knowledge of the construction.
The fountain in the square, Ipressed on, gaining confidence.
It has a blue two by two roundplate at the bottom that doesn't
(04:50):
match the rest.
I dropped the original piece andcouldn't find it under my bed.
The lead guard stepped backslightly, conferring with two
others in hushed tones.
I caught fragments.
Impossible knowledge andsecurity risk, and Crag must
assess.
I took a deep breath, focusingon one final detail that I knew
(05:13):
would prove beyond doubt who Iwas.
The east wall, I said loudlyenough for all to hear.
Behind the third guard tower,there's a loose brick, grey, two
by four, second row from thetop.
It looks fine from the outside,but it's not connected to
anything behind it.
I meant to fix it, but forgot.
(05:35):
The lead guard froze midsentence in his conference with
the others.
He turned slowly to face me, hissimple face now showing
something I hadn't seen before.
Fear.
How could you possibly knowthat?
he demanded.
That vulnerability is classifiedinformation.
Because I built it, I saidsimply.
(05:57):
I built all of this, everybrick, every minifig.
I gestured at him, includingyou.
The guards formed a tightcircle, their conversation now
too quiet for me to hear.
I stood waiting, my fingersstill tapping lightly against my
leg.
The gates remained partiallyopen, revealing tantalizing
(06:18):
glimpses of the town beyond, mytown, alive with movement and
activity I had never imaginedpossible.
After what felt like minutes butwas probably less than thirty
seconds, they broke theirhuddle.
The lead guard approached me,his posture rigid with what
appeared to be formal decision.
You will be admitted toBrickhaven, he announced, his
(06:40):
voice carefully controlled.
Not as the builder you claim tobe, such claims require
assessment by higher authority,but as a person of interest who
possesses concerning knowledgeabout our defenses.
Two guards moved to flank me,their spears not quite touching
me, but positioned to make itclear I was under their control.
(07:01):
You will be escorted to the townsquare, the lead guard
continued, where your claims canbe properly evaluated.
Any attempt to deviate from ourpath will be treated as hostile
action.
He paused, studying my face.
Is this understood?
I nodded, recognizing thatarguing would only make things
(07:21):
worse.
Understood.
The gates swung open fully,revealing Brickhaven's main
street beyond.
The lead guard gestured for meto walk between my escorts.
Welcome to Brickhaven, he said,his tone making it clear this
was a formality rather than agenuine welcome.
Keep your hands visible at alltimes.
(07:44):
I stepped forward between myguards crossing the threshold
into the world I had built.
Not as its creator returninghome, but as a stranger under
suspicion, a prisoner to beassessed.
As we passed through the gate, Iheard the heavy doors close
behind us, followed by thedecisive clunk of the locking
mechanism I had so carefullydesigned engaging.
(08:06):
The sound felt like a period atthe end of a sentence, final,
conclusive, marking the end ofone reality and the beginning of
another.
(09:14):
Brickhaven had welcomed itsbuilder home, not with open
arms, but with spears at theready, and suspicion in its
plastic hearts.
A road I had paved brick bybrick with smooth grey plates,
now worn in places as if fromyears of traffic that had never
(09:37):
actually occurred.
My escorts maintained perfectformation around me, their
postures rigid and professional,spears held at precise angles
that somehow conveyed boththreat and routine.
I walked between them, myplastic feet clicking against
the road surface, taking in theimpossible reality of my
(09:58):
creation now alive at minifigscale.
The first building we passed wasBrickhaven Bakery, a simple
structure I had assembled inabout twenty minutes one Tuesday
afternoon.
I'd used white bricks for thewalls, brown for the counter,
and placed three small roundpieces as decorative bread
loaves in the window.
Now those bread loaves wereactual bread, with visible
(10:22):
texture and, I blinked twice toconfirm, actual steam rising
from them.
The scent reached me as wepassed, warm and yeasty, a smell
I had certainly never built intothe plastic.
That's impossible, I muttered,staring at the bakery.
I never designed functionalovens or silence, the lead guard
(10:44):
instructed without turning hishead.
You will be permitted to speakwhen questioned.
Behind the counter stood a bakerminifig, one I recognized as a
standard Lego figure with awhite hat and apron that came in
a set I'd received for my ninthbirthday.
I had positioned him therepermanently.
Now he moved with purpose,arranging loaves on shelves,
(11:08):
occasionally glancing toward ourprocession.
When our eyes met, he quicklylooked away, busying himself
with dough.
The pattern repeated as weprogressed through the town.
Citizens, all minifigs I hadplaced throughout Brickhaven,
ceased their activities as weapproached.
Conversations died mid sentence,eyes averted.
(11:30):
A group of three figures outsidewhat I had designed as a small
market, folded their yellow armsand turned their backs as we
passed.
They're afraid, I realizedaloud, forgetting the
instruction to remain silent.
The guard to my right nudged mewith his spear.
Not hard enough to hurt, butsufficient to remind me of my
(11:51):
status.
We turned a corner onto what Ihad named, in my head, at least,
Fountain Square.
The centerpiece of my designstood before us, a three tiered
fountain built from blue andwhite pieces, with a central
column supporting two shallowbasins.
When I had built it, I'dimagined water flowing, but of
course it had been staticplastic.
(12:14):
Now incredibly water actuallyflowed.
Clear liquid sprang from thetop, cascaded into the first
basin, overflowed into thesecond, and collected in the
pool at the bottom.
Light caught the droplets,creating tiny rainbows that
vanished as quickly as theyformed.
The physics of it seemedimpossible.
(12:35):
The water maintained perfectscale with the environment,
falling in dropletsproportionate to the minifig
world, rather than behaving likethe actual water it appeared to
be.
How is this possible?
I whispered, quiet enough thatthe guards chose to ignore the
infraction.
I noticed the blue two by tworound plate at the fountain's
(12:57):
bottom, the mismatched piece Ihad mentioned to the guards.
It sat exactly where I hadplaced it, now submerged under
actual flowing water.
Beyond the fountain rose theastronomer's tower, a tall,
narrow structure I had builtfrom dark grey bricks with a
single round window at the top.
I had placed a minifig with asmall telescope there, aimed at
(13:20):
nothing in particular.
Now the telescope was positionedprecisely, angled toward the
ceiling of my bedroom, whichfrom here appeared as a distant
sky.
The telescope itself had gaineddetails I hadn't built, small
adjustment knobs, a focusingmechanism, even a tiny chair for
the astronomer to sit whilemaking observations.
(13:42):
The astronomer herself, a femaleminifig with printed glasses on
her yellow face, quickly duckedaway from the window when she
saw me looking up.
More evidence of their fear, Ithought, cataloguing these
reactions.
We passed the blacksmith's forgenext, a simple structure where I
had placed an anvil, a smallgrey piece, and a furnace, black
(14:06):
bricks with transparent orangepieces suggesting flames.
The setup had been purelydecorative in my design, now the
forge glowed with actual heat,the bellows pumped rhythmically,
and the blacksmith, a minifigwith a printed beard, hammered
at what appeared to be a tinymetal sword.
The sound of metal strikingmetal rang out clearly ping,
(14:29):
ping, ping, until the blacksmithnoticed our procession.
He immediately set down hishammer, extinguished his forge
with a bucket of water thatproduced actual steam, and
retreated to the back of hisshop.
They've all been instructed toavoid me, I realized, the
pattern now unmistakable.
As we approached the town centrewe passed a small courtyard,
(14:52):
where I had positioned threechild minifigs with various
toys.
I had added the children as anafterthought, placing small
objects near them as props, atiny boat, a ball, a jump rope
made from a thin black piece.
These children now played withthose toys actively.
The boat sailed in a smallpuddle, the ball bounced between
(15:15):
them, the jump rope whippedthrough the air as a child
minifig hopped over it withperfect timing.
Upon seeing our approach, anadult minifig, presumably a
parent, rushed into thecourtyard, gathering the
children and hurrying theminside a nearby building.
The door closed firmly behindthem.
(15:36):
Throughout our march I becameincreasingly aware of the
garrison, a large, fortifiedstructure I had built on the
east side of the town square.
In my design it had been animpressive but ultimately
decorative feature, housing whatI imagined as Brickhaven's
defenders.
Now it dominated the square withan ominous presence.
(15:57):
Guards patrolled its walls, morenumerous and better armed than I
remembered placing.
A black flag I had never createdflew from its highest tower,
bearing a symbol I didn'trecognize, something like a
shield divided diagonally.
That's new, I noted mentally.
I never designed that flag oremblem.
(16:18):
The clock tower, a tallstructure on the north side of
the square, contained actualfunctioning mechanics.
I could see the gears turningthrough the transparent pieces I
had used for windows, markingtime in a world that shouldn't
have had any concept of itspassage.
The clock face showed tenfifteen.
(16:38):
Though whether that correspondedto the actual time in my room, I
couldn't determine.
Our procession finally halted inthe centre of the town square, a
broad open space I hadintentionally left mostly empty
to serve as Brickhaven'sgathering place.
The guards maintained theirformation around me, forming a
perfect square with me at thecenter.
(17:00):
Citizens who had been in thesquare quickly departed,
entering buildings or sidestreets with conspicuous haste.
Within minutes the square wasempty except for our group and a
ring of additional guards whotook up positions around the
perimeter.
The fountain continued itsimpossible flow of water behind
us.
The clock continued itsmechanical ticking above.
(17:22):
But otherwise an unnaturalsilence descended on what should
have been the busiest part oftown.
Wait here, the lead guardinstructed, the first words any
of them had spoken since weentered the town.
He stepped away, approaching thegarrison's main entrance, an
imposing doorway I hadconstructed from black archway
pieces and a double door of darkbrown plates.
(17:45):
I stood, motionless, observingthe square from this new
perspective.
Every building, everyarchitectural feature was
exactly as I had designed it,yet simultaneously transformed.
The plastic had gained texture,the colours subtle variations,
the straight edges slightimperfections that suggested age
(18:06):
and use.
My perfect Lego town had gaineda history I never gave it, a
life I never imagined for it.
The lead guard spoke brieflywith someone inside the
garrison, a conversation toodistant for me to hear.
He nodded once, sharply, thenreturned to our formation.
He will see you now, the guardannounced, his tone neutral, but
(18:28):
his plastic face somehowconveying apprehension.
Who?
I asked, though I alreadysuspected the answer.
Crag, the guard replied, thename hanging in the air like a
weight.
The protector of Brickhavenawaits.
The guards tightened theirformation around me and began
marching toward the garrison'sentrance, where a tall figure
(18:51):
had emerged, standingsilhouetted in the doorway.
Even from this distance Irecognized the distinctive
outline of the special minifig Ihad designed to be Brickhaven's
champion, the custom black armorI had carefully assembled piece
by piece, the helmet with itsunique visor, the posture of
authority I had imagined forhim.
(19:14):
Kragg, my creation, waited topass judgment on his creator.
Scene three.
Kragg stepped into the square,and the air seemed to change
around him.
He moved with a fluid precisionI had never imagined my creation
could possess, each stepdeliberate, the black armor
catching the light in waysplastic shouldn't.
(19:36):
I had spent hours designing thatarmor, connecting small black
plates in overlapping patternsto create the impression of
formidable protection.
Now, seeing it in motion, Irealized I had succeeded too
well.
The figure I had crafted to beBrickhaven's protector now
radiated an authority thatbordered on menace, his visor
(19:59):
casting his face in shadowdespite the bright light of the
square.
The guards around mestraightened imperceptibly,
their postures shifting fromalert to rigid attention.
One of them whispered somethingthat sounded like present, and
as one, they adjusted theirstance, spears perfectly
parallel.
(20:20):
Cragg approached with measuredsteps, stopping precisely ten
brick lengths away from me.
Up close I could see the detailsof his armor, the slight
variations in the black plasticthat suggested wear, the barely
perceptible scratches on hisbreastplate that I had never
created.
His helmet featured theretractable visor I had
(20:40):
designed, currently raised toreveal his face.
The standard minifig features,two dot eyes and a curved line
mouth, somehow conveyed a coldintelligence I had never
intended.
This is the intruder, Cragasked, his voice deeper than the
other minifigs, exactly as I hadimagined it would be during
(21:00):
those late nights building hisworld.
Yes, Lord Protector, the leadguard replied.
He claims to be the builder.
Crag's eyes fixed on me,studying me with terrifying
thoroughness.
Interesting, he said finally.
You don't match any known designin Brickhaven.
(21:21):
I stared back, momentarilyunable to speak.
This was Crag, my creation, mychampion, the figure I had
positioned at Brickhaven's gateto keep the town safe.
I had given him the best armor,the finest weapons, a position
of honor.
I had named him after acharacter in a story I'd made
(21:41):
up, carefully printing the namein my notebook Craigvar.
Your name is Craigvar, I saidsuddenly, the syllables feeling
strange in my mouth.
The effect was immediate andunsettling.
Crag's plastic face remainedimmobile, but something flashed
behind his eyes, recognition,confusion, perhaps anger.
(22:05):
The guards exchanged glances.
Where did you hear thatdesignation?
Kragg asked, his voice perfectlycontrolled but somehow sharper.
Finding unexpected confidence, Icontinued.
I named you that.
I built you, piece by piece.
I gestured at his armor.
That breastplate, I used sixteendifferent pieces to create it,
(22:29):
small black plates overlappingto create the impression of
segmented armor.
The shoulder guards took thelongest.
I had to use hinge pieces to getthe angles right.
Krag remained motionless, hisface betraying nothing as I
spoke.
Your helmet has a special visorthat can be raised or lowered, I
continued, the words coming moreeasily now.
(22:51):
I built it that way because Iwanted you to have two
expressions, the friendly onefor the townspeople and the
intimidating one for the town.
For enemies.
I pointed to his belt.
And that symbol on your beltclasp, it's not a standard Lego
piece.
I painted it myself, a smallshield design because you were
meant to be Brickhaven's shield.
(23:12):
The square had gone completelysilent.
Even the fountain splashingseemed muted, as if the town
itself was holding its breath.
Your sword, I added, noddingtoward the weapon at his side.
It's non standard too.
I traded with Jeremy Coleman forit, a special piece from a
medieval set I didn't have.
I wanted you to have the bestweapon because you were the
(23:35):
town's champion, its protector.
Cragg's hand moved to the hiltof the sword, the exact sword I
had described, his fingerswrapping around it with a
deliberate slowness.
I positioned you at the maingate, I said, standing guard,
keeping the town safe from Ihesitated, suddenly remembering
(23:56):
what lay beyond the easternhills in my design.
From the destroyer in the east.
At this Crag's expressionshifted, the barest narrowing of
his eyes, but in a face withsuch limited articulation it
registered as significant.
You speak of things you cannotknow, Crag said finally.
(24:20):
His voice remained even,controlled, but carried an
undercurrent I couldn'tidentify.
Yet you are clearly not thebuilder.
I am, I insisted.
I built this entire town, everybrick, every building, I created
you to protect it, not to Igestured around at the fearful
town, the excessive guards, thestrange emblem flying above the
(24:44):
garrison.
Not to rule it like this.
Cragg studied me for anotherlong moment, then made a small
gesture with his hand.
The guards around me tightenedtheir formation.
The builder is a myth, Craggsaid with terrifying calm, a
story told to children, aconvenient explanation for
(25:05):
origins better left unexamined.
He stepped closer, looking downat me from his slightly taller
height.
You are either confused ordangerous, perhaps both.
But I you possess knowledge thatthreatens the security of
Brickhaven, Cragg continued asif I hadn't spoken.
Knowledge that could only havebeen obtained through suspicious
(25:29):
means.
I know these things because Ibuilt them, I said, frustration
creeping into my voice.
I can prove it.
Ask me anything about theconstruction, the interior
supports of the garrison, thehidden storage room beneath the
clock tower, the Enough Kraggraised a hand and I felt silent.
(25:51):
Your claims are impossible, yetyour knowledge is real.
This presents a security concernI cannot ignore.
He turned to the guards, hisdecision apparently made.
Take him to the East Gate.
A chill ran through my plasticbody.
The East Gate.
The one facing the dark hillswhere I had placed the
(26:13):
destroyer, a monster I had builtas a challenge for the town's
hero to overcome, a monsterthat, in this living version of
Brickhaven, might be equallyalive.
No, I said, the implicationssuddenly clear.
You can't send me out there.
I built the destroyer to beunbeatable except remove him,
(26:34):
Crag ordered, turning away as ifthe matter were settled.
Standard expulsion protocols.
The guards grasped my arms,their grips surprisingly strong.
I struggled briefly, but theirhold was secure.
This isn't what I designed youfor, I called to Craggs
retreating back.
You were supposed to protect thetown, not rule it through fear.
(26:56):
Cragg paused midstep but didn'tturn around.
The town is protected, he saidquietly.
I ensure it daily.
Then he continued walking,disappearing into the garrison
without another word.
The guards marched me across thesquare, away from the fountain,
away from the garrison towardthe eastern edge of town.
(27:19):
Citizens who had been watchingfrom windows quickly pulled back
as we passed.
No one met my eyes.
You're making a mistake, I toldthe guards as we approached the
East Gate, a reinforcedstructure I had built with extra
supports and defensivepositions.
The destroyer is out there.
I built it, so I know what itcan do.
(27:40):
Then you understand why threatsto Brickhaven's security cannot
be tolerated, the lead guardreplied, without emotion.
We reached the east gate, whichwas smaller than the main gate,
but more heavily fortified.
Two guards operated a mechanismI had designed, turning large
gears that raised the portcullisand unlatched the heavy doors.
(28:01):
The gate swung outward with alow groan, revealing the
landscape beyond.
The eastern hills rose in thedistance, dark and forbidding
against what from thisperspective appeared to be a
grey sky, but which I knew wasactually the ceiling of my
bedroom.
Between Brickhaven's walls andthose hills stretched a barren
(28:22):
plain I had left intentionallyempty in my design.
A no man's land that thedestroyer would have to cross to
reach the town.
The guards marched me throughthe gate, their spears at my
back.
When we reached the outerperimeter they stopped.
By order of Lord ProtectorKragg, you are hereby expelled
from Brickhaven, the lead guardannounced formally, return, and
(28:45):
you will be treated as hostile.
With a sudden shove, they pushedme forward.
I stumbled, catching myselfbefore falling, and turned back
just in time to see the eastgate swinging closed.
The massive doors met with aheavy thud, followed by the
decisive click of locks engagingand the mechanical grind of the
port cullis lowering.
(29:07):
I stood alone outside the wallsof my own creation, facing the
darkening eastern hills, where Ihad placed a monster of my own
design.
The sound of the lock slidinginto place echoed in the empty
landscape, its finality settlingaround me like a physical
weight.
Brickhaven, my Brickhaven, hadrejected its builder and cast
(29:30):
him out into the wilderness.
And somewhere in those darkhills waited the destroyer, a
puzzle guardian I had built lateone night, designed to be
unstoppable unless thechallenger knew its specific
weakness.
A weakness that standing herenow as a minifig in a world
suddenly impossibly real, Icouldn't immediately recall.
Max knows every brick of thistown.
(29:53):
He built them all, but Cragwon't hear it.
If your creation came to lifeand didn't recognize you, what
would you do?
Next episode Outside the Walls,one small scout has been
watching everything.
Subscribe to Compass and Codexnow so you don't miss the next
chapter when it drops.
(30:16):
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